In many parts of the world, working holidays provide people with the opportunity to supplement their travel through incidental employment. A variation on this practice is now being taken up by a growing number of Taiwan’s bed-and-breakfast owners, who encourage guests to work at their guesthouses in exchange for free accommodation.
One such establishment is a two-story Mediterranean-style house located in Kenting, southern Taiwan’s hottest beach resort.
Both of its owners, who go by the names A-Guai and A-Ken, used to hold high-level managerial positions at a prestigious five-star beach resort in Kenting. They gave it all up, however, to start their own B&B, in pursuit of their dreams of living a simple and easy life.
The 48-year-old A-Guai, who also used to work at Ogilvy, the international advertising and public relations firm, said in an interview with Taiwan Today that the exploitation of labor is a common practice in Taiwan, especially in the hotel business. After working for over six years in the industry, he had seen enough and made up his mind to leave.
“The employers have their dreams realized, but what about the dreams of the employees?” he said.
“I hope to create a place where there is no conflict of interest among people and life is quiet and simple.”
Like A-Guai, A-Ken did not start out in the hotel industry. Originally from Taitung, he started out as a professional athlete, but later became a career soldier to support himself.
He graduated cum laude from National Defense University, and served for a while as chief counselor for the military police.
He was not happy with his job, however, because it did not give him the peace and quiet he craved, and because it did not allow him to indulge his love of surfing. So five years ago he decided to leave the army to be close to the surfing paradise of Kenting.
He worked his way up from a contract employee to a department manager at the five-star hotel where he met A-Guai.
“We want to run a B&B that is warm and welcoming, and filled with many stories of those who come to stay with us,” the 33-year-old said.
In May, the two bought a rugged two-story building overlooking the Pacific Ocean and began remodeling it to bring the 20-year-old structure back to life.
According to A-Guai, the location of the B&B is in accordance with the owners’ spirit of simplicity and relaxation: It is situated far from the hustle and bustle of downtown Kenting, where there are hundreds of guesthouses already.
The concept of “working and holiday” was brought into the project, so that guests can trade for their accommodation by helping with chores or providing special skills useful for the guesthouse, A-Guai said.
This is similar to the movie “Taipei Exchanges,” in which the two leading characters explore dreams and the value of things through bartering, he explained.
“Besides helping out with our work, we also very much welcome people who have special skills or something they find worth trading for to come stay with us,” A-Guai said.
Guests who come for working and holiday are allowed to stay in the newly decorated guestrooms, A-Guai said, adding that he and A-Ken also take their guests out on in-depth eco-tours in the intertidal zones, or teach them surfing and kayaking.
After just three months of remodeling, the B&B was ready to accommodate guests, thanks to those who participated in the working and holiday project from at home and abroad, said A-Guai, who shared with Taiwan Today a few stories of the interesting people they had met.
Qiu, a social worker who came to the B&B Sept. 3, was a talented painter who gave the guesthouse an extra artistic ambience. Thanks to her, guests who come up to the second floor are greeted by a lush tree with two little chirping birds she painted on the wall, while those who stay in the orange room can experience a carefree and breezy atmosphere with her dandelions.
“The fear and uneasiness of traveling alone for the first time dispersed soon after I arrived, as I befriended a group of warm and passionate strangers,” Qiu wrote in her blog post.
“The decision to come here made me appreciate the beauty of life. I’m already longing for my next adventure.”
Earlier in June, Su Wei-chi, a young woman in her twenties from Hsinchu, visited the B&B. To everybody’s surprise, the shy and quiet Su is an aspiring magician. She taught A-Ken magic tricks in exchange for her accommodation and a surfing class.
Rita Chen, a 28-year-old hairdresser, was staying there the night Taiwan Today did the interview. Chen and the B&B owners reached an agreement on her free accommodation—she would cut the hair of the guesthouse owners and two of their friends.
This should have been an easy task for Chen, only she had to drink with A-Guai while cutting his hair. After a couple of beers, however, Chen not only nailed the job, but also made several new friends.
“My friend was here to help them set up the Internet and website. After he told me about his experiences, I felt so excited about coming here to experience working and holiday myself,” Chen told Taiwan Today. “People I met here are of different backgrounds, but all of them are so friendly.”
A-Guai said he felt very content, now that he has a homey B&B where guests become friends with each other and create pleasant memories together.
“Our guests usually come here without many expectations, but when they leave their hearts are often filled with joy,” A-Ken said.
Working and holiday is not a new concept in Taiwan, but neither is it a mature one, said A-Guai, who is still figuring out the best way to accommodate those who are interested in the project, even as the number of regular guests continues to grow.
He added that they are planning to launch handicraft workshops during the low season in winter for more people to enjoy an unusual vacation in Kenting.
“After four months in operation, we firmly believe that we are on the right track. We appreciate those who visited us, as they enriched the place and helped make our dream come true,” A-Guai said.
Life at the B&B might be simple, but it is also filled with laughter and it joins people together by the ties of many wonderful memories. As one of the visitors said: “Next time I come here, it will not be a vacation, but a trip to visit my dear friends.” (HZW)
Write to Rachel Chan at rachelchan@mail.gio.gov.tw