Rainy day bus stop

Seoul Express Bus Terminal. (Yes, I go to that neighborhood a lot and not only because Shinsegae Department Store's wine shop has a good selection and friendly staff.)

It has been raining constantly for the past two weeks. Monsoon season gets pretty dreary but I find myself filming rainy moments more than any other.

Sweet pudding at Les Fruits N*

When you're on a sweet kick and get tired of ice cream, there are many alternatives: cake and pastries, patbingsu, and puddings. Les Fruits N* is a pudding and dessert specialty cafe at the Samsung Town building in Gangnam.

There's a selection of various puddings,

cakes and pastries.

Sweetness paired with bitter coffee is the best.

The pudding is the chilled variety, not the creamy soft type, closer to the consistency of a hard panna cotta.

They come in little glass jars which you can take home. My friends use them to store buttons or use as pots for small plants. Most have caramel or sweet syrup at the base according to the flavor. Vanilla is on the left, green tea on the right in the photo below.

The cafe is quite spacious and bright. It is on the B2 level so you don't get an outdoor view but as it's in a large office building, people watching becomes quite interesting.

Reading the copy on their cups is equally entertaining. "Fruity life"? There are so many competent English speakers in Korea, why marketing consulting firms don't hire them to proofread things will always be a mystery to me.

How to get there:
Samsung Town is linked to the underground exit #4 of Gangnam station, metro line 2 .

The Seoul of my youth is fading away...

The underground mall at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal is closing for year long renovations on May 31st, 2011. The mall has been around forever; it's been over 30 years since it has opened and I have no recollection whatsoever of it ever having closed down for a long period of time.

Like the renovations being done at Gangnam Metro Station, the mall is certainly to resurface bright and shiny, all new and hi-tech, donning the face of Seoul in the current era. And somehow that makes me feel sad.

There are certain characteristics of Seoul that I would like to be preserved; I was immensely disturbed when they did away with all the food stalls lining the streets of Jongno, when the construction laws were loosened and modern high rise buildings started to spring up between the old and collapsing hanoks of Insadong, when the traditional antique street market in Dongdaemun was hauled away into another modern style building.
Modernisation isn't always the answer, especially if the charm of the place is lost in the process. Or perhaps I'm just an old fuddy-duddy who doesn't like change, who would like things to remain exactly as it is in one's memory.

I liked the underground mall at SEBT because it was the closest thing to a traditional market in the Gangnam area. The prices were cheap and flexible, you could banter with the shop owners like neighbors, it was the perfect place to buy basics and essential clothing items, and the abundance of merchandise available made for excellent window shopping.

I made a last trip before the renovations start. The shops are having major clearance sales as they will be back next year and stock has to go. I also went to take some photos. I had never ever thought of taking pictures of this place (during those 30 years) as it was a "constant" in Seoul life, but as it will never be the same, I wanted to take some images as reminders. Sentimental sap, I am.

Tons of photos:

Baskin Robbins Favorite * D café in Gangnam

It's getting hotter. Spring rains fell on the country during the long holidays from Children's Day to Buddha's Birthday, and after the rain completely evaporates I'm pretty sure spring will unceremoniously succumb to summer.

I'm currently on a sweets kick. (Lethargy makes me crave sugar like no other and if this isn't the season to be drowsy and lethargic, I don't know what is.) My current haunt when in the Gangnam area is Baskin Robbins, specifically the Favorite *D café on the second floor, where it isn't only 31 flavors that are being served.

Regular counter service on the first floor. Then you go up the stairs...

The second floor's atmosphere is bright and cheery (and looks like something Barbie would like).

I love the door handles here!

When you're seated the waitress hands you the menu with a separate flyer for Today's Specials.

Somedays you just want a simple drink, whether fruit juice or an ice cream milkshake. (cookies & cream)

Or you can go for more elaborate desserts like crème brûlée and ice cream. (pistachio)

Or brownies with ice cream. (cherry jubilee)

Yum!

If the sweetness gets too sugary for you, you can always wash it down with coffee.

Favorite * D café is situated in Gangnam, a short walk from exit #7 from Gangnam metro station (Line 2).

It's right next to the City Cinema building, impossible to miss.

http://www.baskinrobbins.co.kr/

A cup of coffee at Leina's

A real cup, that is. Because sometimes you want your coffee in something other than a paper disposable or a mug.

Despite my being a serious wino, if push comes to shove, I'd choose coffee over wine any day. I'll never, ever, ever be able to stop drinking coffee. It's what wakes me up in the mornings, what comforts me on gloomy days, what accompanies me on the all-nighters I spend writing, what makes time with friends even more joyful, and what uplifts my moments of solitude.

