Kaohsiung at Dawn- a Holiday Excursion

I'm normally more of a morning person, which is a bit of a rarity in Taiwan among the Western ex-pat community due to our mandatory evening working hours, so when the summer holidays finally roll around it gives us a chance to get out early and enjoy the early morning hours.  Here in the south, Taiwan summer days can get up to over 40 degrees with nearly 100% humidity during the typhoon season; meaning unless you feel like being an egg in a frying pan, the early morning and late evening are the only safe times to be outside.

This morning, we took our fabulous dogs for an early morning walk at 4:00 am and left the house for our own neighborhood excursion to Lotus Lake around 5:00.  We veered off onto a very small side street (東門街) and walked to the first of a string of parks that run alongside the lake.  On the way, we saw a really well maintained community garden- something that took both of us by surprise because you don't expect to see a large produce garden in the middle of large apartment blocks.  Still, the quality of produce looked quite good (although we weren't brave/stupid enough to tempt the fates and try some)!

Once we got to the park, we noticed something hovering over the small, lotus-filled pond that we had never noticed before: a rock dove (pigeon) coop.  Local farmers in surrounding counties often keep birds of various kinds in coops constructed above their townhouses, but this is the first time I've seen one squarely in the middle of a very busy city (Taiwan's second largest).  It's a very obvious reminder of Kaohsiung's speedy development; in fact, the area we walked through this morning was farmland just 20 years ago, so perhaps it shouldn't really be that surprising that bird coops are still around.

By the time we walked across the bridge over the train tracks of Kaoshiung's major depot to the door of Lotus Lake it was a little after 6:00, and the sun was already really strong.  I managed to snap a few photos of the lake and its more notable structures (the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas) including the new water park on our way.  We walked halfway around the lake in search of breakfast before the sun was just too intense to continue (and everything was closed anyway!), so we decided to turn around and begin the walk home in search of food.

We stopped by a local breakfast shop for a traditional Taiwanese breakfast of Danbing （蛋餅）and then returned home around 9:00 to walk the dogs... again...

1000 Things to do before I die- Panasian Edition (Part 2)

Hi everyone!

I finally finished the first half of my list, and I've got to say that it actually took me a lot longer than I thought it would.  No worries though, I'm continuing to plug along, but to be honest, it's getting harder and harder to find awesome (practical) stuff to do.  Perhaps I should forgo the practicality for now and dream big, and just see what happens when we actually get to the nitty gritty details.

Even so, I hope I won't have to sacrifice too much for the sake our rather spending-conscious budget.  What I discover, I promise to pass on to everyone else!  We will find a way to have an exciting, action-packed adventure!

Without further ado, here is part 2 of my 1000 things list!

