2026年1月18日 星期日
See You Next Semester! 下學期見 !
A Few More Pictures 多一些照片 5
Tiehua Village,Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市鐵花村
Seashore Park, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市海濱公園
Seashore Park, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市海濱公園
Kaohsiung Port, Kaohsiung City
高雄市高雄港
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City
高雄市左營區新光三越
Fengtian Village, Beinan Township, Taitung County
台東縣卑南鄉豐田村
The Donghe Old Bridge, Donghe Township, Taitung County
台東縣東河鄉東河舊橋
Tiehua Village, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市鐵花村
Shuangliu Forest Recreation Area, Shrdze Township, Pingtung County
屏東縣獅子鄉雙流森林遊樂區
Shuangliu Forest Recreation Area, Shrdze Township, Pingtung County
屏東縣獅子鄉雙流森林遊樂區
Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
高雄市鼓山區
Gushan Fishing Port, Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
高雄市鼓山區鼓山漁港
Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市
Seashore Park, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市海濱公園
Beinan River, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市卑南溪
Beinan River, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市卑南溪
Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市
Luye Township, Taitung County
台東縣鹿野鄉
Luye Township, Taitung County
台東縣鹿野鄉
Guanshan Municipality, Taitung County
台東縣關山鎮
Dapo Lake, Chrshang Township, Taitung County
台東縣池上鄉大坡池
Dapo Lake, Chrshang Township, Taitung County
台東縣池上鄉大坡池
Fuli Township, Hualien County
花蓮縣富里鄉
Fuli Township, Hualien County
花蓮縣富里鄉
Fuli Farmer's Association, Fuli Township, Hualien County
花蓮縣富里鄉農會
Yuli Municipality, Hualien County
花蓮縣玉里鎮
Antong Hot Spring Area, Yuli Municipality, Hualien County
花蓮縣玉里鎮安通溫泉區
Antong Hot Spring Area, Yuli Municipality, Hualien County
花蓮縣玉里鎮安通溫泉區
The "Stone Umbrella" (Shryusan), Changbin Township, Taitung County
台東縣長濱鄉石雨傘
Changbin Township, Taitung County
長濱鄉台東縣
Hot Spring Elementary School, Zhiben Hot Spring Area, Beinan Township, Taitung County
台東縣卑南鄉知本溫泉區溫泉國小
Forest Park, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市森林公園
Forest Park, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市森林公園
Dulan Village, Donghe Township, Taitung County
台東縣東河鄉都蘭村
Dulan Sugar Refinery, Dulan Village, Donghe Township, Taitung County
台東縣東河鄉都蘭村都蘭糖廠
Yuansheng Botanical Gardens, Beinan Township, Taitung County
台東縣卑南鄉原生植物園
Taitung City, Taiwan County
台東縣台東市
Xinsheng Road, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市新生路
Seashore Park, Taitung City, Taitung County
台東縣台東市海濱公園
Taitung City, Taitung County 台東縣台東市
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2026年1月15日 星期四
What Name Which Someone Finds
Which desert? The desert I visited most recently was outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. I remember hollows between the mountains where trees grew. The indigenous peoples who once lived in that area inhabited these hollows, and didn't often leave them during the hotter parts of the day. That summer the temperature was well above forty degrees Celsius, and we had to cut our trip short because my brother-in-law's car lacked the kind of air conditioning that could cope with that kind of heat.
2. The USA, England, France, Australia - which one is different? Why?
I would say France is different because their national language is French. I could pick the USA for obvious, rather political reasons but that seems like low-hanging fruit. There's also Australia, which is the only country in the southern hemisphere, and England, because it still has a royal family (even though Australia's still part of the Commonwealth).
3. What someone does in a movie theater.
I suppose they watch movies, unless they have romantic reasons for being there. I eat popcorn at every other movie I attend. I get tired of it and have to take breaks. Sometimes I drink cola and other times I drink beer. If I haven't eaten enough before the movie I'll buy a corn dog on the way in.
I wonder if there are any adult movie theaters left in the world. You'd think they would all be sitting in the dustbin of history by now, but one never knows.
