skryfblok: October 2009
Last week Saturday night while in Gochang I received a text message reminding me of the Jiujutsu tournament occurring the next day with some members of our Brazilian Jiujutsu club competing. My intention was to only leave Gochang on Sunday afternoon so that I could sightsee a bit more and buy some memorabilia at the Gochang Mojang Fortress Festival. The text message, of course, made me change my plans. Although I’ve only recently joined the club, I’ve already grown fond of the club members. They always try hard to include me into their activities. I’m the only foreigner in the club, and also I’m the only faculty member (non student) in the club. Thirdly, I’m a number of years older than most of the club members and as anybody that knows a little bit about Korean culture knows, Koreans only consider their peers (same age) part of the group. They call me Sanko-hyeong [상구형]. “Hyeong” means older brother. Therefore I really appreciate their attempts at making me feel comfortable and really wanted to support them at the tournament.
Early Sunday morning I went to the bus station, changed my 15:30 ticket for an 8:30 ticket, and departed back to Seoul. Although I missed some of the matches, I did get to see a number of our club members compete. Unfortunately our instructor did not win his matches – he was quite disappointed.
The tournament took place in the afternoon with the afternoon sun beaming at an angle through the windows, causing for nice long shadows which created beautiful photo moments.
The event had a wide variety of attendees, with a surprisingly big foreign constituency. The competitors were also of all shapes and sizes.
Although the Brazilian Jiujutsu club train two times a week, I only go once a week at present. My other weekdays are spread among the other martial arts I currently train in; namely ITF Taekwon-Do and Hapkido.
Posted by Skryfblok at 14:47 No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Brazilian Jiujutsu, Gochang, martial arts, seoul
A funny video about "Why do you always see white guys with Asian girls, but not Asian guys with white girls?"
Posted by Skryfblok at 12:01 No comments: Links to this post
(This is not me. Source: Adirondack)
Last night at Taekwon-Do we did power breaking techniques. It’s literally been years since the last time I broke boards. The last time was during my ITF Taekwon-Do 3rd degree black belt test, four years ago. While the test wasn’t as physically demanding as my 1st and 2nd Dan tests, the 3rd Dan test was very technical in nature. Also, we (my brother and I tested together) had to do an insane number of breaking techniques.
Well, when my instructor here in Korea brought out the wooden boards last night I was quite excited. As a rule of thumb I do not do breaking techniques unless I’ve conditioned my attacking tools in preparation for it. But upon seeing the boards I forget completely about this resolution and was quite keen to break some boards. I started with a pile of boards, 10 centimeter thick in all. Even though it’s been years, I was confident that I’d easily break it with a side-piercing kick. My confidence was not unfounded, and the 10 centimeter thick block of wood cracked smoothly upon contact.
Unfortunately that was about as many boards the instructor had prepared for me, and I was keen to do some more breaking. So we picked up the broader pieces and put them together. If you know anything about breaking pieces of wood, you’d know that the narrower the boards are, the more difficult it is to break – a smaller surface area exerts greater force. Anyway, we gathered the bigger of the pieces of broken boards, which I then broke by punching.
Lastly we took one more remaining piece, by now rather small in size, which I also attempted to break. After three unsuccessful attempts by fist, I tried again with some elbow strikes, but the piece of plank would not give. It got the better of me.
Today I noticed that my right fist is swollen, just off-centre of the middle knuckle. This is the reason why I do not do breaking unless I’ve conditioned properly.
Nonetheless, I did enjoy breaking some boards again. It is an excellent way to check your technicality, as good breaks are usually more about proper technique than physical power. And this is one reason I really like ITF Taekwon-Do—it is very much a technical martial art, based on sound scientific principles.
Posted by Skryfblok at 03:49 3 comments: Links to this post
Big Five becomes Big Seven
(Image Source: Shark Life South Africa)
South Africa's Environmental Affairs Minister announced that our Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Buffalo) will get two new marine additions: the Shark and the Whale. The country will start a tourist campaign to promote not only its terrestrial wild life, but now also its marine wild life. If this is a good thing, I do not know.
