After a year, it's time to write the year-end summary again (the blogger is still online, hahaha). There were many things I wanted to write as separate articles this year, but because I was too lazy = = , I can only include them in the year-end summary.
Work#
As usual, let's start with work. In last year's year-end summary, I mentioned that I actually wanted to leave shortly after changing jobs last year, but due to the poor job market and lack of suitable opportunities, I had to stay temporarily. Unexpectedly, the job market became even worse this year 🤣 Fortunately, I was lucky enough to receive a satisfactory offer and have been working in a new team for a while. The atmosphere is exactly what I expected, and the workload is also okay (of course, it would be better if it could be more balanced, hahaha). So I plan to settle down.
Travel#
I completed two trips this year. There are too many details to write about, so I will briefly summarize them here.
Nantong#
Our first stop was Nantong because I saw on Xiaohongshu that there is a wildlife park in Nantong where you can interact with red pandas up close. So we planned to spend a day in the zoo. The zoo is very large, and it's tiring to walk around. There are small cars in the park that can take you around the zoo. We also saw the red pandas, but personally, I didn't find the zoo itself particularly special (maybe it's just big?). In comparison, the experience of seeing animals in the predator area of Beijing Wildlife Park was more novel (and a bit scary, there was a huge bear!).
Shanghai#
After staying overnight in a hotel inside the zoo, we drove to Shanghai the next day. It was my first time traveling by renting a car, and it was quite convenient for planning a trip between neighboring cities (although my partner found it tiring to drive for a long time 😂). After checking into the hotel, we explored the Disneyland park for a while. After dinner, we returned to the hotel to rest. The next day, we bought fast passes and started experiencing the attractions in the park. Overall, we had a great time (except for the Tron Lightcycle Power Run at the end, I closed my eyes the whole time and couldn't even lift my head, I just lay on the seat 😴). Surprisingly, I found the most enjoyable attractions in the park to be the rafting and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Hangzhou#
After finishing our visit to Disneyland, we hurried to Hangzhou. I have to mention that the hotel booked by my partner was right next to West Lake, and the view was really nice. We didn't plan any specific activities in Hangzhou, just strolling around West Lake and eating Hangzhou cuisine in the nearby Intime Mall. It was a relaxing and pleasant experience. After that, we returned the car at Xiaoshan Airport and went back to Beijing.
Osaka#
After leaving my previous job this year, I took a trip to Osaka. Due to the tight schedule, our main destination was Universal Studios Osaka. It's quite different from Universal Studios Beijing, and I personally found the Nintendo area quite fun. We enjoyed the attractions in the park and went to Dotonbori, a popular tourist spot, at night. We had a great time, although I was a bit scared because I didn't understand Japanese at all and had to rely on my partner for communication. I even said I would learn Japanese when I came back, but I haven't made any progress by the end of the year = =
Gaming#
Detroit: Become Human#
This year, I saw some clips of Detroit: Become Human on Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok), which reminded me that I had played it for a while when I first bought the PS5, but then I stopped playing and the game was left untouched. This time, my partner and I played through the story together, and we quickly finished the game. I realized that playing games with someone else is much better 😊
Astro's Playroom#
Since we finished Detroit: Become Human, we started playing Astro's Playroom. The level design is very creative, and it doesn't feel boring to play. The difficulty is manageable for someone like me who is not good at games. It's one of the games I completed this year (although I didn't pass the hidden levels because I couldn't collect enough orbs).
Food#
Cuiyuan#
We went to Cuiyuan several times this year. Not all dishes are delicious (in fact, I can't get used to most of them), but the Seafood Rice with Empress Soup and Mango Pomelo Sago Dessert are must-tries. Especially the Mango Pomelo Sago, it's the best one I've ever had. The balance of sweetness and sourness is just right, and it's served chilled, super delicious. The Steamed Freshwater Prawns are also delicious. I feel like I will go there again next time.
Laoganbei#
Another restaurant we visited several times this year. The meat is relatively expensive and the portion is small, but it's really delicious. The fat in the beef is very flavorful (but you have to be careful not to eat too much, otherwise it can be a bit greasy). In addition, the best dish I've had there is the Chicken Rice. It has a unique flavor with a hint of scallion and ginger, and the savory taste. It can also be made into a soup rice by adding broth, very tasty.
Xinrongji#
I tried Xinrongji for the first time this year, and the service was excellent. The most unique dish I found there is the Sand Garlic Bean Noodles, which has a taste I haven't had anywhere else. The bean noodles absorb the soup very well and taste very delicious. I feel like I will go there again if I have the chance.
New Toys#
PS VR2#
My partner got the PS VR2 this year, and I was lucky enough to experience the latest VR technology (although I'm the one playing most of the time 😉). I tried games like Resident Evil, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, and The Blackout Club. The 3D dizziness is still noticeable, and the device is a bit heavy, so there is some pressure after playing for a long time. The game I enjoyed the most is Beat Saber (I have to say this game is really fun). There is almost no dizziness, and the controls are intuitive. The more I play, the more I want to play (although I haven't played for several months).
LEGO Batcave#
I used to watch Batman animations and movies during my breaks, and one day after work, I received a LEGO Batcave toy from my partner (a huge box). I was moved to tears. It has over 3,000 pieces, so I will slowly assemble it (actually, my partner is the one assembling it). I hope to finish it before the end of next year (it feels like another challenge).
Technology#
Thinking carefully, it seems that I haven't learned any new technologies this year. Recently, I have been learning how to make a simple language parser using tree sitter's tutorial. If possible, I hope to create a language with C as the backend and a garbage collector, and add some features I want (this should be a challenge, and I'm not very optimistic about it 😅).
TV Shows#
Contract with the Devil#
The good-looking couple in this show is very enjoyable to watch. Although the plot is a bit cliché, I still love watching it 🫣
Expectations for 2024#
- Tokyo trip
- Create my own programming language
- Happiness and joy