We, India and Us

I have been in Korea for more than an year now, and we have almost covered all the places of interest, historic or otherwise. These days we are trying to find places out of Seoul and I know that few of us would be interested. I sometimes wonder, that week after week we have trying to explore Korea and its treasures. However sitting perhaps in Delhi normally we would not have carried out such expeditions. Once in a while we do go out but its not a behavior we display every weekend!!

In fact, sometimes I wonder why we do not land up exploring our own country and whats hidden for us to uncover ourselves. In fact our geographical knowledge or intent to know about other states, people and their customs are extremely debatable.

For most North Indians the South means from Madras(Chennai) and perhaps they would not know the difference between the Tamils, Andhraites, Kannadas and Keralites. This would be applicable to the languages they speak, the food they eat, the dress codes and especially how different they are in their own way.

If you start talking about the people from the South it does not get any better. They would not know the difference between the people of Rajasthan and say Uttar Pradesh!!

I come from Bengal, and for us its very simple. The whole of India is classified into a) Bengalis, b) Non Bengalis, c) South Indians. The "b" could now be sub divided based on language and race. The Bengalis are extremely satisfied themselves with this structure and care a damn about the actual situation.

The seven sister states on the extreme eastern side -- some people I am afraid would not be even able to name all of them!! The other day a few colleagues over a drink were discussing NEFA. A knowledgable colleague mentioned with confidence that its a city in Assam!!! To save the sinner, I did not interject to correct that NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) was a Union Territorry and later it was christened into a state(province) named Arunachal Pradesh with Itanagar as its capital!!

On a random basis if I ask the name of the river perhaps passing through Vijayawada to somebody from the North, I am not likely to get a correct response. Similarly perhaps if I quiz somebody from Vijayawada about whats the famous river dissecting Sikkim and then joining the Ganges, the outcome would be the same.

I am not proposing that we should be in a situation where we are know alls but overall I think the situation is far from encouraging. I mean we have all gone to schools and colleges and I guess we have some respect for those institutions and the learnings we have been imparted with.

Coming to manners and behavior I am appalled at the way we think and behave not only in our homeland but also in foreign environments. Being open minded, accepting other cultures is perhaps a big issue with us. This syndrome is true even inside our own country and I don't beleive that three corporate trainings(a trend nowadays) can change the way we think and behave.

My piece is perhaps very negative, and I am sure there would be other people in the world with similar patterns of thought and behavior. But I am not satisfied with that excuse. The worst part is that I am not sure about you too!!! Sphere: Related Content

The Feedback

These days you can monitor what's going on with your blog. Typically you can find out which Post is popular, or what sort of keywords in the search engine lead people to your blog. Adsense even gives you advice on to how probably you can make money on the site!!!

Thats a type of feedback I quite like to get because I know the type of readers and what they are looking for. But fortunately I don't really try to follow the customer satisfaction route here, since this blog was not started as a commercial note and nor did I dare to think that way.

Sometimes some readers do also send in their comments and they vary from positive to negative. I respect their views but sometimes a few can get out of hand because to me there cannot be any discussion when you do not have an open mind nor an eye for the positive.

A lot of people come into my blog due to perhaps an Indian restaurant search but thats about it. They have very specific needs!!! There are some who keep coming back, and I thank them for liking/loving/hating my posts. As long as they come back.

Net net, its good to receive feedback and hope they keep pouring in!! Sphere: Related Content

Some more Integration Limericks

The Banking Integration was done last week
The defects and internet banking still playing hide and seek
All of a sudden The Dream 2000 went to sleep
In the Test Director we are constantly trying to peep
To say Close the Command Centres down, who has got the cheek?

The Customers are transacting a lot on the net
Citiphones too getting a lot of calls you bet
Complaints received are quite a few
Complex threads after all take time to sew
Long hours are forecasted folks, and thats for sure is set.

The Calls are now long and goes on and on
The TDs are coming in by the ton
Its said in Korean and translated into English
Thats becos this is imperative for the local big fish
But then these things are known to happen with integration.

The Internet Banking response was rather slow
This was not the case when the access was rather low
A task force was setup to look into the defect
They needed to come out with a solution for an effect
Finally the RAM was increased and now nobody is raising their eyebrow. Sphere: Related Content

Creativity and Me

My sisters used to laugh when I tried to sing when I was young. Then somewhere in school typically of guys my age, we were fascinated with Indian Film music and we started our sessions during shower time. I found that it was reasonaby acceptable and in later years I am sure that I can produce a decent song with a couple of rehearsals. During our Bengali Festivals I do sing along with the group and sometimes have taken lead too.

My teachers used to complain about my writing skills, but nowadays I maintain this blog, publish a reasonably liked newsletter for "us" in Korea, and I can tell you...its not all that bad.

Taking photopgraphs or creating presentations they say require an artistic bent of mind, but over the years I realise that I have some % of it in me too. I am sure that you have your quota too.

So the idea is, just go and do something. As Nike says, JUST DO IT. Sphere: Related Content

A disturbing event on a Calm Day

Smoke breaks are quite common for some collaeagues of mine and yesterday I happen to accompany them downstairs in front of our Bank entrance. The Parking Lot is also situated there and it has a nice place arranged with a shed et al, where you could smoke, have a cuppa of coffee and generally enjoy the cross breeze.

So we were having this conversation amongs oursleves and there was some occasion for laughter and we were at splits. At the same point of time a person of African features cropped up from somewhere and asked as the reason for our laughter. We ignored him, as it was a) none of his business and b) it was not concerning him or about him.

For some reason he took us as whites (we Indians whites?) and became extremely agitated, where he thought that we were making fun of him!! A preposterous thought all the same and we continued to ignore him, inspite of he blabbering of a mouthful regrading the color of skin and how we were racial, etc, etc.

Like a true Christian (well we are Hindus otherwise) , to save the sinner, we did not retaliate in terms of words nor gestures.

But thats not the important point. I mean we are in standing in downtown Seoul, in a MNC bank porch and I do not believe that we should be subjected to such racial prejudice.

I feel sorry for the guy, and looks like he is always living under a fear of hatred. I am not sure whether he was from the US or otherwise, but looks like for whatever reasons he has lost his mind and will. Sphere: Related Content

Integration Limericks

The Banking Dress Rehearsal has taken up our weekend
The normal routine therefore now has to take a bend
The shifts are all very tight
Sometimes the allocations are not all right
But that what's been happening and that's always the trend.

The weekend nowadays have a three hourly call
But I know inspite of duty some are having a ball
The Attendance is taken first
Some will call from home you can trust
Users in the background are checking for any shortfall.

The Korean Soccer team has to sadly return back
That was due to Switzerkland finding more than one crack
The second goal was purely offside
That made the proceedings entirely against the Korean Tide
But now plans for the 2010 cup is now already on track.

The Cards Schedule has undergone a schedule change
The Biz PMO needs to recheck the User Timings and accordingly arrange
Overall impact is not really a problem
In the Call it was clearly clarified to them
But you know how they are, thats the reason of the volatile message exchange.

Some jobs looks like are running quite late
While most of them have been finishing on the scheduled time and date
Hey remember!! This is a complicated integration
But amongst all it has created a bit of tension
But tell me; Can you really change your fate.

The TI guy's jobs are obviously matching with core
Taking updates on the tasks are theorefore not complicated any more
Just hear the Core's update
You would have a full plate
Then what they say at the end is merely a chore.

Web Terminal has become the topic of the day
Different issues emerging but some yet to find a way
ISA was working hard
TI was taken a bit off guard
The PMO is hatching plans to make somebody pay.

Defects are being raised left, right and centre
In the schedule all this is creating a denture
From New defect to retest
The Tech PMO is trying their best
While Users forget to close inspite of all the overture.

Web Terminal Defects have been the topic of the day
The pre-emptive work did not happen in the month of May
The logins were a serious problem
TI got really busy solving them
Management Corrective action now quickly should come into play.

In the Dress Rehearsal there were defects too many
Not that we did not expect to get any
But looking at the problems in hand
It can become a potential quicksand
But that we'll solve it all I"ll bet my pound and penny.

The Integration Team is in charge of the major part
But Cards and CIB too are involved from the start
Users are treated like dolls out here
While the Techies work like dogs, thats clear
A combined party at the end should really touch everybody's heart.

They say that the Card teams are full of the feminine kind
We are saying that upfront and not surely behind
The complaint after all may not be really true
The other teams are also colourful with many a hue
So better stop all this whining and get on with the grind. Sphere: Related Content

A boring page in a boring Blog!!

The Football(Soccer) phobia in Korea and particularly in Seoul is seen to be beleived. There are soccer fans and there are soccer fans but I have never seen such a passionate but disciplined crowd enjoying the euphoria.

On the first day I and some other collleagues had some work in the office while the Korea match with Togo was to start at 10 PM. Though we had installed a television in the office, we were literally kicked out of the office by 9.30. One of our seniors explained that this has the same respect as a National Holiday and we had to go out and watch the match on the giant screens installed all over Seoul. Please note that I had on directions worn a Red T Shirt too. The crowd was overwhelming, over filling and crazy with drums, torches, electronic bulbs on their heads, clapping the way Koreans do. It was fun watching the game sitting on the road in Kwanghamun with thousands of others.

The soccer mania is on and thats the first topic people discuss in office in the morning. I can see that there are a lot of dreary eyes because of the night schedules but this is all in the game. So long I had been doing without a TV as my Internet is good enough for Video demands that I have in life but I could not resist myself the temptation of getting a television just because of the World Cup, and believe it or not I have not been able to make time for watching my favourite teams matches(Brazil).

