| A New York chef's food excursion in Seoul Posted: 30 Jan 2012 10:06 PM PST by Frances Cha, Seoul Editor  Chef Hooni Kim, 39. For Manhattan-based chef and restaurateur Hooni Kim, traveling around Korea is naturally all about the food.
"[In New York] I've been thinking of Hadongkwan's gomtang for several years," says the 39-year-old Korean-American chef. "And what surprised me the most on this trip was that it met my expectations. It was just so good." In Korea for a 10-day vacation with his wife, Kim made sure to look up his previous haunts as well as searching for new renditions of his favorite dishes. But for an up-and-coming chef, even a vacation is high-profile, with Korean media outlets rushing to interview him once they caught wind of his arrival. Kim himself is quick to dismiss the fame, however. In fact, he views the term "celebrity chef" as an insult. read more |
| World's top new landmarks revealed Posted: 30 Jan 2012 08:49 PM PST by CNNGo staff Arizona's Grand Canyon Skywalk is the best new bridge, New York by Gehry the top new skyscraper and the Statue of Liberty the most visited landmark, according to Travel + Leisure magazine. The New York-based travel magazine conducted an online survey last year to discover the world's top new landmarks. Some 60 landmarks were rated in different categories -- skyscrapers; parks and public spaces; museums; bridges; sports and performance venues as well as classic landmarks. New landmarks are defined as landmarks opened after 1996, while classic landmarks are those opened in or before 1996. Respondents were also asked if they had actually been to the sites to identify which are the "most seen" landmarks. read more |
| Buy the world's 'oldest' cheese ... in China Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST by Andrea Fenn After "most skyscrapers in the world" and "world's biggest bottle of cooking oil (nearly five meters tall)," China has another superlative to add to her list. And it is the least likely one of all. What has been claimed to be the world's oldest piece of edible cheese is currently located in China. Get this: the owners want to sell this extra old cheese to Chinese people. For the Chinese, cheese itself does not have a meaning, it's basically an ingredient of other foods like pizza The phenomenal "relic" is a 20-kilo cut of Italian alpine cheese called Bitto, produced in 1997 and valued at HK$2,500 (about RMB 2,040) per kilo. read more |
| Old Town Phuket: Finally, a reason to leave the beach Posted: 30 Jan 2012 01:58 PM PST by Simon Ostheimer Many a visitor to Phuket will leave convinced that it's little more than a hedonist's paradise, where the day's beach-side thong parade gives way to a night of Bacchanalian excess along Patong's Soi Bangla. And who could blame them? Many tourists come to the so-called "Pearl of the Andaman" precisely to throw away their moral compass, shed their clothing and indulge in the kind of questionable evening behavior that would never be possible -- or acceptable –- back home. But anyone willing to peel their butt from their beach chair can still get to know the real Phuket and its unique culinary and historical story. You just have to head to the old quarter of Phuket Town, which dates from the end of the 19th century. Chinese dragons and tin fortunes Phuket Heritage Trails (PHT), which specializes in walking tours of the Old Town, is one of the best ways to get a full view of the area. Run by Phuket native Kritchaya "Chaya" Na Takuathung, a former newspaper reporter and hotel PR woman now devoted to introducing visitors to the living history of her home, PHT tours start from the modern and rather garish dragon statue that stands next to the local tourism office. read more |
| Gregory Starr: GPS is the traveler's enemy Posted: 30 Jan 2012 01:55 PM PST by Gregory Starr 
A study published late last year by a U.S. national newspaper showed a surprisingly large percentage of GPS users suffering from the digital blues to such an extent vacations and even trips to the local store were being dashed against the twin rocks of hope and common sense. Our intrepid travelers reported being plagued with all kinds of problems: more than a third had experienced difficulties simply finding the right address, a quarter had dealt with convoluted (read "idiotic") directions and a not miniscule 14 percent claimed they couldn't even see the screen because of glare. What wasn't included in the article was the degree that navigation systems of all shapes and sizes have reduced the collective IQ of the global population, which is a polite way for saying they've basically made us more stupid when we hit the road. Remain in your vehicle, please sir I was offered a ride the other day, and despite the fact that a mid-afternoon journey by car in Tokyo often ends up taking longer than earning a black belt in any of the martial art disciplines, I accepted. read more |
| The Flying Bus takes off in Mumbai Posted: 29 Jan 2012 07:06 PM PST by Deepika Sorabjee Soon to be obsolete, Mumbai's iconic double-decker bus has been reborn with giant silver wings in Indian artist Sudarshan Shetty's latest public art project. The beloved red buses will be phased out of service soon, but Shetty has elevated the veteran workhorse from its "antiquated fate" by giving one of the buses spectacular steel wings. Located on the grounds of Maker Maxity in the Bandra Kurla Complex, the bus is stationary but gives the illusion of flight. Welded to each side of the bus just behind the driver's cab, the wings are made of stainless steel scales that catch the changing light. The front wheels of the bus are raised above the ground as though the behemoth is about to take off. read more |
| Singapore high fashion moves away from shopping malls Posted: 29 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST by Suzy Q From stand-alone big brands on the street to a bespoke cheongsam maker tucked in the heart of the financial district, the latest and hippest Singapore shops are now tucked in all corners of the island. Here are 10 top stores that prove you don't have to be a mall rat to experience the best of Singapore's shopping scene. Abercrombie & Fitch  There's only one way to describe Abercrombie & Fitch's Singapore opening last December. Ab-tasitc. With 300 branches worldwide, this coveted American casualwear retailer is finally in Singapore, bringing with it a swash of black palettes, dark mirrors and perfume-as-room-spray.