Leina's is hidden away in the busy back streets of Gangnam, inconspicuous among the numerous takeout self-service coffee chains. I only noticed it for the first time last year because of the Billy Elliot promotion banner. The café looked promising despite it being on the second floor of a busy building.

Ah, table service, how much do I love thee? Leina's offers coffee from all over the world including my favorite blends Indonesian Flores Bajawa and Tanzanian AAA Ruvuma. Available in slow drip or siphon, the menu kindly explains the coffee's strength per item.

The brewing counter. The baristas all wear crisp clean uniforms; they're friendly and efficient.

Although the view outside is just a city back alley, I usually sit by the window to enjoy the light and watch people going by. The café provides warm woolen blankets, something the miniskirt wearing girls really need. These people definitely know how to cater to their clientele.

The café doesn't hold many people, but I've never seen the place packed. The third floor is the café's wine section, but I haven't been able to check it out yet.

Besides the higher-priced specialty coffees, "regular" press coffees (espresso, latte, etc.) are available as well. The café also provides free refills with their house blend during the weekdays.

Leina's is situated in Gangnam: walk up the alley of City Movie Theater and it's on the rightside corner of the first crossroad you meet.

Metro: Gangnam station (Line 2, exit #7), walk from the exit until you see City Movie Theater

Bus: Kyobo sahgeori stop, walk towards City Movie Theater

Tel: (070) 7569 - 0090

Rainy day bus ride

from Banpo to Nonhyeon's "furniture street"

I use public transportation a lot. I usually read on the metro; something I can't do on the bus because I get carsick. I either doze off, stare aimlessly out the window, or make unedited "as is" video clips.

SICAF 2010 - Part 2

And the saga continues...

Wara Store is one of the longest running featured webtoons on portal site Naver. It chronicles the happenings and doings in a convenience store - the interactions between boss, employees, and the customers. Very relatable and funny, and the illustrations cute without going overboard.

Viscat is another webtoon that I like. The characters - cats, ape, catfish (I think), cockroach - are totally bizarre and friendly and likeable.

What's your blood type? Not only do you have to know in case of medical emergency, but it's another common question that you'd be asked when in Korea. Bloodtypes have significant character traits that can't be ignored (of course there are exceptions, but the fundamental characteristics are quite accurate), so it's not surprising that there is a cartoon about this.

"About Bloodtype" started as a simple webtoon on the cartoonist's Cyworld minihompy but soon became so popular it was immediately published, with overseas editions as well. I'm not sure if western culture countries would be interested, though.

The main characters from Chon Kye-Young's "Audition". A classic Korean manwha from 1998 to 2001, the tale is about the televised audition process for a band. This was before all those reality music programs were on, so the manwha was exceptionally popular with its concept and K-pop idolesque characters.

It was said a live musical version would take the stage this summer, but there hasn't been any news yet. There's bound to be at least one or two K-pop idols starring in this (depending on whether they can afford it or not) so I'm really looking forward to the casting.

What's a cartoon festival without the Smurfs? A whole Smurf Village was set up, promoting the upcoming 2011 3-D movie.

I'm accustomed to seeing the cartoon in Korean, so with the exception of Papa Smurf, Gargamel, Azrael, and Smurfette whose names are kept in the Korean version, seeing the other smurfs' names in other languages always seem a bit strange. ("Hefty" smurf, really?)

The photos that I took in the international booths weren't very good. Most of the original artwork were behind glass, which kept flaring. I liked the work of Italian cartoonist Marco Rizzo.

Monster Bathhouse, anyone? A graphic novel/cartoon by Kim Gyeong-il, the bathhouse depicts the connection between hell and the human world, where the "monsters" of hell come to rest aftering long working hours of torturing humans. Some evil humans come into this bathhouse by mistake, and have to pay the price. The monsters who come to this bathhouse and encounter these humans discover that "some humans are more cruel and monstrous" than themselves.

The walk-in exhibit was interesting. Video clip with my usual bumbling commentary:

It's always a pleasure to peek into the imagination of others. Digital cartoon "Alligator, Girl" tells a tale of a lost alligator in search of its mother and an encounter with a city girl. I need to find out where I can see the whole story.

"Ugly Rabbit" by university student Yoon Sun-Young. I don't think it's ugly. At all. And I'm not saying that just because I like rabbits.

Lee Yunmi, aka Yumma, was painting her trademark "antler girl" at her booth. I seriously want to purchase one of her originals because I'm unable to paint anything that sweet.

