By Sake Soju:
eXcitement
I had plans to watch December musical back in early November and happy to secure air ticket and musical ticket. It was indeed a bonus when he announced the year end concert.
However, they made it very difficult for us, international fans to get the tickets! Fortunately for me, I have my Korean colleagues to help me but it also means my “obsessions” are now known to my overseas colleagues. Oh well…I GOT A TICKET !!!
I finally arrived in Seoul after a redeye flight. Landed in the morning of 30 Dec and weather was “bearable” then. I battled the cold and queued for more than an hour for the merchandise. I should have bought all! ^^ I was trying to be “sensible”. After all, it was only Day 1.
I was to meet a fellow xiahpwa, Dolphinxiah , and we embraced when we saw each other. We have never met but had met in a junsu chat group started by another xiahpwa from Malaysia whom I met “virtually” either through JYJ3 or twitter (hmm…munie, where did we meet?). JYJ and JYJ3 had brought us new friends from around the world! It was a hectic experience for dolphinxiah to get there on time (read about it in her fan account).
eXtraordinary
Together, we went for the concert. What beautiful red sea of lights as the concert was starting. The concert slogan was brightly lited.
And then he appeared ! Opening with Elisabeth and other musical hits in an all-white outfit. It is always enchanting to hear him LIVE. I snapped just TWO shots of him from the large screen and was immediately issued warning. All respect to those who always take HD pictures and share with us ! How on earth do you guys do that?! I only managed a miserable unclear picture like this!
Even with the orchestra music where you associate with majestic music or ballads, he broke into his sexy, provocative moves for “No Reason”. And by now , everyone should have watched/heard the acoustic version of Incredible. What can I say but you’re something, something, Junsu! It was INCREDIBLE. I just wished he had performed more ballads than musical songs. He has many more ballads that will melt us all at a live concert. 11am , with guitar. was my other favorite besides Incredible. Seriously, his singing was beyond words. It was phenomenal.
I don’t understand a lot of Korean so genie time was a little hard for me to understand. But it was still heartwarming when the distance between junsu and fans were drawn so much closer. It got even closer when he ran across the second block of audience!! Now why didn’t I get those seats!!! I believe some even manage to “touch” him! *ENVY* while watching all these through my binoculars as I was way upstairs!
The night ended on a high note as always. His voice was ringing in my ears as I walked back to the nearby hotel.
Good night, Junsu.
eXcursions
Day 2 was a JYJ day. I checked out at the hotel at Jamsil and went to next hotel in Jongno-3, taking subway with a backpack and a cabin trolley bag. Almost wanted to take a taxi but thought my cash is best to be saved for JYJ merchandise! First to Crebeau Belle. Whoever had seen the cats “in person” will definitely fall in love with the cuties!
Used to be obsessed with Leo and the cats. Even made them into decorations for cupcakes.
In picture below : Leftmost is supposed to be “Leon” who had been given away I believe.
I have always loved Leo so to see him up close, I “lost” myself! I was snapping photos of the cats and ended up lying on my stomach on the floor to get close-up shots of them.
I got up before anyone see me sprawled on the floor. Luckily I got up as next moment, Papa Kim came into the shop! This is not the first time I saw him and mama Kim but never in an enclosed room where he was casually chatting with everyone. I took a picture with him OF COZ! He asked if we watched concert (in Korean). I understand a little and just replied “last night” in English. All this while, I suspect Mama Kim was in one of the rooms.
After buying more merchandise, I finally left and not wait to see Mama Kim. I had taken photo with her in August at Elisabeth. I showed Papa Kim the photo. *what was I thinking? strike a conversation when I don’t speak Korean and he doesn’t speak English?*
Next – Mickiss. Mickiss was a little messy with many, many unopened boxes, perhaps with more Yoochun’s merchandise? His aunt was there and so were many fans from Japan! As usual, I was mistaken as Japanese until I asked for stuff in English and Aunty suddenly looked up from her paperwork and smiled. Hello, Aunty! Should I or should I not ask for a photo with her? I decided not to as she was really busy at her desk buried in her paperwork. I bought a cute thumb drive and some other little items and left.
Now time to meet up with my dolphinxiah, to go Cafe JHolic. Woah, Kim Jaejoong. I am impressed. Not by the cafe decor but the idea of the plastic slips with your signature on it for fans to slip in the receipt. Now we get an “autographed” item from visiting the cafe.
I must admit, I prefer Coffee Cojjee decor and ambience. I thought it was cozier. However, jholic was truly designed with his fans in mind, with JH room, JJ room, smoking room.. and the sofa area on upper level. This was last stop. I would have gone to Bum’s Story but with so many junsu’s events that week and jaejoong’s busan concert, I am sure there were many fans in town and Bum’s would be their ideal place for New Year’s Eve! I skipped Bum’s this round but I had been there twice last August, when I went for Elisabeth.
New Year’s Eve didn’t just end here. We went back to hotel to catch Yoochun on TV as presenter for SBS awards! Yoochun appeared near 12 midnight and I dashed out for the bell ringing at Jongno immediately after Yoochun presented! I would have preferred to spend New Year’s Eve counting down with junsu at his concert but sigh, it was impossible to get tickets for that night. And … 5,4,3,2,1 “Happy New Year from Seoul ” was my message to all my friends , who are , one hour earlier in my home country.
eXtravagance!
