Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Korean Movie Review
It is not very often that I watch Korean movie, but recently I've watched 4 that I found to be very good. Perhaps it is that as I am getting older, I try harder to find my own culture.
The Way Home (Jibeuro)
This one is very moving...
Synopsis: Sang-Woo, a spoiled little South Korean boy, is spending the summer with his mute grandmother who lives up in the mountains. Over the course of the summer, Sang-Woo gets used to his grandmother, whom he used to make fun of, calling her a "retard." He also gets used to the simpler ways of life in the country and learns the importance of love and respect for one's family and elders.
Chi-Hwa-Seon: Painted Fire
Synopsis: Recounts the rise of painter Chang Sung-up (Choi Min-Sik) during the late Choson period. With the help of the affluent and generous Kim Byong-moon Chang grows as an artist but never quite belongs in the world of his mentor.
Chunhyang
A really classic Korean old tale.
Synopsis: Chunhyang, depicts a classic Korean story that has been told for centuries. The film takes place in 18th century Korea, where Mongryong, the son of the Governor of Namwon, is studying before he goes to school in Seoul.
Musa the Warrior
Not really Korean, but has Korean aspect.
Synopsis: Historical drama about a band of soldiers sent by the Yuan dynasty (Korea)to broker a peace pact with the Mings. But their efforts are rebuffed by the suspicious clan, who sends them to the desert for spying. When the leader of the group, Choi Jung, meets and falls for the Ming dynasty's Princess Furong, the rest of the group demands that he choose between love or loyalty.
It is not very often that I watch Korean movie, but recently I've watched 4 that I found to be very good. Perhaps it is that as I am getting older, I try harder to find my own culture.
The Way Home (Jibeuro)
This one is very moving...
Synopsis: Sang-Woo, a spoiled little South Korean boy, is spending the summer with his mute grandmother who lives up in the mountains. Over the course of the summer, Sang-Woo gets used to his grandmother, whom he used to make fun of, calling her a "retard." He also gets used to the simpler ways of life in the country and learns the importance of love and respect for one's family and elders.
Chi-Hwa-Seon: Painted Fire
Synopsis: Recounts the rise of painter Chang Sung-up (Choi Min-Sik) during the late Choson period. With the help of the affluent and generous Kim Byong-moon Chang grows as an artist but never quite belongs in the world of his mentor.
Chunhyang
A really classic Korean old tale.
Synopsis: Chunhyang, depicts a classic Korean story that has been told for centuries. The film takes place in 18th century Korea, where Mongryong, the son of the Governor of Namwon, is studying before he goes to school in Seoul.
Musa the Warrior
Not really Korean, but has Korean aspect.
Synopsis: Historical drama about a band of soldiers sent by the Yuan dynasty (Korea)to broker a peace pact with the Mings. But their efforts are rebuffed by the suspicious clan, who sends them to the desert for spying. When the leader of the group, Choi Jung, meets and falls for the Ming dynasty's Princess Furong, the rest of the group demands that he choose between love or loyalty.
Friday, August 13, 2004
Birthday party and SAM (Seattle Art Museum) -Van Gogh to Mondrian
8/4/04 - my b-day
Normally I spend my birthdays by myself. I don't like lots of commotion during my birthday, but after the day of work, I found myself at two different gatherings...
One quiet and relaxing pre-dinner...
Another big gathering at another friend's house.
I have never been sung "happy birthday song" so many times in one birthday.
8/5/04 SAM
I have seen many Van Gogh paintings, but I thought why not? It was about time I explore the art museum in the new city I settled into. So I arranged for a little excursion to SAM on first thursday when the whole museum is free and special exhibits are only half price...even less if you are a student.
The first sight that greeted us were the long line of people waiting to get in. I had no idea so many people would be interested in seeing this small exhibit of a German collector, but well, I guess there are lot more people who are like me.
We were fortunate that some of us had arrived early so we could join them to get in few minutes faster.
The museum was not too large, but spacious. The special exhibit was on the 2nd floor. I had expected lot more paintings of Van Gogh, but I should have read the fine prints. These were actually a collection of one German lady (name of whom I cannot recall to my shame!). There were some Van Gogh, but a lot others.
Few paintings there really caught my eyes, one being Van Gogh's Cafe de Nuit that I knew I already liked, but still, finding the other ones I didn't know about was worth going there. After speding quite some time on the special exhibit, we headed to the 3rd floor of Asian and African art.
I didn't expect the collection to be vast and it certainly was comparable to the LACMA (los angeles county museum), but no where near what I would have liked.
Future note to do would be to check out the actual asian museum in Volunteer park.
Overall though, it was a very good museum going experience. I had not thought going to museum with a group would be enjoyable, but with certain company, it was quite nice...
