I was just going to leave it at that, but my friend insisted that I make a music video for it and share it on YouTube. So, with her and a few others' help, I was able to create video for it.
Filming was very awkward for me, because I don't really like listening to myself sing when others are around. (But, in order to lip-sync to it on camera, the song has to be playing.) And our set-up wasn't the most efficient. But, we managed to get all the shots I wanted and I was able to edit it all together. It turned out pretty nice in my opinion. Maybe a bit artsy(?) for some people, but that's my kind of style. (I was inspired by Lydia's cover video of Eyes, Nose, Lips.)


Overall, I'm pretty happy with how it came out. It has the essence of what I was trying to portray and as a first time making a music video, I'm satisfied with it. I can't wait to continue making more covers and music videos. :3

Oops, it's been four months since I last posted something here.



One reason why I haven't posted on here is because I've been very active with my dance club, Phoenix Dance, and have not had the inspiration to blog. The other reason is because I have no idea what to do with this blog, as it was created in order to talk about my Japan trip which I have finished blogging about.

Since I've joined Phoenix, my confidence has increased by a lot and I've become motivated to start posting my vocal covers online. Therefore, I was thinking of using this blog and YouTube to share my assortment of videos. The things I'd post would include vocal covers, choreography, maybe some behind the scenes stuff, and vlogs if I ever get around to it.
This is purely for fun and new experiences. I hope it turns out well and that I continue having fun with everything I do. I also hope to do short films and cinematic type videos in the future. (I think it'd be very fun to experiment with.)

I am very grateful for the opportunities Phoenix Dance has given me and the wonderful people within it. I am totally going to continue dancing with them as I find it helps increase my confidence and dancing skills. Thank you to everyone for supporting and allowing me to join your club. I don't think I've expressed how truly grateful I feel for you guys. Once again, thank you so much.

pc: my mother

Going to the Pokemon Center was not on our agenda, but I decided I wanted to go at the last minute. It was a pretty crowded experience, but it was still fun. There were cute Pokemon figurines, keychains, folders, and many other items. I expected more children to be in the store, however I was happily surprised to see a good mixture of teenagers, children, and adults.
As we were leaving the store, we saw some Medal Coin Machines. They had cute coin designs, but unlike their American counterparts, they don't use their own currency to create the coin. Instead, a clean copper plate is used, so it comes out clean and shiny every time.

pc: my mother

My mother spied the Tokyo Tower in the distance and we felt compelled to go check it out. Surprisingly, unlike the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Tokyo Tower is surrounded by homes and buildings. It almost felt like any other radio tower in Tokyo. Inside, there were many souvenir shops and a food court. We ate lunch there and got to use the automated ordering system, which was cool.

pc: my mother

pc: my mother

Oh my gosh. The sakura trees (cherry blossom trees) were in full bloom. It was stunning. I had seen this path in so many Japanese dramas, it felt unreal that I was actually there. I am very grateful that it was a sunny day.

I was slightly surprised to see that most of the families and couples that were enjoying the beautiful sight were locals. There were people all over, picnicking on the grass, biking, and walking. There was a mutual happiness in the air.
I got a green tea ice cream on a cone which was delicious and refreshing on such a nice day. We also tried some shoyu covered mochi on a stick. We chilled as we ate, observing all the people and light pink trees.



Then it was time to chow! We took a street stroll to the local Sushiro, a competitively priced kaiten sushi (conveyer belt sushi) place. It was a fun experience and our taste buds were in heaven. There was very little human interaction and the whole place was automated. The touch screen acted and the personal numbered delivery service acted as our waiter. Even the tea was self-serve at the table. My favorite pieces of sushi was the broiled cheese salmon and the minced tuna with quail egg. It was yummilicious~~

broiled cheese salmon (pc: samama)

minced tuna with quail egg

On our way to Odaiba, we stopped at Hama-rikyu Garden. It was a sunny day and the cherry blossoms were now in full bloom. The garden was full of flowers and green grass. This garden had a rest house where the shogun and the Imperial Court nobles used to enjoy a view of the area. It sits above a body of water which gives it a very serene look. Despite the dreamy surroundings, nothing moved me and I'm not sure why. Perhaps, it could have been the over-groomed garden in the center of towering skyscrapers or my own fatigue.


