Famous Quotes.01

Always remember that the most important thing in a good marriage in not happiness,
but stability.
切記，美滿婚姻中最要緊的事，不是快樂，而是穩定。

Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.
天分比食鹽還不值錢，有才氣的人和成功的人之區別，在於所下的苦工。

If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tool to write.
你若是沒時間閱讀，那麼你也就沒時間或工具去寫作了。

The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.
人的行動，是其思想的最佳譯員。

I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.
明日或未來的我，是今日我所建立的；今日的我，是昨日或以前某日所建立的。


These quotes are all from 《世界名人開講‧中英對照》‧王壽來‧九歌文庫
If you are interested in these quotes, I recommend you read this book.

http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010442876

中央社 - 台北是超酷且時髦的城市

台北是超酷且時髦的城市
（中央社記者黃貞貞倫敦27日專電）

英國知名旅遊節目主持人芮夫最近到台灣製作專題，他盛讚台北是超酷、時髦、安全的城市，推薦觀眾到台灣一定要享受美食，購買電子產品，還有訂製手工西服。

38歲的芮夫（Simon Reeve）主持的「北回歸線」（Tropic of Cancer）節目，足跡從非洲西部撒哈拉，一路跨越埃及、印度、緬甸、越南、台灣到夏威夷，近日在英國廣播公司（BBC）第2頻道分6集播出，充滿知性旅遊，有數百萬觀眾收看。

芮夫搭乘高速鐵路，從台北專程造訪位在嘉義的北回國小，驚喜連連，在節目中他說，台灣是他造訪過位在北回歸線國家中，建設最好、最富有、教育最佳也較自由的國家。

芮夫不僅是英國知名的電視節目主持人、探險家，也是名作家，他撰寫的The New Jackals、One Day inSeptember、Tropic of Capricorn等書，都登上「紐約時報」暢銷書排行榜。

芮夫接受英國媒體訪問時說，台北是個酷炫、時髦的城市，台北有許多很棒的餐廳，還有令人讚歎的電子商品。

他說，台北「平靜的秩序」是他離開台灣後最想念的。

芮夫建議，到台北的第一件事就是徒步逛市區，這是認識台北的好方法，而且逛街過程中可以發現一些令人驚喜的小吃；在許多國家人行道上的電話亭都有難看的塗鴉，但是台北的卻有很漂亮的繪畫。

談到台灣美食，芮夫推薦遠近馳名的鼎泰豐餐廳、台北國賓飯店「川菜廳」；陽明山上的「雲頂」餐廳，適合搭配安排一天到山上健行；「光點」則很適合邀請朋友一起聊天喝茶。

被問到台北最好的旅館，芮夫個人最愛圓山飯店，他說，這個蔣夫人興建的飯店，雖然房間有些地方出現磨損，但整棟飯店令人印象深刻，飯店目前還販售蔣夫人當年最愛的鬆糕點心。

對第一次到台灣的訪客，芮夫建議造訪離故宮博物院不遠的「順益原住民博物館」，他對館內的收藏讚譽有加，還提醒有意到故宮的遊客，最好避開下午時段，因為人潮眾多。

足跡跨越5大洲，芮夫對台灣的運輸系統品質十分肯定；他說，台灣的大眾運輸工具不僅整潔而且便宜，建議讀者一定要搭乘高鐵。

被問到在台北是否需要注意隨身財物，芮夫說，「你可以隨處走，把錢掉在地上，有人會把它撿起來，再很有禮貌的還給你」，「台北是世界上很安全的城市之一」。

至於在台灣應該買什麼紀念品回家？芮夫建議「電子產品和手工訂製西服」。

他說，全球多數的手提電腦都是台灣廠商製造，因此，台北到處都有很多販售電子商品的商店。

芮夫說，台北喜來登飯店5樓的西服店，不僅店家英語流利，並能在數天之內就做出品質很好的西服，價格很合理。


TROPIC OF CANCER WITH SIMON REEVE - Programme Six: Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hawaii.

