Linus 'Bama BBQ Invades Itaewon's HBC Neighborhood, and what an invasion!

Address: 37-5 Yongsandong 2(i)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Good news to American-style barbecue lovers, carnivores and foodies in Korea, the father of Southern BBQ in Korea, Linus Kim, brings his mouth-watering Southern 'Bama-style barbeque to the Haebangchon district of Itaewon, Seoul. HBC, as it is fondly called by the locals, will be getting almost the same menu as the original Linus Barbecue joint on the Itaewon main drag (well somewhat along the main drag, the original Linus is right behind McDonald's, near the Noksapyeong subway entrance). The only difference is that all the platters will be getting a side of smoked chicken.

The new Linus place is located in HBC on the main road further up the hill before you reach Olde Knives. There's no sign yet outside but the building is also occupied by S'take

So there's the bar on the first floor, with stools facing the barkeep and some facing the street for some people-watching.  The drink menu is on point, with special mention of the Long Peach teas and the very tasty Mojitos. For the non-drinkers, the No-jito (non-alcoholic version of the latter) is quite tasty despite the lack of rum.

The very yummy Nojito.

For those who want to come and get down to the business of eating good meat, the second floor is where you want to be. The style is modern and minimalist, as if they want you to mainly focus on the food (and you should). Good ol' country music blasts on the muzak. There's long benches and tables, not so comfy for those wanting cushioned seating. But once the platters of mouth-watering bbq hit the table, you wouldn't care.

Now let's get down to business. This is the menu.

Like what I mentioned before, the difference with the menu here in the HBC branch is that the platters all come with the tasty smoked chicken. Also, they have one of the juiciest sausages I have ever had in my mouth (wink-wink) called Hot Guts. To eat these tasty spicy bad boys, you need to stuff one between your buns, slather with white sauce (oh the sexual puns I can add to this) and top with the raw red onion slices that you uncover under the Hot Guts. To quote a NatGeo food host - "That is one of the tastiest things I ever had in my mouth for a very long time."

Even vegetarians are welcome here. But seriously, why???

I've made you wait for this so here are the food porn pics. Enjoy!

The Brisket Platter

The Pulled Pork Platter

The chicken was somewhat pink in the center but Linus assured us that it was thoroughly cooked. Believe me it was.

We tried out the other sides. Here we have the Deep-Fried Mac&Cheese balls, Deep Fried Pickles and Deep Fried Okra. Everything was delish and we had to order another round of these fingerlicking sides.

And here is the crazy company I keep.

Me with Jovita and Amanda

Amanda and crazy Jen (she turns to James when the sun goes down)

With new besties, Megan and Lauren. Oh that's my youngest on the far right.

And with the main man himself, Linus. If you ever in Itaewon or HBC and you have a riproaring hunger to take care of, you should def see him for GREAT barbecue. Tell him I sent you. 

On the 7th day, God said "Let the meat rest..."

*Food pics shameless stolen from the crazy company who invaded the Linus HBC joint with me. Thanks Megan, Jovita, Jennifer, Amanda and Lauren!

Traveling to Korea for Cosmetic/Medical Purposes? Introducing Medical Korea Information Center - Your One-Stop Help Center

When tourists come to Korea, most get lured to this beautiful Asian country with the gorgeous scenery and high-paced city life from Korean dramas sweeping across the globe. But a different kind of traveler is now flocking the airports of Korea. The number of visitors from all over have come to Korea for high-quality plastic surgery and or medical services. The quality of healthcare and advancement in cosmetic surgery has placed South Korea as a leader in worldwide healthcare. It even surpassed Brazil, the former plastic surgery capital in the world. This phenomenon is now known as "Medical Tourism", and boy is it booming for Korea.

Now for the first-time medical traveler, it can be daunting trying to find the right doctor or procedure to be done. Well, the Medical Korea Information Center (MKIC) is here to help.
  

