Row row, row your boat, gently down the ocean, eventually we will end up in Penghu. Today, we took a not so bouncy boat ride to Central Penghu for some delicious traditional cuisine in a very old fashioned house. One thing unique about Penghu would be the fact that all the street signs were shaped like dolphins.
After lunch, we had to take another 10 minute boat ride to get to our final destination, Jibei Island. When we arrived, we went straight to their local museum, which was conveniently located at the docks. The museum showcased their old fishing styles, stony fishery trap, and it also included much information about the different fishes that can be found deep under the ocean.
However, the highlight of the day would be when we got to walk in the ocean to go to the stony trap set up in the ocean. The walk to the trap was one heck of a task due to all the pointy corals on the ground; many of us got injured due to the corals and the slipperiness, but all in all, it was all worth it.
2010-07-27
Peng Hu Day One
Today, we went to the islands of Peng Hu. We took a large boat to the main island and then proceeded to take a smaller faster boat to the island in which we were staying. Once we reached our destination, we quickly unpacked and visited the beach, and saw the rock fish traps. In fact, we got to participate in fishing. The following are some images from that beach.
Here is a video of the seafood dinner we had that night.
-James Hwang
2010-07-26
這一路
（Posted by HEDY 雙雙）
＝風花雪月請入內 流金歲月勿浪費＝
當我站在這裡的時候
我想，原來我不用四處奔波
去尋找足夠讓我活在當下的氛圍
當我遇見你們的時候
我想，原來我不用周遊19國
我在這裡等待，等待你們來遇見我 與 真台灣
日本茶道的『一期一會』
說的就是像我們這群從遠方而來的旅人們
不知何時還能再相遇、再舉杯
於是，主人都會用心的砌好每一壺茶
像我，每天都珍惜著即使已成為Routine小事
我珍惜著捕捉大家打拳跌倒的那個瞬間
我珍惜著開會打屁的時間
我珍惜著在夜市排隊買好料給大家吃的時間
我珍惜著Kristine出來抽菸抬槓的時間
我珍惜著早上與Kevin擁抱的時間
我珍惜聽見Lev說"耶"的時間
我珍惜著聽見J'Lo變成周杰倫的時間
我珍惜吶喊"乾杯"、"大家請往前"、"過馬路小心車"的時間
（唯一不能珍惜的只有睡覺的時間，哭哭）
因為這些我想要在這趟旅程珍惜的時間，會在我們嘻笑吵鬧的過程中靜靜的流逝
人生與奉茶的過程
我們行腳奔波、我們日曬雨淋
然後我們等待、我們靜心
我們再繼續展開可能只有這麼一次機會的旅程。
Hugs. =]
2010-07-25
Martial Arts... HOO HAH
Fun fact from the scavenger hunt that our groups did today: Chin Men Theatre is what inspired Ang Lee to become a director, which led to the production of marvelous movies that we have all watched and love today... "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "Brokeback Mountain", "Sense and Sensibility", and the first version of "The Hulk". It was really interesting to take a mini tour of the theatre and imagine how such a site could have had a significant influence on an individual, who would eventually one day create well-known films that would spread from Taiwan to all over the world. Plus, it was fun getting some snapshots with the life-size cardboard cut-out of Ang Lee as well.
A little after the scavenger hunt and each group's presentation on what we saw and learned--shout out to our group (Fritz's group) for having the best presentation!!--we got the opportunity to experience a martial arts lesson. Although it was a tiny bit hot and sweaty in the gym (understatement of the year), everyone had great spirits and really enjoyed learning the different moves that made up the routine we were taught. There were about 30 moves, and we all did such a great job thanks to the teachers and the many, many repetitions we went through for each move. Not only did we learn the routine, but we also extracted lessons of precision and concentration.
Dripping with sweat, clothes soaked to the skin, we all proudly and confidently completed the martial arts routine one last time. And then rushed to the fans and collapsed on the floor. Soon after, the teachers went through the routine again, demonstrating how practical all the moves were as defense mechanisms. I don't think anyone is going to want to mess with any of us :) All in all, it was a great Taiwanese experience!
A little after the scavenger hunt and each group's presentation on what we saw and learned--shout out to our group (Fritz's group) for having the best presentation!!--we got the opportunity to experience a martial arts lesson. Although it was a tiny bit hot and sweaty in the gym (understatement of the year), everyone had great spirits and really enjoyed learning the different moves that made up the routine we were taught. There were about 30 moves, and we all did such a great job thanks to the teachers and the many, many repetitions we went through for each move. Not only did we learn the routine, but we also extracted lessons of precision and concentration.
Dripping with sweat, clothes soaked to the skin, we all proudly and confidently completed the martial arts routine one last time. And then rushed to the fans and collapsed on the floor. Soon after, the teachers went through the routine again, demonstrating how practical all the moves were as defense mechanisms. I don't think anyone is going to want to mess with any of us :) All in all, it was a great Taiwanese experience!
YAYAY CLOTHES FOUND!
Tiffany Hwang
Hedy
Aden had my cloooothes and I missed them so much and my life just got 92730424x better for the fact that my clothes have been located. I most missed my cool new yellow robot shirt from Yilan. However, they are now being washed and I am re-nervous that they are going to get lost again… crossing my fingers.
There’s very little to do around Tainan where we are. Headed to the Chin Men Theatre and the guy who showed us around was so kind. He gifted us little chunks of the old collapsed roof with identifying plaques attached, postcards, and a free movie. However, I don’t like seeing movies in theatre so I left to see what was around. Upon realizing that was nothing, I headed back to the hotel under the direction of a lady at the theatre. Took me like thirty minutes and a few repetitive walks up and down a few streets, but I made it hoooome.
