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

Helsinki, Finland

MyCity – Helsinki, Finland

 By Denise Ruthmann

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and it is lying in the very south of the country. The city has its very own charm and is not comparable to any other north European harbour town, because it has been influenced by Russian and West European cultures. With its great location directly at the sea, rich culture, the exotic seeming Finnish language and the kindness of its people Helsinki presents itself as a welcoming and attractive city, which remains long time in a visitors memories.

Most interesting is the very center of Helsinki. Here you can find modern shopping malls as well as individual little shops, international restaurants from all over the world as well as traditional Finnish cuisine, art, culture, entertainment and much more. It has been built in the style of classicism by its famous architect was Carl Ludwig Engel.
The most famous building in Finland is located in the center as well: The white cathedral or Tuomiokirkko in Finnish.

 You can find the beautiful building printed as a motive on countless postcards and also the inside of the cathedral is worth a visit. Right in front of the Tuomiokirkko lies the popular Senat Square which is surrounded by small shops and cafés and often venue of public gatherings and markets. Close by you can find the popular Kauppatori, a marketplace directly at the harbour which offers regularly creative, fresh and delicious products for all seasons. Especially interesting in the area of the Kauppatori are the ships which can bring you to Stockholm in Sweden, Tallinn in Estonia and Suomenlinna. The latter is a beautiful Finnish island right in front of Helsinki. In former times it was used as a sea fortress. Nowadays the island is a part of  the city and also inhabited by some. Suomenlinna is a green and lovely place with breathtaking views on the sea and loved to be visited by tourists as much as by Finns.

Beside the center also the parks of the Finnish capital are worth mentioning. Most well-known is a park called Kaivopuisto. This park is one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in all over Helsinki and lies directly at Helsinkis' coast. From here you have a perfect view on the sea, ships and small islands. The meadows of the park offer a great opportunity for picnics during summer time. Especially at the 1. of May, the official Finnish Vappu holiday, a visit in Kaivopuisto is the best hint you can get. At this occasion every year half Helsinki seems to gather in this park and celebrates Vappu with a lot of fun, music, beverages and grilled food.


So don't hesitate any longer, but come to visit this, both lively and lovely, city in the far north.

Nairobi City, Kenya

by  Jacob Muoki

Picture By: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/03/0304_difficult_cities/image/008_nairobi.jpg

Nairobi City, Kenya Brief History Established in 1889 during the building of the Kenya-Uganda railway, Nairobi stands as the Kenya’s capital and East Africa’s most populous city. It’s the most industrialized city in the country and is inhabited by people of all walks of life and members of the 42 different Kenyan tribes. Nairobi is a regional business hub and hosts the United States Embassy (the biggest in East Africa) and the United Nation’s UNEP and UN-Habitat headquarters. The city’s growth as a technology hub in the entire continent of Africa has attracted the attention of technology giants such as Google and Cisco Systems, who have established their continental headquarters there.
Major Attractions The main tourist attraction in Nairobi is the Nairobi National Park, the only one in the world located in a capital city. The park hosts a wide array of wildlife including cheetahs, buffaloes, and hyenas and over 400 species of birds. Other attractions in the park include an animal orphanage and the Safari Walk. Located 7 kilometres from the CBD, the National Park can be accessed via road or air (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport).
Food and Accommodation Nairobi hosts several world-class hotels, which tourists and other visitors may find suitable for short-term accommodation. The Sarova Stanley, Intercontinental, Hilton, Nairobi Serena and Norfolk are some of the luxury hotels located in the heart of the city. The Safari Park Hotel is 15 minutes drive from the CBD off Nairobi-Thika super highway. The hotels serve a wide range of international cuisines as well as the country’s popular version of barbecued meat that the locals refer to as “Nyama Choma”.

Nightlife and Partying Many tourists don’t leave Nairobi before they’ve visited the Carnivore restaurant, which is home to the Simba Saloon night club. The club is located about five kilometres from the CBD towards Langata. Other night clubs in the city include Betty’s in the CBD and Changes in Westlands area. There, revellers are treated to a combination of hip hop music, reggae and local tunes popularly referred to as “Genge” or “Kapuka”.
Transport International visitors arrive at the city via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Alternatively, visitors entering Kenya via Moi International Airport in Mombasa may commute by rail, road or air to Nairobi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is about 15 kilometres from the CBD and is accessed via cabs (taxis). Visitors from Mombasa may choose to commute by train, which is relatively slow and may take up to 16 hours to get to Nairobi. Movement around the city or to towns nearby is possible via taxis or car hire services. Many tourists don’t use public transportation except in cities served by rail or long-distance luxury bus companies. This is because only these guarantee passenger safety and professionalism.
Security Nairobi’s CBD and all other areas of tourist interests are for the most part secure. Ever since the 1998 bombings of the American embassy in Nairobi, security has been beefed up around the city and an elite tourist-protection police unit set up. However, the American government has issued and lifted travel advisories against Nairobi more than once since 1998. Thus, the city, especially US, European and Israeli interests, remain potential targets of terror attacks. However, visitors that avoid city estates and areas such as the Kibera slums and Eastlands remain safe from day to day threats to security.