Was a good day yesterday. Had a good dinner treat at Petrus@ Shangrila for our anniversary dinner. I didnt have any present ready but I suppose dolling myself up for a change is a good starter:)
The thing about not working, its soooo EASY to slip into the "comfort over looks" outfit at home. It's rather unfortunate since I have cupboardful of nice clothes but I always end up wearing the same few pieces over and over again...Everytime I tell myself it's time for a change, some "imperfect" factor like warm weather will squash the notion flat, leaving me to pick up my usual suspects.
I suppose the biggest problem contributing to my laziness in "selection" is that I only buy clothes once a year, and almost certainly, the "fashionista" side will surface only in fall/winter period, yeah like about now. Somehow the lure is so strong for the Fall/winter designs that I would unconsciously be drawn to the shelves...open my wallet, and unknowingly incur the wrath of my screaming emptied "Mr Piggy". So stuck with a pile for inbetween season clothes meant for cooler season and nothing really fancy for summer weather, I really am just buying clothes that will end up being donated away. I still have pants bought from Barcelona like 5 years ago, still unworn... which of course wont really fit my compounding waistline now... Sigh. Guys are soooo damn lucky.... all they have are shirts and T to choose from..
Tossing my insignificant wardrobe worries aside, dinner at Petrus was nice. I wont say its fantastic but service was almost impeccable, attentive with great attempt to make you nite a memorable one. The main fare was competently cooked and presented. I had the spidercrab broth which was good but lacking the rich flavor of what u would expect from the usual lobster soup. My partner's starter was better. I think it was some frog leg- snail tart thingie. My partner sent me laughing when he commented "oh look! the snail is trying to get away!" of a black decorative piece that was place at the rim of the plate. The server took him seriously and frantically trying to explain that it was a snail. That set me off even more, having to reassure her my partner was only cracking a joke.
I had the lamb and it was nice. Flavor wise...i think it can be better. My partner's lobster itself was cooked rite but personally I didnt like the accompanying sauce.
The only thing I felt that could be better executed was the dessert. We had the mango mouse cake with sherbet and everything was too sickly sweet. I couldnt really handle the sugar load. The fruit juice -orange with carrot was also incredibly sour that surprises me since the fresh orange I had from supermarket were actually sweet. The apple from the fruit plate were also sour. I have no idea who supply their fruits but they ought to reconsider the vendor source or the person who picked the fruits need to go for refresher course.
It was a nice simple eve and dinner fare. The dinner wasnt the highlight, the company was.
The sweetest compliment is being told that if he had known how perfect marriage life is, he would have sweep me off my feet way sooner. A simple heartfelt thought, but the greatest gift a wife can have. It outweighs any present this world can offer.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thoughts about Scandinavia trip in brief.
The whole week flies past so quickly. Was sick in bed for a long week and finally everything seem to be well again.
Scandinavia seemed like twilight years ago now. So many pictures to filter thru before loading it.
Copenhagen was really good and compared to Norway Oslo , I think it was a better and prettier city. Oslo city was slightly more depressing looking, and strangely filled with more Asians than Copenhagen. I wasnt sure if it has to o with us living in downtown oslo near the central station, but the amount of blonds vs ethnic Asians was like a ratio of 1:10. Even the staff working in Radisson Blu hotel, were all either Africans, Chinese,Lebanese or some other non Cacausian race. As I roam the streets in Oslo, I didnt feel like I was in a local city, but as if I was in a transit city filled with immigrants and tourists. There were so many Lebanese that I was alittle taken back at the ratio. I wasnt sure if I was in the right city. I mean they still wear their "own" clothes, speak their own language, eat their own food. I dint see the blending in from a third party perspective.
Oslo certainly has tons of good restaurants. We were to 2 Michelin star restaurants and it was really good. However the best was at Lofoten restaurant where we went back for a 2nd nite because of the good food, reasonable price, and good service. For the first night, we were served by 2 waiters, and one of which was really sweet and friendly. We all started chatting when I commented it must be nice to work in a place with a beautiful view of the harbor. His replied "Yeah well...after a while..." and I finished it for him that "it gets a bit boring huh.." He grinned widely and we started laughing. My partner jokinly told me he can never leave me in Europe on my own for a min.
