View from top of Inwangsan, originally uploaded by Ichigomani.

Today I went for a hike up Inwang Mountain with my friend Elise. It was a total body workout, and I hope to do it again soon.

Kimchi Anyone?, originally uploaded by Ichigomani.

As I was waiting for the subway this afternoon I saw this advertisement. If you want to make kimchi at home you have to have a kimchi fridge… does it come with the cute model too?

Wall View, originally uploaded by Ichigomani.

This is my favourite picture of the day. We got to the top of Inwangsan and finally saw the fortress wall. There was a guard beside me and I get out my camera. I take the picture and get told no pics. Luckily the guard didn’t make me erase this shot.

Fall has arrived in Korea, it’s getting colder, the leaves are changing colour and instead of going out I just fancy staying in and watching a movie.

It’s on days like these I also like to grab some snacks from the local corner shop. There are so many kinds of snacks to choose from… I found a new one recently. 고구마 (Sweet potatoe) chips from Lotte, they taste more like apple chips… and I think they’re delicious.

There’s also a wide variety of corn chips seasoned with sugar or salt.  Whatever you might be craving, you’ll be sure to find something that suits your taste buds.  If you can’t decide what to get just get a mix of things like I did this week. The store owner looked at me in shock as I came to the counter. I’m guessing she thought all the snacks were for me… LOL.

On October 5th, 2009 the Seoul Chinese Primary School turned 100 years young. Students from the school performed dances, and the school hired chefs to cook a Chinese lunch for everyone. In the evening all the teachers were invited to have a six course dinner at a great Chinese restaurant in Myeongdong. A karaoke machine was placed at the front of the banquet room, and later that evening many fine tunes were sung.

Twirl

 

100 year Birthday of School

 

 

Purple peek toe shoes

I finally managed to take a picture of my shoes! The picture doesn’t do the shoes justice though, since the no flash option on my Olympus camera isn’t great.

 

I hope to get a new camera in the near future.  If you have any suggestions on a good camera let me know.

I don’t have big feet, but in Korea if you’re a woman and you have feet bigger than a size 8 you may be hard pressed to find shoes your size. For the longest time I searched for stores that sold affordable shoes in my size. I finally came upon a place in Itaewon a couple of months ago. It’s called A & H  Big Size Mall. You can buy shoes, big sized clothing and house wares. I managed to find a nice pair of purple suede Nine West peep toe pumps in size 9.5 for 34, 500 won.

There is a good selection of clothes but not many sizes below large. I have bought shorts in larger sizes and had them taken in, as alterations are super cheap in Korea. To have two pairs of shorts altered cost me just 10,000 won.

I’m glad I’ve found a place that sells comfortable and nice looking shoes in my size. I must admit my first winter here I paid over 200,000 won for a pair of custom made boots. They may be real leather but they’re not comfortable so I hardly wear them. Well lesson learned.  I’ll post a pic of my new shoes soon.

It’s a nice sunny afternoon and you want to go shopping. Instead of heading to a department store, check out Myeong- dong.  This area is geared for tourists with a wide selection of name brand stores selling everything from make-up to shoes. Street vendors line the streets selling food, fake Louis Vuitton bags, socks, hats, and so forth.There are plenty of restaurants in this area selling a range of food including fast food, Korean foods, Italian, and more.

Myeong-dong is easily accessible by subway. Take line subway line number 4. It’s only two subway stops away from Seoul Station.

Escape the everyday mundaneness of Itaewon by heading into the world of art. A few minutes walk from Itaewon Station you will find Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. The museum houses two major exhibitions: Museum 1 for traditional Korean art and Museum 2 for contemporary and modern art.

Museum 1 was designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta who was inspired by Korean traditional porcelain. Jean Nouvel, an internationally acclaimed French architect designed Museum 2 using revolutionary materials to create a contemporary look. The entrance to the museum is reached by a wooden path displaying Japanese artist Tatsuo Miyajima’s Transcend Section installation, putting visitors in the mood for art!

When you walk into the museum you will first notice massive black columns in the lobby area. The entire space is white in colour creating a very relaxed atmosphere. Museum 1 houses various traditional Korean works including celadon ceramics from the Goreyoe Dynasty (12^th century). The pieces on display show the transformation of pottery styles and techniques. Traditional Korean paintings are also on showcased including Chrysanthemums, a painting by Kim Hong Do, which dates back to the late 18^th century. One floor of Museum 1 is dedicated to Buddhist art, where several pieces made of gold can be seen. Most eye catching were a pair of golden slippers. The main focal point of Museum 1 is the spiral staircase one has to go down in order to move from floor to floor: it is a good picture opportunity and creates nice diversion from the traditional art.

If you’ve already been to the National Museum of Korea, you might not find Museum 1 to be the most fascinating, luckily contemporary art lovers can get their visual fix at Museum 2. The Museum 2 houses a mix of pieces from various contemporary Korean and international artists. The tastefully assembled collection showcases massive works of art, mostly paintings, a few sculptures and installations. Great attention has been paid to the layout and lighting, creating a fantastic environment to really appreciate the art on display.

