Modern Bar & Lounge, 'BLUSH' Opening

The Grand InterContinental Seoul will open a new modern style bar & lounge, 'BLUSH' on April 20, 2007, for trend setters seeking a cutting edge lifestyle. This new bar & lounge will replace Hunter's Tavern—popular for over 18 years among business executives. 'BLUSH' is a place for young professionals and others who enjoy new lifestyles and have a passion for new culture.

The interior design concept is "Contemporary Modern Design." A bar with sophisticated color, dynamic images, and sound effects and trendy music will offer a unique experience. Of note is the interior décor which has been inspired by flowers and trees in their natural settings creating a truly guest-friendly ambiance.

Glamour, extravagance, and luxury assist in describing the design of this stylish bar & lounge, with two separate bars, and five stirring private rooms.

The culinary selection for the BLUSH bar and lounge, as envisioned by Executive Chef Ivan Susanj, will be a selection of very fine dishes created to match, complement or contrast with, the amazing cocktail collection and beverages with like-minded people, where you can appreciate trendy music, where you can experience trendy style, and where interesting events and various social gatherings take place-Welcome to the world of our new bar & lounge!

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Map of South Korea

Welcome To Jongno-Gu

Jongno-gu has been the center of Seoul for the last 600 years with the transfer of the capital city since the establishment of the Chosun Dynasty. Jongno-gu has many public organizations and is the central figure for politics, economics and culture. There is the milestone at the northeast of Sejongno, and all the milestones in the country originate from this milestone, implying that Jongno is the center of the country.

As Jongno-gu was the capital city of the Chosun Dynasty and located in the center of Seoul, the history of Jongno is the history of Seoul, and the face and the heart of Korea. Palaces where the kings in the Chosun Dynasty used to reside and work, such as Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Unhyeongung, together with Cheongwadae (Blue House), the resident of the Korean President, are all located in Jongno-gu. This shows how important Jongno is in Korea.

The Old Pop Bar

Johnnie Walker came for a visit again last night. He brought his friend, Bud. Bud Ice.

We were listening to music in this cool bar and I am trying hard to recall some of the great songs, that were played - I want to make an iMix for you.

Regular readers of the Bongorama Blog Network know that I love to recommend my favoruite bars from around the world. Recently, I've profiled some glamorous ones (coverage here and here), but this time around we are talking a Real Bar. A no-nonsense, whiskey-beer-cigarettes-loud music bar.

I am in Seoul, Korea, and it is hot. Kim Jung-Il has just declared nuclear war. A thundering typhoon is on its way. I need a drink.

Downtown Seoul - the Myeongdong shopping district to be precise - is packed with coffee shops, restaurants and shops. There are no bars, it seems. But, hidden behind a folder door on the second side street on the left, you will find a secret treasure for bar connoisseurs: The Old Pop Bar.

This bar is amazing: it is extremely small, it only has eight seats. But it has a giant, state-of-the-art sound system with huge speakers (seperated tweeter horns mounted on the walls and subwoofers on the floor) and a fantastic record collection. Vinyl and CD's. Pop classics, jazz favourites and rock music.

The bar is operated by a Korean man (I forget his name, I am not good with Korean names, especially when Johnnie & Bud is around), who is the host and disc jockey, and his assistant a beautiful, big Korean girl, who serve the drinks. Both of them chain smokes, hurl down whiskey shots and drink beers constantly, but at the same time offer great bar service. Since the bar is so tiny, the total of ten people (staff included) automatically become party friends.

They love requests, which you write down on little paper notebooks on the bar. And he usually finds the song, that you requested, be it a pop song, jazz standard or rock hymn. Actually there was only one song, he couldn't find last night, but I think that was because he was too drunk. It was very late. I wanted to hear the opening track of Boston's second album. Maybe he didn't.

So here we are, in downtown Seoul (which I prefer to Itaewon, where there are too many foreigners): my new friend, Michael (a belgian, who is a manager for Volksvagen China and knows all the cool bars in Beijing), his german girlfriend, a japanese businessman and four Koreans, two of them girls in the movie industry, who I movie quiz with all night, mostly Kubrick and Schrader questions. One of the Korean men is sleeping with his head on the bar. He was drunk at six o'clock.

