HANGZHOU

Have been soooooo busy for quite a long while, just got sometime to come back to blog. Didnt talk about Hangzhou where I went for the long holiday, it is another city which is around 180 KM away from Shanghai. Hangzhou is well-known for it beautiful natural scenery becuz of West Lake (or Xi Hu in Chinese).

In my opinion, the lake is the only one tourist spot here. Many of both foreigners and Chinese people heading to the lake to view its beauty every minutes, especially during this holiday.

The lake is in the middle of the land so people can rent a bike and ride around the lake, which is pretty damn long round. Or, can rent a boat to float along the lake.

Here some random pics from this trip,

For heavy hardcore shoppers, you dont need to worry, Hangzhou is also one of the best places to kill your wallet. I saw almost every lux brands in the world’ shops here. And if you need to buy some streetwear brands, just head to Hangzhou Tower shopping mall. There is a shop called “SHINE”, they carry visvim, undercover, PLAY CDG, Mastermind Japan, Undercover, OriginalFake, and so on-what else do you need? The next door shopping mall (I have totally forgotten the name) also has another branch of SHINE. The time I went, some Undercover, Original Fake x NEIGHBORHOOD, and visvim items were 20-50% off.
What a deal!

That’s it. Wait for the next update.

YUYUAN X XIAO LONG PAO

Last Saturday, went to Yuyuan, the well famous for Xiao Long Pao.

This tourist attraction spot is covered by the old typical Chinese architectures. Also many souvenir shops and restaurants for tourists in the area. This place makes you feel like you are in the old time period of China.

STREETWEAR STORES IN SHANGHAI

Already 22 day time in Shanghai, have been around there quite several places to search and find somewhat called “streetwear” stores.

And here is the list for some of you coming here and have a problem of no idea where to get some street gears;

Oh, dont expect to see any photo of the shops here, I cant upload them now.
Sorry!

1. ACU
You know what they have for sell -Clot, Head Porter Plus, Whiz, Original Fake, Visvim (only shoes and accessories), Nike, and adidas Consortium. The best way to go there is by taxi. You find the address from their website, then tell the driver.

2. RMB
A resell shop, what they have is similar to conceptshop in HK. Just opposite ACU, cross the road and walk a bit. You will easily find it.

3. Less Mo
Same side with ACU, turn right in front of ACU and just keep walking straight around 5-10 minutes depends how fast you can walk. NH, Visvim, Bape, Fenom, and Play CDG are there! It is also resell shop.

4. GLOSS
A retail shop for many many brands I cant tell here, worth to go. I bought iDiom jacket here
Thank to the owner Ben for special discount. Located at G floor at the mall in Xintiandi. Get here by train at Huangpi Station.

5. Unity
Subcrew fans cant miss this. Walking distance from Gloss. This is a new location just moved from the old locaton.

6. Adfunture
Remember Hiroshi Fujiwara figure? This is a toy shop with some sneakers and brainchild apparel. Very near to Unity.

7. O-store Shanghai
In Sogo department store 4th floor. The biggest O-store in Shanghai. Get off at Jin’an Temple station.

8. Nike iD studio
Here you can make your own Nike iD (including NSW as well) with Shanghai exclusive material, hard to deny to not making a pair. A very big store consists of 2 floors by upstair is Nike stuff including AJs and downstair is a heaven for NSW fans. Get off at People Square Station.

9. 66 Plaza
It is a department store for luxury brands, which I.T. located here. You can find Comme Des Garcons and small corner of Visvim. You can walk from Sogo, but not really close. I warn you!

10. Source
A very very nice decorated shop. The most interesting I found is SARU brand. Others stuffs are Tsubi, Onitsuka Tigers, Volcom, Cheap Monday, and more. It is located same area with ACU. I dont remember where exactly is but you can find its address from google. Please note that the stuff might not be interested by hardcore hypebeasts but worth a visit to see how impression inside.

11. Fly
For skateboarding fans, a retail shop for DC, etnies, Nike SB, Dimond Supply some sort of that. One is not far from ACU, another one you might take a taxi from Sogo (around 11-14 RMB to get there). I will give tell you for the address later.

These are all I know for now. I am still looking for other shops else (if any) and update for you guys.

Thank a lot to Kevin, my new friend from New Balance China and Alvin from adidas China for taking me around these good spots.

P.S. sorry if I am not giving you exactly address of each shop cuz I dont really know, but you can do some search for it.

NEW YEAR TRIP IN TOKYO – DAY 5

Hi,

Finally last day, had had only half day time before flew back to BKK.

