如果梵谷生活在現代社會，或許會成為世俗眼光下的魯蛇或草莓族，他嘗試過傳教士、書店店員等不同職業，在27歲時毅然決定轉職，拾起畫筆成為一名藝術家。
其後十年間他自學繪畫，創作相當多產卻飽受心理疾病困擾，在1890年離世前夕，達到了幾乎每天完成一幅畫的高峰。
飽滿鮮豔的色彩與強烈有力的筆觸，讓梵谷的繪畫獨樹一格，窮困的他對色彩研究深入，傳聞他會先以毛線模擬不同顏色搭配的效果，才用珍貴的顏料實際作畫。
他長期受到弟弟Theo與弟媳Johanna的資助，感情深厚的兄弟倆在數月內相繼離世後，Johanna更是長期保管及推廣梵谷的畫作，才讓這些作品逐漸受到重視。
儘管梵谷的一生悲劇收場，畫布上的星夜與向日葵卻穿越時空，至今仍感動著無數世人。
La La Land是我最喜歡的電影，也是洛杉磯的別稱，拉著住在San Diego的好友T在洛杉磯度過兩天一夜，也去了不少拍攝場景朝聖，體驗卻與預期有些不同。
映入眼簾的洛杉磯不像電影中那樣色彩斑斕、氣氛夢幻，抽掉層層濾鏡後的市區甚至帶點灰暗，劇情寫實的部分就只有紛亂壅塞的交通，和令人倒抽口氣的物價。
想必是我太天真，看過不下十次的樂來越愛你、加上從小到大好萊塢文化輸出洗禮，在我腦海裡交織成對這座城市的嚮往，忘卻娛樂產業原本就是一座夢工場，電影的存在賦予人們逃離現實的時光，只有螢幕前的我較真地把票房強檔當成紀錄片觀賞。
後來偶然看到電影導演、作曲家以及兩位主演的專訪，他們對這部電影的詮釋卻又再次改變我的想法：La La Land是一封寫給洛杉磯的情書，看似平凡的碼頭、天文臺、中央市場，在鏡頭下都變得浪漫唯美，實地走訪多個場景進行拍攝，讓他們更加欣賞自己工作、生活的這座城市，電影劇情雖生動刻劃現實的殘酷，也為影迷呈現了天使之城最美的一面。
正是因為世人前仆後繼地來到這裡追尋理想，好萊塢的星光才如此璀璨斑斕，在心中有夢的人眼裡，這座城市故事高潮迭起、歌舞永不止息。
早晨通勤的捷運上，看著人群奮力鑽進擁擠的車廂，到了各自車站再奮力擠向車門，突然想起那個坐在摩天輪下發呆的午後。
我的廣東話破到不行，香港朋友很少講中文，所以大家還是都習慣用英文溝通。和G在蒙特婁旅行時，一起搭了位在舊城區的摩天輪(La Grande Roue de Montreal)，那天下午行程的關鍵字是"Chill"。
摩天輪不大，也轉得有點快，但看當下工作人員心情，至少都會轉個兩到三圈才開門請你下來。當天出大太陽，進閘門的時候光線強到掃不出手機裡的QR code，售票大哥手臂一揮索性就放我們進去，臉上掛著我真的無所謂的燦笑。
搭完摩天輪的我們戴上墨鏡，躺在巧妙安排在正下方的座位，五月初東岸的風還是微冷，但陽光暖烘烘地曬在身上，我們有一搭沒一搭聊著，看著摩天輪轉呀轉，沉浸在當下的氛圍中。
那天下午所有體驗都是如此悠閒自在，真讓人懷念，That was so chill.
It was 10:30 in the morning and I was really thirsty. When the server asked me what can he get for me today, I said I'd like some hot tea. He looked at me as if I was crazy. "What's your signature cocktail?" I said after eight seconds of awkward silence. It's just illegal to not consume alcohol while eating breakfast in Vegas, I guess.
The Chamborita tasted great though, so was their specialty, the 24hr Burger. Braised short rib, brown sugar bacon, white cheddar cheese, bread crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, coated with the right amount of butter and BBQ sauce. The portion was really generous, and soon I found myself struggling to finish the whole thing.
"Finish your fucking burger!" I suddenly had this gut feeling that behind the bar counter, Gordon Ramsay would storm out from the kitchen any minute, and angrily throw my plate on the floor.
It didn't happen, of course. What did happen was that I packed the burger and the fries left back to my hotel room, and still couldn't finish all of it as my dinner.
If you couldn't get a table at Hell's Kitchen, yet still want to try some good food from the world-famous celebrity chef, highly recommend this place.
Snoopy Museum Tokyo is the world's only satellite of Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA. During my trip to Tokyo, I visited my favorite cartoon character’s home in Roppongi.
Main entrance of the venue stood five vivid sculptures of snoopy from the comic series’ different era. Visitors lingered in the rooms where photos were allowed, and words like “how cute” and “kawaii” was heard around different displays.
The Museum reopened in December 2019 at Machida, Tokyo, featuring exhibitions double the size of the previous site. Can’t wait to visit the Peanuts gang when I travel to Japan again!
