The Day We Became a Family

Today i took Ahyun (the girl i met a few posts ago at the Afterwork Party) to a rooftop BBQ at Platoon Kunsthalle, in Apgujeong/Sinsa. Platoon originates from Berlin and is a platform for creative people to meet and socialise. It is made of 36 ship containers and has 4 floors, NIKE room, 2 bars, dancfloor/club space and studios which are rented out to anyone in the creative industry for FREE. This is my favorite place to network in Seoul by a long way. Artists, musicians, journalists, actresses, designers, architects.... this place is a hub for creative social activities! Fun times are ALWAYS had here, You can hold exhibitions here or attend the monthly night time flee markets.

On this particular visit, i met up with several people i knew via Facebook but never actually met (yes this happens). Then i met the DJ, a Swedish guy called Matheus, several Parisians (no not Persians - people from Paris, silly!) studying for a semester in Seoul, an american and a few koreans. In total around 15 of us instantly 'clicked'.

The event was from 2-9pm, so around 5pm, Kiara (one of 2 korean girls-the other is Amy) decided we all go eat in Gangnam, drink at a lounge and head to club EDEN for a crazy night out..... and that we did!

Quiet night in with friends

A few of us decided to have a chilled drinking session at one of our friends apartments. Good times.

Too much champagne is bad for the brain

I was chilling at home and my friend Jade told me about a party in Sinsa, for the launch of a fashion label... i ended up calling my friend Cat - Cat is a gyopo (a korean american, who for some reason are usually form California). Anyway, she had a friend visiting form the US so we all met up in Apgujeong and headed over to the party.

The party was okay but we only stayed an hour then decided to head to ARK lounge in Cheongdam. We ended up in one of the VIP rooms, drinking way too much champagne.... goodnight world!

4th World DJ Festival

I ended up going at the last minute to this annual event, which itself is not worth the $50 entrance fee ($1 = 1000KRW so i'll just use $'s in my blog from here on out).

Anyway, i had fun - met up with my friend Eva (she is a DJ in Seoul) and as the day went on, i hung out with Jessica and Casey.... and a bunch of randoms in between.

This event was from 2pm Saturday until 6am Sunday so i cam prepared with layers and picnic blanket for us all to sit/sleep on!

A Day of Prayer and Beer

Today, I had a business trip and ended up going to a temple to learn about buddhism... it was actually quite interesting - i made a prayer bracelet from mala beads, did a few rituals and learnt how to make and serve traditional korean tea.

During lunch a fewof us decided to skip the afternoon session and head out in the area (we were in Insadong) for a few beers on a rooftop and enjoy some sun.

First Thursdays Afterwork Party - May

On the first Thursday of every month, a champagne infested party is hosted in Apgujeong or Cheungdam for those who, like myself, enjoy networking with a more sophisticated crowd. Beautiful people, great music and comfortable venues...good times. These events are invitation only and the organisers have an online screening process, which keeps these parties fairly exclusive.

Having fun with my friend Jaehwa Kim (holding drink) and her fellow korean drama actresses.

Awesomely chilled house beats

My lovelies H.Kim and Eva (right)

Making Russian friends

Victor and his russian friends

I ended up going to another party with my new friend Victor, he speak fluent Russian as he's lived in Moscow for a decade-in the oil business! Let me put it this way, he was back in town for the month and had his RR Phantom flown over....and it was niiiiiiiiiice.

We ended up at JJ's (inside the Hyatt Hotel) where we spent the next 4hrs on the dancefloor with more champagne. I was approached by a cute girl who ended up spending most of the night with, she was fun but I wasn't interested in her so turned down a dinner date.... then as i left her friend mentioned she was famous (but i wouldn't know a famous korean person so it didnt matter, but on seeing these blurred pics, i got a big response from my korean friends)

Former KBS anchorwoman and announcer, Sohn Mi Na.

More socialising...

This is actually are bar at night, OI (pronounced oh-eye) is like an Alice in Wonderland type of place hidden form the main streets of Hondae... u have to take your shoes off on entering into these cave like seating areas... can be a nice place to chill pre clubbing but the cowd seemed to be a little strange.. or just not my kind of ppl.

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Cat, is a girl i met in Butterfingers - ordering my food, she looks, i look, she asks if im alone, i say yes, she asks me to join her ..boom! Thats usually how i randomely meet ppl. For some reason Butterfingers is attended by 99% cute korean girls... the weekends, a few foreigners hang there, and the odd guy dragged there by his gf. Not sure why its only hot girls in this place... the food is great! Anyway, met up with Catherine for coffee with her other random friend.

At my favorite cafe in Gangnam - Baek 100

Then there's Aboli... this is the most random girl iv met, she is from India and we hung out and went for dinner etc... fun times were had. Oh and if ur thinking "she doesn't look Indian" take a trip to north India sometime.

On the way home im sitting on the subway with a girl standing opposite, keeps looking over... im surrounded by koreans who notice this but its normal for koreans to watch my every move... so the girl gives me a flirty smile... i hold my hand out, she drops her cell phone in my palm, i key in my number and hand it back.... she sends me a txt saying "hi this is the girl in front of you, my name is ***** , what are you doing now? wanna grab some coffee? So we got off t the next station and had drinks... everyone who saw this was pretty shocked at the smooth transition of making new contacts. Anyway, im random like that... and most koreans dont know how to deal with my random approach. It makes for funny situations. I recall the other week i saw a couple on the subway.. the girl asks about my life (where im from, job etc), but a little flirty so i ask them "are u guys a couple?" and at the same time he says "yes" and she says "no! he just wsnts to be but he is only friend", haaaaaaaaaaa! I love Korea!

Pancakes.... again!

I met up with a few friends who were visiting Seoul for the day. They live in city of Incheon, which is about an hour away.

I met up with Adidas and Isobel in gangnam, I met Isobel the night of the fashion show with Anja - it was 6am, we were getting food and she looked mega cute... and she asked to hang out, so we did. Took them to Butterfingers (I havent metioned this place much but its an american breakfast diner open 7am-3am and takes my money at least once every week... western food is not cheap in orea, but im addicted to their pancakes and $10 shakes, mmmm)

Isobel

Adidas (yes that is her english name)

Took the subway today (i rarely use it as taxis are pretty cheap in Korea)

Whitenoize 1st Birthday

My friend Sarah is a California girl, who spent time studying in London. She spends some of her time in Seoul hosting some crazy parties and this was one of them.

I ended up going with Kelly, a korean girl who spent her high school years in Atlanta - i think its fair to say, she was influenced a lot by the black culture whilst there and she is actually one of the most open and funny koreans iv met here... we met through Couchsurfing (Seoul CS'ers tend to arrange activities each month, moveis, festivals, hiking, dnner etc).

Fellow CSer Kelly

The Whitenoize party took place at Club Answer also known as Le Nuit Blanche (was the new name, then was changed back to Answer recently to save confusion, although both names are on the building entrance, so... double confusion).