Afternoon Tea in Pretty Little Sinsa-dong

At the risk of sounding like a prissy little hipster wannabe, my favorite Seoul hotspot has become Karosogil in Sinsa-dong. Sinsa has even become a regular meeting spot to work on curriculum with my favorite colleague.

I've heard from a number of people that Apgujeong is where all the IT people go, but I think Karosogil in Sinsa is far more interesting. This particular road in Sinsa is full of aesthetically pleasing boutiques, cafes, wine bars, and restaurants. Yes, most of the eateries are foreign- themed. Yes, most of the merchandise is over-priced and can be found at half the price in Dongdaemun. Yes, you have to pay a pretty penny for such pretension. But, you know what? You can only stare at flashing neon signs and poorly designed buildings jam-packed with Love Motels and noraebangs before you starve for a little architectural eye candy.

Karosogil is quite small. It only spans a few blocks, but it feels much more fresh than Apgu. It's also less noisy and not as cluttered. You also don't have to worry about being run over by some foreign sports car leisurely cruising the streets for no apparent reason.

I rarely ever buy anything in Sinsa, but I still enjoy window-shopping and people watching.






































































I've noticed that the pedestrians (mostly young women) walking along Karosogil are very attractive; even more so that the folks in Apgujeong. In my opinion, the trendy women in Apgu seem like they're headed to a music video shoot, while the women in Sinsa are simply fashionably elegant women out for a cup of coffee or some facial cream from L'Occitaine. Meanwhile, the men like to sit near the window or patio, preening like the prized specimens that they are. It seems, however, that most of the women ignore them in favor of the cute dress in the store next door.

You may have to click on this picture to get a closer look, but I snapped this gang of skinny-jean boys. I say "gang," because the only reason for a group of young men to dress in coordinated outfits is because they're in some team or gang. I'm pretty sure these guys were part of an aspiring boy band. Otherwise, young men have no business wearing jeans that tight.














While in Sinsa last weekend, Cyndi and I had some afternoon tea at a little French cafe. The only other time I've had high tea was at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, so perhaps I'm just ignorant, but our tea platter was aju lame.











































The "Tea Platter" consisted of so-called tarts (in America we call these cookies), and a mismatched plate of savory bites.














I'm no tea connoisseur, but I don't think steak goes well with Earl Grey Tea.














Neither does a shot glass of unspecified meat. (I think it may have been pâté).















Despite the disappointing tea, I still enjoy Karosogil. Next time though, I think I'll stick to The Second Factory cafe and their paninis and waffles.

To get to Karosogil, you make take the subway to Sinsa station. Take Exit #8 and walk straight up the street for about 6 minutes or so, until you see a street sign that says "Karosogil." Turn left. You can also take the 1005-1 bus from Bundang and get off at Sinsa Station (Just walk towards Subway Exit 8). Karosogil is also walking distance from Rodeo Drive in Apgu (about 15 minutes). I'm afraid that I'm very bad with directions, so I can't give you any more specifics.

BB Cream Week: Hanskin's Super Magic BB Cream

Our third featured BB cream is a sample of Hanskin's Super Magic BB Cream. Cyndi vaguely recalls reading somewhere that Hanskin was one of the first cosmetic shops to get into the BB Cream game. I'm not sure how long Hanskin has been producing BB creams, but they certainly have a daunting array of BB creams to choose from. Fortunately, Hanskin is very generous with their samples (just be sure to request lots of samples), so it's easy to try out their creams without committing to a whole tube. Hanskin's products are higher priced than that of FaceShop or Missha, so we had high expectations for the Hanskin BB creams.

Hanskin has a couple of "Magic BB Creams," but Cyndi tried the one in the black tube.

I've decided that unflattering before and after photos are not necessary, so I hope that this video demonstration will suffice for all you people who prefer visuals over my lengthy rambling.

VIDEO (Watch the magic unfold before your very eyes):




OUR THOUGHTS:
I have to admit that Super Magic was a bit of a disappointment. It's a lot more wet than the other BB Creams that we've tried. Cyndi thinks the soppy texture is due to its moisturizing factor. The cream made Cyndi take on a noticeably grayish hue that did not really compliment her skin tone. The cream does create a dewy look, but it does not last very long. Cyndi also noted that the cream made her break out a little, so I don't think she'll be using Super Magic in the future. The cream was not awful, but we recommend trying a sample before purchasing the cream. The Hanskin creams generally start at around 20,000 won, so it's best to try them out before purchasing. I regret buying my sister a tube simply based on the saleswoman's recommendation. I hope that my sister has more magical results with Super Magic Cream...

BB Cream Week: Let Me Finish by Banila Co.

Both Cyndi and are regular users of today's featured B.B. Cream "Let Me Finish" by Banila Co.

BEFORE
My pimples tends to hang around my cheek and lip area. You may not be able to see them in this photo, but trust me, they're there.














AFTER
I know that the difference appears faint in this after shot, but if you look closely, the dark spots on my cheeks have diminished a tad. I know that my head is a shade lighter than my body, but that's acceptable in Korea :)














VIDEO (Watch the magic unfold before your very eyes):
I'd like to note that jumpcut seems to soften the video, so our complexions seem much cleaner in the video. You should see the footage in HD...





OUR THOUGHTS:
Despite it's odd name "Let Me Finish," has become a favorite because it goes on smoothly, does an adequate job of covering blemishes, and doesn't whiten your complexion as severely as other BB Creams that we've tried. One of the noticeable flaws is that "Let Me Finish" smells a little like a baby's bottom (only without the baby powder), but the scent quickly fades once you've applied the cream. The cream doesn't last, so you'll need to reapply if you want all-day coverage.

