Today's Specialties

@noon...I had a mango and shredded pineapple sherbet(?) that came along with a chocolate fudge. #Artisse Cafe at campuacampus. Oh.shared it with Seonhee.

After having a 둘솟 비빔밥 with my pals..I knew that...it was time to go on and have some tea... @ insadong

for dessert.

I ordered 쌍화잪쌍화자

Jeonju Trip (part 7): Street Food

We found Tarae: supposed to be the royal snacks presented to the kings or guests of kings. Made of honey and malt and made into tiny fibers or strands...suggesting longevity.

Oh, it is easily found in Seoul, too, especially in Myeongdong or Insadong. 

This is what Jeonju Hanok Village looks like. The streets are not made of asphalt but tiles, the tiny ones.....:) hmm, interesting. 

Back to the street food, we can see how ta-rae is made right in front of our eyes to 'incite' our appetite to buy and taste them.^^ 

and boy oh boy...he just couldn't stop talking!!

I wonder if that's what the royal cook did while preparing the ta-rae to the kings:^^ *chuckles* 

The second street food we encountered is 모주 (moju) or Jeonju's low-alcohol fermented beverage; similar to makgeolli but...well..different. 

okay, back to the ta-rae that we ordered. We had chocolate flavor and green-tea ones (not pictured). Anyway...just look at the strands or fibers of this delicacy. These were made in a matter of minutes..or even seconds... 

and for other street food: well, like any other foods easily encountered at other vendors around the village. 

Seeing my friend's exhibition @ Noam Gallery, Insadong

Position 2. That's what it's called. the theme of the exhibition.
The other day..I learned that my fellow friend was having an exhibition in Insadong; along with his other student-artists from Konkuk University.
Wait...! Insadong: the very place where art galleries dot and occupy most space?
Yup, I heard it correctly.

My fellow friend, Rainur Pria--being the only foreigner among all-Korean others who exhibit their works of art--must be so proud of himself and as one of his friends, I could also say that I am also the proud one, especially after being able to witness and to be there in person.

As I was there with the artist himself, It would've been meaningless had I not taken a picture with him.* Thanks, Rain, for explaining (some) details/rationale behind your works of art. 

I deliberately asked him to stand right next to the exhibition poster so as to show that he's really into it. Look, Rain..your name's on it!!! 

Hmmm..actually..I should not have taken any pictures. But this picture was taken as I was on the stairs leading to the gallery. My bad....I just hope that it's okay. I harmlessly had no slightest idea of putting it as a violation of copyrights or anything. I just want to make it as a little of remembrance or token of gratitude for having been able to be inside the gallery.  

With Rainur Pria, the artist himself..it couldn't have been any better.

Congratulations, bro! I think what you did is splendidly awesome.

Well, hope to see more of your works in the future. 

Taken from the booklet available on site. The left image is one of the still picture taken from his video installation. 

Rainur created some sort of 'darker tone' in his title since the three pieces of his artworks were:

'Distorted Mind' and 'Silent Pain'

Hmm...I wonder what are behind the lines/picture/video.

I wonder what Rainur is trying to convey through his arts...

All in all, Thank you, bro..for sharing your thoughts on your very own works.

Bulgogi @ Insadong

Bulgogi? I think most Koreans love bulgogi or marinated barbecued beef (or chicken or pork). But, I think the one being served right here in this restaurant is the beef one. At least the one that we ordered. See the ambiance of the restaurant. It is a traditional yet modernly decorated one, right?

All of my friends ordered bulgogi, complete with its side dishes and rice.

The one we had was more like a 4-person menu so they could share the bill, later ^^. But, not to worry because the reason we had the bulgogi here is to experience the authentic Korean cuisine with the complimentary of the Korean Brand Communicator of which we are the member. ^^ How nice is that?^^

I ordered another dish specially for me, and it was bibimbab-like menu or mixed rice with lots vegetables on it. But, the one I ordered is a bit different since we had this heavily or strongly scented dwenjang (fermented soybeans) that I got to put into the vegetables so as to bring about the flavor.

