Saturday, February 20, 2010
Food so fast it's still living.
I think the idea of zombies came from the first South Korean chef to cook octopus. This is technically not the most exotic meal I have eaten because I have had octopus a thousand times (I think that number will triple over the next month). However, it is the most exotic preparation of a meal I have ever witnessed. It leaped frogged my grandmother's chitlins.....which I promptly stopped eating after smelling the preparation.
The Markets Of Jinju
We spent part of the afternoon walking the markets in downtown Jinju.
Here is our team leader Dottie and Anne talking with Mr. Han, our interpreter, about what kinds of food we are looking at. I have come to find out that Anne is quite adventurous when it comes to food. She will try anything. Ask her what she thought of the silk worms at dinner.
A woman in the midst of all kinds of seafood.
Many vendors would just set up in the middle of the street and lay all of their food out like this woman. She was one of probably 100 vendors selling seafood.
Here is Duwayno trying on a hat. Duwayno was explaining that he can never find any clothing to wear in the Asain markets. He is just too large. We walked into a couple of clothing stores and the vendors would shake there heads before he could even ask about sizes. One man was willing to let him try on a jacket but it wouldn't even fit on his arms.
Mr. Han, our interpreter decides to try a hat on, too.
A entrance to the traditional markets.
A Korean vendor selling snacks. Mr. Han bought us some rice cakes that were delicious.
Duwayno and Mr. Han sitting at a fountain in the underground market. There are many underground malls we have seen in Korea. They remind me of Union Station but larger, way larger.
Colorful kids clothing.
Here is a picture of a small portion of the market.
The markets ran for blocks and blocks. Some places were very crowded with street vendors pitching all kinds of foods, and other things. There ware also people on scooters zipping around. You had to watch yourself or you would get run down.
Here is our team leader Dottie and Anne talking with Mr. Han, our interpreter, about what kinds of food we are looking at. I have come to find out that Anne is quite adventurous when it comes to food. She will try anything. Ask her what she thought of the silk worms at dinner.
A woman in the midst of all kinds of seafood.
Many vendors would just set up in the middle of the street and lay all of their food out like this woman. She was one of probably 100 vendors selling seafood.
Here is Duwayno trying on a hat. Duwayno was explaining that he can never find any clothing to wear in the Asain markets. He is just too large. We walked into a couple of clothing stores and the vendors would shake there heads before he could even ask about sizes. One man was willing to let him try on a jacket but it wouldn't even fit on his arms.
Mr. Han, our interpreter decides to try a hat on, too.
A entrance to the traditional markets.
All of the signs in Korea are colorful and many have cartoons or rainbow coloring. The child like pictures make you laugh and yet convey what they sell.
For example, Jinju city's matriarch or mascot is Nongae
You see her everywhere pointing out directions and telling people about construction sites. This picture was taken from a fountain in a park that is under construction. Very friendly!
A Korean vendor selling snacks. Mr. Han bought us some rice cakes that were delicious.
Duwayno and Mr. Han sitting at a fountain in the underground market. There are many underground malls we have seen in Korea. They remind me of Union Station but larger, way larger.
Colorful kids clothing.
Well that wraps up a day of city markets.
Tomorrow we visit the Buddist temple. So we go from attachment to non attachment.
Peace,
Jason
Finally figured out how to get on the blog again. Some of the instructions show up in Korean and I just had to click on everything until I found the right spot.
The trip has been great so far. The other posts have filled you in on some of our challenges - octopus - wrong terminal..... Good thing we made the plane to Jinju as we were greeted by Rotarians with a welcome banner and flowers. Everyone here is very gracious and are happy to have us here. We have a translator with us most of the time. Not too many people speak English here.
Today we went to the Jinju market. I think they are all afraid we will starve as it seems like we just get done with one meal and then we are off to another. This evening we will meet the District Governor and attend a welcome party.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Freshest Seafood in town!!!
After a relaxing a bit in the tearoom, coffee shop, we made our way to the motel to check in. Having dropped off our bags, our host Mr. Cho asked us where we wanted to go for lunch. We said we don't care take us to your favorite spot. As we are walking to this restaurant, Kelly says to me, "I just don't want octopus." As we turn the corner, we see the sign for the restaurant and it has a cartoon octopus on the front. Uh Oh!
In the Korean restarants we have been to so far you take off your shoes at the front door. As I am taking off my shoes, I notice a waiteress bringing a dish to some people by the front door. I take a peek at their selection and of course it is octopus. The fascinating part was that the tentacles were still moving writhing and squirming around on the platter as it was being cooked.
I thought to myself at that moment, "We should have picked something ourselves." The discussion at our table was the squirming octopus at the other table and the way the waitress used scissors to cut the tentacles into smaller pieces. Our interpreter Mr. Han told us about the popularity of the dish in the country. In fact, in the two days we have explored Korea, we have seen many fish in aquariums outside of restaurants. The strangest was a hot dog with a mouth. I don't know what it was but I do know you could get it for a few dollars.
One big contrast between food from the states and food here in Korea I have noticed is in the preparation. There are a lot of soupy stews and broths. Very healthy, tasty and filling. Contrast that to the majority of foods prepped in the States. They are fried and greasy. I can see why costal diets are so healthy.
