Travel
World's first: AirAsia partners with Interpol to enhance passport security with advanced safety system
On May 9, AirAsia relocated to the world’s largest low-cost carrier terminal — Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2). With upgraded hardware facilities, the airline now uses boarding bridges instead of shuttle buses, and the airport features 10 baby care rooms and over 225 premium retail outlets, offering passengers a diverse shopping experience. At the same time, AirAsia has strengthened its aviation safety software systems and officially announced that it will be the first in the world to collaborate with Interpol.
Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet Air delays Taiwan launch to October
The Civil Aeronautics Administration said on the 15th that Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet Air, which had originally planned to launch flights between Taipei and Ho Chi Minh City in mid-June this year, will postpone its maiden flight until October. It was noted that VietJet Air's delay in starting flights to Taiwan is not related to the recent anti-Chinese riots in Vietnam. The main reason is that the June time slot was deemed unfavorable, with late departure times from Taipei, leading to the postponement to October.
A Sixty-Year-Old Alleyway Zongzi Shop Adds a Secret Weapon for Q Texture: Long-Aroma Rice
Hidden among the historic eateries of Yan Cheng’s Big Ditch Top is a nearly sixty-year-old zongzi shop—Sun Family Zongzi—situated in a small alley opposite Ah Up’s Spicy Snacks. My husband has vivid memories of this place from a visit years ago, though he couldn’t recall its exact location. It turns out to be just a stone’s throw from the 7-11 on Daren Road, less than a hundred meters away.
Love it? Eat it up！UK restaurant serves World Cup-themed curry rice to match your team—cheer for your squad while digging into delicious cuisine
An Indian restaurant in Birmingham, UK, has launched a World Cup-themed curry rice set menu, allowing football fans to not only cheer loudly for their favorite teams during the tournament but also indulge in curry rice sets representing their chosen national squad. Ingredients for some countries include: Italy: spinach purée, fried rice, chicken curry; England: roasted chicken curry, fried rice; Germany: eggplant, roasted chicken curry, mushroom fried curry rice, and more.
Pingxi Mini Trip / People Looking Up at the Sky with Smiles of Happiness
With clear skies, fresh air, trains coming and going, and bustling crowds — what is it that makes visitors here look up at the sky with hopeful, happy smiles on their faces?
Secret romantic spot: Taichung’s Love Chapel with vibrant stained glass and dazzling lights
Known as the “White Love Chapel,” this stained glass church is located next to the Wufeng Branch of the Taichung Public Library. Its petite, adorable all-white exterior paired with colorful stained glass is incredibly photogenic. At night, the chapel sparkles with multicolored lights, offering a 100% romantic vibe that has already drawn many visitors.
The rock wave is coming hot！ The inaugural Guam International Music Festival kicks off in June
With summer just around the corner, are your rock-and-roll vibes starting to stir? Guam’s largest-ever rock event, the “Guam International Live Music Festival,” will take place on June 6 and June 7, expected to draw music fans from around the globe.
The Kaohsiung International Travel Fair Opens Today – Kaohsiung City Promotes “Happiness You Can Feel” Travel Itineraries
The 2014 Kaohsiung International Travel Fair opened today (16th) and will run for four days until May 19. Tourism Bureau Director Hsu Chuan-sheng stated that Kaohsiung boasts abundant mountain, sea, river, and harbor resources, offering the best harbor tours, pleasant climate, and unique experiences found only in Kaohsiung. The goal is to create a top-tier harbor city that is both happiness-inducing and livable.
Everyone’s prices are rising—except for New Zealand and Australia, which are dropping!” Summer tour packages this year are up to 6,000 yuan cheaper than last year.
As the northern hemisphere enters the peak of summer, the southern hemisphere is in winter. The Travel Quality Assurance Association of the Republic of China recently announced the pricing for this season’s summer tour packages. Aside from a price hike in Northeast Asia—with Japan seeing an increase of 5,000 yuan, making it the most expensive in five years—tour costs in Mainland China, the Americas, Canada, and Europe have also risen. In contrast, tour packages to New Zealand and Australia are 2,000–6,000 yuan cheaper compared to the same period last summer, with Australia seeing the steepest drop. This presents an excellent opportunity for family groups planning trips exclusively during the summer break to start planning early.
Explore "Interesting Hong Kong" Attractions – Cathay Pacific Launches Travel Packages Starting from NT$6,999
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair announced that from now until June 15, in collaboration with over 20 travel agencies and in partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, they are jointly launching the new HKPlus “Interesting Hong Kong” travel packages for couples and independent travelers. The 3-day, 2-night package starts at just NT$6,999 per person (excluding tax).
