Sunday, May 24, 2015
Cambodia // Asia
Angkor Wat – This huge temple complex is the reason most people visit Cambodia. The temple ruins are massive, and you’ll need a few days to explore all of them. While there’s a lot more to the country than this UNESCO site (too many people only come to visit Angkor), no trip is complete without satisfying your inner Tomb Raider and exploring these ruins.
Tongle Sap – Sailing down this river allows you to get a look at how closely Cambodian life is tied to this major waterway. You can take a boat all the way down one end to the other or just cruise around on a day trip.
Sihanoukville – White sand beaches, nearby deserted islands, great diving, amazing seafood, and a heavy nightlife filled with cheap booze make this spot a favorite among travelers. This was once a very seedy town, but has become a mecca for backpackers. It’s not a quiet place to hang out, but it’s good place to drink or use as a base to visit the nearby islands, which are quiet and serene.
Phnom Phen – As the capital of Cambodia, this place has a wild west atmosphere with dusty streets and a “devil may care” atmosphere. There are few good attractions to see and an up-and-coming foodie vibe to the city. Since the destruction of the lake, most of the action has moved towards the river.
Nomadic Matt's travel Site has so much more on Cambodia, check it out!
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/cambodia-travel-tips/
Indonesia // South East Asia
With over 13,000 islands, Indonesia has something unique to offer for all sorts of visitors. From the cool white sands and raucous volcanoes of Bali, to the vibrant capital city of Jakarta, to the untouched lands of Sumatra, you can always find something different here. Indonesia is home to a vast array of indigenous animals too (including the Komodo dragon). With extremely inexpensive local food and reasonably-priced accommodation, it’s no wonder Indonesia is a popular destination with so many travelers. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world and I hope you use this guide to plan an excellent trip there (though one visit is certainly not enough!).
Check out what Nomadic Matt has to say about Australia's closest South East Asian neighbour!
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/indonesia-travel-tips/
USJ : Universal Studio Japan
Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン), locatedin Osaka, is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd. with a license from NBCUniversal. The park is similar to the Universal Orlando Resort since it also contains selected attractions from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Most visitors are Japanese tourists and tourists from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. In 2005 Goldman Sachs became the largest shareholder in Universal Studios Japan. The park opened on March 31, 2001. Visitors to the park the opening year reached 11 million guests, becoming the world’s fastest amusement park to achieve the 10 million milestone at the time. Since then, Universal Studios Japan has had approximately 8 million visitors every year.
The park consists of 9 areas, including rides, show attractions, theater-style attractions, and more. Enjoy exciting rides, delicious food, and shopping in Universal Studios Japan.
Also, from Feb to May, there was a display of Attack on Titan in USJ, providing visitors taking photos. The feature is the same as in the animation. If you are really addicted to this, you can also get the related products around this spot. (Limited!)
Now the minions and Harry Potter has become the most popular one in the USJ.
Deers Everywhere : Nara Park
Nara Park (奈良公園) is a public park located in the city of Nara, Japan. The park has over 1,200 wild sika deer (シカ or 鹿 shika) freely roaming around in the park, classified as natural treasure. While the official size of the park is about 502 hectare, the area including the grounds of Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, and Kasuga Shrine, which are either on the edge or surrounded by Nara Park. Nara is famous as a tourist attraction. There are many souvenirs in Nara. The thing about deers and the great statue of Buddha is popular.
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| Tōdai-ji |
You can feed a deer the deer rice cracker “Shika Senbei”. And once you give them the deer rice cracker, they will nod their heads as telling you "Thank you!". Even you haven't given them Shika Senbei, they know you got some they will still nod first as telling "Give me one!". These deers in Nara are so very cute and very polite just like Japanese. I love this spot and I recommend you guys to visit this lovely park.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Uluru // Ayers Rock - Australia
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, 450 km (280 mi) by road.
Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks. The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high, rising 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the Aṉangu people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.
Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour at different times of the day and year, most notably when it glows red at dawn and sunset.
Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or The Olgas, lies 25 km (16 mi) west of Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.
Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves, and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks. The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high, rising 863 m (2,831 ft) above sea level with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the Aṉangu people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.
Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour at different times of the day and year, most notably when it glows red at dawn and sunset.
Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or The Olgas, lies 25 km (16 mi) west of Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.
New7Wonders // Wonders of the World
New7Wonders Foundation:
Great Wall of China - China
Petra - Jordan
Christ the Redeemer - Brazil
Machu Pichu - Peru
Chichen Itza - Mexico
Colosseum - Italy
Taj Mahal - India
Great Pyramids of Giza - Egypt
New7Wonders of the World (2000–2007) was an initiative started in 2000 as a Millennium project to choose Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments. The popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, with winners announced on 7 July 2007 in Lisbon.
The New 7 Wonders Foundation claimed that more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. The voting via Internet was limited to one vote for seven monuments per person/identity, via telephone multiple voting was possible, so the poll was considered not scientific. According to John Zogby, founder and current President/CEO of the Utica, New York-based polling organization Zogby International, New7Wonders Foundation drove "the largest poll on record". After supporting the New7Wonders Foundation at the beginning of the campaign, by providing advice on nominee selection, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by its bylaws having to record all and give equal status to the world heritage sites distanced itself from the undertaking in 2001 and again in 2007.
The New7Wonders Foundation, established in 2001, relied on private donations and the sale of broadcast rights and received no public funding or taxpayers' money. After the final announcement, New7Wonders said it didn't earn anything from the exercise and barely recovered its investment.
The foundation has run two subsequent programs: New7Wonders of Nature, the subject of voting until 2011, and New7WondersCities, which wound up in 2014.
More Details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New7Wonders_of_the_World
Great Wall of China - China
Petra - Jordan
Christ the Redeemer - Brazil
Machu Pichu - Peru
Chichen Itza - Mexico
Colosseum - Italy
Taj Mahal - India
Great Pyramids of Giza - Egypt
New7Wonders of the World (2000–2007) was an initiative started in 2000 as a Millennium project to choose Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments. The popularity poll was led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber and organized by the New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, with winners announced on 7 July 2007 in Lisbon.
The New 7 Wonders Foundation claimed that more than 100 million votes were cast through the Internet or by telephone. The voting via Internet was limited to one vote for seven monuments per person/identity, via telephone multiple voting was possible, so the poll was considered not scientific. According to John Zogby, founder and current President/CEO of the Utica, New York-based polling organization Zogby International, New7Wonders Foundation drove "the largest poll on record". After supporting the New7Wonders Foundation at the beginning of the campaign, by providing advice on nominee selection, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by its bylaws having to record all and give equal status to the world heritage sites distanced itself from the undertaking in 2001 and again in 2007.
The New7Wonders Foundation, established in 2001, relied on private donations and the sale of broadcast rights and received no public funding or taxpayers' money. After the final announcement, New7Wonders said it didn't earn anything from the exercise and barely recovered its investment.
The foundation has run two subsequent programs: New7Wonders of Nature, the subject of voting until 2011, and New7WondersCities, which wound up in 2014.
More Details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New7Wonders_of_the_World
Tokyo // Japan
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and is the second largest city proper in the OECD. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world
Tokyo, as the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient
Tokyo has many universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools. Many of Japan's most prestigious universities are in Tokyo, including University of Tokyo, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Waseda University, and Keio University. Some of the biggest national universities in Tokyo are:
Hitotsubashi University
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
Ochanomizu University
Tokyo Gakugei University
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Tokyo University of the Arts
University of Electro-Communications
University of Tokyo
Tokyo, as the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, is Japan's largest domestic and international hub for rail, ground, and air transportation. Public transportation within Tokyo is dominated by an extensive network of clean and efficient
Tokyo has many universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools. Many of Japan's most prestigious universities are in Tokyo, including University of Tokyo, Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Waseda University, and Keio University. Some of the biggest national universities in Tokyo are:
Hitotsubashi University
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
Ochanomizu University
Tokyo Gakugei University
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Tokyo University of the Arts
University of Electro-Communications
University of Tokyo
Milan // Italy
Milan is widely regarded as a global capital in industrial design, fashion and architecture. In the 1950s and 60s, as the main industrial centre of Italy and one of Europe's most dynamic cities, Milan became a world capital of design and architecture
Milan is a major national and international centre of the performing arts, most notably opera. Milan hosts La Scala operahouse, considered one of the most prestigious operahouses in the world.