The second nite we went back, they rem us and we def had lotsa of personal attention and we chatted quite a bit. He was interesting. His mum is from finland, dad from spain, lived in sweden and he came to norway and lived here. Cool dude. He shared that he love serving people, and so he is doing this part time too as he decided to take up electrical degree as his wife takes up studies to be a lawyer.
In between the trip, we headed off to Bergen, the city that rains about 263 days of the year. We did both the "norway in a nutshell" trip to the King and Queen of the fjords. The weather could have been better but I cannot complain. I did see plenty of beautiful sights.
On one of the leg, where we had a couple hours on the cruise boat, there was a UK guy from Yorkshire -Lou who started to make conversation. We chatted for a while and was each other company for the time above the dry cabin, battling the rain and cold, searching out for the beauty that nature has offered us. So the lucky two of us got a huge break in seeing the most beautiful falls and rainbow before the American group who prefer to stay in the comfort of a dry cabin. My partner popped in and out to take some shots but he was more eager to finish his book at an exciting chapter.
Lou had came to Fjorfd before when he was young with his sister and parents. However that was whe he was 13yr and so he decided to do a longer trip this time to cover greater grounds of norway. He too shared the same view about oslo as me, and that Bergen was surprisingly more alive at nite than we both imagined. Maybe its just the drunken tourists making all the din...At some point in time, it was a little difficult to understand his accent through the roaring engine of the boat and the wind smacking in our face. Still, I definitely understand him better than some of the Queenlanders from Oz.
The trip to Scandinavia was a fruitful one in terms of the trips to museums and all. Even get to see the "Scream" and the summer exhibition of some of best work of Edvard Munch. The best thing? Photography is ALLOWED! So long you stashed your flash away. Seriously, I love this concept of being able to take pictures.
One of the best thing was that, we didnt see much of China tourists except one occasion where they shamed me beyond words. We were at Kronsborg castle, and the trusting Copenhagen people didnt allocate guards at every room, trusting the visitors to behave like PROPER adults. However, such assumption should never apply to senior china visitors who prob were not briefed on social etiquette. You know all the red lines where they barricade off which means no trespassing or touching of display? I was speechless when this 40yr+ china man boldy step behind the line and SAT ON THE displayed Furniture because he wanted to appear like a king in the photo shot!!! He didnt care if he may ruin or damge the display. He just selfishly wanted to be part of the exhibit to go home and brag to his fucking friends and family. I was so disgusted and too shock to even react! Before my senses return, the shamless pair ran off to follow the rest of the tour group. I felt so murderous because their single action would humilate all ethnic chinese who happen to be in the castle as them, being treated as a "bunch" of ignorant chinese. I have never hated the china chinese tourists more than that. Imagine if some western tourist does something so stupid in their Forbidden city, to sleep on some opium bed of the emperor, you think the china citizens will view that "act of vandalism so kindly? They will be screaming bloody murder till they are blue in the face, and demanding justice and apology for the brazen insult and disregard. Oh yeah, the china people will not tolerate other nationalities showing them disrespect but they themselves fail to behave as decent beings on the soil of other nation. Felt like spitting in their face of hypcrotical argument sometimes.
As for the typical Singapore travellers...while most of them I have encountered are all nice and well behaved...there was this family that also truly shocked me beyond words. As I shared the sighting in facebook, my friends were laughing at the "globalisation" attempt of our national brand NTUC. You see, one morning at the buffet hotel breakfast, I witness this singaporean mother, who came prepared and brazenly took 3 plastic lunch boxes and filled them to the brim with the breakfast content. She coolly and calmly shut them tight and put it into the NTUC plastic bag, before heading out to bag more food and plates of bread for her family. There were 6 of them, including their old parents and 2-3 kids. The whole family thought nothing of leaving the glaringly NTUC plastic bag, to monopolise and "chop" the table as they went scouting for more food, or whatever they can siphon away.
