2024年4月28日 星期日

The Zookeeper (Things I'd Tell Them If They'd Listen)


In this large zoo where I'm employed I'm partially responsible for the education of approximately 300 smaller mammals, ranging from 13 to 14 years of age.

Hey, hey don't get all "woke" on me now.  I was once kept in a zoo myself, and during my formative, mammalian years -- now thankfully forgotten -- I probably required just as much upkeep as the creatures which now surround me.

Sometimes in the course of a week at the zoo I'll consider offering one of the zoo attractions advice, guided as I am by the thought that I've been around over three times as long as they have, and that since graduating from my own set of zoos (some public and some private), I've accumulated quite a bit of life experience.  I'd like to impart some of my wisdom to the squeaking, bawling and roaring animals in my charge, in the hope that their lives will be improved thereby.

Then, of course, I change my mind.  How often, after all, do the animals in the zoo listen to their keepers?  How often do the lions say to one of the humans, "Great idea man, I'll stop scratching myself so much," or how often do the gorillas say, "I get it, I should be less aggressive?"  The answer is, of course, never.  The animals in the zoo can only pursue their animal natures.  Likewise the zookeepers can only ensure that the animals in their care get enough food to eat, that their habitats are kept clean, and that they don't harm themselves or each other too much.  Zookeepers all understand that doing so is their job, even if many junior high teachers don't.

Nevertheless it occurs to me that if, given a nearly magical set of circumstances, one of my students (sorry, one of the animals in my zoo) were to actually ask me for advice on some topic, I might have useful advice to give.  To this end let's pretend for a moment that the various reptiles, birds, mammals, amphibians and insects in my care can actually hold conversations, that they're asking me questions about their own behaviors, and that I'm trying -- not always succeeding -- to give them advice that matches their situations.

Ready?  Let's go!


Q: Zookeeper, every time I ignore you and try to have conversations with my friends during class, you react negatively.  What's your problem, anyway?

A: I'm here to do a job, and my job involves me talking and you listening to what I say.  This is just as true for me as it is for all the other zookeepers.  We talk, you listen.  This is especially true for me, in that I'm trying to teach you a language.  A big part of learning any language is (gasp) listening to the spoken form of that language and formulating responses to what is said.

Besides all that, how are you going to get through life without being able to listen to anyone?  I hear you talking all day, disgorging all of your thoughts, your beliefs and your opinions, but how much do you really listen to other people?  I've heard your "conversations," and they sound more like monologues to me.

Q: Zookeeper, why are you always telling us not to stare at our phones while we're walking (or even bicycling) to school?

A: Because the traffic around the school is dangerous, and you need to keep your wits about you when you're walking to school.  Many drivers are just as inattentive as you are, and they're also operating cars and scooters at high speeds.

Even with traffic aside, it's good to be aware of your environment.  As all animals should be aware, those that fail to pay attention to what's going on around them tend to live shorter lives.

Q: Zookeeper, what do I need to learn English for?  My parents work at the night market, and they always just use Google Translate when a foreigner walks up...

A: If you're coming at it from the night market angle, how about the fact that English can actually make you money?  Yes, you can just talk or type into your phone and then hand it to the foreigner to either listen to or look at, but that's a cold way of doing business, and foreigners thus approached aren't likely to do repeat business at your particular stall.  And keep in mind that there are many stalls, selling many similar things, at the same night market.

Odds are that the vocabulary and sentence patterns related to your particular night market stall are exceedingly simple and easy to master.  Be friendly, don't hide behind your phone, and over time you'll have at least a couple repeat customers.  That kind of money adds up over time.  Also keep in mind that the night markets aren't, in most instances, exactly thriving now.  It's all about competition, and anything that gives you an edge is good.

Aside from night markets, there's the fact that many higher paying jobs involve a test of English proficiency at some point.  If you're not planning on fixing scooters or farming you'll want to take this into account.  Knowing English can mean a raise and increased opportunities, at least as far as the corporate world is concerned.  Many businesses in Taiwan operate internationally, and in this context English opens many doors.

There's also quality of life to consider.  Yes, you can exclusively hang around with Taiwanese or Mandarin speakers, but what about making friends from other cultures?  Learning languages -- any languages -- is always a good thing, and the more you use a language the more you'll find that it not only makes new friendships possible but also allows you to think and solve problems in different ways.

Q: Zookeeper, why can't I just address you by your first name?  Aren't we buddies?

