Korean BBQ...Mashisoyo!!

Mashisoyo in Korean means "delicious". {One of the first words I learned}. And that is just what authentic black pork barbeque in Korea is! After our day at Hallim Park, Jisun, Rachel, and I went out to dinner at a local spot with her family. 

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We sat traditional style on the floor on little mats, {no shoes!} and we were served plates of food and interesting side dishes. There was a portable grill cooktop placed on the table. {Some restaurants have built-in versions}.  It was 15,000 KWR/$15 per person per table for SO much food. I even unexpectedly saw one of my students dining with his family! 

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 {Above: The "burgers" are actually wrapped in lettuce; there is no bread.  The side dishes: clockwise from top left: mushrooms pusut, potatoes gamja, pickled cucumber oe, and coleslaw yangbaechu saelleodeu, in a mild mustard sauce. We were also given doenjangjjigae, bean paste stew with tofu to compliment the pork flavor, with a bowl of rice. This was excellent}. 

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{Not pictured is the two types of naeng-myeon (cold noodles), thought to compliment the strong marinated flavor of the pork}. 

 {Side dishes can be wrapped in lettuce with the meat as intended, or eaten separately with chopsticks}. 

{Gogigui literally "meat + roasting", refers to Korean barbecue. The pork being set on the grill ^. Some bits of the pork were a bit fatty, but super flavorful. It was served with an excellent sesame oil, garlic, and pepper seasoning to dip. I loved this}. 

 {The pork was grilled and served with one of my favorite items: Korean pumpkin danhobak. It is very sweet and tastes a bit like winter squash}.

 {When the juice starts to bubble, or in Korean lingo, starts to "cry" or "sweat"; its time to flip! This helps to avoid a dry pork. Ick. This pork was excellent and very juicy}. 

Ready to eat! 

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I feel a little guilty about petting this little guy at Hallim earlier...Sorry! 

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Fun tips on how to eat Korean BBQ from a Korean chef: http://travel.cnn.com/seoul/eat/how-eat-korean-barbecue-958946 

Hallim Park

On Saturday, my friends and I took advantage of the gorgeous Indian summer weather to see Hallim Park. Hallim is a beautiful, sprawling outdoor park in Hallim on the west side of the island.
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 The park was built in 1971 as a small botanical garden and is now in full bloom, celebrating it's 42nd year. Admission was 7 KRW with our ARC cards. The park has nine different exhibits. We saw only three: and spent two hours!

{The delicious gamyul or tangerines seen here, on the sign and on the tree}. ^^

 These trees were aptly called "elephant's feet." ^^

 {Inside the greenhouses of cacti in the botanical garden}:

 

 {Striking a pose. Well, okay, poses}. 

 {Helping myself to a sweet mango shake. Don't mind if I do. Besides, the cup is too cute}. 

Then, we saw Korean National Monument #236, which is the Hypeojae and Ssangyang Caves. The caves were formed by the eruption of Mt. Halla and are unique in that they feature stalagmites and stalactites, which are rarely found in lava caves. {still no idea which is which!} 

Fossilized shells {including abalone} lead many scientists to think the caves were below sea level when formed.  There are 20 connective caves in the park, spanning over 17,000 meters, making it the longest cave system in the world! The temperature in the caves is at 17 to 18 C degrees all year round. 

 {Entering the caves}. 

 {My claustrophobia kicked in after I read a sign, telling us that the stone on the right had fallen from the bit of ceiling on the left. It fits perfectly. Get me out}.

 {Exiting the first cave}. 

 {The stone grandpas here look more like grump stones. Scary}. 

{Entering the second cave}.

 {Below: legend has it that two dragons lived in this second cave. The small opening in the cave wall is thought to be the tip of the first dragon's tale and the pattern that stretches from that is the scales along the dragon's body. It was eerie because it looked so real}. 

{"Tip" of the dragon's tail}. 

 {Circle of wisdom in the second cave. I did three loops around, just to be sure. HA}. 

 {The rock formation on my left is thought to look like a bear. He is turned to the side facing me, and his "paws"are covering his ear. Can you see? The rock on the right is said to look like an owl. Can't see that still. Just saying}. 

{Close up! Below:}

 {Being sillies}.

 {Feeding the little piglets. 1 KWR for a handful of sunflower seeds. Cuuute}. 

 {This one is for the birds.. :) }

 {This one was a bit feisty!}^^

 {Jisun post-bite. Yikes!}. 

{One parrot could say "anyonghaseyo" perfectly!}

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