I didnt know what was worse, their behavior of "I paid for breakfast and so I can take whatever I want", or the NTUC plastic bag towering tall on the table, denying the busy area of other sitters. I cringed...she could have used an IKEA bag you know....That wasnt the real thing that shock me...I was just trying to see humor in the whole behavior...
Travelling often open my eyes to all sort of behaviours of all nationality. When a chinese couple was told they had thewrong seat, they tried to hide their embarrassment by behaving like boorish idiots. When I happen to tell a pair of Japanese ladies they had the wrong seat, they politely got up and even returned specifically to apologise to me profusly (again) for the inconvenience, which really it wasnt a big deal since it was an honest mistake. There wasnt any instructions about the designated seatng and plus nothing was in Japanese nor English, and I wouldnt have known if I had not thought to ask when I first collected my train tickets.. I dont think it has anything with the fact that I had converse in Japanese, I think its such a societal manners that is mould into their upbringing...I wish my fellow citizens and more of china travellers could be more thoughtful and sensitive as such.
And yet, in all fairness I cannot condemn all china travellers. I think the younger generation who are better educated or has seen more of the world fared better. They still keep to themselves, talk loudly, laugh loudly..but i think they are more civilised than the older generation who recently made it rich and think the world owes respect to them. There were a few incidents where I had moderately surprising positive encounters. Such as one when I was trying to get the bread toaster to work. The plug was on and I thought everything was done correctly. As I pondered and retrace my actions, this china guy who happened to stroll past also tried to help and eventually he depress the button further. It seemed that it had gotten stuck halfway when I pushed it down and it wasnt all the way down. I said thanks instinctively and either he understood me or he didnt, he gruffly nodded and walked to join his gang, In a separate incident, I was standing at the hotel main lobby door, and this china guy who was outside smoking bothered to open the door and remarked in halting english "It's raining. Big."
I guess the good thing about travellin sometimes isnt just soaking in the scenery. Its the interaction that either make or break the experience. I had a few very good chats with the locals, or fellow travellers and makes the trip unique. These are not the people I will ever meet again or stay in touch, but they will form part of my memories in this chapter.
It's a good trip even if it was tiring.
However, much that I like Scandinavia, I personally dont think I will be in a hurry to go back to Oslo...I dont think its a country I will return. I think I will try Finland and sweden the next time.
Scandinavia seemed like twilight years ago now. So many pictures to filter thru before loading it.
Copenhagen was really good and compared to Norway Oslo , I think it was a better and prettier city. Oslo city was slightly more depressing looking, and strangely filled with more Asians than Copenhagen. I wasnt sure if it has to o with us living in downtown oslo near the central station, but the amount of blonds vs ethnic Asians was like a ratio of 1:10. Even the staff working in Radisson Blu hotel, were all either Africans, Chinese,Lebanese or some other non Cacausian race. As I roam the streets in Oslo, I didnt feel like I was in a local city, but as if I was in a transit city filled with immigrants and tourists. There were so many Lebanese that I was alittle taken back at the ratio. I wasnt sure if I was in the right city. I mean they still wear their "own" clothes, speak their own language, eat their own food. I dint see the blending in from a third party perspective.
Oslo certainly has tons of good restaurants. We were to 2 Michelin star restaurants and it was really good. However the best was at Lofoten restaurant where we went back for a 2nd nite because of the good food, reasonable price, and good service. For the first night, we were served by 2 waiters, and one of which was really sweet and friendly. We all started chatting when I commented it must be nice to work in a place with a beautiful view of the harbor. His replied "Yeah well...after a while..." and I finished it for him that "it gets a bit boring huh.." He grinned widely and we started laughing. My partner jokinly told me he can never leave me in Europe on my own for a min.
The second nite we went back, they rem us and we def had lotsa of personal attention and we chatted quite a bit. He was interesting. His mum is from finland, dad from spain, lived in sweden and he came to norway and lived here. Cool dude. He shared that he love serving people, and so he is doing this part time too as he decided to take up electrical degree as his wife takes up studies to be a lawyer.
In between the trip, we headed off to Bergen, the city that rains about 263 days of the year. We did both the "norway in a nutshell" trip to the King and Queen of the fjords. The weather could have been better but I cannot complain. I did see plenty of beautiful sights.
