Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Epitome of all YEC~!
1:14 AM /
0 comments
Oh well, time for part 2! -LONG POST ALERT-
Still remember the place-which-the-name-that-I-have-forgotten?
Yep, that was the place where I had tasted the best meal in Japan! So, presenting to you..!!
Tempura shrimpsss~!
Once again, the menu was ALL in japanese + no pics (maigod, not again?) But fortunately this time we were accompanied by our chaperone and a few yamaha staffs and they recommended to us this dish which happened to be the restaurant's 'jiu pai' dish. :D
_____
Moving on to YEC..!!
As a YEC participant, I was to attend this master class conducted by a certain electone instructor. According to the uncertain Pok, the instructor was the YEC champion from the year .. 2002 or 2001.. (or 1998?) aiyah dunno which year lah LOL. And yes, he is a Japanese, so we needed a translator, and kudos to the translator for such uberly good translation.
Yep, from left, Christopher Duke a.k.a. the translator, mr.PokPokPok, Iwazaki sensei(I just found out his name LOL) and me.
You know, on the first day, they even gave me the ticket for the finals in case I couldn't get in. But yes, I memang didn't get in lah, LOL.
And wah, the ticket is quite expensive eh, it costs 2k yen a.k.a. around rm80. So for those non-participants, they are required to pay another 2k yen if they are to watch the semi-finals. sakitnyee
Anyway, for these 2 days, not only do I have the master class sessions, but I also had hours of practising session(s) and here are some of the pics taken when we were bored as hell after practising non-stop.
I was actually quite fired up during practise. =x
Here is Pok sensei dying from practising. He has to practise too, for some teacher seminar that he had to attend for this trip, hoho.
You know, there actually exists this tradition whereby a 3rd party takes a picture of Pok scolding the participant, and vice versa, all for the sake of lame-ity, LOL. So for the past 2 years, these were the result.
last year's (uhh.. doesn't exactly look like scolding, but still considered scolding, roar)
my turn to have the honour of scolding Pok.
And what next? Revenge of teh Pok of course D:
And so sorry, I couldn't find the previous 2 year's one, the pictures went hilang in FB's endless abyss of codes already.
..
Okie, lame time over LOL.
_____
Next off, to the grand hall of Kioi where the event is held!
Yep that's the entrance of the building.
Mind you, the building is uber GIGANTIC.
Yep, can't take the whole of it LOL.
This is the hall/stage itself.
Yes, a very nice design, simple but grand. (this was taken during the finals)
And yep, me before entering the hall for soundcheck. and uh, that is a.. die-then-die-lah kind of face? HAHA.
During the actual competition (semi-finals), maigod, I was so excited, but I had to contain that excitement within myself lah, maigod, the other contestants were all super quiet + serious + focused + stone. Maigod one more time, I don't really dare to approach them lah, LOL.
In the waiting room, I am one of the noisiest. Not because I talk, but because I occasionally change my sitting position/turn around a bit/stretch. So the sounds are produced from all those frictions between my clothes and the couch. And yes, you can hear everybody's breathing, THAT quiet.
There was also one moment where I waited for my turn for soooo long that I actually fell asleep for a split second and I bet the girl that sat besides me noticed my head fishing =.=
So yes, I couldn't make friends with any of the Japanese participants nor take any pictures with them. (I am such a failure >.< ) I only were able to communicate with the other 2 contestants which are not Japanese. Only managed to take pic with the contestant from Singapore, LOL.
Thanks to this person here for being my translator during the semi-finals. He is a big shot from yamaha. *gasp
Yeah babeh, this was during the soundcheck.
FULL THROTTLE ONWARDS, ROAR
.. *silence*
_____
.. So after the whole day competing, couldn't get into finals, but the experience itself is worthwhile enough already :D
So since the 3 of us non-Japanese couldn't get into finals, we get to go for a very exotic dinner instead, together with most of the big shots from yamaha. 5 cheers for that~
This was one of the thingies I've had at this restaurant, and I ate the most, to be exact, I've ate 25 of this very thing. Chicken heart. LOL.