This weekend I would have to go for work since we have some integration project on and that would ofcourse guarantee that I watch all the matches!!!

The weather is changing and I hate the heat, though people from Delhi might say that I am acting like a prude. But all the same, I don't like heat at any cost. Winters are better for me.

The other day I had gone to Itaewon to the foreign goods market (we get stuff from the sub continent there) and picked up some mutton. I was told that the supplies were from Bangladesh but I found the quality quite good, and especially so after cooking and consuming the damn thing!!

Today's writing unfortunately does not have anything special in it and please...I know it. Better luck next time!!! Sphere: Related Content

Swimming in the Mountains - A Rainy Trip to Seoraksan

After a long spate of negotiations we were finally granted an outing away from Seoul and we immediately set our minds to make the most of it. Time was short and we had to quickly churn out something for the group. Busan, Jeju, Seraksan, Ulasn, Gongju, the names kept appearing in our list and finally we zeroed onto both a place and a travel agent who would take care of everything. After all we wanted a holiday!!

Sokcho is a beach town on the eastern coast of Korea and is mainly renowned for fishing and tourism. The landscape, the sea, the mountains reminded me of Goa in India. Nearby was the Seoraksan Mountains, which is a declared national park, and it also has an imposing Buddha statue there.

The weather forecast was not good, but we knew that and we had no other choice or options. So as a group we decided that rain or thunder, we will ensure that we extract the maximum enjoyment. So on a cool Saturday morning - overcast skies, brimming expectations- we boarded the bus. For your information we were also stocked adequately with Stuffed Paranthas (Type of Indian Pancake made from wheat dough and stuffed with choice vegetables), Juices and spirits (?).

Sue was our guide for the trip and she was very hopeful that we would enjoy the trip. It would take about 5-6 hours to reach we were warned but that warning was of no importance to us. As far as we were concerned the holiday had started as soon as we boarded the bus! Another important fact to note that is that here when they say the journey time they would really include the city internal travel too, unlike us where we would only talk about highway travel perhaps.

In about 45 minutes or so we touched the expressway and it started raining. Devendra exclaimed that he always loved driving in the rain and truly we were all enjoying the downpour outside while inside the group just about warming up. There are two occasions when people feel like singing; the first is when you are in the bath and the other when you are traveling in a group. We were no exceptions and when we ventured on that track Sue let us know that the bus was installed with a karaoke system. So mike in hand, one by one, we started singing songs. For some this was a good pastime, but for some it turned out to be a valiant effort. Maybe the listeners were just putting on an effort to tolerate this torture. Finally of course it was time to shut the Karaoke system and we all graduated to Hindi Film songs. The singing prowess of people like Manoj, Bindu and Pragyya was out in the forefront while we others learnt that we should practice a bit more with the accompaniment of the sound of showers inside a washroom!!! There were others who in the name of singing (sic) were actually reciting prose!!!

All in all, time was flowing and we stopped at a Highway stop away naturally!! The rains had stopped for a while and we relaxed our body muscles a bit and before comfort we were off again. Traffic on the road was dense and the speed was high too. We did not worry about that and anyway who cared. The landscape all around was becoming greener and buildings started to disappear and what you had was unadulterated nature all around. Small hills, clouds playing hide and seek, off and on downpours, songs, snacks, and a jubilant group – it was perfect.

The road was smooth and the bus was zipping and we carried on singing till we finally had a sight of the sea and then we knew that the journey was coming to an end and shortly we would be checking into a hotel. The site of the hotel was bang on a hillock overseeing the beach. The hotel’s major selling point was its location and thankfully we got rooms allocated from where we could see the sea. But then before one could relax we had to board the bus for driving to the restaurant where apparently a decent lunch was waiting for us. After about 20 minutes we reached the destined place and I could make out that the crowd had mixed feelings about the place. It was the suspense that was killing and soon enough what arrived on the table was soft bean curd (tofu) along with Korean style accompaniments. Some of us enjoyed the food while some perhaps could not digest the dished out stuff. The left over paranthas were there perhaps to cover up their need. I guess all countries and communities have these food problems in alien lands, while a few of us just mesh into the system quickly.

In a humid climate people anyway need to visit rest rooms frequently while some Indians perhaps cannot do without releasing themselves or that matter ensuring the deed for their children as long as they find a wall somewhere or the other. Anyway, we perhaps tolerated all this as the dictum of Jesus goes– forgive the sinner. Next visit was Mount Seoraksan and that was a good 30 minutes through hills and valleys and meandering streams by the side. We arrived there in perfect condition only to upset the rain gods and it started raining torrentially. Umbrellas were of no use and we had to invest in see through plastic rain coats. They were of various colours and I got hold of green one purely by chance. We wore them and now decidedly we were looking extremely funny in this attire. There was of course nothing to save the shoes and the lower part of the trousers and jeans and it was best not to pay attention to that. The cable car ride to the top of the mountain (sic) rather hill was about 4 minutes while in spite of the rain we managed a good look around. Clicking photographs of the outside would just produce inadequate results but all the same can you stop tourists from clicking what-have-you?

A few dynamic people went ahead in the rain climbing up he slippery stone-path and later came down to give us courage and off we went further up only to find that the view was similar if not worse because of the dense fog. Came back down to the cable station to grab a cold beer and that was good for me. The others were satisfied with some coffee and sliced roast potatoes.

The journey back in the cable car felt shorter and then Sue, our guide, made us walk aback all the way to the parking lot only to realize that we had forgotten to see the Giant Buddha. So we tread back to the park to find the gigantic Buddha sitting in this wilderness all ready to bless any visitor to be at peace, The rains as usual was not a factor and we were all, adults and children, living it up. A couple of photographs and it was time to say bye to The Enlightened One.

Sue was very energetic and she made sure that bus went down to the seaside near the fresh fish market and paraded all of us through the market. The shrimp fries were very tempting compelling myself and Devendra to pick up a few for the evening spirited agenda. The others were of course not impressed with the proceedings. They tolerated us and we boarded the bus back to the hotel for another round of freshening up.

The dinner was to be a Pizza Hut but before that I had an issue with my shoes. It was all wet and no way could carry on with that. So I decided to be barefooted (MF Hussain style) no matter the outcome. The mates got used to this freaky concept quickly and after some time stopped bothering me. The ordering at Pizza Hut took a while since it was truly different strokes for different folks. The permutations and combinations worked out, we enjoyed the servings. On our way back we had to stop because the parents had to buy milk.

We had agreed to meet once we were back in the hotel but since most of the people were tired, they crashed. A few souls like us had our nightcaps and that was the end of the day.

Next day morning, on purpose I woke up early and thankfully there was no rain. This meant that a visit to the beach was possible and we could complete that and be in time for breakfast. Anup and myself walked two furlongs to reach the beach down the hilly road. The sea was a bit rough but I tried my count of seven (the big wave is the seventh one) and was satisfied that the law of nature works in Korea too. The bubbles at our feet, the cool breeze, the morning freshness, it was a splendid decision on our part. It started drizzling again and we were on our way back with some homework to be done before hitting breakfast.

I had announced this homework yesterday night while coming back in the bus from Pizza Hut. All adults had to write two positive points about everybody else and submit the same to me. So I needed to make sure that I was ready with it since I started it!!

Breakfast was typically American with toast and scrambled eggs minus the bacon, cheese and sausage. Over a cup of coffee I started collecting all the scribbles from each individual as they trickled in for breakfast. It was 9.30 AM and we were ready to check out from the hotel. The sky was promising and our next stop was the Odusan Temple and that was about a two-hour drive from the hotel. So this was a golden opportunity for me to kick start the actions based on the homework. I had segregated all the feedback for each person in separate envelopes and then I announced my modus operandi. I would hand over the envelopes to respective persons and they would then survey the feedback received. Each would have to select three points. Two items that they cherished the most, while the third one would have to be an unexpected piece of feedback. This exercise took us a while and I felt that the group thoroughly enjoyed the same. Once this was done we were back to our old pastime; singing songs!!

The group was divided into two and we played Antakshari ( literally meaning “end alphabet”). One groups sings a song and the stops at a logical point in the song. The other group picks up the end character and starts any song that starts with it. This is an extremely popular group pastime in India and perhaps other places around the world.

The Odusan range was in the vicinity and when the bus stopped at the temple compound, the sun was up but as we disembarked, a few drops of rain fell from the sky. The rains had decided not to leave us alone!
It was green all around and we had to cross a stone bridge over a jungle brook before we tread on the road leading to the temple. It was an elaborate compound with a about 4-5 structures with two Buddha temples. The golden Buddha idols were marvelous, imposing and they automatically bestow a feeling of serenity and divinity. The architecture was typically Korean, the roof structure, paintings, use of wood, etc.

We all gathered to click a group photograph and our guide happily agreed to carry out the deed. We went around, paused here and there, and then it was time to board the bus. We were now on our way back to Seoul only to stop somewhere for lunch. As expected we encountered a food court on the highway and while a colleague and myself selected some Korean broth, the others stuck to Burgers and Fries. The weather had really cleaned up and the scenery on the way back was exquisite. We had yet another coffee break and then we decided to use the mike inside the bus for some casual banters. Bikram narrated his Temple stay experience while I described about the farmstay event I had participated in.

On reaching Seoul, we still had some time before dinner and therefore cajoled the travel company to take us to the Seoul TV tower from where you get a grand view of Seoul. I had been here earlier and the sunset was a treat. The added attraction was the Latin American Street Band playing all the renowned Spanish hits.

