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8/30/2003
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Korea Life Blog - New Poll (2)
There's a new, exciting poll to vote on. Here are the results of the last pole, now moved to Seoul 1 page.
After living in Korea, what has changed about you the most?
I'm Korean. This is my home. 21 (19%)
I can't live without kimchi 6 (5%)
I keep toilet paper on my desk 13 (12%)
I'm an alcoholic now 24 (22%)
I never want to go back home 5 (4%)
I can speak Korean fluently! 5 (4%)
I realize MY culture is boring 12 (11%)
I'm popular and chicks love me 13 (12%)
I hate my life really badly 1 (0%)
I read Korea Life Blog daily 6 (5%)
106 Total votes
So "I'm an alcoholic now" has taken the top spot. "I keep toilet paper on my desk" takes a stunning 12% of the vote. I voted for "I'm popular and chicks love me!" all though I'm not sure if I can live without kimchi now.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Carnes Station
Carnes Station is a Korean franchise buffet restaurant. For the current price of 22,000 Won per person, around $18, you can eat and drink all you want until 10:00 or 11:00 PM, depending on how busy it is. At first it may seem a little expensive but it's worth it as you will see. (I apologize for the lack of clarity in these photos - for some reason you're not supposed to take pictures in here, so I had to take these quickly and on the sly.) We went to the one in Jongro. Get off from line 2 at Jongro-5. Take exit 2. At the top of the stairs go straight down that road for a few minutes until you see a big church. Turn left in front of the church. Then look to your right. It's hard to see, but it's downstairs in that building.
Here's a shot of part of the buffet. This side includes bulgogi, garbi, and various other meats which you can grill up at your table. Also, there's a large selection of kimchi. On the other side there are several pots of korean soups. There's also American style chicken wings, spaghetti, and you can even make burritos, albeit not the best quality. And of course there is a salad and fruit bar as well.
Now here's where the money pays off. Looks at this! It's a self-serve bar complete with the hard stuff, draft and bottled beer, bek se ju, and soju! Holy shit!
Hmm, at the time I thought this looked appetizing. I guess that's what happens when a bunch of foreigners cook for themselves after all-you-can-drink.
Here's my friend Eric fiddling with a cigarette. He doesn't yet realize there's no smoking in here. He's just downed a plate of food, 2 beers and a cocktail within minutes! Note the peculiar plate of food there. That's mine. I cooked that! Hey - help yourself!
A sneaky shot of a table full of Korean people enjoying themselves and engaging in the ever popular "bottoms up" and "one shot" ritual with soju. It won't be long now before someone loses control of their body, starts an argument, or vomits outside on the street. One thing is for certain, however, I'm positive they're doing a much better job of cooking than we are...
Yes, it's a little expensive, but you can certainly get you money's worth, as did one of the people I was with. I left early, but found out later he blacked out for an hour, passed out on the street, and then had to be carried home by several people.
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written by shawn matthews
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8/29/2003
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Korea Life Blog - My Cupboard
Let's take a look at what's in my only cupboard. Mmm, four bags of Ramyon, a can of corn, soy sauce, oil, instant coffee and a bag of sugar. On the bottom shelf is my meager, enduring collection of dishes. The plates that are upside down are drying. Ah, the life of a bachelor.
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written by shawn matthews
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8/27/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Get Notified
In the right column there's a new way to get notified of updates to my blog. The service I used before, Bloglet, no longer works and there's no sign of it being fixed. Enter your e-mail address today to enjoy this wonderful new service!
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written by shawn matthews
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8/26/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Yong In
A few weeks ago I visited a traditional village in Yong In, near Suwon. You can buy tour tickets across the street from Suwon station. The ticket rate varies depending on which attractions you want to see. The most basic ticket, around 10,000 Won, includes the bus fare and the general entrance fee. For a few thousand more Won, you can get access to the "World Folklore Museum" and a national art museum (which was closed the day I went). The general fee gets you access to the traditional village which includes some unique gift stores and restaurants. Oddly enough, there's also an amusement park featuring such rides as the Viking and bumper cars (on a pay-per-ride basis, of course).
