If You Can, Then Why Not?

Well, the first month of 2016 came and went and with barely a breath to settle in slowly, I found myself in the chilly cold of Los Angeles, California. I've temporarily moved here for a good part to watch over my sister while she finishes her studies. I left all my Nendoroid and miniatures behind, not that I'll be able to do anything with them since I'm actually busy doing chores and errands and stuff!

Despite the abundance of housework, I try to find and take time to do creative things. One such opportunity arose when I noticed the stark white parking lot walls of the compound where my sister goes to practice piano. The compound was made up of six adjacent stores facing the public street (or just three since the others was closed down) and the parking lot was behind. People come and go for the Chinese take-out but the area was mostly left empty and undisturbed.

I figured it was a good spot to try experimental photography. So I put on my bright blue sweater while my sister wore her bright hot pink hoodie (after I successfully convinced her to be my model hehe) The result was a series of ambitious poses and pseudo-streetwear photoshoot. We personally don't like posting pictures of our faces here in the public blog because we're such shy little things lol but the photoshoot was tons of amusement and and it would be a waste not to share the photos. So pardon this little narcissistic entry but it's all in the name of aspiring modelling and artistic photography. ^__^

Jet set in Japan

One of my favorite countries in the world is Japan. I've had the opportunity to finally visit the country last March 2013 with my sister for her Suzuki convention. (read one of my early travel blog entries about it here ^_^) Although my interest in Japan started out childish because of the anime and the music, I grew to love everything else about the country as I learned more about the Japanese culture and history. After my first visit, I was already eager to go back.

If there's something I'm greatly thankful for, it's the opportunities I've had to travel to other countries and visit places not a lot of people can travel to. I was able to go to Japan again this year with my friend vanillux, when she won tickets to Watanabe Mayu's concert. Mayu is a member of the popular Japanese group, AKB48. While I missed AKB events last time in Japan, this time I was able to join their handshake event, which is similar to a meet-and-greet. I'll explain more about this in my next entry.

Japan in September is actually a nice time to visit for foreigners from more tropical countries (like me). The last warmth of summer meets the early chills of a fall, mixing sunny days with refreshing nights. Interestingly, Japan is apparently also another humid Asian country. So if you'll be visiting during that time, wear light and comfortable clothes for the day but bring a jacket or two to keep you warm at night.

For all my 10 days in Japan, these are my top 10 highlights.

1. AKB48 Handshake
2. Tachibana
3. Harry Potter in Universal Studios
4. Going Around Osaka
5. Shibuya
6. One Piece in Tokyo Tower
7. Pokemon Center in Ikebukuro
8. The Apartments
9. Bullet Train to Osaka
10. The Japanese

Next time, I'll talk more specifically about my experiences in Osaka and my second time around Tokyo. I'll also talk about my AKB experience in more detail. I've taken a lot more pictures of my trip but most are artistic shots, which I won't post here. Instead, you can view them on my Flickr account.

Treasure Trove in Thailand

Hello everyone, meaches here. I've been in conflict about whether I should post personal stories here on "No Real Plot!" or write them up in the other blog but I finally realized I'm too lazy to manage too many blogs and social network profiles. So I decided to dump all my entries into this blog. The title "No Real Plot!" fits the bill of mixed something and nothings anyway.

You see, I've recently warmed up to an interesting benefit in corporate careers. As I've mentioned in my previous post, I'm involved with the family business now and that's what has been eating up most of my time like school deadlines. But the time I've been working has taught me a lot of lessons and insights.

When it comes to business trips, we usually think it's the same boring meetings and seminars and other office events, just in a different location. It's partially true that business trips are solely meant for activities related to the business but since those trips also mean traveling to another place, it can also be a time for experiencing other cultures. So when my dad and I went to Bangkok in Thailand a few weeks ago, we made sure to have a few extra days for sight-seeing and going around the city.

Thailand was an interesting country. Despite being a popular tourist and shopping stop, the local Thai managed to preserve their cultural roots and maintain the Thai flavor in their fashion, architecture and cuisine. The weather was typical Southeast Asian hot and humid, where a five minute walk under the sun leaves you sweating like you came from the sauna. Bugs and critters and sausages seem like the popular street food but I stuck with less creepy-looking pad thai noodles and fried chicken. I bought just two cute hats but brought home more memories and life lessons.

