After three days in the mountains of central Taiwan, it was time for us to explore more urban landscapes. Our next destinations were a pair of cities along the island’s southwestern coast. First up was Tainan, the oldest and most historic city in Taiwan. It was founded in 1624 as Fort Zeelandia by the Dutch East India Company, and was the capital of Taiwan until 1887.
In Tainan, we visited the 350-year-old Confucius Temple, whose gnarled trees whisper an ancient spirituality, and the Chihkan Tower, which used to be the old Dutch Fort Provintia until it was converted into two Chinese temples.
The courtyard of the Confucius Temple in Tainan.Confucius say, temple fish with balls dangling from face is hard even for Confucius to understand.Confucius say, soda bottles shaped like sex toys make Confucius giggle.Confucious say, if Confucius wink at you, it means he want to get to know you better.The weathered entrance gate at Chihkan Tower.The main temple at Chihkan Tower.In Tainan we enjoyed an exhilarating performance by the Ten Drum Art Percussion Group.The group’s local performances take place in an old sugar refinery that has been converted into a cultural arts center.The Ten Drum Cultural Village hosts lots of schoolkids as well as tourists. One of the kids told me I was pretty. Maybe something was lost in translation, but who am I to argue?
After Tainan, we headed further south to Kaohsiung. On the way, we stopped to check out the weird mudstone formations in the badlands of Tian Moon World, a geopark where millions of years of rain and erosion have given the surface a somewhat lunar appearance.
Mounds of mudstone have risen up from the ground over long periods of time, creating a bleak and barren landscape.At the geopark, we made some new friends who were visiting from Taichung, a city on Taiwan’s east coast.We didn’t have a chance to chat with these ladies, but they looked like they were having fun too.
Our next stop was the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, a massive complex consisting of pagodas, pavilions, a grand concourse, several shrines, and a really Big Buddha.
The Buddha itself is 40 meters high. The seat is another 10 meters, and with the pedestal, the total height is 108 meters (an auspicious number in Buddhist beliefs) or about 354 feet. Check out the people on the left for size comparison.Buddha say, don’t worry, be happy.Even aliens can appreciate the wonderful ways of Buddha.
In the city of Kaohsiung, we visited the twin pagodas on Lotus Lake. The pagodas were built in 1976 to represent the cosmic balance of life. Visitors enter the first pagoda through the dragon’s mouth and exit the second one through the tiger’s mouth, symbolizing the transformation of bad luck into good fortune.
If you go in reverse by entering the tiger’s mouth and coming out the dragon’s mouth, you may be sorrrrrry!A view of Lotus Lake from inside the pagodas.Take a short stroll down the lakefront from the twin pagodas and you’ll find Xuantian God, the tallest water statue in Southeast Asia.As you approach the Xuantian God, you pass a legion of other mythic characters.
We also spent a great day exploring Kaohsiung’s harbor port.
Kaohsiung is chock full of interesting architecture.The Taiwanese flag flies atop the old British Consulate with a view of Kaohsiung’s harbor.Mixed in with all the modern stuff, Kaohsiung also has plenty of older temples and buildings.The Dome of Light is a really cool art installation in Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung’s largest metro stop.The Dome of Light is a menagerie of unusual and colorful images.Obi Wan say, may the force be with you.
Naturally, we sampled lots of the local cuisine in Tainan and Kaohsiung.
The chef at our hotel in Tainan prepared us a delicious Cherry Duck feast.In Kaohsiung we enjoyed a traditional hot pot lunch. Wait, is that your bowl or mine?Care for a yummy Sweaty Chicken snack? Or maybe raccoon grilled seaweed is more your thing? (It’s oil free!)Whatever food you choose, you can wash it down with a nice chilled glass of refreshing…uh, whatever this is.Now, these look tasty! (They were.)When you’re done eating, don’t forget good oral hygiene – including a thorough rinse with a mouthful of green tea Listerine!
We had a great time in Taiwan’s southern cities. Tainan was full of history, and Kaohsiung was loaded with great modern architecture and a stylish, lively waterfront. Of all the cities we visited in Taiwan, Kaohsiung was our favorite. We were a little sad to leave, but we still had more of Taiwan to see.
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Fascinating place! I am sooo sorry we cannot travel with you! Have a wonderful time!
Caryl
3 hours ago
Great pictures.
Herbert Wilberforce of Upper Silesia
2 hours ago
Excellent Confucius quotes, well played. Also enjoyed the green tea Listerine and butt nuggets. Looks like a great trip, thanks for sharing. I will now click the “Verify you are human” button though I am actually a metallic robot 108 meters tall.
Fascinating place! I am sooo sorry we cannot travel with you! Have a wonderful time!
Great pictures.
Excellent Confucius quotes, well played. Also enjoyed the green tea Listerine and butt nuggets. Looks like a great trip, thanks for sharing. I will now click the “Verify you are human” button though I am actually a metallic robot 108 meters tall.