第二次報告

二零零七年。八月二十四日。星期五。

Friday, August 24, 2007


帶著忐忑不安的心情，今天一早陪爸爸回診。
經過四次化療，全家人都很希望看到爸爸的病情獲得改善。
終於燈號亮出爸爸的預約號碼。

With fears that cancer cells are not easy to treat, this morning, I accompanied Papa to hospital for the result of the latest physical exam after the fourth chemotherapy. Waiting for our turn to see the doctor...

寬敞的診間，因為我們進入突然變得有點兒擁擠。　
爸爸坐在面對醫師的椅子上，媽媽姊姊跟我就面對醫師，站在爸爸身後。
看著爸爸的背影，因為化療的副作用顯得稀疏的頭髮，很心疼。
昨晚回到家，看到爸爸稍顯蒼白的臉色，心裡只有不安。

The spacious consulting room became a little bit crowded for our coming~ Papa took the seat facing the doctor, Mama, elder sister and me stood behind Papa. Looking at Papa's back, his hair went bald because of the side effect of chemotherapy. Last night I felt very agitated when I saw ashen-faced Papa at home.

林醫師打開爸爸的電腦斷層結果，螢幕捲～啊～捲～　
大家原本捲著的眉頭，跟著電腦斷層的結果，一點點地打開！
真是謝謝老天爺！腫瘤團塊因為化療的緣故持續縮小中！
左肺上方的壞團塊已經縮小到三公分左右，原本對化療不太有反應、位於肺中隔的那個腫瘤，似乎也縮小了！

Dr. Lin opened Papa's file and the films of CT scan were shown on the screen. Followed with the scrolling screen, the worry eyebrows of everybody turned to be happy shape!!
Thank GOD for HIS mercy!
Size of the tumor masses kept on going smaller under chemotherapy~ The malignant tumor located at the left upper lung has been shrunk to less than 3 cm in diameter. The other one at the center of Papa's lung, which did not respond well to the chemotherapy, also showed to be inhibited by C/T.

離開醫院回家的路上大家的心情都好極了！
雖然爸爸的臉色依舊蒼白，笑容卻如胭脂一般，悄悄地點亮了爸爸的臉龐。
媽媽鎮日深鎖的眉頭，在這一刻，開心得只剩瞇瞇眼了～

On the way leaving hospital, we were cheering for the improvement! Mama's curly eyebrows now disappeared. Papa's face though was ashen still, yet the cheering smile decorated and lighted up Papa's face at this moment.

我，當然是忙著給妹妹、弟弟打電話， 把這個好消息，傳達給未能同來、卻同步掛念著爸爸病情變化的～爸爸的孩子們。這真是令全家人振奮的好消息！

I surely was very busy calling younger sister and brother and telling the good news. It was indeed a great encouragement for everybody of our family!!

小鳥重獲自由！

A Funny Wooden Puzzle

學弟奕軒，在這學期的進度報告完成後，給自己放了一個不長不短＜三個禮拜剛剛好＞的假，然後跟他的天鵝，一起飛去捷克，進行一場〔布拉格之戀〕！奕軒出門前，問有沒有要託他帶什麼？我說我想要拉線的小木偶。然後MSN上面的奕軒就此呈離線狀態。

Having finished the progress report of this semester, Yi-Hsiuan decided to have a break from laboratory. With his girl friend, they took the flight to Czech and had a wonderful time in Prague. Before departure, he asked me if I wished him to bring something from Czech. I told him I want a traditional wooden puppetry. Since that day, Yi-Hsiuan disappeared from lab and showed offline on MSN.


A little bird in the cage.

在實驗室像小蜜蜂一般忙碌開心的過日子，不知過了幾多天，奕軒又出現在MSN，還以為是收假回實驗室了，不料竟是他在布拉格街頭的實況傳真！被吊胃口，說他找到一個可愛的木製品，我一定會很愛的那一種！然後，因為天鵝在旁等他有一會兒了，為免多生事端，奕軒匆匆離線。

I had my life in lab as usual, being busy like a bee but happy. One day Yi-Hsiuan showed up on MSN again and sent a hello to me. How suprising! He was on a street in Prague using the wireless connection. He told me he didn't find the puppetry I wished but he found something made of wood and was sure I would love it very much~ My heart was soon filled by curiosity. For his girl friend had been aside waiting for a while, he left MSN after the short conversation.



The little bird cries: Help~~

約莫一個月前吧！奕軒回到台北，出現在實驗室繼續為論文努力。神秘的禮物就是這個小傢伙，從布拉格搭飛機來到我的手中；從此，我開始絞盡腦汁想把小鳥從籠子裡救出來～

Yi-Hsiuan had safely landed in Taipei for days, appeared in lab again and worked hard for his thesis. The mysterious present was this tiny stuff~a caged wooden bird! Since the day it was on my hands, my brain was engaged by the idea of how to set the little bird free~


One of the key postures to get the little bird out.

