Mansfield Park / 曼斯菲爾德莊園

雖然我一直深受時尚插畫吸引，我的畫風卻不是以時尚為特色。要準備珍奧斯汀的「曼斯菲爾德莊園」插畫時，我突然想到時尚插畫是很好的起點，很適合奧斯汀筆下的女性角色。

I've always been into fashion illustration though my style is not fashionable at all. It occurred to me that fashion illustration would be a superb starting point when I was about to prepare the illustrations for Jane Austen's Mansfield Park because her ladies feel beautiful and want to be beautiful. 

        畫著畫著是很開心，不過這些模特兒非常有姿態，不僅身形美，眼神也都有故事。

     I had much fun drawing the models in the fashion magazine. They not only look beautiful but also make me curious about them. Their eyes tell stories. 

        她們寫字看書的樣子也好帥氣，就算和女主角范妮天差地遠，但我還是很高興可以做新的嘗試。

     I focused particularly on how women read and write. However, these models appear to be very confident of themselves. They are worlds apart from the protagonist Fanny, but it was still nice for me to take a new try. 

        這本小說到底在說什麼呢？簡單地說，就是乖女孩范妮從小寄住在有錢的阿姨和姨丈家，和乖男孩表哥艾德蒙青梅竹馬，不過長大之後因為新的角色出現在莊園裡，艾德蒙愛上了勢利女瑪麗，而瑪麗的風流男哥哥亨利則受到范妮的吸引，范妮看著自己深愛的艾德蒙被愛蒙敝，還要一邊抵擋亨利的猛烈追求，還好她的堅忍不拔最後換來艾德蒙的愛。

     What is the novel about? Simply put, the good girl Fanny was sent to Mansfield Park to live with her rich aunt and uncle when she was little. She grew up together with her gentle cousin Edmund. With the arrival of the new characters, her life began to change. Edmund fell in love with the beautiful but snobbish girl Mary Crawford while her player brother fell for the charm of innocent Fanny, who had to suffer silently from seeing her beloved Edmund blindfolded by love and make every attempt to resist Henry in the meanwhile. Luckily, her virtue and perseverance finally won Edmund's heart. 

        插畫比賽除了三張內頁插圖以外，還要設計封面，而且規格有嚴格的規定，其實剛開始我並不確定自己做得出來，不過我不想就這麼放棄，很幸運地友人幫了我一把，讓我可以達到目標。

     Besides the three illustrations for the story, every contestant was required to design the cover as well and meet some specific rules. In fact, I wasn't sure if I could make it, but I didn't feel like giving up either. I was blessed with Alex's help so that I could reach my goal. 

        范妮是內向壓抑的角色，在珍奧斯汀的作品中是較沒自信的女主角，不過我覺得自己很像她。

     Fanny is an introverted and repressed role. She is probably the least confident heroine in Austen's books, but I can relate to her because I see much similarity between her and me. 

        與其把重點放在她和其他角色的互動，不如把舞台都給她吧！她的慰藉除了艾德蒙外，就是書和花草，還有自己的書房。

     Instead of placing emphasis on her interaction with the other characters, I prefer to feature her only in my illustrations. Apart from Edmund, she took solace in books, plants, and her personal space, the East room. 

        像書裡說的，就算是快樂，范妮也安安靜靜地感受。

     As is said in the book, Fanny feels ecstasy in a quiet way. 

        做完插畫的那一晚，想到五年前在英國讀書的時候，急著想用自己以外的風格畫圖，老師問：你為什麼不用自己的風格呢？五年過去了，我終於可以用自己的風格，不論結果如何，我都感到欣喜，因為我嘗試了之前做不到的事。

     On the day when I finished the illustrations, I thought of the winter five years ago when I was studying in London. I was eager to borrow others' styles, so my tutor couldn't help asking, "Why didn't you use your own style?" Five years have gone by, and I am proud to be me when drawing. Whatever the outcome is, I am joyful all the same because I achieved what I couldn't in the past. 

Another wonderful year in the herbarium / 植標館‧美好的又一年

Four-year-old An says / 四歲的安安說

Apples from Lishan / 梨山來的蘋果

帶孩子們去逛木新市場，遇見了蘋果攤的老闆，豪氣地請孩子們每人拿一顆免費的蘋果，還教大家把蘋果放在衣袖上擦一擦，孩子們也跟著學。

We went to Mu-xin market on a field trip the other day. The apple man invited every girl to take an apple for free. I was amused how everyone imitated him in rubbing the apple against their sleeve. 

        孩子散去了之後，我買了一袋蘋果，邊吃邊想到梨山的風景！

     After the girls left, I bought a bag of apples. As I ate one, I couldn't help imagining the scenery of Lishan! 

If I am lonely, / 如果我感到寂寞，

一定是忘了把速寫本拿出來。

it must be that I forget to take out my sketchbook. 

