#hualien food

[springtomorrowfoodtravel]

Dexin Chishang Fanbao - Come here for their tasty bentos!

We came across Dexin Chishang Fanbao (德欣池上飯包) on our way back to Angel Wings Inn after the coach dropped us off at the end of our Taroko Gorge day tour. Decided to get takeout from here to eat at our inn because we were exhausted from our day out. Image source: 德欣池上飯包’s FB page Image source: 德欣池上飯包’s FB page Menu Image source: 德欣池上飯包’s FB page They have eight different bento flavours on their…

[sunfiltersthroughwillowleaves]

had a tgcf and svsss crossover idea

ok so xie lian and hua cheng find this book (or whatever a book is in that universe) by an author named "airplane". wtf is an airplane anyways? so they start reading and its about a world a gajillion years in the future where there's paper that's made out of metal and it can change its image on will? and metal birds that carry people like swords except they're called airplanes and they're designed for the usage of many people at once??? why would the author name himself after that? chunks of metal with wheels that don't need horses???

"why dont they use cultivation" you ask, because there is none! so weird, right? anyways, they keep reading and there's so much stuff they call technology that's basically just magic. it's about an overpressured author who eats food that only needs water to be edible and sends his writing over an invisible spiderweb that covers the entire world. tbh, the author did a really bad job explaining all the "tech". overall a really stupid idea for a novel. xie lian honestly sorta likes it, but it's just wierd. the most odd part? these things keep coming out regularly. they're ridiculously long, and unlike other works from the same author, there's no sex scenes.

xie lian kinda likes it, and reads it every now and then cuddled up with hua cheng. hua cheng loves being next to xie lian, who giggles occasionally while reading, but hates the novel. somehow, shi qingxuan finds it, and shows it to ming yi, (shush leave me with my beefleaf) ming yi claims he doesn't like it but reads shi qingxuan's copy of that day's update every night. knows literally every detail, understands teh worldbuilding the best of anyone. feng xin and mu qing don't bother to read it, but they know a little about it.

one day, the next update is about someone who does something called a comment on his work. apparently, they do it a lot. and the character’s name is cucumber. who would name a character cucumber!? this author is weird. anyways the cucumber does a comment about a bunch of mean stuff critiquing the work and stuff. there are more than 3 pages of just mean commentings. the next page is about his metal paper. apparentlu, the metal paper can’t touch water, or else it poisons the water??? this makes no sense. not even ming yi can explain how it works. and then the main character touches the poison water? what a dumb character, remarks hua cheng.

main character wakes up in a cultivation world. apparentlhy main character was writing a story about this world? how dumb. hualien and beefleaf are crossing a road while reading this when a reckless cart driver is about to crash into them. hua cheng, obviously, obliterated the cart and its driver. problem solved! 

later that evening, when the four fall asleep, they don’t awaken (in those bodies, anyways). fengqing finds them, starts yelling their heads off, eventually brings their comatose bodies to ling wen, who shrugs and puts them in a drawer. 

meanwhile, hualien and beefleaf are reeling. they didn't get transferred into different bodies, but they are at a hospital. someone who looks vaguely like ling wen tells them that they were found half-dead under the seats of a funeral of some guy named shen jiu. weird. the nurse tries to charge them but, upon finding the only currency they have is merits, groans and lets them leave.  hua cheng rolls dice. nothing happens. 

xie lian asks where hua cheng’s butterflies are. hua cheng shrugs, but seems visibly on-edge. none of them are able to do cultivation when they try. people are looking at them weird. who the hell does cosplay in the middle of the street? some guy compliments xie lian and hua cheng on their tgcf cosplay. none of the four understand any of those words. someone asks to take a picture of them. take a picture? she pulls out a chunk of metal, holds it in front of their faces, presses next to them. oh, is it a mirror? but she clicks a white circle at the right of the rectangilar mirror, and it flashes bright white. hua cheng begins threatening her for daring to harm xie lian’s eyes, but xie lian apologetically gets him to back off.

the woman apologises and asks if they’re new to the area. shi qingxuan says yes, and she offers the four a place to stay. ming yi holds up his shovel, arguing that he could just dig a hole in the ground and sleep there. he has to be reminded that cultivation doesn’t work here.

