A new coke can spotted

On the drive to canberra on saturday morning, I stopped on the road to grab some chips in the service station. The new Slim can version of Coke caught my eye (ok I honestly am not sure how long this has been out).

I thought this is the coolest packaging design coke has come up with for their produce. They (the design dept) really outdid themselves this time.

I really really love the can, not to mention that its a slim smaller version where the volume is just right. It cost me about A$2.50 (which i still baulk at the expensive price of carbonated drinks in sydney)

The "normal" coke (say for people who doesnt care about getting fat or loaded with sugar) comes in red while i think the diet coke are both in black and silver can (not sure what are the differences since i didnt bother to look)....

Angus and Julia Stone

Not sure how many non Australian actually know of this pair of talented brother and sister "Angus and Julia Stone".

I first fell in love with their music early this year after I heard "Paper Aeroplane" (dwnld), and now I love their newer tracks "Just a boy" (dwnld) and "The Beast".

Their songs isnt exactly "main stream" but they often come with an edge, character,soul and most of all, a nice tune which many modern american mass produced songs (by popular singers) seemed to lack or have lost nowadays with their current stupid craze of hip hop tunes. When I heard Madonna's new album Hard Candy, first instinct was "bloody hip hop trash". I admit I am being biased, hip hop genre to me is not proper music and never will. It lacked class. If its not about sex or degrading of women in music video, then its violence, otherwise its about drugs. Just so tired of this stagnancy in the music industry in states. They need better song writers who will stop conforming to the pressure of being "slick" and "trendy".

"About a Boy" Lyrics

I bit my tongue in the awkward conversation.
I don't know why.
I don't know why.
I met you once and I'd fallen for your notions.
I don't know why.
I don't know why.
Do you believe that there's treasures in the ocean
Did I say I'm just a boy?

One kiss from you and I'm drunk up on your potion.
That big old smile is all you wore.
Girl you make me want to feel,
Things I've never felt before.
Girl you make me want to feel,
Did I say I'm just a boy,
Did I say I'm just a boy,
You can hold me to that.

No lonely hands grab my suitcase full of nothing
I don't know why
I don't know why
You took me in gave me something to believe in
That big old smile is all you wore
Girl you make me want to feel
Things I never felt before
Girl you make me want to feel
Did I say I'm just a boy
Did I say I'm just a boy
You can hold me to that

Last Friends 07 Summary

Last Friends Episode 7 Review

Continuing from last episode's confession, Ruka was forced from revealing her problems to Takeru. Instead, Ruka's departing to Takeru was for him to love Michiru even more because Michiru is afraid of being lonely. Before they returned into the house, Ruka seeked Takeru's assurance that nothing had changed and that they will remain as friends as before.

Inside the house, Ruka put on a bright disposition and mingled with the rest of her housemates in the new game. Takeru looked on by himself, understanding that in order to be part of Ruka's life, he had to keep his sorrow to himself and not become a burden to Ruka. While everyone was having fun, Eri shared that she had won 6 free tickets to the amusement park and asked everyone along. Michiru cautiously looked on to Ruka's response and was secretly glad and relieved that Ruka wanted to join in the shared activity with her in it.

The next day, Ruka unexpectedly brought her biking coach to the house and introduced him as the 6th person to join in for the day's activity. Michiru misread the situation and openly asked if the coach was the "person that Ruka secretly liked for years." Ruka awkwardly admit to it, while Takeru sadly looked on.


In the park, as everyone else paired up and moved ahead, Takeru looked ahead and saw his sister with her family. Takeru was rooted to the spot from shock. His sister looked up and saw Takeru, pausing before giving a smile to herself but without greeting him. Takeru feeing weak to his guts slowly ambled away and walked off in the oppposite direction. Michiru saw and worriedly followed him, where Takeru later said he was unwell. Meanwhile, Eri discovered the missing two but Ruka brushed it off as nothing (and giving the 2 private times) and proceeded to lead the group to play the games.

Back at home, Takeru and Michiru was alone at home while the rest were not back yet. Michiru told Takeru that she will be happy to listen to his troubles and to support/help him, as he and everyone else had saved her from Sosuke. She would like to be by his side when he is lonely. While Takeru was seemingly touched, yet he hid the truth from Michiru and said he was only tired from work.

