Travel to Japan: Saitama - Kawagoe

Saitama is a prefecture in Japan, located in Kanto region, about 40 mins journey by train from Shinjuku area in Tokyo. I visited Saitama area twice when I was in Japan. The first time was to catch CNBLUE concert in Saitama Super Arena and the second one was to visit 'sweet potato city' Kawagoe.

CNBLUE ARENA TOUR 2013 'ONE MORE TIME'

I thought I already used up all my luck last year when I had a chance to travel around for watching several shows of Blue Moon World Tour. But even when the year almost came to an end, the universe was still so kind for letting me catch another unexpected show. It felt like magic when I read the news for the first time. I only had 5 days in Tokyo and the concert date was so fit with my schedule. Through some help from several friendly people, I managed to get the concert ticket from a very nice Japanese lady, R :)

CNBLUE held their Winter Arena Tour last year in 5 cities (Saitama, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya and Fukuoka), in total of 9 shows. Saitama was their first stop. This tour called 'One More Time' and it's also the title track from their newest Japan album 'What Turns You On?' that had been released on late August.

CNBLUE's concert in Japan was added to my bucket list since I watched their '392' Yokohama concert  through YouTube and I have been blown away by their performance throughout the Blue Moon World Tour. I was getting more curious since many fans stated that their shows in Japan were difference. That's true, even the atmosphere was not the same. Unlike any other concerts, there's no camera clicking or blocking my sight during the show. Maybe there were some but I couldn't even notice.

The band performed both their Korean and Japanese songs for almost 2,5 hours. 17 songs for the first part of the show plus 5 songs for the encore. They also added an impromptu song in the middle of the show and jokingly sang the derp version of 'I'm Sorry'. Oh these guys can turn into comedians someday~

My favorite part was when they had their solo session in the middle of 'Coffee Shop'! Another thing that I love from this show was the Japanese audience precisely knew the right time to scream, to clap, to sing along, and to keep silence. There's a moment during 'eclipse' when the only sound I heard inside this big big big venue was the members played their instrument while Jonghyun sang the mellow song. Didn't I shiver? Yes, I did.

SUPER ARENA, SOOOO BIG!

Saturday, November 2, 2014. CNBLUE Arena Tour 2013 'One More Time' at Saitama - 2nd day.

When the show's over I had a little chit-chat with 2 Japanese women beside me who old enough to be my mother! They also traveled from another city/region just to catch this concert. That's what I love about music, it has no boundaries :) They also gave me a little box of candy as a welcome gift to their country. Once again I'll say this: Japanese people are very kind to foreigners!

Mini sweet package I got from R. Filled with sweet potato and Christmas theme snacks :)

How to get there

Saitama Super Arena

Take JR Saikyo Line to Akabane Station from Shinjuku Station, transfer to JR Utsonomiya Line and get off at Saitama Shintoshin Station (+/- 35 mins).
Turn left on the exit, the venue is just about 2 mins walk from the station.

KAWAGOE - SWEET POTATO HEAVEN

The main reason to visit this city was because I'm a fan of YongSeo couple. The couple visited this city in the middle of their busy busy schedule in Japan around September 2010. The WGM production team chose Kawagoe trip for this couple because this city is famous for its sweet potato. YongSeo couple is also known as Goguma (sweet potato in Korean) couple.

Kawagoe is a city in Saitama prefecture. Not many foreigners paid their attention to this small city, but I hope they will someday in near future. There's an area called The Kurazukuri Street and it's probably the main attraction of this city. It's not a very long street with some alleys filled with museums, warehouses, snack stores, several temples, and Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower). There's a tourist information office inside Kawagoe Station with English speaking staff. They're so helpful and gave me some English brochure along with Kawagoe Tourist Map. He said other than The Kurazukuri Street, I should visit Kashiya Yokocho (Penny Candy Lane) and Honmaru Goten of Kawagoe Castle. Since I just had a short time, 3 hours more or less, I couldn't visit all those places that day.

The Kurazukuri Street. Look at that clear blue sky!

Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower)

After the first YS trail that I followed when I was in Korea, now I present to you: YongSeo trail part 2! ^^

Sweet Potato Snack Store 

It's located in the main street of Kurazukuri area. The couple visited this store and bought some snack made from sweet potato. There are some sample snacks available inside the store, so you can try some before decide which one to buy. Sweet potato snacks in Kawagoe are taste so goooood, I want to eat them all >,<

There's also a YongSeo set back then, it contains of imo-manjyu & kiri-imo. Both are snacks that the couple bought in the store, but the imo-manjyu was no longer available now.

