04.09.2013

Yesterday was my off day and I take this opportunity to go out with my colleagues and the new intern student, Kate. In the early morning, we drive to Mr Brown Coffee Castle and it located at 262 Taiwan Yilan County Jiaosi Township. It is a nice place for side seeing because the coffee shop was built on the top of King Car Toucheng Park Mountain at Toucheng, Yilan.

 The view from the coffee shop

 Mr Brown Coffee Castle logo and entrance

After came down from the hill, we went to Jiao xi to have our lunch and shopping around the area. Kate was suggested that we can pay a visit at Suao cold spring since we are going to Suao Port. Su Ao is famous for cold spring and seafood because it has two large harbors which are Suao Port and Nanfang ao port, a multi-function seaport that also houses a naval base.

Suao Port

While on the way back to Toucheng Township, we have stop by a candy shop which can handmade the candy by ourselves, and we spent few hours in new moon shopping complex (新月廣場).

And….Dinner time! Stinky tofu and pork bone soup.

My First Impressions

Hello, it´s me, Katerina! It´s been 2 days since I came to Toucheng Farm. I got up very late the first morning, with mixed feelings. I had no idea about what to expect so I just got dressed, said hello to a becoming day and went down to meet Tina at the reception. I must say that a big stone fell down from my heart when she started to talk to me! She looks very nice, communicative and experienced and I was really happy about the first conversation. I was introduced to her husband and father who are both very sympathetic, I´m just looking forward to meeting their daughter Angel and son Pascal. I calmed down and was in a very possitive temper about my stay in Toucheng Farm.

I would like to express some points I found interesting/different.

I would start with the very first night here. J I definitely couldn´t sleep first few hours..I left the window open to hear the environment and to „enjoy“ new climate! I think it was the first and last night I did that! :D I was hot, sweating, feeling sticky and then the noises comming from the wood (garden) were unusually noisy for me. I am really not accostumed to it, but I love it, because I can nearly touch the nature and rich life here!  That is one of the reason why I came here. I miss that juicy life in Czech Republic!

As I have already said the weather is very hot and humid, completely different than at home. I reckoned it. But what I didn´t are sudden and heavy rains! I found it pleasant with the time, because it makes the air more fresh!

During the lunch/dinner time I saw quite a lot if people sucking what is very impolite in Czech, but I don´t mind, I understand that it is a part of Asian culture.

Yesterday Cooper and 2 other taiwaneese girls took me to Yilan city to play bowling and do some other activities (funny park, hot springs). I was surprised about the quality of the roads, which is mostly better than in Czech. J The city is pretty big and looks qiute poor for the first sight.. what I saw was obsolete, but I have to check it more times to say if that is really true or not! J Guys, I was out with, are very calm, funny, they walk slowly, talk a lot so I was little bit nervous because Prague is full of rush, stress, individuals. For example: we go to the shop, we buy what we need as fast as possible, because we cannot waste time and Syndy, Lynn, Cooper spent a loooong time there in the shop by choosing what to buy for dinner! :D I think I will be well relaxed after some weeks here! They can enjoy their free time! And to sum it up- also I did! Thank you guys! J

What is very strange for me is that nearly everyone here have smartphone and especially girls always make selfpictures! If not, people are still playing with their phones! Still! I don´t know what they are still searching inside! :D To the selfpictures…in Czech we do it, but just at home (secretly) or we took pictures of us with friends, but not selfpictures in public…we would say about these girls  that they are arrogant, big-headed, embarrasing, stupid…:P yes, cultural differences. I know that they are not, they are smiling and acting very nice! J I just want you to know the difference, nothing negative! J

Everybody say that I can feel save, that nearly no criminality is among taiwaneese people. And I believe it, because all the people I met gave me the impression of good people! And that is the most important for me!

I will need some more days to adapt to new environment, but I feel really comfortable and satisfied! Looking forward to new days! J

Trami Typhoon

Trami typhoon was reached Taiwan yesterday after causing floods and landslides in other places. Early this week, Trami typhoon has hit Philippine and cause 15 dead, 41 injured and more than 1 million residents were suffering floodwater and landslide. I woke up at 8:30am and finish my work at 9:30am due to the raining is getting heavy. This is the first time that I experiencing Typhoon, non-stop raining, strong wind that enough to blow me up. After keeping all the stuff into the store room, I was hiding in my room the whole day and reading news about the typhoon.

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 :)