Okonomiyaki....Can I do it????

Tonight was a night of firsts. Well, honestly, only one first. It was the first time I attempted to make Japanese food...all by myself...with no Japanese people in the room...or even the same building. I decided to make one of my all time favorite things to eat, OKONOMIYAKI!!! This was quite risky because I don't want to put myself off anything that I normally enjoy when others prepare it.

So....what is Okonomiyaki???? According to Wikipedia, okonomiyaki is "is a pan-fried Japanese dish cooked with various ingredients. Okonomi means "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki means "grilled" or "cooked" (cf. yakitori and yakisoba); thus, the name of this dish means "cook what you like, the way you like". In Japan, okonomiyaki is usually associated with the Kansai or Hiroshima areas. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region."

Why would I make such a dish?? Well, it is a specialty of the Kansai region of Japan and more specifically, Osaka. My better half is from Osaka and she cooks a "mean" okonomiyaki. I've watched her make it and happily consumed it on many an occasion....now was the time to make it. Unfortunately it's not so easy to get all the proper ingrdients in a small Canadian town, but I got most of the things I needed!

Hmmm...the batter, cabbage, eggs, green onions and garlic all waiting to meet "Mr. Pan."

Sizzle my pretties...usually you put thinly sliced beef or pork on top...I figured bacon would do just fine!

Oh No!!!! Will it work out????

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Yes!!! Flipping them was a success. None of the bacon fell off!

All right! Not bad. Things worked out as well as I could manage....noting the lack of proper ingredients, know-how and skill!

Will I try to make okonomiyaki again??? I dunno...maybe I should wait for the experts to do it justice. BUT....it did work out ok...no one died in the process of preparing the meal or consuming it.

Nazis in Korea???

IO ifound this on The Marmot's Hole today. Scary and very weird stuff!

These pics were taken during a ceremony marking the formation of a group called the “3 legged Crow Youth Corps”. (FYI, the 3 legged crow was the symbol of Ancient Koguryo). If some wackos want to set up a nationalist group, well it’s their business, but do they have to use the same type of uniforms as the Nazis?



Here’s the YouTube video of the ceremony. At the last scene, the ajumma raises her hand and instructs the kids to follow her and say “Koguryo Manse!”, while the caption on the screen says “Don’t you mean, Heil Hitler!?”.

Again....I found this story on the Marmot's Hole....you can check it out for yourself.

Does an Octopus Have Testicles????

Recently, I spent some time in Osaka, Japan. Osaka is famous for a lot of things, but what Osaka people truly pride themselves on is their food. One specialty dish, created in Osaka ia Takoyaki (octopus balls). They actually aren't harversted from he nutsack of a poor little octopus. They are merely pieces of cooked octopus tentacle covered in a bread-like ball. Then sauce and bonita flakes are put on top....then you eat.

You can see me trying them for the first time.

Flying in or from Korea...frustrating at Best!

If you've ever flown domestically within Korea or your vacation and flying from Korea, you may notice that the passengers behave in ways unlike those anywhere else! Any form of airplane etiquette you may be used to adhereing to is thrown out the window. People yell and grab at flight attendants when they want something. Middle-aged me (called ajushi) burp and fart whenever they feel the need toremove gas from their bodies many people act like the airplane is their own private jet and do anything they want. Well, I just came across a Korea Times article attempting to correct this not-so-mannerly behaviour. Sooo...all those times I flew from Korea I wasn't imagining things!

Worst Behaviors and Etiquette on Plane

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

More than 11 million Koreans traveled overseas last year, about one out of every four people.

People are now well aware of the etiquette to be kept in the plane, but there are still passengers who make other travelers' trip unpleasant.

Here are the five worst behaviors on flights that cabin crew selected.

Seat hunters

Quite a few passengers walk up and down the aisles in search of vacant seats, as they want to stretch themselves out for a rest on a set of two or more seats.

However, sudden change of seats is against in-flight etiquette and can cause safety problems due to weight distribution in the plane.

