(36) something something tokyo

Harajuku clothing store

It's funny that this is the title for a post about my winter vacation to Tokyo, because honestly, Tokyo and the experiences I have there are something I can talk about until I run out of breath. It's my favorite city. It's a place where I can always find some new experience while at the same time, revisiting old experiences that remind me why I love this place so much.

This time I was able to share the experience with my girlfriend, not only a special occasion based on the action of sharing my favorite place with her, but the fact that she was able to clear out her schedule enough to actually go for a few days was a miracle. Her job, is not the typical 9 to 5 that many people hold. Taking vacation time is almost never a possibility for her and taking more than three days off to travel overseas is also a next to impossible task.

However, after a lot of discussion, scouring of the web for affordable plane and hotel accommodations and planning a mix of my favorite places to see with some new things for both of us to explore, the date was finalized and the plans were set. Fate had aligned, it was time to return to the city that in many ways, set me on the present course my life is currently on today. My genesis city, the origin of everything.

Traditional Japanese Wedding

It has been several years since I had spent time in Tokyo, and admittedly my memory of locations and sight to see were a bit fuzzy. I knew that certain places existed in certain areas,  but the memory of exactly how to go to them, the right train to take, the right subway exit to leave, was still a bit fuzzy. I spent a large amount of time researching and refreshing my memory of the places I visited years before. This was the first time I was traveling overseas with someone who was more unfamiliar with the area than I was and I wanted to make sure that her experience was as stress free as possible. I was completely comfortable with being lost in an unfamiliar place. It's how I ended up discovering most of the areas that would become favorite places in Japan during previous visits. I knew my girlfriend though. I knew what made her uncomfortable and what quickly drained her enjoyment. I made sure that this time, there was no getting lost.

Bright Shibuya

The wonderful thing about Tokyo, specifically central Tokyo where our hotel was located, is that incredible ease to get to each location with little to no difficulty. Many of the popular areas like Shinjuku, Harajuku and Shibuya were only a few subway stops away with a maximum time of 30 minutes to get to each area. I was amazed the first time I came to Tokyo in terms of its efficient subway system. after spending two years using the subways in Seoul and Daegu, I can still say with confidence that the Tokyo subway line still impresses with its ease of use and access.

With only three days, we decided to maximize our time in seeing places and trying things. By the end of the day we were always tired and ready to sleep as soon as our bodies hit the bed. I always took this as a sign of a good day. We used our energy to do what we wanted, another check on the list.

Taken from an indoor onsen (hotspring)

I took her to some of my favorite old places to visit. We walked around the shops of Harajuku at night taking in the bright pastel and candy colored clothing while enjoying one of Harajuku's famous crepes. We visited Meiji Shrine and were able to visit the many temples and shrines there. We were even lucky enough to witness a Japanese traditional wedding in progress while we were there. It was a incredible surprise to see and something that made my girlfriend very happy to witness in person.

That's not to say everyday was a nonstop series of traveling. We took the time to appreciate some of the more calmer moments. We made sure to sip coffee at the Starbucks in Shibuya while watching the crowd of people cross below us. We visited an onsen and let our minds and bodies relax as the soothing hot water was a pleasant and comfortable yin to the cold, outdoor air's yang. In the evening we always took the time to have a sizable meal with cold beverages, a celebration of our freedom and a great way to end a day of new experiences.

Delicious and fresh sushi

My girlfriend had to return to Korea after three days, while I stayed behind a few more days to visit friends. At first I was nervous for her. Having lived in big city her whole life, I knew that the impact on her wouldn't be as big for her as it was for me. A place so important and significant, I wouldn't want her experience to be mediocre. I wanted to share the same feelings and love for this place that I had with her. I wanted her to understand why I loved this city so much.

In the end, she didn't get quite the same impact as I did, but ended up loving it all the same. For her, it was more of an experience of seeing the little differences and the subtle changes between her city of Seoul and Tokyo. For her, it was seeing clean streets with not a piece of litter in site. It was going to a convenience store and seeing a wider selection of alcohol than just beer and soju. It was seeing grown men and women purchase figures and statues of famous anime characters with no sign of shame or remorse.

While any big city is bound to be similar in many ways, digging into the center to see the differences and the essence of what makes the city different from anywhere else. Cities have souls, and the people and the places make up the blood that flows through its veins.

For a few days, she was able to see that blood. For a few days she was able to catch a glimpse of the city that I love and the city that I know one day, I will return to again.

(35) Another New Year and thanks to those who believed in me

This weekend was many different things to different people. In Korea, families were celebrating the new Lunar New Year and welcoming the year of the horse with hope and optimism for a new and insightful year. Back home, many of my friends and family were tuning in to watch the Super Bowl, something that I was not willing to wake up early for on a Monday to watch in Korea (but was more than willing to watch the movie previews and see the snarky tweets).

