Let's Learn Korean Traditional Instruments

I enjoyed watching Korean traditional music performance occasionally while traveling around Korea a lot! It's quite different compared to Malaysian traditional music but kinda similar to Chinese or Japanese. Among the instruments, gayageum and haegeum are my favorites.

One of the best performances that I watched was at Solleung Station where the artists belted their renditions of Beatles's using purely Gayageum. Amazing, right? I could stand with the crowds forever just listening to that performance but I couldn't!

If you are CNBLUE's Jung Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye's fan, you must be familiar with gayageum as Park Shin Hye carries around that huge bulky instrument many times on the earlier episodes of Heart String / You've Fallen For Me drama. I 'm not interested much about the drama cause the plot and directing are just meh...*as if I'm a good director..haha* but I love it when they try to fuse traditional and pop rock music. The result is just marvellous! I'm quite skeptical initially but it sounds so natural. They blend just nice.



In one of the episodes, Park Shin Hye played the gayageum using her smartphone application and guess what I did next? I installed the app immediately.







I envy those people who could play by the ears!! While web researching for gayageum and haegeum, I came across a Korean traditional instruments class for foreigners is available at National Gugak Center - http://www.gugak.go.kr/eng/education/clas_idx.jsp. The fee is only 30,000 won and it runs for a semester of 3 months. So cheap!!



Check out this song from Chuno OST with haegeum as the main instrument.

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Touch Korea - Samulnori

How well do you know Korea? Come and meet the charms of Korea at Touch Korea! You are warmly invited!

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Destination Dubai Daily News

Pick point information from several tweets and blogs, and kept all in one place for you.
Enjoy reading everyday Destination Dubai Daily News:
Destination Dubai Daily News

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Dusun Ranau, Sabah Malaysia

More than half of total population in Ranau are people from the Dusun tribe. Before corporate times, the Dusun Ranau were traditionally rice farmers, rubber planters, hunters and vegetable and fruit sellers.

Both the men and women work together in planting and harvesting paddy as the main way of earning money for living. Since Mount Kinabalu, is located in Ranau, many of them also work as a mountain guides and porters. The Ranau Dusuns also celebrate the Kaamatan (Harvest) Festival in every month of May every year, just like the other dusun from the other districts.

The most popular traditional foods of Ranau Dusun are known as 'tuhau' and 'bosou'. The term 'tuhau' came from the plant that is used to make the food itself - tuhau, which is chopped and the mixed with vinegar and salt.

'Bosou' is made of rice, fish, and pangi (as the Ranau Dusun called it) and also salt. The Ranau Dusun dwelling is mostly made of wood and bamboo. The native language spoken is Dusun. Today the younger generation is conversant in Malay as well.

Medtemu is a dance performed when the Ranau Dusun meet to settle a dispute among themselves. Medtemu stands for 'a meeting to settle disputes' and this dance reflects that with stomps & barks from the dancers. Today the dance is performed during social occasions and can be seen during the Kaamantan festival.

The dance is performed to a gond beat called the siri-siri petinfuk. In this dance, the men wear a vest made of tree bark while the women dress in an intricately embroidered grament called sinambayaka.

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UAE Summer Short Vacation: From the advanced cool city of skyscrapers to the beautiful mountainous landscape and beaches.

If you have time in UAE - Dubai, you don't have to stuck in the city, UAE have lots to offer either in Summer or winter. Tired of traffic chaos? crowded malls and city?, high rise towers?, you want to relax and feels the Arabian peninsula nature?. with fresh air and calm?  well you can find out more from below Blog:  Enjoy And Thanks, your comments are most welcome. 




Dubai, UAE: The New

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Sheikh Mohammad Al Maktoum visits art exhibit in Dubai

On 2nd July 2011, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rahid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Rule of Dubai, visited Dr. Farhad Farjam, the owner of Farjam Art Collections a rare exhibition of Islamic masterpieces. 
Islamic Art preservation and others are tasks that cannot be done by anyone. Arts professional and lovers find their new home in Dubai.

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Explore the Emirates: Then and Now

Interesting Video about History of UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, when emirates United at Union House in Dubai.
Explore the Emirates: Then and Now

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Tenganan ferris wheel, Indonesia culture

Annual Usaba Sambah Festival (a grand festival which is held in the fifth month of Tenganan’s traditional calendar) in Tenganan Pangrisingan village is not just offers the well-known adrenaline-rising ritual such as makare-karean (a duel using thorny pandanus leaves as weapons) but also a joyful ritual such as the “maayunan or ayunan” (swinging on ferris wheel) ritual.

