Most (if not all) Kpop fans know that phrase, and me being a YG fan was eager to see them live and when I read about their miniconcert at the Young Samsung ~ Passion Talk event, I knew we had to be there, this is where the complicated part started. First of all the whole website was in Korean, not only that, the text was in image form so my friend Google Translate was unable to help me, after going back and forth between the computer and my google translator app on my phone, we managed to figure out how to apply for tickets and so we needed a Korean phone number, ugh, we were going to as a friend if we could use his number but before he could reply we pressed "SENT" without knowing what we were doing, therefore, my friend was kind of upset about us using his number (Again, Sorry!!!!!!!!), anyway, we didn't hear anything about it for a couple of days and 1 day before the event we searched online to make sure how to get to the venue (Korea University's Gymnasium), we knew it was a "First come, first serve" basis so we planned on going there really early to make sure we got tickets, later that day my friend received another message asking for our assistance confirmation and that was it, as we still didn't know much about the times, except it would start at 5:30pm, we decided to go VERY early, and luckily for us it was raining the whole day (Yay!!!, Not), so, after a subway ride and an unnecessary taxi ride, we found the gym (btw, thanks to our driver for mistaken us for students! lol), we arrived at 9am to find a very empty Gym, there were only 5 people waiting and a couple minutes later, a guy from the staff started giving out numbered "tickets", he didn't speak any English so all he was able to say was "12pm exchange", we had less than 3 hours until that time and we decided to chill there until we were able to exchange those tickets for the real ones, at some point they played 2NE1 songs but us being the cool girls clearly NOT into Kpop (lol) just played cool, the exchange time was moved until 1pm and by then I was already bored out of my mind. ~Did I mention we were the only foreigners there?~. Before 1pm a guy came in and yelled something in Korean and everyone ran out, of course we followed them and they started calling out the numbers, we got 7 and 8 so that gave us access to 1st row tickets (heck yea!), after getting the real tickets and a gift bag with a "Samsung and U" booklet, a notebook, a pen and a Card holder, we were told to come back at 4:30, so, we had another 3 hours to (waste) have lunch and whatever, we left the campus and found a nice small place to eat and then run to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to chill, I took a short nap and then it was time to go back, shortly after we were allowed to go inside and wait YET another hour, by now I was dead tired, sleepy and wet, I did mention it rained all day, right?, but did I mention MY umbrella broke?, unlucky Gisela is my new name!!.
While waiting for the event to start we were approached by 2 guys, apparently they were "Young Reporters" for Samsung, we were asked how did we hear about the event, if we knew it was entirely in Korean (and how were we going to understand the whole thing), if we were there just for 2NE1 (Of course no!!! ~lol~, we also wanted to meet Mr. Park Chan Wook, director of JSA, Stalker, Old Boy, etc etc), asked for our names, age and took a picture, so, there might be a picture of us making a Korean pose somewhere (They asked for a Mexican Pose, but neither of us knew what I do).
Left: MC, Right top: 10cm, Right bottom: Park Chan Wook
At 5:30 the lights went off and the MC of the day came out, I don't know him, but I think he is a comedian, they played some videos and then it was time for the 1st mini-concert, it was the turn of "10cm", again I had no idea who where they but they have some cool songs so I ended up enjoying their show a little too much, when they finished another MC came out and introduced Mr. Park, we were really excited about it, despite not being able to understand anything but after the first 1/2hour it got slow and a bit boring, and I don't think it was because of the language barrier, the people next to me was obviously bored and I can say we were all a bit uncomfortable on our chairs :(, years later the Q&A started and Diana decided to ask something, until she realized she would be shown on the big screen and that was a No go for her, after Mr. Park's interview and Q&A it was time for Mrs. Lee Young-hee ~ Samsung's Vice-president, she talked about her inspirations (Coco Channel and Frida Kahlo!!) then introduced some of Samsung's new adds and it was (finally) time for 2NE1's MINI-concert!
