Dadaocheng Wharf / 大稻埕碼頭

來去大稻埕碼頭看夕陽，與其說這裡是觀光景點，不如說是市井小民生活的場域。

Let's go to Dadaocheng Wharf for the sunset. It's more a public space for the locals than a tourist spot. 

        大家用最自在的方式放鬆，畫著畫著我也感覺像在家一樣自由。

     Everyone relaxes in their own ways. I can't help loosening up as I observe and draw how others live. 

        華燈初上，廣場上、榕樹下或廟旁的空地，紛紛成為卡拉ok歌手的舞台，排排站的塑膠椅向路人招手，邀請他們來聽一曲，還有毫不害羞的歐吉桑跳著熟練的舞步，多麼華麗的台北夜晚！

     As the sky darkens, the wharf becomes a performing stage for local singers. They can be seen on the square, next to the temples or under the banyan trees. Rows of empty plastic chairs wave to the passers-by, inviting them to be part of the show. Moreover, the music is accompanied by the sophisticated dance of middle-aged men. What a splendid way to spend an evening in Taipei! 

Sketchy sketches / 速速寫

好久沒有速寫，我渴望感受日常生活的魅力，所以一早從坐公車的時候就開始我的速速寫遊戲，可能只是三十秒，或者是二十分，都充滿無限可能。

Since I haven't sketched for a long while, my whole being is packed with longings that scream for an outlet. So I decide to play the sketchy sketch game even when taking the short bus ride. Be it thirty seconds or twenty minutes, I know there are countless possibilities in the game. 

        我的雙眼看到的人事物都如此迷人，速寫當下就算龐大的公車擋住我的視野，也擋不住我的渴望。

     In my eyes, every detail is so charming and nothing, not even a gigantic bus in front of me, can stop me from recording their beauty. 

        生活始終是美麗的，只是我們常常被自己矇蔽了。

     Life is always beautiful, but we are often blind to it. 

When I'm ready / 等待再次起飛

We are all the same / 我們都一樣

表面亮晶晶，

內心很擔心。

Shiny on the outside, 

uneasy on the inside. 

Chubby Auntie / 胖阿姨

胖阿姨早上在萬芳醫院捷運站發報紙好幾年，每天她會給我好明亮的微笑，我的心情總是因此一振。前一陣子胖阿姨再也沒有出現，我想了幾個星期，幻想她或許生病了、或許遠遊。

Chubby Auntie had been handing out free newspapers in the Wanfang Hospital MRT station for several years. Every day her bright smile would light up my day. However, a while ago, Chubby Auntie  vanished without a trace. I wondered if she fell ill or if she went on a long journey. 

        那一陣子聽了繪本作家馬尼尼爲的演講，對於海的旅館有非常嚮往的心情，那是可以獨處的空間。

     I happened to attend a talk given by the illustrator Maniniwe then. I long to spend some time in her "Sea Hotel," where I will have all the time and space to myself. 

        也許胖阿姨去了海的旅館。

        想不到有一天居然在家裡的捷運站遇見胖阿姨，原來派報社不再雇用胖阿姨了。

        我居然如此想念一個近似陌生人的胖阿姨‧‧‧‧‧‧

     Maybe Chubby Auntie went to the Sea Hotel. 

     One day I encountered Chubby Auntie coincidentally in the MRT station near home. She explained to me that she is no longer employed by the newspaper. 

     Strangely, I miss such a stranger so much that my heart aches... 

Shimen Reservoir / 石門水庫

inside and outside / 裡面和外面

我從框架裡往外看，而那邊也是從框架裡往外看。

I look outside from inside the frame, and it's the same from that side. 

Sense of Taipei / 台北感

週五聽了李明璁教授的演講，他提到每個地方都應該有其特殊的文化氛圍，台北的特色是什麼呢？去象山健行的時候，得到了有趣的答案。

I listened to a talk by Prof. Lee Ming-tsung two days ago on how every place should have its own particular sense, i.e. culture and atmosphere. What is the sense of Taipei? I found extremely intriguing answers on a hike to Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) yesterday. 

