I find myself wanting to talk about my life way less than I did before. I don't like sharing as much as I used to, it seems. I still come back here from time and time and as I was scrolling through this blog the other night, I can't believe it's been 5 years since I've started writing in here. The only thing I actually miss about writing is when I write about gems that I've found that really inspired me.
Life has been good to me this year. I hardly have time to myself anymore, so when I do, I like to just be home in Tokyo. Doodle, sketch, write, listen to good music, cook and just be on my own. It's been a while since I've had a couple of days to myself.
I've been really productive with work and I have to go on shoots again soon.
One thing I'll like to share though was that the convention in September was a good start for me. I didn't expect to receive that much support and people were genuinely nice to me. I guess this was what I was missing when I was living in Singapore, a positive environment. It's too late now to move back.
Speaking of moving, I'll be moving out of my Tachikawa apartment soon and it just hit me that by March 2018, it will be 3 years since I've lived in this cozy apartment. As much as I really love my home, I feel like my life is moving forward and changing and I'm ready for the next chapter in my life. Though I won't be living in Tokyo anymore, I'll still be nearby so I hope to come back as much as I can.
This week has been eventful, in just a week - actually in just 5 days, I got to see all my favorite Japanese bands. lynch. , Crystal Lake and THE NOVEMBERS.
It's been a while since I've seen other bands. As much as I love lynch. , I need a break from them too and I feel like that is the reason why I've started listening to Dir En Grey so often. It's not a replacement because no one can ever replace lynch. , but I've been around them so much, I just need something else before I go insane. At their Osaka show, I got so bored, I was actually staring at the backdrop and the ceiling instead of the band. :/ Sorry.
Going to see Crystal Lake again felt really nostalgic for me but so much has changed in a year for them that the reason why I loved them so much in the first place is no longer there, so I don't need to see them anymore. Seeing THE NOVEMBERS again was an entirely different story, I haven't lost myself in music for such a long time, it felt so good to see them again. I finally got to see them play my favorite song dysphoria in full this time. I should really go check out new bands but I'm always going back and forth Nagoya and Tokyo now, it's almost impossible to.
Tomorrow I'm going to see my friends' band play and next Sunday too. Finally.
Some friends that I haven't seen in years are back in Tokyo and I can't wait to meet them too.
It's nice to have time to myself like this, sometimes.
It has been a week since tour ended, last Friday was the final show for lynch.'s THE SINNER STRIKES BACK tour. This tour was a lot of fun, probably the most I have ever had on any tour. Two weeks ago, I was in Osaka and Nagoya as well for the semi-final shows. I found some time in between shows to travel a bit and went to Kyoto, Kobe, Toyota, Toyohashi, and Shizuoka. My first for most places, I didn't really plan out a schedule but since the boyfriend drives, he suggested some places during his off days.
The ending of the tour was bittersweet. I got so used to seeing my favorite band so often, it felt a little strange that I won't be able to see them for a bit again. This new release is actually my favorite out of all their releases in the last 3 years. I don't know if it's the memories attached to it now or if it's just a good EP. But for sure, KALEIDO definitely brought back some old feelings for this band. It's a song that I can listen to all night, there hasn't been any lynch. song in the last couple of years that has made me feel that way.
I was really happy in Osaka because I got to meet some friends, Kyoko and Toshi. I don't see PALM that often anymore because my life has changed quite a bit, so I try to see them whenever I get the chance to. I really want to see them live soon. I was glad to see Kyoko again because we had more time to talk and it seems like we have a lot in common other than our birthday.
I hope to write more but I haven't found the time. I'm just summarizing my thoughts now so that I don't forget how happy and content I currently am. You know that feeling when you're so happy that you just feel like dancing all the time? Yeah, that's me. And I don't dance. Like. Ever.
There were so many good things on this tour. So many firsts. I think my favorite show was actually on my birthday because like I mentioned in the last post, I finally finally finally (yes, I repeated it 3 times for emphasis) got to see my favorite band and person I love the most on my special day. I think being away from Tokyo helped too honestly. Sapporo was fun despite the rain. Thank you for choosing the show to be on my birthday.
