[沖繩] 陽春三月。之二。陶藝村

March 28, 2007
Sunny Okinawa~

The YOMITAN vill is the next stop for us to have a short tour.
It is a pottery village full of artistic atmosphere.
We visit a workhouse of glass-blowing, which has a romantic
name as "Rainbow".

古堡之後，我們接著去拜訪一個充滿古風的小村莊。
首先參觀的是一個吹玻璃的工房。
它有個美麗的名字叫「虹」。
旁邊第二行的四個漢字，應該是工房主人的名字。



In this village, I met the guardian angels of lion features again.
People in Okinawa named the sculptures "Shisa" (シーサー).
They looked very much similar to our "Fong-Shi-Ye" that I met
long time ago in Tainan and the isolated island Kingmen.
We pronounced as "Fong-Shi-Ye", in the three Chinese character
they mean "Wind-Lion-General", i.e., a Lion General who guards
the village from strong wind".

Besides, "Shisa" and "Fong-Shi-Ye" had the same meanings
in Taiwan and Okinawa! They protect the island as well as the
seaside villages from strong wind, guard people against devils,
and also give blessings (魔除け、幸運招きなどの意味).

This "Shisa" I met in TOMITAN is very cool.
He wears glasses that makes his looking like a scholar.
In addition, he also is a glassblower!

在這裡，我又遇到跟風獅爺長得很像的獅子，當地人叫 Shisa。
跟我們的風獅爺一樣，具有守護神的象徵意義。
這一尊很酷唷！
戴著眼鏡看起來很有學問之外，它可是會吹玻璃的 Shisa 呢！



People in this village are all artistic~
The old person sits in front of the oven and the heated glass is
rotated continuously around the axle by his hands. With his
expertise at glassblowing, he forms the glass into a dish at the
best timing. How amazing!

老公公在火爐前，轉著手上那一坨熱融融的玻璃。
憑藉著經驗，在最適當的時候，展開「輕攏慢捻抹復挑」的手段，
只見一坨沒有形狀的玻璃，或盤或球或各式的容器，
就這樣從無到有，出現在眼前。




Walking along the road, the houses and scenery let me think
of "May-Nong" in Kaohsiung county (south part of Taiwan).
It seems that most of the people living here are clay profession.
Again, very similar to the town "Ing-Ge" in Taipei county~

Here comes another workhouse.
SEE! Shisa stand in front of the gate smile and saying hello to us!

往村裡面走。　
哇！屋舍跟鄉村的景緻讓人聯想起美濃～
而且村裡面大部分都從事製陶工藝，
跟我們熟悉的鶯歌好像喔！

這是其中一座陶藝工房的門牌。
看吧～又有風獅爺站在門口，跟過往的客人哈啦了。



Is it very difficult to understand the meaning in Chinese saying
"A huge number of things give a pretty sight"??

(I don't know how to translate/describe this saying >_<)

在這樣的畫面裡「數大便是美」不言而喻



Inside the workhouse, girls draw or paint for the clay
under sunlight. Cute Natalia goes into the house and
talking in body language happily.

另一家製陶工房。
只見女孩兒在裡面迎著天光，一筆一畫地為素陶胚著色上釉。
跟著爸爸媽媽一起來參加會議的五歲女娃娃 Natalia，
跑進去開心地跟人家比手畫腳，超可愛呢！



A huge number of Shisa in prototype.
Looks they are now undergoing the air-dry stage.
Not colored or harden by baking, yet the bravery
look is not a blur~

好大一群原型的風獅爺！
看起來正處於風乾的階段～
尚未上釉，也還沒經過高溫的焠煉，
不過英姿換發的模樣，已經稍見端倪啦。

[沖繩] 陽春三月。之一。古堡。

March 28, 2007
Sunny Okinawa~

Yesterday the rain made me feel so blue and
I prayed for good weather before I went to bed last night.
It seemed God heard it.

What a beautiful day it is!
The heavy rain yesterday just faded away as a dream.

