Ricotta you little beauty!

At the risk of this blog sounding like a homage to Martha Stewart I am going out on a limb here, to share a new recipe.  A ricotta cheese recipe.  If you have ever lived in a place like Korea, where cheese is the word they use to refer to some rubbery, flavourless, pre-sliced processed squares that quite literally leave a bad taste in your mouth, then you be more able to appreciate this post.  Especially if you are as addicted to cheese as I am.

It all started a few weeks ago, when I wanted to make a veggie lasagna (GREAT! Now it really does sound like Martha could be my homie*).  I needed some ricotta for the recipe and couldn't find it in the supermarket, being Korea and all.  So after asking online where I could find some a real South African tannie told me how easy it was to make. And it REALLy is this easy!  So for a more precise recipe, with measurements and detailed instructions you can find it easily on the web.  Otherwise just have a look at what I did...

You will need:
Milk - a guess I used about 1L
Cream - (is optional...my dieting self left it out)
1 (biggish) lemon
a cheese cloth (or some material that you could strain through)
and about 35minutes.

Bring the milk (and cream, if you so choose) to a slow boil.
Don't full on get it bubbling over, and remember to stir it regularly.
Let it boil for a minute or 2, and then turn the heat off, totally.

        

Squeeze the juice from one lemon into the hot milk.  You could also use vinegar, but I like the tangy aftertaste.

The acidity of the lemon will get the process going.  All you have to do is sit and wait.  It takes about 15minutes I guess.  I'm not too sure because I got sucked into an episode of 'House' and lost track of time.  You will now it is done when it looks a little something like what babies burp up. YUM!! ;)







Pour the liquid through your cheesecloth (the tannie also said you can use a stocking), to separate the curds and the whey.  (Don't know how little miss Muffet could have eaten that!!)
The longer you strain it for the more solid the cheese gets    - duh! -
But if you prefer something more like a cottage cheese strain it for a shorter amount of time.  You can also mix in herbs if you like.

The end product should look something like this. Yummy, homemade ricotta cheese!!  Now all I need is a bagel!!














*"homie" is a word that Martha pickup up in prison.  Before that she would simply say "friend".

I woke up on this abnormally dark, rainy day wanting to bake some rusks....but its a bit of a mission (especially finding ingredients in a typhoon).  So instead I have decided to bring you up to date a bit.

It has been a while since my last post, as I was gallivanting around Jeju Island (also sometimes referred to as Korea's Hawaii).  The tickets over were a present from MW along with the most special gift I have ever received.  Baring in mind that MW is not a teacher and has no relation to my classroom time his "Appreciation Plaque" really made me feel super special. 

So with that, it was on with the boardies and off to the airport. Fun in the sun for a week, while little Zach made new friends at the puppy motel (but that is a blog post for another day)!

I landed in Jeju after being in the air for only 50minutes. After spending about the same amount of time at the car rental place, I was told that I cannot rent a car because my Korean driver's licence was less than a year old. :(  So I hopped on a bus and made my way to Yeha Guesthouse.  (Clean rooms, friendly helpful staff, a free beer in the evening, other cool travelers about, VERY affordable!!) 

A blow by bow account of my assault on the island would take longer than you have time to read, so I will just show you some highlights of the trip.

These stone statues practically litter the island.  It is said that if you touch the nose of the stature that your next child will be a son. 

I met some AWESOME South Africans and we hung out for a few days. This is us in a lava tunnel.

Amazing waters and rock formations at a cool waterfall.

"VANG MY". Little joke between the SAFFAs.

Fourwheeling around a small Islet of Jeju(Udo). So much fun!!

In a quaint little coffee shop on Udo islet. 

One of MANY picture perfect beaches, felt like a REAL holiday.

Drinking from the falls. Was the FUNNIEST thing taking these pics. Was in HYSTERICS.

Just another tough beach day! 

At the top of 'Sunrise peak', a volcanic crater.

Looking down from Sunrise peak.

A cute unicorn lighthouse at Iho beach. With Briony, another awesome SAFFA.

The same beach, with the same Briony.

There are still hundreds of photos I could show you, but for now this will have to suffice.  It was such an amazing break, and so good for the soul.  Thank you to all the crazy-awesome people I met for making it so much fun, but most of all a HUGE than YOU to MW! You rock my little world.

