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。

The Homeland of Immigrants- Pong Kang

The Homeland of Immigrants -Pong kang
Pong kang was an ancient place name which included Peikang of Yunlin county and Shinkang of Chiayi county . Hundreds years ago ,it was a prosperous harbor, many emigrants coming on shore from Fujian of China Main Land. The emigrants brought Mazu ,a Sea Goddess was born in Meizhou Island, to protect them across the terrific Taiwan Channel and to help them building a new homeland.
Peikang Chaotienkung temple was built in 1694, dedicated to Mazu . It was the home temple of over three hundred Mazu temples all around Taiwan. Being a famous Mazu temple fully reflects the local customs, culture arts and the folk belief. We appreciated the beautiful decorations above the roofs or along the walls with figures or folk stories and lucky animals or flowers. They are made from Koji Ceramics .
For the most part of Taiwanese temples 's Koji Ceramics, we visited to Bantaoyao ,a Crafts Studio of Koji Ceramics & Chien-Nien, and found a beautiful small countryside named Bantao. There is calm and peace, every path and house decorates colorful figures with pottery. The local residents seem the senior farmers hardly seeing children and young people , they were isolated , due to the transportation being changed ,no boats ,no trains, but they decide to recover activity and prosperity ever, starting to keep a clean and pretty environment with special artistic ceramics. Now the travelers are surprised at the amazing view and bring the tourist one by one.
The immigrants brought Mazu to go ahead anywhere and to struggle against the natural disasters when they were alive and got new life , they thanked Goddess for their harvest and built a Mazu temple to worship. Every year, on the 23rd day of third lunar month which is said the birthday of Mazu, all Mazus living in everywhere come back mother's home-Peikang Chaotienkung temple, it's a highlight day in Taiwan.
移民的故鄉一笨港
笨港是古地名，包含今之雲林縣北港和嘉義縣新港地區。幾百年前，它是一個繁榮的海港，許多來自中國大陸福建的移民在此上岸。移民帶來媽祖，一個生長在湄洲島的海神，庇佑他們渡過可怕的台灣海峽並幫肋他們建立新的家園。
北港朝天宮建於1694年，主祀媽祖。它是全台灣三百多座媽祖廟的總廟。身為最著名的媽祖廟充分反映出地方的風俗習慣，文化藝術和民俗信仰。我們欣賞廟宇屋頂和牆面許多雕刻的人物和民間傳說故事和吉祥動物花卉的裝飾。它們是交趾陶作品。
由於大部分台灣廟宇的交趾陶出自板陶窰，我們拜訪板陶窰交趾剪粘工藝園區。也因之發現一個美麗的小鄉村一板頭村。這是一個安寧平靜的小村莊，每一條巷弄和每一間房子都裝飾了多彩多姿的陶土雕刻。這裡的居民似乎都是年長的農民，幾乎看不到兒童和年輕人。由於交通運輸的改變，他們被孤立隔絕，沒有船也沒有火車。但是他們決定恢復往日的蓬勃生機和繁榮，他們開始保持整潔和美麗的環境，用特色的陶瓷藝術來美化。現在，旅行者驚訝於它們神奇的美麗並帶進一個接一個的觀光客。
移民帶著媽祖前往探索任何地方，並和大自然災害搏鬥。當他們存活下來，並獲得新生活。他們因收穫而感謝女神的庇佑並建廟祭拜。每年農曆三月二十三日，據說是媽祖生日，全台灣各地的媽祖都回娘家一北港朝天宮，這一日是台灣普天同慶的大日子。
Ps:台南大天后宫建於1683年，是官府所建媽祖廟。
台灣媽祖廟中有三百多座由朝天宫分靈出去的。

