Jason’s

August 16th, 2008

There are many places Taipei has to offer since the city has gone more and more multicultural. Taipei nightlife does not stand behind other capital cities. We’ll give you the best tips on nightclubs, bars, pubs, concerts, discos and dining. Every recommendation found on this website is personally reviewed and includes pictures. Because this is taking some amount of time adding more nightclubs into the Taipei tip will be a little slow.

If you know some places that should be added, as they are of an interest to foreigners visiting Taiwan’s capital, or you have a nightlife review contact us at the address provided at the bottom of this page.

We are especially interested in bar night club nightlife, fine & late night dining, casual or romantic dining and from internet cafes to American restaurants.

Check out one of Taiwan’s first real Jazz café

This nightclub opens until the early morning hours and is packed with a young crowd.

May 28th, 2008

The western province of Sichuan is one the most famous and populous provinces in China (85 million). Chengdu is one of two main cities in Sichuan and I used it as a base for the week I spent there. Sichuan was my return to the west of China, after a 2.5 hour flight due west from Shanghai. Chengdu is located on the vast Sichuan plain, just east of the soaring ridges of the Himalayas which climb to the Tibetan plateau.

At the same population size as Toronto, Chengdu was quite compact, clean and civilized compared to so much of the rest of China. No touts, less honking, cleaner (though not clean) air and a friendly and efficient vibe. It is also a great place to get spicy Sichuan food. Known as ’schezuan’ (sp?) food back home, it is considerably more spicy here. The best way to experience it is by trying Sichuan hotpot, which is essentially a spicy oil fondue pot with chili peppers floating in it. Thankfully, they give you an oil dipping sauce which reduces the heat. Nonetheless, you feel the searing heat in your mouth and down low the next morning. Not uncommon on a hotpot menu in Sichuan is pig brain, animal blood, chicken feet, pig joint, pig stomach…you get the delicious point. I stuck to ham, beef, sausage, bamboo and vegetables. I did order eel and clearly a living eel had just been cut up and what was left of it and its blood were just dropped into the pot. It was all good. Took me three beers (large bottles) to get through it all, though, to the amusement of all the girls working in the restuarant. That and the look of horror I gave them when they mistakingly brought the animal blood to the table.

June 4th, 2008

The reason for my visit to Chengdu was purely to visit the Wolong Panda Reserve. However heard many people say “You haven’t been to Chengdu until you’ve tried Chengdu Hotpot” and now I know why!

After a 32 hour train journey (even though it was a luxury train journey with nice beds and flat screens) I was still wondering why I never brought a cheap flight to Chengdu… then I remember my other internal flight in China and remember why! They didn’t have the greatest of safety records, and the landing was by no means the best I have encountered… but I was warned! The rough guide actually advises you to take other means of transport over internal flights in China.

Anyway after meeting a Chinese English teacher who desperately wanted to make the most of us English to practice on decided to take us on a tour of Chengdu. For half the day we sat in a Chinese tea garden drinking many cups of tea. I mean free refills all day how can you resist?

And after that we didn’t need any of the Chengdu car hire companies courtesy of our new guide, so off we went round the back streets to get a traditional Chengdu Hotpot.

July 10, 2008

Macau China has a number of great sites. It has breathtaking villas; it is home to what is widely considered the best food in the nation - it has spectacular ruins, museums and a singularly fascinating history. But, of course, 99% of visitors to Macau have little interest in these things. This is the gambling mecca of the Orient, a bustling hybrid of China and Vegas, the golden jewel of Macau Tourism.

Macau is often mentioned in the same breath as Hong Kong – both are assimilated trading posts from a bygone age. They are merely 35 miles apart, each lying on opposite sides of the mouth of the Pearl River. Both are far more entrenched in Western culture and capitalism than the rest of the region. And both are tiny fortresses surrounded by the “real” China, vastly different entities that happen to share a common country.

The first thing many people notice about Macau China is how clean it is. The tidiness carries over into everything here - the Macau casinos are famous for it, but it’s the rest of the city that splays out a testament to order and hygiene. The majority of historical sites in Macau have been immaculately restored too, especially the ancient villas and churches – the most obvious reminder that this land was once under European rule. Until 1999, in fact, when the Portuguese finally returned their long-standing prize back to its rightful owners.

There are a number of tours for visitors that will take through the aging sites of the city – the ruins of the church of St. Paul, Monte Fort, Guia Fort, St. Domingo’s Church and the Loyal Senate are some of the best of what remains of Portuguese culture, subtly intertwined with 15^th century temples and ultra-modern buildings. The Macau Museum of Art is one of the finest in China, while the Macau Wine Museum attempts to educate the uninitiated with tastings and lessons in differentiating between famous wines.