A: Because it's rude.  I get that some teachers in some cram schools are OK with their students addressing them by (only) their first names, but I'm not.  I am your teacher, not your buddy.  It's a different relationship, and in this relationship respect is important.  Your buddies, for example, never ask you to take a test, or fill out a worksheet, or recite words from a book.  I'm a teacher, and I like to be addressed as such because it keeps the relationship clear.

Q: Zookeeper, why shouldn't I smoke and chew betel nut?  Aren't those two things awesome?

A: I get that the people you're looking up to do that, but you live in a tiny village on the way to almost nowhere, and you might want to think about both your health and how those habits impact your life and the choices you can make later on.

Cigarettes can give you lung cancer.  Lung cancer is not fun.  Cigarettes also make people smell like cigarettes, and some people will avoid smokers for this reason.  It's also a really inconvenient addiction/habit to carry around, involving great expense over time and the need to step out for a smoke several times a day.

And yes, I smoked once upon a time.  Thankfully I never got addicted.  But who knows if they'll get addicted or not?  And by the time you know you're addicted, isn't it usually too late?

Betel nut can give you mouth cancer.  Have you ever seen one of the people with mouth cancer?  That's some freaky shit.  Betel nut also makes people smell like betel nut, and it's not great for your teeth.  Then you have spit everywhere, and members of the opposite sex will avoid you for a variety of reasons.  I get that maybe girls/boys in your village are cool with it, but go to most urban areas and it's a different story.

Q: Zookeeper, I don't want to have a regular job!  I want to be a YouTuber when I grow up!

A: All I can say is good luck with that.

Q: Zookeeper, why do you ride a bicycle to school every day?  Don't you have enough money for a scooter or a car?

A: As it happens I own both a scooter and a car, but I prefer riding a bike.  I find driving a car to school very stressful, and I don't see any reason to ride a scooter to work when I could just as easily ride a bike.  My house is 3 kilometers away, and unless a typhoon is on I'd rather just bike here.

Q: Zookeeper, why can't I just copy from my classmates?

A: Because you won't know anything.  If you just copy from everyone, and you have no idea what you're copying, then you're just digging a bigger and bigger hole for yourself in terms of whatever subject you're studying.  Honestly, my worksheets aren't that hard, and if you can't see the blackboard from the back row you need glasses.

Q: Zookeeper, why can't I just use English class to practice all of the cool English swear words I know?

A: Because you don't really need to practice those words.  You're just trying and failing to sound tough.

Q: Zookeeper, why can't I take my time coming back from the basketball court?

A: Because one of the things about life is respecting other people's time.  This is true in school, and it's even more true when you start working jobs and forming relationships with people.  It's not good to keep people waiting.  It shows a lack of respect.  It's also about respecting yourself, in that doing a good job can get you things.  Being on time is part of doing a good job.

Q: Zookeeper, why can't I hide in the nearby temple and/or vandalize things instead of coming to school on time?

A: See my answer to the question above.  In addition, you might want to think about the fact that there are usually two kinds of students: the ones that put some effort into school and the ones who gravitate toward temple activities and all that those entail.  I'm not saying that everyone involved in their local temple is a gangster -- this obviously isn't true -- but there's definitely a subset of templegoers who are.  Of course it's possible to be involved in the local temple and be a good student, but you might want to think about your priorities just the same.

And no, I'm not equating local religious observance with vandalism.  It's just that I've noticed a certain type of boy (they're always boys) who hide out in temples, break things, light off fireworks and generally cause trouble.

Q: Zookeeper, why do I need to study anything?  I'm just going to do what my parents do, and that doesn't require study!

A: Are you sure you'll be able to do what your parents do?  It's not like farming or working at the night market are easy jobs.  Your parents or grandparents are doing all the heavy lifting, and you might want to think if you'll be up to the challenge.

Also, economies change.  People need to adapt to whatever economy they participate in.  Farmers need to grow new things, in different ways, just as people at the night market need to sell different things to different people.  And it's never a given that either farming or selling things at the night market will always be viable career paths.  The local tourism industry took quite a hit after COVID, and farming in an international (or at least island-wide) market presents its own set of difficulties.

So why do we study things?  In essence it's to keep our options open.  Maybe we never really use the English, Chinese or Math we learn in school, but on the other side of junior high is senior high, and on the other side of senior high (or vocational school) is either college or entering the workforce.  A knowledge of many subjects means more open doors in terms of what you can do later on, and you should be careful about closing doors that might prove useful in the future.

