At first glance, the Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park may seem like a typical park, covering a wide expanse of land. However, a thorough tour around the park, courtesy of Mr Liow, revealed that it was anything but. Built on top of what used to biggest landfill in Kaohsiung, it is now 35 hectares of greenery, and is, aesthetically, on par with any other park you can name. That's not the coolest part about the park, though. A power station is located a mere stone's throw away from the park, and this power station generates electricity using... methane gas from all the rubbish decomposing beneath the park! The methane gas released as a by-product of the decomposition of all the rubbish in the landfill on top of which the park is built on is channeled to the power station, before it is used to generate electricity. To us, the Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park is truly a fine example of the importance of creativity and innovation when it comes to carrying out green projects.
Our day continued with a trip to the Kaohsiung National Stadium, which hosted the World Games in 2009. It was formerly known as 2009 The World Games Main Stadium, and it features a unique design, reminiscent of a dragon's body. 8844 solar panels cover the external surface of the stadium's roof, and some quick online research revealed that it's the first stadium in the world to be completely solar-powered. IN THE WORLD! Considering the fact that they were up against some pretty strong competitors, that's impressive! We spent around 25 minutes in the semi-spiral structure, frantically taking photographs of the majestic exterior and the little glimpses of the interior we managed to steal through the gates. It was as though we had come face-to-face with a celebrity, which, considering the fact that we are Eco Rangers after all, was somewhat true.
We then stopped by the NKNUSH to have a quick lunch in their art room at around 12.45pm. We were very much impressed by how well-equipped their art room was, as the room even had a metal rack for students to dry their wet paintings. Lunch was a quick, albeit yummy affair and after a quick look around the section of the school we were in, we once again found ourselves on the tour bus, eager for our tour to continue.
The moment we laid our eyes on the Kaohsiung Public Library, we were immediately captivated by the structure of the building. Though the structure may appear typical and ordinary at first glance, a closer scrutiny reveals roofs allowing the building to be well-ventilated, strategically positioned windows, and plenty of greenery. Hence, it came as no surprise to us that the Kaohsiung Public Library is an EEWH-certified green building. The fact that it was located in a site that was very much steeped in history lent it an even greater appeal.
Not a soul on this planet can feign the slightest bit of disinterest in the flora and fauna unique to another country. One need not necessarily be interested in wildlife to have a spark of curiousity, leading them to wonder what the plants and animals of another country with a different climate look like. Thanks to the fact that we were all Eco Rangers, this fact rang especially true for us. Thus, our exceptional eagerness to explore the Kaohsiung Original Botanical Garden was not at all surprising. Housing Taiwanese indigenous plants of all shapes and sizes, the park features mangroves, aquatic plants, coastal trees, and even coral reefs! It was indeed, a worthwhile place to visit.
The first thing that greeted our eyes upon our arrival at the Chongduo Wetland Parks was the sight of two long bridges not unlike the bridges found in Malaysia's very own canopy walks. While the sight inspired excitement and eagerness within the very depths of most of our souls, it inspired the tiniest twinge of fear and trepidation in others. The canopy walk cuts across a pristine river, with water so clear you can easily see the floor of the lake, on top of the many fishes that call the river home. One truly fascinating fact about the river was that up until a government-endorsed cleaning project was carried out a few years ago, it used to be a heavily polluted river, and an eyesore to the city. Today, the river is a tourist attraction, which only proves the important role cleanliness plays in boosting a country's image and popularity amongst tourists.
After paying an art exhibition a quick visit, we stopped at an Indonesian restaurant called Masakan Indonesia Pak Zainal Abidin for a quick dinner at around 5.20 pm. Due to our overwhelming hunger, all the food served disappeared off the dining table at an alarming rate, making dinner a quick and delicious affair. We then returned to our hotel after a long, exciting day of touring, where our comfortable beds welcomed us. Despite our exhaustion, it was indeed, a day well spent!
We then stopped by the NKNUSH to have a quick lunch in their art room at around 12.45pm. We were very much impressed by how well-equipped their art room was, as the room even had a metal rack for students to dry their wet paintings. Lunch was a quick, albeit yummy affair and after a quick look around the section of the school we were in, we once again found ourselves on the tour bus, eager for our tour to continue.
The moment we laid our eyes on the Kaohsiung Public Library, we were immediately captivated by the structure of the building. Though the structure may appear typical and ordinary at first glance, a closer scrutiny reveals roofs allowing the building to be well-ventilated, strategically positioned windows, and plenty of greenery. Hence, it came as no surprise to us that the Kaohsiung Public Library is an EEWH-certified green building. The fact that it was located in a site that was very much steeped in history lent it an even greater appeal.
Not a soul on this planet can feign the slightest bit of disinterest in the flora and fauna unique to another country. One need not necessarily be interested in wildlife to have a spark of curiousity, leading them to wonder what the plants and animals of another country with a different climate look like. Thanks to the fact that we were all Eco Rangers, this fact rang especially true for us. Thus, our exceptional eagerness to explore the Kaohsiung Original Botanical Garden was not at all surprising. Housing Taiwanese indigenous plants of all shapes and sizes, the park features mangroves, aquatic plants, coastal trees, and even coral reefs! It was indeed, a worthwhile place to visit.
The first thing that greeted our eyes upon our arrival at the Chongduo Wetland Parks was the sight of two long bridges not unlike the bridges found in Malaysia's very own canopy walks. While the sight inspired excitement and eagerness within the very depths of most of our souls, it inspired the tiniest twinge of fear and trepidation in others. The canopy walk cuts across a pristine river, with water so clear you can easily see the floor of the lake, on top of the many fishes that call the river home. One truly fascinating fact about the river was that up until a government-endorsed cleaning project was carried out a few years ago, it used to be a heavily polluted river, and an eyesore to the city. Today, the river is a tourist attraction, which only proves the important role cleanliness plays in boosting a country's image and popularity amongst tourists.
After paying an art exhibition a quick visit, we stopped at an Indonesian restaurant called Masakan Indonesia Pak Zainal Abidin for a quick dinner at around 5.20 pm. Due to our overwhelming hunger, all the food served disappeared off the dining table at an alarming rate, making dinner a quick and delicious affair. We then returned to our hotel after a long, exciting day of touring, where our comfortable beds welcomed us. Despite our exhaustion, it was indeed, a day well spent!
No comments:
Post a Comment