Korean Music

Well I'm still waiting for Internet hookup, yep I'm still living in the dark ages! My cell phone is getting funky even though it visited the LG service centre, looks like I have to visit Samsung too for the vacuum and well look at that my headphones just fell apart so off to Sony I go!

Other than that let’s have a listen to some of my favourite Korean musicians…

강산애/Kang San-ae there are many songs that I like but it seems hard to find at the mo.

리쌍/Lee SsangHip Hop stuff

I love this song! By 하찌와 TJ in English: Ha Ji & TJ. I met these guys through Kang San-ae at their CD release party. TJ is a really interesting Japanese guy that used to produce San-ae's music.
another song, I was at this concert but a little too late to hear them.

I was just introduced to this artist 바비김/Bobby Kim, I've heard his music before.

And lastly, for your viewing pleasure I give you Dynamic Duo!

I'm so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful people!

This is quite the quiet week compared to the last little while and I'm not complaining. I have to say that I do prefer to be busy but it's nice to have a break and enjoy being at home even though it's a complete disaster area as it's become more like a motel than a home.

My friend Irene has been busy with her two shows that opened about two weeks ago. One show was titled "Alien" due to the Alien Registration Card that all foreigners living in Korea must possess. Here’s a pic of the two of us, even though we were on our way to the opening party I couldn’t resist the street food, yum!

Last week I celebrated my birthday and I have to say that so far it’s one of the best times ever! One of my 6th grade classes had a surprise for me; I was told to wait as I was just about to walk into class. When I was finally allowed I was in shock as the students had one personal sized cake with a tall candle alight on the teacher’s desk, they sang as I walked in ~ I lost it. I couldn’t stop the tears as I was so grateful and touched and told them that this is the most special moment I’ve ever had and thanked them as I told them I miss my family and friends back home and this makes up for all that. How ironic that week’s curriculum was on birthdays and my plan was for them to make birthday cards for each other ~ everyone dived in a did a fantastic job which made for a wonderful class for all.

I celebrated my birthday later that evening with a meal in Samcheongdong a Gallery area by the Blue House which is where the presidents lives. The area is beautiful as it’s one of the oldest areas around a mountain so it’s lined with big trees and old houses that are now protected in a bid to save the area. However Saturday was the day that really was the celebration as I had a party with three other guys who also celebrated with me. The restaurant was packed with all of our friends I think almost 50 of them! The poor staff did an amazing job :) We had to sing Happy Birthday in three languages English, Korean and Farsi as one friend is from Iran. After we took off to Nabi which means butterfly in Korean. The place is really cool as it’s set up like a bar in Istanbul or something, with Turkish rugs on the floor with plush cushions for people to sit or cuddle with as we drink or like us, play the bongos and sing all night.

The night ended with breakfast in MacD’s as we don’t have diners here :( By 9am I was in bed and realizing how lucky I am to have such wonderful friends :)

Thank you so much!

International Artist Calls

I really need to get in gear with my art and so I did some research as to what's out there for art calls and I will list them for you too as I know many of my friends could also benefit from the info.

The Grieve+Samaritans Art Prize
Venue:House of Commons, London, England
Deadline: May 18, 2007

Online exhibit: www.upstreampeoplegallery.com
9th Annual Collage, Digital & Mixed Media Juried Online International Art Exhibition
Deadline: extended to May 24, 2007

Strange Figurations
Venue: Limner Gallery, Hudson, New York
Deadline: May 31, 2007

A Great Awakening
Venue: Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York, NY
Deadline: May 31, 2007

Painting On The Edge
Venue: Federation Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Deadline: June 1, 2007

"HEAT" The Next Tortured Genius II
Venue: 547 west 27 Street, New York City, Chelsea, NY
Deadline: June 3, 2007

Annual International Juried Exhibition
Online Exhibition: www.artKudos.com
Deadline: June 25, 2007

Mailart

Renew the Goddess - Ongoing Mail Art Call
Emily TownsendEtStudio19 Sapphire Drive West Windsor, NJ 08550USA

FRIDA KAHLO's 100 years 1907-2007
Venue: Jaca (Huesca)-Spain
Deadline: May, 31st 2007
Send to: ARTEMISIA Y COMPA?IA, Asoc. M. Artistas Avda. Juan XXIII, 19-esc 2 22700-JACA (Huesca)SPAIN

The Museum Devoted To The Enhancement Of Red And Green
Venue: Huddersfield Art Gallery, UK
Send to: Milk, Two Sugars 6 Savile Drive HORBURY WF4 6JP ENGLAND
Deadline: May 11th 2007

The GRACE LEE Project Trailer

This looks really interesting. Have you ever googled yourself and checked out the results?

