Travel
Travel across multiple destinations in one overseas trip—just master the flight routes of low-cost carriers to make it happen.
Good news for those planning an overseas getaway: Japan’s first low-cost airline, Peach Aviation, announced yesterday (21st) that it will launch new domestic routes to cities such as Sendai and Ishigaki, while also adding an international route between Osaka and Busan. Taiwanese travelers looking to go abroad in the future can cleverly utilize these budget flights via connecting flights to embark on an affordable “stopover journey,” visiting multiple scenic spots in a single trip.
Sweet "Soak" of Love: Resort Valentine’s Travel Package Goes as Low as 22% Off
The annual romantic Western Valentine’s Day—settling for just a Valentine’s dinner is so outdated. If you want to spend an unforgettable holiday with your beloved, the most thoughtful way is to plan a short hot spring resort getaway, where the two of you can soak in love together—it’s truly the envy of everyone around.
Prince Charming Upgrades “One Bowl of Noodles” to Delight Girls
Girls all say that serious men are the most adorable. The Michael from One Bowl of Noodles adds the qualities of having ideals and never giving up—earning him the title of “Prince Charming.” It’s not meant as ridicule; it’s truly an observation inspired by watching the ups and downs he’s endured at One Bowl of Noodles.
After watching, I really want to take my family to Pingxi (Pinghsi)! The New Taipei City Sky Lantern Festival video has moved netizens.
The 2013 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival will be held on February 14, 17, and 24. To allow more people to experience the nostalgic charm of Pingxi and participate in the touching moment of releasing sky lanterns to make wishes, the New Taipei City Department of Tourism and the director of the film *Pk.com* (Pik Qingchun), Chen Dapo, have collaborated to tell a heartfelt, time-sensitive love story titled “Because of You, Happiness is Unique,” showcasing the historic scenery unique to Pingxi.
Taipei’s weather is damp and cold; hotels launch spicy “Indian Food Festival”
As the season turns damp and cold in winter, it’s the perfect time to warm your palate with aromatic Indian cuisine. Taipei hotel operators have invited an executive chef team from a five-star hotel in New Delhi to Taiwan. From January 25 to February 3, they are launching an Indian Food Festival where, starting from just NT$699 per person, you can enjoy a variety of classic delicacies including tandoori chicken, traditional curries, various types of flatbreads, and Indian biryani.
Backpackers’ favorite website Agoda’s top-rated hotels Raffles Singapore takes the crown
Agoda, the world’s most popular online hotel booking platform among backpackers, has ranked the best hotels of 2012 based on customer stay ratings. Tainan Far East International Hotel made it to 13th place, while the championship was claimed by Singapore’s Raffles Hotel.
You can lie down and sleep even during the flight – Flight attendants offer “make-up bed” service for passengers
Haven’t flown business class yet and want to try the latest business class cabin and the special experience of flight attendants “making your bed”? Singapore Airlines is showcasing its premium cabin products in Taipei’s Xinyi District, open for free public visits on January 26 (Saturday). Visitors can experience firsthand the new A380 First Class Suites and long-haul business class seats, and have the chance to join a lucky draw to win a round-trip economy class ticket between Taipei and Singapore on Singapore Airlines.
Even “farting” can make fans scream—Kumamoto’s super-popular mascot comes to Taiwan
The super-cute big bear has come to Taiwan. To make female fans scream, it performed a “farting” act on stage. With its back to the audience and one hand half-covering its face, its mischievous yet shy expression made people shout “kawaii” nonstop. This is Japan’s most popular mascot, KUMAMON (くまもん) from Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu. In fact, in 2011 it won first place in Japan’s Mascot Grand Prix and went on to become an honorary mascot in 2012.
Can you live in a soju bottle or a milk can? Unbelievable hotels in Korea
Can you live in a soju bottle or a milk can? Travelers who love visiting Korea are surely familiar with Korea’s most famous soju and banana milk. These two must-buy popular items have long captured the hearts of many Korea enthusiasts. But next time you go to Korea, you won’t just be able to drink soju and banana milk—you can also sleep inside the bottles. Just imagining it might make many people excited and eager to check it out.
Pulled straight from the earth by God? The monastery closest to heaven
Where should you go on a “pilgrimage” to get closest to heaven? In the small town of Chiatura, Georgia, there stands a monastery atop a massive rock. Viewed from the ground, it looks as if God has plucked the stone pillar straight from the earth. Towering so high it seems to touch the sky, travelers call it the “monastery closest to heaven.”
Explore romantic filming spots for love stories: Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival offers a 990 TWD package tour
The New Taipei City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau, in conjunction with the 2013 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City, has specially partnered with tourism operators to launch a “Low-Carbon Value Tour” themed “The Essence of Happiness” for areas such as Pingxi, Shuangxi, and Jingmei. Alongside this, they’ve introduced a 990 TWD promotional package tour called “The Essence of Happiness Journey,” which ties in with the festival’s promotional video “CF Scenic Spot – A Touching Moment of Happiness.”
