Roots & Feathers Guest Post// South Korea and the Universal Map

I wish you all a colorful Friday friends!

Today it feels a little like my birthday~ it's my honor to be guest posting over at one of my all-time favorite blogs Roots & Feathers, written by the beautiful and talented Laura.

Head over to check out how I woke up at the end of the tornado in the weird and wonderful 'Land of the Morning Calm'.

And I get to use my favorite word in the whole dictionary, 'kismet' ^^

Read here

☾☾ Beach House Concert ∆ Live in Seoul ☽☽

There's only a handful of concerts I have been to where I have walked out afterwards feeling like I just beheld some kind of magical occurrence.

Last night after seeing Beach House rock the Interpark Art Center in Hapjeong I had that telltale buzz in the pit of my stomach, pour me a bourbon neat, holy-mama what did I just witness? kind of a moment.

Last night was the band's first stint in South Korea and marked a smashing come-back for Korean indie- music scene promoters Super Color Super.

From the moment their incredible stage lighting transformed the sterile, wood paneled recording studio atmosphere of the Art Center's arena into a shimmering purple indoor aquarium the crowds shoulders unanimously loosened and an almost hypnotic en-mass body sway ensued for the duration of the set.

Victoria Legrand, half mermaid-siren, half glam-rock mama to Monster from the Muppets, owned the stage from the second she strode on to it wearing her trademark glitter-ball jacket.

Spending half the set hunching ominously over her organ like a B horror-movie organist, her long, skull ring encrusted fingers scuttled like spiders over the keys as she head banged and snake-hipped effortlessly along to her own singing.

She cut a mysterious figure up there on the stage, her bewitching voice soaring out from within a curtain of shadow and long red mermaid waves which frequently obscured her face. Her ethereal, siren-call voice, capable of impossible range, lended an exquisite baroque quality to their myriad of sing-a-longs from both Teen Dream and Bloom.

Alex Scally cut an impressive silhouette with his guitar and vocals backing up Victoria's mezmerising performance perfectly. 
They were a pair of snake-charmers bedazzling their pit.

The exceptional  fortune of having access to such amazing bands out here in South Korea is not lost on me and hats off to Super Color Super for their tireless efforts in the name of bringing the best indie holy rollers in to this tiny little peninsula. 

Encore.

   

fortunes be told

I stepped out last night with my beautiful Korean co-workers for a night of delicious gogi followed by a ten dollar Fortune Telling.

This was my first reading and like many firsts I was quite nervous and it hurt just a little.

There was this moment after she made me split the pack three times and select seven cards...

I'm not familiar with all of the cards meanings but when you see two devils staring up at you you just know it aint good! 

I was more than a little spooked by how accurately she described a certain situation in my life without asking me a thing except my age~ she just looked at the cards and talked a whole lot of sense.

I wouldn't say I'm now an affirmed believer but it kind of fascinated and bewitched me, the whole ritual of it. And the cards are beautiful.

 My reading wasn't all doom and gloom and I actually found the whole experience very reassuring, it forced me to acknowledge a few dancing pink elephants that I've been ignoring for too long.

Do you believe in Tarot or think it's all a bunch of hocus pocus? 

I'd love to hear your opinions!

doing the cold winter hustle

There's something about this deep winter freeze that's prodding my primal instincts like a stick.
These January days are so short and bittersweet.
 We walk to and fro from school, doing the cold winter hustle, under a purple sky and yellow moon.
This lack of sunlight has paled my skin to vampish white~
I'm reaching for blacks and woolens when I dress; using them like a fur against the elements.
My sleep is deep and motionless,
making it so so hard to unfurl myself out of these cozy hibernation blankets when my eyes first open.

I've been squirreling away my winter food stores, except that instead of acorns and berries, it's those leftover chocolate pennies from Christmas.

I love to tree-watch in that morning twilight- loving on the way a few stubborn leaves still cling to their mother branches.

