Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Trace the Dutch footprints in Eco Tour

Most people travel to Tainan for historical buildings and local delicacies, yet, if you like Eco Tour, Taijiang National Park is the place that has more species of mangrove in Taiwan, where the Sicao Green Tunnel is my favorite place.

I have been there several times when I received VIP foreigners from many countries for the Tainan government many years ago. Many of the visitors are the Dutch because they once owned this place in the 17th century (1624-1662), their legacies still remain here such as Fort Zeelandia (Anping Fort)the ancient Dutch named it “Orange” , which is from the Dutch royal family: House of Orange- Nassau at that time.



Behind Dazhong Temple, the Green Tunnel in the eco preserved area is formed by the only four mangrove species found in Taiwan: Rhizophora mucronata Lam, Kandelia candel(L.)Druce, Lumnitzera (Lumnitzera racemosa).


Along the river way, with views of the natural canopy, green sightings, and little crabs and unknown reptiles appearing on both sides of the path and under the mysterious river.


I once arranged a two-day trip for the Studio Classroom to Tainan,surely including this unexpectedly beautiful spot. And I still remembered one of them suddenly burst out “MY PRECIOUS”, as the magic scene got her into “The Lord of the Rings”.

And more mysterious is that the former Dutch ambassador Menno Goedhart, a strong, nice, generous and wisdom man, once claimed that there are some treasures still buried under the river by the Dutch during the war. 
Therefore, this is a place full of fun memories, and today I came to discover and explore it again, although the sailing route only took 30 minutes, I am always amazed by the wonderful green every time! 

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Taiwan International Orchid Show in Spring, March 2016

Orchids have been cultivated in Taiwan for decades, the annual Taiwan International Orchid Show is held in every spring.
the theme of 2016

This year I went to see the show on Sunday, and I think too many visitors unavoidably influence the quality of the exhibition. As a result, I smell more scents from human beings than the orchids><.


However, focus on the orchid itself, the extraordinary plant has made great value to Taiwan export economy (over 70% of Taiwan’s horticultural exports).
We are valuable!

We are special!
I don't know how foreigners define the orchids, in Taiwan, people like to buy orchids to celebrate personal promotion, birthday or convey respect and good wishes, especially for the elder or honourable guest because its price is not inexpensive.
We are from Hongkong to attend this show!

We are from Indonesia!

We are from Taida Horticultural Co.Ltd, Taiwan

The unique doctrine in nature, that is, beauty and function are often closely connected (I like it 100%), such as dendrobatidae and siphonophorae, their colourful appearances are the powerful weapons to protect themselves. And this principle also applies to the orchids, some of which have the most highly-developed flowers and diverse forms to attract not only people but also insects to have more channels to be cultivated or fertilized.

we are welcoming you to stay with us...(paphiopedilum)
Some of the orchid flowers have truly evolved into insect-alike looks that could increase the chance of their pollination. We all know orchids are grown according to their requirement of light, humidity and tolerable temperature, they are delicate, noble, smart enough just like the queen in the plant world.
Do we look like the bats with butterflies' wings? (from the US)

We are the feast for bees.
To be more competitive in commercial level, the cultivation of orchid plants has also evolved into the “biotechnology”. Taiwan researchers have claimed that they can make the red colour only grow at a certain point on the orchid's flower by controlling its gene after 9 year's study. And another amazing point is the orchid named as "Monkey Orchid", which grows in southern Mexico and Peru, has a Monkey face as its name describes.
I cannot tell you who I am...
Well, it is good news for innovation yet is it necessary? Since the orchid has so highly evolved itself, we should learn to appreciate the pure miracle of the essence of the plant and show our respects to the nature.
I eat bamboo, you know.


I guess their faces will become gorilla soon... 


Sunday, 13 March 2016

The Spring Scent from Nordic Design

I wrote something about Nordic in the end of this winter because the winter months are particularly long there. And we also experienced more cold fronts this year in Asia. Are people less energetic and productive without enough sunshine? I believe that Scandinavian has ways to confront that.
(photo by St. Olaf College)
Just look at the Nordic living design which is never so boring, and I even can feel the spring ambiance among the simple but also colourful Nordic aesthetic. Before enjoying the spring scent I find in Nordic design, let’s make "Scandinavia" clear, it specifically covers Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but the term "Nordic" is broader and also includes Finland and Iceland. However, Nordic design is based on its traditional style, and each Nordic country has its own symbolic brand.
(Scent Diffuser, photo by http://www.nordic.com.tw/)
Danish DesignGrass Vases
Grass Vase is design by Normann Copenhagen, the designer–Claydies, which composes of “Clay” and “Lady”, was founded in 2000 by Karen Kjældgård-Larsen and Tine Broksø. Yes, it is from two talented females.This upward grass vase, completed with little flowers bringing spring into my mind, saying the natural beautiful scenery in Denmark.
(photo by http://www.normann-copenhagen.com/)

(photo by http://www.normann-copenhagen.com/)
Swedish designingela P Arrhenius
An illustrator and designer, Ingela’s creative colourful collections channel my inner childhood - so does spring, the beginning of a year, start our life), and they are so chic and full of lovely elements to brighten up every corner.
(Picture by: http://www.photowall.com/photo-wallpaper/designers/ingela-p-arrhenius)
(Picture by: http://www.photowall.com/photo-wallpaper/designers/ingela-p-arrhenius)
Finnish DesignMarimekko
Marimekko products are recognized as safe and environmentally friendly underlying the idea of simplicity- not cold, rationality but warm, functional and sustainable. To gain the positive energy from bright colours, Marimekko is 100% Finnish iconic brand. And I like the spirit of life; it is like spring awakening everything tenderly after the winter. 
(Photo by https://www.marimekko.com/)
(Photo by https://www.marimekko.com/)
Wanna some creative, chromatic, unique items, just click these websites. Nice!

