Tuesday, November 30, 2010

김밥 천 국 중계점 (kim bop chun kuk)

So there's this 김밥 place across the street from my place that is (!!!!!) 24 hours, and on my super early wanderings home, I've found myself here getting some cheap eats that are with fresh veggies, Great portions, and a personal staff....they are called 김밥천국중계점 (kim bap chun kuk) I think there are several, but the one by me is full of great people and yummy fresh ingredients!!

I tend to go with the easy staple for every vegan in Korea, 야챼비빔밥, vegetable bibimbap, niente on the egg....
look at all the veggies! yummm~pre-mix
photo taken by VeganBeats
post mix
photo taken by VeganBeats
Everything is very well priced, this HUGE portion is 4,000W (about 3.75 US) and more than filling.
Early mornings or late nights seem to favor this place....

to Get here, it is a tad complicated, but the one in Jungyye, get out exit 2 from Jungyye station, take the bus 1135 to Eunhangsaagudee, it's across the crosswalk from KB bank, and across from Dunkin Donuts*!~

They have all sorts of stuff too*!~

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Saturday Snuggling*!~

Spent my Saturday snuggling with my girly...Hamlet*!~

Friday wiped me out and I didn't get much sleep..had a long night...physically, mentally, emotionally, etc etc so a day with the girl was so...perfect. Lots of napping together, reading, talking...
squeling away
photo taken by VeganBeats
 She's getting so much more social, she was squeling miles a minute...it's great to hear her so much happier and more social...she used to be really skittish but she's breaking out of her shell!!
pretty girl
photo taken by VeganBeats

photo taken by VeganBeats
Lazy snuggly Saturdays....love*!~

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Don't forget the Great Weekend....all smiles*!~ still....

T_T  It's been so long since I've last posted...so many issues this week...but none to let me lose sight of an AWESOME weekend...(I'm loving that the greatness of weekends is not getting old, and instead is a silver lined singing glowing glimmering consistency....knock on wood**)

Let's start with Friday...Midnight shopping happened in 동대문 with Jaxs, Patricia, Brian, and Meeyun. Haven't kicked it with Brian in a while, OR with Patricia so it was super nice to kick it with them and catch up.

The markets were filled with people and I set a goal for myself ot NOT spend any more money...so lots of window wander shopping for a couple hours...Brian had to get up early so left and the ladies and I went to 홍대 around 4am! We met up with Stephanie there, another wonderful fabulous Seoul*!~

We wandered the streets for a while and checked out a couple new clubs (new phbbbt), I forgot what the ones we went to were called.

Went to a HOF and got some persimmon soju...yumm*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
It was super sweet, but so yummy ㅎㅎㅎ ended up getting another sojut o mix with this pitcher...only 8,000W!!!
At HOF's you have to order food, and they're rarely vegan but do come up with vegetarian possibilities, so Meeyun and Jaxs got this bad ass boat of fruit, ice cream and blueberry sauce....

aparently the icecream was "super good vanilla" ...why are you not soy green tea ice cream?!!!
photo taken by VeganBeats

The fruit was beautiful, and smelt wonderful....but it was a bit pricey...about 18,000W!!! I thoroughly enjoyed my persimmon soju though*!~
cheers to Soju*!~
photo taken by VeganBeats
So I ended up discovering some more places in 홍대 super early Saturday morning...and spent the day napping at Jaxs*!~

Around noon we met up with fellow Vegan George and galavanted around Gangnam to find some eats...we stumbled into about four places that just didn't understand Veganism...or veggies only please and found Sinpo Woori Mandoo! They had english on their menu and suprisingly a lot of Vegan and Veggie options*!~

Sinpo Woori Mandoo menu
photo by VeganBeats
George got the bibim-myun, which is bascially bibimbap with noodles as opposed to the rice fix...The noodles were thick buckwheat udon noodles, and the ingredients looked really fresh. I loved the mountain of veggies*!~
pre-mix, look at those veggies*!~ nom nom nom
photo taken by VeganBeats
 ...I love all the gochujang on this, and it looks so colorful and vibrant...I'm not a noodle girl, but I tried some of the veggies and they were crisp, fresh, and had a great snap to them!!! chyea*!~
post mix...(O:
photo taken by VeganBeats
I can't find a link to this place, but turns out through researching it is a chain place...I would def check this place out again, and maybe this time I'll be hungry.
I met up with my fam later at a Chinese place and needless to say I got pretty sick after...and the pics of the food are not what I want ot brag about at all....nothing like the Chinese glory I was spoiled with when I went last year...sigh::: China......

