Milk Soda & Strawberries

This post will probably open the door to many different opinions but I feel fairly qualified to make this statement: Korean strawberries are the sweetest strawberries available! 

I have had fresh strawberries from North Carolina, Florida, California and Korea. California strawberries are huge, NC berries are small and sweet but the strawberries that I have had here in Seoul in the last two weeks are the sweetest. They have a beautiful red color and need no sugar at all. They are expensive but since it is 20 outside and every "fresh" produce that I've eaten in the last 2 months has been imported, these sweet, locally grown, $5/quart strawberries are worth every last penny!  

I have also tried a uniquely Korean soda, Ambasa. It is a milk based carbonated soda. Sounds a little weird and I'll admit we tried it before we knew what it was but we like it and have even bought it a couple of times since just for something different. 

Seoul in Snow

Snow. In the month of December it snowed 4 times. Never more than 3 inches at a time but enough to make the sidewalks and roads icy. Enough that by the 4th time was I over the snow and ready for spring; it was January 1. I am in for a long winter. The locals here tell me that this winter is the coldest in 35 years. They also tell me since there was less rain this past summer, it will be cold and snowy this winter. Yeah.

With all of that said, I decided on January 1, 2013, I would embrace the cold and snow and walk along the Han River and enjoy the outdoors. It was a rare morning with very few people out walking or driving. It was beautiful!

Yongsan Family Park

Even I know what this sign says!

War Memorial of Korea

Happy New Year from Seoul! It has snowed these past 2 days and after walking with Ryan to work, I took the opportunity to walk to the War Memorial of Korea.  This memorial honors all those who have fought and died fighting for Korea in all wars and conflicts. Knowing the history of the Korean War and the suffering and cold that the Koreans and solders endured, I found the snowed covered sculptures especially moving. 

Fish Pedicure

Looking for an unique and new pedicure? Come on over to Seoul and Dr Fish Cafe! Have a coffee while small fish suck on your feet.

Crazy, huh? I did it though and it was a completely unique experience and one that anyone who visits me will try. It wasn't as bad as I thought, they don't actually nibbled as much as they suck. It is ticklish and the bigger fish were much harder to adjust to. My feet were cleaned and my honey cinnamon latte was delicious.

Feed us!

Small fish

BIG fish!!

Translated directions

Yeoju Pottery

A few weeks back I had the opportunity to visit Yeoju-gun, about 90 miles southeast of Seoul. Known for their pottery shops, this town is an odd mixture of traditional small city and tourist destination. 

Aside from the extra large kimchi pots and rooms literally overflowing with china, I was most fascinated with the unity of work and home. Several of the smaller shops we visited were underneath the homes of the craftsman. I observed small gardens, crates of sweet potatoes and peppers and beans drying out in the open and in most instances, in the way of anyone walking through the shop. I know that traditional Korean cooking is very much about the "heart", so seeing the future ingredients of their meals out in the open was moving to me. Their lives are completely intertwined.

The Squatter

Please excuse the bluntness of this post but I wanted to share a big cultural difference between Americans and Koreans; the squatter.

Most every restroom I have been in has western style commodes. The first time I saw a squatter was in an outdoor stall while hiking, that made sense. The picture above was taken at the church where I attend bible study. This building was built in the 80's so imagine my surprise to open the door and find this. I have since learned when talking with friends that this style is common in Seoul, they are found at the subway stations and at the rest areas along the highways. They do flush and there is toilet paper but be sure you have done your squats in the gym to build up your leg muscles!  

Random Thoughts

So I take a lot more pictures than I actually post, so I thought I would just post some of the random shots with brief observations. Enjoy



First off, this is why I don't drive in Korea.  I would (a) miss my turn while trying to figure this sign out, (b) hit someone while figuring out how to correct my mistake and (c) get horribly lost in the process! I should note that there are 3 lanes of traffic plus the bus lane.












Is "Pizza School" a place where you go to learn to make pizza or a restaurant? We sat in traffic for a good 3 minutes looking at this sign and were unable to figure this one out.

I love this. You will see that the sign indicates these yummy looking pastries are "Peacan Monkey." When you think about this, "monkey bread" is a rather odd name so it would make sense that the translation would be lost.

Mushrooms are found in almost every Korean dish so obviously they are sold in grocery stores.  There are 12 different varieties of mushrooms on this row of all sizes. The store even had samples (cooked) and I tried one. Great flavor but I'll admit to being wary of what I was trying. I bought some sliced Oak mushrooms though for my homemade pizza. 

I had this lunch at the Shinsegae department store in Myeongdong. It is Mandoo and Riceball soup. The dumplings are filled with shredded beef and the colors are derived from spinach, jasmine and beets and there are small riceballs in the broth. It had a mild flavor and the dumplings were delicious when dipped in soy sauce.









On the bottom floor (11 stories in all) of the Shinsegae department store, there is a wonderful variety of food counters including this bakery. This baked bread concoction smells good and looks good but has beef (I think) baked in the middle with cheese. I haven't seen a lot of sandwich options here so I think this the equivalent. I did not try this.