Four Days in Taiwan !!

To make Taiwan’s rich tourism resources and culture known globally, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has launched a special program as part of its 2008-2009 Tour Taiwan Years campaign. Experienced travelers worldwide are invited to submit money-saving yet creative itineraries for a trip in Taiwan, share their personal stories from the tour in audio/visual blog posts, and let people around the world see this island nation through their eyes.

(My Favorite Video)

ITS TAKE 1 SECOND TO VOTE! CLICK THE LINK BELOW, CONTEST ENDS OCTOBER 31st!! =)

http://tiny.cc/vote4us

Who are you ? what do you do? and what was so appealing about the contest?

I'm Yi and I'm part of the Sounds of Taiwan team with my friend Emma. We're one of the finalist competing in the Taiwan Best Trip competition. The contest was appealing as we love traveling and Taiwan was always a place we wanted to explore further. We had no idea we would get this far and hopefully we'd go away with the NT$1,000,000 - that would be sweet.

 Currently I'm a freelance marketer and photographer. I've quit my high-paying corporate job recently and moved to Taipei (yes, I loved it that much)!

Is there anything that surprised you about taiwan?

I was surprised about how open and helpful the people were. In not many countries where you can always find people who will go that extra step in helping out someone who doesn't really speak the language and is obviously confused or lost.

What was your most memorable experience there?

I loved going to WuLai and seeing a native Taiwanese tribal dance up close and in person. It was also a great experience to be able to meet the people in the community and find out how music and dance have influenced their way of life.

What did you notice how aussie-asians between the taiwanese ?

I didn't meet a lot of Australians in Taiwan. However, there were lots of Americans though - mainly expats who came here to teach English.

A comparison between local Taiwanese and Aussie-Asians would probably be that growing up in Australia you would less conservative, have a strong passion for sports and definitely more out-spoken about your social views.

During your trip, if china dropped a million men from the sky in parachutes, what would you do ?

I would probably take the next flight out of Taiwan. Haha.

Monica Tang : Norway's Top 100 Blogger !

There are many negatives and positives of the internet. It depends how you use it. One of the wonderful things about the internet I enjoy is the Translation software and websites such as Google Translate, or such Apps like iPhones "Tweetie 2". I came across Monica Tang accidentally, but she quickly caught my attention. All her twitter messages were in Noregian, as well as her Blog Site. I thought to myself, What? there are Chinese people in Norway? LoL. With the translations tools, I was able to follow her and learn a little bit about a mix-culture that I was unfamiliar with. The very charming and beautiful Monica Tang, was kind enough to give urbanasia their very FIRST interview. We knew it had to be her, not only because of our agreement, but coinsidently she was our 100th follower on Twitter, and our 1st follower on BlogSpot! We'll label this interview under "Destiny" LoL

Thank you so much for your time Monica, Let me start of by asking what your background is ?

I am a 20 years old girl living in Europe, Norway. My mother is a chinese but raised up in Vietnam. My dad is a Vietnamese. Because of the Vietnam war, they had to refugee from their homeland and they ended up here in Norway, where I am born. :) I am studying at university college, and I am half done with my Bachelor's degree. I have a huge passion for fashion and makeup, as you may notice on my blog!

Why do you blog? Is their something you want to achieve? 

At first I wanted to blog because I wanted to have a diary that my mother couldn't get (LOL SHE USED TO READ IT ALL THE TIME), but later I gained some readers and then I blogged to update my online friends. I've blogged for over five years now (first on LJ, then Blogger and now on self hosted Wordpress), and today I am blogging because I want to share my everyday life because people thinks my everyday lifestyle is cool, and I also use the blog to write down my thoughts. Its like therapy, maybe. Some people also think that I blog because of the money, but that is not true. The money I get from blogging isn't much. :P

Have you ever visited your homeland? Any thoughts about it compared to Norway? 

I have never been in China before, but I will do it someday! I've visited Vietnam once (2005), and it felt like home! All the people, the language, the culture... It was an amazing trip! Many of my family members lives there, and it was so great to finally meet them. So inspiring to see how big families lived together (it isn't common to live with uncles, aunts, grandparents and so on). Even many of the people I met was poor, they still were happy. That was maybe the main difference about Vietnam and Norway. When family members get elder here in Norway, it is common for them to move to a nursing home, but in Vietnam they took care of each other no matter what. More respect for the elders.

Do you see yourself as more Norwegian or more Chinese/Vietnamese?

