US TRIP 12 -25TH JUNE
Hi everyone,
Before I throw all my wonderful memories of my US trip to the cold storage, I've decided to do a brief post about the 11 days there! Gotta keep is simple as 11 days worth of activities shouldn't be too wordy hahaha
DAY 1!
Tried waking up at 3am SGP time to slowly adapt myself to the 15 hours time difference and... what's new? HAHA.. sorry guys I need more training on toning session. Woke up at 6am, continued packing my stuffs and took a cab down to the airport.
I was honestly really a bit disappointed that JX didn't come and send me cause he overslept. So wished I could meet him before I fly because haven't seen him for a week and once i'm gone and back it'll be almost 3 weeks.
ESTA TROUBLE.
Okay you need to apply this visa waiver form to enter United States because they're really strict on this. I applied.. just kinda last minute and up till the point where i was about to check in, they haven't replied with the approval. And hence I couldn't check in ... China Eastern told me that if the approval letter didn't come by the time the check-in counter was closing, i will have to change to a later flight and the next available flight was tomorrow. I was extremely sad.. not because I have to take the flight alone, but if i arrive on Monday night, I can't take Kyle's (FANGIRL~~) class which is on Monday!! That was really the first thing that came onto my mind hehe!
This is where I really want to commend CHINA EASTERN AIRLINE CREWS that helped me to call in to the US security hotline, checking every second if my VISA WAIVER is approved and even extending the check in timing for me. Thanks to their efficient service, i manage to get the approval mail just 15 minutes before my boarding time and yes I haven't checked in. The staff even helped me to load my luggage onto a trolley and push it all the way into the departure hall for me while I was running to my boarding gate haha. I am honestly very touched by how they rush to make this work for me. Thank you CHINA EASTERN, for going the extra mile for me!
So friends, lesson learnt. If you are traveling to the States please apply your ESTA VISA WAIVER early yea ;)
Finally on board! 6 hours to Shanghai for a 3 hours transit, then 12 hours to LAX airport.
I was very curious how the sky would look like as we travel through the different timezone and hence I stayed awake to capture this :D
Plane was also feeding us with a lot food. Maybe cause of the inactivity (sitting till my bum was sore, I feel like I'm eating a lot and was never hungry)
Touched down, booked a shuttle bus to our apartment. It's a Home for Dancers as its in the studio area, just in the vicinity of Movement Lifestyle (ML) and Debbie Reynolds (DB). Met fellow dancers in the apartment, sort of played treasure hunting to find our keys to enter the apartment. Small humble room, sufficient for 3. Kitchen, room, dining table and toilet. We had a bunk bed and I was awarded with a bed myself at the top as I warned them that I move massively (I MAY KICK U IF U SLEEP BESIDE ME) and shout during my sleep HAHAH. Went down to get Jack for dinner, it's the start of the burger feast~~
To sum up, we moved around mainly by their metro buses and trains. It's really well-connected just that the frequency is about 20 minutes per bus. And they have a big place so after alighting from the metro, another 20 - 30 minutes walk is inevitable....
Day 2!
Left a little late, had to meet the landlord to settle our housing payment. Shopped in our neighborhood, bought 150 USD worth of clothes hehe. People see me shop and just gasp with horror (TRUE COLORS REVEALED). Maybe because both of my friends are less of a shopper.. So the contrast is.. Went to get prepaid cards, and had lunch.
mL for class YAYY!! //flashes mL membership card// such such such a pity I can't get the mL shirts as they're out of stock... ALL THE WAY HERE, BUT NOPE :(
Took Gigi Torres & Kyle hanagami's class (1000 hearts shooting out from my eyes as i'm learning from my IDOL)
Gigi: She was one of Keisha's must attend recommendations and no regrets man. She taught me so much. Dancing to to who you used to be (back at home), not to who you want to be, but dancing in the present. Everyone here is on a different journey, so if what you need is musicality, go for it. If what you need is dynamics, go for it.
Kyle: super crowded class which was expected but that few eye contacts exchanged with him was ALL worth it. IT was more of an inspirational class because couldn't really get into the details of the choreography... I can't see Kyle most of the time the room is really filled to the brim. But watching the rest of the dancers interpret the dance in different ways was really really rewarding as well :) PAUSE AND OBSERVE.
