頭城休閒農場～阿嬤的家

在農場裡，

我們為了清潔衛生，

都會做定期的消毒工作，

讓您來農場能玩得更安心！

繼上次法國人離開農場後，

沒多久…他們又來了，

結果是專程把他們最近的旅遊心得拿來給我們，

當我們看到他們所拍到的照片時，

真的是非常好笑…

因為他們居然拍了別人家的墳墓，

還覺得台灣的墳墓比國外的墳墓的風景好看。

向他們解釋依習俗來講，

風水是很重要的，

因為能造福後代子孫，

他們也覺得很有道理，

還說回法國後，

要極力幫我們介紹這樣的文化！

也希望接下來他們在台灣的旅程，

能夠非常豐富！

Hi there,

Wednesday 3^rd, as we were watching the news on TV and asking about the typhoon that was coming, we decided to go south much quicker as planed as the typhoon’s direction was to hit the north of the island. So good surfing on Wednesday and then packing up our stuff.

Thursday 4^th, we left the farm around 10:00 am for a journey of about 3 to 4 hours of drive. Half way of the distance, we found our self stopped on the road, around midday, because of a landslide and we heard that we could pass through after 4:00 pm.

Then, we decided to turn back and take the only other road that could take us to our destination; so we passed by Syueshan Mountains. We drove back until Su-Ao before taking the road to Luodong, Sansing, Nioudou, Cilan.

From there, the weather became not pleasant (but still tropical) as well as the quality of the road. We went up around 2000m of altitude with some peaks of about 3400, 3700 and 3800m.

Magnificent road but difficult and above all very alive: it slides every where! It was incredible the number of time the exterior side of the road was gone…

On the other side, face side, it wasn’t better as they were a lot of landslides. However from our driving point of view we did well even if we were stopped 20mn in the Taroko gorges for some workers to fix the part of the road that had disappeared.

With this big detour, we finally arrived to Hualien at 8:30pm after 10h30mn of driving (Laurent only as I’m the co-driver!). We found a nice hotel quite easily, before going to eat in the street some good local foods. All shops were still open and a lot of people every where.

Friday 5^th, in the morning, very bad weather because the typhoon was approaching. But after an hour it calmed down. We asked about the weathercast and so we decided to continue to the south.

We did some shopping and bought our lunch before heading to Taitung at 1:00pm. We took the coastal road which was magnificent and in the same time to spot out some possible surf spots for the way back. The sea was crazy: waves of 3 to 10m, and above all, as we were driving of the speed of 40Km/hour most of them were passing us as they were going at about of 60km/hour!

In different areas, the road was covered by some pebbles, which must have come over the night by the sea. So you can imagine that no surf was possible. We did several stops, took pictures and drove calmly as it was very very windy.

We spend the night at Taitung (not a great hotel, but right in the centre of town). We did a longer visit of the centre, as planed, after our good diner, as we got lost! Our decision to hit the south was great; according to the news on TV; the north did seem to be in a very bad situation.

Saturday 6^th, we left early after breakfast to Kenting. The journey was difficult because of the typhoon, especially between Daren and Fonggang as we were in the valley between East to West coast. We arrived around midday and we found a hotel very quickly. Because as we wanted to check other hotels we found out that we just got a flat tire. The owner of the hotel helped us to get the flat tire fixed; he took Laurent to a tire shop. And everything was in order after putting back the spare tire in the boot. And then easy afternoon because of the typhoon…it was too risky to go outside.

On Sunday 7^th, our fifth day of typhoon was finishing. We took the car to explore the area and find surf spots. Around 3:30pm, we saw some surfers in the water; so we went back to the hotel to get our gears and surf for about an hour until the sunset: it was great sensations for both of us.

See you later…time to surf!

