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

Frankly Speaking

I was coming back from an evening party along with some friends and on the way we started having a heated argument on letter writing protocols. Suddenly one of them looked at me and said, " Can I be frank with you?" There are other occasions when somebody would say, "Please don't mind, but when blah, blah, blah." Or in a situation a friend would look you in the eye and exclaim, " Don't take it seriously, but I wanted to let you know that, etc, etc, etc."

Now, I don't know about you, but whenever I hear such a comment volleyed towards me, my mind is now all set to listen to that comment with extra special focus, intent and attention. It would also be a mistruth, if I inform you that such comments would not be taken seriously by me. On the contrary, isn't it normal to behave the way I do?

I mean, as soon you start to speak with that comment thrown in, I start expecting something bad about me and between you and me, it would have been better if you had shown some self-resistance and tried not to be rude. If you think that by adding such preludes you are softening the attack, you are sadly mistaken. You have actually decided to attack, and now this is a fore warning of what's coming. So like it or not, I am expected to lump it.

When you come near me and whisper in my ears to give me feedback without asking me to take it seriously, why would you inform me not to be serious the first place? So actually you were just waiting for an opportunity and now throwing a sugar coated dart at me with full intent. Over and above you are expecting me, to behave normally after I receive such unwanted negative feedback and perhaps hug you for the act.

I am sorry, I understand the language differently and "Let me be frank with you. You suck!"

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Lunch Time Variety

The Koreans like their food and most importantly they like their lunch. Our work lunchtime starts at 1200 Hours, but these guys start getting the pangs from 1130 onwards!! You would hardly find a local going to a restaurant alone and another hard fact is that they never ever bring lunch from home. The exceptions prove the rule, but I can tell you finding one such instance would be like hitting the jackpot at the Casino.

The Korean would fix his partner/s for the lunch sojourn much earlier than you could think of. I remember approaching a colleague for a luncheon meet and he had to consult his pocket pc only to give me a date a fortnight later!! That was perhaps an extreme situation but all the same I am mentally prepared these days.

There are two countries in the world where if a survey is done, they will emerge to have the highest density of restaurants both per capita and geographical area. The two countries undoubtedly would be Korea and Japan and perhaps they would tie for the top position.

The segmentation of restaurants is extremely market friendly. I have never seen so many regular restaurants specializing in such depth until I experienced these countries. The other day I had visited a restaurant in Incheon that serves a type of Pork Soup accompanied with Rice and other spices (Sungde-goong-baap). It had 100 covers and that’s the only item they serve. Nearby there is another one that specializes only in Fried Rice or Ramen (noodles). Some serve only Rice Cakes and all combinations and variations possible based on the same. Then there are the barbecue restaurants where all types of meat will be roasted/grilled/charred in front of you on your table for your consumption. A beer or two along with it and that’s seventh heaven (specifically the Samgyopsal)!!!

The Korean dishes are also quite elaborate. The other day I had ordered for a Chicken soup with vegetables. It was the Sangetan (I hope I got it right) but that was only one part. The hot soup with copious amount of chicken and vegetables arrived on the table. But along with it arrived two types of Kimchis (pickled vegetable), green chillies, lettuce with mayonnaise, chilly flavored soy sauce, a bowl of rice (baap), some other unknown leaves, whooof!!!! I get confused regularly not only with what to pick up, mix and match. My taste buds are really put to test to try and distinguish the different subtle flavours while savouring the complete experience inside my mouth.

The Food Courts around are great and I enjoy the one beside Bandi and Luni (Jongno Tower, Jongaak Station). The spread is excellent, the prices competitive and that’s where a lot of my colleagues frequent for their choice meals.

So if you have the inclination, its time you go for the elaborate lunchtime variety!! Sphere: Related Content

Musical Bandbox - A Postlude

Yesterday night I had a dream. Mark Knoffler, Eric Clapton, Jim Morrison, and a few others threatened to strangle me since I forgot to mention their names. I have been liberally lending my ear to their music and - what the hell - they are my favourites too. I seem to be having too many favourites and I can consider myself lucky since it's an indirect guarantee. A guarantee that in future I will never be void of music.

Who else did I forget? Please don't go - KC and the Sunshine Band? Woman in Love - Barbara Streisand? I won't shy away from the fact that I remember buying Michael Jackson too for whatever its worth.

But all along I have been harping about Western Non Classical but there are two entirely separate dimensions to my kind of music.

One of them would be the Hindi (National Language of India) Film Songs and the other would be Bengali Songs (my mother tongue is Bengali). Why very few movies in India, Hindi or otherwise, cannot do without songs could be a complicated discussion and I rather deal with that separately.

Coming back to music, I seem to like impromptu Jazz renditions. Perhaps its for a very similar reason for me to get mentally involved with India Classical Instrumental, where the tunes come back to me in the form of waves - where there could be infinite variations in the same basic pattern.

That's about all and thanks for bearing with my tune.

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Musical Bandbox

I remember this name of a Radio Program I used to listen when I was in my teens. This was a Sunday Afternoon Request Program for popular songs and invariably during lunch at home, the radio would be turned on high for pure listening pleasure. Those were my days in Calcutta and its been quite a while. Nowadays I listen to radio, but through the Net and somehow I like to listen to the commentary too. So I have a vast choice of these small time Internet Radio Stations playing some good music.

Now when we talk about good music, the definition could differ person to person. What could be honey for me, could probably turn out to be poison for you. But leaving that comment aside, I seem to like most type of music and when people ask me, my reply doesn’t seem to satisfy anybody including myself!! So what sort of music do I like?

Let me start off with Western Music especially the Non-Classical Ones. These days I am so confused with the genre definitions and classifications that I have basically stopped worrying about that. However when you use the word music, I would like to feel the lilting tunes accompanied with beats. I don’t care too much for songs(sic) where you could just ramble some clever rubbish accompanied with some degenerated beats. Hip-hop enthusiasts, please do pardon me!!!

I am happy to listen to the lilting songs of John Denver, Joan Baez, and even Nat King Cole. I like the simple music of Harry Belafonte and the heavy stuff of The Who and Deep Purple. I am fond of Roger Waters, Queen , Beatles, Bread and so many more. How can I miss Simon and Garfunkel? America deserves mention and so does Genesis. My likes are quite broad-banded and therefore would include the ever so sweet Carpenters and the soulful Ann Murray. Some prudes may blink their eyes if I disclose my likings for Abba or gutsy Madonna for that matter. Even The Bee Gees can brighten up my soul.

But then came the Nineties and I continue to draw a complete blank. My ignorance is possibly bliss in some way, since I just do not have the inclination to hear a Britney Spears or Prince or what have you. That does not mean that in a bar I will not tap my foot to Beyonce or Shakira or somebody else. But that’s a purely temporary phenomenon and I forget them all as fast as they come.

