Who doesn't love cheap coffee?

I know this is a bit old, but I dare say that this song's play count is slowly creeping up to my iPod's Top 25. I love that it's random-chirpy-and-pensive-in-a-bottle (for lack of a more sophisticated term), and that for once, I don't have to listen to someone whine sing about love, love, or... yeah, love, in the overtly-obvious-my-tears-are-falling-like-the-rain-on-a-wet-summer-day-sense, at least.

장기하와 얼굴들 - 싸구려 커피



Particularly fun are the lyrics, which I wouldn't have been able to comprehend without the help of Arirang Radio's translation (below).

싸구려 커피를 마신다
I drink cheap coffee.
미지근해 적잖이 속이 쓰려온다
It’s lukewarm and makes my stomach hurt.
눅눅한 비닐장판에 발바닥이 쩍하고 달라붙었다 떨어진다
My feet stick to the soggy electric heating pad beneath me.

이제는 아무렇지 않어
Now I don’t feel anything.
바퀴벌레 한마리쯤 쓱 지나가도
Even if a cockroach crosses in front of me,
무거운 내일 아침엔 다만 그저 약간의 기침이 멈출 생각을 않는다
Tomorrow morning I don’t even flinch.
축축한 이불을 갠다
I fold my damp blankets.
삐걱대는 문을 열고 밖에 나가 본다
I open my creaky door and go outside.
아직 덜 갠 하늘이 너무 가까워
The overcast sky seems so close.
숨쉬기가 쉽지를 않다
It’s not easy to breathe.
수만번 본 것만 같다
I think I’ve seen this millions of times.
어지러워 쓰러질 정도로~ 익숙하기만 하다
I’m so used to this it makes me dizzy to the point of fainting.
남은 것도 없이 텅빈 나를 잠근다
With nothing left, I lock myself away from the world.

뭐 한 몇 년간 세숫대야에 고여 있는 물
The water that’s been trapped in my sink for years
마냥 그냥 완전히 썩어가지고
Has almost completely gone bad.
이거는 뭐 감각이 없어
But I am completely desensitized to this.

비가 내리면 처마 밑에서 쭈그리고 앉아서
When it rains, I crouch under the eaves,
멍하니 그냥 가만히 보다 보면은
And just stare off into space,
이거는 뭔가 아니다 싶어
And I feel like something’s wrong

비가 그쳐도 희끄므레죽죽한
Even when it stops raining,
저게 하늘이라고 하기에는 뭔가 너무 낮게
I feel like the overcast sky is too low to be called the sky.
머리카락에 거의 닿게 조금만 뛰어도
Even if I jump just a little to the point where it grazes my hair,
정수리를 쿵 하고 찧을 거 같은데
I feel like I can almost touch the sky with the top of my head…
벽장 속 제습제는 벌써 꽉 차 있으나마나
The humidifier in my closet is all full…
모기 때려잡다 번진 피가 묻은 거울을 볼 때마다
And every time I see the mirror with the smeared blood of the mosquito I squashed…
어우! 약간 놀라
Oh! I get surprised…

제 멋대로 구부러진 칫솔 갖다
Even if I take the toothbrush that I bent myself
이빨을 닦다 보면은 잇몸에 피가 나게 닦아도
And brush my teeth until my gums bleed,
당최 치석은 빠져 나올 줄을 몰라
The tartar on my teeth never goes away.

언제 땄는지도 모르는 미지근한 콜라가 담긴 캔을 입에 가져다 한 모금
I take the soda can that I opened God-knows-when and take a gulp of it…
아뿔사 담배 꽁초가
Oh! A cigarette butt…

이제는 장판이 난지 내가 장판인지도 몰라
Now I don’t know if I’m the electric heating pad or if the electric heating pad is me…
해가 뜨기도 전에 지는 이런 상황은 뭔가
Why does the sun set even before the sun rises?

The F4 Encore

I never thought I'd be able to appreciate a man-pama (perm) until I met Goo Junpyo.

Let's cue the cheesy music and enjoy...

Gee Gee Gee!

When I heard this song (SNSD's "Gee") for the first time, all I could do was cringe... I have to admit though, it's since grown on me, and dare I say that I've actually come to enjoy it? o_O haha, in certain doses of course. Anyway, this remix version was pretty cool...!



Original:

K-drama, a guilty pleasure

Since I can't sleep, I've been finding other ways to keep myself distracted... and this is the latest, 꽃보다 남자, a fantasy K-drama with I'm sure will be yet another fun rags to riches storyline, apparently based off a popular Japanese comic series. Who says we can't dream about Prince Charming? I know, I shouldn't hold my breath...