The entrance to the "World Folklore Museum." There are 8 countries featured here. Have your ticket ready, but don't worry - if you didn't pay up before you can still pay here.
Each of these small buildings houses some cultural artifacts from a specific country. Some of the countries include China, Japan, America, and Africa. They did a really nice job here. Once you start walking around, it feels like you're in a different country all together, save for the Korean people walking around and the high rise apartments inevitably looming in the distance.
Here is a photo of me in the Africa building. At last, a place where I don't stand out in the crowd. Some people hardly even noticed me...
Wow, lovely! A traditional fan and unique umbrella found in the Japanese building.
Some colorful artwork from which country I just can't remember. The important lesson here is how to steal artwork and publish it online for free. Just hold the camera steady!
What's this? An honorary life-like statue of Korea Life Blog Guy? Wow, what a surprise!
A small rice field from days of old. The cultivaters lived in small huts like the ones in the background. Those poor people of the past - they never could know the peace and tranquility that modern life and all it's wonderful inventions, designed to make live covenient and easy, has given us...
A traditional storage shed with traditional farming tools and, well, I guess, traditional wood.
This must be a traditional peasant's home. Looks like it was quite a peaceful existence with plenty to eat.
You can stop into one of the stores and buy traditional style alcohol drinks such as Bek Se Ju for double the cost you can buy them in any regular store in Korea.
Near the exit, like an army of brown Humpty-Dumpty midgets: a throng of traditional jugs used originally for storing soy bean sauce and red pepper paste.
Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderfully traditional day!
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written by shawn matthews
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8/25/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Miss Korea
Once again I am unable to upload pics at this PC bang, but never fear. You can enjoy this collection of Miss Korea contestants from 2003. You get to see a rather boring picture of each one, but also a rather inspiring one too...
By the way, the winner was:
39. Yoon-young Choi
Miss Seoul
Birth : Dec.21.'83 / Height : 172cm
And now for an inspired, exciting, dubious, yet somehow tender and special ode to Miss Korea 2003, by Korea Life Blog Guy:
Oh, Miss Korea, 2003
If by chance you date with me
You can buy me Bulgogi, Bek Se Ju, and Poki Kimchi
And with your winnings we can pay the rent
On our very own high rise apartment!
A glorious life without any care
No more damn crane game jerk of despair
And there won't be another couple like us
When we drive around in our brand new Equus!
And with the connections you surely now know
No doubt they will publish A Foreigner in Geoje-do
Then I'll be rich and famous, and more...
And surely have Miss Korea, 2004
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written by shawn matthews
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8/24/2003
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Korea Life Blog - My Site Reviewed and Recent Stats
I checked my statistics today and found this review of my site:
Click here to read the review.
For inexplicable reasons, Korea Life Blog continues to experience increased readership. And thanks to everyone who is linking to me, my page ranking has gotten higher within Google searches. Next step: World Domination!
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written by shawn matthews
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8/22/2003
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Korea Life Blog - A Symbol of Protection
Here is the symbol of the police found on every police station in Korea, as far as I know. It 's such a charming character that makes you feel so warm and good, joyful and well protected. At least there isn't much crime in Korea. In fact, it must be among the safest countries in the world to live. Most of the crime is white color, involving some kind of bribery or other scandal.
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written by shawn matthews
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8/21/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Resort Camp
I'm finally getting around to posting about the overnight trip to a resort camp I was forced to go on with my school. It was an awful nightmare. There were hundreds and hundreds of Korean kids from various schools, their Korean teachers, school owners, bus drivers, and...me, the only foreigner at the whole place. Let's take a look:
Well, 9:00 AM. I'm tired. I'm full of dread. There's the bus waiting to take us. By coincidence, notice the Atoz car I wrote about before in comparison to the bus.
Oh boy! - a bus full of maniacal students. I'm so excited to be here. I can hardly hold back my enthusiasm. Yay!
