November 5, 2017 A Slightly Delayed Docking
I had booked an excursion and looked forward to getting a glimpse of Taiwan. However, because we were late getting into port, the excursion times were revised and the tour seemed rushed and abbreviated. We first went to see the National Stadium which opened in 2009 for the World Games. It holds 55,000 people and was designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito. Built in the shape of a dragon, it was the first stadium in the world to generate power using solar power technology.
We then went to Lotus Park which must be beautiful in July when the flowers bloom. There were many temples there and we visited the Dragon Tiger Tower. Our guide told us it is considered propitious to go into the temple through the dragon and come out through the tiger. The park is popular for water sports and recreational activities.
Our next venue was Cijin Island, reached by taking a five-minute ferry ride from Kaohsiung Harbor. It was Sunday and we were mixed in with locals and tourists so there were long lines to board the ferry. The motorcycles went on the first level and the rest of us went to the second level. Once on the island, we found a temple, seafood markets, restaurants, and all kinds of vendors and then we were rewarded by reaching a beach with black sand. A few photographs and it was time to return to our meeting place. The guides could be seen trying to make an accurate headcount for the ferry ride.