總共花了兩週～快樂的小鳥，終於找到隨意進出鳥籠的方法！這期間，曾經被舶滄嘲笑地問：學姊，妳跟奕軒是不是有什麼過節？就連一向老實的忠哲也覺得：這個可能是整人玩具！

It took me two weeks to solve this puzzle. The tiny crying bird became a happy singing one! During the trial-and-error period, Bo-Tsang and Jhong-Jhei questioned and teased at the relationship between Yi-Hsiuan and me, since they thought this wooden puzzle is impossible to be solved! They said this must be a trick that Yi-Hsiuan wished to fool me :<


The last step to set the little bird free!

某天，麻吉學弟--小皓--到我家玩。就在他手上，小鳥簡簡單單地從籠子裡出來，打破所有關於我和奕軒感情不好的猜測！而且奕軒是對的～我真的很愛這個小東西。拐小孩的利器再添一件！

Yuan-Hua was the first person to set the little bird free. He went to my house for something else. We chatted at home and he had the wooden puzzle on hands and tried to solve it! Suddenly the little bird came out from the cage with his help and the rumor about Yi-Hsiuan's trick fell into ruin~By the way, Yi-Hsiuan was right! I love this tiny stuff very much, it is indeed a good toy to play with children!


The little bird sings: Freedom is priceless~

救出小鳥的關鍵角度和動作都在照片裡～下回借去玩的時候，請不要又想：拆了它的翅膀？還是破壞籠子？小鳥真的可以毫髮未傷地從籠子裡出來唷！

The key postures to save the little bird from the cage were shown in these photos. For anyone who wishes to have a try on solving it, surely I can tell you that the little bird could be set free without breaking its wings or destroying the cage!

李騰芳古厝。之二。

雖然天氣很冷，除了誤打誤撞的我們之外，另有一群參觀的人們，而且有導遊現場解說！跟在這一群偶遇的遊客旁邊，我也幸運地聽到一小段有關這座古厝的精采故事～

It was indeed a freezing cold day~ Except Michael and me, there was a tourist team being here with a curator guiding them around this historic buildings. We walked aside and heard from the curator about the history of this old house.



左護龍 ->正廳 ->右護龍
View from the Left Wing to the Right Wing.

不過天氣實在太冷了，冷得我直打哆嗦～過午的天色逐漸轉陰，在我的雙手凍僵之前，還是先努力的拍它幾張相片吧！

The air was extremely icy...I could not help but shivering. The sky turned to be cloudy in the afternoon. I thought I should shoot more before my hands got frozen. We therefore left the guided tour and walked through the old houses with my T11 shooting around.



內、外左護龍之間的穿廊。
A Corridor between the Inner and Outer Left Wing.

印象中，位於濱江路上的林安泰古厝也是兩進式四合院，不過，左右護龍不似李騰芳古厝這般，向外延伸並圈廓出內埕的範圍。相較於板橋林家花園的規模，三進大厝加上亭、台、樓閣及園林的設計，李騰芳古厝就顯得樸素簡單了。

I remembered other historic buildings that also represented the style of Chinese architecture. The first one is located on Bin-Jiang road of Taipei City -- Lin, An-Tai's ancient residence; and the other is in Ban-Ciao of Taipei County -- Lin's Garden. They all exhibited the hierarchy of structures in Chinese residence -- the ancestral hall had the highest status and the status declining of other rooms as farther away they were.



民生用水的來源。A Well.

但有一個事實是顯而易見的～李騰芳古厝的保存工作，不若另兩座古厝完善。不知是否跟古厝所在縣市的行政地位不同有關，經費短絀因而修葺不力？

It was obvious that the Li's historic houses were not preserved as good as the Lin, An-Tai's ancient residence and Lin's Garden. Is it because the three historic buildings belonged to the different administrative divisions and thus an inadequate financial support to preserve Li's houses?



配合古厝新建的公廁。
A Modern Toilet with an Old-fashioned Looking.

我家也有古厝呢！遠在雲林縣的老房子，聽阿公說那是我們的老祖先考取進士，皇帝所賜的進士宅邸呢！雖然只是一進四合院，庭、埕、廳堂、廂房等等，亦都是符合古代禮法的建築。

My family also has an old house that was assigned to be the historic buildings years ago. I heard from my grandfather about the house. It was a gift and built during the Tsin-Dynasty (清朝) for my ancestor had good rankings in the government exam. Although it was not as luxury as the three historic buildings I mentioned above, yet the court, yard, hall and rooms were built exactly in the manners of Chinese architecture.



陪我們兜冷風的夏朵。Honda Shadow.

