2007-07-09 22:52. Gecko sighted.

First gecko sighting 2007-07-09 22:52

First day of the tour. After being picked up at Gang Shan slow rail station I arrived at KYU (Kao Yuan University 高苑科技大學) for check-in and payment of the NT$ 6 500 fee. No events on this day because KYU staff, counsellors are still busy picking up people from all over the world arriving at different times and different locations. Must be a logistical nightmare. Events and the journey around this island will actually start tomorrow. Nice welcome packages with towels and even metal chopsticks found in our rooms.

Amazed to see that all the counsellors were wearing jeans. I still think it is too hot in Taiwan to wear jeans.

Watched a gecko quickly dart up a wall, something I don't think I've seen before in person.

高苑科技大學

821高雄縣路竹鄉中山路1821號
連絡電話：07-6077777
學校傳真：07-6077788

KAO YUAN UNIVERSITY
No.1821, Jhongshan Rd., Lujhu Township, Kaohsiung County 821, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
TEL：886-7-6077777
Fax ：886-7-6077788

http://www.kyu.edu.tw

written by  monex on July 9, 2007 from Kao Yuan Unversity, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged KYU
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In the lecture classroom we appear mostly harmless.

2007-07-10 09:41. BL (Bus Leaves) KYU

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from Kao Yuan Unversity, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Restaurant, Kenting and HengChun
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2007-07-10 11:40. BW (on Bus Waiting, usually just waiting for head count to finish where one of the team leaders, usually Kay, on our bus C will radio in Mandarin "C-車 Charlie, 全到, Over", after which she will receive a confirmation that the bus may move and leave)

We were on a boardwalk, rest and washroom area in what seems like a small town squeezed between the gray beach, ocean in front and tall green mountains behind us - with a passenger train passing by.

Guessing this is Fangshan Township because:
The timing seems to put us at about Fangshan. We left KYU 2 hours earlier, and lunch was 1 hour away. So we should be about 2/3 down the road between KYU and the lunch point, and Fangshan Township happens to be about 2/3 down the road.

First stop gray beach and toilets

Also, seeing the train tracks was another reason. Maps of Taiwan's South West coast show all train tracks turn away from the coast and into interior Taiwan starting from Fangshan Township, so if we could still see train tracks while heading South on the coast, we must be at or before Feng Shan Township.

So, guessing this point is 屏東縣 枋山鄉
Fangshan Township, Pingtung County

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from Fangshan Township 枋山鄉, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Train, Unknown and First
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AC & our first Taiwan restaurant experience awaits

First of many group-tourist-sized restaurants

2007-07-10 13:06. BW

墾丁南海姑娘餐廳
Kenting Nan Hai Gu Niang Restaurant
Roughly translated as: Kenting South Sea Lady Restaurant

946屏東縣恆春鎮恆公路72號
Pingtung County Hengchun Township

Pronounced: Ken3 Ding Nan2 Hai3 Gu Niang2 Chan Ting

http://www.bus168.com.tw/088898098/

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from Heng-ch'un, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Restaurant and Lunch
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2007-07-10 14:59. BW

Tai Power Museum in Kenting

台電南展館
Tai Power Museum
Nuclear Power Plant 3 in Kenting 核三廠

Solar panels out in the field

Various alternative or renewable energy sources were on display inside and outside.

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from Nuclear Power Plant 3 in Kenting 核三廠 , Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Museum and TaiPower
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2007-07-10 16:24. BW

墾丁國家公園生態影片欣賞

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from K'en-ting, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged KentingNaturalPark and NatureExhibits
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2007-07-10 18:25. BL

Rocky cliffs at Maobitou ???

Hidden stairway leads down closer to the water.

Mao bi tou literally translated: Cat Nose Head

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from Mao-pi-t'ou, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Maobitou and StoneStairs
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Dinner in Kenting 2007-07-10 19:15

墾丁海中天餐廳
Kenting Hai Zhong Tian restaurant
Somewhere in Kenting

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from K'en-ting, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Restaurant and KentingHaiZongTian
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Kenting Seaview Resort 2007-07-10 19:46

After checking in, came back out to walk the length of the street, the hotel was right on a street with a night market. We found carved wooden noise-making toys that made sounds resembling the sculpted creature - there were different sizes for croaking frogs, grasshoppers, and pigs. Other sights on the street included gigantic ice creams, various games, and fireworks. Not one but two police stations were on this street. We also noticed a youth activity center.

墾丁伯爵大飯店
Seaview Resort
233-1 Kenting Rd. Hengchun Township, Pingtung Hsien, Taiwan

屏東縣恆春鎮墾丁路233-1號
http://www.seaview.com.tw

written by  monex on July 10, 2007 from K'en-ting, Taiwan
from the travel blog: 2007 Overseas Compatriot Youth Taiwan 5th Study Tour (2007海外青年台灣觀摩團第5梯次)
tagged Kenting and Seaview
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2007-07-11 08:12. BW

First of many typical mornings hauling luggage to buses 2007-07-11 08:09