Maria, the Korean Bride

What started out as a platform to rebel against her parents for nagging at her to get married, Maria Yoon 마리아 윤 (a first-generation Korean-American and also performance artist) set out at the age of 30 to get married in every State in the U.S, i.e. to get married 50 times.

She and her project are now known as Maria, the Korean Bride. It took her 9 years to complete the project.

Through her work, she wants to bring her audience's attention to the question of 'what is marriage', her experience as a Korean-American when trying to get married etc. Her 'husbands' in all 50 states include typical men, women, indigenous people, animals (e.g. a Black Angus cow in Nebraska and an expensive stallion in Kentucky coz she claimed she couldn't find any males to marry. She also said that "He is worth more than $2 million. I recall his sperm sold for $20,000." =)))) and objects (e.g. the Liberty Bell).

This project is simply brilliant.

I love how she poses for the 'wedding pics'.
She's always in the hanbok with her hands politely held before her chest and her head submissively bowed, silently making her point to the world.

She had invited her parents to be present at the final and 50th wedding in Times Square, New York where she married someone whom she had chosen via a raffle, but they did not turn up. Later, it was revealed that because her parents had an argument about Maria's marriages, they did not turn up. Her mother was present at the screening of the documentary though, and explained that Maria's father would prefer if Maria had married a Korean man.

Read about Maria, the Korean Bride.



She said something in her documentary which stuck a chord with me.

"I've been married 50 times, but I still don't know what a marriage is all about."

It's sublime.

You gotta put more thought into your own marriage(s)! =)

Next Holiday Destination: North Korea

Baby! Let's go to North Korea for our next holiday!

북한은 우리가 간다!

See Reuters photo report on a vacation in North Korea here.

Funny & Educational

You see? No need to cross-dress.

This variety show (at least this episode) is funny AND (lightly) educational.



Laughed until I teared... LOL!!!

Do You Know South Korea?

Do You Know South Korea? from David Dutton on Vimeo.

Shining Inheritance 찬란한 유산 灿烂的遗产

Watching Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy is super frustrating.

**WARNING!! Spoiler ahead**

Don't get me wrong. This is a great series. Han Hyo Joo is so cute and convincing, even when the script drops way off the usual believable scale.

But the problem is that ONCE AGAIN Han Hyo Joo does not get together with my favourite 天寿哥!! Once again, the good guy who did everything right did not get the girl. ROOOAAAARRRR!!! =_=

At first, I was totally against developing any empathy for Lee Seung Gi, ie the guy whom Han Hyo Joo got together with in this series.

Alas, his boyish-monkey charms are undeniable.
(He proves his cute prowess again in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho 내 여자친구는 구미호 我的女友是九尾狐.)

天寿哥 is, after all, an ajeossi 아저씨 oredi.

对不起, 天寿哥!
最 MAN 最帅的，还是你。只不过，李昇基他比较可爱！

My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox (Gumiho) 내 여자친구는 구미호 我的女友是九尾狐

I was made to watch My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox. 

I'm not exactly a fan of rom-com TV series, mostly because I do not believe in the popular social construct of romance and so-called L.U.R.V.E.. I'd rather watch family-based Korean dramas, where the mother-in-law is the public enemy No. 1. LOL! =)))

Regardless of my personal preferences, because life is about compromises and living means sucking such compromises up with an enthusiastic smile, I completed the series which featured the singer-actor Lee Seung Gi and model-singer-actress Shin Min Ah.

This series has a great sound track, especially 'Fox Rain'.
In the series, whenever it starts to rain during a sunny day, it means the fox is crying.

Back to the resistance...
The protagonists, despite how cute they were as a couple, had neither mothers nor mothers-in-law. What a disappointment.

Nah... The story line is decent and the actors did a great job. =))
The thing about Korean actors and actresses, they are very determined to be the best that they can... The leads were in their early 20s, but you know they know what they are doing.

OK, the real reason why I was kept glued to this series is the ultra androgynous No Min-woo. 

My heart was ripped to pieces when he teared. Beautiful people shouldn't have to feel sad.

All leads in this series performed at least 1 song as captured in the series and the original soundtrack. This is No Min-woo's song in the series. It's called Trap and is usually played whenever he was coming onto or onscreen. =)))

According to a quick and dirty survey amongst my Korean wave classmates, I don't think No Min-woo's ultra famous... YET! =)))

But he will be!
Coz he reminds me of dark (as in personality, not skin colour) mashed up version of Takuya Kimura + Gackt. And... He plays the drums... Former drummer of Korean rock band TRAX. And he idolises Johnny Depp.

