Early last week, we left Seoul and drove down south towards the countryside. We arrived at a small mountain village, where we spent time with my mom’s side of the family. Together, we went hiking up to see waterfalls, and found old temples that smelled like wood and incense. The next day, we drove to a family friend’s organic botanical garden near the coast. Every meal in Korea has been a big feast with lots of new flavors and plenty of cold barley tea.
“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
-“The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver
this is a special dish indigenous to Pohang, similar to nengmyun (except with sashimi instead of noodles!)
typical village snack: a bowl of rice wine and homemade acorn jelly salad
hot stonebowl rice with fish roe
We drove through foggy mountains and returned to Seoul.
15 Comments
Thuraya Lynn
August 9, 2011 at 3:53 pmI’ve recently found your web diary, it’s lovely!
Every photo and story is savory and tasteful.
And truly, may you have a good day.
Sewon
August 10, 2011 at 12:08 amThank you. I’m clicking around your website and loving your illustrations!
Galine
August 9, 2011 at 4:59 pm!!! I love the picture of the caterpillar!
& mmm, korean food & all things korea, what a beautiful country 🙂
Sewon
August 10, 2011 at 12:13 amI didn’t see the caterpillar until my mom told me to look again! :]
Galine
August 10, 2011 at 12:41 pmthat’s amazing!! what a nice surprise to see it after the fact, it’s such a perfect photo!
Lindsey
August 9, 2011 at 8:13 pmI want to visit so bad! I have another blogger friend who studied abroad there and it just seems like such a great place.
Sewon
August 10, 2011 at 12:14 amIt’s been so much fun here. You should visit if you ever get the chance!
Katie
August 10, 2011 at 12:13 amSuch gorgeous pictures! I love peeks into other countries!
Sewon
August 10, 2011 at 10:55 pmThanks!
vicky
August 10, 2011 at 7:26 amlife in korea seems to peaceful and balanced. i would really like some spicy steamed chicken right now.
Sewon
August 10, 2011 at 10:55 pmThat spicy steamed chicken was really spicy but super meaty. I think you would have liked it a lot!
NM
August 10, 2011 at 2:00 pmBeautiful photos, I really love visiting Korea, it’s such a colourful country.
Your pictures of food are making me huuuuungry!!
Sewon
August 10, 2011 at 10:58 pmI find certain foods hard to photograph, especially savory stews when I’m hungry. 😛
Melissa
August 10, 2011 at 10:04 pmSo delicious~ definitely a place on my travel-to list!
Maria
August 13, 2011 at 1:20 pmthese photos are so so beautiful!