Jellyfish Alert For Those in Jeju

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The National Fisheries Research and Development Institute has sounded the alarm. From its eyes in the skies, it has been tracking a group of 160,000 jellyfish which are expected to reach the southern coast of Jeju-do by this weekend. The jellyfish bloom may then move on to the western and south-eastern coastlines. That means those planning summer vacations in Haeundae or Buan Beaches and so on should exercise caution when swimming, snorkeling or diving.

It’s a humbling thing to realize that the Echizen jellyfish or Nomura’s jellyfish, way down on the evolutionary ladder, have outlasted dinosaurs ( and will probably be around long after the last man or woman on Earth passes on. In the ultimate game of Survivor, these brainless, heartless, boneless and bloodless beings, which can reach a maximum weight of 200 kgs and head spans of 2 m in diameter, may end up the winners in the long-run.

Nomura jellyfish in Little Munsom island, Jeju-do. Taken by Janne Hellsten from Finland

Happened to watch a rerun of a National Geographic TV documentary on this very subject a few weeks ago. It’s not just a problem for the Koreans and the Japanese who live near the East China Sea but it’s happening in different parts of the world. I’m dismayed because I’m not sure if this means my snorkeling days are over. At the same time, I’m fascinated to see how these simpletons of the marine world move so gracefully but I’m also mortified to realize how they give new and sinister meaning to the proverb: “The meek shall inherit the earth.”

But then again, according to scientists, we helped them thrive. Over-fishing may have gotten rid of the natural predators that usually eat the jellyfish larvae before they transform from polyps to stinging machines. Fertilizers and sewage that find their way into the seas may have created the ideal breeding grounds for them.

The Three Gorges Dam in China has been identified as a probable culprit as the resulting phosphorus and nitrogen levels also create conducive environments for the Nomura jellyfish. Global warming is yet another suspect. Even when frustrated Japanese fishermen tried to kill them in large numbers, they may have ironically triggered off a greater release of spawn.

Photograph courtesy Shin-ichi Uye, Hiroshima University

See earlier posting on other perils from the sea.



sources:
http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/climate/giant-files-nomura-and-lions-mane-jellyfish-000026/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomura's_jellyfish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nomura_jellyfish_2009_Korea_b.jpg
http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=105428&code=Ne2&category=2
http://lookatkorea.com/blog/korea/archives/tag/jellyfish/
http://tokyolifer.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_pagedir=Next&_c11_BlogPart_handle=cns!C15CE2153B2A6689!3564&_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart
http://marinesciencetoday.com/2009/06/11/jellyfish-overpopulation-a-threat-to-the-oceans/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/photogalleries/giant-jellyfish-invasion-japan-pictures/photo2.html

Lotus Roots, Lotus Leaves

Long before Tupperware or cardboard boxes for take-away lunches, Koreans carried their home-cooked meals in lotus leaves when they had to go on the road. Yeonipbap or yeunipbap ( 연잎밥) was made from wrapping a mixture of glutinous rice, sorghum, millet, ginkgo nuts, jujubes, chestnuts and even diced lotus rhizomes in layers of lotus leaves and then steaming the securely-tied bundle.

Pumpkin slice as garnishing to lotus leaf rice

This nutritious and substantial meal preserved well by the lotus leaves, is still common in Korea, China, Vietnam and Chinese communities elsewhere. It probably comes closest to Middle Earth’s “lembas” which fortified those in the Fellowship of the Ring on their long journey. Just as the elvish bread had its own virtues, steamed rice in lotus leaves has long been regarded as a wholesome dish with some medicinal properties.

Pretty in pink - Sliced and pan-fried lotus root or rhizomes

The 16th - century Chinese Compendium of Materia Medica identified different parts of the lotus plant ( Nelumbo nucifera ) which were believed to address different ailments. For instance, lotus leaves and stems were used to treat people suffering from heat stroke in summer. Today, there are various kinds of on-going research to study the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, etc. properties of the lotus –from the seeds, leaves, rhizomes and even stems.

