You Should Visit Seoul for the Shopping!

Shop! Whether you’re looking for designer goods or night markets, make sure to have space in your luggage to bring souvenirs back. Boni, a Samsung executive and good friend of mine, suggests to check out the new COEX Mall located close to the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas, a modern property in the heart of Gangnam. Shopping and luxury lodging in the same place? Sign me up!

If you’re looking for traditional Korean art, I suggest heading across the river to my old neighborhood of Insa-dong. The alleys are lined with galleries that feature antiques and modern art and beautiful tea houses. During the weekend, you can experience an outdoor market with vendors and local performers.

You Should Visit Seoul for the Food!

Food! When I had my first Korean meal in Seoul, my life changed. I’ll never forget when my Korean friend took me to an anonymous place that served Samgyeopsa (Korean style pork belly). I remember the dining experience like it was yesterday: the savory scent of the sizzling meat, the groups of people gathered around their individual barbecue laughing, drinking their OB beer, the sweet scent of plum soju (a Korean spirit), and the dozen little plates filled with pickled vegetables.

Most reputable Korean restaurants have one main ingredient on the menu: it can be seafood, poultry, pork, or soups. They have a few items on the menu, but those recipes have been mastered for decades. Also, don’t miss out on eating at a street stand. They’re everywhere in Seoul. Sometimes I would have a plate of Tteokbokki (rice cake with spicy chili sauce) from a roadside stand on my way home from work for $2. Street food stands are immaculate in Seoul.

If you’re looking for an international vibe, I suggest you head to Itaewon. When I lived there, I started to witness the neighborhood transitioning from an undesirable area where only the military guys from the nearby Yongsan base hung out to an international hub with embassies, multicultural restaurants, shops, and a melting pot of expats and locals.

My friend Chris, a professional photographer who recently lived in Seoul for two years, says, “When in Itaewon, don’t miss the very popular Street Churros. If you love coffee… this is the area to get a wide variety of high quality coffee places to satisfy your fix.” Looking for an unforgettable culinary experience? If you want to splurge, Boni recommends going to Jungsik, which serves molecular Korean food. It was voted the #10 restaurant by “The World’s Ten Best” and top restaurant in Korea.

You Should Visit Seoul for Nature and Culture!

Korea has a rich culture, and you don’t have to go far from Seoul to experience it. One of my favorite places to visit was Gyeongbokgung Palace, a majestic palace located in north of the Han river in Seoul. You’ll notice not only the beauty of the architecture, but also the mountains of Bukhansan National Park. Koreans love to hike, especially on the weekends. If you want to catch a glimpse of local culture, go for a hike on the many trails that are accessible by public transportation. Here are some hiking ideas via 10 Magazine.

The Verdict: Why you should visit Seoul? Upon arrival in Seoul, it may feel quite overwhelming, but there’s something that makes it truly special: the people. I had the opportunity to work side by side with Koreans and loved their fun, outgoing personalities. Their hospitality is the main reason why you should visit Seoul!

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While Taipei has much to offer in the way of food, drinks, and culture, there is a great deal to explore in Taiwan outside of the capital. Thanks to the country’s high speed train you can get almost anywhere within a couple of hours. Here are three options for day trips from Taipei that you must check out if you have the opportunity to visit Taiwan.

Yingge: Visiting this small district is essential to any visit to Taiwan.  An hour drive from or an half an hour train ride from the the city center, it makes the perfect day trip from Taipei. The town is famous for its ceramics production, and it features both a ceramics museum and the Yingge ceramics street, where you can buy some of the most beautiful ceramics in the world. Before shopping, be sure to visit the ceramics museum where you can learn all about how the ceramics in Taiwan are made, why ceramics are so important in Taiwanese history, and the different way the firing of clay effects how the final product looks. Afterwards, wander down to the ceramic street to buy souveniors and gifts. The shops on the street sell everything from teacups to bowls to vases to chopsticks to water fountains. The street is charming and also has places you can stop for coffee and tea.

Tai-Chung: This is the third largest city in Taiwan, and is about a one hour train ride from Taipei. This city has much to offer in terms of sightseeing, including a science museum, a local temple, botanical gardens, shopping, and the biggest night market in Taiwan. Stay at the Tai-Chung Splendor Hotel, where you can enjoy a Japanese shiatsu massage for just $27. The hotel also has a breakfast and dinner buffet, with beer included. The Taiwanese love a good buffet, so if you stay there definitely check it out. Near the hotel is a host of casual dining options, including one small spot where I had some of the best ramen of my life. Unbelievably inexpensive, the ramen in Taiwan is simple but perfect: broth, noodles, tofu, and greens. You also have to sample their bubble tea, which is a perfect mid-afternoon sweet treat. Perhaps the highlight of the visit to Tai-Chung is the Fengjia night market, where I tried some delicious local dishes.. Fried sweet potato balls, mini waffles, dumplings, and fruit cups were some of the highlights. Of course, just walking around and soaking up the culture is as fun as sampling the local delicacies!