The bus driver puts on an old bizarre cartoon to keep the kids attention on something. It's a good idea, except it's at full volume and in Korean. Not only can't I fall asleep, but I have a headache.
A little over an hour later and we arrive to some town in the middle of nowhere. The sky is gray. Wow great. The students look so thrilled.
I feel exactly the same way, kid.
Well here it is. The "resort." It doesn't look too bad from the outside. Certainly looks like there are plenty of rooms. Maybe they'll put the foreigner in his own room!
Oh my god! Not only don't I get my own room, but I have to share this one with twenty boys, the bus driver and my boss.
Here's a photo from the balcony of our room. It's a nice looking town, I guess, but I can't see what the big attraction is. The place is utterly packed with school children. There's a wimpy little mountain out back with a wimpy little skii slope. But it's not winter. It's a hot and humid summer day. Wow great, the big attraction is a shallow swimming pool. Oooh! ahhh!
Somebody please stop the madness! There are hundreds of Korean kids yelling and screaming and peeing in the swimming pool! Even my boss is in on it.
Well, at least little Fiona is having a good time. She gives me a coy smile, then tries her best to drag me into the pool. Sorry Fiona, maybe next time. Instead I will spend the next 4 hours twiddling my thumbs. The kids drag the Korean teachers into the pool and of course they swim with all their clothes on. The kids then try their best to get me, but I steadfastly refuse. No way! The water is almost yellow! I want to get the heck out of here and fast. Alas, I'm stuck.
What a long trip it was. Later at night we sat outside for hours and hours while some Korean people on a stage entertained the kids, singing, and telling ghost stories all in Korean. I felt ridiculous and stupid to say the least. Finally the eternal day ended. koreans are afraid to sleep with fans on , including air conditioners, so I had to sleep in the room with 20 kids and a bus driver, sweating and listening to my boss snoring loudly, kids kicking and rolling over me in their sleep. Altogether I slept maybe 3 hours. Then the next day we all went back to the pool all day, an exact repeat of the day before. Eventually we left after lunch and returned to the school. Not a single thank you or apology from my boss for pointlessly subjecting me to the horrendous affair...ugh.
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written by shawn matthews
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Korea Life Blog - Jongro Night
I went out to Jongro in Seoul on Saturday night. Jongro is one of the busy downtown areas. There's a lot to do and not so many foreigners.
Jongro at night looks like Las Vegas or somewhere in Japan. The neon lights, the thrill of the night...and a James Dean no rae bang.
Another street. Throngs of young people make their way into DVD rooms, singing rooms, soju bars, western style bars, bulgogi restaurants, night clubs, and the like...
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written by shawn matthews
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8/19/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Dong Dae Mun
Dong Dae Mun is the biggest traditional style shopping market still in existence in Seoul. I looked around there for a little while on Saturday afternoon. You can find pretty much anything you can imagine and more: from cucumbers to really cheap imitation brand name clothes like Levis. It looks kind of chaotic, but I think it's really nice and unique to see people shopping in this manner, buying goods from little shops owned by average people rather than at some huge chain like Walmart. Similar to farmers/flea markets in style, most of the hundreds of shops are set up outside or within long stretching arcades.
A cluster of really colorful Korean fans. Looking at this pic, I kind of wish I had purchased a few for gifts or to hang on my wall. As of now, the only thing I have on my wall is a small photo of a cow and a Homer Simpson picture I cut of a comic book.
Just one of many streets where you can find all sorts of good. Sometimes you find groups of shops right next to each other selling the same exact things. Other times, things are spread out radomly. It's fun as you never know what's going to be at the next shop. There could be shoes, deokboki, sunglasses, or Elvis Presely dolls - you just never know.
Here's a really cool collection of Banzai trees for sale. I really wanted one but didn't want to carry it around all day and night, not to mention I haven't clue how to trim or take care of one anyway.