差不多是我念大學的時候吧！某次的颱風過後，被強風掀翻的屋瓦，遭大雨毀壞的土角牆，讓老房子顯得不堪用且危險。伯叔公輩的老人家都說好了，大家一起來修繕這幢祖傳的四合院，卻因為老房子被列為三級古蹟，不可以隨意翻修，而讓老人家住在既不擋風也不遮雨的破舊房子裡。

Once there was a typhoon attacking our old house when I was undergraduate. Roof was blown away by strong wind, walls composed of clay lumps were destroyed by heavy rain, the old house looked toppling and dangerous. However, we could not and had no right to repair the house for it has been assigned as a historic buildings!! What a ridiculous situation it was!



離開古厝前的回眸。The Last Look.

說要列為古蹟保存，卻未積極具體的規劃如何保存及進行修葺等等相關工作，三級古蹟又如何？沒有配套措施，都只是說空話罷了！生活要先過得下去，才有餘力保存古蹟吧？！

Many old houses were assigned to be preserved for they are priceless in the view of historical meanings. They were "preserved" in a way of general ideas instead of a clear and concrete plan of tasks! For the old who live in the "historic buildings", how to make a living is more important and realistic issue than "preserve the historic buildings", isn't it?



再見了，古厝。
Looking Forward to Seeing You Again!

【後記】還記得老房子的窗戶有著精緻雕工的木質窗櫺，曾幾何時，已被鐵製窗格取代。那個我小時候要墊著小板凳才搆得著的蓮花灶，也在不知不覺中，已變身為現代化的流理台設備。灶腳的火爐裡，記憶中的煨蕃薯還燙手呢！莫非這一切都是幻覺？

不說啦！有一點發牢騷的味道了～我家的古厝位於雲林縣，大埤鄉，一個名叫「箔雁岸」的小村落。該找個機會特地回去拍照才是。

李騰芳古厝。之一。

這是今年年初拍的照片。因為用的是小小的 T11，沒有廣角鏡，這是八張照片拼在一起的樣子。

This picture was taken in January this year by T11. T11 was too poor to be equipped with a wide-angle lens. This picture was constructed by eight photos.


李騰芳古厝。環景照。Overview of Li's Houses.

還記得那一天～根據中央報不準氣象局的說法，強烈冷氣團南下，冷空氣將包圍台灣，至少三天。週日早晨，溫暖的被窩不敵對郊遊的渴望，從起床到整裝完畢可以出門，只花了半小時！

I was so impressed with the cold air at January 7th. According to the weather forecast, it was said Taiwan was going to be covered by a frigid air mass for three days. It was Sunday morning, a desire to go on an excursion was so strong that even the warm bedclothes could not attract me any more. I spent only 30 minutes to get ready for the pleasant journey~


李騰芳古厝。廳堂跟廂房平面配置圖。
A Blueprint of Li's Houses.


不敢輕忽冷氣團的強度，全副武裝了起來！把自己包覆於皮衣皮褲皮手套皮靴之中，這應該是我今年皮最厚的時候吧？！換了墨鏡、戴上安全帽，就這樣，老公騎著夏朵載老婆出門玩耍。

I dared not ignore the intensity of the cold air mass and dressed myself not only in layers but also "wrapped" with coats, pants and gloves made of leather...my skin was "thickened" at this moment! With helmet and sunglasses being worn, the husband Michael and his wife lulu started for their excursion with Shadow!


李騰芳古厝。由來。History of Li's Houses.


今天的路線是－沿著大漢溪的堤外道路走，經三峽往南接三角標三號公路去大溪吃豆干。一路人車都很稀少，空氣確實冷冽，不過太陽非常明亮動人。

The route we had today was the county road #110, along with the Da-Hann River (大漢溪), we passed San-Xia (三峽), followed with the freeway #3 and destined to Daxi (大溪) for its famous food -- Duo-Gang (豆干). Very little people on roads, it was indeed a freezing cold day~ How lucky we were, a bright sun accompanied us all the way.


李騰芳古厝。建築物說明。
Hierarchy of Li's Houses.


一個小時左右就到大溪了。天氣沒個準的開始轉陰，進去大溪老街晃了一圈，剛好有個不大不小的廟會，人嫌多了些，於是打消在此覓食的念頭，沿著路又騎了一段，打算去尋找記憶裡的美味大溪豆干。

It took about one hour to arrive Daxi. There was a temple fair in the Old Street of Daxi(大溪老街), seemed kind of crowded to Michael and me. We decided not to stop at this area this moment and started ahead...looking for the tasty snack bar in memory for it served delicious Duo-Gang(豆干).


李騰芳古厝。門廳。Entrance Hall.