維也納

Vienna

內在的旅行：

這個夏天一個人去奧地利，想要挑戰不同的速寫形態，所以我不用平常習慣的Moleskin札記本，而是單張的水彩紙，但我又擔心沒有寫字的空間，於是買了價美物廉的無印良品筆記本，它成為了我旅行的良伴。

我說：這是一趟很安全的旅行。雖然一路上是真的很安全，不過我的重點其實是，沒有太多驚豔的心情，可是很放鬆，同時也讓我有機會回想過去在歐洲的生活，朋友說聽起來是一場很內在的旅程。

旅行中，我待過很多間小房間，總覺得似曾相識，我問自己：所以我又回到這裡做什麼？我現在的心境和四年前有什麼不同？

The significance of this trip: 

I went to Austria alone this summer. Desiring some change, I chose not to use my beloved Moleskine journal. Instead, I went for single sheets of watercolor paper. Also, desperate for the sense of safety that only writing can give me, I brought along a really convenient and inexpensive journal of MUJI, which greatly soothed me along the way. 

I told others, "This is a safe trip." Instead of emphasizing personal safety, I focus more on the meaning that there weren't great adventures, but on the other hand, it was very relaxing, which I needed at the moment. Meanwhile, I got to look back on my life in Europe before. One friend said this was a very "deep" journey. Yes, it was. 

I stayed in several small rooms in different cities, but they always felt kind of dejavu to me. I couldn't ask myself, "What did I come back here for? What difference do I feel now compared with four years ago?"

我在新城市裡的位置：

在旅館裡定義這一刻在我人生裡的意義，出了旅館，我一邊尋找自己在這個城市的位置，混在大群的觀光客裡，這個任務特別有挑戰，雖然我也是其中之一，卻反骨地想證明自己不一樣。

大太陽底下，躲在Sisi Museum有陰影的大門後面畫著不確定的線條，打掃的阿姨說我的腳不能放在大理石上。

My place in the new city: 

I was defining the significance of my trip in my life inside the hotel room. When I walked out of the hotel, I was looking for my niche in this city. It was especially challenging when I knew that I was just one of the tourists, but I wanted to prove my difference so much. 

Before I found the answer, I hid in the shade behind the door of Sisi Museum. My lines were indefinite, and I had no idea what I was doing. The cleaning lady said I should put my legs down the marble ledge, but I could sit there drawing. 

因為帶著太多媒材，一下要用本子，一下要用水彩紙，同時還要遮陽，常常覺得自己很忙碌，羨慕Schoenbrunn動物園裡這個很自在的大隻仔。

It was distracting to bring so many sorts of media with me. I had to choose between the journal book and sheets of paper. And of course, there was the scorching sunshine to worry about. I found myself so busy that I really envied the big guy in the Schoenbrunn Zoo. 

觀光還是畫圖？

有時買了套票，激起了我的好勝心，告訴自己沒有時間畫圖，在大太陽底下跑來跑去，雖然有許多學習上的收穫，不過最後都覺得有些空虛。

前一天錯過的風景，第二天我會再跑回去記錄，我發現，只有坐下來安靜畫圖的時候，才感受到微風。

Sightseeing or sketching? 

The purchase of a package with one ticket could blind me. To visit as many museums as possible, I would persuade myself that I had no time to sketch, so I ran around like a madman under the sun. Much as I had learned, I couldn't help feeling kind of empty. 

I would go back to the same spot to make up for the view that I had missed. I realized that only when I sit down to draw peacefully will I feel cool breezes. 

關於寂寞這件事：

離開維也納的早上，天氣變糟了，拉行李出旅館時，我還想：和從前比起來，我一點都不寂寞。想不到過沒幾個小時，上帝便把這個大禮送給我。

從維也納到格拉茲的沿路風景很美，我卻越來越寂寞。

About loneliness: 

The day when I left Vienna, the weather took a downturn. The moment when I pulled my gigantic luggage out of the hotel, I thought to myself, "Well, at least now I don't feel lonely, if I have to list a difference from the past." Interestingly, as if to prove I was wrong, within a few hours, God bestowed the big gift on me.  

On my way from Vienna to Graz, I felt more and more lonely despite the lovely scenery. 

格拉茲

Graz 

危機即轉機：

每搬進新的旅館，我的寂寞感特別強烈，剛習慣上一個小房間，又移入陌生的新房間，一個人，不免感覺某種程度的淒涼。還赫然發現，我沒有帶轉接插頭是件嚴重的事，沒有iPad，我要如何和熟悉的世界保持連絡？

A crisis is also a turning point: 

I feel especially lonely when I change hotels. Right when I feel used to one little room, I have to adapt to another room. It feels bleak. It came as a blow when I found that I didn't have an adaptor with me. "How can I stay in contact with the world I know without my iPad?" 

旅行時只盯著眼前的風景：

別人羨慕我的假期、我的勇氣，但是我的內在有很多小劇場，還好我總是能找到答案─如果感到寂寞，一定是因為我忘了把速寫本拿出來。

那一天是週日在格拉茲，觀光客特別少、店家幾乎都關門，我卻找到我最忠實的旅伴─速寫本。

Live at the moment when you travel: 

Others envy me for my holidays, for my courage to travel alone, but truth be told, there was a lot going on inside of me. Fortunately, I always manage to find an answer: If I feel lonely, it must be that I forget to take out my sketchbook. 