農場卓阿嬤又發動伯伯們動工了，

真的很好奇到底又要做什麼大工程…

伯伯們又陸陸續續搬下好多木頭，

又將木頭固定住，

到底是要做什麼哩？？

原來是搬了一大堆木頭娃娃下來，

其實這樣木頭都是漂流木，

在其他人眼中看來是沒有用的東西，

但在卓阿嬤的眼中，

卻是一項項的藝術品…

卓阿嬤很歡迎大家到農場，

與這些木頭娃娃們一起歡樂…

在活動開始進行之前，

南陽義學的成員們便在會議室裡熱身起來，

讓當地的阿公阿嬤先睹為快！

活動開始了，

成員們使出混身解數，

就為了讓阿公阿嬤們能開心過重陽，

其實農場當天也有一群年輕人在台下觀看，

個個也是看得目瞪口呆，

連連叫好…

當場也有大師現場書寫出詩佛-王維所寫的“憶山東兄弟“，

有現場的年輕妹妹馬上拿起相機拍下大師揮毫的一刻。

做完了費力氣的活動，

接下來就是品嚐當地阿嬤們親手包的紅龜粿，

內餡有綠豆沙、紅豆沙、花生粉…

外皮吃起來QQ的，

讓在場所有人員都吃到舌頭快“打結“了！

到最後，當然是免不了大家一同來拍張團體合照，

看過了這些長者的表演後，

真的能讓人體會“活到老，學到老“這句話的含意了！

在“柯蘿莎“颱風來臨之前，

農場又來了一組遠從新加坡來渡假的情侶，

但是…原本預訂三天兩夜的行程，

卻因颱風來襲而提前結束，

也提早搭火車回台北！

希望他們在未來的日子，

能夠再次造訪農場，

完成他們未完的旅程…

以下是他們寄給我們的信件…

Hi Tina,
 
first and foremost, thank you ever so much for your
warm hospitality extended during our stay at
TouCheng farm.The food and wonderful environment
were throughly fantastic throughout our entire stay.
(Pity that we did not have the opportunity to enjoy
the greater variety of fruits though).

Sadly, the typhoon meant that we have to shorten our
tay, we'll like to apologise for any inconveience
caused during our abrupt departure. In spite of our
short experience,TouCheng has and remains to be one
of the fondest memories that we have brought back
from this taiwan adventure.

Many thanks once again to you (sorry for not being
able to say bye personally before we left) and
especially to all these great people at Toucheng
Farm:
PeiQing - who was always there to make sure both of
us are not left out from the yummy meals and
activities.
MingZe - the handsome one who drove us around and
helped us to get our train tickets last minute.
ZhiLing - who helped us to take pictures for our
Tian Deng,
Teacher Zhang - who gave us such good tour around
the farm and guided us through the crafts
Your Hubby - His muffins, they are yummy! =p

Oh yeah, thanks lots for sending us the pictures
too! We were told that there will be a link for us
to go online to download the pictures, can you send
us the link?

Thanks!!
Cheers, Xiuxing and Kenny =)

在2007.10.14當天，

中華電信工會在農場舉辦了未婚聯誼活動，

看看這些俊男美女們臉上幸福的表情！

到配對時間了，

雖然現場下了一點點毛毛雨，

但…還是不會澆滅大家的熱情…

配對成功囉…

希望這幾對佳偶能有情人終成眷屬，

沒配對成功的，

也祝福他們能尋得有情人！

在9/30當天，農場接到一通由“頭城加油站“打來的電話，加油站的站長說有兩名外國人目前在加油站詢問那有飯店可以住？？因為他們看不懂台灣的路標，所以從礁溪到頭城農場居然花了三個小時，我想一般人已經能從頭城到桃園機場準備搭飛機了。

後來由農場的服務人員開車引領他們到農場，而當晚他們也在農場做了祈福天燈，可能是第一次做這樣的活動，也覺得滿奇特的！

接下來的幾天，白天他們兩人就出門到附近的衝浪地點進行衝浪，晚上就回到農場用餐，也陸續吃到農場的特產，其中以燒酒雞就令他印象深刻，因為含有非常濃厚的酒味，而他們在農場的這幾天，也遇到了台灣的歐吉桑、歐巴桑到農場遊玩，而他們也能以簡單的英語來溝通哩！

在最後，令農場服務人員對他們印象最深刻的地方，就是男生的名字，法文發音居然跟台語的“落雨“一樣耶！而當我們告訴他“落雨“在台灣的意思是rainning時，女生居然也很幽默地回答她是sunny！

以下是他們再寄回農場的信件，寫了他們到台灣的遊玩記事！

Hello,

 　　　We managed to arrive to Taiwan; instead of flying Nouméa à Osaka à Taipei as planned, we had to do Nouméa à Brisbane (1 night at the hotel) à Cairns à Hong Kong à Taipei.

