tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83248781626626290232024-03-13T11:32:01.830+11:00A Tale of Two SistersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324878162662629023.post-6897384683837875882014-01-16T19:35:00.000+11:002014-01-16T19:39:43.351+11:00One Year in a Research Laboratory: Reflections & Realities Realised<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">I remember very well the first time that I seriously
considered the question that all kids are asked: “What do you want to be when
you grow up?” Instead of answering, the task was to draw a picture of the
occupation, which I did. This was during my fourth year of primary school, just
short of 15 years ago. And what did I draw? A scientist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">This answer did not just come out of the blue, but was
actually inspired. As a child, my mother had cassette tapes on which were
recorded narrations of some children’s books in which there were a short series
of stories about inventors, discovers and pioneers of the past who changed the
world. Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin and their stories were
just a few of those I became familiar with, but there was one particular story
that I liked best, and the one which interested me the most (as much interest
as a 10 year old can have in these things) and that was the story of Alexander
Fleming and the discovery of Penicillin. Interest in medical research was sparked
within me from that time on, and it was something that was always at the back
of my mind as I navigated through high school. In the laboratory for school
science subjects, however, doubt crept into my mind as I was not very good with
experiments. This continued on until my undergraduate years, until I realised,
I was not a natural at anything, but after practise and experience, I was as
competent as anyone else. The big decision came in my third year, when I made
the choice for the direction I would go in the future – I decided to pursue a
research degree instead of medicine or dentistry. For the year in which I was
studying for an honours degree, I undertook a research project in a Molecular
Virology Laboratory, with the specific pathogen of interest being HIV. The story
from here onwards is a brief account of my experience in research.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Before commencing the year, speaking to advisors, current
and former honours students and other members of the laboratory, there seemed
to be one thing in common that they would mention – the honours year is the
toughest year of your academic life. I was apprehensive about the coming year,
afraid that I would not be cut out for work in a laboratory which would leave me
in a state of complete uncertainty about what I should do in the future. Now, a
year later, that apprehensiveness still has not dissipated, but the past year
of experience has allowed me to better prepare myself for the new challenges
ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p>The year started off slowly; initially, I was at the mercy
of my supervisors. When they had time, they would seek me out, and take me to
the bench to demonstrate the techniques and use of equipment that I was
required to learn. This was daunting, having to quickly pick up the skills and
show them after a short time if you were able to repeat the protocols that they
had shown you. In between laboratory work, I would sit at my desk, reading
Journal Articles, desperately trying to make sense of what my project entailed.
It is common in research for projects to change over time, hence the full
nature of my project did not take shape until later in the year. I know in the
minds of my supervisors, there are many experiments and questions all fighting
for attention and contemplation, that often they just give a starting point,
and allow research to set its own path. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">In between laboratory work, reading as well as coursework,
my project slowly progressed. I gradually began to learn new techniques, began
to become more familiar with the processes: the setting up of tubes and
addition of enzymes and other reagents, the programming of machines, the
incubation times, the waiting, the mental arithmetic. More and more pages of my
lab book were filled – protocols, plate layouts, calculations, graphs, failures
and successes, every detail noted. My part-time supervisor was a young man, who
loved to share his knowledge and opinions, and through him, I was able to
understand a different perspective of the laboratory. Thanks to him, a lot of
my time at the bench was animated and colourful, even treading into the realm
of zombies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Soon, when the middle of the year arrived, the deadlines
were looming. Gone were the days where I would do absolutely nothing when I
arrived home after a day at the university. The tasks that I had been postponing
now threatened to swallow me, and I had to force myself to make sense of my
project, which I did, helping me to finally understand what my project was
about, four months after I had started the experiments for it. Once the mid-year deadlines passed, I started to work more
independently in the laboratory, having repeated many of those experiments
again and again, trying to obtain successful outcomes. Occasionally, I would be
supervised, and shown new techniques. I had to multi-task each day, conducting
several experiments at once, as well as trying to read as many Journal Articles
as possible while at the same time starting to write various sections of my
thesis. Weekends in the laboratory became a normal part of the week, as October,
the time my thesis was due, seemed to be approaching faster and faster. As
expected, by the time the day when we were expected to finish laboratory work arrived,
I was barely done. The frantic days of trying to complete all my experiments
and fitting in as much as possible into one day were not over, but of course, I
had to stop eventually. I was not satisfied with my progress in the project,
knowing that I had had the chance to accomplish so much more. Later, when I completed
my thesis, I took a moment to look through it all and felt a sense of
accomplishment, quite astounded that I had personally completed so much work and
was able to work independently in what was once an extremely foreign
environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The year was an eye-opening experience for me, both
challenging and enjoyable. As is anything in life, there were the usual ups and
downs, the times of elation and frustration, the successes and failures, but at
the end of it all, I look back at the year with a smile. Medical research is a
unique world, with its own rhythm and temperature. It’s the flow of knowledge
from the experienced to the naïve, a game of discovery and development, a
satisfying yet equally frustrating journey of exploration. I know that, regardless
of what other people have to say about the medical research occupation, I will
be happy working in a laboratory as a scientist, because above all else, I care
most about being able to do what I love and love what I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>40 Lessons from the Lab:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1. <!--[endif]-->Projects always start out with extreme optimism,
but rarely do you accomplish everything you set out to complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">2. Outside the lab (family and friends), no one understands what you’re
doing, you can get very excited about something you discovered or accomplished,
but they just won’t understand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">3. Schedule your most-likely-to-succeed experiments
on Fridays as it’s always good to end the week on a high<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">4. If you’ve had a run of good luck during a week,
you’ve probably used up your quota for the month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">5. <!--[endif]-->Everything in a laboratory costs A LOT, e.g. compare
Milk = AUD$1 per litre to Enzyme involved in light-producing reaction =
AUD$18000 per litre (EBay anyone?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">6. <!--[endif]-->Be very careful when you purchase anything,
online or from e-freezers (see #5.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">7. When you need to use a certain piece of
equipment, and others have been using it the whole time or you have a
deadline to meet, it dies on you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">8. Machines rule your life, make sure you always
book in advance and be prepared to fight over it with other people or find
