Once Upon a Time (II) Kaohsiung, See You Again

"Kaohsiung"

Located in the south of Taiwan, Kaohsiung is a thriving metropolis that rivals the northern capital, Taipei. The city boasts a convenient transportation system, including its own metro network (KMRT), a bike-sharing program, and an I-PASS card system similar to Taipei's EASY CARD.

Our Kaohsiung journey has reached its final day, leaving us with half a day in the morning to explore the city's highlights before heading north to Taipei. Before diving into our final Kaohsiung review, be sure to check out our other Taiwan reviews to get a taste of the journey!

Trip 1: December 2015 (Taiwan, I'm Cold)

Part 1

Taiwan: Taoyuan - Sun Moon Lake FIRST TIME @Man The Island (English)

LITTLE JAPAN TAIWAN (I) Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area : NANTOU (English)

Part 2

TAIPEI: My Relaxed Day (Part 1)

Chapter 3 Exploring the Golden Route of GOLDEN FULONG @ TAIWAN

Chapter 4 TAIPEI !!! Goodbye Taiwan, see you again??

Trip Round 2 April 2016 (Rainy Taiwan)

Part 1 The Classic Alishan Forest Railway in Taiwan

Chapter 2: Alishan Can you still travel when it's raining and foggy? http://pantip.com/topic/35268330

Chapter 3 Kaohsiung, a trendy city not to be missed

Day Two at BACKPACKERS INN KAOHSIUNG: A Tranquil Morning in a Chic Hostel

The second day at BACKPACKERS INN KAOHSIUNG began with a peaceful morning in our six-person dorm room, which we shared with just one other guest. The hostel's chic atmosphere was even more apparent in the quiet of the early hours, as the rain continued to fall outside. The deserted common areas and the tranquil courtyard offered a glimpse into the hostel's unique charm.

Upon entering the door, you will be greeted by this kind of atmosphere.

The morning check-in counter, accompanied by the staff's greetings of "Good morning and Hello," helps to awaken the drowsiness of the morning.

The lounge area is located in the same area as the check-in counter.

Next to it is the kitchen area, equipped with a refrigerator for storing food and drinks, as well as for cooking.

After exploring the first floor, I moved on to one of the things I was most looking forward to doing in Taiwan: collecting stamps in my personal collection book. The hostel even had its own stamp, so I couldn't miss the opportunity to add it to my collection.

Sitting at the table, watching the stamp being printed while drinking banana milk. It's so good, but I like papaya milk more. Hehe.

This is the stamp of the Backpacker Inn hostel. Isn't it cute?

After stamping my personal stamp in the hostel's memory book, it was time to record my memories of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I found a variety of languages, including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, but I couldn't find much Thai. 5555

This memory book is a collection of memories from people who have stayed at this hostel. It is a place where people from different languages, ethnicities, and cultures come together to exchange ideas. Even if you can't read other languages, it brings a small joy, like eating Doraemon's translation jelly.

Now it is my turn to record my memories by writing in Thai in this notebook so that others will know that once there was a Thai person who stayed at this hostel.

After finishing my memory recording, I headed up to the hostel's rooftop on the 10th floor. I should mention that I took the elevator; walking up that early in the morning would have been too much. The rooftop is a great place to enjoy snacks or admire the view of Kaohsiung's Central Park area. The view of the park is truly refreshing.

The view from the rooftop on the 10th floor at dawn was still bright, but the rain wasn't too heavy yet.

However, the atmosphere began to change in the morning as heavy rain started to fall and mist began to appear. Everyone, it's April in Taiwan, it's raining. Please bring the rain to Thailand too, it's so hot that my liver is about to burst.

On the other side of the 10th floor rooftop, I saw a movie poster that looked quite artistic. After that, I went down to invite my friends to walk to Central Park, enjoying the light rain a little because we wouldn't check out until 9:00 am.

This is the key card for your accommodation. It's simple and easy. Now, let's get ready to breathe in the morning air of Kaohsiung.

This is a full-frontal view of the hostel, which is designed to resemble a robot.

