Journal 3
On days when I don’t have classes or during weekends, I really enjoy going on solo bike rides to explore. Through these little adventures, I’ve tried many restaurants in Minxiong, and a few of them left such a deep impression on me that I feel compelled to share them with you.
The first one is Away Island Cafe.
Their fried chicken curry rice 🍛 is absolutely delicious! The set meal even comes with a dessert (purple rice porridge), and for around 260 NTD, you can enjoy a very satisfying and filling meal. Plus, there are dogs in the shop that you can interact with, which is a dream come true for someone like me who loves both curry and dogs. The restaurant doesn’t just serve curry; they also offer salads and cakes.
I can confidently say this was my favorite restaurant in Minxiong.
However, I was heartbroken to recently find out that it has permanently closed and has been replaced by a mala soup restaurant 🥲. I don’t even know how to put into words how devastated I feel—this is undoubtedly the saddest news I’ve had in a while.
The second one is Green bean Bar, a shop that specializes in healthy drinks and desserts.
My favorite is their Taro Purple Rice Milk!
To be honest, I used to avoid drinks with purple rice because I had this stereotype that they wouldn’t taste good. But the moment I took my first sip, I was amazed by the smooth and creamy texture. The sweetness was just right—not overwhelming at all—and I immediately knew I was hooked.
The staff is also very friendly and even checks if the flavor suits your taste. The seating area is super cozy, especially during the cold winter season—it’s so warm inside that you can completely forget about the chill outside.
They also offer a loyalty card, where you can collect stamps to redeem a free drink. I’m currently working hard to fill mine!
In short, I highly recommend you give it a try if you have the chance—you definitely won’t regret it!
The bowl on the side is mini taro balls! Super delicious!
A Little Joy of Returning to Kaohsiung
During this trip back home, my family took us to an all-you-can-eat sukiyaki restaurant. I didn’t have high expectations initially, but it turned out to be surprisingly delicious! They even offered complimentary chef’s specials, like grilled rice balls, salmon ochazuke (rice with green tea), and curry rice bowls. Of course, as a die-hard curry fan, I had to try their curry rice. It was a high-quality beef curry rice dish—the beef was perfectly stewed, blending seamlessly with the rich curry. The curry itself had just the right consistency—not watery at all—and I absolutely loved it!
As for the sukiyaki, it was incredibly well-prepared. The attention to detail was impressive, and you could even get unlimited refills on eggs. The meat was tender and juicy, making the entire experience feel like pure happiness. And guess what? It only cost a little over 500 NTD per person!
I found it to be an amazing deal compared to other chain all-you-can-eat restaurants that often charge 800-900 NTD per person but don’t offer nearly the same quality or variety. Honestly, I’m amazed by how generous this restaurant is—it’s so good that I wonder if they can even make a profit!
Here’s the restaurant info. If you have the chance, definitely go check it out—you’re guaranteed to be pleasantly surprised!
花葵壽喜（07 215 9235）
After the meal, my parents took me to Kaohsiung Arena for shopping. It’s been such a long time since we last strolled and chatted together, so I truly cherished this moment.
We wandered around the mall, occasionally stopping to look at clothes, interesting gadgets, or fun displays. It suddenly hit me how much I missed this kind of family time—something so simple yet so warm and meaningful.
While walking, we talked about all sorts of things, like how life has been recently, funny memories from the past, and even small things like our favorite snacks. The atmosphere was so relaxed and carefree, and for a moment, all my stress seemed to melt away.
Even though it was just a simple outing, it reminded me of the comfort and joy of being with family. Now that I no longer live at home, moments like this feel especially precious. Spending time walking and chatting with my parents has become one of the greatest blessings in my life.
Charity Concert
I'd like to share an event that recently became one of the most meaningful experiences for me—the charity concert organized by the Guitar Club.
In my sophomore year, I finally gathered the courage to join the Guitar Club. It was a completely new challenge for me, and at first, I was really hesitant. But now, I’m so grateful for that decision because the Guitar Club feels like one big family.
I’m not only a member of the club but also part of the school’s official guitar team, which comes with more responsibilities—like performing and designing posters. For the charity concert, the club officers and we, as the school guitar team, put in a lot of effort to prepare.
The part that left the deepest impression on me was making the large event banner. It was my first time interacting more closely with the club members, and through this, I got to know many of the freshmen. The process was tiring, to say the least. The banner was huge, so we had to lay it flat on the floor, running back and forth to work on it. Even though it was winter, I ended up sweating a lot!
I was responsible for cutting paper and taping parts of the banner. Although it was exhausting, it felt so worth it when I saw the finished product. The sense of accomplishment was incredible. The banner was eventually displayed in the central courtyard of the activity center, and every time I walked past it, I felt proud, remembering all the sweat and effort we put into making it.
Of course, as part of the school guitar team, we also had the chance to perform during the charity concert.
I formed a band and practiced with my group tirelessly—even at 9 a.m. sometimes!
Finally, we successfully delivered our performance at the concert.
Honestly, my past experiences with band performances weren’t always great—sometimes there was conflict among members, or I didn’t like the songs we were performing. But this time, everything felt perfect. My bandmates were all amazing people, and we built such a strong bond through our shared experiences. We even hung out together for meals and late-night snacks after practices.
This whole journey made me even more thankful for my decision to join the Guitar Club. I’m truly happy and feel like I made the most of this semester. I met so many new friends from different departments and years. Most of all, I’m grateful to the version of myself who dared to step out of her comfort zone—you’re the best!
The photo of our band
The finished look of the poster!
Hope you enjoy my journal!
Feel free to leave any comments <3