I am Emily Lim, I am also a fifth generation Kinmenese from Singapore. This is not my first time to Kinmen, but this trip to Kinmen was truly a memorable experience. What I loved most about this trip was how it felt like I am connecting with my great great grandfather.
The first day when we arrived we went visit the Kinmen government office and Parliament. Next day we went to Zhaishan Tunnel, where there’s a cave where boats used to come in and parked, to avoid bombing from China.
We also went to Jincheng township, National Quemoy University, where we learned that many Kinmenese from Singapore Malaysian and other parts of the world had contributed so much money to build the university, to allow Kinmenese to learn new knowledge and skills to prepare them to the world.
The next day we went to Lieyu township HouLin village, and we did Army shooting simulation which was very fun. We also went to a beach, I then found out that Kinmen island was really near to China, and we can see China with our naked eyes.
One of the highlights of the trip was the food. Kinmen’s local dishes were simple yet full of flavour, and each meal felt special because it was shared together. Our Kinmen relatives treated us traditional Kinmen dishes such as seafood and noodles, and we enjoyed it very much. We had also tried Gyoza and Beef noodles, which I enjoyed very much.
We had also visited my great great grandfather’s house in Jincheng town, where we understand how life was 100 years ago. The house is now rented to the local people to sell Youtiao. We also visited TaiWu mountain where I learned that my great great grandfather had set up a stone tablet with his name on it, stating that they rebuilt the pagoda on top of the mountain.
The historic sites in Kinmen left a deep impression on me. Visiting old military tunnels, traditional houses, and historical landmarks helped me understand Kinmen’s past and the challenges its people once faced. I used to read this from books, or listened stories from my grandfather, but it became more meaningful when I went there and see for myself, and some of these sites have personal relationship that links me to my great great grandfather.
Seeing these places in person made history feel real, not just something found in books. It gave me a stronger appreciation for resilience, culture, and heritage of the Kinmen people, which is also part of my heritage.
Every year’s QingMing festival, usually I will go with my grandfather, my parents, my sister and my cousins to clean up my great great grandfather’s tomb in Singapore. After been to Kinmen and knowing more about my great great grandfather, it will be a totally different feel when I clean his tomb again.
我是林若雅，是一个第五代祖籍金门的新加坡人。虽然这次不是我第一次去金门，不过这次的旅程让我留下深刻的印象，尤其是这次让我跟我的高祖父有了连接的纽带。
第一天我们去拜访了金门政府部门，那是一个很特别的地方。第二天我们去了翟山坑道，这个坑道也是以前打战时用来保护台湾舰艇不受中国的攻击。
我们也去了金城镇，参观了金门大学，也了解在海外包括新加坡和马来西亚的金门人，捐赠了不少钱给金门大学，好让金门人学习新的知识来面对世界。
次日我们去了列屿后麟，在那里我们展开电脑射击游戏，感觉非常有趣。我们也去了列屿的海边，才发现原来我们离中国是那么的近，用肉眼就能看到对岸了。
这次的旅程其中一个焦点是美食，金门当地的食物是既简单却美味，每一餐都很好吃，也可能是因为这次是我和妹妹和堂兄妹第一次一起旅行的缘故，吃起来特别美味。
我们也去了我们高祖父（爷爷的爷爷）的家，金城镇的大伯父跟我们述说了以前的金门故事，也让我了解100年前高祖父在金门是如何生活的。目前这个家租给当地人卖油条烧饼。我们也去爬了太武山，也了解高祖父在山上有立一个石碑，纪念当年建倒影塔的事迹。
除此之外，金门的各历史遗迹也让我留下深刻印象。去了各个军事坑道，参观了传统的房子，历史遗迹让我了解了金门的过去以及金门人所面临的挑战。以前我只能从书本获的的知识，或是从我爷爷那了解一些事迹，但是这次我自己来金门获取了这些知识，感觉更有意义，尤其是一些地方或是事物跟我高祖父有关。
来了一趟金门，自己亲眼所见的事物，使历史显得更真实了。它让我更加珍惜身为金门人的坚韧，文化以及传统保留的精神，也成为我的一部分了。
每当在新加坡的清明节，我都会跟我爷爷，父母，妹妹，堂兄妹，一起去扫我高祖父的墓。现在去了金门了解了更多，扫墓已经变得更有意义了。