2023年6月6日 星期二

Neipu Township, Pingtung County 屏東縣內埔鄉


Neipu Township is east of Changzhih and Linluo, north of Zhutian and Wanluan, and west of Majia. 內埔鄉位於長治麟洛東部 , 竹田萬巒的北部 , 也是瑪家的西部 。

Neipu's earliest inhabitants were members of the Paiwan Tribe.  Hakka settlers later moved in and began farming the area more intensively.  Over time these settlers pushed the Paiwan tribespeople east, toward Majia.  During its "Lioudui period" Neipu was known as the "Back Dui." 內埔最早的居民是排灣族 ,  隨著客家農民漸漸移入定居 , 慢慢地把排灣族居民推往瑪家遷徙 。  六堆時代內埔屬於 "後堆" 。

According the the last census, 52,258 people live in Neipu. 上次的人口統計顯示內埔的人口是52258人 。


This field is at the southern end of the township, not far from Wanluan.  Many farmers in the area grow pineapples. 這塊農地在內埔的南部 , 離萬巒很近 。  這附近很多農夫種鳳梨 。


This terrifying elephant is to be found at the "Thailand Stilt House Restaurant."  It's like a little Thailand in a corner of Neipu.  I found the place by accident. 這隻恐怖的大象是在南洋風高腳屋找到的 ,  這個景點像內埔的小泰國 。 這是我無意間找到的 。


The food we had there was good but not cheap.  The service was also very slow. 那裏的料理好吃 , 可是不便宜 , 服務也很慢 。


Be warned that it only looks like Thailand if you keep your eyes low.  If you look up you'll find the view interrupted by houses outside the property. 像泰國的部分只限在圍牆內,如果你的視線超過牆壁的高度看到牆外的房子的話, 就沒有在泰國的感覺 了。


North of there is the Fengtian Old Street.  There's not much to this street, and it compares unfavorably to many other old streets scattered between Pingtung, Kaohsiung and Tainan.  I found a cute corner store in an old building, but that was it. 餐廳北部有豐田老街 。  其實這個老街沒有什麼東西,  屏東高雄台南都有比較有趣的老街 。  我在這裡發現一棟可愛的雜貨店 ,除此之外, 沒有其他的東西。


The Lioudui Hakka Culture Park is undoubtedly the most famous thing in Neipu.  I'd been here a few times already, but it's nice to stop by now and then.  There's a new museum inside which has many interesting exhibits. 內埔最有名的景點就是六堆客家文化園區 。  我來過幾次 ,在那邊停留一下不錯 , 裡面的新展覽館很有趣。


Near the museum you'll find this lake.  There are channels running from the lake in which kids can play with water.  If your kids are smaller they'll love it. 展覽館附近有水池 ,  小朋友會喜歡在水池旁的水溝玩水 。


Southeast of there is the Cacao Farm Formosa.  It's not really worth visiting.  They sell ice cream and chocolate, and most of their business consists of tour groups shipped in from other places. 西南部有福爾摩沙可可農場 。 這個地方大部分的客人是跟旅行團坐遊覽車來的人 ,  他們賣冰淇淋跟巧克力 。  


The big plant is a cacao plant.  The cacao plants in this place seemed to be afflicted with some kind of blight. 大型的植物是可可 。


The north of end of the township looks like this.  Sandimen is just down that road and across a river. 內埔的北部差不多是這樣子 。 直走過溪到三地門 。


A little south of there we found this place, selling yogurt, coffee and other things.  It seems to be popular with students from the Pingtung University of Technology nearby. 我們往南邊一點找到這家賣優格 、咖啡和烘焙課程的店 。  屏東科技大學的學生喜歡來這裡。


Downtown Neipu is busy but relatively uneventful.  Perhaps people here like it that way.  The oldest thing in town seems to be this Matsu temple.  It's connected to an old family shrine. 內埔的市區蠻熱鬧的。   那裏最老舊的建築物大概是這座天后宮 ,  隔壁也有昌黎祠 。

