The best budget hotels in Taipei, Taiwan

As one of the more expensive cities to visit in Asia, Taipei is not always at the top of the list for the budget traveler, but this lively city full of culture has a lot to offer the thrifty tourist. And far from being a city full of boutique hotels and five-star establishments, there are more than a few budget-friendly hotels right here in the city. Here are five of the best.

Beauty Hotels Taipei

Beauty Hotels Taipei (Hotel Bchic) is a boutique hotel in a modern tower. With a simple, luxurious design and a fancy vibe, the hotel tries its best to live up to the chic ideal. However, it is still a budget hotel, so you get good value for money still.

It is an eight-minute walk from Songjiang Nanjing MRT Station. The MRT is an interchange, which allows you to easily switch to other train lines. Breakfast is included when you stay at this hotel, but it is not well-reviewed, so you might want to get some street food instead. The rooms are clean and nicely decorated, with art pieces in rooms and cozy wooden flooring. Some people might find the rooms a bit small, but if you do not mind a bit of a squeeze or have lots of luggage, then you will not have an issue. Some rooms come with a whirlpool tub too.

Dandy Hotel Daan

Hotels near Daan Park are usually in a much higher price bracket than this unusually named Dandy Hotel. Here, the focus is on providing as clean and modern a living space as is possible without overcharging guests. The décor is incredible, and the fact that you are in Daan where there are great public transport connections and so many things to do just makes the place an ideal find. Rooms from around TWD2000 (US$65).

Via Hotel

Located right smack in Ximending, a location does not get any more prime than the Via Hotel’s. It is a great location for shopping and exploring all that Ximending has to offer. It is also located near to Ximen MRT Station, so you can explore the rest of Taipei easily from there.

The rooms are cheery, with colorful wallpaper livening up the atmosphere. However, do not that the amenities in the Via Hotel are extremely basic. The wardrobe is just a bar fastened to the ceiling, and the Wi-Fi connection is weak. You might trade in a bit of convenience for the accessibility of the hotel.

CityInn Plus Ximending

This new hotel is right in the heart of one of Taipei’s coolest neighborhoods, Ximending. The entire building is super modern and very well maintained. Some of the rooms feature murals and modern art touches that give CityInn Plus a very chic and stylish feel that often makes guests wonder if the rates they are paying are actually correct. Rooms from around TWD2150 (US$70).

Goodmore Hotel

Located in one of the most trendy neighborhoods in Taipei, Goodmore Hotel is found close to the Shida Night Market which boasts a plethora of street food and retail options. No trip to Taiwan would be complete without a visit to one of its bustling night markets, and Goodmore Hotel is conveniently located 400 meters away from one. On top of that, the Taipei Songshan Airport is also easily accessible from the hotel as it is only 5 kilometers away, not to mention that the hotel offers surcharged shuttle service from the airport.

See more: The most impressive buildings in Taipei, Taiwan

Source Internet

Top Christmas foods in the Philippines

With 80% of the population are Roman Catholic, Philippines is one of the Asian countries that celebrates Christmas the most. Consequently, the country has a lot of traditional dishes for the festive season.

Puto Bumbong

Puto bumbong is an icon in the Filipino Christmas holidays and it’s a breakfast staple for people who go to church to attend the Misa de Gallo, the Catholic mass held during the early mornings before Christmas day.

The dish is a type of purple rice cake that is baked inside a bamboo tube. It is served on a pre-cut banana leaf and then topped with other ingredients like butter, thin strips of coconut, and sugar.

Lechon

Roasted whole pig is no stranger to Filipino celebrations and in Christmas, preparing this very special food makes family members excitedly look forward to Christmas every year. One whole pig can feed an entire family, but the best thing about lechon can be experienced after the holidays.

The leftover roasted pig can be re-cooked and transformed into a Filipino after-holiday favorite: lechon paksiw. Basically, it’s chopped meat that is slow-cooked in the concoction of coconut vinegar, garlic, onion, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Paella

The dish is a reminder of the enduring Spanish influence on Filipino cuisine and festival celebrations. This very special Christmas food, however, is not that easy to make because of its long list of ingredients including fresh seafood.

Preparing paella in earlier times signifies the wealth of a family or clan because the ingredients are usually expensive. While it’s still true nowadays, anyone with the recipe and the ingredients can experience the delectable and unique flavors that paella has to offer.