Milan is home to many cultural institutions, museums and art galleries, that account for about a tenth of the national total of visitors and receipts.
Like most cities in Italy, Milan has developed his own local culinary tradition, which, as it is typical for North Italian cuisines, uses more frequently rice than pasta, butter than vegetable oil and features almost no tomato or fish.
Milan hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1934 and 1990, the UEFA European Football Championship in 1980 and most recently the 2003 World Rowing Championships, the 2009 World Boxing Championships, and some games of the FIVB World Championship in 2010 and the final games of the FIVB World Championship in 2014.
Milan is the only city in Europe that is home to two European Cup/Champions League winning teams - Serie A renewed football clubs A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano.
Milan is home to some of Italy's most prominent educational institutions. Milan's higher education system includes 7 universities, 48 faculties and 142 departments, with 185,000 university students in 2011 (approximately 11 percent of the national total) and the largest number of university graduates and postgraduate students (34,000 and more than 5,000, respectively) in Italy.
Milan is one of southern Europe's key transport nodes and one of Italy's most important railway hubs. Its five major railway stations, among which the Milan Central station, are among Italy's busiest. Since the end of 2009, two high speed train lines link Milan to Rome, Naples and Turin, considerably shortening travel times with other major cities in Italy.
Milan is a major national and international centre of the performing arts, most notably opera. Milan hosts La Scala operahouse, considered one of the most prestigious operahouses in the world.
Milan is home to many cultural institutions, museums and art galleries, that account for about a tenth of the national total of visitors and receipts.
Like most cities in Italy, Milan has developed his own local culinary tradition, which, as it is typical for North Italian cuisines, uses more frequently rice than pasta, butter than vegetable oil and features almost no tomato or fish.
Milan hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1934 and 1990, the UEFA European Football Championship in 1980 and most recently the 2003 World Rowing Championships, the 2009 World Boxing Championships, and some games of the FIVB World Championship in 2010 and the final games of the FIVB World Championship in 2014.
Milan is the only city in Europe that is home to two European Cup/Champions League winning teams - Serie A renewed football clubs A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano.
Milan is home to some of Italy's most prominent educational institutions. Milan's higher education system includes 7 universities, 48 faculties and 142 departments, with 185,000 university students in 2011 (approximately 11 percent of the national total) and the largest number of university graduates and postgraduate students (34,000 and more than 5,000, respectively) in Italy.
Milan is one of southern Europe's key transport nodes and one of Italy's most important railway hubs. Its five major railway stations, among which the Milan Central station, are among Italy's busiest. Since the end of 2009, two high speed train lines link Milan to Rome, Naples and Turin, considerably shortening travel times with other major cities in Italy.
Auckland // New Zealand
Attractions and buildings
Auckland Civic Theatre – a famous heritage atmospheric theatre built in 1929. It was renovated in 2000 to its original condition.
Harbour Bridge – connecting Central Auckland and the North Shore, an iconic symbol of Auckland.
Auckland Town Hall – with its concert hall considered to have some of the finest acoustics in the world, this 1911 building serves both council and entertainment functions.
Auckland War Memorial Museum – a large multi-exhibition museum in the Auckland Domain, known for its impressive neo-classicist style, built in 1929.
Aotea Square – the hub of downtown Auckland beside Queen Street, it is the site of rallies and arts festivals.
Aotea Centre - Auckland Civic Centre building completed in 1989.
St Patrick's Cathedral – the Catholic Cathedral of Auckland. A 19th century Gothic building which was renovated from 2003 to 2007 for refurbishment and structural support.
Britomart Transport Centre – the main downtown public transport centre in a historic Edwardian building.
