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Can't believe it has been nearly two years since I went on a media press trip to Seoul...feels like yesterday. This is a city on alert 24/7...an attack can happen at anytime. I can only imagine what the atmosphere in the city must be like now. During my stay, I recall the daily war practice sirens and the US military aircraft flying constantly overhead. At that time, the Ritz-Carlton Seoul and the Grand Hyatt, where I was staying, were quite well protected and only open for government officials and the media. The US military personnel are seen as celebs in the city- seen patrolling at every other corner. Every time an American soldier in uniform went past (I bumped into a few in coffee shops), you could not resist but wanting to shake their hand and say "very proud of the work you guys are doing...thanks for keeping us safe and may god bless America!". Let's pray for peace and harmony...and stability. That's all the world needs right now.   Photo Copyright Navjot Singh The rather novel Grand Hyatt, Seoul, with 601 well-appointed luxury rooms and suites, each offering priceless views over the historic and spectacular Mount Namsan and the Han River, is a masterpiece blend of excellent architecture and perfect Feng Shui. The hotel is located in tranquil settings on a hill in the prime setting of the Itaewon shopping district, close to the city’s most happening place. There are numerous high-quality bars and restaurants within a short 10-minute taxi ride. The hotel is under 60 minutes away from Incheon International Airport, 35 minutes from Gimpo Domestic Airport, and 20 minutes from the Samsung-dong business hub, with most all of the city’s key districts within close proximity of the hotel. If you are visiting Seoul for the first time- especially on a business trip- then most likely you may have been whisked straight from the airport to the hotel, and then straight to your meeting room or office (and vice-versa). So when you are in an international bubble like this, it is difficult to enjoy the true colors and flavor of the real Seoul city. The hotel is a favorite for business travelers, families, foreign dignitaries and also for military personnel because the Yongsan Base, the famous US Military base, is located quite close. There are numerous foreign embassies dotted around the hotel’s area. It is perhaps the safest place to be at, too. The first thing that strikes out about the rooms is that they are rather unusual compared to most other Grand Hyatt hotels around the world- perhaps only comparable to the old styled rooms because this was one of the first 5-star properties in Seoul. The bathrooms don’t have any rainforest showers, but the old fashioned bath tubs. Every inch of the building is made to full use-this includes the bridge that connects the two towers’. The suspended bridge houses the “Guanxi Lounge” which is another innovation from the designers of the hotel building. Here you can just while away the evening while sipping a glass of, say for example, fine “2 Up Shiraz” or the in house, “G Wine”. The gastronomical highlight of the Grand Hyatt Guangzhou has to be the exciting Paris Grill for European cuisine, and J.J. Mahoney’s Centre with 9 separate entertainment spaces. From the glamour of the culinary delights and the rooms décor comes the fine art of relaxing. They don;t call it grand for no reason, you know? After a long tiring day nothing beats the feeling of going to the Spa for a wind down massage. The Spa offers a variety of exquisite treatment including pedicure, manicure and professional body massage services to cool down your heels after a long day. Having a relaxing foot or back massage after a long tiring day forms part of the culture in Seoul. Evidence of this can be seen with the numerous Spa houses scattered around every city and village. The Spa and Club Olympus recreation centre offer a sanctuary of calm, with specialized and personalized spa treatments, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and squash courts and an ice skating rink. The hotel is proud that the tennis courts are one of the best facilities offered by any hotel in the city, and are regularly used for practice by major sports stars.  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh OK, so if you want to become whiter than white (literally) or if you want to become the next Michael Jackson, complete with a new hair do to cover your bald head, then Seoul is the place to come to (not that I was here for that reason...!)...never seen so many tourists walking around the city with post-plastic surgery faces covered! This is London's Harley Street multiplied by at least a hundred...   A wall of a cafe in Itaewon, Seoul, decorated with art: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Grafitti in Bukchon Hanok Village: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Grafitti in Bukchon Hanok Village: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Bukchon Hanok Village: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  A Buddha statue on a building in Bukchon Hanok Village: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Graffiti in a cafe in Namdaemun market: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Graffiti in a cafe in Gangnam: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Building camouflaged in leaves near Itaewon: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Seoul is home of hundreds of cafe, many privately owned. ALL cafes in Seoul have free wi-fi and the city is the most internet connected in the world with free public wi-fi available everywhere: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Koreans love beauty products...Seoul is the capital of cosmetic surgery...with many clinics located here: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  A copy of the Body Shop?!: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  This cafe's name says it all: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh You realise that South Korea is technically at war when you see the large numbers of American soldiers at almost every street corner in Seoul (around 35,000 are based here) - spoke to a few at the local Starbucks (they proudly had their military uniforms on) and they told me they are ready for an attack anytime. Most buildings are built with a helipad and notices for emergency shelters (as shown below) can be seen everywhere around the city. The most nervous border in the world, followed closely by India Pakistan. From my hotel window at The Ritz-Carlton Seoul, everyday could see helicopters and fighter jets doing sorties...just speechless...they fly quite low too. Never seen that over a major city before. When you meet a US Military personnel on the streets, you can't help but go up to them and shake their hand. Very proud of the US Military and for how they are keeping the world a safer place.  