So now you know why my mind goes into a spin when ever I have to talk about the music I like.. I give a damn for genres and the classifications do not bother or affect me. There is trash to be found in all genres and there are examples of brilliance in all.

Now since I have written about the stuff I like, perhaps its time for me now to dim the lights, take a glass of single malt and listen to some jazzy guitar work by Devadip Santana or Al DiMeola. Are you joining me? Sphere: Related Content

Shabu Shabu

The other day a colleague treated us to dinner. I had never tasted this Japanese dish earlier and I was quite willing to try it out. I won’t talk about what’s it all about and if you wanted to know more about it, its best that you try out Mr. Google. I can tell you that I liberally gorged on the soft meat as long as the going was good.

Interestingly, I started off writing this piece with nothing I wanted to share in particularl, but then bohemian rambling I am told is a good way of relaxation. So while I relax, I am in turn trying to confuse you with my gibber gabber.

I subscribe to this newsletter published by the Seoul Municipal Corporation, and on a weekly basis I get updated on the different events scheduled that may or may not be of interest. But all the same, I like receiving it, since I am up to date on what’s happening around me. For similar reasons I do visit the KNTO site too once in a while. Now, I know the full schedule of cherries blossoming all over Korea with precise dates and I marvel at the rapid development of science and agricultural forecasting. The weather forecasts too awe me quite a bit, though sometimes the exceptions occur (to prove the rule I guess) when you might land up taking the umbrella only to use it for some sun protection rather than the rain!!

In case you find all this just a waste of time I would request you to give me the benefit of doubt and still read on. After all, if anything interesting up your alley occurs in the paragraphs to follow, you would be the loser if you quit straight away. Hope is what makes you and me going you see!

The other day I was traveling from Bupyeong to Singil in a fast train and there was this hawker trying to sell a pack of needles and also some spindles of threads. There would have been about 15-20 needles of different lengths along with some threads of different colours.. All this at about 1000 won or say 1 US Dollar. The Chinese have really overtaken anybody else in terms of manufacturing ‘what have you’. Its rare to find stuff these days that are not Chinese. I don’t want to get into a session of economics, since you could be reading enough about this in the newspapers.

Talking about more local stuff, I was impressed when the South Korean Prime Minister resigned from office when he was alleged to have been playing Golf in B(P)usan during the recent Korail strike. Though sometimes I do foster leftist ideas in my head, I was equally impressed with the Government’s firm handling of the strike. Without getting into ideological discussions, what occurred to me was that the Government had a sense of purpose.

The other day I happened to see some advertisements for recruitment of English Teachers. While I thought I could readily qualify for the job, provided I leave my current occupation, any hope of doing so vanished when I figured out that Indians wouldn’t qualify in the first place. The British Colonial Past would not really come to my rescue no matter what my background was. Well, I was not really serious about this or was I?

I have been reading up quite a few blogs of unknown strangers and some of them are quite enthralling. I also happened to chance upon a few haikus and poems and found them quite invigorating. I am planning to pen some limericks (I am supposedly good at this) and I will post them at the appropriate time.

By the way, did you check up Shabu Shabu on the net. I suggest that you visit a Japanese restaurant and try it out. You’ll like it!! My Indian Friends – You would do well to stay away!!! Sphere: Related Content

Formally Informal!

The first phrase in the Title is an oxymoron in its own rights, but it does manage to confuse me thoroughly. These days a lot of organisations are I am told bending towards this form of dressing and I am not sure what they mean by it.

In one of the organisations where I used to work, it used to be a six days week with only the Sunday in between to relax. Men were to come in ties, shirts and trousers (what else) and the women could come in anything (the choice was wider – sari, salwar suit, skirts and shirts, and everything else!!). For women even jeans are formal and I don’t like this subjection!! Those were the formal days but now situations have changed. Formally Informal or Informally Formal are the buzzwords, whatever they mean.

Now say I wear a sky blue shirt with a black suit and a red striped tie and it would fall into the category of Formally Formal (Pardon me for introducing the Third Variable)!! So on a Saturday logically following HR guidelines I could change the color of my Tie to shocking yellow, or I could change into sports shoes (I would not ever do that, I assure you) or I could wear a pair of trouser with a label and I’ll pass.

Are jeans informal, formally informal or informally formal? I have a feel that the last category is the odd man out. But who cares!!

Then we used to have these self-nominated guardians of dress culture in the office. They would come and peer over their PC monitor to do a secret check on every person walking in. The women they would ogle at and the guys they would find faults with. I remember this guy being asked to go back home and change since he was wearing a pair of khakis white shirt and brownish tie (Informally Formal?).

People dress as per their wish and who am I to comment on this. But some things are glaring and I guess everything cannot be put to the test of logic. Say would you wear shorts and a jacket with a tie. Even the boy scouts won’t do that. But people do wear formal trousers, party shirts and a pair of Addidas sports shoes in the evening get together!! Please pardon them, because they are not aware of their sin (Thanks Jesus for the quote). But since you have come home to my party, could I ask you to leave, change and come back? Sphere: Related Content

Mr. Know All

Have you met this guy ever? I don’t know about you, but I seem to bump into this guy almost every other day and in myriad situations.

Be it any topic or issue, this friend of mine will interject and talk about it with an aura around his speech so convincing that you may actually believe him momentarily until I chance upon some information that proves the contrary. He is not genuine I can assure you, and in earlier days people would take him as a good salesman. Not anymore, I can assure you, and I have my logic.

We are however veering from the topic a bit and I am trying my utmost to get my brain back on track. I had a friend in school who seemed to know everything about everything. Why did our favourite soccer club lose in the finals? Pat came the answer on how the coach was actually on drugs, and his last month’s salary was unpaid. Now how was he privy to that information? To be glib is in the genes, while we dumbos are all in awe!!!

I remember this guy in college traveling with me in the same bus. He seemed to know the antecedents and whereabouts of the girls in class only to be later proven wrong in its entirety!!

There is this friend of mine who seem to know everything about anything. I can tell you, that we just tolerate him to our wits end. From music or business process or the economy of Mongolia, he knows it all.

Typically, they quote a lot of numbers while they talk, be it dates, statistics or what have you projecting this aura of authenticity. We just bear with all this since after all we are part of civilised society though it would be not be wrong to admit that sometimes I feel like a hungry bear and would like to claw this guy.

Don’t you feel the same way? Sphere: Related Content

Friday Evening at Chakraa, Itaewon

This was our visit to Itaewon after quite a while and the reason for doing so was due to some instigation from colleagues. The restaurant had sent out a mailer publicizing a food event where they would be serving Indian Goodies (typically snack items) and all of them vegetarian. I hadn’t tried out the Itaewon Branch earlier and after acquiring some knowledge on the items that would be available, I was quite keyed up.

