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自從出國開會來去匆匆的行程變多了之後（例如巴黎三天一夜、倫敦四天二夜），就覺得搭高鐵半天來回高雄和搭捷運沒什麼兩樣！中午結束教學，回到台北不到二點，還有很多時間可以做其他事情，也包括發呆！😂另外，南台灣的護士小姐們好熱情啊，全體合照完還要再來一輪各自合照，然後還有人拍照緊勾著我的手臂，接著同事再互虧，這樣的熱情讓人精神為之一振！😂
#Ellansé_workshop in Kaohsiung. Ever since I travelled frequently between Taiwan and other cities globally and stayed for only one night or two, I literally have been feeling nothing about traveling between Northern and Southern Taiwan by high-speed rail train. It's just like taking subway to somewhere a few stops away!😂😂😂
Kenting (墾丁, pronounced Ken-ding) is a popular holiday destination in Taiwan for tourists and locals. Come with us on a day trip to this beautiful place - there's lots more waiting for you here in Kenting!
HOW TO GET TO KENTING (FROM KAOHSIUNG):
FROM ZUOYING: The Kenting Express Bus leaves from Zuoying station (which contains both the high speed rail station and MRT station) and takes approximately 2.5 hours to reach Kenting Main Street. You can buy tickets from the Kenting Express Booth at the station (at the top of the escalators just outside the High Speed Rail Station) or you can buy tickets online here (http://ticket.fun2tw.com/Login.aspx). I recommend buying in advance for weekends, holidays and in peak season (July/August school holidays). The cost is nt300 per person, one way. The website is in Chinese but if you use the Chrome browser your phone/computer should automatically translate the pages - enough to figure out what you are doing. The bus has free wifi and USB charging ports.
FROM THE AIRPORT: There are also buses that leave from the Kaohsiung airport (also known as Xiaogang airport). You can only buy these tickets at the airport. There's a timetable here: http://www.ptbus.com.tw/09/%E8%87%A8918.htm. You'll notice the destination on the website reads "Xiaowan" - this beach is right next to Kenting main street.
FROM KAOHSIUNG TRAIN STATION: Buses also leave from Kaohsiung Main Station although the pickup point is not clearly signposted - it's behind the MRT station. At time of writing (April 2018) the Kaohsiung main station is under heavy construction and I would recommend just catching the MRT to Zuoying instead rather than trying to find the bus amongst the chaos!
Beware of taxi drivers convincing you to ride with them - the fare is never cheaper than the bus, they will make you wait until their taxi is full of passengers, and the ride will definitely be less comfortable. It's definitely best to ignore them and get on the bus!
What to do in Kenting
There's quite a lot to do in Kenting, Taiwan - but it might be a bit different from the beach holidays you are used to. You can:
Relax on the beach - get a beer at the beach bar at Xiaowan (https://goo.gl/maps/FexLoksFvjE2), find shelter under a crag - and if you have kids watch them play safely in the little stream that connects the river to the sea. There are also a range of water sports available here,
Browse the night market (https://goo.gl/maps/xE3cZZa5td52) - this starts at sundown and is reportedly the longest in Taiwan. My personal favourite snacks here are the fried milk and the banana pancake.
Visit the Aquarium (https://goo.gl/maps/uAuFRB7srd92) - I haven't done this yet but it's apparently a very good aquarium (just be aware that it's a bit outside Kenting, perhaps pair it with a day trip to Hengchun town),
Wander around Hengchun old town (perhaps start at Hengchun south gate (https://goo.gl/maps/eTMnSE2npC72) and work towards Hengchun old street),
Swim at Nanwan beach (https://goo.gl/maps/xbYP23YZ9AB2) - this beach is my personal favourite for swimming and it's also good for collecting shells and sea glass.
Learn to surf with Afei (who also runs a bed and breakfast): https://goo.gl/maps/tT7GEq363Xt
Enjoy a meal at Bossa Nova (https://goo.gl/maps/g1t4G8xekv52) run by a lovely Taiwanese family and their French daughter-in-law,
See fire coming out of the ground at Chuhuo natural gas spring (https://goo.gl/maps/Lncfvr5UVLs)
Bird watch at Longluantan (https://goo.gl/maps/kCtguhsi6Xk)
Eat sushi and ride in a glass bottom boat at Houbihu (https://goo.gl/maps/ZYbn5wKPMx12)
Snap a selfie at the southernmost point of Taiwan (https://goo.gl/maps/KTo14HuZc6E2)
Check out Sail Rock, a huge coral reef rock that apparently looks like President Nixon (https://goo.gl/maps/ZFLiC3Z9sf22)
How to get around Kenting
Hire an electric scooter - for nt600 per day you can hire a scooter to get around. There are many scooter hire stores on Kenting main street. No licence is needed but you do need your passport.
Catch the shuttle bus - a whole day ticket is nt150 and you can buy it on the bus - just say ONE DAY PASS clearly and they will understand. Map and timetable can be found here (http://www.ptbus.com.tw/03/0302a.htm), all in Chinese unfortunately. Alternatively, you can just pay with change as you go. The downside is that the buses don't come very often and the stops aren't that easy to find.
Taxi - being a holiday area, taxis often do not run the meter but will rather negotiate a fare with you up front. Taiwanese taxi drivers are generally not out to rip you off but you will definitely pay more than in other cities in Taiwan (if you are a westerner you will likely still think the price is very cheap compared to home). In return, you will ride in air conditioning!
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