Visual Retrospective - Seoul/Taipei

Incheon (仁川) Int'l Airport, Seoul, South Korea

Don't know why I still remember the old Seoul Airport Kimpo Int'l Airport and it's probably the name Kimpo is more representational to me. This one Incheon is far more safer than Kimpo since it's a sea reclaimed man-made island; whereas Kimpo had the similar problem as Kai Tak (old airport of HK) - the mountain concern on the landing/takeoff routes.

1-4. the Airport.



5-8. KAL Korean Air lounge.

Dragon Fruit at a dragon price, Seoul, South Korea

I noticed one thing in Seoul that it's not common to have fresh fruits served as a dessert or something common like we have in other SE Asian countries. So I got to check on their local market and found out some fruits like apple/orange are at a selling price of US$2-3. So I further checked on this Dragon Fruit and it's US$4 for 100g. Then this one is US$32. So next time if you are in Korea and served with a slice of Dragon fruit, then you are treated as a VVIP. :) FYI, in HK I spent US$1.2 to 1.8 for 3 dragon fruits from Thailand and US$1.2 for 3-4 Sunkist oranges...etc.

Starbucks in Korean

Ready for learning Starbucks in Korean?

Korean meal set by a traditional family

Got brought to a restaurant run by a whole family from grand ma to kids - very warm-hearted. So the family already set the meal set for you and you just needed to choose "beef", "fish", "pork" for your main course. The chef would just cook the main course in his way.

1. When we sat down, the table was put with all these big and small dishes, and so occupied. 2. Then a flat wok was placed next to the dishes, with some rice on the bottom, various veggie and a semi-pan fried egg on top. Just seeing all these is already an eye-candy.

3. Kimchi tofu pot. 4. mini-burger with tomato/veggie sauce. Both are good and not too spicy.

5. OK, the main course - beef casserole. The stone pot kept boiling the food inside and by the time it got cool, the soup was almost gone, leaving the food inside very tasty and aromatic. 6. pan fried yellow fish - very nice too!

7. I somehow thought of Paela. It's quite a big portion and moreover you are given another bowl of steamed rice. 8. Miso soup with veggie. Very nice aroma of miso!

9. Korean pan cake. Almost a must for a traditional meal, and this one is pretty good. 10. the restaurant is actually an old style house with a patio in the middle getting the light and as a place for the wood burner.


11. See the stone pots on the top of this wood grilling stove. I could tell why the food has a sort of grilling smell and also why it's so hot and burning for half an hour. 12. See this wood for the grilling.

13. the patio. 14. the shop entrance - kind of ancient Chinese.

Myeong Dong BBQ House, Seoul, South Korea

Korean BBQ sounds like a must each time when I visit Seoul. So I got brought to this busy place in Myeong Dong since I chose to stay at this area.

1. chilled tofu - pretty smooth. 2. Korean pan cake.

3. Kimchi. 4. bean paste.

5. corn salad. 6. pickled onion.

7. the setting. 8. the veggie wrapping the BBQ meat.

9. Charcoal grilling. My favourite way for grilling. 10. Ordered a siloin at US$35 - very nice!

11. Then another order of Spare ribs and upper pork loin at US$18 and US$20. 12. the ventilation system.

13. Took this photo when it's not too crowded. 14. the shop entrance.
15. Almost got a bar of chocolate for my dessert back at the hotel room but I stopped it as I saw most of the chocolate's expiry dates are in either January and February.

Korean herbal tea

My colleague suggested me take a bowl of Korean ginger tea to cope with the unusually cold weather here at minus 9 degree celsius. I thought it'd probably be the ginger sweet soup we have in HK, but it's 10 times more than expected.... Woash....

1. This tea house is somewhere near Insadong and actually quite a lot of tea houses are in Insadong. 2. My colleague ordered a "five tastes" tea and if you like something refreshing sour, this one is super sour but smells so good - kind of a berry aroma, at US$7.

3. This is the Ginger tea but I should call it ginger juice, US$7. I couldn't even finish it all. So I know why they give me a tea spoon. Yes, half spoon every time. 4. Sweet for the tea US$10. The 4 square ones are chocolate truffle coated with green tea powder - very nice and super melty. Then the middle 6 are citron mini-custards, chestnut and herbal. Pretty nice to go with my strong ginger tea so as to give my taste buds a break.

5. rice crackers (complimentary) - very nice! 6. the shop inside.

7. There is a big tree growing inside the shop. 8. the variety of teas...

Best Western Premier Kukdo Hotel, Seoul, South Korea

Best Western Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles (near 9000) was the first Best Western I tried back in the early 90's. Then the second Best Western I tried may be this one and it is definitely much different.

1/2. The room rate is US$110 net without breakfast. Room is quite thoughtful for the design with adequate cabinets and things come very handy. Besides, the key card is a sensor one, not the key lot that most people may have a problem with the inserting position and the speed that it often takes 2-3 times to open the door.

3. The internet is complimentary and the TV reception is already digital. 4. I like the way they put the sink area along the corridor and the mirror makes it more spacious.

5. See the cabinet with a curtain - making the room not too congested.

7. the restaurant. 8. the lobby.
9. the lobby.