Adventures in Lala Land!

Pineapple Soju is fun and delicious to drink! Here’s the video!

Directions:

1. With a knife and spoon (be careful!), cut and scoop out the insides of the pineapple.

2. Blend up the pieces of pineapple and the pineapple juice with ice to create a slushy.

3. Pour back into pineapple.

4. Pour in the soju!

Enjoy! =)

What is Black Day?

Black Day is on April 14th and is a Korean tradition for single people who did not receive any presents on Valentine’s Day (February 14th) or White Day (March 14th).

Basically if you didn’t receive any gifts on those days, you dress up all in black, eat jjajangmyun, and proceed to get really drunk by drinking multiple bottles of soju to wash all your loneliness away. Okay I made up the last part.

Truthfully, I’d celebrate Black Day every week because I love jjajangmyun. =P Also, it goes really well with sweet and sour chicken (탕수육 ).

Here’s my black day video:

I ended up drinking some sake after lunch at The Sake Shop.. to you know, wash away my sorrows =P

Sunday night at Nocturna with Jinjoo! Asian glasses!

Drinking practice for my upcoming birthday party this weekend….

Lunch at Sushi Sasabune! They remodeled the place since the last time I’ve been there. I love the tree decoration and wall panels.

Of course, I had to get the Omakase! Here’s some of the courses.

Ahi and hamachi! It’s so fresh that it melts in your mouth.

Salmon with ikura and Aji!

3 kinds of oysters: with Ikura, with ponzu sauce, and one baked.

Lobster!

The main event, Toro!!! It’s like heaven in every bite. Actually it’s so soft you don’t even need to chew, it just melts like butter.

We had 2 kinds of sake: The specially made Sasabune sake and Kubota Manju.

The Sasabune sake is full bodied with lots of flavor. It’s best served at room temperature.

While the Kubota Manju is very light, smooth, and served chilled.

Sake jelly for dessert. Light and refreshing!

On Thursday I went to Crazy, Sexy, Standard at The Standard. It’s a huge networking party event. My table that I shared with my friend Toby was in a good spot on the dance floor.

(Picture credit to Toby Tamaye)

On Saturday, I went to a Karaoke house party at my friend Gerald’s friends house up on Tantalus. I don’t really go up there much so I took a picture of the really nice view.

It was a potluck party so there was lots of yummy food. Lots of Korean food!

I swear the bar area had more alcohol than most real bars.

Gerald’s famous chocolate shots.

Cheers!

So lately I’ve been into Disney songs dubbed in Korean on Youtube. I think it sounds so much fun in Korean and another great way to learn the language. They’re also really fun to sing at Karaoke (I just read the lyrics off of my phone!).

My favorites are “Reflections” from Mulan and “Part of your World” from The Little Mermaid. But you can find pretty much any Disney song in Korean on Youtube!

이것좀봐. 신기하지 내가 모은 것이 대단하지
내가 부자라는 건 아무도 모르지

이것좀봐 신비롭고 아름다운 이걸 보노라면
넌 이렇게 말할걸 어쩜 모두 네거니

나는 희한한 것들도 있지 아주 진귀한 골동품도
보고싶지 않니? 아주 많긴하지만
이렇게 마음이 외로워

사람들 사는덴 어떨까? 환하겠지.
춤을 추는 애인
걸어다니는 걸 뭐라고 불러?
오 다리.
지느러미로는 멀리 못가 다리가 내게는 없지
매일 돌아다니고파. 뭐라 그러지?
거리.

걸어가고 뛰기도 해.
저 햇빛 아래 어디서든 자유로이 살아가리 저곳에서.

저 밖으로 나가려면 어떻게 하나
바다곁엔 빛난 모래 태양아래
반짝일 땐 자유롭게 노래해.
수많은 사람 블거웁게 춤을 추며 노래하네

사람들 아는 걸 알려줘. 궁금한건 모두 묻고 싶어.
불이 뭐야. 이게 어떻다구? 뜨거워.
왠지 이건 신비로워.
마음이 끌어다주는 대로 자유로이 가고 싶어 저곳으로.

