Rain In Gomoryeong

어머님의 손을 놓고 떠나올 때엔

eo-meo-nim-ui son-eul no-go tteo-na-ol ttae-en-

부엉새도 울었다오 나도 울었소

bu-eong-sae-do ul-eot-da-o na-do ul-eot-so-

가랑잎이 휘날리는 산마루턱을

ga-lang-ip-i hwi-nal-li-neun san-ma-lu-teok-eul-

넘어 오던 그날 밤이 그리웁고나

neom-eo o-deon geu-nal bam-i geu-li-ub-go-na-

맨드라미 피고 지고 몇 해이던가

maen-deu-la-mi pi-go ji-go myeot hae-i-deon-ga-

물방앗간 뒷전에서 맺은 사랑아

mul-bang-at-gan dwit-jeon-e-seo maed-eun sa-lang-a-

어이해서 못 잊느냐 망향초 신세

eo-i-hae-seo mot id-neu-nya mang-hyang-cho sin-se-

비 내리는 고모령을 언제 넘느냐

bi nae-li-neun go-mo-lyeong-eul eon-je neom-neu-nya-

눈물 어린 인생 고개 몇 고개이더냐

nun-mul eo-lin in-saeng go-gae myeot go-gae-i-deo-nya-

Unknown bi-nae-li-neun go-mo-lyeong Lyrics

조명등이 깜빡이던 주막집에서

jo-myeong-deung-i kkam-ppak-i-deon ju-mak-jib-e-seo-

손바닥에 그린 하소 적어가면서

son-ba-dak-e geu-lin ha-so jeok-eo-ga-myeon-seo-

오늘 밤도 불러본다 망향의 노래

o-neul bam-do bul-leo-bon-da mang-hyang-ui no-lae

Hyeon-in, 1948

That night I turned around after saying good bye to mother, 

I heard an owl cry and I cried. 

Fallen leaves were blown away over the hill, but I still miss the night.

Celosia bloomed so many years but still I remember the days I met my girl friends in the mill.

 I am so lonely wandering around and I want to go back to the hill of home.

Juhyunmi in 2009.

Jang Yoon Jeong

sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yvqpx4F0JPA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yvqpx4F0JPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKsmdZyNehw

It's Snowing Cherry Blossoms in Jinhae....Not...Yet?

Is Nature playing an April Fool's trick on people hoping to see the cherry blossoms out in full force at the naval base of Jinhae? According to a report from the Chosun Ilbo, the KMO's predictions about the appearance of the cherry blossom is off by a week or so, no thanks to a cold snap. Pity, considering the town is celebrating its 50th anniversary of the cherry blossom festival this year. Anyone who's in Jinhae,or been there recently, please correct me if I'm wrong and tell me if  the place is chockful of cherry blossoms right now.

Regions 2012 Blooming Dates ( from the KTO webpage) but read ahead for the latest amendments for the cherry blossoms' ETA.
Seogwipo 3.24 /  Busan 3.30  / Yeosu 4.4  / Tongyeong 4.1  / Gwangju 4.3 / Jeonju 4.7  / Daegu 3.31 / Pohang 4.2 / Daejeon 4.4 / Cheongju 4.7 / Seoul 4.10 / Incheon 4.13 / Gangneung 4.8 / Chuncheon 4.11
Jinhae Yeojwacheon Stream 3.29 / Hadong Ssanggyesa Temple Simni Cherry Blossom Path 4.1 / Jeonju-Gunsan Beonyeong-ro 4.8 / Cheongju musimcheonbyeon 4.2 / Seoul Yeoui-do Yunjung-ro 4.9

from the Chousn Ilbo:
Cold Snap Delays Cherry Blossom

The last cold spell in April has delayed the arrival of Korea's famous seasonal cherry blossom. The Korea Meteorological Administration on Thursday revised its prediction that the cherries would blossom in early April in most of the southern region. Blossoming will be delayed by three to six days in the south and by one or two days in central Korea, it added. The KMA officially declares the arrival of the cherry blossom when at least three blossoms appear in a tree in weather observatories nationwide. A KMA official said, "Normally, cherry blossoms bloom fully about one week after the first blossom is observed. Cherry blossom season will peak before mid-April in the southern region, and after mid-April in the central region."

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/04/06/2012040601181.html
http://www.12fly.com.my/2012/03/korea-cherry-blossom-forecast-2012/
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=1&SearchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=4&cid=1566923&cCode=&nCategoryID=1&searchType=&searchKeyword=

Daeboruem's Fire And Moon Viewing Rituals - Ajumma's Itinerary For Night Owls - Part 1

I'm no night owl but I thought it would be fun to see if I could come up with a bucket list of places to visit  in Korea  specially for night owls. While the country is known as Land of the Morning Calm, it's also, I like to believe, a beautiful place at night. So this first posting in a series which I'm calling "Ajumma's Itinerary For Night Owls"  is dedicated to the Daeboreum Festival (Great Full Moon Day to welcome the first full moon of the lunar year).

