位於长滩岛西岸的白沙滩约有4公里长，上头满布各式住宿饭店、民宿，以及大大小小的餐厅、shopping店家、Bar等，我们选择的饭店「The District Boracay」就位於White Beach上，甫於去年底崭新开幕，拥有48个房间，整体环境相当新颖，是一处小而美的住宿空间。饭店正对着迷人海滩，每天早晨，我和夥伴总喜欢坐在户外，一边欣赏海景、一边享用现点现作的早餐。
The District的大门前方有属于自己的户外休憩区，住客只要登记房号，就能慵懒倒卧在躺椅上，独占眼前的无敌海景，而这处休憩区，到了夜晚还会摇身一变，成为The District餐厅的户外用餐地。其实长滩岛上不乏用餐处，尤其是绵延不尽的White Beach，夜晚时就是餐厅的聚集处，许多店家还会请来歌手驻唱，甚至连服务人员都可以化身为娱乐表演者，音乐响起的瞬间陪客人又唱又跳，结束後再一本正经的帮你烹调食物，真是太有趣了！
（Data）：
The District Boracay
地址：Station 2, Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
搭乘AirAsia前往长滩岛，由于需在克拉布克进行转机，如有时间的话，不妨安排克拉布克的City Tour，让自己在这座未知的城市中小小探险一番。克拉布克对台湾旅客而言相对陌生，这里原是美军在亚洲设置的最大空军基地，褪去军事因素後，也开始积极多方发展，当地拥有五星级的「克拉布克温泉渡假城（Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks）」，包含住宿饭店、Casino、水上乐园等，由于费用较为低廉，外国旅客还会相约组团来此打高尔夫球。
其它如「空军都市公园（Air force City Park）」，展示着数架退役的飞机，由于可以恣意触摸、攀爬，并进到机舱内，是许多小朋友的乐园；骑马场「EL Kabayo」，外观布置得象是西部牛仔村的场景，骑马练习就在户外的广阔天地中，价钱也比台湾便宜甚多；若只想shopping的话，大型购物商场「SM」内不仅设有各大品牌服饰店铺，还有餐厅、游乐场、电影院、超市等，可满足所有购物需求。
（Data）：
克拉布克温泉渡假城（Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks）
地址：CM Recto Highway, Clark Freeport Zone 2023, Pampanga, Philippines
电话：+63-45-599-5000
网址：www.fontanaleisureparks.com
克拉布克文化村（Nayong Pilipino）
地址：Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines
电话：+63-949-768-1893、+63-927-287-0097
1.长滩岛是爱好玩水者的天堂
2.着名的白沙滩绵延约4公里长，即使只是悠闲在此晒太阳、散步，也是一大享受
3.挑战滑索需要足够的勇气，只要克服对高度的恐惧感，其实Zipline真的不可怕
4.The District Boracay於2012年底开幕，除了环境、设备新颖外，地理位置也相当优越
5. 在克拉布克文化村观赏菲律宾的舞蹈表演，还能上台与舞者同乐
撰文、摄影／KL 感谢协力／AirAsia 部分图片提供／The District Boracay、黄小莫、莫言
The Ten Major Projects of Taipeiand Better Living –The Taipei Cloud Computing Industrial Park
Work on the Taipei Cloud Computing Industrial Park (台北市云端产业园区), one of the Ten Major Projects of Taipei (台北新十大建设), was recently launched. The comprehensive blueprint covers everything from infrastructure to software services, raising intelligent living, industry, and talent to the next level.
Creating the Taipei Cloud Computing Industrial Park
Most of the dramatic and moving 3D scenes from director Ang Lee’s (李安) movie Life of Pi showing the main character floating adrift on the ocean were shot in Taiwan, and a key driver in the behind-the-scenes computer animation involved was Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom (中华电信). The tiger Richard Parker’s snarls and roars, swaying whiskers, and fur moving in synchronicity with its body movements are all so lifelike that viewers could easily forget he’s a 3D special effect. The lead 3D effects company for the film was Rhythm & Hues Studios (R&H), which has studios around the globe. To improve efficiency and lower costs, it wanted to integrate its worldwide array of studios as a single platform, and turned to Chunghwa Telecom as facilitator because of its exceptional cloud computing platform.
Realizing the tremendous value that cloud computing can bring to industry and cultural-creativity, the Taipei City Government began planning for the Taipei Cloud Computing Industrial Park in June last year. Recently the land on which the Neihu Flower Market (内湖花市) now stands was chosen for the site, framed by Ruiguang Road (瑞光路), Gangqian Road (港墘路), Zhouzi Street (洲子街), and Lane 393 of Ruiguang Road (瑞光路393巷). It is to be a BOT high-quality investment initiative, with three objectives.
