Korea Tour 2017
Is it time to eat again !! Part 3
As seen in the October 2017 edition of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy Newsletter
After a relaxing night and a
wonderful breakfast at the Gyeongju Hilton we take a lovely ride through the
lake region. Soon we head up a very steep entrance to the Golguksa Temple . We
are met by the monks and are escorted to a changing room to put on our monk
training clothes. This outfit is a pair
of fabulous loose pants and a button up vest. Everyone looks great! After some
very rigorous training in their main hall we head outside for Zen style
Archery. This year I finally was able to hit the target!! I was definitely much
stronger this trip because of my continued training in Traditional Taekwondo.
Last time we were here Master
Cook had a private Tea with the Abbot of Golguksa Temple. This time we are all
invited into their new Tea House. It was so beautiful. We all sat around the
perimeter of the room as the Abbot sat at his floor level desk. On his desk was
a little plastic globe of the earth. It was odd yet so appropriate! As we drank
our tea he spoke of many aspects of the Martial life. He himself had also
studied Taekwondo. He emphasized the importance of meditation and to continue
training in the traditional ways. Afterwards we all posed for a photo with him
and then headed up to the dining hall.
Lunch here is always an
amazing experience. Food when prepared in a spiritual manner enlivens your
whole being. As we enter there are two very long low tables, one for women and
one for men. Today our meal is served buffet style. You must only take what you
can finish. Throwing away food is wasteful. The meal is so good…sauté mixed
vegetables, spicy slabs of super yummy Tofu and black rice. Yes it’s black and
if you haven’t tried it you must! They don’t have it at Shop Rite so you can
head down to Woo Rhee and grab a bag. This is the rice you add to your sushi
rice to turn it purple. One cup sushi rice to one tablespoon black rice. We are
also served Doenjangguk. This is a wonderful fermented soybean paste (miso)
soup with chilis , seaweed and vegetables. I went back twice. We all eat in
silence. This is such a lovely experience.
It’s time to get back on the
bus for our five hour drive back to Seoul. We will be having two rest stop
breaks…what can I have!! First rest stop is a major highlight in my culinary
journey of Korean food , my first time having Tteokpokki in Korea!! I make
Tteokpokki at home a lot, but now I am having it the way most Koreans do.
Served in a paper cup with a toothpick. I’m in heaven!! Tteokpokki is to
Koreans what Mac and Cheese is to us! Cylindrical chewy rice cakes smothered in
a sweet and spicy sauce. I have to hold
myself back from not ordering another because our next rest stop is for dinner!
Just like last time the
cafeteria is a bustle with travelers and truck drivers waiting for their food.
I scan the photos as they scroll by and decide on Sal Guk Su. This is a
kimchi seaweed noodle soup that is so
soothing to my already Tteokpokki full belly. Dylan orders a hamburger, French
fries and a coke and is hog heaven!!
Back on the bus and sated
most of us doze off knowing that tomorrow will be our last full day in the Land
of the Morning Calm. The must anticipated tour of the DMZ.
To be continued…
Haeng bog meogneum !
Happy Eating!
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