꽃보다 남자 Trailer


Episodes (with English translation) can be found here:
http://www.mysoju.com/boys-before-flowers/

We got married...!

One of my favorite indulgences is 우리 결혼했어요 ("We Got Married"), a reality show that pairs Korean celebs with each other, allowing them to get a taste of the drama and adventure that "married" life brings. A few months ago, I forwarded snapshots of the wedding photoshoot episode to my wonderful friend Grace (then a bride-to-be). She, of course, was breathtakingly beautiful, and as I looked through some of the photos, I couldn't help but smile... I love you guys! ^^

Happy Birthday Imo - Eel, cake, puppies, and movies!

Dad, show this to Mom and Samchon, please! ありがとう. ^^



Here's the photo play by play...

For Imo's birthday dinner the night before, she wanted to eat eel, but was concerned I wouldn't eat it and then tried to come up with a million other options, including getting fried chicken delivered to the restaurant. I didn't want her to worry so I promised to try a few bites. Sure, it tastes fine, but I still have a problem trying not to think about squirmy-slivery-water-snake-creature-shapes so don't count on me adding unagi to my list of regular eats just yet. ^^;;







There was wine and cake but no corkscrew! ㅠㅠ Should have pulled out a screw and hammer... oh well.







Birthday breakfast... I always eat well with Imo. ^^









We also took a trip to the mall, chomping on junk food...



...and saw a movie, 눈에는 눈 이에는 이 (Eye for an Eye). I suppose it's worth seeing if you're into action crime flicks... Here's the trailer!

In and around Daehangno: Andy, Kraze Burgers, and POG!

Straight from the Coffee Bean: POG! That's Passion Orange Guava for the non-Hawaii folks, and one of my favorite juice blends. It's not quite Hawaiian Sun, but the $6 version's a refreshing treat if you're willing to shell out the cash.



Anna and I decided to scope out Daehangno (대학로), in an attempt to do a little bit of research on musicals. We walked by the theatre showing Polaroid, and saw a bunch of girls waiting outside with their cameras. I figured they were looking for one of the show's stars, Andy, a singer turned actor who's been enjoying increased popularity due to his part on the well received "reality" program 우리 결혼했어요 (We Got Married).



Well, we had swung by at the right time, and got to see him for a good 3 seconds as he walked out of the theatre and into a darkly tinted black SUV. Truthfully, we were a little disappointed it was a Kia, haha. Perhaps I'll see the show one day; I've got another week or so to buy tickets. But I've also seen ads for Grease, and I would never turn down the chance to see a Korean Danny Zuko!



In our quest for dinner, we ran into one of those cocktail-in-a-plastic-bag stands on the street. I've yet to try one, but I imagine it's one of those things you do once just to say you did it. It doesn't look very appetizing, but where else can you get a $4 cocktail in this city?



We ended up at Kraze Burgers (pronunciation closer to kra-jay than craze). It was my second time there, and I ordered the same thing I had before - the K.O. chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as good this time around, but I still enjoyed it.



Anna ordered the philly cheesesteak and chili cheese fries, but judging by her "eh" expression, she didn't seem very impressed with it. The "steak" turned into a hunk of meat that resembled a badly thrown together burger, and the chili cheese fries, as you can tell in the picture below, lacked a staple ingredient - cheese.





What I'd do for a Gardenburger these days...

Dark Knight, airport food, and Outback Steakhouse

On my trip to Incheon airport last week, we decided to have our last Korean family dinner with JJ. Despite the fact that it was his last chance for a "real" Korean meal in Korea, he wanted to eat cream spaghetti from the food court. Go figure.



Since we were there, I finally got to eat a salad, though it was covered in honey mustard gunk. Koreans sure like their dressing! But this was nothing compared to my aunt's tuna-corn-cucumber-iceberg salad drenched in green kiwi dressing. She actually uses the entire bottle so it's more like a "salad soup" but I don't have the heart to say anything. Whenever I come over, she tells me with a wide grin, "I'm making the salad that you like!" as if she won the key to my stomach.



Hyun also had spaghetti that night, which meant he was planning on eating again. You see, for a handful of Koreans, if you don't eat rice, you're not really eating a meal, and Hyun is one of those people. We once ordered pizza, and after three slices, he decided to heat up some leftover rice and kimchi jjigae. So it was no surprise that he after we drove back to Seoul, I was treated to dinner #2 at Outback Steakhouse and the Dark Knight. ^^







Well... the overall outcome? The boys said it was surprisingly better than they thought it would be, and gave it the thumbs up! I agree.



