Winter is a time to curl up at home, safely away from the freezing cold, with a nice thick comforter and a hot mug of coffee. Or is it?For those increasing numbers who fancy wintertime camping, winter is, on the contrary, just the right time to venture into the wilderness. What, then, is the appeal? Why choose the cold open over the warm, fully furnished indoors?“The snow,” said Kim Han-soo, a longtime camping enthusiast. “Snow is what sets winter camping apart from summer excursions.” Above all

With the cherry blossom season still months away, outdoor enthusiasts here are braving the elements to view a more delicate type of flower ― one that thrives in high places under harsh conditions. “Nunkkot” (literally “snow flowers”) can be found on branches, rocks and railings, and the same chilly wind that helps create these crystal blooms can make it challenging ― or even dangerous ― to enjoy the experience. In recent weeks, the upper elevations of the national parks of Seoraksan and Jirisan

While the plummeting temperatures cause some people to rush indoors and shield themselves from the icy breath of winter, for some this is the best time to head outside and dabble in what the icy waters and snowy landscapes have to offer. Whether it’s trudging through packed snow in the winter wilderness, literally chilling in a tent for a rugged night of camping, or grabbing a body suit and gloves to catch some arctic waves, the cold shouldn’t scare off those looking for a little winter adventur

Dance“Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Emptiness”: Universal Ballet Korea will kick off 2015 with Nacho Duato’s “Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Emptiness.” The 1999 ballet is one of the choreographer’s best-known works and landed him the prestigious Benois de la Dance prize. As a homage to one of classical music’s greatest, Johann Sebastian Bach, the two-act ballet tells the story of Bach’s life by combining both baroque music and modern choreography. “Multiplicity. Forms of Silence and Em

SAN DIEGO ― A hundred years ago, San Francisco had something to prove.Its leaders wanted the world to know they had rebuilt since the earthquake and fires of 1906, and they wanted to woo the travelers and commerce that would be headed west through the just-completed Panama Canal. So they decided to throw a global party.San Diego had something to prove too. It had about 40,000 residents ― about a tenth of San Francisco’s population ― but no cable cars, no Gold Rush glamour, no Mark Twain quotes.

VERONA, Italy ― A huge angry stone face looks down on visitors through giant spires of cypress trees at Giusti Garden. The intimidating mascherone was originally designed to breathe fire, probably the only thing that could make it more foreboding. It was just one of the surprises I and 32 other gardeners found on a 10-day trip in September to visit gardens of Northern Italy.Gently sloping trails led to a grotto at the top of the mascherone. On the way, we saw an array of beautiful plants, some o

TOKYO (AP) ― In the U.S., hanging out in a cafe with animals is such an exotic concept that people can’t get enough of it. A pop-up cat cafe in New York last year had lines down the block. Online reservations for another Manhattan cat cafe are almost fully booked more than two months ahead. But in Japan, cat cafes are just the start. You can hang out in rabbit cafes or have coffee in Tokyo with two goats. And you’re not limited to domestic animals. You can also spend an hour at a cafe holding a

Daegu jiri is a delicate stew made with codfish, or “daegu.” Cod is mild-flavored and has white flaky flesh. It’s a popular choice for Korean fish stews. There are two types of stew made with cod ― spicy (daegu maeuntang) and mild (daegu jiri or malgeuntang). Daegu jiri is enjoyed for its subtle yet deep flavor! I usually use anchovy broth to add depth to the stew. The broth should be light to let the natural taste of the fresh cod stand out. Throw in a couple of clams or shrimp. They can add a

Caviar, foie gras, inch-thick veal chops, baby vegetables as tiny as your pinky finger, first-growth Bordeaux and California cult Cabernets ― once these were the hallmarks of fine dining.But today, even at great restaurants, you’re likely to encounter ingredients that a few years ago might not have been served even for staff lunch. Pork belly and sardines, kale and Brussels sprouts, wines made in garages in regions you couldn’t point to on a map ― this is the new face of fine dining.Forget the o

‘Happy Hour Canapé Buffet’ at The Plaza Hotel Seoul The Lounge, The Plaza Hotel Seoul’s stylish café & bar located on the lobby floor, is presenting a happy hour promotion with a full canapé buffet and unlimited beverages. Drinks consist of Southern French specialty wine Le Benjamin de Puech-Haut, Scotch whisky Ballantine’s, draft beers and more. A buffet with over 15 kinds of canapés and finger foods will be available, including assorted cheese sticks, Caesar salad, smoked salmon avocado rolls,

CJ E&M, Korea’s culture industry giant, is taking a plunge into the global animation market, with its eyes set on children in other countries, particularly the more than 200 million in China. In an event in Seoul on Thursday, the Seoul-based firm unveiled a plan to spend 15 billion won ($13.83 million) this year on developing new animated content.  “We expect a Korean Wave of animated content to be realized in the not-so-distant future and see high business potential there,” said Kim Sung-soo, t

Former Science Minister Choi Moon-ki has been dropped from the list of three candidates to head the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, the institution said Friday.According to GIST, Choi was not included on the shortlist due to having headed the Science Ministry, which controls the Gwangju-based institution. Choi headed the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning from April 2013 to July 2014. The shortlist is said to be composed of two GIST professors and an unassociated applicant

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) ― Drugmaker AbbVie Inc. said its new, all-pill hepatitis C combo treatment has been approved for patients in the 28 European Union member countries.The company said the European Commission had granted marketing authorization for the combination of Viekirax and Exviera. Viekirax itself is a combination pill containing antiviral drugs ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir; Exviera is a single pill containing dasabuvir. It’s already approved in EU nonmembers Switzerland, N

Compared to nonsmokers, most smokers tend to consume more alcohol and high caloric food ― such as fatty foods. They also have lower intake of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C, E and A) from healthy vegetables and fruits, thereby having a higher risk of atherosclerosis and various cancers. Most smokers tend to consume more coffee (3-10 cups per day) and have irregular dietary habits.Changes in serum lipid levelsNicotine in cigarettes increases the free fatty acid levels in the serum, to raise the

A growing number of Koreans are seeking medical attention for vitamin D deficiency, a common condition among those who do not get enough exposure to sunlight, a government report showed.According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of Koreans who sought medical help for vitamin D deficiency increased ninefold from 2009-2013 ― from 2,027 to 18,637.“More people are now aware that vitamin D deficiency can affect one’s muscles, bones and immunity and is even associated with cancer,”