We (Junko and me) wanted to go to NSW again for our own pair of Nike iD, so today will be in Omotesando again.

We arrived there quite early to make sure we would have enough time designing our kicks but I faced these people lining up at NSW…

I suddely felt afraid of missing an opportunity to get my iD again

Junko went to ask the staff and he told us to come back at 1 pm for iD, so baddddd I didnt have enough time.

While I was thinking to leave NSW, I asked the person behind us what they were waiting.

He told us they were waiting for Match Classic HF, a collabo between Nike, Undercover, and Fragment Design.

No doubt!

I thoght I should have them too or I wouldnt get anything much for this trip.

We decided to join the line with them too.

Almost my turn

Came out with all 3 colours…my first serious pick up of the trip

Had some more time here, so went to Harajuku for a chance to get some more thing.

Lanvin located at the begining of Cat Street

Walked pass Bape Harajuku again and people also lining up.

The line

We waited to get in the store and found out nothing I should buy.

Mostly new items were outer and jacket, so ended up with buying nothing.

Then arrived Harajuku went to check Supreme, I saw some Visvim x Supreme items still available e.g. Serra, Jacket, etc.

Same building of Supreme, Neighborhood is underneath.

No line up at NH but quite big amount of people in the store. Bought one jacket and came out to BBC / Ice Cream nearby.

Nothing interesting, then went back to meet my family at the hotel.

That’s all for this trip.

Want to say it was quite disappointed only about the shops’ closure but other thing else was very very good.

Places, foods, countdown party all were fun.

Oh, the weather was a bit too cold too.

Thank you my friend who assisted us during this trip!

Hope to see you again Tokyo.

Bye Bye

NEW YEAR TRIP IN TOKYO – DAY 4

Hi,

Day 4 already, as siad in my previous post, today almost every shops finally opened after long break.

We chose Omotesando to be our destination.

Reached there quite early;

In the morning

F.I.L was the first shop I visited, but these people already started lining up

This day was the first day of Visvim Spring Summer 09 launching

I was asked by the shop staff to come back again at 2.00 pm. 

Nearby F.I.L is Cat Street, there are O-store Harajuku, NSW, Burton, and etc.

Along Cat Street

Many boutique shops in Cat Street had new collection launched and also clearance sale as well.

So you will see every shops had people lining up to purchase their new gears

Tokyo people like to line up?

Junko then came to catch up with us and we started walking along Cat Street.

O-store Harajuku

The front

Also visited NSW, but nothing new in the shop yet.

However, their clothing line is quite nice.

Then walked back to Omotesando again.

Even lunch, they still lining up

Kiddy Land, this 5 floors building is as its name. You will find only toy and household goods with cartoon on it.

I think every Japanese toy could be found here especailly Hello Kitty& Sanrio clan, San-X, and Snoopy.

Oh! Blythe, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach and more also in the 5th floor.

Bathing san-X

The whole 1st floor and a half of the 2nd floor are reserved by Hello Kitty

Getting more shopping people

Not odd to see these locals dress

I was so wonder they are lining up for what and I got the answer, they are waiting for Swagger’s new collection

I didnt want to cop any SWG, but at least wanna see how the shop looks like, so walk around quite long to find where it is.

I tell you this shop is sooooo hard to find and finally I met this sign,

I got a clue!

Found it, they got a new collection + lucky bag promotion (both SWG and Phenomenon)

How to say, the first floor of this building is VA, another adidas Consortium account and the basement is for X-Large

They are lining up for new X-large collection.

I went inside VA, many letter from azx on sale (V, R, S, M, L, C, and more!) and quite so cheap!

BUT the most interesting for me in VA was this;

Last pair of azx project, ZX

Closer

ZX elements-sole and torsion

And now time to lunch, we had a sushi at Omotesando

Here the restaurant, sorry I cant read Japanese

It is a Sushi Go Round restaurant.

Again, lining up but for sushi

Inside

This sushi is the winner

We finished this meal at 2.00 pm, it is the time to go back to F.I.L!

At F.I.L the line was longer than the morning. I was so afraid things would be sold out.

The pic inside the shop, almost my turn to get in (sorry to see my image reflecting in the pic )

Just as I thought the shoes I wanted to buy already sold out so came out with my empty hand.

Then walked to Harajuku to check the shops there.

First stop was UNDEFEATED

They doing a clearance sale at the down stair (same floor with Stussy), but the shop is upstair

I cop only one UDFT tee.

