Hohuan Mountain Range on Highway 14 --台14甲線上的合歡山群峰

 Highway 14 which is connected to Highway 8 is the most beautiful scenic drive in Taiwan. It is also the highest highway in Taiwan. It changes its scenery every season. In Spring, planets start turning to green from yellowish and snow covers many of the mountain top. In May, rhododendron flowers covers most portion of the mountains. In Summer, the green-grass-like bamboo are all over the mountains. In Fall, the mountains prepare to embrace the winter with yellowish decoration. In Winter, the snow falls and the mountains dress in white. Sunrise, sunset, and the sea of clouds have been present since the beginning of the time.  

台14甲線自霧社到大禹嶺後,連接上台8線大禹嶺到天祥,太魯閣段, 是台灣最美和最高的公路.而在台14線的合歡群峰,隨著四季而變化;在春天,大地自黃色轉換成綠色而山頭有靄靄白雪點綴;5月份中旬,由玉山杜鵑登場;秋天,植被由綠變黃,準備擁抱冬天的來訪;冬天, 白雪為山群穿上了白衣裳;雲海,日落和日出自始以來長伴著山群.永不離棄.  

                                          Below pictures were taken at different time. 

                                             下面的照片來自於不同時間拍攝的.

There were not a lot of cars on the road. We found only this place still in business. It was time for us to taking a rest after a long driving. See what we were going to find here. 

沿路來, 路上的車子並不多, 我們好不容易看到這個休息站還有在營業,停下來看看有什麼好料來填飽我們的五臟廟, 尤其在這麼冷的天氣.

 Food stands offered hot food and snow chain service to travelers who are going to play in the snow on a cozy day at Kunyang Rest Stop, elevated 3070 meter high. Having snow chains to drive on the road is mandatory when it snows. So it sometimes brings a good business to the locals maybe once a year if it snows. There is a gate next to the highway if heavy snow falls, the gate will be closed and the road closed. Therefore, commuting east and west in Taiwan in the winter one must travel either north or south to get to the other side.
昆陽休息站是在海拔3070公尺,只要是一下雪,要上山賞雪,雪鏈是必要.所以當地的居民,一年當中只有下雪才能賺到賣雪鏈的錢.在這裏也設大門, 一但雪量太多, 整個公路即會被封鎖, 而使往來東西部的交通, 只能由南或北進.

 It offered hot Ginger tea, BBQ pork and sausage, and corn. These foods are very popular among
food stands in Taiwan. It is very nice to have a cup of hot tea and a Taiwan sausage on a chilly day.
通常,在山上的小吃攤不外乎就是這些小吃, 在這麼冷的天氣裏, 來一碗熱呼呼的湯是一種享受.

The stand owners lived behind their food stands. Their temporary house was built with very simple plastic surrounding as the walls and metal roofs which were good enough to stop the wind. They lived in their simple house without heater and only small lights at night. They were shy when I took the picture of their bedroom. They told us (my husband and I) that they only make living in this life style once a year when it snows in the mountain. They appreciated God gave them the chance to make living.  

為了在山上做生意, 他們用塑膠布圍成一個足夠遮風避雨的地方,讓他們暫稱為家的地方.

                               
            One of my best friends standing in front of Taroko National Park sign at Kunyang Rest Stop.
                                               從這裏我們要進入太魯閣國家公園

Looking at Hohuan East Ridge (3421 meter high) from Kunyang 

從昆陽暸望合歡東峰主峰高 3421公尺:5月中旬有美麗的玉山杜鵑

This highway is almost at its highest point. It is the highest point on a highway in Taiwan.

 Do you know where is the lowest highway in Taiwan?

                                          台灣最高的公路, 那你知道最低的公路在那嗎?

Wuling, 3275 meter height  

After Wuling the road is mostly down hills to Taroko except for 3 point with small up hill sections. After Wuling it is the bikers' heaven to Taroko. They can just coast down the highway and appreciate the beautiful scenery.  They have to use their brakes all the time, otherwise their speed picks up very quickly.

                                  自武嶺之後, 大部分為下坡(由西到東), 是鐵馬勇士的最愛.

©2011 Google - Map Data - Terms of Use

 Hohuan Main Peak, 3417 meter high is not the highest peak among Hohuan Moutain Range. It used to be a military installation. Now it opens to hikers. It is the best place to see or take sunset pictures.
從武嶺眺望合歡主峰,高3417公尺;它曾經是軍事用地,裁撤之後, 原預定開設餐廳,讓民眾開車上主峯賞景用餐,後因大眾反對而做罷.而已舖設的道路成為主要上主峰的路, 讓山友省去了一大段的路,使登合歡主峰更加容易. 而此地點也成為最佳欣賞夕陽西下的地方.

