Lake District National Park: Derwent Water

檢視較大的地圖

Penrith, Cumbria, England

檢視較大的地圖

Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow

2008/07/05

由於蕭桂芳老師的強力推薦, Graeme 幫我們安排一天的湖區之旅。

聽蕭老師說: 湖區國家公園(Lake District National Park) 是彼得兔(Peter Rabbit) 的故鄉。來英國之前, 蕭老師還借我們一部有關 Beatrix Potter 的傳記電影, 讓我們預先知道為什麼湖區一定要去走一趟。



位於 Buchanan Street 的 Buchanan Bus Station 是 Glasgow 僅存的公車總站, 除了一般的市區公車之外, 前往英格蘭各主要大城的長距離快速巴士(National Express)也是在這邊發車。


檢視較大的地圖


Wincher's Stance: Bronze sculpture of an embracing couple by artist John Clinch (1934-2001).

車站大廳的雕像 Wincher's Stance, 把情侶那種難分難捨的離別情景完全表現出來, 相當地生動!





我們要搭的巴士是 National Express NX539, 有兩個方向, 向東前往愛丁堡(Edinburgh), 向南前往英格蘭南端港口伯恩茅斯(Bournemouth), 要前往湖區(Lake District) 必須先向南到坎布里亞(Cumbria) 的 Penrith, 然後再搭一般公車到 Keswick。


檢視較大的地圖



等待的時間, 就是拍照的時間喔!



一上車, Prof. Wang 的第一件工作就是測試這邊的無線網路建設...



車子前方裝有一個攝影機, 攝影畫面會顯示在前端的螢幕。

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SYHA Glasgow Hostel

檢視較大的地圖

我們住的旅館是位於 East Kilbride, 也就是在地圖上標示 A 的 SYHA Glasgow Hostel。用滑鼠點選, 會出現相關訊息與照片喔!

我們選擇搭計程車, 從 Central Station 到 East Kilbride, 車資是 £4.6, 四個人分擔, 其實是很划算的。不用拖著行李搭公車, 一切都是值得的！



畢竟是便宜的青年旅館, 因此睡的是上下鋪的鐵床, 床單也是直接從櫃台領取, 需要自己鋪上去。


Sunset in Glasgow (4 July 2009, 10:15 PM)

不要懷疑, 這是晚上 10 點多的窗外景色, 沒有到過北國, 真的很難想像這種在台灣夏季 6, 7 點的景色, 在 Scotland 要等到 10 點多才看得到!

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Central Station, Glasgow

2008/07/04

搭一個小時的火車 (Ayrshire Coast Line), 終於抵達 Central Station, Glasgow...



停車場就在火車月台邊, 我覺得實在是很方便!



車站大廳人來人往的...



好酷的龐克頭! 鼓起勇氣, 給他拍下去...



為了拍龐克頭, 我要黃老師他們先偽裝一下...



走出車站, 令人印象深刻的是頭上總是有大型海鳥在飛, 不過, 由於天色的關係, 總是拍不清楚...

和 Graeme Bell 會合之後, 原本想隨便找一家餐廳用餐, 但大夥拖著一大堆行李, 行動並不方便, 後來想到我們要下塌的 SYHA Glasgow 旅館有廚房, 所以就改到超市買材料, 準備到旅館煮義大利麵吃。

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Prestwick Airport, Glasgow

2008/07/04


檢視較大的地圖

由於我們選擇搭比較低價的 Ryanair 航空, 因此降落的機場是距離 Glasgow 中央車站 (Central Station) 還有 61 公里的 Prestwick Airport, 距離還蠻遠的。省錢的代價就是耗時！我們還要搭一個小時的火車(Ayrshire Coast Line) 才會到達和 Graeme Bell 會合的中央車站。


Prestwick Airport Rail Station

對面車道的火車呼嘯而過...


Prof. Ran-Zan Wang and Sylvia at Prestwick Airport Rail Station

等車沒事, 當然是多多拍照囉!

Stansted Airport, London

2008/07/04

這一天是移動日, 下午我們要在 Stansted Airport, London 搭飛機, 前往位於蘇格蘭中部(Central Scotland), 西邊大城 Glasgow。


檢視較大的地圖

待機的時間實在太無聊, 所以就拿起相機拍拍拍!


