Orchid Island is a is a 45 km² volcanic island off the southeastern coast of Taiwan Island. Besides its unique culture of Tao, it is also unique in its flora, fauna, and its scenery.
简介
兰屿是台湾的离岛之一，坐落在台湾的东南部。岛上除了有
Ready to Go
It was my 13th day in Taiwan. That day, I turned to be a solo traveler officially. I woke up quite early in the morning to catch up the ferry departing at 7.30am. A taxi was booked to pick me up at 5.45am. Lanyu was my next destination.
Taking ferry is the only way to reach Lanyu from Kending, the southern region of Taiwan. The taxi dropped me at Hou Bi Hu Jetty after a 20 minutes journey. I bought only an one way ticket as I was not sure how long I would stay in Lanyu. Taking anti-vomiting tablets is a necessary action, I had two tablets 20 mins before boarding.
*I wanted to book the ferry ticket on the night before. The chalet owner referred me to a local named Mr.Huang. He told me that buying an one way ticket was not possible. He forced me to take 2 ways ticket and get the hostel booked. I refused to do so. Actually, buying an one way ticket is allowed.
整装待发
在台湾的第十三天，我终于正式地开始了我一个人的旅行。那天，我很早起床，为了就是要赶上七点半的船。前晚预约的计程车将会在五点四十五分来接我。兰屿是我的下一站。
在台湾的第十三天，我终于正式地开始了我一个人的旅行。那天，我很早起床，为了就是要赶上七点半的船。前晚预约的计程车将会在五点四十五分来接我。兰屿是我的下一站。
坐船是从垦丁到兰屿的唯一途径。计程车司机花了二十分钟把我从蓝湾载到了后壁湖码头。我买了单程船票，因为我还没决定我要呆在兰屿多久。昏船药能有效的防治昏船，我吃了两颗。
*其实我想在出发的前晚预定船票，民宿老板向我推荐了一位姓黄的先生。黄先生告诉我是不可能买到单程票的，一定要买双程票，而且还要先预约民宿，最后我没答应。其实，我们还是可以买到单程票的。
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| Boarding (Good weather, typhoon had just passed) 上船咯(天气很好，台风刚过） |
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| Ticket (NT1000) 船票 (台币1000） |
Alone to Lanyu
On the ferry, I kept looking for individual or small group that could be my travel mates for the next few days (I did not want to be lonely for the next few days), however, those were on board were big group with diving equipments. To avoid vomiting, I took nap after a short chat with a guy sitting next to me. People say the ferry tour causes nausea easily.
一个人去兰屿
在船上，因为不想孤单，我一直在寻找有潜质成为我旅伴的人，但是在船上的都是去潜水的旅团。与坐在旁边的潜水大哥结束了短暂的对话后，我就开始歇息，以防止昏船。之前听人说蛮容易昏船的。
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| They are all going for diving 都是潜水旅团 |
Reaching Lanyu
It took two hours to reach Lanyu. I was sleeping all the while, so I was completely fine. Anxiety hit me when I was about to reach, as I did not make any room booking. Furthermore, I had no idea on handling a scooter. Scooter is the main transportation on the island, it would be hard for me to travel around the island.
I am always a lucky guy. I was so lucky to see people from guesthouse waiting for their guests at jetty, so, I simply approached to one of them.
The guy that I approached to is from Ya Mei Guesthouse.
I was also told that I was lucky because many had canceled their rooms booking due to typhoon. People usually have their rooms booked first before they visit this island.
在码头搭讪
两个小时船程，我到达了兰屿。没有订房和不会骑机车的我开始担心了。机车是兰屿岛上的首要交通工具，我不会骑机车，我要找民宿时一定会很困难。
不过，天无绝人之路，我很幸运，有许多民宿的接应在码头等待客人，于是，我就随便找了一位接应搭讪。
结果，接下来的两天，我就住在雅美民宿。
其实我真的很幸运，一般人都是把房间订了才去兰屿，我刚巧遇上台风，很多人都取消了订房，我才能有房间睡。
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| Jetty of Lanyu 兰屿码头 |
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| Waiting for guests (I approached to the guy wearing red t-shirt) 接应在码头接应客人 （我就是去搭讪了那穿红衣的男人） |
Scooter Riding
As I did not know how to handle a scooter, Niu (staff of the guesthouse) fetched me the guesthouse using his scooter.Then, he taught me how to ride a scooter. Driving without license in Lanyu is not illegal!
I handled it in a couple of minutes. People say, learning how to ride a scooter is as easy as learning how to ride a bike, if you are able to ride a bike, you are definitely able to ride a scooter.
