The Korea Herald

Trio trek Empty Quarter in footsteps of Thesiger

ABU DHABI (AFP) ― A British explorer and two Emiratis on Tuesday completed a 44-day trek across one of the world’s largest deserts, the Empty Quarter, in the footsteps of the late traveller Sir Wilfred Thesiger.The three men riding two camels were welcomed with a large round of applause from crowds who were waiting for them at Abu Dhabi’s corniche, marking the conclusion of their 1,600-kilometer trip.Following closely the route taken by the British explorer in the 1940s, the team began the trip

Dec. 16, 2011

Lights, gingerbread, parades: Holiday happenings in U.S.

NEW YORK (AP) ― Elaborate gingerbread houses, boat parades, train shows and dazzling light shows that illuminate entire neighborhoods are all part of the holiday fun this year for the Christmas and New Year’s season. Here’s a selection of beautiful things to see and interesting things to do around America now through early January.In Manhattan, the Rockefeller Center tree stays lit until Jan. 7. This year it’s a 22.5-meter-tall Norway spruce illuminated by 30,000 lights. You can go skating at th

Dec. 16, 2011

Lights, gingerbread, parades: Holiday happenings in U.S.

Angry Birds to get own theme parks: company

The Angry Birds are set fly from the virtual into the real world next year as the cartoonish birds from the popular smartphone game get their own theme parks, a playground company said Thursday."The idea is to to create a different concept for gaming by integrating the virtual and physical worlds ..

Dec. 16, 2011

Angry Birds to get own theme parks: company

Korail runs ‘Starlight Night Express’

Starting from Dec. 16, the Korea Rail Corporation, or Korail, will offer a chance to spend an evening on a train, enjoying live shows, events and wine with those you love. The “Tongtongtong Starlight Express” leaves Seoul Station at 7 p.m., traveling to Gudun Station in Yangpyeong and returning to Seoul around 10:50 p.m. During the train service, passengers will be offered sweet wine, cheese and hot noodles as they enjoy live music shows and a belly dance performance.Stopping at Gudun Station, p

Dec. 9, 2011

Sheraton Grande Walkerhill’s Barbie Suite for Ladies

Sheraton Grande Walkerhill presents the “Barbie Suite for Ladies” package available through Nov. 18, 2013. Following the success of its “Barbie Room for Girls,” the hotel opened a new concept room which is decorated with black, silver and hot pink accents. A spacious living room with Barbie couch, coffee tables and mini chairs invite ladies to gather for a chat or order in room service for a cozy evening. A plush Barbie guest bed and pink-themed bathroom will also delight lady guests. A beautifu

Dec. 9, 2011

Yeoju to hold Sweet Potato Festival

Yeoju County, located in the central part of the country, is hosting the third Sweet Potato Festival from Dec. 31 through Jan. 3 near Silleuk Temple, vowing to attract visitors by combining its regional product with its famous tourist attraction. The festival, first held in January 2009, has been drawing more attention as sweet potatoes are being regarded as a healthy product for weight loss. Those taking part in the festival will be given the chance to taste Yeoju’s famous sweet potatoes baked

Dec. 9, 2011

Fight to be big cheese upends N.Y. pizza world

NEW YORK (AFP) ― The world of pizza in New York is in meltdown over who will be the big cheese on one of the Big Apple’s hottest slices of pizza real estate.At stake is a corner of Brooklyn under the end of the Brooklyn Bridge that has been ruled for more than a decade by Grimaldi’s, an old-world pizzeria with crusts as thin as the line of tourists is long, an almost unique oven, and now a feud that could bring it down.On Wednesday, newly delivered flour sacks were shot down a sidewalk slide int

Dec. 9, 2011

Traveling the National Road in Ohio

BLAINE, Ohio ― The Blaine Hill Bridge is a monument to Ohio’s past.The 385-foot, brick-paved bridge in Belmont County is also a surviving link to the historical National Road. It dates to 1828 and is the oldest surviving bridge in the Buckeye state, designated Ohio’s Bicentennial bridge in 2003.With its three arches and sandstone blocks, it once carried travelers on the National Road over Wheeling Creek. It is about eight miles west of Wheeling, W.Va.Today, vehicles are banned from the bridge th

Dec. 9, 2011

Anne Frank's pre-war apartment to open to public

An Amsterdam apartment where Jewish teenager Anne Frank and her family lived for nine years before going into hiding due to the Nazi occupation will be opened Saturday, a spokesman for its owner said."Around 400 people will be allowed to enter the home," Andre Bakker, a spokesman for the Ymere socia

Dec. 9, 2011

Novel way to travel, meet people and learn to farm

WWOOFing has cultivated a global followingLOS ANGELES ― Kelly Bayer took a vacation from her job in a sleep laboratory by toiling in a vegetable patch in Santa Barbara, California.The sun beat down on her back as she worked a garden hose over a collection of tomatoes, peppers, carrots and onions that would eventually be consumed on the organic farm.“I’m kind of interested in farming and sustainable living,” Bayer said, before giving away a bit of her real motivation for working on the farm: a qu

