tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30657672029038762062024-03-09T02:15:25.916+08:00Wish Upon an Empty Tin★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-71887313485734000072010-09-29T21:41:00.000+08:002010-09-29T21:43:51.134+08:00Kono Tsundere Neko!<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019874.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Among the creeping ivy and straggly shrubs one blustery autumn's day....<br /><br /><br />Meet Ginjirou!!!<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019878.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Oh wait, she doesn't want to meet you just yet, it seems! >_<<br /><br /><br /><br />Opp! Now she's ready to turn around.....<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019879.jpg" height=350><br /><br />But goodness, what a face!! xDD<br /><br /><br />However..... Soften her up a little....<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019883.jpg" height=350><br /><br />And,<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019872.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Ahhh, that's much better! =^.^=<br /><br /><br />Who's this Ginjirou?<br /><br />It's who I lost my lunch to, that's who!! xDDD<br /><br />Oh no, she didn't steal my food or anything. Haha. Decided to make a detour to a lovely part of campus I haven't been to in a while as the sun and leaves were dancing a dance of dapples. <br /><br />I hadn't taken two steps down the path when I caught sight of a couple of fluffy, frisky cats vying for the attention of a girl. I stopped to admire their fluffy glory, not without a bit of wistfulness. But they seemed rather occupied with their human of choice, so I carried on.<br /><br />But at the next building, lo and behold! <br />There lay an even more luxuriantly fluffy and more than just slightly rotund feline!<br />With only a moment's pause to collect my captivated breath, I moved in for the kill. <br /><br />And said fluffly, rotund feline responded by deigning to raise body from ground and make an approach to meet mid-point. <br /><br />Years of training under two masters have molded me into a not too shabby at all cat stroker, and this particular kitty seemed to approve of and appreciate my honed skills. >w<<br /><br />I decided to name her (I'm pretty sure she's a her!! Haha) 'Ginjirou' after the kitty from 'Suteneko no Carte' because she was suitably shaped and disposed. xDDD <br /><br />This Ginjirou has the softest fur ever!!!! So incredibly fluffy, and an absolute joy to stroke. <br />Very clean too for a stray cat! My own pet cat should be ashamed of himself. Tsk.<br /><br /><br />Ginjirou, being a cat, displayed classic 'tsudere' behaviour. xDDD <br />She'd let me pet her, then suddenly turn her back on me. <br />She'd be lying there letting me run my hands over her back, then suddenly get up and walk away. <br /><br />But she did escape to me when attacked by two girls who were trying to grab her and poking her and touching her all in the wrong way. That made me feel kind of smug and happy. >v< <br /><br />Which brings me to the whole 'Cat Person' vs 'Dog Person' debate. <br />You know how they have all the theories about the character traits of Cat People VS Dog People. <br />The one I heard recently was Cat People like to chase after people, while Dog People like to be chased after. <br />The one my fellow cat owning friend and I formulated was Cat Owners are M while Dog Owners are S. <br />I think I'm more of an S than M, though, so that puts a big hole in our theory. Hahaha. <br /><br />But yes, I think while there's truth in all these theories, I suppose you need to look a what <i>kind</i> of cat owner or cat lover the person is. Same goes for dogs I suppose. <br /><br />Personally I feel like I'm <i>like</i> a cat. <br />Though I display the characteristic flutter of joy when a cat chooses me over others or decides to come to me for attention.<br /> <br />I also used to really enjoy doing silly things to my cat like twisting the fur around his face into little whirls, poking his toe, ruffling all his fur the wrong way, and so on, just to illicit a reaction, which was more likely than not one of long-suffering annoyance. <br />I also sulk back at my cats when they do the whole 'tsun tsun tsun' thing. <br /><br />It's complicated. <br /><br />And I don't know why I'm actually trying to dissect my personality now after failing for so many years. Haha.<br /><br />Right, *cough* moving back to Ginjirou! <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019884.jpg" height=350><br /><br />What adorably pudgy fluffy legs you have!! <br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019873.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Scratching post Nya~!<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019877.jpg" height=350><br /><br />For anyone who's owned a cat, this is probably a familiar sight:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019887.jpg" height=400><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019880.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Tried to take a picture with her. ^.^<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019889.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Aerial view. =^.^=<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019892.jpg" height=350><br /><br />She showed me her belly!! I think she would've let me stroke it, but I didn't quite dare to quite do so. My first master was particularly sensitive about his belly, and the wariness has stuck. ^^;<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019898.jpg" height=400><br /><br />Ahh, the back view again. ^^; Haha!<br /><br />She did start to rub herself against me, though, so how could I leave her? <br />I stayed to the last possible moment before tearing myself away from her company to go for class, stomach empty, but all tanked up on kitty fuel. =^.^=<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019885.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Ahhh, Ginjirou!! I'll go visit you again tomorrow after class! Wait for me, alright?? (///∇//)<br /><br /><br /><br />Sorry for the long rambling ramble and pic spam!! ^^;<br /><br /><br />After tomorrow, the 10 day looong National Day holiday starts!! Whoop whoop!!★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-22527447762169236912010-09-23T14:43:00.000+08:002010-09-23T14:47:03.915+08:00The Moon is a BalloonThis should've been posted last night, but I couldn't get onto blogger. >_<<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019778.jpg" height=350><br /><br />It's the Mid-Autumn Festival today! <br />The day in the Lunar Calendar when the moon is at its fullest. <br /><br />On this day, people eat mooncakes, drink tea, admire the round full moon, play with lanterns, guess riddles written on strips of paper attached to lanterns, and eat pomelos. <br /><br />Some people call it the Mooncake Festival or the Lantern Festival.<br /><br />There are two legends surrounding the Festival. <br />The first is of the Lady of the Moon, Chang'er. There are a few variations to the tale, but this is the one I knew best, and is probably the most pleasant one. I think it was in my textbook at school, which might explain why they chose the relatively happier version.<br /><br />Once upon a time, the earth was plagued by the scorching heat of ten suns. The skilled archer, Houyi, shot down nine of the suns, thus freeing the earth and its inhabitants from the sweltering hell of excessive heat. As a reward, the Emperor bestowed him a pill that granted immortal life. Houyi, happily married to the beautiful Chang'er, had no need for it, and so stowed it away in his pillow. However, his evil apprentice got wind of the existence of the pill, and one day, while Houyi was out, broke into his room to get at the pill to god-dom. Chang'er, beautiful but not blessed with either brute force or kick-ass martial arts, could do nothing to fend off the evil apprentice, and so, all she could do was swallow the pill herself to prevent the birth of an evil god. Upon doing so, our lovely lady floated up into the sky, and to the moon, where she remains to this day. <br /><br />I also just read that the jade rabbit on the moon was apparently commanded by Chang'er to pound herbs to make another immortality pill so that Houyi can join her on the moon (which would make her a little less gentle, would it? That's animal labour!) <br />In Japanese lore, the rabbit on the moon pounds mochi, doesn't it? Hmm. I should google to find out why.<br /><br />The second legend surrounding the Mid-Autumn festival is a rather more nationalistic one. During the Yuan Dynasty, China was under Mongolian rule. In order to pass the message of a mass uprising against the foreign rulers, rebel leaders (somehow I thought of Star Wars when I typed that out. Haha) decided to hide and thus transmit the message in mooncakes. Wikipedia tells me that on Mid-Autumn's night in 1368, they actually succeeded in overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty and established the Ming Dynasty. Hmmm. <br />Yeah, this is a more nationalistic story than the other one, though that has more nationalistic versions too. <br /><br />You can read more on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival">wikipedia</a>!<br /><br />You can also read the Japanese legend associated with Mid-Autumn on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaguya-hime_no_Monogatari">wikipedia here</a>. I'm feeling too lazy to type it out. Also, I don't think I ever properly read it before today. However, it does seem very, very familiar. I think I must have heard it before, on Kannou Mukashibanashi I think. Oops. >//< <br /><br /><br />But yes, reading and thinking and typing about these legends has lifted me a little out of my 'whine, boo hoo poor me, all alone on this festival, and I can't even see the bloody moon' mood.<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019779.jpg" height=350><br /><br />I did manage to catch glimpses of the moon beneath fast-moving clouds last night, though. By right I should be able to see it tonight, as it's a rare clear day after the rains of the past few days. But I can't seem to see it from my window, and am too lazy to leave the building. <br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019792.jpg" height=350><br /><br />Also had some mooncake, which wasn't that fantastic, I have to say. Received a huge box of 12 mooncakes, but many of them were of new-fangled, dodgy flavours. Brought some to school and shared them with my classmates, but with the ulterior motive of preventing myself from succumbing to diabetes and/or cardiac arrest if I were to finish them by myself. <br />I want the 'snow' skin mooncakes we get back home, though. Ah well.<br /><br />When Mid-Autumn comes around, I also think of the only piece of Chinese poetry that I can vaguely remember by heart. It's by one of the greatest Chinese poets of all time, Li Bai, of the Tang Dynasty (618-917). <br /><br />《静夜思》 李白<br />床前明月光,疑是地上霜。<br />举头望明月,低头思故乡。<br /><br />It's about the glimmering moonlight in front of the well taking on the appearance of frost on the ground. The dude looks up and sees its the shining moon, and lowers his head again as he thinks of his hometown. <br /><br />By the flow of this post, does it sound like I'm homesick? <br />Mm, I don't think I actually am. And I don't think I'm just being in denial about it. I think it's just that more than being simply homesick, I'm feeling nostalgic for my lost childhood and annoyed at myself for things in the present. <br /><br />Today was a national holiday here, and I really was looking forward to flopping around the flat doing absolutely shit all, but as it turned out, I didn't get to feel too luxuriant in laziness.<br /><br />I was going to write about some people I met, about astrology, and other random bits and blobs, but I think I'll leave that for another time or allow it all to get swallowed into the huge gaping and expanding black hole of Never-Blogged.<br /><br />There's sushi for dinner tomorrow to look forward to. <br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019791.jpg" height=350><br /><br />P.S: Check out the Chang'er Google Doodle on www.google.com.hk/ !! ^~^★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-70881117223100907842010-09-15T17:04:00.001+08:002010-09-15T17:25:49.034+08:00Update! With Fluffly Animals!!So much I want to blog about, so little time!!!!<br /><br />I do actually spend quite a lot of time with my digits attached to my laptop, but more often than not get distracted from blogging by the gazillion billion gamillion things out there on the internet.<br /><br />Anyway, I guess a whirlwind chronology would go something like that:<br /><br />-Went to the zoo to take my mind off housing woes (more on this in a bit!!)<br /><br />-Finally had my cheap cheap massage. 68RMB (roughly £8 I guess?) for 90 minutes. Mmm.<br /><br />-Acrobatic shows depress me. I don't see the need for young kids to abuse their bodies to unnatural extents so they burn out before their 30 and are left with no other way of life. Just to make people go 'Oh my god!'<br /><br />-Solved mystery of 'not so friendly anymore black cat'!! There're actually TWO of them!!! I think they're siblings. Friendly black cat was still as friendly as ever when I last saw it.<br /><br />-First day of class and meeting my new classmates. They seem pretty cool so far. It seems like I'll actually have to put in effort for this course, though. Haha!<br /><br />-FINALLY moved!!! \(^o^)/ I love my new place!<br /><br />-Went to see a jazzed up Chopin piano recital by this Japanese jazz pianist, Ozone Makoto. (No, it's not a strange 'asian' sort of English name as in 'Ozone layer', but his actual surname in Japanese - 'oh-zoh-neh' Haha! I have to admit I rolled my eyes when I first saw his name, assuming it was the former)<br />Anyway, it was brilliant! So much fun! I was squeeing inside when he played his version of Polonaise in A 'Military'. Ahhh, bliss!<br />The National Centre for the Performing Art here has got to be one of the most fucking impressive buildings in the world.<br />My jaw dropped in awe when I entered the dome. The effect from the inside is just stunning!! Too bad they didn't allow cameras to be brought in. Not that it stopped people. I have a few pictures from my crappy phone camera.<br />But yes, most definitely probably the most impressive piece of architecture I've been in!!!<br /><br />-OMGOMGOMGOMG!!1 Joe Hisaishi will be conducting in Beijing in November!!!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!!! And I got front row tickets!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!<br />Yes yes, not the prime seat in the house, but I want to be as close to the god as possible! Hahahaha. Was so hyped up!! Couldn't get tickets the day I found out about the concert, as the box office had already closed, but I legged it back to the theatre the next day and secured my butt and ears a spot in the presence of a god.<br />He's the composer for pretty much all the Miyazaki Hayao Studio Ghibli film scores, and has done a lot of other film scoring work as well as his own compositions. I have to admit I'm not well-acquainted with most of his non-Ghibli work, but this is the man I've worshiped since the age of 14, so seeing him conducting in the flesh will definitely be a dream come true! I really hope he plays the piano tooooo! <br /><br />About the zoo, I'll just dump there videos here:<br /><br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid7.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy269%2Frbjg%2FIMG_0022.mp4"></embed><br /><br /><br />These long-legged elegant beauties are called Maned wolves. Have never seen them before!! They loped around so gracefully! They seem more like deer than canines.<br />In this video, they're not being so elegant and are being rather intimidated by the common wolves in the neighbouring enclosure. One of the Maned wolves actually walked into a bush. Smooth.<br /><br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid7.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy269%2Frbjg%2FIMG_0025.mp4"></embed><br /><br /><br />Shocking case of animal abuse by a zoo. Those poor chickens!! Musn't be very pleasant for the foxes too, having temptation so close and yet out of reach.<br /><br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid7.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy269%2Frbjg%2FIMG_0029.mp4"></embed><br /><br /><br />And finally!! My beloved red foxes!!!! Spent ages staring at them the last time I went in December, and spent a long time staring again this time.<br />Ahhh, they're so incredibly lovely!!! <3333<br /><br /><br />The zoo was slightly depressing, though.<br />There was a lot of fist-whamming of glass, kicking of rails, chucking of sweets and other food into enclosures, poking and whacking (I kid you not) of animals when it proved possible, blinding flash photography, and general appalling behaviour from the creatures on this side of the glass.<br /><br />And these acts were mostly committed by the adults. The kids didn't quite have enough brute strength to effectively slam the glass partitions with suitable force.<br /><br />Sigh.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-54155045447645079442010-09-07T14:47:00.002+08:002010-09-07T15:18:05.785+08:00'Friendly Black Cat'Hello hello, it's Shan who isn't very successful at being a Responsible and Independent Grown-Up in the Real World.<br /><br />Haha. Not being effective at looking for a permanent place to stay and being my usual wishy-washy self and sucking so terribly at making decisions.<br /><br />I fell in love at first sight with this loft apartment!! Don't think any property I've viewed has ever taken my breath away like this. And and and!! It has a bay window too!! Ffffffff! Want!!!<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/DSC04839.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/DSC04840.