I recalled a singer who’s song I used to listen to a lot when I was in middle school(?). Shiina Ringo is probably one of the few J-Pop acts I listened to growing up (others being Utada Hikaru, Yuzu, and Aiko…笑). So I looked her up on Youtube and found a few newer (emphasis on newer) songs I like…
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I am back from a week long trip out to the provinces. We went to Jinju, Boseong, and Namwon. I have yet to develop a couple rolls, as I just returned back to Suwon earlier today. Here are some shots from the digital camera. My camera flipped out a little halfway through the trip, so this is in no regards a full picture of the trip…

Ducky Boats on the Namgang

(Note: “You went to Jinju, and this is what you took a picture of.” “Yes.”)

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Jeronica on the banks of the Nangang

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The Namgang was literally steps away from our yagwon (read: travel lodging).  The direction that Jenny is looking you can see the Jinju Castle, which we toured the following day. I believe while I was taking these pictures I missed an appointment with some friends to go eat and bowl with Nate’s old friend from Jinju.

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Under a bridge that spans the Namgang

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Jinju Castle

(Note: Kim Jong-(H)ill)

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Nongae Shrine

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Nongae was a kisaeng during the Imjin War. Her lover was killed in battle. When the Japanese forces captured the Jinju Fortress after a long and bloody seige, the commanders celebrated. Nongae lured one of the generals Keyamura Rokusuke to a pavillion overlooking the Namgan River. She then proceeded to embrace him passionately but then threw both herself and the general into the river. The act of vengeful murder-suicide is a famous and celebrated story in Korea. This is a shrine to her.

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Nate and Dr. Lee: Reenactment

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Lee x Lee

(Note: Digging the Shades)

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Jinju Fortress

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There was also the Jinju National Museum within the grounds of the Fortress. There was a large section devoted to the Imjin War and the Sieges of Jinju (two of the most severe battles of the Japanese invasion). There was also a large section of Buddhist and pre-historic artifacts.

Buddhist Idol in the Jinju National Museum

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Lion(?) Dragon(?)

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Bamboo in the Museum

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Heading out

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That is all of Jinju from the Digicam for today.

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끝.

This is basically a call for hilarious photos from this group. People lay face down. Period. Anything. Funnier the circumstances the better. I love it.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5989617014#/group.php?gid=5989617014

SKY News Interview with the ‘founder’ HERE

Some highlights:

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And now My own little addition, from somewhere in Seoul at a Samsung something or rather…

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Samsung Lying Down Game

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More to come??

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끝?

Went to Hongdae to meet up Jim Platte for the first time in a while…

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Got there too early so went to 곰 다방. Reliable for good drip coffee and free refills…

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Counter

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Front Door

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Kavelier and Clay, and Coffee

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Met Jim here.

(Note: Hongdae Exit 5 is where most people designate as a meeting spot. There are too many people here at all times.)

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We went to get Mexican food, a most welcome change of pace. Dos Tacos off of the main road coming from the Hongdae main gate.

View Larger Map

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끝.

A post-supper walk about behind the dorm…

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The Doods Dorm, as said before, stands as if a wall between the school and some tiny vegetable patches behind it.

Wall-e

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(Note: This really doesnt show how much of a wall this building is)

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Construction Site

(Note: Supposedly, Suwon is a big area for construction in Korea.)

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Poles

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Soon to be a Street

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A Very Welcome Respite from Korean Beer

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(Note: 콧덜)

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끝.

Yes, it is a slow newsday. Here are some things from my desk…

Kodak e100vs Photo I found on the Ground

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David Choe Bill I got from Gelli

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(Note: It is also the artist who did my favorite shirt)

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我が輩は猫である

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Einfach Leben.

(Note: Live Simply)

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View into our courtyard from 12 stories up

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장마

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Junk really… Sorry.

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끝.

If you know me, you know that I am not very fond of deep dark waters. Here are some reasons why:

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1. Giant Nomura’s Gellifish (from: NYT)

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Oh, hai. GAME OVER.

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Apparently these giant gellyfish, the Nomura’s Jellyfish or Echizen Kurage, have been popping up along Japanese shores in the droves. Tearing apart their nets and ruining catches. They grow up to 6 feet 7 inches. They hang about in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.

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2. Oophagy (Egg Eating) and Intrauterine Cannibalism

Sharks do this freaky thing where they eat their brothers and sisters while still in their mother’s womb. The first developed embryo eats all other  eggs and underdeveloped embryos. Cannibals from birth. Sharks. Are. Cannibals. From. Birth.

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Cannibal from Birth

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3. Mammals in Rivers

I’ve said this for years now, river dolphins are very creepy. They are dolphins in rivers. Have you ever thought about intelligent mammals swimming up and down the murky Amazon? Its a classical irrational fear. I dont understand/I didn’t know, so thats  scary. As ridiculous as it is, if you dont expect a large pink marine mammal to swim up to you in the Amazon, wouldn’t that startle you? I don’t know, y’all. I’m just sayin’.

Amazon Variety (The creepiest one):

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Amazon River Dolphin

(Note: Does it not look like the masks from Beetle Juice?)

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Yangtze Variety:

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Yangzte River Dolphin

(Note: Possibly extinct. Although I am afraid of them, I feel for them the way Santiago felt for the marlin)

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Indus Variety:

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Indus River Dolphin

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끝.

Funny thing about Korea, is that it is tiny. What do I mean by this? It seems like everyone tied with Korea, specifically American college age students, are often in some way all know eachother.

