Mason Marley

March 30, 2025

City-wide Judo tournament was held this weekend and lucky for us at a stadium that is about a 10 minute walk from our apartment. Mason weighed in the day before, so on Sunday morning we set off (Mason via kickboard) to the stadium at 8:30 am. Weather is still chilly in Seoul, but it was nice to walk through the budding cherry blossom trees on the way to the stadium.

When we arrived, there were so many judo players on the mats warming up and in the stands that we could not find Mason’s team. After about 15 minutes, we finally spotted them. Mason warmed up and was the first player from his team to compete. (Spoiler Alert) Unfortunately, he lost the match and was out of the tournament. In defeat, Mason walked over to me and sat on my lap. I could see tears welling up in his eyes, so I waited a few minutes before talking him through the loss.

Of course, he bounced back and we stayed at the stadium until 4pm so Mason could play with his friends and watch other Jamsil Judo players compete. His friend Jaeha also lost his first match, but Song June ended up winning a silver medal.

Win or lose, it was a great experience. I hope this little big guy keeps doing Judo for years to come.

December 25, 2024

Christmas 2024 was peaceful. Mason, of course, was first up to open presents. He got Nintendo Switch, which he was thrilled about. And also a drone and some other small gifts. HK and I both got sweatshirts, which was no surprise. HK also cooked for us all day, which included tacos.

The day was dominated by races between me and Mason on Mario Kart 8. Mason was the only one to pull off a first place victory towards the end of the night. We got a little tired of being home all day so headed to a local Izakaya for some snacks, including fish bread, which has no fish in it, it’s only shaped like a fish. The day was uneventful, so a nice Christmas in the books for our family of three.

December 8, 2024

Jae Hyung and Ji Hyun planned a trip to Sokcho, the east coast of Korea, that is known for fantastic seafood for the weekend. My father-in-law drove all of us, except HK who had to work so she made her own way there and arrived right in time for dinner. We stopped at a temple along the way that we had to ride a bus up a mountain to get to. We milled around there for a little bit there and had some expensive and interesting tasting tea.

The kids were thrilled with the 2 floor hotel suite we all stayed in, that had an unforgettable view of the ocean, from which the restaurant we had dinner at a spot only a few minutes’ walk away from the hotel. There is not enough I can say about the seafood, Korean style sashimi and shellfish.

After the dinner, we stopped at the beach to take in the air and view, but because of an early tee time we got back to the hotel fairly early. The next morning we had the first tee time and I must be making some progress because I only lost 3 or 4 balls. Our foursome then met up with the rest of the family and I treated everyone to grilled fish for lunch. It was a long drive back with kalguksu (noodle soup) for dinner. A great weekend family excursion.

October 26, 2024

Mason’s first Judo competition.

He was a little nervous, but not overly to be honest. There were hundreds of athletes there of all ages. Mason was in the youngest group and he had the first match of the entire tournament.

Before his match Mason sat peacefully in his chair while his opponent viciously warmed up. That worried me slightly, but in hindsight this kid knows when to turn it on and turn it off. So, I will just continue to keep my mouth shut and let him do it his way.

Once the match started, both Mason and his opponent smiled at each other while hand fighting and then Mason turned up the gas and got a Ippon (threw of the other little guy on his back, an instant win in Judo).

In his next match, he won by holding his opponent down for 20 seconds, but then lost his third match, which I don’t really know why – it seemsed like it was just going on for too long, so the referee just randomly picked a winner. Mason ended up winning a silver medal! (But honestly, his highlight of the day was just hanging around with his friends and playing.)

October 12, 2024

Our eleventh anniversary trip to Tokyo. We left Seoul very early in the morning on Saturday and left Mason with Grandma! (Sorry Mason). I love the parking at Gimpo, driver is there at passenger drop off and valets your car to the parking lot for us.

We stopped by our normal airport restaurant, and I had some Taco Bell. Once we arrived, customs did take a little while to get through, but it wasn’t awful. We were lucky enough to catch a train that was just departing to Tokyo, and it was a nice ride in – a little over an hour to Shinjuku Station. The weather was perfect. October is the time to visit Tokyo. 

We immediately had sushi and the freshest beer of my life. We spent the day walking from Shinjuku to Shibuya – and it was a fantastic walk. We hit multiple sushi shops throughout the day.

We did momentarily get separated on the busy streets of Shinbuya and HK’s phone was in my bag – so a few tense moments – but we reunited and regrouped. 

We hit an Izakaya, then beef barbeque and another Izakaya. We also shopped at a huge Pokémon store and Mason was able to pick the stuffed animal he wanted through video call. Our hotel (video check-in) did not have big rooms, but it was very modern and clean. Noodles and more sushi in the morning before heading back to Seoul.

August 26, 2024

Mason took Thursday off from school so we could head up to the mountains for a night. The day before we had hit Cosco (although I went to the wrong one (Yangjae) initially), but eventually got there, to pick up some steaks for the trip.

