2016年12月25日 星期日

[Adventure in Cesky Krumlov] 24-25 Dec UNESCO medieval town beside the Vltava.

The Vltava 是捷克語的Moldau river. 原來Smetana的莫爾島河是英譯呀!路上跟司機聊天,小帥哥英文不是很好,希望我沒有誤解太多他的介紹。當我提到Smetana時他笑著說Smetana唸起來在捷克語裡跟whipped creamㄧ模一樣。

The Vltava 的發源有兩支,一支在捷克境內,南方的波希米亞森林Lada,那邊有水力發電,一支起源於德國境內,有另一個名字但我忘了。

他說他們的建築是文藝復興時期的樣子,共產黨來做了可怕的事情之後他們又重建了部分舊城區,但都是按照中古世紀的樣子重繪的,現在對外最大的道路橋樑上是唯一保存下來的城門,從這個門進來就是最熱鬧的市集區域,對外一共有四座橋,但有一條只能給人走。

城區內的房子都是政府在修繕,對於房屋外表有許多規定,他舉例其中一條是:屋頂只能漆成紅色。城裡的城堡是軍事堡壘,本來只有附近另一個城堡,但同一個家族後來又來到Cesky Krumlov蓋了這個城堡(該不會又是哈布斯堡家族)。

他說他喜歡冬天因為觀光客少一點,但其實還是多到炸,其實城鎮已經高度觀光化了,走沒幾步就青旅、旅館、餐廳、紀念品小店,老是遇到旅行團,真討厭。但也可能是聖誕節的關係,比較當地的小店都沒開(還是根本沒有這種店?)

他們這裡的裝飾很喜歡用畫的,城堡教堂外牆磚石用畫的,天花板或牆面的裝飾圖騰用畫的,招牌用畫的,路標手寫,而且顏色非常繽紛,很多古怪的人偶、巫婆、中古世紀的畫風。聖誕節當天逛到一個有趣的藝廊(?) 外牆都是古怪雕塑,但沒開覺得超可惜。

呃...我累了,就這樣突然的結束吧

2016年12月23日 星期五

[Adventure in Austria] Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt

The accommodation in Hallstatt is super expensive so we decided to stay in Salzburg and have a day trip there. We need to catch bus at 8.19. Our hostel locate at the left side of the river behind a hill. It take half an hour on foot to get to the centre station.

My accompany is either young or an early bird so I have to well prepared for today. I even get dressed before I went to bed last night so that I can sleep a quarter longer and I gave up to wear any make up as well lol
Transferring INSTRUCTION :
150 (terminal H) to final stop [ Bad Ischl ] 1 hour 40 minutes
543 (terminal C) to [ Gosaumühle ] 30 minutes
542 just beside where 543 stops to [ Hallstatt] ] 10 minutes
*Return ticket: 29 euros

The view on the way is amazing. The mountain and plain covered by snow and when the sun came out the mist raise up from horizon and float in the air. Sometimes it form a contrasting that maze upon small lake and the cloud upon the mountain.

After a long journey, we finally arrived. The temperature was low but the sun was shiny. At the place we got off (didn't even entering the town). On one side, sunshine golden the mountain and on the other side, the mountain hide in shadow which reflect by the lake becomes blue. I'm the most lucky person in the world to have such a nice whether while visiting in winter!!

I climb a bit to a place where I got a bird's eye view to the town. The pathway is so slipping...but recording still came across my mind. So I held microphone in one hand and grab the handle with another. My friend and I slipped a few time, I thinks it must sound nice hahahaha so natural!

After we back to Salzburg, we had a superb dinner. When we came out and crossed the street to take a picture of the restaurant. An old gentleman stopped and looked at me. I didn't realised until I finished so I turned to him. He didn't say anything but smile at me so I said Merry Christmas to him. He asked where I came from. I told him I'm from Taiwan. Then he asked if I can speak German. I said no...I can only speak English because I'm studying in England now. He seemed didn't understand me and split out a long sentence in German. I couldn't understand any of it! But he still trying very hard to chat with me in German...I almost say "hauptbahnhof" to him since this is the only word I know in German.

I struggled for a couple of minutes finally here came my friends while he is trying to teach me: "ich bin Austrian, sie ist_____" I ask my friend to speak German with him but she couldn't because she has learned it several years ago. At last, he spoke something in Italian and I knew it!!! So I answered him 
"buonanotte signore!"
"Gute Nacht" he siad.
"Auf Wiedersehen and Merry Christmas sir!"

He didn't seems like to say goodbye but it was freezing and late. I was wondering if it's in the day time perhaps we will have a German lesson together. Imagine it! That would be interesting! I already had much fun talking to somebody on street. Although both of us couldn't understand each other, I learned a sentence!

2016年12月21日 星期三

[布達佩斯大冒險] Sight Seeing day

攻頂Liberty status,看到好美的雪景,鳥瞰Buda side和Pest side各有風情,多瑙河還是在霧裡,但是拍不清有拍不清的浪漫,霧再大高處的城市環境音並不會受影響,我必須記錄這些聲音,就像別人記錄畫面一樣。

城堡區徒步導覽實在太冷,但看到好多繽紛可愛的房子啊!結束後飢寒交迫之下喝到超好喝的雞湯以及豬油麵包!我愛匈牙利!讓我意外的是湯不是濃湯,是清湯!然後湯裡面加了義大利麵哈哈哈有點酷,東歐的食物真的既有歐洲但又和亞洲很有異曲同工之妙!