Q: Zookeeper, why shouldn't I scream in class?

A: Because it's irritating.  If you scream other people scream, and the next thing we're all trying to scream over each other with very little success.  I get that when you're home you mostly run around a courtyard and scream at both your family and your neighbors, but there are an "inside voice" and an "outside voice" for a reason.

Besides, when you take that loud voice to the city you just sound very "country."  You'll notice that people in the city don't yell at each other like that.  If they did it would be unbearable.

Q: Zookeeper, why shouldn't I laugh at and/or yell at my classmates?

A: Because they won't like you.  They might pretend to find it funny, but really, they won't like you.  Try to speak in a softer voice first, and then, if they're being rude, increase your volume.

You might also consider how much you enjoy being laughed at or yelled at yourself.

Q; Zookeeper, why can't I just throw garbage everywhere?

A: Because we all have to share the spaces we live in, and also because protecting our environment is important.  And it isn't just important in some kind of aesthetic way.  Tourists come down here to interact with nature and breathe fresh air.  If the roads or the beaches are full of garbage, do you really think they'll want to come down here?

Q: Zookeeper, why can't we learn English the "fun and easy way?"

A: Because there is no "fun and easy way."  Learning any language is hard work.  I try to make class as interesting as possible, I try to include a variety of activities, but at the end of the day learning English is going to require effort on your part, and if you don't put forth effort you're not going to learn very much.

I fully realize, however, that some of you spent four years just singing English songs in elementary school.  I fully realize that some of your elementary school English teachers decided, long ago, that you're unable to read and write English, and that they washed their hands of teaching you how to do so.  Nevertheless it's never too late to start.  Some of your classmates might have given up on English long before you met me, but even they can learn something if they try.

Q: Zookeeper, why won't you be here next year?

A: Eh, that's a difficult one to answer, but since you're one of my favorite creatures in the zoo I'll try to explain:

1. I've been teaching junior high school in Taiwan for almost four years now.  I need a break.  Sometimes (I say again: sometimes) I enjoy the struggle that teaching junior high-level English involves, but often I don't.  If I can make the same money teaching elementary-level classes, and if there are many elementary schools where I could work, why not do that instead?

2. This school isn't working that well for me for several reasons.  They never really had a plan for me here, and most of the English teachers I work with are just counting the days until they retire.  I'd rather be somewhere when they were at least trying.

3. Hengchun as a whole isn't working that well for me.  On the weekend, in the summer, I like it a lot, but then again there's the windy, windy winters and the distance from family members and friends to think about.  There were problems with Fangliao, where I previously lived as well, but at least the distance from Kaohsiung and Taitung wasn't such a problem.

4. I'd like to live in one place or the other.  We have apartments in Kaohsiung and Taitung at the time of writing, and I'm tired of messing with a third location.  I'm also OK with either living in Kaohsiung and going on vacation in Taitung, or else living in Taitung and going on vacation in Kaohsiung.  I'm tired of dealing with other properties, in other places, no matter how scenic or convenient those other places might seem at first.

5. I'm tired of dealing with the Pingtung County Government and its lack of inertia.  I fully realize that I'll have to deal with other kinds of nonsense in other cities or counties, but I really feel like it's time to move on from Pingtung.  

This said, I'm not closing the door to Pingtung completely.  I've already been offered another place in the county, and if the MOE doesn't come up with something better in Taitung or Kaohsiung I might just take it.

That's all for today, animals in my particular zoo.  I wish you the best, there are no hard feelings, and it is what it is.  You won't, of course, have heard me say the things above, and you're even less likely to have read all these English words which make you so, so tired, but for what it's worth, there it is.  One of the eighth grade exhibits is opening to the public soon, and I should go get ready.

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2024年4月21日 星期日

Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (West 西) 5


There are 38 districts in Kaohsiung City.  The districts discussed here are all west of the Formosa Freeway (#3).  They're much more urban that districts east of the Formosa Freeway, have a much higher population density, and are generally less scenic. 高雄市分為38個行政區 。  這裡文章討論的行政區都位在福爾摩沙高速公路以西 ,  這些行政區和高速公路以東的行政區比較起來: 較熱鬧 、人口密度較高 、風景比較差。


1. Alian District 阿蓮區

1a. No recent news out of Alian.


