KPOP Jacket Lady
KDrama and KPOP Concert Reviews, Travel Tips, Korean Recipes and more
The Zoo In Seoul Grand Park: In Photos.
I’ll admit that zoos are a problematic institution. However, nowadays many of them are the last refuge for endangered animals, as well as being educational centers which teach people the necessity of taking steps to preserve animals in the wild. Personally I love well maintained zoos with caring and educated staff, and so will often visit ‘the zoo’ while on vacation.
The Zoo is a part of Seoul Grand Park which also has lots of other options. We haven’t visited them all yet, but have enjoyed the Theme Gardens, the Children’s Zoo, and the Botanic Gardens. The Zoo only cost $5.00 it get in which makes a cheap day out, especially if you take the subway to get there, and a picnic to enjoy while there. However we sometimes just get a snack as that’s part of the fun.
There’s a couple of different options to get to the Zoo once you get to the park. It is uphill to get to the Zoo so we have taken the chair lift up to the zoo entrance each time as you also get some amazing views over the park and Zoo. You can also walk or take a trolley bus.
We first visited the Zoo in Seoul Grand Park back in the Spring of 2015 and then visited it most recently in the Fall of 2017. Both are great seasons to visit, one for the cherry blossoms and the other for the colorful foliage.
By visiting it more than once we could see the improvements that have been carried out in the meantime. The tiger area is so much better now, and there are plans in place to upgrade some of the other areas as well. Many of the animal enclosures have vegetation, rock walls for climbing, or dirt to dig in, each to suit the occupants. There still are some enclosures that require improvement, which can be said of many zoos worldwide.
The zoo is spread out over a large area with wide roads and paths which make it a pleasant place just to spend some down time. There are many food options as well as multiple seating places to enjoy your own picnic. We saw people of all ages enjoying a day out in a beautiful relaxed environment. The animals seemed to be well taken care of too.
Korea is known for its cold winter weather so all the animals had inside shelters of some kind. Some of these were somewhat reminiscent of Jurassic Park!
Sloths are among our favorite animals.
The camels were having a lovely time out in the Fall sunshine.
There are children’s play areas scattered about as well as what looked like a designated lunch area for school groups and other children to eat. It was situated in a quiet place tucked away near the forest.
The monkeys and apes also had some pretty amazing playscapes.
The Zoo at Seoul Grand Park is beautifully landscaped both with areas of planted flowers and those left more natural like the mountain forest against which it abuts. It was beautiful in both Spring and Fall and I would recommend it for a lovely day out from the hustle and bustle of Seoul. If you get there early you can even have whole areas to yourself.
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to Elizabeth and Debora Marzec.
You may also enjoy Wolji Pond At Night: In Photos, Namiseom Island: A Land Of Fairy Tales And Adventure, and Gyeongju: Why You Should Visit On Your Next Trip To Korea.
Kpop: The Best Dances Of The Time? Part 1. (Around 2009)
There are many different things needed to form a top Kpop group, including the music, lyrics, choreography, company support, costumes, the talent of the idols themselves, and more. All these need to come together to create the perfect whole. Of course not all groups are equal and some are acknowledged for being better at one feature than another. And it is the ability to perform the choreography at a top level that sets some groups apart.
I’m a big fan of dance practice videos because they allow me to focus on the dancing without all the distractions of a MV or the often weird camerawork of music shows. Originally dance practice videos were just that, a video of the group practicing, and were a little rough around the edges. They were unlike the more polished ones we see today, but even back then you could see how difficult and complex the choreography often was. I also enjoy the ‘dance’ version MVs that many groups put out, but even some of them fall prey to weird camera angles and zooming in and out. I like to be able to see the whole dance performed by the whole group.
The Kpop dances we see today grew from the work of earlier groups and global influences. Rather than write a whole history of Kpop dance I’ll begin with some of the groups who were popular when I started following Kpop. (around 2009). Groups such as TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, 2PM, Beast, MBLAQ, UKiss, Brown Eyed Girls, T-Ara, 2NE1 etc. produced some of the songs and dances which have become classics of the genre.
