Drama Location and Tourist Destination

A new drama by MBC, Hotel King starring Lee DongWook and Lee DaHae televised its first two episodes last weekend. I was surprised to see that the hotel they were filming in was in fact my favorite hotel that we stayed in when we had the opportunity to visit Korea last early winter of 2013, the Alpensia Hotel in Pyeongchang, Gangwondo.

Although it maybe a hotel, personally the place gives a relaxing feeling because of the surrounding natural views you'll see there. I was able to find an incredible place for sightseeing especially on dawn or early morning. The sunrise looks so beautiful at "that" spot.

Pyeongchang is also the home for Alpensia Ski Jump. Hopefully this 2018, Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang and ski jump and other related competitions will be held there. You should come in the morning and better on earlier times so you can still make it to the monorail going to its peak. It has a very, very nice view!

There are also some good restaurants around the area.

Try to consider visiting Pyeongchang too especially on winter time.. But, yeah! It's spring already! So the mountains will be filled again with beautiful flowers. ^^* 

In the spring, it's good tovisit Geumdang Valley, Korea Botanic Garden, Farm Herbnara, or the valleys and forests of Pyeongchang for blankets of flowers and green. Try paragliding at Jangamsan Gliding Site or mountain biking to add a little excitement to your springtime getaway. (c) KTO

Blessedly, I was able to go to Korea on winter but if God willing I would want to experience the different seasons of Korea on those places which really emphaisize it. Do you have the idea? Please share it with us too :)))

Alyna/은주

Words Pronounced the Same in Korean

Some words from other languages

There is a ton of Korean words from English. Usually, north Korean language has tendency to create its own vocabulary when foreign words come to. On the contrary, lots of south Korean words are created from sounds of English words. Wow!! computer : 컴퓨터 [kom pu toe] mouse : 마우스 [m a u s] monitor : 모니터 [mo ni toe] ice cream : 아이스크림[a i s k rim] elevator : 엘리베이터[el li be i teo] camera : 카메라[ka mae la] microphone, MIC : 마이크[ma i k] CD : 시디[si di] DVD : 디비디[di vi di] date : 데이트[de i t] coffee : 커피 [keo pi] cola : 콜라 [kol la] cider : 사이다 [sa i da] McDonald : 맥도날드[maek do nal d] Burger King : 버거킹[beo geo king] Starbucks : 스타벅스[stabeoks] donuts : 도너츠[do neo chu] pizza : 피자[pi ja] spaghetti : 스파게티 [spageti] hamburger : 햄버거 [haembeogeo] bagel : 베이글 [beigul] sandwich : 샌드위치 [saen d wi chi] France : 프랑스 [pu lang su] Paris : 파리 [Pa li] Sri Lanka : 쓰리랑카 [ssu li lang ka] India : 인도 [in do] Philliphine : 필리핀 [pil li pin] Brazil : 브라질 [Bu la jil] Singapore : 싱가포르 [sing ga po ru] Turkey : 터키[teo ki] Sony : 소니[so ni] Toyota : 도요타 [do yo ta] Nintendo : 닌텐도[nin ten do] - NOTES 1. Most of countries are called in the same way with common saying. EX> Brazil, Singapore, Turkey etc... 2. Some brands doing business and franchizing in Korea are called in the original name. EX> Sony... 3. Foods originated not in Korea are called in the original. EX> Pizza, Cola .... - Conclusion Anything invented, created or made not in Korea is being used with its original sound using all over the world. At this point, you may have a question how you guess where words from. I would like to give an answer understanding Korean cultural things is the best way to improve your Korean. I think any other language is NEVER understood without understanding its own culture (c) Ryu JungYop

Some of Seoul's Tourist Destination (RM Ep186)

Annyeong haseyo everyone! So i just finished watching Running Man's Episode 186 which showed some of Seoul's tourist destinations. Hopefully if I can go back to Korea, I hope to visit these places:

1. GWANGJANG MARKET in Jongno

This was the first location of their missions. I wanted to go there hopefully in the future because of the Korean traditional delicacies it sells like Mung bean pancake, magic rice roll and bibimbap. I guess the food was really delicious that even the casts were willing to have a "FAIL" just to eat more. Ahh.. I want to go there! ^_^