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br />However, the problem is that it requires me to transfer lines on the subway to get me to school, which still isn't toooo bad, but to be honest, the location isn't anything to shout about. On one side is the roaring traffic of the 4th Ring Road, and it is a little distance from the subway station, with not thaaat many facilities like eateries and shops in between.<br />Also, it's not a given that the landlord would want to rent the unit, especially since I'll only be taking it for less than half a year.<br /><br />The other option that I viewed is more conveniently located, on the same line as my uni, and closer to town. It's near a student area, which means more shops etc, and even a big shopping centre with stuff like Sephora, UniQlo, Zara, and a rather nice-looking two story Starbucks.<br />However, it's just a normal studio apartment. And the development it's in is a strange mix of commercial premises, offices and residential units. The entrance to the residential block is round the back of the building, which is pretty dark at night.<br />But the landlord seems more likely to be amicable towards a contract which has me just paying for 4 months, plus half the agent's fee. <br /><br />I know it's probably better to stay somewhere where supermarkets and stuff are within easy reach, and the commute won't be too tedious.<br />But, but! This is probably the only chance I have to stay in a loft apartment!!! >_<>m< src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019014.jpg" height="350"><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019009.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019005.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br />And and AND!!!!<br /><br />There are CATS!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Not just cats, but there's a particularly friendly furry black cat!!!!!!!<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019263.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019269.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019277.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br />He (?) has ridiculously long limbs!!! =^.^=<br /><br />The first time we met, he did strange impressively flexible flips (I think I've become to used to my black blob's bulk). You know how cats sometimes choose humans? It was like that for my previous cat and current one. This felt a bit like that. ^^;<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019060.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019061.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br />He's so lithe and slight! Mmmmmrrrph! >A< Here's another of the feline residents of this little neighbourhood.<br /><br /> <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0019255.jpg" height="350" /><br /><br /><br />Neither of the flats I'm considering seems to have anywhere for leisurely, peaceful strolls, which will be a shame. However, when the freezing cold of winter descends, do I still want to take leisurely strolls in the open? Maybe the answer to that is yes, as I did make a few crazy treks through the snow in March that I enjoyed. ^^;<br /><br />Oh vell.<br /><br />I suppose if I end up not having my loft apartment, I can take comfort in the facts of not having to climb down a flight of stairs to use the loo and being only two stops away from the zoo (lol).<br /><br />I think I'll go for a cheap cheap massage to take my mind off housing woes. Trying not to think about what'll happen if I can't find a place to stay before this weekend, when the hotel I'm holed up in won't have any more vacancies. Yargh.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-42819808875133587342010-09-05T15:37:00.008+08:002010-09-05T21:48:57.610+08:00♠Plastic Wonderland♣<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0016116.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 444px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0016116.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I need to stop promising to blog about things, as I more often than not never get round to doing so!<br /><br />Anyway, wanted to have this little consumeristic flail for quite a while now. This is stuff I bought when I first got home for summer, and now summer's over. That's how much of a while it's been. Haha!<br /><br />Anyway. Pictured above are these adorable little tab stickers!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TINJwpI6b0I/AAAAAAAAAR8/af6yZWThbpY/s1600/R0016109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TINJwpI6b0I/AAAAAAAAAR8/af6yZWThbpY/s320/R0016109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513331468857405250" border="0" /></a><br />They're a bit like post-it notes, but made with sturdier plastic, and come in adorable designs! I grabbed the Alice in Wonderland themed ones, as well as a Winnie the Pooh one. ^^; There're other non-character themed sets like safari animals, farm animals, flowers and so on. But since I've been herded like a sheep onto the Japanese love for Alice in Wonderland bandwagon, Alice it was for me★<br /><br />The tagline for these adorable sets is something like 'Create Your Own Story!', which I did attempt to do in about half a minute, the result of which you can see more clearly with a light background:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TIOfQO3U_lI/AAAAAAAAASk/lx5DkPo_QeU/s1600/Blog02.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 226px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TIOfQO3U_lI/AAAAAAAAASk/lx5DkPo_QeU/s320/Blog02.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513425470048501330" border="0" /></a><br />Alice, of course, as well as the White Rabbit, some shrooms and grass. (Yes, the wording is deliberate. :p)<br /><br />The book is J.M. Barrie's 'The Little White Bird', which is supposed to be the precursor of 'Peter Pan'.<br />I bought it from the book town Hay-on-Wye in Wales when I first arrived in Britain.<br />I must confess that I still haven't read the book yet, though, after all these years!! Whoops!<br /><br />I remember being really quite taken up with 'Peter Pan' before going off to uni. I read the full original text and absolutely loved the flashes of the sinister that emerged from Peter.<br /><br />Anyway, I also picked up these pretty pastel macaron post its on the same pilgrimage to the stationary section of the Japanese bookstore, Books Kinokuniya.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TINJ7Pvfo7I/AAAAAAAAASE/_U6ThjtsLgc/s1600/R0016111.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TINJ7Pvfo7I/AAAAAAAAASE/_U6ThjtsLgc/s320/R0016111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513331651018466226" border="0" /></a><br />Speaking of Alice in Wonderland, I caved in to temptation and bought this from Paul & Joe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TINKp4zRBnI/AAAAAAAAASM/8YRTeY8s2Vc/s1600/R0016112.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TINKp4zRBnI/AAAAAAAAASM/8YRTeY8s2Vc/s320/R0016112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513332452314121842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TIOd3JlelzI/AAAAAAAAASU/IKI0TVkmxME/s1600/R0016113.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TIOd3JlelzI/AAAAAAAAASU/IKI0TVkmxME/s320/R0016113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513423939623098162" border="0" /></a><br />Most definitely got it for the box and packaging! ^^; Whooops.<br /><br />And when we mash up Alice and macarons, this is the result!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TIOfJc6-MmI/AAAAAAAAASc/f2g_mDgCuBY/s1600/Blog01.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 220px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TIOfJc6-MmI/AAAAAAAAASc/f2g_mDgCuBY/s320/Blog01.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513425353562796642" border="0" /></a><br />Ahh, I love my Cheshire Cat macaron! ♥♥<br /><br />And so ends this display of consumerism! ^^;★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-47634953580924054552010-09-01T20:21:00.003+08:002010-09-01T20:51:20.884+08:00Ramble Bramble<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018936.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />[This post was copied and pasted off my LJ]<br /><br />Shuffling my V Kei songs on my new iPod nano on the bus. ^w^<br />'Togurou' is my favourite GazettE song!!<br /><br />But anyway, to rewind a little, I'm back in Beijing.<br />The air is just as polluted as ever. But thank goodness the temperatures of 40 deg cel seem to have gone away. It's around 28-30 deg cel now, and it feels cooler than it was back in Singapore as there hasn't been any scorching sunlight (yet?) and there isn't that deathly humidity.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, just to chuck a few pictures out here.<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018864.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />The sunrise from my dining room back home. I practically never am up early enough to see the sun come out, but was seated rather dazedly clutching my cup of tea at a ridiculously early (for me) hour to leave for the airport.<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018865.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />I bought three macarons from the patisserie Canele the night before and got the air stewardess to bung it in the fridge for me.<br />My favourite Passion Fruit and Milk Chocolate, Coffee, and Violet. They actually managed to last about 24 hours in Beijing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018882.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />The Violet macaron is so pretty! ^^;<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/DSC04806.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />I thought Singapore changed rapidly enough when I went back after being away for 4 and a half months and found so many new shops and buildings that sprung out of no where.<br />It turns out this city is faaaar worse. Which isn't surprising.<br />In about a month and a half, there's been quite a lot of change!<br />Went to Zhong guan cun, an area with many office blocks and huge-ass malls. Found a Haagen-Daz and a branch of a Taiwanese restaurant that does the most amazing desserts, which made me happy.<br />One of the hulking developments had a lot of open public spaces, and people were skating, remote-controlled car racing, or just chilling. Was nice to see amongst all the concrete and steel and glass.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018909.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />Went to register at the university. Then wandered around the campus. Which was monstrously huge.<br />My university in London was basically two buildings facing each other across a teeny square which is barely large enough for protests (haha) and another barren building that served as another 'campus' "a 17 minutes walk away" (according to a testy, just ever so slightly neurotic Swedish lecturer of mine).<br />University in Tokyo had more buildings (whee) but being smack in the middle of the city meant no rambling grounds either.<br /><br />So. This is quite a change.<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018914.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />I walked around the South West section, which seemed to be a succession of secret garden after secret garden in various states of abandonment.<br />Then I started getting hungry and my legs started to hurt. I seem to have developed varicose veins or something. >_< Probably from walking waaaaay too much too fast. Eek. <br /><br />Anyway, I did finally extricate myself from the tangled vegetation and buildings eventually. Last night I took the bus here for the 2nd time in my life. Haha. I usually rely on the subway, my legs, or taxis for moving around. The subway is the best, but requires a lot of cooperation from the legs and transfers between lines are ridiculously far apart, and things are often pretty far from existing stations. <br />The first time I took the bus was rather traumatising. Was going to one of the hills in the outskirts for a walk and picnic with friends on a Saturday in early summer, and the bus was absolutely packed and of course the roads jammed as well. Stood pretty much the whole way packed in like an unhappily dead fish in a can. <br /><br />Last night the bus was empty-ish, but traffic wasn't that smooth for the really short distance that I use to walk in about 20-30 minutes. <br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018933.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />I really like 176BIZ, but sadly only discovered them after they disbanded.<br />Love their sound. I like how it has quite a lot of groovy bass, and I like their vocalist's voice too.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0018769.jpg" height="300" /><br /><br />Aaand, lastly, my silly kitty cat! (^ω^) Looking silly in my room. (^人^)<br /><br />I took some videos of him with my iPod nano, which I will probably put up when I finally transfer them to the laptop. Along with the alpacas I mentioned in an earlier post! Haha!<br /><br />Boo, I want my silly black blob!★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-25719564788406923562010-08-31T14:18:00.004+08:002010-09-01T14:05:08.621+08:00Much About Munch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THytqUa-l7I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/WLzcz4e_njU/s1600/R0018878.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THytqUa-l7I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/WLzcz4e_njU/s320/R0018878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511470986542618546" border="0" /></a><br />Soo, I'm back in the capital of Tweetless land, as I like to call it. Haha. I'm also doing it here as I've become just ever so slightly paranoid after spending about 4 months here and hearing stories of censorship and the like.<br /><br />Anyway. Just to ramble somewhat incoherently about being back here.<br /><br />I have to admit I wasn't entirely thrilled about the prospect of coming back. There were many many other places in the world I'd rather have been jetting off to.<br /><br />That said, it's not like I despise this city and wish to stick voodoo pins into everything about it.<br /><br />It's just that there are a number of things about living here that just really got me down.<br /><br />One of the most fundamental 'Boooo'-inducing things about life here for me is the food. Perhaps it's a sign of age, or the seeping influence of the mother, but it bothers me a lot when I'm unable to procure proper food.<br /><br />A lot of the food here makes my stomach turn when I think about it, and sometimes, I'd really just go without eating rather than put that stuff into my body. Even if it tastes good, I think it's probably not doing your health any wonders, what with the oozing oil and artificial tastes and textures. I swear some of the fruit actually taste chemical.<br />Horror stories that really seem true about how 10% of cooking oil in this country is recycled from sewage really do nothing to bolster my confidence in eating here.<br /><br />I didn't have a proper kitchen last semester, and only owned a saucepan (which I set on fire one evening. Haha) so after a while I gave up on preparing my own meals and relied on eating out and take out food.<br /><br />The good thing was that I lived in 'Little Korea', and so there was this wonderful little Korean diner that dished out yummy Korean food that received the stamp of approval from the Koreans too. I ate waaaay more Korean food in those few months than I did in my whole life up to that point!!<br /><br />Took the bus to my old neighbourhood last night to be reunited with my old haunt. :p<br />Where I got off, the 'fish man' was there!!!<br />No, I'm not referring to those peddlers with carts of tanks crammed full of goldfish and poor bunnies in horrifically tiny cages and other inhumanely housed pets.<br /><br />It's this fish!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TH3qSeObEbI/AAAAAAAAARI/7qTysf9_J6o/s1600/R0018942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TH3qSeObEbI/AAAAAAAAARI/7qTysf9_J6o/s320/R0018942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511819122043457970" border="0" /></a><br />A lovely snack that here, is sold with a milk chocolate or white chocolate filling. I believe they originate from Japan where they're usually filled with red bean paste.<br />The 'fish guy' got his equipment from Korea, which is this round implement with many molds and a gas fire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TH3rLot6X9I/AAAAAAAAARQ/EkTdA1vCqJ8/s1600/R0018938.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TH3rLot6X9I/AAAAAAAAARQ/EkTdA1vCqJ8/s320/R0018938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511820104112431058" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday's fish was nice and crispy. ^-^<br />I tried not to think about how the oil he coats the molds with is probably the dreaded sewage oil.<br /><br />Maybe I'm just over-paranoid. Or maybe the problem isn't so much with the food in Tweetless land but lies with me instead. Hmm.<br /><br />Anyway, for dinner I had a wonderful bowl of pollack soup, which was bean paste based and spicy (surprise surprise. Haha) Good stuff! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TH3pZzdvPpI/AAAAAAAAARA/cc10X2IT4I4/s1600/R0018940.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TH3pZzdvPpI/AAAAAAAAARA/cc10X2IT4I4/s320/R0018940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511818148492295826" border="0" /></a><br />Right. Time to put an end to my whining about food here.<br /><br />PS: Typing 'Tweetless land" is probably useless, given my tags. Dorh.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-25211975919362517762010-08-24T22:12:00.000+08:002010-08-24T10:13:19.150+08:00Climbing the Hill of Emerald<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEK57dEi5RI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/YHGv30DpQbY/s1600/R0015781.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEK57dEi5RI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/YHGv30DpQbY/s400/R0015781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495158926412539154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ta-dah!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWDfulC1mI/AAAAAAAAAMA/wfVzhKAFmRY/s1600/R0015787.