I never really talked about the struggle I went through in helping out the family business instead of pursuing a career in the art industry. After graduation, I worked as a freelance artist for about a year. I had planned to go to Thailand (interestingly) and join this missionary art school after the freelance project finished. Yes, I was into the 'my talents for Jesus' thing and yes, it's a missionary school that uses art and media to share the Bible. I thought it was the next best thing since I didn't think I was talented enough to be able to work my dream job in Disney. However, during the course of preparing my application, Dad asked if I can stay at home instead and help him run the business. God didn't tell me the same thing specifically but the Bible did say to honor my parents. Admittedly, I initially disliked working in the business, stuck on the desk typing invoices and receipts and talking to all these customers and suppliers that I've never met.

Our line of business is simple but "old." I don't mean archaic or obsolete, but I mean that it's not a trendy line or a quick job, not a field popular with fresh-faced, fashionable and talented young adults who like to live life excitingly and extremely. So feeling suppressed from creative pursuits, I became bored to death to a point that I started to doubt if I heard God correctly. I mean, who trades what they like to do for something they don't like to do? I asked God again and again if this is really what I'm supposed to be doing with my life because it sure feels like my youth is being wasted being cooped up with these middle-aged men, balancing finances.

But over the dinner with my dad's business partners and associates, mingling and interacting with entrepreneurs and professionals, I discovered something. All of these events happening in my life right now are meant to develop my character for the future. This is a future I didn't know, a future I haven't dreamed of yet, a future God had prepared for me. I have no idea where administrative and managerial skills and diplomacy fit in my life but I became sure that it will be important. My time and experiences in the family business is the exact preparation I needed for whatever position I will holding in the future. This was the first revelation God showed me.

The second revelation happened during our last day in Thailand. Mom asked Dad to buy this coffee brand she liked and we searched for it through several grocery stores. We were leaving one mall to cross to the next one when a familiar melody floated into my ear. The chorus was from "Wonderful Rush," a song from my current favorite anime, Love Live. When I realized the music was coming right outside, I automatically rushed out the entrance to an open plaza where I was greeted by a crowd of cosplayers cheering and dancing along to a performance onstage.

I felt overcome with delight and wonder. I stumbled on an open anime convention and I could hear God laughing. It felt like He told me two encouraging things: 1) He was reminding me that He really rewards those who listen and obey Him, and 2) He was telling me that I'm on the right path in my life, to keep it up, that I'm doing okay and I'll be okay in the end. Somehow, Dad understood too. After we moved on to the next mall where we finally! found the coffee, he let me go back to the plaza and enjoy the convention while he finished doing the groceries.

So, despite the conflicting interests I had and the skepticism I was developing, God trumped all my fears and doubts in life and taught me the perspective I should be looking at. This is the longest personal entry I have written in a while but the lessons I've learned and the renewed perspective for my life need to be told. I believe it's all part of my journey to become better, as a person, as a Christian and as an artist.

Hello Japan

Hello friends! No new artwork yet, since most of my projects are on a non-disclosure contract which is really really sad. Anyway, I'm working on some personal illustrations which I will get around to posting.

Anyway! Here's some photo journal from me. Sometime last March I went to Japan. It's a dream come true because I've always wanted to visit that beautiful country. Although the timing was awkward (after winter, so not quite snowy; but before spring, so not quite alive) my stay there was very very nice.

First I went to the Matsumoto for my sister's violin convention. First off, the Suzuki convention was fun. There were violins and flutes, cellos and pianos, and students from all over the world. It was a very exciting experience and it inspired me to pick up my flute and roll my fingers over the piano again.

Now, on to Matsumoto! Matsumoto is a lovely province with its samurai castle-like houses and pretty cherry blossom trees everywhere. We stayed in the town of Matsumoto itself, where the Matsumoto Castle resides. We were able to tour that castle and some parts of the city because we, as convention participants get free public rides for some reason.

The people in Japan are kind and courteous. Even with a language barrier, most of them will try to help you anyway they can. Thankfully, I know a little Japanese (from my anime days) and it was interesting to be able to try out what little I knew.

Another thing I liked about Japan is the clean, clean air. You can walk some miles from your hotel to wherever and not worry about getting smog in your lungs. The environment is clean and pretty, which makes walking all the more delightful. The only hindrance might be the weather, which is comfortable at 9-Celsius during the daytime. At night it can drop as low as 6-Celsius freeze, and I mean really teeth-chattering, finger-numbing freeze. Still, it was a good experience.

What else can I say? The food is delicious; I tried everything possible from ramen to sushi to authentic street takoyaki. It definitely is a lovely place. I want to go back someday.