Jong No - Street Scenes

Bosingak

Bosingak has been destroyed many times by war. It's important to the culture of Seoul and has always been rebuilt. It's a classic landmark in the heart of downtown.

The bell at Bosingak was used to inform citizens of the time. It was also used to alert people if there was a fire.


Nowadays, it is the site where politicians officially ring in the new year. Millions gather around it, drink in hand, for the countdown party.



Directly across the street from Bosingak is this tower - a classic example of old and new Asia clashing on the streets of downtown.



There is a busy bookstore in the basement of this tower where I sometimes shop for English books.

The King.

He's rockin' out at the entrance to a "western" bar called "Texas".

I'm not sure of the connection between Elvis and Texas. There's also a statue of Maryln Monroe at the doorway. Any American Icon will do.

Brave New World

Jong No at dusk.






Jong No at nightfall.

Smurf House Lamps at Discount Prices.

To me, it's as blurry as the photo.

Jinko Nuts

Tis the season. There are Jinko trees everywhere in the city. The nuts are falling on the sidewalks now. Koreans are busy filling bags with them and roasting them up.

Bun De Gi – Silkworm Larvae

Considered a very healthy snack for Koreans, you’re never far from a boiling pot of the stuff.

Silkworms feed on the Mulberry Bush – which is a plant believed to have many medicinal properties in Asia.

It sounds disgusting but not much worse than eating a worm in a tequila bottle for its "medicinal" qualities.

Fortune Teller

This one is a Phrenologist - a Reader of Faces

Macoli and Anju

Macoli is a traditional rice wine in Korea. Everything seems to come from rice. The other plates are Anju - food to soak up the liquor. Koreans generally don't drink without food.

Anchovies, bean sprouts, pickled egg plant, kimchi and leek cold soup.

Mo Deum Jeon

Assorted traditional pub grub - food fried in pancake batter.

On this plate, zuchini, hot peppers, fish, pork and leeks.

Po Jang Ma Cha

Where most Koreans eventually end up on a night out. It's usually where they land after having dinner and drinks in a restaurant - looking for more food and drink.

The "po jang ma cha" is the tent on the sidewalk with classic street food and alcohol that Koreans love the most. A lot of what they serve turns my stomach.

After their night out in more expensive places, they love to land here for cheap eats and the final blow of booze that sends them stumbling down the street holding one another up.

The Po Jang Ma Cha's all lit up and ready to go.

Ah, the spindle. One alone would signify the presence of a barber shop, like it would at home. But two, as seen above, means something entirely different. Two spindles indicates a massage parlour with more than just massages on offer.