Artistic Vibes in Taipei's Riverside Parks

TAIWAN - Get ready to explore the world of graffiti in Taipei's beautiful riverfront parks!

You're invited to show off your graffiti skills at seven special spots, including the giant wall in Chengmei Left Bank Riverside Park. Your creative masterpieces can stay up for four months because the folks at the Hydraulic Engineering Office (HEO) keep the walls fresh by cleaning them regularly.

Feel free to express anything through your graffiti, except for stuff that's rude or political – that will be wiped away. The goal here is to make the riverside areas look amazing and create a cool vibe of artistic expression.

Discover the freedom of art at these seven legal graffiti walls in Chengmei Left Bank Riverside Park, Chengmei Right Bank Riverside Park, Guanshan Riverside Park, Yingfeng Riverside Park, Meiti Riverside Park, Jingmei Riverside Park, and Xizhou Riverside Park.

Press Butter Sand Unwraps Irresistible Sandwich Cookies in Singapore

 

SINGAPORE - In the world of fancy cookies, Japanese brand Press Butter Sand is set to hit Takashimaya’s Food Hall this Friday (Dec 8). They're all about making special butter cookies with layers of creamy buttercream and tasty caramel. Started in 2017 at Tokyo Station by the folks behind Bake Cheese Tart, Press Butter Sand has now grown to more than 30 stores in Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong.

The name 'Press Butter Sand' comes from how they make their cookies. They press them in a special way. These cookies aren't your usual ones with just cream inside. They're shaped like boxes and have a mix of fluffy Hokkaido buttercream and melty butter caramel inside. The baking process involves using an "iron, press, heat" method where both sides of the cookie get baked at the same time, kind of like a waffle iron but not as hot.

The brand says they use a "Hasami-Yaki (Japanese pottery) technique" to bake each cookie evenly, so it's crispy all over. The two cookies stick together to make a sealed box, keeping the gooey cream and caramel safe inside. Plus, there are grooves on the cookie's surface that make it easy to break with each bite.

And here's a bonus: the first 500 customers spending S$60 or more get a free Christmas Gift Ornament Press Butter Sand Box. It includes three cookies: Strawberry and pistachio (not in Singapore yet), and an original one. A sweet deal for those who want a taste of something new.

The Nightly Spectacle at Hong Kong's Harbourfront Markets Brings 270,000 Visitors

 

HONG KONG - The government in Hong Kong is working to bring life back to its nighttime economy with night markets by the Harbourfront. Since starting in September, about 270,000 people have checked out these markets, as shared by Hong Kong's deputy finance minister.

However, there's no clear info on how much impact these events are having on the economy.

The government is focusing on malls, temporary night markets, and existing events from September's Mid-Autumn Festival to February's Lunar New Year. This period is usually busy for spending and tourism.

As part of this plan, over 80 malls are giving special deals, and public transport is offering fare discounts. The spotlight is on three night markets at Wan Chai, Sai Wan, and Kwun Tong harbours. Also, the Temple Street Night Market is set to reopen this month, but it might close earlier than the others due to being close to homes.

Sailing Through Seoul: A Gastronomic Adventure into Mediterranean Cuisine

 

SOUTH KOREA - In the lively boulevards of Seoul, where a myriad of gastronomic experiences unfolds, genuine Mediterranean havens remain a scarcity.

Nestled within the residential enclave of Ichon-dong, merely a brief ten-minute stroll from the National Museum of Korea, Kantina stands as a beckoning eatery specializing in the nuances of Mediterranean fare.

Distinguished by its unmistakable azure signage and interior aesthetics, the establishment mirrors the city's progressively burgeoning affinity for Mediterranean palates since its inception in 2021.

Kantina boasts an array of approximately 30 gastronomic creations on its menu, encompassing starters, artisanal flatbreads, pasta and rice concoctions, along with the likes of lasagna and an assortment of principal courses. 

Lee Kyu-na, the 34-year-old proprietor and culinary virtuoso behind Kantina, fastidiously crafted each menu facet, drawing inspiration from her sojourns across the landscapes of Greece, Spain, Italy, and Turkey.

Within the precincts of Kantina, every element, ranging from the leavened flatbread to the ambrosial sauces, and even the mulled wine to the Hellenic walnut confectioneries, is meticulously concocted in-house, underscoring the eatery's unwavering dedication to delivering the quintessence of freshly hewn Mediterranean savors.

The establishment's wine curation, encompassing selections hailing from the vineyards of France, Chile, Spain, and Turkey, has been thoughtfully orchestrated to harmonize with the symphony of flavors intrinsic to its culinary offerings.

