#100 Must-visit tourist spots in Korea

[china-press]

100 Must-visit Tourist Spots in Korea

[rhonddaandallaneuro]

Cruising is hard to take but someone has to do it.

At sea it was really calming and we basically spent the day trying to understand exactly what the cruise has to offer. Not being rude but we played ”spot the Aussie” through a multitude of nationalities. Everyone is very polite and the different people we have shared time with very interesting. We love seeing the Japanese in their traditional Kimonas. They are elegant to say the least and the people so soft and polite.

The entertainment on the other hand is far from an expectational standard and while the Japanese clap at everything in Australia they would not get work. Even gave the third night a miss preferring to just drink. Haha

On Thursday we visited the port of Kagoshima where we visited the local Senganen gardens, which has a huge display of ornamental flower arrangements and travelled over to Mount Sakurajima which is an active volcano. Great experience to see the ash shelters and massive man made lava flow channels.

Throughout the bus travel we saw streets completely trash free and saw petrol stations where the pumps hang from the ceiling to create more space for cars. How you know what you have spent I do not understand. Over here housing is for existence not about image but more practical.

From here we were taken to have an authentic Japanese banquet. Food was beautiful but one would hate to do the washing up afterwards. Every placing involved thirteen pieces of cutlery and plates. Worth doing though.

Back on board we did the cruising thing watching the sun go down from the eighteenth deck listening to live classical music. Very calming and beautiful.

Today we visited South Korea through Bosan and what an experience. This place is beautiful and a “must see” location. Basically established through the Korean War the stories told by our guide were amazing.

First stop was the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple where you need to climb down 108 steps (same steps back up) on a steep cliff face to reach the temple itself. Stunning views and ancient skills in abundance. So proud of Rhondda doing the steps. They were really old steep and worn form the thousands of tourists and worshipers who make the trek.

From here we headed to Nurimaru APEC House which was used to establish the first free trade agreement for the Pacific region. This place has been set aside as a respect for the role South Korea played in unifying the region. It is a modern museum of history.

We kept on walking and came to the local beach which is about 400 metres long, which in tourist season (late July to second week of August) over 1,500,000 visitors. Not my cup of tea.

Back on the bus we drove to Gamcheon Culture Village which was where 14,000 residents from Seoul where displaced to from the war in an emergency evacuation. The shacks became home to so many and still are resided within today.

This area is in total contrast to the modern Bosan which has huge high (100 stories) rises constantly replacing what were once only 40 storey buildings. The guide explained that they believe building are only built to last 40 years and only natural to build bigger to cater for growth in citizens. The work ethic and future commitment here is something our politicians could learn a lot from.

The region has a South American feel with houses painted bright colours with small lanes. UNICEF has heritage listed the housing.

Sadly out time was done here as headed back to our ship.

[pionia-milly]

Watch "Night view of YEOSU Maritime Cabel Car & Walking,100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots of KOREA. Korea Travel" on YouTube

Yeosu City - Jolla Province - Korea

[bestattractionsinseoulcapital]

[Damyang Travel] Beautiful European Village_META PROVENCE

Beautiful European Village_META PROVENCE

META PROVENCE

is located right next to Metasequoia Road in Damyang, which is selected as the most beautiful Garosugil(tree-lined street) in Korea.

http://metaprovence.co.kr/

Meta Provence is a tourist complex in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, which is visited by about 5 million tourists a year. It is located right…

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

Sun Myung Moon’s One-World Theocracy

by Robert Parry

... A silent testimony to Moon’s clout is the fact that his vast spending of billions of dollars in secretive Asian money to influence U.S. politics – spanning nearly a quarter century – has gone virtually unmentioned amid the current controversy over Asian donations to U.S. politicians.

With unintended irony, Moon’s Washington Times repeatedly has featured stories about secret Asian money going to Democrats. “More than a million dollars of this foreign money is believed to have been contributed to the Democrats, putting the election up for auction,” charged Times’ editor Wesley Pruden in a typical column. [Oct. 18, 1996]

The blind spot on Moon is especially curious since there have been U.S. government allegations dating back to the 1970s that Moon’s organization fronted for the South Korean CIA and funnelled money to Washington for right-wing Japanese industrialists. For the past 15 years, The Washington Times has been the most obvious conduit for this foreign money. The newspaper and its sister publications – Insight and The World & I – have cost Moon an estimated $1 billion in losses. Yet, Moon has never accounted for the sources of his money.

Moon’s jingle of deep-pocket cash also has caused conservatives to turn a deaf ear toward Moon’s recent anti-American diatribes. With growing virulence, Moon has denounced the United States and its democratic principles, often referring to America as “Satanic.” But these statements have gone virtually unreported, even though the texts of his sermons are carried on the Internet and their timing has coincided with Bush’s warm endorsements of Moon.

“America has become the kingdom of individualism, and its people are individualists,” Moon preached in Tarrytown, N.Y., on March 5, 1995. “You must realize that America has become the kingdom of Satan.”

In similar remarks to followers on Aug. 4, 1996, Moon vowed that the church’s eventual dominance over the United States would be followed by the liquidation of American individualism. “Americans who continue to maintain their privacy and extreme individualism are foolish people,” Moon declared. “The world will reject Americans who continue to be so foolish. Once you have this great power of love, which is big enough to swallow entire America, there may be some individuals who complain inside your stomach. However, they will be digested.”

During the same sermon, Moon decried assertive American women. “American women have the tendency to consider that women are in the subject position,” he said. “However, woman’s shape is like that of a receptacle. The concave shape is a receiving shape. Whereas, the convex shape symbolizes giving. ... Since man contains the seed of life, he should plant it in the deepest place.

“Does woman contain the seed of life? [“No.”] Absolutely not. Then if you desire to receive the seed of life, you have to become an absolute object. In order to qualify as an absolute object, you need to demonstrate absolute faith, love and obedience to your subject. Absolute obedience means that you have to negate yourself 100 percent.”

Evil Hamburgers

These pronouncements contrast with Moon’s lavish praise of the United States disseminated for public consumption during his early forays to Washington. On Sept. 18, 1976, at a flag-draped rally at the Washington Monument, Moon declared that “the United States of America, transcending race and nationality, is already a model of the unified world.” He called America “the chosen nation of God” and added that “I not only respect America, but truly love this nation.”

Yet, even as Moon has soured on America, his recruiters continue to use that flag-draped scene of the Washington Monument to lure new followers. The patriotic image struck powerfully with John Stacey when the college freshman watched a video of that speech while undergoing Unification Church recruitment in 1992.

“American flags were everywhere,” recalled Stacey, a thin young man from central New Jersey. “The first video they showed me was Reverend Moon praising America and praising Christianity.” In 1992, Stacey considered himself a patriotic American and a faithful Christian. He soon joined the Unification Church.

Stacey became a Pacific Northwest leader in Moon’s Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles [CARP]. “They liked to hang me up because I’m young and I’m American,” Stacey told me. “It’s a good image for the church. They try to create the all-American look, where I think they’re usurping American values, that they’re anti-American.”

At a 1995 leadership conference at a church compound in Anchorage, Alaska, Stacey met face-to-face with Moon who was sitting on a throne-like chair while a group of American followers, many middle-aged converts from the 1970s, sat at his feet like children.

“Reverend Moon looked at me straight in the eye and said, ‘America is Satanic. America is so Satanic that even hamburgers should be considered evil, because they come from America’,” recalled Stacey. “Hamburgers! My father was a butcher, so that bothered me. ... I started feeling that I was betraying my country.”

Moon’s criticism of Jesus also unsettled Stacey. “In the church, it’s very anti-Jesus,” Stacey said. “Jesus failed miserably. He died a lonely death. Reverend Moon is the hero that comes and saves pathetic Jesus. Reverend Moon is better than God. ... That’s why I left the Moonies. Because it started to feel like idolatry. He’s promoting idolatry.”

One-World Theocracy

Despite growing disaffection among many longtime followers and other problems, Moon’s empire still prospers financially, backed by vast sources of mysterious wealth. “It’s a multi-billion-dollar international conglomerate,” noted Steve Hassan, a former church leader who has written a book about religious cults, entitled Combatting Cult Mind Control. At his Internet site, Hassan has a 31-page list of organizations connected to the Unification Church, many secretively.

“Here’s a man [Moon] who says he wants to take over the world, where all religions will be abolished except Unificationism, all languages will be abolished except Korean, all governments will be abolished except his one-world theocracy,” Hassan said in an interview. “Yet he’s wined and dined very powerful people and convinced them that he’s benign.”

Hassan argued that perhaps the greatest danger of the Unification Church is that it will outlive Moon, since the organization has grown so immense and powerful that other leaders will step forward to lead it. “There are groups out there that want to use this organization,” Hassan said.

A couple of years ago, Moon shifted his personal base of operation to a luxurious estate in Uruguay. The church has been investing tens of millions of dollars in that nation since the early 1980s when Moon was close to the military government. In a sermon on Jan. 2, 1996, Moon was unusually blunt about how he expected the church’s wealth to buy influence among the powerful in South America, just as it did in Washington.

“Father has been practicing the philosophy of fishing here,” Moon said, through an interpreter who spoke of Moon in the third person. “He [Moon] gave the bait to Uruguay and then the bigger fish of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay kept their mouths open, waiting for a bigger bait silently. The bigger the fish, the bigger the mouth. Therefore, Father is able to hook them more easily.”

As part of his business strategy, Moon explained that he would dot the continent with small airstrips and construct bases for submarines which could evade Coast Guard patrols. His airfield project would allow tourists to visit “hidden, untouched, small places” throughout South America, he said.

“Therefore, they need small airplanes and small landing strips in the remote countryside. ... In the near future, we will have many small airports throughout the world.” Moon wanted the submarines because “there are so many restrictions due to national boundaries worldwide. If you have a submarine, you don’t have to be bound in that way.”