We made it to Kramer Lee first for some of their smoked bbq and craft beer in the early afternoon. HK bought 24 cans for pick up the next day as well. Mason and I got to play catch outside for a little while, which was great. Of course, Mason also brought his remote control tank and ninja sword.

The small pension (hotel) was called The Still. We checked in at 3pm. It seemed like it was empty, but there were a few other guests apparently, who we never saw but did hear. The highlight was their pool, we played volleyball, but Mason’s favorite new pool game is him standing on my knees and then me launching him in the air.

We enjoyed bbq that night, which was incredible and got to bed fairly early as we were all exhausted. Mason and HK got the small bed and I roughed it on the floor. In the morning, Mason and I ventured down to the large nearby stream and climb across it on a line big rocks. I even took a dip. We stopped at a coffee shop too on in the area called 2Black – which had an incredible view but average baked goods. We were back in Seoul by noon, and I was off to the office while Mason and HK took a nap before heading out to Eecheon.

August 25, 2024

A Sunday trip, that’s about an hour from Eechon. I wasn’t expecting much, but this Zoo was much bigger than I had imagined. When parking we saw a Taekwondo bus and Mason was full of questions on why that group had come to the zoo together as a group. Buying tickets was easy, and the elephant train took us right to the entrance.

We weaved our way through their grounds, with highlights of seeing an elephant getting his feet washed and catching a tiger jump out of his outdoor pool to run back inside. The chimp swinging from rope to rope was Mason’s favorite and I don’t either of us were that thrilled to walk through the snake section. The had a little stream that we played in near the elephant slide too.

17,000 KRW for a Pokémon balloon seemed excessive so we settled on a ninja sword. Taking the sky lift back down the mountain was fun and we got an overhead view of a beautiful park that was deserted – will be great place for our next visit to hang out at. Once we got home, HK had had made us hamburgers. 

I don’t think I will ever forget this day – uneventful but memorable at the same time. Please don’t grow up too fast Mason, I fear the days you will no longer be interested in spending the day at the zoo with your old man.

August 17, 2024

A very hot Saturday afternoon – one of those days that it takes the car about 10 minutes to cool down. Mason and I hit the highway from Grandma’s house and for what was about a 45 minute ride. Although we did delay our arrival to our destination by stopping for lunch at a rest stop,  it worked out perfectly, as the traffic had subsided during our quick break. Mason of course bought a plastic robot from a vending machine that can fit together with more robots, meaning more purchases will be needed in the future.

To get to the trampoline park (Vaunce), which was located inside a massive golf resort, we had to weave our way up a mountain road that was hugged by dozens of golf holes. I have to say that out of all the kids cafes we have been too, this one takes the cake and was perfect for Mason’s age group. He bounced, built a Lego boat and did some practice runs with it, played air hockey, made it up a ramp, went down slides and climbed walls. Afterwards, we went to the arcade and enjoyed cotton candy. Mason was disappointed because near the playground there were kid-sized excavators that allows them to dig up rocks, but after getting some change, we found out they were all broken. 

Back to Grandma’s where I made pork barbeque outside – which resulted in everyone’s nod of approval.

July 2-11, 2024

This was Mason’s first time on an airplane and his first trip abroad. Definitely a big life event. Instead of giving a full run-down, I will write down my top 10 insights.

1. Mason is learning to swim. Swimming underwater, in my opinion, is the first step, and he made big strides on this trip.
2. A cash based society is so much more stressful than a cashless one.
3. Our hotel had the best pool I have ever been in – hands down.
4. HK is a great mom – she knows exactly what to do and say at every moment.
5. Our family’s scooter trip touring the island was a highlight, but getting up that hill to our hotel was no easy feat.
6. Sunset sailing with Mason and HK is an unforgettable memory.
7. Mason loved feeding stray dogs that begged at our tables (Honey and Olivia)
8. Movenpick was an old school, all day, nostalgic pool day – memories of my childhood
9. Foot massages!
10. Monkey bar was so relaxing – opposite of white beach.

June 8, 2024

Time for our annual boys trip to Mansang Beach. We got an early start from Eechon, left a little after 7, so an easy 2 hour drive there. Unfortunately, Saturday was rainy, windy and kind of cold. We made it about 2 hours at the beach before packing it in for an early check in and de-sanding shower at our motel. We then hit up the local mart for bbq supplies and headed to a beach bar for pizza. Mason made a friend who he helped make a moat.

Dinner was bbq just outside the hotel – where we met some friends – who we headed with to the beach with for darts and fireworks. Mason won a small dart gun and then we ate ice cream with this crew on the way home at the convenience store. And of course, it was my birthday.

The next morning we were up early to the beach – where we saw a baby shark – incredible. Then to the convention center for the indoor pool and sauna. Hit the beach with the playground where we tried to get the kite going – no such luck. But then hamburgers at Disco Burger and an uneventful ride home. Mason sleep almost the whole way.  Basically the same exact trip as last year. : )