Suray's World: August 2013

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Makgeolli!!!

I never saw so many lines up of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) like the one being served at this restaurant. Hmm...I think I am lost at words knowing that makgeolli has so many varieties like these ones.

So, I stumbled upon this restaurant and got myself intrigued to take a picture of the list:)

the owner did not mind me taking this picture.

Makgeolli is similar to Indonesia's air tape beras ketan. Well..I am not sure..but since both are fermented ..I think they're similar.

Farewell to two persons....in a row...

First, Pak Manna Rahmana (in white shirt, third from left) has completed his 3-year term serving as a broadcaster and editor in KBS World Radio, Indonesian Language Service Program. So, he just came back home to Indonesia last week.

We always meet him..and work with him..so, we bid him goodbye.

It was taken when we met him for the last time in Itaewon Masjid during Friday prayer.

Hope that Pak Manna is always healthy and happy as always in Jakarta.

then, the second person I bid goodbye is Rio, my former student.

He just graduated. Master program in Korean language and literature in Daegu.

I met Rio and his girlfriend, Nurul, who also happens to be studying here as well.

Now, Rio is going back to Jogjakarta where he will teach at UGM.

He's gonna be a good sonsaengnim, I am sure.

He's been a good and keen student. I am proud of you, Rio.

Wicked: The Musical

Musical: The Wicked is coming to Seoul.

The posters and ads on it pop up in every place imaginable.

The one I bumped into..was at Youido station, line 9. The Wizard of Oz-related musical...is captivating the eyes and attention of passengers.

even in one station, there are three different posters about this Wicked witch.

I got to admit that Korea (Seoul and other big cities) enjoy the privilege of being able to get exposed to major Broadway productions: either the works are in Korean or in their original cast (by inviting the casts from Broadway NY).

But...either way..it's a sign that Broadway-like business is a lucrative goldmine in Korea.

Sunset @ Daecheon Beach: Alone enjoying the Sunset

This is the low-resolution picture I took with my camera. Daecheon beach during sunset.

me ...selca-ing....

Not a good picture that would do justice to the real beauty of the sunset I witnessed.

But, at least...to capture the moment I felt....I dared to selca me....myself.

Kami Menyapa Anda!!!!!!!!

During intermission, we took our selca....^^ well, Seonhee insisted that we should take one, for we never had one picture of us together in the studio. Well, then...let's try to position ourselves so as to fit into the mini focus of her i phone camera. I would love to wear the headphones so as to camouflage the baldness ...though it did not work at all. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

I wonder if Seonhee ever find the picture satisfying. As for me..it did not matter whatsoever. The only thing that I remember from that day...was that...she kept on bragging about it. Okay...Seonhee..thanks for at least daringly asked me to take the picture this up close.

"Kami Menyapa Anda"

Freya Going on A Picnic

She went to the farmland (again) with her school friends. They're going to make some cookies, picking up fresh tomatoes from the farm, and of course, having fun...

*She brought home a plastic box of baby tomatoes.

*and loads of fun stories that she never stopped re-telling.

I guess the field trip really got her impressed.

Patpingsu Agaaaaaiiinnn???

Yup. we love patpingsu. at Yoger Presso, we become a regular customer just for the sake of tasting its patpingsu. ^^ we just bought one giant bowl of patpingsu and shared it with four of us. more than enough.

As usual, as if it were a custom, we'd take pictures of any food we eat.^^

After we had one the other day, the kids with their Mom...went back again..to try another kind of patpingsu.

hmm....they had it without me...^^:)

that's fine, gals. just go ahead and enjoy your time.

Elysium (엘리시움)

The first time I heard about this movie, I looked up my dictionary and learned what Elysium means. Okay..then..off me went to the IMAX theater at CGV Wangshimni.

