Pingtung in the News 屏東的新聞 (South 南) 9

There are 29 townships, 3 municipalities and one city in Pingtung County.  It's exhausting to include news from every township, municipality and Pingtung City every time, so what I'll do instead is include news items from eleven different townships or municipalities in each entry.  This way I should be able to work my way through Pingtung County every three entries. 屏東縣包含了29個鄉, 3個鎮還有屏東市.  每次討論所有鄉鎮的新聞太累了, 所以我會每次討論11個鄉鎮的報告.  這樣子我每三篇新聞文章就會涵蓋到全縣內鄉鎮的新聞.

1. Linbian Township 林邊鄉

1a. By the time you read this it'll be a done deal, but just the same a typhoon is on the way and heavy rains are forecast for Linbian and other parts of south Taiwan. 雨彈轟炸 !  大雷雨夜炸高雄 , 屏東

1b. Tsai Yu-xin, Mayor of Yongle Village in Linbian, was recently recognized for his efforts by the Pingtung County Government.  He believes in well lit roads, flood control, and ditches free of garbage and other debris. 受獎人服務地方惠澤鄰里  屏縣府表揚肯定

2. Jiadong Township 佳冬鄉

2a. No recent news out of Jiadong.

3. Fangliao Township 枋寮鄉

3a. The Fangliao Police Bureau is urging farmers in that area to keep an eye on their property.  There have been cases of thieves absconding with farmers' trucks and using these vehicles to commit crimes. 小貨車旁小心竊賊出沒  枋寮警宣導阻詐+防竊護民生

4. Chun Rh Township 春日鄉

4a. No recent news out of Chun Rh.

5. Fangshan Township 枋山鄉

5a. Mangoes from two farms in Fangshan can be purchased online. 屏東愛文芒果網購宅配推應 -- 芒果園 -- 枋山雄

5b. Work and classes were canceled from Fangshan southward due to the approaching typhoon. 颱風小犬來襲  屏東4日下午恆春等6鄉鎮停班課

6. Shrdze Township 獅子鄉

6a. A local businessman donated daily necessities to residents of Shrdze.  Members of the Fangliao Police Bureau recently visited the township to distribute the donations. 中秋連假期間  枋寮警引社會愛心助獅子鄉45戶弱勢原民家庭

6b. A man driving down the Southern Cross-Island Highway through Shrdze died after veering off the road and plunging down a hillside toward a riverbank.  The cause of the accident is unknown. 獅子鄉台9線447.5K  不明原因衝撞邊坡滑落駕駛慘死 (1)

7. Checheng Township 車城鄉

7a. The Checheng Township Office, the Pingtung County Bureau of Transportation and the Pingtung County Bureau of Tourism are looking to develop Haikou Port as a tourist destination within a larger Luoshanfeng Scenic Area.  Tourist numbers have been up since the "end" of COVID, and they're looking for vendors and other business operators to take up residence in the area. 車城海口港招商  盼留住觀光財

7b. The recent typhoon caused a lot of damage in Checheng and nearby areas.  Telephone poles were knocked down, roofs were blown off and a guest at a local homestay was showered with glass after strong winds broke a window in his room. 小犬 "炸裂" 民宿門窗 ... 他嚇 : 滿身碎玻璃 ! 恆春便利商店狂風炸到歇業

7c. Work has begun on a new parking lot adjacent to Ssechongxi Hot Spring Area. 車城四重溪溫泉區  停車場動工 (2)

8. Mudan Township 牡丹鄉

8a. Aside from the typhoon-related news, which includes Mudan in a very general way, no recent news out of this township.

9. Manzhou Township 滿洲鄉

9a. Power lines were knocked down and many went without power in Manzhou. 屏東滿州200縣道電線桿倒整排  小犬來襲2.1萬戶停電 (4)

9b. Many residents of Manzhou were evacuated to the Manzhou Junior High School campus ahead of the typhoon, but the roof of the activity center there was blown away by strong winds and they had to be re-evacuated to other locations. 雪上加霜 !  避難所屋頂被吹翻  屏縣滿州撤離居民一日三遷 (5)

9c. Related to the above news, many residents of Fenshuiling Village in Manzhou are complaining that the County Government's plan to relocate their village, which lies in a spot particularly vulnerable to inclement weather, has not been followed to anyone's satisfaction.  The residents of this village have been evacuated four times in the past few months, and the lack of adequate facilities for them to shelter in has only increased their dissatisfaction. 今夏以來第4次撤離  屏東滿州分水嶺居民怨遷村計畫無進展

