9/11/2008

Portuguese man-of-war 僧帽水母


PICT0031
Originally uploaded by hohiyan

This was taken on Playa-del-este of Havana. I totally had no idea what it is. But my Cuban friend kept telling me it's dangerous. Don't touch it.

Today, everything is clear. I was watching NGC and it's a program about the most dangerous animal in Central America. This creature is called "Portuguese man-of-war" 葡萄牙戰艦 or 僧帽水母. I have heard it's very poisonous but didn't realize that I have seen it on a Cuban beach many years ago!

Don't you think it's beautiful and just like a plastic toy? Luckily I didn't touch it with my hands.

More pics in Cuba.

3/30/2008

Olinda, Recife 我在Olinda的馬戲團生活










Olinda是位於巴西東北大城Recife旁的一個古老小鎮,至今有500多年的歷史,於1982年被聯合國選為世界遺產,也是巴西保存最完整的歷史古城之一。Olinda的名字號稱是由O'Linda演變而來,意思就是「喔,真美啊」!

的確,這真的是一個很美的小鎮,石砌的街道,古老的教堂,緩慢的生活步調,我從Recife機場搭公車過來,一路上也是一堆人幫忙,Recife機場竟然有國際航線通往葡萄牙,真的很令我驚訝,大概跟我們的花蓮感覺差不多吧,新穎的機場還有當地觀光局派駐的觀光導覽點提供服務,從機場到Olinda中間還要在某條大道上換另外一般公車,我在路上背著大背包晃啊晃啊就有人來幫忙,一堆人七嘴巴舌跟我講要搭哪班車才會到,果然比里約有人情味。順道一提,好像只有某一路線的車會經過Olinda,所以別坐錯了!

到了Olinda一下車就有很多有穿制服的導遊擁上來,忙著跟我推銷,其實我已經看好Lonely planet上的一家叫Pousada d'Olinda這家旅社,但剛好有一個導遊嘴裡推銷的就是這家,我就跟著他走了(導遊人很帥.....如果他推銷的不是遊程,而是....,我可能就買了,呵)。

我住的那間單人房有冷氣,一晚才不到15塊美金,比我在Manaus住的便宜多了,而且外面還有漂亮的花園、游泳池,真的非常划算。就在我把行李安頓好後,我就帶著一本Lonely planet, 相機,錢包,輕裝簡行的四處去繞,順便尋找便宜的食物。為什麼強調便宜的食物呢?因為旅社鄰近一個小公園, 又近公車站, 所以附近的餐廳消費大概都是觀光級的, 大約都要台幣兩三百, 我吃不起, 所以稟著本人一貫的旅行哲學,我都往當地菜市場附近找庶民食物果腹。

一路上走啊繞啊, 這真的是一個漂亮的小鎮, 不愧為世界遺產, 全部都是石板地, 古老又色彩繽紛的屋子像是糖果般陳列在老街旁, 因為是個小丘陵, 所以某些轉角還會被俯視而下的景色給迷住, 遠方是現代高樓大廈櫛比鱗次的Recife, 近處是椰影婆娑的Olinda港灣, 真的非常美。



不過因為這裡既然號稱是小城, 那就真的很小, 大概跟整個鹿港小鎮差不多大小吧, 所以我真後悔在這裡安排了三天兩夜的行程,基本上這裡大概一天一夜就夠了, 不過既然這樣安排了, 一切就慢慢來吧, 享受飯店裡的泳池和花園, 做做翻譯稿賺個旅費, 有一天下午, 正當我坐在果樹下翻譯著稿子, 一個來曬衣服的年輕美眉突然過來跟我聊天, 我的葡文很破, 所以他不厭奇煩的解釋了半天我才大約了解, 原來這幾天Recife有一場國際馬戲團嘉年華, 有來自世界各地的馬戲團都來表演, 我住的那個客棧就有兩團進駐, 那個美眉很熱情的把報紙廣告拿給我看, 邀請我去看他們的表演, 我當然說好, 但心裡還是覺得應該還好, 還要去Recife進城去看, 好麻煩。