I know this is somewhat belated as the Daeboreum festival was celebrated in different parts of the country such as in Jeju and Samcheok in Gangwon-do  just a few weeks ago ( at the end of the Spring Festival for the Chinese) but those interested enough can start planning for 2013. You may also want to check out postings on this subject by two bloggers, Sherwin Jones and the author of tigersandmagpies. They have interesting accounts of their first-hand experiences of this festival which originated from China but also developed its own local character and mythology when it spread to the Korean peninsular.

Imagine a

Here's a checklist of what I would do to participate a little more fully in the festival:

• The night before Daeboreum, I'd take part in  gwibulnori (쥐불놀이). This game started off as an agrarian practice when cow herders "burned the dry grass on ridges between rice fields while children whirled around cans full of holes, through which charcoal fire blazed." The latter was supposed to rid the fields of undesirable insects or worms and the burning of the grass was believed to promote the growth of healthier grass fodder for the cattle. Must make the effort to get the traditional crude can instead of a battery-powered device for the full romantic effect. Click here to see what I mean.

• Burn daljip (a tradition of burning a bundle of twigs to bring good luck). Note to self- Remember to get gloves!

• Practise dalmaji i.e. find a novice-friendly mountain to climb with friends and family to catch the first glimpse of the full moon. The idea is the first person to see the moon rise will have good luck all year or a wish will be granted but hey, I'm not planning to race to the top. If the moon will oblige by turning up and not tease me by hiding behind any cloud, I'll count myself lucky.

Aside from these fire and moon-viewing rituals, you may want to look for these festive goodies to savour:

• I'll get the oligatory chestnuts, walnuts etc but I'll draw the line at trying to crack them with my own teeth. The old wives' tale is that by doing this , you won't need dental services for the rest of the year but I have my doubts. Mental note no 2 to self: Carry a nutcracker.

• Eat  Ogokbap (오곡밥 / 五穀밥) for breakfast on Daeboreum. This is a five-"grain" rice consisting of rice, millet, Indian millet, beans, and red beans. No problem - question is: Can I have it with my kimchi tchigae?   Two other dishes which are on the eat-list would be namul and  Yaksik (약식 / 藥食), which is made of glutinous rice, chestnuts, pinenuts, honey, sauce, and sesame oil.

• Drink cheongju , a clear rice wine which is supposed to clear the ears to hear good news for the rest of the year. Hmmm....if it's anything like soju, I'll pass. I'd rather drink a toast to the moon with bokbunja.
  
  If jostling with the crowds in open fields and risking getting too close to burning embers doesn't appeal to you, there's another way one can observe Daeboreum in a more sedate manner.

Woljeongsa Temple had a 2 day, 1 night templestay program specially designed for the occasion ( 17 and 18 February). It included :

•  meditation in the moonlight - that almost sounds romantic.
• making a wish list and circling a pagoda in the hope that your wish will be fulfilled, and
• Dari Bapggi (Treading the Bridge ritual to stave off bad luck for the year)

sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_1.jsp?cid=697232
http://buriburi.go.kr/foreign/eng/htmls/main.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daeboreum
http://www.sherwinvjones.com/gyeongjublog/2012/02/photos-dangsan-tree-on-daeboreum/
http://eng.templestay.com/board/board.asp?bt=2&idx=132&cid=13
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1249628
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=255585
http://tigersandmagpies.com/2012/02/jeju-jeongwol-daeboreum-fire-festival-2012/
http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/LanternFestival.htm
http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/694421/Lantern-Festival-2012-in-China.aspx
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=VSIsb4qmoQcC&pg=PA89&lpg=PA89&dq=origins+of+daeboreum&source=bl&ots=Ra43itWI7O&sig=gJLWJESBKIFCjekoJT-vZl0JauM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4PBNT-7aEcLRrQeV7uyKDw&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=origins%20of%20daeboreum&f=false
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_owl_(person)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/03/203_39010.html

The Travails Of Trying To Eat Like Korean Buddhist Monks

What is the most challenging part of trying to eat like a Buddhist monk?

a. Do nothing but eat
b. Eat in silence
c. Eat V- - E - - R - -Y ......................S- L – O – W – L - Y
d. Eat everything in your bowl
e. Drink the water used to clean the bowls
f. All of the above.