(As strange as Moon’s submarine project might sound, a cable from the U.S. Embassy in Japan, dated Feb. 18, 1994, cited press reports that a Moon-connected Japanese company, Toen Shoji, had bought 40 Russian submarines. The subs were supposedly bound for North Korea where they were to be dismantled and melted down as scrap.)

Moon also recognized the importance of media in protecting his curious operations, which sound like an invitation to drug traffickers. He boasted to his followers that with his vast array of political and media assets, he will dominate the new Information Age. “That is why Father has been combining and organizing scholars from all over the world, and also newspaper organizations – in order to make propaganda,” Moon said. Central to that success in South America is Tiempos del Mundo.

http://consortiumnews.com/archive/moon1.html

______________________________________

How Sun Myung Moon’s organization helped to establish Bolivia as South America’s first narco-state.

In order to rule the world, Sun Myung Moon had to start with Korea.

Sun Myung Moon’s desire to take over the League for his own financial and political ends

Fraser Committee Report on Moon org.:  “these violations were related to the overall goals of gaining temporal power.”

My experience within the hierarchy of the Moon cult during its years of expansion in Russia and in the CIS

Press Release on the FFWPU by the Department of Communication, Nizhny Novgorod province, Russia

Sun Myung Moon was eager to infiltrate the European Parliament

Group Founded by Sun Myung Moon Preaches Sexual Abstinence in China

Robert Parry’s investigations into Sun Myung Moon

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Best and worst U.S. airports (LI) Newark Liberty Airport is America’s worst airport. That’s according to Airhelp’s 2019 annual rankings, which placed the New Jersey hub 116th out of 132 in the world. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport fared best at 34th. Taking out the top spots--based on on-time performance, service quality and food and shopping options--were Doha’s Hamad International Airport, Tokyo International Airport and Athens International Airport. The report notes the biggest issue airports face is congestion: in 2018, international tourist arrivals increased 6%, to 1.4 billion.

Tit-for-tat tariffs (Washington Post) The United States and China traded blows on Monday in the latest escalation of their tariff war. In Beijing, the Chinese government announced plans to impose tariffs on $60 billion worth of American products in retaliation for U.S. tariffs that President Trump increased on Friday. Trump, meanwhile, began the process of expanding U.S. tariffs to cover all $540 billion in Chinese imports--a potentially seismic jolt to the global economy that is expected to raise prices for everyday products such as cell phones, sunglasses, cameras and televisions.

Differing approaches on the student debt crisis (Bloomberg) Experts warn of an economic (and suicide) crisis triggered by $1.6 trillion in U.S. student debt. Democrats have proposed forgiveness programs; The Trump administration is going the other way, intensifying collection efforts by garnishing wages, claiming tax refunds and even seizing disability payments.

White House Reviews Military Plans Against Iran: New York Times (Reuters) The top U.S. defense official has presented an updated military plan to President Donald Trump’s administration that envisions sending up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack American forces or accelerate work on nuclear weapons, the New York Times reported on Monday.

Pompeo crashes Brussels meeting of E.U. diplomats but changes few minds on Iran (Washington Post) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo crashed a meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday to push for a united transatlantic front against Tehran and its nuclear program. But he failed to bend attitudes among leaders who fear the United States and Iran are inching toward war. Pompeo’s last-minute decision to visit the E.U. capital, announced as he boarded a plane from the United States, set up a confrontation between the U.S. secretary and European diplomats who have been scrambling to save the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. At least one, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, said he feared that unintentional escalation from the United States and Iran could spark a conflict--an unusually bold statement that appeared to assign equal culpability to Washington and Tehran.

Transatlantic defense tensions (Foreign Policy) The United States, especially under Trump, has repeatedly badgered Europe to increase defense spending. But now that Europe is taking concrete steps to boost a pan-European defense industry, Washington is reportedly howling mad, according to Spanish daily El Pais. The Pentagon sent an angry letter to officials in Brussels, the paper says, arguing that two new defense initiatives--the European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation--could cut out U.S. defense firms and erode decades of close cooperation between the United States and other NATO allies.

3 Killed in Shootout in Mexico City Market Neighborhood (AP) Mexico City authorities are investigating the shooting deaths of three men in the Tepito neighborhood, which is known for its expansive street market and counterfeit goods trade.

Argentine Military Scrambles After Bomb Threat Against Presidential Palace (Reuters) Argentina’s military and federal police scrambled to deal with a bomb threat made against the presidential palace in Buenos Aires while President Mauricio Macri was there on Monday, just hours after a man was arrested trying to enter the building with a gun, an official with the presidential press team said.

Sweden to reopen rape case against WikiLeaks’ Assange (AP) Swedish prosecutors said Monday they are reopening a rape case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and will seek his extradition from Britain.

French Authorities Seize Half-Tonne of Cocaine at Dunkirk (Reuters) French authorities seized half a tonne of cocaine worth around 40 million euros ($44.9 million) in the northern port of Dunkirk last month, Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a statement on Tuesday.

Merkel Fan Accidentally Grounds Chancellor’s Plane (AP) Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government plane has been grounded by an excited fan who jumped out of her van to take a photo of it at Dortmund airport but forgot to put the parking brake on, and the vehicle rolled slowly into the nose of the jet.

Sri Lankan Gov’t Minister: At Least 1 Muslim Killed in Riots (AP) Mob attacks on Muslim communities in Sri Lanka’s northwest have left one person dead and dozens of shops and mosques destroyed, a government minister said Tuesday, as communal violence worsened in the wake of Easter bombings that killed more than 250 people.

Vietnam to Mobilise Military in Fight Against African Swine Fever (Reuters) Vietnam said it will mobilise its military and police forces to help combat the outbreak of African swine fever that has already resulted in the culling of about 4% of the country’s pig herd.

Newly Appointed Thai Senate Includes Many Soldiers, Police (AP) Thailand’s newly appointed 250-member Senate, which will play a crucial role in selecting the country’s next prime minister, will have more than 100 members of the police and military who have wielded power since a 2014 coup ousted an elected government.

North Korea Says Ship Seizure by U.S. Violates Spirit of Trump-Kim Summit (Reuters) North Korea said on Tuesday the seizure of one of its cargo ships by the United States was an illegal act that violated the spirit of a summit between the two countries’ leaders, and demanded the return of the vessel without delay.

U.N. Investigators Urge Nations to Snap Financial Ties With Myanmar Military (Reuters) The world must cut off financial and other support for Myanmar’s armed forces, a U.N. fact-finding mission said on Tuesday, repeating a call for top generals to be prosecuted for abuses against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Data Shows Israeli Settlements Boosted After Trump Election (AP) Israel’s government went on a spending binge in its West Bank settlements following the election of President Donald Trump, according to official data obtained by The Associated Press.

Four Die in Sudan Protests as Military Rulers Say Won’t Allow ‘Chaos’ (Reuters) Four people died in Sudan late on Monday in violence that broke out after a political transition deal between the mainstream opposition and military rulers, who said they would not allow the country to descend into “chaos”.

[thekoreanlass]

On to our next stop, it’s time to recharge ourselves after experiencing a one of a kind gastronomical trip with Jin! Through Suga‘s recommendations we will find the best healing spots in Seoul.

Shall we look around and find somewhere to relax? Let’s go! It’s time for Suga’s ‘Recharge‘ Seoul Tour now!

#1 Starfield Library (COEX Mall)

Starfield Library, which is at the heart of COEX Mall in Gangnam, Seoul, is a space open to the public where locals and tourists can come to read books and rest. Lots of books  of various genres line the many tall shelves of the library, which you can take your time reading. Good news is, the library is free. You don’t have to pay to get in. What’s more is that being inside is like entering another world (I was once there and can’t take my eyes off the tall shelves and enormous book collection!). It’s so fascinating that taking a picture is a must!

Location: B1, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Open Hours: 10:30 – 22:00 Website: www.starfield.co.kr

#2 Cheonggyecheon Stream

With a very long history down from Joseon Dynasty, Cheonggyecheon Stream has been restored over time to become comfort to those in the city. The stream divides up the districts of Jongno-gu and Jung-gu and acts as a public rest area for everyone where performances are welcomed for passing visitors to watch. It is a very good place to walk along at night with your family, friends or your significant other while enjoying the fascinating illumination that lines up the stream.

Location: Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Website: http://www.sisul.or.kr/open_content/cheonggye/

#3 Jimjilbang

Jimjilbang (or Hanjeungmak) are definitely famous to Korean drama lovers, since we all know how well utilized such locations are by K-drama characters. I’ve grown up only seeing them in front of my screen, but a fan must never miss it out! So, if you’re heading to Seoul in your next out of the country trip, be sure to visit it.

These Korean bathhouses are actually famous for its traditional kiln saunas, but nowadays they have also come with other facilities such as internet cafes, theaters, internet cafes, bowling alleys and restaurants, making them famous to people of all ages. As you get in, you will be given a change of clothes to be worn indoors. Sweating out in their sauna is definitely a good way of getting rid of the tiredness of your body and mind, but taking a sip of sikhye (sweet rice punch) is a must to quench your thirst afterwards!

Location: 39-2 Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (Jamsil Suyang Hanjeungmak w/c is in Suga’s Seoul Tour video) Website: www.suyang.kr

#4 Seoullo 7017

What used to be a highway overpass that was about to be demolished has been transformed into a pedestrian walkway in Korea–Seoullo 7017. It’s the first one of its kind in Korea, which takes inspiration from New York’s High Line. What makes it unique and a true masterpiece is that the sky garden takes pride at it’s innovative design. At night, it is being lit up by LED lights hanging from 1,121 poles through the length of Seoullo 7017 that connects together 17 pathways, adding a truly magical vibe to the area.

You won’t regret visiting Seoullo 7017. That’s for sure. It is truly a magical place from my memory, since I was there in 2017. Back then, though, I was just aimlessly walking and wasn’t sure where I ended up, so it took me a long time to find a way down. That’s funny, but I tell you, the ambiance is so mesmerizing you’d definitely get lost in it while there.

Fun fact: Seoullo 7017’s name is derived from its founding year 1970 and the idea that it’s connecting together 17 pathways.

