12 September 2013

Japan 2013: Visiting My Neighbor Totoro

Animation has always been a part of my life as I grew up watching cartoons as a kid, anime as a teenager and animated films from childhood up to now. So imagine my excitement upon visiting a museum entirely dedicated to one of my favorite animation studios - Studio Ghibli.
My Neighbor Totoro
Tonari no Totoro (となりのトトロ) or My Neighbor Totoro was the first Ghibli film I've ever seen and I just fell in love with Studio Ghibli right then and there, especially Hayao Miyazaki's work. So being surrounded by everything Ghibli is a dream come true for me. It's the closest thing to seeing the animated films I've grown to love come to life.

Admission to the Ghibli Museum is limited per day and tickets should be purchased prior to your visit. Chances of walk-in visits are absolutely slim as tickets run out fast. You see, tickets come with an appointed entry time to avoid crowds. But even with the scheduling, the place was still pretty packed even on a weekday! I guess everyone's crazy about Ghibli.
How to get to Ghibli Museum
To get to the museum, you can either walk or take the community bus from Mitaka Station. We availed the round trip tickets for only 300円 each. You can easily spot the community bus even from afar as it's painted yellow and has Ghibli written all over it. I got all excited upon getting on the bus as it might be the closest thing I'll ever get to riding the nekobasu (cat bus).
Museum tickets are already as good as souvenirs.
Upon arriving at the museum, we exchanged our Lawson-bought paper tickets to the real museum tickets which were something much more magical - a film strip with frames from your favorite Ghibli films. Lucky I got a Ponyo one!

The entire place screams Ghibli from the lush greenery to the outdoor fixtures to the museum's layout to the furniture inside. It's like being transported to another world especially created for you by the creative and magical minds behind Studio Ghibli.
Welcome to Ghibli Museum!
Before going into any of the exhibits, we decided to catch the featured film at the Saturn Theater. I had no idea what to expect so I squealed a little upon seeing Mei! I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE SHOWING AN EPILOGUE OF TOTORO!!!! :(( If you've seen Tonari no Totoro or any Ghibli film, you know how they don't really end films. Sure, there's a conclusion but you always end up guessing what might've happened afterwards which is what I actually love since it makes you invested in the story. Of course, I won't spoil the short for you but it was a relief to see the characters again. And I love how you don't need to be fluent in Japanese  to understand the story as it had little dialogue. That's the beauty of Ghibli films. Who needs words when they can make you fall in love with characters who don't even speak? Instead of speaking through words, the characters speak through their emotions.
Look, it's the susuwatari (house sprites that look like dust bunnies)!
Being in the museum itself is a wonderful experience. It's like walking inside a storybook so taking photos, videos or even the use of mobile phones are prohibited inside the museum. Instead of looking through lenses and viewfinders, the museum encourages the visitors to completely immerse themselves in the exhibits by experiencing it first-hand. The only souvenirs you'll need are the memories you create in the museum and those available at the shop.

From what I remember, there were four indoor exhibits. The first exhibit showcased different Ghibli films where I fell in love with all the installations. However, two especially stood out. The first one being the circular display of what seemed like ordinary (c'mon who are we kidding, this is Ghibli we're talking about!) figurines of Totoro characters in different poses. When the wheel that the figurines stand on spins fast, it makes the characters come alive right before your eyes. It's like watching an old school animation, only this one's in 3D. Too cool! And my other favorite is the mini animation studio where you can watch how animated films are made - from hand-drawn drawings to the screen. I literally spent minutes watching the whole process over and over again. Not to mention crying a little from the short. I love how every Ghibli film tugs at your heartstrings which goes to show how passionate these animators are in their craft.
Love their attention to detail!

The second exhibit showcased Hayao Miyazaki's early works. From mere sketches to full-blown storyboards to movie stills. Photographs of locations that inspired the films were also on display. You can actually flip through some of his work and I noticed how every Ghibli fan handled the books with care and respect as if they're leafing through a historical artifact or a holy book.