If you have never had Korean food, try Mama's Restaraunt on Pendleton Pike and 56th. It is authentic Korean cuisine. At the Korean table you have your main dish (which has been a lot of seafood.) Besides the main course are many at least five smaller dishes with various textures and flavors. Kimchi is the famous one. It is a feremented cabbage with a spice vinegar taste. Some of the other options we have sampled included shrimp with our breakfast, seaweed with our lunch, tofu, and radishes. They have their own unique features. The shrimp for example was teeny tiny and very salty. I like salt so I found them tasty. The seaweed was cut into 3 inch squares and it looked like green photo film. It was very slick and hard to grab with you chopsticks. Ultimately, the smooth texture was the draw because it tasted somewhat bland. At dinner we had a beef dish for the main course and it was accompanied with lettuce covered with a sweet sauce, kimchi, tofu, and silk worms, stomach, and livers. Anne described the silk worm as reminding her of bran cereal. I agree with that. I could could not stomach eating the stomach or the liver. Both were chopped up into bitesize morsels. The stomach had a spiny look to it and the liver is what you would imagine, meaty morsels in a red sauce. The rest of the meal was super tasty. Beef with garlic and you mixed that with the salad. Mmm. Mmm. Good.
Well that gives you a taste of the cuisine we have been eating. Two days in all of this has happened so far. Duwayno has some great pics including a video of the octopus dish he will be posting.
All the Best,
JASON
In the Korean restarants we have been to so far you take off your shoes at the front door. As I am taking off my shoes, I notice a waiteress bringing a dish to some people by the front door. I take a peek at their selection and of course it is octopus. The fascinating part was that the tentacles were still moving writhing and squirming around on the platter as it was being cooked.
I thought to myself at that moment, "We should have picked something ourselves." The discussion at our table was the squirming octopus at the other table and the way the waitress used scissors to cut the tentacles into smaller pieces. Our interpreter Mr. Han told us about the popularity of the dish in the country. In fact, in the two days we have explored Korea, we have seen many fish in aquariums outside of restaurants. The strangest was a hot dog with a mouth. I don't know what it was but I do know you could get it for a few dollars.
One big contrast between food from the states and food here in Korea I have noticed is in the preparation. There are a lot of soupy stews and broths. Very healthy, tasty and filling. Contrast that to the majority of foods prepped in the States. They are fried and greasy. I can see why costal diets are so healthy.
If you have never had Korean food, try Mama's Restaraunt on Pendleton Pike and 56th. It is authentic Korean cuisine. At the Korean table you have your main dish (which has been a lot of seafood.) Besides the main course are many at least five smaller dishes with various textures and flavors. Kimchi is the famous one. It is a feremented cabbage with a spice vinegar taste. Some of the other options we have sampled included shrimp with our breakfast, seaweed with our lunch, tofu, and radishes. They have their own unique features. The shrimp for example was teeny tiny and very salty. I like salt so I found them tasty. The seaweed was cut into 3 inch squares and it looked like green photo film. It was very slick and hard to grab with you chopsticks. Ultimately, the smooth texture was the draw because it tasted somewhat bland. At dinner we had a beef dish for the main course and it was accompanied with lettuce covered with a sweet sauce, kimchi, tofu, and silk worms, stomach, and livers. Anne described the silk worm as reminding her of bran cereal. I agree with that. I could could not stomach eating the stomach or the liver. Both were chopped up into bitesize morsels. The stomach had a spiny look to it and the liver is what you would imagine, meaty morsels in a red sauce. The rest of the meal was super tasty. Beef with garlic and you mixed that with the salad. Mmm. Mmm. Good.
Well that gives you a taste of the cuisine we have been eating. Two days in all of this has happened so far. Duwayno has some great pics including a video of the octopus dish he will be posting.
All the Best,
JASON
Thursday, February 18, 2010
What a morning!
So we finally made it to Jinju...we got up on time, we made it to the airport on time, but something wasn't quite right since we were the only ones there. We got coffee, we hung out, and then Dottie decided to check on the flights, and we were quickly informed that we were at the wrong terminal. So five foreigners in Rotary Blazers with about 12 pieces of luggage proceeded to run through the airport searching for a way to the domestic terminal. We thankfully found a bus and formed an assembly line to get our luggage on board and then proceeded to check in. We wormed our way into the "prestige line" then weaseled our way to the front of the security line and then sprinted to the gate....just in time. Sweating and disheleved, we barely made it onto the flight. As Anne, pointed out...it was a suspiciously "calm morning!"
Adventures in Octopus and Lemon Tea
It's a Friday morning in the city of Jinju, South Korea. About 40 degrees and sunny. We are in a tea shop and I just had the most zingy cup of lemon tea. Like hot lemonade with softened lemon rinds swimming around, and a touch of honey, in a very zen ceramic mug and a wooden saucer. Duwayno had a type of tea made from dates, with three pine nuts floating in it. This tea shop is owned by a Korean Rotarian -- friends in high places.
Last night in Seoul, we wandered into an alley lit with neon storefronts and found a seafood restaurant. A piping hot communal bowl of bean sprouts, crab legs, mussels, squid and octopus. We ordered this with no idea what we were ordering, but we ate most of it with gratitude, if not pleasure and curiosity.
Last night in Seoul, we wandered into an alley lit with neon storefronts and found a seafood restaurant. A piping hot communal bowl of bean sprouts, crab legs, mussels, squid and octopus. We ordered this with no idea what we were ordering, but we ate most of it with gratitude, if not pleasure and curiosity.
In Jinju
We have arrived safely in Jinju after a night in Seoul and an interesting morning. More to come.....
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