[volkman10]

It was always in my wish list to vist places in SE Asia but it had always eluded me. With the work profile chances remained bleak of the visit though never gave up the same. The year started with a visit to France though a bit disappointed since it was a place seen once still enjoyed the same though!
It was a couple of months after that visit the next call was for a visit to Korea. Was overjoyed as I always treasure visiting new places a bit more than a repeat visit. Being a Bhpian Korea - the land of Hyundais was all the more interesting ( though not owing a Korean car!)
Visa formalities for Korea are a bit more than those in the west but since it was company sponsored it was taken care of.
The next was planning of the route, options were to have the port of entry in either Seoul or Hong Kong as the final destination was in SE Korea.
Opted for the later as there is an opportunity to seeing Hong Kong too during transit!
Received the visa within 4 working days after submission and since it was a weeks trip no specials preparations needed other than the normal travel stuff. Booked on Cathy Pacific and the schedules suited me as there was a 14 hour break in HK!
The BIAL was usual with mix of passengers for the LH and AF flights, the Dragonair (operated by Cathy Pacific) counter seemed less crowded not sure of the reason though!

The normal formalities on check in were complete and selected as usual the aisle seats. As normal the immigration and security check was a bit stretched as seemed too few officers relative to the passengers.

The A330, 6 hour flight to HG was the shortest International flight I had been and had an added bonus of having a vacant side seat. A pleasant flight and great crew and service. A few pics to complete the first lap.

Announcement - for descent

A view from above

Descent View

Landed at HKIA @ 11am HK time


Immigration check at HK seemed just a formality and a 14 day transit visa was given.
After immigration -HKIA


Just at the exit was the information center and guides were suggesting places of interest basis the
time available for return flight. Was suggested to take the express train to city.
Just then met a IBM-mite trying to explore the city, we decided to take the explore the city together!
His final destination was Adelaide and ample time before next flight.

Operated by the MTR Corporation, the high-speed Airport Express (AEL) rail service takes passengers to Hong Kong Station in Central, via Tsing Yi and Kowloon, in ~ 24 minutes. The two-way adult fare from the airport to Hong Kong Island is HK$100. Trains run every 10 minutes.

Train@airport

Inside the train,Status of train indicating current location

Destination HK city


Some pics of the tourist spots as seen.

1. The Escalator -approx 800 m long skywalk . View as seen as seen from there.

2. A common scene - Toyota Crown comfort

3.International Finance cente- IFC mall and houses the palace ifc cinema - '3 idiots' release


4. Ultimate Peak
The peak is one of the most popular iconic attractions of HK. It gives a 360 degrees panoramic view across HK. The access to and return is by tram-one of the world's oldest funicular railways. The tram rises to about 1300 ft above SL. The ride back from the peak is fun and the buildings around seem to be leaning a gradient!

[volkman10]

Located on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 1881 Heritage boasts an area of 130,000 square feet. It features a shopping mall, a heritage hotel, and an exhibition.



Most notable of all ferries is the humble but legendary star ferry service between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island from piers in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in Kowloon and Central and Wan Chai on the Island. It offers a memorable and scenic boat trip across one of the most-photographed harbours in the world.



With night approaching we finally decided to see the famous Laser show before parting ways to our final destinations!

Dubbed "A Symphony of Lights", this orchestrated light and laser show currently features buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbor. The view as seen is from the Kowloon side.
The show features several different kinds of lights including not only simple lighting from inside the buildings but also LEDs, lasers, searchlights, and projection lighting. On special occasions or to mark a particular event, A Symphony of Lights adds fireworks to its nightly presentation.
Taking place each night during good weather, the show starts at 8 pm and ends about 15 minutes later. The event is breathtaking to watch and worth the wait. Need to be a bit early to have a seat for good viewing!






Reached HKIA, time for the next lap, destination -SK (SE part of S Korea)


A 4 hour flight in an A320 is the shortest International travel that I have done so far! Reached early morning, a start of a day in Hyundailand.
Immigration formalities with scrutinizing all documents and subsequent screening of hand baggage seemed a bit different than other countries.

Inside the A320


Outside the Busan airport



Guess this justifies it being called the 'Hyundailand'! Hyundai and Kia together dominate the auto market. Avante and Sonata seemed very popular.
GM (Beat, Cruze and the Matiz), Ssangyong Motor and Samsung (JV with Renault) were predominant among the next!
Among the foreign players BMW dominated the segment.In my entire stay never have seen a Japanese car.

The Samsung-Renault JV

The GM Cars

The Kia Forte

Ssangyong Motor (M&M)- Actyon - Seemed strange in the side profile!




Roads and traffic seems close to any western countries. Neat and clean streets, most cleaning of streets are done by laborers. Seen cleaning being done at 7-8 am and later at night.
Streets have many restaurants and sea food is the most common. Vehicles loaded with live sea animals (eel, fish, octopus) are sold to the restaurants which later could be picked up and served to customers as desired.

