Hokkaido, being in the northernmost of Japan's four main islands, is constantly covered by a blanket of coldness. The abundance of nature is clearly seen with the sprawling volcanoes, mountains, and national parks. When we went there, there was a stretch of the countryside view accompanied by a drizzle that had us tightening our winter clothes. The livelihood of Hokkaido might have centered around agriculture, but it also has its own industrial and commercial centre, as Sapporo is one of its cities that equally lures many tourists as the rest of its counterparts. The Odori park, is truly one for entertainment, with snow sculptures and endless food stalls adorning its wide expanse. It’s colorful and festive in every sense and filled with children’s glee as they go down the ice slides. There’s also the Sapporo TV Tower which is home, not only to the iconic Sapporo beer but also to some stunning ski resorts in its outskirts. A permanent staple in their local menu includes the delect
Having been placed in the middle of the ocean, Taiwan’s culture- although diverse, still mostly leans towards conservative and traditional. The preservation of its history seen through every nook and cranny of the island is one of the reasons that compelled me to go back the second time around. The view of the coast, the distinct taste of its local food, and everything in between. There are a lot of interesting places to visit in Taiwan and our first stop was Taipei 101. The Taipei 101 is a super skyscraper in Taipei's commercial center that functions as a modern technological hub, a tourist attraction, and an office structure all at the same time. Standing at the observation deck, the scenery of minuscule modern buildings was a great contrast to the rest of Taiwan’s ancient structures. Other than the view on top, we also explored its mall and the marketplace houses a wide variety of goods-from designer products to different types of cuisine. Outside the mall, we stumbled into a fe