Marine life is very fragile and a multiplication in marine tourists may not be ideal. I’m also not sure if the planned increase in shark diving is a good thing. It’s only making sharks more and more used to people. The way the shark dive skippers lure the sharks is by pouring blood in the water, and by putting out shark bait. The sharks come, smelling the blood and seeing the scuba divers. Surely in their little brains the synaptic connections between blood and scuba divers are created.Are we not teaching these animals to associate us with food?
Nonetheless, the shark and the whale are two worthy additions to South Africa’s “Greats” -- the Big Seven. It’s just not clear which shark, and which whale? I’m assuming the Great White Shark and the Humpback Whale.
Posted by Skryfblok at 02:17 No comments: Links to this post
Onlangs skryf ek aan twee vriendinne min of meer dieselfde e-pos. Ek verduidelik dat ek nie van hierdie wêreld hou nie, ek hou nie van die manier waarop korrupte regerings hulle agendas ten koste van die massas te weeg bring nie, ek hou nie van inherente selfsug orals nie; en ek sou graag wou trek na ’n ander planeet. In die verlede kon mense wat nie van hulle tuisland hou nie op ’n skip klim en na ’n ander (moontlik beter) plek gaan. Maar vandag is dit nie meer ’n opsie nie weens globalisasie. Ons lewe in ’n “global village”, so al trek ek na ’n ander land is ek steeds deel van dieselfde “global village.” Maar wat gemaak as ek nie meer deel van die “global village” wil wees nie?
My twee vriendinne is beide profesionele mense. Die een is ’n filosoof, die ander ’n sielkundige. Hier is hulle onderskeie antwoorde aan my:
Lank terug, voor globalisasie, het die versugting om te ontsnap op 'n ander manier sin gemaak as in vandag se tyd. Verskillende gebiede was werklik baie verskillend van mekaar en dit was moontlik om deur middel van geografiese (en kulturele) afstand weg te kom van die dinge in die wêreld waarvan mens nie hou nie. Die skeidslyn hier ter sprake was dus gebiedsgrense.
In vandag se tyd, na globalisasie, beskik die global village klaar oor die "beste" en die "swakste" van (nie al die beskikbare wêrelde nie, maar) een of miskien twee dominante wêrelde, sodat die ander wêrelde nie regtig meer beskikbaar is nie. Om geografies weg te gaan is nou sinneloos, want daar is nêrens anders om heen te gaan nie.
Die enigste manier waarop die "ontsnapping" nou kan sinmaak, is as die skeidslyn waaroor jy moet ontsnap na (1) die lyn tussen die innerlike en uiterlike van elke individuele mens, en (2) na die lyn tussen die transendente en nie-transendente verskuif word.
Indien (1) die lyn verskuif na die innerlike en uiterlike van elke mens, dan gaan dit oor hoe jy jouself (innerlik) in die wêreld (uiterlik) posisioneer. Hiervoor bestaan daar drie opsies: (a) om heeltemal in die wêreld te staan en dus "van die wêreld" te word. Jy gee dus jou innerlike prys en aanvaar die uiterlike status quo, (b) om die ander teenoorgestelde pool te kies en jouself heeltemal van die wêreld te onttrek. Jy gee dus die uiterlike heeltemal prys en word 'n soort askeet, of (c) jy besef dat jou huis in hierdie wêreld is (jy is tuis in die uiterlike) maar jy gee nie jou innerlike prys nie. Jy doen dit deur die wêreld van binne af te probeer hervorm sodat dit begin lyk soos die ideale utopia waarnaa jou versugting is.
Indien (2) die lyn verskuif na die skeiding tussen transendente en nie-transendente, dan sal die mens se bestaan gerig wees op die transendente (wat hom uit hierdie wêreld en uit homself kan neem). Meestal loop hierdie weg op 'n soort mistiek uit.
Jy sal oplet dat beide opsies (1) (a) en (b), asook opsie (2) op 'n soort dualisme uitloop. Dit sal 'n onvolhoubare spanning teweeg bring - die een uiterste gaan heeltyd in sy teenoorgestelde oorslaan.
