人面桃花 Peach Blossom, Once upon a time

第一次跟桃花近距離接觸，竟然是在美國。

在北國熬過一個冰雪的寒冬，看到春風中粉嫩嬌媚的桃花，更是感到生命的美好。

I did not have any experience of appreciating peach blossoms until I went to America and stayed there for a while. It was so nice to see such pretty pink blossoms dancing with spring breeze, especially after a terribly cold winter.  

如今在南方看著過往拍的照片，一個不太可能再回去的地方，竟有『人面桃花』之感。

人面桃花的成語出自崔護的《題都城南莊》：

「去年今日此門中，人面桃花相映紅。人面不知何處去，桃花依舊笑春風。」

Now I am looking at these photos in a Southern country where it is no snow at all. I know that I would never go back to the place where I took these photos. Then the idiom is occurred in my mind which describes the situation that though the environment is as usual the people there are different. It is originated from the story behind the poem written by Cui, Hu. Its main idea is that peach blossoms still there but the girl whom I am looking for is gone. 

I quote a translation by Miss Crystal from http://www.lulijen.idv.tw/view.asp?ID=1164 .

At a Mansion in the South of the City

by Cui, Hu

Exactly a year ago behind this gate

Peach blossoms are as pink as her face

Today I wonder where she is

Still peach blossoms smile at the spring winds they embrace

If you are interested in the story, please click the link Http://www.ryedu.net/syy/yywh/201112/24435.html

去年今日此門中
Exactly a year ago behind this gate

人面桃花相映紅
Peach blossoms are as pink as her face

人面不知何處去
Today I wonder where she is

桃花依舊笑春風
Still peach blossoms smile at the spring winds they embrace