        現在的象山非常國際化，有國內國外的旅人，每個佇足點也都有強烈的特色，例如說，我們到巨石公園時，被排隊的人潮嚇了一跳，這裡又不是信義區的百貨公司，究竟在排什麼？原來大家想爬到石頭上拍照，有人認真研究如何爬上去，有人為了避開人潮，盤算著登上其他顆石頭，我強烈感受到大家征服石頭的欲望。而且這裡的旅人穿著打扮很多和逛信義區的人群沒兩樣，還有穿著小紅鞋來登石頭的女孩呢！我本來只是在遮蔭處發呆，後來忍不住記錄這個驚奇的畫面。

     Amazingly,  Xiangshan is a rather international tourist spot now. There are much more foreign travelers than imagined. Every stop in the mountain is unique in its own way. For example, upon reaching the Giant Rock Park, we were stunned by the queue. What were people lining up for? It turns out that they would like to take a picture upon one of the rocks. It was amusing to eavesdrop   people's talk about how to climb the rock or how to avoid the crowd by going up on another rock. I could feel their strong desire to conquer the rocks! Besides, most people would be mistaken as the shoppers in Xin-yi District since their wear was no different. In fact, it's important to look fashionable for the photo on the rock. In the beginning I was just watching people in the shade, but I couldn't help sketching the super interesting image later on. 

        往前走到逸賢亭，亭子前有做操的民眾，亭子裡有大叔拉著手風琴，旁邊還有舉重的男孩，大寶說這是象山上的World Gym！因為再度覺得很驚奇，我又拿出速寫本，想不到右下角的阿伯跑來讓我點歌，接著「何日君再來」，我只能想到「甜蜜蜜」，大叔演奏完還來教護心操，好和樂融融啊！

     As we moved ahead to one pavilion, in front of it were the locals doing exercise, and in the pavilion there were other stories going on. An old man played the accordion while a young man was lifting weight next to him. This is the mountain version of World Gym! Feeling amazed again, I took out my sketchbook immediately. The half-naked uncle in the lower right corner was eager to have me request a song. Since the previous one is a classic by the famous singer Teresa Teng, I had no choice but to request another song of hers. After the performance, the accordion musician came to teach me how to massage my hands. What a harmonious afternoon! 

        台北是個什麼元素都可以找到的地方，而且完全無違和感，可說處處有驚喜！

     The sense of Taipei lies in a wide mix of all the cultural elements, whether local or foreign. Strangely, nothing feels out of place here and there are always surprises to look forward to! 

Another kind of life / 另一種人生

帶孩子們去電視台錄節目，我也得到好多刺激，原來電視台的人生是這樣啊！ 

Today I take the girls to a TV station for recording a program. I'm so inspired by everything I see! 

        本來沒有打算速寫，但是攝影棚裡太多好玩的東西，我在當觀眾時忍不住記錄了起來！

     I didn't intend to sketch, but I can't miss out on so many interesting gadgets. Don't worry, while my hand is busy, my ears are paying attention as well to the host, the writer, and the student guests. 

        我非常喜歡攝影棚裡黑色機器和亮橘色燈光的強烈對比，這位攝影師大哥發現我在速寫！ 也許做不了其他工作，但是能有機會去別人的工作崗位體驗一下，真的很不賴！ 

     I really LOVE the contrast between the black boxes everywhere and the fluorescent orange lights. Only the photographer in the above picture notices that I am sketching. 

     I might not have the courage to try another job, but it's so nice to experience something totally different! 

Gifts on a rainy day / 下雨天的禮物

是無限的想像力！

Is endless IMAGINATION!

Happy Big Bear 

Big Bear loves rainy days, 

when there are traffic jams,

when he can sleep on the trams.

