Rotary GSE: District 6560 to District 3590

Korean Cuisine: The Retrospective

2010-03-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning we fly back to the US. As a parting love letter to South Korea, here's a whirlwind tour of our experiences with Korean food: the good, the bad and the wacky.

Our first famished night in Korea, we picked a random restaurant. Here's what we were served:

See the lovely lavender octopus tentacle. Our relationship to octopus evolved a little during the trip, with most of us agreeing that it was tolerable, one of us swearing it off for life, and two of us eating it raw, straight out of the tank. Below is a seafood item that appeared in a steaming bowl of soup.

We figured it looked a little like an octopus' private parts, until Duwayno corrected us on the technicalities of octopus anatomy and mating methods. We still don't know what this piece of seafood really was.

Many times, strolling through the seaside towns of southern South Korea, we'd spy a tank of these creatures, which we lovingly dubbed "hot dogs with mouths."

Although I could not bring myself to eat one of these, raw or cooked, I admit that they are probably more pure than any American hot dog.

Above is another unattractive entree: boiled chicken with roots and bean sprouts. Though it was quite good with rice soup on a chilly spring day.

Here's an item we all liked: sweet potato noodles. They go down very easy.

Koreans don't eat dessert in form of refined sugar or flour. No wonder they lack love handles. If you're lucky, at the end of a meal, you get candied potatoes with sesame seeds and super-sweet mandarin oranges. I inhaled these as often as possible.

The presentation of food on the Korean table is often spectacular. Above: check out this stunning little bowl of pink chilled soup: a spring gazpacho, if you will, with pickled turnips.

A meal in Korea is nothing if not a social occasion. Here is Mr. Park, a fun-loving Rotarian in Tongyeong, handling the cooking duties at our table. He's frying thin strips of beef, which you eat with green onions, a sliver of roasted garlic, and a sweet pepper sauce, that you wrap up in a lettuce leaf. I'm going to miss having a grill at my table, and the way the Korean people wanted to be sure our bowls were never empty.

Here's a close-up, along with some pickled turnip slices and a cole slaw with a pastel plum dressing.

There are some great spreads out at the markets. Here's where it all comes from.

As much as I love Korean food, I was jonesing for some American breakfast food and during our weekend in Seoul, found a brunch spot and almost cried from bliss over these pancakes with ricotta, fig and walnuts. And kiwi juice to drink.

We also ate a Hilton hotel, but I decided to order Korean food: I figured it was going to be good, and it was: beebimbap: a mixture of rice, seaweed, mushrooms and other goodies.

This platter of rice "tortillas" surrounded by delicate fillings won big points for aesthetics. I asked if the chef could come out so we could give her a round of applause.

A common favorite on the Korean table are these savory little pancakes, made (I surmise) with rice flour, spinach and egg. To be dipped in sesame oil. I'm going to try making these at home.

I didn't think I was a big fan of duck until this platter of smoked quack-ers came out.

A meal's second course is often a soup of some sort. In this case, a seafood concoction with ginseng. Our interpreter, Mr. Kang, was probably sick to death of me asking what food was what.

Here's what I will remember about Korea: the great meals to which we were treated, the unprocessed nature of the food and its bold flavors, the strong desire of Koreans to share their cuisine, and the conviviality at each meal that needed no translation.

Big Gold Buddha

2010-03-14T00:51:00.000-08:00

In the town of Goseong, there is a temple with a five-story Buddha. It competes with the mountains for majesty.

Here is Jason (the sunny member of our team) in a contemplative moment of peace.

The Textures of Korea

2010-03-12T15:52:00.001-08:00

Of the nine towns and cities we've visited on this trip, each one revealed its colors, textures and patterns to us. Here's an abstract visual tour:

A garlic field in Hadong.

The chunky pebble beach of Goeje.

Decorations at a Buddhist temple in the mountains of Gyeongju.

A bustling street market in Seoul.

A great teacup.

Carved totems at an artist's studio in Goseong.

Anchovies for sale on the street.

Layers of sediment near the site of dinosaur footprints.

Artful landscaping near the Jinju National Museum.

Bamboo with mountains.

Shoes removed before entering a restaurant.

The eaves of a temple in Sacheon City.

Just a small sampling of the subtle and spectacular visual treats of South Korea.

If This is Friday

2010-03-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

If this is Friday, this must be Goseong. We move around so quickly, I hardly remember where I am. Although the trip is coming to a close, our days continue to be busy and fun. Today we visited a big - really big Buddha, dinosaur tracks, a power plant and were entertained by some traditional Korean dancing.

We were then given drumming lessons on the jang gu drums. As if that wasn't enough to discourage our teachers, they decided we should try out some traditional dance moves.

