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! 

Camping / 去露營

聽說露營這件事很久了，終於有機會和家人去體驗！

I've longed for camping for a long while, and finally, my dream comes true thanks to my family! 

        我們選了新竹尖石鄉的左岸臻美營地，是在一片山坡上，其實開往營地的沿途上有各式各樣的營地可以選擇。

     We book a camping site in the mountain area of Hsin-chu. In fact, there are several ones in different locations and styles on our way to the destination. 

        孩子們第一次露營，好興奮！我們家的修替也感到很幸福！

     The kids can't help exclaiming how excited they are about camping for the first time. Our Shorty feels the same too! 

        山間秋意濃，涼意十足。

     In the mountains we can feel the cool air of fall. 

        這趟小旅行的大心願就是一路不停畫圖，所以大人小孩忙著紮營時，我很廢地在旁邊埋頭塗鴉。

     I have nothing but one goal on the trip: to draw nonstop along the way. So when the adults and kids are busy pitching the tents, I literally do nothing but doodle. 

        每一個鏡頭都想畫。

     I don't want to miss any moment. 

        孩子們也跟著畫。

     The boys also draw with me. 

        思維的塗鴉。

     Von's doodle. 

        我們的鄰居傢伙齊全。

     Our neighbor is fully equipped. They even have a kitchen tent. 

        有時山裡飄來小雨。

     Sometimes it drizzles a little bit. 

        邊吃早餐邊畫的悠閒時光。

     How nice it is to have breakfast and doodle at the same time! 

        修替也覺得好奢侈啊！

     Even Shorty gets carried away by the blissful joy! 

Golden Route / 黃金之路

搭渡輪遊蓋倫格峽灣後，我們立刻踏上沿著北大西洋海岸線的63號公路，行經曲折蜿蜒的山區景觀公路「老鷹公路」及每年五到九月才開放的「精靈公路」，兩者合稱「黃金之路」，前往里耳哈默。

After our ferry ride across Geirangerfjord, we immediately hit the Norwegian County Road 63, driving on the winding mountain roads--the Ørnevegen (the Eagle Road) and Trollstigen, the latter open only from May to September. The two together are known as the Golden Route. 

        這條公路不僅工程艱鉅，因為要鑿山壁，開起來也挑戰司機的技術，路上有11個大迴轉髮夾彎道，道路又狹窄，開完一程三個半小時，司機和乘客都身心疲累。

     Constructing these roads required outstanding road engineering and building skills, but what's even more amazing is that they were built with the simple tools available back in the 1930s. Also, driving is a tremendous challenge for drivers for there are eleven hairpin bends on each road. After a 3.5-hour drive from Geiranger to Lillehammer, not only drivers but also passengers are physically and mentally exhausted. 

        自然的景色太迷人，在北歐到處都看得到愛之鎖，我倒是想把看到的風景鎖在腦海裡。

     It's fun to see locks of love everywhere in North Europe. I bet it's because natural scenery is so fascinating that people want to leave marks with their loved ones. I do have the strong desire to engrave everything I see in my head. 

        說起來很欠扁，但是拍照一整天到最後真是有點厭世，可是當車子行駛到至高點，看到窗外山上覆蓋冰雪的景色，不禁又把相機取出。

     I might sound ungrateful in saying that I always end up feeling sick and tired of taking photos at the end of the day. However, when we reach the highest point, I can't help snapping photos upon seeing the magnificent views of mountains covered with thick layers of frozen snow. 

        這輩子我一定要再回去挪威！

     I've made up my mind to go back to Norway in my lifetime! 

Briksdal / 布利克斯達

挪威的布利克斯達冰川屬於喬斯特達爾冰川國家公園的一部分，是歐洲大陸最大的冰川，總面積約487平方公里。從山腳下入口可步行上山或搭乘冰河區電動車，沿路有各種花草可觀賞。

Briksdalen, Norway, is the best known and most accessible arm of Jostedalsbreen National Park, which is the largest glacier in Europe with a total area of 487 square kilometers. One can see the Briksdalen by foot or catch a ride with the "Troll Cars" up to the glaciers, and we feast our eyes on the fantastic scenery and flora along the way. 

