Autumn in Hokkaido

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 delectable juicy hairy crabs. 

Venturing further is the Otaru canal which is a walkway that’s perfect for strolling in the waterway. A travel hack I can give you is to visit during the evening as lights will be illuminated from ancient old lamps that give you a distinct feeling of aching for a world that isn’t yours. 

Traveling to the southwest of the center of Sapporo, and another one of the interesting places to visit in Hokkaido is Mount Moiwa. It was referred to as "Incarsipe" in Ainu language, meaning: where you always go up and watch, and I could not have found a name more fitting as its peak observatory offers a panoramic view of Sapporo's city lights, which sparkle like polished stones and dot the Ishikari Plain. It’s also regarded as sacred by the residents as they appoint mount Moiwa as the dwelling place of their Gods. They have this cute tradition of ringing the Bell of Joy and attaching a padlock to the railing with a message of love, but honestly, being in Hokkaido and with the company I had with me, I felt like leaving the ringing to others as I was already filled with joy. 

Included in the list were Farm Tomita and Zerubu hill which is truly a sight to behold, as its flower fields made me gape in utter astonishment, because how could something be so perfect and real? It was like someone decided that words are not enough to describe how he sees his lover so he painted this delightful garden in hopes that it’ll reflect what cannot be said.

When you’re in Hokkaido as a tourist, It’s almost a sin to miss out on the Blue Pond. Its unique color looks inviting and gives a mysterious effect that is deemed by locals as spiritual.

 Wanting to bring home a part of Hokkaido with us, we headed to Don Quijote for pasalubongs, and it offered a wide variety of choices. Visit Hokkaido when it’s not peak season (preferable on a Tuesday) for a chance to catch cheap flights. 

My Time at the coastal paradise of Taiwan

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 few thrift stands and it mostly displayed winter clothes which were understandable given the cold weather.

Then we went to the Jiefun old street which was just teeming with life- so many people, so many products, and so many sights to see. It was overwhelming, but it was overwhelmingly good. This was actually the place that the award-winning Studio Ghibli movie spirited away was based on and the real thing is every bit as whimsical as it is on screen- or maybe even more. The food stalls were in no way subtle and attracted all sorts of tourists. The historic lanes of Jiufen are lined with tea houses and coffee shops that offer breathtaking views of the tranquil mountaintop village and Keelung Harbor, and to complete the look, it is decorated with the iconic red lanterns.

The township's name originated from a somewhat peculiar story: There were only nine households living in the area a long time ago. Goods could only be carried by ship because there were no roads connecting it to the rest of the world. Families used to reserve nine pieces of household products to be delivered at once due to the inefficiency of delivery to the region. As a result, the name Jiufen, which means "Nine Portions," stuck. 

Here’s a little travel hack for you, among the abundance of treats and souvenirs, don’t miss out on their taro balls.

The Shifen is pretty much the same but with its own charm as well as it is nestled in an old railway town. It was originally intended to transport coal but is now one of the most popular on the Pingxi rail line. My partner and I lighted a lantern ourselves, and it’s one of our memorable experiences in Taiwan.

 

For anyone who is looking for cheap hotels in Taiwan, because honestly, who wants to burn a hole in their pocket when there’s an option not to, there’s KDM Hotel and Longshan Inn.

Vibrant Hong Kong

Despite it being my fifth time visiting Hong Kong, I have to say that I’ll probably never have enough of this glamorous place. At first glance, Hong Kong is a concrete jungle and a metropolitan paradise, but if you look closer, it’s also a melting pot of culture as the East and West clash together, tied by a booming economy. It’s like the one featured in fictional utopian movies. 

One of the interesting places to visit in this country is Ocean Park Hong Kong. It’s known for its versatility because not only is it an amusement park, but it is also a marine park, an oceanarium, and an animal theme park all in one. If you’re a thrill-seeker, they have different kinds of rides that are sure to make your hair stand on ends. You’ve probably heard of The Flash, it’s the kind of ride that would make your soul ascend earlier than intended. 

