Media Facade at Shinsegae (Myeongdong)

Christmas is around and the air is filled with delights again. On Friday, 14th November, I went to Myeongdong to participate in the Shinsegae Media facade. It was a show of light and pictures, decorating the outer walls of Shinsegae mall with 3D holographic images. The show lasted for 4 minutes, and repeated every 6 minutes, making each show start at approximately 10 minutes after the previous one. 

Around the walls of Shinsegae was an adored monument showered with tiny sparkles of yellow lights. A former fountain but now a eye mesmerizing monument, the fountain was a major attraction to the event. I wished to take a photo along with the fountain but the sheer intensity of light made my face go black and hence no photography was feasible. 

AN ADVICE: If you go visit the place, bring along a camera with a good night light photography. It is worth it! 

The Painters

IT IS NOT EVERYDAY that one experiences an eye mesmerizing performance of art, dance and comedy as it was in "THE PAINTERS". The show is themed at the struggle of 4 young artists whose strive is the cause of our joy and laughter. Through a set of 10 art pieces and brilliant light and music coordination, 'the painters' takes its audience on a vivid and stimulating journey through the cosmos of shapes and colours. The artists demonstrate a high "audience awareness" and are often seeing improvising with LED paintbrushes and fun acts to keep the audience engaged.
Although innovative in the use of art to push their story line, 'The Painters' overall theme isn't very different from other major shows in Seoul. The dance and comic actions seem characteristically shared but it's application of art sets it apart from the common league. My suggestion to potential viewers is as follows: "If this is your first time watching a show in Seoul, I strongly recommend you to go to"The Painters", but if you have already been at other shows then I suggest you to take a walk along Cheongggye Stream instead. The chilly autumn weather and the saved money will only serve as an added bonus."

Namsan Fortress Tour

IT IS NOT ALWAYS that one sees the integration of past and present as I had done during my visit of the Namsan Fortress. A mere 5 minute walk from Dongguk University station (Line 3) will lead you into a world where the cries of martyred heroes of the Korean Japanese war can still be heard. The fortress wall can be categorized into 3 types depending on the period when they were built and the size and shape of the stones that were used to built the wall.

The wall was built before the invention of Hangul so you can see the use of Chinese alphabets to mark the name of the village responsible for building that part of the wall.

The view from the top of Namsan Mountain is one worth beholding. Situated at a height of more than 200 metres, one can look deep into the abyss of Seoul from here, the center point of Seoul.

ALIVE MUSEUM

WELCOME to 3300 metre squares of absolute fantasy where you can be an Achilles riding a chariot, a Superman flying in the sky or a rockstar holding Marilyn Monroe in his arms. Established in Insa-dong and opened for public display on 6^th March 2014, the Alive museum is the largest trick art exhibition centre in Korea. With over 66 artworks on display, 37 of which are interactive artworks and about 24 object art displays, the Alive museum in Insadong will truly amaze you.

The structure of the museum is broken into two parts. Museum 1 (Magical Labyrinth zone) uses an integration of world famous paintings and optical illusion art techniques to fool the eyes and to keep your camera busy. Museum 2 (Dino world) is where you meet Marilyn Monroe and the lovely mascot Dino. Artworks here employ both painting as well as multimedia art.

The major theme of the Alive museum is to awaken and revive the ‘lost child’ in all of us. Standing among these beautiful and detailed artworks, one cannot help but feel like a child again. The variety of artworks and the ease of understanding each artwork make one curious and light-footed. Once you enter the museum, your only rest is when you finish the journey!

While visiting the museum, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. A good camera and a patient friend are two things that you chiefly need. You can also visit the museum with your date, but know that if you are a man, you would be spending a lot of time just taking photographs of her. Usually it is better to visit the museum being your bare clothed self without any accessories like bags, umbrellas, etc. You surely don’t want a bag or umbrella to spoil your photos, now do you? Finally, it is better to wear darker clothes while visiting the museum since dark clothes don’t reflect much light. A black shirt and a blue pair of jeans would dramatically increase the deceptive potential of your photographs. If the readers are paying enough concentration, this is exactly what I wore! (Yes, my fashion sense would take over the world!!!)

