Gundam Base, Yongsan (New Location)

It's been a long time since my last post! But, that's how life goes sometimes. Anyway, even if I haven't been uploading photos I've still been taking them, so now that I'm back I have plenty to share. First up: There's been a big change to the Gundam Base at Yongsan's I'Park Mall, and I'd be remiss as a blogger of Gunpla in Korea if I didn't update you all. For whatever reason, the Gundam Base was moved from the mall's 7th floor down to the 4th, the same level as the metro station lobby. So although the new location is a smidge smaller than the old store, having a Gundam Base greet you the moment you exit the station is pretty great. Also relocated were the Tamiya store, the Style X kiosk, the model trains booth, the toy store... Basically anything toy and hobby related is now on the 4th floor! As a result I've updated my master list of Gunpla stores in Korea to reflect all of the changes.

All of the photos in this post were taken last Halloween. They're a few months old now, but I don't think there's much reason to worry. It's not like the Gundam Base could have moved again since then!

Gunpla: Raziel, my 2015 GBWC entry

The Gunpla I built and submitted to the 2015 Gundam Builders World Cup is a modified FG Rasiel (Furoku Grade). Earlier this year I found the unassembled Rasiel kit in my parents' basement, forgotten and discarded, and I decided to take it with me back to Korea to work on. I thought that with enough time and effort I could convert Rasiel from a near-static model to a custom Gunpla with decent articulation. "Enough" time and effort ended up equaling six months worth; from February to August I worked on Rasiel sporadically, pausing when it became too frustrating, even taking breaks to build two other Gunpla. However, just in time for the GBWC I completed what I consider to be my most involved Gunpla project yet.

The first thing I did was put together the unmodified Rasiel to get a feel for the kit. Rasiel is an extremely simple Gunpla: all of its pieces come on a single runner. It can't bend it's limbs at the knees or elbows, nor can it rotate it's torso, head, hands, feet... It's basically an unpainted white block of plastic when built straight out of the box. To compensate I bought an HG Nadleeh, a relatively cheap model with many structural similarities to Rasiel, and butchered it for joints and other bits. I used a mini hobby saw to hack Rasiel and Nadleeh apart, and through mind-numbing and time consuming trial and error I was able to fit Rasiel with enough moving pieces from Nadleeh to give the former Gunpla a significant increase in articulation. Getting Nadleeh's parts to fit required every tool at my disposal: sanding files, hobby knives, quick drying putty, liquid cement, etc. One of my favorite new tools I acquired while working on Rasiel is a miniature pin vice. With it I was able to drill holes into Rasiel that I could insert plastic tubing into, creating sturdy new pegs for joining pieces together.

After three months of work I completed Rasiel's main body, allowing me to move onto constructing weapons and accessories. It wasn't enough that Rasiel was now mobile; I wanted to personalize it. In my head I had several ideas regarding what sort of Gundam I wanted Rasiel to be, and eventually I decided to make it an independent fast-attack mobile suit. Ripping pieces from four different parts sets and two other Gundam kits, I stuck bits together with blue tack for hours, trying dozens of combinations until I found something I liked, at which point I would permanently glue what I had created using liquid cement. I wanted to make Rasiel functional and stylish: for long distance combat I came up with a rail gun that works in tandem with the radome behind Rasiel's head (the halo motif of the radome acts as a callback to the religious origin of Rasiel's name). I made a sword-halberd hybrid for melee use, which is arguably not the most practical weapon but looks cool and gives Rasiel an imposing silhouette. The wings were tricky, as I wanted to make them slightly ornate but still believable while matching the aesthetic of Rasiel's body.

Painting Rasiel presented a new challenge, as this was the first Gunpla I painted head to toe. I started by spraying every piece with primer, after which I painted individual pieces with either white, gray or black spray paint. I then switched to painting by hand, giving Rasiel a personalized color scheme based on the colors found on US Air Force jets. When I was satisfied with the way it looked, I sprayed Rasiel with gloss coat to give the model a slick surface so that I could go back and detail it with black ink and apply water-slide decals. Finally, I sprayed Rasiel with a matte top coat to seal everything in before assembling all of the pieces together.

I finished Rasiel on August 19th, the last day submissions could be delivered to the Gunpla Expo in Seoul for the GBWC. To signify that this Rasiel Gunpla is my own original custom I titled it "Raziel", after the Hebrew Archangel of the same name. I retrieved Raziel on the 26th and spent a few days tidying it up, applying paint where it had chipped and tightening a few joints, and now that I've had time to shoot some decent photos, I'm ready to share my Gunpla on my blog. I didn't bring any medals home minus a participatory badge, but I'm not shy to admit I'm proud of my work.

And truthfully, I'm glad it's all over! What an exhausting project this has been. Immensely satisfying, but exhausting. I think I'll be taking a short break from Gunpla before starting a new model.

Gunpla Expo and Gunpla Builders World Cup 2015, Seoul: Part III

All right, enough beating around the bush: in my third and final post regarding this year's Gunpla Expo, I'll share the results of the 2015 Gundam Builders World Cup competition in South Korea. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the announcements were made at the Expo on Sunday, August 23rd, and I and a crowd of people had gathered to see the winners firsthand. Meijin Kawaguchi, the official master of Gunpla, was present to do the judging and award trophies in four categories:

Junior Course A (ages 0 ~ 10)

Junior Course B (ages 11 ~ 14)

Open Course A (ages 15 ~ 20)

Open Course B (ages 21 and up)

A third, second and first place winner was chosen for each category, totaling 12 individual winners. Two overall champions were also named, one from the Junior Division and the other from the Open. Those two will go on to represent Korea in the international round of the GBWC later this year.

Truth be told, while some of the Meijin’s picks made sense to me many others I didn’t expect, in particular his choice of Open Division champion. Have a look at the winners and you can see for yourself if you agree or disagree!

Gunpla Expo and Gunpla Builders World Cup 2015, Seoul: Part II

I've waited so long for the Gunpla Expo to roll into town that it feels anticlimactic to visit only once and be done with it. In order to fully enjoy all that the Expo has to offer I've gone three times now, with plans for a fourth trip later this week.

My first visit was on the 19th, so that I could drop off my submission for the 2015 GBWC. The Expo hadn't technically opened to the public yet, and as a result there wasn't much to see aside from the other GBWC entries. I went again on Sunday the 23rd to watch the official master of Gunpla, Meijin Kawaguchi, announce the winners of the GBWC (more on that later), as well as experience the Expo in full swing. However, two complications occurred on Sunday that forced me to consider returning to the Expo the following day: to my embarrassment I'd left my camera's battery in it's charger back at my home, meaning I had only the subpar camera built into my phone available to me (dejavu!), and the crowds on Sunday were so intense that it was impossible to enjoy any of the Expo's activities without fighting my way through throngs of people or waiting in dreadfully long lines.

Thus today after work I made a third trip to the Gunpla Expo, arriving an hour before closing time, in hopes that it would be a much more pleasant experience. Maybe I'm just looking for excuses to go to the Expo as many times as possible before it packs up and I have to wait a year for the next one, but in my defense when I arrived at the Expo this evening there was a significant decrease in the number of people in attendance. This allowed me to leisurely browse the display cases featuring the latest Gunpla fresh from Japan, toy around with several of the activities, and best of all I was able to complete the stamp rally without having to stand in any lines.

The stamp rally is a mini-game of sorts designed to encourage attendees to check out everything the Expo has to offer. Located throughout the convention hall are 15 stations, each featuring a task that should be completed in order to earn a stamp. Tasks include voting for a Gunpla in the GBWC, taking a survey, making a blog post about the Expo and showing your post to staff (easy!), buying something (...), etc. Once all 15 stamps have been obtained the attendee has a chance to draw a ticket from the lottery box, and on that ticket is written a prize. I got the 15 stamps with barely any hassle but I'll collect my prize later this week, when I make my fourth trip to the Expo to retrieve my Gunpla submission.