Laborers @work -Cleaning the park

Trucks with fish/eel/octopus, etc being sold to restaurants

Now in tanks!
octopus

fishes

Restaurants are plenty in the streets

Typical road and traffic on a week day

Apartments - nice and neat!

Typical SK supermarkets - E mart, Lotte mart

[volkman10]

Food in Korea could be a nightmare for veggies! Nothing to write on the breakfast as I have been exposed only to the continental one!
A Korean meal usually is made hot and cool, spicy and mild, yin and yang. At the core of every meal is rice, unless the meal is noodle- or porridge-based. Because beverages are rarely served during a traditional Korean meal, there should always be a soup or water 'kimchi'. Like the rest of the food, kimchi is laid out in the middle of the table for everyone to share.
Korean meals were traditionally served on low tables with family members sitting on floor cushions.
For us it was the regular Western-style dining tables.
'Soju'a clear, slightly sweet distilled spirit, is by far the most popular Korean liquor. It is made from grain or sweet potatoes and is generally inexpensive. It typically has an alcohol content of 40 proof (20% alc. by volume). Served at the start of the meal.
Here are pics of a traditional Korean restaurant. (1Usd~1000 K won)



General seating


Traditional low tables - family rooms


Start of the meal


Sea food - LH side is part of octopus!



More food - Sea food , meat and Vegs.


Meat - cook yourself on a tabletop grill




Final - arrival of the rice. Too much variety for a meal!


An after-dinner drink of hot tea or coffee is served with whatever fruit is in season.

[volkman10]

Visit to a Ceramic small scale industry before another dinner at the Buffet hotel. Food is Korean but seating and atmosphere not the traditional Korean.

Ceramic industry



Buffet Hotel






Finally manged to get this!


Further travel did see a Hyundai and Samsung Auto units.



Final day decided to get away from the Korean food and decided 'Outback steakhouse' -the Australian restaurant.




This covered the 5 day trip to Korea and started the trip back via Hong Kong. a great experience and a very satisfying trip. Hardworking, honesty and great hospitality has taken the Koreans to the state they are currently in.

HKIA was very familiar and just did have a few hours before the return journey to India. some pics in the Hong Kong Airport.

Kingfisher and AI flights


Spectacular A380 flight.

A380 readying for take off


The A330 DragonAir 6 hour flight was nothing I could remember as I had a great nap dreaming of the next travel to EU.

[Rudra Sen]

Mods note: Thread moved to Travelogues section. Thanks for sharing.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

@volkman10,

some more details please.

what type of day trip you took at Hongkong?
i mean which travel company, tour time and cost?

Do post the pic of Kimchi.
Now a days, i am big fan of kimchi.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

@volkman10,

some more details please.

what type of day trip you took at Hongkong?
i mean which travel company, tour time and cost?

Do post the pic of Kimchi.
Now a days, i am big fan of kimchi.

We (along with a friend) did the trip with information and map obtained from through info center.
The best way as you mentioned is to take the guided tour, but or that you need to be at the exit of the airport by 9 am, unfortunately we couldn't.

Here is the pic you requested.Note the center dish
Cheers!

[volkman10]

Another trip to Busan - Korea during Sept-Oct 2013.

When visting the same place for another time you normally don't encounter a sea of change, but this time was fortunately located more uptown so there were noticeable changes. Covered the same in pictures!

From the airport.- Jaguar inspired Hyundai- Grandeur,seeing from the exterior.





Now in the inside too - Jaguar fanboy I guess!



Impressive roads and traffic sense.



Hyundai everywhere.




Hotel Pullman @ ~ $150/day, located in the city is impressive





View from the room



Taken the 'tried and tested' breakfast though the spread available was Vast.



Even for lunch, being day one - tried the Macdonalds!



Part of the Hotel complex -city 7

[volkman10]

Downtown is a bit crowded than in the main city.




You can sport super cars parked casually in the alleys.

Maserati - Quattroporte




Indian connection



Pedestrians wait to cross the path


The law breakers - two wheelers seem to think alike across bounadries!



Popular indoor recreation - Screen golf- starts early as 6:00am and open till midnignt!

[volkman10]

Food would be a problem for the vegetarians and for non vegetarinas a neat spread to choose from!

Normal daily food - rice is very sticky typical of as in SEA countries.



And to be on the safer side, the proven pizza -'margarita'.


For the veg's - pasta with veg



Barbecue- Korean style



the grill with charcoal


the meat - for barbecue,


and the 'cooked' - ready to eat!



Korean food in a typical restaurant

The spread of salads


Kimchis - made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings.


Fish - steamed ( would seem raw!)


..and jelly fish parts!


Squid, Eel, etc.




Raw meat


..and the 'sem'i cooked



and the best Part - Desserts!