Ciho- a Secret Garden

Ciho- a Secret Garden

Ciho located in Daxi Township of Taoyuan , in the past time, it was a military general staff ,a ruler's homeland and finally became the site of President Chiang Kai- Shek's Mausoleum. In recent years,

the secret garden was opened to the tourists.

There are many white and black swans floating on the beautiful lake slowly and elegantly ,various kinds of water plants and colorful flowers lying in the sunshine. The giant woods stand on the driveway sides, hidden houses was the general staff and many underground tunnels are appealed to the curious people. The pictures of President Chiang's big family hang on the living room. It is a quiet and peaceful scene worthy of making a tour ,especially a person who is interesting in the history of China Civil War.

A flock of the President Chiang Kai-Shek's statues present at the different styles and stages standing together on the green field. However the ages would remind of that they were ever standing up the plazas everywhere in Taiwan.

Now, Taiwan is a democratic country ,but all the way we never forget to say" thank you" to look up to the heavens. Nevertheless Life is a best blessing.

慈湖一一個秘密花園

慈湖位於桃園大溪鎮，在過往的年代，它是一個軍事參謀總部，一個統治者的家園，最終成為蔣介石總統陵寢的所在地。近年這秘密花園開放給遊客參觀。

有許多白色黑色的天鵝悠悠然高雅的浮遊於湖上，各種水草和美麗的花卉舒適的躺在陽光下閃耀，巨大的林木蓊鬱的站立車道兩旁，林蔭深處隱藏的房子曾是參謀總部，許多地下隧道最吸引好奇的人們。起居室掛滿了蔣總統大家庭的生活照片。它寧靜安祥的景色值得一遊，尤其是對有興趣於國共內戰歷史的人更值得來走走。

一群以各種不同姿態和呈現不同階段性的蔣介石總統雕塑像一起站立在綠色的公園上。無論如何，年長的人都會記得他們曾經矗立在台灣每一個地方的廣場上。

現在，台灣是一個民主國家，但是一路上我們在仰望上天時，絶不忘記常懷感恩之心.生命本身就是一個最大的祝福。

Anything goes ?

，Anything goes ?

Listen to Lady ga-ga' song " Anything goes. " I feel a little pain, I don't know what happened ? and when ? Anything goes ? " good's bad today. And day's night today. And black's white today. "

About ten years ago, a welcome richest successful merchant family- four brothers Wei came back the homeland as the Salmon return, but the truth was the Shark return. They sell food oil made from waste and feed oil and indirectly increasing many people to get intestinal cancer and kidneys, liver diseases. All Taiwanese are so angry that hope to give them a strict judge.

For a merchant thinks about how to down the cost and raise the price to get more profit, but can't do that the end justifies the means. The Chinese basically thinking came from Confucian Analects, The Master said, " Riches and honors are what men desire. If it cannot be obtained in the proper way ,they should not be held ."

Anything goes ? I don't think so .

凡事皆可？

聽到 Lady ga-ga 的歌曲"凡事皆可"我覺得有點難過，我不知道怎麼一回事？什麼時候變這樣？好壞不分，日夜不分，黑白不分的今天，凡事皆可。

大約十年前，我們歡迎最富有最成功的紅頂商人魏家四兄弟衣錦還鄉，説是鮭魚迴流，其實是鯊魚回流。他們賣回收廢油和飼料油製成的食用油，間接造成許多人得了大腸癌和腎臟，肝臟疾病。所有的台灣人都很生氣，希望法律給予最嚴厲的制裁。

作為一個生意人思考如何降低成本，提高售價以獲取更多的利潤，但是不能為達目的不擇手段。中國人最基本的道德思想來自於論語，子曰:富與貴人之所欲也，不以其道得之，不處也。

凡事皆可？我可不這麼認為。

Let's Sing a Song

Let's sing a song

Joining the Tao Yuan Hiking Team, every Tuesday we go hiking and sing all the road on bus. Since Karaoke was spread rapidly in the whole Taiwan, people love to sing and share with family and friends. In my image , Taiwanese were not so active and happy in past age. Something we couldn't understand when we were young ; when we finally understand ,we are not young any more.

