Culture Cookies: Fan Death and other Korean Myths

As the typhoon blows itself over Seoul I thought I would update here. Today's post will be a "culture cookie" one where I explore some culture from Korea. This one is going to be about Korean myths that we hear about through our time here. Whether it is the infamous Fan Death or other such things they can make life out here more interesting.

1. Kiss My Kimchi: A fun and whimsical post about many Korean Myths and whether they are real or not. I didn't know about the whistling at night one....oh boy!

2. F5 Waeg: Sometimes we create myths amongst our expat selves, here in Korea. Here is one about how those with an F5 visa earn more money than those on an E3.

3. The Marmot's Hole: I discovered he posted about a video someone made on the subject of Fan Death. A bit funny and silly as well!

4. Whatawaygook: General myths people might have about Korea discussed and debunked. For example, I guess some people think you can't get foreign food in Korea or you can't buy fluoride toothpaste. 

5. GwangjuNews: Who would have thought that eating apples at night are considered bad. Well here is a Korean myth discussed with science in mind. 

"It’s believed in Korea that eating an apple at night is actually unhealthy, causing indigestion and making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. The origins of this idea are unknown, but the belief seems to be well known in Korea. There are many Koreans who say they’ve heard about this from an elder at some point in their life. A few of them believe it and refrain from eating sahgwah (Hangeul: 사과) at night."

Well I think it is safe to say you can learn a few new things from all those posts. What kind of myths come from my home country that people would find absurd? 

Abundance Go's: Boryeong Mud Festival

Located South of Seoul and on the Daecheon beach in Boryeong city, is a thing called the Boryeong Mud Festival. Yes in my four years living in Korea, I have never been to it. But if you talk to most veteran expats you will hear them tell you how you must go to this event at least once. That is why I will showcase to you glimpses into what previous festivals were like, and if possible get you enticed to go to this years upcoming event in July.

1. Annie Around the World: I like how she sums it up in one sentence, "But a bunch of mud + the beach + summer + cheap alcohol + no open container laws = one out-of-hand party" It is originally promoted as a place to get a dollop of healing mud put on you, but the reality is that the place is a party zone. But that's great, isn't it?

2. Lee's Korea Blog: Can you believe that it has been about 15 years since the first festival. So it has likely evolved and expanded over the years, right? Here is a post from a festival goer that happened in 2008. As you read you start to notice that the festival added more attractions like a "mud prison." I can't imagine all the stuff that is going to be there at the next festival. At least they got away with some unique mud soap...

3. Elyse Marie: For the most part the festival is the place to be to capture exciting imagery. A lot has been said over the years about Korean media heading down there to get photos of foreigners behaving bad. But generally people covered in mud is definitely photogenic. I didn't know it but I guess you can paint yourself in different color muds.  (Photo from her blog..)

4. Long Time Gone: Maybe you want to know if Boryeong is a destination to go to when no such event is happening. Well take a look here and find out for yourself.

If you still don't get the point of the festival than go back and look at these posts. It is all good ...not clean...fun!

Abundance Found: Nine

Spring is popping it's beautiful head out so why not take another spin around the Kblogosphere? Let's see what we come up with this time...

1. Cute in Korea: A blog dedicated to the cute side of Korea, but often has so much more. Here she shows us the La Petit Prince display at Lotte Mall. More often than you would like, you run into these often cute and sometimes bizarre displays around the shopping centers in Korea.

2. Grrrl Traveler: This post comes on the very adult side of life. It is about Korean love hotels and Korean porn. So if you've got a hankering to know what this is all about then check it out. Certainly, you might just discover things aren't always what they seem.

4. Daughter of Korea: Now for something a bit lighter...a post about her favorite things..this being reststops in Korea. I for one do enjoy these places as they have their own sense of culture sometimes.

5. Bathhouse Ballads: A fun post about cell phone use in Korea by both Koreans and foreigners. Certainly fun to peruse and check mark where you are guilty in your love of your hand phone.

Another fun round of Abundance Found complete and this time, I think we went all over. Till next time...

Abundance Found: Eight

I thought I would dust off the "Abundance Found" category and get one put up, as it has been a while. So here is another round of random and fun finds on the K-blogosphere that are buried in the past of expat blogs.

1. Bobster's House: Have you ever considered what an beverage from North Korea might taste like? Well step no further as here is a review of such a thing. Quite a funny story and a good read.

2. The Constant Crafter: A great blog featuring the array of crafts one can make and find in Korea. Here we see her going to the Gwangjang Market for craft supplies but also gets a sight of interesting foods. Check it out!

3. Bathhouse Ballads: Have you ever heard of "vacation fashions"? Neither have I, but after reading this post I come to understand a certain phenomena in Korea. Apparently, perms can be discounted over vacation time and students like to take advantage. Definitely a wacky post worth reading. (Along with their hair...nails are also an essential make-over.)

4. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat: Kimbop is practically a staple food in this country. You can get it cheap and when you are really hungry and on your way somewhere, it makes for a quick and easy bite. Every neighborhood has several kimbop places. After a while you tend to learn which one is your favorite. This is true for our students, and in this post we get to hear about how she learned of a good kimbop place.

Anything you read recently on the K-blogosphere that caught your attention? Do share ~

Abundance Found: 7

What is lurking out there amongst the Kblogosphere that could be both random and amusing? Let's take another spin around and find out!

1. Bobster's House: Looking for something traditional and that you can eat? Here I found a post about a dish that involves duck and spices. I have had roasted duck in Korea, and found it to be very yummy, but never had duck soup. Check the post out to learn a thing or two.

2. Wet Casements: Maybe it comes with living in an urban setting, but you begin to get use to that walls become places for markings. These markings can be the usual graffiti scrawl, but nowadays they tend to lean in an artistic direction. On this post were some colorful walls that happen to be in Daegu.

3. Elyse Marie: Sometimes you just gotta do it yourself. Here she took herself on a date. If you haven't been to her blog it is full of great photography. This whimsical post will surely brighten your day.

I leave you here with those random finds to ponder over. By the way, if there is a KBlog you read that gets your noodle wet, then please do share!

Abundance Found: 3

Let's go exploring the KBlogosphere for some random yet insightful things people have posted. It's another round of Abundance Found!

1. Bathhouse Ballads: Fun name there right? Certainly just the name of this blogger's site gets you interested. I looked back in their archives and found this post about Korean apples. What's so special about them? Well they taste great and have other delicious qualities. Checkout their post to find out more. 

 

2. Annyoung!: From delicious apples I will take you now to something a little bit less yummy. Well for some that is. In this post we get to see three different kinds of food in Korea that are quite strange. Go check out the post and learn a thing or two about oddball foods Korean people eat. 

3. A Seoulful Life: From the tasty corner of the world I now take you to the more contemplative and transportative realm. In this post you can see a ten minute bus ride of what it is like to ride along the streets of Korea, and during the rainy summer time. I too enjoy the bus ride (when the interior is comfy) and looking out onto this land.

4.아름답다, ah-lum-dahp-dah: A great blog and one you should check out more. For today I bring you a post she wrote about her trip to a dog cafe. Not a clue what that is? Well go take a look and find out. Certainly a very warm and fuzzy one.

I hope these finds today show you the vast array of experiences and tidbits on life here in Korea.