Top left: 10cm, Top right: Mr. Park, Bottom: Lee Young-hee
They started with Fire followed by Can't nobody and then a small pause to introduce themselves and then it was turn for Falling in love, the last song was "I am the best" and CL started singing and getting the crowd fired up, to be honest I was expecting a bit more, CL was amazing and seemed like she was the only one aware that was a show, a short one but a show, the rest looked like they heard about the show on a short notice :/, I understand it wasn't a big show or a TV show and they might wanted to look more natural, but at some point Bom seemed not caring much about the singing/dancing part and more about the looking pretty aspect... I know some Blackjacks would be upset about me saying this, but it's just my opinion, I still like them and I LOVED the show and I understood why CL is the leader, she has such a strong presence on stage and Charisma (there, I said it!)
Here's a lil video of Falling in love and some of my lousy iphone pictures (sorry!)
By the end of the day I was very tired but it was totally worth it, I can't wait to go to a "real" (aka long) concert!
-Gisela V.
P.s. Check 10cm's Amerikano video, I really liked this soong!
As some of you already know, I'm a huge fan of Korean Food, I love eating it and cooking it, and KoreaTaste started their blogging contest on february, which was entered by default since I was already a member of the site, this only encourage me to blog more about food!
Last month the winners were announced and I got 3rd place (YAY!), and also got selected as a winner for being a "new" member, 2 weeks ago I received an email regarding my gift being sent and this Thursday I got a huge package on the mail!
The package had a Thank you letter from KoreaTaste, a Box of Seaweed (5 packages), 1 Box of Korean Red Ginseng Tea (it contains like 100 teabags) and a bottle of Korean Red Ginseng extract, of course I didn't know how to use this, so I asked some friends and checked some videos online to know more about it.
First, the Teabags, the ginseng comes in some sort of powder, there's no need of a Teabag or a Tea-spoon (is that how it's called? lol), you just pour it in warm water and that's it, I thought it was going to taste bad (I read about the bad taste somewhere), but no, the taste is a little bit sweet and it's very refreshing, anyway, I found out that Korean Ginseng is good to lower high blood pressure, helps Boost the immune system, helps treat Diabetes Mellitus and helps developing Brain efficency and also it has some effect on the eyes... I read you have to take about 600ml a day (2-3 cups) and after 2 weeks you have to take another week off of the tea, it's not recommended to drink it at night because it can cause insomnia, and I already have enough insomnia to add this to it :P. I just started taking it this weekend, so, let's see how it helps in the next couple of weeks!
The Korean Red Ginseng Extract helps:
Relieve stress and fatigue since Ginseng works as a natural adaptogen in the body that allows the body to accommodate to stress in a natural manner (it is also said to work with the nervous system as a natural tranquilizer)
Boost mental efficency since it containg many gensenosides that are able to boost efficency in the brain and reduce mental fatigue.
Boost libido, this is one of the most widely-known bennefits of Red Ginseng ~Something I don't think I'll get to test~ lol
Boost immune system because of Ginseng's high amount of Vitamins and Minerals, it is believed to strength the body's immunity and it can also wok as a natural detoxifier.
Lower blood pressure. It is benneficial to those who suffer hypertension (Like me!)
Control blood sugar. Red Ginseng reduced cortisol levels in the bloodstream and helps promote insulin production. Helps manage or preven Diabetes.
Treat Arthritis, because of its anti-inflammatory properties is a great natural alternative to reducing the severity of rheumatoig arthritis.
Promote Bodily balance, all ginseng varieties are classified as adaptogens aka herbs that work addressing any imbalances you have in your body (includes infections, insomnia, stress, digestive issues, etc.
And I don't think I have to tell you what the Seaweed is used for, right? :)
There you have it, I guess I'll be posting more about this since I just started taking the Ginseng Tea and this week I'll try the Red Ginseng!
감사합니다!
I would like to thank KoreaTaste for the opportunity to blog for them and for the Healthy presents I got!
For some reason I've been talking about Kimchi too much these last couple of days so I decided to Blog about it (yet, again), Last year I finally visited the "Kimchi Museum" located in COEX, it was a must since I'm such a Kimchi fan, we visited the Kimchi Museum on our 1st day in Korea for the WKB Tour back in Sept '12, don't ask me why but I like Kimchi, at least the few varieties I've tried, I love cooking 김치전.
