Should old times past be forgotten?

'Auld Lang Syne' - Happy New Year

'Auld Lang Syne' (YouTube video)

The Anglicized version of 'auld lang syne' means old long-since,
old long-ago, old long past, or times gone by.

The best-known use of the phrase is Robert Burns' poem Auld lang
syne, the words of which are sung in English-speaking countries
around the world each New Year's Eve, to a tune that Burns said he
transcribed from an old man's singing of it. (The Phrase Finder)

The theme of 'auld lang syne' is the past. It is a nostalgic, bittersweet,
loving song, which calls upon us not to forget the old times past, but
to cherish them as wonderful and sweet memories.



Beautiful Version Of Auld Lang Syne (YouTube video)

Happy New Year!


Robert Burns' poem "Auld Lang Syne" (1788):

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wandered mony a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.


Should old times past be forgotten?


Yeh Tze

冬雷震震

Winter Solstice  (YouTube video)





While we were welcoming the “Arrival” of Winter, 冬”至”, or
"winter (冬) extreme (至)", a series of powerful rainstorms hit the
Valley.

Early this morning, besides 風聲, 雨聲 and the 隆隆溪水聲, I awoke
to a very unsettling sound, which turned out to be the sounds of
rumbling thunder.

Thunder does happen in the winter time.

There is an old wives' tale about winter thunder and snow. It says
that if there is thunder in winter, it will snow in 10 days. I would
love to see this happen in the Valley.


我欲與君相知，長命無絕衰。山無陵、江水為竭；冬雷震震、夏雨雪，
天地合，乃敢與君絕。

- 漢樂府  上邪  漢 無名氏 -


Obviously, “冬打雷”, “雷打冬”, or  "冬雷震震", was considered to be
extremely rare, or even impossible, by the ancient Chinese poet.



Yeh Tze

Genghis Khan's Y chromosome

Genghis Khan - Mini Bio (from Bio.com)


In the current issue of Newsweek Magazine Dec. 10 2012, there is a
story entitled “The Hidden Grave of History's Greatest Warrior".
It says:

“A multidisciplinary research project uniting scientists in America
with Mongolian scholars and archeologists has the first compelling
evidence of the location of Khan’s burial site and the necropolis of
the Mongol imperial family on a mountain range in a remote area in
northwestern Mongolia.”

The discovery, if confirmed to be true, could prove to be problematic
for a variety of reasons, cultural and political.

Nevertheless, if the tomb is located, opened and his remains are found,
I would expect a comprehensive DNA study/Genome Sequence to be
performed on him.

Research published in the American Journal of Human Genetics in
2003, “The Genetic Legacy of the Mongols”, suggested that 16 to 17
million men, most in Central Asia, shared a form of the Y chromosome
that indicates a common ancestor. The investigations proved that this
cluster originated from Mongolia about a thousand years ago, and its
distribution coincided surprisingly with the boundaries occupied by the
Mongol Empire at that time.

Based on this coincidence, the researchers have assumed that the Y-
chromosomes described by them belonged to Genghis Khan and his
offsprings. They concluded that Genghis Khan's direct patrilineal
descendants today constitute about 8% of men in a large area of Asia
( ie. about 0.5% of the world population).

Isn't Genghis Khan the most prolific man in history?


Yeh Tze

堂堂溪水出前村

萬山不許一溪奔  攔得溪聲日夜喧 (YouTube video)


到得前頭山腳盡  堂堂溪水出前村 (YouTube video)


桂源舖 南宋‧楊萬里

萬山不許一溪奔，攔得溪聲日夜喧，
到得前頭山腳盡，堂堂溪水出前村。


The first winter rain and wind storm has hit the Valley.

Last night, I heard 夜來風雨聲.

Early this morning, I woke to the sounds of the roaring Redwood
Creek 隆隆溪水聲 that passing by our backyard.

Redwood Creek begins 2,600 feet above the Napa Valley atop
Mount Veeder. From there, the creek descends through the
Redwood and Fir-lined canyons, 萬山不許一溪奔.

The creek crashes down through a narrow box canyon producing
a series of roaring waterfalls known as the "Devil's Well.",
攔得溪聲日夜喧.

It winds its way down past our backyard, 到得前頭山腳盡, 

and then skirts the Redwood Road making its way toward downtown,
堂堂溪水出前村.

It finally flows into Napa River that eventually runs to the San Pablo
and San Francisco Bay.

While enjoying the scenes and sounds of nature in the valley, I also
remember the lively poem written by the 南宋 poet 楊萬里, who had
amusingly depicted the wisdom and power of nature.


Yeh Tze

人生七十

Aloha Oe (YouTube music video)

人生七十

A few days ago, the day before Thanksgiving, I turned 70.

In his “曲江對酒”, 杜甫 said “人生七十古來稀”.  It must be quite true
during his time.

It has also been said that life just begins when you reach the age of
seventy, or ”人生七十才開始” (于右任 1961).

Although “人生七十古來稀” has long never been the case, I am not
really in agreement with the saying “人生七十才開始” either.

How do you define or elaborate  "人生七十才開始” ?

I however like what confucius had said: "七十而從心所欲，不踰矩。"

Certainly, turning 70 is one of the major turning points in my life.
Our children consider it to be an important event as well.

Last week, through their delicate planning and arrangement, my wife
and I had a great time together with our children and their families,
including our three lovely grandchildren, in Hawaii.





It was a memorable family vacation.

It was also my another experience of “A Time I Treasure”.


Yeh Tze

“The Silverado Squatters”

Treasure Island (1950)  (YouTube video)




Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894), a Scottish travel writer and
novelist, author of “Treasure Island”(金銀島), once spent a honeymoon
with his newly wed wife at an abandoned mining camp on Mount Saint
Helena in late spring and early summer of 1880.

He suffered from what appeared to be a lifelong "fibrinous bronchitis"
condition, that turned for the worse when he was staying in the Bay Area
after he came to America. A friend suggested that he moved to Calistoga
in the upper Napa Valley. There he found rest, fresh air and warm
sunshine, contentment and rare health. He kept a diary, the "Silverado
Journal", a meticulous record of his experiences which he later
recounted in his travel memoir “The Silverado Squatters”.



This monument marks the area where his cabin is believed to have been
located.

Many of his notes of the enchanting, almost primitive scenery around
him later provided much of the descriptive detail for "Treasure Island"
(1881-1882).

On this lovely autumn Saturday morning, cold but sunny, we drove to
the upper valley and paid a visit to this historic site, where we were
also rewarded with an awesome autumn view of the Napa Valley while
hiking along the St. Helena Trail.