As we made our way out of the garden, we caught the Yurikamome train. The view from it was elating and freeing. The route was elevated, so you could see all the people and cars below you. It went underneath the Rainbow Bridge, therefore we got a unique view as we headed up to it. I'd love to go on it again someday.


My dad wanted to see the giant Gundam. There was a really wide bridge/path leading up to it and it was a lot nicer than I expected. Once we got there, a big crowd of families, tourists, and locals were surrounding the Gundam. You could even walk underneath it, which was really cool!


We decided on a whim to go to Oedo-Onsen Monogatari. My mom had been wanting to try the foot-bath with fish that eat the dead skin off your feet. It was perfect timing, because our feet were getting pretty worn out after all the walking the past few days. I was anxious about doing it though.
Before heading into the actual place, we had to get our yukatas. I was nervous and slightly confused about how to put it on. Thankfully, there were directions on the walls. Once we were dressed in our yukatas, we met up with my dad at the outdoor foot baths.
The fish therapy was an experience of a lifetime. The little fish were so cute! There was nothing to be anxious of at all. When they ate at my feet, I couldn't help but laugh because it tickled so much. It kind of felt like my foot had fallen asleep with a vibrating sensation. It was very fascinating. The fish swarmed my mom's feet. Haha!

After that relaxing foot bath, we explored the indoor area. (We didn't do any of the other spa treatments though.) The inside was like a big dark-wooded court, with different food places, arcades, and souvenir shops. It felt a lot like an indoor Japanese summer festival, without all the games and fireworks.
We got to eat a green tea ice cream cone and relax at one of the tables. There weren't any clocks around so we lost track of time easily. I had a really nice time there, it was definitely an experience I won't forget and I'd love to go again someday. ^^

We left the place and noticed it was already dark outside. O: (Time flies when you're having fun~ Haha!) It was still somewhat early (7pm-ish) and my mom wanted to go see the Statue of Liberty and the view of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower. The area where you could see the statue was super windy and I was very cold. It was a beautiful and unique night view, too bad the whipping cold wind took some of the pleasure out of the awe. Haha!

Ebisu Garden. Where scenes from the Japanese drama Hana Yori Dango were filmed.
Ahh! My mom and I were pretty excited to see it in real life. The sculpture was shorter than I expected, but cool nonetheless. ^^ There were waves of small groups of tourists that took pictures with it. It was nice to see we weren't the only ones.

We rested on some benches overlooking the square. We people-watched and I took some shots of random people that caught my eye. (Not in a creepy way I hope! Haha!) There were dog walkers, couples, tourists, and families, all strolling through Ebisu garden.



















My dad was curious and wanted to go to the Ebisu Beer Museum. We headed over there and it was actually pretty interesting! You get to read about the history of Yebisu beer, along with a display of all the beer bottles and cans that came out over the years. The museum was surprisingly big with red carpeted floors and a high ceiling. There was also a whole area where people were tasting beer.

Though my mom and I weren't hungry, my dad sure was. We found a Burger King near the beer museum and he ordered an avocado burger. Sorry Japan, but your Burger King isn't to my taste, just like the Starbucks. :P

It was getting dark and we were tired. We said goodbye to Ebisu Garden and headed back to our hotel. It was a good day full of yummy food, sight-seeing, and rain. <3 Pretty much every day of the trip, excluding the rain. Haha!

Rain, rain, go away. Please, you're making me soaked and cold.

It was a rainy day in Tokyo, and, man, it was pouring. I don't know what my mother and I were thinking; bringing one umbrella for my dad and only rain jackets for us. We learned our lesson.
Despite the rain, our adventure to Yoyogi Park and the Meiji Shrine was a nice escape from the city. They were both so serene. The crunch of our footsteps on the wet gravel was calming. I think it's strange that there is such a big expanse of forest in the middle of a bustling district. It seems so out of place.
The Meiji Shrine was very peaceful, even with all the tourists around. I got to throw in a 50yen coin and pray. There were many good luck charms that you could buy and the workers were dressed in traditional clothing. It definitely felt like I entered a different world.

After that mini escape, we walked the streets of Harajuku and went to eat lunch at Ootoya. My mom and I were cold and wet by the time we got there. (My rain jacket was dripping.) Ootoya was the perfect rest place for us. It was warm inside and the food we got was so delicious. It's a place we'd go back to. My mom got their oyakodonburi and my dad and I got the chicken cutlet and hot udon set. It was very satisfying and made me feel all warm inside.



