Travel Posh

Considered by many as the lesser known cousin of Tokyo, Seoul has been making big strides towards establishing itself on the global travellers list. An ancient city which boasts of an exotic blend of history and the modern world, Seoul has a lot to offer to the curious traveller. Seoul is already an international travel hub and is also known for its culture, art & design, food, shopping and friendly people. The ‘City by City’ tour begins with a stay at the 16th century Bongeunsa Temple (www.bongeun.org) which was once the leading temple of the city but is now open to visitors to stay. Here you can experience the life of a Buddhist monk thanks to the tranquil environment which lends itself brilliantly to prayer and meditation for revitalizing your ‘chi’. The stay here will help you experience inner peace and calm.

For the more luxury oriented, there is the ultra modern Hotel W (www.wseoul.com), currently the hippest hotel in town. A contemporary luxury hotel The W features avant garde interiors mostly done up in white with occasional splashes of wood, metal and colour. The interiors are furnished with futuristic Swedish style furniture and numerous designer decorative pieces like the wooden mirror which has cubes which depress and tilt to reflect. The hotel has a choice of designer restaurants and Wooba which is a 24 metre bar, the longest in the city and is a must visit.

If you like motion art and cinematography, then head to the Nam June Paik Art Centre in the suburbs. This new art centre features work of the revolutionary South Korean video artist and also features other artists.

The foodie in you will love the Naos Nova (www.naosnova.com), a unique restaurant designed by former clothing designer Kyle Lee. The restaurant is made essentially of cement and glass with stark diagonal lines, deep black and red furniture upholstery. The designer call it a Disneyland for dining. The Naos Nova runs across three floors, which are based on three themes, Heaven, Earth and Hell.

If you aren’t tired by the end of your day in Seoul, try out the The Circle Club (www.thecircle.co.kr), the most happening bar in town. The city has a fast changing night club scene and as of now, the Circular Bar is one of the hottest places thanks to its uber cool interiors, good music, well stocked circular bar and young crowd.

Travelposh brings to you exclusive video’s from On Networks ‘City by City’ series. The series is an insightful tour into some of the world’s most fascinating cities which are prominently placed on most globe trotters lists. The series begins with this episode on Tokyo, the fishing village of old which has transformed into a megacity symbolic of Japan’s phenomenal economic growth and technological prowess. The cultural capital of Japan, Tokyo is a dizzying mix of the old and the contemporary and no matter how many times you visit, it’s hard to absorb everything the city has to offer.

The episode gives us an authentic glimpse of a chic retro hotel, a design boutique, a hideaway subterranean restaurant, a stylish café and bar, and the largest fish market in the world. The Tsukiji wholesale fish market is where Tokyo gets its supply of the freshest fish and seafood which also translates into some of the best Sushi anywhere in the world. The busy market does about 200 metric tonnes of business each day and one choose from a mind boggling array of 400 types of sea creatures.

We also take a sneak peek into Claska, one of Tokyo’s old economy hotels which has been completely refurbished and is now a boutique hotel featuring minimalistic design, beautiful artefacts and funky decorations which inspire fun. It also boasts of a beauty salon for man’s four legged friend. Down the road from Claska, we visit Meister design boutique which houses a wide selection of contemporary & vintage furniture from around the world besides adorable ceramic pieces and sculptures designed by artists from all over Japan. These make for excellent gifts to take back from your trip to Tokyo and are small enough to pack into your luggage.

Tokyo’s nightlife is world famous and offers something for everyone. If one is looking for authentic Japanese cuisine, then the Maru Mayfont is a great pick with refined Kyoto infused cuisine served in a cosy private dining room or in the main restaurant. For a more vibrant experience the Montoak with its three floors offers an indoor and outdoor bar, a casual yet sophisticated restaurant and is an ideal place for an intimate evening in Tokyo.