back in the danmei world, airplane is no longer making money from his latest series, “an author without cultivation”! there were a few people buying it, but not anymore. they also tended to overpay wildly. airplane somehow pieces it together; (idk) ohhh they transferred to the human world. he convinces the system to let him and cucumber return to their world, but lbh protests. “where are you going shizun shizun dont leave me let me come with you shizun shizun come onnnnn shizunnnnnn” eventually they let him come too. mobei jun is ok with it as long as shang qinghua returns eventually. they transfer back to the human world, where cucumber finds himself in a coffin, at his own funeral. everyone is shocked when shen yuan sits up in his original body. people scream and shout and everyone is very happy, but cucumber barely remembers any of them. it’s been, like, twenty years. he can hardly remember his parents’ names. he smiles, laughs a little, rpetrends to know everyone, and then lbh arrives. through the window. pulls out an enormous sword. people then start screaming, because omg shen yuan’s enormous murder boyfriend is here. his parents scold him a little “why didn't you tell us you got a murder boyfriend” before getting yeeted into a wall. mmkay that’s happening now. luo bignhe and shen qingqiu spend their first day in the modern world in jail.

shang qinghua pays for their bail. apparently, they all arrived back to the modern world a day after sqq’s death, and a day before sqh’s. time travel? they don’t even know at this point. they manage to track down the other four by following a police report on a man in a red tunic and butterfly jewelry threatening a poor tgcf fan, witnesses report. (the woman wasnt even the one who ratted them out, it was the ugy who complimented them on their cosplays haha.) sqq and sqh share a look. that sounds like hua cheng, from tian guan ci fu! isn’t that a really popular danmei? lbh is just sitting next to them like a lost puppy, following them around, reminding shizun that he can tear anyone who dares question his authority to pieces. anyways they find the four. their conversation kinda goes like this.

sqq: hey are you xie lian?

hua cheng: who are you (the four are very concerned as they have never seen metal birds that make loud noises before)

lbh: how dare you threaten my husband

sqq and xie lian: binghe/san lang, calm down

sqq and xie lian make uncomfortable eye contact. woah. that guy also has an overprotective but lovable husband. neat. homosexuality.

xie lian:  yeah im xie lian, this is san lang, ming yi, and shi qingxuan

sqh: *looks at the other, nods* mmkay and are you familiar with the undiscovered gem of a series called “an author without cultivation”?

hua cheng and ming yi roll their eyes, the other two nod

sqx: yeah, what about it?

sqh: yeah, i’m the author! *waits for applause that never comes*

ming yi: so you know why we’re here?

sqq: well did you read it and hate it or somehting?

*lbh is still glaring at hua cheng. hua cheng is still glaring at lbh*

hua cheng: it was very easy to hate

sqh: *sqq laughs* shut up cucumber

ming yi: *snaps to attention* that was the name of one of your characters! peerless cucumber.

sqq: *laughing, elbows sqh* guess someone doesn’t hate it so much after all

*ming yi smacks him on the head with a shovel. lbh smacks ming yi on the head with his fist. they both pass out.*

sqx, catching ming yi: sorry about him, he can be a bit… (doesn’t finish)

sqh: yeah, no problem. my husband’s the same.

hua cheng: what?

sqh: *completely ignores him and moves on* okay so here’s what’s happening; i come from this world. i teleported to your world to do things accidentally after i died. then i stayed in your world and got a husband and started writing again and stuff.

xie lian: what things? and also you havent told us what you mena by we’re all gay. also why are giant metal birds your namesake?

sqh, swallowing: this is gonna take a while

they explain to the tgcf crew and stuff, and they end up grabbing an apartment. turns out, none of them know how to transfer htemselves back. also, they all appear to be human now. they appear the same, they’re all just human. sqh gets them a flat, and they all sleep on the floor.

ok i might update this later but who knows haha

[irismfrost]

July 26 - Travel day

Today was basically a travel day. We couldn't visit Hualien because it is basically destroyed and the railroads are closed (the tracks are literally nonexistent right now). But we are now in Taitung, a small city on the southern east coast. This city is sparsely populated and has the highest percentage of aboriginal people (~30%). We traveled from Yilan to Taipei (via train) to Kaoshiung (via high speed rail) to Taitung (via bus). We left around 10am and are now arriving in Taitung at 7:30pm. Our dinner came from the supermarket. They do not have many prepared foods so I opted for waffles in a bag (and I also found maple syrup!), cherries, Lays truffle chips, and Ritz crackers - quite a nutritious variety. As a bus snack, I had these cream puff things which are a popular snack here. They are pretty good and remind me a little bit of Krave cereal. Our bus driver also loves us and this area is famous for its custard apple fruit so he got us all some! I'm excited to try it.

