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Hwagwaja - 화과자 by Paris Baguette

My memory card reader broke last week and not until yesterday that a very kind man from Yongin (Nandida's friend) bought it for me along with a pack of 화과자. I once told him that I love eating Korean rice cake but he couldn't get hold of one yesterday and gave me 화과자 instead.

This was my first time eating 화과자 and it reminded me so much of Japanese desserts - wagashi.





These are some excerpts taken from Arirang about 화과자 :

Hwagwaja is a delicious dessert made from rice in Korea. Hwagwajas have been one of Korea's favorite desserts since the 1960's and has become a popular Chuseok (Korea's Thanksgiving Holiday) gift. The luxurious desserts were served in palaces and enjoyed by royalty.

According to Lee Hee-gyeong, L Department Store] ''Hwagwaja are soft rice cakes made from glutinous rice. There are 6~7 different types of fillings. The four seasons are the theme of the decorations.''


Hwagwaja originated in Japan and were first introduced to Korea in 1910. The colorful decorations are based on the four seasons. The beautiful desserts have become popular gifts for the holidays once again. The delicate decorations are done by hand.


''There are chestnut and peach shapes. Hwagwaja are decorated differently according to the season and can be made into different shapes.''
Hwagwaja must be delivered the day they are made. They're delivered in half a day to southern provinces and in 3 hours in Seoul.

Freshness is the number one rule. Making fast deliveries is just as important as making the hwagwaja.
''It tastes like pumpkin and it's very chewy.''

For me, sweet desserts are like blessing here in Jinbu because we rarely consume sugar. I'm becoming sugarless but never will I be slimmer. ^^

Paris Baguette sells 20 pieces for 16,000 won.

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Learn Korean: Arirang TV


Arirang TV has a VOD (Video on Demand) section for Let's Learn Korean. I had this one subscribed about 2 years back but simply due to the hallyu wave. Last week, yet again because of hallyu, I logged in albeit forgetting my id and password. I am so surprised that you could easily start speaking Korean if you watch this 10-minutes lesson video, even for a beginner like me.

They have Season 3 and the latest season 5 on the site. Season 5 engaged a few foreigners on the show to play Korean language games. Currently besides my ol' conventional by the book study, I definitely will listen to Arirang Let's Speak Korean at least 3 VOD lessons per day.

The hosts Lisa Kelley and Kim Young are awesome!!

Head over to the site and subscribe. It's FREE ^^

Lets succumb to learning once again. As Jo Kwon said in MBC - We Got Married - " No Pain, No Again " Ooopss...hehe. Gain.



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Free Korean Course in South Korea : Geumgang University


What?!! Free?? Hmmm...There's nothing as free in this world. No pain no gain right? Unbelievable but believe it or not, it is real. Pinch your cheek now...^^

Geumgang University
is offering Spring or Autumn 4 months FREE Korean course in South Korea!!

OMFG!! ehehe...

Wait..I have never heard of this university before. What the heck..Guys, if you are really keen on learning korean language in this land of morning calm, why not grab this chance. Just save some money on that plane ticket and some shopping to do, shall we?

Applicants must be fluent speakers of English, Japanese, or Chinese, and they should either be:

(1) be currently enrolled in university studies,
(2) be on leave from university studies, or
(3) have graduated from university.

Successful applicant will be offered a furnished dormitory room, which is shared with a Korean student, and provided with free meals in the school cafeteria. Moreover, they will receive further financial support provided that they meet the scholarship regulations of the Geumgang Language Center.

Tempting? 빨리!!

I'm too late for Spring course though. Uwaa..autumn is such a nice season.

Click here for details.

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Learning Korean: Chuno OST- Beige 달에 지다

Lately Chuno drama is a craze in Korea, not to mention Malaysia too..hehe. I love Jang Hyuk's role here. Totally mind blowing with that sexy chocolate abs. Kekeke..The OST too lists several excellent numbers. Particularly, I like this song by Beige.



달에 지다

가슴이 울어도 나는 못가
서투른 몸짓도 더는 못해
고운 꽃하나를 향내듯
새들의 노랫소리도
머물다 이는 사라지는 한켠의 꿈일까
저 달이 슬피 운다
저달이 슬피 웃는다
헝클어진 그대 두눈처럼
내 시들어진 꿈처럼
바람이 불어온다
바람이 함께 늙는다
곱게 자람 꽃들도 다 별이되어 지는데
내 맘은 아직도 그 자리에
상처를 남기고 떠난 사랑
어설픈 미련이 나를 울려
어제의 찬란한 태양도
해맑게 웃던 모습도
한겨울 깊은 시름속에
묻혀진 꿈일까
저 달이 슬피 운다
저 달이 슬피 웃는다
헝클어진 그대 두 눈처럼
내시들어진 꿈처럼
바람이 불어온다
바람이 함께 늙는다
곱게 자란 꽃들도 다 별이되어 지는데
내 맘은 아직도 그자리에
바람이 불어온다
바람이 함께 늙는다
곱게 자란 꽃들도 다 별이되어 지는데
내 맘은 아직도 그 자리에
나나나나 나나 나나나나나나 나나나나 나나나 나나

