Samgyetang~ Hong Bak Sa Korean Restaurant, Ampang

After he done voting for the presidential election at the Embassy, we came to Hong Bak Sa to have Samgyetang for lunch. Hong Bak Sa Korean restaurant is specialize in Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup), also offer other Korean dishes including Korean BBQ. The Samgyetang is bibim-hot while serve to us. The broth is a bit bland since it is yet seasoning, so need to self-add salt to season it. I like the savoury sticky rice inside the spring chicken than the chicken meat. We both drench in sweat after the meal. Guess that's how it feel to have Samgyetang in summer to detoxify and rejuvenate the body which the Koreans like to do during summer.

Parasailing~ Batu Feringghi, Penang

Back to Penang for business trip, bring the IHEP Batch-5 Korean students to visit around Penang, and Batu Feringghi is our first stop since they wanted to try para-sailing. The beach where we did para-sailing is located behind the Golden Sands Resorts, Batu Ferringhi. There's a public alley next to the hotel (on the left hand side) can be access to the beach directly without going thru the hotel. I've tried para-sailing before, I would say it is fun and unforgettable experience. Since it is their first time para-sailing, they prefer to go in pairs. I manage to captured pictures of them when they ready take off, flying and landing. 

Hyun Young & Young Shin fly in pairs

After the girls done wearing the gear & life jacket, one of the beach boy is briefing them on some safety tips and rules before take-off. The girls need to pull this string gently to lowering the parachute for landing after the beach boy give them a signal on the ground.

After double confirm the girls understand the rules, they are ready to take off! The beach boy is holding the string that attached to both parachute & motor to prevent the girls rush forward while the motor boat drives off - pulling the parachute so it can rise up fully before take off. Once parachute start rising, he then ask them run towards to sea. I would say beginning is the hardest part for para-sailing as it is really not easy to 'run' on the sand!

Yeah, the girls are now up on the sky. Not too worry, if you follow the rules well, you will no rush into the sea. You will eventually 'take-off' before you reach the sea and fly-up to the sky. We could hear them screaming at first but after that they totally enjoy it on the sky.

After 2 big rounds - approx.5 mins later, beach boys is giving the instruction for landing and the girl start to pull the string as what they been taught earlier. Landing smoothly or not is depends on individual skill of lowering the parachute via the string and control your body balancing while you feet touch the ground. Yeah sounds not easy but not too worry you won't get injured by plug into the sand. The beach boys will be there to assist all the time.

Next, Hyo Tae & Kyung Mi fly in pairs  

Since it's gonna be the same, I won't repeat and let the pictures speak. 

Interesting isn't it. Price range is around RM70 - RM100 depending on the size of the parachute. The beach boys told us there are small & big size parachute available. Bigger size more costly but it will be more stable when flying. The students are flying in pairs so they have to go for the big size parachute. You may bargain for a better price if you have more people playing (like us).

Coffee, Pizza & Pasta~ Pizza Brava, Desa Sri Hartamas

After 5 hours on the road, we finally back to KL by dinner time. Tired and hungry, we stopped by Pizza Brava at Desa Sri Hartamas for dinner before head home. The restaurant is located between Starbucks and Watsons, it seems like a favourite place for Japanese men to have dinner cum drinking after work that night. Before meal serve, the Cappuccino and Americano both with almond biscotti served. That Americano looks like expresso for me! Not sure why he asked for Americano today, he is not even a coffee drinker. Since the restaurant is specialty in Italian firewood pizza, we order the 12" Brava Pizzeria ~ topped with tomatoes, beef pepperoni, mushroom, capsicum, olives & cheese. The crust is very thin & best to eat when it is hot! Also had their Le Pasta Fettuccine Carbonara which is fettuccine in cream sauce with turkey ham & mushroom, delicious! A good place for decent pizza and pasta in Desa Sri Hartamas. 

Autumn Foliage in Seonunsan, Gochang 고창 선운산 단풍놀이

Short trip to Seonunsan, Gochang, Jeollabuk-do for autumn foliage. Koreans call this type of trip as 단풍놀이 Dan-pong nol-i which means viewing and enjoying the beautiful scenery with colorful autumn leaves. Gochang is about 3 hours driving distance from Seoul. Seonun-san 선운산 is a popular destination for hiking with various trails, also well known for it's beautiful view of cemelia forest, plum blossom and cherry blossom in spring, fall foliage and fall flowers in autumn.

