DAY 65---HUALIEN, TAIWAN

 

        Just before 8:00 this morning the Captain made a PA saying due to weather conditions it was not safe to enter the harbor at Hualien so we were proceeding on to Taipei.  He was trying to get permission to dock there early as it is only 80 miles away.  At our present speed it will take 7 hours to get there.

        This morning it is only 63 degrees out with a 48 knot wind which is causing the swells to be around 10 feet.  The ship has been rocking and rolling all night and still is this morning.

        Even though we did not stop here today, I had prepared the Historical/Background so will put it on this post

Historical/Background Info:

        Hualien is located on the east coast of Taiwan with a population of nearly 100,000.  The Spain built mines for gold here in 1622 but permanent settlements did begin until 1851.  Taiwan came under Japanese rule in 1895 but was handed over to the Republic of China in 1945.

        Hualien experiences frequent cyclones (hurricanes) since is lies on the Pacific Ocean.  They get quite a bit of rain averaging 86 inches each year and the average temperature is 74 degrees.

        It is famous as the jumping off point for the Taroko Gorge National Park which is billed as the largest marble canyon in the world.  The park features suspension bridges, trails, rivers, waterfalls, and more.  The ship has 8 hour tours to the park.

LAST EVENING

        We had a lovely evening in Compass Rose with Cameron Vance and Paige Kosik from the production cast.  Again Cameron was a TCU grad and Paige is from Canada.  Both are super talented young people.

                                                      Beef Wellington was excellent.

                              Oh, my, this pecan pie cheese cake was excellent again.

I went to the first 15 minutes of Panos Karan's show but I am not an instrumentalist fan.  I left but Rebecca stayed.

TODAY

                                                                 Rocking & Rolling

        The Captain said at noon PA that there was dock available for us now in Keelung but the port was closed due to winds.  It was improving so was hoping it would open and we would be docked before sunset.

        It seems the ship's heat is not turned on.  All previous ports has been hot weather so air conditioning on.  Well, today it is 60 degrees outside and the ship's public areas and suites are cold.  Rest of the ship is cold also.  Everyone wearing jackets.

        My photos are still not uploading automatically so I have to do them manually which is a pain in the ass.  I have a tour tomorrow in Taipei but it is an hour bus ride each way from our pier in Keelung to Taipei.  Also spends 2 hours in a museum and I am NOT a museum person.  May just walk around in Keelung as pier in town and there is a mall.  Maybe I can get good wifi there like back in HK.  We have another Taiwan port the next day at Kaohsiung.  We both hope to do a tour there.

        So tomorrow at Keelung is the end of this, the third, segment and beginning of the fourth.  Again some will be disembarking and others disembarking. 

        This evening we are having dinner again with Eddie & Lyn Zito.  I have requested mamaliga, a Romanian dish consisting of polenta & cheeses for our appetizer.  The Zito's have never had it before.

Tonight's show is featuring the comedian and a harmonica player.  ?????

         At 4pm the Captain made another PA saying the Keelung pilot would come aboard at 6pm and we should be docked by 7pm.  We be a smooth night sleeping.