Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Prince Edward Island full of hidden charms

By Kim Tae-jong PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, Canada ― It’s as if the imaginative, red-haired orphan girl from “Anne of Green Gables” would pop out at any moment and cheerfully say “hello” to anyone who travels here. The setting of the famous book by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, the island preserves its picturesque environment as many would have imagined while reading the book. Prince Edward Island (PEI) may not be a popular destination for Korean travelers and many may not even know where it is. Some may even think it is an imaginary place only existing in the book. Tucked away in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and nestled between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, the smallest island province spans just 280 kilometer from tip to tip with a population of only 141,000 residents. PEI attracts millions of domestic and foreign travelers with scenic coastal and pastoral landscapes and also offers outdoor adventures, culinary delights and a taste of island culture and heritage for visitors to enjoy year round. It also conveys historical importance as it is

Oct 6, 2011

Hotel Lobby

InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort The InterContinental Apensia Pyeongchang Resort has brought in Jacob Yi as its new general manager. A Korean-American, Yi obtained a bachelor’s degree in hotel management at the University of Nevada. He developed his career in sales and marketing in Korea at the Westin Chosun Seoul and Millennium Seoul Hilton. Overseas, he was general manager at Pacific Hotel in California and Warwick Hotel Seattle. Since the opening in December 2009, the first five-star hotel in Gangwon Province has built a strong reputation as a top leisure destination along with world-class sports and entertainment attractions in Alpensia, including golf ranges, ski slopes and a water park. Westin Chosun Seoul Ninth Gate Grille, Westin Chosun Seoul’s international-style brasserie, holds the Trio of Beef promotion through Oct. 16. The promotion serves a combination of beef cuts from three different countries, so that meat lovers can taste all three different beef parts in a single serve. They are Korean top-grade tenderloin, Australian wagyu rib eye wi

Oct 6, 2011By Kim Rahn

Marina Bay Sands dazzles

By Do Je-hae SINGAPORE ― Singapore has long been an of object envy for Korean tourism officials. Tourism in the city-state is a major industry and mainstay of the Singaporean economy, attracting 11,638,663 foreign tourists in 2010, over twice Singapore's total population. There are numerous factors that contribute to the Southeast Asian nation’s indisputable status as a global tourism powerhouse. A dominant success ingredient is the country’s constant drive to evolve its tourism infrastructure, as demonstrated by the establishment of the $8 billion Marina Bay Sands, a giant integrated resort facility that has given Singapore an unprecedented face-lift. Since its opening in April 2010, the Marina Bay Sands has become an icon of Asia’s tourism industry with its innovative design and comprehensive functions. Located in the heart of Singapore’s central business district, it has everything a tourist would want ― a luxury hotel, shopping, theaters, leisure activities, restaurants and casinos among others. Korean builder Ssangyong Engineering and Construction bu

Sep 29, 2011By Do Je-hae

Hotel Lobby

Millennium Seoul Hilton The Oak Room, an English-style bar at the Millennium Seoul Hilton, will host a Halloween promotion throughout October concluding with a Halloween Party on Oct. 28. During the promotion, two Guinness beer sets will be available. Set I includes 4 pints of Guinness draft, one snack dish and a T-shirt at 80,000 won, while Set II offers 2 pints of beer and other benefits for 45,000 won. Especially for the party, the Oak Room will be transformed into a ghoulish den, with the glow of eerie Jack-o’-lanterns and wait staff dressing up in ghostly costumes. For more information, call 02 317-3234. Novotel Ambassador Gangnam As a fall delicacy, natural pine mushrooms are the highlight at the Japanese restaurant Shunmi in the Novotel Ambassador Gangnam through the end of November. A course option featuring nine dishes is priced at 170,000 won, including steamed pine mushrooms in a pot, grilled pine mushrooms, deep fried pine mushrooms, and pine mushroom rice. A la carte menus are also available. Salted grilled pine mushrooms is available at market pri

Sep 29, 2011By Kim Rahn

HACCP trainer guarantees hygiene at Hyatt Incheon

By Kim Rahn Menus at a hotel change at any time to meet various demands from the diversity of guests, so hygiene checks also vary, said a food safety expert. Dennis Lee, HACCP & Quality team manager at the Hyatt Regency Incheon, said all staff members of the hotel need to learn about the hygiene system to prepare the hotel for any food-related hazards. Lee is one of the nation’s two Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) trainers. HACCP is a food safety and hygiene management system designed to prevent hazards. These days many food-related companies and organizations seek to get HACCP certificates, which can be won either from the government or private institutes. The hotel was certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a Norwegian institute, last December. Lee, who played the key role in the hotel’s certification, was appointed as a HACCP trainer by Britain’s Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), an awarding and campaigning body for public health and safety. There are only two HACCP trainers in Korea. The hotel was also designated as a HACCP tr

Sep 29, 2011By Kim Rahn

Club Med Redefines meaning of 'premium resort'