Also, on this tour, I got to talk about my work and discuss some possible plans in future. I'm happy that the people I like, like my work too. If I could help them in any way, I am more than happy to.
I was talking to the boyfriend and said: "Lately, life feels like a dream." He asked me " Have you found your happiness?" I smiled and said, " I think I have found it." It's funny that he asked that question because the only one that has ever told me to "Find my happiness" is my mom, and she always said " No matter with who, no matter where you are, as long as you are happy, that is all that matters." I don't want to go all mushy but I really love this person.
You know for once in my life, I finally am starting to believe in myself a little bit more and that I deserve happiness. It took me so long to find someone that believes in me as much as I believe in him. I have always had unsupportive boyfriends who throw my art on the ground, who don't appreciate my art, who tell me I am not good enough, who make me feel inferior to them, who stop me from meeting people but this one is so supportive, even his friends support me. I'm so grateful to finally have people like this in my life. Not to forget my friends and everyone else who has believed in me from the beginning even before I got together with this person. I'm eternally grateful.
sanatoriium is... honestly the only thing in my life I believe in.
Because of it, I get to meet and hang out with people that I've always wanted. It even led me to my love. I'm really content with the current photo shoots, I had one last Sunday and another next week. Next month, I'll have the convention then I'll be on a family vacation then it'll be back to work.
This tour has actually given me a lot of inspiration, so I hope I can draw something good. My schedule lately is really jam packed, so I haven't had the time to sit down and really think things through. I guess I had too much fun on the tour that I got sick. I've been staying home for the last two days to recover and do some work but from tomorrow, it'll be packed again until I come back from Bali next month.
I just realized how little time I spend in Tokyo now. It's crazy. When I come back in fall, I won't be spending that much time in Tokyo again but I'm really looking forward to spending Halloween in Nagoya with my love.
Till then...
(I still hope I can find the time to blog... and I seriously need to blog for my website. Save me.)
For the last couple of years or maybe even more, my birthday was that one day of the year that I absolutely dreaded. I feel like, I'm always disappointed the most on my birthday so I stopped hoping. I sound so dramatic and pessimistic but the number of times I've been disappointed on this actual day really got to me. Especially spending my birthday at the hospital 2 years ago really made me believe that my birthdays were cursed.
But this year, I finally got what I have always wished for. I don't ask for much, all I want is to spend my birthday with someone I love or to see my favorite band. I got them both this year and it felt like a dream. I remember poking my boyfriend and said " you're here, you're really here! " and he just stared at me and thought I was weird and said I seem happy. Well, I was. Maybe a little too happy.
It was already decided months ago that I'll fly out to Sapporo to celebrate my birthday, so I left for Sapporo on Monday. I didn't do anything much on Monday but just eat because it was raining so heavily.
At midnight, he surprised me with a small gift and was playing the guitar in our room, singing to me while I was drinking my beer, almost drunk. From the start of 18th July, it already felt like a dream maybe I was too tired from not sleeping the night before that everything seemed a little hazy or maybe because I just couldn't believe I had everything I wanted and it was only 1 in the morning.
We woke up early the next day to get some breakfast at a cute cafe and went to get some good coffee nearby. The coffee at Baristart Coffee was so good because of the milk. The both of us chose their specialty milk and went back to the venue.
He was worried I was bored because he had work to do that day, but I was genuinely happy just being with him. I was talking to one of his friends about introducing to me new music but it seems like we have exactly the same taste. So all the bands he was telling me, I already knew. We were also deciding the playlist for BGM, I added some Royal Blood and Northlane.
The second part of my birthday only began at 7 pm, which was to see my favorite band - lynch. This time, I got to stand in the front, so I was really happy to see them play. I think I haven't been standing in the front at their shows for more than a year now. So, it felt new again. Today's setlist was pretty good. I was just happy they didn't play songs I didn't like, IE : LIGHTNING, UNELMA etc.
