(Little Emily)
It was 10 degree in Celsius, but I did not feel cold. I was enjoying the sunshine, the sound of running creek, the ending maple season and the European/North American style view. Where was I? I was at Wuling Farm (武陵農場)which is 1700m above sea level.
Last visit to Wuling was in my high school days. Now Wuling Farm has become a recreation area instead of a pure farm. Green mountains and clear creeks make Wuling Farm a nice place to free your mind and go hiking.
Also, accommodation cost is inexpensive at Wuling Farm. We spent only NTD3,980 (USD120) for one night at Hoya Resort Hotel Wuling(武陵富野度假村); including one room, and 2 meals(dinner/breakfast) for 2 persons. And the hotel was so nice to arrange a concert and star watching during the night time.
I will recommend my friend to visit Wuling Farm and stay at least one night to enjoy the Rocky Mountain view in Taiwan. Wuling Farm shows its beauty in various styles during different seasons, so I am sure I will visit Wuling again some times.
We went hiking to Taoshan Waterfall (桃山瀑布; 2200m above sea level) when visiting Wuling Farm (武陵農場). When we approached the final destination of Taoshan Waterfall, we saw a "bird" walking around. We realized it was the Mikado Pheasant (台灣帝雉), the national bird of Taiwan which is shown on NTD1,000 bill.
(Beitou Hot Spring Museum)
(big bath house on the first floor)
Family gathering again with my cousins. This time we went to Fulong and stayed at a nice villa of Fulong Bellevue Resort(福隆貝悅酒店). Winter is not really a high season for visiting Fulong, due to Fulong beach closed. But we were so lucky to get 2 fine days there after a raining week. Took some photos and would like to share with you.
the M1911 style design
SIG ARMS and GSR logod on the slide
GSR is quite a special pistol from Sig Arms. It is obviously designed for US market, because its 1911 style appearance. GSR(Granite State Rail) is named in honor of the motto of the state of New Hampshire, but recently it was re-named just 1911.
This GSR is made by Western Arms, a very popular BB pistol manufacture. Western Arms BB guns are famous of its quality, performance and details, but also higher price.
Once I had this GSR as my side arm for survival game. After considering the durability, parts availability and its price, I switched to Sig P226. Now I just keep it as one of my collections.
Glock 17 with a M3 combat light 
the rail for combat light/laser device, also see its special trigger safety
Glock is a very popular brand, no matter in real gun world or BB gun world. I had a real Glock 22 many years ago, so I also have a Glock BB gun for my collections since it is impossible to have a real one at this moment.
This Glock 17 is made by KSC. Though it is under a Japanese brand, but it is made in Taiwan. So it is affordable and easy to get upgrade parts. I have owned this Glock 17 for several years; quite reliable and accurate for airsoft IPSC and survival game.
Though my side arms for survival game became a Sig Sauer P226, I still enjoy playing this Glock 17. The metal slide makes a real gun like sound when I pull the slide for loading.
Creative industries became very popular around the world recently, so we can see a lot schools offering design related training courses. During the biz trip to Australia, I had a chance to visit Queensland Academy for Creative Industries in Brisbane. In fact, it is a high school which just started 2 years ago. So far, only around 150 students in this school and they expect to have 400.
This school provides a platform for students to pursue careers in traditional arts fields such as film and television, music, visual art, and the performing arts.
We visited 3 classrooms, talked to some students and watched some of their art works. I have to say these student are really brilliant and creative, and their art works are really at pro level.
I think these students are really lucky to study at this school. The facilities are really good, and the teachers are full of passion. I believe those students will have great careers in the future, and this school will enjoy a great reputation not only in Brisbane, but also in whole country.
More photos
Singapore Airlines A380-800, like a big whale
personal entertainment system with a wide screen LCD
A380 over Australia
Airbus A380 is the largest airliner in the world at this moment and may keep this title for few decades. Since design, production, test to promotions, A380 was always media's favorite.
Singapore Airlines ordered 25 A380-800 in 2000 and recived the first one in 2007. They became the first airlines to operate A380 and provided their first service from Singapore to Sydney. Because there is no A380 flight route to Taiwan, I did not think I have a chance to fly with this famous airplane. Luckily, I had to go Sydney for business purpose in early Nov.. So I flew to Singapore, then took this legent A380 to Sydney.
When I had the first glance at the A380; it was like a big whale at the airport. A380 is just few meters longer than B747, but its true double deck fuselage makes it higher than a B747.
Maybe seeing to many Discovery Channel TV shows and advertising about A380, I had too much expectation on it and that brought me disappointment. "It looks big outside, but still small inside". I was disappointed on its seat arrangement in economic class cabin. The room for legs is less than B777 and A330. I did not feel any privilege of it.
The only thing I do appreciate is the personal entertainment system. The wide screen format LCD gives a better view on movie. The system provides not only movies, but also learning and working. But...who wants to creat word document, spreadsheet and presentation file with this system on an airplane.
Friends asked me how I like the A380. My answer is "Only rich people can feel the privilege of A380, not those people who sit in economic class."
Jing Tong Station of Taiwan Railways
Jing Tong Station
Railway passing "through" Shih Fen
Ping Hsi(平溪鄉) is a small town in Taipei county, famous for the Ping Hsi line railway and sky lantern. This time we would like to try something different. I parked the car at Jing Tong(菁桐) and walked through Ping Hsi(平溪) to Shih Fen(十分), total 9.5 Km. It took us about 2 hours to finish this walking trip. If you are not a hiking people, don't try walking from Ping Hsi to Shih Fen, it is a pretty long walk.
In fact, if you are not coming to Ping Hsi for the sky lantern, there is nothing special. So we had a late lunch and took the train back to Jing Tong, then drove home.
Maybe you think our Ping Hsi day trip was boring, but we enjoyed the walking very much.
Ping Hsi tour web site (Chinese only)
more photos
(photos taken in front of The Lalu)
The day we stayed at The Lalu was also the day for Sun Moon Lake Firework Festival (日月潭花火節), so I had a chance to have my first fireworks photo shooting. I only read some "how to" articles about taking photos of fireworks shows, but never had a chance to try.
These photos do not look as good as those photos taken by pros, but I am kind satisfied with the results of my first firework shooting.
F-16A MLU jet fighter of ROC Air Force (1:72)
EVA AIR Airbus 330-200 Hello Kitty jet (1:500)
After taking some interesting photos to make my collected action figures and model cars alive, how about making model airplanes fly? It was not difficult to take photos of model airplanes with the same skill for action figures, but it needed extra job to get rid of the airplane's stand.
How did I make it? The combination of Wacom tablet and Photoshop made it happen!
