Travel
Oil prices fall & AirAsia launches Kuala Lumpur–Osaka–Hawaii flights in November
Japan currently accounts for the bulk of flights to Hawaii from Asia, but according to a regulatory filing released on Monday, AirAsia X plans to launch four weekly round-trip flights between Kuala Lumpur and Honolulu starting November 1 this year, with a stopover in Osaka—marking the first direct flights from Malaysia to Hawaii.
Norovirus Can't Stop It Either: Japan's Michelin Two-Star "Mankitsu-ro" Closes for Three Days
Norovirus once ravaged Taiwan in March, but even Japan's Michelin two-star kaiseki restaurant "Mankitsu-ro" wasn't spared. On March 22, six men and women experienced vomiting and diarrhea after dining at Mankitsu-ro the previous day, showing symptoms of food poisoning. The Kyoto City government detected norovirus in five patients and four staff members, and ordered Mankitsu-ro to close for three days starting April 6 for disinfection.
TransAsia Airways Recruits 25 New Flight Attendants; Starting Salaries Can Reach Up to NT$50K
In response to its expanding flight routes and in preparation for entering Northeast Asian routes in the second half of the year, TransAsia Airways announced that it will recruit 25 new flight attendants, with estimated starting salaries ranging from NT$40,000 to NT$50,000 (including allowances).
12 Cool-Looking Islands Around the World – Taiwan’s Guishan Island Makes the List!
Island vacations have become a popular travel trend lately. When flying overhead, you might spot some uniquely shaped islands that are quite amusing. In early April, the website Whenonearth compiled and published a list of 12 of the coolest-looking islands in the world—some islands look just like fish, while others resemble a smiley face, which is bound to bring a smile to your face. Even better, Guishan Island, located off the coast of Toucheng in Yilan, also made the list!
Bangkok’s “Most Eye-Candy” Café – The Whole Shop Is Staffed with Handsome Male Models!
Here comes another hot guys special!!! Ladies who are reading this, you’re in luck again!!! Because entertainment reporter Guo Renrong is taking you all on a pilgrimage to Bangkok’s most talked-about male model café, 10 Thirty Café!!!
Have a bowl of ginger-sliced frog soup at "Frog Prince" Restaurant in Kanchanaburi, Thailand—a must-eat on your trip to the River Kwai!
About a two-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Bangkok brings you to Kanchanaburi in northern Thailand, where the most famous attraction is the "Bridge on the River Kwai." Many travelers heading to the bridge often stop first at the locally renowned "A Lnong" Restaurant—also known as the "Frog Prince" Restaurant—to enjoy the local specialty, "frog feast."
Gas explosion at Kenting Caesar Park Hotel in Pingtung injures 3, who are hospitalized
A gas explosion incident occurred at the Kenting Caesar Park Hotel in Pingtung on the afternoon of the 8th. The hotel was conducting routine testing of an underground gas tank when a suspected explosion caused by excessively high temperatures and poor ventilation in the underground space led to an accident. Three outsourced workers suffered burns, and one sustained minor injuries. The three injured workers have been hospitalized, and guests staying at the hotel were not affected.
New Taipei City’s Water-Splashing Festival Without Water—No Splashing, No Water Balloons！ 3 Cultural Experiences of Thai-Myanmar Traditions
The 2015 New Taipei City Water-Splashing Festival Without Water was held on April 12 at Zhonghe Huaxin Street. In line with water conservation policies, the event used leaves from the red sandalwood tree to sprinkle and ward off bad luck. To liven up the atmosphere, the day featured a creative costume fashion show competition, a Thai-Myanmar cultural quiz with prizes, and a three-challenge game to win lottery tickets. For details, please visit the official event website.
Jiuhua Mountain Chizhou Grand Wish Cultural Park — The Ultimate Showcase of Buddhist Art
Jiuhua Mountain is one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains and the sacred site where the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha fulfills his compassionate vows. Every year, thousands of pilgrims visit to offer incense and prayers. To promote Ksitigarbha culture, Chizhou Jiuhua Mountain invested over 2 billion RMB to create this park, integrating modern technology, art, and culture. With first-class design, materials, and construction, and inspired by the concept of “nine times nine returns to one, achieving enlightenment,” the park recreates a heavenly pure land on earth and pushes Buddhist art to its pinnacle.
Home to Japan’s largest food court! Narita Airport’s low-cost carrier-dedicated “Terminal 3” opens
Narita Airport’s brand-new Terminal 3, dedicated exclusively to low-cost carriers, officially opened at 3:30 a.m. on the 8th. In the future, international and domestic low-cost flights to and from Tokyo will operate from this new terminal.