2. Yanchao District 燕巢區

2a. A blood drive was held in front of the Yanchao District Office.  This event was sponsored by a local Buddhist association. 血庫告急 !  社團法人高雄市法亨寺佛學會攜手燕巢居民挽袖捐熱血


3. Hunei District 湖內區

3a. Several men broke into a "board game shop" (more like a local casino) and caused a lot of damage.  It's thought that the reason for the vandalism is a financial dispute.  The chief suspect has already been arrested. 狠K畫曝 !  高雄惡煞組棒球隊  暗夜狂砸桌遊店 "洩恨"


4. Jiading District 茄萣區

4a. Eh?  Was that "casino" in Hunei or nearby Jiading?  Turns out the "casino" was in Jiading, though the police bureau handling the case is in Hunei.  This article is pretty much the same story with a more accurate address. 茄萣桌遊店遭破壞毀損  警方鎖定嫌疑人並全力追查中


5. Luzhu District 路竹區

5a. Up until recently residents of Xiakeng Village in Luzhu were using groundwater for their daily needs.  This was a problem during periods of low rainfall, an increasingly frequent occurrence in the area.  The water utility recently extended underground pipes into the village, and persistent water shortages should now be a thing of the past. 台水七區處辦理無自來水延管工程  改善路竹區大德路飲用水品質


6. Yongan District 永安區

6a. No recent news out of Yongan District.


7. Gangshan District 岡山區

7a. The election of a candidate to the office of Village Chief (or mayor) was declared invalid after it was discovered that the candidate's wife had illegally manipulated household registration data in clear violation of election rules.  The candidate's wife claimed that her husband had no knowledge of what she'd done. 妻遷入幽靈人口影響選舉  里長大逆轉改判當選無效 (1)


8. Ciaotou District 橋頭區

8a. A driver lost control of his car and crashed into a house.  The car was totaled, though the driver escaped with minor injuries. 高雄橋頭超狂駕駛開車PK透天厝 !  車頭全毀 , 前擋玻璃碎成蜘蛛網


9. Mituo District 彌陀區

9a. No recent news out of Mituo.


10. Dzeguan District 梓官區

10a. No recent news out of Dzeguan.


11. Dashe District 大社區

11a. A man was arrested after an online video showed him brandishing a fire hydrant sign.  He promptly returned the sign and stated that he'd found it lying next to the road. 高雄消防栓號誌牌也偷  18歲男愛搗蛋這下糟了


12. Daliao District 大寮區

12a. A woman fell from a building in Daliao and died at the scene.  The cause of her fall has yet to be determined. 高雄大寮驚傳墜樓  男上前圍觀驚見女友躺地上


13. Nandze District 楠梓區

13a. A public forum was held at North Kaohsiung Community College to discuss how Nandze and other districts can be made safer for pedestrians.  Representatives from the Kaohsiung City Bureau of Transportation and local police officers were also invited to attend. 高雄  改善楠梓交通  社大辦論壇提對策 (2)


14. Renwu District 仁武區

14. There was a fire in a house in Renwu.  The family living inside the house were trapped for a time, but firefighters managed to rescue them.  Those rescued were treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital. 高雄仁武民宅深夜竄火  受困7人獲救送醫1人意識模糊


15. Dashu District 大樹區

15a. Two men were filmed vandalizing a motorcycle with baseball bats.  The owner of the motorcycle didn't report the incident to police, and neither this person, who was personally acquainted with the vandals, nor the vandals themselves have been forthcoming with a reason for the crime.  The incident is being investigated. 2人持球棒狂砸機車  被害人不報案但警方逮人犧釐清中


16. Zuoying District 左營區

16a. There was a fire at a refrigeration and air conditioning company in Zuoying.  A man was rescued from the blaze and sent to the hospital after inhaling a lot of smoke. 高雄左營冷凍空調公司火警  1男嗆傷救出送醫


17. Niaosong District 鳥松區

17a. This article, complete with pictures, introduces a candy/snack made with peanuts which is sold by a business in Niaosong. 記憶中的甜蜜滋味 !  高雄鳥松 "蘇老爺花生麥芽糖" , 傳承半世紀經典伴手禮


18. Sanmin District 三民區



19. Gushan District 鼓山區

19a. This article, complete with pictures, introduces a coffee shop in Gushan.  It's on the other side of Chai Mountain, with views of the ocean, and is accessible via the road that passes through Sun Yat-sen University. 網美級海景第一排必拍 ... 瑪莎咖啡柴山館MaseCafe... (3)


