One Life To Live: 2022

Friday, December 16, 2022

Is it all just K-Pop?

The answer is both Yes and No. If we go by what is widely perceived as K-Pop, that is idol singers, music bands, and the fandoms, then the answer will be: it is not just that. However, if we go by the ideal definition, that is: what is included in the popular culture, then there is a lot more to K-Pop than music bands and idols. (Disclaimer: I am a fan of a band of singers, and an ardent one at that. So, in no way I am trivializing any of that.)

For me, Korean popular culture encompasses a lot of other things as well. There is the food culture (a must mention for a foodie like me), the different dance forms, the music styles (more on this later), the folk games, and the literature and art. This is celebrated widely by Korean people as well. Knowingly or unknowingly, we might have witnessed the different aspects or the popular aspects of the Korean culture.

Let us take this picture for example. This is a snapshot of a dance performance by BTS at the MMA 2018.

Most of us might have seen this performance by BTS in the Melon Music Awards 2018, where three different traditional dance forms were displayed.

Now what is the prop that Jimin is holding in his hands here? That is a 부채(‘Buchae’) or a hand fan and the dance form is called 부채춤 (‘Buchaechum’) or fan dance.

So, what is Buchaechum?

It is a well-known Korean dance form that is based and inspired from various traditional and religious Korean dances. In 1954, Buchaechum was created by dancer Kim Baek-bong. This dance is said to have taken inspirations from Korean shamanic ritual dances and includes nuances of various folk dances from the Joseon dynasty. It is the most thriving Korean dance, almost equivalent in status to modern dance. It is much more than a dance form as it portrays the Korean culture as well.

The Performance:

The performance comprises of the beautiful 꽃부채 (flower fans) held in both hands to create various patterns and formations as a group, which represents images such as waves, flowers, and such, and also depicts the strong love for the nation. Performers wear 한복 (‘Hanbok’) or the traditional attire. The 군무 (dance) showcases graceful movements amalgamated with techniques suitable for interpretation by modern audience. The rhythm of 음악 (music) accompanies the dance performance, especially 민요 (‘Minyo’) i.e. Korean folk songs or 산조 (‘Sanjo’) i.e. instrumental music.

This dance requires a high degree of perfection, and it summarizes the traditional dance of Korean people. It is performed at cultural events, in schools, universities, and in almost every Korean community around the world. And when top and famous artists like BTS perform this, it speaks loads about how every Korean is proud about their culture and are trying their best to preserve and promote it.

Would you like to try this dance form? It is beautiful, elegant, and charming. It is definitely worthwhile to witness Buchaechum in all its glory.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

What's cooking? K-food.

“What’s cooking? Um.. K-food?” they asked.

“More like yum food!” I replied.

Well, that is a lame beginning. It sounded okay in my head though. Now let’s begin again.

I do not know where exactly I should start because Korean cuisine and I go way back. I do not even remember what my first dish was. But I will tell you of the food story mostly through pictures. I have a very few pictures because I forget about clicking (majority of the time) when food is there. That’s every foodie’s struggle!!

(Since all the pictures can not be put in between the text, I will add a video of few selected pictures at the end.)

To give a little background, the place I am from is very similar in food prep and culture to Korea. The culture of multitude of side dishes (반찬 or banchan), taste of certain food, and even some etiquettes match too.

Korean food that I love cooking:

The first meal (Korean) that I cooked all by myself was Kimchi-jjigae (김치찌개). I do not know why I decided that. It just felt so natural that time.

Later that day, I ended up making Jajangmyeon (자장면) too (which is considered as Chinese food in Korea).

Both tasted better than I had ever expected and that boosted my confidence a little bit.

I continued cooking more Korean food every now and then. In fact, last year (in December), I prepared a few Korean dishes for my parents. I made Bibimbap (비빔밥), Yachae-hotteok (야채-호떡), and Kimbap (김밥).

They loved it and hence I ended up making different varieties of Kimbap every other day for an entire week. Needless to say, Bibimbap feels like a soul food now.

Korean restaurants I loved eating at:

There are a couple of places (in the city I live in) that serve Korean food, but authenticity is a big question mark. My go to place these days is a small Korean home kitchen.

It is owned by a Korean person and the taste is as authentic as it can get with ingredients that are only partly Korean. I love their Fried Chicken (치킨) and Kimchi Bokkeumbap (김치 볶음밥).

Apart from my regular place, I like the Korean food served in Taiki (Bengaluru) as well.

