The best souvenirs to buy in Taichung, Taiwan

Taichung is an incredible city that is becoming one of Taiwan’s most popular holiday destinations. With so many things to see and do it is perfect for a short weekend trip. But what kind of souvenirs can you buy that are uniquely local? Here are five of the best locally made souvenirs you can pick up next time you are in this wonderful west coast city.

Suncake

Mentioning suncake naturally reminds people of Taichung. It is almost like the synonym for Taichung. In earlier times, suncake was all hand-made typically with maltose as filling, with thin pastry skin, good smell and easily melts in your mouth; the keys to the fabulous taste of suncake. Due to the interest in health care in recent years, many pastry shops began to replace animal shortening, which is usually the material oil of suncakes, to vegetable ones and also further invented many lighter flavors for suncakes.

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 will find that it is 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 is 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 are the ideal souvenir for your living room.

Waipu Wine

Many people laugh at the notion that Taiwan can produce high-quality wines but that is 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.

Pineapple Cakes

Another one of those popular souvenirs that you just cannot 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.

Cheese-Filled Mochi

You have 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 is highly unlikely though that you have tried anything like Paochuan Food Company’s cheese-filled mochi.

It does not 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.

Read more: Take a trip to Taichung

Source Internet

Best foods you have to try in the Philippines

Cuisine is one of the things that Filipinos take pride in the most as their foods are always rich in flavour and variety in ingredients. The 10 dishes below are definitely what you should try if you have the chance to visit the Philippines.

Adobo

No list of the top 10 Filipino foods can begin without the famous Adobo on top. The unofficial Philippines national food is made with pork or chicken simmered in soy sauce and vinegar with loads of black pepper and crushed garlic. Adobo is one of the few dishes in the Philippines with local origins as it was given the Spanish name later. This lip-smacking dish is as Filipino as you can get, and it goes with nothing else but rice. Every family in the Philippines has its own way of cooking adobo, so it might taste a little different from place to place.

Lumpia

Feel like tasting Filipino dishes for lunch? Try Lumpia. Influenced by Chinese cuisine, this dish is a delicious deep-fried spring roll. The roll is stuffed with a mixture of chopped vegetables and minced meat. Combined with the right sauces, it is the most scrumptious dish you will ever have for lunch. This is definitely a traditional Filipino dish after trying which, you will never look at spring rolls the same way again. It is a major part of Philippines food culture.

Inasal

Do you love roast chicken? Then you are in for a treat! The Visayan islands’ residents have perfected the dish, and you will never taste anything like Inasal. Marinated in ginger, lemongrass, and calamansi juice, the chicken is roasted over fire and basted with annatto oil. Served with rice, soy sauce dip, and sometimes liquid chicken fat, Inasal is definitely one of the Philippines food items one shouldn’t miss at all.

Pancit

This is another one of the most delicious Philippines foods influenced by Chinese cuisine. This simple dish is a combination of noodles and whatever meat or vegetables you want to add. Pancit is a name that originated from the Hokkien term ‘pian e sit’, which means ‘something conveniently cooked.’ It might be simple but it is rich with flavor and you will definitely love every bite of it.

Sinigang

Often associated with tamarind, Sinigang is a Philippines traditional food that is sour and savory. The dish is a stew made with spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, ginger, and fish sauce. You can choose the meat you want to make the dish with pork, beef, fish, or shrimp. No matter which one you choose, the result is always a mouthwatering stew served with rice or eaten on its own as soup.

Chicharon

Brought to the Philippines from Andalucia in Spain, chicharon is a dish of deep-fried pork crackling. It is quite similar to the chicharron of Mexico – crunchy rectangles of deep-fried pork rinds. In the Philippines, chicharon is dipped in coconut vinegar instead of salsa. This dish is one of the most popular Philippines foods to eat as a snack with beer. Over the years, locals have experimented with the dish, creating new variations. But nothing comes close to the original chicharon.

