Bang(ing) in Korea!

One of my favourite things about Korea is the vast amount of different indoor activities there are to sample. From Cat Cafe’s and Karaoke rooms to Screen Golf and places where you can just go to play a board game or two, there really is something for everyone. Firstly lets start by explaining what the word ‘bang’ actually means. You’re going to see a lot of it in the post below so its important not to get mixed up with the English meaning. In Hangul (the Korean alphabet) the word ‘bang’ roughly translates to ‘room’, and in Korea these ‘rooms’ are one of the main attractions. Bangs are everywhere and next to the variety of diverse Cafe’s, they are extremely popular.

So what do I mean by ‘room’? Well, imagine a place where you can do just about anything from watching a DVD with friends, to reading one of your favourite graphic novels in the privacy of your own room, and that's basically what a 'bang' provides. There are even sleeping rooms where you can go to have a quick nap or 6. Amazing right? Right! So if you’re ever in Korea (which you really should be at some point in your life) then be sure to check out some of these awesome places and enjoy a truly unique Korean experience...

Noraebang (노래방) – Karaoke room

 

Ah the famous singing rooms, they are truly a marvel. Bring your own food and drink, grab a microphone and a complementary tambourine and you’re ready to go. Back in the UK we only have Karaoke bars so if you want to sing, then you have to do so in front of the whole establishment, and often people can take it pretty seriously. However in Korea its just you and a few friends, Celine Dion and the power of Soju!! What’s not to love?! Oh and don’t worry about the language barrier as most of them have an English section in the books...featuring CHER!

PCbang (PC방) – Internet cafes

Okay we have Internet Cafes back home, so you know the drill...grab a coffee, surf the web and blast some alien robots into Outer Space! Sorry what?! Korea has a massive gaming culture and this is pretty much what a PC bang is used for. So if you don’t mind the sound of shooting guns and pubescent rowdy teenagers yelling at a 15 inch screen, then you’ll probably have a lovely time.

DVD Bang (DVD방) – DVD room

 

Unfortunately the old DVD bang has a bit of a bad reputation. In Korea many people live with their parents until they get married and so dating becomes a bit of an issue. Therefore many people tend to head to one of these rooms to ‘hang out’ with their significant other...if you know what I mean?! It’s a lot cheaper than a Love Motel and its a pretty standard thing to do over here. However many people (including myself) do actually use these for the actual service they provide, and personally what a great service it is. Choose a film (Titanic in 3D obviously) grab some snacks and chill out with some friends. Like most bangs, it’s a home away from home.

Jjimjilbang (찜질방) – Korean Spas

I personally haven’t been to one of these yet but i’ve heard they are pretty cool. For about 10,000won (around £5) you’ll get access to a host of different hot rooms and spas. You can then go and chill out in another room, watch some TV with friends and have some food before repeating the process all over again for as long as you like. Once you’ve worked up a bit of a sweat why not go and have a little nap in the sleeping rooms provided. Most Jjimjilbangs are open 24 hours and a lot of people choose to stay in one of these (just for the one night) instead of a hotel as it's much much cheaper. 

Gamebang (게임방) – Game room

 

Be it a room or an entire cafe these Board game bangs are just the best thing since slice bread. Opt for the classic Cluedo, Monopoly or even Connect 4, grab a coffee or a few beers and play games to your hearts content. The world really is your oyster in these little places and at only around 500won (25p) for every 15 minutes its really something not to be missed.

Multibang (멀티방) – Multi Room

Multibangs basically do what they say on the tin, which is...EVERYTHING! I’m not even kidding! If you’re not sure if you want to watch a movie, play some computer games (Nintendo Wii or PlayStation), sing a few songs or just watch some TV then this is the place for you. Drinks and snacks are usually included too and at around 20,000won (£10) it’s a winner!

Well there you have it, it's certainly Bang(ing) in Korea!! I hope no one was too disappointed by the suggestive title of this post. If you were then best to stick to the DVD bangs! Enjoy...

