Taipei, Taiwan: Day 2

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This is Day 2 of the Taipei series. Today’s theme was “enjoy nature’s beauty”. We hiked at Yangmingshan’s Erziping Trail, relaxed at Beitou Hot Springs, then enjoyed a romantic sunset at Fisherman’s Wharf and Lovers Bridge. Spur of the moment dinner at a local restaurant was awesome. + Night drinks

After the travel day, this is our first full day in Taipei. Woke up in the early morning to take the metro to Yangmingshan National Park. Let me tell you, it’s a tizzy doing this the cheapo way. We got off at Beitou MRT station and hopped on bus 230 that’ll take you up the mountain. It’s not over once you get off, you’ll actually take ANOTHER bus (bus 108) which will take you to the hiking trails. This wasn’t convenient and no one explained anything to us. Luckily there was a 7-11 and you can have a snack before hopping on the transfer bus. I’m pretty sure though there’s a better bus to take – and we missed it.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day. There’s a few different hiking trails but I took the Easy Erziping since I’m a novice and really just wanted to escape the city!

Fun facts: Yangmingshan is one of nine national parks in Taiwan. Yamingshan Mountain is actually a dormant volcano so that’s why there’s a lot of sulphur (which I thought were just ordinary clouds passing me by but in fact were sulphuric clouds!). No wonder it kinda smelled.

i.was.tricked.            There was a misleading sign that told me it will only take 0.2km but in actually it was 1.8km. I think it was 0.2km to the next sign post. And since it was a warm day, I felt my skin slowly burning. Remember to bring sunblock, shades, and umbrella/light jacket! I had my trusty lightweight jacket to keep me….in a sauna =/ It felt I was in a sauna.

tricked I tell ya

Nice view. Would I do it again? Maybe not.

Finding our way down, I’m thinking spent about 7 hours (including traveling from hotel). Let’s say 5 once you reach the MRT, hike, and back down. It's a day trip!

But there’s enough sunlight so we carried on to the next destination.

Stop 2: Beitou Hot Springs

One MRT stop over, you’ll reach the hot springs area. Tourist guides made it sound so awesome, but I felt let down. Maybe if I ventured off higher up the hill, but I was too exhausted at this point. Guys, the hot spring “pools” were nothing like I imagined. It wasn’t that dreamy hot springs like you imagine from Japanese anime. Of course now, we’re in Taiwan not Japan. So I detoured to the restroom and ran out. Especially when creepy old locals stared at me hungrily because I’ll be in the pools with them. No way!

Stop 3: Fisherman’s Wharf & Lovers Bridge

Getting off at Danshui MRT stop, take bus R26 to fisherman’s wharf. It reminds me so much of home (Long Beach, CA represent!). When I was young, I use to go to shoreline every weekend and this totally reminisce. It was a good ending to the day. Relaxing breeze and spotting couples and families enjoy the evening. But you know what…I’m hungry!

Stop 4: Danshui area

We had dinner at a local restaurant and milk tea from Milk Shop. Highly recommend Milk Shop! There’s many other things you can do here like the night market and old district. I was too tired so we headed back to the hotel.

After walking over 11km, got in MY hot tub and spritzers at the hotel. AaaHhHH hotel lux ;)

Preview: city touring ahoy

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XoXo V

* Sunny Up with V *

If you would like me to visit your place, let me know! I’m more than happy to check out and eat your delicious food =)

Taipei, Taiwan: Day 1

Hi All,

I’ve been traveling and working a plenty since we last met. It’s just that these days people are vblogging (OR do they just call it vlogging???) and I felt so out dated. With my fancy iPhone (that takes super cool photos and make simple videos), I am now welcomed into the YouTube community. Please don’t forget to follow me there! Still learning how to put in music, voice overs, texts and stuff….but always great learning something new.

With that being said, I’m not abandoning my blogdom. I LOVE to express myself through writing. I’ll continue to update both kingdoms.

For starters, I’ll be showing you around my latest travel: TAIPEI, TAIWAN.

It all started on NYE while sipping my patron and eating spaghetti at home. I had a 4-day weekend and literally had no party plans. So I started looking up videos of potential places to visit for 2017. Mostly, getting ideas from my k-variety shows. Low and behold, I came across soooo many videos telling me Taipei is a food mecca that I had to make a pilgrimage.

Salivating, I tantalized other friends to join my “World walking tour”.

Over the next few blogs will be about the days I spent there.