Grilled lotus roots or rhizomes with mushrooms on a bed of pine leaves

The lotus leaf alone can appear in other forms, aside from functioning as a food wrapper. You can drink it as herbal tea. Lotus leaf wine is served to one’s ancestors during family rituals by members of the Yean Yi clan of Oeam Village, Asan, Chungcheong-nam-do. Lotus leaves are even crushed into powder before sprinkled onto rice served with vegetarian meals in temples as Buddhists regard the lotus not merely as a symbol of enlightenment, but also as nature’s medicine to purify the body.

The Koreans have produced lotus leaf tea; question is - How can they market it?

So if you’re looking for some virtuous cuisine in Korea, you might want to check out the following places. One blogger recommends Mulmaegol (713-5486, 019-696-5486), in Jeju which offers yeonipbap. The restaurant serves the dish with various banchan ( side dishes) “including tofu sprinkled with cilantro, mushrooms, and fermented radish leaves. Gamrodang is another restaurant which offers vegetarian dishes in Seoul ( Jongno-gu Hwa-dong 87-1). Or if you fancy going the distance, join the templestay program in Daewonsa in Boseong, Jeollanamdo which offers cooking lessons for lotus leaf rice.

 Not temple cuisine but the lotus leaf rice is on the left

sources:

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=45,9314,0,0,1,0

http://eng.gg.go.kr/entry/Gungwon-Hanjeongsik-Gunpo-si-Gyeonggi-do-korea
http://www.cj100.net/english/sub06/?menucode=06_05
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2914067
http://www.koreana.or.kr/months/news_view.asp?b_idx=558&lang=en&page_type=list
http://img.kisti.re.kr/originalView/originalView.jsp?url=/soc_img/society//ksabc/OOSMBK/2006/v49n2/OOSMBK_2006_v49n2_163.pdf
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=349112
http://www.watergardenersinternational.org/journal/3-4/daike/uses_page1.html
http://jejulife.net/2008/10/19/vegetarian-restaurants-by-jenie-hahn-jeju-south-korea/
http://www.whitelotusaromatics.com/newsletters/lotus2.html
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923841

Of Lasses, Lazy Lads and Lotus Flowers

A Lass and Lotus Flowers  by Hong Manjong

A beautiful lass, to pick lotus flowers,
Moors the boat on the dike and crosses the bar.
She is so shy to see a lad on horseback
She smiles and hides herself among the flowers.

연꽃을 따다가   by   홍만종

어여쁜 아가씨가 연꽃을 따려고
못가에 배를 묶고 둑을 지나다
말 탄 총각 눈에 띄자 부끄러워서
살짝이 웃으며 꽃 속으로 사라지네.

Here's another poem which appeals more to me as it evokes those "lazy, hazy days of summer":

On Indolence  by Yi Cheom

For indolence I failed to fulfill my lifelong wish.
Now that I am old, the sloth has increased a lot more!
When I awake from midday slumber, the flowers are gone.
With a newborn in arms, I watch in the pond new lotuses.

게으름  by 이첨

내 평생 소원을 게을러서 못 이룬데,
지금도 그럴세라, 늙고 보니 더 늘었네.
낮잠 깨어 얼 차리니 꽃 그림자 간 데 없고,
갓난 아이 품에 안고 연꽃 핀 양 바라보네.

For an earlier posting on lotus ponds, click here.
sources:
http://www.ling.ohio-state.edu/~kyoon/sijo.htm
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/19/2010071900270.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/12/2010071200402.html

How Many Ways Can You Use A Hand Fan?

Doing this piece on Korean fans - no, not the kind who go after Kpop stars, but the hand-crafted ones as some Korean friends gave me a few beautiful ones recently. Plus,  summer seems the appropriate season to feature them.

Started drawing up a list of the ways in which Koreans have used fans and guess what? The number of  functions have now hit twenty! Let me count the ways, beginning with the traditional uses in terms of personal comfort as indicated in description of the “eight virtues” of the hand-held  fans :

1. Naturally they kept people cool in the summer heat. But how many people, in these days of battery-powered mini-fans, still use such eco-friendly devices?

2. The fan was also handy, not so much as a fly swatter, but to discourage insects from hovering around. Again, it was much greener than spraying insecticide.