11 Things You’ll Only Ever Hear From An Expat...

I have now been an expatriate living in South Korea for just over 4 months and there are  certain things that I have come to realise about this kind of lifestyle. I have gotten use to not having things that I would never have questioned not having back home, and to having things that I would normally find totally bizarre. It’s what living in a different country is all about, so I thought I’d put together a little list for anyone who is planning on making this move. Feel free to add any others you can think of to the comments section below...

 

1. ‘Come round for dinner - bring your own cutlery!'

 

 So, you’re feeling like a lovely little night in with good friends, a couple bottles of wine and some glorious food. You decide to cook for everyone and spend 5 hours slaving away over your one stove, and when you finally get to the serving you suddenly realise; you only have 1 knife, 1 fork and 1 set of mental chopsticks. Bring your own cutlery folks...I’m living for one! DAMMIT! 

 

2. ‘The blankets aren’t mine!’

 

 

 When you first arrive in Korea its unlikely that you’re going to have brand new bedding that’s never been used before, and if people come to stay then you’re probably not going to have new bedding for them either. An extra set for the small amount of visitors you may have, is an expense you probably won’t invest in...or is this just me?! When you do finally buy bedding for yourself, it won’t be pretty. If you want something plain, forget it. You’ll either be searching for hours or spending over the odds for bedding that doesn’t even fit. Someone tell me where all the fitted sheets have gone?!

3.’What’s your name again?’

 

You meet a lot of people here and I don’t know about anyone else, but I am constantly forgetting not only their names but if i’ve even met them in the first place. Especially with names like ‘Kim’ and ‘Jong-un’ ...its difficult ay! Awks!

4. ‘Why is this towel the size of a wash cloth?’

 

Towels that fit your entire body! Bring these from home folks...its pretty impossible to find full length towels here and don’t be fooled by the label. Full length in Korea means for someone the size of a small Cat. Where did all the wool go?

5. ‘Sorry, what do I do with the toilet paper?!’

 

JUST FLUSH IT! In your apartment, just flush it! If you only use small amounts of toilet paper then its fine. Do not use anything more than a few sheets though as it will block your toilet, and you will be plunging for several days after. Most of the locals don’t flush it, and I have seen some horrors in bathroom toilets that I'd rather not remember. 

6. ‘Who do I live with? Oh its just me and a couple of hundred fruit flies!’

 

 

Fruit flies! Is there anyway to get rid of them...yes. But they will come back so in the summer months its really something that you have to live with. I’ve started naming mine...Eric is sitting on my laptop watching me type as we speak... Hey Eric! 

 

7. ‘Lets go out for dinner...for the 7th time this week!'

 

Sure! Why not? Its cheap and I can pretty much afford anything here. Not having to worry about money is something that only few people experience back home in London. I don’t pay any rent and most things are half the price (if not more) than back home. It really is amazing! 

8. ‘Why can’t I use the computer...is it the 90's again?!’

 

 Okay it’s not that bad but if like me, you’re a regular user of internet banking and such things then be prepared! Everything is (obviously) in Korean. Its also hard to navigate around online shopping sites because half the time you don’t actually know your address. The computer at work is also completely in Korean so its hard to remember what button ‘Save’ is in a word document. Obviously at one point or another I will get my full address written down, and I will eventually learn Korean but for now...where’s the print button?! 

9. ‘I have one day off in September...lets go to Japan!’

 

If you’re lucky you will have 10 days off a year plus the bank holidays. However a lot of people get even less than this, so you tend to make the most of your vacation days when you do get them. You’ll even try to fill your weekends up with trips around the country. Although sometimes the constant flow of alcohol and good times will entice you to stay.

 

10. ‘Lets go have a drink at the 7 Eleven!’

 

 

 GS, 7 Eleven, Mini Stop. The convenience stores in Korea are EVERYWHERE! But unlike at home, every one of them has a little seating area out the front where you can sit and legally drink. Its like the cheapest bar ever! You will normally spend most of your expat life outside of one of these. What’s not to love? Bottle of cider and a bag of crisps for less than a pound! Sold!  