  

What a show

After seeing Alphaba do her thing and defy gravity, it was time to move on to a concert of a different kind.  A few weeks ago I managed to secure some very sought after concert tickets from a ticketing site.  A local (extremely popular) Seoulite kicked her summer tour off at Olympic park, here in Seoul.  Her name, Lena Park to you or me, but more commonly known as 박정현 to her fellow Koreans. 

Catapulted into stardom by the reality hit show 나는가수다 (I am a singer), Lena Park made a name for herself by outlasting the elimination process so long that she finally "graduated" from the show.  She managed to become a favourite among the audience members (the voters) every week, partly due to her charmingly adorable personality and partly because of her phenomenal voice!  Having watched the TV show I had to have the concert tickets.

Dubbed the "Fairy" of the singing reality show, Lena park captivates her audience.

MW and I ventured out of our respective air-conditioned little hideouts, and met up at Olympic Park.  It was 'unbearably scorching', decidedly so. ;)  After resorting to eating ice and some zealous fanning we made it into the concert hall. PACKED!She came out (a few minutes late) and blew us away.  She was raised in the states so her Korean although fluent comes across as very 'cute' at times. (I should be working that angle soon, haha!).  The crowd lapped it up and were stunned by her singing.  I am going to attempt to add a videoclip to this post.  On the TV show she covered every imaginable genre but her latest album is mainly a collection of love songs and ballads.  

At the (seated) concert.

The show was sold as a 2 and a half our event, and lasted 3 and a half hours.  Each song was followed by a little informal story telling and sometimes an explanation of the meaning of the song.  Two costume changes, two guess appearances, some fireworks and an incredible display of vocals ensured that the tickets were worth their hefty price tags. 

I'm a FAN! 

"So much happened before Dorothy dropped in"

"Double, double toil and trouble.  


Fire burn, and caldron bubble." 

Many of you will recognise the above quote from 
Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.  These are the words uttered,
almost as a chorus, by the three heinous witches as they 
prepare a potent potion.  The whole of last week I had those 
lines stuck in my head, alongside the lyrics to 'Defying 
gravity'...spot the connection yet?  Yes, the witch themed 
thoughts were thanks to my subconscious getting worked 
up and excited about watching the musical 'Wicked'.


On Saturday MW and I braved the rain and ventured out to 
the theater to watch the Australian cast in their rendition of 
the Broadway musical, Wicked.  This story is based on the 
life and times of the wicked witch of the West, who you 
might remember as the green-skinned, flying-monkey-
commanding, terror from the Wizard of Oz.  And it is through 
Wicked that one learns that Alphaba was in actual fact not 
all that bad, merely misunderstood...some might say ;) 


We arrived with just enough time to grab a bite to eat and 
make our way to our seats.  We found ourselves in the 
gallery, front row, with a stench that can only be described 
as putrid.  Well I suppose that is not the ONLY word that 
may describe it, but the bottom line is that there was a foul 
smell that made my gag reflexes kick in every couple of 
seconds.  Luckily we were not the only ones who could 
smell it, and after listening to other people complain we 
jumped on the metaphorical bandwagon. The result, 
AWESOME seats (in the wheelchair section)!! 


You know how when you are so consumed in something 
that when you glimpse at your watch you realise that you 
have been absorbed in it for ages more than the few minutes 
you thought you were??  Well, that is what this show was 
like.  I got sucked into an emerald coloured land in which 
time seemed to slow to a snail's pace.  The singing, acting, 
props and set, the costumes and the story were all perfect! 
Absolutely worth every penny.  So if you have the required 
number of pennies, and the time, I would HIGHLY 
recommend seeing this spectacular show. 

At the entrance to the theater. ^^

(And for my Korean friends who are worried about not 
understanding everything, FRET NOT!  There are screens 
with Korean subtitles all over the theater.)

confession time!

I am horribly ashamed.  After YEARS of teasing and making fun of  stereotypical geeks others, I have stooped to the very bottom of the nerd barrel.  Yes, I am addicted to very much enjoying playing Diablo III, the latest computer game hit, from Blizzard Entertainment.  

