When Samulnori Meets Digital

Samulnori, which was created from Korean traditional music, Pungmul, is one of the most beloved genres of music among many Koreans.  It is one of the most dynamic music and makes listeners thrilled with its powerful sound. Samulnori has four musical instruments.  Kkwaengguari (small gong) symbolizes thunder, Janggu (traditional double-headed drum) symbolizes rain, Buk (drum) symbolizes cloud, and Jing(gong) symbolizes wind. 

(Source: Seoul Shinmun)

Samulnori was first created in 1978 by Kim Deok-Soo with His Friends- Kim Deok-Soo, Lee Kwang-Soo, Choi Jong-Sil, and Kim Yong-Bae.

Performance of  ‘Digilogue Samulnori-Blooming the Dead Tree’ (Source: Hankook Ilbo)

Kim Deok Soo’s latest performance, ‘Digilogue Samulnori’ consists of four instruments symbolizing the four directions- East, West, North and South and four seasons- Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.  The performance depicts how deserted real world blooms, as in the cycle of seasons.  The show was mixed digitally and they combined the virtual reality with the real world and adopted four- dimensional (4D) technology.  I haven’t seen anything like this before.  This is definitely something to see.  Take a look at the video below -

LiveJournal Tags: Samulnori,Korean traditional music,Pungmul,genres of music,most dynamic music,listeners,powerful sound,musical instruments. Kkwaengguari (small gong),Janggu (traditional double-headed drum),Buk (drum),Jing(gong),Seoul Shinmun,Kim Deok-Soo,Performance,‘Digilogue Samulnori-Blooming the Dead Tree’,Hankook Ilbo,mixed digitally,virtual reality,four-dimensional (4D) technology,caption

Bulguksa 불국사

 

Bulguksa Temple is a must see for anyone who visits Korea.  Bulguksa Temple is recognized as one of ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Korea.  The temple was built around 550 AD and in its heyday the temple premises contained 80 buildings.  Unfortunately, during Imjin War (1592-98) most of its buildings were burned down to the ground.  And again during the Korean War greater damage was caused to the temple.  The last of the restorations to the 24 buildings that exist on the Bulguksa Temple grounds today were completed in 1972 .  An abundance of national treasures of Korea are also located within Bulguksa . For more on Bulguksa - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulguksa 

The front gate

 

Pond inside the temple vicinity

Four guardians of heaven’s door

Geongun-gyo (Blue Cloud Bridge)

Dabotap - pagoda of many treasures

Seokgatap in the background is also called Sakyamuni Pagoda or the Shadowless Pagoda

Monks reciting the sutras

One of the courtyards

A window with a view

Stone pagodas are known as 돌탑 (Doltap) in Korean and are made by stacking up stones.  There are several reasons why stone pagodas are constructed but one of  the main reasons people do it is to make wishes.

Sweeping…

At the end of the trip quench your thirst

LiveJournal Tags: Bulguksa Temple,Visit Korea,UNESCO,World Heritage Sites in Korea,World HEritage Site,Imjin War,Korean War,national treasures of Korea

Graffiti Artwork and Posters in Melbourne Alleyways

 

Somewhere in Melbourne center city.

Aussie lads.

Likely?

Poster outside a store somewhere in Lygon St.

Run DMC graffiti somewhere in Brunswick St.  “From Queens Comes Kings”.

Japanese theme graffiti somewhere in Brunswick St.

“Harlem World”

Must be someone from Harlem who made this.

Notice artwork on trash can.

Brunswick rulez! Somewhere near Merri creek.

 

An apt poetic description of summer in St.Kilda.

That’s considered a discount!

LiveJournal Tags: Melbourne City,Melbourne Alleyways,Graffiti,Graffiti Artwork,Merri Creek,Brunswick St.,East Brunswick,Central City,Japanese Theme,Run DMC,Kings and Queens

Greening Vehicle Industry–2011 Seoul Motor Show

 

Twenty First century innovation, greening vehicle industry has become a familiar and even an expected element in the world today.  Green revolution has sprouted from the utmost urgency of earth’s depleting ecosphere.  The leading vehicle industries are going as far as developing a vehicle from seeds.  Sounds strange? Take a look at this -

Lab grown Mercedes Concept Car – BIOME.  For more information about this car visit - http://www.goodcleantech.com/2010/12/lab_grown_mercedes_concept_car.php 

The above picture is a Hyundai Concept Car – Blue 2 Concept 2 premiered at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show. For those visiting Seoul or living in Seoul you can find more information about the motor show here - http://www.motorshow.or.kr/eng2/main.php?PHPSESSID=c1c629660e2aae51a1d1f9d7ea395dec 

LiveJournal Tags: 2011 Seoul Motor Show,Hyundai Concept Car,Mercedes Concept Car Biome,Biome,Vehicle from Seeds,Seeds,Motorshow,Greening Vehicle Industry,Green Revolution,Revolution. Ecosphere,Eco-system

The English Speaking Robot “Mero”

 

 

The above Robot named “mero” which by the way means “mine” in Nepali happened to make it to the list of Times list of 50 best inventions of 2010.   Mero can move in any direction and can follow human facial expressions as well. It is not only an effective teacher, but students at school also enjoy interacting with the new, fun, and cool school “staff.”While robots are used primarily in support roles for real human teachers, the Time Magazine called Mero the robot a “job terminator,” saying they could potentially replace the native speakers currently employed in Korean schools. Although there remain issues of economic feasibility as well as ethics, both inventions indicate excellent capacity of Korean universities as future leaders of world science and technology.