Day 1: jetting to Taipei

First day started with a mid-day flight to TPE on Eva Air. We picked this particular flight since it was the only non-stop one. Albeit more expensive, it saved us time than to trek our butts on a bus via Saigon to Taipei.

Arrived early evening and found the airport metro to take to the Taipei Main Station. I generally like to take the metro as oppose to a taxi since it’s cheaper. By far, this was the CHEAPEST transportation I’ve ever taken from an airport to main station. SERIOUSLY, probably like ONE DOLLAR. Where can you find a deal like that??? Another +, it came so often (like 15 minutes).

A qualm I had was about arriving at main stations are that they’re so huge. Literally you can get lost (more on that later). That’s why I say you should take a picture of the maps so you can find your way. We were at the airport metro station, which is different from the city metro, or metro to other cities, or bus terminals. So be careful when you’re at Taipei Main Station! I think it’s better that you walk outside to get your bearing.

Our hotel was a bit of a walk from the station but fairly easy to find. The reason we picked our hotel is 1. New 2. Size 3. Free snacks 4. Gorgeous interior decorating. I LOOOOOOVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE IT! There were free snacks 24/7 (instant noodles, drinks, candies, crackers, coffees, yummy yum yums). I felt so cool being in the lobby.

After dropping our luggage we headed to Shilin Night Market. Why? Because I heard it was the best night market. Somehow, we didn’t find a lot of street vendors. We were told it all went underground, but I wasn’t really excited by anything there. Bummer.

We had the:

• Milk tea with boba pearls: since we didn’t buy at a popular place, it tastes bland. I got fooled by all the Chinese characters, thinking it was somewhere famous
• Beef cubes: it’s just regular steak
• Huge chicken cutlet: juicy on the inside, otherwise, typical
• Fried oyster pancake made from eggs
• Stinky tofu: dude, I heard people saying it’s nasty/it’s delicious/it’s like socks….I took one really small bite in my mouth. Didn’t even swallow it, just hitting the tip of my tongue, and I had to gag it out. That’s not like socks or anything I’ve ever had. It was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever had. I rather eat DURIAN than STINKY TOFU. I don’t know what Andrew Zimmerman is talking about.
• Korean chicken with cheese: don’t ask me why we had Korean chicken in Taiwan. Can’t resist cheese.
• Lime drink: perfect sourness to cut all the fat
• Ramen: this was across the street from Shilin Night Market. We got too hungry and had to grab something to eat.

Interesting game: playing mahjong with the stall owner. If you win, you get a prize. The stall owner must be very talented to play 5-7 games at the same time. Also, lots of trust.

What you need to know: English is in most places but knowing Chinese makes everything sooooooo much easier. Trust me, find a friend.

Line etiquette: I’ve been to many countries and I was super impressed here. They drew lines so that you know where to wait and get on the metros. The kicker is: everyone followed the rule. There was no cutting, no pushing, no sliding through while others getting out.

What am I doing in the last picture: pretending to be a flute player. As we walked in the super quiet metro labyrinth back to the hotel, the closed shops had murals on them. I decided to re-enact them. Falling quite a few things doing this musically yoga pose.

Food: I felt jilted by the whole food mecca thing. Of course there were lots of street foods at the night markets, but I just didn’t feel satisfied like Bangkok, Thailand. More on that in blogs to come.

How to get to Shilin Night Market? Contrary to what you might thing, get off at Jintian station! Trust me, puts you at the end of Shilin so you can work your way in a methodical manner.

PREVIEW for days to come:

Mochi: Walked like 10 kms/miles to find THE fresh mochi. Mainly 1. It was night time 2. Getting lost from poor directions people gave online 3. Rained so hard and had no umbrella 4. Explored underground metro tunnels even in the deep and spooky zones that no one could be found.

Juifen: loved feeling like I was in Spirted Away.

Follow me!

YouTube channel: Charming V YouTube Channel

YouTube vid link: Taipei, Taiwain - Day 1 vid

Blog: https://vonionlife.blogspot.com/

Thank you for the support! Please follow me 0=)

Let me know your thoughts. Shout it out in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

XoXo V

* Sunny Up with V *

If you would like me to visit your place, let me know! I’m more than happy to check out and eat your delicious food =)

One More Restaurant: delicious Cambodian and Thai food

Hi All,

It’s almost Khmer New Year! 

It’s one of the few times in the year that people spend with their family. Enjoying festivities and food, it’s always a great way to pass the time. Cambodian (as well as Thai and other neighboring countries) new year coincide with the harvest season (agriculture). We don’t follow Western January 1^st new year, but I still do countdown here. I’m not going to explain what Khmer New Year is, so you can refer to wiki for more information (KNY). 