A close-up look at the bulgogi that we ordered. There was a lot of mixed veggies on it that this meal serves itself as one of the most sought after meal, for its being healthy. Just think: mushroom, sprouts, beans, garlic, and even dates were all dipped and mixed into it.

A nice look on one of the side dishes that we ordered. 

Since I am really into veggies, I think it suited me most.^^

Another angle and shot of the bulgogi. After waiting for about 15 minutes or so, my friends finally got their appetite swagged by the delicacy that this special dish offered. 

Kimchi. What would a Korean meal without kimchi or fermented cabbage. This hot and spicy, yet refreshing dish is a must-have side-dish in almost all of Korean meal. 

My friends from Korea Brand Communicator: 정재아, 운희경, 윤갱, and Adel. 

This is the alley where we had our bulgogi. I think this is a typical alley that Insadong offers to its visitors. Lots of yogwan or losmen (in Indonesian) or hostels are mingled with cafes, restaurants, and tea-houses. 

It somewhat reminded me of Prawirotaman or any alleys that I used to find back home in Malioboro, Jogjakarta. A similar look reminded me of my hometown.

Inside the Korean Tea House

Being soaked into the depth and scent of the Korean tea house was like another journey into the olden day of Korea's heyday when tea houses dotted the landscape of Korean society. It is completely different from today's modern world Korea where coffee has somewhat replaced the facades of most streets in Korea. 

Ok, just look at the wall right there: see the China ware and the bamboo-made ornament being attached there there? it's the first cool impression that I got.

AND NOW....we were so lucky that it was raining that day. What's more? since it was a raining day, so we got 10% discount!!!! Yippey what could be more enticing than this, then?

Another corner of the tea house. Ok, some may think that this is a bit overwhelmingly crowded for a tea house. But, I think that's what it was meant to be. The interior must've been intended to be so.

Some visitors could just look or admire or wonder or maybe just ignore or overlook the intricate details on the walls. If one could look at it a little bit closer, one may find something that could interest him.

let me break it down: a lamp^^, a bunch of dried persimmon, a bulk of dried corns, yarns, and...others that I  need to scrutinize more to find out what they were. The thing was...there could be myriad or endless arrays of things to behold.

A traditional kerosene-lamp was there, too. IT think it was a sight not to be missed in the modern city like Seoul. This is truly a remarkable item intact.

......-....... 

And...that was all about it. Should I recommend it to anyone? sure. Just brave yourself and go into the alleys at Insadong and brash up for an adventure into Korea's past.

Lost in the midst of Tea - Scented Alley

where else..but...in Insadong. Insadong being the famous place for all-antique-traditional and at times at the same time...contemporary blend of Korean culture is a place to be when you are into something like old-day Korean tea-house.

and..that's where we were going to that day. Along with a bunch of friends from the Presidential Council on Nation Branding in Korea, we went there to sip and enjoy the ubiquitous atmosphere being offered there. I had seojeonghwa or a cinnamon tea. (I think this was what I drank). And the best part about this place...was that...no matter how much you drink...all the snacks or gwaja are free. So, we got served with ample of Korean traditional gwaja

This was the door leading to the tea house that we went to. If only the red-mark notice on the door was omitted, it would've been nicer...giving more an authentic traditional look on it. ^^

Insadong: Tea & Dinner

Been here for a couple of times before. But, never been to any olden-day-dabang where Korean traditional tea is served in its original form. (well, sort of). OK, I wouldn't have been here as well, had I not been one of the liaison officer or 'a sort of volunteer' in Korea-ASEAN culture forum held last month in February, 2012. I got to take the delegates from Malaysia and Indonesia and accompany them to have or chip into the Korean dishes. 

That's why: dinner and tea at Insadong seemed an appropriate  option at that time: considering the distance from where the delegates were staying. 

