Stuck, contentedly

When severe weather conditions caused the cancellation of over 1,500 flights to and from New York’s airports, we were one of those affected. We got stuck at Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. While the airline kindly offered us free hotel accommodation (which meant we must clear immigration then shuttle to the city), after some discussion, we all agreed it’s in our, especially the hubby’s, best interest that we stay at the airport.

It was midnight and we could only avail of the lounge access the ground crew arranged for us at 5 a.m. Apologetically, they suggested we stay at the common areas to rest. They’re comfortable enough, they assured us and I knew what they meant for I had connected through Taipei a couple of times.

We milled around and discovered interesting choices. Circular cushioned seats, seats with expansive legroom and backrest, open spaces by the cafes where passengers bunked in and more. We settled in a cinema-themed area that doubles as a pre-boarding gate. Between reading neat narratives about Taiwan’s cinema history and a power nap, I opted for the latter. I dozed off half watching a comedy about a middle-aged man who had just died. His spirit witnesses how his family debates over his funeral arrangements and the comical events that ensued.

I slept soundly only to be awakened by our alarm: it’s time to move to the second floor where we would be spending the rest of the day. The hall leading to the lounges was humming with people – young, middle-aged and able-bodied elderly, lanyards hanging on their necks – heading to their workstations. Food stalls were starting to open; I sniffed the splendid smell of meat and herbs stewing from a noodle shop, crusty tarts baking and a symphony of mouth-watering flavors. My famished tummy gurgled while my exhausted body felt the first signs of a cold. After having lived in Hong Kong and Beijing for almost seven years, I knew exactly how to ward them off – with a bowl of steaming hot soup – one that’s brewed and seasoned with medicinal herbs.

As soon as we had settled in the lounge where we would be spending the next 12 hours, I went to the noodle soup bar to have my fill of herbed vermicelli soup, then a second helping of beef noodle soup. I felt reenergized, especially after freshening up and a power nap.

By midday it was time to accomplish my mandatory 7,000 steps a day and the best way to fulfill it was to explore the amazing terminal. For from one end to the other, in between walls, halls, boarding gates and open spaces of Taoyuan airport are not only shops but, more importantly, exhibits, entertainment spaces and areas for cultural immersion where stuck travelers like me could spend time productively. There’s a hub where children could play, discover and learn. I saw a young family of four amused while tinkering with a sci-fi display.

I lingered on four spots that suit my interest. An art exhibition staged by the “Mo Hai Lou International Art Group,” a foundation focused on “art connoisseurship and gradually expanded into various fields including academic research, the promotion of art education and cross-cultural artistic exchange.” On display are paintings, calligraphy, fans and accessories made of silk and contemporary pieces reflective of their advocacy – using art to enable the audience to understand modern Eastern aesthetics. They achieved that goal to a stranded traveler like me, who appreciated the visual engagement through emerging art forms by some of Taiwan’s rising artists.

In less than an hour I learned about the unique heritage of Taiwan’s 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes. I read how the Council of Indigenous Peoples takes charge of planning and promoting their policies and affairs while preserving essential parts of their culture such as language and customs and maintaining their quality of life. The engaging photo exhibit accompanied by rich storylines reminded me of the habitat, costumes, rituals, traditions and similarities in features of our own indigenous peoples. While I delight in these commonalities, I wonder how we can pursue a more profound cross-cultural dialogue with Taiwan without causing deeper geopolitical tensions with another country.

I waxed nostalgic at the exhibit, “The Journey of Chinese Medicine.” While living in Beijing, I benefited from the efficacy of TCM or traditional Chinese medicine. I was in awe when, on my first consultation, my doctor simply touched my pulse, asked me to stick out my tongue, diagnosed my condition then eventually prescribed me with a very bitter concoction that I religiously took for six months in between regular check-ups.

This exhibit brings to light the origins of Chinese medicine and the richness of Taiwan’s resources of over “2,000 native plant species usable as medicinal herbs, including 200 unique medical herbs.” Meticulously curated, it includes the origin of medicinal herbs, their scientific and local names, herbs around the world, the difference between Eastern and Western herbs and Taiwan’s Chinese medicinal cuisine (perhaps the same ingredients infused to the noodle soup I had for breakfast). This part explores on using certain herbs in food preparation not only for nourishment but for health maintenance.

Midway through my airport adventure my feet felt heavy, my stride seemed unsteady, wondering about the state of our airport back home. But I didn’t want to sulk in despair. I’ve read about how self-service terminals at the immigration area are seamlessly working now and how the upcoming overhaul of our international terminals would elevate them to world-class standards.

I ended my walking tour and surpassed my 7,000-step goal by watching a fine piano performance of a young artist at the far end of the terminal that looks like a hotel lobby. Amidst indoor plants are couches where travelers sit while fidgeting with their phone. I imagined our future airport to be like this, where a marooned visitor like me wouldn’t mind getting stuck, contentedly.