D-Mart - The Convenience Mart with More Affordable Bottled Water! @ Sun World Ba Na Hills in Danang [Vietnam]

Now, don't get wrong. I love my 2-night stay at Vietnam highland resort of Sun World Ba Na Hills in Da Nang City but there's one thing I can't stand; the pricing of bottled water where one 500-ml can set me back by 50,000 dong (about S$2.50)! 

Coming from Singapore, this was literally exorbitant, and it didn't help that we were trained from young to constantly hydrate ourselves. Hence, I had almost given up on hydrating (not so keen on boiling tap water) when we chanced upon the above; a convenience store by the name of D-Mart.

Located at a corner that would not likely be stumbled upon by day visitors, it's your typical mini mart from a neighbourhood, albeit a more structured one with wider aisles and brighter lights. 

You can get your typical snacks; not exactly cheap for the local Vietnamese but for Singaporeans who are accustomed to bring elevated import pricings, they didn't come as a big shock, especially at a resort built for tourists. 

The one thing that attracted me were the line of bottled water! The price of a 500-ml was literally half-priced and there was option for a 1.5-liter bottle at 50,000 dong! Not that economical compared to even Singapore but to put it bluntly, I am saving 66% off, and with that in mind; I grabbed two 1.5-liter bottles! 

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Address

Next to Hotel De Toulouse,

Sun World Bana Hills,

Da Nang, Vietnam

Map

As above.

胖胖干贝烧 - Torched Scallops @ Yizhong Market, Taichung in Taiwan

I usually resist from having seafood like squid and scallops at night markets given the higher risk of food poisoning but I can't stop myself from moving towards the above stall, as the aroma w

as just so irresistible! 

Looking plump and juicy, and the fact that it wasn't starch heavy like rice, bread, noodles; I decided to splurge on a stick of scallops, with a sincere prayer that my stomach shall turn into a tummy of steel.

With three flavors to choose from, original, salt and cheese; I guess it's a no brainer that given the same price, it would always feel more "worth" to go with cheese. 

Smeared with two types of cheese and torched into a melty consistency, this had all the natural, seafood flavour of scallops, and honestly; I was expecting a cheesier flavour. Good as it was, but don't expect the experience to be spectacular.

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Address

Within Yizhong Market,

Yizhong St, North District, 

Taichung City, Taiwan

Pricing

Torched Scallops - NT$60

Click HERE for 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip: Summarised Itinerary for Chiayi Alishan (嘉义阿里山) - Kaohsiung (高雄) - Tainan (台南) - Taichung (臺中)

胖子雞丁雞排 - Fatty Chicken Cubes and Cutlet @ Yizhong Market in Taichung [Taiwan]

I relied heavily on food recommendations from Taiwanese variety shows when I was planning my Taiwan 2025 trip, and one of them was for 胖子雞丁雞排 (Fatty Chicken Cubes and Cutlet) at Yizhong market in Taichung City.

It was almost 9.30pm; hence, I wasn't expecting much of a queue. The visual display of the food in front of me reminded me that should Singapore's health minister be at Yizhong, he would likely frown upon view the deep fried products! 

Anyway, recommendation was said to be the boneless chicken cubes but they were sold out! Hence, I had to relegate to the common chicken cutlet again, which was sliced into smaller, longish pieces.

Was it the weather? I couldn't know for sure but this steaming hot chicken cutlet (with bones) was delicious! Addictive batter that didn't feel heavy, not cloying, not oily, and the chicken was tenderly juicy. Alex was persuaded to take a small bite, and before I knew it; he finished half the pack, and kept praising "this was good"!

You might not believe it but we actually returned the very next day for the boneless chicken cubes! Given that it was just about 4pm, I think it would be safe to say we shouldn't have much problem securing a pack. 

And we did. 

Surprisingly, we didn't quite like them. Maybe the expectation was too high since the cutlet was so unforgettable. While the chicken filling retained the same tenderness and juiciness; the taste was saltier and overall unimpressionable. 

Well, well, well. Alex insisted.

And we were back for the 3rd time. 

