Floral World at Taipei Flora Explo 2010

Date of Visited: 25th December 2010

I think among all the places that I went around Taiwan (Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung), I guess this is the main highlighted on the trip - Taipei International Flora Expo 2010.

It opened for almost half year, start onwards from 6th November 2010 and run until 25th April 2011. Besides served as the garden festival, the purpose of Taipei International Flora Expo being held is for horticulture exposition. It is Taiwan's first time experience to held this internationally recognised exposition.

We started to venture around the Global Garden Area. Seriously, this exhibition is so massive and need to take a ride on their shuttle bus to visit the other area. So sad that we won't able to cover all the other area within 2 hours.

Now, shall us let the photo do the talking (some I able to identify their country):

#1: Malaysia

Come from Malaysia and visited the Malaysia area. End up with disappointment. They didn't contribute much in order to promote Malaysia's flora.

#2

#3

#4: Palau, not Pulau

#5 Hong Kong

#6 Hawaii

#7

#8

#9 Thailand

#10 Indonesia

#11

#12 Netherlands - I thought they famous with tulip but they use board to display their flowers. Unable to import to Taiwan because the location is too far??

What an unique exhibitions around the world.
So among all the photo above, which you prefer the most?

Without realising, for just 1 area of the exhibition it can consume 1 hour plus. So, my family and I are kinda in hurry in order to cover the most that we can.

The Flower Landscape - They will feature different type of flora in once a month and this time around (December), this area featuring the poinsettias.

Gosh! Don't you think it's awesome and fascinating with all these colourful flowers?

Although I am those type that not really into flowers much except for lily, but this exhibition really impressed me. It was fairly interesting and worth seeing with lot of flowers on display over the vast area of Taipei that the Flora Expo covers. Unfortunate for me was visit this exhibition for less than 2 hours is totally not-so-awesome as there are many things to see and worst case ever was crowded all over the area.

Really wish that I get the chance to visit the other kind of Expo in the nearest time.

P/S - I even missed out the Shanghai Expo which eventually my dad purposely went for that and he told me that it was awesome too.

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Foodie Friday: Pasta Zanmai, Mid Valley

A week after I came back from South Korea, my bestie decided to meet up for a movie. Movie is my favourite outing and I will never reject wherever I get the invitation but for karaoke session, I might reconsider thousand times. While waiting for the rest to finish their work, my bestie suggest, "How about Korean food for dinner?". Since ever I came back from South Korea, I received more than three invitations to have Korean food but honestly speaking, I not really into Korean foods at all. I prefer more on Japanese cuisine.

Therefore I suggest my bestie, "Let's try Pasta Zanmai". The location of this restaurant is not easily being spotted but if you know where is the location of Madam Kwan in Mid Valley, it just located next to it.

2 types of menu; Yellow for dishes whereas red for beverages and desserts.

Cozy and spacious restaurant. Have you ever try eating paste using chopsticks?

From the name, no doubt it serve combination of Japanese foods and Italian pasta. Creative and unique restaurant which I never came across. Browse through their menu and there are so many choices to choose from. Finally, both of us had made up my mind and these are what we ordered:

Teriyaki Chicken Pasta - This is our favourite.

Mix the half-boiled egg with the pasta and you are ready to eat. The teriyaki chicken is so juicy and tasty together with the soft and delicious pasta.

Scallop Pizza

First time I ate pizza topped with scallop because most of the time, I have is the scallop sushi. What a surprised! A good combination and the pizza taste so crispy.

Chicken Onsen Tamago Rice

It serve exactly alike Teriyaki Chicken Pasta but this serve on top of rice whereas the above on top of pasta.

Shortneck Clam Soup Pasta

I didn't manage to try this because I am extremely full.

Imagine 2 ladies ordered 4 dishes. What a big appetite we have!

Actually, we ordered the Mini Pasta set that serve 2 different type of foods in a mini size. I love this idea of Mini Pasta set because we can try different varieties even in a small group. The price is reasonable too for a set of Mini Pasta that cost RM23, whereas the ala carte itself cost roughly around RM20 and above.

Thinking of Pasta Zanmai, I definitely love to return again to try the other dishes. Have a blast and great weekend everyone!