someone who is doing the same thing you are<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">9. You consider every variable, and change every
variable until you are sure you have tried everything and the experiment still
does not work even though it should<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">10. Experiments usually take more time than you
expect, especially if there’s a fire drill or lab meeting that you’re hoping to
finish your work before<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">11. If you require an activity to pass time that is
useful to the laboratory and does not require brain function– pack tips<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">12. You’re forever transferring clear liquids into
clear liquids<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">13. If you’re in a bad mood, you can play with the
snow in the -80°C freezer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">14. You never knew your heart was so fragile – when you
find your cells dead, it always breaks your heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">15. It’s all a waiting game – waiting for tubes to
thaw, waiting for the centrifuge to stop, waiting for liquid to drip through
the column, waiting for DNA to run through the gel, waiting for the enzyme
reaction to take place…………..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">16. Trying to decipher writing on a tube, smudged
and made indistinct by ice is frustrating, guessing its contents is not advised
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">17. Your lab book is a record of your failures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">18. Your research may never lead anywhere which is
the harsh reality<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">19. <!--[endif]-->Cell culture is all about inhaling a lot of
ethanol (alcohol)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">20. Don’t expect the schedule of experiments you’ve drawn
up for the near future to remain unchanged, you’ll forever be pushing back
experiments<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">21. <!--[endif]-->You will never be able to work in a laboratory
which is fully equipped with every piece of equipment you need, get used to
sharing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">22. Everything always looks so much easier when your
supervisor is demonstrating<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">23. A lot of the reagents in the laboratory are
expired, but can still be used<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">24. Procrastinate by making pictures on Word/PowerPoint
instead of reading Journal Articles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">25. <!--[endif]-->Lab meetings and seminars make you feel stupid –
there is so much that you don’t know <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">26. Your results look significant, but the error
bars (sigh, statistics) always say otherwise or there is always one set of data that screws up
your graph<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">27. DNA is cool, RNA is a b**** to work with<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">28. You find some use for your left (or non-dominant)
hand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">29. Labelling tubes is a nuisance, but can save you
a huge amount of time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">30. One small mistake can set you back days of work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">31. Watching the timer or the centrifuge doesn't make time go by faster<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">32. When you have multiple samples to increase the
chance of getting the product you want, you’ll either get 1 hit (out of like
20), 14+ hits (out of like 20) or none.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">33. If you do an experiment to check that it works,
and you don't continue on with the products because not enough is made, when
you repeat it again (multiple times) in the exact same way, it doesn’t work<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">34. You can’t trust that the equipment/reagents of
others is free of contamination, so use/obtain your own<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">35. Some people handle tubes with no gloves on,
other people wash their hands 30 times a day in the laboratory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">36. The feeling when you’ve thrown away a tube or
the contents of a tube which you need instead of the waste tube/tube contents
is not great at all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">37. Your heart rate speeds up when you start a
centrifuge – it makes weird noises (which are either normal or because it’s
old) and because in undergrad, all you’re shown are pictures of exploded
centrifuges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">38. You always have to compromise – time versus completeness/accuracy/validity
of experiments/results<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">39. The amount of electricity used by all the
machines left on/working overnight – don’t even think about it; the hum of the machines that are always on (especially freezers) is the soundtrack that accompanies you, and how eerie the silence would be if they suddenly stopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">40. A laboratory is not a very environmentally
friendly place, so many things only used once – gloves, pipette tips, glass
pipettes, eppendorf tubes, falcon tubes etc. – this would drive my mother nuts</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324878162662629023.post-4455687733834613452014-01-15T18:49:00.000+11:002014-01-16T19:38:24.939+11:00The Northern Coastline of Taiwan<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Close your eyes and fill your mind with the sights and sound
of the beach. You see the sandy, golden shore, littered with shells and
pebbles, the arched palm trees and their long, green and gold leaves, you feel
the soft summer breeze and the golden sunshine on your skin and you hear the
sound of gulls squabbling over scraps of food, and the boom of the ocean as the
waves break. This is the typical tropical paradise, maybe the Maldives or
Puerto Rico or Seychelles or maybe even Hawaii, but not anywhere I have been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Our imagination takes us places, and we all dream of being
there in the flesh someday, but sometimes, places you never expected to feel
like paradise manage to surprise you. These places may be closer than you realise,
and in just a single moment, you may be overwhelmed by its beauty, which is
something, that perhaps, only you are able to perceive. For many of us, there
is a special place, some corner or nook or cranny on this majestic planet which
owns a fragment of your heart, and I think, that perhaps, I have found mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Taiwan is not known for its beaches, but there is one, far
down south that fits the description above. I have not had the chance to visit
that beach, and probably will not get the opportunity any time in the near
future. I was however, lucky enough to visit a different piece of the
coastline, and what I saw there, is closer to <i>my </i>definition of paradise. The island of Formosa is like an unpredictable friend,
familiar, yet always revealing surprises at unexpected times.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Christmas Holidays 2013 – 2014, I visited two different
pieces of the Northern coastline of Taiwan on two different days. I was
incredibly lucky as the weather on both days was fantastic, although rain did
cut short my adventure on the second day. On day 1, I visited what is
the most northern part of the island (Coastline 1 on the map below).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9xpBc8aTODqQrovKJ1AQ-xt90imW8iafAlFeKGX4nUDKBUYkr9nLJNLuobJaDHTY12IO-f4Stdf48t8dqkUfCABPnGvPOTHMNaomY5yT5dfx4I_4ivclr0nmHiK03dwlfonolkhMUIl4/s1600/Coastline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9xpBc8aTODqQrovKJ1AQ-xt90imW8iafAlFeKGX4nUDKBUYkr9nLJNLuobJaDHTY12IO-f4Stdf48t8dqkUfCABPnGvPOTHMNaomY5yT5dfx4I_4ivclr0nmHiK03dwlfonolkhMUIl4/s640/Coastline.jpg" height="378" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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The
coastline was beautiful, stretching as far as the eye could see with the dark
mountains in the distance helping to craft an unforgettable image. Along the
way, we stopped at a geological wonder, the Shi-Men hole, where waves had
eroded away bits and pieces of the rock over time, and left a natural arch-like
structure, onto which you could climb via two flights of stairs on either side.
