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- Ice skating at the beach?
- Google launches Indoor Maps
- Disneyland brings the Wild West to Hong Kong
- Chinese wine company to build a 'wine city' in Shandong
- 10 of the world’s best fresh markets
- How to feed a hungry diplomat: An old-fashioned Korean dinner with the U.S. ambassador
| Posted: 05 Jul 2012 11:41 PM PDT When it comes to beach sports, ice-skating is one of the last things that comes to mind. But that's exactly what you can expect to see at Sydney's world-famous Bondi Beach from now until July 15 as part of the annual winter festival. Now in its fourth year, entry to the festival is free and, aside from the skating, there's a seasonally appropriate range of food and drink options to choose from. For starters, there's the Alpine Hut -- an après-ski-themed bar with an open fireplace and sofas -- which serves European winter cuisine, schnapps and mulled wine. There's also live music on the weekends. At the slightly-less-fancy Chai Tent, festivalgoers can drink free chai latte while sitting in front of a picture of a fireplace, or they can gorge themselves on German sausages, doughnuts and pizza at the fast-food stalls outside. read more     |
| Posted: 05 Jul 2012 10:31 PM PDT Google claims to have found a solution to that embarrassing moment when you can't find your way to the nearest bathroom or the lingerie section of a department store. We could leave it at simply mentioning the name of the new app -- Google Indoor Maps -- because that pretty much tells you everything you need to know. But if you still have 58 minutes of your lunch break to go, here's more. The new app, for Android products only, will help you find your way to the nearest toilet, coffee shop, airport gate, movie theater or train platform, among others, in certain places. All you need to do is launch Google Maps on your mobile device, enable the "my location" feature and search for whatever you want within the building. read more    |
| Disneyland brings the Wild West to Hong Kong Posted: 05 Jul 2012 06:52 PM PDT by Daisy Liu Ever wanted to experience the Wild West but just can't find a time-travel machine for a good price? Hong Kong Disneyland could be your answer. As part of its US$468 million expansion plan, the park will open the Grizzly Gulch themed area on July 14, 2012, featuring Wild West-themed attractions such as runaway mine cars, colorful erupting geysers and a wagon show. Like the Big Thunder Railroad in Magic Kingdom in Florida, the new area's Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars are a key attraction. The ride is a terrain-style roller coaster that twists through the Grizzly Gulch area. It sends up to 24 riders on a clattering run through the Big Grizzly Mountain, hits heights of up to 27 meters and even goes backwards. read more    |
| Chinese wine company to build a 'wine city' in Shandong Posted: 05 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT by CNNGo staff Changyu (张裕), one of China's major winemakers, is planning to build an "international wine city" in Yantai, Shandong Province, reported Chinanews.com (in simplified Chinese only). Dubbed "Yantai Changyu International Wine City," the project is expected to cover an area of four square kilometers -- twice the size of Monaco -- and cost RMB 6 billion (US$945 million) to build. The plan was uncorked by Changyu's general manager Zhou Hongjiang (周洪江) during the company's 120th anniversary gala. The new venture is also expected to launch China's first 5A-class scenic spot in wine tourism as, according to Zhou, the "winetropolis" will include a 200,000-square-meter wine-themed tourist town. The wine city is due to be completed in 2016 but the company is yet to announce when the project will break ground. read more    |
| 10 of the world’s best fresh markets Posted: 05 Jul 2012 11:10 AM PDT Green markets, farmers' markets, fresh markets, wet markets -- whatever you call them, these are the places that make Walmart, Tesco and other supermarket chains look like crimes against cuisine. Often centuries old but full of freshness, markets are usually packed with dozens of vendors and worth visiting even if you have no intention of cooking anything yourself on your vacation. 1. La Boqueria: Barcelona, Spain
It's home to fishmongers, butchers, cheesemongers, greengrocers and dozens of small charcuterie shops specializing in Spanish hams and cured meats. With an entrance off busy La Rambla, La Boqueria is a popular spot to stop for lunch. read more    |
| How to feed a hungry diplomat: An old-fashioned Korean dinner with the U.S. ambassador Posted: 05 Jul 2012 09:30 AM PDT by Frances Cha Even though they're aware of U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim's Korean background (he's ethnically Korean and was born in Seoul), most people don't know that Kim is bilingual -- probably because local television usually shows him speaking impassively about North Korea in English. The 51-year-old career diplomat is also partial to Korean soul food, and has been happily rediscovering old haunts and new favorites when he finds snatches of time in between official duties. Kim knows quite a few spots, some dating to an earlier posting at the U.S. Embassy in Korea from 2002-2006. He returned as ambassador in November 2011. "One of the best parts about being ambassador to Korea is the food," he says emphatically. "Especially the simple, homey kind." Where the ambassador eats We're at a well-known kimchi-jjigae restaurant for dinner -- what better place to quiz Ambassador Kim about his favorite restaurants? -- a tiny joint called Jangho Wang Gopchang in Seodaemun, near Fraser Place. Our party of seven squeezes around two small, worn aluminum tables. We're all wearing aprons -- pink for the women, blue stripes for the men. Despite its ramshackle appearance, the restaurant is one of the most popular kimchi-jjigae places in the city. Battalions of office workers usually start lining up around 11:30 a.m. for lunch (until 2 p.m.) and again during dinner hours. "I like walking around this neighborhood -- I've seen the long lines at this place and always wondered what it was," says Kim. The first round is gopchang -- chewy, juicy grilled beef intestines. The silver-haired ambassador is taller and thinner than he looks on television and our party decides we need to fatten him up, so we tell the waitress to direct most of the intestines his way. Gopchang's kimchi-jjigae is legendary. While the gopchang is delicious, the ambassador seems impatient. "I'm really looking forward to the kimchi-jjigae," he says, rubbing his hands together. "The main event!" When it finally comes, he makes sure to order more ramen sari. "Kimchi-jjigae is just not the same without it," he says as he takes the ladle. More on CNNGo: 40 Korean foods we can't live without Favorites Ambassador Kim says his favorite Seoul restaurant is Gaetmaeul (갯마을), a mandu guk (dumpling soup) place in Ichon-dong. "I am also very sentimental about this wonderful kalguksu place called Guksijip (국시집) in Sungbuk," he says. He also recommends a pojangmacha in Itaewon called Budeulgol Story (버들골이야기) for its dubu kimchi. While he loves to travel around the country, his trips are usually taken up with work. He plans to explore more in the near future. He recently visited the Gangwon province, and recommends the Haslla Art World Museum Hotel in Gangneung. "It's an interesting little boutique hotel that has a gallery and uses art concepts in its architecture," he says. "It was a fun visit. You should check it out." More on CNNGo: It's official: Korea's 50 most unique hotels Props to soju  Waiting impatiently for the kimchi-jjigae. When the waitress finally brings out the kimchi-jjigae, we clink soju glasses while sweating profusely over the steam. "For Korean food, soju is the best," he says. "I realize that the more I eat Korean food. I've grown quite fond of soju." More on CNNGo: Jinro soju is the world's best-selling liquor Guksijip (국시집); 9 Seungbuk-dong 1-ga, Seungbuk-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 성북구 성북동1가 9); +82 2 762 1924 Jangho Wang Gopchang (장호왕곱창); 6-16 Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 순화동 6-16); +82 2 756 5070; www.janghoking.co.kr Gaetmaeul (갯마을); 65-550 Hangang-ro 2-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 한강로2가 65-550); +82 2 795 2277 More on CNNGo: 10 best Korean restaurants in Seoul read more    |
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