Travel
Be careful not to make silly mistakes! 15 essential things to know before traveling to Singapore
Every time you visit a country, you’re bound to notice some unique local systems that operate in their own way. Some are important for first-time visitors to be aware of, while others are simply cultural quirks to appreciate quietly. So, what should you watch out for when traveling in Singapore? I’ll share what I’ve experienced and learned—best to know these before you go, or you might find yourself confused on the ground.
Rody Pony-Themed Restaurant Begins Soft Launch on Nov. 6, Opens Reservations on Nov. 1
The adorable Rody pony-themed restaurant Caffè Rody is finally opening soon. The official announcement states that it will have a soft launch from November 6 to November 18, officially open on November 20, and offer a 10% discount during the soft launch period. Reservations for dates from November 6 to November 30 will also be available starting at 11:00 AM on November 1.
Adorable chaos alert！Hong Kong’s Gudetama-themed restaurant features steamed custard buns that “vomit and have diarrhea”
Hong Kong’s latest Gudetama-themed restaurant, “Sofutan Café,” has been all the rage recently. In Hong Kong, Gudetama is known as “Sofutan,” which means carefree and cozy. With his perpetually lazy and exhausted expression, he has long attracted flocks of fans. This time, the café has rolled out several new dishes, especially a range of dim sum with distinct regional styles, delivering both visual impact and humorous creativity that’s guaranteed to make you laugh out loud！
"Top 10 Must-Visit Scenic Spots in Penghu" Voting – Guanyin Pavilion Fireworks Takes the Crown
With its unique island charm and landscape, Penghu has become a popular travel destination among Taiwan’s outlying islands. The Penghu County Government recently selected 10 scenic spots across its 5 townships and 1 city and launched a "Top 10 Scenic Spots in Penghu" online voting campaign. After 20 days of voting, Guanyin Pavilion Fireworks topped the list with 35% of the votes.
Top 10 Classic Bicycle Routes Announced: Sun Moon Lake and Taipei Riverside Bike Path Make the List
Cycling is booming in popularity. The results of the 10 Great Classic Bicycle Routes selection event, organized by the Sports Administration of the Ministry of Education, have been announced today after on-site route evaluations by experts and scoring by the selection committee. Among them, the “Sun Moon Lake Bicycle Path System” was selected as one of the Top 10 Classic Bicycle Routes and also won the People's Choice Award.
3 days 2 nights for just NT$6,888 including tax！Hong Kong promotions launch at Travel Fair 11/6 — Hong Kong deals roundup
The Taipei International Travel Fair will be held at Taipei World Trade Center from 11/6 to 11/9！The Hong Kong Tourism Board has partnered with nine travel agencies to offer 3-day-2-night trips starting from just NT$6,888 including tax. With the theme of “Winter Romance,” there’s also a lucky draw with prizes worth a total of NT$1.7 million and 2,500 awards up for grabs. Travelers planning to visit the fair to book Hong Kong itineraries can check these out.
Taichung’s new concept art and culture space, the “Art Museum in the Forest,” to open in 2020
The Kaohsiung Public Library Main Branch has become one of the city’s landmarks with its green building concept of “a library within trees, and trees within a library.” Now, the Taichung City Government has announced that it will build a brand-new Taichung City Cultural Center in Shuinan, based on the concept of a “library in a park, and an art museum in a forest,” providing residents with an additional cultural and artistic space. The center is expected to open in 2020.
Fall Flavor Delights: Tianxianglou Revives Its Iconic 8-Liang Hairy Crab Dishes After a Decade
After a ten-year hiatus, HowToTrip’s Tianxianglou at the Ambassador Hotel has once again introduced hairy crabs from Taihu Lake, along with 16 crab roe (蟹粉) dishes. In addition to offering crabs weighing between 6 and 8 liang, the chefs have also hand-cleaned over 500 crabs each weighing more than 4 liang, finely chopping them into golden, buttery crab roe used in various dishes. Ambassador Hotel confidently states, “All the crabs this time are top-grade. If guests aren’t satisfied upon opening the shell, we’ll replace it on the spot.”
Travel to Japan for hot springs in winter — Vanilla Air Taipei–Tokyo flights from NT$1,558
From 18:00 on October 30 to 22:59 on November 3, Vanilla Air is launching a promotional campaign for Taipei–Tokyo flights, with one-way tickets starting at NT$1,558.
Pray for academic success – must-visit Kita Shrine in Kyoto for autumn leaves and ginkgo trees
Kita Shrine, primarily dedicated to the deity of scholarship Sugawara no Michizane, is frequented by visitors praying for good luck in exams. I once came here myself when preparing for an exam.