Every time Hazuki says "Bye Bye" in GUILOTTINE makes me laugh, since 3 years ago? I really love KALEIDO live so much because of the extra ending bits they added to the song. The encore was so nice today because it was all my favorite songs: EVILLY, VANISH, INVADER, A GLEAM IN EYE.
After the show, we went to get soup curry but it was only the two of us because everyone else, actually also including him, doesn't like spicy food. He just went with me since it was my birthday. We went to drink for a little bit before getting back to our room.
We didn't have to get up early the next day since check out was at 12, so we went for lunch and he drove to the mountains nearby for the view before I headed to the airport to get back to Tokyo. The weather that day was perfect, I wished I could have stayed longer but I had some plans in Tokyo already. He drove me to the airport which made it harder to leave because we won't see each other until August. I have a love-hate relationship with airports almost everywhere I go.
I think it was the first time in a long time that I've felt this happy. Especially for my birthday. The both of us were probably too happy because we put on weight in just three days in Sapporo. But, this was probably the best birthday I have had in the last decade, so thank you to everyone for spending it with me, especially him. I can't wait to see him in August now.
August has always been my favorite month since a decade ago because that was when I found myself and I can't believe it is 10 years later and I am still looking forward to August.
I'm heading back to Tokyo tonight already and I still haven't written anything worthwhile in the last two months, now I'm starting to believe some of my drafts will never see the light of day.
I've been busy for the last two weeks meeting friends, spending time with the fam and getting some work done. If there is anything worthwhile to write about, it's definitely gotta be about my tattoos.
On Monday, 3rd July, I had an appointment with Nadi for a tattoo. I was planning to go to Seoul at the end of the year but it looks like I don't have to anymore. Nadi was a guest artist at Bada Bink Tattoo in Singapore for just a couple of days last week. So I decided to get some work done by her when I saw her post on Instagram.
I wanted to get something related to sleep paralysis because I have been having it for almost a decade now. Sleep paralysis is not dangerous but it affected me a lot when I was going through depression. It happened almost every night and I didn't want to sleep because of it. My art and work revolves mostly around my dreams, nightmares and especially that place I call in between sleep and awake.
I had a consultation with Nadi first and she drew some designs for about an hour and we started after everything was nicely set up. The reference pictures she chose for me were really spot on and suit my taste really well. Little sis was surprised as well, haha.
We started talking more after she saw my other tattoos by Greem and Hugo. We shared horror stories which were pretty funny. This tattoo hurt A LOT since it is on my inner arm, probably my most painful one yet. We ended the session at close to 5pm. Chilled for a little bit with Nadi before heading for dinner, she was really sweet and easy to talk to. I gave her a set of my stickers and she said I should consider being a tattoo artist as well because my work will look nice as tattoos. She was really encouraging, so it felt really nice. I'm always happy to meet artists and it makes me much much much happier when they like my work too.
Again, female tattoo artists are *__* I'm always in awe.
Also, I really love my tattoo by her.
I really love how she designed it so that you can look at it vertically and horizontally. It looks better horizontally to me. The hands grabbing the girl's legs are my favorite part of the tattoo. I wanted some red thread kinda linking the girl and the "sleep paralysis demon", so that explains the red on this piece.
If anything, I feel more inspired. I've been drawing a lot more lately but it's mostly not up to my standard, I think my mind is kind of burnt out after drawing 5 designs in a go. But I won't stop.
As usual, I wanted to get two tattoos but I'm saving that for the future. (and also when I can think of something else).
--------
Can't believe two months just flew by like that. Even though I was really productive, I also felt like I didn't do anything at the same time. I'm happy to be heading back to Tokyo tonight but at the same time, I'm so lazy to get on that plane.
I just have to tell myself I get to see the person I love and everyone I care about when I get back to Tokyo. I can't wait to go on tour too, but first, the show in Saitama on Tuesday has got me really excited. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my favorite band.
I guess I will be writing from Tokyo once again on the next post.
