The Kalopsia Project

Travel Diaries: South Korea

May 16th, 2023
I love to travel and I was recently lucky enough to travel to South Korea for a holiday for Cherry Blossom season. And I had a blast, experiencing the food, culture, city, fashion and beauty made one of the best trips I have been on.

I had the most incredible time and I thought I should share my thoughts on it.

The South Korea Bucket List
- Shopping in Hongdae: If you want a unique shopping experience, go to Hongdae, theres plenty of unique bars and pubs, street performers and dances and some fantastic cheap clothes. The only caveat is that the clothes tend to be on the small side.
- Eat all the food in the world: Seoul has amazing food… like some of the best I have ever had. We ate so much Korean BBQ, and every soup we could get our hands on, this white soup is a Seoul specialty and is great if you have a tummy ache.
- Cafe hopping: Seoul is full of really cute cafes, with good coffee, great food and some really unique themes. Its a great afternoon just exploring whats out there.
- Beauty treatments and facials: South Korea is the plastic surgery capital of the world, and oppressive beauty standard aside, the beauty treatments are readily available and much cheaper than they would be in Australia. There are also many foreigner friendly places.
- Namsan Tower: You can see the Namsan tower from most of Seoul, and not only is it a great view in itself, the love locks are really cool to see. If you have time and capacity, I would recomend walking up the hill, because it’s really beautiful, especially in cherry blossom season, and you might see little friends on the way.
- Starfeild Library One of the most instagrammed places in Seoul, I was ready to be dissappointed, but it was truly beautiful, and its a real library.
- Changdeokgung Palace: One of the five Seoul palaces, it has beautiful gardens and everywhere you look its gorgeous ****
- Myeong-dong: In the middle of the city, it has great food, great shopping and plenty of beautiful sites
- Bukchon Hanok Villiage: Located in the middle of the city, its a gorgeous blend of traditional Korean houses (called Hanoks), framed by the modern sky scrapers in Seoul. Obviously it is someones neighbourhood so you have to be respectful, but a great experiance.
- The city walls: I can not believe that this beautiful wall, which has been standing since the 14th century, is not heritage listed. Its a beautiful glimpse into the past
- The Namdaemun market: Hustling, bustling and you can find anything you need. Its one of the busiest places i have ever been and you could spend days here.
- Gyeongbokgung palace: The ‘main’ palace in Seoul, and the heart of the Jeosan empire, the changing of the guards and the walking through history was fantastic.
- National Folk Museum of Korea: This museum, focusing on the everyday lives of Korean people, and going through the lifecycle was unexpectedly delighful.
- Deoksugung Palace: Another gorgeous palace!
- Look at all the beautiful architecture: Seoul is full of gorgeous modern archtecture, like the Seoul City Hall or the Coex Mall, its great just to walk and explore
- Seodaemun Prison History Hall This museum is an old imperial japanese prison that housed (and tortured and murdered) Korean freedom fighters during occupation. It’s really informative and deeply upsetting.
- Kwangjang Market: This is a tradtional food market which is bustling and vibrant and full of some delicious and unexpected food.
- Demilitarised zone: This is a whole day experience, but totally worth it.
What to Pack
- Korean cash – even though lots of places take card, its hard to get cash out and theres lots of places like markets
- dust mask – the air quality is not great, and I noticed a lot of locals were wearing dustmasks, and we adopted the practice pretty quickly. Also, you should wear a mask on the metro, otherwise you will get side eyed