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written by shawn matthews
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8/14/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Boiled Bugs and Phony Fries
A bundaegi ajuma hard at work. Bundaegi is boiled silkworm larvae. Yuck! This is one snack I never have and never will try. Ajuma, just what kind of scam are you pulling here anyway? How about cooking up some hotdogs and hamburgers for chrissakes. And you won't fool me again with those phony french fries in the background. Those are bland sweet potatos sticks that have been sitting there all day...huk!
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written by shawn matthews
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8/12/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Food Translations (1)
I always get a kick out of the translation of Korean foods into English. Somehow, the translation usually falls short of describing the food in any sort of appetizing way. Check out some of the foods on this list: click me click me.
Now let's have a look at the choices on this menu. What should I eat? The Yellow Pollack Soup W/Soy Bean Sprout sounds wonderful, yet I can't think of a better combination than OX-blood soup W/Winter-grown Cabbage. Mmmm. Seriously, one of my favorites is the third one, Hae Mul Dwen Jang Chigae. The translation, Soy Bean Paste Pot Stew W/Sea Food just doesn't do it justice. You just have to try it for yourself, if you haven't already. Yum!
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written by shawn matthews
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8/11/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Don't be Stupid
I may head to the clubs in Hongdae this weekend as we have Friday off for Korean Constitution Day. Hmm, let me review the rules. I've seen people wasted beyond belief almost everywhere in Korea on any given night, so I'm not too sure about that rule. But actually the laws are really serious about drugs here, as anywhere in Asia. If you take extacy or smoke pot or hash, it's not a petty crime like back home. Here you can get arrested and thrown in jail even if you don't actually have drugs on you. All it takes is for one person to get caught and give away names of other users, or even just the names on his/her cell phone will do. If they even suspect you, if they get your name, they'll show up where you work, test you, and haul you away if you test positive, throw you in a dirty Korean jail where you share a cell with hardcore Korean prisoners for a month or more and then deport you. That's right, even if you don't actually have the drugs on you, you will get in that much trouble. If drugs are in your system, you're guilty. I have gotten tested myself sometime ago when they did a major bust in Pusan and Ulsan. Suddenly two officers came to my school and made me pee in a cup. Someone supposedly reported seeing me in a bar where someone was smoking pot. That was it. It was nerve racking, but I had done nothing wrong. Feel free to get drunk out of your mind, but if you do drugs, leave them behind in your home country.
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written by shawn matthews
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8/8/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Fiona
This is Fiona, one of my students. Korean children are utterly adorable. Just look at that face, those dimples, that tender, innocent smile. Can you see into her eyes, the wonder, the excitement, the enchantment of life? Little does she know the hard road ahead, the pressures of Korean life, the exams, exams, and more exams to come. It's a nation obsessed with grades, college entrance exams, marriage, and social status, little Fiona. But for now, life is good, like a delicious piece of dry squid waiting to be chewed and savored. Mmmm...
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written by shawn matthews
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8/6/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Hark by gorey. A mighty plunker lurks d'land...
Hop aboard and set sail for mysterious lands, where kimchi grows on trees and girls wearing hanbok feed you sweet rice cakes and bek se ju. Actually hop aboard and enjoy your dinner. This restaurant is in the form of a ship which was made to fight against the invading Japanese navy during the Chosun Dynasty. I wanted to eat here, but I heard it's a bit pricey and formal.
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written by shawn matthews
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8/5/2003
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Korea Life Blog - Back Home
Well, I'm back in Korea...nice, safe Korea. I'm really exhausted. It was an awful schedule back. The plane left Manila at 12:30 AM, and was supposed to arrive at 4:50 in Incheon, but was delay 45 minutes cause of heavy fog. We flew around the airport until we could land. I didn't get to my apartment until 9:00 AM. I had to work at 3, so I tried to sleep, but they were doing contruction next to my home and the drills were so loud. I lay awake cursing, maybe slept an hour. As tired as I was, I still came here to the PC room. I got all my pics onto this computer only to find out I can't ftp them to my website because of some error with this PC. I really need my own computer badly. Anyone want to donate to my noble cause? Click below.
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written by shawn matthews
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