The market for real estate in this area has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.  This area is close to Pingtung City and speculation is rampant. 這幾年內埔的房地產有顯著的成長 。  這地區很靠近屏東市 , 所以房價漲幅大。


When was the last time YOU went bowling?  There's an old bowling alley in Neipu.  Visiting this place felt like traveling backward two decades. 您上次玩保齡球是什麼時候 ?  來這裡玩的感覺很像回到20年前。


It's a lot quieter near the Mountainside Highway, not far from Majia.   靠近沿山公路 且離瑪家不遠的部分安靜多了。

That ridge in the background divides the Mountainside Highway from the rest of the township. 照片中的山把沿山公路內埔其他的地區隔開了。


The scenery around here is nice.  When I lived in Fangliao I rode my bike through here often. 這附近的風景不錯,  我住枋寮的時候常常騎單車經過。

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NOTE 1: I'm almost finished with Pingtung County!  I'll be visiting Jiouru, Ligang and Yanpu next semester, and Kaoshu, Sandimen and Wutai the following semester.  After that point I might start in on the southern parts of Kaohsiung, or maybe revisit Taitung.

NOTE 2: There are two places not mentioned in this entry, though they were discussed in this blog a while back.  The first place is the Longchuan Brewery, the second is a rice wine distillery not far from this brewery.

NOTE 3: Why does this guy say everything twice?  If you are thinking this very thing it's because you have Google Translate set to translate this website.  This entry is in Chinese and English.

2023年6月2日 星期五

Tainan in the News 台南的新聞 (South 南) 3


There are 37 Districts in Tainan City.  These districts are divided into North Tainan and South Tainan, or those "north of the [Dzengwen] river" and those "south of the [Dzengwen] river."  The districts of North Tainan are further grouped into the Xinying Area, the Beimen Area and the Dzengwen Area.  The districts of South Tainan are further grouped into the Fucheng Area, the Xinfeng Area and the Xinhua Area. 台南市分為37個區 , 這37個地區分成曾文溪北部的北台南跟曾文溪南部的南台南 。 北台南又分為新營地區 、北門地區跟曾文地區 ; 南台南又分為府城地區 、 新豐地區跟新化地區 。


1. 安南區 Annan District

1a. City councilman Guo Xinliang is concerned about the development of land and government-owned properties in his district.  The local population is increasing, and he's concerned that the Tainan City Government isn't addressing problems with transportation and other infrastructure issues there. 郭信良促加強安南區建設 (1)


2. 中西區 West Central District

2a. A woman with dementia became lost in West Central District and was returned to her home by police. 失智老婦人清晨路邊閒晃  暖警即時尋獲協助返家

2b. Downtown Tainan has been trying to develop itself into a kind of "Taiwanese Venice," with construction projects popping up here and there along the canals that pass through the area.  As part of this process the local government has approved two lots in West Central District for development, but experts have pointed to the fact that not zoning these lots for residential use may cause local development plans to stall. 台南老市區推2筆地上權 "不能蓋住宅" 專家不樂觀


3. 安平區 Anping District

3a. Tainan City will celebrate its 400th anniversary next year.  The Tainan City Drum Association is already practicing for this event, which will feature local drummers marching in a parade.  Their very public (and very loud) practice session also anticipates Dragon Boat Festival, which will take place in a few weeks. 安平鼓樂嘉年華5/28踩街  為台南400年暖壽慶生

3b. A car collided with a median island on a road in Anping, resulting in the car flipping over.  There were no serious injuries and police are investigating the accident. 自撞分隔島翻車 !  台南安平橋車四腳朝天  4乘客自行脫困


4. 南區 South District

4a. This article introduces a restaurant in Tainan where you can still buy a steak meal for 60 NT.  Many locals grow nostalgic over such places, which are less common than they once were. 時代的眼淚 !  台南限定的60元懷舊牛排  滿滿通心麵 + 玉米濃湯太划算


