Sweet- Smelling Fruit- Pineapple

Sweet- Smelling Fruit- Pineapple
When I was a child, a stick of pineapple heart was children's favorite dessert. In the early time, cans of pineapple were the main of Taiwan's export , the hard heart of pineapple to be wasted in canned process. Then the grocers collected them to sell to the children .It was popular for their cheap price and sweet flavor.
Pineapple is a tropical plant producing in southern Taiwan. The fruits are consumed both fresh and cooked ,canned or juiced. Their sweet and special flavor are mixed in making cakes, cookies, ice-cream, jam ,candy and in the wide cuisines. Recently,in Taiwan, the pineapple cookies are the favorite gifts to the tourists and pineapple beer is a really delicious popular new drinks.
Taiwanese called Pineapple which the pronunciation was similar to "Wang- Lai ". People liked the rich name and regarded it as a lucky fruit in worshipping or celebrating. If you like the sweet-smelling fruit and hope to taste the popular food of various kinds of pineapple produce. Welcome to Taiwan.
氣味芬芳的水果一鳳梨
小時候，鳳梨心是孩子們很喜歡的零食。在早年，鳳梨罐頭是台灣主要出口，在製罐過程中，堅硬的鳳梨心被丟棄。雜貨商收集它們賣給小朋友。由於又甜又便宜，很受歡迎。
鳳梨是熱帶植物，主要產於南臺灣。這種水菓可生吃也可熟食，可製罐頭也可打菓汁。由於香甜風味絶佳，大量用於製作糕餅，冰淇淋，菓醬，糖果及廣泛用於中餐料理。最近幾年在台灣，觀光客最愛的伴手禮是鳳梨酥。鳳梨口味的啤酒是很美味廣受歡迎的新飲品。
台灣話鳳梨發音與"旺來"相似，人們喜歡這富裕吉祥的名字，因此敬神或喜慶拜拜都用它討個吉利。如果你喜歡這氣味芬芳的水果，並希望品嚐各種備受歡迎的鳳梨製作的美食，歡迎來台灣。

Taiwanese National Health Insurance

Taiwanese National Health Insurance
In California,Forst city is a beautiful and graceful city ,but not easy to live. We worried about if we got sick or accident becoming a heavy burden to young generation. Because the medicine fees are expensive.
Coming back Taiwan , I feel relax and peace.Taiwanese National Health Insurance is one of the best Health Care Reforms in the world . In our neighborhood ,there are many clinics's doctors to take care of health like family doctors. If the doctors feel the patients who need more medical check-up, they will give an advice to go to the hospitals. The medical system covers all of the population.
Recently, due to economic environment weakening, the Government face
financial risk to ensure the Medical care to be continued. We hope the economy is improving and wish every one not to waste the medical resource. Nothing is more precious than peace and health.
台灣的全民健康保險
在加利福尼亞州，福斯特巿是個美麗優雅的城市，但是不易居住。我們擔心如果生病或意外會造成年輕人的嚴重負擔，因為醫療費用太昂貴了。
回到台灣，我覺得輕鬆自在。台灣的全民健康保險是全世界最好的醫療照護改革之一。在我們居家附近有許多各專科診所，像家庭醫師一樣照顧病患，如果醫師認為病人需要進一步檢查或醫療，他們會建議轉診到大醫院，這醫療體系㴠蓋了全部人口。
近年來，由於經濟環境不景氣，政府面臨確保醫療照護能否持續的財務危機。我們希望經濟能好轉，更希望每一個人都不要浪費醫療資源，沒有什麼比平安健康更值得珍惜的。

Talk about Confucius

Talk about Confucius
We ever lived nearby Tainan Confucius Temple, everyday watching four big words "全臺首學", that meant "The Highest Institute" on the gate. It was the first Confucius Temple in Taiwan built in 1666. Before the end of Manchu Dynasty,the location was the highest official institute .
When we were high school students, we studied "Confucian Analects" and "The Works of Mencius". They were part of the subjects of university entrance examination. Then their thought and principles went inside our life. For instance" What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." And "Respect yourself and others will respect you ."
Confucius was a teacher and a philosopher. By now, his effect on
Common Chinese tradition and belief are deep in life. In Taiwan, every city had built a Confucius Temple that devoted to the memory of Confucius and the sages of Confucianism.
淺談孔子
我家曾住台南孔廟附近，每天進出都會看到 "全臺首學" 四個大字刻在大門上，意思是一全台最高學府。它是全台第一座孔子廟，建於公元一六六六年。在清朝，它是官府設立的最高學府。
當我們是高中生時，論語和孟子是大學聯考必考的文化教材。因此孔孟思想和教條內化成生活準則。例如我們會牢記一己所不欲，勿施於人。人必自重而後人重之。
孔子是位老師也是哲學家，至今中國人的傳統和信仰在生活中還深受影響，台灣每一城市都建孔廟紀念孔子和儒家聖賢。