I have to say that I feel more Norwegian than Asian, but since I've been raised up with a Asian culture at home - I know my heart belongs to Asia. I talk Cantonese and Vietnamese, honor means a lot for me like it does for many other Asians. Unlikely my Norwegian friends, I am thinking VERY much about my future. My parents is very obsessed with being successful including making their kids successful too, and to not disappoint them I often think about how I can make them proud of me LOL

Wow thats amazing, that means you speak FOUR languages!! 
So with your make up and fashion, where does the influence come from ? and why do you like the style that you do?

My makeup is very inspired by the Japanese style gyaru. I think this kind of makeup style very pretty on Asians! Many people think that I am trying to look more western, but that isn't true. I LOVE extreme looks, including cyber, goth... you name it. Asians like me are supposed to have dark hair, so blonde is a totally extreme way to "modify" the original look.

Do you feel Norway is ethnically diverse? Have you encountered and struggles or racism growing up ?

This is a really hard question. I was raised up in a little town called Larvik. There are not many foreigners here I could be with, so I kind of grew up as a normal Norwegian girl. I didn't really feel that people were being racist or anything. The biggest problem I had was to be Western and still be Asian. My parents didn't allow me to do many things that all my Norwegian friends could do (sleepover at friends, party and such), and I have to admit that it was hard.

I noticed you have a caucasian boyfriend? can you tell me some of the differences of Norwegian guy to Asian Norwegian guys? what do you like and don't like about them ? 

I HAD a boyfriend. :P I haven't had a Asian boyfriend before, so I cannot go anywhere with this question...

Ummmmm Akwarddddd.... Sorry about that, so Last Question; Whats with the love for panties/underwear? haha 

Well, nice underwear makes me feel a lot more prettier. I'm not showing them for anyone, but wearing nice underwear does something about how I feel. :P

Thank you so much Monica Tang!!!!

To read more about Monica, her website is Http://www.MonicaTang.com (to be used with Google Translate)

Noriko Sakai Drug Queen?

More than 6,000 people have queued for the 20 seats in a Tokyo courtroom's public gallery to see a famous Japanese singer and actress go on trial. 
(source: http://www.bbc.co.uk)

Noriko Sakai, 38, has pleaded guilty to using and possessing illegal drugs.

The case has gripped Japan since August when her husband was arrested and she went on the run for a week before turning herself in to the police.

Prosecutors say she took amphetamines in July and that police found a small amount of the drug in her Tokyo home.

In Monday's hearing, she pleaded guilty to possessing 0.008 of a gram of a stimulant drug and of using drugs too.

Police say that after she went on the run, more drugs were found in her apartment.

Sakai faces up to 10 years in prison, though most first violations bring suspended sentences.
A verdict and sentencing are scheduled for November 9. 

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Its crazy what we take for granted here in North America. If you don't know Noriko Sakai, she was a young pop star who began her career at the tender age of 16. She rose to stardom in the late 80's and on through the 90's. You can compare her popularity to Christina Agulera or Monica during her run in Japan. So a past childhood star, respected and loved, is now shedding tears of shame and in the court house. I had to double check if the decimals were in the right spot, but her charges are for 0.008 of amphetamines. No Joke, I have a scale in front of me right now, I just clipped off a couple toe nails which weighed in at 0.019. The justice system in Japan is serious business! A huge contrast to what Western celebrities can get away with, sex tapes, gun charges, child molestation, OJ Simpson can walk away with murder. And here Japan is talking about practice? sorry I mean a couple droplets of drugs. North Americans are lucky not only for a more lax system towards drug possession, but also how a country or society does not vilify you for being a recreational drug user. I wish her the best and hope the charges are minimal. But seriously, 6000 people to watch you plead guilty for drug charges? You have to be kidding!!!!  Haven't they heard the Windows 7 whopper at Burger King is on sale only for 1 week?

A Star is Born, Clap for Her ?

(Source: Tokyo-Graph)

22-year-old Manami Nakamura will make her international debut as a singer this month. In August of last year, she outlasted a field of 1,700 hopefuls to win the STAR BAPE SEARCH, an audition held by American producer Pharrell Williams and Japanese producer NIGO (creator of fashion brand A Bathing Ape).

The singer will go by just her first name, Manami. Her debut song is an R&B love song titled "Back Of My Mind," produced by Pharrell. It will be released through iTunes in 23 countries on October 21.

