Our Trip to the Grand Canyon: A Guide for Your Grand Canyon Tour

On May 9, we were off to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon South Rim is about 5~6 hours away from Cedar City, Utah, where we’ve been living for the last two years. To break up the long drive, we stayed in Tuba City, Arizona. More than 90% of the population in Tuba City is Native American, and it looked like a small poor town. But it was an okay place to stay a night and eat a quick dinner at McDonalds. It’s only one hour away from the East Entrance of the Grand Canyon National Park. Williams and Flagstaff are towns closer to the park.


The next day we finally set foot on the Grand Canyon. The entrance fee was $25 (per private vehicle), but if we had walked or biked there it would have been $12 per person. The ticket is valid for a week. First we went to the Desert View Watchtower. We looked over the canyon and it was amazing, but it was just the beginning of our amazement. We stopped at most of the main scenic points, including Navajo Point, Lipan Point, Moran Point and Grandview Point. We liked Moran Point because we liked the glow of Red Canyon. Grandview Point was a bit disappointing. We thought it would be grander because of the name, Grandview Point.

We wanted to go to Yaki Point but it was accessible only by the shuttle bus. So we went to the Visitor Center and got some information. The announcement board read that the temperature for that day was 39~63 degrees Fahrenheit and the sunset would be at 7:23 p.m. After the center, we had lunch at the Market Plaza. We got sandwiches and they tasted decent. With a full stomach, we checked into Yavapai Lodge close to the Market Plaza.

There are seven in-park lodges, including El Tovar Hotel ($174~426), Bright Angel Lodge ($69~174), Kachina Lodge ($170~180), Thunderbird Lodge ($170~180), Maswik Lodge ($90~170) and Yavapai Lodge ($107~153). The other one is Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. We actually wanted to stay at El Tovar or Bright Angel, but they were all booked out except Yavapai. Yavapai Lodge is conveniently located close to a bank, a post office and the Market Plaza (food and snacks available there) and the room was very clean and comfortable. All other lodges are along the Village Route where you can get fine dining at the Arizona Room or the El Tovar Dining Room. Also they are closer to the bus stop for the Hermits Rest Route.
※ For in-park hotel reservations: http://grandcanyonlodges.com

The Hermits Rest Route is accessible only by the shuttle, which runs every 15 minutes. This route is a must. Scenic points on this route are a lot deeper, grander and more amazing than those on the other two routes, although Moran Point on the Kaibab Trail Route and the Yavapai Observation Station on the Village Route were very good too. The Grand Canyon was grand from every viewpoint as the name says, and offered different features from every perspective. So we would recommend that you at least stop by all the main scenic points.

Our favorite scenic spot was Mohave Point because we could enjoy the glowing canyon along with a view of the Colorado River. For a river view, Pima Point may be the best. The Abyss offers a decent view but you may want to skip this one if you don’t have enough time. At the Hermits Rest, the last stop, you can go to a restroom and get some snacks or gifts. On its return, the bus stops only at Pima, Mohave and Powell Points. So we skipped Mohave and Powell on the way to the Hermits Rest so that we could watch the sunset at Hopi Point. We heard Hopi Point was a favorite spot for the sunset view at the Grand Canyon because it is the highest point at the South Rim and offers the most panoramic view.

On the shuttle’s return trip, we got off at Mohave and Powell Points, and walked from Powell Point to the Hopi Point to watch the sunset. Powell and Hopi Points are close to each other. We sat at Hopi Point and ate some snacks we got at the Hermits Rest and waited for the sunset. As the sunset was approaching, it got pretty cold. We were looking at the sky and shivering, hoping the sun would go down soon. As the sun was slowly going down, it gave off patterns of shade on the walls of the Grand Canyon. It was a spectacular view that was definitely worth waiting in the cold for over an hour. After the sunset, we got on the bus at Hopi Point and got off near the Bright Angel Lodge and went to the Arizona Room at the Bright Angel for dinner. J.J. got a 10 oz New York strip steak ($24.40) and Gina got an 8 oz grilled rib eye ($21.75). Both were NOT good.