Along with Apple’s iPad, Google’s Driverless Car, Sony’s Alpha A55 Camera and others, the Online Electric Vehicle (dubbed OLEV) manufactured by the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology (KAIST) was included in the 50 Best Inventions of 2010 published by The Times.  OLEV runs on embedded electric power strips that provide electromagnetic power to the vehicle, wirelessly, charging an onboard battery and powering the bus’s electric motor.  The makers of this vehicle say that this “technology not only eliminates pollution, but also alleviates the problems usually associated with hybrid vehicles such as heavy batteries, lengthy charging and limited range.”

The OLEV has been on a test operation since last March at the Seoul Amusement Park.

Blogger Labels: English,Robot,Mero,Nepali,Times,direction,human,expressions,teacher,Time,Magazine,Korean,Although,ethics,leaders,world,science,technology,Along,Apple,Google,Sony,Alpha,Camera,Online,Electric,Vehicle,OLEV,Korea,Institute,KAIST,Best,strips,battery,pollution,problems,hybrid,operation,March,Seoul,Amusement,Park,students,robots,roles,teachers,speakers,makers,vehicles,batteries

Nepathya in South Korea, Seoul

 

A popular band from Nepal, Nepathya, was here in Donguk University, Seoul on September 21, 2010.

A few dances and openers before Nepathya jammed.

 

Opening by a hip-hop Korean band as well.

And then finally there was Nepathya….

Vocalist - Amrit Gurung and drummer Dhruba Lama.

Content crowd.

Fans of Nepathya.

Key board – Suraj Kumar Thapa and Guitarist – Niraj Gurung

Bass Guitarist – Subin Shakya.  The band was also accompanied by their technical coordinator Sudip Bista and band manager Kiran Krishna Shrestha director of a popular documentary ‘Bheda Ko Oon Jasto - In search of a song’(you can watch the trailer of this documentary below).

Exhilarated frontline fans - Ananta and Babu.

Credit: nepalisangalo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZkPND9Rog0

 

Blogger Labels: Donguk University,Amrit Gurung,aina jhyal,Bheda ko oon jasto,Kiran Krishna Shrestha,South Korea,Nepathya,South,Korea,Seoul,band,Nepal,Donguk,September,Korean,Vocalist,Amrit,Gurung,Dhruba,Lama,Content,Suraj,Kumar,Thapa,Guitarist,Niraj,Bass,Subin,Shakya,coordinator,Sudip,Bista,manager,Kiran,Krishna,Shrestha,director,Bheda,Jasto,song,trailer,frontline,Ananta,Babu,Credit,documentary

Taekwondo Tests in Korea

Taekwondo is the national sport of Korea.  We tried our hands in it almost 2 years ago, started out with white belt but did not get further than that (HA!HA!).  Didn’t really have the time to take it further but would definitely like to recommend it to people.  In Korean, tae (태) means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon (권) means "to strike or break with fist"; and do (도)means "way," "method," or "art."  Thus, taekwondo may be loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist" or "the way of kicking and punching" (See Wikipedia).   In Korea to pass various stages of belts one has to  have to go through a panel of Taekwondo experts and fulfill  a certain criteria.  Some days ago we happened to slip through in an auditorium where one such test was taking place.  Take a look at the pictures below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above black and white picture was taken from www.flickr.com – Photo credit: Hwang’s Martial Arts.  You can find Hwang’s photo stream here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/13694234@N00/with/63471302

Thanks to Taekwondo and a man by the name of Deepak Bista Taekwondo is a popular sport in Nepal these days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: www.youtube.com Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera's Andy Richardson reports in the last of our special series on sport in Nepal.

Blogger Labels: Andy Richardson,Al Jazeera,Deepak Bista,Taekwondo,Korea,Didn,Korean,foot,method,Thus,Wikipedia,panel,Some,auditorium,Take,pictures,Photo,Hwang,Martial,Thanks,Deepak,Bista,Nepal,Credit,Jazeera,Andy,Richardson,reports,series,criteria,photos,fist,flickr

Jindabaad (Nepali Band)

 

JINDABAAD 's first single from their "PLASTIC HEART EP".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: JINDABAADJINDABAAD   August 23, 2010 (Youtube)

The video was shot by 2 DSLR Cameras. Directed by Prasiit Sthapit and Rohit Shakya .

Edited by Rajan Shrestha.

Crew:

Prasiit Sthapit :Camera

Raajib Sayami :1st Assistant camera

Astha Singh :Lights

Pooja Shrestha :Makeup and wardrobe

Marina Menuka lama:Production Manager

Special thanks to Umes Shrestha,Deep Cheetri, Rizu Tuladhar and The British School.

Blogger Labels: Jindabaad,Nepali,Band,Credit,JINDABAADJINDABAAD,August,Youtube,PLASTIC,HEART,DSLR,Cameras,Prasiit,Sthapit,Rohit,Shakya,Rajan,Shrestha,Crew,Camera,Raajib,Sayami,Assistant,Astha,Singh,Lights,Pooja,Makeup,wardrobe,Marina,Menuka,Production,Manager,Special,Umes,Deep,Cheetri,Rizu,Tuladhar,British,School