Day 3!
Universal studios!
Lunch in a fast food restaurant at US was really... disappointing?! The meat and the sauce just tastes like separate entities. Went into the theme park: bought minion tumblr for Lele hehe I just think of her when I see minions just like and bananas just like how people always think of me when they see Pikachu right right ;) Went to the water park, Harry Potter World, Shrek and that's about it. AS both my friends didn't really enjoy rides, I had to go through 2 rides alone with them waiting for me. I love rides but I do have a slight phobia of heights no joke must be I too tall but I still love the thrill and excitement. Got my hot chocolate as it was really breezy and chilly~~ US HAS SUPER COLD WIND THAT I CAN'T GET USED TO DESPITE SUN THAT BURNS. As the rest of the stations are merely repeats which you can find in USS in Singapore, we left the place heh. Went shopping at city walk~~
Hot Topic is such a bad ass sho with all the Marvel, DC comics, anime characters clothings, bags, accessories. My kind of shop .. just because: there's Pikachu. Got myself two tees, a wrist band and an iron man x capt america cap for Jacky :b
LUSH~~ Totally forgot about how this shop originates from here! It's my favorite hair brand to use in Singapore. Because 1) it's cute (YES YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM 1ST IMPRESSION) 2) it's vegan (not an advocate for that but at least you can trust it's natural ingredients. 3) It works! i have been using ROOTS for my kinky roots and I like to clean my scalp to promote hair growth. It leaves a minty feeling on your scalp. And O' Mary shampoo bars!! Please don't get the liquid ones unless you have something against shampoo bars. For the same price, the bar lasts 3 times longer? Do your math~ Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement, it's out of pure love and wanting to share this nice product with you guys heh
Abercrombie & Fitch. In Singapore, it is affordable but it wasn't something that I'm willing to spend money on. Actually the idea is since you can get it half price here why should I pay more for the same thing in Sg. Haha. Spent quite some time here as it's SALES SALES SALES!! bought JX a grey jacket because that time we went to watch a movie, he forgot to bring his jacket and because I
bought a grey pullover for myself too and i think it's cute cause it's matching :b
Oh yes, I asked a hot LA boy for a photo~~
Went to The Grove for more shopping~
settled our dinner with Maggie, hot dog buns and drumbeats from the 7-eleven!
Day 4!
Woke up for Db's contemporary dance class. WEW~ honestly have been lazy and skipping stretching practices for awhile. Soaked myself in for the real deal and really feels good to be stretched out with loose muscles! (even though it's a painful but grown to be bearable after all these years process) Did a more E D G Y piece instead of the usual Asian contemporary that I do in Sg. Enjoyed all the emotions and expression. He taught me to not take it easy on yourself, to give your all for every runs, because we know what we want to achieve and it ain't gonna be easy.
In the afternoon, went to Hollywood Walk of Fame to look at the pink stars on the floor and to step on them. It was the first time of the trip where we see so many people in the city. Indeed a tourist attraction.
Here's Gurmit the frog!
Went down to farmer's market, yell lot of delicious food, from singapore to thailand, vietnam, japan cuisines. Settled for a salmon salad as I was eating burgers for almost every meal. Got ourselves YOGURT ICE CREAMS TOO!
Chilled on a grass carpet, goofed around in in their hotel look-alike cinema. Such a prom shot right, against those Roman stairs.
Was expecting a little more from The Grove since it's supposed to be a shopping paradise. Turns out to be an Orchard road. A lot of branded shops, with no sales or discounts. Brand like Toyshop, Sephora, Nike, Crate and Barrel topped the streets but it's stuffs we get to see and buy (at the same price) in Singapore too haha.They have certain editions that are exclusively distributed in the States only but it was too costly...
Bought a few products from Sephora and these cute SQUAD socks for DFS that we could wear for our next performance. LITERALLY YOUR SQUAD GOALS####. There wasn't any difference in price, just a heavy tax of 9%.