My Family!


Prof. Ran-Zan Wang and Prof. Shih-Yu Huang

兩位老師早上的行程是 Harrods 百貨公司, 身上貼的標章就是戰利品!


Leila & Ernest


Sylvia


Ryanair

這就是我們要搭的低價航空 Ryanair, 飛機小小的, 座位也小小的, 要很仔細地檢查行李會不會過重!

目的地是 Glasgow 西南方 61 公里遠的 Prestwick Airport。

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Natural History Museum, London

2008/07/04

這天的行程是下午搭機前往 Scotland 的 Glasgow, 因此, 每個人都還有一些空檔時間做些自己想做的事, 去自己想去的地方。

扣除搭地鐵往返的交通時間, 雖然僅有一個小時, 我依然選擇前往可以讓我待上一整天的 Natural History Museum, 這趟英國行, 我個人的主要目標之一。


Natural History Museum, London


Natural History Museum, London


The Front Door of Natural History Museum, London


Butterfly Exhibition, 5 April - 17 August, 2009


Amazing Butterfly Exhibition!

從 5 April 到 17 August 有蝴蝶特展, 不過需要另外購票, 由於我並沒有多少時間, 因此直接就到紀念品專區晃, 買了兩本蝴蝶的專書: Butterflies of Britain and Europe, Butterflies 後, 就直接往博物館去了!

　

我是從側門進入的, 所以繞了一大圈才找到放有超大梁龍骨骸的中央大廳 (Central Hall) ...


Diplodocur in the Central Hall

中央大廳 (Central Hall) 有在賣導覽手冊, 一本 £ 4.5, 雖然有些貴, 當然還是要買一本帶回家。

中央大廳主要展示品是一個梁龍骨骸(Diplodocur), 這是世界上最大型的恐龍之一, 我想也只有中央大廳才放置的下這麼大型的骨骼標本了。


旁邊的恐龍展示區是無論如何都要進去逛的...。


Stegosaur

我最喜歡的恐龍就是劍龍(Stegosaur), 有一部分的原因來自於我個人的學術研究領域 - Steganography, 字根都是 stego, 有覆蓋(cover) 的意思, 所以 stegosaur 就是指背部有骨板覆蓋的蜥蜴。

根據『恐龍與史前動物圖鑑』P. 82 的描述, 劍龍是體型最大的具護板恐龍, 有細小的頭部, 沒有牙齒的嘴喙, 還有兩列骨質護板從頭部後方往下延伸到尾巴中段。其中有些護板的高度可超過 60 公分。尾巴還有長棘釘, 每根的長度可以超過 1 公尺, 不同的劍龍, 棘釘的數目也不同。


Tyrannosaur Rex (T. Rex)

暴龍應該不用介紹了吧! 特別注意一下那雙特小的前足即可。

自然史博物館的這隻暴龍是電動的, 因此吸引許多小朋友圍觀。

想看電動暴龍的人, 其實不用跑這麼遠, 台灣台中的科博館中陳列的暴龍也會疵牙裂嘴般嚇唬小朋友。


Psittacosaurus

角龍類, 鸚鵡嘴龍科, 鸚鵡嘴龍屬的這類恐龍, 根據『恐龍與史前動物圖鑑』P. 126 的描述, 他們有獨特的方型頭骨和彎曲的嘴喙, 屬名就是得自這些特徵。頰骨處形成一對角, 據信是用於打鬥或求偶炫耀。後腿細長, 顯示這是種以兩足快速奔跑的動物。長腳趾上有鈍爪, 可能用於挖掘。骨質筋健沿著長尾分布, 讓尾部得以保持硬挺。更詳細的資料, 在『恐龍與史前生物百科全書』這本書的 P. 186 中也可以找到。

　


Plesiosaurus

蛇頸龍的骨骸標本也好漂亮... 根據『恐龍與史前動物圖鑑』P. 92 的描述, 蛇頸龍的身體構造不適合高速行動, 卻能靈活表現複雜動作。

這類恐龍具有典型蛇頸龍類群的標準體型: 身體短而闊, 並朝向尾端逐漸變細。頸部遠比身體長得多, 動作非常靈活。雖然頭部相對較小, 但頷部卻很長, 而且長了許多銳利的錐狀牙齒。蛇頸龍有四隻寬闊的槳狀鰭肢, 目前推測應該可以做出前後划動及上下飛行的綜合動作。

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News: 針灸納入英健保

哈! 原來最近在學的是巫術!
幸好不是在中世紀, 要不然會被燒死!

