No matter how beautiful the mountain scenery is, it’s not the life she truly wanted. So she chose to return to the city to pursue her passion in the food industry — this is the story of the owner of Warm & Cozy Cafeteria. Her family originally ran a homestay in the mountains, and after graduation, she naturally started helping out at the family business. However, having studied in Japan, she remained passionate about Japanese cuisine. With her family’s support, she chose an old house in an alleyway to start chasing her dream.
With just two months left until 2018, have friends planning an overseas New Year’s celebration decided on their destination yet? Watching fireworks in the modern and luxurious Dubai, heading to the Nordic countries or Russia to catch the elusive “fireworks from God”—the magical Northern Lights—or joining the spectacular fireworks carnival in Sydney in the southern hemisphere are all great choices. These are also must-visit destinations that every travel lover should experience at least once in their lifetime.
The sharing economy is thriving, just like Airbnb — renting out one’s home for short stays has transformed the hotel industry. Now, this Airbnb-style sharing concept has been applied to luggage storage. A Danish startup has launched a luggage Airbnb service to solve travelers’ baggage storage woes, allowing them to leave their luggage at registered hosts’ homes nearby and head straight to nearby attractions without having to carry their bags — super convenient.
Two years ago, the duo founded the "Golden Melon No. 3" studio, combining their design aesthetics with everyday rural life experiences to craft a unique Pinglin travel experience. It allows travelers to participate in work-exchange stays, or even trade labor for accommodation by helping elderly community members with chores. Now, they collaborate with travel agencies to take guests up the mountain to watch the sunrise, have picnics by the river, and visit tea farms to learn about the lives of skilled artisans.
The Ruanbi Zhenjun Cultural Festival in Hualien City will kick off on November 29, allowing the public to learn about the unique faith culture and lifestyle of Dachen through religious activities. Before the festival begins, a warm-up session on Dachen culinary heritage has started. On the afternoon of the 21st, the first batch of cooking classes was held at Ruanbi Zhenjun Temple, where Yuanchun You, the neighborhood chief of Minzhong Li, and others taught students from Taiwan Hospitality & Tourism College how to make pork rice and ginger tea noodles, ensuring that Dachen’s distinctive cuisine is not lost to time.
The 2017 Qun FS Yao Yao LPGA Golf Championship will come to a successful close on the 22nd. After four days of intense competition, the players can finally relax, pack their Taiwanese souvenirs, and head home with plenty to take back. The world’s top 80 golf stars are especially fond of Taiwan’s signature bubble tea, traditional Chinese-style fried rice with mixed ingredients, and the golden hot springs that help soothe body and mind.
Travelers planning to visit Thailand soon should take special note. The beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand passed away last year at the age of 89. The Thai Royal Government recently announced that the royal cremation ceremony for the late King will be held from October 25 to 29, 2017, with the main royal cremation day taking place on the 26th. During this period, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew will be temporarily closed.
One of Taiwan’s top steak restaurants, Lawry’s, has been in Taiwan for 15 years. Over this period, it has sold nearly 400,000 kilograms of premium steaks — stacked up, that’s as tall as 45 Taipei 101s. The signature dish is the premium roasted beef short rib, but Chef Alan has specially created new dishes for the 15th anniversary, including American 28-day prime dry-aged striploin from the rear section, Wellington lamb tenderloin with half-tail lobster, and a chef’s creative seafood platter.
Since I visit Chiayi frequently, I’ve tried turkey rice from many shops here. Compared to other places, Chiayi’s turkey rice is truly delicious, so I’ve compiled a shortlist of recommended spots for you. This is my Chiayi turkey rice cheat sheet, and I’ll keep adding more. These are all based on my personal dining experiences—tastes may vary, so feel free to share your thoughts.
Following the June visit by MOF patissier Franck Michel, Grand Hyatt Taipei welcomes newly crowned 2015 MOF Best Patissier Christophe Renou from October 18 to 20. Collaborating with the hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef Po-An, Renou will present a variety of new desserts during afternoon tea at the Tea Lounge on the second floor from October 18 to November 19. Additionally, a limited-time, exclusively available “Pineapple Meets Yuzu” roll cake will be launched at the Baguette Gifting & Bakery on the first floor.
