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Samsung Transportation Museum: Trip to the World of Beautiful Cars

By Oleg Kiriyanov Contributing writer From my personal view, Korea lacks serious world-scale museums like the Musee du Louvre of France, the British Museum of the United Kingdom or the State Hermitage Museum of Russia. But Korea managed to compensate it by having a large number of modern museums and exhibitions devoted to different, sometimes unexpected topics and spheres. One of the most interesting modern museums of Korea is the Samsung Transportation Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, not far from Seoul. Despite its cold and probably too formal name, a visit to the museum's exhibitions becomes interesting, informative and sometimes funny trip. As it can be easily guessed by the name, the museum's displays are devoted to various means of transportation. Well, this museum can actually be called the Car Museum. Of course besides cars there are some bicycles, motorcycles, even airplanes and trains. But obviously cars dominate the exhibits. You can see here very different cars _ from luxurious sedans to sport cars and so-called ordinary cars affordable by the middle-c

Aug 30, 2007

Jarasum, More than Jazz

Turtle Island Emerges as New Cultural Venue By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Jarasum, or Turtle Island, located in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, has been little known to the public. That is, until the island first hosted the Jarasum International Jazz Festival four years ago. The island is easy to remember not only for its name but also for its location to popular destinations for travelers. The spot is about two kilometers north of Nami Island as the widely popular television drama ``Winter Sonata'' was shot there. After many years of receiving no attention, now the island is synonymous with the annual jazz festival thanks to the growing reputation of its quality programming of world-class jazz artists and the venue's scenic views. There are more reasons _ in addition to the jazz festival _ to stop by this small island. The island stretches across 660,000 square meters, bigger than Nami Island, which measures 462,000 square meters. It is a five-minute walk from Gapyeong Station. Consisting of four small islets, Jarasum literally means the Turtle Island and w

Aug 30, 2007

Waffles Worth Waiting For at Cafe imA

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Waffles are available at most street corners for 1,000 won, but these Korean-style waffles are mostly thin, dry and flavorless. Thanks to the brunch trend, many cafes are now starting to offer real, honest-to-goodness Belgian waffles topped with fruits and ice cream. When I had a craving for waffles, a friend suggested I try a certain ``cafe in Gwanghwamun where there's always a line of people waiting for a table.'' The cafe turned out to be Cafe imA, located on the ground floor of the Ilmin Museum of Art in Gwanghwamun. Since it has always attracted a fairly good-sized crowd during lunch and weekends, I thought I could avoid the crowds by going on a weekday afternoon. But I was wrong, it still took roughly 40 minutes to get a table. Waiting 40 minutes to get a table at a cafe may seem ridiculous, but it seems like many are willing to wait for these particular waffles. Cafe imA’s menu is composed mainly of sandwiches, coffee, cakes and of course, waffles. Sandwiches range from grilled cheese and tomato (8,000 won), panini

Aug 23, 2007

Celebrate With Customized Cakes

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter No celebration is complete without a sumptuous, mouthwatering cake. Introduced here not too long ago, the sweet dessert has long become an indispensable centerpiece for birthdays, weddings and other festivities. Rachel Lee, 22, does not go to the nearby bakery when heading to a party. Instead, she orders her own customized design at specialty stores. ``I've always been interested in cooking, and became more informed about pastry art through (the TV drama) ``My Name is Kim Sam-soon.'' I took private home-baking courses at Piano Cake Class this summer and got to see a customized cake for a kindergarten birthday party, decorated with personalized cookies for each child. It was so adorable. I now order such customized cakes as birthday gifts,'' she said. ``It's the process itself that is so fun and special because you can choose everything yourself. You put a lot of thought into it, because you think about their (the person receiving the cake) taste. I also got to know them better by conducting a mini interview to find out about their favorite t

Aug 23, 2007

New Chef Vows to Offer Better Menu

By Kim Tae-jong Staff Reporter Irwin Graf has been appointed as the new executive chef at the Grand Hilton Seoul, and it was the third time for the Swiss chef to work at a local hotel. He says he is happy to come back here and has taken notice of the many changes that have been made since he left Seoul. ``There have been big changes every time (I got here). The hotel industry has been well established. There are big and good hotels now. When I first came here, there were not many,'' he said during an interview with The Korea Times. Graf came here after serving as executive chef at the Sofitel Jin Jang Oriental Pudong in Shanghai, China. His relationship with Korea began when he worked at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the late 1970s. He later came to Seoul again to work at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel. In terms of staff and food products, there have been big improvements, which is attributed to the competition between good restaurants, the 58-year-old chef said. ``There are a lot of restaurants that serve good quality meals. It's a challenge for all of us in the h

