Big Bang kicked off their epic journey across the world back in March 2012 for their grand-scale 'ALIVE' world tour. The boys faithfully visited several countries to see their fans for their tour, even while carrying out other activities such as promoting their album and participating in various solo activities.
After the first day to the finale of their epic World Tour, following G-Dragon's post, members Taeyang and Daesung also blogged their thoughts and reflected on the tour.
The following is a translation of Taeyang and Daesung's guest "Star Column" blog post:
# Hello, it's Big Bang's Taeyang^^
It's my first time greeting you through the Star Column. Big Bang Star Column is not about the passionate and cool stories about the stage from where we went all over the world in 2012, but! rather about the backstage episodes that you probably want to know more. I worried a lot about how to start this, but I think I'm going to write it like I'm writing a journal entry in my journal. Everyone, look forward to it~
In 2012, we were able to visit all over the world through the tour. The place I remember the most is Peru!! I think it's a country that I wouldn't have even had the chance of going if it weren't for the world tour. Peru was a country we were going for the first time without any previous information, so it was really fun from the start. It wasn't easy to go to Peru. We waited 10 hours at the airport because of the bad weather, and then we were able to arrive only after another 10 hours of flight time. Our first impression of Peru was *gasp*! There were more fans waiting at the airport than any other country. But we couldn't help but be surprised again when we got to the hotel.
[caption id="attachment_641303" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="We arrived at the Peru airport. Nice to meet you, everyone~"][/caption]
We were resting at our room when we got to the hotel, but we kept hearing cheers and singing outside. So I thought there was a big amusement park near the hotel. But I found out that the fans were waiting for us and singing and screaming. The fans' performance continued into the night. When I met the members and staff at the concert hall the next morning, they all said it was a new experience. Peru's first impression on us was intense.
[caption id="attachment_641305" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="The fans in front of the Peru hotel. There are so many, right? ^^"][/caption]
Wait a sec here! When we usually have overseas schedules, you're curious as to what we do at the hotel, right? Most of the members rest for the concert in their rooms. Usually, we watch variety shows and movies (We watch a lot of classics, not recent movies ^^) that we haven't been able to watch in Korea. And then we sleep, or sometimes we gather in one room, eat snacks, and chat. Usually, we talk about trivial things such as what program is fun, or if we watched a certain movie, but I think that the time we spend chatting is a really precious time.
[caption id="attachment_641309" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="At the rehearsal for the Peru concert. Isn't the kid really cute?"][/caption]
In Peru, I didn't want to stay in the hotel, and thought, 'Let's try going outside!!' and asked the staff around me to help. For the safety of the fans gathered in front of the hotel, my mission was to get out in the sneakiest way. I left the hotel in a way that reminded me of 007!! (I was sorry to the fans waiting in the front, but it was because of fans' safety, so please don't get upset~^^)
I succeeded in leaving, and I decided to go to a Inca traditional market because I was always interested in the Inca civilization. But sadly, I was too busy looking around to take pictures. ??
As soon as I got into the Inca traditional market, I was so excited about seeing things I've never seen before, so I got busy looking around and shopping. When I saw the high-quality hand craft items, I didn't think about the consequences(?) and just fully enjoyed shopping. (When I found out they check the luggage before we get on the plane by opening up all the wrappings, I was frustrated.. ?? I ripped open everything that was wrapped and then re-wrapped them again)
[caption id="attachment_641311" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="At the Peru concert. It looks like I'm singing really intently, right? ^^"][/caption]
I thought that a lot of cultures had come together to form one, new culture. The handcraft items were so beautiful that they would stand proud no matter where you put them. If I get a chance later, I'll show you the things I bought~^^
After the exciting shopping, the staff and I ate seviche, a unique food that we tried for the first time. It is a popular food in Peru where you age fish sashimi. We performed the 007 method again to go back into the hotel.
After my satisfying shopping and great food, I did a 'surprise greeting' from the hotel balcony that that all foreign stars seem to do from their hotels for the fans who were waiting late into night. I ended my first day in Peru like that.
A snapshot with all the members in Peru! I will always remember the cheer from that day.
I, Taeyang, was able to put on a passionate concert in Peru having recharged my energy from the great Inca traditional market and the fans' passionate support.
# He~~llo, it's Dae~Sung~~.^^
I was wondering what Youngbae hyung was working so hard on, and I found out he was writing a Star Column journal~! We visited a lot of new countries through this world tour so I had a lot of new experiences as well, and I'm going to tell you one of the stories in a bit.
I'm famous among the staff as being the member that doesn't come out from the hotel room. When we're resting, I just spend my own time.
[caption id="attachment_641313" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="The inside of the LA concert hall. I thank the LA fans again for being with us ^^"][/caption]
After the LA concert, we had a bit of resting time. Jiyong hyung and Youngbae hyung had a photoshoot so they left, Seungri went to a theme park with the manager hyung, and T.O.P hyung went to New York first...
I was going to rest in my room as always, but the staff told me that I spent 'wa~~y too much time in the room', and suggested that we go out to enjoy(?) LA.
[caption id="attachment_641314" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="LA fans, how are you doing~? ^^"][/caption]
So we decided tour around LA with the great weather and great air!
The first place we went was none other than a Korean. restaurant!^^ It was a restaurant we went to having received advice from an on-site staff, and their freshwater steamed fish is really god. As I ate good things, the first people I thought of were the members. My hyungs and dongsaeng like good food as much as I do~
I think the secret behind Big Bang's teamwork is sharing good restaurants with the members first if we find somewhere good and going there again.
(I promised to myself that I'd come again with the members before we left LA, and actually we went again the next day together.)
[caption id="attachment_641317" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="It was T.O.P hyung's birthday on November 4th. We wished him a great happy birthday during the LA concert with the fans. Hyung, happy birthday again~ ^^"][/caption]
Since we ate something good, we wondered where we could go next... We heard that there was a cool beach nearby, so we diligently went there.
Visiting the beach without the reason of having to film gave me a different feeling. When I saw people surfing, I wanted to dunk myself in the sea and surf with them, and seeing people sun tanning and leisurely enjoying themselves in the warm sun, I was envious and thought it looked nice.
I walked all the way to the end of the bridge in the middle of the sea as I talked with the staff, and I saw a great ocean view. Even though I'm not that skilled, I'll reveal one of the photos I took that day.^^
[caption id="attachment_641322" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="A picture of the sea I took with my cellphone. It looks better in real life. ^^"][/caption]
While we were coming back to the hotel after enjoying ourselves at the beach, we heard that there was an observation deck where you can see all of LA's night view behind the hotel, so we went up there.
Wow~ When I got up there, there was such a great night view, I was ashamed of having complained to the staff noona, asking how it could be different from the Seoul N-Tower observation deck, as we were coming up. The LA night view was a bit different than the Seoul night view. I want to express it in words, but I have no talent with words.. I'll reveal a photo of the night view instead.
[caption id="attachment_641323" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="It's the night view I took with my cellphone. The night view of the incredibly wide land was amazing."][/caption]
This was Daesung's LA touring journal in which I left on an outing wondering if there would be something different, but rather ended up finding leisure and enjoyment from the ordinary ~! ^.^
It's me, Daesung, during the LA concert. Aren't the wings awesome? ^^
In the 2nd part of the Big Bang Star Column, Seungri will be talking about the various experiences he had all over the world.
Look forward to it^^
Source: Taeyang and Daesung's Naver Star Column
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