s o u l i z b l o g

Happy New Year from Seoul. It’s awfully cold outside, so I’ve just been lounging around at home, drinking wine and hanging out with family here.

One eventful thing that happened is that I just got back from a short trip to Hong Kong.

Went to Macau first, which is like the Vegas of Asia. Really looks like it, no?

That’s my Minime.

The Venetian…

Then Hong Kong, where we shopped…

And ate…

When we got back, the car wouldn’t start because it was so cold.

We eventually got home in time to eat some bomb budaejjigae (sorry no pic, but seriously, BOMB). After dinner around 1140pm, I felt the need to get out, especially since it was NYE. So I hopped on a taxi went to the Intercontinental Hotel where Steve Aoki was down the street. I was down to pay the 65,000won cover for the party, but the line to get in was long and I forgot my ID and didnt want to risk getting turned away. I’ve stayed at this hotel when I was really young before, and for some weird reason I used to try to get lost at hotels then. Remembering the floorplan of the place and a backway to where the party might be, I used my memory from my youthful attempts at trying to be adventurous to sneak into the main room, just in time for the countdown. So genius.

Steve Aoki thinks im genius.

Cobrasnake was there too. It was just like LA. But not, since I was completely sober. And i can usually handle being alone at places, but for some reason I wasn’t feeling the scene after the countdown. I don’t know why that was, but i went home soon after and watched boyband performances on TV at home, with my niece. It felt right. I guess I can go to a dimmak party anytime in LA, but cant always hangout with family. Sad to leave so soon, I was really feeling Seoul this time.

Anyway, to those back at home, have a safe and happy new year!!!

Good morning from Seoul. As soon as I got in from Busan yesterday morning, the snow started pouring and didn’t rest until early this morning. The whole city’s blanketed white, and it’s subzero temp outside. I plan on staying home today, to avoid the cold. Besides, I can’t stop looking out the window! The view is amazing. On a clear day, you can see Namsan Tower straight ahead, and Lotte World to the left. Wish you were here to hang out at home and look out this window with me…

Hi, I am here. Spent about 12 hours in the car today, driving up to the countryside, where my grandparents’ gravesites are. I go to say hi everytime i visit. Anyway, roadtrips in Korea always brings good food along the way. Snackbar food from rest stops, street vendor food, ghetto food, etc. I ate soooo much today. I’ll stop talking, so here, VISUALS!

Driving…

At my grandparents’ forest/gravesite area/thingy.

Humble beginnings

It’s been the trend to build new homes on old property these these days. I want to do this.

Okay, LUNCH. This is supposedly called Jambangee soup, something the owner of the store just made up. It’s a maeuntang with really slimy fish. Pretty convinced that Jambangee is just a weird name for a weird type of mutant fish that only lives in that part of the country. We were all hesitant to eat it.

Mobile shot. Man, I’ve never tasted fish like this before….the texture was SOO WEIRD, like intestines!

This was the picture that the restaurant had of their handcut noodles with seafood.

But this is what I actually got. Looks nothing like the picture! Where are the mushrooms and the shrimp? Tasted good, but they should take the picture down.

Left the restaurant with mixed feelings, but at least they had a good view of a beautiful, isolated beach…

Although it looked like this on the inside. Notice the toilet paper hanging from the ceiling.

Btw, that’s my dad. he’s alright. Can you believe that menu in the background? The fried seafood was 55bucks. As ghetto as this place looks, it was quite pricey.

Rest stop food is always yummy. Hodogwaja, hot and straight out of the … oven? fryer? How do ppl make this? The importnat thing was that it was steaming hot.

Red bean+walnuts on the inside. Always yummy when the sides are crusty, almost burnt. I also had lots of coffee, a hot chocolate, and a corn dog at the rest stops. Omg.

Found this street vendor ahjussi selling hodduk from the back of his truck and I made my dad stop the car. He makes a flour(?) ball with brown sugar on the inside, then presses it on the pan to make the sugar melt in the middle. It’s soooo delicious. While i was waiting for him to finish making it, i ate an odeng(fish stick?) from the side of the truck, and helped myself to some soup too. Buying food from street vendors during the wintertime is especially delicious because it’s so yum and warms you up so well.

Mobile shot of dinner! The best galbi place in Busan. Interesting how the best food in Korea are always served in the ghettoest places, even the notsocheap stuff. Maybe it’s cuz i was in the boonies the whole time, and when I get to Seoul tomrrow, restaurants will pay more attention to the presentation of their menu items.

OMG I ATE SO MUCH TODAY!!! DIET STARTS WHEN I GET BACK TO THE STATES.

Greetings from Busan! Christmas Eve was spent on the plane over here from LA, but it was chill. I just slept a lot during the flight and managed to finally watch The Brothers Bloom. Arrived at Incheon early Christmas morning, took the next flight down to Busan, and I’ve just been lounging around at home. Not having a single responsibility is really, really nice. It’s a true vacay so far. Pics taken with my Canon and mobile:

I am here.

Since I’ve landed, been drinking a whole lotta banana milk.

Had some raw fish. This is Busan, people (the fish, not the half empty plate. took the pic after i was almost done eating).

Koreans like to eat cake on Christmas Day. Actually, they like to eat cake for any occasion and Christmas isnt an exception.

Went to the largest department store in the world. It carried all the brand names that we see at South Coast Plaza, and more. Seriously, what recession? And is it just me or do we see the Guggenheim design at every new department store layout these in Asia?

The next upcoming days are going to be crazy. I’ll be taking a road trip to the countryside, hanging in Busan a little longer, then Seoul for a couple of days, then Hong Kong with my familia! It’s going to be fun, I’ve never been there! Oh, and Steve Aoki is going to be in Seoul for NYE, should I hit that up?! It’ll be like back home all over again! … but i dont have anyone to go with :/ haha

We were originally going to hit up Tokyo, but plane tickets from Korea to Japan are hard to come by these days because of the fan craze with the drama “Iris” that was set there or something? O well, I’ve been to japan a few times before and I hear HK is good for shopping. Anyone have any recs on where to go or what to do?

Thank you, Secret Santa.

On Thursday I went to the last Flux screening of the decade (whoa) at the Hammer Museum. At the end of the screenings, there was a world premiere of the new Michel Gondry music video followed by a live performance by Mia Doi Todd and Michel Gondry. It was cool.

Lil J and J.

The iphone twins

Cool, moving projector art tree thingy

Here are some of the screened videos of the night that I thought were pretty awesome:

The last time I was here was when I was a vegetarian. Now that i eat normal now, I had the pork toppings and the pork dumplings this time. Man, do these make a difference. yum. Kalgooksoo is really good when it’s cold outside.

photo by en.

Ramsey Dau of the Comfy Chair Creative Superstore.

Nice pad.

Thanks for the kicks.

and the notepad.

She’s so pretty! With the voice of an angel too.

Bobby’s okay too.

Today i found out a way to get free drinks from Urth Caffe. Their coffee is very strong since it’s organic and low on acid, which is the reason why it’s 330AM and I’m still bouncing off the walls.

Also, I received the Susan Boyle CD as a Christmas present.

Above is a picture of a sculpture by an an artist who shall remain unknown. All i can say is that this man drinks like a fish and smokes up a chimney. The details on this piece are exquisite.