GRRRL TRAVELER - Part 12

How to make your own K-drama film tour

Filed under * Korea tips & stays, Jeju Island by Christine Ka'aloa on February 17, 2011 at 8:36 am {7 comments}

Korea’s hit drama series, Secret Garden. Some scenes filmed at Seeas Hotel on Jeju Island.

Koreans seem to own the formula on great drama. In fact, K-dramas are becoming a rapid addiction around the world. Popular in Asia, in parts such as Japan, Thailand and India; the rage has even been making itself known in the U.S. (just ask Hawaii!)

My mother has watched 92 dramas (probably more than any Korean) this past year! Her friends, bitten by the drama-fever bug years earlier, surpass her ranking. Hard to imagine, right?

Korean tourism: the popularizing of K-drama filming locations

K-drama clubs and film tours are beginning to spring up, with sightseeing itineraries to feed drama-hungry fanatics. Winter Sonata, for instance is a popular drama, especially with Japanese and has a couple of tours dedicated to it.

Thanks to the Korean Tourism Organization and its publishing drama locations on its tourism site, fans don’t have to waddle up steep cash for a (more…)

Love Letter #3: Happy Valentine’s Day, Korea!

Filed under Daegu, Korea by Christine Ka'aloa on February 14, 2011 at 11:38 pm {4 comments}

“Love Letter #3: Daegu, Korea“

This blog is reposted from My Crazy Kimchi
.

They say it seldom snows in Daegu, but it’s been snowing all day.

Only a few cars were out on the road this morning, driving real slow. Many teachers reverted to the subway to get to work, parents accompanied their children to school on foot and it’s surmounted in a bit of displacement in the monotonous routine of drivers. School started merrily late today.

After lunch recess, the kids got into the spirit of the first major snowfall by getting into snow play. Did they build snowmen or make angels in the snow?

No.

The best Korean Valentine is to see:

(more…)

4 Essential iPhone Apps for Korea

Filed under * Korea tips & stays, Korea by Christine Ka'aloa on February 10, 2011 at 11:34 am {11 comments}

Photo by How Stuff works.com

4 Essential iPhone/iPod Apps for getting around Korea:

Subway in Korea Lite (aka KorSubway)- * Free*

What’s more frustrating than having to spend time searching for your station on a map when you’re in a rush? With KorSubway, my eyes don’t get crazed out with b.s. visuals, while searching for my stops. KorSubway‘s butt-simple visuals makes finding metro connections fast, easy… a snap!

This handy map has been my #1 tool for getting around (though Jihachul may eventually replace it). It has the metros lines for major Korean cities and a finger swipe navigates you through them, allowing you to zoom in and out for an easy read. Settings are in both, Korean and English.

That said, here’s my second fave mapping tool…

(more…)

From MTV Producer to English Teacher in Korea

Filed under GAP YEAR TRAVEL, How & why teach in Korea? by Christine Ka'aloa on February 7, 2011 at 2:17 am {8 comments}

My fantastic 4th grade ladies.

These days I find, readers have been curious about the life of an English teacher — What’s my story? Why did I take a gap year break from my life?... Well, my story can be shot from many angles- this is one aspect of it…

My Story:

Reality teens to real life tots

I teach in the public school elementary school system through the EPIK program. When I left my career as a TV producer/shooter in New York City to embark on a gap year(s), I was beginning to feel a little burnt out from producing MTV teen reality shows. I didn’t have a 9-5 cubicle job, but being a freelancer in NYC is a 24/7 gig. Sustaining a career in a competitive city, I was shackled to the pressure-cooking megalopolis of a work-obsessed regimen and obviously, the economy wasn’t getting better.

I never stopped loving my career in entertainment, mind you. Working in a creative field is my life-long passion and most (more…)

Review: Is there a ‘Little India’ in Seoul?

Filed under Cool/Veg Restaurants & Bars, Reviews by Christine Ka'aloa on February 1, 2011 at 3:59 pm {3 comments}

Shah Rukh Khan.

He was the first person that greeted me when I walked through the door of our Indian restaurant. I let out a partial shriek…

Okay, so Shah Rukh wasn’t there in person. He was on TV, lip-syncing and dancing through music videos from his movies. For me, it didn’t matter though, he was in Korea and I was looking at him!

Everyone has their weakness. Mine is Indian food and Bollywood films…

The Pali! Pali! Bale! Bale! by scooter

(Korean translation: ‘Pali’: Fast; Indian translation: ‘ Bale’: Dance)

From cut and paste directions from K-blogger, Seoul Eats‘ review on vegetarian restaurants, Soo Ha and I were plugging for an Indian/Nepalese food joint called Everest. It’s said to be near Dongdaemun station.

Round and round we sped, while getting slammed with ice-burning air from Soo Ha’s scooter. We passed busy streets and crowded alleys–

Where the hell was that friggin’ station?!

Riding on a scooter (without a face mask) during the mean bite of winter perhaps, was not a good plan; but there’s nothing like seeing Seoul from the back of a scooter, especially with Soo Ha. Korean-Canadian and living in the city for roughly 10 (?) years, Soo Ha cuts (uh, ‘illegal’) corners, hops onto sidewalks and whizzes past traffic, like a certified crazy food delivery person in Seoul.

I love that about her!

(more…)

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Korea

Love Letter #2: Dear Korea

Dear Korea,

My feet under my “deskwarming” desk constantly draw the AC draft coming from the floor, such I have put hand warmers in my shoes. Such is not a way to love winter or is it?

My ondol is no match for your chill.

January 28, 2011 4

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Glam Around the World

Getting my hair done at the Korean beauty salon

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

A high maintenance looks-oriented society, you’ll find the men, women, teens and toddlers are all stylish, made up, manicured… not a hair out of place. Here, plastic surgery is as common as going to the dentist. Clothes shopping is a popular pasttime for men and women, alike. Guys are tailored to look like like K-pop stars, as women wear short skirts and balance on stilted toothpicks. Toddlers get perms and manicures and children are dressed as if they came out of fashion pages.

January 21, 2011 32

Written by Christine Ka'aloa Korea

8 ways I stay warm during winter in Korea

It’s been said that this is the worst winter Korea has ever seen. It sure feels like it. It’s so cold that the concrete at my work desk provides regular AC breezes through the soles of my shoes and to my feet. Not kidding. During the winter you’ve got to find ways to keep warm.

Here are 8 ways that I fend off winter chill (as well as, a few other K-bloggers):

January 18, 2011 38

Written by Christine Ka'aloa GRRRL in the News

2011 Shoutouts: GRRRL’s mom, my solo travel fears and the mystery I’ll be!

Annyeong 2011! Time is flying and it’s taking a jet.

Writing Home for the Holidays: GRRRL TRAVELER’s blogging mom

It was a winter white holiday for us in Korea and this year, while I abroad, I didn’t have to write home. Instead, my mom, the real family blogger, did it for me!

With my mother in town for two weeks, she battled the ups of sightseeing, desk-warming, seeing snow fall for the first time,… with the downs of first time solo travel and winter health. …