Fun, fun fun!

At last I've had a wonderful Friday and let me tell ya it was something! I went to Sound Day in Hong Dae where my friend Kang San-ae was playing. The ticket was 15,000won however it's a pass to all the clubs that participate for Sound Day, so it's a good deal!
He played for an hour, the audience was wild as he has so much energy and really knows how to work his fans and entertain. My friends were slowly trickling in but a few couldn't find the place and were text messaging me constantly, but we met backstage aftewards and became groupies, he he he.
Off to "Som" (a bar)we went as they were expecting the after party. Valenchino was ahead with his cute Mongolian friend, he kept turning around and we kept verifying with screams that yes we are his groupies. This started when Kang San-ae started to walk to the bar with us but was bombarded with fans and headed back to the venue to get his car, the scene was cute as young girls were screaming as well as older than me women running after him.

At Som there was some confusion as we were told it's for a private party plus some friends were already there who were also being kicked out. So everyone waited outside for San-ae to come and verify that we are the party! And let me tell ya once it got started it was wild!

It started civil with everyone trying to find some space to park themselves on the warm Korean floor (Ondol) and chatting to their neighbors as we were all mixed up. The drinks started to flow and they didn't stop. A few times in the night the bar received deliveries of more beer as we were drinking it all up. The mood was fantastic with quite a number of musicians and artists from all over the world. The music started, San-ae was singing Valenchino was drumming with a box he found a few other people joined in the jamming and showed off their talents. Then the dancing started as the bar had an extensive record/CD collection with everyone up on tables the bar or what little space they could find they were dancing their hearts out.
The night for myself and my close friends in the bar ended around 6am but then we walked around figuring out what to do as we weren't ready to go home. Hunger pangs hit us and as we walked and found traces of the party everywhere as everyone was eating in the late night restaurants or street stalls. We ourselves ended up having Gam-ga-tang (spicy Potato and beef rib soup) where the night really was coming to an end as my head felt heavy and yearning for my pillow. My one friend decided the subway was open and she was going home, I have no idea where she got the energy from as she lives over an hour away by subway!
Even last night I was out with a lot of the same people for a friend's birthday, but this time I left early as my body was crashing and I'm now with a cold.

The Tube's Fashion Victims

I remember my friends and I saying that there is the need for the fashion police. I understand that people have the right and freedom to where what they please but sometimes it just hurts to see such things like men who wear their tight short shorts that they had since middle school or something but now they have beer guts, dudes it just doesn't look good! Anyway have a look at London Underground Fashion Victims.

Housewarming fun!

My housewarming was fantastic as it was nothing like I had expected it to be. I would have photos however I still can’t find my camera as it’s packed somewhere unbeknown to me the tricky little devil!
Philipp my friend and ex-roommate just returned to Korea from Austria came early to help me set things up for the party which was really helpful but he was worried that he may be the only guy so he started making calls. The party started with a few people which was nice but we were all getting a little tiddly as we were drinking some awesome wine but there were no snacks to go with it as the person assigned to bring them was running really late. However people started coming and coming and coming by the time dinner was served I think I was serving for almost 20 until the food was gone and the tables bare. But more people came I think there were almost 30 people. My fridge was empty; thank goodness for the shops around my house and those who ate before coming to my place.
We had the privilege of two performances, one by a professional Korean singer and the other was my friend Valentino a Brazilian percussionist who kept the party entertained by using a few bowls, lamps, an empty coke bottle along with chopsticks.
Quite a few people left around 2am but then a few of my close friends stayed and more food came out, I don’t know where from??? We ate and chatted more then I gave in by 4am where I left two people chatting in the living room and I have no idea when they went to sleep.
The night was really interesting with a great opportunity to network as we had a group of International artists that are currently doing an artist residency at Changdong Art Studio. One person that came along turned out to be my friend's professor at art school. So you can imagine the conversations and business cards that were flying around the apartment.
The only down point of the party was that my so-called boyfriend or whatever he calls himself never showed not even a message or call to say whatever. In fact I'm tired of his ass and I am now officially single again. Oh, some of you may be somewhat in shock, as you didn't know that I was dating, actually I kept it quiet ~ I’m sorry. The on the flip side; my new area is full of good-looking men! He he he he, what good timing then!

