..................................................................................There is a delicacy here in South Korea, a culinary adventure for the strong willed and slightly savage, it is sannakchi, otherwise known as a baby octopus, thats still alive! The four of us, Angela and Mike, who I had met in Thailand, and Mike's girl friend Mija and myself sat down on the floor for our meal. Mija had called ahead the night before to make sure we could get a fresh octopus that night, as well as to pre-order our entire feast! So they just kept coming with the plates.
At last, it was time. A rather large plate is placed before my eyes, and nothing seemed amiss, at first. Then the movement is perceived, writhing there in a mound of slime were the tentacles of the beast, blindly searching, crawling, latching onto what ever they came into contact with utilizing their surprisingly strong suckers. I exclaimed, "Good God, it's alive, ALIVE!" Then we dug in. Check out the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyBKKYFVzPc
I had a great time hanging out with my air force buddy's out at Osan Air force Base, about an hour outside of Seoul. Besides the strange food, the highlight was hanging out in a city park with what seemed like half the retired community of Seoul. Angela and I were immediately invited to partake of the makkoli, a milky rice whisky that is the traditional drink of Korea, and is making quite the comeback by the way, and soju (rice whisky). We also were very graciously offered food, anything from sushi to jelly donuts, and finally, we were encouraged to join in on some karaoke! I sang a rousing rendition of "Beat it", which garnered blank stares of confusion and bewilderment, followed by a strong effort at "love me love me" by the Cardigans performed by one Angela. She brought the house down, I've never seen such spontaneous joyous dancing, except maybe that scene from "The Blues Brothers" when Reverend James Brown kicks it proper like. Next was one of our drinking buddies, who kind of serenaded my companion (all these old guys were VERY interested to learn we were just friends). A series of gentlemen waltzed with her while I took pictures, that was until I felt inclined to cut in and save her. This action resulted in us being escorted off the premises fairly abruptly! Guess I must have insulted someone.
Other highlights were a weekend trip to Jeju Island with Mike and Mija where we trekked up a volcano and played at miniature world, eating kalbi - Korean style bar-b-q that you cook at your table, eating tons of kimchi and dichon (served at every meal), eating pondegi - silk worm larva, , and getting a tour of the runway at the base, which would describe if it weren't top secret.
On the whole, I had a great time there and was glad I stopped by on my way to China.