Opsie (1) (c) probeer albei die dele van realiteit tegelyk handhaaf, en behoort dus meer volhoubaar te wees (aangesien beide dele sonder spanning tot hulle reg kom). Die vraag by opsie (1) (c) is seker hoe "verander 'n enkele mens die wêreld"? Hoe verloor mens nie moed teen so groot oormag nie?
Iemand het een keer vir my gesê die Bybelse karakter Dawid sou 'n sielkunde studie in die problematiek kon wees. Dawid was nog 'n kind, toe hy van God verneem het dat hy koning sou word. Maar, terwyl hierdie wete (van iets meer) in sy gedagtes was, is hy van dag tot dag (vir jare) letterlik soos 'n dier in die veld gejag deur mense wat hom wou doodmaak. Hy het dit op 'n manier reg gekry om terselfde tyd fyn besnaar te wees (hy het gedigte en liedere geskryf) en tog ook 'n gedugte vegter (wanneer die situasie daarvoor gevra het). Dit is fasinerend dat een so 'n psige beide uiterstes kon hanteer.
Die antwoord is Prozac.
Posted by Skryfblok at 04:13 2 comments: Links to this post
Skryfblok’s Most Kissable People Challenge: My List
Recently I challenged readers of my blog to share with me who they think are the ten most kissable people – five women and five men. Read the challenge and then share with me your list. Here is mine:
Most Kissable Women
Model / Actress, Monica Bellucci seems to get more beautiful the older she gets. People have likened her to a goddess; me included. She is the most voluptuous woman in the entertainment industry. When I’m asked who do I think is the most beautiful woman I immediately think of Monica Bellucci, have a blush reflex, and need to fan myself to calm my nerves. She’s the kind of “heaven” that will make me go to hell. And boy, would I like to kiss her!
I’ve always found Sheryl Crow’s mouth outrageously sexy. It is true that she does not have the bee-stung lips usually considered appealing, like for instance Angelina Jolie’s; regardless, I love her mouth. I’m assuming that my fascination with her mouth has more to do with what proceed out of it. Her mouth is a synecdoche for her sexy voice. I’ve been listening to Sheryl Crow since 1996.
Michelle Pfeiffer in her shining black leather as Catwoman is a killer. I first fell in love with her in the movie Ladyhawke (1985), but like Monica Bellucci, Michelle Pfeiffer seems to become more beautiful the older she gets. Most men that saw Michelle Pfeiffer in her Catwoman outfit in Batman Returns can testify of the tremendous impact it had on our psyche. Kissing Catwoman would be like the little male spider kissing the Black Widow; there is the danger of being eaten alive. But I guess that ads to the trhill.
I first saw Claire Forlani in Meet Joe Black (1998) opposite Brad Pitt. In that movie Pitt’s presence completely overshadowed her, so I did not really take notice. But two years later she played in the movie Boys and Girls (2000) and it was quite the opposite. I left the cinema walking on clouds, completely in love with the character she played. If I could marry that character I would have done so on the spot, and when the pastor declares “You may kiss the bride” it would have been one extraordinary kiss.
Most female Korean celebrities look the same to me and it is not because I’m racist, it is because they literally do look the same. Many of them have plastic surgery and as this is a homogenous culture most of them have the same ideas about aesthetic ideals; hence, many of them get plastic surgery to enhance similar features. One Korean actress / model I can recognize from any throng of lookalikes is the beautiful and very kissable Song Hye Kyo.
Most Kissable Men
Of the males, Elvis was the easiest guy to choose as kissable. Again, it might be a case of his voice making his mouth sexy, I don't know. But look at those lips. Definitely kissable.
When I was a teenager I had very few role models. A workaholic father and brothers thinking me weird (read “creative”), left me with little options but the popular media. It was with many of Brad Pitt’s outsider-characters that I associated, or tried to mold my teenage character around: Firstly, Tristan Ludlow in Legends of the Fall (1992); especially Louis de Pointe du Lac in Interview with a Vampire (1994); thirdly, David Mills in Se7en (1995); as well as Michael Sullivan (1996) in Sleepers. By the time two of my favourite movies, Fight Club (1999) and Snatch (2000), came out I already started to have a unique enough identity of my own, so that I did not try to follow Brad Pitt’s characters anymore. Nonetheless, his oeuvre made a strong enough impression on me to still consider him one of my favourite male actors.