I think his popularity is currently unstable because (i) his face changes all the time (probably to due to extensive plastic surgery and radical image makeovers every few months), and (ii) rife rumours that he is so not straight.

Seriously, who cares whether he is plastic and/or gay.
I hope he makes it big... I wanna see more of him.

너무너무너무... 너무너무너무... 너무너무너무... 좋아요!!!

Kimchi Chigae 김치 찌개

Tonight was the last class of Korean Level 4. Teacher Kim made us Kimchi Chigae using Kimchi made and airmailed from South Korea by her mother.

Teacher Kim creating this delicious dish.

I didn't know this before, but it's Kimchi Chigae is really easy to prepare.

All you need is:

1. Kimchi made by a Korean mother
2. Anchovies from South Korea
3. Kelp from South Korea
4. Canned tuna
5. Water

Teacher Kim emphasized that no additional seasoning is required.

Figuring out how the portable stoves work.

Boil for about 20 minutes, then add the tuna.

Another 10 minutes later... KIMCHI CHIGAE!!! 

It's sooooooooooo good!!

One of my classmates and I decided last week that we would complete the meal by bringing Banchan (side dishes) and Makgeolli!! =)))

(Banchan is from Chan Chan Chan in Takashimaya Basment.
Makgeolli is from Sol Mart in Novena Square 2.)

A toast before we lose ourselves in the Kimchi Chigae, Banchan and Makgeolli!!

Teacher Kim tahpau-ed what's left for me to bring home to 'Good Fren'. He agrees that this is the best Kimchi Chigae we've had to date. I told him this is what our meals would taste like if we had a Korean mother. =))

Till the next Korean Language class level in mid-August!

It's not just about learning the Korean language...

It's been 10 months since I started taking Korean language classes. My class is now at Level 4.

But this learning journey has gone beyond the language. It is also about culture and friendship.

Last evening, our class brought our Teacher and 4 Korean students (who are in Singapore to learn English) for Bak Kut Teh at Song Fa.

Woman in the foreground is not a friend of ours. =)

Yumz!

There were 16 of us (including a classmate's 7 year old daughter). Can you tell who's Singaporean and who's Korean?

Bak Kut Teh Table 1

'Good Fren' joined us for dinner too!

Bak Kut Teh Table 2

After dinner, we made our way to Tanjong Pagar aka Little Korea for Makgeolli at this cute little Korean joint called Koko RooLoo, opposite Amara Hotel.

Our Teacher pouring us Makgeolli!

Makgeolli is incomplete without some side dishes!!

We also had a surprise for one of the Korean students. It's his birthday!!

It's me, posing with the birthday boy! He's a final year Engineering undergraduate. Eventually, he was chatting with 'Good Fren' about lan gaming. =_=

Check out my Ah Lian I 'red sequined-heart' SG T-Shirt!

We chatted, drank, took pics and laughed alot... It's a great way to spend a Friday evening! =))

Tough Life

I have been scarred by the entities at home.

First, Tiger decided to scratch me coz I stopped stroking him after 20 minutes of stroking.
I is slave. =_=

Then, the frying pan took it out on me, near my wrist, while I was preparing steak for 'Good Fren'.
Again... I is slave.

My scars must be obvious coz even my Korean language teacher pointed them out to me as she stood behind while I recited a conversation in Korean.
I had 2 words for her: 아줌마 (Ajumma) & 요리 (yoli). Basically, "Auntie" + "Cooking" (cuisine).

Tough life. Hardship. I is poor thing.

Finally, I made my way to a Korean supermarket today and bought 2 different brands of Makgeolli. This was inspired by my first taste of Makgeolli at Togi some months ago.

This brand is not that good. It's a little fizzy. I expected it to be thick like barley, but it's not.

I hope the other brand "Jinro" will be better.

Been trying to find children's story book in Korean as supplementary readers, but the selection of Korean books in the Korean supermarket is severely limited. Of course it is. It's a supermarket!

Anyone knows where to get Korean story books?

Dong Yi 同伊 동이

Dong Yi, the TV series, is currently showing on Channel U.
We went to Poh Kim and bought the DVD set.

It's a story about how a commoner's daughter rose through the ranks in the Palace and became the favoured concubine of the King.

Though Dong Yi is a historical figure, I doubt the storyline follows history exactly.

Produced by the same famed producer Lee Byung Hoon who made Dae Jang Geum 大長今 대장금, he once again features traditional Korean crafts in his series, this time being music and the art of applied science in the CSI field.

In the typical Korean pride, the actors, palaces, costumes, sets, acting, storyline, and character presentation are of high standards. It is an absolute pleasure to watch.