5. 北區 North District

5a. An urban renewal/public housing project should get underway in North District as soon as the Tainan City Government completes its review of the proposed development. 台南九六新村開發預計六月招商  都發局 : 可取得250戶社宅

5b. A three year old girl was killed and her mother seriously injured after an SUV struck them while they were using a crosswalk in North District.  The Tainan City Government will try to make the intersection safer by adding more crosswalk markings and a pedestrian signal, though it remains to be seen whether such measures will actually make the intersection safer.  Tainan has recently been under scrutiny due to unsafe road conditions for motorists and pedestrians alike. 台南北區母女車禍路口 5/26設置行人專用時相


6. 安定區 Anding District

6a. There was a fire in a factory very early in the morning.  No one was injured. 台南安定工廠火警  警義消搶救中


7. 東區 East District

7a. This article discusses a tourist map of East District which was published recently.  There are many pictures of local points of interest in the article. 台南東區散步路線....

7b. A tourist fell asleep in an East District convenience store.  While he slept another man entered the store and stole his iPhone.  The incident was recorded and the thief was apprehended soon after. 髒東西 !  超商見遊客趴睡摸走iPhone  全被錄下來


8. 善化區 Shanhua District

8a. An Instagram-worthy house, shaped like a triangle, is attracting visitors to Shanhua.  台南善化新景點 "御飯糰玻璃屋" 亮相 !  超夢約綠植裝飾與旋轉階梯超好拍


9. 新市區 Xinshr District

9a. A white wax apple tree was moved from private land to another location in Xinshr.  The private land was going to be developed, and the district office deemed the rare tree worth preserving. 保留樹齡一甲子白蓮霧樹  台南新市區公所雇工移植

9b. The value of land in Xinshr continues to rise alongside the development of the Science and Technology Park.  Property speculators cite recent investments by TSMC, 3M and other companies as the reason for the rise in prices. 新市 "世界南科A"  擁全台科學園區最佳地段


10. 永康區 Yongkang District

10a. An exhibition for coffee beans grown in Tainan was held in Yongkang. 台南產區咖啡特展  永康新總圖開幕


11. 仁德區 Rende District

11a. Rende and several other nearby districts in Tainan and Kaohsiung experienced heavy rains as a typhoon passed by the island. 午後對流發展 + 颱風外圍環流  4縣市豪 , 大雨特報

11b. A new park/campground has opened in Rende. 台南仁德里長號召開闢罕見  "218營公園"  歡迎日夜來玩 (2)


12. 歸仁區 Gueiren District

12a. An old house caught fire in Gueiren.  No one was injured and the cause of the fire is still being investigated. 台南歸仁民宅火警濃煙駭人  消防全力搶救


13. 關廟區 Guanmiao District

13a. Over 200 people took part in a softball tournament. 關廟黃金盃慢壘賽  逾200好手參加


14. 新化區 Xinhua District

14a. Xinhua District will host a talent show and orchestra performance.  One aim of the festival is to promote the use of new indoor leisure spaces built by the local government. 里社區才藝嘉年華  週六新化登場

14b. Xinhua held a "Five Treasures Festival" to promote the sweet potatoes, pineapples, bamboo shoots, sesame and olives grown there. 比三寶再多兩寶  台南新化五寶節又來了 (3)


15. 龍崎區 Longqi District

15a. After the recent drought Longqi's green bamboo shoot crop was both 30% smaller and slower to reach markets in the area.  For this reason the crop is fetching higher than average prices. 台南  龍崎綠竹筍減產3成  拍賣行情倍增


16. 左鎮區 Zuojhen District

16a. There may be less students there every year, but Zuojhen Elementary School is still winning many awards for its multifaceted approach to education. 左鎮國小  教育創新翻轉偏鄉 (4)

