Swim Between Two Tectonic Plates By Talia Avakian

Compiled from BBC

Iceland’s Silfra fissure – a crack between continents formed by the constant pulling apart of two tectonic plates – is a geological wonder. Because of this, it’s become one of the world’s top diving destinations, where divers and snorkelers can literally float between the North American and Eurasian continents; in some of the narrower openings, you can touch both sides at once.

It’s also where you’ll find some of the clearest water in the world, the result of a fascinating natural filtration process where melting waters from the nearby Langjökull glacier filter through porous underground lava for 30 to 100 years before reaching Silfra. With visibility of more than 120m, there’s a clear view of both the breathtaking underwater geography and the emerald algae carpets that illuminate the fissure’s floors.

Silfra’s waters offer four main dive locations: the Big Crack, home to the narrowest (0.5m) and deepest points (45m) of the rift; Silfra Hall, where the fissure widens into a remarkable cave system; Silfra Cathedral,  with its exquisite lava rock walls; and Silfra Lagoon, a favourite for snorkelers, where the algae is at its most vibrant.

Due to its location in Thingvellir National Park, Silfra is protected by the park’s regulations and requires that snorkelers and divers enter the water with a local guide through companies such as DIVE.IS . Most companies offer tours from May through September.

To view the short video clip that captured the stunning images, please go to   

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20140617-swim-between-two-tectonic-plates

Top 10 Winners for Tripadvisor's 2014 Exceptional Service Hotels

1.         Riad Kheirredine in Marrakech, Morocco
2.         Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort in Hopkins, Belize
3.         Akademia Street Boutique Hotel and Guesthouse in Franschhoek,             South Africa
4.         Riad Noir d’Ivoire in Marrakech, Morocco
5.         Hotel Residence Agnes in Prague, Czech Republic
6.         Castlewood House in Dingle, Ireland
7.         The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand
8.         Desert Riviera Hotel in Palm Springs, California
9.         La Maison Arabe in Marrakech, Morocco
10.                         Hotel Villa Steno in Monterosso al Mare, Italy

For the full list of hotels, please go to http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/TravelersChoice-Service-cTop-g1

Weekly Hot Pick for Seoul, Korea

    HOLIDAY INN SEONGBUK SEOUL – 4 Star

     What’s nearby

·                                 Korea University 1.4 km / 0.9 mi

·                                 Gyeongdong Market 2.5 km / 1.6 mi

·                                 Seoul Folk Flea Market 3.3 km / 2 mi

·                                 Sungkyunkwan University 3.9 km / 2.4 mi

·                                 Changgyeong Palace 3.9 km / 2.4 mi

·                                 Dongdaemun Gate 4 km / 2.5 mi

·                                 Doosan Tower 4.2 km / 2.6 mi

·                                 Changgyeonggung Palace 4.2 km / 2.6 mi

·                                 Dongdaemun Market 4.2 km / 2.6 mi

·                                 Changdeok Palace 4.4 km / 2.7 mi

·                                 Gwangjang Traditional Market 4.5 km / 2.8 mi

·                                 Jongmyo Shrine 4.6 km / 2.9 mi

·                                 Tapgol Park 5.2 km / 3.2 mi

·                                 Ssamji gil 5.2 km / 3.2 mi

·                     National Folk Museum 5.3 km / 3.3 mi

     The preferred airport for Holiday Inn Seongbuk Seoul is Seoul (ICN Incheon Intl.) - 54.1 km / 33.6 mi.

    

     Please go to www.hotroomdeals.com for the latest updates.

A Golden Slice of Old Tokyo In Tokyo Nightlife By Kieran Nash

Tokyo is known for its hustle and bustle. The flashing lights and crazy street crossings in the Shibuya and Shinjuku neighbourhoods are enough to make even the most seasoned traveller’s head spin.

However, just a short walk from Shinjuku’s busy centre is a small warren of streets that can transport you to a different dimension. Called Golden Gai (Golden Town), this scruffy low-rise block of six narrow laneways is a world away from the glitz of Tokyo. The historic neighbourhood, roughly the size of a football pitch, is home to about 200 tiny bars, most seating fewer than 10 patrons.