It's a silly thing, but going back and forth to the Expo as often as I like makes me appreciate that I'm an adult. For example, I saw my Gunpla-loving 5th grade student at the Expo on Sunday. He had come with his dad, and for all I know this was his one chance to attend. Being a child, his desires have to first be approved by his parents, and even then what he wants may not be deemed what's best for him. Meanwhile, I can do whatever I want, and if that means going to the Gunpla Expo four times in a week than no one gets to stop me!

On the flip side, his dad bought him a Perfect Grade Gundam 00 Raiser plus a Gunpla Expo-exclusive base stand, so he may in fact have the upper hand after all.

Well... at least I got my photos!

Gunpla Expo and Gunpla Builders World Cup 2015, Seoul: Part I

Today was the first day of the fall semester, which means my summer has tragically come to an end. I made the most of my time off from teaching by traveling across the Korean peninsula to several major cities and even hopping over the ocean to a nearby Japanese island for a bit of sushi and sake. I'll write up proper posts for those adventures in the future, but first I'd like to write about a more time-sensitive matter: the 2015 S. Korean Gunpla Expo, which is of as this writing currently taking place at the Coex shopping mall in the southern half of Seoul. The Gunpla Expo is scheduled to last from August 20th to the 26th and is also host to the Korean entrants in the 2015 Gunpla Builders World Cup, so for Gundam and Gunpla fans living in Korea it's obviously a must-attend event.

For the last six months or so I've been working on my submission for this year's GBWC, and in the past few weeks I've dedicated almost every minute of my free time to completing it. I was adding finishing details to my Gunpla up until the last possible moment, and it was already after 7pm on the 19th when I jogged into convention hall D1 on the 3rd floor of the Coex to drop off my Gunpla, two hours before the 9pm deadline for all entries. Sitting outside the hall in a small queue were four or five Gundam fans, patiently waiting for the Expo to open to the public on the following day. Some were reclining on mats and tapping on their phones, others slurped noodles out of Styrofoam cups. I admired their resolve. In my case, because I was a contestant in the GBWC I was given a large sticker stating as much which allowed me inside. I had to follow a roped-off walkway to the sign-in tables, but all around me I saw staff scurrying about, setting up kiosks and booths and preparing for the Expo. I apparently wasn't the only one racing to finish.

Fortunately for me, the staff working the sign-in tables spoke enough English for me to register without a hitch. After going through the necessary paperwork I was given a commemorative pin and coupon for Gunpla then directed to a nearby cluster of tables where builders could assemble their models before taking them to the exhibition area. I found a seat and pulled my Gunpla out of its box so I could adjust and pose it. Just in case I had brought some tools along to do any detailing or cleaning I might have missed, but interestingly I saw builders who were sitting at tables with incomplete out-of-box models, still snapping them together and painting them with Gundam Markers. On the opposite end of the builder spectrum I saw hobbyists lugging in massive dioramas that must have taken months, possibly a whole year to complete. I wasn't intimidated: I had known there would be such contestants, but I was satisfied enough in my own work to be able to proudly put it on display.

I had spent so much time working on my Gunpla that it was a little difficult to part with. Eventually I was ready to let go, and it currently rests on a shelf in a display case for all convention-goers to see. It was after stepping away from my work I realized I was in an enviable position for anyone who enjoys photographing Gunpla. Typically at these contests the Gundam models are behind thick reflective glass for their protection, which has the drawback of making it difficult to photograph them. However there I was in the relatively uncrowded Gunpla Expo, countless custom Gunpla surrounding me, and all of the glass removed from the display cases so builders could easily install their projects. As a Gunpla photographer enthusiast, I can't adequately express how exciting this opportunity was for me.

So, without further ado, allow me to present the amazing works submitted by the very talented builders of South Korea to this year's GBWC. I'll be making a future post about the expo later on now that it's open, and once I retrieve my model I'll do a proper photo shoot with it and share those photos here. In the meantime, please enjoy!

Playing Host: A Brother's Visit

I had the pleasure of hosting my brother last week. Whenever I attempt to get friends or family from the west to come visit me in far away South Korea I'm met with understandable reluctance, and I was admittedly skeptical when my brother announced he was intent on coming to see me. It wasn't until he had finally applied for and received his passport that I began to take him seriously, but by the time he got his plane tickets and departure date confirmed I'd already laid the groundwork for his arrival. It's not often I get to play host to people from my old life, and I treasure the few opportunities I'm given to introduce the people I care about to the country I've come to love.

I had a few friends out to see me prior to my brother's visit, one from back home and a few from Japan. Although I rolled out the red carpet for each of them, I never felt like I had truly shown them the best of what South Korea has to offer: my carefully laid plans would fall through, or we would run into hiccups while out and about, or in the case of my college roommate visiting me in January, it was just too insanely cold outside to be bothered with leaving my home! My friends assure me they had a good time while in Korea and I try to assure myself that I did my best, but I can't help from feeling a little guilty for not giving them the mind-blowing experiences I want them to have.

I didn't want to harbor the same regrets over my brother's visit, so I carefully planned what we should do together during his stay. Before he arrived, my brother sent me a list of places in Korea he had read about online that he wanted to visit. Most of his suggestions were out-of-the-way postcard landmarks that make for good photographs, but in my mind they didn't do much to convey what it really feels like to live in Korea. I wanted my brother to see Korea through my eyes, to live the kind of life that I've been living for the past four years. I knew that if I could successfully convey all of the things I love about being in Korea to him in a few action packed days, he would definitely fall in love with Korea as well.

That isn't to say my brother's seven day tour lacked sight-seeing. Absolutely Korea contains awe-inspiring historical architecture worth visiting and beautiful nature just begging to be explored, and I was sure to take my brother to as many must-visit locales as his short vacation afforded. However, what I was most excited to share with him are the little things that make being in Korea so much fun, the sort of experiences that get taken for granted by people who call Korea home but are an intrinsic part of living here.

I'm talking about knocking back soju shots with friends in a crowded Korean barbecue joint after a hard day's work, or strolling the packed streets of Hongdae on a hot summer night and taking in all of the street performances. I wanted my brother to enjoy the cleanliness and spaciousness of a Korean movie theater, the convenience and ease of riding the metro, the joys of having unlimited Gunpla at your fingertips. I wanted him to stuff his belly with as much local cuisine as possible, from pork barbecue and spicy rice cakes to giant bowls of noodle soup and fried cow intestine. We even toned it down and enjoyed the quiet simple pleasures of my countryside life, like hiking up the hill behind my house to the local temple or just standing on my roof and gazing out across the valley I call home.

When it was time for him to leave, I was happy to hear from my brother's own mouth that I’d achieved what I had set out to accomplish. He'd fallen under Korea's spell, and he would be returning to the west with longing in his heart (and soju in his suitcase). I don't know when or even if he'll be coming back to visit me again, but I'm satisfied in that I was able to make at least one person see the Korea I see.

And even though I never discussed the possibility with him, I like to think somewhere in his subconscious he's started wondering, "What if I got a job overseas, too?"

Hermit Life: Another Happy Birthday, Buddha

Sometimes I envision that when I'm older I'll live in a small backwater town, far removed from my old life. I'll earn a modest living working a job I take pride in, and though I won't be famous I'll be known to the townspeople as the friendly but elusive hermit who comes down from his mountain home once in awhile for food and beer. It will be a perfectly normal, perfectly peaceful life.

Sound familiar?

