Tag: travel

SCANDAL Weekend

Thursday, May 28th, 2015Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019music, travelLa Musica, Traveling8 Comments

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 9.4mm, f/3.6, 1/125 sec, ISO3200
SCANDAL at House of Blues, Anaheim

From May 21st through the 24th I was in Southern California to see one of my favorite bands play two shows on their “Hello World” World Tour. SCANDAL has been on tour since early this year and their two California shows were at the tail-end, with just one final show after in Hong Kong. But before that final show, the SCANDAL weekend in California happened… and it was fantastic!

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 25.6mm, f/4.9, 1/100 sec, ISO3200
Mami Sasazaki of SCANDAL

The first show was at House of Blues on the Sunset Strip and the time was 7:30. I arrived at the venue at 2:30 and there were probably about 40 people in line already. Not too bad! I heard the first people arrived at 3am! Of course, these die-hard fans earned their front-row positions on the rail right in front of the band.

"おやすみ" by SCANDAL — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/1.8, 1/125 sec, ISO3200
“おやすみ” by SCANDAL

Anyways, at around 5:30 the VIP ticket holders (of which I was one) was moved to the back of the venue by the back entrance. It was near the parking lot and what was really cool was that we could hear SCANDAL doing their final sound check inside! I even heard Haruna practicing her English.

Soon the staff started letting the line in, and told us that we would first drop off any gifts in the boxes, then have our cameras ready to give to the camera-man who would take our photos with the band. When I entered the building, I could already see Tomomi, Haruna, Rina, and Mami standing there taking photos with other fans. It was sort of surreal to see them in person!

As we got closer, I dropped off the gifts I had brought for Mami (a Funashi hat) and Tomomi (some chocolates) in the gift box and then made sure my camera had the correct settings for the band photo. It was nice that we were allowed to bring in non-pro cameras, and my Fujifilm XF1 was perfect!

When it was my turn for the photo, I was surprisingly relaxed (although I can’t remember many details). I was wearing my black Converse and Rina had on a pair too, so I told her that we were wearing the same shoes. (I can’t remember if I said it in Japanese or English) Rina said “Hontou da!” and I was pretty stoked. And I like to think that is why she is lifting up her foot in the photo! I’m so glad I decided to wear those shoes.

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO3200
Fanboy Photo with the Band

After the picture, I thanked them, got my camera back and went to the merchandise table to buy a shirt, signed the American flag with a message to the band, and then got a space to watch the show. I was about 5 people behind front row. (The second night, I was much farther back, but still relatively close because House of Blues Anaheim is pretty small) One other perk of the VIP ticket was that we got signed posters from the band, and also I think the merchandise table closed down early, so regular ticket holders were pretty much out of luck if they wanted a t-shirt. That happened to me the second night. 🙁

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 13.8mm, f/4.2, 1/160 sec, ISO3200
SCANDAL Having Fun Onstage

(At this point in this blog post, I will just combine both nights into one)

The crowd was really fun, and filled with hardcore SCANDAL fans. Everyone had so much energy and were very friendly which made it a really good atmosphere. While we were waiting, they played concert footage on a big screen, and many people were singing along. It was pretty cool. This was my first concert which had a huge otaku draw so it was a new experience for me. A couple times it was a little overwhelming how into the band these guys and gals were, but it was really awesome too that you can be so engrossed in something and have the opportunity to totally go wild with others who share that passion. I might not have that same level of enthusiasm, but now I can certainly appreciate it, and there were a couple times (when they played a couple songs that I love) where I really got into it and joined in on the yelling and chanting. It was so fun just going crazy!

About 45 minutes after the official showtime, and after plenty of chanting from the crowd, the lights dimmed and SCANDAL took the stage. Everyone went bananas. It was awesome. I can’t remember what song they opened with, but I’m sure someone will post the setlist later. Every song was amazing, but the highlights for me were Rina singing “おやすみ” while strumming her shiny red Telecaster, Mami’s cool guitar solos, expressions, and head-banging, Tomomi’s cute hopping, and Haruna’s cool factor. She is a great front-woman.