Location: 432 Cheongpa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul Open Hours: Apr to Oct – 9AM-9PM; Nov to Mar – 9AM-8PM | (Closed during Monday) Website: seoullo7017.seoul.go.kr

#5 Some Sevit (Sebitseom Island)

Some Sevit (Sebitseom Island), which literally means ‘three shining island’ (‘se’ = three; ‘bit’ = light/shine; ‘seom’ = island), is the world’s first floating cultural space. It is made up of four artificial islands (Some Gavit, Some Chavit, Some Solvit and Some Yevit), which can hold various performances, exhibitions or events. Some Sevit’s night scene that’s illuminated by LED lights as it floats at the edge of Han River has become pretty popular that it has been utilized to some famous dramas like ‘She Was Pretty’ and ‘Athene’, as well as the movie ‘Avengers 2’.

In Suga’s TVC, we also see a boating activity called ‘Tubester’, which is available near Some Sevit. This is a must-try activity since it’s truly going to be a very good experience for visitors where they can enjoy eating while floating in the water and talking with their friends or family! Enjoy the beautiful scenery at the Han River through them!

Location: 683 Olympic-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul Website: www.somesevit.co.kr

*Han River Some Sevit Tubester Open Hours are below:  – (Apr-May/Oct-Nov) Weekday (Mon-Fri) 15:00 – 23:00, Weekend & Holidays 13:00 – 23:00 – (Jun-Sept) Weekday (Mon-Fri) 16:00 – 24:00, Weekend & Holidays 14:00 – 24:00

#6 Seoul Botanic Garden

Seoul Botanic Garden is the city’s first botanical park that officially opened last May 1, 2019. Located in Magok, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the park boasts of how a forest, garden, lake and marsh coexist together. Visitors will enjoy the park’s theme zone, which houses plants that represents 12 major cities in the world. Currently, these plants range from around 3,100 types which they will later expand to at least 8,000 types to actively promote exchange, research and propagation.

The Seoul Botanic Garden (Park) was built to create an advancement to the urban ecology of Seoul. And as a city that’s appreciated for its modern yet close to nature ambiance, this is the city’s effort in expanding their green spaces that a lot love. So, if you’re someone that appreciates nature and would want to unwind or relax despite being in the city, I think this is the perfect escape for you.

Location: 07789  161 Magokdong-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Korea By subway: Magongnaru Station (subway line 9, AREX) exit 3

Open Hours: – Park (Open Forest, Lake Zone, Marsh Zone) – open 24 hours – Botanical Garden (Theme Zone) 9AM to 6PM During Holidays: – Park (Open Forest, Lake Zone, Marsh Zone): Open all year round – Botanical Garden (Theme Zone): Closed during kMonday

#7 Nanji Riverside Swimming Pool

If you want to cool down yourself but really doesn’t want to go out of the city just to experience that one of a kind relaxation you’ve been craving for, then why not try the water parks by the Han River?

In particular, a crowd favorite out of many water parks by the Han River is the Nanji Hangang Water Park due to the availability of an infinity pool where you can have a nice view of the Han River right in front of you. It was also constructed with a relatively shallow depth (at least around 80cm) to remind people of how they used to play in the water by the riverside. This is also a good way of creating a really family friendly place who wants to come with their children.

Location: Nanji Hangang Information Center, 162 Hangang Nanji-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul Open Hours: 9AM to 7PM Admission: Free for children under 5 years of age / Children 1,000 won / Teenagers 2,000 won / Adults 3,000 won Website: http://hangang.seoul.go.kr/

#8 Gyeongui Line Forest Park

The final stop for our healing trip is down the Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, which is a rising attraction to a lot of visitors.

This forest park used to be where the Gyeongui railway line was until it was moved underground. It dates back to roughly 100 years until today when over the railway (which now rests underground) finally sits its crowning glory–a line of pure green and nature, which is very accessible to visitors since its length rests in the center of Seoul, So, it’s really a good place for walks while trying to appreciate nature in the middle of an urbanized area. Like a breath of fresh air among the tall buildings of the city. Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong are also just along the park, so after a fun stroll, why not explore them for food, music, and many other trendy art forms?

Location: Areas of Yeonnam-dong and Daeheung-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 마포구 연남동 및 대흥동) Directions: Hongik Univ. Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Airport Railroad), Exit 3. Walk approx. 7-8 min.

–

Done! Finally. I thought I’m not going to be able to finish this posts today since I added more information to try and match what was in the TVC, but I really had fun researching about it so I got inspiration by the facts and pictures I’ve read and seen. It makes me want to go to Seoul right now to try out the various places I’ve been telling a story about in my blog. I really want to go there if I can. You know that kind of feeling? That strong urge to check off something from your bucket list? Yeah. That feeling. It makes me excited and really look forward to the future.

But for now, I’m ending this post here! See you in the next post, which will then showcase J-hopes recommendations in Seoul!

Suga’s Seoul City TVC

ADDITIONAL SNAPS FROM THE TVC

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Sources: Visit Seoul | Visit Korea | some sevit

[TRAVEL] BTS TOUR: Suga – ‘Recharge’ Seoul Tour On to our next stop, it's time to recharge ourselves after experiencing a one of a kind gastronomical trip with Jin!

[bestattractionsinseoulcapital]

[Gangneung Travel] Gangneung Healthy Healing Tour

[Gangneung Travel] Gangneung Healthy Healing Tour

Gangneung Healthy Healing Tour

Gangneung Healthy Healing Road Tour

Gangneung, which is located along the Sea of ​​the East Sea, is a gorgeous blue sea and beautiful beach. JungDongjin is still a favorite spot for shooting Korean Drama and a famous spot for sunrise.

There are many things to do in gangneung that can overlook the waters like Gyeongpoho Lake, Jeongdo…

[officialdsmedia]

KIM MYUNGYEON “Amy”

AGE: Nineteen COMPANY: DS Media POSITION: Soloist FACECLAIM: Ryu Sujeong PLAYED BY: Bubble

Myungyeon considered herself pretty lucky to grow up on the beautiful island of Jeju alongside her grandparents on her mother’s side, her parents, twin sister and younger brother. For generations, The Kim family ran sharehouses catered to foreigners visiting for an extended stay, so their financial situation was pretty steady as Jeju had flocks of tourists all year round, but that seemed to be the only stable thing in Myungyeon’s life. Like something out of a movie, Myungyeon’s twin was a polar opposite of Myungyeon, including looks and attitude. Myungeun and Siyeon weren’t identical twins, only sharing the same nose and lips. Myungyeon was taller, kept on weight easily and had wider eyes, while Siyeon was shorter, thinner and had a Korean’s standard ideal small face.  Siyeon was determined to be different in any way, finding Myungeun to be the “good twin,” which Myungeun didn’t think so at all. Myungeun wasn’t prettier than her twin, wasn’t good at studying, cooking or making friends. Siyeon got caught up in being a bully, but maybe more like a ringleader of bullies, in her teen years, so by then in comparison Myungeun ended up being the “good twin.” Myungeun never understood why Siyeon wanted to be so different, so difficult, so… detrimental. Myungeun always joked that Siyeon got it from their father, saying he was a mob boss in a former life, since they both seemed to enjoy power over people. As it was bound to happen eventually, Siyeon’s bullying landed her straight into trouble and expulsion from school. Like a whirlwind, Siyeon’s bags were packed and she was sent to the mainland of South Korea, somewhere in the countryside with their father’s parents. Siyeon didn’t bother to take a last glance at Myungeun before slamming their bedroom door in her face. Calls went unanswered. Messages went unread. Years went by without a word. Soon Myungeun’s parents gave life to a baby boy named Kyujin. She always believed that her mother decided to have another child just before Myungeun took off to do her own thing in life in her final years of school to fill the void, and maybe then she realized what her twin might have experienced. Maybe their parents favored Myungeun a little more than Siyeon. Maybe they thought Myungeun was smarter, prettier, more likely to succeed in life, despite Myungeun’s lackluster grades. Instead of becoming bitter and jealous over the time not spent with her parents due to her new baby brother, she took it upon herself to take it easy. She wasn’t nagged as often about studies, her future in some amazing college that eventually would lead into a high paying corporate job, playing too many games or singing karaoke downtown. Freedom was at its best when Myungeun and her friend, accompanied by her friend’s parents, took a trip to NYC for two weeks before Myungeun’s last year of middle school. The Big Apple. Good pizza, breathtaking sights and more than enough fun for the two of them. Then, her friend broke the real reason as to why they were in New York. An idol company was holding their global auditions. Companies had auditions nearly every weekend in Seoul, so why come across the ocean? “Seoul isn’t exactly a vacation destination, plus you’re always great at karaoke, so you should audition with me,” her friend repeated every day their first week there. It wore Myungeun down and she gave in. If she was going to be faithful and wait with her friend in line for hours with the hundreds of other applicants, she might as well try even though karaoke isn’t any comparison to the idol life. Myungeun spent most of her time comforting her dear friend, trying to calm her down while practicing her lines from a script on her phone. Unbiasedly, Myungeun believed her friend would make a stunning rapper, and not just the kind of idol that is assigned to rap. Nervous hands clutched shirt hems behind their backs as each gave their best performance to the judges. Seals of approval were smeared across their audition papers. Despite the disapproval of Myungeun’s parents, she moved to Seoul for her last year of high school to be a trainee at this high class entertainment business. Was it illogical for her to pack up her life and move away for a dream that wasn’t her own? Probably. Did Myungeun have anything to lose? No. She already knew that the cubicle life wasn’t for her, so end of the year exams weren’t crucial. She wasn’t in the top 10 ranking for grades, but somewhere in the middle, in an “acceptable” range, even during her trainee year for this company. Blood, sweat and tears, all for a very distant goal that she might never reach. The company gathered and debut a girl group and… Myungeun and her friend were not apart of that line up. Myungeun called it quits. By the time another group offer rolled around, since the company did not debut female soloists, Myungeun would be considered “too old.” However, Myungeun’s friend stuck it out, despite the reality of the situation. Myungeun remained in Seoul, hitting up auditions every weekend, at every chance she could get, knowing that her parents weren’t going to pay for an apartment bigger than a closet so she shared a tiny officetel with three roommates. DS Media – were they the light at the end of the tunnel? Even though being an idol wasn’t her life goal, she couldn’t go home in shame. Being successful in something, anything… Despite a trembling singing voice, Myungeun landed a trainee spot at DS. Shaking hands were brought to her face, covering her rosy cheeks, and also trying to hold back her tears. Another grueling year passed, skipping what would be her first year at college, training to be a possibility in their lineup for debuts. Singing lessons. Breathing lessons. English lessons. Intense Korean pronunciation lessons. Image and concept counseling. In 2015, they decided she was ready. Much to Myungeun’s shock, it was a solo opportunity. Could she carry herself alone? Wouldn’t the pressure alone on stage be too much? She couldn’t say no. What if it was take it or get kicked out? It wouldn’t hurt to try.

