Thursday, July 30, 2015

The Belly of the Beast


To Eat:  AK Plaza basement

Although I'm not a fan of fast food,
I am a fan of food on little plates going in circles.
So when I am in a hurry near AK PLAZA
I go down, down, down into the belly of the beast
and eat some sushi off the beltway.


In addition to sushi on rails,
you can find a variety of other options
including Krispy Kreme.


On a side note:
The also have an excellent high-end health supplement section.
I will let you decided if I am talking about the picture above or below.



Wednesday, July 29, 2015

A Sweet Spot

Oh, crepe. What have I done?



The coffee is only 2,200.
Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwiches
Name: Janny Sweet House
(across from Pyeongtaek Bus Terminal)
Address: 경기도 평택시 평택동 31-1

PRO TIP: Fruit other than bananas is frozen,
so it can be a bit cold to eat. I stick with banana.



Fill Up The Tank


The exhaustion became more than I could handle.
No amount of yoga, water, coffee, sleep or veggies could cure it.
While standing on the side of the road waiting for my bus
I asked myself, "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
There is no reason for this self-imposed suffering,
the wailing, or the gnashing of teeth.


  When it comes down to it, I know why I do this - culture.
Even after years in Korea 
I still forget how easy it is to care for myself here.
When I get tired I fall back into old habits, 
buckling down and suffering through pain I could avoid.


Yesterday I called bullshit on myself.
Decided I'd had enough of my self imposed suffering.
I took my stupid self to Pyeongtaek, across for Del Vino
to the fifth floor beauty clinic and said,
"I'm tired.  Could I please have an IV."


After a 10 minute consultation, 
we chose the best solution for me:
a 40,000\ vitamin pack.
Thirty minutes later I was on my way.

Within hours I started to feel more normal,
last night I slept like a baby 
and this morning my face glows a little.
My muscles ache less, my head is more clear,
and my stomach doesn't hurt.

Does it solve all life's problems?
Not really, but close.
It sure has hell makes them more manageable.

If you are exhausted and getting sick a lot,
please just go get this. 
IV treatments are from 
40,000\ - 100,000\
and worth every penny.


Name: 강남뷰여성의원
Phone: 031-692-2789
Address: 경기도 평택시 평택동 292-6 3층
Naver Map: http://me2.do/GFEpa4KX

They have English consultants,
many English speakers go here.
You can also get affordable 
laser hair treatments,
facials, etc.





Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Follow Your Road

My favorite riding area in Pyeongtaek
For the past four years I have done my best to live my own story and stay out of the general ex-pat drama.  Due to my alternate lifestyle growing up, this was rather easy for me. I'm accustomed to isolation and entertaining myself, building a world of my own making.  Part of that process, since I moved to Korea, has involved documenting my own drama and keeping track of the things that amuse me.  I say this to explain that this is not a lifestyle blog or really even an ex-pat blog, it's just the ramblings of countryside hermit as she weaves a life out of new thread.

Lately though, I've started to feel bad about hording the information that I have acquired during my time here and I've started putting together more informational blogs to share with others.  I do this with great trepidation, because I'm not really someone who wants to be "involved in the conversation". I prefer to talk to myself, alone, while semi-lost on mountain trails.

So why am I telling you this? So that you understand this blog just documents my life.  The things I write about here are the things I do and the way I do them.  I'll do my best to provide you with the details I gather on my journeys, but I'm not trying to be Korea's greatest travel expert and I don't want you to walk in my footsteps.  You are living your story and your drama.  You might not have a car, it doesn't mean you can't still go where I go - it will just look different. Don't let it stop you. Go out there and do all the stuff.  There are many roads to every destination, each one is filled with it's own delights.



Monday, July 27, 2015

All You Can Eat


Pyeongtaek: To Eat
Vietnamese Shabu Shabu

One of the first meals I really fell in love with in the Pyeongtaek area was a fusion Vietnamese shabu shabu.  The best place I have been for this so far has been in Anjung-eup which is in the western part of Pyeongtaek.  

