Taitung in the News 台東的新聞 (North 北) 1

1.Changbin Township 長濱鄉

1a. A missing aircraft (presumably) crashed into the sea off the coast of Changbin.  This aircraft has yet to be located. 台東長濱外海疑有航空器墜海搜索持續中

2. Chenggong Municipality 成功鎮

2a. A new whale watching route, the "Blue Highway," was recently inaugurated in Chenggong.  This route extends from the fishing port in Chenggong to Green Island.  Whale watching tours have been less popular in recent years, in part due to COVID.  The Chenggong Municipality Government is hoping to revive this local industry. 台東  成功鎮藍色公路  賞鯨首發團啟航

2b. Chenggong and nearby areas experienced a category 4.3 earthquake.  The epicenter was over 50 km from Taitung City, where this earthquake was recorded. 台東成功鎮08:42規模4.3地震  最大震度4級

3. Haiduan Township 海端鄉

3a. An aerobics competition aimed at elderly residents was held in Haiduan.  The event coincided with the opening of a new "cultural and health station," of which there are many in the county.  Elements of local aboriginal cultures were incorporated into this event. 台東文健站活力健康操初賽登場  海端鄉體育館熱鬧開賽

3b. Police officers visited a volleyball tournament in Kanding Village to educate the public on new anti-fraud laws.  Their speeches were delivered in Mandarin and Bunun. 崁頂警於海端鄉...

4. Chrshang Township 池上鄉

4a. The Chrshang Township Office held a press conference to promote low carbon, environmentally sustainable tourism in the area. 全國首創！池上鄉低碳旅行採「巴奧模式」取得國際機構黃金標準碳註銷證明

4b. Chrshang Junior High hosted the 2024 Aboriginal Athletic Games. 池上113年原住民族運動大會團結九大部落  發現文化與運動活力

5. Guanshan Municipality 關山鎮

5a. Guanshan Municipality received organic rice seedling certification from the Department of Agriculture.  Current "organic" labels only certify the production process to a certain point in the plant's life cycle.  This new type of certification authenticates that the rice production all the way back to when the plants were seedlings. 台東首家有機秧苗場通過認證  關山鎮有機米生產一條龍

5b. A group of students from Taitung University visited Guanshan to learn more about its culture and history.  The results of their efforts will be published in a school magazine. 東大新生走訪關山老街  紀錄被台東黏住的回憶

5c. The Guanshan Branch of the Taitung County Police Department recently held a "social event" for officers in appreciation of their hard work.  This social even included roast pig and performances. 關山分局辦 "月圓人團圓" 聯誼活動  "八部合音天籟團"  盛裝祈福賓主盡歡

6. Donghe Township 東河鄉

6a. The results of a recent land survey conducted by the Taitung County Government were disclosed to the public in Donghe and Yanping townships. 台東縣延平鄉 , 東河鄉  公布113年度地籍圖重測結果 

7. Luye Township 鹿野鄉

7a. There was another earthquake in Luye.  This one was slightly smaller, at 4.1 magnitude. 台東鹿野鄉15:36發生規模4.1地震 !  最大震度4級

7b. This article advertises a new tour of Luye which incorporates the making of millet wine and tea. 台東鹿野二日遊 ...

8. Yanping Township 延平鄉

8a. There's a statue of an "arrow-shooting hero" in Yanping Township.  This statue has a bow without an arrow -- why?  After the statue's completion the arrow was pointed toward nearby Luanshan Village, across the valley , and people there complained that the arrow pointed toward their village was bad luck. 延平鄉布農族最大射日英雄雕像  引弓無箭傳善意

8b. There's a new "aboriginal workshop" in Yanping.  This workshop offers a chance to sample Bunun tribal food, crafts and culture. 感恩之名 : 烏尼曩工坊

8c. Representatives from Yanping recently visited Jinhu Municipality in Matsu to discuss business exchanges between the two areas. 台東延平鄉代會訪金湖

Related Entries 相關的文章:

