홍대 Hungover creations~

     홍대 is back, and in full force. Ugh~ devilish chocolate bar!!
There are always a few things that hit my mind faster than a shot of soju, 홍대 is: lots of dancing, lots of drinking, lots of laughing, and some sort of hangover. It's not always guaranteed that all of these things will happen, but being prepared for at least 80% is a smart thing to do.
     The past few weekends have granted me a "next morning" glory of groggy cooking, simple (or uncomfortably complex) head-healing noms. Here's nearly everything~ (I'm still stuck cooking with my eyes...ugh the repeated meals~)

green pea and chickpea white pepper hummus, whole grain mustard, smoked tempeh, sprouts, spinach, lettuce, and cucumber on balsamic toasted foccacia (from The Baker's Table)~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

red lentil, green pea, and torn tofu dahl~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

spicy cheezy (nutritional yeast) ramen, loaded with broccoli, carrots, and garlic along with chick'n style tofu~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

the best "pick-me-up" tea~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

premix 콩나물비빔밥 (soybean sprout bibim bap)~ photo taken by VeganBeats

post mix  콩나물비빔밥~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)  

     And the best cure for any 홍대 hangover (whether from too much fun, dancing legs shake, sleep deprivation, eye spoilings, etc.) kick it with your friends, spend the day laughing in bed, snuggle up~ 

Hongdae, kill me, love me~ you are my chocolate bar

     Beyond the realms of soju, crap beer, and all around inebriated debauchery, Hongdae is a place of positive (though pained) moments in my Seoul-ife. When I first got here, every weekend involved at least four hours in the Hongdae streets/ clubs/ park, etc kicking it with friends, guzzling coffees, rockin' hips, observing too many sweaty, pretty people. Hongdae is covered in clubs, littered in themed cafes, spotted with hofs and restaurants, and drenched in creative and artistic expression. Once you arrive in Hongdae, your liver prepares itself, while your brain exercises a bit more energy (must articulate a bit right), and you automatically accept that you will not be getting home anytime before 4am.
     I'm in a reminiscent place of being, as much as my head and sleep schedule tends to be hurting and hankering from Hongdae's grand influence~ it's got a bruised place in my cavity. It's has held a lot of positive events and experiences and has made some relationships either begin or grow a frazzled more-secure.
     This past weekend I revisited my dancing grounds, my old stomping place. It wasn't planned, but like candy and a child...denying the opportunity is near impossible. Hongdae started off early, Pol, David, Chris, and I chilled in a darkly lit bar and watched an amazing concert DVD, we all could have stayed watching it all night...but we had to rally out. (Check out Fishmans, A Piece of Future).
     Next was a self-service bar where more friends joined, wines and beers swallowed, and somehow in that swill, a club was decided upon...and where else would we go but Gorillas, right?! Now, I realize and recognize when it comes to a classy club, this one doesn't make it to the top (throw in any number) but it's where my club Seoul began.
     Gorilla has three different club/bar venues, the original Papa Gorilla >.<#, Mama Gorilla, and Big Baby Gorilla, we all went to Big Baby and the location is a bit jarring. It's in a garage! The crowds pretty young, music is the same (at all three), dancing is a plenty, drinks are cheap (though they were weak this time around), I felt out of place...I felt old...but all I needed was to dance. Buckets, shaking, laughing, and hours later...I found myself on the subway home this morning at 6:30...Hongdae, you always do this!

Ooh~ but this time I around, I left with three new changes...

green eyes~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

blue eyes~ (photo taken by VeganBeats)

purple eyes (photo taken by VeganBeats)

make up playing (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Hungover Sunday was make up playing and some baking...check it out!

coconut vanilla muffins (photo taken by VeganBeats)

matcha coconut almond muffins (photo taken by veganBeats)

     These are both coconut vanilla and cinnamon muffins, the one on top is almond and the other is matcha almond~

    

Two Gallants in Hongdae!

     Saturday evening was filled with birlliant music, Two Gallants came from the states to DGBD (DRUG) in Hongdae. The opening bands were Table People and On Sparrow Hills. The opening bands were great and Two Gallants were...breathtaking!
     Jaxs is seriously their biggest fan in these parts and it brought me back to high school to listen to some DANK talent again, and with Jaxs of course.

Here are some shots from the show...check them out, see them live...Do IT!

On Sparrow Hills (photo taken by VeganBeats)

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats

My favorite song is "Nothing to You"~ I've listened to Two Gallants fro a bit, but what they delivered blew everything out of the water. So thankful they came to Seoul, and shared their brilliance with this peninsula!

more shows for these ladies! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Seoul Zombie Walk 2011

     As the air chilled our spines and the winds gently hissed in our ears
it was time to fright, to set off thousands of fears...