The next morning it snowed. Due to the high elevation, the weather in the Grand Canyon can change abruptly. But we still wanted to see Yaki Point, which we didn’t go to the other day because we were driving. Yaki Point is the only main scenic point on the Kaibab Trail Route that doesn’t allow non-residential private vehicles. In the shuttle bus, we overheard some people saying that their family came to the Grand Canyon sometime during the summer and stayed a couple days but never saw the canyon due to the weather. So, make sure to check the forecast before planning your trip to the Grand Canyon. Fortunately for us, the snow stopped and we could still see the canyon in the clouds, which looked more mysterious and beautiful. And we met a squirrel that was the first and only animal we saw at the canyon during our stay.

The Grand Canyon was really expansive and amazing to see, but we personally think Bryce Canyon in Utah has more unique and interesting features. Both are great places to visit if you take a trip to Las Vegas or the American West in general. Oh, you should know that the Skywalk is not a part of the Grand Canyon National Park. It’s actually a 5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon South Rim and is closer to Las Vegas. The Skywalk is in the Hualapai Indian tribe reservation so you need to buy a pass to enter the reservation as well as a ticket to the Skywalk. So the cost of walking on the Skywalk ends up being about $75, and we heard that no personal pictures are allowed.

If you are planning to visit the Grand Canyon, you may want to include Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah. They are not too far from the Grand Canyon and have a different kind of natural beauty that the Grand Canyon doesn’t have. On the way to these parks, you’ll go through Kanab, which is a cozy town where a lot of westerns have been filmed.

※ To read this article in Korean (한국어로 보시려면)? http://blog.naver.com/mstarcom1/80108746980

Kimchi Fusion Taco Recipe

Tacos are a traditional Mexican food that is popular in the United States. But they are usually considered an everyday American food rather than an ethnic food. There is probably no place in the United States that does not have a taco restaurant!

On February 24, 2009, the New York Times covered an interesting story about the emergence of Korean Mexican fusion tacos in Los Angeles. A taco vendor called ‘Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go’ was making Kimchi tacos, which ended up becoming a sensation. About a month before the news broke, we started sharing our own Kimchi taco recipes on Youtube.

As a Korean-American couple, our daily life itself is a fusion. We like traditional Korean food, such as Bulgogi, Doenjang jjigae, Kimchi jjigae, Samgyupsal, Japchae and so on. But we also enjoy creating fusion food, especially by using Kimchi. Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish that comes with every Korean meal. Basically, it is a spicy fermented cabbage. We tried a lot of Kimchi fusion recipes, including Kimchi tacos, Kimchi tuna sandwiches, Kimchi pizzas, Kimchi spaghetti, Kimchi hamburgers and Kimchi hot dogs. Kimchi tacos turned out to be the best. So, we would like to share our Kimchi fusion taco recipe with you. It’s simple to follow.

To make Kimchi fusion tacos, you will need to prepare the ingredients listed below:
Kimchi, olive oil, ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, garlic, black olives, taco seasoning, tortillas (flour or corn), shredded cheese

Note: Kimchi in a jar is available in many large grocery stores in the United States, including Fred Myers. But it’ll be best if you can get Kimchi from a Korean grocery store in your neighborhood because they tend to be cheaper and taste better. You don’t need much hot sauce because Kimchi adds the spiciness that you need!

Okay, here are the simple cooking steps to follow:

STEP1: Cook ground beef in a pan.
STEP2: Stir minced garlic into the beef (optional, if you like healthier tacos – garlic is good for you) * Keep chopping the beef while you are cooking to get it into small pieces.
STEP3: Stir chopped mushrooms into the beef.
STEP4: Add taco seasoning (with some water) to the beef, and mix it with the beef.
STEP5: Sautee the Kimchi in another pan until it turns yellow.
STEP6: Mix the sautéed Kimchi with the taco beef.
STEP7: Prepare taco fixings. Chop tomatoes, onions and lettuce. Open cans of black olives. Now everything's ready to serve.
STEP8: Put all the ingredients, including the Kimchi-taco beef mix and taco fixings on a tortilla.

Watch our Kimchi fusion taco cooking video. It’ll help you follow the steps.

If you like our video, please give us thumbs up and comments on Youtube. Also share it with your friends.

Come to Korean Cultural Day in Cedar City!

Cedar City, Festival City USA, is hosting its first Korean Cultural Day on Monday, September 28. The event will feature Korean traditional dance, a Korean traditional dress (Hanbok) fashion show, music, and Korean food.

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Korean Traditional Dance The essence of traditional Korean dance will be presented through some of the most representative dance styles of Korea: Ipchum (the rudimentary dance of all Korean folk dance), Taepyeongmu(an elegant and sophisticated dance in brilliant court costumes; click to watch), and Sogochum (a vibrant folk dance with small drums).

