That title is Korean for “Herbs.” Predictably, it’s pronounced “Huh-beu.” Almost like the word “hub”, with an “eugh” added to the b at the end, to make it two syllables.
(Have I ever mentioned that “crazy,” when pronounced with a Korean accent, has four syllables?)
After a few years of my fruitlessly trying to score basil leaves and fresh oregano or lemongrass or any number of other things, I began begging Lime to get online and see if these things can be gotten in Korea. Online, because even years ago, I’d figured out that all kinds of stuff is available online that cannot be gotten in all but the most specialized of stores. Ironically, there’s no impetus for offline shops to stock these kinds of things, because not only is the demand so low on a day-to-day basis, but people are also accustomed to having to order these sorts of things off the Internet now. The further net effect is that “foreign” products — including basil plants, for example — are much harder for foreigners to get (on their own), not only because of the language barrier that many face, but also because of the constraints on ID recognition on many Korean websites.
( I’m told this is getting better, but like most people who have lived here a long time, I have sort of given up on trying to get into such sites, as the constant disappointment of being barred from registration for having an ID number that designates me as a foreigner, and is not recognized by the software for most sites’ registration database, got to be too infuriating. Maybe I should try again, but I fear I’d throw my computer out a window if I did.)
Et, voilà:
Lime’s post on the herbs has many more pictures of the little fellows out on our balcony.
Yes, it’s in Korean, but really, the thing I’m linking for — which might interest readers — is just what we got for a little less than $20 US. She loves to go out there in the morning and water them, talk to them (yeah, yeah, she thinks it’s good for the plants. I am a plant-talk agnostic), and observe how much they’ve grown. She says they’re bigger every day. I don’t notice it, but that may be why she’s the one with a green thumb, while I kill every plant I touch. Maybe that talking does do the plants some good, after all.
For those readers in Korea who want to get in on the herb-garden action, check out this site. They delivered the little fellas in very good shape, and I have to say, it was a very good deal.