A Colorful place in NCKU-- Cheng Kung Lake

Since that the department of Foreign Language and Literature is located beside the Cheng Kung Lake, I ride my bike and appreciate its scenery almost every day.  Thus, I have quite a few of feeling to share with you.

Cheng Kung Lake, which is located at the Kuang Fu campus of National Cheng Kung University, is a relaxing and colorful place. There is a verdant lawn surrounding Cheng Kung Lake. On the right side of the lawn, a wood-made billboard showing the name of the lake to people and twelve bunches of yellow flowers make it the most popular spot for tourists to take photos. There are three wood chairs and a rock table being set right under coconut trees on the other side of the lawn. It’s a place that people are fond of chatting and playing chess with each other. When the wind blows, people can feel the breeze kissing their faces smoothly. In the middle of the lake there’s an isolated land. Colorful stones and tens of tropical trees intersperse the land.

In addition, a red brick-made, antique bridge connects the right side of the lawn to the isolated land. When walking on the bridge and touching the coarse handrail, I sense bitterness when I realize that time flies. In the lake, nearly twenty ducks are swimming freely with a school of tiny fish. A slightly sour smell is often produced by the ducks; however, the breeze will always blow the bad smell away and bring the fragrance of the flowers around the lake. With the sun light spilling, the lake reflects the shadow of the coconut trees and show brightly green on the surface. Decorated with two fountains, Cheng Kung Lake is picturesque. Yellow, red and green are main colors of the lake and also the satisfied feelings of the viewers.

Hurt by Commuting

I have seen a news on the Internet that indicate a long commute may cause both physical and psychological problem. I am really interested about this issue, so I have find some information through the Internet.

 According to a new research reported by the Royal Society of Public Health:” the average time of commuting across two countries reached fifty-six minutes in 2013, with the majority of people spending this time on transportation, or inside cars,” people have to commute for a long time nowadays. However, commuting is a stressful journey. Take driving as an example, the stress levels of people who drive will probably increase while commuting to the destination. What’s even worse, the level of blood pressure increases at the same time. Therefore, the longer time a person spent on commuting, the higher the chance of getting heart diseases is. Also, because of the long time spending on commuting, people reduce their sleeping time, which makes them become weaker and have difficulties in concentrating on the condition of the traffic. As a result, people may increase the consumption of snacks and fast food in order to stay awake while the commute. Although it may be a good way to stay awake by chewing some food, the high calories are consumed by people. As time passed, people who undergo this kind of situation will face overweight and some heart diseases. Moreover, people may cut down on the time participating in physical activities and gathering with family and friends. Lack of exercising makes people catch a cold easily and seriously. On the other hand, people who always busy commuting and neglecting the importance of gathering with family and friends may feel exhausted easily, and might get depression gradually. In conclusion, a long commute definitely hurt people not only physically but mentally.

The disadvantages of the wind-power electricity

I have introduced my hometown, Wu-Chi, in the first blog. I remember that I have referred to that there're quite a few of wind turbines, which produce wind-power electricity, built aside the bicycle lane. Therefore, as I rode my bike over and took a rest over there, a question flashed into my mind. That is, how much money does it cost to build a wind turbine and is it a beneficial way to  operate the wind turbine to solve global warming problem? Thus, I have do some research online.

(photo from google)

When it comes to global warming, experts suggest the government use renewable resources instead of fossil fuels which produce lots of carbon dioxide. Taiwanese government advocates citizens to reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gas by building plenty of wind turbines to produce wind-power electricity since the Occasional Monsoons provide Taiwan with strong winds especially in winter. Although wind-power electricity seems to be a perfect solution for Taiwan to reduce the usage of fossil fuels, it has two disadvantages which are the high cost and the operating noises. To build a wind turbine, which only operates for twenty years, costs 120 million New Taiwan Dollars at average.

