I’m not a parent myself, but I know how much some parents love their children. The love that they express is great since some parents have children and neglects them! However, I think some parents go overboard with their expression of love. Which can be a bad thing, especially when a child feels smothered by their affection and whatnot.

In fact, I think ramming your car into an “INSTANCE” noodle company for making your child sick is a bit much. I mean, yes, as a customer you want to tell the Busan company your displeasure, but to literally crash your car into their gate just because you couldn’t get a hold of the manager?! Aigoo.

And Korea Times? You need a better proofreader. Really, “instance” noodle”? Please.

Hong Seok Cheon’s Chinese restaurant catches on fire in Itaewon. Apparently the suspect is a US military soldier named “Corporal G”.

What a way to start the new year. At least it looked like the fire wasn’t started as a homophobic agenda. Instead an intoxicated GI decided he needed some warming up to do. Well that’s one way to start the year with a bang.

I’m glad there weren’t any casualties. Hong doesn’t need any more stress like that!

Heaven, I’m in Heaven . . . when we’re off together dancing kimbap to kimbap!

Kudos to those who knows the original song and the original singer. Seriously, if this wonderful Kimbap Cheonguk (Heaven) chain restaurant ever disappeared away from South Korea, I’d cry. If it ever disappeared out of my neighbourhood, I’ll go on a rampage to the headquarters! Not that it will happen, since there are two of these in my neighbourhood — mere one minute apart from another — so as long as one remains . . .
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Happy New Year, Ningin!

I celebrated it with my parents, the first time in years. All my friends were occupied, and it was too cold for me to just wander around the city by myself at midnight. (-8 degrees C? Yes, it’s cold!) I came home, went out and bought some HOF chicken for my mum around 11:15pm. Came back home and asked Dad to pop open a stubborn bottle of vino. Luckily, after he took a wench to it, he did, so all three of us enjoyed the vino.

Then we watched on MBC the famous Bosingak (pictured here) being banged upon amongst the crowds who came to watch this occasion. Every year, I want to go there with a friend, but that plan never falls through. Perhaps next year . . .

Anyway, after we cheered for 2009, I was leaving the living room, and Big Bang came on the broadcast to do a show. I made a noise of displeasure, and my mum said, “But these guys are popular!” I retorted with, “I like Dong Bang Shin Gi better!” Mum said, “Ahhh, yes, you’re right. They are better.” HAHAHA! I rule. JK!

Anyway, Happy New Year!

Right now, I am currently addicted to the main theme from the film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence composed by Sakamoto Ryuichi. To me, it’s one of those songs I hear all the time, and I know I have heard this somewhere . . . but regardless, this song is so pretty. I just discovered the composer and the title of this song mere few weeks ago, and I’m glad I did. Just in time for the end of the year. This song has this hopeful and optimistic feel to it that it actually lifts up my spirit. Right now, the world’s all suffering from the financial troubles. I hope by the end of next year, it will be somewhat stabilized.

Anyway, I hope 2009 will be a great year for everyone! To the world and to us at Ningin!
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Or so says this article. But then I read this article and go HUH . . .

I can understand the reluctance from South Korea’s side. I can sort of understand how some South Korean officials do not want everything to be “Japanised”. However, I can’t help but think, uh, sorry South Korea, but Japanese mangas, novels, and etcetera intrigue me more. Heck, even this entry just sort of proves from my side of the world that Japan rocks in certain areas. I admit that I am more biased towards Japanese product and media than I will of South Korea’s, but I’ll blame that on my Japan-oriented hobbies.
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According to my dad, I’m living my third childhood because I went to Gyobo book store at Gwanghwamun today to look for Boxcar Children and The Baby-Sitters Club books. Well, I didn’t succeed in that department, but I did see this sexy looking thing.

It was sexy until I saw the price. 48,000+ won. Which translates into about $36. But then compare that to $27 when you convert the price from 2500 yen. Um. Yeah. I know $36 is about the average price of an imported artbook, but my mind still thinks of June 2008’s conversion rate of 900 won to a $1 and thinks this is a $50+ book. Plus I only had about 60,000 won on me, and I was not going to spend all my money at once like that.

But still! It looked sexy. At least the cover did. Since it was in the plastic wrap, I couldn’t flip through the book to see if it’s worth that price. Then again, imported artbooks are so expensive. Once again, I ask myself, why must I have expensive hobbies!

Everyone in China and Japan, come to South Korea! This article shows how weak the won is compared to Chinese Yuan and Japanese Yen. So weak, that right now would be a good time to visit this place. I mean seriously. My friend’s relatives are going to visit here next week from Japan. They are staying for three nights and four days. The plane ticket and the hotel fees all add up to $200 a person.

That’s a real darn good bargain if you compare $730 to a three nights and four days trip to Tokyo back in May. Oi. If it only would cost $200 to go to Tokyo . . . I’d be shipping my butt there for my birthday next month!

After many months of depriving myself of this fun (mostly because my throat and sinuses were stricken by some disease), I finally went to a no rae bang (private karaoke rooms) with a friend. Actually, it was a really long and freezing day. I had to haul myself to Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu for an errand, and then I waited for my friend in a coffee shop in my neighbourhood. When she arrived we went to another coffee house/bar to have dinner. Then we decided to go to a no rae bang since we couldn’t go last time due to my sinusitis.

We went to the one we always go to, paid about $9-10 bucks for over an hour, and sang our hearts out. Whenever we go, we sing a bunch of weird combination of songs. Here’s a list of what we sang and of what I can remember.
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Just mere hours ago, I had a Daewoo TV. Now that I have a new JVC TV, I just realised something: I own nothing that’s Korean-made, with the exception of my cellphone. Hahaha! Seriously! If I put all my electronics together, these are what I have:

* JVC TV (Nicknamed: Pita = Pain in the Arse)
* Hitachi VHS
* Panasonic DVD Player
* Panasonic Stereo
* Nintendo SNES
* Nintendo GameCube
* Sony PlayStation 1
* Sony PlayStation 2

No Korean-made products. I find it very ironic considering where I live. On the flipside, I love my new (well second-hand) TV. HOMG. Playing video games on it will be a very smexy experience. I already tested it out with one game and am absolutely floored by the big, crisp graphical and audio output.