A Day To Remember - We Got This [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Visit Japan Experience (Part I)

As I promise before, I wanna tell you about my precious experience! My sisters and I went to Japan several months ago. It was our very first time visiting Japan, our dream country. Japan is a wonderful country. Literally. I love everything about it, wholeheartedly. And able to go there was like a dream comes true. I was so excited!

Japan Ikuze!

Actually at first, it was a chit-chat between me and Nissa-chan, my twins! (she's my bestfriend yet sister already) She said that she really wants to go to Japan very badly before her internship start. She's a doctor though (back then she's still doctor-to-be). Without any doubts, I agreed to her idea. "HOW ABOUT WE GO TO JAPAN NEXT YEAR -this year-?" Then we started to plan everything.

There're some important things to notice:

1. First, search and buy for round-trip tickets. You'll get cheaper price if you know the right time to buy.

2. Second, if you haven't have a passport yet, then get it. If you do have it already, make sure it hasn't expired then you can go on.

3. Third, visa. You shall apply for visa to Japan Embassy before you enter their country. It's little bit complicated but don't worry.

4. Forth, plan the itenary in details like where you're going to stay and the destinations you're going to visit. Don't forget about the transportations too, it's crucial! You'll waste your time in vain if you don't know the right map there.

5. Fifth, plan the budgeting. How much you're going to bring cash money or cards. And how you spend it in Japan.

6. Sixth, change the currency before departing (few days before is better).

7. Seventh, plan your belongings properly. It depends on your type of journey. You can bring any suitcases or just a backpack, it's up to you. But I recommends bring lighter bags so it will makes you easier to move from one city to another city (you're in a trip, right?) Moreover if you ride a promo-plane, you'll think twice about your luggage's weight.

8. Eighth, keep your body stay healthy! You don't want feel sick there, do you?

Okay, let's check it out one by one.

Passport, it's the main things you should have before leaving your country. Why? Because it contains your identity. I made my passport few months before going to Japan. It's pretty easy in Indonesia to make a passport. I mean it doesn't have any difficult requirements. But, if you make passport in Indonesia, get up as early as you can. I went to imigration office in Jakarta at about 5.30 a.m and it was already filled up with people even the gate was open at 7.00 a.m and the regulations started at 8.00 a.m. After you finish all of the processes, your passport will be ready in about 5 days after the making.

Passport Requirements

Next is visa. Without visa you won't be accepted to enter any country, even though there's some countries that allow free-visa for the tourists. I used travel agent's service to make our visas. At first I tried to search informations as many as possible, about how and what's required to get it. Then I found about "minimum account balance" in their requirements. But funnily, I'd never found it in embassy's web. As far as I know, it just required you to have enough money to stay in Japan. Finally I found a travel agent in my hometown that didn't have that requirement, and of course I applied through it. Successfully. About a week after my submission, my visa had arrived safely at home :)

Visa Requirements

Round-trip tickets. These items required to apply for visa. It will make sure you're going back to your own country. How did I buy my tickets? Like I told you before, it was kind of spontaneous about our trip. I bought my round-trip ticket about February 2017, and it was all because promo! There was Air Asia apps' promo. Air Asia is one of budget flights and it offers you direct or transit route from Indonesia to Japan. I guess it was 20% off, then we decided to buy the tickets. But the worst part was it didn't had free baggage or meals included. If you want to, you'll have to pay more. So sad :(

The most crucial part of your trip is itenary. Try to make your itenary as good as possible. Or you'll get dissapoint! We made our own itenary. All of it. About where will I go in Japan, about how to get there, about where should I stay, and about time durations. It's so important! First, where you'll arrive and depart. We arrived at Kansai (Osaka) and left through Haneda (Tokyo), so we tried to adjust our destinations and time durations. Like on the first day after we safely arrived, we went straight to Nara and Kobe. Next Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya. And finally Tokyo. Complete with the time schedules! We bought days pass tickets (like Kintetsu Rail Pass, JR One Day Pass, Keihan One Day Pass, etc.) to reduce cost and a IC card, ICOCA (similiar to e-money in Indonesia). You can use and top up your IC card in any train stations there. For travelling from Nagoya to Tokyo, we rode night bus Willer Express. Don't forget to bring a map or you can use google maps' feature on your phone. But the second option require a wifi connection. In Japan there're many free wifi but I tried not to depend on it so I bought a pocket wifi that I rent from Wi2FLY.

