IS : Idea Sharing: 2013

2013年10月28日

Read Up More by Sending to Kindle

This is the era that you never worry about too less information, but get headache with too much information flooding to us that we have no time to absorb all of them. The practical way is to pick those really useful and read them later in our fragmented time.

Earlier, I thought using some iOS or Android APP like Read It Later, now called Pocket, or Evernote will be a good idea to save and read later. However, it seemed that collection progresses well, but reading progress was slow. The main reasons are:

Reading on an iOS or Android device hurts eyesight, and it is difficult to read for a long time on them.
There are too much seduction on an iOS or Android device , like Facebook, Twitter, Line....so, you know...

I find Kindle eBook, not Kindle Fire which is a kind of Android device, will be better than the iOS/Android solution. Reading on Kindle eBook for eyes is like reading general paper books and I rarely surfing on line by Kindle. The time I turn on WIFI is only for sync my Kindle from Amazon Cloud. Therefore, it is easy to concentrate on reading and not seduced by social medias.

How? Just download Chrome Send to Kindle , and install it on your Chrome. (Why only say Chrome, because Chrome performance is the best and I found the plugin for Firefox and Safari could not work correctly many times.) After doing "Settings" to let the plugin remember your account and password, we can start material gathering. When you find a web page valuable, just click on the "K" icon on the top. Either select "Send to Kindle" or "Preview & Send" , the web page will be successfully sent to Your Kindle Library on Amazon cloud. When you turn on Kindle's WIFI connection, Kindle will automatically catches those new contents from the cloud library. Amazon offers each account up to 5GB, very generous.

Then you may ask, this is just for HTML, what others?

Amazon offers every account an email that you can send files into your Kindle library and they will be sent to your Kindle when WIFI is on.

The email is arranged under Your Account

After saving your email setting, just attached the document you would like to send to Kindle and mail to your set Kindle E-mail address, then the attached file is delivered to your Kindle.

Advanced delivery tool for Kindle:

1. Send to Kindle on Desktop : Convert PDF to Mobi Kindle format and send to Kindle
Download: Mac Version Windows Version

Please refer to Mac step by step and WIndows step by step

2. Kindle Previewer : Covert EPUB, HTML, OPF in MOBI format

In fact, Kindle Previewer is majorly for people who would like to publish works on Kindle. However, here we just use it simplely for converting documents in EPUB, HTML, OPF format to MOBI. The converted files will be saved in the assigned directory for general download. Find them there and send them via the above Send to Kindle Desktop APP.

So now you can send documents to Kindle, and enjoy reading. I found I have finished many books and blogs by Sending to Kindle that I would not have done by other ways. I wish you enjoy the same.

2013年10月24日

日月潭

以前在美國認識的大陸朋友說要來台灣玩, 問我日月潭阿里山如何? 但因為我高中時去日月潭的印象, 沒什麼特別, 所以勸他在有限的時間內與其去日月潭玩, 不如到墾丁花蓮玩, 幫他安排的行程跳過了這有名的地方. 到前幾年外公生日, 家族聚餐安排在日月潭的雲品酒店, 才發現日月潭變好多. 從餐廳眺望日月潭的美景, 以及環湖步道, 都令我印象深刻. 決定要安排個日月潭旅遊.

不過前些日子看到一些相關日月潭水源污染的報導, 附近的居民已經無法使用日月潭的水, 改買礦泉水生活, 著實覺得政府應該限制旅遊人數和船舶次數, 嚴格審查排入日月潭的觀光飯店與小吃店的廢水, 以維持水源區的水質.

也許我們到日月潭旅遊, 儘量減少遊湖的時間和次數, 多爬山騎騎腳踏車, 監督自己住的飯店, 也算對自己去過的地方給與一些幫助.

