A bar named Cocks

We took ourselves to Seoul a couple of weekends ago to see the city, to see Lazer, and to see those lovable Okies, The Flaming Lips. We didn't go by boring bus, or car, but we took the sweetest ride imaginable. The 300km/hr KTX bullet train baby. In a bus or car it is a 6 hour trip. We made it in 2 and a half. So smooth and relaxing, it was my first train ride and I think I'm hooked. Although I was slightly disappointed to find out that there wasn't an old west style dining car. Where did all those go? What happened to those extremely luxurious days? I mean come on people... Traveling at 300kh/hr is simply not enough for me. What happened to the days of train chit chat and maybe the odd gentleman's wager?



We arrived. An extremely large amount of humans occupy this city. We could see that immediately upon stepping out of the train and into the main station. We are a world of tiny ants running to and fro. So many people. There was a slow moving procession of people entering the subway from the train station. Koreans looking like cattle.


We took the bus to meet Lazer in his dong, which was very close to the station. Dong means neighborhood for all you comedians out there. Lazer's dong is the heart of downtown Seoul. Megan was very happy with all the fall colors on the trees. And once again she lamented how Texas has no seasons, and how much she misses the autumn of Indiana. That I have no idea about the sweetness of the color changing of the leaves and the Earth going through it's phases and stages. She's probably right. But Texas is still bigger than Indiana. Yee-haw! (Guns a blazin)



On the bus ride we befriended a Korean man who turned our to be from Busan. He spoke great English and told us where to get off the bus to reach Lazer's dong. He was surprised to hear that we lived in Busan. Unbelievably ecstatic actually. What didn't seem like a huge coincidence to us really blew his mind wide open. He wanted to be friends. We exchanged numbers. We still haven't heard from him. We'll let you know.


We found Lazer and took some sweet photos. Lazer lives in a shack. He is a man of few needs. He has a dog. It peed on my bag. We are still friends. Lazer is a very cool man that I went to high school with. He is in previous blog, you may remember him. We works very little and knows everyone in Seoul. He speaks Korean better than any foreigner I have met. This is very impressive as I have been completely unable to begin my journey in this strange new tongue. We went out to the bars and all these Koreans know him and speak to them. I'm quite impressed with him. He's pretty much a Seoul celebrity. He did some acting on a T.V. show there. He played a chef in San Francisco.




We ate Seomgypsal like champions and then headed to Ax Korea to see The Lips. They did not disappoint. There were so many foreigners there. We saw some people we know from Busan as well that made the trip to Seoul. The show was awesome. I had seen them before during SXSW and I'll never forget the positive vibe they have during their shows.



It is something very rare in rock and roll performance. They make everyone feel as if they are helping to make the experience happen. They make you feel happy. They make you feel loved. And they have giant balloons and giant lazer hands. Wonderful. I cried during a couple of the songs. I am a sentimental man when it comes to art.



Race for the Prize was my favorite song of the night. Got me screaming and crying at the same time. Love the lyrics of this song. So wonderful. Neither of these videos are from our concert obviously. I have found out writing this post that in South Korea I cannot upload videos to my YouTube account. And it takes way too long to put videos on facebook or blogger, so I tried to grab some good ones from other shows. Enjoy! "They're just humans with wives and children..."



After the joyous concert we met Lazer and Laurie and went to Hongdae. It is the hip spot, lots of bars and nightlife. It was an awesome area. Nothing that hopping in Busan. Seemed really sweet, and I was jealous being there because I know it would be really easy to d.j. in Seoul, and I am having no luck for the moment in Busan. We saw some awesome bars though.





Jeff led us to this underground hippie hookah bar, there was a nice world beat dj throwing down some fresh jams i recognized. And they had bongos and a drum set that anyone could play along with. The place was dead when we entered and by the time we left it was a packed dance-a-thon with foreigners and koreans getting down. It was a cool club. I would have liked to spin there for sure. Maybe in the future Lazer can hook it up for me. Seemed like he knew everyone there.



The next day we woke, chilled for a bit, took ridiculous showers in Lazer's bathroom. Seriously the strangest setup I've ever witnessed. The man is a true bohemian. We went back to the Seoul station and we saw this sweet group of Peruvians jamming the sweet styles. I threw out a loud, "Bravo, que buena!" I think they were quite pleased to hear someone speaking their language.




We returned on the KTX like wizards out the dungeon, a la John Matthew Walker. We made it home safe and sound. A classic journey. Took some time to enjoy the view of Busan when we arrived home.

Spoon - Small Stakes (Downpressor Dub) by manateemann

Spoon - Small Stakes (Downpressor Dub) by manateemann

Academy Couture : Hwamyeoung Student Fashion, Part Deux

Winter is coming. That means a whole new world of style. Out with the boring patterns of yesterday. It's time to layer up. So dust off your scarfs and your sweatpants... We're traveling into a winter wonderland.

Eggnog anyone?



Tim is in control. The harsh temperatures will not be bothering this young Elite 5 student. He's got it covered with a nice mock turtleneck and jacket combo, a pencil placed ever so haphazardly in his mouth as if to say... "What? Me worry?"



It was the best of times. They were the best of friends. Angel and Rachel look warm and snug in their tiny classroom. Angel with the espresso addidas throwback kicks and pink peacoat. And Rachel leaves little doubt as to whether she really is an "Adorable Happy Smile Master." We're not arguing. Girl Power!