針灸納入英健保
中廣新聞網 2009/05/25 原始新聞連結

英國政府決定把針灸治療納入健保給付，有人支持，有人反對。

英國健保從來沒有把所謂的另類療法納入，針灸算是第一個。英國媒體的報導沒有說清楚，英國健保給付的是針還是灸，依照報紙的敘述應該是針，英國人似乎還不太了解灸這種治療。

依照健保局的標準，針灸一次健保補助三十五英鎊到五十英鎊，大約，一千七到兩千五台幣。健保局預估一年需要十四億英鎊的經費。

英國政府的做法引起西醫的不滿，他們說，針灸不科學。他們甚至說，針灸納入健保等於政府接受了巫醫。

News: 不斷放生 又不斷被釣的大鯉魚

好有趣的新聞...

不斷放生 又不斷被釣的大鯉魚
( 中廣新聞網 2009/04/26 原始新聞連結 )

英國有一條大鯉魚，三十年來不斷被釣客釣起，又不斷被放，已經成了釣客之友了。

英格蘭曼徹斯特「輟頓湖」有一大批鯉魚。釣友過去三十年，每年都會釣到其中的一條。由於英國人不會吃鯉魚，釣起來以後，看看魚沒受傷，可以自謀生路，就會跟魚照張相，再把魚放回湖裡。

有一條魚每年都來報到，秤重，拍照，大家都成了老朋友了。依照當地釣友的慣例，鯉魚超過二十磅，大約十五斤，就會取個名字。他們管這條鯉魚叫「大鱗」。目前，大鱗已經重達三十磅。一個釣友說，大鱗很聰明，不太容易釣，所以，能在「輟頓湖」生活了這麼多年。

這則新聞的原文在 telegraph.co.uk 和 bbc.co.uk 的網站都有, 還有 Big Scale 的照片, 真的好大呢!

Carp is the 'one that got away' after being caught and released repeatedly over 30 years
( Original News Link )

This 30lb carp has earned its ironic nickname of "the one that got away" after being caught and thrown back repeatedly by fishermen for the past three decades.


The 30lb carp has been caught every year for last three decades by anglers who now treat him like an unofficial member of their club

Members of the Chorlton Anglers Club, in Manchester say the fish – named Big Scale – is the pride of the lake and is an unofficial member of their club.

They land him at least twice a year and sometimes he's pulled out four times during the season.

Each time, the anglers tend to any injuries, take a photograph, then release him back into the water.

Club Chairman Simon Dale said: "Without doubt, he is the pride of the lake. It is quite a struggle. He doesn't give in easily.

"He is a very clever fish and doesn't often take the bait. He isn't always caught."

Big Scale is one of a number of large carp in the lake that are honoured by being named because they weigh more than 20lb.

The others include Big Mac who weighs 29lb; Tchaikovsky – named after the composer's 1812 overture because he surfaces 18 times every 12 months; Bones, Sweetpea, Paisley and The Ugly Fish – all slightly lighter at 28lb.

Mr Dale, an air conditioning engineer, recognises every large fish in the lake.

"I am so passionate about my sport," he said.

"And I am thrilled how popular our club is becoming. It is a fantastic way of getting the community together and for children to get out in the fresh air and learn about wildlife."

Big fish still has anglers hooked
( Original News Link )

A giant carp lurking under the surface of a lake in Greater Manchester has been reeling in keen anglers from across the North West.



Big Scale, which weighs 30lb (13.6kg), is known to put up a fight when he is caught at Chorlton Water Park.

Dave Appleton vice-chairman of Chorlton Anglers Club, said: "He's a mighty fish, he is over 40 years old now and he's still going strong."

The popular carp, the largest in the lake, is caught about twice a year.

'Slippery chaps'

Members of the club have named each carp in the lake that weighs more than 25lb.

Along with Big Scale, there is Tchaikovsky, Bones, Fish and Big Mac, which have been spotted, caught, pulled out of the water, weighed and put back in.