Anyways, after dinner with the family I kicked it back home to Junggye and then went back to 홍대, and to Gorilla!! I know I go often, but I do love it there...the beautiful Seouls*!~
A night of 진 mix drinks and kicking it with my ladies, Patricia, Jaxs, and Stephanie....lots of dancing, laughing, drinking (ai ai ai) and kicking it with good people.
Sunday I spent most of the day with a friend, walking around laughing and smiling....I'm loving my weekend...and so glad that it's Thursday...

The stress of my work is making the weekends so essential for my mental and emotional balance....

Thursday night...plans with the Jaxs, and then maybe...my go to again*!~


Friday, November 19, 2010

whine*!~

In such a funk, and didn't think it would happen here, or that these negativities would so powerfully enter my state of being....

of course...I'm just sounding emo.

it might be all of these haircuts getting to me. ㅎㅎㅎ

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Finding new places, kicking it with good Seouls....another speedy weekend*!~

Another great and super speedy weekend....
I spent all of Saturday with my mom and it was GREAT ㅎㅎ We went to Gangnam first and met with some people and got treated to an AWESOME restuarant called Seven Springs. It's super green and all about organic and local, which was so great. The salad bar was spectacular....my vegan self was literally wiggling in excitment! There were sprouts, tons of lettuce greens (!!!!!!!!!!!!), beets (!!!), broccoli, cauliflour, asparagus, tons of olives, sweet pumpkin, lotus root, banchans, mmuk, etc etc etc...I love me some fresh organic veggies...
nom nom salad....
photo taken by VeganBeats
 I put a bunch of 거추장 on my salad....so basically I made bibimbop without rice...chyea!
They also had a coffee bar (had like 8 espressos), a beautiful dessert bar, nothing vegan but I can appreciate. Green tea chocolate chip cookies, green tea almond cake, red bean cookies, carrot cake, etc...they also had a pasta bar, seafood fiogoli, soybean alfredo, and a homemade sausage pasta...lots of things...
Turns out there's  a bunch of Seven Springs throughout Seoul...one in HONGDAE!!!

hmmm

After nomming with the mom we went to Dongdaemon and shopped around, caught up and were just girls together, it was really nice. I haven't been able to spend as much time with my mom as I would like...work so much )O: But I really appreciated this time with her. Seeing her home, where she grew up and seeing her glow with rememberance for some of these places is...beautiful!
We then went to Myeoungdong, a place where she used to go all the time as a young woman. She said she used to escape stress and pressures by wandering through this market, guess when my dad and her got married they shared a lot of dates here....(O:
     After a whole day of playing, walking, shopping and girling out, we parted ways and I met up with Stephanie...Hongdae again! Threw on a new outfit and met up with the ladies for a night out...once again, I cannot stress the love of my ladies!
     Stephanie, Jaxs, Myeon, Christine and I wandered into a HOF and got some makali...a couple bottles of it and kicked it ladies style. Our friends Ju-hee and Seoungeun met up with us later and then we scampered over to Gorilla. Another night of dancing, kicking it, and having fun....

again....the lack of sleep continues*!~

ㅎㅎㅎ when Stephanie and I woke up we played around Wangsimni a bit and found a teeny restaurant and I got some vegan soondubu  and she got some kimchi jiggae....

nothing like hot spicey soup to cure any and everything
kimchi jigae up top, banchan, then my soondubu
photo taken by VeganBeats

nommmmm
photo taken by VeganBeats
After filling our bellies with yummy spiceyness I got a personal tour of the Emart in Wangsimni....whoa ^^ overwhelming. Walmart has nothing on this place...it's MASSIVE first off and has just about anything you need, from brooms, to oranges, to lizards...and GIANT beatles.

Anyways, great weekend, great eats....and always, wonderful Seouls in my life....

Friday, November 12, 2010

Bau cafe, exploring...my basement

     Friday!! You're here, you're finally here, I've been waiting for so long....
This week has been...another strenuous one. Dealing with the internal battles and other issues external to my body and self, I've just been drained, and not sleeping....(this pattern again?)

