2012-12-29

【Aiden in English】

        Cape Horn in Chile is located at a latitude of 55 degrees 58 minutes 47 seconds south and a longitude of 67 degrees 16 minutes 18 seconds west. It is the southernmost point on Earth, other than Antarctica. It covers the two most significant bodies of water, the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans, and is known as a notorious graveyard for sailors.

        I awoke to three short blasts and the light flicking on this morning. I didn't like the wake-up call, but I hastily dressed and ate a quick muffin breakfast. After devouring the platter and brushing my teeth, I jumped with delight onto the Sun Deck and cruised through Cape Horn. What met my eyes was a sight not nearly what I expected. The land was deserted with harsh winds and cold conditions. Other than a few seagulls, the grassy plains stretched for miles without wildlife presence. But the worst of all was the wind from the west when I stood in the middle of nowhere. I was sure I could fly if I let go of the handrail. Its signature features were unique rock formations with deep grooves and granite cliffs covered in trees. However, it seemed much better than the Southeast Cape in the Tasman Sea, Australia, when I had a voyage of exploration across Oceania two years ago. Gale gales, rogue waves, strong currents, and crumbling icebergs made the passage around Cape Horn one of the most hazardous shipping routes in the world.

        As I ran down the steps to the Youth Center, I left with other kids for the central kitchens, where I signed up for the Junior Chef program. We made a Sponge Cake and even had a topping competition to see who had the most creative topping. Everyone added a lot of candies, enough for a mouthful of cavities. There was no winner, and we all tied each other. We all had substantial smiley faces on the pictures and even a creamy flavor on the certificates.

        I was welcomed back by a racing video game competition and dominated everyone except the computer, which smashed all our cars (cheater)! It was full of fun. I started to believe that time could fly. In what seemed like seconds, I sat in the dining room.

        After eating lunch, I returned to the Youth Center quickly. Once all gathered, we headed to the court for a dodgeball competition. This time, the boys played against the girls. The girls served the balls first, but their shots appeared so light that you might think a fly hit you. The girls teamed with the teachers against the boys in the next match. However, they couldn't hide anywhere and were pelted by deadly flying fuzzballs. The last game turned to our advantage, and we began to serve the balls. We arranged ourselves in rows of 4. I couldn't believe my eyes how fast the girls got out! The game ended 3-0. The boys won over the girls!

        After the games, we were rewarded with ice cream to cool off and reduce the calories. All of us liked the plain with no toppings. Since there wasn't anything but video games to talk about, the boys settled down with their noses pointed to the screen of the Play Station 3 for the rest of the day.

【紅霞譯】

        智利“土地的盡頭”合恩“海岬”角位於南緯55度58分47秒、西經67度16分18秒，除南極之外，算作地球最南端，是太平洋和大西洋兩條水系的交匯處，素有“海上墳場”之惡名。

        早上我被三聲短鳴和一次燈閃折騰得再也睡不着覺，說實在的，我一點不喜歡這種叫醒方式，既然如此，我索性抓緊時間穿好衣服，匆匆塞下鬆餅清理碗碟，刷好牙齒後便興致勃勃來到遊輪露天甲板，巡航穿越合恩角。映入眼帘的除了荒蕪人煙的群島，肆無忌憚的西風，還有陰氣酷寒的環境，跟我想象的幾乎大相徑庭，附近水域僅有幾隻海鷗在空中盤旋，島上橫亙數哩的草甸看不出有任何動物足跡。最讓人受不了的恐怕要算西風強悍，尤其置身大洋正中，四面無遮無擋，要不是手扶欄杆，我肯定會被刮得無影無蹤，深凹成槽的岩石構造以及叢林覆蓋的花崗石峭壁突顯合恩角的奇特，不過這比我兩年前漫遊澳大利亞塔斯曼海的東南角要好上很多，狂風呼嘯波浪滔天、海流兇猛碎冰當道，使得合恩角成為世界上最危險的旅行航線之一。

        我很快跑去少年活動中心，匯集其他朋友一道趕往主廚房參加遊輪為我們特別舉辦的“少年廚師”節目，今天每一位參加者都要親手製作蛋糕，並相互比試誰會把外表裝點得最花哨。我們不管三七二十一，玩命往上添加糖果，吃後保證蛀牙橫生，比賽相持不下，一時難分勝負，大家樂得比蜜還甜，連手頭證書都透出奶油的芬芳。

        再度回到少年活動中心時，我立刻投入電子賽車遊戲行列，沒人能跑得比我還快，當然計算機例外，它絕對無敵於天下，真是活見鬼！太好玩了，我這才發現時間飛逝，轉眼就到了中午。

        吃過午餐，我旋風般返回少年活動中心；待集合完畢，我們奔赴球場開始躲球比賽，這回男隊對女隊。女孩們首先發球，她們扔球沒勁，打在身上好像被蒼蠅噌了一下。第二輪，老師們加盟，一起助戰女隊，但我們投出追身球、高射球、旋轉球，全方位布下天羅地網，叫她們無處躲沒地藏。最後輪到男生發球，我們四個球一排速決速戰，女生們很快敗下陣來！比賽結果三比零，男隊大獲全勝。

        為迅速降溫保持體力起見，比賽結束後我們一起去吃冰激凌，點的都是原汁原味，其上沒加任何甜食，大夥扎堆時話題總離不開電子遊戲，可以想見剩下的功夫我們自然全部奉獻給索尼第三款電視遊戲機。

Cape Horn, the Southernmost Point of the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago in Chile & Notorious for Its Strong Winds, Large waves, & Icebergs

(合恩角·位於智利火地島群島最南端，以強風、巨浪和冰山而臭名昭著 12-29-2012)

Cape Horn Marking the Northern Boundary of the Drake Passage

(合恩角·德雷克“龍”海峽北邊界地標 12-29-2012)

Cape Horn, the Conjunction Place Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

(合恩角·大西洋和太平洋交匯處 12-29-2012)

Cape Horn, a Historically Treacherous Sea Route & a Significant Landmark for Mariners, Particularly Before the Panama Canal's Construction 

(合恩角·歷史上危險的海上航線和海員的重要地標，尤其在巴拿馬運河開通之前 12-29-2012)

Cape Horn, a Crucial Point on the Route Connecting the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans, Especially for Trade Ships Before the Panama Canal's Opening in 1914 

(合恩角·大西洋和太平洋航線上重要的連接點，尤其對1914年巴拿馬運河開通之前的貿易船隻而言 12-29-2012)

Cape Horn's Dark Black Cliff as the "Horn" 

(形似號角的深黑色懸崖 12-29-2012)

Drake Passage, the Gateway Between the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans

(德雷克海峽·大西洋和太平洋之間的門戶 12-29-2012)

Pasta Demo @ Star Princess 

(公主·星辰號遊輪—意大利麵講座)

Junior Chefs @ Star Princess

(“公主·星辰”號遊輪—少年廚師們 12-29-2012)

Junior Chef Certificate @ Star Princess

(“公主·星辰”號遊輪—少年廚師證書 12-29-2012)

Junior Center @ Star Princess 

(“公主·星辰”號遊輪—少年中心 12-29-2012)

Self-Made Sponge Cake @ Star Princess

(“公主·星辰”號遊輪—自製海綿蛋糕 12-29-2012)

Sparetime @ Star Princess

(“公主·星辰”號遊輪—閒暇之餘 12-29-2012)

Crosslinks(相關博文):

Chile(出遊智利)

South America(漂流南美洲)

小學四年級(4th Grade)