可是找不到印象中的那一家大溪豆干～～後來腦中不斷的倒帶，回溯小時候跟德生從新竹到大溪遊玩的路線，猛然想起我要去的豆干店可能的位置！拜託老公先騎回梅花三號的大溪出口，然後老婆的無遠弗屆趴趴GO就會重新導向發揮作用～果然身體對方向的記憶是對的，找到啦！！

We almost got lost on roads~ I couldn't find the small shop!! My brain began to replay the scenes when Edison took me from Hsin-Zhu(新竹)to Daxi years ago, the route we had...Suddenly the position of that shop was recalled! We followed the direction to reach the interchange for Daxi of the Highway #3, started over here, my "Papa-Go" antenna functioned again~ We finally found the shop!!!


李騰芳古厝。右護龍。The Right Wing.


早餐提供的熱量至此完全耗盡。還好，找到了印象中的豆干店。停車吃了熱呼呼的豆干和貢丸湯，沒有能量的身體重新獲得溫度。

The calories gained from breakfast this morning were completely exhausted now...We were happy to find the shop in time. With piping hot Duo-Gang and Gong-Wann soup(貢丸湯), our bodies were energized and warmed again.


李騰芳古厝。外埕。外右護龍。
The Outer Court and the Outer Right Wing.


老公問說「吃過豆干了，再來呢？」嘿嘿～愛玩的老婆還沒機會拿出相機呢！豈能就此干休？於是跟老公說「剛剛在路上有看到一個標示寫著國家古蹟耶！我們再繞回去找找，好不？」兩人又重新整裝妥當，上了車，出發找古蹟啦!　

Having been satisfied with delicious food, my brain worked properly again. I remembered on the way to look for the shop, I saw a direction instruction telling that somewhere nearby has a historic buildings! My small T11, lying in my bag, until now had no chance to take a shoot. We decided to ride around and tried to find the historic building.


李騰芳古厝。外埕。圍牆。
The Outer Court and the Wall.


才過了大溪老街不久，繼續走在三角標三號公路上，再次看到那個標示古蹟的路標。沿著路標的指示往前走，眼前突然出現了漂亮的溪谷！央著老公，再往溪谷方向的小路走看看嘛～來到一處叫月眉的村莊，有著小時候唸過的桃花源一般的景緻，真的是「芳草鮮美、落英繽紛」呀！

We were on the #3 freeway again, passing by the Old Street of Daxi, I saw the direction instruction again! Following the instruction, we rode ahead. In front of us suddenly a nice valley appeared! We turned into a footpath that showed the direction toward the historic buildings. What a beautiful place -- there was a village with a beautiful name as "Yuemei" (月眉). In Chinese meaning, Yuemei described the moon stage in a month when it looked like an "eyebrow".


李騰芳古厝。左護龍。The Left Wing.


一整個村莊只有寧靜兩字可以形容。耳邊只剩下夏朵的引擎聲。平日只覺得好聽有磁性，可在這兒還真是聽起來突兀 =_=

A peaceful village we were visiting. The sound from the engine of Shadow now became very noisy, though I enjoyed and loved the beats very much before I came here.


李騰芳古厝。外埕。外左護龍。
The Outer Court and the Outer Left Wing.


一個國家古蹟的指示牌把我們引進這個美如其名的小村莊。左看看、右瞧瞧，啊！看到了！就是那裡～「李騰芳古厝」！把夏朵安置在古厝前方的大埕，開始了計畫外的參觀之行。

A never seen direction instruction led us here to meet the village, which was as pretty as its name. We looked around and soon found the historical building as the instruction directed -- the Ancestors' House of Tengfang Li. After placing Shadow on the square in front of the houses, we started the unexpected journey...

腫瘤縮小了!!

五月二十九日起爸爸開始接受化療，兩次的療程之後，這是第一次的療程評估。七月六日是預約要回診看電腦斷層掃描報告的日子，我請了假回高雄家，陪著爸爸一起去醫院。

Papa has undertaken two times of chemotherapy since May 29. I went back to Kaohsiung on Thursday night (July 5) for it would be the first time on Friday (July 6) to see whether the chemotherapy has effect on the tumor masses in Papa's chest. I would accompany Papa to the pulmonary medicine clinics and know the result at the same time.

當我從電腦螢幕上，看到爸爸於五月二十九日開始化療之前的胸腔斷層影像時，心裡的震驚真是難以形容！不過就短短一個月的時間，一開始確診為肺癌時的腫瘤，已從三公分左右的大小迅速增大至四點六公分！難以想像如果不是大姊夫的奔走，化療真的晚一個月才開始，爸爸的病情恐怕會有極大的變化！

I was shocked when Dr. M.C. Lin showed me the chest CT scan taken at the day before the first time of chemotherapy! The tumor masses was obviously larger than the ones I had seen at April 26 -- the biggest one was in a diameter of 2.6 cm and it increased to 4.6 cm during a month! I felt a shiver down my spine and imagined if Papa had the first chemotherapy at June 29 instead of May 29, what terrible things would happened to Papa!