My mother seldom bursted into laughter, she was hard work in a big family and was bothered by a flock of children. Until she was getting older and sometimes met her old friends, on that private occasion ,they talked together fluently in Japanese and sang their teenager's songs, they were so happy and loud laughter. I finally understood not the songs made their emotional ,it was the people and things that came to their mind .Due to be growing and educated in the time of Japanese ruled , they had confused with recognition and was strangled in whole their life.

We were growing after WWII ,the popular songs were filled with reflecting poor life or translating from Japanese songs, especially female's sorrowful fortune. 1971 Taiwan was forced to leave United Nations far away from the International political stage. The college students started to write and sing their songs expressing themselves that they would wake up and strongly explore their way in the future. These campus songs guided Taiwan to become the center of Chinese popular music.

1980s and 1990s Taiwan experienced rapid economic growth and it's technology industry plays a key role in the global economy. 1987 the President Chiang Ching- Kuo lifted Martial Law. The fog lifted and we could see the mountain. Taiwanese far away from low atmosphere kicked off singing loud. Karaoke helps people to remind the tune and words of songs. You Tube provides a learning way. Now all ages can sing a song free and happy .

Let's sing a song !

讓我們唱一首歌

參加桃源健行隊，每星期二我們去健行並在車上一路唱歌。自從卡拉OK在整個台灣快速風行，人們愛唱歌也樂於與家人親友分享。在我印象中，過往的年代，台灣人不是這麽充滿活力又快樂的。有些事我們年輕時不瞭解，當我們終於瞭解時，已不再年輕。

我的母親幾乎不曾朗朗大笑，她在大家庭中辛勤終日，又得煩一大群子女。直到她步入晚年，偶爾見到老朋友時，她們私下場合彼此用流利的日語交談，唱她們青春少女時的歌曲，我發現她們是如此的快樂，笑得多麼開心。終於瞭解讓她們感動的不是歌曲本身，而是出現心中的人事物，她們成長並受教育於日據時代，終其一生有壓抑認同的困惑。

我們成長於第二次世界大戰後，當時的流行歌曲充滿反映貧困生活或翻譯日本歌曲，很多是描述女性悲哀的命運。1971年台灣被迫離開聯合國並遠離國際政治舞台，大學生開始寫歌唱出他們的覺醒，也探索他們未來的路。這些校園歌曲創作引領台灣成為華語樂壇的中心 。

1980年代和1990年代，台灣經歷了快速經濟發展，它進步的電子工業使它扮演了全球經濟關鍵性的角色。1987年蔣經國總統宣佈解嚴，霧散了我們看見青色山脈。台灣人遠離低迷的氛圍，開始大聲唱歌，卡拉0K幫助人們記起曲調和歌詞，You Tube 提供了學習的工具，現在所有年齡層的人都能自由快樂的唱歌。讓我們來高歌一曲吧！

The Ghost Month

），

The Ghost Month

In Chinese custom, the Gate of the Hell opened at 0:00 on the first day of the Lunar seventh month , all the spirits will have one month vacation wandering in the living world. People will treat them with food and symbolical money, clothes or produce,especially at the fifth day, there are particular and fascinating worshipping activities in everywhere.

Taiwan is an immigrant society, people pursued the better life to explore and develop the new land from the Mainland China ,they were fighting against the numerous natural disaster and devoted their whole life in the island but some no generations who become lonely soul. Taiwanese call them " Good brother "to express their appreciation and friendship. Every year  ,people hold worship ceremony on the Ghost Month.

Putting lighting boats on the water to guide the way ,burning firecracker to avoid disease and burning symbolical money to free from poor is popular. We love our passed away relatives ,friends and care about strangers through any way with warm heart .The wedding ,moving ,playing in the water and giving a whistle in the evening are not permitted during the festival .