Big Bear has honey in his bag; 

not to hear his teachers nag,

Big Bear decides to skip school

because he wants to try the cool 

picnic in the rain 

with his honey mixed with the rain 

還有來自倫敦超級酷的禮物！

And this super cool gift from London! 

戴著它，下雨天也閃亮無比！

I feel my rainy days are extremely shiny when I wear it! 

Middle-age crisis / 中年危機

最近每天早上醒來，發現自己明亮不起來，腦中總是充滿關於存在主義的問題，但就是在這個時候，我變成了詩人，於是我決定對自己進行寫作治療。

Now when I open my eyes in the morning, I find I am no longer that bright person anymore. I am obsessed with many doubts about existentialism. It is then that I turn into a poet. I decide to conduct poetry therapy on myself. 

無聊

Boredom

無聊有什麼關係

把全世界的無聊收集起來

可以栽種

一大片看不見盡頭的

亞馬遜森林

What's wrong with boredom?

With all the boredom in the world collected,

we can replant 

an endless stretch of 

the Amazon Rainforest. 

中年危機

Middle-age Crisis

走著走著，

某一天的某一刻，

我開始懷疑自己的步伐。

「啊！」

過了好久，

我才發現自己患了

了不起的

中年危機。

i walked as usual. 

one moment, one day, 

i started to wonder, 

"Is it left or right foot first?" 

it took me long 

to figure out, 

i have the amazing 

MIDDLE-AGE CRISIS.

把你藏起來

（為了用英文也可以玩押韻，這首詩的中文版和英文版是完全不同的創作。） 

To play on rhymes, the English version of the last poem is not translated from the Chinese one. 

Middle-age Crisis

Are you my oasis

or the Isis?

寫完了，又若無其事地去生活。

Done. Time to go about my everyday life... 

Rainy park / 下雨的公園

我在下雨的大安公園裡散步，大樹和我說：那些讓你心裡不愉快的感覺，都留給我們當肥料吧！又派了一個可愛的外國先生來和我聊樹上的鳥類，於是，我就這麼撫癒了一個小傷口。

After a long evening walk in Da-an park, the trees tell me, "Leave your hard feelings here as our fertilizer." They also send a very interesting foreign gentleman to talk about the birds in the tree with me. Miraculously, my wound is thus healed. 

with the sun and the moon / 日月的懷抱

去日月潭放空，大自然對我說：每一刻都有值得學習的美好，靜下心好好觀看和傾聽。

I travel to Sun-moon Lake to relax. Nature says to me, "There's something to learn in every moment, but you have to look and listen calmly..." 

Sketches of Austria 1 / 奧地利速寫 1

建築

Buildings

百水公寓‧維也納

Hunderwasser Village in Vienna

剛到新的城市感受到的是迷惘、不知所措的心情，不想跳過知名的觀光景點，卻又因為大群的觀光人潮卻步。

I tend to feel confused and lost when I first arrive in a new city. I am tempted to visit renowned tourist spots, but I fear crowds of tourists. 

百水公寓豐富的色彩和蜿蜒的線條有高第的風格，不過大小只有一個街區。幸好轉個彎完全看不到觀光客，只有當地居民偶爾走過我的面前。

The rich colors and curvy lines of Hunderwasser Village so remind me of Barcelona, but it's only the size of a small block. Fortunately, tourists gather only within the block. I find by accident that around the corner, there are only local residents passing by from time to time as I am sketching. 

雖然用黑白色調很可惜，那卻是我這趟旅行的答案之一。

My paper is pricey watercolor paper, but I feel like using only black and white, which is one of the answers I've got from the trip. 