昨天的雨下得我好憂鬱。
心裡想著今天下午有郊遊，睡覺前好認真的祈禱說。
看來老天爺聽到了～

瞧～多好的天氣！
昨天的大雨真像一場夢。



Coffee break~ having a cup of cafe in black as usual.
The skylight is quite good for taking photos.
On the back yard, there are the light and shadow playing
a game of hide-and-seek.

中場休息時間。
不例外地要喝一杯黑咖啡。
今日天光可美的呢！
適合以相機捕捉光與影的變化。



As soon as the last speech of the morning session was ended,
An atmosphere of expectation filled the seminar room.
We were going on an excursion this afternoon!
With lunch box, we got on the bus and began the visiting tour
of the historic buildings and the art of ceramics.

中午的演講一結束，會場立刻充滿了要去郊遊的氣氛。
大夥兒人手一袋午餐，坐上大型遊覽巴士，
展開古蹟與陶藝的參觀之旅。




This old castle in Okinawa looks like the one we have in Tainan...
The castle in Tainan was named "Forever Golden Castle"
in meaning and pronounced as "Yi-zai-jin-cheng".
Not only the castle, the sky also is beautiful as I've
experienced in Tainan~

好像我們台南的億載金城喔！
而且，今天的天空也確實跟台南的天空一般～
藍的沒有一點兒雜質。



I love taking photos of these small plants.
See? They though looks weak and soft, yet they are strong
while facing the tough environment for survival.
As hard as these rock are, they also are touched and willing
to be counted on~

In fact I didn't ask the opinion of stone...and I guess so.

最喜歡拍這些岩縫中長出來的小植物了。
你瞧！柔軟的身體充分展現生命的韌性。
連石頭這種硬梆梆的東西，都受到感動，
願意被攀附跟依靠了～

我是沒問過石頭啦，可我覺得石頭應該是願意的吧。




This bug walks gracefully and passes by my feet.
With no exception, I just don't know who it is.
However, this time I am smarter than before~
Cause I have some information about it.

This tiny creature was classified to~ Animal Kingdom,
Phylum of Arthropoda, Class of Insecta, Order of Coleoptera.
And Family of ... I am not sure at this level.
Tenebrionidae or Carabidae?

Guess now nobody knows what I am talking about ^_^
Let's talk about it in a more popular way.

"The Order of Coleoptera have the most abundant lives in
the Calss of Insecta." has the same meaning as
" the beetles are the biggest family of insects".
I always have difficulty distinguishing ground beetles or
darkling beetles. This cute one looks like a ground beetle
for its lovely shine like metal...

這個小蟲兒慢手慢腳的從我眼前走過。
不例外地我叫不出它的閨名兒。
但是這回我變聰明些了！
我知道一些些關於它的身家資料唷～
這小東西是動物界、節肢動物門、昆蟲綱、鞘翅目的成員。

鞘翅目可是昆蟲綱最大的一目。
這樣說大家可能搞不清楚我在說蝦米，
咱們說白話一點兒，鞘翅目說的就是甲蟲一族。

然後到底它是哪一科我就沒把握了。
看起來像步行蟲科，因為它的甲殼有漂亮的金屬光澤。
反正我從來分不清楚步行蟲科和擬步行蟲科。

[沖繩] 憂鬱的一天

March 27, 2007
Cloudy Okinawa~

Just like yesterday, the birdsong wakes me early in the morning.
Through the roller blinds, the sky reveals slight darkness in color.
I stay on my bed and listen to the bird singing...
Around 7:30 am, the sounds of "Good morning" appear in the alley
outside the rooms.

早上一樣在優美的鳥鳴聲中醒過來。
透過百葉窗，看到外邊的天色有一點點陰沉～
於是賴在床上，安靜的聽著小鳥唱歌。
七點半。走廊上開始出現互道早安的聲音。


Something catches my eyes!
It is the window which locates at the corner on the way from our
room to the Chura Hall, what a breathtaking picture!

就在我們從房間走到用餐處的轉角，
突然讓我眼睛一亮！
透過這一扇窗，好個風景如畫～




Sitting in the seminar room, a smell of rain fades in the air.
Surprising that my instinct of weather also works in Okinawa.
It indeed rains~

坐在演講廳裡，
空氣中隱約傳來雨水的味道。
沒想到我對天氣的預感在沖繩也管用～
真的，下雨了。




Speeches this morning were kind of difficult to me,
for the model system used was yeast.
It's the organism that I was quite unfamiliar.
Even I was not acquainted with this field, these talks still
intrigued me by the excellent presentation of the speakers.