Personally I’d have serious problems with the first one. I’ve to break a lifetime habit of multitasking at mealtimes – I’d be catching up on news and rushing through breakfast simultaneously, gulping down lunch while Googling on the office desktop and socializing time, either with family, friends or the idiot box, takes place over dinner. I honestly can’t remember the last time, if ever, when I simply sat down and ate without the company of a book, magazine, radio, TV, mobile phone or human being. The notion of simply eating without talking, reading, listening to music or surfing seems like some alien norm from a galaxy far, far away.

So why on earth would I want to eat like a Korean Buddhist monk?

First of all, it’s green – with the emphasis on organic ingredients and no wasting of food to the extent that you’re expected to take only what you can consume and you’re even supposed to drink the water used to clean the bowl and slurp down each tiny morsel remaining in the bowl.

Next, it’s healthy –temple meals are wholesome, high in protein and low in calories. There’s no meat and no alcohol. Instead of using highly processed ingredients such as white rice and chemical additives like MSG, vegetarian dishes are prepared with natural condiments such as shitake powder and kelp powder. Fermented ingredients which can lower cholesterol and inhibit cancer are widely used in temple recipes. Modest portions are also encouraged instead of super-sized meals.

Third, I can feel virtuous meditating while chewing my cud. A typical pre-meal chant goes like this:

“Where has this food come from? My virtues are so little that I am hardly worthy to receive it. I will take it as medicine to get rid of greed in my mind and to maintain my physical being in order to achieve enlightenment.”

The dining experience is to the sunims, a sacred ritual and an opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the interconnectedness of life. While I won’t go so far as to meditate on the virtues of the farmers and the middlemen who played their part in bringing the tchigae to the table, it’s better than mindlessly stuffing my mouth while being distracted by various things that have nothing to do with the meal. I don’t expect every mealtime to be the “very moving experience” described by environmentalist and chimp expert Jane Goodall who took part in the food ceremony during her visit to Korea in 2006 but hopefully like her, I’ll be able to appreciate the value of the food while “chewing the food slowly and thinking about where it had come from”.

But honestly, the main appeal is that I can bid annyeong to the kilos more effectively if I were to adopt the slow-eating habits of the sunims. Slow food, Korean-Buddhist style is not simply the slow-food as envisioned by Carlo Petrini, the founder of the original “slow food movement” in the mid-80s as a reaction against the MacDonald-isation of global food. Instead, it means adjusting one’s pace of eating to the others around you –not too fast and not too slow - all in the name of moderation and harmony.

Am clueless as to how long the usual balwoogongyang temple meal is but I’d like to imagine that mealtime is an unhurried affair without being languid. And that’s what I think will be the most difficult aspect to emulate though clearly there are good reasons for not rushing through meals. One scientific study suggests that if you take a longer time, like half an hour, to chew on your food ( or chew each small bite “15 to 20 times”) and take many pauses between bites to complete a meal, you’re more likely to feel fuller and actually consume fewer calories.

But in a 24/7 world with pressing deadlines, where restaurants and cafes try to outdo each other by the number of TV screens lit up in their dining areas and by their wi-fi accessibility, how does one stop multi-tasking and just literally watch what one eats?


sources:
http://issuu.com/hikekorea/docs/kfs_booklet_final_standard_size
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=7,3489,0,0,1,0
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/02/08/dining/20120208-MINDFUL.html?ref=buddhism
http://koreantemplecuisine.net/blog/?paged=2
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=7,1469,0,0,1,0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_temple_cuisine
http://eng.templestay.com/board/board.asp?bt=9&idx=129&cid=21
http://jentrinque.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/
http://mingkok.buddhistdoor.com/resources/get/c8128cf9ec4137dba476c10334da59541d365c65/241/0

Peony Power

Never had the chance to meet a Moran in person.  Am clueless about her scent, despite her inclusion in the L’Occitane range.  Yet, I admit, I’ve been prejudiced against her size and rather ostentatious appearance.  That bias has been reinforced since I saw Dong Yi, the historical drama which featured  Lady Jang Hui-bin (?-1701) , one of "the best known royal concubines of the Joseon Dynasty", according to Wikipedia.  She was an ambitious woman who supposedly  plotted against the queen and succeeded in getting the latter deposed.  In one scene from the popular sageuk,  Lady Jang gives orders to replace the modest bleeding heart flowers in the exiled queen's garden with the more showy peony with their profusion of petals.

So I never really bothered in the past to find out more about this flower known as Moran in Korea or the tree peony to garden enthusiasts. It seemed to be such a cliche in Chinese paintings and folding screens.
But a private joke has got me trawling the Net to learn a bit more about this "King of Flowers" as nicknamed by the Chinese. It represents quite a list of attributes - affluence , honour, high status, luck,  happiness, elegance and poise.

