Lotus Pond - Tiger and Dragon Pagoda, Autumn and Spring Pagoda, Zuoying Yuandi Temple, Pier 2 and The Dome of Light!

The day started off well this morning, although the breakfast at the five-star Han-Hsien was a little lack luster, compared to what was on offer at the Cozzi in Taipei. I do understand we are in Asia, but as an international hotel, they really do need to cater for all guests. This blog post will seem a little whingy today, but I am writing as I find things, and today didn't end too well!

The south of Taiwan does have a distinctly Chinese feel, where the north and Taipei was more Japanese. The contrast between these two regions is stark. Although Kaohsiung is quieter and more relaxing, it is also a lot more difficult to navigate. The western influence in Taipei really is noticeable - here, it seems distant, and there is very little English spoken. If you are intending to visit this area, you should bear this in mind. Southern Taiwan isn't really equipped to cater for western tourists in my opinion, so you are very much left to your own devises in Kaohsiung. Maybe, just maybe, tourists like me are just too entitled anyway, and we really should just do what the locals do?

The heat was already rising when we left our hotel first thing this morning, so we popped into Starbucks for a quick drink: an Oolong Tea for me and an iced coffee for Darrell. Once again, we had no firm plans for the day and that was a big mistake. If you don't plan things, you are going to spend most of the time walking around aimlessly and that is exactly what we did.

Tonight, I am at the hotel blogging, tired and exhausted, having achieved very little. Of course, the humidity is high here; at 34 degrees today, it is particularly debilitating. The biggest mistake we have made on this holiday, is not sorting out an itinerary. We both thought we could just go and wing it. Well, we couldn't, and should have looked closer at this place, before arriving yesterday.

I have spent the last four months researching Taiwan extensively, and I thought I had it in the bag, but looking randomly at YouTube videos was not enough. I have discovered that most influencers just do not tell the truth, about where they are visiting. The places I have been to, recommended by different broadcasters, were not all that special. But, however, there was one place both Darrell and I thoroughly enjoyed, and it was all thanks to a gentleman called Kai!

Our first stop this morning was at The Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung. This is a place, famous across the internet, especially on YouTube. It consists of a series of pagodas, situated idyllically next to temples, and other buildings of historic interest. These richly decorated places of pilgrimage are must-see destinations, if you are travelling to the south of Taiwan. They were the highlight of my day today, and it is an experience I will remember for years to come.

On the Spring and Autumn Pagoda, we waked through the mouth of the dragon for good luck. This is something all tourists do, and we were no different. It was rather beautiful inside the belly of the dragon and was indeed a wonderful experience. However, there was disappointment, with the Dragon and Tiger Pavillion still closed for renovations. This is the largest and most famous of the landmarks, and one tourists visit from all over the World. Sadly, we weren't able to see it in its full glory, but at least the rest of The Lotus Pond didn't fail to disappoint!

From the Spring and Autumn Pagoda, we walked the short distance to the Zuoying Yuandi Temple, gazing in awe at the amazing Taoist architecture, glistening in the sunlight. Walking across the walkway, out into the middle of the pond, was indeed magnificent. As we entered the temple, the smell of incense filled the air, thankfully detracting from our overly sweaty appearance, after walking miles in the searing heat.

As I looked around this special place, I was approached by a guy called Kai, who just asked, if I would like him to tell me a bit about this Taoist temple. Having been in these situations before, I was initially reluctant, thinking this was a scam, but nothing could have been further from the truth!

Kai couldn't have been any more than twenty years old, and he spoke perfect English and also conversed in French, to a small group who joined us for an impromptu tour of this Taoist temple. He talked in great detail about the meaning behind the burning of incense and other aspects of symbolism, that is so important to all religions. I found his talk informative and enlightening; it really allowed us to feel a part of this iconic landmark, in a way we wouldn't otherwise.