Ottakring 地鐵站出口‧維也納

Ottakring metro station, Vienna 

在奧地利旅行了十六天，最後幾天有些疲累，不想再去觀光景點朝聖。某天為了健行，來到了Ottakring地鐵站，出口的天橋下有成排的蔬果攤，當地居民來來往往，我的雷達嗅出這是生活的場域，於是在維也納的最後一天，我在橋下坐了半天。

I travel in Austria for sixteen days. During the last few days, I feel that I've had enough of traveling. I come to the conclusion that I shouldn't visit tourist attractions anymore. One day, I discover the community near the Ottakring metro station on my way to the woods. Vegetable and fruit stands line the plaza right outside the station. There, the locals come and go, and my radar tells me that this is the perfect place for sketching. So on the last day of my trip, I spend the whole morning sitting in the shade to draw. 

那天，我感受到陽光陰影的變化、當地人的樣貌、社區的型態，最棒的是當然是和人們交流，我不會說德文，也不想多說話，微笑和謝謝兩個字就足夠了。

That day, I feel the changes of light and shadows, what Austrians are like, and how people live. Best of all, I have the opportunities to interact with others. Though I don't speak German, I find smiles and thank-you are more than enough. 

最後我的眼前出現了一對街頭藝人，唱著混合民俗和現代音樂的歌謠，我聽到要起雞皮疙瘩，心想：這是我可以想到最動人的句點了！

Early in the afternoon, a couple of street performers mark the end of the trip for me with their modern ballads. It's so beautiful that I am totally moved. What a perfect way to say goodbye to Vienna! 

聖沃夫崗

St. Wolfgang 

聖沃夫崗是湖區的度假小鎮，我原本夢想著在湖邊散步和在山裡健行，但是我造訪的那幾天，雨下不停，避雨和避寒成了我的目標。

St. Wolfgang is a holiday resort in the lake areas. I dreamed of taking long walks around the lake and hiking in the hills, but during my visit, it hardly stops raining. I can't help but focus on staying away from the cold and the rain. 

冷得哆唆的時候，在教堂對面的廣場上瞥見屋簷下的長凳，我便胸無大志地坐下來畫圖。畫著畫著，發現其實廣場是各國旅行團會合的地點，所以我的身邊流轉著不同語言。法國團來的時候，一名大叔建議我在上圖的窗戶裡加人，對於當時很寂寞的我，這真是個好主意！我畫了幾個想像的小朋友，渴望出門和我玩，畫了他們之後，心中有種很安慰的感覺。

As I shiver in the cold rain, the long benches on the plaza catch my attention. Sitting there to draw is the best way to kill time. Then I realize it's actually the meeting point of many tourist groups. It's fun that tourists speaking different languages gather near me and sometimes make their own comments on my drawings. For example, one of the French tourists suggests that I add some people inside the windows. I LOVE the idea since I feel quite lonely at that moment. I feel soothed after drawing some imaginary friends who actually desire to come to play with me in the rain. 

接著台灣團的導遊介紹兩張圖中建築的背景，我才發現上圖最左邊的建築是當地非常有名的白馬飯店！

Next come two Taiwanese tourist groups. As the tour guides introduce the buildings, I realize that the building on the left side in the first picture is the most famous hotel in St. Wolfgang: Weissen Rossl! 

我的旅行隨意到隨便的地步，卻有無限驚人的發現！

My trip is casual to such a degree that some people might be shocked, but the truth is, I have numerous amazing discoveries! 

現代美術館俯看城市全景‧薩爾斯堡

bird's-eye view from Museum of Modern Art, Salzburg

薩爾斯堡小而美，不過把整個城市的建築都畫出來（還擠掉了一些），也得花上三個小時。

Salzburg is small yet compact, but it still takes me three hours to attempt to draw all the buildings. (If you look carefully, you'll find I've missed some.) 

畫完的時候，我對自己說：「我沒有對不起這個城市！」

When I finish the sketch, I tell myself, "Now the city can be proud of me!" 

修道院旅館‧薩爾斯堡

Gästehaus im Priesterseminar, Salzburg

旅行到累的時候，就在旅館裡畫圖。旅館裡的小黑貓也寂寞，其實他有很多朋友。

When I would like to take a break from traveling, I sketch in my hotel room. The little black cat is as lonely as me, but the truth is, he has many mysterious friends. 

