Taipei + Jiao Xi

I went to Taipei again on last Sunday. I drop down at Guishan train station and took a train to Jiao Xi. There is a bus station in Jiao Xi and from the station to Taipei is more nearer than using railway. Toucheng farm à Guishan station à Jiao Xi station à KAMALAN Bus à Taipei main station. My supervisor told me that I should go to Taipei first instead of stop at Jiao Xi because the traffic will be worst after 2pm, especially on Sunday. Around 6pm, I back to Jiao Xi station and went to try the famous hot spring in town. The hot spring called Chun He (春和日式溫泉浴池). It only cost 50TWD for public bathhouse, towel and shower gel are not included. My next off day plan, 西門町 (Xi men Ding).

Little story of animals in the farm

Our farm has offer pets boarding service to allow the pets more conduct with nature. This pet boarding service is depends on the customer situation such as the customer unable to keep the pet for a short time period.

Not too long ago, a married couple has boarding their two rabbits in the farm because the owner is pregnant. The owner told us that the rabbits are never conduct with grassland because the rabbits are born in the city. With this opportunity, we are trying to let them living without the cage.

The both rabbits are feeling uncomfortable and not used to the living style without their owner to feed them or even play with them. They have no idea of how to looking for food and water, and they just remain at the same area. The reason is they has been adapted the life in the city and have never experience the animal basic lifestyle. We do understand that they need some adaptation period just get used to the new environment.

A week after, one of the rabbits are starting to learn searching for food in the farm and begin to play with other animals while jumping around the farm. It has successfully to adapt the new environment and giving itself a chance to try a whole different life.

Unfortunately, another rabbit are unable to use to the environment and need to be feed by our staff as before. It looks like quite suffer to the rabbit and we had to make it back to the life in cage.

The values we could learn from the story above:
- learn to be patience
- Acceptance
- living outside the box
- give yourself a chance
- learn to adapt new things

By Cooper

2013夏令營

Taking part in the Toucheng Leisure Farm’s Summer Camp 2013 was the first time in my entire life to spend days with kids with the eldest 13 years old.  In the first time I came here, I have been told that in the 3^rd week of July (7/15-7/20) I had to taking care more than 20 kids and teaching some Indonesia culture to the kids.  To be honest, I felt nervous.  What I am to do with that some stuffs?

In the first day, 阿孟哥 (a meng) and I introduced ourself as their guide in front of children and their parents.  阿孟 is a coordinator summer camp also a guardian who took care and slept with 10 boy kids for that 1 week.  While me, I was as a guardian who took care and slept with 17 girl kids for that 1 week.  I also have been told by Principal’s staff that the language I used to talked with them is English, even though my Chinese is very good.  At that time I understood.  Challenge unlocked!

But their levels of English was so different and everyone was so silent since the first day when I was accompanied them settling up the room.  For the sake of closeness and adapting between me and children, I used Chinese language talked with them.  Beyond my expectations.  They were very friendly and considered me as their sister and also I considered them as my little sister or brother.  After all, I’m really grateful for that oppurtinity.  Love them so much!

I knew that my role was to entertain kids, make them stay at the farm feels like their home.  I spend my internship work with have fun, what an unexpected activities.

Our activities began from 7.30 AM.  I waking them up, after that breakfast then the rest of time we are filled up with activities until 20.00-21.00 PM.  Many activities we did, no more wasting time in our summer camp’s agenda.  Such a upstream, klining in mud hut, baking pizza, climbing, introduced Phiphines and Japanese culture, and many more.  When I asked them, “are you tired?” Simultaneously they answer: “Noooooo!!!” How superb they were!! XD

In the 4^th and 5^th day of summer camp, I and my friend from Malaysia introduced Indonesia culture and Malaysia culture.  He introduced and taught Layang-layang (kite) as represented Malaysia culture.  While me, introduced Indonesia in powerpoint slide and dance, Tari Piring dance, also introduced to them an Indonesia traditional games for kids: Lompat tali.