In April, under the stage name of “Amy,” sharing the name of the famous “girl who waited, “ Myungeun released her debut track “8Dayz.” The song was “poppy” but not “bubblegum,” leaning more towards “indie,” especially since Amy leant her acoustic guitar skills. It did not showcase her strong vocal ability so listeners could focus on the lyrics and catchy beat. It wasn’t an all-kill winner and she just edged out of the Top 25. “A flop?” some citizens would ask, but some would answer that this debut was “refreshing, especially for the Spring season.” Promotions were tiring to say the least, leaving her with only a few hours of sleep between performances, photoshoots and television appearances. Amy’s natural reactions, almost always taken as positive, were reflective of Korea’s love of over the top style of comedy. Mouth wide. Eyes bugging out. Seal clapping. Amy was anything but “cool” or “chic.” More and more love calls came in, wanting this reaction machine on their broadcast. Six months after her lackluster debut, Amy was invited to a mystery singer show. First round? Pass. Second round? Pass. Unfortunately, her third round, she was forced to remove her anime-faced mask. No one ever suspected that this “Reaction Queen” belted out these beautiful songs, showcasing a long range of vocal scales. This jogged sales of her debut single, pushing it from the bottom 50 of the Top 100 to the Top 25 again, then reaching as high as the Top 10 at #9. A repackage of her single came out in Autumn, this time focusing more on the new track titled, “Cruel Fairytale,” which showcased those vocals that the South Korean citizens could now recognize, plus it came at the beginning of “ballad season.” The music video had a higher budget this time and remained on the theme of the song, using Alice in Wonderland, but more of the Queen of Hearts storyline. More promotions. Shows. Variety. Featuring on a producer’s song with a new rapper. A bit of everything to remain relevant, as most rookies would do. In Spring 2016 came another comeback, this time with “Red Lie” that charted just as well as her debut, again within the Top 25 then fizzling out. It blipped back onto the charts again in February 2017 when Amy featured on a rapper’s single, “Fire,” which placed in the Top 10 on the digital charts and continues to chart.

In attempts to ride this wave out, Amy’s upcoming single “ViViD” might be her big break. With the music video filmed and the albums printed, all she needed was the flag to drop to let her take off running. Personality: [ + ] determined, optimistic, helpful, respectful Determination laced with high hopes and optimism runs through her veins, driving her to best that she can be while also improving. The last thing she wants is to fail and have to crawl back home, licking her wounds with her tail between her legs, head hanging in shame. Even though she realizes embarrassing moments are inevitable since she is always in the public eye, she doesn’t let herself get down over it, allowing to laugh over it later. Sunbaes and elders during broadcasts and behind the scenes often describe Amy as caring, helpful and respectful for anyone, including the crew. Because Amy is a soloist, she feels the need to take care of others, including company trainees, always greeting them as they pass. Everyone is trying to be successful, and even if there are rivalries, Amy does not feel a need to be rude, even though sometimes she feels a miniscule pang of jealousy to those who were way into “successful” territory. It is mostly a humble reminder of the work she must put in to be in the same status. [ - ] suspicious, workaholic, bold Even though she’s determined to work to the point of being stubborn, it often lands her in a state of exhaustion, needing medical assistance. It is few and far between that she needs an IV drip, but it was enough of a reminder to get proper rest, or at least try to during non-promotional schedules. Besides regular training during this time, she also would put out dance covers of various artists just for fun, but again, also wore on her health. But back on the promotional cycle, she goes right back to it, willingly exhausting her body and mind. Once she almost fainted during a recording for a weekly music show, but she bounced back long enough to finish out before seeking treatment. Amy tends to be guarded and vague when answering questions about her home life. Sometimes this can come off as rude to sensitive MCs, but the last thing she needs is a scandal involving her estranged, bully sister. Even though it’s another member of her family, the comparisons and assumptions would be endless. On an opposite note, Amy can also be bold, sometimes too bold, at least according to conservative citizens. Since South Korea’s government wants the nation to remain in a conservative mindset, some of the things that have come from Amy’s mouth have been “out of line.”

[habkorea]

100 Must-visit Tourist spots of Korea 2019 - 2020

100 Must-visit Tourist spots of Korea 2019 – 2020

[kkstarratings]The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced “100 Must-visit Tourist spots of Korea” along with the Korea Tourism Organization. “100 Must-visit Tourist spots of Korea” is a project to select 100 outstanding tourist destinations that Koreans must visit every two years and promote them both local and overseas tourists.

The “100 Must-visit Tourist spots of Korea” is…

[tizzyy]

Museum SAN, Wonju

Museum SAN is a unique museum that has indoor galleries and also outdoor displays that utilize its beautiful surrounding nature. This museum in Wonju city was named one of the 100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Korea for the third year in a row by the Korea Tourism Organization last year. 

From my personal experience, having two times visiting the place, my favorite parts of the museum are the 3…

[compare-wp10]

Marketing the tourism by complementing good steel with knife-edge – Share Market News Live