20. Qijin District 旗津區

20a. Yeah, it's hot.  A recent high of 36.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Qijin.  I was there during the recent four-day weekend, and I can testify that yes, it was very hot and very humid in Qijin. 好熱 !  嘉南高屏慎防高溫  高雄旗津已達36.2 C

20b. Flooding is a recurring problem in Qijin, where tides often cause seawater to spill over onto roadways and into local businesses and homes.  The central government recently approved a large subsidy for improving flood control measures in the area, and the installation of new water pumps and other improvements should begin this summer. 旗津大潮民宅必淹  民代質詢盼改善


21. Lingya District 苓雅區

21a. A junior high in Lingya is under investigation after members of its baseball team were recorded bullying another student in January.  The students in the video and their parents have since apologized, but the school is still under a lot of pressure to address the bullying situation and other problems related to school discipline. 網傳棒球校隊霸凌影片  高市教育局 : 已啟動府級調查追究責任


22. Yancheng District 鹽埕區

22a. Aside from the below-mentioned article on housing prices in Xinxing, no recent news out of Yancheng.


23. Qianjin District 前金區

23a. There was a fire at a seafood restaurant on Dzeqiang Road.  A man inside the same building was rescued from the third floor. 高雄必比登名店 "昭明腿庫飯" 火警 !  黑煙竄天1男困3樓求救


24. Xinxing District 新興區

24a. I can relate to this article on a personal level.  Xinxing District is among several districts in Kaohsiung where a new house or apartment will cost you an arm and a leg, while an old house or apartment is much more affordable.  Old real estate in nearby Yancheng is the cheapest relative to new real estate.  Xinxing is ranked fourth behind Yancheng for "affordability" in the linked article. 高雄 "這些區" 新屋貴 , "老屋" 還算便宜 (4)


25. Qianjhen District 前鎮區

25a. A large truck deliberately crashed into three other vehicles on Qianzhen Fishing Port Road.  The incident is still under investigation. 高雄前鎮漁港路大型車禍  大貨車不明原因追撞三車 (5)


26. Fengshan District 鳳山區

26a. A teacher in a Fengshan junior high school assaulted another teacher with a trophy.  The altercation began as a difference of opinion regarding teaching philosophies. 高雄鳳山某國中2老師衝突  1人遭打傷控傷害


27. Xiaogang District 小港區

27a. A truckload of steel coils fell onto a major road in Xiaogang, blocking three lanes of traffic and causing headaches for local police, who had to reroute traffic around the area.  The driver of the truck will likely face a hefty fine. 高雄拖板車掉鋼捲  中山四路交通受阻


28. Linyuan District 林園區

28a. Due to an "abnormality" with a compressor, a pillar of fire erupted from one of the smokestacks in China Petroleum Corporation's Linyuan facility.  The Environmental Protection Agency will be issuing a fine for the mishap. 中油林園廠燃燒塔今早喷出火焰濃煙  網怒 : 清明又發爐

Related Entries 相關的文章:


NOTE: I try to include 30 news stories for each of these entries:  Since there are 28 districts in this area I used a random number generator for the remaining two stories.  

1. It's an old, old trick.  Not enough people voting for you in your district?  Register several family members or other supporters' households in the area where you're up for election!  I'm surprised they thought they could get away with it.

2. This said, certain parts of Nandze aren't that bad to walk around.  The area closer to Kaohsiung University, for example, or the Export Processing Zone on a Sunday when most of the factories are closed.  The traffic in that district varies quite a bit.

3. It actually has a fairly low rating on Google, and it's not easy to get to.  In my opinion there are much nicer coffee shops and much easier parking around the Art Museum.

4. All of this said, some of the houses and apartments in Yancheng are OLD.  Like, over 50 years old.  This is why they're so cheap.  Yes, an apartment within walking distance of the Pier 1 Arts Center is possible, but... how do you feel about seeing rats on a daily basis?  Elevator shafts infested with roaches?  Apartments with a view of... nothing?  You run into these things when looking at older places in Yancheng, Xinxing and elsewhere.  There are bargains on the market, but they have to be scrutinized carefully.

5. Probably road rage.  Sometimes Google Maps will diverts people down that road when the 88 Expressway is blocked up.  It's a stressful drive.