BB Cream Week: Missha M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream

A number of people seem to have stumbled across my blog looking for information on B.B. Cream, the magical Blemish Balm Cream that claims to conceal, as well as heal, moisturize, and protect your skin. For this reason, plus the fact that Cyndi and I are becoming increasingly vain :), I hereby proclaim this week BB Cream Week. Throughout this week, I will post videos, pics, and comments for the various BB Creams we have lying about.

First up to bat is Cyndi's pick "M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream" by Missha. According to the tube, "MISSHA M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream offers a novel skincare concept with B.B. cream, which lightens skin tone by healing visible wrinkles and blemishes, with excellent skin-cover ability, and prevents skin aging through effective whitening and anti-wrinkle properties." The cream also offer SPF 42 PA+++. Thats a lot of promises for one little cream...

BEFORE (BB CREAM):
It's hard see from this picture, but Cyndi has a few red marks on her forehead.














AFTER:
The red marks are not visible at all once they are covered by the cream. Essentially, the cream evens out your skin tone (in addition to fighting wrinkles, allegedly).















VIDEO (Watch the magic unfold before your very eyes):
I'm starting to feel like I work for the home shopping network. Someone needs to send us a check right quick!




OUR THOUGHTS:
Missha's M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream may whiten your skin a tad too much, but it offers smooth matte coverage without leaving your skin feeling oily. The M cream seems to tighten your skin, and perhaps dry it out a bit, so it may be a good pick for oily or combination skin. The cream also had a faint powdery scent that smells a bit like a fresh baby's bottom. The cream will wear out as the day goes by, so you'll probably want to reapply or powder your nose later in the day.

Villa Sortino in Itaewon

I just wanted to wish my cousin Nani and her hubby of 21 years a happy anniversary! They invited us to celebrate the occasion at Villa Sortino Ristorante in Itaewon. Given how posh the interior is, I was surprised by the moderate pricing. Most of the pasta dishes were under 20,000 won. Everything we tried, from the appetizers to desserts, was delicious.

The restaurant is right in front of the Itaewon Fire Station bus stop heading towards the Hamilton Hotel (That means it's across the street from the Fire Station).

Taiwan: Night Markets + ThreadingThread

Apparently, one of the musts of traveling to Taiwan is a trip to the Taiwanese Night Market. We made visits to two of Taipei's most popular night markets, Shilin Market and Rao Her Market. Night Market is very similar in feel to Namdaemun market, with all the stalls of street food and inexpensive clothing and trinkets. In terms of trendy fashion, you can't beat Seoul's Dongdaemun, but the Night Market is nonetheless fun with all the interesting smells, sights, and sounds. I thought that Night Markets ran all night-long, hence the name, but the markets we visited closed up around 11 pm or 12 am. I believe that there are certain Night Markets that stay open until the early morning hours, but we didn't visit any of those.

I must also note that the Taiwanese vendors are more open to bargaining. Perhaps this just shows how bad at bargaining I am, but in Korea, only after much wheedling will the salesperson magnanimously award me with a measly 1000 won discount. In contrast, the Taiwanese vendors seemed quick to negotiate and slash their prices. Whenever I get a discount from a Korean vendor, I always walk away feeling a little resentful because the salespeople make me feel as if their children will have to eat ramyun for the rest of their life all because they gave me a 500 won discount. Whereas in Taiwan, I felt very proud myself when I was able to get several dollars knocked off. I felt really smart at that moment (I know that in actuality I'm just a foolish little tourist with "sucker" written all across my face). My tip to vendors is to significantly mark up your merchandise, then when some fresh-faced foreigner comes along, allow them to engage in some hard core bargaining. Once you come to a more palatable price,
the customer will walk away feeling very pleased with herself, as if she won a great prize. Seriously, I fall for it all the time.

This is the entrance to Rao Her market in Songshan. It was very Las Vegas (the entrance, not the market).














The highlight of our Night Market experience, besides all the successful bargaining, was the full-facial threading. We used to get our eyebrows and upper-lip threaded back in the Homeland (Shout out to Deepa), but have not had the opportunity since moving to the Motherland. We were quite pleased to hear that threading would only cost us around 8USD, but we were taken off guard when we found out that $8 would get your whole face threaded!

After coating your face in baby powder, the threading professional will then attack your face with a simple piece of thread. I'm not going to lie. Threading hurts. The pinching from the string is bearable, but VERY uncomfortable, especially the cheek area.

I had my face threaded by a young twenty-something guy. I think he was some sort of trainee, because when it came time to shape my eyebrows, he sent me to an older gentleman. Based on the fact that this older man's face was plastered on a bunch of posters, I think he may have been the founder of this whole setup. If the website ever gets to working, you can find more info at teacherchi.com














We were instructed to refrain from washing our face for 24 hours. We were allowed to use baby wipes and apply sunscreen, lotion, and makeup, but we could not wet our face with water. Go figure. It was quite inconvenient, especially since we had the glamour shots the next day. Imagine taking all that makeup off with a baby wipe.















So, you're probably thinking. Dang! Do Asian women have that much facial hair to require such extensive threading? Apparently, threading is not just about hair removal. If I am able to understand the following sign, hair removal is not the primary aim. Threading can also clear out your pores, stimulate your metabolism, and change your destiny. Pretty lofty goals for such a humble piece of string.

