Day 45: Good Grief

This is a newly opened cafe, appropriately themed for Charlie Brown. This ain't no tiny cafe either; it's two floors of cafe-beverages in dedication to he who is known as 'Charlie Brown'. You know, Charlie Brown has a rather sketchy history in Korea: half of Koreans know him, and half don't. You have those who have never heard of him, and those who know everything about him. But you rarely get those who are in the middle. We are not a bunch of fence-sitters here in Korea, that's for sure. But such an act as plastering Charlie Brown on a cafe makes me wonder: do they have the rights to do so? Nearby is a Mickey Mouse store that sells bags and such with Mickey plastered all over them, again making me wonder about copyrights. Korean music doesn't really pay much attention to copyrights, constantly under fire for their, at times, blatant disregard of them. But it's still a fun cafe, nonetheless.

Day 44: Eating for Two...or Three

So as I'm writing this and looking at the picture to the right, I realized that I should have done this at a neutral time when I am not hungry. This, guys and dolls, is a (moderate) plate of sushi and sweet and sour pork (탕수육 in Korean). Last night I had me some sushi buffet, but in Korea, a sushi buffet does not just denote sushi, it denotes sushi and assorted goodies that you may also enjoy eating while partaking in sushi. I love sushi, there is just really no way around it, and I love eating assorted goodies as well. At this particular place, along with real sushi (you know, just the fish and rice) made fresh right in front of you, they have various sushi rolls, some common, some quite out there. There are about two or three tables (like folding tables), lined up, with different plates of things on it. It's a very low-key operation, but enjoyable nonetheless. You know, in America you think buffet, and you think massive heat lamps, tables upon tables of food, and lots of kids. This is like more of a stylish buffet, one you are surely no to find in Vegas. But what makes it great are these assorted goodies, because besides the sushi, you also have salad (plain), salmon salad, tomato and onion salad, spicy noodles, yakisoba, sweet and sour pork, potato wedges, egg rolls, 떡뽁이, ice cream, and fruit. So the definition of 'sushi buffet' has been broadened, who cares? All that matters is that, for a little bit of money (around 13,000 won per person for dinner, 10,000 for lunch), you can have yourself a gay ol' time, Fred Flinstone style.

Day 43: Eat Your Heart Out, Sarah-Jessica Parker

Ah yes, the giant pink stiletto near Ehwa Women's University. Nothing says 'neo-feminist' like the ultimate sign of womanhood. This shoe is two stories tall, and represents a side of Korea that not many understand: Large, iconic symbols. Sure, we have our large Lincoln sitting himself in a chair to remind us of things, like freedom and equality and all that jazz. But we don't have a giant dress in front of Smith's College. To be honest, I think the shoe symbolizes nothing and everything at the same time. Sure, there are tons of shoe stores in the area, and sure, there are lots of makeup shops, hair salons, alteration stores, and clothing boutiques a stone's throw away. But perhaps the shoe represents an acknowledgement of all that and a reminder that sometimes the clothes really don't make the [wo]man. Think of it as a memorial of sorts, like the Vietnam Memorial, where you go to it, you shed a few tears, feel bad, but in an hour you are back to eating hot dogs, buying cheap Chinese made t-shirts from Wal-Mart, and forgetting just what international wars were fought for. Granted, this shoe doesn't necessarily scream 'end of communism', but it does bring capitalism front and center.

Day 42: Who Are You?

So when I first saw this store, I thought it was a new Abercrombie knock-off that sprung up over night. But when I saw the name and realized I had no earthly idea how to say it, I knew it had to be Korean. Who.A.U actually stands for Who Are You, probably with an implied question mark. The store boasts of having a fashion style that is vintage California, apparently harking back to the gold rush. Now I've seen some fish out of water, but this takes the cake because nothing in this store could be considered a style that Koreans would actually wear. Plus, nothing inside actually looks like it could be vintage California, whatever that actually means. There are any number of contradictions and faults found with this store, but I think one of the more humorous things about it is this: There is actually no store in California. So, we are selling vintage California to the following places: Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. When you walk in, it really is like walking into Hollister. It is quite ironic, actually. It is really difficult to get Hollister, A&F, American Eagle, etc. in Korea for a price that won't hurt your pocket, but we have our own affordable knock-off brand to fill that void. But, all that said, the store is very nice on the outside, smells really nice when you walk in, and is that little piece of 'sheep consumerism' that reminds me of home. All in all, I say we keep it around just to make us Americans feel better from time to time.