Took photo with a cute blue mascot that was shoving kisses into my face and hugging (SQUEEZING) me too tightly for comfort HAHA. It's creepy like I don't even know who's inside it's just like a stranger hugging you. And there was a tips charge LOL.
Was very very tired when we reached home, knocked out almost immediately. OK MAYBE without the almost.
Day 5!
Scheduled a tattoo appointment to get my wording down my spine but damn I lost my wallet. POOF GOES MY TATTOO and my wallet :'(
Spent our day to the police department and on our way back got some cheap loots in a 2.99 USD fashion clothing store.
On our way back, H lost her mobile phone. Thankfully, we both found her phone and my wallet and the end of the day! A kind crew at Carl's Junior returned me my wallet when we frequent it at night again. I'm officially impressed by the integrity that the People of LA holds. Faith in humanity restored~~
Went to DB for class at night. Took HipHop Advanced by Madison. WOHOO I LOVE HIM AND HI S CLASS!! He taught me that there are so many dancers out there, but we have to be a performer to stand out. He sees us as professional dancers, and each time you do it agin you have to imagine there's 10,000 audiences sitting infant of you. You gotta see it to believe it. How when you're at an audition, so many dancers can kill a choreography perfectly, but the ones that can sent chills down the judges spine are those that really PERFORM the dance. Each step has got to mean, feel something. BIG HUGS TO MADISON!
Took a hiphop beginner class for our second class. Learnt more about choreography here as he did a simple piece but with a great concept and interpreted it to us. The piece is about us being little kids, back in our childhood. Sharing little secrets, holding hands to go to the toilet, drawing with lots of imagination. There isn't much steps, hence you gotta fill the music with that one step, you gotta make it bigger. Some times we dance with a particular emotion, but this was the first time i'm dancing with a story in my mind, and I really felt like i'm telling a story. And I guess it really shows in your dance what you want to express. YAY, a super super cute choreography, makes us all feel chirpy and energetic just like when we were young.
Got our dinner at Carl's Junior, just because I love that place as the waitress found my wallet :b
Day 6!
HOLA BITCHES (BEACH)! Finally to my sunshine, sandy beaches, clear blue skies and oceans as blue as ... squirtle! It was a loooong journey here, had to take a bus to the metro train and transfer two trains to get here!
Real summer is setting in. Ate our lunch in a posh restaurant called The Lobster with a clear glass panel view of the Santa Monica beach.
Beach trip didn't turn out like how I expected. Didn't get to bury my toes in the sand. My friends kinda shun away from the sun and the beach because they didn't want their shoes to get dirty. Only stayed for a brief moment at the pier and went shopping~~ Quite satisfied with the clothes i've already bought thus far. My friends were tired (or rather I have quite boundless energy HAHA) so I feel very bad if I seem to eager about shopping. So I stopped myself.. Really wanna come back here again on my own next time and then I can go all the places I wanna go, pace myself ^.^
Reached home, packed for the weekends and took the Greyhound overnight bus to San Fransisco.
Day 7!
What a torturous night on the bus. it's cramped, and no offense but there was a really plus sized lady sitting beside me and I hate it when the bums of people that are not close to you touch and it's so stuffy like HOT haha so I had very minimal space. Kept waking up cause it's just uncomfortable to sleep in a bus and it's not the kind where you can lower it till it's almost horizontal.
Took a tour in San Frans by foot! Visited the Ferry building where there's a market of fresh food. Got there really early and had super delicious Smoked Salmon sandwich for breakfast!! That's life man, Salmon for breakfast.
Hiked up to Coit Tower, conquered a lot a lot of stairs!! To get this beautiful view. Of course, I was mesmerized by the wild flowers on the way up that the stairs didn't matter to me~
Went to Pier 39 to get our lunch in a Japan Restaurant (hanazen) that had really slow service, could really tell that they were understaffed and we waited so long for our food! Got my comic portrait done hehe some of you may have seen it on my Instagram!
Fisherman's Wharf! Here to look at the sea lions~~ That were sun basking hehe. So cute most of them just look so chill and can't be bothered while a minority were so excited squeaking.
Went into this arcade museum and it's really cool, they have all those old machines where you can insert coins for them to play music from scores that look like those typewriters. Antique pianos WOAAAH! If i'm not wrong the place is called Musee Mecanique.
