Earning a doctoral degree, climbing to the 3,952m summit of Jade Mountain (玉山) or embarking on a journey around the country by motorcycle. These are not just the dreams of young people, but things that have been accomplished by Taiwanese senior citizens.
Everyone has dreams when they are young. However, upon growing up, some people become inactive and see their dreams as unaccomplishable, while others hesitate and make excuses. Only a few people have the courage to act on their dreams.
A new Taiwanese film featuring a cross-country octogenarian scooter brigade may inspire people to pursue their dreams, director Hua Tien-hau (華天灝) said.
Photo: Taichung City Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation.
The 90-minute film, entitled Go Grandriders (不老騎士), was based on the true story of 17 people— with an average age of 81 — who decided to embark on a motorcycle journey around the island five years ago in a bid to fulfill their dream of seeing every part of Taiwan, Hua said.
Aiming to portray the spirit that “one is never too old to do anything,” Hua, 31, said he himself was deeply touched while filming the documentary-like movie.
Two of “the grandriders” were cancer survivors, four wore hearing aids, five had high blood pressure, eight suffered from heart disease and all of them suffered from arthritis.
Despite their illnesses and various objections from their families, they embarked on a 1,178km ride that took 13 days to complete.
“Of course, people age, but their heart shouldn’t,” said grandrider Wang Chong-tien (王中天), who is 88 years old, but looks like he is in his early 70s.
Describing the trip as the most unforgettable experience of his life, Wang said he not only fulfilled his dream, but had also been inspired to pursue other interests.
“Nothing scares me now,” he said, adding that he would love to do it again in his 90s.
Another grandrider Lai Hsiu-sheng (賴秀昇), 89, recalled some highlights of the trip, saying that he felt like he was the president as rode through the southern county of Chiayi and police ensured all traffic lights were green.
Lai’s wife Lee Ching-yueh said that during the 13 days he was away, Lai was like a bird set free. He was having so much fun that at one point, he forgot to call her for four days.
“The trip was good for him, though,” Lee Ching-yueh said, adding that her husband felt much younger and more energetic afterward.
The film was nominated as one of 10 entries for the Mecenat Award in the Wide Angle Documentary Competition at the 17th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. The festival, which opened on Thursday and is to run until Oct. 13, will announce winners on its final day.
By the end of August, the number of senior citizens — those aged 65 or above — in Taiwan reached over 2.56 million, or 11.02 percent of the population, according to government statistics.
As a result of its low birth-rate, Taiwan became an aging society in 1993, when people aged 65 or older accounted for more than 7 percent of the population. The government forecast that by 2018, more than 14 percent of the population will be aged 65 or older.
That percentage will rise to 20 percent or higher in 2025, turning Taiwan into a “super-aged society” — surpassing the US and several European countries.
“Senior citizens’ lives should be more colorful and there should be all kinds of possibilities,” said Doris Lin (林依瑩), chief executive officer of the Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation, which initiated the “grandrider program.”
Established in 1995, the Taichung-based foundation has come up with many “unexpected” activities for senior citizens, Lin said.
One of the activities was a Broadway show, which was performed at the Taipei Arena on Tuesday.
The venue usually sees concerts by young pop entertainers such as Japan’s idol group Arashi, South Korea’s Super Junior and American singer Jason Mraz.
The foundation has also organized senior baseball games, talent show competitions and has even brought elderly people back to the military for a day, so they may relive their past experiences of Taiwan’s mandatory military service, according to Lin.
“Some people call me crazy, but I really feel happy that I can listen to these senior citizens’ dreams and help them realize them,” Lin said.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS