LONDON (AFP) ― Queen singer Freddie Mercury disguised the late Princess Diana as a male model and smuggled her into a notorious gay bar, according to a memoir serialized in Britain’s Sunday Times.Comedian Cleo Rocos describes in her book “The Power of Positive Drinking” how she, Mercury and fellow comedian Kenny Everett dressed Diana in an army jacket, cap and sunglasses for a night out at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, south London, in the late 1980s.“When we walked in... we felt she was obviously

From sexy, bold looks to unique casual wear, designers offer choices galore at Seoul Fashion Week

Dance“Altar”: Fashion designer Jung Kuho is staging his second dance piece in April with the National Dance Company of Korea. Titled “Altar,” the dance is choreographed by local artist Ahn Sung-soo, who also choreographed the Korean National Ballet and Jung’s collaboration work “Poise” last year. Jung is directing the upcoming performance, and is in charge of the stage and costume design, music, hair and makeup, and lighting. In the center of the stage, a huge altar will be set serving as an art

SYDNEY (AFP) ― Australian travelers have become so demanding of their foreign ministry when they encounter trouble overseas, officials are struggling to deal with their requests, a new report has found.Research by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute has found that the expectations of what Australian diplomats can and should do for distressed travelers are not only climbing, but becoming “more unrealistic.”“The growing incidence of Australians overseas demanding that government intervene in their cas

ROME ― “SILENZIO!” says the sign just past the massive bronze doors marking the entrance to St. Mary and the Martyrs Catholic Church in Rome, one of the two or three most important churches in Christian history. The sign reminds all that this is a house of worship. Indeed, visitors from around the globe flock to the Piazza della Rotonda to see its austere, columned portico.But the true beauty of the church is inside, where a geometrically perfect sphere could fit between ceiling and floor. A thi

The hotel offers a spring package that includes a one-night stay and a picnic set for two. The set includes Italian-style sandwiches from the hotel’s deli, Pasticceria, Fiji drinks and fresh fruit. There are three different sandwiches to choose from: baguettes filled with smoked ham and emmental cheese with dijonaise sauce, bagels with smoked salmon and cheese, and rocket sandwiches. The package is available from April 1 to June 30. The price starts at 290,000 won excluding tax. The hotel’s deli

The hotel’s barbecue restaurant Myongwolgwan presents a special spring lunch menu from April 1 to June 30. The fresh and healthy menu designed by the restaurant’s head chef, Yeom Young-il, features hanwoo bulgogi (200 g), yeongchae and seasonal spring vegetables. The spring menu has been created to help guests regain their appetite. The cuisine contains protein, vitamins and vital amino acids. Korean kings used to eat yeongchae every spring to regain energy. The menu is only available from noon

The hotel opens its outdoor Beer Garden from April 5 to Oct. 31. The promotion offers several packages between 6 and 10 p.m, including unlimited beer and grilled snack buffet menus at a reasonable price. You can enjoy an unlimited sausage and meat barbecue buffet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and a seafood barbecue buffet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both packages include unlimited organic salad buffet, bread, soup, dessert and unlimited draft beer, soju and makgeolli. The sausage and meat b

The hotel’s lounge Delmar presents various healthy teas for visitors who want to protect themselves from the effects of yellow dust. Wild ginseng tea, created by brewing ginseng, jujube and medicinal herbs is designed to strengthen the immune system for those who already have accumulated yellow dust in their bodies. The hotel will also offer ssanghwa tea, ginseng tea, ginger tea and more. Traditional rice cakes decorated with spring flowers will also be offered to all guests. The price starts fr

The hotel’s Japanese restaurant is offering sea bream as part of a special promotion this spring. The promotion includes sea bream sashimi, grilled sea bream head and a range of Korean and Japanese-style sea bream stews. The grilled sea bream head, cooked with a variety of fresh spring bamboo shoots, vegetables and mushrooms, brings out the full flavor and texture of the prized flesh found at the head of the fish. The sea bream promotion includes both a la carte dishes and set menus, with a la c

In this radish soup (mu guk), I used a quick method, common in Korean cooking, to make a beef soup base. The thinly sliced beef is seasoned with guk ganjang (soup soy sauce) and sauted before being boiled in water. The result is a broth with a deep flavor that deliciously complements the white radish. 4 servingsIngredients:● 170 grams beef brisket (or beef chuck)● 2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided● 340 grams Korean radish (mu)● 2 scallions● 2 tablespoons guk ganjang (soup soy sauce*), divided ●

Korean fine dining spot spins out seasonal, veggie-driven eats

An out-of-work truck driver in Australia is inheriting a $362,425 estate from the father he never knew, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling.The man, identified in court papers only as AMH, was named the sole heir of his father by the court following a DNA test that proved the deceased man, a businessman and member of the ancient Rosicrusianism secret society, was his true father, the Brisbane Courier-Mail reported Friday.The court was told the man believed he had another father for 50 years until h