Winter.Feb.2015.Youido

wait....I think I posted too many pictures of this particular spot in Youido....simply because I've been working here since ...gee...all combined....like 2001??^

Just had my lunch with others...

took a stroll along the  park,

..heading towards the IFC

...to...well...see the premiere of

Kingsmen!!!

Dancing 9: Season 2

It's one of the off-air show highlighting the success of Korean TV's reality show called 'Dancing 9'--which is essentially Korea's answer to 'So You Think You Can Dance'

The off-air show at the IFC Mall atrium was packed with lots of fans to the show.

I was on my way home from work when I got busted by the huge crowd of people blocking my way to the subway. 

I couldn't just let go the commotion and the uproar that almost deafened me to the point of 'not wanting to be around the cheering crowd' but..boy ...the energized atmosphere that pumped out of the off-air show really filled the atrium ....and that made me want to stay there a few minutes and let me take my phone out and take this picture so as to remember that I 'was' there to witness the 'commotion'

Food Empire @ IFC Mall

We got dinner at Food Empire at IFC Mall. As the name suggests, it does cater the need of international travelers or any foreign nationals living in Korea. As for us, Indonesians, going to this Food Empire really brings us back to our home. Yes, seriously. For instance, I could eat nasi goreng (fried rice) Indonesian style or Thai-style--using SOUTHEAST ASIAN rice...not Korean rice...:)

so, I could say that they are authentic fried rice.:-) and the taste..hmmm....really great.

Even they have krupuk or crackers to accompany the main menu. 

So, apart from ordering seafood nasi goreng, we also ordered vegetable curry at Indian restaurant 'Mombai'. The curry also tasted good. 

At first...it was a bit empty since it's not even yet 6 o'clock in the evening.  

Then...came along our first great pratta  in Korea. Yeaaaaach I finally had a really good Pratta again. I love Indian bread back home. I used to be a regular customer at an Indian restaurant in Yogyakarta. Oh, I missed this. Although of course I could just go to any Indian restaurant in Korea, but..this was --simply the best.

and..this was also the first nasi kuning (yellow rice) I ever tasted during our dine-out experiences. 

As for the kids, they already got their fried noodle, so they were not really into the pratta that I ordered, after all, they were too spicy for them.  

Pratta bread, yellow rice, curry, and I-don't-know-what spicy soup....+ red onions. 

This is Silk Spice where we could order any kind of nasi goreng or fried rice. I think I could go here again and again..just to sample the food and relax after long-hours of work. 

Then...what would be better than having a cup of yogurt ice cream as the dessert?

But..the kids ate them all. Oh, well.... 

What I like about IFC Mall and its food court is the fact that this mall resembles what malls should be like. heheheehe. I mean...Korea has just recently developed its mall-concept into what we already had since the 1990's in Indonesia. 

Compared to Grand Indonesia, Senayan City, or Taman Anggrek..malls in Korea are still small in size:) But at least...this IFC Mall or (D-Cube:) in Seoul...have become a treat for me. 

(gosh...oh no.....I am a mall-freak). Well..yes...not that I am into shopping...it's just an infatuation that could be rendered to as...a 'happy' therapy-session after work or after class..or especially after assignment and paper writing. 

now..Eyra..you'r done with your ice cream?  so, let's go out and go on to our next venue....(Daddy got to go somewhere)

Just as we got out of the Food Empire, other restaurants started to be full and I saw a lot of lines of people....queuing just..to be seated at other restaurants.

That's how popular IFC Mall is.

A Poised Posh...:-( ^^

After waiting for one hour, finally I met my kids whom I asked to join me at the mall. I asked them to come to IFC Mall since I thought it would be good to spend time while waiting for dinner and an event that we got to attend to at a nearby venue.

Okay...since it's Christmas eve, shopping mall were packed with people. 

Yes...like in any other places, Natal/Xmas seems to be merrier at the mall.  Having been living for two years in Korea....where Christmas has become some sort of more of a cultural thing or wait...'marketable' occasion, we sort of getting used to getting exposed to it. so, kids..just get on the Santa's cart. 

and...let me take a picture of you.......well, okay...seems that you're distracted by something else... 

and...still...you're not looking at me...

anyway...of course, it's a poised posh. (whatever that means).

Bumped into a Troupe @ IFC Mall

Just got back from the office what could be more entertaining than having myself a little extra time to enjoy 'tis Holiday seasons? So, while waiting for the kids to come, I took my time to look around and ended up encountering the 'commotion'. 

The so-called clown and other characters clad in this season's atmosphere were strolling and trotting around each level of the mall. For what? 

well, none other than to greet the customers and anyone (including me, for sure) who preferred to stay in door in this warm and comfy mall....^^ 

Okay, with the carol songs as the muzak, the atmosphere could not have been more gleeful. 

As the commotion passed me by, I took one last shot of the troupe....circling around the mall again and again.

CCC (Cute Christmas Creatures)

I was waiting for the movie to start @ IFC Mall. And..the only thing I could think of doing is ....getting a closer look at the massive Season's decoration right at the mall's atrium.

Never have I thought that secretly nestled and tucked among the decorations were arrays of cute 'creatures' to celebrate X'mas. 

White small white bear and white pony. 

I just couldn't let my camera do nothing while all the cuteness was right in front of my eyes.

A snowman family. 

A squirrel perched on top of a supposedly mailbox. 

A closer look at the rodent. 

Then..circling about the venue, I discovered two little bunnies. 

A squirrel bringing his pea! 

"Can you help me?" 

Then, the penguins popped along. 

Draped & wrapped in all festivities.  

sheep lost in the pure whiteness made out of cotton.:) 

a wise owl.  

Another type of owl perched on a log.  

It just reminded me of Russian folktale...though I didn't recollect what. 

This is the whole are where the Season's decorations were laid out. 

As I walked out of the atrium, I was greeted by another decorative patterns up to the ceilings. 

From afar, they resembles see-through-skirts or headless mannequins. 

with the brightly lit lamps inside, they sure become one of the impeccable attractions at the rear entrance to the mall. 

and these two tree-turned pillars were other decorative features visible on my way to Youido subway station.

CGV Cinema @ IFC Mall, Seoul

The familiar facade of the IFC mall. My new hangout venue for me!!! Well, having a chance to do a daily activity in Youido turned out to be fun. I thought that it would be so dull to be in the office complex whole day long. But...I was wrong.

In between time, especially during lunch hour, I could just sneak into this mall easily. Well, no other reason but..just to warm myself up in the midst of this shivering cold snap.^^ 

( -10 C is not my thing...for I am after all an avid tropical person myself).

So, the other day..I got a chance to enjoy myself being an escapee from my daily routines. Bought myself a movie ticket...and..enjoyed the rest of the day.

The Tower: Korea's recent blockbuster flick in Winter. 

I deem it: Towering Inferno: Korean Style.

As for the ambiance of the theater....it would be an understatement if I just call it amazing. It's more than that.  The lounges, the bookstore, the cafe, the nuance, and the ambiance...oh, did I mention the waiting lounge....

Well, the cinema lane within this CGV theater is a must-visit venue for any movie lovers in town.

I know it looks like not many people there...well, it was around 6 pm when not many people were yet to be there. But, I could assure you that..it is usually fully packed with workers and employees and I am sure tourists as well....who mostly work and come at this central business district.

IFC Mall, Youido

Let me just put the pictures first...^^ stories are coming soon.