il Giardino Romantico

這個應該對多台北以外的大學生都不陌生。中部以南的大學生們，有北上的時候，這裡應該是大家的首選。這次有機會重新來這裡，都是因為錢媽剛好帶著一群外籍朋友們來台北一日遊。剛好可以回味一下大學時期來這裡與同學們歡樂的那段時光。

This place must look familiar to those who used to attend universities outside of Taipei. This used to be the number one choice for students travelling to Taipei. Mum had some guests to entertain, and they were to stay here for the night. That's how I got a chance to revisit this place! 

 01

這天的天氣雖然沒有說烈陽高照，但對於北部來說已經算是從一月至三月初以來算是不錯的了！畢竟難得一個沒雨的周末日，對那陣子的北部人來說真的是可遇不可求啊！因此，在我拍完貓咪以後，我決定繼續往下走。從來沒去過平溪，趁著這次就一路順著走下去吧！

The weather had been horrible for months in the beginning of the year. This had been one of the few weekends that did not have rain. It was because of this, I decided to go on with my day journey. I had never been to Pingxi. It was time to take a look. 

 

這是我第二次來到侯硐。第一次與友人相伴來到此地，不料天公不作美，因此根本沒見到幾隻貓。這一次，我帶著和朋友借來的50D，再次造訪貓村，除了跟運氣賭賭看能不能見到更多貓，當然也還想要體驗一下代單眼出遊的感覺。不過其實此行，事實上是為了更重要的旅行做準備。有在留意ＦＢ專頁的朋友應該都知道倫敦熊在三月中旬時曾經來了一趟幾乎是環島的行程。其實天仙是為了此行而與友人借來他的寶貝50D。不過又怕不熟悉就上戰場，失敗的照片比例會佔太高，因此安排了侯硐．平溪行，來讓自己與這台50D培養一下感情。除了以上第一張照片是用我原本的Lumix FP8拍得，其餘都是用我朋友的50D所捕捉到的畫面。

This is my second trip to Houtong. During my first trip, I was here with friends. Unfortunately, very few cats came out because of the weather. This time, I came preapred - with a DSLR and a determination to win the bet on good weather. I wanted to see a lot more cats than I did last time, and I also wanted to get a grasp of what it feels like to travel with a DSLR. However, this trip was only a precurser for an even more important trip. If you had been following the blog on Facebook, you'll know that in March, London Paddy took a trip that could almost be described as a tour around the island. I didn't want to risk taking too many crappy photos with my friend's 50D, so I organized this one-day trip for practice, and also to see cats, of course! The picture above is the only picture in this article that is taken by my DC Lumix FP8, the rest of them are captured by my friend's DSLR, 50D. 

After a very pleasant meal, it was time to burn up some carbs. Our options were limited, however, since the weather was way too hot, and there were four kids with us in the group. The best place to continue our delightful meeting was to head towards the Z.O.O. Yet, I have to say, I always manage to pick the wrong outfits. I had not worn jeans since it started to get hot, but somehow, my genius subconscious told me that I am to wear jeans today. I almost ended up fried... 

在吃完愉快的午餐之後，我們就要來燃燒一些熱量啦！不過我們的選擇有限～畢竟有四個孩子，天氣又這麼熱。最後決定去動物園！不過在這裡我就必須抱怨我自己，怎麼每次都這麼會挑衣服？自從變熱以後就沒再穿的牛仔褲，我竟然很天才的選在這天穿它！囧！差點變成烤焦天仙～～～

It's been quite a while since I updated articles in this category. I wish I had more time to go places and share the lovely scenes of Taiwan with the world. My friends had wanted me to join them for a cycling outing for a long time. Finally, we had the chance to actually do this. I like cycling. But before this, I had no idea it could be this fun. Especially when I saw the sunset... 

好久沒更新這個分類裡面的文章囉！我也希望我有更多時間去到處走走拍拍！跟大家一起分享各處的美景。朋友們說要我一起跟他們騎車講了好久，這次終於有機會一起了！其實我原本就喜歡騎車，不過在這之前我真的不知道他能夠這麼的好玩。尤其是當我看到夕陽的時候～

Even though I had spend some time during my toddlerhood around this neighbourhood, I had no memory whatsoever of this place, or even ever hearing of this place. When I asked my mum, who had been the reason why I had roamed around here, she said she had very little memory of the place as well. The place had been made popular by the movie 'Monga', an award winning movie about gangsters. 