The meayunan ritual is usually held annually as one of main rituals during the Usaba Sambah Festival. The Maayunan ritual is usually held on the 21st day of Usaba Sambah Festival that is usually last for 30 days. The ferris wheels that are used in this ritual are made completely of wood; these gigantic ferris wheels only erected during the Usaba Sambah Festival and after the festival is over they are dismantled and kept in the meeting hall.

The Meayunan ritual usually starts late in the afternoon around 5 PM and last for 2 hours. The ceremony is proceeded by symbolic duel using thorny pandanus leaves by the adult member of Tenganan community and communal feasting by the boys of Tenganan. The Maayunan begins when the Tenganan girls in their finest dress have gather in the Bale Patemu Kaja (the North Meeting Hall).

A young boy usually be the first swinger who ride the ferris wheel the followed by the girls. Out of eight seats in one ferris wheel, only one seat is reserved for the boy other seats are occupied by the girls. The ferris wheel is put into action by two boys who worked with all their might to spin the ferris wheel. Sometimes they have to climb each of two pillars of the ferris wheel so they can operate the ferris wheel using their feet from a special place on the center of the ferris wheel.

The swing on the feeris wheel usually last for twenty to thirty minute, after the girls and boy are finished swinging on the ferris wheel of Bale Patemu Kaja (the North Meeting Hall) they move to other ferris wheel in other meeting hall.

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Bidayuh Culture

An elaborate nine-day Gawai Festival showcasing the Bidayuh culture, music and arts in Kampung Apar-Segong in Bau, will kick off from June 21. The harvest festival is one of the activities to mark Sarawak’s 45th anniversary of being part of Malaysia.

An age-old Gawai rituals would be staged during the celebration. Other activities include a beauty pageant, gong beating presentation, Bidayuh traditional food cooking competition, a state development exhibition and nightly musical concerts.

Food lovers will be able to sample authentic Bidayuh food on sale. The festival will be a fusion of local colours, sounds and flavour that will rekindle the pride and spirit of belonging to the Bidayuh tribes stretching from Lundu to Serian.

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Dubai Green Tourism Awards - Overview

Dubai Green Tourism Awards - Overview

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Thai Culture that you need to know

If you're planning to come and visit Thailand, it's good to come with the knowledge of what's culturally acceptable or not.Generally, the Thais are very polite.

If you offend them in any way, they won't tell you and but instead say, "Mai pen rai' or it's okay even if they're already offended.

Here's a compilation of the things you can do and must not do during your stay or visit.

1) Show your respect towards the Royal Family.
The Royal Family is very well respected in this country, therefore as much as possible, don't comment anything may it be good or bad about them. Don't ask controversial issues about them from the local people. It'll greatly offend them and neither talk to you about it.

More..

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Culture and Customs of Vietnamese

What you should do when meeting Vietnamese at the first time? These are some general notes which help you to be polite with Vietnamese culture and people.

Greeting People
Most of the Vietnamese in urban areas no longer bow when they meet each other. In formal gatherings, at religious place, and sometimes in the country areas, one may see the people clasp their hands together in a prayer-like gesture and bow slightly. This is not practiced to any extent in everyday life in Vietnam as it is in neighboring Thailand.

More..

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Thai culture that you need to know

If you're planning to come and visit Thailand, it's good to come with the knowledge of what's culturally acceptable or not.

Generally, the Thais are very polite. If you offend them in any way, they won't tell you and but instead say, "Mai pen rai' or it's okay even if they're already offended.

Here's a compilation of the things you can do and must not do during your stay or visit.

1) Show your respect towards the Royal Family.
The Royal Family is very well respected in this country, therefore as much as possible, don't comment anything may it be good or bad about them. Don't ask controversial issues about them from the local people. It'll greatly offend them and neither talk to you about it.

2) Treat the Thai Baht money ( bill and coins) with 'respect' too.
This means, you can't step on the Thai coins with your foot, in case it falls down. The reason? The King's portrait is on the coins as well as the bill, that's why it must be treated with respect. For Filipinos like me, we're used to hand the money, using our right or left hand..but here you'd notice they only give the money using their right hand as they believe that the left hand is for using somewhere else. Their bills here are very clean and no creases, while back home it's not that clean with "wanted penpal/ phone pal' messages all over it and folded 100 times over.

3) It's polite to 'wai' back when people 'wai' at you.
Wyeing is a sign of respect. It's the folding of arms together like in a prayer gesture and bowing the head slightly.

4) Don't touch anyone's head, specially people older than you.
The head is believed to be the most sacred part of the body so, it offends them when you touch their head.

5) Don't point your foot on people.
Like when your sitting with your legs crossed, your foot must not point to a person. Just as they consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body, the feet are considered to be the lowest.

6) Don't go out with your hair wet, this is also considered impolite.

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Happy Parents' Day!