It's funny how things work out. I wasn't planning on pursuing a "hermit in the woods" lifestyle until I was up in age, and yet here I am exactly where I pictured myself in my twilight years. I'm actually not trying to give the impression that I'm a borderline recluse; I just prefer having a generous amount of space around me, to be able to pursue my hobbies and passions in relatively undisturbed tranquility. That said I do like being part of a community, even if I keep to myself on the fringe, and I enjoy my little interactions with the local townsfolk.

I'm fortunate in that I have some wonderful neighbors, but then it doesn't take a lot to endear me to someone. It's the small acts of generosity I appreciate the most, like when I bump into my landlord just as I'm returning home and he invites me to have a few drinks with him on his newly built balcony. Or when I'm walking through town and one of my students will see me and wave excitedly, and almost immediately a parent will say, "Be respectful, that's your teacher!" and make the child bow. Then there was the time it started raining while I was shopping in my town's mart and the lady who owns the store noticed I had no umbrella and gave me one for free. On a different day the grandpa who runs the dry cleaner was sitting outside eating some ice cream, and when he saw me go by he waved me over and insisted on buying a cone for me. There's also the pharmacist who remembers that whenever I visit I like to buy the Korean equivalent of Pepto-Bismol (actually that example is a little embarrassing). And just last week, I befriended the local monk who lives in the temple overlooking the town.

It's been a little while since I last visited the Buddhist temple on the mountain behind my house. Recently however the weather has been fantastic, and with Buddha's birthday just around the corner I knew there would be decorations adorning the temple. I went one afternoon after work; lining the road to the temple were colorful paper lanterns all strung up in Buddha's honor, and following them led me to a lovely display of lanterns set up in the temple's courtyard. Although the quantity of lanterns was modest compared to what I saw in Bongeunsa the previous year, they were still quite pretty to look at. It was while I was exploring and taking pictures that I was approached by a grandma who lives and works at the temple. At first I thought maybe I had overstepped some boundary I was unaware of, but she waved me over and asked if I was hungry (in Korean, of course). I was intrigued, so I followed her into the temple's kitchen where I was greeted by a monk and another grandma. They invited me to join them in their simple meal of Korean noodle soup and kimchi: the soup had no meat, as Buddhist monks are vegetarians, but the ingredients were fresh and the meal was hearty. Though I felt a bit shy at first I had a pleasant time chatting with the monk, doing my best to string together sentences in broken Korean. As we talked the monk served us tea, and he informed me it was a special brew that contained a bit of alcohol (another surprise: I wasn't aware that Buddhist monks could drink!). That's when I noticed that hanging from the ceiling was a very modern flat screen TV displaying feeds from several security cameras. Now I knew how the first grandma had managed to find and approach me so quickly! I watched as the monk observed a woman enter the temple to say her prayers, and it amused me when I realized he had most likely been watching me only moments ago. It was soon time for me to go, and the monk suggested I come back at night to take photos of the lanterns after they were lit. He also said that I was welcome to come again and drink tea with him. I was flattered, and told him I would.

Country life can be a bit lonely. However, I feel tremendously grateful that I have such warm and welcoming people to share a town with. I realize I can't live here in peace and quiet forever and that eventually I'll have to step back into the outside world to pursue my ambitions, but some days I wonder if I really need more than what this simple hermit life has to offer me.

Kuala Lumpur Part 3: Monkeying Around

After a couple of full nonstop days walking around and exploring Kuala Lumpur, my girlfriend and I were understandably tired. Now it was the final day of our trip and, feeling exhuasted, we couldn't resist spending a good portion of the morning lounging around our accommodations. Even though we had traveled to a foreign land to sight-see and experience a new culture we were still technically on a vacation, so I don't think taking some time to enjoy a little relaxation was out of the question.

When we finally felt up to it we walked to the Petronas Towers and reserved evening tickets to visit the observation deck on the 86th floor of Tower 2. We then stopped by a supermarket to do some shopping; I wanted to pick up souvenirs for friends back in Korea as well as some exotic seasonings for my kitchen. I've grown a little tired of cooking and eating the same Korean dishes so I thought I could learn to cook with a few Southeast Asian flavors to spice up (literally) my diet. My girl and I also bought durian pastry puffs at a small bakery. Durians are famous for being a delicious but extremely smelly fruit local to Malaysia; though I had yet to try a durian, I'd often seen signs while traveling through other cities in Southeast Asia prohibiting the handling and consumption of the odorous fruit. We figured eating a durian pastry would be a good way to get an idea of the fruit's taste without jumping straight into the deep end.

Several hours later, after eating and drinking anything I could get my hands on, I still couldn't get the smell and taste of durian out of my mouth. It wasn't bad, it was just... memorable.

In the afternoon we summoned up the remainder of our strength to make one last expedition to the outskirts of the city so we could see the Batu Caves. We hired a taxi; the drive was about half an hour and relatively inexpensive, and along the way our friendly taxi driver told us of the cultural and religious significance of the caves, explaining they're a pilgrimage site for Hindus. The driver, a Hindu himself, said that these days the caves are more or less a tourist attraction but that they were still host to major religious festivals throughout the year. My girl and I toured the caves and marveled at their size (I had never been in caves so large before) and we watched as Hindu holy men performed their prayers and threw rocks at monkeys who came too close. The monkeys were a sight all on their own: they gathered trash and pestered tourists, and one monkey laid himself out on the steps while he was groomed by his friend. He looked so still I thought for sure he was dead until he looked up to see if anyone was watching him.

In the evening we went to an upper scale Chinese restaurant for dinner and afterwards headed back to the Petronas Towers just in time for our reservations to visit the observation deck. Of course the view was fantastic, and looking out over the city from the top of one of its tallest buildings was truly the best way to spend our last night in KL. We reluctantly came back down to the ground and returned to our hotel to prepare for the flight home.

About a month before our vacation I had suggested to my girlfriend that we go to Kuala Lumpur simply out of convenience: tickets to KL were some of the cheapest online at the time, and while we hadn't heard as much praise for KL as other major Southeast Asian cities we assumed it would be fun for at least a few days. However after visiting, I'm completely satisfied with our choice to go. Kuala Lumpur is a marvelous city, full of some of the friendliest people and most delicious food I've encountered during my travels. I hope someday in the future I'll have a chance to go again, and when that time comes I'm looking forward to exploring more of what Malaysia has to offer.

Gundam Base, Hongdae

How much Gundam is too much? I have yet to reach that point so I wouldn't know, and from the looks of it neither has Korea. Just when I thought I was living in Gundam heaven Bandai went and built a 4th Gundam Base right here in Seoul: that makes two Bases north of the Han river and two south of it. Why one city needs so many Gundam Bases is not clear to me, but you can bet I'm not complaining (that same bet does not apply to my girlfriend).

It was on the official Korean Gundam homepage where I saw the announcement for the 4th Base's May 23rd grand opening in Seoul's Hongdae neighborhood. Hongdae is far from my home and making it in time to be there when the store doors first swung open meant I'd have to set my alarm early. Only a few things can deter me from Gunpla however, and a 7am wake-up call on a Saturday is not one of them. I made the journey to Hongdae without a problem and when I arrived at the new Gundam Base I was a little surprised to see that there was a long queue of people waiting outside get in to the store. Almost every demographic was present: there were young children waiting alone and with parents, older male teens hanging out and joking around, couples and singles, and a few grandparents on missions for grandchildren. All were Korean, and even if I stood out as the only foreigner waiting to get in I didn't feel like I stood out. We were all there for Gundam. One little Korean boy even tried practicing his English on me by asking me which Gundam is my favorite! After standing in line for about an hour (and having a quick photo op with Char Aznable) I was allowed into the store.

