Monday, 16 December 2013
Vietnam Trip begins! Day 1
Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well!
So blogger finally fixed my error code issue so I can finally blog again! Especially when I am currently on an overseas trip to Vietnam with my mom for one month. Which is perfect timing too because I can't find a decent video editing avi-support app for my android tablet in order to edit some videos for vlogs.
Currently writing this entry as I am on the plane though just via note/document since there's no wifi on the plane let alone the entertainment system for my mom's seat and mine is broken sooo yeah.
So far the flight is going smooth, the weather is great and I have finally found it amusing to look at clouds for a good 15-20 minutes trying to spot out of the cloud looks like anything. For example- the puppy with its ball :3
Checking in our baggages and going through customs went really smoothly which was awesome since my mom and I always shit ourselves as if it looks like we really did something wrong. BUT luckily nothing happened, and for once I didn't have to strip off my belt and boots unlike previous trips.
The plane we boarded is Vietnam Airline's VN 772. It's a fairly small plain in my opinion hence the window seats having online two seats per side per row (4 in total) in which my mom and I occupied one window side. We're seated quite near the tail though, but luckily not all the way to end. Probably around 3/4 through the plane? But yeah as I mentioned earlier, the flight has been smooth so far, not much turbulance... Well not the turbulance where coffee cups was spilling cos it was that shaky (previous experiences).
We just finished our first meal aka lunch (morning flight) and it wasn't bad than I would have thought. Alot of people don't enjoy airplane food but I usually do, it's probably because the thrill that I'm travelling- though going home is a different story. HAHAHA! Mom had the beef stir fried beef with oriental sauce served with steamed rice and boiled veggies; whilst I had the Fried Nile perch with oriental ginger sauce served with steam rice and boiled veggies. Both our meals was served with a mini coleslaw with two slices of hungarian salami, a break roll and butter, and blueberry friand for dessert.
I look forward to the later meal aka refreshments which will be a choice of either minced beef with satay sauce served with fried egg noodles, or panfried chicken with steamed rice. I get the feeling both my mom and I will get the satay sauce beef with egg noodles because we're not much of rice eaters. OH and apparently there will be a mini fruitsalad for dessert which I look forward to because fruit.
Usually feel super gross and bloated whenever I travel because we sit for a long period of time in one spot with little movement space unless going to bathroom or something, and then you eat and then just continue sitting. SO yeah, something like fruit salad sound so refreshing and good. Speaking of fruit, all I've been drinking on the plane is tomato juice. I love that stuff. I feel that sometimes their apple juices can be overly sweet despite being tart and orange juice is just bitter- not my cup of tea. Soft drinks, I'd probably go for sprite or 7UP but yeah tomato juice is the bomb for me. It's somewhat sweet but not sweet sweet at the same time has that tomato tartness but not overly tart. And especially because it's not whole tomato juice and mixed it water, it dilutes the tomato taste so you don't really get that ketchup/tomato-sauce taste that people always say "HOW DO YOU DRINK TOMATO JUICE, IT'S LIKE DRINKING TOMATO SAUCE" -____-)p It's entirely different I reckon.
ANYWAY, I'm just gonna leave it for now and continue blogging once I arrive Vietnam which will be in another 5 hours time :) This will be a long post since I'm writing it at two-three different times but yeah :D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello I'm back but this time, I am currently at my aunty's apartment where I'll be staying alot during the night to sleep whilst staying at my other aunty's house with other family members during the day.
I'll just keep it short from here on since I didn't realise what I wrote earlier was HELLA LOOONGGG. I'm sooo sorry.
My second meal was indeed more refreshing, well the fruit salad was. LOL! The only downer was that the beef and fried noodle was quite salty in a non flavorable way. But hey, fruit salad with pineapple, watermelon and rockmelon? I'm real good.
The landing of the plane was UNEXPECTEDLY SUPER QUIET. I definitely did not expect this because usually the landing is quite rough to the point i cringe and prepare but the insane bumpiness BUT this time was just .. "oh we already landed. wth? almost didn't feel a thing."