Which of course brings us to the matter of that much-publicized sexy Abercombie & Fitch poster. It clearly didn't offend as many as was expected, staying up right until the store flung open its doors late last year with a bevy of eight-packs. Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Road. Open daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m. read more |
| Best of Colorado skiing Posted: 29 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST by Kate Siber  Colorado's Holy Trinity: Powder. Board. Aspen Mountain. Fur-clad socialites and A-list celebrities alongside pickup truck and weekend warrior skiers all living large on slopes glorious enough to give Richard Dawkins religion.
 Beats the bus stop. Is there a cozier city park in the world than Aspen's outdoor fire pit?
That may be how the world sees Colorado's top ski destinations -- we'll go out on a snow-crusted limb and call them the best in North America -- but the rowdy frontier mountain spirit here still runs as deep as its top-end visitors' pockets. With 54 peaks over 4,200 meters, Colorado has no shortage of vertiginous terrain for skiing and snowboarding. But what makes Colorado such a beloved American ski destination is its arid climate, which produces an abundance of light, fluffy snow and 300-plus days of sunshine. read more |
| Shanghai: Art deco capital of the East Posted: 29 Jan 2012 01:57 PM PST by Sophie Friedman Art deco is the leitmotif of Shanghai architecture, distinguishing its most significant buildings. In the 16 years that he's spent in the city, architecture buff Spencer Dodington has lived almost exclusively in art deco buildings. A passion for Shanghai's art deco heritage has established the 43-year-old American entrepreneur as the go-to person on the subject. He runs personal tours (with agency Luxury Concierge China), provides consultancy on renovating pre-1949 Shanghai apartments and even designs art deco-themed fashion accessories. "These lovely buildings got me hooked on the uniqueness of Shanghai 1930s architecture," says Dodington. "It's really different and interesting compared to Texas, where I'm from, but it's also different from other cities with their own art deco, like Miami and New York." Dodington says Miami's architecture is interesting because it's so related to the ocean and sea life, including its color palette; the city is known for its pastels. Its art deco buildings are also very unfussy, with most taking the form of affordable, middle class low-rise apartments. read more |
| The best sushi restaurants in Tokyo Posted: 29 Jan 2012 01:55 PM PST by Kelly Wetherille Ask five Tokyoites to name the best sushi restaurants in the city, and you're likely to get five different answers -- the old "how long is a piece of string?" quandary. That's because the sushi experience is a very personal one that can include not only raw seafood, but also things like unmatched service, chefs whose skills were honed by years of apprenticeship, an atmosphere that screams "traditional Japan" and, in many cases, a whopping bill. Because of all this, any one traveler's favorite sushi experience is going to largely depend on budget, interests and previous experience with the cuisine. But the great thing about Tokyo is its sheer breadth and depth of choice when it comes to eating out. Sushi is no exception, and at least one of these five restaurants or chains is sure to please just about any hungry visitor. read more |
| Gallery: Historic boarding schools seek top UNESCO marks Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:15 PM PST by Cin Woo Lee Seowons were the dominant educational institutions of Korea's final dynasty -- the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Privately owned, exclusively male, and Confucian, these elite boarding schools of yesteryear were the gathering place of the top budding intellects in the Hermit Kingdom. With such a high concentration of the nation's cleverest minds, seowons became very powerful, with its aristocratic members enjoying privileges like tax breaks. It was a recipe for corruption, and seowons became a source of political cliques and party squabbles. During the resign of King Gojong, the regent Heungsun Daewonkoon issued a decree that abolished hundreds of seowons, excepting the few that were officially recognized by the king. Today they are all relics. But if that sounds sad, there's a bright side. A whopping 637 seowons are still standing today, and the Korean media recently made much of the fact that nine of the 637 were included on UNESCO's tentative list of potential World Heritage sites earlier this month. The nine seowons may be relics, but at least they'll be relevant relics. read more |
| Walk down Rua do Cunha, Macau, where the cookies are made of meat Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST by Hiufu Wong, Zoe Li, Hong Kong Editor  Koi Kei bakery's billboard at the mouth of Rua do Cunha, featuring Chua Lam, the patron saint of almond cookies.