Visiting to the Temple of Medical God - Pao-an Temple

Visiting to the Temple of Medical God- Pao-an Temple
Most of Taiwanese believe God ,but not only one God . They respect every
religion, interesting in Taiwan that a church of the Christian religion next door is Grand Mosque of Muslin and across the road is Buddhist temples to live in harmony.
My family worshipped either ancestors or Buddha, Baosheng Dadi and Mazu. In
our deep mind they get along with each other.
When we worried about somebody's ill worse ,except asked for helping from the hospital ,we often visited Pao-an Temple to pray for Baosheng Dadi helping. Because the god was a doctor well known for his healing powers.
Bao-an Temple is a Taiwanese folk religion temple ,the name means to protect
people health. In Taiwan, everywhere built Pao-an temple, nevertheless the biggest temple is located in the Datong District of Taipei, near the
Yuan Shan MRT station. We were relieved and got peace of mind in worshipping. Pao-an Temple is worthy to visit.
Ps: Taipei Baosheng Cultural Festival start the 5th day of the 3rd Lunar month to celebrate the birthday of Baosheng Dadi.
拜訪醫藥之神的廟宇一保安宫
大部分的台灣人都信神，但不是唯一的神。台灣人尊重每一宗教，有意思的現象是緊隣基督教堂旁邊是穆斯林的大清真寺，對街座落了佛教寺廟，彼此和諧而居。
我的家庭敬拜祖先，佛祖，保生大帝和媽祖，在我們內心深處祂們相處融洽。
當我們憂慮家人生病，除了尋求醫院診治，我們也常去保安宮祈求保生大帝守護，因為祂是以治癒力而著名的神醫。
保安宮是台灣民俗信仰的廟宇，顧名思義就是保護人們健康。在台灣每一地方都有建保安宮，規模最大的建在台北大同區，靠近捷運圓山站。
我們在拜拜中求安心也得到內心的平靜，保安宮值得拜訪。
附註：每年農曆三月十五日為保生大帝誕辰，保安宮均有慶典活動。台北保生文化祭開始於每年農曆三月初五。

Visit to Shilin Presidential Residence

Visit to Shilin Presidential Residence
Shillin Presidential Residence located on Shilin area of Taipei City. It was ever the home of the late President Chiang Kai-Shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling.
The site is very popular with a great beautiful Palace garden, attracting lots of visitors every day. Walking on the Palm Drive, through the Green Trails, everyone admires of breathtaking scenery. There are plenty of tall trees
and thousands kinds colorful flowers bloom even in the cold winter. For the
Orchid show presents the Taiwanese special flowers at the height of their beauty.
We sat on Maple stage to seem that we were a king and queen, had a green finger and a golden finger. If we could do a magic , were we happy ?
I wondered if they were happy that the Chiang family owned the great landscape .
拜訪士林總統官邸
士林官邸位於台北巿士林區。它曾經是故總統蔣介石和夫人宋美齡的故居。
這是一座非常美麗受歡迎的皇家花園，每天吸引許多遊客。漫步在椰林大道或穿越綠色小徑，每個人都會驚嘆於令人屏息的美景。這裡有許多參天古木和品種繁多色彩繽紛的花卉，即使是寒冬，她們依然百花爭豔。蘭花展更展現台灣特色蘭花的極致風華。
我們併坐在楓香台上，想像是王與后，有一隻綠手指，一隻金手指。果真如童話故事般神奇，我們真的快樂嗎?我真想知道蔣氏家族擁有這麼豪華瑰麗的庭園景色，是不是很快樂?