Michael was there the night before and with a big smile on his face proclaims: "He has all the classics".

These are some of the songs, we listened to:

Cheap Trick "Live At Budokan" (side 1 of the vinyl album - original American pressing!)
Journey "Any Way You Want It"
Styx (two or three of their biggest hits)
The Doors "Riders Of The Storm"
Jimi Hendrix "All Along The Watchtower"
Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" + "The Man Who Soul The World"
David Bowie "Space Oddity" (the Mellotron was louder than normal!)
Blondie "Heart Of Glass" + "Call Me" (my requests)
The theme from "Hair" (sic!)

This morning I thought we also listened to the Walther/Wendy Carlos soundtrack for "A Clockwork Orange", but I think it was just a quiz question, not a playback.

Make sure you visit this pearl of a bar, the next time you are in Seoul. It is almost impossible to find, but well worth the search.

Note:

I accidentally turned on my digital camera in video mode, left on the the bar it recorded 10 minutes (more than 800 MB!)of hilarious footage.

The Korean bartender asks me: "Where you from?"

"Copenhagen, Denmark", I reply with pride in my voice.

"Denmark? Hold da kaeft, mand!", shouts the bartender (Danish for "Get out of here" or "No kiddin'").

Absolutely priceless.

I will find some way of publishing this large video file for your viewing please soon (perhaps the Google Video Desktop Uploader).

Kukje Gallery

Korean Air

[Shanghai/Pudong -> Seoul/Incheon]

Yes, I got her number.
No, Bob, I will not tell any more.

"Street Fashion"

Seoul Style

Where To Stay

From corporate executives to budget-conscious backpackers, travelers to Seoul are sure to find accomodations with services, facilities and prices suited to their needs. What’s more, you can be certain that the hotel management will provide not only a clean, comfortable room with plenty of hot running water, but also a high level of service, because to Koreans, guests are considered one of the family and treated as such. This emphasis on traditional hospitality makes being a visitor to Seoul a unique experience.

The city’s luxury hotel are really just that—luxurious—featuring all the comforts expected of world-class lodgings. The largest concentration of deluxe hotels is around City Hall Square, conveniently located within walking distance or a short bus ride from Seoul’s many sights and tourist attractions. Most of these hotels can be reached directly by the KAL Limousine Bus Service that operates from Kimpo Airport. Booking transportation is not necessary, as buses run at intervals of 15-20 minutes from 6:10am until 10:15pm. With the business traveler in mind, these top-flight hotels provide business facilities second to none, including special business centers, Internet access, interpreter and translation services, secretarial services and much more. Rooms tend to be large and well equipped. The hotel staff members will make every effort to ensure that your stay is a comfortable one, and most of them speak English. Rates range from KRW270,000 to KRW310,000 for a single, and a little more for a double. Suites begin at KRW360,000 to KRW700,000. More lavish accommodations are available, such as Hotel Shilla’s presidential suite, but it will cost a pretty sum, on the order of KRW6,000,000,000. In general, the more you pay, the more you get. The usual checkout time is 11am or noon for deluxe hotels. Most accept major credit cards.

A notch below luxury class, you will find moderately-priced hotels with single rooms that run from KRW110,000 to KRW200,000. Hotels in this price range often have special indoor services, such as golf training, health clubs, jogging tracks and swimming pools, among many other facilities. Some also offer a special discount of 10-20 percent off the regular room rates for bookings made on-line. At times, price seems to be the only difference between the deluxe and moderate hotels. For great service at an affordable price, consider staying at the Hotel Holiday Inn, highly recommended for its quality. Many of the hotel staff speak English, so you should find it easy to have your questions answered or problems solved. Or if you are looking for a moderately-priced hotel convenient to nightlife, the Itaewon district may be the place for you. Dozens of local nightspots are located near Itaewon’s noticeable landmark, the Hamilton Hotel. The area’s large foreign population ensures that many exciting events are happening throughout the day as well.