By Nho Joon-hun When it comes to relaxing and having fun, few come close to Club Med, the European resort operator that has been redefining the meaning of a real holiday for more than 40 years. With Club Med’s unique all-inclusive programs, participants can expect stunning locations, superb accommodation, gourmet food, endless bar drinks and snacks, fantastic children's clubs and a multitude of sports and activities. As another unique aspect of Club Med, its staff members are called "GOs," or Gentils Organisateurs (gracious organizers). Clients are "GMs," or Gentils Membres (gracious members). The resorts are referred to as villages and the resort manager is called the “village chief.” Each resort provides an extensive list of services and activities in packages which includes lodging, food, use of facilities, sports activities, games and shows. All of the villages have wide collections of activities, sports, excursions and spa packages. It is a part of spending your day relaxing, participating or exploring the local culture. Interestingly enough, even though Cl

Sep 22, 2011

Autumn festivals in motion to welcome visitors

By Lee Hyo-sik An unexpectedly hot and wet summer winds down and now it’s time for us to venture outside and enjoy what nature has to offer in autumn. Some may want to taste a range of newly-harvested agricultural and fisheries products in every corner of the country. Others may look to engage in a range of outdoor activities with family and friends as the pleasant weather encourages everyone to go outside. Here are two autumn festivals you should check out. Gimje Horizon Festival Under the theme of ``Where the sky meets the land, come to Gimje,’’ the festival, which has been held for the past 13 years, is the perfect opportunity for those who want to see and experience what Korea’s agricultural industry was like in the past. The event will begin on Sept. 29 and continue through Oct. 3. Jeolla Province has been the breadbasket of the country over the centuries and Gimje is an essential part of it. Festival organizers said the event offers a range of programs in which visitors can take part in and experience firsthand what it was like to live as a farmer in Kore

Sep 22, 2011By Lee Hyo-sik

Hotel Lobby

Lotte Hotel Seoul The Lotte Hotel Seoul presents Autumn Travel Packages through Nov. 30. The Simple Package offers a one-night stay in a superior room and Delica Hans bread and coffee takeout, consisting of a choice of two from sandwiches, roll cakes or sponge cakes, two macarons and two cups of coffee. It is priced at 230,000 won, and breakfast for two at La Seine is available for an additional 40,000 won. The Joyful Package features a one-night stay in a deluxe room, breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails for two at the Club Lounge, and Delica Hans bread and coffee takeout, at 340,000 won. Other privileges include free use of the swimming pool and fitness center, a 50 percent discount for the golf practice range, a 20 percent discount on laundry and a 10 percent discount at hotel restaurants. For more information, call 02-759-7311. Hyatt Regency Incheon The Hyatt Regency Incheon has launched a new membership program, Club Vino, which offers a range of benefits and incentives to wine-lovers. The hotel directly imports wines from all over the world and presents

Sep 22, 2011By Kim Rahn

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City opens

By Kim Rahn The skyline of southwestern Seoul now includes a new Sheraton hotel offering a top-tier hotel option in the region with a sky lobby and other high quality facilities. Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel began service on Sept. 16. It is the third Sheraton hotel in Korea, followed by Sheraton Grande Walkerhill and Sheraton Incheon Hotel. While most five-star hotels in the capital are positioned in central or southern Seoul, guests can directly link to Sindorim Station at the newly established D Cube City. Sindorim, along with Guro neighborhood, has been home to small- and medium-sized companies with factories, and D Cube City is a new culture complex providing apartments, department stores, restaurants, shopping and a musical theater. Regarding the unusual location, General Manager David Stewart Cuddon said the hotel will be a new landmark in the area. “We are proud to be the first five-star hotel in southwestern Seoul. Together with Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, we are changing the face of Sindorim and Guro,” he said in a media briefing on Sept. 15. Cuddon ad

Sep 22, 2011By Kim Rahn

Gwangju Kimchi fest to begin Oct. 15

Young chefs to tour 34 nations By Do Je-hae The Gwangju World Kimchi Culture Festival is celebrating its 18th year with a unique tour project designed to promote the face of “hansik,” or Korean food, to the world. The “Kimchi Bus Project” will take several promising chefs in their 20s to 50 cities in 34 countries starting in October. They will initiate various promotional projects in countries including Russia, Iran, Turkey, Italy, France, Canada and the U.S., among others. The bus tour will last for 400 days. The project is the highlight of the five-day festival from Oct. 15 to 19 that has played an important role in enhancing Gwangju’s status as the nation’s Mecca of kimchi. “Through this festival, we hope to let the world know that kimchi is becoming a popular cultural trend in various parts of the world,” said Kim Seong-hoon, head the festival’s organizing committee, during a press conference in Insa-dong, Seoul, Thursday. The former agricultural minister brought his PR team to organize a street campaign in Seoul ahead of the festivities in Gwangju, a three-hour

Sep 16, 2011By Do Je-hae

Travel & Food

Travel & Food

Prince Edward Island full of hidden charms

Hotel Lobby

Marina Bay Sands dazzles

Hotel Lobby

HACCP trainer guarantees hygiene at Hyatt Incheon

Club Med Redefines meaning of 'premium resort'

Autumn festivals in motion to welcome visitors

Hotel Lobby

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City opens

Gwangju Kimchi fest to begin Oct. 15

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