It was a close call between Jarred Leto and Kurt Cobain, but in the end I settled with Jarred Leto. While I prefer Cobain’s music over Leto’s any day, I think Leto would make the better kisser. I just don’t know if I’d be able to endure the bristles while kissing. I think that smooth female skin makes for much better kissing. Would you agree or disagree?
Watch the “Wicked Game” music video – ‘nough said.
Okay, choosing Miyavi is probably cheating since half of the time he is so androgynous that kissing him is almost like kissing a girl. I ran out of options. Regardless, he looks quite kissable -- lip rings besides.
So that’s my list of Most Kissable People. Please share your list. If you have a blog of your own, take up the challenge and share with the world who you find most kissable – remember to send me the link. Alternatively, you can write your list as a comment to this message. Or email me your list at skryfblok at gmail dot com.
What did I learn from this exercise? For one, I noticed that for me the actual shape of the mouth had little to do with its smoochability. The person in her (or his) entirety contributed more than the lips themselves. I also noticed that singers made up half of my list, and apart from Brad Pitt the rest of my male choices are all singers. While compiling the list a number of women that did not make the final five were singers as well. Also noteworthy is that most of the women listed are older than I am, but that is not a surprise to me. I do find mature (i.e. independent) women much more attractive than the cutesy-girly-type, so common in the Far East. Lastly, while it is easy for me to find men attractive, as far as romance and kissing is concerned, I prefer female lips. How about you?
Posted by Skryfblok at 14:54 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: celebrity, entertainment, kiss
Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival Parade: Rope Snake
I don't know what this is, or what it represent. It looked like a giant snake made of thick rope, carried by quite a number of people. A child sits up front on the snake's head. It reminds me a little of the water serpent legends that have popped up all over the world, and which is especially prevelant in Africa. Since my first arrival in Korea I've noticed strange correlations between Korea's traditional way of life and some of the African cultures, especially the Sothos.
I will write more about my Gochang visit (which was cut shorter than expected) later this week, if my workload allows.
Posted by Skryfblok at 13:30 No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Gochang, korean culture
Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival Parade
Below are some photos of the street parade which I took Saturday afternoon in Gochang, during their annual Moyang Fortress Festival. While some of the youngsters didn't seem too impress with being in the parade, the elderly folk were much more cheerful. They especially beamed when they noticed me with my camera.
The men above are dressed in traditional "seonbi" garb. Seonbi are the traditional Confuncian scholars whom were especially prevalent during the Yi Dinasty, if I remember correctly. As scholars of Confucius they are serious, and the elderly gentlement above does a good job of looking serious.
Unlike the seonbi, this grandma and grandpa was dancing all the way.
Posted by Skryfblok at 13:23 No comments: Links to this post
Posted by Skryfblok at 13:08 No comments: Links to this post
Labels: Gochang, photography, photos
Gwangju --> Gochang
I find myself at the bus terminal in Gwangju. Yesterday I just decided I need to get away from my familiar surroundings. After my chiropractic appointment I went to Express Bus Terminal in Seoul and took the bus to Gwangju. My intention was to sleep over in a motel and then go early Saturday morning to a Sabbath keeping church where a pastor I worked with a couple of years ago now resides. However, when I got in Gwangju the taxi driver did not understand where I wanted to go, so I phoned the pastor asking him to direct me. Of course, pastor Baek-Joon wouldn't have me stay over in a motel, so I spent the night with him and his family.
This morning I attended the little Sabbath keeping church and also had lunch with them. After lunch I took the taxi again and find myself at the bus terminal once more. I bought a ticket for Gochang where I plan to site see and take pictures this afternoon. Apparently Gochang has a famous fortress that they build to ward off Imperial Japan in the 1300s. I've seen many palaces and temples in Korea before, but I'm yet to see a fortress, so I'm looking forward to it. I might stay over in Gochang tonight and then take a bus back to Seoul tomorrow afternoon. Or I might just take the bus somewhere else -- may even come back to Gwangju (it's only an hour away). Gwangju has an IMAX movie theatre, and I'm always in the mood for a good movie.