Budget hotels, or motels as they are sometimes called, are the place to be if you seek quality rooms at cheaper prices. The Jeonpoong Tourist Hotel and the River Park Tourist Hotel, for example, offer single rooms from KRW75,000. Rooms are clean and cozy with that homey feeling. They come equipped with a TV, radio, telephone and private bathroom. Still another spot you might want to try is the Kaya Hotel, a quaint place that is rough around the edges but still respectable. Rooms here are only KRW48,000. Although the facilities may not be as great as those found at higher priced hotels, the staff’s warm smiles and kind hearts will make your stay an unforgettable one.

Also quite popular among budget travelers and students are the city’s youth hostels. Rooms are inexpensive, ranging from KRW11,000 to KRW22,000 per night for members and slightly higher for non-members. A great place to visit is Youth Traveller’s A, where the rooms are homey and clean. They offer 26 dormitory beds in rooms for two to six persons. While most of the deluxe hotels require a reservation, the budget accomodations and hostels do not.

Those who wish to experience grassroots Korean hospitality will enjoy staying at a yogwan or Korean inn. Instead of a bed, you are given a mattress called a yo, a quilt blanket and a pillow filled with buckwheat husks. On a cold night, the floors are warmed by a subsurface heating system referred to as an ondol. Yogwans do not have restaurants, but food can be served in the room for an additional charge, or you can order take-out. Nowadays, modern yogwans provide beds, private bathrooms with hot running water, and televisions. Room rates are fixed by law and should not vary much from one yogwan to the next. They start at KRW25,000 per person, and for each additional person there is a charge of KRW5,000 extra. Reservations are not necessary and you can check in at any time. Checkout is usually by 11am.

Another way to experience Korean lifestyle and make a friend or two is by participating in a homestay, such as Jaychan’s Homestay. The hosts will make you feel welcome, and they offer unique services, such as free airport pick-up service, free tickets for a Korean traditional music performance, free tour maps and even a Korean traditional instrument called a danso. Room rates run from KRW30,000 to KRW55,000 per night.

One last note: you may notice fancy buildings with brightly lit neon signs around Seoul, what Koreans refer to as “Love Hotels. Recently, these hotels have become increasingly popular. They offer the choice of staying overnight or renting a room for a couple of hours. Why a couple of hours? Your imagination can best answer that question. But no matter what form of lodging you choose or how long you visit, your stay in Seoul is certain to be a great one. Enjoy!

Recommended Tours

The wide, well-kept sidewalks of downtown Seoul make for an excellent walking tour of the city. With no stops, the following route can be covered in just an hour or two, but if you take time to explore the many sites recommended here, the stroll could easily stretch a day or two.

Your walking tour begins at the City Hall Station. Come up exit two and you will be at the gate of Doksu gung Palace. Across the busy intersection ahead of you is the fountain, with the four-story City Hall on the left and the Seoul Plaza Hotel on the right. Far along the road to your right is the Namdaemun Gate, one of four gates originally protecting the city, while far along to your left is the royal palace of Kyongbukkung.

If your timing is good, you may see the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the gate before entering Doksugung Palace. Spend a while exploring the palace, Royal Museum and National Museum of Contemporary Art before returning to the main intersection and heading north along Taepyong-no. As you walk along with the mountains directly in front of you, you will pass the Press Center on your right and the Koreana Hotel on your left. Ten minutes further on you will come to the Kwanghwamun Intersection, easy to spot because of the impressive statue of Yi Sun Shin in the middle of the street. He is a national hero, who defeated the much larger Japanese naval fleet with his "turtle ships" in 1597. The Kyobo Building behind the statue houses one of the best foreign language bookstores in Korea. In the background you will see the Millennium Building, a landmark newly added to the downtown skyline.

Continue north along the wide, tree-lined Sejongno Boulevard towards the mountains and Kwanghwamun Gate. This street was of great significance during the Chosun Dynasty, as it led from the city of Seoul to the royal palace gate. It still has a majestic feel, with its wide sidewalks. You will pass the Sejong Cultural Center on your left as you head to the small Sejongno Park, a fine place to take a break and rest before more sightseeing.

Your next stop should be the royal Kyongbuk Palace grounds. Cross the road through the underground passage just after the park, and continue walking toward the gate. Turn right at the end of Sejongro and cross under the road to come out at the corner of the palace wall, where you will see a small pavilion on a high stone base. This is Tongshipjagak, or the ancient watch tower. Inside the grounds, you can explore the Folk Museum, the National Museum of Korea and the palace itself. Art exhibits are sometimes held on the grass, and the grounds provide a pleasant place for a stroll.

