Kaohsiung Exhibition Center

From the public main library, I could already see the building I was curious to see. The one with a roof that looked like a curled mat or carpet, as seen from up at the Sky Tower. Just about a block away. Go!

Here it is viewed at street level, just before I crossed that zebra line for a closer look!

Oops, something in my head told me not to cross yet but go a bit further for a direct frontal view!

I still did not know what it is at this point, yet I could not avoid noting how impressive its architecture is. All I could say to my royal highness was 'yan ang bubong, di na kailangan ng alulod'! Extraordinary!

I think the big monument on the right side of the entrance is a sperm whale. Hmm, I wonder why. But Kaohsiung is on Taiwan's southeastern coast, so maybe whales were/are frequent on the waters here.

Oh, that big billboard-like thing in between the two pillars, that looks like a tarpaulin banner or panel advertisement board? It's also made of thin transparent flexible LED display board, like at the library.

When I got to the entrance foyer, I made sure to check the name of this building, and I saw this...

Okay, so this is the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center or KEC! Similar to our SMX Convention Center at MOA, only that, this thing is probably twice the size (in terms of land area and exhibition space). Enormous!

It is so vast and "high-tech" that it can do simultaneous conventions, trade shows, meetings, concerts and/or exclusive parties - as in all at the same time! And, that is just, all of it, indoors - since you may also hold separate, unrelated events at their front, side and back outdoor areas - all amply equipped.

Imagine this: the South Hall (right side) is 50m wide and 182m long - pillarless (walang poste)! How do you imagine 182 meters long? Half of a track oval, bawasan mo lang konti (18 meters), ganyan kahaba!

The other half (North Hall) is of course the same size. In between North and South Halls, bisecting the building's length is called the Central Boulevard, where shops, cafés and other services can be found.

Also at Central Boulevard are the escalators that lead to the meeting rooms and smaller event venues like meeting rooms 'good for 8' or 'good for 80' or 'good for 800' (so many choices)! Or the Ocean View Banquet Hall for wedding receptions and other sosyalan at kaganapan. Or their Grand Hall that can fit 'only' 2,000 participants! Those are regardless of what is happening at the exhibition halls downstairs!

Aw, this happened to me at the public library: I got so busy looking around or witnessing things, that I just kept on taking notes and totally forgot about taking more pics! Paumanhin, sorry po tanders lang!

Alright, I went all the way to the end of 'Central Boulevard', so I could see the back side of KEC. This:

Woa! It looks and feels more alluring than the front, probably because it faces the harbor, making the area breezy and bright! Staff told me, the foyer and grassy green areas are popular afternoon venues.

Where's the harbor? Aw, behind me as I took that picture above. It's actually a yacht club lang naman!

Syempre alams na... sugod agad ang My Royal Highness! Yes, ang aking kamahalan na social climber!

Nice place. Mukhang tambayan ng mga 'alta sociedad' heheh! Kaso walang tao, umaga pa lang kasi eh!

Seriously, it's a nice place for photo-ops, most probably even best during late afternoons to evenings. There's a restaurant/bar/cafe whatever, already open at the time I went there (almost noontime) but I didn't enter. Why? Mainit pa kakabukas lang nila ng aircon! Plus, yacht club yan, Ilokana ang nanay ko!

By the way, it did not look to me like Horizon City Marina is part of the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center.

It looks like the marina is leased, since Horizon Group is a private company (I got that beautiful photo from their website, I hope they don't mind), while KECC is contracted by the economic affairs ministry.

Let's go back, out and away. Gutom na ako!

Back at the front façade of the KEC, I had another view of "facing front" from the center's lobby area.

You already know that tall building is 85 Sky Tower where I saw this place from, that's why I came! The public library is to the right (not in photo). And in case you didn't notice, there's a train at street level.

That's their LRT or Green Line! I like that line. Many of their stations and tracks are at street level. It is also cheaper than the orange or red lines. Plus, this line is totally circular - technically no end station!

