Li's "Heaven on Earth" / 高雄的風土人情
Over a year ago, Malaysian-Chinese engineer Richard Lee Zu-der, came to live in Kaohsiung and was later accompanied by his wife and child. He said, "I really like the local passion of Kaohsiung city" and stated that in the future, he would like to continue finding work in Kaohsiung so that he could spend more time in here.
Forty year-old Lee Zu-der works as an expense-engineering manager for the Japanese company, Taisei Incorporated and began working on the Kaohsiung High-Speed Rail Zuoing Station in October of last year. Originally, Japanese Taisei Incorporated provided him with a single room in the 85-storey skyscraper but now he resides elsewhere. In regards to Lee Zu-der's initial visit to Kaohsiung eight years ago, he said, "Kaohsiung didn't leave a particularly special impression on me, but after beginning to live here, I discovered that the place was very different to that first trip".
The 85-story skyscraper situated in downtown Kaohsiung is surrounded by several department stores, namely Mega, Mitsukoshi, and Sogo. These surrounds became part of Lee Zu-der's lifestyle. He tasted the abundance of food in nearby streets and malls, read the hardback books for free in the bookstores, and enjoyed many movies in the comfortable facilities of the Warner movie theatre. Occasionally, he and his friends would take the ferry to Cijin, whereby the spectacular view, delicious seafood, and refreshing snow shaved ice left him with unforgettable memories.
During August 2004, Lee Zu-der moved into a different apartment on Min-Chen Road according to company instructions. Apartment from settling into a new environment, he became familiar with new local delicacies. He recalls once ordering pig's knuckle noodles and found that the pig's knuckle was still covered in skin. He felt afraid to eat it, however, when he saw the nonchalance of other's around him enjoying the delicacy, he decided to have a taste and found it extremely delicious.
In addition to that, Lee Zu-der rode his motorcycle to the Neiweipi Interior Exhibition Space where he found hills, lakes, wetlands, and also heard the sound of birds and insects. He was surprised by what he recalls as "heaven on earth" and since then, takes a stroll down to the park each weekend.
Lee Zu-der used to use email to keep his wife up to date with his life in Taiwan, but as of December 2004, she began living in Kaohsiung with him and their one year-old son. As of October 2005, the High-speed rail will begin operating and Taisei Incorporated will continue their control of other projects such as the Kaohsiung Sports Dome. In the future, Lee Zu-der plans to continue working in Kaohsiung and hopes to live in the city for many more years to come.
到高雄市生活一年多的馬來西亞華裔工程師李祖德Richard，決定接妻小到高雄市同居。李祖德說「我很喜歡高雄市的風土人情」，將來要繼續在高雄市找工作，希望能在這個城市多住幾年。
40歲的李祖德隸屬日本大成工程公司成本控制工程師，去年10月到高鐵左營站新建工程處任職，先被公司安排進駐「85大樓」單身宿舍。八年前曾到高雄的李祖德說，「對高雄市沒留下特別印象，住進這個城市，才發現很不一樣。」
「85大樓」位於市中心，附近有大遠百、新光三越、sogo等百貨公司，全在李祖德的生活圈內。他遍嚐百貨公司美食街，常到百貨公司裡精緻書店看「免費」圖書，或到設備舒適的華納電影城欣賞電影；偶爾和朋友搭乘渡輪到旗津，旗津的風光、海鮮、雪花冰都令他難以忘懷。
８月間，李祖德在公司安排下住進明誠路一棟住宅大樓，新環境需要重新適應，有次點了一客豬腳麵線，看到豬腳都是皮，他不敢吃，再看別人吃得津津有味，嚐了一口，感覺又是滿口美味。
有天李祖德騎著買來的摩托車逛到內惟埤公園，看到公園裡有山丘、有湖泊、有濕地，蟲鳴鳥叫不停，驚為「人間仙境」，以後每逢休假日，都會到公園走一回。
在台灣的點滴，李祖德都透過e-mail傳送到馬國給太太了解。夫妻都很喜歡高雄，12月初，他要回國將太太與一歲的兒子接到高雄生活。高鐵明年10月通車，大成公司還承包高雄市巨蛋等工程，未來，李祖德原計畫繼續留在高雄任職，希望高雄多住幾年。