剛好看到GOMAJI的米洛克湖景房看起來很不錯, 就買了下來. 也在網路上做了些功課, 用GoLater做了日月潭的旅行計畫:

以下就各個景點一一介紹:

向山行政暨遊客中心

這裡的建築設計是我看過遊客中心最棒的, 具有清水模的風格, 原來是日本團紀彥建築設計事務所的傑作. 我尤其喜歡走入透光廊道的感覺, 和水天一色的設計.

水與水草和浮水木, 也非常有意境

這裡有惠蓀林場經營的咖啡廳, 戶外的咖啡雅座就可以享受"水-水-天"連連的美景

玄奘寺

大多數人坐船到阿婆茶葉蛋所在的玄光寺碼頭, 往上走一會兒, 就以為到了玄奘大師舍利子所在的玄光寺, 其實真正的舍利子所在地是還要再往上走30~40分青龍步道才會到的玄奘寺. 走到玄奘寺, 您將會很慶幸還好您有走這一段. 上面的風光跟玄光寺比起來好太多了. 原本還想再上慈恩塔, 但因為之前地震損壞, 已不開放. 不然相信慈恩塔所看到的湖景更讚.

原本以為玄奘寺為政府供養, 因為看來玄奘大師的舍利子幾番曲折終於由日本迎來台灣, 應算是歷史古蹟. 不過據玄奘寺的僧尼告知他們還需要義賣募款才能維持下去. 我們到玄奘寺已經是中午, 就到寺裡唯一的小咖啡館坐坐. 這裡有簡單的泡麵和茶, 也賣日月潭名產與經書. 服務的師姐告訴我們這裡其實也有蠻多外國背包客來訪, 他們可以找到這裡, 真不簡單.

玄裝寺最讓我印象深刻的是日本石山水風格的白碎石地和兩排高聳的杉樹, 還有古意盎然的鐘樓以及龜座牌坊.

雖然中午仍有些熱, 如果您跟我一樣走完青龍步道上到玄奘寺, 可得直接走到可觀賞日月潭全景的涼亭, 坐上一個時辰, 享受天藍的雲水風光和涼風的吹撫.

當然最重要的玄奘大師舍利子是一定要去參拜的. 此在中庭的佛寺, 要脫鞋上去, 這裡莊嚴安靜, 牆上有一些相關佛學的一些字句, 如天龍八部等, 雖非甚解, 但也是難得有機會讓自己靜下來看一些平常沒怎麼接觸的學問. 寺裡還有玄奘大師略傳中英日文版, 有興趣者可以拿回家讀讀.

米洛克飯店與雲品酒店

我將這兩家一起介紹, 原因是我自己住米洛克, 從米洛克走到雲品的米洛克步道是日月潭中我最喜歡的環湖步道.

很有趣的是雖然這個步道叫米洛克, 卻是由雲品酒店養護的. 以下是米洛克清晨起來窗外的風景以及早餐前到步道邊走邊拍的日月潭.

米洛克的清晨

米洛克步道

雲品的價格是我當時支付米洛克的兩到三倍, 沒住這裡, 也要到這裡逛逛, 欣賞一下高級飯店的設計與好地點. 雲品大廳和餐廳都很開闊, 頂樓雲月舫的view應該很棒. 這飯店很用心的建設周遭的自然步道, 不只是我走來的米洛克步道, 飯店的後花園與大路旁,都特別鋪上木製欄杆和走道, 讓房客享受他們的景觀園藝.

日月潭自行車專用車道

攝影自交通部觀光局"享玩日月潭-山水與詩畫的相遇"

日月潭有許多飯店提供房客免費租借的自行車, 在水社遊客中心旁有許多鐵馬出租店. 2012年CNN TRAVEL將日月潭自行車道列入全球10大驚奇的自行車路線之一. 難得有前十大在台灣, 住在台灣就要好好享受一下這 Breathtaking (驚奇) !

