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Korean Bibimbap: A Delicious, Healthy Meal in a Bowl ...
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BTS and their positive influence on eating habits
I'm currently rewatching BTS In the Soop series and it has made me think a lot about all the delicious Korean food they prepare and how their eating habits have influenced my life ever since I started listening to the band (I'm baby army since March 2020.) some things that have stuck with me and impressed me: 1 All members having their meals together. Even when Jimin was still in bed and members were hungry they kept calling him and were patiently waiting so that they could all enjoy their meal together. 2Everyone helping, even those who can't cook are always ready to help, either by setting up the table or washing dishes afterwards. (or Tae decorating cheese with tiny umbrellas lol) 3 Everyone always saying "thank you for the food/meal." Even when Tae did a minor thing like cutting a melon, the members thanked him and made it known that his actions are appreciated. It's such a simple and nice gesture. 4 Members eating small portions (imo) but eating healthy (most of the time) and many times per day. I realised that since March 2020 my eating habits have changed aswell and BTS greatly influenced that. I've started eating more healthy foods (rice, meat, veggies, fruit) and less bread, processed food, sweets... I even started cooking new dishes like fried rice, bibimbap and Korean style noodles. Jungkook has been a big influence to exercise more, Jimin with his story of unhealthy dieting and passing out has made me realise how important it is to diet in a healthy way if you're not satisfied with your body. I've started having more meals with my family members and when I have time I invite friends over and cook lunch or breakfast for them. I'm just wandering if your eating habits have also been influenced by BTS in any way or am I just weird like that? 😅 Please share your stories with me, would love to read them!
분식점 (Bunsikjeom/Korean Diners) - History and Ordering Tips for Plant-based Eaters
History A little bit of history, and any Koreans present please do feel free to correct me. Starting in 1963 or so, during the reign of Park Chung-hee (박정희), there was apparently either a shortage of rice or it was determined that eating other crops like wheat and potatoes would be more economically efficient. There were two notable policy results of this determination:
The production of soju from rice was either banned or very strongly discouraged, and it switched to a mostly potato-based formula which is, as far as I know, still dominant today (perhaps with some rice added now that it's no longer restricted, and luxurious 100% rice sojus are available).
Nationwide, the government banned the sale of rice at restaurants between the hours of 11am and 5pm Wednesday to Saturday, from 1969-76. They began to promote "분식" (bunsik/flour-based foods) as an alternative. In its original meaning, this term largely referred to noodles (most prominently ramyeon), fried foods, dumplings, fish cakes, and various "kabobs" that could be made without significant amounts of rice.
By the mid-70s South Korea's economic situation had begun to stabilize (even Park's detractors, which include most sane people including me, acknowledge his economic brilliance) and it was no longer necessary to ration rice. But the bunsik restaurants remained, and steadily began adding rice-based dishes such as kimbap (김밥), bibimbap (비빔밥) and fried rice (bokkeumbap 볶음밥) to their menus. Bunsik Restaurants The most prominent 분식 chains nationwide are 김밥천국 (Gimbap Cheonguk, literally "Kimbap Heaven"), 김밥나라 (Gimbap Nara (meaning "Kimbap Nation"), and 김가네 (Gimgane, I think this literally means "Kim's Restaurant" like the family name Kim but I'm not sure). These are not by any means the only 분식점, but they are the easiest to find for someone who's new to Korea and may not know the language well yet. Generally Gimbap Cheonguk and Gimbap Nara have red signs. Some of these may be open 24 hours a day, although I feel like that's becoming less common as tastes diversify and convenience stores improve their offerings. Gimgane usually has yellow or white signs, is slightly more expensive than the others (due ostensibly to higher quality, though it's not really all that much better despite having a fancier menu), and will usually only be open between 11am and 9 or 10pm or so. All 3 often deliver via apps. Note: Though all three of these are chains, quality and offerings may vary. How to get Bunsik as a Vegan or Vegetarian In the comment section of another post on this subreddit I, overcome with concern for a vegan friend who admitted to indulging in copious amounts of Lotteria burgers, wrote up the following suggestions for ordering from restaurants like these: "Bibimbap's your ticket. Go to any 김밥나라/김밥천국/김가네 (Gimbap Nara/Gimbap Cheonguk/Gimgane), ubiquitous diner brands, and say: "저 계란 안먹는 채식주의자이에요. 야채비빔밥 주세요, 고기 빼고, 계란 빼고" (jeo gyeran anmeog-neun chaesikjuuija iyeyo. Yachae bibimbap juseyo, gogi-ppaego, gyeran ppaego). My Korean here may not be grammatically perfect but it should be sufficient. Literally it means "I am a vegetarian who doesn't eat eggs. Please give me vegetable bibimbap, no meat, no eggs." You should end up with a vegan bowl of rice and vegetables with spicy sauce (고추장/gochujang) that will be a palatable and healthy, if low-protein meal. It's impossible without a VERY fluent command of Korean to never end up accidentally consuming some kind of invisible amount of seafood, but most of the time the above order will be vegan as they don't usually put shrimp-fermented kimchi directly into the bibimbap as far as I know. Another option, if it's present is 유부초밥 (yubu chobap). I personally don't really like the stuff, but it's bean curd stuffed with rice and is, as far as I can tell, natively vegan. If you were to order this with bibimbap you'd have a fairly complete meal and, if you like bean curd and rice a lot, a rather satisfying one. Yubu may not be available everywhere however. I have never seen this served in a non-vegan way, but don't blame me if your server somehow innovates by adding ham or mayo. You could always say "고기 빼고, 마요 빼고, 계란 빼고" (gogi ppaego, mayo ppaego, gyeran ppaego) but they're gonna look at you especially suspiciously for that one since it probably never contains those things. Other potential options: 쫄면, 계란 빼고 (jjolmyeon, gyeran ppaego). You're asking for spicy noodles with no eggs. In my experience, this dish appears to always be vegan except for the half of a hardboiled egg placed on top, which is easy to toss. Warning: On occasions this may be very spicy. 일반김밥, 햄 빼고, 생선 빼고, 오뎅빼고, 계란 빼고 (ilban gimbap, haem ppaego, saengseon ppaego, odeng ppaego, gyeran ppaego). You're asking for standard kimbap but with no ham, fish, fish cake, or eggs. This would most likely result in, if they're willing to engage you, a roll of rice and seaweed with carrots, cucumber, radish, and maybe sesame leaf in it. I would enjoy this, personally, but as with the vegan bibimbap you're kind of short of a complete protein unless you can score some chewy black beans (검은콩 geom-eun kong) as a side dish. Asking for those, in general, might be a good way to add protein. Additional suggestion: "고추장 따로 주세요" (gochujang ttaro juseyo, meaning "give me the gochujang separately"). This should result in a small adjoining plate of generally vegan hot pepper sauce. You can substitute 간장/gangjang for gochujang in this phrase, if you like salty food, and have soy sauce to dip your yubu or kimbap in. Note, if you say this when ordering bibimbap or maybe even jjolmyeon you might get the spicy sauce on the side instead of inside the main bowl (장/jang means sauce in general, when the sauce you're referencing is already known to the listener). This is useful if you aren't good with very spicy things, but is also adding to the litany of special requests and thus might engender a degree of resentment if the staff feel busy at the time." Additional options: Soy Milk Noodles - 콩국수/콩물국수 (kongguksu or kongmulguksu) - This is a natively vegan dish, consisting simply of noodles served in unsweetened soy milk, with sugar and/or salt served on the side. The reason I didn't mention it above is that there are many restaurants which will refuse to (or be unable to) serve it during the colder half of the year. 설탕 (seoltang) is sugar, 소금 (sogeum) is salt. Vegetable Fried Rice - 야채볶음밥, 고기 빼주세요 (yaechae bokkeumbap, gogi ppaejuseyo) - This is also an option for vegans maybe if you ask for the eggs removed (gyeran ppaejuseyo). Tteokbokki - 떡볶이, 어묵 빼주세요 (tteokbokki, eomuk ppaejuseyo) - Rice cakes in spicy sauce, with the fish cake removed. Normally contains eggs, which vegan folk can have removed as mentioned above. Omurice - 오므라이스, 고기 빼주세요 (Omeuraiseu, gogi ppaejuseyo). This is fried rice wrapped in an omelet, originally a Japanese dish. Due to the prominence of eggs, it is wholly unsuitable for vegans. On the subject of kimchi: A final note on kimchi. Kimchi is generally fermented using seafood, most frequently shrimp. Vegan versions can be ordered online (see lovinghut.co.kr), but will rarely be encountered outside of specialty veg*n restaurants. That said, I estimate I've had kimchi over five thousand times, and perhaps ten to twenty of those times have I actually been able to see the seafood in it (usually oysters in very recently made specialty kimchi, as I recall, it's been a few years). So, for new visitors to Korea, you'll have to decide how strict you're going to be about avoiding it, as it will be on almost every single table at which traditional Korean food is served and is so ubiquitous that it is essentially a metaphor for the culture itself. Literally they spent supposedly millions of dollars to develop a space kimchi for Yi So-yeon, the first Korean astronaut, and Park Chung-hee warned Lyndon Johnson that if supply lines in Vietnam were unable to deliver kimchi to the front that the Korean soldiers would be unable to fight well due to a devastating drop in morale. For any of you vegetarians who have decided you'll try kimchi, I recommend: 김치김밥, 햄과 어묵을 빼주세요 (gimchi gimbap, haem-gwa eomuk-eul ppaejuseyo) - Gimchi gimbap, no ham, no fish cake. As above, if you don't eat eggs, say "gyeran ppaejuseyo"). 김치볶음밥, 고기과 햄 빼주세요 (gimchi bokkeumbap, gogi-gwa haem ppaejuseyo) - If you've read this far, you'll know what this is. TLDR: Most important phrases: x 주세요 (x juseyo, give me x) y 빼주세요 (y ppaejuseyo, get rid of the y) Restaurants: 김밥천국, 김밥나라, 김가네 Food: bibimbap, yubu chobap, jjolmyeon, gimbap, kongguksu, bokkeumbap, tteokbokki, omurice
Sesame oil and gochujang have been helping me enjoy eating rice, couscous and quinoa. For those who don't know gochujang is a Korean spicy paste made from chillies and glutinous rice and is bangers when combined with toasted sesame oil. You can get a container of gochujang for around $5 in most grocery stores and it will last you months. You can use it to make many variants of bibimbap, for example: Couscous cucumber bowl: Fry up some protein of your choice in sesame oil: chicken, eggs, shrimp. Add in shredded basil and a healthy dollop of gochujang. Once the protein is cooked, add in sliced cucumbers or carrots and cook for a minute. Still want the crunch! Stir in pre-cooked rice/couscous/quinoa and finish with a squeeze of lemon.