晚上再度不顧一切跑去Szechenyi泡溫泉,過Gallert不入就是因為買了72 hr的車票就覺得狠狠給它搭下去就對了!今天遇到了一個住在伊斯坦堡的韓國大叔,不同於黎巴嫩哥,他似乎不是出來獵豔,只是想找個旅伴。閒聊時得知他之前從事寶石鑑定,後來做進出口貿易,感覺閒暇的時間很多,一個人出來旅行了20多天,但是聽起來是個空虛寂寥的自閉之旅,舒適多金的度假行程而不是蒐集旅途的未知、拼湊出人物城市的樣貌。言談間發現他的某些神情似曾相識,和我認識的一個朋友好像,好像世界上沒有什麼事情能讓他提得起勁開心,享受快樂的當下也還是放不下憂慮,他們需要透過別人的眼睛去找回一些事情,於是也容易誤解自己的情感。

回家的路上,經過聖誕市集大部份都關了,但是賣熱酒的桶子還在冒著煙,我點了一杯blue wine,讓步行回家路上的風不至於吹走泡完溫泉的溫暖。

晚上和另一位旅人深聊,也是來自台灣音樂圈,一個28歲的女生獨自旅行了八個月,曾向路人借宿、搭過便車到波蘭偏僻的小鎮、睡過地下街。自身的課題、社會的議題、人類學、歷史和景點,一路從11點聊到三點。

我發現,離開,都是為了更瞭解自己一點、更了解怎麼與大環境共處,旅途上的每個選擇決定都能一再打破原本那個我們以為的自己。她在等她自己想終止旅程的那一天,回家,開始改變,縱使大家都知道自己可能看不到改變,但是那是一個該去的地方。

2016年12月19日 星期一

[布達佩斯大冒險] Adventure in Budapest!

噢不是布達佩斯大飯店,我一個人在布達佩斯小青旅,因為夜間冷下的氣溫讓我這個熱帶俗完全無法招架,只好躲在床上整理照片,還很想去bar喝一杯mulled wine但又不敢自己去,只好點播一首突然好想你,順便寫寫遊記。

昨天很感謝Lilly和家人來機場接我,不只把我送到很難找的青旅,還開車幫我導覽了一下城市,雖然歷史和一堆匈牙利地名都記不起來,可是今天走路時就知道有模糊的印象還是有差!Million thanks to Lilly sweetie!

今天去了有名但離市中心比較遠的Széchenyi Thermal Bath,游泳泡水三小時,覺得感冒要好了💪,中途被黎巴嫩男搭訕嚇死我,後來趁他遇到他朋友藉機開溜,繼續享受一個人的無腦放鬆行程。然後我都沒有拍浴場內部氣魄的模樣!無限惋惜!室內超多種水質跟水溫、蒸汽、烤箱,戶外兩池不同溫度加一個標準泳道,但我真的真的真的不懂泡溫泉、游泳帶手機自拍棒這麼不怕麻煩要怎麼享受當下?帶報紙的我還比較能理解。

我住的Hostel 在Duna左岸,過個橋就是Gellert Thermal Bath,但可能市中心的緣故,聽說規模比較小票價還比較貴。Btw我大推這間青旅(有興趣的人可以問我),雖然座落在陰暗的巷子,建築又很老舊但內部很新、乾淨、廚房浴室設備齊全、wifi穩定夠快、工作人員超親切!一晚只要€11!不在最繁華熱鬧的區域,但走路去搭公車或地鐵也還行!況且我個人覺得走路是認識一個城市最好的方式啊❤️

傍晚去當代美術館,只能說我真心愛當代,目前有個近代120年的特展,我實在是不太能體會肖像畫、歷史畫、風景畫這些很寫實的畫的趣味。其中有一個房間吸引我多一點,是畫家很愛貝多芬,愛到作畫時都會聽,然後五幅畫作就是五個樂章的情境,而那一區就有音響播放田園交響曲。後面看到兩個小房間有當代作品,完全把我吸進去,原本一直在走動都停止了,就想一直待在那些顏色裡面。

走出Kunsthalle Műcsarnok回家時下雪了❄️❄️❄️已凍僵,本來想多逗留的Christmas market都無法,草率吃完熱狗就回家,我覺得聖誕市集是否太坑錢,以這裡的物價...一個熱狗2000Forints正常嗎?美術館學生票才1100欸!總之因為一路手指頭腳趾頭都在痛,沒一張照片能看的,明天一整天的戶外行程,希望去看城堡雕像的時候不要太冷...

2016年11月25日 星期五

伯明罕皇家芭蕾舞團 - 胡桃鉗 Birmingham Royal Ballet - The Nutcracker

就在昨晚,結束了一整週超密集錄音,所有錄音都還沒有時間editing,回家的路上又是一次飢寒交迫,但是經過Hippodrom時一個轉念,想到去年因為票價作罷的胡桃鉗,今年看準時間等著student stand by ticket,所以走過大門後又折回去,決定進去問一下,沒想到就給我拿到了一張£19.5 二樓正中間的票!位子超好啊啊啊啊啊!!!整個療癒了我這兩週忙翻了的生活。樂團沒有那麼好,但是舞台設計實在是是太讓人驚艷了!一大堆機關,根本變魔術!還有非常精美的道具、佈景、戲服,加上一大群人一起跳芭蕾,完全就是美翻!

舞台好深!佈景精美的不得了,上半場已經有許多神奇的機關,例如會跟著人動作亮燈的聖誕樹、被身首異處的胡桃鉗娃娃在地上可以因為魔術師的一個手勢就自動接回去!上半場比較多戲劇成分,不過中場休息前一幕,在胡桃鉗士兵打退老鼠王軍隊之後,一大群女舞者在雪花中翩翩起舞,超讓人滿足的。我旁邊的一位英國女生第一次來看芭蕾,整個超興奮,休息時間就一直跟我說太美了,她無法不偷偷拍照哈哈哈哈笑死

下半場更精彩,一開場,前景的黑色紗幕後面女主角乘坐一隻大鳥從舞臺右邊一路飛到左邊,在乾冰流瀉中降落,老鼠王在底下跳舞,真是美到我都要哭了,接著當薄紗圍幕拉起,所有的乾冰都一湧而下進入樂池(有點擔心管樂們無法呼吸...),但是那種氤氳滾滾而來的配合台上的芭蕾實在讓人屏息,接下來在魔法師的大領下,糖梅仙子之舞、阿拉伯之舞、中國之舞、蘆荻之舞、花之舞都好好看!群舞還有女主角跟衛兵的單人舞和雙人舞都超級精美的!!!特別喜歡阿拉伯之舞那種慢慢的步調,雖然我看起來怎麼有點泰國(?) 然後中國之舞好搞笑啊...就是兩個雜耍兄弟一直舉著雨傘+轉盤子手勢,說手勢是因為他們根本沒有真的轉盤子。

真的好幸運啊...我記得在台灣看這樣等級的表演,起碼都要2800、3600才能坐到中上的位子,沒想到我今天20鎊就看到了!這裡的學生真好哪...完全就是像中場休息時英國女生說的話,她說因為朋友的媽媽的另一個女兒不能來,問她要不要一起?她想說沒看過芭蕾就來了,我說You are a lucky girl! 她說 Lucky? no! I'm VERY lucky!