Eden Park – the city's primary stadium and a frequent home for All Blacks rugby union and Black Caps cricket matches. It was the location of the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.[103]
Karangahape Road – known as "K' Road", a street in upper central Auckland famous for its bars, clubs, smaller shops and being a former red-light district.
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium – a well-known aquarium and Antarctic environment in the eastern suburb of Mission Bay, built in a set of former sewage storage tanks, showcasing penguins, turtles, sharks, tropical fish, sting rays and other marine creatures.
MOTAT – Auckland's Museum for Transport and Technology, at Western Springs.
Mt Smart Stadium – a stadium used mainly for rugby league and soccer matches. Also the site of many concerts.
New Zealand Maritime Museum – features exhibitions and collections relating to New Zealand maritime history at Hobson Wharf, adjacent to the Viaduct Basin.
Ponsonby – a suburb and main street immediately west of central Auckland known for arts, cafes, culture and historic villas.
Queen Street – the main street of the city, from Karangahape Road down to the harbour.
Sky Tower – the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, it is 328 m (1,076 ft) tall and has excellent panoramic views.
Vector Arena – events centre in downtown Auckland completed in 2007. Holding 12,000 people, it is used for sports and concert events.
Viaduct Basin – a marina and residential development in downtown Auckland, the venue for the America's Cup regattas in 2000 and 2003.
Western Springs Stadium – a natural amphitheatre used mainly for speedway races, rock and pop concerts.
Landmarks
Auckland Domain – one of the largest parks of the city, close to the CBD and having a good view of the harbour and of Rangitoto Island.
Maungawhau / Mount Eden – a volcanic cone with a grassy crater. As the highest natural point in Auckland City, it offers 360-degree views of Auckland and is thus a favourite tourist outlook.
Takarunga / Mount Victoria – a volcanic cone on the North Shore offering a spectacular view of downtown Auckland. A brisk walk from the Devonport ferry terminal, the cone is steeped in history, as is nearby Maungauika (North Head).
Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill – a volcanic cone that dominates the skyline in the southern, inner suburbs. It no longer has a tree on the summit (after a politically motivated attack on the old tree) but is still crowned by an obelisk.
Rangitoto Island – guards the entrance to Waitemata Harbour, and forms a prominent feature on the eastern horizon.
Waiheke Island – the second largest island in the Hauraki Gulf and is well known for its beaches, forests, vineyards and olive groves.
Auckland Civic Theatre – a famous heritage atmospheric theatre built in 1929. It was renovated in 2000 to its original condition.
Harbour Bridge – connecting Central Auckland and the North Shore, an iconic symbol of Auckland.
Auckland Town Hall – with its concert hall considered to have some of the finest acoustics in the world, this 1911 building serves both council and entertainment functions.
Auckland War Memorial Museum – a large multi-exhibition museum in the Auckland Domain, known for its impressive neo-classicist style, built in 1929.
Aotea Square – the hub of downtown Auckland beside Queen Street, it is the site of rallies and arts festivals.
Aotea Centre - Auckland Civic Centre building completed in 1989.
St Patrick's Cathedral – the Catholic Cathedral of Auckland. A 19th century Gothic building which was renovated from 2003 to 2007 for refurbishment and structural support.
Britomart Transport Centre – the main downtown public transport centre in a historic Edwardian building.
Eden Park – the city's primary stadium and a frequent home for All Blacks rugby union and Black Caps cricket matches. It was the location of the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.[103]
Karangahape Road – known as "K' Road", a street in upper central Auckland famous for its bars, clubs, smaller shops and being a former red-light district.
Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium – a well-known aquarium and Antarctic environment in the eastern suburb of Mission Bay, built in a set of former sewage storage tanks, showcasing penguins, turtles, sharks, tropical fish, sting rays and other marine creatures.
MOTAT – Auckland's Museum for Transport and Technology, at Western Springs.
Mt Smart Stadium – a stadium used mainly for rugby league and soccer matches. Also the site of many concerts.
