Ninnaji Temple

Ryoan-ji

Bamboo Grove

The Gaya

I've been craving Korean food for weeks now, perhaps spurred on by the food I see the Running Man Cast members devouring on the show. 

The decor at The Gaya is minimal, providing that simple but traditional Korean aesthetic, common to most other dining experiences in Korea. White paper lanterns and others in red and blue hang from the ceiling, the walls adorned with calligraphy. Stationed far behind the counter and past a curtain is chef and manager Leo, working away and putting together humble but delicious traditional dishes and experimenting with Korean fusion flavours. 

A pot of yuja cha (yuzu), a sweet citrus tea (that I absolutely love and am setting to re-stock up at home again) was ordered, along with the kimchi jijibi and the beef cream roll. Salmon was also soon presented on a slate as part of the entrees. It felt only right to order both traditional and contemporary/fusion dishes when visiting The Gaya.

Out of the three entrees my favourite was the kimchi jijimi. The kimchi was flavoursome, salty and spicy. It did not overshadow the pancake mixture and instead the flavours were well balanced. It was a little oily (Korean cuisine is typical of being oily) but I would rather a mourish pancake than a dry one. It will definitely be something I will order next time and perhaps I don't think I would even consider any of the other jijimi, as I liked this one too much.

The salmon gravlax arrived grouped on a slate rather than piece by piece, however was tender and subtly flavoured with dill and plum and when the salmon pieces were unwrapped was full of tobiko and lettuce. Resembling a flower opening petal by petal was a treat, however using a circular dish for the salmon salad would have been much easier to eat from, as the salmon beautifully bloomed and unfolded, the sauce surrounding it had a tendency to seep off the slate and got a bit messy. I found the beef in the beef roll to be a bit tough to chew and when coupled with a soft centre of a significant amount of cream cheese, it made it difficult to bite the roll into an easy mouthful.

When considering what to order and how much to order, we consulted the staff. They were friendly and attentive, however as the restaurant started to fill up with occupants, it was clear that there were not enough waitstaff to service the many customers in the restaurant. Jason noted that it took about twenty five minutes before our dishes were collected and the dessert order taken. It wasn't something that particularly bothered us as we could see that the restaurant was understaffed and they were booked out, however it would be a good idea to have a third waitstaff servicing on Saturday nights. That said, the food that came out was quick and well presented, making up for the time lost. 

The lovely waitress suggested about two entrees to share and one main each as the mains were substantial enough. Again, opting for traditional Korean, I chose the Gaya Bulgogi. I can't seem to go past bulgogi - this particular dish was served with thin glass noodles, enoki mushrooms, onions and tender strips of beef in a hot pot dish.

Usually bulgogi I have had in the past is always grilled and I was unsure as to whether or not I would still be able to taste that delicious marinade in a soupy hot pot. Sprinkled with thinly sliced spring onions and topped with strips of dehydrated chilli, it still maintained its flavour, proving not to be too rich or salty. The beef was also tender. It was accompanied by soft and fluffy rice, a spicy sauce and the usual Korean side dish affair of kimchi, beansprouts and a carrot pancake. 

I sincerely enjoyed my bulgogi hot pot, barely sharing any with Jason but when I did, he commented on how authentic it tasted, even considering it was in a hot pot - possessing the same flavours as variations of bulgogi he had tried in Seoul. Jason's entree was a fusion "surf and turf" or the correct term, the Gaya T&P. Tuna was grilled on the outside to a medium pink colour and the expertly cooked tiger prawns lay atop two slices of bread and a fennel salad. The fennel salad and celeriac puree were something that we both thought tasted more like an inventive version of gamja (korean potato salad). Overall, Jason favoured the seafood, wanting a few more prawns after he finished the first two.