薩爾察嚇河岸‧薩爾斯堡

along Salzach, Salzburg 

都是在避開觀光景點時才真正認識一個城市。要告別薩爾斯堡的早晨，天氣放晴了，藍天白雲，有溫暖的陽光，我在河岸邊速寫，當地居民或慢跑或騎腳踏車，平靜又美好。

Only when I remember to stay away from tourist attractions do I really get to see a city as it is. The last morning when I am about to leave, the weather finally clears up. I sit and sketch along Salzach as the locals jog or bike by in front of me. What a peaceful end! 

待續‧‧‧‧‧‧

To be continued ...

When it's not raining / 不下雨的時候

下雨的清晨五點起床畫圖，沉浸在書房的橘色燈光裡，雨天也變得很詩意。

I get up at five in the morning to draw on a rainy day. Basking in the orange light in my study, I can't imagine a more poetic day. 

        蘇菲說自己很像大海裡的小小魚，我說可以像條小魚游在下雨的城市裡，是種幸福。

     Sophy says she's like a small fish in the ocean. I feel there's joy and beauty in swimming in a watery city like a small fish. 

        於是，不下雨的早晨，我反而想念起雨了。

     So I can't help missing the rain when it's not raining. 

The Bangkok Book 3 / 曼谷之書 3

小吃攤

Food Stands 

小吃攤可說是泰式料理的重點，每個巷口少說有幾攤，多的話可以到一整排，帶來色香味各方面的饗宴，雖然我不吃路邊攤，我很愛路邊攤的氛圍。早餐時間看著自在的老外拉了張椅子，入境隨俗地叫碗麵當早餐；下班時間，上班族、甚至外國人兩三人叫滿一桌的菜色，配上冰涼的飲品，這是多麼道地的泰式生活！

     Street food plays a very important part in Thai cuisine. Food stands can be found at roadsides or along the alleyways either alone or in a group, satisfying people's appetites of all senses. I don't eat street food, but I just love the atmosphere. In the morning, both the locals and foreigners can be seen to order a bowl of noodles and take their time to eat under the sun. After work, two or three friends would chat over a table of food along with chilling drinks. This is the beauty of the Thai style of life! 

        有天早晨正在速寫小吃攤時，遇見了一位德國老先生，他說目前居住在曼谷，我問了一句：「你要永遠住在這裡嗎？」他答：「我已經七十六歲了，對我來說什麼是永遠呢？」遇見他之後，我也忍不住想，我的人生也過了一半了，我要趕快好好把握時間做我想做的事！

     One morning when I am sketching a food stand, I draw the attention of an old German gentleman. He says that he's currently dwelling in Bangkok. I ask, "Are you going to stay here forever?" He answers, "I am 76 years old. What is 'forever' for me?" After our talk, I can't help thinking, I am turning 40 in half a year, and that means I have only half of my life left, if I am lucky. I should seize the time to do what I feel like doing!  

        手搖飲料很受歡迎，看老闆倒不同的粉狀物進杯子裡，攪拌完後淋在一整杯冰塊上，我的上海朋友喝了一大口後忍不住說：「好爽！」

     Beverages are extremely popular. The vendors pour different kinds of powder into the cups. After stirring, they would pour the liquid into a whole cup of ice cubes. My new friend from Shanghai describes the taste of Thai milk tea as "so cool!"  

        嘟嘟車也可以變身成小攤子，其實這可能是甜點攤！

     The tuk-tuk can be turned into a stall. I am wondering if he's selling desserts. 

        城市裡有許多傳統麵店，我很喜歡這家位於沙拉當路上前往BTS站的麵店，速寫的同時發現他們家的生意很不錯。

     There are many traditional noodle shops in the city. On my way to Sala Daeng BTS station every day, I can't help stopping to take a look at this place. While sketching, I find that they have quite a number of customers. 