New Zealand Maritime Museum – features exhibitions and collections relating to New Zealand maritime history at Hobson Wharf, adjacent to the Viaduct Basin.
Ponsonby – a suburb and main street immediately west of central Auckland known for arts, cafes, culture and historic villas.
Queen Street – the main street of the city, from Karangahape Road down to the harbour.
Sky Tower – the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, it is 328 m (1,076 ft) tall and has excellent panoramic views.
Vector Arena – events centre in downtown Auckland completed in 2007. Holding 12,000 people, it is used for sports and concert events.
Viaduct Basin – a marina and residential development in downtown Auckland, the venue for the America's Cup regattas in 2000 and 2003.
Western Springs Stadium – a natural amphitheatre used mainly for speedway races, rock and pop concerts.
Landmarks
Auckland Domain – one of the largest parks of the city, close to the CBD and having a good view of the harbour and of Rangitoto Island.
Maungawhau / Mount Eden – a volcanic cone with a grassy crater. As the highest natural point in Auckland City, it offers 360-degree views of Auckland and is thus a favourite tourist outlook.
Takarunga / Mount Victoria – a volcanic cone on the North Shore offering a spectacular view of downtown Auckland. A brisk walk from the Devonport ferry terminal, the cone is steeped in history, as is nearby Maungauika (North Head).
Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill – a volcanic cone that dominates the skyline in the southern, inner suburbs. It no longer has a tree on the summit (after a politically motivated attack on the old tree) but is still crowned by an obelisk.
Rangitoto Island – guards the entrance to Waitemata Harbour, and forms a prominent feature on the eastern horizon.
Waiheke Island – the second largest island in the Hauraki Gulf and is well known for its beaches, forests, vineyards and olive groves.
A field of Orange Daylily: Liushishi Mountain
Liushishi Mountain(Sixty Stone Mountain) is located to the east of Zhutian Village, Fuli Township, in Hualien County. It is situated at an elevation of around 800 meters above sea level, in the Coastal Mountain Range. There is a daylily field of 300 hectares in size, and along with Chihke Mountain, this is regarded as one of Hualien County's two large daylily cultivation areas. So why is this area called Liushishi Mountain(Sixty Stone Mountain)?
According to locals, during the Japanese occupation era, the average paddy field could only yield around forty or fifty dan of millet. (A "dan" is a unit of dry measure for grain equal to 100 liters). However, in this area, the average paddy field could yield sixty dan of millet, thus it was called LiushishiMountain(Sixty dan Mountain). Because the Chinese character used for the word dan is the same as the one used for the word stone, this name became "Liushishi Mountain(Sixty Stone Mountain)".
Every August to September is the season of orange daylily in full bloom, which is the most crowded period in Liushishi Mountain, full of tourists for viewing this scene of the field of Orange daylily.
Hualien is famous for its scenes, unlike the capital city, Taipei. I grew up in Hualien and I love country side more than city. Taiwan is small and so kinda hard to find a place that full of natural scenes. So if you got 7-days trip to Taiwan, don't miss Hualien!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Toys, home appliance and maids: Akihabara
Akihabara (秋葉原), also called Akiba after a former local shrine, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. On Sundays, Chuo Dori, the main street through the district, is closed to car traffic from 13:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October through March).
Akihabara has been undergoing major redevelopment over the years, including the renovation and expansion of Akihabara Station and the construction of new buildings in its proximity. Among these newly opened buildings were a huge Yodobashi electronics store and the Akihabara Crossfield, a business complex with the aim of promoting Akihabara as a center for global electronics technology and trade.
Electronics
Hundreds of electronics shops, ranging from tiny one man stalls specializing in a particular electronic component to large electronics retailers, line the main Chuo Dori street and the crowded side streets around Akihabara. They offer everything from the newest computers, cameras, televisions, mobile phones, electronics parts and home appliances to second-hand goods and electronic junk.
A few chain stores such as Sofmap and Laox each operate multiple specialized branches along the main roads, while small independent shops can be found in the side streets. The only mega sized store is the Yodobashi Camera complex on the east side of the station.
