It's The Weeknd

You cannot blame me for being late on the The Weeknd bandwagon since I can assure you it is not big in Asia (as of yet anyways..) but I cannot stop listening to this Toronto-based artist. Abel Tesfaye's voice has got me hypnotized and I'm highly anticipating his future. In addition, a collaboration with Drake is in the works!

Here are a few songs:

1. Rolling Stone - The Weeknd

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2. The Birds (part 1) - The Weeknd

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Download mp3 - Upload music.

The Weeknd's first album, House of Balloons, can be downloaded free of charge here.

Btw. I don't own these songs, I'm just sharing good music =)

Epic Taiwanese Date

This time it is an actual date with my boyfriend (sorry Anna). The truth is, the date this post describes is some of the activities we did over the span of a few days but for the sake of making it even more epic, I'm saying to do it all in one.


1. Taipei 101 


After breakfast, go to the second tallest building in the world after Dubai's Khalifa Tower, the Taipei 101, and go to the 89th floor observatory after a shopping spree in the designer stores filling up many floors of the building (shopping spree optional but would be soooooo good). It was a little foggy so I'll spare you the horrible quality pictures but it's really amazing to see so much city and greenery mixed together (Google images if you're really curious about the views). 

2. Dazzling Honey Toast

Next head over to Dazzling Cafe for Honey toast and tea. This chain was started by a female celebrity in Taiwan and almost always has a waiting time to try the famous honey toast. The best way I can explain honey toast is that it is basically a bread box (toasted) with more pieces of toast inside, all sprinkled with sugar, and then a scoop of ice cream and whatever toppings you chose. Oh. and a side of honey. Personally, I think it's a little sweet but it sure is yummmmyy.


Please note: There is a special way to dissect the honey toast and therefore assistance by the waiter is offered. 

3. Chamonix Teppanyaki

After freshening up, changing into a nicer outfit, and most importantly making room for your epic date dinner, go to Chamonix Teppanyaki (夏慕尼) for an 8 course meal to DIE for. Apart from amazing food and decor, the atmosphere is really nice. Sometimes, in a fancy restaurant, I feel like it's very snobby and that you need to whisper or else everyone will turn around. This place is nothing like that; people talk at a normal volume, the service is beyond great, and if you are unsatisfied in any way with any portion of your meal, it is their policy to quickly change it for you no questions asked. I thought it was also nice how after you have finished the courses made on the teppanyaki grill, you are escorted to a more laid back desert area where you can take your time on your drink and desert. Because this place is a little pricey, especially by Taiwan standards where most full meals cost no more than 10 CAD, this is a popular birthday/celebration place. My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 1 year and he even surprised me with a little cake after desert! (2 desert win!)

our super cute chef

appetizer

seafood chowder

soft shell crab salad

flambéing the duck

from left to right: salt and pepper, apple compote with special sauce, duck. The duck is to be eaten together with either.

shrimp fried rice

desert area

classic chocolate cake

happy 1 year anniversary! 

4. Barcode


To finish of the epic date, you should go out for a few drinks with friends at a place like Barcode. This Bar/Lounge is a hotspot right now in Taipei and local celebrities are often spotted there. It's on one of the high floors of a building near the Taipei 101 and so the view is really nice. They even have this massive cushiony foot that you can sit on near one of the bars!!! (obvs my fave part)

FOOOOOOOOOT =D

 So sad to leave taipei... Beijing here I comeeeeeee!!!

Dong Qu

The last two days were spent exploring/shopping in Dong Qu, the East district full of young people and unique boutiques of which many are celebrity owned (Jay Chou's shop is there!!). Thing is, everything looks really expensive and so you're very hesitant to even go inside and look. But then. SURPRISE! It's super cheap!!!

This unfortunately leads to overspending because quantity adds up faster than you would expect. Also, here like all other boutique areas, are many ridiculously expensive items that you drool over and then go back to your 5$ items... 

Anyways, some pictures!

*Everything in this picture is under 15$*

Bawsest store.

*These 100% leather shoes are under 80$*

...heh heh

Taroko

I've been in Taipei for almost a week now and I am in love with this city (Post to come). Thing is, it's is really nice to get away from all the hustle and bustle for some quite time and relaxation. My boyfriend and I headed to Taroko National Park, Hualien, in the East coast of Taiwan bordering the Pacific Ocean. Our package with the Silks Palace Hotel was an amazing all inclusive deal that made our 2 day 1 night stay feel like a one week getaway. The mountains reminded me of two things in particular...
1. Those movies that open with aerial sweeps of crazy looking mountain terrain where you wonder "Where the hell are these mountains in real life?!"
2. Kung Fu Panda

At night, a native band plays and sings around a big bonfire on the roof terrace that is surrounded by mountains and 100% serenity. After that, you can enjoy hot tea while lying on the cushioned benches watching the stars come out as it gets darker. I hadn't experienced any of that since my last camp days 3 years ago. *Nostalgia*

Here are some picture of the hotel and the breathtaking views. (unfortunately pictures do little justice!!)

KUNG FU PANDA IS THAT YOU?!?!?! 

Epic Korean Date

Two days ago I embarked on a "typical date for Koreans" with my boyfriend Anna.

Our itinerary was as follows:

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace (not typically part of the date but ours was epic sooo....)

I can't really say too much about this place, to be honest, because little did we know it is closed Tuesdays. BUT we took some pictures from outside!!!

Best luck EVARR!

2. Insadong

This area is a more traditional part of korea and is filled with traditional foods and souvenir items. 

First we went to this adorable cafe at the top of a winding semi outdoor shopping complex. I love places where people can leave their own personal marks... It reminds me of this stationary store in Beijing (see last photo before next paragraph)  

Plain yogurt smoothie, red bean bingsu, and a really cute receipt!!

Next, we finally found this dumpling place, Geaseong Mandu, that had really great reviews online. It's a true hidden gem that took us a long time to find but was 100% worth it.

As if we hadn't ingested enough, we decided to go sip tea at this tea/coffee/dessert shop on the second floor of one of the buildings on the main street. We both ordered cold teas (with an edible flower!!) and a frozen persimmon, and couple lurked people watched for a long time. 

*I restrained myself to only picking 3 of the dozens of couple pictures I took from out of the cafe window...

3. Cheonggyecheon

This creek flows through a part of downtown Seoul and is a super typical date location due to its location, charm, and beauty. When the sun starts to set, lights come on and people come to walk around, take a seat somewhere for a while, and sometimes drink. Another tradition is to walk across the creek using the stepping stones (can you imagine how NOT allowed that would be in Montreal?). As you can imagine, this is a great opportunity for the guy on the date to "help" the girl across..."Oh! Here let me just hold your hand so you don't fall!"

ANDDD!! If you didn't believe me when I said this was a typical date...and you don't believe me when I say that we say many couples at Insadong and then the SAME ones at Cheonggyecheon... 

Photo Evidence:

 At Insadong

At Cheonggyecheon