今天的演講聽得有點兒吃力呢！
基本上，以酵母菌為研究模式的演講，
因為不是我熟悉的系統，對我來說不困難也難免生疏。
不過好的演講者就是有這種本事，
即便我不熟悉這個領域，一樣也聽得忘我。



The rain almost ran away in the evening and the sky
turned to be bright.
Well, the bright color did not last long~
Just a moment the sky was occupied by the darkness of night.

傍晚時分雨幾乎停了～
只見天空漸漸亮起來。
不過才一下下，天色就被夜的黑吞沒了。




Before the sky gets completely dark,
beside the wooden platform on the back yard,
I see a wild flower flapping in the breeze...

趁雨歇天未暗下來之前，
在演講廳後面的陽台邊，拍到小花迎風搖曳的身影～

[沖繩] 親愛的朋友。

Meet Me in Okinawa!

I was very lucky to have Ruth as a company in Okinawa.
We shared the room and spent times together in Onna.
In Astrology, Ruth and I belong to the same sign -- Leo.
Well, we did not set anything on fire.

這是一定要介紹的啦！
同樣是獅子座的可愛學妹，采馨。
她是我在沖繩的日子裡，唯一的同居人唷～


Modern Beauty in the Old Castle 古堡裡的現代美少女

I was also thankful to have an opportunity to join the workshop
in Okinawa. I did learn a lot from both oral and poster presentations.
Besides, friendship is the most precious thing I've been given here.
People in Okinawa are pure, simple, and open-minded.
Facing so many foreigners who came from different countries
speaking in different languages, they hosted us with not only
patience but also great passions.

這次到沖繩開會，除了在研究與知識的領域，
收穫頗多之外，我們也結識了新朋友。
這兒的人們，單純而質樸。
面對我們這些外地來的朋友，
她們以含蓄的方式充分傳達南國的熱情。


Pretty Girls 美女圖。

Ruth and I planned to have a short city tour in Naha
before our departure. Tomomi (middle of the photo below)
was so dear to us like our family.
She drew pictures, printed the route map and time table
of monorail in Naha city that we would rely on to finish
the shopping list of Ruth and find the delicious "Chinsukou"
for my lovely little Tina.

在會議結束後，學妹跟我有一趟小小的那霸市區觀光。
我們親切如家人的朋友 Tomomi (中間)，
耐心地幫我們畫地圖、列印單軌電車的行駛路線及時間表～
這可是學妹最重要的購物指南，
也幫助我找到雅婷指定要的手指餅乾！



The girl dressed in orange is also a Taiwanese.
Chen-Chun had a flight from England to Okinawa for the workshop
She is now pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Oxford.

穿著橘色上衣的漂亮女孩兒也是臺灣人。
不過，這回她從英國飛到沖繩來參加會議，
因為她現在在英國唸博士班。





Including me, there were four participants from Taiwan.
My adviser Sue (middle) and Dr. Chen (left of the photo) were
invited to give oral presentations about their research in Taiwan.
Ruth and I, we were late for application and lucky to be accepted
as exceptions to participate the meeting.

連我在內，從台北前往參加會議的臺灣人有四位。
其中我們老師 (中間) 跟陳老師 (圖左)，都是大會邀請的演講者。
我跟學妹是半路殺出來的跟屁蟲。





The group photo was taken by the OIST staff.
Post it here in memory of this wonderful meeting.
We were destined to meet each other in Okinawa~

收到大會主辦單位寄來的團體照，貼上來做紀念。
緣份就是這麼奇妙～
有緣者，天涯咫尺；無緣的，咫尺天涯。

[沖繩] 科學與自然的對話。

March 26, 2007
When Science Meets Nature in Okinawa~

I was awaken at 6:30 in the morning,
not by the alarm but somewhere outside the window,
there's a bird singing...