Back at the watchtower, a five-minute walk west along the main road will take you to two streets leading to the right, at the blue and yellow Korean Time Travel building on the corner. If you have not tired of Seoul’s royal palaces by now, don’t turn but continue straight for about 20 minutes to Changdok Palace, where members of the nation’s royalty are reputed to live even now, and visit the Secret Garden (tours only). Otherwise, take the first street on the right and after a few minutes you will come to Chogyesa. Not particularly large, but significant as the only Buddhist temple in downtown Seoul, this is the headquarters for the Chogye sect of Buddhism. Smell the incense wafting from the numerous Buddhist supply shops as you make your way back along the route you came. Note the small Central Postal Museum on your left.

After returning to the main street, take the second street on the right to the unique artist and antique district of Insadong. Spend a very pleasant hour or two browsing through the antique, ceramic, paper and painting shops, or visiting small private galleries. Then stop for traditional tea or an alcoholic beverage at one of the many tea rooms along the way, or take a break at the end of this street at the historic Tapgol (Pagoda) Park. This park is the site of the first reading of Korea’s Declaration of Independence in 1919. These days, it is usually full of elderly men, sometimes in traditional Korean clothes, passing the time chatting, playing Korean chess or having their hair cut outside.

You have now reached the busy Chongno Street, buzzing with young and old people alike, meeting friends or shopping. If you head west (right as you leave the park), you will be heading toward the Kyobo Building and Millennium Plaza. Note the two-story Boshingak (belfry) on your left as you go by—the bell inside was once rung regularly to inform people of the opening and closing of the city gates each evening and morning. On New Year’s Eve, it seems that half the population of Seoul comes here to herald in the New Year.

Alternatively, you can head east (left from Tapkol Park). A twenty- or twenty-five minute walk will take you to Dongdaemun, the historic east gate which once guarded the city. At this point, you may choose to end your tour, or if you have your second wind, you can go shopping all night at Dongdaemun Market.

Other Tours
Those who seek a rather unusual guided tour of the city will want to check out the Restroom Tour and Seoul Mystery Tours. Or if a more comfortable bus tour around the city suits you, try a Good Morning Tour to various tourist attractions around Seoul. No matter how you choose to see the city, you are sure to enjoy the ancient and modern contrasts of Korea’s capital. Just remember to bring your camera, a city map and a good pair of walking shoes, and take extra care when crossing the streets, as pedestrians are low on the traffic pecking order.

HOTELS > With The Style

Whilst walking up the street to this hotel in Fukukoa, you may see a steady trickle of designer clad locals drifting into the reception. There is good reason for this. With the style is the most happening hotel in Fukukoa now. Not only known as a hip hotel, this address is widely known for its outstanding restaurant, bar and resident or international DJ sets.

The first offering from the wedding and banquet company Plan Do See, this is a design dream. The hotel is designed by Ryu Kosaka, an up and coming designer who is establishing a name for himself both in Japan and internationally. The style here is Californian residential with a contemporary Japanese touch. Scented wood is used throughout the building, the colour theme is neutral creams, beiges and browns.

There are only 16 rooms in this boutique hotel, all individually designed. The queen rooms have a small terrace outside which opens onto all the other rooms, this is an interesting idea and more sociable. Use of Comfort a hip German interior brand is seen throughout in the rooms as they have used Comforts chairs and tables.

WooBar @ W Hotel

From Hermit Kingdom to Tiger Economy - Seoul is a city reborn.

Seoul is an intriguing city transforming itself from the Yi Dynasty capital of the Hermit Kingdom to a major mover and shaker on the international scene, especially in the field of commerce and sports. Nowhere else is the Korean drive to come to terms with a turbulent and fractured past so evident.

Seoul was battered by Japanese and Manchu invasions in the 16th and 17th centuries and flattened by the Korean War; most of its cityscape is modern. Overshadowed by high-rises and 12-lane freeways, it yet retains a hidden history of centuries-old temples, palaces, pagodas and pleasure gardens.