Taichung, Taiwan

Taichung, Taiwan, Asia

By Lianne Choo

Taichung: Taiwan’s Third Largest Jewel
Explore a world of food, culture and nature.

Taichung is the third largest city in Taiwan and is a jewel that many tend to overlook. Stay off the
beaten path and shrug aside the more obvious travel choice of Taipei and head further south to discover Taichung’s endless array of food, culture and nature. With a mix of luxury condos and colonial buildings, Taichung is a brilliant collision of old and new.

One of the things that Taichung is most famous for is bubble tea. Bubble tea is said to have been created at the original Chun Shui Tang teahouse so whether you are a fan of bubble tea, you have to make the effort to head over just so you can say that you had the ‘world’s original’ bubble tea.

Something else to experience in Taichung would have to be a night market. Head to the Feng Chia night market, the largest of its kind in Taichung. Stretching over several blocks, you are in for a real sensory treat. Must-try foods are Taiwan’s famous popcorn fried chicken, chicken chop, fried squid, stuffed chicken wings, stinky tofu, and grilled sausages.

One of Taichung’s main attractions is its maze of streets. Comprising of endless restaurants, auto garages, bars, and boutiques, Taichung offers visitors a vibe that closely resembles that of Japan. That being said, Taichung residents have a love for karaoke and these singing parlors are abundant in the city. Taichung is not well known for its nightlife and many say that clubbing is almost non-existent. However, all Taichung residents need to have a good time is a microphone and some cheesy music and they are all set to enjoy the rest of the night.

When navigating the narrow streets, beware of impatient scooters as they are known for paying zero
attention to their surroundings. The rule of thumb is to look out for them because they certainly are not going to look out for you. Collisions are common and are usually settled quickly without the interference of the police. Scooters are the main form of transportation for most Taichung residents although many others opt to drive or take the bus, which is an extremely efficient form of public transport. Visitors are advised to rent a car as this will give them the chance to explore Taichung’s myriad of natural wonders located outside the city centre.

Dakeng Scenic Area is the closest form of nature available to the Taichung urbanites.  Located 30 minutes away, visitors can enjoy hiking, biking and camping. Although it can get rather busy over the weekends, it remains pristine and perfectly maintained.

At the end of the day, one of the best things about Taichung is its people. Even though many do not speak English, they will try their level best to help tourists out, making Taichung one of the nicest and friendliest places in the world to visit.

asia

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

St. Paul, Minnesota

By Pamela Sampson

St. Paul, is as diverse a city as they come. It offers big city experience in some areas while other places feel completely suburban. It is divided into many unique neighborhoods. As you There are just so many things to see and do here.

drive through the different areas of the city each place is distinctly different. It is the state capital of Minnesota and one half of the “twin cities” (a common nickname for Minneapolis/ St. Paul).

Mickey’s Diner is a famous little boxcar restaurant tucked right in the middle of it all. It is located near the Children’s Museum and Excel Energy Center where the Minnesota Wild Hockey team plays. If you like pizza, there is another lesser known place called Red’s Savoy Pizza on 7th street. Cossetta’s Italian Market and Pizzeria is an old favorite for many Minnesotans in the area. It opened in 1911 and just recently got a makeover.

History buffs will be excited to see Fort Snelling. Como Zoo and Observatory is located in a much more suburban area of the city. The zoo is free and they also have rides and a water area for the kids. Another thing that makes Como a favorite is the polar bear exhibit, which is not available at the bigger Minnesota Zoo. The Children’s Museum has four exciting levels of fun and imagination. They have everything from a play grocery store to a paint room to a stage for kids to get up and sing. The Science Museum located just down the road, offers learning for kids and adults. They have many different exhibits to keep everyone entertained.

If you come for a visit in the summer there will surely be plenty to keep you entertained. At the end of summer is “the great Minnesota get-together”. The state fair is never dull, with all the food you can find on a stick. Also held at the fairgrounds is “Back to the Fifties” in July.  You can even rent a bike if you choose and see the city in a whole new light.

If looking for some more adult fun, check out St. Paul’s nightlife. Station 4 is a little club where
they offer live music and local bands usually play. If you want less of the “typical tourist” scene it is a great place to go and be sure to leave a note on the chalkboard bathroom walls. In the area of St. Paul known as Dayton’s Bluff, there is a very popular place called the Minnesota Music Café. They have performances from local blues and rock bands, but they have even had headliners like Jonny Lang play.
St. Paul is rich with history and can be a very fun and exciting place to spend time. From Excel Energy Center to James J. Hill House to Como Zoo and Observatory there is such a wonderful feel to this city. There really is something here for everyone.