Mr Appleton said: "The carps can be right slippery chaps, they're pretty clever.

"It is a struggle getting them out of the water and you know when you've caught one because of the giant pull on the line.

"We have a first aid kit for the fish on hand in case we injure them and we always put them straight back in the water."

News: 台灣人赴英 3/03 起免簽證

這真是好消息一件!

台灣人赴英 3/03 起免簽證
〔自由時報 2009/02/09 駐歐洲特派記者胡蕙寧 倫敦九日報導〕
原始新聞連結

英國內政部長在九日提交國會的書面聲明中說，決定給予台灣民眾自今年三月三日起前往英國不逾六個月之非工作性質免簽證待遇。台灣是英國此次內政檢討中唯一新增適用免簽證訪英的國家，國人未來赴英將因此節省數千至上萬元台幣的簽證申請費。

可省數千至萬元簽證費

該聲明為英國政府自二○○七年三月以來，針對歐洲經濟體以外國家與地區的國民訪英簽證所進行之「首次簽證制度全球檢討」的最終決定，結果顯示，台灣對英國之移民管制係低風險國家，訪英國停留不逾六個月且非赴英工作之台灣護照持有者，自今年三月三日起即可免除申請訪英簽證。

據統計，英方發給我國人的觀光簽證數量在二○○六年為一萬五千三百二十一件，二○○七年為一萬二千九百一十件；近年來我國人赴英觀光人數每年約四萬人。目前英國國民訪台可享有停留卅天的免簽證待遇。

目前全球共有超過一百個國家、約四分之三的人口，仍需申請觀光簽證方得訪英。至於目前給予台灣免簽證的國家則包括日本、南韓、新加坡等數十國。其中，日本是在二○○五年八月期間先後由眾院、參院通過永久免除台灣觀光客簽證的出入國暨難民法特例法案，並在同年九月廿六日生效實施。

英文版的 Taipei Times 還有一則更詳細的報導:

Taiwan wins inclusion in UK's visa-waiver program

Original News Link

By Jenny W. Hsu, STAFF REPORTER, Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009

“Lifting the visa requirement for stays of less than six months will help to build on that to the benefit of both British and Taiwanese people.”
— David Campbell, British Trade and Cultural Office director

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday welcomed Taiwan’s inclusion in the UK’s six-month visa-waiver program and said the government was considering reciprocating the offer.

The UK is the 31st county to grant Taiwanese visa-free privilege. Other countries include some of Taiwan’s allies and a few non-allies such as South Korea, Singapore and Japan.

The British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO) said yesterday that starting on March 3, Republic of China (ROC) passport holders who wish to visit the UK for less than six months for business or tourism purposes, family visits or as students and who won’t be working there will no longer require a visa.

“Britain enjoys strong commercial and cultural ties with Taiwan,” BTCO’s new director David Campbell said. “Lifting the visa requirement for stays of less than six months will help to build on that to the benefit of both British and Taiwanese people.”

“We believe Taiwan’s inclusion in the visa-waiver program will encourage more Taiwanese tourists to visit Britain and help promote more exchanges among the two peoples,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂) said.

The UK made the decision after it concluded that Taiwan had satisfied all the criteria required by the UK Border Agency based on a worldwide review of regime carried out in 2007 and last year.

In his farewell press conference last month, former BTCO director Michael Reilly said London’s “only real area of concern” on admitting Taiwan to the visa-waiver program was the massive migration of Chinese illegal aliens into the UK, saying such privilege could encourage the Chinese use to use ROC passports to smuggle people into the UK.

“The problem of fraudulent documentation or false documentation is a problem around the world. How we address that is to have very close links with migration authorities around the world and that certainly includes Taiwan,” Campbell said, adding that the UK enjoys close and regular contacts with Taiwanese authorities and that those ties would be further cemented in the future.

Asked if London is worried that ROC passports might become an attractive tool for smuggling rings, Campbell said: “I am aware that in recent months, Taiwan has undertaken a number of developments and it is certainly a shared interest around the world to try and combat misuse of documentation.”

“We are confident that with those expert contacts we have that risks such as that can be managed,” he said.

Bureau of Consular Affairs Chief Lo Yu-chung (羅由中) said the announcement showed that London appreciated Taiwan’s issuance of electronic passports. Lu urged other countries to follow the UK’s lead.

