Slow Down. Children at Play.

Invitations for Thanksgiving came from all over,

but nothing seemed right.

It felt like passing the time rather than 

an adventure or a celebration.

So I looked to my own path.

The only thing that I could put my finger on was the direction -

I needed to head south.

Somewhere down there was where I needed to be.

So I went and followed my compass 

thinking I would retrace the steps of past adventures.

Possibly visiting 가거도 or 흑산도 again.

However the world had other plans.

In Mokpo a typhoon and an old man sent me in a new direction.

They said I needed to stay away from boats and find a safe harbor.

The old man found a map and said, "You should go here.  It is best."

Hesitant at first, I pushed past it and followed his advice.

When has a stranger ever steered me wrong?

So I caught the first bus to 증동리,

the first step to my final destination.

What I found there was nothing less than solitary perfection.

One of Korea's Slow Cities.

There is little to do there but:

walk

fish

bike

read

play

soak

reflect

and be thankful.

CLICK HERE to read more about Korea's Slow Cities.

 

 

 

 

 

I am forever thankful for the kindness of my Pension owners,

who welcomed me to their Thanksgiving table with open arms.

Disclaimer: I never plan ahead. When I travel I just show up and see what happens.  I do not book anything, reserve anything, or have any idea what will happen when I arrive.  When I did this trip I did it on bus and could not really speak any Korean apart from, "Can I have ____?" or "How much does it cost?"  It still worked out.  Korea is easy to travel in.  You wont die, the worst thing that will happen is that you will be mildly uncomfortable.

Ginger Beer, Get In My Belly

  

There is just no reason to not enjoy Ginger Beer in Korea.

We have plenty of ingredients and the perfect pots.

What I wanted:

I want to create an alcoholic Jamaican style ginger beer 

with similar qualities too 막걸리.

So read up on different versions and tested one of my own.

Friday I should be able to test and see how close I am to my vision.

 For those of you who want to try this at home.

Here are a few good resources.

http://www.jamaicans.com/cooking/beverages/gingerbeer.shtml

http://www.trinigourmet.com/index.php/ginger-beer/

http://www.girlcooksworld.com/2011/04/jamaican-ginger-beer.html

http://www.forgreenies.com/how-to-make-old-fashioned-ginger-beer

Things to consider before choosing a recipe:

• Alcoholic v. Non-Alcoholic
• Speed v. Flavor
• Yeast v. No Yeast
• Beer v. Ale
• Strong v. Subtle

A New Plot Line

Boutique garden inspiration in Pohang.

2012 brings new plot lines to light.

This morning I woke with a deep and abiding desire to

truly accept the challenge of living my life in Korea.

As folks might have noticed, I've been regressing back to old habits lately.

I've missed canning, pickling, preserving and living a sustainable life

and its leaking out around me in kimchi and planting pots.

Korean's commitment to its traditions 

was one of the things that drew me here.

For the last year I've let them settle in around me,

but still clung to tastes and texture of home.

Now I am filled with the desire to combining my traditions with theirs.

Using the new tools, new ideas and new ingredients 

to infuse my traditions with a new perspective.

I'm ready to make this leap for three primary reasons.

First, the FTA with South Korea concerns me.  

Global trade is not the solution to what ails the world.  

We do not need to reach further away, we need to draw closer in.

Second, the carbon footprint of imported pesto is too much.

Me taste buds are not more important then the environment.

These things can be easily produced here with local ingredients.

Third, my community is what I make it.

So if I want to live in a world that values locally produced things,

I need to consume and produce locally.

It needs to be my life style.

My inspiration is derived from three place:

First, my family traditions & culture.

My maternal immigrant grandparents culture of a purpose filled life.

My parents decision to embrace this and retreat into the Alaskan wilderness

 to live a primarily subsistence based lifestyle.

Second, the Northwestern sustainability movement.

For almost a decade I was lucky enough to experience the dynamic

growth of the Northwestern sustainable living culture.

At times I found it too pretentious for words,

but I learned a great deal for it and love it's message.

Third, Korean's commitment to their country and traditions.

Being in a country that continues to allow room for 

families to make their own kimchi has give me the freedom

to do many things apartment living in the US would not allow.

So today I double down on the research necessary to build a 

culturally and environmentally sustainable lifestyle!

Through The Looking Glass

  

It always feels like I've stepped through a magical door when I go home to Sokcho.
While researching Korea I knew Sokcho must be special,
but I never really found anything that did it justice.

People don't seem to realize it's just dreamy here.

The lake walk in fall.

My favorite part of Sokcho, the people.

 

It's always a good idea to play in the park.

Natural beauty every which way you look, even in the tiniest places.

Cheesed

Because I can do nothing to help,

because I can't cure cancer,

and I can't heal minds woods,

and because I can't change

what was into what I want it to be -

I made cheese.