Dec. 5, 2011

Novel way to travel, meet people and learn to farm

Grand Hilton Seoul offers ‘Get It Party Ladies’ package

The Grand Hilton Seoul is offering a relaxing and fun night just for the girls ― the Get It Party Ladies package.The party package includes an overnight stay in a three-bedroom or four-bedroom unit at the Grand Suite serviced residence, with a fridge stocked with party supplies including one bottle of red wine, imported beers, Pocari Sweat, orange juice, Lindt chocolate, mixed nuts and Pringles. Also included is a fun night at the stylish and modern Babalu nightclub with an offering of homemade

Dec. 2, 2011

JW Marriott Seoul offers gingerbread house classes

On the two Saturdays before Christmas, Dec. 10, 17, the JW Marriott Seoul is holding gingerbread house cooking classes for children, taught by a professional pastry chef. During the two-hour class, teams composed of parents and one child will use icing to build with gingerbread and add decorative touches as the various ingredients form walls, a roof, and, finally, a holiday keepsake for young chefs to take back home with them. The classes will also offer a great opportunity for children to learn

Dec. 2, 2011

Goyang City offers free tours for foreigners

The city of Goyang, located in Gyeonggi Province, is offering free tours to the city for people of foreign nationalities ― diplomats and their families, professors, teachers, students and anyone who likes to travel ― on Dec. 16, 19 and 27. With the purpose of gathering ideas for suitable tour programs, the city has prepared three types of tours for each day. The first program will start at Hosu Park, leading to the Hallyu Promotional Hall, a luxurious lunch at the Central and South American Cult

Dec. 2, 2011

Ski trail maps use artist’s hand-painted panoramas

LOVELAND, Colorado (AP) ― If you’ve ever gone skiing at an unfamiliar resort without getting lost, chances are you have James Niehues to thank.Niehues, 65, is the man behind the trail map. His hand-painted panoramas have been reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps handed out by ski resorts in North America, Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Serbia.“His trail maps are as much a part of the sport as snow,’’ said Greg Ditrinco, executive editor of Ski Magazine.That

Dec. 2, 2011

Ski trail maps use artist’s hand-painted panoramas

After two decades, a return to Prague in the light of day

PRAGUE ― Unlike cities such as Salzburg, which are lucky to display the Baroque in small clusters, Prague opens the Baroque onto the visitor like the spread of an eagle’s wings. The Baroque and other architectural styles dating back through the centuries are everywhere in the Old Town of Prague because the city famously survived the cavalcade of European wars virtually intact. And it is a wonder to see ― as long as it isn’t raining cats and dogs, that is, which is precisely what was happening on

Dec. 2, 2011

After two decades, a return to Prague in the light of day

Festive ‘memory packages’ at Grand Hilton Seoul

The Grand Hilton Seoul is offering a choice of three Christmas memory packages for guests looking for the perfect way to celebrate the festive season, available Dec. 17-24. Each package offers a range of special benefits and gifts that are sure to make your Christmas one to remember.With the Romantic Memory Packages (215,000 won), guests enjoy one night in the luxury of a deluxe room and receive a bottle of red wine and cheese from room service. For the Joyful Memory Package (265,000 won), guest

Nov. 25, 2011

Ritz-Carlton Seoul offers Christmas packages

The Ritz-Carlton Seoul offers special packages for Dec. 23, 24 and 31 that include the “All Night” package (330,000 won),” “All Together” package (350,000 won) and “All For You” package (450,000 won). “All Night” is great for those who love to party and includes one night in a deluxe room with a balcony, two tickets to Club Eden and a bottle of wine. “All Together” is ideal for creating memories with family members. It includes a one night stay in a superior deluxe room, handmade cookies, a cake

Nov. 25, 2011

California tourism, Asiana provide ‘Oz’ tours

The California Travel & Tourism Commission and Asiana Airlines are together offering the “Travel of Oz, California” package. The package, which includes flight and two nights of accommodation, allows guests to make their own travel plans.For an additional fee, travels can also get rental cars with an automotive navigation system that includes Korean language service. The package is on sale through the end of June 2012 via Hana Tour, Interpark and Onnuri Tour.The California tourism commission off

Nov. 25, 2011

Qantas Airways offers ‘Queen 11’ promotion

Tourism Queensland and Qantas Airlines are together offering the “Queen 11” promotion via major portal sites and online channels. Through the program, visitors can fly to Brisbane with tickets starting from 680,000 won and to Cairns with tickets starting from 780,000 won. The tickets will be on sale through Nov. 30, and trips must be completed by Feb. 29, 2012. The airline currently provides daily services between Seoul and Sydney by code-sharing with Korea’s Asiana Airlines. For more informatio

Nov. 25, 2011

Miami Beach getting ready for Art Basel Dec. 1-4

MIAMI BEACH, Florida (AP) ― Live graffiti painting. A colossal rose bed soaring 6.1 meters high. Early photos of Andy Warhol, a Picasso up for auction and a naked woman living in a pig pen. They’re all part of the lineup for Art Basel Miami Beach, which runs Dec. 1-4, with a host of related events beginning Nov. 30.The pig pen installation will undoubtedly be the most jaw-dropping event at the art fair. Known for photographing herself nude in subway tunnels or in front of graffiti walls, perform

Nov. 25, 2011

Miami Beach getting ready for Art Basel Dec. 1-4