Rina Suzuki sings "おやすみ" — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 16mm, f/4.7, 1/125 sec, ISO3200
Rina Suzuki sings “おやすみ”

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 25.6mm, f/4.9, 1/125 sec, ISO3200
Haruna Ono of SCANDAL

Mami Rockin' Out — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 14.3mm, f/3, 1/30 sec, ISO500
Mami Rockin’ Out

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 25.6mm, f/4.9, 1/160 sec, ISO3200
Tomomi Ogawa of SCANDAL

There were a couple short breaks where the band spoke in English which were fun and cute and of course everyone went crazy again. Here are a couple links to videos of them speaking in English to the audience at Sunset Strip & at Anaheim. And here’s the crowd singing Happy Birthday to Mami. That was a really great moment.

For the encore they returned wearing concert t-shirts and played two or three more songs. On the second night, one of the songs they played was “Harukaze”, my favorite one of the set, and totally unexpected since they didn’t play that one the first night. That was an incredible moment hearing those first notes. Chills went up my spine! It’s something I will remember for the rest of my life, and that moment alone made the trip and money spent worth it. Of course meeting the band (albeit briefly) wasn’t so bad either! 😉

One special thing about the SCANDAL concert was that small cameras were allowed in the venue and they didn’t care if you took photos and video! It’s pretty great because now there are many videos on Youtube of these performances. (I even took a few very short videos, which you can find on my Youtube channel) It’s something that you can never do in Japan. I was really expecting them to announce to the audience not to take photos, but it never happened! The only thing I regret was that on the first night, I did not have my camera settings correctly set to take photos. But the next day I did some research on my particular camera and got a good default setting so I was ready for the second show. I’m pretty happy with the results. And, really, the photos are all just a bonus since I wasn’t expecting to be able to take any pictures at all!

To wrap up, I am so glad that I spent the money and time to go see SCANDAL play the two shows in California. It was such a fantastic experience and makes me think that life needs to be celebrated, in whatever way is the best for you. I got a great firsthand peek into a scene that I had not been exposed to before, and it was really fun. I can’t wait for the next event, whenever that is!

The full setlist as provided on the SCANDAL Facebook page:

M1.love in action
M2.Satisfaction
M3.DOLL
M4.Syunkan Sentimental
M5.SCANDAL BABY
M6.Kagen no tsuki
M7.Onegai Navigation
M8.Hon wo yomu
M9.Can Beer
M10.Oyasumi
M11.Departure
M12.Taiyo to kimi ga egaku STORY
M13.Yoake no ryuseigun
M14.Your song
M15.Image

22.05.2015
＜Encore at HOUSE OF BLUSE SUNSET STRIP, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA＞
EN1.Awanaitsumorino,genkidene
EN2.EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!

23.05.2015
＜Encore at HOUSE OF BLUSE ANAHEIM, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, USA＞
EN1.HARUKAZE
EN2.EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!

Trip to Stockholm

Tuesday, April 28th, 2015Monday, May 22nd, 2023Stockholm, travelTraveling3 Comments

Last week I went on my first business trip ever, and it was a fantastic one! The trip was to Stockholm, Sweden. Not only was the work really productive, but exploring the city was really fun as well. One of the highlights was that my coworker and I went for an evening run along a popular route. That was super! We also ate a lot of traditional food and sampled many local beers. What a great trip! Below are some of the photos I took.

Sunset over Stockholm — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 9.7mm, f/3.6, 1/20 sec, ISO400
We were walking to dinner and had to stop several times to take photos of this amazing sunset over Stockholm.

Photo info: SONY SLT-A77V, 10mm, f/6.7, 1/20 sec, ISO1000
This is the Arlanda Express, which is the best way to get to/from the airport and Central Station. We used the app to buy tickets while at dinner. So convenient!

