Not the end

July 21

As I have already decided to stay in Taiwan for five more days, so that I’m not leaving as the majority. In fact, I have a purpose that I must stay behind after the BACT program. I went to central of Taiwan again, to explore something that I’m going for. Some friends already what I’m going to do, hahaha!!!

No worries, I would be fine ;)!!!

This is not the end of the BACT journey, just do your best and keep going. See you guys soon!

Project presentation and last day

July 20
It’s the day for the BACT students to show what we learnt and what we found from the project. Although it was only a short period of meeting classmates and project progress, I felt I have meet a group of good friends from all around. The memories just came when I wake up in today…

No matter what, my duty is to cooperate with my group mates: Hulda, Hao, Baker.
As we’re the last group to present, we listened others group ideas. They all did a great job in the project. They clearly demonstrated their thoughts by doing survey and experiments, with convincing hypothesis.

Our group has different approach. We aimed at finding new method or protocol to facilitate the biological research. We focused on the software visualization of the vegetation in a area.

Project presentation…
Personally, I think our presentation is smooth and clear. Because we do pay as much effort as we can. Hope our project is feasible to apply widely in research aspects.

After the sharing and comments of the professors, we went to a Italian restaurant for the farewell banquet. I don’t know how to describe. It’s just time and memories. We’re just crazy, always photo-taking, and eating…

After the dinner, I received a call from my Taiwanese friend. That’s mean I have to pack my luggage and leave NTU after the call. I didn’t tell others I’m leaving. Fortunately, I met BACTers at the MRT station and took a last group photo. What a nice trip and friends, it’s the most fruitful trip I have ever went!!!

The day before...

July 19 

Today, we visited the Taipei City Zoo. We arrived early, so we hand around and have fun at the entrance. The decoration of the entrance is full of monkeys, so…

During waiting, I saw a white butterfly on a leaf. It’s entire white in both body and wings with damaged wings. But I still wonder it’s the mutant type of butterfly or moth.

Inside the zoo, we went to the research areas where normal tourists cannot go, where we were not allowed to take any pictures. At first, it’s a house to keep endangered species of reptiles. It’s full of snakes, chameleon and turtises. Then we went to outdoor areas for the larger animals. And we saw tiger, which may pee on us if we stay too long there =_,=

I didn’t stay in the zoo after the guided tour in the park. Because I went to meet my Taiwanese friends ;P

Rice Rice Rice

July 18
Due to the late sleep last night, I failed to response to the alarm clock. In other words, I’m late to the rice farming practice. When I arrived, the classmates have already done some rows T_T”””

It’s just...a long way to go…especially when you saw you are lacking behind XD
Although we all know that this farming practice is now taken over by mechanization. But this is a memorable experience for treasuring the food we can get. Because we experienced how tired and difficult to farm the rice in the farm land. It made me think more about the story behind the food indirectly when we buy it in the market.

In the afternoon, we tasted different types of rice and rice products as lunch. Most of them are very delicious!

After that, it is project time again. We have to organized our project run down in to a presentation. I enjoy the time working with my group mates, hahaha!

Back to Taipei !!!

July 17

After the project, everyone was exhausted. But we still have to go somewhere before we back to Taipei. There were three more places more to go, the Earthquake Museum of Taiwan, Agriculture Research Institute and Soil Museum.

Earthquake will not happen in Hong Kong, because we’re not in between the tectorial plates. But it’s not uncommon in Taiwan. On average, there are about 2000 recorded earthquakes in Taiwan each year. But most of them were not powerful to cause damage. The Earthquake Museum of Taiwan is originally is a earthquake-damaged secondary school, and now is modified as a museum. In here, I can feel the power of the level 8 earthquakes. That’s mean we must prepared any disaster and know what to do when it comes. If not, we may not protect ourselves and even others.

Then, we went to Agriculture Research Institute and Soil Museum. It demonstrated the advance green houses, which can trace when and who was get into the place. The isolation of farm lands were also well developed to prevent the spread of modified crops.

It is always good to travel and know more about Taiwan. But just…I’m tired and miss the night market in Taipei!!!