Inside, the Gundam Base was as busy as the queue outside suggested. Shoppers were filling baskets with the latest models and a long checkout line snaked around the entirety of the store from front to back and back to front. The shelves were fully stocked with Gunpla of all grades and sizes, and along one wall was a fine selection of paints, markers and other accessories. I actually saw a couple of decal sheets I wanted to buy but I had already spent enough time in lines for one day so I opted to just look around the store and take photos. The Hongdae Gundam Base had several impressive display pieces and aisle after of aisle of Gunpla to peruse so there was plenty for me to look at before I decided I had had my fill of ogling Gundams and made my departure.

A couple of notes about the Hongdae Gundam Base: it's probably the furthest from a metro station of all the Seoul Bases. Whereas the Gangnam, Yongsan and Coex Bases are within short walking distance of their respective stations, getting to the Hongdae Base requires leaving Hongdae Station via Exit 9 and walking up the hill towards Hongik University. The Base itself is on the second floor of a small office building that's next to a Starbucks; this gives it a pretty unique location, as it's the only Seoul Base that's connected directly to the outside. It even has a decent-sized open air balcony with tables and chairs (for customers who like to build their Gunpla outdoors?) and a nice view of the street below. I really like that aspect of the Hongdae Base: the large windows and balcony let a generous amount of fresh air and sunlight into the store, something the other more enclosed Bases don't offer.

All that said, I don't have any reason to start making regular trips to the Hongdae Base. It doesn't offer anything the other Bases already do, and its distance from my home makes it a much less practical choice when I have the more conveniently located Gangnam Base available to me. Furthermore, the Gunpla and modeling supplies for sale at the Hongdae store are pretty standard, so when it comes to one-stop shopping I still recommend the Yongsan Base; not only does it remain the largest and best stocked of the Seoul Bases, it has the added benefit of being next to the excellent Tamiya and Style X hobby supply shops.

The Hongdae Base is nonetheless an awesome addition to the Gundam Base family in Seoul, and for Gundam fanatics who live in or near the Hongdae area it's a great place to go to get their Gunpla. As for me, if I'm ever drinking beer with friends in Hongdae on a Friday night and I suddenly decide I need a Gunpla fix (highly possible) it's nice to know the Hongdae Gundam Base is there for me!

Kuala Lumpur Part 2: Adventures in a Muslim Country

The third day in Kuala Lumpur was even better than the previous two. Granted, it was a lot hotter, and this caused my girlfriend to tire out pretty quickly, but I don't blame her. When we left Korea it was still cool enough outside to wear a jacket. Now we were in sweltering heat that demanded minimum clothing, but to tell the truth I was loving it. It was so nice to feel the sun on my skin again, as hot as it was.

To balance out our experiences from the first half of our trip, in which we explored the glitz and glamour of the Golden Triangle (or what I had begun referring to as "New Town" for sake of convenience) on this day we ventured forth into Old Town, the western chunk of the city containing the majority of KL's historical landmarks, old neighborhoods and big portions of its cultural heritage. While wandering around Old Town it was not unusual to find ourselves surrounded by buildings of Moorish architecture and Muslims in hijabs going to prayer only to cross a street and suddenly be swallowed up by Chinese markets selling foods that definitely were not halal.

We started the morning at old Kuala Lumpur Station and from there walked to the nearby National Mosque. We had to borrow robes to enter, but mine was fairly comfortable and not as hot as I had expected (I can't speak for my girlfriend; while it was acceptable for me to wear only a robe, she had to wear a robe and a hijab). Once inside the mosque we were greeted by an atmosphere of calm and serenity. Some Muslims were busy praying, others were laying down on the cool tiles and taking naps. A kindly Muslim woman approached my girlfriend and I and offered to answer any questions we may have had about the Islam faith, and didn't even make any strong overtures to convert us. It was a refreshing change from the aggressive Christian missionaries I run into in Korea.

Next we went to Merdeka Square, the site where the British flag was lowered for the final time and the flag of Malaysia hoisted. We toured a museum celebrating the history of Malaysia, saw some unique miniatures of the city and the man who makes them, then walked around the square itself before heading north to an Indian neighborhood. It was around this time that the heat was getting too much for us, so after walking through a bazaar my girl and I found a tiny neighborhood diner that looked clean enough and popped in for some food.

The restaurant itself was a mini-adventure; it was buffet style, but you still had to tell the staff what exactly you wanted. It wasn't until after you had sat down with your plate of food that a different staff member would walk by, see what you were eating, write it down on a notepad and hand you a bill that you would take to the front to pay when you were finished. My girlfriend went to get her food first while I sat with our bags, but when she returned she was so flustered from having such a difficult time ordering that she insisted I have the same experience as her and refused to give me any tips before sending me in blind. I actually didn't encounter any of the trouble she did, as the man standing behind me in line was friendly enough to translate to the lady spooning out food what I wanted. In the end our meals were delicious (I had a plate of curry and tandoori chicken) and after eating and walking through an Indian fabrics store (out of curiosity) we walked back south, passed by an Indian mosque, and journeyed into Chinatown (stopping for some more Indian food and coffee along the way).

KL's Chinatown reminded me of Hong Kong's, though on a smaller scale. It wasn't nearly as crowded or vast, but we still received plenty of attention from hawkers attempting to sell us bootleg goods. It was fun to browse, and I ended up buying a cheap pair of sunglasses. For dinner we got Chinese street food: BBQ pork and duck with a side of rice. This part of town was one of the very few I saw openly selling pig meat, and reminders that Malaysia is a Muslim country were everywhere in the forms of signs and posters warning which products were not halal.

Feeling satisfied with our long day, we grabbed a taxi back to our accommodations. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing by the pool and eating our non-halal Chinese pork jerky and drinking our non-halal, overpriced beers.

Kuala Lumpur Part 1: Travel Makes Me Happy

"Isn't travel scary?"

I can't count how many times I've been asked this question, or a variation of it. When I consider the implications (how can you leave everything you know behind, go to a land you've never been to before and assume everything will be all right?) then sure, I can understand why somebody would think travel might be terrifying. Leaving one's comfort zone can be a frightening, disorienting experience, and in some ways I'm a little envious of the people who are content to stay in the same place they were born for their entire lives. But honestly, of all the emotions I associate with travel, fear is not one of them.

I get restless if I stay still for too long. The ceaseless cycle of going to work, going home, doing the same tasks everyday with no end in sight devalues life for me. When I travel, I feel refreshed. I feel inspired. I love to go to new lands and watch people going about their routines. It may seem hypocritical to say I can't stand my own daily grind yet enjoy watching others do the same, but truly it's wonderful to me. Not because I view the world outside of my little corner as a massive zoo full of exotica to observe, but because I love to see that people everywhere are at their core no different from me. I find that travel is always an eye-opening experience, no matter which country I visit; the food might be different from what I'm used to, the religions and customs will be foreign to me, and of course I won't understand any of the local language, and yet wherever I go people are still people, and they all have a place to call home. Seeing that reminds me to be grateful that I do as well, and to appreciate all that I have.

Last week I had a five day weekend, thanks to the Children's Day holiday. It wasn't much time, but I definitely wasn't going to sit around my apartment for five days picking my nose. I wanted to go somewhere new, and Southeast Asia still has a lot to offer, so I scoured the usual ticket booking sites (I strongly recommend Kayak) before finding a relatively good deal for a plane flight to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

I didn't know much about Malaysia before I made my bookings, and I knew not a lot more when I boarded the plane to Kuala Lumpur (KL to the locals). Regardless I was excited to go: not only was I finally getting a chance to travel again, but I was going to be doing so with my girlfriend. We arrived in KL on Saturday afternoon and easily navigated public transportation to our accommodations in the Golden Triangle, an affluent area of KL full of the city's largest shopping malls, most glamorous hotels, and of course, the world famous twin Petronas Towers.