Free registration for entry now open —故宫 South Campus opens online booking at midnight on October 30
The Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum will begin accepting online reservations starting at 00:00 on October 30. Visitors can book slots from December 29 of this year through January 31, 2016. Starting in 2016, reservations for the following month will be available every 20th of the month at 00:00 (for example, reservations for February will open on January 20, and so on). The museum noted that to ensure the best visitor experience, the Southern Branch has implemented crowd control measures and will not accept on-site ticket purchases. Additionally, all admission tickets will be free of charge during the trial operation period, which runs until March 31, 2016.
Where to go for Halloween? Shoushan Zoo’s quirky costume party offers free admission
Come to Shoushan Zoo for Halloween—it’s the perfect spot. On October 31, Kaohsiung’s Shoushan Zoo will host the “Animal Forest Halloween Party,” featuring a free admission event for those in Halloween costumes. From 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM that day, anyone dressed in Halloween-appropriate outfits, accessories, or quirky costumes, upon approval by on-site staff, can enjoy complimentary entry. The first 100 creative attendees will also receive spooky Halloween balloons.
Nationally exclusive: “Junji Ito” horror-themed rooms, limited to 10 units
Taipei Fullon Hotel launches a Halloween horror-themed accommodation package. Japanese horror manga master Junji Ito is holding his first-ever global solo exhibition, “Junji Ito: The Horror Aesthetic Experience Exhibition,” in Taiwan, and has partnered with Taipei Fullon Hotel to offer the “Junji Ito” Horror Aesthetic Stay Package, delighting fans.
Europe’s Ultimate Tax Refund Paradise: A Seven-Star Shopping Experience in Madrid
Which European country offers the cheapest tax refunds when buying luxury goods? Common shopping destinations include London in the UK, Paris in France, Munich in Germany, Milan in Italy, Lisbon in Portugal, and more... Here's a great stop you shouldn't miss for luxury brand shopping and tax refunds in Europe: Madrid. Spain is one of the fashion capitals with one of the highest tax refund rates—up to nearly 16%, surpassing the countries mentioned above. Additionally, among European nations, Spain does not impose import duties, so luxury goods are relatively more affordable.
Taiwan’s New Pride at Its Gateway: Winners of Taoyuan Airport’s Third Terminal International Design Competition Announced
The much-anticipated second-phase finals of the international design competition for Taoyuan Airport Corporation’s third terminal area were unveiled on the 30th to public excitement. The top prize was awarded to the esteemed Taiwanese firm CECI and the elite British team Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, whose innovative and outstanding planning and design concepts, along with highly efficient circulation solutions, stood out.
See breathtaking scenery！ Taroko National Park to open new trail on November 2
The newly built Little Zhuilu Trail in Taroko National Park will open to the public on November 2. The trail is approximately 650 meters long and is equipped with facilities such as interpretive signs, directional signs, guardrails, and viewing platforms along the route. Visitors can walk from the Taroko Plateau along the sidewalk on the left side of the Shakadang Tunnel for about 330 meters to reach the East Vent, then enter the Little Zhuilu Trail through the East Vent. It takes about 20 minutes to complete the entire hike.
I really want to fulfill my dream of flying in the sky — a beautiful flight attendant blogger teaches you how to become a cabin crew member
Recently, with the drop in oil prices and increasing market demand, various airlines have been actively recruiting new cabin crew talent. Zoe, a current flight attendant who also runs a blog titled "The Daily Life of a Flight Attendant," shares her personal insights for readers interested in becoming cabin crew, hoping to help more people achieve their sky-high dreams.
Pumpkin reveals Tsai, Eric Chu, and James Soong in one dish: 10 countries’ chefs compete for “Vegetarian Chef King” title
The faces of three presidential candidates actually appeared on
The onsen season’s palanquin clash show is incredibly dynamic—hundreds of people carrying a 700-kilogram sacred palanquin in an intense showdown battle!
The 2015 Taipei Onsen Season was held from October 29 to November 2 over five consecutive days. For the first time, four Japanese sacred palanquins were flown in to Beitou, where over 400 Japanese strongmen performed a grand “palanquin clash ceremony.” Nearly 700-kilogram palanquins were violently shaken and collided by the strongmen, not only drawing gasps from the audience but also symbolizing the shaking of the spirits within the palanquins to pray for bountiful harvests and prosperous business.
8 Unique Themed Restaurants in Tokyo – Fish at a Tea House & Dress Like a Princess
Tokyo has recently seen a resurgence in themed restaurants, offering experiences that range from journeys to the future to time travels into the past. Rakuten Travel Booking has released a list of 8 ultra-cool themed restaurants in Tokyo, including robot, maid, butler in tails, Alice in Wonderland, vampire, prison, fishing boat tea house, and Sengoku warrior tales—each almost fully engaging the five senses.