16b. Residents of Zuojhen Village have been trying to develop an "old street" which can both attract tourists to the area and better represent local history. 專長換宿  左鎮老街向你招手 (5)


17. 山上區 Shanshang District

17a. The Shanshang Garden Waterway Museum received an award from the local tourism bureau recently.  Some features of this facility date back to the Japanese occupation. 山上花園水道博物館參與觀光亮點票選  歐風建築  水道古蹟超吸睛


18. 玉井區 Yujing District

18a. Renovations of Yujing's Hutou Mountain Exercise Park were recently completed, and the Tainan City Mayor has declared the park a new tourist attraction. 玉井虎頭山運動公園及周邊改善完成...

18b. This article describes work done by the social welfare center in Yujing among the elderly. 南市玉井社福中心送愛至山區  結合社區網路單位照顧偏鄉長者


19. 楠西區 Nanxi District

19a. An elderly Buddhist nun was found dead on the road near the Meiling Scenic Area in Nanxi.  Foul play is suspected and the case is still under investigation. 台南梅嶺命案比丘尼 "童養媳"  身世曝  18年前剃度出家竟命喪山中 (6)

19b. Thanks to the drought firefly season arrived a little later in Nanxi, but those interested are encouraged to visit the Meiling Scenic Area for a good look at these creatures.  They won't be visible much longer. 楠西賞螢趣倒數  火金姑雨後大爆發


20. 南化區 Nanhua District

20a. No recent news out of Nanhua.

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1. Part of this issue was the relocation of a local radio station from a building considered unsuitable for use.  Who listens to the radio now?  Is that still a thing?  I'm really not sure, but the radio station seems to be at the center of the discussion.

2. Really not sure who'd want to camp in Rende District, it being so close to downtown Tainan.  There are much better places to camp further east.  "The 218 Camping Park" is named after a Japanese battalion that was stationed there back when Taiwan was a Japanese colony.

3. Someone in Taiwan is growing olives?  Who knew?!

4. I've walked around both Zuojhen Village and its elementary school.  A very cute and scenic little school, but that village is dying a slow death.  I don't think I saw a single person there under 60.

5. I've been there.  If you haven't visited already I'd give it a few months to a year.  There's not much there now.

6. The most likely explanation is that a local man's dogs killed the nun and he attempted to cover up the attack.  The nun was walking in a very remote area and the man had many dogs on his property.

2023年5月26日 星期五

Taipei vs. the Rest of the Island


Let's say that Person A lives in Taipei.  They work in some cram school, or they work in an industrial area south of downtown, or they work some service job in the city.  Their pay is high for the rest of Taiwan, but not great for Taipei.  

"Taipei" in this instance meaning Taipei City, not New Taipei City, which is where most people actually live but where few people seem to be from.

Person A worries about money a lot.  Person A eats out often, but the food they eat isn't that good because the "really good food" is too expensive and they're trying to save money.  There are a lot of fun things to do in Taipei, but Person A only takes part in a fraction of those things because a) they're expensive and b) they're too crowded for Person A's liking.

Person A would like to buy a house or apartment at some point in the future, but it's a daunting prospect.  When Person A thinks about how long they'll be paying for a mortgage on that house or apartment, Person A becomes very, very depressed.  The price of a house or apartment goes up all the time, and Person A isn't able to save much money.  A loan?  Sure, but an even greater burden later on.

Person A, provided they're of Chinese extraction, would like to get married "when the time is right."  But sometimes it seems like the time is never going to be right, because the cost of living keeps going up and up, and there's more competition every day for the same jobs, in the same place, with the same responsibilities.  Feathering a nest with someone means finding a secure tree, and secure trees are hard to find in Taipei.

Person A, if they live near their work, lives in a tiny apartment within reach of an MRT stop.  Everywhere they go the hum of the MRT haunts their thoughts, and if you were to name any location in Taipei or New Taipei City they could tell you the distance from that place to the nearest MRT stop.  They might have a scooter, but they often wonder if keeping this scooter is worth the time, money and effort involved.  Every day, on the roads near their apartment building, the scooters seem to multiply, and finding a space between these scooters for one's own personal conveyance is becoming increasingly difficult.