化療後的結果終於要揭曉了。透過電腦螢幕，腫瘤的影像清晰地呈現在我眼前。七月五日的胸部斷層影像，左肺上方及右肺下方接近橫隔膜的兩個腫瘤團塊都明顯縮小了！相較於開始化療之前的影像，最大的腫瘤團塊已縮小到少於四公分！

The effects of chemotherapy was then showed in front of my eyes. From the computer screen, I saw the tumor masses clearly. As they were examined by CT scan at July 5, two of them was significantly decreased in size than they were at May 29 -- from 4.6 cm to less than 4.0 cm in diameter.

但是，位於胸腔中央淋巴結上的腫瘤看起來並沒有太明顯的變化。這個腫瘤團塊其實就是當初讓爸爸失聲的主要原因，因為它壓迫到返喉神經，阻斷了神經傳導，以致於左邊聲帶漸漸萎縮，最後爸爸因為失聲而就診。林醫師跟我們說，因為淋巴結的血管分布較少，化療的藥物又是透過血管送到全身各處，淋巴結可能因為藥物尚未到達有效劑量，所以這個位置的腫瘤團塊看起來變化不大，建議我們等下一階段療程結束，看情況如何再討論。

The one which located on the lymph node of the central region in the chest and was the main cause of Papa's sound-lost symptom seemed no obvious change after the first chemotherapy. It was this tumor mass that blocked the signaling of recurrent laryngeal nerves to the vocal cords and led to Papa's lost of sounds. I felt worried of it. Dr. Lin said the drugs of chemotherapy were delivered by blood vessels and the tumor mass of the lymph node might be affected much slowly for lymph node had less blood vessels.

是啊！我太急了，爸爸曾經說過這是個要與之長期對抗的慢性病，我不該這麼沒有耐心才是。這一次的檢查結果真是令人感到精神為之一振！腫瘤沒有持續增大，對全家人來說是天大的好消息。化療的副作用漸漸出現了，心疼爸爸必須忍受這些折磨，不知該對爸爸說些什麼安慰的話，爸爸卻反過來安慰我，這些都是進行化療必經的過程，不管多麼不舒服或難堪，都是要面對的事實。

Yes, we should be more patient for this situation. We indeed were encouraged by the results of chemotherapy and felt happy about the regression of tumor masses. The side effects of chemotherapy happened to Papa gradually, yet Papa said that's what he has to confront no matter how unpleasant it would be.

親愛的爸爸，我知道你說的這些話都是為了讓我們不要太擔心。身為子女的我，多麼希望可以為您承受這些病痛的折磨，然而現實的情況卻是，什麼事都幫不上忙，又住在遙遠的北台灣，無法陪在您的身旁．．．我唯一能做的就是把自己的身體跟家庭照顧好，讓爸爸可以專心對抗病魔，不用為我的事掛心吧～

Dear Papa, I knew what you said was just comforting words to erase my worries. I wish it were me to suffer from the pains...I am so sorry I did nothing and live far away from you...Yes, I promise you I will be more brave as Papa's expectation to face those unpredictable future and consequences.

高鐵與我。

在虎視眈眈的目光中，高鐵開始試賣；在一片撻伐聲中，高鐵正式營運。我，一個小小國民，原本只是安靜地在一旁看著，從新聞中看著高鐵，又出了哪些狀況；被罵的慘兮兮了，電腦售票系統還是難產～

Having been postponed for several times and lasted for more than a year, the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) finally launched its first service at January this year with the discount fares. One month later, with those embarrassing technical glitches, the HSR ended its trial phase and began to operate in a standard mode... I, looking aside what happened to HSR silently, read from newspaper and saw from TV everyday. Complaint and blame continued, still the online ticketing system failed to work...


高鐵。台中烏日站。候車月台。
Platform of HSR at Taichung Station

本來想過一陣子，等高鐵各項配套措施更趨完備，才去體驗一下媲美日本新幹線的台灣高鐵！沒想到計畫趕不上變化～在今年四月，我有了與高鐵的第一次接觸！然後不知不覺中，我已經變成了高鐵的常客。

I oringinally planned to experience HSR while the HSR corporations get the system well done. However, plans always chase after change...This April, I had my first touch with HSR and later on I became a frequent user of HSR.


【非廣告】我的咖啡。
A traveller with her cafe~

對我來說，高鐵真的提供了便捷的交通。 三鐵共構的板橋或台北車站是我回家的起點，從住家或辦公室出發，捷運沒有預估交通必須考慮的塞車問題，搭乘高鐵不必提早半小時辦理劃位報到，同樣是北高，至多兩個小時的車程，比起台鐵至少四個半小時的煎熬，讓我搭過一次就決定變心！

For me, the HSR system indeed provides convenient and time-saving transportation. I used to board HSR at either Ban-Chiao or Taipei station, depending on where I left for Kaohsiung -- home or office, respectively. I had no worry about traffic jam by MRT to approach both stations. It's not requested to register by half hour before boarding. From Taipei to Kaohsing, the bullet-train of HSR takes less than 2 hours. When I had the first experience with the HSR system, I decided to attach my schedule with HSR and didn't spend time anymore on Taiwan Railway.