The Forest Park, the Flowing Lake and the Seashore Park 森林公園 、 活水湖跟海濱公園 (Taitung 台東)

Knowing and Not Knowing Where I'm Going

Xiaogang District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市小港區

Checking Back In 再報告一次

The Forest Park, the Flowing Lake and the Seashore Park 森林公園 、 活水湖跟海濱公園 (Taitung 台東)

The Forest Park, the Flowing Lake and the Seashore Park are all in Taitung City, not far from the Beinan River, Highway 11 and downtown Taitung. 森林公園 、 活水湖跟海濱公園都位在台東市 ， 且離卑南溪 、 台11線 和台東市區很近 。

Back in 2006, when I first moved to Taitung, the Flowing Lake was the first scenic place I visited after I was hired.  I've gone swimming there for many years. I don't have as much feeling about either the Forest Park or the Seashore Park, but the Flowing Lake and I go way back. 我於2006年開始在台東工作 ， 剛被雇用時我第一個參觀的景點就是活水湖 。  我對森林公園和海濱公園沒有深刻的感情，但我那些年常到活水湖游泳，所以我對活水湖很有感情。

This trail is at the north end of the Forest Park.  It's a great place for bird watching. 這個步道位於森林公園北部 ， 這裡很適合賞鳥 。

Heron Lake.  I hadn't been here in a while, and I was happy to see how well it weathered recent typhoons. 鷺鷥湖 。  我很久沒來這裡了， 很開心看到它就算經歷過颱風也維持著不錯的樣態。

Same lake, but further down the trail. 同一個湖 ，往東邊一點點 。

I took these pictures around 7 on a Sunday morning.  The park is very peaceful during this time.  There are times when the number of tourists walking or biking through the park can make it unpleasant. 我在某個禮拜天早上七點左右來拍這些照片 ， 這個時候的公園很平靜 。  有時候來騎單車的觀光客超多，使得在這裡散步很不舒服。

Further south.  There's another lake still further down to the right, but when I was visiting it was closed to the public.  They're building some kind of pavilion or bird watching station there. 往南一點 ，  從這裡直走，在右邊也有一個湖 ， 可是我到的時候沒有開放 ，  他們在那裏蓋涼亭或是賞鳥區 。

I'm a little skeptical of all the "Taitung In(G) Action" signs around town.  Are all of these projects really necessary?  Do they really signify "development?"  Sometimes they just seem like excuses to cover green spaces with concrete. 台東市區有很多Taitung In(G) Action的告示牌，  這些工程真的是必要的嗎 ?  這樣子才算發展嗎 ?  把那麼多綠地鋪滿水泥真是很可惜 !

Highway 11 passes through the Forest Park.  If you follow this trellis down it'll take you under the highway.  The other side of the Forest Park is on the other end of the tunnel. 台11線經過森林公園 。  順著這個步道會到台11線下面的隧道 ， 隧道另外一邊是森林公園的其他部分 。

If you take a sharp left after the tunnel a path will lead you to the Flowing Lake.  On this particular morning I found many people running there. 通過隧道以後左轉會到活水湖 ，  那一天我看到很多人在湖邊跑步 。

I was glad to see that they'd torn down the zipline and the waterslide, but the stage they're building over the middle of the lake was an unpleasant surprise.  Note to the Taitung County Government, many of us would prefer that you left this place alone.  It's fine the way it is. 還好他們把以前的滑索跟滑水道拆除了 ， 可是他們卻在湖中間在蓋舞台 ，  台東縣政府應該要知道許多的居民不想再 "發展" 這個地方 ，這裡應該要被維持原狀的。

I have yet to swim here since moving back to Taitung.  Are aquatic plants a problem?  I suppose I'll find out another day. 我搬回來台東之後還沒來游泳過 ， 水草會是個問題嗎 ?  我改天就會知道了。

Returning to the Forest Park, you'll find Pipa Lake.  This is the most famous of the Forest Park's many lakes. 回到森林公園後會看到琵琶湖 ， 這是森林公園裡最有名的湖 。

