I want this blog to be a good read for all the people who are thinking about visiting Taiwan but they are not sure or they don't know enough about its character. Read my blog and you definitely will gain some general information about Kaohsiung, the Taiwanese people, their cuisine, their customs, the weather etc. I hope that after reading it you will want to see Kaoshiung.
Foreigner's View on Kaohsiung
January 09, 2011
Episode XXXI: It's Been Over 3 Years
I want this blog to be a good read for all the people who are thinking about visiting Taiwan but they are not sure or they don't know enough about its character. Read my blog and you definitely will gain some general information about Kaohsiung, the Taiwanese people, their cuisine, their customs, the weather etc. I hope that after reading it you will want to see Kaoshiung.
July 26, 2007
Episode XXX: Hard Goodbye
Let's start with Britta Jurgens, Chiara Gomiselli, Nasima Khusnutdinova and Satoko Murao. Those four girls and myself have been members of the same project. We all arrived to Taiwan more or less simultaneously, representing Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan and Poland. It was a true pleasure to me to meet you and have a chance to cooperate with you, as well as spend some spare time.
We used to discover secrets of Taiwan together by traveling, meeting people, going out and partying. Each of us is pretty different but we found ways to get along fairly well. Thank you for your patience, outstanding sense of humour and a good will.
Our trips to Kenting, Fo Guang Shan and Hong Kong were fantastic and the memories of it will stay with me for years. Days spent together have got a great value to me. I have learnt a lot about the others but also about myself. Taiwan did connect us. Taiwan will see us apart.
Great words of appreciation have to go to Rita Su, who did a tremendous job by making splendid efforts to keep all five of us organized, safe and happy. Her help is priceless and I will never be able to return all the favors. The project is you, Rita!
No mistake. The place to be for me was KBS – the radio station. I could easily list everybody who works there but I want to focus on a couple of people. First of all Jennifer Tzeng. A person who gave me lots of confidence and was showing me her understanding. I could not think of a better superior than you!
Amber, Ge-Shien and Linly. You are the women who know what does hospitality and care mean. Being in your company I always felt special, important and lucky. You genuinely made me feel like home. Without you I could not be happy in Kaohsiung. All the help and advices given, all the questions you had to answer, all that I will never forget and never underestimate. It was my honor to share a working place with you.
Another person without whom I could not imagine my life in Taiwan is Marshall Chen. We are almost of an equal age and share a true passion for cinema. I am not able to recall how many films we have seen and discussed. Besides having a good time together, Marshall was always there for me if I needed help or any kind of assistance. You are a firm friend Marshall!
All of you comrades made my stay in Taiwan wonderful and unforgettable. You were my family here and you always will. If I think of Kaohsiung I think about you. No doubt.
Now is the moment to say goodbye to the people who listened or read my writing. Thank you for your time and attention. It was brilliant to do something like that. I will be missing it. Cheers!
Episode XXIX: My Very Own Moments
The summer in Kaohsiung is in full. Early afternoons are extremely sunny and hot. It was great to experience it at first but at the moment I'm trying to hide in a shadow as soon as I can. There is no way I could underestimate such a blessed device as air conditioning.
Lately also the sky in Kaohsiung is clearer. Maybe it is because of the heavy rains. A possible mighty typhoon as well would get rid of the smog alright. The fact is I have not seen before such a nice blue colour in the south of Taiwan. Big white shapely clouds add that extra thing, which makes me feel delighted.
Only in May I had an opportunity to find a moment to take some quality photos with that extraordinary beautiful sky. It was on Sunday. I simply quickly grabbed my camera and rushed to the Lotus Pond. Without a doubt, that is my favourite place across the whole city.
I walked around it taking countless pictures. It was a wonderful time. Just later I found out that it caused me some heavy suntan. Being exposed to the baking tropical sun might be tricky. Sunscreen is truly recommended.
To change the subject I wanted to say it took me ten months in Kaohsiung to finally decide to visit the viewing deck of the tallest building in the city. So-called 85-tower offers a splendid panorama from 300 meters above the ground. Believe me it is impressive. Especially because there is not much competition in height around the whole area. Even the skyscraper at the intersection of Shyhcyuan and Minzu looks small, though once it was the top structure throughout the whole island.
The view of the harbour is amazing. I have just realized how big it is. Another thing that struck me was the size of Chaishan (Monkey Mountain) and its dominating proud green mass. It has got an unquestionable role in the landscape of the city. It is actually hard to believe before taking a look from a different perspective. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed. I guarantee.