I also like “I see the Light” from Tangled. Very pretty! ( I can’t embed this video so you need to copy & paste the link).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22AJAyxNcS4

Rapunzel:

All those days Watching from the windows
언제나 창문 넘어 봤어
All those years Outside looking in
언제나 구경꾼처럼
All that time Never even knowing
세상을 상상만 해왔어
Just how blind I’ve been
마치 눈먼 듯이

Now I’m here Blinking in the starlight
나 이제 별빛 아래 서니
Now I’m here Suddenly I see
이제야 모든 게 보여
Standing here
지금은
It’s oh, so clear
알 것 같아
I’m where I’m meant to be
왜 여기 서 있는지

And at last, I see the light
빛이 드디어 보여
And it’s like the fog has lifted
마치 안개가 걷힌 듯
And at last, I see the light
빛이 드디어 보여
And it’s like the sky is new
마치 새 하늘처럼
And it’s warm and real and bright
따스한 날 감싸네
And the world has somehow shifted
세상 내게 다가왔어
All at once Everything looks different
갑자기 모든 게 달라져
Now that I see you
나 그대를 봐요

Flynn:

All those days Chasing down a daydream
언제나 헛된 꿈을 좇아
All those years Living in a blur
덧없이 살아온 시간
All that time Never truly seeing
이제야 뭔가 알 것 같네요
Things the way they were
진실이란 걸

Now she’s here Shining in the starlight
이제 그녀 내 눈앞에 있어
Now she’s here Suddenly I know
이제 그녀 마음을 알아
If she’s here
그녀가
It’s crystal clear
운명인 걸
I’m where I’m meant to go
나 이제야 알았어

Flynn/Rapunzel:

And at last, I see the light
빛이 드디어 보여

Flynn:
And it’s like the fog has lifted
마치 안개가 걷힌 듯

Flynn/Rapunzel:
And at last, I see the light
빛이 드디어 보여

Rapunzel:
And it’s like the sky is new
마치 새 하늘처럼

Flynn/Rapunzel:
And it’s warm and real and bright
따스한 날 감싸네
And the world has somehow shifted
세상 내게 다가왔어
All at once Everything is different
갑자기 모든 게 달라져
Now that I see you
나 그대를 봐요
Now that I see you
나 그대를 봐요

Oh! Something else that I found while searching — the entire Cinderella movie in Korean. Pretty awesome!

I decided to make some ramen for lunch because it was pouring rain and pretty gloomy outside today. Lately, I been trying to eat healthy so I made my own soup broth instead of using the one that comes in the packet.

For the soup broth:

1 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 clove of garlic chopped
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
*If you want it spicy you can add peppers. I put in 1 Hawaiian chili pepper.

Put whatever toppings you want. I usually put egg, fishcake, and sometimes chicken.

Let it the broth simmer for a while. Then pour all over the noodles and enjoy! =)

I’m so happy! I can understand 100% percent of the Level one dialogue on the Talk to me in Korean website without looking at the translation!
My comprehension skills are far more superior than my speaking skills. That’s why I like that this website focuses a lot on grammar points. I started studying from this website at the beginning of this month. 1-3 lessons a day. I just finished Level 1! Currently on TTMIK there are a total of 7 levels with about 30 lessons each. I gotta catch up! I am excited to see how my Korean skills will be when I get there. =)

In other news, I am going to Japan at the end of April! I found out about this awesome deal from my friend Brian on Facebook. $495 round trip!! So I bought it without even thinking. Now I am excited to start planning and figuring out where I’ll be going while I’m there for 8 days! I’ll be visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, and Yokohama! =D

That’s it for now! Sorry not a very useful post. But here’s Big Bang’s new song Blue from their upcoming album coming out February 29th! They are planning a world tour this year and I’m planning to go wherever they decide to have their concert in America.

This is the prettiest song I’ve heard recently. It makes my ears so happy that I’ve been listening to it repeatedly.

다비치!

I think their live performances sounds better than the actual recording. Amazing.