Person A, if they live far from their work, lives in a larger but equally antiquated place in a part of New Taipei or Taoyuan that nobody's ever heard of.  They might have space for a car, or there might be ample parking on a road near their house.  Their drive to work entails endless mergers into terrifying traffic, and of course once they arrive at their job there looms (yet again) The Problem of Parking, present in any place that doesn't have its own lot for employees.

But sometimes, as Person A well knows, living in Taipei can feel like being in the center of a vast, interesting web of trains, taxis, scooters, pedestrians, prostitutes, shipping containers, tourists, children on their way to school, poorly organized gangsters, temple festivals, international events and grimly contested politics.  Person A turns on the news and sees his or her city all over the television.  Person A opens a newspaper and never has to look for local coverage.  Person A can stand in the Taipei Main Station and feel the whole city pulsing with life and industry, endlessly intent on itself and needing no one's approval.

Those are good times for Person A.  And there's also the warmth of being tucked into some tiny restaurant on a winter's day, or being in a car full of friends, with the city lights scrolling over the glossy surfaces of cars.  For all the fearful anonymity of the city comes a freedom, and a knowledge that for every failed friendship and love affair there will be another, and another, and another after that.

Planes soar over the city blocks in the summer, and all of those planes are bound for Taipei, where everything worth doing is done.


Let's say that Person B lives far from Taipei.  Perhaps they live in a bigger city like Taichung, Tainan or Kaohsiung.  Perhaps they live in a still smaller city, or even a place that's not a city, but instead a municipality, township or village.  They work a job very similar to what Person A does in Taipei, but their job is slightly less impressive, less tinged with the prestige that Taipei imparts to its places of employment.  They make less money that Person A, but they also pay slightly less for everything.

Person B, if they live in one of the bigger cities mentioned above, also worries about money.  They want to invest in property, but the challenge represented by down payments causes them no small amount of worry.  They haven't saved much money because they've disposed of most of their disposable income.  They spend most weekends in almost vacant bars and in the newest, most fashionable restaurants.  They don't bother with the fact that many of these newer, more fashionable restaurants are almost identical to the older, less fashionable restaurants they visited six months to a year before.  In Person B's thinking six months to a year might as well be a hundred years ago, so intent are they on novelty.

Person B, if they are Taiwanese, goes home to visit family in some still more rural place every weekend.  Their family, who for the most part live in dusty brick and concrete houses squirreled away between pesticide-saturated fields and semi-industrial zones, have great plans for their son or daughter's marriage, and these plans will be carried out regardless of Person B's opinions on the matter.

If Person B is a foreigner, an expat, or more specifically a laowai, they will spend a lot of time fretting over whether the place they live in is "real enough," and whether they are living up to their full potential by living there.  Between working hours they'll cruise the internet and think of all the possibilities life in another, still more exotic place might hold.  They'll remember their initial enthusiasm for the place they live in now, and wonder why, over time, every place becomes equivalently gray and uninspiring.

Person B has an easy commute to work.  Unless perhaps they rage against the machine, and are thus too good for more densely populated areas.  Person B will have a scooter and maybe even a car, and Person B will never have too much trouble finding a place to park their vehicles.  There will be traffic, yes, but over time Person B will find ways around it.

Trains pass through the city/town/village where Person B lives every few minutes without fail.  All of these trains are bound for other, seemingly more interesting locations.  Every Saturday these trains will embark with a sense of anticipation, every Sunday they'll arrive bearing weary travelers, locals beaten down by competing senses of satisfaction and discontent.  Some of the trains that pass through some of those places are returning from Taipei even now.

In the end maybe it doesn't matter where you live, but rather the person that you are.

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