ADVANTAGE OF WAN-LIEN
1) Easy to absorb other cosmetic articles.
2) Are to make-up and next to the face.
3) Don't easy to grow pimples.
4) Show highlight and fair on your face.
5) Beginning of destiny and change destiny.
6) Remove acne. Face lifting.
7) Clean the dirt of pore.
8) Stimulate facial nerve and metabolism.
9) Remove skin-dulling.
10) Remove facial hair...



As interesting as it was to get our entire face threaded, I would not do this procedure again. First of all, it was very uncomfortable. Secondly, I still saw a lot of unwanted hair on my face. Thirdly, rather than removing acne, I think the thread merely aggravated existing pimples.

Cyndi, on the other hand, would do the threading again. She says that her face felt cleaner. Her only word of caution is that the thread may open up any old cuts on your face. The thread opened up an old battle would from Piggy.

Based on the intrigued expressions of many locals passing by the stand, threading is not an established Taiwanese custom. In fact, my Taiwanese classmate had once told me that facial hair on the upper lip area and arms were considered signs of beauty. I was surprised to see so many Taiwanese women getting their beauty threaded off. Times are changin'.

Cyndi and I had our faces threaded at Rao Her Night Market, while J.IM had her face threaded at the Longshan Undergroud Market. Check out the video to catch a glimpse of this new-fangled threading technology (Just kidding. Threading has been utilized for centuries by hairy women across Asia).

Student Annalog: 우리 IS Family

Today in Korean class, we got around to talking about how the Korean education system is in an unhealthy state right now. My classmate, a Japanese woman who is seven months pregnant, looked a little disheartened at the thought of raising her child in such an intense system. She jokingly said that she and her Korean husband were going to immigrate as soon as possible. I added that she could home-school her kid. My Korean teacher promptly shot that idea down, explaining that in Korea, a kid that was taught at home would be branded an outcast. Yes, that's right. Even if you are able to offer your child a superior education, in Korea, your poor kid will be labeled a wangta. Home school your kid, and people will immediately think that something was wrong with the child. The idea that you would not want your child to be with other children is nearly incomprehensible.

As my teacher noted, in Korea it's all about 우리 (uri). The idea that one would want to keep themselves from others (e.g. not go to a dinner with a group of friends) is thought to be strange. In Korea, isolation seems to be a form of punishment, not a personal choice.

Uri is the Korean equivalent of the plural pronoun "we." As all students will first learn in Korean 101, Koreans place greater emphasis on the collective (as opposed to the individual). For example, you would say "In our country (uri nara), we do this..." instead of "In my country (nae nara), we do this..." I have known this fact for awhile now, but the importance of the collective over the individual suddenly solidified in mind today.

As my teacher explained, this notion of "uri" is why Koreans dress alike or why Koreans will drag themselves through three rounds of drinking just because their co-workers are doing the same. From an American perspective, it'd be easy to pass such behavior off as the result of social pressures, but I think it goes deeper. I think this desire to do as others do is rooted in an intrinsic desire for oneness. Americans can undoubtedly be patriotic when the time arises, but in America we tend to think of ourselves as the sum of its parts, whereas in Korea, they're just a single integer: 1.

Since kindergarten, I've been told to "be free to be me," to "march to the beat of my own drum." I wonder if Korean children receive any such messages, or if they're simply told to make their families proud, and ultimately, make their country proud.

This reminder of the importance of uri in the Motherland has made me realize that though internally I may be a hyphenated-American, externally I'm Korean. I am the "i" in uri. Perhaps this why taxi drivers feel like they have the right to lecture me. We are one in the same. We are family. 우리가 가족입니다.

I guess this means that whenever I get unwanted advice or the next time some tries to pressure me hang out when I want to be a hermit for the day, I'll do what I do with some of my more overbearing relatives, just smile and nod, then ignore everything they said. ㅋㅋㅋ

Kwangjang Market: Wang Soondae, Mayak Kimbap, and Bindaeddeok the Size of My Face

Okay, time to take a break from all the talk about beauty and glamor and get back to more important matter. Over the weekend, we took J.IM to 광장시장 (Kwangjang Market) in Jongno. It's sort of the Dongdaemun for ajummas. We didn't go to Kwangjang for flower print blouses and elastic waisted pants though. We went for the cheap market eats. As most restaurants in Seoul can probably proclaim, many of the food vendors in Kwangjang have been featured on SBS, MBC, or KBS. Not sure if it's due to all the hype, but there is definitely something special about this humble little market.

The marketplace is specifically know for three dishes: soondae, bindaeddeok, and kimbap. Of course, we had to sample all three.

The 왕순대 (wang soondae) is indeed king-sized. Quite frightening actually. I'm not really into soondae, but Cyndi says that it was good. If you're friendly, the ajumma might even thrown in a complimentary serving of sliced pig ear or intestines.














In addition to super-sized soondae, you can find platter-sized bindaeddeok. It's about the size of a medium pizza.










































In my opinion, bindaeddeok goes well with a bowl of dongdongju.














Kwangjang Market is also well known for its so-called mayak kimbap, kimbap allegedly so addictive, it's like a drug. People even stop by regularly just to pick up several trays worth of kimbap. There are no actual drugs in the kimbap. It's just rice, carrots, and takuan (yellow pickles), dripping in sesame oil. Really, that's it.

I wouldn't say that the kimbap is remarkably tasty, but there is something about it that makes you want to eat more. I suspect it's the small bite size pieces that make it so easy to snack on.














To get to Kwangjang Market, take the subway and get off at Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1). Take exit 8.

Summer Beauty Buys: Cyndi's Picks

Here are Cyndi's recommended beauty buys for the summer.

