travel
TRAVEL
NEWS…
europe/
olivia cruise
Book yourself and your lady onto a
lovely cruise organised by lesbian
cruise company Olivia. Beginning in
Nuremburg, the boat will take
passengers on a week-long trip down
the idyllic blue Danube river
between the 3 and 10 August.
Old-style Korean building, Visiting at least one port a day, you
Suwon Folk Village
will get the chance to see beautiful
architecture in Vienna, taste local
wines in Austria, and explore
QUEER KOREA
gorgeous cathedrals in Germany.
www.olivia.com
iceland/
of the nation – the place where in the past. If Suwon is a ‘watch and reykjavik pride
everything happens first, and it’s also learn’ kind of place, Jeonju, a few hours
Anna Maria Espsäter where a gay scene is the most south, in the Korean heartland, is a much
visits South Korea and developed, for men as well as women. more hands-on experience. Three hours
finds out what the spent at the cultural centre there and
Asian destination has Seoul city sprawls somewhat and the I found myself learning how to play a
to offer the gay and language takes some getting used to, Korean drum, participating in a
lesbian traveller. but don’t let this put you off. Spend a traditional Korean wedding ceremony
couple of days exploring the Korean and cooking my own bibimbap, the
When Korean TV-star Hong capital’s sights, from ancient palaces region’s signature rice dish, before it was Start planning yourself a trip to the
Seok-Chon came out back in 2000, to quirky night markets. For the time to pig out on 16 dishes at the centre’s land of fire and ice. Running from
he ended up losing his show á la ultimate Korean experience try the Imperial restaurant. Korea was growing the 7-10 August, the festival will
Ellen, but a few years later, he was back Dongdaemun market, a myriad of stalls on me, or was it the other way around? offer such delights as the lightest
on the screen – and these days he’s the and shops selling everything under the evenings, almost the midnight sun,
country’s first ‘out’ celebrity, running a sun. To get your bearings, take the cable Taking part in a traditional performances from artists including
restaurant in Seoul with his partner. car up the N’Seoul Tower – both day
Korean wedding ceremony
Carole Pope and Stereo Total, a
Times are a-changing in Korea – still a and night views are amazing. march down the city’s main parade,
largely traditional society, underneath Laugavegar, and the chance to take
the modern gloss of technology – and Seoul hosts both a GLBT film festival a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon.
homosexuality, a long-standing hush- and a Queer culture festival. The gay
www.gaypride.is
hush subject, is finally being discussed scene is mostly located in an area of
more openly. In fact ,2008 has seen the Itaewon known as ‘Homo Hill’, and greece/
first Korean lesbian, Choi Hyun-Suk, most bars cater to gay men. There are, respect holidays
107
run for Parliament. however, a number of women’s bars
emerging, some run by the ex-pat
Springtime is a good time to visit – women from Seoul Sisters (a lesbian
useful info
provided you avoid Seoul’s dust storms group), in the Hongik University area.
in April – when Korean parks and open The scene is changing fast, so it’s best to korean tourist
spaces are covered with the gorgeous seek up-to-date info before visiting. board/
pink petals of cherry blossom. Autumn
www.tour2korea.com
is also an excellent time; the climate is Having come all this way, it would be a Why not take a trip to Greece with
pleasant and the trees put on their finest shame to only check out Seoul as Korea jeonju cultural gay holiday company Respect this
frocks in an autumn colour extravaganza. has a lot to offer the intrepid traveller; centre/ summer? Mykonos is a cool and
national parks, scenic coastline, ancient
www.jt.or.kr/eng/main_06.htm trendy, yet remarkably unspoilt
Korea has good transport links so it’s culture and history and mouth-watering destination, home to a number of
easy to get around. From Seoul to its cuisine. To get to grips with Korea of old, lesbian and gay classy gay bars and oodles of lovely
second and third cities, Busan and visit Suwon Folk Village, an outdoor korea/ sun. Check out the historic villages,
Daegu, it’s no more than five hours by museum an hour or so south of Seoul. •
www.girlports.com/ or just relax on a warm beach with
coach and less by train, making this far- A large area is scattered with old-style lesbiantravel/destinations/ a cocktail and check out the
flung destination very manageable in a buildings and people in traditional seoul/bars_nightclubs local talent.
week. Seoul really is the heart and soul costumes show you how life was lived •
www.seoulsisters.org www.respect-holidays.co.uk
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