On one of the leg, where we had a couple hours on the cruise boat, there was a UK guy from Yorkshire -Lou who started to make conversation. We chatted for a while and was each other company for the time above the dry cabin, battling the rain and cold, searching out for the beauty that nature has offered us. So the lucky two of us got a huge break in seeing the most beautiful falls and rainbow before the American group who prefer to stay in the comfort of a dry cabin. My partner popped in and out to take some shots but he was more eager to finish his book at an exciting chapter.
Lou had came to Fjorfd before when he was young with his sister and parents. However that was whe he was 13yr and so he decided to do a longer trip this time to cover greater grounds of norway. He too shared the same view about oslo as me, and that Bergen was surprisingly more alive at nite than we both imagined. Maybe its just the drunken tourists making all the din...At some point in time, it was a little difficult to understand his accent through the roaring engine of the boat and the wind smacking in our face. Still, I definitely understand him better than some of the Queenlanders from Oz.
The trip to Scandinavia was a fruitful one in terms of the trips to museums and all. Even get to see the "Scream" and the summer exhibition of some of best work of Edvard Munch. The best thing? Photography is ALLOWED! So long you stashed your flash away. Seriously, I love this concept of being able to take pictures.
One of the best thing was that, we didnt see much of China tourists except one occasion where they shamed me beyond words. We were at Kronsborg castle, and the trusting Copenhagen people didnt allocate guards at every room, trusting the visitors to behave like PROPER adults. However, such assumption should never apply to senior china visitors who prob were not briefed on social etiquette. You know all the red lines where they barricade off which means no trespassing or touching of display? I was speechless when this 40yr+ china man boldy step behind the line and SAT ON THE displayed Furniture because he wanted to appear like a king in the photo shot!!! He didnt care if he may ruin or damge the display. He just selfishly wanted to be part of the exhibit to go home and brag to his fucking friends and family. I was so disgusted and too shock to even react! Before my senses return, the shamless pair ran off to follow the rest of the tour group. I felt so murderous because their single action would humilate all ethnic chinese who happen to be in the castle as them, being treated as a "bunch" of ignorant chinese. I have never hated the china chinese tourists more than that. Imagine if some western tourist does something so stupid in their Forbidden city, to sleep on some opium bed of the emperor, you think the china citizens will view that "act of vandalism so kindly? They will be screaming bloody murder till they are blue in the face, and demanding justice and apology for the brazen insult and disregard. Oh yeah, the china people will not tolerate other nationalities showing them disrespect but they themselves fail to behave as decent beings on the soil of other nation. Felt like spitting in their face of hypcrotical argument sometimes.
As for the typical Singapore travellers...while most of them I have encountered are all nice and well behaved...there was this family that also truly shocked me beyond words. As I shared the sighting in facebook, my friends were laughing at the "globalisation" attempt of our national brand NTUC. You see, one morning at the buffet hotel breakfast, I witness this singaporean mother, who came prepared and brazenly took 3 plastic lunch boxes and filled them to the brim with the breakfast content. She coolly and calmly shut them tight and put it into the NTUC plastic bag, before heading out to bag more food and plates of bread for her family. There were 6 of them, including their old parents and 2-3 kids. The whole family thought nothing of leaving the glaringly NTUC plastic bag, to monopolise and "chop" the table as they went scouting for more food, or whatever they can siphon away.
I didnt know what was worse, their behavior of "I paid for breakfast and so I can take whatever I want", or the NTUC plastic bag towering tall on the table, denying the busy area of other sitters. I cringed...she could have used an IKEA bag you know....That wasnt the real thing that shock me...I was just trying to see humor in the whole behavior...
Travelling often open my eyes to all sort of behaviours of all nationality. When a chinese couple was told they had thewrong seat, they tried to hide their embarrassment by behaving like boorish idiots. When I happen to tell a pair of Japanese ladies they had the wrong seat, they politely got up and even returned specifically to apologise to me profusly (again) for the inconvenience, which really it wasnt a big deal since it was an honest mistake. There wasnt any instructions about the designated seatng and plus nothing was in Japanese nor English, and I wouldnt have known if I had not thought to ask when I first collected my train tickets.. I dont think it has anything with the fact that I had converse in Japanese, I think its such a societal manners that is mould into their upbringing...I wish my fellow citizens and more of china travellers could be more thoughtful and sensitive as such.