While all of these groups sang and danced, some came out with amazing pairings of the two. Who can forget TVXQ’s Mirotic which came out 5 years after their debut, or SHINee’s Ring Ding Dong which may be one of the best loved song and dance pairings for all fans, not just Shawols. Super Junior, the first ‘large’ group (13 members) to be successful, has had multiple hits many of which can be recognised from a single dance move. Think Sorry, Sorry, which was choreographed by Nick Bass and Trent Dickens.
2PM were known as ‘beast’ idols for their powerful dance moves as seen in 10 Out Of 10, while Beast showed understated, but distinct dance moves for Fiction. Big Bang was, well Big Bang, with all the foibles and idiosyncrasies we’ve come to love. Taeyang has always been acknowledged as one of the best dancers in Kpop, but as a group, not so much.
So which of these groups had the ‘best’ dances is hard to say, but personally I have a great fondness to Ring Ding Dong. Even though SHINee went on to produce a whole string of fantastic dance videos Ring Ding Dong will always be special to me. I also enjoyed 2PM’s Heartbeat, and then I have to say that 2009 was basically the year I actually followed girl groups. Their dances of that era had a uniqueness that seems to have disappeared from the recent Kpop scene.
Brown Eyed Girls came out with Abracadabra, T-Ara with Bo-Peep Bo Peep, BoA with Eat You Up, and 2NE1 with Fire. Of these I liked Abracadabra the most, and the Brown Eyed Girls’ signature dance move (the Arrogant Dance) is still seen throughout the world as Psy used in his Gentleman MV.
Did all of these have the most complex and difficult choreography executed in the most perfect way? No, but they had interesting dances, that fit the songs, kept ones attention, and highlighted the dancing skills of the groups members.
As dancing skills have improved and the importance of other criteria such as Youtube views have become more important to the entertainment agencies, even more focus has been put on dance and choreography. It is therefore unfair to compare the skill level of that time with now as it is inevitable that people will improve over time. Needless to say I think some of these earlier groups deserve recognition for helping Kpop improve in multiple areas, and dance skills is definitely one such area.
Part 2 will cover the early 2010’s. If you have a favorite song/dance MV from 2009 please feel free to share it in the comments.
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photos and MVs belong to original owners.
You may also enjoy Like Dance? Watch Kpop, and Best Of Weekly Idol Play Dances.
Gyeonghuigung Palace, Seoul.
There are ‘five grand palaces’ in Seoul; Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksung, Changgyeonggung, and Gyeonghuigung. They were all built during the time of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392 – 1910 CE. Although they each have a lot of similarities of style, there are arguments for visiting all five.
Gyeonghuigung has a few things going for it. For example it is the least visited by tourists so you can get beautiful photographs without all the people. It is right next to the Seoul Museum of History, and the Seoul Museum of Art so you can see multiple things without having to walk very far. And it is free to get in.
Built for king Gwanghae in 1616, as a secondary palace it, at one time, had about one hundred buildings within its walls. In fact it took up so much land that it was once connected to Deoksugung Palace by an arched bridge. Ten kings used it at times over the centuries even though it wasn’t the main palace. Unfortunately Gyeonghui has seen some hard times over the years and what you can see now is only a remnant of what it once was.
It was burned by accidental fires in the 19th century and much of it was torn down by the Japanese during their occupation of Korea in the 20th. The Japanese relocated a couple of the buildings to other parts of Seoul, but most everything was leveled or removed to make way for a Japanese Middle School.
By 1988 there wasn’t very much left except for foundations. In the 1990’s the Korea Government began rebuilding it as it once was. Using the original techniques the restoration continues to this day. About 33% has been rebuilt, but they will never be able to rebuild all of it because some of the original land has been lost to modern development. Plus they don’t know what all the lost buildings looked like, since only foundations were left. Still they have done at amazing job and it is well worth a visit.
Entry to the other four ‘grand palaces’ is only a very nominal fee, and if you get the pass it is even cheaper. About $14.00 US without the pass, v $10.00 US with the pass. The passes can be bought at any of the other palaces + Jongmyo Shrine. Also if you are wearing a hanbok you can get into the palaces for free. (True when I wrote this but check before you go.)
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to Elizabeth and Debora Marzec.
You may also enjoy reading Day Trip To Jeonju, Kimchi Pots: In Photos, and Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Markets.
My Attempt At Making A Hanbok: Part One.
The Korea Hanbok is one of the most beautiful traditional clothing styles found anywhere in the world. Although no longer everyday dress for most Koreans they can still be seen being worn by Koreans on many special occasions such as weddings and national holidays. They are also commonly seen at many tourist sights.