Airlines distribute seats by calculating the aircraft's weight and balance at landing and takeoff. For example, if a passenger has a seat at the left front of the plane, the next passenger will get a seat at the right back of the plane.

Passengers need to use their designated seats, and should ask for the cabin crew's consent if they want to move.

The armrest is not footrest

Some passengers, tired of long flight, put their feet on the armrests of the seats in front of them. But for the person in that seat, there's nothing more unpleasant than to see someone's feet put on his or her armrest.

In the meantime, passengers in the front seats are required to straighten their seats back when in-flight meals are served, as those behind them have difficulty in eating because their tables are attached to the seats in front.

If the feet of the passenger in the back seat stink, the passenger in the front row may not straighten his or her seat when having in-flight meals as a small act of revenge.

Bare socks

Few passengers walk about on the plane barefoot. But many do in socks, without wearing their shoes.

However, it is true that it's not easy to wear shoes during the whole flight time that sometimes lasts more than 10 hours, as feet are easily swollen on the plane due to low air pressure.

It is okay to take off shoes, but it is recommended to wear overshoes or slippers that airlines provide.
Drunk flying

Korean passengers tend to drink the free alcohol on the plane excessively.

People get drunk more easily while flying because the air pressure is different, and the human body absorbs alcohol more easily in a plane where the humidity is low, as water in the body evaporates more.

Those drinking without considering this may disturb nearby passengers, and, if excessive, can be arrested and charged with air rage.

Although the cabin crew is instructed not to serve more than three glasses of alcohol successively, some honeymooners are already drunk when boarding the plane.

It's not ``eonni!''

Some passengers call stewardesses ``eonni,'' a Korean word used when a woman calls her elder sister or another woman who is older than her.

The word is now widely used when people call female workers at shops or restaurants, and even men use the term _ some of them do the same when calling flight attendants.

Some others call attendants ``imo,'' a word referring to a sister of one's mother but now also widely used when calling middle-aged female restaurant owners or workers.

Some even poke flight attendants in the ribs with their fingers or tap them on the shoulder or arms in order to call them. You'd better just press the call button.

You can see the original article here.

Korean Fan Death Strikes Again...a silent killer!

Well...as ludicrous as the concept of a floor or ceiling fan killing you while you sleep may seem, to 48 million or so Korean people, the threat of Fan Death is real. To the sane world, Fan Death may seem like an urban legend, but according to Korean news...it's happened again.

Korea’s silent killer strikes again
YTN (Korean) reports that a 48-year-old man was found dead on the floor of his rental room in Daegu in the early morning hours Wednesday.

His colleague who found the body noted the electric fan was running.

Police are still examining the exact cause of death, but they believe that in the absence of signs of an outside intruder, the man died because he fell asleep with his fan on.

Thanks to the Marmot's Hole for that one!

Remember...never sleep with that fan on. I may have slept with fans on for many years with the windows closed BUT, I was just lucky to tell the teal!

Korean Protest...ahhh..memories!

Dug this video footage up last night. Found it lurking deep within the confines of my laptop's hard drive. It's from May 2004. I was living in Ilsan, Korea when the political opponents of the then and current president, Roh Moo-hyun attempted to impeach him. At the time he was still popular amongst Koreans so hundreds of thousand hit the streets of Seoul protesting with candle-light vigils. I went into Seoul, Gwangwamun to be more specific with a few friends to check it out!



Oh yeah...now the people of Korea generally HATE the same president!

Cucumber-Flavoured Pepsi Anyone??

Ok...I no longer live in Korea, but will continue to occasionally write about it. I live in Canada at the moment, but this isn't an issue Canada has to deal with. My fiancee is from Japan though, so I feel the need and now have a reason to write about another country. All I can say is one thing;….”THIS IS WRONG!!!!!”

"Yes, you read the headline correctly: Pepsi is planning to release a special Ice Cucumber-flavored drink in Japan this summer. According to the official press release (in Japanese), the new drink flavor will hit stores across Japan on June 12th, but it will only be available for a limited time. Are you ready for the ultimate Pepsi experience?" ...Japan Probe

BTW...you'll notice it is now July 14th...which means it's now on sale!!!

