Gadling

Wine: The New Drink Of Asia?

Kyle Ellison — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Asia, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, Italy

No, there aren't vineyards suddenly springing up along remote portions of the Great Wall, inside the DMZ or on the upper slopes of Mt. Fuji. Of that much I am certain. There are, however, many people who live in these areas who are developing a notable penchant for wine and, all of a sudden, the big name wine growers are starting to take notice.

A recent news release discusses that although European wine exporters have seen a decline in their traditional markets in North America and Europe, the expanding palates of Asia are proving to be a welcome change of direction.

Evidence? The article uses the example of a South Korean wine importer perusing the stalls of a massive wine expo in Verona, Italy, who admits that Italian food and Italian wines are becoming more favorable in South Korea.

Also, according to statistics cited in the article, there was a 10% increase in wine consumption in Asia in 2011 bringing it to 5.5 billion liters, whereas estimates run as high as the continent being able to quaff a record 6 billion liters for 2012.

Meanwhile, in China, Benjamin Chau, deputy head of the Hong Kong trade development council believes that as a growing number of Chinese markets prosper, so too do their imbibing habits change. Historically drawn to strong liquor, Chau argues that as quality of life improves for many Chinese citizens wine is becoming a fashionable and more health-conscious drink of choice, which is often imported from vineyards in the West.

So how much emphasis is being placed on Asia as an emerging wine market? Enough that new Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti was told to be peddling a list of "Made in Italy" products while on a recent visit to Japan, South Korea and China. Seeing as Italy was the world's largest exporter of wine in 2011, I am sure multiple vintages and varietals were offered as part of the touring menu.

So is it time to trade in the sake for the syrah the next time you're in Tokyo? Should we swap the soju for sauvignon blanc while nibbling on kim bap in Seoul?

I'm not sure if I would go that far, but if this is a trend that continues to gain steam, it may not make for a far-fetched future.

Wine: The New Drink Of Asia? originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vagabond Tales: Tunneling beneath the 'scariest place on Earth'

Kyle Ellison — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, Learning, Stories, Asia, North Korea, South Korea

This may come as a shocker, but traveling to North Korea as a tourist isn't exactly easy. In a country that tops the paranoia charts when it comes to dealing with "outsiders," the tourist administration in Pyongyang isn't real cool with throngs of camera-toting tourists soiling the ultra-pure North Korean populace with their strange and fetid ideals. Better to simply keep them out.

Sure, there are still ways of traveling to North Korea as a tourist, but lets just say it's not the type of trip where you get to put your two cents in on the itinerary. Or, for that matter, what you can pack, whom you can speak to or what you can photograph.

So have I actually been to North Korea? Technically, no, I haven't.

Wait. Did you just say that you technically haven't been to North Korea? That doesn't make any sense.

Although it may be difficult to actually travel inside of North Korea, there are various opportunities for you to actually travel beneath it.

C'mon. How do you travel beneath a country? You've had one too many shots of soju again haven't you?

When the Korean War came to a politically awkward stalemate in 1953, troops on both sides were required to pull back 2,200 yards from the initial Military Demarcation Line, thereby creating a 2.5 mile wide stretch of no man's land known today as the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).

This, however, did not stop the wily North Koreans from still trying to find a way to win the war and stage an all-out ground attack on the South Korean capital of Seoul. If they couldn't send soldiers across the DMZ any longer, then by golly they were going to go under it.

And go under it they did. And now, strangely enough, so can you.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Tunneling beneath the 'scariest place on Earth'

Vagabond Tales: Tunneling beneath the 'scariest place on Earth' originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A traditional home stay in Seoul - by accident

Grant Martin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, South Korea, Hotels and Accommodations

Jin is waiting for me when I return from Yongsang, placidly sitting at the picnic table in the atrium and staring off into the distance. When I knock on the astroturf covered door he looks up and grins, then lopes over to the door to greet me.

It's only been one night at the MaMa guesthouse (46, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu) in Seoul, but I already feel like I belong. Between the Angok (Line 3) and Jeosan (Line 1) stops in the district parallel to Insadong, my discovery of the homestay was purely by accident. Walking toward my original hotel earlier the previous night, I saw the flashy sign of MaMa splashed across the traditionally-styled home and made a mental note: if things didn't work out with my current accommodations I'd return.

As usual, Jin Sung Jai was resting in his room when I first showed up, and through the front door window I could see his feet hanging out from the sliding doors of his room. He greeted me with enthusiasm - yes, there was a room available tonight, the "mother" room for only 60,000 Won - discounted 25% off of the normal rate.

