Korean Job Discussion Forums

kermo · Last edited by kermo on Tue May 27, 2008 9:24 pm; edited 3 times in total

June 1st is the first Sunday of the month. If the weather cooperates, this would be a terrific day for a potluck picnic. Let's meet at Yongsan Park, near Ichon Station, at 2:00 pm, for a late, leisurely lunch.

At Ichon (이촌 ) station, go out Exit 2. You'll find yourself walking toward the National Museum of Korea. Yongsan Park is right next to it.

To get to our picnic spot, approach the National Museum and walk to the right around the "reflecting pond." Keep going toward the "Reflecting Pond Cafe" until you see a small path veering off to the right, toward a grove with two ancient Buddha statues.

Saturday June 21st, 6 pm
For those of you craving Indian food and wanting to splash a little cash, you can look forward to an exquisite buffet conveniently located at the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon (line 6), called Ashoka. It was the first Indian restaurant in Seoul (imagine life without curry-- that was Seoul before 1988.) It's all-you-can-eat for 28,000 won (plus some service taxes.) Here's the website if you'd like to drool over the menu or the decor. Ron is a fan of this place because it's run by Hindus, who sympathize with vegetarian beliefs.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

(If I were really smart I'd stay away from Seoul Racecourse ...)

Hopefully, the weather will be nice for the picnic this Sunday (May 4) at Yongsan Park.

Anyone is welcome to attend, and all are encouraged to try to bring some vegan or vegetarian food item.

Even if you can't bring a food prep, it's OK to just bring bottled water, soft drinks, fruit, chips, or store-bought dessert (with ingredients listed for those who don't eat eggs...)

(I'm not sure about the legality of alcohol at Seoul parks, but someone discreetly brought wine once - and there have been some cans of regular beer mixed in with the N/A stuff that I drink...)

Before "kermo" took over as club prez, I used to do most of the cooking at these picnics, and most people just donated something - usually 5000 won - to help cover my expenses.

"Kermo" prefers the potluck concept, but I think it's helpful to know in advance what people plan to bring in the way of food.

If it looks like there'll be plenty enough for 25 or so folks, I'll do less myself - but if most plan to just bring drinks, etc., I'll bring more.

(I prefer picnics with food surpluses - that can always be left for animals and birds.)

So, whoever wants to attend may post here or at the club website at http://seoulveggieclub.wordpress.com/
- or on the Seoul Veggie Club facebook site.

Please do so even if you haven't decided what to bring yet ...

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Yongsan Park is a great setting for a picnic if the weather cooperates - which may not be the case according to the long-range forecast for Sunday.

It's still too early, of course, to reliably predict a downpour, but we might want to come up with a backup plan - or postpone it till the following Sunday - if the forecast still has rain in the picture on Friday.

Then again, one time that we met there it looked like it would rain for sure, but all we got was a neat rainbow (that looked like it connected to the statue of Buddha...)

kermo · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:23 am Post subject:

kermo · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:49 pm Post subject:

Ok, I'm changing the original post to reflect the new plan.
The Lantern Festern is this weekend, oddly enough, and the weather is forecast to be cloudy (rainy in the evening.)

I'm swapping it with the Mexican restaurant in hopes that June 1st will be a better day for the picnic.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Flexibility is the mark of a great leader - too bad "kermo" isn't running for U.S. President instead of Hillary (and too bad Canada isn't the 51st state yet... Wink

)

Anyway, this works out great for me - now I can stay up all night absorbed in Kentucky Derby related stuff ...

So, let me see if I have this right - OK, I'll just copy it:

Sunday, May 4th, 2 pm http://www.dostacos.co.kr/
Dos Tacos has added a new vegetarian option to their menu-- a scrumptious avocado-and-refried-bean burrito, which *nearly* beats out my all-time favourite, the potato burrito. Food here is fresh, plentiful, not expensive, and the soft-drink refills are free!
To get to the Hongdae location, walk out of Hongik Station (exit 6), up the hill toward Hongik University. It's on your right, past the KB Bank, same building as Haagen Daz and the Slow-Food porridge shop.

