:: Sixtwentyseven ::

Enomoto Kei (Ohno Satoshi) is a security "otaku" working for a security firm, devoted to improving the securities system on a daily basis. He is not an easy person to familiarize oneself with, always collected and calm, unapproachable, a maniac in Physics, Science, Architecture and profound in other basic theoretical foundation. He is certain and proud of the fact that there is no key which he cannot unlock.

One day, Kei is asked to help reveal a mystery behind a locked room murderer. While he lacks any interest in solving the mystery, he is inevitably intrigued by the term, "Closed Doors" and decides to take on the position. He works side by side with Aoto Junko (Toda Erika) and Serizawa Gou (Sato Koichi), who are lawyers working at a major law firm. Junko is pure and forward, acting upon her instincts while Serizawa is a prideful elitist who sees time as money, and therefore, will not take on any job that is unprofitable.

Possessing a vast amount of knowledge and acute insightfulness, Kei is able to unlock the closed doors and unravel the secrets leading to the solution. (Credits: Dramawiki)

I have actually started this recent drama (Spring 2012) based on my friend's recommendation that this drama has really got him hooked (well, part of the fact is that my friend is crazy about Toda Erika). But nonetheless, once I've started on the drama I am hooked as well (not by Erika though).

Kagi no Kakatta Heya is different from other Japanese detective dramas as it purely focus on locked room cases. Locked room cases are cases whereby a crime has occurred and on the front there seems to be no way to enter or exit the crime scene. And it is this mystery theme that got me hooked to this drama. Each episode will conclude one case (with the exception of the last case of course to end the drama with a climax) and that's the plus point for Japanese dramas in general as it is short and sweet to the point.

Ohno Satoshi is a member of Arashi, who has also provided the ending theme for the drama but he is unfamiliar to me as I did not manage to catch any of the dramas he starred in. However, as Endomoto Kei, Ohno Satoshi did a pretty decent job by keeping a straight face throughout the drama, no easy feat mind you. Toda Erika and Sato Koichi provided the laughter in this drama with in some witty moments, making this drama not as serious as it can be.

Throughout the drama, they have also invited well known actors to act as the main lead for the story. Tamaki Hiroshi, Shida Mirai, Aibu Saki are just some the well known names that acted in this drama, bring it additional star power.

Overall, this drama is really enjoyable and it has been some time since I've watched a drama and wanting to straightaway go on to the next episode. 16% rating during its run? Justifiable.

cr: giddens.tw

雖然,以上的照片是陳妍希,但是在"那一年"裡頭, 她的形象已經變成很多男生心目中的"沈佳儀"了.我其實是可以放其他女生的照片,但是我是因為這部電影導致我有這麼多的感想."那一年"真的觸動了我的心.我真的能與這部電影殘生共鳴.我明白為什麼九把刀真的這麼執著這部電影要用那個方向拍攝.

我星期六約了幾位朋友去看"那一年", 然後因為得知九把刀將出席書展, 所以迫不及待去書展聽他分享"那一年"感言.
如果你想知道內容,其實跟他這個部落post有點相似:

http://www.giddens.tw/blog/post/35928751

老實講, 看完"那一年"的時候,我的感動尺度還處於微感動而已.但我聽到九把刀的故事,他的思想,他辛苦的旅程,他為什麼要這麼鑑定的做這部電影時,我真的感動了.他的愛,我突然能理解.畢竟,雖然這種感覺跟他對沈佳儀的感覺有小小不同,但是感覺的元素還是是一樣的.那些年前,我也曾經有過類似的經驗.那女孩雖然不是我女友,但是我也曾經為她心動過.有緣,無分.

我買了九把刀"那一年"的書,也很慶幸在書展得到九把刀的親筆簽名. 更慶幸,我還得到電影"那一年"的宣傳海報.知道我回到家上網才知道只有首100位得到九把刀的親筆簽名才有海報.



已經決定了,我不會以平常的速度把"那一年"讀完;相反的,我決定慢慢閱讀,因為我相信我會在一次被九把刀感動.

謝謝你九把刀.

