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Kate Wu

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In Taipei

Private Kitchen in Hot Spring Area

A Jiao private kitchen 阿嬌的店

There’s always a way to enjoy life. The popular hot spring Beitou area in Taipei has a lot to offer. You may easily spend a whole day walking around, visiting museums, enjoying hot springs, and have a nice meal in a private kitchen. Locating in an old commercial/residential building, “A Jiao House” is a cosy private kitchen that offers creative Taiwanese cuisine. Like other private kitchens, there is no menu. Yet there are some signature dishes that are served often. There is a price range of TWD 1,000 to 1,500 per person. You may set your budget but it is also subject to the availability of food ingredients. Smart Travel: please call in advance as soon as you confirm your trip. Last minute cancellation and no show will be very damaging because the owner has to prepare for all the logistics and shopping. There were only two of us during lunch hour in our last visit. Just think about how much work there were to prepare a full meal with so many courses for just two customers. Be a considerable traveller.

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In Taipei

Forever Healthy, Forever Eating

Drip coffee in Yong Kang Street

The name of Yong Kang Street literally means “forever healthy” in English. It’s a good name. This street is famous for the concentration of popular restaurants and eateries, including the main branch of the best dumpling restaurant in Taiwan, Din Tai Fung, which has become an internationally well-known brand for decades. In recent years, this area has attracted many international restaurants, coffee shops, snack and dessert places, offering a lot more variety of food and drink for both locals and tourists. Every restaurant and eatery looks so appetizing that you will not stop eating and drinking. With increased traffic, the area has expanded from one street to cover a few small blocks, forming a commercial community. There are also many gift shops, spa and foot massage, natural and health care product shops that you can enjoy shopping in between your meals and drinks.

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In Korea

Street Art? Graffiti? but not “Picasso”

Club street in Hongdae of Seoul

I was lured by the introduction of “Picasso Street” on a Korea travel guide book from a friend and made a trip to take a look at the “Picasso” art work in Seoul. It took a little while to find the exact location.  It’s a retaining wall at the back of an alley! To be honest, it was disappointing. I would not call myself an artist but I have seen enough of master pieces that I would not associate any paintings in the area with Picasso. Street art? May be. Graffiti? Some of them are definitely graffiti. When it comes to contemporary art, it’s personal. You have to come see it yourself. Having said that, the area is very interesting though. It’s a centre of young culture. University areas are always filled with young and energetic atmosphere, particularly in this Hongik University (or Hongdae) area. The school is a famous Fine Arts and Design university in South Korea. There is an annual street art exhibition event, attracting art school students and young artists to flock to this area. Weekend evenings are the most…

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In Korea

Signature Starbucks in Korea

Signature Starbucks in Korea

The dome shape glass ceiling Starbucks on top of a subway station in Gangnam is probably the best I have seen not only in Korea, but also in Asia. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Starbucks and the 800th store opened in Korea, this is a signature store featuring beautiful interior decoration and Starbucks Reserve in Gangnam area (south of the river). Locating in the newly renovated transport interchange called Famille Station in Gangnam, this 800th Starbucks is one of the few premium stores in Seoul that sells upscale Starbucks Reserve. You may find the single origin line as well as some special edition of Starbuck merchandise here. However, it is very crowded. People are sharing tables and there is always a long line at the counter. If you don’t fancy making a trip just to take a look at this signature Starbucks, well, the Famille Station is a trendy gourmet mall in Gangnam. The mall was renovated in 2014 according to the look of a classic London train station, featuring red brick walls, pillars, arched ceiling design, and a London clock. Level 1 features around 30 food and beverage stores, from…

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In Autumn in Korea

What’s Next after Naejangsan

Seonunsan Mountain in Autumn

If you have more time travelling to Naejangsan for the autumn foliage, Seonunsan Mountain is highly recommended. Seonunsan is not far from Jeongup (about 40 minutes by car or one hour by direct bus). It is not as popular as Naejangsan because of it’s accessibility and most tour groups are limited by tight schedule. Seonunsan Mountain is a renown for the beautiful scenery with camellia blooms in spring, cool valley in the summer and the foliage in autumn. The one time large temple, Seonunsa Temple, is a major establishment on the mountain. Built in 577, Seonunsa Temple was a large temple with over 80 temple buildings and 3,000 monks. Today, only a few temple buildings remaining, including the central Daeoongbojeon (Main Buddha Hall). Seonunsa Temple runs regular temple stay programs, featuring meditation, evening service, preparing monastic meals, Dado (tea ceremony), and making lotus lanterns. 1n 1979, Seonunsan Mountain was designated as a Provincial Park.  It is a popular destination for hiking, with a variety of trails in the forest. It is also one of the premier sport climbing destinations in South Korea. Smart Travel:…