Monday, 29 February 2016

The Spring Weekend-Plum, Cherry Blossom and Spider

Spring is coming, which means the weather is changeable (as people say “the stepmother’s face” ha-ha) and the best time to see cherry blossoms. Many Taiwanese like to travel to Japan where a wide variety of “ sakura” (さくら) are in abundance. Not wanting to go too far, I chose the shortest driving route to explore the spring flower sightings.
Taiwan Cherry, native to low-medium elevation broadleaved forest,hang like bells
One day ago, I got up earlier around 7:00 and headed to Mei-ling where just one-hour drive to my house. Mei-ling is famous for many crops of “mei” there (“mei”=“plum”, normally blooms in cold weather) and the top of the mountain is around 1,059 meters high. Due to a seasonably cold winter this year, some plum flowers are still vibrant on the hill in the end of February, kind of an added bonus!!More than that, it also has some different flowers such as Taiwan Cherry and the Common Melastoma bursting with the hillside at the moment.


Plum Flowers ="Mei"
Flowers growing alongside the hillside, I got into the seasonal spirit and soaked up brilliant colours of green, purple, red, light purple, pink and some lovely white.










Bees and butterflies undoubtedly match with flowers, but surprisingly, even the spider could not resist the attraction from flowers. Have you ever seen a spider spin its web to grab the flower? Is the flower an elf and be caught by the evil, black-and- yellow spider? I stood there for a while and still felt unbelievable about what I discovered.
I didn't dare to bother “the spider “fishing” a dying flower” in the wild nature, anyway, that is what makes the nature is, isn’t it? Birds singing, Spiders fishing, flowers blossoming…and nearly at noon time, people gradually surged to enjoy the beautiful scenery…the mountain is so so so alive!!! And it is about time to down the hill.


See more about Mei-ling:  
http://www.siraya-nsa.gov.tw/MainWeb/article.aspx?L=1&SNO=04000685

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Hatta Yoichi and the Great Wusanto Reservoir

Hatta Yoichi, a great Japanese engineer, who built up Wusanto Reservoir for Taiwan, has its own memorial park in Tainan. The park is completely Japanese style and many interior decorations and materials are donated by Hatta’s relatives. I have been here many times, and today I saw more many Japanese visiting there.
Some red lanterns hanging to celebrate the New Year here


After visiting the memorial park, I turned right to walk along the Wusanto Reservoir road, there is a steam locomotive on the hill, which was made by Belgium and once used for carrying rubbles, working staffs and the residents in the past. Its great contribution is as important as Hatta Yoichi; therefore, people preserve it well in order to honour the efforts have been put to the Wusan Reservoir dam construction plan.
When the second war happened, Hatta Yoichi died and his second son went for the war and didn't survive as well. Hatta Yoichi’s wife was extremely desperate and finally jumped into the pump station of Wusanto Reservoir to commit suicide at her age of 45.
Hatta Yoichi adopted the latest “Semi Hydraulic Fill” technique to design the Wusan Reservoir dam, which is better than that in the US and became one of a kind in Asia, later was called as “The Hatta Yoichi Embankment”. The spirit of Hatta Yoichi is on people’s minds. With his excellent skills and the team members, including local Taiwanese labours, the Wusan Reservoir dam that was built by their working hand-in-hand together is very beneficial for agriculture and water supply in the Southwest Taiwan. It also symbolized the peaceful cooperation between Taiwan and Japan at that time.

After he died, Taiwan local farmers and colleagues who worked with him before set up a statue for him to praise his contributions to the southwest plain. Its design amis to deliver the image that a great engineer is always seriously thinking for better constructions. And behind of it is the tomb of the Hatta couple.
The statue is built under the trees and from the angle of it, Mr. Hatta can directly looks upon the great Wusanto Reservoir, which is really a master’s work in Taiwan’s history.

八田與一和烏山頭水庫
一位偉大的日本工程師Hatta Yoichi,為台灣建立了Wusanto Reservoir,在台南有座自己的紀念公園。公園完全是日本風格,很多室內裝飾和材料都是由Hatta Yoichi的親戚捐贈的。我去過很多次了,今天我看到更多的日本人在那裡參觀。

在參觀了紀念公園後,我右轉沿著烏山頭水庫公路行走,山上有一輛蒸汽火車,是由比利時製造的,曾用於運送粗石,工作人員和居民。它的貢獻與Hatta Yoichi一樣重要。因此,為了榮誌烏山頭水庫大壩建造計劃的努力,人們將它保存得很好。

第二次戰爭發生時,Hatta Yoichi去世了,他的第二個兒子參加了戰爭,也沒有倖存下去。Hatta Yoichi的妻子非常絕望,最後跳入烏水頭水庫泵站,在45歲時自殺。

Hatta Yoichi採用最新的半液壓填充技術設計了比美國更好的烏山頭水庫大壩,並成為亞洲之一,後來被稱為“Hatta Yoichi大堤Hatta Yoichi的精神在人們的腦海裡。憑藉出色的技能和團隊成員,包括當地的台灣人的勞工,有著大家攜手共同建設的烏山頭水庫大壩,對台灣西南部的農業和供水非常有利。這也象徵了當時台灣與日本的和平合作。

在他去世後,台灣當地的農民和同他一起工作的同事為他建立了一座雕像,頌讚他對西南平原的貢獻。它的設計目的在傳達一位偉大的工程師總是認真思考更好的建築的形象。雕像的後面則是Hatta Yoichi的填墓。

雕像建在樹下,從它的角度來看,Hatta Yoichi先生可以直接看到偉大的烏山頭水庫,這是臺灣歷史上真正的大師級作品。