The end was a dinner at Chakra and we were now all hungry. The South Indian buffet spread was reasonable and they were all tasting cool. My rating for Chakraa went up to 4. The spread was elaborate. The Medu Vadas (fermented rice and lentil fried circular balls), Dosas (fermented rice and lentil fried pancake) along with some accompaniments. Lamb, Chicken and Vegetables curries and some Indian Bread and Fried Rice too. At the end of it we were all satisfied, satiated, tired and sleepy.

The two day sojourn had come to an end with promises of another one. When would that be of course is anybody’s guess!! Sphere: Related Content

The Stunt

You do something daring or unusual or dangerous and people say that you have pulled off a great stunt. There is this sense of positive emotion in that word when I look up the dictionary. But then when I look up a dictionary throwing up more meanings than just one, I get the feeling that there are shades of grey and sometimes its too cloudy for my liking.

For example, lets say in Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s motor boat takes a huge flight from one part of the lake, crosses a road and then does a smooth landing on the other part of the lake and carries on as if nothing has happened. Now here, what’s real? That the boat took off and landed was real, but we all know that Roger Moore was not in that boat. That’s cinematographic license of misrepresentation but that is a genuine requirement. The movies are easy to refer to since that’s where most stunts are pulled off and it does not really affect us. But the example I gave was a real stunt, meaning the event had occurred but the character was misrepresented. But in movies you would also find stunts that in actual life could not have happened. For example like the one in Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragon – the long steps or jumps in the air or walking in flight. That’s make-believe event but is also a stunt.

Going back to the meaning of the word, stunt is also defined as a make believe event, something that’s not true, It’s also described as an event that is used for publicity or advertisement. Nothing could be truer in real life.

In the Indian context you have the relay fasts when people go on hunger strike by rotation. So you could have breakfast, join up the fast and then have a sumptuous dinner afterwards!! Then there are these numerous Indians who go on fast but consume fruits and yoghurt during that period. Don’t fool me and least of all, your GOD if any!!!

People also get carried away. You would have heard of David Blaine the famous street magician. Now his magic is great. But then he decided to spend some time under water and then had to be hospitalized at the end of it. That’s a bad one, stunt I mean. But full marks on publicity.

Why celebrities, advertising and publicity is so important in normal life too. You have books on networking, self-advertising, positive perceptions and what not. All of them would teach you how to show your skin, smooth and silky albeit with make up on it. And the public laps that up too. In your neighborhood the community president is publicizing himself, in your social club there are fights before elections and there are campaigns. In the corporate hierarchy, intense games are being played. So therefore while there is definitely a degree of genuineness in all what is said and projected, there would be a lot of “stunts” put up for the benefit of the hungry public!!!

To give you an example, we have these MIS reports being churned out everyday. So while the data shows that a particular department is going great guns, the accompanying statement reflects the negative aspect of a problem with a daily achievement while overall they are tops. That’s a negative stunt? Then what about an Indian breaking up in Korean in a Conference Call in a multinational bank to get some pseudo kudos from a few Koreans while the other Koreans find it funny and stupid. When I counter the latter they say, can he participate in a dialogue,....if not lets not put up stunts!!! So there you are!! So while this bloke has been doing good work on so many things, they do not get highlighted.....but then he has to pull up a stunt to get some attention...and he gets it too.

So would you think that publicity at any cost works for us? It does temporarily and nobody can deny it. But as they say, someday the bubble will burst. The product has to function no matter what you promise. But to me that’s not the issue in question. Life is transient and is on the move. So would you keep waiting for the stunt to be uncovered on its own? Would you just take it lying down? Or this is the time for only stunts.

World Politics, economic growth, negotiations, sales, trade, policies, Gatt, Green Peace, are these all stunts? That’s for you to ponder?
I just need to worry about my next stunt – so that you may come back to this blog!!!! Sphere: Related Content

The Fourth Sun

Astronomy is not my forte and neither do I have any inclination. The fact remains that this is the fourth day I have been watching the Sun rise after the long lull of the sound of night!!

Today’s daily pressures have almost eliminated the pleasure of that fresh air in the park. We don’t see the first pink hues in the sky when the sun invites us to end the slumber we were in. The odd man out in the park doing some daily exercises, the cleaning guys picking up that last piece of garbage from the road, the night barmaids taking the morning bus back home, the road watering machines on the job. The green leaves of spring about to wake up and deal with the daily-polluted gases. But those are happening below on the earth.

But I am looking at the sky, my windows open, the pitch darkness slowly changing to ash grey beckoning the arrival of yet another day of existence. The hues of reds and pinks follow shortly while the sun is on its way trying to break through the barriers of the silky clouds. Sounds too heavy? Lets get back to more ordinary stuff.

I take a walk along the Buddhist Temple nearby and the excitement of calmness is something you have to feel and cannot be described. I can catch a few devotees doing there asanas in front of the imposing Buddha, I come back with some vigour injected and then I finally see the Sun in its morning splendour. The average common man of course does not have time to look up, due to economic pressures. He/she has to get ready for work and then catch a few winks while on their way.

For the fourth day today I am at work in the nights and this is going to carry on for a while. So its by default that I am awake during these precious morning hours. I don’t need the day…why can’t this just continue? Sphere: Related Content

Rambling On

A significant amount of time in our life is spent (wasted?) on returning favours of the wrong kind. The other day a few colleagues and me were invited over for a wine session. So one of my colleagues suggested that we should be going with something, it’s the first time he has called and so on and so forth. We carry for the host a bottle of wine!!! I was looking the other way when the transaction was taking place. Coming to think of it, this was an enlightening gesture. So next time when somebody calls me for dinner. The first thing I am going to do is find about the menu say steamed dim sums and as a goodwill gesture I would carry some from a local restaurant. That should be a good idea!!

So you get invited lets say to a birthday party. Now you can’t think of anything interesting. So you take along a “surprise” gift for the birthday “guy/gal”. You know the answer, its nothing but a Birthday Cake along with some candles!! The host of course has a big smile on his face. Does he have any other option?

Give and take is a good process that we should learn. The only difference is that we need to accept perhaps is that the person you give to, may not necessarily reciprocate appropriately. Your investment return will come to you from another source. The balancing is bound to happen, sooner or later. I am not sure of course on your agreement on this theory.

So we amongst friends have a good practice of going dutch in any activity we do. Individual consumption is not accounted for; rather the burden of the whole is divided equally. Every body is happy except that odd man out who never paid in a group earlier.

The other day we had gone for the Hi-Seoul Festival and though there were a number of programs we selected the Parade out of the lot. On a sunny afternoon five enthusiasts and two bored people landed up at Kwanghamun crossing to witness the action. It was a bright sunny afternoon and we were all charged up to see the colourful spectacle. The dancers, Harley Davidson bikers, the belly dancers, the comic artists, senior citizens, samulnori troops, they were all there. We were behaving like Press Photographers clicking our cameras in rapid succession. But two of us were absolutely disinterested in the proceedings and they left us sat behind on the wall with grim faces. One even put back his camera inside his bag.

This week is going to extremely busy and that’s how it has been since a fortnight now. In fact I am working on the weekends and looks like won’t have too much of sleep. My blogs too have been erratic due to the same reason and looks like its going to continue in this manner.

That’s about it for now. More next time, and see you soon. Sphere: Related Content

National Folk Village, Suwon (Seoul Vicinity)

National Folk Village (Seoul Vicinity)

We beat the weather forecasts and took a train down to Suwon as per our pre-planned agenda of visiting the National Folk Village there. We took a train that took about 20 minutes to reach Suwon from Youngdeungpo. We had the option of going in a Metro Train but we decided to take the Korail instead of Line 1. The morning sky was threatening to pour but nothing could deter us and for a change the Rain God was on our side in the wrong way; if you know what I mean.

The tickets were a bit expensive I thought and we had to fork out 14000 KRW (about 14 USD) for each of us. We meaning Bikram, Manoj, Anup, Bindu and Chikoo (the small cutie) were all excited about this rendezvous. The village was well laid out over a huge area. The exhibits were all life size. The farmers’ houses, the layouts, the gardens, the landscapes, they were all real! The added attractions were the performances. Seesaw jumping was quite enthralling, but more than that I enjoyed the “tight-rope walking”. The performer was excellent with his skill and antics that was followed by some equestrian feats. Now that we were hungry we reached the nearby village bazaar for grabbing some traditional type of eats. The bazaar was not only about food but it was also about crafts and souvenirs. Blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, painters, sculptors, they were all there displaying their respective prowess.

After lunch some of us tried out the huge swings and then we reached an indoor museum. Cameras were not allowed, but neither was I inclined to take any shots of the displays inside. We quickly finished this and somebody suggested that we should get back to the modern world. So off we went to the “amusement park” that was a separate enclosure inside the village. I was not really inclined to take any of the rides, and I sat down with a Coke to relax.

It was getting late and we still had to visit the World Fork Museum and we saw lifestyle exhibits of different countries, though India was missing in the list. The displays were elaborate but due to lack of time we just breezed past them to take our bus back to the station.

Oh I forgot to mention that the confusion of “L” versus “R” has made them spell the word “Folk” as “Fork”. The last piece of advice I would like to impart is that if you have the opportunity, do visit the Lotte World Folk Museum in Jamsil. The experience is going to be much better and that’s a promise provided you are really interested in some in-depth knowledge about Korean culture. Sphere: Related Content

Wazwan in Itaewon, Seoul

The word Wazwaan is actually a combination of two words Waza’ and ‘Waan’. The first means “Cook” while the second translates into “Shop” and therefore the combination means nothing else but a restaurant. In olden days the kings in Kashmir used to be pampered by the Royal Wazwaan meaning the Royal Feast. A restaurant in Seoul has named itself the same and in some websites I did read up some good reviews. A friend had recently been there too and I was quite eager to pay a visit. So last Friday a colleague cooked up this plan of having an Indian meal out, and all roads led to Itaewon.