The third exhibit featured Japan's animation history and showcased different styles of drawings which was awesome. But compared to the other exhibits, this one seems just alright. And the last exhibit is both my favorite and least favorite among the indoor exhibits. I love it because it features a huge furry nekobasu (cat bus) and at the same time, I hate it because only school children and younger are allowed to play in it. So unfair!!!! :((
With the robot and command cube from Laputa.
After hoarding tons of Ghibli merch (both for omiyage and personal use) from the souvenir shop, we went on to explore the vicinity of the museum where photos are highly encouraged. I was ecstatic upon seeing this life-size robot from Laputa (pronounced La-pew-tuh and not la puta haha) or Castle in the Sky. And they even have the command cube hidden somewhere in the garden!
♫ Tonari no Totoro, Totoro!
Of course, a trip to the Ghibli Museum wouldn't be complete without meeting the famous Totoro! It was quite difficult to locate him but after a thorough search, we were able to find him sitting in this ticket booth. Too cute! And he really is huge. I wish I could've hugged him though.
Goodbye, Ghibli Museum!
After getting our dose of Ghibli magic, we went back to the bus stop and waited for the community bus to take us back to Mitaka Station. We were already starving but the Straw Hat Cafe was packed so we just had a quick lunch at the nearest McDonald's and ordered happy meals. Haha After lunch, we were ready to head back to Odaiba for more adventures.


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Traveling party: Daddy, Karly, Nee-chan (organizer), Sera, and Ariel
Travel date: April 17, 2013 [Day 8]
Photo credits: Karl

10 September 2013

Japan 2013: Kitty Love

Just when I thought I've been to the happiest place on earth, here comes Sanrio Puroland to provide more happiness! This seriously comes close to being the happiest place on earth. Okay, maybe the most kawaii place on earth.

I wanted to go to the park the last time we were in Japan but we ran out of time. So this time, there's no turning back. Especially since we plan on hoarding a couple of Meiji Milk Cream spreads in the grocery store nearby. Haha Daddy had to pass though since he badly needed a day off to rest his aching feet. Note: boat shoes are not walking shoes. :p
Stocking up on Meiji goodness.
First stop: grocery store at Tama Center. Nee-chan studied for a year in Chuo University as a foreign exchange student and she used to do her grocery shopping here. This is where she discovered our oh-so-favorite Meiji Milk Cream spread. It goes with absolutely everything. You can even eat it on its own! Before my Peanut Butter & Co./Cookie Butter/Biscoff spread addiction, there was Meiji Milk Cream. We bought four tubs each of milk and chocolate variety. Why only four each you ask? Well, those were the only ones remaining on the shelf that's why! Haha We also bought some chocolate and custard-filled bread (which became another favorite) and some KitKat green tea.
Welcome to the cutest place on earth!
Then we started walking towards Sanrio Puroland. I love how Kitty-chan can be seen on every street sign. Too adorable! It's like living in a fantasy town. And we haven't even gotten inside the park yet. Since Sanrio Puroland is targeted towards a younger audience, we didn't bother buying Passport Tickets and just opted for the Welcome Tickets (good for entrance and all shows).
With Pokopon
Upon entering the gates, you will immediately feel the warmth of the place. All the staff are smiling and there are characters already waiting to welcome you. We immediately went up to them to get our pictures taken. I love how Pokopon acted a bit alarmed after seeing the faux fur on my jacket. Haha He kept stroking it as if it were alive.
Sugarbunnies
Since we were still lugging our groceries around, we decided to go to the lockers first before going back for more pictures. Luckily, the characters were still there mingling with the visitors when we got back. I especially love these two - Kirousa and Shirousa. Aren't they the cutest? I wonder how the people inside manage to move around in these costumes though. How can they see?? Or are they midgets?
With Kuromi
Here we are with Kuromi before going inside the park. Who says Sanrio Puroland is only for kids and girls? Look how Karly and Ayel seemed more excited than Nee-chan and I in these photos!
Inside Sanrio Puroland
We were having so much fun already even though we're still at the lobby! Haha When we got inside, the park looked like something that came straight out of a storybook. Very Hundred Acre Wood ang feel!