Tiger Balm Mosquito Repellent Spray (purchased at Watsons in Singapore)
The mosquitoes seem to luvvvvvv Cyndi. Instead of walking around swathed in a big mosquito net, she makes an effort to protect herself with this spray on repellent by Tiger Balm.














VICHY Myokine Intensive Anti-wrinkle Eye Cream (purchased at some drugstore in Seoul)
Cyndi's had several eye creams in rotation, but her current favorite is this eye cream from Vichy. Neither of us knows what "Myokine" is, but it sounds impressive. Cyndi reports that since using this cream, she's noticed less "white bumps" under her eyes. Sounds like the Myokine is kicking butt. Cyndi also likes to use the "Regeneration Age Resisting Eye Cream" by Simple, in case you were wondering.














Olay White Radiance "Crystal Clear Lotion" (purchased at Tokyo Drugstore in Taipei)
It looks like a toner, but it's a lotion. Cyndi suspects that this "Crystal Clear Lotion" is what Koreans call "skin." Or maybe"essence." Truthfully, we don't know. It comes in a pretty bottle and doesn't make her break out; that's all that matters.














Simple Soothing Facial Toner (purchased at Watsons in Singapore)
Cyndi likes this toner because it's 100% alcohol and fragrance free. It is indeed "simple." After cleansing her face, Cyndi gently runs toner across her face using a cotton pad. Then, she applies one of her eye creams and dabs the Olay Crystal Clear Lotion all across her face. Cyndi has pretty nice skin, so perhaps I need to use toner as well.














Provice Star Shine Hair Mist (Missa)
The "nutritive system" of this hair mist is supposed to make your hair "elastic" and "vital." I'm not sure what that means, but I hope it means that your hair is less likely to melt off once it's been hit by a downpour of Seoul's tainted rain water. In any case, it has a nice fragrance. Cyndi purchased the mist based on a recommendation by her co-worker. Plus, the spray was on sale for about 2000 won.














Given the number of lotions, masks, and cleansers Cyndi has acquired since our sojourn to Korea, her list of beauty buys is quite modest. I think I may have to get her to put together content for a second list. Or maybe she just wants to keep all her beauty secrets to herself. 그렇지, Cyndi?

Summer Beauty Buys: Annalog's Picks

Other than my trusty BB cream, I still don't wear very much makeup. This fact, however, doesn't stop me from regularly perusing Seoul's plethora of cosmetic shops and drug stores. Cyndi, J.IM, and I have recently spent a lot of time and money (eeps!) picking up some great new products, so I thought it'd be a good idea to share our top Asian beauty buys for the summer.

The following items are my picks. I will post Cyndi and J.IM's list within the next few days, if not sooner.

Okay, let's proceed with the budget beauty extravaganza!


LET ME FINISH BB CREAM SPF 37 PA++ (Banila Co.)
I recently switched from my Missha "M' BB Cream to Banila Co.'s "Let Me Finish" BB Cream. Banila Co.'s BB cream is slightly more pricey (over $20), but in my inexpert opinion, it seems to do a better job of covering up my blemishes. It also gives me a "dewy" look (as opposed to a matte finish) that makes me feel more polished. I just smear the cream all over my face; dab a little extra cream on the bigger blemishes; then cover it all with a slight dusting of powder.















AQUAIR "Deep Moist" Hair Treatment Lotion (purchased at Watsons)
My over-processed hair is in dire need of some extra TLC, so I picked up a bottle of this Aquair hair lotion at a Watsons in Taipei. This hair lotion, made by the Shiseido Co. comes in a handy spray bottle and has a nice light scent. It may be all wishful thinking of my part, but my pama-induced curls seem to look a tad more healthy.














DR FORMULA ESSENTIAL LIP BALM SPF 10 (It's Skin)
Since I'm down to my last tube of Labello (which I could only find in Hong Kong!), I'm always on the lookout for another replacement lip balm. Despite the similar packaging, Nivea lip balm just doesn't cut it. It's like smearing a candle across your lips. My current substitute is a tube of "Essential Lip Balm" from It's Skin. The lip balm feels smooth going on, without leaving any sort of sticky residue. Plus, it has SPF 10. That can't hurt, right?














PROCURE 365 HAIR MIST (Missha)
Even though I had just picked up a bottle of Aquair Hair Lotion in Taipei, when Cyndi told me that Missha's "Hair Mist" comes with sun protection, I decided that Procure 365 would make a prudent purchase. The hair mist comes in three scents: floral, fruity, and something blue. I picked "Fresh Flower." I can't single out any noticeable effects on my hair, but I do feel better knowing that my hair's got a little SPF. I spray this one on in the morning, and Aquair in the evening.














I love drugstores in Asia. They're always filled with interesting regional items. In Taipei, we made many stops at the various drugstore. I noticed a line of Garnier products that featured a Chinese fruit, longan, aka "dragon eye." I picked up a bottle of the "Gentle Clarifying Foam," and was very pleased with its soft texture and fresh scent, so I wet back to the drugstore to pick up a tube of the eye cream. Both bottles were described as "light." I had thought this meant "gentle," but I soon realized that it referred to the fact that the products are meant to help whiten the appearance of your skin. I'm already pretty fair (bordering on glow-in-the-dark), so I could do without the whitening agents. Oh well. The products also claim to be "tested on Asian skin." Better Asians than lab animals, I guess.

Eye Contour Whitening Cream with SPF 15 (Garnier Skin Naturals)














Gentle Clarifying Foam with Pure Lemon Essence + long dan (Garnier Skin Naturals)














I also picked up a jar of moisturizing cream another product in the Garnier Skin Naturals line. It's nothing special in terms of the moisturizing, but I keep using it because it smells so darn good. The scent reminds me of a gardenia lei.