I used up most of my time in May getting work done and sending my designs to the printers. Pretty pleased with how productive I can be when I really concentrate. So, now I am just waiting on my stuff to be made and arrive. It's nice to take a little break from drawing sometimes so now I am just doing that. I started painting again just to relax. I am almost sure I will start doing up designs again once I see my merch.
Lately, I have been really into more soothing sounds and I don't crave metal or heavy music that much. I like to think that it's because I am not angry anymore that's why I don't have the need to drown things out. Or maybe I am just getting older? But anyways, things have been really peaceful lately and I like it this way. Once I get back to Tokyo next month, my "quiet chaos" of a schedule will begin again.
I still have some writing to do for sanatoriium.com and make new listings of my new merchandise. I don't have stock right now so I am pushing it until next week to do all the online stuff. Since I have more time now, hopefully, I can update this blog on what I have been doing for the last couple of months. I have all these photos on my laptop and phone that I just want to dump somewhere to remind myself to explore new places.
More exciting things to come after the convention as well!
I can't wait to tour next month and August. I really can't. wait.
3 months is probably the longest time that I have not updated this blog. The last few months has been a "quiet" chaos for me. Why I say "quiet" is because even though my schedule was pretty packed and I'm always running off to Nagoya whenever I have the chance to, it has been a peaceful kind of chaos if I even make sense.
It has been pretty hard for me to come to terms with myself because other than ending relationships early in the year, I have been fighting my own demons as well. I know I am not the best I can be but I'm still working on it and want to be a better person to the people I have in my life right now.
A few new exciting things are in the works. My schedule from now till October is already packed and I'm really looking forward to all of it. I'll be working hard for the next two months because I am setting up an exhibition booth in September at the Singapore Toy, Games and Comics Convention with fellow artist and friend, Sarah Thursday. I'm pretty excited and nervous at the same time. I'll be flying out to Hokkaido in July to celebrate my birthday with my favorite band in the world, in August I'll be touring around Japan again - Osaka, Nagoya, and probably a few more places. I'm also planning some photo shoots along the way. Still contemplating if I should go back to Australia in September for AFI because they only come to this part of the world once every 4 years.
Speaking of bands, one of my favorite bands, letlive. has decided to call it quits. I was really devasted when I found out from Jason's announcement on Instagram. Even though I have not been a fan of letlive. for a long time, they really did help me put back faith I once had in music. I'm so glad and relieved I decided to fly back home in January to see them twice. I was just in utter shock on the day I found out because it was so sudden. It is really difficult for me to love a band so much like that, so I'm really bummed out. I try to tell myself "Hey, at least you saw them before this happened." I was drawing out a lot of inspiration from them so, yes, I am pretty upset about them disbanding.
I don't know if I will continue writing on this blog because there are so many things in my life now that I will like to keep private. So maybe instead, I'll just be posting photos of my life with no captions and only write about things I'm obsessing about.
Lately, I just don't have the energy and time to write detailed blog entries anymore. To top it off, I have another blog on my website, sanatoriium.com to work on as well. I refuse to let this blog die because I have so many memories here but let's just see how well I can keep up. Meanwhile, Copper Colored Quiet by letlive. has been on repeat a lot.
My world is on fire And I've got nowhere to watch it burn No one to admire How well I disappear Don't call me a liar We'll cross the bridges I meant to burn You reek of desire That's why there's no one here There's no one here to watch me as I fall asleep They assassinate the ones who dream And if I got it all, I got it for you
February was as busy as January for me, or maybe even more so. Before coming back to Tokyo, I was busy meeting friends, spending time with my family and doing some last minute orders for my label.
I'm still not done writing about January and it's already March tomorrow. I have some things planned out for March already and I'm pretty excited but I'm not excited about Spring approaching. At all. Last year, I had a really bad case of hay fever and I'm sure I'll be suffering again. I've already got my allergy medicine all stocked up at home, just in case.
I spent almost two weeks in Nagoya in February. I didn't intend to be there for such a long period of time and initially planned to spend my Valentine's Day in Tokyo but my love couldn't finish his work on time, so I made my way to Nagoya. I came back to Tokyo and went over almost immediately again because there was a death in his circle of friends and I just wanted to be there for him.
