2024年12月16日 星期一

Yongkang District, Tainan City 台南市永康區


Yongkang is northwest of Gueiren and west of Xinhua.  Like Linluo in Pingtung or Xiaogang in Kaohsiung, there isn't much in Yongkang for tourists.  The parts closer to downtown Tainan are residential areas, while the parts closer to Xinhua are more a mix of residential areas and factories. 永康位於歸仁的西北部 , 新化的西部 。就像 屏東縣麟洛鄉高雄市小港區一樣, 永康沒什麼旅遊景點 。 永康靠近台南市區的部分住宅房子比較多 , 比較靠近新化的部分則是工廠與住宅區混雜。

Yongkang and I go back a long way.  During my earliest years in Taiwan my mother-in-law lived there, and we often took the bus between Taichung, where we then lived, and Yongkang to visit her. 我跟永康有點歷史 。  我岳母的家在永康, 我最早幾年住在臺灣的時候 ,   我們常從台中的家坐公車到永康。.

According to the last census, 235,568 people live in Yongkang. 上次的人口統計顯示永康的人口是235,568人 。


This is Yongkang Park.  If the weather's cooler it's not a bad place for a stroll.  It's between the Jungshan Freeway and Highway 1, in the southern half of the district. 這是永康公園 。  天氣涼快的時候這裡適合散步 ,它位在永康南部 , 中山高速公路 和台1線中間 。


The "baby tigers" were installed in the park during COVID.  The idea was that they'd make the park more Instagram-worthy. 這些老虎寶寶是疫情的時候安裝的 ,  老虎寶寶是為了讓遊客拍照打卡的。


There's also this M48A3.  Tigers and tanks are... fun? 還有一輛M48A3 。  坦克跟老虎寶寶......好玩嗎 ?








To the north of Yongkang Park is the Yongkang Train Station.  It's also close to the Jungshan Freeway. 永康車站位於永康公園北部 , 也很靠近中山高速公路


This road connects the Yongkang Industrial Area to the train station. 這條路從永康車站通往永康工業區 。


On the same road is this old house.  I suspect that when it was built this area was VERY different.  Back then Yongkang was probably more farmland than factories. 這間舊房子在同一條路上 。  我猜想這房子剛蓋的時候這裡應該很鄉下吧 ! 農田應該多於工廠。

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2024年12月13日 星期五

Taitung in the News 台東的新聞 (South 南) 1



1. Beinan Township 卑南鄉

1a. This article, aimed at tourists, discusses a pottery workshop in Xinbanjiu Village in Beinan Township, not far from the Balan Archaeological site. 台東藝文之旅  發現鹿野熱氣球升空前的秘辛 , 卑南鄉燒 , 回望巴蘭遺址千年故事 (1)

1b. Portuguese Man-of-War jellyfish have been found along the coast, and those getting in the water or walking along beaches should exercise caution.  They are not safe to touch. 千萬別碰 !  台東海岸驚現 "大批僧帽水母"  專家示警 : 遺骸仍有毒

1c. Construction of an "Amis learning base" has been completed along the coast.  Next year a group of sailors from Palau will attempt an ocean voyage from their country to this base.  It is hoped that exchanges between Palau and aboriginal residents of Beinan will increase local knowledge of seafaring techniques. 台東阿美族海洋學習基地落成  明年迎帛琉船隻交流



2a. Due to a scarcity of parking spots, many people are parking their cars on Ssewei Road for long periods of time.  In response to this trend the County Government plans to implement parking fees on this thoroughfare. 台東市四維路停車格遭長期霸占  縣府將採收費 (2)

2b. The Taitung City Mayor hosted a food drive for elderly residents in need.  Much of the food acquired during this drive was donated through the local business association. 寒冬送暖  企業聯盟捐贈台東市文健站物資

2c. This is another article aimed at tourists.  This one advertises local hotels and homestays.  If nothing else you can scroll through the pictures to get an idea of what's on offer in Taitung City. 台東市內6家永續旅宿精選 ... (3)



3a. No recent news out of Taimali.



