Coffee Addicted/ Drama Location: Hollys Coffee

Few days ago one of my Japanese friend text me, asking WHEN I will coming to Seoul again. ^^ Owh how I wish Seoul is just next door to me!ㅠㅠ Just like me, her PASSION when she's at Seoul is all about COFFEE and DESSERT!ㅋㅋㅋ She asking me how about PLANNING some time to travel and doing CAFE HOPPING together! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Well I need to check my BUDGET first ㅋㅋ and I still haven't PLAN any for my WINTER trip!ㅠㅠ

Anyway lets get back to our topic.ㅋㅋ As you all know there are THOUSANDS cafes in South Korea, be it small cafe or chain cafe just name it! I even CAN'T list it down as there are too many!ㅋㅋ I've been to some of their cafes' and trying DIFFERENT type of coffees! For today, I wanna bring back my MEMORY at HOLLYS COFFEE!ㅋㅋㅋ For Korean DRAMA LOVERS, you might be aware with HOLLYS isn't it?? This brand appeared in few KOREAN DRAMAS like Rooftop Prince and I Hear Your Voice.

They shoot the SCENE in one of the cafe at Seoul. However I DIDN'T go to Hollys Coffee in Seoul ㅋㅋㅋ I went to Hollys Coffee in Gwangju with my Gwangju friend. ㅋㅋ After a very tiring day yet fun, strolling around Gwanju city at night is one of GOOD memory for me.ㅋㅋ If you asking me which part of Korea I prefer to stay, I would say GWANGJU! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I know some might think it as SLOW city, but the food is marvelous! ㅋㅋㅋ

Back to our topic, Hollys Coffee ^^. Well I DON'T remember any particular REASON why I really wanna go to Hollys (Before visited) probably because I've SEEN it in Korean drama?? ㅋㅋ There are so many Korean dramas that I've watched yet I CAN'T name which one of it!ㅠㅠ Hollys Coffee was FOUNDED on 1998 and the headquarters is in GANGNAM. Like any other cafe, this cafe OFFERS coffees, tea either hot or cold as well yummy pastries! When I think about it, suddenly I'm craving for it!ㅠㅠ Someone send me Hollys Coffee please! :Pㅋㅋㅋ

On 2008, there are MORE than 100 Hollys Coffee in South Korea and they also EXPAND their business by franchising in China, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Peru, and United State. Korean Coffee/Drama lovers who LIVING in those countries listed, why not check Hollys Coffee around you today!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Apart from that they also start their OWN ACADEMY on 2011 which called The Hollys Coffee Academy.  

p/s: Anyone plan to become BARISTA?? Check it out here. Instead of become BARISTA, I prefer just to enjoy my coffee!~ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Sources:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollys_Coffee
                http://www.hollys.co.kr/

Photo Credit: dramafever.com
                      mischievous-panda.blogspot.com
                      amblo.jp

Korean Food/Tradition: Bok Days, Dog Meat?? & Samgyetang?

Another seasons coming in Korea just like a flash card! with one blink, you will see such greeny scenery along the road and the heating is NO kidding! Very hot indeed!! ㅠㅠ Compare with any countries at equator line (which had hot weather) South Korea weather during summer is worse than that!!ㅠㅠ I guess most of you might wondering why I says so isn't it?? Well I'm living in Malaysia, so of course I know our normal temperature is but I also  been to Korea on late spring, nearly summer. ^^ When I felt their sunlight, I was shocked!! Can't believe it!? I thought living in equator will be the hottest area on earth?! Yet 4 seasons countries summer is NIGHTMARE!! Makes me sweat more!ㅠㅠ

During summer, there are not many cloud in Korea so that's why the weather is really hot as it is direct sunlight! Make sure to wear plenty of sunblock or else you will see stripe on your face!ㅋㅋㅋ It also take quite long period to completely fade and back to normal tone! (Skin tone on your face) I experience that and I'm so REGRET for not put much sunblock back then! The moment my face tone back to normal, I felt as if I was reborn!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ok I'm not a make up MANIAC though but like any ordinary women, I do WORRY about my skin!ㅋㅋㅋ

Anyway today I'm NOT interested to talk about make up as I'm NOT expert in it. ㅋㅋㅋ What I wanna talk about it the BEST food during SUMMER! In Korea, during summer they said there are THREE days that are the most HOTTEST days every year known as BOK DAYS. These bok days (according to Lunar Year Calendar) were divided into three which is chubok, jungbok, and malbok. Since its July now, its a period for malbok, also known as peak heat during summer. Malbok normally start from 13 July or 21 July up until early August.

According to old tradition, during bok days, Korean will eat dog meat. They BELIEVE that eating dog meat is the BEST remedy to counter the heat as well to REFRESH themselves. I did ask around about it, whether this tradition still been PRACTICED these years. Some of my Korean friends says, this OLD TRADITION still been practicing, but its only FAMOUS among OLD generation. Lot of Korean YOUNGSTERS said NO for this tradition and they REPLACED it with chicken.

Some of us believe that when its get HOT, we SHOULDN'T take hot meals instead taking cold meal isn't it?? However for Korean taking hot meals is one of the best remedy during bok days!ㅋㅋㅋ What meal I'm talking about? There are many DELICIOUS meal in Korea so which one is?? ㅋㅋ The BEST meal during bok days is SAMGYETANG. Samgyetang is a HOT soup where consist of whole YOUNG chicken that been cook with Korean ginseng, jujube, scallion and etc.

