Travel
It’s great for spending and worth collecting too—9 super cool currencies from around the world
Banknotes are also a way to showcase cultural identity. Have you ever paid close attention to the images on banknotes from different countries? The website Roadwarriorvoices has compiled a list of 9 super cool global currencies that offer a glimpse into each country’s iconic imagery.
A 2-meter-high natural fence wall！Tainan’s Shanhua “Hay Maze” opens on April 21
Following the painted rice fields, another “hay maze” has appeared in southern Taiwan！In the area around Grandma’s Painted Wall in Hucuoliao, Shanhua, Tainan, a hay maze will be exhibited for two months starting April 21. Visitors can wander through hay as tall as two meters to find the center of the maze — the skeleton of a giant mammoth, symbolizing the hidden beauty and natural treasures of Tainan.
Skewers that are marinated before grilling are more flavorful — the sweet and savory taste pairs perfectly with a cold beer!
When in Tainan, just stroll around casually and explore the hidden or seemingly unremarkable street food tucked away in alleys. You’ll often be pleasantly surprised. For instance, on one of my trips to Tainan, after having dinner near Sian-gong Temple, I took a walk to the intersection of Minzu Road and Kangle Street and stumbled upon “Shanghao Grilled Marinated Skewers.” There was a long line of people around the stall, which piqued my curiosity. When I squeezed through the crowd, I discovered it was skewers that are first marinated and then grilled...
Shanghai to Build a "Disney Metro Line" with Trains Departing as Frequently as Every 90 Seconds
Shanghai Disneyland is set to open in spring 2016, and currently, Shanghai is constructing the "Shanghai Disney Metro Line" to transport the large influx of visitors.
About to fall off a cliff? Puxin Ranch’s 3D landscape art — 5 classic paintings that are super realistic
In recent years, 3D interactive tourism has been all the rage, and Yangmei’s Wei Chuan Puxin Ranch has also launched a brand-new 3D landscape art event. From the entrance’s Sunshine Prairie, walk along the 12-meter path leading to the European-style garden — there are a total of 5 interactive art installations. From now until May 31, visitors can take part in the “Butterfly Fairy’s 3D Fantasy Garden” activity, experiencing the wondrous feeling of seemingly traveling through time and space in the next second and falling into another world through these landscape art creations.
Enjoy Yunnan snacks and watch traditional dance performances – The Longgang Rice Noodle Festival kicks off on April 18
Longgang in Taoyuan is home to a unique Yunnan rice noodle cuisine and vibrant international food culture, as it was where the Yunnan-Burmese army settled after coming to Taiwan. To showcase this local charm, the Taoyuan City Government is hosting the Longgang Rice Noodle Festival on weekends from April 18 to 26.
Authentic Malaysian flavor PappaRich to open a store in Taipei, expected to launch in May
Taiwan’s food market is becoming increasingly diverse. Not only are Japanese, Korean, and mainland Chinese restaurants expanding into Taiwan, but now the well-known Malaysian dining brand PappaRich is also setting up shop in Taipei, located on Civic Boulevard in the Eastern District. PappaRich offers over 100 authentic Malaysian dishes, such as nasi lemak and laksa, which is great news for Malaysians living in Taiwan who can enjoy nostalgic hometown flavors.
Breathtakingly beautiful—“Flatboats, Cherry Blossoms, and the Takase River”: A stunning view
The Takase River is an artificial canal built in 1611 (the 16th year of the Keichō era) by Kōra Masanobu. At that time, waterway transportation between Kyoto and Osaka relied entirely on this canal. Today, the flat-bottomed Takase boats used for cargo no longer ply the river, and it has become a linear waterway park. Every spring, from around the Fifth Avenue area to the Ichinohashi boat landing along Nijō Street, cherry blossoms bloom profusely along both sides of the canal, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene—one of my top recommendations for cherry blossom viewing.
The unification of China by Qin Shi Huang owes a bit to this flavor — Guilin’s thousand-year-old fragrant and spicy rice noodles
Guilin, part of Guangxi, has seen its culture and eating habits influenced by surrounding regions such as Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guizhou. Its flavors tend to be sour, salty, and spicy, and the food variety is incredibly diverse. Among the many dishes found on Guilin’s streets, the most iconic street food is “Guilin rice noodles.”
Just 5 bucks! Decades-old "fried steamed buns" with classic flavors that never increased in price
The once-declining Central District, due to urban development plans, seems to have gradually become livelier. Of course, it hasn’t returned to its former glory, but with the rise of tourism and the growing popularity of nostalgia, more and more people are taking an interest in this old city area where the old and new coexist. The old city district naturally boasts time-honored food with enduring flavors. The Second Market is probably one of the busiest gathering spots on holidays, but not far from the intersection of Taiwan Boulevard and Sanmin Road...
