Travel
“I want to help sick people.” — The wish of a girl in a Colombian orphanage
By a twist of fate, I got to know a group of Germans and Canadians working at a local orphanage. I went with them to visit the children. The moment I arrived, they grabbed my arms, eager to play hide-and-seek. They kept tugging at my clothes, wanting to talk to me. Unfortunately, my Spanish wasn’t good enough to converse with them. Later, because I was so eager to understand their stories, I asked the children some questions.
Lunch Dining / Japanese-style Healing Brunch “Little Pig Cuisine” – Pork Chops Longer Than Your Face
Tokyo Skytree? Sky Tree? Beep beep!!! It’s the “Tokyo Skytree”. Hidden in a small alley near Banqiao’s old Yuandai Department Store, bright lighting and wooden decor create the Japanese-inspired fresh style of “Tokyo Skytree”.
Only visible when diving: The Great Barrier Reef’s underwater art exhibition – stunning effects with sunlight refraction
Viewing an art exhibition isn’t just about strolling and admiring — you need an oxygen tank and a full set of snorkeling gear to get there. Recently, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland hosted an “underwater art exhibition,” showcasing six reef-inspired artworks on the seabed at a depth of four meters. To appreciate the pieces up close, you must don an oxygen tank and leisurely take them in.
Taichung’s “Dual-Venue” Countdown Concert: Show Lo Counts Down, F.I.R. Welcomes the New Year
As the whole of Taiwan goes countdown crazy, Taichung City has launched the nation’s only “dual-venue” New Year’s Eve concert this year, taking place simultaneously at the National Taiwan University of Sport Stadium in downtown Taichung and the Dajia Stadium in Dajia District. In addition to featuring bel canto singers such as Ding Dang, Lee Jia Wei, and Lin Yu Qun (aka “Little Fatty”), the event exclusively invites Show Lo to deliver the closing performance and count down to the new year with the crowds. Following the countdown, the F.I.R. band will treat audiences to a medley of their classic hits.
A must-visit dream island: the Maldives, a heavenly paradise scattered across the Indian Ocean
The ultimate bucket list of dream destinations absolutely has to include the Maldives, famed as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean"! As the world's largest coral island nation located on the equator, the Maldives enjoys year-round warmth, making it an idyllic getaway far from the hustle and bustle. Strolling along the pristine white beaches and leisurely wandering under the azure sky and crystal-clear waters, embracing the seamless beauty of sea and sky, feels like being cut off from the rest of the world — what a blissful experience.
Causing trouble for the city government!? The yellow duck event changes leaders at the last minute as chief planner Fan Keqin resigns
The Kaohsiung Yellow Duck is set to be displayed on the 21st, and preparations should theoretically be nearly complete. However, it was recently revealed that the original creator, Florentijn Hofman, opposed the duck rotating 360 degrees, forcing the organizing team to cancel the plan. On the 18th, it was further reported that Fan Keqin, the chief planner of the duck display, has resigned. The Kaohsiung City Government also issued a press release stating that it has terminated its partnership with Fan Keqin.
Taichung Tops Popular Travel Cities List; Rubber Duck is Top Travel Keyword
The portal site YAM.com released the top 10 most-searched domestic travel keywords of 2013, with the nationwide phenomenon "Rubber Duck" taking the top spot. The recently media-famous small fried rice shop "Minsheng Fried Rice" also ranked 5th. In the search for popular domestic travel cities, Taichung beat out Tainan and Yilan to claim the champion title.
Serving Spring Festival travelers returning home: National airlines add extra flights and increase online booking bandwidth
As the Spring Festival approaches, to serve passengers traveling back home for the Lunar New Year, several national airlines, in coordination with the opening of cross-strait Spring Festival charter flights, have specially set up a “Cross-Strait Spring Festival Flight Ticketing Zone” on their websites from 8:00 AM on the 20th to midnight on the 21st. This allows travelers to directly book flights to popular cross-strait destinations such as Shanghai Pudong/Pudong, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen at discounted prices.
Toll collection on national highways will officially begin on January 2 of next year
Toll collection on national highways will be implemented in 30 days, but the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ National Freeway Bureau will offer road users a three-day free trial period. Therefore, the official toll collection start time will be at 0:00 on January 2 of next year.
More exciting than New Year’s Eve countdowns: Jolin Tsai and Show Lo to headline final concerts at New Taipei Christmas Town
"Absolutely more spectacular than New Year’s Eve celebrations!" the New Taipei City Government announced. New Taipei Christmas Town, recently ranked No. 1 on the "2013 Top 10 Most Romantic Christmas Spots in Taiwan," will host its final two Christmas concerts on December 21 and 22. The events will feature headline performances by Jolin Tsai and Show Lo, marking their last appearances in Taiwan before the end of this year.
