Honeymoon Korea - Cooking Nanta

This is one of the highlight of the tour which many gives positive feedback on it. We were brought to the theatre which is located in like one of their streets somewhere. The theatre is located at basement 3.

Entrance of their theatre...



*Extracted from their brochure

Introduction
Enormous audience had broken the theatre window?
Since the first performance on the 10th of October in 1997, this world famous NANTA has been drawing the largest number of audience in Korean stage history. The record-breaking show has broadened its stage from Seoul and Jeju Island in Korea to Broadway, NY, and to the world. NANTA hits the world with countless encores from 6,150,000 spectators of 19,200 shows in 2268 cities, 41 countries.

A frying pan, a water bottle, a pot, a chopping board, a knife... A musical instrument?
In NANTA, Knives and other kitchen utensils are transformed into musical instruments in the hands of the performers. The haunting and heart-stirring music based upon Korean Samulnori rhythms of Jainmor, Utadri, uneori, etc. combined with five distinctive characters! Comic explosion! NANTA still grows everyday to become better production, more entertaining performance with a high energy, easy-watch experience, infectious rhythm and non-verbal humor that cuts across both age and international barriers. It's NANTA.

Synopsis
An excellent cook, but the unmanly HEAD CHEF, a very sexy masculine SEXY GUY, and the powerful, sassy, the only woman cook, HOT SAUCE! The three attractive, characteristic chefs starts their day. Washing vegetable, carrying meat loafs, setting fire, cooks at NANTA kitchen is about to begin their busy job as always, then the ill-natured manager orders them to prepare 10 wedding ceremony menus, along with his little nephew, in just an hour. Suddenly the kitchen in thrown into turmoil and the cooks becomes wild as they chop, beat and stir in an attempt to meet the deadline. The wedding ceremony is at 6 o'clock and it is at hand! Will the NANTA cooks complete the preparation on time?

Merchanises for sales...



Due to the daily performance scheduled, they have about 9 teams (this is what I can count on the board) rotated for the shows. Our performance that night is by the white team!



Our pre-arranged tickets by the tour! VIP seats wor... Haha but its first few rows front centre seats which is good.




The stage setting...



As it was before dinner time, I was getting hungry so I asked Dear to buy the muffin and a hot caramel machiatto for me. Surprisely we were allowed to bring in thou they state no food and drinks allowed. Guess they allow food that purchase from their cafe to be brought in only.



The muffin is very nice! Soft and tasty...



Us before the show started...



Our cast for the day...



The whole performance which last about 1.5 hours was full of laughter! Thou the performance does not have any stage talking but by their actions, expression, background music, sounds that they created by the different props brought everything to life! They even have audience interaction which they invite participants on stage for some part of the performance. It was indeed an enjoyable performance for me and I strongly recommend this comedy show to everyone!

Cooking Nanta has many other theatres that you can go for the performance.
1) Myeongdong Nanta Theatre
2) Gangbuk Jeongdong Nanta Theatre
3) Hongdae Nanta Theatre

For more other info, you can go to www.nanta.co.kr

Honeymoon Korea Day 5 - Seoul Part 2

Day 5 - Although we are staying at Sheraton Hotel but due to the budget constraints set by the tour agency, our breakfast are arranged outside at another location. We stayed at Sheraton for 2 days and our first breakfast is more towards chinese style which isn't tasty.

I didn't bothered to take any photos of the food/place cos it is really not nice. I only took one photo of Dear with a nice backdrop that's all...




After breakfast, we made our way to the Ginseng store where we were given a brief introduction of its' history and subsequently taken to a "Sales" room where they push for tourists to buy. No photos were allowed in the place so only managed to sneak one. Anyway just to share, they mentioned that a 4 years old ginseng is at its best consumption and most expensive due to its nutrients etc.



We did not want to buy any products from there as its is all charged in US dollar and all pretty expensive. The cheapest I heard so far was like US400+. Anyway some of the familes bought quite a bit and in the end, my tour guide came after us to ask us to buy after we left the "Sales" room. He reluntantly shared that they have a minimum quota to hit (at least 50% of the tour group) to buy the products. We kept nodding our heads to reject but he kept asking us to help. Actually indirectly this affects his sales commission also.

We ended up following him back and he offered us smaller package deals which cost about US212 thou the sales girl does not look very willingly but in order to help him, she agreed. We bought 2 bottles of Ginseng powder for our mothers and got free Ginseng tea and capsules. One of our tour lady said she wanted to buy smaller quantity but was not allowed. When she heard we bought, she was like "aiya, why never let me buy since I wanted"...

After spending such amount, up next we went to duty free outlet mainly selling Faceshop products. As usual, sales tactics they have a sales lady who went through some of their product and giving us to try.. Dear got to try eye patch! Haha.. well those products she introduced  are the more expensive products!



