Seoul love...and this love won't let me go

MANILA, Philippines - Let me make it clear, our Gangnam-style dancing was confined to the lobby of the hotel we stayed in at Seoul’s fabled Gangnam District — the video clips of which shall remain un-uploaded to YouTube. I learned from my recent trip to Korea that “Gangnam Style” is a Korean neologism that refers to an upscale lifestyle associated with the Gangnam District where people are trendy, hip and classy. Forget about that ubiquitous pop tune for a moment.

Here are the top three things I learned from the trip:

Did you know there are more than a hundred varieties of kimchi, the ubiquitous side dish that spices up a Korean meal? The Kimchi Field Museum in Seoul has documented 187 varieties of kimchi, and there is an infinite number of variations on the basic varieties.

Did you know that a traditional Korean roof curves up, forming a smile? If you see a picture of a traditional Asian building, and the roof angles up at the corners, then you’d know it’s Korean architecture. 

And, funnily, did you know that farting with somebody nearby (a person close to you like a member of your family or your boyfriend/girlfriend) is a no-no in Korea?

I learned those nuggets from Kring Elenzano, a blogger (mykoreanboyfriend.com) and one of my travel mates when we joined the recent Jeju Air and Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) familiarization tour.

GSA/ClickSolution Inc. — the company licensed by Jeju Air to conduct its business in the Philippines — recently invited The STAR to experience a four-day/three-night tour of South Korea.

Robert Choi, general manager of GSA/ClickSolution Inc., explained, “The advantage of flying with Jeju Air is, it is always on time, with in-flight meals, and is cheaper, compared to other airlines flying the same route.”

True enough, we left Manila at exactly 11:55 p.m. and arrived at Incheon 4:50 a.m.

And the beat goes on

Koreans love art. Day one in Seoul saw us driving around the city, noticing the art pieces that punctuate the metro.

Our stops for the day included The Blue House, the Korean presidential residence; Srangchae, the home of the public information hall of the Blue House; and the Geongbokgung Royal Palace. Gyeongbokgung was originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo, the first king and the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, and was destroyed by fire and Japanese invasion of Korea and rebuilt by succeeding kings.

At the Palace complex, one building I remember was the Gyeonghoeru (Party House), which was used for royal banquets and to entertain foreign envoys. You can imagine the lavish parties during those days. Imagine the K-Pop during that time, wafting from the indigenous Korean instruments.

When you find yourself at Insadong, a pit-stop at a currency changer is a must, since this is one of Seoul’s shopping streets. Let the hunt for pasalubong begin.

Huanghu Sangyetang’s specialty, hot and healthy chicken soup dish called Samgyetang, was served with… you guessed it… kimchi. I would surely hunt for this meal in Manila’s Korean restaurants. And armed with our KTO market gift card, we sampled different dishes offered at the Kwangjang Market. Bindaetteok, a traditional pancake made of ground beans, pork and vegetables can be compared to our torta or okoy.

Later that evening we watched the Nanta show. Lots of people turned up to see comical chefs using their knives and kitchen implements to create beats and music. What flashed inside my head was that picture of me when I was a kid using pots and pans as a drum kit. The Nanta show goes on tour in 41 countries and 276 cities.

Day one ended with a buffet dinner in a restaurant in Myeongdong.

Climb every mountain

After breakfast at Ramada Hotel, we traveled 90 minutes to reach Nami Island.

Sixty-three kilometers away from Seoul, located in Cheongpeong Lake, and with a circumference of only five kilometers, this Island is a place for R&R and nature-tripping among Koreans and foreign visitors. A ferry ride from Gapyeong Wharf will take you to Nami Island.

While on the island, I saw playful squirrels, birds and ducks coexisting with the residents. Visitors can rent bicycles or an electric tour car to explore the island. This is the place where Winter Sonata and the Korean Wave began.

Next on the itinerary was Mount Seorak. It is called Mount Seorak because the snow stays there and does not melt for a long period of time. You can reach Mount Seorak’s summit through cable car and a short climb or, if you’re adventurous and fit enough, take the uphill trail.

The reward for our short trek? Dinner and rest at Del Pino Golf and Country Club

Gangnam’s all here

Fans of Korean telenovelas and movies will surely love this place. MBC Dramia is located in Yongcheong-ri, Baekam-myeon, Yongin-si.

MBC Dramia is an open set that measures a “total of 29,421 square meters.” It has served as the filming location for hugely popular Korean historical dramas such as Jumong, Queen Seon-deok, Isan, and Dong Yi. We spent a lot of time walking inside this recreated ancient Korean village with structures that have their own stories to tell. Some of the people on the trip must have imagined themselves as leading men and ladies in an epic Korean drama.

Next stop was the Everland Resort, a theme park providing a wide range of attractions and special events. It also has a zoo and a water park. Park attendance reached 6.6 million last year. The weather was not cooperative that day for us to enjoy the rides, but a rewarding buffet dinner aboard the Han River Cruise later made our day.

That evening we stayed in a hotel in the Gangnam District. Gangnam is considered to be the wealthiest and most powerful district in all of South Korea. Probably why people there dance a lot. Just kidding.

A whole Lotte shakin’ goin on

The itinerary for the day was changed due to the bad weather caused by an incoming typhoon. But despite the rain, we enjoyed a visit to Lotte World, a covered complex site with a department store, hotel, duty-free shops, a large discount store, and a fitness center — in addition to the theme park. It is a city within a city where people can enjoy a Lotte, er, lot of things all in one place.

Lunch was hosted by KTO director for Asia and Middle East Doo Jo Kim and assistant manager Lee JinSu at Si Wha Dam, in a modern Korean fine dining restaurant. Each course at this restaurant is served as if it were a work of art. You’re not really sure if you’re going to partake of the dish or admire the handiwork of the chef and mount it, gallery-style.

Instead of N-Seoul Tower and Teddy Bear Museum we were able to enjoy the scenery and artworks at Sky Art Gallery on 63 Square. This is the highest observation art gallery in the world. You literally can get high on art.

On our way to Incheon airport, we stopped by at Emart to do our last-minute shopping and bid farewell to Korea. As they say in the Land of the Morning Calm, “Kamsahamnida” or “Thank you.” And as star-crossed Korean lovers say with teary eyes and trembling hands, “Till we meet again.”

* * *

Korea Tour Package special promo is US$799 exclusive of tips and taxes. Package includes: roundtrip airfare via JejuAir, three-night accomodation in a four-star hotel, full board meals and one bottled water per person daily, tour and entrance fees as per itinerary, transfer service with driver and air-conditioned deluxe coach, and Korea visa processing assistance.

Jeju Air flies Manila to Incheon daily. Jeju Air Philippines GSA/ ClickSolutions Inc. is at Alcantara Bldg., 704 P. Ocampo St., Malate Manila. For information and reservations, visit www.jejuairph.com or call +632-708-2000/ 708-9369-71.