#Travel

ORANG UTANS @ TANJUNG PUTING, KALIMANTAN, BORNEO: Largest Population of Wild Orangutans (Day 1)

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My first encounter with an orangutan was when we saw a “domesticated” one named Jenny in Ark of Avilon Zoo in Manila. It was nice to see her because she seems to be playfully innocent and wants to interact with people.

But after visiting the Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan Province of Indonesia in the island of Borneo, I learned that these animals are born to be wild. We need to protect them from becoming extinct because of the destruction of their natural habitat, and from poachers who sell them to zoos around the world.

Here’s our awesome experience in Tanjung Puting National Park which has the largest wild population of Orangutans in the World:

Travel to Wonderful Indonesia Blog Series:

October 22, 2012

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XIMENDING Market (popularly known as the Harajuku of Taipei) :)

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One of our favorite night markets in Taiwan is the XIMENDING Market in Taipei.

Here is what you can see in Ximending Night Market:

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

August 11, 2012

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SHILIN MARKET Taiwan: Xiao Tze (Small Eats) Food Trip Guide! (Part 2/2)

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One of the inspirations for Mercato is the street food night market scene in Taiwan’s Shilin Market. We love the Xiao Tze (which means “small eats”) from the different food stalls in Shilin.

Here are the top food picks you should try when you visit Taiwan…

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

July 31, 2012

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SHILIN MARKET: #1 Shopping Attraction in Taiwan! (Part 1/2)

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SHILIN MARKET is the premier night market in Taiwan for bargain goods, clothes, accessories and yummy street food. It’s our favorite night market and one of the reasons why we fell in love with Taiwan.

Here’s a photo essay on what to expect in Taiwan’s #1 Shopping Attraction…

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

July 30, 2012

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CHATIME: What We Can Learn from the Market Leader in the International Bubble Tea Industry!

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Read: Chatime Fever in Manila

Did you know that CHATIME is a $20 million business with 580+ stores worldwide and is the #1 Market Leader in the International Bubble Milk Tea Industry?

It is one of the Top 5 Bubble Milk Tea brands in Taiwan, #2 in the Philippines (behind Serenitea, which is the first in the local market), and is still growing fast.

It was great to get the chance to meet Henry Wang of La Kaffa International, the owner of the Chatime brand, and learn how they were able to expand that quickly since 2005. I also wanted to know from him how Chatime was able to capture the hearts of the Filipinos (see Chatime Fever in Manila) and the world’s consumers.

If you are an avid fan of Chatime, a competitor in the milk tea business, or an entrepreneur who wants to learn from successful entrepreneurs, you have to check out the Chatime Trivia and the Exclusive Philippine Media Interview with Henry Wang on the story behind the international success of Chatime.

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

May 22, 2012

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The Making of Green Tea (Nantau Highlands, Taiwan)

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We went on a learning trip organized by Chatime to the Highlands of Nantau in Taiwan to learn how to make Green Tea — from harvesting leaves from the Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) to processing it properly.

It was an interesting and educational experience, and I would like to share with you the Making of Green Tea…

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

May 16, 2012

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TIAN WAI TIAN – My BEST Hot Pot Experience

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Exploring other foodie cultures is always a good way to educate and remove any mental barriers on what’s possible with your foodie experience.

A visit to Tian Wai Tian was an eye opener for me — I never thought hot pots could be that awesome.

I was surprised with the high quality and wide variety of ingredients available in the eat-as-much-as-you-want hot pot. Plus, they have a really good selection of drinks and desserts.

When in Taiwan, you must eat in Tian Wai Tian! Check it out…

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

May 15, 2012

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TAIPEI 101: On Top of the Tallest Building in Taiwan :)

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Taipei 101 observatory is a touristy stop and a showcase of Taiwanese excellence.

I usually don’t get enticed by the promise of a 360-degree view of the city, because the experience is a bit passive and there’s no cultural or entertainment value. But sometimes I surrender to the urge of checking out tourist places to see when I’m in a place for the first time.

I would like to share with you our experience for you to decide to go or not to go to Taipei 101 observatory…

Flavors of Taiwan Series (2012):

May 11, 2012

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DIN TAI FUNG Experience @ Taipei 101!

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