Around Kangwondo... and way too much food, as usual >_<

Went to Wonju (원주) for my grandmother's jesa (제사) this past weekend. I'm still new to this custom as we didn't participate in the US, and curious to learn how it ties in with Christian beliefs here. I suppose it depends on how you look at it - a cultural tradition and memorial service, or a sacrificial ritual? I'll opt to go with the former.

We also took a trip to Seoraksan (설악산) which was beautifully blanketed. 

Atop this peak (see below), some guy started screaming at the top of his lungs, and truthfully, I was envious. I want to find my own place like that some day... preferably without the bystanders.

As we were riding the cable car up, I got a flashback to 2005 and my trip to Montserrat (Spain).

Montserrat...

Seoraksan...

That feeling was soon cleared as we neared the snack shop...

Later, my uncle asked if we were up for some 회 so we drove to Jumunjin (주문진) to take a look at the seafood selection. The thing is - when I think "회" (hwe), I think "sashimi," and when I think of sashimi...

- I think of the fresh catch our sushiman Yoshio deliciously prepared for the past 20 years...

- I think of soft, almost buttery bites of sake, maguro, toro, hamachi, kanpachi, and butterfish...

- I think of eats like Nobu, Morimoto, Uni, Oishii, Kabuki, and Ki...

We ended up at one of these places, where you handpick the stuff you want to eat from a tank. And let me tell you, they don't have any ahi swimming around these areas. ^^

I have no idea what this is (pictured below, someone want to help?) but I was pressured into tasting it... and it was really (literally) difficult to chew... I gave in, held my breath, swallowed, and stuck to rice and kimchee.

Even the grilled stuff was...umm...interesting, hehe. The fish below exploded with yellow eggs. >_<

Later, we stopped off in another part of Gangneung (강릉) to buy a pair of black and green Converse high tops (my aunt decided that my gray ones needed to be traded in ^^) and a huge box of live crab and other scary looking sea creatures. Off the street, we bought some of these... Yep, that's a whole egg cooked in a piece of bread.

Thankfully, we finally got back to Sushi Roll 101 later this weekend... ^^ 

Since we're on the topic of Japanese food... ch-ch-check out my umeboshi present, thanks to Yumi Onni!

And just for fun... I'd like to introduce you to Omuto Tomato - a chain that, in my humble opinion, would do quite well in Hawaii (= cheap, pretty tasty, big servings). Just look at our happy faces.