We got to see some of the coast and the Taiwanese Straight which is between Taiwan and China. The water was pretty choppy... and all of the rice fields were flooded. Yet, it was still beautiful. This whole country is just pretty at all times.

[jacksulkes]

July 24, 25, 26 - Typhoon

On July 24th, we had to cancel all of our planned activities and excursions because there was a typhoon (hurricane) coming. We had to hunker down in the hotel all day. Before the storm got bad, I went out to 7-Eleven to get some food and water to hold me over for the day. There was a beautifully lit up temple right across the street. That night, we went in the indoor hot springs. Obviously, the outdoor ones were closed. After the springs, we played cards and called it a night. The storm wasn’t too bad where we were. The next day, July 25th, the storm was dying down. I got a scallion pancake with egg for breakfast. Then a few of us walked over to the fish springs. You’re supposed to put your feet in and then the little fish nibble on you and it tickles. We were supposed to leave Yilan and take a train to Hualien that day and then to Taitung the day after that, but the trains still weren’t running. So, we had to stay an extra night in Yilan. We walked around Yilan and found a teppanyaki place for dinner. The chef cooked everything on a flat top right in front of us. I had lamb. We went in the indoor hot springs and then played cards again. Now it is July 26th, and we were supposed to go to Taitung from Hualien. But we were still in Yilan because of the storm. The route from Yilan to Hualien and then Taitung was ruined by the typhoon, so we had to go around the entire island in the other direction to get to Taitung from Yilan. First, we took a train from Yilan back to Taipei. Then we broke for lunch, and I just grabbed a pork chop bento box. Then, we hopped on the high-speed rail from Taipei to Kaohsiung in the south. Our bus driver met us there and drove us the rest of the way to Taitung. The route was beautiful because a lot of it was along the coast. Taiwan has black sand beaches. We saw fish farms, mountains, and temples along the route as well. We also saw rice paddies flooded from the storm. Our bus driver gifted each of us a custard apple. I had never had one before, and it was decent. Now we are finally back on track, and we will resume our planned schedule tomorrow. I’m sad we missed out on a couple days of activities, but now I have experienced a typhoon in Taiwan instead. Excited to get back to the fun tomorrow!

[mitsubinyuri]

hi this is a really random question but first off, love your art so pretty!!!!!!!

second, I’m writing a taiwanese character for a book and I think if would be best if I asked an actual Taiwanese person, so are there any stereotypes to avoid or representation you’d like to see with him (he’s transgender and gay)

Alright!

Thanks so much for the art compliment and thanks a lot for the ask! Keep in mind I'm half Taiwanese, not full, and I've only been to Taiwan once so I might not be the best person to ask. that being said, finding Taiwanese people to ask isn't the easiest job out there so I'll do my best! below is a list of notes/things to consider. Please reach out to other Taiwanese people on this as I am no expert!

Regardless of whether or not you want to implement politics into your story or whether or not the Taiwanese character is Taiwanese diaspora or FROM Taiwan, it might be important to think about how long ago their ancestors came to the island. Someone who came over with the KMT fleeing China (circa 1949 communist takeover) will have a different relationship with the island and its culture than someone who had been there before. They may have different outlooks on the island's culture, and those who came with the KMT will be more likely to speak Mandarin than Taiwanese (though they might speak both!) and those who were there before will likely speak Taiwanese AND Mandarin.

If you want to even further consider how this migration (and ensuing conflict) affected your character's family in the past, do research into the history from the late 1940s to the present. If your character's family was from before the KMT migration, I'd suggest going back further into the Japanese occupation era, at least as far back as WW2.

The most common ethnic group in Taiwan is the Han chinese group, but there are also indigenous groups there. About 97% is Han and 2% indigenous, and a smaller number are others such as foreigners.

