Jjimjilbang : Korean way to relax

A Jjimjilbang (찜질방) is a large, gender-segregated public bathhouse in Korea, furnished with hot tubs, showers, Korean traditional kiln saunas and massage tables. Jjimjil is derived from the words meaning heated bath. However, in other areas of the building or on other floors there are unisex areas, usually with a snack bar, ondol-heated floor for lounging and sleeping, wide-screen TVs, exercise rooms, ice rooms, heated salt rooms, PC bang, and sleeping quarters with either bunk beds or sleeping mats. Many of the sleeping rooms can have themes or elements to them. Usually Jjimjilbangs will have various rooms with different temperatures to suit guests' preferred relaxing temperatures. The walls are decorated with different woods, minerals, crystals, stones, and metals. This is to make the ambient mood and smell more natural. Often the elements used have traditional Korean medicinal purposes in the various rooms.

Numerous options exist for that only in Korea experience. Dragon Hill Spa is the place basically glorified jjimjilbang-the large bathhouse-cum-saunas beloved by Koreans. In Dragon Hill Spa you can enjoy various concept of saunas and water park at competitive price especially on July.

*Location: across from Yongsan KTX Station
*More information: http://www.dragonhillspa.co.kr/
*price:  11,000 - 13,000won

If you have any movie or gallery ticket within a week, you will get a discount 2,000won. Bring your beach towel and swimming hat and enjoy your Korean life.

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R16 Korea (B-Boy World Championship) 2013

On 13th and 14th of July R16 Korea (B-Boy world championship) was held at Olympic park stadium. The biggest event in B-Boy field, organized mainly by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). It was a 2-day event, the first day, July 13, being the solo battle championships for B-Boy dance, locking, and popping. July 14th was crew battle day. Countries that represented included Korea, Japan, Australia, Russia, USA, France, China, and Taiwan.
On Saturday, I went with two of my Korean friends, Hyeonsook lim and Hogeun kim. A big thanks to KTO for providing us free tickets to the show. On Sunday i went with another Pakistani friend.

This event was the 3rd event of B-Boy series, first was Freestyle Session three months ago at KTO headquarter and the R16 National Qualifier Competition in Uijeongbu two months ago. But this time it was World championship so i was more than excited.

When we arrived at the venue we saw many crazy b-boy, popping and locking lovers from different parts of the world to attend the R16 World B Boy event of 2013. Before the start of show, we took our tickets from KTO booth. It was raining but even the bad weather couldn't stop us from reaching the R16 Korea event.

The year 2013 is the 7^th year of R16 Korea, first time I heard about it two years ago when the organizers and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) stepped up their campaign to promote this international bboy competition. I first attended R16 Korea in 2011 when I got a free ticket from KTO, and then in 2011 when I again got free ticket from KTO under K-Performance supporters program. So this year was my third consecutive year again under K-Performance supporters program.

At the end of the first day, Bboy Issei of Japan was the solo B-Boy champion, Nao of Japan was the solo locking champion, and Hoan of Korea was the solo popping champion.

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Second day of R16 Korea was more exciting. I always loved crew battle and "Morning of Owl" as my favorite crew was there. Morning of Owl was the winner from Korea to participate in this championship.

In the start all 8 countries crew have presented team performances. and all of them was amazing. Later on they went for quarter finals for B-Boy championship 2013. Each team had shown great team work with excellent performance. in the end there were Body carnival (Japan) and  Morning of Owl (Korea) in the finals. 

For the winner award ceremony, President of KTO was there. He asked about how was the show and whether we want to see this happening again in Korea or not... OF COURSE...!!!

 For the Team performances, Japan's Body carnival won the first award and it was not finish for them, they were in finals so they were expecting to have won the title as well.

KTO president announced the B-Boy world championship winner by raising his hand to the Morning of Owl side. wohoo, Korea won against Japan. my favorite team has won :) 

 At the end of R16 competition, Jap Park who is the ambassador for R16 Korea, came up the stage and sang his new song which was composed for only B-Boy competition. He got amazing round of applause from the audience.

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PURI

On last Friday, dated 5th July 2013, Korea Tourism Organization has invited me to watch the PURI performance. They were celebrating their 20 years of success. This show was held at National Theater of Korea.

This was one of the greatest traditional music that Korea offered, blended with other genres and styles, fusing together to produce new sounds and experiences to excite the ears and the mind.

 

For this amazing performance, free shuttle bus took audience from closet subway station to the venue. I was also among them who took free shuttle bus to the venue. The view of the National theater was great. On one side there was namsan (mountain), actually this place was on the way to the namsan tower.

The show start with amazing piano performance by one of the artist and main vocal while all other members were behind the steel screens and they hit those steel screens and eventually it comes out to be written PURI. Audience was not expecting this kind of surprise, everybody thought they are just hitting those screens to make sound.

 

 For me what was the interesting thing is the piano and guitar performances blended with traditional music. i am kind of person who loves piano and guitar simply modern music instrument more. So for me the reason for this performance and this group to be successful is the same that they mixed modern music with traditional music.

 

 The performance was so energetic and the artists play in rhythm putting so much energy for the audience to enjoy till the very last second. Audience request them to come once more to present another performance for them and they didnt reject their request. They played the drums and also danced a little while playing their instruments.

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DRUMCAT performance

       

         Two weeks ago (June 29, 2013) i watched the Drumcats performance at Gaon Hall theater in Myungbo Art Hall, Seoul. Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has given me the chance to watch this performance as a K-performance supporter. I am really thankful to KTO for giving me the chance to experience this wonderful performance.

        Drumcats is a group of females drummers and a violinist, so far this group has won many awards worldwide because of their truly energetic performance. Their performance consists of different themes:. They have combined the rock, jazz and techno music to their drumming sound to make it more amazing.

        Truly this performance was full of energy and i was really wondering that those female played the drums for around 90 minutes. I also liked the performance by the violinist. She was beautiful and played the violin skillfully.

 

         During the performance Drumcat artist came down the stage and interacted with the audience and they took one boy and one girl up on the stage and blow whistle there. Two of the artists were really skillful and they play drums in a battle way and we were just astonished how they are playing in different styles and so fast.

         At the end of the show all performers came out for photo session. I really like their performance and i hope i can come to watch it again. I also recommend all international fellows in Korea to watch this performance.

 

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Seoul Walking Tour

SEOUL WALKING TOUR

 

A month ago Korea Tourism Organization launched a smart phone application named Seoul Walking Tour. what this application does is help you while roaming around central part of Seoul city. As this application is just launched so it mainly covers area of City hall, Gwanghwamun and Insa-dong etc.

If you start this application it will show you a user friendly map showing pictures of places on the map for easy understanding. You can see this home page below.

 

You can also access your phone camera from this application directly to take pictures. It's actually quite feasible to take pictures while using this application. Another tab in this application shows the travel info. You can call 1330 the hotline for travel information any time, any day while travelling in Seoul. They can provide you information in 4 major languages.



 

Following this option we can find attractions in this area. This tab shows different places to visit and then further shows complete details about its history and you can also access to the map from the page to get the directions.

 

MY TRAVEL COMPANION:

 

I have used this application for few attractions listed in above picture but I am going to write little about one of them, Gwanghwamun square. I accessed to it through main menu where it was showing picture of the King Sejong. I learned few things about Joseon Dynasty and King Sejong. I took few pictures from outside of Gwanghwamun square. How to go there? Just click on the king Sejong picture on main menu and you will get this screen as map.

 

 

This is the best place for kids and many other people in this weather. They came here after work (like me) and sit and enjoy talk with fellows and watch little kids playing in water fountain.

 

 



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