If you are looking for something as exciting but social I honestly suggest paying a visit to a live baseball game. Stadium located at the Cheng-Ching Lake area is one of the biggest grounds in the country. It can host 25 thousand people. The residing team you will see there is Kaohsiung Bears. Taiwan champions of 2006 season.
You say you do not fancy baseball? Friend of mine was saying the same. After the game he was genuinely happy and glad that I persuaded him to accompany me. Baseball in Taiwan is about much more than simply the sport. Each team has got an orchestra, flagmen and a fairly big bunch of determined supporters.
Game is loud. Drums and trumpets do not stop playing. Speakers are tireless and loaded with energy. An atmosphere is intense and overwhelming. A phenomenon itself. It is worth of witnessing as part of the cultural studies.
In Kaohsiung I feel like home. I am happy to be here. I am happy with what I have seen and experienced. My attitude is to enjoy a very single day. It pays off.
July 15, 2007
Episode XXVIII: Rice in the Soup
Some people describe Taiwan as a food paradise. I will not argue with that statement. I think it is pretty accurate. Local cuisine is tasty and inexpensive. An impressive variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is available on almost every corner.
Tofu is eaten in every possible form. That is splendid news to all who do not fancy meat that much. I would still recommend watching amounts of fat and salt that are being put to the dishes. If you care about your health I mean.
The base of a regular meal in Taiwan is a bowl of rice. Not too big. Just to fill your palm comfortably. The rice is usually eaten separately. The rest is on the plate or another bowl.
Before I have arrived to Taiwan I did not have many occasions in my life to eat with chopsticks. Obviously it was a challenge at first but I have taken it with a pleasure and joy. Now I do not even think about it. It simply became a part of myself. I feel very comfortable with it.
I would like to talk about some significant differences in food culture between Taiwan and my homeland – Poland. If Taiwanese person will ever travel to Poland, I suspect might be very surprised with what we do with rice.
Rice fried with an egg is probably common everywhere but in Poland we often eat it sweet. We add sugar, butter, and cinnamon and apple mousse to it. Quite a popular dessert it is. I know it might sound like a blasphemy to the Taiwanese traditionalists but there is nothing I can do about it.
Another thing is we do not use those smart pressure machines to prepare our rice. We boil it directly in the water. That is not the best option. I know.
To shock you more I will tell you that we also do put rice into the soup. Just instead of noodles. Sounds crazy? It is tomato soup, which is commonly eaten that way. Actually I have never question it before but after spending some time in Taiwan I feel like I should. Maybe next time I am offered I will tell the people what a missed idea it is.
To continue the strange stories from a distant Poland I would like to mention that we have totally different bread back in Europe. First of all we have many kinds of bread – white, brown, black. Soft, light and sweet. Hard, heavy and a bit sour. Crunchy and full of grains. The choice is vast and mouth-watering.
I suspect the Polish people could not live without their bread and potatoes. It is like rice and noodles in Taiwan. Eaten everyday and in big amounts. Our potato is not sweet to clear the doubts. It tastes the best with a pinch of salt and lots of fresh dill.
Another noticeable difference between Taiwanese and Polish cuisine is that here red beans, green peas and lentil are mainly consumed as a dessert or a snack. Often with squares of solid jelly and roasted peanuts, all drowned in a sweet soup or a hot herbal jelly. I was used to eating beans with a spicy tomato sauce back home. Nevertheless after a while in Asia I became a true amateur of a local specialty.
All those funny or sometimes shocking differences make the world exciting and inspiring. That is why I enjoy discovering new tastes and ways to cook and prepare food. It is a pure joy and delight!
June 26, 2007
Episode XXVII: The Path Around
Since I have arrived to Kaohsiung city, my home is Tsoying district. There is where I live, hang around, eat, walk etc. Chongde Road is my street. Carefully filled with busy barbeque stands. Fresh fruit juice stalls and small bars and restaurants that I visit very often. I would say I am kind of friends with some of the owners. That is a great feeling.
This place is so familiar to me at the moment that it is really hard to imagine how it is possible. When I went for a trip to Hong Kong in December for a few days, on my way back to Kaohsiung I genuinely felt like returning home. That was a strange sensation but I will not complain. That means I have found my place in Taiwan.