3. Koreans working outdoors could also block off the sun rays by holding the fan to shade their eyes.

4. Instead of dirtying their hanbok when they had to sit on the ground to watch an outdoor performance, they sat on the open fan as a cushion.

5. It  protected the hair when the rustic folk had to bear large burdens of firewood etc on their heads.

The remaining three 'virtues' revolve around the domestic scene:

6. The fan acted as an  improvised cover for an open container
7. It was employed to fan hearth or kitchen fires
8. It could serve as a replacement for  a dustpan ?!

9. Sometimes, housewives used the fans to help them to sort out grains. ( though this wasn't included among the 8 virtues. )

However, fans served other important functions during the Joseon Dynasty.

10.  They were status symbols. Members of the royal family had the privilege of owning large fans which had 50 spokes. Fans flaunted by the yangban or aristocratic class were made of the finest quality paper and bamboo and decorated with precious metals or gemstones like amber or jade but they couldn't carry fans with more than 40 spokes. Ordinary folks had to be satisfied with poorer quality fans with much fewer spokes.

11.Fans were also significant to shamans ( mudang). The Shaman's Fan Painting (Songsubuchae) below has a fan within a fan. The female shaman on the right is holding a fan used for rituals as it has a "picture of the Sambul trinity who govern childbirth, life, and agriculture".  In one Korean dance, the performer who takes on the role of the mudang "captures the awakened souls with bu chae (fans) so they can rejoice with her and ease their suffering".

12. Pansori singers used the fan for dramatic effect while court performers entertained with the graceful fan dance or the buchaechum.

13. Artists would elevated the prestige of some fans when they showcased their skills in painting, calligraphy or composing poems. Such fans then were displayed as decorationns in the home.

14. Fans, of course, have long  been used as fashion accessories by ladies.

15. But they could also hide heir faces in genuine modesty or embarrassment or coyness. No doubt the kisaengs of the past practised the art of seduction by fluttering their lashes behind their fans.

16.  Fans were also bestowed as state gifts on foreign dignitaries.

17.  Ironically, some fans were used for far less diplomatic purposes - steel fans were once weapons  of stealth when the people were not allowed to bear swords in public. The art of making secret compartments which held razor blades or poisons must be a dying or dead art by now.

18 At the same time, a person skilled in martial arts could deflect knives and defend himself with a sturdy fan.

19. In these more commercial times, fans are curiosities recalling the past, reduced mostly to tourist souvenirs.

20. Finally, it has been adopted as a city symbol for Jeonju which still has a number of craftsmen who maintain this

sources:
http://alittlebirdietoldmeso.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.htmlhttp://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6668206
http://www.koreanartandantiques.com/items/803314/item803314store.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korean.Dance-Buchaechum-01.jpg
http://www.worldartswest.org/main/edf_performer.asp?i=2
http://www.koreanpress.net/news/view.asp?idx=2171&msection=1&ssection=3
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923236

http://www.antiquealive.com/masters/Hand_Fans/Korean_Paper_Bamboo_Fan.html
 http://www.koreana.or.kr/months/news_view.asp?b_idx=703&lang=en&page_type=list
 http://weaponhouse.blogspot.com/2009/10/mu-puche-korean-fan.html
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/SH/whatToBuy/whatToBuy.jsp?action=item&cid=996013
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=c10400&no=220218&rel_no=1
http://www.mfms2010.org/sub0903.php

Will The Real Patbingsu Please Stand Up?

It's so confusing - google this summertime treat and one finds a wide array of patbingsu in various shapes, concoctions and colours ( some can rival the psychedelic hues of a 1970s go-go garment). Patbingsu seems to grow more complex with each summer so it got me wondering about the traditional, authentic version which the halmeonis still regard with fondness.

An interesting article in the Korean Times  reminds me that:
"...modern refrigeration was still a rarity (in Korea) until as late as the 1960s...Blocks of ice from the frozen Han River would be stored in piles of sawdust until the hot summer months arrived. Ice was even once managed by official government offices....Tubs filled with salt water ( were used)  to keep the ice ( treats) from melting and street cart vendors would shave the blocks by hand and sell their goods to neighborhood children directly from the stand."