I'm afraid I can't speak for the many different indigenous Taiwanese ethnic groups, they also have their own languages, but will likely speak Mandarin and/or Taiwanese as well. In general, if your character is specifically indigenous, do additional research. All the different Indigenous Taiwanese people have complex histories and amazing cultures. Even a non-indigenous Taiwanese person, depending on where they were raised, may have some proximity to indigenous Taiwanese culture. When I visited Taiwan we visited two restaurants run by indigenous tribes, both in the Taroko national park area. Many indigenous tribes are concentrated in the general Hualien area, but they are found all over (slightly more in the mountains, though.)

You don't necessarily have to specify a language when you say "Taiwanese", as many people not living in Taiwan don't, but there are multiple "Taiwanese" languages. The most widely used are Hokkien and Hakka. My family speaks Hokkien, so I can't tell you much about Hakka, but from what I understand, these languages do not have much spoken mutual intelligibility. Hokkien is the more popular of the two, and all of these languages share the same written language. Hokkien as a language is spoken by a lot of people in lots of places, like mainland China and the Philippines. It is mutually intelligible through these countries as it is the same language, but Taiwanese Hokkien specifically has adopted many phrases and words from Japanese as well, as Taiwan and Japan had close proximity for many years (thanks to this wonderful thing called 'colonization' /s)

Although general "Chinese" characters are used in both Taiwan and mainland China, the Taiwanese island uses traditional characters while mainland China uses simplified!

In terms of stereotypes, I'm going to say that sadly, there's not really enough Taiwanese representation for there to be a lot of stereotypes. General stereotypes to be careful of with other Asian characters apply, like the nerdy character, shy asian girl, the weird food and the blue hair streak rebellious manic pixie dream girl, etc Keep in mind that all of these (besides 'weird food', our food really isn't that 'weird') can still be implemented in a non-stereotypical way, though.

Keep in mind that not all Taiwanese people are from Taipei or Tainan or other cities! Taiwan still has many rural "villages" (such as the one my Ah-gong was raised in) and those also have interesting and unique culture to them!

Research religion, at least a bit. A majority of Taiwanese people identify as Buddhist, Taoist, or with some other Chinese folk religion. Even if your young character is not religious, its likely their family will be. Once again, the character's culture will often depend on how long their family has been in Taiwan.

Research bits of whatever language the family speaks! My family speaks Hokkien, and while I barely speak any, I address the family members on the Taiwanese side of the family by Taiwanese titles (Ah-gong and Ah-mah for grandpa and grandma, etc. The romanization for Taiwanese words often varies as well because for a while there was no official one, so be careful with that.)

A trans and gay Taiwanese character is great! Asian LGBTQ+ rep is not super common, let alone Taiwanese rep (which is ironic, because Taiwan is currently the only Asian country to have completely legalized gay marriage,) and we love to see it! In terms of specific things I want to see in Taiwanese characters, I think we need to see more tanned/darker skinned Taiwanese characters. I myself am pale skinned, but many Taiwanese have darker complexions because of the sunny climate and genetics (similar to a place like the Philippines!) and this is not accurately represented in media.

Anyway, that was very long, but that's it.

TL;DR: research how long ago their family came to the island, as that will affect parts of their culture. Decide what language(s) they speak, their family speaks. Decide on an ethnic group. Do research. If they're indigenous, do even more research. Decide on an area they're from if you want to further flesh out their background. Research religion. Avoid the usual Asian stereotypes. And finally, I'd love to see more darker skinned Taiwanese rep!

Keep in mind that these aren't rules! I'm not demanding you over research if you don't think it's important to the specific character, but if you plan on getting into the culture at all I'd suggest thinking about at least a little!

[jaysen-vor-hee-hees]

character sheet for my new sona Raverie because fuck it why not. (i can’t find one that has favourite food on it :c)

=====================================

Raverie

Full Name: Raverie Thenora Deveraux

Nickname(s): Rave, Ray, RD Rizzerie

Age: 25

Height: 5’9”

Sexuality: Omnisexual

Romantic Identity: Polyamorous, Panromantic

Gender: Transmasculine

Sex: Female

Pronouns: All, preference for he/him

Eye Colour: Black

Hair Colour: Royal Blue (naturally blonde)

Ethnicity: Taiwanese

Languages: Mandarin Chinese, British English

Birthplace: Hualien City, Taiwan

Current Residence: Edinburgh, Scottland

Occupation: Author

Favourite Food(s): Rice and Teriyaki chicken, Shortbread, Gingersnap

Favourite Drink(s): Espresso Mocha, Lucozade, Ga(y)torade, pomegranate tea

Favourite Music Genre(s): Alternative Rock, Indie, Classic Rock, Hip Hop/Rap

Favourite Artist(s): Lovejoy, The Score, My Chemical Romance, Confetti, South Central Cartel, AC/DC

