Yeay Faizul

Congratulations to all the contestants of Akademi Fantasia 2013. Especially Faizul who won last night.

I am especially proud because Faizul was on of those that I spotted as being a potential winner by the fourth week of competition - and I'm glad he proved me right.

Plus, being a former band boy, I'm glad to see him break the stereotype of a non-musician champion.

Have to admit though was disappointed Aisyah was at sixth because I thought she deserved a higher placing that that.

Still... congratulations to all the finalists. You guys worked hard. Just remember what I told you during my class. This is only the beginning of many trials to come. It won't be easy - and a lot of of you are going to disappear... except for those who persevere.

Make it!

Thanks Faizul for delivering Sepasang Sayap well enough. You are a credit to the composer who wrote the song for you - in Amir.

For you guys who are curious - the song is Amir's wedding gift to his wife. Baca lirik bebetul... mesti dapat faham...

One more song that caught my attention was Mimpi as sung by Aisyah. Yang tulis kawan-kawan gak... nice one Faizal Tahir!

Now... let's see what the kids have to offer in the music industry....

So another feather in Amir's cap. He is the first former reality show contestant to have written for the immediate next season. Starting the year with Anugerah Juara Lagu, looks like it's going to be a good closing of the year.

We're not going to Anugerah Juara Lagu in January next year. Unfortunately Penghibur Jalanan didn't make the cut - which I wasn't disappointed at since I knew it was a competition song. However, a little sad Gelisah didn't get to make it to the semifinal stage to compete because I know the jury would have found it interesting.

Oh gambar bawah throwback malam sebelum we performed at second semifinals of Muzik Muzik. Takpe... tak kayak we had fun. Besides... there's always next year.

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Three 10s

I forgot to update. I have a new toy!

Yes, aftr my red Z10, my white Q10 - I now have the black/silver Z30 to joint he family. Yeay!

And to make it sweeter...tickets to the Blackberry creative director and ambassador... Alicia Keys. Nice!

I love Blackberry!

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Wedding time

Semalam ada last supper gitu. My kid, Amir's last day as a single young man. Thanks so much Aizat for coming down with Amar. You guys are the best down.

Tiga hari di Kucing, bantu sikit-sikit persiapan... and kira holiday for me lah. 

Selamat juga Amir dinikahkan siang tadi.

All the best kid. Another step, another new route in your life.

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...my favourite things...

So I'm having Japan withdrawal symptoms. Craving for green tea, chicken karaage, sushi and bath houses. 

Oh well at least I have some shopping I did there. 

Tops on my list of most worth buys in Japan - this portable mobile phone battery charger. What's so unique? It runs on 3 AA batteries. What? Rechargeable batteries lah. So you can pop into a store and buy batteries if you're really in need for some juice and it's not charged up.

Or alternatively you can flip up the handle, and start cranking! Manual recharge! Useful for outdoorsy activities that may not come with a plug to stuff your charger into...

Second thing is more of a novelty item. How'd you like my earphones.

If the picture looks weird... it's probably because these gigantic earphones, are actually speakers. Cute ain't it. Now excuse me while I look for tamago and inari to munch on.

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One more

So after two days of going around Den Den Town, you'd think I'd be bored. Nope.... time was precious and past two days at Den Den have only been a couple of hours spent there a day at best.

How else are you going to really take in a six storey porn emporium. I kid you. Not.

So started early in the morning to walk around Den Den Town. Again. Today started with music stores. A second hand music store to be exact. Awesome! It was in the back alley (where I also found this fantastic lunch spot in a quaint small restaurant that has the best chicken karate I've ever had). 

See that black and goldfish guitar? That's a Rickenbacker 1957! Fuck! The Gibson's pretty sweet too, but the Rickenbacker memang sakit hati. RM9,000... kalau aku cukup duit aku dah beli dah!

The Gretsch is nice too.. but this Japanese Fender steel guitar gets me. Damn. RM3,000 gitu.

And I love this nyunga nyunga - just that it's too damn pricey. Beautiful sounds though...

Check out that red with cream 'piping' Rickenbacker bass!

Ok enough guitars and musical instruments. Fancy a hemp air freshener?

How'd I end up in the sex emporium? The sex dolls are awesome. Siap sections for wigs, clothes, shoes... etc. The Japanese really live in their fantasies.

More safer for work photos. Toy stores!

Oh look... it's Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece. I have to admit... after the first day at Den Den Town.... I still had no idea what One Piece (the number one manga and anime in the world was).