Overlooking the Napa Valley from Mt. St. Helena Trail

It was a three and a half hours of hiking. We enjoyed it. It is a time I
treasure (珍惜的時光).


Yeh Tze

A Sight to Behold

Petrified Forest (YouTube video)



A Sight to Behold

On this lovely autumn morning, we made a visit to The Petrified Forest,
where we saw the world’s largest petrified trees and appreciated the
awesomeness of nature.

We imagined that we stepped back in time over 3 million years and
walked the trail of the petrified redwood giants.



Once towering redwoods now "rocks of ages"

In 1871, Charles Evans found the first stump of petrified wood while
tending his cattles in this forest meadow. He then claimed this forest
property under the "Timber & Stone Act"; excavated various petrified
logs, including the Queen Tree. (8 feet in diameter, 65 feet in length.)
Some of this Redwoods were over 2,000 years old when they were
buried over 3 million years ago.

Writer Robert Louis Stevenson visited Charles Evans and his Petrified
Forest during his honeymoon in the wine country in 1880. Stevenson
recounted his visit in his booklet, "The Silverado Squatters".

................. "Who first found the forest?" asked my wife. (Stevenson's)
"The first? I was that man," said he (C. Evans). "I was cleaning up the
pasture for my beasts, when I found THIS"-kicking a great redwood
seven feet in diameter, that lay there on its side, hollow heart, clinging
lumps of bark, all changed into gray stone, with veins of quartz between
what had been the layers of the wood. ................. .



Commemorative plaque depicting meeting between Petrified Charlie
and Robert Louis Stevenson.


One and a quarter century later, after having visited this unique place,
where is actually less than an hour's drive away from his home, Yeh Tze
found that it was a sight to behold, and therefore he posted his trip
experience, his thought and the photos he had taken on his own blog:
"The Yeh Tze File".


Yeh Tze

Spring Forward, Fall Back

Sunrise, Sunset  (Youtube video)

Spring Forward, Fall Back

It is that time of the year again!

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4, 2012
in the United States.

Daylight Saving Time (DST), often referred to as "Summer Time",
(夏令時間). is a way of making better use of the daylight, as "there
is more light in the evenings and we can do more for the entire day."

DST is supposed to reduce energy use as well, according to some
sources.

In ancient times, people

“日出而作, 日入而息;  鑿井而飲, 耕田而食.”
(擊壤歌  帝堯時代).

"種豆南山下, 草盛豆苗稀. 晨興理荒穢, 帶月荷鋤歸."
(歸園田居  晉 陶淵明, 365－427)

"We rise with the lark and go to bed with the lamb. "
(Nicholas Breton, English poet and novelist, 1545–1626).

Daylight Saving Time (DST) 於我何有哉！

For people who are retired, neither DST (Summer Time) nor
Standard Time really affect them. They simply 想睡就睡, 睡到
自然醒. Only 醒來何處去 matters.


Yeh Tze

春去秋來

今年歡笑復明年，秋月春風等閒度。《琵琶行》 唐•白居易
白髮漁樵江渚上，慣看秋月春風。《臨江仙》 明•楊慎

Spring had gone, Autumn has arrived. 春去秋來

The other day, my NTUMC 1968 classmate D.J. sent an e-mail message
to the classmates. I was one of the recipients. It said:

“I know that Yeh Tze loves 三國演義卷首詞, it is on the front page
of yehtze.com. 這首楊慎 的臨江仙 被人品為千古絕唱.

The line "青山依舊在, 幾度夕陽紅." was incorporated into a Chinese
movie and pop music. And I did listen to 潘越雲's 幾度夕陽紅 and found
that the music and lyric were enjoyable."   D.J.



幾度夕陽紅  潘越雲 (YouTube video)

《幾度夕陽紅》  詞：瓊瑤   曲：陳玉立

時光留不住　春去己無踨   潮來又潮往　聚散苦匆匆
往事不能忘　浮萍各西東   青山依舊在　幾度夕陽紅
且拭今宵淚　留與明夜風   風兒攜我夢　天涯繞無窮
朝朝共暮暮　相思古今同   青山依舊在　幾度夕陽紅


Then, one of my high school classmates, Y.C. forwarded to the 建中1961
classmates “Another old tune we used to sing in school”:



憶兒時  (YouTube video)

《憶兒時》詞：李叔同   曲：威廉•S•海斯

春去秋來，歲月如流，遊子傷飄泊。回憶兒時，家居嬉戲，光景宛如昨。
茅屋三椽，老梅一樹，樹底迷藏捉。高枝啼鳥，小川游魚，曾把閑情。
兒時歡樂，思樂不可作。兒時歡樂，斯樂不可作。

While we remain "青山依舊在" and in the stage of  "秋月春風等閒度", "慣
看秋月春風", we all love the oldies. 憶兒時, 光景宛如昨.


Yeh Tze

珍惜的時光

珍惜的時光

蘇兄:

真有榮幸, 我們的人生旅途再度交叉. 雖然短暫, 也是有緣.

而您們夫婦倆在你退休後, 一起各處走走, 或遊山玩水, 或含飴弄孫, 享受人生.

你們搭捷運, 坐公車,看盡灣區景點, 不亦樂乎.

更可貴的, 嫂夫人在腳傷尚未痊癒, 全程相陪. 每刻時光, 都要珍惜,
因為那都是永久的珍貴回憶.

以下我要與你們共亨一段去年我倆在台灣的一段經驗:

A Time I Treasure (www.yehtze.com)

旗津燈塔 

During the course of one's life, there are always certain experiences

that one would remember and treasure for the rest of one’s life.

Taking a walk with my wife around her hometown was one of those.

While 高雄 was my wife’s childhood hometown, I was a 台北人. I had

not had a chance to take a real look at her hometown before we left

Taiwan for the US in 1972.

Late autumn last year, I finally had the opportunity to do so.

Before dawn one early morning, we left her old house in 鹽埕埔 and

started another walking tour guided by my wife. We came to the

famous 愛河, where we were welcomed by schools of fish swimming

in the same direction as ours. They seemed to accompany us for a

pleasant trip.

While strolling along the bank, my wife started to provide me the

history of the Love River, as well as that of her hometown, which she

had known well as a 在地人.

We walked to the ocean bay and took the ferry to 旗津. We climbed

up to the lighthouse on the top of hill, where we had a grand view of

高雄港. She pointed to various places that she was so familiar with.

She refreshed her old memories of her trips with her family and

friends during her childhood and youth. Her sweet memories seemed

to become mine as well.

