Kaohsiung, Taiwan Travel Blogs

Taiwan Part 1
Aug 9, 2004 (3 photos)

The defining experience of my trip to Taiwan was roaring around Kaohsiung on the back of a scooter. Few things could have prepared me for, or compared to, the exhilaration of riding a scooter, and the choking reality of traffic in South East Asia. I ...

Taiwan Part 2
Aug 9, 2004 (3 photos)

... well into the planning stages of his tour. Back in Toronto, I bought the Lonely Planet guides to Taiwan and Korea and started planning. Matt had friends in Kaohsiung, while I knew more about Korea, and found a great recruitment agent who set me up. The ...

Taiwan Part 3
Aug 9, 2004 (3 photos)

On that leisurely stroll around Matt's neighborhood in Kaohsiung, I came across a driving school, fenced off and away from any major streets. I'm no driver, and don't think I could have done much better than anyone on that course. And I don't think it's a ...

Taiwan Part 4
Aug 9, 2004 (3 photos)

... refuge from work: a few beers, cable television, or, for those so inclined, a slightly more nefarious distraction. Hashish abounds in Kaohsiung, and seems a normal (read: essential) part of life for foreigners in the city. Seoul is a "dry" town, to the ...

Farewell Kaohsiung!
Jul 11, 2008 (8 photos)

... * lack of sidewalks * being stared at like I'm a freak when I run/bike/swim. * population density of 9,500people/km2 in Kaohsiung. Despite all that, I am infinitely grateful for all the time I had here and all the people I met.  Taiwan may not be ...

Time for the Traditional Market - BAM!
Dec 17, 2008 (5 photos)

... head back to uncle’s house.  On the way to the metro – I order a stamp of my name – everything official in Taiwan is signed with your name and a stamp.  So – I order one.  If I ever decide to buy real estate – ...

Post-Retreat
Jul 5, 2009

Well, I've come out alive. That's about all I can boast about the meditation retreat. It was a disappointing week for me, as I was in constant physical pain with no way to alleviate it. The 'brand' of meditation we were practicing involves quite abit of ...

Arrival
Jun 15, 2009

... around 5:30pm. We were greeted by several staff members of the program. I expected us to be nuzzled somewhere inside the city of Kaohsiung, but rather we are in a huge compund outside the city (40 min). A staff member explained that there are men's and ...

Sugar Factory and Night Markets
Dec 19, 2008 (6 photos)

... were at least 12 types of tofu for tasting – she tried them all and other stuff.  This is perfectly acceptable in Taiwan.  Try everything and don’t even buy anything.  I like the idea, but cannot bring myself to do it yet.   ...

Nap?!
Jun 26, 2009

   not feeling so well, but breakfast was very good- watermelon, toast thing, fake tofu chicken leg (disturbingly realistic), soy milk, corn (?). I prefer not to have daytime food for breakfast. I'm worried because I hear that during ...

First Full Day in Kaohsiung
Dec 16, 2008 (10 photos)

... with 3 huge buddas.  After visiting the temple, we went to the Lover's Wall by the Former British Consulate in Takao (Kaohsiung's old name).  We tried to go to the consulate - but it was closed.  Shite!  Then we briefly toured through ...

Another night out this time with some western food
Jun 28, 2008 (16 photos)

Yesterday we went to the movies because it was a rainly drowsy afternoon. They have "gold class" seats here.Its the top floor of the mall, you get your own waiter and menu, you sit in lazy boy chairs and get blankets! It was awesome, we made the boys see ...

The Fish Market!
Jun 27, 2008 (15 photos)

Hello everyone! Steve had to work on his essay today and Eddie had to work, so Linds and I went to the mall to check stuff out! Wow its nuts! 12 floors of heaven! ahhaha.The prices in the malls are the same as home so not many westenors shop at them, ...

The Meditation Retreat
Jun 28, 2009

SO hard to wake up today. Taiji (shimin exercise) inside because visitors were doing a pilgrimmage outside. Punished for talking in line by silent breakfast. I grabbed this sandwich on a whim. It was the last thing I ate, and I regret it so much. I almost ...

GETTING READY FOR OUR 2 MONTH TREK
Jun 30, 2008

WE ARE LEAVING FOR THAILAND TOMORROW MORNING... IM NOT SURE WHEN ILL GET TO AN INTERNET CAFE NEXT! BUT WE WILL TRY OUR BEST TO KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED! :) THE GAME PLAN SO FAR IS TO FLY INTO BANGKOK STAY THERE FOR 6 DAYS THEN HEAD DOWN TO THE SOUTH.... THATS ...