1. Join a liveaboard adventure and dive the best, out of the way dive spots, Maldives
2. Take a tour on horseback around Orkhon Valley, Mongolia
3. Tour Altai Mountain routes via horseback in local tradition, Mongolia
4. Visit Bogd Gegen Palace and Gandan Monastery, Mongolia
5. Wander ther backstreets of Ulaanbaatar and enjoy a local eatery's specialty, Mongolia
6. Make the trip to see the inspiring architecture of Erdene Zuu (ancient Karakorum ruins), Mongolia
7. Explore the Khovsgol Lake region and enjoy the fresh air, Mongolia
8. Join a walking tour of the Atlas Mountains and soak in the views of the Chiker grottoes, Morocco
9. Visit the Dades Valley to see another side of Morocco: palm fortresses and rose gardens, Morocco
10. See the Roman ruins of Volubilis, Morocco
11. Enlist the help of a camel and trek into dunes of Erg Chebbi, Morocco
12. Stroll through the Majorelle Garden and enjoy the precious shade, Morocco
13. Eat my heart out at Djemaa El-Fna (traditional market), Marrakech,   Morocco
14. Walk through the modern ghost streets of the mud buildings of Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
15. Follow the walls of Todra Gorge, Morocco
16. Trek across Deosai National Park to view local wildlife, Pakistan
17. Walk among the majestic waterfalls at Cascades d'Ouzoud, Morocco
18. Travel to the Sahara to walk amongst the ghosts of Kasbah Taourirt, Morocco
19. Meander among the rocky landscape of Madain Saley National Historic Park, Saudi Arabia
20. Trek through Sagarmatha National Park and appreciate the SNOW!  Nepal
21.  Appreciate the temples dotted around the hill outside Sasaing, Burma
22. See my reflection in Pokhara lake, Nepal
23. Check out the rock formations in Lifou, New Caledonia
24. Observe the herding community of Kanak, New Caledonia
25. Smell a wild sandalwood tree, New Caledonia
26. View the 143 year old wisteria vine in bloom in Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi, Japan (Mid April- Mid-June)
27.  Hike through the dramatic landscape of the Indus Valley, Ladakh, India
28. Take a safari through Gir National Park to see the last of the Asiatic Lions in the wild, India
29. Travel by boat along the Mahakam river to visit a Dayak village, Borneo, Indonesia
30. Visit the volcano hot springs of Hokkaido, Japan
31. Dive the coasts of Mauritius
32. Tour the towns and architectural delights of Mauritius
33. Take a tour of Orkhon Valley, Mongolia
34. Visit Shar Sum monastery in Hovd, Mongolia
35. Walk through Erdene Zuu monastery, Mongolia
36. Attend the festivities for Naadam (National Day- July) and witness the competitions of horse racing, wrestling and archery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
37. Be dazzled by the 12th century minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech, Morocco
38. Wander through the small alleys and traditional souks and appreciate the sights and smells without making a purchase, Marrakech, Morocco
39. Appreciate religious diversity in the Jewish Quarter (the Mellah), Marrakech, Morocco
40. Channel Indiana Jones and explore the Saadian tombs, Marrakech, Morocco
41. Walk the limestone plateau of the Rif Mountain including Kef Thogobeit (deepest cave system in Africa), Morocco
42. Trek through the red rocks of Dades Valley and enjoy the golden glow of sunset on the rock face, Morocco
43. While trekking, stop for a local brew of tea in a rose garden, Morocco
44. See the Cathedral cliff (Amesfrane), Morocco
45. Walk through the Draa Valley and stop in one of the valley's fortified cities (and try some local food!), Morocco
46. Sketch the White beach (Plage Blanche), Morocco
47. Try thalassotherapy in a small spa in Essaouira, Morocco
48. If in Morocco in July/August, see the festivities of Moussem, Morocco
49. Climb to the top Pedestal Hill to visit the Buddhist Monestary (Taung Kalat) and take in the view from above, Burma
50. Sketch Taung Kalat from Mount Popa, Burma
51. Walk among the megalithic tombs of Ggantija, Hall Saflieni, and Tarxien, Malta
52. Be touristy on the beautiful beaches of Borocay, Philippines
53. Stroll among the black cliffs of the Palawan Island, Philippines
54. Make the day-trip up Mount Blank (Mahe) and take the time to enjoy the view on the way up, Seychelles  
55. Enjoy the company of some giant tortoises, Seychelles
56. Walk the Copolia Trail, Seychelles
57. Trek up to Mission Lodge lookout, Seychelles
58. Discover the traditions of outer townships and their art, dance, and healers, South Africa
59. View cherry blossoms at the Hallyeo Marine National Park, South Korea
60. Pick one of the region's many trails and trek through the majestic scenery of Jeju island; relax and appreciate nature, South Korea
61.  Spend a day walking along Jungmun beach, Jeju Island, South Korea
62. Visit the ancient capital of Kyongju and appreciate the rich architectural history of tombs, pagodas, Buddha statues, South Korea
63. Wander through the Seokguram Grotto, South Korea
64. Follow the route of the famous and highly imaginative Don Quixote through the countryside and sing as loudly as possible at least once, Spain
65. Enjoy the cultural heritage of Zaragoza and take in the beauty of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar and Aljaferia Palace (original home to Muslim rulers and later Catholic Kings), Spain
66. Walk through the magnificent architectural accomplishments of Gaudí, Chinese barrio, Plaça Reial and Ribera, Barcelona, Spain
67. Appreciate the works of Picasso at Picasso Museum, Spain
68. Learn about Spain's rich Maritime tradition at the Maritime Museum, Spain