The first is to establish a cloud computing industry center fulfilling such functions as providing infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). Figuratively, IaaS is like a house providing protection from the wind and rain and, inside, providing water, electricity, and air-conditioning. PaaS is like a table or desk, and SaaS is the various innovative services that have been created, placed on the tabletop. Examples of these are Facebook and the countless Apps now available.
The second objective is to set up an innovation incubator and exchange center, enabling industry interchange and incubation of innovative ideas, and promoting industry upgrading and transformation. The third objective is to establish a cloud computing personnel training center, for the cultivation of the professional talent required by the industry. Completion of the park is scheduled for 2017, and once in operation it’s expected to generate upwards of NT$40 billion in annual output value, promote the use of cloud computing services by 210,000 enterprises, and create 4,000 jobs.
Taipei City Mayor Hau Lungbin (郝龙斌) has said that Taipei is seeking perfection in its online network infrastructure. For example, the Fiber to the Home (光纤到府) initiative will achieve 80% coverage by 2015; homes can enjoy 100M Internet connections, and the Taipei Free service provides free wireless online connections throughout the city. The city of Taipei is an IT, finance, and service industry hub, with many large-scale enterprises and with 210,000 small and mid-sized businesses, and with the advent of the information age, business demand for data storage, online services, and Internet commerce will steadily increase. By setting up the Cloud Computing Industrial Park the Taipei City Government aims to create a high-quality environment so that all enterprises can share in the effort and the benefits. The city also has numerous universities, colleges, and research institutions nurturing capable personnel, all of whom will also play a role in the development of the local cloud computing industry.
Mayor Hau has also said that Taiwan’s culture, art, and popular music are second to none in the Chinese-speaking world, and that the Taipei Cloud Computing Industrial Park will coordinate with the local film, television, and music industries, nurturing talent and providing a dynamic spark and engendering deep-running “Taiwan currents.” The plan is to set up film, television, and music industry parks in Neihu, Dazhi (大直) and Beitou (北投), on a BOT basis. These parks, the mayor has said, will stimulate the integration of industry resources and nurture talent. The expectation is that this will enhance the international competitiveness of Taiwanese works, production teams, and performers.
The Discovery Center of Taipei and Plum Garden Discover Cloud Computing
Feeling lazy, but still want to get out and about to take in an interesting exhibition? Your answer – cloud virtual-reality navigation systems have been launched for both the Discovery Center of Taipei (台北探索馆) and Plum Garden (梅庭), a Taipei City heritage site. Taipei City Government’s Department of Information and Tourism (观光传播局) has established virtual-reality navigation services in Chinese, English, Spanish, Japanese and Korean, on-line and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just get your fingers moving, hook up to the Internet, and immerse yourself in the stimulating Discovery Center of Taipei and Plum Garden environments.
The Discovery Center of Taipei is spread over four floors. The first level features a large, eye-catching gauze screen on which video images are shown, the second is dedicated to a regular rotation of special exhibitions, the third helps visitors to understand the city, and the fourth takes visitors on a walkabout through Taipei historical time, witnessing the history of Taipei’s development. With the assistance of the cloud computing tour, you can enter the virtual Dialogue with Time Hall (时空对话厅; on the fourth floor of the Center) without leaving home. Click “Life Outside the City” and explore the lives of ordinary people who lived outside the old city walls, hunt for a small temple and draw divination lots, trying your luck online!
Plum Garden was built toward the end of the 1930s. It later served as the summer villa of Yu Youren (于右任), known as the master of cursive calligraphy during his time. Built in Japanese style, the basement has a bomb shelter, and the gypsum-plaster walls protect against fire, dust, mildew, bacteria, and humidity. The cloud computing tour service welcomes you to explore, among many other Yu Youren masterpieces, his “Din Tai Fung Oil Shop” (鼎泰丰油行) inscription. Today’s famous Din Tai Fung (鼎泰丰) restaurant chain started as an oil shop, morphing with changing economic times into today’s famed Chinese dumpling restaurant. The inscription has hung in the entrance to the Xinyi Road outlet of the restaurant for over 40 years, and is one of its most treasured assets.
