Korean food: how to make Job Chae (Korean style stir fried noodles)

Since my daughter can't eat any wheat flour because of her allergies,

I feel sorry for her everytime I eat noodles.

So, today I made this Korean style stir fried noodles with beef and vegies, which is called Job Chae in Korean.

Ingredients

• Two handful of beef (But I prefer pork! I had beef that I unfrozen today that's why.)

• 12-14oz of sweet-potato starch noodles ("Dangmyun" in Korean)

• 8oz of spinach

• 1 medium size onion
• 2 medium small size carrot
• 1/4 medium size red bell pepper
• 1/4 medium size green bell pepper
• A handful of oyster mushroom
• A handful of black mushroom (which is called jew's ear mushroom)

• 1 small green oninons
• 4 cloves of garlic
• Soy sause, sesame oil ("Cham Gi Leum"), pepper, salt, sugar, and sesame seeds

You can make 4-6 servings, and you can prepare your ingredients as you can see in pictures.

• Put spinach in boiling water for 40 sec upto 1 min, and take them out. Rinse them in cold water to cool it and squeeze the water out of them. Put 1/2 ts of salt and 1/2 Ts of sesame oil and mix it.
• Soak beef in cold water to get rid of blood for 20 min and slice them into thin strips. Put 1 and 1/2 Ts of soysause, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 Ts sesame oil and 1 ts sugar.
• Black mushrooms are usually very dried when you purchase. Soak them in warm water and cut into one-bite size.
• Slice onion, bell pepers and carrot thinly

Now, we can start making Job Chae!

• Stir-fry each ingredients with a little of salt and few drops of vegie or olive oil.

Tip! If you stir following order above, you don't have to wash your pan every each time. :-)

and you don't have to stir for long time. It takes only about 30 upto 60 seconds to stir each time except beef.

• Boil starch noodles in boiling water for 6 min. (Time is very important.) Immediately rinse them in cold water few times (It makes them chewy but not sticky and not too soft.). Drain and place them aside.

• While noodles are boiling, you can make the sause. Put 7 and half Ts of soy sauce, 4 and half Ts of sugar, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 and half Ts of sesame oil, 1 small  minced green onion, pepper, and sesame seeds all together. 

• Now, put noodles, all of prepared vegetables and beef in a large bowl, and the sause we made. Mix all together gently. That's it!!!
• Right before you serve, if you stir-fry in a pan for amount you are gonna eat with vegie oil, it would be warm and extra delicious Job Chae! (Tip! I prefer no olive oil this time because olive oil has specific flavor it can affect Job Chae taste.)
• Sprinkle some of sesame seeds on top of your serving.

You can change vegetable ingredients and even no meat, but I recommend you to have spinach, some mushroom, carrot and onion for sure. You can replace beef into ham, pork or non. You can add sliced fried egg, fishballs, etc.

Anyway, it was a great menu for dinner for my hubby and my little princess.

No wheat, no egg, no nuts, no shellfish recipe!

Have a good dinner!!! ;-)

Korea] Donghae trip-Mountain/Valley/Ocean Set-menu trip

Place we stayed

Fresh Hwi(Sasimi), along the beach

Murueng Valley slides, you can go back to 7 years old.

Dootasan(Doota Mountain) hiking

Mineral water at Woljeongsa, Odaesan(Odae Mountain)

Yongchoo Pokpo(waterfall), water seems shallow but people told me it's deeper than 33ft.

Sexy mermaid

Mangsang beach entrance

Great food at Odaesan

"Donghae" means east coast in Korea and there is also city which is named Donghae. This city is on east coast side of Gangwon-do.

As I mentioned in my introduction on this blog, I'm tripholic. Basically I would recommend where I have been and where I would love to go and write about my trips. If you are interested, you can ask me how to get there or anything or customize your trip plan.

This trip was planned for my hubby. I didn't know what he would like the best so I put mountain/valley/ocean all together in our 1night/2days trip plan.

Donghae is located about 4 hours away from Seoul and I made a plan everything on the way to go to east coast. If you wanna get more specific information about this city, please check this website! http://www.dhtour.go.kr/eng

My trip route was pretty simple.

