Free Concert 365 Days a Year in Hongdae District

Hongdae started out as a college town surrounding Hongik University.  Today, it is undoubtedly the most hip city in Korea for its indie music, fashion, arts and clubs!

This is a place you shouldn't miss if you are vising Seoul.  It's a great place to be during the day, and it's fantastic throughout the night.

Many known in Korean bands like Jaurim, Crying Nut and Peppertones are from this street and started as indie bands. The area provides street art festivals and performances, as well as music concerts by independent artists and mainstream entertainers.

The neighborhood overflows with unique cafes, restaurants, shops and clubs along with artists' studios, cultural spaces and festivals year-round. Packed with people on weekends the district can be thumping well past dawn the next day. Revelers may abound but the real Hongdae people and those involved with Street H know it’s not just about clubbing or decadence.

Apart from indie art culture, Hongdae is also home to independent clothing stalls and vintage shops.

Directions:

Hongik University Station (Subway Line 2, Gyeongui-Jungang, AREX), Exit 9.
Go 150m straight, and cross the street.
Turn left, and go 500m straight towards Hongik University.
Turn right to arrive at Hongik Children's Park.

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Friday, January 13, 2017  No comment

Avenue of Stars in HK is Chinese Version of Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Avenue of Stars, located in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, was built to showcase local movie industry, its history, movie stars and those working behind-the-scenes of Asia's largest movie industry.

It is a waterfront promenade, 440 meters (481 yards) long, extending from the Hong Kong Museum of Art to the New World Centre.  It avenue was completed and opened to the public on April 28, 2004 with a celebration on the eve of the opening day.

The construction of this magnificent avenue costed HK$40,000,000, and its architecture was modeled after the Avenue of Stars of Hollywood, USA.

Photo by K.C. Tang

There are 73 movie celebrities' tablets inlaid on the surface of the avenue. 30 celebrities also left their hand-prints on their tablets, including some of the world famous actors such as Jackie Chan, Jet Lee, and Andy Lau. 

One of the highlight on the avenue is the 3-meter tall bronze statue of Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee. Hong Kong was his hometown and starting point of his movie career. He departed HK for Hollywood for bigger dreams and made a number of best ever Kung Fu classics enjoyed by movie fans around the world. 

When rambling over the Avenue of Stars, you can also enjoy fabulous views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island Shore, visit the Film Development Milestone and appreciate the Hong Kong Film Awards Statue as well as the Bruce Lee Bronze Statue. Visitors can also visit the Film Souvenir Store and snap up a fantastic momento.   

A nightly multi-media light and music performance takes place here, known as The Symphony of Lights. Spectacular fireworks displays can also be seen on special occasions.

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Sunday, May 18, 2014  No comment

Angkore - The Ancient City of Khmer Empire in Cambodia

Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

Siem Reap, Cambodia is the home of the Angkor world heritage site and the center of the ancient Khmer empire.  The region is a relatively new destination in Asia as more places are newly discovered.

What makes the place a even greater destination is that it is still not overcrowded with  tourists, considering the beautiful landscape and amazing ancient structures abundant in the area.

In the 12th century, King Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat as a grand worshipping place and mausoleum. Today it’s the largest religious monument on the planet. This ancient relic of the Khmer Empire is located in Angkor Archaeological Park. It’s packed with so many sights that you can easily spend a full afternoon there. Make sure to purchase a pass to see the temple at the park’s entrance; armed with this ticket, you’ll be able to enjoy all of the park’s extraordinary sights.

In 2007, an international team of researchers using satellite photographs and other modern techniques concluded that Angkor had been the largest preindustrial city in the world, with an elaborate infrastructure system connecting an urban sprawl of at least 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi) to the well-known temples at its core. The closest rival to Angkor, the Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala, was between 100 and 150 square kilometres (39 and 58 sq mi) in total size.

There is a number of companies that runs tour buses featuring guides and air-conditioned vehicles.  Make sure to confirm which temples are being visited as some of the larger buses only go to the 2 or 3 main tourist attractions.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014  No comment

The Global Financial Center Shanghai Looks Simply Stunning

Shanghai is not known for a world famous landmark with a history like New York City where travelers are greeted by Statue of Liberty among other remarkable landmarks, but the fun is scattered all over the city.

Just take one look at the photo above.  It's not a computer generated graphics.  Sure, it is enhanced photo, but the Shanghai's night skyline looks just as gorgeous in person, filled with bright colorful lights and high-rise buildings with some of the world's most amazing architectures.

If you are thinking of Shanghai as a overcrowded city, that's way off from the fact.  Shanghai's population density is about one thirds of the NYC, and it is much cleaner place than some of the worlds' major cities.

The city is a showcase of how good public transportation should look like.  Once you arrive at the airport, you will be faced with an opportunity to ride in a train that reaches 267 mph, taking you to the inner city in less than 8 minutes.  Shanghai Maglev currently holds the title of "world's fastest commuter train".

For some visitors, Shanghai cuisine is enough to justify the trip to the city.  According to Wikipedia, "Shanghai cuisine is epitomized by the use of alcohol. Fish, crab, chicken are "drunken" with spirits and are briskly cooked, steamed, or served raw. Salted meats and preserved vegetables are also commonly used to enhance the dish."

Shanghai is in fact a gateway into various other regions in the country so flying into Shanghai airport is pretty convenient.  Almost all major cities offer daily flights to Shanghai.  The climate is not bad either as the city's relatively warm and short winter will help you trim down your suitcase.

July and August are generally considered to be the worst for the tourist as the temperature rise with humid condition with frequent rains.  October through November bring the best weather condition in Shanghai.

After all, Shanghai is a huge city with hundreds of popular and one of a kind attractions, so planning ahead is strongly recommended.

Stay tuned for detailed coverage of events, attractions and more travel tips.

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Sunday, February 02, 2014  No comment