- Deodorant and toothpaste – toothpaste tastes funny and deoderant is hard to find
- comfy shoes – you’re going to be walking a lot, we averaged about 20 thousand steps a day.
- Nice clothes- Koreans are sharp dressers, and I saw so many fashionable people on the streets. But obviously you can go shopping
- coats and warm clothes- We travelled in April, and it was still pretty chilly
The Shopping List
- Make up and beauty: Make up and beauty are really fabulous in South Korea, its also really affordable. I spend so much money
- Skincare
- Clothes (Only if you’re slim): There is so many really cute clothes stores in Korea, and they are affordable and super cute- but its not really size inclusive.
- E-sim- Everything on Korea runs on wifi, and you can buy virtual sims online, my partner bought one and he hot spotted me while we travelled which was really convienent.
The Tasting Menu
- Strawberrry juice
- Korean BBQ
- Bibimbap
- Cold Buckwheat noodles
- Kimchi street food
The Reading List
- I Went to See my Father by Shin Kyung-sook
- I want to die but I want to eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-Hee
- Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee- A look Inside North Korea by Jang Jin-Sung
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Lessons
1. Cash is King: Obviously, there are plenty of places, particularly in the more touristy places like Seoul that take Mastercard, but in smaller areas or in markets, cash is king, and if you have a foreign card it’s really hard to get cash out. Even most banks didn’t let us take cash out. Be safe and get cash out. You need to look for ‘global’ or go to certain bank branches
2. Learn At least some Korean: Even if it is just ‘thank you’ (example) or ‘Hello’ (add a graph with examples) or a bit of Hangul would be really helpful in Korea. Most Korean people we spoke to did have some English, but I did feel really bad not understanding the language of the country. And all the signs are in Hangul, which can make travel difficult.
3. Basic forms of Korean respect and confucianism: Like many countries, South Korea has been greatly influenced by Confucianism, and these values permeate culture. That includes respect for elders, respect in general (add in here)
4. there is no personal space: This one took a bit of getting used to, but people will get right in your grill in public, and coming out of a pandemic, I found this really jarring. In shops, on transport and in general- people will get REALLY close to you.
5. its very hard to be gluten free in Korea: I am a celiac, and being gluten free, or even vegetarian or any kind of dietary was really challenging. For me, I ate A LOT of Korean BBQ and Kimchi but I definitely got contaminated. If you’re travelling and you have dietary needs I would pack some power bars or something.
6. Google maps is not helpful in South Korea: South Korean google maps is terrible, download Naver Maps- which is much better.
7. Pass things with two hands- In Australia, it’s no problem to pass things with one hand, it’s considered rude in Korea. Take and pass things with two hands and slightly bow your head. It became such a habit in Korea that it was really jarring that to not do it in Australia.
8. You will be stared at: It’s not necessarily rude, but if you look different- you’re going to be stared at. My partner, a 6’4 bearded man who is quite big, got star
9. all the clothing is ‘free size’ which is only really worth it if you’re petite
10. dress smartly- beauty is taken seriously in south Korea
11. not too many public rubbish bins
12. public transport is excellent- but peak hour is awful
13. The apps you need: Download Papago and Naver maps, and Kakao taxis- they were lifesavers
Sunday Reset

