（台灣‧台北）全台海拔最高的旅館、合歡山松雪樓，經多年規劃整建，上週六（6月13日）重新開幕，嶄新的建物，矗立在山林間相當顯眼。
興建於1965年的松雪樓原為蔣介石行館，位於合歡東峰下公路旁，海拔3150公尺，除了是登奇萊群峰、合歡群峰最佳住宿地點，更曾是台灣唯一滑雪場所在地，往年冬天雪季時，松雪樓總是人山人海，可惜13年前松雪樓因風災毀損拆除，經過多年規劃、興建，上週六才重新開幕。
東勢林管處處長陳奕煌說：“破曉時，在房間裡就可觀賞奇萊北峰日出的美麗景觀，夜裡更可仰望滿天星斗。”陳奕煌說，為了落實垃圾減量，特別推出“愛山環保專案”，凡住宿松雪樓的房客，只要自備盥洗用具（如牙刷、毛巾、浴巾、牙膏、梳子等），均可享有每人150元（新台幣，下同約17令吉）折價優惠。
不過，房價不便宜，從3500至5500元新台幣（約馬幣400至580令吉）。
（中國‧北京）據中國媒體今日（週日，6月14日）報導，北京5名遊客爬上箭扣野長城時遭遇雷擊，其中一對夫婦當場身亡，另3人受驚過度。
《新京報》指出，2名死者同為27歲，上週六（6月13日）和另3人無視狂風暴雨爬長城。
這對夫婦遭閃電擊中後掉到30多公尺高的斷崖下，另3人也被炸倒在地。3人受驚過度，被困野長城上。事發後，當地村民聯同多政府部門員工上山把3人救出。
事發野長城位於西柵子村五隊西南角山頂，海拔愈千米。村民表示，當天上午10時許，這5名年輕男女前來攀爬野長城，約在中午時分，開始下起小雨，其間不停有響雷傳來。
2村民助搜索
2個小時後，此村接到通知5人被雷擊中，2名村民隨即出發進行搜索。約一個半小時後，到達出事地點“鷹飛倒仰”景點，此處形同展開翅膀的老鷹，位於鷹嘴部位的地方是處呈90度的斷崖，約2米寬，每次僅能一人通過。
當時2名男遊客和一名女遊客坐在長城上，渾身濕淋淋，沾滿泥土，嚇得腿都走不了路了。
救援村民稱，2死者位置約在30公尺下的山腰上，相互隔著3公尺遠。其中，女死者額頭正中心被劈開個小方塊形狀的傷口，深及頭骨。男死者渾身皮開肉綻，難以辨認。
（中國‧西安）據報導，考古人員上週六（6月13日）在西安秦始皇兵馬俑一號坑發現個別陶俑身上殘存著大面積彩繪，意味著地下可能存在一個大規模的彩色兵俑陣。
在時隔24年之後，享有“世界第8大奇跡”之稱的秦始皇兵馬俑一號坑當天進行了第3次考古發掘，除了首次發現2輛前後相鄰的四馬戰車外，考古人員還發現了個別陶俑身上殘存著大面積彩繪至今，已發現2輛並排戰車和8匹戰馬的碎片，預料坑中有150件陶俑，並可能是一個“彩俑軍陣”。其中，“親密無間”的四馬戰車在兵馬俑考古史上是首次發現。
專家指出，由於文物埋在地下日久，不能期望最新出土的兵馬俑會是“色彩斑斕”。
出土後將加強彩繪保護
官方新華社報導，殘存大面積彩繪的兵馬俑剛剛露出半身，披帛和甲片上有大面積的紅色，現場已經進行初步加固，用塑膠膜進行了完全封閉，待此兵馬俑完全出土後會在實驗室對它進一步加強彩繪保護。
據發掘人員介紹，考古隊員從俑坑內清理出一個完整的兵俑頭顱是一個鎧甲武士俑，它是目前已發現的較為完整的一尊陶俑，頭髮清晰可見，還留著漂亮的八字鬍。瞳孔、髮帶邊上殘留有一些色彩，考古人員表示，這表明可能會存在大規模的彩色兵俑陣。
秦俑博物館館長吳永琪說，如果發掘出大面積淤泥層，彩繪兵馬俑出現的幾率較大，如果仍是夯土層（被壓實的泥層），則可能性很小。
每件文物出土後，都會被編號、拍照、繪圖，之後會拿到實驗室中逐步修復。
秦俑1號坑“邊發掘邊開放”
本次發掘期間，作為博物館的秦俑1號坑並不閉館，形成了“邊發掘邊開放”的一大特點，這種的形式在世界也是罕見的。
遊客若在近期前往，除了可一睹逾千兵馬俑外，還可看到考古人員在現場的最新發掘，並有機會直擊彩繪“戰車”及“將軍”出土。
門票收入佔旅業收入11%
兵馬俑成西安“金蛋”
兵馬俑是陝西西安市旅遊的“金蛋”，1979年10月開始對外展出以來，每年兵馬俑的門票平均收入約1.5億元（人民幣，下同）。
2008年，西安整體旅遊收入為243.52億元，而兵馬俑所在的臨潼區，去年旅遊收入為13.5億，其中兵馬俑的門票收入約為1.5億元，佔當地旅遊收入的11%。
由於遊客到兵馬俑前往須先到秦始皇陵參觀，因此有所謂“先拜皇帝後看兵”的講法。香港經濟學家張五常曾表示，如果打開秦始皇陵，相信每年還會增加500萬遊客前往參觀，如每人收500元門票，每年門票收入就是25億元。臨潼目前正興建秦始皇陵遺址公園，將與兵馬俑合併為世界上最大的秦文化展示區。
專家：彩俑保護技術趨成熟
在以往的發掘中，最讓考古人員棘手的問題之一就是大面積彩繪的清理、保護問題。
由於在地下2000多年受到各種自然侵害，兵馬俑身上的彩繪有的已變成粉狀，而顏色層下的生漆底層已老化沒有了粘附力，出土五六分鐘即翹起脫落。
上週六參與現場彩俑保護的秦俑博物館副研究員容波說：“針對彩繪俑的保護研究已經進行了10餘年，在中德專家的共同努力下保護技術已經成熟，目前已有10餘件彩俑得到成功保護，有的已多次赴外展出。今日（週日，6月14日），我們在現場對發現的大面積彩繪已採取措施進行了科學保護，相信不久之後，彩俑陣營中又會多一名成員。”
著名考古學家、“兵馬俑之父”袁仲一亦指出，外界可能期待過高，因為此次發掘的一號坑經過長期的水浸和火燒，彩繪多少會受到損壞，不能期望兵馬俑“色彩斑斕”。
兵馬俑1號坑三個新發現
1.青銅箭頭
2.頭部有顏色的武士俑
3.2輛距離非常近“親密無間”的馬拉戰車
各國政要的“秦俑情”
里根首邀近距離接觸兵馬俑
據不完全統計，至今參觀過兵馬俑的各國元首和政府首腦已有近百名，至於部長、大臣、將軍、神父、主教等風雲人物和世界名人更不計其數。
法國前總統希拉克：叫響“世界第8大奇跡”
希拉克1978年9月以總理身份訪華，他在參觀秦俑考古工地後驚歎，這是世界第8大奇跡。從此，“世界第8大奇跡”就成了秦兵馬俑代名詞。
美國前總統里根：“拍馬屁”第一人
里根是第一個受邀到兵馬俑坑底下和兵馬俑近距離接觸的外國元首。參觀時，里根幽默的摸著一匹“馬”的屁股對大家說：“他會不會踢我呢？”