Sun Moon Lake: To escape city life, head to Sun Moon Lake, which is calm, peaceful, and beautiful. Famous for its tea, you should sample and purchase the tea at every shop and open air market you come across. You can visit for a day, or better yet, stay for the weekend. The area has many beautiful hotels, and you can go hiking or biking during the day, or take the cable car up one of the mountains to admire the view.

Both Jessica (the Dining Traveler editor) and I have fallen in love with Taiwan this year.  Have you been? What are your favorite day trips from Taipei?

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I recently had the opportunity to visit Taiwan with a tour group. Having never been, I was super excited and am thrilled to say I had the best time. While most people who visit China never take the time to get off the mainland and go to Taiwan, it is definitely worth a visit. There is much to do, see, taste and enjoy. And as the Taiwanese like to say: “The most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is the people” which, although many don’t speak English, is actually true. I found everyone to be incredibly kind, and even made a few friends! Here are some highlights and recommendations:

Where to Stay: We stayed at the Howard Plaza Hotel which is in the Daan district, the modern commercial district. In other words, it’s the area with lots of shops, restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The Howard has 10 restaurants so if you are too tired to go out you can eat at the hotel. Dining Traveler Tip: Stay on the top floor and you will be treated to a complimentary happy hour every night in the Rosewood Lounge from 5:30-7:30. Drinks and a buffet of snacks are limitless.
What to Do: There is a great deal to see and do in Taipei, but here are the not-to-be-missed places to visit:
• National Palace Museum: This is one of the top ten most visited museums in the world. It is a massive, beautiful building, housing epic pieces of Chinese Art. Most notable is the jade art collection, a much-revered stone in the Chinese culture.
• National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: Taiwanese history is incredibly interesting, and this memorial is dedicated to the most famous Chinese president of Taiwan, who served as president from 1928 until 1975.

• Eslite Spectrum Songyan: This upscale building is located in the most modern part of the city. Peruse the bookstore, shop for knickknacks in the Asian design stores, sample tea in the elegant tea shop, or grab a glass of wine and dessert in the chic First Restaurant on the top floor.

Where to Eat: Ah the most exciting part. the most popular types of food available in Taiwan include classic Chinese fare, Japanese food as result of the Japanese occupation from 1895-1945, and Taiwanese food, a combination of Chinese and Japanese flavors and ingredients. Wherever you go, expect to be served tea throughout your meal. No matter what kind of cuisine, tea is an important element of dining in Taiwan.
• For Taiwanese fare, head to Shin Yeh Restaurant: Start with an order of the pan-fried turnip cakes. They are crispy little omelets which are the perfect opener to your meal. Next share the braised tofu, pan-fried mushrooms, and sauteed greens with your dining partners. The tofu is served in a savory sauce with veggies, and the mushrooms dish features amazing, chewy nuggets of shiitake mushrooms cooked with garlic, ginger, star anise, soy sauce, and lemongrass.

• For classic Chinese dumplings, visit DinTaiFung Dumpling House: This dumpling house actually has a Michelin star, which is pretty remarkable. The venue is casual, fun, and always crowded with a constant flow of dumplings coming to all the tables. Sample steamed veggie buns, taro buns, mushroom dumplings, noodles served in a sesame and peanut sauce, and more. No matter what kind of dumpling you want, they will have it. Wash down your food with some Taiwanese beer and this will be one of your best meals in Taipei.

• For Japanese food, check out Yu Shan Ge Restaurant: You can choose from several different set menus, the best being the Japanese curry pot menu. The tasting menu opens with salad and includes sticky rice and soup, but the real highlight is the curry pot. A fondue pot with its own burner is placed before you, filled to the brim with a silk, delicious milk-curry broth. Next, you are brought a huge bowl of vegetables, rice, and tofu which you then cook in your curry pot. It is fun, interactive, and delectable.  The restaurant is pristine and elegant, with wonderful service.

Nightlife: Sure, there are bars, but what you really want to do at night is visit what Taipei is famous for: The night markets! There are two night markets I would recommend: the first is the Raohe Night Market, which is one of the oldest night markets in Taipei. It features stall after stall of local treats like cups of fresh fruit, crispy cookies, okonomiyaki, which are Japanese omelets, fried dumplings, and nougat bars. There are items like bags and shoes and umbrellas and candy and pretty much anything else your heart could desire for sale. This night market is also interesting because there is a Taiwanese temple at the entrance, which anyone can enter. Taiwanese temples are beautiful, with lots of gold and color and floral decorations. The second market I would recommend is the Shilin Night Market, the biggest one in Taipei. This night market is HUGE with rows and rows of different vendors and even an underground food court, where you will find the bizarrest food you have ever seen. Open containers are allowed in Taipei, so grab a beer and stroll the streets of the shilin night market for hours. There is no better way to soak up the Taiwanese culture than to hang out with locals at a night market.