Nevertheless, some experts still believe that the wind turbines can produce a great amount of green energy and save money for the government to buy fossil fuels and nuclear-power materials. However, the truth is that the cost of wind-power electricity per kilowatt is 2.8 NTDs, and the cost of nuclear-power electricity per kilowatt is 0.63 NTDs. The cost of the wind-power electricity is almost five times higher than the nuclear-power since the technology of ‘Energy Conversion Rate’ of the wind-power is still immature. Therefore, it is not efficient to build wind turbines. Furthermore, although the wind power generation is eco-friendly, the operating noise is still a serious problem. When a wind turbine produces electricity, it makes deep noise while spinning its large-sized fans. The annoying noise may distract people, so the wind turbines can only be built near the sea or somewhere wide and sparsely populated. In other words, wind turbines are not able to provide great amount of electricity, since it can’t be built wherever available. As the well-known commercial function goes,” The more one produces, the lower prices the item will be”, it is also why the price of wind-power electricity is difficult to decrease. All in all, the technology of wind-power electricity is still immature, which provides the problem of high price and noise. Therefore, the wind-power is not really a beneficial solution to deal with global warming especially at a dense country such as Taiwan.

McDonald's app(麥當勞報報)

This week, I am going to introduce you an app that lots of people, including me, use it every day. That is-McDonald's app(麥當勞報報).

Since the price of having a meal at a McDonald is a little bit expensive, this app  absolutely help you to decrease the expense.In addition, McDonald's app is a free app that can be downloaded from google play or app store from an iphone. In other words, McDonald's app is quite accessible.

After opening the app, you can check the weather today and   also the range of the temperature it may be today. Rumor has it that the weather report from this app is extremely accurate., even better than weather report from the news. Moreover, you can set an alarm clock that remind you to take a look at this app and also to draw a lottery of a coupon.

To our pleasure, there's even a coupon that provides a kind of hamburger in McDonald that you can buy one and get one free, which is really worthy.

However, since I had said that it is a kind of "draw a lottery", sometime you will get a smiling face as your prize which means you don't get a coupon today. Nevertheless, don't be upset. After collecting six smiling faces, it can combine with another coupon!
So, why not to download  the McDonald's app  right away, and enjoy a cheap McDonald hamburger!

Delectable food in 7-11-Spaghetti with Parmesan in meat sauce (帕馬森起司肉醬義大利麵)

  Since we have a group project in my composition class, my group decided to introduce food in 7-11. Therefore, I need to try some of the food in 7-11. Among all of the food,  Spaghetti with Parmesan in meat sauce is my favorite one.

( Spaghetti with Parmesan in meat sauce cost 65 NT dollars and it contains 582,000Cals.)

Taking a first glance of the product- Spaghetti with Parmesan in meat sauce, you can easily see light-red meat sauce cover the yellow spaghetti. What’s even attractive, Parmesan, a kind of cheese produced in Italy, was sprinkled evenly on the top of the meat sauce which makes this product more appealing to customers who are cheese lovers as I do. After heating Spaghetti with Parmesan in meat sauce in a microwave oven in 7-11, I was ready to give it a try.

(picture from google)

  As I tore off the packaging film, the air is filed with aroma of the meat sauce. After Stirring the meat sauce and Parmesan evenly with the Spaghetti, I had my first taste. The Parmesan is hardly to be recognized since the taste of the meat sauce is too strong which make me, a cheese lover, a little bit upset. On the other hand, the Spaghetti is suitable with the meat sauce which is not too hard to eat. However, if you are a person who loves to eat hot food, you had better finished eating it as soon as possible because the heat produced by the microwave is not really hot. All in all, I think the Spaghetti with Parmesan in meat sauce is a good choice when one is eager to eat Spaghetti with meat sauce because the taste of Parmesan is not obvious.

Do you love any food in 7-11? Share with me in the comment!

Department Border Cup of Volleyball (系際盃排球比賽)

  I remember that I have introduced you that I am a member of the volleyball team in Foreign Language and Literature Department. And National Cheng Kung University have thrown a Department Border Cup of Volleyball, which is a competition that volleyball teams in every department are able to take part in. Of course, my team joined in the competition and we had played two games days before.

  The first game, we played with the team of Life-Science Department(生科系). It was really an tough game. In round one, we didn't play well at first and were 7 points behind the enemy team. However, encouraged by our team leader, we stayed calm and left no effort to play the rest of the game. Luckily, we won the first round by two points (26-24). Nevertheless, due to the mid-term exam, we seldom practice volleyball these days. As a result, we felt tired easily. That is also the main reason we lost the second round by 3 points.

  In the last round, the team which gets 15 points first will be the winner of this game. At the rest time, our team leader told us that we had trained for at lest half a year and he had confident that our team is strong enough to win this game. Listening his words, we felt a sense of security and confidence. We focus on the game and cooperated with each other smoothly. In the end, we won by 8 points.