Even though I was really busy, I still managed to fit in some time to watch some films. It's my way of relaxing and taking my mind off things. I'll probably write about my new obsessions if I find the time ( I doubt so). Achievement Unlocked!
I was really stressed up towards the opening of my website and was lacking on sleep but I feel so accomplished that it's finally up and running. I just want to thank my friends who modelled for me and supported me all this time. I'll be blogging about my work and photoshoots there from now on and I plan to keep this blog personal, I still don't plan to give out this blog address but for everyone that has been reading, thank you.
I have new shirts printing right now and can't wait to go on photo shoots and meeting new people again. New designs and other plans are also on the way, I really plan to work hard on my label this year and hopefully find time to write more often.
It was a Saturday after the day I got back from Melbourne. Little sis and I went out for lunch before heading to Art Stage Singapore. I haven't really spoken to my sister in months because of her new job, so there was a lot of catching up to do. I was glad we both were able to come into agreement with some things and that the both of us are actually in the same boat now, working hard to achieve our goals.
Little sis is so busy with work now that she only has Saturdays off, I didn't mind at all because I have my own things to do during the week. The only thing that makes this difficult is when I go back to Tokyo because we will barely have time to talk to each other again. We'll figure something out, I'm sure.
Art Stage is an Asian contemporary art fair that is held every year over here, in tiny Singapore. I wanted to go to this year's one because I saw the lineup of artists online and there were a couple of artwork I wanted to check out. Ironic because the art I wanted to view were from Japan.
Little sis and I spent over an hour there, taking our time looking at everything. I probably took too many photos so I chose my favourite ones for this post and because I was lazy, I didn't take down the names of all the artists.
I've seen Shintaro Ohata's work floating around Tumblr a lot. It was much better in real life, the interesting thing about his work is that no matter what angle you take photos from, you'll get a different view of his work.
He is best known for placing sculptures in front of his paintings. More of this work here.
Yoshitomo Nara, I don't have to explain his work, do I?
Goto Atsuko. I have been following Goto Atsuko for a long time on Instgram, so I was really happy to see his work in person. What I love the most about his work is how the girls are always submerged in a dream like setting. Also how he meticulously paints. Details, details, details.
Dreams are like strange stories, landscapes, our memory builds unconsciously.
Takato Yamamoto. One of my favourite illustrators of all time. I was really glad to finally see his work in person. I don't think he has held any exhibitions in the last couple of years, so I was really lucky.
To think that I already loved his work by just looking at prints and his work online. You definitely "feel" so much more when you see his work in person. Serene yet dark.
Akio Ohmori.
Found out about his work here, at Art Stage. I love how he places the animals on the mirrors in this series of work. He normally does sculpture but his creatures are really something out of my daydreams.
I was really glad to have come back in time for Art Stage this year. I've been missing it for the last couple and am always so bummed when I see my friends posting photos on social media. I hope to continue to go to more art events this year.
January 12th, 2017 Even though I was in Melbourne for two whole days, I was dead tired on the first day after my flight, I just crashed when I checked into the Airbnb apartment. All I did that day was eat dim sum, go to the show and went back to the apartment and crashed again.
On the 12th, I managed to get enough sleep or maybe too much sleep because I woke up after noon. I initially planned to go for brunch but I guess my exhaustion got the best of me. In the end, I went to one of my favourite cafes for lunch and coffee and just decided to walk around the CBD before the show.
There was nothing new obviously because I was just in Melbourne 6 months before this trip. I didn't bother taking many photos except for the graffiti since I've been to Melbourne so many times.
This time, though, there was way more graffiti. Instead of just using one alleyway, all the alleyways in this area was covered in graffiti. A picture perfect spot for those people who do OOTDs for Instagram. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
I spent my afternoon in the CBD walking around, visiting some of my favourite stores and when I was done, I decided to visit St. Patrick's Cathedral. I never fail to visit this church whenever I am back in Melbourne. Even if a nun did scold me off last time for no good reason.
