Cultural/Traditional Games: Ddakji (딱지)

Is there are any of you ADDICTED to ORIGAMI?? Why I said "Origami" and what does it RELATED to our TOPIC today??ㅋㅋ Well I'm NOT interested to make a GROUP for origami CLASS session here as I'm NOT good at it!ㅋㅋㅋ However the GAME that I wanna talk about here is RELATED to ORIGAMIㅋㅋ DDAKJI (딱지)is one of the MOST POPULAR games among KOREAN since LONG time ago. 

I try to LOOK for the FACT of when did it get STARTED but I FAILED to FIND it.ㅠㅠ I FOUND a FACT about it but it was NOT clearly STATED as well the author DIDN'T shows any EVIDENT to SUPPORT it..Despite of giving WRONG information here I guess the BEST I can do is NOT revealing about the FACT!ㅋㅋㅋ  As I'm LIVING in ASIAN country, I FOUND out that MOST Asian countries SHARED a bit SIMILAR games to ONE another!ㅋㅋㅋWhat a SURPRISED!ㅋㅋ I CAN'T believe it at first, but its TRUE! ㅋㅋ My CLOSE friend who LIVING at KOREA said they play the SAME games, what a SMALL world!ㅋㅋㅋ

For DDAKJI, I think at my country we DIDN'T play this game ㅠㅠ(During my childhood, I never saw anyone play this but I'm NOT sure late 1998 years on wards).ㅋㅋㅋ We have SIMILAR games but we use PEBBLES! However my KOREAN friends says they have that VERSION too!ㅋㅋ The BEST part is ONE of my GERMANY friend also said the SAME things!He DOES played well with my NEPHEWS when he COMING OVER!! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Ok for ASIAN countries to SHARE it I think its COMMON isn't it?? But EUROPE?? 대박!(Daebak) INTERESTING!ㅋㅋㅋ Back to OUR topic, ddakji. DDAKJI can be PLAYED at ALMOST ANYWHERE whether INDOOR or OUTDOOR! The ONLY things that NEEDED when to play is DDAKJI itself. 

WHAT is DDAKJI?? Ddakji is a THICK FOLD PAPERS where it consist at LEAST 2 FOLD PAPERS. I know you guys seems CONFUSING right?? ㅋㅋ Well its kind of TOUGH to explain it to all of you!ㅋㅋ Ok why NOT see VIDEO below :P This video will SHOW you HOW TO MAKE DDAKJI! There are few WAYS to make ddakji but this is the SIMPLE one.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

SIMPLE isn't it?? Didn't have COLORFUL PAPERS?? No WORRIES!ㅋㅋ For ddakji its UNNECESSARILY using colors papers!ㅋㅋㅋ You CAN use ANY papers even OLD NEWSPAPERS!ㅋㅋJust make SURE the SIZE and STEP is CORRECTㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ There are some other WAYS to make it, you can CHECK it out at youtube! ㅋㅋㅋ There are few MORE videos there. ㅋㅋㅋ WHATS NEXT?? HOW TO PLAY IT??O-o I guess some of you might watch RUNNING MAN a lot DIDN'T you?? ㅋㅋYes they have so many GAMES. Ok Im NOT going to explain what Running Man is all ABOUT here!ㅋㅋㅋ However for those who DIDN'T get a CHANCE to WATCH the episode of Ddakji University Challenger ORGANIZE by Running Man, you can WATCH it below. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

                      

p/s: INTERESTING games isn't it?? Make some DDAKJI yourself and START playing with your friends now! ㅋㅋㅋ This GAME can be play by ANY AGE.ㅋㅋ DON'T feel OLD enough to play it! Just like any other TRADITIONAL games, age DOESN'T matter :P  Wanna KNOW who WON the FINAL between the BATTLE of DDAKJI University Challenger organize by Running Man, watch RUNNING MAN episode 197!ㅋㅋㅋ

p/s: Still DON'T get it how to make DDAKJI even you WATCH the video??ㅋㅋㅋ Well REFER here then. ㅋㅋㅋ

Sources: http://littleseouls.blogspot.my/2011/08/how-to-make-your-own-ddakji.html

Video Credit: Jinjin Origami
                       Shazely Jr.

Photo Credit:pinterest.com

Throwback# Places: Daegu Downtown

Daegu is another VIBRANT metropolitan city in South Korea, located somewhere SOUTH EASTERN of Seoul. It took around 3 hours and 40 minutes from Seoul to Daegu. As a CAPITAL city for Gyeongsangbuk-do, this city hold over 2.5 million RESIDENTS with FAMOUS slogan "COLORFUL DAEGU".