Illustrator and plush doll maker Ppoyanbi's booth. I wanted one of the smaller yellow-haired dolls, but alas, she wasn't selling.

Unfortunately, I've misplaced the namecard for this illustrator. Her little girls and kitties would be perfect for children books.

I've discovered that artists always have preferred color palettes; they might go through phases but the main colors they use remain more or less consistent. I liked NABULRAE's colors. I also liked the aloof expressions of his characters, which he showcases on his blog.

Future illustrators/cartoonists. The kids were darn serious while drawing. I wonder who drew the kinder, gentler version of Spongebob.

My old friend, Haechi! Still smiling and adorable.

Raiiiiiin! No convention is complete without a K-star promoting something. Nikon has a tight hold on the DSLR market here but I've never, ever seen someone using a Nikon compact.

The air was stuffy in the exhibition halls. As a means to conserve energy, the government has regulations for establishments with large spaces to maintain indoor temperatures at over 26℃ and not run air conditioning full blast. It has prevented many a power outage and unnecessary overchilling, but it also means that most shopping centers and department stores, banks, public transportation, and exhibition halls won't be the cool haven that they had been in previous years. A lot of Korean businessmen go in short sleeve dress shirts with no ties during the summer, and I envied them at the end of the day; I had leggings on beneath my shorts, along with my Dr. Marten's - bad outfit choice.

Reflection in a fun house mirror, where I found myself too short to take advantage of the doodles provided for amusing photos. If I were the organizers, I would've prepared them at various heights - what are the kids supposed to do? But then again, it could have been the handiwork of vandalists of equal height who thought they were being funny.

When SICAF first launched years ago, there was more emphasis on the Cartoon & Animation Festival than the Character Licensing Fair. That has changed slowly over the years, and this year the CLF totally overpowered the CAF, whose section was put away in a small exhibition hall on a separate floor. Although the exhibitions were thoughtfully prepared, the sheer volume in comparison to the CLF was disappointing. There were no cosplayers (none! I was shocked), no throngs of overzealous manwha enthusiasts roaming about, no large publisher booths promoting the latest comics.

I understand that people have to make a living in this capitalist society and have no problem with art being as commercial as much as it wants to be, but sometimes it seems like merchandise and licensing are becoming the objective of cartoons/comics rather than the content itself. Saddening. There is a part of me that wants to see dreamers creating their visions just for the sake of it; this world needs idealists, we're running short of them so much.

SICAF 2010 - Part 1

I'm at the family homestead doggysitting spoiled rotten poodle Cocoa (it's impossible not to use those adjectives every time I describe him) while the parents are on holiday, so I'm taking advantage of the air-conditioned environment to catch up on overdue posts.

The 2010 Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival took place in July. I go every single year - check out last year's posts in the 2009 August folder - but was totally unprepared for the large family crowds on a weekday. Yeah, I know the kiddies are on summer vacation but still!

The event was held at the COEX.

The Character & Licensing Fair section was booming this year.

I took a (shaky) video clip of the CLF section while jabbering away:

Moomins!

Entry bracelet!

What are Canimals? Guess.

(Pretty obvious.)

Ttu-a-ttu is an alligator or a crocodile that doesn't have a website. -_-;;;

Hello Kitty in hanbok!

What is a character fair without Pokemon Pikachu?

(LOL at the mom being more excited than the distressed kid.)

Cocomong is a happy monkey!

Banc look so much like hairless Lego minifigs.

Bomai is a smiling child of spring: bom (봄, spring) + ai (아이, child)

"It's an egg!" Eggya & country mole Dururu.

Yoohoo and friends. I like these big-eyed fellas.

Modern look Atom by Tezuka Osamu. ("Astroboy" in English-speaking countries; perhaps because of the negative connotations of the atomic bomb? I don't understand why it had to be changed, considering "Atom" itself is an English word.)

Rubberball pool at Dibo's playground was really popular for the toddlers.

The Dokkaebi mascot of Songnisan promotes the Dokkaebi Festival. (Held Aug 7th~ Aug 8th so if you're in the area go have a look! Wish I could go but I'm stuck with the family dog.)

Baby dinosaur Dooly is Korea's Snoopy. He's been around since 1983.

And say hello to Captain Park, aka footballer Park Jisung's cutie-patootie alter ego. (Korean men aren't afraid to be cute; it is an essential element in Korea's modern culture.)

I hadda take a pic, with my deer-in-headlights eyes and frozen toothy grin. (Dorky dork! And I really need a haircut.)

To cleanse your eyes, here's the cute helper from the Kambu booth. ^_^

To be continued...