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New Country: Iceland Date: 26 August 2011
My first new country for 2011 brings me to Iceland. I haven’t been to a new country since Brunei last November, even though I have been to eight countries since.
I am visiting Iceland as a stopover between New York and London. This is a trip I have been wanting to do for years, but I have previously not found a reasonable fare.
Upon arrival the air hostess announced that it was 6 degrees (c) outside. 6 degrees, in August! Did I hear that right? After spending much of the year in tropical extremities, I found the crisp morning a refreshing change, once I had dug out the cold weather clothes from my bag.
So far Iceland is everything I thought it would be. I love the space and sense of remoteness of the lava plains. Not loving so much the high cost of living (though I note that bananas are cheaper here than in Australia).
Photos to follow.
Angry Birds / Good Stuff ?
Want to board the first-ever fully customised Angry Birds style Finnair flight to Helsinki, Finland?
Now you have the chance to fly with the Angry Birds - service and entertainment on board the flight will be in Angry Birds style.
* You must be able to travel to Helsinki from 17 to 21 September 2011 and at least 18 years of age.
More information on the Angry Birds Face-off Challange >> http://www.changiairport.com/at-changi/events-and-promotions/angry-birds-changi-airport-challenge
Jeollabuk-do / Korea ?
Last month, we visited South Korea. I was on a blogger familiarisation trip to Jeollabuk-do ????, a province in the southwestern part of South Korea. This trip is in line with ‘2010 – 2012 Visit Korea Year‘ and ‘2012 Visit Jeollabuk-do Year‘ campaign to welcome more overseas tourists to the country.
Jeollabuk-do is a scenic area rich in historic and cultural heritage. It’s the centre of the Korean paper-making industry that produces traditional Korean paper that is highly valued in Korea, Japan and other countries. It’s a gourmet paradise famous for traditional Korean dining and also where traditional Korean opera, pansori, is originated. Jeonju, the capital of Jeollabuk-do, is home to the International Film Festival in Korea.
We travelled from Jeonju to Namwon, Gochang, Gunsan, Iksan, Jinan and Muju in Jeollabuk-do. These lovely places will be covered in more details with photos in other posts. In the meantime, here are the photos taken during our 4-day tour. See how we dress like Koreans, eat like Koreans, spa like Koreans, “swing” like Koreans… it’s all good memories!
Dress like a Korean
Eat like a Korean… Sunshine was my English interpreter for the whole trip in Korea!
Mt Maisan @ Jinan
Ginseng Spa with Mt. Maisan in the backdrop. Maisan literally means “horse ear mountain” as the two peaks resemble horse’s ears.
Swing like a Korean.
A traditional Korean thatched house.
Photoshoot with Korean guy.
The historic Dolmen site @ Gochang
Receiving a welcome gift from Jeollabuk-do Tourism… And I’m now a “Jeollabuk-do Power Blogger”! Go Go Go!
Expect more updates on Jeollabuk-do with lots of photos on the breathtaking landscapes, delectable cuisines and unique attractions. Stay tuned!
Taichung / Taiwan ?
If you are considering a trip to Taiwan, head down to Taichung ?? Booth No: 6H14 for attractive travel deals. Just mention that you are a reader of “TravelerFolio” or “Eunice” to get one of these free gifts. No purchase is required. No string attached. While stock lasts!
1) Cute “Bobi” luggage tag ????? x 50
2) Sun cake gift pack ??? x 50
3) I ? Taichung T-shirt x 7
Just a couple of weeks ago, we were afforded the opportunity to tour Taichung, the 3rd largest city that lies in west-central Taiwan.
Taichung – the city of bubble tea ????, sun cake ??? and the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality bicycle.
If you look forward to a respite from the hustle and bustle, embracing the crisp mountain breeze amidst picturesque landscape sprawling with orchards and farms, living like a local with friendly owners at quaint little cottages, tasting the sweetness of freshly plucked fruits, relaxing in the hot spring and experimenting creative and mouthwatering local food, Taichung has all it takes for an unparalleled holiday experience.
Sin-She Township (???)
Sin-She is remarkably notable for its agricultural products (????). Call me a city girl. I’ve never seen so many different types of fruit trees during a morning jaunt. Grapes, citrus, pears, longans, persimmons … these are some of the high quality fruit products for export to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the region. I asked what else we can’t find at the orchards. Durian. Fair enough!
Sin-She is Taiwan’s major mushroom production area. 70% of mushrooms sold in Taiwan are grown in Sin-She.
Ah Liang Mushroom Garden ????? is one of the famous mushroom gardens in Sin-She. After an introductory on various kind of mushrooms including Lingzhi and the correct technique of picking mushrooms, we proceed to the garden for first-hand experience picking of mushrooms.
