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Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Kaohsiung!
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We have had a pretty relaxing day today on the scale of things, certainly compared to the last two. With the temperature even hotter than yesterday, we decided not to overdo it. Instead, we took the E02 bus, from outside of the High-Speed Rail Station in Kaohsiung, for the thirty-minute ride to The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. This was something we had both wanted to do, since researching our trip to Taiwan. The Buddha Museum regularly comes up on YouTube videos, and it is a go to place on most Taiwan travellers itineraries.
I really had no idea what to expect before we set off this morning, but since we didn't really want to travel too far outside of Kaohsiung, this seemed like the perfect destination, coming highly recommended on Trip Advisor.
We took the MRT train from our hotel, which took us straight through to the main HSR station. We were expecting a long wait for a bus, just a short walk from the MRT exit, to bus stop number 3, but as it happened, there was one waiting directly outside, and once again, we used our integrated easy card to pay for the journey to the museum.
I have many complaints about my time in Taiwan, but the transport system here isn't one of them. It works like a dream, and we have had no problems using this service in either Taiwan or Kaohsiung. The buses and trains are a little older than I expected, but they literally do the job. Sometimes, in the west, we have too higher expectations on what we expect, from a public transport system, and by using other countries buses and trains, you soon become aware, that not everything is done well in western nations. The infrastructure here works really well, and we in Australia, and especially the UK, have a lot to learn from it!
I really had no idea what to expect before we set off this morning, but since we didn't really want to travel too far outside of Kaohsiung, this seemed like the perfect destination, coming highly recommended on Trip Advisor.
We took the MRT train from our hotel, which took us straight through to the main HSR station. We were expecting a long wait for a bus, just a short walk from the MRT exit, to bus stop number 3, but as it happened, there was one waiting directly outside, and once again, we used our integrated easy card to pay for the journey to the museum.
I have many complaints about my time in Taiwan, but the transport system here isn't one of them. It works like a dream, and we have had no problems using this service in either Taiwan or Kaohsiung. The buses and trains are a little older than I expected, but they literally do the job. Sometimes, in the west, we have too higher expectations on what we expect, from a public transport system, and by using other countries buses and trains, you soon become aware, that not everything is done well in western nations. The infrastructure here works really well, and we in Australia, and especially the UK, have a lot to learn from it!
The Buddha Museum is indeed a wonderful place. The richly decorated buildings in the complex are stunning, each one better than the next. As a spiritual person, I have great respect for Buddhism, Taoism and other religions in this particular part of the World. As I navigated the grounds with Darrell, there were Monks walking quietly, contemplating, sat on benches reading, and happy to see us there. Many waved, smiled, and noted our presence. I felt comfortable being in a place that valued me, and my endeavor to find out more, about this Taiwanese landmark.
We walked through statues of gold, around a winding road, which took us to the Great Golden Buddha at the top. This was a stunning piece of architecture, unlike anything I had seen anywhere else, except on our numerous trips around Thailand. The sun illuminated this statue even more than it already was, and it made for a rather awe-inspiring moment.
This is what holidays are all about for me. I have to be doing something on vacation; visiting places of historic interest, an organised excursion, or exploring the area I am staying in. I am a history buff at heart, so I would much prefer to go somewhere with lots of things to see.
Taiwan doesn't have an awful lot of sites of historic interest, which does surprise me, but what it does have, is breathtaking, and out of this World. Unfortunately, I do judge a place by what is has to offer people like me, as a tourist; for that reason, I doubt if I would come back here in the future.
I suppose I fell in love with Thailand so much, that I have always compared other countries I have visited, to it. In Thailand there was a temple around every corner and that was perfect for a culture hound like me. Taiwan is a place where you really have to seek out notable landmarks, spending more time than I would like walking and queuing, in the extremely hot sun! This of course, doesn't detract from the time we have had in Taiwan, both of us have enjoyed it immensely!
This is what holidays are all about for me. I have to be doing something on vacation; visiting places of historic interest, an organised excursion, or exploring the area I am staying in. I am a history buff at heart, so I would much prefer to go somewhere with lots of things to see.
Taiwan doesn't have an awful lot of sites of historic interest, which does surprise me, but what it does have, is breathtaking, and out of this World. Unfortunately, I do judge a place by what is has to offer people like me, as a tourist; for that reason, I doubt if I would come back here in the future.
I suppose I fell in love with Thailand so much, that I have always compared other countries I have visited, to it. In Thailand there was a temple around every corner and that was perfect for a culture hound like me. Taiwan is a place where you really have to seek out notable landmarks, spending more time than I would like walking and queuing, in the extremely hot sun! This of course, doesn't detract from the time we have had in Taiwan, both of us have enjoyed it immensely!
We were back at the hotel by 2.30pm this afternoon, where we booked a table in the Chinese restaurant at the 40th floor. As we are on the final leg of our journey in Taiwan, we are gradually winding down how much we are doing. Darrell and I must have sounded like a couple of old men, talking about our hip, knee, and leg problems, whilst navigating the streets of Kaohsiung; we have even talked about doing more relaxing holidays in the future... Yes, that did make me shudder! Still, we have a few days left in Taiwan and will make the most of our time here, until we leave on Thursday, when we return to Taipei!
Dinner in the Sky Restaurant was divine tonight - eight courses of pure heaven, consisting of everything from duck, fish, shellfish and other things I have never heard of. The food in the hotel is particularly delicious, and although I am not a huge fan of Chinese cuisine, I thought I would give it a try. Absolutely everything was perfect and very healthy for a change.
The service in the restaurant, indeed the whole hotel is second to none, but then when you pay for five stars, this is what you expect. It's the small things, the attention to detail, and the fact they remember your requirements, that make it special. The Han-Hsien International is a truly superb place to stay.
The service in the restaurant, indeed the whole hotel is second to none, but then when you pay for five stars, this is what you expect. It's the small things, the attention to detail, and the fact they remember your requirements, that make it special. The Han-Hsien International is a truly superb place to stay.
After dinner we popped to The Sky Bar for a couple of cocktails to finish the night. The view from the 40th floor of our hotel is spectacular; you can see how vast this city is. It isn't as big as Taipei, but as the second largest in Taiwan, it is up there with some of the biggest cities in the World. This hasn't been an easy holiday by no means, but it is a holiday I will remember for pushing me out of my comfort zone, and showing me a part of Asia, not many westerners have seen. This is an amazing holiday destination in the making, just watch this space!
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