One of the big attractions near Kaohsiung is the Fo Guan Shan Monastery and its adjacent Buddhist Museum. The monastery was built in the 1960s. Sometimes it’s not easy finding out how to get to slightly remote places. I looked at various guides online and tried Google Maps. There seemed to be an online consensus … Continue reading / view photos Fo Guan Shan Monastery and Buddhist Museum
Dome of Light
Kaohsiung has the largest public artwork made from glass in the world. Designed by German artist Narcissus Quagliata over four years, it was shipped to Taiwan in pieces and assembled in Formosa Boulevard metro station. The Dome of Light, as it’s called, is spectacular and reinforced Kaohsiung’s reputation for art in public spaces. When the … Continue reading / view photos Dome of Light
Artistic Kaohsiung
From Chiayi, I took the train in the morning to Kaohsiung. I read some interesting things about it, especially its art in public places. You notice the attention to art the minute you arrive at the central station. At the station, I especially like the section for children to read (books provided!). The transport options … Continue reading / view photos Artistic Kaohsiung
Return to Alishan
My original plan was to spend just the day in Alishan. I was smitten with Alishan. So, I asked the hotel owner if I could extend my stay. She replied that my room was available. Today, we followed the same routine as yesterday. It started with breakfast, which consisted of rice porridge (congee), a mixture … Continue reading / view photos Return to Alishan
Astray in amazing Alishan
I would have preferred to stay in Alishan, but accommodation is difficult to find and it’s expensive. I therefore stayed in Fenqihu. My hostel owner said she’d drive me to Shizhao an adjacent town, at 8am to get the bus to Alishan. When we arrived at the bus stop, I could see something wasn’t quite … Continue reading / view photos Astray in amazing Alishan
Fog in Fenqihu
The tourist train from Taichung to Fenqihu is slower than the coach. But I went by train because I read that there were stunning views as the train climbs from sea-level to 1500m. The old-fashioned look didn’t stop the train having (very cold!) air-conditioning which, by the last stop, most of us were trying to … Continue reading / view photos Fog in Fenqihu
Chaotic Chiayi
After yesterday’s whirlwind tour of Taichung, I decided to continue moving south. Taichung train station looked different from when I arrived . Going to Chiayi was a stopover before heading for Alishan National Park, a place with stunning mountains. It was a popular tourist destination. In Chiayi, I was staying in a capsule hostel with … Continue reading / view photos Chaotic Chiayi
A tour of Taichung
A work colleague of Helene’s knew someone who lived in Taichung. This colleague connected her Taiwanese friend and me on the off chance that I’d go to Taichung and we’d both be free to meet. Well, here I was in Taichung, a place I’d not heard off that long ago! The person who lived in … Continue reading / view photos A tour of Taichung
Taichung
I had more to see in Taipei but my hostel had no vacancies beyond the period I’d booked. I had a choice: find other accommodation in Taipei or go to another place. When I’d got to Taiwan, I was largely clueless about the country and what I would do. However, talking to other travellers and … Continue reading / view photos Taichung
Yangmingshan National Park
I found it alien that you could take a bus from central Taipei and, an hour later, be surrounded by mountains. Yangmingshan National Park has many trails and hikes for people of all abilities. Determining the bus to take was confusing since everything I read said get the “red 5 bus” to Yangmingshan bus terminal. … Continue reading / view photos Yangmingshan National Park