So am I.

2016年10月19日 星期三

[Adventure in Leeds] Masterclass with Dolby

" Sound has been unappreciated by people. Like the temperature, if it is too hot or too cold, it is! If it's comfortable, no one will say anything about it. "

Today I experienced the Atmos playback although it is not my first time to watch films either in a Atmos theatre or an approved studio, I was amazed again when I was watching clips demonstrated by Dolby. I've seen some of them in 7.1 cinema or in stereo at home but I'm touched again by what possibility aural could contribute to visual and how immersive it could be that I have tears in my eyes after a live clip of a rock band.

I'm surprised that I can follow up the lecture when a staff asked us if we enjoy it and can we understand what the lecturer was talking since even she can't. Many things have been clarified these days following my study here. And I couldn't help to think of that day I walked into my Boss' studio to tell him that I want to quit and go abroad to study. He barely looked into my eyes and said to me disappointedly " I really don't get what you young people are thinking...We have such great environment and equipment. You are in the industry, this is the reality. Why go all along and spend so much money to do what you can do here? "

It is the first and once the only Atmos Studio approved by Dolby in Taiwan but I didn't get much chance to learn things in a proper way. Everything came rush and vague, every tasks had given rules to followed without a clear explanation. Huge amounts of cases that everyone has to work overtime. I respect my boss since he knows a lot but he doesn't really has the time and the ability to pass them down. No training for new staff and no advanced education opportunity for existing staff.

I realised what I've learn from my ex-company, I also realised how much I didn't learn while the lecturer was explaining the differences assign between traditional channels and Atmos system, what does bed do what does object function, how to do panning, etc. And there was a moment when he ask how many people heard of M&E already. Only few of student know but I actually done some before. I understand although it might not be a joyful experience but I shall be grateful to everything I've been through. Without all the motivations, I won't be here.

OK! Quickly describe a bit the masterclass. We had the lecture and demonstration in a cinema! Watching the slide through a theatre projector and huge screen!!! Isn't it exciting? Dolby also provide lunch hahah~ And I'll give 50 points to Dolby for using traditional Chinese in their slide. I appreciated that as much as I appreciate good sound.

2016年8月10日 星期三

[柏林大冒險] 第三天:Mauerpark和 Frollein Langner表演

柏林是一個讓人很感動的城市,而且對英文超友善!我本來超級擔心我只會Danke,沒想到他們都很習慣英文溝通,而且比起其他國家的首都,他實在是太寬敞舒適啦!發現養寵物的比例非常高,但是街道上都滿乾淨的,這裏的乾淨不是指日本那種整潔秩序,而是街道上很自然的一點點的髒亂、偶爾的尿騷味和時不時的大麻味,而城市的綠化程度也幫這個「乾淨印象」加了不少分。行道樹非常多、大大小小的公園綠地,讓空氣呼吸起來很順暢,尤其在倫敦待了兩天以後,這裏根本是天堂!不得不說我已經習慣伯明罕的鄉村感了...每次一出London Euston的閘門,人群恐懼症就會發作...而且每次鼻屎都會變多變黑,覺得超討厭。

星期天的Mourpark是一個神奇的地方,一些藝術家是有備而來; 一些則是像來這裡曬曬太陽順便練習一下,他們旁若無人地進行著自己的藝術活動,但是總能吸引到或多或少的人圍觀,舞蹈、樂器、靜態藝術創作都好,都是那麼自在地發生。旁邊還有一堆手作市集可惜因為時間的關係,沒有機會逛到...

晚上在Frollein Langner的表演很成功,沒想到原住民電音大受好評,我覺得我的口譯工作也還算OK,雖然自己知道沒有昨天在野餐派對表現得好,因為逛了一個天,到晚上狀態整個ㄎㄧㄤ掉,臨場反應慢了很多還忘記了一些簡單的單字覺得羞愧(完全佩服Suming跟小龍老師的體力啊...),所以每次翻完一段坐下,就馬上後悔...一些檢討的想法也隨之浮現,像是一些可以事先準備專有名詞和如何解釋敏感的議題。同時也因為整趟旅程從一直跟著Suming更了解他的創作跟想法,在介紹中文歌時會很想多闡述一點背景讓非中文聽眾能更理解歌曲裡的情感和意涵。本來以為是很可怕艱鉅的任務,在這幾場的體驗下來,或許是被Suming的表演情緒和想要發揚文化的精神感染,反而成為一件很有趣而且想把它做得更好的事情。

真的很感激有這個機會隨行Suming和小龍老師這趟為期兩週的旅程,讓我有機會嘗試從來沒有接觸過的領域:從找場地、寫Rundown、安排各種細節偶像開心以及確保活動順暢、從以及隨行及表演口譯。另外也很感謝因為這個活動而串聯起來的朋友,無論是伯明罕場義氣相挺一起辦起這場表演的老朋友新朋友,還是倫敦、柏林新認識的可愛人們,大家都很有想法,並在自己的領域展現才華,共同圓滿了這次巡迴!希望未來還有機會共事,自己的文化自己推!



