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Tags: Bizarre Foods / Food Travel / Spas / BBQ / → All Tags

Sweat It Out in a Sauna While You BBQ Your Meats

This week's Bizarre Foods saw host Andrew Zimmern visiting the weirder side of Seoul, South Korea, where the emphasis was on undercooked foods – and by undercooked, we mean still moving.

We're fans of fried octopus, but not when it's cooked just to the point that the tentacles are still squirming around as you pick them up with chopsticks. And no, we're not so comforted by the knowledge that dipping them in sesame oil helps stop the suckers from gripping onto the inside of your mouth. Ack! Once you mention a food item "gripping onto the inside of your mouth," we've pretty much lost our appetite.

The same goes for mudfish, which sound pretty unappetizing already, and don't get any more so when we see they're tossed into the soup still flipping around. We like to eat after the food has lost all chance of jumping out of the bowl.

But one place we were taken with was Zimmern's stop at a charcoal BBQ/sauna. Yes, you can work up an appetite while relaxing inside a steam room, and then order up a tableful of BBQ meats – all barely cooked of course. Now that's more like it. How long before a BBQ/sauna opens in New York?

Related Stories:
· South Korea Travel Guide [Travel Channel]
· Lounging In The Jjimjilbang Is As Cool As It Sounds [Jaunted]
· Drinking Dirt Soup and Banana Beer in Tanzania [Jaunted]

[Photo: Travel Channel]

Tags: Korea Travel / Seoul / Asia Travel / Hair Cuts / → All Tags

Seoul May Be A Notoriously Expensive City, but Haircuts are Only $15

In South Korea, where vanity is not a sin but a lifestyle, it is not uncommon for people to go in for a weekly haircut in order to maintain a their preferred look. As a result, Seoul is one place where you are always guaranteed to score an awesome hairdo at a hip salon for under $15; it's a favorite economical sort of pampering.

Feeling adventurous, we tried out this trend in the chair at Leechard ProHair in the Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul, an area known for its high-heel hockers in the day and clubgoers at night.

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Prada's Tetrahedron 'Transformer' Building?

Remember last year and the press buzz around that traveling capsule of brand vanity created by Zaha Hadid and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, called "Mobile Art?" Citing weak financials, the structure was grounded and retired after only making it through half of its worldwide stops, but apparently this has only inflamed rival Prada with more desire to carry out a copycat project.

Currently under construction on the ground of the Gyeonghui Palace in central Seoul, South Korea, is what is being called the Prada "Transformer." A tetrahedron-shaped structure designed by the architect behind their revolutionary Manhattan store, Rem Koolhaas, the temporary building will not be traveling like the Chanel orb, but will instead be firmly grounded in Seoul from March through August. Should the 65-foot tall structure prove popular however, there is rumor that it could be carted to a few more cities badly in need of a luxury goods injection.

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Tags: Exotic Cuisine / Korea Travel / Markets / → All Tags

Eating Toasted Octopus Chips At The Ssamziegil Market

Buried in the heart of Seoul's cultural village of Insadong is the striking postmodern structure of Ssamziegil Market, an open-air shopping plaza housing the best of both modern and traditional South Korea. It's a local haunt for the most part, meaning this complex boasts a rooftop tea house and garden instead of a Starbucks--although there are plenty other Starbucks in Seoul--and thrives on locally-grown, seasonal goods.

From the traditional pajon, a seafood pancake eaten during rainy weather, to toasted octopus chips to fish-shaped sweet bean pastries called bungeoppang, Ssamziegil offers a capsule of unique Korean flavors guaranteed to help you reach your gastronomic goals.

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Tags: Plastic Surgery Travel / South Korea Travel / Medical Travel / → All Tags

South Korean Housewives Forced To Live With Fewer Facelifts

The economic crisis won't even spare the real housewives of South Korea: After riding high on Botox and nose jobs, newly frugal plastic surgery aficionados are, ahem, cutting back on procedures as clinics are closing down for lack of business.

In Seoul, where The New York Times reports there are more than 600 plastic surgery clinics, 20 or so have already closed, with more posting "for sale" signs in the windows. Says one surgeon:

In hard times, people always cut back on luxuries like eating out, jewelry and plastic surgery. If this is a normal recession, then these desires will eventually get reignited, and our patients will come back.

If this downturn is like the Great Depression, then we are all going to get killed off.

The good news--for those of us spending dollars, anyway--is that South Korea has gotten about 25 percent cheaper in the last six months, as the financial crisis has shored up the value of a buck. And now that you can get more than 1,200 won for a dollar--and clinics are desperate for customers--now might be the time to check out a swanky destination hospital or clinic in Korea.

Related Stories:
· Economy Blunts Korea’s Appetite for Plastic Surgery [NYT]
· Turns Out South Korea Is Just As Shallow As Thailand [Jaunted]
· Plastic Surgery Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: DanMelinger]

Tags: Christmas Alternatives / Christmas / South Korea Travel / Winter Travel / → All Tags

Seoul Says Celebrate Here

When we plan a Christmas getaway, Seoul isn't the first destination that springs to mind, but the South Korean tourism peeps are telling us it should be.

About 15 percent of Koreans are Christian--and with 60 percent saying they don't belong to any religion at all, that's a fair chunk of believers--so the whole Christmas thing doesn't get ignored like it would in neighboring Asian countries.