Since we wanted to make sure that we had enough space in our stomach, a meagre lunch was ensured while we waited for the clock to strike 7 PM, our departure time. We all congregated at the bus stop and off we were on our way.

The Chakraa Restaurant is located in one of the back alleys running parallel to the Itaewon Main road. If you have Hamilton Hotel on your left you would go a bit forward and turn left to hit a T crossing. There you would turn right and immediately you would find the entrance and the stairs leading to the destination in the First Floor.

The owner is an Indian Christian from Kerala, and I knew him from before since he is also involved in arranging accommodations for Indians in Seoul (with a food supply deal). I went up to him and when I greeted him, I am not sure whether he was all that pleased. Maybe he didn’t like my face or perhaps something else was bothering him. I could not care less.

Let me elaborate on what was on store for the evening. The list ran as follows:

Spicy Cocktail Idlis (Steamed spheres of fermented rice and lentil)
Gol Gappa (Small Crispy Fried Hollow Wheat Flour Balls meagerly stuffed with a spicy concoction of mashed/pieces of boiled potato along with optional accompaniments, finally dipped in tamarind water and served)
Bhel Puri (Spicy Mixture of Puffed rice, tamarind/tomato sauce, Indian mixtures, onions, boiled potatoes, etc)
Chat Papdi (Cocktail size crispy flat fried wheat flour pancakes with assorted toppings of boiled grams, Boiled potato pieces, tomatoes, coriander, whipped yoghurt and a sweet tangy tamarind based sauce)
Samosas (Fried stuffing’s of potato mix in wheat flour and shaped like a triangle)
Pav Bhajji – (Toasted Buns soaked with dollops of butter accompanied with a spicy pan fried mixture of Tomatoes, Potatoes, Onions and whatever else you could lay your hand on)
Punjabi Dal (thick lentil soup)
Roti (Elementary Indian Bread)
Chole (Spicy Gram Curry)
Badam Kheer (Supposed to be thickened milk with Kesar, saffron and almonds)

I along with a couple of others sat down with a bottle of Hite Beer (I somehow like the mild Korean Beers) while the others sequentially attacked the counter for the initial fillings and refillings. It was a buffet and you could consume as much without the owner getting too upset about it!!!

I took some Idlis as accompaniment with the beer and they were not too bad, though I missed the rulebook accompaniment of the chutney(a coconut based sauce). The Gol Gappas were not up to the mark, which meant that the filling was not tasty and the tamarind water was not tangy. For me it was a terrible let down, since I am used to extremely well done Gol Gappas back home.

The Bhel Puri and Chat Papdi were manageable. We were enjoying all this not because of the taste, but more so due to the fact that we don’t get to eat all these out here regularly. Chakraa knew our emotions so well and was taking advantage of the same.

The Chole was the best they produced and stood out amongst the others. I avoided the Dal and I did some sampling of the Badam Kheer at the end and I found it to be diluted rubbish.

We had spent nearly two hours there and on our way back I was thinking about the time spent. It was good as we relaxed and all of us joked and laughed and had a good time. The verdict on the food consumed was 2.5 out of 10 and I am sorry if you have a different opinion. As far as I am concerned, this was my last visit to Chakraa unless due to compelling circumstances beyond my control. Best of luck to you, if you venture that way!!

You might like to read : http://seouldays.blogspot.com/2006/02/indian-restaurants-in-seoul.html Sphere: Related Content

The Window

Every evening I return home and after I have dinner I do go to the Net for a while and then comes the time for “lights off”. My pad in Mapo has a very large window and I have placed my bed just beside it. That way my room looks more spacious and I do like that extra space. But that was not the main objective in the first place. I placed the bed next to the window since I am extremely fond of the view and I wanted to enjoy the same lazing on my bed, irrespective of time and day.

In the morning I can see the distant cluster of high-rise buildings and the Han River quietly flowing beside. As slowly as I sip my hot cup of tea, in a similar pace I can watch the main road 23 floors below coming to life. Traffic increasing in arithmetic progression to begin with and later converting to geometric progression. All kinds of shapes and sizes coming out of their homes in coloured jackets and overcoats (the men are in the same mundane colours of black and browns) and either taking a bus or a cab. I am still drinking my tea and I look up to see the play of lights of the rising sun as yet another day unfolds for me. I try to hold on to time but the sun would not listen. It jump out from behind those Chaebol High Rises. I can still look straight at the golden yellow blob with my eyes, but it just takes seconds before I bow down to the nature’s might.

There are some weekend days when I stay put the whole day in my pad and I keep watching the scenes and sceneries change throughout the course of the day. In spite of the heavy traffic on the roads below, my pad is quite insulated from the sounds of the vehicles zooming by. The hue of the red sun about to set during dusk and concrete structures representing the mood is a sight I seem to enjoy. It’s time for a coffee, since I don’t consume alcohol all alone due to unknown and unexplainable vague logic of my own.

The coffee in one hand, the latest Ludlum in my other, I seem to be enjoying the moment and then suddenly, as if two parts of the same coin, it’s a completely dark sky. But Seoul nightlife is just about waking up. The neons are up bright and jazzy, the giant TV screens are taking us all over the world courtesy Korean Air, and people down are all rushing to fill the restaurants. Perhaps Seoul and Tokyo will win hands down over any other City when comparing the density of restaurants in a defined area.

The moon is up and when it rises the size is quite big but slowly over time it settles down to the size we are used to. It’s bright and the stars are overshadowed by the luminance. The moon is good for me, because it’s connected by name and soul to my beloved. Some might say that I am getting romantic, but I ask, why don’t you? On the new moon day however its pitch dark, and late at night while lying on the bed I can see almost all the stars in clear Seoul sky.

When was the last time you paused in life and looked up at the sky and felt so humble? I look up and realize that I am just a tiny speck of dust particle compared to this whole universe. The whole day, perhaps we have spent time on our mundane stuff of laughter, sadness, pathos, confidence, over confidence, jokes, ridicule, control, power et al. That clear sky levels me up and is my mirror to find out the real me. In this land, far away from home, the sky and the stars help me to be in touch with my near and dear ones back home. My energy travels through mind radio waves way up there to meet up with my close ones. And with those who have left this earth too.

I lie on my bed, and while I unknowingly travel towards sleep, I am sure the stars above would be witness to the light smile of my face and while they keep guard the whole night, they would handover their thoughts to the morning sun to fill me up with all the energy to do good to others around me. Sphere: Related Content

Shivers Up my Spine

Do you get these shivers? I do and in different situations and circumstances. I don’t remember the first time I got one but I do remember some of the situations.

My father had to tour quite a lot and we were based in a place named Siliguri somewhere near Darjeeling in the eastern parts of India. Sometimes we used to accompany him especially on certain visits where we would visit dense forests and we had to spend a night or two in the forest rest houses. The charm was in the quietness, the dense forest, the birds chirping and the constant hum of the jungle insects. The days would normally be different from the nights in terms of sounds, colour and ambience.

