Last week at Kpop Academy we practice singing 아리랑 (Arirang) and also played 물총 노래방 (water gun Noraebang) – basically a karaoke session where you have to memorize the lyrics, and opponents shoots you with water gun a-la “Happy Together” when you sing the lyrics wrong. Being a person with zero ability to sing, I managed to not embarrass myself too much the Noraebang session. It was really fun and I actually hoped we can sing more songs.
credits: KCCUK
For homework, I have actually recorded myself singing two Kpop songs, but after listening to it, I decided not to torture anybody’s poor ear with it, hence I’m choosing option 3: Choose 5 leisure activities that I want to experience in Korea other than the Noraebang.
Cha Muwon and Seo Nayun
Singing in Noraebang is a really big part of Korean culture – I have not seen a single Korean drama that doesn’t feature a Noraebang scene in it (okay, exagerating, but you know what I mean). Other than singing in Noraebang, here are other activities that feels uniquely Korean that I want to try there:
1. Korean sauna (Jimjilbang)
Lee Gak and Park Ha
Of course I want to try the Jimjilbang! Koreans love going to the Sauna, and from what I see in dramas and internet, Korean Saunas are really big, clean and modern. Many of them are open 24-hours, so you can even sleep there if you can’t find a place to crash. That is a truly Korean experience that I don’t want to miss.
2. Hiking
Hiking is said to be Korea’s national favourite past-time, people say Koreans love mountains more than the beach. South Korea is a largely mountainous country, so the folks really enjoy hiking with family and friends. One of the nearest mountains in Seoul is the Bukhansan National Park. A great way to keep in shape during the trip to Korea, and enjoying breathtaking scenes at the same time – perfect!
3. Riding bicycle in parks
Gu Junpyo and Geum Jandi
I know people in other countries ride bicycles in the parks too, but I see this a lot in the dramas, so riding bicycle in one of Seoul’s park is something that I really want to try in Seoul, or maybe even the countrysides.
4. Hanging out at cute cafes
Seriously, who wouldn’t want munch on cupcakes in this lovely Hello Kitty cafe? This kind of cutesy, girly cafes can only be found in Korea (okay, maybe Japan as well). I’m guessing that hanging out at coffee shops is a huge thing there since I’ve seen it a lot in dramas and people’s travelogue to Seoul, and also, the sentence 커피숍에서 친구를 만나요 is a compulsory line in every Korean textbooks I’ve read.
5. Shoppping!!
Seoul is a shopping heaven! There are so many things that I want to buy when I go to Korea. They have all the ridiculously cute Asian stuffs that can’t be found anywhere else (see eatyourkimchi.com), markets selling trendy clothing at cheap prices (although I may not fit Korean sizes, I swear Korean XL is like S size over here), modern shopping districts like Myeongdong, stashes of BB creams that I must buy from arrays of Korean cosmetic shops and of course Kpop merchandises. Not to forget the most expensive item I want: a custom made Hanbok.
Random pics: DBSK in Happy Together^^
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