8/4/04 - my b-day
Normally I spend my birthdays by myself. I don't like lots of commotion during my birthday, but after the day of work, I found myself at two different gatherings...
One quiet and relaxing pre-dinner...
Another big gathering at another friend's house.
I have never been sung "happy birthday song" so many times in one birthday.
8/5/04 SAM
I have seen many Van Gogh paintings, but I thought why not? It was about time I explore the art museum in the new city I settled into. So I arranged for a little excursion to SAM on first thursday when the whole museum is free and special exhibits are only half price...even less if you are a student.
The first sight that greeted us were the long line of people waiting to get in. I had no idea so many people would be interested in seeing this small exhibit of a German collector, but well, I guess there are lot more people who are like me.
We were fortunate that some of us had arrived early so we could join them to get in few minutes faster.
The museum was not too large, but spacious. The special exhibit was on the 2nd floor. I had expected lot more paintings of Van Gogh, but I should have read the fine prints. These were actually a collection of one German lady (name of whom I cannot recall to my shame!). There were some Van Gogh, but a lot others.
Few paintings there really caught my eyes, one being Van Gogh's Cafe de Nuit that I knew I already liked, but still, finding the other ones I didn't know about was worth going there. After speding quite some time on the special exhibit, we headed to the 3rd floor of Asian and African art.
I didn't expect the collection to be vast and it certainly was comparable to the LACMA (los angeles county museum), but no where near what I would have liked.
Future note to do would be to check out the actual asian museum in Volunteer park.
Overall though, it was a very good museum going experience. I had not thought going to museum with a group would be enjoyable, but with certain company, it was quite nice...
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Tea Party
So I got this brilliant idea to hold a tea party at my little tiny studio...located in a town where non-coffee drinkers can possibly be persecuted. :) To fit as many people as possible, I had two such gatherings.
7/25/04
Attendance: about 12-13 people.
List of Teas:
1. Roasted Barley tea
2. O-mi-ja tea (known to have 5 distinct tastes...salty, sweet, bitter, sour, spicy)
3. Green tea from Korea (harvested when leaves are only the size of a small digit of your finger)
4. Citron tea (Citron with honey)
Food prepared:
1. Gimchee, Potatoe & veggie stir fry
2. Rice noodle, bok choy, meat stir fry
3. Korean rice cake (tuk)
4. Korean deserts
Food brought:
Cookies, pound cake, chocolates, tazo tea, etc.
8/1/04
Attendance: about 16-17 people (incredible...there were no place to sit!)
List of Teas:
1. Roasted Barley tea
2. O-mi-ja tea (known to have 5 distinct tastes...salty, sweet, bitter, sour, spicy)
3. Green tea from Korea (harvested when leaves are only the size of a small digit of your finger)
4. Citron tea (Citron with honey)
5. Lotus leaf tea
Food prepared:
1. Gimchee pancakes
2. Gim bop (Korean rolls with 5 different inserts)
3. Jap Chae (Korean sweet potato noodles with various meat and veggie stir fry)
4. Korean deserts
Food brought:
Bruchetta with killer amount of garlic, coffee/fruit cake, cookies, more cakes, etc.
Lots of conversations, many perusal through my travel notes, too much sweets and desserts, too many people crammed into small space, tarot reading, international music...
So I got this brilliant idea to hold a tea party at my little tiny studio...located in a town where non-coffee drinkers can possibly be persecuted. :) To fit as many people as possible, I had two such gatherings.
7/25/04
Attendance: about 12-13 people.
List of Teas:
1. Roasted Barley tea
2. O-mi-ja tea (known to have 5 distinct tastes...salty, sweet, bitter, sour, spicy)
3. Green tea from Korea (harvested when leaves are only the size of a small digit of your finger)
4. Citron tea (Citron with honey)
Food prepared:
1. Gimchee, Potatoe & veggie stir fry
2. Rice noodle, bok choy, meat stir fry
3. Korean rice cake (tuk)
4. Korean deserts
Food brought:
Cookies, pound cake, chocolates, tazo tea, etc.
8/1/04
Attendance: about 16-17 people (incredible...there were no place to sit!)
List of Teas:
1. Roasted Barley tea
2. O-mi-ja tea (known to have 5 distinct tastes...salty, sweet, bitter, sour, spicy)
3. Green tea from Korea (harvested when leaves are only the size of a small digit of your finger)
4. Citron tea (Citron with honey)
5. Lotus leaf tea
Food prepared:
1. Gimchee pancakes
2. Gim bop (Korean rolls with 5 different inserts)
3. Jap Chae (Korean sweet potato noodles with various meat and veggie stir fry)
4. Korean deserts
Food brought:
Bruchetta with killer amount of garlic, coffee/fruit cake, cookies, more cakes, etc.
Lots of conversations, many perusal through my travel notes, too much sweets and desserts, too many people crammed into small space, tarot reading, international music...