Day 41: Death Awaits Us All

Ah yes, the scooter/ motorbike/ motorcycle. There is really nothing unique about its Korean equivalent, besides the fact that almost all delivery of fast food/ take-out is delivered with said scooter/ motorbike/ motorcycle. You think that you can get anything delivered to your door in America? Psh, America has nothing on Korea. Sure, you can get pizza and fried chicken delivered, but how about McDonalds? Japanese food? Korean food? Indian food? Most places these days deliver, and if they don't, they are too fancy for most people. But I take this time not just to talk about delivery culture in Korea, which surprised me, but the actual means of delivery: the scooter/ motorbike/ motorcycle. The one to the left is your standard delivery device, fixed with a little compartment to store the food while riding the device. Mostly you see two types of people on these things: young boys or old men. The young boys either have themselves a little part time job, or quit school and are bums. The old men probably have a stake in the shop that is delivering. The problem, which is to address an even larger problem in Korea, is the reckless driving. You think other places have it bad, sweetie you ain't seen nothing until you've seen or experienced Korean driving. These scooter/motorbike/ motorcycles obey no traffic laws, as if traffic laws even existed in Korea, and swerve i n and out of traffic, up on sidewalks, running red lights, nearly killing pedestrians (who NEVER have the right-away), and basically do everything possible to put themselves in harms way every chance they get. Should we be surprised? Of course not. This is the same country that only recently declared that cars should get out of the way for ambulances and fire trucks, which they still don't do. So either Koreans don't know how to properly drive, or they are the best drivers in the world. I personally think it's the former rather than the latter.

Day 40: Et tu, Brute?

So this past weekend I had quite the dinner with Audrey at the Westin Chosun's fabulous buffet, Aria. The food was amazing, to say the least, and the service (not to mention our server) was to die for. It is an interesting fact, that in Korea, the most expensive and really the best food money can buy is not found at some high scale restaurant in Kangnam. No, luxury shines its face on hotel restaurants, and the best chefs are found there. Aria was no exception; even for a buffet, the food was fresh, plentiful, and beyond delicious. Not to mention they made fresh Coldstone-style ice cream right in front of you. Today's picture, though, is not of the food but of Aria's concept of a steak knife. I asked the beautiful male waiter for a steak knife and this is what he presented me with. I swear to god, for a second I thought it was a switch blade. I was expecting the waiter to challenge me to a knife fight or something given the rather odd look of this knife. The handle looked like it was made from an old Civil War sword or gun; I feel as if the steak knife could have cost more than the entire meal. It did stick out, though, as something not so expected.

Day 39: What If There Were No Boxes?

I remember first seeing this sign, thinking maybe I was a bit too inebriated to have read it correctly. But upon further inspection and multiple confirmations from others, the bar is indeed called 'Thinking inside the Box'. I was always told, as I'm sure many of you have been as well, that we should learn to think outside the box, where the box is that proverbial run-of-the-mill life we become accustomed to, the expected, and the world we live in. By thinking outside said box, we are attempting to be spontaneous and inventive, doing the unconventional, like painting the fence purple instead of white, or finding a new way to bake cookies that is eco-friendly. So, when I saw this sign I had to wonder, quite frankly, is it just me or is Korea attempting to stifle innovation and individuality again? All joking aside, the bar is actually an amazing bar, the inside quite innovative given its name, industrial meets Interview with the Vampire. It was nice to have found such a bar, much bigger than one would expect, so close to home (in Shinchon). On the weekend they have a house DJ with music that isn't half bad. The male staff are stud muffins, to say the least, and have their own individual look. The mixed drinks are pretty good, and quite inventive (all your favorites and then some). The list of food is pretty plentiful, and the decor is surprising. So either someone made a mistake with the proverb of a name, or it was all intentionally verbal irony: it's like Whitney five years ago denying she was a dope head, Kanye saying he is a good guy, or Starr Jones saying her ex husband wasn't gay.