Verdict; the cutlet was 1001% better than the chicken cubes and for the utmost satisfaction, do ask for the whole chicken cutlet, without slices, without cuts. To be fair, it wasn't just the chicken cutlet that made us return; the stinky tofu stall next door played a part too! 

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Address

No. 20, Yizhong St, North District, 

Taichung City, Taiwan

Map

As above.

Menu (in Chinese)

As above.

Pricing

Chicken Cutlet - NT$80

Chicken Cubes - NT$80

Click HERE for 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip: Summarised Itinerary for Chiayi Alishan (嘉义阿里山) - Kaohsiung (高雄) - Tainan (台南) - Taichung (臺中)

Surroundings of the National Taiwan Museum of Comics (國家漫畫博物館) @ Taichung City in Taiwan

While looking at Google Maps for attractions near our accommodation at Taichung City, Tea Way Hotel, I chanced upon an interesting place; National Taiwan Museum of Comics (國家漫畫博物館).

Now, I am not much of a museum lover although I do love comics books in my teen years and my grasp of traditional Chinese characters actually came from comic books printed in Taiwan. Hence, I decided to check out the place during my morning jog!

What appeared in front of me was more like a cluster of Japanese buildings but it might surprise you that the museum was constructed on prison grounds hailing from the year 1937! 

My intention was only to show you the surroundings of this open concept museum, with 20 buildings (one 1 is new), that has no admission tickets! Surroundings only because my jog was at 8am; way before the operating hours at 10am! 

Good thing for me as it was so quiet and peaceful and I literally have the whole museum grounds to myself. It was kind of weird though; don't Taichung people exercise in the morning? Or it is more an evening thing?

The grounds were so nicely manicured; you would have thought the buildings were all newly built. Comprising an area stretching 90 meters by 200 meters, the only thing lacking might just be people dressed in traditional Japanese attire to bring me back to the 1930s. 

Given that Taiwan was colonized by the Japan for 50 years, culture and even building architecture were somewhat affected, and I am just glad that Taiwan decided to keep these buildings, rather than demolishing them to remove any traces of colonization, deemed to be shameful in some countries. 

I am not an artsy person and don't really get this.

Does it mean the land shall be open for all? 

Looking more like a temple, I understand it was the Budokan Martial Arts Hall, which was "used by prison officials for martial arts training, including swordsmanship and judo". 

How I know? The information pillar above.

Themed activities.

p.s. this was in 2025.

Okay, I am not exactly alone with a group of elderlies exercising using the tai-chi technique. Anyway, I am not too far off from taichi exercises; someone just reminded me I am reaching my give five zero soon! 

The majestic trees and bamboos; while nice for an outsider, I always feel that it can be quite eerie to have trees towering over the house, especially when night falls. Coming from a person who has lived in the village, I had to admit urban life is totally for me. 

OMG, this reminded me of those traditional Japanese dwellings in mangas! Imagine seeing characters of crayon shin chan and doraemon sitting / standing on the wooden patios.

This had an outlook of a prison; dull, without many windows.

p.s. it's actually the information center.

Remnants of a gate, with even a letter slot, that used to contain a house? Even though this is the National Taiwan Museum of Comics, I thought it would be nice to touch on the history, and maybe even before and after pictures for comparison.

Spot the cats! These elements actually liven up the museum concept, and could appeal to visitors who accompany friends to the museum, yet not entirely interested in comics. 

They could also take pictures with these silhouettes of warring parties. From the wordings on them, it appeared that comic companies are the main sponsors, likely in the likeness of characters in comic books published by them.

A scene from the comic,  Ichthyophobia (怕魚的男人).

Author: Li Lung-chieh (李隆杰). 

While the museum concentrates on Taiwanese comics, I would recommend this place for those who are keen to immerse themselves in Japanese buildings built almost a hundred years ago, and enjoy the chillax environment. Of course, visiting in winter is definitely an advantage. 

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Address

No. 33, Linsen Rd, West District, 

Taichung City, Taiwan 

Map

As above.

Website

https://www.ntmc.gov.tw/home/zh-tw

Museum Directory

As above.

Click HERE for 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip: Summarised Itinerary for Chiayi Alishan (嘉义阿里山) - Kaohsiung (高雄) - Tainan (台南) - Taichung (臺中)