Travel
The long-established Kaohsiung eatery “Winter Noodles King” is always packed — free meals for seniors aged 80 and up, truly heartwarming
In the summer of 2014, the “Pili Fantasy Martial Arts World – Puppetry Art Exhibition” was held from June 28 to September 14 at the Peng Lai Warehouse in Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Art Center. Due to work, I’ve been back to Kaohsiung frequently lately, and I used my business trip meal times to revisit some of the city’s local delicacies.
Traditional markets now have cafés — enjoy Japanese-style shaved ice even in summer’s heat
One day, I happened to ride by Huamei Street and unexpectedly spotted the sign for 【Machiya Café】. It was a bit of a surprise since coffee shops aren’t commonly found around here. The shop also had a flag hanging out front advertising a Japanese-style ice stand, which reminded me of Kogei Ice Parlor on Dayong West Street. With the hot weather, I figured I’d stop by for some shaved ice.
A Delightful Light Travel in Taipei’s East District – Part 2 of the “Pink Fun Park” Art Treasure Hunt
The “Pink Fun Park – Taipei East District Contemporary Art Exhibition,” organized by the Fubon Art Foundation, is now in its ninth edition this year. It emphasizes the core spirit of an “art gallery without walls.” The word “Pink” is a popular slang term meaning “very,” “Fun” stands for “fun,” and “Park” is pronounced similarly to “Ting” (挺), carrying subtle connotations of cultural exchange, meaning a place or corner. In summary, “Pink Fun Park” (Very Fun Park) refers to a very joyful place.
Taitung Hot Air Balloons Countdown Begins – Windmill & Airship Soar Over the Valley
This Father’s Day weekend, on the 9th, Taitung enjoyed clear blue skies as various adorable-shaped hot air balloons took flight at the ongoing “Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival” in Luye Plateau, Taitung, painting the valley sky with vibrant colors.
Verdant rice waves in Hualien, where a young farmer dances — Xie Xiaojian is determined to protect his hometown
Hualien Yuli is one of Taiwan’s rice-growing heartlands. Amid the emerald-green rice fields, you might occasionally spot a young farmer named Xie Mingjian dancing. With a specially custom-made “farm” earring gleaming on one ear under the sun, he even dreams of getting a tattoo on his back — a design he’s already envisioned, featuring a cross between a stalk of rice and a hoe beneath the Chinese character for “farm.” It’s his way of eternally recording the beauty of farming, a testament to his resolve to safeguard his hometown.
A coral reef wonderland rivaling Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – even non-swimmers will want to dive in
Last night’s gourmet feast was simply too satisfying, too delightful!! This morning, we’re going for coffee with the sun. Hahaha, "sunrise coffee" is a super popular activity at Hoshino Resorts Risonare Kobushi Island. Yun is curious – do people really… wake up this early to greet the sun on the beach??
Tourists flock to Taiwan: Nearly 5 million in first half of year, with sharp increases from Korea and China
Taiwan is not far from reaching its goal of 9 million tourists this year to become a major tourism destination. The latest data from the Tourism Bureau shows that between January and June this year, over 4.82 million tourists visited Taiwan, marking a 26% increase, with particularly sharp growth from Korean and Chinese travelers. The government has set a target of 9 million visitors for this year, and the first-half tourism performance has been outstanding.
News Flash / Finally！Thai authorities announce visa fee exemption for Taiwanese travelers starting August 9
Earlier, the Thai Trade Office announced that to boost Thailand's tourism industry, it will offer a three-month visa fee exemption for travelers from Taiwan and mainland China, lasting from August 9 to November 8.
New species record in Taiwan: "Broad-thumb Bayberry Crab" discovered in Little Liuqiu
The Broad-thumb Bayberry Crab (Actumnus digitalis) is a crab species discovered by the American Fisheries Society during their 1904 expedition to investigate tropical Pacific waters, found in Tahiti. Over 100 years later, it was first discovered in Taiwan’s intertidal zone in Little Liuqiu by Coach Su Jianming, marking it as a new species record for Taiwan and increasing the island’s crab species count to 113 across 25 families.
The first edition of the Michelin Guide Bangkok is out — no restaurant earns three stars
The first edition of the Michelin Guide Bangkok was released on the evening of December 6, with a total of 17 restaurants receiving one or two stars, but none earning three stars. After Bangkok, the first edition of the Michelin Guide Taipei is expected to be published in March 2018.
