Travel
“In Love with Orange Fragrance, Memories of Beitou” – The 2015 Beitou Tangerine Festival Kicks Off
The 2015 Beitou Tangerine Festival has begun. Beitou District Office has themed this year’s event “In Love with Orange Fragrance, Memories of Beitou.” From January 5 to March 19, visitors can enjoy Beitou tangerines, listen to melodious music, and appreciate the charm of old Beitou culture.
Shop to your heart's content with just one card: 6 traditional markets in Seoul now accept credit card payments
When shopping at traditional markets, cash is usually the only payment option. But now, if you visit six well-known traditional markets in Seoul, not only can you pay with T-Money (Korea’s transportation card), but credit card payments are also accepted.
Must-visit highly-rated ramen shop in Kyoto: Menyuya’s delicious crab ramen
Menyuya is a ramen shop that opened in April 2014, and it has received high ratings on Tablog since its opening. For the past few months, it has consistently ranked among the top ten ramen shops in Kyoto on Tablog (as of December 14, 2014, it was ranked seventh). Menyuya is located on Senbon-dori, near the intersection with Senbon Imadegawa, and is very close to where I live in Kyoto’s Nishijin area.
Blocking roads and hurling profanities: Lutian Green Tunnel in Taitung bans lying on roads starting June 15
Besides being famous for its hot air balloons, Taitung’s Luye Township has seen its "Lutian Green Tunnel"—a scenic road flanked by tree-lined avenues—gain widespread acclaim in recent years for its unique "lying on the road" experience, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. However, in recent years, some tourists have not only used bicycles to block the roads, disrupting traffic, but have also responded with vulgar language when asked to make way. As a result, the Lutian community has decided to ban tour operators from bringing visitors here to "lie on the road" starting June 15.
Nelson Kah Hock Low Appointed as New General Manager of Singapore Airlines; 'Premium Economy' to be Launched on Long-Haul Routes
Singapore Airlines announced that Nelson Kah Hock Low will assume the role of General Manager of Singapore Airlines Taipei Branch starting January 5, 2015, overseeing the operations of the airline’s passenger and cargo services in Taiwan. The outgoing General Manager, Teo Yiong Keong, will return to the Singapore headquarters to lead global corporate sales.
Auction mascot bidding event – V Air donates NT$200,000 to the Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association
The budget airline donated the proceeds from a charity auction to the Taiwan Black Bear Conservation Association (a registered public welfare organization), contributing to the conservation of Taiwan black bears. Following the launch of its inaugural Bangkok route in late 2014, V Air (formerly known as V Air) promptly auctioned off a large plush toy of “Wei Bear” online. The auction attracted several dedicated bidders and closed at NT$96,000. True to its original commitment, V Air allocated an equivalent amount to the winning bid and topped it up to reach a round figure, donating a total of NT$200,000.
Lamigo Club Tuna Specialty Store Celebrates Grand Opening – Special Price of NT$99 for NT$699 Set Meal
Tuna sashimi lovers, rejoice！ La New chairman Liu Pao-yu, a big fan of raw fish, has specially created a tuna specialty shop within Lamigo Club, hoping everyone in Xinyi District can enjoy delicious tuna. To celebrate the opening, from January 7 to 1 January 9, the classic tuna set meal originally priced at NT$699 is available at a special price of NT$99, with a daily limit of 500 servings.
Preventing a repeat of traffic nightmare: Qiaoxi to implement vehicle flow control during holidays starting February
Yilan’s Qiaoxi, which became a “traffic disaster zone” during the four-day New Year’s holiday, saw both directions of its roads jam-packed with vehicles, causing major inconvenience to tourists and local residents. With the Lunar New Year approaching, many fear a repeat of the traffic nightmare. On the 6th, Yilan County Magistrate Lin Congxian announced that starting in February, vehicle flow control will be trialed on weekends and holidays at congested sections of Qiaoxi and scenic areas.
A Countryside Café in Miaoli – OLULU Coffee’s Freshly Roasted Beans
Guanli in Yuanli Township, Miaoli, is actually a very simple and unassuming place. It’s not very well-known, but it boasts abundant natural resources. Its most famous produce is rice – the beautiful mountains, clear waters, and high-quality rice have always been a source of pride for the locals. I grew up here, and most people in the area are farmers. As kids from the countryside, we literally grew up rolling around in the fields.
Civil Aeronautics Administration Director Shen Qirong Retires; Transportation Research Institute Director Lin Zhiming to Take Over on the 16th
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced on the 7th that, as approved by the Executive Yuan, Civil Aeronautics Administration Director Shen Qi will retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age on January 16, 2015. His position will be filled by Lin Zhiming, current Director of the Transportation Research Institute. Meanwhile, Lin Xinde, the current Deputy Director of the Transportation Research Institute, will be promoted to take over as the new institute director. The handover is scheduled for the 16th.
