The city on a cloudy day / 陰天，城市裡

還是好迷人。

Still has irresistible charm. 

New Year's Resolutions / 新年願望

2015的最後一天要開始實現新年願望：

做好玩的嚐試

多閱讀

多運動

擴大視野、為社會服務

繼續寫作和畫畫

On the last day of 2015, I have begun to accomplish my New Year's resolutions: 

Try fun things 

Read more 

Exercise more 

Broaden my horizons and serve people 

Go on with writing and drawing 

Senses of Fern / 覺蕨

植標館最近規劃了一系列蕨類的展出和演講，在咖啡館裡學植物是我的初體驗！

     The TAI Herbarium has recently hosted an exhibition with Alpha Jade and a series of talks. It's my first-time experience to learn about plants in a cafe. 

        位於台大後門對面的靈感咖啡在小公寓的二樓，是很有趣的空間。

     Idea Cafe, located on the second floor of a traditional apartment building right across from the back gate of NTU, is a very fascinating place. 

        沿著樓梯上去擺滿了蕨類的圖片，感覺像要去參加一場蕨類盛宴！

     Along the staircases are exquisite pictures of ferns. I feel like attending a pompous fern party! 

        咖啡館充滿蕨類的綠意。

     The cafe is filled with lush green ferns. 

        參加講座的人數不到二十人，是低調卻奢華的派對。

     There are less than twenty guests, but it's a low-key yet luxurious party. 

        每位客人都拿到一瓶三叉葉星蕨當伴手禮。

     Every guest gets a bottle with Java fern swimming in it as a souvenir. 

        天花板也有玄機。

     Even the ceiling is decorated with projected images of ferns. 

        講師就是我一直都很尊敬的郭城孟教授，老師今天用超級有重點的方式教授蕨類的學習重點。老師說雖然蕨類無花無果實，但葉片有無窮的變化，就像巴哈的音樂。

     The lecturer today is my idol Dr. Chen-Meng Kuo. Today the professor teaches ferns in a super understandable manner. He says that though ferns have no flowers or fruits, the variation of leaf shapes and patterns is amazing, just like Bach's music. 

        結果到了中場休息時間，居然安排了兩位市立交響樂團的老師來演奏巴哈的組曲，我都快融化了，真是驚喜連連啊！

     Guess what? Then two professional musicians appear to perform Bach's music for us during the intermission. My heart totally melts at the surprise! 

        聽完演講再到植標館的庭園看展覽，這裡不只有各種蕨類，還有許多藝術作。主辦單位乾玉新創聯合郭城孟教授和幾位藝術家做跨界的合作，是很動人的展覽。

     After the talk, we move on to the gardens and greenhouse of TAI for the exhibition of ferns and artworks. The host organization Alpha Jade invites Dr. Kuo and several artists to collaborate and come up with an extremely impressive exhibition.  

        主辦單位利用植標館庭園和溫室的環境，搭配繪畫、雕刻、陶瓷等藝術形式，讓訪客可以更深刻體驗蕨類的重要性和美好。

     The host organization makes use of the fantastic space of the gardens and the greenhouse. Many forms of art such as paintings, sculpture and ceramics are employed to highlight the importance and beauty of ferns. 

        其實大自然就是最美的一場展覽不是嗎？

     I think nature is the most fantastic exhibition isn't it? 

        每種蕨類也被細心地附上名牌，以華麗的姿態面對訪客。

     Every fern is attached with a name tag for the visitor to know and learn more easily. 

        郭老師早上教的遠古蕨類家族在溫室裡都找到了真品，這是松葉蕨，有肉眼可見的圓球狀孢子囊。

     The fern families that date back to ancient times mentioned by Dr. Kuo can all be found here. This is psilotum nudum, with sporangia visible to the naked eye. 

        全緣卷柏，枝條呈壓扁狀，葉有四排。

     Delicate spikemoss: The branches are flat, with four rows of leaves. 

        木賊，葉子呈輪生狀，枝頂端有如松果般的孢子囊穗。

     Horsetail: Verticillate leaves, with a cone-like sporangium spike at the tip of the branch. 

        之前提過的伴手禮三叉葉星蕨！

     This is Java fern, which I've mentioned earlier. 

        這場展覽為期兩個月，從十二月一日到明年的一月三十一日，展區為臺大植物標本館庭園和溫室，開放時間為早上八點到下午六點，傍晚溫室夜景也是個大驚喜喔。每周三和六下午兩點有定時導覽，更多資訊請上乾玉新創。

     The exhibition will last two months from 1st December, 2015 to Jan. 31st 2016 in the TAI herbarium gardens and the greenhouse. It's open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The night view in the greenhouse is a huge surprise. There are guided tours at 2 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday. For more information, please go to Alpha Jade. 