The most happening one was my first visit to Arirang (A Korean restaurant in Bengaluru). It’s not your fancy restaurant. It has a traditional (식당) sikdang/restaurant vibe… the ones that one would often encounter in Kdramas. As you enter Arirang, you will be welcomed by an array of BTS posters.

A good start, no one would complain on that. There are few private/family rooms and few of them are in the common dine-in area. Each table has an assortment of the usual suspects: chopsticks, spoons, tissues, a grill (for the bbq), and a call-in bell. They have a decently extensive menu as well.

The first time I went there:

The serving staff were prompt and responded almost immediately to the call-in button. They told me that the food that I was ordering would be too much, quantity-wise. But what a foodie can do? I ended up ordering more, nevertheless. Why can’t we make place for food that we want to eat!? The side dishes (반찬 or banchan) were served first. The food arrived soon after.

The dak bokkeumtang (닭볶음탕) was served on a mini stove top. It had a very familiar taste… it tasted very similar to my home chicken curry (it’s a family recipe). Nostalgia and amazement hit me together.

The mandu was good too but I have had better. But the overall experience was awesome. And the day that followed this experience was no exception- it was as memorable as it can get. That’s a story for some other day. Let’s put that on pause for now. I am off to grab a dessert! Enjoy the video.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Blossoms

And then...

I was reminded of the cosmos flowers

The ones that I promised to meet again

after the rains.

It's not been long

It's not a short while either

Will they still be there?

I wonder.

Do I tell them?

That I did look for them

Just a couple days after

When the sun was high up in the sky

But it was all a futile exploration

Was I that lost that day?!

Will they be sad

If they know how glum I was

There's still a long way

And I feel we will meet soon

There...somewhere

And Spring will blossom

Again.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A little back story:

I met the cosmos flowers in an airport lawn on a day the clouds decided to drizzle. I had seen them a few months back and was meeting them again that day. But our meeting was a short one that day.

I came back to the same airport just a couple days later... and I reached much ahead of my scheduled arrival time. I searched for the flowers but to no avail. I found every other flower but just not those lovely cosmos ones... Ultimately, I had to go in for the check-in process.

Ever since, every now and then I remember them and I wonder what they would be upto. I really missed them when I saw these Gerbera flowers (one in the background of the picture) yesterday.

Why cosmos flowers? That's whole another story... one that I would probably never tell.

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Unsent Letters: Dawn

Friday, October 21, 2022

My Language Journey: Korean Focused

Route Map:

Where it started?---》A detour---》Back on the road, again---》Roadblocks---》Destination?

Where it started?

Unlike the popular stories about how every individual’s language journey started, mine is a bit different (no surprises there, right?). I did not have the “need” to start learning a new language at that time, because I was neither relocating nor traveling. It had always been a “bucket list” item, of course. And then one fine day, the prologue of my language story started.

It started during the latter part of 2009 when I came across a poem called “You are so lovely” (참 좋은 당신 or Cham johun dangshin) by Kim Yong-Taek. The poem of course was translated in English. However, the depth of the words showed through even in the translated version. I read few more translated poems by the same poet, and I was amazed with the thoughts that transcended into words.

Prologue

It moved me to a point where I wanted to learn the language and understand the words in their original form. I did a quick Google search, but sadly there were no language schools that taught Korean in my city. Internet resources too were very limited at that time. So, I had to postpone learning Korean. However, the eagerness to learn a new language kicked off.

A detour

During the spring of 2010, I was mesmerized by Monet’s works. As expected, I looked for French classes.

Thankfully, I found one which I could somehow accommodate to my academic schedule at the time. I enjoyed every bit of that time. Later that year, I watched my first K-drama. But more than the drama, the music moved me. I wanted to understand the lyrics and the desire to learn Korean was reignited. So, I started my self-learning journey. There were fewer online lessons available then, and hence, I could not learn as much as I had wished for. Because of this and some other reasons, I paused my Korean journey there. However, afterwards I caught up with other languages like Mandarin and German (which I continued for quite a few years).

Back on the road, again

It was as if I found the piece of a puzzle that I had been looking for.

During 2020-21, somehow, I again stumbled upon the same Korean poem. That was my moment of epiphany. It was then that I re-started my Korean self-learning journey. There were plenty of resources online, more than I had expected to find. I did not just focus on the language this time. I started learning about their culture, their lifestyle, their art, and other aspects as well.

It was as if I discovered a part of me, a part that was there all along. It was sort of a soul connection. I identified with many things. It was as if I found the piece of a puzzle that I had been looking for. You would know what it meant to me and how much it has influenced me if you have read my first book. (If you haven’t yet, this is your cue. 😉)

Roadblocks?

