First Seollal in Korea~ Gangnam, Seoul

So, my first seollal in Korea came to an end after staying 4 days in Busan. On the 5th day, we left Busan and head to Seoul and stay in Gangnam for 2 nights before flying back to Malaysia. It's my first time exploring Gangnam half day alone without him as he needs to be away for a business meeting. After lunch together at Gangnam station underground shopping centre, he left for meeting and I continue witth browsing and shopping. Manage to get sis the skincares that she asked for while waiting for my student Sung Jin finish work and meet me up. Finally met up with Sung jin for coffee and we had a long chat with his not-so-fluent English as I am still bad at having conversation in Korean lol. After buy Sung Jin dinner at the Korean-Chinese restaurant that he chose, Oppa finally finish his meeting and meet us up before we part ways. 

While walking back to our hotel, we can't resist the smell of boiling Tteokbokki and Odeng in this cold winter and end up takeaway tteokbokki, odeng and sundae back to hotel as supper. I guess I must be too tired in this trip for all the long distance travel (Seoul-Busan / Busan-Daegu-Busan / then Busan-Seoul); the next day dawn when we travel to Incheon airport via AREX, I felt so unwell and throw out everything I ate yesterday inside the train (so sorry to the train assistant who has to clean up for me...). I end up sick for a week after back to Malaysia where doctor diagnosed I am down with indigestion. 

     

First Seollal in Korea~ Family Lunch Gathering~ Jagalchi Sijang, Busan

Last day of Seollal holiday, we have a family lunch gathering at Jagalchi Sijang for 회 (Hwe - Korean Sashimi). Jagalchi Sijang is well known with fresh fish and seafood which can be purchase and eaten on the spot at the store. It's my first time eating Korean raw fish and I am overjoy! We had Ojingeo-hwe (raw squid), Bangeo-hwe (raw amberjack), Gul-hwe (raw oysters) and Gaebul-hoe (raw fat innkeeper worm). The taste is fresh? and sweet, doesn't taste fishy as I though it will be. It can be taste differently with dipping sauce. Commonly 3 dipping sauce will be serve along which is cho-gochujang, ssamjang, wasabi and soy sauce. As usual, Korean eat their sashimi with veggie wrap too just like how they eat samgyeosal.

첫설날~ First Seollal in Busan, Korea

My first Seollal (Korean New Year) in Busan, also my first Seollal in Korea after married with first time preparing for Jesa (memorial ceremony to ancestors). On the Seollal eve, spent almost whole day deep frying all sorts of jeon together with mom-in-law for Jesa. Traditionally women prepared the Jesa food, while men will be doing the Jesa including set up the food on the table and carry out the rituals. The Jesa was held early morning on the day of Seollal where we dress formally~ I am in my hanbok while he wears suits. 

On Jesa table, first row are fruits and desserts, second row are meats and vegetables, third row will be soup and rice. It can be up to 3 rows or more depending on the family's preference. After Jesa, we then perform Se-bae (deep bow) to his parents, and receive good words also sebae-don (pocket money) from them as blessing for return. Then we all eat tteokguk (rice cake soup) and food from Jesa together. Eat a bowl of tteokguk on Seollal morning is a tradition as it represent we gain one year older. No need to mention how tiring am I after all these done, but it's kind of interesting for me though.