The center is operated by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea

What is MKIC? It's a  one-stop service platform for foreign patients to reserve and pay Korean medical services and non-medical services (such as finding accommodations, arranging for airport pick-ups, translations in several languages, etc.).   The center will help the prospective medical tourist with applying for visas aside from providing information on the various health institutions around the country and medical services that they can avail. There's also a comprehensive guidance on cosmetic surgery with a VAT refund to boot! Don't speak Korean? Don't worry, the MKIC will help with translations in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic. The MKIC staff  can deliver professional medical and legal information.

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Interested in also traveling all over the country and see the sights? The center will guide visitors where to eat, shop or even arrange tours.

Get to try medicinal herbal tea and making your own oriental medicinal soap in the center.

The center is comfy and welcoming, providing a place for relaxation and a meeting for tourists. Visitors can avail of  free Korean traditional medicine consultations including measurement of pulse rate and personal constitution diagnosis.     

This Oriental Medicine procedure is called "cupping". Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin.

Through suction, the skin is drawn into the cup by creating a vacuum in the cup placed on the skin over the targeted area. The vacuum can be created either by the heating and subsequent cooling of the air in the cup, or via a mechanical pump,

The cup is usually left in place for somewhere between five and fifteen minutes. It is believed by some to help treat pain, deep scar tissues in the muscles and connective tissue, muscle knots, and swelling.

 The center can also help with coordinating between patients and medical providers or agencies with regards to patient complaints or malpractice (should the need arises). This gives peace of mind for visitors if the worst happens.  They also provide a haven to report illegal brokers and also provide information on rewards when one reports an illegal medical broker.

The MKIC Platform provides Medical Korea Reservation"  for health check-ups, cosmetic surgery and access to traditional Korean medicine.

One-stop service platform for foreign patients to reserve and pay for Korean medical services and non-medical services 

The MKIC prides itself as a one-stop health services center that does not only provide assistance to tourists but also fun activities and services such as:

*Free Hanbok (Korean Traditional Costume) Picture session (we will provide exquisite Hanboks for free, you get to dress up and at the end, the visitor gets a Polaroid picture of his/her experience)

*Free baggage storage service for tourists in the Myeongdong District as part of the (Myeongdong Hands Free service)

For more information, visit the Medical Korea Information Center and book your beauty trip now! 

Medical Korea Information Center 

  -  2F, Shinil Building, Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea

  - Tel : 1577-7129, From Abroad +82-1577-7129

  - Website : www.visitmedicalkorea.com

  - E-mail : callmcc@khidi.or.kr

  - Business Hours : Mon to Fri 9:00~18:00

***Info and pictures provided by Koreaners group.

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Walking over water - Gaudo Island bridge

Still at the second part of our Free Tour to Buan, Wando and Guado island, it was time to go an island. But instead of taking a ferry or a car over a to the island, we walked over water! No, no, no, we didn't do a Jesus-thing. We literally walked on a pedestrian bridge from mainland Korea to Gaudo island.

Walking to the bridge, still on the Korean peninsula.

Finally on the bridge

Some of us were dancing over the bridge.

Obligatory selfie over the bridge.

Playing around.

Mother and son selfie on the bridge.

Finally on the Guado island! It was about a 15 minute walk, maybe 20 minutes for slowpokes like me. But when I saw the island, you bet I hurried my turtle pace.

I was  finally on the island! And at the beach and this tropical girl is happy. Never mind that the water is dark and filthy, and the weather is cold and grey.

The water was muddy, rocky and filled with oyster shells and oil slicks.

But hey, I am still happy. I smelled the fresh, salty beach breeze.

Back off dude! This is my rock! Can't you see I am celebrating here???

Our tour mates having selfie fun.

When the whole group finally assembled on the rocky beach, it was time for a beach dance party!

Kevin the Tour Guide brought his Bluetooth Speaker and blasted dance tunes on the beach.

Yeah, let's boogie, twerk that butt and bring it down low!

Everyone is having a blast.

Spawn actually found a nice bracelet when he was looking at the rocks and shells.

This was a great part of the tour.

Wish I had my kitchen, because we passed a number of shellfish and octopus vendors. Everything was so fresh and smelled of the sea.