AROUND OUR PLACE
Jun 30, 2008

Hello!:) Steve had to work on his last essay today so I went on a long walk to the park. Here are some of the pictures !:) xo

WERE HERE SAFE AND SOUND!
Jun 26, 2008

Hello everyone. This is just a quick a message to let everyone know we made it safe and sound!! Our flight to LA was.....short.lol. We lucked out on our 15hr flight and each had our own row to sleep and sprawl out on. I have pics to show u! It was ...

Going to Kaohsiung
Dec 16, 2008

This is a big day.  We are heading to Irene's home town of Kaoshiung by High Speed Rail.  We meet Irene's brother at the train station and board the HSR.  It is super clean too!  The rail is quiet and fast traveling at 290 KM/H.  ...

Gaoxiong
Jun 16, 2009

[Note: I arrived in a group that arrived a day before the program started, so on actual arrival day we had a free day.]     Today may be impossible to document. This morning, we arrived at breakfast, which was essentialy the same as ...

Post-Pilgrimage
Jul 6, 2009

... stop is the Tainan Prison MingDe Drug Rehabilitation center, which accepts criminals (more than 50% of offenses committed in Taiwan are drug-related) who have already served their minimum sentencing. Here, both Christianity and Buddhism serve as a means ...

Our first day In Kaohsiung
Jun 26, 2008 (31 photos)

... also wanted A B C the next row back... yes thats right we both had entire rows to ourselves! it was GREAT!! Taiwan customs was a joke.... Literally. They asked nothing.! So were at they Taipei airport (north side of Taiwan Island...Our friends live on ...

The Interview
Jun 25, 2009

-hard to wake up -good meditation this AM, counted up to maybe 40 breaths -prizes awarded at breakfast for cleanest rooms- not ours, but I'm sure we were up there.. class: Yifa taught the Diamond Sutra. Not much to say. Note: I've found that Chinese and ...

"Free Day"
Jun 22, 2009

Our one and only free day! 1. Woke up late (6:30am) 2. Breakfast- Yifa (program director nun lady, google her) gave us a huge speech about being responsile with our free time. 3. changed sheets, dressed (civilian clothes), showered 4. Roomies and I walked ...

How long has it been?
Jun 19, 2009

   [Note: Henceforth, I'll likely only write about things in the schedule that are different, like special activities or anythign that strikes me.] As usual- taiqi and meditation inside the dorm building before lunch      ...

Lazy Day in Kaohsiung
Dec 20, 2008 (5 photos)

Today was a lazy day. We start at Carre Four – a department store where we look for a number of things and try all kinds of foods for sampling.  I still don't like any dried fish/seafood.  It is not good.  Before shopping we happen ...

A Dream Mall Christmas
Dec 25, 2008 (1 photos)

... . There are signs that it is Christmas here, trees and decorations, but that is it.  So, what do you for Christmas in Taiwan?  What else – go shopping at a place called the Dream Mall!  This is no ordinary mall.  No sir-eee.  ...

Buddha relic
Jun 21, 2009

Greetings. [this entry is practically empty] Typhoon is rumored to have passed  by, but the trees are still in a frenzy. Taiqi inside, fruit and a bit of asparagus for breakfast. Tooke a secret pathway back to the dorm (MaJuYuan, literally Pilgram's ...

Kaohsiung
Apr 30, 2009 (19 photos)

Koska haluttiin nähdä tällä visiitillä muutakin kuin Taipein smogit, niin päätettiin lähteä junalla aivan Taiwanin eteläpäähän Kaohsiungin kaupunkiin. Ja kyllä tässä nyt muita smogeja nähtiinkin, voi hyvää päivää! Siitä myöhemmin lisää... Hypättiin Taipein Main Stationilta ...

Not your usual Saturday
Jun 20, 2009

as usual... -class on the abhidharma (wiki) -lunch- unbearable, I almost threw up- mush and bitter melon (wiki) soup -walking meditation (hot) -sitting meditation (painful) -visit Buddha Relic Memorial, which is being built to house a Buddha relic tooth ( ...

Foot Massage and Liuhe Smorgasbord
Dec 24, 2008

... feel like Jello.  AHHHHHHH…  I feel like I can walk a marathon! After the foot massage, we head over to Kaohsiung Milk King and have Papaya Milk and Mung Bean Milk.  It was good, but not the first thing I would order somewhere.  ...