The vantage point from here allowed a wider view of the surrounding ocean, and
on that day, together with the warm winter sun and soft breeze, being so close
to the ocean left me feeling calm and at peace. The tranquil sea seemed to
strip away the burdens and anxieties that I carry day by day, pulling them down
and down, into the dark depths of the unknown, and in those few moments, I felt
a lightness in my soul and happiness. Later, I bid farewell to the fifth day of
the New Year as the sun set over the ocean, a visual spectacle that I rarely
have the chance to enjoy. The sky was lit up by rich, vibrant colours, leaving
me amazed at the beauty and artistry of our natural world. These simple and
priceless things in life, forever surrounding us, never fails to slow my footsteps
and thoughts, and seems to infuse me with an energy that feeds not just the
body, but the spirit and the soul.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIECgCuD9Nlxs08KndCoZ70G0G_M0YPlk3FuD6_pv89Gs-WHCVzdlpDLdhz3quL-PrLTmGgehsK0HM0XQAs2U_TDe2V6fW3uPOQOYL5iNAc5p7m7D1yxzI1PV1dddaKJ4tEcKMFzPKW4d/s1600/IMAG0428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIECgCuD9Nlxs08KndCoZ70G0G_M0YPlk3FuD6_pv89Gs-WHCVzdlpDLdhz3quL-PrLTmGgehsK0HM0XQAs2U_TDe2V6fW3uPOQOYL5iNAc5p7m7D1yxzI1PV1dddaKJ4tEcKMFzPKW4d/s400/IMAG0428.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The long long coastline</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfP9Z783tnHnn79kXZIzg_R_aUgd9LHsoxZlomnf60TgFNjhiZ2Y7AaJmFiuUmtS3M9BZX4i9x8lqY2-MByHaHLpIzrucBKANoGt3UUvVybrpVgrM9sVbKJlB3du5LUawiZ4zfYJ1XRlk/s1600/IMAG0481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfP9Z783tnHnn79kXZIzg_R_aUgd9LHsoxZlomnf60TgFNjhiZ2Y7AaJmFiuUmtS3M9BZX4i9x8lqY2-MByHaHLpIzrucBKANoGt3UUvVybrpVgrM9sVbKJlB3du5LUawiZ4zfYJ1XRlk/s400/IMAG0481.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The Shi-Men Hole</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gHc25D1E1fozSmAKE3V4ezOr0A7woRoE40U9Qg9rjGWbJbXZ9dYQq4xkt2nj8-pMucG-4ZjsOC6OO2jlwN1GTdjQluYVN9U7wbu-1KqCGpkebVcDD3pjjcSaxdOGWe0VDsJ0NBku7DFZ/s1600/IMAG0474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gHc25D1E1fozSmAKE3V4ezOr0A7woRoE40U9Qg9rjGWbJbXZ9dYQq4xkt2nj8-pMucG-4ZjsOC6OO2jlwN1GTdjQluYVN9U7wbu-1KqCGpkebVcDD3pjjcSaxdOGWe0VDsJ0NBku7DFZ/s400/IMAG0474.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The view from the top of the Shi-Men Hole</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eXP0QoWbiu97lK-HQbfEWj4-x5YOUwji3KhuP3JLcQlYat687rWnI2s3wGURRZkmHm1QyZwnJVBe-mPfiwaIH98iZswVVx0b4fVGubzCu5bXtPzK51Wp8DMG7e48Sp-u82DBcEArZFEj/s1600/IMAG0537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eXP0QoWbiu97lK-HQbfEWj4-x5YOUwji3KhuP3JLcQlYat687rWnI2s3wGURRZkmHm1QyZwnJVBe-mPfiwaIH98iZswVVx0b4fVGubzCu5bXtPzK51Wp8DMG7e48Sp-u82DBcEArZFEj/s400/IMAG0537.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Sunset over the ocean</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The surprises were yet to come. On the second day we took a
trip to Coastline 2, and the weather seemed to not be on my side, it was possible
we were not going to make it to the ocean before the rain hit. The god of rain
(whoever he is, or is it goddess?) was unusually kind that day, and only teased
us with soft drizzles for most of the morning and early afternoon. We first
drove past the Yinyang Sea, a small stretch of the ocean where the water has a
distinctive colouring: the water in the bay area is ochre/yellow-brown, but
further out is the usual blue colouring of the open sea (azure, if using fancy
names to describe colours is your thing). This is a natural phenomenon, a
result of runoff of seawater over rocks rich in iron pyrite and then some
geological/chemical mumbo jumbo happens, causing the water to be stained the
distinctive yellow-brown golden colour.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aPMTthZcxKQ7zgewKY5oxsA_dsEGE81G5aDccsHxU5OLamYTFXYfyCzFoJgMHc_WM6pAUhRes90wUjyUNAHiV0POoGzb6PZ0cgzMcfdMo4qhBGeGNB3c5ZbFgf_taVqId5zbQHXj7f1W/s1600/IMAG0639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aPMTthZcxKQ7zgewKY5oxsA_dsEGE81G5aDccsHxU5OLamYTFXYfyCzFoJgMHc_WM6pAUhRes90wUjyUNAHiV0POoGzb6PZ0cgzMcfdMo4qhBGeGNB3c5ZbFgf_taVqId5zbQHXj7f1W/s400/IMAG0639.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The Yinyang Sea</span></td></tr>
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The coastline here was also breath-taking, with mountains
that were closer than along the other coastline, grandiose in their demeanour.
We sped along the ocean road, I saw bits and pieces of the beach and rocky
shores and tried to capture some of them on my (incredibly slow shutter speed)
phone camera. A little surprise came in the form of two rocky sculptures
basking in the sun. Two whales sculpted out of rock: the blue whale asking “Marry
Me?” and the reply from the pink whale “Yes, I Do!” In my opinion, these
creations are way cuter than a certain yellow duck, and I was surprised that
they have been barely mentioned on the internet.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWzh-_ibOkqBsNxROWLGIAY5R7TRl8EVccmNHgwOUSz_B3PLSDpp-wJIkTPrV5q51PqEAmCVfIEuIZxTUajXR-bJpSAmtpVCkSbRd9Ljsj8BRm5nKE-niF4laW63TSsFtKIS7RdoPohAF/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWzh-_ibOkqBsNxROWLGIAY5R7TRl8EVccmNHgwOUSz_B3PLSDpp-wJIkTPrV5q51PqEAmCVfIEuIZxTUajXR-bJpSAmtpVCkSbRd9Ljsj8BRm5nKE-niF4laW63TSsFtKIS7RdoPohAF/s400/Picture1.jpg" height="245" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Fishy marriage proposal</span></td></tr>
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Our final stop was one of the many places my uncle would go
to fish. There were abandoned abalone farms here, stone paths stretching over
an area of the water designed in a grid-like fashion. The floor of the enclosed
area holding the water was made of rocks overlapping each other on a 45 degree
slant. To my delight, I spotted little schools of fish darting about in the
water, different colours and sizes. There was even a puffer fish, which swam
with aimlessly around the enclosed area, sometimes pulled by the water
current, seemingly with no concerns or burdens in life. My
uncle prepared a fishing rod for me and cracked open some barnacles (or
whatever they were) with a rock for use as bait, which worked well. To my utmost surprise, my inexperience did not
let me down, and I managed to catch three greedy, unsuspecting fish. Whether or not catch-and-release fishing is considered as animal cruelty, I hope what I did that
day was just a bit of harmless fun. Just as I was perfecting my technique, a storm hit and a fourth fish I did not hook. As we scrambled to get our umbrellas open over our heads, we were pelted with rain and our dash back to the car was a little too late, we were already drenched. In this midst of all this chaos I