謝謝你寫"那一年, 我們一起追的女孩"

謝謝你決定勇敢拍"那一年, 我們一起追的女孩".

It has been some time since I've last touched J-Pop and I thought it's time to check out what I've been missing so far. And I was pleasantly surprised to find this gem of a song when I was surfing one of my favorite fan blog. Take five minutes to listen to this song as I thought the lyrics is really meaningful.



credits: port87

Recently, I'm watching a new Korean Drama called "The Greatest Love" (and I assure you the review of this drama is definitely coming up next!) and I just thought this song by G.Na is just so nice.

The feeling I get from this song is the same when I heard Baek Ji Young's "That Man" in Secret Garden. I just thought the lyrics suited the plot to a T.

So without ado, I present to you the 2nd main song for one of the hottest drama for this summer.

Lyrics:

내 눈에 뭐가 들어 갔나봐, 그래서 자꾸 눈물이 나나봐
Nae nune mweoga deureo gannabwa, Geuraeseo jakku nunmuri nanabwa
가슴한쪽에 꼭 숨겨두었던, 어떤 한 사람 눈치 없게 또 눈물이 데려와
Gaseumhan jjoge kkok sumgyeodo eotteon, Eotteon han saram nunchi eopge tto nunmuri deryeowa

들을 수 없어도, 내 맘 듣지 못해도
Deureul su eopseodo, Nae man deutji mothaedo
내 눈물이 전하는 사랑, 언젠가는 들어 주겠니
Nae nunmuri jeonhaneun sarang, Eonjenganeun deureo jugenni

내 사람이라서 내 사랑이라서
Nae saramiraseo nae saramiraseo
보내고 보내도 아직 너는 남아 날 울려
Bonaego bonaedo ajik neoneun nama nal ullyeo
내 사람이라서 아직도 난 니가 그래서
Nae saramiraseo ajikdo nan niga geuraeseo
이 못난 눈물을 멈출 수가 없어
I motnan nunmureul meonchul suga eopseo

내 가슴소리 들리지 않나봐
Nae gaseumsori deulliji anhnabwa
멍청한 눈물 흐를까봐 또 억지로 참아봐
Meongcheonghan nunmul heureulkkabwa tto eonjero chamabwa

왜 듣지 못하니, 왜 날 보지 못하니
Wae deulji mothani, Wae nal boji mothani
뒤돌아봐 내가 있잖아, 사랑한단 말이야 바보야
Dwidorabwa naega itjanha, Saranghandan mariya baboya

내 사람이라서 내 사랑이라서
Nae saramiraseo nae saramiraseo
보내고 보내도 아직 너는 남아 날 울려
Bonaego bonaedo ajik neoneun nama nal ullyeo
내 사람이라서 아직도 난 니가 그래서
Nae saramiraseo ajikdo nan niga geuraeseo
이 못난 눈물을 멈출 수가 없어서...
I motnan nunmureul meonchul suga eopseoseo...

얼마나 더 아프면 나를 바라봐 줄 수 있니
Eolmana deo apeumyeon nareul barabwa jul su inni
얼마나 더 눈물 흘리면 사랑해 줄거니, 안아줄 수 있니
Eolmana deo nunmul heullimyeon saranghae julgeoni, Anajul su inni~

내 사람이라서 내 사랑이라서
Nae saramiraseo nae saramiraseo
눈물이 더는 널 놓아줄 수 없대 미안해
Nunmuri deoneun neol nohajul su eoptae (saranghae) mianhae
내 사람이라서 너를 포기할 수가 없어
Nae saramiraseo (saramiraseo) neoreul pogihal suga eopseo
제발 부탁이야... 내 맘을 들어줘 제발 부탁이야... 더 멀어지지 마.
Jebal butagiya... nae mameul deureojweo Jebal butagiya... deo meoreojiji ma.

