Fighting 1

I went to Yongsan electronics market in Seoul on the weekend. It's a huge complex with about 5000 stalls and shops selling all kinds of electronics. The electronics, like immigrants, are bunched into their own little areas. So, there's a PC floor on the building, a digital camera area and even a street solely devoted to lighting products........it's Magpie-man's dream. So pretty and flickering. Ooooohhhh.......

I, of course, went straight for the videogames section though. It was so tempting to buy a Japanese Famicom but, I managed to resist. I might have to return one day to grab that little Nintendo......I'm such a sucker for any old consoles. I ended up buying an MVS cart for my arcade - 'Art of Fighting 3'. I mainly bought it because the graphics, by Neo Geo standards, look pretty freaking sweet.

I might slap up a little review of the game soon.

Arcade

When I was a kid I used to go to a local snooker club on most saturdays. I wasn't there to be one of the boys on the baize though. I was there for the small collection of arcade machines they had in the lobby. One of my favourites was Spider-man: The Videogame. I remember the graphics being huge and colourful. It was an oracular treat and one that I revisited time and again. I have very fond memories of that game and that little arcade. Maybe it's why I've harboured the desire to own my own arcade machine for so long. Well, now it is a dream no longer.



Ok, so he aint a looker but, he's go it where it counts.



I managed to buy the machine and an MVS motherboard for about £100. My girlfriend bought me a 108 game Neo Geo cartridge from China. Metal Slug, King of Fighters, there's a whole lot of quality games to keep me busy.



I'm planning to gradually improve/replace parts on the arcade. It's gonna be fun having a little project to work on. Hmmm..... I think 'projects' might be a sign I'm becoming an old man. It's probably a good thing I don't have a garage.

Face

This is one of the many reasons why you shouldn't be the first person to 'party out'...

.....especially when you're sharing a sleeping area with a pair of Pollocks.

Footie

I went to my very first Pohang Steeler's game this past Saturday. A sunny day, football, friends, hot girls and men with cardboard on their heads. That is the way to spend an afternoon.

Shame we lost 1 - 0.

Birthday

The sun shines. You light a barbecue. You invite some good friends. There is meat, vegetables and fruit being eaten. The drinks begin to flow and everyone is having a grand old time. Stories about absent members and adventures taken are shared and the group strengthens a bond. Then the party moves onto a new destination. The groups disperse, people mingle into new groups, all the while the drink flows. Then the inevitable food cravings take hold and once again the group moves to a new location to sample a new atmosphere and new flavours. Then, at an imperceptible moment, a change occurs. What was once a person brimming with ebullience, joy and laughter becomes this....
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Comic

I've been feeling all full of cold recently. I hate being ill. I hate being ill especially when I still have to go to work.

I walked back to my office, after struggling through my lessons, and dropped my stuff on the desk. A package caught my eye. It was addressed to me. What was it?

It was these lovely bastards.....




Comic books...yeaaaahhhh!!!


"Happy birthday, Mike. Lots of love, Mike"

Damn

The 12th of Feb was my last blog entry. I'm such a naughty blogger.

Things have been super hectic for the past few weeks (it feels longer) and internet availability has been super crummy. Now though I am sitting in my apartment in Pohang with my free-with-the-apartment internet connection. Huzzah!

So, I'm going to tell you about my first few weeks in Korea. I'm gonna break it down week by week unless its a big event that needs its own post. Here we go.....

Week 1

First off we have the flight. I sat in the terminal listening to my Hypnosis mp3 desperately hoping it would suddenly calm my ever growing fear...it didnt. I was seriously considering just walking out of the airport and was the last person to board the plane. Still, I made it on there and after the takeoff I managed to relax. The thing that kept me busy and kept me relaxed was the wonder of inflight, multiplayer Tetris. That game has to be in my top ten all-time favourite video games. Really it's a work of elegant brilliance. I was bringing it in the two player matchup with Jenny and managed to repeatedly show her what Game looke like. Cos I gots Game. I hold the record for longest consecutive win streak.

Anyway, we landed in Incheon airport (see pic 1) and did all the paperwork stuff and was scooped up by the TaLK staff. A long coach ride, a small bout of snoozing and we were at the Korea University, Jochiwon campus (see pic 2) for our main orientation.

Continued in the next blog post.