My favourite spot in the world is actually behind this church, I think little sis and I have spent an hour or two there just talking away.
I remember visiting church close to evening, after that, I went to grab dinner at a Greek restaurant that I always go to when I'm back. Cabbage rolls! and slowly walked down to the show venue. Honestly, I didn't do much at all but I was just glad to be back home even just for a little bit.
My flight was the next day at noon, I didn't do anything in the morning because it was raining heavily. I left the apartment and went straight to the airport.
I don't know when the next time I will be back in Melbourne but it'll probably be for another show. Hopefully the next time when I'm here again, I'll have enough money and time to get a tattoo as well.
I decided to go back home to Melbourne to catch one of my favourite bands, letlive. I bought the tickets to the show just a month before while I was still in Tokyo, I just felt like I needed to go to this show for a change of scenery and going back home helped me in so many ways. I'm thankful I made that decision.
letlive. isn't that famous in Asia, so I figured if I really wanted to see them, I would have to travel. It's such a shame that they aren't that known over here. I only started listening to them last year when If I'm The Devil... was released. There was something in Jason's voice that moved me. It's hard for me to feel like that about bands, so when I do, I tend to fall in love completely with the band.
Since then, their music has been on loop. I love that whenever I find a band on a later album, I'd always try to listen to their previous albums and fall in love with them even more. letlive. did that for me.
I arrived back in Melbourne on January 11th and was dead tired because I just got back to Singapore for less than 24 hours, rushed errands in the day and was off to the airport by night. I didn't get a wink of sleep on the flight, so I took a nap before heading out to the show.
Underoath tour in February ;__;
The show was at 170 Russell, formerly known as Billboard. It's my favourite live venue in Melbourne. It was pretty packed when I arrived. I got there in time to catch Counterparts. I bought some merch and tried to find a good spot somewhere in the crowd and I didn't even stand still for 5 minutes when Counterparts took the stage.
I listened to them for just a little bit before the show so I wasn't too familiar with their music. They put on a pretty good 30 minutes set.
It didn't take too long forletlive. to take the stage. I was probably too excited to see them because I could feel my heart race and get goosebumps when they were on stage. I miss that feeling. They opened to Renegade 86' and they BLEW. MY. FUCKING. MIND.
Their energy on stage was amazing, I would say most of the credit is given to their vocalist, Jason. The way he loses himself in the music is just something. Unpredictable. letlive.has definitely stolen the top spot for best bands I have seen live.
Their setlist was sooooooo good as well. All of my favourites were played and I think my favourite performance of the night was The Fear Fever. Jason totally lost himself to the music, especially on that song and was throwing the microphone stand and shit everywhere. I live for moments like this. Their setlist had a good mix of old and new songs and some slower songs. Foreign Cab Rides was another song that was really good live.
He jumped into the crowd during one of the songs as well, I can't remember anymore because I was just in awe of how good they were live. I really love the message Jason left about respecting women before performing Muther which was also spectacular to watch the crowd singing the entire first verse of the song back to Jason. I realised how much I have missed going to shows in Melbourne. The enthusiasm of the crowd and just flat out - the band talking in between songs without worrying if people were going to understand them. It's the language barrier in Japan sometimes that makes shows less fun for international bands.
They closed to Good Mourning, America off their latest album. Jason jumped onto the drum set while finishing off the show and everything got dismantled. The crowd went "WOAH", which I thought was pretty funny. They played for exactly an hour. I was so happy I chose to fly back home to see them. I thought I love their music already but now I love them even more.
Their setlist (not in order) :
Renegade 86'
Another Offensive Song
A Weak Ago
Younger
The Dope Beat
27 Club
Le Prologue
The Sick, Sick, 6.8 Billion
Foreign Cab Rides
The Fear Fever
Reluctantly Dead
Banshee (Ghost Fame)
Muther
Good Mourning, America
Next up was Every Time I Die and they opened to Glitches. I wasn't feeling their set too much because even though I have been listening to them since I was 17, I was never a big fan. Though - I do admit, they did put on a solid set and killed it. My happy, higher mood from letlive., died off because I had to endure another hour in the crowd for a band I didn't really care about.
