It’s Mother’s Day in the US this weekend, so I thought I would re-post a cool photo of my mom and grandma.
This was taken in 1965 in Taiwan. My mom and grandparents traveled there after they met up in Japan, where my mom taught for a year.
When I think of Taiwan, it’s usually the events that followed the 1949 flight from the mainland. But the island has such a rich history before Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT fled to what used to be called Formosa.
Several years ago I found a postcard my grandparents had written on that trip to my grandfather’s mother.
My grandfather referred to the island not as Taiwan or Formosa, but as Free China.
Oh wow, what a great picture. I can bet it ws taken in the resort town of Wulai, South of Taipei. There is a tall waterfall (which looks just like the one in the picture) and there are local aboriginese living there. Unfortunately there are no more tattoed women there. This picture is a great piece of history!
Thanks so much! I wasn’t sure where it was, so this is great information!
This photo is amazing!!!
Thank you so much! I wish I’d explored Taiwan beyond Taipei. The rest of the island seems like paradise.
Love this photo, Susan! And love the little piece of geopolitical history, wrapped inside an intimate family memory.
Thank you so much, Tracy! I get all excited when I think about the politics from back then.