Day 38: Time for Fun

Who isn't looking for a good time? Even the late Charleton Heston was always up for a good time, albeit guns a blazin', but a good time nonetheless. So it only seems natural to take said good time, whatever it may incarnate as, and combine it with a sleeping establishment. This reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy when they argue the virtue of having a guarantee on the box. Well, think of this as that guarantee on the box: you are assured to have a good time at this motel. As most probably know, this motel isn't your conventional establishment: it's a love motel (to borrow the Japanese). In other words, you go to this type of place for some sexy times. Of course not limited to Korea, the notion of the love motel exists for several reasons: to diddle the secretary in the middle of the day, you are caught in some area past the last scheduled train and so you can't nail the chick at home, or, probably more often than not, you live at home with your family. In a country where you live at home until you get married and mom is at home all the freaking time, the love motel serves a noble purpose. This specific motel is located halfway between a women's university and what was traditionally a men's university. Behind this motel is a whole slue of love motels, complete with sexy clubs and cars with businessmen inside waiting for their 'entertainment'. This latter part came as a surprise to me, because even though I knew that these motels existed (pretty close to my own house), I didn't know that this district was pretty hookerfied. Needless to say, I felt a bit like a fish out of water walking through this district, for the first time, on my way home.

Day 37: The Nation of Health

The picture quality isn't all that great, I know. And it's not even a picture of something all that interesting... on the surface at least. This is a store, if you can't already tell, called '건강나라', or for those of you who don't speak the Korean, 'Health Nation'. With such a name we'd all expect something along the lines of a health food store, or something large and expansive with hot muscular men inside waiting to whip you into shape. Well, there are no hot muscular men, but an old lady, and she isn't going to whip you into shape as much as she is going to try and sell you ginseng and orthopedic shoes. That's right cats and dogs, this store is for old people, probably those way past retirement. Some of their key inventory include: walking shoes, leotards, body suits, jackets, rocks with lights inside, and boxes of paper. Nothing screams 'living a healthy life' better than paper and light-up rocks. Stores like this pop up all around Seoul, most of the time concentrated in specific areas where 'hikers' will buy their 'equipment'; ah yes hiking, arguably one of the favorite past times of retired Korean folk. This store, though, is a bit out of place, considering it's across the street from a GS25 and fried chicken, and next to a hair salon and construction equipment. The store is huge, though, even if there is really nothing inside. And yes, that is a rack with clothes on it outside trying to entice those buyers to mosey on inside for more browsing. Mind you, it was around 8pm when I took this picture and the only people walking outside were students and people going home after work. Something tells me the time peak for their target market are already in bed.

Day 36: Try Not to Fall

This is a mountain. Yes, we all can see that. But if you look closely, you can see a wall that goes up the side of the mountain. Now this is no great wall, because we in Korea are not Commies, but it is a wall nonetheless. A while back I talked about the original city of Seoul, how to its back laid mountains and to it's from laid the Han River. Well, this is one of the mountains that laid to it's back, well to the side back I guess, and that wall there marks the original city. From the top of that mountain (which I have yet to gone up) one can see the entire city, well at least most of it given the sheer size of Seoul. That wall also marks a preserved area of Seoul, for along the way up the mountain are guards (apparently some of the most attractive guards around) for security reasons. Directly in front of the mountain is the Blue House (where the President lives/ works), and also, because you can see the entire city from this mountain, people are not allowed to take pictures. A funny story/ note: While my friend and I were walking back down the mountain on Saturday, there was this Korean couple asking us how to get to the fortress where the trail starts leading up the mountain. The funny part about this story? She was wearing a nice dress and he was wearing Oxford dress shoes. Needless to say, they wouldn't be getting too far on their journey, considering the amount of stairs they would need to climb to reach the top.

