Tag Archives: Fall

Mt. Seorak

After a weekend of scuba diving, Mr. B surprised me with a night/day away taking in the beautiful sights of Seoraksan. This has been a destination on my list of places to see before we’d ever leave Korea. Seoraksan is the third highest mountain in South Korea, perhaps one of the most picturesque too. The highest peak of the mountain reaches 5,603 feet! We didn’t quite make it that far, almost! No way, just kidding. Unfortunately we bees don’t have the billy goat gene in us.

We took a chance on the Mt. Seoraksan Tourist Hotel. The location is right inside of the national park. You literately walk out the lobby door and straight onto any hike you’d like. It was perfect! We lucked out and were able to grab a room too. The cost was 50,000 Won a person. Ohh but the views, wait until you see what we got to lay in bed and admire in the morning. We recommend the hotel and plan on staying there again if we go back.

As the sun set over the park, I kept thinking how much this place reminded me of a Harry Potter movie. I don’t know if it was the darkness settling in for the night, with all of the large overhanging trees? Whatever the case the feeling of being at Hogwarts. I know I am being silly, but it was just so much fun!

The next morning we woke up grabbed a small bite to eat at the hotel’s coffee shop. Fresh homemade yogurt. YUM!

And we were off!

First stop was to take the cable car up the side of the mountain.

We all piled into this bright yellow car….

HAHA! No just kidding again..

You could hardly tell that you were in a cable car. The ride was smooth. I wasn’t sure what i’d think or how i’d take it going so high. But, I loved every minute of it. Even after Mr. B read the sign before getting onto the car that said, “If the weather changed while we were at the top we’d be responsible for ourselves to get back down”. Now that leaves one feeling confident about their decision to board the car, right?

Once we got to the top we were just in total awe. This mountain was a total refresher to the soul. Some of the tree tops were starting to turn vibrant reds and you could see the ocean and the city of Sokcho glisten out into the distance. I could have stayed up there for days daydreaming about the views.

After the observatory area at the cable car, we followed a path that took you up into the side of the mountain. Unsure of what we were to find but very eager for the adventure.

Once we got to the end of the path, we found ourselves on the side of a mountain peak. The only real place to go was up. So up is where we went. We straddled some serious rocks along the way up. My knees were shaking, Mr. B kept telling me, “three points of contact”. One, two, three, kept going over and over in my mind.

We made it! We survived the climb at Mt. Seorak!

Of course we expected to find this at the top of the steep climb!

Too funny! How about a personal engraved souvenir? You’ve got to appreciate the Korean way of life.

So how about those hiking outfits? This is serious business dressing the part. They even carry ski pole looking walking sticks. Just watch you don’t accidently get stabbed by one. Next time we hike Soyo mountain near our place I think we need a fun colorful outfit too. What do you say Mr. B?

I don’t think I can even put into words the view from that climb. I will continue to try..

Nope.. I still can’t. Just look at the photos and imagine endless blue sky.

Secretly I kept trying to postpone the climb back down. I knew it was going to involve a lot of butt sliding and rope gripping. Thankfully with a wish and a few prayers we made it safely back down.

After the hike back down, I said to Mr. B, the one thing I love so much about Korea is that you get to experience these amazingly awesome things like that trechorous climb. The cliffs and trails are not all fenced up, there are no forms or waivers that you must sign your life away on due to the unsafe risks involved. No, for the most part, there are no railings. Just remember three points of contact and you will be fine.

After the cable car ride down we strolled around a bit, ate lunch and got back on the road.

What an amazing place!

Until we meet again Mt. Seorak.

Sincerely,


Grab the map coordinates here

Follow

Today we woke up at 4AM so that we could get everything together and be out the door for the East Coast. Well, I’m not quite what you would call a morning person. I move…mmmm… what’s another word for slow? Snail speed, ah yes! Lets go with that.

I’ll be the first to admit, I was the cause of our lateness today. Oops..sorry Mr. B.

Once we got to the Rest stop to meet up with our group, I decided on my first ever grown up drink. Coffee! What were you thinking? Again, much to early for anything else. I ordered a Carmel macchiato. I have had a few sips here or there from the coffee aficionado, Mr. B, but never my own full cup. Growing up my family never enjoyed or appreciated a good cup of joe. The fresh brew just wasn’t part of our morning routines. I always thought of coffee as the crazy man’s drink. You drink it, you get hooked, you can’t function in the morning without it, repeat routine. I assume this is why I too never got excited for the stuff. Well, whatever the case, today marked an adult milestone for me. Did I cross over? Does this mean, I too am finally a “grown up”? Look out Mr. B!