Seoul-Odaesan(Odae Mountain)-Murueng Valley-Mangsang beach-Seoul

My hubby, TK and I went to Woljeongsa(Woljeong temple) and Sangwonsa(Sangwon temple) in Odaesan(Odae Mt.) national park. Those temples are very peaceful and historical place and you can try mineral water and see Korean National treasure. Also you can enjoy Korean home-made healthy and fresh food there. We tried San-deodeok gui, home-made tofu and Sanchae(vegetables from mountain) Bibimbob, and they were all great! (if you order all of what we had, it would cost around 10,000 won per person) But, this place is hard to come if you don't drive.

Then we head to Donghae city, which has Murueng Valley on Dootasan(Doota Mt.) and Mangsang beach. I gotta tell you this Murueng Valley is one of my favorite place. View is great and so many different beautiful spots that you can choose what to do. You can do hiking, swim in valley, waterfall, have fun on a valley slide..etc. Murueng Valley is well known as a valley that montain wizards and montain spirits used to come, take a rest and had fun because it was incomparably beautiful. I went there in summer but I've been told it is even more awesome in fall. One more thing about Dootasan(Doota Mt.), "Doota" means hitting head in Korean. The reason this mountain had that name was, if you climb this mountain untill you get to top, usually you expect spectacular views under your feet. Once you get there, however, all you can see is that you are still surrounded by a forest, and you find out there is no paying back view for your effort. When you realize this, you would have a headache like someone's hitting your head. That's why this mountain got to have a name, "Doota". Believe or not, my uncle told me this.

By this time, it was passed dinner time. You are on east coast side, you shouldn't miss the chance to have a fresh sasimi. Along the beach, or anywhere you can find good Hwi(sasimi) places. You can choose a fish whatever you like, it would cost around 50,000 won upto 90,000 won for 2-5 people. (7 of us had hwi, it cost 130,000 won)

For place to stay, we stayed in Motel as you see in a picture above, and it was pretty fancy and new so we had to pay more than average(maybe 110,000 won and it was high-season). If you can make a plan before 60 days and want to try something new, since next day plan will be at Mangsang beach, I would like to recommend you Mangsang beach auto camping resort. I really wanted to reserve but it was fully booked 2 months ago. This place is really popular and hard to make a reservation in high season(July and August). http://www.campingkorea.or.kr/guide/02_10.htm http://www.campingkorea.or.kr/guide/02_09.htm http://www.campingkorea.or.kr/guide/02_05.htm http://www.campingkorea.or.kr/guide/02_04.htm http://www.campingkorea.or.kr/guide/02_11.htm Or, you can do camping(you have to bring your own camp), and this one is also required for reservation. There are other nice hotels and condos I can make reservation, but if you don't mind, I would say, staying in a motel wouldn't be a bad idea. It is alot cheaper than hotel, nicer and newer. Unless it's summer high-season, it would cost around 50,000 upto 80,000 won per night.

Next day, we went to Mangsang beach. Probably you can find some information on a website I wrote above. After we enjoyed lots of sun, we had Samgyupsal BBQ outside and headed back to Seoul.

Oh, one more tip, on a way back to Seoul on the Youngdong highway, stop by Hoengseong(Hyengseong)/Sosa Huegaeso to take a rest. In only this place, there are the famous "Hoengseon Hanwoo(Korean beef-Hoengseong's well known for beef) steak and Boriddeok(Chewy barley pancake-TK's one of favorites and I loved it too) Seriously, don't forget to stop by there.

What is your picture about Thailand?

Koh Pang ngan I love

My bungalow on a tree I stayed

Fried garlic chicken, street food I loved

Copies, copies, cheap, cheap, cheap

Thailand is one of the easiest country to travel around. So many tourists have been there, whatever you think and wherever you go, it's pretty much like someone has done already before you.

I planed for 1 year anniversary recently for my lovey dovey hubby who never been to Thailand and has a specific tastes for vacation. After many questions, I found out my husband, Tony was expecting a quite different picture about Thailnad from what I have been through.

I have been in Thailand so many times over 8 years, basically, while I was staying, I always stuck in one place for long time, paying less than $5 per night for my own little room with no AC and no hot shower or bungalow in the middle of coconut trees or by the beach. I ate local food from street, drank fresh fruit shake all the time, and usually one meal cost $1.5 (50Bhat) including one plate of fried rice with pork and a fresh watermelon shake. I had 2 meals everyday and lots of shakes and juice.