There were even chicken kidneys, chicken cartilages, chicken buttocks, and chicken whatnots LOL. Not so fond of those though, just the heart is nice, I devour them with style babeh, just like a killer =.=v okay no, the drumstick was the best.
_____
I attended the finals on the following day, and I here must sayy, maigod those 6 participants who've gotten into the finals are ALIENS. 1 of them was even as young as 16 years old maigod. Oh here comes the maigod frenzy again LOL.
But to be frank, I did fell asleep for a few times during the finals cause you know, those are all classical pieces :S Not only me hor, even my itu translator and a few others, I caught them fishing =x Oh well, just imagine that each finalist have to play for at least 20 minutes = ranging from 3~4 classical pieces. Altogether 6 finalists somemore, really can sien die.
Once everyone finished performing, we kena wait 20~30mins for the results but we couldn't bother so much, so me and the Singapore gang cabut from the place first and went shopping, really cannot tahan the boredom already lah LOL. Luckily I followed them as they brought me to this place called Okechimachi, towards a shop called Takeya, the stuffs there are SUPER CHEAP, as compared to any other places I have been to in Japan. (I got most of the souvenirs from this shop =x)
Yep, this is the shop.
And that concludes my trip in Japan.
_____
Lastly, presenting the certificate of participation :D
Still remember the place-which-the-name-that-I-have-forgotten?
Yep, that was the place where I had tasted the best meal in Japan! So, presenting to you..!!
Tempura shrimpsss~!
Once again, the menu was ALL in japanese + no pics (maigod, not again?) But fortunately this time we were accompanied by our chaperone and a few yamaha staffs and they recommended to us this dish which happened to be the restaurant's 'jiu pai' dish. :D
_____
Moving on to YEC..!!
As a YEC participant, I was to attend this master class conducted by a certain electone instructor. According to the uncertain Pok, the instructor was the YEC champion from the year .. 2002 or 2001.. (or 1998?) aiyah dunno which year lah LOL. And yes, he is a Japanese, so we needed a translator, and kudos to the translator for such uberly good translation.
Yep, from left, Christopher Duke a.k.a. the translator, mr.PokPokPok, Iwazaki sensei(I just found out his name LOL) and me.
You know, on the first day, they even gave me the ticket for the finals in case I couldn't get in. But yes, I memang didn't get in lah, LOL.
And wah, the ticket is quite expensive eh, it costs 2k yen a.k.a. around rm80. So for those non-participants, they are required to pay another 2k yen if they are to watch the semi-finals. sakitnyee
Anyway, for these 2 days, not only do I have the master class sessions, but I also had hours of practising session(s) and here are some of the pics taken when we were bored as hell after practising non-stop.
I was actually quite fired up during practise. =x
Here is Pok sensei dying from practising. He has to practise too, for some teacher seminar that he had to attend for this trip, hoho.
You know, there actually exists this tradition whereby a 3rd party takes a picture of Pok scolding the participant, and vice versa, all for the sake of lame-ity, LOL. So for the past 2 years, these were the result.
last year's (uhh.. doesn't exactly look like scolding, but still considered scolding, roar)
my turn to have the honour of scolding Pok.
And what next? Revenge of teh Pok of course D:
And so sorry, I couldn't find the previous 2 year's one, the pictures went hilang in FB's endless abyss of codes already.
..
Okie, lame time over LOL.
_____
Next off, to the grand hall of Kioi where the event is held!
Yep that's the entrance of the building.
Mind you, the building is uber GIGANTIC.
Yep, can't take the whole of it LOL.
This is the hall/stage itself.
Yes, a very nice design, simple but grand. (this was taken during the finals)
And yep, me before entering the hall for soundcheck. and uh, that is a.. die-then-die-lah kind of face? HAHA.
During the actual competition (semi-finals), maigod, I was so excited, but I had to contain that excitement within myself lah, maigod, the other contestants were all super quiet + serious + focused + stone. Maigod one more time, I don't really dare to approach them lah, LOL.