Apparently, 珍珠 means the little baby tapioca balls in Tainan while it means the larger pearls in.. everywhere else. Unpleasant surprise of the day.
I have 92370 unanswered questions about the Chinese language. I’ve asked 2775293 random people these questions for their opinions but I’m missing something to create my own. I wonder if Taiwan will ever switch over from Traditional to Simplified Chinese, from Bopomofo to pinyin, what Taiwan’s version of Ebonics/slang entails, how people decide to switch from Mandarin to Taiwanese within conversations, whether and why the Taiwanese language is looked down upon by the further educated, and whether Taiwanese will die out as a language. I wish I understood Taiwanese.
Anyway, I AM REUNITED WITH MY CLOTHES! YEH!
Hedy
Aden had my cloooothes and I missed them so much and my life just got 92730424x better for the fact that my clothes have been located. I most missed my cool new yellow robot shirt from Yilan. However, they are now being washed and I am re-nervous that they are going to get lost again… crossing my fingers.
There’s very little to do around Tainan where we are. Headed to the Chin Men Theatre and the guy who showed us around was so kind. He gifted us little chunks of the old collapsed roof with identifying plaques attached, postcards, and a free movie. However, I don’t like seeing movies in theatre so I left to see what was around. Upon realizing that was nothing, I headed back to the hotel under the direction of a lady at the theatre. Took me like thirty minutes and a few repetitive walks up and down a few streets, but I made it hoooome.
Apparently, 珍珠 means the little baby tapioca balls in Tainan while it means the larger pearls in.. everywhere else. Unpleasant surprise of the day.
I have 92370 unanswered questions about the Chinese language. I’ve asked 2775293 random people these questions for their opinions but I’m missing something to create my own. I wonder if Taiwan will ever switch over from Traditional to Simplified Chinese, from Bopomofo to pinyin, what Taiwan’s version of Ebonics/slang entails, how people decide to switch from Mandarin to Taiwanese within conversations, whether and why the Taiwanese language is looked down upon by the further educated, and whether Taiwanese will die out as a language. I wish I understood Taiwanese.
Anyway, I AM REUNITED WITH MY CLOTHES! YEH!
2010-07-24
首先，我的电脑只能打简体字。
Today's schedule included a visit to the 国立台湾事前文化博物馆 （National Museum of Prehistory） in 台东 （Taitung）, 小鸟不要来琉璃珠 (a handicrafts shop that makes glass beads and other traditional art), lunch, a four hour ride to 台南 （Tainan）, and dinner at Tainan.
I found the museum to be quite interesting as it solidified my understanding of Taiwan's geology and flora and fauna. The story of Taiwan's native forests parallels that of Hawaii, with the native vegetation in lower areas destroyed by human activity, leaving the higher, wetter areas partially intact. I also didn't know that Taiwan was colonized by large mammals during the Ice Age and that Taiwanese mammoths once existed.
I appreciated learning about Taiwan's aboriginal cultures in more depth at the museum than I had learned from watching the performances we saw earlier. It was interesting that we saw three different aboriginal dance performances during this trip, because each of them was performed by different ethnic groups and under different circumstances. As far as I can tell, the first was part of a commercial enterprise (the hotel), the second was organized to help aboriginal youths learn and not to showcase aboriginal art, and the third was organized to showcase aboriginal art (and presumably is a class the performers joined). I wish I could have asked the performers how they came to perform and what their opinion of performing because they are of aboriginal descent is . In a way, I wonder how they approach their identity as one of the aboriginal tribes. I could tell that most were proud to belong to their ethnic group, like the man at the hotel who showed us how to find flying squirrels using eyeshine. At the same time, Stanley Yen told the story of aboriginal youths who needed help to get motivation to improve their lives. (I hope I got the story of the 宝抱鼓队之鼓动青春 right.)
The glass-bead shop was interesting, but I didn't feel like buying anything and so decided to salvage my time by observing what kinds of patterns and colors the artists used.
The ride to Tainan was a long trip and everyone seemed tired, as this photo suggests.
Dinner tonight occurred at a roadside restaurant which had on display various marine invertebrates and mammalian organs. While such a display may incur disgust in a Western restaurant, it served as an attraction here. I liked the food, mainly because I always like seafood.
(All pictures have been shrunken from the originals.)The Last Day in Taitung Eleanor
Today, we left Taitung for Tainan, and our last station in Taitung was National Museum of Prehistory. Though, I’m a Taiwanese, yet I’ve never been this museum before. Hence, I treasured this opportunity very much, and listened carefully to the audio guides. Through the guides, I finally understood that I just knew little about Taiwan, but the visit to Prehistory Museum gave me the chance to get to know authentic Taiwan. Not only did I know the process of Taiwan Island’s birth but also those different aboriginal’s specific customs and traits.
In the past, I would think those cultures as unbelievable and weird customs. However, through the short introduction, I understood those habits and customs really mean something to their tribes and the Taiwan indigenous society. During the journey to the museum, the most touching part was the aboriginal dancing and singing performance. They showed their customs and traditions in the performance, which was simple but powerful. Those big smiles on their faces were the sign of their greeting to visitors. The performance showed not only their energy but also their spirit which was touching to the heart.
In the past, I would think those cultures as unbelievable and weird customs. However, through the short introduction, I understood those habits and customs really mean something to their tribes and the Taiwan indigenous society. During the journey to the museum, the most touching part was the aboriginal dancing and singing performance. They showed their customs and traditions in the performance, which was simple but powerful. Those big smiles on their faces were the sign of their greeting to visitors. The performance showed not only their energy but also their spirit which was touching to the heart.
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