Of all the characters, my favourite is the swordsman, 车天寿, who was in steadfastly love with 同伊. Even though 同伊 eventually chose the King, he dutifully stood by her side and protected her with his life to the end.

The most touching scenes were when he struggled to figure out what was best for 同伊 while battling his own feelings. He went to have a man-to-man talk with the King. He wanted to know if the King was serious about 同伊.

So, who says 男人不坏，女人不爱!
就是喜欢天寿哥这样的好男人呀!

On the other hand, the uber handsome small-eyed King, is quite a weakling, in my view. Definitely not a hot-blooded man like 天寿哥.

I dislike the scenes where he hugged and cried to 同伊 and suggested for them to run away. I certainly did not like the way he could like Concubine Jang so much at first, then decided later that 同伊 was the love of his life instead.

So you can imagine my disappointment when I dreamt of the King after watching multiple episodes of the series. Why couldn't it be about 天寿哥?!!

BM: Eh... Baby... I dreamt of the King last night. Why couldn't it have been 天寿哥?!! 天寿哥 is so MAAAAAAN!!! ROOOAAARR!!

GF: Nabei... I thought you would say,"Why couldn't it have been with GF?!?!"

BM: Erm... Oh yah... That too... 

=))

막걸리

As you may already know, I've stopped drinking copious amounts of alcohol for a few years now, coz somehow I have developed an allergy to alcohol, at least the usual categories such as wine, beer, the likes of martell etc.

But yesterday... yesterday... yesterday...

My Korean class classmates and I went to this Korean restaurant along Mosque Street called Togi for dinner. Somehow we ended up ordering a kettle of Makgeolli 막걸리.

I was so happy with this newfound chilled beverage that I forget to take pics. It was really served in a kettle and bowls like those you see below.

Because of the kettle and bowls, and the distinct taste of Makgeolli, I remember commenting that I felt like a peasant. I could imagine enjoying this chilled sweet/sour alcoholic drink outside of my farmhouse, sitting on one of those Korean decks, in a warm Korean summer night, while fanning myself.

I was not far off. Makgeolli is a farmer's alcohol.

Mmmm... Wondering if I should bring some to Korean class this coming Wednesday.

Korean Saying of the Day

똥인지 된장인지 먹어봐야 알아?

Must you taste it to know if it's shit or soy-paste?

End of Level 2

We had the last class of Level 2 last evening.

This is what our typical weekly class looks like. And yes... the gender ratio is extremely skewed. We only have 1 guy in class.

The table you see in the foreground is what I call 'Table #1'. They are the nearest to the teacher, most attentive, always do their homework, and almost always score the highest in class.

This is my table. We are always noisy, always giggly, always gossiping, sometimes missing lessons, and hang out outside of the classroom.

I felt a little sad towards the end of the class... coz I knew I was gonna be the last person standing at my table. So, we exchanged home addresses like we used in secondary school. =))

Realising that I would be alone, Table #1 invited me to join them for Level 3, but I is scared. They are very serious! =P

As a reward for completing Level 2, my teacher made us Kimchi Pancake!!
So this is what it tastes like to have a Korean mother! Mmmm...

By the way, I printed a T-Shirt that says this in front

and this at the back.

Geddit? Geddit?

I'll wear it during the Election period and/or National Day, and only Koreans and very few Singaporeans would get it. =)))

My Korean fails me BIG TIME.

Called my Korean classmate in Seoul to wish him Happy Birthday, and ended up stammering like a fool with his dad on the line.

I only managed 3 sentences:

(1) "My name is XXX."
(2) "Me... Friend... Cambridge"
(3) "Sorry! Bye Bye!"

내가 바보입니다! =_=

YOZOH 요조 - K-Indie-ish Pop

Ok, to balance the amount of Korean oldies I've been listening to, I found YOZOH 요조.

A Korean female singer... born in the early 1980s... somewhat indie-ish pop. Can't really say she's indie, coz she's more pop-ish... Not so much K-Pop as we know it... I don't think she does those 'bam-bam' body-jerking dance moves.

She's more like the kooky act-cute type.

Yesh... You get the idea...

联想：Somehow girls who look like that... I often wonder if they menstruate regularly. I shan't explain myself on this point, coz it's kinda tough. It's just a thought that comes with consuming the look. Perhaps my brain tags such a look with 'unreal' and 'doll' and 'not adult'. Hence, no menstruation. O_o. And so, it's kind of counter-intuitive coz this is the precisely that look which Japanese sanitary pad companies like to use for their ad campaigns. Kind of ironic, if you ask me.