The pictures didn't come out where I wanted them but you can see our great hosts are seeing to it we are getting immersed in their culture. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Tourism in the making

2010-03-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

South Korea is a country with Tourism at the top of their list. Their marketing materials are wonderful and they have a lot to offer...now the only thing left to do is find the people! We've met several people involved in tourism from our interpreter to members of the ministry of tourism to hotel owners to those running tourist sights for the government.
Sparkling Korea is the marketing campaign for this year and highlights the elements of local hospitality, history, culture, and cuisine. From big city shopping and entertainment in Seoul to island hopping and yachting in the South, Korea is on its way to becoming a "must see" destination. In my opinion the islands of Tongyeoung, Geoje, Naemhae, and others are the undiscovered gems. These have the potential to draw in millions of tourists from all over the world. They have even mastered the idea of selling "off the beaten path" experiences such as pottery making, fishing, oyster collecting and pearl cultivation, farming, and jewelry making. These types of activities are becoming more and more popular. Korea is one of the top 10 countries ranked by the United Nations in terms of sustainability and green technology as well.
Below are some pictures depicting the beauty of Korea - keep in mind these were taken during the winter, so imagine how much more breath-taking it would be in the spring and summer!
One suggestion I have - focus on the exotic beaches and not ship-building!

Rotary Projects Abroad Part 2

2010-03-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

Here we are with a different Geoje Rotary club visiting another facility for the differently abled. This one is ran by Buddhists. The monk in the front is the headmaster. We had tea with her after touring the building and meeting with the residents. Apparently, it is a rare occurrence to have tea with a monk. Tea with her would mark our third such communing. This is a special trip indeed.

Despite being only six years old this facility was well thought out and has many amenities including a dental office. Once a week, a dentist comes in and volunteers their time to make sure the residents here have good oral health.

Here Dottie and Duwayno mess around in the music room. An important part of both facilities is the various therapies they provide the residents. Self expression is important to the residents and it provides a means of communication and connection. We saw therapy rooms and tools for sound and touch.

Here are some of the residents preparing for an activity. This facility had about sixty people living there. The Rotarians that brought us here always bring snacks for the residents. The staff said they really appreciate what the Rotarians do for them.

My new friends and I wish you peace and love from halfway around the globe.

JASON

The Future of Electric Buses in Korea

2010-03-10T15:47:00.000-08:00

Why charge at home, when you can charge on the go? Charging road.

Tongyeong

2010-03-10T15:39:00.000-08:00

We took a cable car to a summit here in Tongyeong. Photos will come. Even with photos, the beauty of Tongyeong's chain of islands is something you have to witness in person. I would recommend the spring or summer. The beauty is still present this time of year, but I can only imagine what it looks like with more green and flowers in full bloom.

Rotary Projects Abroad part 1

2010-03-10T00:17:00.001-08:00

We have been able to see some magnificent things in Korea, and in Geoje we had the opportunity to see two projects supported by local Rotarians that illustrate the ideal of Service Above Self. Here are pictures of the first.

Here we are with two of the Geoje clubs at Kojedo Aikwangwon or the Garden of Love and Light. This place supports a community of mentally challenged individuals by providing education and vocational training as well as various therapies. It is a large place with well over 100 residents.

Above a woman works on a loom. Aikwangwon, has many different programs from weaving and woodcrafts to gardening and cooking.

I can see why people prefer the term "differently abled" because why they certainly have different challenges than most people, they also have many things like determination, focus, and love that anyone can have if they desire it. I gained some perspective in my life thinking about what kinds of challenges I face and asking myself do I handle those challenges with the grace that these people do?

This lovely woman has been a resident for three years at Aikwangwon. She was able to knit her bedspread and a rug for her room thanks to Aikwangwon.

Here are some residents that are sewing. Many of the crafts that are made by the residents are sold to bring money to the foundation. Despite support by the Korean government, Aikwangwon has to make up a shortfall in funding through donations. The gift shop has many handcrafted items that are really impressive.

Kelly was taken by surprise when she greeting this girl with a hello only to have her respond in English. She was able to say many things and she even took Kelly's photograph.

Here Anne makes friends with a blind woman who kept saying, "I am beautiful." You could feel the compassion and love that the staff and the Rotarians provide the residents.

Aikwangwon was only the first facility we saw that week. The next post provides a visit to another facility in Geoje ran by Buddhist Monks.

Welcome to Tongyeong

2010-03-08T05:03:00.000-08:00

We arrived in Tongyeong this morning. It consists of 41 inhabited and 110 uninhabited islands. We took a ferry to Hansan Island. It was the site of a major defensive battle of Admiral Lee's forces against the Japanese. Jason and I took a few minutes to take in a little sun.

Oyster Lust

2010-03-07T04:33:00.000-08:00

Last week we had a transcendent experience with oysters. We're tooling around the backroads of Geoje, the island on the southeastern tip of Korea, with the Geoje Central Rotary Club. We stop at a rustic restaurant by the shore. Three foot-deep kettles of steaming oysters arrive at our tables.