[Adventure in Berlin] Day 3: Mauerpark & Frollein Langner live


I'm deeply touch by this English-friendly city. Berlin is totally uncrowded compares to other capitals. Many people keep pet but the street is clean. Well... It's not really that kind of clean and tidy like Japan but it's quite natural and I supposed the impression result from its green feature. So many tress and parks in the city. The streets are a little messy and a little smells but not too much, the air still fresh enough with odor of marijuana from time to time. After staying in London 2 days, Berlin is like heaven!
Sunday's Mauerpark is a magical site. Many artists are well-prepared and some artists just enjoy being themselves doing art activities there like they are practicing dancing or playing instruments at home. There are also many handcrafts and creativity products. Such a shame I had no chance to take a look at those vendors due to the short visit.
People here are so open minded and audiences are full of passion to music and arts. They give their support not only by interacting with the performer but actually buying your album. I'm always a CD buyer but nowadays fewer and fewer people are buying CD. I thought live house goers are more likely to do so but we still didn't earn many support in UK like we did in Berlin.
Interpretation at Frollein Langner went okay I supposed. Although I know myself did better at the picnic party yesterday, and there are still many terms I shall get to know, many idea appeared after each paragraph about how to improve the way I explain issue which is controversial or how to add a little introduction to the Chinese songs for Non-Chinese speakers.
I'm really grateful that I have this opportunity to accompany Suming and Lung during this two-week journey. I did many attempts to things I have never involved in before, such a hosting a live performance and being an accompanying and event interpreter. I am thankful for meeting such lovely people during the trip. It is an amazing experience that so many talented people in different specialties to complete a tour!! Do hope we have another shot to do something together in the near future...

2016年7月12日 星期二

[伯明罕大冒險] 伸展台音樂 Catwalk Music

[伯明罕大冒險]挑戰伸展台音樂 Catwalk Music

兩首為BCU學生設計師製作的音樂終於全部完工,明天在Parkside building晚上六點,特別感謝Vicky和Ranen兩位設計師讓我有這次合作的經驗。
Food Fantasy是受到Vicky的啓發,她想要設計出更實穿但風格的衣服,運用速食幽了快時尚一默。我初次聽到她的創作理念時,就被激發出許多想法,每一次的往返討論也非常明確與效率,是個有想法的設計師。Root則是為Ranen寫的作品,她身為一個造型師,但是卻製作出了這麼美的一個系列,從染布,皮革切割,到裁縫完成這個系列,真的是非常有才華。她運用了東方的染布技法,以及大輪廓的剪裁讓我想起Yohji Yamamoto,也因此我決定嘗試從來沒有寫過的東方風格。
感謝這次愉快地合作經驗,希望明天她們的秀順利!
食物狂想曲 (Vicky的女裝系列 - 多巴胺)
https://soundcloud.com/yenju-chen-597645482/food-fantasy
根 (Ranen的無性別系列 - 根)
https://soundcloud.com/yenju-chen-597645482/root-1


[Adventure in Birmingham] Music for Fashion Show

Two pieces produced for fashion students are all done and the show begins at 18:00 tomorrow at Parkside building.
Many thanks to two designer Vicky Wei, and Ranen Liao.
Vicky inspired me with the ethic spirit and humour she possessed against fast fashion. And Ranen who is a stylist but created such a gorgeous collection (from fabric to clothing!) with a deep connection to eastern element - our root. The techniques she used remind me of Yohji Yamamoto and which was a calling for me to compose music with eastern element and electronics.
Cheers to such pleasant collaborations and all the best on tomorrow's show!
Food Fantasy (Vicky's women collection - Dopamine)
https://soundcloud.com/yenju-chen-597645482/food-fantasy
Root (Ranen's unisex collection - Root)
https://soundcloud.com/yenju-chen-597645482/root-1

2016年7月6日 星期三

[愛爾蘭大冒險] 高威

[愛爾蘭大冒險] 沼澤分解不完全的泥土,是高威人的乾柴,燃燒出的爐煙是愛爾蘭移民的鄉愁。

愛爾蘭第二天,我們跟團來到了高威,Connemara國家公園,導遊叔叔超強,可以一邊滔滔不絕介紹愛爾蘭,講古到唱一首愛爾蘭民謠還可以一邊在蜿蜒的鄉間小路上飆車,是那種會車都要停下來讓一讓的小路,根本雲霄飛車不可思議,而且這裡的速限是100,seriously?所以導遊叔叔給了我們一個小暗號,如果有人暈車想吐,就悄悄地走到駕駛座告訴他「火山」

導遊叔叔叫麥可,他有著渾厚低沈的音色以及龐大的共鳴腔,所以唱起歌來超好聽,我有忍不住偷錄了一段。但是他說話的方式不禁讓我感覺他是不是做這份工作做得疲乏了呢?他說話的速度超快而且音量不大,好像嘴巴多張大一點都會消耗他太多能量。我想他可能每天都要對新的一群遊客講同一段歷史、同一段他父母老婆和兩個女兒的故事、甚至是同一個笑話,應該是覺得很煩吧,不過話說回來他還是是個很好的導遊,會很有耐心地禮讓羊群,並且嚴肅地訴說一個笑話逗得前面美國來的太太們哈哈大笑。

他說愛爾蘭是一個混血種族,因為維京人在九世紀的時候來過這裡,後來十一世紀時諾曼人又來,到了十六世紀時英國正式入主愛爾蘭,佔領了東邊比較肥沃的土地,於是許多愛爾蘭人就往西跑,但是看看窗外,這片貧瘠的土地,不是岩石就是沼澤,難怪愛爾蘭出名的燉菜裡都是一些根莖類的蔬菜,像是馬鈴薯、紅蘿蔔(可是還是很好吃欸!)。更不要說陰沈的天氣了,愛爾蘭人說他們冬天跟夏天的差別就在夏天下的雨比較溫暖。於是就在下著大雨中,我們來到一間旅館附設的咖啡廳休息,氣溫本來就不高,大概15度,加上下雨我實在覺得有點冷,一心想喝一杯熱巧克力配一顆司康。一衝進咖啡店煙霧瀰漫中一股奇怪的味道,我還以為失火了!結果發現窗戶邊有一個壁爐(照片2),大量的煙從裡面飄出來,我連拍照都藉著窗邊撒進來的陽光捕捉到了白濛濛的一片(照片1),於是點了一個司康趕緊坐到火爐邊取暖。

吃完超好吃的奶油配司康(?)沒錯...因為奶油太香醇,我一個司康就塗了兩盒奶油...。回到車上導遊繼續講述英國人來了以後禁止愛爾蘭語,不過因為英國人不願意來開墾西邊,使得Connemara是其中一個保留到愛爾蘭語的區域,現在愛爾蘭的學校都會教授傳統語,並且路牌上方的斜體字也是愛爾蘭語,下方才是英文。

我們在一個超大的沼澤旁停車 (照片4,5),麥可帶著我們離開公路,走進草原,並且不忘叮嚀我們最好跟緊他,踩他踩過的路,因為沼澤區有許多鬆軟的地面,看起來可能跟一般的地面一樣,但一踏空可能就會掉進水裡。這裏的腳感非常有趣,好像海綿又像彈簧床,地面有些濕滑,在上面跳可以感覺到底下有許多中空的縫隙,或許是造物者遺留的一隻超大氣墊鞋。麥可撿起地上一塊黑黑的東西叫我們傳遞下去(照片3),有點濕濕的,我還以為是什麼動物的大便,但仔細一看裡面的紋理很整齊,像是樹枝、草、土壤被壓得扁扁,一層一層,於是忍不住用鼻子嗅了嗅,竟然沒味道欸!

