2015年4月26日 星期日

[US] Arizona,Williams,Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe




今晚待在一個離大峽谷約一小時車程的小鎮,Williams,事先也沒有做功課,七點多八點出門找吃的時,開的店已經不多了,會選擇這家餐廳,原因很簡單,因為門口燒著木頭,又裝飾得五光十色,給人一種很溫暖的感覺,在這溫度只有個位數的冬夜,實在很吸引人。
Leaving Antelope Canyon, we drove toward a small town, Williams, which is located about one hour drive from Great Canyon. Today we drove a lot, so we take a rest first. When we go out for dinner, it's already close to 8 o'clock and there are some restaurants already closed. When we walked to Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe, we loved the wood burning in front of the front door which makes us think it will be warm inside.






室內裝潢部分,覺得也沒有什麼風格,感覺老闆就是隨意把自己覺得有意思的東西掛到牆上而已。
It's not really special inside, just few things which make me think about a countryside restaurant in US. There are a lot of people here. I think the food should be good so people come here.







我們點了一份生菜沙拉,一份三明治,與一份牛排,食物水準算是中等,還不錯吃,只是沒有留下很深刻的印象,我想原因都是因為,這是我來美國後,第一次遇到把小費(15%)直接算進帳單裡的餐廳,雖然我已經知道有這樣的餐廳,但我以為是高貴的餐廳才這樣做,完全沒想到會在這樣一間鄉村餐廳遇到,導致印象偏向負面,也就不記得食物是否好吃了~
I don't remember how good the food is, maybe it's OK. I just remember this is the first restaurant which include the tips (15%) when the waiter gave me the check. This surprises me. I thought only the high-class and expensive restaurants do that, I never expect I'll meet this in such a countryside restaurant which gave me a bad image...

Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe 地址:
233 Historic Rte 66
Williams, AZ 86046

2015年4月19日 星期日

[US] Arizona,羚羊峽谷(Antelope Canyon)


其實,羚羊峽谷本來並不在這次旅程內,剛好有同事也利用這次的耶誕假期,安排了一趟大峽谷之旅,建議我可以也同時到羚羊峽谷看看,再加上一個旅遊App的介紹,終於讓我下定決心,調整了大峽谷行程,來到羚羊峽谷。
The Antelope Canyon is not in my list while I planed this tour. There is a colleague that he also arrange a similar trip with his girl friend and he strongly recommend me to come here. What a coincident that a Chrome App also introduce it at the same time. So I adjust my schedule in Grand Canyon and add Antelope Canyon.

羚羊峽谷其實分成了上、下羚羊峽谷,上羚羊峽谷是比較好走,遊客比較多的行程,建議若想來,一定要先預約,而且準時抵達,像我就錯過了原來預約的時間,在城鎮裡東問西問,好不容易終於後補上了,差一點就白來一遭了。
There are Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. The Upper is easy for walking in, so there are more tourists. I strongly recommend you to make a reservation if you want to visit the Antelope Canyon and be there on time. I missed it and almost all the trips are full, I was lucky that finally I found a tour there are two available seat for me and my friend.

羚羊峽谷的成因,其實有點像大峽谷,只是這兒沒有一條固定的河流穿過,是被暴雨形成的激流沖刷而成,岩石上的紋路,都是水的痕跡,很光滑,也很漂亮;也因為是暴雨形成的激流,如果遇到下雨,峽谷內是非常危險的,也因此,規定不能私自進入,必須要參加當地的行程才能進入。
Antelope Canyon was formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, primarily due to flash flooding and secondarily due to other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially during monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Since it happened some accidents before, people have to join the local tour to enter the Antelope Canyon now.



首先要搭乘15-20分鐘的四驅車前往谷口,到了才發現,人真的是爆多的,雖然這個景點,似乎沒有那麼出名。
This might not be a very famous spot for Taiwan. When we arrived there, there are a lot more people than I expected.







來此參觀,就網路上的介紹來說,最好是在中午,這時候陽光從上方直曬,雖然所處的緯度偏高,至少此時已經是最接近頭頂的角度,峽谷中正是最明亮,光線變化最多樣的時候,同時,也是最貴的時候(大約50鎂),若是一早或是下午的場次,價差可能會有10美金。時間總共一小時,雖然我覺得還算OK,這是慢慢走,能拍拍照的行程(不可帶腳架),若仍不滿意,還有攝影師行程,記得沒錯的話,應該是兩小時100鎂吧!
The best time to visit here is at noon. You will have the best sunshine to show the most colorful sandstone. So it's also the most expensive tour, maybe USD 50. For other time, it may be 10 dollars cheap. The total tour is around 1 hour. You can slowly move in the Canyon and take your time for taking photos. There is also a special tour for the professional photographers, 2 hours with USD 100.