11. ‘YES!’

 

 

You’ll start saying yes to EVERYTHING! At first its the only way to survive! Meeting new people is extremely important for life as an expat so unless you want to become a recluse, then this is something that you will need to do. After all, you are potentially only here for a year or two, and so if you want to get the most out of everything then you'll just have to say it! YES...it works for me!

So there you have it folks, just 11 of the things you’ll usually hear from an expat. With an endless amount of new experiences to be had, I’m 100% sure that this list can only grow. So until then...

Its not all fun and games...

When I first moved to Korea I was told to expect some form of homesickness. I didn’t know when it would come and what exactly it would feel like but I knew that sooner or later it would hit me. What I didn’t know however is how much it would hit me. I’ve written about homesickness here before but I thought that it was worth mentioning again as this really is a big part of moving to a different country. The highs are extremely high and the lows are extremely low, make no mistake about that. Its only after 3 weeks of feeling this way and then another month of not wanting to remember that feeling, that I finally feel as if I should probably get it all down on paper.

I can suggest a number of different things to do like call home, plan a trip, keep yourself busy or try and find some home comforts, but unfortunately I think for most people it’s really just a wave you have to ride out. Be rest assured though that you will come out at the other end feeling stronger and more prepared for the next time... when it undoubtedly will happen again! Personally I haven’t missed things like food or the convenience of popping into a Tesco’s Express to get my entire weeks worth of shopping, but more so my friends and family and the people I love.

I miss their company and I miss the laughs. I miss the comfort of not having to worry about myself and knowing that there is always someone looking out for me, as I am looking out for them. I have never before appreciated my friends and family on such a level, and I am sure I took them for granted. Moving to a different country so far away from them has its moments and I can honestly say that I've never spent so much time with myself... how they all do it?! I just don’t know. But I have of course become more independent and this can only be a good thing.  

On the flip-side I have already made some incredible friendships here in Korea that I could never have anticipated. This is something that I really didn’t expect, but it is also probably the toughest part of living here because as things go, people leave. With people coming and going so often you would think that it would be difficult to become attached and make proper connections with them, but you really really do.

You have no close friends or family to support you out here and so the people you befriend, quickly (in the best possible way) become a strange sort of replacement for that huge missing part of your life. You see them day in and day out and they soon become part of the furniture, and then comes the dreaded day of departure when they have to leave. Everything you have come accustom to changes, and you’re back on your own once again. And that’s when you remember how you felt before, and what you didn’t want to feel again. Homesick.

Therefore the question is, would you rather form these close friendships and enjoy them for what they are at the time? Or, spend the whole experience not making any real connections to save yourself the pain? Its a tough one but personally I don't think there is much of a choice. I would 100% rather have met these amazing people even though it is very sad when they have to leave.

Surely the whole point of this experience, is the experience itself of meeting new people from all over the world?! Why would anyone want to miss out on that? I think at the end of the day its important to remember that you are a human being, and human beings (on the whole) need other human interaction to survive. The more people you meet, the more places you go, and the more places you go, the more you will learn to not only survive, but thrive on this little planet we like to call, Earth.

So say YES to everything, Skype home as much as you can, and remember that when one person leaves ...another will soon arrive, and the fun times will begin all over again! 

The 16th Annual KQCF Pride Parade

Last Sunday brought the 16th Annual KQCF (Korean Queer Culture Festival) Pride Parade, something that this year almost didn’t happen. Earlier this month the police issued a notice banning the parade from taking place due to there being too many other rallies occurring on the same day, which ‘’coincidently’’ included an opposing anti-LGBT demonstration. The reason being that it would simply just cause too much disruption to traffic and pedestrians in the area.

