Tag: Taiwan
Best Non-Food Souvenirs From Taiwan
The art of souvenir shopping holds a different meaning for each traveler. For some, the curated process involves authentic, small-batch items from local artisans. For others with a limited time and budget, haggling for mass-produced items is part of the adventure. I sit somewhere in the middle. View this post on Instagram A […]
Are Famous Landmarks Worth Visiting?
As a travel writer, I’ve written my fair share of listicles, such as “20 Things To See and Do in [insert popular city or country]” based on a press trip or an assigned comprehensive research. I, too, like reading travel lists by other writers before exploring a new place. But should you aim to see […]
Alishan Is More Than Just The Red Train
If you’ve heard about Alishan via TikTok or Instagram, then it’s most likely because of the red train of the Alishan Forest Railway, which most content creators have perfunctorily compared with the Hogwarts Express. I love the Harry Potter world as much as the next Muggle, but comparing Alishan with the Hogwarts Express and running […]
Things To See and Do in Pier 2 Art Center, Kaohsiung
Taiwan’s largest port city, Kaohsiung, is gradually gaining popularity among tourists. But time seems to move more slowly here, especially if it’s your second stop after coming from the busy capital of Taipei. I picked a hotel in Pier 2, where the neighborhood felt eerily quiet. It was only on day 2 of my solo […]
Taiwan’s Character-Themed 7-Eleven Stores
Not all 7-Eleven experiences are created equal. When it comes to the kawaii culture and culinary 7-Eleven experience, no country can beat Japan, followed by Korea’s aegyo pop culture. But vying for a close third spot for me is Taiwan. The themed 7-Elevens in this de facto independent country stand out as tourist stops, where […]
Snoopy 7-Eleven in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Out of the 7,000+ 7-Elevens around Taiwan, over 100 of them are specially themed, featuring characters or brands such as Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, Lay’s, Tomica, Pokemon, Mickey Mouse, and so much more! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kate Alvarez (Kate Was […]
Sanrio 7-Eleven in Taipei
As an ’80s Hello Kitty kid, I jotted this down as my top itinerary during my recent Taiwan trip. When I finally laid my eyes on the Sanrio 7-Eleven in Taipei, I felt like a kid again—all warm and fuzzy inside. (Scroll down to the end to see the reel!) Window-dressed with Hello Kitty as […]
![[Vlog] How I Ended Up In Dulan, Taiwan’s Secret Coastal Town](https://katewashere.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Dulan1.jpg)
[Vlog] How I Ended Up In Dulan, Taiwan’s Secret Coastal Town
All the great things you hear about Taiwan are true—from being one of the most underrated tourist spots in Asia to how well their government runs the island independent from China. For most people who have been to Taiwan, you probably started in the capital of Taipei and took side trips to nearby districts like […]
![[Vlog] Biggest Toy Vending Machine in Taipei](https://katewashere.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/biggestvendingmachinetaipei3.jpg)
[Vlog] Biggest Toy Vending Machine in Taipei
I thought Japan was the ultimate place for vending machines and UFO catchers, but when I visited Taipei for the first time, I realized it’s also a huge part of their culture. While spending many a dollar on capsule toys that will clutter up in my bedroom (I can’t help it; they’re so cute!), I […]