10. Hengchun Municipality 恆春鎮

10a. No news specific to Hengchun, but of course there was damage from heavy winds in Hengchun as well.  The two local McDonald's didn't fare well. 墾丁入口知名麥當勞 "M" 被吹到 "不成人形" (6)

11. Liuqiu Township 琉球鄉

11a. The Tri-Service General Hospital has been working to improve healthcare on Xiaoliuqiu.  Residents there were recently screened for heart conditions. 三總與琉球鄉心臟醫療計畫  提升偏遠地區健康水平

11b. Several homes on Xiaoliuqiu also went without power as a result of heavy winds. 小犬來襲屏台24線德文神山預警封閉  琉球一度停電313戶

11c. Over 12,000 people visited Xiaoliuqiu during the 3-day Moon Festival holiday, and the traffic thus created, along with a general failure to observe basic traffic regulations, triggered consternation among residents and tourists alike. 小琉球遊客回籠亂象增  人行道違停惹怨

Related Entries 相關的文章:

發現屏東 :真愛屏東  Discover Pingtung 2 : Ligang Township 里港鄉

Pingtung in the News 屏東的新聞 (Central 中) 9

發現屏東 :真愛屏東  Discover Pingtung 1 : Jiuru Township 九如鄉

Ligang Township, Pingtung County 屏東縣里港鄉

1. I would guess that driving too damn fast is at least part of the reason.  I drive that highway fairly often, and I can attest that it can be very dangerous at times.

2.  Haven't been?  Interested in visiting?  If I were you I'd avoid that place during holiday weekends.  It gets crazy.  If I'm being honest I also have to say that it's not as nice as many hot spring areas on the east coast.

3. Although I can say I rode my bike up to the reservoir in Mudan not long ago.  It was nice.

4. The Chinese headline reads "21,000 households go without power."  I believe they're including all surrounding townships/municipalities in that figure.  The village where I live in Hengchun is also without power, and I doubt there are are 21,000 households in all of Manzhou.

5. Manzhou definitely got the worst of this typhoon.

6. During typhoons isolating "Hengchun Municipality" as a news item can be hard.  Everything from Fangshan Township south is part of the Hengchun Peninsula, and Hengchun Municipality tends to be grouped into any peninsula-wide event.

發現屏東 :真愛屏東 Discover Pingtung 2 : Ligang Township 里港鄉

The Chinese text below was taken from "Discover Pingtung: Truly Loving Pingtung" 發現屏東 -- 真愛屏東 , published by 中央研究院民族學研究所圖書館 in 2003.  The Chinese text was written by 蘇義峰 and the English was written by me.

I'll be translating parts of six chapters from this book this semester.  These chapters will correspond to the six townships in Pingtung I'll be visiting during this time period.

里港鄉 Ligang Township

砂石似黃金 , 河堤如公園

"Golden" Sands and a Riverside Park (1)

里港之美 -- 河堤公園 The Riverside Park: The Beauty of Ligang

本鄉過江段堤防近年來在鄉公所與阿里港文化協會及多位義工共同努力經營之下 , 已具有公園形 , 儼然已成為里港鄉之景點之一 . In recent years the township office and the Aligang Cultural Association worked with a group of volunteers to create a park along the river embankment.  This park has became a tourist attraction in Ligang.

阿里港文化協會基於熱愛鄉土文化的精神 , 發起認養美化高屏溪 , 里港過江段堤防活動 , 由一百多位義工每人認養十公尺 , 共計一千多公尺種植各種花草 . The Aligang Cultural Association, driven by a love of local culture, launched a program to beautify the banks of the Gaoping River where it passes through the township.  Over a hundred volunteers each adopted 10 meter sections of the riverbank, planting various flowers and plants over a one kilometer area.

過去一片髒亂的里港堤防經過鄉公所及義工們的細心美化綠化後 , 已經改頭換面綠意盎然 .  尤其是在落日餘暈下觀賞高屏溪河川景觀更加顯得詩情畫意 , 成為鄉民休閒活動的好地方 . The Ligang embankment, which was formerly a mess, has since been completely transformed into a lush green area under the careful attentions of both the township office and countless volunteers.  This is especially evident when viewing the Gaoping River around sunset.  It has become a very idyllic setting where local people can enjoy a variety of leisure activities.