This restaurant is located just after you cross the Itaewon Mosque on your left and I am sure you will not miss it. Typical to South Asian restaurants in Seoul there was a television broadcasting a song and dance routine from a Indian Film The décor was typically Islamic with the table cloth having a silver bead work and the wall hangings. The propaganda of religion was all quite evident, but that’s a different story. It was neat and clean, the welcome was warm and that’s what matters. In size the restaurant was not too big, but I don’t seem to mind homely atmospheres.

Our main agenda was the food and I was not too disappointed that did not have a buffet. This would mean that we could choose a la carte and therefore not get stuck with a fixed set. Before I could blurt out any choice I heard my fellow colleagues rambling out their preferences where they had considered me too!! Taking opinions perhaps was not on their agenda. We had a vegetarian amongst us and I realized that he too was absolved from making any decisions except for the Nan and Rotes (Indian Breads).

The first that arrived on the table was a plate of rounded onion slices. They were juicy and cold and the ideal way to take off after dousing them with some lime juice and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper.
My vegetarian friend was sitting in front of me and therefore I had the added advantage of easy access to the vegetarian numbers too as they arrived. The first entrée was a Dal Makhani (Lentil/Pulses in a Butter and Cream based gravy) and that was reasonably good along with the Butter Nan. The Kadhai Paneer (Cubed Cottage Cheese in a spicy concoction of onions and capsicum) was delectable and the cheese was soft. The Nan was soft and nice but the Roti was no good and would require major improvement in terms of the proportions of mix, the mixing process for the dough to come into being. The baking controls also would need to be monitored unless they continuously want to serve large round crisp cookies!!

The Mutton Masala (Spicy Mutton/Lamb Curry) was not bad and I enjoyed the quality of meat served. The taste of the gravy was also good and was going well with the Nan. The Chicken Kadhai was good, and it tasted the same as the Paneer Dish as it was supposed to in any case. The only Kashmiri item in the menu ironically is the Rogan Josh that we had not ordered for!! The Gosht (Mutton) pepper fry in the menu could be termed as one but not for the Kashmiri experts!! The Seekh Kebabs (barbecued minced meat with herbs) were good too!!

At the end of the meal my friends embarrassingly asked for a discount and even tried calling up the owner. I was feeling a bit out of place but I attributed that to an over dose of Korean alcohol, though not condoning the activities. The Kulfi (Indian Pista based Ice Cream) at the end instead was a quick response by the restaurateur and we consumed the same.

If somebody asks me whether I would like to go back to Wazwan, it would be a “Yes”. For one, I could not try out the items of my inclination (and more since I was supposedly visiting a Kashmiri joint). The food was overall good and each dish was definitely different in taste and look. However, perhaps due to local taste adjustments there is a bit of sweetness in their dishes that should be avoided. Overall I would rate it with a 5 on 10 and I am being very liberal. Hope you agree!!

Related links:
1. http://seouldays.blogspot.com/2006/02/indian-restaurants-in-seoul.html
2. http://seouldays.blogspot.com/2006/02/lazy-sunday-talk-sunday-has-arrived.html
3. http://seouldays.blogspot.com/2006/03/friday-evening-at-chakraa-itaewon.html Sphere: Related Content

Recharge your happiness - A visit to Gyodong

Click HERE for a newspaper article on this!!

Saturday, the 15th of April finally arrived and I woke up to the alarm that I had set. I finished my morning chores in time, as I had to reach the KNTO Building in Dadong by eight forty five or so. This whole week I was waiting for the day to arrive. Firstly, I had never participated in a program like this and secondly, I did not really know what to expect. It was a two-day one-night program where they had selected about thirty foreigners in Seoul through some selection process and I considered myself lucky to be chosen. The itinerary was published well in advance and I was eagerly looking forward to the course of events yet to unfold.

So I landed up at the KNTO building and went in to the reception to find nobody out there until somebody pointed out that the action is the Basement. I did find another guy waiting circumspectly, but I think he just followed behind as I negotiated my way to the quite elaborate B1 Floor that serves as a Tourist Information Centre, Mr. Lee, the gentleman in charge of the show greeted me with a big smile in his face and that was quite a reassurance for me.

Before I get into further details, let me explain what was this trip all about. KNTO and the NACF (National Agricultural Foundation)) has taken a step to promote green tourism in the country. This means that they expect foreigners to come to Korea and visit the countryside, the farms and while they enjoy the uninhibited geography, they would also contribute to the rural economy. More tourists logically “do” have a direct contribution to the economy. KNTO had advertised in the website about this program and since I was anyway looking out for some out if the way activity, I sent in my application. So here I was on my way to an “off the beaten track” sojourn. We were to visit a village about 80 kilometers away from Seoul towards the DMZ and a number of activities scheduled were awaiting us.

The motley crowd had a fair mix of different nationalities. China, Singapore, Japan, Australia\, Russia, Kazakhstan, Canada and USA were represented along with this sole Indian fellow from Seoul. The bus was comfortable and as soon as it started on its course we were welcomed by the charming Dana our guide and a couple of others from KNTO and NACF (the sponsors). A brief run down on our schedule was given along with a bottle of water and a free orange!! Off we were, well prepared to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

It took us about two and a half hours to reach our destination Gyodong, one of the designated “Farmstay” villages, We reached there and while a grand welcome was ready for us, what surprised me was the presence of the media in full force. This was apparently a big event and we had no inkling of that. The reporters, the cameramen they were all there asking us questions and clicking their camera shutters. In fact the television crew requested us to re-alight from the bus since they had missed the original sequence!!

The villagers welcomed us with big grins and we were specially greeted by Mr. Lee, the headman you could say and he took us around the village, It was a quaint little place with well structured individual dwellings and I was wondering as to which one of them was going to be my sleeping joint, but more about that later. The village lay surrounded by small hills beside a stream that I guess joined up with the nearby Hantan river. The dwellers of this village were comparatively younger than the others, and that’s the reason we could see a whole lot of innocent faces playing around and in general adding up to the atmosphere. Mr. Lee took us around the village and we even got introduced to a dog that had a story, of saving lives from fire, behind him. The houses were neat with their own little courtyards and individual gardens and I could see some spring flowers too.

After that brief walk through, we were treated with some coffee to begin with and we all slowly petered into the dining hall, where a sit-down arrangement was already in place for lunch. I guess we were to eat first and then would come the hard work!! Lunch was pretty elaborate in the usual Korean style. We were treated with the delicious sun-dubu (soft tofu with a mixture of salt and sesame oil as accompaniment). The mandatory kimchi and other cold salads were there too.

Our hunger satiated, we immediately left for the mushroom farm that was about 20 minutes away from the village. The bus was travelling on top gear, with the media convoy of five cars following us with equal zeal!!

The mushroom farm was interesting, and was a lesson by itself since I guess none of us had any prior knowledge about mushroom cultivation. The mixing of the seeds, the germination in controlled environments - they were all new to me. Later we were allowed to pick mushrooms and that’s when we were informed on how mushrooms keep sprouting out of the organic mould. It reminded me of the Tintin series of comics where in The Shooting Stars, mushrooms were mushrooming!! We posed for the photographers as usual. We were also treated with some mushrooms and Kochujung (Korean Chilli Pepper/Garlic Paste) and we all sampled the same in spite of a full stomach! I did click some photographs their but then I had to allocate some shots for an extremely cute little local Korean child jumping about all around us.

It was time to move on and the next stop was the rice farm. A few Koreans from neighbourhood towns had come there to help the farmers in setting the rice seeds in trays of soil that would be later transferred to the green house for growing saplings. Some of us joined in the activity while we all cheered. The village folks were all smiling too, and I guess we were providing quite an elegant show for them.

It was time to go but before that we were demonstrated how in olden times the folks used to lug heavy paddy bags on their back. A few tried, but I guess couldn’t muster up the technique required to pull off the stunt. Surprisingly, I was hungry again and perhaps it was the promise of bulgogi (barbecued beef) that made my enzymes go bonkers. We were off again and now back to the village for some more “activities”.

The crowd in the village had decidedly increased and the reason was a direct fall out of the school children returning home after a whole day of studies. They had all lined up along with the others to see us now made to sit on the community centre steps and awaiting our next set of instructions. A basket arrived with small bamboo cylinders with a hole on the body, somewhat like a flute to be played sideways. We were given apiece each along with an elastic band and a small piece of paper. The paper was to be wrapped around one side of the cylinder and then the band rolled around keep the former in place. Now all we had to do was bring the piece near our mouth, the lips touching the hole mentioned earlier, and then blow/hum. The result was termed as music contrary to what my ear was hearing! So now we were this bunch of amateur musicians trying to produce music through this equipment. We were told that as a tradition in olden days, when the farmer or shepherd boy as the case may be would get bored in the fields, this was one piece of musical equipment that kept him entertained. I did not dare to blurt out my decidedly rude query regarding the bloke’s sourcing of elastic bands and paper those days!!