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Marketing the tourism by complementing good steel with knife-edge October 25 23:21 2019 Low-priced products and low-quality services should no longer be the focus when marketing the tourism, as tourists are willing to pay for better products and services. Key terms: 2019 World Culture and Tourism Forum; Ctrip; entry and travel. Travel Daily – During the 2019 World Culture and Tourism Forum, James Liang, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Ctrip Group, suggested China’s tourism to change its promotional slogan from “Beautiful China” to “Friendly China” to the overseas markets. Responding to Liang’s suggestion, some commented that “Friendly China” was slightly polite and China should draw lesson from other slogans such as “Amazing Malaysia” and “Must Visit Korea”. Some also suggested their own slogans. Among others, “Embracing China” and “Hospitable China”. Whatever the slogans are, each travel company wishes to promote and market China. Thanks to the reflection and innovation of tourism businesses, China’s figures of tourist entry and travel broke through its bottleneck. And many more people across the world are able to witness the attraction of China. The forum titled Promoting and Marketing Entry and Travel in China on October 24th brought together key figures of tourism industry for an in-depth discussion. Among others, Lin Zheng, Founder & CEO of Beijing Archetour International Travel Services Co., Ltd; Kris Van Goethem, Managing Director of Thomas Cook China; Kitty Huang, Vice President – Customer Loyalty & Revenue Generation, Greater China, Wyndham Hotel Group; Zhonghua Ma, Deputy General Manager of Xi’an Xianyang International Airport; and Thomas Zhang, International Business Office Manager of Capital Airlines. The discussion was hosted by Joseph Wang, Chief Commercial Officer of TravelDaily. Low-priced travel to give way to more valuable services During the forum, host Joseph Wang showed a piece of newspaper which read: “US$99 for 4D3N in Xi’an or 5D4N in Mount Hua.” The audiences showed their contempt for such a low price. Lin Zheng put it directly: “You are the angel of justice, if you fight a war against cheap travels!” Zheng also exposed that she was brought into five shops for shopping in one morning during a low-priced travel tour in Hong Kong. She did not get to experience the joy of traveling. “It can be said that low-priced travel is now a scar of the business of entry and travel.” “It is not that the tourists are reluctant to spend money. It is just that they don’t want to spend money unnecessarily. Places which are worthwhile for them to spend money, they are still willing spend,” said Zhonghua Ma. His words could be revealing the thought of many. If this is the case, what are the ways to promote tourism and what valuable services to be introduced to tourists? Can you do both while also helping businesses make more money? According to Kris van Goethem, Thomas Cook had long abandoned conventional travel routes. The company basically sells customized travel packages to visitors entering and traveling in China. “Individual visitors make up of much of the customized tour business. It is very tiring for us as each guest has his or her own travel routes. But we are excited about it. Guests on customized tours spend longer time in China. Governmental and business visit groups brought forth more consumption opportunities when they visit for meetings and activities and sporting events, which means we make better profits.” Kris van Goethem’s idea about longer staying time struck a chord with Kitty Huang. Huang hoped to extend tourists’ staying time in the hotel by giving free experiences for top-rated members, or selling valuable and ready-to-use products to tourists coming into China. Thomas Zhang offered his two cents on aviation part. Firstly, raise the price of air tickets, such as adjusting the prices of overall economy seats upward, or providing more business-class seats. Secondly, increase supplementary income on top of air ticket sale. Among services to earn more income, picking up and dropping off tourists; prioritized check-in services; transferring luggage; and selling gate tickets and one-day-tour packages. New means to replace inefficient conventional promotional methods Better products need to be promoted by better marketing means. “Basically it was done through phone calls in the earlier years, when it comes to conventional local travel marketing tools. But now, it is extravagant. Emailing is another method. I once did a research and investigation. When a tour group decided to go for a trip, from communication to making the trip itself, you need to exchange 100 to 200 emails. This is really inefficient. On top of that, there is a high cost to win customers, and you don’t have many channels,” Zheng felt slightly helpless. Kris van Goethem also shared what he observed: the marketing effect of some travel mart events became weaker. “A large number of people were busy working. But it was aimless. Previously, when you visit a country and you meet with three main suppliers. And you strike the business deal with that country. But now, the services become scattered and you need to see many small companies. This is a conventional way of running business. But still, it is more efficient than you standing on the stage promoting tour packages for three days.” According to Huang, Wyndham as an international hotel group runs its own sales and marketing department. The company needs to educate their staff members about Chinese culture before they could promote and introduce China’s tour packages. And hotels could not introduce tourist spots by themselves. Cooperation is needed from the tourist spots’ authorities and government officials and airline companies. Huang said this is the way to market tourism of a travel destination. Speaking of current marketing means to promote local travel, Lin Zheng thought of sourcing business through online travel agencies. Difficulty in luring customers is still the biggest problem faced by conventional travel companies. Even when they advertise through Google and Ctrip, the cost is still stubbornly high as advertisers charge higher and higher. Wyndham gave more weight to reward program. “Customers are allowed to accumulate credits to exchange for a product in a local hotel. When you reach a certain grade, you can go for an experience trip. These are the methods to promote local travel in China and increase sale figures for our hotels,” said Huang. Thomas Zhang also shared a method currently tested by Capital Airlines. “We opened a route plying Portugal and Xi’an. This is the only direct route between China and Portugal. Based the route, airport and travel agencies can work with each other to increase the chance of luring customers,” Zhang added. “But it is obvious that the chance to secure ‘the only direct flight’ is hard to come by.” Borrowing the experience of neighboring Japan, Zhang said that Japan attract entry and travel tours by printing advertisements on newspapers, which are distributed to each household for free. They aimed to attract elder potential tourists. “The method looks conventional but the outcome seems to be fairly good.” Slowdown of entry and travel isn’t a weakness: market the tourism by complementing good steel with knife-edge During his speech on October 23, James Liang said that slowdown in entry and travel was a big weakness in the short run for Chinese economy. And the weakness reflected the overall lack of China’s soft power. But many begged to differ. Lin Zheng was one of those who had different opinion. “Did entry and travel industry slow down the development of Chinese economy? Is our industry that significant in the economy?” According to Zheng, 2007 was the best year for China’s entry and travel. A reference to 2007 China’s Tourism Statistics published China National Tourism Administration provided an insight. In 2007, number of tourists entered and traveled in China: 132 million people. Income of international tourism: 41.9 billion US dollar. Number of local tourists: 1.61 billion people. Total income of China’s tourism: 1.1 trillion Chinese yuan. “Within twelve years, China’s tourism saw a drastic change. We have skyrocketing local demands when people become rich. The demand is very strong. The portion of entry and travel becomes lower in overall ratio. This is normal. But it doesn’t mean the part has become a weak point.” Given such a situation, the government should not play down the challenges by saying that “it is normal”. When the market has limited budget, they should spend money wiser on promotional and marketing tools. From the perspective of aviation, Thomas Zhang opined that culture and tourism board could make good use of existing flight routes to work with authorities of the destinations. They should also cooperate with airline companies and airports, as well as foreign tourism bureaus and government institutes to promote more quality products. From the perspective of airport, Zhonghua Ma has in recent years worked with culture and tourism boards of provincial and municipal levels. They organized press conferences earlier to introduce new air routes and invited media outlets of the destinations to do their promotional work. It did not spend much but the method is worthwhile in the long run as it brought together airline routes and tourism industry. Lin Zheng offered a direct idea. “Invest your money on increasing GDP and tourist figures. Your marketing is a hoax when you earn the exposure but brings not actual economic benefits.” Kitty Huang was also frank about her suggestion. She said: “Stick to the market. Spend some money on the positioning of a destination. Look for consultation company and local resources. Understand why your city is different from other cities.” Kris van Goethem was spot on when he mentioned visa problems, the biggest headache of all. He said: “Foreigners are exempted from visa application when they enter and transit within 144 hours. But you need more than that. Transit visas are good for business travelers. But how about ordinary travel groups? Visa problem is the most important of all. Solve this problem and other matters will fall into place.” A series of events are being held as part of WCTF 2019, including the “Night of Xi’an” — Promotion Conference for Cultural Tourism, the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 WCTF, Forum on Internationalized Development of Tourism in Xi’an, a Theme Forum on Inbound Tourism Development and Signing Ceremonies for Co-operation, Theme Forums on Intelligence-Driven Destination Marketing Strategy, on Contributions of Shared Accommodation to the Global Economy, and on Development of Culture and Tourism, Yo-Yo Ma — The Bach Project in Xi’an Concert, the Ctrip Gorgeous Autumn in China — Beautiful Xi’an Autumn Tourism Festival, and the Xi’an Simple Life Festival. Almost 1,000 participants will attend the main events of WCTF held between October 22 to 25, including more than 100 international guests from 26 countries and regions, as well as over 200 representatives of domestic industries and enterprises, and a total of over 3,000 visitors across the entire forum. The main part of the forum was held from 22 to 25 October 2019. With nearly 1,000 guests, the forum attracted more than 100 guests from 26 countries and more than 200 representatives from local industries and businesses in China. Accumulated visitors to the forum numbered at more than 3,000 people. Media Contact Company Name: Ctrip.com International Ltd Contact Person: Liu Xinyi Email: Send Email Country: China Website: www.ctrip.com

[datinglove07-blog-blog-blog]

The Cheapest Cities to Book for Your Next Vacation, According to Airbnb

New Post has been published on https://onlinedatingloves.com/awesome/the-cheapest-cities-to-book-for-your-next-vacation-according-to-airbnb/

The Cheapest Cities to Book for Your Next Vacation, According to Airbnb

People say that one of their biggest traveling regretsis being held back by finances. While it certainly cost money to jet-set all over the world, savvy travelers know that some of the cheapest cities to visit can make for picturesque and unforgettable getaways.

Thanks to deal-scanning sites and budget airlines, it’s easy to score affordable airfare. That, in addition to Airbnb( because actually, who needs hotels ?), anyone can book a trip on a budget. Needless to say, it’s no surprise that touring all corners of the globe has become the norm, because getting there is more accessible than ever before. And with the search for” budget travelling” being on the rise( up 64 percent from last year, according to Pinterest ), Airbnb released a list of 10 worldwide destinations with astonishingly affordable listings.

Ahead, check out the accommodation site’s top picks, along with money-saving hacksfrom travel experts, advisors, and bloggers who’ve been there, themselves. From drinking wine in Bologna, to eating street food in Taipei, to seeing gardens in Moscow, you don’t have to let money( or absence thereof) dampen your wanderlust. If the places below are on your travel bucket list, get ready to check off your most dreamed-about destinations.

Bologna, Italy

Source: @yulia_vasilyeva

Believe it or not, your stay in Italy can be super budget-friendly. Head to Bologna, and you’ll find plenty of Airbnb listings for under $75 a night, with many in the $50 and under range.

Katy Thomas, who created the travel blog Katy in Umbria, gives her tips on touring the city on the cheap.” A plate of pasta alla bolognese, a glass of light, somewhat fizzy red wine called Lambrusco, water, and a cafe should come to EUR1 5, while the walk-to is free. For a quick and easy lunch, stop at a bar and try un panino con Mortadella, a sandwich with the famed cold cut for under EUR5 .”

She adds a hack that’ll save money for sightseeing history buffs.” If you’re interested in checking out some museums and art galleries, then the city cardmight be a good investment for EUR2 5.”

Lyon, France

Source: @france. vacations

With Airbnb listings averaging $79 per night, head to Lyon on a dime, and you can say you’ve been to France.

” Lyon’s old one-quarter, Vieux Lyon, is worth savoring, with streets every bit as atmospheric as in Paris ,” says Rachel Heller, founder of the travel blog Rachel’s Ruminations.” For a bit of history, start at the Romanesque/ Gothic cathedral of St. Jean Baptiste( free ), dating to the Middle Ages; its stained glass windows are mostly original and absolutely magnificent in the darkness of the cathedral. From there, stray the constrict streets, moving slowly uphill as you explore, or else take the Fourviere funicular( EUR1. 90) up the hill. In either example, at the top, admire the opulent interior of the 19 th-century Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere( free ). Stroll its garden and admire the views of the city. Jumping back farther in history, visit the wreckings of a Roman theater( free) nearby

” To feed cheaply in Lyon, don’t buy pre-made sandwiches ,” Heller recommends.” Instead, buy a cheap baguette at any boulangerie( baker) for under EUR2 and some cheese and fruit at a grocery or supermarket for a couple of euros more. You’ll have enough for two meals: simple, delicious, and very cheap .”

Busan, South Korea

Source: The Culture Trip

The average Airbnb in Busan is a miniscule $47 per night. So while airliner tickets to Asia can be quite pricey( although, you can still find some pretty sweet deals ), you don’t have to spend much once you get there.

” In Busan, most of the major tourist attractions are free ,” explains Bino Chua, the travel blogger behind I Wandered.” This includes the picturesque temples — Beomeosa, Seokbulsa, and Haedong Yonggungsa — as well as the modern architecture of the Busan Cinema Center. The lifestyle here is outdoorsy, with beaches right at one’s doorstep; you’ll also get to spot some of Korea’s famed cherry buds in spring.

” A trip-up to Busan is not complete without visiting the village of Gamcheon, a former slum that has find urban resurgence, thanks to its brightly colored houses and charming alleyways. There are so many free things to do in Busan that you probably won’t need to spend on attractions while there .”

Porto, Portugal

Source: @leboudoirdetimea

If Portugal is on your pail listing, don’t let finances get in the way. Make a trip-up to Porto, where you can book an Airbnb for under $50 a night.

Tammy O’Hara, proprietor of Million Miles Travel Agency, says touring around township can be super affordable.” The city is very walkable going downhill, and public transportation is plentiful and inexpensive. A must-do, in my opinion, be able to find a tile-making factory( I went to Gazete Azulejos ). The tour is about three hours and includes a walking tour, coffee, and nata( custard tart ), and the opportunity to attain your own tile. It is about EUR4 0 per person .”

