Sun gave me these tiny wooden blocks of NY for my farewell gifts. They are sitting on the shelf in my new apartment here in Seoul. I wish I was in that cab :)
10.26.2010
NY in my apartment
Sun gave me these tiny wooden blocks of NY for my farewell gifts. They are sitting on the shelf in my new apartment here in Seoul. I wish I was in that cab :)
9.20.2010
Beautiful Valleys in Korea
Korea is often referred as a country filled with mountains, rivers and valleys.
One of the most famous and beautiful mountains is "Ji Ri Mountain". My parents often go there where we have some relatives live in. Until recently, I didn't realize how beautiful Korea is, especially the country sides. Now, I appreciate the beauty of nature in Korea more than ever. (I think it's part of "aging" process"...you appreciate nature where you originally come from, as you get older).
[Valley in Ji Ri Mountain]
One of the most famous and beautiful mountains is "Ji Ri Mountain". My parents often go there where we have some relatives live in. Until recently, I didn't realize how beautiful Korea is, especially the country sides. Now, I appreciate the beauty of nature in Korea more than ever. (I think it's part of "aging" process"...you appreciate nature where you originally come from, as you get older).
[Valley in Ji Ri Mountain]
Bibimbop
Bibimbop is Korean dish that is beloved by Koreans and equally by foreigners. I had a chance to go to the city called "Jin Joo" where Bibimbop is famous and specialized local food.
The restaurant I and my parents went is "Chon Hwang Restaurant", who serves only 3 kinds of menus, Bibimbop, Bulgoki, and Yookhui(marinated raw beef). The restaurant first opened in 1927 when Korea was invaded by Japan, so the place is built in Korean style but there is a hint of Japanese colonial architecture.
[Chon Hwang Restaurant]
[Jinjoo Bibimbop]
The restaurant I and my parents went is "Chon Hwang Restaurant", who serves only 3 kinds of menus, Bibimbop, Bulgoki, and Yookhui(marinated raw beef). The restaurant first opened in 1927 when Korea was invaded by Japan, so the place is built in Korean style but there is a hint of Japanese colonial architecture.
[Chon Hwang Restaurant]
[Jinjoo Bibimbop]
9.10.2010
Just Perfect Rice
Korean rice, I personally think, has the best texture and taste. :)
It contains just right amount of moisture, so it's not too flying like kinds of rice from Southeast Asia, nor too sticky, but perfectly chewy. And it has very very subtle sweetness in it -which is almost unrecognizable- and this makes Korean rice so delicious. Rice is a essential food in Korean cuisine. None of menu will be completed without a bowl of rice. Sometimes a well-cooked rice bowl and kimchi only can be more than enough as one meal.
Right now, Korea is looking forward to harvest season. Countrysides are filled with greener than ever rice plants. The fields will be beautiful brown soon, and we will have a great harvesting season this year.
Green Rice Field
It contains just right amount of moisture, so it's not too flying like kinds of rice from Southeast Asia, nor too sticky, but perfectly chewy. And it has very very subtle sweetness in it -which is almost unrecognizable- and this makes Korean rice so delicious. Rice is a essential food in Korean cuisine. None of menu will be completed without a bowl of rice. Sometimes a well-cooked rice bowl and kimchi only can be more than enough as one meal.
Right now, Korea is looking forward to harvest season. Countrysides are filled with greener than ever rice plants. The fields will be beautiful brown soon, and we will have a great harvesting season this year.
Green Rice Field
9.04.2010
Basically
I have very sensitive skin, especially sensitive to many of (not all of) chemical ingredients in skin care or body care products. So, I prefer to use organic or natural products when it comes to anything that will stay on my skin. When a products claims it's made of natural ingredients, it doesn't mean it contains zero percent chemical ingredient. On the contrary, it will contain many of chemicals in it. And many times, my skin will immediately respond to those chemicals in so-called "Natural Skin Care Products". So, it's almost a mission to find natural skin care products that will not make my skin breaking out.
I had several tried and proved products I used in US and also brought some. But I have to start to find new Korean products which will give peace on my skin. As a first trial one, I chose soaps from a store called "Basically". The store is on "Garosoo Gil (Tree Lined Road if I directly translate the name to English)" which is considered as one of the most trendy and fashionable streets in Korea filled with numerous little boutiques and cafés.
The owner developed a soap line while she herself was suffering for skin trouble and looking for the soaps that would not irritate her skin. The soaps are made with 100% natural oils and ingredients with absolutely no chemical. I wanted to buy the one with whitening effect to correct my skin that suffered so much this summer from the sun, but that particular one was completely sold out (Koreans are very into whitening). As a alternative, I picked up the one for deep pore cleansing. I haven't tried it yet, but I really hope this works.
I loved the package as well. The soap line is consists of 10 soaps, and each are graded from 1 to 10 depending on the skin type. For instance, for the very very dry skin, you can pick up a soap labeled number 1.