Next is Bape Harajuku, they moved to a new location and the store is a lot bigger than the old one.

The full name of Bape – A Bathing Ape in Lukewarm Water

I heard this long time ago and almost forget about it.

The first and the second floor are for men whilst the basement is for lady and kid.

See the line up?

Didnt have much time to join the line so I had to skip it.

Then walked to Aoyama side locatede above Omotesando.

Famous building, Prada

Undercover, Original Fake, Y-3, Neighborhood Black Flag, Loveless, and CDG still closed

PLAY CDG

Last stop for this area is Cinch, as I said in my earlier post, Tab Device was already gone.

And they open a new one, it is Cinch.

Actually, evey shop in Tokyo is quite hard to find cuz the road and the map are not aligned with each other. This shop is more than hard to find.

Walked back and forth with Junko for pretty long time fidning it and eventually;

Found it

Cinch stocks some premium Levi’s, LVC, and only place for Fenom line.

The time I was there, there are like Levi’s Tahiti 80, LVC 501xx 1966, Fenom Saddle stitch, and some Fenom skull tee and hood parka.

The window

That’s all in Omotesando, Harajuku, and Aoyama.

Went to Isetan with a hope to buy Visvim that sold out at F.I.L and super crazy people again there.

Only Visvim model that looks ugly to me still on the shelf

New Balance x Junya still available for my size, but I ‘d better pass it.

Then dinner and went back to the hotel.

Hope you will not feel pain to read my ever longest post.

Continue Day5 soon.

Bye Bye

NEW YEAR TRIP IN TOKYO – DAY 3

Hi,

I have come to day3.

Let’s keep on.

It was 1st Jan 2009, we were sure everywhere is closed but still lucky that Roppongi was opened.

Therefore, we took our only one choice to go there.

Arrived Roppongi Hills and walked around. Nothing much for me, only this:

Yea, O store Roppongi

I saw ZX700 Boat on the sale table already.

Then another only place and quite famous in term of tourist attraction, Asakusa where Senso-Ji temple is located.

We more than shocked that an extremely big of crowd visiting the temple today.

I never seen Tokyo people such this pack!

An intersection after got off the station, the Asahi Beer building is at our backside.

Just for today, the road was closed for people walking to the temple

I saw this guy was shouting for something, may be Junko could explain what he was doing

Almost reach the temple

Here is it! One of well know attraction for people who come to Tokyo

My 4th time visiting this temple  -__-”

These many souvenir shops along the street to the temple also an attraction for every tourists as well as me

See??

They are waiting to get inside the temple

Another side of the temple, many restaurants

Then time to dinner, we picked this famous Tempura restaurant in the temple area.

How famous?

I waited around 30 mins to be seated.

How it looks like

Again, Junko please tell other readers what this restarant’s name is.

I love their Sashimi though

Getting dark, but people still packed

We felt enough of here, then headed back to the hotel

While walking back, I saw this cute candy

And this bun, what to call? I dont remember

I think that’s all for today.

Next day, all things are going back to normal.

Almost all shops are opened so I can feel more about Tokyo

Wait for my next update, Day4.

Bye Bye

NEW YEAR TRIP IN TOKYO – DAY 2

Hi,

Let’s me continue my day 2,

We kicked off by going to the very famous department store, Isetan in Shinjuku.

Before we went inside Isetan, I had poped up Originals Store Shinjuku first to cop “I trefoil Shinjuku” tee.

Bad luck again, the store was closed

Signature Trefoil library wall

The promotion at that moment – Lucky Bag

O – fix bike???

After Isetan, I splited with my family to another busiest area in Tokyo, Shibuya.

 

Center of Shibuya, this huge building selling books, magazines, and DVDs.

Shibuya JR Station

People walking in Shibuya

First place to visit is adidas SPC Shibuya store, newly opened!

Here, they exclusively have “adidas Originals x Santa Inoue tees”

The front of the store

A window with Passion concept

Even this is SPC store, they still spare the basement for Originals.

I really like this impressive 6009 windows.

House Party, and please remember, Every of you will be invited to this party!

Please keep update

Prepare to celebrate adidas’s 60th Anniversary!

Our 2nd stop is BAPE Store Shinjuku, and….again it was closed

Only had a chance to see outside of the store

Then walked around Shibuya a little bit and did some shopping.

Had spaghettie for lunch, I thought we were having enough here thus changed to another famous place for hypebeasts around the world.

Yea, it is Harajuku!

