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.