I remember visiting a place called Chapramari where you had this wooden two-storey structure and we reached there late in the afternoon. The sun was slowly going down and there was an unexplainable expectancy in our mind on what’s in store in the night. The forest rest house was surrounded from all sides by a moat, so that wild animals couldn’t come in. I was not sure how that would stop tigers or leopards. It was about 7 PM when in the still of the night we were all having a cup of tea in the balcony. There were one or two oil lamps (no electricity out there) and that was all the light available. Suddenly my sister noticed a pair of glowing eyes at a distance of about 30 meters that I estimate was about the border of the moat. We quietly came into our room and from the window kept watching with terrifying eyes. The pair of eyes kept moving and we kept following them from one window of our room to another. I was petrified but kept watching in awe and later the eyes disappeared, not without some growls. Next day morning we found out that a tiger had taken away a cow from the caretaker’s home located in the same campus.

That was an event I still remember and recount many a times. But I do get shivers when I listen to some good music irrespective of language or nationality or type. I get shivers when Ian Anderson plays the flute. I get shivers when I hear a perfect tune played by Shiv Kumar Sharma on the Santoor. I also get shivers when I hear John Lennon’s Woman. It’s futile to recount all of them since there are so many of them. Perhaps I will talk about the Music I like sometime later.

I get shivers when I watch movies too. Like I was very excited when I first watched Sonar Kella (The Golden Fort) by Satyajit Ray, especially the sequence in the train in the dim blue light. I remember Roman Holiday and some scenes there. One movie that I have watched a number of times is Operation Daybreak and certain tense moments in the movie still give me the shivers.

Standing in front of a see, watching the raw energy crashing in the form of waves on the shore gives me the shivers. On a clear morning, watching the reflection of the array of colors from a snow-clad peak during sunrise gives me the shivers. Dark Clouds followed with heavy rains with me somewhere in the countryside watching the expanse gives me the shivers.

My shivers emanate when somehow I feel emotionally attached with the cause. Its not terror that is exemplified, rather its the emotion throwing my blood flow into turmoil. The best part is that they give me a sense of satisfaction and purpose. That’s the way I am, I don’t know about you. Sphere: Related Content

T or D?

The Korean language is unique in its own way. I would not get into too much history since enough information would be available on the net and that too knowledge shared by experts. I am definitely not own of them but that does not take away my right to talk about something.

Pronouncing my name is a disaster for most Koreans. They just cannot seem to start off where the word starts with an “R”. So my name Ravi is a funny mix of L and “apology of an R”. I can tell you that no matter how many times you correct them, that’s what will be blurted out. However, when an R comes in later in the word, life is much easier and the correct sound emanates from the mouth. Have you ever found them having difficulty in saying “KOREA”?

Lets talk about the other confusions. Jongno or Chongno? Kwanghamun or Gwanghamun? Tongdaemun or Dongdaemun? Again for example, The D should be as in “PEDRO” or as in “DOOR The Spanish might say, what’s the difference but that’s another story.

Busan or Pusan? I can bet whatever you pronounce; your Korean friend would find it funny. He’s not joking, since it’s neither.

I hailed a cab one morning, and when the cabbie enquired about my destination, I blurted out “Insa-Dong”.

He said “HUH”. So injected some softener in the D and made it lighter as the Spanish would do and uttered the same word. Insaa – “d” ong. What a relief on his face and off we went!!!

I have kind of got used to all this, and nowadays when they call me “LLLLRRRLLLLRRRRAAAVI” I seem to find this absolutely normal!!! So would you!!! Sphere: Related Content

Dongdaemun Stadium Flea Market

Though some of us had visited this market earlier, I was keen to have a look myself. Shopping was not on the agenda and therefore the mind and wallet was free from commitments!! So last Sunday we took Line 5 and exited from the station. On one side of the road are the Shopping Plazas like Doota, Hello APM, Migliore, etc while on the other side was this small stadium now converted into makeshift shops and car park.

Inside there are about 5 semi circular rows of shops running parallel to each other. The shops in the beginning were mostly clothes, used, factory seconds and new too. Shoes, Trousers, Jackets, Socks, Shirts, Belts, Scarves: anything to do with attire was available there. You needed to bargain quite a bit and if you are willing to spend some time, a good deal surely could be possible.

Clothes were just the icing on the cake as we went along. We came across, Cameras, camera lenses, tripods, DVD players, speakers, music systems, and musical instruments. There were furniture shops, antique joints, old Long Playing records, and even sex toys!!!!

Jackets were available for 5 dollars or so. You just needed to be careful and there’s a deal in your hand. We took almost two hours and we still could not cover everything. Used mobiles at 20 dollars, trousers at dollars, etc: the temptations are extremely high. These guys close at 6.30 or so and after that its Soju time for them!!

So next day when you are slightly free, why don’t you pay a visit? You never know, what’s in store!! Sphere: Related Content

Queries Galore!!

Research is in full swing over the type of questions children ask and the reasons behind them. Often, even adults ask questions that fellow adults term as “childish”. Research also informs us about the child in the adult and so on and so forth. I have a few questions too but I don’t know who is the right person to answer them. The ‘right” here is very important, since some of them could be quite touchy and could perhaps require a bit of knowledge, maturity, understanding and sincerity. The four values that I do not find too much in spite of the so-called information revolution.

But I started this write-up with the simple thought of asking some questions and some of them could be pretty childish. However, that is for you to decide and reflect. My job currently is raising them as randomly as they are generated in my mind.

Like, I wonder about the requirement of a priest to reach God (whatever super-power I believe in) when I visit a temple.

Like, why do two guys in a minimum group of three speak in their own language leaving the third person (or more) at sea.

Like, why do most Indians have so much difficulty in accepting food habits of other nationalities or even from other provinces in their own country.

Like, why do Koreans or even Japanese have books or poster headlines in English.

Like why in Korea, unlike Japan, people just barge into the subway trains before the passengers from the train have disembarked.

Like, why there is so much similarity between drivers in Seoul Buses and the ones in Delhi. They seem to always take the passengers through a roll.

Like, why some Hindu Gods permit non-vegetarian while others do not. How did society make such rules?

Like, why does the Koran talk about men having more than one wife (I am not sure whether Koran teaches this or it's Muslim ritualistic behaviour).

Like, why when Gods are same and the all supposed paths lead to a single Final destination, we have different post-death disposal methodologies?

Like, why a bigger chunk of jokes are pornographic in nature and that too about the anatomy and more so the female one.

Like, why do Indian men still tolerate, and absolve themselves from, the crime of accepting dowry during marriage.

Like, why most friends are not friends but mere acquaintances.

Like, why most of us preach something to our children, but between you and me practice something else.

Like, why are we so impatient in a queue, and try and look for opportunities for an advantage, giving a damn to the other people who are waiting.