August 1st, 2008

I had a week in Tokyo before starting the clock ticking on my three week Japan rail pass. For the first three nights I stayed at the excellent “K’s House” hostel in Asakusa, sleeping in the smallest bedroom I’ve ever been in - the room was exactly the same size as the little bed, plus just a slither of carpet to step on to. Because I hadn’t realised that my first weekend in Tokyo was a Japanese national holiday, my next accommodation options after that were limited to four nights in a capsule hotel, or a bed in a dorm further out in Ikebukuro, which I went for.

The distance from central Tokyo didn’t really matter, since the city’s rail network is so good - Ikebukuro is the second busiest train station in the world (second to Shinjuku, one overland stop down), and once I had the hang of the Tokyo underground, getting around the city was very easy and quick.

Shinjuku station at rush hour is a sight to behold, and trying to buy a ticket and find the right platform seemed an impossible task at first, but somehow was actually pretty easy, and there was never even any queuing. Incredibly, even at rush hour there’s a lot less hassle and shunting than somewhere like Kings Cross at the best of times. It must be a marvel of planning and people-flow design with an average 3.64 million people passing through every day.

On the same night we managed to find the GoldenGai area near Shinjuku, where a network of narrow streets are crammed full with tonnes of miniature bars - most with space for only three or four customers. We ended the night in Rappongi, the expat ‘playground’ of Tokyo, which was a disappointment, the only place where you get hassled on the street - by pushy club promoters and prostitutes.

August 9, 2008

One of the most popular facets of a Chinese vacation is a side-trip to Hong Kong for a couple days. With all of the Hong Kong hotels available, lodging will be the least of your worries. Bright and eager to please, Hong Kong China is a unique and fascinating glimpse at the collision of Western and Eastern cultures, of capitalism and communism, of ancient values mixed with the mores of the modern world.

At first glance, Hong Kong China can put more than a few people off – it can appear like some kind of post-apocalyptic shopping mall, especially at night. But Hong Kong travel continues to be such a well-liked option because of the varied options you have within the tiny region. While shopping and dining out at a Hong Kong restaurant are still the are still the pillars for any great experience here, often overlooked are the burgeoning arts scene and the many natural wonders that expand a Hong Kong China vacation into a well-rounded trip that has something for just about everyone.

One of the nicest things for many looking into Hong Kong travel is the inclusion of the English language into most aspects of life. Everywhere on menus and street signs, a large portion of the population here (though 95% Chinese) speak impeccable English. And while Hong Kong tourism can provide plenty of culture shock, much of it won’t be due to the inability to communicate.

Hong Kong itself is divided into four main areas – Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. Though each have a vital and long-standing role in Hong Kong tourism, most visitors spend the majority of their time in the densely populated area of Kowloon. This is where the action is: hundreds of bars and clubs, Hong Kong restaurants and hotels line the crowded streets, remaining active well into the early hours of the morning. But savvy visitors know that Kowloon is not the entirety of Hong Kong travel. Though the bright lights and frenetic pace will appeal to most, those looking for a more nature-specific vacation will not be disappointed by what the islands have to offer. If you’re traveling around for the first time, you’ll want to grab a map of Hong Kong so you’ll have a better idea of the area.

First and foremost is Hong Kong Island, which is home to the majestic Victoria Peak. But if you venture even further from the main areas, these is even more natural splendor to enjoy. The Outlying Islands number well past 200, and hold a majestic array of beaches, ranging anywhere from resort-like to hidden stretches of sand where you’ll be hard pressed to find another tourist (at least during the week). Throughout the hundreds of islands, however, only four of them offer easy access and enough attractions to entertain most tourists. Easily approached by ferry from Kowloon or Hong Kong Island, these islands also offer some of the best hiking in all of China – most of the trails can be found in the sparsely populated Lantau Island, while the rest are on Lamma Island. Lamma is the closest to central Hong Kong China in both proximity and cultural landscape – it’s a smaller scale version of the excitement of the big city, an urban atmosphere immediately surrounded by all the natural beauty that Hong Kong has to offer.

But many travelers never leave Kowloon – it’s not the center of Hong Kong tourism for nothing. For less than $50 a day, you can see everything the city has to offer, plus eat world-renowned seafood at any decent Hong Kong restaurant – as long as you don’t mind staying in a budget hotel. But with all the sights and sounds the city has to offer, who cares where you stay?