古城門 The Old City Gate

里港鄉太平村里港國小旁之里港公園入口處豎立一座古碑 , 其實這座古碑兩面是各有二塊碑石組合而成... In Ligang Park, which is in Taiping Village in Ligang Township, there is an ancient stone tablet near the entrance to the park, next to Ligang Elementary School.  This ancient stone tablet has inscriptions on both sides... (2)

藍家古厝 The Old Lan Family Residence

坐落於中山路的藍家古厝已有270年歷史 , 係里港開庄的藍鼎元與族兄藍庭診所建 , 為傳統的閩南建築 , 前廳為主要的活動空間 , 兩側及後方均設廂房 , 整體呈ㄇ字形 , 建材均購自福建漳州 , 是目前尚存的古厝中最為堂皇者 .  大門與正屋的裝飾最為精采 , 門的上額為 "洛陽家" , 大廳門上的對聯 : "洛澤虹橋偉巨功濟 , 陽明學士鼎甲賢流" 正屋上面的山牆 , 則利用泥塑配合洗石子塑造出頗為美麗的花草壁飾 .  另外在牆面的線條與牆桂上 , 也利用洗石子做出柔軟的典線 .  讓整棟建築從大門一直到正屋部分 , 都可看見精心施作的泥塑與洗石子 , 就整體外觀而言 , 頗具有視覺美感 . The Old Lan Family Residence on Jungshan Road is 270 years old.  It was built by Lan Ding-yuan and his brother and used as a clinic in Ligang's early days.  It is an example of the Minnanese ("Taiwanese") type of architecture, with the front hall (building) serving as the main activity space and two wings branching off from this front hall and extending to the rear of the structure.  It's shaped like a "U" and was built from materials purchased in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province [in China].  It is the most majestic of the old houses still standing.

The decorations on the main gate and the main hall are the most exquisite.  Above the gate is an inscription reading "House of Luoyuang"  The couplet on the door in the main hall reads: "Hong-qiao of Luozhe has given much, and the Yangming scholars have achieved much [as well]."  In the eaves of the main hall clay and washed stones have been used to create beautiful botanical decorations.  Washed stones were also used to create undulating lines on the walls and wall supports.  Meticulously crafted sculptures of clay and washed stone can be seen throughout the building, and it is very pleasing to the eye.

蔡家古厝 The Old Tsai Family Residence

蔡家古厝位於里港鄉中山路 , 古厝建於光緒廿九年 (西元1903年) 據蔡家後代主人說 : 祖先蔡糞的先祖是中國河南省前清的舉人 , 蔡糞於清朝光緒年間渡海來台 , 落腳於 "阿里港" , 對於故鄉的本土文物倍加懷念 , 於是仿照家鄉建築方式起造房舍一棟 .  屋外壁上之交趾燒 , 木雕壁畫 , 拱型廂門 , 屋頂斗拱等件件精美 , 屋內除了精巧美觀的畫棟雕樑外 , 最值得一提是大廳內的烏心石雕花桌 , 這塊大圓桌是由中國運來 , 桌面是整塊烏心石木雕成 , 在台灣極為少見 , 古厝櫥櫃內之針簪 , 陶瓷 , 茶具 , 水煙館 (俗稱水煙吹) 都是清代古物 , 極具歷史價值 . The old Tsai Family Residence is located on Jungshan Road in Ligang Township.  This old residence was built during the 29th year of Qing Emperor Guangxu's reign (1903 on the Western calendar).  According to the family's descendants Tsai Dung served the Qing Court [in some capacity] in Henan Province in China.  He came to Taiwan from China by sea and settled in "Aligang," [as Ligang was then known].  [Once here] he began to miss the look of his hometown, and so he built a house based on the type of buildings he would have seen there.

There are sculptures of gods and spirits on the exterior walls, wood carvings, arched entryways, roof beams and brackets and other exquisite architectural features.  In addition to the home's painted pillars and carved beams, there is a large table of stone in the main hall.  This large round table was brought over from China, and the top is a single piece of wood, carved from a type of tree that is extremely rare in Taiwan.  There are also many other treasured Qing Dynasty relics in the cupboards of the house, including hairpins, ceramics, utensils used for making tea and pipes.