早上六點半，不是被鬧鐘吵醒，
窗外不知哪兒來的一陣婉轉優美的鳥鳴，
我就這樣被叫醒了～


Stages toward the Sea 通向海邊的樓梯，一。

Ruth and I decide not to stay on bed even though
we still feel sleepy.
It is a bright day, we wish to take some pictures of
Onna in the morning.

其實不賴床是有原因的。
天色極佳，我們想在會議開始前，去海邊拍些照片。


The Viewing Platform 觀景台，一。

After breakfast, we stepped toward the narrow lane
in the back yard, which we wished but gave up exploring
last night...Walking downstairs, the viewing platform was
there waiting for our visit.

吃過早餐，我們往昨夜未能一探究竟的小路走去。
走下鋪著碎石的臺階，眼前出現寬敞的觀景台。


The Viewing Platform 觀景台，二。

Next to the wooden stages,
the beach showed up with a charming smile.
Ruth, busy making records of the beautiful morning,
became part of the beautiful scenery.

再下一道木梯，就是美麗的沙灘了。
正在記錄好風景的學妹，
這會兒成了我鏡頭裡的風景啦！


Stages toward the Sea 通向海邊的樓梯，之二。

The first seminar began at 9:00 am on time.
Sitting in such a spectacular surroundings,
every lectures excited the audience with the important findings.
People here were greatly satisfied!

會議在九點鐘準時開始。
在這樣風光明媚的所在，場場精采的演講，
充分滿足在場每一個人的求知慾與好奇心。


Coffee Break 中場休息時間。

The NATURE mothers and soothes people who are engaged on research all the days.
No more poker faces at this moment are present but in a spirit of finding the answers and the enthusiasm for sciences remain unchanged.

終日埋首研究的科學家們，
在大自然的懷抱裡，再嚴肅的臉都變得柔和了。
不變的是實事求是的精神，以及熱愛科學的心。

[沖繩] 相見歡。之三。

March 25, 2007
Okinawa, Nice to Meet You!

The sun was confusing me with its glaring light.
Just one or two hours earlier, the sky was cloudy and grey.
How come it turned to be so bright as if the sun rose from the west!

真是有一種太陽從西邊出來的錯覺！
稍早天空還陰陰的，怎麼晚餐前的天色突然變得明亮起來？！


The No. 58 Highway
從我們房間的窗戶向右後方看，
可以看到一路從機場延伸過來的58號國道。

Staring out of the window, as far as the eyesight can reach,
it is the East China Sea.
I think it is because of the clouds,
the air over the sea looks whitish-grey in color.

從窗戶直接往前看就是海了。
雲層並未全部散去，只見海面上一片白茫茫。


Islands and Coral Reef in the Sea 小島和礁岩散佈海面

We had a good time in the gathering dinner.
Although we could not speak in Japanese,
our poor English still worked to let us have new friends here.

Girls in Japan talk in a nice manner~
soft tone of voice with tender and polite attitude.
Having a conversation with them makes me behave in a gentle way. @_@

晚餐時分，認識了許多新朋友。
日本的女生說話都好好聽喔！
聲音好聽語調溫柔措辭又客氣，
讓我不由自主地變得斯文了～


Guardian Angels of the Seaside House 鎮屋的獅子

The sky turns to dark.
It seems the air becomes cooler than this afternoon.
We step outside the building and lay on the floor just next to the seminar room.
Stars shine in the sky.
Though with clouds, I see the Big Bear waving hello to me.

天色已經完全暗下來了，外面的溫度似乎比下午低一些。
我們跑到一樓演講廳外的平台，直接躺下來看星星了。
天空還是有雲，不過大熊星座清晰可見。


A Bright Night of the Seaside House 燈火輝煌的夜

Walking around the building from the back yard to the front gate,
we were attracted by the lights shining out through the windows.
No more words, camera was busy again.

從一樓平台繞到建築物前方，
突然發現燈光很美呢！
於是我們又開始亂亂照一通。


The Institute that Organized this Workshop 主辦機構

We will have the first session at 9:00 am tomorrow.
Time for us to go to bed.

We went back to our room.
I used the coral that was picked on the beach this afternoon
to decorate my desk.
It looks like~~ a person stands alone and enjoys the sea breeze...