Budget is also important (everything is important, ha!). Plan your budgeting carefully. I made a budget estimation before going to Japan. Like how much is the homestay, or transportations, or food, or even the souvenirs. My sis, Nissa-chan, is very careful about the budget. So I hand over all about budget to her. And it turned out great. We brought about 70000 yen and we could saved about 5000-10000 yen! Make sure before you depart from your origin country, change the currency first. I changed my money at VIP Money Changer, a trustful one in Jakarta. I had got 7 sheets of 10000 yen. But if you can get the smaller currency like 5000 yen or 1000 yen, go change it too. Even though in Japan you can buy a 100 yen (about 10000 rupiah) drink with 10000 yen (about 1 million rupiah) and still got your change right, it will be better if you have a smaller currency. Don't forget about the exchange rate too! When I went there, the exchange rate was 120. Quite high. Try to wait for the exchange rate down (get a chance!).

Japan Yen

About belongings, I'd say better you bring lighter bag. For the cabin you can bring up to 7 kgs (watch out!), but if you have free baggage then you can bring more. I brought just a backpack and a sling bag. All of them no more than 7 kgs! How come?! Because I only bring what I need. Like just 3-4 piece of clothes, a jeans, 2 sweatpants, and some underwears. For underwears, I bought two packs of dispossable pants (I guess two packs is enough for a week). Actually if you brave enough to bring fewer clothes, it's okay as long as your homestay has a washer (don't care about the iron tho). Some homestays provide toiletries like tooth brushes, soaps, shampoo, and towels. And they provide kitchen too so you can cook by yourself to save money. I used to cook noodles that I brought from Indonesia (Indomie, yeah!). Don't forget to bring a camera! It's a must! Lols.

Shared belongings

Personal belongings

Those are some preparations I made before depart to Japan. I won't say it went smoothly in fact because we're quite flexible (not too tight, but not too loose). But I'd say it was quite success. We satisfied with our plans. Proud of us!

And the story? Not yet written. I will write it next time (stay tune!). Don't worry I'll share about the budgeting plan, itenary, and our spending there. So check it out below!

Itenary

Itenary for applying visa

Budgeting plan

Outcomes

_karin0punx_

Next? Trip to Japan!

I'm going to tell you about my trip to Japan experience next!

STAY TUNE :)



_karin0punx_

Meet & Greet with Dragonforce, The Word Alive, and Unearth

Few months ago, I asked you guys to help me share a post so I could meet my idols. And guess what I had got?

I MET DRAGONFORCE!
I MET UNEARTH!!
AND I MET THE WORD ALIVE!!!
FINALLY I MET THEM!

I didn't know how the result came out, but the EO called me. He stated that I won the Meet and Greet chance along with the lucky others (incl. my sister)

When the day had come, my sister and I already prepared some gifts for The Word Alive. Malioboro shirts and Blangkon (the took photos with it after).

Firstly, we met with the friendly Dragonforce members though they only had few moments with fans. But they were really friendly meeting us. They tried to get rid the awkwardness between idols and their fans. Respect! Unforgettable thing was one of their member asked what's my name and said that my name is like his gf's. So he wrote my name on the poster with smiley :)

Secondly, it was The Word Alive time. Main reason why we -my sister and I- joined the Meet and Greet session. We're idolizing them because their great songs, then we had the chance to meet them in person. What a lucky! It was quiet at first and rather awkward, then Tony -the guitarist- started to say "Don't be quiet, it should be Meet and Greet, guys!" and the atmosphere changed in an instant. My sister gave the gifts for them and they were really happy. We could hug them too, of course!

And lastly, Unearth. We didn't quite know them first. But they have good songs. Although the Meet and Greet with them was more quiet than the two before.

Encore, we met with Telle and Vince -the photographer- (that I didn't realize it at first!) at the lobby and asked for some photos and they friendly agreed to our request! Nice dudes!