Hanbok Fashion Show Hanbok refers to the Korean traditional style of dress, which is often characterized by the use of vibrant colors, elegant curves and simple lines. The fashion show will feature a number of different examples of this beautiful traditional style.

Mixed Chorus Examples of traditional and contemporary Korean and western music will be performed. This will include a performance of the widely loved and well known Korean folk song, Arirang.

Korean Food Korean food is known for being spicy, flavorful and healthy. Samples of Korean food will be available for tasting. This includes Kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage), Japchae (stir fried noodles and vegetables) and Bulgogi(grilled marinated beef).
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The event is FREE, so bring your friends and family for a night of food and fun!

Korean Cultural Day Program

7:00 Korean Food Tasting

7:30 Opening
- Welcome Address by Gerald R. Sherratt, Mayor of Cedar City
- Welcome Address by Jaewon Kim, Director of Korean Cultural Center

- Seoul Chorus
Ulsan Lady (Korean Folk Song), Love Me Tender, Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

- Ae-jin Kim, Heather Chang
Now & Forever (Modern Dance)

- Jang Yoon Jung Dance Group
Ipchum (Korean Traditional Dance)

- Korean Traditional Costume Hanbok Fashion Show
(Supported by Canyon View High School)

- Jang Yoon Jung
Taepyoungmu (Korean Traditional Dance)

- Flavor Steps
Break Dance

- Jang Yoon-Jung
Sogochum (Korean Traditional Dance)

- Ji, Yoon Ja Group
Korean Folk Song, Let it be

- Ji, Yoon Ja
Gayageum Sanjo

- Korean Traditional and Modern Performance
Featuring: Kim, Ae-jin/Flavor Steps/Jang Yoon Jung

-Concerted Singing
Arirang (Seoul Chorus & Jiyoonja), God Bless America

-Closing
Sunny Lee

Why a Korean Cultural Day in Cedar City?
The Korean Cultural Day in Cedar City is an example of the continuing development of the long relationship between Cedar City and Gapyeong, South Korea. In fact, Cedar City has an important place in the history between the United States and South Korea. During the Korean War, the 213th Field Artillery Battalion, headquartered in Cedar City, sent 600 soldiers to Korea. A documentary called “Miracle at Kap Yong: The Story of the 213th” was produced to tell the story of how the soldiers successfully defended Gapyeong from the attack of a much larger communist force. On September 27th of 2008, the Korean War veterans were remembered and celebrated with the dedication of the Korean War Memorial in Cedar City.

And in June of 2009, veterans from the 213th visited South Korea to return to the site of the famous battle at Gapyeong. A documentary called “Hello Gapyeong, Goodbye Sammy: The story of old soldiers” was also produced about the veterans’ trip to South Korea and their memories of their service.

The Korean Cultural Day in Cedar City is the most recent expression of this long relationship. It will provide the people of Cedar City the opportunity to learn more about and celebrate the unique culture of the country that their veterans helped to liberate. After the event, this relationship will be strengthened even further through the formal establishment of a sister city relationship between Cedar City and Gapyeong.
※Related articles: Deseret News (Southern Utah memorial salutes veterans of the Korean War), KCSG (Korean War Memorial Dedicated), SUU News (Memorial honors Cedar City, Richfield soldiers' efforts in South Korea)

Where is the Korean Cultural Day event?
Heritage Center (105 North 100 East, Cedar City, UT)

Click to see the location on Google Map
Click to get driving directions (Heritage Center)

Any Questions about the Korean Cultural Day?
Please call 432-865-2882 or email at mstarcom1@gmail.com

Cedar City Lodging & Hotel Information - click.
Cedar City Restaurant Information - click.

About Cedar City
Cedar City is a beautiful town near Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. These two parks were both selected this year by Forbes.com to be in the list of the 10 best national parks in America. Also, Forbes Traveler selected Bryce Canyon as one of the most astonishing landscapes in the world. Zion National Park is one hour away and Bryce Canyon National Park is two hours away, while the sights and sounds of Las Vegas are only two and a half hours from Cedar City. Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah, is three and a half hours away.

As Festival City USA, Cedar City offers festivals and events to enjoy throughout the year, including the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespearean Festival. And new to Cedar City this year is the Korean Cultural Day! Don't miss it!