In fact the mountain park itself has a few natural monuments and cultural assets which housed inside the 1,500 years old Seonunsa Temple that built during Baekje Dynasty. The camelia forest which blossoms in spring is at the Seonunsa Temple. Yongmungol 용문골 which is a cave where Dae Jang Guem's mother was buried in the drama "Dae Jang Guem" also another popular destination to visit along the hike. Love the view of crimsons leaves, also blooming and colorful chrysanthemum flowers in fall~

Sunday brunch~ Ben's General Food Store, B.I.G, Publika

Sunday morning, woke up late.. he said, lets go for nice brunch at Ben's general food store, which is located inside Ben's Independent Grocer, Publika. After moved to MK, we have been regularly go to Publika for food. We order 2 breakfast pizza - their signature Big Ben Breakfast and Eggs Benedict, English and cappuccino for me.

First pizza is BIG BEN'S BREAKFAST - personal size Pizza with Beef, bacon, chicken sausage, baked beans, button mushrooms, semi-dried tomatoes, hash brown & eggs. It's like the big breakfast we had but they make it into pizza.

The second pizza EGGS BENEDICT is turkey ham, spinach, semi-dried tomatoes, truffle oil & poached eggs pizza. I love how the spinach taste like when it mixed with poached eggs & ham in this pizza! Hubby also commented their food ingredient taste fresh.

If you are not a big eater, 1 pizza breakfast is enough for 2 adults to share. We were told by the waiter who attend to us that 1 breakfast pizza is good for 1 serving. So, we ordered 2 breakfast pizza and end up over-stuff our stomach. I didn't really enjoy my cappuccino as I was too full to finish it. Overall, the pizza taste good, but the brunch cost us RM80++ which is pricey for breakfast only probably because we order 2 pizza!

My Korean Kitchen~ Kimchi Jjamchi Jjigae. 참치 김치 찌개. Kimchi Tuna Stew

Love kimchi jjigae? Then you should try kimchi tuna jjigae! This is the first Korean jjigage that I learned how to cook! Simple, quick and easy jiggae. It is one of his favourite Korean stew. He will eat at least 2 bowl of rice with just the jjigae because it is so savoury! Jjigae (pronounced as chee-geh) is a Korean dish similar to a Western stew. A typical jjigae is heavily seasoned with chili pepper and served boiling hot. A Korean meal usually will include either a jjigae or a soup.

Ingredients:

Chopped Kimchi - 1 cup

Tuna chunk (soak in oil) - 1 can

Rinse rice water - 2.5 cups

Spring Onion - 1 stalk

Sesame Oil - 1 tablespoon

Soy Sauce - 1 teaspoon

Sugar - 1 teaspoon

How to cook:

Step 1. 
Heat up the earth-ware and add 1 tbsp of sesame oil in it. Then add 1 cup of chopped kimchi and saute for 2-3 minutes on a normal heat. Saute until the chopped kimchi until it looks golden brown. This step can make the kimchi more savoury and crispy.

Step 2.
Remove the oil from the can,  pour in the tuna chunk into the earth-ware. I prefer to use tuna chunk soak in oil than the soak in water type as I found out that this local brand soak in oil type tuna chunk is less salty compare to the soak in water type.

Step 3.
Add in 1 teaspoon of the excess oil (optional), mix the tuna chunk and chopped kimchi well and saute it under normal heat for another 2-3 minutes. The tuna chunk oil will add more flavor to the stew.

Step 4.
Add in 2 cups of rice water - the water from rinse rice. If you do no have rice water, use normal water instead. Bring it to boil. Meanwhile, chopped 1 stalk of spring onion as above - the green part is about finger length and the white part chopped into 2-3cm length. Set aside.

Step 5.
When the stew is boiling, add 1 teaspoon of soya sauce and 1 teaspoon of sugar, continue to let it boil in a medium heat for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, add the chopped spring onion and boil for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, the stew is ready!

  

Serve the Kimchi Jjamchi Jiggae with a bowl of steam rice. I love to use Korean earth-ware (Ddukbaegi) to cook jiggae, as it can keep the soup bibim-hot and continue boiling for a while when served it on the table.