one october 6 night with Pentagon at Prism World Tour at the TICC in Taipei

photos by yours truly

The reason I was in Taipei from October 5-7 last year, 2019, was this: Pentagon's Prism World Tour in Taipei. They had three set schedules for it in South East Asia and none of it is the Philippines so it was this, Taiwan, Hongkong or Singapore for me. I thought Taipei, Taiwan would be the cheapest and easiest so in about a couple months' time before the trip...maybe three, I'd already booked my plane tickets via Philippine Airlines, booked my accommodations a month or two weeks before the trip, and bought the concert ticket a couple days or so before I left Cagayan de Oro City for Taipei. Admittedly, it wasn't very easy and I felt my budget for Taipei was pretty short (I only used a 100 USD of 200 USD I'd brought with me, as pocket money) but everything worked well. Somehow.

This was my first kpop concert and it was just a bit outside the Philippines so yes, it was very memorable and precious to me. 

I'd worried about going to the concert on my own for a time because most of those in fandoms I know were going to Johnny and Associates' Hey! Say! Jump!'s 2-day concert at the Taipei Arena also near the area I was in. Yes, I was once a hardcore Jpop fan but not enough to go on and fangirl HSJ. Hah. But yeah, I knew some people that went there. HSJ's 2nd day concert was around the same night and time as Pentagon's only date there, at the TICC. Luckily, I didn't have to feel so alone there because some Filipino Universes had found out I'd gotten a Pentagon concert ticket and was headed to Taipei the day before the concert. I got to meet them after the concert. Though we were around each other for a while, hunting for a restaurant we could eat dinner in and just have fun chatting, bonding or so...we weren't able to find a restaurant to sit and eat and chat in. We decided to go our separate ways instead because some of us were headed home the next day. Others were going to other places like Jiufen to continue their Taiwan tour with. I was in the former group. My flight back home was at around 7 or 8 in the evening of the 7th. I SO wish I could've stayed longer because there's SO MUCH to see and do in Taipei and the vast country of Taiwan in general. Hmn...I'm hatching another plan of this kind in my head with some really good friends for next time. I'm getting the hang of budgeting and planning trips everywhere as of late. Maybe it's a sign that I keep on going even if I'm running myself broke (but let's hope not? It's tough being broke). Well, I can somehow get used to this sort of or partly nomadic lifestyle.

Anyway, I won't go in depth with the concert. Doing a part by part recount of what'd happened at the concert, what I'd seen and insanely dance to can be quite...tiring. Yes. So yes, let's not. I'll just go through the highlights of the concert along with pictures.

Above is my concert ticket. It's 4280 NTD, yes. This is Less than 150 USD which was, I thought, a good price already for such a good concert, by one of my favorite boy groups. This is actually why I'd decided to go. The concert ticket was quite...affordable. I'd already bought the ticket days before I left for Taipei so I just went to the 7-11 at the first floor of my accommodation there and got the help of the store attendant/cashier in printing this one out. Yep, it was quick! I hung around family mart next door, thereafter, to eat a lunch of an assortment of sliced fruit. Ugh. I so wish our 7-11 had these kinds of fresh eats. I'd gobble those up in a heartbeat...on a daily basis.

The management held contests for ticket holders to win in. I was told by the new friends that I'd won a signed poster. It now sits inside my closet of some everyday bottoms and dresses, still unrolled. I would love to have a lot of the posters I got from buying pre-ordered stuff framed. Yes. But moolah for it isn't enough, yet. Lucky are the others that won photos with Pentagon. One of my friends did. I may get lucky in another time...I hope.