I was choked-up with the idea that we could get all cured from all diseases (even cheating death,yes... as long as our brain's still intact..we could cheat death. hmm ) if we live up there in Elysium (Paradise-like space station).

but there's a nauseating fact shown on film: Most white people are on Elysium, while the black, brown, colored people are left on polluted earth. except , Matt Damon, maybe:) ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ No, I mean...was it deliberately made so? or...it's just a simple stereotyping that most whites could 'afford' buying their tickets to the Elysium while other could not?

hmm or did I miss something?

Well, yes..the premise of the movie is enough to intrigue any fans of science-fiction to see this. Me included. And..there's Matt Damon..everyone. and..yes..Jodie Foster, too..is IN the movie.

So, frankly speaking..they both enticed me.

and..was I blown away by the movie? hmmm....sort of. Not really.

It's a spectacle if you see it in IMAX, but..alas...it's all dull and grey...

Wish..the movie could've been more louder in style, especially the first 30 minutes that would take us in a oh-no-please-do-not-get-me-yawn moment....

Still, so much so, I was pumped up in the last 20 minutes or so of the movie..when everything fell apart. I wish the movie hadn't ended that way, though.

I wish..the movie would've dared itself to tick us to think restlessly..about the future...

*oh, IMAX saved me this time. Not, the movie.

I'm afraid I already forgot what I just saw.....

(3) (out of 5 stars).

What's for Lunch? Kimbab!!!

Kimbab? Of course, the only kimbab I can eat is vegetable kimbab (야채김밥/ yachaekimbab).

Since it was raining cats and dogs outside, I felt reluctant to go out.

The office restaurant's menu served pork, hams, fish, and other things that I cannot eat. hmm..being a vegetarian is fun but at times it's a bit hard, as well.

Then..came along Seonhee who asked me if I wanted to have some kimbab.

Sure, why not. So, she bought me some..and that's my lunch.

The wrapping box of the kimbab that I had the other day.

A good lunch? hmm...yeah. sure. I liked it.

Got Lost: Thanks to my decision to take the BUS!!

I wanted to try going to KBS again..by bus. Took the bus no. 147 and I ended up in a place farther away from Youido. Well, I could've gotten off the bus right before it got further, right? But, I didn't....

But as I was approaching the Gangnam area..I knew that I just got to get off...

* I passed lots of shops...in Gangnam area....'Carpe Diem" hmm my favorite words...

Crossing the Han River. Foggy morning...

and..I got lost in Hanti station...Bundang line. Never thought that I would end up getting off at this station. That means..I got to transfer two or three times..depending on which direction I was heading to.

Took a snap picture of where I was...

practically speaking, I cannot say that I WAS lost since..getting lost in Seoul is nothing because the transportation system...is reliably available into most areas you're getting by to.

Patpingsu + Homework

Patpingsu (팥빙수) is accompanying Eyra in doing her homework.

The other day I picked her up from school and since it was a bit hot, we decided to have patpingsu at Paris Baguette, near our home. While waiting for the ice to be served, Eyra took out her homework..and began doing it right there on the spot.

So, we ended up spending an hour to 'indulge' ourselves into the freshness of patpingsu. We have this fruit patpingsu with pat (red beans paste).

In less than an hour, she finally did her homework.

Now, let's start digging in, Eyra.

You deserved it.

Movies To Watch in Chuseok!!!

I think movie distributor in Korea did it on purpose. My friends back home in Indonesia watched Despicable Me 2 and Monster University 2 months ago!! But, as for us in Korea, we got to be very patient...since those two movies are coming to Korea this coming Chuseok (Thanksgiving Day in Korea).

I don't know why...Despicable Me is 'translated' or changed into 슈퍼배드 (Super Bad) in Korea. Hmm..well, it does have a rather similar idea...in meaning..but..the funny thing is that..even when it is written in Hangeul, still it IS English, right? 'Super Bad'

Or..was the movie actually titled 'Super Bad' even in English?

