Day 67: Melon Music Awards

Today BTS is performing at the Melon Music Awards (MMAs). Unfortunately, Ella and I didn't get tickets to it, but we decided to stream it together from a cafe. No crowds, comfy seating, and access to food!

The red carpet started at 5 pm and the show started at 7 pm, but Ella and I met at 2:30 to look at a BT21 store in Gangnam and get our nails done. The store was called Monopoly and it was this super cute shop in Apgujeong that had tons of BT21 products that I hadn't seen anywhere else. I bought a planner for next year (that I will probably never use) and a Koya keychain like thing for my bag.

We found a nail place around the corner and both of us got our nails done. The lady had so many pretty designs, but I wanted something that wasn't a bright colour or pattern so it wasn't obvious when they started to grow out. I went with a white gradient that turned out a lot different than the picture I showed, her but it was still ok.

By the time we finished our nails the red carpet had already started. Fortunately, BTS is typically the last group to walk it so we figured we still had a lot of time. We found a Jin birthday cafe near Hakdong (in Gangnam) and walked there to set up. There were a couple of posters and some fun decorations, plus we got multiple photo cards!

We were getting hungry so we decided to go to Savour (which was just around the corner) for some kimbap and other snacks after the red carpet. The award show had started so we set it up on my laptop and walked to the restaurant while balancing the laptop in one hand and trying not to walk too fast to keep our headphones in. The walk consisted of both of us laughing at our embarrassing fan girl selves and it was a very entertaining experience. We ate quickly while watching the show and then we walked to another cafe nearby (while still balancing the laptop and watching).

BTS giving a speech at cafe #2

BTS won tons of awards as usual and it was nice to be sitting in comfy chairs with an unobstructed view of all the performances. However, at 11 pm, just as BTS were about to perform, one of the baristas came over and told us they were closing early. Initiate complete fan-girl panic mode. Ella grabbed our bags and I tried to connect to my phone hotspot as quickly as possible. We shuffled out of the cafe with bags and headphones everywhere while I was still trying frantically to connect to my hotspot. We had absolutely no idea where to go and BTS was about to start their performance so we ran down to the subway and found a bench near the entrance.

We then sat there for the next 45 minutes freaking out over the BTS stage while people passed by. The stage was awesome! They did a super cool remix of Idol plus Jungkook, Jimin, and Hobi (J-Hope) had individual traditional dance performances. The intro for fake was amazing! Thinking about it now seriously has my heart beating faster. They wore the same outfits that they wore in one of the photoshoots for their Love Yourself: Answer shoot, which surprised everyone and they even stood in the same poses. Aghhhhh it was so cool!!!! I was literally gripping onto Ella's arm so hard the entire time and neither of us spoke for the whole performance except for 'omygosh, omygosh, omygosh'. So, ya, it was pretty cool. It was nice to be able to watch with someone who is just as big of a fan of their music and performances as I am. We both freak out over the same things and we get all the references! I will definitely miss this when I go back to Canada.

The outfits from Love Yourself: Answer version E

Fake Love Intro + performance:

Idol Intro + performance:

BTS won more prizes and more daesangs and then the award show ended. Ella and I just sat in the middle of the subway trying to recover. All in all it was a great day and I am now going to wrap up this post and go rewatch their performances because writing this has got me thinking about it again.

Oh! Another quick note before I finish. I contacted the host of the place and they let me move rooms! I moved to a much nicer room after I got home from the concert. I didn't want to pack everything up and then unpack it, so I carried my stuff back and forth between the two rooms haha. This one is so much better! It still smells a little weird but I went out and bought a lavender air freshener so hopefully that will help. I looked for vanilla, but there were absolutely no vanilla scented items, quite sad. This room is a different shape (so I actually have space to put both my suitcases) and it has much more shelving space! I spent the night happily setting up the albums and items that I have bought and creating a much nicer living space. I'm so thankful I was able to move rooms. Ok bye, going to watch BTS performances now.

Hope everyone is doing well,

Emily

Bonus (if you're interested): here is a video that the youngest BTS member (Jungkook) made of the three main dancers (Jungkook, Jimin, J-Hope) practicing for the MMAs

(December 1, 2018)