< Visited in Nov 2018 | Mar 2017 | Nov 2014 >
Fantasy Story 范特喜 is one of my earliest haunts in Taichung, before I got more adventurous. Way before I first visited Shenji (Audit) 368 New Village 審计368新创聚落, I had already been here thrice.
- 2月 21 週四 201919:00
[Taichung 台中] Fantasy Story ♦ 范特喜
< Visited in Nov 2018 | Mar 2017 | Nov 2014 >
Fantasy Story 范特喜 is one of my earliest haunts in Taichung, before I got more adventurous. Way before I first visited Shenji (Audit) 368 New Village 審计368新创聚落, I had already been here thrice.
- 1月 23 週三 201917:00
[Taichung Xinshe 台中新社] You Jian Yi Chui Yan ♦ 又见一炊烟
< Visited in Nov 2018 & Nov 2014 >
The chinese character 炊 (chui1) refers to using fire to cook, or steaming. Used in sentences, the word actually conveys a rather poetic nuance, such as in the name of this Zen-themed, fine dining restaurant up in the back mountains of Taichung - 又见一炊烟 (there is no formal English name though its FB uses 'Fooding Smoke').
- 1月 23 週三 201912:00
[Taipei 台北] Beitou stroll 北投小散步 : Park 公园 + Library 图书馆 + Hot Spring Museum 温泉博物馆 + Thermal Valley 地热谷
< Visited in Nov 2018 & Sep 2015 >
Mention the Taipei district of Beitou 北投 and the first thing that comes to mind is undisputedly hot spring. No doubt the charming town has an abundance of hot spring facilities (both bigger hotels and smaller bath houses), as well as a free public foot soak at Beitou Park 北投公园), but there is really a lot more to see and do here.
- 1月 21 週一 201912:00
[Taipei 台北 ⌂ Stay宿] Radium Kagaya Beitou 日胜生加贺屋 北投 ✭PLUS✭ The Spa by Socie 施舒雅美容世界
< Visited in Nov 2018 & Nov 2014 | Stayed in Sep 2015 >
- 1月 15 週二 201912:00
[Taipei 台北] Marshal Zen Garden ♦ 少帅禅园
< Visited in Nov 2018 | Oct 2017 | Sep 2015 >
My first visit to the originally-named Shann Garden 禅园 was eons ago, where my friends and I sipped tea watching the lovely sunset, followed by buffet dinner at their separate restaurant. I even recall a (poor) monkey tied to a tree in the backyard, that quite entertained my friends and I (those young and ignorant days!).
< Stayed in Nov 2014 & Nov 2018 >
Eversince I learnt about a beautiful story of how two Taiwanese ladies (one of whom has passed away due to cancer) left their day jobs to fulfill a common dream of opening a lavender farm, I have diligently pursued Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林 and its sister brands. After Apr 2013's visit to Hsinchu's Lavender Cottage Jianshi 薰衣草森林 尖石店 and Jul 2014's stay at Adagio Jinguashi 缓慢 金瓜石, next on my checklist was Lavender Cottage Xinshe 薰衣草森林 新社's B&B Adagio Reindeer : Vanilla House 缓慢 寻路 : 香草House.
- 1月 04 週五 201905:41
[Taichung Xinshe 台中新社] Lavender Cottage ♦ 薰衣草森林
< Visited in Nov 2018 | Mar 2017 | Nov 2014 >
Xinshe 新社 is an approximate one hour drive from Taichung city into mountains of 560-620 metres altitude. Known affectionately as the garden of Taichung (台中后花园), it is also home to the highly anticipated Xinshe Flower Fest 新社花海 - usually held in Q4 annually - jamming the mountain town with locals and foreigners. Flower fest aside, the town is still worth exploring anytime of the year, for its "mushroom street", thematic garden cafes and of course, Lavender Cottage 薰衣草森林.
- 12月 28 週五 201820:00
[Taichung 台中 ⌂ Stay宿] Hotel Mapp 希堤微旅
<Stayed in Nov 2018>
Hotel Mapp 希堤微旅 was a search result for a two-night stay for 3 persons, with less consideration of proximity to rail or bus, as our primary mode of transport was by cab. Suffice to say that I eventually went with it for its affordable price point and perceived quality of room. Also noting that I had taken ill on the second day, rendering me unfit to explore more of the premises. Hopefully, there will be chance for a revisit to appreciate finer details of this lovely hotel.
< Visited in Aug 2018 & May 2017 >
The Yancheng district (盐埕区) of today is nowhere a fraction of its heyday. Located near the coast and port, locals engaged in mullet (乌鱼) fishing and later "salt sunning" (晒盐) in the olden days. What is better known of the district now are Pier-2 Art Center 驳二艺术特区 and Kuchan (Jue Jiang) Shopping District 堀江商场, though my stroll in this blog covers the vicinity of Yanchengpu MRT station (盐埕埔站周边).
- 12月 21 週五 201817:00
[Kaohsiung 高雄] (Cafe) 兴趣xsimtree (Zhongzheng Store 中正店)
< Visited in Aug 2018 & May 2017 >
The name "simtree' is a play on the chinese term 兴趣 (hobby/interest), and indeed, the whole science and art behind coffee must be the hobby or interest of many people. 兴趣xsimtree is a coffee chain that brings together beans, roasting, brews, light meals, and coffee making apparatus and accessories under one roof. There are currently five outlets in Kaohsiung. By virtue of proximity to where I like to stay (Hotel dùa 住饭店), I visited this particular outlet mere minutes away on foot.