4. Name three places you'd like to go someday. Why?
Right now I'd like to go home. I'm off work in about forty minutes, and even though today was super chill I'd like to go home and watch the rest of a movie I was watching the previous evening. Something from the 90s with Michael Keaton. I can't remember the name.
I'd like to go visit my parents in the States next summer. Hopefully the USA can avoid implosion for that length of time. The news out of that country, especially for one who doesn't live there anymore, is extremely worrying. Americans... are you OK?
In terms of non-familial travel I'd like to visit South Korea and Japan again. I'd like to spend a week in Busan and then another week in Hiroshima. I doubt such a trip will happen anytime soon, but you never know.
5. What do I know about Brazil?
I have a friend who lived in Brazil for a while. He says that the women there are achingly beautiful. Beyond that most of my knowledge comes from the James Bond franchise, which often features Brazil as a location. I believe that in one of the Roger Moore films he and Jaws fight it out on the cable car/gondola which goes up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. Was Barbara Bach the Bond girl in that particular installment? I can't remember.
6. What you might find in the USA.
Oh man. Again, low-hanging fruit. Let me turn instead to things I like, which are: my mother, my father, my sister, my brother, the Taco Bell grilled stuffed burrito, brands of beer I could only obtain in Taiwan with great difficulty, national parks, hiking trails, waterfalls, delicious pizza, hamburgers which are truly spicy, Mexican food that really tastes like Mexican food, tribal casinos, bookstores with an overabundance of books I'm willing to read, bridges shrouded in fog and overpriced concerts that I'd be genuinely excited to attend.
7. Wedding day, holiday, birthday, weekend - which one is different? Why?
I would say weekend, because it happens every week and is thus less special than the other three. You could also say wedding day because (ideally) your wedding day only happens once in your life, or holiday because holidays are specific to each country, or even birthday because that is a special day specific to you as a person.
8. What someone does at the beach.
If I'm at the beach I'm probably swimming. Swimming is one of my favorite activities. Back when we lived in Hengchun I went to Nanwan (South Bay) quite often, and my wife and I had a little schedule worked out for that activity. This schedule consisted of (a) renting a beach umbrella, (b) changing into our swimsuits, (c) going swimming, (d) eating at Cowboys Bar & Grill and then (e) getting slightly drunk at either Cowboys or one of the other restaurants.
If my wife stayed home and I was visiting Nanwan with a friend we usually skipped directly to (e).
9. Name three good pieces of advice for a son or daughter just before they get married.
Will my daughters ever get married? I find that possibility hard to contemplate. Are they dating people now? I have no idea. I'm somewhat afraid to ask them.
But this question came up during an adult English class I taught not long ago, and I remember what my answer was. It went something like: 1) if a man ever hits you, leave him, 2) be careful with your money, and 3) don't forget that you have a mom and dad who are always ready to help you in times of need.
10. What do I know about flowers?
Not much. I'm really not interested in flowers. If I remember correctly they grow a lot of flowers around the middle of Pingtung County, in places like Zhutian and Linluo. Many of these flowers are sold in the large flower market in Taipei, and many are also exported to other countries.
11. What you might find in the ocean.
You'd find fish. When I think about it I haven't had good fish and chips in a long time. I remember being in a coffee shop across from the Neiwei Arts Center LRT stop and thinking their fish and chips smelled very good. If that place is still open I should give it a try.
12. Wood, metal, plastic, stone - which one is different? Why?
I'm going to say plastic, because as a petroleum product it's the only material not found in nature.
13. What someone does on vacation.
What will I do on vacation? I already talked about that in the Winter Plans entry a few weeks (?) ago. In the most general sense I tend to sleep more, wake up later, consume more alcohol and eat more Western foods. I also spend more time with my cats.
14. Name three talents or skills you'd like to have (but don't). Why?
I'd like to be able to speak other languages, especially Japanese or Korean, but I've never really gotten that ball rolling. For a while I was messing with a melodion and an accordion in our school music room, but I haven't made much headway on those instruments either. I sometimes think that I should delve more deeply into some of the apps and websites I use at work, but I later forget about it and the cycle, I'm afraid to say, continues.
