Orchid Island Series #3 蘭嶼

Orchid Island has a very unique culture due to its isolation. Two things that draws my attention quickly were: Wooden arbor and wooden fishing boat.

Around the island, you would find scattered, yet well maintained wooden arbors along the road. These arbors are nicknamed "Day Dream Arbor." The arbors are elevated from the ground and has ladder for you to climb up. Remember to take off your shoes first though, as a courtesy. Since the island is humid with occasional afternoon rainstorm, the arbor provides a shaded shelter for travelers who are caught in the rain. Besides, there aren't really many better things to do than looking into endless Pacific Ocean with sea breeze brushing off your face. Time does seems to stop occasionally here at Orchid Island.

Another unique culture artifact is the handcrafted fishing boat. These boats has pointed tips toward the sky at both ends. The boat usually comes in white/red, with various black symbols. The boat is very sacred to Yami people. Material is meticulously chosen and often represented a man/family's status. During flying fish season(March-June), you can actually see these beautiful boats at work, very different from the modern fishing boats we are accustomed to.

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To be continued
Orchid Island #1
Orchid Island #2

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蘭嶼因為地處偏遠，所以有許多傳統及建築會讓人耳目一新．這包括半地底式的房子，手造船，及在許多路邊都可看到的發呆亭（據說當地居民不喜歡這個綽號）．

發呆亭是很適合賞海的地方（蘭嶼海非常的藍，藍的發黑），而蘭嶼夏天炎熱，下午又容易下暴雨，這些涼亭也可以給遊客遮日躲雨．發呆亭的地板離地面約一公尺，遊客可以爬樓梯上去，不過要記得脫鞋子，尊重習俗．我去的幾個涼亭地板都很乾淨，要坐著躺著都可以．就這樣看著一望無際的太平洋，沒有都市車水馬龍的雜音，所謂的天涯海角，我想也不過如此．

蘭嶼另一個有名的技術是拼板舟．這些船利用島上不同的木材，搭配父子工藝技術的傳承，代表著達悟族人的地位．跟當今我們熟悉的現代漁船相比，蘭嶼的拼板舟非常漂亮：他的身體是紅白相間，搭配著傳統圖騰．每年三到六月的飛魚季，你還可以看到圍繞著這些拼板舟的下水儀式（很可惜我錯過了）．

下回繼續

蘭嶼 #1
蘭嶼 #2

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