Anjung-Ri is a little town.
Complete with mom & pop storefronts,…
ramshackle little quaint older-style homes,…
and their very own Unkin’ Donuts.
(Well, I’m pretty sure there’s a “D” missing there somewhere.)
Donuts are actually a fairly popular import in Korea.
But they also have market days.
Days when local farmers & vendors alike haul their wares out & into the streets of the ville.
There’s lots of dried peas & beans…homemade curds & tofus.
Locally grown cabbage, green onions & garlic.
And the thing I still can’t remember the name of….but it’s pretty.
Shredded something.
Shredded pink something & shredded white something.
Maybe one’s less filling & the other tastes great.
[apologizing for the gratuitous & really old beer commercial reference]
But there weren’t that many vendors out this time around….much too cold.
And I missed the most absolute, positive, guaranteed Time Life picture of the year.
There was this beautiful old Korean woman sitting on the curb, bundled from head to toe with the most beautiful wrinkled, time-weathered face.
She had her eyes closed with her face raised to the sun & as I went to take in the beauty of her I noticed she had the tiniest little puppy bundled up in her coat with it’s head poking out just under her chin.
Its eyes were closed, too and when I went to grab the camera the woman opened her eyes & spotted us….giving Cynthia & I the biggest, most beautiful smile.
And I missed that shot, too.
(Damn.)
I’m really hoping she’s there again for the next Market Days…I’m tellin’ you – I would’ve been a guaranteed winner of every photo contest out there!
She was just absolutely gorgeous.
37°F
The shredded stuffs are different varieties of dried fish. It makes a good if smelly snack. Koreans are especially fond of dried shredded squid. They say is goes well with beer. As I don’t drink beer, I wouldn’t know. But I do like the dried squid. It comes in flavors too. Peanut butter flavored squid rocks! I kid you not.
I’m betting that the shreeded stuff is some sort of radish; as in daikon radish. REALLY different than the US radish and a total staple in Korea. I often see it in a blinding yellow while white is its true color. FUN! I love food!!! Your description of the photo sounds absolutely breathtaking, I hope the experience of it was as rewarding as the description. Loving the pupper stories; it is nice to know that some Korean folks are cherishing their little dogs as much as “we” do.
ok, so I did not read the comments before posting (hi Cynthia!). Maybe we are both right? I know my Korean roommate in grad. school (while in Manhattan) I received quite the education on daikon. As a result I have frequentedy the Pacific NW asia (mostly Korean) groceries to find the bulk and inexpensive Kim Chi and whatnot. That being said, there is ALOT of fish (both friesh and dried) in that culure. Sometimes it is hard to recognize…ick.
Howdy Gen, you are correct that there are alot of dried veggies in the Korean pantry. I’m having a good time watching thrifty folks dry their own here. We get to see them in baskets and hanging from strings right outside houses along the street. It is interesting to see, and I often wonder how they are used in the kitchen. I see dried spinach, zuchinni, chinese bellflower root, carrot, and many mystery items. I’m a total freak for Korean food, and am learning how to cook it. You were lucky to have a Korean roomate.