On a side note, I feel like I've been getting a bit of crap for the types of movies I've been watching here in Korea. ㅋㅋ I wouldn't under normal circumstances watch these movies in the States (well, Batman's an exception), but in my defense, I don't really have much of a choice when it comes to foreign films in Korea. Quite obviously, most of the time only blockbusters (or blockbuster-ishes) make it through, which tend to lean towards the action/superhero/fantasy genre. Looking at the Megabox website, the only American movies currently showing are the Dark Knight, Nim's Island, The Mummy 3, and Wall E. So cut me some slack! ^^;;

Korean Baseball: Doosan Bears vs Lotte Giants

Talk about dedication! Sox Fans may have some competition... as far as cheerleading goes.

Here they are cheering on (Busan) Lotte Giants' player Kang Min Ho before, during, and after his RBI double.



Yes, each and every player gets his very own cheer! (My favorite was Garcia's song, which I unfortunately didn't catch on camera. If you're really interested, you can hear part of it here.)

The fans also have team songs... talk about good marketing! Name your team after your company and get people to sing it over and over and over. I provided some lyrics so you can sing along to the first part of the video. : )

Lotte Lotte Lotte Lotte
Lotte Lotte Lotte Lotte
Lotte Lotte Lotte Lotte



Annie and I checked out our first ever Korean baseball game at Jamsil Stadium last week. It was hot. It was muggy. It was sweaty. It was loud. It was fuuuuunnnn!



Tickets are pretty easy to come by right before the game. We purchased 일반 (general) seats for about $7 (the most expensive VIP tickets are around $25) which meant it was a free for all - first come, first seated.



In the stadium, food is pretty much limited to KFC, Burger King, and a few convenience store snacks. Although, there are tons of street vendors outside selling kimbap, and you can also bring in your own food. (No bag checks here.)



Alternatively, you can wait for the peanut boy ajumma to make her rounds.



Although I originally intended to cheer for the home team (the Doosan Bears), we ended up sitting near 3rd base, and came to realize it was the visiting team's section, who were even louder than the Doosan fans!

I saw more MLB caps (particularly Dodgers, Braves, Red Sox, and Yankees) than Korean baseball gear on fans, but after a few innings, the Lotte section started passing out orange plastic bags. Apparently, Lotte fans blow them up and tie them to their heads.



Regardless of whether you're a sports fan or not, a trip to the ballpark is certainly an interesting part of the Korean experience. : )

The Doosan Bears and LG Twins play at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. To get to Jamsil Stadium, take Line 2 to 종합운동장역, Exit 5. Olympic Stadium is also within view from the baseball stadium if you want a photo op. : )

Around Ichon-dong: Mitaniya restaurant, the National Museum of Korea, and K-drama filming

Ichon-dong (이촌동) may be deemed Seoul's "Little Tokyo," but the name's a bit deceiving. Sure, there's a Japanese mini-mart or two, and even a few signs in Hiragana, but if you're really expecting, well, a smaller version of Tokyo, you won't find it here (as I discovered my first time around.) Rather, Ichon-dong is quiet, filled with residential high rises and a few smart looking cafes. And if you take a close enough look, you're bound to find some good eats. After hearing about Mitaniya (02-797-4060), a small Japanese restaurant in the basement of the Samik Shopping Mall, I went with 4 other pals (from Japan) to find it, and see if it'd pass the test.



I have to say, they were quite pleased upon receiving the menu alone, seeing that it was 4 pages long, all in Japanese (of course, with Korean descriptions). It took us a while to figure out a plan, but as soon as the neighboring table's plates arrived, everyone confirmed their decision - the curry and tonkatsu looked, smelled - and we soon discovered - tasted pretty damn good. (I, on the other hand, opted for the kitsune udon, which was perfectly cooked in a mild, refreshing broth.) Overall, Mitaniya gets a thumbs up - a satisfactory, no-frills place to satiate your non-Koreanized, Japanese meal needs.

Besides "Little Tokyo," Ichon-dong is also home to the National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관). Personally, it's not my favorite museum, but I did enjoy the Pensive Bodhisattva sculpture, along with a few of the fine art pieces. The museum itself is located on beautiful grounds, which would be a perfect setting for a summer picnic (on a cool day).



I had the opportunity to make my very own seal/stamp at the museum's educational center - and it's harder than it looks! Unfortunately, writing my last name in Kanji was too complex a task (you have to carve everything with a blade backwards!) so I finally settled with my Korean-sided name using Hangul. It's read in the following order: top right - bottom right - top left - bottom left corners.



Finally, what better way to cap off a trip to Ichon-dong than to see a K-drama filming!



