A Chilling Date with One HANsome...

November 11..

Its 11.11..Pepero Day

Pepero Day is an observance here similar to Valentine's Day. It is named after the Korean snack Pepero and held on November 11, since the date "11/11" resembles four sticks of Pepero!!!!

The day started with exchanging lot of choco sticks, the pepero!! Company guys came to see us with packets of pepero.

Without knowing this, I had a plan to visit the HAN River today, since I would finish my experiment early and Saji is also bit free today.

So by 5pm, I started for Sincheon station, the nearest station to our destination, some 40 min from seoul, where Saji'd be waiting for me. And there was a small confusion-cum-risk, of me getting lost in Sincheon and being unable to find Saji. But we found each other with ease (rather, he found me!) and started towards exit 7, from where the Han was within walkable distance. As soon as we came out of the station, we realised that the Korean winter has arrived. Already.

The darkness at 6pm was as though it were some 8pm and the wind was also blowing terribly cold. Luckily, Saji offered me his gloves, the one he uses to ride the cycle from his lab to home and back. We started walking towards the Han assuming we were taking the right direction.

After a long walk, we found a nice walkway. We also noticed the horizon was lined with lights..Indeed a city of lights!! Korea Sparkling..

Braving the spine-chilling wind, we managed to walk. Lots of people were having their usual walk along the sides of the Han. The cycle riders were happily riding and having fun..The Han was indeed hansome..Amidst the city and yet there is so much space for the people to walk and have recreation..(well, this is a pleasant surprise for somebody hailing from the civilisation that knows and shops at the Ranganathan Street!) We walked and walked... trying to capture something in the camera.It was too dark and hence difficult for the cameraperson (who else? saji!!). Am yet to check the snaps..Shall try to upload soon.

We then decided to walk back to the station and find some place to dine. Near the subway station we felt as though all roads lead to Rome!! We stepped towards where our legs took us to..To our surprise we found a street full of resta,urants..Hurray our enzymes were stirred by the aroma of the food. Saji wanted to introduce a new food to me. Searching that food, we settled in a resturant.

Kimchi Chigae -Kimchi Stew With Pork

Kimchi represents Korea's best known food. Koreans serve kimchi at almost every meal. It is any one of numerous traditional Korean pickled dishes made of vegetables with varied seasonings. Its most common manifestation is the spicy baechu (cabbage) variety. Malayaalattil paranjal pulicha cabbage!!

We were served with a hot pan of kimchi in the center of the table with the flames switched on. The kind lady who served us, requested to select the vegetables from the buffet arranged in the table near us. We went and picked up slices of pork, sprouts, garlic, vegetables, noodles (called as Ramiyon) and then korean rice.

We put all the ingredients into the Kimchi and it was boiling right in front of us. Saji served me from the pan and I started gobbling it out of hunger. Fotos will speak more, so wait for me until I upload them.

We reached the station around 9 and we had a chocolate, giving a finishing touch to the kimchi dinner..

Our next plan is Seoul Tower.. Coming Soon..