Day 35: Hand me that Toy Soldier

Just what every cafe on the side of a mountain needs in it's basement, a room with an old TV, a leather couch, a chair shaped like a hand, and the Nutcracker. I said yesterday the feats one needs to travel in order to get to the cafe, and needless to say, the cafe does not let its patrons down. This is one of the many rooms inside the cafe, located in the basement next to the 'museum' of Tibetan items. On the door it says that you need at least four people to occupy this room, even though there is space for at least 10. To be honest, it looks like a college dorm room, given the rather diverse stuff (or junk) inside the room. I mean granted, I never had that much stuff in my dorm room, probably because my dorm room wasn't nearly as big. But I find that Koreans would shove such an assorted bunch of junk into a room as reassuring as I would if Grandma Moses told me the roof was on fire. Sadly, she never did, and the orphanage burned to the ground, but my point still stands: Cafes that have rooms with random stuff that doesn't match the other stuff in the room, let alone the cafe as a whole, are bitchin'!

Day 34: Mountain Men... and Women

If you ever feel so inclined, build a cafe/ museum up a mountain in the middle of nowhere, film a drama featuring said cafe as a house, and then schedule tours for Japanese and Chinese to come visit said cafe that overlooks a pretty descent part of downtown Seoul. If you accomplish all this, then you too can be featured in my blog (well your cafe at least). I spent Saturday in 부암동, a little-known mountain village in Seoul that easily has the best dumplings and dumpling soup Seoul has to offer. After finishing lunch, my friend and I walked about 20 to 30 minutes up hill through a nice residential district... of sorts... to the cafe pictures to the right. This place garnished fame because it was featured in the Korean Drama Coffee Prince as the house the hot 30-something cousin of the main male character lived in (and had some sexy times in with his girlfriend). It's a very beautiful house/cafe with an amazing view out the back and an interesting Tibetan exhibit in the basement (along with other interesting things that I'll save for a later day). There were a bunch of couples, some Japanese and Chinese tourists, and old folks just doing their thang. After walking through the cafe/house/museum, we walked back down the hill to another cafe, looking as if it could be featured on This Old House given the amount of exposed wood (kind of reminded me of a jungle gym I used to go to called Kid Space, made entirely of wood). We then walked down the mountain (which only took 30 minutes or so), past the Blue House and the Royal Palace to downtown Seoul. Needless to say, I totally walked the heck out of that part of Seoul on Saturday.

Day 33: At Sunset

So I already posted one picture from the plaza of the Cheonggyecheon (or however the hell you romanize this), but the other day I was walking around and something about this scene, with the sun in the background like that (around 6.30pm), hit me and caused me to just stand there, on the bridge, for about 20 minutes. Go figure that next to me there was a Korean couple, being all romantic (insert gag sound right about here). But anyway, I also liked the picture because of the paper lanterns hanging across the stream, as they are hanging throughout much of the city. Next weekend is Buddha's birthday, and you know what that means: three day weekend! But festivities, at least paper lantern hanging, start a full month before the actual birthday. Man, no one has ever gotten so much fanfare besides Jesus. Now if we can only convince the world to turn Buddha's birthday into a massive consumer holiday with a tree, socks, an obese white man, and presents. I think that's a fight worth having!

Day 32: It's not a Dog, It's a Store!

You know, there are a handful of businesses in Korea that I think secretly own the country. There's Samsung, and Hyundai, and maybe even LG, but I think the most fashionable among them all is Lotte. This Korean conglomerate is, in large part, why Japanese tourists flock to Korea: Duty-Free. Well sure, I bet they come for other things, like all the Lotte Department Store campaigns with famous Korean celebrities (Dong Bang Shin Ki, Big Bang, Rain, Bae Young Joon, and that guy from GI Joe), but the sheer amount of things that Lotte does in terms of consumerism blows my mind away. Now when you think of Hyundai, you probably think of cars, but you should also think of ships. When you think of Samsung, you most likely think of technology and maybe even life insurance. But when you think of Lotte, what do you think of? Shopping. Oodles and oodles of shopping. There is also Lotte Hotel, Lotte Mart for grocery shopping, Lotteria for what some (albeit misinformed) people would say is tasty fast food, and, of course, Lotte World (Korea's equivalent to maybe a Disney Land or Bush Gardens). So, the moral of the story? Samsung shows you Korea on their TVs and cell phones. Hyundai gets you to Korea. And Lotte entertains you while you are here.

