Insight Into Insadong

Apparently, I just walked and followed my friend without knowing where we're heading to...

"Oh?! Really! Insadong?" A bit surprised as I didn't know that a short 15 minutes walk from Samcheongdong through this quaint alley of Gamgodang-gil will lead us to Insadong.

"Have you been to Insadong?" he questioned me before we crossed the road to Insadong.

"Yes! Of course... You brought me here before." a bit irritated when answering him. Yeah, he must be joking! Tell me how could I have missed it? Insadong is such a popular place, and he's the one who brought me here too, how could he forget so fast?! 헐~!!! 

"Oh... me? did I?" I didn't notice his expression when he answered me.

"Yap~! We visited the art gallery in the evening." quickly turned my head to check whether I'm walking with the correct person?! or by any chance he didn't tell me that he's an actor (with such a good acting skill)?!

... (silent)

"Remember? on my previous trip last September." I started to worry for him! It's normal if I forget things easily. My sister and my friends concluded that I've Alzheimer disease. But, I still remember clearly, and he totally forgot about it? 어떻게?!  How?!!  He might be suffering quite serious short-term memory loss!

Just about to search the photos in my HP to prove that we're there...

"Oh~!"  when he replied softly and nodded his head few times after silent for awhile.  Sounded like it's just for the sake of answering me. Anyway 다행이다~! Thanks God! He finally recalled it! ^^

But less than a minute, he suddenly said: "I thought that's in Itaewon?!" 

OH?!! Wait for a second! Let me recollect and checked my mind. I did come to Insadong (ticked). I visited Art gallery and it's in I~~~iitaewon (ticked confirmed)!!!

"Yeah hor~! It's Itaewon! Yeah~! You shouldn't have nodded your head and said ooh when you're not sure. Haiz!" Actually I was angry at myself and just babbling to hide my embarrassment of this stupid mistake. Aigoo Aigoo~!!

대박~! Imagined his expression when he was answering me... He must had raised his eyebrows and scratching his head (-_-a) with lots of question marks hanging above his head.

Aish~ It's so embarrassing, Vera! how could you mixed-up Insadong and Itaewon?! Are you a joker?! I need to have power to disappear at that moment!!! Ha...haaaiiizzz!!! HELP!!! Where should I hide myself?!  진짜 진짜 부끄럽다!

Please excuse my brain, it's half frozen and unable to process the information correctly due to cold weather. Added with both 'Insadong' and 'Itaewon' start with letter "I", made my brain more confused and haywired ㅠㅜ. 

Ok, enough with this awkwardness!  >.<

Perfect place for Art lovers and popular place for tourists

Insadong is the place for you to experience the traditional aspects of Korea in the heart of the city. This district is especially popular for art galleries, traditional craft stores, antique art dealers, where you can find old Korean paintings, ceramics and traditional furniture.

It's nice to stroll along Insadong main street as it's vehicle- free. In this buoyant neighborhood, you'll soon see the iconic modern contemporary Ssamziegil building.

'Ssamzie' (쌈지 = 'money pouch' in old korean), 'gil' (길 = road or street)
However, people may consider ssamziegil as shopping mall rather than road

Ssamzie is an abstract word implies a 'Street filled with Ancient items'. Ssamziegil’s footpaths run alongside the shops like a winding staircase around the courtyard, reminiscent the alleyway in Insadong. 

There are about 70 shops including handicraft stores, souvenir shops, 

art galleries, workshops and restaurants in this shopping complex.

My friend told me that Insadong is very traditional and cultural area, therefore you can see that majority of the signboards are written in Hangul or translated into Hangul. 

Starbucks Coffee (스타벅스 커피) 

And when Starbucks opened in Insadong, people came and queued here just because it's the only Starbucks in the world with the logo written in Hangul. 

It was about 6 pm and temperature just keep dropping. It's really really cold for me. My 'kind-hearted' friend still offering whether I would like to have ice-cream! But, he's forgiven for teasing me, as he's quite considerate and gave me hot packs though I told him that I have them in my bag.

Did I come to Insadong before? 

Yes, I was here for my Hanbok photoshoots in Goguan studio (please click the link for the proof).