Hyderabadi Biryani Preparation Video

My mum used to make chicken or lamb biryani on special occasions. It's the one dish that I really, really miss and I’m sure I'm not the only one in my family who does, as she hasn't made it for a while. I remember one time she made huge vats of it for an Anglo-Indian Dance in Northolt that took the whole night before but it’s one of my fondest memories as our neighbors were over with bottles of red wine flowing and the jokes cracking with odd Indian but not Indian accents, as we were cooking these huge pots out in the back garden in our tent. Everyone took turns stirring the brew it really felt like witches of Southall making their potions. All of us kids were running in an out in the dark garden and into the wonderful spicy scented tent. I personally have never made this dish and I’m about to try, as tomorrow is my housewarming party. I’ll also be making some fish fry and I think a vegetable curry. Wish me luck and why not try it for yourself!

Oh the joys of shopping!

Shopping in Korea is rarely fun as I'm unable to buy clothes or shoes so my closets are full of accessories as this is the place to be for such things. However there was one market that a friend of a friend introduced me to last summer.

The place was interesting with all sorts of things for sale. However getting there needed patience as it wasn't easy. We got lost but that's something that I love as we stumbled upon different streets catering to different clients. Like walking along refrigerator street then pork feet Restaurant Street to something similar to a car boot sale. The people with me were photographers looking for that interesting photo opportunity which was hard as the things for sale were super interesting.

Well last Saturday after my second visit with the dentist and half a frozen face I thought I would go to the market again as I was already in the area. I walked and walked I found the chair street then the printing street but not the market. I gave up after a few hours and went for some sushi. However I found some info on the net and as usual I looked on Naver (Korean version of Google) and found some blogs with some interesting photos too.

Love in Travel

Quilt Sale

Archizany

Rhee82

Big Big World

However some of the photos are old as there was a lot of construction done in the area as they tore down the decrepit highway and rebuilt Cheonggycheon (stream). So they downsized the market from 1,200 venders to 400 which is sad as it's a great place to go as a tourist or a resident.

The big bad dentist is just a friend!

One of the best feelings in the world is in the mornings. As I lay in my bed knowing that I have to get up and start the day the rest of me is relaxed, comfortable and unwilling to unwrap the cozy warm blankie that I clutch so tight as if my mum is still there to rip it off at any given moment. However this morning I awoke to some weird timing as I turned on my lamp in my new dark bedroom at five thinking I was late, well far from it. However I was in the foulest of moods as I have two throbbing aches due to my fear of the dreaded dentist. So I called in sick and did all the red tape stuff one has to do in order to have the permission. And now I sit here at my desk in my home realizing that I have to soon get ready for the dentist chair ~ whaaaaah!

I have always been afraid of the big bad dentist, even though I worked in a dental lab and got used to the drilling sounds, but still I’m never prepared for those nasty long injections that probe your sensitive gums. Whaaaaah! I keep thinking that I am going to visit my friend Jin at work as he’s my dentist; at least I’m lucky there but as much as I like him as a friend he’s still that horrid person that brings pain. I know that it’s for the best but still it is PAIN!

Well I don’t think today’s visit will be the only visit I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot of Jin for the next little while and maybe I will be more comfortable than I’ve ever been ~ well let’s hope.

What have I done?

