Dakgalbi

I forgot about this one!!!!
The other day we went to Coex, (Our Plaza Las Americas here)...
In PR we went to Plaza when it was just too hot to do anything else and here is the contrary. It's so cold! I don't mean to complain about it, because when I was In PR all I did was complain how hot it was. Now I get to be in the cold & not sweat, so no complaints!
I'm not particularly fond of the cold I got because of how cold it is, but if I have to choose, I prefer the cold weather rather than being hot 24-7. This weather just makes me crave hearty food, so for  lunch I was looking for a very Korean restaurant to have lunch. We randomly picked one and to my surprise it was Dakgalbi.... Yeaaayyy!!! I looooooove Dakgalbi!!! Then I realized I totally forgot the post I was supposed to do about it.

So here I share with you, a part of the very special weekend we had and us learning about what has become my favorite Korean dish...

       * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The weekend we went to Nami, we stayed over night around the same area,  I think Chuncheon...

I got a liiiittle scared of spending the night there. What would you think if the first thing you saw in the room when you went in was this...

ummmmhummm..... bug spray korea, hotel

How was I supposed to sleep after the thoughts this bug spray brought to my mind. Nothing I hate more than roaches. I am terrified,  horrified, disgusted with the idea of having bugs crawl over me. The movie Just Married came to mind...
Luckily nothing happened, the only thing I saw was a lady bug. After some sleep we woke up to the most beautiful misty, happy morning. : )

 In Chuncheon they are known for their Dakgalbi.

I found my favorite food heeeEEEeere... Oh my, was it good!

It's basically stir-fried chicken with vegetables. The first version we had of it, was barbecued on coal, so it had that yummy flavor.

It brought back very happy memories of my childhood. Times when we used to go on daytime trips to the beach and make barbecued chicken on an improvised grill.  It has always stayed in my memory as the best chicken, even if it had a bit of sand on it! I miss those days....

It also made me think of how the things we do now, are going to be a very important part of our kids life. When you have kids you get the chance to live a second childhood through them, I get to be part of a lot of first times again. Building their memories is so exiting and giving them a healthy & happy childhood, is our goal : )

So back to our dinner....  Yes, it was yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.... delicioso!

Grilled Dakgalbi

                 Our very first time having Dakgalbi.

Dakgalbi

The flavor the tteokbokki (rice cakes) gets from the grilling is just sooooo good!

I can remember what this dish was called. I really liked it. It's made out of potatoes, similar to a hash brown but less greasy, mashed and maybe mixed with some flour. 

I'm really starting to like the floor seating. Marky just runs around without knocking down chairs and I'm not afraid he might fall from one. He is to tall for a infant feeding chair and to small for a regular one. The floor is just perfect! 

The next day, we went to a ski resort (tons of fun)...

First time holding a sled...

A first time for us!!!

weeeeee..... lol

Another first time moment!

Before heading back to the city we stopped for some more Dakgalbi. This time it was done the more traditional way. 

Dakgalbi

Dakgalbi

Dakgalbi

You make it yourself...

The area is also known for their Buckwheat Cold Noddles. 

You add the Gochujang & mix it.

The potato pancakes again <3

Hurray for a great weekend filled with memories, first times, no bugs, new friends & Dakgalbi!

We ate so well! Now that I posted this, I can't stop thinking about Dakgalbi & the yummy potatoes! Can't wait to go back!

Till next,

xoxo 

Happy Lunar New Year (Seollal)!!!

This past weekend was Seollal (1st of January in Lunar calendar). I think the most important & celebrated holiday in Korea. This New Year fell on January 23 of the regular calendar. Seollal is big family holiday. They go visit their families & some dress up with the traditional hanbok. I think is also a big gift giving day.

School

Two weeks ago my son started School. Well it's more like a Daycare, since he's only two. He is, I guess on the taller side, and everybody thinks he is five. When I say no, he's two, they can't believe it. I don't even think he is that much taller than other boys his age, but whatever. The age here works different than for us Westerners. In Korea you are a year older the 1st of January of the New Year.
It's like this, (I think) I just turned 32 two 1/2 months ago. This year I will be turning 33, but since that will be this year, I am already 33, so on the first of January I would be 34.
So on Korean Age I am 34....  I don't like this Korean age ONE bit, I'll tell ya'....

The Island of Sodor

This past weekend we took Markus to a Thomas & Friends Exhibition held at the AT Center in Yangyae-Dong. I found out about it trough the Korea for Kids page I liked in Facebook.