Colorful Daegu NOT only famous for vivacious city, but it also known as "APPLE CITY". Im NOT talking about Apple firm ㅋㅋㅋ, don't get me wrongㅋㅋ, its completely DIFFERENT story.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Daegu known as "Apple city" because of its HUMID subtropical climate,makes this city is ONE of the BEST producing high QUALITY apple area.

Apart from that, DAEGU also KNOWN as "TEXTILE city" as this INDUSTRY is used to be ONE of PILLAR sources for the CITY .During my 2013 trip to KOREA, I STOPPED by at Daegu while Im on my WAY back to SEOUL from Busan.

Actually I have NO idea what is so SPECIAL about DAEGU, ㅋㅋㅋ but I have a FRIEND there. ^^ Since I'm on my WAY to Seoul, why NOT I stopped by and meeting my FRIEND!^^I spend FEW hours in Daegu and STROLLING around Daegu. As we DON'T have a plenty of TIME to go around, she just bring me to DAEGU DOWNTOWN.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Every CITY in Korea have DIFFERENT downtown area or STYLE according to its REGION. I've been to Gwangju Downtown, Busan Downtown and Gimhae Downtown but NOTHING beat Daegu Downtown! ㅋㅋㅋ ONE of street that I've been at Daegu downtown is Yangnyeongsi Market. This area is completely DIFFERENT from any OTHER downtown I've been to! Surrounding by HERBS and ORIENTAL medicine remind me of their history (I've seen some in their drama)!ㅋㅋㅋ

My friend also gave some explanation about those HERBS and the BENEFIT of oriental medicine. After a while we STOPPED by at Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine. This museum NOT only FAMOUS among KOREANS but its also an INTERNATIONAL HUB of oriental medicine to people in CHINA, RUSSIA and EUROPE for several CENTURIES!Whoaaa!

Reading about  HOW this MUSEUM been SET UP make me REALIZED another FACT of why they choose "COLORFUL DAEGU" as CITY SLOGAN,ㅋㅋㅋ this city NOT only FAMOUS as APPLE CITY, TEXTILE CITY but widely KNOWN since LONG time ago for FANCY stuff which is HERBS! (Some of herbs is FREAKING expensive!)ㅠㅠ

p/s: After I had KOREAN GINSENG drink, my BLOOD PRESSURE went back to NORMAL! ㅋㅋㅋ I'm struggling with LOW blood pressure for quite LONG TIME!ㅠㅠ Well I'm NOT sure if KOREAN GINSENG drink HEAL me or maybe because I ate too much SEAFOOD while I'm in KOREA?? @-@ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Sources: http://english.daegu.go.kr/cms/cms.asp? 
              Menu=97&Category=2&Action=view&TourId=206
              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daegu
              http://dgom.daegu.go.kr/eng/sub02/sub02_01.asp  

Life: Can Koreans survive WITHOUT smartphone??

These days it is COMMON to see people with their SMARTPHONE, sometimes not ONLY one but TWO smartphone per person!ㅋㅋㅋ Do you guys KNOW when smartphone era BEGINS?? Which COUNTRY start this PHENOMENA??O-o Smartphone STARTS early 1990 in The STATE but at that time they DIDN'T call it as smartphone, they call it as PDA PHONE.

Then when it EXACTLY starts??Anyone knows?? O-o FIRST smartphone that been RECOGNIZE world wide is somewhere around 1999, in JAPAN. These technology had been SPREAD OUT around the world and here WE ARE, LIVING in smartphone ERA!^^ It's START in Japan, so what is the RELATION of smartphone with KOREA?? O-o I think MOST of you heard SAMSUNG right?? Samsung is ONE of the BEST producing smartphone FIRM in the WORLD! Samsung also known as the MOST BIGGEST company in Korea, NO. 1 COMPANY!ㅋㅋㅋ

Back in KOREA, there is SAMSUNG CITY which is SUWON. Anyone knows SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY?? Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) have been RELATED to SAMSUNG since 1996, and on 2006 they have established PARTNERS for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education. Their LIBRARY is FAMOUS for ONE of MOST ADVANCE library in Korea! I wish SOMEDAY I will get a CHANCE to visit there! ㅋㅋㅋ Next, anyone been to EVERLAND?? Do you know that EVERLAND theme park is actually POWERED by SAMSUNG too? ㅋㅋㅋ I've been there ONCE, nice theme park but I NEVER get a CHANCE to play as I'm SICK! ㅠㅠ Too bad..