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWDfulC1mI/AAAAAAAAAMA/wfVzhKAFmRY/s320/R0015787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495943501378147938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This sort of allows me to vaguely tick off one item on my things to blog about. Haha.<br /><br />'Sort of', because I can't really say Emerald Hill is a favourite place of mine, and also because it's a non-exhaustive item.<br /><br />Anyway, I do like having a quick poke around Emerald Hill, though, and the other night, I had some time to kill, so clomped my way down Orchard Road in the direction of that little pocket of old-world charm.<br /><br /><br /><br />Aaaand, we're back! There's been a more than a month-long gap between what you've read before this line, and, well, what's beyond this line. ^^; The pictures were all inserted back then as well, though I was too lazy to continue.<br /><br />Finally getting down to posting this, but am going to do it in a rather slip-shod manner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFAm5Sx4I/AAAAAAAAAMw/UL_YQdqWpX0/s1600/R0015800.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFAm5Sx4I/AAAAAAAAAMw/UL_YQdqWpX0/s400/R0015800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495945165762905986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWDS89ml4I/AAAAAAAAAL4/R3btCk4UGV0/s1600/R0015782.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWDS89ml4I/AAAAAAAAAL4/R3btCk4UGV0/s320/R0015782.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495943281900951426" border="0" /></a><br />These beauties are termed 'shophouses' as that's what they were - shops on the ground floor and lodging above.<br /><br />They used to be rows and rows of them during the colonial era, but sadly most have been bulldozed for towering monuments to modernity.<br /><br />In my extreme laziness, I point you to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shophouse">wikipedia for more elucidation on this architectural form. </a>Note the section on the 'five-foot ways'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFAm5Sx4I/AAAAAAAAAMw/UL_YQdqWpX0/s1600/R0015800.JPG"><br /></a><br />Well, lovely Singapore's love of knocking down old things did spare some of these shophouses, mostly in strategic tourist spots like Chinatown and Boat Quay (nnngh, not a fan), sprucing them up in the name of conservation while blasting huge holes in the frontage for glass shop fronts. *rolls eyes*<br /><br />The little pocket in Emerald Hill is mostly residential, though. It seems like they were originally wholly residential as well, which makes me wonder if I can stuff them under the classification of shophouses. But well, enough of my ignoramus ponderings, and on to the pictures!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWEM7JD6sI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/aVEiw7js5y0/s1600/R0015783.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWEM7JD6sI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/aVEiw7js5y0/s400/R0015783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495944277844552386" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFAm5Sx4I/AAAAAAAAAMw/UL_YQdqWpX0/s1600/R0015800.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFCaaJJnI/AAAAAAAAANQ/muLSPCNzj-k/s1600/R0015807.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFCaaJJnI/AAAAAAAAANQ/muLSPCNzj-k/s400/R0015807.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495945196770764402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWENV4rKpI/AAAAAAAAAMY/ZzjtO1dmUgs/s1600/R0015790.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWENV4rKpI/AAAAAAAAAMY/ZzjtO1dmUgs/s400/R0015790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495944285023578770" border="0" /></a><br />I photographed a series of front doors. Some traditional, some tropical, some modern, some sweet, all beautiful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWENje7t5I/AAAAAAAAAMg/ytSGGjhP_I8/s1600/R0015791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWENje7t5I/AAAAAAAAAMg/ytSGGjhP_I8/s400/R0015791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495944288673707922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFBBl9x0I/AAAAAAAAAM4/D1Qm3Z4UrZc/s1600/R0015802.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFBBl9x0I/AAAAAAAAAM4/D1Qm3Z4UrZc/s400/R0015802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495945172929595202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFB7iswkI/AAAAAAAAANI/UE94qZ9PrI0/s1600/R0015806.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFB7iswkI/AAAAAAAAANI/UE94qZ9PrI0/s400/R0015806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495945188485153346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFBfPfrZI/AAAAAAAAANA/QWZLmw9UphQ/s1600/R0015805.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFBfPfrZI/AAAAAAAAANA/QWZLmw9UphQ/s400/R0015805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495945180888411538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWF395LHLI/AAAAAAAAANg/2nKhrc_i4u8/s1600/R0015811.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWF395LHLI/AAAAAAAAANg/2nKhrc_i4u8/s400/R0015811.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495946116829224114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWF4AkOVMI/AAAAAAAAANo/A9zu_zUqzmY/s1600/R0015812.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWF4AkOVMI/AAAAAAAAANo/A9zu_zUqzmY/s400/R0015812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495946117546661058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWF4kyDLfI/AAAAAAAAANw/aShLFuIwDCQ/s1600/R0015814.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWF4kyDLfI/AAAAAAAAANw/aShLFuIwDCQ/s400/R0015814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495946127268326898" border="0" /></a><br />To be honest, Emerald Hill is not my absolute favourite spot for shophouse gazing. I don't go there much, probably because there's not much to do but oogle the dwellings of others with gazes just ever so slightly tinged with envy. Haha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWEOFVJGtI/AAAAAAAAAMo/EBXSx3WeDlA/s1600/R0015797.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWEOFVJGtI/AAAAAAAAAMo/EBXSx3WeDlA/s400/R0015797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495944297759447762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWFCaaJJnI/AAAAAAAAANQ/muLSPCNzj-k/s1600/R0015807.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWDpwqRpeI/AAAAAAAAAMI/9k15Eh9bG8w/s1600/R0015824.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWDpwqRpeI/AAAAAAAAAMI/9k15Eh9bG8w/s400/R0015824.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495943673735652834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWG7YM_hwI/AAAAAAAAAOA/ikmfvXlpy20/s1600/R0015826.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWG7YM_hwI/AAAAAAAAAOA/ikmfvXlpy20/s400/R0015826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495947274942908162" border="0" /></a><br />The neon brightness of the stretch of Orchard Road where Emerald Hill is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWG76rRqVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/XOwDPHi-gWg/s1600/R0015827.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWG76rRqVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/XOwDPHi-gWg/s400/R0015827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495947284196731218" border="0" /></a><br />What would I give to live in one of these!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWGoGE50NI/AAAAAAAAAN4/UhTN1Nb954k/s1600/R0015822.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWGoGE50NI/AAAAAAAAAN4/UhTN1Nb954k/s400/R0015822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495946943659626706" border="0" /></a>★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-80437728374849056802010-08-22T12:28:00.012+08:002010-08-22T14:16:14.820+08:00The Roos and the Ras<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC75d1BmII/AAAAAAAAAQg/EuAt5uqCHeI/s1600/R0017699.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC75d1BmII/AAAAAAAAAQg/EuAt5uqCHeI/s320/R0017699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508108940208085122" border="0" /></a><br />I'm back from a week-long trip Down Under to the South West of Australia!! Photographic evidence of me being there with some grazing 'Roos. With joeys in their pouches to boot!<br /><br />My first time back in Australia since 2004! That is rather a long time ago!<br />I'm appreciating the Aussie sunny disposition and sense of humour again. At the airport duty free shop, when I commented on the length of the 20cm or so receipt with all sorts of fine print about duty free and passing through customs and blah, the girl at the check out counter naturally and effortlessly said "A little light reading for your flight."<br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />We flew into Perth, and motored around the southwestern corner of the state of West Australia, which is staggeringly huge (something like half the size of the US?? I think I got my trivia a little wrong here, as it sounds rather preposterous. But it's huge. It's practically a third of the whole of Australia) so we could only cover a tiny little corner of it.<br /><br />A whirlwind post of the trip.<br /><br />Lovely town of Fremantle ('Freo') with quaint architecture and cute cafes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THCpj84ko8I/AAAAAAAAAPw/d-5-gaVltZE/s1600/R0017575.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THCpj84ko8I/AAAAAAAAAPw/d-5-gaVltZE/s320/R0017575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508088779378041794" border="0" /></a><br />Dramatic skies and surfs. It was winter so it rained quite a bit. We were told it usually rains a lot more, so we were lucky.<br />This was at a little town called Gracetown, where, as we found out in the local papers the next day, a surfer was killed by a shark earlier in the morning. We saw a rescue boat being launched into the approaching storm, but that was probably to search for the shark.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC6rYhSCYI/AAAAAAAAAQI/TnO_3G3W_fg/s1600/R0017947.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC6rYhSCYI/AAAAAAAAAQI/TnO_3G3W_fg/s320/R0017947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508107598753302914" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful sunsets.<br />Another little settlement near Margaret River. Got there to find the cafe shut and a trailer park, but the sunset was amazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC53wYPbFI/AAAAAAAAAQA/_j6brbGQwaU/s1600/R0017875.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC53wYPbFI/AAAAAAAAAQA/_j6brbGQwaU/s320/R0017875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508106711804636242" border="0" /></a><br />Curling up by what was possibly my first proper fire. Nice and toasty.<br />And the next morning there was a kangaroo grazing on the lawn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC9rN_HVDI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7f4qs754eAk/s1600/R0018280.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC9rN_HVDI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7f4qs754eAk/s320/R0018280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508110894460523570" border="0" /></a><br />An abundant supply of rainbows.<br />Faint rainbows. Partial rainbows. Double rainbows. Full rainbows. Sea rainbows. Alpaca rainbows (more on this!! :p)<br />Because the rain kept coming in spurts, the rainbows were out in full force as well! Think there were about at least 7 over a period of 5 days!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC7TuM1-VI/AAAAAAAAAQY/quLYgISmOV8/s1600/R0018413.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC7TuM1-VI/AAAAAAAAAQY/quLYgISmOV8/s320/R0018413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508108291767925074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC6rYhSCYI/AAAAAAAAAQI/TnO_3G3W_fg/s1600/R0017947.JPG"><br /></a>Ugly green beast.<br />The rental car was a most strikingly violent green. It probably inspired shock in the heart of many a driver who caught it in their mirrors, as well as a number of kookaburras and kangaroos.<br />(I absolutely love kookaburras, by the way!! They look so incredibly adorable! I think it's the large heads that work the magic. A couple of them rested on trees just off the track eyeing the ugly green beast as we were trundling along an ancient karri forest trail)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THCpJWQit6I/AAAAAAAAAPo/VNRvG_eWa54/s1600/R0018392.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THCpJWQit6I/AAAAAAAAAPo/VNRvG_eWa54/s320/R0018392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508088322332997538" border="0" /></a><br />Lots of food, sweets, and a little wine.<br />And a rounder face and stomach for souvenirs. ^^<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC63job-SI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/qisYbNuhcpA/s1600/R0018015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/THC63job-SI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/qisYbNuhcpA/s320/R0018015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508107807894534434" border="0" /></a>★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-50614238933389369432010-08-13T12:03:00.004+08:002010-08-13T12:08:55.700+08:00Self ArchaeologyI need to start piling stuff into suitcases again.<br /><br />But I decided that this was the perfect time to rip out the contents of my room and strew them about the floor.<br /><br />The room has now been in a state of destruction for the past 3 days, with me putting away something like 3 things each day. Yargh.<br /><br /><br />Something I invariably end up doing when I'm back in my room at home is what I term 'self archaeology'.<br />Sifting through the artifacts of the years I've spent on this earth.<br /><br />Old diaries, lecture notes, scraps collected on travels, bits of childhood, letters, random 'junk'.<br /><br />I'm quite a serious hoarder, I have to admit, and just can't bring myself to steel my heart and be 'ruthless' to throw things out.<br /><br />This makes for a very full room.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, what I unearthed today were the journals I wrote for school way back when I was 11.<br /><br />Two exercise books filled with my gawdawful and morphing handwriting.<br /><br />Something like 90% of the entries featured my cat. xDD Strange little girl that I was.<br /><br />And, flipping through them, I realised what an amazing lady my English teacher then was! She actually took the trouble to comment on all the entries, with little scribbled notes filled with humour and care. The teacher for the previous year simply arched huge ticks across the page without even correcting my mistakes.<br /><br />I remember my Primary 6 teacher well. She was the one who was horrified at the distortedness of my handwriting even at that age, and made me copy out a book of my choice ('Martin's Mice' by Dick King-Smith xD) in parts to practice my penmanship. Harhar. ^^;<br />I don't really remember my exact feelings to this additional piece homework, but I do realise that she had gone beyond the requirements of the 'curriculum', and was motivated out of concern for the sorry state of my handwriting.<br /><br />I really wonder where she is now. I felt a huge urge to contact her and express my appreciation, but google yielded no clues.<br /><br />Anyway, reading my old journal filled me with poignant pathos, for the days that are long gone, for the cat who is no more, for the teacher who is somewhere out there, and for the girl who has gone far, far away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TGTE1zwV1bI/AAAAAAAAAPY/spPt62PZeLQ/s1600/R0017432.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TGTE1zwV1bI/AAAAAAAAAPY/spPt62PZeLQ/s320/R0017432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504741073258665394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TGTE6fJ9lmI/AAAAAAAAAPg/8MJ5A8nvvQM/s1600/R0017434.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TGTE6fJ9lmI/AAAAAAAAAPg/8MJ5A8nvvQM/s320/R0017434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504741153628329570" border="0" /></a>★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-89794775397879803462010-08-07T21:19:00.003+08:002010-08-07T21:33:09.108+08:00More ExcusesI was in the middle of what I intended to be a quick 'whoops, haven't been blogging for too long. Here, have some ramblings and some videos dumped on you!' sort of post that had begun to morph into a long rambly post with squee-ing when my usual hyperactive short-attention-span-induced clicking between browser tabs and refreshing brought pretty shattering news for my universe.<br /><br />My favourite Japanese band, Ayabie, are breaking up.<br /><br />Everyone but the vocalist, Aoi, will be starting a new band and shifting to another record label. From the comments issued, it sounded like things were pretty ugly.<br /><br />I don't think it's quite sunk in for me yet.<br /><br />Sooo, more time will probably have to go by before I post up the two entries I've been working on.<br /><br />Think I'll go bury my face in a book. Oh, a third entry about my reading is probably in order too. Hmmm.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-62195416963117305322010-07-23T16:03:00.005+08:002010-07-23T16:37:30.374+08:00Star Visibility Zero<div style="text-align: center;"><br />We are all in the gutter,<br />but some of us see the reflection of the fence.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TElO9C1F46I/AAAAAAAAAO4/NblSBSvNWF0/s1600/R0016575.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TElO9C1F46I/AAAAAAAAAO4/NblSBSvNWF0/s400/R0016575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497011630820942754" border="0" /></a><br />My rather limp attempt at re-crafting Oscar Wilde's famous quote:<br /><br />"We are all in the gutter,<br />but some of us are looking at the stars."<br /><br />I was literally in the gutter about an hour ago, after catching sight of a very gorgeous drain.<br />What luxuriant and healthy moss you have!<br />What adorable little sprigs of weeds you have!