Your Omuraisu—「你」的蛋包飯

Each time watching TV introducing “Tanpopo (dandelion) Omuraisu”, I cannot help swallowing saliva. Finally, I went to Kissa You serving this delicacy. Not hard to find this cafe which is between Higashi-Ginza Station exit 5 & Kabuki-za.

每每看到台灣的有線日本電視台介紹當地的蒲公英蛋包飯（タンポポオムライス），當蕃茄醬炒飯被半熟的蛋捲包覆，愛吃鬼都會忍不住吞了一大口口水。卍謝天謝地卍，這次終於讓A-Mao參拜到「珈琲&サンドの店・喫茶YOU」了。其實也不難找，就在東銀座站五號出口、歌舞伎座的中間啦！

It was Autumnal Equinox Day. Although lunchtime passed, there was a crowd of customers still. No problem! Wonderful food is always worthy to wait. One cigarette, double checking shinkansen tickets & freely taking pictures spent half hour around……

雖早已過了用中餐的時候，但時值日本秋分國定假日，顧客還是坐滿這個煙霧瀰漫的老店。好吧！美好的食物總是值得等待，抽一根菸、double-check新幹線車票、加上胡亂拍些照，大約近半個小時，也就過了……

Japanese cuisines is usually colorful: light yellow omelette on dark orange fried rice dressed by fresh red ketchup & fresh green parsley. Then, the dandelion would blossom though your knife.

哇~~~！人家朝思暮想的蛋包飯晃得巍巍顫顫地來了。橙紅色的炒飯上，躺著鵝黃色的蛋捲，上頭還有擠成花式的鮮紅蕃茄醬，加上深綠的荷蘭芹點綴，組成這鮮豔的蒲公英蛋包飯。接下來就用餐刀切出裂縫，催促蒲公英花瓣绽開。

Looked not bad, and butter flavor omelette with sweet & sour ketchup shuttling among grains of rice tasted subtle. This 40-year-old kissaten is really good in cooking, but this dish seemed to be slightly greasy in the end. A-Mao guesses it is historical taste of Tokyo.

花開富貴。整個視覺效果還算不錯，吃起來的口感也很妙：濃濃的奶油香，隨著滋潤的半熟蛋捲，伴著蕃茄醬的酸甜，遊蕩在粒粒分明的飯粒間。傳承40多年的老店，手藝還真不是蓋的；不過吃到最後幾口，稍嫌油膩。我想這就是東京的古早味吧？【蒲公英蛋包饭】

Kissa You—喫茶YOU

Treasure Island in Tsukuba—筑波的寶島

A-Mao's first experience of lonely backpack was in Japan in January, 2006, whereas the first unaccompanied business trip was also in Japan. In September, 2008, for a meeting in next morning, I took Narita Express from Narita Airport to Tokyo and then took Tsukuba Express from Akihabara to Tsukuba Center. After checking in at Grand Shinonome Hotel, I was so starving. The Takarajima (or treasure island) near by might be the most optimal selection in this tranquil city.

A-Mao此生首次單獨國外旅行，2006年2月，選擇了日本；而首次單獨海外差旅，2008年9月，也是獻給了日本。到了成田機場，換了JR Pass、輾轉到つくばセンター（經過兩次實驗，先從機場到秋葉原、再 搭つくばエクスプレス到つくばセンター，是扛一堆行李的旅人的最佳路徑）。在ホテルグランド東雲check-in後，我早就餓得一蹋糊塗；就在左近的宝島焼肉，可能是當下在這個寧靜的城鎮，來自寶島的A-Mao，滿足口腹之欲的最佳選擇。

"Dolsot bibimbap teishoku" was picked because it includes rice & beef. It also came with salad, kimchi & seaweed soup. I was so hungry that the roast beef with sweet sauce tasted so good. On the other hand, I was in an ecstasy and looking forward to dolsot bibimbap.

點了有肉有飯的「石焼き風ビビンバ定食」，先豋場的是牛肋排、沙拉、泡菜、涼拌豆芽與海帶湯。也許因為餓壞了，覺得燒烤牛肋排沾甘口醬料特別美味、其他的倒也不遜色啦；不過我還是滿心歡喜得期待澱粉滿點的石鍋拌飯到來。

About 10 minutes later, the hot dolsot bibimbap was served. Having no time to take photos, I poured kimchi into it and mixed this dish. Sounds from the stone bowl sounded very delicious. As soon as it was a little bit cooler, itadakimasu! Well, it is modified to fit Japanese tongue so that it is not as spicy as those I ate in South Korea & Taiwan. But yummy as well.