69. Take a whirlwind tour of Madrid's major historic sites: tea at Plaza Mayor, tour the royal palace, visit the baroque monuments and churches, along with Madrid's major museums, Spain
70. Find 10 hidden local attractions in Toledo and blend in, Spain 
71. Visit all historic site in Cáceres, including Roman, Muslim, and Christian architecture, Spain
72. Stay in sunny Mallorca and hike the surrounding trails for a relaxing break from the city's bustling cultural scene, Spain
73. Take a sunrise walk through the monasteries and stupas of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
74. Meditate under the Bodhi tree, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
75. Hire a guide and embark on a journey through Gal Oya National Park, Sri Lanka
76. Visit the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a Biosphere reserve, Sri Lanka
77. Tour Dilman tea factory and see where the this famous tea is produced, Sri Lanka
78. Embark on a journey across Syria's ancient ruins: Palmyra, Apamea-on-Orontes, Doura-Europos, Krak des Chevaliers, Bosra, Elba and Mari, Syria
79. Wander among the beautiful architecture in Damascus: Umayyad mosque, convent of Our Lady, Christian Quarter, Saladin's Tomb, Syria
80. Explore the Ngorongoro Crater and try to spot some of the region's rarer inhabitants, Tanzania
81. See the 2,000,000 year old footprints of Australopithecus and more recent human relatives (Homo erectus/Homo habilis) in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
82. WWOOF for a week in Australia and New Zealand
83. Rent a car and (maybe a local driver?) and drive the Karakoram Highway and make sure to stop for the petroglyphs near Chilas, Pakistan
84. Use SCUBA certification for the greater good- volunteer to collect data for Marine biologists, various locations (Madascar, Fiji, etc)
85. Do something crazy to raise money for a local charity (and photodocument the whole process!)
86. Engage locals in every country- find out about local culture, beliefs, ideas, and processes, and exchange ideas respectfully (more on this in an upcoming blog post, I've got a few ideas about how to do this... hopefully without stepping on too many toes)
87. Find one (or more) worthwhile volunteer opportunities per country (as legally allowed) and volunteer time and labor to a great cause
88. Travel by cargo ship between two (relatively close) countries and try to find my sea legs
89. Take a class class in every country (if feasible!): anything from cooking, dance, photography, animal tracking, to language, arts, survival skills and surfing!
90. Take a yoga certification course and become a certified yoga teacher
91. Participate in a round of geocaching... somewhere(s!)
92. Show en masse flamingos some love, Masai Mara National Park, Kenya
93. Observe the Kumbh Mela festivities during the Ganges bathing days, India
94. Take a guide and head out to Borneo's rainforests just before dawn/dusk to catch a glimpse of the Bornean Clouded Leopard, Malaysia
95. Take a volunteer position on a sail boat and ride the gulf stream from Europe to the US
96. Climb up to the top of rock city, the former home to kings and Buddhist monks, Sri Lanka
97. Have a traditional Ao dai (Vietnamese dress) made along with one good suit, Hoi An, Vietnam
98. Kayak my way through Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand
99. Spend at least 30 nights under the open sky watching the stars and stellar occurrences (meteor showers, solar or lunar eclipse)
100. Get bipedal on a walking safari through South Luangwa National Park and keep eyes open for fellow animals on the horizon, Zambia
101. Lessen my carbon footprint and bike from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh with a few stops along the way, Vietnam
102. Spend a few days hiking a wild section of the great wall （長成）outside of Beijing, PRC
103. Witness the great Wildebeest migration any way possible, Tanzania/Kenya
104. Fly across the eerie bones of gigantic marine life buried in the dune along the Skeleton Coast, Namibia
105. Take a bush safari, minus the elephant ride, Botswana
106. Meditate on the vastness of the desert sands, Sossusvlei, Namibia
107. Volunteer with sea turtle conservation, Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
108. Ride a mokoro through the Okavango Delta, Botswana
109. Walk among the mud-brick towns of the Hadhramaut, Shibam, Yemen
110. Try to catch a glimpse of a manta ray, French Polynesia
111. Observe mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, Rwanda/Uganda
112. Choose one of Thailand's less famous beaches (Krabi, Similan, Mu Koh Surin Islands) and hide out for a few luxurious days, Thailand
113. Make a trip to and stay at (if possible) Djerba Island, one of the places Ulysses stayed, Tunisia
114. Do some serious diving in Tabarka coral reefs, Tunisia
115. See the Tozeur Oasis by air, Tunisia
116. Follow the route of the Ksars through the more remote Berber villages of Tunisia
117. Cycle across Turkey (not May-September), Turkey
118. Relax on the beaches of the Turquoise Coast, Turkey
119. Stop by Mount Nemrut (Munzur Range) and see the tomb of Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, Turkey
120. Climb Mount Ararat, the location Noah's Ark ran aground in the Bible, Turkey
121. Hike up Mount Embler alongside semi-nomadic locals herding sheep, Turkey
122. Be captivated by a whirling dervish performance and learn about their histories and tradition (make sure to reserve well in advance!), Istanbul+Konya Turkey
123. Take an afternoon cruise along the Bosphorus while nibbling on Turkish delights, Istanbul, Turkey