We got back on the road fairly quick and departed for the coast.

Once we arrived, Mr. B set up his scuba gear, while I parked it on a beachfront park bench and Skyped with my grandparents.

 

Afterwards, I followed my bliss…

If you couldn’t guess…my bliss involves my two feet on land and my camera.

 

Hope you had a blissful Saturday afternoon too!

Rye

Sometimes I feel like the most simplest ingredients from your own kitchen are the best.

There is nothing like warm toasted rye bread with a little spinach, swiss, tomato, and turkey.

A side of celery with peanut butter and raisins. I like to believe its the more adult version of ants on a log.

He-He-He

Sip it all down with some bubbly. Sparkling water silly!

Happy Monday!

Wink and a Smile

“Well, you can’t have a dream
And cut it to fit
But when I saw you, I knew
We’d go together
Like a wink and a smile.”

Oh Ms. Bean, you are a riot!

We have purchased you numerous kitty beds, and yet you still insist on the comforts of a box.

Last night Mr. B could hardly contain himself, he walked into our bedroom and burst out laughing. I was snuggled under the covers already for bed, and there was Ms. Bean in her box already for bed too.

He said, “you two belong together.”

He’s right, we belong together like a wink and a smile 😉

Oh silly Bean! You brighten our world!

What Fall Looks Like in South Korea

Dear friends,

Isn’t Fall so enchanting? there is just something about fresh apples, pumpkins, the colorful mums, the fog around the mountain peaks in the distance when driving to work in the morning, breaking out my cardigans, getting to see the leaves change, feel the difference in the weather, cooking big batches of soup, sip on something pumpkiny or cinnamony, Charlie Brown, scarves, boots with knee socks, snuggling in my comfy goose down comforter to watch my favorite movie with one of the large living-room windows open in the evening, the fact the moon comes much earlier and shines so brightly.

I love reminiscing about my childhood in the fall. The simple days of scooping up a huge pile of crisp colorful leaves when they would fall, and jumping in them. If we were home right this very second I know what Mr. B and I would be doing, why going to the Bloomsburg Fair of course. I’d also be finding reasons to make multiple trips to Starbucks to get my hands on their sweet treats and autumn drinks. Unfortunately the Korea Starbucks do not serve either in recognition of fall. 🙁 (Currently open and willingly accepting donations) he-he-he! Just kidding, we will survive.

AH! Everything about Fall screams comfort to me. I just cannot get enough of it.

What’s your favorite season? The older I get, I realize more and more how much I enjoy getting to see the seasons change. I was so blessed to have the opportunity to grow up on the North East coast where I’d see and experience these magical changes every year.

Spiderman

“Spiderman, Spiderman, does whatever a spider can.”

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Do you remember that theme song?

The tune instantly popped into my head one evening after arriving home from work this week.

I had just hung up my coat in our entry way and slipped off my shoes when I heard tapping at the living room window.

I poked my head out around the corner, saw a man hanging from a rope, AKA Spiderman. He motioning for me to open the window. Eek! I hurried and opened the window, he motioned with his hands to slide the one screen to the right for him so he could get at the window to clean it.

I did.

Closed the window back up.

Spiderman quickly washed each window and dropped out of sight just as fast as he had arrived.

Peace

Good Morning,

The weekend has been very quaint and quiet. Very peaceful. I made sugar and cinnamon roasted mixed nuts, twice (EEk!) oOOOoh but the house smelled so divine! Celebrated a good friends 30th (surprise) birthday. I sipped hot tea, enjoyed the morning sunlight peering into the windows with Bean, and took Velma out for a spin among the marshmallow-clouded sky. Perfect in my book!

Hope you all had quaint and quiet ones too.

 

Sugar & Cinnamon Roasted Mixed Nuts

Ingredients:

1 Tsp Cinnamon

3 Tbsp Sugar -or- Splenda

1 Cup Mixed nuts

1 1/2 Tbsp Melted coconut oil (Or, if you are not a fan of coconut oil try grape-seed)

Lets get cooking!