一票在手，通行無阻。HSR ticket

目前尚未有捷運的新左營站，則是我回家的前哨站。新左營站可以轉搭台鐵的區間車到鳳山，幸福的我每次回家都是爸媽或姊姊到車站接，所以出了車站，坐上家裡的車，我就覺得自己已經到家了！

The Zuoying Station is the pre-stop for me to get home...the MRT system in Kaohsiung is still under construction. I used to change train at this statoin by local train and get off at Feng-Shen station, which is much closer to arrive home. Papa and mama or dear elder sister will wait and ride me home. I feel that I am home while getting on the car of family.


我的高鐵乘車記錄。My collection...

搭飛機對我來說，全程所需花費的時間，相較高鐵全程，費時相當。 松山機場的接駁交通算便利，從小港機場回家也不遠，加上女兒回家，爸媽總是很開心，所以會去機場載我，雖然現在的我搭高鐵多，等北高航線醞釀中的調降票價成真，我就又多了些選擇！

It takes almost the same time by airplane or HSR to travel from Taipei to my home in Kaohsiung county. It's also convenient to approach Song-Shan Airport for flight as compared with the Kaohsiung Airport. Yet Papa and mama always feel happy to see their daughter back home. They ride and take me home from the airport. However, the transportation fee of flight is 25% more expensive than HSR system. I guess the ticket fares are now been considering to have some discount for business competition...that's good for all travelers including me~ for more choices!!


飛馳中的風景。Flying scenery

在台灣的幾座機場，都有一個共同的致命傷 － 沒有便利的轉運交通！大部分的乘客都必須自備交通工具，或仰賴家人接送，不然就得忍受顛簸的公共汽車，走走停停的把自己載回市中心。

Most of the airports, no matter which is an international or a local one, have the same problem--lack of convenient transportation. Either taken up by family car or rode by taxi, otherwise we have to tolerate the shuffle bus with its "rocky and jerky" style on the way to our destination!


上車前買的雜誌。在車上翻拍封面，瞧！行車多麼平穩～
A magazine with me on the bullet-train.
I took a shot of the cover during travel. See?! A steady running~


【後記】我們的桃園機場和小港機場，號稱國際機場呢！沒有捷運、沒有鐵路，只有班次不多的接駁巴士～讓我不知該如何導引國外來訪的友人，怎麼從機場到台北市區！ 老字號的台鐵，問題也不少！「誤點是常態，準點才意外」的運作方式，讓人不敢恭維。 算了！「不在其位，不謀其政。」小國民我還是摸摸鼻子，做好自己分內之事，閑來寫寫部落格，沒閑就專心過日子吧！

爸爸，加油！

June 16, 2007
Happy Birthday to Dear Papa


還記得小時候，爸爸只要有空，就會帶著全家人一起出門去，或踏青或尋訪美食，可能會遇到塞車，或是天候不佳等等狀況，但一家人一起出遊的幸福就是不會打折！從我們兄弟姊妹還是小小孩的時候，到現在，大家都已成家、為人父母，這樣的幸福一直延續了下來～

I remembered those days when I was a child.
Our family entertainment during weekends was to have a picnic outdoors. Papa loved the NATURE very much and had a strong influence on his children. Sometimes we were stuck in a traffic jam or caught by rain, however, the happiness of family together were never affected.

Now, we--Papa's beloved children--were grown to adults, having our new family, becoming parents and having our children, the good times of family together last.




五月二十八日，爸爸去醫院看前一次的各項檢查結果，確診為小細胞肺癌。原本因為必須等候床位，安排第一次化療的時間為六月二十九日，但因為大姐夫的奔走，第一次化療在五月二十九日即刻開始。

At the day, May 28, Papa went to hospital to see the results of the previous physical examinations. Papa was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. The schedule for chemotherapy (C/T) was arranged immediately. Because of the help from my elder brother-in-law, the date of the first C/T for Papa was promptly scheduled at May 29, instead of June 29.




爸爸很堅強地面對這個事實，並且配合醫生的囑咐開始療程。對於我們的慌張與憂心，爸爸跟大家說「癌症其實是另一種形式的慢性病」，他有信心可以與之抗衡。在第一次化療之後，爸爸除了有些疲倦之外，未出現其他因化療所引起的副作用症狀。

Facing the truth and following the advice by doctor, Papa began to take chemotherapy and told thoughtfully to us "Don't be worried by cancer, it's just like some kinds of chronic diseases."

After the first treatment of anti-cancer drug, Papa said he feels confident to be able to overcome the disease.




