Author Archives: Ben Maxwell

About Ben Maxwell

Over twenty years experience in creating, developing, and executing promotional and advertising campaigns across multimedia platforms including print, radio, digital, and social media. Broadcast radio manager, programmer, on-air talent/producer, and voiceover artist..

Ice, ice, baby

The Cheat Day that almost wasn’t

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As you know, Sundays are important to me.

Not just because it’s Cheat Day, but back in Cayman it used to be Brunch With Friends Day.  (Which is why it was my Cheat Day vs Saturdays like most other people on the Four Hour Body protocol — they call it Faturday.)

Brunch With Friends Day is not to be confused with Words With Friends, although for some there is a competitive angle (I’m looking at you, Elle).

I’ve tried to do a similar thing here in Korea but it’s been slow getting off the ground.  Not because of anything specific, but seven years of brunching the way we did in Cayman is a tough habit to break.  Jenn & I have a list of the places that we want to check out that allegedly do a brunch we can be fond of and we’ve made some progress.  Butterfinger Pancakes is running slightly hotter than Suji’s at this point.

This past Sunday we were invited over to a neighbor’s place for a in-house potluck brunch.  Jenn had made an egg casserole, and the hostess was making French Toast.  Just as more people were arriving, I felt a slight itch in my right eye, and excused myself to grab something from our apartment.  When I walked in, I went to the sink, washed my hands and then rinsed out my eye.  Or at least I thought I did.

Check out what happened next.  Note the time stamps…

Crazy, right?

At first I thought I had an allergic reaction to something in the neighbor’s apartment, and I took two antihistamines to stop the swelling and then three ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation.

And then I did what any other grown up does in this situation: I called my mommy.

We spoke for a little while, during which time I put an ice pack on my face and waited.

Ice, ice, baby

Ice, ice, baby

As I inspected the eye again, I noticed a little white particle in there and with the way it was reacting I thought that maybe, just maybe, something else had happened instead of an allergic reaction.

I went to the sink, turned the hose upside down and rinsed what I thought could have been soap out of my eyeball.

The swelling started to go down and after a little while resting, I ventured out for some Visine.  Of course they don’t have Visine in Korea but they did have this:

Korean Visine

Korean Visine

And after squeezing five or six drops into the eyeball, it looked like this:

2013-09-01-12.35.29

2013-09-01-12.35.29

Crisis averted.

And since it was Cheat Day, I rewarded myself thusly:

Baskin Robbins Quarterback Crunch

Baskin Robbins Quarterback Crunch

After another hour or so of R&R, Jenn and I decided to make the most out of the rest of the day.

I started with some of this:

Finally got to enjoy these Pain au Levain lovely cookies, Madelines, and cupcakes.

Finally got to enjoy these Pain au Levain lovely cookies, Madelines, and cupcakes.

We then joined up with that neighbor for a trip out to find the I Love Cookie (foreign food mart) closer to us in Suji-gu (which was closed) and something called CostCo Seconds, which is a storefront that sells returned merch from the wholesaler.  After parting ways at the Lotte Department Store in Suji-gu, Jenn & I walked to Jukjeon to the Shinsegae Department Store for some food.

And of course after scarfing our spicy veggies, noodles, and chicken, we perused the grocery store and food court area.

We cabbed home and called it a night…

This weekend is still up in the air but Friday is looking like an Itaewon kinda day/eve.

The Sky Garden on the roof of the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong.

Another few days, another few pics

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Over the past couple of days I’ve managed to walk around southern Suji, switched up some late afternoon Jukjeon plans to go to Jeongja to meet the recently-arrived boyfriend of one of Jenn’s colleagues Thursday, and Friday, went into Seoul to see the Hyundai Department Store’s Sky Garden (lovely review from Seoulsome), and then hang with my friend Nicole.

One thing of note: the illy Art Collection espresso cups.  These Kentridges are my favorite of all the cups they’ve produced in collaboration with various artists over the years.  They’re magic.  And Kentridge is a genius.  I own my second favorite, the Anish Kapoor cups from 2011.  They were a last minute gift to myself on my way out of Cayman.

My old Francis Francis X7 behind two Anish Kapoor 2011 illy Art Collection espresso cups.

My old Francis Francis X7 behind two Anish Kapoor 2011 illy Art Collection espresso cups.

I’ll get into the specifics of how and why I became a fan of the brand someday, but suffice it to say that the fact that they are still on the shelf there speaks volumes.