was happy, albeit a little disappointed my adventure was drawing to a close, but
the sea had brought out the child in me again, and its clear waters and little
treasures had reminded me of the best things in life.</div>
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As I move on with life, and eventually return to my studies, I think that I will sometimes just close my eyes and take myself back to that place. I will imagine the sounds, the sights and the treasures waiting to be found, and perhaps that will give me enough energy to carry on. I hope to return some day on a bicycle, so that I
can see and feel as much of the coastline as possible, travelling at my own
pace, stopping when I desire to, to drink in and breathe in all the sights and
sounds that the Northern Coast of Taiwan has to offer.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5xXSkvgbExUFLDo0CZArrJEksZyb6eb-l-8X_ODYEmdBjKajN36jxb880xeMdUu_Ur96rxNNbrvYloObBjF6bV1q156DcBFB8X-qDKRns0ZcmJt7WPyK5uq-VRSmaI0UKuXLQA-kQIT3/s1600/IMAG0731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5xXSkvgbExUFLDo0CZArrJEksZyb6eb-l-8X_ODYEmdBjKajN36jxb880xeMdUu_Ur96rxNNbrvYloObBjF6bV1q156DcBFB8X-qDKRns0ZcmJt7WPyK5uq-VRSmaI0UKuXLQA-kQIT3/s400/IMAG0731.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Majestic Mountains</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The abandoned abalone farms</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-LeaYRo_DNEiS4YJCMRy3P2bkwaQ1PgfdyaxBSNjLiFCyKSzJHeVC2ybQck4hQ4jUiJD-7v6d9KT3S88_d-C5h-rGitOLz_3k_2iBNX-ycrMe51Q_zrb2Jd-EuwRGev86gAj1XhLYVhyphenhyphen/s1600/IMAG0755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-LeaYRo_DNEiS4YJCMRy3P2bkwaQ1PgfdyaxBSNjLiFCyKSzJHeVC2ybQck4hQ4jUiJD-7v6d9KT3S88_d-C5h-rGitOLz_3k_2iBNX-ycrMe51Q_zrb2Jd-EuwRGev86gAj1XhLYVhyphenhyphen/s400/IMAG0755.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Rocks at the bottom for farming abalone</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH0dVsMVGvVJlyzVbn242zm26DT3YE2R3FZOVpC6M41Z52WrAvJvthA72izz_448_5mlnj3Z1ejKdpx6AT1ZftlNeuWqCX7zJgUxqd_cU74cWrFgdz-MWhyphenhyphenX6FQ2zh1gSSFJ8KJJpUVxx/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH0dVsMVGvVJlyzVbn242zm26DT3YE2R3FZOVpC6M41Z52WrAvJvthA72izz_448_5mlnj3Z1ejKdpx6AT1ZftlNeuWqCX7zJgUxqd_cU74cWrFgdz-MWhyphenhyphenX6FQ2zh1gSSFJ8KJJpUVxx/s400/Picture2.jpg" height="317" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Catches of the Day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">
*The Maps of Taiwan credited to: <i>http://www.taiwandao.tw/news/7873.html </i>(northern part of Taiwan)<i> </i>and <i>http://www.ezilon.com/maps/asia/taiwan-physical-maps.html </i>(full length Taiwan)</div>
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324878162662629023.post-45023711321207875812013-08-01T21:51:00.000+10:002013-08-01T21:54:58.673+10:00Tracy's Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw67irO6wi7lqgwCgQgjNnpzag3gEnGVMvDNSqIf-HgQRsoeeKBtai8hygUf7qz7VL-z3BvVT33RT-iEu5cpZI1XRLp9n-4iQd3mxsdudxhgk4UigfZuulMu0xTL-SQ2gmg4ZVkL80iy4/s1600/Cucunber+4____baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw67irO6wi7lqgwCgQgjNnpzag3gEnGVMvDNSqIf-HgQRsoeeKBtai8hygUf7qz7VL-z3BvVT33RT-iEu5cpZI1XRLp9n-4iQd3mxsdudxhgk4UigfZuulMu0xTL-SQ2gmg4ZVkL80iy4/s400/Cucunber+4____baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The little woman crouches over the flowerbed, loosening the
soil with a rusty spade while carefully arranging dried leaves and vegetable
peels around the base of the plant before covering up the “compost” with the
loosened soil. She repeats these actions as she moves from plant to plant,
until the bag holding her “compost” is empty. The relentless summer sun beats
down on her exposed arms and legs, her skin bronzed from hours spent outdoors.
Occasionally she stands up to ease the ache in her legs and wipes the sweat
from her brow, taking a few seconds to look at the vegetation surrounding her.
Satisfied with the “compost”, she fetches a bucket of water, saved from everyday
household use and waters each plant, making sure not one drop is wasted. If it
is late in the day near supper time, she will harvest ripened produce after
taking a few minutes to contemplate what to present on the supper table that
night. Finally, taking her selection, she heads back into the little house,
starting the preparation of food for the two or three people who will dine
together that night. This little woman is my mother, Tracy, and this is the
story of her vegetable garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Although we had always lived in the city, my mother grew up
in the countryside in Taiwan, and her life was surrounded by family and
neighbours who lived by selling their produce. So, ever since I can remember,
my mother had always planted a selection of vegetables to supplement what we
purchased from the supermarkets as many vegetable varieties that are common in
Taiwanese marketplaces are rarely grown in South Africa. In the 23 years
outside Taiwan, we have settled down for a significant amount of time in three
different houses and each came with a sizeable garden, which provided ample
space for my mother to grow her vegetables. Over time, she has saved the seeds
of many different produce varieties, culminating in the vegetable garden that
she now tends at our current home. I still remember bits and pieces of what she
used to plant at our previous houses: the </span><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Chrysanthemum coronarium</span> </span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">plants that were always populated by ladybirds and the asparagus plants
at our first house (number 10) and the large spread of pumpkin and bottle
gourds/calabash that she planted on the hillside on top of which our second
house (number 6) stood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The story really begins at our
current place of residence, number 7a. In 2006, my mother left South Africa to
accompany me to Australia, but she returned home after a few years. One year
after her return, I took a trip back to South Africa. When I arrived home, I
was amazed at what my mother had nurtured within a year: a vegetable garden
teeming with produce with a variety that I do not recall her ever planting
before. My mother is no farmer however, and a glance at the picture below will
give you an idea of the disarray that is her vegetable garden. There is simply
no order to how the vegetables are planted and these plants did not randomly
sprout out by themselves. Her garden is in a way reflective of her nature: she
is a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to cleanliness, but not neatness
as evidenced by her handbag, but while we laugh at the mess that is her garden,
it’s what makes her endearing and what gives her character. Her dedication to
