July 2010, 6 member male idol group Teen Top took the stage. Beginning with their debut song “Clap”, followed by the release of “No More Perfume On You” “Crazy” “To You” “Be Ma Girl” etc, they have matured. They debuted as the youngest idol group with all the members in their 10s, but now more than half the members are in their 20s and they have welcomed their 2nd anniversary. Having had no rest all these while, Teen Top took the extended Chuseok holiday to have a 10 day 9 night vacation. Not the “Teen Top” we know that shows off their diverse charms on stage, they are back to their everyday lives.
First up, Niel… “I went to England!”
Not too long ago, we were given a 10-day break for the first time after our debut. Yahoo! Although we had been given short breaks of one or two days during in the past, this was the first time we received such a long break. Hence it was even more special and was really enjoyable! I was able to recharge and was able to look back at all the things I’ve done. It was a precious and sweet 10 day 9 night break!
After being granted the break, the first thought that came into my mind was ‘holiday’. When I was asked about my dreams during interviews or broadcasts, my first answer would be “I want to become a world renowned singer like Michael Jackson and move the hearts of people”. When I was asked to be more in-depth, I would answer without any hesitation “to travel around the world”
“Break…. A 10 day break… I’ve to leave no matter what. With the goal to travel around the world in mind, “I have to take a step closer” so I called my cousin in England. Since my cousin was in England, I’m sure my parents will be more than willing to let me go^^
“Hyung~ I’m going to England in the last week of September so be prepared~!”
Niel’s sweet 10 day 9 night vacation, start!
Till the eve of the trip, as I removed and added stuff into my luggage I couldn’t hide my excitement. Since it was going to be a long time we’ll spend apart from our parents, we told our mom that we’ll return safely. After reassuring them, we took the first huge step.
As I tried to calm my excitement, us brothers: me, my reliable hyung and my mischevious younger brother, which I couldn’t spend a lot of time with after my debut, boarded the plane together.
The 3 things I must do in London! Have game of soccer with my English friends on a plain field; Take a proof shot as a passionate fan of Harry Potter and watching a musical at the opera house! I set those as my goals and we landed in Heathrow airport after 15 hours on the plane. Ah ah~ This is England! I felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Finally “holidays in London” was about to begin!
I thought no one would recognized me but I heard a voice shouting “Niel, Niel” from somewhere; there were fans who recognized me and asked me for my autograph. Although I looked a little disheveled after the long plane ride ^^ I was surprised that we Teen Top have fans supporting us even in England but I felt great. It was a moment where I thought to myself that we have to work even harder in the future.
The first place we visited in London was England’s city hall and the clock tower the Big Ben. Having only seen these places only in photos or movies, we three brothers were overjoyed to see it in person. It felt as though a scene in the movie was playing right in front of us. It was indeed the undisputable symbol of England. It was magnificent and it shone.
And the Buckingham Palace! Although we couldn’t enter the place, just by staring at the calm and peaceful palace, I even imagined myself as Prince William.
The first destination of my pleasant London trip was British Parliament and the clock tower Big Ben. Seeing the places where I’ve only seen in photos previously, it felt as though a movie was going to take place with the tower appearing in it. No matter what, it was the symbol of England.
Out of the sudden I thought about what if I had came with my members. We could immerse in making a variety of poses, singing and dancing in front of the place, it would have been enjoyable.. Next time I have to come with the members to England!
Among all the things I had wanted to do in England, the first one to be fulfilled was watching a musical at the Opera House!
After a light dinner, my brothers and I were excited to be able to fulfil our dream of watching an opera in England; we arrived at the Royal Opera House. I watched a musical called ‘Ghost Patrol’ which was written by the writers of Lion King. It was as touching as the movie ‘Lion King’ and was equally dramatic. I was able to immerse myself in the music at the Opera House.
It was different from the delight I felt standing on the musical stage as a child actor or the stages I’ve performed on after I’ve debuted. I couldn’t help but admire.
Out of the sudden, I thought “Can I also present the thrill to the fans with our music and performances?”. So that night, I spent a few hours watching Teen Top’s performances. After being touched by the emotions at the opera, “I have to show that I feel the thrill on stage!”
