Wednesday, June 25, 2008

a non sequitur: Motorcycles


Yep. That's right. This has absolutely nothing to do with me bing in Korea.

But I can't help it - it's the onset of summer, the weather, rain notwithstanding, is gorgeous; and I miss mototrbiking! Nevermind the fact that I've been watching Long Way Round - of course Long Way Down is in queue . . ..

(To be honest, it's not that I rode much back in the States, but still - )

I'm constantly looking at motorcycles (online) - although I did see this on a vendor in Korea: it's a Confederate Hellcat

A beaut, innit?

Anyhow, yeah; I completely miss riding with Kevin (the few times we did, anyhow) and I've got to set up sometime for riding w/ Jason (hope she's treating ya well, buddy!).

90% of the bikes I've seen here are either lower displacement, Korean bred workhorses, or the rare Ducatis/Hondas mixed in . . . anyhow, scooters and motorcycles are a lot more popular here, but like I said, most are lower (250cc or lower) displacement . . ..

Current bike(s) of obsession/thinking about getting once I get back to the good ol' USA(in no particular order):
- Honda CBR600RR
- KTM Duke 690 (I [happily] blame Kevin for this development)
- Honda 599
- Kawasaki Versys
- Suzuki SV650

Considering that the Duke is a new model for this year and it almost costs $10k(msrp), realistically I'd be looking at the 599 or the SV again . . . and this is a modest dream of mine, but if I get one of those two, I'd love to chop it up to look like that Hellcat!

So, to summarize:
  • my obsession with motorcycles did not waver since I got here.
  • I will ride with Jason and Kevin once I get back
  • Granted it depends on what job situation I get once I get back, but it'd be aweeesome to join in on one of Kev's long-term trips (I've got that adventurin' bug in my blood, no thanks to you)
  • I want a bike again!
So, dear reader, I suppose you're asking, why don't I get a motorcycle here, in S. Korea?

FAAAAAAAACK
YOUUUUUUUU
(Seriously, they're batshit insane here as far as traffic goes - the second video is *typical* for most riders - and I'm just not good enough of a rider to do that without maiming almost everyone - got a bicycle, though)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Being in Korea - part 1

Hey peeps,

Just thought I'd update this a bit - you know, I have to make it a habit if I am to keep this up, me being a masterba, I mean, master procrastinator and all.

Anyhow, this is more for the peeps back in the States ('sup) - (part of) my general consensus of living in Korea as a whole.

Well, it's certainly different, being that, you know, Korea's not the US and all - but where to begin? Hmm, let's begin with the small things - there's an Outback steakhouse everywhere you look (Leah said that she has never been to one until she came to S. Korea). And they serve kimchi and fried rice with their meals; I wish I could say I was joking, but I'm not kidding here folks, they're serious about that shit here.

Ah, speaking of restaurants; here's one more - you know what they call a Quarter Pounder in Seoul?
Answer: nothing. They don't have a fucking quarter pounder. Most of their menu, save for the Big Mac and Cheeseburger, is completely different. And they deliver (free of charge, no tip), too.

And, of course, you can't forget the penis fish.
They eat that here. I mean, not the "they" as in "all of them Koreans" but think of the same ratio as Americans that eat prairie oysters.
But, dear reader, notice the aquariums in the video where the penis fish were? That's right - being a peninsula, fish is cheaper than beef and pork here - and fresh, to boot.

I mean, I could go on and on about food in Korea, but I think the rest is up for another time. Peace out, yo.

- This next part is more for my sake than anything else, so don't mind me.

Being in Korea is;
  • Food
    • Variety
    • Itaewon
    • Tipping
  • Sexuality/Dating in Korea
    • Whore alley
    • Gay, or attitudes towards
    • Picking up one night stands vs marriage material
  • Perception of foreigners
    • Towards foreign women vs men
    • Towards gyopos
  • Job
  • Family

Monday, June 16, 2008

Yes, I've assimilated!

I've given up. Quit. Compromised.

Quit what, you ask? I've quit not being assimilated into the now-culture; I've given up my proud status as an independent, rational human being (in reality a thinly-veiled guise for my neo-tech phobia/ineptness for such things - or just good ol' American lazyness).

Anyhow, yeah; so now I'm a proud(?) member of myspa-, er, I mean, cyworl-, oh, facebook this time. Right. Well, every foreigner in Korea has one, so hey, when in Korea . . . (inside joke; as my lovely wife tells me, "fuck a Korean" . . ..)

So why the blog, all of a sudden? Well, I've been meaning to, really. It's just that . . . "things" have been getting in my way; er, right (i.e. I'm a lazy fuck, and I wholly embrace the lifestyle - you, dear reader, should subscribe to this lifestyle; don't want to try? Eh, I'm too lazy to sell it to you).

So where to begin? I mean, I'm going to send this to everyone in the States so they can read this, right?

Well, it IS late at night (oh no, it begins) so I'll just bulletpoint some things I should cover;
  • My trip to North Korea
    • Guards, the flags and their love of saucer hats
    • Their hatred of all things American; yet they only take US dollars?
    • The weird box thing we found in the hotel room
  • My trip going Whitewater Rafting
  • My job
  • My continuing obsession/"passion" with;
    • Motorcycles
    • Martial Arts - Muay Thai in particular
      • Other martial arts schools in Korea I've seen/found
  • Male Pattern Baldness - oh noes!
  • Marriage to my wife, the person I married
Of which I will cover with glee - later(maybe). Maybe I'll take a poll of which one I should start with.

Oh, forgot to mention a few things;

To bulletpoint, I mean - coincidentally, it's all oh-so very perv related in one way or another;
  • Whore alley/town/district/whatever
  • Penis Fish
  • Penis Statues we found on the way back from North Korea (In South Korea)
  • Adult Novelty shops . . . er, vans on highways