  Through the game, I've seen my progress of volleyball skill. In addition, the cooperation between teammates is quite important. Although I need more practices to improve my skills, I know that it is worth it!

Corporate Visit Part 3--TVBS Broadcast Station

  The last destination of  our corporate visit is --TVBS television station. I have been looking forward to taking a look inside a television station, especially a news broadcasting station. The reason is that I often watch news in TV after classes while eating my dinner, and I am quite curious about how a TV program or show was produced. Therefore, although it's the last stop of our corporate visit, I was still energetic lol.

   In front of the building of TVBS, there's a large and obvious statue which carries its name on it, indicating the visitors that this is where their destination is.

  In the first floor of TVBS building, there's a room for reporters to broadcast the news on air. To my surprised, the room is surrounding by transparent glasses. Thus, you can see  a news reporter broadcasting news in side the room. What an amazing design, but it's a little bit as seeing animals in the zoo.

   After that, we went to a room for videotaping a TV program which is really famous in Taiwan called 小燕有約. Because the employers are videotaping, we need to be extremely quite inside the room. By the way, this is my first time to see 張小燕 who is a famous TV host in Taiwan! It is probably the most memorable experience of my corporate visit.

  Moreover, we went to their office. It's a place for reporters and journalists to edit their news and reports. Also, some little TV program are videotaping over here. In the picture above, there was a news reporter broadcasting news about human health on live while we walked inside.

 There are also a room for videotaping other TV programs. When they are not using, it becomes a place for visitors like us to take photos, since it's rare for a person to have a chance to sit on the chair which  only seen on TV lol.
  Thanks for reading three parts of my corporate visit, if you like it please give me some replies, and don't forget to read my blog next week!

Corporate Visit Part 2--American Magazine Center (AMC)(空中美語雜誌社)

  After visiting the Taipei International Airport, we moved on to our next stop--American Magazine Center (AMC)(空中美語雜誌社). I have been looking forward to going there when I was still a junior high school student because I am extremely curious about how to produce a magazine and also the CD or DVD attached with the magazine. 

  In the company, the employees guided us to walk around inside the building of different department. There are three departments which are editing, recording, and videotaping. For the editing department, it's just as a meeting room where employees and foreign teachers discuss the writings of magazines. Nevertheless, the videotaping room is really interesting. You can see a green background in the above picture. It is the way for the employees to delete the background and put more related information in the DVDs. Due to the limit of time, just few people had a chance to have a try.

   When you're being videotaped, you don't need to memorize all the lyrics. In fact, there's a screen besides the camera shot. Therefore, you can read the lyrics and being videotaped at the same time.

  After that is the recording department. In the recording room, it has a heavy door to prevent noises from outside. Thus, when staying inside the recording room, you can't hear a sound from outside. So, the employees will inform the people inside the room through a microphone.

   In addition, I had given it a try lol. It is not really easy but still interesting. It is really an unforgettable experience to me.

Corporate Visit Part 1--Taipei International Airport(台北國際航空站or台北松山機場)

  Student Association of FLLD planned a trip for students in this department to have a chance to visit some companies that we may work for after graduating from the university. Nevertheless, because of the seats on the bus are limited, only 44 people who filled in the participation form first can join this trip. Of course, I am one of the lucky men.

  First of all, we took the bus together at 7:40 in the morning. Since the corporations we would visit are all established at Taipei, we should took a lot of time to reach there. On the bus, almost everyone slept for a while because seldom university students get up at such an early hour.

picture from: Google

  After 3 hours sleeping on the bus, we finally arrived at our first destination--Taipei International Airport(台北國際航空站or台北松山機場). Taipei International Airport is the second important airport in Taiwan. At the airport, a volunteer called Walter guided us to be more familiar with this place.

  At the airport, there were people from various countries talking in different languages and also lots of beautiful flight attendants passed by. The picture is where people line up to go abroad. Because we visited the airport on Thursday, there were just tens of people waiting for their flights.

  At Taipei International Airport, the observation deck impressed me a lot. The observation deck at Taipei International Airport is built just like the one at Nogoya(名古屋)in Japan. Therefore, more and more visitors and also couples look forward to coming here to enjoy the view.

   On the observation deck, we could watch the airplanes taking off and landing. In addition, there's a cafeteria there. Drinking a cup of coffee with your lover while enjoying the view of the airport, image about it and you'll probably choose here as your superior dating place lol.  