BTCO said Taiwanese visiting the UK under the visa-waiver program still had to satisfy authorities at their port of entry that they meet the UK’s admission requirements and must have with them supporting documents such as return flight tickets, evidence of funding, letters from sponsors or the businesses they are visiting, or the school they plan to study at.

The BTCO received more than 28,000 visa applications last year.

Les Miserables

2008/07/03

從劍橋回來的晚上, 我們安排的行程是前往皇后戲院看歌劇悲慘世界(Les Miserables)。


檢視較大的地圖





由於是第一次聽歌劇, 因此買的是最便宜的票, 坐在最後一排。心想, 如果覺得好聽, 以後有機會再買前面一點的票, 漸入佳境的感覺總是比較能接受。

Do You Hear the People Sing? [Lyrics]


這齣歌劇真的很好看, 音樂更是好聽, 散場後, 大廳擠滿了買紀念品的民眾, 我也買了有許多彩色劇照的節目表, 還有十週年紀念音樂會 DVD 和原版音樂 CD, 讓我們待在倫敦的最後一個夜晚感到非常地滿足。

YouTube 有許多關於 Les Miserables 的十週年紀念音樂會的影片, 可以讓沒有看過這齣偉大歌劇的人先睹為快。底下這段則是Do You Hear The People Sing? 的片段。


　
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Punting in Cambridge

2008/07/03

在前往英國之前, 蕭桂芳教授就告訴大家, 來到劍橋一定要去撐篙(punting), 感受一下大文豪徐志摩筆下的人間四月天, 因此買完午餐, 我們就一路來到康河(River Cam)與 Garret Hostel Lane 的交會處。


檢視較大的地圖


Punts, Cambridge, London, UK

排成一列的平底船(punts)。



由於 Jill 容易暈船, 因此一行人, 除了我們兩個人之外, 剛好可以坐一艘平底船(punt)。


Punting in Cambridge, London, UK

出發時, 是由 黃世育教授 撐篙提供前進的動力, 王任讚教授控制方向。


Punting in Cambridge, London, UK

回來時, 已經改成由王任讚教授撐篙提供前進的動力, 黃世育教授控制方向。


Punting in Cambridge, London, UK

有許多劍橋大學的學生在這邊打工, 幫觀光客撐篙, 看他們撐篙非常輕鬆。



準備靠岸了。


Punting MVP - Prof. Ran-Zan Wang, Cambridge, London, UK

今天 Punting 的 MVP 是 王任讚 教授, 沒有他, 恐怕無法及時將船在約定的時間內撐回來。

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University City of Cambridge - Part 2

劍橋大學(University of Cambridge) 是由位於劍橋, 單獨運作的 31 個學院(College index)所組成的。


Trinity College, University of Cambridge, London, UK

這是由 亨利八世 ( Henry VIII ) 於 1546 年所成立的三一學院( Trinity College)。

很巧地, 這次前往英國所搭的飛機, 所提供的電影中就有一部 The Other Boleyn Girl (中文譯名: 美人心機), 就是關描述亨利八世曲折離奇的宮廷愛情故事的前半段 - 關於 安妮皇后 的部分, 將宮廷中不擇手段的爭權奪利, 赤裸裸地呈現出來。





Great Court of Trinity College, University of Cambridge, London, UK


我們經過三一學院的時間, 剛好不可以進入參觀, 因此, 我們只在門口往內拍了幾張照片。我第一次對三一學院有印象, 並不是位於劍橋的三一學院 (Trinity College Cambridge), 而是在『驚嘆愛爾蘭』這本書中, 吳祥輝在 p. 38 提到愛爾蘭的最高學府就是位於都柏林的三一學院 (Trinity College Dublin)。這趟旅程的安排, 我們是預計在 7/12 從北愛爾蘭的貝爾法斯特(Belfast) 搭火車前往愛爾蘭的首府 - 都柏林 Dublin, 不過只會去看 Riverdance 而不會去參觀三一學院就是了。




Trinity Lane, Cambridge, London, UK


The Great Gate of Trinity College, University of Cambridge, London, UK


The Gate of Honour is one of three gates at Gonville and Gaiue College,
University of Cambridge, London, UK

University City of Cambridge - Part 1
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