I'll update about my travels again soon.
In the meantime, start thinking about Skryfblok's Most Kissable People Challenge. I'm looking forward to see the names you come up with. I hope to post my list Sunday night.
Posted by Skryfblok at 07:20 2 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Gochang, Gwangju, korea, Sabbath
Ek verlang na die plaas
Ek het op 'n plaas groot geword. Ek weet dat dit moeilik is om op die oog af glo dat ek 'n plaasseun is, veral as jy na my uiteenlopende selfportrette kyk.(Wel, daar is darem die "Veldt"-reeks [1 / 2] wat verklap dat ek tog tuis voel tussen lang grasse.)
Soms verlang ek na die plaas. Die plaas -- daardie kern motief in Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur. In my geval bestaan die plaas nie meer nie. Ons plaas was onteien en letterlik oornag beset deur plakkers sodat daar vandag byna niks oor is van sy vorige glorie nie. Gevolglik, wanneer ek verlang na die "plaas", is dit 'n verlange wat geen lafenis het nie. Dis soos 'n verlange na 'n afgestorwene. En daarom hou ek van Jannie Moolman se "Ek verlang na dit," vanaf sy Hoëveld Kleure-album.
Posted by Skryfblok at 04:58 No comments: Links to this post
Labels: bio, music, south africa
Most Kissable People Challenge
My X's very kissable lips, enjoying chocalate spread from a silver spoon.
My X told me that I kiss better than a woman. That was probably one of the best compliments I have ever received. It also says something about her kissing history. To say that I kiss better than a woman, means that she has kissed a woman before, so she can compare the two. Unlike her, I haven’t kissed any men before. Well not really kissed. In my family culture it is customary to kiss people, regardless of the gender, that are part of the family in greeting, especially if you haven’t seen them in a long time. For instance, when I return to South Africa for a visit in a couple of months I will kiss my brothers upon greeting them at the airport. But that’s not kissing, that’s greeting. So to make it clearer: I’ve never kissed a man romantically before. But what if I have to kiss a man and have a choice in the matter?
So if you had to choose 10 people to kiss, five women and five men, who would you choose? My female list is much easier to fill up, with Monica Bellucci (of course) among the top three. My male list is coming short. I’ve got Elvis so far. Once I have time to think this through I’ll post pictures of the lips I think most smoochable.
Skryfblok’s Most Kissable People Challenge
So here’s the challenge to you. Choose ten people that you would like to kiss. They need to be divided equally as five women and five men. I know some of you may be homophobic, but just pretend there’s a gun against your temple and you have to choose. Then be brave and post it on your blog and send me the link. Alternatively you can wait until I post my list of the 10 Most Kissable People and leave a message in which you reveal your smack-list. (Or if you are not brave enough to reveal the mouths you find most alluring to the whole world, then send me a message to skryfblok at google dot com.)
I’ll post my list in a couple of days and am looking forward to seeing your lists too!
Posted by Skryfblok at 16:18 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: kiss, relationships, X
University Founding Festival Day
A couple of weeks ago we had “Founding Festival Day” here on campus, in celebration of the founding of the university where I work. Like with “Sports Day” it should actually be referred to as “days,” in the plural, as it ran over two days, but in Korea such semantics are overrated.
During the two days of “Founding Festival Day” (sigh!), we had classes in the morning and other activities in the afternoons and evenings. Apart from the little food kiosks (I had excellent Italian spaghetti on the first day, and mediocre Japanese noodles on the second), there were all kinds of games and shows to keep the students (and wondering teachers) busy.