her mess and the time she spends on nurturing her vegetables is again
reflective of her unending devotion to her family. She disappears from the
house for hours on end, and I often see her standing in her garden wearing a
singlet and shorts, with a spade in one hand and a bucket or hose in the other,
just staring at her plants. I would love to know what goes on in her head,
perhaps she is willing her plants to grow faster or is thinking about what else
to add to her growing mess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX5_iFh66JxOag29fIChRoOoCE_uGagJznHoA9fVmd9lN6xMEBJQdpBCY8HfHKT9aRmO7HP9VttH-9x5GSVqW8VKkzrF_d2EhY4sGwSdWbAYYNnHgRb7xC1fHOhsoqE230FTmLbkd573s/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTX5_iFh66JxOag29fIChRoOoCE_uGagJznHoA9fVmd9lN6xMEBJQdpBCY8HfHKT9aRmO7HP9VttH-9x5GSVqW8VKkzrF_d2EhY4sGwSdWbAYYNnHgRb7xC1fHOhsoqE230FTmLbkd573s/s1600/Capture.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Number 7a in January 2013</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">She treats the vegetables like how
she treats her children: not willing to spend money on compost, she makes her
own, with vegetable peels and old leaves, just like how we used to wear
hand-me-downs or old clothes from friends. She is also very frugal on how much
water she uses but sometimes the heavens provide her with water that lasts for
days. Sometimes the bins and pots in the house would disappear, and if you look
out the window at this time, it would either be raining, or there would be
signs of imminent rain. If you take a walk outside around the side of the
house, you would find a row of bins, buckets and pots, lined up ready to catch
every drop of the falling rain. The chorus of raindrops hitting the sides of
the containers is music to my mother’s ears, and seems to bring the promise of
larger, tastier produce to our supper table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpDt9p-jBcwbsymAJQ00u9gJ361piwrghM-OC4iqgwgFCKs1_8ROhs_Rdtya-ZXTuDbFRIS_s6yVmCB-XiYHcVLQnAnkQgcMmP1F_sKaSDcxhBVD-u7h30c7Q0Sfu9COBPGh1XIcWsTMO/s1600/Fotor080121097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpDt9p-jBcwbsymAJQ00u9gJ361piwrghM-OC4iqgwgFCKs1_8ROhs_Rdtya-ZXTuDbFRIS_s6yVmCB-XiYHcVLQnAnkQgcMmP1F_sKaSDcxhBVD-u7h30c7Q0Sfu9COBPGh1XIcWsTMO/s400/Fotor080121097.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Clockwise from top left: Pumpkin, Pea, Chili, Baby Pumpkin, Green Beans</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">My mother has her fair share of
quirks and here I will share two. In Chinese, the names of a few different
vegetables use the word for “bean” as part of the name, including green beans, Chinese
string beans, long beans, snow peas, peas, red (azuki) beans, peanuts, soybeans
etc., and whenever I would point to a particular plant, asking for its name,
she would simply tell me that they are “beans”. I do not think she has ever
learnt the formal names for these plants and I grew up not knowing what their
proper names were. In the aerial view of her garden, you would notice that she
has planted a row of corn along the fence that separates the dog from her
garden. She believes birds would be deterred from eating these as the dog would
chase them away if they came near. I don’t think that she has considered that
animals can be conditioned, and can learn over time that a perceived danger
does not really pose a threat. A danger that is very real to me is if I
inadvertently release the dog from his enclosure and he starts to wreak havoc
on my mother’s plants. I have had the personal experience of frantically trying
to herd the dog back into his area being very close to having a complete meltdown, as
I would do anything to avoid the wrath of my mother and prevent all hell from
breaking loose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyljPMTQtGJmczJcZbr7tcSUJwp4XorvTeCEOgkD539ckJq0k02CogcDUK4Eu6vDYlKTYndkgQkaW5UEEtSl8fjR6MtWadVlsUdrrevVbLbfSvNlEe2xGODKX3qNZclcLJTRK_CYcjUset/s1600/Fotor0801210215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyljPMTQtGJmczJcZbr7tcSUJwp4XorvTeCEOgkD539ckJq0k02CogcDUK4Eu6vDYlKTYndkgQkaW5UEEtSl8fjR6MtWadVlsUdrrevVbLbfSvNlEe2xGODKX3qNZclcLJTRK_CYcjUset/s400/Fotor0801210215.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Left down: "A-vegetable", Azuki Beans, Basil<br />Right: Yellow Ginger/Turmeric</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">You would notice many of the
vegetable varieties found in my mother’s garden are not locally available
produce, and the means by which she obtained those seeds I will leave to your
imagination. However, my mother is always creative with how she gets seeds for
new varieties of vegetables, sometimes even transplanting a whole plant to our
garden. A while back my father discovered the prickly pear through some
colleagues and promptly became obsessed with it. Being my mother, she tried to
find a cheaper alternative to obtaining the fruit and the result of which was a
few prickly pear plants appearing in our garden at number 6. Where did she get
them? I have no idea.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jGbFe0VLb8HWw1lYPljP8eH5hOZcvGTASKHjG0Na9l8NO2SsaacD1U68Eu5IDGqw8EOULFMhwZxG3dVPxyOldd-3r5-NMRtAlbPC0fNwudbiFhqhaj9N5rhHdkIXUhZYuAq26gTDcWVZ/s1600/Fotor0801210457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jGbFe0VLb8HWw1lYPljP8eH5hOZcvGTASKHjG0Na9l8NO2SsaacD1U68Eu5IDGqw8EOULFMhwZxG3dVPxyOldd-3r5-NMRtAlbPC0fNwudbiFhqhaj9N5rhHdkIXUhZYuAq26gTDcWVZ/s400/Fotor0801210457.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Left: <span style="line-height: 115%;">Chrysanthemum
coronarium<br />Right down: Beans of some kind, Cabbage, Corn with Tomatoes in the background</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Now we come to the long-tailed
birds. What are they? They are a small group of birds, formally named
mousebirds which are found exclusively within sub-Saharan Africa. They also
happen to be my mother’s greatest enemies. These birds eat anything, and
probably exist to terrorise her, which I find amusing. Often, breaking the
silence of a quiet afternoon, you hear the sounds of my mother making shooing
noises, stomping her feet and banging on the window in an effort to chase away
the birds that have descended upon her precious vegetables. If the birds are particularly
stubborn, you hear her loud footsteps as she stomps outside to chase the birds
away, always returning to the house while cursing the birds. At our previous
abode, she had an additional nemesis, a land-dwelling creature that my sister
found cute much to the annoyance of my mother. These are called rock hyraxes or
“dassies” in Afrikaans, and they would eat anything and everything in my
mother’s garden. We lived on a rocky hill which is the primary habitat for
these critters, and I guess again, God created them to terrorise my mother.