There was no trouble going through the Vietnam customs and we got our luggage just fine. Mom wanted me to wear my platinum blonde wig for a big difference for my family so I went to the bathroom while my mom was getting the other luggages. I swear, my family didn't react much until later on the night I told them it was a wig. The big reaction was just the general public in Vietnam. Legit 99.8% of people were staring at me and I could just hear them ask themselves or their friends/relatives: "is that real? so rebellious. Must be one of those outgoing kids". Nothing bad at all, actually it's quite fun hearing them hahaha.
After sorting out luggages abit at my mom's family house, my family and I went out to a local shopping centre called "NOW ZONE" and we had coffee and dessert at the "NYDC Cafe". Had great laughs especially my first ever nephew was there and it was just fun seeing him since he was almost 12 months young. After we all went to the food court upstairs because some of us were getting hungry.
Overall it was such a great day :)
Hoping I can make the rest of my trip memorable and wonderful :D
Until then, stay well and take care!
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Blogger App : Learnt how to add pictures!
Hello! Hope you're all doing well!
Been playing around with the blogger app (even though there isn't much to play around) BUT I FINALLY was able to find a way to add pictures. What's dumb of me is that it was quite obvious too -_-;;
There's a camera icon where you click on and select the photo in your gallery or to take a photo with the inbuilt camera and it uploads onto the server.
Friday, 18 October 2013
HELLO!
Hey everyone! Hope you're all doing well!
I know it's been a super long while <insert excuses> but yeah!
Gonna give one more time to give my best to start blogging again :D
Especially now that I have a tablet with a keyboard dock, I feel like I can go blog on the go- like sitting in a cafe, chilling with a large flat white and just blog away on the tablet about life and tips and etc etc etc.
SO! Just letting everyone know that I'm not dead LOL I'm still alive and cosplaying and figuring out life.
If I'm not active on my blog, I am active on my facebook fan/friend page at http://facebook.com/dannchucos :)
Until then! Stay well & Take Care!
PS: I just realised I can't really customise the font and color of the text so this post looks boring. And need to find a way to add pictures. Please bare with me for the mean time >< Thank you!
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Cherry Blossom Festival (picture heavy)
Once again, I apologise deeply for my lack of posts. <insert excuse which I cannot think of besides not sure what to post>
It's been a super long while since I've been to this festival (surely in my mid-teen days when helping out with aunty for wedding) so I thought I'd use the opportunity to attend. I didn't really pay attention to the stalls and exhibition, mainly went sight seeing around. Majority of these blossom trees weren't the actual Japanese sakura trees BUT the blossoms was still beautiful regardless. Also on the bright side, I got to see amazing displays and cherry blossoms along with bumping into wonderful people and friends :D
Ayuvi, Miyukiko, & I |
Also managed to take some photos, not many at all but something to keep as a memory.
Here are some photos I took and not editted besides resizing ^_^)/ :
Reflection Pond which was crowded with people :O |
SUPERRR noisy geeses but was nice seeing them swim by |
This area was super crazy packed with people as it has a nice footpath surrounded by blossom trees. |
Overall it was a super eventful day despite not being able to stay around long enough. Seeing the blossoms was really nice and calming. When I look back on some of the photos of the blossom, I think of their meaning or symbolism. A reflection or transiency of life. They bloom beautifully but is short-lived. The living is pretty much the same, life is something that comes once and though it may seem long; realistically it's not long at all. See the positive side of life and enjoy every beautiful moment that comes by to the best you can. Live everything to its end until you're swept off the branches by the wind.
Easier said than done right? But really, when these events happen and I just put some thought into it, It really does make me see the positive side of things and I try most of it which makes me extremely happy.
ANYWAY moving away from the corny life story, I will end this blogpost here and head to bed.
Until then, stay well & take care!
Sunday, 4 August 2013
SMASH convention 2013 coming up!
Hello everyone! Hope you're all doing well!
Next week on the 10th of August 2013, there will be a anime/manga convention in Sydney called "Sydney Manga and Anime Show" also known as "SMASH". Until recently ever since it moved to the new location at the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour, it is known amongst many to be the best anime convention for Sydney.
Some of the reasons for this (based on self and some fellow cosplayer's opinions) are:
- Very lenient with props
- Open for the general public to enter in the foyer (will require a pass to enter further exhibitions like art vendor etc)
- Great spacious easy-to-get-to location that has many utilities and facilities around (as it's in the city)
- Staffs are generally nice and not pushy. If there's something they need, they say it nicely unlike other conventions where staffs treat you like sh*t.