2024年4月14日 星期日

鳳山舊城 , 左營 Zuoying's "Old City"


除了荷蘭人蓋的幾座紅毛城之外 , 台灣本島第一座中式城池 , 為康熙六十一年 (一七二二) , 於鳳山縣治所在地興隆莊 (今左營) 所築之土城 .  土城周圍八一0丈左倚龜山 , 右連蛇山 , 開四門 , 外有城濠 . Aside from the fortifications built [in Tainan] by the Dutch, the first fortified city built in Taiwan was the old fortified city built in what is now Zuoying [District, in Kaohsiung City].  The site [of this fortification] is in Xinglong Village, which was then under the administration of the provincial government in Fengshan.  It dates back to the 61st year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1722), and the area fortified was 810 feet around, with Turtle Mountain one side and Snake Mountain on the other.  The fortifications consisted of four gates and a moat. (1)

當初之所以興建鳳山縣城 , 乃是康熙六0年時朱一貴在台灣南部舉事 , 首先攻破鳳山 , 把總林富被殺 , 守備劉定國兵敗後自盡 .  在慘痛的教訓下不得不築城以自保 , 雖然該城在永正十二年 (一七三四) 加植刺竹 , 乾隆二十五年 (一七六0) 又在四門增設砲位 .  但是在乾隆五十一年林爽文 , 莊大田率眾蜂起時 , 依然被攻破 .  不過翌年即為海壇總兵郝壯猶收復 , 但未幾又再陷敵手 .  直到乾隆五十三年 , 才由福康安獲得最後勝利 . The Fengshan Provincial Government was located in that area as a response to Zhu Yi-gui's uprising [against the Qing government] in south Taiwan during the 60th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign.  Zhu Yi-gui's [forces] first attacked Fengshan and killed the general Lin Fu there, and the defending commander, Liu Ding-guo, committed suicide after the Qing forces were defeated.  [For the Qing forces] it proved a painful lesson, and the need for better fortifications became clear.

The city's [original] defenses consisted of thorny bamboo screens which had been planted there during the 12th year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign (1734), and four cannon emplacements were added during the 25th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1760).  In the 51st year of Qianlong's reign, Lin Shuang-wen and Zhuang Da-tian led another uprising and the Qing were defeated.  During the following year, commander Hao Zhuang-yu recovered it, only to have it fall into enemy hands again soon after.  It wasn't until the 53rd year of Qianlong's reign that [the insurgents] were finally defeated, and Fu Kang claimed victory for the Qing. (2)

在連年戰火的摧殘之下 , 這座土城早已面目全非 .  此時地方官員以為鳳山城倚山而建 , 易攻難守 , 又覺得興隆莊多兵災 , 為不祥之地 , 乃決議將縣治遷往大竹橋莊陂頭街 (今高雄市鳳山區) . After [multiple assaults] during successive years of war, the [original] earthen city had changed almost beyond recognition.  At this time the local officials felt that the city's position near the mountains made it too easy to attack and too difficult to defend.  They also felt that Xinglong Village was an ill-favored place due to previous disasters which had occurred there.  For these reasons they decided to move the provincial government to Pitou Street in Dazhuqiao Village (present day-Fengshan District in Kaohsiung City).

變更縣治所在並不能改變鳳山縣的噩運 .  乾隆六0年 , 當地人士陳周全與陳光愛興兵 , 雖為理蕃同知朱慧昌平定 , 但嘉慶十一年 (一八0六) , 自封鎮海威武王的海盜蔡牽 , 吳淮泗又陷陂頭街新治 .  清廷大員又認為此處 "土薄水淺 , 地苦潮濕" , 而且地勢又孤立無援 .  將軍賽沖阿乃奏請遷回舊城 , 閩浙總督方維甸亦有此議 , 但因經費無著而未獲 . Moving the provincial government, however, didn't change the Fengshan Provincial Government's fortunes.  During the 60th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, local agitators Chen Zhou-quan and Chen Guang-ai raised an army [and began another uprising against the Qing authorities].  Even though Li Fan's associate Zhu Hui-chang put down this uprising, during the 11th year of Emperor Jiaqing (1806) the pirate Tsai Qian, proclaiming himself "Great King of Zhenhai," and Wu Huai-sse overran the new seat of the provincial government.

Officials at the Qing Court also believed that this area had "thin soil, shallow water and a bitter and humid terrain."  They considered it an isolated and indefensible place.  Later still the general Sai Chong A-nai petitioned to have the provincial government moved back to its original position [in present day Zuoying], and Fang Wei-dan, governor of Fujian and Zhejiang had a similar proposal, but this plan was not approved due to a lack of funds.