After we settled in there wasn't much time left in the day, so we walked ten minutes to the Petronas Towers, got some dinner in the massive Suria shopping complex located at the tower's base, and walked around a bit before calling it a night. For our second day, we explored the Golden Triangle in earnest, visiting almost every mall and touring a few parks along the way. We stopped by Pavilion, a new mall dealing in high-end luxury goods; Low Yat Plaza, KL's place to go for IT and electronics; and the behemoth Berjaya Times Square. Berjaya is an older mall and from the outside it doesn't look especially large, but inside the size is mind-boggling: there's enough room for a completely indoor theme park with a very decent roller coaster (which we rode twice).

Eventually, feeling drained from all of our walking and shopping, my girl and I went to find dinner in nearby Jalan Alor, a street famous in KL for serving some of the city's best street food. Though the aggressive nature of the food hawkers and the never-ending stream of beggars was a little off-putting, we succeeded in getting an excellent meal. We rounded out the evening with dirt cheap foot massages, just as a massive thunder storm dropped a torrent of rain on the city. We were going to have to get used to these sudden storms; it would not be the last time we'd get caught in the rain during our trip!

Gunpla Stores in Korea

I've made a lot of scattered posts about Gundams and Gunpla on my blog, but I think it might be helpful to make one giant list of all the Gundam-related shops, cafes and other various points of interest that I've come across during my time in South Korea. It's my hope that this post will become a useful resource for Gundam fans visiting Korea or who are already here. It will remain a work in progress, as I'll come back and update it as I find more to add.

Code-G, the Gundam Cafe in Korea

I learned of the Gundam-themed cafe Code-G back in January when I attended the Kidult Expo in the Coex Convention Center. At that time Code-G had set up shop within the convention hall to sell drinks and snacks as well as to advertise it's main store in Yatap; since then I've been meaning pay a visit to Code-G, but it was only this weekend that I got a chance.

Code-G's location is discouragingly far from my home: Yatap is a small suburb orbiting around Seoul, and there's no easy way to get there from where I live, even if Yatap is technically closer to my town than Seoul. While I can take a direct express bus to reach Seoul, to get to Yatap I have to take a slower town bus and then transfer to the subway. Further complicating things is that even after I reach Yatap Station, Code-G is just barely within walking distance. Still, I had no plans this weekend, as my girl had gone on a trip with her college girlfriends, so I figured this would be my best chance to go.

When I arrived at Yatap I walked north for awhile, leaving behind the main transportation hub centered around the metro station and entering a sleepy neighborhood framed by empty-looking shops and monolithic apartment buildings. It was an obscure location to put a Gundam-themed cafe, to say the least. Eventually I spotted the massive Code-G logo adorning the side of a drab grey building; it took me another minute of scanning the floors of the building before I realized the cafe was actually underground.

Once inside, I knew the journey had been worth it. The cafe was decorated from roof to floor in Gundam paraphernalia, with countless custom-built Gunpla lining seemingly endless shelves. Young men sat on benches and in chairs, drinking milkshakes and eating cookies while working on Gunpla they had brought from home. A trio of mothers lounged like they were at any regular cafe, chatting and sipping tea while their children sat at their own table and worked on models. There were even a few couples, working together on Gundams while discussing whatever it is Korean couples into Gunpla talk about. Light music played in the background, perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon and totally conducive to spending a day working on a project. I was beginning to regret not having brought a Gunpla of my own to tinker with!

I ordered the chocolate milky banana smoothie and took a seat, admiring the decor while waiting for my drink. The cafe had shelves of Gundam-related reading, from novels and comics to manuals and how-to books, and near the front were even Gundam kits and modeling supplies for sale. After a short wait my order was brought to my table, accompanied by two little cookies. The smoothie was delicious: rich and sweet, with a whole banana placed inside to give it a banana flavor.

I finished my drink and toured around the cafe a bit, taking photos of some of the more interesting models. Truthfully I probably could have spent hours photographing Code-G's Gunpla, but I didn't want to be a nuisance to the other guests. When I felt like I had stayed long enough, I departed.

Code-G is definitely an awesome place, great for Gundam fans and even people who just want a chill cafe to relax in; I'd say it even rivals the Gundam Cafes in Tokyo. I'd love to be able to visit Code-G regularly, but sadly I don't see that happening due to it's location. However, if you're interested in going I highly recommend it. To reach Code-G, go to Yatap Station and head out exit 1; walk north for about three blocks (you'll have crossed a river), turn left, and look around until you see signs advertising Code-G.

Or, just follow the map provided on Code-G's website! Good luck.

Gunpla: Gadessa, or the fruits of Internet shopping

The next Gundam model in my 2015 rollout is the Gadessa, from the Gundam 00 anime. Gadessa isn't even a Gundam, it's a mobile suit. But ever since I saw it in action in Gundam 00 I've wanted one to put on my shelf. It took some time to locate a Gadessa to call my own; it's never in stock at any of the Gundam Bases in Seoul, and even when I traveled to Japan this past winter I couldn't find it in the numerous Gundam stores I visited. Finally, I got the bright idea to try using Korean Internet shopping, which was so fruitful I'm embarrassed I didn't do it sooner.

Like with the last several models I shared on this blog, my Gadessa is a straight build with no fancy customizing. At most, I polished it up with some minor detail painting, like applying metallic gold to the rifle and the jets and a few spots of grey. I also tried spray painting some of the parts, a first for me: to make the dark pieces less shiny and more uniform in appearance, I blasted them with surfacer and black spray paint. The results are decent, and I think I'll be trying spray paint again with my next model.

Cafe Gogos

Spring is in full swing here in warm and sunny South Korea!... is what I would like to say. However, a chill still lingers in the air, and despite many trees sprouting blossoms (and in a few cases shedding them!) the promise of a return to warmer weather remains a hopeful wish.

Donning a warm jacket, I went with my girlfriend to crowded Jamsil Lake Park in Seoul to join the masses in admiring the blossoms this past weekend. The scenery was of course wonderful even despite the congestion of foot traffic, and I got many lovely photos of the spring flowers. Those aren't what I'm sharing today!

Near the edge of the lake park, my girlfriend turned to me and said there was a cafe nearby that she wanted to go to. I asked if she was thirsty, but she explained she was taking me there for my sake. When we arrived at Cafe Gogos, I understood: it was a toy and figure cafe, filled with paraphernalia from numerous popular franchises! And dominating several display cases was an impressive collection of custom-made Gunpla, many built by well known Korean experts. After talking to staff, I learned that most of the collection contained within the cafe is up for sale; whether that means the toys are donations or were bought by the cafe's owner, I'm unsure of.

I knew I was going to be busy for awhile taking photos, so I thanked my girl and handed her my credit card so she could treat herself to something nice while I got busy.

A Day in Seoul

The great thing about Seoul is I never get tired of visiting it. Maybe that's because growing up, I was far removed from cities (or major urban centers of any kind, for that matter) and now that I have near unlimited access to one of the largest metropolises in the world I find myself easily excited by what I'm sure most city folk take for granted. For example, Seoul is incredibly convenient. Not only is it a piece of cake to navigate thanks to its excellent mass transit system, the city will grant you just about anything you may desire with only a modicum of effort on your end. This past weekend I wanted a hamburger: a big, juicy, messy hamburger. A friend recommended me a place where I could get such a meal, and with my girlfriend on board we went on a burger quest.

