< Visited in Mar 2017 & Jul 2019 >With the MRT Tamshui-Xinyi line extended in 2013 to cover Taipei 101/World Trade Center (R03) and Xiangshan (R02), hiking at the 183m high Elephant Mountain (or more accurately Hill, given the number of much higher mountains in Taiwan) 象山 has become a very accessible attraction. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(303)
< Visited in Jul 2019 | Nov 2018 | Dec 2016 | Sep 2015 >The original estate which sat here was the Miyahara eye hospital, constructed in the 1900s near Taichung Railway Station and right beside the scenic "green stream" (绿川) and Zhongshan Green Bridge (中山绿桥). The founding father of the eye hospital, Master Miyahara Takekuma made meaningful contributions to Taichung, such as uniting the natives with Japanese, bringing about radio and police reforms, and encouraging Taiwanese self-government. The defunct icon in Taichung was later left to deteriorate over the years and was severely damaged by natural catastrophes. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(3,895)
< Visited in Jul 2019 & Aug 2018 >I have introduced Taipei's Lang Lang Don't Cry Pet Halfway House & Cafe 浪浪别哭 previously. When they opened their second outlet in Taichung (to expand the geographic potential of their cats and dogs getting adopted), it was a matter of time I made my way there. Nestled in an old (and according to one taxi driver who brought me there, quite known) neighbourhood, this outlet occupies a two-storey corner house, not far from a lovely open field. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(409)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >If you haven't guessed, Shiba Kori 此木二水's Chinese name - 此木二水 - combines to mean 柴冰 (literally Shiba ice). And what's a Shiba Kori cafe without a Shiba Inu? Other than the owner's (a Hong Konger who has since settled down in Taiwan) black Shiba who appears in various forms in the shop, patrons are welcomed to bring their dogs, especially Shiba Inu. Opened only in April this year, the Shiba Inu-themed cafe serves shaved ice, Hong Kong desserts and beverages. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(111)
***The establishment has relocated in May 2022, check out their FB for new address***
< Visited in Jul 2019 >Founded by 2 guys (high school classmates) who wanted to fulfil their dream, Jia Dee 呷滴 is a cafe of modest size, specializing in cake and dessert. Part of the Shandao Temple MRT Station culinary roadmap in many local blogs, I was looking for an afternoon filler after lunch at Lang Lang Don't Cry 朗朗别哭. After a call to confirm there were still seats, I took a 15-minute stroll over. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(60)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >In my quest for less touristy destinations, Pinglin 坪林 came across as being one of the more accessible districts. Governed under New Taipei City 新北市, it is an approximate hour's drive from Taipei Main Station, to an entirely different landscape. A rustic mountainous town which flourished with tea (particularly Pouchong 包種) cultivation, it used to be a popular pit-stop between Taipei and Yilan before a new highway cut the journey short. The district now promotes low carbon footprint travel, and made a marvellous day trip for me, which I'll share in this post if you are considering a similar excursion. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(269)
<Visited in Jul 2019> Pinglin Tea Museum 坪林茶业博物馆, part of my Pinglin day trip 坪林一日游 and not to be mistaken with Tea Cultural Museum 茶产业文化馆, is about 15mins stroll from Pinglin Old Street - though it's advisable to cater more time for the scenic route. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(60)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >A name that popped up when I was researching tea plantation tours, Just Pinglin 坪感觉 is owned by a couple from other parts of Taiwan who decided to be part of the Pinglin community. With a travel service workshop set up in 2013 - Pumpkin No. 3 金瓜三号 - this cafe is their new venture and recently launched in May 2019, sitting at a prominent entrance of Pinglin Old Street. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(157)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >Taiwan as a tea kingdom needs no introduction. As a frequent tea (and coffee) drinker, though not a connoisseur at all, my Taiwan travels have greatly exposed me to varied flavours, creative concoctions and increasingly, a thirst for related sights and knowledge. My attention was drawn to a label called Taiwan BlueMagpie Tea 台湾蓝鹊茶, having bought their tea sachets from a distributor retailer before, and seeing the work they do in the tea mountains of Pinglin through their FB. About an hour's drive from Taipei Main Station, Pinglin 坪林 was good (and new) news to me, as it means an opportunity to explore a tea town without having to travel hours all the way into the central mountains. (The other alternative in Taipei would be Maokong 猫空, which I enjoy in other ways but personally consider more touristy.) Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(105)
< Visited in Jul 2019 >Huashan 1914 Creative Park 华山1914文化创意产业园区, being 1 of the 2 most prominent cultural parks in Taipei, attracts a good crowd with its rigorous line-up of exhibitions, activities, pop-up stores and F&B offerings. I make periodic trips here (and to Songyan 松烟), for shopping and dining even if not for exhibitions; though I was blessed with 3 interesting exhibitions this trip. Lynda Lim 發表在 痞客邦 留言(0) 人氣(94)