It's dull work but someone has to do it or they will dawdle in the shade.
Still, I'd rather sit at home with a brush in my hand instead of this pipe,
working on a portrait of the king. Why am I reduced to a watch-dog?
One Thresher's Sijo
I guess he did good in his former life for him to loaf like this now,
But it's little comfort to me hatless and pipeless under the summer sun,
Could I be reborn instead as a bird or fly, free from envy and bitterness?
Another Thresher's Sijo
The sun's a harsh landlord to us but it's kind to the rice; this harvest
means I can carry home rice for the children tonight. But is there enough
to put on the altar for the child who starved and died the year before?
For earlier postings with sijo inspired by Danwon:
Cheoseo , or 처서 (處暑) which means " the limit of heat", is one of the 24 seasonal divisions in the lunar calendar. It marks the beginning of the end of summer and while it may not mean much to city-slickers, you may spot signs of the turn of the seasons in the Korean countryside.
For instance, this would be the time when farmers start to dry their red peppers out in the sun.
Apparently, this is the best time to savour peaches in Korea.
Cosmos blooms such as these ones near Jungryangcheon, in Sageun-dong, in Seoul are another sign that autumn is on its way.
Rice harvesting takes place around this time as well. Farmers like the people here from Deokpo Village near Busan, keep their fingers crossed ( or whatever is the Korean equivalent of that) for dry days leading up to Cheoseo as they need the sun for the rice to ripen quickly.
Also, don't be surprised to see more people than usual cooling off under the Cheonjeyon Falls in Jeju-do around the 23rd of August. One legend has it that you can recover from any illness if you stand under the falls which means "the pond of God" on Cheoseo Day.
According to one Korean proverb, "mosquito mouths are shut when Cheoseo comes". Unfortunately, with global warming a sad and more apparent reality, autumn mosquitoes are likely to be a thing of the present and future.
Here's a solemn poem by Heo Hyung Man and translated by Rodney E. Tyson and Hong Eun-Taek. While it's inspired by the shift from summer heat to autumn cool, the sobering sense of our days being numbered is all too apparent in this lyric.
"Cheoseo"
A winged insect flies low low
In a brief instant it's cloudy
A pine tree halfway up the mountain
Is imprisoned in a black cloud
Fluttering, the sound of
The birds of the earth flying up all at once
Began to accompany the strong wind
More than the days I've lived
The days I'll live have become much shorter
All of heaven's living things
Are hurrying back to the earth
from The Quarterly Review: Poetry & Criticism, 3(1), 225-226. Spring 2000.
Chuseok or the Korean Thanksgiving ( or the Harvest Moon Festival ) falls on the 22nd of September this year and it looks like the race for train tickets back to the hometown has started once again. This is a reminder then for tourists planning to travel around the third week to make their reservations a.s.a.p. and for those staying in Seoul to brace themselves for many closed shops and restaurants during this period.
This photo was taken at Seoul Station on Wednesday. These people in the queue lines are certainly taking no chances as they are booking seats one month ahead of one of the most important festivals in the country.
Sorry, sorry to you, oh so sporting officers of the Tourist Police 4th Sub-Division from Chiang,Mai in Thailand, but I was disappointed by your dancing. After reading the AP news snippet that you have become the hottest thing in Thailand since the street feuds between the Red Shirts and government forces in Bangkok, I really expected you guys to let rip and show us some moves that would rival SuJu's.
Your performance, which was originally for a local talent show at Rayong on 5th of August 2010 and then reproduced for a home-made video, may have enjoyed an enviable 280,000 ( and still mounting) hits since it appeared on YouTube but I wouldn't agree that your moves "set the dance floor on fire".
Don't get me wrong - I'm not a fan of SuJu nor am I comparing you with the professionals and I understand that you were doing a spoof of the Super Junior hit after being inspired by their popularity in Thailand when they performed there. I just wished you hammed it up more and really gave it more energy. But then, I have to bear in mind that you had only a few hours of practice before the actual recording.
Hang on... that would mean for the most part, you HAVE been doing your job. If your dancing and co-ordination weren't as sharp and spot on as those pretty boys from Korea, that means you didn't spend hours as they would have done in front of the mirror in the rehearsal room.
So while I don't think that you were hot or cute or even convinced that "everyone was really into it" as one of you claimed, I've got to give it to you that at least you were great sports and helped to create some positive international publicity for Thailand. My apologies for my earlier and unfair implication that you looked stiff and amateurish. How's that for sweet and sour grapes?
For two versions by the original group, click here.
Call him weird-looking, eccentric or that odd man obsessed with "white spacesuits" or as Le Figaro put it, "the magician from fairyland"; call his clothes over-the top flights of fantasy or romantic expressions of the Korean aesthetic- however you choose to label the late Andre Kim and his creations, there's one thing you gotta give the man.
