Anyway, this isn't about my weird sleep habits or weird wake-up periods.
After Bobby got up, we talked about going to Osan. By the big, bad truck. Not bus. My beloved gold Dodge was getting to go for a drive other than around here. I think we talked, argued, talked, argued for an hour. The thing is.....the fear of getting lost. Korean signs are in English. But the way they are set up....are NOT like in the States.
Again, we have a map but it only has the main highways marked. We have directions that Bobby print out from some website. Then there is Eric. He showed us on the map the direction his school bus takes but it takes roads that aren't marked. That route I soooo wanted to take because it was obviously a "scenic" route. Many historical markers.....but Bobby was against it since the smaller roads weren't marked. He didn't trust Eric's directions. I say let's get lost and find our way home. If we have to use hand signs, garbled Korean, and end up looking like monkeys, it would have been an experience to remember. LOL!
In the end, we used the directions that Bobby printed from the internet. In actuality, the directions pretty much followed the Humphrey's Kyung Dong Tour Bus route. So the land markers were easy for us to follow to get there.
The highways seem okay. It's around town that is scary. First, you have to worry about the psycho Korean drivers. They are no joke. I should have had my camera rolling. At stop signs/stop lights, cars will weave around you and take off.....even though the light is red. We saw a delivery guy on a scooter pass us....plus the two cars in front of us....at a red light....and take a left turn. Not a right turn on red...but a left turn on red. He just revved up his little delivery scooter and went on his way. We came to another red light. I'll admit is was a pretty, long red light.....the Bongo trucks across the street from us just zoomed across when both of the cross section lights were GREEN. Let's talk about passing a slower vehicle in the center lane. Bobby passed him and was getting back in the center lane when another vehicle doing the same thing on the other side of the slower vehicle decided to do this. We almost collided. That vehicle won. Bobby is NOT an aggressive driver. He gave way. *sigh*
By the skin of our teeth, we made it. I'll admit....once we went through the Osan gate, a sigh of relief passed through us.
We did the BX/PX thing. Then drove to the main gate, parked and walked out the gate to the Songtan market area. First things first.....FOOD! We went straight to the restaurant we went to last time. After this last meal, I think I love it (the restaurant) even more! Let me say, I ordered a nice hot and spicy stew. It was a beef broth base. Of course, it was red (meaning heavy on the gochujang-hot red pepper paste). The whole entire time, my nose ran like it was in a marathon. Sinuses......clear. I won't lie....I love, love, love Korean soups and stews. I choose it over the heavier stuff like bulgogi or yaki mandu.
 |
| Yukgaejang A beef and vegetable soup/stew. This is what I ate. Totally delicious. |
 |
| Naengmyun Matthew actually ordered ramyun but got this instead. He wasn't a happy camper. I tried it and was actually surprised at how good it was. This is not what you would expect but a bowl of noodles served with ICE! It's a cold soup but it wasn't bad at all. |
 |
| Hot Bulgogi Eric's no fail. Orders it everytime! |
 |
| The lettuce and different kimchi for the samgyeopsal. |
 |
| Side dishes The always served cabbage kimchi. Spicy green beans. Spicy pickles. |
 |
| Samgyeopsal Pork grilled and wrapped in lettuce leaves with sliced garlic, rice, kimchi, or side dish of your choice. Dipped in gochujang, doenjang, sesame oil, and/or gireumjang. |
 |
| More side dishes Stuffed clams, some mayonnaise fruit salad thing that I will never like (just wasn't my taste), and some vegetable and seafoood mixed into cut omelets. |
 |
| Egg drop soup and rice Lauren doesn't like anything. Today, it had to be McD's or else. So we ordered this for her in case she got hungry while we ate. |
After our awesome lunch, we were on our way out and as were were paying our tab.......the owner gave us all hugs. Not those "arms around and light tap on the back" hugs. Oh no! She gave us all full blown bear hugs. She is the most sweetest thing EVER. The next time we go there and WE WILL GO BACK.....I will get a picture of the beautiful, elderly woman. Bobby says she was there 10 years ago when he was last stationed in Korea. And I must say, as she hugged each and every one of us, I thought to myself...."I love Korea!" If anyone ever goes to Songtan......it's a must that you have to go to this place. Wonderful food, wonderful atmosphere, and wonderful hospitality!
