Travel
Winter Vacation Outbound Travelers Please Note: The Quality Assurance Association Announces Reference Prices for Tour Groups from January to March
The peak winter vacation season is approaching, and the Lunar New Year holiday lasts six days. Currently, new annual tour packages are gradually being listed, and the travel market is becoming increasingly active. Due to the concentrated demand for outbound travel during the New Year period, flight seats are in short supply. It is recommended that those planning to travel abroad plan as early as possible. However, tour group prices vary across different destinations, and travelers facing a dazzling array of quotes may wonder how to choose a safe and high-quality itinerary.
Whole Tomato Rice Is All the Rage – Here’s an Eggy Curry Twist
I made whole tomato rice on Sunday, and just one day later I wanted to make it again because it’s honestly so much fun. One-pot lazy meals rarely come with such an entertaining twist, and you can even create tons of flavor variations. Today at noon, I used some pantry staples at home to whip up an even more satisfying version—“Whole Tomato Rice with Silky Egg & Curry Flavor.” It was absolutely delicious—you all have to give it a try. How about making a pot tonight and seeing for yourself?
The 6-Day Christmas Light-Up Event of Wanjin: A 13-Meter-Tall Christmas Tree Viewed from Above Resembles a Rose Pattern
The countdown to the annual Wanjin Christmas Season has begun this year. The lighting ceremony is expected to kick off on the evening of December 6. The Wanjin Basilica, along with the local Wanjin Village and Ulaljuc Tribe, have set up large-scale land art installations and 3D light projection shows in preparation for the annual celebration. On the night of the event, a 13-meter-tall rose-shaped Christmas tree will be illuminated, accompanied by the release of rose-scented fragrance water during the lighting moment.
Social media poll ranks top 10 most disappointing travel destinations — Stonehenge and the Pyramids make the list
UK’s Stonehenge, Egypt’s Pyramids, the water city of Venice… these are surely on many people’s lists of “must-visit” places in a lifetime. But the results of a recent poll hosted by American social media site Reddit.com might just change your mind about these attractions. The famous sites, voted as globally “high-profile” yet “disappointing,” have feedback from voters that is truly shocking. These firsthand experiences and insights are often not reflected in commercial travel guides. Below are the destinations and the reasons why they’re considered letdowns.
Locals in southern Taiwan are in luck — EVA Air will launch daily flights between Kaohsiung and Osaka starting February 5.
EVA Air today (December 3) announced that it will open the Kaohsiung–Osaka route beginning February 5, 2015, and bookings are now being accepted.
Tainan Food Festival Hosts Master Challenge with NT$120,000 Grand Prize
The “2014 Tainan Food Festival” is holding the “Tainan Food Masters Challenge,” offering a grand prize of NT$120,000. To date, over 9,000 participants have taken part in the online preliminary round. It is expected that the top 1,500 scorers will advance to the next stage. Preliminary contestants must achieve a minimum score of 75 points (answering at least 15 out of 20 questions correctly) to qualify.
Peach Aviation surpasses 7 million passengers; new Naha–Hong Kong route to be added in 2015
Peach Aviation announced that on November 25, 2014, its total number of passengers had exceeded 7 million, marking a new milestone since the airline's launch in March 2012. Peach Aviation also plans to launch a new international route from Naha to Hong Kong in February 2015.
Narita Airport to Build Nation’s Largest Food Court, Letting Travelers Eat Right Up Until Departure
Japan's Narita Airport’s brand-new Terminal 3, dedicated to low-cost carriers (also known as the LCC Terminal), will open on April 8, 2015. It has drawn attention for featuring the largest food court among all Japanese airports and 24-hour convenience stores. Recently, a list of some of the tenants was announced, including well-known eateries making their airport debuts such as Miyamoto’s Sanuki Udon and Nagasaki Champon.
Tigerair Taiwan launches 88 TWD flights to Macau; New Year's Eve tickets sell out within 20 minutes
Tigerair Taiwan will launch its Macau route on December 17. Today (3rd), it first introduced discounted tickets priced at 88 TWD, which sparked a rush among netizens starting at 12:01 noon. Tigerair Taiwan stated that by 3:45 pm, over 6,000 seats at the 88 TWD rate had been sold, and special fares around New Year's Eve were completely sold out within 20 minutes. The airline is very optimistic about the future of the Macau route.
The artificially created emerald-green and tranquil Blue Pond is most beautiful when viewed in the afternoon under direct sunlight.