Two days before our departure, Aircalin plane got broken and it has to stay in Osaka for a week to get fixed. So we flew with Cathay Pacific.

We arrived Saturday 29th around midnight at Taipei airport. The day before, from Nouméa I had sent a fax to let the rental car company about our delay (we should have arrived at 13:00); and a car was waiting for us. While I was setting up the car paper work, I asked about a hotel that would be open (about 2 hours later) at Jiaosi (Lan Yang Spring Resort); and in the meantime Laurent had collected our luggage and nothing was broken (surf board and kitesurf).

　　　So there we were driving in the middle of the night to avoid day traffic and to start to familiar our self to the Taiwanese way of driving. We managed pretty well to find the hotel and after a good shower we fold asleep around 3:00 am.

　　　On waking, Chinese breakfast quite good (but we will get better ones). We decided to check-out at 12:00 pm (the check-out time). But before and as we had a wooden bath tub in our room with water that was going from a thermal source, we decided that we definitely should spoil our self by using it! Before going into a tropical rainy drive.

We were looking for some surf spots and a hotel. For the surf, no problem; a lot of nice waves, but for the hotel; a lot of searching, back and forth, stops, requests to people that couldn’t speak English to finally end up in a huge farm where the young manager (a lady) came to collect us at a meeting point in spite of all the people she was receiving (on Sunday all is full).

　　　As soon as our stuffs were in the room and without doing the check-in, we went surfing at sunset time to decompress from this special day. The water temperature was at 26°C. And the exterior temperature was about 29°C. This climate reminds us of the one in French Guyana.

Since then happiness! Every day very interesting meetings. Taiwanese are kind and helpful, food is great, and waves are here, friendly surfers, temples everywhere, cities with histories, and an incredible mess on the roads…

Monday, as we were taking outside pictures of a temple, some ladies ask us to come in. One of them guides us to pray. When we were leaving, the ladies were saying something and as we couldn’t understand, one of them took my hand to show me some food; they wanted to offer us food; but we were already full from our superb breakfast!

Laurent sold one of his all surf boards and bought another one in the same shop; the deal was made in English, Chinese and drawings to explain what he was looking for; a lot of fun and kindness.

　　　As we were coming back from our shopping, our hosts took us to a restaurant that the owner, the brother-in-law, opened just for us: magnificent! A recent construction in a tree ferns garden, wooden floor at the entrance and then grey paving stones made out of solidified volcanic ash, diner and services were great. At the same time, we did get some Chinese lessons that would help us in our future meals!

Thursday, Laurent surfed with his new surf board, in a good swell and the result was excellent. He is short of training regarding his arms and shoulders to be at the top of his form, but it will come.

For me, it is quite hard as they are several sand bars to pass over and my leash is quite small, so I’m scare to dive under the big waves. So I only took the small ones.  I will have to buy a surf board leash for big waves even if I have a body board.

　　　As we were walking in the centre of Toucheng, our host (that was passing by) told us that we were right beside a small street that was 100 years ago a river! And then, in that street, a lady on her bicycle came to us and « obliged » us to follow her to show us the very old houses!

Little info, our taste buds were non stop stimulated by the good smell in the streets!

　　　For the supper, we were with a group of retired people that was doing karaoke during the diner: excellent. Ten dishes followed each other on our table; we got full of great food. Some old persons were laughing at Laurent when he was trying to get some of the sleek food with his chopsticks!

　　　In the evening, our hosts invited us at their house. We came with our laptop to show them some pictures from South Africa and New Caledonia.

　　　They told us that when they pronounce: Laurent, the sound of it means rainy day in Chinese!