Shortly before this on May 21st the Seoul police announced a new controversial procedure stating that any groups that wanted to submit a rally declaration for the date of June 28th must do so in person on May 29th and permission would be granted on a first come first serve basis. Unfortunately as soon as this statement was released, news came to light that members of the ‘Love Your Country, Love Your Children Movement’ group led by pastor Song Chun-gil, had already started standing in line over a week before the submission date, in an obvious attempt to stop the parade from happening.

'Pace' Rainbow flag'

Several other right winged Christian groups also camped outside the Namdaemun Police Station for most of May to try and stop the parade from taking place. They initially succeeded in doing so meaning that the date had to be changed from June 13th to June 28th. After this set back the organisers were determined not to let the same thing happen again, however unfortunately it did. After a long long fight, on June 16th a South Korean Court finally overturned the ban and ruled in favour of the KQCF Pride Parade. They stated that the police’s reasoning was invalid and stressed the importance of freedom of speech as members of a democratic society.

The writings on the flag!

Finally the day arrived and the LGBT community and their supporters from all over Korea and in fact the world, joined in their thousands to celebrate Pride. The protesters were also there in their masses and it really was unlike any other pride I have ever been to before. Coming from the UK where we have marriage equality and its generally a safe and open place to be, it was quite shocking to witness the amount of people protesting against the cause. Most of what they were saying however, was in Korean and for the first time whilst living here it made me thankful for not fully understanding the language.

''DMZ''!

 The protesters on the other side of the ''DMZ''!
 

The protesters played their music as loud as they could in an attempt to drown out the festival’s own sounds to (I think) no avail. They also used mega phones, banners and at points pure force to try to get their point across. But (for the most part) instead of retaliating and creating a war between the two sides, the LGBT community, determined not to let anything ruin their day of celebration, stood their ground and chose to quite literally laugh in their faces. The only anger that was expressed from what I could see, was from the protesters themselves, which I think only enforced the fantastic atmosphere that was felt during the entire event.

 Sooo many police!

 

 

Doing an awesome job!
 

The supporters created a wall of safety around the edge of the festival and held rainbow coloured strings to further emphasize the unity that was felt during the whole day. The parade itself went without fault and it really was an incredible experience to be a part of. As we all marched together to the sound of K pop and Lady Gaga’s ‘Born this Way’ you really could feel a sense of utter liberation flowing through the air. The police did a fantastic job at creating barriers and removing any disobedient protesters from the area, and although there were only a few floats, they were all really unique and aspirational.

 Flags during the parade!
 

...true story!
 

 All in all I can truly say that this was the best Pride I have ever been to. I felt extremely proud to be a part of it and for a country that still has a long way to go in LGBT equality, it certainly was a step in the right direction.

 Well done KQCF, well done!!!

The Cat Cafe!!!

One of the many things I was looking forward too when moving to South Korea was the famous Cat Cafes that I’d heard so much about. We do actually have one of these in London, but it is quite expensive so I never actually got around to checking it out. However in Korea they are very cheap at only 8,000 won per person, which is about £4 each. This includes a drink of your choice and some food to feed the cats with. You can also stay as long as you like which makes the whole experience feel a lot more relaxed and comfortable.

These specialised Cafes are everywhere in Korea so you never have to go far before finding one. Most of them are quite literally on your door step or just a couple of streets along, which is extremely convenient for those days where you just want some cat company. As you can imagine I was more excited than a kid in a candy store or a camel on hump day, and so off I went with a skip in my step to the nearest Cat Cafe in my area of Beomgye, Anyang. 

  Spot the Cat?!

Cat Room!

When we arrived we were greeted with the sound of approximately 5000 meowing feline's and a smell of cat piss that just wouldn’t quit, which is exactly what it was. However, I soon got over the dreadful smell when I saw the main room where the cats all hung out. We quickly changed our shoes (a tradition pretty much everywhere in Korea, even in the changing rooms in H&M its mandatory) and then placed our belongings in the lockers provided and went on our way.