日月潭的專用自行車道為

1. 向山段: 從水社遊客中心到向山遊客中心. 約3km長, 400m的水上自行車道, 是最有名的路段

途中經過水社壩, 日月潭出水口, 永結同心橋, 水濱婚紗廣場

圖來自http://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/smlbus/

向山段騎完如果還不過癮, 接著走月潭段會覺得更不虛此行, 不過要考慮體力和時間.

2. 月潭段：由向山遊客中心起往南延月潭南岸, 經頭社壩, 月牙灣, 到環潭一號隧道. 約3.4km,

也可更上行到玄光寺, 總約4km. 根據日月潭國家風景區管理處, 此段沿途生態、林像豐富而有變化，中途可南眺頭社盆地，北望青龍山脈，是鐵馬族逍遙自由行的絕佳選擇。

圖來自http://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/SceneryView.aspx?KeyID=5ef88c59-0b02-4f39-854f-a15fbe19f374

相關遊記: 到日月潭鐵馬漫遊

日月潭纜車

日月潭纜車也是日月潭的重頭戲, 可惜的我到日月潭剛好是星期三, 纜車保養日, 沒機會由纜車鳥瞰日月潭風景.

url http://www.ropeway.com.tw/big/tw_menu.php

地址 g:/南投縣魚池鄉日月村中正路102號

先看一下別人的遊記吧, 以後有機會再去

http://lohas.pixnet.net/blog/post/29024965-%5B日月潭%5D-日月潭纜車-@-七分鐘看遍日月潭美景

2013年6月11日

A Special Store Like the Library in the Harry Porter Movie - MIYAHARA 宮原眼科

The first time I saw Miyahara and stepped into was totally out of curiosity. Taichung is my hometown, but it had been a while that I had not walked around Taichung train station when the first time that my husband and I drove passed by MIYAHARA and were attracted by its special architecture. It appeared to be an old bricked building with some broken window hole on its second floor but covered by modern black glasses as the roof. Its brick arcade reminded me somewhere in Italy, and it was really enjoyable to sit there and eat delicious ice cream. MIYAHARA was in fact an ophthalmology hospital established in 1927 by Japanese doctor Miyahara(宮原武熊), it had ever been the largest hospital in Taichung when Japan had jurisdiction over Taiwan. After world war II, Taiwan was returned to China, and doctor Miyahara left Taiwan. The building then had ever been the mayor house and latter belong to Taichung public health bureau.

We stepped into, and I almost said WOW when seeing its interior.

It looked like a library with many floors of book shelfs, associating me with the library shown in the Harry Porter movie.

Guess what are they selling?

All of the commodities were packed like books, including many kinds of Taiwanese or Chinese cakes and candies. They are very suitable for tourists to bring home as souvenirs, or get good taste experience.

Here is the web site of the group operating this store : http://www.dawncake.com.tw

Just list several of what they are offering for your reference: pineapple cake(土鳳梨酥), sun cake(太陽餅), nougat (牛軋糖), chestnut candy(南棗核桃糕), almond cake (杏仁酥), pumpkin seed cake,(南瓜子酥), crunchy nuts (花生糖), tea and honey, etc.

Say, Dawncake in fact is also famous with their heavy cheese cake, if you love heavy kind, don't miss it !

Address: 台中市中區中山路20號

來台灣, 別錯過了墾丁 (2)

最近兩次到墾丁, 都一定要到龍磐公園居高臨下欣賞特殊崩崖地形的海岸線風光, 這裡的波濤洶湧, 遠遠就可欣賞一波接一波的白色裙帶和遼闊的藍藍大海(太平洋). 第一次到龍磐公園, 風呼呼不絕, 我的紅色髮箍就在這裡被風括走了. 第二次到這時, 颱風剛過, 雖然山崖下的海浪洶湧異常, 但我們所在的龍磐公園卻很平靜. 聽說如果天氣不錯, 龍磐公園晚上的星空非常的美麗, 希望以後有機會一睹風采. 來墾丁千萬不要錯過這個地點.

