Get Your Ginseng On

A couple of weeks ago, Courtney suggested we visit the ginseng festival in nearby Geumsan. I have no great love for ginseng - I don't even know what its supposed benefits are - but it was something different to do. We met up with out friend Laura at Daejeon Station and, after futilely attempting to walk to the Intercity Bus Terminal, hopped in a cab and then hopped on a bus.

45 minutes later, we stepped into a town as crazy about ginseng as Las Vegas is about taking advantage of mathematically-challenged honeymooners. Once we walked through a ginseng-covered gate we were in awe of the sheer number of booths at the ginseng market. Yes, this was a festival, so there were extra tents and bizarre ginseng-themed characters, but there were at least a hundred permanent brick-and-mortar stores selling the root in question.

Almost immediately, Laura was accosted (in a friendly way) by an elderly woman who introduced her to the finer points of washing ginseng root. The woman also insisted on taking many pictures of Courtney and Laura holding her product; we assumed she was trying to get on the cover of White Babes With Ginseng Monthly.



Leaving the friendly old lady, Courtney proceeded to partake in a number of free samples, all of which resulted in pained expressions. I bought a few bottles of ginseng wine, which was cheap but no match for a nice Riesling. We continued to be surprised by the creepy, Dr. Frankenstein experiment-like ginseng in jars and met up with a few people whose clothing seemed entirely inappropriate for the occasion.

What was lacking at this festival, though, was food. We were hungry from walking all day, and the tempura ginseng, while tasty, didn't satisfy our hunger. We left the ginseng market and walked for a bit in search of nourishment. After a while, we came to a small place with a happy pig cartoon. Usually, this signifies pork barbecue. Not in this case. In fact, we ordered a stew made from leftover pig parts. Courtney was brave enough to try the brains; I stuck to liver and heart, which was pretty adventurous for someone who was a vegetarian 10 months ago. Adding insult to injury was the fact that a number of bakeries and fried chicken establishments were just around the corner. We headed home, feeling queasy.

Pictures here.