陳氏宗祠 The Chen Family Ancestral Shrine

"陳氏宗祠" 是一棟非常獨特耀眼的老建築物 , 陳氏宗祠位於中山路 .  原為漳州移民來此之陳氏家廟 , 後來因客籍陳姓移民陸續遷入 , 而成為一大祠堂 , 現今與台北 , 新埔 , 台南 , 永靖等地陳姓宗祠共亨台灣五大陳姓宗祠 .  每年祭典莊嚴隆重... The "Chen Family Ancestral Shrine" is a very unique and dazzling old building on Jungshan Road.  It was originally a temple built for members of the Chen Family who migrated to Taiwan from Zhangzhou in China.  Members of this family migrated to Ligang steadily over a period of time, and for this reason it became an important family shrine.  There are five major Chen Family ancestral shrines in Taiwan today, and the shrine in Ligang is grouped alongside other such halls in Taipei, Xinpu, Tainan, Yongjing and other places.  The annual ceremony held in these shrines is very solemn... (3)

蓮霧 Wax Apples

原產地馬來半島 , 栽培最多在馬來西亞 .  本鄉蓮霧栽培三百年前由荷蘭人自印尼帶來 .  產期12月至隔年三月 , 品種為大 (深) 紅色種 , 粉紅色種 , 種植面積198.64公頃 .  蓮霧果實像似海綿 , 看起來乾乾但含水量極為豐富 , 為春季重要水果 . This fruit comes from the Malay Peninsula and is primarily grown in Malaysia.  The wax apples grown in Ligang were originally brought here by the Dutch from Indonesia over 300 years ago.  The growing season is between December and March of the following year.  There are deep red and pink varieties, and these fruits are cultivated over 198.64 hectares.  The interior of the fruit resembles a sponge, and it is very dry in appearance though it's actually very juicy.  It is one of the spring season's most important fruits.

棗子 Dates

原產亞洲東南部 , 早年移民墾台就有人帶來優良棗種 , 產期12月至隔年三月 , 種植面積161.88公頃 .  民國八十二年塔樓棗子產銷班大力推展 "翠玉棗" , 該班特色 : 草生網室栽培減少農藥及殺蟲劑之使用 , 並於85年起通過檢驗領有安全蔬果吉園圃標章之產銷班 . This fruit originated in Southeast Asia.  Immigrants to Taiwan brought excellent varieties to the island early on.  The growing season is from December to March, and [this fruit] is cultivated over an area of 161.88 hectares.  In 1993 the Talou Date Growers' Cooperative began strenuously promoting the "jade date," which is grown using a textile net to reduce the need for pesticides.  In 1996 it passed inspection and was certified for sale as a "safe vegetable" in both fruit and seed form.

楊桃 Starfruit

原產地印尼 , 墾台移民攜入種植 , 一般6月至9月開花 , 7月至11月果實成熟 , 種植面積13.7公頃 .  民國77年以前本鄉楊桃滯銷 , 果農大力砍伐 , 面積驟減 , 在楊桃產銷班大力推展品種更新 "秤陀" 種及 "馬來西亞" 種後 , 楊桃已晉升國內高經濟水果 . These are originally from Indonesia, and were brought to Taiwan for planting by immigrants.  The trees usually flower between June and September, and the fruit matures between July and November.  They are cultivated over an area of 13.7 hectares.  Prior to 1988 the fruit was deemed unsuitable for export, and as a result the area given to starfruit trees decreased dramatically.  Once the Starfruit Growers' Cooperative began a renewed effort to promote the fruit, the "Jengtuo" and "Malaysia" varieties became important agricultural goods within the domestic market.

地方小吃餛飩 , 豬腳 Local Snacks: Wontons and Pig's Feet

里港餛飩 , 豬腳從日據時代趙文富老先生創業至今已六十餘年 , 多年來一直秉持古早口味 , 其實材料和良心經營 , 造就良好口碑 . It has been over 60 years since Zhao Wen-fu, an elderly gentleman, started the wonton and pig's feet business in Ligang during the Japanese occupation.  Over the years this business has held on to its traditional flavorings, and both quality ingredients and good management have only enhanced its reputation.

餛飩 Wontons

由上等肉配上等特製之調味 , 搭配自製香Q超簿之餛飩皮而成味美又具口感之里港餛飩 , 外帶之生餛飩係採真空充氮包裝 , 外表衛生大方是送禮自用最佳的選擇 . Ligang wontons are made with top quality meat, specially prepared seasonings, and wrappers made on the premises.  They have a full-bodied flavor.  You can purchase them vacuum packed for takeout.  They are prepared in hygienic conditions and are a great choice for either personal consumption or as a gift.