So this is a perfect time for you try out One More Restaurant if you’re staying in Phnom Penh for the holidays. Then again, it’s so affordable, you can come any time. I went on a Sunday evening.

As saying goes “don’t judge a book by it covers”, I really try hard to keep an impartial mind to everything. But it’s human nature to be bias sometimes – whether dealing with race, gender, culture, social, etc. And looks can be quiet deceiving in Phnom Penh.

It’s a really beautiful building. I drove by once or twice but was intimidated because I thought it was a fancy coffee shop or expensive restaurant. Also, I couldn’t read the name since it was in Khmer. On Sunday, I finally stopped and asked the security what kind of place it was. He recommended me to try so I took his advice.

I’m glad I did. It’s really tasty. Price point = within range with other restaurants [green means go go go!]

Pros:

+ Nice setting, can even be romantic. Private rooms available on second floor for parties or large gatherings.

+ Food and services are excellent. However, they need more wait staff.

+ Parking

+ Close to home and no need to travel far.

Ambiance: Great, I have no complaints. Plating, tables, even down to the little box which the receipt came in are made from wood or palm.

Service: Traditional clothing and attentive staff. The night I went they were short-handed but it may be due to the holidays.

Taste: Loved the taste. Solid Cambodian and Thai flavors.

Menu: extensive! In fact, I felt overwhelm with the number of dishes they had. It feels too much, especially not all of them had pictures.

Parking: No issue.

Pro Tip: PpppSsssTttt If you bring more people, you can try more dishes. We ordered 3 dishes for 2, and that was toooo much. I really want to try more dishes next time.

What I enjoyed:

• FREE appetizer: clams

Nothing to complain since it’s free =)

• Stir-fried chicken with cashew $5.50

A good portion of stir-fried sweet and sour chicken with cashews, bell peppers and onions. The chicken was sort-of deep fried and the chicken meat so little. It’s an average dish that plays safe. If you want to play safe.

• Deep fried fish cake $6.90

6 mini patties of fish cake that’s handmade. I thought it was a bit chewy but I still enjoyed it.

• “Kor Koo” fish soup with assorted vegetables $6.50

This is an authentic Cambodian soup that’s loaded with a ton of vegetables (green leafy veggies) and prohok. Prohok is made from fermented fish. It’s a very healthy dish. We had the small size but four servings and still flowing. Recommended Cambodian dish for anyone to try.

• Dessert: sticky rice with durian $2.50 (not pictured)

At first I thought it was too expensive compared to other desserts. But, it had a lot of durian so well worth the price. Not overly sweet and quite indulgent.  

Don’t forget the 10% tax on your bill!

BTW, doesn't my photos look awesome?!? This is with my iPhone and food photos are getting better than before. I took them myself =) 

My take: great food, great setting, great place to go often.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/onemorerestaurant/

website: http://onemorerestaurant.com/en_US/

Address: #37, Street 315, Sangkat Beoung Kak 1, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Specs: fancy place but affordable cuisine

Let me know your thoughts. Shout it out in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

XoXo V

* Sunny Up with V *

If you would like me to visit your place, let me know! I’m more than happy to check out and eat your delicious food =)

Present Absence: The Unforgettable Legacies @Bophana Center

Hi All,

V at the exhibit

 If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing right now, I would have been an anthropologist. That’s a far cry from what I’m doing now; think, finances. Can you imagine me digging and sweating? I quickly realised that my shallow self wouldn’t handle that.

I love the arts! I love historic events, learning about ancient civilizations and cultures, beliefs, tall tales, fables and fairy tales, sculptures, architecture, etc. I really love architecture/interior designs and statues/sculptures. I can enjoy paintings too…but to a lesser degree. Photography is new to me. And I’m learning to appreciate that more too.  

That’s why when I travel I have to hit cultural and historical tourist points à museums.

It’s a wonder that I’m not very artsy in Cambodia. I don’t attend any functions or gatherings. However, last week, I finally went to an art exhibit’s opening. I wanted to publish this article sooner but I got sidelined. But as the world focus on Angelina Jolie’s First They Killed My Father – an autobiography turned into film for Netflix, I think this post is still fitting. UPDATE: I just saw the premiere in Phnom Penh and can't wait to link you guys to that later.

