Wednesday, November 5, 2014

[Travel] 越南山水洞:「文明」與自然之戰



繼東洋半島最高峰纜車計劃進入施工狀態之後,山水洞纜車計劃也冒出來了。最近得知這個訊息,又壓抑又無能為力。這一刻,我唯一能做的是分享。希望更多的朋友們知道越南有(或將是曾經有過)這樣的一個自然的奇觀。爬山、溯溪、地質學、植物學的必拜聖地。



只有孤獨面對大自然面時,人才領悟到自己的渺小。

世外桃源



山水洞,或稱韓松洞(越南音譯*)位於越南廣平省峰牙-己榜國家公園(越南北中部),越南老撾邊界附近。該洞為園內150個洞穴網路中最大的洞穴通道。儘管如此,山水洞依然成為了迄今為止發現的世界上最大的單體洞穴走廊。寬170公尺,高約200公尺,長約5.5公里。到底有多大呢?據說可以裝得下一輛波音飛機或者40層樓高的摩天大樓。



山水洞走廊模擬圖

該地區地表面下層是極大的石灰岩板。大約四五千萬年前,當印度次大陸與歐亞大陸撞擊時,因擠壓而形成了該地區。山水洞則於五百萬年前,河流流過石灰岩並順著斷層,逐漸沖刷成一條龐大走廊在山裡面。在石灰岩鬆軟的地方,頂部崩垮到深洞下面造成巨大的天井。



山水洞切面圖

山水洞的著名奇觀:尺寸驚人的天然石筍、翠綠一片的熱帶原生叢林、罕見的萬年鐘乳石梯田,甚至還有沖刷力強大的地下啊河流、極為美貌的沙灘、終年不息的瀑布。除了自然景觀,裡面也有動物生存,不僅有蝙蝠及鳥類棲息,溪流中也有魚群穿梭,更有猴子透過洞內上方約300米處的天窗爬進爬出活動,讓探險隊認為處處都是驚奇。



龐大的空間、巨高的石筍


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

[Book] The Chrysanthemum and the Sword - p.2



Giri to one's name or clearing one's name, explanation for high pressure and great number of people commit suicide when dealing with pressure situation. Competition is not always the best way for people to get improved, or at least in Japanese case. Some can't bear the pressure, and humiliation of being failed; and they choose to end up their life as way of running away from public's judge. "American condemnation of suicide makes self-destruction only a desperate submission to despair, but the Japanese respect for it allows it to be an honorable and purposeful act. In certain situations it is the most honorable course to take in giri to one's name. "(pp.166) Mostly all the religions discourage and take it as desperately act when somebody want to kill himself. Under deep impact of Buddhist - Zen, I wonder what's their opinion about one's end up life unnaturally?

Monday, October 27, 2014

[Hiking] Jinbaoli trail 魚路古道

Jinbaoli Trail (金包里大路)also known as Fish Old Path(魚路古道). The old path is 30km long in total start from Jinshan (金山)to Taipei Shilin. From pre-Qing dynasty, people used to transport cargo and especially fish along. It's including Henan path (memorial of Henan bra\/e warriors in Qing army) and Japanese path (which was build in Japanese era for communication among tribes therefore longer than the old one). 

Nowadays, part of the old road is still in good condition and managed by Yangming National Part. This part be separated to North and by Qingtiangang grass land, and leads from Jingshan Town to Bayan Lufeng Mt. In the old days, the path can directly lead to Bayan's village; however, due to dangerous area collapse, quite a long section (around 4km) was restricted to citizen.

We start at Juansi Waterfall trail head, walked along upto Qingtiangang (ard 2.5km, as I rememberd). Then mixed between Henan path (outside with big stone path and silver grass, which pass by  large sulfur pit Dayoukeng) and Japanese path (under quiet and wet tree woods) to Shanghuangxi (上磺溪) bus stop (ard.3.5k). Among those two parts got some historical spots. And  its most well.-known beautiful scene is silver grass land under the sunlight.  Hence, Henanpath has a better view of silver grass and blue sky. 


view of Qixing Mt. 


Round trail of Qingtiangang - heaven of silver grass

Brother hood on the hill - Qingtiangang

Thursday, October 23, 2014

[Book] The Catcher in The Rye

Little, brown and company, NY 2001

Our main character, Holden Caufield is an attentive observer and his mind overflow with thousand of both sense and nonsense questions. Very sensitive and clear description about people and problems around. We can figure out those kind of characteristics in people that we met everyday. And when you've clear mind about something, people think that you are psycho. That's bring trouble in social interaction, all the  relationship seem so phony. As the way Caufield respected English teacher Mr.Antolini explain:
 ...you're not the first person who was ever confused and frighten and even sicked by human behavior...Many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now (p.246).
Right now, means everything temporarily happens like this and it's gonna be normal if you learn to adapt to the crowd and stimulate their "normal" behaviors?An inspired human can bring the lost sheep back to his track?