Was around Pier 45 and stopped to look at some Maritime ships that went through the history with them.
Also went to Ghirardelli Square to get some famous in the town chocolates~~
Next up, Lombard Street! It was a slopping curvy road and again you have to climb up to see this haha! Can't really get a good picture of it despite climbing up to a very high curb and using selfie stick plus my long arms hahah!
Thank you Janet for the amazing tour that covered so many places in the short time!
Steve came to pick us up and we drove to Palace of Fine Arts which was an absolutely beautiful place! One of my favorite places I've visited so far!
Walked by the coast and the skyline was really ... (i'm lost for words) , I just wish time stopped there forever. It would be perfect to just sit here and chill with my favorite person and let time run :)
Walked to the legendary Golden Gate Bridge that I was really excited to greet as well! Been looking forward to this the whole trip!!! Where they filmed all the famous movies.
Finally the day ended and off we drive to Merced where we'll be staying at Janet's place for the night :D It was such a long drive, thank you Steve for staying awake and driving us while we all doze off in the car.
Day 8!
Woke up for a good good good breakfast Country Waffles. True American breakfast and it's so good I LOVE IT WANNA EAT IT EVERYDAY. (BECAUSE THE SERVING IS HUGE IT'S SO SATISFYING HAHA)
Finally visited a WALMART! How can you not visit Walmart when you're in US HAHA. Bought snacks and sandwich for our little pinic at Yosemite Park!
Yosemite is just a natural beauty. Getting so close to the falls, and even though my iPhone tragically stumbled down while I was climbing up the rocks towards the waterfall in heels, nothing could dampen my joy of being so up close to Mother Nature.
Woven and inspired by spear looking weapons.
Seeds from pine trees, polished into beads.
This isn't Yosemite falls, it's ribbon falls.
Yosemite Falls!
The place was too big and I think we need days to complete the hiking paths!
Thank you Janet for being such a wonderful host and Steve for being the most polite American I've met heh. Thank you for driving us all the way back to San Fransisco.
I LOVE THE WEEKENDS'
DAY 9
OMG SUMMER KICKS IN. WOKE UP WITH A FREAKING 43 DEGREES ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
Too tired from the backpacking over the weekends. Slept in and went for an evening class at Debbie! Went home to change and headed to Citadel Outlets. It's the place of factory outlets and SALES YES
Even though it's really quite a bit cheaper, there's really a limit to my budget and my cash. SOBS. Spent all my assets on Adidas because I'm just a fan and I'm so happy I finally found my Adidas.
Ate vietnamese Pho in a restaurant and thai milk tea is always good HEH.
Thank you girls for bearing the Sun with me while I record my dance audition tutorial~~ Such nice memories :)
On our way back, passed by Downtown LA to do some last minute souvenir shopping heh! Had dinner @ Mac donalds YAY It was disappointing. Come on it's the STATES I EXPECTED MUCH MORE. But their strawberry sundae has freaking m&ms in it. I'm so gonna buy my own packet of M&M to add it to my sundae in Sg.
Day 10!
Found out that there's a KFC outlet really near us and since V was craving for some fried chicken heh.
Went to DB for some street jazz funk pose class and it was awesome. Included jazz techniques which wasn't unfamiliar to me since i'm a little trained in contemp. I love this style cause it's like a fusion of two of my favorite genres. Also, we were the only 3 students in class and it felt like a private class. EXPOSED AND REALLY PUSHED US FORWARD. Took 2 more classes alone because they were tired and they went back to rest hahah. I was tired too but since i'm here LETS GO LETS GO LETS GO!! Did house and jazz. House was so hard and fast but it really challenged me. Jazz made me fall in love with ballet techniques all over again heh~~
Day 11!
Went to our favorite Tea Pop Cafe to chill while I went for my last two classes at mL!
After class, made our way to the Airport :) BYE LA, san fran and merced you're such a GEM.
The people, places and art scene here is really warm and inspiring. Many love!