     Seen throughout Seoul were dozens of very sick individuals. They were presumed merely delusional until a group of innocent bystanders were brutally attacked and savagly disemboweled.
     When medics arrived on the scene to their shock the victims rose up and attacked the medical team. Leaving no survivors. As hours passed the community of attackers grew and more innocents fell victim to this un-dead epidemic.

This is a Seoul-wide Warning, please remain inside and do not leave the premises until further notified. These individuals are both highly dangerous and contagious. This epidemic occurred last year...Until further notice, here are images caught throughout this Seoul Zombie Walk.

seemingly placid (photo taken by VeganBeats)

seeking out prey (photo taken by VeganBeats)

they have taken over the metro (photo taken by VeganBeats)

hungry (photo taken by veganBeats)

weapons will NOT protect you (photo taken by VeganBeats)

they WILL woo you (photo taken by VeganBeats)

food, now (photo taken by VeganBeats)

A newly made un-dead (photo take by VeganBeats)

warning (photo taken by VeganBeats)

some carry swords (photo taken by VeganBeats)

they will not stop (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Please be careful...no matter how kind they look or sorry you may feel for them you must protect yourself and your family....

final screen shot (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Hongdae taps~

     This past Monday while in 홍대 there are always a slew of creators trying to pitch something, practice, show their talents...
     I love seeing artists do their thing!~

And this guy was very skilled with his feet!

    creators inspire me to also get on it!!

Puzzle cafe in Hongdae!

     I all too often wander the streets on 홍대 in a drunken stupor, laughing with friends and soaking up the 소주 steamed streets. Always during the evening, and generally on weekends, I find myself in this area. Nearly every weekend, I state to myslef I won't end up there, but...it happens. 홍대 is a night thing, and a drunk thing. Without some drinks swishing in your gut, and a light hazy glow protecting your nose, the smell of drying vomit, mountains of trash, and rotting cigarettes is completely intolerable.
     But yesterday I found myself there during the day. I know there are a lot of cafes tucked in the corners of these college streets and I found one accidentally that tickled my fancy. Cafe Puzzle!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     As a kid I would spend hours spoiling my OCD tendencies by figuring out puzzles and reorganizing colors, by shapes, by numbers of edges, etc. I love puzzles, I like concentrating, focusing, and keeping myself busy. It's also a great way to keep your brain exercising a little bit.

photo taken by VeganBeats

     This cafe is quaint and cozy! There are big windows that let in a lot of sunlight and big comfy love-seats. When you order a drink, you can choose from hundred of puzzles and just play around!

photo taken by VeganBeats

     This cafe serves some food items, and I'm not sure if it is the most vegan friendly. I have to be honest, I was overwhelmed with puzzle options that my eyes didn't leave shelves...but there are some treats available to the vegetarian crowd! (cakes, muffins, etc)

photo taken by VeganBeats

     I got an Americano and a panda puzzle, and went crackin. The Americano was nice, not very strong and a bit pricey (5,000W)! Regardless...I think it was worth it, the cafe is a great idea!

photo taken by VeganBeats

Location: Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong, 345-7 3 cheung (마포구 서교동 345-7 3층)
Directions: Hongdae University station, line 2, get out at exit 9. Take a left and walk straight, you will see Man Studio, take that left and walk straight. Across from Primo Bacio Baci, Cafe Puzzle is on the 3rd floor!
Phone #: 02-325-3033
Cafe Puzzle blog (in Korean)



     And just like that...홍대 makes me fall in love with it...

Oh...at night, I came back. >.<#

Revisiting Hongdae...night and day~

     Last night, Saturday night, after Big Phony (I'll write about that later!) I wandered over to Hongdae. This makes it Hongdae two weekends in a row, after a MAJOR Hongdae break...and still, the end result is the same. Too much maekgoli and a massive headache in the morning...followed by the stomach swiveling dance that leaves you nauseous for hours.
     This morning wasn't awful, and somehow I woke up with only an hours sleep under me belt. Have you ever had water make waves inside your stomach? Inebriated me was smart, over 3 liters of water, and probably well over five pounds of water sitting in my gut, my head was fine...but my stomach, ugh my stomach. I started the morning with the hangover musts, shower, coffee, and sunlight. I know food would usually be on that list, but...no, never on my list. Just coffee, black, bitter, acidic coffee.
     I thought I was taking my time, hell I had time to kill until I had to wander over to Hongdae again. I did everything slowly, made the effort to do everything mindfully, but everything took me less than an hour. It was 7:30 am, and I had five hours until I would be returning to the town that reeks of stale liquor and vomit.
     Going to Hongdae during the day is always a trip. I feel like a vampire forced into the sun when I'm there, my eyes stretch thin, there's a scent that punches me in the face, my skin hurts, my brain automatically starts to throb once I get there. Hongdae is so different when there's day involved. It's strange to see sober people there, and as disgusting as it sounds, and is, the scent of vomit is so prominent and overwhelming. I was meeting up with Hyunwoo Sun (of talktomeinkorean.com) for an interview and on the way, I swear I could have played hopscotch on all the dried remains of food and alcohol particles. Hongdae for many (not just myself) is covered in a drunken haze, and is so connected to all night drinking and partying and sloppiness. During the day, when there's sunlight, and you can't hear 'Americano' pumping at every corner, it's more than foreign, it's bizarre and...even intimidating.
     The land is deserted territory. I find myself feeling challenged whenever I go to Hongdae, day or night. Either way, I feel like I cash in a lot of brain cells and up the idiocy. Even if I am sober, I find myself slurring, or feeling drunk. It's a social response attached to this town. This is why, for so long I have avoided this area. I know how I will feel, how I will wake up, and how stupid I feel after. I don't take part in anything dangerous, or credibly churlish, but I just feel dumber.
     Anyways, I found this picture from last night, and saw this no street stand today!