I didn't think I liked oysters. Unlike Duwayno, who grew up in Virginia eating seafood of all kinds, the only osyter I'd ever had was a slimy little thing at a wanna-be swanky restaurant in Indy. Truth is, I may not eat an oyster again, unless I'm in Korea. These little darlings were delicate slips of protien curled into a shell crusted with all the minerals in the ocean. Pry one open, and out comes a modest-looking morsel that's dense with mojo. Rich and light. Elegant yet undressed. Ancient and fresh.

We dip the oysters in a small dish of liquid butter and sea salt, or a little pepper sauce, or wrap it in a pale lettuce leaf grown just yards from the restaurant window. The oysters are served with a zen little platter of carrots, cukes, and a few quail eggs.

I fall in love with the freckled eggs and pocket a few for breakfast.

Duwayno and Dottie are on a oyster high. Dottie tries three times to stop eating them, declaring a given oyster to be her last -- then she starts up again. Duwayno looks like a new man (after mumbling something about cheeseburgers earlier in the day). When we find out each kettle of three dozen oysters costs the equivalent of $15, we eat some more.

Thanks to the Geoje Central Rotary Club for treating us to a meal for the ages.

Treasures of the Sea

2010-03-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun picture from the fishing and maritime museum. Nary a pearl can touch this beauty.

Boat tour

2010-03-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

We went on a 1.5hr boat tour. Half of what Giligan and the gang did. We came back in tact. Even after soju shots and more octopus sashimi.

Gimpo Airport...

2010-03-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

This is a calm, serene shot of the international terminal of Gimpo airport at about 5:30am. Unfortunately we were suppose to fly out of the domestic terminal. Ooops!

Water and the new moon!

2010-03-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

In Hadong, we were treated to a booze cruise of the bays around Sacheon. As you can tell by the name of the ferry, the "Love Cruise" is very popular with the locals. There was a dance floor on the main deck that was packed for the entire 1 and 1/2 hour cruise.

Here is a picture of the team on the ferry. It was a beautiful sunny day for a ferry ride.

A bridge on the bay by Hadong. The pictures never do the place juctice. The entire southern coast is beautiful mountains reaching down and touching the sea. If you are looking to travel some where interesting and beautiful, try Korea in the spring. Nothing has started to bloom but the team can tell that everything would be amazing. And the people are so very kind and accomodating.

After the ferry ride we attended a Full Moon Festival. This festival celebrates the largest full moon of the year. Through out the day we saw big bonfires being prepared and people celebrating for good luck for the rest of the year. The rope around the bottom of this bonfire would hold wishes for the attendees.

On a beach nearby, a Korean Shaman performs a ritual of good luck on a local woman. It is interesting to note the man dressed as a monk playing the drum on the left. He would chant and drum while the woman held a fish and alcohol. This ritual apparently is to sooth the gods of the sea and bring in good fishing returns.

This is the president of the Hadong club in the pavillion before the lighting of the bonfire. Because of her work in the community, she was one of the people who would light the bonfire later in the evening.

Remeber the Korean landscape in this area is mountains touching beaches. So before the bonfire is lit, we had to wait for the moon to appear over the mountains. Above you can just make out the moon cresting the mountain top and whoosh...

...the bonfire is lit.

Because it was cold everyone, about a hundred or so people were huddlled around the fire that is until it was lit. Then everyone back up about 10 feet.

Yet again we had another amazing Korean experience.

Thank You Korea, and Thank You Rotary.

Jason

View from hotel in Namhae

2010-03-04T05:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have to state that my post are going to be out of chronological order. Think Pulp Fiction, but in blog format. I think we all had a vision of posting at the end of every night. Photos, thoughts, feelings, ponderings, etc...

The reality is that our days are hectic and take us late into the evenings in a way that the only thing you want to blog about is rest. Our Korean host are full throttle and keep us going.

Under the circumstances it is going to make my blogs closer to the stories and accounts I will tell in first person upon my return to the states. Which means, out of sequence and a little scattered. With that said, here is a photo that I took while in Namhae a few days ago.

Namhae reminded me of the OBX. Small, summer stop for people lucky enough to be in driving distance. This particular hotel had a few rooms, but a location that makes it an insiders first choice. Looking at the view from the room me, Jason, and Mr. Kang shared speaks for itself.

Waiting for the Earth to Turn

2010-03-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

To the west the sun sank and to the east, a glow from behind the mountain in Sacheon City, South Korea. On the last day of February, several hundred families, couples and old timers gathered to greet the largest full moon of the year.

The waiting together was the ritual. People ate tofu and oranges under a tent in a makeshift cafe. Middle-aged Koreans danced to club music pumping out of the back of a truck. Infants were bundled on their mothers' backs. Men kept adding fabric and brush to a towering bonfire, to be lit the moment the moon appeared.

