Cube Traveler

 Basement Jaxx, the duo electronic music DJs/Producers from England are coming to Mass Club in Gangnam on December 15.

For all the true fans, I don’t think I need to further elaborate on the musik, style, and artistry. Other than the obvious, expect a great performance and get ready to shake your ass!!!!

Direction to the club:  Gangnam Subway station (Line 2 Green) Exit 6.  At the first intersecting street (look for Bath Beyond shop) , turn there.  The club is on your right.  You should see a lot of people standing around  by the entrance. 

1. Dojung                  2. Art Gallery           3. Toy museum          4. Ssamzie Market

5. Sanchon Restaurant

Insadong is located just north of downtown of Seoul. The Korean government has designated the district as historical  by promoting Korean traditional restaurants, tea cafes, art galleries, and shops. Though the intention is good, but personally, I think it’s flooded with overpriced tourist trap souveniour shops, tea shops, and mediocre art galleries and restaurants. But I can’t deny the few worthy mentions: (don’t forget to grab a map at the information booth to find the locations for the below listed places)

1. Souveniour Shop : A large shop.  It’s a worth a visit for their engraved Dojungs. These are stamps which have your name engraved on them. You can ask to customize by mixing Korean characters and English. In Korea, dojangs are used on the official documents or literatures. There are cylinder ones which are most common, but I prefer the cubical ones. I found them more aesthetically interesting which are commonly used on the literary works. They make a great inexpensive personalized gift for your friends/family.  I use them for more fun purposes like when signing letters, postcards, and hallmark cards.  It’s located after the information booth on the Jongno 3-ga entrance. 

2. Art Gallery:  Located in the middle of the main street.  They have interesting selections of art and a great rooftop for the nicer days. 

3. Toy Museum: A fun way to spend 1/2 hr or so.  The owner is truely passionate about every type of toy you could possibly imagine.  Every Star Wars collectible to GI Joe action figures and even Chucky Doll can be found here.  Also, make sure to buy some postcards.  They are highly entertaining and the best I’ve ever found in Seoul.  My friends back home loved receiving them.  Entrance fee is 2,000won.  It’s located half way in between the two main entrances on the main street. 

4.  Ssamazie Artist Market: A complex which houses many independent artist shops in fashion, jewelry, crafts, accessories.  Also cafes and restaurnts on the top floor. 

5. Sanchon Restaurant:  It’s founded by a former monk who wants to share a piece of buddhist way of life with Seoul people by opening this restaurant.  The monks are traditionally vegetarians and eat only organic products, but to accomodate most people’s preferenc, meat is served.   The dinner is set course temple food which has 16 dishes served at one time. Traditional dance performance are provided during the dinner hours(19:15~21:00). 36,000won. 

6. Gaetmaeul Milbatjip. Karguksue noodle restaurant.  Not the best I’ve ever had, but still pretty tasty.  They also serve good mondu dumplings.  Located near the Jongno 2-ga side entrance.

http://www.sanchon.com/menu/menuinfo.html (written in Korean)

map:http://english.tour2korea.com/06shopping/ShoppingInSeoul/insadong01.asp?kosm=m6_2&konum=subm2_1

My good friend, Terry, will be hosting a Jewelry launch party on December 8th. Though I would love to invite everyone to this event, it’s a private affair and for the invite only. But I am very proud of her ambitions and determinations so I decided to include it. Also, she will be providing tapa, wine, and Bada’s minimalicious techno beats. It should be a great time!

Photo: A home of the film director and writer, Kim Ki-Duk, who is best known for his internationally acclaimed film, “Spring Summer Fall Winter … and Spring’’. A simply told story about a Buddhist monk and his orphan pupil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAkwy9W2jc&feature=related

Heyri Artist Village is a compound where many creative types such as the writers, architects, film makers, musicians, and others have found a home for themeselves. But not just any ol’ home. An architecturally innovative and nonconventional designed homes/building where it helps to stimulate and inspire their creative outputs. But also, it’s nestled between the mountains, where the artists are also inspired by the surrounding beauty of mother nature.

Many art galleries, book publishing companies, museums, concert halls, book stores, cafes, and others can be found here.

 http://www.heyri.net

Direction: Located North of Seoul near Demilitarized Zone. At Exit no. 5 of Daehwa Station (Seoul Subway Line no. 3), walk to the bus station at the backside. Take bus no. 200. The ride lasts about 50 mins. Off at the last stop

Bus 2oo schedule from Daewha stn to Henri Village: 7:50 / 8:15 / 8:35 / 10:40 / 11:30 / 12:30 / 13:30 / 14:20 / 15:20/ 16:20 / 17:10 / 18:10 / 19:10 / 20:05 / 21:20 / 22:10 / 23:00

Bus from Henri Village to Daewha : 6:30 / 6:55 / 7:15 / 9:20 / 10:10/ 11:10 / 12:10/ 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 / 15:50 / 16:50 / 17:50 / 18:45/ 20:00 / 20:50 / 21:40

Hours: The Heyri Art Valley is open 24 hours. However, museums and exhibitions are open from 10:00am to 7:00 pm. Note that hours may vary slightly at each museum, and Museums with cafes and restaurants are open later. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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Nori Bar has an alterative college bar feel which is literally a hole in the wall  but  it’s located in the basement.  It attracts a mix crowd of  koreans and the foreigners.  A DJ plays music til around 5 or so and  takes a song request all night long on the weekends.  The song selections are diverse and ecelectic.  They can arrange from Bob Marley to New Order and Franz Fernand.    The cheap drinks and a good vibe really gets the crowd going and dancing away.  Typically, I find most Korean bars very lame/cheezy  or down right pretentious and difficult to mingle with the others, but this bar is anything but ordinary.  Fun place to go with a friend or group of friends. Or make new friends.

Direction:  exit 1 Shinchon station, pass the Hyundai dept. store and turn right on the street with the FineBank on the corner walk up a few hundred meters and eventually you will see a building with a sign that says “The Bar”. It’s in the basement of that building.

Note:  Garden place complex is next to Seoul Museum of History.  About 5-8 minutes of walk from either station (line 5) Gwanghawoon Exit 7 or Seodaemoon Station Exit 4

Garden Place, a complex which houses an Italian Restaurant, a movie theater, a lounge bar, and the latest addition, a winebar. 

The Benigni Restaurant specializes in Tuscany region cusines. 

The movie theater, Miro Space, appears to show more independent/documentary style films.  They have a limited selection of Korean films with an English subtitle.   http://www.gardenplace.co.kr/01_mirospace/04_community/notice_view.html?no=256

The lounge bar, 153, is only open during the special event nights.  You need to find out the upcoming events beforehand.

The latest addition, the winebar, appears very nice.  But I am afraid I can’t give you a better profile since I was in there briefly for a meeting.   

For further info:  http://www.gardenplace.co.kr