Day 31: Growing Telephones

I decided to walk around downtown last night, because the weather was so nice and I wanted some fresh air before heading home for dinner. I was looking at the sights around me and thought 'what would make for a good picture?' Then it hit me: a cell phone growing out of the ground. I used to work as an Intern at SK Telecom in their T-Tower, pictured at the left. I actually loved working there, not because the work was terribly interesting, but because the building was rather kick-ass. The shape of the building is supposed to mimic a cell phone, as it bends at the most odd place, and there are also similarly shaped light posts all around the building. Towards the bottom, as you can see just a little, runs one of the longest digitally moving marquees/ ticker in the world, spanning most of the outside of the building, then inside around a large portion of the interior lobby. SK Telecom is the largest cell phone provider in Korea, just a little FYI for y'all. I don't have SK, I have Show; I really don't know why, but oh well. It's an impressive building, and has a pretty bitchin' view when you get higher up. The crappy thing is now they are building these rather large twin towers right in front of it so it won't be as impressive when looked on from the Cheongyechung.

Day 30: Things a Sandwich Would Say

When I saved this picture I named it 'salad', and it is only now that I realized that the picture I saved was not the one of a chicken salad, but of the chicken tortilla. I am so very addicted to these things, because they are cheap (2800 won) and the perfect size, so I get one salad and one tortilla. Now here's the question: Does Bennigan's actually serve these things? You know, it's now all the rage to sell things like Starbucks canned coffee and such in convenience stores, but they at least resemble the parent counterpart. These things are tasty, to some extent, but don't at all resemble anything Bennigan's actually has. But I love the fact that, on my way home, I can pop into the GS25 and pick up one or two of these for dinner; it makes for a rather easy, and cheap, dinner solution when the day at the office has been too rough to have the energy to cook. Really, all that's inside is some lettuce, red and yellow peppers, and a fist full of shredded chicken. You can then add honey mustard, which comes with it, as you see fit. The salad is the same thing, except more lettuce and no tortilla. It's a good thing.

Day 29: Hollowed Out of Control

I had a friend yesterday, upon viewing my blog, say that this blog was dedicated to strange English in Korea. It wouldn't necessarily be a farce to say that a lot of what it has become includes strange English, but just so I am not accused of thinking only Koreans have strange English, let's point out the strange English of others while at the same time praising their inventiveness. This picture was taken outside what of the coolest looking restaurants I've ever seen; quite the architectural masterpiece, especially considering the rather dull residential neighborhood it sits in. UTSov, an Indian Restaurant with authentic Indian Cuisine, or at least that's what they boast of. The food is quite good, albeit a bit pricey, but it was this rather interesting sign out front that caught my eye. This is actually a slab of the building, because to the left is more wall, but to the right is the entrance. They simply chiseled out the letters, completely, from the concrete to make the name. There is another sign close by telling you the cuisine, but if this is all you see one's first inclination is to think the following: What, pray tell, is UTSov? If anyone has the answer, there is free dinner at this place in it for you (that is, if you are currently living in Seoul or will be visiting within the next month or so).

Day 28: Dr. Who and Lady Godiva

I have absolutely no idea what this sign refers to. I looked inside, and it was pretty empty. I went to the website, and there was nothing there. So, all we are left with is a red sign above a small little shop in the middle of a residential neighborhood that says 'Dr. Who' on it. Cue the intro music. The sign literally jumped out at me, and I had to look around me to see if anyone else was there before I took the picture. There were no shops around, no people, just houses. I was expecting to see a blue police box, but no luck. Maybe this is a sign, a sign that the Doctor exists, or just my own mind finding things like this because I was watching Dr. Who earlier in the day before going out. Go figure I'd find this in Hongdae; I find the strangest things there.

Day 27: Happy Birthday...Salad...

