il Giardino Romantico

One of the most famous and popular tourist destinations in Eastern Taiwan, is Taroko Gorge. The scene is spectacular here. The sun was shining, but the weather was perfectly mild. Reaching this destination here, was a significant moment for me. There are beautiful places within my own island that I have yet to explore. People keep telling me how gorgeous these places are, and now for the first time, I was able to see the place with my own eyes. And anyone who has taught English at cram schools here in Taiwan, would have, no doubt, come across Taroko Gorge before in textbooks. I, myself, had uttered the name in classrooms for years... And now, I'm finally here.

東台灣最出名與最受歡迎的景點之一就是太魯閣囉。這邊的風景真的很漂亮。別看那太陽這麼強烈，其實這春天的陽光是很溫和的。抵達這裡對我來說是個很重要的時刻。雖然在這座島上藏著許多我未曾親眼目睹過的美景，也常聽人家說那兒很美那兒很棒，這次卻是我第一次親眼看見太魯閣的美。更尤其是在台灣教過美語的人一錠都常常在補習班課本裡教過太魯閣這個地名。就連我自己都在教室裡不知道教了幾百次這地名。而如今，我終於來到這裡了！



It was low season, so fortunately there weren't many tourists. You must bare in mind that I was alone, and that the trip had a deeper meaning than being just a trip. I wanted to use a different perspective to see the world. Re-discover the beauty of the island, my home country. And at a deeper level, rediscover myself.

因為此時還不是旺季，所以旅客就非常的少。你們要記得，在這趟旅途中，我是一個人。而這趟旅程也有他更深層的意義。我想要用不同的眼光看這世界。我想要重新發覺這美麗小島上的漂亮風景。更深層的意義，就是要重新自我發掘。



When I used a DC, it was a lot easeir to take random shots of yourself. It was also easier to ask someone else to take a picture for you. Of course I had my DC with me, but the scenery was so beautiful more than half the time, it didn't seem necessary to waste space on my memory card for pictures of myself. 

當我使用小DC時，自拍是一件非常容易的事情。要麻煩別人幫自己拍一張也不難。雖然我還是有把小DC帶在身上，不過這邊的美景似乎自己的照片顯得有點浪費了記憶體。



Through the lens of the DSLR, I obtained a completely new vision of the world. It was exactly what I had needed to help me 'change perspective'.

透過單眼的鏡頭，我看見了不一樣的世界。這正是我需要的「視野轉換」。



Traveling alone is an art. It is not something anybody can learn to enjoy. People who equate being alone to being lonely have a reason to fear being alone. Sometimes the most terrifying voice, is the one that is inside your own head. We must learn to listen and confront that voice, until it softens and becomes the pacifying sound of running water.

獨自旅行是一種藝術。並不是所有的人都能夠體會並且享受這種感覺的。許多人將單獨與孤獨畫上等號。其實是有他們的原因的。這世界上最令人恐懼的聲音其實就是來自我們自己的腦袋瓜裡。但我們必須學習傾聽並且面對那個聲音，直到它化為像流水般那能撫平、靜心的聲音為止。



Many of the world's most beautiful places require a long and exhausting process to get to. Other places require only a few steps, and meticulous attention. 

世界上許多美景都必須先經歷一段漫長又煎熬的過程才能抵達。但也有許多美好的事物，只需要幾步路程以及專注力。



With a change of perspective, you can transform the most ordinary scenes, into the most spectacular picture.

光是換個角度，就足以有利將一個普通到不行的場景化身為世界上最壯觀的圖。



We all need and have a place of worship, a holy place. For many people, it is the church, or the temple, or the mosque. However, the most holy place for anyone, should be their heart.

我們都需要，也都有一個敬仰之處，一個神聖的地方。許多人認為這地方就是他的教堂、寺廟或清真寺。但其實最神聖的地方，絕對是自己的心。



We will face turning points and obstacles that we do not expect. If we could all see them as things and events that help make us stronger and better, life would be so much easier.

人生中總是會遇到出乎意料的轉折點或是障礙物。若我們都能夠將他們是為使我們變得更堅強以及更好的事物，人生這條路似乎會好走許多。



The important thing to remember is to make a balance between saving time for yourself, and making time for family and friends. While it is important to have family and friends, you are the only one with whom you will spend the most time.

我們都要試著去平衡獨自相處以及與親友相處的時間。雖然親友很重要，但畢竟一生中會陪你最多時間的，還是你自己。



Take a look around your environment all the time, and try to notice all the things that you could've missed, if you had kept your eye sight toward one single direction. 

努力去觀察身邊的景物。嘗試去發掘新的趣事。這些都將會是你若將視野停留在同一條線上所會錯過的事物！



Take a rest, whenever necessary. Although reaching a target and achieving aims are important, you can't push yourself too hard. 

適時的讓自己休息。雖然達成目標，抵達終點很重要，但也不需要太過強迫自己。



If you feel as heavy as a rock, it's probably time to let some thoughts go drifting away with the water, before you go on.

若你感覺像顆石頭般的沉重，或許你應該停下來，讓一些事情或想法隨著流水漂流離去，再重新出發。



Life isn't that bad... 

人生其實沒有那麼糟糕...



If you don't like what you see...

如果眼前的礙眼...



Then change your focus!

那就換個點對焦吧！



Deities may help...

神明可以保佑...



But it is still YOU, that's got to do the work!

但最後自己還是得面對！



We often fear what we face... 

我們害怕面對...



We fear falling...

害怕墜落...



Especially when our visions are blurred, and our goals are out of sight...

尤其是視線模糊，看不清楚目標時...

Remember that there are barriers that will keep you on track, whether you know it or not.

記得無論妳有沒有發現，路途上都會有柵欄保護著你。



We all wish we could be guided by a smiling star. But sometimes we can be our own smiling star!

我們都希望有這樣一個微笑的星星導覽著我們。卻忘了其實我們就可以是自己的微笑星星。



Focus, balance, rest, and smile....

專注、平衡、休息、微笑．．．

  

And up we go... to our next destination!

接著...向上爬，爬向下一個目的地！


檢視較大的地圖 

天仙念：由於目前英國的遊記都已經交差完畢，近期也尚未有出國計畫。因此最近應該都會走本土風。而在介紹本土文化與景點時，最大的挑戰就是要以什麼樣的手法來寫？這些地方相信大家都比天仙還要熟悉。如果光是寫英文，或許對來台旅遊的外國旅客還稍有意義。但天仙不覺得自己的格子「專門」介紹台灣景點給外籍人士參考的格子。因此，改用抒情寫法看圖說故事。其實早期的爬山記也都是用這種方式。久久未發新文，其實有一部分是在等靈感。而靈感又是需要時間去醞釀。加上天仙希望改變以往先寫好放著的習慣，而轉換為隨寫隨發的方式。因此這批「花蓮墾丁記」可能會寫得比英國遊記還要累格。但不定期還是會有食記穿插的～