     Anyways, have had a hell of a lot of highlights speckled between though...I always make sure to organize situations where highlights and positivitites are at a high potential...
     I've been to Hongdae about three times this week...often enough that I don't quit remember what exactly or where exactly I was prior to going...(if that makes any sense...)
     One of the times I went (maybe Wednesday) I checked out the Bau House. Stephanie has been going often and saying such great things about it, I HAD to go, and of course who else would I go with but the Amazing lady herself!! Bau House is a cafe that has dosens of puppies and dogs of all sizes and breeds roaming around. You can buy treats to feed the dogs and they all wander around freely in this large room, walking on tables, snuggling up to you on the couches, or laying beneath you while you sip on some tea. It was exactly where I wanted to be...there's something about happy animals that, no matter the stresses and unhappiness, you are understood and free to breathe and, everything just loosens up....
Here are some of the gorgeous canines!!!
beautiful
photo by VeganBeats
GIANT sleepy Husky
photo taken by VeganBeats
my favorite pup, kept hanging out with me!
photo taken by VeganBeats
     Stephanie and I chilled there for a coupld hours and just chatted and...relaxed. We both have had our fair share of stuff going on lately, again, I love girlfriends....so much*!~
     Bau House is really dog friendly, you're actually encouraged to bring you four-legged friends with you, the drinks are a tad steep (my green tea was 5,000W) butexperience is worth it. I'll post the directions later...CHECK THIS CAFE OUT*!~
     After Bau, Stephanie and I wandered and explored some of Hongdae...and found that there are TONS of HOF bars that serve...meat...went home late, didn't sleep, work...
     I went to Hongdae last night also, after a day of stress and....baaarrrrgghhhhhh!!! Had to move into a new place last night, but not until 7:30 pm. I couldn't get the key to my new place until late at night, so I was just stressing about moving everything so late, when I could have moved so much early in the am and during my break. I also didn't get notified that I had to pay a bunch of stuff for my old place in order to get into my new place....I found out at 4. So in between classes I sprinted around, go tthat stuff done, zipped in just in time to teach my other classes, then peaced home with my coworkers and started the moving process. The mover was...hilarious, at least I thought so. He was in his forties (maybe) built like a line backer, wearing a jean and leather jacket and a baller cap, he lost his tape (I took it accidentally) and he started cursing left and right about this tape, nearly dropped something on my boss/coworker, and....it was just...a tad hectic. Amy helped, so did M.K, then Stephanie and Jaxs came over, then two more bosses came over...this new place is teeny, but I'm liking it better so far. BUT, the tenant that lived here before me left a bunch of stuff here..so I feel like I'm living in suitcases and boxes....
     Anyways, after the work team peaced, it was just Jaxs, Stephanie and I...I love these women. We just kicked it, laughed and...just the sense of balance. I was so overwhelmed and stressed out and feeling so tense, but with just these ladies, I felt calm....like I was in a trance electro bar and then the music turns into mellow acoustics, Mastadon to Jeff Buckley.

     We went to Hongdae (two days in a row killa) and I met up with a buddy for a bit (O; ㅎㅎㅎ then went to Cheers (a HOF) bar and we got some peach soju...ONLY 4,000W (about $4 for a pitcher) and this stuff was so yummy, and hit the spot. It was sweet, went down easily, wasn't too strong, and tasty. I don't like peaches (yech) but with soju...mamma bear isn't complaining (O;

     Now it's today, a long day at work, so exhausted all day...and have a long day ahead...but before passing out (I plan on doing so super soon) I explored my apartment building and in my basement is a whole bunch of things!!! There's a library, driving range (serious), a PC bar/arcade (ish), a craft store, and everything store, and two restuarants...I played there for a bit, and got myself some eats before resuming apartment cleaning. I explained my lifestyle in the amount of Korean I could yap out (mot mog-goy-yo gogi, gearan, sangsun, etc etc etc) and they made me some soon dubu (순두부)  without oyster, fish broth, fish cakes, or clams...totally vegan! The lady even motioned me over to show me how she was making it...!!!
순두부
photo taken by VeganBeats
It was piping hot when I got it and full of mushrooms, chives, scallions, and lots of tofu...really hit the spot! Spice spice spice!!!
There was a lot of banchan available too, most were vegan too!! I asked (O;
from left to right, gochujang 고추장, cabbage kimchi, fried ham, spicey tofu, squash, fried fish skin, greens cabbage kimchi, seaweed/kelp salad, my 순둡부, and 밥
photo taken by VeganBeats
Obviously avoided the non vegan jams...asked about the kimchi, they said no fish, no anchovies, no shrimp...(O;
close up of the banchan, bottom left, cabbage kimchi, fried ham, squash, spicey tofu, fish skin, greens cabbage kimchi, and the seaweed salad
photo taken by VeganBeats
I resumed my evening in my new place, dusting, unpacking and attempting to organize as much as I can without getting upset about all this clutter...must relax, must breath.

