The National Orchestra Of Korea's "Part Of Nature" Orchestral Series

The last time I played Korean instruments was on my first event sponsored by the Korea Tourism Organization years ago. In a theater near Seolleung Station, I was taught, along with about 30 other foreigners living in Seoul, on how to play a kwaeng-gwari, or a small gong, and a chang-gu, a drum that looks like an hour-glass. That day, I even learned the other Korean traditional martial art, taekgyeon.

And this weekend, at the Haeoreum Hall of the National Theater of Korea (NTK) at Nam-san, the National Orchestra of Korea educated me on the other traditional Korean musical instruments.

The National Orchestra of Korea, the resident orchestra of the National Theater of Korea, "brings the traditional instruments into the modern world but still keeps the rich heritage of Korean music alive", according to NTK website.

Conducted by its artistic director, Won Il, the National Orchestra of Korea performed compositions by local composers. These compositions are part of the orchestral series called Part of Nature.

And it indeed sounded like it. From the first composition, the various Korean musical instruments contributed to fill the huge Haeoreum Hall with sounds of nature. Don't ask me to name these Korean instruments because I can't. Ha-ha-ha! But from where I was seated, on the fifth row from the stage, these instruments were either plucked, blown, beaten or banged together, depending I guess on the composition and when the conductor wanted it played.

There was also a piece that needed the interpretation of a gachang, a Korean traditional singer. But the two highlights of the afternoon's performance were the participation of two Korean women playing the gayageum and the geomungo, and four Korean men who played the chang-gu, kwaeng-gwari, and two other percussions. These musicians received the most applause.

As the audience wasn't allowed to take photographs during the performance, I went to the lobby during the 20-minute intermission and asked Ms. Lauren Kim, a producer at the NTK for the official photos from the performance, and during the week, I received the photo below from Mr. Youngsook Kim, the producer of the National Orchestra of Korea.

                   (Photo credit: National Theater of Korea)

The last time I watched a performance at the National Theater Korea was last August to watch the Korean Midday Dance, which was very impressive as it was a display of precision drumming and dancing. 

And today as I returned to the NTK, I did not only hear drums play, I heard the whole range of the Korean traditional instruments. And together with the audience, I was also educated as to how these are played to create an assortment of sounds in order to interpret an original Korean composition. By the way, after each piece was played, the conductor asked the composers, who were seated among the crowd, to stand up and be recognized by the audience. These composers must have been very proud when their compositions were played by the orchestra.

Thanks again to the Korea Tourism Organization for the free ticket to this performance. Next time, I would love to watch that Korean Midday Dance performance again. :-) 

A PInoy At The Movies: Hunger Games, Catching Fire

I first saw the poster for this movie, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, plastered at a Seoul subway station a month before it was released here in Korea; I decided not to miss it. I wasn't able to watch the first installment of this series, The Hunger Games, at a theater. But thanks to a local cable channel which kept on replaying the movie over two weeks, I actually saw the middle part, the ending, a few minutes of here-and- there scenes, until I finally caught the beginning. Ha-ha-ha! I think, after seeing Katniss in action over several replays, I can now say that I myself am an archer.  

And last week, I went to watch Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark compete at the 75th Hunger Games, at the Lotte Cinema near Gangnam Station, together with my friend Inpyo, whom I haven't seen in years as he left Korea for New York to study at the American Film Institute. Like me, this good friend is also a movie buff, and if ever there's someone in Seoul I could discuss films with, it's Inpyo.

We were able to catch the 8PM showing, and even without having dinner yet, we just rushed in as it was freezing outside. 

And just like the first installment, Catching Fire was as brutal and yet colorful. Panem's The Capitol was literally awashed with food, luxury and over-the-top Halloween costumes, while District 12 was awashed with poverty, depression and, well, dirty people.

Although most of us probably could relate to the scenes of District 12, or 11, we would probably still be overwhelmed with all the costumes, hair styles and the grandiosity of The Capitol, not to mention its technology and apartments! How could anyone make a gown that transforms into another gown? Or even emit fire?

This movie's visuals are amazing and impressive. I'm not sure if Katniss and Peeta suffered a certain degree of identity crisis every time they transformed from District 12's pauper look to somebody that should be on the cover of Vogue or GQ, wearing designer clothes that might as well be worth a year's food supply of a village in District 12.