4a. A man riding his motorcycle through Jinfeng struck a guardrail.  He died at the scene from a severe head injury. 台東金峰機車自撞護欄  騎士摔落邊坡頭部重創身亡



5a. In the interest of promoting lifelong learning and providing educational opportunities for adults in the area, instructors from Kongzhong University in Taipei have been holding classes in Dawu.  Many of those attending these classes are working toward high school diplomas. 推動原鄉終身學習  空大睽違5年到台東大武開班 (4)



6a. There's a shortage of sanitation workers in Daren, with only 6 such workers left to deal with the entire township's garbage disposal and recycling needs.  A local councilmember is pressing the Environmental Protection Bureau to address the problem. 台東達仁清潔隊員吃不消  議員質詢喊增員

6b. Police officers met with villagers in Anshuo Village to discuss traffic safety and ways of avoiding fraud.  Online scammers touting "investment opportunities" have been an increasingly large problem all over the island. 台東大武警結合安朔部落會議  交安及防詐宣導



7a. Cleanup of an oil spill around Nandze Lake is nearing completion.  This cleanup has taken nearly a year, and the cause remains a mystery. 歷時近1年 !  綠島鄉南仔湖不明油污清理工作終完成 (5)

7b. This article advertises the Zhaorh Hot Spring, which is on the coast of Green Island.  I haven't been there in a while, but I can tell you that the view is indeed awesome. 綠島之湯 -- 朝日溫泉



8a. Orchid Island Township Mayor Xie Hu-yuan passed away in November, and Jiang Duo-li has been sworn in as interim mayor in his place. 蘭嶼鄉長謝胡源逝世  縣府指派江多利接任代理鄉長

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NOTE: I have omitted articles posted on the 台灣新聞雲報 website.  I am extremely skeptical of this news source.

1. That "xin" in the name of the village could easily be translated as "new."  It sometimes happens that villages have to relocate after typhoons, floods or other natural disasters and "new" is added to the name of the new settlement.  This said, aboriginal place names are sometimes transliterated from the local language, and the "xin" might just be a word from Beinan or some other local dialect.  Most likely the "xin" really does mean "new," but I'm trying not to assume too much.

2. I live near this road and yes, parking in this area is becoming an increasing challenge.  With new apartment buildings under construction on and near Ssewei Road it's only going to get worse.

3. Friends sometimes ask me where they should stay in Taitung City.  I think that if you're sticking close to downtown and don't care that much about money the Gaya Hotel is a good bet.  The Kindness Hotel is also a good option.

4. The main campus is in Taipei, but this school has branch campuses and study centers all over the island.

5. It's not really a lake.  It's more of a tidal pool.

2024年12月8日 星期日

The Jerben (Zhiben) Hot Spring Area 知本溫泉區 (Taitung 台東)


The Jerben Hot Spring Area is in Beinan Township, Taitung County.  It's about 25 minutes from downtown Taitung. 知本溫泉區位於台東縣卑南鄉 , 離台東市區25分鐘 。

I've been visiting this hot spring area for over a decade.  It's definitely not my favorite hot spring area, but at this point in my life it's like an old, old friend.  Every time I drive through it I get caught up in memories of long-gone people, places and things. 我來這個溫泉區泡湯已經超過十年的時間 。  知本溫泉區不是我最喜歡的溫泉區 , 可是我對它的感情就像是對一位老朋友一樣 。  我每次去到那裏就想起很久以前的事情 。


This is the Hotel Royal (Chihpen).  It's on the hill above the hot spring area.  This is the hot spring you'll want to visit if you're looking for "fancy."  It's the most expensive of the local hot springs. 這是知本老爺大飯店 , 它位在溫泉區山坡上 ,  想去設備比較高級的溫泉的遊客一定要來這裡 ,它是知本溫泉區內最貴的 。


This is the view from the temple next to the Hotel Royal.  That's the Jerben ("Zhiben") River in the center of the picture, with A-Ya-Wang Hot Spring's red roof visible at the bottom of the hill. 這是老爺旁廟宇前面的風景 。 在照片中間的是知本溪 , ㄚ一ㄚ旺的紅色屋頂在山坡下 。

I don't like it as much now, but A-Ya-Wang used to be my "go-to" in Jerben.  Back then it was cheap and never crowded. 我現在沒那麼喜愛ㄚ一ㄚ旺 。  我以前最喜歡ㄚ一ㄚ旺的原因是它便宜又不擁擠。


A view of the same temple.  That's the Hotel Royal behind the trees to the right. 同一所廟 , 老爺在右邊的樹後面 。


These are the hot spring pools at A-Ya-Wang, a hot spring that has been "under construction" for as long as I can remember. ㄚ一ㄚ旺的溫泉池 ,  這個地方一直都在施工中,已經十幾年的時間了。


There's a cute fish pond on the other side of the pools. 溫泉池另外一邊有可愛的魚池 。


And this is the Jerben river from the other side of the fish pond. 魚池另外一邊看到的知本溪 。