The expectation din get fulfilled and he keeps nostalgic about old good and young days. Depression is the feeling appear almost in every start of new chapter. And he depress about almost everything. When a person lost in his own feeling trap, that's gotta be quite an ocean for him to over cross. He'd be in thirst of being accompanied, being responded and being understand. In short of 2 days long, Caulfield wanted to find a companion, no matter that listener is taxi drivers or a whore. Somehow, this lonesomeness finally bring him to negative-over-reaction, from our point of view. From his view, it's the impatient of failing of getting other understand his expression. The thing haunted is that will normal and not lonesome one, have the great patient to spend time and attention to those lonesome? Or they you think it's not their business and better getaway from this mess. Lonesomeness, the biggest matter of human being. It was 50 years ago, and it still appear now.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

[Writing] Sài Gòn mưa!

Rào rào...Mưa xối xả!
Rào rạt...Hạt rơi nghiêng!
Rả rích...Hạt mưa buồn...
Lất phất ...mưa bụi bay...

...Dòng người vẫn hối hả trong lớp áo mưa, hai ba bóng không vạt che mưa tất tả chân trái đuổi lấy chân phải rượt bằng kịp chiếc bus...

Bus miền đông - miền tây ngày mưa, có mùi khó tả. Mùi của những con người mệt lả sau hành trình dài trộn với mùi trầu bà mẹ quê móm mém, mùi i ỉ quần áo ước của lũ học trò - sinh viên vừa bước lên xe...

Võ Văn Tần:
Đèn đỏ rồi xanh, bus cách đèn đỏ 5 thước, vậy mà đèn cứ mãi đỏ rồi xanh, xanh rồi đỏ trong suốt nửa tiếng hơn. Bus vẫn đứng đó, vẫn là 5 thước. Honda túa ra như ong, như kiến, như côn trùng có gắn đèn led đằng sau đít; hết con này đến con khác, trồi lên phía trước, lúc nhúc. Ngã tư trước mặt dòng xe cắt ngang mãi, mặc cho ánh đèn xanh đỏ cứ nhảy liên hồi.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

[Sense] What is Euthanasia?

Euthanasia is the termination of a very sick person’s life in order to relieve them of their suffering.

A person who undergoes euthanasia usually has an incurable condition. But there are other instances where some people want their life to be ended. In many cases, it is carried out at the person’s request but there are times when they may be too ill and the decision is made by relatives, medics or, in some instances, the courts.

The issue has been at the centre of very heated debates for many years and is surrounded by religious, ethical and practical considerations.

(BBC)

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Personally, I think life is precious, and we all should appreciate it. I do agree that we shouldn’t give up our life so easily.

In other hand, life is supposed to be enjoyable. If it seems not to be worth to live anymore for someone, just let him go as he wish. But please make sure they have the clearest vision about what he is doing. Because the borderline between suicide and euthanasia is blur.Hence, I am with legalization voluntary euthanasia (with some additional conditions *) for who still be able to give a decision himself. A human being should have the right to decide on their own issues of life and death.We all stand beside the case and therefore hardly understand what the patient have to suffer. 

[Writing] For my pop…


For my pop…

So many things that I wanna tell…Just can’t open my mouth,

The first time you hold my hand, when I’m leaving for school…I know that you do love me.

The first time you teach me how to figure out “who I am”…I know that you do love me.

The first time you look at me, and affirm that “I can do it” …I know that you do love me.

The way you stand behind, always be there when I need …

The way you cheer me up, telling me keep moving forward…

Make I feel that how lucky I am,

Thanks to the magic that bring such a Dad like you to me.

Yel Spider

[Ca dao] Ví…dầu…cầu ván…


(hình ảnh từ internet)

“….Ví dầu cầu ván đóng đinh,
Cầu tre lắt lẻo gập ghềnh khó đi…..”

Từ thuở bé, tôi đã nghe câu ca dao miền Nam, nghe đến thuộc làu làu. Nhưng không hề ngờ rằng, nó còn có cả một phiên bản khác. Và phiên bản sau mới “rặt miền Nam”.

” ….Ví dầu cầu ván đóng đinh,
Cầu tre lắt lẻo rập rình khó đi
Khó đi mượn chén ăn cơm,
        Mượn ly uống rượu, mượn đờn kéo chơi ….”

Hình ảnh cầu ván đóng đinh và cầu tre với chúng ta cứ như hao hao nhau. Đều là những chiếc cầu quê mùa, sao bằng cầu bê tông bây giờ. Nhưng nếu theo dòng lịch sử về miền Nam ngày trước, thì hẳn mọi người sẽ ngạc nhiên vì cầu cũng hai ba loại. Có cầu ván đóng đinh, cầu tre lắt lẻo, và cả cầu dừa. (Cầu tõm thì không tính vào đây).

Trong ba loại, cầu ván đóng đinh là hạng sang nhất. Bằng phẳng, vững chãi, dễ đi nhất. Chỉ những nhà giàu có mới có thể bắc loại cầu này. Đã là ván, lại đóng thêm đinh thì làm sao rẻ được. Nên nhớ rằng, đinh thời xưa và đinh bây giờ nó khác nhau về giá cả. Kế đến là cầu tre lắt lẻo mà ta vẫn thường gọi là cầu khỉ. Rất khó giữ thăng bằng trên một thanh gỗ nhỏ, thường thì cầu khỉ có tay vịn. Khó đi nhất phải kể đến cầu dừa. Cầu dừa đương nhiên làm từ thân dừa. Thân dừa tuy to, nhưng ác ở chỗ nước chìm cầu dừa chìm, nước lớn là dừa sẽ nổi theo nước. Dừa nổi trên mặt nước, đôi khi thân dừa tròn xoay mòng mòng, đố ai đi được. Dân phố về mà gặp cầu khỉ và cầu dừa thì chỉ có nước cởi giày, miệng khấn và … bò qua.