Each nomiya (drinking place) is vastly different to the next, themed to punk rock, French Nouvelle Vague cinema or old Nintendo video games. Shunning the wide roads and large neon billboards that populate the rest of Tokyo’s nightlife districts, Golden Gai’s streets are narrow and crowded, dimly lit and littered with old bikes and oddly decorated signs. It is a cacophony of bohemian paraphernalia that competes for visitors’ attention.

In the first half of the 20th Century, Golden Gai was home to a black market and a haven for prostitutes. Then in the 1960s, its many watering holes helped the neighbourhood form a new identity, attracting artists, musicians, poets and filmmakers. Golden Gai has remained the same ever since, with 80 tenants in the area forming a society to protect the area from development. Because of this resistance to change, many of the two-storey buildings are originals from the 1960s.

Equally original are Golden Gai’s modern-day establishments, with bizarre names like Psychobolic Shadow, Kangaroo Court Decision and Death Match! In Hell. Either some meaning has been lost in translation or the owners are trying to out-baffle English-speaking tourists.

Many of the nomiya are decorated in niche themes. Nana Bar embodies Japan’s fixation with flamenco music, the small space squeezing in guest musicians on a weekly basis. Hair of the Dogs is Golden Gai’s punk bar, which also spins new wave, ska and hardcore tunes.

Cremaster is an art-house haven with a gallery upstairs for local artists to show their works. Albatross G has also been showing local art for 16 years. La Jetee, named after the 1962 Chris Marker sci-fi film, is a gathering place for disciples of French cinema and the Nouvelle Vague movement, while at Bar Plastic Model, punters can wear Mario hats and play old Nintendo 64 video games.

Choosing an unmarked ground-floor doorway and tottering up a flight of frighteningly steep wooden stairs, I took a seat at the bar, rubbing shoulders with the lone patron (with so many tiny doorways, it was hard to tell which nomiya I’d ended up in). Sitting within toasting distance of the bartender, our party of four filling the bar to capacity, we polished off a few carafes of steaming sake while making small talk. Laughing and yelling kanpai! (cheers) was enough to break down the language barrier.

Many travellers come to Tokyo to sample a forward-thinking city resplendent with myriad technical wonders. But in a city that moves as fast as this, it is a comfort to know there is a slice of the old town left.

Practicalities
Because of the limited space, many nomiya charge a seating or entry fee, typically between 300 and 1,000 yen. They will also often refuse service to big or rowdy groups. To find Golden Gai, alight at the Shinjuku train station’s eastern exit and zigzag your way northeast for about 10 minutes until you reach the Hanazono Shrine.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20130729-a-golden-slice-of-old-tokyo

China’s Ancient Capital, Xian, Rises Again By Sheema Mookherjee

Compiled from BBC

As the capital of China’s Shaanxi Province, Xi’an’s long history was aptly summed up by our English-speaking guide: “If Xi’an is the grandmother of cities, Beijing is a youth and Shanghai is just a baby in the womb.”

The first of China’s four great ancient capitals (the other three being Luoyang, Nanjing and Beijing), Xi’an’s hoary past has laid claim to 10 ancient dynasties, the most famous being the Han Dynasty (206BC to 220AD) and the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907AD), during which the city was a booming metropolis as important as Rome.

However, after the decline of Tang power, China’s capital shifted east to Luoyang in 904, and though Xi’an continued to be the eastern limit of the Silk Route, the city never regained its political and cultural significance. Over the years, it lapsed into a provincial city surrounded by semi-arid farmland, and its ancient monuments, monasteries and pagodas suffered serious destruction during the Cultural Revolution excesses of 1966 to 1976.

It was not until 1974, following the chance discovery of the Army of Terracotta Warriors by well-digging farmers, that Xi’an was once again propelled onto the international map. Three decades later, the city has become a major hub for software and service outsourcing, and the local government is pouring funds into the tourism sector. Ancient monuments and museums are being restored, and various replicas of Buddhist and Tang heritage are being constructed to help Chinese tourists rediscover their national heritage.

One of those ancient monuments is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda – Xi’an’s most sacred monument – which was built in 652 by the monk Xuanzang, who travelled across India for 18 years and returned with a precious collection of Buddhist sacred texts. In 1966, the Red Guards burnt the pagoda’s scriptures, silk wall hangings and other relics in a bonfire that raged all night. But that destruction has largely been forgotten as tourists flock to the newly renovated pagoda complex, where elaborate halls and temples venerate the Buddha. The only original remnant – the stark, empty shell of the seven-storey pagoda – lights up at night, standing out in the city's skyline.