Before I throw all my wonderful memories of my US trip to the cold storage, I've decided to do a brief post about the 11 days there! Gotta keep is simple as 11 days worth of activities shouldn't be too wordy hahaha
DAY 1!
Tried waking up at 3am SGP time to slowly adapt myself to the 15 hours time difference and... what's new? HAHA.. sorry guys I need more training on toning session. Woke up at 6am, continued packing my stuffs and took a cab down to the airport.
I was honestly really a bit disappointed that JX didn't come and send me cause he overslept. So wished I could meet him before I fly because haven't seen him for a week and once i'm gone and back it'll be almost 3 weeks.
ESTA TROUBLE.
Okay you need to apply this visa waiver form to enter United States because they're really strict on this. I applied.. just kinda last minute and up till the point where i was about to check in, they haven't replied with the approval. And hence I couldn't check in ... China Eastern told me that if the approval letter didn't come by the time the check-in counter was closing, i will have to change to a later flight and the next available flight was tomorrow. I was extremely sad.. not because I have to take the flight alone, but if i arrive on Monday night, I can't take Kyle's (FANGIRL~~) class which is on Monday!! That was really the first thing that came onto my mind hehe!
This is where I really want to commend CHINA EASTERN AIRLINE CREWS that helped me to call in to the US security hotline, checking every second if my VISA WAIVER is approved and even extending the check in timing for me. Thanks to their efficient service, i manage to get the approval mail just 15 minutes before my boarding time and yes I haven't checked in. The staff even helped me to load my luggage onto a trolley and push it all the way into the departure hall for me while I was running to my boarding gate haha. I am honestly very touched by how they rush to make this work for me. Thank you CHINA EASTERN, for going the extra mile for me!
So friends, lesson learnt. If you are traveling to the States please apply your ESTA VISA WAIVER early yea ;)
Finally on board! 6 hours to Shanghai for a 3 hours transit, then 12 hours to LAX airport.
I was very curious how the sky would look like as we travel through the different timezone and hence I stayed awake to capture this :D
It just went from super dark to like this within 1 hour!!?
Plane was also feeding us with a lot food. Maybe cause of the inactivity (sitting till my bum was sore, I feel like I'm eating a lot and was never hungry)
Touched down, booked a shuttle bus to our apartment. It's a Home for Dancers as its in the studio area, just in the vicinity of Movement Lifestyle (ML) and Debbie Reynolds (DB). Met fellow dancers in the apartment, sort of played treasure hunting to find our keys to enter the apartment. Small humble room, sufficient for 3. Kitchen, room, dining table and toilet. We had a bunk bed and I was awarded with a bed myself at the top as I warned them that I move massively (I MAY KICK U IF U SLEEP BESIDE ME) and shout during my sleep HAHAH. Went down to get Jack for dinner, it's the start of the burger feast~~
To sum up, we moved around mainly by their metro buses and trains. It's really well-connected just that the frequency is about 20 minutes per bus. And they have a big place so after alighting from the metro, another 20 - 30 minutes walk is inevitable....
Day 2!
Left a little late, had to meet the landlord to settle our housing payment. Shopped in our neighborhood, bought 150 USD worth of clothes hehe. People see me shop and just gasp with horror (TRUE COLORS REVEALED). Maybe because both of my friends are less of a shopper.. So the contrast is.. Went to get prepaid cards, and had lunch.
mL for class YAYY!! //flashes mL membership card// such such such a pity I can't get the mL shirts as they're out of stock... ALL THE WAY HERE, BUT NOPE :(
Took Gigi Torres & Kyle hanagami's class (1000 hearts shooting out from my eyes as i'm learning from my IDOL)
Gigi: She was one of Keisha's must attend recommendations and no regrets man. She taught me so much. Dancing to to who you used to be (back at home), not to who you want to be, but dancing in the present. Everyone here is on a different journey, so if what you need is musicality, go for it. If what you need is dynamics, go for it.
Kyle: super crowded class which was expected but that few eye contacts exchanged with him was ALL worth it. IT was more of an inspirational class because couldn't really get into the details of the choreography... I can't see Kyle most of the time the room is really filled to the brim. But watching the rest of the dancers interpret the dance in different ways was really really rewarding as well :) PAUSE AND OBSERVE.