Like why countless people n India have double standards in terms of consuming food/liquor at home and outside.

Like, why we do perform rituals without logic and understanding.

Like, why the professional method of division of the Vedic ages, have turned into the cruel caste system of “modern” times for us Hindus?

Like, why I cannot question a non-Hindu regarding the various divisions they have in their own religions when they ask me the previous question.

Like, why Murphy’s Laws are proven right again and again.

Like, why am I asking these questions {there are more), since I am quite sure of not getting answers. Sphere: Related Content

Food and Us!!!

My friends from India have a hard time negotiating their way through a menu in most of the restaurants in Seoul. The most difficult part is trying to explain to the waiter/waitress on the banned ingredients. I somehow derive this perverse pleasure of watching the proceedings. The word perverse may offend some of you; but over the years my genuine awe has now turned into this vicarious pleasure.

I remember way back when I was working in Hyderabad (a South Indian City), a colleague of mine exclaimed on my consumption of fish almost daily. Now I am a Bengali (hail from Bengal, Eastern India) and after all, fish is on our blood. I retorted by saying that, the same way you can’t do without having yoghurt with rice at every meal accompanied by the slurping sound. That was the end of discussion and later I got addicted to yoghurt rice with pickles too.

Once in Tokyo, we were at the Office Cafeteria during lunch and this colleague of ours came and sat down in front of us with a couple of eggs. Like normal he tapped the eggs on the table to peel the shell and instead what came out was the gooey stuff. It was a royal mess all over and he was thoroughly embarrassed. He was unaware of the fact that they were fresh eggs!!

Another day, we had tempura being served. A colleague of mine picked up some and commented on the toughness of the stuff inside the fried batter. She almost choked to death, when I casually asked her about her liking for octopus!! The same lady one day brought some cooked fish for lunch. I took one piece gratuitously and could not proceed further when I realized that the scales were intact and the fish was not cooked. I can digest Sushi where fresh fish is used, but not a fish curry with bonus scales.

Here we have convinced some vegetarian colleagues that if there’s one dish that they could try out in restaurants it could be the Bibimbaap (baap meaning rice). As some of you would know it’s served in bowl where you mix rice, some vegetables, a fried egg, some tomato based hot chilly paste and some herbs. You mix them up and consume.

Now the complications start when we remember our religious and social obligations. For example, I have these friends who happily eat non-vegetarian out at restaurants but at home it would be a different story. There are gradations in the items that could classify as veg or Non-Veg. I have a simpler definition for myself and shall come to that later. Some consider garlic and onions as “Not Veg” for some weird reason. Like they are underground items. Potatoes however pass the test and there are no reasons for the same. In Kolkata, I had these Marwari friends who would happily leave their religion at home and consume beef Rolls with me at Nizams.

Food and fasting are a favourite pastime for Indians. Some fast on Tuesdays, some on Saturdays and some on both. Some fast on Friday too. I consider fasting on Friday and Saturday anti-social, since you can’t call friends home and offer them nothing and nor can you visit others and put them in an awkward situation. Now this fasting is also a matter of degree and I someday would like to have a discussion with God on what exactly did he prescribe for the good of the Hindus. Fasting means: abstaining from food of any kind. For some, fasting means nothing at all including water. For some, they have water and these days beverages like tea or coffee too. For some fasting would allow them to consume yoghurt, fruits, juice, etc. On questioning, they explain that fasting means abstaining from Complex Carbohydrates like Rice or Wheat. God can give our nutritionists a run for their money in theories and concepts. For me, I fast everyday. My fasting starts as soon as I end breakfast and then continues till lunch. I am quite pleased this way and not sure why the Almighty won’t be too!!

I started off with ordering in restaurants and I think drifted away to all sorts of directions. Coming back to the same, it’s interesting to watch how my friends try to change the menu-listed dish to something else. Oh, this happens everywhere and not just here.

For example, say you have ordered a Chinese Sweet Corn Soup and as soon as it is served my friend will put in four teaspoons of extra soy sauce, two spoons of chilly vinegar, some pepper and some salt. He has a rule that all the extras on the table “must” be added to the dish served. The chef in the meantime is perhaps trying to redefine the recipe (these are the days of customer delight you see) or perhaps being already transported to the nearest ICU due to a cardiac attack!!

Or say, on the menu you have Mixed Fried Rice and my friend starts off. No pork and meat please. What about chicken and egg? Lets avoid that. Oh I forgot, no peas please and no carrots too. By the way, no mushrooms either. I am now absolutely bewildered, embarassed and now having cramps in my brain.

Spicy and Hotness is one confusing item in the agenda for me. If less spicy means less chillies, then me and you are not in the same wavelength!!!!

ADIEU!!! Sphere: Related Content

Streets of Seoul : Desire of the Culinary Kind

Compared to most other Indian colleagues and friends in Seoul I seem to be quite eager to experiment around with food. I will restrain myself from writing about why they are not. I would rather focus on my experiences. Somewhere I find a lot of similarities between India and Korea when I look at the range of foodstuff available on Seoul Streets.

Tempuras are very popular here and they make them out of anything. For the uninitiated a Tempura could be compared to the Indian Pakora. Its basically a batter fried anything. The batter is a mix of flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt. The tempura owes its crispiness and colour to this mix when fried. The most popular tempuras on the streets are the ones made of sweet potatoes, brinjals ((aubergine), potatoes, shrimps, boiled eggs and octopus.

Fruits especially Pineapple pieces conveniently installed on a stick is quite popular. Another popular item are the rice cakes. There are quite a lot of variations with different fillings of bean paste or fruit jams. You would also find rice cakes cut into pieces mixes with hot chill sauce and people loving it.

I am sure you would have noticed the different varieties of meats barbecued and available all over. While they look delicious, they actually are.

Then you would find those fellows selling peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts and other sago (rawa or suji) based items either salted or sweet. You also find sweets made of puffed rice (murmura) and sugar syrup.

In Singil station, there is this biscuit vendor selling at least 20-30 types of biscuits and cookies. You would find them elsewhere too.

Typically Korean, the dried Octopus and Squids are very popular as a snack. I have seen the local kids freaking out on them. I have tried them too, and they are not too bad!! They are a good exercise for the gums.

Another extremely Korean specialty, are the boiled silk worms. I had the courage of trying them once after three or four shots of Soju and they were cool. I dare you to try them.

Have you seen those small carts selling fish shaped sweet patties with bean curd filling? They are quite good and the best part for me is that they are not too sweet. My favourite one sits very near Gondeok Station Exit 3.

If you like oysters, you could visit the small street behind Seoul Cinema in Jongno 3 ga. The street is known as Oyster Street and you would find anything to do with them.

The standard popcorns are quite good, but I like the ones available just outside Mapo station.

