Captain Scott's Log ~ Friday, May 9th, 2008

Pipe Dream in Taiwan

We left Batan Island in calm and its volcano dominated the skyline for some time. The Tidal Rips that plagued us in rough weather were in some ways even more spectacular in calm. Jets of white water and breaking waves on a calm sea. The chart showed depths of up to three miles. Two mile high underwater mountains accounted for the Tide Rips even when we were in water a mile deep. At dawn on the eighth, we entered Kaohsiung, Taiwan. We chose this port as it is one of the few with a marina. To our surprise few speak English and no officials had any idea of what to do with us. So clearing in and out - a major hassle. The so called marina is a few pontoons in a park. We are the only foreign yacht here amid five or six local crafts. Security is good and the area is checked frequently by the Coast Guard. They seem to have special training in making large wakes. The theory is that if the yachts are rolling into the docks, then intruders will find it difficult to board! We went to Lotus Lake to see the surrounding ornate Temples and Pagodas, some dated from 1666. They were spectacular enough to compensate for the fact that the lake was drained for repairs. Typhoon Botchoy is turning into a pussycat and will not delay us. The local officials are doing their best to keep us in port and want us to hire an agent. My Skymate has been down for the past two days, and is now at the Doctors. We dined at the eighty-five story Sky Tower Restaurant last evening. The food was good enough that we will go across town again this evening and dine at the same restaurant.