Going back much, much earlier before the day of the concert, I'd arrived around 8 in the morning at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. I had to rush to the accommodation to see if I could check in sooo much earlier than the scheduled check in at 3 p.m. but I wasn't allowed by the person-in-charge so. Apparently a lot of things like hotel/accommodations check-ins are often set at a certain mid-afternoon time. Even a lot of the businesses like malls and more in Taipei start out late. I found it difficult the next day to find a good place to have breakfast in...hmn... Basically, only McDonalds was open and accepting breakfast-searching customers (like me) at around 7 or so in the morning. I had to wait for my check-in time before I prepared for the concert wearing the dress that I wore from the previous blog post...and my VERY handy, super over sized that it makes me sooo happy and warm and cozy and fuzzy, every time I have it, denim jacket. It's a men's jacket, by the way. Anyway, back on topic...so because I had to wait until 3 p.m. to get into my room and check in so I could begin preparing for the concert about to happen that night, I just wandered around the neighborhood and chanced upon a tea and coffee house that allows people to make their own beverages all over their super cute pantry or kitchen. They also allowed food bought from outside. And...best of all? They allowed you to stay AS LONG as you'd liked in their cafe. You can basically do so much there like homework, work projects and more, undisturbed. It was such a cozy place. And because I was waiting for the time I can get into the room I'd booked, I missed the fans event that went on the time I was at the said tea and coffee shop. I could've gotten some freebie banners and more. Hardly matters now, I met wonderful people at the tea and coffee shop I was in and I enjoyed much of my time there. One of the highlights of my Taipei trip so far. I'll recount this again on my Taipei food post later.

Even if I'd missed the said fan gathering prior to the concert proper, a new friend was kind enough to send me off with a Yuto banner! Yay! He is my Pentagon bias and the reason why I got into Pentagon in the first place. But yeah, as with Da-iCE, I'd ended up liking all of 'em in the end. The fan organizers also had a balloon and unibong/mobile phone light event in some songs and some where we had to hold out the white banner and later, the blue and black one so all in all, IT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN! I'd so like to do it again. Yes! Needless to say, when I got home, I contemplated a second Pentagon Prism Tour date in Singapore but I'd already depleted my travel and concert money saved up so nope. Next time.

Highlights of the concert for me: Jo Jinho in Havana. So smexy for someone so small...he's their shortest and funnily, their eldest member. I mostly like Jinho because he's cute but he's giving me Yang Yoseob-vibes lately. I think he's trying to grow out his gyeopta phase now. All of Summ(:er)'s tracks performed was HEAVEN! And lastly...THE ENCORE. The encore had all my favorite songs: Thumbs Up! and Spectacular (스펙터클 해), to name a few. Of course, Fantasystic (판타지스틱) is my favorite from Summ(:er) and it was realllyyy rad to see and hear live.

It was a fun night of singing and dancing to what I could at the concert, all in all. 11/10, I'd do it all over again. Hopefully one day soon. (Or I may go to a Da-iCE concert soon, should all go well with something I'm doing at the moment, applying for another job tat pays better than my current job...somehow).

Up next in this Taipei trip series? Food. I'll be highlight vegan/vegetarian food there so wait for it! I already have the photos ready. Unfortunately didn't take much photos of the restaurants and stalls I went to. I'm an idiot, apparently. I plan to go back to Taipei again one day to do a proper food trip and some sight seeing or activities-filled one so yeah...one day soon. 

too early for valentines' day

dress, Zalora (old and was on sale at the time); etched bracelets/bangles, old F21 and souvenir shop ones (from Dumaguete City and Siquijor Island); clutch, Chanel (pretty sure this isn't authentic but I wouldn't know either, I suck at authenticating these things); shoes, Primadonna via Zalora; necklaces, random buy somewhere from the local market; choker, Verano via Zalora

Did you miss this one gate? Well...I did, too! Just as much as I missed randomly styling stuff so I'm bringing it back now! It's not really a wall but well, there's nowhere else to shoot good outfit photos here other than this one and ideally around 5 in the afternoon, too. Anyway...off topic. Let's get back on track.