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In Autumn in Korea

Skywalk in Chuncheon

Uiamho Lake Skywalk in Chuncheon

This Uiamho Lake skywalk is only 12 meters above the surface of the water yet looks daring to walk on. Like many other sky walks, the floor is transparent so you would feel like walking in the sky (or above water in this case). The whole experience of this new attraction is nice. First, it’s a new destination. So there aren’t that many tourists yet. Once it becomes popular, it is not possible to take photos without capturing other people. Second, the Uiamho Lake Skywalk is built as an extension from a bike path in the lake area of Chuncheon, which is famous for the surrounding lakes and rivers that offers a relaxing environment for hiking, camping, biking and canoeing types of outdoor activities. The Uiamho is a large lake with two islands in the middle. You may rent a wooden canoe to paddle around for an hour or two and enjoy the natural environment in a different way. I will try that next time I visit. On a cloudless sunny day, it is beautiful everywhere! Travel smart: there is a cafe in the area…

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In Autumn in Korea

Relaxing Afternoon in Gyeongju

Anapji Pond in Gyeongju 慶州雁鴨池

If you make a day-trip to Gyeongju and fancy UNESCO World Heritage, it is best to visit Bulguksa Temple first thing in the morning because it is farther away than the downtown historical area. Then head back to town in the afternoon. That’s what I did. My next stop was Bomun Lake, a 19 km square resort area with many five-star hotels and spas. Bomun Lake is a large artificial lake that takes about 3 hours to finish a loop. The whole area was planted with cherry trees which blossom in spring. Although it is not the right season to visit now, it is still an interesting place to take a look and hangout. In Gyeongju, particularly this area, many buildings and facilities are built with traditionally designed architecture, making it an interesting tourist area. The Gyeongju downtown is a remarkable concentration of historical sites, including royal tombs, fortress, ancient observatory, pagodas, temples and palaces. Many of these places are nice in spring and summer when it is colourful and green. To be honest, it is simply impossible to visit all destinations in one day.…

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In Autumn in Korea

UNESCO World Heritage: Temple Site Since 528

Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, Korea 韓國慶州佛國寺

Located in Gyeongju City, Bulguksa Temple was first built in 528 as a small wooden temple for the queen to pray for the welfare of the Silla kingdom and was originally called ‘Hwaeom Bulguksa Temple’.  The temple was rebuilt in 751 and renamed to Bulguksa upon completion in 774. It came no surprise that a temple with such a long history would have to go through many renovations and restoration. Bulguksa Temple is the representative relic of Gyeongju and was designated as a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO in 1995. There are seven national treasures in the temple complex, including the two pagodas, bridges and statues.

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In Korea

The Raw Crab Cuisine in Korea

Korean marinated raw crab meal

When it comes to travel, the last thing you want is to get sick in a foreign country. So I am always careful when eating street food and things that are raw. I like seafood and decided to give Ganjang Gejang a try in this trip. Gejang means marinated crabs in soy sauce and you eat them raw. “Ganjang” is added to Gejang to differentiate it from another raw crab dish prepared with chilli pepper seasoning. The tradition of eating marinated raw crabs dated back hundreds of years in Korea. I think that back in the old days when there aren’t that many choices of food available year round, preserved foods are common around the world. And if you were not living by the sea, you would not have the privilege to eat fresh raw seafood. This tradition has made some of the cuisines unique. The marinated raw crab cuisine is pretty complicated to prepare. The blue crabs have to be marinated with the right sauce with the right ingredients: ganjang, salt, onions, garlic, ginger, cheongyang peppers, water, etc. Otherwise, it will be either too salty or…

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In Autumn in Korea

Landfill Turned into Sky Park

Sky Park viewpoint

Once a 15-year of landfill, the 1.05 million-pyeong area was turned into a eco-park called World Cup Park near the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The World Cup Park consists of five small parks, including Pyeonghwa ‘Peace’ Park, Haneul ‘Sky’ Park, and Noeul ‘Sunset’ Park. During autumn, the Sky Park is the main attraction of the park where the annual Seoul Eulalia Festival is usually held in October. The trick is the hike of 300 steps up the green hill. There is an option of paid shuttle bus but I walked from the World Cup Stadium subway station. As you go up the hill, you will see great views of the city, the Hangang River and some mountains. Eulalia is no where in sight until you walk further up. Once you reach the top, the unexpected vast field of golden color eulalia with foot paths looks like a huge maze. Then there is a bowl shape view point that offers a panoramic view of the eulalia field. If you don’t have enough time to go all the way south to Suncheon Bay ecological park, this is a…

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