The afternoon wrapped up at an excellent Mexican place, Julio’s that Nicole took me to.  Excellent fajitas.  Will have to come back with Jennifer so she can try the tacos and/or burritos, because they looked amazing as they came out of the kitchen.

And the experience, at least for Friday, wouldn’t have been complete without witnessing a verbal altercation between a few older men and women on the subway.  Always a fun time to listen in on a conversation that you both don’t understand and completely understand at the same time.

The bloke in the center there was very angry at this woman sitting to the right of the man on the right. There was a shouting match as she exited the subway car. Fun.

The bloke in the center there was very angry at this woman sitting to the right of the man on the right. There was a shouting match as she exited the subway car. Fun.

Tomorrow is the school’s Fantasy Football Draft.  I don’t know if that should be capitalized, but from what I understand, it’s some serious business.  I’m making a chili.

Will let you know how that works out.

 

One more day until Cheat Day… Wish me luck.

 

 

Suji-gu storm grate

One month down

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Jenn & I have been in The Republic of Korea for slightly over one month.

I joked that we left the Rock for the RoK.

I don’t remember what 24 August 2006 was like in Cayman after a month had elapsed, but I will remember 28 August 2013.  And not just because of this blog.  I went for a walk through the same area that Jennifer and I visited the night before for dinner at a Korean BBQ place with a colleague and his fiancee.

So many coffee and cake places it’s truly staggering.

While on the way to that Lotte Department Store, I had interesting experience with a random older Korean man.  I was waiting to cross the street and I knelt down to stretch my leg muscles.  All the walking I’ve been doing has definitely taken a toll and my body is adjusting the best it can… By tightening up.  So as I was going thru the motions to loosen up, this gentleman says, “Tired?”  I look up and smile and reply, “Tight.”  He smiles and we cross the street.  As I walked out of the store with my backpack on, another older man starts speaking to me, and I shake my head in a ‘I don’t understand.”  He sticks his hand out, and I reciprocate.  With an iron grip this little Korean man asks, “Where you from?”  I say, “Philadelphia.”  He says, “America?!”  I say, “America.”  He says, “Good to meet you.”  Pointing to myself, I say, “Ben.”  He told me his name, but the grasp this man has on my hand is the only other thing I remember from that trip to Lotte.

And this:

Good Day Carebian Nut - Konglish at work

Good Day Carebian Nut – Konglish at work

 

 

 

G-Style

Suji’s, Gangnam, & Random Weirdness

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Today was a great day.

Despite a couple of early hiccups (including one on the Cheat Day maintenance front), Jenn & I had a lovely day exploring and eating thru Itaewon and Gangnam. Okay, I did most of the eating, but we had a lovely time.

We kicked it off on the 5500 as usual and checked another ‘brunch’ place off our list in Suji’s Restaurant & Bar in Itaewon.

Jenn had the highly recommended Jack & Jill and I had the Lumberjack (food porn here).  The atmosphere was cozy and we had lovely seats at the facing-out bar overlooking the intersection below.  As we got sorted out to leave, the canned dining soundtrack (which included Nina Simone and Frank Sinatra) played our wedding song by Etta James.  Yeah, it’s a cliche but bugger off; it was a not-so-subtle reminder and a good omen for the day to come.

We walked down the street when Jenn noticed that there was a humane society type yard sale happening on the opposite side of the street.  She’s got this sense about those kind of things.

Jenn spies a yard sale to benefit a humane society

Jenn spies a yard sale to benefit a humane society

A quick stop at the previously mentioned High Street Market for a couple of items and about 10 minutes after that yielded the photos presented below.  Make of it what you wish.

After a subway ride to Gangnam, going through the crowd at the underground shopping mall (mobbed, btw), exiting at Gate (Station exit) 11, and on our way to an ‘art installation’ which I’ll get to in a moment, we had the second of two very strange animal encounters in three days.

Flashback to Friday night.

We’re walking from Paragon Apartments in Jeongja to a bar with a bunch of teachers from the school when I spy a fluffy white dog being walked by two guys down the street ahead of me.  I increase my pace and stop and say, “Excuse me… Samoyed?” And they reply, “Yes.”

Angel, our Samoyed.

Angel, our Samoyed.