Everything about this season is a little magic and hazy, slightly stoned and mystical.
It's a fitting time to have my fortune told this Friday.

I'm happy to bask in the moon light and wear this winter skin...

...until spring reappears and I shrug it off like a snake...
~.^

season of giving, day 2

This is a little montage of those babies of mine that keep me so busy every day.

Their little lives are so full of love, care and protection... dedicated teachers who take care of them for 7 hours a day until we bundle them up in their little jackets, mufflers and mittens and wave them off on a school bus which delivers each one of them into the warmth and love of their families apartments.

Beautiful children, lucky children, lucky like you or I who have had the privilege of growing up in a loving home, with money and parents and all the security and advantage that brings.

It was my intention to visit a Seoul orphanage during my vacation as part of this 'season of giving' thread I'm running but unfortunately for me, but good for the orphanages, there were no volunteer spots available at the short notice.

Although I am disappointed not to physically meet the kids it is also such a sweet pleasure to know that there are plenty of others out here like myself who wanted to reach out and give some time and help to the children less fortunate than those bundles of joy and energy I teach every day during this festive season. 

I still plan to volunteer in the future but for today I sufficed by making a donation to the Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach System. A wonderful non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of the Korean orphans through outreach and education.

Treasure Hunt~ thrifting for vintage in Seoul

The lovely Whit and myself dedicated our Saturday afternoon to to hunting down the seemingly mythical vintage clothing market in Seoul. We had heard whisperings about its existence, even seen evidence of it's gorgeous treasures modeled on a girl we met at a concert. But I was a little skeptical.

Vintage clothing? Inexpensive? Korea??

But we were delightfully surprised when we found the place 5 minutes away from Jongno 5 ga subway station on line 1. As we walked up to the second floor of this unassuming looking market building we smelt that old clothes smell and knew we'd hit home:  inside lay a life size dress up box packed floor to ceiling with vintage items.

Everything was present and correct~ dresses, shoes, bags and belts. Isles upon isles of so many wonderful threads to sift through. You really had to be dedicated to sifting to weed out the good stuff but that's all part of the fun of thrifting right?

Within 30 minutes I had bought 5 items and spent all of my budget, it was time to leave! Here's a little peek of my purchases~ lot's of Winter ready Christmas patterned knits, a maxi skirt, the most darling red embroidered rain coat and a "Hawaiian" (so the salesman claimed) embossed leather satchel which clearly has Mexico stamped on the inside. I managed to haggle that bag down by a whole 5,000 won and was more than a litttle proud of myself.

Two rounds in India and months of travelling through SE Asia have still done little to improve this gals bartering skills!

How was your weekend folks?

Did you find any treasures?

x

A date with myself

 

 This Saturday I found myself flying solo as Dallas was down with a touch of something which kept him duvet-covered for most of the weekend. The weather was calm and clement and I didn't feel like staying caged up inside so I snuck out on a little date with myself.  Hongdae Freemarket was the first stop~ I had had my eye on those ladies who take your photo and make a pencilled illustration of you for 10,000 won. Here is how mine turned out...I actually had my legs crossed when I posed but the picture looks like I have em spread open wide! Oh dear! A nice little memento, but I may be back for a second shot at one of these!

 

My second stop was the Hongik University Art store. It was my first visit and I think I have found my safe haven. This place is huge and packed to the rafters with every craft supply imaginable- from stamps to jewellery making, canvas totes and fabric pens. I was like Lou- Lou in Wonderland, I had a basket filled within about 5 minutes which means...plenty of DIY's coming up so stay tuned ^^

It was a great morning out. Just me, myself and I, moseying around, touching trinkets at the freemarket, breathing in deep and connecting with my thoughts. I think some quality alone time is definately good for the soul...

....but then I get home to this guy and want to put my pajamas back on and koala bear hug him the rest of the evening ^^

We watched 'Moonrise Kingdom' finally. Beautiful Wes Anderson filmography as ever, but our favourite yet? Hmm, the juries out. What did you think?