In the waiting room, I am one of the noisiest. Not because I talk, but because I occasionally change my sitting position/turn around a bit/stretch. So the sounds are produced from all those frictions between my clothes and the couch. And yes, you can hear everybody's breathing, THAT quiet.
There was also one moment where I waited for my turn for soooo long that I actually fell asleep for a split second and I bet the girl that sat besides me noticed my head fishing =.=
So yes, I couldn't make friends with any of the Japanese participants nor take any pictures with them. (I am such a failure >.< ) I only were able to communicate with the other 2 contestants which are not Japanese. Only managed to take pic with the contestant from Singapore, LOL.
Thanks to this person here for being my translator during the semi-finals. He is a big shot from yamaha. *gasp
Yeah babeh, this was during the soundcheck.
FULL THROTTLE ONWARDS, ROAR
.. *silence*
_____
.. So after the whole day competing, couldn't get into finals, but the experience itself is worthwhile enough already :D
So since the 3 of us non-Japanese couldn't get into finals, we get to go for a very exotic dinner instead, together with most of the big shots from yamaha. 5 cheers for that~
This was one of the thingies I've had at this restaurant, and I ate the most, to be exact, I've ate 25 of this very thing. Chicken heart. LOL.
There were even chicken kidneys, chicken cartilages, chicken buttocks, and chicken whatnots LOL. Not so fond of those though, just the heart is nice, I devour them with style babeh, just like a killer =.=v okay no, the drumstick was the best.
_____
I attended the finals on the following day, and I here must sayy, maigod those 6 participants who've gotten into the finals are ALIENS. 1 of them was even as young as 16 years old maigod. Oh here comes the maigod frenzy again LOL.
But to be frank, I did fell asleep for a few times during the finals cause you know, those are all classical pieces :S Not only me hor, even my itu translator and a few others, I caught them fishing =x Oh well, just imagine that each finalist have to play for at least 20 minutes = ranging from 3~4 classical pieces. Altogether 6 finalists somemore, really can sien die.
Once everyone finished performing, we kena wait 20~30mins for the results but we couldn't bother so much, so me and the Singapore gang cabut from the place first and went shopping, really cannot tahan the boredom already lah LOL. Luckily I followed them as they brought me to this place called Okechimachi, towards a shop called Takeya, the stuffs there are SUPER CHEAP, as compared to any other places I have been to in Japan. (I got most of the souvenirs from this shop =x)
Yep, this is the shop.
And that concludes my trip in Japan.
_____
Lastly, presenting the certificate of participation :D
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Chronicles of Fungi in Japan
11:43 PM /
0 comments
Konnichi wa, minna san~
I will probably blog about my Japan trip in 2 parts with the first part being all about teh exotic life in Japan and the second one all related to the competition itself :D
So..
You know, I felt so very the Japanese during my stay in Japan as almost every communication I've had with the Japanese, I would automatically bow down rapidly after almost every single sentence/word said, together with a swift 'hai!'. Politeness at it's max I would say!
AND the lifestyle there, yes, their lifestyle, it's seriously healthy I must say. 99% of the people I see are all fit since most of them travel by walking and walking and walking, yeah, unlike in Malaysia where we will just drive and drive =x lazy people we are indeed, LOL.
_____
Anyway, this trip has provided me with so much new memorable experience.especially breathing out visible magical cold air lika bosss
Sorry is the word I must type as I didn't take much exotic picture at Japan because it was just so FREAKING cold outside that I rather put my hand inside my jacket's pocket to lay eggs(?), especially for the first day since its my first time exposed to such coldness.
Also, please note that many photos are taken poorly since I am a lousy photographer =x mostly are shaky or blurry, but of course there are also some uber nice photos lah
Here are the few nice ones :D
Oh btw its not in a chronological order.
Imagine all these trees blooming sakuras during the spring, too bad I am there during winter!
This is Meguro, the place where the Yamaha HQ is located at.
.. I forgot what was this place called again LOL paiseh.
This scene is somewhere nearby the previous pic. So yes, once again, it is in a-place-with-a-name-which-I-had-forgotten.