道光四年 (一八二四年) 福建巡撫孫爾準來台勘估 , 在地方官民願分擔築城費用後 , 決定將縣治重新移回興隆莊舊治 .  同年 , 鳳山檳榔販子許尚謨反 , 陂頭新治又失守 .  在此情況下 , 遷縣治之議終於獲 . During the 4th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign (1824), Fujian governor Suen Er-zhun arrived in Taiwan to assess the situation.  After finding that local officials and other residents were willing to bear the cost of the enterprise, he decided to move the seat of the provincial government back to Xinglong Village.  During the same year betel nut merchant Xu Shangmo led another rebellion against the Qing government while it was still located on Pitou Street [in Dazhuqiao Village], and control of the area was lost again.  In the face of such a loss the Qing Court could only agree to move the provincial government back to its original location.

道光五年 , 官民集資 , 由知縣杜紹祈督工 , 擴大興隆莊舊城基址 , 向東北移動 , 捨蛇山 , 將龜山圍入城中 .  城垣俱用打鼓山石砌築周圍一 , 二二四丈 (約四公里) , 設四門 , 並於四隅各築砲台 , 以增強防衛 . During the 5th year of Daoguang's reign both the local government and private individuals raised funds, and local magistrate Du Shaoqi oversaw the work of building a new fortification in Xinglong Village.  The size of the original site was expanded, it was extended to the northeast, and both Snake Mountain and Turtle Mountain were enclosed within the city wall.  This city wall was built with stones from [nearby] Gu ("drum") Mountain, and the wall extended for about four kilometers.  Four gates were built, with cannon emplacements at each corner of the city for added defense. (3)

鳳山舊城全部工程於道光六年完工 , 但無巧不巧 , 知縣杜紹祈卻在這個當口得急病而亡 .  此一惡耗傳出 , 眾人同指興隆莊 "煞氣太重" , 根本是不祥之地 , 縣治則仍留陂頭街新城 .  這座舊城則從此荒廢 , 終至坍塌 . The "Fenghshan" Old Fortified City was completed during the 6th year of Daoguang's reign.  Unfortunately magistrate Du Shaoqi died of a sudden illness at the same time.  After news of this unfortunate even spread everyone began to see Xinglong Village as "an ill-favored place" that should be avoided.  The provincial government thus remained on Pitou Street, and the "old" [new?] city, went unused and ended up collapsing from neglect.

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NOTE: The Chinese text above was taken from "A History of Taiwanese Fortified Cities in Pictures" 圖說  台灣古城史 , published by 遠足文化 Walkers Cultural in 2014.  The Chinese was written by 載震宇 and the English was written by me.

1. Want to go see it?  The restored version can be reached on foot from the Zuoying Train Station.  Just take the local train south from Xin Zuoying.  After you exit the station walk south a little bit and you'll see it down a road to your right.

2. A big reason for this uprising was anger over taxes.  The Qing officials were very predatory about the taxes they exacted during this time, and many officials regarded the local population as a kind of "piggy bank" from which to fund their properties and family members back in China.  The Chinese text glosses over this fact, referring to the insurgents as "the enemy."  They had legitimate grievances.

3. Gu Mountain (Gushan) is just south of there.  It is the mountain for which Gushan District is named.

Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市前鎮區


Qianzhen ("Qianjhen" according to KMRT spelling) is south of Lingya District. 前鎮位於苓雅區的南部 。

And while we're "talking" about Qianzhen, does anyone else have fond memories of the Blue Lagoon water park?  I really, really miss that place... 在說到前鎮的時候,  有沒有讀者想到之前的布魯樂谷水上樂園 ?  我很想念那個景點 ......

According to the last census, 179,473 people live in Qianzhen. 上次的人口統計顯示前鎮的人口是179,473人 。


The most famous place in Qianzhen has got to be Dream Mall.  People from as far away as Taitung, Pingtung and Tainan drive to Qianzhen just to visit Dream Mall.  Like Ikea and Costco, which also have outlets in the area, it draws in shoppers from many areas. 前鎮最有名的地方是夢時代 。  台東屏東 和台南的人來前鎮的目標就是去夢時代 。  那裡的宜家家具好市多也吸引了很多遠地來的購物者 。

Dream Mall is, by the way, 17 years old now.  It's still the largest shopping mall in Taiwan, and still an incredibly profitable operation. 夢時代已經17歲了 。 它仍是臺灣最大的購物中心 ,仍是創造大量利潤的商場。


It's a very interesting piece of architecture.  Of all the buildings in Kaohsiung, Dream Mall might be the most interesting.  It's also not a bad place to spend a day.  A lunch, a movie and some shopping in Dream Mall -- entire days of my life have disappeared in this manner. 我覺得以高雄的建築物來說 , 夢時代是個很特別也最有趣的建築 。  你可以輕易地在這裡消磨一天:  在裡面吃午餐、 看場電影和逛商場買買東西 。 好些天我的生活就這樣過了 !