Want to cook authentic Italian food for Taiwanese? Former Hsieh House Ely Chef Opens Bistro
Being an executive chef at a five-star hotel is a position many aspire to, but Riccardo Ghironi was willing to give up this enviable role to open a small Italian bistro, Metichi, in Taipei’s Minsheng community—just to serve everyone the most authentic Italian cuisine. A simple lasagna carries the taste of an Italian mother’s home cooking.
Purchase designated items — Evergreen Hotels will treat underprivileged families to Mother's Day cakes
With Mother's Day approaching, Evergreen International Hotels has, for the first time this year, joined forces with five of its properties across Taiwan (Keelung, Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Jiaoxi) to launch a Mother's Day charity campaign. Starting now, for every designated Mother’s Day product purchased by consumers, Evergreen International Hotels will donate a pastry to a social welfare organization.
Japan’s Largest – Ichiran Opens a Five-Story Ramen Restaurant in Dotonbori
The highly popular Ichiran Ramen among Taiwanese will open its largest branch in Japan, “Dotonbori Yatai-kan,” in Osaka. The entire five-story building is dedicated to Ichiran: the first floor sells souvenirs, while the second to fourth floors are seating areas, totaling 172 seats. “Dotonbori Yatai-kan” is scheduled to open at 11:00 AM on April 16.
An unsolvable mystery? A Tang Dynasty "Uyghur" ruin on a remote Siberian island
The Daily Mail reported on this island on April 9. It is located on a lake in Siberia and is believed to have been built about 1,300 years ago. Historians and scientists have various theories about the human remains found on the island. This isolated place was likely constructed to attract certain people, with suggestions that it could have been a "summer palace," "temple," or "astronomical observatory."
A Deep Dive into Two Ancient Capitals: Thai Airways Flights to Luang Prabang & Yangon from Just 7,894 NTD
Thai Airways has announced promotional fares for two ancient capitals in Southeast Asia—Luang Prabang and Yangon. Travelers who book their tickets before May 30 and travel via Bangkok can enjoy round-trip fares starting from just 7,894 NTD. (All prices are exclusive of tax.)
Rising from the ashes after 311: A hidden bathhouse at Onagawa Station, adorned with hand-painted tiles by local residents
The community bathhouse, damaged by the 311 earthquake in Japan, has finally risen again. Located at Onagawa Station in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, the station was reopened on March 21 after four years of restoration and planning by architects. The brand-new bathhouse inside the station features interior decorations hand-painted by local residents who stayed behind, filled with the emotions of local life and resilience.
Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei to Open in October, Showcasing Artistic and Cultural Elegance
Taipei Mayfull Hotel, meticulously prepared by the Mayfull Group over many years, is set to grandly open in October 2015. Located in the Da-Zhi area where culture and technology converge, the hotel is near the Jiannan Road Station on the Wenhu Line of the Taipei Metro, adjacent to the Neihu Technology Park and Nangang Software Park. It offers convenient access to the Taipei World Trade Center Xinyi and Taipei 101, as well as nearby attractions such as the Miramar Ferris Wheel, the National Palace Museum, and Shilin Night Market.
The Guam International Marathon concludes; Taiwan sends a record 39 participants
The “2015 Guam International Marathon” has recently concluded successfully. As the third edition and the largest marathon event in Guam’s history, it attracted over 3,000 enthusiastic runners from Guam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and other regions. This year, a record-high 39 Taiwanese athletes registered to compete.
Artists near City Hall Station recommend this “roast meat” shop – try the duck leg with char siu combo, paired with scallion oil
Yesterday, Foodie Show introduced Taipei MRT-area eats. Two places old K tried were pretty delicious, so he’s quite confident about this round of recommendations XD He was especially interested in the Longwei Roast Meat shop introduced by Haozi, so he decided to head there the next day at noon.
Bring Snoopy to Singapore too！The super cute "Charlie Brown Café"
Charlie Brown was one of the little highlights of my first trip to Singapore. I was just walking around and got tired, looking for a place to sit and grab a bite, when I suddenly spotted this super adorable café — [Charlie Brown Café]!!! I remembered how much I loved Snoopy as a kid, so I just had to go in and act a little childish to relive my childhood XD. The Charlie Brown Café is both a restaurant and a café — you can have a full meal or just some sweets. This time, I’ll show you how to enjoy some treats~