Despite being a several hour walking tour, I did not feel tired at all

during this entire trip simply because I had a lovely private tour guide.

Yeh Tze

礦工的兒子

Vanishing Coal Mines of Pingxi Valley (YouTube video)

(This film documents the coal mining operations in the Pingxi Valley
of Northern Taiwan in 1993 and tells the story of the hard physical
work required of the men and women who worked in the industry.
It also focuses on the railroad system that was essential for moving
the product from mountain to market. The last of these mines closed
in 1997 after nearly 90 years of operation.)


Su Hwa is one of my classmates from my high school years. Our life
paths crossed again in Taipei last year for the first time since we
graduated more than half a century ago. It was however only a brief
encounter.

A couple of days ago, my wife and I had another opportunity to meet
with him and his lovely wife when they came to the United States to
visit their daughter and see their grandson. 

We drove to Alameda, the East Bay, to see them. We had a great time
together and refreshed the old sweet memories.

Su Hwa was born into a poor family in a suburban town outside Taipei
City. His father was a coal miner.  He was one of the nine children in
this coal miner’s family. Since his early childhood, he knew he had to
work hard, 力爭上游, and needed to do something extra, besides
studying hard in school, in order to support himself as well as to help
ease his father's burden.

He started working as a newspaper delivery boy during his middle
school years. He delivered the Evening News Papers (自立晚報) every
day after school and did it 風雨無阻.

The very first time we met was when we both entered high school at the
Taipei 建國中學 in 1958. We both were placed in the “狀元班”, as we
were among the top achievers in the high school entrance requirements,
which were very strict and competitive.

The students in this class were either crouching tigers or hidden dragons
(臥虎藏龍). Su Hwa was however an extremely humble, quiet and low
key student who often shied away from the crowds. As we both belonged
to a small group that I characterized as “silent listeners and passive
participants”, we became close friends. We both considered ourselves as
the "not the very competent", or not so confident persons in the class.
We however found that we were able to talk to each other freely without
having the fear of feeling "incompetent".

Su Hwa later pursued his major in the college and graduate school. He
eventually took a prominent job in the private sector and finally a college
teaching faculty position.

I have now found him to be an accomplished professional, and a very
"competent" and confident person, who is no more “afraid to talk”.

We all had a good time together again during this round of paths crossing.


Yeh Tze

不亦快哉 "The Book Of Awesome"

Neil Pasricha: The 3 A's of awesome


戰國•宋玉《風賦》

楚襄王遊于蘭台之宮，宋玉、景差侍。有風颯然而至，王乃披襟而當之，
曰：“ 快哉此風！……”

Awesome things happen to all of us throughout our lives. They make
us smile and we feel “不亦快哉”.

These things are happening every day all around us. Somewhere
someone is smiling or inspired because of these awesome moments in
life.

金聖嘆, a Chinese editor, writer and critic in the 明末清初, wrote
三十三則 “不亦快哉”。Among them,  其廿四："久客得歸，望見郭門，
兩岸童婦，皆作故鄉之聲。不亦快哉！"

At a later time, writers such as 林語堂、梁實秋 and even the modern-day
李敖 had also written their own favorite “不亦快哉” accounts sharing
their life experiences and awesome feelings.




“The Book of Awesome”, written by Neil Pasricha, presents simple
pleasures for a younger, hipper generation and reminds them of little
things that make us smile every day.

Entries include:

• Popping Bubble Wrap
• Wearing underwear just out of the dryer
• Fixing electronics by smacking them
• Getting called up to the dinner buffet first at a wedding
• Watching The Price Is Right when you're home sick
• Hitting a bunch of green lights in a row
• Waking up and realizing it's Saturday

In this book we find numerous awesome reminders of simple pleasures
we take for granted.


On this lovely autumn Saturday morning, after taking a gentle hike on
the neighborhood hill park, with a cup of coffee from “Starbucks” and
a couple of donuts from “Safeway” on my desk, I relaxingly sit on my
comfortable chair editing the writings that I have just posted on my blog,
“ The Yehtze File”. 

AWESOME !  不亦快哉.


Yeh Tze

"唐人自何處來"

Old Folks At Home (YouTube video)

In the journey of life, even though we may begin at different times and
places with different backgrounds, our paths cross with others so that
we may share compassion, observations, and hope.

Crossing someone’s path is often coincidental, unexpected, and is a
transient encounter that may even happen only once in a lifetime.

In his 【雅舍小品】, 梁實秋 wrote a chapter entitled "唐人自何處來".

He was one of the "清華學子"s  who were so fortunate to have the
privilege to come to the United States as a  "官派留學生".

On their way to Denver/Colorado Springs, Colorado by train, they
stopped at Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they happened to come across
a "老者", who was a former Chinese railroad worker (鐵路華工) and
owned a small Chinese restaurant in town then.

He wrote:

車過夏安，那是懷歐明州的都會，四通八達，算是一大站。從此換車南下
便直達丹佛和科羅拉多泉了。我們在國內受到過警告，在美國火車上不可
到餐車上用膳，因為價錢很貴，動輒數元，最好是沿站購買零食或下車小
吃。

在夏安要停留很久，我們就相偕下車，遙見小館便去推門而入。我們選了
一個桌子坐下，侍者送過菜單，我們檢價廉的菜色各自點了一份。在等飯
的時候，偷眼看過去，見櫃台後面坐著一位老者，黃臉黑發，像是中國人
，又像是日本人，他不理我們，我們也不理他。

我們剛吃過了飯，那位老者踱過來了。他從耳朵上取下半截長的一支鉛筆
，在一張報紙的邊上寫道： “唐人自何處來？”

果然，他是中國人，而且他也看出我們是中國人。他一定是廣東台山來的
老華僑。顯然他不會是國語，大概是也不肯說英語，所以開始和我們書談
。我接過了鉛筆，寫道：“自中國來。” 他的眼睛瞪大了，而且臉上泛起一
絲笑容。他繼續寫道： “來此何為？” 我寫道：“讀書” 。

這下子，他眼睛瞪得更大了，他收斂起笑容，嚴肅的向我們翹起了他的大
拇指，然後他又踱回到櫃台後面他的座位上。 我們到櫃台邊去付帳。他搖
搖頭、擺擺手，好像是不肯收費，他說了一句話好像是：“統統是唐人呀
！”

我們稱謝之後剛要出門，他又喂喂的把我們喊住，從櫃台下面拿出一把雪
茄煙，送我們每人一支。 我回到車上，點燃了那支雪茄。在吞煙吐霧之中
，我心裹納悶，這位老者為什麼不收餐費？為什麼奉送雪茄？

大概他在夏安開個小餐館，很久沒看到中國人，很久沒看到一群中國青年
，更很久沒看到來讀書的中國青年人。我們的出現點燃了他的同胞之愛。

事隔數十年，我不能忘記和我們作簡短筆談的那位唐人。


Two "唐人"s , a laborer of “coolie trade” and a beneficiary of "官派留學",
had their paths crossed in a foreign land. It is a touching story.

