It
has been a long time since I have updated this blog. I settled down
in Seoul for so long that I became less inclined to blog, however, I
am planning to leave soon on a new adventure. I like having the blog
and pictures to help remind myself of my travel experiences. I'll
start out with a travel update from the last few years.
Destinations:
Three
years ago I went to Taipei Taiwan for a Magic the Gathering
Tournament. I didn't do well in the tournament and didn't do nearly
enough tourist stuff. I'd love to go back someday and eat more food
and explore the city more.
Two
years ago I went to Hanoi Vietnam. Vietnamese food has never been my
favorite food, however, Vietnam is now my top spot for food. The
flavors blew me away. Each street-food stop we had was better than
the previous place. The least amazing meal was the most expensive,
at something like $8, and had been written up by many world famous
chefs. Not only was the food shockingly good, Hanoi overwhelmed the
senses in every way. Another country I'd love to spend more time in.
A little over a year ago I went to
Osaka for another tournament. Osaka was cool. Again, didn't do well
but redeemed myself in Seattle.
More
recently, in 2015, I made a long trip from Seoul to Russia, Ukraine,
Germany, Portland, Mexico and back to Seoul.
The
first stop was Irkutsk Russia. I'm pretty sure I was the only
foreigner in the whole city. It was one of the few places alongside
Morocco where I felt very out of place walking around. It felt
dystopic and everything looked grey. Grey with the random brightly
colored wood shutters on the windows of traditional Siberian houses.
I met some cool people and had a good time overall. I saw Lake
Baikal from the airplane but wasn't able to make it out there during
my stay. You can ask me in person why I didn't make it to the only
tourist destination in the area.
Next
stop was Kiev Ukraine. Ukraine surprised me. It had the beauty of
any of the top western European cities and the rugged yet charming
characteristics you expect to see in eastern Europe. It also had the
cost of living of the most poverty stricken parts of Africa or Asia.
I honestly feel like I will move here some day, it was amazing.
While in Kiev a took a day trip to the infamous Chernobyl. It is a
difficult experience to describe. I actually don't really like the
pictures I have of the visit because they create a sense of disaster
porn/travel that they are meant to. This doesn't describe how it
felt to be there. The noteworthy aspects of the experience can't be
seen in pictures. There are people who work there to create a new
cover for the power plant. There are fish swimming in the rivers.
Everything just looks like an underpopulated countryside till you get
to the abandoned buildings and cold-war era propaganda
After
Ukraine I went to visit my friend in Hannover. A do-over from 2011
when I was dying of food poising in Jacob's Hannover apartment. This
time I didn't get sick. Junie, a friend from Seoul who met me in
Ukraine, came to Hannover too. It was a relaxing week in Hannover.
Germany looks very German. The weather was nice. The french fries
and sausage tasted like french fries and sausage. Maybe next time
I'll go to Berlin?
Next
stop was Portland. It had been two years since I had been to see my
family and friends in Portland. This time I had an extended 6 week
visit.
I
took an 8 week detour from Portland to Guadalajara Mexico with
another friend, Jared, for Day of the Dead. That was very cool.
Mexican food is amazing. Big fan of Mexico. They have great people,
really great people, I love the people and food.
Another
big update is... I managed to graduate with an MA in TESOL (Teaching
English as a Second or Other Language) from The New School. I graduated
with a 3.91, which a young Eric would never believe.
I have some big travel plans coming up that I will wait to reveal till they begin.