Note that some of the electronics on sale are only intended for use in Japan due to voltage and other technical differences, Japanese language documentation and limited warranties. However, several stores also feature a selection of international models intended for overseas use, and most also offer tax free shopping to foreign tourists on purchases of over 10,000 yen (passport required).
Otaku Goods
The character of Akihabara has constantly changed over the decades and continues to do so. In the last decade Akihabara has emerged as a center of Japanese otaku and anime culture, and dozens of stores specializing in anime, manga, retro video games, figurines, card games and other collectibles have filled the spaces between the electronics retailers.
In addition to shops, various other animation related establishments have become popular in the area, particularly maid cafes where waitresses dress up and act like maids or anime characters, and manga cafes (manga kissa), a type of internet cafe where customers can read comics and watch DVDs in addition to having access to the internet.
The Fireworks Festival: Penghu
Penghu’s shores and waters are marvelous sights to catch during the day, but at night, life on the archipelago tends to slow down. However, each year there’s one show that truly lights up the night sky: the Penghu Fireworks Festival. Visitors pour into Penghu each summer to watch the biweekly fireworks that go off between April and June. The dazzling pyrotechnics are shot off the bridge at Guanyin Pavilion and sparkle over the sky for several minutes.
Although the festival livens up the night life on Penghu and brings smiles to the faces of visitors, it has a tragic origin. On May 25, 2002, China Airlines flight 611 was flying over Penghu en route to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the plane malfunctioned in midair due to faulty repairs. The plane plunged into the Taiwan Strait, claiming all 225 lives on board.
Penghu suffered a huge decline in tourism after the crash and local authorities had to come up with a way to lure visitors back. They cooperated with China Airlines and held an event on Chinese New Year with flight attendants staging a Moulin Rouge-style dance. In addition, there was a 30-minute fireworks display. The event turned out to be a huge hit, so the locals decided to hold the gathering every year in order to boost tourism. The first Fireworks Festival took place in 2003. It’s now one of Penghu’s most renowned attractions and one more reason to make the trek to these enchanting islands.
The fireworks festival has opened now and will be ended in 25th of June. Don't miss this beautiful spot if you are traveling Taiwan!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Shopping Paradise: Hong Kong!
Hong Kong is perhaps the best shopping place in the world with reasonable prices, various products, and best service. In Hong Kong, shopping is not only the act of buying things, but also a form of recreation, a way of life.
Most goods from all over the world, except wine and cigarettes, are tax free, and prices are relatively low.
The best three buys are clothes, cosmetics and electrical appliances. Shops in Hong Kong offer not only goods but also a comfortable shopping environment, as they combine shopping and recreation.
Many shopping malls have restaurants, book stores, and cinemas, some large ones even have skating rinks. Some book stores have a café, enabling customers to choose their favorite books in a relaxed atmosphere.
At Christmas:Unlike other places around the world there aren't any pre-Christmas sales, yet still people flood to the malls around Christmas.
In Hong Kong, the shops and shopping malls are everywhere in different districts. Some shopping districts are gathered in high-end stores, while others have more local markets. What to see, what to buy, the first selected shopping area and then starting from well able to pick goods.
- The Hong Kong Island - Central
As Hong Kong's financial and commercial center and heart, it is full of many world-class brands stores designer boutiques, restaurants, displaying a high-style shopping environment. Pedder Street is one of the busiest streets, lined with banks and its brand stores everywhere, and the modern design "LANDMARK （置地廣場）" is a famous shopping mall in this essence of the area, many international brands have opened a flagship store here including Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Dior, Gucci.
- Kowloon - Tsim Sha Tsui
There are numerous department stores, shopping malls and streets of trendy shops in Tsim Sha Tsui, making you a best shopping map. Harbour City, the Hong Kong's largest mall, has more than 400 stores, Lane Crawford, JOYCE and many international brands are opening stores here. Nearby Beijing Road and Canton Road is lined with boutiques such as Louic Vuitton, Gucci, Dior and so on. Across the road is "1881", a collection of historical monuments and fashion brand stores, that make you have the shopping experience passing through ancient and modern. And once you get tired of shopping, You can go to the near East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station Center and Empire Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong's longest open-air cafe Alfresco Lane sit back and enjoy the stunning views of Victoria Harbour, while sampling international cuisine. Then keep shopping!