This, in my defense, is pretty much the first computer game that I have ever tried playing.  It has the inexplicable ability to absorb time.  After playing for what I think has been an hour I realise that not only have I blacked out for 5 hours but I also ate a meal and drank 3 small bottles of banana milk.  Previously I thought of computer games as a mere waste of time or a warped form of procrastination, but now I know that these poor gamers cannot help themselves.  
Some, lucky enough to be so good at playing games are able to turn it into a profession, and a very lucrative one at that (more than US $400 000 annually at the top).  And speaking of being good at playing computer games, South Korea is where you might find the best.  Blizzard spent 12 years making Diablo 3, and it was cracked (look at me and my geek speak; cracked = completed) in no more than 5 and a bit HOURS after being made available here in Seoul. 
If, like me however, you are not good enough to become a programer, Diablo III can again help you make a buck or two.  You are able to sell your virtual loot, to other gamers for REAL MONEY.  The better or more magical the items are the more you can get for them.  You can even exchange the gold that you have collected for actual cash.  3 400 000 pieces of gold should earn you about 1 US dollar.
A quick internet search will tell you that 1US dollar is worth   4672 634 610 Zimbabwean dollars....makes you think! 


I would like to wrap this post up with a quick apology for all the verbal abuse I have dished out to the little 'Nigel-no-friends', who stare at PC screens in stead of meeting real people. NOW I understand....I am one of you!! ;)  The apology would have been longer but I have to get back to my Wizard.

beach at the bar

After a long week of slogging away in front of computers and students the weekend finally made an appearance, albeit only a brief one.  Some unwinding was definitely in order, and for this MW and I headed into Seoul for a drink or 6.


We arrived here...

, the Bungalow in Itaewon.

When we got there it was pretty full, and we had to take a seat at the bar while we waited.  Service was not all that great but by the bottom of our first cocktail a few seats opened up.  We moved to the more comfortable seating area, with a twist. 

Obeying the sign we entered the "beach".  

(After loading this picture I now realise that it looks like I hang out in sex dungeons...i DON'T!

All the seats are suspended from the ceiling.  Some of them are like the swings from my childhood and some of them more comfortable - kind of egg shaped, like the ones in the first 'Men in black' movie....but i digress ).  The floor is covered in about 4 inches of soft, white, beach sand.  Digging my toes into the sand, while sipping cocktails and having hilarious conversations really did let me escape from the work week, and almost in a sense from the city itself.   

Go check it out!! 

Time for a new philosophy

During one of the mindless Facebook surfing sessions that I get sucked into, practically daily, I came across something rather profound.  The simplicity and layout of the diagram OBVIOUSLY appeals to my overly logical mind.  From now on I think that this is something I am going to apply to my life. Warning:  Don't get caught up in my feedback loop for too long ;)
Thanks to Christy for sharing this on Facebook.

Happy end of the week to you all :) 

Hookah in Seoul

Hubbly-bubbly, Hookah, shisha,물담배 (water cigarette), call it what you like I love them all.  Every now and again I get a craving to relax with good conversation, a drink and a bit of a pipe, but living in Seoul it's easier said than done.  Fret no more!! 
몽 (Mong), close to Konkuk University station (where line 2 and 7 meet)*,  is a little bohemian paradise where you can easily accomplish all of the above.  Tucked away in a backstreet this watering hole transports you to a magical new world.   


As you enter you are asked to take your shoes off, place them in a 'shoe-bag', and follow the waiter.  The seating areas are all cordoned off from each other and generously adorned with comfy cushions (and often quite bizarre ornaments).

Me and the shoe-bag

The hookah menu is quite sufficient although not limitless, and you are asked to pay for the shisha in advance.  Prices vary but hover around the              10 000won mark.
The cocktail menu on the other hand... :) 
I would suggest ordering any food as soon as you have made up your minds, as it took them an eternity to get fried potatoes to the table.  (The shisha itself too quiet some time to make its way to us too, but it was well worth the wait.)


Other than the aircon messing with my smoke rings I was pretty much in heaven. 
Happy relaxing to you all :)  


* Directions 
At Konkuk University station (건대입구역), take exit 2.  Walk down the alley next to Angel in us coffee shop (immediately as you walk out of the station make a hairpin turn).
Turn right, into the first main street and walk for about a block.  It will be on your left.

Entrance

The writings on the wall

Yesterday I was walking home after a long day's work, and I came across some graffiti on an old stone wall.  I am still not quite sure why I find this particular image so captivating, but I do.  I think it quite accurately describes the mood I was in when I happened to see it.

                      **I also like the cute little flowers creeping out of the wall.

(funny) Inappropriate signage

If you have spent any time in Korea whatsoever, you would know that it is a place rife with hilarious translations, ridiculous spelling and sometimes inappropriate signage.  All of this goes hand in hand with what is known as "Konglish"(a mixture of Korean and English within the same phrase, or sometimes even the same word).  For example:  'Thank you very kamsa' ( thank you very thanks).  Konglish seldom makes sense but often gets used along with frantic flapping of the arms and other weird body language to communicate effectively.