Waiting for a person / 等一個人

曉寧又要遠行了，不過現在對我來說，說再見像家常便飯，我不用莊重的儀式，因為我們很快地，又會再見。

Hsiao-ning is going on another long trip. But now I view saying goodbye as part of life. Instead of focusing on its sentimentality, I am so sure that we will see each other again. Soon. 

Banana chocolate birthday party / 香蕉巧克力生日派對

一根香蕉可以做什麼？可以成為生日派對的主題！

What can a banana do? It can be the theme of a merry birthday party!

讓我的香蕉巧克力小猴先獻上歡樂的生日禮物！

First let my Banana Chocolate Monkey  present the wonderful birthday gift! 

再來「婆娑咖啡」的招牌香蕉薄餅，總要開開心心地增長年歲啊！

And we'll top it off with the banana crepe of Canopy Cafe. As we all have to age, why don't we age with joy and grace? 

Simple and Sincere / 又單純又真心

37歲了，被問到要什麼生日禮物，我真的是想不出來。只要有孩子陪伴的日子都好。

   I turned 37 today. Asked what I'd like as birthday gifts, I couldn't think of anything I want. I guess as long as I am accompanied by children, my days will be full of light. 

        於是我們一如往常地在書房畫圖、嘻嘻哈哈。

   So as usual we draw and play in the study. 

        一起讀霸王龍的故事讀到三個人都眼眶泛淚。

   We read the dinosaurs' stories until our eyes are brimmed with tears. 

        然後男孩們那麼簡單但深刻的祝福，讓我有預感接下來的一年都會如此美好。

   Then the boys' simple and sincere best wishes make me believe that my following year will be so wonderful as today. 

        就是出外的下午茶會也很簡單，但我們吃得杯盤狼藉，就知道有多盡興。

   Even the birthday afternoon tea party is very low-key. However, see what a lovely time we have had by looking at the almost-empty plates. 

        不論走到哪裡都有孩子的陪伴，我差點要相信自己是孩子王了。

   Wherever I go, I have the fabulous company of children. Well, I come near to believing that I enjoy high popularity among kids. 

        又老了一歲，心境卻像盛開的玫瑰，眼前見到的風景越來越美。

   Though I am one year older, I feel like a rose in bloom inside. What I see in front of my eyes is more and more beautiful. 

Astoria / 明星咖啡館

耳聞明星咖啡館已久，終於有機會親眼探訪，說來慚愧，它其實就位在重慶南路轉武昌街，我高中三年都只是直線從總統府埋頭走到補習班，從來沒有抬頭看藏在小街巷弄的風景，但從另一方面想，就是這樣我才在高中畢業近二十年之後，還不斷有新的發現！

After having heard about Astoria for long, I finally came for a visit. The truth is,  it was on the way from my high school to the cram school. In other words, I passed by it for three years in my youth without knowing its existence. On the other hand, it was my past ignorance that led to the joy of discovering a new site today! 

我對咖啡館的外觀較有興趣，等待阿美來的同時，我站在咖啡館對面速寫，有位小姐居然說：你畫的比原來好看。這個人一定有上過插畫課！接著又繞過來一位外國人，他也忍不住用中文稱讚我，我站在這裡多多少少也沾染了咖啡館的明星氣質！

I was more interested in the facade of the cafe. While waiting for A-mei, I sketched across from coffee shop. A lady, after staring at me, made the remarks: I think your drawing is more beautiful than the actual cafe. I bet she must have taken a course in illustration! Then another Westerner dropped by. He gave me a compliment in very fluent mandarin. Well, the cafe is named "Star" Cafe in Chinese, and standing here, I more or less have that star feel too. 

因為這裡太富盛名了，才剛就座不久，就遇到了一群現在的學生參加文學營，今天的行程恰巧是咖啡館。明星咖啡館由五位蘇俄人和簡錦錐先生創立的，是咖啡店也是麵包店，主打蘇俄食物和甜點，之後就慢慢發展成為文藝人士的聚集地。

This is such a prestigious tourist spot that soon after I was seated, I ran into a group of my current students, who were here because of a literature camp. Astoria was founded by five Russian emigres and Mr. Archiybold Chien. It is an eatery as well as a bakery featuring Russian cuisine and desserts. Later it turned out to be a very important gathering place for Taiwanese literati.  