Crossing paths with someone, even a brief encounter as in this case, can
be a forever memory.



Yeh Tze

野人獻曝

YouTube video by "bluemoon093"


野人獻曝    《列子•楊朱》 
   
昔者宋國有田夫，常衣緼黂，僅以過冬。 暨春東作，自曝於日，
不知天下之有廣廈隩室，綿纊狐貉。 顧謂其妻曰：“負日之暄，
人莫知者；以獻吾君，將有重賞。”里之富室告之曰：“昔人有
美戎菽，甘枲莖芹萍子者，對鄉豪稱之。鄉豪取而嘗之，蜇於口，
慘於腹，眾哂而怨之，其人大慚。子此類也。”

Modern-day 葉子 likes to post on his blog (The Yeh Tze File) some
of his life experiences that he found to be joyful and unique.

He often shares them with his friends and old classmates, but doesn't
expect "重賞".

His wife, like the ancient philosopher 楊朱, reminded him of the 典故:
“自曝於日，不知天下之有廣廈隩室，綿纊狐貉。”,  or said to him
something like that.

I thought I was just like 宋國田夫, who simply "野人獻曝".

Should I, like the other 田夫, be "大慚" 乎? or belonging to "此類"也!


Yeh Tze

秋高氣爽

Autumn Leaves (YouTube video)


The recent “Indian summer” pattern has eased into cooler weather in the
valley.

This morning, a lovely Saturday morning, the sky is clear and bright, the
air is cool and fresh, 高秋爽氣相鮮新, as depicted by 杜甫.





We came to our neighborhood Hill Park for our weekly routine gentle
hike, where we also enjoyed a view of colorful hot air balloons floating
serenely over the beautiful valley vineyards and hills.





It is 葡萄成熟時. On the top of the hill, we came across a crew of farm
workers busy harvesting the grapes. They seemed to be the most happy
people on earth, chatting, singing and working in such a lovely valley
morning fall weather. It is a valley vineyard autumn tale.





For us, it was an hour and a half pleasant and easy hike in this 秋高氣爽
autumn climate.

We love it.


Yeh Tze

天涯共此時

Beethoven-Moonlight Sonata (Mvt. 1)  (YouYube video)





海上生明月，天涯共此時。  唐  張九齡  (望月懷遠)
但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。  宋  蘇東坡  (水調歌頭)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

For years, I have long had opinion on these two poems because of
their practicality.

Although people who are thousands miles apart may still be able to
share the same moon (共嬋娟) simultaneously, from different angles
though,; those who are on the "corner" or other side of the earth (天涯)
may not be able to have the opportunity to share the moon at the same
moment (共此時) with their loved ones.

I, however, have found this poem “今人不見古時月，今月曾經照古人。
古人今人若流水，共看明月皆如此。” by 李白 to be logically sound.

Ordinarily, I should not be too critical of these great ancient Chinese
classical poems.

Poetry is artistically rendering words by the poets in such way as to, as in
these poems, evoke nostalgia, or intense motion as melancholy or even
sadness.

William Wordsworth, an 18th Century English romantic poet, defined
poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”.

After all, to the ancient Chinese poets, 千里 and even 天涯 simply mean
faraway places.


Yeh Tze

滿天秋意

The Autumn (YouTube video by okanokumo)

Autumnal Equinox




Today marks the first day of autumn. More precisely, at 10:49 a.m. this
morning, the sun on its journey through the heavens crossed the celestial
equator and opened the door to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

Happy first day of Autumn!

It was 45 degrees F, cool and misty in the valley early this morning when
we took our routine walk aorund the neigborhood. I have already
experienced "滿天秋意".





Here is another poetic writing of Autumn Scenes or 秋景:

秋景   元  盧摯

掛絕壁松梢倒倚，落殘霞孤鶩齊飛。
四圍不盡山，一望無窮水。散西風滿天秋意。
夜靜雲帆月影低，載我在瀟湘畫裡。


按:

"連峰去天不盈尺   枯松倒掛倚絕壁"     (蜀道難     唐  李白)
"落霞與孤鶩齊飛   秋水共長天一色"     (滕王閣     唐  王勃)



Yeh Tze

Autumn Mood

Fabrizio Paterlini - Autumn Stories (YouTube video by dolfijnmetans)


It is that time of the year again.

Fall begins on September 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere, the first
day of the autumn season, also known as Autumn Equinox (秋分).
We will soon again enjoy the spectacular fall foliage.

Autumn, however, often conveys melancholic sentiments. It even evokes
feelings of sadness. 萬里悲秋常作客 (杜甫), 自古逢秋悲寂寥 (劉禹錫)

白樸, the ancient Chinese poet from the 元 Dynasty, wrote one of the
best poems depicting the unique and nostalgic autumn scenes.


天淨沙    秋     白樸

孤村落日殘霞，輕煙老樹寒鴉。
 一點飛鴻影下，青山綠水，白草紅葉黃花。



Yeh Tze

白雲處處長隨君

(YouTube video)





White clouds (白雲) is one of the favorite subjects for the ancient Chinese
poets.


山中何所有    南朝  陶弘景

山中何所有 嶺上多白雲
只可自怡悅 不堪持贈君


汾上驚秋    初唐   蘇頲

北風吹白雲  萬里渡河汾
心緒逢搖落  秋聲不可聞


春江花月夜     唐   張弱虛

白雲一片去悠悠  青楓浦上不勝愁
誰家今夜扁舟子  何處相思明月樓


白雲歌送劉十六歸山    唐  李白

楚山秦山皆白雲　白雲處處長隨君
君入楚山裡　雲亦隨君渡湘水
湘水上　女蘿衣　白雲堪臥　君早歸


They were in different moods and had different thoughts in their minds
while seeing the white clouds in the blue sky.