VISITOR’S GUIDE

·         Location: Hongik Building. 7-8 Fl. 194 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea 110290

·         Opening hours: 9:00 am – 10.30 pm (Ticketing office would close at 9.30 pm)

·         Telephone: 82 2-2034-0697

KABOOM SHOW!

Although famed for having Korea's best Bboy dance group and highly expensive visual and auditory technologies, the Kaboom show was an UTTER disappointment. One biggest drawback of the show was that the show was divided into 4 different sub shows without a single unifying theme. While watching the show, one is faced with a horrendous task of untwisting and matching the different parts of the shows together.

Another biggest drawback of the show is the rather repetitive and redundant way in which the show proceeds. The 4 sub groups give almost similar performance over and over again at varying time and periods.

On the other hand, the show possess a unique concept, and uses some ultra advanced technologies. The laser show towards the end of the show is breathtaking, though my friend claims he has seen a similar show earlier elsewhere.

Therefore, my recommendations is as follow:

- If you haven't watched any other show before that uses a plethora of light and sound to evoke emotions, I suggest you go visit the Kaboom show. Although the show has several shortcomings and is very expensive, I am sure it is worth the time you spend in the theater.

Dates/Hours:

Thursdays @ 8PM, Fridays @ 8PM, Saturdays at 3PM and 7PM, Sundays at 3PM

Tickets:

Prices: range from 40,000-80,000 KW per seat.

Website: http://www.showkaboom.com/ (in Korean only)

Phone: (02) 2637-2777

Address: 4th Floor Theater, Cinecore Building, Samildaero 386, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Insight Gallery!

FOR A LONG TIME, it didn't make any sense to me. The splendid collection of statues and drawings somehow eluded my conscious understanding, but then, standing under this magnificent gallery, I somehow....GOT IT! 

This tiny gallery in insadong succeeds in seizing what many large museums in Korea might fail to do. The Korean spirit of being connected to one's past but at the same time growing in the present is what is accurately captured in the paintings and sculptures at the gallery. A girl  wearing a hanbok, a traditional korean dress, and exercising on a bench is one of the many paintings that you might see at this exhibition. The deep psychological role that HISTORY plays in the Korean society and culture is one of the key elements of the exhibition.

FINALLY, one can click a FREE photograph with a pretty lady in hanbok at the end of the exhibition tour.

Bukchon walking Tour!

THE BUKCHON VILLAGE is one of the only few remaining spaces in Seoul where you can sit down with a friend and ponder over the history of Korea. Unlike museums where one FEELS the history of Korea through the eyes of some well educated researcher, places like Bukchon village enables everyday people to see and feel the passed essence of Korea through their own trusting eyes. Several interactive activities such as dye making, toy making, crafts, etc also gives one an opportunity to delve oneself deeper in the pastoral history of Kore
a. Apart from obvious lessons in history, one can also feel the Korean spirit of preserving the past in the way the old houses and buildings are preserved. Special among such buildings is a former ministerial house near the entry to Bukchon village which is now renovated and used as a full fledged working restaurant.

BIBAP SHOW

AFTER THE SHOW, COOKING WILL NOT BE THE SAME ANYMORE, and the kitchen would just not be a place to cook. Served with an amazingly innovative story line and a bunch of high energy and enthusiastic actors, the BIBAP show takes an ordinary everyday behind-the-scene experience of a restaurant kitchen to unimaginable heights and variations.

The show revolves around the struggle of two characters-"Red chef" and "Green chef" to get as many dish orders as possible. Comic situations arises from their struggle, and is well balanced with other aspects of the show like beat-boxing, a Capella, interaction with the audience and some awe inspiring dancing. Contrary to many people's doubt, the show is actually easy to follow as most dialogues are in English than in Korean.