約十分鐘等待，宇宙炙熱的石鍋拌飯來了；為避免吃到燒焦的米飯，還沒來得及拍照，索性把泡菜和涼拌豆芽丟進去一起攪拌。食材在石鍋中熱得嘰嘰亂叫；也引得我的胃咕嚕狂響。待稍稍涼了一點，迫不及待地開動。嗯……跟預期中有很大的反差：味道根本沒有韓國的香辣、完全針對日本人的口味作了修正嘛；不過……唉呦……也是很好吃啦。

Moreover, there are various hot & cool beverages. Regarding tea bag, 10 kinds of options. I chose osmanthus fragrans tea made in China; meanwhile, I was hoping quality control of this restaurant is Japanese standard. In all, now branches of Takarajima are almost located in Ibaraki & Chiba, and it is a cost-efficient place for yakiniku.

還有還有，許多冷熱飲料都任君選擇；光說茶包，就有十種選項。挑了有我最心愛的桂花風味的中國茶（心中OS：這家餐廳的品質管理也一定是日本標準…），來消除油膩、也許又如包裝上所寫的，能療養心靈。言而總之：宝島目前的分店還大多座落在茨城與千葉，是價格平實、水準以上的燒肉餐廳。【筑波的宝岛烧肉】

Grand Shinonome Hotel—ホテルグランド東雲

Largo do Lilau—阿婆井前地

A folk song was being sung: One who drinks from Lilau never forgets Macau. If he doesn't get married here, he will leave far and return again. The Portuguese meaning of Lilau is mountain spring, whereas it sounds like grandmother's well in Chinese. The Lilau Square is one of foremost Portuguese settlements in Macau. Due to its old architectures, it was listed as a world culture heritage site in 2005.

昔日有民謠傳唱：喝過阿婆井水，忘不掉澳門；要麼在澳門成家，要麼遠別重來。 阿婆井的葡文意義是山泉，這阿婆井前地，是葡萄牙 人早期的聚落之一。因為其古舊建築與歐陸風情，於2005年，被列入聯合國世界文化遺產。

In fact, my main reason to travel in Macau is that this tiny area has up to 25 world culture heritage sites—about 3 times bigger than Taiwan, South Korea has 7 sites only. In the meantime, I had a question: Why Taiwanese have no one? In the Eva Airline cabin back to Taiwan, I finally came up with the answer: because of China's bullying, we are not allowed to return to the UN. In Taiwan, of course, here is no world culture heritage site administered by UNESCO. Anyway, in the first and last European colony in China, each street corner could be a surprise.

這趟澳門之行的主要動機，是想探索這個有著25個世界文化遺產的彈丸之地（人家韓國比台灣大上約三倍，也才只有7個）。旅途中，心中突然冒出一個問題，熊熊想不出答案：啊中華民國台灣怎麼會沒有半個咧？在回程的長榮班機上，才猛然想起：因為老共的阻撓，我們遲遲不能返聯，當然不會有聯合國世界文化遺產囉！在這東西薈萃的場域，每一個轉角，都可能是一個驚奇。

Oh, the dogs there are so lucky! Walking in the South European atmosphere, they also have exclusive WC. The dog keepers are so lucky as well because they do not have to take care of their dogs' waste. Hmmm......I was wondering whether it could be a big cat litter box.

喔！本地的狗狗還真是幸福啊！漫步在南歐的氛圍中，還能享有專屬的WC！更爽的是狗爸狗媽吧？不用費心幫狗兒解決排泄的問題。嗯……不知道能不能當特大號的貓砂用？

See! A-Mao's Tiffany envied Macanese dogs so much that she got angry and then fainted.