Fresh 24h Moisturizing Cream (Garnier Skin Naturals)














Speaking of smelling good, I picked up Anna Sui's "Flight of Fancy" Eau de toilette at the Duty-free. It's my official scent for the summer; meaning, I use it liberally in order to mask the damp odor of a shirt that has not dried properly thanks to the humidity. It smells colorful, like a fruity cocktail.

Taiwan: Kaohsiung Eats

Time to highlight the eats from the second leg of our trip to Taiwan.

The food in Kaohsiung was delicious. As a port city, Kaohsiung has some great seafood. I especially enjoyed the sashimi. It's been awhile since I've had good sashimi (Sorry Motherland, but Korean sashimi is just too slimy).

I also finally mustered up the courage to try stinky tofu. I've been told that stinky tofu may smell like a leaky sewage pipe, but it's actually quite tasty. I will concede that stinky tofu is nowhere as bad as it smells, but I would still say that stinky tofu is an acquired taste. Folks may disagree, but stinky tofu is surprisingly dry, and tastes just as it smells, perhaps a little milder.

Stinky tofu aside, I would say that everything I tried in Kaohsiung was quite delicious. In addition to various seafood dishes (similar to Chinese cuisine), I tried a number of street food and snacks for the very first time. Some of the more memorable eats were:

• Pork Dumpling (Meatball wrapped in rice dough and smothered in a sweet Taiwanese gravy)
  
• Spicy shelled sea bugs (I have no idea what they were, but they were compared to Korean bbeondaegi)
• "Virgin crab" (crab with a mega load of eggs)
• Taiwanese shave ice (In my opinion, it's much more delicious that Korean shave ice. The fruits in Taiwan are so fresh and yummy. We had fresh mango. It was the perfect cure for a blistering summer day on the island).
  
• Taiwanese ice cakes. (A man was selling these near a shrine. It's similar to Korean jujuba, only a little more creamy. It reminded me of the Samurai ice cakes back in Hawaii, only the Taiwanese ice cakes tasted more like actual fruit.)

I have to give major thanks to Ben and Ben's Brother for introducing us to so many good eats. Everything they put in front of us was mighty tasty. The only snack they did not endorse was deep fried ice cream at the night market, and of course, that tasted like crapola. Actually, it tasted more like deep fried chalk. It was the stinky tofu of desserts.

I repeatedly tried to post some pictures to help you visualize some of these eats, but either Blogger or my Internet is being a major jerk, so you'll just have to sit through another one of my videos if you'd like a visual sampling of our Kaohsiung eats.



Kaohsiung Eats from Annalog on Vimeo.

I still have a lot to share from our trip to Taiwan. I'll eventually get around to it, and explain these clips:

Dream Mall from Annalog on Vimeo.

Taiwan:Taipei Eats

I've sampled some Taiwanese food back home, but I had forgotten that Taiwanese cuisine is quite different from American-Chinese food. Taiwanese food is less about stir fry and more about pork, pickled vegetables, stewed meats, and unfamiliar spices (unfamiliar to me). Though the flavors are quite different, Taiwanese food vaguely reminds me of Korean food, though more brown than red.

I will admit that the food may not look very pretty, but it's often quite tasty. Though, I think J.IM and Cyndi would disagree.

I have to admit that we did a pretty terrible job of sampling the good eats in Taipei. This was primarily due to the fact that we only stuck to restaurants with picture or English menus.

At least, we tried some authentic Taiwanese beef noodles at the Rao Her Night Market in Shongsang.















We also tried out a shabu shabu buffet in Ximen. Unlike the hot pots back home, the broth was filled with all sorts of unidentified spices and dried thingamabobbies.
















Cyndi had read about a placed called "Modern Toilet," a concept restaurant where you sit atop toilet bowls and eat out of dishes shaped like toilets and urinals. Against our better judgment, we decided to check it out.














The food was pretty disgusting, and I'm not even taking into account the fact it was served in a toilet bowl. Even the complimentary fro-yo (poop shaped-- mmm...) was disappointing.















Sadly, the best meal that I had in Taipei was the boxed lunch that I purchased at the train station. Back in the day, these travel lunches came in tin boxes. Today, the lunches come in a cardboard box or one of the plastic containers pictured below.

We asked the sales clerk about the contents of one of the wrapped box lunches. He said that it was "rice." I asked him if it was chicken, and he replied "yes." Then, I said, "Or, is it pork?" Again, he nodded his head, and said "yes." Thankfully, the mysterious box lunch turned out to be a yummy pork chop.















There's not much too look at, but I've compiled all of the highlights of our Taipei eats including photos and videos of our shabu shabu, Shilin Food Plaza, and the dreadful Modern Toilet.

I will dedicate another post to our eats in Kaohsiung, which were much more interesting and tasty.

Taiwan: Glamour Shots

Ack! My Taiwanese classmate told me that the place to be in Taipei is actually the posh area near Taipei 101. I wish she had told me this last week, when I asked her about where to go in Taipei. Oh, well. I still had fun.

One of the highlights of our trip was probably the glamour shots. Let me first begin by saying that Taiwanese "glamour shots" are far more glamorous than the studios you'd find at the mall. Definitely a step above Head Shots. With all the makeup, styling, lighting, and props, it's quite a production. Depending on the number of outfits you order, the photo shoot could take up to half a day. On top of all the "glamour" that they pile on to you, the photographer will then photoshop you out of recognition. If you ever wanted to look like an Asian pop star, glamour shots are for you. Many folks even fly in specifically for the glamour shots, particularly young Japanese women and engaged couples (for official wedding portraits).