        布利克斯達冰川高346公尺，但年年持續退後。儘管如此，我們見到藍色的巨大冰川還是歎為觀止。

     Briksdal Glacier lies 346 meters above sea level, but it is constantly receding. However, we are still awed in the presence of the gigantic glacier. 

        河裡的冰塊摸起來無敵沁涼。

     The ice in the lake feels super chilling. 

        不知道以後孩子們還摸得到冰川流下來的冰塊嗎？

     I wonder if kids in the future will get to touch any ice from the glacier? 

        今年夏天因為衝動決定來北歐，就這麼圓了人生的一個大夢！

     This trip resulted merely from my impulse, but it's really a big dream come true for the three of us!

Smangus 5 / 司馬庫斯 5

健行五公里之後，終於到達紅檜巨木群，這裡共有九棵巨木，每棵樹都有表情。

   After having walked for five kilometers, we reach the legendary forest containing nine giant Taiwan red cypresses. Every tree has their own dramatic facial expressions. 

        五月畫了一本樹的繪本，當時在發想樹的造型常想自己會不會畫得太誇張，見證巨木之後我覺得那些擔心根本都是多餘的，因為大自然無奇不有，我們能想出來的在大自然裡都找得到。

   I was drawing a picture book of a tree back in May. I often had self-doubts when I was designing the form of the tree. I wondered if I went too far in personifying it. However, my doubts are with the wind when I meet the trees here. My conclusion is: We can find whatever we imagine in nature. God is the greatest designer ever. 

        這很像匍匐在地上的人形，像得很嚇人！

   This resembles a human crawling on the ground and the resemblance is rather terrifying! 

        常常可以見到的森林之船。

   We can often see wooden ships in forests. 

        不僅頭上的風景壯觀，腳下糾纏延續的根也很了不起。

   I raise my head to see the extending magnificent tree trunks, and when I lower my head, the entangled roots on and under the ground also awe me. 

        樹林裡的大自然盆栽。

   The bonzai of nature. 

        大自然休憩站。

   Pause for thought. 

        六號巨木是最大且最老的一棵樹，叫Yaya Qparung，意即媽媽巨木，有2500年歷史，他長得很有姿態。

   The No. 6 giant tree, named Yaya Qparung meaning mother giant tree, is the tallest and the oldest. It has lived for 2,500 years. Look how it raises up both hands. 

        回程還有五公里，不過路上有竹椅供休息用。

   Another five kilometers on our way back, but there are bamboo benches which offer us a five-minute break. 

        回到司馬庫斯村落居然發現螺殼，難道海中生物也夢想登山去巨木群瞧瞧？

   I discover this when we arrive at the town center of Smangus. Don't tell me that a sea creature desires to see the mountainscape as well? 

Smangus 4 / 司馬庫斯 4

泰雅族人希望靠自己的力量經營山脈和土地，所以在司馬庫斯附近的路牌都是族人自己製作，雖然質樸，卻充滿了力量。

The Atayal people are firm about managing their own land and protecting the mountains, so road signs around Smangus are all handmade by the tribespeople. They have a rugged and powerful style. 

        山林各個角落冒出不可思議的生命型態，要專心走路真是一大挑戰。

   Many amazing plants scatter in all corners, which makes it hard for us to concentrate on walking. 

        這裡的蕨類美不勝收。

   The ferns here are so gorgeous that I can't take my eyes off them. 

        連石礫堆裡也可以長出綠色的植株，那生命力真的令人感動。

   Green leaves spring out of a slope of debris. Here we are totally awed by the mightiness of life. 

        樹幹裂了仍然往上生長。

   The tree split from the middle, but it kept reaching up to the sky. 

        山裡有鳥叫聲、溪水聲、動物聲，如果植物也會說話，我想山中應該每天都是開派對的盛況，也許只是我聽不見。

   We hear the birds, the streams and animals in the woods. If plants could talk, I bet they would be having parties every day. But wait, maybe they do! 

        是誰的摩托車停在森林裡？

   Whose scooter is it? 

        我們就這樣穿過一座又一座山谷‧‧‧‧‧‧

   We hike on the winding paths, conquering one mountain after another....