I had iTunes on random, and it happened upon a close-to-perfect playlist when it played Dr. Dre, followed by They Might Be Giants.
Here’s the precise song order:
1. Dr Dre – Bitch Niggaz
2. They Might Be Giants – I am a Grocery Bag
I found it sorta fitting I was in Korea when this happened.
For anyone having trouble making the distinction between people from different countries within Asia…
I went to see some new Asian cinema at the Pifan International Fantastic Film Festival. All the volunteers got a real kick out of seeing a whitey at their cute little event. They were in clumps of six or seven around the district, and one would say something in Korean. I do the natural thing and say “Annyong Hasseyo”, hello in Korean, only to be met with wails of laughter.
Anyhow I survived. There was a NZ section of films, an Audrey Hepburn section as well as an Italian 60s horror special! On this day I got to see a special press Q & A for “Wicked Flowers”, a new Japanese indie film, with the director (who looked like the main star!) and the two main cast.
One of the organisers who helped me with directions over the phone came up to me afterwards to chat, and ended up driving me to the next event which was a screening of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” set to a live accompaniment of a Korean electronic and singong artist. At first I thought, oh Jesus, he’s just playing a NIN CD! But as the sounds twisted and turned, his voice sounding like a power tool industrial instrument, I realised I was witnessing something pretty fucking amazing.
Many dudes here whizz around the streets on motorcycles and scooters. A few ride with just the one hand, in the other they hold a large metal box by the handle.
I’ve always wondered what they were. Well, sitting in a bar in Hondae a couple of nights ago, one of these guys parks his scooter outside the bar and waltzes in with his large silver box and precedes to unload 2 ceramic plates of fried rice covered with glad wrap, followed by maybe 6 or 7 of the ubiquitous side dishes.
Turns out they’re Chinese take-away delivery guys. He’ll return in just under 2 hours to collect the plates. and all this for two for about W8000 (maybe $11.80).
Service!
My boss lighting up a ciggie during my job interview.
Stunning looking subway ads.
Dinner in Gwangheungchang.