Story time: this dress was actually a random, last minute buy prior for the October 2019 Taipei trip. From my feeble memory (my short term one sucks, don't be surprised), I bought this dress with these Primadonna shoes. I remember taking advantage of the 11.11 sale for these and an eyeliner from BLK. The color was the reason why I decided to get this. I figured my closet badly needed something dusty rose? But when I look at it now, the frills feel not so me. Or does it? Yeah, I'm not really one into frills this much. Good thing they're just around the middle and the bottom parts. The polka dot print isn't that bad, it's very fine you won't notice it here in the photos for one. But I don't really wear a lot of polka dotted clothes so I'm not a very good judge on that one either.

The Chanel clutch? It's an ancient find and I'm not sure it's authentic either. Pretty sure it isn't. I decided then and there to buy this one along with a chained one that's fallen apart at the bottom part the minute I saw the lady carry them with her. Possibly to put them on display. This was in a thrift store I loved going to at the city center waaaayy, way back. Sadly, they've closed now.

And yes, that's a pair of ear cuffs I scored from Taipei Main Station's basement mall during my trip there last October. I'd like to get more of these so I'm hoping for another Taipei trip soon, but mostly just for shopping. Along with this one came a ring that's for the middle part of the forefinger or so. It's a layering kind. And I'd like to get more of those as well. 

I don't really regret getting the dress. It's just that I may not be able to wear it as often. I'm back to looking for the right time to wear things like this one again. Ah well... It does look nice, rather, better with the boho details like the dream catcher necklace, though.

More Taipei trip backlogs coming in the next few days. Sorry, I am rarely home right after work, mine ends early so I'd have enough time for shoots like this and more blog post constructing but I end up spending most of my free time out with a friend from work. I'm...I've decided I'm only going out with friends on weekends and on some holidays rather than the weekdays in between, after week, so expect more posts to come, yes!

Random things from today:

• went to the grocery store near work for a tiny bit of vegan haul consisting of vegan butter coconut biscuits and a tiny block of tofu
• dropped by a nearby convenience store for a bottle of soymilk. I currently have a favorite brand that's just made locally around my place
• while walking on the way to where I would ride home, some random guy told me to take off my earphones because he thought I wouldn't be able to hear the cars/vehicles' honking at me. I think this one's an old RTA. Unfortunately, I don't care much about that. I put on the earphones because I normally don't want to interact with people around while I'm out nor do I want to be bothered like that. Also, I'm fully capable of caring for myself while walking to wherever, please and thank you.

Just your regular boring stuff. Yes.

on the last day of cavorting around Davao City

wearing: DELA high neck cropped halter top by Susto the Label, vintage plaid men's jacket (a personal favorite!), something borrowed ankle boots via zalora ph (old)

Photos by a work mate and travel companion to Davao City (Sinta Felissa)

Some old stuff unearthed from my phone. This was around August 11, I think. We were on our way home to Cagayan de Oro at this time, Sunday afternoon. I was in Davao City with a friend and co-worker who's also a common friend of a couple who's wedding I'd attended there around August 10, the Saturday before this one.

So, I have a tiny bit of an obsession with Susto the Label, yes. They have really nice clothes but I often find most impractical. I know they take good care when it comes to designing their stuff but a lot of it, especially the dresses and tops, skew towards the uncomfortable to wear around everywhere else side that I would default to just tiny pieces like this Dela top from there most of the time. Hmn...that might change in a bit since I see some of their good stuff like the Marlon shorts in the prettiest red and the Masa shorts in some sort of lighter nude and white-ish colors are on sale. And they also seem to carry some good slip dresses I like now. It would be better if they were shorter but they're the midi kind so we'll see how this one fares should I get one of those. I don't see myself getting one, yet, however. The trousers/pants they carry look REALLY GOOD though and seem appropriate for everyday living (perfect for every career woman out there) so I'm definitely looking to getting myself some of those in the generic black. Hmn...yes, we'll see.

Susto the Label has definitely been in my radar as of late where locally made clothes are concerned. I only hope the best for them (and maybe if/when they can improve some confusing-ish designs?) this year of the rat, 2020. 

getting back in the game, let's talk fandom

Hi there, sort of boring...err...Sunday.

