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Hey!

Just telling that I will probably not update this blog anymore, but I will continue to post at the hyochan.org blog. Currently there's only posts in Swedish, but most likely I'll start making posts in English too.

Cheers.

Korean music, part 2 - Eve

Eve is one underrated and almost forgotten Korean rock band.

It was founded back in 1998 by lead vocalist Kim Seheon. According to Wikipedia they were active from 1998 to 2007, though Seheon have released more music afterwards in solo projects and collaborations.

Eve - Whenever you feel (1998)


Eve - Agape (2000)


Eve - Ghost school (2003)


Eve - Adrenaline drive (2006)


Eve/Kim Seheon - - (2009) feat. -
Possible solo project. Don't know song title. Anyone?

Facts about me

Ok, I haven't posted anything here in such a long time. Been so busy with studies lately!

Hesitating whether or not to try to update this blog or not. .
Anyway. I figured I could list a few random facts about me!

Random Facts
1. I was born in January, 1985 in Incheon, South Korea.
2. I am actually a shy person. Very shy at times. Especially when meeting someone for the first time.
3. I only speak Swedish and English, which is quite problematic when travelling in Asia, as they expect me to know at least some Asian language.
4. I got my name Hyo Chan from my mothers side. Hyo = Filial piety. Chan = Excellent.
5. When I was younger I didn't like rice. How would I have survived if I had lived in South Korea?
6. I used to go to alot of Anime Conventions. I've got to know alot of friends thanks to it.
7.  I love food. I eat almost everything, and I always overeat.

8. My Swedish name is Johan. Though, I prefer my Korean name. People have some difficulties to pronounce it though.
9. I often fall asleep at random places. A few days ago I closed my eyes while sitting at the computer, and then I woke up lying on the floor.
10. I like anime, even though I haven't watched any lately. My favorite anime is Hikaru no Go.
11. I compose video game influenced music.

12. I love to watch motorsports. Especially Formula car racing, like Formula One. Most entertaining F1 circuit is without doubt Spa Francorchamps.
13. I have two half-siblings in Seoul. One brother, and one sister.
14. One of my first memories was of when I watched the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.
15. I often tend to stay up late at night. Sometimes I don't sleep at all. Very bad habit.
16. I drink alot of Coca Cola. The days I don't drink it I feel like it's something missing.
17. I've had blogs updated frequently since 2004 (in Swedish).
18. Sometimes I wear makeup. It depends on what I wear.


I can't think of more now ^^. If there is something more you want to know, go ahead and ask!

See you! 

Korean music, part 1 - Nell

Ok, so I decided to write a little about what Korean & Japanese music that I like! 

Nell is one of the bands that I think deserve more attention! It's a South Korean band founded in 1999 by Kim Jong-wan (vocals, guitar, keyboard, songwriter, lyric writer), Lee Jae-kyung (guitar), Lee Jung-hoon (bass guitar), and Jung Jae-won (drums). While performing at a club in Hongdae (!) in 2002 they were discovered and signed to a major label. The most recent years they've become well-known in Korea but unfortunately they still seem pretty unknown overseas. 

While in Hongdae I bought two of their albums - Healing Process (2006) & Separation Anxiety (2008). Both very good albums! Most songs are very sad and emotional, and fortunately many of the lyrics are easy to find translated into English! For the moment the band members are in Korean military service, and they will be there until next year (I think). I can barely wait 'til they release another album!

Nell - It's okay (Let's take a walk, 2007)

Nell - Thank you (Walk through me, 2004) - English sub


Nell - Time spent walking through memories (Separation Anxiety, 2008)


Nell - Tokyo (Separation Anxiety, 2008) - English lyrics


Last but not least:
Nell - Promise me (Separation Anxiety, 2008) - live performance

Last day in Seoul

Last day in Seoul, and also the last day of our trip.

We went over to our friends guesthouse cause our friend James treated us to some delicious home cooked lunch!

Really tasty food! 

My Cherry Coke bought at Family Mart. =P

Jonas & Agnes outside Family Mart. 

Rebecca, Yannick & me! 

Rebecca! We went around looking for souvenirs around Hongdae. 

I look really short here o_O. 

Meeting up with Cecilia for the last time this trip! Here at a Japanese restaurant. 

My food. It was really good. 

Tonkatsu sidedish! 

Rebecca & Cecilia at a cafe!

The chairs were really comfortable. Kinda like rocking chairs. 

Best bingsu ever. 

Served with white bread & cream O_O. 

Mmmh... sure tasty. 

Last meal in Seoul. Haha.

Our flight meal. 

Home in Sweden we were obviously VERY tired! We slept in the taxi taking us to Incheon airport, then we slept in the airport waiting for the plane. Then we slept in the plane to Beijing, slept in Beijing awaiting the next plane, slept on the plane taking us to Stockholm and then we slept from Stockholm home to my city Örebro (2 ½ hours) and then we fell asleep when we came home - and were dead tired the day after that. I guess we didn't sleep very well for quite a long time, haha. But it was worth it. We've had a wonderful time!

I will continue blogging even after this trip. See you! ^^

Coffee Prince

Sorry for the lack of updates. I will update more from now on. Promise!

On Saturday (31th of July) we were all really tired. We basically went to Dunkin' Donuts, and then ended up at the other guesthouse playing games at Jonas' new PS3! Nothing more really happened that day since we woke up pretty late. 

Hongdae on a Sunday. There were street performances everywhere. Well... 

We went to the Coffee Prince cafe as featured in The 1st shop of Coffee Prince. Very cool!! It's such a good and sweet drama. 

Some Japanese tourists actually helped us with finding the location of the cafe for us. Really sweet and helpful. They took this photo of us right outside of the cafe. 

Rebecca in front of the cafe. 

Outside the entrance. 

The menu from the drama. Not the real menu that you can order from. 

The "famous" wall painting. 

Yay! 

Photos of some of the actors. 

I've heard there are two Coffee Prince cafes, so be careful to visit the "right" one. 

 Rebecca & I went to Dongdaemun afterwards. Here I'm waiting for the food, obviously very hungry! ^^

At this nice restaurant we ordered some tasty bibimbap. 

 As it was served. Before eating the ingredients should be stirred around well. 

Outside one of many shopping complexes in Dongdaemun. 

And at last - some fun karaoke in late evening. Guess which song they were singing?

30th of July - Seoul!

Finally I got to meet my Korean mom again.

She had cooked food for me!

It was very delicious! I feel very happy to be able to eat the food that my mother made for me. 

In evening we met up with Cecilia & Ringo! We ate some tasty BBQ at a restaurant! 

Cecilia & me waiting for the food. Of course I tried to take a photo of the sidedishes. 

Ringo & Rebecca! 

Heaven...

... and of course bingsu for dessert. 

Later on, around midnight, we met up with our other friends to join the Hongdae Club Day! That means - for one pass (20,000 won) you get access to many of the biggest and best clubs around the area. It was crazy and lots of fun! Unfortunately we didn't take many photos that night, partly because it's prohibited to take photos at many places.

Club... SAAB?!!!

Lee & me! At some random place. 

Oh well, that's all for now. I will update more soon. Promise ;)