 Back to our TOPIC, what LIFE would be if LIVING in KOREA WITHOUT a SMARTPHONE?Some says they can SURVIVE it but somehow I DOUBT that!ㅋㅋㅋ while I was in KOREA I saw MOST of KOREAN really DEPEND on their SMARTPHONE!ㅋㅋ Be it Samsung, I phone, LG or any other brand, their EYES constantly LOOKING at it!ㅋㅋ Do you think Korean knows DIRECTION fully?ㅋㅋNO, THEY NOT!! ㅋㅋㅋ MOST of THEM will SEEK DIRECTION via their smartphone!ㅋㅋㅋ If they WANNA try something NEW, most of them NORMALLY will look at REVIEW of RESTAURANT or CAFE via their SMARTPHONE first BEFORE trying!ㅋㅋㅋ Apart from that, they normally LOOKING at their smartphone for KNOWING their SUBWAY ROUTES, STATION, TIMING and etc!ㅋㅋ DO YOU THINK THEY REALLY CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT SMARTPHONE?? Let me know your OPINION regarding this ISSUE?^^

p/s: I am LIVING in MALAYSIA, I've EXPERIENCED few DAYS WITHOUT my SMARTPHONE as its NOT working! ㅠㅠ Well I did SUFFER because of it,ㅋㅋ but after FEW DAYS I think I can MANAGE it :P However if I LIVE in KOREA and my SMARTPHONE NOT working, I guess it might DRIVE ME CRAZY!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

p/s: Don't be so SURPRISED if you see a 할머니 (Halmeoni) or 할아버지(harabeoji) looking at THEIR SMARTPHONE in KOREA! They are OLD but many of THEM are very SMART, HIGH EDUCATED with ADVANCED technologies, perhaps they are BETTER than YOU!!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone
             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungkyunkwan_University
             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung

Photo  Credit: o2.co.uk

Life: Do you think KOREANS are HONEST???

Living in metropolitan city like SEOUL can be a very NICE experience, yet it also can be a very COMPLEX experience too! From ONE area to another area is quite FAR but doesn't mean it is DIFFICULT for you to MINGLE around much. ㅋㅋ MODERN city with almost EVERYTHING there is EASY to be explored by anyone who love NEW challenge!^^ You can read my few ENTRIES about how EASY to go around in Seoul either via subway or bus.

However today I'm NOT going to talk about how EASE for you to go around Seoul. Instead how SAFE you are there as well why WORRYING about LOSING something while you there??? Which can NEVER be an ISSUE for you!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ When my friends and I was in KOREA on 2012, we once stay at guesthouse somewhere around Incheon. The LAST day we were in Korea, we were so SURPRISED seen how our guesthouse owner sent us to airport WITHOUT lock his house! Not only NOT locking his house he's NOT even CLOSE the MAIN door!!? We were like this O-o!!! Did he FORGOT??O-o Then we ASKED him did he FORGOT to LOCK his PROPERTY?? His ANSWER is simple "Don't WORRY, NO ones will INTRUDE house here." How LUCKY they are!!ㅋㅋㅋ

How I WISH this kind of MENTALITY can be APPLIED at my HOME COUNTRY!ㅋㅋㅋ Where we DON'T have to WORRY leaving our PRECIOUS stuff as NO ONE will take it! I NEVER say it WON'T happen but due to our SOCIETY PERCEPTION, it is most likely will NEVER happen!ㅋㅋㅋ Most of the times we HEARD that if you SLIPPED your wallet or mobile phone on the STREET, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to get it back isn't it?? However in KOREA, its DIFFERENT! The PERCENTAGE of getting BACK your wallet, mobile phone or any PRECIOUS stuff that slipping is VERY HIGH!! You might think am I JOKING or PULLING your leg isn't it?? These two VIDEOS will MAKE you @-@! Check it out ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

                     

p/s: Do you TRUST me now??ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Those videos NOT simply been PRODUCED to SHOW OFF  but its to show how HONESTY KOREAN ARE, most of them will NEVER take something that NOT belong to them. How I WISH we can APPLY this ANYWHERE we are?? Lets CHANGE and make the WORLD a BETTER PLACE. ㅋㅋㅋ Its STARTS with YOU! YES YOU! who read and watch those videos! ^^ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Video Credit: Punjabiitotay90
                       Korea Junkies

Photo Credit: recoverywithrenaissance.com
                      

                     

  