It would be a traditional room, one not unlike those in a traditional Japanese household with a heated floor, a thin mattress in the center of the room and two linens on top. A sliding, rice paper door was the divider between the main atrium and my room, the same divider that went into Jin's and four other rooms around the perimeter of the atrium. For this and most other rooms here, the bathroom and living spaces would be shared.

In a way though, that's the sort of package that a solo traveler needs a foreign land - a small splash of traditional culture, a community space in which to reflect your thoughts and a shepherd to guide you through the process. In the morning I help Jin update his website as a meal of hard boiled eggs, toast and apples is delivered. He shows me through the stacks of paintings with a style that he's perfected with years of study across parts of Europe, North America and Korea. And with a handshake and a smile he sends me on my way to Incheon Airport. I would give a hundred stays in a big box western hotel in exchange for another night in a place like this.

Gallery: MaMa Guest House, Seoul Korea

A traditional home stay in Seoul - by accident originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mies Container restaurant in South Korea is the new Hooters for women

Jessica Festa — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, Food and Drink, Asia, South Korea, News, Women's Travel

While men have always had Hooters to satisfy their craving for good food and scantily clad women, it seemed that the ladies were left with nothing to ogle but their hot wings. Thankfully, the people of Seoul, South Korea, felt the same and decided to open Mies Container, a new factory-themed restaurant that employs only masculine men.

One step inside the uniquely-themed eatery and you'll realize why so many women are flocking there, not even minding to have to wait for a table. All of the waiters are young and hot, and while the restaurant claims they do not hire based on looks, they do say that the three qualities the staff must have are being a male, being energetic, and being masculine. To add to the ambiance, the restaurant design, which won the Reddot Design Award in October, is made to look as though you are actually in a factory, with tools, oil drums, chains, and lots of steel (the furniture and the abs). And if that's not enough, the food is tasty, filling, and budget-friendly, with meals ranging from about $8-$17.

You won't find an official website for Mies Container, as the company is relying on viral marketing and visitors writing about it on their blogs. I guess it's working.

[image via Mies Container design blog]

Mies Container restaurant in South Korea is the new Hooters for women originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Love dogs? Check out Bau Haus dog cafe in Seoul, South Korea

Jessica Festa — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, Food and Drink, Asia, South Korea, Video, Women's Travel

When I say Bau Haus is a dog cafe, I don't mean that there are cute dog photos on the walls or that it's a meeting place for dog owners (although both of these are part of it) . The eatery is, literally, a cafe for dogs and dog-lovers to eat and hangout at. It is located in Hongdae in Seoul, South Korea, and canines roam around the eatery as visitors feed and play with them. You can purchase dog treats and pet presents, and there are small toys like frisbees lying around to use. Most of the pooches belong to the cafe's owner and are very well behaved, although anyone is allowed to bring their dog to Bau Haus. And don't worry about the animals making a mess as the employees at Bau Haus tend to the pooches, caring for them and cleaning up after them.

Love dogs? Check out Bau Haus dog cafe in Seoul, South Korea originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Architectural firm called "Al Qaeda lovers" over new project's resemblance to New York City's Twin Towers under attack

Jessica Festa — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, Stories, Asia, South Korea, News, Luxury Travel

MVRDV, an architectural firm located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, has recently become the target of an outraged public. The company's new luxury highrise project in Seoul, South Korea, called "The Cloud", is being said to resemble New York City's Twin Towers during the tragic 9/11 attacks. Not only have many of the media outlets and public turned against the company, but they are receiving threatening letters and are being called "Al Qaeda lovers", among other names.

On the MVRDV Facebook page, the company has issued an explanation and apology to the public:

"MVRDV regrets deeply any connotations The Cloud projects evokes regarding 9/11, it was not our intention. The Cloud was designed based on parameters such as sunlight, outside spaces, living quality for inhabitants and the city. It is one of many projects in which MVRDV experiments with a raised city level to reinvent the often solitary typology of the skyscraper. It was not our intention to create an image resembling the attacks nor did we see the resemblance during the design process. We sincerely apologize to anyone whose feelings we have hurt, the design was not meant to provoke this."

On a their Facebook page under the photo shown here, the debate has gotten heated, with over 600 comments and over 100 shares. While some feel strongly that the design is beautiful and a common design framework there are others who are arguing that it is ugly, disgraceful, and that the architects weren't thinking (along with an overwhelming amount of obcenities and name-calling). What are your thoughts?

Architectural firm called "Al Qaeda lovers" over new project's resemblance to New York City's Twin Towers under attack originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korea launches campaign against "Engrish"

Kyle Ellison — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Learning, Asia, South Korea, News

If you've ever been to Asia, I know at some point you've done it.

