Taiwan welcomes Explorer

[flossie009]

We arrived in the port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, early this morning and wondered why our ship was the centre of attention.

It appears we are the first cruise ship to use the new cruise terminal.

Focus Taiwan

 

Press, dignitaries and the public turned out in force for an inauguration ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

The new cruise terminal which took 10 years to build is an iconic building, but it is difficult to show in one photo

 

 

 

 

Commemorative stamps were on sale:

 

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

We also saw other interesting architecture in Kaohsiung today:

 

 

Formosa Boulevard MRT Station

 

 

 

 

 

The other ship in town (Holland America) had to make do with the old terminal

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Taiwan News
 

Who knew? The new terminal is symbolic of a whale!

[NCCruzQueen]

It must have been fun to be a part of Taiwanese history.

 

Love the stamp.

[slidebite]

That's pretty neat!

 

Here is a photo where you can kinda make out Explorer behind the terminal.

https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2009101

[1982CruzStart]

Thanks Susan. 

[crusin7]

I also love the stamp!  What a great keepsake.  I’m jealous!  Loving all your commentary.  Have a great trip.  

[BBWC]

Thanks for the update. Mariner will be there in a week. Hopefully we will get the new terminal as well.

[flossie009]

Another good photo of Explorer next to the new Cruise Terminal:

Focus Taiwan

 

Explorer’s Captain, GM, CD and F&B Director attended the opening ceremony - 75minutes, all in Mandarin 😯

 

Today we are in Keelung (the port for Taipei).  

An excellent tour: KEE-009 Taipei City Drive & Foot Massage

Weather is now very pleasant; less humidity but still sunny & warm. Expect it will become cooler as we approach Japan.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by flossie009

[flossie009]

Photos from Keelung and Taipei:

A warm welcome at Keelung Port - some strange costumes and an “ear-worm” welcome song

 

Dragon on the roof of Longshan Temple

 

Definitely the Year of the Rabbit

 

Incense Burner

 

Beautiful orchids and other flowers throughout the temple

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Chiang Kai‐shek Memorial Park

 

The CSK Memorial - The 89 steps on each side denote his age when he died in 1975

 

The huge statue on the fourth floor, always guarded by two soldiers

 

We were fortunate to witness the precision drill during changing of the guard at 1pm

 

 

 

 

[1982CruzStart]

great pictures. Thanks for posting. Brings backed memories of our stop there in the past.