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Okinawan Cuisine: Japan’s secret culinary adventure
The cuisine in Japan varies from region to region. And I must admit – Okinawan cuisine is my personal favourite. Due to a long history of trade, Okinawan cuisine has strong Chinese and Southeast Asian influences. Given my own cultural background, every bite felt a little like home.
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Day 3 in Okinawa: Ishigaki Paradise
There’s nothing like seeing Mother Nature’s gift to mankind stretch out for hours and hours on end. Could there be anything more glorious? As I felt my bare feet sink into the sand, I was home. Relaxed. Stress-free. The energy from the ocean washed away the mad schedule of the past three months.
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Day 2 in Okinawa: three little islands
Oh baby, what a day. It was one of those days where I was glad to be alive. Today’s itinerary consisted of Iriomote Island, Yurijima Island and Taketomi Island. Join me on my journey.
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Day 1 in Okinawa: two planes, a limestone cave and an epic meal
I finally made it to Okinawa. It’s been something I’ve talked and talked about doing for ages. Now, I’m here. Has it only been three months since my last trip to Taiwan? Feels more like 20 years ago. Ah well. Bye bye daily grind. Hello spring holidays.
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Day 2 in Kaohsiung: an unexpected tour guide
Our first stop was a really popular shop with the best noodles I’ve had in Taiwan. It’s a good thing Krijstelle brought us there because we never would have thought of going their on our own. The noodles were cooked to perfection, the broth was simply astounding and the flavours were just sublime. Mmm…mmm…
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Day 1 in Kaohsiung: Tiger and Dragon Pagodas, a Giant Gold Buddha and a one way ticket out of a ghost town
Enter from the Dragon’s mouth and exit from the Tiger’s. Oh, you can even see their behinds on the way out. Later that day head to a Buddha Museum to learn all about his life. You even have a space to sit cross-legged and contemplate your life (or his). Finish your day at the 70…
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Day 2 in Tainan: a city of ghosts
The local bus looked like a tour bus from the 1950s that was picking up customers that had been dead for a long time. It confused the heck out of me. You even need to pay with the exact change. No one seems to know how much that is. How lovely. When we finally get…
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Day 1 in Tainan: a high speed train to a has-been town
Tainan is like a woman who was once incredibly beautiful but has let herself go. She isn’t ugly, but she’s like a fading movie star whose shimmer has lost its lustre. Her skin no longer glows not because she’s been abandoned; but because she no longer cares with her upkeep. Everyone remembers and knows her…
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Day 2 in Taipei: a famous fortune teller, mystery street food and an unforgettable memorial hall
Taipei. Oh, Taipei. What a sensory experience. The food. Oh, the food. It really is everywhere. People here know how to eat. They work hard and relish life’s pleasures. The temples. The history. The monuments. The superstitions. The traditional. The avant-garde. Taiwan has it all.
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Day 1 in Taipei: an ancient museum, a modern tower and an elephant mountain?
I woke up to a landscape that was neither old nor new. That was neither ancient nor modern. I’m not quite sure how to describe Taipei – except that it reminds me so much of the Singapore of my childhood. Shophouses. Tall buildings. The MRT. The sound of Mandarin, Hokkien, English and Tagalog at the…
Twinn Swan 