Food Trip and My Favorite Korean Barbecue

Food is one of mankind's greatest pleasures.

One of the best things about travelling is the chance to appreciate and savor authentic cuisines from different places visited. I am not much of an adventurer in food but I do have a big appetite for delectable cuisines that have a delightful blend of flavors and spices that sure to excite my taste buds and just hit the right notes to summon my stomach to rumble for a new found craving!

Having visited several places, I had tried varieties of food and every experience was always a challenge for me. Different countries have different specialties; some are hot and spicy, oily or less oily, sweet, sour, bitter, you name all descriptive words your taste buds will tell you and you are sure to be confronted with a whole lot of food adventure when you travel to various places in the world.

I do not spoil my travel by just getting into any fast food restaurant. I always embolden myself to try out diverse flavors, even if my taste bud says no, only to get myself challenge and the bragging rights, of course! Asian cuisines are always a challenge to me. China offers food that are greasy, less appetizing to some extent, but tea is really abundant in this country in which you can enjoy a free flow when dining in any of their restaurants. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia on the other hand share almost the same blend of flavors, a mix of herbs and spices ranging from extra hot and spicy to moderately flavored ones, a variety which includes, steamed, stir-fried and deep-fried cuisines. Travelling to these countries is really a food adventure I will never forget!

Just recently, I visited Korea and my craving was up for a challenge once again and I could not help but be so thrilled about it! When we talk of Korea, what comes to our mind almost instantly? As for me, it is Kimchi. Indeed, it is and it seems that it has become Korea's trademark. And, honestly, I am not a fan of it. So this was where my character caved in. Kimchi just did not tickle my taste buds and I was really disappointed about it.

A picture of the side dishes 

Korean food stands out from other cuisines with many side dishes or 'banchan' in Korean term, that are served during meals. So when you eat at a Korean restaurant, your various banchan will be served in small bowls beforehand on the table and throughout your meal. Sad to say, my side dishes are always left uneaten. And, although the soups and stews are served hot during meals, the side dishes are served at a room temperature or cold on some occasions. Rice is the backbone of every meal, steam-cooked to really achieved a good-some experience of healthy dining.

Learning to make kimchi 

Kimchi is actually a fermented vegetable dish made with Nappa cabbage, daikon or sometimes cucumber, brine of ginger, garlic, scallions and chili pepper. It is a preserved cabbage in short. Koreans have perfected the art of preserving food for a thousand of years now, and kimchi along with other side dishes served during Korean meals are a range of pickled, salted, or fermented variety and many are spicy. Koreans traditionally make enough kimchi to last for winter season. I had the chance of learning how to make one during my visit to Korea. It seemed easy to make: Just spread the prepared seasoning onto each leaf and on both sides of Nappa cabbage, fold the entire bunch and tie it with one of the leaves, then it's good to go. 

Enjoying my Korean BBQ in Jeju

Koreans generally use less oil and more spices in their cooking. Korean barbecue is my favorite fare. It is called 'Bulgogi', a grilled Korean dish consists of marinated beef although chicken or pork may also be used. The thin slices of beef are marinated with a mixture of Korean soy sauce, sesami oil, garlic and other ingredients such as scallions or mushrooms.

Usually when dining out for a Korean barbecue buffet at any of Korea's restaurants, the rules of engagement are simple: Remove your shoes at the doorstep, take a place at one of the low communal tables, routinely poke the sizzling strips of marinated beef with the metal chopsticks and call to replenish your bowl with the marinated beef as much as you want and as many times as you desire. It's a really good-some affair you will certainly enjoy for the rest of your meal.

Bulgogi (beef) tried in one of Seoul's restaurant

Bulgogi (pork) along with the various side dishes tried from Jeju

At a traditional restaurant, meats are cooked at the center of the table over a charcoal grill surrounded by various banchan and individual rice bowls. The marinated meats are then grilled and wrapped with fresh lettuce leaves. You can add some rice, thinly sliced garlic and other seasonings found on the table and voila, your bulgogi is ready for a bite! Hmmm! Yum! 

There are really so many things that travel can offer you. Aside from wandering around the marvelous places in a particular country and learning about its culture and traditions, you will also get to explore interesting food discovery and a whole lot of food adventure.  

Snow in East Texas

D and her friend made a big snowball - mostly with snow from the pad on the trampoline.

They turned their big snowball into a snowbunny/snowman.

C needed to mow the snow. He's a mowing man!

Well, it wasn't quite the blizzard we'd hoped for, but we got out and played in it anyhow!