Not counting the Flowing Lake, which isn't within the confines of the Forest Park, this is the closest lake to the ocean.  Does it have a name?  Honestly, I never thought about it. 除了不包含在森林公園內的活水湖，這個湖是最靠近海邊的 ，  它有名字嗎 ?  我從來沒想過這個問題 。

Across a footbridge on the other side of the Forest Park you'll find the Seashore Park.  If you don't like sun be sure to bring an umbrella.  從森林公園走過一座人行橋就到海濱公園了 。 不想曬太陽的人應該帶陽傘 。

When I first moved to Taitung there was only a kind of raised pedestal here.  This domed structure was built much later, and since its completion it seems to have lost its covering. 我一開始居住在台東時在公園裡的地標和這個球體不一樣 ，這是幾年前完成的，現今它的屋頂不見了 。 

The floor of the orb points out some nearby islands.  Green and Orchid islands can be reached via the ferry from Fugang further north. 地板的球體標誌指出附近的島嶼 ， 台東市北部的富岡碼頭有到綠島和蘭嶼的渡船 。

The Pacific Ocean, on the other side of the Seashore Park.  It's far from the nicest beach in the county, but the view isn't bad. 海濱公園另外一邊的太平洋 。 雖然稱不上是台東縣最好的沙灘，可是風景不錯 。

Hopefully visiting tourists can refrain from littering here during Chinese New Year.  I'd like to think that people are getting better about not littering.  We all have to live on this small island together, and it would be good to do so without leaving plastic everywhere we go. 希望過年的期間觀光客不會在這裡亂丟垃圾 ， 我覺得現在的遊客跟以前比已經沒那麼糟了，  我們都要在這座小島上一起生活 ， 希望大家不要走到哪塑膠垃圾就丟到哪。

Related Entries 相關的文章:

Knowing and Not Knowing Where I'm Going

Xiaogang District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市小港區

Checking Back In 再報告一次

This Blog in 2 Maps 二張地圖上的文章連結

Knowing and Not Knowing Where I'm Going

Let me see... which route to take today?  Some days it depends on whether I want breakfast or not, other days it depends on how much of a hurry I'm in.

I could go down Mahengheng Boulevard and turn right onto Highway 11.  No breakfast restaurants on that route.  I'd be taking Highway 11 down to Jerben, to the big intersection in front of the Jerben Police Station, and turning right up the hill to my school.  Google Maps tells me this is the fastest route, but I hate driving the stretch of road near Taitung University.

I spell it "Jerben" by the way.  Some people spell it "Zhiben" or even "Zhirben," but I prefer "Jerben" because that's how 知本 sounds to me.  ㄓ, ㄅ and ㄣ, yeah, that's how I spell it.

...but maybe I want McDonald's.  McDonald's means I'll have to drive downtown, take Chuanguang Road from my apartment building, and then take a left on Xinsheng Road.  I can actually get to the Junghua Road McDonald's faster, but I don't bother with that one because the left turn into their parking lot is difficult.

From McDonald's I'd take Xinsheng Road down to Boai Road, Boai Road to the vegetable market, and from there I'd take a right onto Junghua Road, braving its many traffic lights and scooter riders until it joins the highway on the other side of town.  On the other side of town this is the same route I would've taken from Mahengheng.

How would one translate "Mahengheng," by the way?  "Horse Prosperous Prosperous?"  Or does "Mahengheng" represent a word from one of the local aboriginal languages?  Maybe Puyuma or Amis?  I suppose the answer is online somewhere, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

...or maybe I don't want breakfast today, and maybe I'm tired of all the lights and trucks along Highway 11.  Maybe I want to go in the other direction, along the mountains behind RT Mart.

In such an instance Google Maps will tell me to take Highway 9 all the way to Jerben, to the other 7-11 on the hill in the town of the same name.  From there I'd take a right into the Hot Spring Area.  