And then I saw it - the greatest thing I have ever seen before... CATS EVERYWHERE!! There were around 20 different Cats all just chilling out on the chairs and on the tables, in the boxes and on the specially designed Cat obstacle track. They genuinely looked as if they were having the time of their lives, with not a care in the world. Most of them were super friendly and one of them even ran up to greet me as I entered. Bless. If you are a Cat person then you understand what joy these little moth balls bring. It really is unconditional love. 

 So photogenic!

 Poser!!

...I woke up like this!!!

My Iced Latte soon arrived - another thing I love about this country (I swear we don’t have these back home) - and the Cats all excitedly jumped up to sit with me. There I was in pure cat heaven, fully experiencing what I imagine it is like to have 9 glorious lives intact at one time. It was fantastic and there wasn't a better place I’d rather have spent my Saturday afternoon. We were given some small pots of fish that the Cats just went crazy for. I had cats on my arms, in my hair, behind me, in front of me, jumping up on to my feet below...basically coming out of my ear! It was special to say the least. 

  

Dude! 

Just chilling!

There were of course some cats that didn’t even bother coming over. They’re so independent and care free - who can blame them, and so I walked over to many of them to make sure they all got a little bit of food. Suddenly I heard a loud squeal, a cry for help perhaps?! I turned around to see what all the commotion was about...  

...a fight had broken out in the corner of the room between a White Russian cat and a grey fearful looking Tabby Cat. They paused wide-eyed, waiting for the other to make the first move. All the other cats quickly turned around to see what was happening. You could cut the tension with a knife. I'm telling you it was edge of your seat stuff. After what seemed like a lifetime (about 15 seconds) one of them finally moved forward, as the other just hopped away never to forget the rivally between the two breeds. Tabby cat 1: White Russian: 0. A victorious end to an awesome visit at one of Korea's best chill out spots - The Cat Cafe. 

 

All the Cats!

WARNING: Do NOT wear black trousers or any clothes that you care about! The Cats hair literally goes EVERYWHERE...but it is, totally worth it! 

Buddha’s Birthday in Busan: The Final Day!

The final day in Busan came quicker than expected. We woke at around 8am as we were meeting the rest of the group at 9. Ready and raring to go, we jumped on the coach and headed off for our first stop of the day, Yonggungsa Temple.

Situated along the north eastern coast of Busan, this temple provides some amazing views and colourful statues along with some cute little markets down the main strip leading up to the temple itself. It was quite busy but this didn’t spoil the experience, and we even had time to taste the popular Korean delicacy known as Beondegi, which is basically baked BUGS! As you can imagine it tasted much like...well bugs, to be honest! Gross!

 12 animals of the zodiac

 Huge golden Buddha on his birthday weekend!

 Yonggungsa Temple from above

Yonggungsa Temple from below

 

Next it was off to Haeundae Beach to chill out for the rest of our trip. Here we could have taken a stroll along Dongbaekseom island to see the mermaid statue, however we were all pretty tired so decided to just hangout on the beach and relax before the epic bus ride back. During our visit we managed to catch the Haeundae Sand Festival, which runs along the beach at this time of year.

It features a lot of different sand sculpture designs such as scene's from Aladdin and Alice in Wonderland which were quite interesting to see, espcially as the artists were creating them right in front of our faces. This amazing beach is exactly what you would expect it to be and more. With clear blue waters and golden sands, this is also the location of Busan Aquarium, which I will definitely be coming back to visit. 

 Haeundae Sand Festival

 Aladdin!

Just before visiting the sand scultures, we had a bit of a disappointing lunch at a place called ‘Mom’s Touch'. Its a chain of fast food resturants here in Korea and i've got to say, it was pretty damn awful. Our food took ages and when it finally did arrive it was cold! Yuck! However, this really is the only negative thing I have to say about the entire weekend, and so it wasn't too hard to get over with a view like Haeundae beach in front of us. 

After this, it was soon time to head back to the bus and start the long journey home. Having never visited Busan before, I’ve got to say that I was very impressed. It’s a stunning place packed full of different things to see and do, and this has probably been my favourite weekend in Korea so far. 