Yeh Tze

“不是潯陽江上客, 休聽琵琶”

琵琶語 by dianapeaceful (YouTube video)



〈琵琶行〉明文徵明真蹟


琵琶行并序 白居易

元和十年，予左遷九江郡司馬。明年秋，送客湓浦口。聞舟船中夜
彈琵琶者，聽其音，錚錚然，有京都聲。問其人，本長安倡女，嘗
學琵琶於穆曹二善才。年長色衰，委身為賈人婦。遂命酒，使快彈
數曲。曲罷，憫然自敘少小時歡樂事；今漂淪憔悴，轉徙於江湖間
。余出官二年，恬然自安，感斯人言，是夕始學有遷謫意，因為長
句，歌以贈之。凡六百一十六言，命曰：「琵琶行。」

" .............今夜聞君琵琶語，如聽仙樂耳暫明。
   莫辭更坐彈一曲，為君翻作琵琶行。.........."


浪淘沙‧乙未 梁啟超

燕子舊人家，棖觸年華。錦城春盡又飛花。
不是潯陽江上客，休聽琵琶。

輕夢怕愁遮，雲影窗紗。一天濃絮太虧他。
鎮日飄零何處也，依舊天涯。


In his 浪淘沙, 梁任公 wrote “不是潯陽江上客, 休聽琵琶”. I believe
he meant that the delicate and dainty 琵琶 performing, which 白樂天
had the chance to personally attend, would never be heard live again.
琵琶 performing of any other form or by any other person would be
of no comparison to this one. And therefore, unless you were the
"潯陽江上客", you would not have experienced the essence of 琵琶.
To 白樂天 it was a piece of "仙樂".


梁任公之見: “不是潯陽江上客，休聽琵琶”, 於我心有戚戚焉.



Yeh Tze

往事只能回味

Yesterday - Mantovani Orchestra (YouTube video)


Graduating Class Photo - NTUMC1968 (June 17, 1968)



L.J.N., a classmate of mine in our NTUMC1968 class, recently talked
to me about  the “brain drain” that occurred half a century ago.

In the late 60s and early 70s, due to whatever reason it might be, more
than half of our graduating class bought “one-way ticket”  to come to
the United States, the so called "human capital flight".

However, years later, some of them left their promising careers behind
and again bought another "one-way ticket" back to the homeland. They
are the most dedicated and devoted professionals, who had decided to
return and offer their service to the motherland.  They included L.C.L.,
L.M.C., Y.C.P., and C.L.J.

L.J.N. mentioned the books he had read: "台北人" by 白先勇 and "大江
大海 一九四九" by 龍應台, and stated that both authors are "part of the
stories". He suggested that we also write our own stories as "a witness of
our very unique life experiences and our time in the history."

He is a semi-retired pediatric surgeon, but has particularly been
interested in the history of medicine. He has translated several books
about medical history into Chinese, and in which he also gives lectures to
his medical students.

As most of the classmates in our class are either approaching 70, or some
are even already there, we all have countless unique personal stories to
tell. The stories include moments of uncertainty and moments of turning
points. I particularly like those turning points that were at my best,
although I must admit that there were also many moments of anxiety
and uneasiness as the result of uncertainty.

To me, 往事只能回味.


Yeh Tze

人間重晚晴

Muir Woods (YouTube video)


返景入深林，復照青苔上。


My NTUMC1968 classmate L.J.N. and his wife from Taiwan once
again made their annual visit to see their daughters in the US.  First
they came to San Francisco, where they stayed in a house which has
both a nice view of the city and also a beautiful view of the remote
bay.

He e-mailed me and suggested that we get together and take a tour
of the city, or a trip to Muir Woods, which is ten miles north of San
Francisco, for a nature hike.

有朋自遠方來, 不亦悅乎. We drove to the city in the morning from
the Valley to greet them. To perform a parallel parking on the almost
45 degrees steep street in front the house they were staying was a real
challenge for a person who came from the valley. I accomplished the
task only after several nerve wracking attempts.

Inside the house, L.J.N. was holding his iPad, listening to “Small Town
Story, 小城故事” and was singing along with 鄧麗君. His attractive but
loud singing voice was practically  drowning out hers.

We decided to visit Muir Woods National Monument, the coastal
redwood forest.  It was a foggy morning as usual while crossing over
the Golden Gate Bridge.

人間重晚晴. We had a free pass to enter the park as I have a lifetime
“Golden Age Passport”. I was surprised to see that L.J.N. also had a
“Senior Pass”, which has replaced the “Golden Age Passport” since
January 1, 2007. I have continued to keep my “Golden Age Passport”
because I like the name “Golden Age” better than “Senior”






We paid homage to nature in this cathedral of old growth redwoods.
While strolling under those majestic redwood trees in this secluded
ancient forest, our conversation was mostly focused on “old age”, or
more correctly, “golden age”.

L.J.N., a semi-retired pediatric surgeon, has been particularly interested
in the history of medicine, in which he gives lectures to medical students.
He sees similarity between human and nature in term of “aging”, and
with this in mind, while we admire these amazing old-growth coastal
redwoods, he hopes we learn something from them.
.

Yeh Tze

"Little Boxes"

"Little Boxes" by Pete Seeger (YouTube video)

Malvina Reynolds (1900-1978) was born in San Francisco. She attended
the University of California at Berkley, where she earned her B.A. M.A.,
and Ph.D. degree.

She was a leftist political activist and wrote numerous songs.
Pete Seeger’s recording of one of her songs, “Little Boxes”, was a popular
hit in 1963.

"Little Boxes" lyrics

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,

There's a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All went to the university
Where they were put in boxes
And they came out all the same

And there's doctors and lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business
And marry and raise a family
In boxes made of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same,

There's a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.


Now, half a century later, there is still some truth in these lyrics.


Yeh Tze

鐘鼎山林都是夢

鐘鼎山林都是夢

In one of his 臨江仙詞s, the ancient Chinese poet 辛棄疾 wrote:
“鐘鼎山林都是夢”

The other day, a classmate in my NTUMC1968 class sent me one of his
recent writings entitled “施比受更有福，記小巷內的醫生，陳安泰同學”.

In this article, he paid his respect to 安泰 and said: “他畢業後四十多年來
為母校，為人群無私的奉獻及施與”.

For more than a quarter of century, 陳安泰 had set up a scholarship for
the undergraduate students at National Taiwan University. One student
was selected from each college together to receive a substantial amount
of financial aid each year.

During a recent gathering with 安泰’s family, he told 安泰’s son that
“NTUMC1968年畢業班中，有許多人在醫學領域與社會服務都有極大
的成就，但若問誰施與最多？誰愛心最大？無疑的，非令尊莫屬.”

He means 鐘鼎(Distinguished professor)山林(小巷內的醫生) 各有天性. 