The restaurant he directed us towards (Brooklyn Burger Joint) is actually part of a larger food court (Gourmet 494) underneath one of Seoul's numerous luxury-brand department stores (specifically the Galleria in Apgujeong). While the Galleria offered nothing of interest to me, the burger itself was fantastic. I ordered the cheese skirt hamburger: I would have preferred if it had been a tad messier, but the skirt of crispy grilled cheese that gives the burger it's name was immensely satisfying. The Joint does not sell beer, but fortunately the Gourmet 494 grocery store surrounding the food court does. If you have a burger craving of your own that demands attention, Brooklyn Burger Joint can be reached via the yellow line: just pop off the metro at Apgujeong Rodeo Station, walk to the underground exit 7, and you'll be able to figure out the rest from there.

Back to reasons I love Seoul: the variety of scenery! One moment you can be underground, below a massive department store enjoying a burger, and the next you'll be taking a pleasant afternoon stroll along the mighty Han River that cuts through the city. Getting to the Han from the Galleria meant a quick ten minute stroll north; once we reached the river my girl and I could walk alongside it by following a well-maintained pedestrian trail. Though it was wonderfully warm this past weekend, benevolent China saw we were cursed with pleasant weather and graciously sent over a lovely cloud of yellow dust. Seoul denizens brave enough to leave their homes and attempt to enjoy an otherwise glorious weekend did so with surgical masks over their faces to protect themselves from any hazardous toxic chemicals in the air. Myself, I figure what doesn't kill me makes me stronger (plus I don't buy into the hype) so I didn't bother dressing up like a doctor, even if my girlfriend did.

A third reason Seoul is so much fun: I never know what I'm going to stumble across next! After heading south and leaving the Han behind, my girlfriend and I ventured into the artsy and cosmopolitan neighborhood of Garosugil, an area full of fine (expensive) dining, hip (expensive) cafes and name-brand (...) shops. We wandered around for a bit, enjoying the sights and glancing at menus to see how much rich people spend on a plate of pasta, before turning a corner and finding a small gallery exhibiting artwork based on blockbuster movies using Legos to reconstruct famous scenes and posters. This kind of discovery is the sort of unscripted event that makes exploring Seoul a delight! How could I have known such a marvelous exhibition was right where it was? The art itself was beyond impressive: I was fascinated by the level of imagination, patience, and sheer dedication each piece displayed.

I could go on listing reasons why I maintain high regard for Seoul, but I think I've made my point. Let me just end by saying I venture into Seoul at least once a week, and even though I've been doing so for the past three years, I still find and experience something new and remarkable every time I do.

One more reason why Seoul is the best. No, three more reasons: the Yongsan Gundam Base, the Coex Gundam Base, and the Gangnam Gundam Base. Especially the Gangnam Gundam Base, for being so easy to reach!

Gunpla: 00 Raiser (a long time coming)

This particular Gunpla I'm quite fond of: it was the first Gunpla I built after a long hiatus from building Gundam models. Or, more specifically, the 00 Gundam is what I originally built. In this post, I present to you the 00 Gundam Raiser, a model that represents how far I've come since getting back into this hobby.

When I was in high school, I built a lot of no-grade Gundam Wing model kits. Eventually, I did a few High Grades, then I got into Master Grades, but when I started college I stopped building. I kept the models on display in my childhood room in my parents' home, resplendent in their shoddy assembly and poorly applied stickers, and I never looked back.

Fast forward to 2013. It was my second year in Korea, and I needed a hobby. I had seen Gundam models on sale at my local supermarket, and with nothing better to do I figured I could just buy a cheap, modest-looking kit and have a go at it. That's how I ended up with the 00 Gundam. Building it was a blast, and at the time I was satisfied to call it finished without applying any extra details or markings. It looked plain, bare, and hardly complete by any standards at all, but I was happy with it.

A few months later I was visiting my friend in America, during my winter vacation. He introduced me to a new Gundam animation that had a heavy focus on the model aspect of the franchise, and he showed me the custom model he had been working on. Frankly, I was impressed, and it pushed me to want to dive deeper into the hobby.

This past year, I revisited my 00 Gundam and spent some time giving it the attention it deserved. I sanded it properly, inked it, painted on extra details, and gave it a nice topcoat to seal everything in. It looked so much better than before, but there was still something missing...

In the Gundam 00 animation, 00 is upgraded after combining with a space fighter, the 0 Raiser. It was difficult to find a model kit of the 0 Raiser, as none of the Gundam Bases in Seoul carried it anymore, but eventually I was able to locate one online through the Korean equivalent of Amazon, Gmarket.

Now the 0 Raiser is built, and after combining it with the 00 Gundam, I can finally say my Gundam 00 Raiser is complete. I'm not going to pretend like my modest model is some great accomplishment for the hobby at large; what it is is a personal triumph, a benchmark showing how much my skills have grown, and a promise to myself that I'll continue to work hard to improve even more.

Little Russia: Good Food and Strong Beer

Hidden inside Seoul, near Dongdaemun, is a small neighborhood of Eastern Europeans and ethnic Koreans. These immigrants came from countries like Uzbekistan and Russia, and many are descended from Koreans who fled from Korea for one reason or another. Though the neighborhood is easy to overlook and pass by without ever even noticing, it's well worth a visit for food alone.

The first time I visited was about four years ago, when a couple of fellow ESL teachers caught me on a day I had nothing planned and invited me to go with them. It wasn't until last year I remembered my trip and felt compelled to visit what I refer to as "Little Russia", and since then I try to go a bit more often.

Personally, though I love Korean food, every now and then I need a break from kimchi, and when that time comes I make a journey to Little Russia. There are a good number of Uzbek restaurants dotting the neighborhood, and after trying a handful my favorite so far has to be Samarkand. My girlfriend and I went there this weekend (she's in love with their lamb kebabs) and we proceeded to gorge ourselves on meat. The menu offers a wide variety of Uzbek dishes, and we ordered a compliment of dishes that looked most appealing to us: samsa, bread stuffed with meat; golubsy, cabbage stuffed with meat; borscht, a beet soup (with meat); and lamb kebabs (meat). To top it off, we had a bottle of Baltika, a decent Russian pilsner.

After finishing our meal (and giving ourselves ample time to recover), we rolled down the street towards the small and modest-looking Russian Mart, the only store that I know of in Seoul where I can buy Baltika beer. Like I said before, the taste itself is decent, but what I really like about it is it's strong. Baltika comes in numbers, not flavors: Baltika 3 through 9. Baltika 9 is the strongest, while Baltika 3 is barely worth your time. Personally, I usually prefer drinking number 7, but every now and then having a 9 is fun for the novelty of drinking a beer so potent.

Our final stop was the Imperia Market and Bakery, one of my favorite places in Seoul to pick up fresh bread. The sandwich bread sold at my local market is of the starchy, white variety, so walking into Imperia and smelling all of the freshly baked bread is a divine experience. Imperia also has a small cafe in the back which I have yet to try (though I've heard their borscht is excellent), and a generous selection of imported liquors (mainly vodka and vodka varieties).

To reach Little Russia, take the metro and get off at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, exit 5. Turn right and walk towards the Paris Baguette, and after crossing the street hook a left and go straight. Once you begin to see signs in Cyrillic, you'll know you're in the right place.

Gunpla Builders Challenge 2015, Coex

This weekend I went to Seoul's third and newest Gundam Base, located within the massive sprawling underground Coex shopping mall, to see if it too was showcasing entrants in the citywide Gunpla building competition. Sure enough it was, though honestly I walked past the single display window featuring contestant Gunpla several times before noticing it, its contents so meager in comparison to what the Gangnam and Yongsan Gundam Bases had.

Everything I wanted to say about this Gunpla contest I did in my previous blog posts, so let's cut to the photos and wrap this little adventure up! Bear in mind the majority of the entries exhibited at the Coex Gundam Base were submitted by grade school students, so try not to judge too harshly.