<br />What poignantly curled brown leaves adorning your belly you have!<br />What delightfully rough textured surfaces you have!<br /><br /><br />Right. *cough*<br /><br />So down into it I climbed, thankfully with vaguely suitable footwear slapped on my feet, though the fluffy skirt wasn't too advisable.<br /><br /><br />Not totally satisfied with any of the pictures I snapped, though.<br />Then I started to run low on battery and memory space, and my ageing legs started to ache, so back out I clambered.<br />Spotted more contenders for the title of Most Picturesque Drain on my way back. Tropical vegetation is frantically flourishing even in the gutters.<br /><br />Started constructing a Grand Tour of the Gutters in my head.<br /><br />And then I was home and my cat was waiting in the porch to greet me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TElPXaIAtDI/AAAAAAAAAPA/9SIHHYMu7Po/s1600/R0016579.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TElPXaIAtDI/AAAAAAAAAPA/9SIHHYMu7Po/s400/R0016579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497012083750908978" border="0" /></a>★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-69858680212386654842010-07-20T17:42:00.014+08:002010-07-20T18:59:47.782+08:00Pretty Plastic and Sugary Creations<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEVxx1jAU5I/AAAAAAAAAKY/v42Xca99n2E/s1600/R0016106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEVxx1jAU5I/AAAAAAAAAKY/v42Xca99n2E/s320/R0016106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495924021276988306" border="0" /></a><br />Lookie!! The goodies I bought off <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> arrived when I wasn't back yet, and I was just given the package. Haha.<br /><br />What you see above is a strap for handphones, or whatever you wish to dangle it on. But look!! It's a mini merry-go-round!!! Wow! I placed my order quite a while back, before that post on merry-go-rounds! I sort of forgot what charms were on the strap, so my subconscious must have been sending images of pretty painted wooden horses going up and down and round and round to the fore of my consciousness.<br /><br />Anyway, I also got this necklace:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV2trZMiJI/AAAAAAAAAKg/k3XJHEDvSLU/s1600/R0016099.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV2trZMiJI/AAAAAAAAAKg/k3XJHEDvSLU/s320/R0016099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495929447390152850" border="0" /></a><br />The creator describes the range as "Gothic Sweets Jewelery".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV3L0z5BYI/AAAAAAAAAKo/L4CLkz05kYo/s1600/R0016100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV3L0z5BYI/AAAAAAAAAKo/L4CLkz05kYo/s320/R0016100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495929965314114946" border="0" /></a><br />I sort of know the creator from LiveJournal, and found the link to her Etsy shop, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/melodydoll">Chocobanana</a>. Actually, I came to know of Etsy through this shop!<br /><br />She has some pretty interesting ideas, and some of her creations are really adorable and pretty.<br /><br />I really like this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/44757755/natural-layered-bracelet">Natural Layered Bracelet</a>, but didn't get it as I practically never wear bracelets. The Chinese coins are a nice touch.<br />This <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48784221/eiffel-tower-crochet-chain-and-lace">Eiffel Tower Crochet Chain and Lace Necklace</a> is pretty too, but I felt I had too much in my shopping cart already. <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br />A really nice touch is her packaging. My goodies came in an adorable Cinnamoroll bag with a Rilakkuma paper note. ^-^ She also threw in two plastic ribbon charms and a cute little black Anna Sui-esque plastic comb (which has lost itself in the clutter of my room and hence is unable to make an appearance v.v ). Thought that goes into packaging is appreciated!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV5Z2d5mwI/AAAAAAAAAK4/nUjslf63EKo/s1600/DSC04728.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV5Z2d5mwI/AAAAAAAAAK4/nUjslf63EKo/s320/DSC04728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495932405300173570" border="0" /></a><br />I've preciously shopped there before, and the highlights of that order are:<br /><br />This wonderfully pop and shiny pin! With a carousal horse!! Haha. It's in need of some superglue now, though. Eep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV66B15L0I/AAAAAAAAALA/JcFYgLDj1nM/s1600/R0016104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV66B15L0I/AAAAAAAAALA/JcFYgLDj1nM/s320/R0016104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495934057621040962" border="0" /></a><br />And my absolute favourite!! You've probably seen me wearing it before! A Whipped Cream Mini Barrette! xD I love it muchly!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV7X5QelyI/AAAAAAAAALI/uxgFwU5j3qY/s1600/R0016102.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV7X5QelyI/AAAAAAAAALI/uxgFwU5j3qY/s320/R0016102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495934570712700706" border="0" /></a><br />The goods arrived nicely packaged as well that time, with adorable macaron tape, sweet pink tissue wrapping, as well as a free chocolate bar-shaped mirror! ^^<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV5LXcUbEI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Kk3G-4yxaQk/s1600/DSC01491.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV5LXcUbEI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Kk3G-4yxaQk/s320/DSC01491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495932156453874754" border="0" /></a><br />It has been raining all afternoon, which is lovely, especially since I was out and about in the morning and got home before the skies opened up.<br />I love rainy days.<br />And I especially love them when I have nothing to do but stay indoors and listen to the sound of the rain.<br /><br />I'm also listening to some Dvorak, pilfered from the father's CD collection. I chose this disc because it had a Cello Concerto and a Polonaise, and was surprised to recognise the tunes when I popped it into my redeemed-free-with-petrol-station-points Hi-Fi set.<br /><br />It's mostly like that with classical music for me - recognising the tunes but not knowing what it is or who the composer is. Haha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV8LCDCndI/AAAAAAAAALQ/EtBlif-8uqE/s1600/R0016098.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV8LCDCndI/AAAAAAAAALQ/EtBlif-8uqE/s320/R0016098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495935449245588946" border="0" /></a><br />There was tea and cupcake earlier on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV9RLs9nRI/AAAAAAAAALY/SURFnL7vlFM/s1600/R0016096.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV9RLs9nRI/AAAAAAAAALY/SURFnL7vlFM/s320/R0016096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495936654428183826" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmmmmmmmm.<br /><br />The cupcake is obviously half-eaten, as I brought it back from brunch when I couldn't eat another bite. Haha.<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.themarmaladepantry.com/">The Marmalade Pantry</a>, which has now moved to the swanky new shopping centre, the ION, from the stalwart old <span style="font-style: italic;">tai-tai</span> (rich wives with naught to do but go shopping, have high tea, and play mahjong) hangout that is Palais Renaissance.<br /><br />The smoothie was a Fail - if I wanted an ice-blended, I would have gone to Coffee Bean or Starbucks, my friend.<br />The burger was disappointingly unimpressive.<br /><br />But, the cupcake was really pretty good!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV-83zvbZI/AAAAAAAAALg/2wavzVGixHo/s1600/R0016083.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV-83zvbZI/AAAAAAAAALg/2wavzVGixHo/s320/R0016083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495938504513777042" border="0" /></a><br />The Geisha. Pandan with coconut and..... other stuff I can't really remember. Haha. No matcha (Japanese green tea) involved, though, so named solely on based on colour.<br />I love pandan and coconut! Pandan chiffon cakes are an old childhood favourite of mine! Must write down in my notebook to have some before I leave the Spore again!<br /><br />But yes, the Marmalade group's cupcakes do not disappoint. Which means I should probably just go back to frequenting Toast, their cafe, which has pretty pink tiled walls and floors. Ho-hum!<br /><br />Perved their cupcakes on my way out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV_92v7B1I/AAAAAAAAALo/Acz4xuTF9D0/s1600/R0016085.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEV_92v7B1I/AAAAAAAAALo/Acz4xuTF9D0/s320/R0016085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495939620920821586" border="0" /></a><br />The one in the middle is the Red Velvet, which I've had before. Coconut and rose chocolate, if my memory serves me right!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWAN9Mi2JI/AAAAAAAAALw/e6FqnGtUHXo/s1600/R0016086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TEWAN9Mi2JI/AAAAAAAAALw/e6FqnGtUHXo/s320/R0016086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495939897529391250" border="0" /></a><br />This one was the prettiest one, and all the patrons who judge cupcakes by their covers picked it! Tsk! I think the three lurking behind are Limonettas (or some other lemon-based name). That's good too!<br /><br />My old favourite's got to be the chocolate one, whatever it's called. Mmm. Brings back good memories!<br /><br />Seems like they've expanded their range of cupcakes. New ones like the Geisha and the pretty strawberry one. Yum yum!★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-38862641699295054232010-07-16T12:45:00.001+08:002010-07-16T12:54:32.455+08:00Rainy Day Blogging<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_X2z0iymI/AAAAAAAAAI4/K9W9CX-0AXU/s1600/R0015749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_X2z0iymI/AAAAAAAAAI4/K9W9CX-0AXU/s320/R0015749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494347407038794338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I keep meaning to blog, but have been distracted by other corners of the internet whenever I get online. Well, to beging with, being back has rather cut down the number of hours I spend with my digits being glued to the keyboard. I'm still ill and so have not gone into full 'I'm back!!!!!' mode, but there're enough engrossing diversions and delightful distractions to be had within under my roof and within the confines of my room. I rather enjoy conducting what I like to think of as self-archaeological digs - sifting through my drawers and going through the material goods that are now remnants of the years I've spent taking in oxygen and consuming resources on this planet.<br /><br />But anyway, there's much that I'd love to write about on this blog! I keep blogging in my head, but never actually get down to doing it. Let's draw up a little list and see how much I can get through..... eventually? Haha.<br /><br />♣ Impressions on China.<br />-This is something I really want to do, but don't feel quite up to the task just yet. Hmmm.<br />♣ More on <span style="font-style: italic;">hutongs</span>.<br />-I have some pictures from a sunny afternoon spent traipsing around the <span style="font-style: italic;">hutongs</span> of Beijing. Would like to put some up. Or I could just dump them in a Facebook photo album. Haha.<br />♣ Tianjin<br />-Took a day trip to the city of Tianjin a while back, but never got round to writing about it and putting pictures up.<br /><br />♥ Two years ago.......<br />-London, Norway, Paris, Iceland. I miss Europe so!<br /><br />♠ Uniquely Singapore<br />Haha! That's our tourist promotion tagline. Right. Haha. But yes, it'd be nice if I could actually get down to posting about places I like in the Spore. I don't think I've ever done that before. Heh. ^^;<br /><br />♦ NicoNico Video music!!!<br />Remember when I complained about not having new music to explore? Well, all that has changed now!! Whoo! Haha. Lots of lovely cheesy electronic Vocaloid music, and Utattemita ('I tried singing it') music. Nya~! =^.^= Happily spinning!<br /><br /><br /><br />Mmm. I think that's about it? For now? Heh.<br /><br />Anyway, I need to gloat!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_XBCVxAXI/AAAAAAAAAIw/yh8embK2yYE/s1600/R0015682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_XBCVxAXI/AAAAAAAAAIw/yh8embK2yYE/s320/R0015682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494346483223298418" border="0" /></a><br />I am now the proud new owner of happy, happy, shiny, colourful hair!!! Whoo~! о(ж>▽<)y ☆<br /><br />Or as the speshu Shu puts it, I have shanny, colourful hair!! xDDD<br /><br />I was getting so sick of my old hair and one of the first things on my list to do after getting back was heading to the hairdresser's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_YA2q-TWI/AAAAAAAAAJA/uBjlZcEUJ8A/s1600/R0015741.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_YA2q-TWI/AAAAAAAAAJA/uBjlZcEUJ8A/s320/R0015741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494347579602652514" border="0" /></a><br />Have I mentioned how much I love my hairdresser??? If not, I am now!!!<br /><br />She did a much more amazing job than I would have hoped for!<br /><br />It's this old, pokey place in a sleepy neighbourhood with interior designs straight out of the 80's. It's like stepping back in time.<br />I sat there for four hours with the classical channel on the radio piping into one ear, and a cheesy Chinese period drama on the TV into the other, with the sweet fumes of chemicals drifted through the blocked clogness of my nose as she put aluminum into my hair and we talked about Europe and Monet, Millais, and Munch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_aT87riYI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/kHC-gHxk7TI/s1600/R0015739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_aT87riYI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/kHC-gHxk7TI/s320/R0015739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494350106724108674" border="0" /></a><br />The final result had me grinning like an idiot!<br />Four colours - red, brown, blue, and purple.<br />The last two will fade into pink and copper with time. Wow! It's like magical changing hair! Two for the price of one!! xD<br /><br />And she charged me a really, really reasonable price - no, it's actually really rather cheap!!<br /><br />I can't stop looking at my own hair. Haha. Apologies for the pic-spam!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_ZboxhpLI/AAAAAAAAAJI/F1rH9NnVBmM/s1600/R0015744.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_ZboxhpLI/AAAAAAAAAJI/F1rH9NnVBmM/s320/R0015744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494349139240133810" border="0" /></a><br />The last time I did anything fun with my hair was over two years ago. Wow. o.o<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_liKfK7wI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/oBQXmVYfcSw/s1600/P6022395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_liKfK7wI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/oBQXmVYfcSw/s320/P6022395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494362445508701954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_lyZX9chI/AAAAAAAAAKA/_ILyWWwWxXY/s1600/P6032426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_lyZX9chI/AAAAAAAAAKA/_ILyWWwWxXY/s320/P6032426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494362724382896658" border="0" /></a><br />Good times, good times. ^.^<br /></div><br />Anyway, the poor long-suffering Shu had to put up with my silly real life spazzing over my hair (and other various spazz-spasms. Haha.) when we went out for Ramen and sweets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_bicFbeqI/AAAAAAAAAJY/xWcRzraoz5Y/s1600/R0015702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_bicFbeqI/AAAAAAAAAJY/xWcRzraoz5Y/s320/R0015702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494351455116294818" border="0" /></a><br />Was very glad to set eyes on the Singapore River again. This is one of my favourite mainstream Singapore places. Haha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_dIJ1wmFI/AAAAAAAAAJg/0biL6LCCUEE/s1600/R0015705.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_dIJ1wmFI/AAAAAAAAAJg/0biL6LCCUEE/s320/R0015705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494353202565388370" border="0" /></a><br />The Japanese Ramen boom shows no sign of slowing down in Singapore.....? This one's Santouka, which hails from the northern island of Hokkaido.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_dl18GSwI/AAAAAAAAAJo/yyNLA-AFHBQ/s1600/R0015708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_dl18GSwI/AAAAAAAAAJo/yyNLA-AFHBQ/s320/R0015708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494353712619342594" border="0" /></a><br />On to Canele for desert!! Oh, my Passion Fruit and Milk Chocolate Macaron! How I have pined for you!!!<br />Haha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_eEuf1F5I/AAAAAAAAAJw/kvK3bbyZKxs/s1600/R0015715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TD_eEuf1F5I/AAAAAAAAAJw/kvK3bbyZKxs/s320/R0015715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494354243197671314" border="0" /></a><br />The other two I went for were Mandarin Orange and Black Forest. Good stuff! Though they still can't knock Passion Fruit and Milk Chocolate off its throne. Haha.<br /><br />Evil thing about Canele is that now they "only serve still and sparkling water". No more normal (tap) water provided. Money-grubbing bastards. This would be against EU regulations, right?<br />Ah well.<br /><br /><br />In other news, more stations on the new MRT (Mass Rapid Transport - our subway/tube) are now open, and I felt like a mountain tortoise (Chinese/Hokkien expression that sort of means 'hick' or er..... Too lazy to wrack my brains to come up with a good explanation for it. It can be used as a noun or an adjective, if that helps. Lol).