KOREAN SPRING

Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) is a kind of Korean soul food. It can evoke memories of one's school days or some other sentimental thing, and it's a cozy snack to grab from a street cart when the days get cold. It's an easy and affordable meal that is so common, yet sometimes it can be hard to find a place that makes it really really well. As in, better than the average everyday tteokbokki you can get from just about any cheap local joint. The Bbalbong (빨봉분식) is a tiny little tteokbokki place that's really hidden away, but located quite close to Yonsei University. They have a bunch of things on the menu but my boyfriend and I always go for Set #4, which is the tteokbokki (we get the cheese option), an assortment of deep fried goodies, and a fruit-flavored drink that goes well with spicy foods. They have a self-service corner where you can fetch your own utensils, water, and side dishes. The deep fried platter includes sweet potato, squid, stuffed pe...

I swear by Daejang Sarang. Not even kidding. Before I dive into why and what this product is, let me just say: a few years ago I'd written a blog post about a laxative called Good Morning S that I found incredible... and I changed my mind. For one thing, laxatives are for one time use; it's a temporary solution. Secondly, after a few more uses I found that this particular laxative was painful after all. It made my poop runny all day and I felt awful at the end of the day. Then I came across Daejang Sarang (대장사랑). This is more of a supplement that can be taken daily and is made to improve your intestine in general. It's made from natural ingredients (mainly plaintain bark) so it's quite safe to take. I found out about it while translating the brand intro for their website, and looking through their reviews, the product seemed too good to be true. But since I am always on the lookout for something that might solve my constipation, I decided to give it a try. An...

Had such a huge craving for pepperoni pizza and this place pretty much satisfied it for me today when I met up with a couple of girlfriends for Friday dinner. 'Babbo Pizza' is a quirky little local pizza joint that's a bit out of the way; I'd definitely recommend you check it out if you live or work around the Seocho/Gangnam area, but not if you're visiting because there is nothing to see around here. The place is located on a road that literally has no other restaurants, and it makes you wonder how they can even stay open. But I guess they're okay with that. The interior decorations are super cute, with retro artworks and neon signs that give the place a cozy ambience. And affordable as their food is, basic side dishes, water, and napkins are all self-service. In case you don't already know, Koreans always serve pickles with "Western" food like pizza or pasta. I suppose it's the best non-Korean substitute we can...

If you're studying Korean, you will undoubtedly come across a lot of idioms and expressions that are related to poop. It might seem primitive, but it gets the message across. Take a look at this one: [Korean] 네 똥 굵다. [Romanization] Ne (or ni) ddong gukda. [Meaning] Your poop is thick. Literally. This expression is a very sarcastic way of "complimenting" someone. Like when someone is bragging about something and it's really annoying and you just want to shut them up, you can say "그래, 네 똥 굵다" to mean "good for you" and if that person is sensible and smart enough they'll know to stop talking. Or when you're in an argument and you're clearly losing and the other person is super logical and relentless and you can't think of a good comeback, you can say "네 똥 굵다" to mean (sarcastically) "wow you genius, lucky you're so smart." Make sense? Heaven knows how this expression came about. Maybe it's b...

Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) is a Korean dish that is hearty, delicious, inexpensive, and very easy to love. It's commonly enjoyed by Korean locals, and is an excellent option for tourists since it isn't too funky yet it still captures the essence of Korean cuisine. If you are looking for a place to try out some dakgalbi, Yoogane is always a safe bet. It's one of the biggest dakgalbi chains in Korea, and since it's a franchise the taste is quite standardized, meaning you can't go wrong. Rather than risking your chances on an independent restaurant that might turn out to be terrible, you can confidently walk into a Yoogane and rest assured that your meal will definitely taste great. The good thing about Yoogane is that they pretty much have one in any touristy or busy neighborhood, so it is super easy to find. The sign will most likely look like this: I visited the one at Garosu-gil today, and this particular Yoogane has a very modern interior that m...

The Garden of Morning Calm has a special place in my heart, because it served as a place of healing during a rough period in my life. I can still recall the deep and luscious fragrance of nature that seemed to quench my thirsty soul, intensified by the spring drizzle. The flowers that were in full bloom, glistening with raindrops and painting the world with color that no human could artificially reproduce. And of course, I wrote a blog post about it two years ago, and mentioned that I would want to visit again in autumn. And I did! It took two years, yes, but I did it. This time I went by public transport, which was an incredibly long journey (especially since I'd also moved further away than my address from two years ago), but time isn't really an issue if you're with the right company. So from Cheongryangri Station I took the train to Cheongpyeong, then took the bus for another 30 minutes. (Tip: Cross the street from exit 2 and take the regular city but instead of the ...