Mmmmm

 Last Sunday, on our way home from Starbucks, we stopped in Ansan for Indian food. I love this restaurant. Mostly because the last time we were there a 46 year old Indian engineer basically asked me to marry him, but also because the food is delicious.

 Samosas and Palak Paneer over rice.

Ansan is home to many foreigners (especially Vietnamese and Indians) and so the markets often have special treats like cilantro. We used it in our wraps with vegetables and crumbled up zucchini-corn  burgers. I'm basically a chef now.  

Hey, Hey!!!

Below our apartment is a little market, owned by a nice Korean gentlemen with two cats that we have a head-nodding, "hello, thank you, goodbye" relationship with. Sometimes he is gone, and one of two woman are running the show. This is also when things get weird. Last night, Heather ran down to the market to grab a couple beers. As she was leaving, the woman called her back and insisted she take these (pictured). Assuming they were handwipes, Heath obliged, thanked her, and moved on.

ONLY...THOSE ARE NOT HANDWIPES!

It's True

It's not uncommon in Korea to see people of all ages cruising outside in hospital clothes and an IV. We live and work near a hospital, and at first, this came as a huge shock. Why is that person wheeling their kid around outside, in the middle of winter, with an IV? After adjusting to this almost daily occurrence, I'm no longer surprised to see a couple (both in hospital clothing) on date in a local restaurant or a man with an IV playing an arcade game outside a convenience store.

6 months in Korea!

Well, we've made it halfway through our Korean experience. As a reward, we went into to Seoul for some serious western food at Suji's, a self-described New York-style eatery. It wasn't as great as the reviews, but decent.

 They do make a Radler with beer, cider, and lemon. It tastes like summer and this makes me like Suji's more.

Sleepy time on the train home

Weekly Roundup (and Pets)

Defensive Breathing

Living in Korea is a constant adventure for the senses. Particularly, sense of smell. In the span of an average day, you can expect any or all of the following:

- Fish: raw, cooked, being cooked, in tanks on the sidewalk, dead in tanks on the sidewalk, dried squid snacks, fish soup, fish tea, fish flavored chips, etc.
- Our apartment: commonly a result of poor sewage or Elisse letting chickpeas soak one too many days in the middle of August (you've never smelled that and I hope you never have to)
- Raw (unidentifiable) meat: makes its debut every five days at the outdoor market
- Fried chicken
- Garbage
- Throw up

During our walk to work this morning, I commented on the breeze that did not feel like a heater blowing in my face. Heather agreed, and suggested that if perhaps we just ignore the rotten fish smell wafting out of the nearby restaurant, all felt right in the world. And then we realized we have the same defense against the smells of Korea - an aggressive exhale of sorts. DEFENSIVE BREATHING. When practiced early and often, it's the perfect way to enjoy Korea.

Sisters

Betty and Alice

Weekly Roundup

 Wednesday

Friday

Cambodia, Part V - The Food!!

 Poolside cocktails

 Museli, granola, and fresh fruit (and cappuccino). Breakfast burrito. Toast, potatoes, fried tomatoes.

 French style breakfast

 Sticky rice in a bamboo shoot (I think)

 Veggie-tofu kebab

 The best coconut curry in all the land. Veggie sandwich. Some sort of Khmer rice dish.

 Penne pasta salad with vegetables, goat cheese, and a lemon balsamic dressing. Who cares what Heather and Jason ordered?

Airport food (or making food so we don't have to eat airport food)

Cambodia, Part IV - Motorbikes

Cambodia, Part III - Back to Phnom Penh (the killing fields)

To be honest, I was pretty much in the dark when it came to Cambodia's history. I found a book in our apartment about the children of Cambodia during the mass genocide. On the flight, I read several stories about the horrors of the Khmer Rouge and their control of the country from 1975-1979. 

The regime evacuated the cities in 1975, and sent the majority of the population to labor camps. A significant portion of the population was executed during this time in killing fields like the one we visited.

Visiting the killing field was heavy but gave us a deeper understanding of Cambodia's history. It was difficult to take many pictures because I kept remembering stories I had read. For the short time we stayed in Cambodia, the spirit of the people was so evident in all aspects of the culture. They were gracious, self-sufficient, hospitable, and above all, optimistic.

Cambodia, Part II - Siem Reap, Day 3 (Floating Village)

The Floating Village in Siem Reap was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. The village is comprised of Cambodian and Vietnamese fishers. When I asked our boat, uh, captain (?), if they get along, he replied, "Oh yeah, no problem. And the Vietnamese women...very beautiful."

The Floating Village school. We were told that in order to attend this school, the children must pass a swimming test because there are so many students, some might fall in and drown.

As we were leaving the school, this little girl (no more than 7 years old), hopped on this boat, paddled maniacally, and then she was off. Was it her boat? Did she take some else's for a joy ride? I hope the latter.

Along the rode in Cambodia you will see stands holding mysterious bottles of yellow liquid. A refreshing beverage? Urine? No, gasoline. Our tuk-tuk (a motorbike with a carriage attached) needed some on the way home.

Cambodia, Part II - Siem Reap, Day 2 (Angkor Wat Sunrise)

Thursday morning, we woke up at 4am to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. It was incredible. Back to the hotel for naps before returning to the Temple for a day of sightseeing.

Cambodia, Part II - Siem Reap, Day 2 (Angkor Wat)

Angkor Wat Temple. We are actually blocking the ugly construction with this awesome pose.

After spending all day exploring the temple in the hot hot heat, we went to a restaurant and fed crocodiles .

Cambodia, Part II - Siem Reap, Day 1

I knew there was a pool near our hostel in Siem Reap, so we went in search of Kenell Hotel. It was completely empty so we had a pool and cabana all to ourselves.

After a long swim, and an intense match of monkey in the middle, we sampled fresh coconuts back at our actual hotel/hostel.

Ignore those faces, it was quite good.