Present Absence: The Unforgettable Legac(ies) [Khmer title: Sramorl Antoul Tam Brann: Soobin Del Minn-archh Bumpleach Ban. V’s translation: Shadows from the body: dreams that can’t be forgotten]

Art exhibition featuring Leang Seckon, Mak Remissa and Sou Sophy

Location: Bophana Center

The artists

The art exhibit focused on Khmer Rouge/Pol Pot. If you don’t know what that is, look it up on Wikipedia.

Artists:

• Mak Remissa: Left 3 days series

16 photos compilation using handmade paper cut-outs and smoky background evoking imageries of the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975 when Khmer Rouge took over the capital. Left 3 days refers to the Khmer Rouge’s demand for people to empty the city into countryside life while they “clean” up the capital so they can return. Promises were made for equality under communism, but in the end, it was a masked for the four years monstrosity.  

I really enjoyed his photo compilation because it was so unique. Showing that 2D paper can still depict emotions, you get a sense on how everything was hazy and hot while people travelled by foot – carrying their precious few belongings for many miles.

Biography:

Born in Phnom Penh in 1970, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. Currently a photojournalist for the European Pressphoto Agency. One of the most successful Khmer photographers; 1^st and 3^rd place in 1997 National Photojournalism competition hosted by FCC, showcased his art in many exhibits, and recent work part of the Singapore Art Museum’s permanent collection.

• Leang Seckon: Influence: The New Ages

An awesome usage of mixed media on canvas. His depiction of the new age resonates deeply with me. The gaunt in the monk’s face and haunting eyes followed me as I took steps backwards to absorb the whole picture. Or what if this is Buddha? And how the war really hit at religion and Buddha secretly suffered and was in pain while so many people died.

I really liked how he used different types of textures, textiles and color on the convas. Note how the soldier has a pineapple head? Pineapples are known to have “eyes” and I feel it’s to mean that no matter what anyone did, the soldiers knew all. Kind of like the evil eye in LOTR.

Biography:

Born in Prey Veng in the early 1970s, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. He has exhibited numerous solo shows around the world; participated in the 2012 Shanghai Biennale, awarded a medal from Queen Norodom Monineath in 2014, residency at the Bronx Museum of the Arts in New York in 2013, and selected for the 8^th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane in 2015.

• Sou Sophy: Black Rain

Using only blank ink and pencil, Sophy’s artwork was a metaphor for the cruelty, injustice and traumatic experiences from the genocide. Innocence and chaos, like yin and yang, engulf together. Destroying innocent children through starvation was normal during the Khmer Rouge regime. However, Sophy notes that Cambodia still has a black cloud hanging over our heads. We believe the worst has passed, but has re-emerged in contemporary Cambodia.

I wish I could do that with just a pencil. She’s so talented. It’s so lifelike and I can really imagine how kids suffered as they had no food or water (that’s why they have bloated bellies).

Biography:

Born in Battambang province in 1988 after the genocide. A teacher at Battambang University, she has exhibited in several shows including winning 1^st award for graphic design illustrators and the Blooming 2^nd Award Design contest.

* * *

More on Bophana Center

Bophana Center is co-founded by Cambodian filmmakers Rithy Panh and Ieu Pannakar. The Bophana Center collections images and sound archives related to Cambodia providing to the general public for free. A great place to learn about Cambodia’s unique heritage. They also train young Cambodians in cinema, audio-visual and new media.

They have over 2,400 films that you can explore for free.

My take: learn more about Cambodian culture for free

FB: https://www.facebook.com/bophanacenter.cambodia/?fref=ts

Website: www.bophana.org

Address: #64, Oknha Men Street (St 200), Phnom Penh, Cambodia (nearest cross street is Monivong Blvd)

Specs: 8am-6pm

Let me know your thoughts. Shout it out in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

XoXo V

* Sunny Up with V *

If you would like me to visit your place, let me know! I’m more than happy to check out and eat your delicious food =)

Bloom Cafe: artisan cupcakes bliss

Hi All,

one of my fave places for snacks

It’s Hump Day ~ middle of the week. Just a few more days and it’s the weekends again. What’s special about this weekend is that it’s Chinese New Year/Vietnamese Tet; so many people will be celebrating with family, food, and fun trips! Why not enjoy some cupcakes during this special festivity?

I loooooovveeeee L-O-V-E cupcakes. Bloom Café has been one of my favorite spots to enjoy beautiful and delicious cupcakes. I think I’ve tried almost every flavor. But I try to limit myself to 3 each time. Especially since there’s a discount when you buy 3.