2. NAMSAN TOWER

When we went to Seoul last November, we can only see this tower from afar. In RM's episode, the three teams were having fun together with some tourists and citizens who were visiting the place. I heard there are love locks there as a symbol of binding love for couples. Would like to see those personally! ^^ have you seen You Who Came from the Stars starring Kim Soo Hyun and Jeon Ji Hyun?  They also filmed there. Oppss. I forgot to tell you. You can ride a cable car there and see the whole Seoul! Ahh! Yippeoda ^^

3. KOREAN LANGUAGE GAON STREET in Gwanghwamun Square

We only passed here last November because our hotel was in Insadong. I can only see King Sejong's statue on the bus we rode ^^ But i would like to personally roam around the streets there again. I heard there was a Cultural Center near there. In RM's episode, the casts were running for Hangeul alphabets to form a phrase in front of King Sejong's monument. P.S. I really like to go to one of the palaces as well especially Gyeongbokgung.

I tell you there are many, many more nice places to visit in Korea not just in Seoul. And I really like the way they treat elder people and say "Kamsahamnida" to everyone who helps them, etc. Okay. That's all for now. Thank you! ^^*

-황은주/알라이나 룻

[Romantic Winter Tour] KOREAN CUISINE! (Yummy!)

Hello everyone! So, last November 19-24, 2013, I was one of the participants of the Romantic Winter Tour in South Korea. During our trip, I had tasted different Korean dishes. Before, I thought the dishes would be a bit strange so I would dislike it but I was very, very wrong! You should try it yourself so you would know how delicious they are. So, here are the restaurants we went to and some of the dishes we ate.

1. BOKJEONG RESTAURANT (Samcheongdong, Seoul)
--> roasted thin pork chops with wraps and bowl of rice served with spicy octopus
I really loved this lunch. Served on a really big plate, I really enjoyed the pork chop that I ate. In the Philippines, we don't usually eat raw vegetables but there, I find the meal very, very delicious. The sauce was yummy and even the steamed rice was sticky sweet.

2. SAMWON GARDEN (Seoul)
Okay. I'm sorry. I don't remember the names of the food. But I just remember the place was really really nice and we had a banquet! I first loved their very own vegetable salad and beef steak(I don't know how it is called) there. And we did not finish all the rice because a bit later they would serve hot water and pour it on the remaining rice so it would become rice soup! Fascinating, right? ^_^

3. DAEGWALLYEONG KOREAN BEEF TOWN (Pyeongchang)
--> Korean Beef BBQ (Hanwoo)
My Korean Pastor friend told me the korean beef bbq here is the best. He was right! This was my most favorite meal during the whole trip! It is no ordinary beef bbq! I just can't get enough of it. Absolutely delicious! So yummy!!!!!!

4. 400 YEARS CHO-DANG SOFT TOFU (Gangneung)
--> Soft Tofu Soup
Honestly, I do not like tofu. But, there, I found tofu on a different way! The soup was really tasty but spicy! Haha! I remember I was sweating really hard because almost all the dishes there were spicy! But you can bear it because you want to eat all the dishes! Lol xD And, during that time, there were some ahjummas and ajusshis who were making some kimchi. The ahjumma let me eat some fresh kimchi. Yummy! You can try it there!

5. SAMGYOLIDONGCHIMI MAKGUKSU (Gangneung)
--> Cold Noodles
I personally can't forget this restaurant. It's a secret though! Haha. The specialty of this restaurant is the cold noodles. It's my first time to hear about that kind of noodles. It was with ice! I really love the side dishes there ^_^ There was a certain "pork ball" (I don't know how it's called) that tasted a bit like siomai in my country.

6. IDONGGALBI (Pocheon)
--> Korean marinated meat
I really like the food here. I really like the potato salad and the korean meat.

7. SANWON (Seoul)
--> Kalguksu
You will cook your very own kalguksu soup here! It was fun and the food was very yummy. I had so much memorable and fun moments here because it was the last dinner we had together T-T

P.S. I also ate Tteokboki the first time on our way to Gangwondo. So spicy! And we visited and had some lemon tea and coffee on different coffee shops there. I really can say Korea has really healthy and yummy foods! ^_^ I will eat it again SOON! :)

Once again, Thank You buzz KOREA!!!