We walked from beginning to end of Insadong... My friend said he has some works to do, so I just followed him as I got nothing to do. If I wandering around myself, I worried it might troubled him more to locate me if I lost my way :P 

Hollys Coffee facing Cheonggyecheon Stream

While he's busy doing his work, me also busy watching 'My Love From Another Star' Ep 19 from Gooddrama. Well, I don't recommend it, as actually it's not that glam to laugh out loud or sob inside the cafe. For this, I have to blame on Cheon Song Yi's hilarious, crazy but somehow she's sensible in this episode.

It's quite sad when Song-yi asked Do Min Joon to sing a song for her that will make her think of him in the future, and make him think of her. The song that they can treasure for long~~ long time. Do Min Joon sang a song ('Promise' by Im Byung-soo), and proposed to her... Finally!!! 

Though, she's very happy to receive the proposal, but then she calls his name, saying, “My beloved Do Min Joon. It’s time for us to wake up from this dream. You, for my sake, exist somewhere. For my sake, don’t die. Exist somewhere. What I’m saying is, Go. To where you were.” ㅠㅠ

Aissh~! raining locally?! Why my face so wet? I'd to jump down from my seat and teleport myself to washroom!

I do admire Song-yi's decision. To know that the person you love is happy, safe and sound somewhere is more than enough... Unconditional love!

Related Posts:
~ Goguan Hanbok Photo Studio
~ Samcheongdong has Something for Everyone~!
~ Bukchon Hanok Village

GoGuan Hanbok Photo Studio (고관 한복 스튜디오)

Received quite a lot of questions from my friends and relatives for my "Gisaeng" photos,  so they can go there to snap some lovely photos donned in hanbok.

Today, I'll update it on my blog, so they can read the details clearer and also saving my time to reply their questions such studio location, rental price, photographer, package,... .

Me wearing beautiful Gisaeng Hanbok at Goguan Studio

Some of you might have known that I was being 'cheated' for signed up for a so called "Wholelife Photography Package" with Naughty By Nature (nbyn) in year 2007. Well, this company closed down and cheated so many customers. I think my package is considered the cheapest, as some of them signed for more than $10K package...

I was so 'naive' to trust them, as I thought it's good that every year we can have family photoshoot. We went there after made an appointment with them on my birthday 09.09.2007. To cut the story short, we did file the case to police and court, but they had fled away. ㅠㅠ

Aaauuww! They're so cute!

  

They just gave us raw photos... I'd to retouched these photos myself.

The second time we went there... in Hanbok costumes.

We only had the CDs for the photos, not even a printed out photo,

as they asked us to take more photos next time, so we can have a have more photos

to select for our photo album!

There are a lot of rental studio (렌탈 스튜디오) in Seoul. I was thinking to go there and have family photoshoot. But, you know, it's quite hard to ask them to pose, unless if there are cute animals or funny objects, else they'll easily get bored and showing their robot faces! 

They didn't want to participate in photoshooting, so instead to rent a studio, I found that there's a nice Go Guan Hanbok Cafe from Seoulistic's blog, but only stated the location. It took me quite a long time to search for the new GoGuan's website. And I finally found it from a blog in Korean language.

I like Korean Traditional Hanbok, wanted to buy it last year when we're in Korea. But, the lady said that the dark purple color is for older woman. Maybe she thought that I was joking with her that I said I have 2 kids. She kept asking me to chose brighter color like pink... ended up I didn't buy it.

I also like to watch Korean Sageuk drama, which they're dressed in hanbok all the time. I love to snap photos to capture happy moments.Just for your information, I have 4000+ photos for these trip. In case if one day I lose my memory, please let me see my photos in Korea or just bring me to Korea... maybe I can recall back my memory after that :P

Wohoo~! We arrived in Korea 1 hour before my birthday! The ultimate happiest day in my life as my wish finally came true. My friends always disturbed me that I was born in wrong country!

Just let me captured these beautiful moments in fun way... Gisaeng outfit!

