➹ noraebang chronicles 노래방

Noraebang essentials:
☊ tamborines
☊ cute microphone covers
☊ korean+english+japanese song book
☊ elaborate menu controls!




I'm addicted and grateful to noraebangs for 2 reasons:
1. Pure BLISS while singing along AMAZING Kpop songs with friends ^^
2. And the MOST CHALLENGING Korean speech exercise ever!

When I was just starting to learn Korean, I felt pretty happy that I was able to read and make out the Hangul letters from textbooks and online lessons. I thought it was a very fulfilling skill at that time ㅋㅋㅋ.

However, my joy was short lived as I soon learned that I couldn't read well enough to sing along in a noraebang ㅠㅠ. It was frustrating to have to depend on romanized song lyrics which I had to prepare in advance (arrgh). It's also quite annoying that I wasn't able to select my favorite songs efficiently since I struggle to read/search through all the Hangul materials. So I persevered on learning not only the letters but also the words so that I can fully enjoy my noraebang experience. I'm not sure if that was the correct motivation but it sure worked for me!

Sadly, there aren't a lot of great options to go for noraebang at my hometown. There was just this one place I used to frequent with friends and cousins. I used to maintain a list of songs that I would sing on all my visits. I know their corresponding number codes since I look them up online hahaha... Ah, but I haven't really been back at this place for a while now. I also stopped maintaining my list hehe.


Once in Koreatown, San Francisco, I just had to go into this small noraebang place because they had Yoriwang (Cooking Cooking) available! That was just a few weeks after Super Junior Happy debuted so I was just beyond excited *o*. I offered to pay for the entire session since I was with non-kpop friends and also just because I was just TOO elated ㅋㅋㅋ.






And then of course I had to try out Everysing in Seoul! We went to the first location in Gangnam and spent a breathless 2 hours belting out (mostly) SM songs. I love the themed rooms in Everysing and personally, I could have spent 2 more hours by myself hehehe. But the thing with these Seoul trips is that not all my friends are THAT into Kpop so there has got to be some compromises.





I should really visit more noraebang places in Seoul ... That's something that may forever be in my to-do list!

Nowadays, I get my noraebang fix from my smartphone ㅋㅋㅋ. I particularly enjoy using the Ziller Survival app:



I can practice my Kpop songs anytime and listen to my recorded performance afterwards. It's almost as good as the real thing except of course it has none of the noraebang essentials I listed above. I also miss singing with great friends ㅠㅠ But I guess this app will have to do for now that most of my friends are away or busy~~~ At least I can practice my favorite Korean rap lines without being too embarrassed! I will have no more excuses when we go out to an actual noraebang later on aigooo...

➹ everybody's favorite jjappaguri! 짜빠구리 짱!

I have recently succumbed to a Dad, Where are you Going/아빠어디가 addiction!!! These 5 kids are just irresistibly cute and endearing that my heart just can't NOT fall in love with them ^^. So now I have one more Sunday variety show to look forward to~~~

I'm particularly impressed with how amazing Hoo is!!! And I am just 100% SOLD on jjapaguri just from watching this adorable 8-year old savor it with so much GUSTO!!!




And so, like many others, I just had to make my own jjappaguri! I've been a huge fan of Jjapagetti since some years back so I was really very curious on how much different it will be with Neoguri ...



Alas! A spicy and savory jjajangmyeon ^^. I LOVE IT!

➹ craving for korean ice cream

There's nothing like a chiller filled with yummy korean ice cream to spell HEAVEN and TEMPTATION on a torturous summer day like today!!! ^^ Mansae!!!

➹ loving the giant pepero!

SUPERSIZED PEPERO!^^ ㅋㅋ How can something this huge be just so wonderfully cute?

I first saw these huge packages while visiting KL for business some months ago. There was a Korean-themed sale event at the middle of the mall amidst the Chinese New Year displays... and these huge Pepero boxes were such an inviting sight haha.




Luckily, I found these supersized Pepero's back home as well. I was teasing my nephew pretending that the chocolate sticks inside were supersized as well! How fun would that be if it were true?

I also chanced upon this Strawberry Pepero on my neighborhood Korean grocery one day. It was my first time seeing this flavor so I just had to get some! But after trying it, I decided that I still prefer the chocolate variety ㅋㅋ.

➹ yummy finds at the korean grocery part 4!

Found some really cute Pororo snacks for my niece and nephew! The tasty biscuits came in the shape of Pororo characters so they were a real treat for the kids.




I got myself some Hotteok cookies as well! The walnut and peanut flavor intrigued me so I couldn't resist grabbing a box. They were soft and chewy cookies which surprisingly not too sweet.





They can't compare to real Hotteok ofcourse ㅋㅋㅋ. These were really chewy and it gave my jaws a little workout! But I still love the texture plus the hint of cinnamon is just perfect.



I kind of like the Bungeoppang snacks better though. Maybe I am a sweet bean kind of person. I even love the ice cream version a lot!




I received some Korean snacks from my friend in Seoul as well.



I had 연양갱 before but it was my first time trying out the Ddeokbokki and the 쫄병 snacks so I was really excited. The Ddeokbokki snack was spicy but really delicious! ^^ I wanted to eat real Ddeokbokki for days after I had the packaged snack version. But my favorite amongst the 3 was the crispy noodle barbecue flavored쫄병! Snacking on these was such a guilty pleasure for me. Luckily, I found these same items on the local grocery so I managed to get them again afterwards.

I just keep finding more yummy stuff right? ㅋㅋㅋ I really miss Seoul as it will be nearly a year since my last vacation. Doing some random Korean grocery shopping eases my longing somehow~~

➹ korean gift package ^^

Gift boxes in Korea can pack so much thoughtfulness and goodwill! The ones I've seen in movies and dramas usually consist of many small gifts with cute handwritten notes on each special item. There is so much care, imagination, and sincerity poured into such pretty gift boxes so I have always wondered how amazing it would be to get one. I pictured how delightful it would be to open up such a package full of smiles and discover cute endearing messages multiple times.

And then one day, my Korean friend sent me one such package through EMS! I excitedly opened the box like a kid on Christmas Day. And just like those treasure trove of delights I've seen of movies and tv, I found so many sweet surprises from my dearest friend!




She knew how much I adored Korean culture so she gave me these ramyun, soju and mekju inspired trinkets for my phone! ^^ I also got the cutest Korean passport holder and post-it notes!!!




And then of course who can resist cute stuff?! I got some really adorable angel wings and bunny ears plug ^^ Yay!




And if those didn't make me feel like the luckiest unni in the whole world, I also received some traditional food, a personal letter and a handmade bracelet! I am IMMENSELY GRATEFUL!!! I seriously have the most amazing dongsaeng and I pray that I will be able to take care of her as much as she cares for me. Aigooo ...

➹ cutest korean cakes and pastries

So I raved about the pastries featured on Super Junior Donghae's new drama 판다양과 고슴도지 Panda and Hedgehog. I mean, there is no way those cute babies will fail to earn a gasp from every girly girl, right?

These really fancy creations are also found in Seoul's regular bakeries and cake shops. Check out some cute sweets from a shop in Hongdae:




I was also smitten by the holiday cakes on display at a Baskin Robbins shop last November. These cakes are just too amazing!





Here are closeups of my personal favorites. This Christmas cake tradition is such a beautiful and modern way to celebrate such a festive season.






Check out some more cute Hello Kitty pastries here.