Favourite Game(s): Stardew Valley, Cyberpunk 2077, Call Of Duty franchise, The Stanley Parable

Hobbies/Interests: Baking, gaming, literature, creative writing, astronomy, cosplay, MCYT, medieval weaponry, botany, drumming

Other: Autistic, PTSD, True Neutral, INFJ

=====================================

A/N: idk i ran out of ideas lmao 😭 this is kind of rushed but I Tried

[malaysiatravelagency]

Taiwan Travel Agency | Travel Agent in Taiwan

Taiwan, an island of dynamic contrasts, offers an unparalleled travel experience with its bustling cities, serene landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. As your dedicated Taiwan Travel Agency, we are committed to crafting unforgettable journeys through this fascinating destination.

Start your adventure in Taipei, the vibrant capital of Taiwan. Explore the iconic Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Stroll through the bustling Shilin Night Market, where you can sample a variety of delicious street foods, from stinky tofu to bubble tea. Don’t miss the tranquil beauty of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the serene atmosphere of Longshan Temple.

Venture south to Taichung, known for its artistic flair and charming attractions. Visit the Rainbow Village, a colorful and whimsical neighborhood created by a former soldier, and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Gaomei Wetlands. Explore the National Museum of Natural Science for fascinating exhibits on Taiwan’s natural history.

In the east, Hualien offers stunning coastal landscapes and access to Taroko Gorge, a breathtaking marble canyon with hiking trails, waterfalls, and dramatic rock formations. The natural beauty of Taroko National Park provides a perfect escape into nature.

For a more tranquil experience, head to the picturesque Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan. Enjoy boat rides on the serene waters, hike the surrounding trails, and visit the historic Wenwu Temple overlooking the lake.

Taiwan’s southern city, Kaohsiung, provides a vibrant mix of modern attractions and cultural sites. Explore the lively Liuhe Night Market, visit the stunning Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, and take a relaxing stroll along the Love River.

Taiwan’s rich cultural tapestry is reflected in its festivals, traditional crafts, and diverse cuisine. From the vibrant night markets to the tranquil temples, Taiwan invites you to discover its unique charm and warm hospitality.

With our expertise and personalized service, your journey through Taiwan will be seamless and memorable. Explore the best of Taipei, Taichung, Hualien, and beyond, and experience the dynamic beauty of Taiwan.

Conclusion: Taiwan’s diverse attractions, from bustling cities and scenic landscapes to rich cultural experiences, make it a must-visit destination. Our Taiwan Travel Agency is dedicated to ensuring you explore the best of this vibrant island, creating a memorable and immersive travel experience.

[swldx]

6080Khz 0258 4 APR 2024 - VOICE OF AMERICA (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA) in ENGLISH from MOPENG HILL. SINPO = 55333. English, dead carrier, @0259z w/Yankee Doodle int fb news anchored by Richard Greene @0300z. A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan's eastern coast near Hualien County on Wednesday morning, killing nine people and injuring more than 900. Taiwan's biggest earthquake in at least 25 years is likely to tighten the supply of tech components such as display panels and semiconductors as manufacturers in the global tech powerhouse restore operations at affected facilities. The bodies of six foreign aid workers killed in an Israeli airstrike were moved Wednesday to Egypt for repatriation to their homelands, while Israel faced wide condemnation for their deaths. A total of seven staff members of the U.S.-based food charity World Central Kitchen were killed in the late Monday airstrike that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said was “unconscionable” and "an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted.” U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to speak Thursday, according to a U.S. official familiar with planning for the call. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday on how to bolster the alliance’s long-term military support for Ukraine. The United States will host a NATO summit in Washington from July 9 to July 11. Blinken discussed priorities for the meeting with his counterpart as the alliance celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Uganda's constitutional court has declined to annul or grant a permanent injunction against the enforcement of the country’s anti-gay law. In their ruling Wednesday, the judges said the law does infringe on some fundamental human rights. Lawyers representing members of Uganda's LGBT community described the ruling as retrogressive. A 12-year-old suspected of shooting and killing a classmate and wounding two girls at a school in Finland said he had been motivated by bullying, police said Wednesday. Flags flew at half-staff as the northern European country observed a day of mourning a day after the boy opened fire in a classroom in Vantaa. Police also said that the young suspect had been a student at the school only since the beginning of the year. The police opened an investigation into murder and attempted murder but said the suspect has been handed over to social services as he could not be held in police custody because of his age. A New York judge on Wednesday denied Donald Trump's bid to delay his April 15 trial on charges stemming from hush money paid to a porn star until the U.S. Supreme Court reviews claim to presidential immunity in a separate criminal case. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on April 25 the former U.S. president's arguments that he is immune from federal prosecution for trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat to President Joe Biden. In a court ruling on Wednesday, Merchan said Trump had waited too long to raise the issue. @0305z “Daybreak Africa” anchored by male announcer (w/African accent). MLA 30 amplified loop (powered w/8 AA rechargeable batteries ~10.8vdc), Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 350°, bearing 84°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 14087KM from transmitter at Mopeng Hill. Local time: 2158.

