Travel/POI: Kaohsiung - Love River, Restaurants (愛河, 餐館), Taiwan

The Love River originates from Bagualiao, Renwu District, Kaohsiung City. It was probably called "Salt Creek" during the Dutch rule period, and "Sulphur Water" during the Ching Dynasty. In 1895, the river was dredged and turned into a canal during the Japanese rule period, and played an important role in transportation at that time. It was formerly called "Dagou Chuan" and then renamed as "Kaohsiung River”. The origin of the name "Love River" is that in 1948, there was a "Love River Cruise House" along the Kaohsiung River, and after a typhoon, the signboard was damaged, leaving only the word "Love River". Soon after, a couple jumped into the river to die for their love, and a reporter took a photo of the signboard with the word "Love River" on it, which was then spread by the newspaper, and the name of the river began to be popularized. It was later called the "Renai River". The name of “Love River” was officially restored in 1992. It is an important tourist attraction in Kaohsiung. At the end of April of 2023, clusters of orange-red Poinciana flowers decorate the river, which is known as "Love", making it even more romantic. We walked along the Love River and saw the cute dolls at the Kaohsiung Film Archive. We also saw a leaping dragon in front of 40-year-old but soon-to-be-demolished Kaohsiung Ambassador Hotel. We walked through the Avenue of Stars, looking at lithographs of celebrities' names and handprints, recognizing only a handful of them. On the way to the Love River, we also passed by the Holy Rosary Cathedral, the oldest Catholic church in Taiwan, founded in 1859.

愛河源於高雄市仁武區八卦寮，在荷治時期可能叫作「鹽溪」，清代時曾有「硫磺水」之稱，到了1895年日治時期加以疏濬成為運河，扮演著當時交通運輸的重要角色，才正式稱為「打狗川」，後來改稱為「高雄川」。1949年時高雄市政府將其名改為「高雄河」。而「愛河」這個名稱的由來，是1948年高雄川河畔有一家「愛河遊船所」，在颱風過後招牌損壞，只剩下「愛河」二字，之後不久又發生了情侶跳河殉情的事件，採訪記者拍攝照片時將招牌上的愛河二字入鏡，經報紙的傳播，使愛河的名稱開始流行。之後又有「仁愛河」之稱，直到1992年才正式恢復「愛河」之名。它是高雄市重要的旅遊景點。2023年四月底，一簇簇橘紅的鳳凰花點綴著這條有"愛"之稱的河，使之更羅曼蒂克。我們延著愛河一路走來，看到高雄電影館可愛的玩偶，遙望擁有40年歷史但即將拆除的高雄國賓大飯店前的鰲躍龍翔雕塑。我們穿過星光大道，看著一個個名人的名字及手印的石版，認得的只屈指可數。在去愛河的途中，我們也經過創始於1859年的臺灣第一座天主教堂--玫瑰聖母聖殿主教座堂(玫瑰堂)。

Flashback 回顧

In August 2021, I had to go back to Taiwan. At that time, because of COVID, there was a 14-day quarantine policy in Taiwan. Luckily, I stayed in a quarantine hotel next to the Love River, and I was able to relieve my boredom by looking at the beautiful Love River every day. The night view is especially beautiful. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I can look out the window and see the night scene of the river.

2021年8月有事回臺灣，那時候因為COVID的關係，臺灣有隔離14天的政策，幸好我住在愛河旁的防疫旅館裏，每天望著美麗的愛河，可以解解悶。晚上的夜景尤其美麗，半夜醒來的時候，可以望向窗外，看看河邊的夜景。

Food 吃

Bread is the staff of life. Eating is a very important thing for people like us who love to eat. Sometimes we just eat and gobble and forget to take pictures. I would like to introduce you to a few places where we ate and took photos.

民以食為天, "吃"對我們這種愛吃的人來說，是一件很重要的事。有時我們只顧著吃，狼吞虎嚥後都忘了排照。在此介紹幾家有拍照留念的。

老新台菜十全店 (Old & New Taiwanese Cuisine Shiquan Branch), 高雄市三民區十全三路265號 (Tel: 07 311 8099) 。是非常知名的無菜單料理台菜餐廳，並榮獲美國新聞網CNN和米其林必比登推薦。(It is a very famous no-menu Taiwanese restaurant, and has been recommended by CNN and Michelin Bibendum.)

大溝頂虱目魚米粉湯, 高雄市鹽埕區新樂街198-38號 (Tel: 07 521 4919)。銅板美食，專賣幾款魚肚產品, 鹽埕人的古早味早餐。 (Specializing in several kinds of fish maw products. Traditional breakfast place.)