2017 English Cup Volleyball Game

  Hi guys! You may think about why I didn't upload my new blog on time. The reason is-I'm going to introduce you my trip with my volleyball teammates today lol. I won't say that the fact is because I was lazy to write my blog yesterday.

  First, I got up at 6:00 in the morning because we have to take the train to Koahsiung at 7:30. It is really a tough task for a lazy university student like me. After that, we took the train to Zuoying(左營)Station and then transferred to MRT. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at Koahsiung Arena Station. Then, we walked to 福誠 senior high school, where the volleyball games were held, just next to the MRT station. 

  By the way, if you are extremely interested in watching volleyball games, you will probably be familiar with 福誠 senior high school. They had won the second prize of HVL(High School Volleyball League) this year.

  Since there're only few boys in our department, our volleyball boy-team is also lack of  members. Therefore, the games are relatively hard to us. However, we spared no effort to play the games today. Although we lost two games at the end, the points of the two teams are close. What a  pity! I believe we will play better next year.

  Moreover, we've also seen the game that played by girls of our department. They played really really really well!

  After the games, we went to KFC for  a late lunch and went to Rueifong Night Market(瑞豐夜市) at night.

  I really had a good time with my teammates at Koahsiung today!

The most prosperous place in Taichung-7th Re-planning District(七期重劃區)

  This week, I'm going to take you to the most prosperous place in Taichung, 7th Re-planning District. There is not only department stores but also some landscapes over here. Therefore, the 7th Re-planning District is always filled with people on weekends and holidays.

                                                                  picture from: Google
  Through the above picture, you can find that there are four department stores established in one kilometer. If you are crazy about shopping, the 7th Re-planning District will surely be the best place to visit. Although it is always crowded with thousands of people.

                                                                   picture from: Google
  Since the 7th Re-planning District is the most prosperous place in Taichung, the price of the apartment here is insanity. As the chart above, to purchase an apartment, you should have at least a hundred million dollars. I think it is ridiculous because the 7th Re-planning District  is not as convenient as districts in Taipei. Moreover, while walking on the street in the 7th Re-planning District, cars driven besides you are often BMW, BENZ, LEXUS, or even PORSCHE.  

                                                                    picture from: Google
  In addition, National Taichung museum is established in the 7th Re-planning District. Because of it's special appearance, lawn, and some artificial fountains, it is an appropriate place for families to go on a trip.

                                                                   picture from: Google

   Also, there is lawns and artworks on the top of the museum. Many visitors only take a stroll in front of the museum, do not know that the top of the museum is available. As a result, if you come to National Taichung museum, don't forget to go in and enjoy the views on the top of it!

   Besides Taichung museum, Maple Garden(秋紅谷) is a place for people to take a walk. There are trees, flourish flowers, bridges and a large pond in the middle of the Maple Garden. In autumn, the leaves of the maple trees will turn orange. At that time, the view of the Maple Garden is awesome!

On weekends an holidays, Maple Garden is fulled with couples. So, why not visit here after getting a boyfriend or girlfriend lol.

Gaomei Wetlands-高美濕地

  Past three years, during my senior high school life, I spent most of my time on clubs, my academic performance and also the entrance exam for the university. Therefore, I haven't taken a stroll around my hometown, Taichung, for at least three years. In order to relive the memories of the past, I took a journey to explore Taichung last winter vacation.
  This week, I'm going to take you to Gaomei Wetlands, which is the countryside of Taichung and the place famous of its strong wind.

  In the picture above, you can see that there's a bicycle lane which was built by Taichung government, in order to attract more tourists to go bike-riding and visit Gaomei Wetlands. In addition, the beautiful bridge in the middle of the picture was built two years ago. In fact, the only usage of the bridge is for the visitors to take photos on. Thus, I think it's a waste of money. 

  Also, there's a wooden path on the wetlands. People access to get close to the sea and sands while walking on the path. However, it has restricted hours. The wooden path is available on 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day. Don't forget the restricted hours when you visit here.

  Gaomei Wetlands is also famous for the scenery of sunset. Standing on the wooden path, holding your lover's hand and watching the sun setting slowly to the horizon while the breeze whisking through your face are what couples looking forward to. Gaomei Wetlands will surely satisfy all of your image and it is the reason why  Gaomei Wetlands is always full of couples during the weekends and holidays.
  If you have a boyfriend or girlfriend or love sea and sands, Gaomei Wetlands is the place you should visit. Trust me, it is worth your visit!