Just then the rest returned and sprung a surprise "present" on Michiru. When she unveiled the box, it was a cake saying "Welcome home Michiru". Ruka explained that things were alittle messy earlier and so this is a belated welcome party. Michiru looked almost in tears and shared that "she had always been afraid to be alone, and she wanted to tell everyone that it's so good to be here." As the rest joked on with Michiru, Takeru excused himself to pour coffee for everyone. Just then, Ruka's coach walked in with food and shock registered on Takeru's face as he looked on from the kitchen.Ruka walked in, "carelessly" ignoring Takeru, poured coffee to her "paired" mug and offered it to her coach. Takeru looked choked with overwhelming emotions at Ruka's behaviour and was seen silently brooding in his room in the next scene.

Michiru made up her mind and approached Ruka in her room. She confied that she had decidedi to have a chat with Sosuke and end the relationship with him. She felt that she now possess the necessary courage. Ruka initially tried to dissuade her from meeting Sosuke face to face but Michiru wanted to prove she is capable of solving her problem on her own.

The next day when Michiru rang Sosuke, he misunderstood and assumed she was returning back to his place since she had no place else to go. He was stunned when Michiru told him she wanted to end the relationship. Sosuke asked if she was being brainwashed by the "sharehouse" people and they will eventually abandon her as well. Michiru defended her friends while Sosuke said he will never leave her until till death. When Sosuke said he loved her alot, Michiru questioned didnt he hit her so that she would do his bidding? When she said that Sosuke only viewed himself more important as her, Sosuke denied and defended that he only wanted to be one entity with Michiru. Michiru sadly apologised that she didnt understand Sosuke either and said her goodbye (formal end of relationship) before hanging up.

Next scene, everyone at the biking place stared at the pasted noticed about "Ruka's personality". After Ruka angrily tored off the notices, her coach asked her "What exactly are those and if she has any clue who might have done that?" Ruka awkwardly explained the defamation probably was from Michiru's ex DV boyfriend and was hateful that Ruka ruined their relationship. As Ruka walked away, her coach firmly asked her "So there is absolutely not a shred of truth inthose word?". Ruka replied if those things are believeable and her coach sheepishly said that no he doesnt believe so.


Sosuke met the "welfare" boy again, one whom he had been sharing bread with in the past. He asked when did the boy's mum disappeared and the boy said he couldnt remember anymore. Sosuke followed the boy home and saw the messy house which stirred up Sosuke's emotions.

Sosuke brought the little boy back and made dinner. When asked, Sosuke said his mum has passed on, he wasnt married and he broke up. When the boy stated isnt he (Sosuke) lonely, Sosuke said no as he was confident Michiru would return.

Just when Takeru returned home, Ruka passed him and stormed into her room without a glance or a word to him. Giving in to his struggle and unknown that Michiru was actually home overhearing, he stood outside Ruka's room and asked what was bothering her and she should share with him since they are friends. Totally frustrated, Ruka threw stuff at the door (where Takeru was standing outside) and shouted that he was a nuisance and there are some things that one would rather die than spill. Dejected, Takeru stormed off to his own room in despair, with flashbacks of his sister when he was a child.

The next morning, Ruka's odd mood set everyone to be jumpy and concerned. After she left,Takeru spotted her forgotten mobile but struggled not to chase after Ruka. Instead,Takeru helped out in the kitchen and asked Michiru openly if she cried last night thinking of Sosuke again. She sadly admitted to it, sharing how sad it was to regrettfully leave something she cherished behind, when ironically it was actually hell in reality. Takeru said he understood as he had shared a smilar past, "someone whom he once loved dearly is now someone he hated". Sensing Michiru's worries, he smiled and assured her "everything will be better. A new person you will like will appear, and new friends will also appear. And even if you have a wound in your heart, with slow tender care, the wound will decrease in size".

With that said, Michiru suddenly leaned forward resting on the shoulder of a shocked Takeru and asked "Can i like you?" While Takeru maintained his silence but gingerly put his hand on Michiru's shoulder, the whole scene was witnessed by Ruka who returned to retrieved her mobile. Ruka quietly left the scene but accidentally knocked over a flower pot which broke the daze for Takeru. He looked at the sofa (with missing mobile) with dread as he realised that Ruka had witnessed the earlier event.

Last Friends Episode 6 and Overview

The first 6 episodes have already been sub with English Subtitles, so there really is no point doing an episode recap for the older episodes. However for those who hasnt caught on, below is a review summary.

My Review

Last Friends is currently a new J-drama that is being aired on Fuji TV, intended for mature viewing presumably because the theme deals with the darker aspects of love. Up to espisode 6, the focus as far has been obviously about relationship violence in all forms, from emotional blackmailing & scarring, to actual physical violence (Domestic Violence).

