magazine

Exploring Beautiful Laos with Trekking

Filed under Glam Around the World, Great Outdoors by Christine Ka'aloa on November 28, 2011 at 4:52 am {4 comments}

These days I enjoy trekking where it’s possible. Aside from a great workout, I like visiting mountain life, its lush and pristine settings of streams, hills and rice paddy fields and simple, hardworking and content inhabitants.

I arrived in Muong Ngoi. Closer to trekking routes and offering lower tour prices, I decided to take a trek from my guide at my guesthouse.

Mary was a Dutch woman in her 50′s, who had traveled for over two years now, solo. We had met on the boat and decided to share a room in Muong Ngoi. Now we hoping to take a day trek.

“It’s an easy walking trek,” Aoot, our guide pitched as he sized up Mary, two senior U.K. ladies and myself.

Easy walking?

My enthusiasm dropped notches. No gasping for air with breathless intensity? No hard-burning physical workout. This didn’t seem like the treks I’d (more…)

Do Bollywood Stars Haggle in India?

Filed under Dharamsala, Glam Around the World by Christine Ka'aloa on April 9, 2011 at 8:27 am {6 comments}

The vibe in the Indo-Himalayan air of Dharamsala was electric.

Walking back from the Dalai Lama’s temple, a large crowd was gathered around a local shop. Cellphone cameras were out clicking, digital cameras flashing… people were jumping up up to tip-toes to get a better view.

Could it be… the Dalai Lama?

A white VIP truck whizzed past me followed by excited admirers chasing after it. (more…)

Getting my hair done at the Korean beauty salon

Filed under Glam Around the World, Korea by Christine Ka'aloa on January 21, 2011 at 1:50 am {33 comments}

What Koreans will go through for hair-raising feats… and beauty!

When my dad visited Korea last spring, he was seriously distraught. In the crowd of Koreans, young and old, he found he was the only “white-haired” senior in the population.

How can that be? Does Korea do away with all their old people or do they hide them away?

Korea, to him, was beginning to feel like a scary Twilight Zone episode.

He wanted to know- should he be concerned about his safety or his life?

I clued him in on the Korean secret…

Hair dyeing.

Beauty and the Korean Way

Koreans are the best dressed people in the world. Without a doubt.

A high maintenance looks-oriented society, you’ll find men, women, teens and toddlers all stylishly made up, pressed and manicured… (more…)

Finding my Fountain of Youth in Yulpo’s Green Tea Saltwater Bathhouse.

Filed under Glam Around the World, Jeollanam/Jeollabuk by Christine Ka'aloa on September 23, 2010 at 11:42 am {5 comments}

Yulpo Seawater Green Tea Spa

Yulpo Beach is 10-minute bus ride south of the Boesang Tea plantations and an excellent stopover after a day of trodding around tea farms, but today the weather was a dreary, overcast and the sleepy town didn’t rouse much life. It is fall and summer resort season in Yulpo has ended and the nearby water park looked as dry as the town’s streets. An eerie calm prevailed over a light scent of rotting fish corpses. Quiet seaside towns make me nervous when they get this quiet.

Fortunately, the Yulpo Seawater Green Tea Spa was inviting and warm, defying the town’s ghost town demeanor. A relaxing soak in a rejuvenating bath of green tea was just what my friend, Chance and I needed! We wanted pampering and needed time to figure out our next move. Dare we find a minbak (Korean guesthouse) in this ghost town? I don’t think so… Bed down in Boseong? Or cut our losses and head out to Suncheon to makeup for sightseeing at the crack of dawn tomorrow?… This took meditative measure.

(more…)

4 Tea-Inspired Tips for Weary Travelers

Filed under Glam Around the World, GRRR Inspirations by Christine Ka'aloa on September 21, 2010 at 6:06 am {7 comments}

Boesang, South Korea

Raining. I waited the summer to see Boseong Tea Fields’ tea-inspired glory, rode 5+ hours by bus (and 3 transfers) and what happened when I finally got there?… It rained. Not saying this didn’t lend to magical moments but it did put a damper on my plans to spend an entire afternoon exploring the fields or at a tea cafe with some prime grade nokcha (aka Korean green tea). Still, I’m glad I got to see it and I didn’t walk away completely empty-handed. I rattled off some quick shots before the (more…)

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Glam Around the World

Review: “Dashing Diva: Foot-friendly nail salons in Seoul”

As a traveler trekking all around on foot, there are times you get to feeling like a bit of a rag doll Cinderella. If you’re like me and possess backpacker-explorer mentality, you’re on your tootsies from sunrise to midnight. Your feet probably wears some serious Grrr and looks like it to!

May 30, 2010 13

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Glam Around the World

Photo Tips: Add Spice to Your Travel Gift Souvenirs

Souvenir gifting is often “a hit or miss” practice.
When a friend brings back a travel souvenir for me (and it’s not edible or chosen with my personality in mind), it can sometimes feel like, well,… junk! Likewise, I know there are times that I can be a “souvenir junk” gifter too! Perhaps I might occasionally nail a person’s personality with a souvenir; but most often, my gift souvenirs are flawed upon purchase. The reason?

February 17, 2010 4

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Glam Around the World

My Top 5 International Dance Companies

I’m going to talk about something I have a passion for and I still consider it travel… DANCE! Sometimes, I wonder if dancers don’t make the best travelers… Their home is the stage, the bar or the body… there is no color or country…

February 17, 2010 0

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Glam Around the World

10 Things I’ve Learned About Koreans from Watching K-dramas

In lieu of Valentine’s Day, today’s post is about the language of Sarang-he (Korean for “Love”) and what better way to do it, than through the typical Korean soap drama! K-dramas have been the recent rage that’s been spreading across the globe with Asian countries and places like Hawaii.