Along with this, many of my foreign friends have just returned to Korea from their trips overseas, returning back home to start their new school semesters again.

For many people this was a time of new starts and fresh slates, and I was also one of those people. After spending the last few months searching and worrying about my future in Korea, I can finally say that I have secured a new teaching job at an international academy in the city of Songdo.

Songdo, is a newer city located in Incheon and is known for being a clean and modern city designed to be welcoming to the international community visiting and living in Korea. Many of Incheon's elite and influential people live and work in Songdo, making it an interesting change from my little city of Gimcheon.

The school itself, separates itself from similar schools due to its ciriculum based more on creativity and artistic expression rather than normal textbook based lessons. Classes at this school include the normal English, math and science classes, but also includes several other classes not normally found at schools including ballet and horse back riding. Needless to say, English is where I will be applying my schools to these children as my horse back riding and ballet skills are not quite up to snuff.

Songdo has also recently gotten the attention of the media due to the announcement that Avengers 2 will be filming in the area. As a huge fan of Marvel and the recent cinematic universe, I take this as a sign from some benevolent deity that this was meant to be in some way and will allow me a possible peak at the filming of this movie or at the very least, bragging rights to tell people that Avengers 2 was filmed in my neighborhood. Maybe I'll see Scarlet Johansson on set/ Heck, I'd even settle for some random SHIELD agent.

I also begin my winter vacation today as I'll be spending the next few days in Tokyo, three of which will be spent with the company of my girlfriend, allowing me the opportunity to show her some of the places and things that made me fall in love with this city so many years ago.

The last time I was in Tokyo, I was still a student in university getting ready to go out into the world on my own. This was before the massive typhoon and Fukushima disaster that drastically changed the country. Now, as a slightly older and wiser adult, it will be interesting to see if the city I fell in love with still measures up.

All of the good things in my life right now, didn't come just through myself. I worked hard and searched for opportunities and chances to continue working in Korea, but finally landing the job came from dozens of people whose kindness, recommendations cooperation and understanding allowed me to be where I am now. I could not have done it without all of you and even now, I am thankful for all you have done.

So before I start a new chapter in my Korean life, I want to say thank you. To everyone. I don't know if I'll ever be able to return the favor but I will always try to be my best to you and myself. You efforts will not go to waste through me.

So thank you, all of you.

(34) 2014 is the Year of Upgrades

I once heard that it's better to make a year of changes and improvements based on a yearly theme rather than set New Year's Resolutions that may or may not be doable. I've recently taken that advice to heart and have decided to make 2014, my 27th/28th year of birth and my third year in Korea a year of upgrades.

What this means is taking a look at my life, my goals and my current life situation and deciding to improve or upgrade the things in my life that will allow me to accomplish my short and long term goals. I am making this the year of upgrades with a strong desire to see all of my goals succeed but also keep in mind that they may lead to some spectacular failures, many of these things I am indeed thinking of or pursuing for the first time. 

That's the beauty of a "Year Of..." theme, it allows you to continually make changes and improvements without the limitation and disappointment of failing to meet resolutions. Every little victory leads to a better state of living, every little goal adds up to becoming a better person.

So, here is my list of things that need upgrades in my life. 

2014: The Year of Upgrades

1. My first goal is to improve the current employment situation I have in Korea. With my school ending my contract, I've spent time looking for different location and a different school to work at. As of now, if all goes according to plan, I could possibly have a better paying, better located job as soon as March this year.

2. In order to have an easier time getting jobs and participating in opportunities, I will also begin the process of obtaining an F4 Visa, which would allow me more freedoms (closer to a Korean citizen) than my current visa allows. Since I was technically born in Korea, it would be a shame to waste this unique opportunity and allow myself the closest thing to dual citizenship I most likely will be able to get

3. I need to improve my Korean language ability. I've been here long enough to have a basic understanding of the language and if I wish to live in a larger city and participate in more opportunities, a better grasp of the language is necessary. I am currently looking through language classes and deciding which one will be the best.

4. I need to have a solid workout routine again. I know myself and how difficult it is to motivate myself to workout, but I feel it is long overdue that I begin again. Despite lacking motivation, I need to be fit again. I want to feel like I did at my peak. 

5. If I do get a job in Seoul, this means having access to a larger expat scene and larger night scene where interesting stories and places lurk. I want to take advantage of this and enjoy these sights and places. As petty as it sounds, I want to experience some of those crazy "what happens in Seoul stays in Seoul" moments before I'm too old and crotchety to enjoy them any longer. 