Ah a super highlight of this week is I've been writing again, and much more often. Busting out a notebook ont he subway is great, but I've missed some stops because I'm getting rather into it....must get started ont hat project of mine....

anyways~

currently sipping on some chamomile tea and asking, allowing restful eyes to fall upon me...

Hopefully this weekend will last, and I'll be able to savor every second...

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Children's Park*!~

Today was a fireldtrip to Children's park with my kids!!!
IT was absolutely freezing today, and to top it off, my gas AND heat were shut off...coldest and fastest shower possible....anyways, with damp hair and stone cold grating chattering teeth, wandered to work and an hour ride in a van with cqqueling kids...Children's Park, hello!
I love these kids, all bundled up and full of energy and giggling all the time!!!
my kids*!~
photo by VeganBeats
Ren (Baby) LOVES Pororo!!
photo by VeganBeats
Hailey and Lynn, besties*!~
photo by VeganBeats
for being full of giant cartoon sculptures, qaesthetically pleasing eh!
photo by VeganBeats
Allyson and Eileen
photo by VeganBeats
Hailey and Lynn
photo by VeganBeats
Esther and Jessica
photo by VeganBeats
Ren (Baby) and Shawn...he looks so pleased
photo by VeganBeats
 The whole day was chilly and fun, lots of playing, screaming, running around and a final photo shoot with the cartoons characters....I felt like an annoying parent..."c'mon kids, smile for the camera...say cheese...c'mon, Shawn get closer, Allyson smile, Jessica look here..." eieie
Mashimaro den
photo by VeganBeats
Baby!!
photo by VeganBeats
photo by VeganBeats
final picture until sprinting outside!
photo by VeganBeats

Monday, November 8, 2010

internal thoughts....sleepy pig*!~

     Mondays...beginning of the week, confirmation that the past weekend did in fact come to a close...I wish I could have stayed in bed all day yesterday....(O;
     Today was similar to others..but a wonderful person left my work today, will miss you!!
  The usual hour by hour classes, routines and...today went by quickly but I just feel a bit off balance. Not negatively, just a bit of a teeter totter. At the moment I'm coloring big pictures of animals for an open class tomorrow, I'm more anxious about it than excited...nervous because I want to do a great job but...can't wait for it to be over. This week is going to be a bit of a tough one. I have to move into a new apartment on Thursday, and will be working all day until 7pm so can't really do anything until after 7. Stephanie and some coworkers (awesome awesome Seouls) will be helping me, but I haven't really started packing up my stuff because I've been working and stressing over other things...family, money, work..etc etc etc.
     And I still find myself in my head, in that space of negativity sometimes...I never sit in it for too long, I feel that it itself feels unwelcome in Seoul...like I've brought all my emotions and parts with me on a trip and it was the only one without an invitation....like the kid in class that was the only one to not get a Valentine card. Pretend to be proud and unaffected, but more than upset...fighting back tears, behind an angry scowling expression.
     Anyways, I can feel it leaking in, overhearing conversations, trying to wheedle itself into my life and thoughts...desperate desire for influence. I've worked too hard, done too much in my life to easily allow it to have such a hold and so much power on me...

Been doing a lot of dissociating, along with a lot of work...thinking as always, something I do too much of....

Happier notes....Hamlet was sleepy today and chirping away...head shots*!~
sleepy pig
photo taken by VeganBeats



Mom day, weekend...where did you go?