English:

I guess something went in my eye, that’s why I keep crying
The tears bring the man that I’ve hidden deep in a little corner of my heart

Even if you can’t heart even if you don’t listen to my heart
Will you someday listen to the love that my tears convey

Because you’re my man because you’re my love
Even after I’ve sent you even after I’ve sent you you’re still left here in my heart and you make me cry
Because you’re still my man because to me you still are
I can’t stop these wicked tears

I guess you can’t heart the sound of my heart
Because I was scared that the stupid tears would flow I force myself to hold them in

Why can’t you hear why can’t you look at me
Look back I’m here behind you, I love you you dummy

Because you’re my man because you’re my love
Even after I’ve sent you even after I’ve sent you you’re still left here in my heart and you make me cry
Because you’re still my man because to me you still are
Because I can’t stop these wicked tears…

How much more do I have to hurt before you look at me
How many more tears to I have to spill for you to love me, for you to hold me

Because you’re my man because you’re my love
The tears say that they can’t let you go any longer I’m sorry
Because you’re my man I can’t give up on you
Please I’m begging you... please listen to my heart I’m begging you... Don’t go further away.

credits:Jineun(ENG)@KpopStarLyrics

As I listened to more and more Korean songs, I can't help but feel that Chinese songs are getting more and more repetitive, in terms of rhythm or lyrics. While Chinese songs feature more of ballads and songs about love, Korean songs are more about beats and the lyrics are diverse in genres. A good example is 4minute's HuH, and this song "Going Crazy" by Song Ji Eun.

Ji Eun is from Girl Group "Secret" under TS Entertainment. With the recent success of their newest single "Shy Boy", Ji Eun changed her image for her own album "Going Crazy". "Going Crazy" talks about a girl who is being stalked by a stalker who follows her every move and basically freaks her out. The song is backed by TS trainee Bang Yong Kook, whose husky voice belied his young age. Even though Bang is a trainee, he has extensive experience in the underground scene.

Check out this alternative MV especially for KBS Music Bank.

Lyrics:

사랑이아냐이건사랑이아냐너의집착일뿐이야
sarangi anya igeon sarangi anya neoui jipchagil ppuniya
어디있든지내가무얼하든지무서워나를바라보는넌
eodi itdeunji naega mueol hadeunji museowo nareul baraboneun neon

너의그림자를따라밟다난전화를걸어
neoui geurimjareul ttara barpda nan jeonhwareul georeo
네떨리는숨소리에짜릿해져버려
ne tteollineun sumsorie jjaritaejyeobeoryeo
빨라지는네발걸음따라뛰는내심장
ppallajineun ne balgeoreum ttara ttwineun nae simjang
미칠것만같아어두워지는긴밤
michil geotman gata eoduwojineun gin bam
너의집앞불꺼진가로등밑에서
neoui jip ap bul kkeojin garodeung miteseo
너를본다네방창문틈에서
neoreul bonda ne bang chang mun teumeseo
밤이끝날때까지날찾아봐
bami kkeutnal ttaekkaji nal chajabwa
어서나와숨막히는숨바꼭질을계속해
eoseo nawa sum makhineun sumbakkokjireul gyesokhae
넌절대내게서떨어질수없어
neon jeoldae naegeseo tteoreojil su eobseo

미친거니왜그러니이제그만나좀내버려둬
michingeoni wae geureoni ije geuman na jom naebeoryeodwo
네가보여숨이막혀내눈앞에서좀사라져줘
nega boyeo sumi makhyeo nae nun apeseo jom sarajyeojwo

넌날절대벗어날수없어넌날사랑할수밖에없어
neon nal jeoldae beoseonal su eobseo neon nal sarang hal subakke eobseo
도망쳐봐 (I don’t wanna see you)
domangchyeobwa (I don‘t wanna see you)
네가어디에있든지난볼수있으니널알지깊숙이
nega eodie itdeunji nan bol su isseuni neol alji gipsugi
넌날절대벗어날수없어넌날사랑할수밖에없어
neon nal jeoldae beoseonal su eobseo neon nal sarang hal subakke eobseo
이제날봐 (I Don’t Wanna Cry No More more)
ije nal bwa (I Don‘t Wanna Cry No More more)
I Don‘t Wanna Cry No More more