A big stage was erected with a giant computer screen at the back. A variety of performances were held, including a talent show, which was pretty good. They also had the Korean Police Academy. Coming from South Africa, the performance given by the Police Academy was marvelously peculiar. I couldn’t for the life of me imagine South Africa’s Police Academy putting on something like this. The Korean Police Academy had a number of young policemen sharply outfitted in their uniforms, perform an assortment of acts. There was a musician doing all kinds of slight-of-hand tricks; there was a famous actor (who is now doing his military service, in the Police Force) singing a beautiful ballad; there was a group of percussionist playing the drums in unison as only the Koreans can; and so on. This is all part of the Korean Police Force’s goal of making the police more attractive -- more public friendly. And apparently it is working, as the girls went crazy.
Another uniquely Korean thing was the computer game events, displayed on the big screen on the stage. Yes, you are reading the posters correctly. They had a Tetris tournament and an X-Box soccer tournament. The Tetris tournament was something to see. Never in my life have I seen people so fast at Tetris. The little geometric shapes spun and zapped down faster than I could follow. I did not get to see the soccer matches.
Posted by Skryfblok at 05:25 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: computer stuff, korea, korean culture, work
Na Gateungeon Eoptneun Geongayo -- Choo Ga Yeol
Since I shared some Japanese music that I like, I thought I'd share a Korean song that has grown on me. The title of the song is "Na Gateungeon Eoptneun Geongayo" [나 같은건 없는 건가요] by Choo Ga Yeo [추가열]. I'm having trouble figuring out what the title means; something like "All Things Considered, I'm Leaving." Maybe one of the Korean readers that read my blog can tell me the correct meaning of "나 같은건 없는 건가요." I wish I could say more about the artist, but I could find very little about him online, apart from him being signed to SM Entertainment; which is a rather big Korean music label that focusses on K-Pop (Korean Pop Music). Nor can I ellaborate much on why I particularly like this song; it is not the type of music that I listen to much. As I mentioned, this ballad just sort of grew on me.
The song is also performed by Super Junior T (a Korean boy band and also signed to SM Entertainment), but I do not find their version appealing at all; quite the opposite.
Posted by Skryfblok at 18:40 1 comment: Links to this post
About two months ago I joined the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club that started on campus where I work. Grappling martial arts are not my favourite; I prefer striking arts. Nevertheless, my first exposure to the martial arts was to grappling. My father used to do a hybrid martial art; a mixture of Karate, Judo, and Aikido. When I was still in elementary school our father taught us children Judo. My first martial art memories are of countless forward rolls and break falls. So even though I prefer striking arts, like Taekwon-Do, grappling is probably my earliest foundation.
Although grappling arts are not my first choice, I’ve been missing it of late, so when I learned of the BJJ club on campus I immediately set out to find out more. I eventually joined (being the only foreigner, and only faculty-member, i.e. non-student). At the end of September we had a training session with another university’s club. We all came together at the BJJ-club in Apgujeong. It was a three hour session, from 3pm until 6pm.
My work load is too busy to attend the BJJ training regularly. I go once a week. I also train in Hapkido once a week, and go to Taekwon-Do twice a week. This is the only exercise I get in at present. I try to go to the gym on Sundays but there is usually something that comes up, so I end up going to the gym maybe once a month.
Labels: Brazilian Jiujutsu, martial arts, seoul
Sakanaction -- Shinshiro
On Friday after a session with my chiropractor I went to a music shop at Express Bus Terminal to see if I can find Sakanaction’s latest album “Shinshiro.” I went to the J-Pop/Rock (Japanese Pop/Rock), but couldn’t find it. Then I asked one of the staff: “Sakanaction issoyo?” He had me repeat the name again, then walked over to the section where I was and immediately picked it up, asking if this was what I was looking for. I felt a bit silly for not seeing it, as the moment he gave the album to me I could clearly read the Korean: 사카낙션 신시로 – “Sakanaction Shishiro” and recognized their fish-logo. The band's name is a combination of two words: “Sakana” (which means “fish” in Japanese) and “action,” hence “Sakanaction.” Apparently it depicts their wish for their sound to move quickly and lightly, like the motions of a fish.
My initial emotion of feeling a little silly at not being able to find the album, although it was right in front of me, subsided very quickly and was replaced with excitement at having found the exact album I was looking for.