If you have been here, you must know after we get off Harajyuju station, we must walk pass this little street before we get inside Harajyuku.

For who havent, this street is called Takeshita-dori.

It is a pedestrain only street that has fashion shop, cafe’, and restaurant. A ton of clothing styles you can find here!

I feel like every time I come here, there is always a lot of young high school student walking.

Trendy and famous food for people who come here- crepe

Many kinds…

Another cafe’

In Harajyuku, many stores also closed for new year including Neighborhood, Supreme, VA, BBC Ice Cream, Head Porter, Undefeated, and Bounty Hunter.

What a luck!

Only some resell stores opened but didnt buy anything cuz they sell at market price…grrrr

No chance here, decided to go to Omotesando again.

View from crossing bridge of Omotesando street

Many luxuries boutiques you know are here such as Dior, LV, Gucci, Channel, Lanvin, Amarni, and etc.

Again, Originals store Harajyuku, F.I.L, Original Fake, Undercover, CDG, and Nike Sportwear store still closed.

NSW, you also can do your own pair of Nike iD here!

So damn nice…

Enough walking, we went back to hotel and waited for my family to have dinner nearby our hotel.

Today, we had Shabu Shabu for dinner.

Gourmet beef

Plus sushi

Quite nice shabu shabu and very very traditional meal I never experinced before

And tonight, it is a last night of 2008, yes we had to find some place to countdown and welcome 2009!

Thank to Junko that informed me earlier to go to Ageha club for countdown becuase our fav DJ performed there.

That DJ is Dexpistols! That was my 2nd time to see Daruma on board again.

As expected, many many people as its popularity.

Waited in line to enter the club for damn long and the weather very cruel to me.

So freezeeeeeeeeee!

DJ Daruma, he is always dope on the deck

DJ Maar

So tired for this countdown but very cool, Tokyo’s night life is very crazy!

Wanna come here again ( I am crossing my fingers).

Was back to hotel almost morning and prepare for the next day, a first day of 2009.

Please continue Day3

Bye Bye

NEW YEAR TRIP IN TOKYO – DAY 1

Hi,

Finally I could update my new year trip in Tokyo.

Spent there for 5 days with my family.

Arrived Tokyo around 3.00 pm ++

At Narita airport

In front of the airport, waiting for a bus taking us to the hotel.

The bus took around 90 minutes to reach our hotel in Akasaka.

 

My room, quite small…

One thing I like in Japan

The weather was pretty cold, and we can not go anywhere yet so walked around to find our first meal.

The View during walking

My friend Junko also came to see us then decide to have Japanese pizza, Okonomiyaki.

The restaurant is nearby our the hotel.

Appetizer

First order, there is JP noodle inside

This 100g grilled beef costs us 3800 JPY

My first time to see and eat such a big shelles like this before!

After the nice meal, splited with my family and went to Omotesando with Junko.

We visited F.I.L, Undercover, Original Fake, Bape Exclusive, Y-3, and CDG.

But very bad luck every shop already closed even Tab Device (LVC and Fenom) also gone, I saw it was  replaced by a construction.

Didnt want to waste more energy, so went back to the hotel and ready for the next day.

That was all for my first day.

Please continue Day2.

Bye Bye

NEW YEAR VACATION!!!

Hi,

2008 is going to an end, Happy new year to you all!

I am flying to Tokyo tonight, will update once I get back.

For anyone who is having a trip for new year holiday, wish you save and sound.

Peace

DAY 3 IN HONG KONG

Well, have come the last day.

Again, starting the day at the same restaurant from the previous day, Sweet Dynasty.

Dim-sum

Tofu Pudding

Once we finished, decided to walking around the area again and went to Avenue of Star at Ferry Pier.

It is a place that many HK actors and actress got their hands’ imprints and autographs on the passage way along the pier.

Jackie Chan’s one

Jet Li’s

Also Bruce Lee, Andy Lau, Wong Kar Wai, Chow Yun Fat, and many more.

But I did not see Koon Hei Chen or our Edison Chen

From Avenue of Star, walked right next to the Star Ferry Pier to catch a ferry to Central.

Not by train as we needed HK’s old feeling and sight seeing the view of famous HK’s peir.

During our walk, we found

Damn big Olympic logo on the building

Beijing’s Olympic torch

I am buying the token for the ferry

In the ferry

The view

After had finished walking at Central, it was the time to get back to hotel and move to the airport.

We were done our this trip.

Noting much at the airport. So I think my trip has come to an end.

HK, I will not see you soon

But as said fun but tired.

Bye Bye