Eat ‘eat’ all !!!

Second day of the project

July 16
For every project, it’s all about division of labor. After quick breakfast, we continue go into the forest and start our work. Since the materials were limited, we only have the nylon strings for the grid placing. It took a complicated procedure for us to fix the strings in a straight way. Just we use the stands and stones to fix them.

After the grid placing, we start to survey the location and the abundance of plants in the area. And here is our draft work, different logo represents different types of the plants. The location is also noted in the paper with calculated scale. We completed this progress before lunch.

That’s means we finished the site work before lunch !!!

After the field work, here is our paper work…
It’s very strange there were no fine table in the dorm room…

So, we do our work on the bed…………

Finally, finished =]!!!

Project started

July 15
I’m very tired so that I haven’t wake up early for the breakfast. I skipped the breakfast and consume a cup noodles as my first meal today. After that, we went out for the outdoor lecture of environmental engineering.

Basically, the purpose of environmental engineering is to compromise the city development with the nature environment. Most of the stuff in Taiwan is quite well designed in eco-friendly manner. In the experimental forest, there was a comb dam. This is a kind of novel design to protect the lower stream areas by preventing the large rocks to reach there.

In the afternoon, it is the time for us to start of our project. However, due to the typhoon, we only have two days for the field site work of the project. That means we have to be efficient during the progress. And also, if we failed to complete the project, there was nothing can be used to compensate. Just go for it, bump into the rain and do it all !!!

In progress

Since the rain is heavy, we decided to continue the grid and counting tomorrow.

Nervous day

July 14
Today, it’s the Project Proposal Presentation day. Basically, I’m quite nervous that I haven’t stand out to speak English. And during the proposal, I have to explain the thoughts and respond to the floor question. In addition, there were many professors with profession in soil and plants.

Even more, our group is not aim to perform experiment to prove a hypothesis. Our approach is to think of pilot ways or tools to facilitate the existing biological studies. The feasibility of the project is not determined before we do the testing. This made me very nervous…

Base on lacking internet access, it’s rather difficult to find the direction of project. It’s just because we may find papers and journals to obtain support and ideas of the project. But after the long discussion with my group mates, we have two proposed projects:

1. Visualization of the vegetation (AutoCAD)

Since the traditional research of the plant can only show number and species of plants with limited exact location of the vegetation. This brings us into deep thought to a new way to show the exactly location of the plants in the selected area. The outcome is to enhance the biological studies of plants with easier comparative research.

This project requires drafting software, AutoCAD, which is widely used by the engineers and architectures. This program can accurate note the location of the different types of vegetation in a specific area.

2. Distant identification of birds (Morphological ratio)

The normal bird survey in a area, it usually use the mist nest to capture the birds on a location for a fixed duration. The mist nest is usually placed in the flight route of the birds, and tied between two trees. When the bird bumps into the nest, they would be captured and wrapped by the nest. However, about 40% of birds captured may be injured or killed. We are now proposing a method for bird survey without catching birds.

This idea is come from the facial detection of human, especially for forensic propose. We can make use of the species difference in body parts ratio birds to recognize the species of birds at the distant, such as eyes to beak ratio of the birds. The method is to have the picture of the bird and use the data base to identify the birds by the morphological ratio.

After the whole discussion, we decided to go for the project 1 only. The reason is that we only have limited time and resources to complete this project only…

Black-out

July 13

At the mid-night, I feel hot on the bed. But I didn’t realized the fact that the electricity stopped due to the storm. Before I slept, I just know the weather is not good, there were constant and heavy rainfall since yesterday night. All I want is a good weather so that I can explore the tall trees in Siuto. But the weather just went bad…sad story…

For whole day, it is boring. And I’m very tired so that I slept a lot…ZZZZZzzzz
In the after noon our group started to think about the project title. This is quite challenge for me. Because the ideas and the choices of the topics are very important for the whole team. The difficulty is we have to think it without using the internet and information of the Siuto…

We got a lot ideas, but just did not know which one we should choose…

At night, the electricity came back. It is a nice experience of a day without electricity ;P
Just in my  home town, the black out only happened when the annual check is in progress. This also reminds me the life in South Africa, no electricity at night. Because the house I stayed was depends on solar energy.