吃了蘇俄軟糖和古早味的西點，離開咖啡館後我沿著補習街晃來晃去，眼前是一家又一家的小吃店，話說我年輕的時候真的很討厭這個地方，那般地壓縮著靈魂，不過今天我居然站在赫哲補習班的榜單牆前，整個人充滿驚訝地看著了不起的孩子們，上面寫的不是台大醫科就是台大電機，此時我覺得，當一個沒有孩子的老人也挺好的，不用擔心自己的小孩比不過別人，也不用擔心孩子不快樂，在補習街裡我感到很渺小，卻也慶幸我不再是其中的一部份。

After tasting Russian soft candy and old-style pastry, I strolled along the streets packed with cram schools in the same area. I was quite impressed by the small yet interesting eateries tucked inside lanes and alleys. Truth be told, I detested this part of the city when I was a teenager. The high-rise buildings and crowds really sucked my soul dry. Strange to say, I paused when passing by the cram school I used to attend. Rows of adverts boasting how much their students had accomplished really amazed me. At this moment, I felt blessed to be childless. I don't have to worry if my child is good enough in studies, nor do I have to guess if my child is happy. I am so small here, but the good news is that I am not part of it. 

二十年前的我只急著發誓，高中畢業之後再也不要接近台北車站，不過今天的我卻覺得這個地方是個很特別的景點，有太多待描繪的影像！

Twenty years ago I was too eager to swear not to come close to Taipei Train Station after graduating from high school, but today I think differently. A tourist can't miss this part of the city. If I get to draw it, there will be many unique images! 

Paris 2 / 巴黎 2

吃 / Food 

巴黎的飲食消費不比倫敦便宜，但是水準高太多了，光是簡單的麵包就嚐得出來。

The costs of food are no lower than those of London, but the quality far outruns the latter. Take simple bread for example. French bread is so much more tasty.

超好吃的雞肉貝果。

Super yummy chicken bagel. 

燻鮭魚三明治。我常和大家一起在公園野餐，就算是簡單的食物也令人很有滿足感。

Salmon baguette. I often picnic with others in parks. But even simple food such as sandwiches give me a great sense of satisfaction. 

有一天真的走進知名的圓頂餐廳。部落客艾瑪有關於餐廳仔細的介紹。

One day I walk in the renowned restaurant La Coupole. In a few words, it is not only one of the largest restaurants in Paris but also a gathering place for famous writers and artists such as Hemingway, Sartre, Falkner, Picasso etc. 

餐廳裡也是個藝廊來著。

It is an art gallery inside too. 

沙拉和麵包。

Green salad and bread. 

主菜是咖哩小羊肉，還有附上水果醬和配菜。這一餐相當不便宜，不過是很特別的人生經驗。

The main course is curry lamb, with fruit sauce and side dishes. This meal costs me an arm and a leg, but it's a very unique life experience. 

離圓頂餐廳只有幾步距離的圓亭咖啡館，又是另一間了不起的餐廳。

La Rotonde is only a few steps away from La Coupole, and it is another restaurant/cafe loaded with history. 

圓頂餐廳對面的是精英咖啡館，我的匿名導遊說這間比較受到美國人歡迎。

Across from La Coupole is Le Select. My low-key tour guide said this restaurant is more popular with Americans. 

甜點/ Sweets

來到巴黎不吃甜點太可惜了，雖然櫥窗裡的甜點誘人，法國人也吃很多，可是巴黎人的身材樣貌真是好看極了。

It'd be a shame not to try desserts in Paris. The sweets here look so tempting and French people eat a lot of them, but Parisians are so slim and good-looking. 

顏色豐富的閃電泡芙。

Eclairs come in various colors. 

在巴黎不嚐嚐少女的酥胸怎行呢？

How can I leave Paris without trying macarons? 

巧克力/ Chocolate

復活節快到了，櫥窗裡都是創意十足的巧克力。

With Easter coming, the display windows are decorated with creative forms of chocolate. 

這是以各大藝術家的作品風格為靈感做的巧克力。

This is chocolate made based on works by famous artists. 

咖啡館/ Cafes 

巴黎人既要高科技又要曬太陽。

Parisians want both high tech and sunshine. 

坐在露天咖啡座不只是看人，更是要被看。

Sitting in an outdoor cafe is not just about looking at people, but also about being gazed at. 

享譽盛名的雙叟咖啡館。最好穿美美的再來這裡坐一下午。

This is the celebrated Les Deux Magots. You'd better be well-dressed and come sit here for a whole afternoon. 

也是文人和藝術家必去的「花神咖啡館」。

Cafe de Flore, where you can find stories of well-known writers and artists.