        麵店看起來也許有些老舊，可是內部都是木頭傢俱，很有味道。

     It might look kind of old on the outside, but inside it is decorated with wooden tables and chairs, which has a retro feel. 

        過沒幾天，我終於走進去吃豬肉粿條，老闆和伙計們都非常有人情味，我還把之前的麵店速寫圖給老闆娘看，他們也幫我複習泰文。

     A few days later I finally walk inside for a bowl of pork noodles. The owners and staff are extremely friendly. I even show my previous sketch of the shop to the lady owner. They, meanwhile, help me to review Thai. 

食

Food 

        每張桌子上一定都有四種調味料，泰國人加料不手軟！

     Four jars of condiments can be found on each table. Thais do not hesitate to add more sugar or chili powder  to their food! 

        我並不是一開始就記錄每餐吃的食物，有一晚突然覺得很寂寞，就拿出畫具來，畫一畫就好了，而且我因此對於食材有了入微的觀察，泰國人挺愛吃鹹蛋，綠咖哩炒飯也要配鹹蛋。

     I do not record what I eat right from the beginning. One evening I suddenly feel very lonely when eating all by myself, so I just take out my book and pens. Strangely, my loneliness evaporates right away. I also get to have detailed observations of the ingredients. For one thing, I discover that salted eggs go with fried rice. 

        Mama牌泡麵很火紅，可搭沙拉吃，也可當炒麵、湯麵吃。邊畫圖邊吃飯的好處包括可以讓我慢慢吃，還有很好的藉口可以久坐在餐廳裡。

     Mama instant noodles are fairly popular. They can be eaten as salad. They can also be turned into stir-fried or soup noodles. One of the advantages to draw and eat at the same time is that I eat more slowly. I also have a perfect excuse to sit for a long time in a restaurant. 

        我的第一碗菜市場粿條，味道很甜，但是坐我對面的顧客又加了一湯匙的糖！這一小碗只要十三銖。

     This is my first bowl of noodles in a market. It tastes very sweet, but the customer sitting opposite me seasons it with one more spoon of sugar! It costs only 13 bahts, which is much cheaper than the cheap street food in Bangkok. 

        好吃的海南雞配炸雞飯，最主要是飯有調味過，很有味道。

     Yummy mixed chicken rice. I love the well-seasoned rice. 

        旅行前幾天傻傻不知道要提醒店家不要辣，導致我得把辣椒末挑出來，後來學乖了，都點安全的選擇如炒飯。

     During the first few days of the trip, I am too careless to remind the server that I want no chili in my food, so my tongue is literally on fire. Later, I mostly go for stir-fried rice, which is a very safe choice. 

        炒蛋蓋飯也很紅！

     The omelette rice is another conservative option.

便利商店牌

Fami Mart 

        會淪落到吃便利商店的食物還真是悲傷，有時是為了衝回旅館看泰劇！但是大間的全家還有現煮熱食區喔！ 

     I find it pathetic to have to eat food from a convenience store. Sometimes it's because I want to watch Thai lakorns in my hotel room on time. Interestingly, bigger Fami marts have a small restaurant in them offering hot food. 

        早餐也是全家系列，至於之前的Seven系列就更悲傷了，所以沒有費心記載。

     My breakfast sponsor is also Fami Mart. I did not bother to record the 7-11 series, which is even sadder. 

        我個人是覺得邊畫邊吃早餐還挺有樂趣的，感覺自己很像美食家。

     I personally find it fun to draw and sketch breakfast. I feel like a professional gourmet. 

        最後一晚買了菠蘿蜜甜點系列來試吃，只能說都像在糖蜜裡醃過一樣！

     On the last day I buy a box of jackfruit desserts, which are very very very sweet! 

        下次再回去泰國時，我還要用我不是很強健的胃挑戰更多美食！

     Next time when I go back to Thailand, I will try more kinds of food with my not-so-strong stomach!