I need some 'enlightenment'!! *-^

The Korean movie to be watched out for..during Chuseok is '관상' (gwansang) or loosely translated into 'The Horoscope of Face' Hmm...the premise of the movie is that..the Fate of Joseon Dynasty lies in the hands of these people's gwansang. Hmm...sounds a bit hard to comprehend without any English translation. But, still..it's a worth-waiting-for movie. Oh, I don't have to wait until September 17 or Chuseok..coz I heard that it premiers on September 11!!

Who doesn't want to see a movie full A-list Korean stars: 송강호, 이정재, 백윤식, 조정석, 이종석, 김혜수....

Then..another movie to watch with my children would definitely be (몬스터 대학교) Monster University. Mike and Sully are back to retell their story of how they met in college before we knew them in Monster Inc. years back.

anyway..that'll be something to look for..in the coming Chuseok.

Now You See Me

The much-talked about movie in Korea as of last week (hmm I don't know now)...was Now You See Me (나우유씨미) hmm I am always intrigued by the fact that all foreign movies in Korea are either translated (sometimes wholly and differently) or simply Hangeul-ized . quite interesting, right?

The movie got a lot of exposure even on the bus advertisement.

I happened to find one of the buses with the movie poster on it.

Although lots of movie critics sneered at this particular movie. I find it refreshingly and cleverly executed.

I love the actions, the extravagance shown in the movie.

Magic has never been this elegantly seductive .....Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman.....

I mean...international stars collaborated in the project that makes it an appeal in itself.

* Do I wanna re-watch it again/ Yes, sure. for the sake of eye-candy magic the movie offers.

콩국수 + 돌솥비빔밥

The summer's about to pass us by and yet..I haven't tried any kongkuksu (콩국수) or "white noodles soaked in soybean sauce" served COLD. Look at the ice cubes!!

yes..that's how I describe it.

My wife and I had lunch together. Rarely do we have lunch just the two us...:)

Kids were at school:) so we managed to have lunch together.

Finally, my 콩국수 in Summer 2013. Yummy...slurp..slurp...slurp...^^

As for my wife, she wanted to have dolseotbibimbab or mixed rice on hot stone bowl.

that's how we describe it. Full of vegetables and it's one of the so-commonly dubbed 'well-being' food in Korea.

so, why not having it, then?

Eyra's Homework: Neighborhood Observation

Eyra got a homework telling her to take a look around where she lived and find someone to interview. Well, there are lots of shops with their own owners to talk to.

But, Eyra set her eyes on one Korean rice cake shop (떡집). She was a bit nervous at first because she did not know how to start the conversation. But, of course she had it jotted down on her note as instructed in the homework.

I just accompanied her to do the interview in Korean language, of course.

Greeted by a warm smile from Shin ajeossi--the owner and the maker of the tteok.

One of the things we learned is that he works very hard from early in the morning until late at night.

He loves his job and he is a father who loves his kids, too.

That's why..he has a big heart to welcome Eyra.

We loved the fact that he's such a nice person and down to earth.

As for Eyra, she learned how to 'approach' people and how to interview.

oh, what a homework. but..it's a good one.

we became friends with those living in our neighborhood.

On My Way to Youido: By Bus

After taking Eyra to school, usually I took a subway to Youido. But, that day..I decided to give it a try..going to KBS by bus. I passed lots of different streets along the way. More importantly was that..I could see how some parts of Seoul looked like in the morning around 9 and 10 in the morning.

I passed by the office district in Jeongno. Some office workers were seen getting off the bus..right in front of their office.

now let's see what I saw during my bus ride: some of the them were...

One intersection @ Jeongno. One busy lane, one...empty one.

In front of Lotte Department Store, headquarter at Jeongno.

The Namdaemun fashion outlet....

Bank of Korea...

Bank of Korea, near Namdaemun.

Korea's No. 1 Heritage: Namdaemun (South Gate) after being renovated, rebuilt, reconstructed. Well, most people knew the shocking disaster when an arsonist set it ablaze in 2008.

A national loss has been reborn.