The cloud has already become a portal for gazing at real life, and the Cloud Guide System of the Discovery Center of Taipei and Plum Garden (互动探索、数码梅庭云端导览系统) gives unlimited access to knowledge without the constraints of time or location. The Taipei Cloud Computing Industrial Park is painting a giant blueprint of industry, and allowing the financial, sci-tech, cultural-creative, and film/TV/music industries a share in the benefits. The park will offer the best hardware and the most dynamic human-resource training, and along with the creation of user-friendly software services, will turn the city into Taiwan’s Silicon Valley.
Cloud Guide System of the Discovery Center of Taipei and Plum Garden website: http://vr.taipeitravel.net
No matter how times change and fashions evolve, it is still the qipao (旗袍) that best shows off the grace, elegance, and nobility of the Chinese lady. The qipao is an expression of Chinese culture and history, and is a classic element in the West's image of the Orient.
Origin and Development
Today the word“qipao”refers to a woman's dress, but the original qipao was the garment worn by Manchu (满族) also known as bannermen (旗人); Manchu were China's Qing Dynasty rulers. Note that the character qi (旗) appears both in“qipao”and“bannermen;” pao (袍) means both “robe” and “dress.” The original qipao design was very different from today's. The lines were straight, the garment was loose, and there were splits on both sides to allow easy mounting of horses. Cuffs and necklines were decorated with numerous embroidered flower buttons. Trousers were worn underneath, which had a neutral line that made them suitable for both sexes.
Later, influenced by Western clothing, the men's robes were trimmed and streamlined, eliminating much of the traditional cumbersome adornment. The waist and cuffs were loosened and the collar was made low in front and high behind. The final version of the robe had been created. On the women's side, the waistline of the qipao was narrowed, the hem was tightened, and the collar shape shortened; this new style became popular in the early Republican era.
In the 1930s a still more refined style became fashionable among China's upper classes and in the entertainment world. Wearing one became de rigueur among wealthy married women and film stars, and an important form of attire for urban women. Beauty-conscious women of the era wore qipao in an almost endless array of patterns and style variations; in the quest for unique chic, some opted for turn-down collars, had lotus flowers added, had scalloped trim added to the hem, wore fur coats over their qipao, wore accessories such as pearl necklaces, and so on.
Qipao Revolution – The Shanghai and Beijing Schools
In the 1920s and 1930s, Shanghai was deeply influenced by Western culture and fashions, and was even dubbed the“Paris of the East.”Western elements were incorporated into qipao design; the master craftsmen of Shanghai's qipao shops mimicked Western designs and cuts, emphasizing the beauty of women's curves and raising the hem line above the knee to create the main Shanghai School look.
The most distinguishing characteristic of the Shanghai School qipao was a unique fusion of traditional Chinese and modern Western elements. Shoulder padding and waistline were even added in the quest for the perfect figure. The range of fabrics used expanded markedly, from all kinds of silks and satins to cotton and gauze. All needs and desires could be accommodated. Chinese flower-shaped fabric buttons of many designs also became available. The qipao became even more of a fashion statement, and became all the rage in the city.
In contrast to the Westernization and innovation of the Shanghai School, the Beijing School represented the traditional cultural inheritance. Beijing had been the main place of settlement in China for Manchu (bannermen), and in the 1920s the preeminent families in local high society were those already prominent during the old Qing Dynasty era along with new-era warlord politicians. The traditional straight and loose design was kept as the qipao model, as were the traditional silk, satin, and cotton fabrics. However, two unique styling elements - complex embroidery and weaves were introduced. The products of both schools enjoyed success, but it was the Shanghai School's modern look that would come to dominate the further development of the qipao.
The Popularity and Evolution of the Qipao in Taiwan
The Republic of China once designated the qipao as the official national dress. The wives of the heads of state wore qipao on diplomatic occasions. Soong Meiling(宋美龄), the wife of former President Chiang Kai-shek(蒋中正), was at all times concerned with her appearance and almost always wore a qipao when in public. She would inevitably be attired in a qipao appropriate to the occasion when meeting VIPs, leaving a deep impression with foreign dignitaries.
“The heyday of the qipao in Taiwan was approximately the 1950s and 1960s,”says Xu Rongyi (许荣一).“Many military personnel and family dependents came to Taiwan with the Nationalist government at the end of the Chinese Civil War, bringing the qipao tradition with them and launching a wave of local popularity.
”Xu, a master tailor, has been crafting qipao in Taipei for more than 50 years. Talking about this local period of flourishing fortunes for the qipao, he says that“there were over 20 fabric stores (in Taipei) from Hengyang Road (衡阳路) to Bo'ai Road (博爱路), and each had one or more qipao masters. At the height of the period the largest qipao stores needed as many as 30 staff to cope with the level of demand for custom-tailored qipao from high-level officials' wives and young society ladies.”In those days such ladies would have a new qipao made for housewarmings, birthdays, weddings, Chinese New Year, and all other happy occasions.