This time though, we lived in a bigger house, so the chasing ritual would begin
from the balcony on the first floor, and she would begin stomping across the
balcony, down the two flights of stairs and across the garden, while the
dassies fled for their lives. I think my sister probably secretly rooted for
the dassies to devour everything before my mother discovered them, but she seemed
to possess a sixth sense and often discovered their presence before they could
make much of a meal out of her vegetables. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEJYAGAscs00Sojfa9qcbHpHZAH7OeugEnpTaGqScFtQjBOg88AeU5J0kJIl-jIFL6_R94aBn7p-CgoLREbVq6LGc4RIbjWxFegzKHik8jI50vG1odOUN2uz4eBcoegGhuLfZh_JOadSD/s1600/Mortal+Enemy+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEJYAGAscs00Sojfa9qcbHpHZAH7OeugEnpTaGqScFtQjBOg88AeU5J0kJIl-jIFL6_R94aBn7p-CgoLREbVq6LGc4RIbjWxFegzKHik8jI50vG1odOUN2uz4eBcoegGhuLfZh_JOadSD/s400/Mortal+Enemy+smaller.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Can you spot the infamous long-tailed birds?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Now sitting here, miles from my
mother’s vegetable garden, I think back on the fresh vegetables we had on the
supper table every night and sigh at the thought of my empty fridge. It is the
middle of winter and the garden must be bare, but I look forward to the time
when I can once again explore my mother’s vegetable garden. A vegetable garden
may not seem like a big deal to many, but I still have the curiosity of a child
and squeal in delight when I come upon something new, and occasionally,
surprises sprout up in Tracy’s garden that were not there when the sun last
set.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324878162662629023.post-32508970736430496572013-02-16T17:17:00.003+11:002013-02-16T17:30:42.661+11:00The Secret Ingredient<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">A year before
I was born, my family left Taiwan and immigrated to a small city in the middle
of nowhere. We were now more than eleven thousand kilometres away from our
country of origin, and in a place where access to Taiwanese cuisine was
severely limited. It seemed certain that I was (my sister also) doomed to never
have the chance to grow to love the food that is a part of everyday life in
Taiwan. Indeed, it was also certain that I would have the chance to visit the
country as I was growing up, but there was always the likelihood that I would
develop a preference for a burger and fries over Taiwanese food and never take
the opportunity to properly indulge in authentic Taiwanese cuisine.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Things could
have turned out the way I just described, a natural transition when you move to
a new country with new cultures, but it seemed that placing eleven thousand
kilometres of land and ocean in between was still not enough to completely
change the diet preference of my parents. I suppose I should give some credit
to my father since he is one who is still unaccustomed to Western food after living
for 23 years outside Asia. But the real reason why I have an appreciation for
Taiwanese food is my mother, and what she brought with her when she left Taiwan
behind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">One of the
most familiar images that I have of my mother is that of her with a bag of
flour, a metal mixing bowl and water sitting on the floor and kneading dough.
This image comes up again and again throughout the memories that I carry of my
life at home, so often that I cannot remember when the first memory of this
image was imprinted in my mind. The first time I ever tasted many of the
pastries, treats and dishes that I now regularly eat when visiting Taiwan was
those made by my mother’s hands. Here is a list, which is not complete, and is not
limited to Taiwanese cuisine:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">饅頭</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Steamed roll)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">肉包</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Steamed bun with meat)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">肉圓</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Meatballs with glutinous rice skin)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">肉粽</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Glutinous rice dumplings in bamboo leaves)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">豆漿</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Soy Milk)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">米</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">漿</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Rice Milk)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">韮菜盒子</span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Chives dumplings)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">蔥油餅</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Spring Onion pancake)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">鹹湯圓</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Glutinous rice balls with savoury filling)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">甜湯圓</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Glutinous rice balls in sweet soup)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">豆沙包</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Red Bean Paste Buns)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">水餃</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Dumplings)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">餛飩</span><span lang="ZH-TW"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Wontons)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">碗粿</span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> (Cake in Bowl? I have no idea)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">年糕</span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> (Sweet Chinese New Year’s Cake)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">蘿蔔糕</span><span lang="EN-ZA"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Turnip Cake)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">紅龜粿</span><span lang="EN-ZA"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Red Turtle Cakes [turtles are
not part of the ingredients])</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">麻糬</span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> (Mochi)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">蚵仔煎</span><span lang="EN-ZA">/</span><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">蝦仁煎</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Oyster omelette/Shrimp omelette)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">蚵仔麵線</span><span lang="ZH-TW"> </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Oysters with thin noodles)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="ZH-TW" style="font-family: 標楷體; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">牛肉麵</span><span lang="EN-ZA"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Beef Noodle Soup)</span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">etc.</span></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi8WOkylfrGdRbPAlfL149eLycFmWQUUSElOZV8QNRwtFb_TLlfzZxs3gSdwC76hTzcPOOFMi94AUvqiRRCbgsiU1MxBLmduAXjcGLdykuvipYIy-UogXKBW94hOPEga0cdEnQzXsHQxC/s1600/DSC_0127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi8WOkylfrGdRbPAlfL149eLycFmWQUUSElOZV8QNRwtFb_TLlfzZxs3gSdwC76hTzcPOOFMi94AUvqiRRCbgsiU1MxBLmduAXjcGLdykuvipYIy-UogXKBW94hOPEga0cdEnQzXsHQxC/s320/DSC_0127.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hands with more than 20 years of experience</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My mother does
not use recipes to make any of the above things</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, instead she has a kind of
intrinsic sense, an ability to accurately guess the ingredients and ratio of
ingredients that she needs. Many of the items above are similar and employ
similar methods to make, but she was able to reproduce them just from having
eaten them before and from the memory of the way her own mother went about
making them. The dedication to her family is the driving force behind my mother’s
craft, a task that she occupies herself with every day and wherever she goes,
the stock of these pastries and treats in the freezer is always regularly
replenished.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASdY2mv2pAU63Crxi0POhwrTLebQ72YSIMRKFbeMoPGstqKnzVz1HH58rc713DfRRT8wQCoFzbDT4MYWQDFs0TCIWDiZVd7YwGeW2jw1UQ3-qtqE-IF3K9zumiLcxoFNu2b-Tja2fwEj-/s1600/DSC_0307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASdY2mv2pAU63Crxi0POhwrTLebQ72YSIMRKFbeMoPGstqKnzVz1HH58rc713DfRRT8wQCoFzbDT4MYWQDFs0TCIWDiZVd7YwGeW2jw1UQ3-qtqE-IF3K9zumiLcxoFNu2b-Tja2fwEj-/s320/DSC_0307.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The finished product of what was being made in the previous photo: Flaky Red Bean Moon Cakes - a recent addition to my mother's repertoire </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The time my