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Located in northern Seoul, South Korea, Gyeongbokgung is a rather picturesque palace more so compared than the Forbidden City in Beijing, in my opinion. It looks newer than the ones found in Forbidden City mainly because of the restoration done to bring it to its former glory. Gyeongbokgung means 'Palace of Shining Happiness' and the name speaks for itself. It is one of the main and largest palaces of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The palace is also a good representation of traditional Korean design and architecture. Having been destroyed and restored several times, the historical integrity of the palace may be disputable but it is an admirable oasis away from the hustle and bustle of modern Seoul. The architectural buildings you'll find in this palace are just magnificently gorgeous and the restored paintwork on the eaves are absolutely stunning.

The above picture is the Geunjeongjeon or the Throne Hall which is constructed mainly of wood and sits on the center of a large rectangular courtyard, on top of a two-tiered stone platform lined with intricate 'balustrades' and adorned with numerous sculptures depicting imaginary and real animals such as dragons and phoenixes. This main hall was where the king formally granted audiences to his officials, greeted foreign envoys and ambassadors and gave declaration of national significance during the Joseon Dynasty.

The Throne Hall with me at the fore ground..

Snow on the ground...

Reminiscing Forbidden City...

Gyeongbokgung Palace was completed in 1935, three years after the founding of the Joseon Dynasty by Yi Seong-gye which also paved the way to the movement of the capital of the new dynasty from Gaegyeong to Hanyang (now known as Seoul). During the Japanese occupation, the palace was actually destroyed by fire along with most of other palaces; only a few buildings including Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Geunjeongjeon Hall were left standing. Gyeongbokgung was reconstructed in 1868 and since then continued effort had been ongoing to fully restore the glory of this palace. The colonial Government-General building was removed, making way for the full restoration of Henggryemun Gate to its original state as well as the royal quarters and the East residence for the crown prince.



Give Gyeongbukgong palace a visit when you are in Seoul. This is definitely the best and the grandest palace to explore when you are in the country's capital, more so now that some of its original structures have already been reestablished and bring back to its former state.

Batu Caves

Located at Gombak district, Selangor Malaysia, 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, is a limestone hill with a series of caves and cave temples - the most popular Hindu shrine outside India. This is my ultimate Selangor discovery on my road trip to Malaysia on the Christmas day of 2010. This road trip is quite unrelated to the Christmas occasion but since it's a holiday, a stroll to any place is a reward! With the world's tallest statue of Murugan, standing at 42.7 meter high at the entrance to this attraction, Batu Caves is nowhere difficult to find in the state of Selangor. Spot that magnificent gold statue and you know you are at the right place!

To reach the cave, you have to climb 272 steeply steps towards the top. Climbing up the concrete stairs is nowhere near as bad as it seems. Sure you get a little tired but it's nothing that a normal person wouldn't do. Hold on to the side railings if you feel like falling backwards though. You will meet playful macaque monkeys along the stairwells. But, stay alert as they can be very territorial and they grab anything they find attractive that you are holding or dangling from your bag. They are actually adorable and fun to take photos with but quite disconcerting too when you are trying to navigate your way to the top and way down below.

We're friends.. surprising!

Adorable...

Once you reach the top you enter a massive cavern then through that you can get to this open cave which has about a hundred meter high ceiling and some Hindu ornaments smack at the sides or walls of the cave which I believe is the Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, the biggest among the caves found in Batu Caves attraction. The place is supposedly for worship and a focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia but I'm surprised that it has now become a tourist attraction and somewhat tatty, lacking of regular maintenance and rubbish piles up everywhere. The people here should look into this problem and try to find a solution to maintain the entire appearance of this place. This is just the downside of this attraction. But overall, it is a nice discovery I have had during my road trip and an excellent way to introduce my readers to an attraction they can probably consider visiting other than the majestic view of the Malaysia's landmark, the Petronas Towers.

Inside the cave...

Hindu ornaments inside the cave...

Thank you for reading and I hope you'll give Batu Caves attraction a go when visiting the state of Selangor in Malaysia. :) Ciao, for now!

Photo of the Day - Petronas Towers

Designed by Cesar Pelli and Djay Cerico, architects from Argentina under the consultancy of Julius Gold and Filipino engineer Domingo Basa (something I should be proud of as a Filipino), the Petronas Towers were completed in 1998 and became the tallest twin buildings in the world. The two towers which consisted of 88 floors were constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade. Tower 1 was built by contractors from Japan named Hazama Corporation while Tower 2 was built by two South Korean builders namely, Samsung C&T and Kukdong Engineering & Construction. Tower 2 was eventually completed first and became one of the tallest buildings in the world. A skybridge was built between the two towers on the 41st and 42nd floors by the same South Korean contractor Kukdong Engineering & Construction. The skybridge is actually not attached to the main structure but instead it is designed to slide in and out of the towers to prevent it from breaking during high winds.

