Anyway, so this weekend I went to Seomun market once again, I really am starting to enjoy the big market, even though I invaribly get lost and occasionally cannot find my way out. I find it fun and entertaining enough. There were quite  a few forigners aside from myself there this weekend which made it that much more interesting because occasionally you run into people with that glazed look in their eyes that says this is the frist time they have come to the market.

My mission this weekend was to find some nice yarn so that I could crochet a nice scarf and hat, and possibly some wrist warmers as my hands still get cold way to fast. I can't really explain it, I went to the gym the other day, worked out and went to work, and within five minutes of sitting down my hands were a block of ice. Very aggervating.

At the market they have any number of places where you can buy things, and I had walked through the yarn section before with my friend Sook-young. This weekend I was in luck because I managed to take the right bus to the market, and I even managed to find the yarn section without having to be lost for too long. I knew I was in the write place when I began seeing the beautiful handmade scarfes and shawls.

I always worry the koreans when I start looking around for what I want. I think they are worried that I am going to ask to buy the display pieces because I like to feel the products to see the weight and quality of the yarn. It didn't take to long to find excactly what I was looking for, but I decided to go to all the shops and price the yarn first, as occasionally you will get a dishonest owner who marks the price up for foriegners. This is rare but it does happen. The shops at the market are very interesting, they line both sides of the street and they very in size from tiny holes in the wall (myabe 6feet square) to actual walk in shops. This weekend it was very busy and each shop had a small cluster of Korean women all knitting away furiously. Most of the shops will offer to teach you how to make the diplay pieces for free if you buy the yarn at the store. Since I knew what I wanted, however, I have for the most part not taken anyone up on the sitting in and knitting alt! hough I might one weekend if I have time.

I found the yarn I was looking for, although it was a bit more expensive than I wanted, and then I had the problem of asking for a crochet hook. Most of the products here seem to be knitted so when I started asking to get a hook I got allot of confused looks. Finally I managed to make myself understood, and I was taught that the word was co-bain. Unforuntately they didn't have the size hook I needed. I was looking for an i hook (about a 9 or 10) and the biggest size they have here is an 8 (which I belive is a G hook for those of you in the know). I learned a rather cool box stitch last year that I was hoping to use again, but it requires a very large hook. So I decided to settle for the  
8 hook, and picked up some nice veragated reds yarn (sort of mulberry to purple and back) to make my scarf and hat from. The scarf is lovely, but the hat is not turning out, and I may abondon it and go back and pick a different yarn for a hat.

I got some crazy fuzzy black yarn and a small hook and crotched to very nice fuzzy black sparkly wrist warmers which so far are working perfectly they cover all of my wrists, and come up to my fingers where I crotched a half glove like loops for my fingers. The thumb and the palm of my hand are free, if I go to the pc bong with the free webcam I will take some pictures of them to share.

While I was at the market, after having successfully made my purchases, I was wondering around through the dried herbs section and came upon an eldery korean lady making some kind of pancake. I stopped to watch for a minute and the next thing I knew I was placed into a seat where I waited to eat a pancake. I was quite surprised, aside from being a bit on the oily side, it was very tasty. They were very doughy and chewy, and in the middle she put some kind of brownsugar and nut mix that was very tasty and sweet. I was worried it would have sweet redpeper paste in it, which I have not been able to develop a taste for.

I was also required to buy a bag of mondu when I stopped to watch someone else cooking at the market. Fortunately for me it was vegitarian. They have a number of open air food stands at the market, and now that it has started to get cold many of the stands are covered in plastic mesh and are actually heated. It is really kind of surprising, but most of the stands here are open year round, and in the winter they provide a warm shelter and a meal to those who get caught out in the cold.

I also managed to find a section of the market where they sell pinto beans, but as I have never, ever, ever, ever managed to cook beans from begining to end, I don't think I am going to try to make homemade refried beans anytime soon. But it is nice to know that I could if I thought I wouldn't burn a giant whole in the pot doing it.

I also picked up a small pot for boiling water so I know longer have to make coffee at home by boiling water in frying pan which is pretty much my only cookware.

Aside from all that I would say I've had a fairly productive if relaxing weekend of crocheting, which matches last weekend, where I managed to paint four pieces, three of which I think are reasonably passable as art. Maybe. I'm also looking forward to the arrival of Sam next weekend which could lead to more spuratic emails as I am showing him the town, but you can never tell.