Yeh Tze

Enjoying The Routine

An old song by Opus (YouTube video)


Life is a routine and can be boring.

Everyone has routines in their life, and I am no exception.

There have been many routines in my life, often monotonous, that
seem to be repetitive and virtually unchanging.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that the routines may be boring, we
need routines to live and perhaps to enjoy as well.

For example, my wife and I take our daily late evening walk around
the neighborhood, and weekly gentle hiking on the Westwood Hills,
just a mile away in the Valley. These are good exercises, and are
known to be good for the mind, body and soul.



Westwood Hills Park

I enjoy my weekly yard maintenance work, which is often a 3-4 hour's
worth of exercise. I find myself refreshed and rewarded each time after
the work has been completed.

Every other weekend, we visit Palo Alto, where my son lives. After
having the “Bento Box” at “Miyaki”, we enjoy a nice leisure stroll along
University Avenue. In the afternoon, once again, I did my favorite garden
work around the house, but this time at my son's house, while my wife
visits her sisters who live nearby in this town.

On the way back to the Valley the following morning, we stop at Irving
Street in San Francisco, where my wife purchases a two-week supply
of Chinese groceries, vegetables and fruits at “新世界”, and orders “dim
sum” at “永利”. After that, we have our “點心” for lunch in the Golden
Gate Park as usual.

It is always a pleasant drive passing through the Golden Gate Bridge,
where we often see “海藍帆逾白”, or  “雲淡山更佳”, and the theme http://youtu.be/OdvCqUguIh8 (If You're Going To San Francisco)
 simultaneously cames back to me.

Driving back through the Valley’s rolling hills, we see the unique
seasonal changes of the vineyard scenery.

Life is a routine, but not necessarily boring.


Yeh Tze

杏林拍案驚奇

杏林拍案驚奇 (曾登於台大景福校友醫訊)

詩云：

治病須分內外科，世間妙藝苦無多；
神威罕及惟關將，聖手能醫說華佗。

話說關公領兵攻取樊城，就在目前，不料那敵樓上，曹仁一聲令下，
五百弓弩手一齊放箭。關公中箭落馬，陰溝裹翻船，被關平救回，
拔出臂箭。關公驚歹勢，怕沒面子，不敢去台大急診處就醫，萬一
被Intern 問起來歷，豈不面紅耳赤。好在關公平時喜歡運動，常做
珍芳達的有氧健身操；又注重調養，吃了不少高麗參，野杉靈芝，
雲南白藥。因此身體健壯，滿面紅光，抵抗力特強。不用抗生素，
也沒併發敗血症，發高燒。只是箭毒入骨，若不早治，此臀報銷矣。

這時，有位從江東駕小船來的杏林高手，姓華名佗者，方巾闊服，
一身白袍。聽說關公乃天下英雄，今中毒箭，特來醫治。不須麻醉，
不必高溫高壓消毒儀器，佗甪刀刮骨，悉悉有聲。須臾，血流滿盆，
刮盡其毒，沒打點滴止痛劑，不必輸血。關公飲酒食肉，談笑奕棋，
輸贏未知，也無痛苦之色。敷上藥，以線縫之後，關公大笑而起，
其臂伸舒如故。

原來這位江東華先生，內外全科，醫術之妙，世所罕有。但有患者，
或開藥，或用鍼，或用灸，隨手而癒。若患五臟六腑之疾，藥不能
效者，就先以麻肺湯飲之，令病者如醉死，再用尖刀剖其腹，以藥
湯洗其臟腑，洗畢後，以藥線縫口，用藥敷之。或一月，或二十曰，
即平復矣。其神妙如此，救人無數，報章雜誌，街頭張貼，到處都
是醫癒患者的銘謝啟事，又登上他各處駐診住址，電話號碼，接受
各種保險。

那廣陵太守，平時愛吃魚腥，生魚片，一直心中煩躁，不能飲食，
打電話請他來醫。佗以藥飲之，吐蟲三升，皆赤頭首尾動搖。可沒送
台大檢驗科，不知是何種寄生蟲。又有一人，眉間生一瘤，癢不可當，
也去華佗診所求醫，佗視之，知其內有飛物，以刀割開，一黃雀飛去，
病者即癒，信不信由你。

且說曹操自關公遇害後，每夜合眼便見關公，非常驚懼，後又因拔劍
砍了百年老樹, 見血濺滿身，愕然大驚，睡臥不安。以後頭腦疼痛不可
忍，遍求良醫，然而治療不能痊可。如今差人星夜請來華佗，診脈視
疾。華佗判定大王頭痛因患風而起，病根在腦袋中，枉服湯藥不會好
的。只有先行麻醉，飲麻肺湯，再用利斧開腦袋，取出風涎，方可除
根。曹操聽了大驚大怒，腦袋豈可砍開，分明要來害他。於是急令追
拷，可憐的華佗因而下獄，嗚呼哀哉，冤枉死了。後繼無人，連那醫
治天下人的青囊書，也被他那不識字的老婆, 當廢紙燒飯去了。


正是：

華佗仙術比長桑，神識如窺垣一方；
惆悵人亡書亦絕，後人無復見青囊。

後來多少自稱華佗再世者，儘是一堆冒牌貨。


葉子 (Yeh Tze)

老驥伏櫪，志在千里

Monument Valley Utah (YouTube video)


曹操 once said: “老驥伏櫪，志在千里”. He was only 53 years old then.

Yeh Tze, who is approaching  “古稀之年”, has shared 曹操’s ambition,
although for a different purpose.

Over the past decade, we have tried every opportunity to “雲遊四方”.
We have found that the most economic way to do it is road trip by
renting a car, or driving our own car.

By doing so, we have visited many places in the United States as well
as Canada.



We particularly enjoyed the road trips through many National Parks,
where we could appreciate the beauty that the natural world offers us.

I have said that I am a “老驥” and often “伏櫪” at home. It has always
been my wife who has helped me fulfill my dream of “志在千里” and
“雲遊四方” over the years.



Antelope Canyon Arizona  (YouTube video)





She has been my tour agent and my private tour guide. Before each trip,
she studied the AAA tour books, maps, surfed the internet webs, called
various places for airplane tickets, hotel or motel reservations and car
rentals... etc. Most importantly, she knows well the wisdom of “貨比三家".

For me, she is “導遊兼三陪”. She has made every trip pleasant, enjoyable
and memorable.




Yeh Tze

Happy Birthday, America!

