En-Route To Anguk Station

We're on our way back home after watching the Arirang Concert.

Since we avoided having to walk along the busy street, we chose to walk through the alley right behind the museum of contemporary art.

The decision could not have been better. 

Kids encountered endless sights to see and even touch.

Like this huge Teddy Bear..sitting next to a restaurant. 

Or some penguins walking pass the cafe. 

oh, the fun part was that even they had a cup with them. 

As for us, the chance to go through an olden time alley full of galleries and cafes..with modern Seoul at the backdrop. 

Lina and Norwegia (my former students who happen to be in Seoul ..studying) were also having a good evening hangout, too, apparently. 

then..off we need to go pass the walk circling the museum complex. Putra, my other friend, was escorting mbak Dian's Mom along with the kids. 

As for the ladies, they're strolling leisurely at the back...chattering to ward off the cold, apparently. mm, who knows...

Arirang Concert (part 2)

Some of the audiences were ushered onto the stage...and ....opps..I was about to hide myself when..somebody grabbed my shoulder... 

okay...let's take a pic before getting on the stage... 

and...me ..on the stage...with my camera on hands...clicking on it.... 

and got a chance to get up close to the singers....while chanting the Arirang song. 

now...back again into my seat....and witnessing the last hurrah presentation from them. 

The group picture session.  

I know that the kids must've been restless during the whole show as they may not understand what they're watching. But, at least, it was something different from what they usually encounter. It's more like a cultural journey for them. 

But...with almost 2-hour show ...I am sure that Arirang could now ring the bell into their eardrum and memories.:-)

Arirang Concert (part 1)

 

We got invited to watch the Arirang Concert held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea. 

Held at National Folk Museum, just near Gyeongbok Palace, we went there with anticipation of enjoying the vast arrays of Arirang--Korea's traditional folk song which was recently enlisted as one of the World's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. 

The Arirang show highlighted lots of Arirang types spread across the country. 

Though I am not sure how to differentiate them ...I was able to witness Arirang Taryeong, Miryang Arirang, Jindo Arirang, Yeongcheon Arirang...and...hmm...well..I am not sure..too many of them.. 

Some of the songs were sung individually, some by trio, some by quartet, some by a group of people with live orchestra, which surely 'woven' by Korea's traditional musical instruments. 

Some dignitaries who took part in arranging the whole event that day. 

oh, it's one of things I enjoyed because they were using the old-type ironing technique in Korea, i.e. using wooden beater to flatten the clothes so as to make it flat like what we have in the modern-day ironing machine.

And yes..they're making music out of it. 

then..along what would most of us remember as: buttock-lock show:) literally..one of the clowns was wearing god-forbid bare-them-all butt (of course it was fake) to make the audience pay attention to what she said or every move she made.

and it just worked!! 

Then..the they're also singing the gu (old) Arirang as well as the bonjo (original) arirang...that make us..ticked with sheer lullaby. 

The audience, foreigners and Koreans. 

oh..and yes..its' the time when the singers came off stage to invite the audience to come up on stage to dance and sing together.