I couldn't go past the hotteok for dessert, another Korean style of pancake that is popularly sold by vendors in Korea. Stuffed with crunchy brown sugar, pine nuts and sunflower seeds, the pancake is then deep fried. The pancake was fantastic, it was the greasy but sweet hit I needed for dessert, with its warm centre and golden outside. Dusted with cinnamon and sugar, it was topped with honeycomb pieces. I think what would have made the dish would have been thinner honeycomb pieces that didn't have a burnt taste, perhaps instead using thin caramel fragments to accompany it would have been a more subtle change in texture while still remaining true to the same flavours.

Apart from the four mismatched chairs and the tendency of the restaurant to get fairy noisy given there don't appear to be any acoustics in place, this quaint but charming Korean restaurant is still easy to favour. The dishes are all masterfully presented and we found ourselves perked up, glancing over to the dishes that had been brought out to our neighbours. There is no doubting the portions were filling, meaning you get a substantial amount for what you pay for. I felt a bad that I couldn't quite finish everything because it was quite filling (my copious cups of yuja cha were also to blame), but I will definitely be re-visiting to try a few more traditional items on the menu. My next stop is the bibimbap!

There's no faulting the free flow of ideas and the interesting concepts of each fusion dish, however the execution of these concepts are still being finely honed, with a few conflicting ideas presenting themselves on one plate (where concerned with the Gaya T&P for example). Regardless of this, the team at the helm seem deeply invested in getting it right and when they do, I have no doubt it will be the perfect meld of contemporary and modern Korean.

Address:
Shop 3 &4, 3 Kearns Crescent, Ardoss 6153
Opening Hours:
Monday - Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday - Thursday: 5.30pm - 10pm
Friday - Sunday: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5.30pm - 10pm.

A short update

I know I've been a little quiet here, but in a sense it's perhaps a good thing. I'm more than likely out and about shooting things and visiting places - or slacking and deciding to watch all 200 something episodes of Running Man... 

These past few weeks have consisted of constant goings on, places to be and things to photograph. I have been trying for what seems like forever to finally organise my disturbingly messy electronic files and folders on my laptop and keep a somewhat organised work space at home.

I've photographed a beautiful wedding ceremony of a dear friend, of which I can only hope to share a couple of snapshots of - and spent a good portion of that night frolicking on wet grass barefoot, something I haven't done in such a long time. It has been the early mornings and late evenings have seem to be the call of this Autumn season and although I'm burning both ends of the candle, I'm enjoying it. Thoughts on all topics have been sporadic and unrelenting but hopefully I'll find the time to push out those thoughts and (now) older blog posts soon. 

How to use Airbnb - for guests

As I have been scouring Airbnb for accommodation in Europe, I thought it to be a good idea to provide some information on how to use Airbnb. Here's a quick guide regarding the very basic functions of Airbnb and a few tips on what I look for when searching for properties to stay in.

Airbnb is a lodging site that allows hosts the ability to connect with travelers from around the world while renting out their homes. For guests, it is also a fantastic way to make connections and provides the opportunity to live like a local, often for less than the cost of a hotel room. Airbnb covers a wide range of rentals, from small one bedroom apartments to tree top homes.

Getting started

Profile

Your profile is just as important as the profile of the person you are looking to rent from. Reviews, complete profiles, messages and verified ID will add to your credibility. Not to mention a complete profile that is both detailed and accurate will make you attractive to hosts and increase your chances of getting that one popular property. Much like eBay, you're given the opportunity to leave feedback on your host and they can do the same with their guests.

Property search

Like most lodging sites, you are required to input your destination, preferred dates and number of people. All available listings will be then filtered out. Following this, you will then be given the below options to choose from regarding accommodation: 

• Entire Place: The whole house or apartment will be yours. Not even the host will be staying there at the time. 
• Private Room: Your room is private, however communal areas like the kitchen will be shared with the host. Usually properties like these have more than one bedroom. 
• Shared Room: The room (and rest of the property) is shared with your host. 

Other amenities and needs

You can further specify your requests and needs. Choose to select amenities you need - wifi, air-conditioning, a balcony perhaps? Number of beds and bathrooms will also help to fine tune your pickings. Keep in mind that Airbnb tends to also search properties in neighbouring locations so it is a good idea to refer to the map provided on the side to pinpoint each actual property location. Of course, there is also the price range. 