Author and TV presenter Simon Reeve completes his epic 6-part journey around the Tropic of Cancer, the northern border of the tropics region. On this sixth leg of the journey he travels from north-west Laos across Vietnam, visits the island of Taiwan and then crosses the Pacific to finish his journey in Hawaii.

Photo shows Simon in Taiwan, one of the great economic success stories in the Tropics. While most other countries in the Tropics are desperately poor and riddled with corruption, Taiwan is a stable democracy with a powerful economy and one of the highest standards of living on the planet.

Photograph © Simon Reeve. More information: http://www.simonreeve.co.uk/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23069268@N07/4517314051/in/set-72157623721397255/
 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23069268@N07/4517315443/in/set-72157623721397255/

Blog Update - Famous Quotes

I have added many famous English quotes who have already been translated into Chinese. Reading them will not only help imporve your Chinese, but also provide an opportunity to examine ourselves and enhance wisdom.

Famous Quotes [名言佳句]

Tips for Managing Your Career

Tips for Managing Your Career by Andersen Consulting
埃森哲公司：經營職場生涯訣竅

1. Forge good relationships with co-workers; remember, it’s up to you to take the initiative.

　與同事建立良好的合作關係，主動提出想法，不藏私地與大家分享。

2. Keep in mind your organization’s goals and purposes at all times so you can help
　to accomplish them.

　時時記住組織必須達成的目標，並檢視自己的貢獻。

3. Create your own network of successful people within the office and maintain
　communication with them.

　與公司內部成功人士建立互動良好的關係，時時溝通聯繫。

4. Develop a real rapport with your supervisor based on mutual goals, interests,
　and abilities.

　本著共同目標、公司利益及自身能力，與長官建立良好的和諧關係。

5. Establish a reputation for reliability by completing tasks on time.

　讓自己成為大家心目中能準備完成工作，並「值得信賴」的夥伴。

6. Make your contributions and accomplishments known; they are the building blocks of
　your career, so don’t be shy about communicating them.

　盡量讓自己的表現讓大家知道，這是建立職場競爭力的重要籌碼，千萬別羞於表現自己。

7. Acknowledge graciously the contributions of others.

　時時記得並感激別人的協助及貢獻。

8. Suggest a solution whenever you point out a problem.

　點出問題時，千萬別忘了同時提出解決方案。

9. Know what your strengths are and plan your career path around them.

　清楚認識自己的優點及長處，選擇能讓長處發揮的職務。

10. Build and maintain a network of career contacts outside the office.

　建立並維持公司同事以外的人際關係。

11. Continue growing all the time; never be without a goal.

　時時學習並提高自己的競爭力，並保持目標清晰明確。

12. Remember that there is always a necessary next step; Figure out what it is.

　無論什麼事一定要想到下一步，仔細思考接下來要做什麼。


These setences are all from 《沒有不可能：外資首席分析師的第一名人生》
If you are interested, I recommend you read this book.

http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=0010424433

[Accum. Hrs.] 2010.03

**Accumulating Period : 2010.03

Washington Life Magazine - Yes, Taiwan

WL TRAVEL: Yes, Taiwan!
Posted on 13 April 2010

Big brother China sits next door, Japan is to the north, and the rest of Asia a short jaunt away – so, why Taiwan? The food to start with – but the mountains, hot springs, delicious teas, and friendly window into both Chinese and indigenous cultures are nice perks too.

By Michael M. Clements

Scooters are a way of life on Taipei’s busy downtown boulevards. (Photo Anchyi Wei)

Asia is synonymous with sprawling urban centers fueled by world-class vibrant economic hubs. Taipei isn’t as supercharged as Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur; but, in many ways, that is part of its charm. Life zips nimbly by in Taiwan’s capital city like the ever-present scooters, which are as much a part of its culture as the soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung (No. 194, Xin Yi Road, Sec. 2). But the city has a quiet side too. Stroll along a riverside park and you’ll see septuagenarians idly sipping tea under the shade of a sleepy sub-tropical tree as the breakneck pace of life unfolds around them.