There were a lot of people in Wuling parking lot playing with snow on a beautiful sunny day. 

                                  難得的四月雪加上天氣放晴, 大伙趕上山來賞雪和玩雪.

        Looking back along the highway, you can see the side road off the main highway to the main peak. The yellowish vegetation is not grass. It is called High Mountain Bamboo (Yushania Niitakayamensis (Hayata) Keng f.,) grown at the elevation of 1,000--3,900 meter.
自武嶺往回看來時路, 看到的是枯黃的玉山箭竹,生長在海拔1000--3900公尺之間.如果你到訪是在春夏,你看到的是綠意盎然的玉山箭竹. 看到分叉的小徑是往主峰的步道.

                                                           The highway covered with Snow
                                             另一種不同的景緻,在群山萬巒之間環繞著.

  From Wuling look down towards Hohuan Hostel and the military installation, it used to be the place for the army to train its personnel living in a snow environment. 

從武嶺欣賞合歡山莊及陸軍野訓基地的景緻, 陽光和煦烙印在白雪之上.

Hohuan Hostel provided food and lodging facilities for hikers for many decades. Now it becomes B.O.T Personnel Housing. The new rebuilt B.O.T lodging is called Song Syue Lodge.  Hohuan Jian Shan is the mountain behind the old Hohuan Hostel.  This picture was taken in winter without snow. 

合歡山莊曾提供便宜的住宿和餐飲給往來的過客和山友們, 如今成為公辦民營公司員工的住宿房舍. 那裏蘊藏多人的回憶.包含我和老公的記憶.如今,我們無緣再踏入那曾是多人記憶的地方. 

Snow View of Hohuan Hostel and Hohuan Jian Shan in the background

背景為合歡尖山

The road going to the east from Hohuan Hostel. Most people from the west stop here and then turn around going back to the west. Therefore there are only a few vehicles on the road to the east.  

台14甲線由西向東,自此以後車子稀少, 大部分的遊客只到合歡山莊即折返回西部.雖然蜿蜒曲折,但在少車的狀況下,我們可以邊開車邊賞景,很愜意.

                                The highway with snow offers different view and atmosphere.

Song Syue Lodge under construction--The trail to Hohuan East Peak is behind the lodge. The building to the left is the Ski Lodge where you start your hiking to Chilai Shan 

没有雪的松雪樓--合歡東峰由此上.

The lodge is opened to the public and operated under B.O.T contract with the Forest Bureau. The price is much more than the old Hohuan Lodge. It is no longer for the hikers to enjoy nature in a economic way.

民營下的松雪樓價格不再似從前的合歡山莊那麼親民. 而離主要幹道有些距離; 但對山友而言,那却不是一個問題.

The front view of Song Syue Lodge

The old and broken down snow lift which was operated before 1970.

1970年代的滑雪纜車塔柱,依舊柠立在那,有多少人知道它的歷史和勝況?

The more far away Ski Lodge is economic for backpackers, NT$ 900 per person. You won't have any privacy. Everyone shares the big room. I am not sure if it separates man and woman. You can drive your car or walk there. 

滑雪山莊在更偏僻的地點,為通舖,每晚900元.

                                                           The Sea of Clouds

Kenanguan is located on 34 K road mark. It was a tunnel built by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation in Taiwan for the purposes of commuting west and east and also for controlling the aborigines. After Japan left, the premiere Jiang Jingguo (the son of Jiang Kaishek) had workers blowed up the tunnel for extending the road for economic reason. Since it was blown up, it has been known as Kenanguan. It is famous for being dangerous due to extremely strong wind during the trade wind season in the winter. It was a glacial terrain millions of years ago.

克難關在日治時期為合歡越嶺古道的隧道,蔣經國為興建中橫霧社支線而將隧道炸開.在東北季風季風,這成為風口.因它的險峻而命名為克難關. 從這看到的是合歡東峯,合歡尖山及合歡溪谷.

THE END

The Home of the Sea Cloud from Taroko Gorge to Dayuling

After having a relaxing vacation in the beautiful city of Haulien, it's time for us to head back to our sweet home--Taichung. It was unusual to still have snow in the early April in Taiwan. The weather station broadcasted the temperature would be dropped with high chance of rain. It could possibly have snow in the mountain or landslide on the coast highway. It was a dispute in choosing a safe highway to drive back home between my husband and me. I was afraid of driving on the coast highway from Hualien to Suao due to the massive landslide which washed out the road and tour buses last year. Finally, we agreed to take the mountain highway, so called Highway 8 and 14, back to Taichung. Before we entered the highway, we stopped by the Taroko National Park Headquarter for information on the highway condition. We were lucky that there was no snow in the mountain.