We stood in the cold, waiting for the earth to turn. At last the moon rose high enough: a ghost, an angel, a big hunk of luck.

The fire billowed. (I could feel my fingers and hindquarters again). People made wishes for a good planting season, then turned for home.

They Think We Can Do Crafts????

2010-03-03T05:40:00.001-08:00

To catch you up on some of the things you missed when we didn't have internet access:

We visited a folk museum on a rainy, miserable day and they decided that crafts would be a good thing to do since we really couldn't be outside. We were given a piece of metal, some paint and some "rocks" to make a design on the metal. Our creations were then fired and put on necklaces. Don't have pictures of them but we didn't do too bad-however none of them came out looking like we imagined after they were fired and the "rocks" melted.

Then after the lovely tea ceremony Anne mentioned in an earlier blog - she does such a nice job of describing things - very poetic - they took us to a ceramic studio to make ceramics. This proved we are Not artisians. The master is in the middle with his students. Of course, we couldn't take our lovely creations with us as they had to be fired (I think he probably put the clay back into lumps to use for the next unsuspecting students). Check out our lovely aprons. Kelly and Jason got theirs off before we took the picture but Duwayno certainly looks dashing in his. You do need to know that the aprons didn't keep us from having clay on our clothes and shoes - we were all pretty much of a mess.

Lots Going On

2010-03-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

As you could see, from the lack of posts for a few days, we didn't have interne access. Now that we are on Geoje we are staying in a lovely hostel, have our own rooms and internet access. This whole island was once a POW camp where North Koreans were interred during the Korean war. We visited a museum that had a diorama depicting what it looked like. Found out that the prisoners themselves had a pro/anti communism disagreement that ended up in a riot where the killed each other. This was a very sobering reminder of how war affects all of us. In other places where the Korean war is highlighted in memorbilia, the South Koreans always thank us for helping them.

This island is now booming and beautiful - even though we have rain and clouds the past few days. Yesterday we actually saw some blooms along the road to indicate that spring is, indeed, on its way. Here on Geoje the main industry is ship-building. They have the number two ane three largest shipbuilding yards in the world here on this island. Will post some pictures later.

Jen - Yes, the whole country was crazy during the Olympics. Kim is such a star here she can't train in this country because fans won't leave her alone - see her picture everywhere. We were at lunch during the long progam and we watched TV until Kim skated and we got her scores. Everything stopped for her performance. I think they won 6 medals all together and the people here are very proud of that.

Goeje

2010-03-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

We will be on the island of Goeje for the next four days. This is a quick picture of the view I woke up to this morning. Each of our rooms have similar views. I wish there was a wireless connection so I could take my laptop on the balcony and give you a better idea of how beautiful it is. Stay tuned.

Tea and Chocolate

2010-03-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

You never know what's in store when visiting a monk at a Buddhist temple. At one temple, we asked a monk what made him decide to become a monk. "Are you kidding?", he said in Korean. "Being a monk is the greatest job in the world." We also asked him if monks follow a certain diet. He said when no one's looking, monks pig out. Turns out this colorful character had his own TV show at some point. He also took several cell phone calls during our visit.

Another monk served us tea, entreating us to pay attention to the play of light on the trickling stream of tea, to hear the sound of it filling a cup, to inhale its scent and feel its warmth, and finally to taste its earthy flavor -- a ritual both spiritual and sensory.

Once the tea was served, the monk passed out chocolate coins wrapped in gold. We figured maybe they'd been a gift to him that he'd been trying to unload.

At a rural arts center in rural Hadong, we got to practice the art of the tea ceremony with an accomplished female master. Here are Kelly and me trying our hand at the preparation and presentation of tea.

Everything matters: the spot where you place your hand on the teapot and the pauses in between pours. Tea ceremonies are like wine tastings: the best that nature has to offer combines with human intent, cultivation and ritual. That's the source of pleasure and magic...

2010-02-24T05:02:00.000-08:00

It is 10:00 pm here in South Korea and 8:00 am in Indy. Right now we are on the same day. The weather here as been in the mid to high 50s and we have been doing a lot of sightseeing and visiting Rotary clubs. Everyone here is gracious and anxious to please. Kelly kept saying she wanted pizza, so today our host club took us to Pizza Hut - it tasted just like home! We need to rember when the GSE team from here visits us that a taste of home might be good for them too.

Tomorrow we leave Jinju and go to Namhae. It is an island and we understand that it is warmer there - but the forcast for tomorrow is rain (B in Korean - one word we will be able to remember) Anne is doing a great job of learning the language - learns more every day. I'm sure you will have some posts from the other team members with photos.

