[HanCinema's Digest] Travel Bug Bites

Published on 2018/02/18

10 Magazine tags 7 "Insta-worthy" cafes in Daegu, Korea Exposé has some tips to help you avoid any travel woes during the Winter Games, this Trump-theme hotel in South Jeolla Province has prison bars, and these books on South Korea are the perfect travel companions.

"7 INSTA-WORTHY CAFES IN DAEGU YOU NEED TO VISIT RIGHT NOW"

Located in south-eastern Korea, the city of Daegu is home to over 2.5 million people, making it one of Korea's largest metropolitan areas. It was also the economic engine that helped build the country in the 60s to the 80s, and it is still a key sector for Korea's electronics industry-but how are its cafes? It turns Insta-snappy tourists are in luck: "Korea is famous for its kimchi, kpop stars, and instagram-worthy cafes", writes Ashley Berg on 10 Magazine, "While there are many famous cafes found in the capital, Seoul, there are at least 7 cafes worthy of your Instagram feed waiting for you in Daegu".

...READ ON 10 MAGAZINE

"Travel Guide: How Difficult Is It Really, Getting to Pyeongchang?"

The South Korean government and event organisers have put a considerable effort into making navigating in and around the host city of PyeongChang a breeze, but even then it's possible to get suck. This was the recent experience of Everen Brown, an "Olympic Superfan" who got somewhat stranded heading back to Gangneung recently. In this piece on Korea Expose, Raphael Rashid relived the journey from Incheon International to the Olympic venues with Brown (who doesn't speak English)-"Spoiler alert: Traveling wasn't easy"-and has these useful travel tips to help you avoid a similar predicament.

...READ ON KOREA EXPOSE

"South Korea has a 'Trump' motel with prison cells"

After typing "Trump" into Korea's Daum Map, Jon Dunbar discovered a Facebook page for a "muintel" ("where guests check in through machine rather than with a person, intended to reduce costs and maximize guest privacy"). Located in South Jeolla Province, the so-called 'Trump Hotel' has prison cell themed rooms; "Trump bathrobes, Trump bed sheets, Trump hairdryer and, of course, the prison bars", writes Jon on The Korea Times. "They were real metal and if you brought your own padlock you could lock someone in there. I imagined waking up in the morning to find myself locked in". Despite this bazaar setting, Jon reports that his time at the Trump Hotel was "tied for the most pleasant stay I've had in Korea".

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Top 10 books about South Korea"

Books and travel are a great pairing, between Point A and Point B there is often a sea of time that people point to when they say, "it's about the journey, not the destination". So why not use some of that time to emerge yourself in the ideas, stories and history of the country you're venturing to and through? In this post on The Guardian, author Mary Lynn Bracht ("White Chrysanthemum") lists ten great books about South Korea. After its massive international success, many international readers are now familiar with award-winning author Han Kang ("Vegetarian"), but the country boasts a depth of literary talent and this list is the perfect place to continue exploring the wonderful world of K-literature. "The country has a strong literary tradition, and with increasing interest in the country, translations of Korean works into other languages have given the rest of the world the chance to view it through the eyes and words of its own people".

...READ ON THE GUARDIAN