Taipei 101 lights up the night sky. It’s the world’s second tallest completed skyscraper. (Photo Anchyi Wei)


Beijing and Shanghai might be current beau monde Asian hot spots, but travel in the PRC can be frenetic and taxing. And have you ever tried to find your way through Tokyo’s tangled underground system? Headache! Not so in Taipei. The city is easy to navigate, drivers (mostly) follow traffic rules (even the scooters), the air is breathable, and there is order … and democracy.

Taiwan has a long history of immigration and colonialism; with each wave, it has adapted. The Han Chinese influence currently permeates style, cuisine, communication, and built environment. But unlike the PRC, which continues to redefine itself following the cultural revolution, traditional Chinese arts and customs have survived in Taiwan uninterrupted. Still, the country isn’t defined solely by its Chinese roots; it has Western, Japanese, and indigenous cultural influences as well. Taiwan’s democratic ideals and close ties with Asian neighbors means Japanese cuisine, fashion, and “J-Pop” music are as pervasive as high-end Italian restaurants, McDonalds, Gucci, and hip-hop, creating a uniquely flavorful, cultural, and less commercial Asian travel experience.


Taipei Must-Sees

Any trip to Taipei should include the National Palace Museum and The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. You can’t understand what Taiwan is today without understanding where it came from. The museum has 650,000 works of art and antiquities dating back to 1400 B.C. but only shows 3,000 pieces currently. Chalk out a minimum of four hours to absorb as much as you can in the world’s most extensive and preeminent collection of Chinese cultural artifacts. While there, stop for tea at San-hsi-t’ang Tea Room, located on the fourth floor of the main exhibition building, or consume edible replicas of two of the museum’s most famous items – the Jadeite Cabbage with Insects and the Meat-Shaped Stone (both Ch’ing Dynasty, 1616-1911) – during dim sum at Silks Palace. This high-end restaurant is operated by Taiwan’s top luxury property developer, Formosa International Hotels Corporation. Reservations are recommended, even for lunch.

Just as fascinating, but with a modern twist, is Taipei 101. The pointed tower is an engineering marvel and must see. It also houses the luxury brand boutiques we’ve all come to love. However, the items are just as expensive (if not more so) than in the U.S. – Taipei 101 is no bargain shopper’s paradise. What is amazing, is the view and the elevator, which rockets visitors from the fifth to the 89th floor in 37 seconds.


Eat, sleep, party

Some of the best Chinese food in the world can be found in Taiwan. Most visitors first stop at Din Tai Fung (which you can also find in Los Angeles). Order the xiao long bao “soup dumplings,” sample the pork and vegetable shumai, drink Taiwan Beer, and worry about your diet later. There are a plethora of dining options in Taipei. Focus on those serving dumplings or beef noodle soup, and you won’t be disappointed. Gems abound, like local favorite Hunan-styled Peng Yuan Restaurant. Street food is a must try as well. Don’t miss the street samplings at popular tourist destinations Snake Alley and the Shilin Night Market.

High-end dining in Taipei is still developing – there’s almost no mention of Taipei in Fodors; but who needs a Michelin Guide when there are so many delicious local restaurants to sample? Sonoma and Cha Cha The’ hold their own with discerning foodies. The latter is notable for its tea collection. Like wines in France and whiskies in Scotland, tea is serious business in Taiwan. There are countless locally-grown varieties, including notably darker teas such oolong. Search them out – they are delicious and make perfect travel gifts for friends and family. You’ll never drink Lipton again.

Nightlife in Taiwan is active but lacks the voguish mania of Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai. That’s all right – it also lacks the pretension and inflated drink prices. For a chilled lounge with top-notch cocktails and DJs, try Barcode near Taipei 101. For the full-on club scene, there is the venerable Room 18. If you’re an under-30 bottle service type and feel like a night of lemon drops, canto-pop, and hip-hop then Spark is right for you. Wednesday is ladies night – work it!