The signature salted fried mushroom ??????? is a must-try; it tastes like Taiwanese style fried chicken ???, but this is a much healthier version. I love the mushroom soup as well, with all the goodness of different kind of mushrooms that gives a natural earthy flavour.
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http://0425810893.emmm.tw/
????? Ah Liang Mushroom Garden
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??: 04-25810893
On our next trip to Sin-She, we shall go for a cycling tour around the scenic countryside. There are many point to point attractions with clearly indicated signs along the roadsides and helpful locals around to ask for directions.
Orchid House ????
The owner of ?? Orchid House, Mr. Luo, started his collection 20 years ago, initially as his research in orchid exploration, discovery and innovation. Today, ?? Orchid House is home to an extensive variety of orchid, including some very rare species, collected by Mr. Luo from around the world for more than 20 years. Spend sometime in the Orchid House and you will feel that lots of love and care are showered on these delicate, lovely orchid plants.
To our surprise, there is also a mini insect kingdom that houses insects like leaf insects or walking leaves, stick insects or walking sticks, geckos, elephant beetles, Hercules beetles, hairy eight-legged spider… sounds creepy? Hey, some are really cute! Like this one on the top left, look at its round, innocent looking eye… awww The other gecko on the top right has double eyelids! We can feel their skin and hold them too.
By the way, the hairy eight-legged spider feels like dog fur …
http://sw.emmm.tw/
???? Orchid House
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??:04-2581-2482
The Master of Mushroom ?? lives up to its name. Due to the many nutritious benefits of mushroom, eating mushroom hotpot has become a trend. This is especially true in Sin-She where 70% of mushroom sold in Taiwan are from Sin-She.
We had the “mushroom healthy pot” ????????? for dinner. Almost every delectable spread on the table contains different types of mushrooms. Mushroom sausages, mushroom kimchi, mushroom meat balls and other mushroom yummies – we have never chowed down so many mushrooms in a day. The flavourful mushroom soup base is slowly cooked to perfection. If you are craving for a sumptuous yet healthy meal, the “mushroom healthy pot” fits the bill.
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In addition, the restaurant overlooks a breathtaking view of Taichung city from the top of the hill. It’s an attraction in its own right.
http://0425822585.tai-chung.com.tw/
????????? Master of Mushroom
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??:04-2582-2585
The Mdss Vacation Villa ??? is a tropical themed homestay in Sin-She. Greeted by the gracious lady owner of ???, we entered into an enchanting garden with lush pine trees and exotic plants. The Balinese furniture and decorations adorning the common area and restaurant create the warm and cosy vibes that promote relaxation.
We stayed at the kind of dream honeymoon villa hut so romantically appointed with cute plush toys, a hanging chair, a lounge chair and a warm, snugly bed. The bathroom features a Victorian bathtub and an automated toilet bowl.
A much needed escape from the bustling city life, it was a night of deep slumber in a home away from home.
http://www.mdss.com.tw/
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TEL:(04)2581-0777
Shi-Gang Township ????
Shi-Gang Square ????
You can’t miss this. Literally known as the Lover Wood Bridge ????, 40m long and 3.5m wide, the wooden bridge spans across the crystal clear stream ???. Built without pier support, the bridge can withstand an earthquake of up to 7 magnitude.
On the side of the bridge, you will see the largest water mill in Taiwan. The water mill has a diameter of 9-metre. A relaxing place to spend a lazy afternoon in an idyllic location, we chilled out at the cafe where freshly brewed “S.long” coffee ???? is served.
If you are afraid of bees, this is the right place to overcome your fear! At the Honey Ecological area, we came up close and personal with honey bees. The bee with a red dot is the Queen bee. You can also taste honey freshly collected from the artificial honeycomb.
http://mmweb.tw/886/
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YOU AND ME (???) is a very unique and innovative orchard using multi-dimensional multi-layered cultivation method. Unlike most tomatoes which are grown near the ground, this multi-layer approach enables the tomatoes to be grown at low, medium or high level, hanging down from the supports so that it’s easy for visitors to pick the fruits.
The tomato varieties in this orchard include Japan Momotaro, cherry tomato, golden tomato and red beauty tomato.
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Besides tomatoes, they also have cabbage ???, Chinese cabbage ???, garland chrysanthemum??, lettuces ??, strawberries ??, bell peppers ??, fruity corn ???? and mini cucumber ???.
Apart from the the usual green, red and yellow bell peppers that are commonly available in the market, there are bell peppers in varying colours of black, creamy white, chocolate, apple green as well. We tried some and they were really tasty, sweet and juicy.
