Hun Mi has since accomplished her goal and now hosts a monthly dart league for ladies only. Tournaments run for four weeks and begin on the first Sunday of every month. At 5 pm, one can find teams of 15 women throwing to their hearts’ content. All women are encouraged to come out and participate in this unique event. Teams are divided by skill level, ranging from beginner to advanced, and the entry fee is a mere 20,000 won per team. Prizes are awarded at the end of each month.

Bull’s Darts Bar boasts five boards with various games available starting at 500 won per player. Though 501 tends to be the most popular x01 game, players can opt to play a short game of 301 or a longer game of up to 1501. Each electronic board has the option of other popular games, including Cricket, for up to eight players at a time. Walk in on any given night, and you can find a decent mixture of Koreans and foreigners tossing like there is no tomorrow. The bar not only sells darts, tips, fliers, and cases, but they also have blue lit shelves where you can keep your personal sets and come in to use them at any given time. If you don’t have your own darts, the bar will gladly provide some for you.

In addition to the games, the bar itself is quite lively. The floor and ceiling are lined with soothing blue lights that reflect a cool and welcoming atmosphere. The bar is fully stocked, and most cocktails are only 7000 won. There is even a specialty drink on their menu called a P.S. I Love You. It’s a tasty blend of Kahlua, Bailey’s, amaretto, and milk, shaken over ice, and served in a martini glass. There is also a wide selection of bottled beer, including Miller Lite, Heineken Dark, and Guinness. And, at a bargain of 3500 won, they have Red Rock on tap. If alcohol is not your forte, Bull’s also serves delectable non-alcoholic beverages like piña coladas and daiquiris as well as snack plates with cheese sticks, fruit, vegetables, or chicken just to name a few.

To get to Bull’s, hop a cab to Holly’s Coffee in City Hall. From there, head straight down the street directly to the left of the coffee shop and take the first right. Keep going straight towards the building with a gazillion neon signs. Bull’s Darts Bar is down the set of steps on the far left of the flashy building. Bull’s opens at 7 pm every day. It closes at 4 am on the weekdays and 5 am on the weekends. For more information about the women’s dart league or for any other questions you may have, call 064-759-5559 or visit the website at www.dartskorea.co.kr. Happy throwing!

Nestled in the heart of Shin Jeju is a little place I like to call Beer Heaven. Modern Time is a local brew pub that opened in 2006 and was the brainchild of a great man and his nephew. Boris de Mesones is originally from Spain, learned to brew beer in Germany, and resides in Korea. He’s fluent in 3½ languages and brews a hell of a good beer.

Who is Boris?

Boris was born in Spain to a Spanish man and German woman. While they raised him in Spain, they often visited family in Germany. Boris obtained a degree in Economics in Spain after his two-year mandatory military service as a paratrooper. When he was 29, he moved to England to study for an MBA. He didn’t speak English, so Boris took a very intensive course before starting school, went on to complete his degree, and got into the banking business.

In the meantime, Boris had become interested in brewing beer for fun in the mid-90s. He started off with books at home and moved on to frequenting pubs in the London area in search of knowledge while studying for his masters. When the banking business became boring, Boris decided that he wanted to formally study the art of brewing, and, after much research, settled on a brewing school in Germany. At 35, Boris began his brewmaster training and met his future wife, a Korean woman from Jeju studying for her PhD at a Berlin university.

Coming to Korea

Upon completion of his third degree, Boris moved back to Spain where he and his wife were married in the summer of 2003. They decided to move to Korea, and Boris began to look at his options for work. He then found the European Training Program in Korea, a very selective program set up by the EU that sends individuals to study at a university and set up a business in Korea to further business and economic relations between the two nations. He was selected as one of eight people for the program that year, and they moved to Korea in February of 2004.
Combining his hobby and business training, Boris decided to open a brewery in Jeju. With no suppliers, the production of his own product, no middleman, and constant cash flow, he had the perfect economical concept. At the time, his wife’s nephew, Jeon Bo-Su (전보수), was completing his masters in fermentation at Jeju National University, and the two of them collaborated ideas on how to put the business from paper into reality.

Opening Modern Time

They opened Modern Time in July of 2006, finished building the brewery and had their first batches of beer ready to sell by October. It takes four to eight weeks to make beer, and they have nine 1000L tanks to make this happen. Every ten days, Boris can be found brewing beer from only the finest ingredients, one of which is imported malt from Germany or Belgium. Amongst other key ingredients to add flavor and colour to the beers, such as the Stout or the Double Bock, Boris makes beer in an unusual way. He doesn’t use any filtration system, which is not a typical practice. When I asked how this was possible, he said that he couldn’t reveal any of his secrets, but that is does have to do with the proper yeast and temperature.

At Modern Time, you will find a very warm, welcoming environment in which to unwind with a frosty beverage. At any given time, Boris has at least six brews on the menu at very reasonable prices. These currently include the Jeju Boris, Pilsner, Pale Ale, Wheat, Stout, and Double Bock. When I asked Boris which of these is his favourite, he replied with, “You mean, which one is my favourite today?” Take it from the brewmaster to be sure and try several while you’re there, as each batch is different and becomes better with age.

Hours of Operation: Sunday-Monday, Noon-2AM

Getting there: From Jeju Grand Hotel and Casino, head up one block to Jaewon Ro (제원로) and take a right. Modern Time is on the second floor a few doors down on the right. You can’t miss their bold beer-colored sign and malting tanks residing in the window. You can contact Modern Time at 064-748-4180.

What’s on the menu?

