I never really understood why the Portuguese referred to Taiwan as Formosa, or “beautiful island.” The pollution, traffic and combined chaotic mess of Taipei and Taichung make you easily forget that Taiwan is, in fact, …
August 25, 2011
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Stories by Lauren Chew
Green Island, Taiwan
A Taste of California in Kenting, Taiwan
If there’s an equivalent to Ocean Beach in Taiwan, it’s Kenting. In Kenting, unpleasant weather is a rarity and swimmers can enjoy the water year round. The mood is relaxed, and almost…Californian. If you’re traveling …
Stopover in Manila, Philippines
You might find yourself in Manila on a stopover on your way to some of the country’s most pristine beaches – or on the way home from Thailand. Whatever your reason, Manila does have some …
July 28, 2011
Kaohsiung: Southern Taiwan
If you have Taipei on your travel agenda, pencil in Kaohsiung as well. Hop on the high-speed rail in Taipei and exactly 2 hours and 15 minutes later, you’re in southern Taiwan, in Taiwan’s second …
June 14, 2011
Bustling Hong Kong
If you enjoy shopping, eating, bustling cities or all of the above, then Hong Kong’s your destination. With towering state-of-the-art skyscrapers and authentic Southern Chinese culture, Hong Kong is the manifestation of East meets West. …
June 2, 2011
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
Sun Moon Lake is located in Central Taiwan, about two hours away via bus from Taichung. It’s the largest freshwater body in Taiwan, and boasts some of the most majestic scenery the country has to …
Underrated Taipei, Taiwan
Many Americans don’t know where Taiwan is or mistake it for its Southeast Asian cousin, Thailand. However, for those of you unsure of Taiwan’s location, you’re missing out. Whether you’re a budget backpacker or a …
Underrated Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most underrated places to visit. I highly recommend you visit this vibrant, animated “city of the future.” Although I visited Seoul in November and froze the entirety of …
November 18, 2010
The "Real" Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, China
Referencing the book The Lost Horizon, the P.R.C. changed this town’s name to Shangri-La (originally called Zhongdian) in order to attract tourism. We arrived after a long, long sleeper bus ride from Kunming, the capital …
Flashy Shanghai, China
Shanghai is an exciting place to visit and live – it’s essentially the New York City of China, where East meets West. It boasts not only one of the most vibrant economic centers, but also …
October 3, 2010