O’Hara mentions that the food in Porto is especially cheap — and delicious.” Do a port wine tasting, try the bacalhu( salted codfish ), the francesinha( go to Bufete Fase, one sandwich is definitely enough for two people, about EUR7 per person ), and natas,[ which are] available for EUR1- 2. A lot of the bakeries also have a coffee or port special for EUR2- 3,[ which is] excellent for a quick breakfast or after-dinner dessert and wine. Go to Nata Lisboa, Majestic Cafe, or Fabrica de Nata .”

Ottawa, Canada

Source: @heynadine

With Airbnbs in Ottawa averaging $66 per night, tourists in the northern US can leave the country for cheap, and without stepping foot on a plane.

” Two of Ottawa’s top attractions are completely free to visit ,” points out travelling blogger Kris Morton, inventor of Nomad by Trade.” Visitors can enjoy the Rideau Canal for free in any season, skating when it’s frozen in wintertime or walking or running along the pathways in warmer climate. Guided tours of Parliament, including the Senate or House of Commons are also free, though it’s recommended that you reserve tickets in advance online.

” Don’t miss the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs through the heart of town. If you’re visiting in winter, you’ll want to check out the Winterludefestival, held there annually for skating and other cold-weather fun .”

Prague, Czech Republic

Source: @aroundprague

Full of history and culture, Prague is the home of stunning architecture, and, it is about to change, plenty of $10 – $20 Airbnbs.

” Prague is as easy on the bank as it is to navigate with its top-notch transportation system ,” says Sara Graham, a brand and communications consultant and writer of How To Make Big Moves: Relocate Without Losing Your Mind.” For the budget traveler, it’s a no-brainer … beer is almost the same price as water .”

Graham’s first recommendation for a sunny springtime day?” Grab snacks and rent a peddle barge for a self-guided cruise on the Vltava ,” she says.” This is a lovely low-cost way to see the bridges, which can often get crowded.( Approximately $13 for a four-person boat .) Craving pizza? Pizza Nuova does it best this side of Naples. Classic pizza Margherita ($ 7) and vino, with a downtown position. Invariably, there’s always something going on in Old Town Square, even if it’s just the usual throngs collecting to watch the medieval Astronomical Clock ring in the hour .”

Bali, Indonesia

Source: @thebaliexpert

Want some time in a tropical paradise without draining your bank account? Head to Bali, where luxurious Airbnb accommodations can run around $ 130 per night( or as little as $30 for smaller spaces ).

” Bali is one of the most magical places on the planet ,” says Erin L. McCoy, editor-in-chief of Let’s Travel Spain.” One of the best things to do in Bali is to visit local temples, and these are usually either free or available to visit for a small donation. The Ubud Water Palace is gorgeous, flanked by ponds blooming with lotuses, and decorated with the most intricately carved figures. The colossal Besakih Temple is Bali’s mother temple, and looks down on broad fields from the peak of a mound. The Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, a short distance from Ubud, appears to float over a serene lagoon. These are just a few must-sees, and you can rent a taxi for a whole day for only a relatively small cost .”

When it comes to food, McCoy says,” For low-priced local fare, check out Puspa or Warung Biah Biah, both on a cobblestoned, pedestrian-friendly side street at the heart of Ubud. For coffee, stop in at KAFE, a hangout for expats and digital nomads .”

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Source: @riodejaneirobrasil

Even budget-conscious travelers can check out this seaside city, where a variety of Airbnbs will cost you under $100 per night.

” During Spring breaking, Rio receives its autumn, which is a perfect time to visit; not too hot , not too cold( if we can say that Brazil gets’ too cold ‘), and not too mobbed ,” says Reylla Santos, a clinical and addictions counselor who’s from Brazil. “[ There are] plenty of places to visit, beautiful beaches, bars around the beach( you can drink caipirinha while enjoy the breeze ), museums, breathtaking landscape. In Rio you also receive a lot of tourists; hence, detecting someone who speaks English won’t be a problem. There are multiple alternatives of things to do, places to go, and where to eat .”

Further, she says,” Watch the sunset at the Arpoador, it’s awesome! Eat a picanha[ a cut of beef] at Garota da Urca, it melts in your mouth. The Santa Teresa neighborhood is cozy and artistic, so if you like these types of things, make sure you go there. The pond Joao Fernandes is also a cool place to go and have a peaceful afternoon or get active by taking a helicopter trip or doing some water athletics .”

Moscow, Russia

Source: @moscow

Yes, you can stay in Russia’s capital city without going transgres by booking an Airbnb between $40 -7 0 a night.” One of my favorite things to do in Moscow during the spring is to visit the central botanical garden ,” shares Igor Bratnikov, co-founder and COO of Wanderu, a bus and train travel booking site.” There are numerous collectings of flora from all over the world … you have to pay an extra fee to get into special exhibitions, but those are usually around$ 5-$ 7, and are definitely worth it .”

Bratnikov adds that, when it is necessary to museums, you can expect to pay an admission fee, but again, it’s nothing that will break the bank.” On average, expect to pay about$ 8 at every museum you’d like to visit ,” he explains.” My two main recommendations include The Armoury Chamber, where you can see authentic royal jewelry dating back to the 12 th century, and the State History Museum, because Russia is a country with such a colorful history that you simply must learn more about it to understand many of the cultural peculiarities you will run into as a guest .”

As far as nosh goes,” you can easily have a delicious three-course meal for about $20 at a popular local eatery( not a fast food place or an international chain ). My personal favourite is Khachapuri, a restaurant that offers authentic Georgian cuisine in a cozy laid-back atmosphere .”

Taipei, Tawain

Source: @taipei. scout

If this up-and-coming tourist destination is on your wishlist, consider booking a trip while it’s still cheap — and local Airbnbs average $54 a night.” Taipei is worth visiting for its friendly folk, plethora of hot spring in the northern part of town, and its fascinating night market culture ,” says Chua.” If you are into Chinese culture, the National Museum here is worth a visit. Many of the artifacts were brought here by the nationalist government when they fled mainland China during the communist takeover .”

He adds that the city’s vibrant street food scene means that you should come hungry.” You definitely have to try street food such as stinky tofu( which entails some fortitude in order to try ), oyster cake, and mee sua( thin noodles with soup ),” Chua explains.” A typical way of enjoying street snacks is to go to the night market of your choice and to try different things from various stallings. You won’t have to spend more than$ 5 to get your tummy filled. A personal favorite night market for me whenever in Taipei is Ningxia Night Market .”

This article originally appeared on The Zoe Report on March 30, 2019

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Vietnamese travel destinations that won plaudits in 2018

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Vietnamese travel destinations that won plaudits in 2018

Vietnamese travel destinations that won plaudits in 2018

Not a month went by this year without praiseworthy mention of one or more Vietnamese destinations in international media.

With an estimated 15 million foreign arrivals, 2018 has been a highly successful tourism year for Vietnam. The nation’s growing popularity has been reflected throughout the year in various international travel publications.

People shop at Hanoi’s Quang Ba flower market. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

The American news site CNN urged holidaymakers around the world to explore Hanoi’s flower market in the lead up to Tet, the Lunar New Year festival, Vietnam’s biggest and most important holiday. 

The Quang Ba Flower Market, which opens on Au Co Street in Tay Ho District every day from 3 a.m., was among 15 best places in the world to celebrate the Year of the Rooster, alongside with Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, the Raohe Night Market in Taipei and Gyeongbokgung Palace in South Korea. 

Quang Ba is the largest and oldest flower market in Hanoi which works at frenetic space during Tet as shoppers hurriedly prepare large volumes of fresh flowers.

Vietnamese people have a long tradition of offering fresh flowers to deities and their ancestors during the holiday to pray for luck and peace for the new year. 

Old houses are seen across the Hoai River in Hoi An. Photo by Shutterstock/Tang Trung Kien

The charming towns of Hoi An and Sa Pa were included in the top 10 must-go places in Southeast Asia by Rough Guides, the U.K.-based travel publication.

Hoi An is a gentle and tranquil old town by the river that used to be a rendezvous for Japanese, Chinese and Western traders during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Motorbikes are banned in the town center, so visitors can stroll calmly through streets lined by yellow houses with old red-tiled roofs or take a cycling tour outside the town into the countryside with paddy fields and temples.

Sa Pa Town. Photo by Shutterstocks/minhnhat

Around 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Hanoi, Sa Pa has grown in popularity as a highlands tourism destination where one can walk around at leisure or go on strenuous mountain treks.

The town is home to famous Saturday night “love market”, which becomes a colorful exhibition of local ethnic minority culture. A gothic stone church in the center of the town built by French missionaries, Mount Fansipan, and terraced rice fields are sights that draw thousands of visitors year after year.

Gold sand stretches a beach in Con Dao Island. Photo by VnExpress/Meo Gia

Dat Tham Beach on Con Dao, an island off the southern coast of Vietnam, was among the U.K. newspaper Independent’s list of “10 eco-friendly beaches in Southeast Asia that tourists haven’t ruined yet.”

With the likes of Da Nang, Nha Trang and Mui Ne now packed with tourists, Dat Tham Beach, protected by the Con Dao National Park, is one of the few undeveloped stretches of sand left in Vietnam that are awakening foreign tourists’ interest with its untouched beauty, the Independent noted.

To get to the beach, visitors have to register at the park’s office a few days in advance before starting a six-kilometer hike.

Con Dao is a collection of 16 islands and islets in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, around 230 kilometers (143 miles) southeast of HCMC.

The paradisiacal archipelago was once home to a prison used by the French during the Indochina War.

Visitors gather outside St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi center. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Trung

Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi, came in 12th on travel site TripAdvisor’s list of the world’s top 25 destinations, alongside Paris and Rome.

The biggest highlight of the Vietnamese capital is its Old Quarter, once a collection of 36 guild streets, several of which still retain the original trade.

Hanoi is also home to the popular Vietnamese Women’s Museum and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which is home to 15,000 exhibits, 42,000 movies and photos featuring the diversity of 54 ethnic groups that reside in Vietnam.

