Blight

The Night Side of Seoul - 1898

What I'm reading now, thanks to the magic of Google books: An account from a European lady who travelled to Korea back in 1898. As you can see in the passage above, men will always find a way to chat up the ladies, even if that means impersonating blind men during the 4 hour "women only" window of night.

Korea and Her Neighbors: A Narrative of Travel By Isabella Lucy Bird

Several things strike me when reading this narrative. First, this is an amazing account written by a woman who definitely caught an interesting look at a Korea of 110 years ago - an undeveloped country no more today. Second, the lack of "political correctness" and glaring dismissal of "orientals", "coolies", and the like. Third, she definitely did not give Korean food a fair chance! How dare she call my beloved doenjang "fermented rotten beans"!? Fermented yes, but hardly rotten.

Labels: book

posted by Blight @ 12:20 AM