Harajuku...the haven for Japanese teenage fashion. After trotting down Takeshita Doori with its very enticing shops (even for me who is not really an avid shopper), we came to this strange looking building which is like buried in some back alley.



This building is called Design Fiesta,sort of an art gallery for budding artists wannabes who cannot afford to hang their canvases in the pretentious hallways of prestigious art galleries. Mostly art students I would think. But it is really a place where creativie flows freely, as can be witnessed from the facade of the building.



There are numerous rooms in the building, not spacious by any standards, which anyone can presumably rent for a number of days, and just put up whatever they wish to showcase to people. As we walked around, people were still hammering, gluing, painting, and whatever, busy putting up their displays with the kind of meticulousness and attention to detail that only artists have. Some are eating their packed lunches, friends and relatives come visiting and to lend their support, enthusiastic artists wander around hoping to get a stroke of inspiration. All in all a very friendly and conducive environemtn to get the creative juices flowing, something which will not happen in our sunny little island.

There was this group of talented and friendly young manga artists (oh did I mention they were cute as well) who were deeply apologetic that they were still working on their displays. However, they were happy that we showed interest in what they have to offer and allowed us to take a look at whatever was ready. I was captivated by this particular picture.

I thought the use of colours was striking and the expression on the girl's face was deeply enchanting.

Some other random pictures of this fascinating little alcove:




All in all a great way to spend a lovely afternoon, especially when you have to seek respite from the mind-boggling and overwhelming fashion apparels that are pouring out of all these shops in Harajuku. Another memorable moment!

Hee..have been organizing the pictures in my laptop these few days...there are so many of them..Switzerland, Japan, China, various concerts, and I've never really got down to putting them in their proper places. Maybe I'll make use of this chance to
showcase some of the more exciting/interesting parts of my life (other than school =p)


This was the apartment where I stayed in Tokyo for 2 nights (Dec 2005). This shop (gender-free!) is on the third level while i stayed at the fourth.





Even for those who can't read japanese, I guess there are enough contextual clues to pick out what this shop is. The words in the bottom right hand corner of the red sign says "Cross-dress, SM Play, Petting Partners OK"

Btw I did not pick this place on purpose! Neither did we patronise it(it's highly exclusive anyway, with prohibitive prices).Firstly it was my travelling mate Kaile who chose it, and secondly we were just going for the cheapest place we can find. I think this place was 1000yen per night (which is like $15..in TOKYO), situated in this very colourful but dodgy neighbourhood. It was certainly an eye-opener.



As we climbed the very narrow stairs to the fourth storey, there was a huge sized "lady" standing outside the third storey (where the ULALA shop is) carrying a broom in the most subservient and docile manner. While Kaile didn't realize the nature of the shop, I certainly did and could tell who this "lady" was. It was really amusing see her being so prim and proper, she even stopped sweeping to let us walk past her. =)

Our apartment, on the other hand, was like the most cramped room I have ever seen, accommodating FIVE people(including us). Really, once we have set down our luggage we have hardly any space to manoeuvre. The other three were all japanese guys. (Kaile thinks one of them is a girl, but I am rather sure he is a guy, erm...which I deduced from the way he used the toilet.)

Hee well I guessed we couldn't expect much for 1000Y per night. While it was most uncomfortable, it was certainly a highlight of the trip that I would remember for years to come. I mean..come on, how many tourists get to stay above a gay whorehouse and in such close contact with locals squeezing in this one-room apartment?

Junkai..here's a pic to scare you

CENSORSHIP? Puh-Lease what a joke

Finally I'm back. This new beta blogger or whatever is causing lots of problems!

Tired....will blog in greater detail subsequently. For now I just want to say that the uncensored version of Royston Tan's 15 is actually available on youtube. Gosh..it's infuriating....two (or was it three) years ago at the age of 23/24 I wasn't allowed to watch the uncensored version because of censorship(17 cuts if I did not remember wrongly), but now teenagers are accessing the unadulterated version. Oh well..I'm always against imperfect asymmetrical information flow anyway... =p

I was surprised at the male nudity scenes(actually just one) though, I've always thought youtube did not allow such explicit details. In the meantime those who want to watch it might want to hurry before it gets taken down or someting. It's a shame we Singaporeans have to resort to such means to watch a refreshingly original local production.

While I'm on it, Royston's 4:30 was wonderful as well, although it was as painful to watch as 15. Somehow the emotions are stripped bare right in front of you, which can be awfully unsettling.

This is the week like almost everyone I know is flying off for holidays. Parents gone for 2 weeks in China. My Friday Supper Club is off at Thailand and Taiwan. Kaile flew off to Korea via Shanghai. Jianwei went off for Japan. Damn.. this sucks big time.

As for me, the closest I got to a foreign is ...erm....dispensing Japan travel advice to many people, and..erm..lending Kaile my travel guide to Shanghai. This is so devastating! Especially after my meticulous planning for the ultimate Japan onsen trip.

My holidays are really reolving around CO. What with Maris Stella CO concert practices ..(Junkai are you reading this? Come and support!) and watching NAC Chinese Music competition. The competition wasn't too exciting...nothing really impressed/amazed me, although it's nice to see some familiar and not-so-familiar faces and catch up with the latest gossips. =p

Oops...almost forgot about the existence of this blog...* bleah * I'm stuck in school now, staying overnight for the band camp. Rather eerie, I'm the only one in the staff room at 2100hrs. And it's so stuffy, the air-con goes off at 6! ARGH....

Eversince I decided that I'm not going to Japan (ARGH)after all, the hols were kind of boring..........at first. I played Guild Wars until I got so sick. I was so bored that I agreed to perform with Maris Stella CO, even though I wasn't that keen on going back initially.(after all I took my O Levels exactly 10 years ago!)THe juniors are all so quirky....gosh, they grow up so quickly, some of them have really morphed beyond recognition. It's good to see new faces, and many old ones as well as quite a number of grads are helping out as well.

Sigh..I've got no sleeping bag! I have to sleep on the cold hard stony floor tonight I guess....