The Australian Open is coming – plenty of summer events in Melbourne
From January 19 to February 1, the 2015 Australian Open will kick off as scheduled. As the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments to take place each year, this top-tier event will gather numerous top-ranked players at Melbourne Park, all competing fiercely for the most prestigious Grand Slam title. During this time, Melbourne – the “City of Sporting Events” – will ignite the passion of tennis fans.
Wang steakhouse unveils new dish: “New York Strip Steak”
With a 22-year history, Wang Steak has continuously developed and launched new main courses since its early classic signature dish, the “Wang Ribeye Steak.” To attract a younger clientele, Wang has introduced a new main dish — the “New York Strip” steak. Zhou Guangyu, deputy general manager of Wang Steak, said that young people today prefer their steaks cooked to a certain doneness, and the New York Strip also has a trendy appeal, making it the new main dish for 2015.
More flight options to the UK Cathay Pacific and Flybe expand codeshare agreement
Cathay Pacific announced an expanded codeshare agreement with Flybe, allowing passengers to travel to four cities in the UK via connecting flights operated by Flybe from Amsterdam or Paris on Cathay Pacific services. Flybe is a regional airline group headquartered in Exeter, in the southwest of England.
New Ways to Explore Korea: Travel Industry Recommends a Romantic Dual-City Tour of Busan and Jeju
Tired of Seoul? Eastar Jet Travel recommends that travelers planning a trip to Korea try something new—a dual-city tour of Busan and Jeju. Experience the maritime culture of Jagalchi Market in the harbor city of Busan, enjoy the romantic vibes of Mount Hallasan, a popular honeymoon destination, and discover a variety of breathtaking sceneries waiting to be explored together.
24-hour Korean BBQ opens, drawing long queues; January reservations fully booked
The American-style Korean BBQ HONEY PIG emphasizes authentic flavors and 24-hour service. Its official opening on January 8 immediately attracted crowds eager to try it out. Not only are all January reservations fully booked, but walk-in customers also face a wait of over an hour. Faced with the huge turnout, founder Micky was constantly on the move—grilling meat for guests, refilling sauces, and more. His trendy grandma-style afro hairstyle also became a hit, with many customers eager to take photos with him.
The perfect combination of cherry blossoms and shrines—classic charm that truly stands out
Visitors to Miyajima definitely come for the iconic Great Torii Gate, but after wandering off to the side, I stumbled upon the uniquely styled Senjokaku Pavilion, which became the most unforgettable memory of my trip to Miyajima.
Artr Restaurant opens at Keelung HSR Museum: Parent-child fun with doodle painting, building blocks
Artr Watercolor boasts a spacious 235-ping area that not only offers creative cuisine and an engaging parent-child dining space where kids can doodle, play with building blocks, read books, and participate in various creative activities and games, but also ensures plenty of room for children to move around—solving the issue of limited space. It’s a perfect blend of art, play, and delicious food for quality family time.
The Wulai Half Marathon to Kick Off in 10 Days — Traffic Control to Be Implemented in Surrounding Areas
In recent years, Taiwan has seen a surge in running events. This year, the New Taipei City Government is hosting the “Wulai Canyon Super Half Marathon” for the first time, combining travel and sports. Participants can immerse themselves in nature while jogging and enjoying the scenic views along the route. After the race, they can also explore the area’s major tourist attractions, creating a new style of holiday-style travel and jogging experience.
Grand Prize: Win 16 Airline Tickets and Cash Bonus – Hawaii Seeks Its Slogan
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has launched the “Hawaii 16 & Million Slogan Contest,” playing on the homophone of “16 &” (十六跟) with “slogan.” The contest combines the meaning of 16 round-trip tickets from Taipei to Hawaii and a cash bonus of NT$160,000, symbolizing a group trip “together” to Hawaii. Just come up with a slogan of 16 characters or less that represents Hawaii, and you could win prizes worth over NT$1.6 million in total.
Limited to 1,000 sets only — the Year of the Sheep Commemorative EasyCard set goes on sale on the 10th!
The 2015 Year of the Sheep Commemorative EasyCard will go on sale this month on the 10th — limited to 1,000 sets and available only while stocks last. The first sale event begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 10. Each set includes 2 cards and is priced at NT$1,200. A total of 35 “lucky number” sets of the sheep-themed EasyCards will also be available for selection by those who obtain a number ticket — don’t miss out if you’re looking to collect special numbers.