Kenting, a national park at Taiwan's southern tip, grows palms and vines out of coral rock formations several hundred metres above sea level. Along the coastline, tropical beaches spar with a nuclear power plant outtake pipe.
The cuisine on offer in Taiwan's pre-eminent coastal resort community is certainly diverse. Barbecue stands on the town's only highway fill the ever-windy air with curry, hot pepper and fried oyster scents, while the smell of just-caught fish wafts out of a restaurant doorway, and the suds from pitchers of Taiwan Beer seem to say: "Hey, it's after five."
Kenting also happens to be pan-Asian. Hong Kong tourists fly directly to Kaohsiung and hop on public transport for the two-hour journey south. They eat with Japanese, Malaysians, Singaporeans and mainlanders who visit for the coastal scenery by day and the resort's lively restaurant scene by night.
The food extends far past Taiwan, taking in Italy, Mexico and Thailand, with an accent on local fish. Places to eat and drink are clustered along the highway just east of the Chinese-style national park gate. Here are six choices within walking distance of each other.