Shopping in Seoul

         

                                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yksfxCVkebU

        Here is a link that I want to share with you. This video shows you about one guy's shopping experience in Seoul! Enjoy!

Tips for choosing the hotel

        Whenever you find yourself in need to travel, either business calls you or you want to take a break from daily life and relax, you will have to find a place to stay. Now comes the question, what should you look for in a hotel to make your stay worthwhile?

        Every tourist destination has lots of hotels, some of them that cater to people who have money to spend, and some of them that offer budget solutions. However, price is not the only factor when it comes to choosing a hotel. Below are some tips to help you find the right hotel for you.

1. Consider the location of the hotel

        The hotel you choose should be near the places you need to go or the sights you want to see while on your trip. This allows you to save on transportation and also allows you to spend more time doing the things you want or need to do instead of constantly finding yourself stuck in traffic or waiting for an available cab.

2. Read traveler reviews of the hotel

        Reading what others have to say about their stay at the hotel you are considering is a very important step when choosing a hotel. Reading up on how other travelers perceived the value of the hotel could be helpful before making your reservation.

3. Choose hotels that offer bundled of discounts

        Search for hotels that offer discounts bundled with car rentals and airfare. Hotels usually offer promotions during off seasons to entice tourists to stay, so keep an eye out for those.

4. Check out what the hotel has to offer

        Check out what hotel has to offer in terms of amenities and facilities. This way, you can be sure that the hotel you choose meets your needs.

5. Consider what the hotel has to offer for your travel companions

        If you are traveling with your kids or perhaps your parents who may be elderly, check out hotels that offer something for them. A playground for kids is a great way to keep them entertained during your trip and for the elders, amenities that can help them relax and enjoy the trip are great.

Travel in Korea, Eat in Korea and Have Fun!

        Here is a video that shows you about the culture, natural scenery, and foods of Korea. The most interesting part I think is the seafoods market, especially the moving octopus. In conclusion, this video will give you a general view of Korean's daily life. Hope you would like it.

Souvenirs in Japan

        If it's the first time that you have a trip in Japan, you may wonder what kind of souvenirs that you should buy for your family and friends. Here are some recommendations for you. Since these are all traditional Japanese hand-craft gifts, hope you would like them.

Pack for Weeks in a Carry On

        This video is extremely help when you try to pack your bag before your one-week worldwide trip. Hope you would like it.

How to choose the right accommodation

        Traveling can be exhausted. So it's will be better if you find a good accommodation. This video gives you the general idea when you choose a hotel or guesthouse and offers some tips that will help you to choose the right place to stay during your trip. Hope you would like it.

Chinese Cuisine

        There is a video clip which introduce traditional Chinese foods that I want to share with you. Enjoy!

Eat in Korea

         Korea is not only famous for its plastic surgery, but also famous for its Korean foods. For the reason of nearing sea, Korean foods contains lots of seafoods. The major flavor of Korean foods are spicy and sweet. Today, I'm going to introduce you some traditional Korean dishes and hope you would like them.

1. Kimchi

        Dating to the Shilla Dynasty (approximately 2,000 years ago), kimchi is the beloved spicy sidekick at every Korean table. It's made by salting and preserving fermented cabbage in a bed of pepper, garlic, ginger and scallion. 

2. Samgyeopsal 

        The best part of eating in a samgyeopsal restaurant is the atmosphere -- a rollicking party punctuated by soju shots, pork strips sizzling on a grill and shouts for “one more serving, please!” 

        Samgyeopsal  is served with lettuce, perilla leaves, sliced onions and raw garlic kimchi. It's smudged in ssamjang (a mix of soybean paste called 'doenjang' and chili paste called 'gochujang') or salt and pepper in sesame oil. 

3. Jjajangmyeon 

        Although Jjajangmyeon is originally a Chinese dish, Koreans have taken the noodles and created a thicker, yummier version that holds only a vague resemblance to its Chinese predecessor. 

        It would not be an understatement to say Korean diets would not be the same without this dish -- most Koreans eat it at least once a week, and have their favorite jjajangmyeon delivery shop on speed dial. 

4. Soy sauce crab 

        Ganjang gejang, or crab marinated in soy sauce, can be so addictive that it’s often affectionately called “rice thief,” the joke being that you keep eating more rice just so that you can have more gejang since it’s just that good. 

        Slightly tangy, tantalizingly bitter, pungent and cold, the taste may come as a shock for first-timers. But among Koreans, gejang has been carving out a niche for itself as more of a centerpiece than a sideshow to other seafoods. 

5. Tteokbokki 

        This iconic red-orange street food is so popular that there’s an entire town in Seoul just devoted to the steamed and sliced rice cakes (tteok), cooked with fish cakes (oden) and scallions in a sweet and spicy sauce made of chili paste.  

6. Sundae 

        Another street food, sundae is a type of sausage, similar in content to blood pudding, with roots in Mongolian cuisine. “Real” sundae is pig intestine with a stuffing of cellophane noodles, vegetables, and meat, but even if you eat the street vendor version, which uses a synthetic replacement for the pig intestine, you will still be able to enjoy the lungs and liver on the side. Some people thinks it's yummy, but some people think it's disgusting!

7. Gimbap 

        The process of making gimbap resembles the Italian glasswork technique of millefiori, and indeed, the finished gimbap often looks too pretty too eat. 

        Sautéed vegetables, ground beef, sweet pickled radish, and rice, rolled and tightly wrapped in a sheet of laver seaweed (gim), and then sliced into bite-sized circles. 

8. Haemul Pajeon 

        Crunchy and filling, Korean pancake tastes best when it comes studded with shellfish, cuttlefish, and other varieties of seafood, to make haemul (seafood) pajeon. 

        And with its traditional companion of Korean rice wine, makgeolli, pajeon makes the perfect meal for a rainy day. 

9. Ox Bone Soup 

        This ox bone soup is easily recognizable by its milky white color and sparse ingredients. At most, seolleongtang broth will contain noodles, finely chopped scallions, and a few strips of meat. 

        Yet for such a frugal investment, the results are rewarding. There is nothing like a steaming bowl of seolleongtang on a cold winter day, salted and peppered to your taste, and complemented by nothing more than rice and ggakdugi kimchi.  

10. Japchae 

        Japchae, a side dish of cellophane noodles, pork, and assorted vegetables sautéed in soy sauce, makes its most frequent appearances at feasts and potlucks. 

        There are no precise rules governing the precise assortment of vegetables in japchae, but most recipes won’t stray far from the standard collection of mushrooms, carrots, spinach, onions, and leeks.

Travel in Tokyo, Eat in Tokyo, and Have Fun!