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

Paris, France

Paris, France, Europe

By Murielle Lucie Clément

One of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris is often called “The City of the lights”. It is very true; that with her many streets lights and lighted shops windows till the middle of the night, Paris looks
gorgeous. During the day, one can visit numerous places (Place de Ternes, place Saint Michel, Montmartre, Jardins du Luxembourg, Boulevard Saint Michel, Saint Germain) museum (among them Le louvre is surely worth a visit to admire La Joconde), walk alongside the Seine. At night, one can visit many theaters (Châtelet, Les Bouches du Nord, Bercy), go to the opera or see films in many cinemas. This is common to all big cities in the world. But Paris is not like the other cities in the world. Paris has the Eiffel tower and the Champs Elysées!

Situated in the seventh arrondissement of Paris, the Iron lady towers the Seine near Quai Branly, just in front of the Iena Bridge. This tower is 324 meters high (if we consider the antenna at the top) and was build in 1887. During 41 years, it was the higher building in the world. Many people and personalities were against the construction; but nowadays it became the most popular symbol to represent the Elysées capital. Since 24th of June 1964 it is part of the long list of France’s historical monuments. In 1991, UNESCO declared it, along other Paris’ monuments, part of the world’s patrimonies.

Close to it, a huge place with green and decorated with statues and sculptures, fountains and stairs made of marble: le Champ de Mars and opposite to it “La Place du Trocadéro”. Wonderful surroundings where youth and elderly people cohabitate on sunny days.

In Paris, of course, there are also lots of restaurant and smaller places to eat. A very celebrated place
is Maxim’s. The rendezvous of celebrities, French and foreign as well. Among the world famous hotels, one will go to Hôtel Lutetia, where during the war the Gestapo agents took quarter. After the war, people coming back from the camps were hosted in the beautiful chambers, waiting for their return to the villages where from they originated.

Like many other cities Paris has a long and interesting history. A visit to Paris is the assurance not to be bored. Gastronomic escapes, cultural occupation, slandering along streets from which history drips at every corner is awaiting to tell you many well kept secret and well known anecdotes.

You can join Paris, by air, by train, by car, even by boat sailing the Seine from Le Havre and passing
Rouen, another wonderful historical city.