So Thursday was a roller coaster day of emotional meltdowns and crazy energy. It started off with me walking into school then being called to see the vice principal. I apparently did something wrong on the network that I have to use in order to sign out of school, however the network is all in Korean with millions of options which would take me forever to do it alone. So I get help each time I need to leave early even though I had teacher training at the educational office; faxes, emails and phone calls have been placed beforehand for my permission~! It turned into a large fiasco as the vice principal wanted to know who helped me even though neither of us can communicate well to each other as we are equally poor with each other’s language. SO my whole office got involved which was starting be really uncomfortable. One teacher was looking at me and laughing even though I looked on with a serious face, everyone is talking but just laughing when they looked at me. By that time I was about to blow my top, I can take it most days but today was not that day, I lost it as I constantly have two teachers in my office who mock my poor Korean abilities – like that’s going to help me learn, and to think these are teachers???
Then the day was much better after that but I was really low and was close to running away. Luckily the kids were great and also uplifted my spirits. Come lunchtime I decided not to join for lunch as I usually sit there trying hard to understand the conversation but they speak so fast. By the time I left school my nasty migraine form the day before came back. However I was excited to get home as the moving guy was coming over with some baskets for me to pack, and a lady wanted to check out my stove I have for sale.
I got home and did some tornado style cleaning and within half an hour my place was tidy, clean and vacuumed!!! I met my potential buyer and was pleased as we hit it off immediately and I think I can say that I found a new friend. She was so happy that I had the stove and after she checked the size she handed me the money, whahoo~! Then the moving guy came he looked at each room and was asking what I was taking, in fact it was easier to say what I wasn’t taking. He then changed the original price and plan saying that I need two 1ton trucks and three men to come and help which meant that the cost went up by $150!!! I wasn’t buying it but thank goodness the lady was still there as she turned to me and said her husband moves people in his truck – what timing! I felt bad that the guy carried all the baskets but I’m so lucky that she was there as I would have paid seeing that I move tomorrow.
Realizing that I don’t have the baskets anymore I was in desperate need of boxes so off I went on a box hunt as there’s always some around on the streets or by the shops, but not last night! So instead I stopped off at the all time favourite Indigo for some fish and chips and again I forgot to bring my packets of malt vinegar that I swiped from a pub in the UK, he he he.
I got home after walking around my hilly neighborhood with tons of energy and packed the few small boxes I had with the most creative packing yet! So now my apartment is almost ready I’m at school waiting for someone to come to the office to help me sign out again so that I can leave early and go home and finish the packing. So who knows what Monday morning will be like, I guess I should embrace myself. But I must admit I’m a little nervous as I only have two guys helping and many girlfriends I hope we can carry the heavy stuff out. Wish me luck! ;P

Cool Home & Lifestyle Blogs

I’m getting excited about my move and already planning in my head what goes where. So I thought I let you in on my usual reads and the reality of my obsession with interior design.

I have to start with Design Sponge I love this website for not just interior stuff but for art influences and a way to see what the trends are.

Then I normally go to Décor8 which is similar but shows different things.

I sometimes visit Imedagoze which is a good read but I’m jealous of her vacations!

I really love interior design and was watching Top Designers yesterday (not a favourite) as I miss the home improvement shows especially the ones in the UK as they deal with smaller spaces and seem to be more daring than the North American stuff. Oh I have to mention Tord Bootnje as I adore his designs and started collecting these light shades below and too nervous to take them out of the box but instead sit starring and adoring my precious!

What goes around comes around!

I’m so lucky to have great friends even though there are way too many miles that separate us. Thank you Jasmine and Mandy for your kind offers and your moral support during that dreaded time that stresses the best of us ~ “Moving Time”

Yesterday I helped my neighbor upstairs move out, oh by the way she’s also Sharon, a Canadian and the same age! She was a bit disappointed that some friends who didn’t come even though they promised to come and help however the weather was probably not the biggest help as it was pouring the whole time! The truck that came to move her stuff was cute I should have taken a photo as it was quite small which meant more than one trip. Luckily she was just moving down the street and the sofa was the only furniture she was moving however our neighbor at the top of our street showed his stupidity once again.

I live on a corner though the one street on the side ends at our house and turns into giant steps down onto the road in front of our house. So ideally the truck should park on the side as we wouldn’t be blocking any traffic or go up and down steps plus she lives on the 3rd floor. Well there were two cars blocking the side road as there is no thru traffic for them to worry about, the one car I knew who the owner was and we asked for them to move but they were arguing and finally moved it. But for the second trip they refused and everyone in the house came out to yell at us, using the foulest language for a situation that is completely uncalled for. We ended up carrying everything between the two cars up the hill to the truck and this time we did block traffic as cars were just sitting there as we loaded up the truck while the idiot neighbors watched on with their stupid looks. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of us catch colds as we were all soaked to the bone, as we weren’t prepared for the rain or the fact that we had to walk that far.