Hiking Around the Sun-Moon Lake

Hiking Around the Sun Moon Lake
Once upon a time, a hunter chased after a beautiful white deer over Mount A-Li and came to a wonder-land which a Great Lake shined in the high mountains ,one side bending to a little island like a new moon ,the other side round like a rising sun. He ran to hurry back his home and told the chief of the tribe that he found an amazing place suitable to living ,named Sun-Moon Lake. Since then the tribe of Thao moved to the countryside by the lake.
People fall in love with the calm and peace view of the Sun-Moon Lake and it becomes a really famous scenery in Taiwan. Though 1999, a 7.6-7.7Mw earthquake occurred on 21 September ,it was the nearest the center of the terrific event, in no time all great hotels and buildings were destroyed .The government determined to make a fast recovery and to plan a friendly environment .
Now there are many bicycle paths and hiking trails around the Sun-Moon Lake, and develop yachts for a sail ,canoes for a sport and build visitors service centers to provide rest and information.
In the gentle sunshine, we are hiking around the Sun-Moon Lake to look the cloud over in the sky and under the water surfing with the wind, and through the plums blossom trees that a light fresh perfume along the trails, so sweet. Flying birds in the breeze and jumping squirrels in the forest ,they don't care about any person passing by. By the way , the beautiful bicycle path was chosen one of the ten pretties paths in the world by CNNGO.
Going up to Wunwu Temple, we walk on 366 steps which were curved dates and information related to the 24 solar periods ,the visitors often tied a wind chime to ask for blessing on the step which was curved his own birthday. The Wunwu Temple is devoted to Confucius ,God of wisdom and knowledge,and to Guan - Gong, God of courage and loyalty. We worship them for a wishing well.
On the back home road, the sunset is company with us, though a Chinese poem said, "The sunset is beautiful , but the evening is getting near." It's a little sad feelings. We like the golden and orange sunset , so nice and spectacular !
繞著日月潭健行
從前有一個獵人追著一頭美麗的白鹿越過阿里山，來到一個夢幻之地，那是一個閃閃發光的高山湖泊，一邊彎向小島像新月如鈎，另一邊圓如初昇旭日。他急速的跑回家，並告訴部落酋長，他發現一個適合居住的神奇地方，名叫日月潭。從此邵族人就遷移到湖邊建村莊居住。
人們愛上這個寧謐與世無爭的日月潭，並成為台灣最著名的風景區。然而在1999年9月2l日一個7.6- 7.7級大地震，震央就在附近，可怕的大地震瞬間擊倒所有的大飯店和建築設備。政府決定儘速復元災區並計畫建設友善的生態環境。
現在有許多自行車道和健行步道環繞日月潭，並發展遊艇航行湖上及作為運動的獨木舟，也建了遊客服務中心，提供旅客休憇與資訊。
在溫柔的陽光下，我們環繞曰月潭健行，看雲在天上飛也在水裡隨風飄流，我們穿過梅花盛開的小徑，一路聞著淡淡清新的梅花撲鼻香，多麼甜美愜意。小鳥在微風中緩緩飛翔，小松鼠在林木間跳躍，完全不怕生無視於來往行人。順道一提，這條美麗的自行車道被美國CNNGO評選為全世界最漂亮的十條自行車道之一。
走上文武廟，須爬三百六十六層台階，每一台階均刻日期和刻上二十四節氣及說明，旅客常在自己生日的那一台階旁繫上風籤，祈求神明庇佑。文武廟主祀孔子和關公，孔子是智慧和知識之神，關公代表戰鬥意志和忠誠。我們拜拜許願美好的未來。
在回家的路上，夕陽陪伴我們歸去，中國詩曾謂夕陽無限好，祇是近黃昏。有奌兒傷感。我們喜歡這金光橘紅的夕陽，晚霞多麼美好壯麗!

Visiting to Dong Mao Shan at the end of 2013

Visiting to Dong Mao Shan at the end of 2013
The site of Dong Mao Shan is in Nan Tou County near to Kukuan. The heights of the mountain is 1690m and the length of the trail is 6.5km. To hike on the path covering with fallen leaves is flexible and comfortable. Parts of the trails are built by Taiwan Electric Power Company for power transmission and the workers of power plant are often up and down to make sure power supply.
Standing on the top of the mountain , a far and wide scenery of mountains and a bird's eye view of Tachiachi river and her branch Dong Mao river are great .
The Tachiachi Hydropower Plant is located at the reach between the Kukuan Reservoir and the Tienlun Dam. It had been designed by Japanese in 1941 ,due to the impact of The World War 11 finished in 1952 and developed until today.
In that hard time afterThe World War 11, Taiwanese were thankful for the efforts of all workers of power plants to provide water power and fire power far away from the darkness. Nevertheless the Tienlun power plant was the light at the end of the tunnel. When typhoon induced heavy rainfalls and floods, the workers of power plants keep to maintain the power well.
Economic development needs more and more electric power ,nuclear was a new choice to replace water and fire power until 2011 Fukushima Nuclear crisis in Japan . People is afraid of pollution, radios and refuse to work reactor and combat the towers of the power transmission.
In the Dong Mao Shan ,looking up the electric towers and on the trail which works to keep from power failure, we think of every cloud having a silver lining.
在2013年最後一天拜訪東卯山
東卯山位於南投縣谷關附近。此山高度1690公尺，步道長6.5公里。健行在這鋪滿落葉的小徑上，很有彈性又舒服。部分的山徑是台灣電力公司開闢來作電力輸送和電廠工作人員時常上上下下確保電力供給的維護道路。
站在山頂遠望附近山脈，視野遼闊，俯瞰大甲溪和它的支流東卯溪景色絶佳。
大甲溪水力發電廠坐落於谷關水庫和天輪水壩之間。在1941年時日本人計畫在此設立電廠，由於第二次世界大戰的衝擊而停工，戰後完工於1952年並運轉發展至今。
在二次大戰後的艱困年代，台灣人感激電力公司員工的努力，提供水力發電和火力發電，使台灣遠離黑暗的日子。而天輪電廠不可諱言的是黑暗盡頭的一道曙光。當颱風帶來豪雨和土石流，電力公司員工都奮不顧身去維修保持電力供給順暢。
隨著經濟的發展需要越來越多的電力，核能發電是一個替代水力發電和火力發電的新選擇，直到2011年日本福島發生核能危機，人們害怕汚染，輻射，拒絕核子反應爐的運轉，也反對輸電的電塔。
在東卯山中，仰望電塔及俯看這條作為維護免於停電的小徑，我們由衷希望事情再糟總會有一線希望。