Tea culture

July 12 

In the afternoon, we arrived the dorm. We noticed that the typhoon is coming to Taiwan, I hope the weather won’t be too bad.

At morning, we visited the tea farm. This tea farm is close to the place where we stay. There different sector of the tea farm, which is responsible for different tea plants. At the entrance of the tea farm, there were two road of trees. At first, I didn’t realized they are Sakura trees !!! There were special stuff wrapping the lower stem of these trees, this can use to protect the trees from pest and fungi.

It is quite embarrassing for me as not knowing the tea so much. Because tea is one of famous Chinese culture, which is very complicated to be produced.. Another problem is I don’t like the taste of the tea. It is just because I do not like bitter food …

Endemic ?

July 11

I’m a little bit tired bit today. But we still have to go on the bus and sleep lol…
At the morning, we visited the endemic specimen research institute

For me, this is really a well organized museum. Because the demo of plants and animals specimens are real. That just prepared by collecting the dead bodies of the organisms, that can be preserved after special treatment.

In Taiwan, the public awareness of environmental protection is high. Many locals in here are involving in the animal field research. Even more, they already have more advanced data base and network for the environmental studies.

However, human still cannot bring every things back to the earth. Just seeing the bones of Taiwan Black Bears, this make me think deep about the previous hunting practices of the endangered animals due to the demand of the people…

After that, we went to the Wildlife Animal Rescue Center. It hosted many disabled or injured animals here. There is one of the large bird cannot release back to the nature because of one wing broken…It’s sad to here that.

By the way, there is a cute owl stored at the entrance of the center. This owl was previously kept as pet but disposed by the owner for no reason.. That means, think more before you want to keep a pet, be a responsible pet owner.

Then this is first time that I came to close to bats. Because we usually see bats in sky or caves only. They’re the only mammals can fly, and mysterious !

At night, we have the lectures about Tea culture and production. I personally don’t like tea very much. But I consumed a lot of tea in this lecture ;P

Carpentry

July 10

Wood utilization is an essential industry in everywhere. Since wood furniture is very special that many people like the feeling of staying in a wooden house. Even more, the tables. chairs of NTU are often produced by the wood factory in Shueli.

In fact, the whole process of wood utilization is very complicated, I just realized how the timber can craft into useful items here after the visit of the wood utilization factory.

Cutting of the timber into plates

Chopped in to usable pieces

Absolute right angle of the timber

Fine crafting

I got a small flat piece of wood and I do the simple sanding. The primary product is done ;P

Then, it is our challenge. DIY a wooden tissue box !!!

First…here are the wooden materials and the sanding paper.

After sanding…a little be tired  lol

Make it into box…

Painting…

Done !!!

Don’t think it is easy to make one, it required a lot of time and enery to make a really nice quality wooden tissue box ;P

This makes me think of how we exploit the wood sources form the forest, and be treasure every furniture at home, especially the wooden ones.

The tradition and tomatoes

July 09 

In many years ago, there were locals lived in Taiwan before the Japan colonization. One of the groups is Saideke tribe. They are a group of people which is strong and smart in hunting practices. Today, I’m very happy that Mr. Ng who is originated from Saideke tribe is going to show the cultures and the traditional hunting practices to us.

The clothes

Various kinds of traps

Then, we use of the vegetables that we collected yesterday to make Chinese steamed break. Chan Hao is very good at Chinese noodle and bread making, he taught us how to prepare a good dough for bread making.

Here is the professional. Our project member Chan Hao !!!

Then, here is our delicious Chinese steamed bread  >3<!!!

In the afternoon, we went to Chuenyan sub-farm for tomatoes harvesting.
Unfortunately, due to the increased rainfall, the fruit ripening season was delayed. That means every one can only get two tomatoes only…QAQ”””
But they are very sweet and delicious!

