Hualien, Taiwan

Visiting the Stylish Container Starbucks in Hualien, Taiwan – A Look Inside the Kengo Kuma-Designed “Starbucks Hualien Bay Store

View this post on Instagram In Hualien City, eastern Taiwan, there’s a Starbucks store that stands out as a special presence among the thousands of Starbucks locations worldwide. This is the “Starbucks Hualien Bay Gate Store” (洄瀾門市店) in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan. Built from 29 shipping containers, this store opened in 2019 as Asia’s first

Saudi Arabia

More Practical Than a Hat? Trying Out the Traditional Arab Keffiyeh for Sun Protection – Shopping and Styling Experience in Riyadh

Join the Arab community just by wearing one? An introduction to the kufiya (shemagh) While traveling through the Arabian Peninsula in midsummer, I became captivated by the charm of the traditional headcloth called “kufiya” (also known as shemagh or shmagh). What started as a souvenir I somewhat reluctantly purchased gradually became an essential travel item.

Cuisine, Taiwan

Trying Taiwan’s Exotic Fruit “Custard Apple” (釋迦頭) – Taste, How to Eat It, and What to Expect

Mysterious bagged fruits frequently seen while driving along the Hualien-Taitung Valley Highway While driving through eastern Taiwan, I noticed unfamiliar orchards spreading along the roadside. Trees covered with nets bore green fruits about the size of soccer balls. Upon investigation, I discovered these were “shakatou” (釈迦頭), a famous fruit from eastern Taiwan. Known as Sugar

Taitung, Taiwan

Exclusive Cocktails with Indigenous Millet Wine at Mixx Bar Taitung – A Unique Taiwanese Drinking Experience

Xiaomijiu (millet wine) that I introduced in a previous article. This time, I’ll be sharing creative cocktails made with this traditional wine. “Xiaomijiu” (小米酒) is a traditional wine brewed by Taiwan’s indigenous people. Made from millet, this alcoholic beverage features a distinctive sweetness and richness, representing Taiwan’s traditional culture. The brewing methods, passed down through

Taitung, Taiwan

The “Route 66” of the East Asia? Exploring Taiwan’s Largest Rice Paddy Area by Electric Buggy – A Local’s Guide to the Bolognese Avenue (Brown Avenue) Experience

In my previous article, I introduced the experience of savoring “Chishang Rice,” the premium brand rice from “Chishang Township,” Taiwan’s premier rice-growing region. It turns out there’s a way to enjoy the pastoral landscape where this delicious rice grows more freely and up close. That’s the electric buggy experience on “Brown Avenue” that I’ll be

Taitung, Taiwan

Tasting the Best Rice from Taiwan’s Top Rice Region, Chishang Township: A Dining & Cultural Experience at the ‘Rice Original Homeland Museum’

I visited Chishang Township in Taitung County, home of Taiwan’s premier brand rice “Chishang Rice.” “Taiwan also has delicious rice, you know.” This is what a friend living in Taitung told me when I was planning a trip to eastern Taiwan. Indeed, as visitors from rice-growing regions, we tend to associate Taiwan primarily with noodle

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