The Ghost Month in Taiwan is a folk festival ,a peaceful blessing to all spirits.

鬼月

在中國傳統習俗，農曆七月一日零晨開鬼門關，所有的鬼魂都將有一個月的假期遊走人間。人們將以食物和象徵性的紙錢，衣物和用品款待他們，尤其在十五中元節，有許多特別，盛大且吸引人的祭祀活動在各地舉行。

台灣是一個移民社會，人們為了追求更好的生活從中國大陸來探索開墾和發展了這塊新土地，他們和無數的大自然災害搏鬥，並奉獻整個生命在這個海島上，但是有些人因為沒有後代而成孤魂，台灣人稱他們為好兄弟，表達對他們共同奮鬥的感激和友誼。每年，人們在鬼月舉行祭祀活動。

放水燈在河海去指引去路，燃放爆竹去邪避病，燃燒紙錢給亡靈免於匱乏是很普遍的活動。我們愛我們已逝的親人和朋友，也關心陌生人，透過任何方式表達溫暖的心意。婚禮，搬家，玩水和晚上吹口哨在鬼節是不被允許的。

鬼月在台灣是個民俗節日，是安撫亡靈也祈求平安的節日。

In Haulien, meet Marble, Pebbles and Jade

，In Haulien, meet Marble, Pebbles and Jade

About 50 years ago, when I was a senior in the college ,I joined a group of young people hiking on The Central Cross-Island Highway at a summer vacation. We were shocked by the spectacular scenery and appreciated the hard great work of veterans. At that time , Taroko Gorge was a mysterious valley, the home of native Taiwanese.

At the end of May in 2014, we joined Taoyuan Hiking Team to visit Taroko National Park, and to go hike on Sakadang Trail. The trail was a narrow path which had been dig through the hard and tough rocks and along the river cliffs by aboriginal to use in the past. 1940 , it was widened by Japanese to transport hydro-electric power equipment for Liwu Hydropower plant. Now ,Sakadang  is a most famous and glorious trail in Taroko Gorge. Because it was filled with beautiful giant marble , a surprising work by nature. The tourists can enjoy a nice walk to admire the colorful marble and clear crystal river water.

Facing the Pacific Ocean, the coast is covered with numerous little stones carved by waves to become smooth and round pebbles. They lied on the eastern of Taiwan for thousands years until Suhua Highway was finished and brought the tourists to find the pretty and colorful pebbles. We took a walk step by step on the pebbles to massage soles of the feet and enjoyed the light touching by the Pacific Ocean wind.

Up Bai-Bao stream, we were excited to search for beautiful stones and played in the water, according to the local resident said when Typhoon and heavy rain hit Hualien, then lots of mud and stones rolled down from mountains and stayed behind some bright and shine jade in the bed. The small country,Fong Tien ,is a home of famous Taiwan Jade.

You can't say you had been to Hualien without meeting marble, pebbles and jade.

在花蓮遇見大理石，鵝卵石和玉石

大約五十年前，當我是大學高年級生時，在暑假和一群年輕人徒步走中部橫貫公路。我們震撼於雄偉壯觀的風景，也激賞退役軍人艱難偉大的成就。在那時代，太魯閣峽谷是一個神秘的山谷，是原住民部落所在。

2014 年五月底，我們參加桃源健行隊去拜訪太魯閣國家公園，健行於沙卡噹步道。這個步道原是一條狹窄的小徑，是舊時土著在巨石懸崖間一刀一斧開鑿出來使用的山徑，1940年在日據時代擴建為立霧水力發電廠的運補電力器材設備的小道，現在成為太魯閣峽谷最著名最壯麗的一條步道，由於大自然令人驚豔的傑作，峽谷中佈滿了巨大美麗的大理石。現在遊客可以享受美好的健行，一面走路一面欣賞美妙多彩的大理石和清澈晶瑩剔透如水晶般的溪水。