That's all. My adventures, my experiences. IT WAS AWESOME THO!
And wish I could meet more of my idols.<3 font="">

Thank you JakCloth Summer Fest 2017!

Here are few of our snapshots that day ;)

Meet & Greet Dragonforce session

Meet & Greet The Word Alive session

Meet & Greet Unearth session

Encore at the lobby

The Word Alive was wearing our gifts

_karin0punx_

Need Help for This Contest!

Halo halo halo guys!

Now, I'm in a contest to win over a dinner with one of several bands.
They are:
Dragonforce
Chunk! No Captain Chunk!
The Word Alive
Crystal Lake
I Set My Friends On Fire
Unearth

Need to win this contest really >.<
So help me to share these links below~ (mine and my sister's)

http://upvir.al/ref/M5891659 (Mine)
http://upvir.al/ref/b5890634 (My sister's)

Help us guys! Thankyou very much :*



_karin0punx_

Album Review: ONE OK ROCK's SKYFALL

Howdy, guys!

Good evening -here- from my desk even though it's past 6 p.m already :')

ONE OK ROCK

Skyfall Album Art

Yeyeyeyeyees! Today I wanna write a review about a phenomenal album (I demand!). This album is called "SKYFALL" from ONE OK ROCK. Most of you probably know this band already (sorry hasn't review it yet). ONE OK ROCK is a Japanese rock band as you find in the wikipedia page. I knew this band before from one of my best friends. I remember that she said this band is cool and high recommended for me. She also stated that the singer's English is good despite his Japanese blood. And I started to hear few of their songs and TA-DA! This is fvcking good! xD

Ambitions Album Art

Back to the main topic. Few days (or weeks?) ago, ONE OK ROCK kicked off their Japan Tour for their newest album "AMBITIONS". WTH? Then what about SKYFALL? So, the album SKYFALL is special. This is a limited album that only sold during the show. So! So, this album is not for sale. NOT FOR SALE! And then I cry... Why did I cry? Because this album is freaking awesome! With only 3 (three) songs included, it really makes your ears burnt out because you keep playing on repeat!

Not only those magnificent songs, but also the guest vocalists! Oh-My-God! You can list Japan's best singers right now as coldrain's Masato, Crossfaith's Koie, and SiM's Mah featured in it. What could I say? It's a fvcking freaking awesome combination in one! All of them is my favorite, hell yeah!!

The first song titled same as the album, Skyfall. Those guest vocals is on this track. First time I heard it, I just couldn't say a word. The music literally bewitched me. Moreover it's like a fusion between four colours of music -ONE OK ROCK, coldrain, Crossfaith, and SiM-! And of course the lyrics is on English except one sentence on the Riff. I don't know any techniques, but for me it's the best combination so far! The music, the lyrics, and of course the vocals. I said that this track is the hardest one in this album. I'll give it 5/5. Rocks! xD

coldrain's Masato

Crossfaith's Koie

SiM's Mah

The second song is called Right By Your Side. This song is softer than the first one. But I didn't say that it's soft. Just softer. It's still have their rocks vibe. You can find their 'nature' in this track cause when I heard this song is remind me of their other songs. And don't ask me whether it's good or not. Of course you will coddle your ears with it. The lyrics? Just read the title. The music? Freaking good! I'll give it 4/5 ;)

The last song and the one you can chill with is named Manhattan Beach. This is the slowest song included in this SKYFALL Album. I couldn't say much about this track. You better hear it on yourselves right now! Honestly, this song is making me calmer. When you hear this song it's like you're in a beach, lie under a palm tree (or coconut), and someone especially sing for you. Ahhh.. so calm :) Even now when I write this part, I'm listening to it and it calms me down. Then~ I'll give it 4.5/5 :*

Okay that's all my review. I didn't say much cause I don't really know how to write a review in a right way (LOL). I just say what I wanna say when I hear about it ;)

But again, you really should -like right now- hear these tracks! Well, I don't know how to get this limited CDs to be honest. But I demand you should listen to it.. someday...

WHY THE HELL THIS ALBUM IS LIMITED!!! T^T

_karin0punx_

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017! THANK YOU 2016!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017!

AND THANK YOU 2016!

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