Hi everyone,

It's Parents' Day! 어버이 날

Pictures courtesy of KoreaTimes

Hope everything is going fine with life, love and health. I wanna wish every parent out there Happy Parents' Day! Cause today, 8th May 2011 is the day for parents. I had celebrated the day back in 2010 with Min Young's grandparents by going to Paju in a typical bright and sunny spring day. Arghh..really miss those memories.

Wishing every parents for health and happiness. ^^ Although saying thank you is measly but from the bottom of my heart, to my parents and other parents as well;  thank you so so so much for nurturing the future generation of our world.

love,
Zarina

Check out 'Expressing love on Parent's Day' by Korea.net

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New Year Celebration at Jonggak

If you are in Seoul now, you might want to be in Jonggak to join the crowd for new year's eve celebration or either do any of the activities for year end suggested by KNTO.

Be warned: The weather is icy cold and you gonna be oppressed, hemmed and crushed by the crowd!

"On every New Year's Day, the bell ceremony (Jeyaeui Jong Tajongsik) is held at Boshingak, the nearby bell pavilion. (The name of the station comes from this pavilion, jong meaning bell and gak pavilion.) At those times the area is so crowded with tens of thousands of Seoulites that trains do not stop at Jonggak as to avoid any accidents." - Source: Wikipedia

Stop at Line1 - Jongno 3-ga or City Hall subway station instead to avoid the crowd.

"Bosingak 보신각 is a large bell pavilion on Jongno in Seoul, South Korea. The bell in Bosingak gives Jongno its name, which literally means "bell street." It was originally constructed in 1396 but destroyed many times by both war and fire. It was designated Bosingak by Emperor Gojong in 1895." - Resource: Wikipedia

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Bosingak Bell is at Jonggak Subway Station exit 4, across

Jongno Tower

 

Video courtesy: bmxissofun

Check out Justenoughkorean blog for more pretty pictures and if you understand Indonesian language, check out diamondlove blog.

I would like to wish everyone Happy New Year!!
Be happy, healthy, generous and live a blessed life for the coming year. ^^

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South Korea v/s North Korea at it again.

I regret to put this kind of post in the blog. For once, I wish this act could stop. It alarmed everyone in the country and us, the innocent travellers who want to experience the beauty of Korea.

Last night, I called my Korean friends worried about their condition but all of them replied nonchalantly that it was normal for them. North Korea's threats to start war with South Korea happened almost everyday that the people get used to it.

In fact, I was in Gangwondo when the sinking of Cheonan submarine happened on March 26th 2010 (my mom gonna kill me if she knew this!). Apart from the jets flying frantically on top of our heads there's nothing much happened on that day. South Korea wanted PEACE and safety for his people. I am glad that I went through the day safely while I was there.

Hmm..for those going to South Korea any time soon, I will not give my assurance that nothing of that sort gonna happen but just be safe. I doubt that both sides want war. It's gonna be difficult for both nation and too much heartache to be undone since the 1950's Korean War.

I had the chance to visit Geoje Island POW camp (Prisoner of War) and I don't want the people to go through the same cycle. Never again.

Check out the Kosmo write up and Yahoo News on the issue.

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Korean Poem

When I took the bullet train from Yongsan to Cheonan Asan; I found one beautiful Korean poem. Although I didn't understand a single word at that moment but I was amazed at the beauty of Korean calligraphy. A month later, I met Mr Lee from Santisuk who is a serious learner of Korean calligraphy. Talk about coincidence! ^^

Mr Lee; an amazingly talented teacher perfecting his art.

After checking with Mi Hyeon 언니 for translation of the poem, she told me that the poem is about autumn! Second coincidence in a row. Arghh..I am so much in love again and again with autumn.

The poem goes like this:

Title: 그리움

Poet: 맹 주 상

갈변이 머무는
강당골 어느 초당
홀노인은
매운 고추 배를 가르고
저녁노을속
알토란 캐던 아낙네들
긴 그림자
멀어지면
그 눈시울이 붉다

Year: 이천팔년 2008
Time: 하늘 높은 계절
Pen Name: 소하-이천섭
He has written this 씀
 
Mi Hyeon's translation
 
가을
어느 강당 옆 작은 초가에
한 노인이
매운 고추를 반으로 가르고 있다
저녁이 되어
토란 캐던 여자들의
그림자가 길어지고
눈빛도 노을처럼 붉어진다

English Translation:

Leaves turned brown in fall
It was during one fall afternoon,
I saw an old man sitting at a small thatched cottage
Separating spicy peppers into halves
Women were digging out taros
As time goes by, their shadow getting further away
Finally their face and eyes turned red reflection of the sunset
Perhaps I miss this peaceful sight

Check out Wikipedia for Korean poetry and Shi.