America the Beautiful  (YouTube video uploaded by PATRIOTWRITR)

"America the Beautiful" plaque atop Pikes Peak


"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song. The lyrics
were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by
church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward. Bates wrote her
song "America the Beautiful" after visiting Pike's Peak during the
summer of 1893.

She recalled "It was then and there, as I was looking out over
the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under
those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into
my mind." The song is one of the most beloved and popular of the
many American patriotic songs.

In early October 2008, while visiting our younger daughter in
Colorado, we had the opportunity to drive up to the summit of
Pikes Peak, where is at an elevation of 14,115 feet(4,302 m). We
saw what Bates had seen, the beauty and majesty of nature, and
"America the beautiful".




Photo taken in October 2008



Happy Birthday, America!




Yeh Tze

Peggy's Cove

Peggy's Cove (YouTube video)



Before we planned the visit to Peggy's Cove, my first question was:
"How did Peggy's Cove get its name?"


It turned out, acording to legend, that Peggy's Cove was named after
the only survivor of a schooner that ran aground and sank in 1800... .


Peggy's Cove is a picturesque fishing village, 35 miles from Halifax
in Nova Scotia. The famous lighthouse there is said to be the most
photographed lighthouse in Canada.







We got there in the early evening.

While my wife was fascinated with the lighthouse, taking pictures at
different angles and from various distances, I paid attention to the
unique geological display, the wave-washed boulders facing the Atlantic.
I walked up and down, and between the rocks. Finally I climbed up to the
top of a giant boulder and sat there for a while, relaxingly enjoying the
view of the rushing tides and the endless open sea. I could have been
resting there for the rest of the day.










Then, the fog, the cool grey fog, moved in quickly from the ocean sea.
I saw 潮水共長天一色. It was getting dark. It was time to leave.




Yeh Tze

Lighthouse

YouTube video by "USAAdventures"


"The rocky ledge runs far out into the sea
 And on its outer point, some miles away,
 The lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
 A pillar of fire by night, of cloud by day.
................................................................. "

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The Lighthouse"


My wife has always had a fascination with lighthouses.


During our recent road trip along the New England and the Canadian
coast, we came across quite a few historic lighthouses. The Portland
Head Lighthouse is one of them, strikingly beautiful.

From Google Images

It is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, and has been said to be one of
the most photographed lighthouses in the world.






                                             From Google Images

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet and educator, who
was born in Portland, was a frequent visitor in his younger years.
Portland Head Light might have been the inspiration of his poem as he
sat on the rocks near the Lighthouse in the late 1840’s.



Yeh Tze

Power of nature, 鬼斧神工

The Hopewell Rocks - Time Lapse video (YouTube)


During our recent travel to New Brunswick, Canada, one of the trip’s
highlights was a stop at the Hopewell Rocks on the Bay of Fundy. We
witnessed the work done by the power and creative hand of nature , or
鬼斧神工.

This unique water system located between New Brunswick on the west
and Nova Scotia on the east is like no other place on Earth. Every day,
twice a day 110 billion tons of seawater rush into the Bay creating
phenomena that can only be experienced to be appreciated.




Bay of Fundy | Tides | New Brunswick, Canada   (YouTube video)



The gravitational forces of the sun and moon combine to create a
continuum of tidal action. The Bay of Fundy tides can reach up to 50 ft.,
the height of a four-story building, twice every day.

            

The reddish cliffs at the Hopewell Rocks were said to be first formed
millions of years ago as a massive mountain range, older than the
Appalachians and larger than the Canadian Rockies, began to erode.




Yeh Tze

Glacial Erratic

Acadia National Park (YouTube video)



I can’t believe I was able to hike the Acadia mountain trails
continuously for more than three hours with only few brief stops.
It likely had something to do with motivation, persistence, and
more importantly, the fact that I was attracted to the surrounding
nature along the trails.

The morning we were supposed to leave this National Park and
drive to Saint John, New Brunswick, we decided to take a final
look at the park and pay a visit to “Bubble Rock”.







We climbed up to the top to view this amazing “glacial erratic”,
which has been quietly resting there for some 10,000 years.
It has been said that this displaced rock was carried along by
glacial ice flow, traveled 19 miles south from mainland Maine.
The receding glaciers dropped it on the southeast corner of the
summit.








We were humbled by the great power of nature.




Yeh Tze

Walden

Thoreau's reflections on Walden Pond



Last week, we finally had the opportunity to pay a visit to Walden
Pond outside Concord, Massachusetts, where we were personally greeted
by “Thoreau” in front of his little cabin.







Henry David Thoreau, a philosopher, naturalist, essayist and early
environmentalist, lived on the shores of Walden Pond for two years, two
months and two days, starting in the summer of 1845.





His account of the experience was recorded in his book "Walden; or,
Life in the Woods", published in 1854. It is a book on nature, a book
on ecology, a book on human nature, a description of the struggle
between modern civilization and the land that nurtured it.




Unabridged Dover (1995) republication


In communing with the nature world, he said:

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front
only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had
to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

Yeh Tze

A Time I Treasure

Thursday, April 12, 2012 

A Time I Treasure (Lost post recovered)

旗津燈塔 (from YouTube)

During the course of one's life, there are always certain experiences

that one would remember and treasure for the rest of one’s life.

Taking a walk with my wife around her hometown was one of those.

While 高雄 was my wife’s childhood hometown, I was a 台北人. I had

not had a chance to take a real look at her hometown before we left

Taiwan for the US in 1972.

Late autumn last year, I finally had the opportunity to do so.

Before dawn one early morning, we left her old house in 鹽埕埔 and

started another walking tour guided by my wife. We came to the

famous 愛河, where we were welcomed by schools of fish swimming

in the same direction as ours. They seemed to accompany us for a

pleasant trip.

While strolling along the bank, my wife started to provide me the

history of the Love River, as well as that of her hometown, which she

had known well as a 在地人.

We walked to the ocean bay and took the ferry to 旗津. We climbed

up to the lighthouse on the top of hill, where we had a grand view of

高雄港. She pointed to various places that she was so familiar with.

She refreshed her old memories of her trips with her family and

friends during her childhood and youth. Her sweet memories seemed

to become mine as well.

Despite being a several hour walking tour, I did not feel tired at all

during this entire trip simply because I had a lovely private tour guide.