fruit, pineapple, watermelon, melons...this is MY kind of stall! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     My rant is over, today's interview was great, and we got to kick it at Bau House. A doggie cafe located in Hongdae (of course) with loads of puppies and dogs. I've gone here before and love chilling with the pups...but it's a bit difficult to concentrate. 

lovely! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

my sleepy neighbor (photo taken by VeganBeats)

     Sunday is rounding out to an end...more to come...keep an eye out!!!

stumbling on prosthetics

     I've been trucking around my camera only to take zero pictures, essentially pointless additional weight 야? Last evening was a fun one...pleasant in some terms. I went to Azure Ray with the ladies and was rather late for the show...Oops! It was at a hall that was a bit difficult to find and at a station kind of out of the way...but still, calming show.The show was calming, very relaxing but created some inner reflection and general consideration. The singer's voices are beautiful in a very organic way...pure honest genuine. It was the first time they played in Seoul and I feel they did a pretty good job. I wouldn't say they pumped me up for a raging evening...but they are worth listening to! ahhh indie ^^*!~
     After that the ladies and I kicked it over to a social networking party (??) called Danny's party...maybe I would have enjoyed it more if it was a little less congested...
     As much as I enjoy people, I have a hard time being comfortable amongst a new community, not that I am shy or unable to communicate more...overwhelmed. I like my small crews, the groups of people I know, am well-associated with. Apologies in advance, slightly negative this morning. There's barely any light coming into my apartment and I woke up a tad later than I would have preferred...(9 am a opposed to 7...womp womp)
     The whole crew was at Danny's party and it was wonderful seeing them but...I can't put my finger on it...drastically uncomfortable, strange. There was an extreme abundance of people, awkward positionings of people attempting conversations, "hello's" "How are you?" etc etc etc. A forced connection...or attempt to provide a connection...not in romantic senses or that kind of interest more so introducing Koreans to foreigners...it felt so, forced. I know I've used "forced" now several times already~ unnatural.
     The inevitable truck to 홍대 happened and instance of arrival~ coffee shop. After coffee met with some more people, wandering...Hof chilling, talking. Balanced small gathering...Then home.
     I usually love LOVE 홍대 but this time around...although I LOVE my friends, and this isn't to be hateful or at all negative-- I wish I coffee shopped it.
     I've been to 홍대 so many times at night and have done the assumed and expected 홍대 things, enjoying the cafes and artsy jazz I've yet to fully experience. I've been during the day a few times but there are so many corners of this tightly packed town to discover and explore more of.
     In addition to my present state of thought(s) and feeling(s)...loving Seoul, truly loving it; I'm not ready to leave or peace at all..but change, ㅎㅎㅎ more change for the familiar. I don't want to go to the states, hell even chill there for a bit...there are those I miss and love and want to be with again, but it's more so that grounding, that comfort I miss. I want so much to share this with well...I'm living here and doing things, being active engaged and involved but I recall being so...alive once. Pumping with genuine excitement, eagerness, joy. Not depressed, but missing some points. Still missing limbs, rather unbalanced...these prosthetic attachments still leave me wobbling.
     How long will I be using cruches until I can stand straight? Will these missing limbs ever be replaced...not 100% and haven't been feeling like portions of who I am have been filling in, I'm listening to fun. right now and it feels as if the horns and drum sections are playing into my chest and merely rolling into a pit and sliding out upwards...like an ampitheatre buried in my sternum...

healing isn't going to just happen...

