Jaunted - seoul

Foreign Grocery Friday: The French Fry-Encrusted Corn Dogs of Seoul, South Korea

JetSetCD — 2011-12-09T12:10:14-05:00

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!

American amusement parks and state fairs could learn a thing or two from the way South Korea has mastered hot dogs. They're available in every way, including spiral cut, wrapped in bacon, stewed in a curryish chili paste, and nearly tempura-ed with vegetables. Even some rice cakes, like Ddeokbooki, imitate hot dogs. Still, our personal favorite remains the infamous french fry-coated corn dog.

These deep-fried snacks usually figure into visitor's breathless descriptions of Seoul, a little like this: "The palaces! The shopping! And the ice cream cones...they were this tall. And and and the corn dogs were covered in french fries!!"

The First Duty-Free Louis Vuitton Store is Coming to Seoul's Incheon Airport

JetSetCD — 2010-12-07T08:33:48-05:00

There is no airport we've been to thus far that has more focus on duty-free shopping than Seoul, South Korea's Incheon International. Not only is there what seems like mile after mile of top luxury brands offering their products in mini version of their regular store, but there's even malls in the center of Seoul where you can go to purchase duty-free items and later (even weeks later) pick them up at the airport. We have a friend in Seoul whose family will even take short international flights just for the purpose of getting duty-free deals. That's dedication.

Incheon Airport has proved itself to be such a moneymakers for big brands that Louis Vuitton who just do not do airport stores, has given in and will open their first airport location here. LVMH prez Bernard Arnault personally swing through the airport earlier this year to check out the prospects, and apparently all met with his approval. Although there's no opening date set, the airport is already taking about increasing flights to China just because of the demand the LV duty-free shop will create.

Foreign Grocery Friday: Pocari Sweat Across Asia

JetSetCD — 2010-08-27T15:31:00-05:00

Once you've sipped your first Pocari Sweat, you'll never go back. That is, back to thinking it's gross because of its name or weird because it's a completely clear sports drink. Tasting Pocari Sweat is a right of passage for travelers. We snapped the pics here of a Pocari Sweat vending machine on the ground of Seoul, South Korea's Gyeongbokung Palace.

The taste: If you aren't daunted by the name of the drink and you actually allow the clear liquid over your lips, you'll discover that Pocari Sweat tastes nothing like you imagine it would. It's not salty-sweaty, it's not watery and it's not super syrupy either. The taste is lightly citrus and is best likened to those Gatorade waters, if they were only available in a grapefruit flavor.

Be a Buddhist Monk for a Day on a New Korean Air Templestay

JetSetCD — 2010-05-12T17:04:30-05:00

Amidst the high rises and shiny modern department department stores in the middle of modern-day Seoul, South Korea, sit a few quiet vestiges of the past. These are the traditional temples, dotted around the city and the rest of the country, whose short-term "Templestay" programs allow South Koreans to both explore their cultural heritage and escape from their hectic routines.

Our Korean friends have done them and we were totally jealous, but now—thanks to Korean Air working out a deal—foreigners will be welcome to enjoy these brief Buddhist lifestyle-focused breaks as well. Korean Air is offering 24-hour templestays, which envelop you in the life of a Buddhist monk, complete with a ritual ‘Dado’ tea ceremony, ‘Chameson’ meditation, 'Yebul' ceremonial chant, "Baru Gongyang’ silent communal meal and a tour of the Temple.

Find out more on how to sleep with the monks here, and we'll see you at the temple!

Related Stories:
· Templestays [Hanjin Travel]
· Korean Air Launches Templestays Programme for Foreigners [AsiaTravelTips]
· South Korea Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jaunted]

No Soju And Karaoke For Obama In South Korea

JetSetCD — 2009-11-23T13:21:23-05:00

After some tense days in China, President Obama puddle-jumped up to South Korea, opening the flood gates to jokes about how Obama's got Seoul.

But, like in China and Tokyo, Obama wasn't about to hit the karaoke bars or down soju (rice wine); no, he had business to do and soldiers to visit. After meeting with the South Korean president at the historical "Blue House," Obama headed to Osan Air Base to addressed 1,500 US and Korean men in uniform. There would be no trips to the border with North Korea with Barack, since tensions run so high this year. Too bad though; we enjoyed looking at the little barbed wire souvenirs you can buy at the border base at Panmunjom.

Although Obama's first trip to Asia as president was focused on China, he had to give some attention to South Korea. It's a good thing he didn't bring the family though, since we doubt Malia and Sasha would have liked eating living, wriggling octopus tentacles.

Related Stories:
· Commander-in-Chief Obama shares stories with U.S. troops in Korea [LA Times]
· Obama's S. Korea visit free of major protests [Washington Times]
· Obama Around The World [Jaunted]

[Photo: AP/WashingtonTimes]

Sweat It Out in a Sauna While You BBQ Your Meats

BS — 2009-04-22T12:31:20-05:00

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]

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

JetSetCD — 2009-01-23T10:07:56-05:00

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.