明天的第一場會議九點開始，該來去準備睡覺養精神了。
下午在沙灘散步時，撿了兩個珊瑚礁石回來。
襯著書桌上原有的一張小小明信片當背景，
看起來真有一個人在海邊吹風的感覺。。。


A Scene on the Desk 我幫書桌佈置的風景

[沖繩] 相見歡。之二。

March 25, 2007
Okinawa, Nice to Meet You!

On the way from Naha airport to Sea Park Hotel,
Sue was very sick.
Ruth and I were worried that Sue might not be able to give a seminar next day.
We returned to Sue's room from the beach.
Sue looked weak and still ill.
I touched her forehead and felt that she had a slight fever.

從機場往飯店的途中，老師就顯得有一點兒體力不支。
有點兒擔心隔天上午的議程，老師有一場三十分鐘演講呢！
從沙灘走回房間，老師看起來仍虛弱。
偷偷摸了摸她的額頭，還有一點兒發燒。


Part of the Terrace 陽台一隅

Sue told us not to worry about her illness,
she felt better after taking the medicines.
It was 5:20 pm, the shuttle bus was scheduled to leave for Seaside House at 5:30.
I took my baggage and left Sue's room,
together with Ruth,
we got on the bus for registration in Sea-side House.

可是老師要我們不要擔心，還說吃過藥後感覺好多了。
看看時間，五點二十分，該準備搭乘接駁巴士前往會場報到了。


View from the Terrace of Sue's Room 沖繩海邊的地中海風情

Wow~finally I am in the room that Ruth and I will share together for the coming days.
Though without terrace, the BIG window makes the room widen and bright.
No doubt~ I dare not have a look at the brilliant ocean unless I wear the sun glasses...

哇！終於看到我跟學妹要同居四天四夜的房間了。
雖然沒有陽台，偌大的窗戶讓房間顯得寬敞而明亮。
不要懷疑，如果窗簾不放下來，
我必須戴著太陽眼鏡才能面對窗外那一片蔚藍海洋。


Room in Seaside House 大會提供的住宿

Outside the window,
Okinawa showed us her extremely gorgeous nature!
It looked just like a poetry and brillance~
We enjoyed taking nice shots again and again before we left for the gathering dinner.

窗外堪稱風光明媚。
隔著窗戶，看出去還真像一幅畫。
趁著晚餐前的幾分鐘空檔，又按下快門。　


A Poetic Scenery 如詩的風景

[沖繩] 相見歡。之一。

March 25, 2007
Okinawa, Nice to Meet You!

The shuttle bus left Naha Airport at local time around 11:00 am.
My 5-day trip in Okinawa started at this moment.
As soon as the bus left Naha Airport, the ocean showed up.

當地時間上午十一點左右，接駁巴士從那霸機場出發，
為期五天的冲繩之旅從這個時候開始。
車子才離開機場馬上就看到海了。


Beach nearby Sea Park Hotel 無人的海邊

I felt acquainted with the air and scenes here.
It seemed that I was in Ken-Ting National Park.
The boards of various advertisements were written in "Kanji".
Surely we can read Chinese characters with no difficulty .

好熟悉的氣味和風景，感覺自己好像到了墾丁～
迎面而來的各式招牌或廣告用的都是漢字，
沒有困難直接就看懂了。


The Meeting of Love 海浪與沙灘

Wow! MacDonald, Kentucky, Mos Burger, and Family Mart~
Neither foreign nor strange, it is the way as we used to see in Taiwan.
Am I in a dream? I doubt if I did fly four hundred miles far away from Taipei.

哇！麥當勞肯德基摩斯漢堡全家便利商店，通通都跟台灣一個樣子！
突然有種作夢的感覺～
懷疑自己真的離家數百里了嗎？


Coral Landed on the Beach 定居在岸上的珊瑚

Camera still lies in the baggage, I cannot take pictures without it.
The only thing I do is staring at the beautiful scenes and imagining happily...
what we will have for lunch after we settle down the baggage.

It took about 1 hour and 20 minutes on bus, we finally arrived the "Seaside House".
Something missing with accommodation for me, nothing to do but wait.
Thanks for Sue's mercy, I placed my baggage in Sue's room and left for lunch with Ruth.
It was 2:00 pm.