It is a challenge for drivers to drive on highway 8 due to its curvy, narrow, cliffs, drop offs, and sometimes foggy conditions. Most time I had to watch the traffic coming from the opposite direction on the mirrors on the corners for my husband. When we drove to this lookout point from the park headquarter, we spent almost 45 minutes in the winding and foggy road and also elevated from 75m to 767m high.

From the high altitude viewing Tienshiung Village on the highway

Looking back at the foggy road which was less than 3 meter visibility, it became clear and surrounded by the clouds.

We were amazed by the view which is around 2,500 meter high. Swallows flew above the cloud, the cloud turned into sea, and the mountains became islands. Who would think we just passed through the sea of clouds. It was a scary drive until now. The late snow in the season has decorated Chilai Mountain.

    Looking forward is Hohaun Mountain which offers fantastic views in each season. It is also the easiest spot for people to reach and enjoy playing with snow in Taiwan. It is the highest and the most beautiful highway in Taiwan.

    Where were those swallows? Our car engine has scared those swallows away. Only a few flew and played with the clouds.

    The clouds has gradually rolled over from the east to the west. It was just like sea wave going over the cliffs and roaming in the moutain range.

    It was around 11 AM. I couldn't image how gorgeous it would be when the sun comes up or goes down.

    Not only the sea of clouds attracted people but also the abundant ecological wildlife draws people attention. We drove on this highway many time each year. This was the first time that we stopped here. There were many hikers who took a rest and cooked their lunch. I was attracked by the sounds of birds. I followed the sounds and found a couple of the white-naped yuhina. They were jumping around and having their lunch. I was a stranger to them and disturded their lunch. I couldn't help to take out my digital recoder to record their uniqe conversation.

    Tracing a different sound from yuhina, I entered the pine forest. I looked up but couldn't find any birds. I only heard their sounds. Meanwhile the sun was shining through the pine needles. It penatrated the forest and enriched the wildlife with its energy. I couldn't resist to take the picture to illustrate its relationship with the nature. I fell in love with the sounds of the birds and the wind blowing through the trees and the sunshine on the pine needles.

    This was a uniqe scenery that I have never seen in Taiwan before. In order to see the beautiful scenery, you must be here at the right time, the right place, and the right companions.

Special thanks to my husband for taking me and my girlfriend who came back to Taiwan after 9 years staying in the States. We couldn't enjoy the beautiful scenery without him being our taxi driver.

This place is located on the mark 123k of the highway 8 and the elevation is around 2,500 meter.

I will have more articles on the most beautiful scenic drive (highway 14 and highway 8) in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOeZlE2aofE

US $100 Travel Vouchers for US and Canada Citizens now through June 30

The Taiwan government has been working hard to attract international tourists to visit Taiwan. I found this useful information for people who are thinking about visiting Taiwan in the near future. Check out the link below and take the advantage of the offer while you are in Taiwan.  

近年來, 台灣政府為了吸引國際觀光客來台灣,針對各國的觀光客有不同的優惠活動;在這提供針對美加國民的優惠活動,台灣政府提供美金100元的禮巻,如果你在6月30日前會到台灣, 不妨享用這個優惠活動. 歡迎來到台灣!

http://www.go2taiwan.net/

Sun Moon Lake with its tranquility!

A couple of our friends visited us in Taichung from Taipei. I and my husband took them to Sun Moon Lake which is located in Nantou County. It is approximately an hour to an hour15 mins drive from Taichung to Sun Moon Lake. It is the biggest artificial lake in Taiwan, built by the Japanese for the purpose of generating power during their 50 years of occupation.

 I had been to Sun Moon Lake many times, and I didn't really see how attractive it was until this time. I discovered why so many people were attracted by its beauty and I felt that I had not really taken the time to absorb the atmosphere of this beautiful place. I had underestimated the natural beauty Sun Moon Lake had to offer.

It was around 8:40 AM when we arrived at the Wen Wu Temple. There were no clouds or mist. The lake was clear and everything was quiet even with two buses of polite Japanese visitors. I entered the temple and paid my respects to the Fortune God and wished for good fortunes. A half hour later, I was amazed by the lake. The mist started rolling in on the surface of the lake and gradually covered portion of the lake. Suddenly, I felt I was in a calm and peaceful world. Traveling to a different spot, it changed its form. It followed the rhythm of the mountain and veiled as a mountain. It was waiting for its visitors to reveal its beauty via their minds.

After circling around the lake with our vehicle, we decided to have High Tea at the Lalu in the afternoon. It was an enjoyable moment with beautiful scenery and good friends sharing life together.

The tranquility was a moment in my life I shall cherish forever.

Year of Steps at Wenwu Temple: There are 366 stairs which represent 366 days of a leap year with the engraving of world famous people on their birthday on each stone.   