My 1st lousy 김치전
A meal without Kimchi is not a meal in Korea, no matter if it's International food that you are having there will be something Pickled in your table, Kimchi also contains healthful properties, Vitamins, it helps the digestion and its also helpful in preventing various types of Cancers, recently a studio showed it's also helpful with Weight loss, it's said that the"Korean spirit is embedded in Kimchi, the care and devotion it takes to make this dish is an embodiment of the Soul of the entire Country"
Ok, so, let's talk about a few kinds of Kimchi!
통배추김치 or Tongbaechu Kimchi
This kimchi is made with Chinese Cabbage and it's the most common Kimchi in Korea (and around the globe!), it's usually made during winter and it's included in every Korean Meal.
나박김치 or Nabak Kimchi
Radish water Kimchi is made with Radishes and cabbages, it's usually made during the early months of Spring and is popular for its cold and invigorating broth.
Image: chowdivine.com
오이소박이 or Oisobagi
This Kimchi is made by stuffing Cucumbers, made with different seasonings, the Cucumbers are marinated in salt and also contains a refreshing broth.
Image: ifood.tv
총각김치 or Chonggak Kimchi
Whole radish Kimchi, this kimchi is made from small turnips with red pepper powder and seasonings, This Kimchi won't sour easily, even during the summer time.
깍두기 or Kkakdugi
깍두기 or Kkakdugi
Diced radish Kimchi, usually bite sized cubes of white radish are used to make it, it goes good with soups like Seolleongtang (ox bone soup) *Did you ever watched Kim Sam Soon?, after the fight between Henry and Samshik they eat this soup and att Kkakdugi kkk*
Seolleongtang
I think 4 kinds of Kimchi are enough for now. , Each season has it's own variety of Kimchi, Kimchi is so important that there are Special fridges for it, because it has to have certain temperature, there's bread made with Kimchi, Hot Dogs with Kimchi, and an infinity of recipes for everyone to try out!, I recently saw someone posting about "Scrambled Kimchi eggs", basically scrambled eggs with Kimchi, so... Yea, you can add Kimchi to anything and call it "Whatever Kimchi" I suppose....
Just a quick update, BuzzKorea is having a Touch Korea Tour contest, you have to register and create your own tour for the chance to win an All expense paid trip to Korea!
I already submitted mine, so you can go vote for them here and here and I will love you forever :P
Sorry about the lack of posts on the blog!, as some of you know I've been busier than I would like... I haven't had a nothing-to-do-except-laying-in-bed weekend in a while since my sister and I started our Cupcake business a couple of weeks ago (333Cupcakes), anyway, a couple of weeks ago I found a very entertaining blog written by Tom Stockwell and after a couple of emails he was kind enough to contribute with this blog, so here's Tom's post about Jeju Island :) ... Again Tom, Thank you so much for this great post! :)
Jeju Highlights
Jeju island is known
as the “Hawaii of Korea”. Tucked down in the south of the country, the island
has a climate very different from mainland Korea and the volcanic landscape
renders it unrecognisable as part of the peninsula.
Jeju’s flora has
evolved differently from the rest of the country thanks to the climate, and
ditto the accent. Many people who live on mainland Korea often say that when
people from Jeju island talk, they simply can’t understand what is being said
due to the difficulty of the dialect and the different words used.
It’s not easy to sum
up the island in just a few sentences, so here are a few photos with some short
descriptions that display the incredible diversity that Korea’s most beloved
island has to offer. 1.Walking Trails
Jeju has walking
trails all around the island and these colourful trinkets can be seen dotted
along them helping you to find your way.
2.Flora
The variety of plants
and flowers on Jeju is
truly magnificent and you’ll encounter their beauty wherever you stroll,
whether it be through the hiking trails or the island’s gardens.
3.Swirls
The seas around the
island can become rough and produce some dramatic effects against the
black volcanic rock which make for mesmerising views and stunning photos.
4.Black Pork
Jeju is well renowned
for its black pork, rightly
considered a specialty and served as Korean barbecue. It’s eaten wrapped in a
cabbage leaf with soybean sauce and garlic.