The whale, oh the whale! That humungous art in front of the building! Can you see it?

While it looks solid viewed from across the road, from the side it is actually a row of metal strips! It is made of aluminum and other metallic things, more than 10 meters high and more than 7 meters wide.

It was "modeled on the gesture of a large whale jumping out of water, just as the idiom where a fish leaps over the dragon gate. It implies the successful transformation of Kaohsiung City, which has worked hard to transform from an industrial city to an ocean capital in recent years, jumping on the international stage in a brand new image and becoming an essential city of the future". Yun ang sabi!

As I roamed around the very wide frontage of KEC, I strayed to the side of the road and saw this...

A free bus that goes to the MRT Sanduo Shopping District Station (R8)! Ah, I wasn't ready to leave yet, I planned to see other places in this area (Asia New Bay). But that bus arrived, and I don't know what entered my lowly brain, I said "katuwaan lang" I hopped on to it! I could return in 30 minutes anyway.

Ah huh, just like in many places, convention organizers sometimes provide free shuttle buses to/from certain venues and/or public transport hubs or areas. That's a hint! When you come, watch out. Libre!

A slight feeling of guilt there, pero hindi naman bawal, at wala naman masyado sumasakay, so go ra! I just felt a little like becoming the "aunties" (ayi) from the mainland. Yun mga oportunistang gahaman!

At least I got to experience riding one of their public commuter buses in Kaohsiung! What can I say? It was clean, smells fine, amply airconditioned and driver was time-conscious. Parehas ng sa Singapore.

Naaliw talaga akong manood ng LRT nilang yan (Green Line) kasi ka-level ng kalsada. Bihira na yan!

Most modern systems are elevated or underground. But this one I heard, made use of old train tracks.

Colorful too, and full of artworks and/or advertisements. Adds color to the cityscape!

The stations are obviously olden style too, but spruced-up some bit, so they look beautifully classic!

I remember the old España train station looked a bit like that. And after the train, it's a normal road!

If you are into amsuement parks, rides and imax theatres, do take note of that Green Line LRT Station (C7: Software Technology Park) and that street intersection -Chenggong 2nd Road cor Fuxing 3rd Road. Why? Because that is where you get off to find the Brogent i-Ride Kaohsiung and other bayside parks.

Besides, there are many nearby attractions and conveniences like CarrieFour, MLD, Costco, and this:

And of course the 85 Sky Tower, Public Library and Exhibition Center are all a walk away from the train station, even all the way north to the International Cruise Terminal and the almost done Music Center.

They call this side of the city as Asia New Bay Area, a redeveloped district previously a industrial area now vibrant w/ anything from amusement, technology, commercial to socio-cultural establishments!

The free shuttle bus from KEC rounds much of the southern portion of New Bay Area to this...

Wala dyan si Ate Shawie ha? That's one of the malls above Sanduo Shopping District MRT Red Line R8 Station (a popular shopping area), even if it also passes near Station R7: Shihjia, near the Labor Park.

To ride the MRT R8, you don't have to enter that "MegaMall". There's an MRT entrance everywhere!

Just look around after getting off the bus, you will surely see the escalators going down to the station.

Now, a little issue ng katandaan: I went down through that escalator, just happy looking around, here and there... until I realized, I already bought a ticket going back to my hotel! Haruuuy, di ba katuwaan lang yung pag-sakay nung free shuttle bus? Eh, I still had many sites to visit at the Asia New Bay Area!

I did think of going back up to street level and ride the next shuttle back to the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. But the aged lobe of my brain said "saka na o mamaya na, pahinga muna"! Tired na si tanders!

Well, what can the mind do when the body wants to rest in peace hahaha! At least I've been to the 85 Sky Tower - which was my only roam objective anyway. The public library, exhibition center and yacht club were already fantastic bonuses! So, let's see if I can go back there later this afternoon, or bukas!

I'm starting to think I should already schedule another visit to Kaohsiung next month haha!

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