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PARïY Holland p^.-,- r .

TRAVEL SEOUL

gourmands will discover, this is a city builtfor dining out and the only problem you'llhave is running out of time to sample

everything. Many first-time visitors to

Seoul find Korean cuisine a taste sensation

which goes waybeyond the usual

expectations of non-stop kimchi (pickled

cabbage). Most restaurants will reduce the

chilli content oftheir food out ofrespect

for less fire-resistant palates, and a

multitude of great non-Korean restaurants

are on hand to give overspiced digestive

systems a welcome break.

Fo[ Sang Kim, u PR -unager at the

National Theater ofKorea, nothing beats a

rneal of galbí, or Korean barbecued meat.

"Galbiis one of Korea's most popular

dishes," he explains. "Strips of marinated

beefor pork are cooked on a charcoal grillat your table. These are then wrapped in a

lettuce leaf and dipped in ssamjang, a sauce

made of fermented bean curd and red

peppers. Wash everything down with a few

bottles oflocal Cass beer and you're all set

for a top evening.""People are surprised by the eciectic

range of cuisine available in Seoul now"explains Michael Spavor of the Seoul

Tourism Organization. "I recommend

visitors mix it up - try some Korean dishes

and check out a couple of Western

establishments too. A meal at Pierre

Gagnaire's followed by some drinks in the

bar next door is one really romantic

option. Those with a head for heights can

then take the cable car up nearby NamMountain (Namsan) and go up the NSeoul Tower for panoramic cityviews."

Another Seoul venue that makes a

great night out in itself is NoryangjinMarket, with over 700 shops selling a

cornucopia of marine produce.

"Noryangjin is my favorite location forpartying," says Revere. "First you choose

your dinner live from a bubbling tank, and

this is then sent to a restaurant ofyour

5? Holland HeÍald PARrY

ABOVE: A 5tÍEEtÍood vendorRlcHT. SpicV seaÍoodsalad at ChungdamAnn soiubangABOVE RICHT, Sinqingthe night awav at the5oo Noraebang inHongdaeFAR RICHTI Themulticoloured hues oÍthe N seoul ToweÍ

choice for preparation and cooking.

Seafood lovers adore this place.

"On any given night you'll walk into a

smoky, noisy Noryangjin restaurant

packed wall-to-wall with people of all ages

enjoying a meal," he continues. "It's

unbeatable for atmosphere. Koreans are so

friendly they'll probably invite you over toshare a beer or two, and, ifyou're lucky,

maybe even some live octopus tentacles."

"We Koreans love anyone who takes an

interest in our country," explains Surh

"People are surprised bythe eclectic range of cuisine

Seoul now"available in

Yoo-Nah. "Most younger people speak at

least some English, so you'll find someone

who'll befriend you day or night. This is

part of what makes Seoul so special."

. Seoul is divided by the Han River, the

languid waters of which are crossed by a

multitude of bridges (be sure to witness

the spectacular 10,000-nozzie fountain on

Banpo Bridge). On the southern side,

overlooked by the gleaming contours ofthe golden 63 Building, lies the ritzyGangnam District.

TRAVEL SEOUL

"Gangnam is classy with prices to match,"

says Revere. "The nightlife, however, is

unrivalled. All the beautiful people hang outhere, and ifyou're looking for the trendiest

clubs with the hottest people, this is the place."

One popular Cangnail bêr and

restaurant is the Baekseju Village, which offers

a range of more than 20 traditional Korean

wines. In a twist on the norm, food is carefullyselected to match the alcohol, and given the

fact that baekseju (literally'100 years wine') is

said to promote longevity, drinkers can

indulge in some first-rate liquor and reverse

the aging process simultaneously.

Another Gangnam area bar with an

innovative take on Korean alcohol is the

Chungdam Ann Sojubang, which serves up

cocktails made with soju,Korea's answer tovodka, in hollowed-out fruit. Long nights inGangnam usually end up in one of the area's

hip nightclubs, such as Club Mass and the RitzCarlton Hotel's Club Eden.

Those in search of more highbrowentertainment can stop by Gangnam's jazz

venue Once In A Blue Moon. Or more

traditional alternatives include the spectacular

music and dance show Mlso, put on at the

Chongdong Theater, and pansod (Korean

opera) at the National Theater ofKorea.From taekwondo classes, amusement parks

and baseball batting cages by day to supping,

swigging and shaking bynight, Seoul has

options galore for even the most energy-filled

visitor. Ifyou're dropping in on the city thatnever sleeps, you might find the plane ride

home is the best option for catching a nap. 44

PARrY Holland Herald 5 3