5.Galchijorim
A spicy fish stew choc
full of vegetables, galchijorim is full of
flavour and another dish that the island is famous for. Avoid the tourist
restaurants and go for somewhere that may look less glamorous but will offer
more hearty, homemade fare.
6.Strange
Seafood
As well as the more
traditional fare, strange creatures from the sea are sold around Jeju as food.
I have no idea what any of these are.
7.Theme Park
This theme park
consisted of just a Viking boat and precisely zero people when I passed it on a
rainy July day.
8.Dutch Hero
Korea has a rather
close affinity with the Netherlands, most
specifically football coach Guus Hiddink who led the national team to the
finals of the 2002 World Cup. This patch of Holland in Jeju is located around
an area dedicated to Dutch explorer, Hendrick Hammel.
9.Halla Mountain
On the top of Halla
Mountain, the highest in South Korea, lies a crater filled with a lake. The top
can get extremely windy, so proceed with caution if you decide to venture up
there.
10.The Descent
The steps leading down
from Halla Mountain will make you
pause to admire the view ahead of you. The weather at the top is often
drastically different from that at the bottom. I didn’t expect the rain and
sleet.
11.Cacti
There are cacti all
over the island, which surprised me but made for some great photos. Chocolate
made from the plants is produced and sold on Jeju.
12.Stone Men
These little stone men
are dotted all over Jeju island. I’m not quite sure what they represent, but
the quirky characters and individual expressions make for interesting viewing
and story making.
13.Sunrise Peak
The view from my
pension room over the sea with Sunrise Peak in the background. We didn’t go as
it was clogged with tourists when we drove past it, unfortunately.
14.Puppy Love
OK so this one might
be cheating. This puppy was chilling out in the port town of Jangheung, where I
caught the ferry over to Jeju.
15.Volcanic Beach
The beaches on Jeju
consist of a special kind of volcanic sand and are by no means your white sand
paradise like the islands of Thailand and
Indonesia. Crowded in summer, your best bet of having a bit of beach to
yourself is if you go in June or September, before and after the main tourist
season but while the weather’s still nice.
16.Robotosaurus
If you visit just one
museum in Jeju, make sure you go to the Believe It Or Not! Museum. Thoroughly
cheesy but thoroughly entertaining, there are plenty of wacky and interactive
exhibits inside to keep everyone amused.
17.You’re Not in
Korea
It’s moments like
driving down a motorway and seeing a horse just ambling down the lane that make
you realise you’re not in Seoul anymore. Jeju can, at times, seem like a
completely different country.
BIO:
Tom always had his nose stuck in an atlas as a child, and
pretended that the stairs in his home were a magic carpet whisking him away to
some faraway country that he’d seen on the map. Now, he’s travelling the
world and has taught in Korea, explored snow covered beaches in Poland, partied
at Sydney Mardi Gras and almost thrown up from trying durian in Kuala Lumpur.
You can keep up with Tom’s adventures through his blog,Waegook Tom, viaFacebook, and by
following@waegook_tomon Twitter,
too.
If you don't know what I'm talking about it must be because you are living in some kind of Cave...or at least in an Internet Free World....
Psy is a South Korean singer-songwriter, he is popular for his funny videos and stage performances, he is currently working with YG Entertainment (BigBang/2NE1's record label)
Just 5 weeks ago PSY released the song "Gangnam Style" on his youtube channel and just passed the 40 million views, the video is everywhere, went from the Internet to the News such as CNN, CBC and soon famous artists such as Robbie Williams and T-Pain blogged or Tweeted something about this video.
Not only famous people are talking about this, the video went Viral and there are numerous Parodys of the Video and recently found the cuttest one thanks to a tweet.... this time is Oppa Ponny Style :) Watch and go..."AWWWWWWW!!!" with me.
Just as I was looking at Gangnam Style's wiki and I found out Daesung and Seungri (BigBang) ar the to Ajusshi's playuing a board game while Psy does his dance... and I don't know about you but Comedian Noh Hong-Cheol plays one of my fave parts on the video when he dances on top of PSY at the elevator O_O lol...