Hanbok rental shops have cropped up in the past decade near palaces, temples, hanok villages and other historic sights. Not only tourists rent Hanbok, young Koreans sometimes do it for a ‘couple’ date, and yet others just do it for fun and instagram photographs.
My daughter and I even dressed up at the airport while we were waiting for our flight.
And for our kimchi making class.
These rental and ‘costume’ hanboks vary in quality, style and authenticity. Don’t get me wrong, they are often very beautiful and stylish and provide many people with an opportunity they otherwise wouldn’t have, but they aren’t totally the real deal. Real hanboks are expensive as can be seen when you search online. If I was considering one for a wedding, or other special occasion, I might pay that kind of price, but I just want to have one for conventions and to wear at my historical recreation groups events.
With those constraints I’ve been looking at historic hanbok design. My historical re creation group stops with the year 1600 CE with everything needing to date before then. However it still permit modern things such as allowing people to wear glasses etc. so it is not as strict as many reenactment groups. Still many people try and recreate the costumes, accessories, food, crafts etc as accurately as possible.
(Photo of my daughter wearing an Elizabethan gown made by our friend, Alex.)
The hanbok is said to have been around for about 1,600 years and tomb paintings from Goguryeo show some of the earlier styles. The Goguryeo Kingdom was around from about 37 BCE – 668 CE. These early images show a chima, or pleated ‘skirt’ tied above the breasts, a jeogori or jacket long enough to cover the hips, and wide sleeves. An underdress or pants might be under the skirt.
( This is “a recreation of clothing from the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C. to 668 A.D.) based on a 5th century mural from Susanri Tomb in Pyongan Province in North Korea”. [ARUMJIGI CULTURE KEEPERS FOUNDATION, JOONGANG ILBO])
The Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392 CE) was somewhat influenced by the Mongols, and Mongol princesses even married into the Korean royal family. At that time the chima was usually gathered not pleated, the jeogori became shorter, the sleeves narrower, and the otgoreum appeared. The otgoreum is the bow tied on the front of the jeogori which has become integral to the design of all hanboks since then.
(The photo below shows the change in the length of the jeogori over time, plus the change in the style of the sleeves, here with the two extremes. The photo shows modern replica clothes based on research by Korean experts.)
The Joseon Dynasty (1392- 1910) covers such a long period of time that changes gradually took place throughout those years with the jeogori becoming even shorter. So much so that an extra band of fabric had to be added over the skirt and under the jeogori to preserve a woman’s modesty. The jeogori also became more form fitting.
For myself I’m thinking of perhaps making a sokchima (petticoat), a chima, (skirt) and perhaps two jeogori, starting with the historically older one with the longer jacket. Now that I’ve decided on that I need to think about materials. Hanbok was traditional made from sambe (hemp), mosi (ramie), cotton, or silk, depending on class and the season. People often had summer and winter hanboks made from different fabric. Living in South Texas I need to take extreme heat into consideration, so I think I’ll use linen, an easily accessible material similar to hemp, that is relatively cheap and helps keep the wearer cool. If I could afford real Korean mosi (ramie) that would have been my first choice, but most of what is sold as ramie in the US isn’t really proper mosi. Just as a lot of fabric sold as linen is actually a linen blend. Fortunately I was able to buy some really nice linen a few years ago. The photo shows my linen stash. Not sure which colors to choose just yet though.
Koreans were once known as the “white clad people” and you can understand why when you look at old paintings and photographs, but this was probably because of their white cotton summer outfits, particularly for the working classes.
Even the poor sometimes wore colored clothes although not the vibrant hues available to the wealthy. The royals and the royal court obviously wore the most splendid clothes made from silk in the winter and mosi in the summer. The colors were intense and deep with gold and red being particularly favored, as were other dark colors. (Dark colors require more dye and are therefore more expensive. The same is also true of really vibrant colors.) If they could afford it mature women tended towards dark greens and reds, while young girls had the widest variety of color choices. The poor were likely to wear pale pink, light green, grey and so forth as lightly dyed cloth was cheaper to make.
