So I just got back from my trip to Seoul and as promised, I'm writing a blog about my adventures in the land of gosus. I'm not much of a writer and I actually get annoyed when I see ridiculous walls of text, so I'll mostly just be spamming pictures with captions, battle report style :D
I actually wrote out this whole blog already and am just waiting for the pictures to upload, but it's way longer than expected so I'm going to break it into two parts.
I had a bumpy start to my trip, with my train getting canceled and my flight reservation getting somewhat lost by the airline, but eventually I arrived in the holy land. My first goal was to seek out the drink of champions:
Revitalized and feeling the power of 400 eapm coursing through my body, I made my way to the hotel I'd booked at the last minute. My flight had landed at around 4am that day but I still had plans to go meet up with Kiett and go to SPL that afternoon, so I needed to get some rest. Thankfully, the hotel was actually quite decent:
I managed to get in touch with Kiett with my handy-dandy rented iPhone (thanks to Rekrul for the tip), and braved the wilderness of the Seoul subway to get to our rendezvous point. On the way, I saw a larger-than-life smart phone:
and a parade of South Korea's finest decked out in the latest military technology:
I managed to find Kiett and was met by a "you look a lot different than I imagined." Clearly I was far more handsome than she'd expected. I get that a lot. There was still some time to kill before SPL so we did some shopping and got some delicious street food:
Then, at long last, I attended my first live Proleague match. We arrived a bit late so we didn't get seats, but it didn't matter. I was there in the crowd. I could see the stage, the booths, the players with my own eyes. I could feel the energy of the crowd. The feeling was amazing.
At the beginning of the match, we met up with Kiett's friend RunningInSquares (aka white guy in the SPL commercial), and later on a couple more TLers approached us, drawn in by the aura of the white man.
From left to right: Xenocide_Knight, his friend (Freaky_Ivan or something like that), Kiett, RunningInSquares. After the match, the SKT guys lined up for some photos but ran away before anybody could get any one-on-one shots or autographs. This is the only good picture I got:
After the match, we decided to go out and grab some dinner. Kiett took us to a nice all-you-can-eat chicken place:
Then, we were faced with a choice: no rae bang (karaoke) or PC bang. I haven't had such an easy decision to make since picking protoss.
Xenocide and his friend had to leave us near the end to go meet up with some other people, but since it was Kiett's last night in Korea, we decided to make it last by going to a PC bang:
We ended up spending most of the time just browsing TL and chilling, and parted ways at around 3am. Before we left though, Kiett gave me a lovely memento of the occasion: a self portrait sketched on some SPL cheerful paper:
Back at the hotel, I got a nice little treat before going to bed. Broodwar on TV baby, oh yeah. +10 cool points to anyone who can guess who's playing:
Day 2: (Wednesday)
More SPL! This time it was Team 8 vs Khan. Since I was planning to skip the matches on Sunday to go to Comic World with NeverGG, this was my only chance to watch my favorite team play and get the autograph of my hero Stork.
I also got some shots of the cool wall at the back of the studio:
Thankfully, Khan wins the match and comes out for a fan meeting:
Words cannot describe how awesome this was:
Unfortunately though, I seem to have done something wrong when approaching Jangbi. After getting Stork's autograph, I wandered over to Jangbi who was in the middle of a semicircle of fangirls all talking to him. I decided to wait a little bit and after some more chatting, the group seemed to do a semi-formal 'conclusion' with each girl introducing herself to Jangbi. After the last girl finished, I thought they were done so I approached Jangbi and asked for his autograph/picture. Oh boy. The glare Jangbi gave me made JD's death stare look like a sideways glance from Fluttershy. That shit was scary. He also just kept glaring for a while too, not at all reacting to me asking for his autograph. One of the fangirls made it worse by snickering and saying something like "eehan sign timing". I managed not to piss myself and got what I wanted, but I'm still not sure what I did wrong
Anyway, we acquired a new TLer (FuRong) to replace Kiett and went out to dinner again, this time a Korean BBQ: (just kidding Kiett, <3 you)
Now, RunningInSquares is also an SC2 fan, and after talking to him I found out that Thursday would be the GSL up/down group with Boxer in it. Guess I know what I'm doing on Thursday.
Day 3: (Thursday)
GSL time!
The GSL also has a pretty cool wall at their studio. The receptionist there was actually really nice and let us (me and some other random foreigners) take one picture each from the wall. I got a Boxer pic :D
Now, I'm not the biggest SC2 fan, and that day's matches were pretty long (~5 hours). We also had to wait an extra half an hour or so in the freezing lobby area while Boxer did his winner's interview. But then the moment came that made everything worth it:
Yeah. I met Slayers_Boxer and got his autograph. I can die happy now. As many fanboys do, though, I kind of made a fool of myself in front of the Emperor. There was a desk in between us that he was using for the signings, and I kinda tripped on it when I was moving around for the picture. Oh wellz.