原來,這是沼澤區分解不完全的泥土,高威人拿它們當柴薪,先前休息的咖啡店裡的壁爐燒得就是這東西,而那特殊的氣味也源自於它!麥可說,他的父母移民去澳洲住了,但是每次他們回來高威,都會偷渡一點出去,雖然是不合法的,因為這裡是國家公園,只要帶離這個區域都是違法,但是對愛爾蘭移民來說,只要一點點混在柴火裡,飄散出的爐煙就能療癒對祖國的鄉愁。

麥可繼續一邊超蜿蜒小路一邊大聲地說:這裏的羊有路權,說時遲那時快,明明一望無車的公路上忽然緊急煞車,原來現在是笑笑羊的尖峰時間,一群可愛的羊屁屁在我們車子前面晃來晃去,根本融化我的心。不過這邊的笑笑羊們明顯和我之前看過的笑笑羊不太一樣,牠們有很明顯的大角,而且是在岩石和山坡上奔跑跳躍的專家,身上粗糙的羊毛看起來不蓬鬆,反而有點像雷鬼頭,是為了抵禦寒風和大雨,所以這裏的羊毛多半是拿來做地毯或是其他家飾織品。

麥可提議前方有一段下坡,景色非常好,不如我們下車走一段,他開到山腳下等我們,於是我們一行人浩浩蕩蕩下車,右邊山坡左邊峽谷前方不遠處有一個港灣(圖7),在這麼視野遼闊的地方散步根本享受!而且路邊超多笑笑羊,所以我一下車就決定要當最後一個,想要錄一些環境音,就在吵鬧的人們遠離後山坡上有兩隻笑笑羊忽然開始合叫,一隻叫得超高亢一隻叫得比較溫馴,我伸長了手用麥克風對著其中一隻,努力想要跟牠有點眼神交流,沒想到幾分鐘後,牠忽然朝我奔來,跳下山坡,一蹬一蹬跑過馬路,跳過路邊的石堆,進入山谷的草原,我!的!天!啊!是羊叫 跟 羊蹄 欸!!!由於錄音耽擱了一點時間,我趕快拿著手機衝去跟大家會合,當我興奮不已地坐上車後才發現我的程式整個凍結在錄音畫面,完全不、能、動...,最後我只好強制關閉錄音程式,南柯一夢...

我想我會永遠記得這片美麗哀愁的風景。



[ Adventure in Ireland ] There's no fire like fire besides.

Second day from Dublin to Galway Connemara National Park. The tour guide is a knowledgeable chatty folk who has a sleepy voice. He kept talking during the whole journey meanwhile is able to drive a little coach on a bumpy road which has a speed limit at 100 km/hr (That's the speed limit on highways in Taiwan!!). He has a nice bass sound but speaks fast in a low voice like it will waste too much of his energy if he opened his mouth bigger. The way he talk made me wonder maybe he is so sick of this job due to he probably has to repeats the same history of the land, tells the same story of his wife and parents even maybe the same joke to every tourists every day. Anyway he is still a great guide and gentle driver who tells joke with a pokerface and slows down without rushing sheep that lingering at the middle of the road.
He talked about Viking, Norman and how King of England came and took away the eastern part of the country where is more fertile so many Irish were forced to went west. We looked out the window, the land is so poor here, lots of rocks and bog. Not to mention the gloomy wether...like Irish says that the only different between summer and winter in Ireland is that the rain in summer is warmer.We stopped by a coffee shop beside an Inn for rest. It was raining which made the wether chilly and I was so desperate for a cup of hot chocolate and a scone but when I entered the store I thought something was on fire since an unfamiliar odor in the air and smoke everywhere...Then I noticed there was a fireplace on the left-hand side (See picture 1,2). The white area on first photo is smoke result from sun light from the window beside.
After a scone with butter we back to coach. Tour guide continued with Irish language was forbidden when the king of England in charged this land. Fortunately, English was not willing to develop the poor land so Irish language was able to preserved there. Connemara is one of the district that Irish language was most spoken. Connemara is a large area in Galway county and it used to be divided into North Connemara and South Connemara.The mountains of the Twelve Bens and the Owenglin River, which flows into the sea at An Clochán/Clifden, marked the boundary between the two parts.
We parked beside some bogs(See picture 4,5) and warned us better stick to him or we might fell into the bog. Because it's hard to differentiate ground and land which are dissolving in this area. The bog district is like a huge sponge but felt like a bit similar to a spring bed. When stepping on the ground, I felt it's hollow underneath. The tour guide picked up a debris and passed down. I thought it's some kind of animal excretion at first but I smell nothing so I looked at it carefully and it seemed like a mixture of twigs and grasses and dirts. Although it's a bit wet but the structure is quite tight and hard. Our guide finally reviled the secret (See picture 3).
Remember the coffee shop we stopped by? The fireplace inside uses this as firewoods. Some of you might notice it smells different from regular firewood, because they are dirt which didn't dissolve completely and only appears in the bog area. He talked about his parents immigrated to Australia for living but every time they came back to Galway, they will secretly carry some of them out to Australia which is totally illegal. But only a dust burning with normal firewood the scents heals their homesick. Like an old Irish saying: "There's no fire like fire beside" which means there's no where like home.
The sheep have the right here! They happily living in this area and so unafraid of human! Their wool is rough due to the cold and rainy wether so mostly the wool are used to make carpet and furnishing textile. They are expertise hiking on the rocks and hills and the biggest tragedy of my trip occurred here...
Our guide dropped us on a hill slope so that we can spend sometime walking and enjoy the beauty of this national park. I intended to fall behind since I want to record ambience, and suddenly two of the sheep on the rock started to bleat. I tried to move forward and looked into one of the sheep's eyes. The after a while the sheep turn to me and ran down the slope!! The sheep cross the road in front of my face and left the road to valley on my left-hand side (See picture 7). I was so excited about all the sound I recorded. sheep bleat and steps!!! I stopped the application and ran to catch everyone because I was so much behind, and when I finally got in the coach I found the app was stuck. It didn't crush but freeze at the recording window....
I'm still upset now...such a beautiful location with a miserable story of my own...haha. At least I will remember a warm story of the Galway's special firewood as compensation.