[travelingonvacation]

Taiwan is a vibrant island nation known for its rich history, diverse landscapes, delicious cuisine, and technological innovation. Here's a guide to help you plan your visit to Taiwan:

1. Taipei:

Taipei 101: Once the world's tallest building, offering panoramic views of the city.

National Palace Museum: Home to a vast collection of Chinese art and artifacts.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: A symbol of Taiwan's history and democracy.

Shilin Night Market: Experience Taipei's street food culture and try local delicacies.

2. Taroko Gorge:

Explore the stunning Taroko National Park, known for its marble cliffs, deep gorges, and hiking trails.

3. Sun Moon Lake:

Relax at this picturesque lake surrounded by lush greenery, pagodas, and temples.

4. Jiufen Old Street:

Wander through the narrow streets of Jiufen, a historic mining town with tea houses and beautiful views.

5. Alishan National Scenic Area:

Famous for its sunrise views, ancient cypress trees, and mountain railways.

6. Kenting National Park:

Enjoy beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and vibrant marine life in this southern national park.

7. Tainan:

Taiwan's oldest city with a rich history, temples, and traditional street food.

Chihkan Tower: An ancient Dutch fort with historical significance.

8. Taichung:

Rainbow Village: Colorful, vibrant artwork adorns the buildings.

Fengjia Night Market: One of the largest night markets in Taiwan.

9. Hualien:

Gateway to Taroko Gorge and a charming coastal city with a relaxed atmosphere.

10. Yehliu Geopark:

Marvel at unique rock formations along the coast, including the iconic Queen's Head.

11. Traditional Festivals:

Experience traditional festivals such as Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival if your visit coincides with them.

12. Hot Springs in Beitou:

Relax in natural hot springs in the Beitou district near Taipei.

13. Night Markets:

Explore various night markets, such as Raohe, Shida, and Shilin, to sample a wide array of Taiwanese street food.

14. Taiwan's Islands:

Consider visiting outlying islands like Penghu or Kinmen for a different cultural experience.

15. Cultural Etiquette:

Respect local customs and traditions, such as removing shoes when entering someone's home or a temple.

Tips:

Transportation: Taiwan has an efficient and well-connected transportation system, including high-speed trains and an extensive bus network.

Language: Mandarin Chinese is the official language, but English is commonly spoken in urban areas.

Currency: The New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) is the official currency.

Weather: Taiwan experiences a subtropical climate, so be prepared for both rain and sunshine, depending on the season.

Remember to check for any travel advisories and entry requirements before planning your trip. Taiwan's diverse offerings cater to nature lovers, food enthusiasts, history buffs, and those seeking modern city experiences. Enjoy your time exploring this fascinating island!

[mstravelsolo]

Hualien Food Guide: What and Where to Eat in Hualien, Taiwan

[springtomorrowfoodtravel]

Cai Ji Dou Hua 蔡記豆花 in Hualien - Delicious Desserts Await!

If you ask the locals which dessert shop in Hualien is worth visiting, I’m sure the majority, if not all, will recommend Cai Ji Dou Hua 蔡記豆花 on Minguo Road. Though they mention 豆花 aka soy beancurd or tofu pudding in their brand name, they do not just specialise in that. Surprisingly, the most popular items at the shop are their sweet barley soup and shaved ice with grass jelly. Let’s get some…

[dsandrvk]

Sunday, May 7 - Xincheng to Taitung City

We awoke to rain, but since it was a travel morning, we didn't mind. We had a short train ride to Hualien, which is where most of the people who hike in the gorge stay, as it is a small city and there are more facilities there. We preferred the more rural character and proximity of Xincheng, which was right at the mouth of the gorge.