It's hard for me to find this place at first since I relied on the old facade and wooden board in front of the store from WGM show. I already passed this store several times until I accidentally saw YongSeo pictures on its display. 

Kiri-imo. Imo means sweet potato in Japanese.

Sweet potato snack covered with sugar. The red one is my fav!

Sweet Potato Ice Cream Parlor

This ice cream parlor is located in an alley across the snack store. It's so near with the Time Bell Tower. When I saw the couple ate this ice cream on the show, I couldn't imagine what it's taste like because it's an uncommon flavor. After I tried it, despite of the cold weather, I still wanted to eat another cone of this purple good lookin' ice cream. Heavenly sweet!

3) Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine

The couple bought a wooden plate, wrote their wish and hang it inside the shrine. I did the exact same thing.

Each picture on the wooden plate means something, I just randomly chose this one since I can't speak Japanese ^^

On my way to Hikawa Shrine, I also passed by Sakuma Ryokan where the couple stayed for a night and the 711 store where the couple bought they 'holiday' drinks.

Kawagoe is a not that big to explore for 2 days. I think one day trip should be enough to see practically everything. Most places can be reached by foot. I got lost once or twice but not too long until I found my way again. The tourist map is my secret weapon. 

How to get there
From Shinjuku Station: take JR Yamanote Line to Ikebukuro Station, transfer to Tobu Tojo Line and get off at Kawagoe Station (+/- 45 mins).

Directions
From Kawagoe Station exit, find Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mistui Bank Corporation Building. There's a big gate to enter Crea Mall (shopping street). Keep walking straight until the end of Taisho-Roman Street, turn left, take several steps ahead, and you'll find The Kurazukuri area on your right. Just follow the yellow line on the map and you won't get lost.
For getting around in Kawagoe you can ride Koedo bus loop or take the local bus. I chose to walk from Kawagoe Station to Kurazukuri area and Kawagoe Shrine. Then I took the local bus to go back to Kawagoe Station at the end of my journey.

7 things I love about "Can't Stop"

After a year going around for Blue Moon World Tour, CNBLUE finally made a comeback and released their 5th mini album last week. The title track Can't Stop is written, composed, produced by the multi-talented musician (and also the band leader), Jung Yong Hwa. This mini album consists of 6 songs, Yong Hwa contributed in 5 songs and guitarist Jong Hyun dropped one of his self composed song.

If you listened to their music since 4 years ago, you might would have the same experience as I am right now. Yes, they've grown up. Can't Stop is so fresh, well-making, surprisingly sweet with catchy lyrics and melody. I'll give you my 7 things I love about this song and mini album.

1) Twisted surprise
"Don't judge a book by its cover", we heard that popular quote a lot didn't we? To describe Can't Stop I prefer to say: "Don't judge a song by its first verse". It's a perfect song for welcoming bright and colorful spring after a stormy snowy gloomy winter.

2) Bridge part
As I mentioned earlier, Can't Stop is a twisted song. It begins with a mellow weepy lyrics and melody, but once it hits the chorus you can feel how energized this song is. That's why I love the bridge part, as the drum's beat along with strings instruments are increasing the tempo gradually.

3) Self composed
I have no reason to not to love Yong Hwa's self composed songs. Especially his love songs.

4) Once in a while front line drummer
The drummer, Kang Min Hyuk, is my fav member from this band. As the drummer he's always hidden far away on the back. But now he finally has a chance to switch spot and become the front liner of the band (or at least has his own upper stage). YEAY!

5) Live interactions
Just a week before the release date, all of the members went public with their own Twitter account. They've been used @CNBLUE_4 together, now it feels more lively once they post an update from their own account. Even following, retweeting or reply a comment from their seniors or colleagues. They also held a guerilla Q&A with fans recently! #CantStop tweeting about #CNBLUE huh?

