Why did I sing "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift? Oh I don't know, maybe the ruined hotel reminded me of war and battles, which reminded me of the Hunger Games, which reminded me of its incredible soundtrack? Anyway, I hope you like it.
Category: Asia
Singing Folk Songs on the Hills
The reefy beaches mean tourists barely come here, making it a nice spot for a little jam of one of my favorite country folk songs by Johnny Cash.
12 Amazing Experiences I’m Thankful For in 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, I have to take a moment to appreciate the amazing year I’ve had. All the generosity I’ve received, the beautiful people I met, and the wonderful experiences simply can’t go unmentioned. I can’t think back to this year without a smile, as it was a marathon of priceless moments, … Continue reading 12 Amazing Experiences I’m Thankful For in 2017
Weekend at Green Island
Green Island is known to most by its sea life and amazing scuba diving, but the small island off of Taiwan's eastern coast offers so much more to explore!
Abandoned Factories in Longdong
An abandoned factory off the shores of Longdong surprised us with an urban exploration wonderland, as we roamed the eerie premise.
Reminiscing Perfect Taipei Days
Traveling has just begun -- but taking a break from the adventure has me reminiscing the good old days in Taipei.
Getting Acquainted with Mount Fuji
Have you ever walked away from a famous destination or gorgeous tourist attraction feeling like you didn't get enough of the place? Perhaps wishing you got to see it from different angles, different weather, different seasons, or even got to know the people and the stories behind the attraction? That is how I feel every time I … Continue reading Getting Acquainted with Mount Fuji
A Quick City Escape: Sandiaoling Hiking Trail (三貂嶺)
Following my mother to a religious ritual introduced me to Sandiaoling(三貂嶺), a quiet hiking trail home to waterfalls, abandoned buildings, and some exciting rope-climbing treks.
The Ultimate Guide to Taroko Gorge
All the information out there about visiting the Taroko National Park can be quite confusing - especially because of the language barrier. Here's everything you need to know about visiting one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan.
The Taroko Gorge Escape
Behind the breathtaking cliffs of Taroko National Park sits a stone church with a lot of romantic history, while we tread untrodden tracks at the Zhuilu Old Trail.
National Taiwan Utopia
A stroll at National Taiwan University had me wishing I was back in college... Maybe it's not too late to consider a career in Medicine.
Hiking Qixing Mountain
Rid of a full time job, time to tick and re-tick off some items on my Taiwan bucket list. For the first adventure as a free agent, I knew I had to revisit the beautiful sights of Qixing Mountain, one of the peaks of the Yangminshan National Park with the bestest of views.
Gettin’ Funky
Nightlife never runs out of steam in Taipei for all types of partygoers, including live Ska music.
Light Up The Dark
First night of Funemployment! Time to embrace the new freedom and experience new things - starting with the touristy yet surprisingly rewarding Lantern Festival.
Chinese New Year in Southern Taiwan
Four extravagant feasts later, our Chinese New Year celebration drew to an end. My stomach is still processing all the delicious tomato fried egg, roasted pork belly, pineapple shrimp rolls, and more delicious goodness. My heart is also still recovering from losing big in the annual family gambling ritual. This was my first Taiwanese family reunion in nine … Continue reading Chinese New Year in Southern Taiwan
Budget Backpacker: How to visit Bangkok for 7 days for only $300
Tested and proven, Bangkok is one of the most affordable places in the world to go on relatively spontaneous solo backpacking trips. 7 days, NT$10,000 to cover living, food, transport, and plane ticket. Find out how I pulled it off.
A moment for butterflies
It's another Monday, and it's back to the grind of a full-time job in the city. I had the blessing to escape the concrete on a filming assignment in Miaoli for a tourism television series exploring the best foods and attractions in Taiwan. At a Bed & Breakfast we visited, there was a bush that was Taiwanese-swimming-pooled … Continue reading A moment for butterflies
The Taipei Bucket List: Cat Cafés
If a city has a village designated to cats (Houton), it's no surprise that Cat Cafés would exist for those who don't have the time to trek to the cat lady paradise. As an distinguished and unashamed cat lady, I am vowing to visit every single one of the massive list of feline-inhabited cafés in … Continue reading The Taipei Bucket List: Cat Cafés
The Taipei Bucket List: Tourist Trap 101
If you're a fellow newly-grad folk faced with financial restraints, you might be interested in finding alternatives of enjoying the city without the cost.
The Chinese Pet Store
The "Floral Bird" pet store, a place to satisfy all your needs for crickets, birds, fish, and massive walnuts...?
The City Cat
How a stroll at the Financial District in Shanghai inspired a short film about the chillest cat on the planet.
Scenes of Shanghai: A man and his bird
There's a place in Shanghai where middle aged men go and feed their pet cricket, bird, and fish obsession.
Scenes of Shanghai: Playing cards in the park
There must be some secret poker society here in China, because I can't help but notice crowds of card playing at random sidewalks and every park I've visited.
A Dream I Dreamed in Shanghai
Yayoi Kusama is one of the most influential artists of our time. With her "A Dream I Dreamed" exhibit opening in Shanghai, a famous and rare attraction in an overpopulated city proved itself to be a unique experience all of its own.
Scenes of Shanghai: Adorable kids and pigeons
An adorable kid feeds pigeons in People's Square, which is like a smaller, Shanghai-version of Central Park, sitting amidst skyscrapers in the middle of the city. We assume the pigeons are purposely planted by the Chinese government, since this is the only place in the city that they are seen.
Scenes of Shanghai: Men and cotton candy
Two men enjoy their giant swirls of cotton candy in Tian Zi Fang, a maze of boutiques and street food in Shanghai, China.
A tourist-less attraction
In the dead season of tourism in Shanghai, shops in Yu Garden remain open and fully staffed despite the lack of tourists. This causes a lot of boredom and quality iPhone time for the clerks.
Cultural clashing
Tourist attractions in Shanghai seem to appease the tourists not only with extravagant traditional buildings, but also with a little modern familiarity.
Shameless tourist returns to Asia
What happens to a non-Cantonese speaking Asian in Hong Kong...
Spring Break across the Pacific
While everyone else was getting their tan on a beach somewhere, I had the biggest honor of meeting the most incredible people in Japan. It was beyond a class trip, it was historic.
Lena Morris 