For more photos of the hostel, please visit my Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/lifeisatravelbytee2015/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1762474727297292

The distance from the Backpacker Inn Kaohsiung to Central Park is not far, about a 5-7 minute walk. Upon arriving at Central Park, you will be greeted by the beautiful Kaohsiung sign on the ground. Let's take a look at this park together.

The clock sign invites you to take a picture and pose like the hands of a clock.

Walking and looking around, it was truly a sight to behold. 555 Afterwards, we walked around Central Park (let's imagine we're in New York). Right now, we don't have the means to go to America.

The bridge is beautiful, with many pigeons in the morning. Kaohsiung is not much different from Taipei. The atmosphere is relatively quiet and not very lively. I wonder what time they start working here?

This is the KMRT Central Park Station (go down here and you will find Maruko Park), which I reviewed in the first episode of Kaohsiung.

While walking around the train station for a while, I encountered a magical sight. Suddenly, there was a water fountain show early in the morning. The first show was at 8:30 am. I heard that two aliens walked past this spot with indifferent expressions. Fortunately, I arrived at the train station before them. If I had walked slower, I would have been soaked early in the morning. I was very lucky to see it. It's a pity that it rained yesterday evening. If I had come to see it in the evening, it might have been even more beautiful.

The tall buildings in the distance are called "pencil buildings." If you go to Taipei, you can see the Taipei 101 building from every corner of the city. However, in Kaohsiung, you can see the "pencil building" from every corner of the city. This building was the tallest building in Taiwan before Taipei 101 took over the title.

After walking for a while, we came across Kaohsiung's rental bicycles, which are blue. However, in Taipei, they are U Bikes, which are orange. Here, they have their own bikes. After walking around Central Park for a while, my friend and I prepared to check out of our accommodation to go to the next tourist spot in Kaohsiung. Stay tuned.

Another important landmark in Kaohsiung that many people should not miss is the Lotus Lake. Let's go to the Lotus Lake together.

How to get to Lotus Lake or Lianchitan Pond

• Take the KMRT to Zuoying Station (the same station as the THSR Zuoying Station) or Ecological District Station.

• Then take the R35 bus to Lotus Lake stop. Use your I-PASS card.

The R35 bus to Sa Dok Bua in the late morning is not crowded as it is a weekday. You can sit comfortably for a long journey.

Upon reaching the Lotus Lake sign, you will also see the Shoushan National Park sign, indicating your arrival. From there, walk to the left of the sign, and you will find it immediately.

Before visiting the lotus lake area, we must first stop by the tourist service center. There must be something hidden that we need to follow up on.

As mentioned earlier, in addition to enjoying local cuisine and sightseeing, a must-do activity in Kaohsiung is to collect commemorative stamps from various locations, including Lotus Lake. After collecting the stamps, get ready to explore the significant landmarks around the lake.

Ciji Temple and Longhu Pagoda

Upon disembarking from the bus and passing through the tourist service center, the first landmark that greets visitors is the Ciji Temple and the Longhu Pagoda, standing prominently near the center. The Longhu Pagoda, literally translated as the "Dragon and Tiger Pagoda" in Thai, is situated in front of the Ciji Temple and houses the deity Baosheng Dadi, the god of healing who is believed to have preserved the eyes of the dragon and tiger. To traverse the pagoda, one must enter through the dragon's mouth and exit through the tiger's mouth, symbolizing the expulsion of negativity and the welcoming of auspiciousness. In essence, it represents the transformation of misfortune into good fortune.

The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are seven stories tall and offer panoramic views.

The Journey Through the Dragon's Mouth: A Tale of Filial Piety and Heavenly Rewards

Upon entering the Dragon's Mouth, visitors are greeted by murals depicting the story of a filial son in China, alongside vivid portrayals of heaven and hell. Ascending the stairs, one encounters breathtaking views from above, encompassing both the entrance to the Dragon's Mouth and the Tiger's Mouth. However, the true highlight awaits: the panoramic vista of the Lotus Lake, a spectacle that captivates all who behold it.

This is the Tiger Pagoda next to the Dragon Pagoda. Climbing the stairs of the Dragon Pagoda is enough, haha. Climbing the Tiger Pagoda again would be too much.