At night, we stayed in Shueili, which is a Wood Utilization Center.
And we made our Rubin lock. This is a kind of toy really requires high level of thinking……..which is very difficult for me lol…………

Please wake up early QAQ””

July 08

We wake up at 5 o’clock for bird watching. However, we can only hear the bird sounds instead of seeing the entire body of the birds. This is just because birds are very alert to the surroundings to protect themselves and the nest. But, we still can locate the birds nearby with the aid of the tour guide =]!!!

Then we have time to explore the farm and experience a part of farm work.

1. Harvesting
2. Washing
3. Juice making
4. Drinking

We also have a great lesson of organic farming. It talked about the organic fertilizer and the special organic liquid fertilizer. With these compost method, Dr. Lau can produce crops with zero heavy metal content. Personally, I think he really did a great job in farming with his pilot mind!

Then…I started feeling pain in my gum. In fact, it started swelling in yesterday. After conversation with Jack, the workers in the farm took me to the nearest hospital to see the dentists for the treatment. The workers in here is very kind and nice, we chat a lot during the travel and talk about the difference of Taiwan and Hong Kong.

After that, we backed to the farm and have good rest.

Alpine land

July 07

Alpine hiking day
In a summary, we hike two peaks of 合歡山today. The atmosphere is quite special. First, we are closer to the sun that makes we warm. But at the same time, the cold breeze makes us cool.

On the way, me a woman brought three little dogs to hike. They’re very energetic! Compared to myself, I get tired easily, hahaha.

The sky, clouds…

The alpine plants, very unique and special

However, I do not like hiking as I am not good at balance of the steps. But I think is is worth to hike here. The clouds, breeze and the vegetation is just refreshing me.

Climbing day

July 06
Why I say it’s climbing? It is because we will on the bus to reach about 3300 meter height elevation space nearing the Hehuanshan. Today, we climb by feet and bus  =0)

The signs sound scary, but I found it’s very safe to hike here ;P

On the way we found the hanging bridge and water fall. The bridge was shaking all the time because we are all very excited to cross the bridge to take the picture with the water fall   …LOL

Then, we passed through the caves…very dark. Thus flashlights is needed, we found there were bats inside the caves. They hang themselves upside down for sleeping. Our classmate Kylee has rich knowledge in bats that she told us the bat’s urine dissolves the rocks. This is very fresh information for me ;) !!!

On the way…

Cave of water(?)

At the end of the day, we settle at Meifeng farm which is at 3300 elevation high, this is the first time I reach this high. At first, I think I will feel unwell due to low concentration of oxygen. Fortunately, I am OK ;)

Hiking day

July 05
At morning, we go hiking again. Taroko is also one of the National parks, we went to the Shakadang trail.

The teacher told as very detailed information of the plants in there. This is a great lesson for me, as I’m very weak at the plant taxonomy.

On the way, it’s surprisingly cool. This probably because the trees provided shaded areas, there even have water dropping from the rock on the above just like raining.

In the mid-way, we found a safe and clear water running area to have ‘rest’. The water speed is acceptable and extremely clean and cool. Let’s get wet XD

Then we head on the bus and went to the Swallow Grotto trail. The natural beauty of the cliff is really amazing. The sound of the running water is just like the song of the nature, it’s a song makes you want to stay longer in there.

Orchid and mountains

July 4

Taiwan is famous of agricultural products. The orchid industry has already developed very well and used as commercial crops to export. The program brings us to visit the orchid garden of the company King Car, which has a diversity of company in coffee, wine and orchid. In this orchid garden, it is full of beautiful and diverse of orchids. This included the endemic and native species.

Orchid garden

The largest orchid

The R&D is essential to maintain the competitiveness of the company. They have the garden for breeding some new color orchids. It makes me think of the potential of this company.

Then, we continue our journey to Hualian. We passed the Cingshui Cliff. This is the first time I see the cliff, it’s gorgeous and worth to see. 

Travel !!!

July 03 Tourists Day

In summary, today is quite a relaxing day. After a long period of studying and lectures in NTU and guided trips to museums, today we are just like a tourists. Since Taipei is a popular place for travel, and we went to to a gold ecological park at the morning.