在現代忙碌的時間，您…累了嗎？

快報名由“中華自我保健推廣協會“所主辦的“園氣100首部曲“；

放鬆您的心情！

請情請見： 中華自我保健推廣協會

在2007.10.12當天，農場來了2位專程由馬來西亞搭機到台灣渡蜜月的新婚夫婦---Mr. and Mrs. NG；看他們甜蜜的笑容，周圍的人也感受到幸福的氣氛！

也祝福他們在未來的日子能白頭到老！

 在團圓的時刻，

農場也準備了趣味競賽，

讓全家在團圓時，

可再進一步培養更深厚的感情…

在競賽準備時，

參賽的隊伍分別有兄弟姊妹、親子檔…

大家都一個揹一個，

全力準備搶奪第一名…

活動進行中，

大家會發生撞在一起，

或者搞不清楚方面(因為揹人的人，要矇眼晴)，

現場笑聲四起，

也有熱心的觀眾會幫忙指引，

大伙好不容易才能到達終點打罐子！

比賽結束後，

農場主人體恤大家辛苦的努力，

決定人人有獎，

代表農場的一份心，

希望大家能在農場過一個很有氣氛的中秋佳節！

～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～。～

在中秋連假這幾天，

其實農場的天氣很不穩定，

常常就是下一陣陣的大雨，

讓大家很擔心活動不能順利進行，

而大家也是拚了命的祈求上天能夠讓天氣放晴，

但…事實是～還是一樣下大雨！

好在老天爺真的有聽到祈求，

在活動期間沒有落下一滴雨，

也感謝這幾天到農場的遊客大力配合活動，

讓大家有一個難忘的團圓夜！

經過上次視察後，

發現土屋的建造是以土槌和畚箕，

ㄧ層一層堆厚後，經過土槌的千錘百鍊才造出堅固的土牆屋。

因此老闆娘這次特別請木工一起實際考察，

希望在農場中打造出一座完整土屋，

在實際測量後，

大家終於達成共識，

決定遵循古法建造古味十足的屋子，

敬請期待農場完工。

9/18韋帕颱風來襲時，雖然有很多客人取消行程，但是蔡先生這對新婚夫妻，在風雨的見證下，甜蜜度過3天2夜的蜜月旅程！

其間蔡先生為滿足愛妻的口腹慾望，特別商情農場工作人員，為蔡太太製作專屬草仔粿，貼心的舉動讓大家非常感動，當然竭力助他完成心願嚕！

在9/18當天，

因為受到韋帕颱風的侵襲，

導致預訂至農場遊玩的旅客紛紛取消行程，

而農場原本預訂的工作也只能延後，

但卓媽媽可不會因為颱風就取消自己的行程喔！

在曲折蜿蜒的小路行走著，

大家都在想，到底要通往哪裡呢？

難道……

卓媽媽要帶著大家一同去冒險嗎？

看到了嗎？

原來是要帶大家來看以前農村時期的古厝！

卓媽媽為了讓到農場的遊客能彷彿置身在古早農村中，

特別找了村中現存的古厝，

並帶著農場員工一同前往觀察及詢問當地的耆老，

古厝的建造方式、建造習俗、及生活使用情況…

在不久的將來，

卓媽媽將在農場水稻區建造一戶古厝，

而裡面的格局也會仿造農村古厝來建造，

好讓大家能一睹農村古厝風采，

請大家用心的期待喔！

來到農場樹屋區，會看到好幾隻小猴子喔！

但走近一看…

原來是農場員工用木頭做的“木猴“耶！

走在園區裡，

如果遊客們腳沒有力氣了，

也可以在躺椅或吊床休息一下，

享受一下日光浴，也可在此享受大自然的音樂…

來到鱷魚平衡木，

就要試試看自己的平衡感，

可能會出現東倒西狀況喔！

趕快到農場來體驗吧！

大清早來，就發現了這一堆竹子…

是要做什麼的？？

再往旁邊一看，又發現一堆木條，

越來越好奇了…

怎麼又有工具，到底是要做什麼？？

有誰能告訴我一下

要上屋頂去嗎？

好像知道要做什麼了耶！

看一下喔…神奇的事情要發生了

有沒有看到天花板…

變成有特色的了吧，

我們可是用農場特色…桂竹來用的喔！

看看木工站在鷹架，抬頭釘桂竹，

真的是很辛苦的哩…

左手邊那位是農場長期合作的木工“阿喜“先生，

只要我們將農場的需求告訴他，

他也會很神奇的做出來，真是神奇！

來賓請給個掌聲吧！

 