Note: Anyone can translate this poem better? Tell me!! Although Mi Hyeon has done her best there might be other different interpretation.

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Happy Pepero Day!

Happy Pepero Day!

Today is 11.11.10

Next year gonna be 11.11.11

Hmmm..nice numbersssssssss 

I bet many people getting married today and probably next year. ^^ Congratulations!

Why the date 11.11 is celebrated as pepero day?

Pepero is fondly known as Pocky in Malaysia.  If you put 4 sticks of pepero together, don't they resemble 11.11? 

Couples in Korea observe this date almost like Valentine's Day. They will exchange candies, chocolate and especially Pepero!

I still remember that Hojin gave me a box of Pepero on 11.11 of 2009. He wished me Happy Pepero and I was so happy for getting a mere box of Pepero! 

If you happen to be in Korea on 11.11, you will see boxes of Pepero sold cheaply and couples walk away with presents or chocolates in their hands. 

Pepero (빼빼로) is a cookie stick, dipped in chocolate syrup, manufactured by Lotte Confectionery in South Korea since 1983.^[1] It was inspired by the Japanese product, Pocky produced by Glico.^[2] (Source: Wikipedia)

Official website for Pepero

Kara for Pepero CF

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Korea Online Contest

Click here for the contest

How To:

1. Sign up for membership
2. Login to VisitKorea website
3. Answer the online quiz and play the online flash game (Jachigi) as much as you can; the more you play the higher the chances to win.

Prizes

1st - 10 winner -  round trip ticket to Korea

2nd - 5 winner - magnet

         5 winner - chest inlaid with pearl 

         5 winner - lucky pouch

         5 winner - Korean doll

Jachigi is a game where a long stick and two short sticks is hit and caught. First, a circular hole is dug on the ground, and a circle is drawn on the outside. After placing a short stick around the outside of the hole, it is hit with the long stick, and the rebounding stick (the short one that was just hit), is hit again with the long stick in mid-air, sending it flying far away. Source: Wikipedia


Hmm..somewhat similar to Malaysian children's game too eh?  Konda kondi

From Lat's cartoon: Malaysian tradtional game. 

Click here for the article in Korean. Anyone care to translate? 

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Cabbage Inflation for Kimchi

South Korea's kimchi crisis

"IN SEOUL, the South Korean government is staring nervously across the border, wondering about the succession under way in North Korea. The city is also preparing for a G20 summit in November. But the word on everyone’s lips is cabbage. The price of this humble vegetable, which forms the basis of kimchi, the Korean national dish, is soaring. Everyone from the president to the commonest crook and blogger is getting in on the act.

It is hard to exaggerate the importance to Korean life of kimchi, which is usually made of fermented cabbage. Its presence at every meal, as well as its health benefits, give it an almost religious status. It is a national symbol, and the one food item that (in an entirely unscientific poll undertaken by The Economist) a majority of Koreans “cannot live without”."

Read more at The Economist

Autumn is the season for Kimjang - making kimchi event. With the vegetables prices hiking up, this will be a great blow for Koreans. When I stayed in Korea, I had at least 3 or 4 servings of kimchi at the table at every single meal; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eating vegetables should be good for your health but I  don't know why I gained weight! Blamed it on the tasty rice..I am a rice person. ^^

I visited Kimchi Museum at Coex Mall in 2009 and boy..I was surprised. There were so many type of kimchis! Hundredssssss... My favourite is the kkaennip (sesame/perilla leaf) kimchi. Yummy..I was never disappointed by the taste every time I had it. Awwee...I miss it already now. T_T

P.s. The sesame leaf has an after taste that might displease some but not me. I have acquired the taste.

How to go: Kimchi Museum located at B2, Coex Mall. (Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm)
Subway: Samseong Station, Line 2, Green
Official Website: http://www.kimchimuseum.co.kr/

I had the opportunity to join a Kimchi making event in Gwangcheon and here; albeit a pretty bitter experience. I am thankful for it though.

Kimjang is a traditional Korean event in which kimchi is prepared for the coldest 3 or 4 months of winter. Kimjang usually started in late October or early November and lasted for 2 or 3 days with help from many people. The number of cabbages prepared depended on the number of household members, usually between 100 and 200 cabbages. Considering the number of cabbages and amount of preparation for Kimjang, it was not a job for just 1 or 2 persons. People considered it as a major annual event, so close relatives, several neighbor housewives, and a few strong men all pitched in and worked together. People who participated in Kimjang helped wash cabbages, prepared materials, and stuffed ingredients inside each cabbage leaf.
Source: Kimchi Time

Read the recipe at Maangchi for sesame/perilla leaf kimchi.

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