Jenn and I had a Samoyed named Angel for about 14 years.  We got her when she was a puppy and we took her to Cayman where she eventually passed away.  We missed her terribly and finally had the courage to get another dog three years ago.  Jenn sees me and the male Sammy (named Beckham) and runs over to say hi.  When I say that looking into this animals eyes was like looking into the past I realize that it sounds weird, but I swear it was true.

Back to today.

On our way to pay homage to Psy, I see another Samoyed.  This one is female and is being walked by a Korean woman.  I am floored.  I ask her, “Samoyed?”  he English isn’t as good and we don’t have as long an interaction, but she says, “Yes.”  I bend down and the dog looks at me with those deep, dark eyes and that Sammy smile and I’m in shock.  Jenn walks up and I start to show the girl the picture of Angel and just then the dog jumps up on her hind legs onto Jenn just like Angel used to.

It’s gotta mean something, right? Crazy that I didn’t even think to snap photos in either situation.

We finally got the photo Jenn was hankering for…

Photo oppum in Psy's dong.

Photo oppum in Psy’s dong.

Right after that, as we were perusing where to go next, a Korean guy with perfect English asks if we’re lost and are looking for something specific.  We reply not really, we were just looking to get a feel for the neighborhood (aka ‘dong’), but thanks so much.  Twenty minutes later, we’re talking about synchronicity to Nick in an Angel-In-Us Coffee shop off the main drag in Gangnam.  Nick’s an American-Korean (born in America, of Korean heritage), schooled in Vancouver, and on a sabbatical.  A chance encounter halfway around the world that makes you believe in fate and the fact that everyone is more alike than different.  Nick’s a good kid.  I think before he heads back to the west coast of North America, we’ll be seeing him again.  I’ll be taking some of his suggestions on where to go and what to do, but Jenn will probably skip the one about eating live octopus.

We said goodbye to Nick, and as Jenn shopped in a nearby Body Shop, I made a quick stop in a Butterfinger Pancakes (which happened to be around the corner) for a second Butterfinger Blast in as many weeks. (#DuhWinning!)

For the record, this guy is right: These are the best milkshakes I’ve ever had, and baby, I’ve had a few.

Finally, after a stop for a NY Chocolate Cheesecake and a double chocolate somethingorother (along with an original for later for Jenn) in a Krispy Kreme, it was time to head back home.

But not before one more treat for the road…

Seriously, New York Fries? This mozzarella/gravy concoction should be called "Faux-tine"

Seriously, New York Fries? This mozzarella/gravy concoction should be called “Faux-tine”

And that’s it.  Lovely Sunday.  So long Cheat Day and thanks for all the indigestion!

Psying in the Gangnam subway station...

Psying in the Gangnam subway station…

 

 

 

Itaewon

Day out: Itaewon

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The foreigners’ mecca in Seoul: Itaewon.

And I’m not just alluding to the fact that there seem to be a ton of Halal shops there.

Existing around the US Army Garrison – Yongsan, Itaewon is a mostly expat community of funky shops and restaurants.  Read more about it and the famous Hooker Hill here.

Having been given a small introduction to the dong (neighborhood) on our first week in Korea, I was looking forward to going back there for some more recon.  Specifically for familiar groceries from High Street Market and the Foreign Food Mart*.

On the way out and about I did some random browsing thru the (mostly shlocky) inside underground malls… and came across this nugget: A place called (no joke) Baby Guinness*, which looked and felt a little like Fidel Murphy’s* in Cayman, if Fidel’s was on the second and third floor of a building.  The menu looked tasty:

Baby Guinness menu

Baby Guinness menu

Will have to put this place on the list.

So as the sun beat down on me and I sat on the concrete step at the bus stop, noticed the Mexican restaurant that we ate at on that first visit, Taco Amigo.

Taco Amigo

Taco Amigo

And fondly recalled the carne asada steak I had there.

All-in-all, a lovely day amongst the Westerners.

* Special note: How the heck is it in this day and age for ANY company, especially a freakin’ RESTAURANT to NOT have a WEBSITE?  Unacceptable on SO MANY LEVELS.  It’s like “Hey, I don’t care about your patronage, and I expect that word of mouth and bored bloggers will fill in the freaking gaps.”  Well, sorry.  Not gonna link to the Google Map of your place.  If you want that kind of service, then hire me to do your social media marketing.  And no, having a Facebook page for your business DOES NOT take the place of a .com, a .net, or a .co.kr.  #JustSayin’

On the bus to Jeongja this happened. I introduced this Korean Komedianne to the term "photobomb."