Gunpla Builders Challenge 2015, Yongsan

Since the Gangnam Gundam Base was showcasing the entries in a Korean Gunpla building competition, I figured that the Yongsan Gundam Base would probably be doing the same. The Yongsan Gundam Base, located in the Yongsan iPark shopping mall next to Yongsan Station and the largest of Seoul's Gundam Bases, is north of the Han River that cuts through the center of Seoul; in other words, it's considerably farther from my home than the Gangnam Gundam Base. I definitely couldn't visit there on a weekday, but since I had date plans with my girlfriend in Seoul on Saturday I woke up early and made a detour to Yongsan in the morning before meeting up with her in the afternoon. I didn't dare drag her to yet another Gunpla exhibition. That would just be cruel.

Anyway, sure enough, there were Gunpla on display at Yongsan, and a good deal more than the few at Gangnam. Again the quality of the Gunpla didn't compare to anything I saw during the 2014 world tournament, but there were a few gems hidden here and there. However in all fairness, most of the contestants are middle- or elementary-school aged, so it would be wrong to judge them by world-class standards. Above all else, props to the young builders for making the effort and putting their work out in a public venue.

Now having seen the entries at Gangnam and Yongsan, that just leaves checking out the Coex Gundam Base. Hopefully the Seoul Gundam Bases will host another building contest this year, because I'm really kicking myself for not having entered this competition. In the meantime, I should start working on whatever Gunpla I'll want to submit...!

Gunpla: Cherudim, or however you spell it

It's already March and I've only finished two models this year, but here we go: this time, the Gunpla I present to you is the HG 1/144 Cherudim Gundam GNHW/R (quite the mouthful). I finished this Gunpla before my trip to America, but only recently had a chance to conduct a proper photo shoot. The Cherudim is the next piece in the Gundam 00 diorama I've been slowly working on, and since I want my Gundam 00 models to resemble their anime counterparts for the sake of the diorama I didn't make any outstanding modifications to my Cherudim. However, in order to make the building experience a little more interesting I did use Cherudim to test out some new paints and painting techniques. The most significant modification I made to Cherudim was subtly modifying a key portion of his original color scheme. Instead of having a Gunpla with a plasticky green apperance, I gave Cheridum a more muted two-tone color pattern, hand brushing over the model's green pieces with alternating dark and light green paints. I was skeptical of my choice at first, but upon seeing the final results I'm very satisfied. Other changes I made to Cherudim include adding a few gold and silver metallic details and sharpening and painting his pistols to better resemble hand axes.

The photoshoot itself also provided an opprotunity to try and develop my photography skills. For the first few photos, I placed Cherudim inside a homemade lightbox, with miniature lamps to the left and right of it. Although I still see noise in the pictures, I think that may just be the result of not having a strong enough light source. I'll have to experiment with that in the future. For the second set of photos, I placed Cherudim on a stand outside of the box and in front of a backdrop. I like the composition of my photos, but I'm not a fan of the way my backdrop reflects light. I should try to acquire a backdrop made of a less reflective material.

In the end, I'm pleased to have Cherudim up on my shelf. With each Gunpla I complete, I get a little more skillful, and Cheridum is a good sign of the progress I've made since last year.

Gunpla Builders Challenge 2015, Gangnam

In South Korea, the new school year starts in March, after a short spring vacation at the end of February. This year, spring break coincided with the Lunar New Year, giving me a nice extended holiday long enough to travel back to my home country and get my fill of all of the foods I had been missing, namely my mom's home cooking. I returned to Korea a bit fuller in face and rounder in belly, but also eager to see what was new at the Gangnam Gundam Base.

To my surprise, quite a bit. While I was gone, the Gundam Bases in Seoul had hosted a Gunpla Building Contest, the discovery of which distressed my greatly. I would have loved to enter such a competition, but it seems that every time the Seoul Gundam Bases hold an event, I remain totally unaware or unavailable, despite my best efforts to be the contrary.

Better luck next time, I suppose. Either way, I took some photos of the contestants on display at the Gangnam Gundam Base. Though none compare with the models I saw during last year's Gunpla World Cup, there were still a decent number of skillfully put-together Gunpla being showcased.

It's already March, but I'm excited to see what Gunpla has in store for 2016! I get excited just thinking about the possibilities. Looking at the well-used cutting mat on my desk and my trusty pair of nippers waiting on standby, I feel eager to get started on my next model.

Kidult Expo, Part 3: In Conclusion

Aside from the Gundams and Gunpla, there was still quite a bit to see at the Kidult Expo. In the dealer room the biggest booths belonged to the larger manufacturers, like Playmobil, Goodsmile and Tamiya. More interesting were the independent artists and smaller companies. Their original works were incredibly imaginative: most were bizarre, many were cute, and a few were even bizarrely cute. One little guy in my gallery, the strange-shaped man in a red outfit with a big nose, apparently resembles me according to my girlfriend!

All in all, the Kidult Expo was a fun time. If it's an annual expo, which it seems like it is, I'll be looking forward to attending again in 2016. Heck, next year maybe I could even try to submit something of my own to be shown!

Kidult Expo, Part 2: Gunpla and Code-G

As I mentioned in my previous post, the papercraft exhibition was just one part of the Kidult Expo. Also on display were a plethora of models and crafts made by Korean hobbyists, with numerous franchises getting varying degrees of representation. Gundam carved out the biggest chunk of the showroom floor for itself, which again raises the question I had when walking through Paper Craft Boum: just where are all of these Korean Gundam fanatics coming from? I'd love to meet up with a few of them and talk shop.

The Gunpla got lots of attention from passers-by, as it should: they were all incredibly well done, with amazing attention to detail that I feel my photography skills don't do justice. These days I'm really feeling the limitations of my abilities, and I've decided that a goal of mine this year will be to brush up on the fundamentals of photography so that I can be sure to capture some amazing images in 2015. In the meantime, I did my best to get pics of some of the best looking models being shown.

After browsing through the display cases, it was time for a rest. Luckily Code-G was present, having set up shop in a corner of the expo hall to dish out refreshments to weary attendees. I had never even heard of Code-G before Kidult, but apparently it's a Gundam-themed cafe (!!!) located near Yatap Station in the city of Bundang, and it was here at the expo (in a smaller capacity) to promote its main store. Along with decor that's influenced by Gundam, the mini-cafe boasted an impressive number of customized Gunpla which I assume are the work of the cafe's owner. All of Code-G's Gunpla were fantastic, but my favorites were the Gundams customized with the colors of Korean baseball teams. Seeing a Gundam decked out like a player for the Doosan Bears, my favorite team here in Korea, was very cool. Only a small portion of the main cafe's Gunpla were showcased at the Kidult Expo, encouraging people who want to see the rest to visit Code-G in Yatap, which is absolutely now on my to-do list. Yatap is a good distance from my home, but I'll make a day of it soon and check it out.

If you're in Korea and interested in going to Code-G as well, or just generally curious, here's the link to their site!

I would be remiss in neglecting to mention Code-G's mascot, a man inside a cute boxy Gundam costume who paraded around the entrance of the cafe posing for photos and generally goofing off. I took a photo together with him and afterwards, to my immense surprise, he pulled me in close and whispered, "I'm American, too." I suddenly had so many questions for him, but before I could ask a single one he was already off, his attention occupied by a customer who had been poking at his backside. Whoever he is, he's a lucky man: I'd love to be a Gundam for a day.

Kidult Expo, Part 1: Paper Craft Boum

This past weekend saw Seoul play host to the 2015 Kidult & Hobby Expo, which took place in the newly renovated Coex mall's Hall D. Although I didn't do much research into the event before attending, the convention's name, a charming play on words, gave me a general idea of what to expect: hobbies, special interests and past-times that can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids.