Ingredients like red beans were considered luxuries in the past so the original recipes were regarded as real treats generations earlier. In the poor old days, young Korean children could only look forward to shaved ice topped with red beans, rice cakes and ground nut powders. These days, though, they would look like poor country cousins next to the fancilful Haagen-Daaz or Lotte mart versions.

Some of the toppings now include: fresh or/ and  canned fruits, ice-cream, sweet corn, chocolate chips, cereal flakes, chewy jelly bits, yoghurt, condensed milk, green tea powder and so on.  I've even seen one webpage mention red wine! Wonder when the Koreans will globalise this seasonal dleight or be influenced  by other cultures and start putting durian puree on their patbingsu.

One writer from the JoongAng Daily claims to have "sampled the most authentic patbingsu" at Wallpaper, a Pan-European cafe in Samcheong-dong, northern Seoul. So what makes one patbingsu "more authentic" than another? Obviously, much ado is made of the freshness and texture of the main ingredients.

The reporter points out, "Often bakeries and dessert shops make the culinary faux-pas of using special rice cakes for patbingsu that come in frozen packets. Here, the rice cake is fresh and moist as if it had just come out of a steamer. But most importantly, the ice is ground to perfection. The particles are smooth with a slight milky flavor, and the bowl gets emptied so quickly, the ice hasn’t even melted."

Perhaps the most sublime version of patbingsu can be found or made several thousand kilometres outside Korea. Much to my surprise, the Korean researchers at the King Sejong Station, a research base in the Antarctic still have a liking for this cold dessert despite living daily with sub-zero temperatures. The chef attached to the base uses icebergs for the shavings. But if you prefer some real down-to-earth patbingsu, take the cue from some researchers who like to spread the red beans on the pristine snow and eat the mixture with their hands.

Chef Lee Sang-hoon with his "refrigerator"  in the background.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2893988
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2890518
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:600patbingsoo.2jpg.jpg
http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/patbingsu
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/05/203_66980.html
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Korean_shaved_ice-Patbingsu-Nokcha_bingsu-Cherry_tomatoes.jpg
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/08/how-to-make-patbingsu-korean-shaved-ice-recipe.html

Seven Commandments For Cittaslow Visitors

Came across this article from the JoongAng Daily which reported how the Cittaslow Movement wasn't really working out for the local population. Hordes of tourists who descend on such villages create jammed roads and piles of rubbish, amongst other problems.

So here are unfriendly but necessary rules I'd recommend to protect the slow lifestyle of Jeungdo under threat:

1. Thou shalt forsake thy private transport. ( leave your car at home; walk or hire a bike instead).

2. Thou shalt not covet the fruit of thy Cittaslow neighbour's labour. ( in short, don't pinch the farmers' produce!)

3. Thou shalt not be led into temptation and submit to your nicotine addiction.( Please don't stink up the air with your ciggies!)

4. Thou shalt bear the burden of any rubbish you have and carry it home. ( the limited resources of these places can't cope with the litter left by visitors)

5. Honour the privacy and respect the property of those who dwell in the Cittaslow homes. ( please don't turn them into prisoners in their own home).

6. Thou shalt practise forbearance and suffer patiently the slower service. ( after all, you did come for a slower pace of life, right? )

7. Remember the commandments for the National Parks and keep these places holy and inviolate as well ( ie. take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints).

BTW, If anyone can suggest three more rules  to make a complete set of commandments, I'd be grateful!

UPDATE: Comment from Aaron McKenzie ( thanks!)

I saw this article, too. I had to laugh, though, because in the very same issue of the Joong Ang, was an article about the new "slow lifestyle" movement which containted this quote:



"Businesses that aim to enrich living spaces also stand to gain from this trend. The recently designated “slow city” of Jeung Island boasts large expanses of mud flats, salt fields and wetlands."

So, on the same day, the Joong Ang reports on how folks on Jeungdo are complaining about too many damned tourists...and then the paper essentially recommends that folks go have a look at the place.

sources:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2923048
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_4_12_15_4.jsp
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=815540

Where Is K Now?

