하나의 작은움직임이큰기적을

하나의 작은움직임이 큰 기적을

Couldn't control my tears as I read this article from koreaherald.com. It was a tragedy that can be prevented. I really hope such incident will not happen anywhere in the world ever again. 제발. It is too heartwrenching just by watching and reading the news. They must be feeling fearful and helpless as the ship started to sink. I cannot bring myself to think of that fearful moment of "waiting", and how they clung on desperately for their lives till the end. 

My heart is aching so badly as I wrote this..I pray that the survivors, families and friends of the victims be blessed with the strength and guidance to move on with their lives. I pray for those who have passed on, be guided to a better world and rest in peace. I pray for safety to all who are out there in the sea, risking their lives in search of survivors. Together, we pray for a miracle. 옴 마니 파드메 훔 옴 마니 반메 훔

21 Mar 2014 - Back to Seoul!!

Fear of height? 

Yeah but I love looking at the blue sky and white clouds cos they remind me of someone whom I miss dearly. I checked out the hotel around 9.30am, took the Airport Light Rail Transit to Gimhae Airport and reached the airport at 9.55am. My flight from Gimhae Airport to Gimpo Airport was supposed to take off at 11am but there was a slightly delay. So happy and excited today becos I can see 재 later!! Omg!! I can't wait to get back to Seoul!!

My attempts to cook ㅋㅋㅋ

Here are some outdated posts on my attempts to try a few dishes over the past two weeks ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ

잡채 Japchae. I browsed through a few online recipes and tried this dish. Omg...Korean Japchae requires a lot of work compared to our Chinese version of fried tanghoon! Wahahahaa I still don't understand why Koreans prepare the ingredients separately and mixed everything together in a separate bowl using hands. Why don't they mixed everything in the wok/frying pan and serve it hot? I need enlightenment on this ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Actually, I wanted to take the easy way out by mixing all the ingredients with the dangmyeon aka tanghoon in the wok. I didn't do that in the end. I stick to the Korean way of cooking Japchae and I was pretty satisfied with the end result ^^

I tried cooking 북어국 Dried Pollock Soup using the recipe from Maangchi. It was not difficult at all!  Much more easy than cooking Japchae ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ I added a lot of sesame oil becos I love sesame oil. 

Satisfied ^^

Fried Chicken?  그래 ^^
Recipe is taken from Maangchi. 

Preparing the sweet, spicy and sticky sauce.

Done!

Mum and sis said not bad but I find there's a lot to be improved!

Stir frying Kimchi in a pot. 
Oh, any idea to what I was trying to cook??

Next, I added some rice.

Followed by the broth which I cooked earlier(using anchovies and kelp), together with some kimchi broth as well.

I added some chopped squid a few minutes before I switch off the gas so that the squid taste chewy. Last but not least, some sesame oil and a bit of 멸치 액젓 anchovy sauce to add flavour.

오징어 김치 죽 My Kimchi Squid Porridge.
I added some dried laver, sesame seeds and spring onions as garnishing.
Actually, I always prefer my porridge to be more watery but I love my 오징어 김치 죽 ㅎㅎㅎ
A big thanks to Aeri for her wonderful recipe on Kimchi Juk for reference.

You can guess what dish is this, isn't it?

Browsed through a few online recipes.
I used pork belly, onions and potatoes.
Basically, I prefer my 짜장면 to be simple.
 Don't like 짜장면 with too many ingredients and don't like my 짜장면 to taste sweet.

Added the sauce, a bit of brown sugar and some water mixed with corn starch.
This picture was taken before adding 3 cups of water.

I cooked the noodles and ran through it with cold water several times.

Somehow I feel my 짜장면 is more like spaghetti LOL
My parents said it tasted fine but I am so very NOT satisfied.
Something is not right somewhere but I am not sure where!!
It lacks the oily texture that I like; not that oily if you know what I mean.

Ermmm...now it feels like our black Hokkien mee LOL
Foreigners, if you want to know how our black Hokkien mee looks like, click Black Hokkien Mee for a better idea.

빅 마마 에서 저녁 식사

Decided to upload some outdated posts before I continue with updates on my Spring trip back home. I went to 빅 마마 with my friends few weeks ago on a Friday night. When I called for reservation, I was told there are only two time slots for Friday. 6pm or 8pm. I chose 8pm although I don't usually have my dinner so late.

빅 마마 is very easy to find. About 5 mins walk from Tiong Bahru Station.

So sad....감자탕 is not available ㅠㅠ

My friends ordered 식혜 while I ordered 수정과. If you have been to Ju Shin Jung, 수정과 is the complimentary drink they served towards the end of the meal. I think so ㅎㅎㅎ I don't like cinnamon but I like 수정과 when it is served cold.

We love the lotus roots topped with sesame sauce and the small anchovies ^^
Banchan is refillable FOC ㅋㅋㅋ

닭갈비 ^^

This was delicious!!
We ordered our 닭갈비 for servings of two people.

All of us liked this the most.
I told the waitress we wanted to have 볶음밥 when we are done with our 닭갈비.

She cooked the rice on our table.

This 부대찌개 Budae Jjigae fails.
I find the broth was too thick.
The waitress told us its a stardard size for two people.
No additional order of ramyeon 라면사리 or any other ingredients are allowed.
The reason she gave us was so as not to change the taste of the budae jjigae.............