6. I need to learn to relax this year. I often found myself stressing out over things beyond my control and often letting my negative emotions get the best of me and those around me. I need to learn/study/practice the art of taking it as it comes and letting things roll of your shoulder. I need to be less Donny and more like The Dude*  I need to realize what makes me tick and be more honest with myself and others when it comes to my limits. 

7. I need to get involved in more travel adventures. It can be somewhere in Korea, somewhere overseas or somewhere next door. I need to see more travel opportunities and be willing to leave my bubble in order to experience some adventures. By the time 2014 ends, I want to have gotten out of my comfort zone and have some travel stories to share.

8. I need to be involved with the writing scene and need to submit more articles and ideas. I'll be in the primary location of many foreign publications with much easier access to events. I need to get out of my writing slump and find more stories, get off my ass, knock on doors and write. I need to learn more about publishing and writing. I need to constantly be learning more about the ever changing field of journalism and its relation to media. I need to stay up to date with my peers and take advantage of that knowledge. 

9. If there are only two books I attempt to read this year (although I hope to read many), I want to attempt reading two books I have long put off: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace and a comprehensive look at Korean history that's not "Korea's Place in the Sun". Reading more in general is always a good thing and I can easily think of several other books I want to read, but as of now, these two are the mains.

10. Finally, I want to gain more knowledge and appreciation with my hobbies and the things I enjoy. This means finding new music to enjoy, watching new films and hidden gems I might have missed and going through my massive backlog of games and classics from yesterday that I have yet to play. Having a rich, fulfilling and enriched enjoyment and understanding of your favorite pastimes is a reward in itself.

That's it. This year is a year of upgrades and changes I can honestly say I haven't been this excited by the future in a long time. Whether this ends up as a year for the history books or a year of crash and burn, I'm going at it full speed and seeing where it takes me. 

2014. This is MY year. 

*The Dude

(33) My favorite games of 2013 (and the top ten games worth replaying in 2013)

It's that time of year, when anyone who has any kind of interest or hobby in anything that produces 10 items or more gets to reminisce about the ten best whatevers they did/played/listened/watched and choose what were the best for them.

I am one of those people who will also participate in one of these self serving events, because well, any excuse to talk about games on a blog about living and working in Korea is an endeavor worth taking.

This list is going to be a little different, as the amount of time and money I had this year really had an impact on the games that I played, meaning that this isn't exactly a comprehensive list but I like to think I was able to include a good mix of titles.

Also along with my top ten, I've included 10 games that I replayed this year, and still find excellent in terms of quality. Some of these games I have not played in over 8 years, and the fact that they still hold up well now deserves mention and in some cases, phrase.

TL:DR The 10 Best Games I Played in 2013 (and the 10 best games worth replaying in 2013)

10. Killer is Dead- Pure Suda 51 inspired weirdness with an anime veneer. Not his best but still a lot of fun with that dark and sinister anime vibe combined with excellent cell shaded visuals.

9. Grand Theft Auto V- Everything GTA IV should have been. Strong characters, huge world, tight controls, creative missions and a great soundtrack. Despite the online portion being flawed, the single player kept me playing for a very long time.

8. Battlefield 4- There are many, many issues with BF4, but even with its slew of problems, I find myself returning to this game more than any other this year. When it does work right, when everything clicks, there's simply no other modern FPS that can compete.

7. Fire Emblem: Awakening- Great turn based gameplay. An incredible story and tons of replay where generations of family are raised to fight on the battlefield. Fire Emblem is my favorite handheld game of the year and quite possibly one of the best strategy rpg's I've ever played.

6. Metal Gear Rising: Revengence- Super slick and frantic gameplay from the action masters at Platinum Games with the crazy military/sci fi settings of the Metal Gear universe. The best hack and slash title this year, performing leaps and bounds better than its rivals, DmC and Ninja Gaiden 3.

5. Papers Please- Not quite sure what genre this would fit in, but I do know Papers Please is one of the most compelling games I've played this year. Requiring memorization, repetition and moral choices without being forced, the game constantly keeps you on your toes by changing the rules and forcing you to weigh the heavy decisions of keeping your family alive and staying loyal to your job.

4. Bioshock Infinite- While I was slightly disappointed about the watered down combat, the two weapon limit and the lack of combat options from Elizabeth, once I put my expectations aside, Bioshock Infinite turned out to be incredible with one of the most ambitious stories and endings I've seen in a modern game. In the end this puts Infinite at number 4 and makes it one of the best games this generation.