And yet, in all fairness I cannot condemn all china travellers. I think the younger generation who are better educated or has seen more of the world fared better. They still keep to themselves, talk loudly, laugh loudly..but i think they are more civilised than the older generation who recently made it rich and think the world owes respect to them. There were a few incidents where I had moderately surprising positive encounters. Such as one when I was trying to get the bread toaster to work. The plug was on and I thought everything was done correctly. As I pondered and retrace my actions, this china guy who happened to stroll past also tried to help and eventually he depress the button further. It seemed that it had gotten stuck halfway when I pushed it down and it wasnt all the way down. I said thanks instinctively and either he understood me or he didnt, he gruffly nodded and walked to join his gang, In a separate incident, I was standing at the hotel main lobby door, and this china guy who was outside smoking bothered to open the door and remarked in halting english "It's raining. Big."
I guess the good thing about travellin sometimes isnt just soaking in the scenery. Its the interaction that either make or break the experience. I had a few very good chats with the locals, or fellow travellers and makes the trip unique. These are not the people I will ever meet again or stay in touch, but they will form part of my memories in this chapter.
It's a good trip even if it was tiring.
However, much that I like Scandinavia, I personally dont think I will be in a hurry to go back to Oslo...I dont think its a country I will return. I think I will try Finland and sweden the next time.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Crap! I got the word wrong!
OMG...To my dismay, I have finally discovered a noun that I had the pronunciation wrong in my head all these years!! Sigh...I knew the eventual flaw of having Singlish teachers in the couple of years will bound to catch up with me one day...
The worse of it all. It is such a blatant simple short word. Utterly clueless how I had not discover my mistake earlier till last night thanks to the current conflict between China and Japan over the stupid jurisdiction of that useless island surrounded by dollar spinning natural resources...
All this while, I didnt realise "row" had different pronunciation despite that I had known the varying meanings. It wasnt until I heard the news anchor that I realise my mistake for "row" when it comes to the meaning for "quarrel"..How embarrassing... I hate to think how many more simple words out there that will sneak up to haunt me later down the road! *shudders*
The worse of it all. It is such a blatant simple short word. Utterly clueless how I had not discover my mistake earlier till last night thanks to the current conflict between China and Japan over the stupid jurisdiction of that useless island surrounded by dollar spinning natural resources...
All this while, I didnt realise "row" had different pronunciation despite that I had known the varying meanings. It wasnt until I heard the news anchor that I realise my mistake for "row" when it comes to the meaning for "quarrel"..How embarrassing... I hate to think how many more simple words out there that will sneak up to haunt me later down the road! *shudders*
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Travel Log: Copenhagen- View from the canal Cruise
The calm. The Tranquility. The unspoilt Beauty. Copenhagen has got everything right down and right.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, We have arrived @ Copenhagen"
 |
| Copenhagen Royal Opera House |
I love my days spent in Copenhagen. It's a lovely city truly, surrounded by natural beauty and by people who cherish it. Since its virtually impossible to load my 4Gb worth of snapshoots, guess u will only get the highlights of my trip.
When I arrived at the hotel on a lovely 9am, I was greeted by a busload of Icelanders Players. As I got off the cab, I have no idea why the bellboys happily asked me to wave and greet the players in the bus, but so I did. What a grand welcome to have a busload of hot looking blondes waving back with big fat grins:)
As the room was not ready (typical check in at 4pm), we headed off to start the day with a stroll and a canal cruise. It was a lovely sunny day. The cruise did not disappoint.
Starting from the airport to observing the streets, I had spotted alot of men in uniforms. It wasnt till much later at noon did we realise it was a celebration days for the soldiers and troops who had returned from Afghanistan. I didnt know what they were awarding for, but families were out in throngs and bands and music were playing. Little fellows sat patiently and waited, while decked up in uniforms like like Daddy.
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| Little boy in uniform |
Saturday, September 18, 2010
so we have more new sg citizens and the point is?