15 healthy vegetarian meals for under $2 per person
Hi all, As a grad student, my pitiful stipend and high rent are powerful motivators to try to make my food budget as small as possible, while still enjoying food every day. I've always been very keen on recipes that tick all the boxes of healthy, cheap, and delicious, so I've compiled a list of 15 of my favorites dishes that check all of these boxes, and I decided to spreadsheet all of the ingredients for these meals to see how much they cost per serving. Interestingly, they all came down to under $2 per serving, and several were under $1 per serving. Ingredient and per-serving breakdown:Here is the album of ingredient spreadsheets. They are also listed individually below. I didn't include the cost of salt and pepper. Note that the "Unit Conversion Factor" is the ratio of dish units to purchase units (e.g., if I need to convert a tablespoon to an oz). "Cost per recipe" is found by multiplying amount used by purchase price, multiplying that by the conversion factor, and dividing by the amount purchased. This assumes 100% efficiency of the ingredients, which is not completely possible. One thing that really helps is to make homemade veggie stock by saving all peelings, scraps, skins, etc., and saving them in the freezer. It cuts down on food waste and also provides a practically free ingredient. I just empty the bag of accumulated veggies into the instant pot and cook on high for 30 minutes along with a bay leaf and some peppercorns. Healthy: Of course, "healthy" is difficult to define, but almost all of these recipes contain a lot of vegetables and a decent amount of protein. Cheap: Eating dinner for under $2 or under $1 is pretty great. My partner and I usually choose 3-4 of these meals to eat per week, we try 1-2 new recipes, and do 1-2 "wing it" recipes. We budget approximately $65 per week on groceries, and are often under budget. Breakfast we have homemade bread, and we meal prep lunches (may elaborate in a future post.) Delicious: Honestly, all of these recipes are very tasty in my books. We like to eat a variety of food, and tend to really like big flavors and a lot of spices, and these all check the boxes. Lentil soup is probably the blandest thing on here, but it still hits home for me every time. Vegetarian: None of these dishes contain meat. Lots of these are vegan, but some of them contain eggs, dairy, or honey. I should also note that I make both the Phat Phrik Khing and Vegetarian Chili with fish sauce, which is not vegetarian, but that can be worked around. Caveats: I am very fortunate in that I am less than 15 minutes away from an Aldi which has very cheap produce and staples, a Korean market that has good priced tofu, and a bulk Indian+Persian grocery store that has a large variety of produce, spices, and staples. I understand that the prices will vary depending on your own grocery store prices, and may be much more expensive if you are outside of the US or don't have a local Aldi. The Dishes: I don't want to write out each recipe right now, but I will either link recipes or provide some guidance below. Most of the linked recipes are Serious Eats, I find them to be a very reliable recipe source.
Aloo Gobi - link. The 10lb bag of potatoes at my local Aldi fluctuates between $0.99 and $1.99, making it one of the best calorie-per-dollar sources available to me.
Bibimbap - this one doesn't need a "recipe." Make rice, stir fry veg individually (or all together if you don't need it to be as pretty), top with a fried egg. The soy, sesame, and gochujang are stirred into a sauce and drizzled on top.
Black Bean Burger w/ Spinach Salad - Cook soaked beans, mush everything together, form patties, and fry. We go bunless and serve with a side salad, but that's just because hamburger buns are annoying to buy. This recipe is in the America's Test Kitchen "The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook."
Chana Masala - link. One of my favorites on here. Instead of rice, flatbreads are great with this.
Chickpea Feta Farro Bowls - cook chickpeas and sautee them to get a bit crisp. Add kale and toss with za'atar. Serve over farro, add raw tomatoes, and drizzle with tahini-honey mixture.
Dan Dan Noodles w/ Egg - link. Sub mushrooms for meat. The egg on top really adds to the dish and makes it more of a meal.
Gong Bao Tofu (Kung Pao Tofu) - link. Instead of chicken, I just stir fry the tofu in some oil to crisp it up and continue the rest of the recipe.
Lentil Soup - link. I'm not a fan of parsley so I omit it, but rosemary is nice in its place.
Mujaddara - link. I like the technique of frying the onions with flour to get them crisper. I didn't include every single spice here, but they'd only add a few more cents.
Phat Phrik Khing - No recipe needed. Just stir fry tofu and beans, add curry paste and soy sauce but keep it pretty dry, and serve with rice. Dinner in 15 minutes. If you want this to be truly vegetarian (no fish sauce), make sure your curry paste is vegetarian.
Tempeh Taco Bowl - Cook black beans after soaking. Stir fry up the onion, tempeh, jalapenos, corn, and garlic. Serve over rice, garnish with avocado and cilantro. Might need a dash of Mexican hot sauce.
Vegetarian Bolognese w/ Spaghetti - link but instead of meat, we add mushrooms and more carrots. Even without the meat, the long slow roasting makes for a delicious sauce. We always freeze some in quart-size freezer bags for a quick and easy pasta dish.
Vegetarian Chili - link but instead of meat and red kidney beans, we do a mixture of pinto beans, black beans, and lentils. I use a different blend of chiles each time I do this. This is a great batch recipe that freezes well.
Concluding thoughts: I learned these recipes by either browsing Serious Eats or watching videos from channels like Bon Appetit, Binging with Babish, Adam Ragusea, and others. I will note that lots of these recipes do take a bit of time or planning ahead (e.g., soaking beans overnight), and they are not all easy. I have found that organizing weekly meal plans and preparing ahead are huge factors in cutting down on a grocery budget. Please let me know if you notice any mistakes in my ingredient lists, and feel free to ask any questions. I hope that this post has convinced some of you to try some of these out! I have played around with the idea of making a YouTube guide for some of these recipes, but dunno if it's worth the time and effort. Edit: Here is a public link for the spreadsheet on Google Drive. Feel free to copy it to your drive, make new recipes, adjust for your own prices, etc.
Welcome to April’s serving of Have You Eaten? This month our chosen food is Bibimbap, also known as mixed rice. The name bibimbap breaks into two parts to describe the meal - bibim (비빔) meaning “to mix with various ingredients” and bap (밥) meaning “rice”. Bibimbap is a simple, homely yet hearty and relatively healthy meal. It is usually prepared with rice, whatever banchan (반찬 or side dishes) is at hand and mixed with some sauce to tie it all together, traditionally gochujang (고추장 or red chilli/pepper paste) is used. A Brief History of Bibimbap The true origin story of bibimbap’s creation is not actually known. There are a number of theories about when and where in history it first was created:
Royal origins theory - It was originally a simple dish known as “sura” ( 수라 King’s meal) served during the Joseon dynasty when a light meal was required or when the royal family attended court.
Peasant food theory - During harvest season farmers would take all their food combined in one bowl with them.
Donghak uprising theory - During the uprising of 1894 the rebels were forced to mix their dishes together as there was a general lack of crockery to eat from.
Eunbok theory - After the completion of ancestral rites people would take a portion of each dish into a bowl and mix them together.
Lunar New Year theory - On the eve of the lunar new year ordinary people would take all the leftover food they had and mix it together with rice as it was considered necessary to get rid of all uneaten dishes before the new year began.
It is believed that the dish was originally known as “goldongban” which translates as “rice mixed vigorously” (also “hwaban” which means “flower blooming on top of rice”) and is recorded as early as the 17th century, with the earliest recipe being recorded in the Siuijeonseo. Some sources state this is the first in print mention of “bibimbap”, however, a study from 2015 argues against this. In the late 1990’s Korea Air was the first airline to serve bibimbap as an inflight meal paving the way for it to become an internationally renowned signature dish of Korea. Since then the dish has grown in popularity on a global scale. Now there are all sorts of modern takes on bibimbap from cup bibimbap, to easy microwavable bibimbap, to all sorts of bibimbap flavoured dishes, they have even developed it so that astronauts can fulfil their bibimbap cravings but none of these can beat the original form. Symbolism of Bibimbap As a dish bibimbap is very symbolic. It is said to “symbolise the harmony and balance in Korean culture”. Additionally the individual colours of the ingredients are also symbolic following the principles of the five elemental colours (Obangsaek 오방색) each colour represents a body part, a position and an element.
Colour
Body Part
Position
Element
Representative Ingredients in Bibimbap
Red(Orange)
Heart
South
Fire
Gochugang, Carrots, Chilli, Jujube
Black(Brown)
Kidneys
North
Water
Mushrooms, Seaweed, Beef
Blue(Green)
Liver
East
Tree
Cucumber, Spinach
Yellow
Stomach
Centre
Earth
Egg Yolk
White
Lungs
West
Metal
Rice, Bean Sprouts, Radish
Varieties of Bibimbap As mentioned above bibimbap is a dish which combines rice with a number of ingredients, the typical inclusions you will see are namul (sauteed seasoned vegetables 나물) and kimchi (김치). It may be topped with a protein (either cooked or raw) and/or an egg (either cooked or raw). Gochujang is typically added to bring everything together and add a kick. Other common additions include sesame oil, soy sauce, and doenjang (fermented soybean paste 된장). Bibimbap is endlessly customisable to an individual’s taste, so I’ll just discuss a few of the main versions you can find. The names of the different variations of bibimbap generally stem from the location in which they originated, the type of dish in which they are served, or the type of protein featured in them. Jeonju Bibimbap (전주비빔밥) - the most famous of all regional bibimbap varieties. In this version there are many different inclusions most importantly the rice is cooked in beef and bean sprout broth and one of the inclusions is bean sprouts grown in the area. This is typically served in a warm brass bowl. Dolsot Bibimbap (hot stone pot bibimbap 돌솥 비빔밥) - this version of bibimbap is served in a hot stone pot Yangpun Bibimbap (양푼비빔밥) - this version of bibimbap is served in a yangpun bowl (metal bowl). Sanchae Bibimbap (bibimbap with wild vegetables 산채비빔밥 ) - this version of bibimbap is made using seasoned leafy greens and other wild root vegetables found in the mountains. Memorable Scenes in Korean Dramas Featuring Bibimbap Bibimbap usually appears in a drama under one of the following circumstances:
A character has reached a new low /is stressed out by life; they drown their sorrows in a big bowl of bibimbap usually whilst wearing their best tracksuit/in secret.
A character is too lazy to prepare a meal or has almost no food left to eat and they are starving
A lower class character is eating in front of a chaebol or higher class character and for some reason they have no ramen on hand (poor sheltered chaebols have never tried either of these foods, it’s pretty hilarious!)
A character needs to bond over food with someone they are not that close to. Bibimbap is best when shared out of a big metal bowl.
