Buy the Book cafe
I spent last weekend mostly indulging my senses at a relatively new artsy book store/café in downtown Daegu called Buy the Book. Despite being in the heart of the city it requires a little finding, though this only adds to it’s dynamic as an alternative little hive for the intrepid-minded. Laid out with simplicity and open space in mind, Buy the Book greets you with an easy warmth with bookshelves, interesting art work, wall hangings, tables and the obligatory comfy chairs that any good book store come café requires.
Run by a beautiful married couple, Sandy and Radyan, they treat it very much like their home which explains a lot. As you enter you immediately feel welcome by a heady yet gentle mix of earthy colours, delicious smelling organic fare and people jamming. Sandy, a Chinese/American, knocks up all the food from scratch, and ingredients providing, can whip up anything that might take your fancy. Radyan, a Korean from Busan, hosts the weekly drum circles, and as a yoga instructor, is involved in the free yoga sessions on Sunday morning. I guess he’s the floating presence that gives the café its easy ambience, a truly lovely guy in an altogether happy space.
I’d heard about the café from a couple of friends, and particularly for the Sunday morning yoga sessions, I’d been meaning to go but late nights and weekends kept me away. With Jessie back in the States I found myself in Daegu for a whole weekend for what felt like the first time in a while, and hearing that Radyan was hosting one of his drum circles on Friday night I finally made the effort which proved to be well worth it.
Within a few minutes of having arrived at the café I was in a drum circle with my eyes closed caressing a large djembe drum. I should point out I wasn’t the only one doing this! And for those of you who are now wandering what sort of drum circle this was, it was merely part of Radyan’s way of getting us to become familiar with our drums. Idiosyncratic for sure, but amusingly effective I can assure you. Though all the same, I’d have loved to have walked in at that moment to a scene of eight people, eyes closed, intimately stroking various drums.
The night passed by at a relaxing pace, mirroring the flow of our drum circle, with good food, nice wine and great company, it was easily one of the best evenings I’ve spent in Korea to date. I’m planning on making it a staple of my weekends as often as I can, and if anyone is lucky enough to be in Daegu when Radyan puts these evenings on, I’d recommend dropping in to soak up some of the vibe. They’re good times here for sure.
I’m keeping this post brief because I’m heading to a Mud-fest at the weekend, and will no doubt have plenty to say about that next week before I head to Japan for my summer vacation.
All is well in the Land of the Morning of the Calm, but for the mosquitoes who have somehow infiltrated my fortress-like apartment and its network of mosquito nets. As I write they are attempting to feast on me, though with my exposed skin due to the wretched humidity that July and August bring to Korea, I fear I may be giving off the wrong signals…
From the city of Daegu I’ll say goodnight. X
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- Some of our kindergartners posing after a school trip.
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- A typical Korean translation, you often see these gems dotted about.
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- We took the kindergarten students to a play area, and in true Far East style this place was tech-savvy with themed rooms, 3D wall pictures and the like.
