Energetic Kaohsiung / 活力高雄
◎Written by Yue-Su Chen ◎Photograph by Chung-Hui Pao
October's definitely a happening month in Kaohsiung. The month starts off with the Kaohsiung Food Festival and then the focus shifts to a series of festive activities relating to Taiwan National Day. After that, there were the 2009 World Games Pre-Events--dragon boat racing, roller skating and climbing. The Mega Port Music Festival, the 2006 Zuoying Wan Nian Folklore Festival, and the 180th anniversary of Fongshan were also held during October. During which Kaohsiung Port was dazzlingly lit with newly installed lamps. With such a range of festivals crammed into one month, it's easy to see the diversity and energy of Kaohsiung.
Food Festival
Kaohsiung is the biggest city in southern Taiwan with a range of delicious and unique seafood cuisine. The 2006 Kaohsiung Food Festival was to be held from September the 22nd until October the 29th and will both pave the way for a new food and beverage culture in Kaohsiung as well as promote the city itself. The Food Festival includes a snack competition, and different activities such as "Precious Food", "King of Exotic Cuisine", and "Ice Dessert Paradise". The Food Festival will be held in a number of places including Pier 12(True Love Pier), Pier 13 (Glory Pier), night markets, 5-star Hotels, and theme restaurants, where delicious food will be on offer, and the city of Kaohsiung on display.
Passionate Music - See You on Taiwan National Day ("Double Tenth" - October the 10th)
Besides the food festival, Taiwan National Day Festival was also held in Kaohsiung instead of Taipei this year. The festival included a party at night with background techno beats at Pier 12 and Pier 13. The party was definitely the highlight of the festival, starting at 19:00 and running well into the night.
For those who wanted to celebrate Taiwan National Day with something a little quieter, there was the "Double Moon Taiwanese Classical Music Concert" held at Dapingding Park on October the 6th. The concert saw performances by the Kaohsiung City Chinese Orchestra as well as some well-known local singers; treating onlookers to classical melodies under the moonlight.
Taiwan National Day was also celebrated for the children at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts on October the 8th, where there was a performance by the Paper Windmill theater group.
Splendid Port
Compared to other well-known ports around the world, Kaohsiung Port lacks adequate lighting at night making the port appear quite dull and dark in places. Therefore, the City Government has planned to illuminate the ferry routes(Tour Ferry to True Love Port) whilst ensuring safety in relation to incoming and departing flights. With towering buildings lining the port, it will look remarkably different at night compared to day.
The much-improved night look of Kaohsiung Port is scheduled to be completed by the end of October, 2006. These improvements include modifications to Cijin Ferry Pier, Cihou Lighthouse, Fair Wind Shipbuilding & Docking Co. Ltd, Cihou Fishing Port, the Cijin Campus of National Kaohsiung Marine University, Shipping and Boating Administration Centre, Cijin Fishing Port, and the storage areas of Pier 4 - Pier 15. There are going to be illuminated sculptures, uniquely-shaped garden lights, colourful billboards, and LED-illuminated walls to name just a few of the up and coming changes. By using different coloured lights, the architecture and design of the port-side buildings will be accentuated, making Kaohsiung Port a sight to be seen at night.
◎文／陳月素 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
十月的高雄熱鬧滾滾！從「創意美食博覽會」，一系列熱力十足的國慶晚會活動、2009高雄世運暖身賽─滑輪溜冰、龍舟、攀登、「國際音樂節─大港開唱音樂祭」、「2006高雄左營萬年季」、「鳳山縣舊城建城180週年」到「點亮高雄港」，均呈現高雄的多元發展及活力。
創意美食
高雄市是國際港灣的大都會，加上地處南台灣人口匯聚地位，不只海鮮料理獨具特色，也融合發展出新的飲食文化生命。此次透過9月22日至10月29日舉辦「2006
創意美食博覽會」活動行銷高雄城市，特別規劃了小吃嘉年華與爭霸戰、美食吃到「寶」、異國美食料理王、冰品新樂園及台灣美食展等活動，活動舉辦地點更結合12號碼頭（真愛碼頭）、13號碼頭（光榮碼頭）、觀光夜市、五星級飯店及各式特色餐廳，將高雄市的美食與城市風貌美景完全展現。
熱情音樂:「Double Ten高雄見」
除了美食，移師到高雄市舉行的雙十國慶晚會更增添歡樂氣氛，今年的國慶晚會首度以「電音派對」的形式舉辦，在「光榮碼頭」以威力十足的熱情電音，一起為國家慶生！
今年的國慶嘉年華系列活動之一的「Double Moon經典老歌音樂會」，10月6日中秋節當晚在大坪頂公園舉行，由高雄市立國樂團與著名歌手合作，演唱膾炙人口的國台語經典老歌，在月光下、歌聲中月圓人團圓。
10月８日晚上在高雄市立美術館前廣場舉行的「Double Ten歡樂兒童劇」，由紙風車兒童劇團演出戶外兒童互動表演劇。
絢爛港邊
高雄港這個美麗的港口因缺乏燈光的搭配，在夜間漆黑一片，和國外著名港口的光環境相較，略遜一籌。因此市政府規劃在不影響航安的前提下，透過燈光打亮環港遊輪行經路線(觀光遊輪至真愛碼頭)兩旁大型量體的建築物及高雄港沿岸著名的地標，打造與白天迥然不同的光之港。
整個高雄港沿岸夜間景觀改善10月底大致完成，包括旗津輪渡站、旗後燈塔、順榮造船廠、旗后漁港及儲油槽、高雄海科大旗津校區、港勤船泊管理中心、海巡新建大樓、旗津漁港、四至十五號碼頭倉棧，透過燈光投射、光雕、造型獨具的園燈、充滿創意的霓虹燈廣告看板、ＬＥＤ燈牆、線燈等不同方式，打亮或勾勒出建物本體及相關設施，讓人驚豔於夜中高雄絢爛的美麗。