To be completely honest, I had no idea what was going on, and had to be informed that they were shooting a scene for 밤이면 밤마다, a drama that's currently airing in Korea. Had I known (about 10 seconds prior) it was Lee Dong-geon (이동건) in that car (Ono says he saw him), I wouldn't have walked by so quickly and nonchalantly! ㅠㅠ We debated for a few seconds whether to go take a few steps backward but decided to let the crew have their peace.



Here's the MBC truck that was parked a few meters behind...



Is it just me, or is it a little odd to advertise your drama while on location? Maybe it stirs up interest from passersby? It did for me - I'm tuning in! ^^;;

Love's Bakery... and Hyori?

Yes, that's a Love's Bakery truck that Hyori, a Korean popstar, is sitting on.

I still remember the scent of their fresh baked bread from the Kalihi off-ramp... wonderful how you could smell it from your car even with the windows rolled up while driving by.

Hyori's promo folks probably thought the Love's logo was cute. Maybe they could do some joint marketing, perhaps a full page color spread in the Honolulu Advertiser: "Buy a loaf of bread and win a chance to meet Hyori!" (I'm only half kidding - Hawaii people are pretty Hallyu-crazy. Korean pop-duo Fly to the Sky even held a concert there this Feb.)

The Incredible Hulk

After downing conveyor belt sushi today (due to my recent attempts at being "healthier," I refused to go to a buffet since I no longer participate in "I-can-out-eat-you" challenges, but for the record, I lost, ten plates to six), we watched The Incredible Hulk. Entertaining, but forgettable.

One question. Why does NYC always get picked on? The poor city gets devastated year after year with tidal waves, gigantic gorillas, green monsters, extra terrestrial beings...

My favorite part was Iron Man's cameo, but I was also happy to see Ed Norton again - feels like it's been a while. Don't really follow comics... but are they all supposed to team up and save the world against some evil mutant alien force in a multi million dollar flick sometime next summer? Not sure how I feel about crossovers. Like when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers came together? Lame.

Speaking of movies, I do want to see Surfwise, though I doubt it'll make it's way to Korea anytime soon...



Still in a bubble. What non superhero action movies are out these days?

I wish I could dance like that

I'm back in Seoul! Pictures/video from the weekend in 강원도 to come soon, 엄마 and 아빠...

But first, here are some videos I took from the Last for One B-Boy Crew performance at Yonsei today. I think they're the same guys who did that Canon video.





A couple other videos can be found here and here.

This makes me want to see Planet B-Boy even more...

Speaking of movies, I saw the latest Indy Jones installment this past weekend. It was a little disappointing, but the nostalgia was enough to keep me somewhat satisfied, I suppose. Unfortunately this wasn't the case for two of my cousins, who said after the movie, "Harrison Ford got old. We should have watched Kung Fu Panda." : (

I also just finished 21 - more than anything, it was so much fun seeing Kevin Spacey in our classrooms! Aw, I miss Boston... and Kevin Spacey. Forgot for a split second how amazing and dreamy he is. ^^

88 Minutes, 3 year old kimchee, and puffiness

88 Minutes comes out in theaters this Friday in Korea, but we were invited to a free preview screening for foreigners (finally, being a 외국인 comes in handy!) the other day. I had no idea what this movie was about, other than my friend's 3 second synopsis: Al Pacino has 88 minutes to figure out how not to die.

Heard it tanked in the US, so I checked some of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes...



Ouch! 6% on the Tomatometer, and Roeper actually calls it the worst movie of 2008. I think that's a bit harsh, despite the fact that I called out Pacino's wannabe hitman less than a third of the way through the film.

Is it really true that this flick came out on DVD in Europe a year ago? I've seriously got to get back on the film appreciation train... but when all's said and done, 88 Minutes wasn't that terrible. It's like watching an extra long episode of Criminal Minds, if that's your type of thing.

Moving onto more important things.

Kimchi jjigae. Not just any kimchi jjigae. This one was made with kimchi that had been aged for three years, which explained the extra special sour kick. Despite appearances, it's actually quite delicious! Just takes a bit getting used to. ^^



Pasta 12, one of the many "Italian" restaurants in Sinchon, recently reopened its doors after its redesign and basement relocation (to make room for yet another donut chain).



I was so happy to be reunited with my soy milk mushroom pasta again. ^^



Can you guess where the next 2 photos were taken?





Baskin Robbins, folks. Complete with sofas and ceramic plates. : )

Thankfully, I don't have any photographic evidence of my dinner tonight, because once again, silly ol' me went along to a sushi buffet. I can only imagine what I'll look like in the morning...



Perhaps if I manage to ward off buffets (or eat like a regular person) and start using this handy little device - the V Line Face Roller - I can start looking less like Jigglypuff?



(No, I didn't make this up.)