Sakura — Photo info: SONY SLT-A77V, 50mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec, ISO100
I was surprised to find sakura! I see so many Instagram photos from Japanese instagrammers, and I am happy that I could take some sakura photos too.

Photo info: SONY SLT-A77V, 50mm, f/8, 1/350 sec, ISO100
This statue of King Gustaf III is by the waterside… a favorite perch for the local seagulls.

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/4, 1/15 sec, ISO3200
Blå Dörren (Blue Door) is where we had Swedish meatballs and pickled herring, along with local beer. So yummy!

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/3.6, 1/15 sec, ISO3200
No 9 on Stora Nygatan in the Old City

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/3.6, 1/15 sec, ISO2500
Plugged Records on Stora Nygatan. This street is in Gamla Stan Old Town. It’s such a cool section!

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/3.6, 1/15 sec, ISO2000
Stora Nygatan in the Old Town

Window Shopping Åhléns — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/3.2, 1/160 sec, ISO800
Window Shopping at Åhléns. This department store was right next to the office. I really liked the Honda CB, which had a weird disc brake fitted to the front wheel.

Nice Ad — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/3.2, 1/60 sec, ISO400
Nice ad on the street. I like the cow.

Local Brew — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/3.2, 1/15 sec, ISO1250
One of the many local beers we sampled. This photo was taken at Bakfickan.

Photo info: SONY SLT-A77V, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec, ISO1000
Fuchiko, Röhrstrom, and Chiffon. Mariko sent me a message with this dish design, and I found this cake dish at the Åhléns department store. I had to hand carry this back to Austin, but it was worth it!

Walt Disney World Vacation

Thursday, February 5th, 2015Tuesday, October 12th, 2021travelSlice of Life, Traveling2 Comments

Fireworks over Cinderella's Castle — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 7.4mm, f/2.5, 1/10 sec, ISO800
Fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle

We just returned from a second wonderful Walt Disney World Vacation in Orlando, Florida. We had a great time, just like our first visit! This time we stayed at Disney’s Pop Century Resort which was just a basic hotel, but it definitely fit our needs. The important thing was that there was great bus service to the parks, Downtown Disney, and the airport.

Mission:SPACE Pilot Controls — Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO1600
Mission: SPACE Pilot Controls

The first day, we visited the Magic Kingdom, second day was Hollywood Studios, and the third day was Epcot. We didn’t have time to visit Animal Kingdom this time around. One tradition we have when we visit a Disney park is that we buy a bag of Sour Ball Candy (assorted flavors) and snack on them all day. We’ll choose a color for the other person and that person will try guess the flavor. Strangely enough, the bag usually gets finished right at the end of the day.

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 6.4mm, f/1.8, 1/4 sec, ISO200
Astro-orbiter

Before my memory fades too much, I want to quickly get things down. So here’s a list of notable things from the trip:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is so fun! We couldn’t get a FastPass + for this one, so as soon as we arrived at the park, we headed to this ride first. (Tip: Reserve FastPass + online early!)
The Memory Maker photo pass is a great deal. We took photos whenever we saw one of the photographers, and also met some characters and took photos. Also, the newer rides such as Tower of Terror and the previously mentioned Mine Train automagically take video footage of you and make a cool video. Check out the video at the end of this post!
We joined the “More intense” Orange Team for Mission: SPACE. At the last moment, Mariko opted out and it was a smart move. I think she would have been dizzy and not feeling well the rest of the day. Bay, Koa, and I enjoyed it though, and we went on it again (Green Team) with Mariko two more times.
Epcot World Showcase is more fun than I had expected (and remembered). The Agent P missions that Koa joined were well-done! The Morocco area is my favorite.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a great ride! I generally don’t like the free-fall-type rides, but this one was better in that you are shot up in the air, and then you hang for a second before coming back down. I guess since you know exactly when you are going to free-fall, it’s not so bad.