But this is the real deal. There’s no corn in the spaghetti, no pizza topped with sweet potatoes, but rather an entire menu filled with the type of food you would expect from a quality bar and grill back home. There’s a cheeseburger made from real beef (yes beef, that stuff in Korea that’s worth more than most black market organs), Philly cheese steak, fish ‘n’ chips, steak and Guinness pie, meatball subs, a terrific selection of steaks, pastas and pizzas and, my personal favorite, the buffalo chicken sandwich. To wash it down, Gecko’s offers Guinness, Red Rock, Heineken and Erdinger on tap, along with a number of different imported and domestic beers, shots and mixed drinks.

The sandwiches run at about 10,000 won apiece while steaks are around 22,000. When you’re done with dinner, there are darts and pool to pass the time. Completing the mood is Gecko’s musical selection, playing nothing but your favorite tunes from back home. They’ve even compiled a music list of frequent ex-pat requests, and will find any other songs you may be yearning to hear.

Gecko’s problematic location

But those aren’t the only reasons Gecko’s could be considered a Mecca for Western food on Jeju. Like most meaningful religious experiences (whether they come in the form of a cheeseburger and Guinness or otherwise) there first must come a long and demanding demonstration of one’s faith, like a penance or pilgrimage. Gecko’s is no different. Having been built on the western outskirts of Jungmun, it lies far from Jeju’s major population centres.

- It’s approximately a 50-minute journey from Jeju-si.
- 25 minutes from Seogwipo by car.
- A taxi from Seogwipo currently costs 11,000 won.
- The nearest bus stop is just off the Jungmun Tourist Complex (serviced by the 120 bus).
- A 10-15 minute walk westwards to follow.

The location seems to have been chosen to take advantage of convention and tourist business, but it makes all but weekend visits difficult for local ex-pats.

Nevertheless, Gecko’s dreadful winter time location may become a boon in the summer. Its sprawling deck and barbeque pit will no doubt be an inviting way to end a day at the beaches in Jungmun or for a post game drink after a Jeju United match.

So if a taste of home is what you crave, be sure to make the trip out to Gecko’s.

]]> http://jejulife.net/2008/05/25/geckos/feed/ 1 http://jejulife.net/2008/04/15/thedomenightclub/ http://jejulife.net/2008/04/15/thedomenightclub/#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:07:17 +0000 Sara Stillman http://jejulife.net/2008/04/15/the-dome-nightclub/

The Jeju Aroma Superdome Nightclub
Story and photos by Sara Stillman

The Jeju Aroma Super Dome Nightclub (which opened in Dec 2007) is perhaps the flashiest nightclub on Jeju. When you first enter it may seem a lot like other Korean nightclubs: there is a large low-lit area with tables (that seat about 1200 people), pumping music, and a lot of staff. It has 4 floors (with 100 small rooms and 10 large rooms) and a good-sized dance floor up by the stage. But that’s where the major similarities end. The design of the interior is impressive to say the least. Behind the main stage are high folding metal walls that look like they belong to the Dome in Zion in The Matrix. They have bright lasers shooting from the stage, a large fountain, and a smaller stage that lowers DJs and bands from the ceiling. And then there’s the Super Dome itself.

According to the Dome Nightclub, the Super Dome is made from NASA technology that until just recently had two panels. They claim it is the first dome using new technology that allows for 8 plates and is bigger then any other one of its kind in the world: costing 6,000,000,000 won to build. The Dome Nightclub is applying to the Guinness Book of World Records for the first dome of its kind. The plates open from the centre outwards and then raise up. It may sound pretty simple– but experience it and it truly feels like you are in a space ship that’s opening its roof to the galaxy. The lasers light it up in a kaleidoscope of colours to a Star Wars theme song while the panels slowly spread apart revealing the night sky. And if that isn’t enough, romantic music plays afterwards while manufactured snow falls from above on thrilled spectators- perhaps decreasing your chances of going home alone.

The Dome Nightclub opens at 7 pm and a myriad of performances run from 7:30 pm and continue through 4:45 am. The night typically begins with a DJ, then a band at 8 pm, and the first gag show at 10:00 pm. These acts rotate and keep the club pumping and the guests entertained until they see the roof of the dome open up at 10:30 pm and 1:30 am. (In the summer there will be three chances to see the dome open). Shows are different every day of the week and then rotate for a month. Performers are brought in from the mainland on 3-month contracts. Men and women alike may appreciate the “Sexy Dance” competition currently being hosted by the Dome on Saturday nights. For the past month, they’ve been giving away a motorbike every week to the best dancer. The owner of the Dome explains the enthusiastic response to the competition is due to the changing minds of young people who have been influenced by Western culture. So a lot of people are volunteering to get up on stage.

Go to the Dome with a group of four and it’s actually quite a reasonable night out- assuming you’re not just out to drink. You’ll pay 49,000 won altogether and that includes 3 bottles of beer and a nice plate of fruit. For more than 4 people, you’ll have to pay for at least two tables. As for the reserved rooms, you’re looking at spending 220,000 won for a room that fits ten people. This includes a bottle of whiskey and fruit. They also have 10 large rooms for parties up to 80 people.

A note on booking: If you’ve frequented other nightclubs in Korea then you’ve most likely encountered booking. It is a service where nightclub staff introduces single men and women to each other. So if you’re feeling adventurous, you can ask the staff to hook you up- which basically entails being led to a private room, exchanging “hellos” and names, and perhaps sharing a drink. At any time (usually after a brief introduction) you can politely excuse yourself and go back to the dance floor. Be prepared to get a lot of attention if you go out with a group of single women: staff members will try to book you but if you’re not interested be firm.

The website is worth checking out even if you don’t understand Korean. But beware. There are video spoilers of the dome opening up that simply don’t do justice to the experience itself. The web address is: http://jejudom.com/

Directions: Ask a cab driver and they will most likely know where “The Dome” in downtown Sin Jeju is. However, if you have any trouble finding it, go to the Milano Crown Hotel.

Phone: 064-749-8990