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Fall, 2009

Korean Dessert, Pat Bing Su!

South Korea,

all over the country,

And who says its too late to have some tasty summer dessert! I was not going to let the summer end before I try out some of my favorite Korean summer dessert, Pat-bing su (팥빙수)! The simple recipe is that its shaved ice with red bean and additional topping. Now the general topping would be some fruit, nuts, ice cream, or even some chewy rice cake. But Koreans have begin to add some new taste into this mix. And here are some of the new ones that I have tried and simply loved!

1. Green tea Pat-bing Su (녹차 빙수)

Here is the second typical kind. Red bean with green tea flavored ice cream. As you see the bowel seems small but its full of both cold, sweet, and chewy parts that will fill your mouth with happiness.

2. Dae-chu Pat-bing su (대추 팥빙수)

Now, so here is something different! Pat-bing su mixed with Dae-chu, chewy rice cake and nuts. Daechu, so called Chinese date or jujube, is a Koreans favorite traditional ingredient used to cook food or dessert. Its often used in making meals or even rice cakes, but putting that dates in an ice creamy dessert! The initial thought of putting these dates (as you see below) was rather odd, but the taste was quite rewarding! The dates are usually chewy, but the ones inside this ice dessert were dried and crispy that it countered the cold and creamy taste of the red bean and ice shave dessert!

Dae Chu
South Korea

3. Black Bean Pat-bing Su (검은콩팥빙수)

So I told you that this dessert usually comes with Red Bean. Wouldn't it be too much to add black bean too? No! This one in particular also added some rice cake and different kinds of nuts under the red bean and shaved ice that made its combination just yummy! I, myself, being a rice cake and traditional flavor lover was in love immediately. I know the weather is getting cooler, but I think I can tackle this one again any time. It was simply the best!

4. Green Tea Pat-bing Su (녹차 빙수)

Another kind of Green Tea flavor. But this one in particular was unique not because of its full greenness but its full green pure taste! This was one of the rare kinds that used not green tea powder on the ice but actually had the green tea taste inside the ice. Even the ice cream was more creamy and milky. Simple but tasty! No wonder this place is famous.

5. And other kinds,

I forgot the name of this one but this one also was unique in its way of adding Korean traditional rice flavor, so called Missugaru (미숫가루). It was pretty filling as usual.

Busan 2 and more, South Korea

Busan,

and driving north to Juwang Mountain (주왕산) in Pohang (포항).

South Korea

First,

before leaving Busan we made another stop by. This Buddhist temple became famous for its location. As you see here, its a wonder how they have managed to set itself near this seashore. Even I had a glimpse to stand next to admire this powerful blue nature making peace with this temple on land.

Our next destination was to head to Juwang mountain in Pohang. While Korea is full of mountainous regions, this mountain in particular is uniquely shaped with big rocks that seems to resemble those hills that you will find in China rater than Korea. The drive from Busan was not close, for Pohang was in the middle of the country, but as we continued to drive up, these green endless scenes relaxed our eyes. I almost drove more than three hours that day but the green field surrounding me never bored me. Hm.

So where is this mountain? Here is a map to show how mountainous this region is!

In fact, not only is its surrounding full of mountains, the road itself was full of curves. This map below shows it. Its not just the map that has such sharp curves constantly, that's how curvy and twisty the roads where! We almost got car sick.

YET!

When we finally arrived, Ta da! LOOK at this great mountain!

and the surrounding rocks!

Even this temple at the entrance seemed to express its grandness and mightiness. Our brief hiking up this slop was immediately welcomed later with hot chicken soup.

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Korea's 2nd largest city, Busan
is well known among foreigners who visit Korea. Yet, as Korean myself, I haven't had the chance earlier to visit, until now. After about six hours from our home at Incheon, I was shocked by the busy city scene of Busan.

Most people often regard Busan just to be a south-sea-city, but a little better developed than other southern-sea-cities in Korea. But the Busan I encountered this day was not just more, it was BIG.


The city, of course, had one of the beautiful seashores in Korea, as you see below. This place called Hae-eun-dae (해운대) became more famous after its recent movie release in August, 2009. During busy days, you can't see the sand part of this scene because its full of the umbrella spots saved for people enjoying the summer sea!

But other than this beautiful seashore, the city is also full of tall buildings. In fact, Busan has Korea's largest department store! Shinsaegae Department store is one of Korea's best and biggest department store. But coming to the one in Busan, comparing the others was like comparing a tiger to a puppy. Hm, doesn't seem the common picture, yet here it was.

Also, Busan is where the international film festival and international conferences such as the UN meeting is held. So the city is ready to receive both local and international community in large volumes. The Shinsaegae and Lotte Department store is only a start.

And driving along the long and strongly built bridge. We imagined ourselves what it must have been like to be stuck here as the main characters have been in the movie, Hae-eun-Dae. Maybe, just maybe, I can consider this to be Korea's Red Golden bridge at San Francisco. Or am I being too ambitious?

Starting Breakfast at Choseon Hotel at Busan with the Hae eun dae next to me..after our morning jog along the sea and hillside of Busan city...Yum. And the best part is that we saw during our jog that the whole community had already busily starting their day -either jogging around the hill behind their apartment, getting ready to jump in for a morning sea swim, sweeping the commune street full of last nights trash, gathering around to start their morning fish sells, and some even still staggering to wake up from their late morning drinks.. Everyone full of energy and excited to start their colorful day. And this was only at 6am in the morning. You wouldn't see anyone out like this if I was jogging in Boston at this time.

The night scene of Busan, Hae eun dae.

With the cool fall sea breeze hitting my face, and my feet sinking into that warm sandy shore along the cold seawater. Hm, so this is what it must be..to feel so relaxed and free. I stretch out my hand to see if I could grasp this moment. No, it only lingers when I close my eyes. like this..

Tongyong, Korea

August, 2009

통영-Tong Young,
South Korea

Located at the southern tip of Korea,
a small city but a place well known to have been
the birth place of many Korean artists.
It seems ironical to consider why this small place
has inspired so many to put them self in art and music.
Yet, once we drove into the city,
I realized immediately why.

A city surrounded with both hills and sea,
full of people indulging them self in the busy street,
drinking in the seashore smell,

hmm,
before I knew it,
I am closing myself
and letting myself
jump into this richly sea-mountain city..

I'm rediscovering my country, Korea.

The mountains, on the road to Tongyong

Tongyong's city

충무김밥 "Chung-mu Kimbab"

One of Tongyong's speciality. One bite of spicy Kimchee and Squid with another with this seaweed wrapped rice. The simplicity is where its beauty of home taste comes from.

And even the road along the countryside is simply too good to place it in words..