Eating Live Octopus at Noryangjin Market

Who after watching "Old Boy" doesn't want to try live octopus? While I don't recommend Mr. Daesu's rugged style of eating sannakji as you may choke to death, you can head to Noryangjin Fish Market and have your live octopus cut by the seafood vendor into bite size pieces. Or have it prepared at a local seafood restaurant.

I challenged not only myself but also my mother. Will these two ladies chicken out or grow some balls? Ahem. I mean, be brave enough to try live octopus for the first time in their lives? Watch KWOW episode 136 to find out.

Directions to Noryangjin Fish Market: exit 1 from the Noryangjin Station. Walk up the stairs to the bridge and cross to the other side. Turn left and walk down a couple flights of stairs.

While walking the bridge you will see 63 City, a tall golden skyscraper on your left. It was built in 1988 for the Summer Olympics and houses a sea world, IMAX theater, wax museum and art gallery. Trivia: Psy dances in front of 63 City in his "Gentleman" music video.

Before you walk down the last set of stairs, be sure to look over the Noryangjin Market. In one glimpse you'll see the grid of seafood vendors.

Plenty of vendors sell live octopus. Stroll around and choose your preferred size. Admire the diverse colors and textures of other seafood while you're at it.

Then I came across an octopus with a cute butt. I decided to eat a smaller one from another tank.

Live octopus is commonly dipped in sesame oil before consumption. I decided to enjoy mine raw to the maximum without any additional flavors.

The reason people go wild over live octopus? Even when cut, the legs and other parts continue to move. Their tentacles will stick to your fingers. Chew well when eating! Otherwise the moving parts may stick to your throat.

I assumed my mother would not try the live octopus. She actually peeled a sticky piece off the to-go box and placed it into her mouth. After some chewing and pensive thinking, she stated it was delicious.

Would I try live octopus again? Perhaps if it's prepared with sesame oil. Eating live octopus is an unique experience, but I did feel bad for eating the little guy. The vegan gods are after me now.

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Slobbie: Vegetarian Restaurant in Hongdae, Seoul

Korea loves its meat and refined carbs (i.e. white rice, pasta, waffles, yummy desserts, rice cakes, pizza). For the health-conscious, there aren't too many options in Seoul. However there is a restaurant in Hongdae which caters to both the omnivores and vegans. Introducing.... Slobbie! In Korean: 슬로비.

They sell nutritious dishes, creative desserts, coffee, tea and even alcohol. Yes, you can order makeolli, beer and soju! Why go anywhere else when you can get your dose of veggies AND get drunk under one roof? They've even got makeolli patbingsoo.

12 noon at lunch time. There's a kitchen space in the back of the restaurant you can rent for events and teaching classes.

Home Meal of the Day. Changes regularly, but will always come with banchan (Korean side dishes), kimchi, soup, salad and brown rice--which looks white.

In my two and half month stay in Seoul, I've been to Slobbie three times. I would've came more, but had to convince myself to explore untasted parts of the city.

If I were living around Hongdae for an extended period of time, I'd take advantage of their meal banking scheme. If you purchase 10 or 15 meals in advance, you get a 10% discount. 10 meals for 72,000 won. 15 meals for 102,000 won.

The Assorted Mushroom Omelette on brown rice (price 8,000 won).

The vegan Soybean Curry on brown rice. A pinch of sprouts and sprinkle of black sesame seeds.

A meal is never complete without increasing your chances of developing diabetes. Actually I'm trying to discipline myself from consuming too much sweets. On the other hand enjoy the desserts in Korea while you can. They're not as overly indulgent compared to American desserts. Trust me. I was raised in California. I never got a stomachache from eating cake in Seoul. Yet.

How can one not be curious of how Makeolli Patbingsoo tastes like?

Such a beauty. Look at her. The most modelesque Korean shaved ice I've laid my eyes on. Admire her tall and bodacious figure. She wears her tiara of sliced jujube on her cushiony platinum hair of rice cakes.

A closer view of her Royal Highness. Okay, but in all seriousness, the Makeolli Patbingsoo was my friends and I's favorite item ordered. The food is on the health and bland side. The dessert was flavorful.

Daytime drinking? Let's do it.

Blend Makeolli under the Rocks.

But if you're craving a warmer drink, order the Moju. It's a glass of makeolli flavored with apple, cinnamon and spices. Pure magic.

Directions to Slobbie: Exit 9 at the Hongik University Station. Turn left. Then turn right after Dunkin Donuts. Walk, walk, walk. You'll pass by the street shown below. Slobbie is located on the 5th floor in the same building as Olive Young.

ps: The first time at Slobbie I dined with Sophie. She's a contributor for Groove magazine and wrote an article on Professor Oh & Friends. Check it out in the April issue!

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14 Memorable Photos from Bukchon Hanok Village

Walking in Bukchon Hanok Village is a relaxing and magical experience for both tourists and locals alike. The neighborhood contains an estimated 900 Korean traditional homes (called hanok). Come on a sunny day to enjoy a view of the Namsan Tower at the photo hotspot. Or visit on a snowy winter afternoon for an added layer of romance.

When skies are clear even on a cold winter day, you can see the famous Namsan Tower from Gahoe-dong Alley. The street is easily filled with a hundred tourists at any given time. On the snowy day I went, a maximum of ten people walked up the popular street.

It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many people pass by this bike, it doesn't get stolen. Faith in humanity restored. Partially.

The electricity pole caught red-handed shaking its hip. It's not the first time to see many wires come together in the streets of Seoul.

The view of Namsan Tower from Gahoe-dong Alley at sunset.

The following photo looks like a car commercial. I cringe. But it proves that people inhabit these old traditional homes.

View standing from the edge of Bukchon-ro 5na-gil.

The building which houses the Glass Dish Museum and Silk Road Museum located on Bukchon-ro 5na-gil.

Couple rings, couple t-shirts, couple undies... and even a viewpoint just for couples. This country is made for lovebirds.

On the stroll to the famous Gahoe-dong Alley.

Hungry? Walk up from the Gahoe-dong Alley and turn to your left. You might get lucky and encounter the baked sweet potato man! He'll have his truck of other winter favorite produce ready for your taste buds.

Drool. If baked sweet potatoes were a person, I'd marry them. Unconditional love to the maximum. Well... as long as Mr. Sweet Potato remains sweet. Otherwise he'd be just a potato.

Another shot from Bukchon-ro 5na-gil. Looking towards Gyeongbokgung Palace.

On the walk back to Insadong. A tree admiring its naked self on the mirror. Dang girl, look at those curves!

Directions to Bukchon Hanok Village (the Information Box where you pick up a helpful map): Exit 2 at the Anguk Station. Walk one block and look to your right.

To walk through Bukchon Hanok Village, watch KWOW episode 134 below:

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