Travel
Penguins take to the skies: Japan Airlines unveils a "penguin livery plane"
Japan Airlines (JAL), in collaboration with JR East and VIEW CARD, has launched a Suica penguin-themed livery plane and train to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the JAL Suica Card. From now until September 30, passengers can soar through the skies aboard the penguin plane.
EVA Airways & Starlux Airlines launch Kaohsiung–Osaka route; 1-minute silence observed for TransAsia air disaster
Traveling from southern Taiwan to Osaka just got more convenient. EVA Air held a launch ceremony today (5th) for its new Kaohsiung–Osaka route, which will operate daily flights going forward using the A321-200 aircraft. The inaugural flight was fully booked, carrying 184 passengers to Japan.
Secretary-General Liu Kechih arrived in Taiwan today. The Straits Tourism Association (STA): Fully assisting families with aftermath arrangements
On the second day of the TransAsia Airways plane crash, the first batch of personnel from Xiamen Tourism Bureau in mainland China’s Fujian Province and local travel agencies arrived in Taiwan in the morning. In the afternoon, the first group of families of the mainland tourists also arrived, and under the arrangement of the travel agencies, they successively went to hospitals and the funeral parlor to be reunited with their loved ones.
Star Cruises' New 2015 Kaohsiung Itinerary & Hong Kong 5-Day Trip for NT$8,800
Star Cruises announced that this year, the SuperStar Aquarius will arrive in Taiwan earlier in March, with Kaohsiung as its home port. The cruise line has designed itineraries to destinations such as Taichung, Sanya, Ha Long Bay, as well as Okinawa's Naha and Ishigaki Island.
Taiwan’s first-ever MUJI restaurant！The refreshing taste of Japanese teishoku
I’d been looking forward to it ever since I heard that Taipei would soon get Taiwan’s first MUJI restaurant. As a big fan of MUJI, I’d been thinking, “I’ve got to find time to dine here.” Yesterday, while heading up north, I stopped by the B2 floor of Uni-President Hankyu Department Store to check it out. Fortunately, I arrived at 11:30 AM when there were fewer than half the usual number of customers, so I quickly ordered and got seated. By the time I finished my meal and came out, the queue had gotten much longer—so glad I got there early.
Gingerbread men and macarons scattered among flower fields – the “Tainan Flower Festival” kicks off on Valentine’s Day
The 2015 Tainan Flower Festival “Blooms Everywhere” features exhibition sites spread across six small and medium-sized parks, including the South District’s Shuiping Park, Shuijiaoshe Park, Xigang Central Park, Jiali Park, Liujia Multifunctional Leisure Sports Park, and Xinying Nanying Green Heart. The festival runs from February 14th, Valentine’s Day, with a grand opening, closing on March 5th — a 20-day event. The setup work is expected to be fully completed by February 10th. To avoid traffic jams or the hassle of finding parking during the Spring Festival holiday, visitors are advised to take a “light bus tour” around the city to enjoy the Tainan Flower Festival.
It's cherry blossom season again！ Pink mountain cherries and Kawazu-zakura are in full bloom in New Taipei City
As Lichun (the Beginning of Spring) arrives, cherry blossoms across various districts in New Taipei City are also blooming in response to the arrival of spring. Peach-hued blossoms can be seen at Waterfall Park and Warriors' Square in Wulai District, County Highway 28 in Wanli District, A-Rou-Yang Industrial Road in Shenkeng District, Hongludi in Zhonghe District, Qingshan Road in Sanzhi District, Taiji Ridge in Tucheng District, Datong Mountain in Shulin District, Jingting Station in Pingxi District, Guanyin Platform in Pinglin District, Guanyin Temple on Zhulin Mountain in Linkou District, Quchi Park in Xindian District, Wenshan Farm, and Dajianshan in Xizhi District.
Enjoy fresh shark fin without breaking the bank – an affordable shark fin hotpot in Kaohsiung
The four-day New Year holiday brought excellent weather to southern Taiwan, greatly boosting travel opportunities. We took advantage of the cool and sunny day to go out. In addition to visiting the lactobacillus white shrimp ponds farmed by our friend in Li-nei District, we also took our friends to Tainan. In the evening, we went to the affordable shark fin hotpot highly recommended by our friend last time. When we arrived, we were greeted by an unprecedentedly bustling scene — the place was even more packed than the Renwu roast duck spot...
CNN ranks the world's 25 most beloved cities for travelers — Hong Kong takes the top spot, Taipei ranks 19th
Which city in the world is the most beloved by travelers, leaving them enchanted and eager to return? CNN recently selected 25 of the most attractive and captivating cities, with Taipei ranking 19th with 6.7 million visitors.