Pull and Push 推拉之間

It has been 4 years since I came back and resided in Taiwan; however, I am still not used to opening a door in the public areas like a restaurant or other places in Taiwan. Every time, when I enter a restaurant or a shop, I always tried to pull the entry door instead of pushing the door. Meanwhile, I have noticed someone looking at me with a funny or disdain eye. They probably thought I couldn’t read the Chinese character of “PUSH.” 

In the States, the fire prevention regulations require any public doors to be pushed out when leaving or pulled when entering the building. The main reason is to avoid massive casualties when the area is on fire.  When there is a fire, people will run to and escape through the doors. If the doors are installed to be pulled in when leaving, then there will be no space to pull the door open and crowds will be injured or die at the door. In many instances people died at the door because they could not pull the door open because of the number of people pushing against the door. If the door is pushed out from inside, then most people would not have to worry about opening the door because the crowd strength will force the door to open.

But in Taiwan, we don’t see this regulation in any public areas. Most of the doors in the public areas are pushed in going inside and  pulled in going outside.  So, next time if you visit a restaurant or a store, please voice your opinions on this issue to protect yourself and your loved ones.  If you just come to an idea of remodeling your business or open a shop or a restaurant, please keep this in mind: having your doors installed to be pushed or pulled out.

The awareness of the 9 death at Ala Pub in Taichung

距我和先生回來台灣定居的時間，已過了四年之久。四年來， 我還不習慣台灣公共場所的開門方式，因為它和美國完全相反。有時候，當我試著拉開門時，我發現門是要往內推，所以常常因為自己不經意的舉動而遭來異樣的眼光。這些眼光好像是在告訴我說：＂小姐，你是看不懂門上這個字＂推＂嗎？＂頓時，讓我有些不好意思。

美國的消防法規上，要求所有進出公共場所的門一律要往外拉或外推。　因為為當火災發生時，群眾會往門口擠推。如果是往內拉的門，因群眾的全擠在門前，而導致没有空間把門拉開，大部分的人則會因而受傷或死亡。但如果是外推的話，群眾推擠的力量則會迫使門自動打開，　大家也可以全身而退。

在台灣，　我們並没有這樣的消防法規可以約束所有的商店，所以大部分的門都是內推或內拉方式。因此呼籲大家到餐廳或任何商店，如果有看到這種門，請你把這個意見告訴店家，讓他們可以在重新裝潢時，可以改善門打開的方式；如果你正想要重新裝潢你的店面或想要開店，　請把這一項安全規則也考慮進去。

因台中阿拉酒吧而有感而發！

捕捉記憶中的大自然聲音-- Capturing the natural songs by Morris Ng, Taiwan

Tea Tasting Trip in Nantou, Taiwan

I remember that I wrote about Taiwan’s Chinese Tea Ceremony in my English Composition class when I was a college student in the States a while ago. Time really flies by and it has been 6 years already. Now, I live in Taiwan and see people changing the way of drinking tea, especial the young generation. They go to a tea shop which is similar to Starbuck Coffee to buy a cup of brewed tea and share time with friends. It is much more convenient compared to the traditional way of drinking tea. It also seems to adapt to the modern lifestyle which requires everything must be quick and no time to wait.   But, it changes the relationship between people and the enjoyment of drinking good tea with friends. 

The traditional way of drinking tea is not about quenching people’s thirst in Taiwan culture. It is about the spirit of tea. When we have the tea ceremony, we enjoy the companionship and share our feeling and lives with friends and loved ones more than the quality of the tea. When you visit Taiwan, don’t forget to experience the art of tea in the Taiwan tea ceremony.

回憶起不久前，在我的英文寫作課時交了一篇有關在台灣的茶道文化，當時的我還只是一個學生。没想到時光飛逝，一轉眼已經是六個年頭了。回到台灣，看到台灣人喝茶的方式變了，尤其是年輕的族群。大家似乎已經習慣的到茶店小鋪如星巴客一般的店面買一杯飲料茶，再和朋友談天聊地。不可否認地，這種喝茶的方式確實比傳統的方式方便多了，也更符合現代人凡事講求的快速和没有耐心等候的生活習性。然而它也改變了人和人之間的關係以及和朋友分享一杯好茶的喜悅。

在台灣的文化中，傳統的喝茶方式並不是在解口渴而是在於喝茶的精神。當我們在品飲茶道時，我們要的是那種和人分享生活經驗以及人和人之間的緊密關係，而這種關係又比一壺好茶重要。當你來到台灣時，別忘了親自體驗台灣茶的藝術。

The way of Tea Competition Procedure（台灣比賽茶評比的方式）:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsXJ6FGLivY