Just a couple of days ago Psy was contacted by Justin Bieber's manager and recently he traveled to LA to meet up with them to make a new version of the song...Justin Bieber's "LA Style" or something like that... to be honest I don't even like Hyuna's version that much.... :/ it's just not the same, NOONE does the Horse riding step like Psy, am I right?
So, if you still don't know PSY or his Gangnam style... here's the video... enjoy (I can almost bet you'll be trying the Horse step within an hour....)
Aegyo is a Korean word that derives from the Chinese characters "Love (ae)" and "Beautiful (gyo)" and it Means "Cute" in Korean.
Aegyo girls (or boys) act childlike, sweet, cute and inocent infront of others, they can blush at dirty jokes
and is commonly used to charm that special someone you like.
Boys Aegyo gone wrong.... they creep me out a tiny bit O_o
If you are familiar with Korean culture you know what does Aegyo means, those cute looking girls acting innocent and making sad puppy faces just to get what they want...but this isnt something that only happens in Dramas, it also happens in Real life...
For what I've read Aegyo is not always something guys are into and sometimes it depends on the girl being aegyo... There are plenty of FAKE aegyo girls just winning at everything trying to be aegyo while there are also very natural aegyo Girls or boys -->
This will be easier to explain with some Videos or pictures... right?
This video is from the popular Girl group SNSD ~ Girls Generation being Aegyo
While I was in Korea I was witness of some Aegyo, most of the time in Coffee Shops or Shopping Districs... I would constantly hear that squirrel-like voice (sort of like mine...but mine is natural lol) saying "Oppa!!!!" the rest I couldn't understand (haha) but after the "Oppaaaaa!!" you can see the guy going to get someting so that would mean the Aegyo worked and the girl got what she wanted haha.
I found a very good video explaining Aegyo and how to achieve it....so Enjoy!
Korean souvenirs give away!!!! The condition it's pretty simple, Send me your best Aegyo Shot (see contact information here) and the best one will be posted here and will receive a price n_n .... You have until August 1st to submit your picture :)
Hope you guys can get a better Idea on what Aegyo means
Just like I told you a couple of weeks ago, the Kpop SarangDay was celebrated in Mexico City on April 21st, sadly I was unable to assist but the organizers CoreaYMas and Korean Pop Mexico Company where nice enough to provide me with some info and pictures of the event. (Thank you guys!!!)
K-pop dance over
Corea Y Mas was the master mind of this event and turns out it is an international event, Mexico was in charge of the Opening and countries like Guatemala, Peru, Chile and Colombia will follow and it's expected another one in Mexico to give closure to this series of events.
Almost 300 Kpop lovers assisted the Kpop SarangDay event where CYM provided with gifts for some lucky guests, Dance groups covered Kpop songs like BigBang's and Girls Generation's.
T-Mark was also a part of this event with some of his famous Kpop covers, you can see the video of one of his covers here (http://coreaymas.com/2012/01/14/cover-de-2ne1-habla-del-racismo-hacia-los-fans-del-k-pop/) this cover is about how Kpop fans are seen in a weird way and the intolerance against them.
Kpop Fans dancing at the rythm of Mr. Simple
The Korean association in Mexico was present in the event and everyone had the chance to take pictures with members of the association and the Organizers. There was also a sale of Korean products, a DJ to set the mod and get everyone to dance and the presence of some Press.
This kind of events are setting Korea on the Map in Mexico and hopefully soon we'll have Kpop groups comming to Mexico.
I also provided some more info regarding this event on the monthly segment with KBSeFM ~ DriveTime (which I will be posting the audio later)
We <3 Korea / DJ
So, stay tuned for more info about Kpop events in Mexico!
Also, if you are a BigBang fan please check this out. VIPProyectos BigBang convocatory:
We would like to invite all of the international members to participate in an event to celebrate BigBang's TAEYANG birthday.
On a white paper you'll need to write your birthday wishes and add a picture.
Take a picture of your message and send it to VIPPROYECTOS2@hotmail.com with the subject "Cumple de TAE / TAE's birthday", a video with all the pictures will be made to celebrate!.
