Monday, December 6, 2010

Photo diary: DAY ONE

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Korea I have decided to do a three day photo diary just documenting some of the awesomeness that surrounds me and my life in SoKo. Welcome to day one.
a shabu shabu and a trip to the grocery store.
Shabu shabu?! I Hear you say? What is that?! Is it some new eclectic dance? A tribal ritual? Harry potters latest spell? Luckily for you I'm about to show you. Behold the shabu- HUGE POT OF BOILING BROTH AND VEGETABLES FOR MEAT-COOKING, NOODLE-WARMING AND RICE-SCORCHING, MAKING FOREIGNERS IN KOREA OBESE SINCE 1965.
First course is shabu meat and vegetable broth. ROUND ONE: You cook your meat in the broth and drink the soup until you feel like your face is about to explode. Then it's time for ROUND TWO: noodles!!



Alas I forgot to take a picture of the broth without the noodles I was too consumed with consuming.
ROUND THREE: scorched rice.



This is the best part of the meal-scorched rice that u dip into your personal bowl of wasabi and soy sauce. Yum.



The omnipresent kimchi eaten with EVERY meal. Kimchi: fermented cabbage. An "acquired taste".



Above: The aftermath.
Next comes a trip to the local grocery store! Going grocery and household product shopping in Korea is always like a Fun adventure! Step one: don't forget your seaweed:



If you feel the need for a sweet treat- why not try one of these?



Not quite your flavour? Ok how about these delicious dessert rice scorched candies?! It's like shabu shabu all over again!



More of a sweet tooth? I have just the thing enhanced with blossom essence:



Or try these plum candies they are really in love:



For the record, NEVER TRY THE FOLLOWING CANDY. you WILL throw up



Moving on... Did you forget your seaweed?! No worries, stock up here:



Or here:



Or here:




Glad we took care of that. We wouldn't want to run out.



Above: I have NO idea what this is. But your koala will love it.



Kimchi.



Yeah. I told you it was omnipresent.



ASIANS EAT RICE. By the 20kg bag-load.



Yeah I think I'll have that for dinner. (?!?)



Free taster samples. Wow it just SCREAMS "buy me" don't you think?



And then we have toilet paper- which may only be bought in packs of 100. Haha (but really.)



Your lamb needs this for (lifestyles of health and sustainability)?



Above: is it bleach? Is it cooking oil? Is it washing detergent? You'll never know until someone eats it and dies. Oh grocery shopping is such a fun and mysterious adventure!



Yes I need a no-spon scrubber! And last on the shopping list:
a twinkle scrubber



EVERYBODY needs one.