As this is the usual case it’s hard to think of too many super memorable scenes featuring bibimbap. Here are a few that I personally enjoyed: In the first season of Let’s Eat Lee Soo Kyung’s mother comes to visit and prepares bibimbap as a meal and comments that it might not be good enough. Goo Dae Yeong replies that it is perfect as it is impossible to get the right taste when only making one portion. Apart from the horror of the eggshell in the frying pan that catches my eye every time I watch, this is a great mukbang scene which showcases the dish bibimbap and how it should be eaten well. It definitely made me want to try it out. In the classic rom-com Full House, frustrated at waiting for Young Jae to come home, Ji Eun begins a late dinnerof bibimbap. When he arrives home she offers him some only for him to tell her “that’s not bibimbap, that’s dog food!. No, I don’t eat things like that”. A few days later she catches him stuffing his face with bibimbap and has to help him alleviate his resulting indigestion. I really like how the scene where Rain prepares the bibimbap and stuffs his face is shot, so here’s an endless loop of it. Bibimbap is a common feature in many family dramas as you see more of the characters day to day life which includes simple home meals like bibimbap. In the drama Smile, You, the family members were under strict rules for when and what they could eat and so there were a few sneaky bibimbap scenes along the way. In one of these scenes, in order to get Jung In to eat something after having not eaten all day Hyun Soo demands she make him some food. Reluctantly she prepares him some bibimbap which he rejects saying it is too salty and that she has to eat it all or she’ll dob her in for wasting food. The bibimbap she prepared was so-so but this scene was particularly nice as it highlighted the change in the leads relationship. What bibimbap scenes are memorable for you? What Experiences Have you had Eating and Making Bibimbap? Bibimbap is my mother’s absolute favourite Korean food, so I have extremely warm feelings about it because she gets adorably excited at the prospect of eating it every single time it comes up in conversation. I didn’t personally try it before my trip to Korea as it was something that was easy to find everywhere. My first time eating it was on my flight to Korea and it was so delicious I was mad at myself for choosing other dishes over it in the past. I also ate it by the seaside after visiting Odeo island. I am not 100% sure what sea creature it was because my Korean is about as basic as my ability to identify sea creatures. I think it was possibly sea urchin, whatever it was it was pretty great. As for cooking, I’ve made bibimbap a few times but I’m pretty lazy with the whole cooking the ingredients separately in order of darkness concept so I don't make it very often. My Korean Kitchen is my usual go to for Korean recipes. By some miracle I managed to find some gochujang at the supermarket today so I’m going to make this one for dinner tonight. What’s the Next Course? Next month is KDRAMA’s 10th birthday so we will be celebrating in the traditional way with a bowl of Seaweed Soup (Miyeok guk 미역국) on the big day (Sunday 10th of May). Until then we’d love to hear your experiences with bibimbap be it simply on screen envy or more in the comments below. Additional Bibimbap Material:
My wife and I are thinking about opening a small Korean restaurant in the next yearish. (Coronavirus obviously a consideration on the timescale.) Below are the things I've been thinking about, and I'd love you to pick holes in my ideas or shoot down my lofty aspirations. My goals in a restaurant are: - To offer a unique food experience so we can get some local media or social media attention. - To sell food with an excellent profit margin. - To create an easily replicable business model so that we can open future branches, or consider franchising in the future. And to increase the value if we decide to sell out to a larger group. (Ideally to someone like CJ). - To sell food which is easy to prepare, ie something you can train a cook to prepare in a short time, rather than needing a highly trained chef. (Food wise -- obviously kitchen management, stock management etc. still needs skill.) - With the potential risk in the coming years of potential future shutdowns, it would ideally be something that can be run with the minimum of staff. Ideally one person in the kitchen, and one front of house. Dealing with lots of staff during furloughs and shutdowns etc. would be stress I don't want to deal with. - To open a first outlet as a proof of concept, and, when it's profitable, open additional outlets with a goal toward franchising in the future. My goal is not: - To open one single restaurant and slave away for years for a small income with no time off for the love of the food. The food: The current plan is to focus on a very limited number of dishes in order to keep it simple on the kitchen end, and hopefully create buzz around the main dish. This would be Korean bibimbap, offered in vegan, vegetarian and perhaps 3 meat-included varieties. We may offer additional dishes but I'm leaning toward keeping it simple for both marketing and management purposes. The reason I am leaning toward a focus on bibimbap are: - Cheap cost of ingredients. The food cost per dish will be <$1-$2 depending on which version is ordered. - Most of it can be prepared in advance and then assembled to order, meaning the kitchen can be run by a very small number of people. By small, I mean 1, depending on opening hours. - Healthy image - Easily adapted to the growing vegetarian and vegan sector. - Could possibly be adopted to other diets e.g. keto/no carb by replacing the rice if the demand seemed to be there. - Relatively quick customer turnover due to simple dishes and fast prep time, meaning a smaller restaurant can be quite profitable. To start, my wife would do the cooking and I would manage front of house and marketing etc. I have experience working in a variety of restaurants, bars, nightclubs etc. as a server and manager. This was years ago, but the 'theory' is still the same. Modern marketing etc. is of course new. My wife is a great cook but has no experience working in commercial kitchens etc. We will work on costings, sourcing suppliers, standardized recipes etc. together. This will need serious planning to get it right from the beginning. I'm hoping good pre-planning and the softest of soft-opens will give time for us to get the kitchen-side of things down. Why not K-BBQ? If you're wondering, I did think about Korean barbecue. But we've decided against it for now. A barbecue restaurant would need more staff, and quite frankly the health and safety issues may be tough to overcome here. There are no KBBQ restaurants, or anything similar, where we live and I expect getting the first one approved would be a lot of hassle, for a lower profit margin than what I'm thinking about. Also, I don't want to smell of smoke all day every day. Additional income streams: -Take out -- could easily be done, and if planned from the outset a takeout window could be set up. Easy to pack for take out. -Delivery -- maybe. - Could add some special drinks like bubble tea or something. Not keen on this initially. - Could offer kimchi and gochujang for sale. - Future franchising etc. (Long term, this is the big one, short term it's irrelevant until the business is proven.) - Could do special events for things like K-pop big releases, movie watching etc. Competition / Similar businesses We live on an island with about 1 million people, with no Korean restaurants. There is a very popular Japanese-esque 'noodle' restaurant mini-chain with a couple of locations, which is probably the closest business to what I have in mind. While I haven't seen their books, looking at their menu and how full their restaurants are, I'm pretty sure they're a very profitable restaurant. Location: The island we live on is a tourist island, similar to Oahu, with a similar climate. About 5 million tourists in a year historically, though that is, umm, changing right now. Unlike Oahu, there are no Korean restaurants here. The local population is about a million, with the capital and its metropolitan area being about half a million. I am leaning strongly toward targeting the local population rather than tourists, due to the fact that locals are here year round, whereas tourists... aren't. If the business was particularly successful, and we wanted to open new branches, then we might move into the tourist regions (which are currently ghost towns. Unlike the capital which is now fully open for business again, with many busy restaurants.) I'd like to focus on local residents for a more steady business. For the first outlet, I'm thinking that opening near 'the university' may be a good idea. The next couple of locations (if the first is a success) would be in business type areas targeting workers on their lunch breaks, or youngish couples out on dates in the evening. So. Those are my main thoughts. Am I on the right track, or a terrible one? Any obvious flaws? Should I aim for a bigger menu with more dishes and more staff instead? Have you observed any Korean restaurants fail, and if so, what were their obvious problems? Have you observed any Korean restaurants succeed wildly, and if so, what made them successful? Appreciate any and all feedback!
15 healthy vegetarian meals for under $2 per person (x-post from /r/EatCheapAndHealthy)
I'm x-posting my /EatCheapAndHealthy post because it's receiving some positive feedback, and I thought y'all would be interested! Hi all, As a grad student, my pitiful stipend and high rent are powerful motivators to try to make my food budget as small as possible, while still enjoying food every day. I've always been very keen on recipes that tick all the boxes of healthy, cheap, and delicious, so I've compiled a list of 15 of my favorites dishes that check all of these boxes, and I decided to spreadsheet all of the ingredients for these meals to see how much they cost per serving. Interestingly, they all came down to under $2 per serving, and several were under $1 per serving. Ingredient and per-serving breakdown:Here is the album of ingredient spreadsheets. They are also listed individually below. I didn't include the cost of salt and pepper. Note that the "Unit Conversion Factor" is the ratio of dish units to purchase units (e.g., if I need to convert a tablespoon to an oz). "Cost per recipe" is found by multiplying amount used by purchase price, multiplying that by the conversion factor, and dividing by the amount purchased. This assumes 100% efficiency of the ingredients, which is not completely possible. One thing that really helps is to make homemade veggie stock by saving all peelings, scraps, skins, etc., and saving them in the freezer. It cuts down on food waste and also provides a practically free ingredient. I just empty the bag of accumulated veggies into the instant pot and cook on high for 30 minutes along with a bay leaf and some peppercorns. Healthy: Of course, "healthy" is difficult to define, but almost all of these recipes contain a lot of vegetables and a decent amount of protein. Cheap: Eating dinner for under $2 or under $1 is pretty great. My partner and I usually choose 3-4 of these meals to eat per week, we try 1-2 new recipes, and do 1-2 "wing it" recipes. We budget approximately $65 per week on groceries, and are often under budget. Breakfast we have homemade bread, and we meal prep lunches (may elaborate in a future post.) Delicious: Honestly, all of these recipes are very tasty in my books. We like to eat a variety of food, and tend to really like big flavors and a lot of spices, and these all check the boxes. Lentil soup is probably the blandest thing on here, but it still hits home for me every time. Vegetarian: None of these dishes contain meat. Lots of these are vegan, but some of them contain eggs, dairy, or honey. I should also note that I make both the Phat Phrik Khing and Vegetarian Chili with fish sauce, which is not vegetarian, but that can be worked around. Caveats: I am very fortunate in that I am less than 15 minutes away from an Aldi which has very cheap produce and staples, a Korean market that has good priced tofu, and a bulk Indian+Persian grocery store that has a large variety of produce, spices, and staples. I understand that the prices will vary depending on your own grocery store prices, and may be much more expensive if you are outside of the US or don't have a local Aldi. The Dishes: I don't want to write out each recipe right now, but I will either link recipes or provide some guidance below. Most of the linked recipes are Serious Eats, I find them to be a very reliable recipe source.
Aloo Gobi - link. The 10lb bag of potatoes at my local Aldi fluctuates between $0.99 and $1.99, making it one of the best calorie-per-dollar sources available to me.
Bibimbap - this one doesn't need a "recipe." Make rice, stir fry veg individually (or all together if you don't need it to be as pretty), top with a fried egg. The soy, sesame, and gochujang are stirred into a sauce and drizzled on top.
Black Bean Burger w/ Spinach Salad - mush everything together, form patties, and fry. We go bunless and serve with a side salad, but that's just because hamburger buns are annoying to buy. This recipe is in the America's Test Kitchen "The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook."
Chana Masala - link. One of my favorites on here. Instead of rice, flatbreads are great with this.
Chickpea Feta Farro Bowls - cook chickpeas and sautee them to get a bit crisp. Add kale and toss with za'atar. Serve over farro, add raw tomatoes, and drizzle with tahini-honey mixture.
Dan Dan Noodles w/ Egg - link. Sub mushrooms for meat. The egg on top really adds to the dish and makes it more of a meal.
Gong Bao Tofu (Kung Pao Tofu) - link. Instead of chicken, I just stir fry the tofu in some oil to crisp it up and continue the rest of the recipe.
Lentil Soup - link. I'm not a fan of parsley so I omit it, but rosemary is nice in its place.
Mujaddara - link. I like the technique of frying the onions with flour to get them crisper. I didn't include every single spice here, but they'd only add a few more cents.
Phat Phrik Khing - No recipe needed. Just stir fry tofu and beans, add curry paste and soy sauce but keep it pretty dry, and serve with rice. Dinner in 15 minutes. If you want this to be truly vegetarian (no fish sauce), make sure your curry paste is vegetarian.
Tempeh Taco Bowl - Cook black beans after soaking. Stir fry up the onion, tempeh, jalapenos, corn, and garlic. Serve over rice, garnish with avocado and cilantro. Might need a dash of Mexican hot sauce.
Vegetarian Bolognese w/ Spaghetti - link but instead of meat, we add mushrooms and more carrots. Even without the meat, the long slow roasting makes for a delicious sauce. We always freeze some in quart-size freezer bags for a quick and easy pasta dish.
Vegetarian Chili - link but instead of meat and red kidney beans, we do a mixture of pinto beans, black beans, and lentils. I use a different blend of chiles each time I do this. This is a great batch recipe that freezes well.