I hesitated quite a while before deciding to share and buy with some of girls. They even had aproduct called CC Cream which is a newer product not lauched in market to replace BB Cream. Thou this duty free outlet carries mainly their expensive products and masks, I still bought $100+ products. Anyway you won't be able to buy the usual Faceshop products you see in our typical stores.

Lunchtime! Duck meat this round...









After lunch, we made our way to historical site...





This is the symbol of Jeju Island. Folk tales says that if you touch the nose, you will bear a son and if you touch the ear, you will give birth to a girl. Guess which one I touch? Haha...



As we continued, we made our way to Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, Gyeongbokgung, translates in English as "Palace of Shining Happiness."

Nearly destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the walled palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior to destruction. As of 2009, roughly 40 percent of the original number of palace buildings still stand or are reconstructed.









This is the queen's quarter. You notice that the main doors were actually planked and tied up rather than bi-folding it. During summer, the people in the past do this in order to allow good ventilation as it will be very hot and of cos during winter, they will keep it shut to keep it warm...



After spending almost 2 hours there in the cold wind... freezing cold strong wind that even blew up the sand! We went of to our next destination - Ice craving! When we reached, we were brought to a mini show room where all the ice exhibits were kept.



A ice piano...



Wow... Ice PC! Real monitor and keyboard...



Ice toilet?



Dear having stomache?



Leaning tower of Pisa...



We were here...



After the exhibit, we were given a 5 minute creche course before we embarked on a ice craving competition. We were given like 10 minutes and I would say it was tough! Our end results..









Us with our ice cups!



Let me end by sharing this art photo which all of us from the tour group were captivated! It was actually by the roadside! Haha..



Stay tune for more posting...

Honeymoon Korea Day 4 - Seoul Part 1

Day 4! This is one of my last scenery photo before we left for Seoul! No more mountains and sea view...



Lunchtime! We had this steamboat and pork with bimbibap rice to go along with it. The portion was too much for me so I did not finish my rice.









A sprite to go along...



We took about 3 hours to arrive at Dongdaemum and we were given 3 hours to roam around before we set off to our next activity site. If you do not know, Dongdaemum Market is the large commercial district comprising traditional markets and shopping centers. A popular shopping and tourist destination, it has been designated a Special Tourism Zone since 2002. It is usually open from late morning to 4am next day.





These are some of the shopping malls. One of it is Doota which is a duty free shopping mall where you can refund the tax at their highest floor. Note: No negotiation is allowed!



This is another mall called maxtyle...



We managed to do some shopping before we gather back to go to our next stop which is part of the programme we need to go. Coming up Kim Chi making session...



Our tour guide, Andy giving a quick brief before he hand the time over to the instructor who taught in chinese. Anyway Andy is a pure korean however he studies in Taiwan for 5 years so he can speak mandarin.



The blue cup is actually milk with ginseng which tasted quite nice!



Everyone getting ready...



Me and Dear in our aprons doing Kimchi...



This is mine!



I finished mine faster than Dear so managed to take this shot of him...



This is Dear's...



After the kimchi making, we were given the time to wear their traditional costumes and take some photos! Me and Dear with their background setting for phototaking...



Other families in the costumes too...



We went pass Yoido Full Gospel Church where it was so near yet so far! We will definitely come back to visit this church. This is the largest Korea Church!



After the kimchi session, we went on to their Sea World...



Giant mammal



Real fish that look fake to me...



The sea world is actually inside this building called The 63 Building officially known as the 63 City, is a skyscraper on Yeiuido island, overlooking the Han River in Seoul. The building is 249 meters (817 ft) high. Some views from the highest floor...



This is mini melt which is actually ice-cream! I tried the chocolate flavor and its nice! I actually saw this many times at Everland but didn't really want try cos its cold to eat ice-cream in winter. Until one of my tour group girl say must try. They even have candy floss flavor!



After the visit, we went on to have our dinner which consist of Ginseng Chicken and Mee Sua! There is a abalone inside too but too bad I don't eat so I gave away...



After dinner, we went to check in to our hotel, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel, 662 Gyeongin-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul. We were allocated to the 30th floor and this is our room view.



Our bathroom...Big and spacious!



I love bath tubs... Haha



Our bedroom...





After a short rest, me and Dear continued to go out and explore Dongdaemum by traveling ourselves. It was an experience taking their train. The traveling journey from our hotel to there is about 40 minutes.



Their train map... looks complicated right!



We actually came our of the wrong station and end up we got to walk a distance to Dongdaemum. While we were walking, there was fireworks at the stroke of 12 as it was New Year day! This is how me and Dear counted down, walking in the cold street haha....



While walking around, we definitely have to try their street food...






We continued walking and bought some jeans for ourselves. As the night was turning cold and it was like 1+am, we took a cab back to the hotel and ended the day.