我的第一本譯作「FUN的力量」(The Power of Fun) 正式出版了！
科學記者暨專欄作家Catherine Price從自身經驗出發，試圖解答為何現代生活中快樂、有趣的感受成為人們日益稀缺的體驗，作者統整分析相關著作與科學研究，並提出一系列具體可行的建議，幫助讀者練習創造快樂、活出更加有趣的人生
謝謝出版社夥伴們在合作過程的諸多協助與全然信任，作為譯者我也從書籍傳達的訊息和翻譯工作執行學到許多，希望未來很快有更多作品和大家見面：）
So excited to share with you that my very first translation work has been officially published!
Chinese version of Catherine Price's "The Power of Fun" is now available online and in bookstores.
在溫哥華生活的朋友L說過，想在北美定居真的要做好天天煮飯的心理準備，加拿大和美國外食都不便宜，結帳時還要再加5-10%的稅和12%起跳的服務費，許多人甚至是特殊節慶才會難得上餐館吃飯。
在UBC宿舍裡大家多半也是在共用廚房解決三餐，畢竟都還是學生經費有限，且學校位在溫哥華這座大城市西側，光是搭公車到Kitsilano或Downtown就要30-60分鐘，只有到其他城市旅遊時才會餐餐外食。
於是來自世界各地的交換生們不約而同在宿舍煮起容易入門的義大利麵，超市自有品牌的平價醬料，時常被大家買到缺貨的各式麵條，加上肉類或蔬菜就是簡單方便的一餐，多煮一些用保鮮盒分裝甚至能吃上兩天。
紅醬番茄酸甜、白醬奶味濃郁、青醬香氣帶勁，醬料、麵條和配菜的排列組合有無限變化；喜歡義大利麵的我煮了一個學期還是吃不膩，雖然依舊是朋友中廚藝最差的那一個，對於煮盤義大利麵餵飽自己，我已經收穫一些小小心得。
Probably will never become a master chef (wasn't trying to), but after cooking pasta every other day for the whole semester, I am now able to prepare myself a proper meal. Some dishes made in the residence kitchen:
看過《食神》嗎？這部1996年上映的傳奇港片是周星馳代表作之一，許多經典台詞大眾至今仍朗朗上口，一碗「黯然銷魂飯」更成為港式茶餐廳不可或缺的品項。
片中廚藝大賽的拍攝場地「珍寶海鮮舫」開業超過四十年，金碧輝煌的水上餐廳是香港知名地標，《龍爭虎鬥》、《哥吉拉》等片亦曾在此取景。
走過時代變遷與全球疫情，珍寶海鮮舫不堪連年虧損宣布結束營業，船隻近日在移往東南亞時不幸沉入海底，但相信美好盛況已經留存在無數饕客與影迷心中。
深灣岸邊的水上餐廳、維多利亞港照亮黑夜的燈光秀、赤柱海灘對街一整排小酒吧、夕陽中往返中環與尖沙咀的天星小輪，香港豐富多變的港灣景色令我難忘。
After a cold and windy week, it snowed the night before our Seattle trip. It was reading week, the break that everyone's supposed to study for midterm but go traveling instead.
Roommate E knocked on my door screaming "it's snowing!", while I was rushing to finish homework so I can start packing. We stood in front of my window, she urged me to go downstairs and take a walk with her.
It's -2°C out there, I can really catch a cold, but it's Vancouver, it rarely snows in winter. So I put on all my thickest clothes and joined her, we got out of the half empty residence and into the freezing air.
There was just a thin layer of snow on the ground, and we only managed to stay for less than 10 minutes. But on that night, UBC campus looks magical in the snow, and I built a snowman, for the very first time.
Perfect ending of my exchange journey, and also the beginning of everything.
My first time seeing this world-famous steam clock was on a Taiwanese travelling show, the host stood next to it introducing the background history, Gastown streets looking lovely with all the ancient brick buildings and warm toned lighting.
Years later, I found out that the city I'm visiting for exchange program, Vancouver, happened to be where the clock is located. So here I came, started an exciting life at the amazing UBC campus, met a bunch of wonderful new friends, and found out that Vancouver has so much more to offer than this steam clock.
First time living in a city that snows in winter, first time having my photo album packed by 30+ cherry blossom pictures taken daily, first time skiing & skating, first time doing bonfire and s'mores, first time getting so drunk on a birthday party, and first time so reluctant to leave a city.
I will surely remember every single person met on my exchange journey, it was you guys who made all the moments we shared so special. Whatever country you are returning to / heading for, may our paths cross again in the near future, best wishes and cheers!
Went to the final screening of Drive My Car last night, also my first time watching Japanese movies with English subtitles. The 2 hour 59 minute movie became an Oscar nominee for Best Picture today, highly recommend!
Offering nostalgic cinema experiences, the Rio Theatre is an independent cinema in Vancouver which is one great place for late night movie-goers.
丹麥室友帶來的行李有李錦記醬油和木頭筷子
法國室友是同學當中最守時有禮貌的那一個
我和台灣室友天天在宿舍煮便宜快速的義大利麵
Cultural difference is a never-ending lesson,
The more you learn, the more there is to explore!