That Sunday in Graz, tourists all left for somewhere else, most shops were closed, yet I found my most loyal partner--my sketchbook. 

從等公車開始畫到搭公車。

I sketched while waiting for the bus, while taking the bus. 

畫到城市裡的漫步之旅。

While walking in the city. 

畫到有感覺的作品。

While encountering artworks that I really adore.

畫到真的找到合適的位置畫圖，然後路人就來和我說：「你擁有特別的旅行記錄。」我在心裡接著說：「和很平靜的心。」

Until I found a perfect spot for sketching. Then the passer-by would tell me, "You have a special record of the trip." I went on to say, "And a very calm feeling." 

不一定要有意義：

我學著不去賦予每件事或每張圖意義，從純粹的觀察裡會產生全新的了解。

There's no need to give everything meaning: 

I learned not to give everything or every picture meaning. New understanding will arise from pure observation. 

米滕泉

Bad Mitterndorf

時時會有變化：

在安靜的鄉間車站等火車，卻發現火車不會來了，但我畫了一張圖，畫完之後接駁巴士出現了。

Be prepared for change all the time: 

I was sketching while waiting for the train in the quiet countryside only to find that the train wouldn't come. However, the shuttle bus came after I finished a sketch. 

聖沃夫崗

St. Wolfgang

下雨天坐在咖啡館裡是必要的選擇：

並不是走來走去才叫旅行。

It's a must to sit in a cafe on rainy days: 

Traveling is more than moving around... 

MUJI筆記本小而美，到這一點必須收起來，作每天的旅行文字記錄了。我帶了一堆顏料，最後畫出來的都是黑白作，這也是我始料未及的心境改變使然吧！

I had to stop drawing in the journal at this point because not many pages were left for my text record. I actually brought paints and colored pens with me, but to my surprise, I ended up drawing in black and white. That was what I hadn't expected beforehand! 

Botanical garden / 植物園

夏天在植物園速寫，有蚊子和汗水相伴。

Sketching in the botanical garden in summer, I have the company of mosquitoes and sweat. 

        還有好多熱血的攝影人士，追逐美麗的荷花倩影。

   Also, a crowd of passionate photographers who are eager to record the beauty of lotus. 

Trial / 試煉

突然間就發現自己變成有架子、壞脾氣的大人，該好好修練了！

Before I am aware of it, I have become a pretentious and bad-tempered adult. Time for me to meditate and shake off these annoying shackles! 

The Lin Family Mansion & Garden / 林本源園邸

在上海的旅行，只能走馬看花，很想念園林的景致，於是去了林本源園邸。一定是因為我太崇洋媚外了，居然還被問到：你從哪裡來？

In Shanghai, we traveled at a lightning speed. I didn't have any time for sketching, and now my heart craves for the classical gardens. Well, it's funny that I am asked the question, "Where are you from?" It must have something to do with the fact that I adore exotic stuff so much that I myself appear kind of exotic too. 

Two stories / 兩個故事

朋友要結婚了，為她做了一張卡片，從紙上挖了兩條魚。

My college friend is finally getting married. I cut out two fish as I am making a wedding card for her. 

把小魚貼在札記本上，隨筆展開了另一個新的故事‧‧‧‧‧‧

The two fish, pasted onto my journal, are about to begin a new story......

Timing / 時機

前一陣子太心急，這幾週有機會靜下來好好思考，才又想到，所有事物都有它們的時間表，只有我一個人急不得。

I was moving too fast a while ago. Over the past few weeks my loss of goals has slowed me down and given me time to think. I, again, realize that everything has its agenda. I can't make it happen no matter how determined I am. 

        我和吉吉的明信片計劃進行到第三年了，代表現在我們手上有八百多張明信片，最近想把明信片展覽的計劃付諸實行，發現也急不得，也許會拖到明年，於是我對吉吉說：「這樣可以選的明信片又變多了！」

     I have begun my third-year everyday postcard project with Shaggy, which means we have more than eight hundred postcards now. Though we'd like to carry out our plan of holding a postcard exhibition, I find that it takes time to find the right venue. Maybe we will have to put it off until next year, but I told Shaggy, "That means we have more postcards to choose from!" 

        在對的時機來臨之前，我會好好準備的！

     Before it's time, I will wait and be well-prepared! 

He does look back. / 回頭

爸爸送兒子去機場，我和媽媽怕傷心，故意說完再見就走開，爸爸一個人站在那裡，不時舉起手揮啊揮的，直到兒子消失在海關入口。

Dad sees off his son in the airport. Knowing we will feel sad, we walk away right after saying goodbye. Dad stands there alone, waving his hand until the son disappears in his sight. 

        爸爸好開心地和我們說：「這次他有回頭看我喔！」可是我聽到這話，卻好想哭，也真的哭了。

     Dad says to us with happiness, "This time he does look back at me." Upon hearing his words, I so feel like crying, and I do cry. 

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!