Before I decided to come here I have never been to Asia before. My longest stay away from home was three months and it was in Scotland, which is not that far from Poland. Taiwan was supposed to be a big new challenge and an adventure. It is all came true unexpectedly easier than I thought.
Kaohsiung city has got many attractive places to visit and I live simply in the neighbourhood of one of them. I am talking about the Lotus Pond. There are a few scenic locations in the city. Takao British Consulate, Chaishan also known as a Monkey Mountain, parts of the Love River and without a doubt the Lotus Pond.
It is a perfect place for a relaxed walk. Far from the city centre its rush and noise. Whenever I am in a mood I take my camera and go there to spend some guaranteed jolly time.
The best spot to start is the place with the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. It is exceptionally beautiful at the nighttime. Its warm and soft lights create an atmosphere that strongly requests to be immortalized with photography.
During the daytime I recommend to go upstairs and take a look at the Pond. Refreshing and cool wind can be helpful on a sunny day. But do not stay there for too long. There is much more to see around.
Next stop is a colourful and huge statue of the God of Justice. It stands tall at the end of the platform stuck in the Pond. During Chinese New Year it is all decorated with yellow lanterns, which produce a magnificent view. Visit the turtle's colony and the tank with the big red fish.
Continuing my walk I usually get to the Confucius Temple. In front of it there is a shapely photogenic bridge, the wall and the gate. Many trees have flowers and splendid thick leafs that attract my senses.
On the other side of the Pond there is a choice of interesting places. Wetlands offer an exotic area full of swamps, insects, trees, bushes, little ponds and walking paths. Usual destination for a quick family wanders. The biggest draw is a watching tower that should not be missed.
To end my walk I choose to go to the Clear Water Temple, which is readily recognizable for a massive Buddha sculpture on its roof. That is a fantastic place for a few reasons. From the top I can observe both the Wetlands and the Pond. With and silent company of a Buddha I count the sails of the boats and stare at the gigantic mirror of the Pond's surface.
Carvings, bas-reliefs and statues of the Clear Water Temple belong to my favourite. Maybe because they are plain stone and have a distinct texture and seriousness. Colourful temple lack that feature.
So I walk around. Absorbing the surroundings and analyzing what I see. Trying to adopt and keep a part of it. This is me and my Kaohsiung.
June 12, 2007
Episode XXVI: Climbing the Monkey
I have been living in Kaohsiung city already for a while but did not experience one of its most famous attractions for several months. I admit my fault. I have been to the Love River, Cijin Island, Takao British Consulate, Lotus Pond and Fine Arts Museum. Some of those places I have visited multiple times. But I missed some other thing.
Funny thing is the radio I am working in is placed very close to it. Isn't it an irony? Being in the neighbourhood of something so often and do not know it well.
May 23, 2007
Episode XXV: Climbing the Roof
There is only one structure of the Kaohsiung city that is visible from a far distance. It is a symbol of the city and its pride I am sure. An 85-floor sky tower located in the downtown, the neighbourhood of the harbour. A building, which has got a shape of a Chinese character that means nothing else but high. No wonder why. It is 378 meters tall.
Kaohsiung's tower used to the Taiwan’s tallest between 1997 and 2003. It remains very impressive but few years ago a true rival appeared. It has got 101 floors and that is why it is called Taipei 101.
Taipei 101 is the first building to break the half-kilometer mark in height. Its 508 meters give it the title of the tallest in the world. It had left behind the giants such as Sears Tower in Chicago and Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Located in the eastern part of Taipei city the tower overlooks and absolutely dominates the environment. In Hong Kong for an instance there are many great structures. In Taipei there is only one that cannot be missed out.
In the neighbourhood of the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and surrounded by numerous shopping malls and entertainment centre, Taipei 101 is one of the biggest attractions to a visitor who dropped in to the capital of Taiwan.
Taipei 101's design is unique thanks to a bamboo stalk's pattern. The tower looks very slim and soaring. It does not weight down with its figure. Actually it gives an impression of being quite light and slick. It does not look that heavy. It is just a pure height.
I have to admit that I am afraid a heights a bit. I really wanted to climb 101's observatory when I went to Taipei in a first week of April but it was a thrilling experience after all. It is so tall that almost unbelievable.
When I arrived to Taipei the weather was not good enough to have a clear view from up there. Clouds were covering tower's top floors. I was disappointed because I truly counted I will have a chance to see something. I had to wait until Saturday night when the visibility became satisfactory. Then I came back.