I love to know out of this 3000 people, what are the proportion of nationality that belongs to China and other parts of SEA (or developing countries).
How about sharing with us how many European nationality, Australian Nationality, US nationality would actually forgo their passport and be Singaporean citizen?
Reason being, not many from developed nation will contemplate to give up their citizenship for ours. In their country, Dual citizenship is acceptable whereas accepting ours would mean bye bye to their own. There is no benefit to giving up their own passport for ours frankly. Whereas people from China who always faces problem travelling with their china passport would be the first to jump in Q to swop their passport, esp couples who have daughters instead of sons.
Give back to society? I will be happy if some of them do not RUIN our original society with their rudeness and selfishness and unwillingness to intergrate to our ways. Stop spitting bastard, Stop cycling in the middle of the road, STOP yelling at the top of your voice, STOP shoving people ard for fear u will be the last or lose out. No fingers needed... we all know who they are.
So tell me again, what's the good news in this article that local singaporean should be celebrating about?
news source:
SINGAPORE: More than 3,000 people took the step on Saturday to become Singapore citizens.
They celebrated their rite of passage collectively at various Group Representation Constituencies (GRC).
The annual National Citizenship Ceremony was held in the Supreme Court.
Speaking at the ceremony, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said Singaporeans, both new and existing, should build a shared future.
He also called on the new citizens to give back to the Singapore society.
He added they could do this by volunteering their time and skills to improve the lives of others in the community.
How about sharing with us how many European nationality, Australian Nationality, US nationality would actually forgo their passport and be Singaporean citizen?
Reason being, not many from developed nation will contemplate to give up their citizenship for ours. In their country, Dual citizenship is acceptable whereas accepting ours would mean bye bye to their own. There is no benefit to giving up their own passport for ours frankly. Whereas people from China who always faces problem travelling with their china passport would be the first to jump in Q to swop their passport, esp couples who have daughters instead of sons.
Give back to society? I will be happy if some of them do not RUIN our original society with their rudeness and selfishness and unwillingness to intergrate to our ways. Stop spitting bastard, Stop cycling in the middle of the road, STOP yelling at the top of your voice, STOP shoving people ard for fear u will be the last or lose out. No fingers needed... we all know who they are.
So tell me again, what's the good news in this article that local singaporean should be celebrating about?
news source:
SINGAPORE: More than 3,000 people took the step on Saturday to become Singapore citizens.
They celebrated their rite of passage collectively at various Group Representation Constituencies (GRC).
The annual National Citizenship Ceremony was held in the Supreme Court.
Speaking at the ceremony, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said Singaporeans, both new and existing, should build a shared future.
He also called on the new citizens to give back to the Singapore society.
He added they could do this by volunteering their time and skills to improve the lives of others in the community.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Just finished the Copenhagen leg for the last four days and just arrived in Oslo. We decided to can the drive to Gothenburg and spend the extra nite in Denmark instead since I had rightly predicted we couldn't cover all the sights in 3 days no matter how hard we push it.
It has been exhausting!! My fat tummy is such a liability! I ve never felt so much effort to carry my weight on my feet before until now... Gotto lay off those choc snacks and midnite feast while watching dramas... So physically gruelling from four days of walking. We did good though, averaging 10hours non stop walking apart from toilet breaks and train rides.
Copenhagen is not as scenic but it's a beautiful city and I love their green concept and how the citizens embrace it! Unlike Australia balant in your face tactics of protecting their country nature, Denmark starkly differing warmer welcoming ways lures u in to naturally do your bit. The city isn't exactly clean with it's fair share of street litter like everycity, but I love the tranquility and relaxed lifestyle with pretty streets and shops. I loveeeeee their design stores! It was fascinating to see so much lovely designed stores and products pack in one place!
People are nice here. Though things ain't cheap. Was kinda surprised Marriott dun provide kettle boiler in the roo
For free. Gotto fork out 50kr for it. Crazy....
Service isn't exactly top notch but maybe because it's a small city so to them it's too norm to spare details. Trains are easy to catch, fast and quiet.
Went out of city to visit the castles and lousiana art museum. Had a ball!!! Tiring day though. More details later.
