Lanyu - Part IV | 兰屿 (四）

Night Observation

As the night fell, led by Xiao Qiang, we traveled across the darkness with motorbikes. What we were doing was having night observation at the seaside nearby. Soon, Xiao Qiang spotted the first guest of the night - a coconut crab...

*Night observation is a popular activity in Lanyu after dawn, tourists are brought to the seaside and forest nearby to observe the lives of fauna and flora in Lanyu during nighttime.

走，夜观去

入夜后，我们在小强的带领下，在黑暗中，骑着机车，在附近的海边搜寻。很快的，小强便发现了我们当晚的第一位客人 - 椰子蟹。

*夜观就是在夜里去参观兰屿的动植物。游客们会被带到附近的树林和海边，通过解说来让他们了解兰屿的夜间生态。

"Fa~ai" - in Language of Tao, Meaning "My Home"
法艾 - 达悟语的意思是“我的家'

Coconut Crab, a Protected Species, Defending Himself by Moving Backward
椰子蟹，被保护动物，正在保卫着自己

Don't mess with coconut crab, as it can open a coconut using its claw.（He was holding Xiao Qiang's key)

千万别给椰子蟹缠到，因为它的钳子真的能把一颗椰子剖开。（它的钳已经把小强的机车钥匙抓住了）

Introducing the Transformer Crab - Spot the Face of Decepticons on the shell?
变形金刚蟹 - 有看到狂派的脸吗？

Little Yellow Crab - Does It Look Like Bumble Bee ?
小黄蟹 - 看起来像变形金刚的大黄蜂吗？

Poisonous Sea Snake - First Interaction with Sea Snake
有毒的海蛇 - 与海蛇的第一次接触

Another Species - Not as Beautiful as the First One
另一种海蛇 - 没有第一条漂亮

Lovely Prawn
可爱的爱心虾

A Closer Look
近距离

There is a Love Shape on Its Back
看到背上的爱心吗？

A Random Fish
一种鱼

The Eye of Sadako
贞子的眼睛

It's Just a Shell
其实它是一种蚌类

Jiao Xiao - A Tiny Owl, Also A Protected Wildlife, Confined in Lanyu Only
角鸮 - 一种小型猫头鹰，也是受保护动物，是兰屿的特有的品种

Following "Do Do Wu"- the chirping of Jiao Xiao, we found the tiny owl. I was told that a tour only disturb (torching) one Jiao Xiao a night. This is to minimize the harassment to Jiao Xiao.

跟住“嘟嘟屋”－角鸮的叫声，我们找到了它。小强告诉我，一个夜观团只会在一晚干扰（用手电筒照）一只角鸮。这是为了减少对角鸮的骚扰。

This Tree Belongs to Xiao Qiang's Family, The Craving Was Left by His Grandfather
这颗树是属于小强的家庭的，树上的刻纹是他爷爷留下的

This activity allowed me to understand more about the relationship between the Tao and the nature in Lanyu. A night observation tour costs only 300-400 TWD, ins't it worth ?

这次的夜观让我深深地体会到兰屿人与大自然之间的微妙关系。参加夜观团的收费是300-400台币，很划算吧!

To be continued...

待续...

Lanyu - Part III | 兰屿 (三）

The Tao (Yami)

The Tao (Yami), are a Taiwanese aboriginal people. Different with other tribes in the mainland of Taiwan, they mainly depend on the sea for livelihood and their only home is at Lanyu. The Tao is considered as the most unique attraction in Lanyu.

I did not take many pictures of them as it's mentioned in most of the blogs that the Tao do not like people to take photos of them without asking for permission. (Actually most people do not like it as well)

达悟族/雅美族

达悟族是台湾原住民之一，与台湾岛上其他原住民族群不一样，他们是靠海为生的。而兰屿就是他们的家。达悟族对我来说，是兰屿岛上最大的特点。
我没有拍到他们的照片， 因为听说兰屿人不喜欢随意被陌生人拍照。（当然，我认为大部分的人不喜欢被陌生人随意拍照吧）

Traditional Boat of Tao

Pin Ban boat is the traditional fishing boat of Tao. I would say the boat is the combination of traditional wisdom and culture of Tao.

达悟人的拼板舟

拼板舟是达悟族的传统舟。它结合了达悟族的传统智慧和文化。

Traditional Boat of Tao
拼板舟

Due to limited resources on the island, the boat is made of various types of wood. This is to prevent one kind of trees from extinction.Imagine, if only one kind of wood is used to build the boats, soon the species will extinct.The ancestors of Tao already had this awareness since so many years ago and this really impressed me.

由于在岛上天然资源不足，拼板舟可是由几种不同的木材制造而成。这是因为达悟族的祖先们知道如果他们只用同一种树的话，那种树很快就会在岛上灭绝了。他们在那么就以前就有那样的思想了，这真的另我敬佩。

Inside This Wooden Kayak
拼板舟内

The carving of the boat is very meaningful. It shows the size of a family; a family with more children and family members can crave a much complicated carving.

船边的雕刻可真的有意思的。它显示了一个家庭的实力，有更多的家庭成员的家庭能刻出更多，更复杂的雕刻。

Xiao Qiang (Son of Guesthouse) Explaining the Craving on Boat.
小强 （民宿老板的儿子）正在解说拼板舟上的雕刻

The human symbol indicates devil. A stick on its head meaning to kill the devil. The round shape represents an eye that looks for harvest or sun that gets good weather.

在船边雕刻的人像代表恶魔，而那恶魔正被插着头部，这代表恶魔被止住着了。那圆形的雕刻代表太阳或眼睛，能保佑好天气和能帮忙找到到收成。

Craving on the Boat
舟上的雕刻

Of course I did not miss the chance to kayak the boat. I was let to kayak myself after the coach guided me on the basic skills on how to handle the boat. The strength that we need to use comes from our waist, not arm. 

当然，我绝对不会放过亲自撑拼板舟的机会.教练示范控船的基本动作后，就让我自己撑了,当然他们会给予帮助。撑拼板舟的窍门在于腰力，而不是手臂力。

Departing - They are all elder than me =(
出发咯 (她们都是姐姐们）

"I like your move" -- Praised by the Coach =)
“我喜欢你刚才那个动作'' -- 被教练称赞啦，嗬嗬

Flying Fish as Food

Flying fish is considered as holy food for the Tao.The Tao will only hunt flying fish in certain season to ensure the sustainability of flying fish habitat. This somehow shows the wisdom of their ancestors. I did not have chance to see how the flying fish hunt is as the flying fish hunt season was just ended.

*I was told the story of hunting flying fish . First, they set traps in an area with nets and then with empty hand, they jump into sea to chase after those flying fishes into their traps.Cool right ?

飞鱼是食物

飞鱼可是达悟族神圣的食物。达悟人只会在特定的季节捕飞鱼，原因是为了防止飞鱼灭绝。这显示了达悟老祖宗们的智慧。可惜我去的时候不是飞鱼季，不能看达悟人捕飞鱼。

*听说他们会撑着几个拼板舟（悟达族的传统舟），在海中围起来撒网，然后渔夫们就会赤手空拳地跳进海里，把飞鱼赶进网里。厉害吧！

Flying Fish with Rice (It has a long wing-like fins)
飞鱼饭 (很长的＂翅膀＂）

Dried Flying Fish
飞鱼干

To be continued...

待续...