T1W6 Adventures of 2046 (6)

Walking around the house, we saw many things to our liking. There was an arcade located at the basement. Our practice place was also on the same level, with brand new drums, keyboard, guitar, amplifiers, mikes and most importantly it was sound proofed so we could practice with our might. The first floor was the living room, with a 42-inch plasma television, big sofa set as we were all gregarious. Behind it was a big space where they converted it into a exercise corner, with treadmills and many other exercise machines. There was a machine with free flow of soft drinks in the kitchen. Another was a machine which could produce food according to our choices - like the one in Japan. There was also a surround sound system in the house so that music can be played in the background. We shared bedrooms, 2 to a room, but had personal rooms to put our own instruments or study there. That personal room became our cache, where we would rest or practise there. Another of our favourite place was the attic, with a glass ceiling which illuminated the house in the day, and allowed us to gaze at stars at night. That became our "habitat", where we would lie sedentary there and share our troubles or childhood memories, and fall asleep there. Outside the house, there a Olympic-sized swimming pool where we can swim there. There is also a jacuzzi in the bathroom, half the size of the swimming pool, to relieve tiredness. The walls surrounding the house are built higher than usual so as to prevent interlopers.

Just as we were enjoying ourselves, Manager X called and said we were to meet a composer who will brief us on our future direction after some analysis. We were extremely excited as this was our first time meeting a composer.

T1W5 Adventures of 2046 (5)

While waiting to board the plane at the airport, we witnessed a couple quarrelling. It was not us that were busybodies, just that they were speaking so loudly that it made it difficult for us not to listen. They were debating over who was culpable as they looked very agitated. Calling each other epithets as they declaimed over who was responsible of looking after their child. The guy tried to walk away from this embarrassing scene but his wife fettered him saying :"Don't think by walking away it will solve the problem!" The man then flashed back a menacing glare, with a tinge of nonchalance. He pushed the woman away, leaving her sobbing incessantly.

It was then time to board the plane back to Taiwan. We started to think about the scene just occurred just now, and that we will not treat them as a paragon, definitely not. After 5 hours of flight, we arrived at our homeland. However much we missed Japan, we still felt that closeness to our homeland, and that it was the best place to be in.

Due to the overwhelming response of the fans awaiting us outside our house as they knew we were coming back on that day, we were brought to the house that we were only supposed to be introduced to two weeks later. Stepping into this grand place with many facilities, we were just overjoyed to explore our new home.

T1W4 Adventures of 2046 (4)

Few days later, we were told that we were arranged to visit Japan, the land of the rising sun. The first thing we thought was that the Japanese were all so stereotyped - silky hair, fair skin, and below average height. This trip was quite singular, as not many stars got sponsored to go overseas if they were not there to do publicity campaigns or starr in shows.

We got on the midnight flight on 8 December 2008. As it was not our first time taking a plane, but we were still very excited as it was our first time going overseas with the band members. We were playing games, listening to music, reading a book and watching movies respectively. We landed at Narita Airport in Tokyo and took a domestic flight to Hokkaido. It was some of our first times going to Japan, so we were elated. Seeing the culture there, it was totally different from life in Taiwan. Their convenience stalls were practically everywhere, selling almost everything ranging from chewing gums to lunchboxes. Vending machines were even better, selling drunks, piping hot from cigarettes and some even chewing gum. We had a hot sand bath, where we were required to lie supine in ordered to be covered in sand. It was said to have therapeutic effects and could relax tensed muscles. In this mammoth country, Japan, we were awed by its health benefits in just a simple meal of cold soba, as the ingredient in these noodles could have 54 times the nutritional values of other similar ingredients.

Though we loved this country and the not easily nettled people there, we still had to go back to Taiwan. However, we would visit it whenever possible. Japan had made a deep impression in our minds. Many things ran through our minds while we sat at the restaurant at the airport for our meal.

