(a) to see Korean people as individuals, instead of a culturally homogenous group of generally quite attractive confuscists; and
(b) to venture out of the proverbial Canadian kitchen and try to make real-deal k-food.
En route to the latter, I've been doing some researching. This guy is a pretty helpful intro to Korean food: http://www.trifood.com/
AND found a vegan restaurant in Seoul.. very exciting.
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In other news, today I made my first reaqcuaintance with the korean mountains. I took on an old favourite, 도봉산/Dobong San, ("san" meaning mountain), which resides mightily in the northern region of Seoul. The humidity hasn't yet dealt us Seoulites a hand of slick sweat, so a cool breeze and refreshing shade kept their yin to the hot sun's yang.
While away, I remembered the sights of Korean peaks. The tall pines, the lush tree canopies, the stoic rocks jutting up, flat-faced and the colour of putty. The well-worn paths; the groups of Koreans lazing lacksadaisically all along the trail. The market at the bottom, providing hiking 'necessities' alongside food stalls selling pajeon and weirdly innapriopriate seafood. The ocean is not close.
But the sounds, the sounds, these I had lost. The tempo of buddhist temples, timed by a monk's chant or a moktak. The reverb of the infamous ajussi spit. Koreans on cell phones, Koreans enjoying conversation with family, Koreans smacking their lips to gimbap and soju. Loves it.
Also, a shoutout to the Seoul Metro System.. one of the best around. Fast, clean, efficient, reliable. Cheap. For Newieland friends, checkit. Click it to make it big..
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