Halloween, Taipei Style!

Halloween is really not that big here in Taiwan - mostly relegated to the International Schools and PUBs frequented by expats...  Even the Department Stores are not much into it... A few decors here and there, mostly in the candies and chocs section...  Makes me miss the Halloweens spent growing up In the Bay Area...

Still, Juju and I managed to find something and make the most of the Holiday..  Celebrating best we could...  This year it was spent at Maji Square.

Jimmy Liao character figure sighting... of course, we had to stop for a photo!!!

 

Juju as a Bat Girl was truly happy....   not sure why some Chinese parents do not want to let their kids celebrate Halloween - nevermind that it is not a Traditional Chinese Holiday, it is a FUN one for kids...

Dress You Up in My Loves!!!

Cleaning up my Photo memory on the iPhone and came across all these cool vases I have managed to pick up, here and there, since trading up to the iPhone 5 back in March of this year..,  so far I have a total of 12!!!

This Fun Jimmy Liao vase was the first one I got...  

This one is a fave illustration from this Popular Taiwanese artist...

Marc Jacobs: first designer outfit for the iPhone!  

Some Eclectic Designs!

Monkeying Around with Baby Milo!

SNOOPY!!!

A gift from Sue n Cecilia from  their last Japan Trip!

These two are acquired from two different Manila trips!

The latest addition:  yellow Rubber Duck is quite popular these days...  

Since the Giant Yellow Duck landed in the Taiwan shores..

iPhone 5. Yeah Baby!

Just another case point about the saying: "Meant To be, Meant To Be..."

My iPhone 4's been acting up the last month or so...  All of a sudden, Camera hanging (must be overused as it is what I use more with the phone...); buttons not functioning now and again...; and the last week, No one could hear me speak - though i can hear them Perfectly fine...

With 4 months more into my Program Contract... And the Warranty expiring after the first year - things were looking bad... Took the phone to Apple, they could Not find anything wrong, as when using LINE, I can talk, hear and be heard by everyone no problem whatsoever.. They told me to go back to my Server Carrier.. That it could be the line itself, or the SIM card... 3 places and a day of walking in the heat of the sun later - i was told that i would need to leave it and have it fixed... And that it would cost a whopping $150 to $200 US to fix.. All these without even really testing my phone.. Just did what I told them to do... Call from the line, and call through LINE... WHOAH!!! Needless to say I was a bit miffed... Well, a lot!!!

So I called who I know could help.. I normally would just let it be, but my Chinese Astrology said I need to ask for help when I can... And am glad I did... Not only did I get help, I was even able to replace the iPhone4 with an iPhone5.... Needless to say, I am now one Happy Camper!!!

Of course, with the new phone comes new worries... Updating... Downloading FAVE APPS... And protective wear for my baby... All manageable in due coarse... Getting all the updates and downloads done little by little... And so far, i have not one but four, yes four fun cases / skins / covers for my baby!!!

First one purchsed was this CUTE Jimmy Liao case....  fun, nice shade of blue

and it does go well with my Jimmy Liao Be@rbricks!!!

Then, I could not help but break down for these three....  Duckie,

OWL by Marc Jacobs, & Mustache

By far my most FAVE to date:  OWL

Marc by Marc Jacobs

and continuing on the subject of Be@rbricks....

...I have already COMPLETED the Hi*Life X Jimmy Liao X Be@rbricks for 2011... all 9 of them!!!!

Have actually completed them middle of last month, even took photos but never got around to posting them..... I Just Love their WHIMSICAL LOOKS!!!