T1W3 Adventures of 2046 (3)

In a matter of months, 2046 rose to stardom and subjugated the entertainment industry. Posters, advertisments, broadcasts, magazines and everyone was talking about us. Even when we were so popular, we were not very happy, as we were not adapting to the hectic lives we were leading. We yearned for a haven to retreat in, away from the busy lives we had. As such, school frequently clashed with rehearsals or practice, therefore conflicts broke out. We discussed long and hard and eventuate in a viable plan, to make up for the rehearsals we missed. We planned to practice every night in the garage to enhance our chemistry and skills.

Rumours permeated the Internet, about the members of 2046 being at loggerheads. That's what it is like when someone rises to stardom. Calls came in, emails flooded our inbox, but we did not know how to handle it. Our manager was then introduced to us. His name was X, Manager X. We did not query about his name as we were attracted by his dressing style and his handsome looks. Dressed in a red skull shirt under a black vest with chains, donning leather pants, his eyes hidden under aviator shades. Spiked golden hair, long sideburns and his fringe combed to the left, he was a typical hip hop punk kind of guy. Though he was merely 17, with his looks and his well built body structure, it was enough to cause me to not be able to make my eyes leave him.

In a bid to surpress the rumours, he told the media that 2046 had been arranged in a trip to go overseas, to relieve the stress we had gone through these days. Nothing more was said, neither the location nor duration. That left our supporters feeling cryptic but at least it surpressed the rumours.

P.s See where we are going for our vacation!

Can one improve his or her English skills?

I believe one will be able to improve his or her English skills with more practice, hard work and the will to succeed. Only when you believe you can succeed, then you will be able to. If you don't believe that you will be able to improve, you won't.

No one will have perfect English or a wide vocabulary from the time they start to learn english. Some people always wonder why some people can do better that others, however they do not put in effort to learn, but only envy those people with good english results. It is only from hard work that they will be able to improve their english skills, so it is definitely possible to improve their english skills.

By reading a wide range of books and gaining more exposure to different words that you will find in the books, you can widen your vocabulary and know more words as you read, so that difficult words don't stumble you. Clear your doubts whenever you are unclear about a word or don't understand things, and it will help you to be able to perform better as you understand what the question requires you to write to answer the question, so that you will get the marks you deserve. Lastly, you must believe that you will succeed even when others may think your chances of improving your english skills are slim. You should not believe what others say but rather, believe in yourself that you are able to do it.

In conclusion, I believe that one will definitely be able to improve his or her english skills with the proper help and the hard work they put it. Nothing is impossible if you work hard.

T1W2 Adventures of 2046 (2)

In this fortuitous meeting, we had this fate to become members of the same band, and were required to live together as stated in the contract, in a bungalow provided by the company. Living together was quite a challenge to overcome, especially with our incoherent characters. However, we managed to reach a consensus to live in harmony with each other as harmony breeds wealth. Pretty soon, we began getting along so well that we looked like sisters whenever we were together. We shared secrets, fun, enjoyment and were extremely close that we shared almost everything but underwear. We started out busy lives as invitations to participate in entertainment shows, acting and recording our own albums, and our pictures appeared on placards soon after. Many more stuff soon came up and our lives were still filled with fun and enjoyment. Though our schedules were really paacked, we still found time to practice on each of our instruments. We really enjoyed such flamboyant lives as this is when we started to live our lives to the fullest. Everyone in the band soon became integral parts of the band, even our lives.

T1W1 Adventures of 2046 (1)

The waiting room was inundate with people waiting for their turn to audition for a band. The four winners would be able to form a band, and would be able to rise to stardom. Many people were too nervous and resulted in them being garbled about which notes to play. This was also where I met three passionate musicians: Chiro-a guitarist, Taroko-a singer who plays the flute as well and Sasuke-a keyboardist. They did not panic like most of them did. Meticulously, they cleaned and tuned their instruments, hoping to present the most perfect music as well as they could. Many of the other contestants left after fruitless attempts. Not forgetting to introduce myself, a zealous drummer, whose biggest dream is to be able to share my passion for music with the world-Picho.

After my turn for the audition, I was told to enter a conference room, where I saw the three musicians I met earlier. The company handed us a contract and after signing, a band name was decided on. This is where my life reached the first turning point. I was only 14 when this band, 2046 was formed. However, little did I know my life would change conpletely at this turning point...to be continued.