<br />They also started saying 'Please mind the gap' on the TV screens on the train platforms, which is just weird. Haha.<br /><br />Anyway, it's been a nice, rainy morning so far. A veritable tropical storm which has now mellowed into a patter with distant rumbles of thunder. I'm on to my second pot of tea (LUPICIA peach-scented Darjeeling). The cat is cosily curled up on the chair under the table in the yard, and I haven't the heart to disturb his soporific state with a camera in his nose.<br /><br /><br />So what I'm going to do is throw you a Vocaloid song instead. Haha. 'Yowamushi Mont Blanc' (Literally - 'Coward Mont Blanc'. Mont Blanc here isn't the mountain, but that cake you see in the video with oodles of spaghetti-looking cream piled on top. It's made of chestnuts. I'm not a fan, as I don't particularly delight in the taste of chestnut confections.)<br /><br />Composed by DECO*27, featuring the Vocaloid GUMI, who uses the voice of Anisong singing sensation (at least in 2008? haha) Nakajima Megumi.<br /><br />It's a wonderfully cute song with a cute video too. If you listen to it with good(ish) speakers or earphones, you'll hear that the arrangement is actually pretty good as well! Love the string-instrument-like melody. (Fails at musical description)<br />I also like how GUMI sounds. I'm not a fan of some of the other Vocaloids as their tone is too shrill or cutesy sometimes. But GUMI sounds good here. A bit husky and not grating on the ear!<br /><br />Well, after so much typing, here it is!! Enjoy!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MRsykpnEiGs&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MRsykpnEiGs&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object></div><br /><br />My song of current loop, both in soundwaves and in my head. Heh. ^-^<br /><br />The best kind of rainy days are those when you have nothing to do but laze around the house with the sound of raindrops providing background music to all the lazy lazing you do.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-14783191668587856122010-07-12T17:49:00.019+08:002010-07-12T18:58:12.663+08:00The Return of the Brat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDru0zzAxDI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/qZSxkKZYBqM/s1600/R0015520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDru0zzAxDI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/qZSxkKZYBqM/s320/R0015520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492965286556517426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm back!!<br /><br />Germ-y, phlegm-y, sleep-deprived and sweat-slicked, but I'm back!!<br /><br />Feels good to not have a shower that suddenly subjects me to spurts of scalding water, a toilet bowl that wobbles and is inapt at flushing, and clear, non-murky water running from the taps.<br /><br />Bless you, you little pocket of sanitary, functioning orderliness, Singapore!<br /><br />Last night, I was reunited with my black blob.<br />He seemed to remember me. Either that or he's just being his usual shameless self and throwing himself at any human being for the prospect of scratchies.<br />I subjected him to a flurry of snaps worthy of a paparazzi, and he looked suitably bewildered and annoyed at turns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrl85vRCHI/AAAAAAAAAHY/CcJjXOy1Otc/s1600/R0015417.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrl85vRCHI/AAAAAAAAAHY/CcJjXOy1Otc/s320/R0015417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492955529985722482" border="0" /></a><br />Had the most splitting headache last night, and that combined with adrenaline from the excitement of being back deprived me of slumber till about 5am.<br /><br />Got up after 10, and then had to go to the supermarket, as the fridge and larder resembled deserted streets with the sporadic clump of tumble weed in Westerns. Was pleasantly surprised I not only managed to not deal any damage to the car, but also parked rather prettily!<br /><br />Now equipped with milk and other random items, I could proceed to partake in my morning pot of tea.<br /><br />Mariage Freres' Marco Polo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDryXiM7AQI/AAAAAAAAAIY/srZ66n1vVnI/s1600/R0015460.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDryXiM7AQI/AAAAAAAAAIY/srZ66n1vVnI/s320/R0015460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492969181663658242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm usually not a fan of flavoured tea, but Marco Polo is an exception. The fragrance is lovely! Heavier on the floral side, but fruity as well. I'd heard much about it, and finally got to have my first taste in Kyoto last year, at this cute little cafe I chanced upon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrzERcJKfI/AAAAAAAAAIg/Of8QG0n6T50/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrzERcJKfI/AAAAAAAAAIg/Of8QG0n6T50/s320/DSCN0300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492969950258211314" border="0" /></a><br />I was sold immediately after the first whiff and the first sip.<br /><br />It leaped up to occupy the first place on my tea leaves shopping list that trip.<br />Unfortunately, my tea has lost most of its fragrance by being left on the shelf for about four months. My blocked nose might have something to do with it too. However, since there're only about two servings left, it wasn't too much of a waste. It doesn't look likely that I'll be able to get my hands on more of the stuff anytime in the near future, though. Ah well. There are always new tea horizons to explore I suppose! ^-^<br /><br />I also treated myself to some walnut cheese. It looked yummy, and it was yummy. Apparently it's a Bavarian cheese.<br />Cheese and crackers.<br />Cheese and granny smith apples.<br />Pure bliss.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDroSw38gqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/LsqtVoQUhX4/s1600/R0015489.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDroSw38gqI/AAAAAAAAAHo/LsqtVoQUhX4/s320/R0015489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492958104586584738" border="0" /></a><br />Carr's table water biscuits have been a favourite of mine since toddler-hood. Or so I have been told. ^^<br /><br />Later on it was strawberry time. With 'The Time Traveller's Wife', which I have just started reading today. Oh, and that's white fungus drink in the mug. Muaha. Apparently it's good for coughs. I actually rather like fungus. The black variety is absolutely delicious as a component of a dish or as a starter on its own. They had a lot of it in China. I think calling it 'fungus' in English (well, it probably <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> fungus) makes it sound rather unappetising, if not revolting. However, the Chinese name, <span style="font-style: italic;">muer</span>, can literally be translated to 'wood ear' making it sound much better, and even a little cute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrsWCPIXhI/AAAAAAAAAH4/iMmnROJ_gCo/s1600/R0015496.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrsWCPIXhI/AAAAAAAAAH4/iMmnROJ_gCo/s320/R0015496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492962558833352210" border="0" /></a><br />And just now I had some <span style="font-style: italic;">genmaicha</span>, Japanese green tea with roasted brown rice. Put too much tea leaves in the pot, so it was rather too bitter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrolN2GrBI/AAAAAAAAAHw/4qZT6uNrmQw/s1600/R0015499.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDrolN2GrBI/AAAAAAAAAHw/4qZT6uNrmQw/s320/R0015499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492958421601135634" border="0" /></a><br />The cat joined me at the dining table and dozed a little, purring all the while, as I read my book and sipped on tea. He really enjoys just being in the company of another sometimes. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDruBQetx9I/AAAAAAAAAIA/B1Ko-eFvHvg/s1600/R0015515.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDruBQetx9I/AAAAAAAAAIA/B1Ko-eFvHvg/s320/R0015515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492964400902817746" border="0" /></a><br />And so my day's been an immensely lazy one with much to please the palate. Everything's been wrapped in a sticky film of humidity, though, and the weather has been strange and ever-changing throughout the day.<br /><br />Hopefully I'll manage to get a good rest tonight, and make it into town tomorrow.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-50421826314789025572010-07-09T21:49:00.001+08:002010-07-12T18:58:52.400+08:00Then The Clouds Will Open For Me..... Not.I was supposed to be moving now.<br /><br />But the skies are dumping down immense amounts of water on the city.<br />I think this is the heaviest it's rained since I got here. Just figures it had to happen on the day when I was planned to be lugging the suitcases, backpacks, paper bags, and other miscellaneous bits and dregs of my life to the main road, flag down a cab and somehow manage to fit all above-mentioned items into it for transportation to temporary place of abode.<br /><br />Went out for dinner and had to navigate the disgusting dubiously dirty pools of water along the road and pavement as well as avoid being run over while trying to navigate the hazardous traffic, which is bad enough under normal circumstances, and try to avoid being spiked blind by the umbrellas of other pedestrians.<br /><br />When we stepped out of the building after dinner, wehey, guess what?<br />The rain was EVEN heavier!!<br />Brilliant.<br />At a particularly flooded stretch, my feet were practically underwater.<br />How nice.<br />Dress was all wet too, irregardless of umbrella.<br /><br />Also, I'm ill. Have been battling a bad throat since Tuesday, and now it's gone on to the hacking cough stage.<br />It still feels like there're hot coals residing in my throat.<br />(Ok, I exaggerate. Not quite hot coals, but it does feel like it's burning)<br /><br />I'm really worried they won't let me on the plane on Sunday.<br />The last thing I want is to be quarantined in Beijing Airport.<br /><br />Well, and if I get past the health screening or whatever, I'm worried if the plane will even be able to leave the ground.<br />Weather report says rain all the way till Monday.<br />The last time I flew in China, our flight was delayed for 3 hours because of thunderstorms in Beijing.<br /><br /><br />I want a shower and to snuggle up in bed and actually be able to fall asleep.<br /><br />But all my things are packed up.<br /><br />I foresee washing my hair and showering with a tiny bottle of hotel shampoo, drying off with a face towel, letting hair drip-dry, and going to bed without plushies, pillows and other miscellaneous nest bedding material.<br /><br /><br /><br />So now I'm sulking in the cafe trying to distract myself with an internet fix.<br /><br /><br />Some dude's playing a guitar behind me, and is now playing 'Blister In The Sun'. Yay. Makes me a wee little bit less grumpy.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-46215163867268119812010-07-04T20:05:00.003+08:002010-07-04T20:46:26.061+08:00That Little Nook<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDB8nwWeKuI/AAAAAAAAAHI/onCPwESYSAo/s1600/R0015152.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TDB8nwWeKuI/AAAAAAAAAHI/onCPwESYSAo/s320/R0015152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490024968200530658" border="0" /></a><br />Last paper tomorrow. Will have to produce two vaguely intelligent-sounding essays.<br />I tried to explain how I'm very likely to mix up my character-writing, and then deleted all of it as I realised I couldn't get it down coherently in English. Urgh.<br /><br />Anyway, it's been a scorching three days. Especially cruel after the cool relief of a rainy and comfortingly gloomy Thursday.<br />Here, the heat is like the blast of a furnace. Intense and oh so dry. I'm definitely not enjoying it. But when I get back to the tropics, I'm probably going to start complaining about how I can't stand the humidity and the slicked sweat on skin.<br /><br />Think what I need now is a good night's sleep.<br />Last night's snooze time wasn't adequate as I got caught up with observing a fascinating newly-discovered virtual communication phenomena.<br /><br />Non-euphemistically put, I got sucked into yet another online obsession. Hahaha.<br />Well, to be honest, it hasn't reached the level of obsession yet, but I can see myself getting there eventually. Time to step on the breaks. But lord, it's so compelling!<br /><br />What is?<br /><br />Mmm, Live Broadcasts on NicoNico Video.<br /><br />More on it next time. Perhaps.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-23517972844106646192010-06-27T17:50:00.011+08:002010-06-27T20:51:38.728+08:00Merry-Go-Round<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcfsheW1eI/AAAAAAAAAGA/4i_bcm5hVPE/s1600/16731_518782969843_223200163_873373_3580390_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcfsheW1eI/AAAAAAAAAGA/4i_bcm5hVPE/s320/16731_518782969843_223200163_873373_3580390_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487389520734639586" border="0" /></a><br />Mmm, it's been a few days since I last posted here. But it feels like it's been ages, for all the wrong reasons. Haha.<br /><br />Anyway, to blow and scatter away the unpleasantness of the week (see the picture below for the image I have in mind), I'm thinking of Merry-Go-Rounds and looking at pictures of them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://gigazine.jp/img/2009/05/14/dating_ghibli/haku_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 193px;" src="http://gigazine.jp/img/2009/05/14/dating_ghibli/haku_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The Merry-Go-Round. Carousel. The Galloper. Roundabout. Flying Horses.<br /><br />Probably the most representative of all fairground rides.<br /><br />It conjures up images of magic and whimsy.<br /><br />I especially like them by night when more sparkles of magic and mystery are sprinkled on them by their fairy lights. Even higher scores on the magic-meter if they're by the sea. Like in one of those old-world seaside amusement parks.<br /><br /><br />The picture at the top of this post was taken by me when I was in Kobe, Japan, last year.<br />It was in a fairground complex by the sea, in an area of multiple shopping and entertainment developments. It was pretty late by the time I'd finished poking around the Sannomiya area in the north that I was staying in, but since it was the only night I was spending in Kobe, I was determined to make it down to the seafront and see the Ferris wheel and Merry-go-round illuminated by night.<br /><br />How did I come to know of it, you ask?<br /><br />Well. A few days before I left for Japan, I read a post on one of my favourite blogs to stalk, that of the Ayabie bassist, Intetsu, which had this picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcnkhrYbBI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/65hvnh8ZI3k/s1600/Int+o0640048010260150947.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcnkhrYbBI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/65hvnh8ZI3k/s320/Int+o0640048010260150947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487398179443338258" border="0" /></a><br />His blog is a real visual feast, with many pretty pictures to accompany the posts. He blogs about places he's been, while on tour or in Tokyo, adorable cafes he's been to, delicious-looking food (mostly sweet. Haha) he had and dishes he made, nice-sounding tea he's had, cute cats he's stalked, and so on. He also posts selections from 'photo walks' he's taken with camera in hand.<br /><br /><br />When I saw that photo steeped in magic, I really wanted to see the place for myself. After getting directions from the hotel front desk (I kind of just went 'I want to go to the place by the sea with the Ferris wheel' haha), I hopped on the train and after a walk through the shopping complexes, I rounded a bend, and lo and behold, there was the Ferris wheel flashing its neon down on me! Crossing a few roads and climbing a flight of stairs or two finally unfolded the sight of the merry-go-round nestled at the foot of the Ferris wheel.<br /><br />A moment of breath being taken in and camera shutter clicking.<br /><br /><br />I didn't ride on the merry-go-round. Don't think the idea properly entered my mind. Even if it did, I doubt I would have. Just a tad pathetic, don't you think, a girl hopping on a merry-go-round alone at 9pm? Haha.<br /><br />Anyway. I can't clearly remember the last time I was on a merry-go-round, though. There is an enlarged and plastic-framed picture of six-year-old me riding the merry-go-round in Tokyo Disneyland at home, though. I've definitely been on a few since then. But somehow just can't recall my last ride.<br /><br />But anyway, even though the thoughts of merry-go-rounds have been flickering onto and off centre-stage in my brain recently, mainly due to some pictures I found (more on these in a little bit!!), the impetus for sitting down and actually typing out a post is this picture that Intetsu (again!) posted up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCdASrM17GI/AAAAAAAAAHA/1NqGj6GzRlc/s1600/Himi+120098772.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCdASrM17GI/AAAAAAAAAHA/1NqGj6GzRlc/s320/Himi+120098772.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487425360552651874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's of the merry-go-round in the LaQua complex, the website of which states 'Spa Shopping Restaurant Attraction' in English. Another place I never heard of until I left Japan. It seems like a huge entertainment development by the sea, and has its own giant Ferris wheel and roller coaster as well, by the looks of it.<br /><br />Seeing the picture made me think about the fantasy and magic of the merry-go-round again, and so I'm finally putting up these images of merry-go-rounds I found a while back.