Japan Travel Costs the Most Expensive in 5 Years This Summer Break — Northeast Asia Tour Prices Surge, Tokyo Prices Jump by 5,000 NTD
The summer break is the peak travel season every year, and airlines typically raise ticket prices in phases due to limited seating. Today (16th), the Republic of China Travel Quality Assurance Association, together with travel agencies, announced the tour package prices for various routes in July and August this year. Among them, travel costs to both Japan and South Korea in Northeast Asia have risen, especially in Japan where the increase is the most significant — compared to the same period last year, prices have gone up by approximately 4,000–5,000 NTD, while in South Korea, the increase is around 2,000–3,000 NTD.
A must-visit in your lifetime: The world’s 8 most unique zoos
Besides amusement parks, zoos are definitely among the best places to take kids during holidays. Foreign media outlet eblogfa has also compiled a list of the world’s 8 most unique zoos, including those with the highest survival rates for released animals and all-in-one land-and-sea experiences. In fact, various types of zoos are mostly educational, and taking kids out should definitely include a trip to the zoo—you can also teach them a bit about conservation while observing the animals.
Taiwan is amazing！ Discounts and delicious food — a 19-year-old Vietnamese girl came and didn’t want to leave
When anti-Chinese incidents occurred in Vietnam, causing Taiwanese travelers and businesspeople there to feel uneasy, a 19-year-old Vietnamese girl visiting Taiwan spoke highly of the country. This video, uploaded by “Don’t Play Studio” showcasing how people from different countries view Taiwan, was recently posted online featuring the Vietnamese perspective. The interviewed Vietnamese girl mentioned that although she’s only been here for two months, she absolutely doesn’t want to leave Taiwan.
Gaze at the “Starry” Skies of the Southern Border – Kenting’s Southern Cross Star Party Kicks Off on the 31st
“If the sky is dark enough, the stars will appear; if people are quiet enough, the stars will shout!” Apart from its breathtaking ocean views, Kenting’s Cape Maobitou is an ideal spot to admire the famous Southern Cross constellation due to minimal light pollution. On the 31st, Pingtung County Government is hosting the “Hengchun Southern Cross Star Party,” inviting all stargazing enthusiasts to join in marveling at the beautiful night sky of the southernmost part of the country.
The 20-year-old coffee institution La Crema: Aroma of aged beans
La Crema is a café tucked away in a quiet alley off Guangfu South Road, though it’s close to Yanji Street. For over a decade, this humble spot has quietly championed specialty coffee. If today’s thriving array of home-roasted coffee shops resembles wildfire across the land, then La Crema is one of the sparks that ignited it.
Five large cruise ships docking at Keelung Port simultaneously — best viewing time is between 10 AM and 5 PM
Keelung Port will welcome the simultaneous docking of five large cruise ships on the 18th, with an estimated total of 13,000 passengers embarking and disembarking, setting a new record for passenger services at Taiwanese ports. To commemorate the day, the Keelung Harbor Branch has designated May 18 as “Keelung Port Cruise Day,” and has also published the docking schedule and locations of the five ships on its official Facebook page.
Anti-China riots in Vietnam ! Return flights to Taiwan in short supply – Civil Aeronautics Administration: Not true at all
The anti-China riots in Vietnam are intensifying. The Ministry of Transportation’s Civil Aeronautics Administration stated that in response to the possibility of large-scale demonstrations in the country on the 18th, it has coordinated with airlines to deploy larger aircraft and increase the number of seats available for returning to Taiwan. It is making every effort to assist Taiwanese nationals stranded in Vietnam to return home. Regarding the current reports of return flights being hard to come by, the CAA has clarified: “This is absolutely not the case!”
So warming and comforting—Xinzhu’s peppered pork tripe chicken hot pot with its rich, milky broth
The weather has been gradually cooling down lately, so I thought about checking out some hot pot options nearby. Previously, I’d visited Niuzhiwu (Beef House) on Jinguo Road, and right across from it, a new peppered pork tripe chicken hot pot place had opened. Hot pot with pork tripe and chicken is still relatively rare around here, so I decided to give it a try. When making the reservation, I specifically asked that the dining time be limited to 100 minutes.
Hawaii’s “Dreamy Indulgence Mission” Reaches Final Showdown – Pretty Reporter Makes Top Five
The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s “Dreamy Indulgence Mission” has entered the final showdown. After more than two weeks of online voting, the top five finalists have finally been revealed. From a pretty reporter planning her honeymoon in Hawaii while preparing for her wedding, to a popular blogger gradually fulfilling her dream of traveling around the world, a ageless beauty hula dance teacher who considers Hawaii her second home, and a young college student whose friendship story is heartwarming — every contestant gave their all to make it into the top five.
Annual Punk Music Festival: Riot Fest Chicago Lineup Announced
Ever feel like there are always so many reasons why a music festival you're excited about turns out to be a letdown? Things like sky-high ticket prices or lineups that seem repetitive — so why even bother? But Riot Fest? Totally worth it.