Given the production value, the photos are relatively inexpensive. I say "relatively" because it is still quite pricey. We selected the smallest package, which included two outfit changes, a small album of 15 photos, a keychain, and a photo CD. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how much we paid for our photo session, but let's just say that it was slightly more than a scaling at the skin clinic. I figure that when I'm a wrinkled little ajumma, the photos will prove to be a worthy investment. The photo studios accept credit card, so you don't have to worry about carrying enough cash.

Our session took about 2.5 hours. Reservations are recommended. After some research, Cyndi found a studio called "White Ladder," and made an appointment via email. There isn't a lot of information online about Glamour Shot studios (in English), but here's a Japanese list of all the studios in Taipei. I think. The site also seems to feature coupons.

I should warn you that neither the studio staff nor the photographer will likely speak or understand English. They are more likely to be proficient in Japanese. My makeup artist, for example, only knew a few phrases: Go!, Stop!, Look at me.

The studio will ask you to pick out looks from their albums, but I believe that you can also bring in your own outfits. Most of their clientèle seems to be fairly slim and long, so if you, to borrow the words of Beyonce, are bootylicious, the studio will unlikely be "ready for your jelly."

Once we selected our looks, we were taken to a den of clothes and makeup.

The makeup artists applied some mysterious makeup base from a little vial. She said that it would make us "more beautiful." It costs 300TWD! This is why you should never nod before thinking.

Here we are with our saeng ogul (natural face), pre-glamour.




























They lengthened Cyndi's hair with some extensions.














Check out the arsenal of makeup. Even if you select a "natural look" they will likely pack on a load of makeup. They use a variety of products including MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Etude House! In addition to plastering my face with foundation, my makeup artist added two layers of false lashes and taped my eyelids. I never thought I'd be one of those girls who taped my eyelids to get some ssankapul. It felt so strange.















Here are our first looks:

Cyndi went with the "natural" look.














I chose a "cute" look, which allowed me to try on some fake bangs.














For our second look, we both coincidentally went with a Chinese-ish look. I had originally wanted to wear this frilly mint green dress, but it did not fit.














I did not realize that the woman was going to stick a floral garden on top of my head.


















Cyndi's look was more elegant. She must have been a wealthy Chinese concubine in her past life.














We asked the photographer to take a picture using our own cameras. He instructed us to pose with our hands at the side of our faces. I felt like a major cheeseball, but the picture turned out pretty well.














Cyndi and I were each assigned a photographer. Cyndi got a photographer that could speak a fair amount of English. I got a guy who only knew the phrases: Smile; Open mouth; Look at me. I felt bad for him. He seemed like he desperately wanted to give me more direction, but had to resort to posing me like a mannequin or miming his directions. I'm not even being false-modest when I say that I am terrible at posing. I basically had to mimic him for each shot. Let's just hope he's got some mad photoshop skills.

Usually, you return to the studio a few days later to pick out the photos for your album, but we had to go to Kaohsiung, so we entrusted the photographer with this important task. I'm excited, yet a little worried, to see what my photographer picks out. I really hope he doesn't pick out the one where I'm holding the stuffed dog.

The photos will be shipped to Korea in a couple of weeks.

Overall, I'd say that the whole glamour shot experience was worth it. It was fun to get all dolled up.

There are a number of studios throughout Taipei, but if you'd like to check out White Ladder, here are the directions:

-Take the MRT to Shuanglian.
-Take exit 1.
-Walk straight up the street for about 15 minutes.
- Make a right at Zhongyuan. (#8 Zhongyuan St.)

The studio also has a location in Ximen.














I will conclude with a removal of all the color and spackle.



Glamour-less from Annalog on Vimeo.

Taiwan: Accommodations

We're back! Our stay in Taiwan was great, but I'm glad to be back. I have a lot of pics and comments to post, so there will be a lot of Taiwan talk for a short while.

I'll begin with my notes on transportation and accommodations in Taiwan. We took Thai Airways to Taoyuan International. Our flight was quite nice. The staff is very friendly, the interior of the plane is a vibrant purple, and we had our own individual screens. (Can't say the same for our return flight though). Thai Airways, by the way, has the most hypnotic safety instruction video I've ever made an effort to watch. The flight, a little over 2 hours, went by very quickly thanks to the on board media. I was finally able to watch Be Kind Rewind! (The film has its flaws, but its so very enjoyable.)

Once we arrived in Taoyuan, we purchased a SIM card (I brought my unlocked GSM phone from the Homeland). Then, we purchased shuttle tickets to Taipei Main Station from the first window that we could find. Unfortunately, this was a bad call. Our ticket was quite inexpensive at just 90TWD (about $3) -- suspiciously inexpensive. Our cheap seats got us a ride on the roundabout route that makes multiple stops, including a cruise down the street with all the Betel Nut Girls. I should have known we were on a poor choice in bus when the driver said with a quizzical look, "Taipei Main Station?"

I recommend that you shell out $12 or so for tickets for an express bus to Taipei.

Once we got to Taipei Station, we caught a taxi to our hotel in Songshan. It turns out that taxis are relatively more expensive than taxis in Seoul. The starting fee is 70TWD. Most Taipei drivers do not speak English, and our Mandarin accent is quite off, so it was a bit of a challenge to direct our driver. But, we worked it all out thanks to our map and broad gestures.