Sunday, April 19, 2015
The largest freshwater lake: Sun Moon Lake
Not too far from Taichung, you’ll find the famous Sun Moon Lake. The lake is located in Nantou County. It is the largest freshwater lake in Taiwan. It is a combination of two lakes, one of which is shaped like the sun and the other shaped like the moon. That’s how it was given the name Sun Moon Lake. This lake and the surrounding area are very beautiful. What’s more, the weather is pleasant all year round. It is home to the Thao tribe. It’s not too surprising that indigenous people established communities here. Nowadays, you can enjoy the natural beauty of Sun Moon Lake and experience some indigenous culture at the same time.
In recent years, new hotels have been built to replace the old ones. Walking and cycling paths have also been constructed along with new boating facilities. Boating is a popular activity for tourists. Boats can be rented in Shuishe Village. Visitors can also explore Lalu Island in the center of the lake. If going solo isn’t your thing, it’s possible to take organized tours of the lake. Most tours visit all the sights and some of them even include birdwatching. It is possible to travel around by bus, but it can be a little slow sometimes. Other travel options include renting a car or bicycle.
Swimming in Sun Moon Lake is forbidden. It is only allowed once a year for the Sun Moon Lake Swimming Festival. Every September, people from all around Taiwan jump in and try to swim to the other side. Of course, you have to be a very good swimmer to make it across.
If you want to see how Taiwan’s indigenous peoples used to live, then visit the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village. It offers an opportunity to learn about traditional buildings, folk art, customs, and tribal dancing. It also gives visitors the rare opportunity to taste traditional indigenous food.
There are several other interesting places to see around Sun Moon Lake, such as Peacock Garden, the indigenous Dehua Community , Cien Pagoda and many beautiful temples.
If you visit during the summer, you may get a chance to see the Thao tribe’s Full Moon Harvest Festival. This event takes place over the course of several days.
This is where I've always wanted to visit. However, it is kinda far away from Taipei city. There are several hotels have recommended in sun moon lake. But most of them are expensive. Here I'm gonna recommend you (if you come visit here) a route: You can visit sun moon lake a day and get back to a nearby spot: Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, an amusement park where is also in Nantou County. If you visit these spots in Spring, you will be able to see "Sakura" and its famous for the sight of cherry blossoms at night.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Taipei is the city of gluttony : Night markets
Cheap eats, everywhere, day or night.
Taipei sports 18 streets dedicated to nothing other than food. Where you might usually expect a bus shelter, instead you'll find a barbecue. Sidewalks become snack stalls. The pungent smell of stinky tofu fills the air.
Night markets in Taipei have become famous for their snack selections, or xiaochi, literally meaning "small eats."
The dishes may be little, but so are the prices, running around US$1-2 dollars. A fat gut never came so easily.
Visitors to a Taiwanese night market should not miss out on stinky tofu.
Tofu is made from soy milk just like cheese is made from cow’s milk.
It is a very popular ingredient in Chinese cooking.
Sometimes you will smell something very strange when walking around the streets of Taiwan.
It is a smell that often puzzles foreign tourists.
Stinky tofu is-pungent because it has been left in a brine of fermented milk and other ingredients such as vegetables and meat for up to several months.
Oyster omelets are another Taiwanese snack that every visitor should try.
They are made of eggs, oysters, and vegetables that are fried in a pan, and are eaten with a specially-made sauce. Sometimes, oysters arereplaced with shrimp or squid.
For dessert, people enjoy eating shaved ice covered with fruit or other tasty toppings.
Bubble tea is one distinctive Taiwanese drink that is becoming popular around the world.
It was first invented in Taichung, central Taiwan, in the 1980s when a tea shop owner decided to try something new.
He mixed fruit syrup, tea, and other ingredients together until he stumbledupon a delicious new drink.