Fish cakes are a standard item and especially on a cold evening, boiled fish cakes in soup could warm you up. There is more stuff available all over but perhaps I will stop here. If you are a vegetarian that you have reached this point in piece is itself an achievement. I promise to look out for more vegetarian stuff, but till such time if you are mind allow you, the goodies around are waiting for you! Sphere: Related Content

Movies and Seoul : A very brief Guide

Movies are good for me, especially on a day when I have nothing better to do. I don’t mind watching movies alone in a theatre, unlike many others. After all, I would rather concentrate on the screen rather what’s going on beside me. I came to watch the movie, you see.

So when I first visited the KNTO website for a primer on movie theatres in Seoul, I was guided on to quite a few of them. The only problem was that most (almost all) of the sites were in Korean. Then I chanced upon the The Seoul Selection magazine and gained some first hand knowledge. In Seoul there are a plethora of multiplexes. I have visited most of them and my ratings are as follows:

The CGVs in Yongsan, World Cup Stadium, Incheon, Myongdong
Megabox in Coex
Seoul Cinema in Jongno-3ga
Dansungsa in Jongno-3ga
Piccadilly in Jongno-3ga
Lotte Cinema and Primus in Youngdeungpo Crossing

There are others in and around but these are the ones I have been to. I have rated the CGVs as the best of the lot as they are new, modern, and technically good. But between you and me I prefer going to Jongno-3ga because of two simple reasons: CHOICE.and AVAILABILITY.

I hardly ever get around to do advance planning for movies and that’s the reason I land up there. The same movie being shown in three halls in the vicinity ensures me a definite entry. So while I get the full coverage of all the movies in town, the availability of seats in some theatre or the other just builds on my reasoning.

I have been thinking about now venturing into watching some Korean movies too. They tell me that the best place would be in the Seoul Selection complex near Anguk where they have special screenings. The other is Cine Cube opposite the Seoul Museum of Art History near Gwanghamun Station Exit 6.

Besides all this, there are these Movie Clubs and you could find more details if you pick up the K-Scene available in any tourist joint or even on the web. Most of the theatres have their own websites. Though they are in Korean you could easily surf your way through. You could also check out The Korea Times website's movie section.

Its Movie Time Folks!! Sphere: Related Content

An old friend in MAPO!!!

We have a mini super market in Han-Hwa Obelisk, the apartment building where I stay in. While the shop assistants’ faces have become quite familiar there are other faces too who I bump into once in a while. Nowadays some of them smile, and particularly one old man is quite a regular. Most often not I just see him buying a packet of milk and walk off. On odd days I see him paying a visit to the laundry too located just beside.

It was a Friday evening and I after returning back from office as usual landed up at the basement store for some sundries. He was there and he smiled and I was just behind him at the cash counter when he said hello. I returned the gesture and while we exchanged pleasantries, it transpired that he was staying just one floor above me and he has been here for almost a year. He invited me for a cup of tea and I readily accepted. The possibility of knowing somewhat more about Korea and Koreans goaded my instinct.

I had taken his permission to first change and then go up to his room. Since it was just a floor above I walked up the stairs instead of the elevator and found the relevant room number. The door was wide open and I was greeted right at the entrance. I opened my pair of sandals at the entry point and put on the pair of home slipper, as you would do in any Korean Home. The pad was an extended office cum sitting room with a kitchen enclosure and a bedroom, compact and well equipped as any such apartment is.

While I sat down on the sofa I scanned through the room, which had lot of plants, bookracks and a functional office table and chair with all the relevant modern office equipment. The view from his window was gorgeous. The Han River flowing by and the shimmering reflection of the Mapo Bridge lights on the flowing water was a view not to miss.

As we spoke I came to know that he was an exporter dealing in environmental engineering goods. He was a well-traveled man, having customers in most corners of the world. He was proud of his business and admitted to have made quite a bit of fortune and continuing to do so. He even mentioned that most of his money was stacked away in a couple of American Banks in the USA.

He had brewed some tea and offered me some in delectable pottery while we talked about a range of subjects. They ranged from Korea’s rapid development to his eating habits. He said that he never drove a car in his life and would never own one too. I did not want to enquire about his family, because somehow my mind prevented me from doing so. But then he opened up.

There was a family, a wife and three children, separated from him. He said he did not even keep in touch with his children lest his wife finds a route of communicating with him. They were divorced, due to some differences (I did not venture into details), and now here he was a man of about 65, living all alone and still going great guns. He normally had breakfast in the opposite Holiday Inn and that helped him through to dinner. He had some fruits late in the evening post dinner. He meditates for about 2-3 hours a day and is a regular to the local Buddhist monastery. He does not drink, nor smoke, nor was he ever interested in high society clichéd entertainment.

So what does the future hold for him? He mentioned that he has made enough for him to see through the rest of his life. He was planning to sponsor daily meals for 5000 homeless old people, starting next month and that would continue till he lives. The balance money has been bequeathed to charity for financing old homes. All he wanted now to concentrate was on making more money and give it back to the society he belongs to.

Somehow I felt very small that day. Sphere: Related Content

What's in a name?

The definition of “NAME” as given in a reputed dictionary is as follows:

“A word or words by which an entity is designated and distinguished from others.”

The definition above just about communicates the meaning in a very matter of fact manner. It however fails to convey the emotions and the aura behind the word. Going forward I just want to jot down some thoughts on the issue in discussion.

If there is one thing we are extremely conscious about ourselves, our name would be a very tough contender for the position. The preparations that go on when a baby is born (I did not use the word new baby since you don’t have old babies coming out of the mother’s womb) or about to be born is quite elaborate. Irrespective of religion or background, giving the child a name is a very special kind of thing. Some fix names based on their parents, grand parents, locale, Gods, place of birth, family trees and a host of other reasons. Some of our names have meanings and for some there could be none. A whole lot of them could be traced back to mythology or religious characters that may or may not mean anything.

My name is a long one where my Mom had decided on Ravi (meaning Sun in Sanskrit). My father had thought about Shankar (Shiva the Hindu God is also known as Shankar). So to keep marital truce they joined it to make it Ravishankar and I grew up (I am a Bengali – to clarify read up one my earlier posts) with quite a unique identification only to realize that the same name is extremely common among the South based Indians!!! My last name/family name/sir name is Sarkar meaning “Government” in Prakrit – the spoken language of ancient times in India. Don’t even dare to ask me the reason behind the “Sarkar” background, as I fail to understand the link between the name and groups of people who once inhabited the riverside in the eastern part of now Bangladesh, earlier undivided India.

