Longshan Temple / 龍山寺

速寫了好幾週，想畫廟的心願還沒有達成，還好新年一定要去趟龍山寺，這可是觀光大景點，怎麼樣都很有速寫的價值。

I hadn't got to draw a temple after having sketched for a few weeks. I knew I would though because it's a ritual for me to go to Long-shan Temple for new-year praying. It is one of the most famous temples in Taipei, certainly worthy of being recorded in my sketchbook. 

下午四點多有團禱，信徒在廟裡一同誦經，剛開始在人群中掙扎，感覺有個聲音對我說快點快點，不過坐下來畫圖之後，就不管身旁急促的腳步。雖然畫的都是大家拜拜的背影，我卻覺得如此簡單的動作有虔誠的感動。

When I arrived at about four p.m., a huge group of followers were reciting mantra together. In the beginning I attempted to find my place in the crowds when worshipping the gods. A voice in me beckoned, "Hurry hurry hurry." However, after I sat down to draw, I succeeded in ignoring the unceasing footsteps by my sides. People in my image made a uniform gesture of holding the incense in their hands, but such a simple act, for me, had a very devout feel to it. 

我很少抬頭看站在我身旁的路人，我的速寫本是打開的，邀請有興趣的人安靜或開朗地加入。自從開始在台北認真速寫之後，我發現這個城市的人們對於畫畫是很有興趣的，我得到的反應遠比在倫敦熱情。通常畫複雜的建築，在細節方面只能用我的想像力補強，可是也許站著看我的速寫本比我整顆頭埋在裡面看得清楚，就是到最後當我也不知道自己在畫什麼，還得到很多稱讚。今天還遇到一位小姐，熱情地問我畫的是不是插畫，她說她也畫建築物，特別喜歡我畫的廟頂，還問我有沒有名片，並且說拜完之後再來看看。

I hardly raise my head to look at passers-by who pause for a glance at my pictures. My sketchbook is always open, inviting those who are interested to join me either in silence or else. Since I started to sketch regularly in Taipei, I have found that people here are quite into drawing. In fact, I attract more attention here than in London. 

When drawing complicated architecture, I have to rely on my imagination to fill in the details my eyes don't see well. Maybe my viewers, standing next to me, see a bigger picture than me. In the end when I lost track of what I was drawing, I still gained much praise. I ran into a lady today who asked me if I was drawing an illustration. She also draws, buildings in particular, so she loves my temple very much. She even asked if I have a business card so she can recommend my works on the Internet. 

天就要黑了，速寫是和時間賽跑，坐在人流裡卻要穩穩不動，別人稱讚我時，我總說：其實你只要在這裡坐上一陣子也畫得出來，對於很多事情我沒有答案，可是我知道時間丟進去畫圖這件事，最後必定會有畫面出來。

The night was about to fall. Sketching is racing against time and standing one's ground. When others compliment me, I always give my standard answer, "In fact, if you are willing to sit here for a while, you will come up with something similar too." I don't have answers to many questions, but there is one thing I am so sure of--as long as I spend time sketching, I won't fail to produce images. 

寒假過了一半，我用速寫累積強大的心靈力量，我開始感受到新的決心升起，這也是眾神給我的祝福吧！

I am halfway through the winter break. Over the past weeks, I have been sketching to accumulate mental forces. Now I have felt new determination rising. I guess I am blessed by the gods in many ways...