Nam River

2010-02-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

I have this cool program on my iPhone that lets you create panoramas pretty quickly. This is of the Nam River, taken while at the Bronze Age Museum in Jinju. I went for the sepia tone for obvious reasons.

Two Hospital Visits in One Day!

2010-02-23T06:48:00.000-08:00

Long story short, do not eat any Italian/South Korean fusion food when in South Korea. The morning after is not pretty. Against all suggestions from me, I was taken to Jinju's largest hospital...not to be treated, but for a tour. After which I was eventually taken back to my hotel, along with Dottie. She and I both had the spaghetti of internal discomfort (closest English translation).

Shortly after returning to the hotel and getting well into a much needed recovery sleep, Mr. Hahn rings my door and tells me that he is here to take me and Dottie to the hospital. Needless to say I didn't want to go. Needless to say, we both went. The process was pretty quick and Mr. Hahn was a great doctor's aid. We both appreciated his presence.

While receiving our IV's, Mr. Hahn drew our privacy curtains to shield us from an emergency. There was an elderly man who suffered a heart attack and died. I could hear his family grieving. It put in perspective the discomfort we were experiencing from the food and unrequested hospital visits, with real suffering.

Silk, Tomatoes, and Steam

2010-02-22T14:22:00.000-08:00

The Korean people are enterprising to say the least -- they have to be to compete in global markets in various industries. Yesterday we toured the Gyeongsangnamdo Agricultural Research and Extension Services facility. They are experimenting with hydroponic tomato cultivation. Here's a shot of one of the agricultural ministers posing in front of a bank of pests at the agricultural museum.

We also toured the Korea Silk Research Institute and received lovely scarves. Loved meeting the man who job it is to design the patterns on the filmy, flowing fabric.

Another stop was the Moorim PowerTech thermal energy (steam and electric) plant. Kelly dressed especially to match the color scheme of the plant. I was psyched about the eco-friendly principles behind the plant and wish Indiana would take a cue from Korea.

Lunch was Korean barbecue - sizzling slices of pork roasted on a little grill at your table - then you wrap it in a cool, crunchy lettuce leaf with one of many zingy Korean condiments. Perhaps I should not reference food because two of our team members were down yesterday, bitten by a food poisoning bug.

But they were troopers and made it to the evening meeting where we made a presentation about our lives and work to the Korean Jinju Seonhak Rotary Club.

Oops

2010-02-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

Ok - I'm still learning. The pictures on my post didn't do what I wanted but hopefully, you can still follow.

2010-02-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a long but interesting day. We traveled 2 hours north to Gyeongju City which is where the temples and mounds from the time of the Silla kingdom. Three of the GSE team that will be coming to Indiana were with us. Kim, Deok-Sook, Chun, Myung-Ae and Yeum, Dong-Moon and his wife and two daughters. It is nice to be able to spend some time with them while we are here.

This is a picture of the group in front of the Bulguska Temple. There is a "gold" Buddha inside the temple that dates back to a thousand years ago. The grounds are lovely even at this time of year but I am sure it is much more so when the cherry trees and flowers are in bloom. We later went up into the mountains and then walked a while and climbed some steps to see a stone Buddha high up in the mountains. Another wonder of how they managed to do that much like Stonehedge and some of the other stone monuments done in ancient times. Lastly, we visited a modern museum with ancient artifacts.

Have to add this picture. Here in Korea, they use this type of picture on almost all of their signs.

Buddhist Tradition in Korea: Bulguksa Temple

2010-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

The GSE team sits in front of the entrance to the Temple Grounds

The Bulguksa Temple is built on a mountain and is considered a national treasure. It is also on the UNESCO world heritage list and is seen as having universal value culturally. The grounds are quite large and very beautiful.

Here is a path leading to the temple.

Here is a bridge crossing a waterway fill by mountain springs.

A gate by the bridge with the guardians of the temple. I am always amazaed at the detail and workman ship within all of the Buddhist Tradition. These two fellows represent two of the four winds.

A being at the feet of one of the guardians.

The Temple proper itself. There are 33 stairs representing the 33 steps to enlightnement.

The lower staircase has 17 steps and is called Cheoungungyo or the Blue Cloud Bridge. The upper staircase has 16 steps and is called Baegungyo or the White Cloud Bridge.

The Seokgatap pagoda inside the grounds is contructed with a 4:3:2 Ratio which gives it a semblance of balance.

The complex is big with three buildings with Buddhas statues in them.

One of the temple buildings on the grounds.

People donating money. There is a monk on the left.

More guardians on a gate.

A bell just outside the temple.

We have experienced much of Buddhist Culture on this trip.