인사 못했어
또 안기고 싶어서
또 울고 싶어져서 그래
골목 뒤로 얼른 숨었어

눈물은 사치야
이 그리움은 죄야
내 머리로 가슴에 말해
더는 너를 찾지 말라고

우우우우 또 생각이 나겠지
어떻게 그 좋던 너를 모두 지울까
이 밤이 지나고 다시 아침이 오면
그 때 또 난 너와 마주칠거야

사랑 못했어
진짜 사랑은 여기
내 가슴이 머리에 말해
지금부터 사랑한다고

우우우우 또 생각이 나겠지
어떻게 그 좋던 너를 모두 지울까
이 밤이 지나고 다시 아침이 오면
그 때 또 난 너와 마주칠거야

빗방울 떨어지는 소리 소리 소리
가슴을 파고드는 소리 소리 소리
눈가를 타고 흘러 내리는 너는 너
니가 흘러 내린다

우우우우 생각이 날거야
난 못해 내 사랑 너를 못잊어 못잊어
이 다음 세상에 다시 태어난데도
그 때 또 난 너와 사랑할거야
우우우우

I couldn’t say hi to you
Because I wanted to be held again
Because I wanted to cry again
I hurried to the back of the alley and hid

Tears are extravagant
This longing for you is a sin
My head tells my heart Not to look for you anymore

*But I’ll think about it again
How could I erase you, who I liked so much?
When this night passes and morning comes again
Again, I will face you then

I couldn’t love
The real love is here
My heart tells my head
That I’m loving you from now on

* repeat

The sounds of the raindrops falling
The sounds that dig deep in my heart
You flow from my tears
You flow down

I will think about you
I can’t, my love, I can’t forget you, forget you
Even if I’m born in the next world
I will love you then as well

—-

I will put more effort to keep this blog updated. I debate back and forth on what to write about. Maybe for now this is where I will share random and hopefully interesting things about my life and many interesting things I come across. And of course, food!

Currently I am studying Korean. My goal is to become fluent… Or at least be able to have conversations in Korean. I have a long way to go. But the past 2 weeks I’ve been studying everyday. So, often my blogs will have Korean writing in it. I hope to look back in a year and see how much I have improved! Wish me luck! =)

My Korean practice of the day =P 오늘 밤에 한국 드라마를 봤어요. 그리고 한국어를 더 공부했어요!

Today I ate lunch at a restaurant called Hyungjae. I ordered one of my favorite Korean dish — soondubu jjigae (순두부찌게). It contained a lot of clams and squid, but was lacking a bit in flavor.

Now i’m going to edit videos and practice singing! I want to sing this song the next time I go Karaoke. I like reading the translation to Korean songs so that I can improve my Korean comprehension.

It’s not love
This isn’t love
It’s just your obsession
Wherever
Whatever I do
It’s frightening
The you who watches me

I follow in your shadow
I make a phone call
I become thrilled at the sound of your shaking breath
My heart runs after your increasingly quick steps
I think I’ll go crazy
The long night gets darker
Under the dead streetlamp in front of your house
I’m watching you through the crack in your window
Until the night ends
Come on and find me
You keep playing a suffocating game of hide-and-seek with me
You, you, you
You’re inseparable from me

Have you gone crazy?
Why are you like this?
Please just leave me alone now
Seeing you is suffocating
Please disappear from my sight

You can never break away from me
You have no one to love but me
Try to escape
Wherever you are
I can see you
You know deeply
You can never break away from me
You have no one to love but me
Look at me now
I don’t wanna cry no more, more

Get lost
Just back off
I really can’t breathe
Wherever I go
Wherever I am
It’s frightening
The you who follows me

A hundred times
Tens of thousands of times
I’ve called you
But why, why is there no answer?
Did you forget?
It’s already been a thousand days since we met
I prepared a gift you’d like
I sit on the street you frequently travel
I’m waiting for you
I know my love
Don’t call it obsession, you don’t know love
Don’t say I’ve gone crazy
You don’t know my heart
You can never be separated from me

Have you gone crazy?
Why are you like this?
Please just leave me alone now
Seeing you is suffocating
Please disappear from my sight

You know you want me too
You know you love me
Don’t run away from me
Cut the crap~
Get ahold of yourself and stop it
Let go of me now