Time to sign out... Early morn 6am wake up tmw.
With love
From oslo
It has been exhausting!! My fat tummy is such a liability! I ve never felt so much effort to carry my weight on my feet before until now... Gotto lay off those choc snacks and midnite feast while watching dramas... So physically gruelling from four days of walking. We did good though, averaging 10hours non stop walking apart from toilet breaks and train rides.
Copenhagen is not as scenic but it's a beautiful city and I love their green concept and how the citizens embrace it! Unlike Australia balant in your face tactics of protecting their country nature, Denmark starkly differing warmer welcoming ways lures u in to naturally do your bit. The city isn't exactly clean with it's fair share of street litter like everycity, but I love the tranquility and relaxed lifestyle with pretty streets and shops. I loveeeeee their design stores! It was fascinating to see so much lovely designed stores and products pack in one place!
People are nice here. Though things ain't cheap. Was kinda surprised Marriott dun provide kettle boiler in the roo
For free. Gotto fork out 50kr for it. Crazy....
Service isn't exactly top notch but maybe because it's a small city so to them it's too norm to spare details. Trains are easy to catch, fast and quiet.
Went out of city to visit the castles and lousiana art museum. Had a ball!!! Tiring day though. More details later.
Time to sign out... Early morn 6am wake up tmw.
With love
From oslo
Friday, September 3, 2010
Korean Drama
This season is a fantastic drama season! I am totally blown away by the 2 korean drama - "My girlfrend is Gumiho" and "Baker King Kim Tak Goo"
Set in modern days, the "My gf is Gumiho" is a romantic comedy about this fox's desire to become a human and how she is assisted by a chap (starring Lee Seunggi). The laughters are simply derived from the innocent viewpoint of Minho (the transofrm fox) of this whole and her expressions plus wholeheartedlness makes her very endearing. Woon the guy who is helping her is slowly coming around from fear to developing genuine concern and care for his new non human companion. While his initial agenda may not be that noble, only wanting her "bead power" to fulfil his acting dream, but we could see he really is a nice chap who cares about Minho. Every episode is a laugh and warms your heart without being mushy or OTT. It's so funny just seeing how every episode is different and I love anticipating the next ep to see what new scenes the script writers have come up with. I love the scene on how they use the "little mermaid" story and weaved it into the story so aptly, and how the fox was sad to learn that every non-human interaction with human with always comes with a tragic ending. You really have to watch the show to understand what I am so amuse about.
As for Baker King, its human drama and with peppered with deceit, distrust, family bond, friendship, love, perservence, filial piety etc. It's another heart warming show where the underdog tries to make his mark while facing challenges, opposition and underhand tactics from all directions. Even though its a simple story with common plot, yet the delivery and execution is done really well!
What is really admirable about Korean drama is the wonder of how it has come a long way to shed its cumbersome image of "sappy old stories that cries all the time." I applaud at the transformation at how the drama scene has changed so many over the last few years and make a waves within Asia and other parts of the world. No longer depending on just pure crying, one can find originality that can warm the heart and tickle the funny bones. That said, not all current korean drama are great. We still have some chessy ones, and sappy ones but generally the standard has improved leaps and bounds.
That said, we turn to look at Singapore drama. How is it that after like 20-30years, we still havent improved much in the script writing? The serials are still so amateurish, always using similar topic, or worse, always includes propaganda of the current "hot topic". It's so annoying and tasteless that I hardly even bother to watch Sg drama anymore. While there are several goof Korean drama and Japanese drama that I would actually feel anguish in missing one episode, with times that I just want to watch the episode first thing I open my eyes, I never ever have that sort of urge with Sg local made drama or films. Simply put, Sg made drama are too localised and too much local elements to make an impact. It's almost like if you have seen one, you have seen it all. Even the much hyped Little nonya can only hold my attention for so long. Eventually you can guess the direction and scene of the next episode before it is even shown and that is what makes it unoriginal and uninteresting...