Guide 101: How to rip off a ear of corn
Use one hand to hold the top of the stalk and the other hand to push down the corn, twist it and rip it off from the stalk. Shuck the husk off it and you can straightaway taste the sweetest, juiciest, freshly plucked Japanese sweet corn.
All plants are pesticide free as the owner employs biological pest control method that won him an honourable award. ??????????????????
http://you-ame.myweb.hinet.net/
??????????? You-and-me
?????????391?10?
??:04-2582-6058
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At this stop ????, it’s one of the earliest orchards in Taiwan for growing persimmons. The humble owners received us warmly and we had a tea session on top of the hill overlooking the breathtaking mountain range. The owner also showed us around and we had first-hand experience of plucking big apple-pears from trees. Needless to say, they were sweet and juicy.
The harvesting period of persimmons at the orchard is from September to November.
http://blog.roodo.com/shi2008
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??:04-25773417/04-25852695
Tai Po Hakka Cuisine ???????
The aroma of wine fills the air of Sweet Charm Farm Winery. What impressed us most at this place is the home cooked authentic Hakka cuisine, simple yet distinctive and delicious, and the warm and unpretentious owners. ?????
If you are a wine lover, remember to check out their wine cellar for the specially made wine that contains 70% alcohol! It’s definitely too strong for me but the aftertaste is smooth and elegant without the feeling of dryness.
http://sweetcharm.smartweb.tw/
Sweet Charm Farm Winery
?????????196-65?
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More travel information on Taichung: http://tt.taichung.gov.tw/county/eng/index.jsp
Next update: A meeting with Mayor Jason Hu @ Taichung City
No related photos.
Delhi / India ?
A luxury collection hotel located in New Delhi, ITC Maurya prides itself with specialty cuisines that have attracted epicureans from across the globe.
The internationally acclaimed Bukhara is ITC Maurya’s most reputable specialty restaurant. It’s known that conference groups having meetings in other cities of India would fly all the way to Delhi for a day just to dine at Bukhara. Even the former US president Bill Clinton was so enamored with the food that he preferred to eat at Bukhara than having dinner hosted by a former US Ambassador!
Highly rated as one of the best restaurants in Asia, 2010 – 2011 by The Miele Guide, Bukhara is often acknowledged as the top restaurant in India and among the top 50 best restaurants in the world. So, if you are in Delhi, it’s DEFINITELY worth the trip to Bukhara for the rustic flavours of the North-West Frontier cuisine at ITC Maurya.
And this is the Bukhara’s Presidential Platter: “a selection of delicacies as preferred by Bill Clinton during the US President’s visit to India in 2000“.
As the kitchen is part of the restaurant, the chefs can be seen busily preparing the dishes, cooking naans and pre-marinated skewers of meat over charcoal fire in clay tandoors. It may look simple but this style of cooking requires great culinary expertise that is acquired only through years of hands on practice. Food quality specs are strictly followed by the chefs to maintain the consistency of excellent Bukhara cuisine.
Naan, the flattened bread dough, is thrown against the hot wall of the tandoor oven to be cooked shortly.
The Presidential Platter looks huge so we ordered the other platter that was commended by the current US President Barack Obama! You can see his handwriting and signature on the wooden menu block.
Top right: a photo with the Executive Chef of Bukhara at the kitchen.
Here it is … the platter that the US President Barack Obama had during his visit in India last year. Forget about the fork and knife. Use your fingers to pick the tender meat and indulge in tandoori goodness. The highlight of this platter is the baby lamb leg.
Usually I don’t fancy lamb meat ‘cos of the gaminess. But this tandoori lamb had no gamey taste at all; the meat retained its moistness and natural sweetness. Once we started eating, we couldn’t stop and finish the whole baby lamb leg in a short while even though we weren’t hungry! The tenderness of the meat melts in the mouth, and the flavour of the tandoori lamb still lingers in my olfactory memory. Very impressed!
Tantalizing Tandoori lamb meat.
Another not-to-be-missed at Bukhara is its namesake dish – Dal Bukhara. A concoction of black lentils, tomatoes, ginger and garlic are simmered over on slow coal fires overnight to bring out the flavours of rich culinary heritage of the North West Frontier province. Dip your naan into the Dal Bukhara and taste it with images of endless rugged hill ranges of the North West Frontier flashing across…
Don’t miss it!
Bukhara @ ITC Maurya, a luxury collection hotel.
Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi 110 021, India
http://www.itchotels.in/welcomcuisine/bukhara/cuisine_origin_brief.html
Read all posts on ITC Hotels, India.