<br /><br />First up, a wintry merry-go-round:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCco4SiGYEI/AAAAAAAAAGg/OnfEcE4Qtuc/s1600/tumblr_l3cj7zTas51qzospvo1_500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCco4SiGYEI/AAAAAAAAAGg/OnfEcE4Qtuc/s320/tumblr_l3cj7zTas51qzospvo1_500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487399618486886466" border="0" /></a><br />And then one with a Spring-like feel:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcpG5J-X1I/AAAAAAAAAGo/D5DDMTKTx2c/s1600/07a19efcb69088d4fd037f5f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcpG5J-X1I/AAAAAAAAAGo/D5DDMTKTx2c/s320/07a19efcb69088d4fd037f5f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487399869372850002" border="0" /></a><br />I love the colours in these two pictures for different reasons. And! I've just noticed that the merry-go-round depicted in the second picture is a Double Decker!! A term I've just picked up from skimming through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry-go-round">wikipedia's article on merry-go-rounds/carousals</a>. It's a fascinating article (did you know the earliest known depiction of a carousal dates from about 500 A.D. in a Byzantine bas-relief? Or that many carousal connoisseurs feel that the Golden Age of carousals was early 20th century America?), but I don't feel quite up for reading it all right now.<br /><br /><br />Anyway. When I think of merry-go-rounds, the first song that leaps into my head is Joni Mitchell's 'The Circle Game', in which she sings about "the carousal of life".<br /><br /><br />From there, it's a short leap away to 'The Merry-Go-Round of Life', by the genius composer, Joe Hisaishi. He often collaborates with the preeminent director and animator, Miyazaki Hayao, the man behind Studio Ghibli, and of 'Spirited Away' and 'My Neighbour Totoro' fame.<br />'The Merry-Go-Round of Life' is the main theme of the Ghibli film 'Howl's Moving Castle'. I personally thought both the film and the accompanying soundtrack were not the most brilliantly spectacular of both men's works, but I did find this amazing video of Joe Hisaishi playing the piano part and conducting 'The Merry-Go-Round of Life'.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GdugFCr1mp0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GdugFCr1mp0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lovely.<br /><br />Seeing Hisaishi live was one of the dreams I had before going to Japan, but one I didn't get to fulfill. But there's always 'wait' and 'hope', eh?<br />After watching this video, I now regret not buying the DVD of the concert commemorating 25 years of collaboration between Hisaishi and Miyazaki. It's still sitting in my Amazon wishlist! Hmmm.<br /><br />And when I think of merry-go-round music, my mind goes to the compositions of Yann Tiersen. I suppose he's most well-known for the 'Amelie' soundtrack?<br />And wasn't there a carousal in the film as well? I can't really remember. Only saw it once many years ago. I have been meaning to see it again for the longset time ever, but have no idea where the DVD is now.<br /><br />Here's one of the tunes in the soundtrack with a clip from the movie:<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/duGbgrv9LRE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/duGbgrv9LRE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><br />I really could do with more Yann Tiersen CDs! Think I only have 5? Hmm.<br /><br /><br />Oh, I also wanted to post this screen-shot up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcqSk1wqEI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5L2kqwYgzOg/s1600/Tajima+20100417+02.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcqSk1wqEI/AAAAAAAAAG4/5L2kqwYgzOg/s400/Tajima+20100417+02.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487401169589413954" border="0" /></a><br />It's this silly online game I play, in which the player keeps a pet and can dress them up and decorate their rooms. I love my little merry-go-round of pixels. Whoo.<br /><br /><br />And it's about time I put an end to this post that has taken off in a few different directions around the central focal point of the merry-go-round.<br /><br />Here's another picture of Intetsu's to bring things to a close. The LaQua merry-go-round again, but taken roughly a year ago, when they held the event commemorating the band going major there. I like this picture the best out of the three of his I've posted here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcogJX6OHI/AAAAAAAAAGY/aYbUyE0NuOY/s1600/Int+o0640036010224128616.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCcogJX6OHI/AAAAAAAAAGY/aYbUyE0NuOY/s320/Int+o0640036010224128616.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487399203711367282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-85914404517855710972010-06-22T12:58:00.008+08:002010-06-22T16:24:08.711+08:00Endings Over Openings<span style="font-weight: bold;">What's Up Ahead:</span><br />• My current favourite song, the ending theme of an anime I'm currently watching.<br />• Introduction of some anime series by delightfully bizarre production studios.<br />• A little insightful, though possibly erroneous, explanation of Japanese room-size unit of measurement.<br />• Foray into describing the Japanese online amateur made music scene.<br />• What a Vocaloid is.<br />• Vocaloid videos.<br />• Final Goal!!!<br /><br /><br />Have been lamenting my lack of musical exploration lately.<br /><br />I can't properly recall the last musical discovery that set my enthusiasm leaping with delight. I have been listening to the same, limited collection of tracks stuffed into my tiny, decrepit, but still valiantly functioning iPod Nano for goodness knows how many months.<br /><br />However, I have had little moments of 'oooooh, nice!' on the musical front, and most of them have been coming from the Opening and Ending themes of anime series.<br /><br />(Yes, I'm still watching anime. Yes, I'm fast approaching the mid-twenty mark. Yes, I'm still escaping from reality.)<br /><br />What I've been really quite in love with is the Ending theme of the Spring 2010 anime series, 'Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei' (四畳半神話大系). With the assistance of my trusty friend, Jim Breen's, online dictionary, I've rather clumsily translated the title into 'The Four-and-a-Half Tatami Mat Compendium of Myths'. Possibly messed up the order of the words, hence scrambling the meaning, but please try to overlook the translate fail.<br /><br />'Four-and-a-half tatami mats', is I'm pretty sure, considered the size of a small, poor-person's room. I haven't actually looked this up, but have seen enough references to it to come to the conclusion. Japanese rooms, especially traditional ones, are measured by the number of tatami (traditional straw flooring) panels it takes to cover the floor. So sometimes on the websites of ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), they tell you how many 'jou' (the counting verb for tatami panels) large the room is. Since I've convinced myself I'm hopeless at numbers and figures, I shan't bother looking up just how large one tatami 'jou' is.<br />Coming back to 'Four-and-a-half', the namesless protagonist of the series lives in a boarding house of 'four-and-a-half tatami mat' rooms in Kyoto. It's produced by the studio Mad House, which sort of accounts for the delightfully bizarre and unique animation, storytelling, and atmosphere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCBKDFPLIJI/AAAAAAAAAFw/55OO7R8A8Q8/s1600/mainvisual.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TCBKDFPLIJI/AAAAAAAAAFw/55OO7R8A8Q8/s320/mainvisual.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485465762943148178" border="0" /></a><br />(Note the use of a 'four-and-a-half tatami mat' floor plan to form the character for 4!)<br /><br />I could ramble on and on about the anime, despite having only seen 4 episodes so far (I believe about 8 of a total of 11 have already been aired). But will restrain myself here and bring myself back to the main purpose I had in mind when starting on this post. Music. Specifically, anime ending and opening themes.<br /><br />I rather love the ending theme for 'Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei', <span class="watch-expander-head-content"><span>神様のいうとおり ('Kami-sama no iu toori' - 'Just As God Said'). It's a collaboration between three parties, whose names I'm feeling too lazy to romanise right now. It's a groovy electronic piece with deadpan-ish vocals that dwell in that territory between cutesy and airy.</span></span><br /><br />AND, I have to add that I really love the ending sequence animation too!! It makes use of the 'tatami room floor plan' idea and has some rather nifty animation.<br /><br />Here it is!!<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1VJdiNeHGRM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1VJdiNeHGRM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />Surfing around on youtube also brought me to a more electronic version of the song. This one on youtube is different from the one that came with the single, somehow! And I actually like it better! Reminds me of old-school video game sounds. Lovely.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N9vorKUobBc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N9vorKUobBc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Another anime theme that I'm rather in love with currently is the one for Bakemonogatari (化物語). The title of the series is rather neat - in Japanese, the three characters can be split into two words, 'bakemono' ('monster') and 'monogatari' ('story') by sharing the middle character, and it can be translated into English as 'Ghostory'. Pretty cool playing with language that is wonderfully translated, huh? ^^<br /><br />'Bakemonogatari' was produced by the studio SHAFT, which exceeds Mad House in terms of bizarreness and creativity, I feel. 'Bakemonogatari' has very gorgeous animation, with great colours, the highlight of which are the beautiful red outlines. Also has very strange imagery and words being flashed on the screen, that I just allow to wash over me in a mind-boggling celebration of wonderful strangeness. The background music is a delight, the voice work excellent (exercising herculean self-control not to go down this tangent). I can hardly keep up with the puns and humour, even with subtitles, though, which makes me feel really quite inadequate.<br /><br />Right. The ending theme. 'Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari' (The Tale That You Don't Know) by supercell. It's a very pop-ish song. I rather prefer the full lengh version to the anime ending sequence version, but am going to post the latter as I rather like the ending animation. Again. Heh.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8J9gK11b2JM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8J9gK11b2JM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />supercell is rather interesting. It has its origins on Nico nico video, which can be called the Japanese youtube. I haven't really explored this area of the world wide web, so forgive the inaccuracies, misguided assumptions and/or statements spawned from ignorance that may result from my insufficient knowledge and web-surfing.<br /><br />It seems that 'doujin music' is quite the phenomenon now. 'Doujin' is used to refer to 'amateur made' products, (the most famous example would be 'doujinshi' - 'amateur made manga'). This flourishing of the doujin music (I'm not even 100% sure if that's how they refer to it...... -.-) scene seems to be a result of two wonderful pieces of technology.<br /><br />Firstly, the tool of the Vocaloid. These are singing synthesizing software. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocaloid">Wikipedia can probably do a better job explaining</a>. Even an ignoramus like me couldn't help but notice the word 'vocaloid' being bandied about with great frequency in the Japanese-loving corners of the internet. And now I can name a few, like the Kagamine twins and Gackpoid, which uses the voice of legendary (to some I suppose) singer Gackt.<br /><br />Anyway, so basically Vocaloids allow people to put in vocals to compositions they've created, and the whole composition and production of a song can be completely accomplished on a computer. No need to be able to play any instrument or sing, or have to enlist the assistance of people able to do so. This, as you can imagine, enables a lot more people who are talented in composition to realise their creations in audio.<br /><br />The second piece of technology is the platform of NicoVid. I say it can be called the Japanese youtube, but I think it has one added feature that makes it really quite different. I think it's the function that allows viewers to comment on a specific moment in the video played. It also scrolls these comments from viewers across the video when it's being played (yes, this can be switched off, thank god!!). Can't put up a screen capture as my laptop is now running on 'Zero' disk space, but I think this function adds to a sense of, how shall I put it? Participation? Community?<br />A lot of the comments are just exclamatory, such as 'cute!!' or 'hot!!' or just the Japanese version of 'lol' or 'haha', 'wwwwwww' (the w looks like a smile, doesn't it? like ^w^ ).<br />Even though they're just simple comments, I think the commenting and viewing of comments as the video runs definitely puts in an added-dimension to the video viewing process, and that's what makes NicoVid different from youtube.<br /><br />And, coming back to my point, I think this more participatory video site hosting these 'amateur made' songs does enhance the popularity of the scene.<br /><br />Oh, I forgot to add that another key characteristic of 'doujin music', apart from using Vocaloids, is the accompanying animation or visuals.<br /><br />Take supercell as an example. The group (or 'circle' as they're called) has one key member, Ryo, who does the composition and production of the music, and I forgot how many other members who are in charge of providing the illustrations and animation. I think there're about seven of them??<br /><br />Anyway, now that we're back on the topic of supercell, what I want to comment is how it's rather impressive that a web-based amateur music composer is now signed on a major label and releasing music. They no longer use vocaloids, though. What you heard in the video above is a real flesh and blood singer. However, I read that she, too, has her roots in the online self-produced NicoVid music world.<br /><br />So, now, I'm going to end my own little amateur foray into describing and dissecting doujin music with three Vocaloid videos!<br /><br />This song was my initiation into the world of Vocaloids. I came to know of the song as it was covered by a couple of seiyuu (voice actors). (Yet another piece of evidence of the power of the doujin music scene! Usually, wouldn't the order of covering be the reverse?)<br /><br />'Iroha Uta', composed by Gin Saku, featuring the Vocaloid Kagamine Rin.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6FpLW4-5FfI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6FpLW4-5FfI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />What do you think? I took some time to get used to the electronic voice. But I think it's a good, catchy song.<br /><br />Next up, 'Karakuri-shi to Ao' ('The Marionette Master and Green') by Machigerita, featuring Gackpoid and Hatsune Miku Append (which I'm assuming is another version of 'Hatsune Miku').<br />This one is nice and creepy.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pplidtDNBQU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pplidtDNBQU&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />And finally, something a little different. 'Hello Again' by mayuko. A duet by the twins Kagamine Rin and Len. Really quite lovely. If a tad too long. ^^;<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E5eFjxg2VbY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E5eFjxg2VbY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />So what do you think about Vocaloid singing and doujin music?<br />I also heard that quite a lot of these tunes are available at karaoke places as well. Not very sure about the details, but it really is quite some thing, isn't it? For amateur created products to make their way into the commercial sphere like this. Definitely something worth looking further into, but I'm not sure if I can spare the time and effort!!<br /><br />Anyway, I actually planned to post more anime opening and ending sequence videos, but I think I'll leave the onslaught of youtube videos at this for now. Am getting rather tired, and I'm sure you, dear reader, are too.<br /><br />Right. Last obstacle to clear!!<br /><br />The ending sequence with credits removed of the anime series 'Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei' (Farewell Teacher Despair). Produced by the superbly strange SHAFT, and starring the wonderful seiyuu (voice actor) Kamiya Hiroshi, a mini-festival of whom I'm currently having. The art styles and animation forms they whisk the viewer through is even more varied and strange than that in 'Bakemonogatari'. Not going to delve too deeply, as apparently I've already spent 3 hours on this post.<br /><br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pyeKdiMIgH8&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pyeKdiMIgH8&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />There we go!!<br /><br />If you managed to make it through this entire clunking descendent of Frankenstein's monster post AND watched all *counts* 7 videos, as a reward, you can claim a big Badge of Approval from me. Hahahaha.<br />But remember, no cheating or lying!<br /><br />Haha.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-46843076053184193942010-06-17T17:50:00.008+08:002010-06-17T18:43:37.004+08:00A Day or So in a Life<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014821.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />Feeling exceedingly drowsy and lazy. Think it's a combination of the weather, and a lack of sleep and exercise. <br /><br />It's been raining loads here. We're being assaulted by flash thunderstorms. Our plane back to Beijing was delayed for 3 hours due to 'bad weather conditions'. When the plane was making its descent, there were flashes of lightning that made everything outside the windows flicker. And since I had the beginnings of a cold, my nasal passages were stuffed up and caused my ears to be put through agony before we finally made it to the ground.