3 years into our debut, although there’s still a long way to go, we have been always working hard and giving our best. My desire to let the whole world know about Teen Top deepened. Though at times I felt worn out and whined to the people around me, but after this vacation ends, I’ll go back to Korea and work even harder! I promise to be a even more hardworking Teen Top Niel.
A place you can’t leave out in England, the King Cross Station that appears in the books of Harry Potter Go! Go!
It was really kind of England to leave signboards to guide us to Platform 9 ¾. Although it was a little hard to find it even with the signboards, we saw the Platform! We were absorbed in taking the photos of us pushing the carts, just like how the students had to do to get to Hogwarts Wizard School of Magic. Prince William at Buckingham Palace, but transforming into Harry Potter right now!
Not having to care about the people’s gazes, laughing out loud, humming to songs, I was indeed having a holiday. Maybe I was really happy. Even just looking at my elder brother, my younger brother, we laughed and fooled around. In England, I was able to make up for the times where I couldn’t meet them due to my schedule.
On an overseas trip, it was a delight to see fellow Koreans. When I heard people speaking in Korean, I would definitely turn back to look around! This is my patriotism^^ Even so in England. Korean tourists recognized me, said hi to me, I couldn’t have been more grateful. I smiled even more brightly than usual.
Although I’m as equally patriotic in Korea, especially when out of Korea, in order to display the pride of Korea, I think I become even more cautious of my every action. Even with the freedom, there was no way I can ruin the reputation of Korea with my mistakes! I think all the Korean tourists here shared the same sentiments.
I was secretly looking forward the soccer match with my English friends because being a soccer player was a dream of my mine before I because a singer. “Soccer was my dream in elementary school, how about a battle against Europe?” But, maybe it’s because the trip has worn me out, I barely had enough stamina to last the first half of the game and I ended up giving up. Of course I claimed that they had advantage because it was home ground for them, I left the stadium sadly! (Actually it was just a game with the English elementary school kids who dream to be soccer playersã… ã… )
After we were done with the itinerary for the day, we went home and talked about the photos we have taken. The whole trip felt like a dream, but we also started missing Seoul. The night in England slowly deepened.
All thanks to my cousin, we were able to find all the hidden great places in England. If I were to talk about the trip in England, I think I would need to stay up the whole night and I probably won’t be able to finish talking about it. The places where I could not capture in my camera: Winsor Castle, Tower Bridge, London Museum etc! The places where I could not capture in my camera, I’ll keep them in my heart forever.
The day before we end the break, I kept thinking about the things we have done since the first day. Feeling a sense of pity, I looked at the photos once again. As I looked my brothers’ having fun, I smiled and memories started to flood back.
After the happy times in London, while on the place back to Korea, what do you think was the first thing I would think of, Buckingham Palace? The sweet ice cream? Or the painting-like sceneries? No no! It was my mom’s cooking and tofu stew. After running around in London and the sudden thought was food, although it’s quite funny, but I really do miss my mom’s cooking!
My sweet first vacation. While my brothers were having fun, I was looking up at the London sky. I made a promise while looking at the clear blue sky. That I wanted to be a singer who can bring love and touch the hearts of even more people. A sweet vacation, happily running around and laughing out loud! It was a great healing time that recharged me. As I looked up at the London sky, I was ready to take the leap of faith. To slowly fulfil the promise I made.. And this was how my happy first vacation ended.
Second, Changjo “Vacation makes me feel uneasy~”
The youngest member in Teen Top, Changjo’s first vacation!
I was set on fulfilling the plans I have made in my mind all these while.
Because of my schedule, I couldn’t meet up with my family frequently so we took this time and went to a nearby place for a vacation. It was an enjoyable time; I acted like a kid in front of my parents and laughed louder than any other times. And I met up with my cousins who I haven’t met in a long time and went to the swimming pool to have fun. One by one I spent time with my family, ah~ what a joy.
I met up with my friends and watched movies; ate nice food and talked about what the things that happened in our lives. Time flew by without me noticing as I was with my friends.
I was spending my vacation busily but when it was the one-week mark, I began to be curious about what Niel hyung was doing as we never contacted after the vacation began. To be honest, after our debut we have never spent such a long time apart; so before the vacation began, Chunji hyung said “We have been too close all these while. Let’s try to spend this vacation apart and get to appreciate one another. So let’s treat no news as good news for this 10 days” Although we said that confidently, but just a few days later, we started asking about one another. The thought of it just makes me laugh.