After visiting the twin pagodas of the dragon and the tiger, we continued on to the next temple. I recommend spending about half a day here.

QIMING TEMPLE

Across from the Chunqiu Pavilion, where a statue of Guanyin riding a dragon resides, stands the Qi Ming Temple. The temple's architecture resembles a three-story Chinese palace, with Confucius and Guan Yu as its presiding deities. Adjacent to the Qi Ming Temple, on the same side as the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, lies the Chunqiu Pavilion.

Chunqiu Pavilion

The Chunqiu Pavilion, also known as the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, features a prominent statue of Guanyin riding a dragon. The octagonal pavilion has a smaller pavilion in the center of the water, as seen in the picture taken from the Dragon Pagoda. Alternatively, refer to the first image before the story begins.

After admiring the exterior, we entered the interior, which was similar to the area of the twin dragon and tiger pagodas. Let's take a look at the atmosphere inside.

After enjoying the atmosphere for a while, we will walk to another temple, which is the last place in the lotus lake area. But in fact, there are many other temples, but we didn't stop by because the time in Kaohsiung was running out. It was full before moving from the south to Taipei in the north. I'm still enjoying it. Stay tuned for the next episode before we move on to the final location. I saw some people asking about Taipei, so I'd like to share my review from last time again. I won't be reviewing it much because many reviews have already covered Taipei thoroughly. 555 So I'd like to review other places in Taiwan instead. But I'll leave you with another review of Taipei from last year.

And the hostel I stayed at in Taipei also has reviews, which is "STAR HOSTEL". For those who want to follow, https://th.readme.me/p/2380

Beiji Pavilion

The Pavilion of the Black Tortoise is a pavilion built on a lake, which is the seat of the deity Xuanwu. Xuanwu is also the deity of the Northern Constellations. If you observe carefully, you will find that his feet are stepping on a turtle and a snake, which are his attendants.

The surrounding atmosphere of the Pei-chi Pavilion. After a short walk, we had to prepare to return to Taipei. We only had about half a day in Kaohsiung. When we have the opportunity, my friends and I will definitely visit this city again.

We then took the same bus back to Thsr Zuoying Station and retrieved our luggage from the locker before collecting our tickets to Taipei.

Before boarding the THSR high-speed train back to Taipei, and more importantly, traveling from the southernmost part of Taiwan to the northern part of Taiwan, I had to buy food to eat on the train. I don't know if it was delicious or not, but I was "very hungry" and it was a feeling. There are many shops selling boxed lunches at Zuoying Station, so you can choose according to your preferences. I came to this shop. After buying it, I went down to wait for the train back to Taipei.

This is my ticket. This is my second time in Taiwan, and I'm using itaifeng again (see previous review for details).

The THSR to Taipei has arrived, but we can't board yet. We have to wait for the cleaning staff to finish. The counter staff was very kind and arranged for me and my friend to sit at the back of the train, in the last seats. It's great because there's space to put our bags behind the seats.

Here's a photo of the sign to prove I'm really at this station.

The doors to Taipei are now open. As the high-speed rail doors opened, everyone went to their seats and the first thing everyone did was the same: they unpacked their train lunch boxes and ate them on the train, or they ate instant noodles, or they ate snacks right away. 555 I was one of them, I was so hungry, I had been walking since morning until I got on the train, so let me eat first.

This is the appearance of the train lunch box I bought. It is large and very filling.

After finishing my meal, I went to the bathroom. This is the toilet on the THSR train. It is quite clean and, most importantly, there is a vending machine for drinks. In addition, beautiful and lovely staff will walk around selling rice, snacks, or souvenirs. It was really enjoyable for my second visit to Taiwan and my first visit to Kaohsiung. Finally, I would like to end my review of Kaohsiung here. I hope that one day we will meet again and I will be able to cycle in Kaohsiung. I didn't get to cycle this time (sad). Thank you for following me.

The last picture shows me enjoying an ice cream while admiring the calla lilies at Yangmingshan, Taipei. (It was amazing!) Also, please follow my review of Okinawa. I'm going at the end of this year, and I'm not sure what it will be like, but I'm looking forward to it. 5555