Romanization:

ga seum i ur eo do na neun mot ga
가 슴 이 울 어 도 나 는 못 가
seo tu reun mom jit do deo neun mot hae
서 투 른 몸 짓 도 더 는 못 해
go un kkoc ha na reur hyang nae deus
고 운 꽃 하 나 를 향 내 듯
sae deur ui no raet so ri do
새 들 의 노 랫 소 리 도
meo mul da i neun sa ra ji neun han kyeon ui kkum il kka
머 물 다 이 는 사 라 지 는 한 켠 의 꿈 일 까

jeo dar i seul pi un da jeo dar i seul pi ut neun da
저 달 이 슬 피 운 다 저 달 이 슬 피 웃 는 다
heong keur eo jin geu dae du nun cheo reom
헝 클 어 진 그 대 두 눈 처 럼
nae si deur eo jin kkum cheo reom
내 시 들 어 진 꿈 처 럼
ba ram i bur eo on da ba ram i ham kke neulk neun da
바 람 이 불 어 온 다 바 람 이 함 께 늙 는 다
gop ge ja ran kkoc deul do da byeor i doe eo ji neun de
곱 게 자 란 꽃 들 도 다 별 이 되 어 지 는 데
nae mam eun a jik do geu ja ri e
내 맘 은 아 직 도 그 자 리 에

sang cheo reur nam gi go tteo nan sa rang
상 처 를 남 기 고 떠 난 사 랑
eo seol peun mi ryeon i na reur ul lyeo
어 설 픈 미 련 이 나 를 울 려
eo je ui chan ran han tae yang do hae malk ge ut deon mo seup do
어 제 의 찬 란 한 태 양 도 해 맑 게 웃 던 모 습 도
han gyeo ur gip eun si reum sog e mut hyeo jin kkum il kka
한 겨 울 깊 은 시 름 속 에 묻 혀 진 꿈 일 까

jeo dar i seul pi un da jeo dar i seul pi ut neun da
저 달 이 슬 피 운 다 저 달 이 슬 피 웃 는 다
heong keur eo jin geu dae du nun cheo reom nae si deur eo jin kkum cheo reom
헝 클 어 진 그 대 두 눈 처 럼 내 시 들 어 진 꿈 처 럼
ba ram i bur eo on da ba ram i ham kke neulk neun da
바 람 이 불 어 온 다 바 람 이 함 께 늙 는 다
gop ge ja ran kkoc deul do da byeor i doe eo ji neun de
곱 게 자 란 꽃 들 도 다 별 이 되 어 지 는 데
nae mam eun a jik do geu ja ri e
내 맘 은 아 직 도 그 자 리 에

ba ram i bur eo on da ba ram i ham kke neulk neun da
바 람 이 불 어 온 다 바 람 이 함 께 늙 는 다
gop ge ja ran kkoc deul do da byeor i doe eo ji neun de
곱 게 자 란 꽃 들 도 다 별 이 되 어 지 는 데
nae mam eun a jik do geu ja ri e
내 맘 은 아 직 도 그 자 리 에

na na na na na na na na
나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나
na na na na na na na na na na na na na
나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나 나

Translation:
Even if my heart cries, I can't go
with my clumsy self.
When the scent of a lovely flower lingers,
and the birds' song is silenced,
is this all a vanishing dream?

The moon is crying sadly,
The moon is smiling sadly,
Like your two teary eyes,
Like my withering dreams.
The wind is blowing, the wind blows together
Even when the lovely flowers wilt and becomes stars
My heart is still by your side.

The person who left behind pain
My foolishness bring me to tears
Like yesterday's radiant sun
and your brilliant smile,
is it all just a dream
that's buried in the winter's sorrows?

The moon is crying sadly,
The moon is smiling sadly,
Like your two teary eyes,
Like my withering dreams.
The wind is blowing, the wind blows together
Even when the lovely flowers wilt and becomes stars
My heart is still by your side.

The wind is blowing, the wind blows together
Even when the lovely flowers wilt and becomes stars
My heart is still by your side.

Hangul Lyrics Source: Here
Romanization and Translation Source: Soompi Chuno Forum

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