I went on Saturday, and I was not disappointed. The show had most major hobbies covered, including model cars and tanks, Lego and Playmobil, independent artists showing off and selling their own works, and of course, Gunpla. Lots of Gunpla. So much in fact that I began to feel sorry for the other hobbies, as it was almost like they were being completely overshadowed.

On that note, where is this love for Gundam and Gunpla hiding here in Korea? Outside of these sorts of shows, I haven't come across too many signs indicating the levels of passion and ability so many Korean modelers apparently have. One of these days I need to figure out where these guys are hanging out, and try to break into their secret club.

Back on topic, there was such an overabundance of marvelous creations to take photos of at the Kidult Expo that I think it would be best to break my report into three parts. First up, I want to share my pics of the 2015 Papercraft Boum, an expo within an expo "showing off Korea's best paper model". Almost everything on display was made from paper or some paper derivative (one artist made all of her works with felt). The level of creativity and originality on display was mind-blowing, and I spent most of my time at the Kidult Expo admiring the works inside Paper Craft Boum.

In some of the photos, you may notice a pile of poker chips at the base of the craft. A single chip was given to attendees upon entering the show, who were then instructed to place the chip next to their favorite. Can you guess which work earned my chip?

Gunpla: V is for Victory

I still have more photos to upload from my Japan trip (namely my Comiket pics) but before I do I'd like to take a moment to share my first Gunpla of 2014.

To be honest I've never actually seen the Victory Gundam anime, though I have heard mixed things about it. However, when I first saw the Victory Two HG 1/144 in the store I felt entranced by it. I didn't get it straight away; instead I went home, and for the rest of the week I felt the V2 nagging at the back of my mind, it's sleek minimalist design and sexy frame prodding me to buy it. When I got my second chance to pick it up, I didn't hesitate.

Two weeks later, I'm very satisfied with how the V2 turned out. Not perfect, but I picked up some new tools and techniques in the process of building it, so it definitely counts as a learning process. The kit itself is spectacular, and didn't need much extra work from me to make it look good. This new generation of HG model kits is really up to snuff; I'm looking forward to picking up a V Dash HG when it gets released in March.

Tokyo Day 2: Journey to Odaiba

My friend and I had a basic idea of what we wanted to during our short time in Tokyo: at the top of our list was a trip to Odaiba in the southern half of Tokyo, to visit the Gundam Front and see the life-size Gundam statue. After a quick breakfast of beef on rice at another Japanese fast food joint, we got on the metro and tried not to get lost.

Needless to say, the Gundam did not disappoint. We admired it for awhile, took photos and struck cheesy poses in front of it before eventually moving on. Behind the Gundam was the Diver City Mall; on its first floor was the Gundam Cafe, which sold over-priced knickknacks and treats. Outside the cafe, a rookie J-pop group was doing a street show for a small group of what I assume to be devoted fans. We watched for a bit before going inside the mall, where we were greeted by an impressive assortment of shops and restaurants. We would save exploring for later, as our main concern was on the 7th floor, the Gundam Front itself.

The Gundam Front was divided into two main sections: a store and a museum. While the merchandise in the store was limited to just a handful of limited edition kits that are only sold on location, it was the museum's variety of attractions that made the Gundam Front truly impressive. First was the Gunpla gallery room, which hosted all of the winners and finalists from the 2014 Gunpla Builders World Cup, as well as display cases featuring stock versions of practically every Gunpla ever released. It was wonderful being able to see with my own two eyes the 2014 champions, and equally delightful to see finalists I recognized from the World Cup exhibitions I went to in Seoul and Hong Kong.

After the gallery room, we watched a short Gundam film in the 360-degree dome theater, wherein the movie was projected on the dome above our heads. It was pretty novel, even if I left the theater with a crick in my neck. Exiting the theater took us to a large room with a life-size bust of Freedom Gundam, a life-size core fighter, a scale diorama of the climactic final battle from the third Gundam movie, and several other nifty little photo-ops. We continued onward to another gallery, this one featuring artwork and original promotional materials from classic Gundam animations, and at the end we found ourselves right back in the Gundam Front shop. All in all, a fun afternoon.

We spent the rest of the day checking out Diver City Mall, doing some shopping, eating delicious Japanese food and generally goofing around. We left after dark, and timed it so we could catch the Gundam statue's light show. From there we walked to Pallet Town shopping center, because we saw from afar it had a Ferris wheel and thought it would be fun to sneak some hamburgers on board, take a spin and snap a few "couple photographs" to make our girlfriends jealous.

Our last stop was nearby Oedo Onsen, a traditional style Japanese bathhouse. The interior was decked out to resemble an old-timey Japanese market, and when we weren't bathing we were strutting around in our yukatas. The bath itself was magnificent, and around 2AM we took a taxi back to our capsules.

Tokyo Day 1: Arrival

Happy New Year!

A few months ago, in the fall of 2014, one of my close friends back in my home country messaged me that he wanted to come visit me in Asia. Seeing as how I don't get many visitors from the western hemisphere, I was skeptical of my friend actually taking the plunge and crossing the Pacific. However, he's the kind of guy who doesn't say what he doesn't mean, and after some careful planning we had plane tickets and an itinerary: come winter vacation we'd meet up in Japan for four days before hopping over to Korea to celebrate the new year.

My last day of school before the break was Christmas Eve, so I spent my first day of vacation, Christmas, with my girlfriend in Seoul. I had an early flight the next day to Tokyo, so instead of going home in the evening I took a train to Incheon airport and spent Christmas night there, sleeping on the benches in a ghostly empty airport with a handful of other holiday travelers. In the morning I got on my flight, and before noon on the 26th I was in Narita airport, waiting for my friend to arrive from sunny California.

This was my third visit to Japan, so I wasn't a total stranger to the country. It had been awhile since my last trip, though. I visited Osaka and Kyoto in the spring of 2012, and before that Tokyo in the fall of 2011. Back then I was a novice traveler, and basically had my hand held by my gracious Japanese friend and host for the entire trip. He wasn't available to play tour guide this time, but I wasn't worried. If I could get through the Thai/Cambodian border on my own, surviving Tokyo should be easy.

I explored Narita a bit while waiting for my friend, had some lunch, took a nap. When his plane touched down (right on time), we got on the express train from Narita to Tokyo and fumbled our way through the metro system to our accommodations. In an effort to save money, I had booked us two beds at one of Japan's infamous capsule hotels. Despite the size, it was very comfortable. After dropping off our luggage, we got back on the subway and went to Shinjuku (one of the busiest wards in Tokyo) to meet up with a Japanese friend of mine from college.

She had made us reservations at a restaurant/karaoke hybrid, and we followed her and her friend through the labyrinthine streets of Shinjuku before arriving at a well-hidden but lavishly decorated establishment. After checking in we were led to a private singing room, which we could stay in for three hours. Each of us had to pay $50, but for that price we got as much food and drink as we could consume. My friend and I agreed, to recoup the steep entry fee we were going to have to drink everything on the menu. He got more adventurous than I, daring to try a myriad of foreign-sounding Japanese cocktails, while I played it safe and kept to beer.

When it was time to go, we said our goodbyes and went back to our hotel. We were still alive with the energy of the night upon our return, so we wandered around the neighborhood until we found a late-night ramen place. The process of ordering was so novel to us, and ridiculously convenient: we ordered from a vending machine, putting in our money and getting a ticket in return, which we then handed to the cook who gave us our orders in a matter of minutes.

After eating we finally called it a night, and crawled into our capsules for a few hours of restful sleep.