This ain’t right
This isn’t love
It’s just hurts me, don’t be like this
I loved you
But I don’t now
Erase me from your memory

I don’t wanna cry no more, more

사랑이 아냐 이건 사랑이 아냐
너의 집착일 뿐이야
어디 있든지 내가 무얼 하든지
무서워 나를 바라보는 넌

[Rap]
너의 그림자를 따라 밟다
난 전화를 걸어
네 떨리는 숨소리에 짜릿해져버려
빨라지는 네 발걸음 따라 뛰는 내 심장
미칠 것만 같아
어두워지는 긴 밤
너의 집 앞 불 꺼진 가로등 밑에서
너를 본다 네 방 창문 틈에서
밤이 끝날 때까지
날 찾아봐 어서
나와 숨 막히는 숨바꼭질을 계속해
넌 넌 넌
넌 절대 내게서 떨어질 수 없어

[*]
미친거니 왜 그러니
이제 그만 나 좀 내버려둬
네가 보여 숨이 막혀
내 눈 앞에서 좀 사라져줘

[Rap]
넌 날 절대 벗어날 수 없어
넌 날 사랑 할 수밖에 없어
도망쳐봐 (I don’t wanna see you)
네가 어디에 있든지
난 볼 수 있으니
널 알지 깊숙이
넌 날 절대 벗어날 수 없어
넌 날 사랑 할 수밖에 없어
이제 날 봐
I Don’t Wanna Cry No More more

사라져 버려 그만 좀 꺼져 버려
정말 숨도 못 쉬겠어
어딜 가든지 내가 어디 있든지
무서워 나를 따라오는 너

[Rap]
수백 번이고 수만 번이고
전화를 걸었는데
왜 왜 넌 대답이 없어
잊었니
우리 만난 지 벌써 천일이 됐어
네가 좋아하는 선물을 준비했어
네가 자주 가는 거리에 앉아
널 기다리고 있어
내 사랑을 알아
집착이라 말하지마 사랑을 몰라 넌
미쳤다고 말하지 마
내 맘을 몰라 넌
넌 넌 넌
넌 절대 내게서 떨어질 수 없어
[*]
미친거니 왜 그러니
이제 그만 나 좀 내버려둬
네가 보여 숨이 막혀
내 눈 앞에서 좀 사라져줘

너도 날 원하잖아
나를 사랑하잖아~
나를 도망치지마
헛소리 좀 집어 치워
정신 차려 그만 좀 해
이제 나를 놓아줘

이건 아냐 사랑이 아니야
내게 상처뿐이야 이러지마
널 사랑 했지만
이제는 아니야
너의 기억에서 날 잊어줘

I don’t wanna cry no more, more

Credit watermelon856

Wow I am so excited for this! It’s set to open this year in April and will be called “Gorilla in the Café Hawaii. He has a restaurant in Korea located in Gangnam called, “Gorilla in the Kitchen“.

I’m not a big fan of Bae Yong Joon but I think it’s awesome that he decided to open up a cafe in Hawaii!

“Gorilla in the Café Hawaii will be located at 2155 Kalakaua Ave. and is tentatively set to open in April. Bae is expected to attend the grand opening.”

For more information check out the article about it at Honolulu Pulse.

BYJ owns 2 cafe’s in Japan: Gosireh and Cafe-B.

Sometimes I will share my favorite songs at the moment on my blog!

Currently, I really like songs by the group Secret. Their songs are catchy and extremely addicting. I actually like girl groups more than guy groups because they’re all so cutesy and the songs are really fun to sing at karaoke.

My favorite song of theirs is Starlight Moonlight (별빛달빛). The lyrics are very cute.

The Chorus translation:

You’re my starlight, the starlight of my heart
You’re my moonlight, my precious moonlight
I only want to see you
You’re the person that shines for me
You’re my sky, my only sky
You’re my sea, my precious sea
When we look at each other, we’re constantly smiling
That person oh my love

I also like their song Shy Boy (샤이보이). I really like the beat — it’s overly sugary and happy.

And this song always gets stuck in my head: Love is MOVE (사랑은 MOVE)

Pop songs are the best. They put me in a happy mood. =)