Cyndi and I shared a room at a budget hotel called Wonstar Hotel (not to be confused with Onestar Hotel). The hotel also goes by the name "Wantai Hotel." The exterior of the building is nothing to write home about, so I was quite surprised by the cleanliness of the room. The bathroom looked like it had been recently remodeled, and the bed was quite comfortable. I had no complaints. The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast, which included a buffet of congee, eggs, ham, toast, and other fixings that I imagine that your Taiwanese auntie would prepare for you on the weekend.



We arrived at the hotel in the evening, so most of the shops were closed, but we were able to check out Raohe Street Night Market.

The Wonstar is near many prominent spots including Taipei 101, City Hall, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It's also walking distance from the Yongchun MRT stop. Take exit 5. Head LEFT. Cross the bridge, and walk straight up the street for 7-10 minutes.



Due to room availability, we also had to book two nights at a hotel in Ximen, called King Shi Hotel. King Shi is not your typical hotel in that it only takes up two floors in a non-descript building. Since J.IM was joining us, we booked a deluxe double room. King Shi is located in the midst of the bustling Ximen district and is very close to Taipei Main Station. The room was big enough for three people, but the facilities were less shiny and new, at least in comparison to Wonstar. The bathroom was also a little small, and looked like it could use a little updating. Nonetheless, the hotel adequately clean and centrally located.

To find King Shi, take the MRT to Ximen. Take exit 6. Walk up Cheng Du St. Make a LEFT at Kuming St. (You should see a KFC and Family Mart).















Our humble little budget hotels in Taipei were sufficient, but they pale in comparison to the brand spankin' new Garden Villa in Kaohsiung. To our surprise, our room at Garden Villa was significantly less than our rooms at Wonstar and King Shi. Of course, we received a little discount thanks to our friends in Kaohshiung. More on Kaoshiung later...




























We primarily got around Taipei on foot or the MRT, which thankfully, had many English signs. We did take a cab a few times. At the risk of harping, I just want to say that based on what I've observed, Taipei taxi drivers are a lot more helpful than Seoul taxi drivers. The Taipei drivers may not know a lick of English, but they'll help you load your bags into the trunk, unlike some Korean taxi drivers. Yeah, I'm talking about you Mr. Bundang Ajusshi, who just sat in your air conditioned cab, while we three ladies tried to swing our heavy bags into your crowded trunk.

Heading to Kaoishung

It's our last night in Taipei, and I have too admit that my enthusiasm for Taipei has dimmed a bit. The unexpected downpour today and my inability to read or speak any Chinese seems to have dampened a bit of the fun. I had heard that English teaching opportunities are growing in Taiwan, so I had assumed that Taipei folks would know a bit of English. Unfortunately, aside from navigating the metro system, English is quite useless. Many sales people speak Japanese, but rarely do they speak or understand English.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to miss the hustle and bustle of Seoul. I had expected Taipei to be brimming with pedestrians, but most people seem to be riding around in cars. Ximen can be quite busy during the day, but at night, the streets empty and the neighborhood seems seedier. Most shops and restaurants close around 10 or 11 pm, and I don't know where people go afterwards. Fortunately the massage and spa places open until the early morning. Last night we got a half body massage and a foot spa/massage. My masseuse ended up giving me a full body massage. I'm not sure if I should be concerned or grateful. Neither Cyndi nor JIm received a full body massage. Why do I always end up with the shady massage guys?

Don't be alarmed mom. The massage was done over a blanket, so it was all quite safe. Actually, it was all quite painful. When I say massage, I mean, reflexology massage. Reflexology is not really about relaxation. Rather, it's about improving one's health. The practicioners forcefully prod and pound every tender spot in your foot/body to stimulate blood circulation and improve aspects of your physiology. I had forgotten that reflexology massages were so painful. The after effects are great, but the whole process can be quite uncomfortable.

We're going to take the bullet train (HSR) to Kaoishung tomorrow, where we'll meet up with some friends who are thankfully, Taiwan natives. It'll be great to finally eat at restaurants without needing to look at a picture menu!

Taipei: First Impression

We made it to Taiwan, and it's been quite fun thus far. I heard that the humidity can get pretty nasty this time of year, but it doesn't seem so bad (knock on wood), or at least, it's better than Seoul weather. It's hot, but at least there's a bit of an island breeze.

I would say that Taiwan is like Chinatown with a dash of Seoul and a smidgen of Japan. Or, as Cyndi describes, it's like Seoul, only two decades ago.

Last night we stayed in the Song Sang district, an area near City Hall. At first, it seemed to be pretty boring (maybe even a little seedy), but then we turned a corner and found a night market. We stayed at a budget hotel called Won Star aka Wan Tai Hotel. It looked a little suspect, but the room was clean and comfortable.

Since JIm will be joining us today, we've moved to a hotel in the trendy Ximen district. The hotel, King Shi is another budget hotel, but it's clean and the location is great. I would liken Ximen to Myeongdong, only more sprawling.

Cyndi and I were deciding between a trip to Thailand and a trip to Taiwan. I'm very glad that we picked Taiwan. It's a haven of cheap eats, cheap clothing, and cute character paraphenalia. I didn not realize that the Japanese influence was so prevalent. You can find Japanese "imports" all around town. We're even finding all sorts of unnecessary, but cute Domokun and Gaspard et Lisa accesories. The fashion also seems to be heavily influenced by Japanese trends, only the clothes are brighter and more bling (You can even find Cosplay here). Taiwanese girls seem to like the shorty shorts, but unlike Korean women and their fake Manolos, Taipei girls tend to were slippers or flats. That's how we island people roll.