雖然小時候曾在這混過，但這個地方我倒是一點印象都沒有。甚至連有沒有聽過的印象都沒有。後來詢問錢媽，他也只問我：是在老松國小後面那邊嗎？但也說沒什麼印象。（因為錢媽太認真上班，照顧小孩了～XD <-- 狗腿的嫌疑）若非電影『艋舺』，這裡會變得像現在這麼有名嗎？

I'm a frequent visitor of Longshan Temple. I used to roam around this neighbourhood during my toddlerhood. In recent years, the whether had somehow always been gloomy during each of my visits. Finally, on this day, the glorious sun was out, and I decided to try something different with my photos. 

一直以來我都是龍山寺的常客。小時候常常在這裡打混。最近來的時候，幾乎每次都是陰天。終於讓我等到一次太陽公公願意賞臉的日子了。不過這次我又想試一點比較不一樣的拍法。

五。。。四。。。三。。。二。。。一！！！黑皮扭意兒！！

Five...four...three...two...one!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I had waited for many years for a chance to visit the Lin Family Mansion and Garden.  I had heard about its beauty, seen pictures that people had taken, and longed for a chance to visit the place myself.  Finally, on this day, I got a chance to see the beauty of Chinese traditional architecture with my own eyes. 

等了好幾年，終於有機會親自造訪林家花園。之前就聽說過林家花園的美，也看過格友們分享的美麗照片。就是一直沒機會親自造訪。這天終於有機會親眼目睹傳統中式建築之美！

This is the world famous Chiufen. It is the setting of the famous film 'City of Sadness', one, I had to admit, I had only seen once at a time when I had not yet learned how to appreciate it. Travellers from Taiwan and abroad love to come here. Although many complain that the place has become way too commercialised, to me, some things will never change - the innate historical and cultural atmosphere hidden within.

這就是世界知名的觀光景點—九份。也是電影『悲情城市』的拍攝地點。不過我必須坦承，這部電影我只看了一次，而且是在我年少無知（現在還是很無知）的時候看的所以還不懂得欣賞（現在就會懂嗎？）。台灣以及各國觀光客都會來這裡玩。許多人抱怨這裡已經太商業化。但我的見解不同。有些東西是永遠都無法改變的，那就是這些地點隱藏的歷史以及文化背景。

After having toured around two different Japanese style houses, we were ready to experience what it was like being miners in this area. I was quite impressed with what they had done with the place.  The place was well organized, and clearly shows that a lot of effort had been put into making the place a world-class tourist attraction. 

參觀了兩間日式房子之後，我們準備來體驗一下當礦工的感覺。這裡的設計讓我感到非常的佩服。她們很明顯的用盡心思把這裡打造成一個國際級的觀光景點。

I think I have been to Jinguashi once before. It was way back during the ignorant days. So my memory of it was very vague. There were three of us out here on this day. We were escorting a very dear friend of mine that I had made in Liverpool - a Singaporean with whom I worked with as student ambassadors. My other friend was also a fellow Liverpodlian student, so the three of us got along really well. 

記得我來過金瓜石一次。不過年代已久，記憶已經很模糊。這天我們有三人來到此地。我們是陪伴一位我在利物浦認識的新加坡籍友人。擔任學生大使的時候曾經共事過。另外一位也是在利物浦認識的台灣同學。所以我們三人很有話聊。

Obviously, we wouldn't have left the place without seeing at least one cat! Although we didn't get to see as many as we had expected, the ones we saw were really, really, really adorable!!

我們不可能在沒見到貓的情況下就直接離開呀。雖然看到的沒有預期中的多隻，不過當天有出現的都好可愛、好可愛唷！！

這是三個女人隨性遊猴硐的故事。。。

因為當天下雨，所以貓咪都在跟我們玩躲貓貓。。。

This is a story about three women and their spontaneous trip to a cat-village called Hou-tong.

*The following article is a recount of the second part of our trip to Wu-lai.

Before making our way to the waterfall, we had already checked around to see if any of the hot spring hotels had sauna rooms.  It turned out that none of them had saunas.  Eventually, we decided to throw our money to the one that was most pleasant while introducing their facilities. 

在走上去瀑布之前，我們就已經先四處看看有沒有『烤箱』的溫泉。[ 因為某人特愛烤箱...不是考麵包的烤箱喔！]結果事實證明，烏來的湯屋真的只是湯屋。坐台車回來之後，回到當初比較親切的一間。看了他們的設備，因為覺得他們待人親切，以及友善的服務態度讓我們決定就是這家！