Jennifer Lawrence once again takes command of a scene whenever she's in it. I like her husky voice and her un-intimidating beauty. Some actresses draw you in, not because of how lovely they are (although most of them are), but because they are exceptionally good at transforming themselves into an enigma on the screen. Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close are perfect examples.

You may not like the ending of the movie as it screamed 'be sure to watch the sequel!', and compared to the first installment, this one was a bit predictable. I already knew that Katniss and Peeta would not be killed off at the Hunger Games, but I didn't know what twist there would be since I never read the book. Donald Sutherland as President Snow was as sinister-looking as on the first installment, but I wasn't sure what to make of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I just didn't see him as the head gamemaker. He walked through a few scenes looking like his character in Mission Impossible 3. I could have played his part and the producers could have saved a lot of money. Ha-ha-ha!

I wasn't exactly ecstatic about the movie, but if only to enjoy the visuals, the technology and the traps of the Hunger Games, Katniss and the other tributes' gowns, and of course, to give you an idea why there's a third installment, I'd say you watch it, too.

                            (Our squid boek-keum)

And as the closing credits were rolling down a few minutes past10 PM, our own hunger games started. We were starving. Inpyo and I knew we were not at The Capitol where food was visually pretty, yummy and was easily available. Lucky for us, we were not in District 12; we were in Gangnam! Ha-ha-ha!  And restaurants were everywhere.

We found a restaurant along the alley behind the Lotte Cinema building that was still open. I especially wanted to return to this ojing-eo resturant where I had dinner with another friend this summer.

               (Rice with red pepper paste is mixed with the 
                             leftover over low fire)

So, if ever you watch Hunger Games: Catching Fire, make sure you had your dinner already. The hunger should only be on the movie screen, and not on the moviegoer. Ha-ha-ha!

Travelblog Korea: The 2013 Buzz Korea Awards!

This is what I like about the Korea Tourism Organization. They know how to show their appreciation to those of us who help in their campaign to promote Seoul and Korea to the world.

                     ('Fradia' with my Hannam-dong neighborhood 
                  in the background across the Han River)

                                   (Early buzzers)

The 2013 Buzz Korea Awards is the first time buzz KOREA gathered the international bloggers and members (at least those who could make it to Seoul) together in one place to celebrate another year and to award members whose videos, blogs and K-spots garnered the most votes. The winners got a free tour of selected Korean tourist spots while on a six-day, free-accommodation visit to Korea.

                             (Psy welcoming everyone)

In 2011, I received a runner-up prize for my blog, The Occidental Tourist, which I wrote in the summer of that year. Over the years, I won a prize or two for this or for that. Early this year, I won an iPad Mini!  

(The head of the Korea Tourism Organizaton's team handling buzz KOREA)

(The host of the awards, Ricky Kim)

(Dal Shabet)

So, tonight, amidst the fun and excitement of the awards ceremony held at Fradia, a floating restaurant and event place near Jamwon-dong in the Seocho District of Seoul, Dal Shabet and ZE:A, two of the more popular K-pop bands these days, performed exclusively for the buzz KOREA members. 

                                (Dal Shabet greeting the audience)

The awards night was hosted by Ricky Kim, who also helped give away special prizes like music CDs, a ZE:A jacket, an expensive-looking red backpack, and Yuna Kim's tiara and earrings, which she wore during a figure skating competition.

                             (ZE:A greeting their fans in the crowd)

And everyone went home with a bag full of skin care products. This was mine. Ha-ha-ha!

Thanks again, buzz KOREA, for the gifts. Until next year!

Here are the upbeat performances of Dal-Shabet and ZE:A. ZE:A also sang this ballad.

Here are a few photos of the winners. Congratulations to them!

The Changing Of Colors At Seoul's Namsan!

If Gyeongbuk Palace has changing of the guards (read blog here) , Namsan has its own changing of colors. 😀

Every autumn, I make sure that I pass through this mountain to observe the Gingko trees' annual changing of their colors, and it's always a convenient trip since I live next to Namsan. 😎

In spring and summer, their leaves are green. But when the cooler temperatures of autumn descend upon Seoul, they gradually lighten up to yellow-green, and then to yellow, before they all fall off from the branches before winter.☃

Every year though, it seems that the changing of the colors is not synchronized. In early autumn, some Gingko trees were already turning yellow, while the ones next to them were still green. Even the Gingko trees in my Hannam-dong neighborhood were also unevenly yellow and green (read blog here). I found it weird. Something has messed up the carotenoids of these trees. Global warming, perhaps? 😱

It is always an experience to see these trees in their yellow glory when struck by the autumn sun especially at noon. A few years back, I walked through the Gingko tree road in Namsan and enjoyed an afternoon autumn trek (read blog here) and it has become a yearly tradition  to retrace my steps and relive the experience.

