苗栗狮潭乡 - 源笙竹炭厂 + 百寿村 + 古桥

Hey guys, let me introduce you all some nice places around my work place...=)


So let's start from the bamboo charcoal factory:

at 1st i thought it was a place that produces the cooking use charcoal, but i was wrong, actually  the functions of bamboo beyond what i thought previously, it can be the construction material, can absorbs the odour and humidity, and even the steam produced throughout the process can be the mosquito repellent...the inconspicuous bamboo can has so many functions， very cool right?...=)
By the way, actually there was a display room in this factory, too bad was burned last year, so very pity i can't see all the products produced there...=(

different types of bamboos

mosquito repellent

Then the another interesting place around my work place is the smallest village at Shihtan, with residents less than 100 people...Saisiyat indigenous people village (赛夏族, 百寿村).

The Saisiyat indigenous people was moved down to the current village (Bai Shou Village) by government for a more centralized control over the population there. They have a very unique traditional ceremony called "矮靈祭典" which carried out once in a 2 years on the October of lunar year. This ceremony is distinguish from other indigenous people ceremonies as the mood of this ceremony is a bit more gloomy and ghastly, dislike the others are in glee and happiness mood...

the following is the legend of the ceremony:

"在五百多年前，賽夏族人與一群身高不滿90公分的矮人們，隔著一條河比鄰而居，矮人力大聰明、善於巫術，常教導賽夏族人農耕。賽夏族人因此年年豐收，所以在每年豐收之時，都會準備酒菜回報矮人，兩族人和平共處。然而矮人男子性好女色，常使用巫術迷惑並侵犯賽夏族的女子，所以賽夏族人對矮人都感到十分厭惡，但又畏懼矮人的巫術而不敢報復。直到有一天，族裡的一位朱姓頭目，目睹自己的妹妹遭受凌辱，憤而展開對矮人的報復行動。於是，賽夏族人一方面邀請矮人一起飲酒作樂，一方面卻暗中派人將矮人回家路上的一座獨木橋砍損一半，結果除了兩位長老外，其餘矮人皆在回家途中落水身亡，幾乎滅族。

正當賽夏族人歡天喜地之際，殊不知大禍臨頭，那矮人的亡靈正悲淒的對賽夏族人發出詛咒。自此以後，賽夏族人連年歉收，生活疾苦。於是朱姓頭目趕緊去哀求兩位倖存的矮人長老，乞求原諒以消災降福。矮人長老經過幾番思量後，終於將祈求矮靈原諒的『矮靈祭』傳授給朱姓頭目，於是每當舉行矮靈祭時就由朱姓家族來擔任主祭以求豐收。"

source: http://dic.nict.gov.tw/~Taiwan_series/101/4-3.pdf

If you interested in this ceremony can check this video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To9yHj8F8P4

Lastly is the ancient bridge around Shihtan, the old folks said that the bridge was made by paper, are you think so?...=) Anyway, one thing for sure is we cannot deny that this bridge is very very old already, hehe..=p

Actually wherever you go, if you can slow down your step and use your heart to see the surrounding, you can notice lot of things that you left out previously, so just pay a little bit of attention, enjoy the beauty of the world that you neglect them before...=)