Travel
The adorable Shiba Inu dango from Taoyuan makes a pop-up appearance at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11 — so cute you won’t want to eat it
The Shiba Inu dango, which became an IG sensation for its soft, chewy mochi shaped like silly Shiba Inus, is created by Taoyuan’s Xingxing Studio. From December to January 2, 2018, the studio set up a pop-up booth on the 6th floor of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11. Although only selling Shiba Inu dango and one type of drink, the dango come in not only the standard version but also a Shiba Inu wearing a Christmas hat and a heart-shaped Shiba Inu dango. Dog lovers in Taipei shouldn’t miss this.
Pink Ocean of Blossoms: Yangmei Xiucai Trail Blanketed in Cherry Blossoms
As cherry blossom season peaks across Taiwan, hundreds of cherry trees along the Xiucai Hiking Trail and the adjacent Xiucai Valley in Yangmei, Taoyuan, have also burst into bloom, creating a "pink sea of flowers." With nearly 90% of the blossoms already open, the vibrant pink blooms contrast beautifully with the surrounding lush green tea plantations, drawing huge crowds of visitors daily who come to admire the scenery and take photos.
Well-known coffee brands rush into the breakfast market; “Café Au Lait” upgraded every Monday
It is estimated that the takeout breakfast market has a business opportunity worth over NT$200 billion. The Wang Group has stepped into the breakfast sector, launching a “buy one get one free” breakfast promotion on the first day back to work, aiming to capture the coffee market through concrete actions and featuring Café Au Lait as its highlight.
“Nude woman” appears on Paris streets? Oh my god, who stole my ad?
“Oh my god, how did the billboard turn into a nude painting?” A fun phenomenon has recently emerged on the streets of downtown Paris, where many large advertisements have quietly been replaced by famous artworks, attracting many passersby to stop and admire them.
Millions of pink lotus flowers float across the entire lake – enjoy being surrounded by blossoms in Thailand’s Udon Thani
For Thailand, what keeps drawing people back time and again are mainly the street snacks. But did you know? Every winter, Udon Thani in southeastern Thailand has a three-month lotus season, attracting travelers from around the globe to witness the breathtaking “sea of lotuses.”
Osaka now has free WiFi too！ Report on 46 hotspots including stations and tourist attractions
Travelers to Osaka can now enjoy free WiFi！ The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau has integrated major tourist spots across the city, along with numerous restaurants, buildings, and stations, and began setting up “Osaka Free WiFi” hotspots at the end of January. In the future, visitors to Osaka can simply enable the WiFi function on their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops at designated locations, search for the specified WiFi name, and access the internet for free.
Attention！From February 13, train tickets for the 228 holiday period will officially go on sale.
The much-anticipated 228 holiday is just around the corner, and many people are likely already planning their trips. Among the travel options, “trains” are one of the preferred modes of transportation for many travelers. According to the Taiwan Railways Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, it is planned to open phone, online, and convenience store ticket booking services for train tickets from February 13 to March 3 (a total of 18 days), starting February 13.
The 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival is here！The North Lantern Area in Zhongxing New Village will be lit up first on the 7th.
The 2014 Taiwan Lantern Festival is set to kick off, with the North Lantern Area in Zhongxing New Village being illuminated first on February 7. The area includes a Religious Lantern Zone, a Tourism Lantern Zone, an Indigenous Peoples Lantern Zone, as well as the “Fortune Turns” installation at a key northern traffic hub, the “Gallop Ahead” display at the Zhongxing New Village archway, and the “Lion Spirit Avenue” along the route from Zhongxing Interchange to the Provincial Government. The Religious Lantern Zone will not only offer limited edition prayer charm souvenirs, but visitors who spend over NT$1,000 in indigenous villages will also receive indigenous dolls and creative lanterns.
Travel rush alert: India opens online visa applications, approvals within 5 days
After announcing a "historic" comprehensive review of its strict visa application rules, India will no longer require tourists from 180 countries to queue at its embassies for visas when visiting the country for tourism.
Second-class protected animal — The bird world’s supermodel “Greater Flamingo” spotted at Budai Wetlands
The two Greater Flamingos that went missing from Linbian, Pingtung before Lunar New Year reappeared during the holiday at “South Budai Wetlands,” staying until the seventh day of the New Year (February 6)! The Southwestern Coast National Scenic Area Administration and the Tainan City Ecology Conservation Society announced the good news, believing the favorable environment of the “South Budai Wetlands” attracted them to fly north and settle there. During the holiday, many visitors, bird lovers, and photographers flocked to see the pair of “Greater Flamingos.”
