Multicultural Kids Gathering

After watching the Gayageum show, the kids seemed to be adamant of going back home. They thought that it would be too early to go home...so we decided to take them to a nearby playground where we (the parents) could sip some coffee while letting the kids play^^ 

We just let them play ...and luckily it was not that cold today. It was only 6 degrees Celsius and that was warm to our standard.^^ (Look who's talking, tropical suray:)  

We bought them some lunchbox for them to enjoy in between their playtime. 

Actually we did not buy the lunchbox at this Coffee Shop, but since we also bought some coffee here, the host just let the kids have their lunchbox there. 

The coffee-shop also provided one computer for the kids to play the games. I felt like this is intentionally designed so ..in order to let the parents do the chit-chat while their kids play some games...* not to mention the nearby playground where the Cafe was located.^^

All in all...today we did have a great time of taking the kids out..during the weekend. 

미루의 소리 상자: A Gayageum Concert

Today we went to 소월아트홀 Sowol Art Hall at Wangshimni to take the children to see the gayageum orchestra (Korean traditional musical instrument). 

We went there at about 13.30 and we missed the show since we could not find the exit 9 at the Wangshimni station...anyhow..we managed to ge there at 14.05 when the show just began..so we had to wait until the second act began. 

So, we checked out where we would be seated. Eyra and Freya were looking at the seat arrangements at the main hall. 

While waiting to enter the main hall, the kids were enthusiastically touching and playing the displayed gayageum at the entrance. 

It was the scene when the gayageum played by the gayageum orchestra from Sookmyung was beng performed. I took the picture just when the last scene was about to finish. 

I never thought that the endless arrays of sounds could be achieved and come out of the gayageum. It was just amazingly marvelous. 

The orchestra did a wonderful job of perpetuating and exemplifying all kinds of feelings and excitement. 

The sound of wind, tooth being pulled, a swollen tummy due to pregnancy, the tiptoeing, the happy thoughts...you name it, gayageum seemed to be able to express those.

The show was over after an hour or so. The kids got up from their seat... 

Eyra coud understand and enjoy the show since she experienced and could relate herself to what Miru 미루 the main character being portrayed in the play: being a 7-year old girl who had to undergo the feeling of both excitement and anxiety of waiting to have a little brother or sister. This is pretty much what the story was all about . 

After the show... 

At the front facade of 소월아트홀 where the show was being performed. We went there with 11 other kids of multicultural family and Korean families. This activity was one of our weekender program^^ 

The leaflet of the show. 

The synopsis and other info on the show. 

Our seat arrangement.

Indonesia - Korea Cultural Show (part 3)

What came next was something of kinda unexpected. I knew it from the rundown of the show that some Pansori would be presented as well. But, never had I imagined that the one who was presenting the pansori was none other than Mr. Wang Gi Seok 왕기석. We were informed that he was one of the famous 소리꾼 or Pansori singer in Korea. The notable one to say respect. 

So, of course the audience expected something special. And special he was. 

He managed to blend himself with the audience even with the Indonesian team who were sitting next to him on stage. See the picture?

Could not have imagined a better show last night.

Then came Ronggeng dance from Indonesian team. These ladies were showing off their talent of speeding up dance 'sort of' since the speed of rhythm is one of the visible characteristics that Betawi dance possesses. They nailed it.

A great performance indeed.

What would a Korean culture show without one of its representative Gayageum. Yes, this string musical instrument managed to bring us into the realm of serenity and calmness once the first pick of string was touched by one of the students who happened to be a student of Malay-Indonesian Department at HUFS. 

In a sense, this also highlighted the spirit of youth in nurturing the traditional legacies of both countries.