I have entered the fastest elevator in the world that moves with the speed of 60 km/h. That was something unreal. After reaching the destination I have realized that it is simply too high for me. I enjoyed taking a look but with some kind of natural and inexpressible pleasure I went down to put my foot on the ground again. Nevertheless I was happy to fulfill my goal.
Probably Taipei 101 will not remain the tallest of all for long. There are some challenging structures to be completed soon. One of them is a tower being built in Dubai in United Arab Emirates. According to the plan, it is going to be 800 meters tall. As a matter of fact it is already in cosmos. Or even somewhere beyond.
May 15, 2007
Episode XXIV: The Cabbage and the Palace
April 25, 2007
Episode XXIII: More Than a Game
I did not expect to find a football team here in Kaohsiung that I could join. It came out all of a sudden. Accidentally I met one of the Pacers in a pub and I was told about the chance to have a game so I immediately agreed and that is how easy it was.
April 20, 2007
Episode XXII: Ride the Country
April 09, 2007
Episode XXI: Island of Plenty
Food and weather are not the only things that make a difference between my home-country Poland and Taiwan. Being brought up in Eastern Europe I am used to daily lack of opportunities in terms of looking for a job or finding entertainment without spending much.
In Poland for young people like me, main problem now is to find a job that would match with ours educational background. Most of the people, if they are lucky enough to get any employment, work in other field that they should. That does not lead to anything good.
I know myself at least twenty English teachers living in Kaohsiung area. Most of them coming from England, Ireland, Canada, States, South Africa or New Zealand. Some arrived to Taiwan with the plan to stay for a while but after they found a good job, tasted gorgeous Asian cuisine, met local hospitality and beautiful women, there was no question about going back home. It seems that life here suit them really well. That does not surprise me. Modern western world live with high tempo, lots of pressure at work and huge everyday expenses. So much opposite to a life of a foreigner in Taiwan.
That is no secret that Taiwanese society, market and lifestyle are pretty Americanized. It is quite clear to me because in Poland that process is not that visible as here. By Americanization I mean easy access to plenty of things. Let's start with shopping. Almost anything can be purchased in Taiwan. There is only the question of money and knowledge where to look for it. In Poland some things, like for example exotic food, do not exist on the market. Simply cannot be found. Taiwan is full of European or American products. Maybe it is not Hong Kong yet but it is far ahead of Poland, which is not the thing I am happy to admit.
If somebody is looking for a venue to do particular sports, I am very sure it is not a problem. Basketball courts are extremely popular and located everywhere throughout the whole city. Football pitches are available at most of the schools. Practicing golf, baseball or softball is even easier since those sports belong to favourite of Taiwanese people. If team disciplines do not attract you, why not to join the group of people that do dancing or tai-chi classes in the evenings at the museum or park areas.
Episode XX: So Long
When I have arrived to Kaohsiung in August 2006 I obviously was not thinking about the moment of my departure because it was just the beginning of a great adventure. It was too distant and actually without much sense to do so. I am still around and not going anywhere for a few next months but one of my close friends already left and that is the reason I would like to talk about her today. Let it be some kind of a way to say good bye.
Visiting Kenting beach and the park, Fo Guang Shan monastery, Cijin Island or Hong Kong city together was extraordinary and brought lots of great experiences, emotions and smiles. Although Satoko is back to Japan within the first week of March 2007, the rest of us are still here in Kaohsiung. It is not the same without her but we keep on working and save all the wonderful memories in our minds.
Satoko is a kind of a person that you simply cannot dislike. She is the last one to make any harm to the others. Her friendly and bright face was always offering a smile. She represents an example of a positive personality. Humble, warm-hearted, open-minded and smart. Surely it is a great loss to our team that she cannot be with us anymore.
Satoko has got deep emotional nature that corresponds with her inner beauty and uncommon sensitivity. Spending time with her I found relaxing and quite often illuminating. Also chatting with her on various topics is always interesting. Satoko is a particularly intelligent person that does not like to show off with it. It is a sign of a real modesty. An authentic example to follow.
It is very sure that all of us will miss her a lot but what we have done together will stay in our hearts and will not be forgotten. Most important thing is to stay optimistic and keep the fingers crossed for our future reunion.
After she left Satoko told me that it is fantastic that people coming from totally different places of the world can understand each other and be good friends. Like we all did in Taiwan! Thank you Satoko! So Long!