Event/Festival: Muju Firefly Festival 2015

Brand new WEEK starts, yet already looking FORWARD for next WEEKEND?? O-o ㅋㅋㅋ Since its SUMMER in Korea, DAYS are LONGER than night and the HEAT is NO KIDDING! Some people might CHOOSE to stay at HOME rather than make their SKIN get tanned!ㅋㅋ  Some choose to go OUT and ENJOY sunlight as MUCH as they can because when WINTER come, its going to be very DULL seasons ㅋㅋ, most love stays at HOME!ㅠㅠ

During SUMMER, many UNIVERSITY STUDENTS grabbing chances to TRAVEL abroad! Some parent also having TRIP either overseas or DOMESTIC GETAWAY with their kids as in summer there are short SCHOOL BREAK!! What about YOU (who live in South Korea)?? Any PLAN for this weekend GETAWAY?? We all know that KOREA is ONE of spectacular PARADISE for vacation, however lots of KOREAN didn't AWARE that, as they were too BUSY with their works or school!ㅋㅋㅋ

I asked few of my KOREAN BUDDY about certain AREA or festival but most of their REACTION are like this O-o! ㅋㅋㅋ Every SEASONS there are many EVENTS to enjoy across the NATION! AUTUMN will come soon and before summer END, one of SECOND most POPULAR event will HELD this WEEKEND! They call is as MUJU FIREFLY FESTIVAL. This event successfully ATTRACTED 72 Million TOURIST around the WORLD on 2014!! Wow,대박!! What is so SPECIAL about this event?? It's just FIREFLY??O-o

For those who may NOT know what is so SPECIAL about firefly, below VIDEO might be the BEST that I can DESCRIBE to you~ㅋㅋㅋ About  the FESTIVAL, it will be held on AUGUST 29, 2015 until SEPTEMBER 6,2015. The festival will be TAKE PLACE at MUJU. Not KEEN much about firefly?? No need to WORRY because there are few MORE ACTIVITIES includes in FESTIVAL!For more details, you may visit here.

p/s: I supposed to POST this entry few DAYS ago but due to BUSY SCHEDULE I CAN'T make it on time!ㅠㅠ However at last I post it TODAY! Wee ^^ Anyone of you have any EXPERIENCE seen group of firefly when you were kid?? It's a MEMORABLE event isn't it??ㅋㅋㅋ I DIDN'T see 10 million firefly though but just SMALL GROUP of them, yet still make me say WOW! ㅋㅋㅋ Last year firefly video? Why not going to the FESTIVAL this YEAR and RECORD it! ^^

Sources:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_2_2.jsp?cate=&area=&dateStart=08-23-2015&startDate=20150823&dateEnd=12-31-2015&endDate=20151231&keyword=&category=&areaCode=&gotoPage=2&stype=&cid=697205&out_service=
http://english.firefly.or.kr/content/outline_summary.html

Video Credit: Goatman Arts

Photo Credit: buzzquotes.com
                      servehiminthewaiting.com
                      plenaryholidays.com

Guideline/Transportation: Seoul OWL BUS

Have any of you having DIFFICULTIES while in South Korea?? O-o Like you been busy walking here and there, visiting to many places! Then out of blue you realize that MIDNIGHT approach??? Ohh My!! "What would I do??" You were thinking of HOW to go back to your hostel/hotel/guesthouse??? SUBWAY only available until 12 A.M. and been STOP earlier at some stations!!ㅠㅠ

You are ALONE and DIDN'T have any KOREAN friends to contact?? WORSE scenario is you DON'T know anybody there?! O-o  Don't WORRY or become PANIC!!ㅋㅋㅋ Korea is ONE of MOST SAFEST country ever I've been to!ㅋㅋ I DIDN'T say that there is NO crime at all, get the CORRECT fact ok?? However the percentage is VERY LOW!ㅋㅋㅋ Even though Koreans are known as HEAVY DRINKER, you still DON'T have to worry walking ALONE at night!ㅋㅋㅋ

Yet  I guess its NOT a good suggestion to WALK let say from Sanggyedong to Jongro! CRAZY solution! You will take few HOURS to reach!!ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Then how CAN you reach your place?? Taking CAB is ONE of the solution, but for BAG PACKERS, they might think it will COST them a lot!ㅋㅋㅋ (Most bag packers are FRUGAL, seems familiar word! O-o) ㅋㅋㅋ I think I'm ONE of them :P ㅋㅋㅋ Then how CAN I go back??O-o

GOOD news for bag packers! ^^ Within SEOUL there are OWL BUS! Why they call it as OWL bus??? Well I'm NOT sure about that ㅋㅋㅋ but if we think logically OWL been ACTIVE at NIGHT, so maybe that's the REASON they choose OWL rather than other ANIMAL name?? ㅋㅋ Owl bus have been INTRODUCED to Seoulites on 12 September 2013. When Seoul Metropolitan Government introduce it, they selected ONLY some  routes (normally crowd with people even late night) and starting to FULLY operated throughout Seoul GRADUALLY.

