The ultimate bathing experience

For travelers who have a bit of time to check out Hungary, thermal baths, the biggest and most famous in Europe, are the snapshot of society and the people there. Asian countries like Korea and Japan also share the culture of thermal bathing. While taking a hot spring bath is now more favored by elderly people for special occasions in Asia, there are no age, gender or social barriers at Hungarian baths. During my weeklong stay in Hungary, I visited two most famous thermal baths in the country: t

Oct. 24, 2014

Hidden treasures of Hungary

Aside from the bustling capital city of Budapest, Hungary is still little known to many Asian tourists who are frequent travelers to European cities.With the aim to reveal the country’s hidden treasures, the Hungarian Embassy to Korea recently offered a group of Korean journalists a rare opportunity to look around several small cities there. In reflection of the agency’s strong will to show more about the country, the weeklong schedule was packed with diverse but brief programs, but it was long

Oct. 24, 2014

Coastal beauty, adventure abound in Wales

As the weather turns colder and the leaves fall, many of us begin to plan our spring holidays and think of the days when everything will be bright and blooming again. If the thoughts of adventure, nature, a unique culture and history, good food and warm people make you want to book a trip ― why not think Wales? A tiny country surrounded by its better-known neighbors, England, Scotland and Ireland, Wales is a part of the United Kingdom but has a heritage and language all its own. Fear not, non-We

Oct. 17, 2014

Autumn shows true colors in northeastern Pennsylvania

BENTON, Pennsylvania ― Fresh air and blue skies are easy tonics for the stressed-out city life. Still, I was in a pretty foul mood when I rolled into Ricketts Glen State Park in this scenic, woodsy corner of northeastern Pennsylvania.Equally distracted by my growling stomach and the country tunes wailing on my car radio, I’d missed the rustic carved-wood entrance sign opposite Red Rock Scoops ice cream shop on Route 118. Google Maps had vaporized along with my cellphone service and, seriously, w

Oct. 17, 2014

Colorful, multicultural Curacao flavors Dutch roots with Caribbean flair

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao ― It looks like Amsterdam. Or a little bit like South Beach in Miami.With its waterfront and fairy tale-colored colonial buildings, Willemstad shares some similarities with the Dutch city and South Florida. But Willemstad is very Caribbean.It became a Dutch trading center in 1634 because of its natural harbor, one of the prettiest anywhere in the Caribbean.A long channel, Sint Sannabaai, divides the Punda (the point) area on the east bank and the Otrobanda (the other side) ne

Oct. 10, 2014

A Closer Look: What map apps can do for you

CHICAGO (AP) ― Many people use smartphone apps to map their drive to dinner or find a less-congested route to work. But did you know that you can use them for public transit, too? You can even access some maps offline, when you have a spotty connection or are in the subway.Here’s a look at what leading free map apps can do for you, whatever mode of transportation you choose:Bumper to bumper Most major map apps show you current traffic conditions. The best guide you toward a little-known shortcut

Oct. 10, 2014

[Herald Interview] ‘Pilgrimage in memory of engineer father’

The Chosun Hotel, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, holds a significant place in the modern history of Korea. It was one of the first modern buildings in Seoul, and served as a temporary residence for presidents, diplomats, businessmen and scholars, who created links between Korea and the outside world after the country opened up in the early 1900s. For Sandra Huet, the hotel has a personal meaning. It’s the place that keeps her memories of her father alive. Huet’s father George

Oct. 9, 2014

Chinese tourist spending boosts economy

Hundreds of Chinese tourists crammed in front of Korean cosmetics brand counters at Lotte Duty Free Shop in Eulji-ro, Seoul, on Tuesday, the last day of their “Golden Week” of holidays that marks China’s National Day. Leaving little room to walk between the counters, female tourists indulged in the last shopping spree of their vacation. The Chinese National Day holiday, which runs from Oct. 1-7, is a peak time for shops in popular tourist spots such as Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun and Insa-dong. Tens

Oct. 8, 2014

[Weekender] Natural wonders of Jeju

Every fall, Jejudo invites visitors to take part in a walking festival to explore the island’s fascinating landscape through the popular Olle walking trails.This year’s Jeju Olle Walking Festival, scheduled for Nov. 6-8, takes visitors to oreum (volcanic cones), unique rock formations and a white sand beach dotted along three of the 21 Jeju Olle walking trails. The trails lead to every nook and cranny of the island and reveal unspoiled natural wonders. Visitors witness stunning landscapes formed

Sept. 26, 2014

Learning how to survive a plane crash

LONDON (AP) ― They raced down the slide, one by one, like children at a playground. At the bottom, smartphone photos were snapped and high fives exchanged. The frequent fliers were all smiling and laughing ― and quietly hoping to never use an evacuation slide again. Doing so would mean their plane had just crashed. The slide demonstration was part of a half-day safety course that encourages passengers to be aware of their surroundings and familiarize themselves with what happens in an emergency.

Sept. 26, 2014

Cycling France’s Loire Valley

CHAUMONT-SUR-LOIRE, France (AP) ― There are hundreds of kilometers of bike trails through the chateaux towns of the Loire Valley ― and that’s what tripped us up. We’d been trying to cycle the 27 kilometers from Chenonceaux to Chaumont, but kept getting lost. We even asked directions from a passing motorist who was certain she knew which way the bike route went, then sent us to the wrong town. Now we were at a Y-intersection on the outskirts of Chaumont, facing two green-and-white bike path signs

Sept. 26, 2014