Yeh Tze

Comments

Thank you, Yeh Tze. It is like a beautiful chapter from a love story. 
I haven't been able to visit Taiwan yet and I plan to do it this fall. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iLf5hPh2NY&feature=relmfu 
［師大夜市／台北］ Have a great weekend! Ted on A Time I Treasure


Thanks, Ted. Have a great trip to Taipei (Taiwan). BTW, my wife once 
old me that she had the best 牛肉麵 at 師大夜市. But that was 40 years 
ago. on A Time I Treasure1 replies. Yeh Tze 


Thanks for the info, Yeh Tze. I will definitely try the 牛肉麵 at 師大夜市. 
Do you still remember the shop's name? And I will compare it to the 
牛肉麵 at Golden Dragon noodle shop by the roadside at Shinsaibashi 
(心斎橋)in Osaka, that is the best I have had so far. I plan to go to: Mitsui 
No. 604, Ming Shui Road, Taipei 104, Taiwan 02-25338802 that I have 
heard so much great comments about. Ted on A Time I Treasure

This article makes me miss Kaohsiung so much! I spent my senior high 
school years in this charming city, it's a time I treasure too :) Yvonne in 
Napa on A Time I Treasure

"雄女" (Kaohsiung Municipal Girls' Senior High School), a prestigious, 
all-girls, Taiwanese high school located in Kaohsiung City on A Time I 
Treasure replies. Yeh Tze 


林徽音詩作《我說你是人間的四月天》： 
我說你是人間的四月天， 笑響點亮了四面風；清靈 在春的光艷中交舞著變。 
你是四月早天裡的雲煙， 黃昏吹著風的軟，星子在 無意中閃，細雨點灑在
花前。 那輕，那娉婷，你是，鮮妍。 百花的冠冕你戴著，你是 天真，莊嚴，
你是夜夜的月圓。雪化後那片鵝黃，你像；新鮮 初放芽的綠，你是；柔嫩
喜悅 水光浮動著你夢期待中白蓮。 你是一樹一樹的花開，是燕 在樑間呢喃，
——你是愛，是暖， 是希望，你是人間的四月天！ 
Ted on A Time I Treasure Anonymous on 4/14/12

Nature Walk

Speaking for Nature (YouTube video uploaded by didymops)

Speaking for Nature (Part II)

Walden; Or, Life In The Woods:

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front

only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had

to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."

- Henry David Thoreau -

Nature Walk

By following a nature trail through prairies, wetlands, woods, and
ocean shores, we discover the wonders of the wild and we feel
connected with Nature.

Although it is with great pleasure to be strolling through scenic places
such as Yosemite, Zion National Park, Great Smoky Mountains, ….. ,
or sacred landscapes as Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley, .. ,
nature walk can take place in a park, on trails in nearby rolling hills,
or even in our own backyards. All we need to do is go outdoors and
observe what we see and try to use all five senses in our observation:
sight, smell, feel, taste, and hear.

Taking a nature walk can sharpen the mind. New study finds that
short-term memory is improved by walking in nature.

Yeh Tze

低頭族

低頭族 (YouTube video)

憑我  Apple ， 打盡全球市場 ， 誰敢還手 ；
就此 iPhone ，傳遍天下簡訊 ， 無不低頭 。

During my childhood, every so often, I saw a man in his 30s pass by
the front of our house exhibiting a weird, peculiar behavior.

With his head down, he often moved his right index finger on his left
palm right to left, left to right, and up and down. He seemed to be
reading or sending some messages from or to someone. Our neighbor
kids called him  “肖ㄟ” ( 瘋子 in Taiwanese, or more correctly, schizo-
phrenic).

The modern high-tech companies have created a new breed of human
beings. In Taiwan, they are called “低頭族”. They have found a new
way to stay in touch, whether at home or on the road, day and night.

低頭族 (Google Image)

Smartphone, such as iPhone, has changed the word. It has literally
changed the course of people's lives. It has also brought up a new
science of human relationships called “Social Intelligence”.

低頭族, smartphone addicts !   Are you one of them ?


Yeh Tze

布拉格之春

The Prague Spring of 1968 was an important event of the Cold War.
I however did not pay much attention to it then as the year of 1968
was our last year at NTUMC. The focus of our concern was career
planning, what to do after graduation.

To me, nevertheless, Prague has always seemed to be a city of
mystery, and Prague Spring (布拉格之春) festival an annual
international music event.

Last month, Spring of 2012, we finally had the opportunity to
fulfill our long-held dream of visiting Prugue.

Prague (Czech: Praha) is the capital city of the Czech Republic.
Its thrilling history and glorious architecture has made Prague
one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has also been
known as the "historical pearl of Europe"

Prague is well known for its intense historical buildings, dark and
perhaps frightening architecture.




However, view of Old Town from the Royal Palace is the charming city with red roofs

Prugue is a city of history, mystery and romance.


Yeh Tze

An Enchanting City

Budapest, the Hungary’s capital, literally speaks the tale of two cities,
straddling a gentle curve in the Danube with the Buda Hills to the west
and Pest Plain to the east.

This charming city has been recognized as “The Pearl of the Danube”.

The name of the city came to my attention when I was in middle school
almost half a century ago. Budapest was the home front in the cold war.
The news and images of the Hungarian uprising of 1956 appeared in the
newspapers everywhere. There was despairing cry out for outside help
then.

Last month, we had the opportunity to visit this city during our Central
and Eastern Europe trip. We enjoyed the natural beauty of the city. We
were amazed at its rich historic attractions, and museums filled with
treasures.



Dinner cruise at night on the Danube was one of the most indescribably
beautiful experiences. Walking along the Danube bank with my wife at
the crack of dawn was another sweet memory.


Budapest Danube cruise by night (YouTube video)

Budapest is an enchanting city !


Yeh Tze

我見青山多嫵媚

The Blue Danube (YouTube video)


Washau Valley of the Danube (Google image)

River cruising offers a different, yet unique tour experience. It places
life in the slow lane, sailing along at a gentle pace while allowing
plenty of leisure time to appreciate the nature beauty and splendid
scenery with great natural, cultural and historical value.

Over the past decade, we have taken a few river cruises, or boat tours:
the historical and poetic Yangtze, romantic Rhine, scenic Li (漓江),
and geological Colorado. We recognize that each river tour is a unique,
memorable experience.

During our recent trip to Central and Eastern Europe, we had the
opportunity to cruise Wachau Valley of the Danube, also known as
"Wachau Cultural Landscape" on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The picturesque landscape includes the architectural elegance of its
ancient monasteries, castles and ruins, besides the glorious natural
beauty.

The charming mountain scenery and the ancient historical sites along
the Wachau Donau (多瑙) reminded me of  “我見青山多嫵媚, 料青山見我
應如是” and “千古江山，英雄無覓” written by the ancient Chinese poet 辛棄疾.

The scenery was simply awe-inspiring.


Yeh Tze