Many memories that I will never forget!  I was really happy and this is not so difficult that I thought.  If I have a chance I want do it again such this activity. 

Thanks people! :)

for furthermore photos, please visit this FB page : https://www.facebook.com/Ilantcfarm
we have many more


Nova

2013 Yilan International Children’s Folklore & Folkgame Festival

During summer time in Yilan, local government will held some activities to refresh from hot weather.

Taipei Main Station short trip!

After sending summer camp’s student back to Taipei, I have been told that I need return to TLF by railway. With this opportunity, I take it as a short trip (perhaps half day trip) to walk around Taipei Main Station.

Ticket counter and railway time table.

If you are not familiar with this place, there is a service counter in every floor to direct you to the right way! I have done some research about Taipei Main Station, there is a Taipei Underground Market in the Station and it just located under Civic Boulevard (市民大道). Tourists just can simply get what they want in Taipei Underground Market. There provide varieties choices such as fashion, food and beverage, sport equipment, massage, electronics and games, toys and etc. It will easily take up to approximately 2 to 3 hours and just for window shopping.

Happy shopping day! =)

By Cooper

Summer Camp

Hey blog readers, I’m Cooper from Malaysia, and I will be holding intern position in Yilan Toucheng Leisure Farm for 6 months duration. Taiwan is having summer time now (Usually from June to August), and sometimes hurricane will hit the country at the summer time as well.

During summer time, most of the primary school here will held summer camp (夏令營) in the farm. Most of the activities such as sight-seeing, handcraft DIY, contact with nature and some culture exchange classes will be conduct in the farm as well.

Our Japanese instructor Ms. Zhu 珠姐, she is teaching the way of making teru teru (てるてる, 晴天娃娃). Teru teru is a traditional handmade doll from Japan. In legendary, teru teru are using for praying to get good weather or to stop the rain. If the dolls are hanging upside down, it means that praying for a rainy day.

Students are fastening the teru teru on a string and ready to hang outside.

Happy Sunny Day! =)

By Cooper

Watch Out. Typhoon is Coming

July is a time for typhoon 颱風 hits Taiwan. Therefore, when in the month of July the Taiwanese are getting ready before the typhoon came to attack. Usually the Taiwan government announced simultaneously to the entire region through the media and dismiss all active activities such as school, office, and area recreations. However, people can also monitor the state of typhoons often through this website

It is a typhoon warning to the citizens and announced through the website. They made it in 2 language versions: English and Chinese

Chinese Version

English Version

The typhoons that strikes Taiwan at this time named Soulik 蘇力. But since Saturday evening the typhoon already to leave the province Yilan little by little and now heading to the sea of North Taiwan.

What I admired from people of this Farm is they have prepared 3 days before typhoon is coming.  Just in case the typhoon will destroy all stuffs belongs to the Farm.  

The damage that caused by typhoon not too serious because they have prepared well.

However, the typhoon did not inhibit visitors to keep enjoying the Farm.

Anyway, just keep safety all :)

Voices of Summer

Toucheng Leisure Farm is a large farm that has excellence in educational garden and sight seeing. Stay and traveled here with the family or friends is the right choice. A spacious and very beautiful nature surrounded by mountains also flowing the river. But not far from here we could see the sea. Toucheng Leisure Farm each season has his trademark. As of now I feel it! summer season!

How much I liked the natural singing voice and his beast in daylight. A typical sign in this summer. The Farm like a National Park for me because here has a wide range of variation of plants and animals. The Farm also has a butterfly’s conservation. The place is not closed but open in wild-untampered and nobody bothers. Easy for we can find beautiful butterflies flying around, fireflies appear sparkling at night, beetles, frogs, chirping birds, grasshopers, and others. They are all naturally formed by the Farm’s habitat and environment. Their Habitat is not disturbed and offended by the nearby residents also tourists. Precisely that function between nature and human, keeping the balance of nature and mutual benefit to each other.

I found a cute frog and he is not bothered when I’m walking at night. He is so funny, perhaps he needs a friend.