From my initial chat with Kai, I believe he wants to become a tour guide, and enjoys talking with tourists, getting tremendous satisfaction from this valuable interaction. I have also looked up reviews of this temple on google and found Kai's name prominently featured. He was welcoming, inquisitive, and genuinely happy to be around us, and others he was speaking to. Both Darrell and I feel lucky to have met him and enjoyed his company immensely. If you do visit this temple, do keep a look out for him. This young man gave us his time and energy for free, and although I would have paid him generously, I didn't want to offend him, or his good nature.

​Thank you, Kai, you were truly amazing!

After we had completed the tour of The Lotus Pond, we took a long forty-minute walk back to the nearest MRT station, to continue our journey onto Dream Mall, where Darrell wanted to buy some clothes. Now, I am not a fan of shopping malls on holiday, and certainly not ones seven stories high. It was literally impossible to find anything in such a short space of time.

I was beginning to feel a little irritable. Darrell and I are like chalk and cheese - what he likes, I hate, and vice versa. Usually this works well, and our opposite personalities, likes and dislikes, gel well together. Today, however, I was just not enjoying the shopping experience at all. I work in a mall every day of my life, and do not want to spend my holiday in one. 

I was a little snappy towards Darrell in the end and just wanted to leave. 

Part of the problem here, is the lack of public transport in Kaohsiung. Despite having an underground and tram system, there are very few stops on these integrated modes of transport, and you do find yourself walking huge distances in between. Today I have done nearly 30000 steps, and I am really feeling the pain at my age. I can only think that this modern transport system, is in its infancy, and as yet not developed enough, to cover this city comprehensively. If you are a little older like me, just take this into account when planning your journey. The astronomical amount of walking you will cover between public transport hubs, isn't for the faint hearted, and can become overwhelming; several bottles of water, decent walking shoes and an umbrella for the heat or rain is an absolute necessity!

After the shopping mall we headed back to the tram and a short ride to Pier 2, an art installation on the dockside of the city. Now, here is a destination, that I had no idea what to expect from. I knew it would be alternative, and a little bit different, but for me it was also an anticlimax. There were plenty of overpriced shops, built into a series of old warehouses, selling some pretty gorgeous stuff, but that was just about it.

Most of the items for sale, we couldn't buy, due to Australia's strict border controls. You cannot bring wooden items into the country, so there was no point buying any. Sadly, there was very little else on offer, and with the heat becoming unbearable, we decided to head home, stopping briefly at The Dome of Light.

The Dome of Light is essentially situated at Formosa Boulevard, an underground station on Kaohsiung's MRT network. It has become extremely famous online, especially on YouTube, and is a stunning place to visit whilst on your travels if you have time.

Darrell and I returned back to the Han-Hsien, for dinner in the Tea Rooms on the 2nd floor. We have found the food situation in Taiwan, most frustrating if I am honest. Maybe it's because we enjoy our western comforts too much, but we have just found it hard to find a place to sit, relax, eat a meal, and take in the local scenery. Here, everything seems rather rushed; you are either eating expensive street food, surrounded by hordes of people, or looking for a place where you can sit comfortably, which isn't the norm here. There are queues of people everywhere, all trying to find somewhere to sit, even in McDonalds! So far, except for when we travelled to Jiufen, we haven't found any decent places to eat.

Now I know this will be controversial, and people will say we are just winging foreigners, but come on, if you are a large city, you need to cater for everyone, not just the few. If like us, you find it difficult to navigate the local restaurants, stay in an international hotel. It is a lot more expensive, but it does make it a more pleasurable experience.

Tomorrow is another day, and we just hope it gets a little better, if not we'll just put it down to experience. Please don't take my comments the wrong way, Taiwan is a beautiful place, and the people are absolutely fantastic, we have just found it difficult dealing with certain aspects of life here. If we return here in future, there will be less reliance on YouTube/Instagram influencers, and more research done, on more authentic websites.

Not everything is as it seems!