From Taiwan, the world and now the Territory – meet Abby Chin

ABBY Chin is one of Alice Springs’ most loved people. READ HER STORY HERE

ABBY Chin is one of Alice Springs’ most loved people.

She brings so much heart and soul to one of the town’s favourite restaurants, Hanuman.

Abby always greets you with a gigantic smile, so much friendliness and great energy, and has so much calm, despite working in such a busy environment.

An explorer and go-getter at heart, Abby’s power-packed energy has taken her on an incredible journey of life.

Abby Chin – or in Mandarin, Hsiang Yun Chin – grew up in Taiwan.

Taiwan is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, and has a population of 23.5 million people.

“It’s an intense capital city, high population, so much density – I wanted to run away!” Abby said with a laugh.

“I grew up in Taipei – I am a capital city girl. Fancy high heels, proper work suit, strong coat of make-up. It was a very, very intense tempo.”

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But Abby says it’s also a wholehearted place.

“We have a very open culture city. We have our own Taiwanese spirit and accept all other cultures,” she said.

“We have a lot of people from Japan, Korea, America. My English accent was actually very American. I had to change that when I came to Australia.

“I was crazy about learning lots of different languages. I love it! It’s very interesting to be able to communicate with all these people from different countries.

“When I was a kid there were lots of immigrants, so I could learn lots of different cultures and languages. It’s so much fun! I could explore myself in to this world.

“I learnt English by myself. From watching TV and movies, like Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars.

“It’s good! Because it’s a practical English. It’s not just formal, it’s how people actually talk.”

Abby loved her sports growing up, doing Marathon running, swimming and playing tennis and volleyball.

“I went to a lovely school. I studied Transportation Management at College,” she said.

“It is a course that has major potential, because there are always public constructions happening in Taiwan. I quite enjoyed learning those new things.”

Abby says her Mum, Liru Yao, is a very strong woman.

“Mum was a single mum, she raised me with my two older sisters, Kim and Jennifer.

“They are 10 and eight years older than me. They are all very supporting of me.

“Mum has great life advice and asks me lots of good questions. They are a really loving family.”

Abby finished college and worked in the major transport industry for three years.

Before and after graduating College, Abby travelled and explored the world around her.

“I travelled to a lot of other countries. I went to Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia. I’d stay there for a couple weeks or a month,” she said.

“Then after I graduated, I went to Japan and Korea. It’s such a different culture! I enjoy the food. Oh my God, it’s amazing! So good!

“After working for three years, I just thought, ‘I need to go to Australia!’.

“It was actually out of New Zealand or Australia. But I knew I had to see what’s going on with those kangaroos.

“I would always see kangaroos and koalas on the news and on Discovery Chanel.”

Abby’s life could be a show on the Discovery Chanel!

“Darwin was my first stop. That was 2012. I totally fell in love with the lifestyle- so colourful and multicultural. It’s so nice, lots of festivals. I didn’t want to go anywhere else after that!”

Abby became manager of the much-loved former cafe in Darwin, Café Eco.

“The lifestyle was totally different. At 5am I would wake up, go to gym, be at work by 6. Fabulous! This is my healthy life,” she said.

A chance meeting with the world-renowned chef and restaurateur Jimmy Shu changed Abby’s life in 2017.

“I met Jimmy at a function at a fancy house. I was talking to Jimmy and I realised there is so much more to learn about hospitality,” she said.

“He had been looking for a manager for Hanuman in Alice. I got offered the job. I had two days notice! I thought, ‘Let’s go, let’s give it a try.’”

In the space of 48 hours, Abby’s life moved from the top of Australia to the middle.

In Taipei where Abby grew up, for every 1km of space, 10,000 people live.

In the Northern Territory, for every 1km of space, 0.16 people live.

“Alice is so different, I so enjoy the slow life tempo! When I used to go home to Taipei before COVID, I’d look at people there and think, ‘Why you guys walking so fast!’, ‘Why you push me in to the subway.’

“I love the country style life here in Alice. Everyone is so nice, everyone is smiling. Even strangers are smiling to each other! This town is lovely.”

Abby’s husband is her college sweetheart, Steven Ting.

“We met when we were 19 years old, Freshmen in College. It’s been 17 years now. We’ve grown up together,” she said.

“When I first met him, of course I thought, ‘This is a good-looking guy’.

“Then he is such a gentle person, such a nice smile. Whatever I do, he always supports. He always has really good suggestions.

“Steven means a lot to me. He is my best friend in life, my partner in crime- it’s meant to be.”

Abby says she loves working at Hanuman.

“In these past three years working here, I have mentally grown in big steps, and also with my skills. I learned a lot from Jimmy,” she said.

“The success of Hanuman is all due to Jimmy. He has set up a really great restaurant, great food, brand and staffing.

“I love the customers! Talking to the locals, and also the new customers about all their travels. And our staff are so great, they are so cooperative.”

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Abby sees her future remaining here in the Territory, and in fact, her dream is to show more people this beautiful place of ours.

“I really want to focus on tourism, and introduce Alice to more people around the world,” she said.

“The NT is like home, and I want to let more people know about this place. I want to try and promote the NT! It’s a really magical place.”

Abby has made Alice Springs an even better place, with her wonderful happy and inclusive energy, and her open-hearted approach to all people.

Xièxiè Abby!