This route, for me, is almost as stressful as taking Highway 11, given that both routes pass through high traffic areas and have a lot of lights.  I've seen my share of near-accidents on both routes, the chief offenders being trucks with a fondness for tailgating.

Taiping Village is just off the Highway 9 route.  Taiping Village is an odd little area.  I haven't visited in a while, but I bet there are a lot of new houses in that village.  Not long ago a foreign friend told me he'd moved up there.  I suppose the houses in Taiping are cheaper that what you'd find downtown.  

Is Taiping Village named after the river?  Or is the river named after the village?  Or are both named after something else?

But wait.  Where are my keys?  Oh, there they are.

Routes?  Oh yeah, I was talking about the various ways I go to work.  I also forgot to add that there's a way to circumvent most of the traffic on the RT Mart route.  

If I follow Jungxing ("Zhongxing?") Road down to the bridge over the Taiping River, I can take a right onto a new road that goes all the way up to Taiping Village.  But instead of going all the way to Taiping, I take a left onto a smaller bridge over the river, and this bridge leads me to another, even newer road that joings Highway 9 well past the RT Mart.  This route, I've found, is by far the least stressful way to drive to my school.

Oh, look at the time.  I'd better get going.

Related Entries:

Checking Back In 再報告一次

This Blog in 2 Maps 二張地圖上的文章連結

A Few More Pictures 多一些照片

The Year I Hated Taiwan

Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (West 西) 6

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. No recent news out of Yanchao.

3. Hunei District 湖內區

3a. No recent news out of Hunei.

4. Jiading District 茄萣區

4a. An elderly care center was recently opened in Jiading. 高雄第545個社區關懷據點  茄萣嘉泰 "寶貝學堂" 揭牌

5. Luzhu District 路竹區

5a. A fire broke out at a factory in Luzhu.  The factory, operated by a subdivision of TSMC, contained hazardous chemicals.  Firefighters had to be very careful about extinguishing the fire. 路科火警 !  起火廠房全球設廠  "台積電沒它不行"

6. Yongan District 永安區

6a. No recent news out of Yongan.

7. Gangshan District 岡山區

7a. No recent news out of Gangshan.

8. Ciaotou District 橋頭區

8a. A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of the Interior revealed that the cost of renting a property in Ciaotou is higher, on average, than the cost of renting in any other district in Kaohsiung.  This isn't necessarily a reflection of demand in Ciaotou.  The reason could be the construction boom in the area, and the fact that newer properties tend to rent for a much higher price. 高雄市租屋市場租金統計  橋頭區最高

9. Mituo District 彌陀區

9a. The Kaohsiung City Government's Drug Control Bureau has opened several offices in Mituo, Yongan and Dzeguan.  The goal of these offices is anti-drug education and treatment. 高雄市 "里辦毒品防制關懷站" 推進梓官等行政區

10. Dzeguan District 梓官區

10a. No recent news out of Dzeguan.

11. Dashe District 大社區

11a. The Kaohsiung City Government is implementing a new "bus-style taxi" program aimed at residents of rural areas.  There are 49 routes available to riders, some of which pass through Dashe. 高雄大社新增 "公車式小黃"  全市49條路線供萬人搭乘

12. Daliao District 大寮區

12a. There's a company in Daliao that makes mooncakes and other traditional cookies.  This company, like many such companies in Taiwan, has an attached exhibition area where visitors can learn about how they make their cookies.  Check the article for pictures. 高雄大寮最有 "滋味" 的展 , 看舊振南如何與 "食" 俱進 ?  讓漢餅文化重返生活

13. Nandze District 楠梓區

13a. Someone in Nandze won big on the receipt lottery but failed to claim their money.  They had until last Thursday to do so. 快檢查發票 !  "4張千萬發票" 還沒人領  9/5要充公了