A beach in Cam Ranh Bay in the central province of Khanh Hoa. Photo by Shutterstocks/thinhnguyen

The country’s deep-water bay, Cam Ranh, was named among the world’s seven best destinations for May by top travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

Cam Ranh, an hour south of its much busier sister Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa, is developing a reputation for its beaches, several of which have pristine stretches.

Last June, the Cam Ranh International Airport put into operation its $163 million international passenger terminal to bring in more overseas visitors to the pristine bay. 

Saigon’s night splendor is seen from above. Photo by Shutterstocks/Tokin

Leading international travel guide publisher Lonely Planet ranked Saigon third in a list of top ten places to visit in Asia.

With more than seven million foreign tourist arrivals in 2018, the city’s popularity has continued to rise with its skyscrapers, French colonial buildings, war relics and vibrant nightlife.

International visitors to HCMC spent $145 a day on average and stayed for 5.21 days last year, according to a survey on the city’s tourism market carried out by its tourism department and the General Statistics Office.

Lan Ha Bay is dotted with floating fishing houses. Photo by Shutterstock/John Vu

The New York-based travel site Thrillist named Lan Ha Bay, relatively unknown sister of the world-famous Ha Long Bay, among the places to go in Southeast Asia before “the hordes arrive.”

The 7,000-hectare wide bay sits to the east of Cat Ba Island in the northern city of Hai Phong, and is home to around 400 islands.

Cai Beo fishing village, said to be the oldest of its kind in Vietnam and considered a living museum of Vietnamese fishing culture, is still a mostly overlooked treasure here.

The floating village, with around 300 households living on catching and/or farming fish, consists of dozens of floating houses rising above clear green waters against glistening rocky mountains and blue skies.

The Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills near Da Nang. Photo by Shutterstocks/hoami

The U.S.-based Time magazine listed Vietnam’s Golden Bridge in its list of top 100 World’s Greatest Places for 2018.

Images of the two giant hands holding up the 150 meters long bridge at Ba Na Hills near the central city of Da Nang went viral and received international plaudits just months after it opened to tourists in June this year.

Designed by Vu Viet Anh, design principal at TA Landscape Architecture, the bridge quickly became the hottest destination on Instagram, the world’s top photo sharing network.

A north-south train runs along a road in Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstocks/tonkin

The U.K. travel guide publisher Lonely Planet selected the journey on the country’s north-south rail link one of the best scenic routes in the world. 

The trip of more than 1,000 miles that winds north-south down Vietnam’s coast, connecting Hanoi and Saigon and all points in between in 36 hours, offers beautiful views along the way.

“Traveling over a thousand miles from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, there is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises. And there’s no better way of exploring all the glories in between,” Lonely Planet noted.

For many, a three-day journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City can be too long. But travelers who want something different than an easy one-hour flight are rewarded with stunning scenery throughout the journey, particularly in central Vietnam.

An Thoi Islet off Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang. Photo by Shutterstocks/mytran

U.K. newspaper The Telegraph unveiled a list of 10 beaches unspoiled by the tourism boom, and two from Vietnam showed up.

The An Thoi Islet off Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang Province and Binh Lap Island in the central province of Khanh Hoa have escaped overcrowding, coral damage and waste triggered by “overtourism” of the sort that pushed Thailand’s Maya Bay to close down indefinitely.

Mount Fansipan is the tallest on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Photo by Shutterstocks/Khoa Nguyen Dang

The U.S.-based National Geographic said the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range was among the 28 best travel spots in the world to visit in 2019.

Around 195 miles northwest of Hanoi, Hoang Lien Son stretches 180 kilometers between Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Yen Bai provinces.

Vietnam’s grandest mountain range offers year-round cool weather and has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. The newly installed cable car system on Mount Fansipan, has drawn an increasing number of tourists to the area.

Da Nang at night. Photo by Shutterstocks/thanhvan

Da Nang, home to Asia’s most beautiful My Khe Beach, and a neighbor to the popular ancient town of Hoi An, was named among top 10 trending global destinations for 2019 by Australian travel website Finder.

Several new international flight routes have been launched to connect Da Nang with other Asian destinations, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea.

Story by Nguyen Quy

Videos contributed by Banhhe and Nguyen Dong

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The Top Things to Do in Oita, Japan

Japan is well known for its capital city, Tokyo and for Kyoto and Osaka yet it has many hidden gems that will surprise and delight visitors. One such gem is the island of Kyushu and the region of Oita Prefecture. With the most natural hot springs in Japan and stunning mountain ranges, there are some great things to do in Oita.

From Tokyo it’s only a 1 and a half hour flight to Oita. We flew with ANA from Haneda Airport, which has the advantage of being close to Tokyo centre. They give you complimentary soft drinks on board and we bought a soraben bento box at the airport. They’re a special type of bento, available for takeaway at airports and beautifully packaged. There was a fantastic selection of ready made boxes at reasonable prices.

Oita airport is very compact so it only took a few minutes to collect my checked in bag and to exit. Oita Prefecture will be hosting several of the Rugby World Cup matches at the next Olympic Games in 2019, which will no doubt put this hidden gem firmly on the map. Oita Prefecture’s slogan is Japan’s best hot spring hot spot as it has 4,381 hot springs, together with the largest annual yield of hot spring water.

Nakatsu

Our first destination was Nakatsu City which has a distinctive 8 arched bridge.

Close by, Farmer’s Restaurant Domon Patio is a perfect choice for lunch. It’s run by local women who have prepared delicious local dishes. Try the vegetable juice drink which was so tasty that I had 3 glasses! The dishes are all laid out buffet style and there’s an extensive choice. The cooks smiled and said goodbye to us as we left.

After lunch we visited a traditional Japanese house, with it’s cosy kotatsu mattress table which has a heat source underneath and keeps your feet warm. There was also a koto, a musical instrument that the daughter of the house played.

Our next port of call was Ao-no-domon Cycling Center. It’s popular with locals and tourists alike, who come to enjoy the Maple Yaba Cycling Road in Nakatsu-Yabakei Gorge. This 35 km track is reserved is built on an old rail track, reserved for bikes only and passes by scenic spots such as Yabakei Bridge. There are three places from which to rent bikes including Yabakei Cycling Terminal. It has a variety of bikes to choose from including all-terrain cycles and even a tandem. My bike was great fun to ride, with low handlebars and a comfy padded leather seat. Thankfully there were plenty of gears to help tackle any inclines. Having said that, the route we cycled was fairly pain free. As it was raining hard, we only did about 15 minutes. For those who prefer to avoid any hills, you can cycle down one way and get a driver to pick you up at the other end rather than doing a loop. I’d definitely recommend this cycle ride to all nature lovers and those keen on sport.

After this we headed to Yabakei Dam Memorial Gardens in Keisekien. These traditional Japanese gardens were made into a park when the nearby dam was constructed. There are some huge koi carp in the little lake and the moss growing there is particularly rare – some people visit the gardens just to see it.

Mameda

From here we travelled on to the area of Hita and Mameda Town, known for its old merchant houses. The town was governed by the Tokugawa Shoguns in the Edo era from 1603 to 1867 and now has heritage status. There are some interesting places to visit such as Kuncho Sake Brewery Museum, where you can find out more about traditional sake manufacturing, taste a range of superb sakes and purchase them in the shop.

To the rear, there’s the Tenryo Hina Dolls Museum, that showcases over 3,000 handmade antique dolls.

There’s also an interesting little design shop that sells handcrafted wooden and paper items, Hita Sugi Project. Less than 10 minutes drive away you’ll find Hina-no-Sato SANYOUKAN. This hotel is clean and centrally located, with the advantage of having its own onsen. The hot spring water is channelled and used for hot bath facilities. This onsen, located on the 3rd floor of the hotel, has a nice river view. Men use one side and women use the other, as nude bathing is the usual practice. I was surprised at how hot the water is but you get used to it quickly and it’s very pleasant. The water has purported medicinal benefits and considered to be good for aches and pains. Guests have the opportunity to sleep in Western rooms or traditional Japanese style, which was fun to try and surprisingly comfortable. Breakfast at the onsen was served in private rooms bordering the buffet. In each of these, a bento box full of tasty morsels had been thoughtfully laid out on each table.

Another novel experience was dining on the onsen’s riverboat, the Yakata-bune. You dress in the yakata or light Summer kimono provided in your room. There are normally several tables of diners but as our visit was out of season we were the only ones on board. The waiting staff were very friendly and they brought us a succession of delicious dishes presented in a series of attractive little pots.

Aso Kuju National Park

Located in the centre of the Kyushu area, Asjo Kuju National Park is known for its huge caldera or volcanic cauldron measuring around 100km. Mount Kuju is the highest mountain in Kyushu, at 1,791 m high. It’s ideal to visit in May when it’s covered in pink Kyushu azaleas, or October when the trees turn vivid shades of red, yellow and orange. We popped into Chojabaru Visitor Centre where we met the manager who spoke excellent English. After showing us an informative video on the mountain and marshland, she took us on a tour of the boardwalk. Thanks to this structure, the marshlands are easily accessible to those with physical impairments. Tadewara Marshland is situated on the northwest side of Mount Kuju and is home to a huge range of fauna and flora, from Japanese Water iris to fan-tailed warblers.

Every year, villagers conduct noyaki or controlled burning of the meadows in order to preserve the vegetation. Our guide sometimes plays the harp in the middle of the marshes – how atmospheric that must be! Mount Fuju is also easily accessible for those who aren’t expert hikers although it’s recommended that they wear waterproofs and appropriate hiking boots.

Our next stop was lunch at Marufuku, famous for its fried chicken. Rest assured that it’s nothing like fast food chicken, being much better quality and of higher nutritional value. The toriten or chicken tempura was particularly moreish. The restaurant has 2 types of seating – an open plan area with tables and chairs and individual booths with traditional Japanese seating – very cosy.

