food

Firsts Part 2: The Korean Wedding

Tue, 03/12/2013 - 10:53 — JPD does ROK

On Sunday, I got my first taste of a big part of modern Korean culture: the Korean wedding. The experience in unequal parts left me excited, curious and, well, disappointed.

This is not a condemnation on the institute of marriage. Besides seeing the recent dissolve of one of my best friends’ marriages, and another’s marriage has only been one of convenience for many years, the actual wedding day for me has been very special. They’re usually fun gatherings of your closest family and friends. Sometimes, they’re in churches. Sometimes, at hotels. Sometimes, at wineries, farms or other less-expected locales. In the west–specifically to me, the U.S.–they can be simple or expensive, all-day events. Some of those more expensive ones can cost as much as a downpayment on a house.

Our Weekend: Monster Cupcakes and Tim Burton

Mon, 03/11/2013 - 17:37 — Lamblet

Train journeys are always fun when you have red wine and The Walking Dead to make it go faster. I'm a couple of episodes behind on the third season, and think that it's definitely the best season so far, what does everyone else think?

Saturday was really sunny and warm, so we strolled around Hongdae, got some lunch then headed to the Tim Burton exhibition and the Seoul Museum of Art. It was amazing. It shows pictures, videos and notes from when he was really young, up until his big blockbuster films. It was so interesting to see which ideas that he developed all those years that you can see influenced some of the characters in his movies that everybody loves now-a-days.

How to Stay Sane Until Spring (Korean Winter, we’re through.)

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 01:00 — devanrosey

Getting Domestic in Korea

Fri, 03/01/2013 - 21:59 — JPD does ROK

This does not apply just to South Korea. Though, it’s damn important here. It may be a personal thing, it may be universal.

If you have just arrived here, you’re starry-eyed and excited and everything is just so. Damn. New. You’re taking it all in. It’s, in a word, whacked. You’re partying. You’re socializing, or at least trying to. It’s a hell of a first few days, especially if you’re young, energetic and seeing something like Korea–something so damn FOREIGN–for the first time.

DGFEZ – Road Trip Through Gyeongbuk

Thu, 02/28/2013 - 14:16 — unclouded.hope

Weekend: Food and Family

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 05:04 — Lamblet

Well I'm sat keeping an eye on the bits I've been trying to sell on ebay as my last weekend in the UK draws to an end. I don't feel ready to go back to Busan yet, there's so much left to do and still so many people that I haven't had the chance to catch up with. But, it was a busy one, starting with some dentist work on Friday morning, not fun, especially when your dentist has bad breath.

Later on Friday I went into Sheffield to meet some of my friends I used to work with at the job before I left for Korea. It was so nice to see them again but it felt like I'd hardly been away. Every pay day Friday we used to get our gladrags on and go out.

Dwenjang Jjigae -Soy Bean Paste Stew, 된장찌개

Mon, 02/25/2013 - 00:30 — crazykoreancooking

This is one of the most loved stews along Koreans with Kimchi stew. It goes well with dishes like Galbi and Bulgogi. A combination of seafoods, vegetables, tofu and soybean paste makes it a very nutritious dish.

Click here for the recipe.

The White Rabbit and Cocoa Wonderland

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 23:03 — Lamblet

On Wednesday I got in the car and drove down to Nottingham to meet up with my friend Hannah. Hannah and I went to Nottingham Trent University together from 2005-2008 (it makes me feel so old when I say that).

Jimjilbanging: It’s kind of like eating kimchi, but you’ve got to get naked.

Thu, 02/21/2013 - 23:07 — devanrosey

photo credit

Korea is lovingly known as The Land of Kimchi, but I argue the slogan could lose kimchi and replace it with jimjilbang and no one would throw a fit. Kimchi and jimjilbangs are both well-known elements of Korean culture. Jimjilbangs are large public bath houses (mostly gender-segregated) and can be found on almost every street in Korea. Some are more fancy than others, but most have a handful of hot baths, showers, saunas, massage tables, lockers, sleeping areas and social meeting spaces. Jimjilbangs are usually open 24 hours a day and many people visit them to bathe, relax and sleep. Most rooms, including the saunas, have special minerals, woods and stones to create a soothing sanctuary and provide elements of traditional Korean medicine. The Korean jimjilbang is a familiar and calming oasis for all Koreans. Each is a mini spa that caters to your every need. They are more prevalent than Starbucks shops and you can spend a day in one for the cost of a latte and a snack. They sound perfect, right?

Our Weekend: Food Diary

Wed, 02/20/2013 - 19:25 — Lamblet

All I seem to have done since I've been in England is eat, eat, eat. I swear that I haven't heard my stomach rumble since the plane touched ground. This weekend has been a particularly food packed one.

On Thursday, after I had my hair cut, we went to St Paul's hotel and had one of their amazing cream teas. This comes with cucumber, salmon and cream cheese and ham and tomato sandwiches, scones with fresh cream and a small mix of cakes. Delicious.

On Friday morning, feeling the effects of all the food, we decided to go for a walk around Clumber Park's lake. It's about a three mile walk and took just over an hour, but on the way home, to reward ourselves, we called in at the Old School Tea Rooms and I had a ploughman's lunch.

Just say “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” to escape the Korean winter.

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 23:38 — devanrosey

As I’ve said before, I’m not crazy about the cold. Yes, I’m from New England, but no, I don’t really ski, so winter for me is about the first magical snow (just one please, that’s enough) and then of course the oh so mature Christmas countdown. Sometimes January and February can leave me in a kind of funk. But this really hasn’t been the case in Korea.

drinks in korea

Reunited and it Feels so Familiar

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 20:48 — JPD does ROK

When I left South Korea three years ago, I barely had time to establish any sort of lasting friendships. Luckily, there were a few, made mostly during the EPIK orientation in Jeonju.

Some of those friendships have faded, and some of those that have and have not have moved on to other parts of the world. Some have left Korea only to return. And, some of those will leave again soon. It’s the painful truth of the expat lifestyle.

I got to see three of those friendships reborn Saturday night, when I met up with Sam, Jenna and Tony for dinner and drinks in Seomyeon. Sam and Jenna came with me on the orientation. Now, they are veterans of Busan. For me, it’s like the clock stopped in April 2010, only to kick back on a few days ago. Like suspended animation.

Home Sweet Home

Thu, 02/14/2013 - 00:40 — Lamblet

Pheasant in the snow

Snow! I forgot that snow actually settled sometimes, but it seems like England has decided to remind me of that fact ever since the day we landed. At least it means I get to wear my Hunter Wellies.

I Went There

Mon, 02/11/2013 - 22:13 — jmslesin

Today, I finally went to the Tetris cafe, and it was as awesome as I had hoped.

This weekend was Korean Lunar New Year and I had the day off of work.

I used part of my day to do some writing, and in the process fell in love with an awesome cafe.

I love lists...

Thu, 02/07/2013 - 15:00 — Lamblet

I started this post a long, long time ago, when I'd first arrived in Korea. It was about the vast amount of lists I had for films that I wanted to watch, books I wanted to read, places in Korea that I wanted to see, and things I wanted to do, but recently a whole new species of lists has been developed with my imminent trip to England. I love lists, they really do make me feel like I'm getting things done, even if it is partly indulging the side of me that likes to procrastinate.

Having been in Korea for a year, I've been deprived of several things that used to be pretty important to me, here are the lists I've made for my visit home.


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