124. Participate in an authentic experience in a hamam or Turkish bath, Istanbul (and elsewhere!), Turkey
125. Enjoy a hot cup of freshly brewed Turkish coffee (or hot cocoa... or both), Turkey
126. Eat myself silly at a meyhane, or Turkish tavern, Turkey
127. Devour as much Kanlýca yogurt as possible while in Turkey
128. Visit the Göreme Valley churches modeled from the soft volcanic rock in the area, Turkey
129. Hover above Dubai in a hot air balloon, UAE
130. Wander through the old section of Dubai, away from the glitz and glam, and try to connect with the city's roots, UAE
131. Eat at one of Dubai's top ten restaurants and savor each flavor, UAE
132. Stroll through  Al Dhiyafah Road, nibbling on some authentic Emirati cuisine, Dubai, UAE
133. Dive into some of the region's best relaxed atmosphere and Pakistani food at Ravi Restaurant, Dubai, UAE
134. Spend an evening enjoying high end Emirati food and cozy atmosphere at Al Hadheerah, UAE
135. Take a stroll through Dubai's Gold Souk and be dazzled by the gold, silver, and diamonds for sale, UAE
136. Stop by the Gold and Diamond Park to compare prices, buy something custom, UAE
137. Wander through the Bastakia Quater to appreciate Dubai's history, UAE
138. Stroll through the textile souk, Dubai, UAE
139. Ride the water taxi down the Creek for a taste of commuter Dubai, UAE
140. Have a drink on the beach, Dubai, UAE
141. See the sunrise over the desert from a hot air balloon, UAE
142. Try some tea-of-the-day and traditional Uzbek sweets from the Silk Road Tea House after a day of touring the sites in the Historic Center of Bukhara, Uzbekistan
143. Visit Itchan Kala inside the old Khiva oasis (UNESCO), Uzbekistan
144. Walk through the Historic Center of Shakhrisyabz, Uzbekistan
145. Spend a day wandering through the historic monuments of Samarkand, Uzbekistan
146. Visit the ruins of ancient city just discovered near Uluru, Australia
147. Examine the intricate carvings on the Minaret and ruins at Jam (UNESCO), Afghanistan
148. Explore the archaeological sites in the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan
149. Watch a show inside the Sydney Opera House, Australia
150. Have a stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens, Australia
151. Run around the Australian Museum like a little kid!
152. Volunteer at an archaeological dig, anywhere
153. Get certified to dig at marine archaeological sites, anywhere!
154. Appreciate the ancient sky scrapers of Shibam, Yemen
155. Explore the old city of Sana'a, Yemen
156. Linger on the Socotra islands and soak in its wild beauty, Yemen
157.  Volunteer with Animal Aid Unlimited to help animals in need, India
158. Scuba dive in Phuket, Thailand (maybe see a whale shark!?)
159. Kayak around Phang Nga Bay but don't forget the sunscreen, Phuket, Thailand 
160. Wander the historic section of Old Phuket Town and appreciate the beautiful old architecture along with a visit to the amulet market, Thailand
161. Stay on Phi Phi island for one night and enjoy the distinct lack of motor traffic, Thailand
162. Buy fresh produce (and maybe a few other things!) at a local morning market, Thailand
163. Snack the night away at a night market (Phi Phi or Phuket), Thailand
164. Try a local fish dish straight from the sea, Phi Phi, Thailand
165. Follow a treasure map, Thailand
166. Visit a textile market, Thailand
167. Climb higher to get an amazing view, Thailand
168. See a cabaret and see if there's backstage option to see the make-up, lights, and magic happen, Phuket, Thailand 
169. Scuba or snorkel the coral reefs of Raja Ampat Islands and see the largest variety of tropical fish in the world, Indonesia (February)
170. Swim with whale sharks, Ningaloo Marine Park, Australia (March)
171. Watch the sardine migration; complete with hungry seals, dolphins, and sharks, East Coast, South Africa (June)
172. Hike through the Danum Valley Conservation area and keep an eye out for the Sumatran rhino and great apes (orangutans), Malaysia Borneo (March)
173. Peek at the lowland gorillas and forest elephants of the Nouablé-Ndoki National Park and support their conservation, Congo (December)
174. If possible, wander among the pristine rainforests and take in as much flora and fauna as possible, Bhutan (May)
175. Watch saigas and cranes in their natural habitat and get some amazing photos while appreciating the silence, Korgalyzhyn State Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan (May)
176. Catch a glimpse of wild sand cats or dorcas gazelles, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger (August)
177. Brave the harsh environment and travel to Chang Tang Nature Reserve to observe rarely seen wildlife like wild yaks and donkeys, gazelles and antelope, and maybe even a snow leopard, Tibet (September)
178. Witness the Kalahari Desert explode with an abundance of wildlife after annual rains, Nambia (November)
179. Spot wolves and west caucasian turs in the wild, Kavkazskiy Nature Reserve, Russia (July)
180. Walk the UNESCO biosphere reserve and sneak a peek at siberian ibexes and snow leopdards, Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan (November)
181. Take a chance in the Hindu Kush to see if there are any snow leopards, Chitral Gol National Park, Pakistan (December)
182. See my favorite things: walruses and polar bears, Wrangel Island Reserve, Russia (July)
183. Count as many varieties of chameleon as possible: of over 300 varieties, how many can be spotted!?  (And don't forget the lemurs!) Madagascar (January and October)