Their cupcakes are whimsical and enchanting. It’s so pure. I can sit a while just gazing at them. But in the end, I must eat the sugary treat because that’s why I bought them. Day old cupcake isn’t tempting to eat – not like enjoyable day old pizza.

selfie with my nom nom

Bloom’s cakes are also sweet to look at. However, I didn’t like to order cakes here because of their cake to icing ratio (too much fondant/icing/lard. I’m a fan of fresh cream more. I wouldn’t suggest buying a cake except for the aesthetic. I had one on my birthday 2 years back and regret having to eat the whole thing myself. I think cupcake is a better bet.

Variety. The little creations.

Different flavors ranging from tart (like passion, lemon, raspberry, etc.), sweet (coconut, vanilla, cheesecake), and chocolatly (who can resist Mr Ganache?) base. The cream on top compliments the cupcake base and will vary. A cute fondant pendant or trinket to top it off.

The extra icing on top is that you can enjoy the cupcakes in two major cities: Phnom Penh (under Bloom Café Phnom Penh) and Siem Reap (under Blossoms Café but now rebranded as Bloom Café Siem Reap). I’ve only been to the Phnom Penh branch.

Self-described "designer cupcake and the best fair trade coffee in stylish café". Have the strong, vibrant taste of coffee to cut the sweet cupcakes. However, being adverse to coffee, I just enjoy their free water.

will.devour.every.crumb.

Let me share you the latest cupcakes I ate. But feel free to enjoy more...with over 48 kind rotated + flavs of the month, how can you pick just one? Seriously, I'm asking you how can you pick one?!?! You may say you've good willpower and resistance...but why would you want to resist CUPCAKE? It's a cupcake ware and I proudly announce I will always lose to its glorious cause.

Space: Reasonable. I love the seating. I also love the interior décor (I’m partial to their blue as I also have that Italian aqua blue).

Atmosphere: Cutie patootie.

entering the zone

Taste: You know I’m a fan of fancy and pretty. The icing is dense because it’s in the fridge. Cake uses lots of fondant/icing but not fresh cream. If that’s not your thing, then wouldn’t be recommended.

Parking: Street parking. It’s a villa turned into bakery/café. Should be easier to park than most places in PP.

Loved: That it’s a not for profit organisation that provides vocational training and employment opportunities for Cambodian women. Girl Power! I love how it makes women feel empowered and able to take charge of their life; pay their bills; and run the world [via Beyonce]. I really do hope that they get compensated well as the cakes are a bit pricey – but totally understandable since it’s hand-drawn.

divinely creations! 

Enjoyed:

At $4.85 for 3; $1.65 each (so I saved 10 cents. I thought I was saving a lot more). 

getting a trio is always good

• Coconut kiss

 Kissed lightly by dried coconut zest, it was a coconut cupcake with chocolate cream cheese icing topped off. The chocolate was rich and it's a standard coconut cupcake. I think I want a bit more coconut flakes in the batter.

• Pineapple coconut cupcake

I got this because the ingredients gave me a tropical feeling. I imagined being on a deserted island (but wouldn’t it be more fantastic if it was a dessert island?!?) and enjoying this cupcake. I enjoyed the tartly release from the too sweet icings. It's a vanilla cupcake with fresh pineapple filling and coconut cream cheese icing.

• Jam donut cupcake

Too cute to pass on. It was a cinnamon sugared cupcake with a dollop of strawberry jam in the middle. After taking a bite, I wondered WHY I got this since I could eat a donut at Krispy Kreme.

can't blog before taking some photos

Other flavors I like: mint, chocolate, cheesecake, tart and citrus, etc.

My take: want to be blissfully happy? Come have some cupcakes.

PP:

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bloom.Cafe/

website: http://www.bloomcreations.org/ (not working at time of posting)

address: #40 Street 222 (in between Street 63 and Street 55)

SR:

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloomCafeSiemReap/

website: http://www.blossomcakes.org/ 

address: one street from Pub Street, behind Siem Reap Hospital

Specs: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (that's super hard to enjoy). Can't enjoy the cafe after work =( better to order to-go during lunch time or go on a Saturday. The business hours are not friendly towards employees like myself because of the hours - especially in the food/catering business. But I understand how they want their staff to enjoy evenings and weekends with their families too. 

Thank you for the support! Please follow me 0=)

Let me know your thoughts. Shout it out in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

XoXo V

* Sunny Up with V *

If you would like me to visit your place, let me know! I’m more than happy to check out and eat your delicious food =)