What asshole neighbors I have, and I have to deal with it again in a couple of weeks for me to move out. I know that my building will be demolished and a new villa built in it’s place well I hope that the construction is loud as hell as those neighbors think that they’re being bothered now, ha, ha, ha well wait for it as it’s only just begun. The best thing is they have a “For Rent” sign in their upstairs apartment well good luck and good riddance!!!

My Nanny

I was reading a blog by Desiree who is currently in India she wrote about Ooty, it reminded me of the stories I’ve heard not just from Nayan who is living there but also from my nanny (grandmother). As a young girl she would spend her summer months in Ooty in her uncle’s home, gathering together on the veranda singing songs with the neighbors. Her brothers would play cricket in the daytime with all the other boys. Her stories of India sound like a novel so romantic and dreamy I wish I could visit that time and experience the warmth. I did visit India a few years ago and even though things have radically changed since my family left however the warmth and hospitality of the people I met was still there.

I stayed with my uncle who is a catholic priest and at the time a head master for a boy’s college, which is also where he lived. It was interesting staying there to walk around the campus and everyone staring or wanting to get to know you. His guard was an old man who had a serious limp and most of his teeth missing but what a character, actually everyone there had an interesting personality with wide smiles. My uncle asked me what I wanted to take home as our family has a long history of trips between India and the UK with suitcases full of things for everyone from cotton vests for the men to panties for the ladies. I remember when my grandmother would open her suitcase and the smell would rush out I looked forward to that as I thought I was that bit closer to India unfortunately as I got older I realized that it was only moth balls that I was smelling and not India!

I asked my uncle for mango pickle as that was the biggest thing that all my relatives looked forward to when someone came back from India, it was a commodity in our family if someone had more than the other then all hell broke out. My uncle laughed at my request and understood he summoned his secretary whose wife comes from a small village outside of Secunderabad, which is famous for the pickle. Actually my mum told me that I couldn’t come home unless I had the stuff even though I was living in Hong Kong at the time and my mum in Canada!

The day before I was to fly my uncle gave me the pickle and my goodness I had half a backpack of the delicious and precious stuff that I was eager to open and eat with some boiled basmati rice. His secretary’s wife and her mother made the pickle and didn’t want anything in return I couldn’t believe how lucky I was and how giving they were. The funniest part was flying with it as I was a little worried about the security. I was stopped at the x-ray not because of the pickle but it was the small umbrella that I had which they almost confiscated but they were curious why someone like me has pickle then I said I was Anglo-Indian and all was understood with a smile.

I guess what I wanted to say is that I miss my nan I have thought about writing a novel or something as her stories are too important to be lost. However I think it’s too late, her memory is now her disability she hasn’t forgotten who people are yet, but talking to her is difficult as you’re questioned the same questions over and over. It’s horrid what old age is really like.

Bravo your well being life with green tea!

Taste buds can change! Since coming to Asia I’ve tried all sorts of foods and still tasting things for the first time. I remember how fussy and picky I was when I first moved to Hong Kong as I was exposed to textures that I never knew existed and tastes that were either extremely bland or just explosive. Or that one and only first class flight that I took from Osaka to Seoul and being served sushi made me wish I was in economy class, but now I can’t get enough of it as I’ve gotten over the texture and in love with wasabi!!! Tonight I had a craving for green tea ice cream, which is my favourite flavor coming from a girl that was chocolate, chocolate and all about the chocolate!!!

I have to tell ya, Haagen Dazs makes the best green tea ever, the others don’t compare also I do love green tea latte from Starbucks but I don’t like green tea in everything. There’s a trend in Korea to call healthy food “Well Being” and everyone here knows the benefits of green tea so they’re adding it to everything even to pizza, yep pizza. I was unfortunate one time to eat a slice and let me tell ya, it was not a pleasant experience. Not only was the dough made with green tea it also glowed a nuclear green color, it was topped with the usual things and some piped yellow stuff which turned out to be sweet potato! My fellow teachers told me that its “Well Being” any way I think it’s really healthy, as I won’t be eating it again!!!

I was looking around on some Korean websites and there are some great recipes for green tea ice cream however they’re in Korean and they do have pictures.

Happy Birthday Irene!