Day 3!
Universal studios!
Lunch in a fast food restaurant at US was really... disappointing?! The meat and the sauce just tastes like separate entities. Went into the theme park: bought minion tumblr for Lele hehe I just think of her when I see minions just like and bananas just like how people always think of me when they see Pikachu right right ;) Went to the water park, Harry Potter World, Shrek and that's about it. AS both my friends didn't really enjoy rides, I had to go through 2 rides alone with them waiting for me. I love rides but I do have a slight phobia of heights no joke must be I too tall but I still love the thrill and excitement. Got my hot chocolate as it was really breezy and chilly~~ US HAS SUPER COLD WIND THAT I CAN'T GET USED TO DESPITE SUN THAT BURNS. As the rest of the stations are merely repeats which you can find in USS in Singapore, we left the place heh. Went shopping at city walk~~
Hot Topic is such a bad ass sho with all the Marvel, DC comics, anime characters clothings, bags, accessories. My kind of shop .. just because: there's Pikachu. Got myself two tees, a wrist band and an iron man x capt america cap for Jacky :b
LUSH~~ Totally forgot about how this shop originates from here! It's my favorite hair brand to use in Singapore. Because 1) it's cute (YES YOU CAN NEVER RUN AWAY FROM 1ST IMPRESSION) 2) it's vegan (not an advocate for that but at least you can trust it's natural ingredients. 3) It works! i have been using ROOTS for my kinky roots and I like to clean my scalp to promote hair growth. It leaves a minty feeling on your scalp. And O' Mary shampoo bars!! Please don't get the liquid ones unless you have something against shampoo bars. For the same price, the bar lasts 3 times longer? Do your math~ Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement, it's out of pure love and wanting to share this nice product with you guys heh
Abercrombie & Fitch. In Singapore, it is affordable but it wasn't something that I'm willing to spend money on. Actually the idea is since you can get it half price here why should I pay more for the same thing in Sg. Haha. Spent quite some time here as it's SALES SALES SALES!! bought JX a grey jacket because that time we went to watch a movie, he forgot to bring his jacket and because I
bought a grey pullover for myself too and i think it's cute cause it's matching :b
Oh yes, I asked a hot LA boy for a photo~~
Went to The Grove for more shopping~
settled our dinner with Maggie, hot dog buns and drumbeats from the 7-eleven!
Day 4!
Woke up for Db's contemporary dance class. WEW~ honestly have been lazy and skipping stretching practices for awhile. Soaked myself in for the real deal and really feels good to be stretched out with loose muscles! (even though it's a painful but grown to be bearable after all these years process) Did a more E D G Y piece instead of the usual Asian contemporary that I do in Sg. Enjoyed all the emotions and expression. He taught me to not take it easy on yourself, to give your all for every runs, because we know what we want to achieve and it ain't gonna be easy.
In the afternoon, went to Hollywood Walk of Fame to look at the pink stars on the floor and to step on them. It was the first time of the trip where we see so many people in the city. Indeed a tourist attraction.
Here's Gurmit the frog!
Went down to farmer's market, yell lot of delicious food, from singapore to thailand, vietnam, japan cuisines. Settled for a salmon salad as I was eating burgers for almost every meal. Got ourselves YOGURT ICE CREAMS TOO!
Chilled on a grass carpet, goofed around in in their hotel look-alike cinema. Such a prom shot right, against those Roman stairs.
Was expecting a little more from The Grove since it's supposed to be a shopping paradise. Turns out to be an Orchard road. A lot of branded shops, with no sales or discounts. Brand like Toyshop, Sephora, Nike, Crate and Barrel topped the streets but it's stuffs we get to see and buy (at the same price) in Singapore too haha.They have certain editions that are exclusively distributed in the States only but it was too costly...
Bought a few products from Sephora and these cute SQUAD socks for DFS that we could wear for our next performance. LITERALLY YOUR SQUAD GOALS####. There wasn't any difference in price, just a heavy tax of 9%.
Took photo with a cute blue mascot that was shoving kisses into my face and hugging (SQUEEZING) me too tightly for comfort HAHA. It's creepy like I don't even know who's inside it's just like a stranger hugging you. And there was a tips charge LOL.
