Evening out the back gate

Korean Puppy wants Popeyes! We see him working the strip whenever we go off base. This street also has a 24 hour McDonalds. I hear they deliver too. Well, not on base, but to you house.

On Saturday night we went out the back gate to do some night shopping. Now we know that's when the area really wakes up. The shops are still open. Then street vendors come to line the walk ways, waiting for all the people who are in the bars upstairs. It's a pretty fun atmosphere.

Let me comment on Yaki Mandu. It's my new favorite Korean food. Here is a link to a Korean lady making Yaki Mandu. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zECZXmDmHR0

The vendors bring them out and cook them right in front of you. Mike found out the hard way, how much heat they retain. Burned his mouth when he bit into one right out of the hot oil.

Most of the bars here in Korea have what are called Juicy Girls. In some clubs they just sit with you or play pool with you; in others, they dance, put on various types of shows, but all are doing the job for a disgustingly low salary. They are contracted from Russia, Philippines, Malaysia, Nepal, and various places in Korea just to name a few. Some actually enjoy doing it, some are paying off debts that were incurred by themselves or their family. We see some of them getting their dinner before going to work when going out to do night shopping. There are even groups of volunteers that come out from base, to check up on the young Airmen and make sure they don't over do it when out drinking with the Juicy Girls. No pictures of Juicy Girls for this blog.

Trip to the EMart

We went with our friends Rich and Mary to the local EMart. Like a Super Walmart. One picture is of Rich trying some kind of meat. The other is of the Spam girl. I've mentioned that they like spam. She is selling several kinds of Spam gift sets. When they have the Christmas Spam Gift sets out I'll get a picture of those. I hear they run about $40. I know that they were all laughing at me, taking their picture in the local grocery store. Crazy American.

Korean Pears

Sorry it's been so long since I put up a new post. We have lots of trips in the near future, so promise not to take so long again.

First, I have to post a pic of a Korean Pear. I took this in my kitchen, next to a coffee cup so you can see the size of these things. They are like oversize softballs. Koreans love them and have them everyplace. They are big on giving them as gifts. I find them to be a little too sweet for my taste. Their grapes are like that too. Had some of them and it was like the taste of a full sugar grape soda.

Quick note about the pictures

Just so you know, if you click on a picture it gets much larger so the details can be seen.

Flower Market and food shops outside base

Here are the chilies that they love so much. I missed the chance to take a picture of them drying them when we first arrived. I did post a picture of the chilies drying at the Korean Folk village. The reality is that they are city dwellers, so when we first arrived I had to get used to seeing masses of chilies drying on the sidewalks of all the streets. I'm sure that the gas fumes from the cars driving by, gave them a special flavor and helped them dry quicker.

This is an alley outside of base where you can purchase all kinds of local Korean foods. So, far it's just a place to look, I'm not sure about the quality of some food preparation yet.

Here I am with all the flowers.

Neighbor Mary inside the flower market. Mary is a great adventurer. She has already really seen a lot of Korea. I'm going to have to work to keep up with her and you all know how good I am at getting to know my area.

This is a favorite place to go. Inside is every kind of flower and plant that you could ever want. There are also pots, silk flowers and ribbons. It happens to be right down the street from the local Costco. Yes I said it, there is Costco in Korea. I have not been, but hear it has many of the things you find in the states. I plan to join after we get our car. I really want to see the isle of Spam. Koreans have a love of Spam that has no match. I hear that the Spam isle has every flavor you could ever want in your life. I'll have to do some research to find the origin of the Spam love.