Best souvenirs to bring home from Taichung, Taiwan

Taichung is an incredible city that is fast becoming one of Taiwan’s most popular holiday destinations. Here are five of the best locally made souvenirs you can pick up next time you’re in this wonderful west coast city.

Suncake

Ask any Taiwanese person what they want you to bring back from your trip to Taichung, and they will scream ‘Suncakes!’ Yes, it’s the most popular thing you can buy in Taichung (aside from pearl milk tea but who’s taking that on a plane?) but don’t assume that it’s some bland, tasteless cake that people buy simply because it’s the done thing. Suncake is a flaky pastry with a sweet maltose filling but lately, bakeries have been getting quite creative with their fillings, and you can now find a wide variety of flavors. There are dozens of bakeries throughout the city, but perhaps the most famous is Chia Wia Sina. Expect to see long queues at the front door though as this place is incredibly popular. Their Milk SunCake (yes, it’s a thing) was recently voted one of the best souvenirs to take home from Taichung.

Cheese-filled mochi

You’ve probably heard of the sticky and chewy dessert known as mochi, and you may have even tried some with various fillings such as green tea or red bean. It’s highly unlikely though that you’ve tried anything like Paochuan Food Company’s cheese-filled mochi.

It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but then again many of the world’s most delicious snacks started out as a weird combination of two contrasting foods. And this is one of those times when such a strange marriage of ingredients actually works.

Fengyuan lacquer art

Fengyuan in Taichung was once the center of all things lacquer here in Taiwan. In fact, at one point it was said that 99% of the country’s lacquerwares were made in the area. Today, you’ll find that it’s home to the Fengyuan Lacquer Art Museum which is a great place to learn about the history of lacquer art during the Japanese colonial period. It’s also the best place to pick up a locally made piece of lacquerware. From chopsticks to bowls, there are plenty of brightly colored pieces to choose from, and they’re the ideal souvenir for your living room.

Pineapple cakes

Another one of those popular souvenirs that you just can’t leave the city without, pineapple cakes are plentiful in Taichung. The problem is, which ones are the best?

Dawn Cake can probably take that accolade as their pineapple cakes are incredible. They are without doubt the best locally made cakes, and many people consider them to be on a par with, or even better than the more famous Chia Te or SunnyHills cakes.

Waipu wine

Many people laugh at the notion that Taiwan can produce high-quality wines but that’s simply down to a lack of wine-producing history. However, that is all about to change as Waipu winemakers Shu Sheng have won international acclaim for their products. Started back in 2000 by a local farmer and a winemaker, the vineyard is slowly gaining recognition as one of the best producers of wine in Asia, with their wines winning many awards across the globe.

See more: 7 local delicacies you should try in Taichung

Source: Internet

A guide to go shopping in Macau

When you are in Macau and want to indulge in some retail therapy that does not burn a big hole in your pocket, then these are the places you can head to. There is more than shopping in store for you at these spots, so get ready to have lots of fun.

Senado Square Area

For the shopaholics, Senado Square Area is the main bustling area located at the central downtown on the northern side of Av. Almeida Ribeiro. This space is filled with a vast number of stores and food stalls lined up on the streets. This place is mainly known for its high availability of fashionable clothes.

Three Lamps District

The heart of the historic Three Lamps District is where you should be if budget shopping is on your mind. This circle, as well as the streets around it, is packed with small shops, boutiques and street vendors that specialise in inexpensive clothes that are mostly surplus and seconds from major brands. If that is not all, then the Santo Domingo City Market, which is also in the same area, is a great place to go and shop. This is one of Macau’s best places to look for bargains and you will not be disappointed.

Red Market

Red market is a three-storied wet market located at San Antonio. Built in 1936, this place is famous for the wide variety of seafood available which is delivered from the Mainland China. The market opens daily from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM and deals with meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables and flowers and a visit to this place will give a glimpse of the Macau’s daily life.

Grand Canal Shoppes

Macau’s biggest mall and home to the swankiest shops, the Grand Canal Shoppes, has become somewhat of a destination for shoppers from China and all over Asia. Set on the third floor of the Venetian Macau casino – the biggest casino in the world – the shops are lined up along the casino's fantastical Venetian inspired canals. With the canals plied by crooning gondola captains and the whole place decked out in faux Renaissance design, this is a shopping experience worth the experience even if you can’t afford the shopping.

New Yaohan & Macau Landmark

Photo SecretMacau

Settled opposite the reclaimed ferry terminal of the city, New Yaohan is the most popular shopping places in Macau. People head to this place to find a wide range of electronic appliances and camera varieties. Along with this the Macau Landmark is reckoned in the recent years and is one of the best place for shopping in Macau. Travelers can find fashion shops, dining center and entertainment facilities at this part of the town.

Cinema Alegria Night Market

For a different kind of budget shopping experience, head to the weekend night market outside Cinema Alegria. Also known as the Lin Kai Market, this place is known for cheap fabrics and readymade clothes and has a variety of local delicacies to try. It is worth taking a look at as it located close to the Lin Kai Temple and the Cinema Alegria, which itself is an Art Deco structure and the place is full of life, especially on weekends.

Read more: Have you ever tried these local dishes in Macau?

Source Internet

Experience the unique cuisine in Borneo, East Malaysia

Borneo is known for its nature and wildlife, but visitors are often surprised by the wonderful selection of food on offer. While Borneo has similar cultural influences to Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian, Indian, Chinese, the tribes native to the area have also influenced the culinary scene.

Bird’s Nest Soup

Sarawak has a long-standing reputation for producing world-class bird’s nests. Popular with Chinese, local climbers risk life and limb to climb precarious caves to reach the nest of swallows. The saliva is then extracted and dried into pieces before being made into soup.

Satay 

Satay is probably one of Malaysia’s most famous dishes, and for very good reason, it is bloody delicious. You can find good satay pretty much everywhere but we were lucky enough to have our resort’s head chef prepare some us specially. The delicious little sticks of meat, usually chicken or beef, are cooked with handful of spices and lemongrass and then barbecued to give them their unique flavour. They are then served with a scrummy dipping sauce usually made with coconut and peanuts among other things.

Kolok Mee 

Kolok Mee is a unique Chinese dish found only in Sarawak. The noodles are made from eggs, blanched in water and then served in a clear sauce. Small pieces of beef or pork are then drizzled over it. However, you can find variations of this dish today in Kuala Lumpur.

Manok Pansoh 

This is a dish from the Ibans of Sarawak. Pieces of chicken are stuffed into a bamboo tube together with mushrooms, lemongrass and tapioca leaves. It is then cooked over an open fire, the bamboo preserving the taste and fragrance of the ingredients within.

Nasi Goreng

This fried rice dish is again one the most popular dishes to eat and you should come across it in many varieties, usually served with crackers and topped with a fried egg. This can be eaten anywhere from street food stalls to high end restaurants.

Hinava

The Kadazan are responsible for this unique dish which is a form of sushi. Pieces of fresh mackerel, shredded ginger, mango seeds, sliced shallots and red chillies are mixed and drenched in lime juice, which acts as a ‘cooking’ agent. The result is a fragrant dish with a delicious taste.

Sayur Manis

This leafy vegetable was first discovered in the Sabah town of Lahad Datu by a farmer, who found a way to grow the stems into a crunchy texture and give the leaves a tender texture. Today, Lahad Datu is famous for these leafy greens.

See more: Must-try street food in Kuala Lumpur

Souce Internet