Before you turn away thinking "this is too dark for me" or that "what a twisted series", I implore you to give this drama a chance because the script, the acting are really good. This is about reality, a side where most of us are lucky not to see or experience in our lives. Not knowing doesnt mean it doesnt exists, plus the drama is done so excellently that you end up rooting for more.

There are 6 main characters in the series, though up to now, the producers are only slowly clue-ing us in on the main 4 leads- Sosuke, Michiru, Ruka and Takeru.

The episodes started off with a heavily pregnant Michiru, reminiscing about her friend "lost" Ruka, and about an unfortunate death (not specifying who). Then it went back in time relating Michiru's reunion with Ruka her highschool best friend after 4 years of absence. The series also start off with viewers being led to believe (as how we as spectators to other people's life would think in real life) how gentle and loving her boyfriend Sosuke is, patiently and understandingly waiting for Michiru to knock off from her irregular and budding hairdstylist hours.

Moving rapidly forward, in episode one, we are shocked by the sudden change in Sosuke behind closed doors. Insanely charged with jealousy, possessiveness and mistrust, we are forced to witness the first tormenting abuse of Michiru.


Ruka comes into the picture, determined to protect Michiru at all cost, while Takeru (Ruka new found friend and housemate) in turn secretly made up his mind to protect Ruka. Ruka invited Michiru to stay with her at her "Sharhouse" as a refuge to escape Sosuke her abusive boyfriend. In the first night when Michiru ran to Ruka for help and fell asleep, we see Ruka bending over and kissing Michiru on her lips, indicating Ruka's struggle to keep her affections underneath. She understood that in keeping Michiru and Sosuke apart, the only person that will hurt the most is her.


In later episode, we also saw how Ruka realised with shock at how her protective concerns mirrors Sosuke's possesiveness, when Michiru timidly and obediently tried to throw her mobile away after Ruka vocalised her displeasure of everyone jumping at "Sosuke's shadows" (mobile rings). I doubt Michiru will remain oblivious to the Ruka's increasing and protective love for long.



We see Michiru timidly submitted to Sosuke in the name of love, and how with friends support and renewed courage, struggle to break free from Sosuke's darkness and relentless binding raging "love". What I admire is the director's realistic portrayal of how a DV's victim would struggle to break free, or how they would (unexplainably) sink back to the cycle of violence, without a voice and losing themselves to the situation that they felt they had no chance of breaking out. The story has it that Michiru's mother ran away from her abusive husband, but the home violence doesnt seem to dent Michiru's kind character. However later, the story seemed to hint at the her weakness and ability to escape from a desperate situation because she was desperately clinging on to her only thread of "love" (Sosuke), even if it means being abused, because that was her understanding of love...

Takeru is a character we would love. A seemingly mature sensible, sensitive and understanding companion. He has his own dark past, monsters he wanted to avoid but not seeminly able to break free no matter how far he ran. Takeru is scarred, knows he is scarred and tried to help himself. I suspect he is sexually abused by his sister or maybe her husband but the story hasnt progressed to there.


As far, the viewers have only been shown his good sides, his intervention to save Michiru, his implicit understanding of Ruka's feelings and his ability to defuse an awkward situation. I suspect that later on Michiru be in a relationship with Takeru since Ruka has gender disorder but its only a personal guess.


Sosuke, a seemingly nice person turns out to be a cruel man who is both an abuser and a stalker. From Michiru's account, we know Sosuke has a dark unwanted childhood, but the story has yet to evolved to how his current behaviour came about.

Eri and Ogurin's characters have yet to be accounted or developed fully and so we will see in later episodes.

I liked the script writting alot, especially those quiet & profound inner moments of each character such as:

Ep5:

Takeru:
From when was it, that people’s thought become so complex. Living with a small secret bottled up inside, and carrying their troubles along with them….. I wonder when we will be happy?”

Michiru:
Life isn’t simple. When we are in a hurry to find happiness…it wont work out well.

Ep 6:

Eri
Humans just aren’t black and white..even worthless man has his cute side.

Last Friends (Japanese)

Just finished watching "Last friends"...all i can say for now before I add my review later, is that "Wow..OMG. What a drama!"

It's good, really good... Dark but good.

To start with, I absolutely love the drama song intro "Prisoner of Love" and the various shots (seen below) the editors have pieced together so aptly. While it may seem strange initially with people walking about haphazardly, the song intro finally begins to make sense as the drama episodes progressed and the various states of emotions of the different character started to appear and cracked.

