Welcome to the Haniverse #2 :: Culture, Health & Beauty

What's up, guys? We're back with another installment of Welcome to the Haniverse! If you have no idea what we're on about, then you might want to refer back to last week's WttH post.

This week has definitely been a good one for productivity! We've managed to upload a videos and a bunch of blog posts, and finish the month with a bang. January seriously came and went faster than expected, but it's all good, we've got some great stuff lined up for February too. Be sure to check out the 'Recent & Upcoming Uploads' section of this post if you're curious.

On a personal note, unfortunately we're still sick and after our trip to the doctor's, it doesn't seem we'll be well any time soon, but we've taken a lot of time out to relax this week (we actually cancelled all of our plans this week.) Tomorrow we'll hopefully be back at the hospital for tests, and the results will be out the following Tuesday, and we'll see how things go from there... But it's not all bad, we had some fun experiences this week too~

:: Personal ::

Hanzel: Last week, Harmony was the one who had most of the fun, so this week I made sure to get out and do something so I'd have more to talk to you guys about besides my cleaning adventures. 

Janggu (장구)

On Monday this week, my class headed to a cultural experience at a traditional Korean music center in Edae. While there, we were taught a bit about a form of traditional Korean music called 'Samul Nori' (사물놀이) which is essential a quartet that would usually play while people worked in the fields, to give them a rhythm to work to and make their work less strenuous. 

Of course, I put myself out there to play one of the harder instruments, the Janggu (장구). It's an hourglass shaped drum, similar to drums used traditional in Africa, but it's played laid on its side with two kinds of drum sticks. 

The drum pattern we learned today was one of the two faster (and therefore hardest) that this quartet traditionally played, and well, our teacher wasn't exaggerating when he said it was fast. It's one thing to match the pace when everyone is playing one thing - as he taught each instruments part separately first - but once all the instruments were playing together, not being distracted by the pace of the other instruments was easier said than done. 

While we were there we also got to wear some of the traditional clothes that musicians would play, maybe you recognize these outfits from a historical drama or two? 

Personally, I thought I looked quite fitting in the outfit ;P 

Anyhow, it was a fun an exciting day to say the least. After watching the Korean drama 'Heartstrings', Harmony has really wanted to learn the Korean instrument called the 'Gayageum', so if finances allow it, we might end up going for a lesson of two in future; we'll be sure to let you know how those go if we do. 

The sheet music we had to learn and some of
the instruments we (unfortunately) didn't get to play.

All in all, it was definitely a memorable experience, so if you ever get offered the opportunity to go on a trip like this, I highly recommend it. Even if music isn't really your thing, it's always interesting to deepen your knowledge of another culture and it's a fun experience to share with friends. 

Harmony: On a slightly less positive note, this Friday we kinda reached our limit in terms of enduring our health issues, so we headed to the hospital for a checkup. In our past experiences, our doctors had just told us we're 'stressed' and told us to go home and rest, but this time since we were in physical pain and discomfort, we weren't taking that for an answer. 

We found our favourite tea brand
in Olive Young!
It's greatly overpriced though...

Fortunately the doctor we went to see was very receptive, and thinks he might know what is wrong with us; he was actually asking us about symptoms we'd experienced and hadn't even thought to mention. For example, we thought our muscle pain had been due to the cold weather but it turns out it could in fact be related to whatever might be wrong with us. He also said that our IBS might have been a misdiagnosis of early symptoms. 

While we're not happy about being sick, it's nice that we're finally going to have an answer. We'll be going back for some tests, hopefully, on Monday (if not, then definitely before the weekend.) And then we should get our results next week Tuesday. 

Fingers crossed that this will be something minor that we can just take some medication for and get better~ we'd hate to have to reduce how little we already do for your guys, but unfortunately our health does have to come first. Please send us good wishes and prayers! 

:: Recent & Upcoming Uploads :: 

This week, we've actually managed to upload quite a bit, so we've got a lot for you this week!

Harmony: First up is the Ulzzang version of the Burgundy make I showed you guys at the end of last year~ it took a while but it's finally here! It's also one of my favourite looks that I've made either so I definitely encourage those of you into the Ulzzang style to check it out. I think it was well timed too (despite being late) since red/burgundy looks have recently been in fashion in the black ulzzang community ^^ 

That's all on the make up side of things, but there's also the fashion side of things too! Last week I told you guys about my shopping trip to Gangnam, right? Well, this week I've finally put up the OOTD post that I hinted to on Instagram ;P 

It's a very 'Gangnam Style' outfit in terms of the mature and slightly professional feel to it. Also, it was my first time showing that kind of bold make-up look, so it's definitely a different side too me. (I also have Son Gain hair! It's been a while since I've used my actual hair for a look XD) 

However, it'll be back to wigs for me this February since it's time for those Valentines Day themed videos! It's 2 weeks until the bittersweet couples holiday, so I want to put up some looks to help some of my fellow ladies get ready to go dates this year! 

Sneak peak at on our the outfits
that will feature in our lookbook ;P

Hanzel: In Korea, Valentines day is a time when girls confess to the guy they like and give them chocolates, so while this month is going to be aimed more towards the ladies, don't worry guys, next month is White Day - the time when guys confess - themed so I'll be assisting you guys in getting ready for that too. 

But before that, its coming towards the end of winter which means its time for our winter lookbook! We're planning to record it all in the 5-day Chinese New Year (Sonnal/Sollal) holiday in the middle of the month, so if all goes to plan it should be out before the end of February and the start of spring. Harmony has some chic looks and I'm got some hot MODE coords up my sleeve, so definitely look forward to that too. 

:: Conclusion :: 

As you can see, this was definitely a eventful but productive week for us, but how was it for you guys? Remember that half the reason we're writing these posts is so we can get a bit closer to you guys too, so it'd be great if you'd leave us messages about how your week has been as well~ ^^ We'll also reply, so don't be shy, we don't bite! 

We have exams starting next week so we haven't recorded anything this week, but don't worry, we'll be recording - and hopefully uploading - in between exams (of both the medical and education kind!) But if not this week, then expect a bunch of videos next week! 

That's all from us today though, turns out these aren't as long as we expected! XD We doubt we'll have time for one this coming weekend, so expect the next message from the Haniverse in 2 weeks time~ until then guys!

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Read Our Last Installment: Gangnam, COEXartium & Paper Birds