Here is a snippet from primaltrek:

"One legend describes how Wu Zetian, the only Empress (690 -705 AD) of the Tang Dynasty, was drinking one day during the winter in the Imperial Flower Garden. While admiring the snow, she was also captivated by the fragrance of the winter flowers that were in bloom. She wrote a poem and sent it to the god in charge of flowers. The poem said that she would visit the garden again the next day and that all the flowers were to bloom and not wait until spring. The next morning hundreds of flowers were in bloom. But, the peony stubbornly disobeyed the order and refused to bloom. The Empress was enraged and gave orders that all the peonies in the capital city of Chang'an were to be banished. Those tree peonies that refused were burned to the ground. From that time on, the peony gained a reputation for resistance and rebellion. As time passed, however, the peony's reputation softened and gradually changed to one symbolizing longevity, loyalty, happiness and eternal beauty."

A pity. If the flower retained its original symbolism, I think I would like it more. The notion of a flower refusing to kow-tow to royalty seems much more appealing.
 

It also stood for national peace and security during the Joseon period. Perhaps that was what poet Kim Yeong-Nang (1903-1950) was alluding to in his poem below:

Until peonies bloom
I just go on waiting for my spring to come.
On the days when peonies drop, drop their petals,
I finally languish in sorrow at the loss of spring.
One day in May, one sultry day
when the fallen petals have all withered away
and there is no trace of peonies in all the world,
my soaring fulfillment crumbles into irrepressible sorrow.
Once the peonies have finished blooming, my year is done;
for three hundred and sixty gloomy days I sadly lament.
Until peonies bloom
I just go on waiting
for a spring of glorious sorrow.



The flower even has its own genre known as peony paintings. Its profusion of petals has been depicted in peony tassels, hanbok decorations, pillow ends, celadon pieces, in fans used in a traditional dance. Seems as if there is a peony in every nook and corner of traditional Korean culture.

That seems to apply as well to modern Korean designs. The Peony Medal or the Order of Civil Merit was recently awarded to.Kim Yuna; it's the second most presitigious award for civilians.  Check out Margaret Cho’s peony tattoo.

This late bloomer in spring is not just a pretty face - it is surprisingly a pretty tough plant. It's reputed to be low maintenance and can withstand the punishing temperatures of winter. Traditionally valued for its roots which were eaten, the peony was believed to have the power to treat “menstrual cramps, asthma and convulsions”.

These days, to admire the real deal, you could head for Changdeokgung or Deoksugung sometime around May as it blooms in late spring. Unfortunately I doubt I'll have the chance to see this anytime soon, so I just have to try harder not to be so prejudiced against this pretty face and learn to appreciate its multi-faceted nature, whether it's immortalised on a vase...

or an antique teapot....

OR a modern coffee mug with cap....

on paper napkins  ( see above) or treasure chests ( see below)

or super-ornate rice bins or traditional pillow ends.

 

sources:

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/03/148_64050.html

http://hompi.sogang.ac.kr/anthony/KimYeongNang.htm
http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/mostpopularflowers/morepopularflowers/peonies
http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/97/191.pdf
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/52282156
https://thinkingaboutlanguages.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/word-of-the-week-33/
http://www.newsfinder.org/site/more/tree_peony_the_soul_of_china/
http://www.korean-arts.com/images/CV036B-CB037B_pink_peony_5x5.jpg
http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110320000258
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/103264528/Peony_Rice_Pot_20kg_.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/11855002/Mother_Of_Pearl_Peony_Pirate_Chest.html
http://www.korean-arts.com/images/CS103%20peony%205x5.jpg
http://www.koreanartandantiques.com/items/1060871/en1store.html
http://www.moonscrafts.com/2011/07/korean-pottery-goryeo-sanggam-celadons.html
http://www.dhgate.com/new-arrival-peonies-stamped-wedding-napkins/p-ff808081318f593b0131addcc2897fef.html
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8787806
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/thank-you-cards/korean/kamsahamnida-thank-you-in-korean-810799
http://teatrekker.wordpress.com/tag/chinese-12-flowers-of-the-months-teacups-chinese-flower-tea-cups/
http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html
http://iluvskating.tumblr.com/page/2

Hope Floats

Have to thank MBC for this poignant scene from the historical drama, Dong Yi, in which the heroine finds herself lost among ordinary Koreans releasing lanterns bearing their wishes for the new year. Known in China as "sky lanterns", they apparently originated during the turbulent days of the Three Kingdoms when a besieged group was forced to send messages for additional troops by way of these wind-borne lanterns.



The tradition of expressing one's wishes for the New Year presumably made its way to Korea from China. What I'd like to know is if this charming practice is observed anywhere in Korea these days. I have my doubts given the predominance of high-wire cables and considerations for aviation and high building safety and ecological considerations, despite the assurances of one Chinese manufacturer that the lanterns are made of flame-retardant paper, that its flight altitude is only within 800-1000 meters and that its "burning time" is just between 12 and 15 minutes.

