Pandora’s box has been opened, and the people of Taiwan have recently been living in disgust and fear; not long ago, the oil we used, ate, and bought every day was reprocessed and refined from gutter oil, kitchen waste bins, and night market recycled black oil—or deodorized with chemical ingredients. Is this the oil we use to stir-fry our daily meals and fry fish?
In the movie *Avatar*, the planet Pandora, covered with dense jungle vegetation and misty mountains, is the most beautiful homeland in the hearts of the Na’vi. If you’re looking for a place on Earth that comes closest to the Na’vi’s home, then Singapore’s "Gardens by the Bay" might be the spot that best captures the world of *Avatar*.
Princess Cruises recently announced that to celebrate its 50th anniversary, it will launch a series of onboard celebration events in 2015. On November 5, the original cast of "The Love Boat" will gather in Florida, USA, for the naming ceremony of the Regal Princess, kicking off the 50th-anniversary celebration series.
Today (October 31), the Facebook page of Taoyuan International Airport published internal photos of V Air’s aircraft, where the seat headrest covers feature phrases like “Bear Big Seat” and “Bear Wants a Close Seat,” showcasing V Air’s unique sense of humor.
The New Taipei City Department of Transportation officially launched three new YouBike stations today (October 31) at 4:00 PM in Xinzhuang District: Hougang Park, Fuying Administrative Center, and Xisheng Park. These stations provide a total of 59 bike racks (118 parking spaces) and 75 brand-new bicycles. The city now has a total of 17 stations offering 475 public bicycles.
Train enthusiasts will absolutely love this place! Located in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, the "Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park" was renovated from the former Yokokawa Station, once a key transportation hub to Karuizawa. It is now the largest train exhibition center in eastern Japan. The village highlights three main features: "see, touch, and experience." In addition to exploring the cabins and driver’s cabs of 30 historic trains via stairways, visitors can also pay ¥30,000 to learn driving skills. Upon completion, they can drive a Shinetsu Line mountain-climbing train for half an hour within the park, fulfilling their dream of being a train driver.
With the new open skies air agreement between Taiwan and Macau taking effect on October 30, low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan is also expected to launch its Taiwan–Macau route in mid-December.
Traditional red bean pancakes continue to thrive thanks to vendors’ creative twists, with new flavors constantly emerging. It’s not uncommon to find pearl custard versions, but have you tried a “cheese egg” flavor red bean pancake? Near Taichung Railway Station, there’s a highly recommended “Q Di Red Bean Pancake” spot where you can try one for just NT$20.
Food safety issues keep erupting one after another. The "Affordable Standard Steak" produced by Shu Sen Company, which used problematic oil from Ting Hsin, appeared on the Taipei City Department of Health's partial "hit list" released on the 28th, shocking everyone as the historic Grand Hotel Taipei was listed. On the 29th, the Grand Hotel Taipei issued a statement saying that the short ribs they purchased from Shu Sen were not a regular menu item, used in very small quantities, and that they mostly used imported premium beef or domestic beef. Now (31st), the Grand Hotel Taipei has released another statement.
Turns out I still have so much about Tokyo left unwritten. This Ikebukuro Menya Musashi is currently my favorite ramen spot in Japan. It uses a thick, rich pork bone broth that’s incredibly flavorful. The place gets packed with a long queue as soon as it opens every day, and the funniest part? You’ll definitely spot fellow Taiwanese people lining up for a pilgrimage here — I’m one of them.
On the second day of our trip to Japan, we had dinner at Mosaic Plaza near Kobe Harbor. After the meal, we could stroll around the Kobe Harbor night view or explore the two large Umie malls nearby before walking back to the Hotel Okura Kobe. The itinerary was quite smooth. This Kyochiku Moshiko-yaki restaurant was one we had already decided on. Some of the most famous dishes in Kobe include Kobe beef, Moshiko-yaki, and desserts...
In Chiang Mai, Thailand, there’s a tiger park called Tiger Kingdom where visitors can get up close with tigers. A female PTT user named mrsmiller visited the park and accidentally stepped on a tiger’s tail while taking a photo with it. She said, “That was the first time I saw my life flash before my eyes!”
Today (31st) is the annual fun-filled Halloween, and airline flight attendants are dressing up accordingly to celebrate with passengers in the sky. Tigerair Taiwan carried out a “special temporary plan” yesterday and today, equipping its Taipei–Singapore flights with Halloween costumes and props, and even taking Polaroid selfies with passengers.
After entering November, it’s once again the season to admire miscanthus flowers. From today (November 1) to November 30, the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration, under the Tourism Bureau, is hosting the 13th “2014 Caoling Historic Trail Miscanthus Festival – Seeking Autumn and Dancing with Wind-blown Miscanthus” at Caoling Historic Trail.
Want to take a short trip but don’t want to break the bank? Check out a recent article from the U.S. Huffington Post titled “How to Book Cheap Flights,” and keep these tips in mind — they might help you save quite a bit of money.
As autumn deepens, various parts of Japan are gradually turning crimson. To allow travelers to feel the essence of the season the moment they arrive at Japan’s gateway, Haneda International Airport has specially decorated its international terminal with autumn foliage. Paired with the terminal’s “Edo Lane,” which transports visitors back to the Edo period, stepping into the airport instantly immerses you in classic Japanese charm.
Suddenly, I remembered this “Chiayi Yuan Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken” that a group of us tried in Chiayi last year. On a whim, I dug out the photos and started writing… Surprisingly, the biggest hit wasn’t the turkey rice, but this “Chiayi Yuan Culture Road Sesame Oil Chicken”!
Fans of Korean dramas will surely recognize the scene where the protagonists, feeling hungry, pull out all the side dishes from the fridge, dump them into a metal bowl along with steamed rice, add Korean chili paste, and mix everything evenly with a metal spoon to create a delicious bibimbap.
To allow the public to enjoy the visual feast of purple flower seas, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Urban Development’s Bureau of Urban Development specially created a limited-time autumn and winter lavender field and tea tree trail at the Neishuangxi Nature Center from today (November 1) to November 9, crafting a “Taipei Furano.”
Hong Kong’s steamed milk desserts are extremely famous. Following the previous article on Yee Shun Milk Company from our Japan trip, this time we’re introducing another well-known steamed milk spot – the Australian Dairy Company. The steamed milk here is quite different from Yee Shun’s, but it’s just as delicious and not one bit inferior. As for which one is better, you’ll really have to try them both to decide for yourself.