不料翻譯完, 正當我在游泳池游泳時, 一大群國中年紀的青少年突然跑進來泳池游泳, 與其說游泳, 應該是玩水, 他們跳水, 打水仗, 看到我這個外國人在裡面也絲毫不害怕, 還跑來跟我聊天, 問我哪裡來的, 這群小朋友接著就教我跳水, 每個人還使出他們在馬戲團裡負責的絕活, 倒立的倒立, 翻跟斗的翻跟斗, 還跟我比潛水, 還好我也不是省油的燈, 潛水還難不倒我, 他們看我也很會玩, 接著就越來越多的人過來找我聊天, 男生女生都有, 原來他們也是另一團馬戲團學校的小朋友, Circo Escola de Ecocidadania Juriti, 他們還請出他們的英文老師來跟我聊天, 教我丟瓶子, 無奈我真的不太會, 所以頂多兩個就不行了, 不像他們可以一次丟四個瓶子都不會掉到地上。




總之, 我就跟這群小朋友們打成一片, 晚上他們要去Recife觀摩其他馬戲團的演出, 問我要不要去, 我當然說好, 所以我就跟這群大概20來個人擠著一輛小麵包車就進城了, 跟語言不通的小朋友們到底要聊什麼呢? 當然就是用世界名曲[生日快樂歌]交流囉, 我教他們唱中文, 他們唱葡文, 也不知道這首歌到底是誰寫的, 為什麼全世界生日都要唱這首歌?

到了城裡, 在他們老師的帶領下, 我們就去看了一個好像是西班牙的馬戲團表演, 我假裝是他們的學生、所以不用錢,這是我第一次親眼看馬戲團, 真的還蠻好玩得, 旁邊的小朋友們也是看得目不轉睛, 結束後還一直拱我去和那些辣妹合照, 真好笑。

果然、要知道當地人的生活一定要和當地人生活才行, 平常作為一個遊客, 基本上我還是會按照台灣的作息, 大概晚上六七點去吃個晚餐, 加上又是一個人旅行, 晚餐後沒事做, 又不想一個人去泡異性戀的吧, 所以晚上晃一下就回房間看電視睡覺, 很悶。

其實,巴西人吃飯會吃的很晚, 午餐大概到兩三點, 然後四五點會在街上的小店吃點心, 像是bastillo之類的, 然後晚餐都是九點十點之後才吃, 跟這些小朋友也是一樣, 我們看完馬戲團表演回到客棧已經10點多了, 這時他們才開始吃晚餐, 很誇張, 當然快餓到發昏的我也被邀請去跟他們一起吃, 這次是要付錢的, 台幣一百多塊, 還有點心痛!

吃完後, 大家又在草坪上練習, 丟瓶子, 丟球, 甩火舞, 好險我在台灣也是有跟朋友在海灘趴時玩過火舞, 所以火舞的技術還不賴, 這時旁邊又來幾個德國和荷蘭的背包客, 他們也加入了我們的陣容, 這兩個歐洲大男生的葡文就不錯了, 比我好太多, 所以有時要跟我聊天時小朋友們還請他們翻譯。




就醬, 我在Olinda突然就多了這麼多朋友, 可惜我接下來的行程是去Salvador, 沒辦法看他們週六的表演, 要走的那天, 我還在池畔跟大家拍照, 互留MSN和e-mail, 希望他們的表演順利, 當然, 我也買了一件他們義賣的t-shirt, 當作是我這個台灣朋友對他們的支持吧。

下面的Youtube短片就是這群可愛的小朋友的表演, 裡面幾乎每一個我都認識喔!

More photos here.

2/24/2008

Yingge 鶯歌



  • Area: 21.12 km²
  • Population: 84,036 people (as of 2005)
  • hohiyan's rating: minus 2 stars
Yingge is famous for the production of porcelain. Although Yingge ceramics museum, the most famous landmark of this town, has been welcomed by millions of tourists since 2000, I made my trip to visit this artistic building today in 2008. The building itself is a contemporary architectural masterpiece in Taiwan. It's like an oasis in the surrounding aesthetic desert. No kidding. On your 10-min walk way from the trail station to this museum, you will encounter such a very unpleasant traveling experience that you may probably want to turn away and leave. No sidewalk. No traffic light. Today it's windy and rainy. I have to try very hard to survive in the traffic and keep myself no get hit by a car. In the end, my newly-bought umbrella was totally destroyed. The so-called "old street" is merely a ceramics shopping plaza with less than 10-year-old buildings and shops.