六月是爸爸的生日月。爸爸的孩子們依照慣例回家來，齊聚一堂，給爸爸過生日。晴朗的好天氣，全家人浩浩蕩蕩開了三部車，一起到內門的觀音寺為爸爸祈福。

June is Papa's birth month. Every year, we used to get together having birthday cake and singing happy birthday for Papa. This time, we are all worried about Papa's health. We are lucky to have a nice weather this weekend, we drive to Nei-men ( in Kaohsiung County) to visit the temple of Guan-In Budda.

What we can do is to pray for Papa...we wish the side effects of chemotherapy could be minimized and would not exhaust Papa too much...wish no pain would attack Papa, wish cancer cells would go away from Papa...




已經排定下周四進行第二次化療。 做為爸爸的孩子，我們何其幸福！
即便是這樣的情境，我們依然受到爸爸的鼓勵與安慰。

爸爸，您要加油喔！
爸爸的難關也是全家人的難關，
我們全家人會一起面對，也會一起克服！

Next Thursday is the scheduled second time for chemotherapy. How lucky and happy we are to be Papa's children. Even Papa is now suffering from cancer, we are still encouraged and comforted by Papa.

Dear Papa, happy birthday!! Papa is not alone to face the hard time. We family all are going through a tough time at the moment. Just like Papa told me when I was a child "Never say I can't without trial", I believe Papa will not only get it done, but also get it WELL-DONE!!


附註：以上照片由妹夫提供～
PS. The photos above were taken by my younger brother-in-law.

[郊遊] 明湖水漾。三。水中仙。

April 20-21, 2007
Young Lake Resort．III．Fairy Ladies

明湖水漾園區。
入口處。

Logo of the Young Lake Resort.
The entrance .




園區內。 放眼望去，一重又一重環著水庫的山之外，就是水了 。 大爿的湖水，映著天光，顯得寧靜甜美。

As far as the eye can see... The reservoir is surrounded by a mountain chain. Except mountain, water is what the most impressed image in my eyes -- the natural lake and those artificially made ponds. The lake with skylight reflected in peace looks gorgeous and sweet.




從這個角度拍，恰好可以看到我們的房間。 就相片左邊，二樓，那扇窗內。 草地上，小片的池塘，映著天光，一派清淺可親的模樣。

On the second floor, the left, inside the window~we had a sound sleep last night. On the yard, a small pond lays with a friendly face attracting people to touch and feel it.




微陰的天氣，還好沒下雨。 這種天色最適合拍照了！就自然光拍，不必打燈。 希芸妹妹真有舞台上走秀的模特兒的姿態。

Cloudy sky without rain.
It is great to take shots under skylight like today. No need of flash or compensation, everything shows in natural appearance.
Does the style Xiyuan walks look like a model in a fashion show?




就說吧～除了水還是水！ 木頭走道外是水，水中倒映著走道及睡蓮的影像。池塘裡的睡蓮，姿態各異。 木頭走道內還是水，玻璃護欄把水上水下、不管是真實的或是倒影，又呈現一次。
古人形容的「鏡花水月」，應該就是這等光景吧～

Water and water again~
Beside the wooden terrace is the pond with the reflected images of the wooden terrace and water lilies in various postures. The guard rail made of glasses for the wooden terrace again reveals the images no matter what is real, reflected, above or below water.
I guess the proverb in ancient China " Flower in mirror, moon in water" describing the scenery they'd experienced like what I saw in Young Lake Resort.




含苞待放的蓮。中午十一點左右拍的。 不知是睡過頭，來不及清早開花， 還是開過了，這會兒提早收工，回家睡午覺？

This picture of a lily bud was taken around 11:00 am.
I thought lily is usually in flower in the morning...
Is this one late for being in blossom or am I too late to see its full-blown flower in the early morning?




結伴綻放的蓮。亭亭玉立。
Two lilies are blossoming into fairy ladies.




一朵盛開的蓮。 真好～就這樣肆無忌憚的綻放，跟全世界宣告自己的美！
A fully blown lily goes to great lengths to show the world her astonishing beauty.

[郊遊] 明湖水漾。二。樂山水。

April 20-21, 2007
Young Lake Resort．II．Scenery


座落於明湖水漾會館園區內的湖畔咖啡屋，
備有室內跟露天的座位可供選擇。

The coffee shop serves tables both indoors and outdoors.
It's up to the tourists' choice to stay indoors with air-conditioner
or enjoy the lakeside view with natural breeze~





露天咖啡座旁的扶欄上，裝設了多盏造景與照明功能兼具的小燈。
我們的桌子旁邊，剛好有一盞，標示的號碼是桌號。
從我們的座位往湖面看去，這爿湖就是明德水庫，
這可是苗栗地區居民的重要水源呢！

A string of lamps are decorated on the guard rail along the outdoor tables. The lamps are not only for landscaping, they function to illuminate the garden at night. The lamp beside us labeled as "5" marks the number of our table.
Having a view of the lake from our seats, it is the Ming-Te Reservoir. The reservoir is the most important water resource for the residents in Miao-Li county.





