A: I like this campsite. Is it better than the one you stayed in last time?
B: Tons better. The last one looked more like a car park, with a view over a muddy river. It was empty when we arrived, but then people arrived in droves. Somebody parked their car right up against our tent entrance, there were only two shower cubicles to go around hundreds of people, and the guy in the next tent snored like a wounded elephant all night.
A: Well, what a contrast. It looks like we’re the only ones here, and we have a great view to wake up to. Last night the sky was so clear, and the stars so bright, I could make out many of the constellations I have seen in books.
Photo: Paul Cooper, Taipei Times 照片:台北時報古德謙
B: We’re so far from a large town, there’s very little light pollution up here.
A: I’m really looking forward to the hike this morning. It’s such a relief to feel the sun on our faces again.
A: 我喜歡這個露營區。這是不是比你上次露營的地方好?
B: 好多了。上次那個地方像是停車場,放眼望去可以俯瞰一條泥濘的河。我們到的時候都沒有人,可是後來就有一大群人來了。有人把車停在我們的帳棚入口,露營區有幾百個人,可是淋浴設備只有兩間,而且隔壁帳篷的人整晚打呼打得像受傷的大象一樣。
A: 嗯,這真是天壤之別。這裡好像只有我們,而且風景好美。昨天晚上天空沒有雲,星星好亮。我可以看到書上說的星座。
B: 我們離大城鎮很遠,山上光害很少。
A: 我好期待今天早上去爬山。讓陽光再照到我們臉上,感覺真的是好療癒。
(Paul Cooper, Taipei Times/台北時報林俐凱譯)
English 英文:
Chinese 中文:
A: Singer Jay Chou is staging four shows at the Taipei Dome starting today. B: And he’s the first singer to ever hold concerts at the venue. A: I’m curious, how big is this “big egg” exactly? B: It can accommodate nearly 40,000 people and bring various kinds of business opportunities. A: This is the new “concert economy” trend. A: 歌王周杰倫從今天起,將一連4天在大巨蛋開唱。 B: 哇,周董可是首位在大巨蛋舉辦演唱會的歌手耶! A: 大巨蛋到底有多大啊?真好奇。 B: 每場可容納近4萬人,還能帶來各種商機呢。 A: 嗯,這就是現在最夯的「演唱會經濟」。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
Have you ever wanted to go camping but were put off by the thought of setting up a tent, sleeping on hard ground and dealing with a lack of basic amenities? If so, glamping might be the perfect solution for you. Glamping, combining the words “glamorous” and “camping,” takes the outdoor experience to a whole new level. It offers the chance to enjoy nature while still having access to comfortable accommodation and modern conveniences. Instead of pitching a tent, you’ll stay in spacious, luxurious tents that are fully furnished and equipped with real beds, electricity and even en-suite facilities.
A: I’ve been a fan of singer Jay Chou for 24 years, since his debut in 2000. B: But this time, his Taipei Dome concerts have shed light on the issue of ticket scalping. A: Isn’t the law stricter after being amended last year? B: Yeah, ticket scalping is illegal, even if you only raise the price by NT$1 when reselling. A: Why aren’t scalpers afraid of getting caught? Maybe a real-name ticketing system would be better. A: 自從周杰倫2000年出道以來,我都已經追星24年了。 B: 不過這次大巨蛋開唱,他卻引爆黃牛票問題。 A: 去年修法後,法規不是變得比較嚴格? B: 是啊,就算加價1元轉賣也算違法! A: 黃牛們怎麼都抓不怕?或許票券「實名制」會更有用。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
When a large group of people struggles to reach a consensus, voting is often used to help make a decision. Surprisingly, humans are not the only animals that exhibit this type of democratic tendency. Several different species of animals demonstrate similar voting behavior. One of the most notable examples of animals engaging in this activity involves African buffalo. Ecologist Herbert Prins first observed herds of African buffalo performing voting behavior in the 1990s. Groups of African buffalo would pause under the intense midday sun and rest until dusk. Prins noticed that some buffalo would periodically stand up and gaze