Making Each Day Count

It’s been over a month since our Taiwan trip, and I still find myself reminiscing about it especially during our first visit to Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan. This was actually our third time in Taiwan, having explored Taipei on our first two trips. While the main highlight this time was the Alishan National Forest, our brief stop in Kaohsiung turned out to be quite enjoyable, such that I would gladly return and spend more time there on our next visit.

From Chiayi, we took the high-speed train to Kaohsiung and arrived just in time for hotel check-in. Conveniently, our hotel was only a short walk from the station. After dropping off our luggage, we headed out right away to start exploring the city.

Our first stop was Shoyoen, the nearest heritage site. It is a beautifully preserved Japanese villa built in 1940. Admission was free. I was especially intrigued by the wooden interiors and vintage furnishings on the second floor. With only a few other visitors around, we enjoyed a relaxed visit and read through the English guides as we quietly took in the villa’s history.

For our first day in Kaohsiung, the highlight scheduled for sundown was a boat ride I had booked through the Klook app. With a few hours to spare that afternoon, D and I took the opportunity to explore the city on foot, visiting nearby attractions like the Dome of Light, Central Park, and Glory Pier.

The Dome of Light, an artistic 660-square-meter glass installation created by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, is one of Kaohsiung’s iconic landmarks. Located inside the Formosa Boulevard Station and just a short walk from the Liuhe Night Market, its colors and design were fascinating.

On our way to Love River, we passed through Central Park. It is a green oasis nestled in the heart of the city. With a pond at its center, the park had a lively yet relaxed atmosphere. Families were out enjoying the afternoon, playing frisbee, badminton, and riding bikes together. D and I had fun wandering through the park, spotting various art installations tucked among the trees and open spaces.

As the sun began to set, we continued our walk toward Glory Pier. Strolling along the riverbank was a breeze with its clean and beautifully maintained pathways. I noticed cemented handprints embedded in the walkway, maybe from notable figures from Kaohsiung. Before long, we reached the pier, just in time to catch a gorgeous sunset.

Finally, we made our way to the dock and boarded the Love Gondola. We shared the boat with three other couples, but it still felt spacious. As we gently drifted along the river, the city lights began to shimmer around us, creating an almost cinematic backdrop.

Our boat lady serenaded us with classic love songs. One tune in particular stood out to D and me. It’s Jay Chou’s Love Confession. It struck a chord, and it’s now a regular feature on our driving playlist. I used that song’s instrumental version in this YouTube shorts I made:

After our gondola ride, we figured there was no better way to end the day than with a cozy dinner at a nearby izakaya. A cold Taiwan beer was just what I needed, paired with crispy soft-shell crab tempura.

Our first day in Kaohsiung was fantastic. We walked home to our hotel with full bellies and happy hearts. It was a great start to that trip, and we couldn’t wait to see what Day 2 had in store.