Well, there always is some kind of obstacle in a story. There is one in mine too. Self-studying a language is difficult by itself. And with my work schedule (that involved a job, my writing, and a few hobbies), maintaining appropriate study hours for Korean language was becoming more and more challenging. Absence of a definite course structure was not making things any better. For days, weeks, and months, I was not making any progress. It was as if I was moving in an entangled loop. I knew it was time for opting a structured learning program - a proper language class for Korean… just like the ones I took for the other languages.

Considering my schedule, attending a class sounded almost like a crazy idea. But what is life without a little whimsy and a few quirks! Earlier the language had found me. This was my time to make the choice. And I chose the language. Of course. Why would I have not? After all, Korean helped me explore myself and rediscover Love. I signed up for the class.

But what is life without a little whimsy and a few quirks! Earlier the language had found me. This was my time to make the choice.

Destination?

Signing up for a class (or starting to learn anything) will not make anyone good automatically and instantly. It requires discipline and diligence. I too am not good at it. I have barely managed to write a couple of pieces till now. But, believe me, the experience and the fun are incomparable. It shows you avenues you never knew existed before.

Everyone must be waiting to know how it ended, right? Not everything has an ending. Mine, too, has no ending. I am not looking for an ending either. This language is already a part of me. And it will always be. If you are wondering why I am saying this, take a dive… explore the language. Every moment will be worth it.

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Decadent Warm Rich Dark Chocolate Brownies

I could fill in

pages after pages

Describing...

just your smiles

and laughs

but then

every time

I think of it

my heart melts

and all my thoughts

are left in a puddle

only to be

evaporated later

by the warmth of

your gaze

to an effervescent essence

Wrapped

around the fabric of eternity

Monday, October 17, 2022

Enshrined

As the tresses of the grass

Swayed with the purple wind

She looked up at the sky

As the day reclined

I will see you soon

Replied the sky

Until then...

There will be the stars

And the moon

She thought with a smile

The stars are lovely

And the moon is kind

But you sweetheart

Is the only one

Forever enshrined

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Petition

Do not put your hands

Beneath your chin

Do not gulp down

The words like that...

That your heart perhaps

Wanted to convey...

Do not playfully

Look in my eyes...

For dew drops glimmer there

As your dawn shines on them

With that wondrous stare

Unwritten

I kept on saving words that started

With the alphabets in your name

With a hope and desire

To make them the titles of

The tales and poems

That I would someday write...

Those would define

Of the moments spent

In the soft gaze of adore

Of the sunrays of a november dawn

And of the blushing glances

Wrapped in the silk of spring...

Until I realized

I am gradually falling

Short of words to use

For each word

Invokes thoughts of You

Lighted

Sometimes it's good to be

In the middle of the happenings..

Where else would one get the fuel

To re-light the wick of a candle

That has the aroma

Of cherished moments

Moments that were

Infused with happiness

With a hope that they would

Diffuse smiles

Whenever (and wherever) ignited.

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Identify Jimin

There was so much I had in my mind when I thought of writing this, but now that I start writing about it, I wonder how to put it in words. Nevertheless, I will give it a try.

So, from the title, it might have been clear that this was going to be about Jimin. I will avoid the risk of unnecessarily introducing him (who wouldn’t know Jimin of BTS, right?). I would rather focus on his attributes that I will address here.

Of the seven members, most people (based on personal observations) adore Jimin’s relationship with the other members, especially with his friend Taehyung aka V. From few of the comments that I have read, most would be about how they also want a friend like Jimin (in V’s context) and/or a person in their life who is as thoughtful as him. Let’s call this the 1st perspective. There were also very few comments that mentioned that rather than wanting to have someone like him, why not be like him for someone. Let’s call this the 2nd perspective.

...how they also want a friend like Jimin (in V’s context) and/or a person in their life who is as thoughtful as him.

Of course, everyone wants to have such warmth in each of their relationships, whether you are in the receiving end (1st perspective) or in the giving end (2nd perspective). What I am trying to put forward is: when we say we want someone like Jimin to be in our life, we are focusing on few of his characteristics/personality traits. Being considerate of others, being thoughtful, sensitive, and caring to the people around him, or being kind and a good human being in general are the “Jimin” traits that everyone wants … either for themselves (as in the 2nd perspective) or in the people around them (as in the 1st perspective).

I understand both perspectives if I may say so. My perspective, although related, is a little different in this scenario. In both the perspectives, it was perhaps assumed that they do not already have such a relation, be it as friends, or as siblings, or anything else. That is why they were wanting it in the first place. What if…? What if they already have someone like him? What if they just do not know about that? What if they were taking it for granted just because they could? There could be a lot more “What if?”s.