Was very very tired when we reached home, knocked out almost immediately. OK MAYBE without the almost.
Day 5!
Scheduled a tattoo appointment to get my wording down my spine but damn I lost my wallet. POOF GOES MY TATTOO and my wallet :'(
Spent our day to the police department and on our way back got some cheap loots in a 2.99 USD fashion clothing store.
On our way back, H lost her mobile phone. Thankfully, we both found her phone and my wallet and the end of the day! A kind crew at Carl's Junior returned me my wallet when we frequent it at night again. I'm officially impressed by the integrity that the People of LA holds. Faith in humanity restored~~
Went to DB for class at night. Took HipHop Advanced by Madison. WOHOO I LOVE HIM AND HI S CLASS!! He taught me that there are so many dancers out there, but we have to be a performer to stand out. He sees us as professional dancers, and each time you do it agin you have to imagine there's 10,000 audiences sitting infant of you. You gotta see it to believe it. How when you're at an audition, so many dancers can kill a choreography perfectly, but the ones that can sent chills down the judges spine are those that really PERFORM the dance. Each step has got to mean, feel something. BIG HUGS TO MADISON!
Took a hiphop beginner class for our second class. Learnt more about choreography here as he did a simple piece but with a great concept and interpreted it to us. The piece is about us being little kids, back in our childhood. Sharing little secrets, holding hands to go to the toilet, drawing with lots of imagination. There isn't much steps, hence you gotta fill the music with that one step, you gotta make it bigger. Some times we dance with a particular emotion, but this was the first time i'm dancing with a story in my mind, and I really felt like i'm telling a story. And I guess it really shows in your dance what you want to express. YAY, a super super cute choreography, makes us all feel chirpy and energetic just like when we were young.
Got our dinner at Carl's Junior, just because I love that place as the waitress found my wallet :b
Day 6!
HOLA BITCHES (BEACH)! Finally to my sunshine, sandy beaches, clear blue skies and oceans as blue as ... squirtle! It was a loooong journey here, had to take a bus to the metro train and transfer two trains to get here!
Real summer is setting in. Ate our lunch in a posh restaurant called The Lobster with a clear glass panel view of the Santa Monica beach.
Beach trip didn't turn out like how I expected. Didn't get to bury my toes in the sand. My friends kinda shun away from the sun and the beach because they didn't want their shoes to get dirty. Only stayed for a brief moment at the pier and went shopping~~ Quite satisfied with the clothes i've already bought thus far. My friends were tired (or rather I have quite boundless energy HAHA) so I feel very bad if I seem to eager about shopping. So I stopped myself.. Really wanna come back here again on my own next time and then I can go all the places I wanna go, pace myself ^.^
Day 7!
What a torturous night on the bus. it's cramped, and no offense but there was a really plus sized lady sitting beside me and I hate it when the bums of people that are not close to you touch and it's so stuffy like HOT haha so I had very minimal space. Kept waking up cause it's just uncomfortable to sleep in a bus and it's not the kind where you can lower it till it's almost horizontal.
Took a tour in San Frans by foot! Visited the Ferry building where there's a market of fresh food. Got there really early and had super delicious Smoked Salmon sandwich for breakfast!! That's life man, Salmon for breakfast.
Hiked up to Coit Tower, conquered a lot a lot of stairs!! To get this beautiful view. Of course, I was mesmerized by the wild flowers on the way up that the stairs didn't matter to me~
Went to Pier 39 to get our lunch in a Japan Restaurant (hanazen) that had really slow service, could really tell that they were understaffed and we waited so long for our food! Got my comic portrait done hehe some of you may have seen it on my Instagram!
Fisherman's Wharf! Here to look at the sea lions~~ That were sun basking hehe. So cute most of them just look so chill and can't be bothered while a minority were so excited squeaking.
Went into this arcade museum and it's really cool, they have all those old machines where you can insert coins for them to play music from scores that look like those typewriters. Antique pianos WOAAAH! If i'm not wrong the place is called Musee Mecanique.
Was around Pier 45 and stopped to look at some Maritime ships that went through the history with them.