Buddhism is the major religion practiced in Korea. It is fundamental belief is that of Karma or the law of cause and effect. This is the idea that we will experience ourselves what we cause others to experience. For example, if I cause someone mental anguish because of ridicule, I too will experience that anguish. This is based on intention. Thus right action or right intent will bring peace to yourself and others and by extension the world. This, as many Buddhists would tell you, is a simplified version. The monk that fed us chocolate says that "we are all one, so what we do to others we do to ourselves." That is a simple and elegant way of stating the golden rule, or do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Every major religion has some form of that rule. Imagine for a moment if everyone in the world would live like that for a day or even an hour. What kind of transformation would take place? Then ask yourself, do you treat others the way you wish to be treated? I know that I need to work on that.

Peace,

JASON

An Epic Meal

2010-02-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

As Kelly noted, last night we met the District Governor of the local Rotary and were treated to an elaborate Korean-style Japanese meal.

The image you see here is a stately platter of raw fish, or woe, nestled on cellophane noodles. ["Woe" was Kelly. She was hoping for something cooked].

The meal had at least five courses and included a vinegary salad, uncooked soft shell crab, a pleasant pancake, and raw fish served with smoked pork that Duwayno described as tasting of Lysol. It had a brazen sting, like a bit of novocain. My gag reflex kicked in, but a swig of tea helped me save face -- which is culturally crucial here in Korea.

Later came some familiar-looking tempura, a steamed egg, and small cooked fish with a salmon-like flavor, along with some fish soup. The last victual presented was an exquisite platter of bright, sweet tangerines.

I said to Kelly that this meal must have cost more than one million won. Another example of Korean generosity. At dinner I sat next to Mr. Kim Jae-il. He's the secretary of the Rotary district. A nice man with three children, we learned. We are getting to know our hosts.

If only we could all look 18!

2010-02-20T14:03:00.000-08:00

We are on day 3 in South Korea. Last night we enjoyed a meal with the South Korean GSE Team that will be coming to Indianapolis in April. There are 3 women and 2 men. All of us immediately thought the women were so young and barely 20 years old - both from the pictures we saw and upon meeting them in person. After dinner, we had time to talk and get to know each other and we quickly found out that they are 37, 38, and 39! They honestly look at least 10 years younger - not fair!
I am excited for them to come to Indianapolis and experience the United States. We will welcome them to The Village Experience store and hopefully join in on some meals and activities while they are in town. They are anxious, excited, nervous, and curious to experience our culture just as we are to experience theirs. Because of the vast differences in the way we eat, we have already begun asking them their preferences and what they enjoy to eat. Hopefully we can expose them to some new things, but also be mindful of how good it feels to taste home once you've been away for awhile. No one knows that better than me - what I wouldn't do for a slice pizza right now. After that octupus dish above, I get scared that everything I eat is about to start moving as I pick it up to eat it. And the hot dogs with mouths are haunting my dreams...
We are off with the GSE Team to explore a different part of South Korea today - looking forward to the journey!

A walk in the park

2010-02-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of a park around the corner from our hotel.

I decided to take a leisurely stroll because the weather was beautiful, shining sun and no snow.

We had a few hours before our welcome dinner and I did not want to be sitting in my room.

As I enter the park, I immediately run into this sign with a diagram of feet and Korean script.

To the left of the sign is a wall with faucets to wash your feet and a shoe rack. In Korea, almost any space you go into you take off your shoes. But outside?

Then I saw the footpath.

It is a reflexology path. You would walk on different shaped stones to trigger pressure points that correspond to different organs in the body.

Stimulating these pressure points is supposed to promote health in the body.

This path had many sizes and shaped stones, large ones and small ones.

The path was very beautiful.

But it sure was a bear on my feet.

Peace,

Jason

Food so fast it's still living.

2010-02-20T00:40:00.000-08:00

I think the idea of zombies came from the first South Korean chef to cook octopus. This is technically not the most exotic meal I have eaten because I have had octopus a thousand times (I think that number will triple over the next month). However, it is the most exotic preparation of a meal I have ever witnessed. It leaped frogged my grandmother's chitlins.....which I promptly stopped eating after smelling the preparation.

The Markets Of Jinju

2010-02-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

We spent part of the afternoon walking the markets in downtown Jinju.

Here is a picture of a small portion of the market.

The markets ran for blocks and blocks. Some places were very crowded with street vendors pitching all kinds of foods, and other things. There ware also people on scooters zipping around. You had to watch yourself or you would get run down.

Here is our team leader Dottie and Anne talking with Mr. Han, our interpreter, about what kinds of food we are looking at. I have come to find out that Anne is quite adventurous when it comes to food. She will try anything. Ask her what she thought of the silk worms at dinner.

A woman in the midst of all kinds of seafood.
Many vendors would just set up in the middle of the street and lay all of their food out like this woman. She was one of probably 100 vendors selling seafood.

Here is Duwayno trying on a hat. Duwayno was explaining that he can never find any clothing to wear in the Asain markets. He is just too large. We walked into a couple of clothing stores and the vendors would shake there heads before he could even ask about sizes. One man was willing to let him try on a jacket but it wouldn't even fit on his arms.