Korean Barbecue: Samgyupsal with Kimchi

One of the unique experiences you can get in Korea is to grill your own meat in a restaurant. Many restaurants in Korea have grills at the tables, and customers cook their meat exactly the way they like. Samgyupsal is probably the most popular type of meat for Korean barbecue. It is made from pork belly strips, the same part Americans use for bacon. Samgyupsal is inexpensive and delicious. Samgyupsal has always been one of J.J’s favorite Korean foods.

When you go to a Samgyupsal restaurant, you don’t need to wait to be seated. Just go sit at any table available. Servers will bring you a menu and water. To order Samgyupsal, you should get at least two or three servings. It will cost less than 30,000 won (around 30 US dollar). Samgyupsal will be served with a dipping sauce called Ssamjang (paste). It also usually comes with a side of sliced garlic and peppers, onions, mushrooms and lettuce. Then it’s barbecue time!


You can cook anything on the grill with the Samgyupsal. When we barbecue, we also grill garlic, mushrooms, onions and Kimchi along with the Samgyupsal. Even if you don’t really like the taste or smell of raw Kimchi, try grilled Kimchi with Samgyupsal. Kimchi tastes strong, but when it’s grilled until it turns yellow it becomes much milder. The subtle spice of grilled Kimchi goes very well with the flavor of Samgyupsal. That’s how J.J. started enjoying Kimchi and our American family and friends also like it. Also, Kimchi is healthy because it’s a fermented vegetable made with a lot of garlic.

As you probably know, pork should always be thoroughly cooked. When the Samgyupsal gets close to being cooked, cut it into bite size pieces using the scissors provided at the table. Wait until the Samgyupsal is well done and the Kimchi becomes caramelized. Then, grab a piece of lettuce and put it in your palm. Yes, you have to use your hand. So, clean your hands with the hot towel that you’ll be given at the restaurant. Put a couple pieces of Samgyupsal into the lettuce, and then get some of the sauce using your chopsticks and put it on your Samgyupsal. You can also add Kimchi, garlic, pepper and/or onions if you like. Wrap it just like you would do with soft-shell tacos and enjoy!



If you want more side dishes such as lettuce and Kimchi, ask for more. No extra charge will be added. There’s another thing that you need to know before you go to a Korean restaurant. Servers usually won’t check on your table after the food is served. Instead, you call them whenever you need something. Many restaurants in Korea have a bell on each table. When you need a server, just push the button. A server will come to your table shortly. If there’s no bell, raise your hand and say “Yoe-Gi-Yo” at a volume that you think a server can hear. The phrase means “here”, implying that something is needed.

About the time you are done eating, a server will bring you Doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and a bowl of rice. Or, you might be given the choice between Doenjang jjigae and Naengmyun (cold buckwheat noodles). We usually get Doenjang jjigae, which is a popular traditional dish. It’s good to try it if you are visiting Korea. But if you’re too full, Naengmyun may be better. When you are finished you pay the bill at the counter. No tip is expected, but they will appreciate it if you say “Ma-shi-so-yo”(delicious) and “Gam-sa-ham-ni-da”(Thank you).

Take a look at our Samgyupsal video!

Your Own Personal Korea Preview Video

Newcomer to this blog? Watch this video!

※ Youtube URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsWq5VuWi-s

Survival Guide for Traveling in Korea

Taking a trip to a foreign country is exciting and challenging at the same time. We would like to give you some ideas or tips about Korea so that you feel less nervous. Above all, most Koreans are nice and speak at least some English. If you ask for help, they will speak to you in English. Koreans don’t expect foreigners to speak Korean, but if you try to use some Korean they will really appreciate your effort. So, it is a good idea to learn some very basic phrases before going to Korea.
▶ Hello = An-Nyung-Ha-Se-Yo
▶ Thank you = Gam-Sa-Ham-Ni-Da

Of course, eating is one of the first things you need to deal with. Many restaurants in Korea are open until late at night. Especially if you stay in big cities, you can find many restaurants open after midnight. Some Kimbop restaurants are open 24/7. They serve Kimbap and other kinds of Korean food. Many Chinese restaurants are open and deliver 24/7. We used to get Japchae (noodles with stir-fried veggies) and Tang-Soo-Yook (sweet and sour pork) delivered from a Chinese restaurant after 11 p.m. The delivery usually takes less than 20 minutes. No delivery charge or tip is expected.