Boarding a flight just to eat fries? Foreign media recommends seven of the world’s most unique McDonald's
After previously introducing 18 distinctive Starbucks outlets around the globe, this time we’re turning our attention to the ever-popular, largest multinational fast-food chain in the world — McDonald's, which has approximately 32,000 locations across 121 countries. The entertainment website “THE RICHEST” has specially selected 10 of what they consider the most unique McDonald's branches, and here we share a few of them with our readers.
Help sell unsold items — Hualien’s “A Little Bit General Store” and its commitment to the land
A Little Bit General Store, a neighborhood mom-and-pop shop located near the Pacific Ocean, is run by its female owner, Wang Yuping. Having followed her husband to Hualien, she recalls those past decisions and admits she didn’t think too much about it at the time. Before getting married, she still kept her job in Taipei, accustomed to that fast-paced lifestyle, and would regularly travel back and forth to Hualien during holidays, finding a balance that suited her between the two places.
Typhoon Halong brings heavy rain to Japan; parts of Kyoto’s Arashiyama already submerged
Typhoon Halong, this year’s 11th typhoon, hit Japan with torrential rainfall. Around 2:30 p.m. on the 10th, the water level of the Katsura River rose, causing partial road flooding in the vicinity of Kyoto’s popular tourist destination—Arashiyama. The local government has issued evacuation advisories, and the famous Togetsukyo Bridge has been temporarily closed, with all passage prohibited.
Southern runway at Taoyuan Airport to feature dual-level gates for A380’s first passenger landing in Taiwan next year
The southern runway at Taoyuan Airport has been temporarily closed for renovation since the beginning of this year to enhance its functionality, with completion expected by the end of the year. Fei Hongjun, General Manager of Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, stated that as the massive A380 aircraft will make its first passenger flight to Taiwan next year, two locations at the airport will be redesigned as dual-level boarding gates, set to open in March next year.
Hidden in a lane, Fengji Shanghai Bistro – A must-try dreamy stewed noodles with delicious broth for foodies
I first learned about this well-known Shanghai cuisine restaurant in Yonghe from “Cong Ge,” but I never had the chance to try it. In the meantime, I visited what is still my top-ranked Shanghai restaurant in Taipei, “Sansfen Suci,” two or three times, but that was all over two years ago, Up！This time, I got to eat here thanks to an old friend from our foodie group, who chose this long-desired restaurant to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Tiger Head Gang.
Doubling the zombie horde to engulf you—Universal Studios Japan’s “Resident Evil” is back in full force!
Last year, Universal Studios Japan wowed visitors with its “Biohazard The Real” survival game themed around “Resident Evil,” and this year it’s making an even more thrilling comeback starting August 8th. Guests must do everything they can to escape this city of death while being chased by countless zombies. Beware—if caught by the evil forces, be prepared to be devoured by a relentless wave of zombies...
Vanilla Air Enters Kaohsiung – Direct Flights to Tokyo Available from February Next Year!
Residents in southern Taiwan are in for a treat. On the 7th, Vanilla Air President Ishii Tomoyoshi announced that starting February 2015, the airline will launch a new route between “Kaohsiung and Narita,” while the Hong Kong route will commence in November this year.
The Hamilton Island Sailing Regatta in Australia – A Romantic “Colorful Touch” on the Sea!
The annual “2014 Hamilton Island Race Week” is set to be held grandly in Australia from August 16 to 23. During this time every year, sailors and travelers from around the world gather on Hamilton Island to experience the lively atmosphere of Australia’s largest annual land-based keelboat regatta.
Passengers frequently reserve tickets but don’t pick them up; Taiwan Railways: Suspend privileges for over half a year after 3 offenses
Taiwan Railways’ Puyuma trains are in extremely high demand. Even after multiple service increases, many people still can’t get tickets. The reason? It turns out that many often fear not getting tickets, so they team up with friends and family to book together—but fail to cancel the extra bookings in time. In response, Taiwan Railways has announced changes to its suspension policy: starting now, anyone with three no-show reservations within three months will face a suspension of more than six months or even longer.
A Must-Visit in Tokyo: Discovering the Beautiful Reflection of the Skytree at Night
It was supposed to be a trip to the Tohoku region, but somehow we ended up in Tokyo. The main reasons were: first, we skipped Akita and headed to Nikko to avoid the rain; second, we had bought the JR EAST PASS, and it only took an extra hour to get from Nikko to Tokyo; third, our travel companion wanted to see the Tokyo Skytree, while I wanted to see the Kirin no Tsubasa.