09 September 2013

A Night With The Piano Guys

Last night was one of the best concerts I've been to in my life and I've been to quite a lot. Seeing The Piano Guys perform live is definitely one of the highlights of my 2013. And who knew they had a great sense of humor? They should consider changing their name to The Funny Guys. Okay, seriously though, I was alternating between laughter and tears the entire time.


I've seen a couple videos on their YouTube channel before but it wasn't until recently that I was reminded of their awesomeness thanks to Erin's obsession with them. And then suddenly, we were hearing news that they're coming to Manila. Wow agad-agad! Of course, I'm always game for a night of good music so I was just waiting for my concert buddies to buy tickets and I'll just pay whenever. In the end though, it was just me and my ultimate concert buddy, Mabel, who got to catch the show. I feel bad for the others really because The Piano Guys put on a great show. Thank goodness, Mabel and I pushed through with the plan. We ain't no Pocahontases that's for sure.

Aia de Leon of Imago opened up the show. She was so nervous, she messed up the group's name but that's alright. Haha It's been years since I last saw her perform live so it was nostalgic when she sang a few Imago hits. I especially love that she chose Rainsong as her last song which is my favorite Imago song of all time. And probably the only Imago song I know the lyrics to by heart because I'm a sucker for anything that has a cultural feel to it. And come on, who could resist such creative and witty lyrics? Funny how Karly and I were even singing Rainsong on the way to MOA hoping that Aia would sing it. The chances were slim but hey, she did perform it and I was one happy girl. Trivia: It's been 15 years since she wrote the song. Gah, I feel old!


Then The Piano Guys came on stage starting with Adele's Rolling in the Deep and the crowd came alive. They performed covers of other several hits like Coldplay's Viva la Vida (which gave me goosebumps), Taylor Swift's Love Story (which made the crowd sing), and Christina Perri's A Thousand Years (which made Mabel and I cry. Crying buddies for life!). I have to say that it was after seeing their A Thousand Years cover on YouTube that I fell in love with their music. But hearing it live was something else. #mycreys


They also performed their popular mash-ups of classical and modern music like David Guetta's Titanium vs Faure's Pavane, Code Name Vivaldi (Bourne Soundtrack vs Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto), Beethoven's 5 Secrets (OneRepublic's Secrets vs Beethoven's 5th Symphony) and Michael Meets Mozart which has 1 piano track and 100 cello tracks. How cool is that?! Steve (yes, I know their names na haha) even showed us how he does multiple cello tracks at once by recording himself and then playing that track later on throughout the song. With all that musical complexities, who would've thought it'll be just the two of them making all that sweet music on stage? I at least expected to see some touring members but no, all they need are their piano and cello. AMA-ZING!


Steve even introduced his cellos to us. Would you believe the guy owns fifteen (15) cellos?? Crazy! He only brought three (3) with him though - Boris, Carmen F-something (who is a Carbon Fiber cello) and Bruce Lee (who is a badass-looking custom-made cello). Oh and he has another cello that looks similar to Bruce Lee, only it's painted white and he named it Chuck Norris. According to Steve, Chuck Norris is so badass, he plays him. Haha


The Piano Guys may be famous for their covers and mixes but they also compose original tunes. Jon performed Waterfall, an original composition he wrote when he was 17 that got him the cutest girl in school. Aww. ♥ It only lasted two weeks though. Haha The piece was so beautifully played, it brought me to tears. Seeing Jon play the piano with such passion made me miss playing the piano. I loved the classes and the music but I hated the constant need to practice over and over again before I get to play a piece flawlessly. But I must say, the joy that comes from playing the piano is priceless. Hay my naive HS self, why did you give it up??

They even did a little improv on U2's With or Without You and it was awesome. I love Bono but in this case, words are optional when you have the cello singing for you.

Remember how I said they could change their name to The Funny Guys? Well, Steve demonstrated his cello prowess by imitating animal sounds and it was just too funny as they used it to attract some cows during a video shoot. They even played a silly song by combining The Phantom of the Opera and one happy song that I forgot because I was too busy laughing from the weird combination that could pass for a psycho-thriller theme.