While screaming at the top of my lungs as I ride on a monstrous contraption is ideal, I was also content with observing and fawning over the animals the park has to offer, so much so that I wanted to bring a panda home but decided to choose a smaller souvenir instead. 

 Since I've tasted the air of HK myself, I have decided to be generous enough to impart my wisdom to you, a.k.a share travel hacks, because I could be your self-designated fairy godmother on your upcoming Hong Kong trip. If you want the full view then you should place yourself on the summit and the easier way to do that is by riding a cable car. Riding on Ngong Ping 360 on Lantau Island with the love of my life rewarded us with a glimpse of the Tian Tan Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery from up above. 

Then we also headed to the Peak, and the nightlife offered us nothing less than the dazzling scenery of Hong Kong’s beautiful skyline. It was easy to get lost in the moment of blinding lights and looming skyscrapers. 

It’s not a surprise that despite this being my fifth time in Hong kong, I still find myself in the magical land of Disney. There’s just no end to dreaming and Disneyland is where dreams come true. There was just so much to see- different animated and movie characters, planetariums, another set of animals and rides, and creative halls that were perfect for storytelling. There’s also Tomorrowland which is one of the most popular attractions. At one point, we joined in the fun and couldn’t help ourselves from riding a space carrier and having our pictures taken beside Iron Man. There was also a boat ride on what seems to be an amazon jungle and oh how thrilling it was to see an explorer’s camp! There were several palaces, most of them painted in colors of pastel. 

When in South Korea

With all of the hype the K-drama industry is getting, and rightfully so, South Korea should definitely be on every travel junkie’s bucket list. Here are some best places in Korea that we visited.

The DMZ border. famous from the movie Crash Landing on You

For K-drama fanatics or movie enthusiasts, you may have seen it once, twice, or more than your fingers can count. Nami Island is where characters fall in love and have nature and several strangers, as their witnesses- only to eventually break apart, wallow in the memories made in that place, and go back to Nami Island to reunite. It's a sappy narration, but that's the magic of Nami Island- it makes you endlessly, hopelessly, romantic. 

            

 

 

Personally, I think there’s no such thing as the ‘’best’’ time to visit this place because it doesn’t fall short on any of its four seasons- it’s equally stunning in all of them. But here’s a little travel hack for you, if you want to join in on lively and exciting festivals, you might want to consider visiting during Autumn or Spring and witness the Gingko Tree Lane light up in all its golden splendor.                                    

Our next stop was Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is one of the royal gems built during the Joseon Dynasty. It may be a palace, but it isn't too ostentatious. The overall simplicity of the place is actually grounding, and not to mention how it is deeply connected to nature makes you want to meditate on-site despite the giddy feeling of being a first-time tourist. While it lacked in grandiose display in wealth, the historical value it brings is rich. When we visited there, half the ground was covered with white, pristine, snow.

The place was sprawled with pavilions, villas, intimidating-looking gates, and a crown hall, A CROWN HALL that I may just well be transported in the past with how much preservation the place has for its traditional form. It's not that I didn't consider the possibility of freezing to death as something plausible with how many pictures we took under the low temperature, but at least I get to tell people that I walked the same grounds as the former Kings and Queens of  South Korea.

I've also read somewhere that those who appear in traditional costume don’t have to pay any entrance fee, and I might just try it the next time I visit.

Then we visited Lotte World, and the place was filled to the brim with magic that it loosened the inner child in us. There were just so many colors and enchanted characters that it was inevitable to gush in excitement. There were also various rides to choose from-all set to give you the kind of thrill you want.

Having the urge to experience their culture first-hand, we tried our luck on kimchi-making because of course, a trip wouldn’t be complete if one did not have a taste of the best food that the place could offer so my friends and I enthusiastically tried their version of Kimchi, Samgyup and, various street foods.