Discover Matsumoto: Castle, Art, and Nature

 

JAPAN - Matsumoto is gaining popularity among foreigners in Japan. Besides being close to Tokyo and having a lively town vibe, this Nagano city has two standout attractions.

Firstly, Matsumoto boasts one of Japan's oldest surviving castles, built during the Edo Period. It adds a historical charm to the city. Secondly, it's the birthplace of Yayoi Kusama, a famous Japanese artist. Her artworks, showcased at the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, significantly boost the city's profile.

Imagine starting your day at Sioribi Cafe, just across from the museum. Known for its cozy library feel and comfy sofas, the cafe serves delicious coffee with buttered toast. The place reflects Matsumoto's mix of small-town history and youthful urban energy.

The Matsumoto City Museum of Art is a must-visit, especially if you're a fan of Yayoi Kusama. The museum displays her work, including canvas paintings, polka dot walls, the famous pumpkin, and infinity rooms.

In Matsumoto, history, art, and a modern vibe come together seamlessly.

Tainan Set to Host the 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival

 

TAIWAN - In the coming year, 2024, Tainan City is all set to host the Taiwan Lantern Festival. The spots to check out these glowing lanterns are smartly placed in the historic Anping District and around the Tainan High-Speed Railway Station.

This bright celebration is a part of Tainan's 400th-anniversary bash. Mayor Huang Wei-che of Tainan is thinking ahead about traffic and crowd management, expecting a huge crowd of around 400,000 on a single day, according to UDN.

The area around the high-speed railway station covers a big 28 hectares, offering three main spots to view the stunning lantern displays. In Anping, the other location, there's a 22-hectare spread, including Lin Mo Niang Park, Anping Pier, and the 1661 Taiwan Warship Museum.

Tainan City’s Bureau of Transportation assures everyone that they've got the details sorted. They've arranged for shuttle buses leaving the nearby high-speed railway station every 5 to 10 minutes. And to make things easier, there's a 26-hectare parking lot right at the railway station.

For those heading to Anping, it's recommended to use public transport. There are temporary parking spots set up in nearby areas with shuttle buses to get you there. The Ministry of Transportation and Communication is reviewing a more detailed transportation plan to make sure everything runs smoothly for the big celebration.

Aquatic Agrarian Hub Unveiled Adjacent to Tampines Circular Marketplace & Culinary Hub

 

SINGAPORE - In the vicinity of Tampines Round Market & Food Centre, a groundbreaking initiative has taken shape—an avant-garde containerized pisciculture installation has emerged, promising an exclusive culinary experience for the local denizens.

On the recent Sunday of November 19, a containerized fish farm made its debut, marking a pioneering foray into the landscape of HDB towns. Residents frequenting the market are now poised to indulge in the procurement of jade perch, a piscine delight cultivated in the proximate aqua-facility.

This innovative 20-foot container accommodates a cutting-edge recirculating aquaculture system, an ingeniously crafted creation by the local startup, Aqualita Ecotechnology. Drawing on over 15 years of research hailing from the esteemed Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, this system establishes an environment of heightened cleanliness and control.

Aqualita Ecotechnology's brainchild also champions the recycling of fish byproducts, eschews the necessity for antibiotics, and mitigates pollution emanating from unconsumed feed—a paradigm shift, as articulated by the team in their press communiqué.

The confluence of piscine denizens and the innovative system doesn't merely culminate in situational prowess. The entire setup can be monitored remotely, heralding a reduction in the requisite on-site personnel. 

Tailored for the cultivation of jade perch and murray cod, the containerized farm is equally proficient in nurturing indigenous fish species such as barramundi, red snapper, hybridised grouper, and tilapia.

Mr. Goh Chin Heng, the director of Aqualita Ecotechnology, articulates the adaptability of this urban pisciculture marvel, asserting, "We possess the dexterity to propagate fish within the confines of any urban enclave, with the added flexibility to swiftly relocate and initiate a new aqua-farm in a fresh locale."

Against the backdrop of Singapore's dependence on food imports, which currently constitutes over 90% of its sustenance, the nation unveiled its audacious "30 by 30" vision in 2019. The objective: to autonomously produce 30% of its nutritional requisites by the year 2030. 

As per the Singapore Food Agency's revelations for the year 2022, local farms have played a commendable role, contributing 29%, 8%, and 4% to the total food consumption metrics for hen shell eggs, seafood, and vegetables, respectively.

In relentless pursuit of the "30 by 30" aspiration, the government unveiled the Lim Chu Kang Masterplan in 2020—a strategic blueprint envisioning the transformation of the locale into a technologically advanced, highly productive, and resource-efficient agri-food cluster.