Ever since I watched the first YouTube video about "Yellow Fever" from Wong Fu Production back in 2006, I've been obsessed with them ever since.
I've been watching their creative videos and short film clips over the past decade. It's been a source of entertainment for me growing up, especially on nights when I'm bored and browsing the net. This is definitely my Asian nerdy side when I'm not out drinking and dancing!
One of their newest music video that connects to me dearly right now is their version of an attempt to be a K-POP boy group. Since I'm currently in Seoul, this stood out to me the most. The lyrics were incredibly funny and made NO sense whatsoever.
To give you an idea, this is a sample verse:
Please open the refrigerator
Give me the salt quickly
My back is itchy
The sun is really far
I have no friends...
Need I say more?
I highly recommend checking out the video here for some good laughs:
https://youtu.be/beZFLT0Ixag
Side Note: The YouTube response videos of Korean people watching this is even funnier because of how ridiculous the lyrics are. Seeing people's reactions and their commentaries are priceless.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Dim Sum Girl
I have to admit.
I might have an unhealthy obsession with "dim sum".
I lived in Hong Kong for 3 years and how much dim sum have I had? Maybe too much. If you're one of my good friends in HK, you're probably sick of me asking to eat dim sum every Saturday, every Sunday, and pretty much everyday.
Since I've moved to Seoul, Korea in March 2015, I would get random dim sum cravings, especially over the weekend. I've had legitimate reasons for visiting Hong Kong once in a while, but dim sum definitely weighs heavily on my decision making. My latest visit to Hong Kong was in May 2016 for a quick weekend trip to see my mother before we embarked on our Seoul trip together.
I recalled going back earlier in the year of 2016 and trying out a NEW dim sum restaurant that opened up near Soho, Central. It was absolutely, mouth wateringly delicious! Though, I was a bit skeptical. I can't be sure if I'm being objective or if I'm just so dim sum deprived that it tasted better than it really is.
As a result, on this trip, I decided to take my mother here so the both of us could judge the quality of their food. We arrived in central station exit D and took the moving escalators up to Soho. It's located near Elgin Street but in a side street, so it can be somewhat hard to find.
We ordered some of our favorites including soup of the day, shrimp dumplings, turnip cake, spare ribs, a vegetable side dish, and lastly Malaysian sponge cake. My mother spent 10-15 years of her life in Chinatown New York City and consumed dim sum on a semi regular basis. By the end of the meal, she was convinced that it was one of the best dim sum she's had in years! We both looked at each other and nodded in agreement that the dim sum in the states is nowhere as authentic or tasty as the ones in Hong Kong. I mean, to be fair, it is Hong Kong style dim sum.
Moral of the story: if you've never tried dim sum, you're missing out!
If you've had dim sum before then you're probably hungry like me right now...nom nom nom.
Perhaps, I should make it my mission to find yummy dim sum in Seoul.
Address of the dim sum restaurant in HK:
Ding Dim 1968
14 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong
You can also check out reviews of Ding Dim 1968 on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294217-d6739503-Reviews-Ding_Dim_1968-Hong_Kong.html
If it's your first time trying this out, here are a few of my favorite dim sum choices for your reference:
Chicken feet - 鳳爪
Fried sticky rice - 糯米飯
Malaysian sponge cake - 馬來糕
Pork siu mai - 燒賣
Roast pork buns - 叉燒包
Shrimp dumplings - 蝦餃
Spare ribs - 排骨
Steamed soup dumplings - 小籠包
Turnip cake - 蘿蔔糕
I might have an unhealthy obsession with "dim sum".
I lived in Hong Kong for 3 years and how much dim sum have I had? Maybe too much. If you're one of my good friends in HK, you're probably sick of me asking to eat dim sum every Saturday, every Sunday, and pretty much everyday.
Since I've moved to Seoul, Korea in March 2015, I would get random dim sum cravings, especially over the weekend. I've had legitimate reasons for visiting Hong Kong once in a while, but dim sum definitely weighs heavily on my decision making. My latest visit to Hong Kong was in May 2016 for a quick weekend trip to see my mother before we embarked on our Seoul trip together.