On the road again

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It’s slowly coming together.

The challenges of moving halfway around the world with so many differences make it tough to adjust to the whole thing all at once.  So when you’re not paralyzed by the sheer volume of things to take in, you try and mete out solutions.  Or should I say SEOULutions?

Aside from a small speedbump on Saturday night, this weekend should be considered a positive step.  We’re still here.  And I think it’s getting better.  No big f-ups on public transit, we’re mostly on time for things.  And we’re planning ahead as best we can.

Friday night was a school social of sorts at “Fridge Bar,” which, of course, is not the name of the bar. We took the bus to the general area and as we walked out into the humid Korean air, I asked Jenn, “So how the heck are we going to find these people.”  And then I saw the lot of them congregating not more than 30 yards in front of us.  I waved and said, “That. Was. Hilarious.”

So we made our way to Beer Call.  Lovely place for all you fans of fermented grains.

Saturday was a walk and explore the grocery stores day.  Jenn & I love checking out the local supermarkets… We enjoy discovering the odd foreign foods stocked amongst whatever country’s versions of standard goods.  Not that all of these were taken on 17 August 2013, but here’s what I’m talking about:

After getting a nap, we headed out to grab a bite to eat in Hongdae and then on to Party (the actual title of a gathering… just “Party,” thanks Nicole).  Unfortunately the Mexican place we wanted to go to had been replaced with this:

Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.

Stupid headphone store that kept me from my Mexican feast.

So it was off to noodle&donburri.

Jennifer enjoying her udon & fritters

Jennifer enjoying her udon & fritters

We had to cut our time short at Party, due to public transit schedules but did get to see the guy below try to get dragged out of a subway car by a fellow passenger, finally getting ejected by a conductor (almost landing right onto Jennifer) only to make his way back into the subway car as the doors closed, then finally exit the car once the doors opened again.  Apparently they take cars out of service toward the end of the night.

I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

I’m not as think as you drunk I am.

Which brings us to today.

Cheat Day.

On the docket was Butterfingers Pancakes in Jeongja & shmying around looking for other spots to put on the list… Imma gonna just put some of the pics up… Mkay?

</CheatDay>

<Digestion>

Next week: more fun and another trip to CostCo!

RoK v Peru

Football friendly

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There’s a lot to be said for the consistency of football fans around the world.  Of the few matches Jenn and I have been to in four different countries, we can confirm that generally there’s the same passion in the way the sporting-event-attending culture embrace the highs and lows of the game.

Interestingly, I have to give credit to FIFA and the way the same rules apply globally.  Football is really the World’s Beautiful Game, and I believe that the beauty could come from the universal adoption and standards.

So whether you’re here:

Lazio v Catania at Stadio Olympico, Rome

Lazio v Catania at Stadio Olympico, Rome, 30 March 2013

or here:

Republic of Korea v Peru at Suwon World Cup Stadium

Republic of Korea v Peru at Suwon World Cup Stadium, 14 August 2013

The atmosphere is pretty much the same…

espressamente by illy in Shingsae

No matter where you go…

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… there is coffee

With apologies to Buckaroo Banzai, of course…

espressamente by illy

espressamente by illy

As I sipped my illy iced Americano in espressamente illy @ Shinsegae Department store, I wondered if my coffee sense had been tainted by all the Starbucks, Paris Baguette, and numerous other slightly better (CoffeeMama) and much worse (GS25 or the crappy Kirkland Colombia CostCo blend that was in our crappy automatic coffee machine) coffees I’d drunk since leaving my beloved Francis Francis X7 (thanks Alicia!) in Cayman.

Francis Francis X7 in situ in Cayman

Francis Francis X7 in situ in Cayman

A half hour earlier I’d had an iced Americano at the Starbucks on a higher floor and I’d like to think that I could taste the difference but to be fair, I’m not quite sure.

Starbucks in Shinsegae

Starbucks in Shinsegae

Iced Americanos aren’t as true a representation of the coffee as much as, say, an espresso shot, with which I’m sure I could distinguish a good coffee from a not so good coffee. It’s probably for the best because if all the crap I’ve been drinking had been so obviously crap, I’d be much more of a grump.

I will say this about the illy iced Americano, the barista here did it proper shakerato style. Propers for that my Korean friend.

Iced Americano prepared to perfection by illy. Shakerato!

Iced Americano prepared to perfection by illy. Shakerato!