This is John. John dresses terribly. John is out of his mind.



He might look docile, but his outfit suggests a pre-teen with all the right moves and enough energy for an 8am to 8pm day of classes. Brian's got every look covered with this little ditty. A Multi-colored striped polo hidden under a "Famous Beagle: Snoopy" jacket. You might think you've stayed under the radar, Brian, but trust us. Our eyes are open.





It's tiring looking as good as Deon. Therefore, his eyes are never open. And by "never" we mean "always not."



Whether in uniform or quasi-uniform, this crew of dudes gets the job done. Peter, Jun, Hugh, and Jordan are the big men on campus and only come down to floor seven for their remedial classes. But there's nothing remedial about the style selections here. Always cool. Always classic. Always hagwon.



All clothes in Academy Couture are designed and you can purchase them from our sponsor store... Teenie Weenie.

Life Lessons

I made this mix late into the night, inspired by Bruce Lee, philosophy, Krishnamurti, and all sorts of sweet music that I have been listening to lately. It is hard to take time out for yourself sometimes, to just stop, look around, relax, and breathe deep. I took some time to make this. I hope you enjoy it.

also check this out.

teaching without teaching; the way of no way.

Bruce Lee is a hero of mine. For his physical abilities, but mostly for his mental and philosophical power. The guy was basically as close as any human has ever come to being Yoda. When he died he was wearing an chain around his neck and on that chain it was inscribed "Use the way of no way, no limitation as my limitation." I try to live by these words, but alas, I am just a young jedi and I do not know my course in this life. So far the path has led me to Southern Korea to the ancient city of Busan to instruct other younglings the arts of English. I correct their mistakes with red pen. I instruct. I tell them "repeat after me... I like hamburgers. I don't like sushi..." But every once in a while grammatical mistakes come along so beautiful and perfect that there is no need for teaching, or corrections, but not unlike Bruce Lee, "I intercept their emotional content."

Fine Dining

We went to this fancy Italian restaurant in Nampodong. It's a big shopping and dining district in Busan. We were surprised. The food was excellent actually, and they had a real brick oven to make their New York style pizzas in. It was delicious. The wine was good. The beer was fresh and on tap. (Good beer is hard to come by in this god forsaken place) But you can't always escape mistakes when cultures clash. See below...


Kinda vague right? Ummm... There's lots of different types of swimming crap Korea. Jeez.

Academy Couture : Hwamyeoung Student Fashion

Fall is here. A season of warmth. Of substance, style. All the top designers flock to Busan each fall season to show the colors, and patterns, and designs that will be breaking new ground for image conscious english student. Here are just some of the hottest trends making there way through the hallways. Doubt it not, these fashions will be making their way across the pacific to a mall near you sooner than you can say "pepero."

This is Smith. His friends call him Smith. He calls himself Smithuuu. Oversized jacket, shiny, puffy style. Totally hot right now. This jacket says "I don't care about labeling. I do what I want. Age ain't nothing but a number." or "This really belongs to my Dad." Either way, we love it.

See Kitty. See Kitty draw. See Kitty walk...down the runway. Yes. Kitty is really warm. Kitty is really happy, wearing this seasons hottest item, the cape pancho. Sleeveless attitude for the girl on the go. "I don't have time for sleeves, I've got songs to sing, and candy to eat." Love.

Alex doesn't care about you. He doesn't care about what you think. He's too busy looking incredible in sweats with a laid back stance. Puffy jacket again keeps him warm, and this time it's close to the right size. His velcro sneakers say it all. "I'm casual. Leave me be. I'm a genius."

Amy was punk before punk was punk. Mismatched checker pattern button up, like multiple tablecloths sewn together by Malcolm Maclaren himself. "I'm fun. I rock. Peace." Classic chuck taylors on her feet with skinny jeans. A classic look. Great for the fall hagwon classroom. She does her homework. We're giving her an A+.

New people.

It's always sweet when there are new people to meet. I have a new member in my family. My niece was born two days ago. Jewel Marcella Mae Joplin. It is hard to be on the other side of the world while she is so brand new and to know that I won't get to see her until she is older. But due to the internet I can see her on webcam. What a crazy world we live in. Technology is out of control. My brother dad to deliver her in his own house, they were going to go the midwife route, but he couldn't get her in the car to drive her there. Incredible story. He's basically a doctor now. I guess some things you don't need technology for. He had to use a shoestring to catch the umbilical cord. What??? Some things just stay analog I guess... but this track is a mix of the two, old school analog, with new school digital.

PacMan

Manny P. must be the nicest dude on Earth. He gave a shot to a guy who was caught cheating in boxing by putting cement in his gloves. He gives this guy a shot at the vacant title. Why would anyone do that? He fights him in Texas, a stadium filled with Mexicans. What Don King cat would be down with any of this? This man is saving boxing singlehandedly. He absolutely pummeled Margarito tonight, so sad all i got was the replays on espn, but in his interview he doesn't talk any of that I'm the kind of the world trash. He says it was a good fight. He talks about how tough an opponent Margarito was. "Boxing isn't about killing each other, it is about entertaining everybody." What a classy dude. And what an incredible boxer. Just incredible. He also has one of the sickest nicknames in his home country. Pambansang Kamao, National Fist. He's the Muhammad Ali of our generation, or so they say. All I know is, he makes me proud to be Filipino.

Jam, Jam, the Jimmy, Jam, to the Jimmyjam Jam Jam on!