It's like a theme park, very small, but tons of fun for Tiny Thomas lovers. A bit  pricey, considering we had to come out with yet another missing character of the collection that's taking over our house. This time it was "Stanley" the one that got to come home with us. Funny how he introduces them to the one he has home...

"Here Stanley, this is your new home! Hello Thomas. Hello Stanley. Hello Everybody, welcome to The Island of Sodor ...."

Too cute how he plays.

Here some pictures...

Hurry, hurry....oh... the excitement!

The slides

He didn't ride the train... Adults can't go in it and he refused to go alone : ( 

Marky was totally freaked out by him, but not Haejoon <3

There is also a cookie making & coloring station... pretty cute ; )

Now back to the Mainland....

The info I found online in English said it was w16,000/w12,000, but we paid w40,000 for 2 adults and 1 kid, so I think it was more like w16,000/w8,000. To that the cost of an overpriced train, our Stanley was W18,000.  

The exhibition is only going to be there until February 12. English info. & how to get there Here. 

 Till next,

 xoxo

Fail!

Today I was set on finally going to Dongdaemun... failed....
Feels like I'll never make it there!
I dropped Markus off at his School and set off to my adventure. I walked to the nearest subway station with the gigantic stroller "grrrr" should've taken the BabyBjorn. After walking through the biggest maze of walking down to the underground station.... stairs.... why, why so many!!! Half way up some nice haraboji helped me. I don't always get help so I was bowing like a good Korean would, Komapsumnida, komapsumnidaaaa...
When I was preggers with Olivia, at times I would be with Marky on one hand, the Mclaren stroller in another, the gigantic belly & groceries on whatever part of my arm I had left,  trying to go down to what seemed to me like the largest staircase ever, trying to get to the subway. You wouldn't believe, not one single person would offer to help. After the 1/2 hour that took me to get down, I stand in front of where you are supposed to, waiting for the train (after I missed like 4 that came by while I was trying to go down) People start cutting me off and sneaking in front of me... seriously!

In that sign pointing right at her must say; This B... just cut you off

In that sign pointing at her, must say; "This B.... just cut you off

                          Whatever lady, I'll let it slide...
              Meanwhile, why not enjoy the nice ads while I wait.

Sweeeeeet!

As soon as the door opens, nobody waits for the people inside to come out, everybody just fights it off, whomever gets in first gets the seats, no matter if you are preggers or not. There are signs that say this seat is for the preggers, this one for old people, etc... I mean, they even tell you how to sit & how you should hold your bag.

How to Seat...

None of that is gonna work if there are a gazillion people inside... ojo a ojo!


Another day I tried to take it during rush hour.... OMG..... The "Push-Men" exist!!! There are so many people during rush hour, that there are guys just pushing people in, so everybody fits. That's their job! Yes, they push pregnant ladies too... I'll just think he didn't really see my big pipa...

The same thing happens with elevators. There are electric stairs almost everywhere, but, for some reason,  they refuse to use them. They much rather stuff themselves in the elevator. It's not even "elbow rubbing" full, it's more like, "I can smell your breath" full. And if they can, they will push you in a little more. That, my friends, is not the worst. How would you feel inside an elevator that fits 10 at most, but it has 20 people inside, and suddenly.... Yes... it happened.... someone let one loose!!!  fooooooooo..... NOTHING worst than a kimchi fart... trust me!

Don't get upset my K.ppls.... this is it with the worst. There are far more the things that I like about Korea than the ones I don't & the smelly oopsies... ; ) 


After these last experiences in the subway with the belly & Marky, I stopped taking it. The rest of the pregnancy I took cabs & now, I mostly walk.

So today trying to outsmart my iPhone app Jihachul (awesome app) I took a different route than the one the app told me, thinking; what's wrong with this app??... my way is way faster... NOT!... The way the app told me to take, I had to make 2 train changes...the way I chose, I had to make only one. Obviously, If I'm gonna choose, I'm gonna go for the one that has the least changes, since I'm with the stroller and all. I was trying to switch from line 9 to line 1, but to make the switch you had to exit the station, walk a little outside and then take the line 1.

When I went outside I was at the Fish Market, being unsure of which direction to go, I followed my instincts and I did find the line 1!...but guess what... Stairs!!! If it only was the stairs this time, but my lovely stroller's back wheels are to wide and it wont fit trough the ticket booth... Oh the stairs, the stroller, the cold, the STARES... you know, with me being all glow in the dark.  Forget it... Dongdaemun will be another day.