The elevator doors open on Kim Whan-ki’s Work 19-VIII-72, a huge cobalt blue abstract geometric piece from 1972, making a very good introduction to the 2^nd floor Korean contemporary art collection. It displays paintings from internationally renowned artist Song Hyun-sook (the elegant and understated 8 Brush Strokes), a stunning black and white photograph from Bae Ben-u, Pine Trees, a subtle painting from Kim Hong Joo (Untitled). A humorous piece is the installation I Have To Learn English by Kang Ik Joong, it’s a series of wood carvings with English words on them, covering 3 walls of a small room. The artist, who immigrated to the United States with his family, took five years to complete this piece (1991-1996). An English lesson CD is playing in the background.

The 1^st and B1 floors of Museum 2 house contemporary Western art, again tastefully chosen and displayed. Among the big names are Dubuffet, Beacon, Jean Arp, Willem de Kooning, Giacometti, blue lover Yves Klein, and there is also the rare treat of three Mark Rothko paintings side by side, by far one of the museum’s highlights. Another piece worth mentioning is the lavish black and gold Warhold 45 Marylins.

The quality and the ingenuity of the art in Museum 2, combined with the elegant display really make this venue a world class museum. A visit will take about 2 hours and can easily make an different afternoon activity prior to a nice dinner in Itaewon.

How to get there: Take subway Line 6 to Itaewon station and walk out exit 2.  Walk straight for 500 meters, pass the tourist information booth, turn left on the street between the Family Mart and the Audi dealership. Walk straight and at the fork, pass the mandu restaurant on your right and the samgyetang on your left; walk for a few more minutes and you’re there. Or alternatively, get off at Hangangjin station, exit one, walk straight for 400 meters and turn right on the Audi dealership street.

Entrance fee: Adults: 10 000 Won, Ages 7-18: 6 000 Won, Kids 3-6: Free.

Opening hours: Tuesdays-Sundays: 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Closed on Mondays.

Phone: (02) 2014-6901 www.leeum.org

Written in conjunction with Elise in Korea.

Photo by Elise

Fancy a day trip away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul?  If money and time is an issue, consider a day trip to Anyang.  Located in Gyeonggi Province, Anyang has a population of 618,731 and is located only 20 minutes south of Seoul by subway.  The city is noticeably quieter, and the people here seem to go about their daily routine in a slower pace.

Since Anyang is not listed in the Lonely Planet Korea

, I had to embark on my own adventurous journey. Upon arriving I headed to a department store for a food court lunch.  There were loads of dishes available from fried pork to pizza, I opted for bibimbap. I sat amongst a Korean family and their two, young children, who were devouring a pizza and lasagna set. It was ironic that the foreign woman was the one eating the traditional Korean food, and not the other way around.

 

Once I finished my lunch I headed towards the subway station, which was connected to the store by an underground passageway. I decided to head out exit 4, since I saw a park was on the map. I had heard about Anyang Art Park, and I was determined to find it. As I walked along the street I noticed the mountains surrounding the city, again I noticed the tranquility of the city. There were hardly any cars on the road, “Am I still in Korea

,” I asked myself.  I soon saw smoked fish and chestnuts on sale at a local shop, yes, I was still in the land of the morning calm.

 

It took me a good fifteen minutes to reach the park by foot. People were walking, running and biking in the park situated along the partly frozen Hakuicheon River.  Despite the chilly weather one local was practicing his golf swing in the park. I took a picture of the golfer named Mr. Yoon, and headed back towards the city in search of tourist information.

After about twenty minutes, I managed to find Anyang City Hall. The building was open, a relief since I was in desperate need of some tourist information. I managed to find some brochures, including one about Anyang Art Park. I learned that the park is located outside the main city centre, and I opted to get there by taxi.

I was so thrilled when I finally arrived; the area reminded me of a Montreal

ski village, minus the ski slopes.  On one side of the main street I saw shops, convenience stores and restaurants, while on the opposite side tourists were walking through the Art Park. Different works by artists from around the world are on display.  According to the brochure, this area is meant to be a rest area for citizens, where arts, culture, and nature are closely connected in harmony.  House of Light by Wolfgang Winter and Berthold Hoebert, from Germany, captured my eye. The duo created a house made from empty drink containers in various colours, once inside you can see light cascading through the open crevices, which makes for some fantastic photographs.

 

Not only can people discover different works of art, they can also connect to their spiritual side. Various Buddhist temples are located within walking distance of each other. I walked through the art park and followed the signs to Anyangsa Temple; two small dogs greeted me as I came closer to the entrance of the temple. I was relieved to discover the dogs were shy and didn’t bark. I took my time to take in the view of the temple and Samsung Mountain, the silence was calming.

As I walked back towards the subway station I came upon a shop selling rice treats. The owner was in the process of making puffed rice cakes, and I was in awe of the way the machine worked. Kernels of rice were placed in the centre of the machine heated up, and three seconds later poof a rice cake flew out. I received two free rice puffs, and decided to buy a bag for 2,000 won.

Without any tourist information I managed to find some interesting spots in Anyang, and would highly recommend this trip to anyone.

Getting to Anyang from Seoul: Take Seoul Line 1 to Anyang Station

From Gimpo Airport: Take the express bus to Anyang

Getting to Anyang Art Park:

Subway -  Get off at Gwanak Station and go out exit 2. Walk left towards the main street and then turn right. Walk for about ten minutes along the street and follow the signs.

Green Bus – 5624, 5625, 5530, 5731

Shuttle Bus – 6-2

For further information about Anyang Art Park check out their Web site at http://apap.anyang.go.kr