Finding Our Seoul: Tangent in Osaka

The slow moving time from the last entry has sprung back to a fast-paced clip, as both Zak and I are employed individuals once again. Working abroad, we’ve found, takes some paperwork. First, waiting for visa approval, then leaving the country on a “visa run” to obtain our proper work visa for Korea. Considering that we can’t go to our closest neighbors up north, our schools sent us to Osaka, Japan. What was supposed to be three days turned out to be nearly a week while we waited for the Korean consulate to process our documents. What we discovered, was a whole new “favorite” on our list of Asian cities. Here’s why:

Bike Culture:

To say that Korean bike culture has thus far been underwhelming is a bit of an understatement. We haven’t seen many bikes in Seoul and you would have to be pretty daring to ride through the city. Osaka, on the other hand, was hipster central. Stilettos, business suits, rain, luggage – there really isn’t an excuse to not transit by bike. Don’t have a bike? Hop on the back of your friend’s bike. Zak was impressed with the range of commuter rigs, from small wheel foldables to full-on cruisers and everything in between.

Street Food:

So far, one of Asia’s consistent plusses is delicious, tasty street food. In Osaka, the motto is kuidaore, eat till you drop. We obliged. Specialties included the expected and fabulous gyoza, potstickers teppanyaki, or grilled skewers, and exceptional street noodles with a flavor-rich broth that could be a meal of its own.

One of the most popular street foods, we learned, is takoyaki. For my Danish family, think of a huge aebleskiver pan and change the recipe to a savory octopus ball. Yes, it’s batter with green onions, sometimes cheese, and bits of octopus. It is then topped off with sauces and bonito flakes, a kind of fish, also used in dashi, the umami rich Japanese broth. The taste is actually quite good, though I wouldn’t want the chewy gooey texture on a regular basis.

My favorite part about the foods we tried was the unexpected presence of cardamom. We found it in Japanese-style curries served over rice, and as a spice to sprinkle over edamame, along with chili and sea salt. Try it!

Shopping Central

Alas, shopping seems a favorite pastime everywhere, filled with eager buyers that bump your arm as they pass by (oddly, not necessarily rude here). Though neither Zak nor I are much into shopping, the crowd watching was pretty entertaining!