1 Jan. Woke up in the same country as the boys ! Decided to pick up my December ticket and visit Kyobo bookstore. Jaejoong’s mini concert and fanmeet DVD was available at Kyobo but boy, it was heavy. I didn’t buy it as I was not sure how I could fit that in my bags. Besides the DVD, I was told there was a magazine ? Anyway, I didn’t find it. Collected my ticket from Sejong Theatre which is only across the street from Kyobo and was holding on to the ticket with bare hand standing along the windy road (I realized I lost one glove!), “one more day before I see junsu on stage again!”. And off to Dongdaemun for shopping!
2 Jan, I went on a shopping spree along Garosugil. It was on impulse that I bought a Helianthus backpack which apparently Yoochun was seen carrying one. I am regretting now! Why didn’t I buy a Moldir instead?!?!
Met dolphinxiah again at Myeongdong to visit NII. Much as I want the poster, there is nothing practical for us to buy at NII this time of the year as they are all winter clothing. We had a late lunch before we bade farewell. We will meet again I am sure!
eXcellence
It was time to get ready for the musical. Quick shower and off I go to Sejong Centre. I was 1.5 hours early. I bought my program book and waited anxiously for the door to open. Obviously, 99% are there for Junsu but we were all well behaved. No screaming as he appeared on stage. I was glad I was holding on to my binoculars and watching his facial expression in the first few scenes when he met her. His smitten, lovestruck look with a constant sheepish smile was too cute to be missed! If you are watching December, do zoom in on him after the first scene. There was no translation but the actors and actresses were very good and even without full understanding of their conversation, the few sad scenes brought tears to my eyes. Intermission and I was busy updating the girls on whatsapp chat group.
Act 2 began and Junsu/Jiwook is now an adult. He looked very mature in that 3-piece suit but he looked good. He again did his sexy dance move at the end! He is real teaser. Of course we fans cannot hold back much longer and had to cheer/scream when he did that! The encore song was really nice and I think it was not in his December album. I will have to convert someone’s fancam to audio. I so did NOT want it to end because it means… That is the end of my Xia trip! I didn’t get to see him or even his parents that night. Maybe next time?
His singing, his performance is awesome , just brilliant, excellent. What other words can I use ? Fabulous, Spectacular, etc. ec.
eXhausting ?
Final day in Seoul, 3 Jan. I made one more trip to Cafe Jholic. I bought merchandise from Belle, Mickiss, I must buy something from Cafe jholic! I ordered my regular latte and a piece of cheesecake. Errrr Jaejoong ya, you must tell your staff to defrost the cake completely before serving! The cheesecake was half frozen. Well, I guess no one cares how the cakes taste at Cafe Jholic. I made my purchase – coffee mug. In picture below, I already used it at home and use it for my homebrew cafe latte.
Stuffing all my clothes into my bags, I see no more space jaejoong’s DVD set. I will have to give that a pass. Time to go to the airport and what shuttle bus did I take? 6002!!!!!!
This is indeed a Xia or JYJ trip for me. A lot of shopping, a lot of walking but it is all well worth it. I got home and our chat group continued in keeping each other posted of the happenings. We hope we will all meet for JYJ concert in Seoul when it happens. I sincerely hope all JYJ3 followers can make it there too and we could perhaps hold a big JYJ3 banner!
Happy New Year to everyone and JYJ forever! ^^
[This fan account was on my computer for quite some time after my Seoul trip and I went to Bali from 10-12 Jan, not expecting it to be “xiatic” again!]
***
uneXpected – Bali
One week after my Seoul trip, I made a trip to Bali to celebrate my birthday on 10 Jan (Fri). The minute I touched down, my whatspp had tonnes of messages. Junsu is in Bali !?!?!? OMG. And soon , the actual venue was also revealed through some fans who recognized the place. OK, that is far from where I stay. I was at Seminyak while he was at the South of Bali . He posted sunset photos, I posted sunset photos. It is like we are staring at the same sunset but sigh… at least 17 km away.
He posted this when I arrived. I arrived later in the day than him. But that is not enough palm trees/coconut trees for him. I tweet my version
Of course he is not going to see these pictures but my sunset view went more and more beautiful as the sky changed colours
Junsu-ya, where are you? Hiding in the private resort?
The next day I just wanted to go South to be nearer to his resort just to try my luck! OK, my friend FINALLY agreed but we are to go to this other resort for sunset view. Alright, not that I want to stalk him but I guess to be nearby is good enough.
And then he tweeted a beautiful sunset view.
Now I could have been at the other end of the sunset as I tweet this:
I think I must have tweet a few more pictures to him. Not that he is going to read fans’ tweets but he should get out of the resort to see even more beautiful parts of Bali ! I guess he chose to go shopping instead.
I stayed at this place for many hours looking over at the sunset and thinking the boy must be on the left side of this photo ….. 11 Jan night was also when Chelsea was playing against Hull City. I strongly believed he is in the room watching football on TV with his buddies.
On Sunday, I left and bade farewell to Bali and Junsu. I knew there was no chance to bump into him at the airport as I checked the Korean Air schedule. The next flight was 12.30am 13 Jan.
I turned back to take a last shot at the immigration counters. He will be here … later.
I thought he was likely to be at airport 10.30pm on the day I left. True enough, he left that day. Sigh… no chance to see him . But woah… what an uneXpected trip – to be in the same place for holidays as Junsu and about 1 week after I saw him at “December” ! What a coincidence.
I guess this really marks the end of my Xiatic trips. What a great start to 2014 !
Shared by: JYJ3
Thanks to Sake Soju for sharing her fanaccount with us ^^
Filed under: Fan Account / Staff Account Tagged: 2013 XIA Ballad & Musical Concert with Orchestra, Junsu