Now in India typically you would have a first name and a last name (family name) and your descendants would continue to use the family name till time immemorial. As much as I would like all this to be simple, in reality it isn’t. In the southern part of India especially in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala the convention is quite different. Lets say the name of the father is Tom Jones; assuming Tom’s the name while Jones is the last name/ family name. He has a son and his name say is Bill. In this situation the name of the son is Jones Bill, and that’s the way it’s going to go down the line. In case of women, while in the North we follow the same convention of taking up the husband’s last name (exceptions prove the rule) as do people from the Occident, in the South the father’s name is substituted by the husband’s.

Now I don’t want to delve in matriarchic societies and the rules but let me talk about something else.

The name is the most important possession I have since no matter what, that’s one thing you would not be able to take away from me unless I wish it to be so. Statistics show that in your lifetime, the maximum you would have written a word is nothing but your name. Then while you tried to evolve your signature, your consumption of ink and paper if added up could be a potential source of self-embarrassment.

The other funny one is how people address you. The Title of Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms notwithstanding, normally people would address me as Mr. Sarkar and when perhaps they know me slightly better - Ravi. Of course if the Occident influences you again you would straight get down to a first name basis. However some nitwits would insist calling me as Mr. Ravi and that’s when it really tickles my brain to send violent spasms to not only the mind but also my limbs. Why can’t people get this right? You better!!!! Sphere: Related Content

Why do I take so long in the Super Market?

Over the years I have been to quite a few super markets and more so nowadays to do my weekly shopping of groceries and what have you. Every Friday evening or Saturday perhaps, we troop down to the supermarkets be it Emart, Carrefour or Lotte depending upon the group mood swings.

However to give you a better picture, let me start from the beginning. When we came to Seoul first we were in the exploration mode. So week after week we were visiting different stores to figure out who sells the cheapest potatoes or peas or milk or clothes! The end of the month economics however showed that all the profits we had made were offset by the transportation costs we had incurred trying to scurry from one store to another. So finally sanity prevailed and we now go to the stores next door and thank you no more experimentations please.

But, that’s not the end of this story. I have other quirks of mine that I would like to share. Like, I am confused in front of the milk counter. The reasons could be any of the following:

1. Should I pickup the green tetrapak or the blue one?
2. The labels are all in Korean, but you could make out the content percentages of fat, calories etc. However, this confuses me further?
3. Price performance ratio. I am not even sure of the methodology for this calculation and the one, which is applicable to me.
4. Taste, but then I need to try 50 brands and by the time I am done with, I would have forgotten my baseline.

I face a similar dilemma in front of the egg counter. Do you? But my friends have a simple solution. They follow the extremely simple method of price to volume/weight ratio. Though I am not sure of this approach over time I have subjected myself to this incompetent way of purchase.

Then one day I had to shift residence due to some reasons as explained in one of my previous pieces. In the new pad, the drinking water filter was defective and I decided of not taking the risk of consuming the normal tap water where you get free harmful bacteria along with other invisible bonus dirt. So I went to check out the bottled water stuff. I tried to pick up pointers from my milk and egg expeditions but they all turned out to be non productive. Even the ingredients are all in zeroes, in the sense zero fat, zero cal, zero this and zero that. Have you ever tasted water with lots of fat in them? Am I missing something? Then there are processed water and mineral water. They tell me that mineral water is from the springs. Pure natural water from the mountains is what they print. Possibly it has a fair share of Mountain Wild Bore excretions!!

Juice counter. Tomato juice or Pineapple? Should I buy a pack of three (its cheaper), but I do not like the third one – carrot juice!!! Almond cornflakes, bran flakes, wheat flakes or muesli? Which one is going to serve as the elixir for my life?
I could carry on and on. But then, probably you wouldn’t. I rest my case. Sphere: Related Content

Planning for the Weekend

The working week for us consists of five full days like most of you. Saturday and Sunday are well deserved breaks and its time to do “something: especially since you are in a foreign country. Come Thursday and people start asking me for weekend ideas. Now that’s not a coveted job since satisfying every member of a group is not easy, or perhaps completely possible. In that sense, I am not sure whether it’s a job in the first place, when you deal with so many independent minds. Nevertheless, I keep getting the questions and therefore I am not giving it up. To be honest with you, I like it too. Also, I am not the only one generating ideas out here.

So lets get into the dynamics of working out the weekend plans. Now as it exists in the commercial arena, here too you would find the demand, supply and customer satisfaction related issues. So what could be the possibilities? The official list could be as follows:

a) Museums
b) Nature Parks
c) Historical Sites
d) Amusement Parks
e) Party
f) Shopping :
1) Window
2) Groceries
3) Discount Sale
g) Other Tourist Oriented Places
h) Sports

There could be more, but I shall stop here. Now in the above list the most popular category is, and you will perhaps guess it right, going shopping.

Its so interesting to make plans for shopping, because that’s what we like most, whether the final purchase is done or not. So you need to be on the look out for “Sale announcements”, flea market schedules, newspaper published events, etc. The Museums and Palaces have no takers. Since we are deficient in knowledge about our own culture, why bother with the Koreans!! And parks are not in our nature!

Parties are a good idea and we regularly seem to have them. The regular word can be explained as “once in a blue moon”. The enterprising ones went for skiing and some go for bowling. Some even go for Pool at the bars and try to use the cue. But I could promise you that playing Pool is definitely not the end objective for them, and their mind would be cued onto other more interesting ventures!!

The other interesting stuff that we do during the weekends that I have not listed above have been mentioned below since my mind says that I should, because they too are equally important weekend leisure activities:

a) Ironing Clothes
b) Washing
c) Cleaning (This is applicable for most, but some say, “why bother”)
d) Sleeping Late
e) Cooking for the week so that leftovers can be taken for lunch to office.
f) Say you are not hungry at the appropriate times so that you don’t have to cook, only to visit the kitchen later to figure out what’s left.
g) Sleep Again
h) Surf the Net and watch pirated Indian Movies illegally.

I will stop here since I have matched the “number” of items in this list with the previous one and I could promise you that the second list can be bigger.

So perhaps now you would understand the reason behind me liking the perhaps not so coveted job of planning for a weekend. If not, perhaps I could explain to you that most often then not I don’t have to and even if I do, who cares a damn!!!! Sphere: Related Content

The Slice of Life!!!

I love Pizza, in whatever form and toppings. So when I have to order a Pizza I am rather confused. I want all the cheese, all the toppings, all the herbs and everything else. And I always want that extra one packet of chilly sauce no matter how many you gave me in the first place!!

In Seoul there are a lot of Pizza Huts and Mr. Pizza’s. The latter is branded for the ladies and I am not sure of the reason. Perhaps its written in Korean but I have not dared to find out so far. However in Seoul I have had Pizzas but most often then not, there has been no occasion for me to get confused. My colleagues from India, most of them, are vegetarians and so while we go through the ritual of looking up the menu from head to tail, finally we land up with a vegetarian pizza with no mushrooms, no olives (I did not know they were living things, leaving aside the theory of plants being live and all that) and no “what-have-you” depending upon the people involved.