Food will be delivered in actual dishes, not in disposable ones. The delivery person will come back within a few hours to take the dishes back. If you don’t finish your meal, it is okay to ask them to come back later. You don’t need to wash the dishes. Just put them outside your door. Of course, it will be nice of you to wash the dishes for them. Using actual dishes for delivery is to protect the environment. To throw away garbage, Koreans need to buy certain garbage bags from a store. It is a way to reduce the amount of garbage by making people pay for what they waste and encouraging them to recycle more.

A problem you may encounter is finding a public restroom. There aren’t many public restrooms in Korea. Of course, all restaurants and subway stations have restrooms. Also, if you are in emergency, find a bank or a hospital because they have their restrooms open. Some restrooms don’t have toilet paper. So it’s safe to carry a packet of tissue. Some restrooms have toilet paper, but not in the individual stalls.

Most bathrooms in Korea have drains on the floor of the bathroom – whether at home or in hotels. So it is no problem using water outside the bathtub. You don’t need to look for a shower curtain. Feel free to use the entire bathroom as if it is your shower.

For lodging, some hotels provide free shampoo and rinse, but some don’t. If they don’t, they usually have them in your room for purchase. To save money, carry a portable set of your own. J.J. often feels hot in Korean hotels. If you do, then ask for a fan. Most likely they’ll bring it to your room right away with no charge.

Tourist Attraction in Korea ⑦: Jeju Island

The highlight of our trip to Korea was going to Jejudo. Jejudo is the Korean version of Hawaii. It is a beautiful tourist island. It used to be a popular honeymoon destination among Koreans before oversea travel became more commonplace. Jejudo is well known for three things that are very abundant: women, wind and rocks. There are black rocks everywhere in Jejudo because it is a volcanic island. We saw some very interesting structures made of those volcanic rocks.

The first place we went was Hallim Park. Hallim Park is an ecological park that has subtropical plants and palm trees that you can’t find anywhere else in Korea. One of the trees was 300 years old. J.J. said, “That tree is older than my country!” There are different kinds of birds, including a peacock and an ostrich. There are also two caves and a folk village in the park. We had fun in the folk village looking at the old style Jeju houses and traditional household goods.




On the second day, we climbed up the old volcano called Mt. Halla. There were two hiking trails to choose from to climb the mountain, Eorimok and Yeongsil. We took the Yeongsil trail because we heard it was a bit easier. We drove to 1280m above sea level and started walking up to the destination of Witse Oreum at 1700m above sea level. It wasn’t very steep, but there were a lot of steps. J.J. has flat feet and wasn’t ready for such extensive hiking. He was completely soaked in sweat as if somebody had thrown a bucket of water on him. He said he felt like he was going to pass out, but he made it eventually. Although it was a little hard, we enjoyed seeing the unique flowers, trees and very scenic cliffs. It took us about four hours to climb up and down.


After the climbing, we went back to our hotel and enjoyed the hotel sauna. Nothing feels better than soaking in hot water after extensive walking. Water in Jejudo is very clean.

On the third day, we took a ferry to Udo Island, a small island nearby. Udo is a good place for swimming and tanning. We went to the Geommeolle Beach and the Seobin White Sand Beach. Geommeolle means black sand in the Jeju dialect. As the name implies, the sand is black. The Seobin White Sand Beach is unique because the sand is made of coral. We didn’t swim but just waded in the water for a while. It was raining and it was tough to enjoy Udo on rainy days.





On the last day, we stopped by the Kimnyong Maze Park before heading toward the airport. An American named Dr. Dustin founded this park. The goal is to find the way out of the large maze and ring the bell on a bridge. Most people make it within 30 minutes. We competed with each other. Gina’s dad got out first, mom second, J.J. third and Gina last. Walking through the maze itself was a lot of fun. Also, it was really fun to talk about the experience with each other later on.

Jejudo is a great place to visit. There are a lot of things to experience. Like any other tourist place, everything’s more expensive. Sometimes tips are desired. It’s probably the influence of foreign tourists. If you get a guide, pay a tip of about 15~20% of the total fee. Renting a taxi for the day may be a good idea because local taxi drivers know how to get around. We paid 100,000 won for each day with a 25% of tip to our driver. He was very knowledgeable about Jeju and was a very good tour guide.

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(To read this entry in Korean, please click on the link below)
ⓐ http://blog.naver.com/mstarcom1/80085722108
ⓑ http://blog.naver.com/mstarcom1/80086224595