3. Assassins Creed IV- While I was a big fan of Assassins Creed II, I skipped the other titles in the series due to a lack of interest. I'm glad I decided to check out the latest in the series because it turned out to be one of the best open world titles I've played in recent memory. An interesting world and setting with likable characters, incredible navel combat and a cool ARG style portion of the game where you play as an employee of Abestigos Entertainment helping to "make" the very game you are playing. Now that next gen is here, I cannot wait to see a truly next gen Assassins Creed.

2. The Last of Us- There is little to be said about this game that hasn't already been said but for the sake of being complete, The Last of Us was presented with high expectations and in my opinion, met all of them. Excellent stealth and survival gameplay where every single tool and item can be used effectively and smart enemies who flank, hide and scream out in pain. The world is a compelling zombie apocalypse setting that takes the tired old zombie trope and turns into something new and refreshing. The characters are complex, complicated individuals who aren't in the game to be cool or likable, but rather make you believe these individuals are bitter and tired people trying to survive in a world where everything wants you dead. Heck, even the visuals are fantastic, proving that the PS3 still has a few tricks up its sleeve. Without a doubt, I can say that this is Naughty Dog's masterpiece.

1. Tomb Raider- No other game surprised me with its overall quality than the Tomb Raider reboot. Taking everything that didn't work with the old series and giving it a fresh new coat of paint, this new Tomb Raider took my expectations and gave me one of the most exciting and compelling action titles I've ever played. This new Lara is a interesting character who's growth from scared survivor to unstoppable killing machine and skilled acrobatic was a non stop action journey from beginning to end. Despite some issues of narrative having a disconnect with gameplay in terms of emotion, the story was still a compelling tale of survival and serves as a fitting origin story for Lara. With word of a new title in development, I can only hope it expands further and gives us more to do, because as of right now, the game is near perfection and the reason why, without a doubt, is my favorite game of 2013.

Honorable Mentions: Ducktails Remastered, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Deadly Premonition (PC)

The Ten Games Still Worth Replaying in 2013

10. Castlevania-  Still difficult. Still has clunky controls. Still feels great to advance to the next level.

9. Amnesia: Dark Descent- Still one of the scariest and atmospheric horror games I've ever play. On my second playthrough, I'm still afraid of going into the dark.

8. Ratchet and Clank 2: Going Commando- To me, this is still the closest you can come to a quality action platformer without Mario in the name. The guns, the levels, even the Saturday Morning cartoon-esque story are still entertaining and hold up remarkably well today.

7. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped- It's amazing that a decade old PS1 platformer is still better than 90% of what is offered today. Tight controls and a great level design still make this a great game to play.

6. The Marvel/ Capcom Vs Series- After playing through MvC 1 and MvC 2 again with a better controller, I can now see the full potential of these games and love the frantic fighting combat combined with colorful 2D backgrounds and huger roster of characters.

5. Nights: Into Dreams- It's been a long time since playing Nights, and playing again is like jumping into a pool of ice cold water. You're not sure what to do, you awkwardly flail around for a bit, but finally you find your grounding and eventually have a blast. Nights still has some of the tightest controls, a memorable soundtrack and some of the best levels I have ever seen in a video game (including the best Christmas themed level ever). Even today, there is no other game like Nights.

4. Super Mario World- My go to game to play on long train rides to Seoul. SMW still impresses today with its incredibly tight and responsive controls along with great levels with a ton of secrets to discover. It often goes back and forth for my favorite Mario platformer with this and the next title.

3. Super Mario Brothers 3- Great levels, a cool world screen, awesome power ups and great music still make this one of the best Mario games ever, and one of the best platformers ever. When you have debates between Super Mario World and Mario Brothers 3 as the best Mario platformer ever, you know you've done something right with you franchise.

2. Duke Nukem 3D (with High Resolution Pack)- Trying to get away from all the gritty and multiplayer centric FPS titles of today, I found myself revisiting old gems on PC with the latest in visually enhancing mods. Despite being crass and stuck in the "tude" times of the 90's. Duke Nukem 3D still has some of the best levels and most satisfying weapons in any FPS ever. The new HR pack brings the old 2D sprites into full 3D, keeping the same fast paced gameplay with a new, shiny coat.

1. Brutal Doom - If Doom I and II were considered the best FPS's ever made. Brutal Doom takes it up to eleven in every singe way possible. Brutal gory combat. with full 3D movement and all new devastating weapons makes this more than worth it to go back and play through the old Doom titles in a whole new way.  I held the Doom series in high regard before, but the insanity of gameplay makes Brutal Doom, the best FPS mod I have ever played and quite possibly the best FPS ever.

Honorable Mentions: Chrono Trigger, Unreal Tournament  

That's All! It's been a good year for gaming and a reminder that my favorite hobby just keeps getting better and better ever year. Happy gaming everyone! Here's to great games in 2014.