A new option for Disney and Universal Studios: Emirates launches flights to Orlando
Following the launch of its Dubai-Boston and Dubai-Chicago routes to North America on March 10 and August 5, 2014, respectively, Emirates today (April 8) also announced that it will officially commence operations on the Dubai-Orlando route starting September 1, 2015.
Self-brewed broth hot pot for ¥300 in Taichung—plus an all-you-can-eat buffet and ice cream!
Haven’t written about Dajia food in ages. I’ve been busy traveling abroad, leaving no time to cover the eats in my own area. A few days ago, the owner—who’s also from Yuanli—opened a new Japanese shabu-shabu spot called Fengkuo in Dajia and enthusiastically invited me to check it out. The weather has been damp and cold lately, so I jumped at the chance to warm up. The décor at Fengkuo Japanese Shabu-Shabu is pretty unique, with a vibe reminiscent of old-school Western steakhouses—even the buffet area feels like it’s straight out of a high-end family restaurant!
Easy Transportation Guide to the "Largest Outlet in Kyushu" Closest to Fukuoka City
If you're heading to Tokyo or Osaka and want to shop at an outlet for bargains, you can choose Mitsui Outlet Park or Premium Outlets—opened in collaboration between Mitsubishi Estate and U.S. partners. Although Kyushu doesn’t yet have branches of these two outlet brands, if you’re looking for deals, the "Marinoa City Marinepia" just under an hour’s drive from central Fukuoka is your best bet.
Embark on a Stress-Relieving Journey with Plants at Nei-Shuangxi — The “Fragrance in Your Hands” Course Has Begun
To welcome the arrival of spring, the Forest Life Credit Class at the Nei-Shuangxi Nature Center has officially commenced. From 09:30 to 16:00 on April 18th, a gardening therapy program will be offered to help the public relieve stress from daily life.
Collision of history and European cuisine at Tainan Mayor’s Residence – Grand opening under century-old trees on April 10
Covering a total area of about 791 pyeong, Tainan Mayor’s Residence had been used by only one out of five mayors over its 38-year history and was rarely utilized in daily operations. In 2014, current Mayor Lai Qingde opened it for public bidding, entrusting it to Pasticceria La Scatola International Catering Group. After extensive renovations, the once elegant and quaint Western-style mansion has been transformed into an Italian-French cuisine restaurant and bakery. It was unveiled on April 9 and officially commenced operations on April 10.
Connecting Taipei, Tamsui, and Hualien — Fullon invites Thai chef for guest appearance to serve Thai curry
Just three days away from Songkran Festival, the traditional New Year celebration of the Tai-speaking peoples and Southeast Asia, Fullon Hotels has specially invited Thai chef Chernporn Chantrarasanam to Taiwan for a guest stint (April 9–26), creating Thai curry dishes at Fullon Love Boat Cruise Hotel in Tamsui, as well as in Taipei and Hualien, all served in a buffet style.
A pig that looks like a sheep!? Its tender texture rivals that of beef.
You may have heard of the Spanish Iberico pig lately, but what about Hungary’s national treasure—the Mangalica pig? The newly renovated Westin Fuhang Palace’s Yili Italian Restaurant made its grand debut in April with a fresh new look, and has specially introduced the Mangalica pig, known as Hungary’s national treasure. Chef Huang Jen-ren of Yili Italian Restaurant says the Mangalica pig has a tender texture that rivals beef.
Get beautiful after a flight: Air Busan gives away 100,000 KRW worth of medical experience vouchers
To help travelers become more beautiful, Air Busan has launched a Beauty Care Feast promotion from April 6 to April 24. Passengers who purchase a round-trip ticket from Taipei / Kaohsiung to Busan on Air Busan can receive a 100,000 KRW (approximately NT$3,078) medical experience voucher.
Avoid wearing white clothes or helping Buddha take a bath? Five tips for enjoying Thailand’s Songkran Water Festival
In mid-April, Thailand ushers in its most famous festival—the Songkran Water Festival (Thai New Year). Travelers from around the world also take this opportunity to visit Thailand’s cities and celebrate with locals, immersing themselves in the most important festive atmosphere. As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” To fully enjoy the Songkran Water Festival in Thailand, understanding the “secrets” of participation is the key to a great time. Keep these five tips in mind, and you’ll be ready to head to Thailand and dive into the lively festivities.
Thick caramel and powdered sugar sprinkled on the pancakes — yet somehow not overly sweet?!
This ELK pancake shop is right across from やよい轩 (Yayoiken) and next to 魁力屋, so we had our eye on it for a while. After dinner, we headed straight to ELK (エルク) for some pancakes.