The more wealthy you were the more likely you were to have more cloth used for your clothes, and the more accessories and embellishments you would have. Embroidered clothes obviously cost more, and if they were embroidered with gold thread then you were exceedingly wealthy. Needless to say I can’t afford the time or the money to make an outfit like that. I think I’ll aim for someone in the middle, not a slave and not wealthy.
I began making the sokchima, (petticoat) before deciding to keep a record of the process so I don’t have photographs from the beginning. Basically I used a piece of linen 2 1/2 times the measurement around my chest just above my bust and under my armpits. Traditionally the sokchima and chima were held up by a tie, more recently straps or even a bodice have been used to make the dressing process easier and the outfit more comfortable. I then tore it along the weave (often easier than trying to cut a straight line). The next step was to measure from where it would sit above my bust to the floor plus about 3” longer than the length I needed. I ended up with a rectangle of cloth.
I hand hemmed one long side and the two short sides. Since I make my outfits to be used multiple times, they must all be machine washable. This means I can’t leave any rough edges or the fabric will unravel. I do have a sewing machine, but no serger, so I do a fair bit of the sewing the old fashioned way…by hand. I then pleated the last long side which is where I’ll attach a band to tie it.
This is where I stopped for now, and where the adventure begins. I have looked at some of the patterns online, but nearly all of them concentrate on making a modern hanbok. What I need to do now is some experimenting with the band, particularly since I’m using pleating not gathering. Well at least for now I am. If you look at the recreation of the white 5th century dress it almost looks like the chima might be tied lower than above the bust. This is one of the reasons I’m making the sokchima first. This way I can work out methods and fix mistakes before I begin on the rest of the outfit. It is also why I chose a drab color as I don’t want to mess up with one of the pretty colors.
Wish me luck.
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to original owners.
You may also enjoy Ramie: “Wings Of A Dragonfly,” Hanji: The Paper Of Korea, and Korea’s Greatest Hero.
The Botanic Garden In Seoul Grand Park: In Photos.
The Botanic Garden, inside the grounds of the zoo at Seoul Grand Park, isn’t very large, but it is very well worth a visit if you enjoy plants. They have permanent displays in the large greenhouse as well as an area for changing exhibits. There’s also some small outside gardens as well. Obviously there are seasonal changes with the plants outside.
When you first enter the greenhouse you are directed to follow a one way route through the displays starting with the Desert room which was full of cactus and succulents.
Although not terribly large it was jam packed with a decent selection of plants. With the extreme cold of Korean winters it was nice to see how healthy some of the plants looked. Unfortunately there were some signs of scale on some of the cactus.
The tropical area was next, with all the lush greenery that you would expect.
It also had a few areas where you could just sit and enjoy the atmosphere, and breathe in all that healthy air. Koreans believe in forest ‘bathing’ which is getting out into nature to relieve stress. Usually done in on forest paths, you may even see people walking barefoot on specially created ‘forest bathing’ trails, it also can sometimes be seen wherever there are large collections of plants.
Once through the tropical area we came to the room that holds the somewhat temporary collections. In 2015 when we visited it was an amazing display of orchids.
In 2017 it was a small room full of carnivorous plants which was really interesting.
There were quite a few I hadn’t seen before
.
Or wouldn’t have recognized as being carnivorous, as well as ones I was familiar with.
And harking back to the ‘forest bathing’ we can only assume someone tried to do that here!
The greenhouse is a pleasant place to stroll around to view a nice variety of plants, so make sure to visit it when you visit Seoul Grand Park.
We do sometimes find it amusing however, that sometimes when we travel we see plants that are weeds where we live, but are treasured collectible specimens in other parts of the world.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Spirit Garden, Haneul Park, and Yeomiji Botanic Garden.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to Elizabeth and Debora Marzec.
Mad Clown & San E In San Antonio.
Yeah, that’s right. San Antonio finally had genuine Korean Hip Hop artists perform in our fair city. Mad Clown and San E may not have realized it when they agreed to have San Antonio as a tour stop, but they were and from now on always will be the ‘first’ with us. And you know what? All future Kpop/Khiphop performers have a tough act to follow. It was one of the most fun concerts I’ve ever been to, and you know I’ve been to a lot. (Actually I must be on a roll, because the past 3 concerts I’ve attended have all been fantastic.)