Sometimes a thief stole my money and stuff on a bus or even in a checkroom, probably it has been over $2,000 total. Or sometimes I had perverts who tried to touch me or had been watching me every night over my window, and thoes people were the only thing made me really really skeptical about my whole trip and wanna just quit but I tried so hard not to stop being cheerful and positive.

I remember, one day, I found out I had no money to get a room that night. I didn't even have $5 because my money was just stolen on a bus on a way to Bangkok. When I figured out I had no money, The bus was gone, people were gone, it was too late to blame. My check card didn't work. I was left in the middle of Bkk with 2 huge backpack. So I took my blanket out, put my stuff on a street, and sold them. Soon enough, Thai cpolicemen saw me and ran towards me. I got scared(Imagine! I was 22 years old young girl and chased by police in strange country), and grabbed my blanket, and just ran like crazy. Yes, of course with my big 2 back pack, one on my back and the other on my front. Fortunately, I made enough money to stay in a room with a bed and could feed myself that day.

There was once I travel around Asia, it cost me about $2,300 for 10 months. I know, WOW, but I gotta tell you it sounds great only now because it's passed. Beds were usually the heaven for lice and fleas, water stoped while I was shampooing my hair, some islands in Thailand still can't use electricity during day time. Even in India, it was winter and I was travelling north area. Sooooo cold. I had wear 9 t-shirts on top and 5 pants on bottom, every clothes I was carrying. Weather became even more harsh, so no place could provide how water, and I couldn't take a shower for 2 weeks. I'm telling you it wasn's only me by that time. My train had been delayed for 30 something hours, I got off in the middle of night at a small town, and all guest houses were closed. I was exhausted so fell asleep on stairs by the Ganges river getting rain. Once I went a desert-crossing, mice jumped into my sleeping bag stepping on my face and they were rolling around my body, I felt like it, because it gets really really cold at night even though it gets hot during day time.

Anyway, I love Thailand. Of course, I love Korea, America, India and so many other countries, but each countries and each city have unique smell. As soon as I get out of the airport, I feel great everytime I smell that air breathing with people, full of life, full of energy. To me, this different smell of city is poison. This scent is like mom's good smell that you could smell when she kissed on your forehead to say good night in your childhood. This scent is like sweet purple sky smell that you remember when you watch a beautiful sunset with the one you love. Or this scent could be like a smell of bitter enlightenment once you cried with broken-heart, made you realize what you were doing. Then someday, you smell that again, it brought you all the way back.

There is no one right answer. It's all about how you feel and how you see. It's all about You,You, You.

Do you wanna have more fun on your trip? Happy memories?

More fancy place doesn't make you have a better vacation.

More expensive tour doesn't guarantee you happier time.

Less money doesn't mean you will have hard time or you would get closer to the REAL thing.

My biggest tip, for your remarkable trip, is this.

Open your mind and try something new, and remember, no matter what, you will not get that moment back again. Even so so moments, you will miss that as soon as you get back to work.

Someday, if time allows me, I like to write about my old hippie yippie travels. But until then, I will write up about most recent trip, the way of easy access soon.

Korea] Jeju Island trip for 3 days for memorial holyday weekend

Plan from 23rd to 25th for 2 people(Share one room)

*Air

If you don't have any airline preference, here's the cheapeast and ideal time schedule.

Jeju air 23May 2009 13:00 from Kimpo airport to Jeju airport

25May 2009 20:00 From Jeju airport to Kimpo airport

12,5000 won/person (airfair + gas increase charge)

*Rental car

I recomend you a small compact vehicle: New Avante. That's what I used last time. It was not too big and not too small for 2 people.

*Place to stay

1.Yuro Resort (about 500,000 won/$396 for 2 people-> Air/Car rent/room for 2 nights)

http://kongda.co.kr/blog/919

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_02.php?htKey=21

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_03.php?htKey=21

-No breakfast(but if u want, Jeonbok-jook 7,000 won), No ocean view

2. Beautiful House (about 500,000 won /$396 for 2 people-> Air/Car rent/room for 2 nights)

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_02.php?htKey=91

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_03.php?htKey=91

-No breakfast, Outside BBQ, Outside Pool, Far ocean view, good location

3. Blue Pearl Resort (about 520,000 won/$412 for 2 people-> Air/Car rent/room for 2 nights)

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_02.php?htKey=205

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_03.php?htKey=205

-Breakfast included, oceanview

4.Four seasons Pension (about 650,000 won/ $515 for 2 people->Air/Car rent/room for 2 nights)

