5 eco activities you can take part in in Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan is well known for its rich culture, museums, and food. What most people do not realize, though, is that since it is very close to mountains, rivers and the ocean, there are lots of things to do in Taipei for people who enjoy outdoor activities.

Yangming Shan national park

It is such a big mistake for those missing out Yangming Shan national park. Yangming Shan is one of eight biggest national parks of Taiwan that has volcanic terrain together with peaceful valleys and diverse fauna.

It is more amazing for people fancy seeing live lava action, or maybe waiting for live lave action. The park covers a huge area over 11 hectares with more than 20 vocalnos rising up from 200 to 1,200 meters from sea level.

If you are lucky enough, you can join in the Calla Lily flower festival which is held annually in spring. The festival hosts outstanding displays of flowers all over the world.

Beitou Geothermal valley

Beitou Geothermal valley is a must-visit place in your trip to Taipei. This place belongs to Xinbeitou park and well renowned for hot streams. The amazing temperature of water makes tourists entering Xinbeitou park feel as they are going to a fairy land because of the ethereal mist rising up from the hot water. Take a beautiful and easy walk of the valley, there are unexpected gems waiting for you to explore.

The Tea Plantations at Maokong

Maokong, a suburb in southeast Taipei, is another spot where you can get away for a day without leaving the city.
The area is known for four things including the Maokong Gondola, which you can ride to the top for just $2 USD, its hiking trails, the tea plantations that checker the mountainside, and the numerous tucked-away teahouses, many of which have balconies overlooking the emerald green mountainside.

Wulai

Located in the north of Taipei, Wulai is such a great treat for an eco-journey. You can view high mountains along the intersection of 2 main rivers Nanshi and Tonghou. The most spectacular of Wulai is hot springs where local people often take time to get there for a refreshing break after days of working.

This mountaineous village is also a favorite destination of photographers for its marvelous waterfall. If you go further, there is an aboriginal culture center acrossing Wulai waterfall. Its aim is to introduce the aboriginal culture, customs and habits of Atayal Tribe. Be sure to check out the performance of aboriginal people. The show is much loved and highly recommended to many people.

Yehliu Geo park

Yehliu Geo park hosts a variety of distinctive geological formations in which Queen's head is the most iconic part. Besides, there are two other spectacular rock sections as Fairy's Shoe and Candle.
The place offers a lovely visual counterpoint to a particular scenery comprising sea trenches and magnificiant rock forms. An easy wander around Yehliu is the best way to take delight in the serene beauty of the smooth peaks and refresh atmosphere. When the Chinese long for geological study and field research, they drive to Yeliu. To hang out or have a hipster-ish photo-shoot, Yelui is always what you should not miss.

Read more: Taipei travel guide

Source Justgola

Discover 4 famous traditional markets in South Korea

Traditional markets in Korea offer a variety of unique scenes every day. Marketplaces bustle with life, activities, and the voices of vendors bargaining with customers. These traditional markets provide a livelihood for many Koreans.

Vendors serving customers no matter the weather, the culture of “deom” (adding additional items to the purchase for no extra charge), and affectionate haggling are a few of the unique aspects of the Korean marketplace culture.

Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market

Established after the liberation in 1945, Dongmun Market continues to maintain its traditional heritages but took several different looks in order to maintain a welcoming environment for visitors from inland as well as countries overseas. The market holds prestigious name for providing freshest ingredients caught right from the Jeju's seashores, therefore the market is always abundant with seafood and restaurants specializing in the dish. Being one of the most popular traditional markets in Jeju, Dongmun also serves the region's specialty items such as omegi-tteok (Jeju traditional millet ball cake), gogi-guksu (noodle soup with meat), hallabong (large tangerine with a protruding stem), diver's gears and countless more at inexpensive prices.

See more: Top unbeatable dishes in Jeju Island

Chuncheon Romantic Market

Chuncheon Romantic Market (formerly called Jungang Market) is a traditional market in Chuncheon that sells hanbok, bags, shoes, clothes, electronic appliances, jewelry, and food. The market's modern look is a product of a development project that started in 2002. The market also takes steps to attract more visitors by organizing various events and programs.