Preheat your oven to 325F or 160/170C. In a mixing bowl, mix all of your ingredients except for your mixed nuts. Once all mixed, toss in your mixed nuts, combine. Spread nuts in a single layer on foil or parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Roast 15-20 minutes or until lightly toasted and you see your desired level of brownness. (Be careful! The sugar can have a tendency to burn if you let it go to long). You may lightly dust the final product once you take out of the oven if you desire.

For fun you can try adding in a pinch of brown sugar, or a pinch of nutmeg, even shredded coconut flakes are fun too! (Say’s the girl who despised coconut growing up)

Don’t say I didn’t warn you when your house is smelling incredibly sumptuous after about 5 minutes of these little gems roasting in your oven.

Enjoy!

Souper-Sunday

We cut our weekend trip short due to homework and the new typhoon that’s threatening the Korean coastline again. The bright side of it all is, we made record time getting home, dealt with little to no traffic on the roads, we enjoyed sushi for lunch, and I was able to make a big ol’ pot of  copy cat Olive Garden  Pasta e Fagioli Soup and bread sticks. perfect meal for this very mild September Sunday. (Enter happy tummy dance now!)

Dont worry, I’ll share! I think your going to love it! I’ve adapted some online recipes/Pins to our own little concoction, Mr. B approved!

Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Makes plenty to enjoy and share too!

INGREDIENTS:

1lb ground turkey

1 small onion, chopped

A handful of baby carrots, or one large carrot, chopped, whatever you have on hand works

2 tall stalks celery, chopped

2 minced garlic cloves

28oz can crushed tomatoes

15oz can tomato sauce

15 oz can of vegetable broth

15oz can beef broth

15oz can light red kidney beans (include liquid)

15oz can great northern beans (include liquid)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

The  rind off of a nice chuck of Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cup ditalini pasta

Lets get cooking!

Start by browning our ground turkey in a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Cook until meat is no longer pink. Next add in your onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, feel free to season with salt & pepper. Sauté for 10 minutes, stir the mixture occasionally. Now, add in everything left, but the pasta. Simmer for 1 hour stirring occasionally as needed.

When the soup has 15 minutes left to simmer, start cooking your pasta, it’s better for it to be a bit under cooked too. Once done, drain water out and add to your soup and simmer for another 10 more minutes.

Next, on to the breadsticks!

Copycat Olive Garden Bread-sticks

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups warm water

1 packet active dry yeast

4 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 Tbsp. Melted unsalted butter

2 Tbsp. White Sugar

1 Tbsp. Salt

Let’s get cooking!

In a bowl, dissolve the sugar & yeast in warm water, let it sit for 10 minutes, covered. Mixture will be frothy.

In separate bowl, combine the flour and salt. Pour in the yeast mixture. Add the melted butter. Mix all the ingredients with paddle, hook, or by hand.

Next, knead dough until dough is smooth. Watch out not to over-knead!

Spray cookie sheet. Pull apart dough and shape into your bread-stick strips. Cover dough and let sit in a warm place for about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F or 200C, once heated, pop those prepared bread-sticks in the oven.

While bread-sticks are baking, microwave a stick of unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons garlic powder and 1 teaspoons salt.

After bread sticks have cooked for 6 or 7 minutes, brush the bread sticks with half the butter mixture. Then continue to bake. Bake for 5-8 more minutes.

Once you remove bread from the oven, gently turn over the bread-sticks and brush with butter mixture.

Freshly baked bread, the aroma, sooo nice!

The Sand, Sea, and Cool Ocean Breeze

I’m starting to realize now why people take photos of landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, etc. They take that photo because they are worried they may never see or get to experience another moment like the one they are in. They capture it to preserve it, and hopefully they are able to capture a smidge of the beauty the real moment possesses.

There is a point to all of this random rambling, I promise.

As I sat on the beach, feet dug deep into the sand I realized, i’m enchanted by the beach.

The sand, sea, and cool ocean breeze….

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy it so freely, as we do on most of our weekends.

Last, but certainly not least…I had to share our very rustic dining accommodations for this weekend. I know, I know, you are jealous. All joking aside, Allen’ chicken kabobs with pineapple and veggies are heavenly!

Grab the map coordinates here