The lead up to the concert was a little less than encouraging. A huge line of severe thunderstorms pushed through the city mid afternoon, making driving hazardous. Lighting streaked across the sky and the thunder shook windows, radar screens were full of red and orange as storm cells intensified. For the first time I actually considered the possibility of not going to a concert. Fortunately the worst passed by just as I headed out the door. Dropping the truck off at a friends house we drove on down to the venue. The blue of Jack Rabbit looked sad against the dark sky as fans sat in their vehicles waiting for the rain to let up. After a while a few brave souls began lining up under a cluster of umbrellas, only to occasionally dash back to their cars for shelter. As VIP early entry time approached the rain began to let up and more fans joined the line.
We all know the chaos and irritations that can happen at Kpop events . It doesn’t seem to matter whether it is at a large or small venue, it still seems to be the norm. Often this could be alleviated by keeping the fans informed. Well Jack Rabbit performed admirably. Just when I was asking people in line if it was VIP or everyone the event staff came out and directed VIPs to a line on one side of the building and general admission to the other. When it became apparent that the doors were not going to open on time, staff came down the line to explain that the severe weather had delayed the performers. They assured us they were on their way and that as soon as possible after the soundcheck the doors would open.
Just as the final rays of the setting sun gave us a rainbow behind the venue building Mad Clown, San E, Sobae and the other artists showed up. Due to the delay we were given free souvenir wristbands which was a nice touch.
Once we were allowed inside we waited for our meet and greet. Rather than being rushed because of the delay, the artists made sure to have a few words with each of the fans, as well as signing our free tour posters. We then got to have our photo taken. We also got hugs. I forgot to pick up my poster and Sobae was so sweet and followed me to make sure I got it. She was also incredibly beautiful and as I was to find out as the evening progressed, extremely talented.
We got drinks and chose to sit at one of the tables. Much as I wanted to be front and center I’ve been under the weather lately so decided to make an adult decision and a find a place to sit. The venue had a nice wide stage. This allowed for a lot of front row space, so many fans got really up close to the the artists and got a lot of interaction with them. My view wasn’t great, but I could still hear the music and feel the energy. Like Mad Clown sings in Butterfly “don’t ask me why I’m at a club, I’m here to listen to music.” He might just be my new spirit animal.
Every now and then I’d move a little closer so I could be in the thick of the action, and the pulsing high octane energy.
If you talk to the fans who were there they each might have a favorite part, but to be honest it was all fantastic from the, unknown to me, opening act to the local DJ’s with their Kpop Mv’s, to the main artists. The main three San E, Mad Clown, and Sobae kept the crowd bouncing, bopping and cheering all night long. The wonderful DJ Juice perfectly kept up with them making sure that we got the best musical experience.
Sobae’s beautiful voice was a welcome surprise and she easily sang her parts with class and skill. She also has a truly lovely smile. Even though they are both often thought of as ‘ballard’ rappers San E and Mad Clown worked the crowd up into a frenzy at times. I have to say I fell for Mad Clowns quiet eyes and charmingly quirky smile and found his on stage presence quite appealing. San E was a force to be reckoned with on stage. He paced and bounced from one end to the other engaging fans with his wide smile and powerful charisma all while mesmerizing them with his performance.
Not the usual dressed in black, tattooed rappers who throw the F word around like is is the candy in a pinata, San E and Mad Clown showed that rappers just have to be intrinsically good at what they do. If you have talent and skill people will appreciate that, and all the artists on stage definitely had both. It was a dynamic and addictive show with everyone wanting it to on forever.
I was allowed to go up to the side of the stage with the press for a short while and enjoyed every second. Admittedly I spent more time just enjoying being so close rather than taking photos. You know the whole enjoy the moment philosophy.
Once the last song had been sung and the crowd dispersed we hung around for a while as San E had said he’d like to see me after the show. We were shown into the tiny artists room and I got to speak to everyone for a short while before a group photo and lots of hugs. It was really nice getting so many hugs since I also had a reason to celebrate. Kpopjacketlady.com had had its 2nd anniversary that day.
One of the most fun shows in awhile. I was so thrilled the weather hadn’t made us miss such a stellar evening. It was fun to meet up with friends old and new and to be able to share such a fun night with them. A big thank you to Cathy and Rick for keeping me company and making me laugh so much.
Thank you to everyone who made it such a great experience, and please come back and visit us again. Stay a little while and we’ll show you true Texas hospitality.