- Invites many special guests from Japan such as seiyuus.
- Has a maid cafe :D
- Lively atmosphere
and many more of course which I cannot seem to think of at this moment haha!
Unfortunately it is only one day, but I feel that it makes it special that it's a one day event.
Because of this, majority of cosplayers are pumped and save this convention to show their flashiest and best cosplays. HENCE! I've been really motivated and dedicated to make my cosplay for this convention. This year for SMASH, I'll be cosplaying "Rei Ryugazaki" from the new anime "FREE Iwatobi swim club". I'll be doing the ending desert arabian version:
I honestly had no cosplay plans for SMASH this year despite it being the best convention for me and originally I was considering doing "Noiz" from the boy's love (BL) game "Dramatical Murder (DMMD)", BUT after being in the fandom for "FREE!" lately and loving the ending song "SPLASH FREE", I just really wanted to do Rei cos his design is just awesome and he's one of my favorite characters in the series.
The only thing that was concerning was revealing my body since I'm still quite shy and conscious about it since I have no build BUT I decided to use this as motivation to work out and stay fit. Honestly to say that "FREE" has made me more motivated to be in shape >D
For once I am cosplaying a character I enjoy and an anime that I watch since most of the time I cosplay characters based on their design and I do my usual research and watch the series a little to follow up on the characters personality but yeah, just wouldn't be my favorite characters. I know it sounds bad but honest truth that I usually cosplay characters or choose to cosplay that character without following up the series. I follow up after I decided to cosplay it haha!
Anyway if you've been following me on Facebook or Instagram, I've been posting some progress pictures. Not alot but there are some since I didn't really want to reveal what I was going to cosplay but yeah, the base costume for Rei is all done and revealed. :D
There were alot of planning and frustrations during making the costume of a period of a week (a piece a day) as the costumes have some details at the same time some of the details aren't so clear in reference pictures. So had to wing and make up somethings like the necklace and the back view. Overall I'm quite happy with the costume being put together and super thanks to my mom for taking over at some point such as making the top when I was about to tear everything apart due to frustration of doing the yellow detail :(
Rei's belt and cords to tie the belt together. Held together by the cord, no velcro or pins. Will probably have to pin on the day. |
Made the hat and the red hip wrap which looks like underwear. Hat consists of a large cylinder that fits the head, is then wrapped with red cloth in a similar turban style. |
Went to daiso and bought a couple of things to complete the costume such as long black gloves, thin brown leather belt and bangles. Also added details onto the shoes using white and glitter vinyl.
Overall the base costume is done, just gotta trim the wig and finish off making the musket that Rei had with him and I'm done. So here's a video that I uploaded on instagram that shows how the finishing product looks :
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
BUSY BUSY BUSYYYYYY T_T
I'm so sorry I failed the promise to deliver constant updates orz
Lets try this again :)
Actually the main reason is I have no idea what to blog about since nowadays I'm just mainly at home helping my parents with their work.
BUT! I have been doing some photoshoots and makeup :D
Just to recap, all the photos for the "Kuroko no Basuke - Kagami x Kise " yaoi service shoot are all uploaded and can be viewed via Pandographi's Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.439330139508424.1073741842.367203826721056&type=3) OR for high quality, please view them at his blog (http://pandographi.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/%E3%80%9025-o6-2o13%E3%80%91kuroko-no-basket-kise-x-kagami/)
Thanks heaps to Dat (https://www.facebook.com/EnteiCos) for being Kagami
Thanks to Pandori (http://www.facebook.com/Pandographi) for being amazing photographer
Special thanks to 1YE (https://www.facebook.com/Kagami1ye) and Juju (https://www.facebook.com/JycStudios) for helping out with the shoot!
Was a super fun experience and also a super fun photoshoot with many awkward struggles but yeah, happy with how the photos turned out. And actually after this shoot, I feel more confident about myself and feel like I can now do daring things like other cosplayers do which is so great. Also the fact that I revealed alot of skin to the public, now makes me less conscious about myself.