Lechon

When it comes to popular Philippines food items present at every special occasion, lechon is probably one of the top ones. This is another dish with Spanish influence and no fiesta in the country is complete unless there is enough lechon for everyone. This dish is roast suckling pig that is cooked to perfection. Everyone loves the delicious crunchy skin. If you want to taste one of the most popular authentic Filipino dishes, you should definitely look for a place that serves traditional lechon.

See more: Explore typical breakfast in the Philippines

Source: Internet

Where to go shopping in Kochi, India

Kochi or Cochin, popularly known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea” is a beautiful city in Kerala on the western Malabar Coast of India. The city cherishes Mother Nature and is definitely a traveler’s paradise! The straddling backwater, the coconut groves, shopping destinations and the authentic Kerala cuisine will definitely make you trip to Kochi again and again. If you are planning a trip to Cochin, here is out guide to shopping in Kochi.

M G Road

The most important commercial center in Cochin is at the M.G road, which is short for Mahatma Gandhi road. Here, you can buy stuff ranging from clothes to cosmetics to knick-knacks. The road is lined with small and big shops and many shops selling spices which are among the best places to shop in kochi.

The most popular items that are bought by tourists are handicrafts, spices and nuts. In handicrafts, the most commonly used raw materials are coir, brass, copper, bamboo, etc. Kairali Emprium at M G Road is one of the best place to shop for artifacts, clothes and crafts which are all typical to Kerala. A Kathakali mask makes a nice souvenir and comes in small, medium and large sizes and is available at Kairali Emporium. You can also look at large retail showrooms like Seematti, jayalakshmi Silks and Chennai Silks to get a taste for fashion and the finest quality sarees and other exquisite range of clothes and fabrics.

Lulu Mall Kochi

This biggest mall in India (in terms of land area) is undoubtedly the one-stop destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment in Cochin and definitely comes in the top of the list of shopping malls in Kochi. The Lulu Mall Kochi houses a wide range of national and international fashion and merchandise outlets like Zodiac, William Penn, Wills Lifestyle, Creyate etc. The Lulu Mall food court is exceptionally huge and can seat 3000 persons at a time. Other than western fast food, LuLu Mall Kochi has Vazhayila, Anjappar and Doner Kabab for those with a desi palette.

Bazaar Road

Running from Fort Cochin to Mattancherry, this two kilometer stretch of road is where Kerala’s commodities are sold. This is a narrow section of road filled with tiny open-fronted shops advertising wholesale, retail or commission sales. Green cardamom, Pepper, Cinnamon, brown cardamom, cloves, bay leaf and other unique things to buy in Kochi are all on offer in the shops here. Try and pick well-sealed packets rather than open spices as the vacuum packed spices will keep fresh longer.

There are many shops along Bazaar Rd, selling spices, pulses etc and is much cheaper to buy here than in Jew Town, where everything is more tourist-orientated. Some are actually whole-salers, but there are plenty shops selling small quantities of spices as well.This is also best option to buy great souvenirs to carry back from Kerala.

Oberon Mall

Oberon Mall is the first full format Mall in Kerala with Multiplex theatre, indoor gaming zone and one of the largest glass domes in South India and is among the most happening shopping malls in kochi. The mall houses shops that offer branded wear and other items, apart from food courts and amenities for children to play.

Marine Drive

One can get an amazing collection of readymade items and cotton items on the Marine Drive road and the GCDA shopping compleX. One great thing about shopping in Cochin is that there are many varieties of cotton clothes that would fetch high prices in Western shops. This means that a lot of them make it onto market stalls in Cochin and with a bit of clever bargaining and ‘bundling’ you will get some great buys for a fraction of what they would cost back in your country. There are many fast food joints and cafes on the roadside and one can always stop there to munch on some eatables while on your shopping spree.

Read more: 10 most beautiful states to visit in India

Source Internet