Concluding thoughts: I learned these recipes by either browsing Serious Eats or watching videos from channels like Bon Appetit, Binging with Babish, Adam Ragusea, and others. I will note that lots of these recipes do take a bit of time or planning ahead (e.g., soaking beans overnight), and they are not all easy. I have found that organizing weekly meal plans and preparing ahead are huge factors in cutting down on a grocery budget. Please let me know if you notice any mistakes in my ingredient lists, and feel free to ask any questions. I hope that this post has convinced some of you to try some of these out! I have played around with the idea of making a YouTube guide for some of these recipes, but dunno if it's worth the time and effort. Edit: Here is a public link for the spreadsheet on Google Drive. Feel free to copy it to your drive, make new recipes, adjust for your own prices, etc.
Sorry for the Americentric question. Have gone to tons of Korean restaurants, and they all feature a very similar style--they all serve very healthy food, that hasn't been doused in grease, and is generally pretty subtle in flavor while still being delicious. Unless you get the outright spicy/umami stuff of course. My favorites are Bibimbap, Nyaengmon and some of the lightly seasoned Banchan. I still eat the spicier stuff too. Other cuisines (Chinese, Indian, Italian) generally do not do this at all, and are full of grease and fat--I always feel terrible after eating at them. It seems like Korean restaurant food is somehow more "traditional", and maybe Korean food is even healthier on average than "authentic" foods from other cuisines.
Hello I'm learning the HTML and CSS coding from udemy , and just can't figure it out where is the mistake. I tried to delete almost everything to see where is the problem, but I just can't figure it out. The horizontal orange line won't take the right margin size. It should be like on the left side on the picture. https://imgur.com/6X3Yl8P Here is the whole files: https://gofile.io/?c=lIYlR4 Would be a big help to keep up the good work.
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Trip Report (Kanto and Kansai from Sep 29 - Oct 15!)
Trip Report Time! My first trip to Japan was a huge success! You might even say it was the trip of a lifetime. Lurking this subreddit for 3 months helped me a lot with regards to planning it out, so I'd like to give back with an overly-detailed accounting of how things went, and in the spirit of other reports I've seen, list where I succeeded, where I messed up, and what I could have done differently. This post may actually be longer than War and Peace, so feel free to use the search function to find relevant locations. Mods, please remove any of my links if inappropriate. I traveled solo with just a carry-on backpack, messenger bag, and JR Pass, and my intention was to go sightseeing and see as much variety in Japan as I could squeeze into 15 days, and as cheaply as possible. I charted out the distances between the places I wanted to go and even printed out daily itineraries into booklets via Odigo.com. I also reasoned that walking a lot would keep me in shape for work, allow me to see more of the country than if I were in subways most of the time, and save me money, since I’d be spending less if I was constantly on the move. As someone who has lived in Manila, Los Angeles, and other places with great Japanese food, I have had consistently great Japanese food my whole life, and it's never as fun for me to eat alone, so food wasn't my #1 priority, although I did allot a couple of nights to pigging out. I have good legs and stamina and I accomplished my goals and then some, and although I wasn't able to do a couple of things due to poor planning (should be a no-brainer, but please check the closed days for parks and markets in advance!!), random encounters, or unexpected circumstances, I'm really happy with how my trip turned out, though please be aware that my plans involved a lot of walking (though some of that distance was from being turned around, lost, or too stubborn or cheap). According to my phone, I walked a total of 228.3 miles (367.4 km) in 15 days. Original plans in italics under each date. After my recollection of events, I will detail what I might have done differently, as well as my thoughts in hindsight. TL;DR, quick and dirty tips for solo travelers day-tripping traveling at this time of year or earlier:
Pack light for day trips. I mean the bare essentials.
Important - you will be walking a lot, so bring the best insoles you can get, and have your laces loose to prevent blisters.
Bring stick deodorant, and buy Gatsby wipes.
A small, absorbent microfiber towel around the neck works wonders to absorb sweat caused by activity/humidity.
I wore a dorky-looking but very functional RFID-blocking passport + cash + coin + ID holder around my neck. I found it to be essential and don't know what I would have done without it.
One high-capacity power bank is great. Two is recommended.
If you need selfie sticks, Don Quijote has cheaper ones than Yodabashi Camera (which typically has them on the first floor - don't go searching in vain in the camera section like I did).
I didn't have an unlocked phone, so I went with Pocket WiFi, which worked great.
Conbini breakfasts and lunches are most convenient for early risers/travelers hoping to get the most out of the daylight in late summeearly fall.
Google Maps works very well for getting around Tokyo. It will even direct you to the right platforms. But if you're wanting to use one of the Kyoto Metro bus/subway passes, you'll definitely want to prepare a bit more, because Google Maps constantly directed me to the JR buses, which are not covered by the passes. So in Kyoto, it generally pays to study the detailed map and set of routes that the attendants in Kyoto Station offer freely with the bus/subway passes. Or you could just pay flat rates as you go and walk a lot.
I took two semesters of Japanese in college and reviewed some of the language before leaving the USA. It was time well-spent. Much of Tokyo is English-friendly, but even a little bit of Japanese goes a long way in terms of communication. Being Filipino/Korean/American and having a better accent than an actual grasp on the language, I was often mistaken for a local, and the replies would be so fast I would have difficulty decoding them, so I actually learned to speak slowly and with a bit of a forced accent, to make it clear I was a tourist. So in some ways, my Japanese actually got worse while I was in Japan!
I walked so much every day, it was imperative I showered each night, and since I packed quite light in terms of clothing, I had to allot an hour and a half of time to do wash every 3-4 days.
Keep a stock of gummy vitamins and Vitamin-C drinks to stay healthy. Drink those gel-based energy drinks. Pocari Sweat is great for electrolytes.
What I'm glad I did:
Scheduled two onsen trips, spaced evenly and after consecutive heavy travel days. The hot spring waters did wonders for me. I would have gone to a third onsen if I had another day.
Used hostels in Tokyo and Kyoto as day bases to travel, and absorbed the cost of two nights to be able to leave my main backpack there for overnight trips in Kawaguchiko and Takayama.
Walked as often as I could. This helped me save on money, allowed me to more fully experience the regions I was traveling in, kept me fit, and gave me ample opportunities for photography.
Brought two power banks, just to have them.
Printed out little itinerary booklets in advance, complete with addresses and notes. Crossing off things from my list was so satisfying and helped me to make and change plans on the fly.
Went and spoke to the JR Pass employees personally to help me reserve seats for each shinkansen trip. I'd just tell them where I wanted to go, and voila! My tickets were printed out. This was usually a short and painless procedure and saved me the trouble of figuring things out for myself.
What I would have done differently right off the bat:
Should have brought my work insoles and worn more comfortable, if less fashionable, shoes.
Didn't need the Green JR Pass. During my trip, the Green Cars were more often than not sparsely populated, so the reserved seating, comfort, and the ability to charge my electronics was a big plus, but I felt that I could have gotten by just fine on the regular JR Pass.
Should have brought a small collapsible umbrella with me, something that could hang off my messenger bag. That said, my friend's umbrella did double as a walking stick in a couple of helpful instances.
Wish that I'd been a bit less ambitious in terms of walking around Kyoto without my eyes glued to my GPS, especially at night. I ought to have spent a few minutes just figuring out the bus/train routes, and may have seen a bit more than I did.
Wish I'd studied the Kyoto bus and transit system in more detail, rather than relying on apps.
Wish I'd brought Kyoto's green tea home for friends and family.
Wish I'd allotted a bit more time to study up on Kanji before my trip.
Wish I'd brought a roller luggage instead of a backpack for my carry-on - it would have been a bit easier to bring around and I might have fit more gifts/souvenirs in it.
Wish I'd planned better to see the Tsukiji Fish Market rather than leaving the visit to the last minute, realizing it was closed, and missing out entirely.
What I will do differently next time:
Travel with friends, for added fun value
Experience more nightlife
Eat more food
Travel to see other regions (Hokkaido, Sapporo, Hiroshima, Okinawa, Fukushima, Kanazawa, etc...)
Bring an International driver's license, just in case
My go-to kit for day trips: A microfiber towel to put around my neck for sweat, a tumbler filled with water from my hostel's filter jug, my phone and pocket wifi, a pack of Gatsby wipes, a new stick deodorant I brought with me, my small notebook, map, and power bank (I brought two power banks and cycled them every day to let the other charge/rest). 9/29 Fri Plan: Arrive at Haneda International Airport in evening, pick up pocket WiFi, check in at Asakusa-area hostel (9/29-10/5 booking) Went as expected, except for stupidly losing my Suica card on the train due to squeezing through crowds at my exit. Be careful! Hang onto those cards, or personalize them with your name, so you can redeem if lost! 9/30 Sat Plan: Akihabara, possibly see friend/s, go on Tokyo Pub Crawl Actual destinations: (...walked to) Ueno Park (...train to) Tokyo Imperial Palace and Gardens, Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art (...train to) Ginza, Tokyo National Film Center (...train to) Akihabara Electric Town, Yodabashi Camera, Square-Enix Cafe (...train to) Roppongi Tokyo Pub Crawl This day didn't go as planned at all, but it was still great. Fueled by energy, I got up super early and filled with adrenaline. I had prepared my messenger bag with the bare essentials (my go-to kit). Then I picked up coffee, breakfast, and onigiri from the 7-11 to sustain me until lunch (a daily routine), then walked from my Asakusa area hostel to Ueno Park (beautiful), then took the train from Ueno Station to the Tokyo Imperial Palace. I walked the grounds, then headed to the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art (stunning). Then I hopped on over to Ginza to walk the strip and purchase some slim but stretchy pants at GU (since I realized I hadn't packed enough pants). This was a short trip, since I was really in the area to see the National Film Center (worth it only for hardcore Japanese film buffs - if you don't know who Kenji Mizoguchi is, give it a pass), which was also hosting a Jean-Pierre Melville exhibit. Then I returned to my hostel to change before heading out to Akihabara, where I checked out Yodabashi Camera and hung out at the Electric Town for a spell. Then it was off to Roppongi for the Tokyo Pub Crawl. This was an interesting way to spend the night, so to speak, and though I'm not a big drinker, the free drinks were on the weak side. The bars were crazy packed, but there was a bit more space at the clubs. I met up with a friend from my hostel, then spoke with a lot of other fellow tourists and swapped information. After meeting up with an old friend of mine from college and grabbing some ramen with him and his girlfriend, my hostel friend and I split the cab fare back to our hostel. I can't remember how much it cost, but it was definitely under 2,000 Yen each, and we both got some change after that. All in all, a fine day. What I ought to have done: If I had known I'd be traveling so much on my first day, I ought to have definitely bought a subway day pass. I spent a lot of Yen just hopping from station to station on this day. 10/1 Sun Plan: Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya, see friend/s at night Actual destinations: (...walk to) Tokyo Skytree (...train to) Asakusa Jinja Shrine and Senso-ji Temple (...train to) Akihabara - Sega Akihabara, Gamers, Mandarake Complex, Super Potato, etc… (...train to) Yoyogi Park, Harajuku’s Takeshita Street (...train to) Shibuya Station, Shibuya JR Park Possibly my most productive day in Tokyo. I had to make up for lost time and get ahead of my schedule, so I woke up and set out early, walked to the Tokyo Skytree to see it from below, then took a short train ride to the Asakusa Senso-ji Temple (packed with Chinese tourists, and the long walkway in was a tourist trap, but the crowds didn't bother me, the monks were praying, and the beautiful ceiling of the main hall was so worth it). After picking up a few small souvenirs, seeing the sights, and paying homage at the Jinja Shrine, I ate some cream-filled melon buns and took the subway to Akihabara. I'm a huge nerd