Taketa

Afterwards we visited Oka Castle, a real highlight of my Oita region trip. Originally constructed in 1185 by general Ogata Koreyoshi, it was inhabited by up to 3000 people at one point. Being built on a hill, it was already hard to invade but the builders made it trickier still by creating narrow paths where only a couple of people could enter at a time. Even though only the ruins of the original structure remain, it’s an atmospheric place with beautiful foliage and great views towards the Kuju mountain range. It’s also one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom spots and the Oka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in early April. There’s a statue of Rentarō Taki, one of Japan’s foremost composers and pianists who composed the song Moon Over the Ruined Castle in 1901 in homage to Oka.

After our castle visit we headed to Takeda Sogo Gakui to try our hand at bamboo pendant making. This former secondary school is now a hub for local artists and craftsmen. Our tutor is a talented artist whose works are all sculpted from bamboo, even though they look like copper or steel. He explained how to shape the pendant by threading the bamboo strands to create a ball shape. Whilst I won’t give up the day job just yet, I was happy with the end result.

The nearby area of Nagayu is considered to have one of the hundred best hot springs in Japan. The water is carbonated and has health benefits such as improving blood circulation. I tried an individual bathing room at Nagayu Onsen, a Ryokan (Japanese inn) on the river Serikawa. They admit guests who wish to use the facilities for a reasonable price, and they also have guest rooms and a restaurant. We dined at Kajika-An, a great local restaurant for meat dishes and vegetable tempura.

Asaji, Kyushu

The weather in Kyushu was lovely and sunny and our morning hike was a real pleasure. We were taking part in Oku-Bungo Olle walking course. Olle are trekking courses that originated in Jejudo in South Korea, using a system of blue and red flags to indicate the right route to take. We started off in Asaji at the Tourist Information Office next to the train station in Bungo-Ono city. It’s a 12 km long route with many attractions along the way such as Yujaku Park with its lovely lake.

The highlight of our walk was Fuko-ji Temple. Not only is the temple itself a very serene place set in beautiful landscape, but there is an unexpected surprise…a giant Buddha. Carved from a boulder formed after Mount Aso’s eruption, it’s 11.3 metres long.

After our hike we had earned some refreshments and headed to Hamashima Shuzo at Ogatamachishimojizai Bungoono, a specialty sake brewery using traditional methods. We were lucky to be given a tour by the CEO and also chatted to his daughter who studied in Oxford and speaks perfect English, as well as his charming wife. The process is labour intensive and I can see why it tastes so delicious. For those who are used to strong tasting sake, this is much more subtle and reminds me of wine in its complexity. They don’t just make sake drinks here though, there are also tasty sake infused puddings and Sake kasu, the lees left over from production that can be used in smoothies or to flavour food, or even as a face mask!

Beppu Onsen

Beppu is known for its hot springs, called The Hells, including bright blue Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) and the red Chinoike Jigoku (Bloody Hell Pond). There are 8 different hot spring areas and many different Beppu Onsen to try out. We enjoyed lunch at Kurodaya, one of the many Beppu hotels with a restaurant attached to it and its own onsen. They use the hot spring water to prepare steamed dishes with Onsen spring water, and very tasty it was too.

From here, I had a look at Beppu foot baths, which are open to the public. You just pay a small fee if you wish to borrow a foot towel. It’s very pleasant to soak your weary feet in the individual tubs.

A few minutes away, there’s a devillish fountain where you can drink the hot spring water. It’s said to be good if you have gastroenteritis, diabetes or gout. I tried it and it tasted perfectly pleasant. Nearby, there are also sand baths where you are covered in sand – definitely something that I’d like to try on a future trip! The weather in Beppu was quite mild so it’s something that I’d recommend at any time of year.

Kitsuki Castle Town

Kitsuki bills itself as the Samurai town of kimonos and Kyushu’s Little Tokyo. That’s because it was the first castle town in Japan to be certified as a historic townscape where kimonos look right at home. Kitsuki is also home to the smallest castle in Japan, overlooking the sea. At Warakuan Kimono Rental, the staff are experts who will help you to put one on and there’s a huge choice for both men and women.

We walked through a lovely garden on our way to the shop.

Kitsuki is said to be the only sandwich-shaped castle town in Japan, meaning that it has traditional samurai houses on plateaus to the north and south, with a merchant town in a valley between. Admission to the ancient samurai houses and all attractions is free to anyone wearing a kimono and you also get discounts in restaurants. We visited the Ohara Residence at 207 Kitsuki where a high-ranking samurai family lived during the Edo period. It was a goyoyashiki, a residence given by the Kitsuki clan to samurai for official business so the residents often changed. The main building has a thatched roof with a large reception room having 10 tatami mats. It has a beautiful garden with 110 varieties of plants, where visitors can wander around. A boundary-guard stone, a sekimori-ishi, which is a round stone tied with a knot, signifying that a path is closed.

/ As you can see, there’s so much to do in Oita and it refreshes your body and mind. It would be fantastic to go back and experience it in Springtime when the azaleas and cherry blossoms are blooming! Have you ever been to Japan?

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Thanks to Kyushu region for arranging this trip

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6 Korean festivals and markets to help curb your culture fix

Oh Korea. How you have captivated the world with glamourous K-pop stars and heart-wrenching dramas of love and life. But, apart from the obvious glitz, Korea also plays host to thousands of years of rich history and culture which should not be missed. Here, we shortlist a couple of markets and festival you need to visit before you can elevate your K-Fan status.

The Markets

Gwangjang Market

The Gwangjang Market is one of the oldest traditional markets in Seoul with over 100 years of history, and it’s one of the best places to sample some of Korea’s most mouthwatering dishes.

Upon entering the market, you’ll be greeted by endless rows of food vendors serving authentic local dishes like bindae-tteok (mung bean pancake), gimbap (seaweed wrapped rice), bibimbap (mixed rice), sundae (Korean sausage), and of course, kimchi.

Aside from the abundance of local fare, the Gwangjang Market also offers quality silken goods and fabrics, making it a popular destination for young fashionistas and couples looking for vintage wears and traditional wedding items.

Address: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Opening Hours: General stores 08:30-18:00
. Restaurants 08:30-23:00
. Clothing stores 21:00-10:00 (Next day)

Price Range: 2,000 to 5,000 Won (SGD2.50 to 6.25)

Tongin Market

Another popular food paradise worthy of your itinerary is the Tongin Market, famously known for the DIY-style Dosirak Café. The food hunt begins by first exchanging cash for a food tray and 10 traditional brass coins (yeopjeon).

The coins are then used to purchase various food items from the food vendors. Visitors wander around the marketplace, filling up their lunchbox with tasty and affordable eats and paying with the brass coins like in olden times.

Don’t miss the popular snack tteokbokki, a chewy and spicy rice cake fried in oil and chili paste – a speciality of Tongin every visitor must try.

Address: 18, Jahamun-ro 15-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Opening Hours: 7:00 – 21:00, closed every 3rd Sunday of month

Dosirak Cafe: 11:00-17:00 (last coins exchange until 16:00). Closed on Third Sunday of each month (Dosirak Cafe is closed on Mondays)

Price: 5,000 Won (SGD6.25) gets you 10 coins

Busan Gukje Market

You can find almost everything you need here at the Gukje Market, from electronics and kitchen appliances, to vintage handicrafts and even fresh fish! Imported products are also a specialty of the market, making it a popular shopping spot for both locals and foreigners alike, hence the name gukje, which means ‘international’ in Korean.

Chances of you getting lost here is pretty high, with its narrow alleyways and hundreds of stalls. Thankfully, all the paths wind up at either Bupyeong Market, Kkangton Market or Nampo shopping district, for even more retail therapy (no brass coins this time).

The busy lanes also make it an exciting spot for drama fans as it has served as backdrops to a number of Korea movies and dramas. Oppa, notice me!

Address: Sinchang-dong 4-ga, Jung-gu, Busan

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 20:00 Varies by store (closed on every 1st and 3rd Sundays)

Price Range: 2,000 to 5,000 Won (SGD2.50 to 6.25)

The Festivals

Gimje Horizon Festival

Known for being one of the biggest ‘must-visit’ festivals during fall, the Gimje Horizon Festival, held at the Byeokgolje Reservoir in Gimje city between late September to early October, is an agricultural extravaganza that promotes the thriving farming culture in Korea.

The event showcases some of the region’s most traditional farming methods and gives visitors a chance to take part in various eco-related programmes that include the makgeolli (Korean rice wine) festival, rural landscape drawing contest, international rice cook-off, kite-flying and tug-of-war competitions.

Festival-goers also get the chance to sample premium local delicacies (like hanwoo beef) and catch traditional folk performances to experience Korean culture at its finest.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is one of Korea’s biggest celebration of snow which takes place every year for the month of January (6th to 28th*). Locals and tourist alike flock to the frozen Hwacheonstream to take part in the wintertime carnival’s main event of ice fishing in an attempt to hook the fresh mountain trout (sancheoneo).

Those unfazed by the cold can choose to take a dip in the icy manmade pool for a shot at barehanded fishing. Your catch of the day can be either grilled and prepared sashimi-style right on the spot at the Sancheoneo Grill Centre for a small fee.

*Event dates is subjected to change due to weather conditions Aside from fishing, the festival also boasts a number of adrenaline-fuelled snow sports like ice-skating, ice soccer and bob-sleighing, as well as a winter village decorated with sculptures and colourful neon lights. Perfect for families!

Andong Mask Dance Festival

Dubbed the cultural capital of spirits and folklore, the 3000-year-old city of Andong makes an ideal venue for one of the nation’s most vibrant cultural affair.

With more than 50 traditional programmes being held over the 10-day-long celebration (from late September to early October), visitors will be mesmerised by a kaleidoscope of colour at the annual Mask Dance Festival. Join in the free-spirited fun, with captivating mask dance performances, puppet plays and world mask exhibits that show off the ritualistic heritage of this sacred Korean folk art.

Calling all K-culture junkies and food-lovers! Need help planning for your upcoming trip? We got you covered.