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Danaus plexippus then some Gochujang w Bibimbap


A hazy fall day in the bay area courtesy some seriously climactic climate to the north of us.  Left bunch of humans dead is how bad it got with a sudden wildfire burning out of control in a sleepy town north of Sacramento.

There was poor air quality advisory prompting many to familiarize themselves with a hitherto unknown short form called AQI as in Air Quality Index in the area where they live.  Ours was showing air quality worse than New Delhi and that is saying something.  New Delhi as in India's capital, has its denizens burning wood and cow dung patties along with garbage as a source of fuel to cook food and bake bricks for construction sites.  Result is an atmosphere with cancer causing particulate abundant in volume so much as to block out the sun from shining through.

So we scoped out some pockets of relatively clean air in the bay area and decided to hit the coast of Santa Cruz.  A former mission lends its name to the town that was established in the late 18th century when Spanish conquerors came along.

The coast offered a much needed respite in the form of some walking weather along the limestone cliffs and also a visit to the nearby Monarch Butterfly grove where these amazing winged insects roost for weeks after birth only to perish in a few months after.   The Monarch known by its scientific name 'Danaus Plexippus' sounds like a character in an Asterix comic.  Amazing winged animal this which migrates south in winter and spends time hibernating in Central California.







Post this ambulatory exercise involving lot of hiking along the coast we decided to satiate our hunger with some hot Korean cuisine. 




Using modern technology to identify a suitable venue some 30 miles north of our location we drove to Santa Clara (named for some Italian saint) where the object of our gastronomic attention was to be.  The place is called 'Jang su Jang' which approximates to Long Life in the Korean language.  The food is exceptionally good with the uniformed wait staff unlike any Korean place I have visited in the US thus far.  For starters they spoke good English.  They also were attentive and soft spoken - what a treat!



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