This is further up the road that passes through the hot spring area.  That building to the right is part of the Jerben Forest Recreation Area. 經過溫泉區再進去一點 , 右邊的建築是知本森林遊樂區的一部分 。

I have a love-hate relationship with the Forest Recreation Area.  It can be a nice place for a walk, offering scenic views of the river valley, yet it's also the abode of monkeys and various stinging insects.  I recommend visiting in the winter. 森林遊樂區讓我又愛又恨的 :  在這裡散步和欣賞溪谷的風景很好玩 , 可是它卻有很多猴子和螫人的昆蟲在裡面 。  我覺得冬天去比較好 。


This store is across the river from the Forest Recreation Area.  It's been here forever.  Hot spring eggs are available at the far end of the building. 這家店在森林遊樂區對面,歷史悠久,  它後方在賣溫泉蛋 。


I don't know if this peak has a name, but it looks EVIL and I like it.  There's a turnoff near here with more views of the river. 我不知道這座山坡有沒有名字 ,  我很喜歡它的 "惡魔存在" 感 。  這裡還有一段小路可以看風景 。


This is closer to the entrance to the hot spring area.  That big brown building across the river is Fuye Hot Spring Hotel. 比較靠近溫泉區的入口 。 溪另外一邊咖啡色的建築是富野溫泉休閒會館 。


This is one of two bridges connecting the two sides of the hot spring area.  The Journey to the East Hot Spring is nearby. 連接溫泉區的兩岸有兩座橋 , 這是其中一座 ,  這座橋靠近東遊季

There used to be a 7-11 on the other end of this bridge, in the brown building near the center of the picture.  I was surprised to learn it had closed down. 以前這座橋另外一邊的那棟咖啡色建築物裡有一家7-11 , 我很驚訝地發現那家7-11不見了 。


There's a nice park at the north end of the bridge. 橋的北邊有座好看的公園 。


This is a vacant lot across from Hot Spring Elementary School.  I couldn't tell you why, but I find this piece of land somewhat hypnotic.  Beyond those trees is the Jerben Forest Trail, which once stretched all the way over the mountains into Wutai in Pingtung County.  Last I heard the middle section is closed to hikers. 這是溫泉國小對面的空地 。  我不知道為什麼 , 我很喜歡看著這塊空地 。  那些樹後方是曾經連接台東卑南鄉屏東縣霧台鄉知本林道 ,我聽說步道的中段現在禁止進入 。


This field is just across from the Journey to the East Hot Spring.  Again, many memories.  We hosted a couple English summer camps here, and yes, the mosquitoes were intense. 這是東遊季前面的草地。 我有很多這裡的回憶, 我們以前在這裡舉辦過二次英語寒假活動 , 我記得那時候蚊子超多 。

The Journey to the East Hot Spring was a terrible place to go when the Mainland Chinese tourists were still visiting.  I can remember some of them taking off their shoes and washing their feet in the pools, and sometimes you'd even see them strip down to their underwear and sit in the pools without taking a shower first.  在中國團客到臺灣旅遊的時期,東遊季真不是個好的休閒區,因為有些中國遊客會在溫泉池脫鞋洗腳, 甚至沒沖洗就穿內衣褲下水。


This is near the entrance to the hot spring area.  There are slightly cheaper hot spring tickets available in a couple stores on this road.  There aren't so many touts here now, undoubtedly due to a downturn in traffic through the area. 靠近溫泉區的入口 。  在路上的商店可以買到比較便宜的溫泉卷 ,  現在不像以前有那麼多人在賣溫泉卷 ,應該是來客數沒那麼多。


I cornered this toad in my school.  I tried to interview him about his feelings regarding the Jerben Hot Spring Area, but he refused to answer my questions.  Toads are known for their rudeness. 我在學校碰到了這隻蟾蜍 ,  我想訪問牠關於溫泉區的意見 , 但牠都不理我 ,  蟾蜍是有名的沒有禮貌 !


This is still further down the Jerben River, not far from the local 7-11.  I'd avoid the Jerben Hot Spring area on big holiday weekends, but during other times it's still well worth a visit. 順著知本溪往東邊一點 , 靠近這地區的7-11。   我會避開連假和節日來這裡, 其他時間來這裡玩很不錯 。

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1. In fairness to the Mainland Chinese tourists, there were several "waves" of them during Ma Ying-jeou's presidency.  The earliest to arrive were fine, but by the time we'd worked our way down several tiers we were dealing with people who obviously had little knowledge of how to conduct themselves abroad.