The Blue Pond is located in the Shirahige Onsen area of Biei and is a famous attraction beloved by many photography enthusiasts. Public transportation to the Blue Pond is not very convenient, with only a few bus services per day, so most visitors come by car. On this day, after visiting the Farm Tomita, we drove back to Biei and headed to the Blue Pond near Shirahige Onsen.
Ski in winter, admire flowers in summer – The vibrant sea of blooms at Furano Farm in Hokkaido
Two summers ago, I visited Furano Farm for the first time. It was only early July back then, before the peak season for lavender, which left me with a slight sense of regret. This year, I made a point to return in late July, and fortunately, I caught the tail end of the lavender bloom. Knowing that summer at Furano Farm is a popular tourist destination, I woke up at a little after five in the morning and drove from Biei to the farm...
V Air's 520-TWD flight tickets go on sale, then crash immediately – Netizens slam: 'This is just blatant deception!'
The low-cost airline V Air officially began selling tickets for its inaugural Bangkok flight at 10:00 AM today (December 3). With prices having dropped to 520 TWD after online promotions, many netizens waited eagerly at their computers to snag a ticket. However, the website became unusable due to system issues, prompting users to flood V Air’s Facebook fan page with complaints, some even lashing out: 'This is just blatant deception!'
First Acquire Hebei Airlines, Then Expand Long-Haul Flights – Xiamen Airlines to Fly Europe from Fujian with 787 in 2015 Summer
Starting from October this year, China-based Xiamen Airlines has not only acquired a 99.23% stake in Hebei Airlines for 749 million RMB (approximately NT$3.83 billion), but also its second Boeing 787 aircraft has officially joined the Xiamen Airlines fleet. The airline plans to operate flights from Fujian to Europe using the Boeing 787 during the 2015 summer vacation.
Pingtung’s “Pbike” to Launch on the 4th – Only I-Pass Accepted, Riders Under 14 Prohibited
Pingtung Pbike will be launched at 12:00 noon on the 4th, with 20 rental stations and 450 bicycles available in the area centered around Pingtung Railway Station. Registration for membership has already opened online, and users must be at least 14 years old to rent a bike.
A overseas fairyland! The "magic hour" of Dōjima is so beautiful it takes your breath away.
Dōjima, a famous attraction in Nishi-Izu, is well known for its local hot springs and the natural landscape of the sea cave "Tensodo." The Tensodo, formed by the erosion of ocean waves, shines under the bright sunlight on the water's surface, creating a mysterious and stunning view. After visiting Tensodo, many tourists also specifically come to "wait" for the sunset that falls within the small island to capture the most beautiful "magic hour."
Bangkok and Chiang Mai promotional tickets at 520 yuan go back on sale V Air adds a total of 15,000 more
V Air announced on the evening of the 4th that the inaugural promotional one-way tickets to Bangkok and Chiang Mai will go back on sale at 10:00 AM sharp tomorrow (the 5th). As an apology and show of sincerity, V Air has increased the quota from 10,000 tickets at NT$520 each to 15,000.
JAL Launches Free Wi-Fi Service Again – Over 200,000 Hotspots Available at No Cost
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL), aiming to attract more international travelers to visit Japan, has partnered with public Wi-Fi provider Wi2 300 to offer access to over 200,000 free hotspots, making it convenient for passengers to use Wi-Fi services during their trip.
Remember Sesame Street? Elmo and Cookie Monster hit the stage at "Genting International Showroom"
Do you remember the adorable characters from your childhood memories of "Sesame Street"? Starting November 28, the "Genting International Showroom" in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, will present a 38-day Sesame Street musical titled "Sesame Street Live─Elmo Makes Music." This spectacular cross-year musical will feature nearly 20 classic songs.
Taipei Children's Amusement Park to Open on the 16th – Three Free Shuttle Buses to and from MRT Stations
Taipei Children's Amusement Park is set to open soon, and the Taipei City Government has planned three free shuttle bus routes between the park and the MRT Zhishan, Shilin, and Jiantan stations.
A Thousand Japanese Performers to Stage “Dance Festival in Taiwan” This Weekend
To promote tourism and cultural exchange between Taiwan and Japan, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has, for the 12th consecutive year, invited Japanese performance groups to hold the “Dance Festival in Taiwan 2014” (祭りイン台湾2014) on December 6 and 7. This year, a total of 68 Japanese groups will participate, bringing over a thousand performers from Japan.