If any of my friends in Seoul or Busan plan on a short trip to Japan in the near future or are going on a visa run, pick up a bottle. Let me know what it's like! I certainly wouldn't have the testicular fortitude to drink it!

Canada Day Blast From the Past

Last weekend I celebrated my first Canada Day in Canada in more than 5 years. That's right...5 years. That's a lot of national birthdays to miss. In the theme of birthdays, I came across a picture of me celebrating Canada Day during my first year living in South Korea, in 2002.


Canada Day in Seoul 2002...notice I'm wearing a Brazil shirt...I believe there was a Canadian flag pin on my collar!

Countryside Tour

I have an enemy. it's not a former student or a disgruntled neighbor. My enemy is boredom. After years of living in the heart of some large cities, Seoul and then Busan, South Korea, I find my self smack dab in the middle of rural Canada. I only have a few weeks left before I move to my new place in the city, but it's at times pretty tough attempting to successfully amuse myself.

Yesterday I hopped on my new wheels and headed towards the countryside..which is pretty much any direction...I chose East. Now, I'm pretty much in crap shape. I've been remedying that with lots of exercise, but I have a long way to go. I biked a little further than my current physical abilities could quite handle, but nontheless it was still cool.


"Bison...Holy Crap...Those are Bison!" That's what I was thinking as I cruised past a ranch. They also had a sign advertising Bison meat for sale. I had a buffalo burger years ago...I remember it being lean meat...quite tasty!


Yes..it's me...and I'm wearing my first helmet...I don't wear it in the house!



Barns...I distinctive clue that you may be in farm territory..I was. Ok...farms...whoopdeedo...well, if you've been living in the middle of an urban jungle for years where you have to get on the subway for 30 minutes just to see a tree or two...FARMS ARE COOL!!



Not at all like the gridlock of Seoul or Osaka...where the hell is everyone? I did meet one family who was cycling across Ontario for their summer vacation. (Obviously they had already passes...they were more fit than I).



Canada Geese..these guys are everywhere. They'll bend their necks and hiss at you when you get too close...I has no idea that geese hissed!



It's me again...playing with the timer on my camers. I have no idea what happened with this shot...I like it though.

A few more weeks in Cornwall, Ontario. As my legs get stronger, hopefully I'll get further and further into the outlying counties. It is certainly refreshing to get out on the roads and not be choking on the exhaust of traffic. It's also nice to do physical activity outside and be considered normal. For years whenever I would go running in Korea, I would almost stop traffic as everyone stared at me as if I were some sort of alien...exercise isn't a popular activity in Seoul.

Happy Canuck Day

Happy belated Canada Day to all Canadians out there and a happy preemptive Independence Day to all of those from south of the border. So...how was my first Canada Day in Canada in 5 years. It was ok. Nothing really spectacular since I am currently hangin out in a rather small town and really don't know people aside from family. I spent Canada Day bombin around some local bike trails on my new set of wheels, eating bbq and winding up the evening by consuming beer at a cousin's house. Not bad at all, but not the debacle I experienced last year in Busan at a little establishement known as Starface...that was a scary, booze-fueled Canadian-expat mess if I ever did see one.

That is to be expected though. In Seoul there is the Canada Day in Seoul bash thrown by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea. That is a hoot if you're into playing tug-of-war and beer chugging relays with 2500 other Canadian English teachers. I did it in 2002 and have to admit that it was fun, but had no desire to go back in and do it again. In Busan, South Korea, things aren't quite so organized. Basically, everyone goes to an expat bar in Haeundae known as Starface...wearing their finest Canadian garb of course, and get absolutely smashed. I'm sure Canadians across the globe yesterday were crammed in expat pubs and clubs, waxing patriotic over the local suds...good for them! Happy Canada Day!

I just put together a video I took earlier this year while living in Korea. It's of Daeborum, which is the first full moon of the lunar year. It is traditionally a big event in Korea and often marked with huge bonfires. The one in Busan is held on haeundae Beach. It was a really rainy night, but the fire was still held. Check it out below.