so I could have spent all my time and savings here, but that's why I made a strict itinerary and only brought carry-ons. I picked up a few souvenirs, had some fun at Super Potato, and tried some games. Then I headed to Harajuku to see the cosplayers and street performers, but I arrived a bit late into the afternoon. I got turned around by the crowds at the exit of the JR Station and ended up wandering into Yoyogi Park by mistake, which was a fortunate mistake, because it was beautiful. Didn't go into the Meiji Shrine (lines were long), but I could admire it from the outside, and the stroll through the wide pathway between tall trees and towering torii gates left me breathless. Finally, I wandered down Takeshita Street and saw some amazing clothes and had some tasty crepes. Then after the obligatory photo with Hachiko, I met up with my old college friend again. We grabbed some Starbucks and watched the busy Shibuya crossing, went into a shopping complex to walk and talk, and finally hung out at the Shibuya VR Park Tokyo. The games here were a bit dated graphically, but the staff was great, and my friend and I had a lot of fun. They did have a couple of English speakers on staff, but thankfully, my friend was able to translate for them. It was a bit late, but that worked to our advantage, because we booked a later appointment, killed time with arcade games and by eating from the Conbini across the street, and since we had 80 minutes and there weren’t many other people, got to experience every attraction with time to spare. Some of the games weren’t the best, but the ones that were fun (the magic carpet, fighting off goblins, the capture-territory shooting game, the gun game, ghost busting, the driving sim) made it more than worth it. The staff worked hard to make things go smoothly, and since both my friend and I are big gamers, I felt it was a great value. I heard tell that the games in the Shinjuku VR Park are apparently more up-to-date and fun, but it's more expensive, harder to get into, and you can only pick four to do from a set list. Them’s the breaks. Eventually my good friend and I had to say goodbye... What I ought to have done: I wish I had arrived at Harajuku earlier in the afternoon, hadn’t gotten lost due to Google Maps bugging out, seen more of the cosplayers, and spent more time there. I also wish that I had allotted more time to spend in Akihabara, and that I had gone to the @home maid cafe there, since the one I did eventually go to (Maidreamin in Ikebukuro) wasn’t too lively. I also wish I’d bought a shirt or two from Harajuku. 10/2 Mon Plan: Asakusa (Senso-ji Temple), Tokyo Skytree + Mall, Studio Ghibli (tour appointment for 16:00) Actual destinations: (train to…) Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (walked to…) Toho Cinemas Godzilla Head, Shinjuku Samurai Museum (took the train to…) Mitaka, Studio Ghibli Museum (returned to…) Big Echo Karaoke, hostel This was an interesting day, to say the least. None of my Tokyo-dwelling friends could make it to the Studio Ghibli Museum with me, so, not wanting to squander the hard-earned ticket I almost failed to get online, I chatted up a girl at the hostel and invited her to go with me. Long story short, now we’re very good friends, and meeting her was the highlight of my trip Anyway, after making sure she’d meet me there before the appointed 4PM time, I headed to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to get that sweet view over Tokyo. It was quite breathtaking, and I definitely recommend it, because it’s free. They also sell souvenirs and local foodstuffs at the top there. Then I went on foot past Shinjuku Station and ate lunch at a busy restaurant populated by businessmen. I was disappointed to find that the Shinjuku Gyoen Park was closed for the day (my fault for not checking), so I just went to the totally wicked Shinjuku Samurai Museum (be sure to check online and come by around the same time as the live demonstration, because it was a highlight!). What made this so great was the guided tour. Our tour guide spoke good English, and though much of the history lesson covers the basics, I learned a few interesting things about the equipment, and even got to try on some of it! The museum itself isn’t huge, but the presentation made it worth it. Then, I took the rapid train to Mitaka and walked to the Studio Ghibli Museum. I made it there early (around 3:15PM), but there was already a line of people with 4PM tickets waiting to enter. My friend arrived at 3:30 or so, and the line moved rather quickly. The museum itself was unforgettable and a must-see for any anime fan. The short film was very sweet as well. Afterward, we had dinner in the cafe, then on the way back to our hostel, in between train transfers, we decided to rent a karaoke room at a Big Echo and sing (we were there for 2 hours or so; it was a bit pricey, but ultimately worth it). We returned and bade each other goodnight. Sadly, she’d be checking out the next morning, but that was just the beginning of our friendship. What I ought to have done: My schedule was so packed, there’s nothing I could really have done about this, but I wish I could have scheduled my Shinjuku trip for a day when the Shinjuku Gyoen Park was open! I was really looking forward to seeing it! I know it’s touristy and silly, and I’ve seen enough videos of it to get the picture, but I somewhat regret not going to the Robot Restaurant. I knew that tickets could be gotten for the earliest show at certain sites online for cheaper than at the door. 10/3 Tue Plan: Tokyo Tower, Zojo-ji, Sengaku-ji, Odaiba (Joypolis, Onsen Monogatari) Actual destinations: Tokyo Tower (…walked to) Zojo-ji Temple (…train to) Sengaku-ji Temple (…walked to) Odaiba Onsen Monogatari via the Rainbow Bridge (…walked to) Odaiba Giant Unicorn Gundam Got a late start due to doing laundry in the morning. Wanted to see Tokyo Tower not just because it’s a famous landmark, but because I wanted to get my One Piece-obsessed friend some gifts. Zojo-ji was beautiful and impressive, and I’m really glad I got to see the graves of the 47 Ronin at Sengaku-ji; I wasn’t the only one paying my respects. Walking all the way from Sengaku-ji and across the various canals to cross the Rainbow Bridge was rather ambitious, but the sights made it worthwhile. It was a real endurance test. Afterward, I relaxed for several hours at the onsen, which I loved. I don’t recommend the Korean food (and someone said as much on Tripadvisor, but I was just craving the dolsot bibimbap… do yourself a favor and go for something else). After a beautiful walk through a slight ocean breeze to see the Unicorn Gundam and the Statue of Liberty, I hopped a train and tried to meet up with a group from my hostel for drinks, but I missed them and had no way of contacting them, so I returned to my hostel. Lo and behold, there they were at the station! Just about to leave for the evening as I was wrapping up my day. I apologized that I was too tired to join them, wished them well, hung out until their train showed up, then returned to my room for some precious and well-earned shut-eye. What I ought to have done: I don’t recommend anyone do this exact itinerary. This was a ton of walking at one stretch, with the only real rest stop being a bench at the Odaiba end of the long Rainbow Bridge. I could have at least taken the train from Sengaku-ji to Tamachi Station and saved some time and energy, though I wouldn’t have seen as much of this part of the city. Also, this is the day I should have gone to the Tsukiji Fish Market! It was the last day I could have done it, and it would have fit in perfectly with my itinerary. I ought to have deferred my laundry another day, but at least I got to bid goodbye to two of my hostel friends who were checking out. I do wish I'd hung out with my hostel-mates in the evening, though I probably would have struggled the next day, which was a big one… 10/4 Wed Plan: Koishikawa Korakuen + Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, Museum of Modern Art, Ginza, Ikebukuro Actual destinations: Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens (…train to) Ikebukuro Sunshine City (…walked to) Ikebukuro Maidreamin Cafe (…train to) Suga Shrine (…walked to) Golden Gai (…train to) Shibuya Station (…walked to) Sakura Tei restaurant (Okonomiyaki and Monjayaki) This day really threw me for a loop! I was originally going to go to Mt. Fuji today, but upon checking the night before, the forecast was better for Thursday, so I decided to put it off, then head to the Tsukiji Fish Market. Well, turns out the fish market was closed! At least, that’s what someone told me. I didn't realize it was closed on some Wednesdays. So I faced the music - I wouldn’t be going there this trip. Could have planned that better! Anyway, this was one of the best days of my trip. Despite it being a cloudy day, the Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens were immensely beautiful. I don’t know what it was, but turning the first left corner from the entrance, I was moved to tears. It’s not the largest garden, but it felt like everywhere you turned, there was a fantastic view. I probably spent almost two hours here taking snapshots and drinking in the atmosphere. Then it was off to Sunshine City. The first stop was the Sky Circus, which was great and whimsical and all that, but probably better for couples or women. Still, I loved the vibe and the cool little illusions, and the VR roller coaster was fun (if a bit low-poly). I’m glad I went for the Kaleidoscope Room and gift shop, at least. The Sky Circus is obviously way up high, so it’s also a good alternative (or addition) to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Of course, I had to see the Pokemon Center and play a round of Pokken Tournament. Somehow I was able to resist buying anything. Then I ate lunch near J-World (didn’t feel the need to go in), walked a bit around Sunshine City, popped out the back way into a pretty cool sewing crafts exhibition, then left to check out the Maidreamin maid cafe. I might not particularly recommend this branch to American gaijin, since their English wasn’t the best, but the maids were cute, and the dessert and coffee were tasty. I hopped a train to Shinjuku to see the Suga Shrine (of Kimi no na Wa fame). This was a bit of a walk, but easily worth it for the photo/pilgrimage. I wasn’t the only one there. My original plan was to hit up the Golden Gai and then grab a drink at bar atop the Park Hyatt Tokyo (I’m a huge “Lost in Translation” fan), but after a few minutes of admiring the gritty, lived-in cyberpunk vibe of the Golden Gai, a friend of mine from grade school (!!) who was living in Tokyo saw my IG photos and hit me up online and so we met at Shibuya Station and then walked to Afuri ramen in Harajuku, only to find out they were closed for renovation! So we went to Sakura Tei in Harajuku for their okonomiyaki and monjayaki, and that was easily one of the best meals we had in Japan. We chatted about our lives and hung out in a cafe near Shibuya Station until we had to catch the last trains. Catching up with her was the most surreal experience of my trip. We hadn't talked in almost two decades, but it felt like no time had passed between us… What I ought to have done: This was pretty much a perfect day. Other than maybe having gone to a different maid cafe and maybe buying that Eevee coin purse, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Didn’t get to see the Park Hyatt Tokyo, but I got an even better surprise. 10/5 Thu Plan: Day trip - Fuji-Q + Fujiyama 5th Station hike / Kawaguchiko Music Museum (pick 1-2 of these) Actual destinations: (…train to) Shinjuku JR Station (…bus to) Fuji-Q Highland (…train to) Lake Kawaguchiko + Kawaguchiko Music Forest I got up super early this morning and traveled to Shinjuku Station just in time to purchase the Fuji-Q Q-Pack (entrance to Fuji-Q plus a round-trip bus pass) from a kiosk. Return trips from Kawaguchiko the same day were sold out, so I had to purchase a return trip the next morning. The reasons why I wanted to go to Fuji-Q were (A) I am a roller coaster fanatic, and (B) I am an Evangelion fanatic. On both counts, the theme park did not disappoint. I was expecting long lines, however. As soon as the park opened to the general public, I walked up to the fast-pass counter and bought two fast-passes (1,000 Yen each, an easy purchase for me) for Takabisha and Fujiyama. (sadly, Eenjanaika was closed for maintenance that day, but for anyone who’s ridden Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2, it looked a bit like that coaster, only larger). Then I lined up for Dododonpa, which wasn’t open yet. The lines were not too bad. I got to ride Dododonpa in about twenty to thirty minutes, and that was a heck of an experience! I now know what a bullet feels like leaving the chamber! Then I immediately lined up for Takabisha, which was a really fun and very technical coaster. It wasn’t as scary as it looked, but it sure was enjoyable and memorable. The lines had not gotten ridiculous by this point and I waited about 30 minutes as well. Then I had a good hour or so until I had to use my Takabisha fast pass, so I rode most of the other rides in the park (aside from the water rides - I did not have a change of clothing!). After my second Takabisha ride, I rode Fujiyama, which I really wish I had the time to ride again. It was just an epic, solid, intense coaster. It doesn’t loop or corkscrew, but it’s crazy fun, and the thrill factor is pretty high. I really do hope Fuji-Q end up changing their policy and group single riders together, because given the amount of people at the park, the lines really shouldn’t have been as long as they were. The