6) CN in suits
For this comeback promo, the boys look so dashingly handsome in a clean cut suit. It always be my fav concept. Even though I raised one of my eyebrows when they wore the mango-peach color suits on the first part of their music video. More over, sometimes I closed one of my eyes when I saw they're dressed in a pattern suits for their "Before Midnight in NY" teaser pictures. Other than that... you can see my eyes shining :)

7) Well executed marketing
At first I thought this mini-album would have a weak concept because it's so silly when their company already released a statement that they would comeback at the end of February but they're not shoot the music video yet. It feels like the company racing over something. The first and second pictures they took in NY doesn't seem related with the music video teaser which released a week after. So it's so hard to guess the main concept. But once the music video and the whole album package came out, I don't even give a damn about the concept. They has wrapped up their tour in America at the end of January, so they got a chance to be featured in a documentary show in Mnet America and promoting their new album on the west side. They just finished a successful world tour for a year, so they has gained a lot of new listeners around the world. They teamed up with SBS for an exclusive all live comeback show and  appeared as a special guest in a popular variety show "Running Man"(plus win the race!). They asked another famous artists to listen to their pre-released songs and gave comments about the songs. Even though now they're competing with two big girls group (Girls' Generation & 2NE1) while promoting their new songs, I still believe they will have a shot.

"This album is for spring season. Cold winter has finally ended and we're welcoming blossoming spring." -GO! CNBLUE by Mnet America

If you curious to listen the whole album, please buy Can't Stop on iTunes Store.
I #CantStop spamming about #CNBLUE. My bad, sorry ^^

(all images and videos are courtesy of FNC Ent)

(More than) Once In A Blue Moon

Let's go crazy! Do it, do it, do it now ~

Since I have fallen in love with CNBLUE's music last year, watching their live stage had been a priority on my bucket list. I already watched their concerts in Seoul and endless list of their Japan tour through DVD and videos in YouTube. They live act were so great and enjoyable. So when the announcement of their world tour (BLUE MOON) came up early this year, the only thing that went through my mind was: I had to go!

Part 1: Blue Moon in Singapore, where it all began..

Taipei was their 1st stop and it's not easy to reach Taiwan without a proper plan for me, but not too long after that they announced Singapore as their 2nd stop. Yeaynesss! The concert would be held on April 13th, but first thing first: I had to make sure to get the ticket. Thanks God I was able to buy it online through Sistic. After a madness battle with the web system problem due to high traffic in Sistic, I managed to get my ticket. It wasn't my first choice category but I didn't care as long as I had a reserved seat :)

Part of me knew that the concert would be awesome but since it's my first experience, I lowered my expectation. I had arrived at the concert hall, Singapore Indoor Stadium, an hour before the concert began. While waited for my cousin to come, I listened to their concert set list and I really couldn't hide my excitement: my feet won't stop moving, my heart beat faster, I couldn't stand still and wandered around.

I had got into the concert hall 10 minutes before it began, took a moment to the rest room, and when I came back the hall already went dark. Here we go! Their live stage was beyond my expectation, my affection has grew multiple times after watched their concert. I brought my camera inside, even though at the entrance gate the security asked me not to take any pictures and videos but they're not around throughout the concert, so... I recorded a few fancams ;)







The one thing I need from my fancams was a clear view of my fav CNBLUE's member, Kang MinHyuk, the drummer. He couldn't move around and stuck with his drum set further away from the edge of the stage, that's why I need my camera and a binocular.

I had a wonderful time during Singapore concert, then my crazy adventure started...

Part 2: Blue Moon in Bangkok, broke fan girl story..

Their next stop after Singapore was Bangkok. I didn't need a visa to go to Bangkok. Hmm.. should I go? After landed in Jakarta from Singapore, I texted my cousin: "I have a thought to watch their concert in Bangkok, shall we go?". Unexpectedly she responded my crazy question positively! Because the tickets were already sold out, we didn't raise our hope too high and started to look for fans who were probably have extra tickets to sale. I didn't know how the universe worked but it didn't take a long time for us to get those tickets. The seller is Indonesian too, so it's easier for us to communicate.
Two weeks later, we landed in Bangkok.

Since it was an unexpected trip, we're going on a really tight budget. Our plan was arrived at Bangkok on Friday night, went straight to our guest house and sleep, woke early in the morning on Saturday then rushed to the concert hall to grab the official merchandise and stayed there until the concert ended. The last one was going around Siam area on Monday afternoon while waiting for our flight back home at night.

To sum up, it wasn't a very happy and pleasant journey after all. We didn't have a chance to enjoy Bangkok tasty food, the security took my camera away when the concert started so I missed the first song, it was during that time when the gray dark cloud hanging above Yong Hwa's head so he was not as playful and chatty as usual and I couldn't watch their performance clearly since too many people blocked my vision (even though I sat in the vip area... x__x). But I managed to get all the official merchandise I looked for (except the MIA poster) and met the nicest people during this trip :)

Part 3: Blue Moon in Kuala Lumpur, I thought it was the last one..

