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 after just changing jobs last year, but the market was not good and there were no suitable opportunities outside, so I had to stay temporarily. Unexpectedly, the market became even worse this year 🤣 Fortunately, I was lucky enough to receive a satisfactory offer and have been working in the 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 should write a separate article to record them. Here, I will briefly write about them.
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 is tiring to walk around. There are small cars in the park that can take you around the zoo. We also saw red pandas, but personally, I feel that the zoo itself doesn't have any particularly special points (maybe it's just really big?). In comparison, the experience of the carnivore area in Beijing Wildlife Park is more novel (and a bit scary, there was a huge bear!).
Shanghai#
After staying in a hotel inside the zoo for one night, the next day we drove to Shanghai Disneyland. It was my first time traveling by renting a car, and it was quite convenient for planning a trip between several neighboring cities (although it was tiring for my partner who did all the driving 😂). After checking into the hotel, we spent some time in the Disneyland park, had dinner, and then 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 😴). Unexpectedly, I felt that the most fun attractions inside were the rafting and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Hangzhou#
After finishing our visit to Disneyland, we immediately rushed to Hangzhou. I have to mention that the hotel booked by my partner was right next to West Lake, and the scenery was really nice. We didn't plan any specific activities in Hangzhou, it was more of a relaxed trip. We strolled around West Lake and had some Hangzhou cuisine at the nearby Intime Mall. Overall, it was a relaxing and enjoyable 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. Because the itinerary was quite tight, our main destination for sightseeing was Universal Studios Osaka. There is a big difference between Universal Studios Osaka and Universal Studios Beijing. Also, I personally felt that the Nintendo area was quite fun. We experienced the attractions in the park, and in the evening, we went to the famous tourist spot, Dotonbori. We had a great time, but as someone who doesn't understand Japanese at all, I was a bit scared. Communication mainly relied on my partner, and after coming back, I said I wanted to learn Japanese, but by the end of the year, I still haven't started = =
Games#
Detroit: Become Human#
This year, I saw some clips of Detroit: Become Human on Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok), and it reminded me that I had played it for a while when I first bought the PS5, but then the console and the game were left untouched. This time, my partner and I played through the story together, and we quickly completed the game. I feel that playing games is more enjoyable when you have someone to play with 😊
Mahjong Soul Adventure#
Since we finished playing Detroit: Become Human together, we started playing Mahjong Soul Adventure. I feel that 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 very skilled. This is one of the games that we completed this year (although we didn't pass the hidden levels because it was difficult to collect enough balls).
Food#
Cuiguan Restaurant#
We have eaten at Cuiguan Restaurant several times this year. Not all dishes are delicious (in fact, I feel that I can't get used to most of the dishes), but the Queen's Seafood Rice and Mango Sago Pomelo Dessert are must-orders every time. Especially the Mango Sago Pomelo Dessert, I feel that it's the best one I've ever had. The balance of sour and sweet is just right, and it's served chilled, super delicious. The steamed prawns are also delicious. I feel that I will go there again next time.
Lao Gan Bei#
Another restaurant we visited several times this year. The meat dishes are relatively expensive and the portions are small, but they are really delicious. The fat in the beef is very fragrant (but be careful not to eat too much, otherwise it can be a bit greasy). In addition, the best dish I feel at this restaurant is the main dish, Chicken Rice. It has a very unique seasoning, a hint of green onion and ginger flavor combined with a salty and savory taste. It can also be made into a soup rice by adding broth, very delicious.
Xin Rong Ji#
I tried Xin Rong Ji for the first time this year, and the service was excellent. The dish that stood out to me was the Sand Garlic Bean Noodles, which has a unique taste that I haven't had anywhere else. The bean noodles absorb the soup very well and are very flavorful. I feel that I would like to try it again if I have the chance.
New Toys#
PS VR2#
My partner got the PS VR2 this year, and I also had the opportunity to experience the latest VR technology (although it's mostly me playing 😉). I tried games like Resident Evil, Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, and Moss. The 3D dizziness is still quite noticeable, and the device is a bit heavy, so there is some pressure after playing for a long time. Personally, the game with the best experience is Beat Saber (I have to say this game is really fun). There is almost no dizziness, and the controls are very 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 (although my partner is the one doing the assembly now). I hope to complete it by 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 watching tutorials on tree sitter to learn how to create a simple language parser. If possible, I hope to create a language with C as the backend and a garbage collector, and add some features that I want (this should be a challenge, and I'm not very optimistic about it 😅).
TV Shows#
Contract with the Devil#
The perfect combination of handsome men and beautiful women, a very addictive couple. Although the plot is a bit cliché, I love watching it 🫣
Expectations for 2024#
- Tokyo trip
- Create my own programming language
- Happiness and joy