The Taiwan qipao was strongly influenced by the Shanghai School, with almost every master craftsmen, it seems, emphasizing the Shanghai model under the influence of their teachers. In the 1960s sleeveless and short, knee-length qipao became fashionable, and most had sequins and embroidered flowers. Bridal qipao featured embroidery with sewing beads. Though qipao appear simple in style, there were in fact a number of complex processes of craftsmanship involved. There were more than 10 collar designs, over 100 flower button designs, and special trim, piping, double piping, and“facing flowers”techniques (the last a symmetrical stitching technique in which flower patterns face each other).
Another individual who helped many a high-level Taiwan official's wife get the qipao she demanded was Lin Jinde (林锦德), a living national treasure, who says that“the process for creating a qipao, from figure measurements to drawing to cutting to sewing, including the creation of flower buttons matching the fabric colors and patterns, plus the complicated piping and other ornamentation, takes five to seven days.
”The cost of maintaining a qipao depends on the fabric used (beaded cloth cannot be ironed, requiring extra labor), the amount of piping, the type of flower button, etc,, all of which entail different fees. Renowned Taipei custom tailor shops such as Rong-Yi Tang Zhuang Qipao (荣一唐装旗袍), Shanghai China Beauty Han and Tang Cheongsam Studio (上海华美汉唐旗袍工作室), and Hanching Cheongsam Special Store (汉清旗袍名店) are venerable businesses with a world of experience. Note that there is no problem even if you are in Taipei for just a short time, for all these stores offer overseas shipping.
When in Taipei for travel, be sure to leave with a custom hand-crafted qipao in your suitcase, which is sure to bring back lovely memories every time you take it out thereafter.
Showcasing the Beauty of the Oriental Woman's Figure – The Qipao
MRT Jingmei Station → Jingmei Jiying Temple → Hengmao Pharmacy → Ruitai Sesame Oil → Jingmei Bridge → Yixing Pavilion (lunch) → Wenshan Public Assembly Hall → Wenshan Park → Liu Xiechang Noodle Factory → Muzha Jiying Temple → Jin Yixiang Pastry Shop → San Lao Cun (dinner) → Jingmei Riverside Walk
Though hard to believe today, the Jingmei River (景美溪), which runs through the Wenshan District, was once deep enough for boats to navigate, and contributed to the area's prosperity through trade. Boats no longer ply these waters, but some of the associated historical sites exist still, and make for an intriguing, educational tour.
In Search of Jingmei's Century-old Elegance
Jingmei (景美), located in the south of Taipei city, was originally called Jianwei (梘尾) or“water facility tail,”then Jingwei (景尾) or“scenic tail.”The more elegant Jingmei or“scenic beauty”was adopted.
It is indeed a place of scenic beauty. In its early days local travel was primarily by boat on the Jingmei River, and there was just one short street, Jingmei Street (景美街). As boat transport flourished, more people moved in, and today's thriving tourist and commercial district (including Jingmei Night Market ; 景美夜市) has its roots in this era. There are also many buildings from the 1960s and 1970s tucked away amidst the shining newer high-rises. A section of yesteryear's Liugong Canal (瑠公圳) ran on the site of today's Jingwen Street (景文街), and though the waterway was filled over to make way for road traffic, there are still century-old buildings on either side, giving a glimpse into Jingmei's cultural history.
Ride the Taipei Metro to MRT Jingmei Station, and turn right when you emerge from Exit No. 2. Immediately outside is the Jingmei Street tourist/commercial district. As you enter the narrow old street you'll see it is lined on both sides with myriad snack sellers, apparel shops, and vegetable stalls. Keep left at a fork to reach Jingmei Jiying Temple (景美集应庙). This is the only temple with Historical Relic of the Third Rank status in Wenshan District. It is built in the mid-sized temple style of the Qing Dynasty. The major exterior feature is the striking oversized bright-red fencing; inside are many wall decorations and exquisite stone carvings, and the air is thick with a sense of history and nostalgia.