The Verdict: Taipei is a fun, vibrant city with a thriving tourist industry. You can easily spend three or four days in the city eating, drinking, and sightseeing.

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I moved to Japan 2 years ago and vowed to see it all…and experience the vast culture within the land of zen, beauty, and tradition. With the help of low-cost carriers, it is possible to travel the nearly 2,000 miles from snowy Hokkaido in the north to beautiful sub-tropical Okinawa in the south relatively inexpensively. LCCs in Japan are safe, reliable, and operate fleets of new aircraft.

Guide to Japanese Low Cost Airlines

Jetstar Japan

Jetstar Japan flies to over 11 destinations within Japan using a fleet of 18 A-320s. I have traveled from Okinawa to Tokyo (Narita) as well as Osaka (KIX) on this airline.  Both flights were pleasant and comfortable with leather seats. Many snacks, including shrimp chips and curry buns (almost like a panko donut filled with curry – amazing!), are offered for sale on board, as well as soft drinks, cocktails, Jetstar keychains, and a plush Jetta Red Panda, the mascot.

Service is offered to several smaller airports in Kyushu, such as Oita, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto. Because they are owned by Qantas and Japan Airlines, they also offer international flights partnered with JetStar Group’s subsidiaries to Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong (most of these international flights will require a stop in Tokyo).

Skymark

Skymark operates an all Boeing 737-800 fleet out of Haneda which is Tokyo’s city airport (Narita is 85 km away; Haneda only 25 km). Of the Japanese LCCs, Skymark has one of the largest fleets at 27 airplanes and has the largest route network.

They are the dominant carrier into Kobe (the world’s best beef!) and fly into other smaller airports including Kagoshima, Nagasaki, and Sendai. Sometimes it’s fun to just pick a cheap flight to a destination you didn’t even know you wanted to go! If you find a good price and have a sense of adventure, why not? The odds are that you’ll experience something fabulous.

A cool feature of booking flights with Skymark is that you can pay in cash or with credit at local konbini (convenience stores) such as Family Mart, 7-Eleven, and Lawson.

Vanilla Air

Vanilla Air is another great travel option. Owned by ANA, flights normally range from JPY 4990 (~$42 USD) to JPY 10,000 (~$83 USD) one way, depending on season and destination. They fly a small fleet of 8 A-320s to major destinations such as Tokyo and Sapporo but also internationally to Hong Kong, Taipei, and even Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.

On-board they offer a variety of snacks and drinks. One tasty option is the Okinawan specialty, Goya Chanpuru – stir-fry consisting of vegetables with rice and goya (bitter melon). Oishii!

Solaseed

Solaseed flies in and out of Haneda mostly to the Kyushu region at the southern tip of mainland. For tourists classified as “temporary visitors” and non-Japanese passport holder, Solaseed offers a “VISIT JAPAN” fare for JPY 10,500 (~$88 USD) per flight for all routes. Fares and flights are available on a stand-by basis only. While not as convenient, it’s great for anyone who has the time to go wherever, whenever. More details about this fare can be found on Solaseed’s website.

Peach

Based out of Osaka with hubs in Okinawa and Tokyo as well, Peach is my favorite Japanese Low Cost Airline. They have a great schedule and offer 15 destinations on an all A-320 fleet throughout mainland Japan and internationally to South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Peach offers discount train tickets available for purchase in-flight for Osaka and Tokyo sightseeing.

My family (husband and 2 girls) has gone to Osaka, Ishigaki (service no longer offered), Fukuoka, and Taipei with Peach. All airfare costs per round-trip have been under $400 total for the four of us. They’re practically giving the tickets away. Peach’s pink, purple, and white color scheme is fun. They have also been known to be super generous and hand out stickers when certain children get rowdy!

Their on-board services are unique too, incorporating seasonal items. For summer, try the Sparkling Peach Rose or cool off with Peach Ice Milk. Cosmetics, fragrances, and Peach-themed accessories round out their offerings.

Most often, LCCs are subsidiaries of major airlines and are therefore able to provide air travel at a discounted price. LCCs may travel out of remote gates which require you to walk outside or take a shuttle to your flight. Also, you’ll likely end up paying for any extras such as checked luggage, snacks, and beverages. Pack light or prepay for luggage as it is much cheaper. Maybe shove a snack and drink in your carry-on before you board from any one of many konbini in the airport. Low fares make up for the lack of “extras” and leg room (if you’re over 6 feet tall like my husband) but absolutely do not compromise safety standards in getting you to your destination.

Whether you want to surf, snorkel, and relax on wild beaches in Okinawa; ski and hike in Sapporo; visit temples and experience old Japan in Kyoto; or hit up nightlife, high-end shopping, and the world’s best restaurants in Tokyo, LCCs have got you covered. Have you tried a Japanese Low Cost Airline? Which one? Tell us about your experience!

*(All Japanese LCCs fly in/out of Okinawa where I am based.)
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