豬腳 Pig's Feet/Pork Knuckle

經過數小時之慢火細燉而成，不油不膩又Q之里港豬腳 . The pig's feet are stewed slowly over several hours.  Ligang chewy pig's feet are neither oily nor greasy.

Related Entries 相關的文章:

Pingtung in the News 屏東的新聞 (Central 中) 9

發現屏東 :真愛屏東  Discover Pingtung 1 : Jiuru Township 九如鄉

Ligang Township, Pingtung County 屏東縣里港鄉

Pingtung in the News 屏東的新聞 (North 北) 9

1. Again, I skipped the introduction.  The "golden" sand in the subtitle is a reference to the sand along a Ailiao River, which is scooped out and turned into cement by several local cement plants.  This sand is actually gray, but it makes them money (gold).

2. I'm not including the list of inscriptions.  Suffice it to say, the oldest one dates back to 1785.

3. The picture might not be accurate.  There may be a covering/roof over this shrine now. I also omitted a part about couplets in the main hall.  I'm confused about the rather esoteric, historical meaning of these couplets and I don't think researching them would do any of us much good.

Why Didn't You See a Doctor?

1. Why did you see a doctor this morning?

I didn't see a doctor this morning.  Overall I'm feeling very healthy.  My left ankle is a bit sore from running, but other than that I'm fine.

I can't help but grin when people in the office try to give me health advice.  There they are, all masked up, with their persistent colds, and they're trying to tell me how to be healthier.  I haven't been sick in ages.

Many people in Taiwan are incredibly superstitious when it comes to the subject of maintaining their health.  Hot vs. cold water, exposure to sunlight, what you should eat vs. what you shouldn't eat, discussing these matters with some Taiwanese people can be a real headache.  I get tired of explaining why I don't eat breakfast every day, and why I prefer cold drinks to hot drinks, mostly because the other side never presents any kind of evidence beyond the anecdotal to support their claims.

2. Why didn't you come to the meeting last night?

Last night was Sunday.  Even if there had somehow been a meeting I wouldn't have gone.

My work is fairly relaxed with regard to meetings.  We have a big school meeting at the beginning and end of every semester, and an English subject teachers' meeting every month.

At the county level I'm anticipating a two-day workshop in December, and even though this meeting will be excruciatingly boring it gives me a chance to catch up with a few people I haven't seen in a while.

If I'm lucky this two-day meeting will be in Chaozhou, and not in Pingtung City.  Chaozhou is only an hour from where I live, while Pingtung City is closer to two hours.

3. Why did you catch a cold?

I didn't.  As said above I'm fine.

Speaking of colds, I'm going to have to try very hard to not take any sick days this and next semester.  I want to save all my days for summer vacation, when I'll be going to the States again.

4. Why did you stay at home today?

Sadly I didn't.  I'm at work, in the office, typing this.  I would have loved to stay home.

If I'd stayed home today I'd probably be reading a science fiction novel I bought in Joyce, Washington just before I got on the plane back to Taiwan.  I read a lot of science fiction.

5.What does Softy look like in his second life?

I have no idea what this means, but I suppose there's a reading section in the book that explains who "Softy" is.  I can only wonder how and why "Softy" is subject to reincarnation.  Was his behavior lacking in a previous iteration?  Will he be forced to move forward and backward through the great chain of being forever?  Hopefully "Softy's" second life will be lived more in accordance with whatever religious text gets one out of this particular dilemma.

6. What is the reading mostly about?

Judging by the question above I'm guessing that it has something to do with "Softy" and an Eastern theology.  Alternatively it might be about a stuffed bear repurposed by a child: a toy given "new life."  I'm sure I'll find out in a couple weeks when I work my way up to that part of the book, but right now I refuse to look.

And what about you?  Why did you see a doctor this morning?  Why didn't you come to the meeting last night?  Why did you catch a cold?  Why did you stay at home today? What do you think the reading is mostly about, and why?

Related Entries:

Did You Have a Good Vacation?

What's Going On With Me 我身邊發生了什麼事 ?

Taipei vs. the Rest of the Island

Are They Coming?  Are They Here?

NOTE: The questions above are from the eighth grade English textbook.