Tainan in Southwestern Taiwan is a historic city/county. Its where the Dutch set up their colony in Taiwan and where the Qing Dynasty established the island’s capital when they took it over from the Dutch. The city has many important historic sites from the Dutch Colonial Era, the Qing Dynasty and Japanese Colonial Era. It…
Culinary BackStreets of Taipei: Street Food Guide to Old Taipei 老台北美食懶人包
Intro Ever since moving back to Old Taipei nearly 11 years ago, I have come to rediscover it and have gained a newfound appreciation and understanding of this area of Taipei. Not only is my own history deeply rooted here, so is Taiwan’s. As I left home for college, work and my travels, every time…
Taitung Food Guide: Where and What To Eat in Taitung, Taiwan 台東美食懶人包
This is not a full travel guide to Taitung, but rather a food guide as I find many people ask and wonder what exactly is there to eat here? This is a high level summary of mostly places I have been, taken by local folks or folks who have since lived here for years. Finally,…
Guide to Green Island, Taiwan
I have just returned to the United States, sadly, after spending a wonderful 6.5 months back in Taiwan as a COVID refugee. During my time home, I was able to expand my Taiwanese horizons and visit many new places. Taiwan has been a COVID safe haven and domestic travel this year has boomed. One such…
Review: JL Studio, Modern Singaporean Cuisine in Taichung, Taiwan
Intro As mentioned in my prior two posts, this trip back to Taiwan has been a massive culinary adventure. While AKAME may be my #1 now, another restaurant not in Taipei is high up on my list and may be #2 but definitely top 5. That is JL Studio in Taichung, Taiwan. I had read…
Review: Sinasera 24, Changbin, Taitung, Taiwan
Intro As mentioned in my previous post on AKAME in Pingtung, Taiwan, on this trip back home I have traveled outside of Taipei to dine at a few restaurants. Another one is a full destination restaurant: Sinasera 24. What I mean by that is that you go there for the meal but you also stay…
Review: AKAME, Contemporary Indigenous Taiwanese; Best in Taiwan?
Intro Ever since I returned to Taiwan in March of this year to take refuge, I have been eating nearly nonstop. From new and old favorite street stalls and hole in the walls. To attempting to eat at most of the new haute/ tasting/ creative type restaurants that have popped up in the last 4-5…
Review: Lunch at El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
In March 2020, precariously right before COVID-19 hit Europe and the Americas real hard, I ventured to Barcelona, Spain. Why Barcelona when Spain’s cases were on the rise? Well, at the time the recorded official cases were around 500-600 centered around Madrid and most importantly I figured it was worth the risk because….upon calling, I…
Review: The American Bar and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London
In early February I decided to go for a weekend to revisit London. I had visited once before in 2010 and at the time I recall I felt the stereotype that London lacks good food was true. But I noticed in the years since the London food scene seems to have changed, the city itself…
Weekend in County Cork, Ireland with Jameson Distiller’s Apprentice Tour
Over the three day President’s Day Weekend in February I opted to head to Ireland for the first time. But I opted to got Cork instead of the usual Dublin. Did not regret my decision at all. Now, despite arriving at the tail end of Storm Dennis, I still thoroughly enjoyed Cork and all the…
Exuma, Bahamas: Not so eco-friendly mass tourism
Over the three day Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Weekend in January 2020 my friend and I ventured to Exuma Island in the Bahamas. This was my first time in the Bahamas. Exuma is home to the famed swimming pigs, excellent dive sites, and unfortunately, the now infamous Fyre Festival debacle. I was excited as…
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class CX806 HKG – ORD
Intro In January 2020, which feels like it as a different lifetime ago now, I made a quick trip back to Asia. For my return back to the states I found some last minute award bookings for Cathay Pacific First Class on a few Hong Kong to North America routes. Cathay Pacific first class has…