美國前總統克林頓：兵馬俑前“矮一頭”
克林頓及他的妻女，也享受過與兵馬俑近距離接觸的待遇。克林頓身高1.93米左右，在參觀時，他專門湊過去和兵馬俑比了比身高，但是隨後他便發現，自己比兵馬俑矮了幾公分。
新加坡前總理李光耀：為與秦俑同根而驕傲
1976年，李光耀參觀秦兵馬俑考古現場時，整整看了半個多小時。看後，他激動地說：“秦兵馬俑坑的發現是世界的奇跡、中華民族的驕傲。我也是炎黃後裔，也有我的一份。”
Abhisit VejjajivaNOT the type to dodge a challenge, Abhisit Vejjajiva is said to be edging closer to the people’s hearts even as protesters line the streets in Thailand. And he appears to be winning the battle, at least as far as media supremacy is concerned.
Just hours after being installed as Thailand’s 27th Prime Minister last Dec 15, the British-born leader of the Democrat Party was already engaging with CNN.
His first act as PM was to send SMS texts to millions of Thai mobile phone users, asking them to help solve the country’s crisis, signed off simply as “Your PM”.
Since then, he’s granted countless interviews both at home and during overseas trips in attempts to reposition his fragile premiership.
And over the past week, Abhisit (pronounced as A-phi-sit Wet-cha-chi-wa in Thai) was doing just that – granting two interviews to the Star – in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in a space of 48 hours!
The first took place at the Impact Muangthong Convention Centre in the outskirts of the busy Thai capital last Saturday, followed by another at the posh JW Marriot Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
And here’s a quick take on the Thai PM – “patient, reasonable, articulate and unambiguous”. And yes, incredibly smart. Many cite that as the Oxford-trained Abhisit’s chief “qualification” to lead his country.
“Prime Minister, thank you for seeing me again,’’ I say to Abhisit who approaches with a smile, offering a handshake.
“It’s a pleasure,” he replies, as his top aides watch at the private suite of the luxury hotel here.
The strain of the two-hour long talks he held with his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Putrajaya and dissecting issues with the Thai business, student and working communities here hardly show in his face.
There are deep political differences in Thailand but the Thai public (political pundits included) is united in commending Abhisit for what they say is his “lor yai” (handsome in Thai) looks.
The photogenic leader and heartthrob Thai figure does not mind a little chat before we take our seats, a striking testament of his patient ways.
During the first interview in Bangkok, Abhisit waited for some time as a TV crew struggled to get their equipment ready to record the interview.
