Jooch Journal｜就是…散记 – Page 8 – Travel. Food. Design. Thoughts.

Travel | 旅游

Finland. Saariselka.

2015 Dec. Finland. Saariselka.

Saariselka was a short bus ride from Rovaniemi. When we arrived at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, we were greeted by the resident Santa Claus! This guy is pretty good, came in complete package with nicely decorated house, a wife, reindeer on leash outside, and working elves. Far more convincing and superior than the rip off guy at Santa Claus Village gift shop that EU Holidays “brought us” to for photoshoot, who did not even wear proper matching pants and charged 20€ for a photo. Oh well, that’s “get real” commercial Christmas magic, ho ho ho. 果真是做戏得要做全套，赞！:)

Had a simple but nicely prepared 3-course set dinner provided for the group by the resort. A creamy vegetable soup, followed by fish main course, and completed with berry mousse dessert. I guess it is all about luck when it comes to hotel food, some can be so bad but some can offer such delightful surprise! Continue Reading

Food | 饮食, Travel | 旅游

Finland. Rovaniemi.

2015 Dec. Finland. Rovaniemi.

Flew in to Rovaniemi from Helsinki, and was greeted by the stunningly gorgeous white winter landscape. So cool and excited, I’m in Lapland, the Arctic Circle! I really want to see the aurora!

Food | 饮食, Travel | 旅游

Dining in Helsinki

2015 Dec. Finland. Dining in Helsinki.

Before the trip, friends were telling me Nordic food is boring, and I am gonna eat salmon, salmon and salmon. It didn’t help when on the first day upon arrival, the local tour guide shared that Finland is not big on farming and local produce is very limited. Undeterred and determined to make a good trip with good food memories, I did my homework and made several reservations at recommended restaurants in Helsinki before the trip. Continue Reading

Food | 饮食, Travel | 旅游

Finland. Helsinki.

2015 Dec. Finland. Helsinki.

Experiencing the beautiful white winter wonderland and Christmas magic in Arctic Circle was a memorable experience. I had initially planned to fly to Moscow and then travel to Finland by train, only to find out that travelling to Moscow in Dec is a really bad idea. Changed my plans and went on a packaged tour with EU Holidays instead due to cost and logistic considerations, my first taste of packaged tour, and hopefully the last too. 🙂

Flew in to Helsinki and arrived really early in the morning. Had a cuppa and bought local sim card and data plan at the airport, before the tour bus took us into Helsinki city centre at daybreak. The changing light conditions at dawn was simply gorgeous.

Thoughts ｜随想

Launch｜启动

2016 April 1st. Singapore

Jooch Journal is finally launched today! And yes, the date 1st April is deliberate, can’t think of a better time than April Fool’s Day to do it. Hope the blog will not end up being a joke however. 🙂 For a start, I have written on my recent trip to Taiwan. I will continue to periodically post photo travelogue of my previous and future trips to other parts of the world. Hope you will enjoy my posts and photos. Feel free to keep your comments coming, I may entertain and reply you sometimes if I am very free, haha. Special call out to my old time IT guru friend J, without whom this computer idiot would never possibly figure out how to set up a blog. 🙂

就是散记，隆重面世！咚咚咚锵！🎉💐🍻💝

About｜关于

Genesis | 缘起

Travel | 旅游

花東。完结篇。

2016 Mar. Taiwan. Hualien & Taitung.

自在随性没规划地在台湾花東地區玩了12天，看到了美丽的山林、峡谷、村镇、田园、溪流、海洋，途中遇到了很多热情友善的人，也尝到了很多好吃的美食。珍惜这次很不一样的旅游体验，希望以后还能继续有这样的时间、心境、和体力，到处乱走作深度旅游！

Food | 饮食, Travel | 旅游

台東。美食攻略。

2016 Mar. Taiwan. Taidong.

林家臭豆腐。非常好吃的臭豆腐，炸得很脆。泡菜加了九层塔很香，醬汁也好吃，份量蛮少的，应该直接干脆点大份的。这家好吃到我连续吃了两晚，要知道肚子的容量有限而且美食这么多，让我想再吃一次，足以见其分量。台东县真的是每个地方都有很好吃的臭豆腐，各有特色。

Travel | 旅游

台東。

2016 Mar. Taiwan. Taitung (Taidong).

从花东纵谷來到了台东市，看到了也触摸到了太平洋，真是舒服！原本没做好功课，不知道要住在火车站附近还是住在市区，所以到了台东扛着背包走了好几公里，到处找住宿。才发现火车站离市区真的很远，而且周围只有民宿却没什么商店，非常不方便。最后決定住在市区，比较热闹而且有很多好吃的。建议来台东玩但没开车的朋友，还是住在市区好。

Food | 饮食, Travel | 旅游

池上。美食攻略。

2016 Feb. Taiwan. Chishang + Guanshan

池上最出名的就是产好米，所以来到池上一定要吃池上饭包。这家“池上饭包文化故事馆”的悟饕飯包经营得最有规模，人气很旺，已经成了旅游景点。第一次点了传统古早味，打开饭盒发现是水煮的肉片，不怎么合我的口味，不甘愿第二次再来点了炸鸡腿，这才对味像我爱吃的便当。第三次来单点了粉炸排骨，也好吃！

Travel | 旅游

池上。

2016 Feb. Taiwan. Chihshang (Chishang)

今天来到池上，台湾最好的顶级好米都产自这里。池上饭包是池上的特产，我还没找到住宿，就到「池上飯包文化故事館」报到，先吃了再说。饭包的特点是使用池上米制作并以木盒盛裝，日据时期的第一代饭包是以竹叶包裹饭团搭配卤肉、黃萝卜、烤肉乾、豬肝、瘦肉片、一小块蛋饼、炸虾饼及梅子等配菜而成。往返花東的火车乘客经过池上站时都会买来充饥。后来改成木片盒裝便当，才成为今日广为人知的池上饭包样貌。