Of course, how can I miss out Shibuya!? It's one of the busiest and liveliest city I've travelled to in Japan!
_____
ANYWAY! Highlight for my first day in Japan?
Walking alone for almost 2 hours in Shibuya, how's that!? But yes, 2 hours = way too limited a time to explore the city of Shibuya ;_; anyway, only went sight-seeing around there, MANY food outlets there I tell you. Which ultimately leads to......
...!!
THIS! had this at one of the restaurant in Shibuya. Presenting to you~
Tenji Udon! the 2nd best meal I've had in Japan!
Went through so many obstacles before me and Pok can even see this meal with our own eyes. You know why? That's because the menu is purely in Japanese + no pics, so we have completely no idea which of the item in the list is this tenji udon, LOL. So macamana?? The waitress have to follow me allll the way out into the coldness as fortunately, their tenji udon pic can be found beside their restaurant name and I have to point up at that pic for her to see then baru can order, LOL.
on a side note, that waitress is very pretty omgomgomg
_____
As for accomodation, I stayed at this place called Prince hotel located in Shinagawa. Yes, MY hotel.. 'prince' wo.. what coincidence. HAHA!
And this was my mini room which is kinda un-prince~
Then you know, there are actually computers at the lobby for us customers to go online, but of course you have to pay lah. Pay 100 yens aka RM4 to go online for only 10minutes, freaking expensive but I paid for like 4 times anyway LOL.
And their keyboard really gg-fied me, it looked so different at first sight. Took me around 2mins to look for the freaking @ button when I first use it wth =.=
Their internet was freaking fast though :D In fact, too fast for me. LOL.
Oh and you know what? I actually did ask one of the staff "toire wa doko desu ka?" for the sake of not wasting this phrase that I've memorised. LOL. But yes, the staff did point to the direction of the toilet and also giggled at me ._. must have said it wrongly, oh shit.
This is just opposite of my hotel :D banyak shops there I tell you.
Oh still first day btw, this actually leads to..
thissss
heee, this curry ramen is heavenlyyyy, but still the tenji udon is nicer :D
_____
Highlight for 2nd day? None. 2nd day in Japan for me = mostly practise + masterclass for the competition so I shall save this part for the next post.
Oh but of course there are 2 things worth mentioning for the 2nd day. First thing is my very first visit to itu yamaha HQ. Their facilities doesn't disappoint! All very up to date and very well-maintained. Every studio consists of either a grand piano or a few stageas or both! Just like a HQ~!
Yep, needless for me to describe this pic, LOL.
This is the Yamaha building, couldn't take the whole of it, its just too big *gasp*
And yes, this was the studio where I practised, notice the last electone which differs from the other 2~
Another thing worth mentioning about this day is my visit to Yamaha Ginza, aka another Yamaha building which was located at Ginza, a very high class area. Imagine Pavilion, but its like that for the whole of the city, all tall buildings.
Even Yamaha Ginza itself was like.. 12 or 13 storeys tall? wth.
Presenting.. Ginzaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaa *cough*
______
3rd day is the semi-finals already, which shall be saved for the next post. Same goes for 4th day, the finals. which I tak masuk D: + :D
So yep, that's all for part 1. Part 2 shall be up.. 'soon'. *smirks
Oh and in case you might still be wondering what's the best food I've had in Japan.. wait for the next post LOL. Suspense is needed for such post I sayy
I will probably blog about my Japan trip in 2 parts with the first part being all about teh exotic life in Japan and the second one all related to the competition itself :D
So..
You know, I felt so very the Japanese during my stay in Japan as almost every communication I've had with the Japanese, I would automatically bow down rapidly after almost every single sentence/word said, together with a swift 'hai!'. Politeness at it's max I would say!
AND the lifestyle there, yes, their lifestyle, it's seriously healthy I must say. 99% of the people I see are all fit since most of them travel by walking and walking and walking, yeah, unlike in Malaysia where we will just drive and drive =x lazy people we are indeed, LOL.
_____
Anyway, this trip has provided me with so much new memorable experience.