Basically also has made-in-house candles. I personally liked these bunny ones. The bulb ones are the store's most popular line.
The ice cream corn shape candles look so delicious.
I had several tried and proved products I used in US and also brought some. But I have to start to find new Korean products which will give peace on my skin. As a first trial one, I chose soaps from a store called "Basically". The store is on "Garosoo Gil (Tree Lined Road if I directly translate the name to English)" which is considered as one of the most trendy and fashionable streets in Korea filled with numerous little boutiques and cafés.
The owner developed a soap line while she herself was suffering for skin trouble and looking for the soaps that would not irritate her skin. The soaps are made with 100% natural oils and ingredients with absolutely no chemical. I wanted to buy the one with whitening effect to correct my skin that suffered so much this summer from the sun, but that particular one was completely sold out (Koreans are very into whitening). As a alternative, I picked up the one for deep pore cleansing. I haven't tried it yet, but I really hope this works.
I loved the package as well. The soap line is consists of 10 soaps, and each are graded from 1 to 10 depending on the skin type. For instance, for the very very dry skin, you can pick up a soap labeled number 1.
Basically also has made-in-house candles. I personally liked these bunny ones. The bulb ones are the store's most popular line.
The ice cream corn shape candles look so delicious.
KTX
I am still staying with my parents in Busan. But I have to go to Seoul pretty often to look for a place (I just got one! But still need lots of paper work) or to see my partners. From Busan to Seoul is about 328km, almost the same distance between Washington D.C. and New York City. It takes 45 minutes by flight. But these days KTX is more popular than the airplanes because the fare in about 50% cheaper and the train station is in the city with better accessibility. And I also no longer take airplane but take KTX now.
KTX (Korean Train eXpress) is high speed rail system in Korea, similar as TGV in France or Shinkansen in Japan. The top speed can be 305-350Km/H. Including about 2-3 stops in between Busan-which is almost far southern part of Korea- and Busan, it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. And in a very near future, the travel time will be reduced to 90 minutes with new faster trains. If I think about the time to travel to airport and to wait in airport, the total travel time between airplane and KTX are about the same. But since the KTX fare is only about $30 (with 15%-30% discount membership program called "Business Card" that is $75) one way compared to $80 for flight, these days I totally prefer to travel by KTX.
Another great thing to travel by KTX is, I can enjoy beautiful sceneries of Korea which I became to appreciate very much.
Inside of KTX train compartment
Another fun thing not to miss on KTX is a snack cart.
Scenery seen from the train window.
KTX (Korean Train eXpress) is high speed rail system in Korea, similar as TGV in France or Shinkansen in Japan. The top speed can be 305-350Km/H. Including about 2-3 stops in between Busan-which is almost far southern part of Korea- and Busan, it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. And in a very near future, the travel time will be reduced to 90 minutes with new faster trains. If I think about the time to travel to airport and to wait in airport, the total travel time between airplane and KTX are about the same. But since the KTX fare is only about $30 (with 15%-30% discount membership program called "Business Card" that is $75) one way compared to $80 for flight, these days I totally prefer to travel by KTX.
Another great thing to travel by KTX is, I can enjoy beautiful sceneries of Korea which I became to appreciate very much.
Inside of KTX train compartment
Another fun thing not to miss on KTX is a snack cart.
Scenery seen from the train window.
8.24.2010
Wed. 08/25/2010 - Be An Alien
Since I arrived here in Korea, and my parents place in Busan, I went through the worst flu I've ever had. I am normally very strong with flu or cold but this time I couldn't function at all and had to stay in bed for a couple of days. I think it was not just flu, but it was mixed with this fear I have, the fear for a completely new life.
Yes, Korea is my country. I was born here, grew up here and lived here for about 27 years until I left for Paris, then New York. I still have Korean citizenship and even have driving license since 92. But I can't get rid of this fear, the fear that I have to learn every single thing to live a real life here. I still don't feel this is a home. I rather feel this is a foreign country that I happen to live and I have to learn all about it.
I've been in NY for 12 years, and before NY I was in Paris about an year. So, I left Korea 13 years ago. My knowledge or the way of living a real life here froze 13 years ago. And even when I was here, the life I had was a semi-real, meaning I was mostly a kid or a student who didn't need to know everything about a real life. Plus, Korea is such a fast forwarding country, so if you were not here more than 2-3 years, everything's changed already.
In the meantime, my life in NY was much more a real one. I was there all by myself and had to get all the necessaries by myself. I had my first job in NY and the last employed job there as well. I know how to ride a subway there, how to and where to get a new cell phone and where to go to get a place to live. Plus, America is more slowly changing than Korea. -It just means it's already developed as much, so the changes are much slower than the countries like Korea.-
Here in Korea, I totally feel like an alien who's just arrived here. Thankfully I can speak Korean -even though I already forgot so many "intelligent words"-. I don't even know how to ride subway -believe or not, I haven't done it for 13 years-. As soon as I got here, I tried to get a cell phone, but it was one overwhelming experience. There are so many plans and so many phones and plans with words and phrases I don't quite understand.