I've received many interesting things for my birthday over the years, including (but not limited to) a homemade spider pig cake, a box of condoms, and socks with Shinee members on them. However, when going to a restaurant you would imagine, perhaps, a slice of cake or something along those lines. But a salad? A birthday salad? Korea, you never cease to amaze me! Now, one could make the following argument: they want you to live long and live healthy, so they present you with a healthy salad. There is a rather large, fundamental flaw with that argument, however. Can anyone see what the salad is drenched in? Yes, that would be a cream based dressing, but that's not all boys and girls. This is a special birthday salad, and you know what that means: Chocolate! So much for being healthy. The taste was... different, and I rather not experience it again. So needless to say, I will never declare that it is my birthday in Korea again, but if you guys really want to get your friend the next time you are here, just say its his/her birthday. They will certainly be in for a treat, well not really a treat but you get the idea.

Day 26: Dude, Blast from the Past Much?

This had to be one of the most surprising finds in the three years that I've lived here, especially given where I found this: Hongdae, the center of alternative fashion and living in Korea. I hate to admit this, but I used to collect these things when I was younger; it was a family thing. I feel as if there are still boxes of them someplace in some attic or garage. I seriously wonder if there is a market large enough to have an entire store dedicated to these things, in Korea of all places. Back in the day, you could buy these things at Hallmark or authorized retail outlets, but if you had an entire store dedicated to them they were most likely jacked up prices. However, I find it hard imagining a bunch of artsy Koreans, dressed with some wild street fashion, walking around this area with bags of Beanie Babies. To be honest, this is the first time I'd ever seen these things sold in Korea, and in the traditional Korean fashion they run full force with 20 pairs of scissors. I shouldn't be all that surprised, considering some of the other interesting things that have seemed to pop up in Korea (usb charged hot water makers), but this has to be the single most impressive displays of Globalization. But is it really Globalization? I mean, it's not that widespread, but of all the things to find its way to Korea, 7 years after their prime, this has to take the prize. It reminds me of this episode of '3rd Rock from the Sun' when Dick goes crazy for Beanie Babies, or their equivalent. I wonder what the next out-of-date collectable will show up in Korea... I am personally wishing for Pogs.

Day 25: Sandwiches... of Ice Cream?

Well guys and dolls, I'm 1/4 there! Today marks the 25th day I've been doing this... how weird is that? Anyway, I figured I'd post some delicious food to make you all wish you were here to eat said delicious food. This is an ice cream sandwich. We've come a long way since the old traditional ones of thin chocolate cookie-like bread and some vanilla ice cream shoved in between. Rather, this ice cream sandwich is made with two slices of cake, this one a coconut pound cake, with a vanilla, almond, and maple ice cream mixture inside, with some maple syrup and coconut sprinkled over to make it look quite delightful. Now I have to be honest: I've never had an ice cream dessert that beats this one. This has to be the most delicious ice cream dessert I've had, and worth every penny (8,500 won, which is between 7 to 8 bucks in America). Weeks ago I posted a picture of a guard post and talked about this ice cream sandwich place, well this is it, complete with a picture now. I remember when I first found this place, I thought it would simply be like Carvel Flying Saucers, but no... this is what I have now deemed the REAL ice cream sandwich; everything else is simply a poor imitation of this godly beast of a dessert. Talk about needing to SHOCK every day and every night.

Day 24: All the Little People

I am torn with this picture, to be completely honest. These statues are quite large, and when I first saw them I was a bit scared. Not to sound completely politically incorrect, but little people scare me. This is much worse: tall people scrunched down to look like they are little. The effect, if I am able to explain it correctly, is that they are pushed down, like an accordion, to give the impression that they are far off in the distance when in reality they are right in front of you. These statues are located right in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of my favorite places in Seoul, especially the area around the museum. Many people were taking pictures of these statues, for good reason, as there is a special exhibit on statues taking place at the Seoul Met. As much as I love this museum, I am always dissuaded in going because patron etiquette is lacking in Korea, which makes a visit less than enjoyable. The key, though, is to go during the week and not on holidays or in the afternoon on the weekends. Eh, nothing really funny about today's post, but that's just how it is.