A brief shoutout to Jack Rabbit who did a great job making the event go smoothly. The bartenders and staff were friendly and professional. Also having a food truck right outside the front door was pretty sweet.
Have a great day everyone.
You can find tour videos on Youtube as well as the artists MVs. San E & Mad Clown. Sobae.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to original owners. Myself and Rick & Cathy Silvers. Plus the Artist promotional photo is from their tour website.
NB. I didn’t get the embroidered patches finished in time, so San E and Mad Clown signed the fabric and I’m going to see if I can embroider those to also add to the kpopjacket.
Seoul Grand Park: The Theme Gardens, And The Children’s Zoo.
Seoul Grand Park is huge and it has so many attractions within its boundaries. The most popular are perhaps the Zoo, the amusement park (Seoul Land) and the Theme Gardens, however it also houses a Children’s Zoo, an annex of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and a small botanic garden within the zoo. It also has a camping area and forest walks into the surrounding mountains. To add to the choices of things to do the National Science Museum is just across the street from the park.
Seoul Grand Park is a great place to visit to have a relaxing day out of the city. It is located about an hour south of Seoul itself and subway line 4 takes you right to it. We first visited in the spring of 2015 and spent almost the whole day in the zoo. We revisited this past fall (2017) and divided our time up between the zoo and the theme gardens.
We usually take the sky ride up to the first stop, and then when we’re done for the day, walk back down. There is an elephant trolley/train thing that you can also use if you don’t want to walk.
Here you can just see the amusement park in the distance. Seoul Land is not as big as Everland, but is popular nonetheless.
The Theme Garden obviously changes during the seasons and we visited just at the end of summer, beginning of fall. (The roses are said to be at their best May/June time frame.)
While the rose gardens are the main attraction we strolled around the outer edges first where there are more natural gardens, and hidden gems like this greenhouse full of herbs.
There’s also a fruit tree garden, which I guess is just another name for a fancy orchard, but it had a large selection of different fruiting trees some of which were different and intriguing.
One edge of the gardens is bordered by the lake which was quite pretty in the sunlight.
The rose gardens were beautiful with 67 different types of roses. Although at the time we visited some were past their best, others were blooming in all their glory.
The rose garden was a lovely place to stroll around, or to sit on one of the many benches to unwind and take in their beauty. A few scented varieties made their presence known and enhanced the relaxed atmosphere. We really did ‘slow down and smell the roses’.
Since we were already in the Theme Garden area we decided to visit the Children’s Zoo. Oddly this is included with the small fee for the Theme Garden and not the Zoo proper. We followed the signs which led us down and under a lakeside bridge and then back up the other side.
They have the most amazing playscape…..for goats. Unfortunately none were playing on it while we were there. The goats seemed more interested in begging for food,
as did the sheep.
Since most Korean live in urban environments they don’t really have many opportunities to encounter any animals. The idea of having animals as pets, including dog and cats, is a fairly recent thing. In the past all animals had to serve a purpose, either as working animals or food. Even so it was quite surprising to find dogs included in a zoo setting.
These were the dog cages.
The monkey area was much more hospitable. As were the areas for rabbits and other small petting zoo type animals. The children’s zoo runs classes and offers a pleasant area for Korean youngsters to become familiar with a variety of animals. But for those from pet loving countries the dog area seems unnecessarily intense, even if they are ‘working’ dogs. They were people shy and barked at anyone who came too near the bars. A supervised petting area with a couple of friendly Labradors would be much more conducive to teaching both adults and children about dogs.
Fortunately we could stop by the Meerkats on our way out to cheer ourselves back up a little. Meerkats are always fun and these had a large and interesting space full of things to climb through on onto.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Seonyudo Park: In Photos, Korea And The Silk Road, and Pets In Korea: And Some Of The Idols Who Own One.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
Photo credits to Elizabeth and Debora Marzec.
Map of Seoul Grand Park to http://grandpark.seoul.go.kr/eng_grand/grand/info/info01.jsp
Tongin Traditional Market.
If you’re like most visitors to Seoul Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbokgung Palace will be high on your list of places to see. Once in the general area people then seem to gravitate east towards Bukchon Hanok Village, which is indeed a place worth visiting. We have done so numerous times, but more and more people are choosing to head west to Seochon Village which has its own area of hanok houses as well as Tongin Traditional Market.
