Music: The Namolla Family - "I Love You"

So last week I was walking from Subway (the restaurant. yes... those people at Subway know me pretty well now) when I passed one of the shops. Shops in Korea often play music to set an atmosphere for their shop. Anyway - this shop was playing music and I'd heard this song before in Korea but I never had ANY idea who sang it or what the name was! It was all in Korean! But I really liked the song, so I stopped to listen to it. Then I went in the shop and asked the lady who sings the song or what the name is... and she didn't know.

Then the song ended.

So I went and drilled some students for the artist or name of the song by whistling the tune. NOBODY knew! But FINALLY one lady was able to find it for me! It turns out the song is written by a comedian group in Korea called "The Namolla Family" and they made this song for a movie (a bad movie, from what I hear). But I really like the song.

The only words I really understand are "I love you" which is the name of the song. In Korean, "I love you" is "Sara-heng-gay". It's one word. Say it real fast, then listen for it in the song. Anyway... here's the song. Also, if you type "Namolla Family" Into YouTube, you can see one of their comedy skits. I don't understand a word of it - but it really looks funny.

Keep A Person!

Just something funny I saw in Korea. Oh graffiti - you gotta love it... and you also gotta wonder what the perp. is THINKING when they are spraying...

Sungshin at night

Right now, I'm staying in Seoul - somewhere between Sungshin Women's University and Hansung University. It's really a great area - I'll definately add more pictures to this post later of the area. There are the normal HUGE apartment buildings -- but there are also houses and restaurants that are built in the old traditional Korean style with the nice wood work (I'll add those pictures later).

Here's just a couple pictures of the market-walk at night. This isn't seasonal or anything. Every night, these lights go on and you walk underneath. There are people everywhere - restaurants and shops and street vendors... it's a great area. During the day - these are just white. They still look nice - but at night -- wow.

Mr. Kim, meet Mr. Kim and his friend Mr. Kim

Yes... Kim is a very popular family name in Korea (family name is a last name or surname). SO many people are named "Kim"! And there are a few others that are hugely common. 80% of the population must have only a handful of family names.

I see signs all the time! "Kim's piano instruction" - or Kim this or Kim that...

and I saw this sign and thought it was funny so I decided to take a snapshot. :)

Originally, I was going to wait and make this post when I had a whole collection of Kim pictures... but I realized I keep forgetting to take a picture when I see one so I'm just going to post it now and if I get more pictures I'll add them later! :D

Bizzare Claw Game: You win a WHAT?!?

I was just walking around Seoul, near the Sungshin women's university area. It's normal for me to investigate anything I see that strikes my interest. Needless to say - I take a peek into every claw game I pass to see what the prizes are. WELL... I passed the most bizzare claw game EVER!!! The traditional yellow claw machine was filled with water, and HUGE living lobsters were just chillin' in the bottom.

I was SOOOO close to playing! But I was afraid I'd win! If I won - I'd have to run away. EEEK! A LOBSTER?!? ack!

And can you imagine what the lobster is thinking? hahaha... WOW! A random claw comes in and tries to grab you sometimes - I imagine they think something like what is represented in the movie "Toy Story" with those little aliens. Maybe they think they're going to a better place? Hmmm...

Korea: A Developing Nation

Even Koreans are aware that Korea isn't yet labeled as "a developed nation". The offical label is that Korea is "a developing nation". They're certainly not finished. There's so much construction everywhere! Especially in Incheon. They're building entire neighborhoods, parks, highways - many things.

With almost 50 million people in Korea and a land mass that is smaller than some states in the USA... almost everyone lives in what Americans would consider apartments (or condos). I think it's normal in any big city. These buildings are everywhere in Korea and they're HUGE!!! Still, I look up and it's amazing to me... buildings as high as mountains. It really is an amazing sight.

On my way to Seoul I got a few pictures of some complexes under construction. Not just one... but an entire group of them - like they were building an entire neighborhood at once.

And when they finish... it looks something like this:

Remember the kid from "Jerry McGuire"?

Remember the kid from the movie, "Jerry McGuire"? Well... at the elementary school hogwan, there was this kid who reminded me of the kid from Jerry Mcguire. He was so hilarious - I swear... he's the Korean version of that kid - so cute and acted so funny...

Businesses you will recognize

I just thought it would be interesting for you if I made a list of businesses that are popular in both South Korea and USA.

Dunkin Donuts (It's the "McDonald's" of Korea... you can always find one. But what's interesting is that you don't really see people there early in the morning. Donuts aren't a morning food in Korea - they're more of an afternoon or night time pastry snack.)

Baskin Robins/31 flavors (If you see a Dunkin Donuts, there's a 60% chance you'll see a Baskin Robins nearby. It's so popular! And yes... it's just as if not more expensive. But, comparatively speaking, Korean people tend to get quite a bit more crazy with their icecream as they do with their pizza. For example... when I was doing Hapkido, somebody brought in icecream and it was the craziest icecream I'd ever eaten!!! It had everything of everything in it! It was all colors speckled with all colors: pink, blue, brown, white, red... there were blueberries in it, cherries in it, fudge, nerds, pop rocks... everything. I never knew what the next bite would taste like - and I half expected to find kimchi or chicken in it. I didn't, and the icecream wasn't bad - just crazy.)

McDonald's (yes, all the same meals you hate to love. You'll find the Big Mac, Sausage and Egg McMuffin, Big Breakfast, Pancakes - the McNorm)

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken - it's not HALF as good here as it is in the USA).

Burger King (not nearly as frequently seen - but the same menu choices, from the whopper to onion rings.)

Starbucks (duh. And the coffee is MORE expensive. I haven't been there yet.)

Subway (YESSSSSSS!!!! The same goodness of Subway, here in Korea.)

Pizza hut

Papa John's Pizza

T.G.I. Friday's (the food here is MUCH worse than in the US.)

Bennigan's (the food here is MUCH better than in the US.)

Outback Steakhouse (haven't been there yet, but I see them around and I do plan on visiting on the right occasion.)



That's all I can think of from the top of my mind - so I'll come back and add more if I remember more in the future. If you want to ask me if I've seen a particular restaurant or business in Korea, just ask! But I have not seen the following common restaurants:

No Taco Bell
No Wendy's