R.I.P. Andre Kim ( 12th August, 2010)
He knew how to brand himself. He cut an indelible, if somewhat ridiculous figure, on the runway with his mascara-lined scalp and white clothes; apparently Korean comedians love to mimic his dramatic flourishes and he knew how to leverage on his social network.
There's not much info on his own "rags to riches" story or in his case, how he rose from obscurity and transformed himself from Kim Bong Nam, son of a farmer to become Andre Kim, Korea's first male designer.
Andre Kim in the 1960s - before he redesigned his own image.
His brand name soon became associated with " luxury and romanticism" and he was the first designer to have a fashion show in front of the pyramids of Egypt and the man who turned down Michael Jackson's invitation to be his personal designer. ( For a list of other 'firsts' and feathers in his cap, click here)
He was open to the suggestion of a diplomat from the French Embassy to adopt an “easy foreign name” as the first step towards becoming a world-class designer. He seemed to have done a fair bit of networking with the expat community and the diplomatic corps, learning more about the world through his contacts as well as taking the opportunity to share with foreigners his pride in his own culture.
For Hallyuwood stars, like Choi Ji-woo and Lee Young-ae, invitations to appear in his fashion shows became a yardstick of their own popularity. His commercial savvy prompted him to let his name be linked to other products like Samsung washing machines, Hankook Chinaware and wallpaper. It would be interesting to know how well his company has been doing actually, in terms of domestic and international sales, who his main customers are and more importantly, what direction his company will take after his demise.
Here's what Andre Kim once said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo:
" During the Japanese colonization and right after the Korean War, my village in the countryside was very poor. Yet a new bride wore new clothes for a year. Though it was economically difficult, people were always clean, neat and beautiful. The kitchen was gleaming, and my mother always wiped the floor clean. When I see today's well-off people with their dirty houses, I get really annoyed. Even when we were poor, our food, clothes, and houses were clean and aesthetic. We are people with a high taste for culture."
I very much doubt I'll ever wear any of his creations but here's what I will remember the man for:
his incredible work ethic - did you know he taught himself English and took pride in his ability to use Queen's English? He woke up at 5:30 a.m. every day and read 17 newspapers to keep himself updated and in touch with events.
He personally made Christmas trees and had them delivered in style to his friends. That puts me to shame when I'm so bad at even sending out Christmas cards.
It may not be an original idea but the fact that this is an undertaking by the Seoul Metropolitan Government suggests that some civil servants at least aren't being complacent. It's a good way to involve the urban community and instead of passing by empty walls around the construction site for a section of City Hall, pedestrians can now enjoy looking out familiar faces as many Seoulites have contributed photos of themselves by Twitter or the Internet.
Wish more of our city councils could be as creative with our tax money! The unveiling of the finished work of art which take place on Independence Day ( 15th August, 2010).
However, does the marketing gimmick below ie. a model dispensing drinks in place of the usual vending machines count as another instance of creativity or exploitation?
How do Koreans keep cool in summertime? Here are TEN ways ( not in any particular order of effectiveness.)
1. You could join the beachgoers who have opted to don their swimsuits and head for the sea at places such as Haeundae, Busan but you're more likely to suffer heat-stroke or sun-burn and feel stifled as you compete with 700,000 others for your tiny bit of space on the sand. As temperatures rise, tempers are more likely to flare with long queues for ice-creams, beach brollies and public toilets. IMHO, it might be better to head for the beach at the tail-end of summer once the students head back home to get ready for school.
2. Those stuck in the capital will probably gravitate towards Cheonggyecheon in the heart of Seoul. Go early to book prime spots under the bridges for more shade.
3. Traditional wisdom dictates that you "fight fire with fire" and so older Koreans prefer to deal with the dog days of summer by indulging in samgyetang ( chicken stuffed with rice, dates and ginseng in soup) Chobok, one of the hottest days on the Korean calendar, is a good time as any to have this dish. (NEWSIS)
4. These children from Daegu may enjoy a water gun fight but how cool can you get while perspiring under raincoats? Isn't the point to get wet? Over-protective ajummas, take note.
5. It seems paradoxical but it makes sense to don winter clothes and sign up for indoor ski lessons to escape the summer heat. (Taken in Bucheon - Yonhap News)
6. Not just sand, sea, surf and sunblock at the Busan Sea Festival at Haeundae Beach. You're less likely to wilt from the summer heat if you get lost happily in this ice maze.
7. Cool off by soaking your feet in foot baths while sitting still in the shade, complete with the coolest sunglasses and summer hat. (Taken in Boseong, South Jeolla Province - Newsis)
8. Take shelter under gourd vines at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. If gourds aren't available, head for any bower or tree with widespread branches.
9. Decorate your own summer cooling devices -Visitors pose with their own hand-painted fans at the Seoul Museum of History (Yonhap). See earlier posting on hand-made fans. My guess is they're keeping cool because of the air-conditioning so head for museums, art galleries or cinemas which provide better, though not green, relief from soaring temperatures.