又到一年一月的慈悲月，不過可能有很多人，都不曉得家裡拜拜時所準備的東西有何特殊涵義，今天就藉由農場的拜拜來跟大家分享。

譬如說擺臉盆毛巾於最前面，這個主要是請好兄弟沐浴更衣；再來拜拜時是先拜普渡公，請普渡公准予開普，然後燒「更衣.白錢」，請好兄弟沐浴更衣準備上桌，再來開始拜好兄弟，請它們上桌,，並把香插在供品上並倒酒，等香過了2/3後再接香，等接上第三次香及第三次酒，就可以準備燒金紙,。

不過記得要先收供品後再燒,，要先收完給神明(普渡公)的，同理先燒給神明後，再燒給好兄弟，然後記得要把剛才供品上的香腳收集來燒，最後將酒澆在金紙堆上，然後放鞭炮，如此就大功告成嚕！

這種特殊的拜拜模式聽起來感覺很繁瑣，只是藉由這樣的祭拜，可以讓我們後代子孫，更懂得對前人感恩以及飲水思源，大家有空時不妨靜下心好好自我沉澱也不錯唷！.

烏石港特產「鹹水芭樂」，又名月芭，近日進入採收期，熱情的卓媽媽為讓客人一嚐為快，特別自掏腰包買了好幾箱芭樂給客人分享。

所謂的鹹水芭樂，是利用鹹水和淡水所種出來有香味的芭樂，用的是有機肥，其最特別之處，在於其汁多甜度高，尤其是將芭樂打成汁加上蜂蜜，因為有豐富的鐵質，所以可以養顏美容，又能降血糖、糖尿病，打成果汁風味絕佳。歡迎大家來農場感受濃濃人情味的~阿嬤的家

繼羊寶寶出生，農場又有新成員加入嚕！那就是可愛麝香豬..噗噗，豬如其名的噗噗，體型龐大，胃口很好，只是一天不能吃太多，不然可是會鬧肚子疼！

來自台北縣的噗噗，其實是個很乖巧的寵物豬，平常只要你對他好，他就會親近你，可是你若對他很壞，他可是會咬人唷！要不是因為主人小米家的空間有限，不然小米也不會忍痛離開噗噗，所以才會細心遍尋北台灣多月，最後終於選定農場為噗噗的第二個家。

大家別看噗噗身形壯碩，就以為他年紀很大，其實他今年才一歲唷！生活非常規律的噗噗，每天早上7點就起床了，晚上10點就寢，還有最有趣的是，他是標準的素食主義者唷!另外他的膽子很小又內向，最愛是地瓜和香蕉，還有不愛喝水，不過還好的是，噗噗很愛吃水果，這樣才能補充體內的水分，所以小朋友可千萬不能學唷！

不過自從噗噗離開小米家後，米媽媽因為思豬過度，難過了好幾天，所以小米決定先帶噗噗回家過父親節，之後再帶噗噗回農場。

喜歡動物的朋友，歡迎大家來8月中再來農場看他喔！

八月份又有一個連絡家人感情的節日來了，那就是父親節！

其實一般人都會較重視母親節，反而忽視了爸爸的辛苦。例如：現在是父系社會，一家的生活經濟部份是依賴著爸爸的，所以我們是否該犒賞一下親愛的老爸呢！

趁著今年暑假，全家總動員，一起開拔到宜蘭這個好山好水的好所在，全家人一起漫步在林蔭鄉間小道，呼吸新鮮空氣，同時又能紓解工作壓力，感覺還真的不賴。

頭城農場限期推出優惠專案，獨寵您的家人，詳情請洽：

今年88父親節~讓我帶爸爸去童玩節~