Day 3 (March 10, 2018): Savouring the Technology of Taiwan

What a great flight we had on EVA Air - and we even slept a few hours! Our flight headed over the North Pole, down over eastern Russia, made a distinct sharp turn (according to the flight map) to avoid North Korean airspace, and glided between Japan and the Korean Peninsula, before making a descent into Taipei a full hour ahead of schedule. And the service was truly impeccable. 15 EVA Air staff in Toronto handled the boarding of the flight, and a massive air crew of 17 coddled us all the way -- staffing numbers that are unheard of on North American airlines these days. After every couple of loo usages, the attendants cleaned the washrooms and made those little triangle folds on the ends of the toilet roll! I mean, who does that!

We arrived in Taipei at 4:35am, and by 5:00am, we had cleared customs, gotten our bags, withdrew Taiwanese dollars, and were waiting for the kiosk to open to rent our "wifi AP", a small device that allows both of us to access wifi on our phones, wherever we go. We took the MRT ("Mass Rapid Transit") to Taoyuan Station to await our 7:15am Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) to Koahsiung in the south of Taiwan.

The train departed precisely on time, and arrived in Kaohsiung precisely on time. At speeds over 300km/h and riding on a seamless track, it almost felt like flying. Loud talking and cell phone calls are prohibited, so it all made for a peaceful environment. Our hotel was a short walk from the station in Koahsiung. We checked in, got cleaned up after our long haul, and by 11am we started to explore this expansive city.

We started off at the main transfer station for the subway system, which boasts an amazing stained glass installation. Onwards to a revamped warehouse district-turned-arts hub, followed by lunch and a ferry ride to nearly Cijin Island. By early afternoon, we were feeling like we had mastered the transit network in the city, and headed to a large man-made lake called Lotus Pond, where we couldn't decide if the temples were over-the-top impressive or simply beyond kitschy! From there, we went into the downtown core to take in the vistas from the tallest structure in southern Taiwan, then onto a night market before crashing in our room. After an hour's sleep, we ventured out for a Korean dinner and called it a night.

The details of the day, and a few seemingly random pics of things that struck us at quirky, are outlined below. Our first day in Taiwan made quite an impression! Tomorrow we head a little north to take in the city of Tainan. G'night from Koahsiung!

Our flight path included a calculated veering around Noth Korean air space before highlighting a few well-known Japanese locations.

Breakfast was our second hot meal on the flight.

Before boarding our high speed train, I ventured into one of the 7-Eleven stores that adorns every street corner! And the food offerings in them is quite overwhelming. Take this dim sum buffet. Can you imagine seeing this in a Needs Convenience store in Halifax?!

I was really taken by the significance of this billboard as we waited for the train: not only has the American fad with super heroes spread to Asia, but Taiwan has found its most American-looking guys to play equivalent roles. It simply reiterated that all-annoying sentiment of "everyone wants to be like the Americans" that we run into on our travels.

The perfectly-on-time, quiet-as-a-church-mouse Taiwan High Speed Rail service from Taipei to Koahsiung. It's like a jet-plane on tracks.

The rice fields whizzed by all the way down the western coast of the island.

The stunning stained glass of Formosa Boulevard Mass Rapid Transit station. This station was actually names 2nd most beautiful subway station in the world in 2012.

Pier 2 is a rejuvenated warehouse district near the city's port, that is now "arts central" in Kaohsiung. Crazy figures like these are found all over the district.

Kaohsiung has an incredible amount of public art, such as this one at the Pier 2 arts district.

Railway Museum near Pier 2

Our ferry to Cijin Island -- it felt like crossing the Halifax Harbour.

What in the name of blazes is that?! Battered squid, it would seem! The food vendors on Cijin Island offer up anything and everything you would ever be scared to try.

Cijin Tianhou Temple on Cijin Island

The beach on Cijin Island.

If you can get juice out it, chances are the Taiwanese will drink it. Including asparagus juice!

The return from Cijin Island afforded some great views of the port activity. What a busy harbour it is!

Lianchihtan - more commonly known as Lotus Pond -- is a man-made lake and popular tourist destination in Kaohsiung. It is famous for the numerous temples around the lake, including the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas and the Confucian Temple.

The aptly-named Dragon and Tiger Pagodas.

The eye of the tiger is the thrill of the fight, right?

At Lotus Pond.

The Confucian Temple at Lotus Pond.

The colourful interior and exterior of another temple in the Lotus Pond.

It appears there IS a chicken that lays a golden egg, and it lives at Lotus Pond. For a dollar, it will try to make the golden egg-laying a reality.

As the day began to wind down, we made our way to the city centre to visit 85 Sky Tower. The structure is 347.5 m high. Constructed from 1994 to 1997, it is the tallest skyscraper in Kaohsiung, and was the tallest in Taiwan until the completion of Taipei 101. Interestingly, there is no 44th floor in the building; the 43rd floor connects directly to the 45th floor.(The number '4' being considered unlucky in these parts.)

The view of the busy port from 85 Sky Tower. The white-roofed building is the new exhibition center.

If eating from street vendors is your thing, then Liouhe Night Market is a dream come true!

Liouhe Night Market is filled with every chicken giblet on a stick you can think of, not to mention scary cow parts and every kind of fish this 'n that!