15. What do I know about baseball?
I know the Mariners did very well last season, but the gold ring eluded them. Who were the last two teams? The Dodgers and the Blue Jays? I remember a couple friends discussing the World Series during a poker game, but I don't follow that sport with any regularity. (American) football is more my thing. Go Seahawks!
16. What you might find in the jungle.
I'm typing this within scooter/bicycle distance of the Zhiben Forest Recreation Area, a site which is for all intents and purposes a jungle. In that place you might find poisonous butterflies and moths, venomous and non-venomous snakes, muntjacs, deer, birds and if you're extremely lucky a Formosan black bear. Whether or not it's possible to find a clouded leopard in the Zhiben Forest Recreation Area or any other part of Taiwan is a matter for debate. One thing you'd definitely find is mosquitoes. That place has a lot of them.
17. Tea, coffee, milk, fruit juice - which one is different? Why?
Let's say milk, because it's an animal product, notwithstanding that type of coffee bean excreted by... ferrets? Mongoos(es)? Mongeese? What's the plural of "mongoose," anyway?
18. What someone does in a car.
I think the number of local people who have sex in cars is much higher than is generally assumed. When I ride my bike or run I see many cars parked along out of the way avenues, and it's hard not to imagine people having sex in those vehicles.
When I go to work every morning the first thing I do is buckle my seat belt. After that I begin driving, and during my journey I'll talk to myself, shout nonsense or sing along with whatever music is emanating from my cell phone. I'll also have conversations with my wife, though we don't commute together every day.
19. Name three of the best things about your country.
Again, low-hanging fruit. Let me instead dig deeper, and say a commitment in certain sectors to constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the separation of church and state. Now of course I'll say this and someone will respond with something like, "Hey dude, haven't you read the news lately?", but keep in mind that I said "certain sectors" above. Can Nixon's "silent majority" be taken as a kind of ironic truth? I sure hope it can.
20. What do I know about coffee?
I know that I'm drinking it right now. 7-11. Latte. Large. Hot. Yesterday I had the same thing and a Coffee Plaza besides. In case you're less familiar with Taiwan, Coffee Plaza 咖啡廣場 is a cold coffee drink sold in most Taiwanese convenience stores. It's a terribly unhealthy beverage to consume on a regular basis, but I like it sometimes.
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2026年1月11日 星期日
Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (West 西) 8
There are 38 districts in Kaohsiung City. The districts discussed here are all west of the Formosa Freeway (#3). They're much more urban than 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。
1a. No recent news out of Alian.
2a. Yanchao is among 27 administrative districts where banana farmers can take out insurance on their crop. This type of insurance is new. 香蕉收入保險試辦新增27地區 涵蓋全台栽培面積逾5成
3a. The Dahu Community in Hunei was awarded silver certification for its environmental protection efforts by the Environmental Protection Bureau. 環保兼顧生態的永續社區 本市湖內大湖社區獲銀級認證
4a. The Public Works Bureau has been working on restoring the Qieding Wetland. 高雄茄萣溼地復育 綠意重返海岸線
5a. Police in Luzhu (working out of the Hunei Precinct) apprehended a man suspected of staging a robbery as a way of laundering $3 million NT. The suspect had been under surveillance by a task force for some time. The high speed chase leading to his arrest was quite spectacular. 路竹區飛車追逐案 湖內警科技偵查破獲318萬強盜 , 違反洗錢防治法案
6a. Two months ago the Yongan Farmer's Association (an organization heavily reliant on fish farming) partnered with Mos Burger to sell a limited edition grouper burger. Since the implosion of the export market to China, local grouper farmers have been forced to find newer domestic markets for their product. 老虎石斑拓內銷 , 加工聯名齊出招 高雄市永安區龍虎石斑的新時代
7a. A young mother and her partner are under investigation after her 9 month old child was brought to the hospital dead. The infant corpse bore several bruises and possible burn marks. The case is still under investigation by the Ciaotou Prosecutor's Office, though the suspects were recently released on bail. 高雄9個月女嬰命案追查中 ! 20歲生母與同居人涉重嫌 說法反覆引疑交保
8a. No recent news out of Ciaotou.
