Whenever I come back stateside, one thing I have to bring back is pineapple cake (鳳梨酥 / feng li su). Pineapple cake, is about as ubiquitous in Taiwanese gift shops as boba shops across the island. Various gift shops and…
I’ve done the Rose Parade in Pasadena, fireworks on The Bay, and house parties; but nothing has compared to the spectacle of celebrating the beginning of the new year (除夕 / chu xi) near Taipei 101. We got to the…
After experiencing Fengchia Night Market, then subsequently smaller ones, I thought I was prepared for what would await at Shilin Night Market (士林夜市 / shi lin ye shi). Not only was I wrong, but even with a few hours spent…
I have posts about more of the prominent eateries around Taipei, including the original Din Tai Fung, Ice Monster, and Addiction Aquatic Development. Here’s a smorgasbord of various foods I tried around the city that didn’t necessarily warrant their own…
Coming from a city where the car reins supreme, Los Angeles, my first experience with public transit was eye-opening. In The San Francisco Bay Area, I was surprised just how many people used the bus, trains, ferries, light rail, and…
Omiyage is a gift or souvenir that you bring back home for friends, family, co-workers, etc. It’s a thoughtful way of saying to someone that they matter and that you care. Searching for the perfect omiyage to bring back from…
Wandering around Taiwan, you’ll eventually come across something known as a cultural creative park or cultural creative center. These sites are often old businesses that have been transformed into creative spaces. I had an opportunity to check out one of…
Knowing how much Taiwan loves Japanese culture, I wanted to give their tonkatsu (吉列豬排 / ji lie zhu pai) a try. We went to a katsu place in Taipei called… Tonkatsu (品田牧場 / pin tian mu chang). The restaurant, located…
In the US, it’s typical of people to go to a grocery story to pick up food to prepare or cook. Although Taiwan has its share of grocery-type stores, including Carrefour, more of my experience with fresh and dry foods…
One of my favorite parts of Taipei has to be the Ximending (西門町 / xi men ding) area, located in Wanhua District (萬華區 / wan hua qu). Before going, I knew it to be the queerest area of the city…
