Participants in the Seoul Tourism Organization sponsored and hosted event return home with a fresh perspective on the fascinating culture, attractions, and exotic cuisine that form the facets of Asia’s sparkling jewel, Korea. The familiarization tour included five fast paced full days split between Gwangju, Korea’s southern culinary capital, and Seoul, it’s vibrant cultural and thriving metropolitan heart. Connecting the two cities, Korea’s KTX fast train serves as an international model of civility, hospitality, and technology in transport.

PRIDE Travel owner and Chief Operations Officer S. Nathan DePetris participated by special invitation of the Seoul Tourism Organization, joining delegates from US tour operators, journalists, travel writers, food critics, and even renowned chefs and foodies. Highlights of the trip in the southern region include visiting the eco preserve at Suncheon Bay, nearby folk village of Nagak Eup Seong, the Gwangju Design Biennale, visiting the spectacularly serene Bo Seong green tea fields, and making his own Kimchi at the Nam Do folk food museum. In Seoul, just a few of the many facets sampled were tours and stays at world-class ultra luxury hotels and resorts such as the Grand Hyatt Seoul, the W Hotel Walker Hill, and the JW Marriott, with cultural visits to the Gyeong Bok Palace, Nanta show performance, TODES performance, and a cultural cuisine kaleidoscope experience at the Korean House center.

“I was surprised,” said Mr. DePetris, referring to the many pleasant experiences had on the trip, “but not by how rich the culture and heritage is in Korea and Seoul… rather that it remains an undiscovered part of Asia by most Americans”. Restaurant owner and Chef Tommy Klauber was caught on many occasions raving about the uniqueness of the cuisine and cooking in Korea; words such as “Full” and “Rich” were often heard paired with “Unique” or “Delicious”. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Asia, gay, Korea, Seoul, tour, travel