[轉錄\翻譯] 最佳被低估的太平洋假期

翻譯:阿德

最常與台灣連結在一起的海洋是與之同名的海峽─台灣海峽─那180公里寬，有效地分隔台灣海島與中國的海洋嗎？然而在台灣的另一邊，倚著更廣闊的海洋：太平洋。在這原始的東海岸，擁有的地形從崎嶇的懸崖到沈靜的海洋，並且，景觀視野彷彿可以無限延伸。這是一個外國遊客還未聽過的太平洋的儲藏室。

令人驚訝地，許多台灣人也不熟悉她，認為她太遙遠了！然而，台東─台灣東南邊的都市中心─距離首都台北只有50分鐘的飛行距離。就如同許多度假中心，台東提供多種類的海洋娛樂（划船、釣魚、衝浪，與浮潛）。然而，對於其熱切嚮往大都會的狀態而言，在這太小與不匆忙之地最受歡迎的娛樂是緩和情緒。待在位於台東背後低丘上的家庭式民宿幾日，你就可以望見那一路延伸至夏威夷，都不會碰到陸地的海洋。其附近都還是農村，而早餐中的蛋與水果是早晨剛由當地農夫送來的。在到處溜達間，你可以從富足的藤蔓上摘取櫻桃蕃茄與金桔。或者在海灘咖啡廳停留，他們將為你送上咖啡，讓你在那邊待上整個下午，透過無線網路將此寧靜的發現以電子郵件通知家人與朋友。

或許花上幾天，沿著新海岸公路回到台北。儘管不像加州的太平洋海岸公路那麼壯麗，但也同樣浪漫。旅程中，一定要在太魯閣峽谷停留。那有大理石懸崖的漂亮地景、騷動的溪流，以及深藍色的天空。簡而言之，東海岸的一切是你不期待在台灣會看到的：潔淨、青綠，以及海洋的鹹氣息帶來的鹽味。去呼吸幾口吧！那裡整個都是海洋！
 
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原文標題:Best Underrated Pacific Holiday
原文出處 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194097,00.html
By ZOHER ABDOOLCARIM Monday, May 15, 2006
The body of water most commonly associated with Taiwan is the eponymous strait?a 180-km-wide, potently symbolic divide between the island and its mainland cousin. But on the other side of Taiwan lies a far greater stretch of sea: the Pacific Ocean. On this pristine east coast, topography varies from rugged cliffs to serene beaches, and the views seem to extend to infinity. It's a pocket of the Pacific that foreign travelers have yet to hear about.

Astonishingly, many Taiwanese are unfamiliar with it as well, reckoning it's too remote. Yet it's only a 50-minute flight from the capital Taipei to Taitung, the southeast's main urban center. Like many coastal resorts, Taitung offers a variety of oceanic diversions (boating, fishing, surfing and snorkeling). But the most popular pastime, in a place that's ultimately too small and unhurried for the metropolitan status it endearingly aspires to, is to simply chill out. Stay at one of several homey B&Bs dotting the low hills behind Taitung, and you can gaze out at water that doesn't strike land till Hawaii. The vicinity is still agrarian, and breakfast eggs and fruit will have been delivered that morning by a local farmer. During a stroll, you'll be able to pluck cherry tomatoes and kumquats off abundant vines. Or stop at a beachside caf?they'll serve your coffee and then leave you alone for the rest of afternoon, while you wirelessly e-mail family and friends about this halcyon discovery.

Take a couple of days to wind your way back to Taipei on the new coastal road?not as grand as California's Pacific Coast Highway, but equally romantic. En route, be sure to stop at Taroko Gorge?a beautiful landscape of marble cliffs, burbling streams and cobalt blue skies. In short, the east coast is everything you don't expect Taiwan to be: clean, green, and salted by the briny whiff of the sea. Go breathe it in. There's a whole ocean out there.