Boarding Gate 101

I spent most my childhood, outside of school, hanging around the market in my hometown. My grandparents's house, where I stayed until I was in first grade, was located near the public market, so I grew up with the tiangge  as my playground. It probably is the reason why I am more at ease with the hustle and bustle of urban areas, especially while traveling.  Maybe because of that that I kind of felt right at home exploring the night markets of Taipei during a trip there late last year. I was able to explore two night markets: one in Jin Liang St., and the other (the more famous of the two), in Shilin. Jin Liang is right across my hostel and very near Taipei 101 , so I spent a longer time there. Just point and pray your digestive system is strong enough Night markets are a mostly Asian phenomenon, usually occurring where Chinese migrants congregate, like chinatowns. The open-air markets are usually composed of stalls placed on the sidewalks and streets, wit...

I realized that I still have tons of photos that I took during my travels that I haven't posted. Starting now I am going to do a weekly In Pictures post every Friday that visually highlights a certain place that I've been to.  Giant billboards light up the night For today, the In Pictures post will be about Times Square, New York. Dubbed as the "crossroads of the world, it is probably the most famous intersection in the world. Indeed, according to Travel + Leisure magazine, it is the world's most visited tourist attraction.  It is touristy, but it is one of the places that is not to be missed in Manhattan. The bustle of Times Square - at the junction between Broadway Street and 7th Avenue -  is electrifying.  Giant billboards flashing advertisements - for everything from Broadway shows to Manny Pacquiao bouts - and electronic signboards zipping with news and information add a sense of overload that makes being there overwhelming.  ...

An NYPD police car passes a busy intersection in Times Square. 

Motorbikes are primary transportation mode for the locals of Shanghai, and their function go beyond just transporting the rider. Moving over-sized cargo, like this door frame, are included as well. 

Times Square is dubbed the "Crossroads of the World".

A hot dog vendor selling quick lunches - hot dogs in buns, pretzels and drinks - to passers-by in Manhattan

Street scene in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown

Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

Yellow taxi cabs whizzes by in the eternally busy Times Square