Our next train ride was a couple of hours long, and it was a beautiful new train that reached speeds of 125 km per hour. While not high-speed, it was plenty fast, and we rode down a river valley between coastal hills and the central mountains. It continued to rain, but appeared to be clearing as we headed further south. Taitung City is on the SE coast, and is known for its fishing port, and as a ferry port for several islands of the coast. It also has a famous night market, several nice parks, and an active arts scene. It is definitely not on the non-Asian tourist trail.

As we pulled into Taitung, it was still raining a bit, so we bought our tickets for the next leg of our trip on Tuesday. As a result, we managed to just miss the logical bus from the train station into town that would have stopped near our B&B, but managed to find another that was heading to the bus station in town. We were prepared to walk from the bus station to our lodging, but as this bus snaked around we realized by following on maps.me that we were fairly close to our place, so pushed the next stop button, and by the time we stopped, we were only a couple of blocks away.

After checking into our nice large room (a real treat here in Asia, where accommodations are usually doll-size), we did head to the bus station to get some more information on how they worked and how we could get back to the train station on Tuesday, and also how to get to the fishing harbor, which is supposed to have great seafood. No one here has a lot of English, but they are so helpful. We think we have a couple of options for both.

On the way to the bus station we passed this little "claw machine" arcade, and a clothing store with several outfits with English slogans. One was a kid's romper that simply said "potatoes" all over, and then there was this shirt.

From the bus station we walked to the beach and seafront park, where lots of folks were enjoying the relative cool of the cloudy day and brisk breeze. The park runs quite a ways along the beach, with the requisite karaoke outdoor bar along the way. We were seeing some birds with long tails fly overhead and when they got closer we realized they were macaws, which of course are not native. They kept making circles to the north and then flying overhead. Once we had walked a little further, it became obvious that they belonged to a family with scooters modified to provide perches on the back. They were packing up when we passed by, but they might have been making a little money by having folks get their pictures taken with the birds. Or they could just have been getting them exercise, like the dogs running alongside some of the motos.

To the north is the forest park, and we just did a short loop there (more tomorrow), as it was getting later, and we wanted to visit the big night market, which is a Sunday event. The wind was also picking up a lot - shades of a change that will bring a lot of rain tomorrow.

This night market takes place on about four blocks of a wide major street on the north side of downtown. It was filled with food vendors selling everything from little omelets to skewers to full dinners - some things are deep-fried, which is an elaborate set-up for a temporary installation. Other carts can easily be towed behind a motorcycle. Prices ranged from about $1 for something small to about $7-8 for a full dinner. In between the food vendors were lots of carnival type games, with ring tosses, balloon popping games, bingo and electronic slot style machines for kids (never too early to get them addicted to gambling)! Because the street was so wide, there were three aisles of stalls. We also saw stalls for shoes, electronics, and clothing, and several bar carts, but the main event here is food. We split a "spicy oyster omelet" which had a lot of sauce and was quite tasty, but hard to eat with chopsticks and later on had a noodle dish at another vendor. Language is not a barrier when one can just point, but we really have no idea what we are getting unless we watch other folks. I included the picture of the squid seller - he was one of several there, but wasn't doing any business. Earlier on we had seen some things that might have been fried eels, but we weren't interested in those, either.

By 7:30, the market was starting to wind down - it was definitely a family crowd with lots of small children. We passed this magnificent temple complex on the way back to our lodging. By now we had walked about 6 miles, so were ready to stop at the nearby 7-Eleven and get a couple of beers and get cleaned up, but first we needed to drop off our breakfast menu selections to the "office". When we did, they invited us into what is more of a large living room, with a large extended family enjoying the evening. Our host (his son had been the one with some English who had checked us in) got a huge watermelon out of the fridge and sliced up a quarter of it and we feasted - just what had been missing from our dinner. We conversed a bit through Google Translate, and another gentleman (his brother?) kept pouring us endless cups of excellent Oolong Tea. The next thing you know we were sampling the local "white lightning", eating bananas from trees planted by our host's father (93 and still going strong) and sampling pineapple cakes. We showed them and "Juliet" (the place is called Romeo B&B - our host is "Romeo" and his wife's Chinese name is close in sound to Juliet) pictures of Moab - Juliet says she wants to visit. Folks kept dropping in to visit, including the couple's son, who had a little more English. Eventually, we pried ourselves away with extra bananas and cakes for tomorrow, and a promise to come by tomorrow evening. I think we are probably quite exotic to them. Needless to say, we didn't bother with the 7-Eleven.