My Taiwanese classmate told me that women are prettier in Seoul, but men are better looking in Taiwan. Based on what I've seen so far, I think this statement is still up for debate. I'm not really feeling the Taiwanese Pop Idol haircuts.

It's day 2 out of 5, the highlights so far are:
- Getting my entire face threaded
- Eating Taiwanese Beef Noodles
- Drinking Bubble Tea
- Glamour Shots

I, of course, will post more details, as well as pictures, when I return.

Student Annalog: Baby Bling

Today, one of my classmates shared that she attended a 돌잔치; a celebration in honor of a baby's first 100 days. I believe that it's customary to celebrate a baby's first 100 days (rather than a baby shower or birthday party) because back in the day, surviving 100 days was a big deal. That's just my guess.

The teacher told us that traditionally, people give the baby a 24K gold ring or necklace. I thought it was rather odd, until she pointed out that it is easier to hold onto gold, while it is tempting to spend the cash. The family will likely hold on to the gold until the child goes off to hagwon, or maybe until mama needs a new pair of shoes.

These days, gold is quite expensive, so many people choose to give money (around 50,000 won) or baby clothes.

Non-Beef Related Protest in Myeondong

Two weekends ago, on our way home from Myeongdong, our bus was temporarily waylaid by a crowd of protesters. I assumed that the crowd was an extension of the protests in Kwanghwamun, but it appears that these folks had a different agenda.

I'm not clear on their purpose, but a man held a flag that read "남북공동선언 실천연대." At least, that's what I think it said. Neither Cyndi nor I know what the phrase means. Cyndi says it has something to do with North & South.

I entered the phrase into Babel Fish (I know, I know. Don't ever trust Babel Fish translations). According to Babel Fish, the text means, "June 15 Joint Declaration practical regiment." I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the translation is quite off.

I will have to ask Heng about the meaning of the phrase, but in the mean time, you can check out a brief clip of the protests for yourself.

Going to Taiwan!

Cyndi and I are going to meet up with J.Im next week and have a look around Taiwan. If you have any tips on things to do, places to see, or more importantly, where to eat, please leave your suggestions in the comments section of this post.

Xie xie.

Student Annalog: 소개하세요.

A new student joined my Korean class today, so it was, once again, time for introductions. I hate introducing myself in Korean. I never know what to say. In the Homeland, all you have to say is your name and "Nice to meet you." At most, you'll have to mention your occupation or your hometown. In the Motherland, at least from what I've observed, you have to give a whole little spiel. It's not enough to say your name. They always look at you expectantly as if they're waiting for a summary of your life story.

I think my failure of an introduction is one of the reasons why my Korean teacher thinks that I am a bumbling idiot. I basically said something to the effect of "My name is Annalog. I am American. I don't speak very well, but my listening skills are alright." I didn't even say "Nice to meet you." The phrase 만나서 반갑습니다 (Manaseo bangapsumnida) is one of the first phrases you're taught in Korean 101, but I can never get myself to use it. It's sounds so lame whenever I say it in Korean, as if I reciting from the sample dialogue in my Korean textbook.

The new student in my class, a Japanese woman, in contrast, did an excellent job of introducing herself. In addition to giving us the 411 on herself, she ended with the phrase, "잘 부탁합니다," which translates essentially to "Please take care of me." This is a very common closing when introducing oneself in Korean. (I should note this phrase is usually used when introducing yourself to a class or a new work place. You wouldn't use the phrase when picking up a Korean girl at the "booking" club).

I find the use of this phrase very curious. I wonder if this phrase is a reflection of a greater sense of solidarity. I would never say, "Please take care of me" to a bunch of strangers back in the Homeland. This is why I haven't been able to utter the phrase in Korean either. Maybe that's why my teacher doesn't seem to like me. It's because I didn't ask her to.

I asked the teacher what one is supposed to say during a self-introduction, and she narrowed it down to three items:
1) Your name
2) Your age
3) Marital/dating status

According to my teachers, those are the three details that Koreans are most interested in hearing. So very true.

Alex: My Vintage Romance

I wanted to share my latest CD purchase. It's rather ironic that I buy CDs in a land where it takes less than 10 seconds to download an MP3. I don't usually buy albums, but I've been a fan of Alex's vocals since I first heard him as part of Clazziquai. I also like the presentation of CD albums in Korea. Is it too weird to admit that I like the fancy paper used in album booklets? Most Korean albums also come with a little extra something for the fans. Alex's album, for example, comes with a "photowall." Too be honest, I don't know what I'll do with these photos, but I appreciate the option.















Nowadays, Alex's popularity has skyrocketed with his participation in a celebreality show called 우리결혼했어요 (We Got Married).

Alex's overly romantic TV persona is a little too much for me, but I am definitely enjoying his efforts on his first solo album My Vintage Romance.


Alex's first solo album fits nicely within the Korean ballad genre, but also flirts with a little more rhythm and soul. In addition to a couple of featured rappers, the album includes a few songs most likely inspired by Stevie Wonder. If you've ever been to a noraebang, you know that Koreans love Stevie Wonder. (As does most of the world.)

I think that My Vintage Romance would make the perfect OST for some sad, romantic K-drama (Is that redundant?). Half of the songs are perfect for that requisite scene when the male and female protagonists ride their bicycles blissfully through the country side. The rest of the songs would play in the background as the protagonist sits in front of a rain splattered window, reminiscing about key moments in the drama (for the umpteenth time).

If you'd like to sample Alex's album, check out Cyndi's "Alex" playlist on imeem. My favorite songs thus far are 화분, 기분좋은날, 그대라면, and Waltz Lesson.