Somewhere along your trip, there's a good chance you've actually stopped to take a picture of an English translation simply because it was too awkwardly constructed to not warrant a photograph. Don't be shy. I do it all the time, and so do thousands of other people. When a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant is advertised as "The Chicken of Kentucky", we find endless humor in this.

Now, the Korean Tourism Organization is actually asking the public's help in an effort to eradicate this embarrassing "Engrish" from prominent tourist sites around the country. If you are traveling through South Korea between now and December 14 and just so happen to snap a photo of some "Engrish" while at a Korean tourist site, the KTO will enter you to win a gift card worth approximately $45 redeemable anywhere credit cards are accepted.

Yes. You read that right. Snap a "bad English" sign, let the Korean Tourism Oranization know where it is, and be given the chance to earn enough money for couple rounds of kim bap and shoju at the nearest bar.

So here are the rules: Register on the Visit Korea website and proceed to send in your finest street shot. The sign can actually be a poor translation of English, Japanese, or Chinese. It cannot be on a street sign, a menu, or a guidebook.

Winners will be announced on December 22 on the Visit Korea homepage.

Happy hunting.

Photo: Flickr/Wm Jas

Korea launches campaign against "Engrish" originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the day - Seoul Lantern Festival

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, South Korea, Photo of the Day

Through November 20th, the Seoul Lantern Festival will continue to light up spirits in the South Korean capital. Of the many images of the festival posted by Flickr user LadyExpat (Back in Daejeon) at the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr, it was this one that really stood out: a simple game of swan lanterns, luminous against an inky pool.

Got a photo you'd like to share with the world? Upload it to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. If we fall in love with it we might just select it to be a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - Seoul Lantern Festival originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Seven Wonders of Natural World revealed amidst controversy

Kraig Becker — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Festivals and Events, Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, South Africa, Indonesia, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Argentina, Brazil, Ecotourism, News

After four years of hype and fanfare, the new seven wonders of the natural world were unveiled last Friday, honoring some of the most amazing landscapes on the planet. But as the competition drew to a close, dark clouds of controversy formed, casting a shadow over the entire affair.

The selection process for the new seven wonders began back in 2007, when 440 natural wonders, from 220 countries, were first submitted for consideration. Over the course of several rounds of voting and judging, that number was eventually reduced to 28 finalist. The seven winners were selected from that list following months of online voting.

According to the preliminary results, the new seven wonders include the following: the Amazon Rainforest (South America); Halong Bay (Vietnam); Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Jeju Island (South Korea); Komodo National Park (Indonesia); Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (Philippines) and Table Mountain (South Africa).

The organizers behind the new seven wonders are quick to note that this list is for the provisional winners, as they are currently conducting a recount of the votes to ensure that the correct wonders have been named. The results are now being independently verified and they expect to confirm the winners in early 2012.

On the eve of the announcement of those winners, disturbing stories began to emerge about how organizers were attempting to collect millions of dollars from the nations that were home to the finalists. When the search for the new wonders first began more than four years ago, countries were required to pay a $199 entry fee, but as the selection process narrowed the candidates, some countries were asked to pay large sums of cash to aid in a world-wide marketing campaign. The Indonesian government claimed, for example, that the organizers wanted $10 million to cover licensing fees and an additional $47 million to host the official closing ceremony. Earlier, the Maldives withdrew from the competition altogether when costs to participate spiraled upwards towards $500,000.

Continue reading New Seven Wonders of Natural World revealed amidst controversy

New Seven Wonders of Natural World revealed amidst controversy originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seoul food: an eating and drinking tour of Korea's capital

Celeste Brash — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, South Korea, Budget Travel

Visiting Seoul during a mid-winter freeze isn't something I'd recommend to anyone unless, like me, you go there to eat. The few trees are leafless, the local's faces are sullen with a determination to keep warm and trips to the local sights, such as the beautifully stark outdoor royal palace, only make you want to retreat to a heated room. Luckily, Daniel Gray is there to save us all with his nighttime eating and drinking tour. This is the delicious side of Seoul where you can get as warm and tipsy from atmosphere as from the mugwort beer. And any time of year, the food is excellent.

I don't often take tours but Dan's came highly praised by a foodie friend, so I decided to try it. Dan is a Korean American who started a food blog after moving to Seoul to find his roots. As his blog grew, people began asking him to take them to the places he wrote about, so about a year ago he started a culinary tour company and cooking school called O'ngo Food Communications with his friend and chef, Jia Choi.