After that, I started my journey of driving without license.
在兰屿学机车
由于我不会骑机车，牛（民宿接应）用机车把我载到民宿。然后，再教我学机车。在兰屿无牌驾驶是不违法的！
那台小绵羊，我用几分钟就学会了。然后，我便开始了我在兰屿无牌驾驶的旅程。
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| I never expected that I could ride a scooter in Taiwan 真想不到，我竟然可以在台湾骑机车 |
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。
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| 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。
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| 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。
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| 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。
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| 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。
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| Departing - They are all elder than me =( 出发咯 (她们都是姐姐们） |
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| "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！
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| Flying Fish with Rice (It has a long wing-like fins) 飞鱼饭 (很长的＂翅膀＂） |
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| Dried Flying Fish 飞鱼干 |
岛上唯一的添油站
Located near to the jetty, this is the ONE and ONLY petrol station on the island. So please make sure your motor has sufficient fuel whenever you pass by there. Fuel cost to travel round the island is around 60 TWD.
兰屿岛上只有唯一一家添油站，它就坐落在码头附近。所以，在经过油站时必须注意一下机车的汽油是否足够。环岛一圈的油钱大约要60台币。
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| The One and Only Petrol Station on the Island 岛上唯一的添油站 |
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。
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| "Fa~ai" - in Language of Tao, Meaning "My Home" 法艾 - 达悟语的意思是“我的家' |
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| 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）
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）
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| 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？ |
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| 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？ |
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| Poisonous Sea Snake - First Interaction with Sea Snake 有毒的海蛇 - 与海蛇的第一次接触 |
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| Another Species - Not as Beautiful as the First One 另一种海蛇 - 没有第一条漂亮 |
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| Lovely Prawn 可爱的爱心虾 |
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| A Closer Look 近距离 |
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| There is a Love Shape on Its Back 看到背上的爱心吗？ |
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| A Random Fish 一种鱼 |
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| The Eye of Sadako 贞子的眼睛 |
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| It's Just a Shell 其实它是一种蚌类 |
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| 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 |
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。
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| 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...
在凉亭午睡
岛上有许多凉亭，是午睡，休息，聊天，吹海风和喝啤酒的好地方。别看它好像会很热的样，坐在那边真的是很凉快的。
岛上有许多凉亭，是午睡，休息，聊天，吹海风和喝啤酒的好地方。别看它好像会很热的样，坐在那边真的是很凉快的。
Taking Nap at Rest Place
Pavilions on the island serve as a good place to take nap, chit chat, rest，enjoy sea breeze and drink beer. It's really cool in there!
Pavilions on the island serve as a good place to take nap, chit chat, rest，enjoy sea breeze and drink beer. It's really cool in there!
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| The Outlook 外观 |
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| My Travel Mates, One Taking Nap; Another Looking at Sea 我的旅伴, 一个在午睡；一个在看海 |
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| Flowers & Rest Place 花海与凉亭 |
Same Pig Not Same Lives
同猪不同命
These pigs are unlucky, they are raised as food.
它们都是猪,可是这些黑猪会被宰杀的。
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| Pigs Raised as Food |
While this pig is a lucky pig. She is a pet.
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| She Bites |
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| Sleepy Pig & Puppy |
Even they are raised, but they are free to move to everywhere.
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On roadside
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The Foods
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| Breakfast at a Burger Shop |
The Cold Spring
I translated "the cold spring" directly from mandarin - 冷泉. Honestly, I had no idea about what a cold spring is. When I dipped my foot in the water, it's really cold. The water is very clear.
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| The Cold Spring |
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| The Water is Clear and Cool |
Some Signboards
The Green Grassland
This is the place that I love the most in Lanyu. There is huge grassland here , cliff. It's also a common spot for people to see sunset.
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| The Little Lanyu |
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| The Cliff and The Sea |
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| The Old Man Rock |
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| Add caption |
Leaving by Propeller
Uncle from the homestay told me that I could try my luck in the airport to get replacement tickets. I could leave Lanyu by propeller if I succeeded to get a replacement ticket.
The air ticket only costs 1300 TWD while ship ticket costs 1000 TWD. But, by air, I can reach Taitung in 20 minutes while ship needs to take 4 hours.
我在离开的前一天下午三点后到机场写上名字，我的名字在十六号。离开那天一早便到机场等候，
这飞机好小，好像纸飞机，一架飞机也只能容入十九名乘客。
Uncle from the homestay told me that I could try my luck in the airport to get replacement tickets. I could leave Lanyu by propeller if I succeeded to get a replacement ticket.