Even when I am not a korean, I could feel the sense of pride the koreans have for the change and the impact they make and how vibrant the whole industry is. How is it that the koreans can make such a remarkable leap forward but Sg is always stuck at where it is, or at best, move a few pace forward. Making good drama has nothing to do with how big the pool your audience is, its how good a scripting cast you have. I cannot believe the TV station are so contend with the current "achievement" that they have.... i almost feel sorry for their pride on the "Little Nonya" buzz. Possibly, only countries like China can appreciate or support dramas made in Sg. Other than that, Sg acting cast are terrible in peformance, with terrible diction, and terrible lines, not to mention NOT A SINGLE GOOD LOOKING actor or actress. I would never even spent $1 to spend a Sg drama. Instead I am stacking up tons of Korean and Japanese drama. It's almost sad just to think that.
All said and done, I am going to be missing these 2 good dramas while I am travelling. If you havent caught on, its time to jump onto the wagon!
Set in modern days, the "My gf is Gumiho" is a romantic comedy about this fox's desire to become a human and how she is assisted by a chap (starring Lee Seunggi). The laughters are simply derived from the innocent viewpoint of Minho (the transofrm fox) of this whole and her expressions plus wholeheartedlness makes her very endearing. Woon the guy who is helping her is slowly coming around from fear to developing genuine concern and care for his new non human companion. While his initial agenda may not be that noble, only wanting her "bead power" to fulfil his acting dream, but we could see he really is a nice chap who cares about Minho. Every episode is a laugh and warms your heart without being mushy or OTT. It's so funny just seeing how every episode is different and I love anticipating the next ep to see what new scenes the script writers have come up with. I love the scene on how they use the "little mermaid" story and weaved it into the story so aptly, and how the fox was sad to learn that every non-human interaction with human with always comes with a tragic ending. You really have to watch the show to understand what I am so amuse about.
As for Baker King, its human drama and with peppered with deceit, distrust, family bond, friendship, love, perservence, filial piety etc. It's another heart warming show where the underdog tries to make his mark while facing challenges, opposition and underhand tactics from all directions. Even though its a simple story with common plot, yet the delivery and execution is done really well!
What is really admirable about Korean drama is the wonder of how it has come a long way to shed its cumbersome image of "sappy old stories that cries all the time." I applaud at the transformation at how the drama scene has changed so many over the last few years and make a waves within Asia and other parts of the world. No longer depending on just pure crying, one can find originality that can warm the heart and tickle the funny bones. That said, not all current korean drama are great. We still have some chessy ones, and sappy ones but generally the standard has improved leaps and bounds.
That said, we turn to look at Singapore drama. How is it that after like 20-30years, we still havent improved much in the script writing? The serials are still so amateurish, always using similar topic, or worse, always includes propaganda of the current "hot topic". It's so annoying and tasteless that I hardly even bother to watch Sg drama anymore. While there are several goof Korean drama and Japanese drama that I would actually feel anguish in missing one episode, with times that I just want to watch the episode first thing I open my eyes, I never ever have that sort of urge with Sg local made drama or films. Simply put, Sg made drama are too localised and too much local elements to make an impact. It's almost like if you have seen one, you have seen it all. Even the much hyped Little nonya can only hold my attention for so long. Eventually you can guess the direction and scene of the next episode before it is even shown and that is what makes it unoriginal and uninteresting...
Even when I am not a korean, I could feel the sense of pride the koreans have for the change and the impact they make and how vibrant the whole industry is. How is it that the koreans can make such a remarkable leap forward but Sg is always stuck at where it is, or at best, move a few pace forward. Making good drama has nothing to do with how big the pool your audience is, its how good a scripting cast you have. I cannot believe the TV station are so contend with the current "achievement" that they have.... i almost feel sorry for their pride on the "Little Nonya" buzz. Possibly, only countries like China can appreciate or support dramas made in Sg. Other than that, Sg acting cast are terrible in peformance, with terrible diction, and terrible lines, not to mention NOT A SINGLE GOOD LOOKING actor or actress. I would never even spent $1 to spend a Sg drama. Instead I am stacking up tons of Korean and Japanese drama. It's almost sad just to think that.
All said and done, I am going to be missing these 2 good dramas while I am travelling. If you havent caught on, its time to jump onto the wagon!
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