Protest

the anti-war movement in Korea is a force that is gaining considerable mention and strength.....there are many here who feel that humanitarianism is an important aspect of everyday life, and are also now very conscious of the capitalist slant that Korean government possesses.....let's begin:

1.) Samsung corporation is an authentically Korean company, and yet 54% of its stock is controlled from outside of the country, primarily in the U.S.

2.) American military and government is planning on an extended stay for its troops, not in the interests of the Korean people (despite advocating this stay on the basis of 'protecting the Korean people'), but on the basis of maintaining some sort of power base in East Asia. This plan involves uprooting Korean citizens and creating a new area of residence for their troops.

3.) The Korean government is shifty in regards to many aspects of democratic organization. It regularly falls prey to U.S.-based concerns and is backed by a person who bears resemblance to Tony Blair in all the wrong ways.

4.) The people of Iraq are free citizens who possess faculties identical to those of Koreans, Americans, Japanese, etc., and deserve to live under the same freedoms that these enjoy.

5.) Migrant workers do not count as human beings or even lifeforms in Korea.

6.) The gap between the wealthy and the desperate is almost insurmountable here.

peacin' out to the jams of Windy City funk band - righteous, righteouuuuuuuuuuuus!

an advocate for anti-assimilation

a voice for change

sea of protest

whitey says 'no war'

Jimjil Bangin'

South Korea enjoys a reputation (international) for boasting some of the world's greatest saunas or spas.....but they are drastically unlike the traditional European or North American idea of what a spa actually is....here, the imposition of communal sweating has become an art form

the price is the first curiosity.....a mere 6000-10000 won to stay.....hidden in the word 'stay' is the idea 'sleep'.....at the jimjae bang, sleep is not only optional, it is expected.....if, perhaps, after a major stint of mindless self-indulgence at a local hub, and the subway is closed, why not lay on the floor with your friends and sweat? as accomodations go, this is mind-bogglingly inexpensive.....and so hidden in the words 'pay some won' are the words 'smile and laugh'

at the Jimjil bang, you may find your Korean friends drunkenly dosing on top of one another on the floor, occasionally waking to play with their hair.....you may also find families sitting or sleeping together on mats.....there may also be a man in the hot room (80-100 degrees C) who is asleep.....take note that laughing at his snoring or waking him to ensure he does not die is wrong.....Koreans don't take near death experiences as seriously as us Western folk, who have been raised to believe that excessive heat, lack of breathable air coupled with departures from consciousness are indicative of possible trouble

Jimjil bangs can be confusing.....there can be multiple floors and mirror-image hallways.....they can also sport identical male and female change rooms.....a good way to avoid embarassment is to read the signs clearly indicated on the doors to each.....a bad thing to do is mindlessly walk down the stairs, open the door, walk into the middle of the room filled with naked people, realize with a jolt that there is no sausage present, curse in a foreign language too loudly, then run up the stairs, of which everyone else can clearly see where you have just come from

Princess Leia towel-hats

only in Korea

Len in the Den of Zen

igloos of heat and multiple feet

The Future is Yours!

Essay Correction:

Student 1 - "And when SHEUDORY's going to win I shout and yelling and very happy. I don't know why am I happy. When other team wins the game I become gentle sheep."

Student 2 - "I think it's the most terrible book that I ever read of. I think Gloria's Way is better than this. But you remember that don't like Gloria's Way too, but it just better that this. I think author is crazy. Because it doesn't have substance. And last I think when this book be issued it must be ruined."

Solidarity Movements

nationalism in Korea is quite unlike anywhere else.....a society dubbing their troup the "Dr. Hwang Fan Club" exists and hold public rallies in support of his research and contribution to skyrocketing nationalism.....independence from Japan also enjoys unwavering support, further bolstering the mighty Korean spirit.....these two parties joined forces for a large demonstration outside of the theatre for the perfroming arts last weekend.....present was also a large gathering of Buddhists, which was unusual, given that Buddhists are generally passive and also don't seem likely candidates to vouch for stem cell research.....the curiosity lies in how Dr. Hwang is related to the philosophy of Buddhism

this opened with a traditional Korean dance which was uplifting and visually stimulating.....then several ex-military personnel gave speeches (battle-cries) and the mood became not unlike German pro-war bolstering.....very hive-oriented and almost Stalinist.....the speaker would shout something into the microphone.....everyone would cheer and wave flags.....he would shriek even louder into the microphone.....everyone would wave their flags even more vigorously and cheer even louder

a man approached me and my friends, sputtering in Korean.....i asked for a translation:

"what did that man say?"
"he says i shouldn't have brought you here and that white people are not welcome"

within 3 minutes, our progress was again halted.....however, this man spoke English and eagerly explained his cause to us.....radical differences of personal opinion waver not the steadfastness of Korean protesting/pride mongering

considering the tone and mood at the rally, that of non-violent protesting, it was interesting to see it balanced by an equally impressive number of riot police blockading the streets

riot police on the move

Buddhist contingency

nationalism rising

The Blurst of Times

at last, tickets were finally appropriated in order to spend an evening out at the symphony.....it was in fact the Seoul Youth Symphony, playing Rachmaninoff and assorted Russian pieces in a district called Gwanghamun.....the theatre auditorium is strikingly similar to that of Hamilton Place, save for minor architectural differences and the fact that every seat has a tv mounted on the back as well as being designed to appear trendy and fashionable, a Korean mainstay.....the music was nostalgic, conjuring images of past time spent in the HPYO and attending concerts back home.....mixed with the more blatant feeling of pure unadulterated Russian power and glory.....invincible Россия forever!

events continued back in Hongdae, a $6 cab ride from Gwanghamun (or about $50 if in Canada).....there were significant discoveries made and various fascinating places explored.....Hongdae, although considered the trendiest region in Seoul, also boasts lesser-known and far more interesting shops if one were to do some investigative trekking.....a place simply named Kitchen (an indie bar) was throwing a small intimate jam consisting of about 20 people, a dj, a basement, and a host supplying beverages.....needless to say, pictures were necessary.....so off sped Groove Holmes, already under the hypnotic allure of alcohol, to purchase some batteries.....upon his return however, the buildings and roads had changed.....they had elected to make an attempt at confusing Holmes, and subsequently transmogrified into entirely new and foreign structures.....a vexed Holmes ambled through the streets for many minutes, disoriented and shamelessly chastising himself with mild curses and insecure laughter.....fast forward 1 hour into the future, Groove Holmes stumbles down the stairs of Kitchen once more, realizing that the buildings only transform themselves back into their original form once all hope has been crushed into oblivion.....and there was great rejoicing (yay)

ridin' the rails

shiver me timbers!

theatre auditorium (classical emporium)

sweetness at the symphony

Dance-a-thon 2006 continues...