The air ticket only costs 1300 TWD while ship ticket costs 1000 TWD. But, by air, I can reach Taitung in 20 minutes while ship needs to take 4 hours.
我在离开的前一天下午三点后到机场写上名字，我的名字在十六号。离开那天一早便到机场等候，
这飞机好小，好像纸飞机，一架飞机也只能容入十九名乘客。
The day before I left Lanyu, I went to airport to write my name to the waiting list after 3p.m . I got the number 16. On the day I left , I reached the airport early to wait for my turn. The propeller is small , just like a toy, it can only fit 19 passengers.
青青草原
我在兰屿最喜欢的地方！这里是许多情侣观赏日落的热门地点。这里是一片草原，海风很大，还有悬崖，还可以观望到远方的小兰屿。
This is the place that I love the most in Lanyu. Hotspot for couples to view sunset. A huge grassland, strong breeze, cliff,
好贵的食物
由于兰屿的位置偏远，物资偏缺，所以这里的食物都比台湾岛来的贵。一餐大约要花上200台币。
Expensive foods
Its location that is far from Taiwan mainland causes the foods on island becoming expansive. One meal need to spend around 200 TWD.
迷失的人？追梦的人？
兰屿是一个与世无争，悠悠自在的地方，我在那边的时候，感受到了那边的悠闲，说实在的，的确有的害怕。感觉上是让迷失的人进来兰屿充电，重新出发的地方。
Lost ? Go After Dream?
听说女人鱼民宿的老板娘第一次来到兰屿后就爱上了这个地方，就立下决心要嫁给兰屿人。
Round the Island with Scooter
骑机车去环岛
学会了机车后，我便骑着机车去环岛。民宿的叔叔还笑我得来到兰屿来学机车。
After mastering how to ride a scooter, scooter became my good partner to travel round the island.
坐纸飞机离开
到步后从叔叔的口中得知，我可以去机场碰碰运气，有可能可以拿到补票，如果成功的话，我可以坐飞机离开。
飞机票只是1300台币，到台东的行程只需二十分钟。
而到台东的船票需要1000台币，耗时4小时。
我在兰屿最喜欢的地方！这里是许多情侣观赏日落的热门地点。这里是一片草原，海风很大，还有悬崖，还可以观望到远方的小兰屿。
This is the place that I love the most in Lanyu. Hotspot for couples to view sunset. A huge grassland, strong breeze, cliff,
好贵的食物
由于兰屿的位置偏远，物资偏缺，所以这里的食物都比台湾岛来的贵。一餐大约要花上200台币。
Expensive foods
Its location that is far from Taiwan mainland causes the foods on island becoming expansive. One meal need to spend around 200 TWD.
迷失的人？追梦的人？
兰屿是一个与世无争，悠悠自在的地方，我在那边的时候，感受到了那边的悠闲，说实在的，的确有的害怕。感觉上是让迷失的人进来兰屿充电，重新出发的地方。
Lost ? Go After Dream?
听说女人鱼民宿的老板娘第一次来到兰屿后就爱上了这个地方，就立下决心要嫁给兰屿人。
Round the Island with Scooter
骑机车去环岛
学会了机车后，我便骑着机车去环岛。民宿的叔叔还笑我得来到兰屿来学机车。
After mastering how to ride a scooter, scooter became my good partner to travel round the island.
坐纸飞机离开
到步后从叔叔的口中得知，我可以去机场碰碰运气，有可能可以拿到补票，如果成功的话，我可以坐飞机离开。
飞机票只是1300台币，到台东的行程只需二十分钟。
而到台东的船票需要1000台币，耗时4小时。
太平洋看日出
我五点多就爬起来在阳台看日出，我可是第一次看到太平洋的日出。
Sunrise at Pacific Ocean
I woke up at 5 something to catch the sunrise. My first time watching sunrise from pacific ocean.
Last year,
我五点多就爬起来在阳台看日出，我可是第一次看到太平洋的日出。
Sunrise at Pacific Ocean
I woke up at 5 something to catch the sunrise. My first time watching sunrise from pacific ocean.
Last year,
听叔叔阿姨说故事
和民宿的主人聊天，听听他们说岛上的故事。。。
在有教会之前，兰屿人都没那么有爱心，有了教会，教会开始教导人民必须要有爱心，。。。
很友善的兰屿
和民宿的主人聊天，听听他们说岛上的故事。。。
在有教会之前，兰屿人都没那么有爱心，有了教会，教会开始教导人民必须要有爱心，。。。
很友善的兰屿