Sorry is the word I must type as I didn't take much exotic picture at Japan because it was just so FREAKING cold outside that I rather put my hand inside my jacket's pocket to lay eggs(?), especially for the first day since its my first time exposed to such coldness.
Also, please note that many photos are taken poorly since I am a lousy photographer =x mostly are shaky or blurry, but of course there are also some uber nice photos lah
Here are the few nice ones :D
Oh btw its not in a chronological order.
Imagine all these trees blooming sakuras during the spring, too bad I am there during winter!
This is Meguro, the place where the Yamaha HQ is located at.
.. I forgot what was this place called again LOL paiseh.
This scene is somewhere nearby the previous pic. So yes, once again, it is in a-place-with-a-name-which-I-had-forgotten.
Of course, how can I miss out Shibuya!? It's one of the busiest and liveliest city I've travelled to in Japan!
_____
ANYWAY! Highlight for my first day in Japan?
Walking alone for almost 2 hours in Shibuya, how's that!? But yes, 2 hours = way too limited a time to explore the city of Shibuya ;_; anyway, only went sight-seeing around there, MANY food outlets there I tell you. Which ultimately leads to......
...!!
THIS! had this at one of the restaurant in Shibuya. Presenting to you~
Tenji Udon! the 2nd best meal I've had in Japan!
Went through so many obstacles before me and Pok can even see this meal with our own eyes. You know why? That's because the menu is purely in Japanese + no pics, so we have completely no idea which of the item in the list is this tenji udon, LOL. So macamana?? The waitress have to follow me allll the way out into the coldness as fortunately, their tenji udon pic can be found beside their restaurant name and I have to point up at that pic for her to see then baru can order, LOL.
on a side note, that waitress is very pretty omgomgomg
_____
As for accomodation, I stayed at this place called Prince hotel located in Shinagawa. Yes, MY hotel.. 'prince' wo.. what coincidence. HAHA!
And this was my mini room which is kinda un-prince~
Then you know, there are actually computers at the lobby for us customers to go online, but of course you have to pay lah. Pay 100 yens aka RM4 to go online for only 10minutes, freaking expensive but I paid for like 4 times anyway LOL.
And their keyboard really gg-fied me, it looked so different at first sight. Took me around 2mins to look for the freaking @ button when I first use it wth =.=
Their internet was freaking fast though :D In fact, too fast for me. LOL.
Oh and you know what? I actually did ask one of the staff "toire wa doko desu ka?" for the sake of not wasting this phrase that I've memorised. LOL. But yes, the staff did point to the direction of the toilet and also giggled at me ._. must have said it wrongly, oh shit.
This is just opposite of my hotel :D banyak shops there I tell you.
Oh still first day btw, this actually leads to..
thissss
heee, this curry ramen is heavenlyyyy, but still the tenji udon is nicer :D
_____
Highlight for 2nd day? None. 2nd day in Japan for me = mostly practise + masterclass for the competition so I shall save this part for the next post.
Oh but of course there are 2 things worth mentioning for the 2nd day. First thing is my very first visit to itu yamaha HQ. Their facilities doesn't disappoint! All very up to date and very well-maintained. Every studio consists of either a grand piano or a few stageas or both! Just like a HQ~!
Yep, needless for me to describe this pic, LOL.
This is the Yamaha building, couldn't take the whole of it, its just too big *gasp*
And yes, this was the studio where I practised, notice the last electone which differs from the other 2~
Another thing worth mentioning about this day is my visit to Yamaha Ginza, aka another Yamaha building which was located at Ginza, a very high class area. Imagine Pavilion, but its like that for the whole of the city, all tall buildings.
Even Yamaha Ginza itself was like.. 12 or 13 storeys tall? wth.
Presenting.. Ginzaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaaa *cough*
______
3rd day is the semi-finals already, which shall be saved for the next post. Same goes for 4th day, the finals. which I tak masuk D: + :D
So yep, that's all for part 1. Part 2 shall be up.. 'soon'. *smirks
Oh and in case you might still be wondering what's the best food I've had in Japan.. wait for the next post LOL. Suspense is needed for such post I sayy