사라져버려그만좀꺼져버려정말숨도못쉬겠어
sarajyeo beoryeo geuman jom kkeojyeo beoryeo jeongmal sumdo mot swigesseo
어딜가든지내가어디있든지무서워나를따라오는너
eodil gadeunji naega eodi itdeunji museowo nareul ttaraoneun neo

수백번이고수만번이고
subaek beonigo suman beonigo
전화를걸었는데왜왜넌대답이없어
jeonhwareul georeonneunde wae wae neon daedabi eobseo
잊었니? 우리만난지벌써천일이됐어
ijeonni? uri mannan ji beolsseo cheoniri dwaesseo
네가좋아하는선물을준비했어
nega johahaneun seonmureul junbihaesseo
네가자주가는거리에앉아
nega jaju ganeun georie anja
널기다리고있어내사랑을알아?
neol gidarigo isseo nae sarangeul ara?
집착이라말하지마사랑을몰라넌
jipchagira malhaji ma sarangeul molla neon
미쳤다고말하지마내맘을몰라
michyeotdago malhaji ma nae mameul molla
넌절대내게서떨어질수없어
neon jeoldae naegeseo tteoreojil su eobseo

미친거니왜그러니이제그만나좀내버려둬
michingeoni wae geureoni ije geuman na jom naebeoryeodwo
네가보여숨이막혀내눈앞에서좀사라져줘
nega boyeo sumi makhyeo nae nun apeseo jom sarajyeojwo

너도날원하잖아나를사랑하잖아나를도망치지마
neodo nal wonhajanha nareul saranghajanha nareul domangchiji ma

헛소리좀집어치워정신차려그만좀해이제나를놓아줘
heossori jom jibeo chiwo jeongsin charyeo geuman jom hae ije nareul nohajwo
이건아냐사랑이아니야 (아니야)
igeon anya sarangi aniya (aniya)
내게상처뿐이야이러지마 (넌이러지마)
naege sangcheoppuniya ireojima (neon ireojima)
널사랑했지만이제는아니야너의기억에서날잊어줘
neol sarang haetjiman ijeneun aniya neoui gieogeseo nal ijeojwo
I Don‘t Wanna Cry No More

credits: geniskencur@friendster

Summer seasons usually provide the best line ups of dramas and this season is particularly exciting as all the tv stations are going all up with a wide array of dramas to choose from. In fact, I'm already breaking my personal record of catching up with 8 dramas this season. Usually on average, I only catch up with 4 dramas per season. Hence, this shows the potential for this season. I shall kick off my review with this season's tearjerker, Mioka.

Mioka is the name of the main protagonist acted by Yoshitaka Yuriko who finds out that she has an incurable brain disease and has the most one year to live. She ran up to her school's rooftop where she often hanged out, intending to jump off the building to end her life. However, she is stopped by a fellow student Taichi, who himself has a fear of height but still prevented her from jumping. From that incident, love blossomed between them but the cruel fate of time is still ticking away from Mioka. Will the love between the two stand the test of time?

As you progress to watch Mioka, you can't help but compare Mioka with Ichi Ritoru no Namida, one of the most successful tearjerkers starring Sawajiri Erika. Afterall, the disease affecting Mioka seems to be very similar to the one in the latter show. However, that is where the comparisons between the two stop. In Ichi Ritoru no Namida, the storytelling is more about the struggles of the main character, and in the end how she accepted her fate and live her life to the fullest. In Mioka, the emphasis is more on love, between the two young lovers, between the family members and between friends. It tells of the gratefulness that even though I may have this disease, you're still there to love me till the end no matter in what state am I in, and for that I'm truly grateful that I exist in this world and thank you for loving me.

Even though I termed Mioka as a tearjerker, I'd say the tear content is minute as compared to Ichi Rotaru no Namida. In fact, I hardly recall shedding a tear in this drama. That is not to say this show is poor. On the contrary, the show played perfectly to the theme of gratefulness of love, and the soundtrack emphasizes on that. The theme song "Hotaru" by Fukuyama Masaharu is an excellent choice for this drama and bascially you can feel the lyrics of the song in the drama. Do give it a go for this drama, and the average 10% of the Japan population will agree with you that they enjoyed watching it as much as you do.