Anyway... This is one of her nicer songs. It's called Morning Star.


Then you have this weird song of hers (which probably qualifies her as 'indie'.

It's called 'Banana Party' and the lyrics go...

Give me your banana
Let me taste your banana
Let me taste your banana

As part of her song, she sings 'Niam Niam Niam' to complete her banana-tasting experience.
I'm not kidding. Listen to it.

비 내리는 영동교 ~ 주현미

Ju Hyeon Mi 주현미 (周炫美) is a Korean-Chinese and an ultra popular singer in South Korea in the 1980s and 1990s.

I like this song of hers very much.

비 내리는 영동교 ~ 주현미

밤비 내리는 영동교를 홀로 걷는 이마음
그사람은 모를꺼야 모르실꺼야
비에젖어 슬픔에 젖어 눈물에 젖어
하염없이 걷고있네 밤비 내리는 영동교
잊어야지 하면서도 못잊는 것은
미련 미련 미련 때문인가봐

밤비 내리는 영동교를 헤매도는 이마음
그사람은 모를꺼야 모르실꺼야
비에젖어 슬픔에 젖어 아픔에 젖어
하염없이 헤매이네 밤비 내리는 영동교
생각말자 하면서도 생각하는건
미련 미련 미련 때문인가봐
...................................................................

Where can one buy Korean oldies (not K-pop) in Singapore?

Three Brothers 수상한 삼형제

I'll give you 3 good reasons to catch Three Brothers on Channel U, every Mon to Fri, 7pm - 8pm.

1. The mother-in-law is utterly unreasonable. ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!! I wanna slap her. Shaddup oredi!!
2. 2 out of 3 brothers are super cute (2nd brother is manly (selfish) and the 3rd brother in his police uniform is.. FWAH!), while the eldest son's idiosyncrasies and helplessness tug at your heartstrings. 
3. I especially like the 2nd daughter-in-law's character and acting. A filial daughter-in-law trapped in a pre-mature marriage and the world of her in-laws' family. She was on the verge of a breakdown last evening. =_=

English write-up here.
Official website in Korean here.

Do remember to watch it in Korean. The emotions are more authentic that way.

김치 있습니까?

During last evening's lesson, my Korean Language teacher told us about the cabbage shortage in South Korea. The prices of cabbage has gone up 4 times, directly affecting kimchi production and prices.


Kimchi/cabbage is so important that the South Korean government is embarking on a 'kimchi bailout' during this difficult period, subsidising the cabbage prices.

In a kimchi frenzy, I am gonna stock up on some this evening. =))

Korean Language Class

It has got to brighten your day when your Korean Language classmate comes back from her trip to China with Korean stickers and sweets for you.

행복요!

I'm gonna stick some on 'Good Fren' thinkpad. He's so gonna kill me.

These days, because of my Korean classes, I try to translate everyday terms into Korean in my conversations with 'Good Fren'.

For example, 'Good Fren' tells me he is going to have lunch in the canteen with his colleagues. Instead of acknowledging with the usual "Orh...Ok.", I'd go,"You are going to a 식당."

Or when I call him on his mobile, I'd shout out loudly,"아버지, 안녕!" It literally means "Hi Father!"

Sometimes, he would reply to me in Japanese (coz he used to take Japanese language lessons and *ahem* had a Japanese girlfriend) in retaliation.

After a while, 'Good Fren' couldn't take it anymore, and went,"Enough of this Korean Madness shite oredi!!"

하 하 하 !
As if I'm gonna stop.

Korean-Mad Part 2

As you may already be aware of, our tiny household is currently being invaded by the Korean language.

There are Korean labels all over the apartment.


This morning, the aircon servicing men came by for the quarterly follow-up. The leader was an Indian foreigner worker, whilst his subordinate looked PRC and didn't speak much, so I simply assumed that he was from the PRC.

As they were going about their thing, the 'PRC' guy kept staring at the labels around the apartment. I thought he was trying to read them to figure out what they meant.

On their way out of the apartment, I said "Thank you", and the 'PRC' guy replied in Korean?!!

BM: Thank you!

Guy: Gomabwayo!

BM: Eh? You are Korean?

Guy: Yes.

BM: Hee Hee... Annyeonghi Gaseyo!

Guy: Annyeonghi Gyeseyo!

He must be thinking how crazy I was... labelling everything at home... from the door, to mirror, to fridge, to chair, to photo frames, to 'Good Fren's standee... =))

I didn't realise that MOM gives approval for the hiring of Korean foreign workers. That's kind of 1980s, isn't it?