接下我們前往佳樂水...
去佳樂水的路上, 在人煙稀少(可能是weekday的關係)的道路旁出現幾個標榜衝浪的民宿或小店, 民宿和小店的對面有一小片椰子樹林, 樹林後透著海灘, 仔細看那裡有些許人正在衝浪. 最近查了一下, 才知道原來這裡叫T-Bay(茶灣), 位居巴士海峽與太平洋交界, 四季都可衝浪,是台灣有名的衝浪愛好者的聚集地. 這裡每年夏季會舉辦國際衝浪交流賽.

到了佳樂水(舊稱佳洛水), 發現跟以前不太一樣. 這裡不再給人散步進去, 必須付門票, 坐滿州鄉公所特製的柴油觀光車. 司機延著海岸線開, 邊開邊介紹海岸線的奇岩怪石. 我們去的那天海浪不小, 車開在岸邊的水泥小路, 還可感受到浪花的水氣. 這裡很類似野柳的地形, 有許多當地人依形狀命名, 如軍艦, 兔子, 烏龜, 鞋子... 您去的時候再看看到底像不像吧! 不過, 蠻想跟滿州鄉公所建議可不可以不要用這種柴油觀光車, 改以團隊漫步介紹, 頂多添加幾台沒有空氣和噪音污染的電動小車, 載不想走遠路的人觀賞風景.

過佳樂水往北走, 港仔大沙漠(九棚沙漠) 和旭海也很特別, 不過因為時間關係, 要橫跨恆春半島回到車臣, 只經過港仔沙漠, 遠觀吉普車瘋狂跑沙灘的景象. 雖曾有新聞報導有人玩港仔沙漠的吉普車沒綁安全帶摔出骨折的事, 但看起來玩的人都立在吉普車後座狂歡, 叫得很開心. 這裡呈現的沙漠樣貌真的很特殊. 此外墾丁還有兩個如果要去一定要先預約的生態保護區: 龍坑和南仁湖. 希望以後可以去看看. 當然, 喜歡泡溫泉的也可考慮到四重溪泡溫泉.

我想下次可能會安排在四重溪過一夜, 發現兩次繞墾丁一圈, 從恆春半島東岸要到西岸太趕了, 安排個一天在橫貫路上的四重溪休息, 比較有可能玩到旭海或需要先預約的生態保護區: 龍坑或南仁湖.

期待再去墾丁!

2013年5月12日

來台灣, 別錯過了墾丁 (1)

如果有朋友來台灣, 問我台灣哪裡一定要去, 我會毫不猶豫的說"墾丁"

這裡, 充滿異國風情的民宿餐廳與旅館, 以及讓眼睛為之一亮的海邊風光.

甚至還可會經歷海浪澎湃的驚悚刺激. 當然也不用說到墾丁一定會逛逛吃吃的墾丁大街.

有一次在網路上亂逛, 剛好看到很有墾丁托斯卡尼莊園的團購. 便下手購買, 找個時間和老公去玩玩. 這是我們第一次兩個人一起去墾丁. 雖然身在台灣, 我到墾丁的次數卻是屈指可數. 這次的前一次, 竟然是十幾年前跟兄弟姊妹爸媽全家出遊的那次. 墾丁變很多, 尤其多了許多充滿異國情調的旅館民宿與餐館. 這裡的海岸似乎不在我的記憶中, 來這充滿了驚喜.

到托斯卡尼莊園已經接近傍晚, 莊園在石牛溪農場旁, 很好找, 離墾丁大街不遠, 但又遠離墾丁大街的喧囂, 很寧靜. 我們在check in時, 櫃檯告訴我們將給我們最近新建的漫步酒莊房間, 比我們原本訂的托斯卡尼莊園更好. 隨著櫃檯的指示我們把車開入漫步酒莊前的停車場, 這裡的所有庭園佈置與建築都很有義大利酒莊的feel~