Not one of the oldest, or largest, markets in Seoul it is nonetheless well worth visiting for its unusual approach for buying a meal.
They use old coins as tokens for your meal. This allows you to chose smaller portions of a few different things that you may not have tried if left to your own devices. You find the small crowd gathered around the person selling the tokens and pay your 5,000 won, get your tokens and a tray and off you go. All the stalls have sign saying how many tokens each item is, and you basically just point and pay.
Once you have your tray of food you go back to where you got the tokens and head upstairs to a seating area. You can also buy your bowl of rice and get a drink of water upstairs. The market is narrow and crowded, especially at lunch time, as many students and workers come here to grab a good cheap meal. The upstairs eating area can also be busy. Once you’ve finished your meal watch how and where the locals place their trays, uneaten food etc otherwise the staff might take your stuff and give you disapproving looks. Elizabeth did it correctly, me not so much.
We tried to get a good sampling between us so we could try as much as possible. Some things were exceedingly yummy. You can also pay cash for your food, but using the old coins as tokens makes it a more interesting experience.
Elizabeth kindly stood in line with a hungry bunch of middle schoolers, who were a bit pushy, for my favorite Hotteok.
An interesting way to grab a quick lunch and try a good selection of street/market type foods Tongin Market is well worth a visit.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also like Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Markets, Tuho, and A Look at Hongdae.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to Elizabeth and Debora Marzec,
Namsan Tower, Seoul.
On our first trip to Seoul in the spring of 2015 we, like everyone else does on their first trip, went up to the Namsan Tower. Elizabeth did one of the love locks, and so on this trip we decided to go back and check to see if we could find it. The photos will be a mix from both trips, the one in spring 2015 and one in the fall of 2017.
We’ve enjoyed all three of our trips to S. Korea and each season has its pluses and minuses. However one of the things you’ll notice about the spring photos is how hazy they are. This is because spring is the worst time of the year for fine dust problems. So if you have allergies or breathing problems you may want to take that into account when planning your visit to S. Korea.
Namsan Tower is on top of a mountain that is within the city of Seoul. This is one of the great things about Seoul. There are multiple mountains and hills inside the city and many have been left as green spaces where numerous Seoulites hike on weekends. On our first trip we took the subway, then walked to the cable car and used it to get up to the tower. You can also hike up the mountain, or take a bus part way.
On our second visit we walked from Seoullo 7017 Skypark to Namsan Park, which is huge. We walked along the city wall for a ways and through a small portion of the park before cutting through to the cable car.
One day I will walk all the way up….probably…well maybe.
One of the main things that Namsan Tower is famous for, apart from being the highest point in Seoul, are the ‘locks of love’. Many places in the world do the same thing, but perhaps non are in such a spectacular setting.
Once off the cable car we headed to where Elizabeth had put her ‘lock’, and it wasn’t there.
They had cleared out all the locks and we have no idea what happens to them. So somewhat disappointed she decide to try again and bought another lock and placed it in a different area. Hopefully this one will survive until we return again. (We took multiple photos on each visit to make sure we can go to exactly the right place.)
Feeling like a drink was in order we headed to the tower itself for lunch and a drink. There are multiple places to eat at the top of the mountain, some are tucked away in a mini mall type space, but we always eat in the tower itself. Our first trip we chose the cheaper option and then on the second trip we decided on having a better view so went to a slightly fancier restaurant.
The food was delicious and the view amazing, even though it was a bit hazy. We could even see the Lotte World Tower in the distance, which is currently the 5th tallest building in the world.
On our first visit we checked out some of the things inside the tower itself and found the post office where you can write and send a love letter.
And a restroom with probably the best view ever.
Many people head up to Namsan Tower to catch the sunset, so just be aware that the lines for the cable car can be longer just before sunset. Also check the weather and visibility. Like many big cities the sky can be hazy at times, making photography a little difficult. I hope you find time to visit Namsan Tower on your next trip to Korea.
Have a great day everyone.
You may also enjoy Seonyudo Park: In Photos, Korean Games, And Where To Find Out More About Them.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation.
All photo credits to Elizabeth and Debora Marzec.
Dumbfoundead: The Yikes! Tour.