I recalled going back earlier in the year of 2016 and trying out a NEW dim sum restaurant that opened up near Soho, Central. It was absolutely, mouth wateringly delicious! Though, I was a bit skeptical. I can't be sure if I'm being objective or if I'm just so dim sum deprived that it tasted better than it really is.
As a result, on this trip, I decided to take my mother here so the both of us could judge the quality of their food. We arrived in central station exit D and took the moving escalators up to Soho. It's located near Elgin Street but in a side street, so it can be somewhat hard to find.
We ordered some of our favorites including soup of the day, shrimp dumplings, turnip cake, spare ribs, a vegetable side dish, and lastly Malaysian sponge cake. My mother spent 10-15 years of her life in Chinatown New York City and consumed dim sum on a semi regular basis. By the end of the meal, she was convinced that it was one of the best dim sum she's had in years! We both looked at each other and nodded in agreement that the dim sum in the states is nowhere as authentic or tasty as the ones in Hong Kong. I mean, to be fair, it is Hong Kong style dim sum.
Moral of the story: if you've never tried dim sum, you're missing out!
If you've had dim sum before then you're probably hungry like me right now...nom nom nom.
Perhaps, I should make it my mission to find yummy dim sum in Seoul.
Address of the dim sum restaurant in HK:
Ding Dim 1968
14 Elgin Street, Central, Hong Kong
You can also check out reviews of Ding Dim 1968 on TripAdvisor:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294217-d6739503-Reviews-Ding_Dim_1968-Hong_Kong.html
If it's your first time trying this out, here are a few of my favorite dim sum choices for your reference:
Chicken feet - 鳳爪
Fried sticky rice - 糯米飯
Malaysian sponge cake - 馬來糕
Pork siu mai - 燒賣
Roast pork buns - 叉燒包
Shrimp dumplings - 蝦餃
Spare ribs - 排骨
Steamed soup dumplings - 小籠包
Turnip cake - 蘿蔔糕
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
My Korean Hanbok Experience
| Taking a photo with the guard at the palace |
I've wanted to do this for some time, but I just never got around to it. So, when my mother decided to come visit me, it seemed like perfect timing. I mean, mother and daughter time wearing traditional Korean Hanboks, posing in front of the Gyeongbokgung palace...Why not?!
I searched on Google and found this foreigner friendly site in English about an all-day Hanbok rental. There were two locations and we choose the Gyeongbokgung palace branch near us.
We arrived around 11am, right before it started getting really busy with tourists. Unfortunately, due to height restrictions, I had limited selections for someone my size (I'm 5'2 by the way). The pretty ones I personally liked that I often see in the streets, are for taller girls. Nonetheless, I was happy with the purple and gold print two-piece hanbok I selected. My mother had a purple one with a mix of floral designs, which suited her very well. The rental for a day until 6pm can range anywhere from 40,000-70,000 KRW, depending on the style you choose. You can store your belongings and clothes by the front desk as well and they will give you a ticket. You also get to pick a little cute purse of your choice to put things you'll actually need in there while you walk around taking pictures. For an additional 5,000 KRW, you can get your hair done with accessories, so of course we did that too!
The moment we stepped out of the shop, we immediately transformed into photographers documenting our exploration of the palace. We were also frequently interrupted by tourists inside the palace who wanted to take pictures with us. Definitely felt like a celebrity! We visited the Bukchon Hanok village after the palace tour for some good old fashion shopping and eating. The stares continued from strangers all around us but we didn't really care.
Honestly, though, it was a hot sunny Saturday and we were both sweating in our layered hanbok outfits. Needless to say, we did not make it until 6PM and, instead, only lasted 'til about 2PM before we decided to switch back to our normal clothes. Overall, it was an amazing experience and something my mother really enjoyed. She likes to dress up in pretty costumes, she likes to take pictures, and she likes doing something fairly relaxing, all of which fit into this hanbok experience.
Even if it may seem like a tourist trap at times, it is something quite unique to Korea so no wonder so many people do it!
See website here here for details of where I rent my Hanbok!
For your information, the one I went to:
Hanbok rental shop 3355
45 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel:+82-2-720-1255
See website here here for details of where I rent my Hanbok!
For your information, the one I went to:
Hanbok rental shop 3355
45 Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel:+82-2-720-1255
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