Mr. Han, our interpreter decides to try a hat on, too.

A entrance to the traditional markets.

All of the signs in Korea are colorful and many have cartoons or rainbow coloring. The child like pictures make you laugh and yet convey what they sell.

For example, Jinju city's matriarch or mascot is Nongae

You see her everywhere pointing out directions and telling people about construction sites. This picture was taken from a fountain in a park that is under construction. Very friendly!

A Korean vendor selling snacks. Mr. Han bought us some rice cakes that were delicious.

Duwayno and Mr. Han sitting at a fountain in the underground market. There are many underground malls we have seen in Korea. They remind me of Union Station but larger, way larger.

Colorful kids clothing.

Well that wraps up a day of city markets.

Tomorrow we visit the Buddist temple. So we go from attachment to non attachment.

Peace,

Jason

2010-02-20T00:24:00.000-08:00

Finally figured out how to get on the blog again. Some of the instructions show up in Korean and I just had to click on everything until I found the right spot.

The trip has been great so far. The other posts have filled you in on some of our challenges - octopus - wrong terminal..... Good thing we made the plane to Jinju as we were greeted by Rotarians with a welcome banner and flowers. Everyone here is very gracious and are happy to have us here. We have a translator with us most of the time. Not too many people speak English here.

Today we went to the Jinju market. I think they are all afraid we will starve as it seems like we just get done with one meal and then we are off to another. This evening we will meet the District Governor and attend a welcome party.

The Freshest Seafood in town!!!

2010-02-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

After a relaxing a bit in the tearoom, coffee shop, we made our way to the motel to check in. Having dropped off our bags, our host Mr. Cho asked us where we wanted to go for lunch. We said we don't care take us to your favorite spot. As we are walking to this restaurant, Kelly says to me, "I just don't want octopus." As we turn the corner, we see the sign for the restaurant and it has a cartoon octopus on the front. Uh Oh!

In the Korean restarants we have been to so far you take off your shoes at the front door. As I am taking off my shoes, I notice a waiteress bringing a dish to some people by the front door. I take a peek at their selection and of course it is octopus. The fascinating part was that the tentacles were still moving writhing and squirming around on the platter as it was being cooked.

I thought to myself at that moment, "We should have picked something ourselves." The discussion at our table was the squirming octopus at the other table and the way the waitress used scissors to cut the tentacles into smaller pieces. Our interpreter Mr. Han told us about the popularity of the dish in the country. In fact, in the two days we have explored Korea, we have seen many fish in aquariums outside of restaurants. The strangest was a hot dog with a mouth. I don't know what it was but I do know you could get it for a few dollars.

One big contrast between food from the states and food here in Korea I have noticed is in the preparation. There are a lot of soupy stews and broths. Very healthy, tasty and filling. Contrast that to the majority of foods prepped in the States. They are fried and greasy. I can see why costal diets are so healthy.

If you have never had Korean food, try Mama's Restaraunt on Pendleton Pike and 56th. It is authentic Korean cuisine. At the Korean table you have your main dish (which has been a lot of seafood.) Besides the main course are many at least five smaller dishes with various textures and flavors. Kimchi is the famous one. It is a feremented cabbage with a spice vinegar taste. Some of the other options we have sampled included shrimp with our breakfast, seaweed with our lunch, tofu, and radishes. They have their own unique features. The shrimp for example was teeny tiny and very salty. I like salt so I found them tasty. The seaweed was cut into 3 inch squares and it looked like green photo film. It was very slick and hard to grab with you chopsticks. Ultimately, the smooth texture was the draw because it tasted somewhat bland. At dinner we had a beef dish for the main course and it was accompanied with lettuce covered with a sweet sauce, kimchi, tofu, and silk worms, stomach, and livers. Anne described the silk worm as reminding her of bran cereal. I agree with that. I could could not stomach eating the stomach or the liver. Both were chopped up into bitesize morsels. The stomach had a spiny look to it and the liver is what you would imagine, meaty morsels in a red sauce. The rest of the meal was super tasty. Beef with garlic and you mixed that with the salad. Mmm. Mmm. Good.

Well that gives you a taste of the cuisine we have been eating. Two days in all of this has happened so far. Duwayno has some great pics including a video of the octopus dish he will be posting.

All the Best,
JASON

What a morning!

2010-02-18T18:01:00.000-08:00

So we finally made it to Jinju...we got up on time, we made it to the airport on time, but something wasn't quite right since we were the only ones there. We got coffee, we hung out, and then Dottie decided to check on the flights, and we were quickly informed that we were at the wrong terminal. So five foreigners in Rotary Blazers with about 12 pieces of luggage proceeded to run through the airport searching for a way to the domestic terminal. We thankfully found a bus and formed an assembly line to get our luggage on board and then proceeded to check in. We wormed our way into the "prestige line" then weaseled our way to the front of the security line and then sprinted to the gate....just in time. Sweating and disheleved, we barely made it onto the flight. As Anne, pointed out...it was a suspiciously "calm morning!"