After the show, you can meet the actors and click a photo with them for FREE.

WETA WORSHOP FANTASY EXHIBITION

WETA WORSHOP FANTASY EXHIBITION

IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A CHILD AGAIN! Amid the 300+ art pieces that are being hosted at the dauntingly huge Dongdaemun design plaza, there is a chance that you might discover your hidden child again. The art pieces have been generously borrowed from popular movies such as Avatar, Lord of the Ring, King Kong, etc, and it is therefore a must see for every art lover and movie goer. The sculptures are bred with a moving variety from Azog to Gollum to Dark rider and they seem to be stilled from life only with the help of a little magic. Apart from sculptures, the exhibition also hosts digital paintings, watercolor original paintings and behind the scene video clips and collectibles from some of the highly successful fantasy movies.

How to act like a GEEK (when you are not ONE)?

Hello Friends

Thanks for joining me again.

Today's post is about teaching you 'How to act like a GEEK (when you are not One)'.


*NO, we are not talking about WEARING big glasses, that is just too OLD FASHIONED. Today, we bring to you the latest happenings in the GEEK FAKERS world.*


So, for the purpose of today's post, I went to visit a local geek center (Jaipur Technical Fair).

*SEE right for the GEEKY poster of Jaipur Technical Fair*

 So, here's my first tip:

Take your pictures with AS MANY geeky posters as you can.

Here's me taking a photo with the poster of ROBOWAR (My friend decided that I was more IMPORTANT than the robot on the left, and so he skipped it, and took me in the frame instead.)

The second photo I took was with the ROBO SOCCER poster.

Personally, I don't know much about robots or soccer, but notice how I smile in the photo. (Yes, I am a BORN faker!!!).

And as before, my friend decided I was MORE important than the robots, and so he clipped the robot in the right and took me in.

(Call it a good friendship or bad photography skills, it's your call! SEE previous post to decide better! )

Alright, here's the next very IMPORTANT skill!

MOCKING!!!

Here's me mocking the feeble stadium for the ROBOWAR event.

Yes, those are bricks painted white and black (I wonder why!), and they are not some extra terrestrial material imported from outer space for just this event. (Comes to thinking of it, bricks DO offer a cheap and ready solution for the outer boundaries of the stadium. Long live Indians, and their INDIAN-ness).


And here's the next very important tip!

SHOW OFF! (as often as you can!)

Here's me showing off with bikes (I hate the background, but there was no other option available.) Also, I hate to admit, but I don't know how to ride bikes, but see how confidently I pose in one of them. (Again, I am a BORN faker! )


And below is a photo of me driving one of the student made carts.

For those who are IMPRESSED by my driving skills, and are thinking of hiring me to drive for them, I want to tell them that I don't drie petrol, diesel, CNG or any other non-renewable resource driven cars. (I am environmental conscious!!!)

The cart that I am driving is, on the other hand, a solar powered cart. (Nothing new, but still impressive.)

And this is where I end my today's post. I am sorry to disappoint my readers for not sharing anymore important tips with them in this post, but stay tuned for future posts for they will contains tips on tons of other essential life skills.

But, before I say goodbye (and ask you readers to subscribe to my blog), here are some random pictures from the event.

The RoboWar in Action

The aftermath of the RoboWar-I

The aftermath of RoboWar-II

RoboSoccer in Action.

And now, I OFFICIALLY ask the readers to... SUBSCRIBE, and wish them a good day.

Bye.

Hello There

Today's post is about teaching the readers how to maintain long distant term friendships.


So, firstly, what you need is a positive attitude (as you ALL can see from the photo alongside. SEE how I SMILE and exude my positivity).

Call me a NARCISSIST, but this photo contains an important lesson which comes next.

