Every time I visit Taiko-han and watch the bustling owner Ingrid, this quote always comes to mind. In Taipei, especially among residents of Neihu, there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know this “Miss Lin Chi-ling’s Oden”—aside from the fact that the owner closely resembles the famous model Lin Chi-ling, which is a huge draw, Taiko-han has also warmed countless hearts and stomachs over the years with its steaming bowls of soup.
The Nankai Electric Railway's premium train Rapit, which connects Osaka and Kansai Airport, has now introduced free WiFi service, available throughout the entire train from December.
Surrounding Sheepdog Ranch are famous attractions such as Hehuan Mountain, Lushan Hot Springs, and Aowanda Forest Recreation Area. During holidays, the area is crowded with visitors, often leading to hazardous scenes of people and vehicles sharing the road. To separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic in Sheepdog Ranch, Nantou County Government has planned to construct an elevated safety walkway.
Founded in 1635 during the early Edo period, Okutan has a history of approximately 375 years. When it first opened, it was called “Oku no Tango-ya,” a restaurant primarily serving shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine).
V Air announced this evening that it will launch a surprise flight promotion on November 12, offering one-way tickets as low as NT$100 for select flights to Bangkok, Busan, and other routes departing on November 15.
As November rolls in, Christmas preparations are underway around the world. Universal Studios Japan officially launched its “Universal Wonder Christmas” event series today (13th), featuring a towering 36-meter Christmas tree that puts on a nightly light show. Listed among the “Top 10 Must-See Christmas Trees in the World Before You Die,” the tree looks particularly dazzling at night. 《ETtoday东森新闻云》 was among the first to enter the park for an exclusive photoshoot.
Universal Studios Japan held its 55-day winter event "Universal Cool Japan Christmas Fantasy" from November 13, 2015 to January 6, 2016. Visitors could hold Minions-themed popcorn buckets, enjoy creamy beer, and witness the illumination of the Christmas tree voted "One of the Must-See Christmas Trees Before You Die" at night — a super romantic Christmas scene. ETToday & Eastday News Cloud specially visited before the opening of "Christmas Fantasy" to capture the most beautiful Christmas views for travelers’ reference.
In coordination with the “2015 Sun Moon Lake Cycling Festival Carnival,” the parking lots within the Xiangshan Visitor Center will be temporarily closed to the public from 12:00 noon on November 14 to 2:00 pm on November 15. Vehicles are advised to park in nearby parking areas. Additionally, certain sections of the Sun Moon Lake Loop Road will implement one-way traffic control and road closure measures from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm on November 15. Except for official, emergency medical, and event-related vehicles, all other vehicles must follow the directions of police and on-site management personnel during the control period.
The “Culinary Grand Prix” is one of Hong Kong’s most anticipated annual culinary events. This year’s competition featured four categories: “Dim Sum: Chiu Chow Fun Guo,” “Meat Patties,” “Vegetables and Mushrooms,” and “Claypot Chicken.” Winning dishes and restaurants often end up on many food lovers’ must-visit lists. Eaton Hotel’s Eaton Yat Heen earned gold awards in both 2014 and 2015, including the prestigious Supreme Gold Award in the Vegetables and Mushrooms category for its Dish "Green Calyx and Red Plum – Dual Mushroom Delight."
Known as a Parisian art treasure, the Rodin Museum has reopened to the public this week after a three-year renovation. Don't miss it if you love European art, especially sculpture works.
With the advantage of the euro exchange rate, many people have extended their travel plans to European countries this year. Germany, with its highly developed infrastructure, rich history and culture, and shopping opportunities, has also become a key destination for many traveling to Europe. The German website http://www.dw.com/learngerman recently released a list of the 10 most popular tourist attractions among foreign visitors. In addition to familiar sites like Neuschwanstein Castle and Cologne Cathedral, the theme park "Europa-Park" took the top spot.
China Southern Airlines will launch its Guangzhou–Rome route on December 16, marking its first route to Italy. From November 16 to December 16, the lowest promotional fare for a Taipei–Rome round-trip starts from 10,666 RMB (excluding taxes).
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Multiple-Entry Visa for Six Months” (METV), introduced for travelers, will officially launch on the 13th. The Thai Trade and Economic Office has also announced that starting from the 13th, it will begin accepting applications, and no 2- or 3-entry tourist visas will be issued after this date.
The 2015 New Taipei City Happy Christmas Town opens on the 20th this year. In addition to collaborating with Australia’s top light art team to create an international-grade 360-degree 3D light projection show, it has also teamed up with rising illustrator “King Cat Not Amusing,” winner of Singapore’s Freshmusic Awards for Best Album Design, to reimagine the soulful protagonists of New Taipei Christmas Town — “Santa Bear” and the “Cube Head Bear Family.”
Lately, quite a few netizens have asked the entertainment reporter if there are any food recommendations in Xinzhuang. Remember how about half a year ago I recommended a local, affordable, smoke-free hotpot spot? Well, that place became a huge hit and is now on the must-visit list among hotpot enthusiasts!!!
The most popular brand under Singapore’s Chinese restaurant group Lotte Food & Beverage, “Lotte Imperial,” officially opened at Xinyi Breeze on November 5. In addition to serving classic Chinese dishes from various regions, what Lotte Imperial is best known for is its “Eight-Colored Xiao Long Bao.” Aside from the original flavor, other options include ginseng, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, and spicy.
Tainan’s Second Southern District Library, “Yancheng Library,” which began construction in 2013, is expected to officially open on December 19. Designed by Cai Yizhang, the architect behind Chi Mei Museum, the roughly 3,600-square-meter site has been planned as a four-story building. Its stacked-book-inspired exterior and a “book ladder” that spans three floors are among the library’s unique highlights.
The first Taiwan branch of the Korean BBQ chain brand New Mapo Gimbap has finally officially opened on November 14. Aside from using locally sourced ingredients from Taiwan, all kitchen equipment and sauces used in the restaurant are directly imported from South Korea. Here, you can not only enjoy authentic Korean-style Mapo Gimbap (pork diaphragm meat) and stove-side egg, but also taste grilled pork skin as featured in Korean dramas.
In July 2014, I met up with a friend at Bottega del Vin. Looking back, our meeting felt like a serendipitous twist of fate. We crossed paths at a Spanish wine tasting event—she was then working in PR and approached me first. A classic Gemini, she had a bright and fun personality. Without any superficial small talk, she immediately started chatting with me about the dress I was wearing, which she almost bought herself.
The 2015 Pescadores Far Eastern Airlines Marathon will officially kick off on November 15. This year’s event is co-hosted for the first time by the Penghu County Government and Far Eastern Air Transport, with over 3,000 participants having registered, including more than 1,200 from Taiwan who have made the trip specifically to compete in Penghu. The marathon has also introduced a first-ever collaboration, featuring both flight attendants and models taking part in the race.