It was a good day when I heard that Dumbfounded was to bring his Yikes! Tour to Austin, both because I wanted to see him perform, and because Austin is a lot closer to home than either Houston or Dallas. Also I’ve been on some fairly heavy meds lately and an Austin stop meant Elizabeth could drive and keep an eye on me.
We got to downtown early enough to have a pleasant dinner and still be in the middle of the ‘meet & greet’ line. Everyone was excited and upbeat about the show and new friends were made and old ones caught up on everyone’s news. The show was at Stubbs, an iconic Austin eatery and live music venue. Fortunately Dumbfounded was appearing at. the more intimate indoor stage rather than the outdoor one.
The venue staff got us all lined up and we proceeded to take our turns meeting Dumbfoundead. He was gracious and allowed hugs and multiple photos, taken with each person’s personal camera/phone by a very helpful staff member. We also got an individually signed poster, tee shirt, goodie bag etc. There was no rushing or pushing and all the fans seemed very happy with the experience. Dumbfoundead even found his patch!
We had a long wait between the meet and greet and the show starting. I began the evening down near the stage, but the heat and the crowd started getting to me so I headed upstairs to grab a beer and a place on the balcony where I could lean on the railing.
The show started with DJ Zo who instantly got the crowd moving. The balcony offered a perfect place to be able to see him work his magic. (We could also feel the music vibrate through the balcony floor which was kinda interesting and cool.) Having appeared with many top notch artists, including Jay Park, and as an opening act for Justin Timberlake, DJ Zo knew exactly how build and keep the momentum going.
He played a wide and eclectic mix, and cleverly added just the right amount of latin and popular music to appeal to the Austin crowd. Everyone was singing along and bopping to the beats, becoming more heated and intense when a favorite song came on. He really got the crowd hyped up.
Next we were lucky to see Year Of The Ox come on stage. Having only ever watched their videos it was a thrill to see them live. They lived up to my expectations and gave a great performance. Lyricks and JL took me back to when rappers spoke up about their personal experiences and causes because that was an important part of what made them who they are now. Their lyrics were incisive and I loved the line “My new name is ‘when’d you get back’ ?” from Jet Lag. (I travel as much as possible, more when I was younger, so I’d often hear that very same phrase.)
My favorite song was perhaps A-Zn Foods which covered issues such as heritage, tradition, gentrification and cultural appropriation, all with humor and cutting wit. Being a transplant to the US myself some of these issues resonated with me. And although it may seem an obvious thing, I appreciated being able to hear the lyrics clearly with non of the mumbling of some rappers.
Finally Dumbfoundead came on stage and the roars of the crowd unbelievably became even louder. Having grown up in LA’s Koreatown Dumbfoundead also rapped about his experiences with perhaps Cochino most clearly showcasing the ignorance and racism of many towards Asians and those of Asian descent.
In between songs there were stories, banter and interactions with the crowd. Some fans had travelled more than a few hours to get to the venue and they were there to enjoy every moment. The youngest in the crowd was an 8th grader and the oldest was probably me. Everyone of us had a blast. The smallish venue was perfect . (The show was very close to being sold out, with less than 10 tickets left an hour before the doors opened.)
Dumbfounded was an engaging and entertaining performer who not only executed his songs almost flawlessly but also knew how to work the crowd. He made us all laugh a few times, particularly when he missed the entrance beat to one of his songs and had to start over. If you get a chance to catch one of the shows on the rest of the tour I heartily recommend you go.
Being up on the balcony also worked out for us since we were able to spot Lyricks near the upstairs bar allowing fans to take photos with him. He was kindness personified and seemed pleased that I said I would be embroidering Year Of The Ox’s patch next.
I must apologise to Dumbfounded as we ended up having to leave a little before the show ended. (Maybe next time I’ll be on less medications.) Even so the show was lit and I thoroughly enjoyed my night out in Austin. Thank you and good luck with the rest of the tour.
Have a great day everyone.
Please do not copy or use without permission and accreditation. All photo credits to original owners. Mostly Elizabeth Marzec.
You may also enjoy Gyeongju: Why You Should Visit On Your Next Trip To Korea, A Visit To The Show, (SBS Music Show) and Hanji: The Paper Of Korea.
You can obviously find fancams and official channels on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/user/dumbfoundead https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw7RrKdqIMddn-JpnOtnWPg https://www.youtube.com/user/zomanno
KPOP Jacket Lady 