面對太平洋，海岸覆蓋了滿滿的小石頭，被海浪沖刷琢磨成圓滑的鵝卵石。它們靜靜的躺在台灣東海岸幾千萬年，直到蘇花公路完工開通，帶來遊客，發現這些漂亮彩色的鵝卵石。我們一步一步的踩著鵝卵石散步去作腳底按摩，並享受太平洋的風輕輕撫觸。

上溯白鮑溪，我們興奮的玩水並尋找美麗的小石頭，根據當地居民説，當颱風和豪雨襲擊花蓮，大量泥沙石頭從山裡滾滾而下，會在河床上留下一些閃亮的玉石。豐田村這小小的村莊是著名的台灣玉的産地。

如果你沒有遇見大理石，鵝卵石和玉石，你不能説你到過花蓮。

Walking Through The Farms

Walking through the farms
We ever drove a car rolling the road or took the train and high speed train from one place to another place, gave a glance to the beautiful country in a hurry. Now we are joining Tao-Yuan Hiking Group ,we walk through the field, by the fruits farms , between the mountains ,into the valley and climb the hills ,find new life everywhere in nature.
Trying to imagine a huge field with kinds of colorful flowers expanded to the horizon ,so magnificent in the winter. We wondered why the farmers seeded the field with flowers after harvest time . They said that grew the plants to be green compose in the next spring. We were so excited to enjoy the beautiful scenery and surprised at ignorant of farm life.
Walking by the fruit farms ,all trees in full bloom of cherry ,peach and pear flowers ,good smell in the air and spectacular view was a great shock. When we visited again at the end of the spring , they had yielded a lot of small fruits. We often bought mature fruits in the market ,seldom closed to the products in progress. We felt so tender and happy to these baby fruits and hoped the farmers would have a good harvest in hard work.
To walk is a good exercise to our body and mind, a pollution -free and a low- impact activity to cause injury. How long we are no more care about the changing of the nature and the relationship. Taking a walk or getting outside on foot is a good way to enjoy the beautiful life.
步行穿過田野
我們曾駕車奔馳於公路上，或乘火車和高鐵從一個地方到另一個地方，對這個美麗的家園僅在匆忙中給予快速一瞥。現在我們參加桃源健行隊，我們步行穿過原野，經過菓園，經過山峽，進入山谷和爬過小山,發現大自然中處處有新的生命力。
試著去想像，一片廣大的田野中一望無際的各種色彩繽紛的花海，在冬天是如此的瑰麗壯觀。我們心中充滿疑問，為什麼農民會在作物收割後撒下大片的花種子。他們說
那是種來作明年春天的土壤綠肥。我們是如此興奮的享受美麗的景觀，也驚訝於對農村生活的無知。
走過菓園旁，見所有櫻花，桃花，梨花都綻放枝頭，空氣中飄來陣陣清香，花團錦簇的景色震撼了我們。當我們春末再度拜訪，他們已生長出許多小菓子。我們時常在市場買已成熟的水菒，卻很少如此親近這些成長進行中的農產品。看著這些小菓子我們感覺溫柔和快樂，也希望辛勤工作的農民得到豐富的收穫。
步行對身體和心靈都是很好的運動，也是低汚染和造成傷害很少的活動.有多久我們不再關心自然的變遷和人際關係的疏離，散步或到郊外走走是享受美好生活的方法。