Anyway, here's wishing everyone a Happy 2012 and may your hopes keep afloat indefinitely.

sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDLIOiafkPE
http://www.ec21.com/offer_detail/Sell_Sky_Lantern_Oval_Shape--12755845.html

Expect Slower-Moving Queues At Immigration Counters in ROK

If you are a non-Korean national, over 17 and not a diplomat, be prepared for longer lines at entry points into South Korea like Incheon International Airport, with effect from January the first.



Reason : The Justice Ministry insists on scanning your fingerprints and face when you wait in line to have your passport stamped before you are allowed entry into the country. If you want to kick up a fuss about the tedious and inconvenient biometric scanning procedures, be prepared to be refused admission into the country.

Actually, biometric scanning isn't a new thing in RoK - it has been applied to those entering the country from places regarded as high-risk ( in the eyes of the Korea Immigration Service) since September, 2010 as well as to long-term staying foreigners. Besides, those used to travelling a lot around the world should already be familiar with such inconveniences as biometric scans have been part of entry procedures in the US, Japan and the EC in one way or another for some time already. However, security measures are being tightened ahead of  the Nuclear Security Summit which will be held in Seoul early next year.

According to one source, "Biometric scanning will be conducted in 11 different languages including English, Chinese and Japanese. The process potentially could double the amount of time that it takes to pass through immigration. At the immigration desk, foreigners entering the country for the first time will have both index fingers and their faces scanned as part of the Justice Ministry’s Biometric Identification System."

Make sure your MP3 or IPad batteries are fully charged before you join the long lines at the immigration counters in Korea. If not, pack a novel and look upon the occasion as an opportunity to practise patience. As for those in tour groups, good luck and do consider solo travel to Korea in the future!

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/27/2011122701407.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111226000712
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/12/27/0200000000AEN20111227006700315.HTML?source=rss
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=6830
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmT2vkdGi0&feature=player_embedded

Kpop As YouTube Genre

These days, when one's fame is measured in terms of the number of Facebook "likes", it's a sure sign that Hallyu has spread its wings beyond the Asian market when it has been listed as a genre on the Youtube music website since 15th December. This is probably the first time the pop music of a particular country has been highlighted, much to the delight of fans of Super Junior, Girls' Generation and so on.

BUT, what about those outside Kpop mainstream?  Don't know when Fluxus's Channel first appeared on cyberspace but here's hoping more people around the world will become familiar with these indie musicians like Yi Sung-yol, W and Whale, Ibadi and Clazziquai.

Sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/program/program_musicnews_detail.htm?No=17070
http://www.youtube.com/profile?feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_776510&user=fluxus&src_vid=ScURmRUgZt0

Can Korean Doctors Help Acid Attack Victim?

I’ll stop complaining to myself about having a bummer 2011 because I’ve just been reminded indirectly by a news article that others have had it worse. This week, a fellow Malaysian is in South Korea in the hope that doctors in the JK Plastic Surgery Centre in Seoul will be able to help her regain some normalcy after a nightmarish acid attack a few years earlier left her partially blinded and badly scarred. It was particularly harrowing because her own father , who was mentally unsound, was the assailant and her mother died as a result of that attack.


When I first saw the news that Tan Hui Linn was going to receive pro bono treatment under a Medical Korea project, the cynical side of me, I’m ashamed to admit, was thinking – Oh, what a clever way to boost medical tourism in the country. But what really matters is that Hui Linn’s time in Korea won’t be wasted and that her body won’t reject the skin transplants so that the surgeries can indeed take place.

So, here’s wishing Hui Linn all the very best and thank you very much to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and those involved in the Medical Korea project for helping her . Hopefully it will turn out to be a win-win situation for all but especially for this plucky schoolgirl who managed to do well in her exams despite her personal tragedies.

Sources:

http://www.asiaone.com/News/The%2BNew%2BPaper/Story/A1Story20100209-197648.html
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/12/16/nation/10105522&sec=nation
http://www.whatsontianjin.com/news-2057-tan-hui-linn-m-sian-acid-attack-victim-scarred-by-dad-to-get-surgeries-in-s-korea.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111215000893
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-korea-concludes-korea-medical-charity-program-for-2011-134901788.html
http://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/eng/index.jsp
http://www.lifestylermag.com/Korean_Wave
http://english.jkplastic.com/jk_about/overview_01.html
http://www.acidviolence.org/index.php/news/malaysian-acid-attack-survivor-to-undergo-plastic-surgery-in-south-korea/

SKC Hallyu Party 2011

Dear Mr Yun Jae Jin (Managing Director of KTO KL) and the Board of Directors of SKC in Malaysia,

Gamsa –hamnida once again for inviting me to the SKC ( Saranghaeyo Korea Club) Hallyu Party 2011 held on the 4 Dec 2011 in Petaling Jaya. I thought I would be late for the event as the traffic was moving quite slowly so it was a relief to see the long lines of SKC members lined up outside the doors of the Bentley Auditorium. The e-mail confirming the invitation had reminded us to turn up in either red and blue and I half expected the hall to be also decked out in the traditional red and blue lanterns. But when the doors finally opened, there didn’t seem to be any special decorations.