Finally we were all a bit relaxed and I did get down to a bit of socialising. Not that I had spoken to some before, but now I made that extra effort to go and talk to the other group members. Engineers from Samsung in Suwon, English Teachers from Seoul, tourists from Singapore, students from China, Japan and even Kazhakhstan, they were all there. Before we could really warm up, the next activity was announced and off we were busy in trying to wind up straws to create straw-sandals. To be honest with you, I was a disaster but don’t form your impressions too soon. I was compelled to learn the technique by this good teacher out there (an old man of about 90) and he made me do it right all the way!! Language was not the barrier out here!! It was the seamless flow of mental energy!! Later I did pose for the KBS cameraman for a few sequences of walking around, but I am sure that will not find a place on the editing table.

The filming was in full swing and the producer had informed that he would name it as “Recharging of Happiness”. In spite of a few smirks from the international crowd, I could feel the sincerity in his mind and that’s what mattered. So now we were almost done and though my digestive enzymes were half dead, the news of dinner woke them up. It was about 6.30 in the evening and we could now smell the meat being barbecued on charcoal grills. In Korean they call it Samgyeopsal which basically means three layered meat (meat, fat, meat) strips barbecued, Yow are supposed to take a piece of meat, a garlic clove, a bit of baap (steamed rice), kochujung and all of these wrap it up in a lettuce leaf and consume. A glass of makoli (sweet rice wine) as accompaniment and that made my day. I didn’t miss the earlier promised bulgogi.

The sun had set and it was time for a bonfire. The villagers had all arrived back after a whole day’s work and we all started mixing around. As I mentioned earlier, we were eager to know all about each other and we tried any which way you can. The best part is that we succeeded in our efforts and that’s what counts.

The bonfire was up and in the light created by the fire I could see the glowing faces all around, perhaps trying to absorb the moments as they occurred. The fire was very comforting since it was a bit chilly and it was like the nucleus of the village spreading its warmth on this cross border congregation.

The Samulnori dance performers were scheduled next and I was all along waiting for this since percussion music has always been a favourite of mine. They were mostly housewives and teenagers playing those rustic Korean traditional drums and I was enjoying the beats. It lasted for about an hour and I could feel my pulse dancing to the beats. At the end of it was a bonus of an opportunity of us able to try the drums and I jumped at it. A performer tried to teach me the sequence of beats that I quickly reproduced much to her delight and mine too!! The drums and the other instruments were quite similar to a lot of Indian instruments and I was quite pleased on the whole. Mind you, the media was there too. They were participating along with us and also doing their mandatory bit of asking us questions on how we are feeling and allied.

Well it was almost 9:30 and it was again time for some Makoli and Korean Pancakes made of some vegetables that I forgot to ask!! The announcements were due regarding the unfortunate families who would have to host us for the night and I am sure both sides were equally circumspect. But that bit of uneasiness was over and done with as soon as I entered me house my respective host. On hindsight I could tell you, that they were more than glad to have me as their guest. It was my mind that was on the blink rather than theirs. The complex walls of society, culture and language were broken so smoothly and it was just like sand meshing into more sand. We got along famously and the hot cup of coffee was just a symbol of the warmth all around. It was a small family, consisting of a couple and two kids going to middle and junior schools. We talked about India, my stay in Korea, their likes and my hobbies and anything else under the sun. They were more curious than me and I obliged with as much information as they wanted. The day had come to an end and how unfortunate was that,

At bed with my eyes closed I thought about the serene countryside and the abundance of oxygen and energy. The grass is greener on the other side, but when that there’s nothing to beat the green of the countryside!!

DAY 2:

My cell phone was tuned to ring at 6:30 but I didn’t allow the event to occur since I was up and about earlier. I finished my morning chores and in no time I was ready to attack the day and the start was with some traditional Korean breakfast consisting of a hot soup, rice and some other varieties of cold salads, followed with a cup of hot coffee. We were quite glad to see each other in the morning and while we exchanged the morning greetings we also reflected on the day that had gone by. All of us were quite elated by the experience and we were all looking forward to the series of activities to follow.

Today was sightseeing day I knew that we would be visiting the de-militarized zone between North and South Korea. The prospect was exciting and we all boarded the bus on our way to a place named Goseokjeong. There is a museum on North and South Korea there and there is a huge compound with a concrete statue of the local Korean Robin Hood during the days of the Chosun Dynasty by the name of Guk-Jung Im.

But more than that it was the scenic beauty of the Hantan River meandering its way in between the cliffs and I did take some shots of the picturesque river valley. We spend some time soaking in the natural beauty around us and then off we were to the DMZ area. I wish we if we could have spent some more time out they’re but time as usual was the spoilsport and I didn’t blame it since we had so much to cover.

On the way a Korean soldier got up in the bus as an escort and we all clapped for him and that must have only added to his awe. In no time we were transported to the 2nd Tunnel entrance (Tunnels were dug by North Korea to infiltrate South Korea even after the agreements done post-Korean war and this one was discovered in 1975) and we had to deposit our cameras since photography was not allowed inside. We were given yellow helmets to wear and we started climbing down the narrow stairway. We were now almost 100 metres underground or more when we landed in the actual tunnel pathway. It was hard granite all around and I am sure it must have been quite an effort to come this far by the North Koreans. The pains people take to fight!!

We were told that while on reconnaissance duty a few South Korean soldiers heard some underground explosions and then after investigations and excavations they discovered the tunnels. Four such tunnels have been discovered and there could be more. So while the preliminary explorations were on, South Korea lost 10 soldiers due to mine blasts inside the tunnel. We walked the full stretch for about 700 meter and reached the end where we were not allowed any further. There was nothing spectacular about the tunnel, and rather it was the feel of it that mattered. The visions of war and fighting are extremely traumatic in there own way and this was perhaps another reminder of the cruel times that we are in and may encounter personally any time

The sombre mood however quickly vanished as we came out of the tunnel and we again became the tourists we are and clicked photographs with the guard and some of the girls even posed with him as if this was a fashion magazine-shooting going on.

Over and all, I was quite happy with the visit and we were again packed into the bus which started tolling towards our next destination. The Iron Triangle Observatory was where from you could see the North Korea border. The telescopes were ready to show us the area but not before gobbling up some coins. In tourism, everything and anything is like a vending machine. Keep pouring money, and it churns out the stuff. I was not too impressed by the observatory and perhaps I need to visit another one in some other place for a better sight.

The Woljeongri station was what kindled my interest. This was an old relic station, and they had preserved a train which was bombed during the war. The memories of war are not a pleasant sight and this was one of them. Outside in beside the parking lot there was a garden that had several obelisks set up with inscriptions in Korean, The South Korean common man’s plea for unification was publicized through them.

That was DMZ and I could see the crowd now decidedly tired and I felt that most were now awaiting lunch and the departure back home. That was not to be so as yet since we were yet to visit a building that was the office of the labour party prior to the division of the country. The remains were basically the structure and this was one place where freedom fighters were tortured and interrogated.

We were made to stand together in front of the building for a group photograph and then we all were back in our seats. It was lunch time, folks and on arrival at the Gyodong village we were again treated by the smiles of the host and of course that was followed by Bibimbaap (Steamed rice mixed with vegetables a red tomato pepper sauce, a fried egg, a favorite of mine. A cup of coffee, some pleasantries, some hugs, some smiles and we were back on our way to Seoul.

The media was there to take some interviews and thy asked a few relevant questions. One of them was the reason for me choosing to apply. The second question in their mind was an open ended one, where they wanted to know my about my feelings and experience. The third was about my most memorable occasion or moment.

I gave them the reply that I genuinely thought and had reasoned it out to myself. The reason for me applying for this trip was to get away from the big city and breathe the innocence of the countryside. I don’t know about the others but when I experienced the moments the feelings over awed me. The hug of a farmer who I didn’t know, the smile of a child seeing an alien like me, the care and the respect by the villagers, they were all adding up. Tears were absent, but what was crying was the emotional attachment to all that was happening around. This was the best weekend ever without a doubt.

Before the start of the journey, if you remember, the KBS producer had mentioned that he would name the program “ Recharge your happiness”. (Translated from Korean). In the beginning the idea was superfluous but at the end of it I knew what he meant. Sphere: Related Content

Subway and Bus, Seoul - Brief Snapshot

The subway system in Seoul can definitely be recognised as one of the world’s best in terms of speed, coverage, connectivity and when you couple it with the on road bus system, the combination is fantastic.

The Seoul subway system like many other countries is numbered. This means that each end-to-end line has a number and colour code attached to it and the combination is followed in any station and train of that particular line. The stations on a particular line have not only their names but have also been allocated a distinct 3-digit number with the starting digit reflecting the Line number. There are junction stations where you could transfer from one line to another. Before arrival at a station, announcements are done in Korean and English that include even the direction of the platform. Some trains have displays inside them. Some newer stations have displays where you can even make out pictorially when a train is approaching.

The trains are extremely neat and clean except perhaps on rainy or snowy days where a bit of dirt does accumulate on the floor space but nothing too hard to digest. The frequency is good and schedules are all available on display at the stations. The schedule charts are in Korean but if you are enterprising you could make out what’s happening. If you still have a problem don’t bother too much. The frequency is quite good. The station names are available in English and Korean except on the electronic Display boards in the platform that talk about arriving trains and destination. You don’t really need to bother since the announcements are in English too.

The stations are well connected with the city overhead with stairs, escalators and elevators. For the handicapped, some stations have an automatic transportation system while for the blind the paths are marked out.

The subway systems connectivity maps are available in most stations and you could ask for English versions at the local station. For ticket denominations to a destination, you could have a look at the chart displayed in all stations or you could ask at the counter and pay the requisite amount. Once you are familiar, you could buy your own tickets with Notes or Coins even from the automatic vending machines. The balance is returned to you by twisting a knob on the machine!!