Murielle Lucie Clément


europe

Cape Town, South Africa

A jewel at the southern end of Africa

By Anton Venter

Cape Town is the capital of the Western Cape province of South Africa. The city is the country's most popular tourist spot with pristine white beaches arranged around a peninsula. Restaurants offer international cuisine with local flavours added to the mix. Accommodation is available that suits every budget from backpacker to jet-setter.
Cape Town is the southern point of South Africa where the first settlers landed in 1652 to start the long journey of the country's development. The city is not the actual dividing point between Atlantic and Indian Oceans. That honour goes to Cape Agulhas, further south from Cape Town. There are a number of museums that depict Cape Town’s unique history. Many buildings have been preserved over time and those who appreciate historical architecture will not be disappointed.
The 2010 World Cup Soccer resulted in an upgrade of sport stadiums that included Cape Town. The event united the cultures of Cape Town. It showed that black, coloured, white or any colour in between can forget about their differences and make the city a place where tourists feel welcome and safe.
Wine lovers who visit Cape Town are in for a treat. The wine regions around the city are all within five to thirty minutes’ drive from the city. These regions include Durbanville (within Cape Town area) and regions outside the city, e.g. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Somerset West. All these wine farms offer tastings and many of them have also opened some of their vineyards to mountain biking with trails that vary from easy to strenuous.
The long list of restaurants represents cuisine from almost every country in the world. Some restaurants specialize in local cuisine (African, Cape Malay and Afrikaans) and their ambience is often enhanced by music and even dancing.
African menus typically include red meat, game, chicken and “pap” (porridge) with gravy. These restaurants can be found in well-heeled tourist spots as well as townships. Barbequing is a favourite pastime on weekends, combined with beer drinking and watching sport like rugby. You’d be hard pressed to find anything but red meat and sausage on those barbeque grids. An alternative to the grid is a “Potjie”, where a pot is hung over coals to slow-cook a stew of meat and vegetables. Other popular Afrikaans and Cape Malay foods include Bobotie (a kind of meatloaf) and Chakalaka (a garnish of Indian origin). Some of the desert favourites are Koesisters (twisted pastries) and Milktart.
Seafood features well on Cape Town’s menus. A variety of shellfish and line fish is available at most restaurants. Traditional local ways of processing fish are “Bokkoms” (dried and salted fish) and smoked “snoek” (a local fish snubbed by some due to its many bones but very tasty when smoked).
Open-top busses will take you to most tourist spots on the peninsula. Specialised tours are available to the "townships" where low-income housing can be seen with small businesses thriving on the streets. No visit to Cape Town will be complete without a trip up the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, the iconic feature of the city. From here you have views that compare with those of the world's most spectacular cities. The Victoria and Alfred waterfront has departure points for a selection of boat trips around the main harbour and out to beaches such as Clifton. Another favourite destination for a boat trip is Robben Island. There you will find a museum that commemorates the years when there was a fully functioning prison on the island with Nelson Mandela its most famous inmate.
In addition to the standard bus service, the city is phasing in a brand new rapid transport system with dedicated lanes for buses. It has not reached all suburbs yet, but already includes a route from the airport into the city centre. Metrorail trains run only on major routes around the city, but outlying stations include Stellenbosch, Paarl and Somerset West.
Minibus taxis provide a cheaper alternative to regular sedan taxis, but their courageous drivers may not be for the faint-hearted. Some locals are uncomfortable with minibus taxis, but they’re safe as long as they are used within regular hours. Minibus commuters have adopted a unique sign language for hailing a taxi. Using only one hand they communicate with the “gaatchie” (conductor) of an approaching taxi about its route and destination to ensure it’s the one for them.
Cape Town has some interesting outings for nature lovers. Two of these are within twenty minutes’ drive from the city centre. The World of Birds is situated in Houtbay, a vibrant fishing village on the western side of the peninsula. You can stroll through the largest bird enclosure in Africa, carefully watched by owls. Butterfly World is near Klapmuts, north-east of the city. Here you can mingle with free-flying butterflies within safe distance from scorpions and spiders.
Within thirty minutes from the city on the southern side of the peninsula, by car or a scenic train route right next to the ocean, there are the quant fishing villages of Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek. There is a good variety of restaurants in Kalk Bay, the most popular being the Brass Bell, which over the years has developed into a hot spot for younger people where you can choose from six dining areas that range from formal to informal. Those interested in antiques and books should reserve at least half a day to browse the shops in Kalk Bay.
General information
All banks are open Monday to Friday 8h30 to 15h30 and Saturday mornings. Some banks are open on Sunday mornings. ATMs are in abundance. Temperatures vary between 13° and 28°C through winter (May to August) and summer (September to April). Tap water is safe to drink. English is spoken everywhere while some locals speak Afrikaans, the language that has its roots in Dutch.
As far as security is concerned, the same international travel rules apply in Cape Town. Don’t have valuables on display and don’t venture into suspect areas late at night.

Singapore, Republic of Singapore

Singapore, Pearl of Asia

By Siny Sebastian

Enter the realm of the Lion city and you are sure to be enthralled by the beautiful sights that this wonderful and vibrant country is proud to show the world. The enchanted metropolitan island city with its diversified cultures, cuisines and vivacious night life has been able to charm and allure multitudes of modern globetrotter to its shore.
One of the most remarkable features of this island country is that it has been able to constitute 50 % of its area with greenery along with modern sky touching scrapers and subways. In spite of being one of the most densely populated countries, it still has 50 major parks and 4 national reserves within the small area and for this reason it is called the Garden City.
A look back into the history tells how the country got its name from the Malay word “Singapura”. According to the legend, Sang Nila Utama, a Srivijayan prince, landed on the island and, catching sight of a strange creature that he thought was a lion, decided to found a new city and thus “Singapura” or the “Lion City” was born.
Tourism is a major industry in Singapore and therefore we readily accept and seize any new and future oriented trends in leisure and entertainments. As a result of which, tourists consider Singapore as a place which is always full of fresh and new surprises and as a place worthy of repeat visits.
The diversity that the country offers in terms of religion, language, cultures are unparalleled when compared to its size. Tourists are able to communicate easily with the local people since English is one of the main languages along with Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Due to multiculturalism, there is no single set of culturally acceptable behavior.  People are of friendly nature and it is not uncommon to see shopkeepers and customers of multiple races engaging in animated conversations.

