Weeks 56–67 · February – April 2015 · Seoul & Tokyo
Oklahoma,
Oklahoma is the Mongolia of the US. Local Korean food with live octopus selected from an aquarium — suction cups still work and latch on to the inside of your cheeks. Five ski resorts, one crash, one spa with crude drugs, and squeeze-cheese coneys on the 2018 Olympic mountain. Then spring arrived: a surprise cancelled Friday call, American BBQ in Itaewon, a band, an Asia Has Talent contestant, and yellow Cheetos in Tokyo that were a serious disappointment.
In a dinner a couple of weeks ago in Japan, I was explaining where Oklahoma was (generally, no one knows — so I say just above Texas) and one of the Japanese guys jumped in and said it was the “Mongolia of the U.S.”. Land-locked, harsh weather extremes, energy focused, and people like to ride horses — but people more attractive in Mongolia. I wasn't quick enough to counter with pointing out a couple of similarities doesn't offset an otherwise dramatic difference. But I was able to demonstrate that the people in Oklahoma were more attractive — at least demonstrate that the ladies were — no conclusion on the guys.
In a separate dinner this week, I was invited out for “local Korean people food”. I was told “fish”. When I arrived I was asked to help select the octopus from the aquarium. I picked a good one. They took it away and boiled it — then brought it to the table and chopped it up with scissors. Some pictures attached — I tried to recreate the sequence. But supposedly, there is one more level, eating it alive where it is still squirming. Maybe next time.
In a dinner a couple of weeks ago in Japan, one of the Japanese guys jumped in and said Oklahoma was the “Mongolia of the U.S.”. Land-locked, harsh weather extremes, energy focused, and people like to ride horses — but people more attractive in Mongolia. I wasn't quick enough to counter with pointing out a couple of similarities doesn't offset an otherwise dramatic difference. The octopus dinner, where I was told “fish” and arrived to select from a live aquarium, was a reasonable summary of the same week — the description and the reality being somewhat different.
San-nakji is the Korean dish of live octopus — either served whole and still moving, or chopped and served immediately, as described here. The dish is considered a delicacy and is particularly associated with port cities and seaside restaurants. The suction cups described as “still working and latching on to the inside of your cheeks” are a known characteristic of the freshly chopped version — they retain muscular activity briefly after cutting. The restaurant name “Kangnam” rather than “Gangnam” reflects the older McCune–Reischauer romanisation of Korean used before the current standard was adopted in 2000. Both spellings refer to the same upscale district south of the Han River that became globally known through the 2012 Psy song.
Been awhile since my last non-plagiarized update in early February and I have had a change in work schedule — scheduled Saturday work and no work travel — so pretty fixed into a routine of an off day Sunday to go skiing or hiking so far in 2015. Been to 5 South Korean ski resorts — the best being comparable with the best on the east coast of the U.S. and skied more this year than in a long time. Two were within an hour of Seoul while the others were a long drive and are centred in the Pyeongchang region where the 2018 Olympics will be held.
My priority was not to fall, but after a couple of falls, it wasn't as painful as I had feared so I started having more fun. Double black diamonds in Korea are similar to a really steep blue run in the US and I spent most of my time on those trails. But as all other old guys can attest — the no pain from falling ends at some point and I had a crash where I wasn't seriously hurt, but every muscle seemed to have been affected. Warming up so skiing done for season.
The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in PyeongChang County, Gangwon Province, South Korea — the venues described here. Alpensia Resort hosted ski jumping, biathlon, cross-country skiing, and the athletes' village. Yongpyeong Resort hosted the alpine skiing technical events (slalom and giant slalom). Phoenix Snow Park hosted the freestyle skiing and snowboard events — the site of the crash described here. South Korea has approximately 20 ski resorts concentrated in the mountainous Gangwon Province. The ski season runs from late November to March, with artificial snow supplementing natural snowfall at lower elevations. Korean ski resorts are known for their night skiing facilities, which run until 4am at many locations.
I also had a Saturday late afternoon and headed out to a local island. I was a little over optimistic on the weather — highs were forecast for the high fifties but with the wind off of the ocean, it was pretty chilly.
On another note, in an earlier update I said no one knew where Oklahoma was located or had heard of it — that has changed. Between jabs on “he wasn't allowed to take honors classes” to people asking serious questions on race in the US — Oklahoma is well-known now.
My priority was not to fall, but after a couple of falls, it wasn't as painful as I had feared so I started having more fun. Double black diamonds in Korea are similar to a really steep blue run in the US and I spent most of my time on those trails. But as all other old guys can attest — the no pain from falling ends at some point and I had a crash where I wasn't seriously hurt, but every muscle seemed to have been affected. Warming up so skiing done for season. The spa with crude drugs at the resort was a life-saver. The squeeze-cheese coney on the 2018 Olympic mountain was not junk food. The menu said so.
After returning from Hong Kong, I had an unexpected surprise last Friday afternoon — no weekly 7pm Friday call (to another time zone), the Saturday work schedule had been cancelled, and it was 70 degrees and clear skies. So we got a small group and headed out to an American BBQ place in Itaewon — Korean-American with an Alabama accent and some of the best BBQ I ever had. Because of the nice weather, many people out and I think I ran into everyone I knew in Seoul and by about 11pm the group had gotten larger and we had formed a “band” while at a LP Music Place (played real records from the 1960–1980s) with people who actually had talent. By about midnight, with no other options, I was a potential lead singer but then we met a lady who was a contestant on “Asia Has Talent” and by 1am I was promoted to band manager. Probably better for me and the band.
Spent most of the last week in Tokyo — long days in a conference room so not much to report but Japanese still fascinated with the “Oklahoma Mixer”. Was sick most of this weekend and on the couch but was able to get out for a baseball game — best yet. Although we had bleacher seats where we had to sit in the stairs, by the 8th inning we had self-upgraded to much better seats — whether it is in Korea at 49 or flipping the fence at Skelly Stadium as a teenager, getting into better seats is always a thrill.
No weekly 7pm Friday call, Saturday cancelled, 70 degrees and clear skies — first time all three conditions had coincided. Small group to American BBQ in Itaewon, ran into everyone I knew in Seoul, the group grew, ended up at a LP Music Place playing records from the 1960s–1980s with people who actually had talent. By midnight, no other options, I was a potential lead singer. Then we met a contestant from “Asia Has Talent” and by 1am I was promoted to band manager. Probably better for me and the band. Whether it is in Korea at 49 or flipping the fence at Skelly Stadium as a teenager, getting into better seats is always a thrill.
Seoul's spring season — March through May — is widely considered the best time to visit. Cherry blossoms typically peak in early April, temperatures reach the high teens to low twenties Celsius, and air quality is generally better than in winter months when winds from China bring pollution. The Han River parks described here cover approximately 3,000 acres along both banks and include cycling paths, outdoor sports facilities, and rental boats. Water skiing on the Han River, at the rates quoted here, is operated from several of the river parks. The riverside parks are used year-round by Seoul residents and are among the most visible examples of the city's investment in public recreational infrastructure.
“By 1am I was promoted to band manager. Probably better for me and the band.”