“Rập rình ” tính từ chỉ tình trạng nhấp nhô trên mặt nước. Nhưng chẳng người miền Tây nào lại cuốn lưỡi “Rờ…ập Rờ…ình” cả nên cứ “gập ghình” mà sau này biến thể thành “gập ghềnh”. Đã rập rình thì hẳn nhiên chẳng dễ đi, nhưng chuyện lẻ tẻ này sao cản được cái chuyện đi “mượn chén ăn cơm, mượn ly uống rượu rồi mượn luôn đờn để kéo chơi”. Nghe có vẻ hợp lý đấy nhỉ. Vì ấn tượng của mọi người về nông dân miền Tây hồi xưa là nghèo, tuy đất đai trù phú, nhưng vẫn nghèo. Mà theo lẽ thường dẫu có nghèo mấy, chẳng lẽ đến cái chén, cái ly trong nhà cũng không có? Dẫu cho chỉ là cái chén mẻ, cái ly sứt…Thế thì tại sao phải đi mượn chén ăn cơm, mượn ly uống rượu?

Đến vế “mượn đờn kéo chơi” thì mọi chuyện sáng tỏ hết. Ra đi mượn cái này, mượn cái kia đều là một “cái cớ”, cái cớ để sang nhà hàng xóm tụ tập làm vài ba ly, để được đàn đúm khuây khỏa sau một ngày lao động mệt nhọc, hay đơn giản là cho khỏi chán. Thuở xưa nhà lưa thưa, nhà này qua nhà kia cách sông cách ruộng, không khỏi khiến người dân cảm thấy hiu quạnh. Thôi thì rảnh rang cứ qua nhà hàng xóm làm vài ly, đờn vài bản cho nó sảng khoái. Cái tình làng nghĩa xóm cứ thế mà thêm đậm đà.

[Book] Lost Horizon

Yinlin Press 2011


First fictional book I decided to buy after 3 years studying in Taiwan. After learning from teacher about Tibetan literature, as well as seeing my friends pictures of visiting Tibet, I want to have more imagine about this mystery part of the world. I've got review "This book is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional Utopian lamasery high in the mountains of Tibet". And later, I've got the book on my shelf. 



It was so excited for me until finishing reading first chapter of the book. Second, third and fourth chapter comes with more and more impatient in me. Where's the description of the landscape I expected? To me, this book fail in fulfill my desire of imagine Shangri-La. It brings other social matters, and focus on people super long conversations. Shangri-La is peaceful and beautiful as a certain without describing how is it? 

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

[Trekking] Nanhu Mt. - King's Mountain(南湖大山)

Team: YZMC 
Time: June 22-26, 2014
Place: Yilan-Hualien-Taichung crossover 
Difficulties: *** (3/5), since it's summer hike.

Intro: 

Nanhu Mountain, known to the Atayal tribe in Beiyanan Aboriginal Village (Nanshan village) as Babo Bajiyu, is the north peak of the Five Mountains with a magnificent landscape. Nanhu Peak is the highest peak in Taroko National Park sits at the north tip of the Central Mountain Range. Surrounded by mountains on the Nanhu block, it is named the King’s Seat. The most characteristic features are two U-shaped valleys (Nanhu Cirques), which set up a natural wonder.

As Barking Deer News described, the view expected: The first day’s trail passes through lush mixed temperate and pine forest. On later days there are expansive views from alpine meadows of dwarf bamboo, juniper and rhododendron. At the higher sections the paths traverse craggy cliffs next to enormous landslides, ending in the glacial cirques these mountains are famous for. 
           
Notes
Siyuan Col (思源啞口)
The trail head Siyuan Col is 3 hours from Taipei City in southern Yilan County, quite close to Wuling Farm - the trail head of  Snow Mountain.


Pine forest (ard. 7k)

New Yunleng Cabin (新雲稜山莊)
One of the important thing of the hike is comfortable rate of toilets. Yunleng has 2 choices: indoor and outdoor. The outdoor one with very good view of faraway mountains range. But it upset whenever I'm thinking of where will those gold go to. Because it seems going directly to the wood. In the back, there's the view of Nanhu mountain. And the water source, very precious one. Therefore please don't use water for non-sense reason like washing bowls.


New Yunleng Cabin crossroad 

Shenmazhen Mountain (審馬陣山)
No view at all, surrounded by very tall trees. However, it's in Taiwan's 100 highest mt. list, and just 5 mins away from the main trail leads to Nanhu. So, why not visit? And here also got the enormous green meadows. Up to Taiwan country's size, to find a big meadow is not easy.


Shenmazhen meadows