我知道自己不完美.
魔鬼之戰也才剛剛開始.
只有勇敢對面,
才能走出陰霾.
每天的陽光,
也就證明我每天的戰爭.

雖然我不完美,
但,
I'll be somebody someday.

Bangkok Traffic Love Story or Rodfaifah.. Ma Ha Na Ther in Thai, was recently released in selective cinemas in Singapore. The show stars Cris Horwang as Ly, a thirty year old lady desperate for love when all her best friends married. Theeradej Wongpuapan is Loong, or Uncle, who met Ly when she met with an accident after trying to drive home after her good friend, Ped's, wedding. Ly was infatuated with Loong, and she was thrilled to meet Loong again when Ly caught her maid having a rendezvous with her boyfriend and so happens the boyfriend called Loong to bail him out of trouble. Ly decided that she has to take initiative to "chase" Loong if she is to realise her future happiness.

Filming of Bangkok Traffic love Story was sponsored by the BTS, and the film included many scenes depicting maintenance work on the system and its infrastructure. The film was promoted as part of BTS's tenth anniversary celebrations. The film's Thai name, Rod fai fah.. Ma Ha Na Ther, translates as "Skytrain, coming to meet you", and is a word play on Rot Fai Fa Maha Nakhon (รถไฟฟ้ามหานคร), which, however, is actually the Thai name of the MRT underground system rather than the BTS. The English title is abbreviated BTS to coincide with that of the skytrain system.
(credits: wikipedia)

Usually for Thai films which made it to Singapore, there are three distinct genres: Comedy, Horror or action. Of the three, I prefer comedy as usually when I go to watch a movie, I prefer something light break the seriousness of things happening around the world. Bangkok Traffic Love Story certainly fits the bill as the laughter starts almost from the beginning till the end. The film didn't purposely produce the laughter, but it comes almost naturally to entertain the audience. Of course, having some quirky characters such as a boy who loves to jeans so tight that he can hardly lift his legs certainly helps. Oh one more thing, the Thai language plays a part too. Somehow or another, if a particular scene changes its language to say, English, I don't think the laughter will be produced.

One special mention in the movie is Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha or Pattie for short. She's one of the up and coming actress in the country and I realised she was also part of the cast in Hormones, the movie that I reviewed recently.

Overall, the acting by the cast is good, with Cris really looking irresistible in the movie. Maybe it's the fact that she doesn't carry heavy make up in the show and is all natural in the movie. ahhhh~~~

Here's a special MV from the show:

The very reason of why Facebook, Twitter, Plurk etc has became so ingrained into our society. And the very phrase i can relate to: "One can be among people, and still feel lonely".


Credits: Eugene Loh & Mediacorp

有些戲看了一次就不會再想去看;有些戲再看也不膩. 偶然讓我發現<下一戰,幸福>的製作特輯,也讓我再一次的深深愛上<下一戰,幸福>.

<下一戰,幸福> 之所以能深深達動我的原因是她精緻,但絕不乏味,更不會讓我覺得她的拍戲手法誇張.另外一個我喜歡的原因是每個演員的演技都很專業,甚至讓我覺得他們的用心,他們的汗水.故事不會被刻意拉長,小細節都管理得很好.


我無意中再重看<下>最後一集的時候才發現一直有製作特輯,就馬上在youtube搜搜,一連3小時把所有的製作特輯看完.我之有所感觸再blog<下>的原因是因為看到他們的辛苦,看到他們的努力,而且看到他們的認真.我尤其對小小彬非常佩服.他雖然只有5歲,但演起戲來非常專業,尤其是那段他追著光唏的車時,真的會感受到他的傷心與牽掛.