There's also a charity event (for an orphanage) in Hongdae on Saturday night (at Club Freebird) beginning at 10pm and going on till 3am Sunday - so folks can go to that, hang out and/or pass out in front of Dos Tacos to make lunch there at 2:00.

kermo · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject:

Cloudy day today-- I'm glad we switched the picnic. Still, any weather is good for burritos!

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Well, the next club gathering is tomorrow - Saturday, May 17 - at SM Ching hai vegetarian buffet restaurant at 6pm.

For those who don't know how to get there, I'll be at Yangjae station (Orange line 3) at the top of exit 5 from about 5:30 till 5:50 - there's a short bus ride from there. (Their phone number is 02-576-9637 if you want them to give directions to a taxi driver.)

Their elaborate buffet - heavy on faux meats - is probably the best for the money - 13,000 won. They also sell a lot of vegetarian items.

After that, those into excellent organic soy ice cream can meet up again at Yangjae exit 5 (also exit 6) at "Purely Decadent".

More details can be found at the following link (or the Seoul Veggie Club facebook site.)
http://seoulveggieclub.wordpress.com/

kermo · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

Gosh this week has gone by quickly. Thanks for giving people the heads up! I'll send out an email as well.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Well, SM Ching hai and Purely Decadent was a nice combination, and about a dozen of us sat around outdoor tables and more-or-less pigged-out at each place.

Hopefully there will be a good turnout for the (even more outdoor) picnic event scheduled at Yongsan Park this Sunday at 2pm.

Right now, the weather forecast looks pretty good - mostly cloudy and warm - with only 5% chance of rain.

Here's a small picture of the spacious, scenic area we've used for "veggie club" picnics a couple times now:

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Some culturally-minded folks coming to the picnic this Sunday might also like to check out the National Museum of Korea - reportedly the largest museum in Asia - located right next to Yongsan Park.

Currently, they're featuring the highly touted "Glory of Persia" exhibit.

Here's from the Museum's webpage:

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

To Aug. 31: �The Glory of Persia.�

The exhibition displays artifacts from the Achaemenid Dynasty and the Sassanian Dynasty, loaned from five Iranian museums, including the National Museum of Iran and the Persepolis Museum. The vast empire of Persia extended from the highlands of Iran to Central Asia between the sixth century B.C. and the seventh century A.D. The exhibition features gold items that demonstrate the wealth of the Persian Empire, as well as prehistoric pottery and bronze ware that attest to the long history and culture of Persia and Iran. In addition, displays from the Silla Dynasty, and the eastern end of the Asian continent, will illustrate the ancient trade connections between the East and the West along the Silk Road.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, and to 7 p.m. Sundays and holidays. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Admission ranges from 8,000 won ($7.64) to 10,000 won. Ichon Station, line No. 4, exit 2
(02) 793-2080,
www.persia2008.com/

Anyone interested in getting on the Seoul Veggie Club mailing list should PM "kermo".

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I'll bring some vegan stuff (since I don't have any ghee anyway) but I won't get a chance to buy any veggie hotdogs - or other faux meat items they sell at SM Ching hai and a few other places.

So, if someone could pick up like three or four packs I'll pay at least half the cost ...

Also, I might as well link to the other thread - which gives all sorts of useful information about where vegetarian places are located, etc.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=53723&start=180

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

The weather forecast still looks good ...

potin14p · Joined: 04 May 2006

i'm bringing veg kebabs and salads. and badminton rackets, woohoo!! let the picnicking begin!

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

Maybe we could string up a badminton net between the two Buddha statues ?
- OK, on second thought, that might not be a good idea ...

I might also bring a rubber baseball bat and ball ...

We probably need someone to show up with a frisbee to make it an official picnic.

Anyone with like a guitar can come and play background music ...