What ever happened to K otherwise known as Kang Yoon-sung? He's a Korean singer crossed over to Japan when his debut albums failed to attract attention in Korea . The Japs like him though and he's made a few hits, more notably Only Human (1 Litre of Tears OST). Perhaps others like BoA and DBSK have enjoyed as much popularity in the domestic as well as the Japanese markets but for some reason which I don't understand, K hasn't really had the same kind of success, which is a bit of a pity. His appearance has been compared to Taiwan's Jay Chou but I'd argue K doesn't convey the same chin-stuck-out arrogant air of Mr Chou.



Here is K's version of Rain's Running Away from the Sun. For a skinny chap, he seems to have a pretty sturdy pair of lungs. Check out how he holds the note in the video.




sources:
http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_view.php?term=k+japan++&path=hankooki3/times/lpage/culture/200601/kt2006012218500311690.htm&media=kt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_(singer)

Summer Time and the Livin' Ain't So Easy....

Perhaps these are just my own preconceptions but my idea of summertime in Korea isn't so idyllic as the Gershwin standard apparently makes it out to be. First of all, there are the monsoon rains to contend with and I'm more likely to see umbrellas keeping people dry instead of decorating some summertime festival.

In fact, the brollies can do double duty as shields from the scorching sun. So if you're dripping and turning redder than a bowl of kimchi tchigae, you may be hard pressed to find ways to cool off  so here are some suggestions.  First, hanji fans aren't merely quaint decorations. They can be pretty handy when you're caught in a place without any air-conditioning or if you're a greenie and haven't the heart to switch on the air-con or even fans.

OR you can run the risk of looking juvenile and face the outwardly-disdainful but inwardly envious stares of adults as you take the plunge alongside these kids into Seongnae Stream in Songpa District, Seoul.

If the water isn't enough, treat yourself to a cooling full-body mudpack at the Boryeong Mud Festival ( held between 17th and 25th July this year) OR volunteer to be covered in sand to protect your fair complexion from being sun-toasted in sand sculpture contests for festivals like the Busan Beach Festival.

Emulate the lifestyle of vampires, even though you're not a fan of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries or True Blood and only venture outdoors when the sun goes down. Lots of  open-air concerts to take advantage of during this season such as the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival or if you are won-pinching, check out the free performances in front of City Hall every evening at 8 pm until October.

Better still, join former g.o.d. member, Sohn Ho-young in special performances entitled "Ho young 2 Ocean" Concerts ( 8th - 25th July, at the KT& G Sangsang Art Hall). The thoughtful entertainer is planning to help his fans cool off with a sprinkler system and he'll even play bartender to make cocktails for some lucky fans. On second thought, THAT is more likely to create more steam and sizzle.

Spectacular fireworks display are an additional bonus for summertime night-owls. Good luck finding a spot along the Hangang far from the madding crowds, though,  that threaten to add to the sweltering stuffiness. Otherwise head downsouth for the Pohang Fireworks Art Competition from the 24th to the 29th of July at the Pohang Cultural Art Hall.

Alternatively, you may brave the outdoor sun, heat and humidity and trail school-groups as they go on nature walks or take part in harvesting activities. The kids here look as if  reaping barley is lots of fun but I'd rather be indoors sipping glasses of sikhye. For a recipe and video demo on how to make this delicious and refreshing drink made from barley malt powder, check this out.

For something with a little more kick, I'd indulge in bottles of maesilju ( Korean plum wine). Click here for the recipe. Also, see previous posting on almost everything plummy.

Then I'd sober up with a virtuous bowl of samgyetang ( generously laced with ginseng wine, of course!) like the ones served to the senior citizens below.

Happy surviving summer, everyone!

Sources:

1. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/02/2010070200422.html

2. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/01/2010070100411.html

3. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/06/18/2010061800401.html
4. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=15001¤t_page=
5. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=13027¤t_page=20
6. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11117¤t_page=37
7. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11119¤t_page=37
8. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11148¤t_page=37
9. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11064¤t_page=37
10.http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=11357¤t_page=35
11. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=8625¤t_page=63
12. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=8387¤t_page=65
13. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo_detail.htm?No=8342¤t_page=65