VLUF

VLUF is one of the coolest parties in Korea.  Held in a warehouse in East Seoul, the organisers always put on such a good night. 

All pictures from Tororo on Chincha.

Vintage Hawaiian Photography

Thanks to one of my favourite blogs, Double Takes, I got introduced to these gorgeous vintage photographs dug out from a Hawaiian attic.  They depict the beautiful Waikiki from 1954-7, pre abundant tourism and digital photography.

When I first saw these images I spent some time lamenting the lack of  beach life in Korea, wishing I could exchange city living for a shack near the ocean.  It's now a few days later and I'm in the middle of booking a week surfing in Biarritz in August with one of my best friends. 

^_^

Images: Ian and Helen Lind

Hongdae Graffiti

Graffiti in Hongdae, known as the artistic, hedonistic area of Seoul.  Also known as my favourite place in Korea.

IAM/ STAR CROSSED TATTOO

Ollie Walker is a talented friend of mine who co-started the wicked website AWEH, an online portal connecting you to cool creatives from around the world.  Since Ollie resides in Seoul but is South African, much of the content that he creates and curates for AWEH is based on people of interest who are living in Africa and Asia - two highly undervalued continents when it comes to worldwide recognition of their contemporary art scenes.  

With the advent of the internet - and therefore sites like AWEH, Durban is Yours and (hopefully) Chincha - the global, English-speaking audience is recognising that worthwhile art is not limited to European and American cities.

This video by AWEH has just been released, and is part of a new collaboration with South African clothing company IAM.  The video follows two SA tattooists Rich Phipson and Ross Turpin, who own a studio in Hong Kong called Star Crossed Tattoo.  It follows their mission as tattooists and shows some awesome shots of the tattooing process, as well as the pair's intensely unusual designs.

If you're ever in the Hong Kong area (come to Asia, it's amazing), you should definitely swing by the shop to see these guys in action.  I'm already planning my trip.

May in Instagram

An Americano outdoors. Trying to recreate some European vibez in my hood.

The quaint boat I had to get for my trip to Muuido, a sweet island off the west coast of Korea.

A shot of the audience absorbed in one of the films at a Future Shorts Film Festival some friends of mine put on in Gangnam, Seoul.

The river in Cheongju, the city my boyfriend lives in.

A shot of the river from another angle.

A faux vintage phone at Bar 14 in HBC, an expat village in Seoul.

A popping candy Korean ice cream and a glimpse of my friend Nick.

Suwon, the city I live in, from far away.  I chose a filter which makes it look like the Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz (still one of my favourite films).

A bright green bridge in Chuncheon, North of Seoul.  This is a beautiful area.

I found these birds outside a bike shop on a dusty day.  They didn't seem to have any purpose other than as a shelf for some cardboard boxes that had been laid on top of them.

Groovy sixties style tiles at Namtaeryeong Station, slightly outside of Seoul.  I love how this feels like a futuristic shot from an old film.

Can you see the rainbow effect in the sprinklers?

The cutest coffee cup you'll ever see.

Summer clothes are finally in the shops! I've gone a little crazy with my money lately.

Meat on the BBQ. Korea has an abundance of indoor BBQ restaurants where you cook your own meat. 

Muuido at dusk.

Graffiti in Hongdae, my favourite area of Seoul.

Roses in full bloom. Summer is definitely in full swing.

BTSU

I only got introduced to this recently but I feel like I'll never get tired of it. I have nothing more poignant to say than this. 

Double Exposure

I recently introduced my boyfriend to smartphone photography apps. This was a mistake.  My entire life now feels like it's being documented in a hazy, otherworldly glow.  Every time I look in the mirror these days I'm surprised I'm still a solid entity.