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| Multi-function building, Seocho Gu, Seoul. |
Sunday 31 July 2011
Korean Convenience - Brilliant
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| Restaurant convenience - wireless remote control for ordering drinks, one button for beer, one for soju. So simple, so effective. |
Saturday 9 July 2011
What happens when an Umbrella gets trapped in the subway doors??
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| When the doors open, you find that the handle has been whipped off! |
Thursday 7 July 2011
"Kinda like Ambasa".... I should have known better!
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| Another dodgy-tasting 'milk based' drink, Asia doesn't do dairy well! |
Friday 1 July 2011
Live life to the fullest!
There is an old adage “an Englishman’s home is his castle” which basically gives insight into how important a house for the average British person is. Home ownership is much higher in the UK than in many other European countries (UK 67%, Germany 47%, Times source) where a much greater proportion rents or simply lives in apartments.
In Seoul where I live in a relatively small apartment since I moved to Korea I find that I miss having a house more than anything else (even Ambrosia Rice pudding!). When I find myself paying the same amount in rent for a one-room loft apartment that I paid to share a five bedroom house with three people in London I wonder about the nature of housing and even what living is all about.
From a social perspective I am not a ‘homely person’ per se, I enjoy being out and about exploring new places and meeting people. I would say that relative to most people, I do not require an overly comfortable or cosy place to live. I would happily sacrifice some creature comforts and space if I was saving money in rent. Although the overall cost of living is lower in Korea, rent that is in real terms more expensive than in London is clearly not beneficial for the local population.
This brings us neatly to the question (without getting too philosophical…) of what living is all about? I heard that in Hong Kong and Shanghai the size of most people’s accommodation is so small that they are more inclined to work longer hours because their place is without AC and less comfortable then the modern office. This is obviously good news for companies to get more out of their employees but is having your office more attractive than your home really a good thing? If most urban people consider their home only to be a place for sleeping then additional decorations and luxuries seem superfluous.
Over the past few years in living in several places I have created a shortlist of ‘must-haves’. These include a good shower, comfortable bed and quiet environment (at least at night). Comfortable bed is one that can be relatively easily improved yourself, good shower is a case of testing before moving in, and quiet environment is choosing the right location in the first place. My list however highlights the main uses of my home- sleeping and washing, perhaps that is all I need…
In Korea it is rare for people to visit other people’s living spaces, to be invited is considered an honour. Personally ever since I left school I have always wanted to spend more time at people’s homes, hanging out instead of going out, but adults do this very infrequently. Some friends of mine recently bought a café, not for commercial purposes but as a space for themselves, picture Friends buying the café they meet in called Central Perk. They have created a place where they can go anytime they like and will most probably see their best friends, which I think is ideal.
I used to say that I want a house in New York, Berlin, London, Tokyo and Rio but now I am not so sure. Maybe I will move into a “goshiwon” or 고시원, which is basically a home as big as the bed that fills 80% of it and costs only $250 per month. For now I am going to focus on living life.
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