The night tour is done using local transport or on foot. On the night of our tour, our first stop is barbecue. Dan leads me through an alleyway thick with steam from food stall workers washing their dishes on the sidewalk. The humble neon shop signs and row of rudimentary restaurants look eerily like futuristic scenes in the movie Blade Runner. Our destination is a basic stall-style restaurant covered in clear plastic to keep out the cold. The small tables each have a charcoal barbecue at their center and the place is packed with locals. It smells like cooking pork and the damp air is warmed by body heat and hot grills.

Continue reading Seoul food: an eating and drinking tour of Korea's capital

Seoul food: an eating and drinking tour of Korea's capital originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day - Korean dancers

Jeremy Kressmann — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, South Korea

Motion photos are always tricky. But as Flickr user LadyExpat demonstrates in today's shot at Korea's Choenan World Dance Festival, they have the potential if done well to be exceptional. The flowing folds of the dancers' skirts, bright colors and leaping mid-air movements lend the image a wonderful sense of action and life.

Taken any great travel shots of your own lately? Why not add them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day - Korean dancers originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Eating live octopus in Korea (Warning: Graphic)

Stephen Greenwood — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, South Korea, Video

o.o.o.
The team here at Gadling has seen our fair share of shocking internet videos, and some of us have worked up the courage to eat some pretty questionable fare during our travels, but this clip from Fuel TV's Strangers in Danger might just be the most revolting thing we've ever seen.

Eating live octopus, or san nachi is widely practiced in South Korea, but the octopi being served are typically small enough to be wrapped around chopsticks and eaten in one bite. In this graphic clip, BMX pros "Catfish" Yankush and Mike "Rooftop" Escamilla decided to take it to a new extreme by choking down some unusually large cephalopods - with mixed results.

If you're hungry for more, check out what the guys decide to do at Korea's DMZ after the break; or catch the full episode tonight at 10:30PM E/P on Fuel TV and tune in every Tuesday as these two athletes travel through 13 different countries to take on the best, worst, & wildest challenges in each culture.

Continue reading Video: Eating live octopus in Korea (Warning: Graphic)

Video: Eating live octopus in Korea (Warning: Graphic) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: do you know South Korea?

Elizabeth Seward — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, Learning, Asia, South Korea, Video, Nightlife

Do You Know South Korea? from David Dutton on Vimeo.

Guilty as self-charged: I did not realize how utterly gorgeous South Korea is until watching this video. And since the creator's intent was to share the essence and beauty of South Korea with viewers, I have to say: job well done. I have friends who are from South Korea, friends who have lived there, worked there, and played there, but I haven't yet been there. I love the juxtaposition in this video of the bright city lights and jagged, breath-taking countryside. The colored leaves are gorgeous, but they're only a fraction of the video footage. The music is excellent, the shots are incredible.

Have you been to South Korea? Do you feel as though this video captures the country? If you haven't been to South Korea, does this video make you want to visit as soon as possible (because it makes me want to visit as soon as possible).

Continue reading Video: do you know South Korea?

Video: do you know South Korea? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tourists behaving badly: Lost in translation in South Korea (video)

Melanie Renzulli — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, South Korea, Video

This terribly embarrassing video making the rounds shows how learning just a little bit of the local language can help prevent a massive misunderstanding.

Robert J. Koehler of The Marmot's Hole informs us that the incident occurred between a 24-year-old African-American English teacher and a 61-year-old man on a crowded bus in South Korea. According to Koehler, "The elderly man reportedly said "니가 여기 앉아" (a sign of consideration) but not knowing Korean, the man in question interpreted "니가" [pronounced "nigga" and meaning "you"] as the N-word which led to his violent outburst."

Of course, the only accounts we have of this incident come from the Korean media. But, insult or not, this ugly American - an English teacher, no less - sets the perfect example of how not to act in a foreign country - or even in your own home town. Really dude, turn it down a notch, will ya?

Tourists behaving badly: Lost in translation in South Korea (video) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the day - I break for tanks

Meg Nesterov — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Photos, Asia, South Korea, Photo of the Day

Road signs are designed to be universal so that anywhere in the world drivers can be aware of local driving rules and potential hazards. Yet this sign in South Korea isn't something you'll see on most roads, setting the speed limit for trucks as well as tanks at 20 kilometers per hour. Flickr user BaboMike guesses it's a remnant from the war, as tank traffic isn't so common these days.

Seen any unusual signs on the road? Add your photos to the Gadling Flickr pool and we may use it for a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day - I break for tanks originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video of the Day: Arkanoid on a Seoul building

Mike Barish — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, South Korea, Photo of the Day, Video, Video of the Week

We kind of love finding YouTube videos without descriptions. It's endlessly fun to try to piece together what the heck is happening. In the video above, it appears as if someone is playing the old Arkanoid video game on the massive LED screen in Seoul Square in South Korea's capital. In fact, it looks like it might just be the world's largest LED screen. Beyond that, your guess is as good as ours. What's the high score? How many lives do you get? How close can you sit to the screen before your mom tells you that you're going to go blind?