When you take directions from people, not only would you ask the station but also the Exit No leading you out from the station. If you take the wrong exit you may land up in a totally senseless direction!!

The Bus system in Seoul is another fantastic example of transportation and once you are familiar with it, I can tell you that you would find it a preferable mode of traveling in the city. Most foreigners in Seoul hardly use the bus system and still definitely find the subways easier, I, and a few friends I know, use both in an extremely optimal manner. There are “Six” Types of buses (the sites talk about 3) in Seoul. The Red, Blue, Green – Two Types, Yellow and the CNG types.

The Reds (4 digit numbers mostly starting with 9) are long distance Intra-City buses and I use them very rarely since over a longer distance, trains are better. The Blues (3 digit numbers) have routes that touch upon a specific series of subway stations from one area of the city to another. The Green (4 digit numbers) buses have routes similar to the Blues but they seem to touch even interior parts of the cities where there may not be stations. The other Greens (2 Digit numbers like 01 or 02, etc) are purely local buses that feed typically a locality around a station. The Yellows (2 digit numbers) are circular routes touching upon a series of subway stations or important locales in the city. The bus web site is very good and you can easily define your route either by bus or combination with a subway and go about with your journey. The CNG buses are the ones that I have no clue of.

I have my own reasons for using the bus. For one, I don’t have to travel up and down the stairs and escalators of the subway stations. I get on at a stop and get off at a stop very near to my origin and destination points.

The other interesting concept is the transportation card available at stations, Family Marts, Grocery Stores, GS Stores and anybody having the T-Money symbol. These cards are available at a cost of 2500 WON (about 2,5 USD) and then you "fill" the card with money say 5000 won or 10000 Won or as much as you want. You then you get a 100 Won discount on your tickets along with the convenience of using a Card instead of churing out currency every time. You would have recovered the cost of this card after completion of the 25th journey (I did not have to use my head for that one).


The other interesting part when you have this card is that you could seamlessly transfer from one mode of transport to another. The computer system tracks the time intervals between transfers and you have to do the next transfer within 30 minutes of the preceding one. The combinations are as follows:

a) Bus To Bus...n number of times....after a period/distance they will charge you on an incremental basis.
b) Bus to Subway....no problem.
c) Subway to Bus ...same as above
d) Subway to Subway Line Change internally (in same station you are anyway not required to use a card)
e) If you come out of a subway station and then re-enter...the continuity is lost!!!

So theoretically a bus-subway-bus-bus-subway-bus-bus-bus...is a perfect example of continuity (remember the 30 minutes in between). If the above confuses you further, you are welcome to ask me questions on this.

So that’s that. I would seriously ask you guys to try out the buses and you would find it a good idea. The others can continue with the trains!!

The websites for your reference:

Subway Guide:

http://www.smrt.co.kr/english_smrt/cyberstation_smrt/cyberstation.jsp

Seoul Bus Guide:

http://bus.congnamul.com/SeoulRouteWebApp/view_english/map.jsp Sphere: Related Content

Insa-dong - Gifts from Seoul

There are two types of gifts I buy whenever I visit a different land (local or foreign). The first one are the items that have been requested or agreed upon with friends and folks back home. The other is the non-existing list and is entirely dependent on my fancy and whim. So when I landed in Seoul typically like most tourists I did land up at Insa-dong.

Insa-dong is located near Jongno-2ga and I would thinks it’s a quaint street, though very busy, about 150 metres in length. The street is filled with foreigners trying to look up all the different items on display by the shops of various sizes and dimensions. Most of the shopkeepers here speak English and they are quite eager to sell you their stuff. Exceptions prove the rule, and when I visited a shop specialising in masks the shopkeeper showed his extreme irritation due to our interrogations. So overall, you don’t have to worry at all, at least regarding behaviour.

The street surface is made up of stones and on holidays and Sundays vehicles are not allowed on the stretch. So you could just walk up and down the stretch enjoying the street side sellers’ marketing techniques, the numerous food vendors, and so on and so forth. My first entry was into this huge long shop with goods spilling all over. The main items on my agenda were Korean masks, Paintings on Rice Paper and anything else uniquely Korean. The masks were of varying shapes and sizes and on a variety of mountings. They were mostly made of wood while the odd shop could display some paper mache items too. Masks are something I like and started off with my selections since you get a variety of faces.

There are some good painting shops and you need to have an eye for detail or you might just land up with some riff-raff. It’s a good idea to ask for a framed painting and then you could carry out a good negotiation with the fella since the mounting does cost a bit. My experience of this reverse concept has been fruitful and therefore the suggestion. Do not ever buy on impulse and check out at least three to four shops before you zero down to something and this is applicable to anything!!

I found the wooden ducks quite cute which are supposedly to be gifted by couples to one another.. They come in pairs and at different sizes. While the sizes increase in arithmetic progression, the prices take the geometric route!! I also find the door chimes quite nice and typically Korean. The array of massage items on display on the outside street would be amazing and I didn’t have any idea what all you could do to relax yourself. The only item that has left me puzzled is the whip and perhaps somebody will enlighten me on its use!!

If you have a deal with the airlines on your luggage allowance, then perhaps you carry some nice wooden boxes with lacquer work and I am not talking about the small ones on display most of the time. The Korean dolls did not impress me much and I find the variety, design, simplicity or grandeur of the Japanese of immensely more appeal. You are free to judge yourself and I know I need not have mentioned this.

The metallic items of dragons and other fake antiques might appeal to you, but I stayed away from them. Then there are these typically touristy items like chopsticks, table mats , mugs and coasters. Aroma therapy items might impress you and if you might get a good deal for your inclination.

Now when it’s question of pricing I can guarantee you that prices here are marked up for sure. The tourists have come to buy after all. So I would suggest that if you are looking for some masks, coasters, bells, chimes, wall hangings it would be a good idea to visit Myongdong Departmental Store in Myongdong!!! Go to Euljiro-1-ga station (Line 2) and get out on Exit 6 and walk towards Myongdong. Keep walking, cross the Bank of Korea crossing and then the road curves slightly towards the left. Go past the curve and take a left in and then after about 50 meters you would find the store on your right. The prices are good and you would save some time and money!!! The Dongdaemun Flea market (inside the stadium) is a good place too and that’s where the locals frequent.

But Insadong you must visit. More than the soeuvenir shops, the guys playing flutes, the relaxed atmosphere, the food, the ambience, you'll surely enjoy. The emotion is more than the consumption and that's why this place is noteworthy. Do enjoy yourselves!!! Sphere: Related Content

The Journey

The Journey !!

On a Sunday cloudy morning I have been trying for the last half an hour to focus on something to use my keystrokes on my laptop. My mind started traveling in all sorts of directions and then I chanced upon a magazine given to me by a fellow passenger last week, but let me get into that later.

I am a Hindu (follower of Hinduism) and therefore governed by these myriad complicated rules of the religious component of my society. Irrespective of the type of religion you may subscribe to, you would also be under the purview of your respective rule sets. The atheists of course may not follow any such paths but often and on they too land up following some ritual and customs due to social obligations or community pressures. I am not sure about the definition of what you may call a devout Hindu but in my worldly agenda I do have my way methods (some borrowed while others entirely original) of long distance communication with the Super Power.

Now this religion that I belong to is an extremely complicated one and too may things are left open to diverse interpretations. Most of you would be familiar or at least heard of the Indian Hindu Caste systems as they still exist. Originally the caste system was defined in the Vedic Ages (Once upon a time!!!) on the basis of occupation and accordingly there were four distinct divisions. There were two ways this could be determined. The first one was religious in nature while the other was biological. Typically there were four classes but over time the wise men(sic) decided to divide and divide and divide the people leading to numerous sects and sub sects. Now I didn’t really care about all this convoluted processes but what perked me up was that somewhere conveniently people have made this into a hereditary situation throwing whatever logic the system had earlier to the wind.

Now the religious pundits keep telling us about this ultimate goal of making a housing investment in God’s Housing Society, have a nice residence out there with I am sure all the amenities. But I do wonder about the municipal corporation that needs to exist especially for the caste believers in terms of duties. Will the low class janitor (Sudra) co-exist with the supposedly so called priestly (Brahmin) in terms of post-death benefits in God’s country?

And somehow its during the time of marriage that the Hindu families educated or otherwise, suddenly become extremely conscious of their castes so that I guess the couple can go singing to Heaven together and otherwise they might land up with compatibility issues in the journey towards final destination!!

Here in Seoul I sometimes visit the Buddhist monastery because I get a chance to be at peace with myself in that serene atmosphere, But the marketing techniques applied for propagating ideas must be the different Christian communities out here. Coming out of Mapo subway station I am handed over these leaflets to join the Sunday special service for foreigners in the local church.

While coming down the escalators of Singil station, my end of day thoughts are interrupted by this person who is delivering his never ending diatribe on sacrificing the sinner in a loud pitch through a portable PA system.

Another day inside a local Seoul bus, this slightly aged lady is violating the peace with her own long religious piece. While coming back from Incheon I was engrossed in a Ludlum, and this young couple tapped me for some attention. They had noticed that I was reading an English novel and I had no idea where our conversation was leading to, until the moment when they gave me a “gift” in terms of a free copy of the latest “Awake” magazine. They exclaimed when I professed my awareness of the Jehovah’s Witness (a Christian community) and I was immediately invited to one of the congregations. Did they think that here is another one to bite the dust? They are doing their “Duty” of spreading the love and giving directions of another way of travel towards the Housing Society Management Office!!!