Sehinggalah sayang aku mesej kalau boleh kirim belikan Tony Tony Chopper. I had no freaking clu what that was. So download one or two episodes and watched. Immediately hooked.

Didn't buy so much One Piece stuff (bound to regret for sure once back in KL). The thing about Japan is... I love how their mainstream anime and manga crosses over into hentai.

Check out Boa Hancock and Luffy from One Piece.

Like what?

And then there are more fun stuff - like this. What would Japan be without Godzilla eh? Or a gigantic remote control one at that...

Pellet guns were also in abundance. Damn... so much stuff to buy. I really wished I had more cash for shopping...

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Den Den Town again

Started the day at Dotonbori. The downtown area honestly doesn't interest me because it's like any other metropolitan city in the world. Except more crowded. Which is why I guess there was no appeal for me. 

I prefer places of retail - that have a little bit more to hold my interest. Not really keen on shops that only offer what we already have back home. Cam buang masa ke negara orang kan kalau gitu...

This creative display caught my attention. Love the idea behind the attempt to use whatever space they had (since floor space is limited).

This Snow White inspired outfit caught my eye too. Wondering who the heck would wear this and for what apart from being fetish wear of sorts.

Quick lunch and it was on to more shops... music stores to be exact.

Still nothing caught my interest... so it was back to Den Den Town. Used panties anyone? (I'm not kidding!)

Ok... so that's not my interest. These are. TOYS!

I REALLY wanted to get this. I think his name was Blade from the Puppet Master movies. Damn! This is a rare find!

There were many other rare finds. Like this 'green farm'. Grow your own organics - in the comfort of your own home. This is apparently big in Japan now. I was imagining more like could someone use this to grow marijuana in their apartment. Matilah!

And here's a hot meal vending machine. I can't even begin to tell you how these things still amaze me...

It was getting dark, so sped through some other stores after picking up some finds. Spotted this cosplay store.

If you're ever in Den Den Town - you won't miss this!

And you should check this out. Passed this restaurant. Damn. Note what's on EVERY table.

Tiring day. Squeezing in one more day tomorrow at Den Den Town before the end of our trip to Japan.

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Showtime

Woke up really tired. I have to say I don't know how the Japanese live in such cramped places. Their hotels are not cheap and yet space is so limited. I didn't even take pictures of the room in the hotel we were staying in because I couldn't even get a good angle. Seriously!

Even First World Hotel has more more floor space in its rooms. And being claustrophobic... I didn't sleep well. Well... ok... I'm lying. I slept like a baby. Just got woken up by the sound of the others waking up. Yes, I could easily hear whatever activities in four to five rooms next to us.

Early morning today as it's Amir's turn to perform. His venue for the Kansai Music Conference was at the Osaka Museum of History, next to NHK Japan. Gorgeous building as the lobby is encased in this giant disco ball glass dome sandwiched like a structure out of a Harry Potter movie between both buildings.

I'm so happy Amir impressed with his performance. So much so, the organisers  came up and spoke to me - impressed by his performance...

After we were done - it was back to the hotel just a few hundred meters away... freshened up and grabbed a train to head downtown for some food.

And thus the real Osaka adventure begins. With all the shows done - semarang masa jalan-jalan betul. I suggested Den Den Town (I Google every location I go to for places of my interest).

Den Den Town is otaku heaven. Next to Tokyo's Akihabara of course. But since I haven't been to Tokyo and I'm in Osaka, Den Den Town here we come.

Now, Den Den Town js known for a HUGE area filled with shops offering mostly things related to manga, anime, tech toys and porn. And a lot more stuff in between. This store became a landmark for us in days to come... nama yang sesuai if you ask me. SLUM.

But it wasn't all about adult themed entertainment. I had my eyes on some tech stuff - like this awesome 3D printer. Babiks... nak sangat!!!! Tapi sebab kawal diri jangan boros, maka ku gigih than nafsu dari beli.

Don't let me get started on the toys... I think I'm in heaven!

And music stores...

Since we got to Den Den Town quite late in the evening... sebab sesat, plus we had some distance to travel to dinner (cabs cost a fucking bomb - but sometimes a necessity from the long train rides).

What I'm amazed with - is again, how the Japanese discipline themselves. This is a common sight.

Tengok tu. Dahlah beratur. Semua ke tepi kanan jadi orang yang nak cepat leh je lalu. Takde duk sebelah menyebelah borak pasal Tupperware ke MLM bagai ok....

I'm impressed. Balik nanti nak ubah diri aku. I feel like a savage in situations like this - and the Japanese are a good model of how disciplined they are... definitely.

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