Seoul - 7th January 2008

So here's this shopping arcade area sort of thing. I couldn't tell you what...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:37:34 GMT

So here's this shopping arcade area sort of thing. I couldn't tell you what it's called or where to find it. Downtown somewhere. It just appeared before me.

All the shops are a bit craft-y; lots of handmade goods and so on.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Here's a place you can paint your own crockery. What a great idea for a...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:37:57 GMT

Here's a place you can paint your own crockery. What a great idea for a business. I would love to take a date here.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Nyaww.

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:38:21 GMT

Nyaww.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:38:49 GMT

Photo by Patrick Alexander

You make this traditional food by hitting it with a hammer. You turn this...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:39:14 GMT

You make this traditional food by hitting it with a hammer. You turn this into a business by inviting giggly young ladies to give it a try. Everyone will stop and watch and take photos.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

It makes a real POW noise when you do it right.

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:39:38 GMT

It makes a real POW noise when you do it right.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Then you cut it into little bits.

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:39:59 GMT

Then you cut it into little bits.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:40:24 GMT

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:40:43 GMT

Photo by Patrick Alexander

These two guys were so nice to me. They gave me candy, even. Nothing...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:41:05 GMT

These two guys were so nice to me. They gave me candy, even. Nothing suspicious about that.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

This is somewhere else, now. Some street somewhere. These guys are making yet...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:41:21 GMT

This is somewhere else, now. Some street somewhere.

These guys are making yet another traditional Korean food. This stuff is delicious actually.

You start with this rock-hard ball of dough, and work a hole into the middle of it.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Then you stretch it into a ring, then fold the ring back on itself.

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:41:36 GMT

Then you stretch it into a ring, then fold the ring back on itself.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Repeat several times, until you have...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:41:53 GMT

Repeat several times, until you have...

Photo by Patrick Alexander

...Many thousands of thin, delicate strands of sweet dough.

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:42:08 GMT

...Many thousands of thin, delicate strands of sweet dough.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

See?

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:42:25 GMT

See?

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Then you wrap it around this stuff, which is crunched nuts of various kinds....

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:42:41 GMT

Then you wrap it around this stuff, which is crunched nuts of various kinds. Perhaps other things too.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Then you put it into these trays and sell it to tourists.

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:42:57 GMT

Then you put it into these trays and sell it to tourists.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

If the tourist hesitates, smile like this at him. (Actually you will have...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:43:15 GMT

If the tourist hesitates, smile like this at him.

(Actually you will have been really friendly and entertaining this whole time.)

Photo by Patrick Alexander

A good day's trade!

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:43:32 GMT

A good day's trade!

Photo by Patrick Alexander

I love this photo. "Okay yes right here is a huge pile of garbage but look!...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:43:56 GMT

I love this photo. "Okay yes right here is a huge pile of garbage but look! Over there! A beautiful tea museum!"

This place was an exciting discovery for me, because all over downtown Seoul there are homeless-looking people pulling around carts of old cardboard and stuff like that. I figured they must collect it and take it somewhere for a small amount of money. And here, evidently, is where they take it!

Photo by Patrick Alexander

Along the side of the building, carts are lined up. I wonder what you have to...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:44:18 GMT

Along the side of the building, carts are lined up. I wonder what you have to do to get one.

Photo by Patrick Alexander

This must have been the beautiful tea museum, or somewhere near it. Anyway, I...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 04:44:36 GMT

This must have been the beautiful tea museum, or somewhere near it. Anyway, I think it was closed.

Photo by Patrick Alexander