I only listened to it for the first time Saturday evening, and now again on Sunday, and must say that I am very happy with my purchase. The impression their live performance (at the Ssamzie Sound Festival) left with me was not lessened by listening to their recorded sound. Their music is a mixture of house / dance, electronic music and alternative rock. The electronic sounds causes the music density not to feel overbearing; indeed light and quick. At the same time, while the melodies are easy to follow and the orchestration is never overly complicated, their sound is simultaneously unique and intriguing enough to keep one listening. In fact the tonal density (heavyness of the music) goes through phases of very low density (for instance only the lead vocalist and an easy keyboard accompaniment) to high density with all the instruments pushing hard. This oscillation between high and low density helps me not to get irritated. What I also like about their sound is how they play around with interesting sound-sampling as background noises, for instance the sound of a busy office, people talking, a telephone ringing. The electronic sounds create a futuristic atmosphere, without sounding like those 90s remix albums.
The only bad thing about the album is that the more I listen to it the more I wish I could understand Japanese -- or at least, know what the lyrics are about.
Posted by Skryfblok at 04:55 No comments: Links to this post
Walking on the Right
A subway station on the newly opened Line 9, in Seoul.
Recently, the South Korean government started a campaign to encourage its citizens to walk on the right side, rather than the left. In many public spaces, such as subway stations, one sees arrows indicating which side of the hallways or staircases to walk. Sometimes there are even pedestrian traffic officials directing people to the correct side.
Even though cars are driven on the right in Korea, people tend to walk on the left. This is atypical; in most countries people walk and drive on the same side. This discrepancy of walking on the left and driving on the right in Korea is explained by the two major cultural influences on South Korea during the last century – Japan and America.
During the Japanese occupation people were ordered to walk on the left which is still the Japanese custom. Upon enquiring why Japanese walk on the left, it has been explained to me that the reason involves swords. Yes, swords. In feudal Japan many Japanese people carried swords. The swords would be tightened to the left hip, so that the right arm could easily pull the weapon from its scabbard. If people walked on the right side the scabbards would clash; however, walking on the left side, people would pass each other’s right sides (non sword carrying side), which cause for smoother pedestrian traffic. Well, this same sensibility was enforced during Japan’s occupation of Korean from 1910 to 1945, and since it was a good custom there never was a reason to change this habit. Unlike Japan who also drives on the left, Korean cars drive on the right.
Korea imported it’s automobile traffic system from America. In the sixties when South Korea started to develop its traffic infrastructure they copied it from America, hence the many lanes for its main roads (very unlike Japan). Of course, they not only incorporated the form, but also the method (i.e. driving on the right); hence the discrepancy between walking on the left and driving on the right.
So why this change now from walking on the left to walking on the right? It seemed to have been working fine; but an official explained that “…when Koreans go abroad, they hit foreigners. And vice versa, foreigners come to Korea and bump into Koreans." From this context I have to assume that “abroad” does not take into account Japan, the United Kingdom, most of the British Common Wealth, and many other countries that both drive and walk on the left. But then again, having spent a lot of time with Koreans, for a majority of them “abroad” means the United States, not the rest of the world.
It is claimed that the switch over “could reduce collisions between cars and pedestrians by up to 24 percent because crosswalks are currently set up for “walk right.” In addition, the institute claims pedestrians will walk up to 70 percent faster and pedestrian density will decrease as much as 58 percent once walking becomes more structured”. In Korea there is a bbali!-bbali!-culture. “Bbali” means fast or quickly. Koreans often seem in a hurry and finding yourself on the subway at peak hours can be a nerve wrecking experience. So I’m not sure if going faster will be a good thing or a bad thing.
Labels: japan, korea, korean culture
Hoengseong: Senior Citizens II
More photos of senior citizens actively working and selling their goods at the Traditional Market at Hoenseong, in Gangwon Province South Korea.
Posted by Skryfblok at 11:44 3 comments: Links to this post
Labels: korean culture, photography, photos
Skryfblok’s Most Kissable People Challenge: My Lis...
Gochang Moyang Fortress Festival Parade: Rope Snak...
Hoengseong: Senior Citizens I
Curiosity Kills the 80's
David Choi Visits Korea!
Traditional Korean Food Market