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So I feel bad for the girl, I checked out the track, and it was pretty bad (than again I was never a big fan of Pharrell beats). I don't know how well A Bathing Ape's clothing company is selling in Asia, but in North America, its time here bust quicker than Buster Douglas on a Double D Bust. Was a Bathing Ape really looking for a "star"? or was this just a sad attempt to create some buzz to revive another falling clothing line? Having Listened to the track a few times, it sounded like something Pharrell put together between breakfast and brunch. Releasing the track in 23 countries and in English, A Bathing Ape hopes to regain some international attention. However, what can a unknown singer from Asia do to help a sinking fashion line? Only time will tell, she needs to come out with a HIT, or start with a little Strip... I hope it works out for both parties, cause I was and still am a fan of A Bathing Ape. In Nigo we Trust !

Gamblerz become B-Boy Legends

Battle of the Year 2009 is over !! And the world famous Korean B-boys Gamblerz won 1st Place !! First Crew Ever to win BOTY twice*!  While Japan's All Area Crew took down the Best in Show!

BOTY is break dancing, or "b-boying's" ultimate competition. Started in 1990, the top crew from each of the 18 countries come together in Germany to compete or "battle"

However, I'm not really going to talk about BOTY, if you want to know more, I'd check out the documentry Planet B-Boy directed by Benson Lee. One of the most well put together documentaries about b-boying to date. What I enjoyed about this doc, was that it looked beyond the dance, and opened up the roots and culture behind b-boys.

If you look at the past winners, or runner up, you'll notice a trend.

*Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Year

Year	Champion	Runner Up	Best Show
2009	Gamblerz	Top 9	All Area Crew
2008	Top 9	T.I.P.	Top 9
2007	Extreme Crew	Turn Phase Crew	Turn Phase Crew
2006	Vagabonds	Last For One	Vagabonds
2005	Last For One	Ichigeki	Ichigeki
2004	Gamblerz	Fantastik Armada	Break the Funk
2003	Pockémon	Expression	Fire Works
2002	Expression	Vagabonds	Vagabonds
2001	Wanted	Team Ohh	Visual Shock
2000	Flying Steps	Waseda Breakers	Waseda Breakers
1999	Suicidal Lifestyle	Rock Force Crew	/ Spartanic Rockers
1998	Rock Force Crew	The Family	Spartanic Japan

What The Blood Sausage!?!?!! Ever since 2001, the Korean B-boys have been running things!!! Before 2000 they were virtually unheard of, USA being the birth of b-boying, and Europe took it to another level in the 90's....

So where did these guys come from? how did they get so good?

One way to look at is that the Koreans boys are required to have military training  in which they must attend for 2 years. This takes place when they are in their early 20's. Like any young adult it is a scary unknown. For b-boys, its an added fear they will lose their skills. Therefore before being enlisted in the military, they have one simple philosophy "GO ALL OUT". On top of a rising dance culture, Koreans, are known for their ego, pride, emotion, and competitiveness (especially against Japan); which adds that fuel to the fire. Their mentality to be the best is shown in BOTY. As of right now, Korean power moves are the best in the World.

The Japanese on the other hand,  are one of the most innovative countries in the world. This reflects and can be seen in the b-boy culture as well; along with a rich history of art culture, the Japanese b-boys really understand the artistry side, in dance. Combined together with their intrinsic passion, and hard work ethic, they put together amazing amazing shows, which they have won 7 of the past 12 years in the Best of Show category.


But why can't Japanese b-boys win battles? I mean All Area came close, by beating Gamblerz in BOTY Asia 2009, but other than that, they can't seem to win battles! In my personal opinion, I feel they lack aggression, that battles demand. or maybe Power moves? or are they too nice? I still have yet to figure it out! =/ 

Heres a link to Japan's BOTY performance in 2005, which was also documented in Planet B-boy

So this was just a very quick General blog, if this generates more interest, i will write a Part 2 that will look at the b-boy culture more into depth. Perhaps ill touch on topics like why USA, the creators of b-boy can't seem to win. Also... I did speak highly of the Koreans and the Japanese, but I can't forget about France, who have been very dominant in BOTY as well. Or even other rising countries in Asia, such as Vietnam and Taiwan who have very respectful b-boys. But for now Korea and Japan seem to dominate the b-boy world !

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if you have more interest in the b-boy culture. I recommend these links.

Battle of the Year - http://www.battleoftheyear.de/

IBE - http://www.thenotoriousibe.com/

B-Boy forum - http://www.bboy.org/

*Battle Squad did win twice when BOTY first started 91 & 92, but IMO it didn't really count since it was like only 6 teams