Please click the above photo to make an Appointment Online

GOGUAN PhotoStudio

Tel: +82 2-790-4224

E-mail : dreamstudio08@hanmail.net

Add: Insadong - 143, Jongno-gu, Seoul

I'd made the appointment online, so when we arrived the guy knew immediately when I said we've appointment. He told his colleague that we're from Singapore! Then he guided us to the 3rd floor to store our belongings, and they just waited for me there...

watching "Running Man" and sipping Korean Traditional Tea

(provided free on the waiting area)

You can write or draw using brush and ink on Hanji (Korean paper)

I was guided me to dressroom on second floor to choose my costume. The wardrobe have partitions to separate different types of Hanbok and the sizes (S,M and L). Then, the lady asked me to choose from Gisaeng (M compartment). Then, she needed me to change my cloth to  Sokchima and Petticoat (Tutu skirt).  After that she covered me with a piece of cloth looks like big 'bib' on my chest, then I've to wait for a while as three make-up artists were busy...

Oh yes, it's pretty crowded that day, a group of 6 Japanese arrived the same timing with us, but they went up first but they just walked-in with no appointment. Few of the staffs understand and converse in good Japanese language.

Ok, it's my turn and the make-up artist asked me the hanbok that I wanted to wear. I pointed to her, and she asked me to sit down and started to make-up my face, then put on the fake eyelashes. Aaahh!!! my eyes felt so heavy, especially I only slept for about 1 hour in jimjilbang! 

Then after bunned up my hair, she helped me to put on the Chima (치마) and Jeogori (저고리). She took  underbust bodice belt (black color long cloth  with flowers emboidery and secured with velcro) and fasten it. 

After that another lady, helped me to pin the Jeogori as it's a bit too big for me. Then she chose  norigae (노리개), traditional ornament and hang it  on my belt. After that she decorated my skirt by pinning it and it looks like tiered waves... love it~! ^^

Tadaa~!!! Me in 'Gisaeng' makeover for photoshooting :P

Ok, time to put the hairwig (가채 = Gachae). Two ladies helped to sit that heavy wig which already decorated with Binyeo (used to fasten a crown or a wig and hold braided hair up) and Dwikkoji (smaller accessories added onto the hair as decoration) on my head.

Heol~~! The wig really heavy and constrained the movements of my neck, especially when tilting or turning my head. 

Then the accident happened! Tried to lay the pillow, but the wig dropped on it before my head reached it. Sigh~ so embarrassing. Though not all noticed that incident, I quickly carried the wig and rushed to the dress room to look for my make-up artist. They looked at me blankly or rather unbelieveable as if asking me whether I just came back from the war?!

So, now I'm really curious how can Gisaeng or Queen wear that heavy wig everyday and for almost the whole day?!! It must be really tiring!

  

Ok, here is the breakdown for this package :

- Experience (One dress + Self photo): KRW 20,000

- Korean Gisaeng (Hwang Jin Yi), Royal dress or Wedding dress: KRW 5,000

- Full make-up: KRW 15,000

- Hair-Setting: KRW 5,000

  Total: KRW 45,000 (SGD 60,000)

  

Package and Price

  

It's quite crowded, therefore we'd to wait and take turn so you won't be capturing other people on your photos. So, we spent about 1.5 hours in GoGuan for these photoshoots. I'd to go else my kiddos will complain that I stop the whole world for taking these photos. :P

  

 GoGuan studio is decorated with 8 themed spots with

Korean Traditional furniture and backgrounds 

  

 

Edited the photos to look like the wall painting on Goguan studio :P

Pretty Jeonmo (전모), an umbrella-shaped hat made of bamboo and paper or cloth

   

Did you watch Hwang Jin Yi or Gu Family Book on how the Gisaeng

perform this charming yet powerful Traditional Korean Drum Dance, either with

3-drum dance (SamGomu/삼고무) or 5-drum dance (Ogomu/오고무)?

  

Uh Ho! What's that on your hand?

Don't play play!!!

  

Add caption

See you again next time~^^

  

   

사랑해요... I love You!

Edited Hair-wig~^^

Hwang Jin Yi

Check out discount coupon from Trazy

Related Posts: 

[Bettl Hanbok] - Travel back in time~!

[Bettl Hanbok] - Travel back in time~!

Experience wearing Kimono in Kyoto.

 

Fusion Hanbok (퓨전한복)


Dangui Royal Court Hanbok Dress  

Gorgeous Gisaeng Hanbok vs Fanciful Fusion Hanbok