Photo info: FUJIFILM XF1, 8mm, f/3.6, 1/25 sec, ISO400
Courtyard in Morocco-EPCOT

In the video below, we are sitting in the top-right of the ride. But the funniest part are the two dudes sitting in the middle. Their poses are classic!

I am looking forward to our next trip to a Disney Resort. I really think that spending the money to stay at an official Disney Resort is the way to go. There are just so many perks to doing it that way. And you know, life’s short. If you have the means, I highly recommend it. /ferris

Skateboarding on Vacation

Monday, December 29th, 2014Wednesday, April 17th, 2019family, sk8, travelSlice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment

After getting our new skateboards last summer, Bay and I decided that we should take our boards when we travel and go skateboarding on vacation. So for our Christmas trip to visit my family in Los Angeles, we packed up the boards and brought them. Actually, I only brought over my trucks and wheels since I had an old deck at my parents’ house, while Bay brought over his whole skateboard.

The first day we were there, we rode to the park and skated around there. My old deck is a real ’90s style, with a squared off tail (and tail guard!) and front of the board goes a bit wider. It is such a comfortable cruiser shape! I loved riding it again!

On Christmas Eve day, we all went to the Strand. Most of the group was on bikes, but my oldest brother, myself, and Bay rode our skateboards. I also borrowed some rope from my dad because I was anticipating being towed by one of the bike riders. And as you can see from the photo above, we made good use of the ropes! Riding on the Strand brought back so many memories. It was なつかしい！(nostalgic)

The only thing I would change is that instead of bringing my Bones wheels, I’d bring the OJ’s instead. The softer and quieter OJ’s would have been more comfortable and easier on the ears than the hard Bones.

When the vacation came to a close, I was going to bring my old deck back to Texas but decided to just bring the trucks/wheels home. I’ll leave the deck in California for the next visit!

Camping at Choke Canyon State Park, TX

Sunday, December 7th, 2014Tuesday, August 29th, 2017camping, travelSlice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment

The day after Thanksgiving we took the kids camping to a new place for us: Choke Canyon State Park. It’s located between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, about three-hour drive from our house. We really enjoy camping and since we have all the gear it’s easy to go spur-of-the-moment. Going the day after our Thanksgiving feast wasn’t a problem at all. We went basic with the meals, just stopping at the supermarket to fill up our cooler with steaks, breakfast sandwiches, bread and deli meats/cheese. And of course we had to have s’mores!

The campsite was pretty nice, but it’s mostly RV campers and only a couple of people in tents. But it was ok. The only downside was that most of the RV campers left the lights on at their campsites all night. Plus there was also the constant hum of electric appliances. It was kind of fun seeing all the lights strung up at the campsites (I have never camped at an RV area before). I only wish they would have turned off the lights when they went to bed. It would have made the star photos a bit better. But, the bathrooms there were super-clean since I think most of the people at the campground prefer to do their business in their RVs. Just a guess.

Anyways, the camping was fun as usual, with a nice campfire, steaks, and s’mores. I bring my BBQ grill when we go camping, so we have a nice controlled cooking fire, and then we have the campsite fire pit for the larger campfire.

I woke up at about 1:30 AM and decided to take some photos of the night sky. Luckily I remember to bring the tripod on the trip! It was a lot of fun! I wish the kids would have joined me, but I didn’t really want to wake them since they were snug in their warm sleeping bags. I did manage to get a few decent photos and see one shooting star before retiring back to the tent at 2:30.

The next morning after breakfast, we headed down to the lake and did a little fishing. We didn’t catch anything or even get a nibble, but we were able to see a huge alligator sunning himself on the bank. It was pretty impressive!

The camping trip was just one night, but it was fun and nice to visit a new place. I can’t wait for our next camping trip! Please enjoy the photos below.