Evangelion World exhibit was everything I wanted and more. I stocked up at that store for sure. Then I intended to walk to Lake Kawaguchiko. I wasted some time getting turned around by Google Maps before I gave in and decided to take the train there. The train, by the way, is tucked away in the back of Fuji-Q. I had to re-enter the park and exit out the back way just to find the train station. Since it was quite close by, the ticket to Kawaguchiko was very cheap. Because the afternoon was drawing to a close, I hailed a taxi to take me from the Lake Kawaguchiko Station to the Kawaguchiko Music Forest. I’m so glad I visited this place. It was immensely beautiful and nostalgic, I was invigorated by the carefully-tended gardens and grounds, and the automatic music concerts were delightful. The shop, in addition to boasting a very wide selection of music boxes, also has some handcrafted stuff made in the Mt. Fuji area, including some well-priced pottery that made a good present for my other friend in Tokyo. Also, the admission was much cheaper after 4 PM, but I could have easily spent more time here. Afterward, I checked into a capsule hotel for the night, which was more spacious and comfortable than I expected, and emailed to apologize to my hostel that I would be a few minutes late for check-out. What I ought to have done: I was waiting on the weather (because Fuji-Q closes their coasters if it rains), but I really could have purchased my tickets earlier so as to get a same-day return trip. That said, I don’t mind that I stayed the night in Kawaguchiko, because I was finally able to get a clear shot of Mt. Fuji in the morning and walk a bit around the area before boarding my return bus. Also, this was a risk I was willing to take, but I really didn’t need to buy that second fast-pass. Still, riding Takabisha twice was worth spending another 1,000 Yen. I do wish that I’d experienced the Attack on Titan VR ride, but after spending so much in one day already, I was too cheap to give it a shot… 10/6 Fri Plan: Activate JR Pass. Check out of hostel. Go to Kamakura. Visit Akira Kurosawa's grave site. Stay at my friend’s place in Tokyo. Actual destinations: (...train to) Engakuji Temple (...train to) An’yo-in Temple (...train to) Yokohama Cosmo Clock (...train to) Nagano Broadway + Don Quijote This day went very smoothly. I activated my JR Pass upon arriving at Shinjuku Station (very easy, just bring your document and passport to the right office), returned to my hostel to check out, and stashed my bag at a coin locker in between Kamakura and my final destination. Visiting the graves of Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa all went pretty much as planned. I finally bought some decent insoles to replace the worn non-removable cheap ones on my shoes and ease my busted-up feet. I also loosened up my laces. Following this, I immediately felt better. While I was caught in the sudden downpour of rain, I frantically searched for Mr. Ozu’s grave site in the large and beautiful Engakuji Temple. I finally found the right one and offered him a bottle of wine and my thanks. Then I took a short train ride, got a poncho, and walked to the An’yo-in Temple to see Mr. Kurosawa. I had a bit of a time finding the An’yo-in Temple’s cemetery in the rain and had to ask the monk in residence whether the cemetery was even open (he was a very kind man who walked me all the way to Mr. Kurosawa’s grave, even in the rain - he didn’t need to, but he really went that extra mile!). Anyway, starting from the street, instead of going up the stairs and through the gate, head straight up the pathway that curves up and to the right, then make a left to enter the cemetery. After paying my respects to one of my favorite filmmakers, I returned to Tokyo, but got off the train at Yokohama to ride the Cosmo Clock Ferris Wheel, made famous in one of my favorite anime, Honey and Clover. Sadly, the rain made getting photos difficult, but it was still a fantastic view. Following this, I watched the cool light show that happens at the top of the hour, then headed back to Tokyo to meet up with yet another old friend of mine. We ate some delicious ramen outside of the now-closed shops of Nagano Broadway, did a bit of shopping at Don Quijote, and then watched videos on the street food in Dotonbori to prepare for my Osaka night. What I ought to have done: I ought to have bought an umbrella instead of a poncho. I wondered why people didn’t use ponchos as much, and discovered the hard way that (A) it’s easier to open and close an umbrella than take your poncho on and off, (B) taking off your poncho and putting it in a plastic bag before sitting in trains is tedious but necessary, and (C) it gets kinda humid under there. My friend ended up giving me his extra umbrella, which I’m eternally thankful for. I also wish I had time to see Kotoku-in (and the giant Daibutsu Buddha statue), but alas. It was raining, I didn’t want to risk getting sick, and I really wanted to ride that ferris wheel, since Honey and Clover had a lot of special significance to my late sister, and to my new friend. 10/7 Sat Plan: Travel to Nikko in AM. Leave to Kyoto in PM. Stay night at Kyoto hostel (excepting the night of 10/9, this is my base until 10/13). Actual destinations: (...train to) Nikko JR Station (...bus to) Nikko National Park (…train to) Kyoto Station Now, this was an ambitious day. The trip to Nikko station (with a transfer at Utsonomiya) was beautiful, and very worthwhile. I'd shelled out for a Green JR Pass, hoping to lean back, stretch out my legs, charge my electronics, and get some nice rest during my longer shinkansen trips. And all that did become possible, though the trips were so relaxing and the views so beautiful, they felt over in a flash, and I don’t think I really needed the luxurious seats. That said, I don’t regret getting the Green Pass. Once at Nikko, I stashed my backpack in a coin locker, then quickly bought the bus pass (not necessary, but helpful), lined up outside the JR Station, and rode the Tobu Bus all the way up to Senjogahara Marshlands, where I got off and began the breathtaking walk down to Lake Chuzenji. At this time of year, the autumn leaves were mostly occurring at the higher altitudes here. It was a beautiful and calming walk along the lakeside to be sure, and I saw the Ryuzu Falls along the way. There was a lot of fog surrounding the Kegon Falls, but I wasn’t about to leave until I saw the falls and could see just how far they went, so I hung out there a bit. Then I took the bus back down to the bridge for a selfie, then walked around to see the UNESCO Shrines and Temples for a spell, but I’d spent too much time in the highlands and was running out of daylight. I didn’t want to arrive too late at my Kyoto hostel to be a nuisance, nor did I feel like paying a large fee for what would have to be a quick trip, so I didn’t get to see the Toshogu Shrine. No big deal. I grabbed my backpack and headed to my destination. The ride to Kyoto was long and thankfully uneventful, and my check-in went smoothly. What I ought to have done: I might have gotten to see more of the shrines and temples if I’d spent a tad less time dawdling around and taking innumerable photos of the highlands (though I did like the old-school vibe of the lake-town) and buying postcards and such from the gift shops, or if I’d foregone spending time at the bridge. That said, I actively prioritized seeing the National Park, and I think I made pretty good time and progress. I also regret ordering the soba at the conveniently located restaurant at the JR Utsonomiya station. It was rather bland. 10/8 Sun Plan: Day trip - Kyoto to Nara. Actual destinations: (...train to) Nara - Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, etc… (...train to) Fushimi Inari-taisa Shrine (...train to) Kyoto Station Wasting no time in putting my JR Pass to use, I traveled to Nara for what I’d planned to be a day trip. It was a relaxing trip, and I saw all I’d been hoping to see. Coming from the Sierras where we have skinny deer that bolt at the sight of a person, the wild deer here were quite a unique sight. The Giant Buddha was a highlight. This was a 3-day holiday weekend and it felt like it, with hordes of tourists, both Japanese and foreign. Kofukuji’s Main Hall was under renovation, but I did enjoy walking the grounds and seeing the five-story pagoda. Didn’t see the National Treasure Museum, but I should have. Then I headed back to Kyoto in the afternoon. I hit up the must-see Fushimi Inari-taisha and was woefully unprepared for the density of the crowds at ground level, and how so many women were attempting to take these many, many stairs in kimono. I would have walked all the way to the top at one clip, but my batteries were dying (I accidentally brought the wrong power bank with me) light was running out, and I was getting tired and frustrated from having to either weave through tourists or keep to their sluggish pace, which ended up being rather rough on my feet and legs. I cut across at one point to the bamboo grove and took a cutoff path across the woods back to the main pathway. Finally, I made it about halfway or so to a couple of gorgeous lookouts in time to catch the sun setting over western Kyoto. I weighed my options of attempting to walk all the way up, or heading back down and leaving. The crowds did thin out a bit the nearer one gets to the top. I knew that I could make the walk, but I was tired and a tad worried at the prospect of being completely without my phone and pocket wifi, so I headed back down. Seeing the crowds at the train station, I attempted to walk 20-odd minutes from Fushimi Inari to the Nintendo HQ building to get my obligatory pilgrimage photo, but I took a wrong turn and ended up spending an inordinate amount of time finding my way back to the subway, and eventually, to my hostel. What I ought to have done: I really should have made sure that the power bank I brought with me was charged. This would have saved me a lot of stress. I might have felt confident enough to get all the way to the top of Fushimi Inari, and I definitely wouldn’t have gotten lost. I also attempted to visit the Tofuku-ji Temple, but couldn’t figure out where to go after leaving the subway, and Google Maps was not helping, so I continued on to Fushimi Inari, hoping to see it another day (it never happened). I also shouldn’t have knowingly attempted Fushimi Inari on a holiday weekend, a mistake akin to getting involved in a land war in Asia. 10/9 Mon Plan: Travel - Hida Folk Village in Takayama - Takayama Autumn Festival - stay night in Takayama (onsen hostel). Actual destinations: (...train to) Takayama JR Station (...bus to) Hida Folk Village (...bus to) Takayama JR Station (...walk to) Takayama Jinja (...walk back to) Takayama JR Station (...shuttle bus to) Natural Onsen Hostel Hidamari no Yu Another day that didn’t go exactly as planned, but it was still a beautiful and memorable experience. It was a bit of a long ride to Takayama and due to only reserving my seats at Kyoto Station the night before, I wasn’t able to get a window seat on the Hida Wide View 3, but the windows were so wide, I was still blown away by the immense beauty of this region. This was hands-down the most beautiful ride I’ve been on. I know many people recommend Shirakawa-go over the Hida Folk Village, but as someone very interested in sustainability, I was drawn to the promise of an open-air museum and the exhibits explaining how the people worked and lived in the countryside. So I spent an inordinate amount of time there, and I fell in love. With the help of a kind woman, I, a 30-year-old man, also made myself a nice kaleidoscope (if you do this, make the wet, not dry one, it’s so much cooler). Then it was off to see the Takayama Autumn Festival. I obviously missed the bulk of the festival in the morning and afternoon, including the midday puppet show, but what I learned from the Hida Folk Village out-prioritized that for me. I walked from the JR Station, ate some of the local food (Hida Beef really is that good!), hung around the river, and soaked in historical Takayama. Then the sun set and they’d finally prepared the gorgeous and ornate floats for the nighttime part of the festival. I stuck around until 7PM or so. Then, full from expensive festival food, decided to take the shuttle bus to my cheap onsen hostel. As a solo traveler, I was simply looking for the cheapest functioning onsen in the area, and the place I went to suited me just fine. I stayed in a large 20-person dorm, and they do close the premises from 11:30 to 7:00 AM, but if you’re aware of that and just want a place to bathe with soothing hot spring and jacuzzi baths, an outdoor hot spring as well, a decent sauna and cold pool (where I spent most of my time), and a futon to sleep on, this place was crazy cheap, great for a weary soul, and it got the job done. Be aware that they may not always have shuttle buses leaving early in the morning, but I was able to get one at 7:30 AM that took me right back across the street from the Takayama JR Station. All in all, I had a great experience here, no complaints, but I can see why people didn't like the "give us the key to your shoe locker until morning" policy. What I ought to have done: I don’t regret missing the day portion of the Takayama Festival, which was just a bonus for me, and perhaps due to the festival, the Hida Folk Village was rather empty and peaceful. However, I wish I knew in advance that the shuttle bus to my onsen hostel boarded across the street from the JR Station. I could have gotten there 20-30 minutes earlier. Reaching the character limit, so I will continue in the comments below... thank you for reading...
