Out plan today is to do the Lotus Pond Pagodas, the military battlement on Turtle Mountain, and one of the city gates.
First off we headed to Lotus Pond and Youbiked there. We arrived and parked the bikes, and entered the little gift shop pop up. I got some postcards there, there was a lot of indie artist wares in there. Then we released the Youbike park was around the corner and returned our bikes.
L went off into the Pagodas to get photos. They finished renovating the Tiger and Dragon pagoda towers but I opted not to go up and see, because climbing stairs in this humidity and heat would make me dizzy, especially as the stairs go round and round, and there was also a fair amount of tourists today.
M and I went to the temple across the street and licked soft serve. We both got combo flavour of choco and vanilla. It was $40 a serve.
Then we had a wee look around inside the temple at the intricate art and carvings.
Of we go along the path as we met back up with L. To the next pagoda! This one extends out into the pond a little more and the breeze is nice.
We stayed for a bit, and they had a 2F at the pavilion at the very end, which was very full of bird poop everywhere lol. They did have a dragon tunnel you could walk through the head to the tail (one way), and the inside had statues of the various rohan etc, like the Tiger and Dragon Pagodas.
The third pagoda was very long and had a fish feeding pond! The breeze was good here too. The Yuandi temple had a long walkway down to the temple, and there were statues of various guardians along the bridge/walkway. At the front they had a karaoke station and some uncles were going at it. The koi pond was just off to he side before the main temple. The main temple had a frog with a coin in the mouth where you could touch it for good luck. They also had a stamp!
Next to the frog there was a glass full of $1 coins so I gave the frog a coin and touched the head, the tail, the feet.
I also went upstairs and they had Yuandi also venerated there. The room was smoky and stained black from all the incense.
At the entrance of the main temple they also had many machines that you could do fortunes by putting a coin in, or a rooster with a golden egg that have you a charm. M did this one and got a little wooden charm that wished for peace/safety and fortune to stay inside.
We started looking for food and there was a shop along across the road that did the wheel cakes. We got 4 red bean, 1 butter, 1 seasame/peanut, and 1 taro. I had the sesame peanut and one red bean.
Then we wanted pepper buns but when we got there, the owner was preparing tomorrow's buns and said that sold out today. Aww.
So we just walked along the road and passed a traditional market, and many many old temples/miaow with old sanheyuan style housing down there and around as well.
We passed a noodle shop and open to eat inside there. I got 酸辣湯麵 and so did L. M got a plate of 10 dumplings of Park & chives,
L also chose a big plate of 鹵味 as a side dish, We also ordered a plate of kumara leaves for the table, but didn't manage to finish this because we were so full from the wheel cake earlier...
The soup was great! No unneceesary flavours, full of veges, just right in sourness, light and not heavy, and the kumara leaves were stir fried. M commented she liked the one from yesterday better, which was blanched.
L managed to finished all of this side dish.... (amazing) and I managed to finish 90% of my bowl, just leaving soup. My noodle was $70! Kumara leave was $40. M's dumplings (10 on a plate) was $60.
After this we went for the Youbike station down the road and decided to finish cycling the pond. On the way we passed a water sports centre, with one uncle just sitting at the stand in the shade, with life jackets for the paddle boats. He had no business.... I wanted to paddle but the thought of actually paddling in the Kaohsiung mugginess put me off. This was right next to a cafe with coffee and M got an iced mocha.
There was a corgi on the next table over. They had a lot of outdoor seating with a view of the pond, and also a fabulous breeze coming through. L got a macha soft serve. I didn't get anything.
After this we continued the cycle and got back round to where we started, We saw the water skiing with someone actually doing it in action. They have a pulley system that pulls you along to ski. It looked really cool, perhaps we can do it with the proper preparedness next time.
Next we went to Turtle Mountain to find the military battlement. The mountain had lots of stairs... And the remnants of the battlement were cool. Smelt very earthy and dusty though! Some of the round placements for the guns, had numbers on it like a clock, for orientation. That's cool. And a little recessed part under the rim, I guess for ammunition storage.
You can see the qilin rock and the pebbles in the concrete mix, and the remnants of the camouflage paint on the concrete outer.
There was also a good view of the lake from the mountain. I can see why this was a stragetic military point.
Afterwards, we walked along the old city wall. We walked along the part where they had juanchun housing, and you can see the joints of the brick walls and the various tiles for kitchen or bathroom. One of the walls even had part of the bathtub with the mosaic, the same an Laolao's house!!!!
This was neat. The other side of the wall still had housing, I assume the roadside row of the juanchun. There were kids playing in the park (must be primary or before primary aged) and one mum just keeping at eye out. It felt like the kids backyard.
At the end of the juanchun section, the wall was cordended off so we couldn't go further. They were building that new walkway to see the old city.
So we had to turn back and go around, passing by the playing kids again. There was a small alley leading to the road so we went out there, and could see the houses of the roadside row. One house had a notice from Taipower warning that they were going to cut power aon March 10th. There were also heaps of mail and flyers stuck in the bars of the front door. Some of the houses had front doors or side entrances that were very nostalgic....
We finally got to the South Gate and initially we thought it was covered up, but it was just the end of the walkway being built, and they were building an elevator. The actual South Gate was in the middle of a roundabout, and we could cross to go there. You can go up to the top of the South Gate!! You could get a good view of Building #1 of Guomao.
Afterwards, we headed to Guomao and had a look at the inside of the buildings where it looked like Kowloon, and then the playground at the centre of the community. We took some photos that looks like a band cover hahaha.
Then back home. We opted for dinner at Dandan, and got takeaway. They did also have a nice long outdoor seating section with a fantastic breeze flowing through today.
L and M headed to FamiMart while I waited for the order.
I got the order and headed to the FamiMart we passed, and they were just finishing up as I arrived.
They got me breakfast! And I asked if there is banana? No banana... L went back in and got me one. Thank youuuuu.
Off home we go. We ate,... I got the set #1 with the 肉羹湯麵, L a teriyaki burger, and M the set with 2 types of chicken nuggies.
I had iced lemon black tea. This was very nice. Their chicken is not greasy but oh so moist and crispy.
Shower, postcards, blog and bed! Tainan tomorrow.
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