Each one to their own and perhaps your journey would dependent on many factors, like your location, the transportation available and the economics!!! But I still have questions to go. Like you could be preaching me to take an airplane while I am stranded on sea like Tom Hanks in “Castaway”.

But all you guys may not have considered a simple fact. In spite of traveling first class in an airliner, when in queue for immigration, I might just be ahead of you and to top it all, maybe you are deported back or quarantined. Who knows? Sphere: Related Content

A Bong in Korea - An Incomplete Attempt

For the uninitiated, I am about to describe the “bong” persona in the blabber to follow. A Bong happens to be a person of Indian origin but whose mother tongue is a language called Bengali that also happens to be one of the major languages of India. Most of the Bengalis, as they are known, have their roots in the eastern part of India. They also could have roots in “Bangladesh’ a separate country. I might dwell upon the significance later, but for now let it be known that the so-called upper-middle, middle and nouveau(mutually exclusive) Indians have shortened the same to “Bongs”. It would not be an error on my part to confide that a lot of times we do introduce ourselves as a Bong because perhaps the lingo of using the term “Bengali” could be LS. People watching Kandy Floss ( a Indian TV Show) would be familiar with this term but for the others its “Low Society”.

A “Bong” could be attributed with certain stereotypes and though a lot of times it could be true, but sometimes it could be a cultural burden while it could be plain and simple hilarious at other times. One of the major burdens of Bong is that he/she is supposed to be culturally rich. This would mean that all of us have a natural affinity towards the finer arts be it music, art, drama, films, the whole gamut. Additionally we must most probably know how to sing or write. We also should be in love with the great poet named “Tagore” and how could you be a “ Bong” without knowing and loving his work. The Bongs love their fish and why not? They also want their daily dose of rice and if anybody disagrees, you could always apply the “exception” rule. The “Bongs” also have their own funny accent while speaking English like all the other Indians (pardon my comment). So its hilarious when the Bong pronounces the “Violet” as something like “Bhhiolet” but actually I find it funnier when corrected by say a Punjabi(people from Punjab - a northern India Province) who say “Loin” meaning “Lion”. Sorry guys, but I can have other examples too on accents but that’s a different story. I need to now get back to the topic I started off with and my apologies because of this “intended” diversion!!

A Bong in Korea is a good and bad thing to happen. To list down the good points they could go as follows:
Fish is in abundance (You need to know the Korean equivalents)
Rice is not a problem since you would get Basmati at a price, or the Chinese Jasmine Rice would do well.
Bengali music available freely on demand (Internet).
Food is an integral part of a Bengali’s daily life and so is it with Koreans, and if you are experimental (a lot are) then you have a variety out there. Obsession with Food is the phrase I should have used for people who raised their eyebrows.
Bengalis are driven by the “want”, rather than by the “money” backing it up, and therefore there are normally no “exchange conversion” issues at every buying decision “moment of truth”.

There could be more and a reader could enlighten me, but here are the bad ones:

No Durga Puja Festival (Durga is a Hindu Deity worshipped ardently by the Bengalis) since the occasion is not only of worship but also of communion, gaiety and cultural splendour.
No Bengali Associations or any such club where these clannish guys can get together regularly. No Pirated Illegal Bengali Movies Online (Internet).
No Bengali Sweets available (The Bengali has a sweet tooth and the Bong version of milk based sweets/desserts are quite popular in all parts of India).

In local Indian impromptu get-togethers, a bong has a problem with eating just a one course Dal ( Lentil soup with varied density) and rice meal and be verrry satisfied. And if you want to know more about the Bengalis perhaps you would have to wait for another time and occasion. I promise there to dissect the Bong and the Bengali and that should be interesting to do.

I am salivating at the prospect and I just need to remind myself and off we’ll go. Till then, thank you for your attention!! Sphere: Related Content

Cost of Goods Sold!!

This is not an accounting session nor am I about to deliver a lecture on the better practices of creating a balance sheet. I just started off with that heading because of an event that happened minutes ago. We were watching a Honda advertisement for one of their cars and the domino effect created there was excellent and it was pure art. So in the aftermath we were immersed in absorbing the creation, when a colleague exclaimed that it was all a big waste of money.

I am not the devil’s advocate, but I could not help but point out that the perceptions of people could differ but as in every other case we must have some limits to adhere to, and at least in public. By doing so, many a times it could actually show up one’s ignorance and the degree of your being silly just increases in a geometric progression on the arrogance you disburse.

Money has a funny relationship with every other thing we do or possess in life and that’s not the area of my concern right now. The concern is more on the issue of people evaluating everything by the expenditure. The path tread thus becomes sticky and embarrassing.

I stay in New Delhi, and we all know about the neighbourly competition with reference to the “Conspicuous Consumption” goods. The evaluation by the cost is inherent and present in every possible conversation. The same person when abroad is running around and spending unaccounted money in transportation to find out a good deal and at the end of it is also extremely apologetic about the debited amount. He would plead to keep the amount paid confidential to people back home lest his ego gets a sharp puncture.

Then there are the people whom you converse with, cannot but help talking about the price of anything they possess or show or wear. So you visit a friend’s house and shower appreciation of the Persian Carpet and immediately you would become a recipient of some unnecessary information of the exorbitant price paid and at such a good deal. I have two problems here. The first one is that I was admiring the art and you diverted my mind. Secondly I fail to understand the balance between your “High Value” and “Good Deal”. As far as I am concerned, one tolerated the first comment but the double whammy now not only irritated me but in the process you degraded the value of the item too. God Bless You!!

These same people (you know many of them, don’t you?) can’t just resist interspersing their every bit of conversation with Dollars or Won or Rupees or what have you.

Oh, that’s a fantastic dress, it beautiful on you? What’s the price?!!! WHY CAN’T YOU JUST ADMIRE?

I bought this pair of trousers? How much for? 10000 Won? Oh, you should have gone to Onsu!! This is available there for 5000!!! CHEAP THRILL?

You know what? My friend gave me this scarf as a gift? Isn’t the design great? It’s only 5 Dollars. Isn’t it cheap? HUH?

I am sure you know more examples then I can remember or conjure up out here, but if I had to collect all these small crazy bits of dialogue, it would become a big fat book and that too one which you wouldn’t pay for. What would you say? Priceless!!! Sphere: Related Content

Damn It!! Will You Please Shut Up?

Often and on, in different situation I feel like exclaiming thus, but what prevents me from doing so is probably the way I am and for sure you could carry the same trait as mine of not being unnececssarily rude to people. (Am I being funny?)

In the morning today I was having a tripartite discussion on the subject of corruption in different countries when one of the guys suddenly said. “In Korea there is no corruption”!! He was adamant on the issue and it was a futile attempt on my part to let him know that perhaps newspapers were not part of his daily life. He was a man from Singapore and had no inclination to accept our point of view and then a time came where I was itching to make that rude comment.

Sometimes when we friends get together, jokes are but a natural ingredient of the evening. But then we have this guy who enjoys joking about others, but then starts showing his true colours if the joke is on him. He becomes wild and that’s the time one wishes to use the “phrase” in question with aplomb.

Irritation is but a natural feeling and there could be different triggers for us to get into such a mental state. But there is this guy who manages to irritate me as soon as he shows his dentures. According to him, the sun sets in the east, the river flows up the mountain and the cars travel backwards. I am sure you understand what I mean, and as soon as he opens his mouth I feel like utilizing the comment..

I had a friend in Delhi and he was heavily into Yoga and the works. He was ever ready to extol the virtues of diet and exercise on every occasion, as if there is nothing else to talk about. But he had this one major attribute of letting out air from his mouth coupled with this funny throaty sound emission (we know it as the “burp”) at regular intervals. I am not sure of the condition of his digestive sys tem but I hope you get the wind of my feelings.

In any group you have this advisor who could give you directions to do better in every which way or act. He could easily be a sub set of the Mr. Know All (http://seouldays.blogspot.com/2006/03/mr-know-all.html) category explained earlier. Right from how I should design my presentation or the subway route to a destination or buying a camera, he would be so eager to put in his two bits. While I surely do not mind this extra uncalled help, the trouble starts when you quiz him further and he would fall from the sky when I want him to explain to me the relevance of shutter and aperture priority in cameras. That’s the right occasion for me then to exclaim and use the question in question!!

I am not sure whether this happens to you, but my wife has something extremely interesting carved in her hand, especially in the fate line. In a movie theater she would always have these fellow viewers exactly in the row behind who would be incessantly conversing on any subject other than perhaps the movie and in a pitch that would directly interfering with the sound waves coming from the Dolby sound system.. So while you are watching the movie along with the dialogues onscreen; you would get the bonus whispers, giggles and other innuendos as a form of improvised Chinese torture. There are also some people who find it’s their duty to explain each and every dialogue, story or the future screen shots to follow. That’s one of the best occasions to do the killing.

On other occasions, you have some colleagues for whom the “9 to 5” concept does not end. Be it the evening get-togethers, family occasions, children’s birthdays, site seeing visits and any other event, they cannot but discuss the office and whatever else is happening there. I don’t really expect them to appreciate and converse about all nuances of life but its a fair admission on my part that a lot of times I do feel like asking them to just - (you know what). I could have rhymed that but all the same, as long as I can communicate the essence.