So when we order for the Pizza it comes in a box divided into separate slices by the roller knives. Let me be honest in saying that the pieces are never equal nor are the toppings equitably distributed. So, this group of 3 or 4 people pounces upon a pizza with their might, and their picks would always have more mozzarella then mine!!! Then we get into some mental pizza math. Oh No! He should not pick up another one; he’s already consumed three!!

The last two pizzas slices on the table, is my most trying moment. The probability of getting another piece proportionally diminishes depending upon the size of the group. Not just size perhaps but also what’s playing in their mind. Now, out of those two slices, one will be invariably smaller than the other. I am just about to pick the bigger one, and then somebody says, “Ravi, Could you keep that one for me. I like capsicum and there’s a lot of it on that one!!!” Sphere: Related Content

The Best of the World

Over the years we would have encountered many different people from all walks of life. They could be colleagues, fellow mates, relations and any other category you can think of and in different environments and in different times. But among them, some stand out in my mind due to a special ability they possess.

Once in school, and I was a tot at that point of time, somebody said that the bus journey from home to school was very exciting. Immediately, there was a retort from somebody that, “ Oh come on. I come in a chauffeur driven car”.

In college one day we were discussing about how many pieces of chicken could you eat. Lets say my reply was ten. There would be somebody always around to claim that if you hadn’t had twenty - Well.....

Or say, you are discussing how you enjoyed your last trip to the mountains. I exclaimed about the breathtaking views from Darjeeling. There would be somebody who would talk about the Alps in Switzerland and I would think whether my life so far was worth it!!

In another occasion, say we are discussing about the Fireworks in Seoul. There would be this guy, who would explain to you how the show in Singapore is so much better, that you have actually wasted your time.

I can pick up so many examples of how every time no matter what you did, the other guy would have claimed to be one up on you. These guys have to prove somehow that they have done better than you.

I have now since figured out, that you would do well, if you take such stuff with a pinch of salt and a dash of smirk. After all, variety is the spice of life!!! Sphere: Related Content

Why India is Indo in Korea?

I hailed a cab today morning while on my way from Jongno Tower to Citicorp Center. I said to the cabbie – “Chik Chin” (straight ahead) and off he went. He asked me in Korean as to where do I belong to, and I told him, “Korean Obso”(meaning no Korean). He repeated his question in English. “Where are you from?”

I answered, “India”. He nodded his head and I felt that he did not understand. So I said, “Indo”. Now I saw the gleam in his eyes and he exclaimed, “Oh Indo! Mahatma Gandhi?” I could not agree more.

I sometimes wonder as to what caused India to become Indo. One possibility could be because of the eternal mistake Christopher Columbus did when he reached North America. What made him think that this was India when he met up with the Red Faced natives!! Now because of the Big Brother influence, they refer to us as Indo. Instead, have you ever heard of a Red-Indo!!!

The other reasoning could be because of our international ties and the nomenclature used. Indo-China, Indo-Pak, Indo-French, Indo-what have you. So that’s what you see in the newspapers and hence my supposition.

Do you have any other reason? I would be keen to know.

For that matter, do you know why a Vegetable Soup in Seoul will fetch you some bonus fish too? I have this Korean Colleague who declared that she is Vegetarian. But then in the restaurant she picked up some seafood too!!

I could carry on with some other questions I have. But I would be dimwitted, if you suddenly ask me the reason for onions and garlic being considered as Non-Vegetarian by some Indos!! Sphere: Related Content

The Snow, the Weather - and Me in Seoul

For a common Indian like me, born and brought up mostly in the plains, snowfalls have always fascinated me since childhood. When I saw movies, documentaries and television – I always wanted to experience the same. So when destiny desired that I be in Seoul, secretly I itched for the first snowfall of the season. That happened on a cold December Saturday.

In the morning it was bright and sunny and we had headed for Suwon, an hour from Seoul, to enhance our tourism knowledge. Perhaps I will cover our Suwon visit in a separate entry. The weatherman had predicted that it would start snowing in the evening that day and truly it did as predicted. I was in the train with some friends returning and we all gazed out of the train window and you should have been there to see the awe in our eyes. I reached home and remember calling home to give them the news and also tried to share the images on my web-cam, which of course did not turn out well.

I went down, well covered, and ventured out into the open. I wanted to feel the touch of the minute flakes come and rest on my coverings and felt them with my hands. The tiny flakes were covering the path and each footstep of mine while making their mark was disappearing in a short while. Then the fall turned heavy and I angled for Dunkin Doughnuts for a coffee and a doughnut. I decided to take some pictures of the snow clad “everything”, next day morning. Next day, I walked out of my pad and I could see a new white Seoul. I reached office and saw the beautiful park in front of our building turned white. The leaves, the grass, the paths and everything else were covered with thick snow. . And then I cursed, since I had forgotten to get my camera along!!!

After that first experience, the snow and the camera coming together has eluded me for quite a while and finally I did manage some pictures a few days back which I am yet to develop, You see, I am still old fashioned and continue to use my film camera.

I have of course been a regular weather forecast follower in terms of clothing or accessories like umbrella, etc. Most often then not the forecasts seem to be cool, other than some disasters here and there.

Take for example, the weather today. The forecast had warned about some mild showers and that's about all. Instead lets take account of the facts. Since morning we have seen snow, a bit of rain, the sun, heavy winds, dark clouds and a clear sky. Nothing can be more confusing then that. Would you still envy the weatherman’s job? Sphere: Related Content

Losing to Win

Wedensday was a holiday. As planned myself, Sunil, Manoj, Anup, Bindu, Vikas, Praggya and Baby along with the kids trooped down to COEX on a cold windy afternoon. The destination was the casino. The men were taking this seriously and in their minds and had decided their own budgets. The ladies I guess though were somewhat interested, but were more giving into the whims of the stupid men.

As each individual sat down in front of their respective machines, the conflict between Devil and God just started. The glee on the faces on a win while the circumspect face on a loss situation was there for anybody to see. The hope that the loss would be made up in the next deal kept kicking the player to carry on and on. Why can't I do it when that lady on the slot machine behind me is listening to the sweet music of coins being churned out of the machine. On the other hand thats exactly the emotion on the basis of which the casino owner is laughing all his way to the bank. How do I suck these suckers!!

Our women came up to the tables and machines for some time to experience the fun and I sensed the relief when they lost and then won to be even. That was the end, They had other things to worry about and I am not complaining.

Now coming back to the men, the Devil did take over for some time and while I write this in the Internet Corner, they are still at it.

I came here to lose and thats where I won. My pleasure was kind of different but thats entirely my opinion. If you have a different one, go ahead and reflect and keep it with you and at the end of it do enjoy the feeling.

I lose on different occasions. And each time I win!!!!!! What about you?

And if you are still thinking about the casino - I have lost you.

Or won? Sphere: Related Content