Read Part 1 HERE !
Little Tokyo proved to be a challenge for the average commuter. My overall lack of understanding of the Tap card fare deduction also worked against my favour. I found myself awkwardly standing off to the side and counting coins upon being met with a “Fare card too low” message on the Tap machine.
I arrived at 1st Street and Judge John Aiso Street – what a name huh? – within good time. Little Tokyo was an eclectic, hip neighbourhood that was bustling with tourists, both local and foreign. Nisei Week had just begun on the 19th, so I just so happened to find myself amidst a lively street festival.
The atmosphere was wonderful, albeit congested. Vendors had taken to setting up merchandise tables within the plazas of Little Tokyo for the festival, while live music played in the rotunda.
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Lunch had been had not too long ago, so I weaved around the bakery stall and restaurants without casting much of a glance in their direction. An oddly-placed Tony Moly caught my attention instead. A life-sized Seo Kang Jun standee invited into the air-conditioned space; the pricey merchandise lining the beauty store’s shelves soon encouraged my exit though.
My days of obsessing over anime and cosplay are long gone, but my fondness for all things soft and adorable shall never ween. Next to the purikura booths was a table lined with Pickles the Frog merchandise.
Several years back, when annual trips to Seattle from Vancouver were still somewhat consistent, I obtained my first Pickles from a Sanrio retail store in Bellevue Square. Nakajima products are generally arduous to find in North America, so an entire assortment of familiar-looking, vivid-toned frogs drew me in immediately. I ultimately couldn’t help but pick up a few items before continuing on my way.
The mercury surged as the sun eased across the sky. I contemplated turning back, until pinkberry’s green-blue storefront caught my eye. Past my beloved froyo shop was what seemed to be another festival. Upon closer inspection, it was merely a series of information booths about studying abroad. A water truck was spotted at the perimeter of this info-gathering event, so I took to re-hydrating before enduring the weather for a tad longer.
From prior research, I knew that there was a tea house located in the vicinity. However, I could not recall its name. Somehow arriving at 2nd Street and San Pedro, I encountered a café/dessert parlour by the name of Midori Matcha. It was more modern than the shop I had researched before; croissants, cold beverages, and soft serve ice cream were on offer at this cozy little shop.
I requested a Houjicha and Matcha Swirl Soft Serve in a cup, for nothing beats the heat like ice cream. Both flavours were surprisingly distinct – utterly unlike tea-infused desserts from back home. The formula was smooth and silky with boundless depth of flavour. The basic requirement of resisting dissolution was also met and exceeded.
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Other items on the menu were not quite as economic as the soft serve – matcha tins were well over ten dollars and Matcha Lattes at $6 USD. The Matcha Pistachio spread was of great interest to me, though my shoulders cried against the impulse in agony.
Midori’s back door connected to more shops and even greater adventures, but fatigue held me down and sensibility reminded me that energy should be reserved for the Day 1 Concert.
A visit to the single stall bathroom was made. Cleanliness was not in the cards, despite the sophisticated appearance of the shop itself. The password-locked stall was dim with yellow-tinted lights and reeked of cigarette smoke.
A visit to the single stall bathroom was made. Cleanliness was not in the cards, despite the sophisticated appearance of the shop itself. The password-locked stall was dim with yellow-tinted lights and reeked of cigarette smoke.
I consulted Google Maps for my return route: heading south to 5th Street and San Pedro would enable me a trip back to the DTLA without the need to transfer. This seemed straightforward enough, so I gathered my things and set off.
Lofty commercial buildings provided shade for the walk. “This is a nice, quaint district.” I thought, “I’d definitely like to explore further on a future trip.” The area was almost reminiscent of Yonge and Finch’s newer parts, or so I thought until I reached 3rd Street and San Pedro.
Lofty commercial buildings provided shade for the walk. “This is a nice, quaint district.” I thought, “I’d definitely like to explore further on a future trip.” The area was almost reminiscent of Yonge and Finch’s newer parts, or so I thought until I reached 3rd Street and San Pedro.
Source: Google Maps, Jan 2017
The north and south sides of the intersection differed vastly: where one side was filled with newly-paved sidewalks, tall structures, and luscious shrubbery, the opposing end was dreary and dirty. I persisted forward, as this was the route that Google Maps had provided, but jitteriness and fear welled up inside me with each step.
At first, I thought nothing of the abandoned car repair shop and its dusty, tan-hued surroundings. I even dismissed the weird glances I received from the man in front of me holstering a garbage bag over his shoulder. After passing 4th Street and San Pedro, I knew I had made a terrible mistake.
At first, I thought nothing of the abandoned car repair shop and its dusty, tan-hued surroundings. I even dismissed the weird glances I received from the man in front of me holstering a garbage bag over his shoulder. After passing 4th Street and San Pedro, I knew I had made a terrible mistake.
Source: Google Maps, Jan 2017
My eyes bulged at the sight of tents on the sidewalk. Lanky, dark-skinned beings stood hunched around me, appearing to be looking off in the far distance.
Source: Google Maps, Jan 2017
I had hoped that the worrisome area would end as I reached the bus stop. To my utter tremor and dismay, the number of tents multiplied as I continued southbound. The tents extended outwards, almost consuming the entirety of the unlevel sidewalk.