November 3rd, 2022
Two days for the weekend are not enough.

I always hear about the ‘sunday scaries’ when all of the stress from the weekend comes early. It can put a lot of unfair pressure on sunday, because it can define the week thats coming. I always want to start the week well, and for me that means spending some time on Sunday in getting the week together. Even then- I can feel pretty unprepared for the week ahead.

I feel like I am stuck between the choice of either being lazy and having fun all weekend, or trying to get everything on my to do list ticked off so I can have a productive week- which can be so overwhelming i feel like I need a weekend to recover from the weekend.

I think the only real options is to try and do a bit of both, and especially with a 9-5 job I have been trying to find the balance between errands, having fun and chilling out to make sure I am maximising my weekend time and starting Monday rested and ready to be productive (ish)
- Sleep in– every weekend I’m tied, and sometimes theres nothing more luxurious than going to sleep knowing you don’t have an alarm the next morning.
- A To Do list– I know this sounds lame, but if you have a list of things you really need to get done, it can be quite rewarding to get them done. For example, this weekend I had to drop some clothes of at the op shop and do my laundry (I live a glamorous life). When you set yourself some tasks, and actually achieve them, it can be really satisfying because you accomplished something on the weekend.
- Plan your week – Planning my week (I have a graphic for that) helps me understand what’s coming up in the week ahead and what I need to do to succeed.
- Make space for the things you love- Life is too short to not do the things you want to do. Whether its social time with friends, trying something new, indulging in a hobby you love or just chilling out. Prioritise what makes you happy.
- Self Care – I like to make sure I save some time on the weekends for self-care, for me this is any beauty admin (like nails and eyebrows), yoga and some kind of exercise. It’s make me feel good and can feel nice to give yourself the space to care for yourself.
- Social time– This feels obvious, but after Covid, time with loved ones feels even more precious. For me seeing my friends and family rejuvenates me and is usually the highlight of my week.
For those of us doing our best, sunday’s can be a bit challenging, trying to fit all of the ‘life’ things into two days. But the best you can do is
How to Work From Home without going Crazy

February 14th, 2021
I have been working from home for over a year now, and in that time there has been plenty of opportunities for trial and error. These are the main tips I have found that make working from home fun and sustainable.

Make sure you’re sticking to your morning routine

When you’re working from home its really important to create a morning routine as you would if you worked in a traditional office. For example, you could go to the gym, come home and have a coffee and breakfast, read a book and get changed (working in your PJ’s is hard). A lot of productivity people suggest that you wear your traditional work clothes as you would an office, but in my opinion that seems like overkill. As long as I’m dressed comfortably and appropriately I can do my job and be comfortable. I like to check my diary, write my to-do list and prioritise it to start your day, I like to highlight my ‘big three’ and tackle them first. This routine can help you create structure and also direction and focus.

Set your work hours

Off the back of tip one, to create structure, direction and focus, it’s important to set clear work hours. These could be the same as your normal work hours, or sure to family commitments or standards in the industry, it could be different.
If this is the case, it might be good to identify when you’re the most productive. For some people its the mornings, and for others it’s the afternoons. If you’re a morning person, you might prefer to start earlier than you would in a traditional office and then you can leave earlier. For me, I try and work from 10 to six, which gives me time for a workout and have a nice morning. But everyone has a time that works for you. This is the most important thing for me, because for a long time, I would be in ‘work brain’ all the time, and it left me feeling burnt out and tired. Having healthy boundaries for yourself is really important.

Create a dedicated space

Have a dedicated space to work from, it doesn’t have to be a full on home office or a little corner or space on your dining table that you can pack down easily when you’re not working. There are no rules (maybe not from your bed) but it is good to have a dedicated space you can go everyday will help with your routine too. I have a little nook in my apartment that works really well but I also work from the living space sometimes too.

Utilise a to do list and prioritise it

My favourite way to organise my life, especially now that I’m working from home, is to create and utilise a daily to do list. I like to brain dump and then prioritise my workload in a methodical way. This allows me to put everything in perspective, which helps me to reduce my stress level and give me a structured way to get through my workload.
There are plenty of ways you can prioritise your to do list. It could be colder coordinating or symbols (I like a mix of both). I think its important to identify your most important tasks, and focus on these first while I’m fresh, the ‘big three’ are usually the things I tackle first.

Work in time blocks and schedule breaks.

I’m bad at this.
But working in blocks is a really effective way of working. One of the positives is that it does give you the flexibility to be able to do more of what you list rather than just being at the office 9- 5:30pm straight. If you want to stop for a long lunch, or a midday walk or a coffee break you have the flexibility to do that. Just make sure you have divided your time into time blocks to ensure that you get everything done. Utilising time blocks is also really helpful for scheduling proper breaks: For examples:
6:30-7:30: Get up, meditate and do a little tidy
8-10: Go to the gym, pick up a coffee, shower and get ready for work.
9-12: Prioritise top three from to-do lists
12:30-1:30: Lunch break with a friend
1:30-3pm: Tick off other things
3-3:30 Coffee or general break, sit outside on the balcony for some fresh air
3:30-6- Tick off other things
(you could even set alarms to help you)

Set rules with the people in your space

If you live with others or if there is multiple people working from the same space at home, make sure you set some ground rules so that you all have to be as productive as possible. I live with my partner, and he has generously decided to use headphones when he plays xbox, and I try not to have loud meetings when he wants to be chilling.