This place is previously as the gold mine site. But now, it is no longer open for mining. Instead, it is modified as a tourists site for experiencing the old days.

 We visited the working place and the train trail of the mine workers.

Besides, we also experienced the taste of obtaining gold.

Finally we went to Jiufen and Shifen in the afternoon!!!
I enjoy the leisure time in these two place a lot, the people are very nice and the food, atmosphere and the culture makes me don't want to go away...

Jiufen : food and people


Shifen : view and culture

Blue and Buddha

July 02

After yesterday's DIY dumpling section. We're all excited about to make things by our own hand. This morning, we have another chance to make a blue cloth which is in the Jingshan. The blue dye we used is the indigo. In order to make specific pattern,  the wood stick and rubber band were tied on the cloth to prevent specific entry of dye in to the cloth.

Finally, here is the process and my own product.

 

 
 I just can't imagine my work looks better than my expectation ;P

After the blue dye, we went to Dharma Drum Mountain for experiencing the Buddha religious status.
They aim at emptiness and kind to all people. This is good point of view to make a ideal and peace world. However, I think it is not a good thinking for youngster, as it would make people less competitive in the demanding society. 

In the afternoon, we went to Juming Museum. There were lots of art work there. The main theme of this museum is Taichi, Navy, Army.

Rocks and water

This day, we visit Yeliu Geology Park at the morning.

 

There’re lots of geological parks in Taiwan. In these areas, the natural landscape is protected. The eco-tourism is very popular in Taiwan.

Strange rocks, most of them are the result of erosion of wind or water, and even due the earthquakes. The view is the real and natural that is very excite me. And the same, the photos can tell more than words.

mushroom rocks

star fish fossils

C-shape rock

candle rocks,

The next station is Fishery institute.
this is a modernized and specialized to monitor the fishing industry of the region.
different kinds of fishing boats,


fishing method A ?


A very large grouper  XD!!! It swims faster than I expected.


A preserved small whale, it is real !!! Because of the special smell

And here, I notice the real case of artificial reefs: the ‘retired' fishing boat sinks into water preserved marine animals. Then here is the using boats and me :)

NO PHOTO TAKING PLZ (?

Basically...we went to two museums.
But....the things inside is too precious, so that we cannot use our cameras.

Here is the entrance of the National Palace Museum.

Just...I'm don't have good memory...I just remember we saw the 'Stone vegetable' and many bronze tools which are hand-crafting valuable products. However, I saw some ivory and rhino items over there...This makes me sad...

At the night, we go to the most famous night market in Shilin. It was full of people, shops XD
I cannot tell how big it is, it's just too big !!!


I wondered the what is the population density here....

Then we head to the under ground area, the Food Court !
This is the first shop we buy the first food 'Large one wrapping the small one'

The outer one is rice, and inside one is the tasty sausage >3<

This is the popular fried eggs with oyster, I like it so much !!!
This is because I like to eat oyster >3<!!!!


This deep fried chicken is very huge and delicious, it has the size of my face.
So can I call it's face-chicken (?

At the end, Vico suggested we should have a drink for the good of the stomach. So...we brought a kinds of bitter drinks, it is balsam pear's juice. You can see how is my face...it's not sweet QAQ...

Ceramics day :D

The entrance, it's simple. But all the things inside is very fascinating. It is the way of Chinese, which is rather low-profile. However, the great things and ideas are all collected in a nut shell.

I cannot tell what these things are...this as arts...XD

 Chicken tea port XD

Elephant, cute ! But I have no money to buy lol

 The museum do provides the hearing tools that helps a lot. Because it would not affected by the noise near by. So that we can clearly understand the tour here, nice !!!

The kilm for the ceramics, this one is a old one.

In fact,we always forget our toilet is made by ceramics...XD

Nice one 

This is also a nice one XD

 I like this one so much, the gold on the top matches with the white and blue ceramics <3

 After looking at the other professional ceramics, it is the time for us to show our creativity !!!

We have the chance to make our own one !

Hmmmmm, just get started...

Work in process...

It seems I can make a good one...

But finally, I found I'm not creative...hahahahahahaha