Not that anyone was complaining – those who had attended a K-pop concert the night before were probably still keyed –up about having seen their fav SuJu singer perform while others were keeping their fingers crossed and praying to win some attractive lucky draw prizes such as a hanky set from Jeju, Hanji tray, K dolls, 2PM CDs, Samsung camera, LG mobile phone, AirAsiaX tickets to Seoul.. I wasn’t holding my breath and expecting to win anything but I think I would’ve dug a little deeper into my purse if I had known earlier that proceeds for the sale of the RM 5 raffle tickets would go to the Cancer Society of Malaysia. Still, it was nice to know that we were doing something to help the community.

Your speech ( Mr Yun’s ) was short and sweet but what impressed me most was the fact that you’ve picked up quite a few of the local languages, greeting members of the audience in English, Malay and Cantonese. I could see quite a few of the members of the SKC Board of Directors busy organising the events with the help of the  “shepherds” ( volunteers from the SKC, I am assuming). Sophia, Yee Pei  and Tyra were enthusiastic MCs who were pretty comfortable getting the audience up on their feet to regroup according to the Hangul character stickers on their sleeves.

The young ones were soon happily engrossed in the first group game with the musical challenge, “How K-pop Are You?” Those on the floor were eager to prove how well they could identify different K-pop songs while others like myself literally on the sidelines and sitting out on the chairs may have been bemused by the shrieks of recognition each time a few bars of music was played . I was equally baffled by the second game which seem to require pretty extensive knowledge of the lives of K-celebrities.

The winners, identified after a few elimination rounds, were presented with packets of instant ramyeon ( hopefully, they were imported from Korea and not the Made-In-China version).

Long lines quickly formed during the tea break. Happily SKC fans were very civilised and patient waiting their turns. The theme seemed to be Street Fare -it was kindly sponsored by Hanseong, a local Korean restaurant, The gimbap was delicious and the tteokbokki was equally well-received though it was uncharacteristically distributed in small paper cups. Choco pies and fizzy drinks completed the menu.

Thank you, Hanseong for the spread and thanks to Yokee, BoD member and other volunteers for serving us so patiently. ( I hope I got the names right!)

Dances by various girl or boy groups such as Epsilon , Ruffneckz and Progression provided additional entertainment as they performed the latest hits from Miss A, Wondergirls and Suju. They seemed to garner as many screams of excitement as the original Hallyu singers. Once again, I was struck by the way the demographics have changed so rapidly. Unlike the first generation of ajummas who were besotted with K –dramas, the younger set have first fallen in love with K-pop.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this will be an interesting challenge for the KTO and SKC BoD – how do you cater to the different interest and age groups ( assuming you are equally interested in reaching out to two separate segments of the market)? What about SKC members outside the Klang Valley especially those in other states?

Anyway, thanks for all the hard work in organising the SKC Party 2011, thank you for the lovely calendar and here’s wishing all of you an even more eventful 2012!

Sincerely,
ajumma

P. S. Have you checked out my Open Letter in Inspiring Korea Night 2010?

I'll Remember MAMA Part 2

Here's the continuation of what made me half-glad and half regretful that I spent four hours in front of the telly to catch the delayed telecast of MAMA 2011.




5. Fann Wong's fashion question-mark - What on earth was she wearing??? Apologies to the fans of "Singapore's National Treasure" but she looked as if she was determined NOT to aim for conventional glamour in that strange garb. But hey, what do I know about fashion and why should I care about her wardrobe choices???





6. Ulala's spirited performance

Each time I start feeling sorry for myself, I must remember Im Yoon-taek's never-say-die spirit. Despite suffering from stage four cancer, he was able to perform with the other three members of Ulala Session. His baggy clothes couldn't hide his thinness but what really stood out was their energy and heart. These winners of Season 3 of "Superstar K" looked like the real deal ,IMHO, compared to the well-oiled machinery of the more well-established boy bands.





7. I'd sooner forget the painfully awkward sight of stiff kids in yellow T-shirts shepherded onto stage to stand in line in the background and instructed to hold yellow balloons and wave their hands as Apl.de.Ap. of the Black-eyed Peas sings "We Can Be Anything". Spare me the cliche, please. It's too corny to be even cute.