However, other than leaving a short message before boarding the plane for London, Niel hyung didn’t contact us at all. When we asked him about it later he said that the 5 of us would have asked him “Get us gifts” so he kept the promise of treating no news as good news! The only person who kept the promise, Niel hyung you’re too much~~~~
As I was happily spending my free time, I suddenly thought of the practice studio in ChunCheon where I practised really hard at for the audition before my debut. Without a plan as the memory came into my mind, I left for the place.
The remaining days of the vacation, when it’s dinner time, my friends and I borrowed a practice studio to practise dancing. I remembered the times 4 years ago when I practised till late for the audition in order to become Teen Top’s Changjo. As I look into the mirror while dancing, looking at the amount of sweat, my original motivations became vivid in my mind “Never forget where I started from; to become a singer that always works hard”. I promise to return to the Changjo then.
The next day after the practice, instead of my usual jog, I decided to climb a mountain. I wanted some time alone to reflect on myself, so after I was packed, I started climbing the mountain.
During the one and a half hours to get to the top. From the hard times as a trainee where there were monthly evaluations to all the times we’ve spent as one, as Teen Top; it flashed past in my mind as scenes in a movie.
Finally I had reached the top! I shouted from Changjo to Changjo, “Changjo ya! Be together under the name of Teen Top, don’t disappoint the fans who have supported us and believed in us. Never forget how you started out’
I promised to never forget how I started. I felt quite proud of myself, and I looked up at the bright sky, I dreamt of all the cools we were going to have ahead.
The next day, as I wasn’t physically trained to climb the mountain, my muscles started aching. A little? I did regret^^ But I was proud of myself “I’m the real maknae who has deep thoughts as much as his hyungs”, and spent the last night of the break. From tomorrow onwards, I’ll return as Teen Top’s member, all the way fighting!
3rd person up, Chunji “I enjoyed my youth as a 20 year old”
“Oh yeah~ It’s a vacation”
I shouted with all my might and happiness, at the top of my voice; I was excited even just at the thought that it would be my first vacation as a 20 year old.
In the past, my middle school friends, neighbourhood friends and I made a promise. “We must go on a trip when we turn 20.” Finally I was able to fulfil the promise. Ah~ I was really excited!
Although I’ve turned 20 and become a college student, because of the album activities, I was never able to go on a MT; so the trip with my friends was more so special. That’s right, now that I’m a college student, no matter what others say, I have to go on an MT~ hahaha!
My best friends since middle school were even happier than me when they heard about my vacation. In order to create memories with my friends who are leaving for the army soon, we left for a holiday and settled on a mansion with a huge garden as our base camp so that we can have barbeques.
When we arrived at the mansion, we unpacked our luggage and sang out loud; even just by looking at one another, we started laughing. Although we bought a variety of ingredients to choose the best cook among us, the only thing that was edible was the grilled meat! Ah~ It was great being able to have meat at such a nice place with my friends.
Looking at the meat, I laughed out loud because I suddenly thought of how Ricky loves to eat meat. Although we live together at the dorm, have meals together, go overseas together because of performances, I want to come on an MT like this with all our members. We have to go on an MT when our youngest ones, Ricky and Changjo turn 20 so that we can have a drink together. But how many more years do we have to wait? ^^
When the mood was right, we talked about the things we didn’t’ manage to say all these while, the things and dreams we want to accomplish in the future; it was even more mushy than a game of truth or dare. As the night deepened, the guys’ talked never ended. Other than talking about the times in school, we also talked seriously about our futures. It felt as though we’re really adults… “We, are really adults now!”
When we were enjoying it to the fullest, my friends surprised me with a birthday party and unknowingly I cried. My friends were really sincere so I didn’t know how to express what I felt… Guys really thanks so much! Let’s be together forever!
I was as touched as how fans celebrated my birthday after debut, surprised at the amount of people celebrating my birthday.
My best friends and I stayed up all night having a heart to heart talk. Faces of our members became vivid in my mind. We share the same dream and we have even more time in the future together. Friendship and loyalty are not enough to express what we are so firmed and determined about. And that’s how I concluded my first vacation as a 20 year old.
eng trans: oursupaluv
source: http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&oid=420&aid=0000000015&sid1=001