Lately, I find myself amassing a lot of things fandom (asian pop music, mostly) so this alone, I feel, warranted a post of it's own. This still has something to do with Taipei's trip last year, October 5-7, 2019. One of the groups mentioned here was the one I went to Taipei for.

A word of warning? This post is photo heavy although most of them aren't high quality...much.

1. Pentagon - Thumbs Up Mini-Album 
I purchased this one two years ago but it came early last year. I think it kept getting delayed. 
I'm not a huge fan of the main single, Naughty Boy, but the B-sides like Thumbs Up among others, are what make this album more full and satisfying for me. This came with a Jinho photocard and an invitation to a Pentagon event with Universe that I couldn't go to because, well...I'm in the Philippines. Maybe next time. I'll definitely try to make it to the Cube Ent. cafe when I am there around Seoul though. Hopefully soon. I've been hearing news that it's more difficult now to go to Seoul. :( They've tightened up some or so.

My favorite track from this album? Thumbs up, currently. I have it on eternal repeat. Kind of.

I am amazed by the all around-ness of Kpop albums granted this is my first Kpop-related purchase. I love the Japanese ones more considering I have lol's Fire! single, Miura Daichi's Right Now single and more (my Da-iCE purchases are also coming in this year so...) but the South Korean pop music stuff are definitely in a league of their own with album booklets that double as photo books. Meanwhile, I have to spend separately for Da-iCE's photobooks and more. RIP wallet, when it comes to Jpop. But Kpop also just about kills the monthly salary/wage as well. Life of an eternal fangirl...

2. Sunggyu's Post Cards and Photocards 
I got these from Shopee thanks to the bff and someone who likely went to Gyu's last concert, Shine, way way back before he went away to serve at the SK military/army forces. (He's back now after 18 months of being away from us so YAAYYYY!!!) Anyway, these are, like, DIVINE because I currently have an obsession with platinum-haired Kim Sunggyu. If only I could rock the same hair color as well as he does. /lesigh.

Infinite's Kim Sunggyu is a current and still ongoing obsession of mine because of not only his full album, Shine, but also because of his variety TV work. The Genius, for one, is one show I will keep on repeat because of how smart he is on there. And of course, many others.

As of this writing, one of the photocards is at the back of my phone and on a wallet I sometimes take with me on whatever trips out. Hmn...

3. Pentagon - Genie:Us
2019 was the year when I amassed everything Pentagon and this was the second purchase I had since the previous one, Thumbs Up! They rarely let me down music-wise hence why I've been constantly getting their mini-albums or so.
Shalala is likely my favorite from here along with the music video for it. And I love, LOVE Round 1 as well though just a bit lukewarm with Spring Snow. I love the stages for the latter though.
As per usual, this came with cool stuff plus an invitation to an event with Universes (their fans' collective name) but alas, as I am in the Philippines...no way can I ever get to that one. Also, it comes with a post card of, I think, Shinwon's arm in a raincoat or so. Hmn...

It also came with some sort of bookmark. I think this one's Kino or...someone else. Hui? I'm not sure. It could also be Yuto though. I'm amazed by the inside of the booklet slash photobook. It's pop-up style and so cute and pretty!

I'm not sure who I got as a photocard for this one. I forgot...I'll unearth it somewhere later.

4. Pentagon - SUM(ME:R)

Hands down, my current favorite of the bunch and therefore the one Pentagon album on eternal repeat for me on a daily-ish basis.

The contents of this one is the best and even my friend/s confirm so. If there's anything I'm devoted to, it's finding gems like this mini-album that's summery and sunshiney and warm. (I actually became a fan of Golden Child because of this...if that's any sort of help or indication of...stuff...) I love everything in this album from 접근금지 (Humph!) to Round 2. But my favorite will have to be 판타지스틱 (Fantasystic, I think?) as it is the best BOP in there~

And whoopy yay! That's a Yuto photocard, yes, and a Yanan post card. I kind of miss him, yes.