相機還在行李箱中，沒得拍。
只能用雙眼貪心的看著，一邊開心的想像放好行李後午餐要吃什麼。
一個小時二十分鐘。
車子先把我們送到大會提供的住宿地點。
住宿的事出了點小狀況，聯絡又有一點點不順利，
終於可以放心吃午餐時，已經是下午兩點了。


Somebody Has Been Here 到此一遊的記號

Six o'clock in the evening is the registration time for all participants.
We still have some time to walk around.
For sure I have my camera on hand, we start towards the beach.

The sky was a little bit cloudy, lucky me, it did not rain.
The ocean confused me with his various faces in blue - heavy, light, dark or bright...
Few people stayed on the beach in this afternoon.
We enjoyed a luxurious walk and leisure time along the coast.

晚上六點是與會人員的報到時間，
我們還有一點兒空檔可以到處走走逛逛。
當下換了涼鞋，揹起相機，往海灘走去。
天空有一點兒陰，不過沒下雨。
海則藍得令人迷惑。各種層次的藍，遠。近。深。淺。
偌大的沙灘人影稀疏，我們也樂得獨享這一片悠閒。


Nothing Left but Memory 給老公的紀念品

我回來了~

March 30, 2007

To my dear family and friends in Taiwan and Okinawa,
I've landed safely in Taipei last night.

This is my first time to visit Okinawa.
However, at the first look I felt that everything is quite familiar.
As most of people who have visited Taiwan agreed to call Taiwan "Formosa",
I think people who have experienced a tour in Okinawa
will all agree that Okinawa is a "Treasure Box".

Okinawa is a wonderland truly existing in this modern age.
Everywhere we hear people talking about peace and love everyday.
People in Okinawa do not talk about but live in peace and love instead.

Stories are as many as the words can tell,
memories take no words but lasting.
Although I looked forward to flying home,
the moment I just had a feeling as if I were leaving my family.
I felt sad waving goodbye, yet life always goes on this style...

When the lights of Taipei city came into my sight,
scenes of everyday life in Okinawa replayed in my mind.
I suddenly understood that waving goodbye is not the end.
It is a beginning as well as a blessing for our next meeting.



Dear family and friends,
Please be patient with my slow hand to show you the photos in Okinawa.
Follow me and imagine having a walk on the beach with me.

親愛的朋友，請珍重！

二零零七。三月。十四日。

親愛的朋友，

一早到實驗室，聽到你去醫院詳細檢查的結果報告。
我錯愕了一整天，心情沉重地幾乎要窒息。。。
才過年前的事呢！你嘮叨著要大家注意身體健康～
過了個年，大家正在訥悶你怎麼了？！　
整個人變得好消沉，而且顯得心事重重，甚至會出現恍神的情況。。。

心裡掛念著若碰到你要問候你，　
本以為孝順的你可能是為了媽媽的身體狀況憂心著。
昨天才聽說你去醫院做詳細的檢查，
今天卻傳來你身上多處器官都有轉移的癌細胞。

這麼年輕這麼有生氣的你，怎麼會就這樣病倒了呢？

做為朋友的我們，對這件事都感到難以接受！
想像你的妻子和年幼的小孩必須面對的現實，　
讓我們除了流淚，再也說不出話來。

你，要加油！好嗎？
我們都在你旁邊，全力為你祈禱！
祈求天地山川所有的神祇護祐你闖過這一次難關，
疼惜你一路戰戰兢兢地為了家人所做的努力，
賜你時間可以享用你辛苦奮鬥的成果。


〔後記〕
他不是別人，他是我拿到博士學位後，
第一年博士後研究期間的老闆。
不管你認不認識他，如果你願意，請一起為他禱告。

也請所有的親愛的朋友們～
你／妳聽到我說的話了嗎？
不要忽視異常或不明原因的疼痛，
不要以為常常咳嗽是小事，
這些都可能是身體發出的訊號，是求救，也是警告！
每個人都應該為了所愛的家人朋友，更明白疼惜自己的必要！

好嗎？答應我，親愛的朋友，你會珍重自己。