Aug 23, 2007

Hotel Lobby

Westin Chosun Seoul O'Kim's, causal bar and restaurant at Westin Chosun Seoul, holds an outdoor barbecue party on Sept. 14. Priced at 60,000 won, the barbecue buffet is accompanied by draft beer and guests can join in various games and exciting events. For more information, call (02) 317-0388. Lotte Hotel Seoul Lotte Hotel Seoul offers special menus with natural pine mushroom specialties from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31. At Momoyama Japanese restaurant, a variety of pine mushroom menus will be available, priced at between 50,000 won to 220,000 won. For more information, call (02) 771-1000. Ritz-Carlton Seoul Japanese restaurant Hanazono at the Ritz-Carlton Seoul will promote special dishes with hand picked wild mushrooms. Wild mushroom dishes will be available in September, priced at 75,000 won for lunch and 150,000 won for dinner. A la carte menus are priced between 30,000 won and 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3451-8276. Imperial Palace Hotel Chinese restaurant Cheonsan at Imperial Palace Hotel introduces new autumn menus. They a

Aug 23, 2007

Woljeongsa and Sangwonsa _ Home of Manjusuri Bodhisattva

By Jang Eun-hwa (or Jigwang) Contributing writer At dusk on a hot summer day, grand chanting sounds reverberate through the roaring stream at the facade of the temple. ``Seokga Moni Bul, Seokga Moni Bul, Seokga Moni Bul...'' The chanting in unison accompanied with the sound of the ``moktak,'' a wooden percussion instrument for monks, emanates from a group of almost one hundred people. Right now, they are performing the practice of ``samboilbae'' or ``one prostration per three steps.'' The solemn procession has continued for more than a mile starting from the ``One Pillar Gate,'' or the first temple gate, to the ``Guardians' Gate'' or the second gate. Participants' faces, though tired looking and soaked with sweat, seem to radiate their utmost eagerness. The fir forest trail they follow is a scenic walk, a one of a kind in Korea. In exploring Woljeongsa Temple and Sangwonsa Temple, we must mention the legend of Manjusuri Bodhisattva, namely the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, and Mt. Odae. A Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, to which Korean Buddhism belongs, is a being qualified t

Aug 23, 2007

Club Med Offers Discount for Autumn Travelers

Those visiting Club Med's Ria Bintan, Bali, Phuket and Cherating villages will be able to enjoy the all-inclusive resorts at quite reasonable prices _ especially a party of three and more. In a ``plus one'' promotion, two adults can go on a four-nights program in the villages in October and November at 2 million won together, that is, 1 million won per person. Each additional visitor can travel at 900,000 won. The price for children between four and 11 is 770,000 won, and those between aged two and three is 550,000 won. For Bali, the 1 million won promotion is applicable when using Singapore Airlines. An additional 100,000 won will be added per person for those traveling on Korean Air flights. Phuket village is available at the promotion price for four-nights, and visitors can stay one more night at an additional 200,000 won per person.

Aug 23, 2007

Palawan _ Paradise Prescribed

By Gregory Curley Contributing Writer PALAWAN, the Philippines _ Contrary to what many die hard fans may have been led to believe, Alex Garland’s famous cult novel ``The Beach,’’ undoubtedly frayed and stowed safely away on the shelves of many a backpackers’ bookcase, was set only in Thailand due to its tremendously marketable appeal. The reality exists, however, that the author drew his inspiration from a lesser-known, reclusive series of hideaways housing powdery white shores, towering limestone cliffs, warm crystal clear, turquoise waters and secluded, verdant lagoons. And after stepping foot upon its welcoming sands, it’s not hard to figure out why. What made the elusive stretch of paradise all the more inviting in his mind was that amongst its far-flung lushness, maddening crowds ceased to materialize. Unmistakably, this particular South East Asian gem of a retreat remains well beyond the fringe of commercialization, with an incredibly vast amount of yet uncharted expanse, free from imposing development and seemingly well off the maps of any worn out guideboo

Aug 16, 2007

Mountain Food in the Middle of Seoul

By Lee Hwan-hee Staff Reporter Sanchon, meaning "mountain village," boasts vegetarian dishes made from all-natural ingredients. The restaurant is located in the heart of Insa-dong, which is primarily known for antique shops and foreign tourists. If you're not acquainted with the area, it is advisable that you bring along someone who is, for to get there is immensely confusing, albeit in a delightful way, stroll through a tangle of narrow alleyways packed with shops, restaurants, and people. Sanchon is in a trendy and famous part of Insa-dong, with its menu proudly incorporating a copy of a New York Times review from the 1980s. But it is not at all a trendy-looking place. It is a traditional Korean building that incorporates elements of Korean Buddhist temples, such as wooden columns and floors and stone steps. It is a cozy, if a bit spare-looking, place. Likewise, the menu has only two choices: lunch at 19,800 Won or dinner at 35,200 Won.

Aug 16, 2007
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