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_02.php?htKey=113

http://www.tobacgi.com/rev/hotel/info/info_03.php?htKey=113

-Ocenview, No breakfast

5. Shineville Resort (about 720,000 won/ $571 for 2 people->Air/Car rent/room for 2 nights)

http://www.shineville.com

-Breakfast included, Mountain view (Ocean view fully booked,on 23rd of May weekend)

There are so many places you can stay in Jeju Island but comparing prices and people's comments, I can recommend the few places above. #1-4 are pensions and small resorts at Joong-moon/Seoguipo area which is really good location for you to drive around and #5 is the resort I actually stayed last time. I like to recomend you this place because I loved that place and I think you would love it too. This is located on the southern-east side of the island so I had to drive pretty much 40 min at least to go anywhere.

In the hotel prices, I combined whole price together which includes air for 2 people+carent(following your airline schedule)+hotel for 2 nights, and those prices are already discounted and adjustable. If you want different schedule or different airline, let me know. The price can be different but the change is minimal.

A rental car fee was calculated with a navigation system. You pick up a car from the airport when you get there and return it when you leave as well. You should bring a international driver license that you can use in Korea and you should be over 21 years old to drive a rent car in Korea. A rental car has a general car insurance which only covers liability. In the case that you have a car accident, unfortunately, a car insurance would cover the other side damage but not yours. If you want to have a full coverage insurance, you can tell rental car employee and pay more when you pick up a car from the airport, or let me know before you leave. (It would cost more around 10,000 won upto 50,000 won) A rental car fee was estimated for the New Avante, but if you want different kind of car, of course it can be arranged. Please let me know, which car you would like to drive.

As far as I know, it seems if you want a combination of a room with a good view (for Shineville) and flight schedule that will maximize your stay is difficult to reserve if you do not do it early. So please contact me if you are interested.

Also, if you are interested in any other time, it would be arrangable with similar prices(Except summer high-season).

How to travel around inside/outside of Korea

I've seen many foreigner friends who have difficulties traveling within Korea and outside of Korea.

When they finally were able to travel, usually they spent alot more money and had less options than local Koreans. It probably happens to you as well when you want to travel somewhere within Korea or neighboring Asian countries from Korea.

Most foreigners, who stay in Korea for a year or two, may want to take advantage of being here and try to travel to nearby countries in Asia, especially because it can be cheaper. So when you plan for trip and try to contact to travel agencies which have English speaking workers, you end up paying more than expected.

I have been helping many friends travel safe and pay less. Even myself, I'm tripholic. I have traveled to sooooo many places, especially in Asia. I want to provide you with information through my personal experiences.

Basically, my blog is for foreigners who stay in Korea and want to travel around Korea and Asia from Korea. For instance, I found out that many Korean-Americans want to visit Korea and travel around Asia after stop by Korea, but it seems difficult and costs alot. I believe it shouldn't be like that, and I know it can be cost less. (Well, it depends how cheap you expect, but I'm pretty sure I can save you from $200 upto a couple thousand cheaper than what you get by yourself in Korea depending on where you go, how may people go, etc)

So, here's the way you can use this blog.

-I would recommend you the places that I already have been and I know first.

-This blog is not for package group bus tour, but for trip you plan on your own or with ones you love to travel together. I can coordinate your flight, hotel, rental car, etc. BUT I will not include any commercial shopping mall visits that you are required to stop by or that is highly recomended on the tour. I do not work for travel agency and I do not sell their tour package products.

-You may see my trip journals and pictures, and if you like it, you can ask me to coordinate for your own schedule.

-You may find some good packages that I make for holidays on this blog. (It wouldn't mean agencies' group package, means trasportation+Airline+hotel combinations by finding good promotions)

-You may have your own schedule, places you always want to go, certain conditions you need. If so, please let me know, I would be perfectly happy to customize and coordinate your trip.

-Price will be estimated with a coordinating fee.

I work for this because I really love to travel and I want to share. You may find information on your own, compare, and if you like my price and conditions, then get it.

Have a beautiful day, thank you.