Singaporean food cuisine is touted as the potpourri of all cuisines. Food in particular is a steal, since
there is an extensive array of mouth - watering cuisines to satisfy every palate. The legendary hawker centers and coffee houses are open 24/7 and furthermore it is possible to relish these excellent hawker foods for under $5 for a generous serving. It is a paradise for the food lovers since they can try the local favorites like Laksa, roti prata or Chilli Crab or indulge in the international cuisines like Mexican, South East Asian, American, European and Middle Eastern cuisine in this clean city.  International fast food joints such as McDonald’s, KFC can also be seen in most of the shopping malls and is very much visible throughout the region.
Due to the excellent public transport system, it’s very much easy to move around the region. Most of the citizens travel by using bus, train and taxis. Train mode consists of both MRT and LRT. Taxis are also

Rivne, Ukraine

Picture By: ukrainetrek.com 

by Yulia Vashchuk

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is rich in cultural wealth and natural resources. Rivne is a city in northwest of this beautiful country. It has the status of the regional center, but it still remains as a small quiet town with a sincere, friendly and open people. You can see a lot of them walking in a nice square in the center of a town. If you arrive in Rivne and have nothing to do just go to its center. There you will feel what you are ready to do. Everyone who gets there feel friendly atmosphere and ease in your heart.

At a first glance the rhythm of life there may seem slow but people live here an active life. They just know how to relax if they want to do that. Young people engaged in a variety of sports. The most common are speedway and football. Basketball, volleyball, rugby, baseball and hockey are also popular. World Women's Checkers Championship  was in Rinve in 2011.
There are a few museums in Rivne. The most interesting and newest is an Amber Museum. Amber is known for its healing features and is produced in Rivne region.
If you like cultural centers you can visit Drama, organ hall, cinemas and art galleries.

Other ways people spend leisure time here are ice skating, rollerblading, skiing and skateboards. A lot of people visit gyms. In summer you can ride a bicycle or have a picnic. There is a beach on a river Ustya. In the end of spring people begin to spend a lot of time there having picnics and getting a suntan. Going out of town for a picnic is also very popular. There are a lot of woods there. If you wish you can pick berries and mushrooms there.
There are a lot of cafes and restaurants in Rivne. So if you feel freezzy walking in Winter you can find some quiet place to drink coffee, hot tea or to eat some tasty Ukrainian or non-Ukrainian meals. If you like fast food there is McDonalds and a lot of cafes serving pizza. You can have a picnic in one of the squares if you wish.
If you wish to have fun you can visit one of the disco clubs or karaoke.
There is a brewery and a bakery in Rivne. So you can try a lot of tasty things from there.
To get to their job people mostly use buses, trolleybuses and cars. But some sporty men use bicycles. It is easy to get to their work for people who live out of town because there are two bus stations and a train station in Rivne. To the closest places buses go every 15 minutes.
Religions of citizens mostly are Orthodox and Catholics. But there are nearly 26 of other confessions.
What to avoid there? Do not share how much money you have with the robbers. ))
Foreigners are frequent guests and always leave the city with lots of positive experiences.

europe

Pokhara City, Nepal

Pokhara City, Nepal, Asia

by Suman Ojha

Pokhara is the most beautiful city of country Nepal. It is a valley bounded by gorgeous green hills.
Within the valley also, there are little hills which culminate the beauty of the city. Beyond the surrounding hills are the snow-white mountains that can be seen from several parts of the city and more vividly from top of the nearby hills. Pokhara is a little heaven on a small land.

