Kamsahamnida, Dae Yang

Okay, so this is what happened.

Dado and I followed the letter that Ate Guard, for some weird reason, did NOT accept in Yakal. Of course the reason was most probably because Dado isn't a resident there anymore. But we both found it absurd because mails for graduates used to be received there. Turns out Ate was the only one in Yakal who thought of returning the package all the way back to Iloilo, because the others would normally just smile and welcome all boxes and plastics and envelopes the delivery guy merrily brings.

And so Dado and I ended up chasing his letter to LBC Kalayaan Avenue this afternoon. It was around 2:30pm and we haven't eaten lunch yet. So, along its lengthy street, we spotted some Korean restaurants. And, out of his impulsive little self, suggested that we eat lunch at one of them. I was hesitant, of course, since number one, I had no idea how their food tasted (other than what is available in Mashitta in SC), and number two, I expected it to be expensive.

I guess none of us listened to that little screaming voice in me because we both decided, after finally getting his letter, to give it a shot. The nearest resto was this place called 대양 (Dae Yang).

Of course, my number two reason for hesitation indeed proved to be worthy of its label. But then again, we both got excited to try something new anyway. Then... yes. You are so deym right. There was a grill on our table! And oh man, was I excited to put some raw meat on it and savor all the meaty goodness! Unfortunately though, using it required more people (more people = more money = more mouths) so it can actually be financially reasonable. And since it was impulsive, Dado and I thought we can settle for something less expensive. He got this spicy pork dish that was difficult to pronounce, while I ordered this:

The 불고기 (Bulgogi)! Hurrah! And each of our meals even had 김치 (kimchi), egg rolls, rice, and a free glass of iced tea. C'mon. Who doesn't want free iced tea with 김치 (kimchi) and egg rolls and rice??

MOREover, we were given three more side dishes, one of which was something like mashed-potato salad, the other was leafy and green but yummy (probably the 나물, Namul), while the other, as Dado would like to put it, was "Korean achara". Plus! They even served us with 미역국 (Miyeok guk), the seaweed soup! Yes. ZE seaweed soup that Super Junior enjoys so much on special occasions, as I see it in their show, Full House. Maaaan! Can you imagine me all jumpy and smiling and stuff? Haha. Dado was excited, too, of course, though I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with Super Junior. Just the perfect combination of his growling stomach and the new dishes in front of him, all smoking at the same time.

And so everything tasted awesome. Except for the kimchi, though. I don't know why other people go gaga over it, and I don't. Eeeeek. Perhaps next time, when Donghae makes it for me. :)

In the middle of our meal, we were tonged with a damped clean towel each. Dado and I ended up staring blankly at each other, and making fun of it afterwards (e.g. attempting to rub them on our faces or armpits). Later on, we figured out (with confirmation from Ate), it was for our hands. Cooool huh.

Then we wrote on their "freedom wall", only that you are actually to write on an actual wall. Almost everything scribbled there was in Hangul... and so, we joined in, why not. I taught Dado how to write his name in Hangul (다도) so we can both write our Hangul names on the wall (the Hangul for "Jet" was intelligently guessed). And so we did! We wrote down the date today, too, July 11, 2010. Yeeey!! :)

Cheers for the new experience in Korean dining! We are so going to try this with more friends next time:

감사합니다 대양! 화이팅! Thank you Dae Yang! Fighting! ^_^