As a child that grown in Indonesia, sour cherries are my favorite fruit that can be taken as you wish by children and are picked directly from the tree. But now the sour cherries may have rarely to be found. Hey ,but in this Farm can still be found easily.

 I love this Summer!!

Plan Your Trip to The Toucheng Leisure Farm from Now!

Two weeks I am here  -Toucheng Leisure Farm 頭城農場. A farmland (farming) in the East of Taiwan or more precisely in the provinces of Yilan, New Taipei City. Not too long if you're departing from Taipei à Toucheng (頭城 à 台北), about 1 hour 45 minutes using trains 莒光 (ju3 guang1) by issuing the ticket of money NT$ 142 元

But it is different if you asked how long my trip. Let me tell you. I departed from Tainan 台南 (tai2 nan2) because I am an Indonesia student that attended a college and live currently in Tainan, a Southern Province located in Taiwan. If you want to go using  the regular train or bus from Tainan to Toucheng  (South to the East), roughly spend time travelling around 6-8 hours. Tired? Oh no, because at that time I went to use THSR (Taiwan High Speed Railway) and travel time is only taken for 4 hours including arrived in room with beautiful and safe.

Ah yes, I haven't told you in what order I go to Toucheng Leisure Farm. I will be here for 1 month as participants in the Volunteer Internship Program of Agritourism Areas for International Students conducted by the Taiwan Leisure Agriculture Association. One of the goals of that program is to improve insight and promotion of agriculture Taiwan in international. There are about 15 international students internships deployed at various Farming in Taiwan region(South, East, North and Central). And our activities as an intern is to get along with the community in the Farm, participated in the activities of the estate as well as building foreign language with local communities.

But wait, you don't just think of Farmland in Taiwan is just a place to grow crops, picking fruit, or feeding animals. It is true there are some such activity, but the Farmland here (Taiwan) also serves as a recreation area, an education garden for children and adults, campsites, a nice and friendly place to family, also we can make a products typical of the Farm.

And here I am!! Toucheng Leisure Farm! Woo..!!

See you Tou Cheng Leisure Farm~~~

Thanks for everyone!!
Especially, thanks to Tina, 瑋瑋, 蔡蔡, 芳懿, Nova and 阿嬷^^

Thanks for your help when I worked at TC Farm^^
All of you are very nice and helpful!!
Thanks for Tina to let me work at TC farm for 4days.
Although it is really too short, it is a good working holiday experience!!
Let me have a wonderful working holiday in Taiwan^^
Thank again^^

Keep in touch^^

Sum

Leaf Art work

Here is the Leaf art worl fromprimary school student.

They have umlimited creative on art work^^

Making Lime Fermentation Drink

 

 

What would you say if I told you that with just a couple lime, some sugar, and water you could be enjoying a tasty home-brewed, slightly alcoholic drink tomorrow night?  Pretty impressive, right? A few of my friends have gotten into either beer or wine making. I’m thinking I’d rather just stick with the Yi-Lan technique of adding some lime to some flavored sugar water… that seems a whole lot easier and a whole lot cheaper.  And it is an appropriate beverage for this hot weather.

 

 

This is traditionally beverage in Yi-Lan on Summer.

 

Ingredients:

 

*1 bottle

*13 limes, washed

* 2 teaspoon sugar

*lemon water

 

Direction:

 

Prepare 1 bottle, put 13 limes into the bottle, add 2 teaspoon sugar,  bring the lemon water. Shake the bottle slowly. Closed the cap. Then, keep the bottle for 3 months.

 

 

Oh and the taste?  Pretty great!!

Pretty cool stuff 

 

 

 

By: Novalia 諾維亞

Beautiful night sky!

At night, we hand make this 天燈 with kids. And then, we can make a wish on the 天燈. Kids are creative^^. They make a beautiful sky at night ^^

Sum

Love + Natural = Happiness

Toucheng leisure farm in my eyes...

Sum's Photography at Toucheng Leisure Farm

Use of wood...very creative art work^^

From

New Intern...Sum