Old Street Stream is Changing

Old Street Stream is Changing
Old Street Stream in Tao Yuan County from Dragon Lake, through Chung Li, to Dayuan into the sea was a clear and beautiful stream. There were many ponds and farms along the water . Original people and water birds depended on the stream to live. Though increasing in population brought kitchen waste and factory waste to pollute the water.Since the stream became dirty and bad smell. People forgot her beauty ever. No more gave her a glance for a long time.
By now, the local government decided to recover her activity, spending a lot of money
to manage and to build a great scenery on two sides walking trails. Hoped to lead a life of leisure to the citizen of Chung Li in the future soon.
The changing work is going on, we expect to bring back the fresh water and water creatures.
老街溪整治中
老街溪位於桃園縣，從龍潭經中壢到大園入海，昔日是一條清澈美麗的溪流。沿河有許多埤塘和農田。早期居民和水鳥頼此溪流的水為生。由於人口增加排放廚廁廢水及工廠廢水，汚染河川。從此溪流骯髒惡臭。人們忘了她往昔美麗的容顔，已經很久不曾看她一眼。
現在，地方政府決定恢復她的活力，撥下巨款進行河川整治並建設兩岸景觀步道。希望能在不久的將來，給中壢居民帶來休閒憇息的生活空間。
整治工程正在進行中，我們希望溪流恢復生機，帶來清清的河水和水中魚鳥。

Wax Apple

Wax Apple
Walking along the market, a beautiful red fruit looking like a bell catches my eyes. It is a tropical fruit named "Wax Apple",Taiwanese calling it "Len Bu". It tastes light sweet with fresh good smell. In Taiwan fruits market, the best sweetest Wax Apples are nicknamed " Black Pearl" and" Black Diamond."
They have darker red color,best flavor and the highest price.
Seeing Wax Apple always reminds me to think of Provincial Tainan Girl's Middle School. The WaxApple trees grew around the campus. Every spring,
all the trees bloomed white flowers with good smell and then bore lots of fruits in the summer. Bunches of fruits with colors changing from white, pale green, green to red, we were waiting for them to mature. When mature time our teacher promised us to pick up them .The tree was a heavy bearer, yielding a crop of up to hundreds fruits. At rich harvest time was a wonderful remember.
In California ,I never saw Wax Apple in the market. It's really delicious and the
most highly prized fruits in Taiwan.
蓮霧
走在菓菜市場，一種紅色長得像鈴鐺的水菓，總是吸引我佇足欣賞。它是一種熱帶水果，名叫蓮霧。它的味道清甜嚐起來有淡淡的菓香。在台灣水菓市場最甜的蓮霧叫黑珍珠，黑金剛。它們色澤較深紅，口味更甜，價位更高。
看到蓮霧總會牽動我懷念起台南女中，想念當年環繞蓮霧樹的校園。每年春天，所有的蓮霧樹開滿了白色的小花，散發著淡淡的清香。到了夏天，看著它們慢慢結出一串串的小菓實，漸漸的菓實由白色轉成淡綠，由綠而紅。我們翹首仰望等候它們成熟。當成熟時，老師答應我們可以採摘。每棵蓮霧樹結實纍纍，一年可長出好幾百顆蓮霧，豐收時節是我們同學最美好的回憶，
在加利福尼亞州，在市場中我不曾看到蓮霧，它是台灣最可口的高價水菓。

This Morning

This morning
This morning, I wake up at 02:00, feeling clear to read "English 4u空中美語". Isn't "jet lag"?
Every Friday, my retired old friends get together to read English magazine. I was absent for five months, preparing the courses of this week better late than never.
" Your pronunciation improved a lot ,right ?"
"Not yet ,in the San Francisco Bay Area, we didn't speak English. Because lots of Chinese live in there."
For the aged, open our mind to learn anything and keep our body in good conditions. Being an independent character is necessary.
今天早晨
今天早晨，我在兩奌醒來，感覺頭腦清醒，便讀了空中美語4U，這是不是" 時差? "
每個星期五，我們退休的老朋友聚在一起讀英語雜誌。我已經缺席了五個月，趕緊準備本週課程，雖然遲了總比沒做好。
" 你現在英語說得很流利吧? "
" 還沒有，在舊金山灣區住的華人很多，我們不必說英語。"
對年長者，以開放的心胸去學習新事務，保持身心健康，做一個獨立的人是必要的。

Come Back Taiwan

Come Back Taiwan
00:05 on December31/2012 ,we took flight of China Air-Lines from San Francisco to Taipei , spending 13 hours .We flew over the Pacific Ocean and passed International Date Line. 06:00 on January 1/2013 arrived at Tao-Yuan International Airport. We lost near 17 hours. Near one day disappeared without a trace.
We were excited to come home ,though just now Taiwan' weather wet and cold without heater.
回到台灣
二〇一二年十二月三十一日零奌五分，我們從舊金山搭中華航空飛往台北班機，飛行時間十三小時。我們飛越太平洋，通過國際換日線。二〇一三年一月一日早上六奌抵達桃園國際機場。我們失去了十七小時。將近一天的時間消失得無影無蹤。
我們很興奮回到家，雖然此刻台灣天氣濕冷，沒有暖氣。