Once again super thanks to people mentioned above, please do follow and like their pages for their amazing work!
While Dat was here in Sydney (since he's originally from Melbourne), also got the opportunity to attend a shoot with the same wonderful amazing people + some other beautiful people as well. They were shooting "Psycho-Pass - Kougami X Makishima" featuring two sexy ikemen Dat (https://www.facebook.com/EnteiCos) & Alan (http://zfx-design.deviantart.com).
Also shooting Asuna from "Sword Art Online" featuring Nona (https://www.facebook.com/NonaFlubba .
I think I'll end this going-no-where post since having a major mind-block at the moment.
Sorry for the post being all over the place, typing this at different times and day haha!
Anyway I will definitely make time to post now from now on. OMEGA PROMISE owo)b
Until then! Stay well & Take care!
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
SYDNEY SUPANOVA 2013 CONVENTION [DONE]
Sydney Supanova convention 2013 has finally passed by and I have to say it has got to be one of the most enjoyable SydNova I've been despite the crappiest weather. I think because I cosplayed characters that people knew and also got to hung out with such amazing people and friends.
For me, I don't really check the stores because I don't really buy anything- it's more of hanging out with people and cosplaying and hopefully be able to get pictures. Unfortunately I wasn't able to hold onto my camera and my phone is just too laggy (I now use an Iphone 3GS since I lost my other phone) so I wasn't able to capture any pictures.
Sydney Supanova 2013 was a 3-day event from Friday 21st June 2013 to Sunday 23rd June 2013. Here's a video that a friend of mine recorded and made which sums up Saturday and Sunday of the convention which also features me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwjDrsZ05QQ (will add the video player once blogger recognises it on youtube)
Please do like the video and subscribe him for more awesome videos. Also please like his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SFVproduction
I was really busy on Friday working and finishing on my friends and my cosplay for Saturday so I didn't end up going to it. But I saw some pictures from fellow photographers and cosplayers and they look amazing.
On Saturday 22nd June 2013, I cosplayed as Blood Moon Akali from the Free online game League Of Legends.
Photography by Pandographi |
Photography by Pireze |
Photography by RaitoPhotography |
Friends Kee on the left and Chey on the r ight. Was great seeing you two! <3 Photo by Kee |
Photography by Kee |
Dekomori by Arisu , Rikka by Tammu , Yuuta by Me , Photography by Mukuroma |
Bunch of us taking pics with a 3DS because normal camera's are too mainstream ;) Photography by Aoki |
To finish off the post, here's a preview of a service photoshoot I had with the awesome Dat of Kise x Kagami from Anime/Manga Kuroko no Basuke ;)
Photography by Pandographi |
Monday, 24 June 2013
LONG TIME NO UPDATE! WILL PROPER UPDATE SOON!
SUPER SUPER SUPER SORRY I haven't been updating regularly as I said I would in my previous post but the TRUE TRUE reason is because I've been busy with cosplay and making props for Sydney Supanova 2013, also been trying to get my life back onto track, still facing some personal issues, and last but not least- gaming.
Truly sorry! Hopefully this picture taken by Pandographi of my Blood Moon Akali cosplay worn on Saturday at Sydney Supanova 2013 will do.
Thursday, 6 June 2013
OOTD#4 - for Vivid
Sorry about the delay of this post, I know I said I'd post it the day after my Vivid Sydney post BUT I had some plans meeting up with my aunty for lunch in the city for talks and yeah...
So this is what I pretty much looked like on the Vivid Sydney outting with my mom. Outfit was super comfy and warm especially since it's winter now and it has been quite chilly and also I'll be walking around alot in the open, this outfit did justice. Also carried my Nikon D7000 DSLR camera with the 18-55mm kit lens.
Usually I'd be wearing some arm accessories but actually forgot for once, did feel bare without it ahahaha
I paired my tops with black skinny fitted jeans that I modified to fit my legs more so my legs look longer :D For super comfort and warmth, I wore my black ugg boots that has a thick sole that is made to be worn outdoors.
Here is the front view of the outfit.
Side view of the outfit. Carried along my blue messenger side bag that I got from G.U store in Ikebukuro in Japan last year. Awesome bag that has a large strap handle that can be worn like a handbag, and very spacious inside to hold my wallet, keys and my camera.
