On the second day of the Year of Monkey -- the day tradition suggests married daughters visit their parents -- Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) visited the Chaofeng Farm (兆豐農場) in Hualien, greeting tourists with her congratulations on the Lunar New Year.
Wearing a light green coat with lotus images, Lu took pictures with kids and visitors to the farm and chatted with them.
Despite the Lunar New Year holiday, Lu said she is still busy. She visited 14 temples on the first day of the Year of Monkey and shook hands with more than 6,000 people, resulting in chafed hands, Lu said.
Lu visited popular tourist attractions in Hualien such as the Hualien Ocean Park, Kuanglung Museum and Avenue of Stone Sculpture.
Lu's pan-blue opponent, People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
Soong visited Buddhist Master Sheng Yen (
Soong said he hoped religious leaders could end resentment and help Taiwanese society get rid of hatred and misunderstanding.
Sheng Yen told Soong that he believes politicians can stop disputes, create harmony and peace and bring the cross-strait relationship back to normal.
On Thursday, Soong went to four popular temples in Taipei along with his running mate for the presidential election, Chinese Nationalist Party Chairman (KMT) Lien Chan (
Lu went to the same temple, believed to be one of the most sacred in Taipei, after Lien and Soong had left.
President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen's daughter, Chen Hsin-yu (
Lien and his wife, Lien Fang Yu (連方瑀), also got together yesterday with their eldest daughter, Lien Hui-hsin (連惠心), and her husband. Lien's youngest daughter, Lien Yung-hsin (連詠心), who now studies in the US, did not join the reunion.
Lien said that one of his wishes for the New Year is to be a grandfather, but he said that he respected Lien Hui-hsin's decision not to have children yet. Lien Hui-hsin said she and her husband would let things take their course.
Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday visited temples in Ilan and campaigned for Chen.
Yu said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has carried out many construction projects and reforms that the KMT had failed to achieve. He called on people to continue to support the DPP so that the party can serve the people.
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