The Korea Herald

Best of 2011: Tales of a travelin’ man

Dec 30, 2011

Planes (jet and prop), trains (speedy and meandering), and automobiles (convertible, utility and luxury) took me on my journeys in 2011, along with an odd assortment of motorboats, canoes and a monorail. I’ve had more hyperbolic years in the past, but a mixture of financial limits and contemplative mood had me slowing down my travels this year. I took time to savor a slice of southern Europe and...
Facebook unwelcome in Vietnam, but Zuckerberg OK

Dec 28, 2011

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) _ Vietnam may block its citizens from using Facebook, but that didn't stop website founder Mark Zuckerberg from vacationing in the communist country. Zuckerberg spent Christmas Eve in the popular tourist destination Ha Long Bay, local official Trinh Dang Thanh says. State-run media say Zuckerberg arrived in Vietnam on Dec. 22. Zuckerberg spent Christmas Day at an ecolodge i...
This Holy Land battle focuses on tourists’ wallets

Dec 23, 2011

BETHLEHEM, West Bank ― A 45-foot-high artificial Christmas tree towers over Manger Square, and downtown Bethlehem is festooned with sparkling decorations. There’s even a picture of a saxophone-playing Santa Claus. But Nabil Giacaman, co-owner of a souvenir shop called Christmas House, isn’t feeling the holiday spirit. The third-generation wood carver, who sells handmade likenesses of baby Jesus...
All fun and Games: London’s East End, Olympics-close, invites a fresh look

Dec 23, 2011

LONDON ― Never mind the sprints, relays and marathons coming to London this summer. Look at the competition now among the flower vendors of Columbia Road. “Who’s got a fiver?” hollers one grizzled man with a fistful of roses. “Four for 2 quid!” bellows another. “Five pounds a bunch!” howls yet another. These guys sound better than the extras in “My Fair Lady,” and they’re here every Sunday mo...
Culture Ministry campaigns for winter traveling

Dec 23, 2011

To encourage families to travel around the country, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is holding various promotion events through January. Korea Tourism Organization website (www.visitkorea.co.kr) has suggestions on the best places to visit during the cold season, such as hot springs, winter sports destinations and traditional Korean houses with flat stone floor heating systems. Also introduc...
KR-PASS sales increase 160 percent

Dec 23, 2011

Sales of KR-PASS, a railway pass exclusively for foreigners, increased by 158 percent this year, according to Korail. The KR-PASS service grants overseas tourists unlimited access to all of its trains ― including the KTX ― for one to 10 days based on the service users’ choice. Up to 12,617 purchased the pass from January through November. Korail believes the number of service users has been su...
New Year’s Eve fireworks at Grand Hyatt Seoul

Dec 23, 2011

Grand Hyatt Seoul is preparing New Year’s Eve fireworks for lovers and families who want to count down the final moments of 2011 and welcome 2012 in a special way. The event will start off at 6 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the hotel’s famous ice rink, with guests enjoying free outdoor skating. With a snack buffet, skating demonstrations by the Junior Korean National Skating team, dance performances, a va...
Celebrating New Year at Novotel Ambassador

Dec 23, 2011

The buffet restaurant The Square at Novotel Ambassador Gangnam presents a special promotion for guests born in the Year of Dragon. From Jan. 1 through the end of the month, the restaurant will offer a complimentary buffet for guests born in 1952, while a 50 percent discount will be offered to all guests born in the Year of Dragon ― limited to one guest per table with four or more guests. The Sq...
Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s global Korean cuisine

Dec 16, 2011

Renaissance Seoul Hotel’s Korean Restaurant Sabiru is offering an exclusive Korean dinner course starting Dec. 1. Developed by chef Lee Sang-hoon, the grand prize winner in World Korean Food Competition and Festival 2009, the course showcases a selection of creative Korean dishes that foreign diners can enjoy while also keeping the taste that makes Korean cuisine so special. Using fresh ingredi...
Cakes of the World Buffet at the Grand InterContinental

Dec 16, 2011

Unlimited aromatic teas and delicious desserts will be served at the Afternoon Tea Buffet of the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, during weekends with Christmas cakes from different countries available from Dec. 23-25. The Afternoon Tea Buffet offers mini sandwiches, scones with jam and whipping cream, almond cake and cherry pie as well as Korean traditional sweets such as tteok and sujeongg...
Hawaiian Airlines changes honeymoon flight schedule

Dec 16, 2011

Hawaiian Airlines will change its nonstop Incheon-Honolulu flight schedule starting Jan. 5 to accommodate the growing demand for travel to Hawaii from Korean honeymooners. Under the new schedule, Hawaiian Airlines’ HA460 will depart Incheon every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:15 p.m. and will arrive at Honolulu International Airport at 11 a.m. on the same day. The return flight bo...
‘2012 Korea Grand Sale’ begins

Dec 16, 2011

Korea Grand Sale, a shopping event for overseas visitors, is set to take place from Jan. 9 through Feb. 29. During the sale period, visitors will be able to enjoy up to 50 percent discount on shopping, dining, accommodation and entertainment in Seoul, Busan, Jeju and other major cities across the country. Approximately 21,800 shops representing 72 different firms on food, accommodation, shoppin...
Trio trek Empty Quarter in footsteps of Thesiger

Dec 16, 2011

ABU DHABI (AFP) ― A British explorer and two Emiratis on Tuesday completed a 44-day trek across one of the world’s largest deserts, the Empty Quarter, in the footsteps of the late traveller Sir Wilfred Thesiger. The three men riding two camels were welcomed with a large round of applause from crowds who were waiting for them at Abu Dhabi’s corniche, marking the conclusion of their 1,600-kilomete...
Lights, gingerbread, parades: Holiday happenings in U.S.

Dec 16, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Elaborate gingerbread houses, boat parades, train shows and dazzling light shows that illuminate entire neighborhoods are all part of the holiday fun this year for the Christmas and New Year’s season. Here’s a selection of beautiful things to see and interesting things to do around America now through early January. In Manhattan, the Rockefeller Center tree stays lit until Jan. 7...
Angry Birds to get own theme parks: company

Dec 16, 2011

The Angry Birds are set fly from the virtual into the real world next year as the cartoonish birds from the popular smartphone game get their own theme parks, a playground company said Thursday. "The idea is to to create a different concept for gaming by integrating the virtual and physical worlds ... so parents can spend more time with their kids," Finnish playground maker Lappset's managing di...