However, like I mentioned, the museum can be your oasis to escape from the surrounding aesthetic disaster. It's full of exhibition. There are also lots of spaces and room where you can have a break and enjoy your time with yourself. Yingge is trying to make their tourist business more convenient for tourists. They arrange a cheap tour bus to the main attractions and the nearby areas. You can spend NT$99 to enjoy this service. But apparently, there are a lot to improve.

1/27/2008

2007 wrap-up

旅遊 Travel
2007
希望2007年的旅遊計畫能順利達成,包括2月去巴西、4或6月用免費里程去一趟日本、夏天去澎湖、9月或10月能去一趟柬埔寨的吳哥窟和
西哈努克海灘,最好還能順道去曼谷走走。

In the end, I went to Brazil in Feb. and May, also had a trip to Penghu in Sep. Didn't go to Japan and Angkor wat. Not to mention Bangkok. In 2008, Japan trip is confirmed. Maybe visit Bali in May and Indo-china before the end of this year.

環境 Environment
2007
希望2007年我能少開一點冷氣。2006年夏天每天我好像回房間固定都會開個冷氣,這樣真的不太好,科學家預言2007年會是地球史上最熱的一年,北極冰 棚也掉了一大塊,連一個位於印度孟加拉邊境的有人小島也消失了,今年夏天我每天上班一定要記得把電腦關掉,這樣才不會讓電腦的熱氣在鋪有木頭地板的房間加 溫,藉此減少開冷氣的次數。
I hope I can turn the A/C on in fewer days. I turned the A/C on everyday in summer 2006. I felt like an Earth killer.

I can't recall whether I did keep this promise or not. But I did turn on the heater less often this winter.

理財 Finance
2007
2007年基金投資希望能維持在現有約4筆的數目,但要著重進場時機,適當調配,不要像去年生技和能源都買在高檔。另外也要盡量存錢、善用信用卡。
Keep those 4 funds, but with a smart timing and target. I also should save more money and use the credit card to manage my spending.

In 2007, I did make some money in my fund portfolio. Emerging market and ASEAN have an average 30% yield. Not Bad.

家庭 Family
老爸今年退休,所以希望2007年盡量每個禮拜回家吃一次飯,多陪陪家人。
My dad decides to be retired this year. Thus, I hope I can spend more time on them and have dinner with them at least once a week.

My dad was sent to the hospital in May when I was in Brazil. He has stayed there since then. So I did go home every weekend to see him in the hospital. Hope he can get well soon.


工作 Work
希望今年能順利換公司,目標是外商,否則也要本土科技大廠,希望能做國際業務的工作。若沒辦法換公司成功,那今年也要好好學習專利分析、鑑價的功夫。

I wish I can change a company in 2007, hopefully an foreign company or a local tech 100 company. I'd like to apply for a job like international sales person. If things goes wrong, I should learn some skills about patent analysis and evaluation.

I have a new job now. It's a very challenging job and occupies most of my time.


生活 Life
希望今年可以訂一下數位時代,才會強迫自己每期都看,否則像去年有時一忙就會忘了去書店翻翻,而且看的也不仔細,另外每天早上看聯合新聞網的時間減少一點,分一點時間去看NYT或是Washington Post,不然擺在電腦書籤裡每個禮拜只看一次也沒有效果。

I plan to subscribe Biznext in 2007. I also should spend more time on reading NYT or Washington Post, instead of UDNnews.

I subscribed BizNext and BusinessWeek in 2008. BizNext is not as good as I expected. On the other hand, BusinessWeek is quite good.

運動 Sport
今年希望能照樣維持去年衝浪的好習慣,從2月衝到11月,這樣週末比較不會東想西想的,另外希望能在2月前把保齡球學好一點,看能不能突破100分,健身的部分希望體重能增加到71-72,肌肉量維持,少一點健身的時間,多一點生活的時間。

Keep surfing in 2007. I should also learn bowling. Gain some weight to 71-72 Kg. Spend more time on living and less on working out.

No time for surfing in 2007. Weight around 70 kg. I did spend less time in workout, but it's due to my busy work. No life at all!

態度 Attitude
希望我能更成熟、穩重

My busy job makes me more mature, indeed.