The important lesson is.... REMEMBER to HOLD YOUR PHONES in your hand or give them to your friend to TAKE PHOTOS OF YOU (as I did).  This step would guard you from diseases caused by radiation and will increase your life expectancy (Yup, an increased life expectancy is one sure way to maintaining LONG term friendships).

 Secondly,  you need a good sense of humor (as you can see from the photo alongside. I am pretending that I have a gun in my hand, and I am shooting my friends with my imaginary gun. YES, I have an amazing sense of HUMOR!!!)

Observe my body language.

I am neither too confident (I am holding the gun in my right hand. I know I am a good shooter, but I also know I am not the best shooter around) nor too underconfident (I have a sharp focus on my target).

BAAM! and I took a shot!

Here's me with my friends.

SEE how I act like a boss.

Again, confidence is the KEY to maintaining long term friendships.





Here's me with Tarun (The science kid).

My friend shot the photo while he was busy calculating the optimal reflection/refraction ratio for his specks lens in the photo.

YES, Tarun. Your specks look perfectly fine in the photo!!!

Here's me with my other friends (Left: Ayush, Right: Tushar).

NOTICE the order of our height.

Seems like it pays after all to be the one in the middle. (The one of the left has to bend a little and the one on the right has to rise up a little, but I can just stand with my NORMAL height.)

And Finally, you need to be a good leader.

Leadership skills are so important for maintaining good friendships.

NOTICE how I am leading into the photo.

Also, notice the tree in the backside. (did you get the joke?)

NO? (look closer!!!)

The tree appears as if it is a crown on the top of my friend's (Ayush's) head.

Now you got it?

YUP! I am an EVIL PHOTOGRAPHER :P


And this is where we end our today's tutorial. I hope you enjoyed your lesson today, and would continue visiting my blog to keep yourself updated with my life in Korea.

BYE.

Hello Friends

Thanks for dropping by.

This is a blog that would serve as a memoir of my experience in South Korea, and also as a motivation to other KGSP applicants who want to know more about this scholarship and about life in Korea.

But before I go any further, let me tell you about KGSP.

KGSP (Korean government Scholarship Program) is a scholarship program funded by the Korean government to attract BRILLIANT MINDS (I know I am blushing over here, but that's what the scholarship program says in it's "Objective") from 62 countries (and counting) around the world.

I am a KGSP grantee from India (they had a quota for only 1 person from India this year, so I am the only grantee from India). I will be studying at Kyung Hee University from March 2014 to Feb 2015 for my language course, and then later at Seoul National University from March 2015 to Feb 2019 for my bachelors in physics.

If you want to know more about the KGSP scholarship, you can go visit: www.studyinkorea.go.kr

Alright, now to the meat!!!

I was at the embassy this Tuesday for my visa (You can see the Korean embassy in the photo behind me. Yeah, I know I look weird in the photo. I was using the rear camera of my phone to take the photo, and I didn't want it to fall. So, yeah. This is like my happy-yet-careful photo. )



After arriving at the embassy, I was escorted to the Ambassador's office (I won't tell where... BEWARE  OF NORTH KOREAN SPIES in India) , where I had a small talk with him regarding studies in Korea, and about life in general in Korea (Yes, Koreans are very polite people!)

And after talking to the Korean Ambassador (and getting my Korean visa), I loitered around in some UNKNOWN place in Delhi, and then arrived at Mr. J Lee's home (Another nice Korean man). Mr. J Lee was one of the interviewer's during my interview (and I assume a good friend of Consul Lee), and he is currently a MD in one of the major Korean company.

We had a nice 1 hour long conversation about life in Korea, and about the culture shocks that I will soon receive. ***Koreans are very frank people*** Her wife served me a green tea and told me that she doesn't have any milk (Does that ever happen in India?). And yeah, the story of the surviving cups, that was interesting too.

Anyways, I guess this is too much action for one post. Stay tuned for future posts! (and don't forget to subscribe...? Wait, do you have anything like that on Blogspot?)


Chirag