Visiting to the Home of Calla Lilies- Bamboo Lake

Visiting to the Home of Calla Lilies- Bamboo Lake
We were hiking from the back side of Yangmingshan through the ancient trails over Spring Hill to a valley ,named Bamboo Lake .
Everyone was amazed by the surround mountain views ,but wondered where are the lake and the bamboo ? They said there was a lake which made from the volcano erupted and disappeared for a long time. The area was a farmland for planting the flowers instead of bamboos cause of attracting the tourist and making a lot of profit.
The area is rainy ,the humid and cold climate are suitable the flowers to grow ,especially Calla Lily blossom in the Spring is attractive lots of people to visit. White elegant Calla Lily ,as a symbol of love and beauty , is famous and popular for decorating the field of wedding ,graduation or funeral ceremony . We were walking beside the flower farm to admire the stunning flowers and breathe a good smell in the air.
There are many restaurants sell wild herb, sweet potatoes and healthy chicken , crowded of urban tourist to eat the organic food . The sweet potatoes and wild herb including Asparagus, Jau Her Herb and Wu Tin Herb which were the main food of 1940-1950 the poor people suffered from World War II.
The countryside of Bamboo Lake is located within Yangmingshan National Park and to take a bus visiting the beautiful scenic spot is convenient , don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the Calla lilies in March and April .
拜訪海芋的家一竹子湖
我們健行從陽明山後山穿過古道越過青春嶺到達一個山谷，名叫竹子湖的地方。
每一個人都震驚於群山環繞中的美景，但是滿懷疑問，湖呢?竹子呢?在哪裡?他們說以前火山爆發曾造成堰塞湖，已經消失很久了。這區域的農田不再種竹子而改種花是因為吸引遊客，創造觀光收入。
這是個多雨的地區，潮溼冷涼的氣候適合花卉生長，尤其海芋花在春天開放吸引許多觀光客。純白高雅的海芋是愛和美麗的象徵，是最著名和受歡迎的花卉，廣泛用於佈置婚禮，畢業典禮和喪禮的會場。我們徜徉於花田旁，欣賞出色的花卉，也呼吸空氣中淡淡的清香。
這兒有許多提供野菜，甘藷和放山雞的餐廳，擠滿了來自都會區吃有機食物的遊客。甘藷和野菜包括龍鬚菜，昭和草和黑甜菜，是一九四〇到一九五〇年代受苦於第二次世界大戰的窮人的主食。
竹子湖鄉村位於陽明山國家公園境內，乘公共汽車來拜訪這美麗的景奌很便利，不要失去在三月、四月欣賞海芋花開的機會。

Fall in Love with Nature- Shimen Reservoir

Fall in Love with Nature- Shimen Reservoir
Shimen Reservoir,is an artificial lake and large water resource preserved area, completed in 1964 and located in Taoyuan County of northern Taiwan. The Shimen Dam is a rock fill dam which holds the reservoir. It's main purposes are water supply, flood control and hydroelectricity.
Living on Taoyuan is a blessing ,we never worried about no water until 2004 Typhoon Ali hit Taiwan, gigantic mud flood rushed into the reservoir and broke down the system of water supply. From August to September , every day was a nightmare. Finally, people understand that water is so important worthy of precious.
Shimen Reservoir is surrounded by mountains beautiful as blue crystal. We climbed up the Shimen Mountain and with a bird's eye view at the peak ,the whole scenery is so pretty like a vast and spectacular picture. Otherwise we past through the maple woods to enjoy the breeze and listened to the songs of birds both harmonious and joy. Colorful flowers of Sakura ,Indian Azalea bloom in the Spring and the plum trees have white and pink blossoms during the coldest period of Winter ,and Osmanthus pathways have good smell all the four seasons.
Taking a boat around the reservoir or up the Dahan Creek is a wonderful experience, especially secret scene appears out when the way is full of flowing in water, the plants and creatures seldom being bothered.
Touring Shimen Reservoir on a Bike or on foot around the lake is a good choice, due to the path is comfortable and safe and many restaurants provide kinds of fish cuisines. It's special and delicious.
We care about the water resource to visit the Shimen Reservoir frequently, and fall in love with nature. This is a true getaway.
愛上自然一石門水庫
石門水庫是一個人工湖泊和很大的水資源保護區，完成於一九六四年，位於北台灣桃園縣境內。石門水壩是石頭為主的堤岸型壩體，控制整個水庫。它的主要功能是給水，防洪和水力發電。
住在桃園縣境內是很幸福的事情，我們從不曾擔心沒水喝，直到二〇〇四年艾莉颱風襲擊台灣，巨量的泥流沖進水庫，破壞了供水系統。從八月到九月，每天都是一場夢魘。人們終於深刻體會到水的重要性，値得好好珍惜。
石門水庫被群山環抱，美麗得彷彿藍色水晶。我們爬上石門山，站在山顛鳥瞰整個風景，視野開濶，美麗江山如畫。我們穿過楓樹林，愉快的享受微風輕拂，聽和諧悅耳的鳥鳴。多彩多姿的櫻花，杜鵑花在春天繽紛綻放，梅樹在寒冬白色粉紅色的花開滿枝頭，道旁的桂花樹一年四季都散發淡淡的清香。
乘船環湖遊覽或上溯大漢溪是美妙的經驗，尤其當流入水庫的水滿水位時，秘境出現，平時這裡的植物和生物都不受打擾的。
遊石門水庫騎腳踏車或步行環湖是很棒的選擇，因為環湖道路舒適又安全，沿途還有許多提供各種不同魚料理的海產餐廳，特別又美味可口。
我們因為關心水資源而常常造訪石門水庫，而愛上它的自然之美，它真正是個世外桃源。

