Saviours, Sugar, Steak and Sand

Luckily Brad was up early this morning, because despite the fact that we were told the start would be at 8.30am, it was changed very late the previous evening, and the host Rotarians arrived at 7.30 instead.
Breakfast was salad rolls , coffee and blueberry pie.

Two of the exchange students joined us for the day, and Emily was our translator.

First stop was St Joseph's Hospital, a Catholic run hospital in Huwei which has about 500 beds, and a very busy emergency department. We were very warmly greeted, and given an extended tour of the Respiratory Ward and the Hospice for the Dying. Here we were shown some of the equipment that had been donated by Rotary to the hospital. This was a Vocational visit for Karalyn, and provided a lot of interesting insights into the medical system in Taiwan.
From the hospital, we walked (yes walked!!) the 3/4 km to the old Railway Station which has been developed as a tourist attraction. The line is still used by the Sugar Factory next door. Ed attempted to end it all on the railway line, but when it was pointed out that the line he was on went absolutely nowhere, he happily rejoined the team.

Next stop was indeed the Sugar Factory, where we watched the process from start to finish, tasting the final product direct from the bin.

We then visited another bridge and a park, which are also part of the tourist development in the area.

Lunch was special - we were taken to a restaurant that actually served steak, real slabs of beef with vegies and even mashed potato!! Forgotten how good it tasted....

Change of Rotary Clubs after lunch, and we joined a colourful bus for what we were promised was a trip to the "very big Pacific Ocean"....... First though, a visit to a botanical garden which specialised in coastal vegetation, including Australian Casuarinas.

We arrived at a gate, a set of steps over a sea wall, and the smell of the ocean. We had high hopes of waves and beaches, but on climbing to the top of the wall, were faced with a vista of oyster farms and a glimpse of the ocean on the far horizon. We were a little disappointed, but were assured that our next stop would be at the "beach". Again we were disappointed, another sea wall and a glimpse of the ocean. Oh well, I'm sure it is there somewhere.

Back on the bus to Huwei where we catched up on some shut eye before having dinner with Huwei Rotary Club. The club provided financial management advice to those in attendance.

Early start at 6.30am tomorrow.
Rotarians are entertaining and informative hosts, and all the Clubs in this area have embraced us and shown us the sights. Taiwan is a newly developed country which is very proud of all it's achievements.

Karalyn