They also performed their amazing remixes like Charlie Brown Medley (which was really fun to watch as the video of old people dancing played), Rockelbel's Canon (which was hilarious as Steve pretended to doze off while playing the same 8 notes over and over again. I couldn't help but laugh as he reminded me so much of Mr. Bean! Oh not to mention Jon's weird dance moves as they upped the tempo), Peponi (which gave a cultural twist to Coldplay's Paradise and gave me chills), and One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful. They brought out the rest of The Piano Guys to help them out on their last song and it was pure entertainment.


As they left the stage, the people started shouting a mix of "Encore!" and "We want more!" and I couldn't blame them. I want to hear more! So Jon came out first and told a lame joke but we laughed anyway as we waited for Steve to come back from the bathroom. Haha They performed Can't Help Falling in Love as they expressed their love for the Manila crowd. I especially love how they made the crowd sing along and it would've been a great end to a great night. But the Manila crowd was insatiable and started asking for another encore. To our surprise, they came back out again!


I was actually clueless as to what they're going to perform this time when Jon suddenly announced that they're going to play a piece from Les Mis and I just completely lost it. Define spoiled! First, Rainsong now this?? You see, I went through a Les Mis phase (actually I'm not even sure if I'm over it haha) and Bring Him Home is hands down my favorite Les Mis song after watching the 25th anniversary special where 4 Valjeans came together to sing the very emotional piece. I was singing and crying the entire time. Too beautiful. When the song ended, everyone was just clapping and standing. No more encore calls. That was simply enough. Or maybe everyone was just too emotional to even speak.


I went home that night feeling inspired and blessed by their music. How often is it that you get to enjoy music as it is without having to jump up and down or dance around? I don't think I'll get over this soon enough. So here, I'll leave you with Ramin Karimloo singing Bring Him Home beautifully. Wait, did I just post 3 consecutive Bring Him Home renditions?? Whatever. You're more than welcome to cry again anyway. :)

02 September 2013

Japan 2013: Sea of Happiness

A trip to Japan would not be complete without visiting one of the Disney Parks. We've already been to Tokyo Disneyland so it's about time we visit DisneySea whose attractions are for older kids if I may say. It was a warm and sunny day so it's a perfect time to stroll around the park.

Unlike Tokyo Disneyland, you need to take the Disney monorail to get to DisneySea. So the Disney experience starts even before you reach the park. Being Disney babies, we were all ecstatic upon hopping on the mouse-themed train. Everything was so cute, I wanted to take the whole thing back home with me! Well, you actually can. At least the mouse-shaped handholds as they are available at the souvenir shop. Why not buy one so you will never have to worry about hygiene when taking the MRT or bus? Haha
All aboard!
After buying our park tickets, we went straight to the newest and obviously the most popular attraction in the park - Toy Story Mania! at American Waterfront. The queue was already crazy when we got there. And it's only for the fast pass! You see, Disney Parks offer fast passes to the most popular attractions so you don't have to waste your time waiting in line. It's like an advance booking to your preferred ride. Once you get a fast pass with a time schedule on it, you can try other rides and then go back to your scheduled time so as to avoid long queues. Pretty brilliant, eh?

While Nee-chan, Ayel and Daddy were waiting in line, Karly and I decided to go queue up for the StormRider at Port Discovery to save time. On our way there, Karly and I noticed that almost everyone had a particular teddybear hanging on their bags or clothes. There's even one whole store dedicated to this bear. Crazy! But more on that later.

Upon reaching the StormRider, we were surprised that there was no line at all so we decided to go back out to wait for the others. It was a funny scene since we didn't want to look like we chickened out so we asked for the nearest bathroom as an excuse to get out of there. Haha
With Mr. Incredible
When we got outside, we saw some people gathering around so we decided to check out what's going on. To our surprise, it was Mr. Incredible! Of course, I had to take a picture with him. I love how we didn't have to fight off other people just to get a decent photo. That's the Japanese for you. They'll patiently wait for their turn without photo-bombing other people.

After meeting up with the rest of the group, we went in to try out the StormRider. It was an Atlantis-themed ride so expect to get a little wet. We realized that a little too late. So in short, we got wet on our first ride in the park. Haha