Cannot wait till the 2012 Offerings - sure hope there will be one then... :)

Be@rbick X Jimmy Liao X 9 : Part II

WHOA!!!! Today is the first day that the 2nd Set of this Brand New Premium Bearbrick Collection for Hi*Life came out - and am soooo HAPPY to say - I was able to get all three already.... YES!!! These guys are just as CUTE as the first three I had blogged about recently....I was able to collect enough stickers for all three Jimmy Liao designed Bearbricks (30 stickers total!) - with the help of a few people, I have to admit:
-The Hi*Life shop girl who gives me a little extra whenever I shop... be it that she likes me or out of pity, matters not, am most appreciative.... Needless to say, I shop mostly when she is there...
-To Juliana for letting me know that a faster way than drinking coffee each day to get the stickers is to buy a certain brand of Cold Tea Drink... 4 bottles gets one 5 stickers!!! 3 more than if one gets a cup of coffee and a sandwich.... YES AGAIN!!!
-and of course, those who did not want their stickers and just threw them away in places I was able to find them!!! LOL..... Now on to collecting stickers for the last 3!!! Hahahahahahaha.....

Smile, Just Smile!

"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."

- Mother Teresa
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A Brand New Week... a Brand New Month.... I suppose am off to a good start already as the last few days, I have had little things catch my attention/come my way that makes me SMILE... take my MIND OFF stressful matters - even for a tad bit...

First of all, I got to end April with two relaxingly FUN days.... On the 29th was a very long lunch with Juliana at Capricciosa - yes, a new resto for us to try and enjoy very much... not forgetting that the main FUN part of the get together is always the looooong chats....

MORE PHOTOS HERE

The on the 30th, I had a great time seeing THOR, even on my own... and spending a bit of time people watching at Warner Viewshow - it was the weekend, so it is always crowded with shoppers, strollers, hawkers, and street performers...

MORE PHOTOS HERE

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and then Sunday, the 1st day of May, was just the usual Sunday for me.... attended MASS... feasted on Filipino food - lots of it, really.... and later in the evening - relaxed and enjoyed the Water Massage area of our local pool...even swam for 40 mins - now that was good, indeed....

Of course, there is always work... so in between I do all that... it does not get any easier... and with the way things are: the economy and the NEED for extra $$$ for MOM's Medical Expenses and Meds, it gets frustrating, scary, and stressful... but as always, I just try to take things one day at a time... praying and hoping that all will always work out just right... never losing hope....

and today was extra SPECIAL for me...as the woman at my neighborhood HI*LIFE shop, gave me not just two stickers (due to me for the coffee that I bought) but 5, yes 5 stickers... enough to redeem for another one.... and so now I have the first 3 of the NEW Jimmy Liao be@rbrick collection!!! This woman/clerk is also the one that makes sure I get to complete the sets of whatever Premium Program they are pushing that am collecting.... so am ALWAYS very much APPRECIATIVE....

and the BEST part, when I asked her why she was giving me 5 stickers, instead of the 2 due to me - she replied with: "...just because I find your smile always sweet and genuine... and I see such joy you get in collecting these little things..." WHOAH!!! I BLUSHED right there and then... even felt my face get hot and turn apple red... I was TRULY touched, and this episode just made the whole collection even more SPECIAL to me.... (Photos of the First 3 in the Collection Here)

be@rbrick X jimmy liao X 9

By Popular Demand, (am sure not just by me - LOL!) Hi*Life once again has teamed up with Jimmy Liao for it's newest Premium Toy offerings.... The success and popularity of last year's First 6 Offerings, made way for this year's 2nd wave... and this time around there are, not just 6, but 9 CUTEST bearbricks representing various characters from Jimmy Liao's famous books/illustrations...

This year, the changes in the program will prove to make it a bit tougher to collect them... unless you go by the AUCTION WAY (take note SUE! hehehehehehehehe)....
-FIRST: one needs to spend NT$60 now to get a Sticker, last year was just NT$49 for each sticker.... one needs a total of 25 stickers to get one Premium Toy or the option of 10 stickers and an additional NT$49 for one...
-SECOND: 2 1/2 weeks 3 of the 9 designs will be offered... so if you MISS OUT your chances on the each time period - you are OUT OF LUCK....
-THIRD: and the TOUGHEST CHANGE of all... these time around, the bearbricks are packaged in BLIND BOXES - so not a chance in choosing each one.... you really need to take your chances.... WAAAAAH!!!!