Enter the Coal Town

Enter the Coal Town
Pingxi Line is a branch of the railroad, was built for transporting the coal mine, located in New Taipei City ,Pingxi District. On 1997, when the cost of Taiwan's coal no more had competition in the international market , the industry became a history and the railroad faced to be closed . In the meanwhile ,the writers, painters ,and photographers remains numerous beautiful scenery, culture and the memories of miners. Since people started to say good-by and everything happened in the blink of an eye, they saw that it is a Taiwan's coal mine natural museum.
We took a train of Pingxi Line to Sandiauling station and started to go hiking over the hills which produced coal mine ever. The miners almost moved out the mine areas rarely the senior living in torn up houses ,they liked somebody to come here but back to the routine peace soon and the school and office were given up, just some brick walls on the base to tell that the glory had died down.
The railroad was built along Keelong River through the tunnels to carry full of tourists instead of loading the coal mine. People cheer up the mountain view ,they never to understand the work of mining industry was hard and dangerous unless visiting the Taiwan Coal Mine Museum in Shinfen.
Walking on the old street of Shinfen is crowed and noisy ,there are filled with Japanese ,Korean ,Hong kong and local tourists to admire the special coal town and to taste the famous Taiwanese foods, the Coal Town is making a Tour Spotlight.
進入煤鄉
平溪線是一條鐵路支線，位於新北市平溪區，建來運輸煤礦產。1997年當台灣的煤開採成本在國際市場上不再具有競爭力時，這個產業走入歷史，運煤鐵路也面臨關閉。此時，作家、畫家和攝影家留下許多美景、文化及礦工回憶的作品。人們因此開始去道別，轉瞬間奇妙的事發生了，大家看見這裡是台灣煤礦業的自然博物館。
我們搭了平溪線的火車來到三貂嶺站，開始健行越過曾經產煤的幾個山頭。礦工們幾乎都搬出礦區，祇剩很少的年長者居住在老舊的房舍𥚃，他們喜歡看到有人經過這裡，但很快又回到往常的安靜坐息。這裡的學校和行政管理部門被廢棄了，僅留下一些基座上的磚牆訴說消退的過往繁華。
鐵路沿著基隆河建築穿過山洞，帶來滿滿的觀光客取代了往昔載運的煤礦產，人們歡呼美麗的山景，卻對礦業的艱苦危險不瞭解，除非到十分去拜訪台灣煤礦博物館。
走在十分的古老街上，擁擠又喧鬧，街上充滿著日本，韓國，香港和本地遊客，他們欣賞煤鄉的特色也品嚐台灣著名的小吃，煤鄉正形成旅遊亮點。