5. Pentagon - Happiness

Not pictured but this came to me from Japan. And to anyone interested in getting Japan releases from Pentagon among others, you can go here and request it: @kg_0917. 

I haven't listened much to it but know that I enjoy the music video/pv for Happiness a lot. It's sooo mood for me along with Da-iCE's Damn It. The freebie is a poster and it is immaculate. I'd like it framed, by the by along with other things.

6. Miscellaneous everything from Japan including Da-iCE's Fake Show single (also got Da-iCE's Best album...)

Da-iCE. When it comes to them, I'm usually Hanamura Sota-biased so most I got were Sota everything including a clear file or two I have no idea what to use for. I thought they were big-sized bromides. Hmn...

Also, some fashion magazines, err, well, a Vivi because I love Vivi. And finally, a Junon! Yay! Another one is coming in the mail yet along with a secondhand but still functioning Instax cam I got at a good deal. Er...low price of 3000 JPY! A seriously good deal, like...seriously. 

Not pictured, Da-iCE's Best album that came after. It's a 2-4 CDs in one sort of thing safely nestled now in my music fandom corner nook of the bedroom self with the others.

7. Golden Child's Re:Boot full-length album

My first Woollim Entertainment purchase. Yay! This is also the most recent purchase of mine that was just delivered in early this month.

It's not the whole thing and these are just pages of the booklet plus that Jaehyun photocard but I was awestruck by how tall this one was. It literally took up my shelf dedicated to the fandom stuff and...it also towered over three of my Pentagon albums that were...comparatively just a tad bit smaller.

Anyway, these are just pages showing my favorites: Bomin looking regal, there's also Joochan in pretty pink hair (congratulations on him rejoining Golden Child after recovering from injury! this is late but yeah...it still stands), and Sungyoon/Y.

What I liked about this one? It came with a 2020 calendar so this pretty much stopped me from buying or looking for one of Takeuchi Ryoma's or some other as I have already retired Pentagon's Season's Greetings from 2019. Problem? The calendar doesn't have anything I can use to hang it somewhere to unlike Pentagon's Season's Greetings. I'm too afraid to ruin it so it's just sitting at a desk as of this moment, still unopened.

Still others I got for fandom's sake and being a random fangirl, Infinite Kim Sunggyu's platinum haired 20cm doll I have yet to find clothes for. It came with freebies so, yay~

Others to come soon: the Produce 101 Japan fanbook, Da-iCE's Back to Back single, JO1's (from Produce 101 Japan) single/s I haven't ordered yet. I also have yet to get Produce 101 Japan's Fanbook plus or volume 2. And JO1's single, Protostar. It's for pre-order yet and comes in three types so RIP money. Hmn...I'll pre-order this one, maybe next month. 

Yep, I've been spending so much on fandom lately that I need to get a higher paying job so, yeah, I'm going to toil on this one tomorrow. I have somewhere to be after the work shift tomorrow so wish me luck? It's for the future of myself I have in mind...yet.

Fashion Everything In Taipei last October 5-7, 2019

Time for catch up posts! This is number 1!

Way back October 5-7, 2019, I was somewhere in Taipei, Taiwan for Fashion Week... Not really. I was there for a different event I'll be blogging about later. So wait for that one, yes. (Hint? It has more to do with my life as an eternal fangirl and a mostly pop music lover). I do wish I was there for fashion week though. I just got lucky it was and this fashion and style-obsessed girl here felt, well, she was in heavenly bliss then. Someone take me back there please and thank you!

I'll let the photos speak for themselves to cut this short. 

P.S. 
I'm still dreaming of owning a Balenciaga city bag in black, gray or white...some fun color would be nice too just probably not too hot pink. Hmn...whenever will come the time I'll have enough money for that and the highly covetable because it's so spacey and pretty, Givenchy Nightingale? Maybe never. This makes me sad.