雖然Vaness在戲里有出色的演出,但我覺得最讓人引人注目是飾演花拓也的吳慷仁.在那段慕橙告訴花拓也她已經跟光唏結婚,而且只是把花拓也當成她最重要的朋友那一幕,我真的為花拓也流眼淚.那一幕可說是<下>最重要一幕之一. 在這裡讓你們回味一下:



這些美麗的照片都是來自<下>導演的部落格.點擊這裡就可以遊覽導演的部落格.看到他們愉快的照片,真的覺得他們的努力是值得的.他們親切的笑容,就有如一家人的開心照,給人一種心暖暖的感覺.

<下一戰,幸福>真的完了.真的希望會有另一部台灣劇能給我這樣的感動. 

就像<海角七號>,<聽說>和<下一戰,幸福>.

credits: Tim Wallace @ fotoviva.co.uk

I thought of this word suddenly when I decided to pay my blog a visit at the main page. I don't know why but the current song playing in my playlist never fails to invoke a sense of blogging. Most likely, I remembered the part the song has played in Autumn's Concerto (下一戰,幸福). Speaking of which, Autumn's Concerto has just finished it run last sunday.

Was a bit disappointed with the ending. Although it's only half an hour, I just felt it's a bit rushed. The perpetual problem with Taiwanese drama is that they know how to make a great story, but they have no idea how to end it. Sadly for a great drama, the ending is so abrupt and it's like this half an hour can be incorporated in the last episode shown the week before. I know they need to draw viewers to the next show airing at the same time slot, but please make it more entertaining and meaningful.

The reason why I thought of the word is because I was having an image in my head regarding tranquility and I thought what results would google churn out. I didn't feel most of the picture depict tranquility and certainly not one picture that featured somebody's asses. Tranquility is like the extension of my last post; the stillness of the air. But tranquility is much more. It's about the peace of the inner self, being in balance inside.

I don't think I'm in balance, but living life as it is, I guess, is a good expression of tranquility: finding the balance in the chaotic world.

Just realised I haven't been posting much about my personal stuff. Mostly what you see in here are just some reviews for some shows that I've watched. Not that I do not like to post things about myself but sometimes I wonder is there a need to post something about myself. After all, ever since I changed the blog skin from the old one to this current skin, I've removed the personal info section as well and first timers who come to my blog will just assume it's just some review blog.

I do have close friends coming in every now and then to check out what I've been up to and probably I thought I owe them a post since if your friend checks out your blog most likely they would like to know what you've been up to and how are you etc. So here goes a slight update!

I've been taking a part time course since last August and I'm already 3/4 done with it. Just a few assignments, projects and one final paper and I'm done with the course. I'd say this course has been really enjoyable because it's something which I really enjoyed studying and for the first time I'm probably studying for something I have a major interest in. Sadly to say sometimes it takes a lifetime to know what you like and what you don't. But at least I'm fortunate enough to know I pretty much enjoy what I'm studying right now. Hope to do well for the remaining semester and pass with a nice diploma.

Because of the night classes for this course, I had to give up my weekly session of tennis with my dad and his friends. Interestingly, I really missed the tennis sessions. I didn't know I would enjoy playing tennis that much and frankly speaking, I'm poor in it as well. But having a few good rallies will really perk your feelings up. Besides, it's a good activity that I share with my dad. There's this saying that girls will stick to their fathers more while guys would always be the mommy's boy. Well, I view it as an important activity that I bond with my dad.

"Under the silence of the night, where I fell in love with silence and learned to embrace its beauty"

I don't have a thing for Taiwanese dramas. Seriously. I can assure the amount of Taiwanese drama that I have completed is less than the amount of fingers I have. One of the pet peeve regarding Taiwanese dramas is that it is usually too cheesy, too exaggerated and just simply, dumb. I can still remember one particular drama that make my heart boil. The starting was good, the middle was okay and the ending I felt was so bad that I want sumo wrestle the male lead and throw an asteroid the director for ending that drama in that manner.

What made me started this show was from a local free-to-distribute local newspaper. During this period there were 3 dramas that featured some of the hottest male leads in the Taiwan industry and they were comparing the viewership for these dramas. 下一站,幸福 managed to garner 7.63%, which was pretty decent given the competitiveness of the golden time slot for dramas. All I can say is that once I started the show, I just want to finish the whole drama at one go.