這就是被洪水沖到此的漂流木。








這是我們的導遊,利用當地的特殊環繞音效,為我們用直笛吹奏了一曲;這位導遊有點不一樣,介紹一些特殊造型岩的時候,他都講得滿簡單的,然後就讓我們自行拍照,接著他會跟每個小團體借相機(手機也行),直接拍給我們看,這樣,每個團體就都能拍到那些造型了!
This is our tour guide, the way he introduce the Antelope Canyon is very simple. He left many time for us to take photos. And he will also ask for the cameras/phones for each small group, then directly take photos for us because he knows all the angles for the special spots.









峽谷的另一邊,跟入口看起來幾乎一樣,就只是少了幾台四驅車在此等待;之後就原路折返了,不拍照,應該不到十五分鐘就走完了吧!
This is the other side of the canyon. When return, I think we finish the route within 15 minutes since we didn't take any photos on the way back.

Antelope Canyon 地址:
Page, AZ 86040

2015年4月13日 星期一

[Taiwan] 宜蘭,幾米廣場 (Jimmy Square)


幾米廣場是最近幾年很紅的景點,來到這兒才發現其實分佈得還挺廣的,宜蘭車站前,宜興路兩側都有相關的裝置藝術,的確是個很適合來此散步的景點。
There is a new famous viewpoint in Yilan, the Jimmy Square. It's not just a square, it includes a lot of statues on the both sides of Yixing Rd, just in front of the Yilan Rail Station.



此時正好是燈節前,還有穿插了一些花燈。:-)
There are some lanterns, maybe because it's close to the Lantern Festival.










隨處可見的行李箱,概念來自幾米的《地下鐵》,承載了旅人的想像與記憶。
The suitcases are everywhere, and the idea is coming from the "Sound of Colors." It carries the imagination and memory of the travelers.







我最熟悉的《向左走,向右走》。
From "Turn Left and Turn Right" which I'm familiar with. 



等車的男孩與女孩,來自《星空》。
The boy and girl who are waiting for the bus, from the "Starry Starry Night."




新完成的飛天火車。
The new flying train.



看了這麼多,是不是有些感觸呢?寫張名信片與人一同分享吧!
Would you like to share what your feeling with friends now? Write a post card here.


回到宜蘭火車站才發現,似乎也因應幾米風格而有些不一樣,挺有趣的。
When walk back to the rail station, it seems to be redecorated by Jimmy style. That's more fun.

繞到火車站北側,發現這兒居然藏了東西:
Keep walking to the north side of the station, something is hided here.


幾米廣場地址:
260 宜蘭縣宜蘭市光復路1號

2015年4月6日 星期一

[Taiwan] 宜蘭,礁溪,樂山溫泉拉麵


在宜蘭礁溪,有一間頗有名氣,頗特別的拉麵店─樂山溫泉拉麵,既然來到溫泉鄉,能不能泡溫泉的同時,口中也享用美味的拉麵呢?來此就能一次滿足兩個願望!
There is a famous ramen restaurant at Jiaoxi, Yilan, the Le-shan Hotspring Ramen. You can have the foot bathing and eat the ramen at the same time, which is very joyful if it's in the winter time.

抵達時才發現,店面比想像中小間,可以泡足湯的位子,就只有上圖的六位,因為頗有名氣,即使是平常日,可能也要排隊,同時店家也要求客人要自備毛巾,若未帶,也可向店家購買,一條十元。
The space for the foot bathing is not as big as I thought, only 6 people can enjoy it at one time. Since it's really famous, you may still need to wait even during the week days. If you would like to enjoy the foot bathing, you should prepare towel by yourself. If not, you can buy it for NTD 10.





拉麵價位都在150元上下,生魚片則是250元左右,跟台北物價相比,還算是一般。
The price for ramen is around NTD 150 and for sushi is roughly NTD 250 which is the normal price compares to Taipei.




點了碗豚骨拉麵加叉燒,湯很濃郁,有喝到滿濃的海帶味,不知是不是在放入配菜海帶時,帶入湯裡的味道;整體調味上,則是偏淡的台灣人口味,已不是日本人偏好的重鹹味了。叉燒軟嫰,很好吃,麵條雖是細麵,煮得很Q,有嚼勁,很棒的一碗拉麵!
加點的炸豆腐,外表酥脆,內饀飽滿,好吃。
I had ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen with extra Char-siu. The soup is very Taiwanese style, not that salty as I tried in Japan. And also I can taste the flavor of kelp. The char-siu is really soft, easy to eat. They use thin noodles and cook it really springy which I like. To eat the noodles with the soup also provide another flavor, it's really good. 
The appetizer, the fried tofu, is crispy outside and soft inside that's delicious.

樂山溫泉拉麵地址:
262 宜蘭縣礁溪鄉礁溪路五段108巷1號