Save $20 on a cup of coffee, get a camera for $5,000 cheaper — Traveling to Japan is now 'the cheapest ever'
To boost exports and stimulate domestic demand, Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has adopted an easy monetary policy, causing the yen to continue depreciating. In the past month, it has fallen below the 0.33 mark. For Taiwanese travelers heading to Japan recently, the difference is very noticeable — the yen goes much further than in previous years, and shopping has become relatively cheaper as a result. Many shoppers visiting Japan have even remarked that buying souvenirs with yen now feels like getting 'a great deal.'
Travel Weekly / Cherry Blossom Frontline – A Romantic Pink Explosion in Northern, Central, and Eastern Taiwan
This year’s several cold fronts have arrived early, causing cherry blossoms across the country to bloom ahead of schedule. In Wulai, Nantou, Yilan, and Taitung, you can see beautiful cherry blossoms swaying in the breeze. Make the most of the weekends before Lunar New Year when crowds are still light and go cherry blossom viewing. With the misty mountain scenery and the pink cherry blossoms, the entire garden is filled with the breath of spring — a wonderful holiday begins right here.
The Year of the Snake mini lantern "Haha" debuts at the Taipei Lantern Festival—its versatile design is a real eye-catcher
The annual "Taipei Lantern Festival," which attracts over a million visitors, will light up Sections 1 to 3 of Zhongshan North Road, from Yuanshan MRT Station to Minquan MRT Station, creating a 4-kilometer stretch of festive lights. For the first time, the festival has moved to the Taipei Flora Expo’s Yuanshan and Fine Arts Parks, featuring a variety of themed lantern areas, and will run for 11 days from February 21 to March 3.
Anita Mui’s Late-Night Dining Spot: A Laneway Pork Bone Congee with Savory Meat Aroma
If I were to say everyone has a Brokeback Mountain in their heart, I’d rather believe we all have a secret late-night dining spot. Mine is in Tsim Sha Tsui. Calling it a “dining spot” is actually an overstatement—it’s just a wooden cart run by a single vendor, nameless, operating only at 11:30 PM in a narrow alley, specializing in pork bone congee, hence nicknamed by customers as “Laneway Pork Bone Congee.”
"Middle-earth" really exists: New Zealand's Hobbiton village opens its doors: Welcome to visit
Following the "Hobbit airplane" and "Gollum Airport," the prequel to *The Lord of the Rings*, *The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey*, is set in Middle-earth 60 years before the events of the *Lord of the Rings* trilogy. The mysterious and incredible real-life settings of the hobbits in the film have been discovered to actually exist. Moreover, those who wish to step into Middle-earth can now have the hobbits open their doors wide, welcoming "future Earthlings" from another world into their peaceful village.
Stay Overnight at a Shrine / The Golden Mountain Shrine Greeted by Wild Monkeys
The “Koganeyama Shrine on Kanayama Island” is a shrine located on a floating island in the Pacific Ocean. Getting to the island is by no means convenient. But making a pilgrimage by boat, then staying overnight in the realm of the gods, is an experience filled with unparalleled charm. Take the JR Senseki Line from Sendai, gently rocking along the way while admiring the scenic spots of Matsushima through the train window, and get off at “Ishinomaki Station.”
Seasonal Hot Pot Special: Supreme Salmon Launches “Japanese-Style Salmon Head Ishikari Nabe”
Supreme Salmon, Asia’s first salmon brand pioneered by the U.S. Prime Group, has tapped into the local love for hot pot dishes by launching the most iconic hot pot from Hokkaido, Japan — the “Supreme Salmon Japanese-Style Salmon Head Ishikari Nabe.” The set includes thick, fresh salmon heads directly imported from Norway, handmade salmon balls, seasonal fresh vegetables, and a rich broth simmered with kelp, miso, and sake lees. The product is flash-frozen and vacuum-packed for freshness.
A Hong Kong boy band fails to get girls to "come to the hotel" on a bike trip around Taiwan — member Kwok says, "Do I look like a pervert?"
A group of adorable Hong Kong boys, who formed their own band called "Air Purifier," came to Taiwan for a bike trip around the island. They also set themselves a challenge: to get 30 girls to come to a hotel room in Kaohsiung to listen to their concert. Unfortunately, after singing on the street for hours, not a single girl was willing to grace the Hong Kong boys with her presence to attend their exclusive mini-concert. The boys couldn’t help but lament, "Is it that we look too creepy, or are Taiwanese girls just too cold?"
Christmas tree transforms into "bamboo shoot" – New Taipei City’s fortune landmark welcomes Lunar New Year
Remember the ever-changing Christmas tree from the 2012 New Taipei City Happy Christmas City event? As the Lunar New Year draws near, the resident Santa Claus in the New Taipei City Happy Christmas City has quietly donned new attire, transforming into a joyous God of Fortune. Taiwan’s tallest Christmas tree has also been redressed as a “bamboo shoot,” keeping festive company with the public throughout the celebratory Lunar New Year.