Partnering with the hometown association! Travelers with the card can take domestic flights to and from Kinmen, with 12% off in 2024
Good news for travelers who need to go back and forth between Taiwan and Kinmen! A domestic airline recently announced a partnership with the “Kinmen Hometown Association in Taiwan.” As long as you hold a transportation card issued by the association for round trips between Taiwan and Kinmen, you can enjoy a 12% discount off the full fare. Those who are already eligible for discounted fares for outlying island residents can enjoy an additional 12% discount on the already discounted fare. Additionally, cardholders can bring one companion to enjoy the fare discount together.
A Nostalgic Taste of Grandma’s Home Cooking: Tainan’s Xiaoman Restaurant Is Worth a Second Visit
Ever since my last visit in July, I’ve been haunted by the flavors here—thinking about coming back again and again. Just two months later, I hadn’t forgotten a thing. This time, I chose to visit on Mid-Autumn Festival night. (P.S. Worried Xiaoman might be closed, I called a week in advance to check and made a reservation!)
U.S
The "Chiayi City International Wind Band Festival," which attracted 250,000 participants in 2010, is being held this year in conjunction with the Asian Oboe Annual Conference as the "2013 Asian Oboe Annual Conference and the 22nd Chiayi City International Wind Band Festival." It will invite 10 international wind bands from countries such as the United States and Japan, along with numerous local ensembles, to deliver spectacular performances in Chiayi from the 19th of December to New Year's Day 2014.
Budget Airline Skymark Airlines Uses "Beauty Strategy" with Mini-Skirted Flight Attendants on New Aircraft
The global aviation industry is highly competitive, with airlines pulling out all the stops to stand out in the skies—not just by competing on aircraft types and services, but also by playing the "beauty card" to attract attention. Japan’s budget airline Skymark Airlines recently announced that starting March 2014, it will introduce the new Airbus A330 aircraft. Along with the fleet upgrade, the airline’s flight attendant uniforms have also gotten a makeover—featuring figure-hugging cobalt blue mini skirts that flaunt sleek curves, with cabin crew all around 20 years old!
High-speed rail introduces new off-peak weekday discount Officially launches in March 2014
On the 17th, the high-speed rail finally announced a new discount. Starting from March 13, 2014, a “92% discount on standard class full fares for designated off-peak weekday train services” will be offered. From Monday to Sunday each week, passengers can enjoy a 92% discount when purchasing full-price standard class tickets for trains departing from Taipei, Taichung, or Zuoying during the specified periods of 9:00 AM to 11:36 AM and after 8:00 PM.
Zhubei's Romantic City of Winds: Camellia Flower Season Begins
Zhubei's Romantic City of Winds: Camellia Flower Season Begins
Arabic airline enters Taiwan in February, flights to Europe via Dubai for NT$26,000 including tax
An Arabic airline is entering Taiwan, with its maiden flight just seven weeks away. At its launch event in Taipei today (19th), the airline announced ticket prices from Taipei via Dubai to European destinations for just NT$26,000 including tax, offering travelers access to European countries through Dubai. The competitive pricing is expected to shake up Taiwan’s airline market.
Nantou Flower Carnival: Three “Flower Goddesses” to Accompany the Public in Flower Appreciation
Nantou County will hold a Flower Carnival from the 29th to February 2, 2014, at the Chidi Top Farm and the Flower Logistics Center in Puli, featuring a special “Flower Goddess Outdoor Photo Group” event. The event is divided into three major themes: “Colorful Flowers,” “Plum Blossom Good Days,” and “Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom.” The Flower Goddesses not only serve as outdoor photo models but also act as event ambassadors, leading the public to visit various scenic spots.
Senrong Church's Bottle Christmas Tree Lights Up, Illuminating the Night Scenery of Lintianshan
Located in the Lintianshan Cultural Park in Fenglin Township, Hualien County, Senrong Church has created a Christmas tree about five meters tall using recycled plastic bottles. During the day, it looks dreamy like a snow scene, and at night, when lit up, it shines brilliantly in vibrant colors, adding a strong festive Christmas atmosphere to the nights of Lintianshan.
What to do after seeing the little yellow duck? The "Keelung Yellow Duck" app has all the fun info you need.
The Yellow Duck’s Taiwan tour finally makes its last stop this Saturday (21st) at Keelung Marine Plaza ! To help visitors stay updated on the latest news and transportation details about the Keelung Yellow Duck, the “Happy Keelung Trip with the Yellow Duck” APP, developed by the Keelung City Police Bureau, has officially launched. It includes services such as traffic route planning and parking information, and is available for free download.