mother spends on making these foods is usually quite long, even though over the
years, she has refined her techniques and repeated those same practised
movements hundreds of times, she is slow by nature and in a way she is a
perfectionist. Every time we venture out to eat in restaurants or buy food from
vendors, it is only when we return home and eat a home-cooked meal that I
realise what it is that makes her food unique. My mother’s care and the time
she dedicates is the secret ingredient, and this brings out a flavour that is difficult
to describe in words. It’s the feeling when you are eating food with trust and
certainty because you know exactly what is in the food you are eating, the kind
of mind-set that allows the meal to be so much more: it’s the taste of
reassurance and the taste of love and care. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">As kids, my
sister and I would often join in and help our mother with what she would be
making on a particular day, but especially dumplings as these involve various
steps in its production. Now, more than ten years on after I started helping my
mother, I live alone in Australia, and occasionally make these things myself,
everything from scratch, the dough and the filling. This gives me a sense of
satisfaction, knowing that I have a skill that allows me to add something else
to my daily recipe book (which is very limited), and I am glad that I was able
to learn this from my mother.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEhT498Q4dBCZ1KqUzjPu9o7iidztVX6H38PTSBDXgJO-lCoIeUMDvLSsgYts3WxibMtNSlmduN2ERcMMw5VmdC5EV3AUBSFvrKZ9j9Gs6GQe7J_d7I7Sk4qUqvlY0x44olD0uTLYigfa/s1600/Dumplings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEhT498Q4dBCZ1KqUzjPu9o7iidztVX6H38PTSBDXgJO-lCoIeUMDvLSsgYts3WxibMtNSlmduN2ERcMMw5VmdC5EV3AUBSFvrKZ9j9Gs6GQe7J_d7I7Sk4qUqvlY0x44olD0uTLYigfa/s320/Dumplings.jpg" width="305" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top: Dumplings Bottom: Spring Onion Pancakes<br />What I learnt from my mother</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">A lot of people may enjoy spending their time
making these pastries and treats and I have never asked my mother whether she
enjoys what she does, but I can imagine the sort of answer she will give me, a snarky remark something along the lines of: “all this effort is for others, and most
of what I make doesn’t make it into my own mouth, if you guys weren’t around
why would I waste my time making these things?” She loves and is dedicated to
our family, but will not directly use sweet sayings or warm phrases to prove
that, and this kind of remark is her trademark, her way of telling us she
cares. Regardless of what her answer may be, I know this is her contribution to
our family, the use of her skills to keep us well fed and healthy, and for that
I will be forever grateful.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324878162662629023.post-80676710496501458062013-02-08T12:10:00.004+11:002013-02-08T12:12:52.530+11:00Courage, Confidence and Choices<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIF_ui5JTmJBKg2U7fIrc6tBGjTQaHMhHXaHrsNfJ85DFCQRB9FPeCs7HdfZmWgVIGn5WO2g8lWgazjE-11cU1MzLS-6EhxsJ_T3I-EWBCwrmwZ8x_RTefgSvmVu1RO336IYbjwlHYOzP/s1600/IMG-20130201-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIF_ui5JTmJBKg2U7fIrc6tBGjTQaHMhHXaHrsNfJ85DFCQRB9FPeCs7HdfZmWgVIGn5WO2g8lWgazjE-11cU1MzLS-6EhxsJ_T3I-EWBCwrmwZ8x_RTefgSvmVu1RO336IYbjwlHYOzP/s400/IMG-20130201-WA0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Last week in Melbourne,
my friend and I came across this guy busking on the streets outside one of the
busiest train stations in the city. He was from Taiwan, and most of the songs
he sang were familiar to me – popular pop ballads released by many of the
biggest artists in Taiwan. His dexterity with the guitar left me nothing short
of envious, and listening to him sing live, with just his voice and guitar as instruments,
free of digital alterations, stopped me and many others in our tracks,
inserting a short interlude into our busy lives, slowing down the frantic movement
of people for just a few minutes, allowing them to take a break from the
tedious march that we call life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">It seemed that on this
small corner of the Earth, his voice would not be able to bring much to those
around him. How is he able to compete with those whose tunes are constantly on
the airwaves and who clock up millions of views on Youtube? Regardless of his
reach, his passionate rendition of each song brought to life the lyrics and
infused them with meaning, in a way that modern mass commercialised music does
not. To be able to listen to such a great voice singing songs that I enjoy
without having to pay the ridiculous amounts they charge for live concerts
these days, allowed to me realise that sometimes you come across the best
things in life by accident. It also
reminds us of the way things work in this world. Talent may not get you ahead,
and the fulfilment of dreams often do not solely rely on talent but regardless
of which profession, not every deserving person has the chance to be truly successful.
It is also a sobering thought that this
is actually a reflection of the society in which we live, fuelled by consumers like
me, who pursue things that are aesthetically pleasing rather than that which
has substance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">I found out later that
this guy had actually competed in a televised singing competition back in
Taiwan a few years ago but was not placed very high at the conclusion of the
competition. Whatever the reason for competing in that contest, for money, for
recognition, for a chance to fulfil a dream, he has talent. He may not be the
best singer around, but his voice was good enough to stop a few people in their
tracks and to engage them for longer than a song, which is more than can be
said for most of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">For someone to shrug off
the past, to set aside the dream of becoming a star, being able to leave that
behind and then to go on to pick up a guitar and sing to strangers on a random
street in a random city, is something that requires courage, and lots of it.
Singing to an audience made up of mostly people unfamiliar with the songs and
often singing to thin air, requires dedication to the craft.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">His reasons for busking,
I don’t know, but certainly it isn't something that you can make a good living
out of. Maybe he just gets satisfaction seeing smiles on the faces of his
audience, or now and then stopping just one person in their tracks gives him a little sense of accomplishment and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">gives him the encouragement to carry on</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">.
But seeing him sing with confidence, humbly thanking people who left change
behind, and interacting with his audience, you can see that he is in his
element, he enjoys what he does, and he hopes to brighten your day through
music.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Seeing him led me
thinking about what gives him the confidence to stand out in public and sing at
the mercy of the harshest critics; was it the competition, his friends, his
family? Or does his family not even approve of what he is doing. Brought up the
way I was, I was always told, even if you are happy in what you do, can that keep
you alive? My father was supportive of my choice in tertiary education, but
that was because it was still something that somewhat guarantees a relatively
stable employment in my future. But what if I chose something else, what if my
sister chose something else? Would he be just as supportive? The answer is: I
would not have chosen something else. I don’t have the courage to take that
step, and even if there was something that I would rather do, or a “dream” that
I want to pursue, I wouldn't have the confidence and would not be reassured that
I was talented at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Throughout my school
years, I have never felt that I stood out at anything; I always felt that I was
inadequate at everything, that I was still not good enough, and good enough in
the eyes of my parents meant achieving a perfect score or being the best. But that doesn't mean that I do not like the direction my life is heading in, even though I can think
of a few different paths I might have travelled down had I the courage to, I'm OK with where I'm going. And again, my parents are still unrelenting, believing
having given up the dream to become a doctor (not like that ever existed, but
whatever), I am making a mistake choosing to undertake research in my chosen field,
and not choosing a field that is more relevant to the whole world (i.e.
