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. 

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.