Day 23: Make-Shift Things

Mom always used to say, when your options are limited you need to think outside the box. Granted, I don't think she would have ever advised me to literally think outside the box, as it was always simply a clichéd metaphor for anything is possible. But I must say, it takes some special kind of innovation, if we shall graciously call it that for the time being, to string rope from one light pole to another and hang clothes on it. What makes me love this picture more than just the idea of hanging clothes outside on a make-shift clothes line is the fact that there seem to be only 2 or 3 shirts, at most, hanging there, in the middle of what seems to be a fairly long clothes line. For all I know it's not really a laundry line at all, and they are not drying their clothes. They could have had themselves a garage (or rather table in front of concrete wall) sale and simply forgot to bring in those shirts. I don't know, I'm not a doctor. But I can tell you that even for Korea this seems a bit out of place. Also mind you that I did not go into some rural district and comb the streets for this; this picture was taken in Shinchon, a rather populated place with lots of college students, food, drinking establishments, and other stuff. In other words, there is a good chance that these clothes could be stole come morning, or could be used to clean up a certain 'mess' one of the really drunk ones may make.

Day 22: Dual-Function Coffee

Coffee is something that I very much enjoy, and something I believe calms one down and allows one to relax as opposed to, oh I don't know, being overrun by demons. So when I saw this cafe, ironically enough not blasting Halloween-type music but rather Korean pop music, a few questions immediately came to mind. First of all, I had to wonder where the coffee came into this entire bit. I imagine an exorcism is being performed, to cleanse me of the demons that I apparently have living on the inside, but is it like the Starbucks in the funeral parlor: morn the passing of your loved ones with a nice hot cup of Starbucks coffee? Do I have sit and have coffee while they perform the exorcism on me? Or is it more of a live show, like live music? Maybe it's like Disney World where they have little shows scheduled and we drink coffee-related beverages while watching it. Yet a second inclination came to mind: Does the coffee actually foster the exorcism? So I drink the coffee and all the demons that are inside me are exorcised? Secondly, who is Hwang In-Hyeok? Is he the one performing the exorcisms or is he just the barrister? I feel like adding the 'by Hwang In-Hyeon' makes it seem more like a book or a show than an actual service. Perhaps, he is a professional exorcist and his hobby is to roast coffee, and so he opened up this little cafe. I would have perhaps gone for a less flashier name, but hey, it sure does garnish attention. Finally, why is this cafe located around the Ehwa Women's University area? Are they implying that Korean women are possessed by evil, hell-bound demons and that's why they do the very annoying and, at times, baseball-bat-to-the-knee-caps acts they do? Well, I'm not one to speculate, nor one to put words in the exorcist's mouth, so we will leave that one mute until further information can be obtained.

Day 21: Connecting to Water

Sometimes we have good ideas. Other times, you really need to just ask yourself the following questions: 1) Do we really need something like this? 2) Is this, perhaps, going a little too far? and 3) Are we sure this is a good idea? Now there are many inventions brought to us by Korea (don't ask me to name any), and some of them I even make use of. But even I'll admit that a coffee warmer that is attached to your computer via a usb cord is not the most sound idea. Let's just go through the questions to make it easier on us. 1) Do we really need something like this? Not really. If this is used as a coffee warmer than one must really ask the question: How long are you going to drink the same cup of coffee that you need an electronic warmer? If it is used as a water boiler, which it can in fact be used as, then maybe it can be useful. 2) Is this, perhaps, going a little too far? Well, yeah it is. Convenience is certainly a good thing, and I'm all for innovation, but it seems more logical simply to invest in a coffee pot for the office, or simply an insulated cup rather than purchase something electronic. Sure this thing may be portable, but it isn't all to stylish. Also, if used to boil hot water then what is wrong with something with a plug rather than a usb port? This inevitably leads us to 3) Are we sure this is a good idea? Rule number one from mom was always don't play with electronics around bodies of water or you'll get electrocuted. Now I don't think we need to worry about electrocution, but to have liquid so close to your computer, and not just your keyboard but your CPU, does not seem like the smartest move to me. Granted, I have a coffee maker on my desk, but I keep it a respectable distance from anything that could potentially break or lose information due to a spill. I'm all for electronic gizmos, and love Korea for coming up with some of the most interesting ideas, but I think I'll sit this one out.