I am feeling a little bit of a identity crisis now. I am obviously not American, but I look absolutely Korean, I am legally Korean as well. But I am having difficulty to write in Korean, and even understanding Korean -seriously I couldn't understand more than 50% of of cell phone plans-. And I feel I am on vacation now, feeling NY is still my home. And I think for quite some time I will deny the fact that I left NY for good, remembering everyone saying "You can always come back!"
I was thinking the way not to fear a new life in Korea but to enjoy it. Be a foreigner. It may sound ridiculous when you know that I am Korean by the fact. But for now, this will be much easier and fun for me to get it through.
Discover and enjoy Korea like I am an alien.
Well, I guess I'd better be in authentic Korean café rather than Starbucks. But this was the only place I knew that I could use free Wi-Fi.
Yes, Korea is my country. I was born here, grew up here and lived here for about 27 years until I left for Paris, then New York. I still have Korean citizenship and even have driving license since 92. But I can't get rid of this fear, the fear that I have to learn every single thing to live a real life here. I still don't feel this is a home. I rather feel this is a foreign country that I happen to live and I have to learn all about it.
I've been in NY for 12 years, and before NY I was in Paris about an year. So, I left Korea 13 years ago. My knowledge or the way of living a real life here froze 13 years ago. And even when I was here, the life I had was a semi-real, meaning I was mostly a kid or a student who didn't need to know everything about a real life. Plus, Korea is such a fast forwarding country, so if you were not here more than 2-3 years, everything's changed already.
In the meantime, my life in NY was much more a real one. I was there all by myself and had to get all the necessaries by myself. I had my first job in NY and the last employed job there as well. I know how to ride a subway there, how to and where to get a new cell phone and where to go to get a place to live. Plus, America is more slowly changing than Korea. -It just means it's already developed as much, so the changes are much slower than the countries like Korea.-
Here in Korea, I totally feel like an alien who's just arrived here. Thankfully I can speak Korean -even though I already forgot so many "intelligent words"-. I don't even know how to ride subway -believe or not, I haven't done it for 13 years-. As soon as I got here, I tried to get a cell phone, but it was one overwhelming experience. There are so many plans and so many phones and plans with words and phrases I don't quite understand.
I am feeling a little bit of a identity crisis now. I am obviously not American, but I look absolutely Korean, I am legally Korean as well. But I am having difficulty to write in Korean, and even understanding Korean -seriously I couldn't understand more than 50% of of cell phone plans-. And I feel I am on vacation now, feeling NY is still my home. And I think for quite some time I will deny the fact that I left NY for good, remembering everyone saying "You can always come back!"
I was thinking the way not to fear a new life in Korea but to enjoy it. Be a foreigner. It may sound ridiculous when you know that I am Korean by the fact. But for now, this will be much easier and fun for me to get it through.
Discover and enjoy Korea like I am an alien.
Well, I guess I'd better be in authentic Korean café rather than Starbucks. But this was the only place I knew that I could use free Wi-Fi.
8.21.2010
Sun. 08/22/2010-First Day in Korea
I am finally in Korea. I arrived here at 3:30 in the morning.
[Incheon International Airport]
Throughout the whole trip, I was struggling with my excessive luggages.
[Incheon International Airport]
Throughout the whole trip, I was struggling with my excessive luggages.
Fri. 08/20/2010 - Last Day in NY
After breakfast, I was around High Line for the last time and went to Williamsburg for the last time with Sun. Even though it was last day, I was just walking around like I will be staying in NY and it was really hard to take the fact as a reality.
[High Line Park]
Just some extra pictures I took around 18th street & 10th avenue...
Fri. 08/20/2010 - Last Breakfast in NY: Pastis
Prologue: I am already in Korea waiting at Incheon Airport for connecting flight to my hometown, Busan. And I am writing this post about what I did in NY on my last day there.
Friday day was my last day in NY. I wanted to have my last lunch in NY at Pastis somehow, so I headed down there in the morning. For breakfast and lunch, Pastis is sort of tourist spot these days, and you won't see many locals there, but most of them you will see are tourist like me. As a outstanding tourist character, taking picture for anything and anywhere is quite a norm there. So I was also not intimidated at all and took picture of even restroom there.
The tiled floor and wall are my favorite aspects of Pastis.
My Egg Benedict breakfast and fresh berries.
From outside...
And its restroom
Friday day was my last day in NY. I wanted to have my last lunch in NY at Pastis somehow, so I headed down there in the morning. For breakfast and lunch, Pastis is sort of tourist spot these days, and you won't see many locals there, but most of them you will see are tourist like me. As a outstanding tourist character, taking picture for anything and anywhere is quite a norm there. So I was also not intimidated at all and took picture of even restroom there.
The tiled floor and wall are my favorite aspects of Pastis.
My Egg Benedict breakfast and fresh berries.
From outside...
And its restroom
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