Xi’an is also flaunting the glories of the ancient Tang Dynasty, with a 165-acre Tang Paradise Theme Park that is patronised by flocks of tourist groups. Although every bit of this Tang heritage is recreated, it is aesthetically pleasing, landscaped with ponds and lakes, classical gardens, bridges, palaces and pavilions. Explore the vast area on a golf cart, hopping on and off to see abbreviated operas from the Tang Dynasty days, laser shows on the lake, elaborate man-made waterfalls, as well as murals and statues of historical figures, philosophers and poets.

A 36km drive northeast takes you to Xi’an’s most famous attraction, theArmy of Terracotta Warriors. They were commissioned in 221BC by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, who used the forced labour of 700,000 subjects to create a mausoleum guarded by an entire army. Modern visitors can see a small fraction of this underground army (1,900 of an estimated 7,000 warriors), which has been excavated and displayed in three hanger-like halls set amid landscaped lawns. The actual tomb itself has yet to be excavated, but scientists are exploring its contents using remote sensing technology and believe it is crammed with even greater treasures awaiting discovery, including clay figurines of workers, animals, bronze chariots and other items he would have needed in his afterlife.

Heading back to Xi’an, past peach and pomegranate orchards, the landscape becomes dominated by concrete skyscrapers as the city approaches. Incongruously, the ancient City Wall wraps itself seamlessly around the metropolis, one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Started during the Tang Dynasty and later expanded by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), the stone wall extends more than 13.7km and is the most complete city fortification to have survived in China. Constant restoration work keeps it in good shape, and it can be approached through several gates, although the South Gate is the largest and most accessible. Climb up the flight of high stone steps and walk or cycle along the wall, taking in sweeping views of the both ancient and modern city. 

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20131025-chinas-ancient-capital-rises-again

10 Best Things to Do In Seoul By Tripbod Stewart

Bukchon's Hanok Village offers visitors a look at what home life was like in the past. - Photo from Wikimedia Creative Commons

All the best the happening South Korean capital has to offer as recommended by Seoul’s locals.

THE city of Seoul is a fascinating blend of history, modernity, culture and values. The city is all the more amazing when we put into the perspective that Seoul was nothing more than rubble and ashes following the devastating Korean War just a few decades ago. Risen and soaring since then, here’s all the best this happening city has to offer.

1. Mount Bukhan: hiking it up to Seoul’s highest point

The capital city's own Bukhansan (or Mount Bukhan) is the highest peak in Seoul at 836.5m above sea level. - Photo by Mark Zastrow/Wikimedia Creative Commons

With a vast majority of the landscape in South Korea being mountainous, it’s no wonder mountain climbing is an immensely popular sport for Koreans. While the more famous peaks and ranges may be found outside of Seoul, the capital city’s own Bukhansan (or Mount Bukhan) is the highest peak in Seoul at 836.5m above sea level and is a challenging but rewarding climb for veterans and first timers alike.

There are many routes to the different peaks but no matter which one you decide to take, the breathtaking views of Seoul and the surrounding areas on top will be an experience in itself. On the way down, reward yourself at one of the locally operated eateries.

Chilled noodles, kimbap and makgeolli (a fizzy alcoholic rice wine drink) tastes heavenly in the mountain air and you deserve it after a long hike! Mountain climbing is also one of the best ways to experience the kinship and warm camaraderie of Koreans and don’t be surprised if you make new friends on your hike while getting offered snacks and drinks along the way. Be sure to bring plenty of water and dress appropriately.

Ui-dong, Dobong-gu & Gangbuk-gu, Seoul-si

+82-2-909-0497

www.knps.or.kr

2. Dragon Hill Spa: relax and wash away your stress

Just like the famous saunas of the Scandinavian countries, Korea has its own upgraded version of bath and relaxation centres called jjimjilbangs. These establishments are found all over Seoul and are popular with the young and old alike and will usually bring in a mix of families, couples and friends.

Once you pay the inexpensive fee, you’ll be given keys to your locker and a set of cotton T-shirt and shorts to change into. Once you change into the uniforms (in separate men and women’s sides) and lock your clothes and belongings in your locker, grab a towel and follow the signs to the shared common area, which will be nice and toasty!