Moral of the story:Do not cockblock Jangbi. Heheh,just kidding.I don't know why he gave you that stare but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with him being around his fangirls,couldn't give you any other logical explanation.
I hope I can come to Korea in the near future as well to have the same experience as you guys that wrote blogs about it,I'm so jelly >.>
> Stork: It's always that way. Christmas day games are better than games during extended holidays. There were many instances when I couldn't travel to my home town to see my relatives because of games during extended holidays. I'll be seeing my girlfriend after the match, and I know that my girlfriend will understand. I hope that we win so I can meet her in a great mood!
> JangBi: Screw Christmas. I don't have a girlfriend anyway. It's just another day for me. What's Christmas? (laughs) I'll go out with Brave after the match.
> Brave: Nope, I'm going to go play with Hydra. I wanted to drown Hydra in alcohol after our match together, but he didn't have any time off. Christmas will be the right time. I will make him crawl back to his dorm in fours (laughs). Hydra is not a good drinker, but I heard he had a couple drinks after losing to Hoejja.
I am mad jealous that you got a pic with not only Stork and Jangbi, but Boxer too! However I must say that if I don't see some pictures with Bisu in your next blog (a non-fleeting one at that!), I will be madly disappointed.
I hope you enjoyed yourself Sayle, thanks for the pictures, and the laughs! I can't wait for round 2.
Its Jaedong vs Fantasy on Sin Chupung-Ryeong, OSL finals? Anyways, yay Sayle, really too bad there wasn't a clear pan on you during SPL TT Jangbi, Stork, AND Boxer? I'm so jelly right now
Wow, did you seriously take a picture of me fail dancing to Gee? T_T take that down!
Yay for meeting Stork! isnt he amazinggg <3 (still mine though ^^)
Also I wouldn't worry about jangbi. His group always had its own weird dynamic, especially with that guard dog khan fanboy there. They always have to have their own special fan circle time that nobody else is allowed to disturb. When i wanted jangbi's autograph, the khan fanboy made me wait until the very end, when jangbi was rushing to leave, before i could get it. And last time Brett tried to ask jangbi for a picture, his fans were all pushing him away or glaring daggers at him, but jangbi was sweet enough to oblige. I doubt he was actually mad at you. He just has an intense stare (but his fan girls are scary T-T). Maybe it's just cuz you're not white :D
I'm sad that I never got my photo with boxer though.... He and Nada NEVER win their games when i show up to watch them -__-
im really confused o.0 karaoke to me is everyone at a bar standing up really drunk and singing off a scrreen. That looks like it's in a small room? o.0
Interrupted - not interrupted... Is it so hard to regain diplomatic contact with the fangirls after a few photos? Oh Jangbi... Thank you, Sayle for the blog, it's great!
On December 27 2011 03:26 ranshaked wrote: im really confused o.0 karaoke to me is everyone at a bar standing up really drunk and singing off a scrreen. That looks like it's in a small room? o.0
lol in asia, karaoke is not usually at a bar, but in a place where there are multiple private rooms with lights and a big screen. No singing to strangers but just to people you bring along. it is more of a private affair. but very fun with friends!
so jealous of the OP. meeting stork AND Boxer. wtf.....
Your motel looks so cute. Also Kiett is a total baller when it comes to drawing. I want her skills! Thanks for hanging out with me on the Sunday ^^; I was a bit hyper lol.
On December 27 2011 10:17 Jedclark wrote: Do you have to pay to watch the GSL? I am guessing yes, but I've never seen ticket selling or anything on Gom's site.
LOL @ the Jangbi cockblock haha I wish there was StarCraft on my TV as well when I randomly turn it on, I'm so jelly...and even a picture with the Emperor and one with the dinotoss O.O
It's too late to reap those cool points now, got beaten to it
On December 27 2011 00:14 Sayle wrote: Unfortunately though, I seem to have done something wrong when approaching Jangbi. After getting Stork's autograph, I wandered over to Jangbi who was in the middle of a semicircle of fangirls all talking to him. I decided to wait a little bit and after some more chatting, the group seemed to do a semi-formal 'conclusion' with each girl introducing herself to Jangbi. After the last girl finished, I thought they were done so I approached Jangbi and asked for his autograph/picture. Oh boy. The glare Jangbi gave me made JD's death stare look like a sideways glance from Fluttershy. That shit was scary. He also just kept glaring for a while too, not at all reacting to me asking for his autograph. One of the fangirls made it worse by snickering and saying something like "eehan sign timing". I managed not to piss myself and got what I wanted, but I'm still not sure what I did wrong
LMAO
Thought he could get away with a 1gate expand without being spotted and then BAM reaver drop in the middle of those probes
I'm sad that I never got my photo with boxer though.... He and Nada NEVER win their games when i show up to watch them -__-
Please never ever watch their games live again ) sorry!