You can visit their website at:        www.ibuzzkorea.com

Start. Romantic Winter Tour. Going to Korea!

KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION

2013 Romantic Winter Tour

Day 1. Nov. 19,2013

I woke up early at 1:00AM to prepare for my flight to Manila from Cebu since my flight was at 4:15 early in the morning. I remembered i spent almost the whole night thinking about the tour. Probably it was because of the excitement :) I almost could not make it to the tour because my visa was submitted late because of some circumstances. Thank God my visa was released just on time yesterday and my friend helped me out. Now i can go on the tour! I really think this is God's timing. He made a way for me ^_^

On the airport, me and JN, another filipino participant was asked about the tour. The officer of the bureau of immigration did not believe us at first that we were participants of the buzz KOREA Awards so i showed him the video that was chosen by KTO. They even asked if we were a married couple because the tour was entitled romantic! Hahaha! I was really sweating but thank God they even enjoyed the video! ㅋㅋㅋ

I did not know how to feel. Finally, after a looooonnnngggg time, i can truly and finally see the Land of the Morning Calm! My parents were cheering me. Actually everyone was cheering on me. And i can even hear my Savior saying, "You got to enjoy my blessing. Enjoy your trip. It's my gift."

P.S. I'm sorry i just posted this. Twas quite some busy weeks ㅠㅠ i'll post some more and try to make a video soon! 화이팅!

KTO MISS FLOWER SPRING REVIEW

"As flowers bloom, so is my love for you" - Miss Flower Spring

Miss Flower Spring video:

MY VIDEO REVIEW:

My Miss Flower Spring Review YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXzuJFYG3_8

Who says flowers display beauty only? Miss Flower Spring of KTO declares flowers speak one’s heart and soul!

A story of a blossoming love in spring time of Korea, Miss Flower Spring depicts a portrayal of emotions more understood by the presentation and display of the flowers and places of Korea visited by the two main leads. 

It started with the beautiful pink royal azaleas which signify passion and fragility. Azaleas prefer living near or under trees, demonstrating feebleness. They are a simile of the two individuals displaying fragility. Two persons delicate as they were for the first time met passion and love in each other’s eyes. As spring brought forth different kinds of beautiful flowers, their love grew and bloomed.


Every part is essential and contributes to the entirety of the film. Although no dialogues except for the lady’s single word of affection, the flowers and background supplements the smooth flow of the story.

More than the eyes and ears, it takes the heart and mind to fully understand the whole theme. There were two things that were always shown in the film with very special meanings. To discover these two amazing “jewels” of the video, one must truly submerge into the film. Furthermore, the best flowers showcased in Korea were suitably chosen. It depicts a melodramatic love story at the same time exemplary achieves KTO’s purpose of promotion. Korea has more than culture, technology, economy, kpop, kdrama and kfashion. Perfectly designed by the Creator, Korea offers beautiful scenery of nature which gives a better delightment and cheer on the heart. The lighting and cinematography gives a “spring” feeling to the viewers. I admire the angles captured. Combination of still shots of beautiful scenes and videos were properly sequenced and blended.

The actress has succeeded in making me annoyed on her at first. It’s in the positive light though. She has that behavior of Geum Jan Di of Boys over Flowers, Seo Yi Soo of A Gentleman’s Dignity and Seo Eun Gi of Nice Guy – the woman’s pride! The character acted out by the male lead is more of a true Nice Guy than Song Joong Ki’s Kang Ma Roo.

Lastly, the smooth, soft melody of the music is a classic. The feeling of spring, of blooming love, of lovely flowers give a warm feeling inside. As the story progresses, the score’s progress is evident as well. The music sufficiently substitutes the absence of dialogues without sacrificing the original motif and message of the film.

Relaxing music + Beautiful places + very thought-through concept = DAEBAK!
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You can’t get enough of Miss Flower Spring Korea!
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Check out Korea Tourism Organization's Facebook pages  and learn more about Korea:

KTO Manila
https://www.facebook.com/ktomanila

KTO Seoul
https://www.facebook.com/koreatourism

Buzz Korea
https://www.facebook.com/buzzkorea

Check out Korea Tourism Organization's official website to know more about Spring Festivals and other beautiful tourist destinations in Korea:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!