Weekly gathering on March 14, 2016

Rosie especially mentioned the topic ‘Tour Review on March 10’ for today’s gathering.  She thought such experience sharing can enhance our guiding skills.

Tom talked about the car parking at campus. The rule is ‘first come, first serve.’ And car pool is also recommended.

As the next host for April classes, Heaven would like each member to pick one of the following topics to share: event, book/movie/song, hobby/collection/expertise, and place/city/country that impress you. She will place the details in our Line group.

Today’s agenda:

Tour review on March 10

Olga: it’s a rainy, windy day, not a good timing to guide. The audience (students) is not so interested in this tour because they are asked for such tour. But I really enjoy the afternoon tea after the guide task.

Jenny Chou: I guide 3 sites instead of 6 sites due to bad weather. I bring snacks and prepare trivia quizzes to arouse the audience’s interest. Regarding the maximum of 200-visitor at one time in Hot Spring Museum, it really triggered lots of discussion.

Ming: I like to use story to guide visitors. Although these students are very talkative, it’s easy for me to provide explanation. I take them to Plum Garden instead of Hot Spring Museum because of too many tourists there.

Ben: History of Beitou

Here are some key events (just list a few here, not all)

1697: Yu Yong-he

1896: First hot spring inn, established by Hirata Gengo

1901: Tanshui Railway was completed

1913: Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath and Beitou Park were finished.

Bob: Geography of Beitou

Each member got 3 maps, so they could understand the location clearly. Beitou was under Taipei County originally. And in 1968, it became a district of Taipei City.

Andy: History of Beitou Park

Its grand opening was on June 17, 1913. The original area was 3 times large than the current one. The statute near Beitou Library was to honor井村大吉originally.

Tang: Beitou Railway Station

Some of the Taipei-Tanshui railway was along with the Tanshui trail. And the Xinbeitou railway is the first one built for tourism in Taiwan.

Robert: Beitou Creek & Hokutolite (Beitou Stone)

Draw a map on blackboard to explain where Beitou Creek flows and meets磺港溪at七星公園. It is a tiny stream with only 1 kilometer long. Beitou Stone is the only mineral in the world to be named after a place in Taiwan. It is created due to crystallization of some elements such as radium, barium, etc.

Michelle: Xinbeitou vs. Old Beitou

There were diverse definitions and many members discussed the differences based on their own experiences. A clear geographic line is磺港溪.

Ming: Architectures

The focus was on Hot Spring Museum. It was a mix of European-style outer walls and a Japanese-style roof. It mimicked the pattern of English country house during Vitoria period (1837-1901). She will put the details in our Line group.

Sherry: Lies – Is it ever OK to lie?

Actually, people often tell lies. Some are white lies in order to protect others’ feelings. For example, cut down the price when buying things to parents, say the gift is wonderful even you do not like it, tell the patient the disease is ok, etc.

Heaven: Introduction of a tribe at Yilan

Last Friday, she went to 不老部落 and found it is a very successful tourist attraction run by indigenous people (泰雅族). They really took advantages of their culture (crafts, millet wine, architectures, meals, etc.) to attract visitors.