Tuesday, October 9, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com


Chinese cuisine is 'underrated, misunderstood in the West'

Posted: 09 Oct 2012 03:12 AM PDT

by Alexis Lai

A meal at a modest restaurant in Sichuan in the 1990s changed Briton Fuchsia Dunlop's life.

The former news editor then followed her heart (and taste buds) to train as chef at Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine. She was the school's first ever foreign student.

The London-based cook, food writer and consultant sat down with CNN to share her passion for Chinese cuisine, particularly Sichuanese food.

CNN: What sparked your interest in Sichuanese cuisine?

Fuchsia Dunlop: I got very interested in China through a job subediting news reports about the east Asian region, particularly China. So I started Mandarin evening classes and went on holiday to China and was fascinated.

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Wellington to be renamed for Hobbit premiere

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:19 PM PDT

by CNNGo staff

When you've got the year's most anticipated movie premiering in your backyard, you may as well give yourself a makeover.

Wellington, New Zealand's capital and named last year by Lonely Planet as the "coolest little capital in the world," will be shedding its traditional identity to become "The Middle of Middle-earth" for three weeks around November 28, the date of the film's first showing.

"Wellington … has been integral in bringing the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien to life on the big screen so it was only natural to be called the Middle of Middle-earth," said the city's Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown.

The whole city is being encouraged to join in on the Hobbit fever.

Hobbit logos, markets and passport stamps

hobbit setThe Hobbiton film set -- now open for tours. "The city will be decked out in flags and banners with the Middle of Middle-earth logo," added Mayor Wade-Brown. "The city's businesses and retailers will be asked to get into the spirit of things and dress their shop fronts like something from Middle-earth."

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9 nostalgic Japanese foods

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 05:44 PM PDT

by Jason Jenkins

When you reflect on childhood, what brings back the fondest memories?

Friends? Of course.

Family? Hmm ... perhaps.

How about food? Absolutely.

Most kids may not be connoisseurs, but they're never afraid to tell you what they like on the table.

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5 reasons Bhutan is worth the US$250 daily fee

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 03:05 PM PDT

by Lester V. Ledesma

Bhutan's strategy of "low volume, high quality" tourism has made it a highly regarded destination among discerning travelers.

It costs an official US$250 per day per person to sample the charms of this isolated Himalayan kingdom, an amount that includes land transport, accommodations, food and guide service.

While it's not quite an arm and a leg, the cost does seem restrictive for some. It's the government's way of keeping the country from being overrun by mass tourism, while at the same time ensuring its preferred visitors get the most value out of their trips.

So is it really worth the money? These five experiences have convinced us it is.

1. Bhutanese lifestyle

The word "authentic" is more overused than the word "sorry" in tourism, but Bhutan is a place that can remind us of the true meaning of cultural authenticity.

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Chinese tourists now No. 1 in Korea. Not all are happy

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:35 PM PDT

by CNNGo staff

The tourism industry in Korea is "screaming for joy" over the rapid increase of Chinese tourists to Korea but desperately needs to upgrade its tourism offerings in order to accommodate rising Chinese demand, according to local media.

The problems are not unique to Korea, with many nations and tourism bodies ill-equipped to adapt to a growing numbers of Chinese visitors.

Although the exact figure is yet to be released, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) estimates 110,000-120,000 Chinese tourists visited Korea during China's Golden Week holiday from September 30 to October 7, and spent ₩20 billion (approximately US$18 million). 

According to the Korea Herald Business, Chinese tourists to Korea outnumbered Japanese tourists for the first time ever this past July and are forecast to consistently become Korea's number one inbound tourism group.

However, there were accounts from Chinese visitors unsatisfied with their travel experiences in Korea, the report added (Korean language).

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Finnair cabin crew share disappointingly tame tales from the sky

Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:50 AM PDT

by CNNGo staff

No scandal here. This 256-page book is filled with (mostly) family-friendly tales from cabin crew who have worked with the airline over the last 50 years.Because few can resist a good mile-high yarn, Finnair has just released a collection of travel accounts written by customer service professionals of the sky.

Called "Airborne: Tales from A Thousand and One Flights," the 256-page book is filled with stories from cabin crew who have worked with the airline over the last five decades.

Given it is a corporate enterprise, put together by Finnair, we shouldn't be surprised this is no tell-all tome. 

If you're looking for salacious details of washroom hook-ups and gripes about idiotic passengers, better pick up a copy of "Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 feet" instead.  

More on CNN: How to reject propositions and other flight attendant training tips

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