As you all know I am behind on this blog. Chuesok was actually 2 October. "Chuseok is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Like many other harvest festivals, it is held around the Autumn Equinox. As a celebration of the good harvest, Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of Korean traditional food." AKA, Korean Thanksgiving. So, on Chuesok us and our American friends decided not to let the holiday pass without a feast, and since our Army (and other branches of the military that live here on Yongsan) have Chuseok off we had a big Chuesok celebration at 'blue park'! Now granted it was not your 'traditional' Korean celebration, but we tried, we had songpyeong, yakimandu, bulgogi and a few other Korean dishes, but we also had chicken wings, bratwurst, burgers and more! It was a great evening to celebrate with friends!
2 Comments
This is so fun! There have been Boy 3 sightings all over town! I've heard from people that they have seen him on TV, click here to watch his commercial. People have called to tell me he has been seen on the side of busses, and he has been seen on big posters at many major bus stops all over town. I have personally seen him at 3. Fun, fun, fun I tell you! ;-)
Thank you God for fall! I never knew how much I loved fall, I mean come on, I grew up in Texas and God must think Texans don't deserve a fall or something, because even though they 'think' they have fall, they really don't. I have never known fall like I know it here in Korea. The first thing I notice about fall is the cool crispness in the air that I love to wake up to, soon after the leaves changing colors and I’m not talking about the leaves going from green to brown. I’m talking bright reds, yellows, and oranges! I even enjoy it getting dark earlier. One of the things I will miss most about fall in Korea is Haddoek. Oh Haddoek, I love you. No, I haven't give Hubby away for a hot young thing named Haddoek, Haddoek is street food that only comes out in fall and stays through winter, once spring hits and it starts to warm up Haddoek disappears again until the fall. Haddoek is a Korean pancake made of flour, water sugar, yeast, milk, brown sugar and cinnamon. The batter is poured onto a hot, oiled griddle in rounds like this… Then she stuffs them with the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture and smashes them with that little thing. (I need to get one of those 'little things') She cooks them until they are slightly brown, turns them over and cooks on the other side until slightly brown. Then she gives them to you in a little cardboard thing so you don't burn your fingers. Even though I don't burn my fingers I always burn my tongue because I just cannot wait for it to cool before devouring every last drop then ordering another. They are like a sweet little dessert pancake with a cinnamon/brown sugar mixture that just oozes out of the center when you take a bite. God how I love these things. This day I ate 3.
I'm sure some you guys have noticed that I have not been posting new blogs each day like I once did. Well, life gets crazy and I do my best to hold on just like the rest of you. Some of you have called me 'superwoman', wich I appreciate, but want you to know, I am not anything of the sort. I fold the laundry (and lots of it I might add), clean the toilets, scrub the floors and cook dinner just like many of you out there reading my blog. Thanks for sticking with me through my days of not showing up here. I'm going to TRY to be better & write at least once a day, although some days I may be be posting more (or less) just to get caught up. In the mean time....
In the last post I told you we happened upon 'fun street' well, here is a glimpse of 'fun street' for you. Now mind you these sights are not uncommon here in Korea and this is just part of why I love it here so much. First off, it is not unusual to find motorcycles or cars parked or driving on the sidewalk. This is a normal everyday part of life. I was afraid to ask what they do with these...I'm sure they are food. Rice cakes or fruit anyone? This was the first time I remember seeing fresh chicken since I have been here! The woman in the picture is cutting up a chicken for her customer. The buckets in the front are fresh chicken parts. How about some fish? Right next door to the fish you can find a nice pair of sweat pants for yourself. When I saw these pants I thought they were taking about "Agent Orange", the Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War, but then I found out that back in the 80's there was a band named "Agent Orange", so I am not sure which one they are talking about here - most likely they are not sure which one they are talking about either. You can always find 'Konglish' wherever you go... You say tomato, I say pomato? I think the wires hanging down are a nice effect as well. That is haning meat you are looking at in the next picture. Kimchi, kimchi, it is good for you and me.... Please step around the TV in the middle of the alley. What on God's green earth? Do they really expect me to eat that?! Tripe - Beef tripe is usually made from only the first three chambers of a cow's stomach. I've tried it, but cannot get past what it is. YUCK, GAG, BARF. How about some dried fish? This lady was selling it out of her cart. Do you need shoe laces? This guy was dragging this bucket of shoe laces around selling them. Shoes are plentiful, but only if you have small feet! I'm not sure, but I think I love him. Oh my goodness, I almost forgot the woman selling tape. This guy was working at a meat store. Read his shirt. Now you might think I took these pictures over days or weeks, but no, this was all on one street, about 3 blocks long!
The day Hubby and I went out to look for furniture we happened upon this really fun street. While there, we noticed tons of people waiting in line, and very quietly I might add. It reminded us of the Sinfield episode with the 'Soup Nazi'. You know the one. First we passed this place up not knowing what they were selling, but Hubby mentioned he would like to get some of whatever it was just because of the line. As we were leaving 'fun street' about an hour later there was still a very long line at this mysterious 'Soup Nazi' style place. Hubby couldn't resist and even though he had no idea what he was getting in line for, he got in line. Once we got a little closer we could see what it was....oh baby, fresh and steaming hot... I've had a few fresh steamed dumplings on the streets here, but none of them compared to these bad boys. So, if you are ever out and about & you see this store..... RUN, don't walk to get your smokin' fresh dumplings! We got both the spicy beef and the non spicy, both were equally delicious! OH, and I forgot to mention, cheap!
You see these ladies all over Seoul. I call them "Yogurt Ladies". I'm not sure what their real titles are, but to us, we know we can give them 2,000 won, and they give us 20 of the 'mini' yogurt drinks (with straws) my kids like so well.
While Hubby and I were out last weekend we took note of a few fun things. What do you think this advertisement is for? I considered buying these pants..... Anyone want a pomato? Yummy!
Hubby and I are toying with the idea of buying furniture here instead of waiting till we get back to the states to purchase it. If you live here and you would like to go look at furniture (not in a mall), take the blue line, line 4 to Chongshin University, go out subway exit #1 and walk straight, there are tons of furniture stores on the right. Here are a few of the couches we are considering buying..... So, tell me which one you would vote for. (Obviously don't vote on the little bedroom double chair.) I keep going back and forth....
|
AuthorProud Army wife and mother to 4 wonderful children. I love to cook, travel, work out and scrapbook life’s adventures when I find the time. We just got orders & are heading back to the states in March 2010. I'm bummed that our time has been cut short, but proud of Hubby for the reason why. Archives
April 2010
Categories
All
Friends, Family and Fun reading: |