【Sunday Slow Moments】DaysAway’s seven-day getaway — making escape a form of facing life head-on

Ms. Hsu worked in Taipei’s real estate advertising industry for many years. The turning point that brought her back home was witnessing the rise of homestays in old houses in Tainan and seeing how young people were starting to move back to their hometowns. They were no longer fixated on staying in higher-paying cities or clinging to conventional social values, and were willing to go against the grain. This made her reflect on her own life. Although she had learned a lot at the ad agency, much of the work involved exaggeration and insincerity, and she never felt in control of her own time. In the end, she decided to return to Taichung to pursue her dream of opening a café.

Although it’s a return-home venture, Ms. Hsu named the café “Seven-Day Escape.” She said that society always teaches people to strive for a higher, better life, but never teaches them that it’s okay to run away. When you’ve thought yourself into a dead end, why not step away from your usual routine — you can choose to reflect deeply and gain clarity, or you can completely unplug and let your mind go blank. Either way, you’re bound to come away with unexpected insights.

Step inside, and you’ll find the kitchen and workspace bar area on the left. The low counter design lets you see all the action inside clearly, while the aroma of cooking wafts freely through the space. Ahead, a corner of the staircase has been removed, offering an unobstructed view of the greenery in the backyard. Look up, and you’ll notice the owner knocked out a large square hole in the ceiling, covered it with glass, and let in light from the second-floor balcony. Inside the hole, the exposed steel bars give off a carefree, untamed vibe.

On the right wall, there’s a black-ink sketch of a deer — an unfinished painting. The artist isn’t famous, but they simply wanted their work to be seen. Ms. Hsu admired this bold self-expression and generously offered up the wall.

 

As for the tables and chairs, they’re made up of mismatched vintage furniture and upcycled items, perfectly complementing the age of the old house. Ms. Hsu said the marks of time can’t be erased, and she loves the unique character these old pieces carry.