     This weekend FLEW by, before it started, it was over...
   So I'm realizing that MOFO is vegan month of food...and I'm kind of negelecting that, and have been for a bit...eeep*!~ ㅎㅎ
     This week I made some mmuk salad...there's an actual dish, (the one wls and I had) that I tried to make...lettuce, cabbage, onion, hot pepper and cucumber...yumm!! For some extra zap, I added some kimchi juice to it*!~
mmuk!!!
photo by VeganBeats
    This Saturday was Mom day!!
My mom is visiting Korea for a couple weeks and on top of my schedule and hers we were finally able to spend a day together...we met in the am at Anguk station and wandered a lot...taking pictures and sipping coffee, not to mention the day was GORGEOUS*!~
more pretty restaraunt area
photo taken by VeganBeats


more
photo taken by VeganBeats
Mom insisted we get a photo of me...lady in black*!~
dressed as dark as possible...I wish I wore some color in front of this area, it's so cute
photo taken by VeganBeats
   We stumbled into a cute bakery..nothing was vegan but everything looked so yummy! The smell was amazing, fresh baked sweet tarts and pies mixed with the salty yeasty breads, I don't like carbs but...if I did and wasn't living this lifestyle, I would have splurged!
close-up of the breads...I wish I could post the smell!
photo taken by VeganBeats
      And the cakes!! These were gorgeous, they all looked so delicate and...just cute!
photo taken by VeganBeats
    We wandered around and found the library...this is what's in front of the library!! Gorgeous! I would read here all day, and sleep under the trees, hear the water...my body hurts from how cute and tranquil this all looks!
photo taken by VeganBeats
also in front of the library
photo taken by VeganBeats
more in front of the library
photo taken by VeganBeats
 After a while we wandered through the more tourist-y part, as always tons of people wandering around, pushing, shoving, shopping...
I think that's a GIANT sugary ddoek!
photo taken by VeganBeats

    We eventually decided to walk to Dongdaemon market...we walked by the water and there was a lantern festival going on, I didn't take any pics of the lanterns...but this is my mom and I!
    Met up with my emo and Stephanie at Dongdaemon and bought some more stuff!!!ㅎㅎ I got a new jacket...punky cute and...Ahh I love it and a tank and new boots!!!
The crew and I had plans to go to Hongdae aand my plan was to go home change then meet up and wander to Hongdae, but it was getting late so...bought a new outfit at Dongdaemon (lame..yes, practical, yes.) I got two new jeans and a tank top...Stephanie and I parted ways with my mom and myemo, they had a sister date! And Stephanie and I went back to her place and got ready. I hadn't been home since 9 am!!!
     Anyways, another weekend in Hongdae! I really do love kicking it there...lots of things to do, lots of people, lots of bars, lots of clubs...I've never been a clubber or a bar person, but with a good crew, good Seouls, always fun and always a blast!
Stephanie and I bumped into Caroline and Liam, then went to Bau house...but it was closed )O:
     Bau house is a cafe with TONS of puppies and dogs just chillen. The owner has a bunch of dogs and they just wander int his cafe, you can buy treats and play with them...ahhh next time!
     We then wandered around just chillen and grabbed a coffee and talked.
I can't say it enough how much I LOVE girlfriends, the grounding and Seoul sisterhood...Stephanie, my heart sends more love than you imagine!
     Met up with Jaxs and Diane and met the rest of the crew at HO bar 2, different bar for a change....ehhh
     Then went to a club and listened to a cover band!! LOVED it, the band did some train and I listened to some Foo Fighters!!! I had a bit to drink and...well it doesn't matter, I LOVE the Foo Fighters...and since Ho bar I was pumped, and ready to dance!!
Stephanie and I went to papa Gorilla and as always, a wonderful evening! I love the crew there, it was great to kick it with them and it's such a fun environment. I mean I could definately do without the creepers but I love my friends there. (O:
     ~~The Gorilla crew works so much, I wish they didn't have to work weekends )O:
Anyways...in the morning I wandered to Veggie Holic (found out about it because of Alien's Day Out!!!
And this is the bounty I came home with
photo taken by VeganBeats
sweet potatoe bread
photo taken by VeganBeats
sweet roll
photo taken by VeganBeats
sweet pea filled cake (?)
photo taken by VeganBeats
An INSANE pastry..it was like a red bean filled and sweet pea filled jelly sandwich!
photo taken by VeganBeats
rasberry pastry!
photo taken by VeganBeats
another sweet pea pastry
photo taken by VeganBeats
Two different breads! The one on the left is black rasberry bread and on the right is sweet pumpkin!
photo taken by VeganBeats
     Not a bread girl, or dessert girl, but vegan baked goods, c'mon, and I was in Hongdae already, just got paid...ei ei ei

Anyways, just got home, took a hot shower....another week begins...

weekend, where did you go?