When booking the property, another way to sort is by checking over your host's profile, verification and reviews. Ensure that they have been verified by Airbnb and take a look at their response rate. Of course, reading through reviews is a no brainer in terms of obtaining other information on both the host and the property, but keep in mind that everyone starts out with zero reviews. This doesn't mean they aren't as legitimate as others, but ratings do provide a little more security about the host.

Cancellation policies

Airbnb have varying cancellation policies ranging from "flexible", "moderate" to  "long term". These outline the requirements and specifications on refunds, fees and taxes. For more detailed information, click here. 

Fees

Keep in mind that there may be fees you will receive as a guest:

• Security deposit: The typical security deposit covering incidents and accidents that are incurred during the stay.
• Cleaning fee: Some hosts charge a cleaning fee. 
• Service fee: Airbnb's portion comes into play here, charging guests anywhere between a 6% - 12% fee for booking.

Next steps

Once you're happy with your property choice and host, you can choose to:

• Add the property to your wishlist: This is useful if you like the property but are still browsing. Saving it onto your wishlist lets you re-visit it. 
• Contact the host: This is where you have the ability to ask your host any questions and comb out fine-details.
• Request to book: This automatically takes you to the payment page. 

After submitting your request, the host has 24 hours to accept or reject it. If your host accepts your request to book, your credit card will be charged immediately, including security and cleaning fees. If your host rejects your request or doesn't get back to you in the allotted time, nothing is charged. 

Tips

• Be earnest in your Airbnb profile and complete as much of it as possible. State your intention, a couple of interests and upload a photo. Even if you don't have any previous feedback, it will increase your chances of being accepted by a host. 
• Communicate with your host before booking. Doing this with hosts demonstrates both the guest's ability to communicate and the host's ability to provide answers. Often through how a person expresses and represents themselves through words is what will signify to both host and guest the reasons for going ahead with the booking. Another reason for communicating is that there is nothing worse than thinking that their property is available during your dates when actually their online calendar hasn't been updated. This is also the chance for you to get any questions answered that might just determine one property from another. That being said, don't ask questions where the information is already readily available in the listing as this will reflect poorly on yourself.
• Read reviews. This will help weed out the good properties and hosts from the bad. It's also a good way of picking up tips from other people who have stayed in these properties and what it is they may have found very beneficial about the property, or perhaps something they would like to caution potential guests to avoid. 
• For me, location is incredibly important and contributes greatly to the properties I'm looking at. I ensure that they are within a good walking distance from the nearest train station and are in good neighbourhoods. If they're in an area where the best coffee shops and bakeries are located, I'm also sold. Lonely Planet guides, the Airbnb neighbourhood guides and Google searches help with this. Go for central locations where transportation, food and shops are easily accessible. 
• Book early. Certain rentals that are particularly popular tend to get snapped up quickly. If you've had your eye on one for a while or there's a balcony with a view you want to wake up to, get in early and start the process. This also leaves time just in case something goes array and the booking is cancelled, you'll still have time up your sleeve to search for another. 
• Airbnb is very much like renting a holiday house locally. Each place comes with their terms and conditions. One thing to remember is that key pick up is a thing that happens and the dropping off of keys also needs to occur. Unlike a hotel where you can check in and out at a time of your choosing, you need to coordinate and communicate with your host surrounding dates and times. 

For other references, visit Fairbnb, be aware of Investopedia's article, this helpful pro and con summary, Airbnb's support article or scroll through this guide with step by step pictures. 

I hope these tips prove helpful. Even if a few of your Airbnb searches don't come to fruition or you've decided to book a hotel instead, some of these homes on offer provide you with a little visual interior architecture and decor inspiration. Besides, it's always fun to peek into the homes of others in different parts of the world, isn't it?

For $32 credit on your next stay, use this link when you book. I've tag teamed on my boyfriend's Airbnb account. Happy Airbnb searching!