The picturesque Taiwanese Pacific coastline.

Taroko National Park

It would be a shame to spend one’s entire trip inside restaurants, nightclubs, and museums. Taiwan’s mountains and miles of Pacific coastline offer perfect weekend escapes. Taroko National Park is a popular destination. To get there from Taipei, hop a one-hour flight to Hualien City then take a breathtaking 45-minute car trip into the mountains. The Grand Formosa Taroko, run by the same hotelier as the Grand Formosa Taipei, is nestled into a scenic mountain valley next to the Liwu River. It is the most luxurious accommodation and spa in the park. Taroko has something to see all year round. Favorite spots include the colorful rocks of Shakadang River, Lotus Pond, and the Bilyu Sacred Tree. Don’t forget your hiking shoes and camera.


The Road Less Traveled

To experience local culture, head to Taitung in Taiwan’s southeast corner. Travelers can fly from Hualien to Taitung in less than an hour or opt for a scenic but bumpy five-hour jaunt down the Hualien-Taitung Coastline Highway. The route has numerous places to stop and enjoy the beaches and waves of the Pacific. It also gives travelers a chance to see the country’s local side. Stop in the small towns and villages along the way to sample regional cuisine and culture.

A child from one of Taiwan’s 14 indigenous tribes wears traditional dress.

After spending the night at the family-friendly Hotel Royal Chihpen – regrettably the “Thomas the Train” and “Barbie” theme suites were booked – I headed over to Taitung’s municipal gymnasium for the Ilisin harvest festival. Each summer, hundreds of Amis (one of 14 officially acknowledged indigenous groups in Taiwan) take part in a centuries-old gathering and purification dance. Their smiles indicate how proud they are to keep the customs and language of their ancestors alive in the face of rapid modernization around them. The locally-brewed rice vodka helps lift spirits as well.

On the grounds of The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

An Artist’s Life

“This is the real Taiwan. It’s what Taiwan used to be before the shopping complexes and modern construction came,” says Matrico, who lives in Atolan Village, an artist’s commune in the village of Dulan, an hour drive north of Taitung City. He stands on the patio of a rundown tin-roofed cinder-block building, which serves as Atolan’s de facto café and social center. Inside, small folding stools circle five mismatched tables placed on a smooth cement floor. With Bob Marley songs playing nonchalantly in the background, I order an iced mocha. I notice a book on the table, pick it up and begin to read. A shirtless man with Maori-esque tattoos stretching shoulder-to-shoulder approaches. He holds the butt of a hand-rolled cigarette in one hand and a book that looks like the one I’m reading in the other. “I am Alien. This is my book,” he says with a toothy grin that exposes a red betel-nut-stained mouth. He points to the page I’m viewing and translates some of the Chinese characters on it. I’ve just met the Robert Mapplethorpe of Taiwan. The book, odd sexual references aside, would be an instant hit at an edgier U Street gallery. I buy one for US$7. He signs it “I am an alien of Asada who only worships myself.” So artistic!


Geothermal luxe

A cabana at chic boutique hotel and spa Villa 32. (Photo Anchyi Wei)


For those looking for Zen close to Taipei, the hot spring town of Beitou is highly recommended. There are a number of hot springs resorts and spas in the area, but the crown jewel is Villa 32. Here, next to peridot green steaming geothermal hot springs is one of Taiwan’s best kept secrets – a 6,000-square-meter open air pubic hot spring and ultra-exclusive five-room resort. The style is Japanese country home mixed with a modern design aesthetic built around the elemental themes of wood, stone, and water. It is clean and simple, yet über sophisticated and inviting. At a time when so many boutique hotels offer austere minimalist contemporary encounters, Villa 32 captures the essence of reductionist luxury in a form that is part jet-set, part pampered spa, part home, and part hideaway. Two rooms are Japanese style, three are European. I recommend a Japanese room ($600 night). As I soak in one of seven different pools of fresh geothermal mineral water and reflect back on a journey that took me across Taiwan and back; one word keeps coming to mind – authentic.


THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI

1. Go to the top of Taipei 101
2. Eat at Din Tai Fung
3. Explore a night market
4. See the National Palace Museum
5. Tour Yingge Ceramics Museum and “Old Street”

http://www.washingtonlife.com/2010/04/13/wl-travel-yes-taiwan/

中國時報 - 台灣正點

亞洲特色遊 美讚「台灣正點」
中國時報【劉屏／華盛頓十一日電】

台灣美在哪裡？與上海、東京、香港相較，台北的迷人之處何在？堪稱領導潮流的刊物《華府生活》（Washington Life）本月號以圖文並茂的方式介紹台灣，標題是「台灣正點」（Yes, Taiwan」。作者克萊門斯（Michael M.Clements）實地考察後的結論是：台灣許多特色是亞洲其他地方所無。

台北五景《華府生活》力推

文章引言寫道：中國老大哥就在隔壁，日本在北邊，赴其他亞洲城市也非常便利，為何選擇台灣？答案很簡單：美食、高山、溫泉、茶葉；而中國傳統文化及原住民文化也有加分效果。

文章介紹，若時間有限，至少要看看台北五個必到之處：台北一○一、鼎泰豐、夜市、故宮博物院以及鶯歌陶瓷老街。

文章指出，台北不像上海、東京、香港或吉隆坡那麼緊繃，這是台北迷人之處。台北步調輕快，例如到處可見機車；但台北也有安靜的一面，只要到任何一處河濱公園，您會看到老人在亞熱帶樹種的樹廕下悠閒啜茶，儘管快速變化的城市景象就在眼下。

三大文化融合 勝北京東京

北京及上海或許是當今熱門景點，但在中國旅行相當麻煩，東京錯綜複雜的地鐵也令人頭痛，台北則不然，找路容易，大多數駕駛人遵守交通規則，空氣清潔，一切井然有序，呈現出標準的民主社會！

台灣融合三大文化：中華、西方及日本，若加上原住民，就有四種。到台北不能錯過故宮或中正紀念堂，欲瞭解今日台灣，必先瞭解其過去。

台北一○一是最現代感的景點，也是建築工程奇蹟，不容錯過。其中有全球名牌精品店，價格與美國相當。

在台灣可以吃到全世界最好的中華美食。鼎泰豐（洛杉磯有分店）的小籠包之外，還有令人眼花撩亂的多種選擇，但水餃、牛肉麵準沒錯。精緻小館也很多，例如彭園的湖南菜；也別錯過萬華和士林夜市！

風味美食誘人 夜生活璀燦

台灣似乎還沒有「米其林評等」（Michelin Guide）的餐廳，但各式各樣的本地美味餐廳其實更勝一籌。帝國牛排館（Sonoma）、采采食茶文化（Cha Cha The）都有老顧客。台灣的茶種繁多，喝過烏龍就不會想再喝立頓了。

台灣夜生活非常活躍，但不像香港、上海、東京那般一窩蜂趕流行，所以也比較不會有灌水的價格。Barcode有一流調酒及精緻的室內裝璜，Room 18則有豪華舞池。較適合年輕人的是Sparx。

周末出遊，高山及太平洋海岸線是最適合的選擇。花蓮太魯閣國家公園四季各有特色，台東的原住民文化也吸引人，花東海岸線美景處處可見，城鄉文化及美食與都會大異其趣。欲欣賞禪境的，不妨一遊台北近郊的北投溫泉。

《華府生活》於一九九一年創刊，每月網路流覽人次高達五百四十萬。

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Blog Update - Excerpts

When I find some interesting and practical articles about Taiwan (covering topics such as life, travel, learning Chinese and so on) I will post them on my blog.

Excerpts [摘錄]