<br /><br />Ever since being back in the capital, the skies have been gloomy and wont to open up and dump rain down upon us, creating disgusting pools of water in the streets and sending the scooter alarms ringing outside my window. There's quite a lot of flashes of lighting and rumbling thunder, as well as the occasional startling crack of thunder. Apparently all this is very uncharacteristic, as Beijing is usually skin-crackingly dry all the time. Well, I actually rather like it this way. I really quite like rainy days, and this is definitely way more pleasant than scorching sunshine and brain-numbing 40 deg cel heat.<br /><br /><br />Funny thing is that it's raining loads back home as well! So much so that the main shopping area flooded! I saw videos on FB and followed the buzz on twitter! We were actually trending for a good few hours because of that! Above the world cup hash tag as well! Was rather surprised and impressed by the number of tweeters and tweets we produced.<br />Anyway, it was pretty serious. Saw the Starbucks where people seem to like to lie in wait to ambush me (hahaha) with water up to the table-tops. Sleezy relic from the 80s shopping centre had a swimming pool of murky brown water in its basement. Swanky new shopping centre packed full of Omotesando/Selfridges-grade shops apparently had its basements filled with water as well.<br /><br />Quite surreal, as I used to pass through the area practically everyday last year. It was also my most convenient and laziest hang-out spot. And to think I missed the monumental event of it being submerged. The relevant governmental department is 'still investigating the cause'. HahahaHAH!<br /><br /><br />Anyway, it was a public holiday here yesterday, for Duanwu Festival (端午节), the Dragon Boat Festival, or Dumpling Festival, depending on whether you wish to put more emphasis on tradition or your stomach.<br /><br />I woke up at 5 something as had fallen asleep with the lights on. Couldn't go back to sleep, so I powered up the old, abused laptop to get my fix of internet.<br /><br />But holy cold turkey! The internet was down!! After a few minutes of desperate CPR clicking, I gave up and decided to watch Ayabie's 2008 Spring Tour Live DVD instead.<br /><br />Which finally brings us to the main picture of this post.<br /><br />I absolutely love it when Intetsu goes berserk! ♥♥♥♥♥<br /><br />He's got what they call the 'gap' aesthetic right down to a tee. (●´ω`●)ゞ<br /><br />Hikonyan-chan approves as well. I bought him from a kiosk in Kyoto Station after seeing Aoi waving a larger cousin of his around on stage at the end of the Kyoto gig. ^^;<br /><br />Anyway, I sat around in my pajamas, mostly in front of the computer, following the flood on twitter, doing the random shit I usually get up to online, waiting for someone to wake up in London so I could wish them a happy birthday. That done, I felt obliged to go out.<br /><br />And now, patient reader, for making it through being bored to numbness by all that's come before this, here're some pictures as a reward! Haha. :p<br /><br /><br />We went to this <span style="font-style: italic;">hutong</span> that I'd never been to before. <i>Hutong</i>s (胡同) are streets, usually rather narrow, but they come in a variety of sizes, formed by lines of courtyard houses, <i>siheyuan</i> (四合院). They're the distinctive features of old Beijing, and hence are mostly found in within the Third Ring Road.<br />They're also what were being bulldozed by the hundreds (?) in the lead up to the Olympics, that had foreign and local conservationists up in arms, emotionally-attached how-many-th generation residents in tears, and, uh, me rather ignorantly bordered between being swayed by the indignation of the foreign press and impassivity, as I'd never been to a <i>hutong</i> then.<br /><br />I'm not going to delve into the whole 'Redevelopment with progress and money and new, modern living for the residents' VS 'Conservation, retaining tradition and history' debate here, though. Don't really think I'm entitled to pass judgment, as I'm not a resident or even a Chinese citizen.<br /><br /><br />Whatever it is, the government has definitely caught on to the tourism potential of <i>hutong</i>s. There's one particular lane that is wonderfully done up with many chic and funky shops, bars, restaurants and cafes. My guidebook calls is 'bourgeois bohemian', and it really is a rather apt description. Where we went yesterday was in the process of being redeveloped.<br /><br />I arrived early, and so snapped some pictures of the place, with a lovely menacing sky as a backdrop. The particular <i>hutong</i> we went to was near the Lama Temple:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014840.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />I went there last spring. It was pretty cool and interesting. I rather like the architecture. Had lovely flowers when I went as well.<br /><br />And this is the <i>hutong</i><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014837.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />As you can see, a lot of not-so-traditional looking additions to the buildings.<br /><br />And there're now a lot of new and quirky looking shops like these:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014825.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />Nice naming-sense here:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014835.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />Spotted a kitty staring at me. Hiiii!! Times like this when I wish the GR Digital had a zoom. >.<; <img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014826.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />Really cool looking bar:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014834.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br /><br />This is what it looks like from the entrance of a couryard residence:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014832.jpg" height="400" /><br /><br />At some point of history, a single household would occupy a single courtyard residence. Up to the point when the Qing Dynasty fell (1911 I think?). A huge number of households then crammed into a single residence, carving up the space and putting up flimsy dividing walls and such.<br />Now there's a trend back towards a single household in a single courtyard, with wealthy Chinese buying out entire courtyards and refurbishing them. This is really costly, as they have to buy out the many, many households living in there!<br /><br />The signs of redevelopment were all around along the <i>hutong</i> yesterday:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014838.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br />You can't get more visual than this:<br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014828.jpg" height="250" /><br /><br /><br />There were still quite a lot of locals living along the <i>hutong</i>, though. I can't imagine what it must be like for them, seeing these swanky shops, restaurants and bars sprouting up in their midst, while they go on subsisting on incomes that won't buy them a meal in one of those places even with a month's (or more??) work.<br /><br />We were part of the invading army, I'm afraid, sipping on milkshakes in chic cafe.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, was pouring down after dinner, so took a cab back. The windows were misted up, and there was a point when the driver went down a really poorly-lit road that seemed to be lined with trees. Got me slightly worried for a while. But being driven through a rainy night with lightning and thunder was rather atmospheric.<br /><br /><br />Was really dark when I woke up this morning, and then it started to pour again. Was really tempted to go back to sleep, but I valiantly got out of bed and fed myself and put on some clothes and made it out the door. Whoo.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/rbjg/R0014823.jpg" height="400" /><br /><br />I miss London. Boo.<br /><br />And my kitty cat. Triple boo.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-29361335166332152502010-06-14T19:51:00.001+08:002010-06-14T19:53:07.035+08:00A Crunch Opens a World of Thoughts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBYN8USIuQI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Bszsyf1fdF0/s1600/R0014788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBYN8USIuQI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Bszsyf1fdF0/s320/R0014788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482584926258247938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Granny Smith apples are one of my favourite fruit ever. I like them crispy and tart. If factors other than those gastronomical were to be taken into account, I think the crown of Favourite Fruit would be sitting firmly on the head of the Granny Smith apple, leaving the mango, blackberry, honey dew and all to bow down to its preeminence.<br /><br />Green apples (as I used to call them before being acquainted with the, in my opinion, inferior Goldendelicious) are, for me, infused with childhood.<br /><br />This used to be my daily habit when I was in primary school: When I got home from school, I'd be told to go wash my hands. Then, I'd make a direct course for the kitchen and rummage through the fridge for an apple. Green apples were my first choice. Then, with apple that has most likely already been crunched into in hand, my next stop would be my grandmother's room. In the cupboard under the window, the comic books used to be kept. I'd sit down on the floor, all the while jaws busy masticating, and spend some time selecting a volume. We had loads of Garfield, old Peanuts, some B.C., almost all of Asterix, and the occasional Andy Cap, Wizard of Id, and more titles that have slipped through the sieve that is my mind. Fixing my fancy on the choice of the day, I'd go back out and settle myself on some piece of furniture in the living room and so my apple eating and reading time would begin.<br /><br />I remember how I used to skip over lengthier dialogue in the comics and focus on the more visually-driven strips.<br />I also remember how I never seemed to tire of reading and rereading the same volumes.<br />What a wonderful and simply satisfied thing the young mind is.<br /><br />I also remember how my reading material also came in the form of the towering stack of library books piled either on the rattan rocking chair or the round coffee table.<br />My mother used to bring us to the nearest library (the building has still retained its original form. I visited it again for the first time in a long, long while last year and was submerged in nostalgia that clutched) and max out our entire family's borrowing allowance. Back then the lovely government gave each of its happy citizens something like 7 books each at a time. We could pull books off the shelves and stagger to the issuing counter with wanton abandon. Good times.<br /><br />And so I've come to associate green apples with afternoons spent immersed in comics and books.<br /><br />I also remember how I devised a system, as sort of procedure of steps, for apple eating. It's rather complicated to explain, and I'd just sound ever-so-slightly insane if I went into it. So simply put, I always eat my apples in the same manner, following the same sequence, even to this day.<br /><br /><br />Given the many associations and memories Granny Smith apples hold for me, I was delighted to find them in my local supermarket here. They're imported from Chile or the USA, and are rather pricey. But I treat myself to them, and munching on one makes me happy and unravels old film reels that my mind sleds down.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-33231898046506858872010-06-10T13:46:00.014+08:002010-06-10T15:57:38.898+08:00May Through a Smeared Lens: Phone Photos May 2010 - Part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDgNY6lBI/AAAAAAAAAD0/IdJfi3zvn5Q/s1600/o0435032710372725844.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDgNY6lBI/AAAAAAAAAD0/IdJfi3zvn5Q/s320/o0435032710372725844.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481025335883109394" border="0" /></a><br />I used to take excessive photos with the slightly crappy camera of my now battered and bruised Sony Ericsson clam phone. It's part of the Walkman series, and so more emphasis was placed on the music functions than photography capabilities. I'm not fond of using my mobile phone as a music player, as doing so eats up battery. However, I really wanted a clam phone, and so went with this model when I was seeking to replace my previous phone that was teetering on the edge of breakdown about just under two years ago. And this has served me well ever since. I feel a strange jump of satisfactory joy whenever I snap the phone shut after a conversation.<br /><br />With this phone, I got in the habit of whipping my phone out and snapping pictures of random things and scenes. Frequently. There's also a fair share of narcissistic self-portraiture too, I'm afraid. ^^;<br /><br />However, ever since I got my GR Digital, the number of pictures snapped with my phone plummeted. Under the influence of a certain someone, I've been carrying my camera with me practically every day, and have been using it instead.<br /><br />The other day, while looking through my phone photo albums, I realised just how few photos I have in there for recent months.<br /><br />Having my phone being stuffed full of colourful, commonplace, and curious snapshots is somehow very comforting. I enjoy flicking through them, on the train or even just in my room, and reliving the memories of remarkable and unremarkable times alike. It's different from having many pictures on a digital camera.<br /><br />And so, I decided to step up my phone photography rate. And since it seems a bit of a shame that they just sit around in my phone's memory, only to be seen on me on solitary public transport journeys and quite moments in my room, I've decided to put selections up here as well.<br />I think they give a more typical view of my day-to-day life. Perhaps.<br /><br />Well, after that lengthy introduction, here we go, into May 2010, Part 1~!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBB_6pwKkqI/AAAAAAAAACk/Be-ipkUa0h8/s1600/DSC04357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBB_6pwKkqI/AAAAAAAAACk/Be-ipkUa0h8/s320/DSC04357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481021392126907042" border="0" /></a><br />1. Grassland with no grass in Inner Mongolia. Clear blue skies meant scorching heat. I think those were horses there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCB3e8DCQI/AAAAAAAAACs/4XFv5_ItAIM/s1600/DSC04363.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCB3e8DCQI/AAAAAAAAACs/4XFv5_ItAIM/s320/DSC04363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481023536707602690" border="0" /></a><br />2. Display case in the hotel lobby. Why canned drinks?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCCjuwozHI/AAAAAAAAADM/jJbTfj7q1iE/s1600/DSC04373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCCjuwozHI/AAAAAAAAADM/jJbTfj7q1iE/s320/DSC04373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481024296868957298" border="0" /></a><br />3. I realised I rather like irises.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCCi3ly3mI/AAAAAAAAAC8/36a4PU0ZVFc/s1600/DSC04367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCCi3ly3mI/AAAAAAAAAC8/36a4PU0ZVFc/s320/DSC04367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481024282059529826" border="0" /></a><br />4. Tous Les Jours has great doughnuts. Here I tried the Mango Something and the Strawberry Something (forgot their names). They do pretty good bread as well! Something that is slightly on the elusive side here. Apparently it's a bakery chain from Korea.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCCjJHaQuI/AAAAAAAAADE/DGmxyYDP8oI/s1600/DSC04371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCCjJHaQuI/AAAAAAAAADE/DGmxyYDP8oI/s320/DSC04371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481024286763926242" border="0" /></a><br />5. One of the most wonderfully delicious and varied bowls of fruit I've had! (Except those my mother used to prepare for me. >^<) The sorbet was yummy as well. Alcohol tinged. We couldn't figure out what flavour it was. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDIUQj9ZI/AAAAAAAAADc/XAIsfC8NdJI/s1600/DSC04376.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDIUQj9ZI/AAAAAAAAADc/XAIsfC8NdJI/s320/DSC04376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481024925410260370" border="0" /></a><br />6. They drew a treble clef in my coffee. ^-^ I like how it morphed after I drank some of it. It looks like a strange rune! Yes, I'm drinking coffee again, after staying away from the stuff for about 3 years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDItUZeNI/AAAAAAAAADk/9oRpBEggH64/s1600/DSC04380.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDItUZeNI/AAAAAAAAADk/9oRpBEggH64/s320/DSC04380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481024932137236690" border="0" /></a><br />7. They were having a tiny photographic exhibition on tigers at the subway station near my office. This panel was my favourite.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDI_2-guI/AAAAAAAAADs/FUwxEK1bqVU/s1600/DSC04389.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCDI_2-guI/AAAAAAAAADs/FUwxEK1bqVU/s320/DSC04389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481024937114108642" border="0" /></a><br />8. Most shops keep some gold fish. 