前言 Preface
『我喜歡攝影』比起這麼說，我更喜歡說『我喜歡觀察＆紀錄生活』
Instead of saying “I love photography”, I would like to say “I love to observe everything around me and to record my life with the camera.
在還沒有單眼相機前，我喜歡用手機記錄下我的所見所聞。自從20歲時，老媽送了一個非常有意義的禮物『單眼相機』，希望可以透過相機，記錄下我成長的所見所聞。透過照片，讓更多人跟我一起旅行，觀察我們的世界、我們的生活以及我們所居住的地方。
Before I have my own DSLR, I used to record my observation via my phone. When I was 20, my mom gave me a DSLR as the birthday present. She wanted me using it to make the record of my life, and also sharing the beauties that I have seen by pictures. For me, I like to share the picture with all my friends. I wish I could make them feel traveling with me by checking the picture that I took.
我曾經到法國擔任交換學生，出國交換一定少不了伴手禮，而我帶到法國的伴手禮，除了有很傳統的鳳梨酥等等台灣名產之外，最特別的禮物大概就是，將過去所累積的台灣風景，將其印成明信片送給同學與老師們。
In 2016, I was an exchange student at ESIEE Paris in France. Before I visited Paris, I printed out the picture that I took in Taiwan. I wished I could use this special gift to let more and more people know about Taiwan.
過去寫過很多文章，大部分都是在介紹國外的城市、以及我對他們的城市印象。對於我所生長的台灣，卻沒有好好的介紹一下台灣。接下來這篇文章，我希望能用中英文的方式，好好帶大家認識我們所生長的土地——台灣，也藉此可以讓外國的朋友們，認識我們美麗的寶島☺️
In the past, I wrote lots of blog post about the life abroad and different cultures. However, I didn’t write the post to introduce Taiwan. That’s why I would like to write the post to introduce my home country, Taiwan.
雖然，我沒有真的花很多的時間，真正的用腳去走過每個鄉鎮，但在2014年的暑假，我用了7天的時間坐火車環島一圈，那是我的第一次環台。相信一定有更多我的好朋友及讀者們，比我走過更多的鄉鎮市，但我希望這是個開始，給自己一個沒有期限的目標，未來一定會再用自己的雙腳，走更多鄉鎮市，並拿起相機紀錄下台灣的美。
Though, Taiwan is not a big island, I still haven’t visited all the cities so far. In 2014, I took the train and went all around Taiwan in 7 days. That was my first time to circle Taiwan. I still want to share the beauties of Taiwan with my limited experiences.
美麗的寶島 Formosa – 台灣 Taiwan
這是我從小長大的城市 – 台北。身為首都的台北，總是給人繁忙的感覺。繁忙之中，總能找到城市中的某一個角落駐足，觀察整個城市的運轉。下班時間，長長的車流彷彿成為一條時間的長河，流過整個台北。
This is the city where I grew up. We called it Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Cause it is the capital city, it often makes people feel busy and occupied, especially in the rush hours. However, you can always find a place or a corner for yourself to see how it runs everything.
雖然台北是首都，不過很特別的是在都市的中心有個國際機場。起起落落的飛機，與城市建築形成一幅美麗的圖畫，帶著梅花的中華航空降落前，飛過圓山飯店前方，正好與經典中式風格相互呼應。
Though Taipei is the capital, it still has an international airport just located at the city center called ShongShan Airport. It has both domestic & international flights connected to Japan, Korea and China. In the city center, you can usually spot the plane flying over Taipei. The China Airlines is one the airliners in Taiwan. Its logo on the tail is the plum blossom, the national flower of Taiwan. When the plane was about to land, it flew just in front of The Grand Hotel in Taipei. Which are both represented Taiwan.
如果你是搭乘從松山機場起飛的飛機，那你就更有機會從空中，欣賞台北的美麗風采。當飛機緩緩升空，腳下的城市建築逐漸縮小，彷彿在看著都市模型一樣，真的令人難以忘懷。
If you have chance to take a flight from ShongShan Airport, you can see the whole city just beneath your legs. All the buildings looks like the toy models. It was so impressive that I took this picture during the flight taking off.
如果你不是台北人，來到台北玩，一定要去象山看夜景。象山的夜景真的超級無敵美！！信義區的高樓，夜晚紛紛亮起絢麗的燈火，辦公大樓裡的燈，依舊閃爍。在這繁忙的都市中，象山更是一個欣賞繁華之都的好地點。
If you visit here in Taipei, you must visit the Elephant Mountain in Xinyi District. Just take around 15 minutes walking, and you’ll reach the top of the Elephant Mountain. At here, you can see the significant night views of Taipei. You must take the selfie with the landmark of Taiwan – Taipei 101 Building. It was the highest building in the world before.