Also went to Ghirardelli Square to get some famous in the town chocolates~~
Next up, Lombard Street! It was a slopping curvy road and again you have to climb up to see this haha! Can't really get a good picture of it despite climbing up to a very high curb and using selfie stick plus my long arms hahah!
Thank you Janet for the amazing tour that covered so many places in the short time!
Steve came to pick us up and we drove to Palace of Fine Arts which was an absolutely beautiful place! One of my favorite places I've visited so far!
Walked by the coast and the skyline was really ... (i'm lost for words) , I just wish time stopped there forever. It would be perfect to just sit here and chill with my favorite person and let time run :)
Walked to the legendary Golden Gate Bridge that I was really excited to greet as well! Been looking forward to this the whole trip!!! Where they filmed all the famous movies.
Had our dinner at Glaze, which validated the poor japanese lunch we had.
Finally the day ended and off we drive to Merced where we'll be staying at Janet's place for the night :D It was such a long drive, thank you Steve for staying awake and driving us while we all doze off in the car.
Day 8!
Woke up for a good good good breakfast Country Waffles. True American breakfast and it's so good I LOVE IT WANNA EAT IT EVERYDAY. (BECAUSE THE SERVING IS HUGE IT'S SO SATISFYING HAHA)
Finally visited a WALMART! How can you not visit Walmart when you're in US HAHA. Bought snacks and sandwich for our little pinic at Yosemite Park!
Yosemite is just a natural beauty. Getting so close to the falls, and even though my iPhone tragically stumbled down while I was climbing up the rocks towards the waterfall in heels, nothing could dampen my joy of being so up close to Mother Nature.
Woven and inspired by spear looking weapons.
Yosemite used to be covered in ice till the ice glaciers melted.
Yosemite Falls!
The place was too big and I think we need days to complete the hiking paths!
Thank you Janet for being such a wonderful host and Steve for being the most polite American I've met heh. Thank you for driving us all the way back to San Fransisco.
I LOVE THE WEEKENDS'
DAY 9
OMG SUMMER KICKS IN. WOKE UP WITH A FREAKING 43 DEGREES ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
Too tired from the backpacking over the weekends. Slept in and went for an evening class at Debbie! Went home to change and headed to Citadel Outlets. It's the place of factory outlets and SALES YES
Even though it's really quite a bit cheaper, there's really a limit to my budget and my cash. SOBS. Spent all my assets on Adidas because I'm just a fan and I'm so happy I finally found my Adidas.
Ate vietnamese Pho in a restaurant and thai milk tea is always good HEH.
Thank you girls for bearing the Sun with me while I record my dance audition tutorial~~ Such nice memories :)
On our way back, passed by Downtown LA to do some last minute souvenir shopping heh! Had dinner @ Mac donalds YAY It was disappointing. Come on it's the STATES I EXPECTED MUCH MORE. But their strawberry sundae has freaking m&ms in it. I'm so gonna buy my own packet of M&M to add it to my sundae in Sg.
Day 10!
Found out that there's a KFC outlet really near us and since V was craving for some fried chicken heh.
Went to DB for some street jazz funk pose class and it was awesome. Included jazz techniques which wasn't unfamiliar to me since i'm a little trained in contemp. I love this style cause it's like a fusion of two of my favorite genres. Also, we were the only 3 students in class and it felt like a private class. EXPOSED AND REALLY PUSHED US FORWARD. Took 2 more classes alone because they were tired and they went back to rest hahah. I was tired too but since i'm here LETS GO LETS GO LETS GO!! Did house and jazz. House was so hard and fast but it really challenged me. Jazz made me fall in love with ballet techniques all over again heh~~
Day 11!
Went to our favorite Tea Pop Cafe to chill while I went for my last two classes at mL!
One thing I love most about the streets here are the graffiti walls!! Vogueing all the way.
So lucky, mL's general store just opened a day ago and no mL shirts but bought a mL sweatshirt YAS LAH.
After class, made our way to the Airport :) BYE LA, san fran and merced you're such a GEM.
The people, places and art scene here is really warm and inspiring. Many love!
Comments
Post a Comment