Last night, however, we ended up at one of these restaurants on the edges of Pyeongtaek City that took the whole thing to the next level because it was all you can eat beef, pork, and veggies.  It was possibly the best choice you could make for a large group of hungry, thirsty people.  It's one of the few meals that everyone can be happy with.  All spicy or unusual flavors can be completely avoided or totally embraced, you get to choose.  If you love meat, you can just eat meat.  If you love veggies, you can just eat veggies.  If you like spicy, dump on the sauces. 

It's simple, healthy, and filling.

Is this THE BEST Vietnamese Shabu Shabu fusion I've had? 
No, because it's not as great as Anjung-eups. 

Is it it the best I've had in Pyeongtaek City? 
Yes, because it's all the veggies I want and a good quality of meat.

From what I could tell there were options ranging from 9,000 - 26,000\ depending on if you also wanted to order additional seafood items (seafood not all you can eat).  Since I wasn't paying, I have no idea what our meal cost per person.  If I would guess, it was the 9,000\ option, but I have no idea.

As usual, the restaurant had private rooms to facilitate large groups of people.

Name: 월남 쌈 김상사












Sunday, July 26, 2015

Like a Fish To Water


Pyeongtaek: To Do
Water Park

Nothing says Friday like going to Cheonan Sangnok Resort 
to swim and play with all of the students.
Of course, I would come here with adults as well.
Small but substantial - this is a great place for summer fun for everyone.
Outside is quiet during rain, but hopping on sunny days.
Inside is always busy, but not too busy on weekdays.
The longest line on Friday was three people.
Plus, it's only about 1 hour from Pyeongtaek, 
so it's easy and way less stressful than Caribbean Bay
where you are in long lines for everything.

CLICK HERE to learn more about pricing, hours, etc.







Address: Chungcheongnam-do, Cheonan-si, Dongnam-gu, Susin-ro, 576
Phone: 041-560-9114









Historical Thinking Spot


Pyeongtaek: To Do
Sightseeing

When the days are busy
and my thoughts too many,
I find a thinking spot.


On Saturday I combined little thinking with a little learning by
visiting the grave of a Pyeongtaek hero Won Kyun
which happens to be 15 minutes from my house.
Read more about him by CLICKING HERE
or reading below.


How to get to this thinking spot:

Address: 경기도 평택시 도일동 475














Falling In Love Again


For over three years I have been hoping to find this place again, but never had the time to go drive through the varies hills and valleys looking for it.  However, with more rest and time on my hands, this weekend I was able to quickly find it based on what I remembered from my first visit: on a dead end road, in a small valley, next to a Shell station, 10 minutes from my old job, relatively no signage.


How do I describe this place?
Movies aren't even this dreamy.
This is where you go if you love books and poetry 
and like to write stories in your head.

the food
the scenery
the sound of the breeze through the rice

It's like they were written in a fairy tale
that you have interrupted. 


Name: 사랑채, 
Address: 경기도 평택시 도일동 346, 





If you decide to step into this dream,
try not to break it by remembering a few things:
  1. The restaurant is in the back of a home, respect the area.
  2. They don't speak English
  3. 6 people max. Not for big groups.
  4. Quiet atmosphere, don't be too noisy.
  5. They accept cash or checks.




The menu:

Barley Bibimpap 
7,000

Tofu, mushroom soup in fish broth (pictured above) 
4 people 35,000
3 people 25,000
2 people 20,000

Mung Bean Pancake
10,000

Soybean Pancake
10,000

Chicken and Potato Stew 토종 닭도리탕
4 people 40,000

Smothered Chicken Stew 토종 찜 닭
4 people 40,000

Stewed Chicken 토종 옷닭 백숙
4 people 45,000

Stew (I think chicken) with a tree 토종 엄나무 백숙
4 people 45,000

Samgupsal
12,000

Rice
1,000