What an amazing weekend we just had and what an honour it was to be invited to attend the WebTVAsia Awards 2016, in Seoul, Korea, travelling with a big group of funny and entertaining Indonesians.
As we stepped outside Incheon International Airport, we were greeted with freezing weather of only 1 degrees, which was such a shock to the system coming from Jakarta where the temperature is always either super hot or unbearably hot. We visited a Seaweed Factory and had a chance to dress in traditional Korean costumes to take some fun photos before heading to our final destination of the Gangnam District. After all the hype about Psy and his super popular song ‘Gangnam Style’, we were eager to go exploring!
Arriving to 1 degrees at Incheon International Airport
Putra and Jovi making delicious gimbap
Putra and Dennis in traditional Korean costume
We attended a big dinner and gathering held by WebTVAsia where its Founder, Fred Chong, welcomed everyone to the event and we had a chance to mingle with all the attendees and make new friends, and also had a chance to watch some performances by popular Youtubers. This really opened our eyes to a whole different world of content creation and started new ideas flowing.
Fred Chong and Piko Taro
Everyone wants a photo of Piko!
We spent the weekend in Gangnam District trying new delicious foods, wandering the streets and attending a peaceful demonstration in the snow! It was absolutely freezing but we were too excited to care, covering ourselves in cheap plastic raincoats, being interviewed by journalists about the event and trying to make our way down to the Temple.
What a treat for us to be in the snow!
Dennis at Gwanghwamun Square
Peaceful Demonstration in Gwanghwamun Square
Then a panic attack set in as we managed to get lost on the subway on our way back to the hotel just as we were due to leave for the WebTVAsia Awards Ceremony. The subway system is actually amazing and so clean and easy to follow if you’re not in the middle of an anxiety attack due to a time restriction and no other mode of transport to take you from your destination due to the huge crowds!
We raced from the train station up the hill to our hotel while the snow fell (Korea has so many steep hills and stairs, also not good for when you are running very short on time and are very unfit!).
Miraculously we managed to get changed super quickly and get on the bus for the hour long journey to the Korea International Exhibition Centre (Kintex).. After thawing out on the bus, we were soon shuffled out into a waiting area with all the other Nominees and Performers into a partly open aired room (Note to self: DO NOT wear a backless dress to an Awards Ceremony when it is in the minus degrees outside).
We walked the red carpet which was a funny experience, ate delicious foods and were treated to more performances in between Awards being presented. What a shock Putra and I got to receive an award for The Most Popular Microfilm 2016 for our teams GO-JEK Arang & Asa film! What an absolute honour it was for us, being surrounded by so much talent, and inspiring people. So another HUGE thank you to all the Anatman Team, Album Rupa, Go-Jek, and all the talents and everyone involved that made this film possible.
Team Indonesia!
Walking the red carpet..
Putra and I on the red carpet
The night ended with a performance by Piko Taro from Japan with his Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen song… I still can’t get the song out of my head and it’s no wonder he won the most Freaking Awesome Video 2016 – he’s absolutely hilarious!
What an incredible performance with a mix of martial arts and dance!
Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen
Congratulations Anatman Pictures on our award!
All the Creators up on stage celebrating
A huge THANK YOU to the team at WebTVAsia for inviting us and looking after us so well in Korea, and for the added surprise of a cool trophy to take home for our team.
.. and it’s a wrap!