你看！連A-Mao家驕縱的妮妮都眼紅澳門狗兒的好狗命，氣到昏厥、倒地不起。【亚婆井前地】

Grandmothers in Lilau Square—阿婆們在阿婆井前地

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial House—澳門國父紀念館

In June, 2007, A-Mao was enjoying the Dragon Boat Festival in Macau. Before climbing the Guia Hill for Guia Fortress, the World Heritage Site, I came across the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial House, which is not introduced by my guidebook. Well, he is the Father of Taiwan (ROC) as well as Chain (PRC), and there is free of charge. I had no reason not to visit it.

話說2007年六月，藉由端午節連假，A-Mao孤軍近征澳門。在攻濠江最高山岳東望洋山（海拔只有93公尺）之前，巧遇手邊旅遊書沒有介紹的國父紀念館。國父很偉大（沒有他，就沒有現在分隔兩岸的台灣與中國），加上不用門票，我想不到不進去看看的理由。

The keynote of the decoration is humble. The "Zhi Nan Xing Yi" (knowing is difficult, but acting is easy) should be written by Dr. Sun. Each time a trouble was in front of me in Macau, this maxim encouraged me although the results were not always good.

裡頭裝潢傢俱很多是木造、設計走質樸的基調；不過無論是在當時與現在的時空，住起來應該算是簡約的奢華吧？有看到那可能是國父墨寶的「知難行易」嗎？每當此趟蠔鏡之行碰到難關當前，這四字箴言都會在我心頭浮現，雖然最終結果不全然能盡如人意。

This wood set of furniture with marble top is carved very well. I like that table so much because it could be separated. Must be very easy to move and store. As years pass by, the antique is shining history.

這套桌椅真是棒透了！鑲嵌大理石的厚實木料，雕琢細膩；桌子還能一分為二，想必相當方便搬運以及收納。經過歲月的洗禮，這古董炫耀著歷史的光澤。

The "Li Yun Da Tong" (great harmony) was signed and stamped by Dr. Sun, but a Mr. Zhang indicated that it is a real handwriting at the end! It reminded me of a Chinese idiom: to rejoin the ermine with dog's tail.

這禮運大同篇，咱家國父都署名落款了；偏偏這張人傑又於民國十五年三月十二日，特別註明這是“孫先生遺墨”。還真是「狗尾續貂」啊！【澳门国父纪念馆】

The Ruins of St. Paul's—大三巴牌坊

Hoover Dam—胡佛水壩

In April, 2006, due to ISC West in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is my second time visiting the America, in which everything seems to be bigger than that in Taiwan. After simple decoration as well as setting up camera, CRT monitor, our MPEG-2 DVR & complicated cabling, followed by product test & video adjustment for the best demonstration in a morning, honcho A, engineer C, salesgirl K & I went to the Hoover Dam in the same state that afternoon.

2006年4月，為了在拉斯維加斯舉行的ISC West展，A-Mao第二度造訪這個什麼都大的泱泱大國。4號當天早上佈置好會場的攤位（架設我們家的DVR與別人家的攝影機和螢幕、連結複雜的訊號線材以及簡單的裝潢）、做完產品測試與影像調整之後，下午藉由地利之便，便與A老大、C同學與K小姐驅車前往同樣是位在內華達州的胡佛水壩。

Although there was a GPS brought by honcho A, our car still got lost in the desert, but we began being excited while watching the blue Lake Mead. Meanwhile, what's the problem about the car in the front of us? Did he or she lose all money on the craps or blackjack table?

在租來的車上，雖然有A老大準備的GPS，有點囧地，我們還是在遼闊的沙漠中迷了路；不過當看到這絲絨藍的浩瀚米德湖水後，眾人就開始興奮起來。啊前方這台車沒有車牌是怎樣？是否於賭場輸光、又欠下高利貸正在跑路嗎？

Oh, here came a clock on the intake tower. Obviously, it was 16:08 in bald Nevada then—Pacific Time Zone.

喔！發現一只時鐘：那當下光禿禿的內華達州是16點08分（太平洋標準時區）。

It took us 11 minutes from Nevada to Arizona because it was 16:19 in hairless Arizona afterward—Mountain Time Zone. This dam is made in USA, of course. It is across two states! You might notice that the time is the same on both clocks. Why both were synchronized? Because Arizona does not use daylight savings time.

