Flowers in bloom / 花開

今天回家路上想著台灣的二月底是怎樣光景，這裡有亮亮的陽光和盛開的花朵。

Today on my way home I wondered what the end of February is like in Taiwan. Here, there are bright sunshine and flowers in bloom...

mixed mezze / 中東小點

最近人生有點貧乏，不如來介紹點吃的好了，這是中東小菜，主要是因為我覺得應該多吃點蔬菜，那一坨一坨的就是各式沙拉，從中下方的優格沙拉到黃色的很像是北非米沙拉，最上方的是白菜沙拉，而上方兩粒就是falafel啦，是把雞豆碾碎做成球油炸的點心。

My life has been kind of boring lately. Well, I might as well introduce food. This is mixed mezze, in other words, small dishes served in the Middle East for lunch or dinner. I go for it because I feel the need to consume more salads. And you can see three lumps of them. The white one at the bottom is yogurt salad, and the yellow pile tastes like couscous salad to me, while the one on the top is coleslaw. As for the two brown balls, they are the famous falafel, deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas. 

Brighton / 布萊頓

布萊頓位於英國東南方，是個靠海的城市，因為對小蕙之前的旅行印象深刻，來到英國之後一直想去看看，這星期不過和嘉蕊說說，我回家馬上就訂了車票。初踏入這個城市就看到當地獨特的計程車和公車。

Brighton is located in the southeast of the UK. It is a city with seashores. I was impressed by Hui'trip there before coming to the UK, so I'd always been looking forward to traveling to Brighton. This week after Jazel and I talked of the city on our daily walk, I booked the train tickets right after coming home. My first impression of the city is the uniquely-designed taxis and buses.

布萊頓當地的房子多彩多姿。

The houses in Brighton are very colorful. 

店舖也不遑多讓。

The same with shop deco. 

我無意間晃進農夫市場。

I stroll accidentally into Brighton farm market. 

在布萊頓隨處可見強調用當地食材的標語。

In Brighton there are signs everywhere promoting the use of local products. 

仔細看，街上有些人很精心打扮，走路像是走秀。

Look carefully. There are some people who are fantastically dressed up. The streets are their catwalks. 

我走進巷弄小道區，基本上有許多小店和咖啡店，色彩整個迎面而來。

I walk into the Lanes, which are basically comprised of many small shops and cafes. I am embraced by a wide array of colors. 

還有風味十足的古董店。

Snooker's Attic is a huge shop selling retro and vintage antiques. 

巷子間有塗鴉。

Graffiti can be found on the walls in the lanes. 

有垃圾車的地方都會看到這個字，是「勿隨意亂丟垃圾」之意。

Near trash bins this sign can be seen. It means "No throwing rubbish illegally."

這是布萊頓圓塔。去的當天裡面在辦「全國學生日」的活動，有一些演講活動，詢問的時候已經差不多要結束了，門外的服務男孩補了一句：現在進去還有免費的比薩可以吃。看來免費的食物是很吸引人的條件。

This is Brighton Dome. The day we are there, "National Student Day" event is going on, with some talks and activities. When we inquire about it, it almost comes to an end. However, the staff outside adds, "There is free pizza now." It seems that free food is a huge factor that attracts people to go in. 

「皇家閣」是十九世紀末建築師John Nash仿泰姬瑪哈陵所見，所以有印度的風格。

Royal Pavilion was designed by the architect John Nash at the end of the 19th century, modeled after Taj Mahal. That explains why the style is very Indian. 

布萊頓除了給旅客視覺上的刺激，在聽覺上也相當豐富。雖然還沒走到海邊，到處可聽到海鷗叫聲。我速寫時背後有少女們在排練歌舞劇，非常之熱力十足。

Brighton gives tourists not only visual stimulation but also auditory enjoyment. Even away from the seaside, I can hear seagulls everywhere. While sketching, the young people behind me are rehearsing the musical. This city is so full of life. 

布萊頓版之「金髮尤物」。

The British version of Legally Blonde. 

悠閒的週六午後。

Leisurely Saturday afternoon. 

要接近海邊了！

I see the sea! 

摩天輪系列。

The Ferris Wheel series. 

看到海很高興，當下便撥了電話給小蕙和她分享海浪的聲音。

I am so happy to see the sea that I call Hui up to share with her the sounds of waves crashing against the shore. 

和少女們在海灘上吃炸魚和薯條。我覺得自己要趕快回台灣了，我的飲食越來越不健康，剛來的時候對於這道英國菜很鄙棄，現在卻很愛吃，而且前幾個月我吃不完一人份，現在哪有問題呢？太可怕了。

I share fish and  chips with my young companions on the beach. I feel the need to go back to Taiwan soon. My diet is getting to be less and less healthy. When I first came, I didn't have any appetite for fish and chips because I tried to avoid deep-fried stuff. Now I take such a liking to it. Besides, I wasn't able to finish a serving a few months ago, but now I am totally fine with it. I can feel my "depravity..." 

還好消化不是很好，阻止我加入甜點這一攤。

Luckily my bad digestion stops me from having desserts. 

我們在海灘上待了兩個小時也不覺得久。

We spend two hours on the beach without feeling bored. 

布萊頓碼頭上有遊戲場、遊樂園，好不歡樂。

There are an arcade and an amusement park on Brighton Pier. The whole place feels so merry. 

所以要回家前嘉蕊又搬出她的經典台詞：我要搬來布萊頓！

So before going home, Jazel repeats her classic line: I want to move to Brighton!