Amongst the numerous amounts of temples, gorgeous beaches and stunning architecture lay the one thing that really puts the icing on the cake in this lovely city, and that is the people. The people who live here are all incredibly laid back and friendly. Korean’s on the whole are usually this way inclined, but I noticed a real difference in Busan in that they don’t seem to care as much about the little things, which makes for an incredibly relaxed atmosphere. 

Haeundae Beach

There is definitely something in the water here, and I could honestly not recommend a visit to Busan enough. I imagine it would also be a beautiful place to live too, which is something that I myself would definitely consider for the coming year of 2016. So watch this space, who knows what the future will bring...

Buddha’s Birthday in Busan: Day 2

The morning after the night before I felt surprisingly okay. After sampling the local night life in Busan, the city that doesn’t sleep or so it should be called, we jumped back on the coach and headed off on our second full day of site seeing. First stop was Gamcheon Art Village, which is located on the mountainside of Saha-gu. This village became host to many refugees of the Korean War that fled south to this Busan slum in order to escape the North. It is now one of the prettiest spots in Busan and is absolutely covered in art and colour. It reminded me slightly of my home town of Brighton in the UK, as this too is covered in colourful town houses, and decorative street art. 

 

 ART!

 MORE ART!

EVEN MORE ART!

Gamcheon Art Village

We spent a good few hours here, and even had time for one of the best hot dogs that i've ever eaten before...seriously, its all about adding EGG! Next it was off to the Taejongdae cliff walk, which was possibly my favourite place we visited over the whole weekend, with Gamcheon Art Village coming in a close second. The views were absolutely stunning and you can even catch a glimpse of Japan if you're lucky. It’s definitely worth the long walk up to the top to check out not only the view but the beautiful lighthouse, stunning gardens, cliff edge and of course the needle point too. You can also take the short ‘Elephant train' ride to the top if you’re legs won’t carry you. Allocate plenty of time at this destination, you’ll want it.

 The Lighthouse

 

The Bay

Japan in the distance...honestly its there!

On the way back from here, we stopped off at Jagalchi Fish Market, which is the largest seafood market in Korea. As we walked through what seemed like miles upon miles of live skinned eels, octopus and some of the weirdest looking fish I have ever seen, I started to feel more and more like I was in Clean Bandit's music video for 'Rather Be' (google it NOW if you're not familiar) and so I just let the rhythm take over. It was fantastic. I know its just a fish market but we don’t really get this back home, or at least not to this extent so to be quite honest I was having a great time...and I’m allergic to fish so it MUST have been good. 

 FRESH FISH!

 Stretched FROGS! Weird!

 Live skinned Eels!

 Don't ask...they were GROSS!

 Sooo many Octopus!

As we arrived at the other end of the fish market smelling less than desirable, we made our way through the streets of Nampo-dong, which was originally the downtown part of Busan. This vast shopping area is full of everything from clothes and jewellery stores to restaurant's and market stalls selling the strangest looking children's toys you can imagine - seriously someone call Stephen King! Its a bustling place to be at anytime and is also pretty close to Busan Tower and Yongdusan Park - our final stop on the second day. At this location we didn’t have a huge amount of time so it was nice just to wander around and take in the traditional buildings and monuments that this area had to offer. 

 Massive gong!

 

Busan Tower!

Back on the coach once again, and after a hectic but awesome second day we returned ‘home’ to our accommodation for the weekend. We were staying at something called a 'pension', which is basically somewhere between a hostel and a bed and breakfast...but without the breakfast, and sometimes without the bed too. Its pretty basic and not the most amazing place to stay but its cheap, right next to the beach, and when you’re out exploring for most of your time its almost pointless to get anything better. That evening we went out for a bite to eat before heading into the local area for a beverage or 10! However, we were all pretty tired and didn’t want to stay out ridiculously late as the meeting time for the final day was 9AM! 

So we returned at a reasonable (ish) hour, rested, and reflected on the adventures had on Day 2 in Busan, South Korea. 

To be continued...