Monday, March 15, 2010

Korean Cuisine: The Retrospective

Tomorrow morning we fly back to the US. As a parting love letter to South Korea, here's a whirlwind tour of our experiences with Korean food: the good, the bad and the wacky.

Our first famished night in Korea, we picked a random restaurant. Here's what we were served:



See the lovely lavender octopus tentacle. Our relationship to octopus evolved a little during the trip, with most of us agreeing that it was tolerable, one of us swearing it off for life, and two of us eating it raw, straight out of the tank. Below is a seafood item that appeared in a steaming bowl of soup.



We figured it looked a little like an octopus' private parts, until Duwayno corrected us on the technicalities of octopus anatomy and mating methods. We still don't know what this piece of seafood really was.

Many times, strolling through the seaside towns of southern South Korea, we'd spy a tank of these creatures, which we lovingly dubbed "hot dogs with mouths."



Although I could not bring myself to eat one of these, raw or cooked, I admit that they are probably more pure than any American hot dog.




Above is another unattractive entree: boiled chicken with roots and bean sprouts. Though it was quite good with rice soup on a chilly spring day.



Here's an item we all liked: sweet potato noodles. They go down very easy.






Koreans don't eat dessert in form of refined sugar or flour. No wonder they lack love handles. If you're lucky, at the end of a meal, you get candied potatoes with sesame seeds and super-sweet mandarin oranges. I inhaled these as often as possible.




The presentation of food on the Korean table is often spectacular. Above: check out this stunning little bowl of pink chilled soup: a spring gazpacho, if you will, with pickled turnips.



A meal in Korea is nothing if not a social occasion. Here is Mr. Park, a fun-loving Rotarian in Tongyeong, handling the cooking duties at our table. He's frying thin strips of beef, which you eat with green onions, a sliver of roasted garlic, and a sweet pepper sauce, that you wrap up in a lettuce leaf. I'm going to miss having a grill at my table, and the way the Korean people wanted to be sure our bowls were never empty.



Here's a close-up, along with some pickled turnip slices and a cole slaw with a pastel plum dressing.



There are some great spreads out at the markets. Here's where it all comes from.



As much as I love Korean food, I was jonesing for some American breakfast food and during our weekend in Seoul, found a brunch spot and almost cried from bliss over these pancakes with ricotta, fig and walnuts. And kiwi juice to drink.



We also ate a Hilton hotel, but I decided to order Korean food: I figured it was going to be good, and it was: beebimbap: a mixture of rice, seaweed, mushrooms and other goodies.


This platter of rice "tortillas" surrounded by delicate fillings won big points for aesthetics. I asked if the chef could come out so we could give her a round of applause.



A common favorite on the Korean table are these savory little pancakes, made (I surmise) with rice flour, spinach and egg. To be dipped in sesame oil. I'm going to try making these at home.



I didn't think I was a big fan of duck until this platter of smoked quack-ers came out.



A meal's second course is often a soup of some sort. In this case, a seafood concoction with ginseng. Our interpreter, Mr. Kang, was probably sick to death of me asking what food was what.

Here's what I will remember about Korea: the great meals to which we were treated, the unprocessed nature of the food and its bold flavors, the strong desire of Koreans to share their cuisine, and the conviviality at each meal that needed no translation.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Big Gold Buddha

In the town of Goseong, there is a temple with a five-story Buddha. It competes with the mountains for majesty.



Here is Jason (the sunny member of our team) in a contemplative moment of peace.

Friday, March 12, 2010

The Textures of Korea

Of the nine towns and cities we've visited on this trip, each one revealed its colors, textures and patterns to us. Here's an abstract visual tour:



A garlic field in Hadong.



The chunky pebble beach of Goeje.



Decorations at a Buddhist temple in the mountains of Gyeongju.



A bustling street market in Seoul.



A great teacup.



Carved totems at an artist's studio in Goseong.



Anchovies for sale on the street.



Layers of sediment near the site of dinosaur footprints.



Artful landscaping near the Jinju National Museum.



Bamboo with mountains.



Shoes removed before entering a restaurant.



The eaves of a temple in Sacheon City.

Just a small sampling of the subtle and spectacular visual treats of South Korea.

If This is Friday




If this is Friday, this must be Goseong. We move around so quickly, I hardly remember where I am. Although the trip is coming to a close, our days continue to be busy and fun. Today we visited a big - really big Buddha, dinosaur tracks, a power plant and were entertained by some traditional Korean dancing.
We were then given drumming lessons on the jang gu drums. As if that wasn't enough to discourage our teachers, they decided we should try out some traditional dance moves.
The pictures didn't come out where I wanted them but you can see our great hosts are seeing to it we are getting immersed in their culture. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!






Tourism in the making

South Korea is a country with Tourism at the top of their list. Their marketing materials are wonderful and they have a lot to offer...now the only thing left to do is find the people! We've met several people involved in tourism from our interpreter to members of the ministry of tourism to hotel owners to those running tourist sights for the government.
Sparkling Korea is the marketing campaign for this year and highlights the elements of local hospitality, history, culture, and cuisine. From big city shopping and entertainment in Seoul to island hopping and yachting in the South, Korea is on its way to becoming a "must see" destination. In my opinion the islands of Tongyeoung, Geoje, Naemhae, and others are the undiscovered gems. These have the potential to draw in millions of tourists from all over the world. They have even mastered the idea of selling "off the beaten path" experiences such as pottery making, fishing, oyster collecting and pearl cultivation, farming, and jewelry making. These types of activities are becoming more and more popular. Korea is one of the top 10 countries ranked by the United Nations in terms of sustainability and green technology as well.
Below are some pictures depicting the beauty of Korea - keep in mind these were taken during the winter, so imagine how much more breath-taking it would be in the spring and summer!
One suggestion I have - focus on the exotic beaches and not ship-building!















Thursday, March 11, 2010

Rotary Projects Abroad Part 2

Here we are with a different Geoje Rotary club visiting another facility for the differently abled. This one is ran by Buddhists. The monk in the front is the headmaster. We had tea with her after touring the building and meeting with the residents. Apparently, it is a rare occurrence to have tea with a monk. Tea with her would mark our third such communing. This is a special trip indeed.


Despite being only six years old this facility was well thought out and has many amenities including a dental office. Once a week, a dentist comes in and volunteers their time to make sure the residents here have good oral health.




Here Dottie and Duwayno mess around in the music room. An important part of both facilities is the various therapies they provide the residents. Self expression is important to the residents and it provides a means of communication and connection. We saw therapy rooms and tools for sound and touch.



Here are some of the residents preparing for an activity. This facility had about sixty people living there. The Rotarians that brought us here always bring snacks for the residents. The staff said they really appreciate what the Rotarians do for them.




My new friends and I wish you peace and love from halfway around the globe.

JASON

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Future of Electric Buses in Korea

Why charge at home, when you can charge on the go? Charging road.