From here, choose from a multitude of rooms to enter and sweat it out with varying temperatures and properties (salt room, jade room, charcoal room, etc) each of which is supposed to provide a unique health benefit. In between the different rooms you can relax and watch TV, lull on the many floor mats scattered around or grab a snack and refreshing drink from the cafeteria.

Once you’re done sweating it out, go back to your locker room area, peel off your sweaty uniforms and go soak in the many different tubs and saunas. If you want the real experience, pay a small fee and get yourself a scrub from one of the professional scrubbers and watch as all your dead and dirty skin goes down the drain leaving you squeaky clean from head to toe.

40, Hangang-daero 21na-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

+82-2-792-0001

www.dragonhillspa.co.kr

3. Noryangjin Wholesale Fish Market: seafood at its freshest and finest

This immense wholesale seafood market is one of Korea’s largest and can trace its origins back some 80 plus years. Shops are lined up in row after row with tanks filled with almost every living thing there is from the sea - and all caught fresh! Survey what you’re looking for, compare prices, haggle and pay and you’ll soon have, in your hands, some of the freshest seafood you can get in Seoul.

While raw sashimi fish, fish stew and shellfish are common and popular items, you can be adventurous and try out unique items such as sea squirt, raw small octopus, sea cucumbers and more. Don’t worry about getting your hands dirty as your seller will prepare your purchased seafood according to how you want it. You can even choose to eat it there at the fish market as your shop will prepare and/or cook your seafood and serve it to your party with all the fixings for a small flat fee.

688, Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul

+82-2-814-2211

www.susansijang.co.kr

4. Sinsa’s Garosugil: shop like the locals do

While Myeongdong on the north side of the Han River may be the popular destination for tourists to get their shopping fix, Seoul’s fashionable residents will be spotted in Sinsa’s Garosugil getting their shopping done.

The street features a number of boutique shops and independent stores selling everything in the latest trending styles and accessories. You’ll want to dress your best while you’re here as seemingly everyone looks as though they stepped out of a fashion magazine.

It’s also a great place to people watch and to get a grasp of what’s the in style and ‘look’ in Seoul at the moment. In between shopping, there are plenty of popular eateries and coffee shops to get you rejuvenated for even more retail therapy.

Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul-si

+82-2-2104

www.hellostreet.net

5. Han River Park: countless fun along the river

To escape the hustle and bustle of the urban life, the various Han River parks offer activities for all ages and interests. - Photo from Wikimedia Creative Commons

To escape the hustle and bustle of the urban life, the various Han River parks offer activities for all ages and interests. Bike paths are found all over to satisfy cycling enthusiasts as are jogging paths for runners looking to get their exercise in with a great view along the river.

Various playgrounds and plenty of grassy fields make the parks popular for families with young children while bike rental services, duck boat rentals and other services make the parks popular with couples. As the sun sets in warmer seasons, friends and families can be seen laying out picnic blankets and enjoying conversation and food.

And with Korea’s unrivalled food delivery system, one can order anything – from fried chicken and beer to pizza – to be delivered quickly to where you are and with no delivery fee.

40, Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul

+82-2-3780

www.hangan.seoul.go.kr/eng

6. Bukchon Hanok Village: a glimpse of traditional Korea

Seoul’s skyline is a bit uninspired and mostly dotted with high-rise apartment buildings. But for a glimpse of traditional Seoul, Bukchon’s Hanok Village offers visitors a look at what home life was like in the past.

These simple yet highly efficient and beautiful traditional homes were the centre of the importantly regarded family life in Korea’s Confucian culture, and the simple and tranquil beauty of these homes can be enjoyed in a picturesque setting in this village.

Many of the hanok buildings here have been renovated into eateries, tea shops, stores and more, offering visitors a perspective from the inside as well. Homestays in a hanok home here are another popular and unique option for visitors.

105 Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

+82-2-3707

www.bukchon.seoul.go.kr/eng/index.jsp

7. Gwangjang Market: eating and shopping at Seoul’s oldest market

Established in 1905, Gwangjang Market holds some 5,000 independent shops and vendors. - Photo from Wikimedia Creative Commons

Established in 1905, this traditional market holds some 5,000 independent shops and vendors selling everything from silk to satin and high quality hanbok (traditional Korean clothing). The goods are all high quality yet at a fraction of prices elsewhere, due to many of the shops being wholesale vendors and some even owning the factories where the goods are produced.