홍대,진구 time, and food cracking ^^*!~

     After a couple days of heavy family time, this woman was craving some 친구 time...and of course my body was missing some serious dancing, which means~>홍대!!
I've generally nervous about going to 홍대, which sucks, because I do really love that part of town. There is so much life, things to do, places to check out, and funky nooks...along with really interesting people, not to mention a whole slew of cafes!! People watching is never disappointing when in 홍대!!
     I haven't been as active as I should be and that has been heavily reflecting my general mood, endorphins need to be shaken up. I get in this cycle of feeling really self-conscious and uncomfortable so I don't go outside, and then I am not active, and my endorphins aren't being built up or anything...continuous. Anyways, dancing and 홍대 and time with friends is all you need to fix that up ^^*!~
     Anyways, met up with Stephie and some new friends and we wanderd into Mama Gorillas, yes, the owner's of Papa Gorillas have opened a NEW lounge bar about three minutes from the original location. It's really chill, lots of tables, and dancing poles...it was pretty dead a bit early...I usually don't hit it to 홍대 until 11:30 or midnight, was there around 11...but it picked up! Then to the staple place, my original kick it spot, Papas...needless to even say, 소주, lots of dancing,  pump worthy music, and good crew. It was a little slow, so we went back to mamas to meet up with some more of our crew, eventually ended up back at papas..more dancing, more laughing, and as always...didn't get home until 8am...
ahhh 홍대 사랑하요!!
     Won't go into detail, but positive directions, positive moves...
          Then earlier today met up with a new 진구 over at 혀화 statin for some coffee and chill time. Productive day, got my walking, my dancing, my laughing, and my movement in....
Anyways, being a vegan blog (if I did the math, I feel like this may sadly become a 홍대 love blog...eeeeehhh) here some vegan noms I made up a while ago~>

I got a bit motivated and on account that I'm moving soon (Woot woot^^*!~) I thought I'd better get to doing something with the gluten flour I had sitting snuggley in my cabinet...so made a load of seitan steaks...

seitan! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

 I have to work on mastering this, they came out really juicey and full of flavor...but they almost broke apart, I baked (cough toasted several time sover cough), pan friend, and steamed a bunch...ehhhh

호박전 (photo taken by VeganBeats)

 Classic, easy, and reminds me home...zucchini pancakes...^^*!~

random steamed 야채 with a soy sauce garlic glaze (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Steaming veggies is all too easy and simple...This was a lot of spinach, cabbage, turnip, a bit of mushrooms, and loads of garlic!!! The sauce was a simple 2:1 mixture of soy sauce and sesame oil, about 1T sesame seeds, 1-2 cloves of garlic, 1tsp of agave nectar, and 1-2 tsp of hot pepper flakes...^^*!~
It's Saturday and this woman is straight up chilling...finished a book today, hung out with friends, wandered, explored, did some yoga...wrote....and drank plenty of tea and coffee....

and about to hold my own dance party...soon enough, I will be closer to people...준개 you suck...)O:

Future artists of Korea...eh maybe....most likely ehhh

Another weekend has passed...and too quickly at that. I made into the town I love, and willingly admit, it is my second home...홍대, how I love thee, hate thee, can't run away from thee...

This time around though I met with the crew at Club Freebird for some indie music....and only managed to sit through barely two sets...was not feeling the indie scene. Coming from Btown Vermont, there are only so many Urban Outfitters garbed up thick sunglass wearing hipsters I can take.

Don't we look like we're having a blast?! (photo taken by VeganBeats)

 This was before the knee socks and leg warmers....

photo taken by VeganBeats

If the performances were tolerable I may have stayed but...ugh. The entertainers seemed ill prepared. Like they sat at home overlaying cheap tracks and spoke in Konglish along with uttering 'yeahs' and 'uhuhs' whenever a bass line thumped. Add in some air humps, knee socks, and arm warmers...indie show.
again, UGH.
Plus, the "free drink ticket" was for cass beer (yech), water, or a small container of juice....serious. Give me my cover back....and my time.

peace...So Jaxs, Patricia and I decided to wander outside and let our legs take us somewhere....anywhere.....
Papa is right next to the place, was so tempted but knees said "elsewhere"...maybe mama's?
Got caught by some kids...yes, kids...that wanted to practice their English skills...Hit up a hof and listened to them tell us of their acting, singing, and rapping dreams...
These kids were babies....I felt like an 이모 instead of a 누나. >_<#
This whole experience was more comical than enjoyable, 소주 for dinner though helped me go through with this ridiculous experience, the toleration of Korean boy singing dreams..."태민 칭구" please....

 This was all together ridiculous, drunk uncomfortable, thankful for my girls next to me....only in Korea...really...ONLY in Korea this one time. I will not spend any time outside of my office listening to self-promotion of kpop hopefuls.

the future actors and entertainers of Korea....(photo taken by VeganBeats)

thug life (photo taken by VeganBeats)

Okay, they weren't kids, but I felt seriously old...Korean ageism is really getting to me. And compared to my fellow highschool graduates I should be married and making babies, and preparing them for Feehan...right?

Another evening in 홍대 left me with a series of strange experiences, collected discomfort and of course, 소주....

"I always get like this when I go to 홍대."