The “Unsinkable Warship” of the 17th Century – Sweden’s Vasa Ship Resurfaces After 333 Years
Huge ultra-luxury yachts cruising the globe may not be anything new today, but just imagine: back in the 17th century, before the Industrial Revolution, countries were building massive ships—not for tourism, but as frontline war vessels. According to a report by Amusingplanet on the warship Vasa, you might gain a deeper understanding of Sweden, the home of IKEA.
Ugly but super cute！The Uglyheads theme restaurant is coming to Taipei
The “See the Uglyheads” special exhibition is currently being held in Taipei, and in addition to the exhibition, the Uglyheads theme restaurant will also be making its debut in Taipei’s East District！In the alleys of the East District, you can already see the teaser fencing for the Uglyheads restaurant, with interior renovations underway and expected to meet fans soon.
Beyond the romantic date spots at Christmas Town！ Tamsui, Bali, and the Crescent Bridge Riverside Light Gallery
The cozy Christmas season is just around the corner. In addition to New Taipei Christmas Town, there are plenty of festive and romantic date-worthy spots across New Taipei City. From Tamsui MRT Station all the way to Golden Waterfront, a dazzling golden light gallery illuminates the banks of the Tamsui River. At the ferry terminal, the rainbow-colored light poles that usually stand quietly in Tamsui Ferry Pier Plaza, watching over passing boats, have this year been transformed into a towering Christmas tree, glowing brilliantly.
What to do about the post-holiday travel rush? China Airlines: Reassign A321 and A320 aircraft for support
After the China Airlines crash on February 4, the Civil Aviation Administration mandated a comprehensive inspection of the power systems of all ATR72 aircraft in its fleet, which also affected multiple domestic flights. China Airlines announced that from now until February 11, passengers who purchased tickets from China Airlines can process full refunds without any handling fees. To ensure passenger rights, China Airlines' Spring Festival transportation plan remains unchanged, and A321 and A320 aircraft will be deployed to assist travelers in returning home.
One flavor per day only — Taipei’s ice cream paired with spiced mulled wine
Front Street Ice Cream has long been near the top of my “must-visit” list. Every time I see their next week’s flavors posted on their Facebook page, it occasionally makes me gasp in surprise. Take the “Lychee Whiskey” flavor, for instance — an ice cream made with roasted dried lychees topped with a specially mixed whiskey sauce, or the “Earl Grey Tequila,” which is based on Twinings Earl Grey tea and finished with a citrusy tequila glaze... Just imagining them isn’t enough to satisfy my curiosity about Front Street Ice Cream.
Winter-exclusive strawberry dessert is here！ Enjoy the sweet taste of authentic Japanese sweets
Since Man Can moved to Minfu Street, this is my second visit. Last time I couldn’t get a seat and ended up eating ice cream on the roadside. This time, I came back after waiting for the seasonal strawberry ice to be launched！ On a winter holiday afternoon, luckily there weren’t too many people, or I would have had to wait outside again.
The world’s longest table! Join the “Melbourne Food & Wine Festival” and challenge yourself to a shared lunch with 1,500 people
Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia is about to transition from summer to autumn—with bright sunshine and pleasant weather. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival will also take place from February 27 to March 15. One of the highlights of the event is the “World’s Longest Lunch,” featuring emerging artisanal bread-making and seating for 1,500 diners at once, as well as wine tastings with 40 of the world’s top winemakers.
How dreamy! Taiwan also has a chocolate-themed estate — even the noodles are made of chocolate!
Miaoli has long been known as a great place for strawberry picking and a beautiful mountainous area inhabited by many Hakka people. Now, thanks to Chocolate Cloud Estate, it has gained a new tourist factory and attraction, making it bustling with traffic on holidays.
A village you must visit in your lifetime！ The “S”-shaped terrain of Andong Hahoe Village is hailed as having an excellent feng shui layout.
Exploring traditional hanok houses across Korea offers a glimpse into historic memories, but Hahoe Village in Andong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, possesses a magical charm that feels like traveling back in time. As a local guide puts it: “Visiting Andong without coming to Hahoe Village is like not visiting Andong at all.” This makes travelers on the only rural bus heading into the village even more eager to explore.
So this is what natural umami tastes like? Japan’s “Dashi Man” crafts broth from dried bonito
The essence of Japanese cuisine lies not only in fresh ingredients and precise measurements but also in a well-made broth. Japanese chefs place great importance on dashi, considering it the soul of cooking. In Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan, there emerged a master broth-maker who calls himself the “Dashi Man.” Using two types of dried bonito flakes and kelp, he extracts a natural, delicious broth with a pure flavor. Many Japanese chefs make special trips here just to experience the soul of a truly good bowl of soup.
Which EU country of the 28 is the strongest? The French have the fewest overweight people, and Sweden has the most internet users.
The EU currently has 28 member states, each with its own unique culture and strengths, as well as areas of expertise. Below is a list compiled by the website Thrillist highlighting the strengths of each country — it’s quite interesting, and some of it may be quite different from our usual impressions. What do you think?