8. Wowed by will-i-am's performance of "The Hardest Ever" but was that really him or a dancer with the image of will.i.am's head on the TV screen as the head? Haven't seen any 'live' concerts for years and this inventive and theatrical number shows me what I've been missing.

To Be Continued....

Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeMBaGuzhk8&feature=related
http://www.koreaboo.com/index.html/_/general/ulala-session-says-we-hope-to-be-more-tha-r11836
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tzGwMKCrF4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1eyPMCmZUI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1eyPMCmZUI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeKWdH3hhD4

I'll Remember MAMA...part 1

Here's a list of ELEVEN things that impressed me or depressed me about the recent M.Net Music Awards ceremony held in Singapore.  I'll remember MAMA 2011 for....

1. Lee Byung Hyun - working his charm and speaking "da England" quite convincingly. Wonder who's his diction teacher???



2.  Screams of  Kpop fans during Lang Lang's performance. Beethoven would've turned in his grave if he heard the excited howls punctuating "Moonlight Sonata".


3. The lack of subtitling or rather, subtitles in English, made me wonder why MAMA bothered to have the show in Singapore if it was catering to the home audience. Or does MAMA think the ample provision of eye candy such as Han Chae-young in a stunning Dolce and Gabbana gown and Bae Su-bin in a tux would be sufficient to keep Hallyu fans happy? Personally, I'd still like to know what the presenters were saying, even though the chatter may be trite. MAMA, please remember, if you wanna go global, you gotta go with the flow and that means hiring people who can translate Korean into English pronto.




4. Great stage. Could hardly believe my eyes. Was that really the Singapore Indoor Stadium? Looked like MAMA played fairy godmother to her Cinderella and the SIS was magically transformed into the belle of the ball. One report pointed out that the stage featured the Chinese character, "ren" to signify people and how music brought people together. Particularly loved the work of the lighting director and the special effects which almost made up for the absence of English subtitles. One example here in 2NE1's performance.

To be continued.....

http://www.enewsworld.com/enews/contents.asp?idx=1806
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgallery/gallery_20111129171430.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_5lzbIZ_DY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=G_5lzbIZ_DY#!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAHD0aFt45A

Seoul Lantern Festival Lights Up Tonight

The Seoul Lantern Festival ( not be confused with the Lotus Lantern Festival) starts this evening with a lighting ceremony at Cheonggye Plaza at Cheonggyecheon. The lantern display stretches all the way to Gwansugyo (Bridge) and they will be lit up from 5 pm to 11 pm each evening until the 20th of November.

The theme for this annual festival is  "Stories of Seoul's Past through Lanterns" so expect to see lots of traditional motifs.

Checklist of lanterns to snap  to post on Flickr:

Cheongsachorong,  the red-blue lantern, used for wedding ceremonies,

was also used as the logo for  the G20 summit last year.

1. an 18-meter lantern tunnel made up of over 3,000 cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lanterns with a red-and-blue silk shade)

2. a  model lantern of Namdaemun Gate

3.  Haechi, Seoul's mascot


Lanterns from twenty other countries as well as those by participants in a local competition will also be showcased. If all that viewing whets your appetite, try making your own lanterns at Gwanggyo Gallery. Handicraft activities start on November 5th.

Charges apply, of course. To make your own Wish Lantern, you'd have to cough up 5,000 won and for the privilege of floating your own lantern on the Cheonggyecheon, you'd need to pay 2,000 won. Don't see how the latter can be enforced given the length of the stream and the expected crowds. I suppose any unauthorised lantern will be fished out unceremoniously.

For more info, click here.

sources:
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=48789&lang=en&m=0003001006003&p=06&gclid=CObQovi5nKwCFYka6wodMnSD2A
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo.htm?No=17410#
http://www.exploringkorea.com/seoul-lantern-festival-2011/
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/11/04/2011110400936.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/09/2010070900974.html
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=1&SearchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=1&cid=1424125&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=

MAMA's Making Rounds In Asia

Kpop lovers in Asia have more reason to celebrate now that Mnet Asia Music Awards ( affectionately   dubbed MAMA) has ambitions to be the "Grammys ofis  the East" and  is holding its award ceremonies outside Korea.



Last year,  the 12th MAMA was held in Macau. This year, Singaporean fans as well as well-heeled neighbours from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand can scream their hearts out at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the 29th November to welcome their favourite Kpop idols. Consolation for those who can't book their tickets to Singapore, MAMA 2011 will be broadcasted in 19 countries, including live in Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia.

The line-up will probably include appearances by nominees such as TVXQ, B2ST, Big Bang, Super Junior,2PM,  Brown Eyed Girls, Girls’ Generation, Kara, 2NE1, Kim Hyun-joong, Park Jae-beom, Jang Woo-hyuk, HyunA and G.NA.