9a. No recent news out of Mituo.
10a. This article introduces Kedzeliao ("Oyster Hut") Port in Dzeguan. The local fishing association hosts many activities for tourists in and around the port. 高雄蚵仔寮漁港 親子同遊看魚貨拍賣 , 體驗漁村產業文化
11a. A fire broke out in a house in the early morning. One of the occupants, a young woman, was "burned beyond recognition" in the blaze. 高雄大社清晨大火 22歲男房間起火燒燙傷被救出 ... 妻成焦屍 (2)
12a. A woman riding a scooter on Fenglin 3rd Road was killed after a van collided with her scooter. 高雄大寮鳳林三路連環擦撞釀憾事 ! 機車女騎士遭撞不治
13a. Oh, the horror. A man stole over 20 popsicles from an automated ramen shop. 高雄冰品大盜 賊鎖定 "無人拉麵店" 狂偷逾20支冰棒
14. A fire broke out near a factory in Renwu just after New Year's Eve. Fireworks are the suspected cause. 跨年放煙火惹火 ? 高雄13分鐘2火警 仁武大火逼近工廠
15a. There was another fire in Dashu District, 13 minutes away, at around the same time. 跨年放煙火惹火 ? 高雄13分鐘2火警 仁武大火逼近工廠
16a. Following a traffic dispute a Zuoying man rode his scooter/motorcycle to the wrong person's residence and started damaging their vehicles with a hammer. He has since been arrested. 騎士因行車糾紛怒砸車卻找錯對象 左營警逮人依法送辦 (3)
17a. No recent news out of Niaosong.
18a. An area abridging Minzu First Road was recently rezoned in anticipation of future development, and for the sake of improving transportation through the area. Development of this area includes the construction of Longde East Road, a new road intended to ease the flow of traffic from Minzu First Road. 第107期市地區重劃打造大順商圈交通動脈 優化交通帶動地方發展
19a. This article introduces new and upcoming tourist sites in Kaohsiung. One of these sites, the Kaohsiung Aquarium, will be in Gushan (Aozidi). It should be open sometime this year. 2026高雄新開幕5景點 ! 森林動物園 , 海景新百貨 , 最大室內公園 , 高雄海洋館
20a. Another new road, Zhongzhou Third Road Lane 129, was recently opened in Qijin. 提升區域道路便利性 強化地方發展 高市旗津區中洲三路129巷東西向道路通車
21a. Vogue Taiwan, a periodical which delights in such things, welcomes you to the new Truffle Donut in Lingya District, not far from the Kaohsiung Cultural Center. It's open from 11:00 to 7:00 every day. 高雄首間日系甜甜圈品牌 "Truffle Donut" 開幕時間 , 地點 , 公開 ! ...
22a. No recent news out of Yancheng.
23a. A substation exploded (!) and over a thousand homes went without power for a short time. Firefighters put out the fire quickly. 高雄前金區變電箱爆炸 1100戶瞬間停電
24a. No recent news out of Xinxing.
25a. There was a fire at the Carrefour on Guanghua Road. Some claimed that they'd heard an explosion at the same time, but no evidence of an explosion was found. 高雄家樂福凌晨火警 民眾聽見爆炸聲 消防稱無爆炸跡象
26a. Lai Rui-long, a DPP candidate running for the position of Kaohsiung City Mayor, recently held a rally in Fengshan. 鳳山大造勢 賴瑞隆 : 20年歷練承擔接棒
27a. A fight broke out at a temple festival. 高雄小港廟會驚爆陣頭衝突 2人打架GG了
28a. The "Xiaogang Linyuan" MRT Line should be up and running in 2030. This article discusses the seven stops on this line and what you might see/do around them. 高雄捷運 "小港林園線" 2030通車 ! 串聯臨海工業區 , 7個上車地點 (4)
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2. Yes, some of the Kaohsiung news is very depressing this time around.
3. In a way I get it. That whole area is like road rage waiting to happen.
4. I've been down that way fairly recently. There's not a lot of anything besides factories in that direction. If, however, they manage to connect another proposed line from Donggang to this one it poses some interesting possibilities.