That concludes this outfit of the day post.
Until then~ stay well & take care! :D
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Vivid Sydney + Guylian cafe outting with mom (PICTURE HEAVY)
Last week on Wednesday 29th May 2013 I decided to take my mom out and drive to the city to see the Vivid Lights Sydney event at Circular Quay since we've been hearing about it on the news about the lights being set up and displayed and my mom has never actually been, so I took this opportunity to let her experience it.
Left the house at around 4.20pm and started driving up to the city which usually takes around 45minutes on average with low traffic, but we decided to leave the house earlier to avoid the peak hour traffic in my area. BUT we ended up facing heavy traffic towards the city area, and legit I mean super heavy traffic to the point where only 1 car could go through before the traffic lights hit red again because of the traffic on the other side not moving. ANYWAY at around 5.45pm we finally reached the underground parking and got parking and instantly went to find some dinner and a toilet since we were busting because of traffic haha!
Mom and I ended up dining at Ichi Ban Boshi at the Galleries, mom got the Tokyo Ramen and I got the usual Chicken Karaage Curry with Cheese. My all time favorite here since it's the only place that does Japanese curry with cheese. Unfortunately I didn't get to take any photos because we were so hungry, the food was delightful and delicious as always and now it was time to heard down to the harbour.
My good friend and also fellow cosplayer told me that there were fireworks at Darling Harbour at 6.30pm but unfortunately we were still at the restaurant eating and didn't get out till 6.45pm so we missed out the displays at Darling Harbour.
After eating so much at the restaurant, mom and I decided to just walk to Circular Quay which is a 10-15minute walk from where we ate (I think the walk was further but it didn't feel long because we walk fast). Using this time to exercise and digest the food. The weather was extremely nice unlike other days where it was super wet; nice cool 17 degrees celsius weather with no winds. Whats funny was that mom and I were dressed extremely warm to the point we sweated abit haha!
Finally got to Circular Quay and can see the light displays and the lights shun on the Opera House and also hear music. Here are some pictures that I took, unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to take pictures of the names of the displays to credit them. .___.; Also there were a couple more displays that I decided to not include in the blog entry for privacy sake due to the faces of random people were seen. And also some pictures had children in it and I don't want to be suspected as some creepy male stalker as seen on the news about males being highly suspected ;A;
PS: If you feel a certain picture is inappropriate please comment or email me to remove it. Thank you :D
Small tunnel of light |
These were so cool! They vibrated (that sounds wrong) and you can hear the flower bells rattling next to each other |
Lights shun on the Museum of Contemporary Arts syncing to Dubstep music |
Another building which shown lights that reminded me of Transformer. Syncing to electro music |
Awesome seesaw that synced according to which side was heavier. Also awesome LED background screen. Hope I'm okay with uploaded this pic with these folks. |
Awesome display that looked like a fish and synced with the rhythm of the drum. Yes the kid is there because kids love the drum and light interaction, I'm not being creepy- I SWEAR :O |
Piano where lights synced when its being played. Bad crop since the girl who was playing beautifully was very visible and yeah :( |
Mom and I call this the Fish Scales Cos it does! .. well now that I think about it, fish bones. |
Synthesizer that synced to an actual synthesizer |
Wasn't sure what this display was but I think you could build your own. Not sure since it was crowded |
Awesome display of white milk-crates :D |
That's it for the pictures I'll show. Did miss out on some since we wanted to sit in a cafe and chill out abit; so we decided to go to the Guylian Cafe. Actually short funny story why we ended up there-
My dessert comes out and it's presented gorgeously. This is the 100% Pure Pleasure, a chocolate mousse with a almond panacotta filling, covered with dark Guylian chocolate with brandy snap pieces, served with some honey crumble, chocolate swirls and raspberry coulis.
This dessert indeed was heavenly but I definitely wouldn't call it 100% Pure Pleasure.. maybe 99%? haha! Then again that's only me being picky. Reason being is that the almond panacotta as stated in the menu, didn't taste like almond at all. Just tasted like white chocolate mousse with a slight gelatine texture. But overall it was extremely enjoyable, even my mom who isn't a fan of chocolate enjoyed it. Price was around $16-17AUD