Can you really go to Italy for your honeymoon for free just by hosting a wedding banquet? No mistake—competing for Taiwan’s annual wedding banquet market worth over NT$10 million, a renowned hotel group is offering newlyweds round-trip airfare to Italy and 7 nights of free accommodation at top-tier hotels, valued at over NT$150,000 in total.
On Sunday evening, Sister Old K and I went out for a meal near MRT Neihu Station. We happened to spot this pizza place, and it had been quite a while since we’d had pizza. But what caught Old K’s interest was that there were foreigners dining there too. If even foreigners want to eat here, the pizza must have something unique about it.
How long has it been since you last visited Lukang? For many, Lukang probably brings to mind the lively excitement of the Lantern Festival. But set aside the grandeur of the festival lights, and take a slow YouBike ride through Lukang’s red-brick temples. Get to know every sight and corner of Lukang as if hearing a story, and you’ll uncover even more hidden scenery tucked away in its winding alleys.
The exquisitely crafted Hsinchu Lantern Festival is coming up on March 4th, Up ! This year’s lantern displays along the moat of Dongmen Fortress specially blend the craftsmanship of local veteran artisans with the creative concepts of young artists, offering visitors a refreshing experience where tradition meets modernity.
The Japanese casual diner ‘maido ookini’ has 450 branches across Japan!* Its standout features are the open kitchen, where you can watch chefs cook up a storm, and its affordable prices. No wonder when ‘maido ookini’ arrived in Taiwan, it quickly became a sensation~ And because it’s located right next to Taipei’s Da’an Forest Park, it’s been dubbed the ‘Da’an Forest Cafeteria’ for now!
The “2015 Sightseeing Festival Celebration Conference” was held on March 3 at the Grand Hotel Taipei. In addition to recognizing outstanding tourism enterprises and individuals, the event also awarded trophies to those who have made significant contributions to promoting Taiwan’s tourism. These included Japanese variety show host “Takeshi” Tomohiro Tamura, Emmy Award winners Joseph Rosendo and his wife, fashion designer and creative director Malan Breton, among others, who were honored with promotional trophies for their efforts in showcasing Taiwan.
In view of the continuous growth in tourist arrivals from Singapore and Malaysia to Taiwan over the years, the New Taipei City Government announced today (March 4) that it will collaborate with EVA Air to launch the “EXPLORE NEW TAIPEI CITY WITH EVA AIR” flight-and-hotel package in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as produce a tourism brochure tailored for travelers from these regions, featuring nine specially curated thematic routes. EVA Air will also increase its flight frequency starting June 21 as a concrete move to attract more visitors from Singapore and Malaysia to explore Taiwan.
The Grand Line of One Piece is coming straight to Tokyo Tower ! Starting March 13, the "One Piece Theme Park," based on Japan’s ultra-popular manga 《ONE PIECE》, will open in the FootTown area beneath Tokyo Tower. Featuring nine attractions and restaurants themed around iconic characters like Luffy, Chopper, and Nami, visitors can now embark on an adventure with the Straw Hat Pirates while enjoying the Tokyo Tower night view.
Starting March 1, Silks Hotel has invited French Michelin one-star chef Matthieu Savarin to guest chef at its B-one buffet restaurant — a first not only in Taiwan but also for Savarin himself. Show host and foodie Jiang Weiwén, upon hearing that Michelin one-star cuisine could be enjoyed for under NT$1,500, went to try it himself and later said the value was incredible and the cost-performance ratio extremely high.
Genting Hong Kong Limited, which owns the Star Cruises brand, announced today (March 3) that it has signed an agreement to acquire Crystal Cruises. Formerly under the ownership of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Crystal Cruises operates two ships: the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.
The annual Yilan Green Expo is set to open at the end of this month. This year’s theme is “Green Miracle – The New Generation of Agriculture,” continuing the event’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The expo park will feature five major themed areas, including water ecology landscapes and nostalgic rural scenes.
The last prayer lantern event of the “2015 New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival” will take place at Shifen Square on the Lantern Festival (March 5). Don’t miss your final chance this year to witness the breathtaking sight of thousands of sky lanterns lifting off together—Up!
In April in Japan, aside from the beautiful cherry blossoms blooming across the country, what other destinations are worth visiting? The "Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route," which attracts many Taiwanese travelers every year, has just announced its opening date. Starting April 16, visitors can venture deep into the mountains at an altitude of 2,400 meters and walk through massive white snow walls as high as 18 meters.
Did you know there’s a stylish, design-savvy hotel called New Majestic Hotel (大华饭店) in Singapore’s Chinatown (牛车水)? It’s actually one of over 200 Design Hotels worldwide!!!
To inspire creativity among the public, the Hawaii Tourism Authority launched the “Hawaii 16 & Million Slogan Contest” in January. The grand prize winner will receive cash and 16 round-trip tickets to Hawaii. Today (March 4), Hawaii tourism ambassador Yang Yizhan also appeared at the judging event, inviting the public to take part in the Hawaii road run and even mixing up colorful cocktails like Blue Hawaii and Mai-Tai on-site, giving everyone a taste of Hawaii’s vibrant spirit. (Drink responsibly)
Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival ! Is it customary to eat tangyuan or yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival? Whether you go for tangyuan or yuanxiao, as long as it’s delicious and carries the festive symbolism of completeness and happiness, that’s what matters. So, which of Taiwan’s famous tangyuan/yuanxiao shops has the highest online buzz? According to a survey by DailyView Internet Popularity Meter, Baosang Tangyuan in Taitung City takes the top spot, followed by Taisi Dairy King in second place, and Mom Su’s Tangyuan in third.
The Hogwarts Express will officially meet fans of the movies and books, allowing visitors to step aboard this train, originally known as the 5972 Olton Hall. In addition to reliving memories of Ron and Harry eating Chocolate Frogs, you can also enter the classic scene where the Dementors attack the train at Azkaban.
Still not satisfied after having beef soup in Tainan, I met up with an old friend on the night before my trip abroad to try some beef hotpot. We had previously gone together to Yonglin Beef Pot on Fuxing North Road—a place famous for serving fresh, same-day-slaughtered warm beef from Tainan, which really did taste great, and you could even cook the final broth into congee. This time, at “Very Beef,” they also serve warm beef, and online reviews are very positive. I just wonder how it compares to Yonglin?
The main lantern of the 2015 Taiwan Lantern Festival was lit up tonight (March 5) at the Taichung Wuri High-Speed Rail Special Zone. In addition to other illuminated zones such as the Fengyuan Lantern Area and Taichung Park, which have been gradually lit since the end of February, the main lantern "Prosperous Sheep Bringing Blessings" located in the Wuri High-Speed Rail Special Zone also made its official debut to the public, marking the grandest moment of the Taiwan Lantern Festival.
Are you a fan of Japanese ramen? If so, you’ve probably heard of popular brands like Ichiran, Ippudo, and Kagetsu Arashi. But have you ever heard of RAMEN IROHA from Toyama Prefecture, Japan? This ramen shop has won the Tokyo Ramen Show five times (a four-peat from 2009 to 2012 and again in 2014), and its signature “Toyama BLACK” black soy sauce ramen has captivated countless ramen enthusiasts.