Sushi, Noraebang, tall towers and a Folk Village

Well we are slowly recovering from the loss of Mel and Shawn. Life must go on, I guess. And the fact that their replacements are very fun people helps in the healing process. (No, no one will ever replace Mel and Shawn, but Collin and Rupali are pretty awesome too.)

Last week we decided to go for sushi on Friday night, something Mel and Shawn would never had done with us as they are both seafood haters. We figured it would help us to not miss them. We went to an all you can eat sushi buffet and needless to say got very very full. It was Korean-ized sushi. Mostly california rolls with various sauces on top, and some sashimi-type bits. But still very very delicious. And only $10 for an hour and a half of as much sushi as you can stuff into your stomach. I don't think I need to say that we will definately be going back there again.

We also discovered a new noraebang that night. Window booth as usual. We're never satisfied with displaying our talents just to ourselves, but must also make sure everyone in the street can see us too.

Some of the Korean teachers from school came with us and a good time was had by all.

Saturday during the day we vegged out. Shaun and I did some research for our trip to Thailand next week (YAY!!!) and in the evening we went to Jongno Tower. It's one of the tallest buildings in Seoul and there is a really exclusive (and expensive) bar at the top of it. It was a nice little exersion, though a pricey one. The view of Seoul was amazing, and the bathroom have a really cool motion-detecting sink. I got a glass of wine that cose approx. $20, was only half full and was the most disgusting wine I have ever tasted.

On Sunday I went to the Korean Folk Village, an historical reconstruction of Korean life. There were tons of building in different styles from around the country, and from different eras. It was interesting to see, but a lot of the same stuff over and over again. My favourite parts were the statue garden (I'm such an art snob)

and the performance of traditional dance.

This isn't my video, I found it on the web, but it's pretty much the same thing that I saw.

The best part was these hats. They have a long ribbon attached to the stick that you see here, and with the slightest bob of the head the musicians make them twirl around in amazing patterns. Also while their doing this they can flip in the air and play drums. Now that's multi-talented.

The leader of the ribbon guys did a solo bit with a huge long ribbon. He did break dancing moves and stood on his head, all while keeping the ribbon going. I was gasping and clapping along with the Koreans on that one.

I was also intruiged by these drums.

They have different kinds of skin on either end so they make a very different sound depending on which end you play them on. And you also used two different sticks, one thin bamboo one, and one with a round rubber tip. They make a really beautiful sound, and I think there's a lot of skill that goes into playing them. I really want to learn how..I'm going to see if I can find some lessons somewhere. Though maybe having another delicate musical instrument to fly home would not be such a good idea. I'd have to have to choose between my drum and my guitar.

There was also a buddhist temple onsite. I'm not sure if it was an actual temple, as in people actually used it...or if it was just...a representation of a temple for the purposes of the folk village. It was my first temple visit though, and I was rather awestruck, even if I wasn't sure it was a real temple. I want to search out more of them now, and am even more determined to do a mediation retreat while I'm here.

For supper I had chicken stew with ginseng. Very delicious, though it could have used more salt. And yes, that's three kinds of kimchi. The cabbage one was much "riper" than what I'm used to. The first bite was quite a shock, but once I knew what to expect I rather enjoyed it.

That's pretty much all that's been happening, I guess. I'm working on expanding my circle of friends, meeting a fellow Canadian in Suwon on the weekend to talk about organic farming and what not. You know, the usual. Still going to the gym, which has been much more enjoyable since the weather cooled down a little. Bought a bunch of Korean poetry books and a cookbook.

To see the rest of my photos from the folk village visit my facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1188934&l=36359&id=890700076

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50788&l=ea857&id=890700076