Ok. first stop: dinner at a Korean restaurant where all Korean dishes imaginable or at least edible by the Muslim delegates of both countries were on display for them to enjoy. 

*****

Then off we went to a nearby tea-shop, a very rustically designed one. The nuance of old time Korea was somewhat splendidly preserved as perched on the ornaments and interior of the the tea-shop(?).

We did have a great time there.

Oh, did I mention the snack or gwaja, too? They were (too) also of traditional in style. 

Insadong

A lot can be told and said about this particular place.
People used to call it 'the Mecca of Korean traditional tea houses', and the remnants of its old day's charms are still visible, too.  I was told that it used to be the center of Korean traditional markets where porcelains, pottery, dabang or coffee/tea shops,  hanbok, and any other Korean traditional stuffs were abundant in their heydays.










 So, in order to immortalize or to enliven the spirit of Korea's past charms in the midst of Insadong, the government has designed Insadong to be a no-car district or no-car streets. Well, there are some exceptions, too. Anyhow..it was a good experience to try and take a look directly into this free-car Korea's past and modern visage at the same time.










Explore and you will see what lies in front of you or just go into the small alleys that sometimes will lead you to unexpectedly nice and cozy restaurants--but ...with not-that-cheap prices. But, the  atmospherically distinct notion of what Insadong was like...would be priceless to behold. ^^ So, lots of tourists do want to go there simply to be mesmerized by its charms.













But....this is what I think....had Insadong been not this somewhat modernized a bit, not many young people would flock to this place. So, I guess...the less traditional facades in Insadong.....have somewhat helped Insadong to be visited continuously by young people. ^^










I don't know..whether this is a good sign or not, but..I guess...if we want to keep something to be the center of attention, a little touch of modernization is acceptable. But, not that much....^^

2012 Korea-ASEAN Culture & Arts Forum (part 1)

It was a nice holiday as well as rewarding one; especially since I also took part in one of the important events ever held right here in Korea. It was 2012 Korea-ASEAN Culture & Arts Forum.
I was not a participant, I was just merely a kind of Liaison officer or a guide for the speakers and guests from other countries. Since I am an Indonesian, I was glad to be a guide for two speakers from Indonesia who turned out to be my previous lecturers at home-university: Mr Eddy and Dr. Lono. Along with me, Min Seon hee, one of the HUFS graduate students and also an alumni of Gadjah Mada University,became the LO for the Indonesian as well as Malaysian delegates.










 It was a great time to meet time, for sure. Also, I had a responsibility to accompany delegates from Malaysia as well. The reason was simple enough: both Malaysia and Indonesia speak almost the same language: Malay and Indonesian language.










The Forum was a success in itself. I could see the vigorous endeavor that the committee did to succeed the Forum.
So what I want to highlight here was only what I did during the first day of my tasks of being an LO.
First, we had to be ready at Lexington Hotel at Youido where all of the delegates stayed during the 4-day Forum in Seoul.
Then, I got to be in the first meeting to outline the whole programs to the delegates.
 I was sitting in a round-table set for all delegates.
It was great to meet other prominent and distinguished guests and people from other countries and Korea...who are mostly involved in culture and arts preservation. Musician, traditional dancers, researchers and the likes were there.
Good to know them.










Oh...the first day was sooo funnily yet awkwardly set up. the whole ice-breaking games for the delegates was a successful event in the evening. Through a series of programs, we came to realize that most of the delegates coming from ASEAN and Korea did have something in common. A lot!

----
Then....I took the delegates to Insadong to have dinner and had a stroll along the way.
Mr. Eddy and Mr. Lono and other delegates from Malaysia had to make sure that they could survive the night since it was a bit cold for them.
So, instead of going along the Insadong street, after having a sumptuous Korean traditional dinner, we went to a Korean tea house.
worth it? yes, of course.
That's been my tasks for the first day/night of the Forum.