He wasn’t miffed, but asked softly: “Is it about your equipment, or mine?” as he checked the mini microphone pinned on his suit.
When informed that the problem was with the TV cameras, he shot back in jest: “Oh, then I am powerless!”
There was more time for light-hearted banter as the cameras waited to roll. “You don’t look your age, Prime Minister.” He responds: “I am about 44 ... 45. Don’t worry, I’m catching up fast!”
Khun (the polite Thai way to say Mr) Abhisit may be no powerful orator, but dour he’s not when he gets the chance to speak about his people and country.
He looks sombre in his dark blue suit (and comfortable in black strap shoes), but the responses come through clear and confident as the embattled PM projects a calm front.
“We’re doing what we can for the (Thai) people. We want to make sure that things are on track,’’ he says, the courage evident in his eyes.
It’s almost six months since he took over the helms of Government House (where the PM’s Office is located in Bangkok) after a Constitutional Court banned three government parties for election fraud, paving the way for a Democrat-led Government.
The violent protests that followed led to the embarrassing closure of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, cancellation of an Asean Leaders meet in Pattaya, and declaration of an emergency in Bangkok.
The mobs were also trying to get to Abhisit, who has escaped from armed protesters on more than one occasion.
“There was no question that my life was seriously threatened,’’ he says.
The work he has done so far only represents the foothills of change but the young PM (he is not the youngest PM in Thai history, that credit goes to Seni Pramoj who took office at the age of 40 in 1945) is desperate to get things going.
The hardest is yet to come, and the intellectual Abhisit, born in England to wealthy Thai-Chinese parents who were both medical professors, knows it.
“It’s going to be tough, but not impossible to overcome,’’ the Opposition Leader-turned-Prime Minister says when asked about the enormous tasks ahead.
Top on his agenda is to steer Thailand’s once mighty, now faltering, economy back on track.
The picture is grim – the Thai National Economic and Social Development Board (NSEB) has forecast a rather shallow 3.5% negative growth for the year as a whole.
Exports are down 20%, investments by 15.8% and the tourism industry hit by 100 billion baht.
Adding to this, Abhisit faces deep divisions between the elite middle-class that backs him and the rural poor who are throwing their lot behind former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted from office in a military coup in September 2006 sparking off the Red Shirts vs Yellow Shirts tug-of-war.
These are tough times indeed for the kingdom but the slightly-built Abhisit, described as a “what works” politician among admirers, is taking it in his good-natured stride.
He proposes a “colour change” to heal the wounds and unite the country: “To my knowledge red and yellow makes orange. And orange stands for innovation.
“And I think innovation is what we need, to find a way out of the political problems over the past few years.
“If the Red Shirts feel that the constitution should be more democratic, I can agree with them. If the Yellow Shirts feel that there isn’t much accountability in government, I can agree with them too.”
Colour choices aside, political foes are asking: “Is Abhisit the right man for Thailand?” “Does he know how to fix the issues that are of concern to Thais?”
The people are responding, quite positively. An opinion survey conducted by Assumption University in 17 provinces (including Bangkok) last month showed 70% of the respondents ticking Abhisit for best performance among top 10 Cabinet members polled.
The PM, who is well-liked for his moralistic stand on issues, opens up when asked how he plans to use this to his advantage.
“We need to protect the most vulnerable. We have put in place a comprehensive public investment programme with the aim of creating up to two million jobs,’’ reveals Abhisit, who is advocating free healthcare, a higher minimum wage, free education, and milk for nursery-schoolchildren.
He draws comparisons with Malaysia. “But as an open economy, maybe not as open as Malaysia’s, we can’t avoid the consequences of a global downturn.
“We cannot really expect to have a strong recovery until the global economy recovers,” reasons Abhisit who was educated at Eton College, one of Britain’s top private schools, before studying politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University.
Critics constantly hound him over his ascension to Thailand’s top job not having been endorsed at the ballot box.
(As leader of the Democrat party since 2005, his party has failed to win either of the elections contended).
“Of course we are!’’ he retorts when I ask him if his Democratic Party-led coalition government was one “by the people”.
“Because I have been elected by a majority of parliamentarians who have been elected by the people,’’ he counters to the charge of him leading a disreputable government.
His many Malaysian friends include Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who started his political career about the same time as Abhisit. The minister had to be in Kota Kinabalu and tried his best to catch up with Abhisit at the KLIA but their schedules stood in the way.
Hishamuddin gives his own take on Abhisit: “He is very articulate, sincere and humble, and is someone I truly respect. It is unfortunate that he is leading Thailand in such a trying time. He has genuine views about Malaysia and is certainly someone we can work with.”
As a protégé of former Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Abhisit learnt many valuable lessons about politics knowing that one day he could be a national leader.
It was Chuan, the former Democratic Party leader who was PM from 1992-1995 and 1997-2001, who opened the party’s door to Abhisit, who is said to have wanted to be a politician since he was 10!
The skills of Thailand’s fresh, new hope as a national leader will be tested to the brim in the period ahead.
“I welcome the competition … as long as it’s for the good of the people and country,’’ he concludes.