해물김치전 Seafood kimchi Pancake. This was not bad. I can't be fussy cos there is no pancake that can be compared to the one I ate at Pajeon Alley. There were four of us, each of us paid $26. Reasonably cheap ^^

옴 마니 파드메 훔 옴 마니 반메 훔

It is really heartwarming to see so many Koreans(including companies, fishermen, commoners etc) coming forward together to chip in whatever they can towards the ferry disaster. It is not just the families and friends of those involved in the tragedy who are grieving but almost the entire nation is in sorrow. You are not alone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 옴 마니 파드메 훔  옴 마니 반메 훔 

Media has a huge influence, big responsibility and should display professional ethics when reporting news. Personally, I hope they can focus more on this area rather than focusing on the captain. No doubt he has done wrong but the whole system bears a BIG responsibility as well. 

May love & light shine upon all who are affected in the ferry disaster. May the family members and friends of those on board, and all who have been rescued find the strength and guidance to move on. May all who have passed on to rest in peace. May the rescue teams be safe and complete their missions successfully. Your lives are just as precious. Let's pray for a miracle. 옴 마니 파드메 훔 옴 마니 반메 훔

20 Mar 2014 - I want to come back.

I walked to the bus stop for my bus back to Tongyeong Bus Terminal. There is no need to cross the road this time. The bus directory was displayed way above eye level! It was hard to read it but it looks like the hundred series shared almost the same route.  Please do not fault me for this comment.  I did not have time to analyse it hahahaa 

Generally, I think it is not difficult to take bus in Tongyeong. The bus routes seems rather straight forward. Anyway, I was looking hard at the bus route of bus no. 100 when bus no. 141 arrived. I was not looking at the bus but the bus driver called out to me, "어디가?" Means "Where are you going?"  Ermmm....was he talking to me??  I think so. I must have looked like a lost tourist!!! LOL I replied, "Tongyeong Bus Terminal". Hence, I got on bus no.141 at 5.59pm. Somehow, I felt I sort of know this bus driver.  

Can't remember what time I reach Tongyeong Bus Terminal but I got off at the bus stop opposite the bus terminal. The bus driver called out to me just before we reached the stop. I think he said something, "Singapore?" Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! No wonder I felt he was so familiar!!! He was BUS DRIVER A!!! Remember the kind bus driver I mentioned?? I walked up to the driver seat, trying to find the correct word to say. I don't know how to say, I just said, "아까??"  He smiled and nodded his head. We had another "Chicken & Duck" conversation before I got off the bus. I am so grateful to this uncle. I wish I can tell him I am very grateful to him for being so kind to me. I wish him good health, safe journeys and happiness always. 당신아저씨에 너무 감사. 정말 감사합니다.  Kind people and beautiful place. Yes, I will be back. 

Bought my bus ticket back to Busan.
No time stated but the counter staff told me it will leave at 6.25pm.

This was my bus. It left at 6.24pm instead. I reached Seobu Bus Terminal at 7.45pm. I did not went back to the hotel straight away but walked over to Renicite for some shopping. It started raining heavily as I walked to Renicite. It took me about 10mins walk from Sasang station, exit 3 to Renicite. Renicite is a very big shopping complex, something like Migliore but bigger. Took the Airport Light Rail Transit from Gwaebeop Renecite station back to Sasang Station for my return trip. Gwaebeop Renecite Station is just outside Renicite and only one stop away from Sasang Station.

20 Mar 2014 - 너무 배 불러요!!

대풍관 is located opposite the turtle ships.
Ermm...You can't see the turtle ships in this map though..

Online info says that 대풍관 is popular for its fresh oyster.
However, I did not come here for its oyster becos I was never a fan of oyster.
I came here becos many people came here ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ
There were many other popular restaurants in the area as well.

I was the only customer when I reached here about 5.05pm.
The place was packed when I left around 5.45pm.

I already decided what I wanted to eat before I came here ^^

해물 된장 Seafood Doenjang, 멍게비빔밥 Squirt bibimbap and 굴탕수육 Sweet sour oyster were on my list!  Well, due to "unforseen circumstances" of overeating, I decided to forgo 해물 된장 Seafood Doenjang and 굴탕수육 Sweet sour oyster...

I ordered 멍게비빔밥 Squirt bibimbap. As the waitress started laying the table, I got worried. She started off with the portable stove (Which puzzled me) and the side dishes. Next, she came in with a plate of fresh oyster which is shown on the bottom right in this picture. Thereafter, she came in with a pot of soup and placed it on the portable stove! I asked her, "멍게비빔밥?". She replied that the pot of soup and fresh oyster were service. I thanked her but at the same time, I was very worried that I could not finish the food. "Service" came at the wrong time cos I was not hungry at all. The pot of soup happens to be 해물 된장 Seafood Doenjang! It was what I intially planned to have but decided to give up since I was still feeling full from my honey bread.

멍게비빔밥 Squirt bibimbap ^^

This was so delicious!!

Mix and eat ^^
Soooo niceeee!!

I don't really like to eat oyster but this plate of oyster was fresh and the sauce was quite tasty.

Ahhh...this 해물 된장 Seafood Doenjang was so niceee!!
I could not finish the fresh oyster and some of the banchan becos I was super duper full.
So so full that I felt I have eaten food that can last me for the next three days!!
Felt apologetic that I could not finish the oyster...
Anyway, total bill was only KRW10000!!
Thanks to the great SERVICE ^^

Feeling sad becos it was time for me to make my way to the bus terminal.
Tongyeong is a very beautiful place.
I know I will come back again.
I hope I can stay at least one night on my next visit to see the night view of beautiful Tongyeong ^^