Stay on top of your personal home life too

When you’re working from home it’s important to try and keep on top of your personal life too.
For example:
- plan your meals for the week and whose turn it is to cook every night *
- schedule what day/time you’re going shopping
- Plan out what days you’re going to work out
- try to do your cleaning out of work hours or do a vacuum when you’re feeling like you’re in an unproductive mood, it’s a little win that can be really refreshing.
- You could plan your outfits for the week for something fun to do
get fresh air when you need it and stay hydrated

firstly, it’s simply, stay hydrated! Get in a routine of having a bottle of water next to your desk at home and staying on top of your water intake.
Secondly, every single day I try to get outside and get fresh air. Usually in the morning I will go to the gym or go for a walk. Getting out and able is a great way of resetting. I also will sometimes work out of a coffee shop as a change of pace.
Also, if I have had a particular stressful day or if I start to feel unproductive I make myself stop and go for a walk around the block or sometimes simply sit out on the balcony for 20 minutes so to take a break and refocus.
Wind down

at the end of the working day, create a wind down routine. I suggest finishing up any outstanding emails, tidying your space (or putting it way if you’re in a common area) checking your diary and writing your to do list for the following day. Switch everything off and walk away. It’s important to wind down and then transition back into your personal home life.

Stay positive

As clique as it it, it’s important to stay positive. Working from home can have so many benefits and like anything else new and unknown, give yourself a bit of time to get into a routine and get used to it. Remember the positives, you are commuting less so you have more time in the mornings and evenings to exercise, journal, spend time with loved ones, cook, up skill and relax. And you have control to create your own space and routine!
Real Australian’s Dont Celebrate Invasion

January 25th, 2021
‘I dont want to call White People in the fight against racism, inequality and injustice allies anymore. There are White Folks dedicated to anti-racism are good white folks doing the right things because they under stand when everyone is well, everyone is well. They are fixing what they broke and being responsible… It’s not called being an ally, it’s called being responsible’
Marley K (Medium.com)

Australia Day Represents Tragedy for Indigenous Australians

January 26th is a difficult day in Australia, and it marks the beginning of illegal occupation, dispossession of land and extreme colonial violence. In fact, January 26th has been marked as a day of mourning for Indigenous Australian’s (since 1938) long before it was a national holiday (1994).

In a country lucky enough to have the oldest surviving culture in Australia, it feels disingenuous with the Australian values of mateship and standing up for the little guy to use a day marked by pain as a day of celebration. In my opinion, changing the date is the bare minimum we as a community could do as a gesture of reconciliation and respect for the indigenous community. But it should also be combined with constitutional recognition, a concerted move to implement the recommendations of closing the gap report and a reckoning with the deeply racist elements (both cultural and institutional) in Australia.

Please enjoy the public holiday, but it’s an opportunity to be a good ally, support the indigenous community and help change the narrative around January 26th.

What you can do instead

Over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the…. Ku Klux Klanner, but the White Moderate, who is more devoted to order than justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can not agree with your methods of direct action’. Who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the negro to wait for a ‘more convenient season’
‘Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute understanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is more more bewildering than outright Rejection’
Martin Luther King Jnr.