It is encounters like this that make traveling so fun. We had no expectations for Taitung other than to just experience a part of Taiwan, and we had so many nice interactions. We took back our little empty containers back after one of our meals, and the gentleman said a very good "thank you", which cracked up his wife, since it is probably his only English. We try to say hello and thank you in Mandarin, but I'm never sure if I'm even close to the right sounds, but smiles and facial expressions go a long way.

The forecast for tomorrow is for all-day rain, but we will gear up and see what happens. The day will start with whatever we ordered from our menu card - it was all in Mandarin, and Google translate was pretty sketchy - I think I'm getting the fish omelette. It is an adventure.

An additional note - the poem is on the wall of our room, which had a UK British clock tower theme. I think something was lost in translation.

[dasistleeway]

last meal of our new year's family trip...we took a train back to Hualien city and dined at a local famous Japanese restaurant, run by a chef from Shikoku...the dishes were like the ones I had in my Munich times...

[paulpingminho]

[agoodlife1986]

花蓮 一青苑手工茶殿 @yiqingyuen - 今年3月在中華路上新開幕的創始店，跟老闆聊過才知道，跟原本老闆不同人，只是承接了一芳的設備，前面還規劃了跳房子童趣令人懷舊。 - 楊枝甘露: 最近還滿流行的飲品，採當季芒果冰沙及現切的芒果丁，西米露，特製椰漿，還有營養價值高的葡萄柚果肉，果肉帶點苦是為了中和裡面的甜度，而且這杯還可以調甜度的，有無糖(就是芒果本身的甜)，減糖跟正常三種選擇，我自己是選擇減糖的喝起來剛剛好不會很甜，超級推薦👍👍👍 - 藏(ㄘㄤˊ)香紅茶: 一般無糖是很苦澀的，然而這杯真的不一樣，沒什麼苦澀味還漸漸的很回甘，就好像香氣藏在身體裡面慢慢的跑出來一樣，喝一杯就愛上❤️ - 霸氣芋頭拿鐵: 聽這名字就很霸氣，芋頭是採用大甲得過冠軍的芋頭許，難怪芋頭超濃郁，連要搖動都要多搖幾下才能跟牛奶混合在一起，而且裡面有芋頭顆粒，芋頭控的不能錯過，趕快來喝起來😙 - 楊支甘露75元 藏香紅茶25元 霸氣芋頭拿鐵75元 - ❤️感謝老闆提供5杯 楊枝甘露 抽獎❤️ 🉐抽獎辦法🉐 1⃣追蹤本帳號 @agoodlife1986 及店家帳號 @yiqingyuen 2⃣按讚此篇文❤️ 3⃣底下留言標註一位好友+隨意留言 ⚠️可以重覆留言增加中獎機率，但需要標註不同朋友。 ⚠️5/29 24:00截止留言，三天內抽出中幸運得主。 ⚠️兌換方式憑中獎畫面至現場兌換品項(無需消費)。 - ⏲️1100~2030 🏠花蓮市中華路55號 - #花蓮 #花蓮市 #花蓮市美食 #花蓮美食 #花蓮美食推薦 #花蓮美食地圖 #花蓮飲料 #楊枝甘露 #芋頭牛奶 #飲料 #手搖杯 #花蓮抽獎 #抽獎 #抽獎文 #hualien #hualienfood #yummy #food #yummyfood （在 一青苑手工茶殿） https://www.instagram.com/p/CAgwoKJgKcZ/?igshid=2l7t0l66r0fj

[eat-in-taiwan]

這豬腳 我超可以 #taiwanesefood #food #foodporn #taiwan #chinesefood #dinner #yummy #delicious #tasty #pork #porkknuckle #hualien #rice #hungry （在 大和擂茶舖） https://www.instagram.com/p/BrZ5TsvAxYn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1258k7m6zu7am