So back I go to the crazy Bus Terminal Station & have lunch in what has become my regular cafeteria, Yummmy, yummy bulgogi would make any day, a great day! 

I ❤ this place!

I had a Bulgogi set...

After my delicious lunch, I walk back to pick up Marky who was in the greatest mood TG, and it started snowing! yaeyyy..... I <3 random snowflakes, so pretty! Not such a bad day after all! 

Dongdaemun... I WILL find you next time! : )

xoxo,

T.

Olivia's Baek-il

In Korea, the 100th Day after a Baby being born (Baek- il) is celebrated with a small feast.  Family members pray & give thanks for the baby's survival and health. Supposedly back in the day, a lot of babies didn't make it this far, due to lack of medical care, extreme temperature changes in Korea and other childhood related diseases.

At first, I wasn't gonna do anything, but then I started thinking why not. Just because it's just us, doesn't mean we can't celebrate our baby, her health & what's tradition. Let's just say, I don't need many excuses to bake me a cake & have a party. : )
I may have not done it the right way (with the praying & the 100 rice cakes) but God knows I pray for my kids every day... I'm sure he's watching out for them.  : )

100th day birthday korean, baek-il

baek il, 100th day birthday korean, korean birthday, mixed kids, 100 days

Marky said, "She's like a Princess"... <3... I think so too.. : )

baek il, 100th day birthday celebration, 100th day birthday korean celebration, mixed kids, birthday, pink birthday, baby 

baek il, korean birthday, 100th day celebration, 100th day birthday korean, korean-american baby, mixed kids, pink cake

100 Days, baek il, 100th day birthday korean celebration, mixed kids, cupcakes, pink cake, bird themed girl party

baek il, rice cakes, korean food, pink birthday cake, 100th day korean celebration, korean birthday, bird themed party

baek il, korean birthdays, celebrations, korean 100 days of being born, 100 days, baby 100 days birthday, Baek-Il 

Baek-il, baek il, korean birthdays, celebrations, seoul South Korea, korea, Seoul, 100 days birthday

baek il, Baek IL, Baek Il, 100 days, celebration, korean traditions, 100th day korean celebration, pink cake, bird theme party

Baek-il, korean birthday table setup, party table, bird theme party, fiesta de cumpleaños Coreana., pink cake

baek il table, baek Il,baek il, Baek IL, 100 days, baby 100th days, 100 days celebration, korean birthdays,

Korean Rice cake / Bael il , rice cake, birthday cake, 100 days, birthday, korean celebrations

I'm proud to say I did the ordering of the rice cake!!!! It was the prettiest I've seen & really, really good!

 100th Day birthday korean, Baek il, cake, birthday cake, baek il, Baek Il, rice cakes, seoul, south korea, pink cake

The cake I made. I ran out of Icing so i couldn't do the roses I wanted... : (  It's so hard to find confectioners sugar here. All I found was tiny bags of 100g, a small box of Domino's  is 453g... You know how many of these small bags I need... a lot! 

baek il, Baek IL, peg il, baby 100 day celebrations, korean birthdays, 100th day birthday celebration, baby birdy party

Korea, seoul, south korea, baek il, Baek IL, peg il, korean baby traditions, korean birthdays, 100th day korean birthday

Markus <3 Hyeah!

Yeayyy... It wasn't just us! 

100th day celebration, baek il, Baek IL, peg il, korean birthdays, seoul, south korea, pink cake, bird themed party

Baek Il, baek il , peg il, 100th day celebration, korean baek il, korean baby birthday, seoul,  yellow and pink birthday, birds

Finally all together!

Olivia's Baek-il was the same day as Three Kings Day or Epiphany. This is a very special day for Puerto Ricans, specially for kids. You are supposed to collect grass and put it in a small box under the bed , so the camels would eat it and in return they leave a gift. 

OK...... truth is... I forgot the grass!!!! So hard keeping up with all these traditions, also there is no grass here, it's all dried up! Still, apparently my kids were so good, they still got a gift! ; )

Or was he so good?!?!... This Pocky thief of mine!

And as it was in my home when I was growing up, the Three Kings are poorer than Santa, so the gift is much smaller.... : ) 

You don't know how happy a book makes my kid! : )

Reading to Woody <3

Her first book.... Olivia!!!!! : )

Y colorin colorado..... este cuento ha acabado! 

Till next time! : )