Watch your back

Groceries in Korea are cheap. Restaurants are even cheaper. Everyone delivers. And everyone orders in. This demand for fast, direct service has created a master race of delivery scooters.
Laws do not apply to these two-wheeled speed demons. If a traffic light is red, they'll (maybe) yield and fly right through. If traffic is crazy, and it usually is during dinner hours, they pull up onto the sidewalk at mach speed. Mothers and fathers with strollers are no match for these psychos; it's a game of chicken and they always win. They're quite stealthy too. You won't notice them creeping up on you until they speed by, leaving you with nothing but a face full of exhaust and a heart attack.
They come in all different styles and models. This one, for instance, is a moped style bike with the classic milk crates for cargo space. The more successful establishments sport modern 'crotch rocket' style vehicles, with sealable cartons on the back to keep that live squid hot during transport.

Hungry?

On the weekend we went to Seomon Market in Daegu. It was an orgy of contamination. It was also quite fascinating, and probably a little more safe than it appeared to us uncultured foreigners.

We bought some fruit and vegetables, but we didn't buy any pig heads, dead birds or bloody octopuses.

Wednesday

I wrote earlier about how nice people are in Daegu. Here's another example.

Last night I walked over to Pizza Etang to buy us dinner. The guy who served us last time was there again, and he gave me a menu and I ordered the same thing as before. This time, it was 1,500 won (about $1.50) cheaper than last time, but I didn't think much of it.

As I was waiting he came over to me and said, "Two weeks ago, you came with wife?."
Me: "Yeah, I came with my wife and our baby."
Him: "I made mistake. I charge you too much last time."
Me: "Oh, well that's okay. Not a big deal."

He picked up the menu and pointed at what he charged me last time. "No, my mistake. I'm very sorry. I pay you."
Me: "No, I understand what you're saying. You don't have to pay me. It's just a little bit."
I appreciated his honesty about having made a mistake and really wanted him to know that I wasn't bothered by it. This awkward exchange went on for a couple of minutes until he realized I wasn't going to take the 1,500 won from his pocket.

Him: "Your wife - gorgeous."
Me: "Oh wow. Thanks. Yes she is."
Him: "And your baby. Beautiful."
Me: "Yeah, Koreans like her blue eyes."
Him: "Oh yes, blue eyes. Gorgeous. And you too."
Me: "Whoa. Okay. Thank you." His honesty came into question at this point.

I also went downtown last night for the first time. I needed to make a trial run so that when we take Cate on the weekend, we don't get lost. It was the best time I've had since we've been here, even though I didn't actually do anything. On a Wednesday night the streets were packed and every store was open, with music pumping. I wish I had pictures to show what I'm describing but my camera died as soon as I got to the subway.