這水壩果然是美國製造，就是一個大字來形容。16點19分，我們花了約11分鐘自內華達州，到了童山濯濯的亞利桑那州（山區標準時區）。各位一定會奇怪為何兩個時區的時間是同步的咧？原來位在東邊的亞利桑那是不實行日光節約時間的啦！

While we were chatting by the lake, suddenly, A-Mao noticed a moving stone. Well, the wind was really speedy, but it was impossible to make a stone rolling. Later I figured out it is a chipmunk. Hi, little cutie! For whom are you waiting? Your partner?

其間一群人倚在湖邊的欄杆上鬼扯蛋。A-Mao竟發現到一顆石頭在滾，在快要落水時，卻又定住不動了；當時的風勢真的是很大啦，但怎會大到吹得動石頭咧？仔細一看，原來是隻花栗鼠。嗨！可愛小寶貝，妳在等待良人歸來嗎？【胡佛水坝】

Great Hoover Dam—壯哉胡佛水壩

Ryuuoukyou—龍王峡

By the World Heritage Pass issued by Tobu Railway for foreigners only, I went to "Ryuuoukyou" (or Ryuokyo). The meaning is Dragon King Valley, and it sounds so attractive to me. However, the last station of Tobu Railway is Shin-Fujiwara Station, which is next to Ryuuoukyou Station operated by Yagan Railway. Well, A-Mao did not mind working around to save money. After leaving Shin-Fujiwara Station, asking for direction and strolling for a while, I easily found this guidepost. Just one kilometer. A piece of cake!

告別了鬼怒川，利用世界遺產通票，A-Mao殺到這個光聽名稱，就覺得很吸引人的地方—龍王峽。東武鉄道只能到新藤原駅為止，無法免鋃到下一個由野岩鉄道經營的龍王峡駅；安慰自已散散步也不錯，就在新藤原駅下車了。出了站、問了路、走了段、一塊蛋糕地發現了這標示；才一公里，哼！不過是另一塊蛋糕。

It is not a lonely kilometer. While my iPod finished Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 (Maestro: Kun-Woo Paik), I arrived and looked down at the valley. The dramatic drop height predicted it would be an exhausted climbing. On the way to the bottom, the waterfall was making a long crescendo.

不是孤單一公里，當iPod為我放完了韓國大師白建宇的普羅高菲夫第三號鋼琴協奏曲，也就到了。往下一看，頭皮開始有些發麻：景色很美沒錯，但這高低落差之大，待會可有得累了。在瀑布的漸強水聲中，彎彎曲曲地往下邁進。

The scenery is part of White Dragon Valley. There are Blue Dragon Valley & Purple Dragon Valley also—I started blaming me for this unprepared plan as well as getting out late in Kinugawa that morning. In lonesome March, on beetling rocks stands the sober Dragon King Shrine confronted by the Rainbow Viewing Bridge & the Rainbow Viewing Waterfall.

各位觀眾，您看到的只是「白龍峡」的一小部份，其他還有「青龍峡」與「紫龍峡」喔（開始埋怨自己事前沒做好功課、加上貪睡沒能早起，無法一窺龍王峽全貌）！時值寂寥的三月，簡樸的「龍王神社」屹立在突出的岩石上，與一靜一動的「虹見橋」與「虹見瀑布」對峙相望。

There is a Harp Waterfall, too. For me, it is so hard to tell what the relationship is between this cascade and a harp. My explanation is that it sounds like a harp. How about yours?

回頭有座「豎琴瀑布」。也許A-Mao缺乏想像力，根據其外型，很難將它與豎琴作連結耶；不過水聲淙淙如樂音倒是真的！這是我的最佳名詞解釋。那你的咧？

Later I had to go to Nikkou for unfinished visit, and Koos from Holland was waiting in Shinjuku that night. Therefore, this is the farthest spot during this trip, and I took the latest picture on the opposite side of this river. Then, the return journey is really “a piece of cake” for me because I hate to eat desserts.

本次龍王峽之行的最終點。因為下午要趕未完成的日光景點，晚上還要去新宿赴荷蘭人Koos的邀約。以另一個角度記錄下竜王神社、虹見の滝與虹見橋的合影後，A-Mao開始在寒風中冒冷汗……呵呵……要爬回去、還要再走一公里回新藤原駅；對極端不嗜甜食的我，還真是一塊蛋糕啊！【龙王峡】

The World Heritage Pass—世界遗产通票