2016年7月1日 星期五

[愛爾蘭大冒險] 國家榮耀之於旅人,交流對話之於旅途。

結束高威的旅程回到都柏林,太陽還沒下山,但整個城市的廚房都收工了,我們好不容易找到一間很情調的哈瓦那小酒館廚房還沒熄火,進去享用了一頓非常下酒的拼盤,走出店才看到它不知道是得了什麼的2016 Trip Advisor第一名!不過這不是本篇重點,改天再談。

晚間近12點終於走到青旅,一進門有股悶悶的味道,一位年輕男子身邊立著兩個大皮箱坐在床沿,他很友善地和我們打招呼,我們掃視了一下床位,剩下的五張床有兩張是亂的,而我們的其中一個床位已經有人睡了,他說另外兩床也都各有一個男子,但是他們還沒回來。我心想乾脆請櫃台幫我們換房間好了,因為這位男子看起來才剛到行李都還沒開,然後另外兩位男子這個時間還沒回來,顯然是去酒吧,按照第一天的經驗,我很擔心今晚又不用睡了...但富敏比較樂觀,覺得既然行李箱男子很友善那我們就不要換房間,於是我們下樓詢問櫃台,她沒有幫我們換房間,只是修正了系統錯誤,讓我們並排睡在兩個上鋪的空床位。

我們再度走進房間時,行李箱男子還是坐在床邊沒有打開行李箱,我很大聲地跟他說 “ Hi we are back!” 沒想到包包都還沒放下就開啟了話題。原來行李箱男子不是剛到,而是準備去坐飛機,他問我們在都柏林要待幾天,還去了哪些地方,我回答去了Galway,他整個非常激動地說他本來也要去Galway,但卻聽信了朋友的話去了Cork,結果發現Cork也就是個城市,和Dublin沒有差很多,他眼睛閃閃發亮的問我Galway如何?我想我也是眉飛色舞的告訴他地景有多壯觀、多麽值得一去,他越聽越惋惜,整個語調和神情都讓我差點要為自己去了Galway而道歉了。富敏好心地告訴他Maybe next time you can go to Galway,他說Yeh...yeh if there's next time...然後他開始笑著解釋他本來其實住在旅館,但是他的錢花完了,只好搬到青旅,還說他三天前才把工作辭掉,或許之後有機會到曼徹斯特工作。

原來他是一位來自厄瓜多的咖啡師,他來都柏林參加一年一度的咖啡大賽,當他得知我們是台灣人時,激動地說妳知道嗎,Barista冠軍是台灣人!妳們知道他嗎???很顯然我和富敏都不清楚咖啡界的盛事,還問他是今年嗎?他說對啊!就在幾個小時以前才發生的,然後給我看Berg Wu在會場拿著我們的國旗的照片,這下換成我很興奮地歡呼說:「他拿著我們的國旗耶,中國可能會生氣!」他整個爆笑,然後說中國也有參賽,他們真的很不高興!他興奮地一直問富敏和我知不知道Berg Wu,很可惜我們都不知道,而且我們還是透過這位熱情的厄瓜多男子,才得知這個第一手消息。他解釋了比賽怎麼進行的告訴我們這是一個多麼困難的競賽,要記住所有複雜的配方、精準執行每一個程序,有很多評審給分,冠軍是所有項目積分最高的人獲得。他邊說並且滿臉崇拜地指著手機上的新聞說Berg Wu現在是他的典範,他的神情是那麼真誠,講得我都不好意思了哈哈哈哈!不過我想我和富敏內心都是相當澎湃而光榮的!

我們又繼續聊了很多,大概就是一些厄瓜多和台灣的地理位置與地形氣侯,談話到一半,一位胖叔叔開門進來,他一進來就直直往床鋪走去,也沒有多看我們,厄瓜多男子熱情地和他打招呼,問他今天過得好不好,胖叔叔說很好,然後快速地說自己來自冰島,這個旅行是要慶祝冰島踢贏英國的!厄瓜多男子說我們是從英國來玩的,富敏趕快說但是我們是台灣人哈哈哈哈。冰島叔叔感覺很害羞內向,講話時眼光不太和我們接觸,有時是看著自己前方的地上,厄瓜多男子聽到足球忽然有點興奮地追問冰島叔叔一直都喜歡看足球嗎?冰島叔叔說其實還好,因為冰島隊從來沒有進過16強,所以他和朋友們以前其實都是英國隊、曼徹斯特的球迷,結果今年突然冰島贏了英國,他露出一臉自己都不可置信的表情,好像他睡了一覺醒來就從冰島瞬間移動到愛爾蘭一樣。

冰島叔叔表情靦腆,但句子越說越快,像小學生急忙要像同伴展現他蒐集到的新棒球卡一樣。他說冰島隊球員只有幾個是從別的城鎮來的,其他大部份都是從小一起踢球,從X年(他講了一個年份但我忘己了)、到X年(又一個年份)到X年,他們一起練習一起長大,終於今年贏了,他們完全就是一個團隊,不是像一些很厲害的球星,為了自己踢球,我們的球隊真的是因為他們一起長大,為了國家而踢球。厄瓜多男子又是一臉溫馨的表情,讚嘆說 “ Ahhh so niceeee " 接著討論到人口,厄瓜多男子問冰島人口多少,是不是大家都認識彼此,冰島叔叔說30萬人左右吧,還不到大家都認識彼此,但是如果你問一個人,可能就是他朋友的朋友這樣,所以像這次比賽,他的朋友在電視上看到某個球員就會說: " Oh him! We call him family! "

我真的是被人口數打敗,為了要說台灣有兩千三百萬人,我還用計算機按出來,拿給厄瓜多男子看,他說沒錯,是23 million。後來又亂聊了一陣子,厄瓜都男子還告訴我們有機會應該去厄瓜多的Galapagos島嶼,看看那邊繁多的動物。後來厄瓜多男子他說三點去機場前要小睡一下,結束了這場對話,厄瓜多男子和衣躺上床後,冰島叔叔整個超自在,突然就開始脫衣服脫褲子,我和富敏都還站在旁邊,而且燈都亮著,他就自顧自爬進被子裡...