On the contrary: There's plenty of Christmas shopping to be done at the big Seoul malls like Lotte World, you can skate on the outdoor ice rink that opens December 12 and at night you can admire the "Lucevista" street lights through the city center.

But the weirdest bit is Piano Street. In true Korean techno-geek style they're installing a road-sized piano keyboard and while you stroll around admiring the Christmas lights, your feet will be playing a tune--just like in "Big!"

Related Stories:
· Korea Sparkling [Official Site]
· Christmas Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
· Seoul Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: wish I had an SLR]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee / Coffee Shops / → All Tags

Starbucks Alternatives: The Coffee Mill

In Seoul, where the locals generally prefer their morning brew to be of the hazelnut-flavored and watery persuasion, finding a decent cup of coffee can be an endeavor. Cafes here are often pricey with plush, tacky decor, so stumbling upon a simple spot to while away a rainy summer afternoon is even more rare. Which is why we were delighted when we came upon The Coffee Mill.

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Korea Welcomes the Jeans-Wearing Genies of Jin Air

Flying around South Korea is about to get cheaper and a whole lot cooler, after the weekend's announcement that Jin Air will be the promised budget offshoot of Korean Air. Flights start on July 17, and major routes will include flights from Seoul to the southwest city of Busan, and on to the holiday capital of Jeju Island.

The powers that be were going to call the new airline Air Korea but they must've had a marketing consultant in, because they have a ton of good reasons for going with Jin Air instead. One: Jin can mean "truth" and "sincerity"--nice qualities for an airline. Two: Jin also means jeans, and that's what the flight staff will be wearing, plus T-shirt. Very hip.

And three: By extension, the airline's already calling the crew jini because it makes them sound like magical genies who can do everything.

Related Stories:
· Korean Air's Budget Arm Named Jin Air [Korea Times]
· Korean Air Gets Busy [Jaunted]
· South Korea Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Korea Times]

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Top Model Alumna Eats Across Seoul

In honor of the fact that we've finally been able to peel ourselves away from America's Next Top Model (not even one episode watched this season!), we're bringing you a little blast from the ANTM past. Season 1 contestant Elyse Sewell is currently modeling in Seoul, having already worked in Osaka, Hong Kong, Paris, and other popular drop-offs for her waify kin.

The above video is her ode to the food of Seoul, as set to the Nightcrawlers' "The Little Black Egg." The best part is, naturally, when she gets to that famous chopped up, still-wriggling octopus. So that's the model diet secret we've been missing out on!

Related Stories:
· Seoul coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Biking / Active Travel / → All Tags

Cycling Catching on in South Korea

Seoul's streets are a traffic-clogged melee of taxis, commuters and scootering delivery boys--a place where rules appear to be absent and the sight of cars rolling down the sidewalk is fairly common. It goes without saying, then, that cycling in the city is taking your life into your hands. But when gas is up, you gotta do what you gotta do.

In response to climbing oil prices, says the JoongAng Daily, South Koreans are taking a more active interest in greener options. CJ Mall, a Korean shopping site, reported selling over 1,000 bicycles just in the last month, the most popular of which was a $480 folding bike made by Strida.

Seoul and several other South Korean cities even hold their own "Critical Mass"--a loosely organized monthly parade of urban cyclists that takes place worldwide. (Though the "mass" looks to be pretty scant compared with rides in New York or Chicago.)

If you're feeling brave, fold out your ride and roll with the other Seoul cyclists this weekend; they meet every third Saturday of the month in front of the Kwanghwamun gate at 4 pm sharp.

Related Stories:
· High Oil Prices Push People to Buy Green [JoongAng]
· Critical Mass Korea [Official Site]
· South Korea Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ki-young Choi]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Buildings / Monuments / → All Tags

Koreans Mourn Lost National Treasure

South Koreans are still reeling after the nation's number one national treasure burned to its foundation early this week. The tragedy left locals and expats alike heartbroken amid Lunar New Year celebrations, and we're still shaking our heads in disbelief.

The Sungnyemun gate was more than 600 years old and had survived numerous foreign invasions and the Korean War--but it couldn't withstand the wrath of one crazy old man. Chae Mo, 69, apparently lit the wooden structure ablaze to draw attention to a personal land dispute. The kicker? Chae told police he had originally thought about attacking the subway system, but decided against it because he didn't want to hurt anybody--what a nice guy!

After an uproar about the lack of proper protection for the gate, the head of South Korea's cultural heritage administration turned in his resignation. The gate, which is more commonly referred to as Namdaemun, was near one of Korea's most famous open-air markets.

Related Stories:
· Fire Destroys Ancient Gate to Seoul [IHT]
· Suspect Admits to Sungnyemun Arson [The Marmot]
· Where Is Seoul's Namdaemun Gate? [Jaunted]
· Korea coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: hojusaram]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Buildings / Monuments / Google Maps / → All Tags

Where Is Seoul's Namdaemun Gate?

An overnight fire all but destroyed one of Korea's national treasures, the 610-year-old Namdaemun Gate. There's no official word on what caused the fire, but rumors of arson are swirling.

The landmark was off-limits to tourists for nearly a century until the government re-opened it in 2006. We can totally see it being a site for The Amazing Race, set as it is in the center of a roundabout in the heart of modern bustling Seoul.

Related Stories:
· Fire Destroys South Korean Landmark [AP, via Google]
· South Korean Gate Destroyed in Fire [NYT]
· Korea's Number One National Treasure Burns [The Daily Transit]
· South Korea Travel coverage [Jaunted]