This said, you might want to avoid Dream Mall on big holiday weekends.  These pictures were taken during the Chinese New Year holiday and it was CRAZY then. 大節日和連假的時候最好不要去夢時代 。  這些照片是春節期間拍的 ,那個時候夢時代真是人山人海 。


Another attraction in Qianzhen is the Light Rail, which runs in a loop through many downtown areas.  About a third of the Light Rail is in Qianzhen. 前鎮也有輕軌 。  差不多1/3的輕軌鐵路在前鎮 。


Qianzhen is also where the Light Rail depot is.  You can visit the LR Depot stop to see where all the trams spend the night. 輕軌的機場也在前鎮 。  輕軌的列車都在這裡過夜 。


I often wonder how much the Kaohsiung City Government spends to maintain the grass that grows in and around the tracks.  Can't be cheap! 高雄市政府花多少錢養輕軌鐵道上的草 ?  大概不少 !


Near the bottom of the Light Rail loop you'll pass by the Star of Qianzhen stop.  If you want to go any further south you'll need to transfer to the nearby MRT. 輕軌最南邊會停靠前鎮之星站 , 如果你要繼續往南,要在附近換捷運 。


The Star of Qianzhen Station.  It's just a few stops east of Dream Mall. 前鎮之星站夢時代站很近 。


After Dream Mall (going clockwise), the Light Rail veers over to the Kaohsiung Port.  This is just north of the South Taiwan Electric Power Plant.  經過夢時代之後(順時針走)輕軌會往高雄港 。  這一站靠近南部發電廠的北邊 。


There's a community around here, a little north of Dream Mall, that reminds me a lot of the more famous Guomao Community in Zuoying.  The buildings here aren't as photogenic as those in "Little Hong Kong," but it was built on the same scale. 夢時代北部的社區。它讓我聯想到左營果貿社區 。  這裡的建築沒有 "小香港" 那麼上鏡 , 可是社區規模一樣大 。


A little further north you'll find these exercises in geometry.  This is across the road from the MLD Shopping Center, which seems to be dying a slow death since the movie theater closed down.  The American Institute of Taiwan (AIT Kaohsiung) is in the building behind the signs.  That's the 85 Sky Tower behind it. 往北一點會來到這些建築 。  台鋁內的影城停止營業之後 ,人潮好像慢慢消失了 。  美國在台協會高雄分處前面的建築物裡,  後面的建築是85大樓 。


Ikea and Carrefour are just down the road from this place.  I generally try to avoid Ikea -- doing so is better for my marriage. 宜家家具家樂福在同一條路上 。  我不喜歡去宜家 , 在那邊我跟我太太容易吵架。


At the northwest corner of Qianzhen is the Kaohsiung Exhibition Hall.  It can either be a very active or a very empty place depending on what's going (or not going) on there. 高雄展覽館位於前鎮的西北部 。  舉辦活動的時候展覽館很熱鬧 , 沒有活動的時候很空曠。


A street up from the Exhibition Hall, and not far from the Sanduo Shopping District, is the Kaohsiung City Library.  Yes, yes, libraries are boring, but it's a very popular place and the building is interesting. 展覽館的下一條街 ,是靠近三多商圈高雄市立圖書館 。 圖書館很無聊沒錯 , 可是這棟建築物很熱門 , 它的建築設計也很有趣。


Last of all is the SKM Park, formerly known as Taroko Park, at the southern end of the district.  I'd include more pictures of it but it was closed at the time I visited.  I haven't been in a while, but there are restaurants, shopping and an amusement park inside.  When my daughters were little we used to come here for the bowling alley.  Hopefully it's still there? 最後是前鎮區最南端的草衙大魯閣 。  我雖然想進去拍照 , 可是我到時間太早了 , 商場還沒開始營業 。  我很久沒去了 , 可是我記得裡面的餐廳 、 商店 和遊樂設施。  我女兒們小時候很喜歡來這裡玩保齡球 , 我希望保齡球館還在 。

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