Gyeongju Jungang Market

Recommended for one of the top destinations to go, the Jungang Market in Gyeongju was officially open in 1983. Nearly 700 stores selling clothing, oils, rice cakes, vegetables, general household goods, and other local specialties, the place has been successfully operating for more than hundreds of years. The market is held every fifth day, on 2nd and 7th day of each month, therefore visitors are advised to check and confirm the dates in advance.

Jeonju Nambu Traditional Market

Jeonju is famous for a handful of attractions as it hosts the annual Jeonju International Film Festival, and presents beautiful villages filled with traditional charms. In addition to these, another place highly recommended visiting for local and international visitors alike is the city's Nambu Traditional Market. This commercial area was recently added with youthful energy accompanied by Cheongnyeon (Youth) Mall's. It was first introduced in 2011 for the purpose of the city's continuous growth and fostering cultural development. Now tourists can not only enjoy delicious kongnamul-gukbap (bean sprout and rice soup) here but impressive changed made by ardent young entrepreneurs.

See more: Jeonju, a charming city in South Korea

Source VisitKorea

What to know about Tet, Vietnamese New Year

Tet is by far the biggest celebration in Vietnam. Every year, millions of people fly, drive and float their way back to their hometowns to spend quality time with their friends and families. The meals are big, the songs are loud, and everyone is in a good mood. Vietnamese people wait all year for this, but what is Tet?

Technically, "Tet" is a shortened form of Tết Nguyên Đán, a way to say "Lunar New Year" in Vietnamese.

Tet is seen as a chance for a fresh start. Debts are settled, old grievances are forgiven, and houses are cleaned of clutter, all to set the stage for attracting as much luck and good fortune as possible in the upcoming year.

The basics

The Tet holiday coincides with the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls sometime around the end of January, or the beginning of February. Generally speaking, Tet is a time to dish out the spoils from a prosperous year, to bring good fortune through generosity. In the months leading up to the holiday, people work long hours to pay for lavish gifts and celebrations. But it is time spent with family and friends that makes Tet so special.

Traditions

The first day of Tet is meant to be for immediate family. Parents and grandparents hand out lucky money to their children and grandchildren, usually cash gifts in red envelopes, which is the color of luck. For kids, this means it is time to load up on new toys and snacks. After the immediate family, it is time to celebrate with friends and neighbors.

Fruits of Tet: "Mam Ngu Qua"

The "five-fruit tray" on the ancestral altar during the Tet Holidays symbolizes the admiration and gratitude of the Vietnamese to Heaven and Earth and their ancestors and demonstrates their aspiration for a life of plenty. The five fruits represent the quintessence hope that Heaven and Earth bless humans. It demonstrates a Vietnamese percept of life, "When taking fruit, you should think of the grower".

Flowers of Tet

Coming to Vietnam during the season of the Tet festival, the visitor is engulfed in an ocean of colorful flowers. Visiting flower shows, contemplating the buds and blooms, and purchasing blossoms represents one of the distinct Vietnamese cultural characteristics. The peach (in the North) and the apricot blossoms (in the South) are symbols of the Vietnamese Tet. The warm pink of the peach could very well match the dry cold of the North, but the hot South seems to be flourishing in the riot of the yellow of the apricot. The mandarin is symbolic of good fortune. Therefore, people tend to choose the little plants with verdant leaves which are laden with large, orange fruit for a longer display.

Food

The most famous snack associated with Tet is Banh tet or Tet cake which is sticky rice, mung bean and pork, boiled inside a leaf. Roadside carts selling these cylindrical green bundles pop up everywhere as the holiday approaches. Just the sight of a bicycle loaded with Tet cakes gets people excited, because it means their favorite holiday is almost here.

Read more: Vietnam's traditional foods during Tet

Families also have large fruit trays in their homes, featuring plums, bananas, pomelos and tangerines. The more fruit, the better. They are symbolic of fertility in the upcoming year. No fruit means no babies. Dried fruit is also a popular snack to give to children during the holiday, along with peanut brittle and coconut candies.

The most joyous part of Tet, though, is the meals. They are huge, delicious, and the room is typically full of laughter. People who have not seen each other in months catch up and share stories, drinking a lot of beer and liquor in the process. Do not be surprised if you hear families still going strong in the very early hours of the morning.

Learn these words, because you will be hearing and saying them a lot should you find yourself in Vietnam during Tet.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! (Happy New Year!)
Pronounced: Chook Mung Nam Moi!

Source Internet