Queso de Bola

Literally translates as a “ball of cheese”, keso (or queso) de bola is a staple Christmas food for Filipinos all over the country. This particular cheese variety does not have a strong flavor like its other cousins. However, just like other types of cheese, it’s creamy and salty. It also has a unique sweetness to it – and its appearance is also one-of-a-kind: it’s covered in red, edible wax.

Embutido

Embutido is a local name for the Filipino-style meatloaf that is often prepared during special occasions like town fiestas, birthdays, weddings, and most importantly, Christmas. Just like any meatloaf, it is made of ground meat, added with other ingredients like carrots, raisins, cheese, garlic, etc.

Aside from the fact that it is easy to prepare, it does not take a lot of effort to cook embutido (bake or fry). Moreover, several commercial meat vendors even offer pre-made embutido so you won’t go through the hassle of starting from scratch.

Leche Flan

Leche Flan is one of the most popular Filipino desserts and is also a top item in the list of the most delicious Christmas food in the country. It is made with ingredients that you can easily find in the kitchen: eggs, milk, and sugar.

Leche flan is like a Filipino v ersion of the European crème caramel. It is basically an egg custard with a soft caramel on top. Unlike other Filipino desserts, it is easier to make and it usually has a longer shelf-life so it can just be stored in the fridge even after the holidays.

See more: Top 5 popular Christmas dishes in Japan

Source: Internet

The worth-visiting cities in China

A picturesque country full of diverse landscapes, cuisine and culture, China boasts captivating cities that showcase its colorful contrasts, from gleaming skyscrapers to cobbled alleyways. It is a country where you can experience ancient traditions and visit world-class attractions, and spend your time exploring iconic landmarks, meeting pandas and meandering through the quiet countryside. From the Great Wall in Beijing to the UNESCO-listed streets of Lijiang, here are some of the best cities to visit in China.

Shanghai

Shanghai is a city that sprawls and seethes with the energy of more than 24 million people and is one of the world’s largest cities. It gradually increased in importance as a city throughout the dynastic ages of the Song and Ming, but it was under the Qing that it boomed to become the most important trading port on the Yangtze River Delta.

In the present day Shanghai is much the same and the shimmering skyscrapers on the Bund are testament to the city’s trading power. You will still find traces of the old however in the numerous historic buildings and the leafy canals of the French Concession.

Hangzhou

Famed for its natural scenery, Hangzhou and its West Lake have been immortalized by countless poets and artists. In the 13th century Marco Polo described the city as the most beautiful and magnificent in the world. Hangzhou’s most famous sight, West Lake, is a large lake separated by causeways and lined with ancient buildings and gardens designed for relaxation and spirituality. Visitors will find pagodas, temples, walking paths and tea farms along its shores.

Chengdu

Found in the Sichuan province, Chengdu is China’s panda capital. Home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, this city is one of the best places to see these iconic animals.
The research base is dedicated to the breeding and conservation of giant pandas, with a population that has grown from just six in 1987 to over 80 today. And alongside observing them, visitors can learn all about the species at the Giant Panda Museum. Whilst in Chengdu, be sure to check out the city’s tea house culture. The city is also famous for its Sichuan cuisine, so don’t leave without trying a bite or two.

Guilin

Guilin, with its marvelous limestone scenery, is renowned as one of the most beautiful place on earth. On his tour, Former US President Nixon remarked: "I have found that no city can surpass the beauty of Guilin."

Xi’an

Guilin is an hour due west from Hong Kong by air. A tour of Hong Kong can be easily combined with a Guilin tour for visa-free travel.

Xi’an was once the start of the indispensable Silk Road that made commerce between many countries in Eurasia possible. It was also the imperial seat for no fewer than eleven dynasties, before the unification of China between 1000 BC and 1000 AD making it one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Its most famous attractions is the rather recently discovered Terracotta Army, the protectors of the tomb of the first emperor of China. Xi’an also boast 14th century city walls that are more than 12 km (8 miles) long. They are not only a part of the city history, but traveling in Xi’an sometimes requires going under, on or around them.

See more: Top 10 attractions to visit in Xian, China

Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China and a typical big city that never sleeps. With a population of over 21 million, it is slightly smaller than Shanghai, although it is also the political center of the country and home of iconic spots like Tiananmen Square.

One of the big draws here is the fascinating Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived, and you will find opulent ceramics, artwork, fountains and thrones here. The National Museum of China is also located in Beijing and is one of the most acclaimed art institutions in the country.

Source Internet