There's a street in Macau that everyone goes to for a kick in the snackpants: Rua do Cunha. This sliver of a pedestrian street, just five meters wide and stretching for about 115 meters, packs in a dozen snack shops and eateries each famed far beyond the former Portuguese colony. Located in Taipa Island's old town, Rua do Cunha is quintessentially Macau. It is physically small, unashamedly commercial and appealing to tourists, yet has an overwhelming Macanese charm achieved through colorful colonial architecture and the folksy hospitality of locals. Also on CNNGo: Best of Macau read more |
| Traveling through Asia's rock 'n' roll past Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST by Duncan Forgan The Asian rock 'n' roll heroes of yesteryear don't get much playtime nowadays. Shiny and new generally takes precedence over dusty relics in Asia and reverence for past musical glories is conspicuous by its absence. However, for anyone prepared to do a bit of digging there's an untapped mine of melodious gold to be discovered around the region. Here's where to find the people that helped define Asia's rock 'n' roll past. Cambodia: Sin Sisamouth  Combining Cambodia, the West and a little bit of James Brown. It is impossible to overplay the importance of Sin Sisamouth. The undisputed King of Khmer music, Sisamouth could rightly vie with James Brown for the title of the "hardest working man in showbusiness."
A frighteningly prolific polymath, Sisamouth reportedly wrote more than 1,000 songs and was as adept at recording Latin-style music as he was blues, folk and bossanova. read more |
| Tokyo's stunning palace for the printed word Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:55 PM PST by C. James Dale The duo that designed Tokyo's latest architectural wonder is turning an age-old phrase by that quintessential Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, on its head. "Art is never finished," said the Italian painter, sculptor, architect and you-name-it-he-did-it. "Only abandoned." Sure, if you visit Daikanyama T-Site [Japanese], an upscale retail complex that opened last December 5 in the city's trendy Daikanyama neighborhood, you might notice that Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein's creation is not quite done. On a sunny January morning inside Anjin [Japanese], a chic and comfy café-lounge that sits atop one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, the founders of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa) are told -- with polite words and bows -- they'll have to sip their cappuccinos at a different table. The lighting guy's arrived. Apparently one of the fixtures is hanging too low. But while Dytham and Klein might be playing musical chairs (or in this case, musical designer couches), they aren't planning on abandoning their chef d'oeuvre. They like it too much. Plus, it's just down the street from their office. read more |
| Capsule hotel coming to Hong Kong Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:05 AM PST by Zoe Li, Hong Kong Editor  Shelves for storing sleeping humans.
Popular in Japan, the capsule hotel may finally take root in Hong Kong. Eric Wong, managing director of Galaxy Stars Ltd., is bringing the sleep box to the city to provide cheap, basic accommodation. Each capsule measures about 90 by 180 centimeters, comfortable for a small adult, but they can also be tailored to fit any size. For now, Wong only has a showroom for the capsules and they cannot be rented for use at the moment. He hopes to partner with hoteliers in the future to open a capsule hotel in Hong Kong. read more |
| India art events worth traveling for in 2012 Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:24 PM PST by Deepika Sorabjee Start the year with Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai as art destinations then pencil in an oil massage after the Kochi Biennale at the year's end. January, New Delhi: India Art Fair changes things up The India Art Fair comes of age through a partnership with Art Hong Kong co-founders Sandy Angus and Will Ramsay. This means becoming a part of the largest network of art fairs in the world. Big name galleries from Europe like Hauser & Wirth, Galleria Continua and White Cube are participating while the Lisson Gallery returns for the third time. Closing on January 29, the fourth India Art Fair is a chance to see original works by Miro, Picasso, Antony Gormley, Mona Hatoum and Damien Hirst. Also on CNNGo: New Delhi's India Art Fair explodes this year read more |
| Website reconnects fliers who forgot to swap numbers Posted: 25 Jan 2012 11:07 PM PST by James Durston In-flight routine is invariably the same for most of us. You find your seat, you wrestle your carry-on into the overhead bin, exchange your headphones for ones that work and prepare to block out everything and everyone for the next six hours. But then BAM! A goddess (or a hunk) straight from heaven's salon slides into the seat next to you. Finally, after 250,000 kilometers, you've hit the jackpot. The conversation flows like Champagne (if you're in First) and your jokes are apparently the funniest ever heard. You land, you go your separate ways, and as you settle into your hotel bathtub that evening, fantasizing about your future together, you get hit by your second thunderbolt -- you didn't exchange details. FML. read more |
| The 'Millionaire's Tour' of Myanmar Posted: 25 Jan 2012 09:58 PM PST As Myanmar continues to make moves to step out from international isolation, travel companies are fast lining up to snag their share of the expected increase in tourism cash. Among these is Khiri Travel, which just launched a "Millionaire's Tour" of Central Myanmar. The four-day, three-night trip from Bangkok includes travel in a six-seat Cessna Citation CJ3 private jet. "The trip is for high-end clients who want to be treated like millionaires and have an active holiday of cultural insights," a Khiri news release announced. More on CNNGo: 5 signs Myanmar is getting easier for travelers For a group of six, the trip costs US$8,500 per person. If four passengers travel, the fee is US$11,350 per head. If it's just two passengers, the fee is US$22,000 per person. read more |
