I am feeling so lost right now...

I really just hope for the best. The inevitable has happened.

How to get to Elephant Rock (Taipei)

Although this huge rock in shape of elephant trunk is not marked on usual map yet, the place could be expected being near Shenao Fishing Port (深澳漁港) from relation among its name and the port. However, as there is no road sign clarifying the direction, most people would be led to Chief Cliff (酋長岩) by crowds. Indeed, it is just right behind Chief Cliff and you might pass through roadblock set at opposite entrance of the fishing port to reach the place. Except for mushroom rocks which share similar characteristic of the one at Yehliu (野柳), you could see people enjoying their time by different means, some are sitting on rock to watch the sea, others are fishing, and still others are taking selfie with those strange yellow stones. Within 5 minutes, this long, long elephant trunk is in front of your eyes.

BEST TIME TO GO

Go only during a dry and not stormy day. During rainy days the rocks become very slippery. On windy or stormy days, gusts might blow you easily from the cliff. It is better to come in the afternoon when the sun is low. Then the sun will also be on the landward side giving good light. In the morning and mid day the sun can be very intense, and there is nothing to hide in the shade. It can be a pain to take photos during this time, also the light is not ideal (except you want this kind of light). On weekends and holidays you can expect more people there, but during weekdays this place is pretty empty.

In the harbour are plenty of restaurants serving the freshly catched fish. It’s a great place to have a lunch break or dinner.

LOCATION AND HOW TO REACH

Elephant Rock is located on the north coast of Taiwan, about 5 km east of Keelung City. The easiest and fasted way to reach it is by car or scooter. Go until the end of the harbor, there is plenty of parking space. By public transport take bus 791 or 1051 from Keelung train station and get off at 深澳發電廠 (Shēn ào fādiàn chǎng) and walk to the harbor. The bus takes about 1 hour.

Learn to LIVE.

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored. 

The Sunflower in Me

Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.

Surrounded by Sakura at Formosa Aboriginal (Taichung)

金面山親山步道 (How to get to Neihu)

金面山為五指山系之西南稜，分金面山與小金面山，這座山地質忠的安山砂岩含有石英，因此當太陽照射石遠望山頂閃閃發光，當地人便稱之為金面山。

金面山親山步道位於內湖環山路德明財經技術大學旁，步道自起點開始就可見幾近垂直的大岩壁，沿途盡是古樸的砂岩石階，隨著坡度漸漸上升，石階路改由直徑超過100公尺以上的大岩壁取代，登上半山腰，有一處清代採石場的石堡瞭望台，是明顯的地標，山頂巨岩間當然是一處眺望臺北市景、基隆河沿岸的最佳駐腳點。

步道沿線向東再經過小金面山不久便來到內湖路三段金龍禪寺附近，也是親山步道的尾段部份了。

造訪剪刀石是遊金面山的重頭戲，除了欣賞特殊景觀，這裡還有一流的展望視野。登上半山腰，清代採石場和石堡瞭望台都是遠眺臺北盆地不錯的景點，但是以基隆河沿岸最為清楚。

在山頂巨岩間，令人目不暇給的360度全景環伺在旁：東望內湖大埤(碧湖公園)，北眺碧山巖附近山陵及五指山；向南則可俯瞰基隆河、松山機場、美麗華摩天輪、101高樓等臺北市景。西邊則俯瞰臺北盆地與基隆河，登頂遠望，北市都市風光盡收眼底，是處值得登高俯瞰的好地方。

此時，找一塊孤懸崖壁的巨岩，享受張臂迎風的快意，或者就躺在上面，恣意舒放方才攀岩的緊繃，若是三五好友坐在這開闊的天地之間暢所欲言，那滋味絕非窩在城市角落喝下午茶所能比擬。

路線圖及交通 ‧步道內容與路線圖下載列印 (Word / PDF) 五指山系 ‧路線圖 AI 檔下載列印 　註：讀取AI檔需配合 Acrobat Reader 軟體讀取資料，若您的電腦沒有相關閱讀程式，可至 Adobe 網站下載免費的Acrobat Reader。 　　　首次讀取AI檔，會開啟詢問畫面： 　　　1. 請點選從清單選取程式 　　　2. 點選Adobe Reador 　　　3. 列印時，請選擇『依照PDF頁面大小選擇輸出送紙來源』 公車藍20、藍27、214、247、256、267於「環山站」下車。 公車240、247、267、521、小2於「金龍禪寺站」下車。 700 位置里程（單位：公尺）　 主步道高低起伏變化極大，多處需攀繩而過，尤其連續段峭壁陡坡需手腳並用，建議出門前隨身物簡單為上，越輕越好;沒有攀岩經驗的人最好準備厚手套，並穿著具止滑效果的登山鞋。 攀登巨岩需全身貫注，睡眠不足或體力較差時，最好不要貿然登山 由「論劍亭」左側可上接大崙頭尾山親山步道，步道盡頭也可串連忠勇山、鯉魚山親山步道。 下山後走到金龍寺公車站圓環，在公車「金龍寺二」站： 板南線，搭藍27到捷運「市政府」站轉乘捷運回家。 淡水—新店線，搭222、247到捷運「台北車站」轉乘捷運回家 (222、247、267、紅31沿線各站轉乘捷運回家)

The Journey to Sun Moon Lake

One of the things I love about Taiwan is the magnificent scenery. Every time I visited Taiwan, I never really had the chance to fully explore Sun Moon Lake. So here I am!

When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go. It's rather sad, really, but there it is.

Oh my lord! I'm still not asleep yet! BYE!

Chinese New Year #OOTD!

 

 

Suntanning

 

 

Love The Arrival. I give it 4 stars out of 5

One of the things that struck me about this movie is that whilst the focus is on learning to communicate with the aliens, that's not all that's going on. Look at the scenes where Louise talks to Colonel Weber about what she's doing. She and he look at the world in different ways - they are also alien to one another, and she is using examples and stories - even made up ones like the "Kangaroo" story - to bridge a gap in understanding with him and his superiors, exactly like she's having to do with Humans and the Heptapods. And on a larger scale, the different nations with Heptapod ships in them all have different philosophies and ways of doing things, different ways of understanding the situation. And they also have to overcome those gulfs and communicate with one another to arrive at the solution. So the movie is about communication not just with the heptapods, but on at least three different levels. The message seems to be that we are ALL aliens to one another, and the key to overcoming those divides is learning to communicate so that we can bridge the gaps in understanding between us.

Donald Trump Declares War on Muslims

On Tuesday night, via Twitter, Donald Trump announced, “Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!” Those many other things include placing limits on the number of refugees admitted to the United States to 50,000 a year (down from 100,000) and imposing a temporary ban on most refugees. Trump also intends to go after sanctuary cities in the U.S., to step up deportations dramatically, and to revisit current interrogation policies—including a possible move to reinstate black-site detention facilities operated by the CIA.

At the center of this spate of executive orders is Trump’s campaign promise to go after Muslims simply for being Muslim. Starting with his promise to “bomb the shit” out of ISIS and his pledge to torture family members of suspected terrorists, Trump has made targeting Muslims at home and abroad a cornerstone of his political identity. He will now make it an animating principle of his presidency.

Rebooted.

Happy New Year everyone! My blog is rebooted! It's time to blog again.