This Period's First Three Offerings - From April 20th thru May 10th:

sometimes... you just gotta go it alone...

Okay, right of the bat - do not think anything heavy here.... just lack of a title really.... sometimes, one just really have to do thing on their own, no matter how much more fun it would have been with another person... or at least, less tricky, desperate and frustrating when
taking photos...

A couple of years now, I have heard about this MRT Station in Taipei, that is decorated with so much, one of my Fave Artists, Jimmy Liao's paintings.... Have been wanting and dreaming of going there to check it out, as he is a FAVE of mine.... Tried to get someone, just about anyone to go with me and check it out - for one it is a bit outside of Taipei - so a company would have been nice... and two, I know it would be more fun and less STUPID like to take photos on my own.... Sadly, no one has had the time... everytime it was put on the schedule to see - it got cancelled and pushed aside... and seeing more write ups about the place in local mags or papers, not to mention photos of it on FLickr, made me wish to see it more....

One nite this week, I decided to just got it alone... the weather not too good but not too bad either - and I pretty much knew already the vicinity it is in, , so I would not be afraid to even get lost... plus, I can ask for my way back home, am pretty sure... and I was SOOOOO VERY GLAD I did.... for a Jimmy Liao fan, it was really a sight to see,,,,, sooo much of his works, well loved character graces the MRT Station - just about everywhere.... Large walls covered with his art was just like HEAVEN for me... I was once again a little boy lost in my fantasy world...Okay now for the sad part, well, funny really if you can IMAGINE it... whenever the TIMER on my digi cam fails me, I had to resort to stopping - nice & friendly looking travelers - to actually stop and SNAP a shot of me - A LOT!!! A lot as the station is big enough that one must go from places to places to see and admire everything...The station, which opened on 2007, boasted the permanent installations of Jimmy Liao works.... and it has remained one of the Best Destinations even if you just want to get off the MRT to check it out and take photos, for both locals and tourists... and on this nite, I spotted at least, 4 different people - doing what I was doing... taking photos and getting embarrassed upon noticing that they are being watched... hahahahahaha... But of course, am a Professional - did not let all the passersby giving me weird looks deter me from my mission... snapped away I did... running quickly to get in the shot using the timer... and yes, begging others to do the snap for me...

All In All, it was a Great Trip... and am soooo very glad I got to do it, even on my own... another one Checked Off on my To See List....

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

"How To Own A Corner" Exhibition

Late yesterday afternoon, after Church, I headed down to the Legacy Theatre to see if I can catch Anthony Neely's Mini Concert... did not get advanced tixs as I was not aware there was going to be one... Sadly, the line was way too long and I was not able to get in... but I did have the pleasure of hearing his Sound checks and last minute rehearsal before the show - right outside the theatre for a little while... it'll have to do - for now....

While in the area, I remembered that a new Jimmy Liao Exhibition was going on... so I headed sown to the 1914 Exhibition Halls and treated myself instead to the Sights and Artworks of the very talented, world renowned, Taiwanese Artist. It did not DISAPPOINT at all... even made me forget about not being able to get into the concert.... So much artworks, installations, sculptures and toys based on his many Great works were at hand....

The exhibition was set up into different rooms, with each room's doors painted with IMAGES from his works... you would not just want to get through the door - you would also want to admire it for a bit.... and each door opens up to more wonderful, fantasy-like, whimsical, world of the artist's visions.

The exhibition started Dec 22nd of last year and will run thru the 27th of March.
EXHIBITION PHOTOS HERE

Bearbrick X Jimmy Liao X 6

Hi.Life, the closest convenience store near my house, FINALLY has an offer for Premium Toys that is getting me very excited.... 6 styles of Bearbrick - all designed by one of my most FAVE Taiwan artist, Jimmy Liao... each one looking familiar as they are versions of some of the best and most fave characters Mr Liao has ever illustrated for his many popular books....

Already underway, this program lasts thru the 24th of August 2010.. the way it works is this:

-For every 40NT$ purchase you get 1 Premium Program sticker;

-40 Stickers = 1 Blind Box Premium or...