I like simple and delicious meals. What are your favorites? Do share your recipes and comments here!~ Mine will be Korean Bibimbap, where you mix rice, vegetables, tofu, mushrooms and Gochujang (Korean chilli soy paste) and just mix them together. Super delicious and nutritious! The combinations of vegetables are limitless too. Another one will be all the vegetables, tofu, mushrooms boiled together and add one tablespoon of miso paste, mix them up and a yummy bowl of healthy soup is done in a few minutes! My breakfast has been the same ever since. Overnight oats with blueberries and apple. I never get sick of it because they make me feel so good!
I wrote out my last video on self-amusement below. Enjoy! 3.1. Discover what makes you laugh and feel good: What do you joke around about when you’re with your friends? What comedians, TV shows, or YouTube channels do you find funny? What about them makes you laugh? Realize anything can be self-amusing if it makes you feel good, even silence. Use experimentation to find what makes you laugh: I find that saying ridiculous things, surreal humor, and physical humor resonate most with me the most. * Physical humor: falling, inventing your own dance move (finding nemo), getting people to carry me [conan o’brien, 29 year old]
Edgy humor: What's the hardest part about walking through a field of dead babies? Your erection
Dumb humor: What do you call a black man on the moon? An astronaut.
Really bad puns. What kind of bagel can fly? A plain bagel.
Witty humor
Deadpan: Moe “Yeah my uncle touched me as a kid.”
Surreal humor: Eric Andre show [octopus]
Embodying a character: Cheerful British man
Creating awkward situations [YOU CARE TOO MUCH BRO]
You can use elements of all the above^
ABSTRACT: 3.2 You can’t really self amuse until you let go of all this nonsense like the identity you’ve created about being someone, having an ego wrapped around it, being overly sensitive and being insecure. “ Quote: “You find it offensive? ...I find it funny. That's why I'm happier than you.” You have to cultivate genuine self-acceptance and self-love. EGO IS THE ENEMY by Ryan Holiday ///// SIX PILLARS OF SELF-ESTEEM by Nathaniel Brandon 3.3 Life is a comedy, so learn to laugh. STOP taking yourself so seriously. Put your personality on the line and talk about something that entertains you first and foremost. People are drawn to where the fun is and want be part of it. 3.4 Juan’s epiphany: “You can go out and have fun, and then on top of that you get to have sex? That’s like a basketball player who after hitting a three-pointer has a cheerleader come over and suck his dick!” 3.5 Don’t stress if you aren’t instantly in a self-amused state when you go out. Relax. Tell yourself “however I feel right now is good enough. I accept it.” Let go...
Then have fun for its own sake, not to accomplish something.
Don’t expect anything in return. (DOG ANALOGY)
Don’t judge yourself, anything is good enough if it makes you feel good.
Self-amusement is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
PRACTICAL: 3.6 Ask: What can I say or do to elevate my mood without hurting anyone else?
Hosting a party analogy. Pranksters destroy their psyches by trolling people.
3.7.2 You can’t change your emotions directly, but you can change your actions that in turn change your emotions. Motion creates emotion. Get out of your thoughts and into the action. The action is what makes you feel good. AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN by Tony Robbins 3.7.1 Ask yourself what would entertain me? What do I want to do? How can I spice things up? 3.8 To test whether you’re self-amusing or not. When you say something funny, don’t look at the girls eyes’ to see her reaction. Just put it out there and enjoy it yourself. Eliminate the “What did you think of that? What did you think of me?” frame. Whenever you find yourself thinking "what do I do" "what do I say" or feel a taking energy in your chest that is trying to keep the girl there, that means you're in impression mode. This should be your cue to focus on expression by self amusing. [fuck I hope she doesnt leave CUE -- self amuse]
Treat every girl the same. If you do your self-amusement for every girl and then you’re talking to the hot girl and making a big deal about it, it fucks you. Every girl gets part of your fun.
3.9 Fun first, game second. What do I mean by that?
1st part of the night -> Self-amuse, talk to lots of girls
2nd part of the night -> Self-amusement momentum carries over, so you can focus on being more decisive, find the girl you want to go home with and stay in
This is one style of game, others work too. You can pull in the first part of the night as well.
3.10 Whenever you’re about to do something that’s a little intense for you, like approaching a group of girls and guys or reapproaching a girl, make yourself laugh, and then throw yourself into that situation.Subway game example. Any time something you’re doing involves more social pressure or is more outside of social norms, you can self-amuse to ease that tension and eliminate awkwardness. 3.11 Examples:
Role playing: introducing the girl to people as your wife who’s pregnant with twins
Improv off of what the girl says. Mexico, You are my little tamale
A topic of conversation that amuses you: hipsters reading newspapers in the park.
Speaking gibberish
Accents. Korean restaurants we spoke perfect English until it came time to pronounce the menu items I’ll have the (bibimbap in a bowl).
Sarcasm
Surreal: Use as many pickup phrases while talking to girls
Drama: WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO A HUMAN BEING
Challenge: are you cool enough to see my iPhone?
Command her to do things like tie your shoe
Playfulness and teasing: after kissing her, say something like, “Wow, you’re a much better kisser than your mom.”
Getting sexual, the ultimate form of mutual amusement
Pretending you are really shy and have really bad game.
3.12 The Place It’s Coming From Internally
You genuinely want to do something or say something for its own sake, not because you want to “get the girl” or impress your friends.
You’re enjoying being you and putting your personality out into the world.
You’re building up an abundance of good emotions and sharing them to girls with a light, carefree vibe
You look at the world in a less fearful, and more lighthearted lens
3.13 Caveats The downside of too much self-amusement is that you become an unrelatable emotion and fail to show your realness. Don’t be afraid to be serious or real with the girl. It’s okay to be boring. (bootcamp Chase example: objectively witty and funny things back to back to back, but it came from the place of keeping the girl there and he failed to show realness and be more chill once she showed interest). 3.14 Don’t seek reactions from the girl. That comes off as desperate.
Include the girl in the fun while calibrating to the her feelings. “Haha let me know if I’m too crazy, I’m feeling really confident today.” This turns self-amusement into mutual amusement.
Don’t try to put on a front or a weird persona; you don’t have to be someone you’re not like a witty Shakespeare for her to like you. Put your true self out there; that’s the best way to find a girl you connect with.
Have some regard for social norms. Don’t start trolling people and being overly obnoxious.
3.15 Recap Self-Amusement is the process of making yourself feel good, laugh, and have fun from an understanding of your sense of humor and what puts you in a good mood.
It puts you in control of your emotions and gets you out of your thoughts and into the action of the moment where you generate a great vibe.
The more fun you have gaming when you’re out, the more you enjoy it, and as a result you do it more, and get good fast..
Find out what types of humor you resonate with and fully express yourself.
You self-amuse by focusing on expression, not impression.
Ask yourself what can I do or say to make myself laugh and feel good? Then share that positive energy with the girls you meet from a healthy place.
Self-amusement is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets.
You want to make this something you are, not something you do. Add this in your life: joke around with friends more. Laugh at situations you find yourself in.
Incorporate it into your life. Nothing is real until it’s experienced.
Book your Flight tickets with Bitcoin and feast on some Korean Food
Korean cuisine is globally famous for many good reasons. While it has evolved due to the cultural changes, their food remains a significant aspect of why many tourists travel to South Korea. If you’re a foodie and you love Korean food, here are some of the places that you should visit in this country by booking your flight tickets with Bitcoin. https://preview.redd.it/nhcborgr41q21.jpg?width=940&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0a5d2c01198f39540bb7510233eda79b72f38c9 1.Buddhist Temple Food, Gongyang When you visit Seoul's Buddhist temple at Gongyang, you can eat organic vegetarian meals that are made right in front of you. The dishes vary at the temple throughout the week. You could also try the shiitake broth, bellflower salad, layers of tangerine and stuffed lotus at any time. 2.Moong-bean pancakes, Gwangjang Make sure when you visit the Gwangjang market in Seoul you go to the center of the market to find some bindaeddeok, moong-bean pancakes. You can also dine on the yukhoe which is similar to steak tartare. 3.Royal Banquets, Gaon During your visit to Gangnam go to their Royal banquets. The head chef of the restaurant has been designated as the NCT (National Cultural Treasure) and has also trained the other chefs with royal standards. 4.Naengmyeon, Woe Rae Oak Naengmyeon is in North Korea the dishes here are made of buckwheat noodles. You should also go to Woe Rae Oak to taste some of the best Naengmyeon. 5.Gongju When you visit Gongju at Gomanaru go to the 'Feast of flowers and leaves' restaurant. At this restaurant, you will get the best grill fish, soybean broth, tofu slices, seared duck meat, spicy crab, black beans and many more other dishes that are made out of edible flowers and leaves. 6.Sokcho Go to the Abai Maeul Island in the Sokcho city. Here you can taste the best sundaes filled into a squid. You can also taste their Glass noodles, soybean paste, kimchi, and many other things which are stuffed into steamed intestines. 7.Tongyeong When you visit Tongyeong try the harbour food where the dish has heaps of radish cubes, spicy squid, and rice rolls which are wrapped in seaweed. You can also take your meal to the Admiral Yi statue where you can search for the chungmu gimbap dishes too. 8.Jinju Most of Korea believes that eel is an aphrodisiac dish. Try visiting the south coast city of Jinju for some eel dishes. Do not forget to visit some restaurants near the banks situated just next to the ancient walls of the castle. 9.Udo When you’re going to the Northeastern corner which is towards the small island off the Jeju's. You can eat the local sea snails in that area, but you cannot wrench them from the shells and eat them at one bite. You need to chop them into pieces, wash them with tangerine rice wine and relish them with the view of the Pacific. 10.Jeonju In Jeonju area you can find the number of restaurants with Bibimbap which is a rice dish topped with some vegetables. Visit the Jongno Hoegwan which is located next to Gyeonggijeon where you can take a stroll after your meal in the Geyonggijeon shrine. A Final Word South Korean food have all types of dishes whether you are a vegan or you eat meat, you will find some fantastic dishes in this country. Seafood lovers will relish the taste of fresh sea snails. If you are into healthy eating habits, you can also find some fresh organic meals in Seoul. If you don't want to eat something spicy and stick to simple food like rice and vegetables, you can get that as well in South Korea. Why are you waiting? Book your flights tickets with Bitcoin.