Halloween parade alert: Kids under 12 in "Halloween costumes" can enter Lihpao Theme Park for just NT$100 It’s that time of year again—trick or treat season is here. To celebrate Halloween, Lihpao Theme Park has launched the “Spooky Ghosts & Ghouls Spooktacular” event. From now until November 19, children under 12 dressed in their best Halloween costumes can enjoy park entry for just NT$100 each.
It’s that time of year again when the crisp autumn air invites people to admire the fall foliage. Many Taiwanese travelers are scrambling to book flights to Japan and South Korea for their maple leaf viewing trips. But in fact, Taiwan’s autumn landscapes are just as stunning as those abroad. Located in Nantou County’s Lugu Township, Dashan not only boasts vast expanses of lush greenery, but when autumn arrives, the mountaintops transform into a breathtaking golden spectacle. The sea of golden ginkgo trees is so uplifting to behold.
As golden autumn arrives, the cool season is perfect for heading outdoors. Though the holidays are over, you can still plan a weekend getaway to give your mind a breather. Below, ET Travel Cloud has handpicked 5 romantic autumn sightseeing spots in Changhua. Complete this two-day, one-night healing itinerary, and you’ll be recharged to power through until year’s end.
Besides the enchanting beauty of miscanthus flowers and maple reds, the sight of sun-dried persimmons in Hsinchu is also an orange-hued spectacle you shouldn’t miss every year. To capture this once-a-year beautiful scene, head to Hsinpu Township in Hsinchu County. Starting from the end of September, Weiwijia Persimmon in Hanjingli, Hsinpu Township, Hsinchu County, has begun displaying trays of persimmons. And beyond just admiring with your eyes, the Hsinpu Township Farmers’ Association is also hosting a Persimmon Festival full of food and giveaways to join in the fun, filling this autumn with the warm vibes of persimmons.
To understand the most traditional eating habits of a place, having breakfast with the locals often reveals clues—especially outside major cities, where traditional markets are arguably the most representative "essence zones." Matsu, located in northern Taiwan, is no exception. Historically reliant on fishing, Matsu has developed many distinctive breakfast items thanks to its abundant seafood, as well as snacks that even many people on Taiwan’s main island have never heard of. All of these can be found at Shizi Market in Nangan, Matsu.
News of the relocation of Japan’s famous fish market has been circulating for a long time, but the date has been changed multiple times. On the 17th, the Tokyo government announced that a final decision has now been made regarding the Tsukiji Market’s move. The fish market will relocate to its new site between September and October 2018, though the exact date has yet to be announced.
The annual ITF Taipei International Travel Fair is set to kick off on October 27. In addition to snapping up travel deals, many are already eyeing buffet meal vouchers from major hotels. ETtoday EBC has compiled a list of discount offers from several popular all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants — now’s the time to grab a bargain. Plus, many hotel operators have also launched online travel fair events, so you can shop from home if you’d rather avoid the crowds.
The 2017 ITF Taipei International Travel Fair is set to grandly open at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 from October 27. Many hotels have rolled out pre-fair discounts, and on the 19th, the Fullon Hotels held a press conference announcing two major offers: guests born on the same date as the opening day of any of Fullon’s 15 hotels in Taiwan, or whose names include either the character “Fu” or “Rong,” can enjoy a 70% discount on hotel stays.
The first officially licensed Chibi Maruko-chan themed restaurant overseas opened last (2016) October. However, just as its one-year anniversary approached, the official Facebook page of the Chibi Maruko-chan themed restaurant suddenly posted an announcement on October 1 stating that the restaurant would be temporarily closed starting October 1. Restaurant owner Mr. Huang explained that although they had intended to renew the one-year licensing agreement and even considered expanding to Taichung, the two parties could not reach a consensus on the licensing terms. As a result, the Chibi Maruko-chan themed restaurant ceased operations after October 1.
It feels like stepping into a dreamy campus. The San Yu Christian College in Sun Moon Lake, Nantou, is tucked away in Yuchi by the lake—who would believe it’s actually a school!? Taiwan’s most beautiful school, if you love taking photos and checking in, this place is definitely your paradise for stunning shots!