Trip to Kaohsiung (Day 2)

Craig's Dad still doesn't understand why the hotel kept the air-conditioning in its restaurant so cold that normal people needed to wear two-layers of clothing just to feel comfortable. Despite the unnecessary cold, Craig enjoyed the breakfast because there was plenty of milk to drink.


While Uncle Dean and Aunty Suprana finished breakfast, Craig and his cousin Soit-Jade went to a small park near the hotel.


Then, it was time for the long walk over the pedestrian overpass to the MRT station again.


First stop was a large open park the name of which escapes Craig's Dad at the moment.


It had a jungle gym of the type most common in Taiwan.


Although it was hot out in the sun, the little group waited for about half an hour for a "water performance" that was scheduled to begin at 12:30. It never began. The spouts never spouted and the jets didn't do what jets are supposed to do either. It was a bit dull.


In the afternoon, it was decided (after some vigorous suggestions from Craig's Dad) that the little group should hire bicycles and go riding on a bicycle path he had read about. It runs along Cijin Island that forms the outer wall of Kaohsiung Harbor.


Craig's seat on the bike was in between his Mum and Dad. He stayed strapped into his seat on the ferry but had trouble looking at the camera for a picture because there was so much to see.


Once on Cijin the little group rode for hours up as far as they could go and then back again. On the outward leg they stopped at a park to allow the two children to play on a jungle gym.


Craig was bit concerned about this slide despite it looking pretty safe to Craig's Dad.


There was an unusual rocking animal not far away that caught Craig's attention because, as he said several times, it was "blue!"


For a change, Craig was happy to share with Soit-Jade.


At the far end of the island from the ferry terminal was a lookout that doubled as the grandstand for a BMX track. The view toward the ocean was unobstructed and the late-afternoon breeze was pretty fresh.


Sunset was not too far away.


Craig's Dad concentrated on taking pictures of the ocean but, in hindsight, he should have taken a picture or two of Craig's Uncle Dean doing tricks on his bicycle.


The ride back was a long one and the people doing the pedalling had to stop occasionally for a rest. Meanwhile Craig admired the scenery from his perch on the bicycle.


After they finally arrived back at the MRT station, a dog surprised everyone by posing for pictures just outside the station.


Just about the last thing people needed was more exercise. So, some bad advice from an MRT employee about which way to walk to the Love River. Evetually a place to have dinner was found, even if it was just hot dogs, chips and German beer.


Soit-Jade had done enough for one day and was sound asleep on her dad, Uncle Guapo's lap.


And, not long after dinner, Craig was also asleep, albeit somewhere a bit more comfortable.