I was just glad I got to see letlive. again next day, I decided to skip Every Time I Die at the next show.
January 12th was my last day in Melbourne. I literally only came back for these shows. I made my way to Arrow on Swanston really close to the show time again, it was a 20-minute walk from the Airbnb apartment I was staying in. The venue was much smaller than 170 Russell, maybe just a quarter of it and had a really small stage. No barriers, though. That can only mean that it'll be an intimate show.
It was almost like a floor show, I got used to going to small shows ever since living in Japan so I didn't mind at all. The only thing I minded was being the only Asian there because I just stood out and whenever I walked past people at the venue, they would just stare at me. It did bother me at the beginning but once letlive. took the stage, I just didn't care and squeezed my way to the front.
It's been a long time since I've stood in front for a show. I only do that for bands I really love. Today's show had the same lineup, Counterparts, letlive. and Every Time I Die. I watched Counterparts's set again and just waited around for letlive. to take the stage.
They played exactly at 8:20pm and had the same set list. I really liked that they decided to perform the chorus of Linkin Park's Crawling during 27 Club because they kinda have a long interlude in that song. I was glad to be in the front since I don't know when I can ever see letlive. again, I just wanted to enjoy their performance and lose myself in their music.
When they closed to Good Mourning, America, Jason ran into the crowd and did a backflip while the fans attacked him, in less than a minute, you couldn't see Jason but just people running towards his direction and jumping on him. Don't worry, he didn't get hurt. I just miss seeing things like that because that doesn't happen in Japan.
They put on a good show again but honestly, the night before was better. I think it's just because the stage was bigger and they could utilise the area. I also personally think a band like letlive. just does better on a bigger stage. Also the fact that the show for the day before was Above 18, makes it better because kids are annoying. The second show was an All Ages one. They played for an hour as well.
I didn't bother staying for Every Time I Die and just grabbed dinner on the way back to the apartment. I felt really happy when I got back to the apartment, even though I came on my own to see a band I really like, I felt really accomplished. I wanted to prove to myself that travelling alone is not that bad, because of things that happened years ago, I always get paranoid and anxious when I'm in Australia. I'm glad that now, I have overcome that fear and better yet, got to see one of my favourite bands. This trip was definitely worth it.
Nothing beats seeing your favourite band for the first time. I haven't felt this way about a band in a long long time. The last time I felt this way, this excited for a show was for lynch. almost 4 years ago, and AFI which was 7 years ago. It's really rare that a band can amaze and move me this much.
letlive. also reminded me of how much I love music. I feel like I have been losing my way with music because of living in Japan and getting "too close" to the scene that I started losing interest in music. It has been really hard for me to listen to music in the recent months but I can't not listen to music so whenever I listened, there would be an emptiness that would fill me, which made me feel really uncomfortable. Thanks to letlive., I am reminded that I love music for bands like this. So really, thank you.
To top it off, it's always Melbourne that helps me get on my feet again. What a way to kickoff 2017, I'm just so thankful I decided to follow my gut and flew back home to catch this band. They were really the push I needed after the crazy rollercoaster of emotions I felt in the last 3 months of 2016.
Thank you, letlive. I hope to see you somewhere else in the world again.
The last day in Kyoto proved to be much better than the first and the both of us were so relieved. We checked out of the Airbnb apartment, had breakfast at Komeda's and left our luggage in the lockers at the station and made our way to Fushimi Inari Taisha.
It was crowded by the time we got to Fushimi Inari but the weather was so nice that day. Clear blue skies. The last time I visited Fushimi Inari was also in 2014 but I was alone, definitely much better visiting with company.
The one thing I really love about Fushimi Inari are the many fox statues. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, that's why there are so many fox statues around.
It was crowded while we were walking through the torii gates but it didn't bother us that much. We walked quite far up and there were fox shrines. The clear blue skies definitely did help in making pretty photos.