Interesting to note, the drama is still airing in Taiwan right now. Why do I say it's interesting is because I seldom blog about any dramas when it's still airing. The last episode was delayed due to Chinese New Year weekend (DARN!), so the last episode is this coming weekend. I got to say this drama has surprised me quite a bit. The script was very well written, no cheesy acting, or in fact I should say very convincing acting by everyone (esp. 小小彬), and a great soundtrack to boot. In fact, the soundtrack is the main draw as the songs complements the drama like a glove to a hand. It touches the heart at the right moments.

For once, here are the soundtrack songs:

品冠 - 我以为


丁噹 - 我愛他


丁噹 - 你為什麼說謊


丁噹 - 親人

I have told my friend once that there is always this drama that I wouldn't attempt to watch it again. Afterall, he had first time witness how i managed to sob throughout the show. But for some compelling reason and by fate, as what the main lead emphatise, I re-watched an old drama. Although I didn't tear like the last time where i literally brawled, I still managed to leave 2 lines of stain beneath my eyes.

Not one litre of tears, but not little as well.

I always realised that certain solitude is essential, especially for thought. Of course, if you're feeling screwed up, then it's more of wild thoughts. But sometimes, just stepping out of the shell and experiencing solitude, especially in a crowded place, brings on a different perception.

I met up with a buddy this afternoon and to be frank it's a welcome break for me. Although i got to admit my break is long enough, this "break" is essential in breaking the monotone in my life. We met up at a new mall in Orchard road just to check out the shops there. As we met, chat and ate, I realised after all these years, nothing much have changed about it. The usual banter is there, some common likes and of course some common differences. Then at the corner of my mind, suddenly it may not be the case. We have grown older by the second and things still remain the same?

We parted at Borders around 7pm. He was rushing back home due to his insanely heavy laptop while i was trying to finish the latest edition of a computer magazine. Just as I finished reading it, a de javu feeling began to surface: Solitude. Walking along the crowded streets, yet it feels like I'm walking the street alone. I remember a quote from my lecturer that city people are more lonely than you think. In spite of all the communication tools such as msn, facebook and ever connectivity, we may in fact be more lonely than we would expect. All the numbers in the phone may not reflect anything; in the end it's just a number.

2 incidents triggered my post actually. The first was seeing a friend hurriedly exited a shop and to another location in my opposite direction. The second incident was seeing a university senior and her almost 2 years old kid. In both incidents, I didn't call out to them. Instead, I merely stopped my footsteps a little and looked at them. At both instance I let out a tiny smile; merely knowing they're alive and well is enough.

Solitude allows me to view some incidents objectively. But then again, is it objective?

Went to play Mahjong with my secondary school buddies just now. Around 2 rounds of fierce fighting, only one winner and one loser. Well, for me, I've just wasted the whole afternoon. HAHA!!!

Anyway this update will be short as well. I do know that quite a number of my friends do watch Jap drama through various online streaming sources. I urge all those to do so not to support sites that upload other fan-subbers' works onto their websites as firstly it steals their efforts in subbing the drama/mv/tv shows for all to enjoy. Secondly, putting these videos online may result in complications for each fansub group. Haven't you notice youtube isn't hosting any japanese mv etc? There got to have a reason for this.

Hence, please do not support these sites! Thanks a lot!

What job in the world fits this description:

- Starts the day at 5am in the morning and willingly ends at 2am?
- Experience all the weather conditions in Singapore (Thunderstorm, drizzle, sun rain, cloudy day, SUNNY day) in one day?
- Attire for the day is shirt + tie + pants + gleaming leather shoes yet sweat in midday sun?
- eats a nice array of cocktails for breakfast at 7am?
- drives around Singapore with a purpose?
- backroom staff to prepare for an important night?

Tiring, but nonetheless meaningful. Even my dad commented that I've never been this anxious before. Trim nails, cut hair, no facial hair sticking out, shirt and pants are ironed, shoes is gleaming till you can smile in it.

Yups, that's being my friend's "brother" for his wedding night. TIring but thoroughly enjoyable =)