Last week I was walking around my neighbourhood and I came across the following restaurant/ coffee shop.  It had me giggling all the way home.

ROBOcock, the local hangout...

I will be keeping a lookout for more amusing signs to put out here for you all to see.

Save it for a rainy day

After a few months of frustration, due to some spontaneous spending and a lack of great savings,  I was very pleased to read the following headline; "Argentum Wealth Management Offers Financial Planning and Advice for Expats".  After reading the article I was even MORE pleased to know that the consult is free.If, like me, you need some help with stashing away your loot then follow this link...all the way to your riches.http://10mag.com/events/2012-06-argentum-financial-consulting-for-expats/
(Oh you should also know that the face to face meeting will be taking place from Tuesday the 26th of June to Friday the 29th of June.)
Have yourselves a happy dayx

The shocking reality, or so they say.

Ok, recently there has been so much talk and hype around a documentary style (Carte Blanche type of) report, broadcast by MBC.  The insert was titled "The shocking reality about the relationship with foreigners".  For those of you lucky enough not to have seen it yet, you may expose yourselves to some sub-par journalism at the following link,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsNHYYrvMrk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here are my two cents, for what they're worth.
When I first saw the video clip I was very offended.  Merely because coming from a country where people have in the past been split up into groups (and occasionally still),  and get treated according to the group that you happen to fall into, this type of discrimination/racism/prejudice strikes a chord with me.  Sure, you will always have the people who are not going to accept a certain idea/movement/culture/people, and that will never change.  And people are entitled to their personal opinions.  With this I have no qualms.  I do, however, have a problem with a renowned national broadcasting company airing (and being allowed to air) such unadulterated hogwash.
I have since calmed down slightly and now just laugh at anybody who could possibly believe that all foreigners in Korea are in fact as described in the clip.  I am not for a second suggesting that the sub-group of the human race -'the dirty foreigner', that was depicted in the video clip, does not exist.  I am simply suggesting that it is a GROSS generalisation.
And if I say any more on this topic it would no longer be worth only two cents.

Feel free to watch the video clip and leave your comment.  And, if you are a foreigner (dirty or not) in Korea, take it with a pinch of salt. Otherwise sign the petition to get the head of MBC to make a formal apology. You can do that at the following site.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/An_apology_from_MBC_Korea_for_portraying_male_foreigners_as_predators_and_Korean_females_as_victims_ors/?fGOjhdb&pv=17

Much happiness to you all

Catch up

So seeing that it has been so long since I have posted anything I have decided to catch you all up on the highlights of my past year or so.

I had a front row seat to the mesmerizing Cirque du Soleil show.  





I discovered that I can't pull off the mustache look, but I might swallow my pride again this year in support of Movember.

I got the most adorable little puppy, named him Zach, and just keep on loving him more and more.

I had to say good bye to some awesome friends (but still have all the amazing memories...and embarrassing photos)

After one of the strangest interviews of my life, I am now lucky enough to be working at 경희고등학교.

My most beautiful little patty pan graced Korea with a visit from Taiwan, for a whirlwind of laughs and fun.

My lovely friends ,Mama-T and Papa-Morocco, tied the knot and then partied away the night! CONGRATS!

Before my new contract began I managed to sneak away to South Africa, to surprise the family and soak up some sun.

Shark cage diving with my little sis

Mama Nix had a beautiful, healthy baby girl...aren't you happy I bought those 'pee-sticks' for you??ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Proud uncle Al with the gorgeous little Anna Sophia Kang...FGU for life!!

I got my little monster on, braved the masses and saw the AMAZING Lady Gaga, live!

At my new school I share an office with the PE teachers, not the English department, and now I play in the teachers' soccer team.

I <3 Mac

My beautiful sister (Cally) got engaged to her US boyfriend without my mom being able to explain the LABOLA system! Congrats Cal and Chad!

Last (long)weekend MyungWoo and I went to Busan for some fun in the sun.

Killing time on the ridiculously long and slow bus journey involved numerous rounds of Go-fish you bitch.

Yesterday, on our daily walk Zach and I had to wait at the train crossing.  He seems to be intrigued by the locomotive 




And now I believe that you are more-or-less up to speed in what is happening with Al in So-Ko.