- Collect 15 stickers, add an additional 49NT$ = 1 Blind Box Premium

Again, they come in Blind boxes so one does not really know what one will be getting.... but it matters not, as each and everyone of them would be a welcome addition to ones Bearbrick collection....

Of course am shooting for all 6 of them - one way or another..... hahahahahahahaha

Black Friday - NOT!!!

just BLACK Be@rbrick from Comme des Garcons...

Thanks to Juliana for getting me this one... issued a few years back, was LUCKY enough to have acquired him (Thanks Juliana - my co-hort in Be@rbrick Madness!!! and Sue for being Taiwan YAHOO AUCTION SAVVY!!!))

Wow, there's really so much to learn about these CUTE bears... so many different series's available and Special Limited Edition ones, not to mention the various sizes they come in nowadays.... A collector must really have self control & focus or the collection can go OUT OF HAND - FAST!!! As you already know - am already working on filling up 2 display cases... LOL!!! So am really trying (NOTE: Operative Word - TRYING!) to concentrate on certain series's - DESIGNERS (Comme des Garcons, Bathing Ape, FNAC - so far); ANIME/MOVIES (Terminator, Speed Racer, Evangelion, etc..); Artists (Jimmy Liao, tokidoki, kennyswork, etc..) & countries (19 issued so far and I have only 5 of them... long way to go - see bottom part of display case on the left...)

So, that's the latest of my Be@rbrick Quest.... Happy Friday Everyone!!!

NOTE: A host of other BLACK Comme des Garcons Bearbrick Can Be found Here!

Jimmy Liao - Taiwan Artist

The HIGHLIGHT of my weekend that just passed was finding the time to see and enjoy the exhibition, Never Ending Story. It is of the works and art of Taiwanese Artist/Illustrator, Jimmy Liao, whose international appeal has grown overwhelmingly and rightfully so. A third of his books have been translated into Japanese and, slowly but surely,into English, French, German, Korean. Also in simplified Chinese characters as used in mainland China where he is very much well known.

In the fantasy world he has created, a child can stroll with a moon, wings can grow on a man and a blind girl can set off for adventures riding the subway. His tales carries familiar themes such as, love, breaking up, serendipity and urban isolation -- but he does it all through his whimsical characterizations of his illustrations.
The first book he created is also his favorite of all, "Secrets in the Forest". It tells the story of a boy exploring a forest in his dream. Facing all sorts of terrible and scary things. It was a success when it was released in 1998 and dubbed that year's best children's book by major newspapers.

Through interviews, the illustrator has stated that he created this first book at the age of 40 when battling leukemia. He stated that: "At that time I was scared, fragile and in despair, I didn't know what would happen to me. Drawing the book everyday became a power to sustain me and gave me more faith."

Jimmy's style is whimsical and heartwarming and he paints in bright and bold colors -- so rich that they leave deep impressions. Though one would argue that picture books are mostly for children, Mr Liao had built an adult following, myself included. Credit it all to his vivid illustrations and very emotional story telling of stories that tugs at the heart.

His appeal first crossed onto the adult readers in "Separate Ways" about a man and a woman who live in the same building but never run into other for much of the book, until a chance meeting that sees them fall for each other. It was an instant best seller and was also adopted into a movie "Turn Left, Turn Right" with one of my FAVE heart-throb, Taiwanese/Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro and Hong Kong actress Gigi Leung playing Mr Liao's lonely lovers to be.

Another of his books, "Sound of Colors" about a blind girl venturing out in the city on the subway, was realized in film by Internationally acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai. He produced the movie based on the book featuring Hong Kong star Tong Leung Chiu-wai and Miriam Yeung.

It is good to note that as his career soared, Mr. Jimmy Liao overcame leukemia to regain full health.
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The site of the EXHIBITION - ESLITE BOOKSTORE (the BEST Bookstore in the World in my opinion!) right next to the Taipei 101 Building.

LINKS of INTERESTS:
-JimmySpa
-Taipei Times Article