Just wanted to give a shout out to my wonderful friend and parnter in crime as we're notorious in certain restaurants and bars seeing that we are that frequent. Our trainers know and hate the fact that we hang out, eat all the bad things and drink beer to be merry!!!

Love you :)

And the lucky winner is...

I finally found my new place after seeing scores of interesting apartments varying in different degrees of quality, dirt and darkness! No more climbing up and down hills in search for a place in fact I'm leaving my beloved steep hill that gets everyone's breathing heavy and swearing as my new place is in the flatlands! Oh I should mention that the shops are up the hill, lol!!! One place I saw I just couldn’t see the apartment as I was more concerned about where I was stepping due to the pee and crap on the floor as the tenants included two cats and three dogs, I have no idea how people can live like that!

My new place is a little dark in comparison to my current home I’ll have to say goodbye to the lovely view and my wrap around balcony but the apartment itself is really cute with it’s own character. With wood flooring I no longer have to worry about the damage my sofa makes to the lino, as the thing seems to travel around a bit. There’s space for a dining table, which is great, as I’ve been eating on the floor with a Korean table for over a year. It has built-in closets so let’s see if I can be more organized, he he he!

So the move-in date is March 24th, I would love as well as NEED the help, nudge, nudge, wink, wink ;P

Yet Another Hong Kong Trip

When in Hong Kong the first thing that I need is the food and drinks. Let me present my favourite franchise in Hong Kong that has a wide and interesting menu ranging from my choice of mango with mango jelly, coconut milk and sago to turtle jelly drink which I have tried!‘Tis the year of the pig!
Looking up is important there’s so much to see!
Cherie’s apartment has some sweet views I think I would be barbecuing a lot up here.
And lastly, the FOOD! Yeah, no Hong Kong trip is complete without Dim Sum that I managed to get at the airport. I highly recommend Maxim’s which is the same franchise in the city that has those horrid hour long line ups just like all great restaurants on a Sunday!

Catching up!

This is not a clear picture but I really like it. I'm at Cheong-Gye-Cheon 청계천, a stream that has an interesting history as it was recently reopened after a couple of years of renovations as well as the disappeareance of a detereating highway. Now it's the place to be.
I took part in a show in January along with my friends, Nado, Irene, Hee-jeong and Hee-joo.
My family here in Seoul :)

Searching for apartments is an adventure or a nightmare?

I’ve been waking up early which is great as all of a sudden I have more time on my hands and can enjoy my mornings without the rush. However there’s a reason for my early mornings as I’m constantly thinking about where I am moving to.
Friday after work I met Maryon (a fellow teacher in another school within my district) and Irene a friend that is able to speak Korean to see some apartments that my co-teacher had set up with a realtor. Off we went walking past numerous mom & pop shops selling all sorts from dried fish hanging on the side streets to juicy strawberries in little plastic bowls. We came to the building where the realtor pointed to the view for us to enjoy; so far we were satisfied however down we went into the basement to see the two-bedroom apartment. And oh my! The space was tiny and musty, sure there were two bedrooms but one was only two shoulder widths wide, the bathroom had the washing machine a toilet and a shower head with little space forcing one to shower over the toilet. The living room was an awkward space maybe big enough for a small love seat at one end with the kitchen at the other. The realtor had nothing else to offer saying that this was the best that he had, as the others are worse. We left the area feeling rather disappointed however we had a little adventure as we decided to go to our favorites Nepalese restaurant in Dondaemun however we ended up in Russia town and bought some yogurt pancake wraps that wasn’t so great.
Saturday Maryon and I went off to meet another realtor close to where we both live. Let me tell ya, this man was a little strange with a really slow speech. He kept reminding me that he doesn’t normally work on Saturdays and that his office hours are until 6 in the week, which leaves me no time. I have no idea how this guy makes money! He showed us one apartment that is similar to my current place however it was on the ground floor in between an access road and another apartment building meaning that people have to walk past my place to get to theirs. That was all he had to show, however Maryon and I were not ready to give up so we walked into another realtor place and my Korean was put to the test. This time we were shown five apartments, which were more promising than the other places with landlords that seemed great even the realtor, was cute with tons of energy. However at the end my moving date is about five weeks away, which is too far for them to do anything so I have to wait and hope that some of those places are still vacant. Aargh!