Ben eats a cronut

Korea Cheat Day Number One

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Thought I’d get around to this now that I’ve got some time on my hands.

As you may know by reading this, one of the biggest challenges for me in Korea is reconciling all the delicious looking pastries with staying on the Four Hour Body/Slow Carb Diet.  Luckily I’ve found a few sources to keep me on track, so when this past Sunday rolled around and I could let loose without fear, I took advantage of it.

Here are the highlights in order, food wise.  In my haste to in inhale as much crap as possible some pictures were not taken…

1. Conch shell pie from Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette conch shell pie

Paris Baguette conch shell pie

2. Chicken kebab from Instanbul Kebab in Hongdae.

3. Double chocolate cookie from Ben’s Cookie’s in Hongdae.

Ben's Cookies in Hongdae, Korean girls not included.

Ben’s Cookies in Hongdae, Korean girls not included.

4.  Cronut from Dunkin Donuts in Myeondong

5. Hot dog wrapped in potato chips in Myeondong.

Hot dog with potato on a stick

Hot dog with potato on a stick

6. Big slice of chocolate crunch cake from Starbucks in Myeondong.

7. Crunky! from one of the many subway stops to get back home

Crunky!

Crunky!

8. Steak pizza from Pizza School in Migeum.

9. These

Korean cheat day snacks

Korean cheat day snacks

10. Baskin-Robbins Quarterback crunch ice cream in a cone

I should also mention the Starbucks chocolate covered espresso beans I gobbled at random times during the day.

Starbucks dark chocolate covered espresso beans

Starbucks dark chocolate covered espresso beans

All-in-all, a good Korea Cheat Day Number One!  Can’t wait for next week.  Thinking Itaewon.  Maybe Sujis.

New Nikes

My feet are killing me…

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Jenn & I had an amazing day today in spite of being 40+ minutes late to meet our friends in Hongdae.

Nicole & her boyfriend Pat have (pretty much) lived here in Seoul for five years.  I knew Nic in Cayman during one of her previous lives and when she made the jump to Asia I was thoroughly impressed.  Not because I didn’t think she could handle it, just because I admired the chutzpah it took for a single gal to go through an ESL teaching course and travel halfway around the world to live and work.  That was awesome.  As I said a half dozen times to her, if it wasn’t for her input, the whole thing here in Korea would have been a whole lot more challenging.  And today was amazing proof of that.

The orientation group had skipped Namdaemun Market due to time constraints and we at least wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  So we set a date to have a quick bite in their dong, Hongdae, and then take the subway to the market where more food would be had.  it being Sunday (read: Cheat Day), I was super excited to let loose, especially with my new The Sports BigTen by E-Mart Nikes.

New Nikes

New Nikes

So we missed the first 5500 bus headed into Seoul, which gave me an excuse to get started on my Cheat Day via one of Paris Baguette’s conch shell pies.

Paris Baguette conch shell pie

Paris Baguette conch shell pie

We finally arrived in Hondae and after quickly checking out their pad, we made our way to Istanbul Kebab, a little no-frills joint down the street.  After finishing up and stopping at my (rather expensive) cookie place, we headed over to the market.

Ben's Cookies in Hongdae, Korean girls not included.

Ben’s Cookies in Hongdae, Korean girls not included.

Pat alluded to the fact, and I finally coughed it up, that Namdaemun is kinda the bottom of the tourist ladder.  But the sights and smells were unique and I’m glad we went.  Jenn got her fan and iPhone5 flipcase/wallet.

Jenn in Namdaemun

Jenn in Namdaemun

We smartly decided to head over to Myeondong Shopping Street, the same place I’d visited early last Tuesday morning.  It was even better with the throngs that flocked there…

Myeondong Shopping Street

Myeondong Shopping Street

There was some great streetmeat on display…

Myeondong streetmeat

Myeondong streetmeat

Pat had a previous engagement, so he split and after a fruitless search for quality ice cream and the beginnings of foot cramping setting in, it was time for a refuel in a Starbucks.  Then it was time to part ways with the lovely Nicole.

After a lengthy trip back home to Suji-gu which involved three different subway lines, Crunky bar, a stop in Pizza School, and a cab ride because we were just too pooped to deal with the public bus situation, it’s time to call it a night.

The Nikes held up awesomely… But they were definitely put through their paces.

There will be more pictures on the facebook when I wake up tomorrow morning…