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Case in point. Our dear chingoo Tyler Hill, eh? I meet this guy at orientation at DC. He was my roommate at the hotel State got for, in fact. As per usual with this sort of thing, we play the name game. We find out we were both in Seoul in 2007. Across the street form each other atually. Ehwa and Yonsei. Our friend Jennifer’s name is brought up. “How do you know her?” “I met her at Gyeongju.” A pause and anticipatory grin, “During Chuseok?” “Yes” “On the roof of the Hanjin Hostel?”

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Small world, I met this chingoo, most likely, the Hanjin Hostel roof was packed with students and expat English teachers, none with family obligations in the countryside. Small World.

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Heres the Proof:

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Investigative Journalism

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(Note: As you can see it is Tyler Hill)

(Note: Tyler Hill looks like the guy with his eyes barred out. His name is James Fallisgaard)

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끝.

Our  Trip this past Saturday was to go see Nanta. Following is a brief synopsis according to the pamphlet I got.

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An excellent cook, but the unmanly HEAD CHEF, a very sexy, masculine SEXY GUY, and the powerful, sassy, the only woman cook, HOT SAUCE! The three attractice, characteristic chegs start their day. Washing vegetable, carrying meat loafs, setting fire, cooks at NANTA kitcehn i sabout to begin their busy job as always, then the ill-natured manager orders them to prepare 10 wedding ceremony menus, along with his little nephew, in just an hour. Suddenly the kitchen is thrown into turmoil and the cooks become wild as they chop, beat and stir in an attempt to meet the deadline. The wedding ceremnoy is at 6 o’clock and it is at hand! Will the NANTA cooks complete the preparation on time?

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The story was told in mostly slapstick, Stomp-like performance, and gibberish (think adults from Peanuts cartoons). A lot of feats of complex rhythms and gags using kitchen objects: knives, stir sticks, frying pans, pots. After the show we were saying how those 5 actors/performers were amazingly talented. They danced, had impeccable rhythm, comedic timing was good, good at pleasing the crowd, had some sexiness (blush). It was probably one of the corniest things I have ever seen, and I loved it. In a word: exuberant?

Here is a link to some footage on Google Video…

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The rest of the pictures are from after NANTA in Seoul and in Suwon… GO

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Nate and Josh in front of the 대한문

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(Note: See Nate pulling on his hair, I think thats how he gets his semi-pompadour going, right?)

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Buildings

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(Note: 선생님 and Ann)

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From here are pictures I took with a disposable camera I got off the street for 2,000 won (aka a little less than $2). The camera tends to vignette the photos a little bit, you can tell on some pictures more than others. Considering the price and funny photos it takes, I might look for it again…

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Erin and Josh at Nanta

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(Note: Before Nanta!)

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Ian in front of Nanta Theatre

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There was a Lady behind some Bananas

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(Note: From NANTA to Kyobo Bookstore)

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Hammering Man - Jonathon Barofsky

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(Note: This one in Seoul is the largest of Barofsky’s Hammering Man. It is in front of the Heungkuk Life Insurance building)

(Note: Folks from Seattle can see another one in front of the Seattle Art Museum)

(Note: Folks in Seattle can also see the Hammered Man in front of the Blue Moon Tavern in the U-Dist)

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Insadong Dog Rights Group

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(Note: おとしよりの Golden Retriver)

Insadong is a street/area in central Seoul that is known for its traditional crafts, as well as being a HUGE tourist nest. Some places of interest: a very good jajjangmyun joint that makes its own noodles, ssamzie building where you can get arts and design products, hilarious knife museum I went to several years ago, a very good tea place, and a makkoli/pajeon joint. The last of which Dr. Cho lead us to… See illustrations below…

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Insadong Makkoli and Pajeon

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The Chingoos outside of said Makkoli House

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(Note: Waiting outside trying to figure out the plan)

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The Group That Congregates

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(Note: Blurry as hell. So are Disposable Cameras.)

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These are my Friends!

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These are also my friends!

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Ask and it will be Given

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That Choco Pie was All Crumbs

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Hello All!

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Chomp

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No Big Deal

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Another night out… sigh. No BIG ALLY MC-DEAL

끝.

Here are some updates from Korea… Snapshots really…

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Apartment Buildings by Homeplus

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(Note: I missed a better picture, i realized. From just a few feet away you can see Satan’s apt. 666)

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Heres another few snapshots from… sigh… going out again. WOO WOO!

Street Food.

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(Note: Greatly underestimated the lighting… but got a good conversation in with the ajjumma.)

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Whats the Occasion?

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(Occasion?? 그런 것 필요 없잖아)

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What is a night out w/out Venny/Jeronica

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(Note: the answer to that question is ‘not much’)

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I feel that I must qualify the previous “sigh.” I like going out but processing another batch of ‘going-out pictures’ from film makes me wish I just took my digicam… That is all

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We (Me, Jeronica, Chris P.) took a walk through campus the next day…

When in Rome, your windows mold.

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(Note: Here is Veronica showing us how big this ampitheatre is…)

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Accumulation of Bottles and my favorite Ashtray

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We explored the bar/nrb scene behind the school…

1. We found a place that was underground. They had big murals. Most of them were of the Jamiroquoi Logo

2. We found a NRB and proceeded to more or less trash it…

Ian Meets the Beast

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(Note: In a bar underground behind school)

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Ian and Oriental Ray Charles??

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(Notes: This place had some surly ajjumma working, but it was alright)

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Bunny

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(Note: A NRB across the street had a bunny in a cage at the entrance.)

I must add to what the alley sections behind the school are like. I willbe sure to take my digicam with me next time. There are some good yum yums. The possiblity of a BEHIND THE SCHOOL TOUR GUIDE…

끝.