Of course, since I love the cute toys/keychains that Japan has, we headed to Kiddy Land where the Rilakkuma Store is located. There were lots of kids and adults in the store. Being a tight store, I had to squeeze through people to get to the things I wanted. I bought some cute Rilakkuma phone charms.
I did notice, however, that the cuteness level and quality of their products has lowered over the years. I have adorable high quality pens that I bought from the same brand a few years ago, but, sadly, they don't sell them anymore. ;~;

We then headed off to get some dessert. The widely known crepe stuffed with cream, fruits, and other delicacies. There was a line of people waiting at the crepe place we stopped at, but it was worth the wait. The crepe was better than I expected, though there was a lot more cream then fruits. Haha! We devoured it quickly~~


It happened that there was a Calbee place right next to the crepe shop and my mom was curious about it. So, we went inside and bought a couple salty snacks to chase the sweet dessert we just had. We got these fried sticks that were "salad" flavored. They were kind of like french fries, but not really. Haha! Still yummy though. ^^

Going to a cat cafe has been on my bucket list for a while now. And I finally got to go!
My dad had done research on where some cat cafes were in Tokyo. We decided to go to one called Calico Cat Cafe in Shinjuku. It was in a multi-story building and the cafe consisted of two floors. Before we saw any of the cats, we had to sanitize our hands, take off our shoes and jackets, and put our belongings that weren't needed in a locker.

Akihabara. Anime, games, crowds, and bright signs.

Game Taito Station (a Japanese game center) was very loud and bright. I think there were five floors or more of games, collectibles, and other things as well. However, I only explored the first two floors. There were so many claw machine games with cute prizes. Too bad pictures weren't allowed inside.
My mom and dad played a Taiko arcade game (Taiko no Tatsujin) which looked fun! I enjoyed watching them figure out how to play and their reactions once they got started. Hehe! I didn't play it because I was too embarrassed. ^^;; I had seen the game inside another arcade in Hawaii, but didn't try it either. Maybe I will now!

Gachaponnnn. The highlight of the night. Rows and rows of them lined an alleyway and each of them had something different inside. I spent over 2000 yen easily. Haha! I got a bunch of Attack on Titan pins and a few Free! ones as well. All my fangirl feels came out when I got the ones I wanted. <3


We also visited an anime department store with a bunch of anime, manga, figurines, and collectibles which was cool to walk through. (6 floors!) There were lots of cute/interesting nendoroids, but I didn't buy any. Then, we caught the subway back to the hotel for a good night of sleep.

Whew, writing about this day took forever. It was the most tiring day of the whole trip. (And the fullest day.) 12 hours of walking on the second day was intense, but it was worth it. Not sure I would do it again unless it was truly necessary though. Haha!

Everywhere you look there's snacks, omiyage, shoes, and clothes.

scary looking crabs

After visiting the temple, there was a small street/park with food booths and other things. There was an old man sitting in one booths, carving kanji characters out of wood! It was quieter than the other streets that were crowded with people. My dad saw a shaved ice booth and ended up getting one. I laughed at first, but after I tasted it, I couldn't stop eating. Haha! It was very refreshing even though it wasn't a hot day.



Kitchen Street was next on our itinerary. And we ended up getting lost on the way there. It wasn't all bad though since we were able to explore a street we didn't know about. I, surprisingly, wasn't scared or nervous when I knew we were lost. Thankfully, a nice man helped us out and pointed us in the right direction.
Seeing all the different restaurant items in the stores along Kitchen Street was interesting. There were knives, utensils, fake food, uniforms, and many other items. I noticed that the chairs that were being sold were smaller than the ones in America. There was also a bunch of different chopstick holders that were pretty and cute.


After all that walking, we were all tired and thirsty. We headed back to Ueno and stopped in front of a Starbucks. Being the Starbucks lover that I am, I was very curious at how Japan's would be. It was the same in ambience, though the one we were at was very crowded. (There were no seats.) And I was shocked to find that the cream on their green tea frappuccino was not sweet! It just tasted like bland milk. We relaxed on the stairs in front of the Starbucks and regained some of our energy, before setting off towards Ameyoko Street!

view of Asakusa from tourist center