K-Performance Supporter: 1st Batch Thank You & 2nd Batch Opening Ceremony + Gangnam K-Pop Concert

I cannot be thankful enough to Korea Tourism Organization for they have spoiled us, the K-Performance Supporters, by giving numerous opportunities to experience variety of performances. I have experienced events that I even did not know before such as Yeosu Expo 2012, Formula 1, Hwacheon Ice Festival, Inkigayo, and not to mention performances such as Jump, B-Boy Kung, Vinari, you name it. Not only I got to experience so many things, but also I got to get many new friends who come from different parts of the world. The last one year was priceless.

The ceremony was awesome. What to whine? We got picked up from the station, luxury ceremony hall, delicious buffet, gifts, plus rare chance to watch concert by the next generation of K-Pop stars. As the gifts, we received some bookmarks, a very cute USB flash drive, and for the first batch members, we got a pair of koreanish-patterned jewelry box.

The gifts: jewelry box, USB flas drive,
and KRW 400,000 worth coupons 

I, myself was very grateful to have been chosen as one of award grantees from the last batch. I was very proud to stand there on the stage and receive my prize. I actually have no idea how big was my contribution to this program, although I always try my best to review honestly, good or bad, about whatever I experienced from this program. I really hope my reviews were indeed a big help for th
em to make K-Performance better.

Even though I did not stay for the concert until it was done, I think it was a pleasure to see the next generation of K-Pop stars. Who knows in the near future they will be everywhere and I would be "hey I have seen those guys' concert". How cool that would be?!

퍼스트 (F1RST) on stage

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More: http://mkfestival.com/gk/index1.php?gubun=en

Hwacheon Sancheono Ice Festival 2013

Since it is the region where the water freezes the fastest in the country and Sancheono (Trout fish) live here, the Sancheono Ice Festival is held every year in Hwacheon, Gangwon-do. Sponsored by BNBHero and Korea Tourism Organization, I had a chance to visit and play at the festival.

Transportation
Have you read my article about BnBHero? It is a website that allows you to search for homestay with local people. Apparently, they have started another feature which is called BnBHero Activity. Here you can choose among activities provided. I actually really like the idea of this feature. One thing that quite difficult, though, is the payment process. I do not know about international cards, but cards that are issued in Korea have a really complicated process, well .. at least for me.

After finish with payment, BnBHero will send email about details of the activity. They even sent me a complete how to go with pictures. They made it so easy to find the meeting point. We met the staff from BnBHero at the bus terminal in Seoul and then went together to Hwacheon.

The Big 5

As soon as we arrived in Hwacheon, we were welcomed by a lady from the festival. She was so sweet and kind. I felt really welcomed in Hwacheon. We got our ticket with 5 recommended places/activities we should go/do.

The first one is illuminated ice sculpture. Before going in, I sort of thought it would be like ice gallery in Insadong which I have visited before, but not really. It was huge and the sculpture were really well made. And it was not as cold as I thought.

There was one extreme thing I did at the festival. Catching the fish on the freezing water with nothing but a T shirt and a short. My feet were literally frozen. The worst part was I did not get any single fish. The best part was I am glad that I did it. It was such an experience

Then we had our lunch which were sushi and fish cutlet plus makkoli (Korean traditional rice wine). I ate so much while actually we had to go fishing after and had to eat fish that we caught.

I thought fishing is a boring thing to do, you just sit there and wait for fish to eat your bait. I did it, i was just waiting and no result. But actually in there it was not supposed to be waiting and catching. You have to hook the fish. You have to constantly pull your string until you feel heavy. I got two fishes and yeah it was water under thick ice and I fished from a small hole. You can imagine it :)

The other things are like sledding and bobsleigh which were ok. I know it was not as fun as the other activities, but since I already there, so.

Other Activities
The one that I like is cart race on thick ice. I have tried the one on the asphalt circuit, but this one is on thick ice! It was pretty slippery but I enjoyed it very much.

There are also hockey and soccer. Surprisingly at the day I visited the festival, there were a lot of soldier having fun with in the festival. It was more like a military camp, lol.

Back to Seoul we then had a barbeque and some drink with BnBHero and KTO. It was a lot of fun back there in the festival and at the barbeque. Thanks to BnBHero and KTO.

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[Korea Performance] FantaStick is really Fantastic?

Fantastick is a non-verbal performance. It has story and they mostly play instrument such as drum, flute, etc. I went there with a friend from Indonesia.

The opening and the ending were actually pretty cool because it was really a party. I liked it. The story is actually really general, about love, man and woman, problem arises, they get separated, then they try to solve the problem, more conflict, climax, then they meet again and live happily ever after.

You really should know the introduction of the story, otherwise you will have no idea what is going on. I will give you a head start. The story is about a man and a woman, they love each other. God gave the man a drum and a woman a flute. Too exciting with his drum, the man forgets about the woman. The woman then gets really jealous and broke his drum. God angry and curse the woman and her family (why brings family? lol) to be haunted ghosts and takes her flute. The only way to be human again is to play a perfect song. And the performance starts from here.

Once in a while they give really funny scenes. The story itself is kind of depressing in the middle of the play. Therefore, if you are one of the audiences you will notice that once in a while audiences laugh, then it is silent, then more laughter again. And like any other performances in Korea, they do interact with audience.

Wanna see this one? The theather is located at Kyunghyang Newspaper Building second floor. Take line number 5 and get off at Seodaemun Station and take exit 5. Go straight until you find intersection. It is just across the street. Ticket is KRW 40,000 - 50,000.

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