A spiritual fortune reading guided him with the message “going home is the best path”     A British journalist revisits Taiwan after 25 years

Travel Center / Taipei Report

The Travel section of The Guardian, a British newspaper, featured an extensive front-page and double-page spread report on Taiwan tourism on the weekend of April 13. Senior Guardian journalist Howard Marks was invited to visit Taiwan through a collaboration between the renowned British travel agency Cox & Kings and the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation. From the perspective of “Returning to Taiwan,” he depicted a deeply Asian-localized and unforgettable temple journey in Taiwan.


▲ Guardian journalist reports on Taiwan. (Photo / from www.guardian.co.uk/travel/)

Howard Marks, a senior journalist at The Guardian, devoted three full pages to vividly recounting his emotions upon returning to Taiwan, which reminded him of 1988 when, troubled by uncertainty about the direction of his life, he had heard of the efficacy of Taiwan’s Eighteen Kings Temple and came to seek guidance through a spiritual fortune. The fortune poem told him, “going home is the best path.”

At the time, he didn’t think the fortune was accurate, but later, after going through a major life event, he became determined to “go home.” Since then, Howard Marks had always wanted to revisit the Eighteen Kings Temple, pat the sacred dog’s bottom in gratitude. Now, returning with his daughter to the same place, they revisited the fortune of that year, and through its interpretation, he gained clarity on his state of mind back then. He said everything in Taiwan made him feel as if he were in a dream.

Unlike typical travel reports that merely showcase postcard-perfect scenery, Howard Marks introduced the genuine daily lives of Taiwanese people from the perspective of his personal experiences and feelings. This allowed the British public to gain a deeper understanding of local life in Taiwan, including its nightlife, night markets, and street-side specialties such as grilled sausages, squid, fried rice, seafood congee, salt and pepper chicken, pan-fried dumplings, scallion pancakes, candied chestnuts, stinky tofu, and fresh juices.

The tranquility and beauty of Sun Moon Lake also deeply captivated them. His daughter, Amber Marks, said she was amazed by the serene and peaceful atmosphere of Sun Moon Lake. “When the breeze gently blows and you sip Taiwanese oolong tea, your whole body and mind feel completely relaxed.” She said this to friends who questioned why she came to travel in Taiwan: “This is exactly why I came!”