Nature has blessed the city with a number of bounties. It is also called city of Lakes. There are several lakes within the valley among which
Fewa Lake and Begnas lake have been the heart of the city. In addition, there are several adventurous caves like Mahendra Cave, Bats’ Cave and Gupteshower Cave. Devi’s Fall is another interesting and should-be-visited aspect of Pokhara. This is not the end, Seti River which flows through the heart of the city is well known for the George structures it has created through the path. These are only the natural gifts of the city; besides, there are several culturally and religiously valuable assets as well. World Peace Pagoda (at the top of hill surrounding Fewa Lake), Matepani Gumpa and Bindabasini Temple are other important cultural places for tourists.
A lot of opportunities are also available for adventurous people. If one wishes to see the whole valley in a glance, s/he might go to Sarankot Hill. It’s a tall hill on the western side of Pokhara valley from where you can get a telescope to view the every detail of the city. Moreover, you can do Paragliding over the Fewa Lake and in the sky above the city to enjoy the all round beauty. If this doesn’t satisfy you, then experiencing the world's steepest, fastest and tallest Zip Line will be waiting for you to give the ultimate thrill.
If tourists happen to visit around the New Year (January 1), they become lucky to experience Street Festival at the Lake Side (area near Fewa Lake). During this festival, Lake Side glows in light for the whole night. Moreover, during the time of October and November, tourists can see people celebrating Dashain (the greatest festival of Hindus). The festival runs for 10 days and all the people throughout the country celebrate this festival regardless of their religion. People take ‘tika’ on their forehead and blessings from their elders. Relatives living far away meet together on the occasion of Dashain festival and share their happiness and sorrows. Similarly, Holi is another exciting festival that is celebrated here. In this festival, people play by throwing colored powders on each other. It is believed as a celebration of victory of divine over the devil in the ancient past.
Tourists can move from one place to another within the city in public buses. However, if they have enough money, taxis can be easily available to them. In addition, they can hire a cycle for short rides and bike for long distance tours.
Another interesting speciality of Pokhara is Rainfall. It is the city that has the highest rainfall record throughout the country. Monsoon season is the best time to visit Pokhara for rain lovers. However, it can be annoying if the days become cloudy and one doesn’t get chance to get the view of bright mountains. Also, heavy rainfall might be unfavorable if one is planning to do boating. Yet, if you are fond of rafting, this is the best time for you.

These were only a few things about Pokhara city. No absolute beauty can be described in words, since it lies in the eyes of the beholder. So, visit Pokhara city and explore its immense beauty and hidden treasures.

Cebu, Philippines

Cebu, Philippines, Welcome to Paradise

By Bernadette Salas

Cebu is a city that has a little bit of everything for everyone.

To the world, it is best known as a beautiful tropical paradise. Home to white sand beaches, for years its natural beauty has been an attraction for tourists who craved the allure of the sun and sea. In the Philippines, Cebu is best known as a historic and cultural landmark. It was where Christianity was first introduced to the country by the Spanish conquistadors 492 years ago. It is here that the epic battle between Magellan and Datu Lapu-lapu happened, which resulted in the tragic death of the former.

Cebu is also one of the most progressive cities in the Philippines. We have a thriving BPO, IT and furniture-making industry. And of course, tourism is one of our major economic drivers as well. We may be a small city but you can find all the necessary modern conveniences you’ll need here.

When coming to Cebu, enjoying the beach should be first on your list. For those wanting to relax, you can simply lounge and savor the slower pace of life. For those who are feeling more adventurous, we have excellent diving spots in Mactan Island. A small boat called a banca

can also take you to the smaller islands surrounding Mactan that can best showcase the colorful variety of sea creatures and marine life in the area. You can also do all sorts of watersports such as jet skiing and parasailing too.

In terms of accommodations, you can choose to stay at a seaside resort or you can choose to stay in the city and commute to the beach. It’s only 30-40 minutes away by jeepney or taxi. And if you’re taking the taxi, it’ll only cost just around $6 one way. There are accommodations for every budget. And you can choose to stay at a guest house, a five star resort or something in between.

Your next agenda should be the food. According to Anthony Bourdain, we have the “best pig ever” in our lechon (slow pit-roasted whole pig). And of course, we have amazing seafood. Prawns, squid, fish, shells, you name we got it. You can have it grilled, stuffed or fried. And just for kicks, try the lato (seaweed) salad. It’s delicious! Typical Cebuanos also eat a lot of pork barbecue and chicken. It’s our favorite street food.

Finally, try to visit some of the cultural sites in the city. We have the oldest basilica in the country – The Basilica Minore del Santo Nino. The Basilica houses the miraculous Santo Nino or Child Jesus. Viewing and devotion can be done daily. So for the religious, it will be an interesting pilgrimage. For the curious, the church gives an interesting glimpse of religious life in the older days.

Our love for the Santo Nino is commemorated by a yearly street festival called the Sinulog. The Sinulog has a catchy signature beat and dance. And it has the most vibrant costumes! It’s truly the best religious street festival in the country. While a competition is held for the best dance presentations, the dancing and festivity pours out to the streets until the wee hours. So if you can time your visit to January, this festival is worth the trip.

People in Cebu speak English as a second language. So asking directions or assistance won’t be a problem. And we’re a relatively happy and helpful bunch of people so expect a lot of smiles all around. Be wary, however, of overly-friendly locals who offer all sorts of deals for a fixed price. They are likely to overcharge.

See you in Cebu!