The road that traces the southwestern side of Nam-san is perhaps the highest busy road in Seoul - that road from the Grand Hyatt Hotel up to the Millennium Seoul Hilton.  

I don't know if Namsan is the only mountain in Seoul where, up there, public passenger buses have routes.  If it is, then these roads, which have the highest elevation in the city, are also the busiest since they allow traffic to go around it. 😊

I guess, since Nam-san is the geographical center of Seoul, it was commercially viable, not just to drill tunnels through it, but to also spend a lot of money in chiseling roads around it, so that the mountain doesn't become a hindrance in connecting everyone from around city. 🚗🚌

And thanks to this road, everyone passing and driving through Nam-san's southwestern side is always rewarded with a view of the west and southern Seoul. You can see the tall buildings of Yeouido and even the mountains like Gwanak-san in the south.

And these views are even more conspicuous when you're up the NSeoul Tower (read blog here).

And during my annual autumn treks on Nam-san, the Gingko trees and the colors of the mountain don't disappoint. As you can see from the photos, it is a delight to see the imposing imperial yellow leaves, especially when the day is cool and the skies over Seoul are clear and blue.😃

So, if you can, do swing by Namsan and trace the Gingko tree lane to enjoy Nam-san's changing of colors. 😄

The Philippine Christmas Tree Lights Up In Seoul!

It is a very cold autumn night. But I am happy to see a Philippine Christmas lighted up among the very colorful lanterns of the Seoul Lantern Festival. For a moment, as I stand here being mesmerized by the lights, I can't help but recall my childhood years when I used to be mesmerized by the lights on the Christmas tree at home. Christmas lights always remind me of the festive atmosphere, of jolly Christmas carols and of course, midnight masses and noche buena!

But this time, I am not the only one being mesmerized by the lights of the Christmas tree. Kids, adults and couples take turns taking their photographs in front of the Christmas tree brought by the Philippine's Department of Tourism to Korea.

The Christmas tree is made of capiz shells from windowpane oysters. The shells of these oysters are popular materials for windows, lamps, coasters and tonight, hexagonal parols or Christmas lanterns.

While everyone around me is enjoying this giant, colorful, Christmas tree, I am thinking of Capiz, a province in the Panay Island in the Philippines, which also suffered devastation from the typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). And among the damaged homes in Capiz province, I am sure those families will find a way of putting up their own version of a Christmas tree this season, although it may not be as tall and extravagant as this one sitting along the Cheonggyecheon, or the Cheonggye Stream, in the middle of Seoul.

And tonight, I am thinking, South Korea, along with other generous international donors, is sending help to the hardest hit areas of the typhoon. And through this Philippine Christmas tree, we are expressing our gratefulness and sharing the Christmas spirit in return. 

We Will All Get Through This! Babangon Tayo!

It has been two weeks now since Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) swept through the Visayas in the Philippines and changed the lives, landscape and everything else on its path.

The worst is definitely over. And thanks to the help from generous local and international donors, Samar, Leyte and the rest of the worst-hit areas in the Visayas, our kababayans who survived the most powerful typhoon on the planet, are taking it each day at a time in slowly rebuilding their lives and community.

Yes, as I wrote last week, Yolanda (Haiyan) was just a typhoon, while we....are Filipinos. Resilient, strong and not be underestimated.

Thousands are still mourning the dead and the missing, thousands of children must have been orphaned, and unfortunate fathers and mothers are grieving for their children. I cannot even imagine what grief that is to endure. I can only sympathize and pray for them.

Even though the skies over Tacloban and the other islands have cleared and must be sunny these days, let's not forget that the most difficult task ahead is yet to begin: the rebuilding of the lives, livelihood and communities.

And while we, the lucky ones, have been spared to suffer this unspeakable tragedy, let's continue to help, not only this time, but in the months and years to come. You have all seen the devastation. They all need our help.

To my kababayans, we will get through this! Babangon tayo uli!