Samgyetang is ONE of popular dishes among Korean, known as one of HEALTHY meal to prevent people from getting SICK. This dishes is AVAILABLE 365 days but MOST famous during bok days.ㅋㅋㅋ For some people Samgyetang soup might taste PLAIN but consider of its ingredient, its one of the BEST meal to HEAL fatigue as well RESTORE people stamina. Even though this meal were considered as TRADITIONAL food, new generation of Korean still aware that this menu is one of the BEST remedy during bok days.

p/s: I haven't get a chance to try it though since it's quite hard to find Halal Korean cuisine restaurant. ㅠㅠ Maybe if I got a chance to visit Korea again, I should listing this menu as top request! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

http://speakupforthevoiceless.org/2015/06/25/bok-nal-dog-eating-days-south-korea/
http://blog.korea.net/?p=3891
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FO/FO_EN_6_5_2_2.jsp

Photo Credit: korea.prkorea.com
                      My Korean Friend

Event/Festival: Korean HALAL Expo 2015

I've been to South Korea for 3 times so far, but I NEVER get tired of it!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ People around me asking is it easy to find HALAL food in Korea?? Well of course as Muslim I searched for Halal restaurant before boarding to Seoul.ㅋㅋㅋ For Muslim HALAL is one of most COMPULSORY aspect for us! However how many Koreans knows about it???? For anyone who have Korean friends try to ask about "Halal" to them, I'm sure some of them might be like O-o (this)ㅋㅋㅋ

Do not blame them though!ㅋㅋ This is because Islam is a MINORITY religion in Korea compare to Christianity, Buddha or paganism. Some of them might even NEVER heard a word "HALAL" entire of their life!ㅋㅋㅋ We can see there are so many expatriate living in Korea isn't it?? There are many INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL but I have NO idea about their syllabus as well in which language they using. I asked some of my Korean friends, but they also unsure about it as they said international school fees is very EXPENSIVE! That means NOT many Korean had interaction with international community (especially Muslim) since they were young.

Their school system is good (I mean accredited system) , I don't want to talk about their education system though because I don't think I have a RIGHT to says so (I never attend school in Korea).I did asked my Korean friends about their NORMAL school, their syllabus, they said during school time they just learnt BASIC about other RELIGION.However ISLAM didn't have HUGE impact on their history, so it DIDN'T cover much about it. That's one of reason why KOREAN have LESS idea about Islam and its culture.

Since "HALLAYU" wave swept globally. INTERNATIONAL travelers flock in to Korea every year including MUSLIM traveler. The rise of  Muslim travelers CREATE many OPPORTUNITY for NEW industry which is HALAL! Yet KOREAN still have LESS knowledge about it.This is because they ONLY FOCUS about Islam as RELIGION not a WAY OF LIFE (related in daily life). Some of them ONLY knows that HALAL is popular in FOOD aspect!ㅋㅋ However actually in Islam, HALAL is applicable in DAILY life and almost in EVERYTHING!ㅋㅋㅋ Halal aspect also COVER in finance, buying selling, measure (buying and selling), cosmetics, fashion, personal care products, daily living products, pharmaceuticals, food ingredient, and food contact material.

For those who have ZERO idea about HALAL, they might wonder HOW COME it can be RELATED to finance and other aspect isn't it?? Well its such a HUGE topic to discuss here.ㅋㅋㅋ Maybe I will write about it in different entries someday when KOREANS understand about ISLAMIC BANKING SYSTEM and others!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ (Wonder when it will be, but I think that day will come soon!)ㅋㅋ Due to the RISE of MUSLIM traveler to South Korea, their President take an initiative to START providing GOOD THOUGHT about it.  

These days, some of their mainstream MEDIA start letting PUBLIC knows about HALAL industry. ^^ One of good news is South Korea will HOSTING the very FIRST ever Korean Halal Expo 2015. Yes for MUSLIM, HALAL is very IMPORTANT aspect but for NON MUSLIM this can be opportunity for them in business (opportunity to export their product in ISLAM COUNTRIES)ㅋㅋ or simply new knowledge for them! ^^ This event also open for HALAL Industry/company WORLDWIDE! For more information about it, you may refer here.  

p/s: Islam also a MINORITY RELIGION in THAILAND, however they are HUB for HALAL FOOD INDUSTRY WORLDWIDE!~ I think you guys must wonder why isn't it?? Its because they saw HUGE POTENTIAL/PROFIT/MARKET in this industry!ㅋㅋㅋ  

p/s: Some of KOREAN COMPANY already get HALAL CERTIFICATE from various HALAL ACCREDITED BODY, and they earn new VOLUME as they manage to EXPORT their product in ISLAM COUNTRIES!~ One of the company is NONGSHIM .

p/s: I saw KOREA HALAL EXPO 2015 page, yet wonder why there are NOT MANY HALAL companies from Thailand and MALAYSIA join in! Maybe they DIDN'T promoting much about it in international level?? 
O-o

p/s: This event had OVER however I think they organize the SIMILAR EVENT over and over again at VARIOUS places. /This WEEK they ORGANIZE it somewhere near SECHO-GU, Gangnam. For more information, VISIT here.

Sources:
http://www.halalexpokorea.co.kr/eng/
http://www.ifanca.org/Pages/staticwebpages.aspx?page=whatisHalal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140304001195
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/26/technology/technology_30098896.php
http://www.halal-korea.org/en/summary/overview.php
My Friends

Photo Credit: koreahalal.org
                      halalexpokorea.co.kr