Info on episode 31: Cycling in Chiayi

Time for Taiwan 2015-2016, Episode 31: Cycling in Chiayi

2015-2016年「台灣好好玩」第三十一集： 嘉義鐵馬之旅

Transcript 文字稿:

Today we’re in Chiayi. The oysters here are really good!

今天我們來到嘉義，這裡的牡蠣超級好吃！

Chiayi is in southern Taiwan, right at the Tropic of Cancer. We’re starting our day here, Zhe Cheng Cultural Park, an old sugar factory.

嘉義位於南台灣，在北緯23度線的地方。今天的旅程從蔗埕文化園區開始，這裡以前是一間糖廠。

Let’s rent a bike, this is how we're going to get around today.

我們來租台單車，這是今天的交通工具。

Most, if not all of the sugar factories in Taiwan were built during the Japanese occupation, between 1895 and 1945. This is no exception, so many of the buildings you see are very Japanese, including these houses, which are workers’ dormitories.

台灣的糖廠幾乎都是在日治時代建造的，1895至1945年間。這一座也不例外，這裡到處看得到日式建築，這些日式房子以前是工人的宿舍。

Chiayi County is a great place to travel. Some of the highest mountain peaks in Taiwan are in Chiayi, and at the same time it also borders the sea. Next we’re going to Dongshi Fisherman’s Wharf.

嘉義是個很棒的旅遊地點，擁有台灣許多高山跟海岸。接下來，我們要去東石漁人碼頭。

Those things sticking out of the water are oyster racks. Oyster farming is an important part of the economy here. Guess how they’re grown.

那些一根根從水裡突出的東西是蚵棚。牡蠣養殖是這裡很重要的產業。猜猜牡蠣是怎麼培養的。

This is the shell of an oyster we had last night. A worker will drill a hole into this piece, and workers will put several of these on a line, then tie the line to a rack sitting in brackish water, or water that is a mix of fresh and sea water. Baby oysters will attach themselves to these and grow in clusters. Six months to a year later, they’re ready to eat. Let’s go get some oysters!

這是我們昨天吃剩牡蠣殻。 這一塊之後會被磨成雞或鴨飼料的一部份，補充牠們的鈣質(英文沒有這句話歐!!，是英文沒寫，還是中文多寫了)。 蚵農會在殻上鑽一個洞，一個一個綁在一條線上面，然後把線綁在蚵棚上，蚵棚則架在鹹水和淡水混合的水域中。之後蚵寶寶就會把自己附著在這些殻上面，一群群的成長。六個月到一年後，就可以採收了。走，我們去吃牡蠣！

We’re having oysters six ways today. This is oyster pancake. This is a famous Taiwanese dish, you’ll find it everywhere in Taiwan.

我們今天有牡蠣六吃！這是蚵仔煎，台灣名菜，在台灣到處都看得到這道菜。

These were stir fried in sesame oil. Delicious.

這是麻油炒牡蠣。好吃。

These were simply grilled. Simply tasty.

這是燒烤的牡蠣，簡單又美味。

This is fried with meat and vegetables. Very filling.

這是蚵仔包，裡面有肉有菜，很有飽足感。

I haven’t tasted oysters this good in a long, long time. They are just so fresh. They’re a little small compared to the ones you might find in other parts of the world, but this is the off season and who cares, they’re so good. The next time I come, I want to have the big ones, the ones as big as my hands. There will be a next time! And I’m really looking forward to it! You should come!

我已經好久好久沒吃到這麼好吃的牡蠣，真的好新鮮，比起國外的牡蠣，這的確比較小，但現在不是產季，不過我不在意，因為還是很好吃。下一次來的時候我要吃大顆的，跟我的手一樣大的那種。我下次還要來！超期待的。大家要來喔！

――――――――――

Michella's notes 米雪拉的筆記：

The oysters here are small, but quite good because they’re so fresh. People still warn against eating them raw because the water might not be super clean. I had a couple and am still OK, but try at your own risk. Some of the restaurants aren’t open on Mondays, just be aware.

As for sugar farm, take time to walk around. You can spend a couple of hours there, taking a ride on the sugar cane train, walking around the neighborhood, checking out the old workers’ dormitories, which are Japanese style and built about a century ago. Cycling around there is nice too, especially going across the bridge that takes you out of the farm and towards the fisherman’s wharf. But it’s a long, long ride and might take a couple of hours each way. Bring snacks on the ride!

We stayed at Renyi Lake Hotel, and it’s new and clean. Would stay there again! Just be aware there’s a shooting range nearby, so it can get a little noisy during the day sometimes. We didn’t get a chance to, but taking a walk around the lake must be very nice.

這裡的牡蠣比較小顆，不過很好吃，因為很新鮮。有些人說最好還是不要生吃，因為水質到底如何，很難說。我自己是吃了一兩顆，沒怎麼樣，但自己評估一下，是否免疫力OK再試喔！禮拜一有一些攤販沒有開，這也要注意一下。

糖廠的部分，其實可以花個一兩個小時在那邊搭小火車，探索社區，看看大概一世紀前蓋的日式員工宿舍。在那邊騎自行車也不錯，尤其離開糖廠，前往漁人碼頭的那一座橋。到漁人碼頭有好大一段路，所以最好身上帶點補給品，要有心理準備，這趟的鐵馬行，可能會讓你鐵腿～

這次的飯店是仁義湖岸大酒店，很新，很乾淨，不介意下次再去，不過要注意的事，附近有靶場，所以白天有時候有點吵。我們是沒有機會啦，但在仁義潭附近散步應該不錯！

――――――――――

Links 連結：

Taiwan Cycling Festival 台灣騎跡 http://taiwanbike.tw/default.aspx?lang=2

Zhe Cheng Cultural Park 蒜頭蔗埕糖廠 http://www.taisugar.com.tw/chinese/CP.aspx?s=358&n=10466

Dongshi Fisherman’s Wharf 東石漁人碼頭 http://swcoast-nsa.travel/Process/Detail?id=473&lang=66&type=scenery

Renyi Lake Hotel 仁義湖岸大飯店 http://www.renyilakehotel.com.tw/en/