After we were done exploring Fushimi Inari, we took the train to Shijo Station again.
We made our way to the Bengal Cat Cafe. I know I was just there the month before but CATS? CATS. CATS?! Anytime I can hang out with cats makes me a very happy person. We were lucky because many cats came to us. I ended up having two cats sitting on me again.
We also decided to visit the Owl Cafe because it was just above the cat cafe. This owl cafe was much better than the one I visited in Kichijoji, it didn't smell and there were more owls of different kinds. The lighting of the cafe also was perfect for photos.
This guy looks like he is high.
I did photograph more owls but I'm too lazy to edit all of them and post it up here. We spent about half an hour at the owl cafe. After that, we went to a restaurant nearby for dinner before getting on the train back to Tokyo.
----------------------------
I've been to Kyoto probably too many times to enjoy it as much, so I don't think I will be visiting Kyoto again soon unless there is a show. I still want to check out some cafes and places in Kyoto but that can wait.
Even though I really do enjoy travelling on my own, lately I'm starting to not like it as much. I have been travelling a lot on my own over the last couple of years, sometimes it gets so tiring to do things alone. I miss exploring with my little sis a lot because she's always the person I have the most fun with. Even though she is busy with work now, I hope we can find time to travel together again.
I think it is pretty normal to feel this way. I do like being on my own a lot but like anyone else, not for too long. I'm pretty excited about my upcoming road trip around Aichi and Shiga in March. I can't wait to travel more this year.
We got up early the next day to explore Kyoto. I wasn't too excited to go to Kyoto again as well because I was also just there the month before. The only difference was that I didn't get to do much sightseeing the last time, so I was glad to have Yuri with me this time.
We started our day with heading to Kinkakuji, the last time I visited The Golden Pavillion was in the summer of 2014 with little sis. It was really cloudy this time, so our pictures didn't turn out as nice as we wanted it to. It also didn't help that there was a chokehold of tourists here, no surprise, though. What was nice was the soft serve with golden flakes sold nearby.
After Kinkakuji, we made our way to Arashiyama. Arashiyama is my favourite tourist spot in Kyoto. This was my third time visiting Arashiyama and I was glad to be there again. We had a quick lunch at a little udon restaurant and made our way to the bamboo forest, it was about already 3 in the afternoon at this time and the sun was already setting.
I always liked these little statues.
For some reason, the bamboo forest was not as pretty as I remembered it to be. I don't know if it's because it is winter or the number of bamboos has decreased? But it wasn't as impressive as it was a couple of years ago. There was also a little Kitsune shrine I really liked in the forest but this time, all the little kitsune statues have disappeared which left me disappointed.
To cheer ourselves up, we got yet another soft serve with 4 flavours. We slowly walked over to Togetsukyo bridge. This part of Arashiyama didn't disappoint me. I still like it and now when I look at the river, all I can think about is how little sis was trying to row the boat and we got stuck in the middle of it. Ah, memories.
We didn't know what else to do because it was still early, so I went to find Arabica, probably the best coffee in Kyoto. The queue was really long but we decided to just wait in line. It took much longer than expected to get coffee. It took about an hour in the cold. It was worth it because the latte I ordered was really good but the next time I get the chance to drink Arabica again, I'll make sure to head to the other branch and at a time where there I know there won't be a line.
We walked back to Arashiyama Station to check out the kimono forest that I stumbled upon on Instagram. Honestly, it wasn't that impressive in real life. The person who designed this probably knows how to arrange things to look really pretty in photos. It does look way better in photos.
We spent quite some time taking photos and once we were done, we took a bus to Shijo Station. The bus ride was more than 30 minutes which gave us enough time to recharge, we both fell asleep on the bus. We got off nearby Shijo Station and went for dinner. We ended up going to a small, a little pricey izakaya in the same alley way I went for yakisoba with Yamako the month before.
The food at this izakaya was really yummy and both Yuri and I agreed that the duck was our favourite. We spent a little over an hour there and explored around the area before heading back to the apartment.
It was a pretty half disappointed, half fulfilled day.
