Now in its third year, the Marianas intern recruitment campaign is set to close applications on February 22. Dubbed the “most dreamy job,” the internship not only allows participants to experience the food, fun, and activities of the Marianas, but more importantly, offers a weekly salary of NT$60,000.
With over 20,000 locations worldwide, Starbucks is loved by travelers not only for its coffee but also for its city-themed souvenir tumblers. However, what truly amazes is how many Starbucks stores incorporate local culture into their designs. In Japan alone, there are 13 specially designed outlets, offering another collectible gem for travelers who love unique shops.
The light bulb bubble tea that originated in Yilan has recently sparked a “light bulb drink” craze across the country. It’s not just in Yilan anymore—you can now find these drinks in Hualien, Changhua, and Tainan too. If you haven’t tried one yet, head out and give it a go. But be sure to make a reservation in advance if you don’t want to make a wasted trip.
Taiwan's bread wins another award! The Taiwanese team, selected by the Taiwan Pastry Competition Committee, won the silver medal at the 2016 Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie held in Paris, France on February 9! This bread competition team was led by Chef Wu Pao-chun for the first time. The Taiwanese team members—Wang Peng-chieh, Chen You?, and Hsieh Chung-yP—underwent nearly a year of training and defeated multiple countries, including France and Japan, with their bread made from authentic Taiwanese ingredients. They only lost to South Korea, securing the silver medal.
As the number of inbound travelers to Japan continues to rise, various regions across the country have been introducing convenient tourism services to attract visitors. Tottori City, known as the “Hometown of Conan,” has launched a sightseeing taxi service. For just ¥1,000 (approximately NT$300) per person, travelers can enjoy a 3-hour guided tour around Tottori by taxi, allowing them to explore with ease and without worrying about transportation.
This day should end perfectly with Parisian pastries. Galeries Lafayette is packed with branded desserts, all professional and exquisite—trying them is essential for a meaningful life. My favorite is the Pierre Hermé macaron, especially the passion fruit chocolate flavor (first take a sip of black tea to cleanse your palate, then slowly place the macaron in your mouth). This macaron has a thin, crispy shell and a creamy, rich filling. One bite...
The chocolate specialty store “ChocoArt巧克光廊” located on the first floor of “Taipei Le Méridien Grand Formosa Hotel” is offering a special promotion from now until February 29. Every evening from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, all items except chocolates and gift boxes are available at a 50% discount. The best-selling souvenir item, the Choco Pineapple Cake Gift Box, is discounted by 50% all day long — originally priced at NT$699, you can take it home for less than NT$400.
Since the incident where Wu Dunyi’s grandson had an emergency passport processed at the airport, many people have learned that the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the airport offers passport services. However, the surge in applicants has strained staffing resources. As a result, starting in April, the urgent passport processing fee at the airport will be raised from 900 yuan to 3,600 yuan. Adding the original 1,300 yuan processing fee, the total cost will reach 4,900 yuan.
Do you enjoy the tangy and spicy flavors of Thai food? While there are many Thai restaurants around, when it comes to all-you-can-eat buffets, Thai Market Seafood Buffet is a must-mention. Recently, Grand Hyatt also launched a 10th-anniversary promotion. In addition to Thai Market, Taichung welcomed a new buffet spot last year (2015)—Thai Royal City Thai All-You-Can-Eat Buffet, which also offers unlimited dining and caused quite a stir upon opening.
The access roads to Yilan’s Taiheiyo Forest Recreation Area have experienced multiple landslides since the end of January, remaining closed even during the Lunar New Year holiday. Recently, slope stabilization work has been completed and one-lane, two-way traffic has resumed. The area is expected to reopen at 8:00 AM on the 17th, with adjusted opening hours and flexible traffic control measures.
Actually, this Li Xue La Jiao (Li Xue’s Spicy Delight) is my second visit of the year. The first time, I didn’t bring a camera so I forgot to take photos, and this time I forgot again~But it was so delicious that I took out my phone and snapped a few casual shots right away, capturing the flavors instantly to share with everyone.
Since its opening, The Westin Taoyuan Daxi has become the most expensive hotel in the Taoyuan area, with room rates starting at NT$17,000 per night. Among its 205 rooms are one presidential suite priced at NT$180,000 per night, 24 executive suites, and — the most unique of all — Taiwan’s only spa suite.
They say the day begins with a good breakfast, and a delicious one can definitely set a great mood. Though breakfast shops are common across Taiwan, there are three especially popular ones in Taipei’s Xinyi District: Chen Gen Tea Quest, Find Meal 2nd Shop, and Gao Sanxiao Songyan Cultural and Creative Shop. Among them, Chen Gen Tea Quest often sees long queues outside, while Find Meal 2nd Shop is frequently fully booked.
To accelerate group development and expand its scale, the Regent Hotels & Resorts Group and renowned U.S. real estate developer Cottonwood Management jointly announced on February 17 that they have officially signed a strategic alliance agreement. The two parties will collaborate closely to actively explore the North American market.
The century-old Italian dessert brand COVA from Milan has officially opened on February 18. Here, you can savor the most authentic Italian-style coffee, cakes, and chocolates. Small pastries (cream puffs) are NT$70 each, while daily featured cakes are NT$220 per slice. As for COVA’s signature chocolate products, the “Goodnight Sonata” chocolate is NT$35 per piece, the “Gold Bar” chocolate is NT$70 each, and filled chocolates/truffle chocolates are NT$80 each, regardless of flavor.
Planning your Dragon Boat Festival holiday or summer trip abroad? Tigerair Taiwan is launching promotional fares on its 13 routes, starting from as low as 699 TWD (excluding tax). For popular Japanese destinations among Taiwanese travelers—whether it’s Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, or Okinawa—round-trip fares including tax are under 4000 TWD. Sales start at 10:00 AM on February 18!
The Lantern Festival is approaching, and lantern festivals are springing up all over Taiwan. This year’s "Central Taiwan Lantern Festival" in Taichung is divided into three major lantern zones, and has also partnered with the internationally renowned brand Paul Frank. Not only are there over a hundred intricately designed lantern displays, but the limited-edition mini lanterns given out daily are also adorable Paul Frank designs. From the 17th, an artistic lantern festival feast in Central Taiwan will unfold over 13 days.
Travel to Japan is extremely popular, with average passenger load factors on flights to Japan ranging from 70% to 80%. Targeting the Taiwanese market for Japan travel, many airlines are actively adding new Taiwan-Japan routes, with Hokkaido routes being one of the key targets. It’s rumored that Tigerair Taiwan will open a Hokkaido route, sparking high expectations among many travelers. Tigerair Taiwan stated that the exact launch date and schedule are still under planning.
Dried bamboo shoots are one of my favorite ingredients. Back when I used to attend banquet-style wedding dinners, I always looked forward to the dish with dried bamboo shoots and pork leg. I would eat tons of the bamboo shoots but barely touch the pork. Unlike regular braised pork, this dish also has a tangy flavor, and the dried bamboo shoots become even more flavorful after being simmered in the braising liquid—this is exactly why this dish is so popular. Are you starting to get a little hungry just hearing about it? Let’s dive right in~!!
The recently viral Tainan “Shou Milk Tea” vending machine has drawn crowds willing to line up overnight just to get some. But if you can’t get your hands on Shou Milk Tea, head to Kaohsiung instead. A retro British-style phone booth has appeared near the Xinqijiang shopping district — in fact, it’s a “British Milk Tea Vending Machine.” Only 200 bottles are available each day, and the vendor restocks three times daily — in the early morning, afternoon, and evening — so more lucky customers get a chance to try it.