10. This Korean at a commando unit camp in Damyang, puts the army helmet to good use.
Enjoying the spring waters is one of the simple pleasures I always look forward to during my visits to Korea. ( See the earlier posting on the spring waters of Osaek in Soraksan and at Naeso-sa. )
One approaches a zen-like moment when one partakes of the cool waters straight from the ground. Well, OK - visitors at Osaek spring No 2 usually had to use the plastic scoops instead of using their hands so it's not totally a primeval and rustic experience and those who wanted to taste the waters at Spring No 1 had to queue up in front of a stone tortoise which spouted out the spring waters. Still, it's a lot more fun than turning on the tap or opening up a plastic bottle of Perrier.
Koreans may extol the virtues of this spring or that, citing its mineral contents being good for one ailment or another but personally, the appeal lies in getting up close and personal with nature while running the minimal risk of getting the runs.
So I was VERY sorry to read this recent report from the JoongAng Daily:
"At Osek Yaksu, which has been famous for its medicine water for 500 years, we found not the refreshing gusher we expected but a tiny trickle. Seven elderly ladies who had come from across the country to fill up on the yaksu were also disappointed. After an hourlong bus ride, each of them had to spend 40 minutes to fill one 1.8-liter bottle. According to the locals, the yaksu began to dry up after a large construction project started nearby."
James Hadley noted some construction going on in Osaek Creek when he visited the place in June 2007. The previous year, heavy rains had damaged Highway 44 and the work he observed was intended to create steep banks flanking Osaek Creek and to "grade the creek bed to a gradual profile with a flat cross section. In other words, either the creek was being largely converted into a canal, or previous canalization was being extensively repaired."
Hadley raised some important questions about the impact of the construction and I wonder if this particular project has anything to do with the spring waters or if another construction project is responsible for turning the Osaek spring into a sad trickle. Either way, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the isutation is a temporary problem or if not, I really hope the locals can do something to ensure that the springs of Osaek will continue to refresh present and future generations of visitors. The best things in life used to be free but these days with nature under siege on so many fronts, we need to pay the price in terms of greater vigilance.
I can hear the Hallyu fans cheering already. The date's been set for Air Asia's inaugural flight to South Korea. If you want to be among the first to fly out of Kuala Lumpur to Seoul this November 1st, relive your World Cup sleepless nights TONIGHT. On-line booking for seats on board the Airbus 330 bound for Seoul starts from midnight onwards.
Would you believe it? The promotional fare from KL to Incheon is ONLY RM 99 while it'll only set you back by RM 156 to fly back to KL.
Air Asia explains the discrepancy this way: "Our fare is RM74. LCCT tax ( the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Malaysia) is RM25 = MR99. Incheon Airport is one of the busiest airports with expensive tax @ RM82. Hence it is RM156 from ICN - KUL."
The Korea Herald gives the vital info in other currencies:
"To mark the launch of its latest route, the Malaysian company introduced a promotional round-trip fare of 120,000 won (US$102.30) including all taxes and fees, for the travel period from November 1 to August 11, 2011, for those who book tickets on its website between August 4 and August 8. After the promotional period, travelers will be able to purchase tickets for 25 to 30 per cent lower than traditional airlines charge, depending on their purchase date, for the daily operation."
Other relevant details as follows:
Booking Period: 4 - 8 August 2010 (starting 0000hrs, GMT+8:00hrs)
Travel from: 1 November 2010 and onwards
Flight Schedule:
KUL - ICN (Daily flight) Depart: 13:55hrs Arrive: 21:15hrs
ICN - KUL (Daily flight) Depart: 23:20hrs Arrival: 05:05hrs (+1 Day)
Reservations can be made via www.airasia.com or mobile.airasia.com.
As part of its promotional campaign, Air Asia X held a competition through Facebook, the "Korean Secret Box Challenge" and lucky winners were those who could guess from given clues what the six items were in the box AND who could write appealing reasons for going to Korea.
Just for fun ( because the contest is over), can you guess what the items are?
1st Hint "This item is often regarded as a Miracle, Magical, Magnificent and Amazing. It seems to be able to do wonders for women. Many love it and more are tempted to try it."
2nd Hint Baechu, ggakdugi, perilla, Kkaennip, oisobag
3rd Hint It causes insomnia. It is one of the most important agricultural export of South Korea. There are many types but the “Red” one is regarded as the best.
4th Hint 13ELF
5th Hint Time slips through our fingers like sand,but the flow remains uninterrupted as this item has stood against the test of time in Korea's music culture.
6th Hint Watch this carefully. An item will appear 8 times on the same person. Hint: “Meet again…” You need to go to Air Asia's Facebook page to view the video clip for this one.
Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X, AirAsia’s long-haul affiliate gets in the mood with a hanbok as he announces the good news on youTube.
See my earlier posting on why I'd prefer Air Asia to fly to Yangyang Airport.
