Kaohsiung

August 29, 2009

Posted in: Taiwan, Vacation

Instead of typing a post of each day, I decided to make 1 big post of my stay in Kaohsiung.  Unfortunately, unlike TaiChung, I stayed in Kaohsiung longer and have visited more places.  So, expected A LOT of pictures and my stories.

I took the Ubus from TaiChung to Kaohsiung.  It is so much cheaper than taking the rail.  And, it also takes the same time too!  But then leaving Kaohsiung to Taipei, I will take the rail.  I need a washroom!

Kaoshiung is so much hotter than TaiChung.  Level of hottest is higher when going south.

After getting off the bus, I still had to walk a small distance to Kaohsiung Train Station to meet my CouchSurf friend.

She took me to a pier.  I forgot the name.  Here you see that the train tracks are covered to become a bike route.

Small pool in the area.

This is the tallest building in Kaohsiung.  It has 85 stories.

Next we went up to mountains near the ocean.

At night we went to eat hot pot with her friends.

Saw a gecko near my bed.  lol…I was surprised.  It looks kinda cute…

The next day I walked around the Lotus Pond.  Omg, it was so hot.  I wanted to see the Confucious temple but didn’t know where it was.  Apparently it was the section of the pond that I didn’t feel like walking into.

There is  major difference between Taiwanese and Japanese shrines/temples.  Taiwanese shrines are more vibrant with lots of decorations.

Mascots for The World Games.

Next we went to the World Games stadium.

Apparently the stadium is shaped like a question mark.  I believe the red spiral poll is the dot of the “?”

When we went there was a soccer game.  It was free to enter.  Basically, there were only 4 countries competing.

Last stop of the day was Kaohsiung Arena.  It is a lot smaller than Taipei Arena where I saw the Blue Man Group concert.

Inside the arena, there are floors of department stores.

These looks WAY better than the one at One’s in Market Village.

The next morning I left at 8am to Kaohsiung Harbor to go an island just off Kaoshiung called Cujin.

On a boat to the island.

You got to rent a bike to ride across the island.  I was planning to go to the lighthouse first by walking and then turned back as it was further than I expected.

Getting up to the lighthouse, you must walk up a very steep slope.  At first I walked up and met two middle age guys and they said that they will take me to nice sightseeing places on the island.  So, I got to go back down and bring my bike up.  I was like dead.  It was HOT and the atmosphere was thin.  So, for the first time, sweat was showing through my shirt.

The next part was some old buildings a bit further behind the light house.  I was thirsty and sweating.  LUCKILY, it was a circle, so we don’t have to backtrack to get back down.  Seriously, it was hell walking from the lighthouse to this area.

Two characters are missing.

Below the lighthouse is the Cujin Star Tunnel.

There were paintings all over the walls.

All along the sides of Cujin are broken trees caused from the typhoon.

Next area has a lot of decorations made out of wood.

You will find locals picking up fresh wood.  The two people I met picked up a piece of wood that had a nice scent.

Later we went to eat lunch.

A lotus dedicated for some number of people that died from boat sinkage.

Later we separated as we got off on the main land.  I went to a couple train stops that had some nice decorations.

By 3pm I met up with my host’s friend.    My head hurts from the morning.  So when we met up, I was sleeping.  Got back home later and for the first time during my trip, I had to take Tylenol.

At night we headed out to my friend’s performance.  I didn’t say yet, but she is a dancer.  For the performances that I recorded, I recorded the whole thing but had to cut them as uploading them would take forever.

Some traditional performance.

“I want nobody nobody but you…”

My friend’s dance group called, Dance Force.  Check them out on youtube!

The end of the performance where performers and helpers were being introduced.

Family and friends handing out flowers.

A gift was given out to the performers.  I was told that it takes 3 months for you to receive this cake.

I had a great time in Kaohsiung.  Everyone made me felt like home.  I will miss it T_T

Overall, I have gained a lot of experience while traveling alone to the two cities.  In addition, I met many people throughout TaiChung and Kaohsiung.  Even strangers on the streets are nice and helpful.