ENTRY-IN-PROGRESS (It's just way too massive to do properly in one or even two seatings)
I have finally finished talking about food. XD Next-up, Places!

I didn't expect to like Taipei. I didn't think I'd enjoy the trip very much, thought it'd be overwhelmingly Chinese so would be hard to appreciate because of that as well as the language barriers. I didn't expect the hints of Japan, the little ingenious things they came up with, the bizarre yet adorable mascot critters and the supreme love and talent for all things starchy/chewy.

It was a great trip. It different going with the Folks instead of friends but not necessarily bad since they're generally alot more fun on holiday than at home. (And sometimes even more WTFBBQ retarded than even teenagers XD) Taiwan officially has a special place in my heart and while it won't rival Japan (I think nowhere ever will), it's a country I definitely see myself going to more often than Hong Kong or Bangkok. Although it was damned killer weather we had. It felt like it was always blisteringly hot and even more humid than Singapore. So, note to self: Go In The Cooler Months or EXPIRE IN A HEAP OF STICKY SUN-BURNT SOMETHING.

Also, I must say this, with Google, Googlemaps and Babelfish, you can find anything and go anywhere so long as you aren't lazy or stupid.

I are sick and have not the proper emoticon to convey the shittiness. 

I can't go to Shirley's birthday lunch thing. 
I haven't finished research on Taipei.
I haven't packed. 
My room=Mess again.
My Rolling Stone is STILL NOT HERE YET. 
I am utterly impoverished. 
Flight's at 1ish tomorrow. 

And to top it all off, my throat feels like a slimy creature with claws just ravaged it.   

OFFICIALLY AWAY TO TAIPEI: See you humans on the 26th. 

Estimated time of lift-off: 6.00am

Yes, friends, I am FINALLY GOING HOME.

To X JAPAN's TOKYO DOME concert
To Udon and soba galore
To kawaii overdose
To sub-culture explosion
To some of the best rock music
To an incredible culture
To a nightmarish trai system
To a bizarre and beautiful Land,

I'm going to Japan. 8D
Be back around 2.00am 10th May dudes and dudettes.

(Which means if you want anything, beep me before I leave at 3.30am tonight.)

Just finished watching Antique although I should probably have just slept early. 

But good God, I really needed that.

Spent the afternoon to evening feeling progressively like Crap although that has (most likely) got a lot to do with Sleep Deprivation which makes most people cranky anyhow. 

I had X and Japan and all sorts of ugly worries clogging up my brains. After Antique though, I've got a good degree of perspective back.

No the world isn't ending no matter how big and important anything may seem to be. Stick to your music, your sense and your smile and you'll sail right on by, past your silly phantom distress and right towards the rainbows my friends. 

On the Subject of Japan: 

The flight and hotel is settled. My visa is in the process of being settled and I have several devious schemes for X Japan Tickets. As a result of all of the above, I fluctuate from severe stress to Immense Glee. Although these days (with the major booking done), it is Very Very Immense Glee. Just thinking about it makes me want to cackle and run around Singapore screaming and simply sit, sigh and perfect my Look of Enlightenment. 

I am finally, finally going Home after years of praying, pestering, dreaming and hoping. 

On the Subject of Korea(n Dramas): 

Boys Over Flowers has Ended at long last. It technically ended early this week but being a Lifeless Zombie Admin Person, I spend my weekdays vegetating in the Office and out of it. So today I watched/sped through/spammed 7 episodes of BOF practically back to back. I was Never so Insanely Happy to hear 'Almost Paradise' playing again. 

Unlike Fushigi Yuugi, I don't have any angst at all about the series ending. No gaping hole in my World, no incoming Armageddon. Just incredible contentment. It wasn't a brilliant work of art by any stretch of the imagination but it was (mostly) entertaining and definitely charming. So I will smile and be on my way, back to all those House episodes I haven't watched yet with just a little bit of Korea's Cracktastic Offerings in-between. 

THIS CLOSE TO THE SEXIEST JACKPOT FIND EVER.
GOOD GOD I AM A BRILLIANT GENIUS WEB PERSON.
JAPAN IS MINE.

AHHHHHHHH STRESS STRESS STRESS

X JAPAN PRIORITY BOOKING STARTS TOMORROW! TOMORROW! I can't do diddle-squat because I haven't got a Mobile in Japan/read Japanese/THEY DON'T WANT US FOREIGNERS GOING TO THEIR AWESOME CONCERTS AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

For their reunion concert last May, they BLOODY SOLD OUT VIA BLOODY MOBILE BOOKING. 200,000 BIDS FOR 155,000 SEATS.
I HAVEN'T GOT A HOPE IN HELL.
BY THE TIME GENERAL SALES COMES AROUND ON 18TH APRIL THERE'LL BE NOTHING. LEFT. TO. SELL.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I am trying to make up for my helplessness with a lot of screaming.
It doesn't give me any special TICKET BOOKING powers but it sort of makes me feel a little bit better.
My HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and Stress Gland has been going into overdrive since I Got the News at 9 plus and frankly, perpetual OMGBBQNESS is very exhausting.

I haven't even touched on flight and accomodation issues yet. GOOD GOD. THERE IS NO REST FOR THE WICKED. NO, NOT EVEN THE EXTREMELY WICKED.
[quote]
Calmer Note: On the other hand, a person cannot Be In This State forever without exploding. I'm tired and actually, if this concert thing doesn't work out, it'll still be bloody Brilliant going to the Homeland (read: Tokyo, Japan) so yes, I cannot possibly Lose. Just win Less.[/quote]

Notice the conspicuous absence of University Apps and related woes because there are currently More Important Things in Life.

Suffering from serious withdrawal on many levels. 
I can't believe the trip worked out.
(And that us females didn't kill each other and in fact, bonded pretty damn well.
To the point where I'm missing all those fools right now.)
Or that I made it to the most fan-fucking-tastic rock concert ever by The Godly Band aka X Japan.
And I'm suddenly home again and back at work on humid, stupid-ridden island. 
Head would be spinning if it hadn't sunk somewhere in to the bottom of my gut. 
Depressed is putting it mildly. 

But dear Lord, the fun, the nonsense, the Everything. 
The concert alone deserves a whole post of many paragraphs and awe-struck expletives. 
And the retardation would take up a whole other post as well. Failed England is Awesomes my friends.
So I'll end this short note here and skedaddle off to pet Fred, the Pink Octopus from Japan.
And kowtow a billion times to the Best Band Shirt of all time.