我們的座位旁有棵樹，三兩樹枝伸展到我們的座位上方。
從遮陽傘下看上去，點點樹葉映在傘面上，
好像畫上去的圖案一般，挺美的呢～

There is a tree standing beside our table with its branches stretching across the sky. Looking upwards under the sunshade, the silhouette of the leaves looks like a poetic painting.




坐在湖畔喝咖啡。
明德水庫的美麗景緻盡收眼底。

Iced coffee cooled down the atmosphere under the sun.
We had a joyful time having tasty coffee and admiring the beautiful scenery.




水庫區有汽艇遊湖的服務。
我們當然也小小享受了一下在水面上飆汽艇的快感！
畫面是一個浮筒式的小碼頭，
僅供遊客就近觀覽湖景之用，不提供上下汽艇的服務。

We got on the mini-motorboat and had a short trip around the reservoir. The driver was so skillful that we could experience an exciting trip.
The dock in the photo is a pontoon dock for tourists to view the lake more closely. It does not serve as a dock for boarding on a mini-motorboat.




下午茶後，男生們都回房間去睡午覺了。
三個女生則去SPA區快樂的玩了一回水～

下午五點半。
從我們的房間往外看，赫然發現中庭的草地上，
戶外晚餐的桌椅已經擺置妥當，開始準備上菜了！

After coffee time, Papa and Daddy went back to rooms and took a rest. Mama, Xiyun and Mummy, we went to the SPA area and relaxed in water.
It was said "Women are made of water"...
Sounds true for we three are kinda "hydrophilic"~

The photo below was taken at 5:30 pm from the window of our room. The tables were set ready for dinner.




這個週末的客人還真不少，
幾乎每個桌位都是全家歡聚的場面！
天色完全暗了。
現場薩克斯風演奏，加上燈光的點綴，
讓整個用餐時光既熱鬧又溫馨。

Dinner was served as buffet.
With a living show of saxophone and decorated illuminations,
everybody enjoyed a delightful dining this evening.

[郊遊] 明湖水漾。一。親子篇。

April 20-21, 2007
Young Lake Resort．I．My Beloved

週五傍晚，老公說週末要帶我去玩，還說要在外過一夜。
我一聽二話不說，款好外宿一夜所需的簡單行李，
連續劇、長片都失去吸引力，早早上了床，養足精神好去郊遊囉～

Friday evening, I was informed we would have a short trip during weekend. I was so happy and could not wait anymore~
After the preparation of personal belongings, I lost my interest on HBO movies that I used to stay at night and enjoy a lot~I went to bed early with a mood of expectancy.

這是一趟超級親子之旅呢！
因為這是第一次，希芸跟爸爸媽媽乾爹媽咪一起出門去過一夜唷～
天氣雖然有點兒陰晴不定，可絲毫不影響我們如陽光般閃亮的的幸福感覺！

This is the first time -- we have a trip with our sweetie Xiyun.
Xiyun is a 3-year-old baby girl, she calls her mother-in-blood as Mama and me as Mummy.
Her father-in-blood is Papa and my husband is Daddy for her.
My husband and I, we are "parents-in-love" for Xiyun!!

抵達明湖水漾會館園區時，已接近中午。
不耐餓的一家五口，就在園區外的一家客家餐廳，先飽食一頓。
然後這一家子都哈咖啡，晃了一圈，選了湖畔的露天咖啡座，
就這樣閑閑坐了一個下午，喝咖啡，聊是非。

We arrived Young Lake Resort around 11:00 am.
After check-in, though it was a little bit early, yet we -- a five-member family, all have healthy appetites -- went to a Hakka restaurant nearby for lunch.
Having a short walk by the lakeside after lunch, we finally could not resist coffee and decided to take seats on an outdoor table.

These photos of Xiyun and Daddy were taken during coffee time~


寶貝：乾爹，你睡著了嗎？
乾爹：沒有呀！乾爹在想事情～
寶貝：乾爹，跟你說喔～媽咪在偷偷給我們拍照耶！
乾爹：真的嗎？那我們來擺個姿勢照一張！

Xiyun: Daddy, do you fall asleep?
Daddy: Nope~ I am thinking of something...
Xiyun: Daddy, I found Mummy is taking shots of us!
Daddy: Really! Let's adopt a nice pose for shots.



ㄟ～乾爹，不要一直說話啦！媽咪說要看著鏡頭耶！
Daddy~ talk later! Mummy asks us to stare at the lens!!



看！乾爹跟希芸妹妹誰比較可愛呢？
Look! Am I cute more than Daddy?



耶！媽咪說希芸妹妹的可愛天下無敵喲～
Yeah! Mummy says I am the most lovely baby~