新竹，因為地形與氣候的關係，這裡被叫做風城。在新竹你可以找到「世博台灣館」，正是2010年上海世界博覽會中台灣的展覽館，天燈造型象徵著為國家平安與未來祈福。配上晚霞，更顯天燈的美。
Hsinchu, also called “Wind City”, is the city which is affected by weather and geography. You can always feel the strong wind here. At Hsinchu, you can find Taiwan Pavilion, which exhibited in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The shape of the pavilion is the traditional sky lantern in Taiwan. The sky lanterns represent lighting up the hope and best wishes.
除了世博台灣館，新竹還有知名的南寮漁港。南寮漁港是個充滿異國風情的地方，藍白色的歐風造型建築，配上晴朗的藍天或夕陽，讓人有身處希臘的感覺。在拍攝的這天是個晴空萬里的日子，不過卻帶著強勁的海風，碰到一位一面之緣的攝友，他孤獨在寒風中記錄下每一個美麗的當下。這樣的畫面，提醒著我們要好好珍惜與面對當下的每一刻，深深地觸動我的心。
Besides the Taiwan Pavilion, there is a place called Nanliao Fishery Harbor. At Nanliao, there are architectures with European style. When you visit here, you’ll feel like that you are visiting the traveling spot in Europe.
彰化，媽媽的故鄉。雖說是媽媽的故鄉，我卻對這個城市沒有任何的認識，外公外婆很早就到台北來生活，所以對我來說，從來沒有在過年過節的時候來到彰化，不過卻在網路上看過許多彰化的照片。在彰化，有著火車的扇形車庫，不論事不是鐵道迷，都該來這裡參觀一下這個縣訂的古蹟。
ChangHua, is my mom’s hometown. If you are a big fan of railway transportation, you must visit here. There is a special garage located here. The garage is in circular sector shape.
台東，火車環島之旅中，我最喜歡的城市。當地的遼闊的天空配上一望無際的田野，真的超級無敵美。除此之外，到了夏季還有熱氣球嘉年華。清晨的鹿野高台上，一顆顆的熱氣球緩緩升空。
Taitung, is the city that love the most during the trip of circling Taiwan. There are lots of farm here in Taitung, but what is the special part?? The most impressive things is that there isn’t any pole for electricity here. Besides, there will be the hot air balloon festival every summer. Lots of hot air balloons from all over the world will gather at here in Taitung.
金門，是老爸的故鄉，一直以來屬於軍事要地，雖然近年兩岸關係的和平發展，已經不像以前這麼緊張，兵力也年年減少，但還是可以觀察到當地所保存的許多戰地設施。除了戰地文化之外，金門因為非常靠近中國大陸的關係，所以天氣好時，即可看到對岸，搭配上金門的夕陽更是另一種不一樣的美。
Kinmen, my dad’s hometown, is one of the islands belongs to Taiwan. Though, it is really close to Mainland China, it has lots of military facilities on it. Now our relationship is not as tension as 40 – 50 years ago, so lots of military facilities are changing into sightseeing spots. Due to the distance to Mainland China, we can even see each other without any telescope in the good weather.
看了這麼多美景，但最重要的還是台灣的文化。台灣有非常多的廟宇，這更是台灣傳統文化的一環。不論你/妳是哪一種宗教信仰，都可以觀察華人特有的廟宇文化，尤其在廟宇的建築，更是其中的經典。
Besides the beautiful sceneries above, the most important things that you have to know about Taiwan is our culture and foods. People in Taiwan are really friendly. Buddhism & Taoist culture are really common in Taiwan. No matter you do or don’t have the same religion. I think you should check these culture in Taiwan, especially the temple. The architecture are so traditional and impressive.
雖然沒有寫進所有縣市，但是這只是這個系列文章的開始。台灣還有很多很美的地方與文化，直得我們去探索。如果你跟我一樣，對於台灣的縣市不甚了解的話。沒關係，就讓我們一起用雙腳踏片台灣的土地，一起用眼睛觀察台灣的美好?
This article didn’t mention all the cities and all the amazing views in Taiwan. I consider myself as a beginner. From now on, I’ll spend more time on discovering Taiwan and share more and more with you!!.
我是Luther，我喜歡用照片帶大家走訪世界。如果你喜歡我的相片，歡迎追蹤我的Instagram: luther_studio，或到我的Flickr去看更多美美的相片。
I’m Luther. I love to share all the beauties I saw. If you like my picture, please follow me on Instagram: luther_studio.