Since then, the popularity of bubble tea has spread around the world and new types of the drink are being invented every day.
One of the most famous examples is pearl milk tea made using black tea, milk, and chewy tapioca balls.
And if you still have room to try more snacks, get a grilled sausage!
In Taiwan, grilled sausages can be eaten with coriander, garlic, or cheese.
Taiwanese people have even created a snack called “small sausage in large sausage,” which is a pork sausage wrapped in a sticky rice sausage.
Friday, April 10, 2015
The World Heritage: 厳島神社
Miyajima, home of Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site, floats on the Seto Inland Sea, known as the “Mediterranean of Japan” due to its warm climate. The gateway to Miyajima is “Miyajimaguchi”, which is approximately 25 minutes by train from Hiroshima, the central city of the Chugoku District. From there, you can take a ferry to reach Miyajima. After sailing across a rushing sea for about five minutes, standing on the deck and feeling the sea breeze, a large vermillion Torii gate that stands over the sea will come into view. This gate is the gateway to the sacred area.
Itsukushima Shrine changes its expression dramatically with the ebb and flow of the tide and by day and night. During high tide, the brilliant vermillion color of the shrine pavilion stands out against the water surface. During low tide, you can walk on the dry beach until you are just below the Torii gate. When viewed from directly below, the majesty of the great Torii gate, made from unprocessed camphor trees and weighing approximately 60 tons, is overwhelming. After sunset, the shrine is illuminated and emerges over a jet-black sea, and it can be viewed from the sea by boat. Encounters with the various faces of Itsukushima Shrine naturally remind us of the fact that it is a shrine for goddesses.
Why was Itsukushima Shrine built over the sea? Because building something on the land of a sacred island where gods reside was considered profane. This belief generated a unique concept of building out over the sea on the foreshore area. The 17 buildings, including the main shrine that enshrines the three goddesses, are connected by a long corridor, which reaches a total length of 262 meters. This shrine pavilions boast the largest area among shrines in Japan. Although there are many religious structures in the world that express a longing for the heavens in physical form by building upward, a religious building that pursues sideways expansion is unique, even on a global scale.
Monday, April 6, 2015
The summer resort in Japan: Karuizawa
In spring, cherry blossom tree in bloom.
Karuizawa is famose for its weather in Summer, you can ride a bike around here and enjoy the cool weather.
And it is also good to visit Karuizawa in Autumn and Winer. There are several hot spring resorts here in Karuizawa.
Friday, April 3, 2015
The Private Spot in Taiwan: Mukumugi
Almost everyone in Taiwan has heard about Taroko Gorge. But another beautiful tourist spot, Mukumugi（慕谷慕魚） Gorge, is starting to get a lot of attention. It was named by the Taroko tribe as a way to honor their ancestors who first settled in Mukumugi about 300 years ago. By car, Mukumugi is only about 20 minutes away from Hualien City. The main attractions at Mukumugi are the beautiful scenery and rich fisheries. The water in the rivers there is so pure that you can clearly see fish swimming, even from the roadside. In summer, visitors can bathe or soak their feet in a cold stream as fish take small, playful bites on them.
The Qingshui Stream flows through the valley, forming lots of deep pool with clear water and grotesque stone. You can also swim in the clean and clear water or enjoy “ pool jumping ”, which is a popular activity among the aboriginal children. Moreover, by visiting several vendor hold by local tribe people, you can experience indigenous culture and enjoy the local delicacies.
In 2002, Mukumugi was closed to the public for three years. The reason why it shut down was to help restore the ecosystem. When it reopened, Mukumugi had some restrictions. First, only 600 people are allowed to visit each day. Second, visitors can fish in some areas, but they must return all fish to the stream before they leave. These policies make sure that Mukumugi Gorge is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
However, Mukumugi has closed since last year due to the destroy of typhoon in 2014 as well as artificial damage. Hualien County at Aboriginal responses that there are still concerns about rockfall of the road at this stage; in addition, according to the tribal meeting, some residents have raised too many visitors cause damage, hoping to rehabilitate the forest.
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