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Spotted Betel Nut Beauty

Is this a form of business trick or just to draw tourist attraction?

I guess most of you know that Taiwan's betel nut lady is where young lady selling betel nuts and even cigarettes from a neon-topped and see-through kiosks while wearing outrageous and see-through outfits too.

Betel nut kiosk alongside the main street nearby freeway intersection.

My first capture of betel nut beauty: Somewhere nearby Taichung, a truck driver is buying a pack of betel nuts and trust me, that lady inside the kiosk really dressing in skimpy string bikini and short dress.

Thanks to the courtesy of our driver as he purposely stopby and just to show us the real beauty of "Betel Nuts Lady of Taiwan".

She's too fast! Sorry lah! I don't have a high quality camera like you guys one. Mine just only average compact camera.

Oh no! She went in to the kiosk. Please come out again.

Thanks goodness! She came out to return the change to the driver. The photo too small to see???

Here you are. Now, can you see it clearly. Didn't she looks pretty and hot too?

Want to view more photo of this Betel Nut Beauty? Check out here.

Reminder: Don't eat too much betel nuts or well-known as "pinang" as it will cause oral cancer. It's ugly true fact!

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Road Trip to Birmingham & Visit National Sea Life Centre

Let's us talk a break for a while for my Taiwan travelogue and I'm gonna bring you to UK this round. Not Ulu Klang lah but it's United Kingdom.

Back in few years during my summer degree program, weekend use to be our favourite day because no class was conducted and most of the time, we fully utilised our weekend by joining the school's trip or organise by our own. Unlike currently where I had my class on most weekend and worst case scenario was my class start from 10 am until 9pm - soon I'm gonna be zombie.

Out of sudden, 2 of my group assignment members suggest that we should try for a road trip. It's was a brilliant idea but unfortunately non of us has even reached the age of 25 at that moment. In United Kingdom, to rent a car, besides having a valid car license, you should at least 25 and above. But thanks God, one of my housemate who was eventually 25 at that moment heard of our idea and interested to join us. Thanks for the blessing, God.

Yeah! No wait for more and let's us start our road trip

Don't you admire with UK's road system? Smooth, clean, no traffic jam, no holes on the road, etc.

The item besides the spec is GPS. Not included the rent of the car but it was bought by my housemate himself. Too rich, no idea where to spend his money :P

Approximately less in 2 hours, finally here we are in Birmingham city.

Birmingham is a metropolitan city located outside London and it's United Kingdom's second most British city.

Wander around Birmingham city

We spend most of our day at here.

National Sea Life Centre of Birmingham is an aquarium which displays more than 60 of marine and freshwater life sea creatures. There are 35 centres of sea life located around the world and I happened to come across the other one while I was in Berlin, Germany. All of these 35 sea life centres only available around Europe and USA.

Anyhow, there are few countries around Asia that have these kind of aquarium which might slightly differences such as Singapore and its Underwater World located in Sentosa Island, Malaysia with its Aquaria KLCC and not forgeting Underwater World situated at the Langkawi Island, Japan with its one of the biggest aquarium in the world located in Osaka, Coex Aquarium in South Korea and etc.

My assignments groupmates, my housemates and I

Say hello to Nemo!

There even has this glow in the dark room.

A big and giant green sea turtle that really exist and swim happily in the sea tank but unfortunately we unable to snap using our low and unstable compact camera.

I almost forgot! Before I end my this post entry, let me introduce the car that we rent.

Tadaaa.....

Oooppps... The wrong photo. How could this car accommodate 7 of us?

This is the one...

Ok! I fool you for the second time. Nice to see but unfortunately not this one.

This is the actual car that we rent. I am serious this time, no more fool you guys around.

Not bad at all. Comfort, elegance, stylish

I even bring along my pillow xP. By the way, the guy behind me is the one who has reached 25 at that moment. The guy on the other side is my housemate too.

Let's take a group of happy family travelmate photo before start our journey.

Hey wait! Our journey doesn't stop there. We rent the car for 2 days. But anyhow, I will continue the other half in upcoming upcoming upcoming post. So, stay tune!

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