Continue along Jingmei Street and you'll find the Hengmao Pharmacy (恒茂药行), hidden among the many small eateries. This seller of Chinese medicines was established by the maternal grandfather of the current owner, Zhang Shuiliu (张水柳) over a century ago. Beyond a proven ability to heal folks' ailments, the shop has flourished for a hundred years because of its well-known high standards in terms of drug usage and selection, winning the admiration of local residents. Pass the pharmacy, turn right, and you'll soon be on Jingwen Street. Here you'll find Ruitai Sesame Oil (瑞泰麻油), founded at the end of the Qing Dynasty, where you can buy a bottle of traditional sesame oil that will make a great gift or souvenir. The venerable shop still follows the authentic old way to make its product, which involves frying, grinding, steaming, compressing to extract the oil, and finally settling.
Continue along Jingwen Street and you'll soon come to Jingmei Bridge (景美桥), which spans the Jingmei River and connects Jingmei with Xindian (新店). Reconstruction makes the bridge look novel, but it's in fact over a hundred years old, although rebuilt four times. A green riverside park lies underneath, popular with bicyclists and walkers. In earlier times, when the river was higher, residents would swim and fish here, and even today there is a sense of past and present intersecting here.
At noon, head back across Jingmei Bridge to Yixing Pavilion (义兴楼), a shop in business for more than 80 years. For lunch order from among the many popular Taiwanese house specialties, including snack items such as fried noodles, rice noodles, and the banquet-style red crab steamed rice cakes and crispy fried duck.
Searching for the Past in Muzha
ke about an hour, so a good idea is to turn left onto Jingxing Road (景兴路) from Jingwen Street and take a bus from there. Much of Muzha is mountain and valley, with the only gentle terrain lying along the banks of the Jingmei River. Although now a thing of the past, in days gone by there was bustling river traffic here as well. The remaining vestiges of former times, however, will make your exploration a worthy one.
Get off at the Wenshan District Office stop (文山行政中心站), and both the Wenshan Public Assembly Hall (文山公民会馆) and Wenshan Park (文山公园) are close by. The public assembly hall has two structures, old and new. The old building has an elegant Japanese atmosphere, the wooden entrance door and black roof tiles nicely complementing the lovely old trees. This is a fitting introduction to Wenshan District's history, and there are free exhibits (held on a regular basis) of period photos taken in Wenshan.
Right across from the assembly hall is Wenshan Park, a place of abundant greenery. In the middle is a“livestock soul monument”(畜魂碑), erected during the Japanese colonial period, one of only three left in Taipei City. During this period of time, people were not allowed to slaughter pigs on their own; there was a slaughterhouse here, and the monument was erected to commemorate the animals and express gratitude.
Muzha's three most iconic products are Iron Goddess (Tieguanyin) tea (铁观音茶), green bamboo shoots, and mianxian (面线) or thin noodles. The season for green bamboo shoots stretches from May through October. If you'd like to savor the freshest green bamboo and Muzha's Iron Goddess tea, take a bus from Baoyi Road (保仪路) into the hills of the Maokong (猫空) area. As for thin noodles, once upon a time Muzha was home to over 20 noodle factories, all located along a belt close to the Jingmei River. The Liu Xiechang Noodle Factory (刘协昌制面厂), off Lane 85, Section 3, Muzha Road (木栅路3段85巷), has been in business for over 60 years. Its product is still handmade, and still dried in the sun, creating noodles that are springy in texture and rich in taste.
Walk to No.120, Section 3, Muzha Road (木栅路3段120号) and turn right, then walk about 5 minutes along Baoyi Road, which will bring you to Muzha Jiying Temple (木栅集应庙). This place of worship was also built in the Qing Dynasty style. As with many Taiwan temples, there are normally several incense and cake shops in the vicinity. Walk back to Section 3 of Muzha Road, turn right, and walk to No. 139, Jin Yixiang Pastry Shop (金益香饼店), opened in 1921. It specializes in such wheat-flour products used in temple worship as longevity peaches (寿桃), curry cakes, and green bean cakes. All are made by hand in traditional fashion, and have delectable, traditional flavors.
For dinner, head to San Lao Cun (三老村) on Section 3, Muzha Road, which has been in business for 37 years. This eatery specializes in delicious northern-Chinese wheat-based foods. The freshly-made dumplings and noodles are inexpensive and come in large servings. Other house specialties are the luwei (卤味), treats stewed in soy sauce, and the“burned”(Smoked, steamed, then deep-fried) chicken (烧鸡). When you visit you'll no doubt see old-time regulars tackling their luwei platters, satisfying their appetites.
To round off the day, head to the Jingmei River for a riverside walk. During the day's nostalgia tour, whether exploring places of bustle or locales where the days of bustle have passed, all have their roots in the river. The best way to finish a Wenshan day-trip is to stand on the riverbank and imagine the clamor and excitement of this waterway's past.