Adventures in Octopus and Lemon Tea

2010-02-18T17:57:00.000-08:00

It's a Friday morning in the city of Jinju, South Korea. About 40 degrees and sunny. We are in a tea shop and I just had the most zingy cup of lemon tea. Like hot lemonade with softened lemon rinds swimming around, and a touch of honey, in a very zen ceramic mug and a wooden saucer. Duwayno had a type of tea made from dates, with three pine nuts floating in it. This tea shop is owned by a Korean Rotarian -- friends in high places.

Last night in Seoul, we wandered into an alley lit with neon storefronts and found a seafood restaurant. A piping hot communal bowl of bean sprouts, crab legs, mussels, squid and octopus. We ordered this with no idea what we were ordering, but we ate most of it with gratitude, if not pleasure and curiosity.

In Jinju

2010-02-18T16:44:00.000-08:00

We have arrived safely in Jinju after a night in Seoul and an interesting morning. More to come.....

New Adventure!

2010-02-15T19:46:00.000-08:00

So I guess I'm the last one to blog - sorry! Finally all packed and ready to go. By the time my laundry was done from Africa and Middle East, it was time to repack it for Asia. Just had to add some warm clothes and a heavy coat in case its really cold! I'll check back in after we arrive in Seoul!

Packing Anticipation

2010-02-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

It's almost time, GSE-ers. Today I ran to the Indiana State Museum to buy gifts for the generous Korean people we have not yet met who have agreed to host us in their homes. What will they make of Indiana-made goat milk soap, goodies from the South Bend Chocolate Company, and key chains with basketballs on them?

Thank you

2010-02-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

Greetings to everyone who will be traveling with the GSE 6560 team to South Korea!

Are you ready for an adventure? I am.

I would like to begin by thanking Duwayno for setting this blog up. You are the man.

I would also like to thank the Sunrise Rotary Club in Indy for the support and sponsorship and guidance. I literally would not be here without you. John, thanks for the surprise phone call.

A big thank you to Kittles Home Furnishings up in Castleton, thanks to the management team, Sandy, Lynn, Beth and Brian as well as Ferd Burgman and the whole sales team. I would list you all but there is so many of you... just know I thank you guys for your support and enthusiasm. I cannot forget Jill Diehl in HR. I am so glad everyone recognizes the opportunity I have been afforded. I will work hard to represent you well.

Thanks to my family, Mom, Dad, Ben, and Annie for the love and enthusiasm. I will bring you back some cool gifts and some even better stories!!!

Thank you again, Sharon. There is not a day that goes by that I don't count my blessings that you are in my life. I love you!

And finally, my class at the School of Metaphysics, thanks for the love and the learning. I am certainly the person I am today because of our discussions and exercises. Thought is cause!

Anyone else who is taking the time to share in our journey, thank you for taking the time!
Feel free to post any questions you have about Korea in the comments to particular posts. I will ask our hosts when we arrive and post them back.

I see this blog not so much as a "read-a-long" posting but a conversation. The experience will be some much more enriching if you share your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to getting to know you.

--JASON--

2010-02-12T06:21:00.000-08:00

Time is getting short for getting everything done before leaving next Wednesday but I can hardly wait! Think I have what I am taking finally decided - not in suitcase yet, but that can be done quickly. We will be departing Indy at 7:00 a.m, going through Atlanta and then a 15 hour flight to Seoul. Will spend the night in Seoul before leaving the next morning to Jinju. Now that I find I can post to the blog, you may get really tired of hearing from me :)

Avatar in 4D!!

2010-02-12T06:07:00.000-08:00

I saw it in 1D in Hawaii. Avatar 4D. This may be a side trip while in Seoul.

South Korean iPhone stylus

2010-02-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

I have to test this. South Korean iPhone stylus

Less than a week away....

2010-02-11T14:02:00.001-08:00

Last weekend before departure.

Ship out date grows near

2010-01-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

We have our flight itineraries and as of yesterday we have our in-country itineraries. I will post it later.

Thanks Duwayno

2009-12-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks for setting up our blog. I'm all signed up and ready to blog from Korea, the 38th parallel, as soon as we get there in a couple weeks...

10 weeks to go

2009-12-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

We meet last night and Dottie had the brilliant idea of starting a blog. Here it is! I am expecting this to be one of a few post prior to leaving. Right now we are in preparation mode and that is never interesting...paperwork, shots, picking out blazer colors....BORING! The interesting insights and observations will ensue after 11:59am, February 16th. Stay tuned!