encompassing the mighty DEVELOPED WORLD). But
at least in that regard, I should be able to make up my own mind; I chose this
career path not for the material rewards, but for the reward that comes with
changing the lives of people for the better, even if it is just one person. But
that is another story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">So, a final thought:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">“Are you content working
everyday doing something that keeps your bank balance reasonable but that you
don’t enjoy or would you rather be truly happy but barely making ends meet?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8324878162662629023.post-55531506668462286602013-01-17T21:54:00.001+11:002013-02-08T12:12:38.802+11:00Lessons from a Film - Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLjYPcL5TkLxIscScZVKwdO9uvOLTISfDkQUfDp3Be5J4LNXkxPsjcl0jTUL9BUGTU2y_BR4DrqAts2dkECTOGZatZnIhnLDQJMoKuQ6mFsLEp93gl0VmepRLq4haTO8KPBMmMOAZhe7y/s1600/1315546015-3978594324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLjYPcL5TkLxIscScZVKwdO9uvOLTISfDkQUfDp3Be5J4LNXkxPsjcl0jTUL9BUGTU2y_BR4DrqAts2dkECTOGZatZnIhnLDQJMoKuQ6mFsLEp93gl0VmepRLq4haTO8KPBMmMOAZhe7y/s400/1315546015-3978594324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">This film is based on true events which
occurred in central Taiwan in 1930. The international version was a combination
of the two separate films shown in Taiwan which cut down the running time from
four-and-a-half hours to two-and-a-half hours. I watched the full version over
two sittings: Part I “The Sun Flag” and Part II “The Rainbow Bridge”, and
believe this version allows the viewer to engage the story better than the
shorter version.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Warriors
of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> is a dramatization of
the events surrounding the Wushe Incident, of which the main focus is the
Aboriginal group, the Seediq people of Taiwan. This is a retelling of the rise
of the Seediq against Japanese oppression, of which the Seediq where severely
outnumbered and outgunned, but left a mark on the history of the land by
fighting for their honour and family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Nowadays, films are objects of intense scrutiny
by critics and audiences and the box office result is usually the determinant
of the success of a particular film. Regardless of the international response,
for a film that emerged out of Taiwan<i>,
Seediq Bale</i> is a success in itself, being the most expensive film produced
in Taiwan to date. The response to the film in its domestic release was overwhelming,
and the vision of the director to bring the story of a little-known part of
Taiwan history to the big screen allowed people like me, Taiwanese but ignorant
of our history, to appreciate our nation’s past. After seeing the film, I
believe the message within the story is the most important aspect of this film,
and I hope, in addition to feelings of pride for <i>Seediq Bale</i> as a great cinematic achievement in our nation’s film
history, that this message was successfully conveyed to many in the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>The Message</b></span></span></h3>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The film showed the power of belief and
tradition that is embedded within cultures and also the lengths to which people
will go to honour their beliefs and to keep their traditions alive, even if,
ultimately, the only path to liberation is death. The Seediq believed in the
honour and dignity of being true Seediq warriors, and they could not idly sit
by and watch the destruction and demeaning of their culture and way of life,
instead, even in the face of insurmountable resistance, they would rise and fight
to become true warriors and to earn a place with their ancestors in the eternal
hunting grounds on the other side of the rainbow bridge.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">But is what was done by the Seediq right?
The events depicted in the film is not unique to this part of history, and
these same themes have reared their heads throughout history during
confrontations between indigenous peoples and other more powerful societies
that arrive in newly discovered lands and attempt to drive the natives away in
order to take the land and its resources for themselves. Bloodshed is often the
result of the desperation of the natives, who know no other way to fight back.
The Seediq were not considered to be equals by the Japanese, but rather,
regarded as savages and treated as little more than slaves. The Japanese
attempt to “civilize” the Seediq showed a complete disrespect and disregard for
the culture and history of these people, actions that can hardly be considered
to be civilised. The Japanese wronged the Seediq, snatching away their homes
and hunting grounds, mistreating them and destroying their culture, but other
than fighting back, did the Seediq really have another path to freedom?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Other remarks</span></span></h3>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The acting was remarkable, even more so
because the majority of the cast were non-professional actors, who were able to
perfect the Seediq dialogue (the speakers of this language are diminishing in
number) as well as to accurately portray the hunting and fighting scenes which
required immense physical exertion. Through their accurate portrayals of the
Seediq, the use of unfamiliar faces allowed a true sense of the departed Seediq
to be felt; convincing audiences that they had truly stepped back in time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Another highlight of the film was the use
of traditional Seediq music in the score, which brought to life the rich
palette of emotions experienced by the characters. Although the words in the
songs may be foreign to most: the meaning of family, the honour of being a true
warrior, pride and dignity, the spirits of the ancestors and the liberation of
the soul, the simplicity of these lyrics resonate with meaning through the haunting
melodies of the Seediq. These are simple yet complex concepts that we seldom contemplate
in modern society, and are values and beliefs that cannot be fully comprehended
without having experienced the struggles that people like the Seediq lived
through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The scenery in the film was spectacular,
showcasing a part of Taiwan that I have not been able to see with my own eyes. I
can understand the desperation of the Seediq to defend their hunting grounds
and the land that they had occupied for hundreds of years before the arrival of
the Han and Japanese. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Of course, the film has its flaws, and one
of them is the one-dimensional portrayal of the Japanese. Even though they were
not portrayed as monsters, the addition of a few sympathetic Japanese did not
fully convince us of the true nature of the Japanese perspective of the events
that unfolded. History should not be seen through only one perspective, and the
actions of a few should not be used as the foundation of generalisations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Final thoughts</span></span></h3>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The film is an epic, action-packed dramatization
of true events, while not entirely historically accurate, beneath the bloodshed
and ample beheading scenes, a beautiful story is told. Hopeless from the
outset, this film tells a tragic story, but reveals the power of belief and the
indestructible nature of the human spirit. It is the story of the bravery of a
small group of seemingly powerless people uniting and rising up to fight
against Goliath for the preservation of their simple, yet fulfilling way of
life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The film teaches us about the true meaning of
wealth and the importance of preserving the past and tradition. The true source
of wealth for the Seediq was their hunting grounds, the forests, waterfalls,
rivers, animals and vegetation, but they did not own the land, and instead they
were one with it. The way in which they valued those hunting grounds is
different from how we perceive value today, worth much more than what our
modern materialistic minds can comprehend. Their rich history and culture, the
honouring of their ancestors and the ability to pass these on through
generations was valued and what they fought to protect from extinction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Seediq
Bale</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> is in no way a cinematic masterpiece, but the
film succeeded in bringing the story of the Seediq to the attention of many,
challenging us to reflect upon the morality of the actions of those who lived
before us. It teaches us to be tolerant of others, to respect and acknowledge
their land, culture and history, and to accept them as equal counterparts within
a world which we should peacefully and willingly share. Let this film be a
reminder that history should never be repeated, and that savagery against our
own kind should never again be witnessed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">The Seediq's only wish was to return
to their hunting grounds and their way of life. Their view of death is in no
way filled with sorrow; instead it is filled with hope and beauty, as embodied
by the words they say as they part: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">“May we meet again in the eternal hunting
fields on the other side of the rainbow bridge.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160723024706356038noreply@blogger.com0