How to DIFFERENTIATE between ORDINARY bus and OWL bus?? First is its OPERATION HOURS start at MIDNIGHT to 5 A.M. Next is the bus signage, OWL BUS have words N followed by numbers, along with OWL character on bus LED panel. Apart from that, you can see OWL IMAGE  will be placed at OWL bus stop. The bus FARE is 1950 won (adult), 1800 won (teens), 1200 won (kids) (for those who pay using cash). For those who INTERESTED to know MORE about OWL BUS  or it ROUTES, you can visit here.

p/s: I never get a chance to use OWL BUS while i'm at Korea, perhaps I can try in the future??! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?cid=1844851

Photo Credit: english.seoul.go.kr
                      koreaittimes.com

Korean Restaurant Review # Malaysia: DubuYo/ Dubu Dubu

Hi guys! Sorry for NOT being able to post new entry last week ㅠㅠ After back from traveling within my beloved country, I was so BUSY! Catch up my works!ㅠㅠ Finally I got a CHANCE to write my piece of mind here!ㅋㅋ I'm back at my hometown few days ago but seems like my mind still left WANDERING!ㅋㅋㅋ Did you guys experience something like this before?? If any of you did, I guess you will know what I'm talking about don't you??ㅋㅋㅋ

About my RECENT trip, its not much that I can share it here as this BLOG more focus on South Korea and anything related to it, plus my RECENT trip is within Malaysia!ㅋㅋ However there is something that my mind cannot interpret it well.. Where ever I'm going I kept bum with something that related to Korea, either Korean, Korean restaurant or etc.ㅋㅋㅋ Like my recent trip, near to my hotel there is ONE Korean restaurant!ㅋㅋㅋ Well I DON'T get a chance to go there and I also DIDN'T know if it "Halal Korean Restaurant" or notㅠㅠ

Ok enough babbling!ㅋㅋㅋ My topic for today is Korean Restaurant Review that I've BEEN to. As you guys know I LOVE Korean food, so sometimes I go to Korean restaurant, DINE in there or I try to COOK any Korean cuisine by myself.ㅋㅋㅋ On last January, before my trip to Vietnam, I got a chance to dine in at one of "Halal Korean restaurant" somewhere in KL. The restaurant I've been to is DUBU DUBU. However I NOTICED that they CHANGE their name recently, their new name is DUBUYO.

There are 11 DubuYo RESTAURANTS within Malaysia. Most of it at FAMOUS shopping center like Midvalley Megamall, Berjaya Times Square, and Sunway Pyramid. DubuYo that I've been to last time LOCATED at Nu Sentral. We all know that many of Korean dishes are famous as HEALTHY dishes! However NOT everybody can finish it well, these depend on people TASTE BUD!ㅋㅋㅋ DubuYo is very famous for its hearty SOONDUBU JJIGAE!! There are 9 VARIETIES of Soondubu Jjigae at DubuYo,

Interested to TRY it, check it out here.ㅋㅋ  I'm NOT sure how does it taste as I NEVER try it.ㅠㅠ Why not someone go there, have it and give your RESPONSE, commenting below this post?? ㅋㅋ :P Menu that I've tried there is HONEY GARLIC BULGOGI. As I'm a DIE HARD FAN for Bulgogi, wherever I went to Korean restaurant I ALWAYS try Bulgogi.ㅋㅋㅋ For me the TASTE of Bulgogi HERE is GOOD but not as BEST as the one I HAD in SEOUL!ㅠㅠ  Of course food at it MOTHERLAND is the BEST compare to other places.ㅋㅋ For DRINK, I choose PEACH TEA. ^^ Even though the dishes is not as the BEST as I had in Korea, but I highly RECOMMENDED this restaurant for Korean Cuisine LOVERS!ㅋㅋㅋ

p/s: I did SNAP some photos while I'm there UNFORTUNATELY my old smartphone BROKEN..so I CANNOT attached the photos here.ㅠㅠ Thanks to google though! I can SEARCH for DubuYo image on internet! :Pㅋㅋㅋ

Sources: http://www.dubuyo.com/home.asp#

Photo Credit: twinlee.blogspot.com
                      dubuyo.com
                      gomakan.com
                      spicysharon.com