Video of the Day: Arkanoid on a Seoul building originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day - Korean festival lanterns

Jeremy Kressmann — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, South Korea, Photo of the Day

I love taking photographs at festivals. The riotous colors, local costumes and friendly demeanor of locals usually means you'll have a chance to capture some truly great shots. Take today's photo for instance, captured by Flickr user Trent Strohm at a Buddha's Birthday celebration in Seoul, Korea. The rainbow colors of the lanterns create a visually arresting pattern, punctuated by the curvy black outline of a tree, rising from below.

Taken any great travel shots of your own recently? Why not add them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of them as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day - Korean festival lanterns originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Personal semi submarine pontoon awesomobile

Justin Delaney — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Scuba Diving, Gear, South Korea, United States, Transportation, Luxury Travel

I am pissed I still don't have a hover-board. For sure, by this year of 2011, I should be carving around the streets of Neotokyo, just me and my board. The closest thing we have to teleportation is TelePresence, which is like some off-brand Star Wars tech. We still get to where we are heading in planes older than Justin Bieber, at familiarly slow speeds. My list of modern grievances is long, and I generally feel that the future of my childhood expectations has failed to keep up with Moore's law.

Every now and then though, something comes along that makes me feel like I am part of some cool present day future. The personal semi submarine by South Korean manufacturer Raonhaje is case in point. Named "Ego," it looks like a craft that a twelve year old doodled in the margins of his notebook, only to have Apple designers in Cupertino perfect it for production. The personal semi submarine relies on pontoons to keep the craft afloat, and an LCD monitor in the cabin displays an above water view via an HD camera. To steer this awesome craft, you utilize pedals and a wheel, much like in a car. The vehicle is completely electric, with an 8 hour range at cruising speed. It goes on sale in October of 2011. Get in line behind me.

image via CNN

Personal semi submarine pontoon awesomobile originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gastro-diplomacy and the politics of food

Jeremy Kressmann — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Asia, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, News

Food has been a trending topic in travel circles for some time now. But though a good meal can tell a traveler much about the local culture, it's not often that food is thought of as a force for political change at home. Yet, in a recent article for the Jakarta Globe, writer Paul Rockower makes just such a claim, part of a growing school of thought called Gastro-diplomacy.

Increasingly Asian nations, including South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan, are turning to their national cuisines as a way to promote their country's brands abroad, gaining increased attention and burnishing their image among the international community.

As the argument goes, people are more likely to relate to other cultures in terms of its cuisine, resulting in economic and political gains. In many ways, the effort seems to be working - the Thai government's "Global Thai" campaign, which successfully helped open thousands of new Thai food restaurants in the U.S. alone, is seen as a model for other nations now following similar strategies.

So does a bowl of noodles create new paths to cultural understanding? At first-glance, Gastro-diplomacy does make a simplistic linkage between food and genuine cultural understanding. After all, food can just as easily become a stereotype (rice in Asia, tacos in Latin America) as it can be used to deepen cultural knowledge. But there are some signs that gastro-diplomacy has had success - Sushi, anyone? In the years ahead, look for politicians to not just try to win hearts and minds, but also stomachs.

[Via @EatingAsia]

[Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt]

Gastro-diplomacy and the politics of food originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The stinking streets and subways of Seoul

Tom Johansmeyer — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, North Korea, South Korea

Look, it's been a long time since I got off the 4 Line at Samgachi Station - a dozen years, in fact - but I remember it being rather clean and pleasant. The train itself was, too. Well, I guess I was wrong. I ~~now have it on good authority~~ saw on the internet that Seoul is "well known to the world as heavily polluted."

Yep, that's what you'll find in North Korean geography textbooks.

According to The Chosun Ilbo:

North Korean geography textbooks, the main source of information for students there about South Korea, distort or disparage South Korea's economic development by way of exalting the North Korean system, an academic here says.

And it doesn't stop there. The books accuse South Korea of producing goods at the behest of the United States and Japan. This is a big problem up north, because "[r]elying on others for raw materials and fuel is like leaving your economic fate in their hands." This stands in stark contrast to the North Korean "Juche" philosophy, which preaches self-reliance.

So, if you head to the "den of reactionaries," brace yourself for a real stench. But, if you're planning to go to the place the rest of us know as Seoul, you'll probably be fine.

[photo by Koshyk via Flickr]

The stinking streets and subways of Seoul originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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