旅行遇到這樣的交流就像額外的充電,短暫的對話裡讚嘆了好多好多新事物,尤其大家來自不同的地方的時候...。我從內心深深佩服厄瓜多男子聊天的本事,冰島叔叔一走進來我其實就感受到他本來沒有想要跟參與我們三個人,但是厄瓜多男子能夠引得他說這麼多話,我覺得我根本就無法 :( 可是又很嚮往這樣的旅行方式...可能要再鍛煉一下心智...期待下一次旅行!


2016年6月25日 星期六

[伯明罕大冒險] 主修老師 暖男B

教授B是另一個我非常喜歡的男神級教授,雖然他上課肚子常常一直叫好像永遠都在挨餓,而且每次見到他都睡眼惺忪,但是無論課再多、上課途中遇到多少人攔住他要和他討論系務、一再delay他的行程,他方圓半公尺內總是籠罩著一股從容的氛圍。他的耐心不會因為繁重的工作而耗損,即使我的曲子像坨屎他還是會很耐心的示範實驗各種可能或是不厭其煩講解一些我應該要知道的理論與原理。即使一邊肚子叫一邊耐心地上著已經超過時數很久的課,對他來說好像沒有什麼事情大不了。
嘗試各種可能的過程會把我的檔案弄得亂七八糟,不過回家重新思考挑選之後曲子都會精緻很多,明明自己在家弄到覺得已經快要完成的曲子到他耳朵一聽又有一堆可以改進,都是些那麼細微的變化:幾微秒的拍點移動、幾db的dynamic、不同種類的reverb或是將空間pan到不同方向、一點點的EQ、一個素材 來來回回玩得介於聽得出來和聽不出來原本的物件是什麼。
有些嘗試可能不適合這首曲子的實驗,有些卻莫名地為曲子增色不少,可能是完整了頻率、創造更多元的聲音與趣味,就像他說的這都是個人喜好,不代表妳一定要這樣改,重點是有這麼多種概念妳能嘗試。每一次下課我都覺得自己是一個全新的人,被按過重新整理鍵那種,同時又壓力很大,因為以為做完的作品又多出了雜毛要處理,而這些微小的改變,在新版本與舊版本中或許根本聽不太出來哪邊不一樣,但修改過後整體來說就是比較好聽。


[Adventure in Birmingham] Exquisite result always comes from subtle changes.

B is another tutor I admire a lot. His stomach rumbles a lot during session like he is always in starving and he seems doesn't make efforts to open his sleepy eyes, but he always seems so chilled like nothing in the world would bother him even his schedule is full of lesson and lots of delay due to bumping into someone who wants to have discussion on department issues with him.
Being important and busy doesn't drain his patient while listening to a very early stage of my work which sometimes might sounds like a shit or to explain some theories, terms or whatever the knowledge that I don't know. The best part of the one-to one lesson is that he will do some practical experiment on my piece. He hits the point by listen to the piece once or twice and make suggestions immediately no matter on musical aspect or the angle of acousmatic and mixing balance.
Every time I bring a piece which I considered almost finished, he makes a bunch of suggestion. I'm amp and feeling refreshed as well as stressful by knowing there are lot of improvements could be made in my work. After save as a new file, he starts to mess up the session. All of the possibilities make sense not just crazy idea flash out. Sometimes change goes too far sometimes it just works too well. I amazed by the messed up session and can remain the decision later on after play a bit more. In his words "It's just a matter of preference, it doesn't mean you have to do it but I think you got the idea." Movement between few milliseconds, few db of dynamic altering, different kind of reverb or panning on reverb, etc. Hundred of ways to play with a single sample whether to enrich the frequency or create a sense of vague boundary between sounds. All these subtle things lead to a more exquisite result. It might not easy to tell the different between but it sounds better somehow.

2016年6月17日 星期五

[Adventure in Birmingham] YAKINORI

Yesterday wasn't my day...I had my period with a night shift and it fxxking hurt. So I took a pill then went out. After 7 it began to rain madly and I can't believe this new grand centre building start to leak. The restaurant nearby even had flooding inside and something dropped down from ceiling. Fortunately they've been closed for a while.

The even bad news was I had the shift with Manager H who is an interesting person that can be pissed off by anything easily. There are countless things I would like to share about this person but I rather leave it until next time since there are so many interesting personalities in this little restaurant that I think I can write a column on human observation.

I learned a new technology by pissed her off again yesterday. That was when a lady with a Birmingham brogue came for a take away order. After finished her box I asked if she would like anything else, and she said no. So I began to concentrate on cashier. Suddenly she asked me do you have apple pie? I was like what? apple pie in Japanese restaurant??So I asked her "Apple pie?" She said again: "Yes Apple Pie." Until now H lost her temper and rubbed away the credit card machine from my hand saying said "Yes" to her and took over everything.

When the lady handed out her mobile I finally understand she was saying "Apple pay" well... I'm so embarrassed that I don't know people can pay by iPhone simply by contact now!

H didn't say a word after. And that's the most interesting part of this person. She had limited patience and always looks like she is too tired to teach. When she needs help to do something but it's a new thing or she only taught me half way through the whole process. She becomes mad and tells me don't attempt to do anything if you don't know how. Sometime it's like a disaster to her and she prefer to redo everything again only because different methods but same outcome or I'm slower than her.

