Monday, June 30, 2014

Jebena


A Jebena is the traditional Ethiopian clay coffee pot.  It is also the name of an Ethiopian coffee shop in Hyehwa, Seoul.
 


The entrance on the 5th floor.
Displays along the entryway.


The interior is all Ethiopian.  It is a bit of a museum.  
Basket.

Traditional Ethiopian stringed instrument.
Solid wood chest.  They keep some of the tools for the coffee in there. 

You can order the usual coffee drinks or experience a traditional coffee ceremony with the full three rounds.  
Container.
Very cool wooden table.
Very cool wooden stool.
Chairs?  They use them for people to put their bags on at the tables, if needed.
Looking towards the entrance.
The interior.

Another view.
Roasting the coffee beans.
Close up.
They're ready.

They ground the beans at the counter.
It's brewing.
Add sugar and stir.
A perfect little cup of coffee. 
Frankincense incense.

It is definitely worth seeing if you haven't before. 
Mmmm.  Coffee.
Chatting with the owner.

Will definitely go again.
To get there go out exit 1, Hyehwa station.  About 50 m or so it'll be on your right.  It is on the 5th floor of the City Valley Building, above Bennigan's.

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Short!


These guys are across from the art museum behind Deoksugung, a palace across from Seoul's City Hall.  They amuse me.
An interesting illusion.
This plaque sits next to them, telling about the little vertically challenged family.

Four Legs

Early last week the sun was shining and the air was warm.  Walking down the hill from work on my way to the subway train I rescued a pretty little butterfly from the road.
 "Spring!"  I thought.  It was an odd little butterfly.  I noticed it had a good grip on my finger.  Then I noticed it was gripping with only four legs.  I looked and sure enough that was all it had.  Not even stubs or scars where the other two legs should have been.  Odd.  A mutant butterfly.  
Maybe it's from all of the acid snow and pollution? It didn't form properly in its cocoon over the winter.
I walked a ways down with it clinging to my finger then put it into a small patch of plants off the road.