Writings
I have traveled to many places in Taiwan and throughout Asia, and
when I read that the China Post was accepting travel stories from
freelance writers, I decided to give it a go. The stories I have gotten
into the China Post are listed below. Click on the link to go to that
story.
List
of stories that are in print:
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| Having
fun down on the farm at Zou Ma Lai |
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Date:
March 11, 2003
Publication: The China Post
As the ROC Council of Agriculture continues to find ways
to move Taiwan's farmers into the next chapter of the
sector's history, one of the more positive examples of
what enterprising farms can do exists in the form the
largest recreational farm in Taiwan, Zou Ma Lai, located
in Tainan County. The 15-year-old facility offers visitors
a chance to relax "down on the farm" while seeing
how the needs of development, environment and agriculture
can co-exist peacefully. |
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When I was living in Tainan County, I made several trips
to the farm, often on the request of visiting guests from
Taipei who had heard of this farm's charms. Now, having
since returned to Taipei, I jumped at the chance to go
visit it again, this time for a two-day excursion to get
away from the hectic pace of the big city.
To
get there, I chose to take one of the long-distance buses
near the Taipei train station to the city of Madou, where
friends picked me up for the 15-minute ride to Zou Ma
Lai.
The
farm is geared for families which have their own mode
of transportation, but for other kinds of travelers who
don't have their own cars the best way to get there from
the north would be to go by either train or bus to Tainan
City, then take a Hsing Nan Public Bus ("Hsing Nan
Ke Yun") to the township of Yujing. From Yujing to
the Zou Ma Lai farm, a taxi can be taken for NT$200.
The
farm is actually operated by the Tainan County Farmers'
Association, whose enterprising chairman has made it into
a growing success. Once inside the farm, there are many
things to do for both city slickers and more down-home
types, ranging from entertainment in the form of world-class
Russian acrobatics performances to individual activities
such as grass sledding and horseback riding, to even taking
rides in the small amusement park that is on the premises.
Also,
as with almost any tourist spot in Taiwan, food is a focus,
and as such, Zou Ma Lai, located in what is arguably the
island's agricultural capital, meals take on a special
meaning for visitors.
To
get a good idea of the layout and the variety of activities
available, the 120-hectare farm is best viewed by renting
one of their bicycles and riding around the many paved
paths that trace through it. One of the more interesting
attractions for visitors involves its band of Olympics-talented
acrobats who hail from many former Soviet republics. As
they put on shows three times daily, I enjoyed taking
in a performance, and they always put on an exciting show.
With a mixture of both athleticism and artistry, the acrobats
amaze the audiences at Zou Ma Lai for six months before
they return back to their homeland and a new team rotates
to Taiwan.
After
taking in the show, I tested my skill at archery, something
which I had not been able to do for many years. Holding
the bow brought back memories of when I was growing up,
as I, too, had been raised in a rural community where
open-air activities were commonplace and the noise of
traffic could not be heard.
Riding
back to the main part of the facility, I stopped by the
area where a variety of animals are kept, providing another
look at the farm life that exists at Zou Ma Lai. The most
conspicuous creatures are the ostriches that are raised
there on a large swath of the farm's property. The many
ostriches doting around behind the fence often become
the backdrop for kids to have their pictures taken, and
this time was no different.
With
a few activities under their belts, visitors will often
head to either the farm's restaurants or to its snack
bars. During this visit, the snacks were truly right off
the farm, as even the ice cream came in "grass flavor,"
which was surprisingly tasty. In fact, it is the wide
open areas of the farm that are planted with New Zealand-style
pastureland grass which comprise 40 hectares for which
Zou Ma Lai is famous. During the months of April or May,
the farm will often hold a festival which highlights the
deep green pastures, complete with a romantic, tree-lined
pathway where lovers can stroll among the sunny skies
or the starry nights.
Other
dishes, especially those at the restaurants, promote the
variety of agricultural treasures that exist in Tainan
County. The chairman was happy to point out that nearly
everything we were eating was a famous product of nearby
towns: mangoes from Yujing, lotuses from Baihe, and the
famous "President fish" from the Tzeng Wen Creek.
This
theme of promoting not only itself, but also its neighbors
is what makes Zou Ma Lai an excellent attraction. The
farm touts itself both as a place where couples or families
can get away from it all for a few days, as well as a
starting point which will allow them to visit other points
of interest that are in Tainan County. Whether you are
visiting the south to see Tainan's historical attractions
or taking in the natural beauty of its surrounding county,
Zou Ma Lai is a good place to call home for a few days.
As
such, what captured my attention this time were the newly
built two-story wooden cottages in which we stayed. With
these recent additions, Zou Ma Lai offers travelers a
complete range of accommodations, starting from rentable
tents for their campgrounds to small bungalows and even
a full-size, traditional Taiwanese farmhouse, known as
a "san he yuan," so visitors can truly live
as the farmers of Taiwan do.
View
the original story online at the China Post |
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