What if they just do not know about that? What if they were taking it for granted just because they could?

When we see Jimin being thoughtful or caring, we are observing it from a third person’s POV. We are able to see the entire picture (as it is portrayed). Just like in a movie. We know what each character is thinking and/or feeling. Being in that position gives us a certain sense of understanding of how things are panning out as they happen. However, when it concerns us in our life, we are not observers, we become the subject, the actor. We are the people that are involved in the scene, firsthand. So, there is a higher chance that we might not realize what other person is thinking or feeling at a certain point, especially towards us.

...we are not observers, we become the subject, the actor. We are the people that are involved in the scene, firsthand.

There might have been times where one of our friends might have been very considerate towards us. They might have taken care of us numerous times without making us realize that. I mean, if a person is sensitive, we would not even know that about them. Because a sensitive person would not go about broadcasting it… or the fact that they have done something just for us. Forget broadcasting it to others, they might not even realize (majority of the times) themselves that they are being considerate.

Because a sensitive person would not go about broadcasting it… or the fact that they have done something just for us.

So, is it not up to us to realize that?! Rather than just taking our friends and/or any of our relations taken for granted, shouldn’t we start recognizing that? If they have done something for us, however small the gesture might be, should we not be caring enough to identify that? Small things they do… like calling you up randomly just because they remembered you or sending you a text because some random thing reminded them of you, or just being there (even if you do not call or text often)… shouldn’t that be viewed with fondness and affection.

Let us try and start identifying these small gestures. Let us start identifying the Jimin in them and the Jimin in us too. Would it not be sad if we already have someone (or many of them) with us and we are just not able to recognize the “Jimin-ness” in them? And just ignoring that presence?

...and we are just not able to recognize the “Jimin-ness” in them? And just ignoring that presence?

Let us not take anything for granted. Let us not consider anything as insignificant… every breath we breath, every smile we smile, or every tear we cry. Only then we will begin to feel the warmth of the sunshine in us and around us. That is what I think. Let us value each moment we live in this beautiful earth. After all, it is just One Life!

As a bonus, I will share an anecdote. Few days back, I watched one video (of BTS) wherein Jimin and J-Hope are having a conversation about RM. Jimin brought up that what if RM did not know how to speak in English. J-Hope, in his way, gives his view. The video ended with Jimin saying that he is terrified to even think of that. Why I mentioned it here? They never took RM’s ability to converse in English as granted. They didn’t think that it was his job as the leader. They recognized and realized his effort, understood that he is doing it for them, and acknowledged RM for having done that. Wouldn’t our relations be much more amicable if we did that too!

Let us do that. Let us identify Jimin!

P.S. : I am not getting paid by Jimin to write this.

P.P.S. :

The words written here were originally just thoughts. There is no proper software available (with me) to translate thoughts into words as it is. Hence, the result portrayed here is lacking in many ways. I request your understanding regarding this.
When I portrayed few of Jimin’s traits here, in no way I am ignoring or undermining his other traits (his dedication, discipline, sincerity, to name a few).
This is not a promotional campaign.

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Elixir

Soft breeze on a sunlight soaked day

As the reflections of your essence play

In the turquoise hues of the ocean

In a gentle laced motion

Aroma of the tulips

Festooned with moments adored

And the elixir of soul

With hearts sworn in accord

With hopes of Forever and Beyond

Dance of divine

The aura performed

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Just Some Days

There are days when

I don't write a single word!

And then there are those...

When nights transcend into mornings

with a hopeful turquoise feel

And dinner, breakfast, and lunch

get squished into a late afternoon meal

When concepts play in tune...

to the rhythm of ink

And time becomes

"just-another-dimension"

in an ethereal link

Monday, September 12, 2022

Rhythm of Destiny

The raised eyebrows

With that mystery of a look

In the depth of those eyes

The smile and the laughter

Half veiled sometimes

By a slight touch of hands

That adorable expression

While trying to

Make sense of something

And then the witty remark

Adorned with

The tint of nonchalance

Is it the cosmos humming

Or just the heart beating

To the rhythm of Destiny

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Preserved

Few unspoken words

veiled by the demure lips..

Some unexpressed emotions

peeping through the silent smiles..

And a hint of unprofessed feelings

waiting behind those stolen glances....

Old out-of-context photos

probably express a lot more than

they were supposed to.

Would it have been different,

if we were more aware?

Or was it always meant to be the way it has?

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