Snow White, the witch, and the seven dwarfs made of apples
In fairy tales, Snow White loves apples. So what if we use apples to create all the characters from Snow White? Isn’t that perfectly in line with the story’s character settings? Recently, Silly Girl came across a British food artist, Prudence Staite, who used various types of apples to depict her vision of Snow White, the seven dwarfs, and the witch — isn’t it super fun?
2014 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival – Adorable Panda Cub “Roundie” Lanterns Make Their Grand Debut on Lantern Festival
At the press conference for the “2014 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival,” the 15 TN-tall giant panda cub “Roundie” sky lantern made its long-awaited appearance, delighting the crowd with its super cute and amusing look. The New Taipei City Government Tourism Bureau announced that the “Roundie Lantern” will be launched on February 14, coinciding with both the Lantern Festival and Valentine’s Day, and invited everyone to join in the festivities at Pingxi Shifen Square.
Thousands of cherry blossoms and a 3-hectare cosmos sea of flowers in Datong Township, Yilan — blooming this weekend
As the post-holiday period progresses, cherry blossoms are gradually coming into full bloom. For a spring outing in Yilan County, besides visiting the Sanxing Flower Sea adorned with the giant yellow wooden horse "Shaking Rocking Horse," the cherry blossom season in Datong Township will also kick off this weekend. Together with the intertwined sea of cosmos and rapeseed flowers, Yilan County is filled with a strong sense of spring.
A must-try for noodle lovers: 50-year-old satay sesame sauce noodles bursting with Q texture and aroma
Wen Zhang’s Plain Noodles is fairly well-known in southern Kaohsiung. With over 50 years of history and appearances on food shows, its satay sesame sauce-flavored plain noodles are a small bite worth adding to any noodle enthusiast's must-try list. We previously shared our experience at the Xingzhong branch, and this time we’re sharing our experience at the flagship store.
No admission fee at the Taipei 228 Memorial Hall in February
To commemorate the 228 Incident, promote historical education, and foster ethnic harmony, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs has designated every February as a promotional month. Throughout the entire month of February, admission to the Taipei 228 Memorial Hall is “free of charge” (normally NT$20), and special dates have been added during which entry is also free, allowing the public to better understand this period of history.
Final countdown alert！Cherry blossoms at Wuling Farm are in bloom – a “pink explosion” expected within two weeks
Cherry blossoms at Wuling Farm are in bloom！Three days ago, the first blossoms began to appear, with pink buds on the branches gradually opening up. Paired with the backdrop of plum blossoms, the park is starting to show signs of spring. Wang Jinbiao, deputy farm manager of Wuling Farm, said that currently the plum blossoms are in full bloom, while only about 10% of the cherry blossoms have opened. In the next two weeks, the cherry blossoms are expected to be in full bloom. Travelers planning to visit the farm for flower viewing can start reserving entry tickets soon and get ready for the blossom season.
A limited-edition delicacy in the skewer world: the "Lantern" — not always available when you want to try it.
The skewer specialty store "Tori Tetsu" in Tianmu is on the must-visit list for many fans of Japanese-style skewers. The shop only serves chicken dishes, using premium Guiding chicken of banquet quality. Aside from its signature skewers, it also occasionally offers limited-edition delicacies like the "Lantern." In December, it’s available from the 13th to the 16th, with around 20 portions per day, while supplies last.
Dongsen Mountain Forest Resort Hotel – Let every couple “Love you for a lifetime. Love one more lifetime.”
Located in Yangmei City, Taoyuan County, the Dongsen Mountain Forest Resort Hotel not only attracts numerous idol dramas for its romantic architecture and ambiance, but also offers Beauty Spring hot springs and an ecological forest where couples can enjoy intimate moments. To celebrate the important occasion of Valentine’s Day, the Dongsen Mountain Forest Resort Hotel has specially launched a series of romantic offers from February 10 to March 31 to make couples’ love even sweeter.
Foreign cuisine with a “Taiwanese twist”! Affordable exotic creative dishes in Kaohsiung
The warm glow of pale yellow lighting spills through the alleys of Wenzhong Road as night falls, while the wooden interior and touches of greenery both inside and out, along with the casual graffiti-style walls, give this restaurant a Yami Yami~ vibe even before you dig in. Here, Chef Jun serves up his own original Western-style creations.
Re-Fly Airlines discount Flights to Okinawa from 6,200 TWD
From now until February 28, Re-Fly Airlines is offering limited-time 21% off (7.9折) Taipei–Okinawa round-trip tickets every Tuesday and Friday, with a minimum fare of 6,200 TWD per person (excluding tax). From now until the end of March, in partnership with 12 authorized travel agencies, they are also offering three-day-two-night flight-and-hotel packages, starting at 7,999 TWD per person (including tax) for two travelers.