14. Renwu District 仁武區

14. The Kaohsiung City Government auctioned off several properties recently, with a house in Renwu fetching the highest price.  The landscaped house, complete with two parking spaces, was formerly owned by a business owner whose company once operated restaurants.  The house sold for over 27 million NT. 高雄執行分署以2,739萬9,999元高價拍定仁武區雙車位高樓層景觀宅

15. Dashu District 大樹區

15a. A childcare center was recently opened in Dashu.  This childcare center is part of a drive by the Social Affairs Bureau to provide more services for the very young and very old. 高雄大樹第2處公托開幕  結合日照完善社區機能

16. Zuoying District 左營區

16a. Ground was ceremonially broken on a lower income housing project in Zuoying.  This project is the largest of its kind ever seen in the area.  Upon completion 1,200 units will be available to those who qualify. 高價大樓出現 !  高雄年輕人急需社宅 ?  最新進度曝光

17. Niaosong District 鳥松區

17a. No recent news out of Niaosong.

18. Sanmin District 三民區

18a. Residents of Sanmin went without water for 12 hours while a damaged water pipe was repaired. 注意儲水備用 !  台水停水通知  澄清路水管破裂  三民區9/5凌晨起停水12小時

19. Gushan District 鼓山區

19a. A family dispute led to arson and murder in Gushan.  A man was filmed setting his brother-in-law's car and truck on fire, and after an investigation into the incident the police discovered this same man's body in a nearby school campus.  The incident is still under investigation, but from circumstantial evidence it appears that the arsonist took his own life after setting the vehicles ablaze. 高雄鼓山發生汽車縱火案  涉案人身中刀傷死亡

20. Qijin District 旗津區

20a. No recent news out of Qijin.

21. Lingya District 苓雅區

21a. A man fell from a building overlooking a market and died at the scene.  Police had difficulty identifying the man due to the way in which his skull fractured upon impact. 高雄男子墜樓死亡  掉落市場走道引震驚

22. Yancheng District 鹽埕區

22a. This article introduces a duck mean restaurant in Yancheng.  Judging by the photos it's very popular. 高雄市鹽埕區鴨肉本 -- 二老闆の店  銅板價就能吃到鴨下水鋪滿滿冬粉湯！在地人推爆鴨肉老店

23. Qianjin District 前金區

23a. A resident of Qianjin committed suicide by leaping from the top floor of her apartment building.  She was pronounced dead at the scene. 高雄女子掉落慢車道全身血  警查是自12樓吊墜落爆頭亡 (1)

24. Xinxing District 新興區

24a. Was that suicide in Qianjin or Xinxing?  Here's another article stating that it occured in Xinxing, not Qianjin. 高雄鬧區驚傳墜樓 !  27歲女住戶自頂樓墜落  警調查釐清原因

25. Qianjhen District 前鎮區

25a. A house caught fire, but the owner escaped without injuries. 高雄集合式住宅清晨燒起來 !  5樓火光竄 , 屋主逃跑嗆傷

26. Fengshan District 鳳山區

26a. A crane collapsed at a construction site in Fengshan, killing one person and seriously injuring another. 高雄鳳山工地工安意外  疑天車傾倒釀1死1重傷

27. Xiaogang District 小港區

27a. There was a fire aboard a fishing boat docked in Xiaogang.  This fire was quickly extinguished and no one was hurt. 高雄小港漁船駕駛艙起火  火勢40分鐘撲滅無傷亡

28. Linyuan District 林園區

28a. Residents of Linyuan are complaining about truck traffic through their district.  Trucks loaded with shipping containers are turning around through Linyuan on their way to port facilities in Xiaogang, and the result is slow or stalled traffic through areas near lanes set aside for the use of container trucks. 高雄小港沿海路貨櫃車壅塞  司機開往林園迴轉居民怨險象環生

Related Entries 相關的文章:

Xiaogang District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市小港區

Tainan in the News 台南的新聞 (North 北) 5

Tianliao District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市田寮區

Tainan in the News 台南的新聞 (South 南) 5

1. The accompanying picture is NOT the building the woman fell/leapt from.  It's only a picture of the area.