I've lived in Korea for a few years now. I love living here but sometimes the way the culture is progressing makes me scratch my head. Remember, there was a war here only a couple generations ago (technically still "at war" but there's been a ceasefire since the 50's) and this country has existed for much longer than my native US, so it's interesting to see how quickly it has progressed in some ways while holding onto some stubborn traditional thought. Like with any developed nation, obesity is on the rise in Korea. It's no where near countries like the US, Australia, or England, but it is on the rise all the same. Even from my perspective, having lived here a few years I've seen the subway hamplanets rise from one every 20 rides to one to three every two rides, with multiple additional mini-moons. For this reason, the fatlogic seems really strange because the people here aren't what I would consider fat (hamplanets and mini-moons aside). I suppose a good example would be to compare clothing models: Normal Korean Model Page w/Full Body Korean Plus-Sized Model Page w/o Full Body Example Full-Body from That Page Victoria's Secret 2013 Runway Supermodel Gisele Bundchen Plus-Sized Models From Pulp Fashion Week 2013 While things like the Special K diet are sold here, the fatlogic that spurs these weird fad diets is really strange to me. It starts off with one fatlogic concept: All Korean food is inherently healthy I know that sounds a little strange to hear, but they believe it. This isn't just everyday fatlogic, either; a buddy of mine talked to his doctor about weight loss and asked for his help in choosing which foods to avoid (other than the obvious fried food).
Doctor: All Korean food is healthy. Friend: Uh...no, it isn't. Doctor: Yes, it is. Friend: So you're telling me things like twi-gim (fried food), sam-gyeop-sal (a thickly-cut slab of pork belly, similar to bacon but much thicker and not smoked), and bibimbap (it looks healthy but it's literally just a big bowl of rice with some veggies that clocks in at 600 calories or more...the one pictured is 607 calories and something like this is closer to 800 calories...it's just that much rice) are all foods I should eat if I'm trying to lose weight? Doctor: Yes.
My friend, a med student himself, was not only unimpressed but utterly confused at this "advice". Koreans have this idea that it's only western food that's fattening. Here's some stuff I've seen from friends-of-friends and co-workers. Not All Fried Food is Created Equal The office ordered some fast food from Lotteria. I had nothing else to eat and didn't want to be rude, so I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, no fries or drink.
Male Co-Worker (MCW): It's good you didn't order the fries. Me: Yeah, I'm good with the chicken burger. MCW: They're so unhealthy. Western food is really fattening. Me: Well, fried food in general is not good for you. Even twi-gim is unhealthy. MCW: No, it isn't. Me: Yes, it is. MCW: It isn't unhealthy. Korean food is healthy. Me: So you're telling me that a fried potato in the USA is less healthy than a fried potato in Korea? MCW: ...uh...yes...? Me: Look it up.
No Eating After X Time... I'm sure some of you have at least heard of, if not tried, the "No eating after X time" diet "trick". If not, you basically stop eating after a certain time to avoid over-eating. Simple enough. People typically set the time for after dinner, around 7:00pm. My female co-worker, on the other hand, set this time for 4:00pm. She immediately dropped weight (no shit) and complained of feeling weak (no shit), but she stuck with it. It's been a few months now, actually. This isn't the "fatlogic", though. The fatlogic here is she'll allow herself to eat unhealthy Korean food if she's feeling hungry. I get it, sometimes you feel hungry and sometimes you don't, that happens. But when she feels too hungry (missed lunch, for example, or she just wants to eat), she'll choose some unhealthy Korean food. The worst times this has happened:
We receive "office meals" at work, which is a standard Korean meal of a broth-based soup, some side dishes, and a bowl of rice. This is delivered to us. She stopped eating this because she doesn't eat after 4:00pm and the meal is served close to 7:00pm. One week, we didn't receive these meals because it was a special off week for the food company, so that's when our bosses ordered us Lotteria I mentioned above, as a replacement for our undelivered meal. She decided to partake in this and ordered the same sandwich I did, but as a set (fries + full-sugar cola). Again: she skips the normal work meal because of her diet, but when they were ordering us fast food she got herself a meal set.
She missed lunch one day so she grabbed a bowl of instant ramen (they call it "rameyon" here but you would likely know it as ramen, it's the same thing). Please keep in mind that low-calorie cup ramen exists here (it's about 120 calories per cup). Please keep in mind that there's a difference between cup ramen and bowl ramen in terms of size. Please keep in mind that there are other convenience foods available. Please keep in mind that most ramen is fried, but there are non-fried versions that also come in the cup-ramen variety. Korean food can't possibly be unhealthy so it's all the same...apparently.
Please keep in mind I have offered that she try some of my foods that I bring in from home, like a really tasty "hummus" I made using soaked walnuts that I offered a cucumber slice to consume together, but she refused because "I'm on a diet, I don't eat after 4:00pm, sorry." That is to say, a bite of raw veggies is off-limits, but a full meal from a fast food restaurant is not. The One-Food Diet While this is a stupid diet seen in multiple countries, I'm surprised at what Koreans will use. Sure, you get the "only apples" or "only lemon water" people, but others will just consume any of the following:
Then they wonder why they're not losing weight. I'm sure there are others, but these are ones I've personally witnessed. Starvation Just...fuckin' straight up no eating. Not a "starvation diet" of eating something like 500 calories. Just straight up not eating anything at all. Save It Up About two weeks before a holiday, some people will go on a diet so they can pig out on said holiday. I've always seen it the other way around: do the damage, assess damage, fix damage, but here some people "save up" the calories. Because you can totally do that. Rice Doesn't Count This is a more specific version of "All Korean food is healthy", but simply allows the person to just eat rice all the time. Small amount of meat, any amount of rice. Small amount of vegetables, any amount of rice. On top of this, Rice Doesn't Count dieters apply this to any incarnation of rice, such as: 1. Ddeok, which is a chewy rice snack, usually with a tasty filling such as red bean or honey. 2. Cake made with rice flour, which comes in any size (cupcake to full-sized cake). 3. Ddeok-bokk-i, a spicy-sweet food that is famous among Koreans. It can be found as a street food or in quick meal restaurant. The sauce is made with spicy pepper paste, water, and sugar. The ingredients include plain ddeok, and usually include fish cake, eggs, and can also include instant noodles (called ra-bokk-i). 100g of this is about 217 calories, but that's only with the ddeok and I've never seen a Korean eat this on its own (it's always with other items). Also, 217 calories isn't terrible for a meal, but to pretend it has zero calories is ridiculous. That's all I can think of for now.
SG students' diary 20170312 Aiko Title: Diaries Relaying! Jan Ken Pon! Aiko-desho! Fukei-sans❤ Thank you for your leaving so many comments for my diary on February 1. As I had been vaguely aware of, it seems difficult to have interactive communication with Fukei-sans on this diary. So, Aiko want to introduce a new way of writing diaries!! Aiko write a diary posing a question to a Sakura girl. Then, the girl answers the question, and poses another question to another girl. In this manner, I wanna commence the "Diaries Relaying" on this diary💕 Let's get down to the work immediately. lol To Mari〜n★ Marin and Aiko have the same birthday, work together as Mini-pati member, and are of the almost same height!! I really love Marin's decency in not overcoming me in height! lol When her mom is busy, Marin prepares a meal by herself. Aiko respect such a good girl Marin. What's your favorite dish to cook? As for Aiko, I'm good at cooking the "World's best three egg-dishes(?)" -- Boiled egg, Sunny-side up and Scrambled eggs. lol ↑ Just kidding! lol Lately, I've been into cooking Korean dishes such as Buchimgae, Japchae or Namul. I cooked Bibimbap-ish Ehomaki on the Setsubun day! 【Buchimgae--Korean pancake. wiki / Japchae--Korean stir fried noodle. wiki / Namul--Korean vegetable dish. wiki / Bibimbap--Korean mixed rice. wiki / Ehomaki--Japanese sushi roll often eaten on Setsubun('The day before the beginning of spring'. Feb 3)】 I'd like to try cooking with three of Mini-pati members. :) Let's make a request together to the staff teachers♥ Marin, I'm glad I met you. Thank you♥ ♡15♡🍀 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Well!! Let me give the answer to the question!! (As for the question, please check the Aiko-chan's diary💕) My favorite dish to cook is the Hamburg steak made of Tofu, Natto and Shiso leaves. It's very healthy and delicious☆ It's super yummy to have it with Ponzu-sauce【citrus-based sauce with soy-sauce】. It's not only delicious, but also very easy to cook☆ Mix up the ground meat, Tofu, Natto and Shiso-leaves into a patty. And roast it. That's all!! Please give it a try. I, too, want to try cooking together with three of Mini-pati. I'll give my question to the next girl in my next diary. See you💕
Instructions. Spray a non-stick frying or chargrill pan with oil and set over medium-high heat. Cook tofu for 2-3 minutes each side, or until heated through. A traditional Korean comfort food. Bibimbap literally means mixed rice. A one bowl wonder,this dish is made with rice, vegetables and tofu with the diverse Korean flavor of gochujang sauce. Bibimbap is a staple food in Korea and features a variety of fresh ingredients and whole foods that make for a healthy dish and is a great solution to stay fit. Find out about the benefits that Bibimbap has to offer and dive into the nutrition facts and see what goes into your typical Bibimbap dish. Bibimbap is a delicious Korean bowl of good stuff. It’s colourful and it looks gorgeous to boot. But did you know it’s actually chock full of healthy ingredients too? We broke it down for you so you can see exactly how hard working this delicious dinner really is. Beef Strips – Rich in Protein Korean bibimbap is a healthy recipe that fits the bill and is full of amazing flavours and textures. You'll love it! Use this recipe to make arguably the best known Korean dish around the world: bibimbap. What makes this meal stand out? Not only is it a Korean classic, but it's also delicious, gorgeous on the plate, and easily tweaked for different palates and spice levels.That means if you're a typical American or Westerner who can't handle foods that are extremely spicy, homemade bibimbap is the dish for ... A healthy diet ensures a slimmer waistline. Calories in Bibimbap. Bibimbap is slightly higher in calories compared to other diet food choices. According to Calorie King, expect 560 calories in a single serving. Other variations, like Dolsot Bibimbap, are higher in calories due to the oils used to prepare it. You can easily reduce the calories ... Bibimbap – Trust the Koreans to transform the humble rice bowl into a recipe that’s revered all around the world! With a kaleidoscope of seasoned sautéed vegetables, Korean marinated beef, and the signature fried egg, the thing that really seals the deal is the bright red, spicy Bibimbap Sauce that I can’t get enough of. Mix it all up into one big delicious mess, then dig in! Learn more about Healthy Recipe: Korean Bibimbap. Bibimbap (which translates to “mixed rice”) is a traditional Korean dish of hot, and sometimes crispy rice served in a large bowl and topped with a variety of mixed vegetables, spices, and usually beef and a fried egg. Korean bibimbap is a delicious Korean dish that is not only delicious, but incredibly healthy and nutritious. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I adore Korean food. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Bibimbap Event