When I had finally reached 5th Street and San Pedro, my alertness radar shot off the chart. Not a single corner of the intersection was free from them. To my right was an endless series of tents and zombie-like citizens; to my left were more of these freakish beings huddled in a heap. In the distance, a lady lay sprawled out the sidewalk, as if making others aware that this garbage-laden strip of government-owned pavement was her territory.
When I had finally reached 5th Street and San Pedro, my alertness radar shot off the chart. Not a single corner of the intersection was free from them. To my right was an endless series of tents and zombie-like citizens; to my left were more of these freakish beings huddled in a heap. In the distance, a lady lay sprawled out the sidewalk, as if making others aware that this garbage-laden strip of government-owned pavement was her territory.
Source: Google Maps, Jan 2017
On the northeast corner of the intersection was my bus. The pedestrian signal showed the outline of a large red hand, though there was not a single car passing by the intersection
Source: Google Maps, Jan 2017
“I feel very very unsafe right now.” were the only words that ran through my mind as I dashed across the street, checking left and right for any zealous vehicles.
Huffing and puffing, I reached the doors of the bus without a single soul-less body on my tail. The bus driver never appeared more angelic to me for not pulling away at the sight of me panting across the street. I shall be forever grateful to him for not only allowing me to board with insufficient funds on my Tap card, but also answering to my transit-related concerns.
Remember folks: San Pedro between 3rd and 5th Streets should be avoided AT ALL COSTS.
Huffing and puffing, I reached the doors of the bus without a single soul-less body on my tail. The bus driver never appeared more angelic to me for not pulling away at the sight of me panting across the street. I shall be forever grateful to him for not only allowing me to board with insufficient funds on my Tap card, but also answering to my transit-related concerns.
Remember folks: San Pedro between 3rd and 5th Streets should be avoided AT ALL COSTS.
Once again, I’m uncertain of how I successfully made my return to civilization. The experience was beyond traumatizing. It wasn’t until much after a revitalizing shower and change of clothes that the ordeal sank in.
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I set off for the Day 1 Concert around 6:20 PM. It was significantly later than I would have liked, as the tight schedule contributed extra pressure on finding the correct subway platform and also prevented me from obtaining food before joining the ridiculous lineup for concert entry.
My favourite fangirl offered me a fruit scone from her day’s travels, which I gratefully scoffed down before entering the bag check room. Backpacks were scanned with scrutiny through bulky machinery deserving of airport security status. Water bottles were demanded to be tossed, and all LED fanboards were inspected.
While I did not carry any of my fanboards for the first night, I asked the guard in preparation for the second night. He responded that all signs would be allowed should not exceed the size limit of 11 in x 17 in. This brought about intense worry, since my largest sign measured 11 in x 20 in. My backpack also just barely made the cut for size restriction.
The group had secured a spot towards the front of the lineup, but after spending eons to pass through security, we did not find ourselves inside the venue until well after 7:20 PM. I wasn’t too content with missing majority of the Concert Pre-Show – popular YouTubers such as JuNCurryAhn, KRNFX, and Lydia Paek were part of the lineup – though I was glad to be one of the luckier few that managed to obtain her seat prior to the start of the official concert.
Day 1’s Concert was delayed significantly – no surprise, given the extensive security check and inadequate staffing. Lights only began to dim closer to 8:00 PM, approximately twenty-five to thirty minutes after the intended start time.
The show commenced with introductions of the performing artists; all groups would line up along the perimeter of the stage, wave at the crowds, and then duck back into the waiting area until their turn to perform. A supposed 360-degree stage had been implemented for this year’s KCON LA, promising that views would be better than the S-shaped formation of the previous year. Platinum/Diamond ticket holders had access to a designated GA pit, while P1 GA would consume the area around them. P2 GA were situated at the other end of the stage. I deemed these two sides the “front stage” and “back stage” respectively.
Speaking candidly, I was only familiar with a few of the groups performing on the first night, and only specific songs at that.
SF9 was the only group on the lineup that I had a strong enough desire to watch live; VIXX, while I knew enough songs from, was an artist that I had already had the opportunity of meeting at Toronto K-Pop Con 2016. Personally, I found that utilizing SF9 as an opening act was extremely rude of Mnet. SF9 is no longer a rookie group and therefore deserve a more fitting spot on the schedule. Moreover, they already gained experience performing at other overseas events and similar conventions (KCON NY). The crowds were cold during their song set, and reasonably so as the first night’s concert had barely begun. I felt that their performances received poor feedback as a result of their premature positioning. Their professionalism was perceived, nonetheless. Witnessing such highly synchronized and laborious choreography was a fantastic sight – the nonet deserved more of the evening’s spotlight in my opinion.
View the full album HERE !
VIXX’s Shangri-La and Seventeen’s Very Nice were the only other two tunes that had me nodding. The former was sleek and edgy, while the latter was cheerful and fun. Minah’s high note in I’ll Be Yours is also not to be taken lightly. I suppose I was slightly disappointed when Super Junior – D&E did not perform Still You (아직도 난), as it was a song that I associated deeply with feelings of comfort and reassurance.
My seat in PR17 enabled me a clear picture of all the evening’s performances, regardless of whether I was staring at the artists’ backs or their fingernail-sized heads. It also provided me with a view of my seat for the following night and granted a “trial run” of the concert check-in experience.
With this newly-acquired knowledge, I felt great and ready to take on the next day, especially seeing as it entailed GOT7!
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