So every time when I look at H busy rushing everywhere, poker face to customer or yelling at me I couldn't help but smile because she is so funny a person who caused lots of panic and pressure on others and herself.

The most difficult part working here is that non of us are English native so everyone has different accents and some are really hard to recognised. H herself always speaks quiet and fast and I usually couldn't understand her the first time. I guess that's one the reason I piss her off so often 😂😂😂

2016年5月31日 星期二

[伯明罕大冒險] 主修老師D的啟發:關於熱愛生命

我很喜歡我的主修老師D,不只是因為他的音樂專業,還有因為他活了那麼久還是對世界充滿好奇,我們上課常常超過時數,因為總是有新鮮的主題可以討論,他很高興找到另一個瀕臨滅絕的物種,我說因為這個世界每天都有太多驚奇而我所知道的是這麼少。而老師明明就知道很多,卻還是能保有對世界的熱情。

我告訴他我曾經想當野生動物保育員、作家、地理或地球科學學者、插畫家、音樂治療師,他說曾經想當獸醫、喜劇編劇、牧師、哲學講師、彩繪玻璃維修技師。在他的作曲以及音樂製作還沒有出路前,他過著非常貧困的生活,當過馬飼育員、壽司師傅、街頭賣藝的鼓手、最後沒有被買的劇本編劇、作家...。

「做什麼工作並不重要,重要的是找到一件事讓我們能完全奉獻並且展現出我們對生命的熱愛。」

這幾天,隨著我的腳跟疼痛及肚子餓到極致,回家後身體虛脫頭腦卻還能繼續製作下一首作品,我想或許人生有時能透過不喜歡、不合理的工作讓我們面對喜歡的工作有更高的強度,而遇到喜歡的工作中不喜歡的部分也更能甘之如飴。

內場的摩洛哥廚師會說四種語言:英語、西班牙語、法語、阿拉伯語以及一點義大利語,他看著我眼睛散發出崇拜的光芒說:「但是我就只是在一個廚房裡工作」我很想跟他說D告訴我的那段話,但是我還想不透D到底是什麼意思,所以我只好跟摩洛哥廚師說,你很有才華,我真希望我也能說那麼多種語言,一個人的價值不能用他做什麼工作來衡量。

我還想不透,但是至少我知道如果兩年前我打過這份工,那在面對前公司那樣的薪水以及工時應該也能坦然接受了吧,畢竟許多時候在聲剪或製作音效中時間過得特別快,對我來說那是有意義有成就感的事情,我忍受不健全的制度及低薪。在這小小一間店裡,英國人、西班牙人、立陶宛人、羅馬尼亞、香港人、印尼人都為了錢忍受超長工時,馬來西亞壽司師傅說給我錢,其他什麼都不要,工作就是為了錢,不然還有什麼?

我沒有說話,看著摩洛哥廚師無奈地洗著雞肉,手上一碗油膩膩的炒麵,廚師對這盆員工炒麵應該沒有什麼熱情。對生命熱愛的表現是什麼?我們要怎麼在工作中展現出對生命的熱愛呢?

一年前那個看不見未來的我不見了,現在看到的遠方一片荒蕪荊棘,好像隨著資本經濟的發展,哪個國家的人都一樣,工時越來越長、工作收入卻越來越不能支持生活開銷,但是現在的我比一年前的我不害怕了。

2016年5月8日 星期日

[伯明罕大冒險] 擺在眼前的事實不見得是真相

明天過後就是年度作品集的期限,這兩天都工作很長時間,就在剛才我的耳朵已經開始痲痹,快要分辨不出我掛的效果到底有沒有差異了,於是不浪費春暖花開的好天氣,我決定去超市買洗碗精讓耳朵休息一下。(說到這個實在超蠢...其實我昨天就冒著大雨衝出去買冰淇淋和洗碗精,因為宿舍的洗碗精是共用的!早就用完了但我一直窩在宿舍做作品,結果回到廚房發現我只拿了冰淇淋)
回到作品集,本年度我幾首重要的作品都是Electroacoustic music,從剛來這邊根本分不清楚acoustic, electonic, electroacoustic, acousmatic這些名詞,到現在能非常享受自己外出錄音,然後創作聲學的曲子,最近在寫的一首曲子,我想將怪手拆圖書館的聲音慢慢轉變成湖邊波浪的聲音,就在試了好幾天後,剛剛閉起眼睛聽終於能說服自己了,這就是聲學的趣味之處吧!聽見的聲音不見得是你想象中的物體發出來的!
走去超市的路上,每天經過兩遍的小徑今天長得不太一樣,就在我跑過紅綠燈,迎面而來是整面枝葉繁盛的綠,一棵開滿了白色的小花的樹在陽光下bling bling,但是磚頭路上卻鋪滿了粉紅色的花瓣,我看著眼前美麗又怪異的景色,一路上一直在想到底是怎麼回事?於是回程時我決定順著小路繼續走到粉紅色花瓣消失為止。
如果我在轉角就停下來,我永遠也不會發現原來擋在眼前整片的綠墻之後,藏有一顆開著粉紅色小花的樹,而這些花瓣乘風而來。眼前的白色小花是個顯而易見的答案,但轉過彎,看遠一點才會找到真相。


[Adventure in Birmingham] Answer which easy to find might not be the truth.

The deadline of annual folio assessment is one day away, and I start to feel that I lost my hearing. Not to waste such a nice weather. I decided to get my ears some rests and go out for a walk.
The most important pieces this year is all about electroacoustic and I enjoy so much engaging in sound transformation. In the latest piece I'm working on, there's a destruction sound and I'd like to slowly transform it into wave sound beside a lake. Sometime I close my eyes and suddenly it sounds like a real water sound rather than destruction sound. Hearing is not believing but I believe I will keep on exploring.
On my way to Tesco, the pathway looks different today. A flourish tree with white little flowers under sunshine standing right there and the brick road covered by pink petals everywhere. This is quite a view as well as dodgy. I was wondering all the way and when I walked back I decided not to go home straight but walk along the pathway a bit further to see where the pink petals ended.
If I stopped by the corner I would never find out there's a tree with pink flower hidden behind the bush and that's where the pink petals come from! Seeing is not believing!