♩"These are a few of my favorite things" ♩...

I think it's fun to keep lists, especially of all the random things that you come across while traveling. Here are a few of my favorite foods so far, and staples to the Korean diet!: 

1. Tangerines {Gamgyul}

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{Tangerines grow in warm Jeju weather and have thin rinds and a high sugar content. They are super juicy and fresh. I thought they were limes when I arrived, due to their green rinds! Here for sale at Seogwipo Market^^}. 

 2. Nectarines 

{The nectarines here are fresh and very sweet. When we first buy our produce, they are already ripe, juicy, and ready to eat}. 

 3. Bungeoppang

These are a pancake treat filled with a red bean paste that tastes a bit like Nutella.{ n Korean, bung'eo (붕어) means Carassius, a kind of fish, and ppang (빵) means bread}. 

4. Green Tea 

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{Jeju is famous for green tea production, amoung other items. Here ^^ we sampled green tea from O'Sulloc Tea Museum. Green Tea is awesome in face products/masks, tea!, cakes, cookies, and shakes ^^.}

5. Japanese Cuisine from K Curry House

{This is my favorite dish from K Curry House in Jeju City. the dish is sticky white rice 밥 mixed with fried egg 달걀. There is also pieces of seaweed and, of course, chicken 치킨!}. 

6. Hallabong/Hallabong Juice/Hallabong ANYTHING!

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{If you look quickly, you may mistake this fruit for an orange. But it is a Korean han-ra-bong, pronounced hallabong, grown on the island. The large bump on the top represents Mount Halla. They are the size of a typical orange and super fresh. They are a-mazing in dark chocolate, teas, as fresh squeezed juice, and in baked goods. I adore it}. 

7. Sushi/Kimbap

{Gimbap or kimbap is a popular Korean dish made from steamed white rice, bap, and other ingredients rolled in gim, dried seaweed.The main difference between a California roll is that the rice here is on the inside, and the seaweed is on the outside}. 

8. Gwaja {Confectionary Snacks}

{These chewy, Starburst-like treats can be found at any local convenience store. They usually cost 1,000 KRW or $1.00 USD. They are chewy, fruity, and addictive!}.

 9. Gwaja {Confectionary Snacks}

{My friend Jisun introduced me to these little individual mini biscuits filled with chocolate; like Nutella. They are like a cookie, sweet and satisfying. And the packaging is extra cute. We got two packets like this for 2,000 KRW or 2.00 USD}. 

10. Street Vendors 

{When we were daring on our Seongsan Hike, we ate food from a local vendor. I don't know if it was the hiking, or the food, but it was so satisfying and delicious! I had a sweet and sour fried chicken cup and fried potatoes on a stick. How has this not caught on in America yet?! The potatoes were laced with a a dust of cheddar cheese}. 

{And, of course, one for the homesick traveler: DD}...

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취침 시간 Chwichim Sigan

While Rach and I were shopping around at Lotte Mart, I finally found a beautiful Korean children's book to bring home as a keepsake! I've been searching for one. 

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{Front and back covers}. 

This one caught my eye as we were grocery shopping. It cost me 13,000 KRW or 13 USD. I love it. It has a hard binding, and a glittery cover.{It was all wrapped up, but I snuck a peek at the store!}
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 The inside has many different fairy tales and bedtime stories {the title of my blog, Chwichim Sigan means "bedtime"}, with beautiful illustrations. It reminds me of the stories my Dad would read to us before bed when we were young. I loved those stories! Now I just need a translator!
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"May I take your interview?"

While waiting for the bus to Hamdeok Beach, a radio personality from local Arirang Radio approached us. She politely asked if she could take an interview while we waited for the bus. 

Her English was excellent! She asked why we were in Korea, if we had visited any part of Asia before, and what K Pop music we knew! I even got to say a quick shout out. Our interviews will be on air next Friday at 11 pm haha :) 

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Hamdeok Beach

Jisun, Rach and I had a free weekend, so on Saturday, we headed to Hamdeok Seoubong Beach: 

함덕해변

 We took a bus about 14 kilometers east of Jeju City. Hamdeok was beautiful! Clean, shallow water. You could see to the bottom! It was shades of emerald and blue. We also saw an arched bridge over the black basalt beach, and a lighthouse. 

Before we hit the beach, we found a street vendor selling bungeoppang (fish bread). The pancake-stlye bread was filled with sweet red beans. The bean paste tasted a bit like Nutella! The man here was selling them for 500 KRW or $.50 each! 

{The card we used to grab and eat the greasy cakes. The card is a Bible verse: 

John 6:1-14: Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand}.

bung'eo (붕어) means Carassius, a kind of fish, and ppang (빵) means bread.

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We also spotted a few traditional Korean statues along the shore. The statues depicted traditional fishermen {seen here with a net}, and the traditional method of making rice:

{My friend Jisun doing the traditional bow with her "ancestors!"}

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Hamdeok is thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches on Jeju. Seoubong Peak on either side shields the beach from strong winds, and keeps the waters calm. It's a popular snorkeling spot. Some snapshots from the beach: 

 {I love this shot of the tree}. 

{Traditional carnival ride for little ones. Looked pretty busted up}. 

{Typical trash in Jeju above this sign ^^}. 

 {Schools of fish. The water was very clear!} 

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{Our best attempts at sand castles and turtles :): 

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Meeting an elegant traditional white Korean Jindo dog 진돗개. These dogs cannot be bred outside Korea. It was funny to listen to dog commands being spoken in Korean:

 {We had matching attire! :)}

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{This man was so adorable with his little son}: 

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{Leaving the beach around 6 pm. At the bus stop}: 

{Sign at the bus stop: English, English, English!}

{Funny streets signs for a chicken 치킨 and beer/coffee house restaurant and beautiful street art/mural. Street art like this is typical everywhere we've been }: 

{Coffee and beer? Hmm...}

{Beautiful end to the perfect day; the sunsets are beautiful here. The sun feels closer and more magnificent in Korea}.

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