Suria KLCC

Nestled below the Petronas Towers (the tallest twin towers in the world), is the Suria KLCC - Malaysia's premier shopping complex. Here, we can find luxury and fashionable shops of any exclusive designer brands like Chanel, Gucci, Mango, Bvlgari,  Cartier and many more - you name it, you'll find it here! It is a very posh shopping mall and the only one of a kind in the heart of the city. Shopping here is the best thing you can ever experience aside from the endless admiration of the twin towers. It also houses a 12 screen cinema, concert hall, art gallery, Science Discovery Centre as well as cafes and restaurants. A day here is certainly not enough to satisfy your shopping crave and the buying impulse is just so tempting and sinful.

Outside the shopping complex, is a 50-acre tropical landscape designed by Roberto Burle Marx, a renowned landscape designer. It is known as the KLCC park. Here, we can find a man-made lake with water fountain named Lake Symphony and is programmed to provide dramatic water animations. The park serves as an integration of man's creation with nature such that it provides an urban sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. It features various amenities including children's playground, wading pool, jogging track, shelters, benches, patterned foot-paths, sculptures, native trees, greenery and a symphony fountain. It's a good place for a stroll with the majestic and picturesque view of the Petronas Towers and other architectural buildings surrounding the park. 

Wading pool where families can soak up the sun while in the park...

The Kuala Lumpur Tower

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Here's my first blog post for this brand new year - a Christmas visit to the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.





I absolutely had the most memorable dining experience in one of the world's highest revolving restaurant situated in Kuala Lumpur Tower on the eve of Christmas 2010. Yes, indeed, Kuala Lumpur Tower which is originally known as Menara Kuala Lumpur ('menara' means tower in Malay) is my featured itinerary for today. 

Standing statuesque in all its architectural perfections, the Kuala Lumpur Tower is the most aspiring, gargantuan projects ever undertaken in Malaysia. It appears higher than the Petronas Tower for the reason that it is perched atop Bukit Nanas which by itself is 94 meters above sea level and, hence, the tower rises to a height of 421 meters; a highly visible and prestigious landmark the country ever made.





The KL-Tower acts as the country's main telecommunication and multimedia tower and proudly ranked as the fourth tallest in the world. 

It also claims to house the highest fastfood restaurant in the world - McDonalds. 





The structure comprises of five basic stations: the foundation base, the touristic level, the tower shaft, the tower head and the antenna mast. The base consists of three basement floors to serve as storage house and maintenance departments. At the touristic level, you will find a 146m pedestrian mall with cascading pools, souvenir shops, ticketing counter and the administration's office. The tower shaft on the other hand, comprises of a stairwell with 2,058 steps and four high-speed elevators that will zoom you up the KL-Tower to the observation platform in 60 seconds where a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city awaits. The tower head  houses a public observation platform on the first level and a revolving restaurant on the second level. It is clad in a double-glazed with gas in filled  glass, arranged in the traditional Islamic form of the 'Muqarnas' of the Shah Mosque in Isfahan, Iran as well as illustrates the layers of the sky with the rays of the sun in the middle. It also represents the journey to perfection in human life. Crowning the tower is the 86 meters long antenna mast which is used for telecommunications and broadcasting transmissions.





The KL-Tower is the first pit-stop in the mostly watched reality TV show in Asia - the Amazing Race Asia 1.





So much about the tower, now let me talk about my dining experience at its revolving restaurant.

Restoran Berputar Seri Angkasa, the restaurant's name, provides ambience where patrons can enjoy an exquisite selection of food complemented by an entertaining music from the piano lounge for a one of a kind dining experience. It provides an excellent panoramic views of the city with the opportunity to admire the ornate architecture of the Petronas Tower and the financial district most especially at night when the city is dazzled by shimmering lights. It specializes in buffet-styled dining and offers a variety of local and continental cuisines which are served on separate islands equally spaced around the restaurant. It also has a special dessert counter which is just phenomenal especially when you dine in on an important festive occasion where a delightful blend of flavors will surely excite your tastebuds - a sea of gastronomic delights that makes your olfactory go on a high alert the moment you gazed upon the various desserts on the counter. You will certainly be swamped with multitude of options for that sweet cravings! Oh-la-la!!! 





The restaurant opens daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. for dinner. Prices for lunch buffet starts from RM 60++ for adult and RM 35++ for child on weekdays and RM 70++ and RM 40++ for adult and child, respectively, on weekends and public holidays. Dinner buffet prices are RM135++ for adult and RM 75++ for child.





Below are panoramic views of the city during the day.

Give Kuala Lumpur Tower a stop when visiting the capital city of Malaysia. This unique architectural heritage has become a prime tourist attraction in the city that offers an experience you will never forget!