'Fish' in Chinese sounds exactly like 'excess', so I suppose they have gold fish to bring them bountiful takings. Quite a lot of the vessels the fish are put in are terribly cruelly small, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCKwnWeoMI/AAAAAAAAAD8/FE_tGfDGrXc/s1600/DSC04396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCKwnWeoMI/AAAAAAAAAD8/FE_tGfDGrXc/s320/DSC04396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481033314311512258" border="0" /></a><br />9. More crammed conditions for animals. This time in a petshop in the clothing market. But I think these bunnies have it way, waaay better than those bunnies sold by random roadside peddlars. T^T<br />I really want to get a pet rabbit, but they don't allow pets where I live now. Also, it's really quite selfish and irresponsible, seeing as to I won't be here long-term, or anywhere long-term in the near future, by the looks of it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCM1rcDi5I/AAAAAAAAAEE/thEgGFzwECg/s1600/DSC04403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCM1rcDi5I/AAAAAAAAAEE/thEgGFzwECg/s320/DSC04403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481035600331246482" border="0" /></a><br />10. Breakfast with early summer sunlight, rustling leaves, and the smell of greenery. And a good book thrown in too! Perfect! The food and drink were kind of foul, though. >.< <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCPR4fC4II/AAAAAAAAAEc/01qALAx0DNs/s1600/DSC04404.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCPR4fC4II/AAAAAAAAAEc/01qALAx0DNs/s320/DSC04404.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481038283893039234" border="0" /></a><br />11. Classmate went back to Japan and returned bearing snacks. Lovely wafer roll. Here I have blue shoes + blue tights + blue skirt. Excellent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCP_MZRvhI/AAAAAAAAAEk/vKGLkuyB5is/s1600/DSC04409.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCP_MZRvhI/AAAAAAAAAEk/vKGLkuyB5is/s320/DSC04409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481039062331670034" border="0" /></a><br />12. Barbecued (well, not quite, but can't think of another word to translate it into) skewers!! This place is amazing!!! The golden (enoki) mushrooms wrapped in tofu skin are excellent! And so are the buns! *wipes drool off keyboard* Just a 3 minute walk away from me! And only 1 RMB per skewer! I go there. A lot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCQw6ui9-I/AAAAAAAAAEs/93vfxB2U358/s1600/DSC04410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCQw6ui9-I/AAAAAAAAAEs/93vfxB2U358/s320/DSC04410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481039916582500322" border="0" /></a><br />13. View from the stairway of my office block.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCRJ9qwGkI/AAAAAAAAAE0/kIjD5l2Rbso/s1600/DSC04421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCRJ9qwGkI/AAAAAAAAAE0/kIjD5l2Rbso/s320/DSC04421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481040346868619842" border="0" /></a><br />14. Letter writing in a cafe. Also bought some Tirol before that. Have become rather addicted to those little squares of chocolate! >//< You can see Time Out peeping out in the bottom right corner. ^^ <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCRKTlAnZI/AAAAAAAAAE8/PgrX_BeDwsI/s1600/DSC04438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TBCRKTlAnZI/AAAAAAAAAE8/PgrX_BeDwsI/s320/DSC04438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481040352750116242" border="0" /></a><br />15. The most adorable little rings!!!!!!! xDDDD Rocking Zebras?????!!!!! *grabby hands* But I exercised monumental self-control and satisfied myself with surreptitiously snapping a photo of them instead. Another time when a phone camera comes in more useful than a digital one! Sneaky shop photography!<br /><br /><br />Right, I better stop the photo-spamming for now. Really should get going. The gloriously overcast day has now been slightly ruined with sunlight (haha! Wait for temperatures of 35 deg cel and rising, and then tell me whether you like the sun or not!) though. Argh.<br /><br />I think this post is probably the one productive thing I've achieved so far this day. Time to change that!!★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-56325758550656599202010-06-08T15:15:00.006+08:002010-06-08T15:48:52.989+08:00When Worlds are Made to Collide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3y0LIop6I/AAAAAAAAACc/Z50RPLIzcZM/s1600/R0013835.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3y0LIop6I/AAAAAAAAACc/Z50RPLIzcZM/s320/R0013835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480303299735889826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Found this Book Meme!! Sounded like fun, so tried it out.<br /><br /><br />1. Take five books off your bookshelf.<br />2. Book #1 -- first sentence<br />3. Book #2 -- last sentence on page fifty<br />4. Book #3 -- second sentence on page one hundred<br />5. Book #4 -- next to the last sentence on page one hundred fifty<br />6. Book #5 -- final sentence of the book<br />7. Make the five sentences into a paragraph:<br /><br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Book#1 - Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World - Haruki Murakami</span><br /><br />First sentence: The elevator continued its impossibly slow ascent.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Book #2 - The Bloody Chamber - Angela Carter</span><br /><br />Last sentence on page 50: All the natural laws of the world were held in suspension, here, where an army of invisibles tenderly waited on her, and she could talk with the lion, under the patient chaperonage of the brown-eyed dog, on the nature of the moon and its borrowed light, about the stars and the substances of which they were made, about the variable transformations of the weather.<br />(It ran onto page 51. Haha. From 'The Courtship of Mr Lyon')<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Book #3 - In a Glass Darkly - Sheridan Le Fanu</span><br /><br />Second sentence on page one hundred: Page 100 is blank!! >.< <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Book #3 ver 2 - On the Road - Jack Kerouac</span><br /><br />Second sentence on page one hundred: My aunt and my brother Rocky went in the kitchen to consult.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Book #4 - Seven Gothic Tales - Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen)</span><br /><br />Next to the last sentence on page one hundred fifty: I thought of the gardens of Assens, but it was closed to me forever.<br />(From 'The Deluge at Norderney', which I haven't read yet. >.<) <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Book #5 - Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman</span><br /><br />Final sentence of the book (uh, spoiler alert?): And they walked away together through the hole in the wall, back into the darkness, leaving nothing behind; not even the doorway.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Make the five sentences into a paragraph:</span><br /><br />I thought of the gardens of Assens, but it was closed to me forever. My aunt and my brother Rocky went in the kitchen to consult. The elevator continued its impossibly slow ascent. And they walked away together through the hole in the wall, back into the darkness, leaving nothing behind; not even the doorway. All the natural laws of the world were held in suspension, here, where an army of invisibles tenderly waited on her, and she could talk with the lion, under the patient chaperonage of the brown-eyed dog, on the nature of the moon and its borrowed light, about the stars and the substances of which they were made, about the variable transformations of the weather.<br /><br />There we go!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3yRWFkP_I/AAAAAAAAACU/ktqwEcWnEo8/s1600/R0014562.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3yRWFkP_I/AAAAAAAAACU/ktqwEcWnEo8/s320/R0014562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480302701380386802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fitting the five sentences together reminds me of those games they used to make us play, either in language class or at camps or similar situations, where we're given strips of paper with sentences on them, and are tasked to piece them together to form a coherent and logical sentence.<br /><br /><br />Anyway, two of the books grabbed off my shelf are actually pirated books bought off the roving book pirate bicycle carts (pictured at top of post). Was very surprised and rather impressed to find Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere' and Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' nestled amongst the Marx and Kinsella and what's-her-name-Twilight-author, etc. Incidentally, both books remind me of Anne!! xD<br /><br />Lapped up 'Neverwhere' like a very hungry and rather un-felinely enthusiastic cat at a dish of cream over two days. Lovely stuff. Made me long for London badly, though.<br />Am not currently on 'On the Road'! I feel like I should look at a map of America as I read it, though. Hmm.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-28793363457609992072010-06-08T14:57:00.008+08:002010-06-08T15:08:46.490+08:00Asphalt and SandI wrote this a while back, after I went to Inner Mongolia in May.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3qExM33hI/AAAAAAAAABM/rUIVqxpBRa0/s1600/R0012721.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3qExM33hI/AAAAAAAAABM/rUIVqxpBRa0/s320/R0012721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480293689227468306" border="0" /></a>The country has just staggered out from being whirled up in the frenzied flurry of the Labour Day national holiday, and I myself staggered off a 16 hour long bus journey back from Inner Mongolia. I've sworn off long-distance buses in China. You'd have to threaten me with the bloody murder of my pet cat if you want to get me back on one of those Destination Hell vehicles again. Well, to be honest, the bus itself wasn't toooooooo horrendous. It was more crammed than the regular cattle class seats on airplanes, but when the sun was out, it tended to get stuffy and hot, and the jams on the road were nothing like I ever experienced. We drove through Hebei Province and Shanxi Province, the province that surrounds Beijing City and the one next to that, which are churning out huge quantities of coal and full of disgustingly wealthy coal-magnates. So being in coal country, the roads were clogged up with coal-transporting trucks. However, some chatting with our driver as we stood around on the tarmac waiting in vain for the endless row of trucks to start up their engines and begin trundling along again informed me that most of the coal gets transported by train - these trucks are mostly bound for more rural areas with no railroad access, and smaller factories which do not require such large quantities of the black stuff.<br /><br />The stories that float around about the Shanxi coal magnates are pretty crazy. Apparently they stroll into Rolls Royce showrooms and pay for fleets with sacks stuffed full of cold hard cash. And they only make price inquiries after making the decision to purchase. When they get married, the town gets clogged up with convoys of 4WD limousines.<br /><br />Mad stories that just make the whole rich-poor gap thing all the more appalling.<br /><br />I'd previously gone through the same two provinces to and from the ancient city of Pingyao, and I thought our journey back then was bad enough. Ohhhh noooo. The roads during a national holiday are hopeless. However, it did give some memories I'm sure I'll never forget. And it was quite interesting chatting to my fellow inmates of the Hell Express. Solidarity in suffering.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3qZiSBVQI/AAAAAAAAABU/PTj2eFjlvwc/s1600/R0012772.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3qZiSBVQI/AAAAAAAAABU/PTj2eFjlvwc/s320/R0012772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480294045999781122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cute horses I met on a farm (?). The brick building you can sort of see in the background is the 'toilet'. Basically a few holes in the ground with pathetic excuses for dividing walls that basically only come up to knee-height. I was rather shaken by the experience. Haven't seen one of those since I was 10, which was, yep, in China as well.<br /><br />These two sweet little teenage horses are apparently still not tamed. The dude I spoke to said they're still really afraid of humans, and they were indeed still really jumpy. They did let me pet their noses a little, though. ♥<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3qkwlKvwI/AAAAAAAAABc/zGj5Ek7MnIc/s1600/R0012777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3qkwlKvwI/AAAAAAAAABc/zGj5Ek7MnIc/s320/R0012777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480294238816747266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't ride horses this time, though. There was something like 100% inflation for the hourly rate, and the 'grasslands' had no grass (refer to picture at top of post).<br /><br />What I did get to ride, though, was a camel!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3q2L0WSQI/AAAAAAAAABk/fKabvUCpvTM/s1600/R0013008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3q2L0WSQI/AAAAAAAAABk/fKabvUCpvTM/s320/R0013008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480294538185951490" border="0" /></a><br />As you can see I was really quite excited. It was in the desert and all rather silk route-esque.<br /><br />The camel wasn't as excited, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3rBsegbzI/AAAAAAAAABs/e5JvAM8NIqU/s1600/R0013006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3rBsegbzI/AAAAAAAAABs/e5JvAM8NIqU/s320/R0013006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480294735931273010" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, camels have the most adorable feet, by the way!! Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a good picture of the feet.<br /><br />Most of my pictures weren't too fabulous. They were mostly taken in blinding sunlight when I couldn't see shit on my camera screen. And the GR Digital doesn't have a viewfinder. So it was a lot of squinting at shadows, pointing and shooting and hoping for the best.<br /><br />There was also an excessive amount of bus window photography, but I'll spare you with most of that save for this one selected from my playing around with the ISOs in the dark.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3rZEQ-zSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/rB9_2mdhurY/s1600/R0012595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3rZEQ-zSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/rB9_2mdhurY/s320/R0012595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480295137453985058" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yes, and finally, a not particularly good picture from standing around on the asphalt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3rlnb4XrI/AAAAAAAAACE/KXKPbx8yJeQ/s1600/R0013183.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TA3rlnb4XrI/AAAAAAAAACE/KXKPbx8yJeQ/s320/R0013183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480295353053372082" border="0" /></a><br />I don't think you can really get a feel of the experience and sight until you've been in the situation.★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3065767202903876206.post-60159013694239790362010-06-05T09:59:00.004+08:002010-06-05T10:05:35.253+08:00Pop Stars<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TAmv2H8KPDI/AAAAAAAAAAc/GIXL6evXRmc/s1600/R0014420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TAmv2H8KPDI/AAAAAAAAAAc/GIXL6evXRmc/s320/R0014420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479103766052092978" border="0" /></a><br />Do I have to be sociable today?<br /><br />Can't I just curl up in bed with my iPod and listen to the sounds of the world moving muffled by my windows?<br /><br /><br /><br />Anyway.<br /><br />I'm currently participating in the <a href="http://365project.org/">365 Photography Project</a>, which involves chronicling a year of your life with a photograph a day.<br /><br />I've only been uploading for the project for a month and a half, but it's made me pick up my camera and play with it everyday since. I'd already been taking a lot more pictures after I got my GR Digital, which I carry around with me almost all the time (Guess whose influence.. *innocent whistling♪♪*) However, this project has really made me explore the possibilities of photography and find opportunities and images in many unlikely nooks and crannies.<br />So on days like this when the outside world does nothing to jolt my sense of joy and inspire sparks of wonder in my head, I get to randomly capture the internal world of my room in ways that I hope induce it with a surreal, warped, misrepresented beauty that splashes a little romanticism and lends a cloak of pop colours and fuzzy edges to this existence. Let's me have a slight leap of satisfaction skip through my heart when I am happy with the effect and am pleased with the image taken.<br /><br />The main image is one of those I took last night.<br /><br /><br /><br />What is it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TAmwDkZqQII/AAAAAAAAAAk/iJcEiIx0sTk/s1600/Untitled1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TAmwDkZqQII/AAAAAAAAAAk/iJcEiIx0sTk/s320/Untitled1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479103997030318210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Why, the lights outside my window reflected on the back of my trusty and battered iPod Nano.<br />Got it before I went to Japan, and it's seen me through a lot.<br />In a spur of slightly misguided inspiration, I attacked it's shiny back with purikura [photo stickers] and star stickers.<br />The 12 year old kid styled decorations have since received their fair share of rubbing and abuse, and now look slightly forlorn.<br />One of the four main purikura fell off one day while I was taking the subway here. I didn't realise it. The thought of a picture of mine falling to the floor in public like a crumbled piece of rubbish, to be trodden on or found by random strangers makes me feel rather queasy. Ah well. What's gone is gone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TAmwle7gczI/AAAAAAAAAAs/xuqB6jNMq3g/s1600/R0014424.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_arrzh-XnDyg/TAmwle7gczI/AAAAAAAAAAs/xuqB6jNMq3g/s320/R0014424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479104579677221682" border="0" /></a>★Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11699154744258117895noreply@blogger.com2