Doing the Work

As a white person, I am certainly not an expert and I don’t presume to speak for marginalised communities. I can only work on myself, my own biases and make sure I am using my white privilege to try and dismantle unfair systems, not strengthen them.
- Its important to constantly think about yourself and question your actions and biases, as humans we all hold biases, buts important to be critically self reflective.
- Do your research to learn more about the history of the struggle which you are participating in
- Do the work to find ways to acknowledge how you participate in oppressive systems
- Language is powerful:
- Inclusive language aims to avoid offence by avoiding expressions that express or imply ideas that are sexist, bias, prejudiced or denigrating to any particular group of people.
- Using inclusive language challenges unconscious and conscious bias and can help to shift mindsets.
- Make space :
- Don’t speak for others, create space for marginalised individuals to safely speak about their experiences and their perspectives. Let them be the narrator of their own story
- Do the work to create accessible and inclusive spaces for everyone, including conversations at work and events
- Speak up:
- When someone you know is saying something hateful or ignorant, call them out. Silence allows oppression to continue. As a white person, you can use your white privilege to advocate for marginalised groups.
- Listen:
- Listen to what marginalised groups are saying, face to face, via social media or in media
- Listen and learn, own your mistakes and embrace the work of doing better
  Be proactive:
- Donate, sign petitions, volunteers and support communities and creators and businesses with your time and money
- Research and find ways to change the oppressive systems we live in.
- However, it’s important to be sensitive about what you demand, First nations people represent 3.3% of the Australian population, and as such are often the only Indigenous people in the room, and as such, its often demanded that they represent their community, explain something, speech, sit in a meeting or provide consultation. Before asking indigenous people, google it.
Ask for Consent:
- @Blakbusiness suggests that when talking about indigenous topics, talk to your indigenous friends first. Unpacking and having to explain traumatic content without giving consent could be emotionally draining and potentially traumatic for Indigenous peoples. Asking for consent before talking about heavy content creates a safer space for change.
Support and Celebrate the Indigenous Community

Australia’s Indigenous communities are part of the longest surviving culture on earth, and can trace their history in Australia back 40 000 years. They have some of the most amazing art, artists, and businesses in Australia and January 26 (and every day of the year) is a great time to support, uplift and celebrate the indigenous communities.

Protest

There are Covid safe services, marches and rallies that are held nationally on invasion day, and they are open to everyone. You can find a list of them here. If you do decide to go, please wear sunscreen, bring water and a mask.

Share:

Sharing social media content is a good alternative if you dont feel like you can participate in person. Social media solidarity is important and can be an important education tool.

Petitions to sign
- Stop indigenous mass incarceration.
- Stop aboriginal deaths in custody
- Free the Flag
- Close the Gap
- Change the Date
Donate

Donate to black businesses, or blak support agencies: There are some amazing ones here:
- Djap Wurrung Tree Embassy
- Ochre Ribbon
- Pay the Rent
- Reconciliation Aus
- Aboriginal Literacy Foundation
- Aboriginal Legal Service
Learning:
- Bringing Them Home Report
- Tell me why: the story of my life and my music – Archie Roach
- My place- Sally Morgan
- Aboriginal women and the white lies of the feminist movement: Implications for aboriginal women in rights discourse- Larissa Behrendt
Support Indigenous Businesses and content

There are some amazing indigenous businesses and content out there, and the best way to support them is with your money, a couple of my favourites are:
Indigenous Lead Podcasts
- Always Our stories
- ASH Podcast
- Ask the Specialist
- Autism our way
- Black Magic Women
- Deadly podcast
- The MSCLUP Project
- Pretty for an aboriginal
- Take it blak
- Wild Black Women
- Always was, always will be our stories
- Deadly voices
- Speaking out
- Tiddas 4 Tiddas
Youtube
- Aretha Brown
- Bush Tucker Bunjie
- Fallon Gregory
- Matt Cama
- The Why the Way
Cool accounts
- blakbusiness
- common ground Australia
- Uluru statement
- Blackfulla bookclub
- Reconcilliationaus
Music:

Emila Wurramurra
Baker boy
Kee’ahn
Thelma Plum
Alice Skye
DRMNGOW
Mo’ju
River Bay
Briggs

Things to watch:

First Australians
Westwind: Djalu’s legacy
Ten Canoes
Rabbit Proof fence
The Australian Dream
MABO
In my blood it runs
Samson and Delilah
Putuparri and the rainmakers

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list, so if you have any more please let me know!

I want to believe in a brave, compassionate Australia that celebrates everyone, especially our first nations communities. Change the Date.