London, England

London, England

By Nadia Farah Mokdad




‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford,’ said English writer Samuel Johnson, and it is just as true now as it was then. Inviting someone to London means inviting them to join a fast-spinning carousel of history, culture, nightlife and exciting people.

The capital of England is a city where everyone can find something to suit their tastes, from food to entertainment. It is easily accessible and has a well-developed public transport system, which, as a visitor, is preferable to going by car. Taking some of the many central bus routes (88, 29) is a wonderful way of experiencing not only the heart of London but also a ride on the famous double-decker bus. It is as fun as some movies show it be. However, if you prefer a more organised approach, there are companies like The Original London Sightseeing Tour which offer open-top bus tours stopping at most famous attractions.

To best way to know the city, though, is to walk it. A good place to start is at London Eye, the renowned Ferris wheel which offers a magnificent, almost plane-like view of London. The ride experience is especially beautiful the closer it gets to evening time because the London lights are being switched on. From there on, you can cross Westminster Bridge to encounter the equally well-known House of Parliament with its sharp towers that shine golden on sunny days. If you get there at a sharp time, you can listen to the haunting chime of Big Ben. Westminster Abbey is only a couple of minutes’ walk away. It is a gorgeous Gothic building and home of the Poets’ Corner where many famous English poets are buried, for example, Poet Laureate Lord Alfred Tennyson.

From now on the city is a playground whose exploration gets dictated by personal taste. There are many things to fill the days, starting with seeing the royal jewels or walking around the execution site of Anne Boleyn at The Tower of London to having a stroll through Hyde Park or Kew Gardens. The possibilities seem endless, from museums and art galleries, west-end theatres and having afternoon tea at one of London’s tea rooms to enjoying a local band at The Blues Kitchen or dancing the night away in a club.

What is guaranteed for everyone, though, are interweaving streets lined by gorgeous historical buildings with an architecture spanning a wide variety of styles and periods. Many of these buildings host, on the ground floor, cafés and traditional English pubs. You can take a relaxing break from sightseeing and sample some traditional English cooking, like fish and chips or a Sunday roast (it usually consists roast beef served with roast potatoes, assorted vegetables and Yorkshire pudding), accompanied by a pint of ale or cider. For those that don’t enjoy the local cuisine, international alternatives are easily available, with Chinatown, in the Soho area, offering a variety of oriental restaurants, bakeries, etc.

Shopping enthusiasts will find themselves at home in the Oxford Circus area, clashing bags with other shoppers on Oxford Street and Reagent Street. A wide selection of shops is available from high-street brands to luxury ones. For visitors with more alternative tastes, Camden Town is a great place to be, not only for shopping at The Stables Market, where many handmade things are sold, but also for the eclectic mixture of quirky places and people.
That can also be said of London in its entirety because, no matter what you end up doing, you will leave having had a plentiful experience and probably an eager wish to return.

europe

Hurghada, Egypt

Come To Visit Us On Hurghada.

By Jojo Sam

Come to Hurghada! It was a tiny fishing village which is located on the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea. Now it is a beautiful resort beside the Red Sea. Visit the little islands. Enjoy with sunshine and hot weather all times of the year, so when you decide, any time of year is a good time to come here. Swim and dive in the clear water in the summer, Hurghada is hotter than Cairo but the water is cool. Visitors can fly from Cairo or Go by boat from Sinai to the harbour at Sigala. They can also fly directly to Hurghada airport as Hurghada is served by an international airport that has a number of direct connections to most cities in all over the world


Each year thousands of visitors arrive to Hurghada from around the world. Most of holidaymakers and travelers choose to visit Hurghada for the variety of water sports especially snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Visitors to Hurghada will find a lot of reputable dive shops offering amazing day trips, instruction for divers of all levels of experience and all kind of equipment to hire.
Although there are many visitors come to Hurghada for the amazing diving and water sports, there are more come to enjoy the hospitality of the many luxury holiday villages and hotels. El Gouna resort is one of the most famous resorts at Hurgada, Grand Resort Hurghda is also a special place deserves to be visited and a lot of wonderful resorts that are very unique, and they provide the entire home comforts. Here, you may find something a bit different on your holiday. For example, you can enjoy a camel trek in the desert.

You can buy all your living needs from the local market in El Dahar, or you can visit Senzo mol "big famous department store" where you will buy all your needs in the same price they are sold for citizens. Also all transportation tools are available all the time to any place in very cheap prices.
Although all Egyptian people famous for their hospitality, but when you visit Hurghada avoid taking a taxi without make sure of price and driver license. Because of some bad drivers who has bad behavior to ask tourists for more money. Nowadays, even all Egypt has some troubles because of its revolution, Hurghada still a peaceful place, away of all shapes of troubles.
Come to visit us in Hurghada, if you come, promise you will never forget your tour.