That Singapore's Mediacorp and the Singapore Tourism Board is using the pop culture of another country to boost its own tourism industry isn't anything new. Think Universal Studios on Sentosa which has just recently announced a hike in entrance fees.  If things work well in Singapore, MAMA will probably do the rounds and visit China, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia in the future. Imagine MAMA set against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in KLCC or the Shanghai Bund. Question is: What happened to MAMA attracting Kpop lovers to Korea? What has KTO to say to MAMA's ties with tourism promotion boards of other countries?

source:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/11/143_97807.html

Good News For Gingko Tree Lovers

For the first time in twenty years, a private gingko forest has been opened for public viewing somewhere on the foothills of Odaesan. It may not seem very big, standing at  43,000 sq m. ( about the size of a baseball stadium) but many of the trees here are more than 30 years old.

Gamsa hamnida to the owner and patient planter of these trees, Yoo Ki-chun. Apparently he bought the abandoned land 20 years ago and planted gingko trees when he realised the soil wasn't suitable for fruit trees.

The reporter from Arirang News who covered this story didn't indicate if there was any admission charge nor were there any details about how to get to Mr Yoo's estate So watch this space as I try to get more information to update this page if picnicking under the golden shade of these most elegant and hardy trees in autumn is on your bucket list.

BTW, interesting that Odaesan seems to be enjoying a fair bit of limelight in the local press of late. First, it gets the title of No 1 Most Beautiful Forest in Korea for 2011 and now this. Just how close is it to Pyeongchang?

Meanwhile if you're not venturing beyond Seoul but want to feast your eyes on this goldern hoard, check out these gingko trees at the Olympic Park in the capital.

Gingko gold in Seoul's Olympic Park

sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103101346.html
http://eng.me.go.kr/content.do?method=moveContent&menuCode=res_tou_pak_kor_odaesan
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/31/2011103100367.html#

The Most Beautiful Forest in Korea for 2011

Beats me what kind of yardstick is used by the Korea Forest Service when it comes to ranking their forests and one wonders why it seems necessary in the first place to have such a list in the first place.

Anyway, they've just declared on 26th October that the "MOST BEAUTIFUL FOREST FOR 2011"...drumroll please... is...in Odaesan in Gangwon-do.

Odaesan in winter

In particular, the stretch of fir forest sandwiched between the Iljimun ( One Pillar Gate) at the entrance of  Woljeong Temple and the Kumgang Bridge is supposed to be particularly fetching. Tree huggers can take their pick from the 1,700 fir trees in this area. But do handle them with some respect. The  average age of these firs is about 83 years, but there are  some which are over 3 CENTURIES old. Now , that's impressive.

The  fir forest of Woljeong Temple on Mount Odae, Gangwon Province.

Must check out what was the Most Beautiful Forest for the past years.


sources:
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/502726.html
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264215

M Pass (Metropolitan Pass ) Coming Soon

Good news for visitors to South Korea. From December onwards, you can buy new multiple-ride transit passes and enjoy greater savings as you plan day trips between Seoul and some other cities in the country.

Ask for the M-Pass but before that, plan carefully as you have to decide between purchasing the one-day pass ( which costs 10,000 won and lets you take up to 20 subway trips ) or opt for the 2-day, 3-day or 7-day pass instead.

According to the Korean Herald and Yonhap News, " The passes currently are only for travel on subway lines and a railway linking Incheon International Airport to Seoul, but will later be expanded to include all regular buses in the capital area. Discounts on admissions to royal palaces and other tourist destinations will also be given to foreigners with passes."

Never really bothered about checking out passes for transportation around Seoul before but now that I've done a bit of surfing, the options seem to be increasing and at the same time, a tad migraine-inducing if you're like me and hate making consumer comparisons.

Seoul City Plus Passes - Choices Within Choices

How, for instance, does the M-Pass differ from the Seoul City Pass OR  the T-Money card OR  the Seoul City Plus Pass?  Points of comparison include coverage ( can it be used on local buses and subways outside Seoul? ), mode of recharging and refunds and  additional discounts for tourist attractions.

I'll leave you to do the math.

 The assumption seems to be that most tourists prefer to make Seoul their base but what about those who are not particularly keen on spending so much time in the capital?

Personally, I'd prefer to have a travel pass that gets me on any provincial, local and inter-city bus so that I can travel out  from Incheon International Airport, avoid the traffic snarls of Seoul and head directly for the hills. It's early days yet so it would be interesting to see which cities or towns outside Seoul will be involved in this scheme.

sources:
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111020000820
http://visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261307
http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/TR/TR_EN_5_4.jsp