After marvelling at and getting lost in the maze of shops, make your way over to the market’s central ground level where countless stalls, shops and vendors will sell all sorts of traditional Korean bites from blood sausages to spicy rice cakes and more.

Particularly famous is the bindaeddeok, a savoury pancake made from ground mung beans, vegetables and meat, fried and served piping hot. Enjoy it with a bottle or two of makgeolli, a fizzy alcoholic rice wine drink, and get more than your belly’s fill for a very cheap price. The setting is as rustic and authentic as you can get!

88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

+82-2-2267-0291

www.kwangjangmarket.co.kr

8. Tea and art at Kyungin Museum of Fine Art

Coffee may be the rage for Koreans these days but tea and tea culture has been a part of Korean culture for centuries and the Kyungin Museum of Fine Art is a wonderful place to enjoy tea in a beautiful environment.

The renovated traditional Korean home not only serves a variety of seasonal and unique Korean teas but also houses a small art gallery with exhibitions rotated frequently. The tranquil and beautiful outdoor garden changes in look and feel by season and by the time of the day, so it’s well worth making a return trip in the future.

The museum’s location in an alley off the main busy road of Insadong makes it a perfect escape to clear one’s mind and calm your spirits over a nice cup of fine tea.

11-4 Insa-dong 10Gill, Jongro-Gu, Seoul

+82-733-4448

www.kyunginart.co.kr/English/e-main.htm

9. Fine Art at the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art

This private museum is often overlooked by visitors but is well worth a visit for one of the best art collections in Korea. The museum is well organized and easy to navigate with plenty of English explanations and audio guides available to purchase.

Beautiful traditional and modern/contemporary Korean art take centre stage here while the rotating special exhibits are frequently lauded by local art critics. The architecture of the two museum buildings is also a crowd pleaser, having been designed by renowned architects Mario Botta and Jean Nouvel.

747-18, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-890

+82-2014-6900

www.leeum.samsungfoundation.org/html_eng/global/main.asp

10. Itaewon Nightlife: burgeoning nightlife centre of Seoul

Though long been dogged with a shady reputation, the Itaewon district has undergone a renaissance in recent years and is now one of Seoul's most popular eating and drinking spots. - Photo by S/Sgt Stull/Wikimedia Creative Commons

Though long been dogged with a shady reputation, the Itaewon district has undergone a renaissance in recent years and is now one of Seoul’s most popular eating and drinking spots. While the international cuisine and diverse demographics make Itaewon a fun enough place to be during the day, it’s the nightlife here which has truly exploded onto the scene, challenging traditional nightlife hotspots such as Gangnam and Hongdae.

Trendy lounge bars, such as Between, fill up fast as the sun begins to set and expect long lines for the area’s most popular clubs, such as B1, on weekends. Even if a loud and bumping club isn’t your scene, there are plenty of other lounges, bars and clubs catering to different crowds, music tastes and more to fit the bill so you and your friends can party like the locals do – to the wee hours of the morning.

124-7 Itaewondong, Yongsangu, Seoul, Korea 140-200

02-795-6164

www.betweenitaewon.com

– Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.net)

http://www.thestar.com.my/Travel/Asia/2014/04/25/10-best-things-to-do-in-Seoul/

News Flash! Signs to Include English Words In Japan

Compiled from The Star

Speaking the same language on the streets of Japan

A massive translation operation is underway in Japan to help English-speaking visitors find their way around. -AFP

Getting around in Japan will now be easier for those who don't speak Japanese. 

English speakers in Japan will find it easier to navigate their way around the country, now that the transport ministry has mandated that street signs be translated into English.

In response to visitor complaints of poor, inconsistent or the complete absence of translations, the Japanese Government has made it mandatory for signs to include English words for important reference points.

Words like station, airport, city hall, hospital and river, for example, will be written out in English, reports The Japan Times.

Likewise, instead of relying on the catch-all phrase dori, streets will be identified as avenue, street or boulevard for clarification.

The exception to the rule will be the word onsen, the Japanese word for hot springs, which will remain unchanged as the Japanese Government figures it’s a universal word understood by all.

Translations in multiple languages are also being considered for museums, parks, tourist sites and public transportation. — AFP Relaxnews

http://www.thestar.com.my/Travel/Asia/2014/06/28/Speaking-the-same-language/