|
Some
Suggestions:
Jake's Country Kitchen Restaurant's
American cuisine. As a tradition, Jake's still
offers delicious baked turkey, pumpkin pies
and other seasonal dishes.
705, ZhongShan N. Rd, Sec.6
Call for reservations: (02) 2871-5289, 2872-6295
NanMen Marketplace ZhengShun
Dessert Store has traditional Cantonese dishes,
such as Eight Treasure Rice, sweet osmanthus-filled
pastry, Honey Sweet Ham, and a dessert pack.
(02) 2395-8119
8, LuoSiFu Road, Sec. 1
Business Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
NanMen Marketplace YiZhang Royal
Place specializes in Southern Chinese dishes
such as ShaoXing Chicken, Fly's Head, and Green
Onion Carp,
Business Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
8, LuoSiFu Road, Sec. 1
(02) 2393-0383
Breeze Center supermarket area is a good place
for imported food products. Recently, the prepared
food items have been very popular and dishes
wonderfully cooked in open kitchen are welcomed
by health-conscious customers.
39, FuXing S. Road, Sec. 1
Open all year round 11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays;
11 a.m.-10 p.m. weekends.
Sheraton Taipei Hotel's The
Deli bakery shop is offering a "Party Pack
for take-out", which has delicate pastries,
cookies, and sandwiches to make your party preparations
easy.
12, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 1, 1F
(02) 2321-5858, ext. 8373 (bakery shop)
Business Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Take
a trip
Taking a trip overseas can be another great
option during the Chinese New Year holiday.
However, plan ahead and book your ticket early
as going abroad is high on the list for many.
If you want to experience a traditional Chinese
New Year celebration atmosphere, Hong Kong is
a top choice. It also has a lot to offer when
it comes to shopping, traditional Chinese streets
with festive decorations and special activities
arranged by amusement parks. Please visit http://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/index.jsp
to find out more about 2006 Hong Kong Festival.
Or, take the "In Love with the River"
Queen Cruise, a five-star sightseeing cruise
(Tickets: NT$600 for weekends; NT$500 for weekdays)
to see DanShui River where you can experience
a fascinating cruise trip in your own backyard.
Meet
other singles
However, if you have a tight budget, you can
still have a great time by attending all sorts
of activities arranged by the Taipei City government.
It's said that Taipei City government hosts
the largest-scale New Year's Eve party, which
thousands of people attend to see the fireworks
and performances.
Join social activities and possibly
meet Mr. or Ms. Right. Many people participate
in social activities arranged for singles, as
well as clubs and groups on the web. Joining
such events isn't a bad idea for making new
friends and, who knows, you might even meet
your "better half" there. There are
two groups which both have a long history and
reputation for organizing social activaties
for singles. These are Women in Y, Women in
Touch; and China Youth Corps. Both have years
of experience hosting activities for single
people and joining their activities is also
reasonably-priced. If you're interested in joining
one of these social events, you can call and
ask for more information (see below).
Nevertheless, always be careful.
Try to find out who organizes an event, and
make sure they're legitimate. In addition, to
ensure your own safety, pay attention to where
events are held as well. Open, public areas
are usually your best bet.
China Youth Corps: www.cyc-love.idv.tw
Women in Y, Women in Touch:
(02) 2381-2131; 7, QingDao W Rd, 6F
ywca.taipei@msa.hinet.net; www.ywca-taipei.org.tw
Catch
up with reading
Renowned French writer Montaigne once said that
reading liberated him from gnawing boredom,
adding that there should be enough space for
walking wherever one rests. If you lead a busy
life with endless appointments to attend to,
you might want to take this opportunity to recharge
at home instead of going places. Staying home
and catching up with reading might not be a
bad idea and can be another form of travel.
I'd like to introduce a few interesting books
which discuss singles-related issues.
1. "Sex and The City"
by Candace Bushnell
The stories written by "Sex and The City"
columnist Carrie take place in Manhattan, as
she writes about love, men, sex and relationships,
and things happening around her. The four female
characters in the book all long for the same
thing--a real, satisfying and lasting love relationship.
However, can they find it in New York?
2. "Bridget Jones' Diary"
by Helen Fielding
The main character lists her new year resolutions:
quit smoking, save money, lose weight, learn
to be more giving, be patient with friends and
relatives who seem to always have something
to say about her love life, go to bed early
and rise early, and be mature when dealing with
love relationships. However, as readers find
out, there's a big gap between reality and wishes,
starting on the first day of the new year.
3. "Four Blondes" by Candace Bushnell
"In London, intimate kissing is the down
payment for sex." Thus notes the writer,
who went to London to study sex, to find that
British men may be more responsible than their
American counterparts. However, as the author
also notes, they are lacking in other areas.
4. "Single Earth Person"
by Qing 526
This male version of "Alley McBeal"
is the humorous result of the writer's careful
observation of interactions between men and
women.
Go
Shopping
During the Chinese New Year, department stores
islandwide all come up with sales to lure customers.
Shopping for Chinese New Year goodies is another
must-do on the list. Taipei's DiHua Street is
the most popular market, where people go to
pick up goods from all over the world, from
abalone, prawns, seaweed and mushrooms to all
kinds of traditional Chinese New Year desserts.
Gift sets can also be found here. Even better,
you get to sample all the cuisine there, making
it a great place to come experience the Chinese
New Year atmosphere. Many people bring their
foreign friends here for a cultural tour. Flower
herbal teas and Chinese herbal teas, which have
become popular shopping items, can also be found
on DiHua Street. Not only are prices cheap,
but you can also consult with Chinese pharmacists
to come up with your desired recipe. However,
it is suggested that you only purchase products
which are packed properly, with clear indications
of ingredients and expiration dates.
|
