"Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going." ~ Paul Theroux..
And Crews know they have been and will go to (same) place, probably over and over again.
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| Sungnyemun Gate |
Seoul is one of the cities in Asia (and The World) perhaps, which has been like a third home to me. There were months when I visited three times a month to Seoul and never got bored to death. Great city with a lot of vibes and my travel was not li
just the Korean barbecue. Thanks to my best Friend Michael or Yu Jae Chang, who is always willing to accompany me or recommend places to visit (or offer me a dinner if he is working) in Seoul.
mited to
My first operating flight was Seoul (Was it December 3rd or 5th in 2013??) and I was completely enchanted by the food of the city. Ever since, I tried perhaps many of the korean foods---be it seasonal Hotteok (Korean Fried pancake in Layman's lingo) or a splurge seafood lunch by Noryangjin Fish Market. If you are planing to visit Seoul in future, then by all means, come for the food.
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| Making Hotteok |
Day 1
I arrived on April 14th afternoon and slept right away and asked Michael to be in the hotel in Namdaemun by 5:30pm and then go for hogging ride. Michael was late, but we started our walk from Namdaemun to the first stop--Gwangjang Market in Jongno-Gu.It was a long walk (may be 30 minutes??), however, we stopped by a little shop where they were selling Hotteok (read above). Cost-- Just USD2.00 for each. It is a little, hot, aromatic, sweet pleasure--I actually fell in love with it, when I first had in Seoul--that all I could eat was this Hotteok. A very thick pancake, made of flour filled with chopped nuts, cinnamon, honey/sugar and then fried! One bite and then sugar and honey oozes of the piping hot pancake. Be prepared to grab some wet tissues unless you are ready to lick your sticky fingers. We ate, walked and talked about all the problems in Life, at work(like any other mortals) and stumbled upon, Kwangjang Market.
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| Mungbean Pancakes two for USD8.00 |
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| Well, you can see the crowd in the little restaurant where we ate |
This is actually the place to eat, if you really want good food, or else just eat in the little BBQ restaurant in a touristy place and complain about how expensive it is to eat in Seoul. What do you get in Kwangjang Market? Everything. Apart from being a traditional market, there is a huge food scene going on. Youngsters, people who are done for the day at work and come here to socialise over food and beer or even tourists like me trying the korean food or friends to catch up and hang out or for Grandpapas to have dinner. What you must try in this place??Well, when the last time I visited this place, in December 2016, I had the "Mung bean pancakes". Mung lentils or beans made into a paste with onions and other ingredients and then shallow fried and cooked to perfection. If you fancy a beer, especially Caas (the one made in Korea) or grab Soju or Makgeolli and enjoy your time. You may also try the korean version of steak tartare (which I had in December, 2016). It is pure bliss...err pure beef minced, with
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| Korean take on Steak Tartare |
toasted sesame, sesame oil and an egg yolk. Also comes some thinly sliced sweetest Korean pear.
Then we moved on for some coffee at JW Marriott in Dongdaemun, where Michael worked (perks of getting some free coffee from ex-colleagues) and talked about various problems of life, its own ups and downs. The watch was showing 930pm.
But one mung bean pancake was not enough. I wanted more, so we went to nearby Barbecue place. Located in a shabby place, this place had an exceptional meat for Barbecue. Shortribs! Marinated with garlic, korean chilli paste and Voila. You do the rest part of cooking over a charcoal grill with garnishes like roasted garlic, greens, sprouts, more chilli paste, kimchi and some seaweed. Rice was not my forte but what is stopping you?
It was already 1130pm and we headed to Michael's house for a quick rest and then headed to a place where they were still serving KFC(not Kentucky's but Korean take on Fried Chicken) at 1AM. It is simple, yet delectable. If you cannot do a fried chicken, I am sure you cannot do anything else. Coated in flour, deepfried and then tossed in a sauce of chilli paste, garlic and must some soy. Yes, tastier than that finger licking crap!I was told they sell more this chicken than the total amount of fried chicken sold by KFC worldwide. We headed back to the hotel (by then I was really tired).
Day 2.
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| Long Live Revolution! |
Despite waking up at 8 in the morning, started my day with daily morning ritual and then a quick brekkie---I was sleepy. I slept till about 3pm, though I was waking up every now and then. Eventually I was woken up by a procession--protest against N. Korea and urging US to take steps against them and secondly, protest against their president being impeached. Matters to me?? NO!
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| Lobsters getting grilled |
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| Gratinating the cheese...errr Lobsters |
I took a couple of clicks whilst one of them protesters handed me a paper over to read about why they are protesting. I walked till I found myself in Myeong Dong--the shopping district. If you have never been to Myeong Dong, I urge you to visit Myeong Dong--perhaps you find all the brands here (I was told when companies launch their latest product in South Korea, they make it overpriced. Apparently Korean psychology compels the consumers to have latest gadget/shoes/apparels) but I was not in a mood for shopping. I was hungry so I was looking for more food, kinda tasting menu on the street. First I found some lobsters. Fresh lobsters getting grilled--and then topped with your liking of cheese, hot sauce or just parsley. I had just one tail (reserving my appetite for more). 15,000 Korean Won. Not bad. The food scene w beautiful. Every two meters someone was selling something or the other. Well, you got to as it was just 530pm and already crowded. People of all nationality-- Chinese, India, Thai, Russian, CIS, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesian, Malay, Singapore, Americans, British...probably a meeting point!
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| Giant Mussels |
I found another stuff a few meters ahead-- giant mussels in a cheese sauce! I passed on the mussels and moved on to Shrimps. Crumbed and deep fried! Simple and delish for just 5USD. I moved on to buy some stuff from Nature Republic and found one place selling Chicken Wings. Yes please, one plate, for only 3 USD.
After buying some gifts from there, it was time to walk back to the hotel--just a 10min walk was good enough for me lose my way. I found my way again alongwith the notorious Korean pancake, Hotteok (for USD2) and back to the hotel.
I have never eaten in same restaurant twice in Seoul (except in BLT as insisted by Jae Chang, or in Noryangjin for some live peformance by the lobsters and other seafood). There is always something new food to try in Seoul. Fewdays ago, I got to know of a seafood pancake called Haemul Pajeon in Korean, which I must try in Seoul next time. If you are in Seoul, you must try Pears, Apples. Not the melons! And of course Strawberries in Feb to April.
Thats it for today and I may write soon. Chicken Forestiere is still pending.
How did I write? Leave me a message.
My history of taking photograph, probably in early 90s, when I was as little as 5-6years old, was more or less related to this camera, "Hot Shot", owned by my father. I would fiddle around with this piece without realising from where shall I put my eyes or what is the mechanism. Later he got another one, Minolta from US of A and yet it was another article that was beyond my reach to understand. I dont remember which model was it, but it was still back in the days of good,old film camera. You take pictures assuming they would come perfect and wait for the printed copies of the pictures take--only to be put inside the albums. Interestingly, the camera came with a small manual with some marvellous pictures!
My history of taking photograph, probably in early 90s, when I was as little as 5-6years old, was more or less related to this camera, "Hot Shot", owned by my father. I would fiddle around with this piece without realising from where shall I put my eyes or what is the mechanism. Later he got another one, Minolta from US of A and yet it was another article that was beyond my reach to understand. I dont remember which model was it, but it was still back in the days of good,old film camera. You take pictures assuming they would come perfect and wait for the printed copies of the pictures take--only to be put inside the albums. Interestingly, the camera came with a small manual with some marvellous pictures!