Shelter sign at a metro station: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  US Military Base in Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  US Military Base in Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Newspaper at the US Military Base in Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  US Military Base in Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  US Military officials riding Harley Davidsons in Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  US Military Base in Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh If you are in Korea, then you must try authentic 100% Korean Ginseng tea- hot or cold is OK.  100% Korean Ginseng drink (cold) with orange and lemon shreddings: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  100% Korean Ginseng drink (hot): Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  A guard stands to attention at Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문), Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Women with traditional Korean dress watching guards at Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문), Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Gangnam: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Art decor at Gwanghwamun Gate (광화문), Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Myeongdong Cathedral: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  N Seoul Tower: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Gyeongbokgung Palace: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Namsangol Hanok Village: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Seoul at night: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Bukchon Hanok Village: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Old part of Seoul: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  N Seoul Tower and old city: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Pagodas at the Gyeongbokgung Palace: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Traditional Rooftops: Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Situated in the heart of Seoul’s fashionable Gangnam district, The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul is the only Ritz-Carlton pretty in South Korea. The luxury hotel, with 375 well-appointed guest rooms, including 47 luxury hotel suites and 75 Club level rooms, is where South Korea’s innovative present and traditional past intermingles in an elegant, architectural wonder. The only thing that one may find confusing is that from the outside it just looks like a normal tall building with very little exterior design or architectural element added to it. In a nutshell, from the outside it looks exceedingly boring and not quite the posh hotel one may be looking for. It’s a shame that such a lovely well-known high quality brand has not capitalized on using the finest of designs or architectural elements to make this building stick out like a sore thumb. However, once one steps inside then it’s another story altogether. Inside you’ll truly feel that this is the authentic Ritz-Carlton experience. This was one of the first Ritz-Carlton properties in Asia Pacific and one can see that when you compare the slightly old-fashioned Versailles-inspired interior, such as the bathroom without the rain forest shower or the automatic air-conditioning, with most of the modern Ritz-Carlton properties in China for example. The service, nevertheless, is nothing but exclusively of a Ritz-Carlton standard and authentically South Korean. As one of the most distinctive luxury Seoul hotels, The Ritz-Carlton invites you to relax and experience the unmistakable sights, sounds and flavors of South Korea. All the rooms are equipped with the latest technology, including a fully integrated TV and internet system, with video on demand, satellite television and high speed internet. For the most luxurious experience, why not pamper yourself in one of the suites where all the rooms offer a balcony that offers stunning views across the city with the N Seoul Tower visible in the distant on one side and Gangnam on the other. After a day spent exploring, there is nothing better than to retreat to the impeccable hotel featuring an award-winning Presidential suite, an array of gourmet restaurants serving a repertoire of international cuisines, an 8-hole indoor golf course and driving range, and Asia’s first Pevonia Spa. There is also a cosmetic surgery located next to the Pevonia Spa, where guests can come and get their cosmetic surgery and then relax at the hotel until they make a full recovery. The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul function space hosts gatherings from intimate executive board meetings to large-scale conventions. Among the hotel’s flexible meeting and event venues are the fabulous Grand Ballroom and generous pre-function areas. A team of talented chefs is on hand to present catered affairs both onsite and outside the hotel. Specialties include Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and other international cuisines, and individual menu requests are easily accommodated. Discerning guests staying at any one of the rooms at the Club Level can enjoy the access to the Club Lounge which offers complimentary food and drinks five times a day, plus complimentary access to meetings rooms, but above else offers the peace of mind that you can while away your time in quiet surroundings away from the hustle & bustle. How to get here: If you are arriving at Seoul Incheon International Airport, then take the clean, air-conditioned and efficient Limousine bus operated by Korean Airlines. It costs about $ US 16 one-way to go from the airport straight to The Ritz-Carlton hotel, and takes around 40-minutes. As with courtesy in South Korean culture, before I bordered, the driver bowed to me out of respect. You may also use the very clean, efficient, and inexpensive metro. It is a one-minute walk from Exit 4 at Sinnonhyeon Station, subway Line 9. Gangnam subway station, on Line 2, is only a three-minute car trip or an easy eight-minute walk. Incheon International Airport is approximately a 60-to-90 minute drive from our downtown hotel, and Gimpo Airport is approximately a 30-minute trip on Line 9, making staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Seoul an obvious choice for international guests.  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh  Photo Copyright Navjot Singh |
Get in Touch:LIFE MATTERSHere I share my thoughts
and experiences during my travels, and how some things have affected my life as an expat and world traveller. Travelling is about capturing that moment in life. Every word, view and opinion on this page is that of Navjot Singh - except where indicated. The most recent is at the top. Scroll down to read the archive. Or search using CTRL+F (COMMAND + F) and enter a keyword to search the page. Just some of the stories you never heard before. The NAVJOT-SINGH.COM web blog is separate to this web site....Click blog, which may not be visible in some countries due to local firewall restrictions, so in those cases this weblog may be read. The weblog also includes some of my press trip reports- most of which are not published on the official blog because of copyright issues. The weblog also contains articles that may be associated directly with a PR trip for a country, airline or a hotel. These are PR reviews done in relations with various companies. If you are an investor or a trend watcher then you may find this website useful as investing has a lot to do with personal observations and finding the ideal trend or next big thing. The average human on the street frequently knows far more about the state of the economy than politicians, university professors, subject matter experts, and financial analysts who seldom travel, or if they do so, only from one hotel to another hotel! The pulse and vibrancy of an economy is nowhere more visible than on a country's streets. 
All photos and words are © Navjot Lauda unless stated. Photos taken by others or by agencies are appropriately copyrighted under the respective name. No photo or word/s may be taken without the prior written permission by the author (i.e. Navjot Lauda). All Rights Reserved. 
Navjot being interviewed by Cecila Lu at GDTV.
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