Reached the point when my friends raised their eyebrows: "what? are you going to KL to catch another Blue Moon concert? Are you crazy?" I don't know, maybe. I felt like I met my match, everything went so smoothly this time. Bought the tickets via Red Tix (easy breezy), got super cheap flight to KL, the concert hall was just a walking distance from my hotel, totally enjoyed the concert, and the blue boys blew my mind again this time. Still crave for more? YES.

I looooooove the sexy cutie hottie manly drummer!

Part 4: Blue Moon in Jakarta, one superb wrap up...

After the tragic cancellation of CNBLUE's Asian Tour: Blue Storm in Jakarta two years ago, during their world tour this year, the blue boys finally arrived and hold their concert in Jakarta! *SO MUCH WIN* 

Jakarta was their last stop for Blue Moon World Tour in 2013 and the ending of my cray cray adventure. This time everything went soooooooooooooooooooooo great, beyond my imagination. 

I got the chance to represent Kavenyou and write the full coverage for this event! I was able to attend the press conference and got free ticket (media ID) for the concert! *woot woot*

So that day finally came, the day when I saw the boys clearly with my own eyes, without a binocular glued to my eyes. The boys were look dashingly handsome as I imagine at the press conference. I couldn't take my eyes off of the drummer (most of the time) during that event. My excitement raised up when he looked back at me, I put on my brightest smile and wave my hand, then... he gave me his killer eye smile! OH MY GOD~ I treasured that 15 minutes event, one of my best days this year.

IMHO, Blue Moon in Jakarta was the best concert I've ever watched. The concert hall was the smallest one, but fully occupied, so the event felt more intimate. The boys gave the audience their post card set for free as an apology for Blue Storm tragedy, the crowd sang too loud and fired up their performance on stage as a result, plus plus too many warm fan services! My happiness multiplied thousand times when I heard that everyone I know whom watched CNBLUE's live performance for the first time (some of them not even fans of this band) acknowledged that they really enjoyed the show! 

Last note: CNBLUE will continue their world tour to America next January, maybe Europe after that. I'm still looking forward for the encore concert which usually hold in Seoul, so... is it really the end? :)

7 Things I Love About 윤찬영

The Heirs has ended last Thursday. No more longing for my midweek happy pills : the most lovely and adorable screen couple on drama land, Yoon Chan Young & Lee Bo Na. But even before the drama started almost 3 months ago, based on the character description, I already put a close attention on Yoon Chan Young. Pardon my affectional biased for the actor, but maybe from the list I've made below, Chan Young's truly the boyfriend that every girls want.

1. He's a top class student (and class president too)

2. He has the ultimate killer eye-smile

3. He's a supportive and loyal friend

4. He's just a middle class boy, surrounded by the richest kids in town at school, but he gained everyone's respect because he's smart and have a good attitude 

5. He loves his dad for life, a son to be proud of

6. He can cook

7. He's (the most) a sweet, loving, charming, endearing, and faithful boyfriend (...I've ever known)

You'll be missed, Yoon Chan Young x(

(pictures' credit tagged on logo)

Moshi-moshi

October had ended without any new post, busy busy month indeed. But, I did write something last month: full coverage of CNBLUE Blue Moon Concert in Jakarta! You can read my articles in Kavenyou. I was so happy to finally meet the blue boys at the press conference and enjoyed the best Blue Moon concert I've ever watched :)

I just got back from my Japan trip yesterday. I learned a lot of things during that trip (incl. what kind of traveler I am) and I will share all the details later of course. Since tomorrow is Monday and I have to catch up with dozen reports that have been haunting me for two weeks, let me share some pictures and my itinerary as the opening for the Japan trip post series.

OSAKA (Oct 30-31)

Osaka Castle

Dotonbori Area

Shinsaibashi shopping arcade

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Osaka Bay Area

Umeda Sky Building

TOKYO (Nov 1-5)

Tokyo Disney Sea

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Shinjuku

Saitama Super Arena for CNBLUE Arena Tour Concert

Shibuya

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Asakusa

Akihabara

Ginza

Tokyo Skytree

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Omotesando

Kawasaki City for Fujiko F Fujio Museum

Odaiba

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Kawagoe in Saitama

Harajuku

Yoyogi Park

Shibuya

KYOTO (Nov 6-7)

Ginkakuji Temple

Kiyomizudera Temple

Gion Area

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Fushimi Inari

Sagano Scenic Train at Arashiyama

Kinkakuji Temple

You'll be missed, J :')