No worries, I'm not in Korea anymore anyway. It's the most depressing thing to go out of my way to go watch 3 hours of a game I don't particularly enjoy watching (worse was that they were all TvTs), just to end up with Nada walking sadly away with a 0-2 loss and i dont get a picture. After like, the 3rd time this happened, I got so disappointed that I stopped going to see him, and then he won in the up and downs xD
I was Bisu's good luck charm though ^^ he never lost a game that I attended.
I don't understand why jangbi will give you the death stare after all you waited for your turn , besides that this blog is awesome and Sayle Is ASIAN !!!!
Well it took a little detective work, but I think the game is Bogus vs Jaedong after checking the thread, nope: at least I got Jaedong right but I need to think about older maps.
Nice blog :D Kiett seems like a really fun person to be around, and that drawing she gave you is really nice. Great job getting near Jangbi rofl, and ofc, Boxer's picture and autograph makes it all worthwhile
BoxeR + Stork + Jangbi ? And that's only part 1 ? Lucky bastard, that's kinda the best Christmas gift ever T_T
Also you're Asian while FuRong is white ? I'd have guessed the opposite.
The game you're watching at your hotel : JD vs Fantasy set 3 of Batoo OSL finals. It's easy as soon as you can recognize Sin Chupung Ryeong on the mini map and notice the Starleague logo. That map was played in only one Starleague, Batoo OSL, and since it's 2:0, it's a bo5 and the only TvZ bo5 was the finals.
Great blog!! E han signing time! Death glare, The Emperor 5/5 cant wait for the next part, so jealous of you and its nice that you had a good time :D Sick self portrait skills by that girl!
Sweet mother of god, Sayle is azn!!!??? I always pictured you as some kind of lovely chav or a scouser. Cool Poleague photos with Khan. Love you, waiting for the 2012 Proleague casts.
I'm sad that I never got my photo with boxer though.... He and Nada NEVER win their games when i show up to watch them -__-
Please never ever watch their games live again ) sorry!
No worries, I'm not in Korea anymore anyway. It's the most depressing thing to go out of my way to go watch 3 hours of a game I don't particularly enjoy watching (worse was that they were all TvTs), just to end up with Nada walking sadly away with a 0-2 loss and i dont get a picture. After like, the 3rd time this happened, I got so disappointed that I stopped going to see him, and then he won in the up and downs xD
I was Bisu's good luck charm though ^^ he never lost a game that I attended.
Sayle, you so silly. It has always been a pleasure to follow your casting. You are actually the reason why I ever bothered to watch any professional BW games, as I got into the community only after SC2 was released. Keep up the good work, and have fun in Korea :3
sayle, i'm just thinking you went in when the jangbang fangirl orgy wasn't actually finished (even though you thought it was). it's ok. you got the pic. i wish ill will on the girl behind you.
"Then, we were faced with a choice: no rae bang (karaoke) or PC bang. I haven't had such an easy decision to make since picking protoss." and the picture below it cracked me up so hard.
Great blog and pics, sayle. Nice to see you had a great trip!
> Stork: It's always that way. Christmas day games are better than games during extended holidays. There were many instances when I couldn't travel to my home town to see my relatives because of games during extended holidays. I'll be seeing my girlfriend after the match, and I know that my girlfriend will understand. I hope that we win so I can meet her in a great mood!
> JangBi: Screw Christmas. I don't have a girlfriend anyway. It's just another day for me. What's Christmas? (laughs) I'll go out with Brave after the match.
> Brave: Nope, I'm going to go play with Hydra. I wanted to drown Hydra in alcohol after our match together, but he didn't have any time off. Christmas will be the right time. I will make him crawl back to his dorm in fours (laughs). Hydra is not a good drinker, but I heard he had a couple drinks after losing to Hoejja.
Your trip sounds amazing. I am extremely jealous to say the least. Except for the part where you piss off Jangbi for cockblocking him, you didn't really that much from what the story entails, but I guess it was enough to piss him off. It's worth it though, an autograph from stork, Jangbi, and Boxer?!?!?! I don't think I'll ever have a chance to do that, sadly.