I would like to end here though there are many other such occasions and I could carry on for some time more but I don’t want to be on the receiving end, where you would actually turn around and tell me to shut up!!! Sphere: Related Content

The Soul of Seoul

I have been in Seoul for about a year now and somehow the city is growing on me in spite of the usual barriers an alien could face in terms of language, food or culture. Seoul as we know is the capital of South Korea also known as the Republic of Korea, Its an irony that North Korea is known as the Democratic People's Republic Of Korea while nothing could be more untrue than what that name suggests.

Back to Seoul, some of you might be knowing that I live in Mapo and bang on one of the main corridors intersecting Seoul. But my introduction to Seoul was through Dongdaemun Stadium where I noticed those large Departmental Stores that keep their shutters open till 5 in the morning and the historical Dongdaemun Shrine a symbol of the rich heritage. The quantum of people shopping on that Friday was amazing and later in the night when we had come out for a walk at 11 in the night I was feeling that the evening had just about started. The hawkers with their makeshift stalls selling cheap socks, shoes, dresses, fake watches, cheap watches, artificial jewellery. The stalls selling meat lollipops, stick hot dogs, rice cake curry. The net effect was one of coordinated chaos. The high-rise stores looked down upon us, inviting us in with their dazzle. Stage shows outside with deafening beats of percussion and gyrating boys and girls was I am told a normal Friday affair.

The next day, true with possibly most foreigners, we landed up at Itaewon the only place in Seoul where you are assured of an English reply from shopkeepers. We did hit a couple of bars and went on to a desi-shop(shop selling Indian stuff) to have a look at the inventory on display. This was "the" cosmopolitan area of Seoul where the locals were outnumbered twice over by the aliens.

With my earlier experience in Tokyo I had presumed that English would be a problem but to my surprise I went on to find that the younger generation can converse in English to some extent at least. The older generation can understand English but there hesitation was in an conversational engagement. In office I found ladies more keen to speak English while the Korean men were not quite forthcoming. Some of them have American tutors for learning spoken English but I guess the practice remains confined to that classroom and that does not help at all. However, overall I don't to seem have problems n communicating my intent wherever necessary; be it the local stores, or the bus driver or the theatre.

The subways very early in the morning are full of older people who have come out for going to a park or a temple. You would also find industrial workers on their way to work. However as the day progresses, men and women smartly attired in office wear crowd up the stations and bus stops and when I look down from my window I can see the traffic piling up. The free newspapers, the local restaurants dishing out leaflet invitations, the stair case hawker selling fresh kimbaaps or dried octopus/squid chews, ginseng roots, people distributing literature or discount coupons for the latest Korean Drama, the church leaders persuading people to visit the local church; it's a strange kaleidoscope out there.

The Koreans have their dinner early but on Friday its "drinking time folks". Men and women, old and young either visit bars, or roadside makeshift tents serving grilled meat and soju. The enterprising would go to the discotheques or night clubs and drink and dance till the early morning hours. Jazz bars, Country Bars, Hip-Hop Clubs at Hongdae are a must and especially on the last Friday of the month when its Club Day.

The Koreans I presume love shopping and whether its the Discount Stores or the Departmental Stores the crowd coming in or out never seems to end. The consumer is king and the wares are all there enticing you in every possible way.

The senior citizens are the silent brigade with their share of community responsibility. Picking up old newspapers, cleaning up dog poop, watering society gardens, cleaning up local lanes, they are doing it all. So the young study, the middle aged work and the seniors look after the neigbourhood, I seem to get the hang of the Korean pride. The pride emanating from the love of their country and whatever else.

Social responsibility is stretched to the extreme out here. Imagine this scenario, where two drunken guys throw up in a subway train and pass out. A well dressed couple, probably on their way out to dinner, and has nothing to do with this gets into the act. The lady takes out some tissues and starts piling up the mess at a corner so that the main corridor is wiped clean and then the man puts all this mess in a bag and at the destined station gets down with the garbage for the final disposal in a waste bin. This is not a story and it's one of the many examples of the character.

Sincere help is always available and in spite of me being a lonesome foreigner in a melee of locals, I am somehow never lonely. Some of you may feel that way, but its for us to blend and not the other way round. Exceptions prove the rule and therefore side incidents are after all side shows.

The people of Seoul is it's pride and character. Get out on the streets to feel the pulse of this soul!!

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In and Out / Up and Down

The following congregation of words will thankfully and surely qualify for an U certificate unlike the presumptions of a few. I am talking about the mundane elevators which are also known as the "lift" in India. My first exposure to an elevator was way back, when as a kid I had come to big city Calcutta and had visited an uncle's office all the way just for a ride. It was a cranky old thing chugging people from one floor to another. It served three floors and that was too much of a thrilling novelty for me that day.

Elevators come in different sizes and shapes these days and sometimes they turn out to be quite embarrassing for me but more about that later. Some elevators in a few old British type buildings are still in operation these days. The doors are actually a pair of collapsible iron gates and depending upon your luck there would be a liftman perched on his stool reading a tattered pocket book in the small time interval of the elevator moving from one floor to another. So this particular marvel when in operation would make all sort of funny noises emanating from the pulleys and chains and if you happen to look up through the transparent roof, provided you have the inclination and the time, you would see the dark hell awaiting to gobble you up. Much later they even had fans in those boxes but you could still see the top through the visibility created when the fan is whirring at full speed.

I still feel very safe in those lifts because the collapsible gates are naturally see through by design and I seem to have this sense of control on whatever is going on. The modern lift is quite a different proposition for me.

The modern elevators are closed boxes and its like a solitary confinement cell and depending upon the hour you may or may not have company. In these elevators I often have this mind and body coordination issues. Say I get into one such contraption in the 3rd Floor and I press the 10th Floor button. As the elevator starts off my mind also would perhaps take off and when the things stops at the 7th floor I in the heat of the moment also get out only to realise my folly. Now I have this problem of not showing up as stupid, so one behaves as if the 7th was anyway the original destination. Once this one passes up, I call for the next elevator in queue and off I go with my ego intact. These days when such incidents happen, I give a sheepish smile and get back into the elevator, no matter what my devilish ego dictates. Its like a three steps forward and immediate turn around and back in with a funny evidently stupid smile for others to see.

The modern lifts are also where we study in minute details about the dresses other people wear, their shoes and the smell of sweat or perfume depending upon your luck. The elevator is also double up as an instant beauty parlour to check out your Elvis Prisley hair style while the modern madonnas to check out the reflection, texture and smoothness of their lipstick coatings. The elevator designers of course knew about the human psychology and catered well for their quirks.

You also have elevators these days that are installed on the edge of buildings so as to give you a grand view of what's going on the outside. The transparent glass may give a scare of their life to people with vertigo, but I seem to enjoy this rather than keep looking at my stupid face in the mirrors on the wall.

There are other times when I am awaiting for an elevator. I get it in on its arrival only to find that its perhaps going down while I was scheduled to go up. Four letter words come to my mind instantly only to realise the futility of it all. Enjoy the free ride and this time make sure to press the right button when the elevator has changed course otherwise you would keep doing this soiree for the rest of your life.

The elevator has another close cousin these days. They are the nude form of the elevator know in the civilised world as escalators. They are the moving stairs. The escalator could be one of the world's most unique machine that works even when its dead. The stairs are still usable, aren't they? The escalator is also where there are two files of people traveling. One file is stationery waiting for the piece of metal they are standing on to reach its destination while the people in the other file are saving precious time in their busy life by simultaneously climbing down or up the moving stairs. Escalators these days are a part and parcel of my life and after one of these rides in the subway station when I find the guy who overtook me, riding in the same train compartment as mine, I get this instant vicarious pleasure. Enjoy the ride I say!!

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Youngdeungpo-station, Seoul

Youngdeungpo-Station

Everyday morning I take a fast train to Bupyeong from this station (Subway Line 1). The station building is impressive and is conjoined with the Lotte Department Store and also the Lotte Cinema. In the mornings when I reach there it’s the hustle and bustle of office-goers going up and down the escalators while the orchestrated traffic outside carry on to their destined destinations. I am the lone brown man amongst the locals slowly inching forward to my platform amongst the organized chaos.

In the station concourse, Lotteria is up and open dishing out junk food to the hungry while the original American Crispy Doughnut counter is preparing for the daily deluge. Its quite neat and clean all around and you do get to pick up your morning free tabloids from different vantage points. Most of the long distance trains stop here on their way in and out of Seoul other than the fast KTXs (Korean version of the Japanese Bullet Trains). There are also the homeless being charged by the police out of the area not before they had their good nights sleep. Beggars and homeless people are all preparing their respective beds when you come to this station late at night. Even Euljiro-1ga station is a similar haven for them.

On the outside the shops are all shutters down waiting for the clock to strike 9 or 10 as the case maybe for business to start. This place boasts of a few departmental stores like the Shinsaegae, Cosmos and Lotte mentioned earlier. The first one is the most expensive of them all, but sometimes you do get bargains on the footpath in front of the respective stores. This is also the place to buy vegetables since the largest wholesale vegetable market is just about 50 metres from the station where anything would be at least 30% cheaper than elsewhere.

When I return home in the evening the scenario has completely changed. People returning home, buyers, movie freaks – you would find all of them in this melee. Outside the neon lights are glaringly inviting to either eat or drink or try and exercise your libido and other carnal desires. The good and the bad, virtue and sin – all exist here in a neat mesh for you to pick.

On a holiday in the evening, it’s a nice place to just while away your time watching life in motion in front of you. Couples, hookers, hanger-ons, families old and young, small and large, flashy and the sober, all moving around crossing unknown entities on the way to their respective destinations.

Mundanely boring, funnily repetitive this place is after all a part of my daily life. Sphere: Related Content