Well the one thing I'm not is a smoker! It's been five months smoke free. You might want to take a moment to give me a round of applause!! Being a non smoker is great and being a non smoker in Korea is even better but I have to say I've been tempted more than once whilst out here. A lot of people smoke in South Korea and I often can smell smoke from my flat and even when I walk outside. The last place I expected to smell cigarette smoke however was on ME!
Welcome to a world where the smoking ban is a mere memory....
To the left is the bar and to the right is the dance floor. It's very dark here and the music is very loud; you'll recognise a track or two and things aren't too different from home...except... Ouch! I can't believe that! Did you see that guy? I don't know which guy. The guy who just dropped his cigarette on my foot! To all those who said smoking should be brought back to pubs and clubs, I have a message for you: you're wrong! Once upon time I used to moan about going outside in the wet and the cold to spark one up but after waking up with a hangover and smelling the cigarette smoke clinging to my hair I can well and truly say the UK has the right idea!
Whilst I may have said goodbye to the demon weed, my addiction has been replaced by another, and I didn't see this one coming. I'd like to introduce you to Kimchi, the Korean national dish. Korean food deserves an entire blog on of it's own but for now I'll just wet your appetite. So, what is Kimchi?
Kimchi (kim-chee)
noun
A Korean dish made of cabbage that is salted, seasoned, and stored in sealed containers to undergo lactic acid fermentation.
That's right I'm going all gaa-gaa about rotting cabbage. Sexy.
I can honestly say the first time I tried it I choked on it I thought it was so bad, it is afterall very very spicy cabbage! And from then on it was just a social thing… Go on have a bit of Kimchi! And then before I knew it my chopsticks were poised for the minute the waitress placed that spicy goodness on the table. I'm not the only one mad on the stuff either. Ask my class if they'd rather have a visit from Santa Claus or a bowl full of Kimchi, I'm not convinced Santa would win. If you ever come to Korea beware the Kimchi, it's very moreish. My name is Toni Marshall and I am addicted to Kimchi!
Until next time!
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Spicey Cabbage? what madness! surely korea is bizzaro world!
ReplyDeleteAs a non-smoker i understood how good it felt to go to the pub or the club and not come back smelling like an ashtray, and speaking of accidental burnings, i have a scar on my ear from a cigarette in a busy club. Nuff' said!
Now I'm no medical doctor, but as I recall it lactic acid is the stuff that makes you walk like you've shat yourself as your muscles seize up because you've exercised too hard and not warmed dwon properly. And you put that shit in your mouth? Seesh!
ReplyDeleteBig lovin'
What, no more interesting blogs from the land far far away?
ReplyDelete