I love the simple representations (to me at least). The binding red string signifying our entangled destiny/ fate), house keys representing the key to a person's home but more importanly and indirectly, to one's world and heart, the cup as like our heart, overspilling with (dark) emotions.

The song lyrics couldnt be more aligned with the drama, the despair, anguish, agony and contradictions of love. There is a reason why its titled "Prisoner of Love". Aint we all are?

DIY: Lamb Cutlet

I am a lazy cook. I do not like cooking stuff that will make me stand by the stove more than 30mins. Especially food recipes that calls for many ingredients, I would skip them in a flash.

Recently, I have finally perfected a way to make lamb cutlets the easy way, tasty but with minimal ingredients and fuss. All those mints and rosemary are too complicated for me. So instead what I have done through several trials and variations, this is the final version that worked. U need an oven for this to minimise frying but if you do not have one, u can still panfry it all the way.

Ingredients
- 8 fresh lamb cutlets (for 2 people)
- salt & pepper
- fresh garlic cloves (about 5-6 depending on size)
- honey
- 5 spice powder in a bottle
- dijon mustard seeds

To prepare (5mins, 15mins to sit)
- Lay the cutlets on a plate and season both sides with salt and pepper. Basically for each slab, i grind a full circle of my lake salt on each side.
- Then on one side, i sprinkled the 5 spice powder.
- Minced the garlic gloves and use a teaspoon to spread sparingly on top of the spice powder for each cutlet. (this gives the cutlet a really nice flavour and taste when you panfry it)
- Scoop a nice teaspoonful of mustard seeds for each cutlet and spread it on the cutlet (on top of the garlic). As you spread, the seeds will mix with the garlic which is fine.
- Use a spoon, drizzle half teaspoon honey over eac cutlets. The idea is NOT to coat it with too much honey or the taste will be too sweet. Honey is to sweeten and balance the salt and garlic giving it a slight sweet taste.
- Let it sit for at least 15mins for marinating effects.

To cook (20mins)
- I did it the reverse way. I stick the plate of lambs into the oven in the middle low level, baking at about 230 degrees Celsius.
- After about 10mins or when the meat turned white at the bones, take the plate out. The idea is that your lab should now be about 80-90% cook.
- Start the pan with medium flame, pour a tablespoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of butter into the warm oil. (the oil first to prevent butter from burning on the pan)
- Quickly after when your butter has melted (about 40secs), stick your lamb cutlet in with the mustard seed side facing down. The pan fry process will sear the lamb sides and cook the seed and garlic and honey together.
- About 2 min, flip the cutlet onto the other side and repeat for another 1-2mins .
- remove the cutlet and you should have much oil in the pan but bits of musturd seeds sticking together with the honey. Lower flame and pour the meat juice (from the baking plate) into the pan and then pour onto the finished cutlet.

Done.
Your cutlet should now be slightly pink on the inside and still oozing with natural juice when you eat it. Served with brocolini or whatever you like really.

Reason i didnt panfry it prior baking is because i personally found it hard to gauge the cooking time in the oven. I am a novice and so I found it much much easier this way.

I know chef panfry it first to sear the meat juice in before baking, but honestly when i did it the reverse way, it didnt affect my lamb much as it was still tender and juicy instead and I found it much easy to control how long to panfry the meat since i knew the meat is basically already precook. Also, i can adjust the flavour to be saltier or sweeter with honey in the frying pan if need be at the final stage.

A new silent spidery "company"

Goes to show how little i use my balcony...a HUGE spider has decided to lay stake and claim the area as its new home without my knowledge for the longest time. Epecially not when the curtain was shielding it from my sight indoor.

It was by chance that my husband spotted it on sunny weekend and pointed out "We have a new home guest" It's a good thing that spiders do not scare me in general. I peered through the balcony glass door and holy smoke, this thing built the biggest web ever! It latched the web onto the ceiling, my bike, my balcony railing, my clothes hanger.

I went "Hmmm" and closed the curtain. It can stay there. I don't mind it really. It eats flies and insects doesnt it? Afterall, I never use the balcony so it doesnt get in my way though i may have to watch where i stick my head out the door without the FIRM STRONG webthreads getting into my hair. I played with the web for a while. It was like stringing a guitar i joked to my partner.

All i hoped is that it doesnt start spawning its babies in my house, now, THAT would be disgusting.

Satisfying my Laksa craving...

As what Stan and I have come to a common independent conclusion, one simply cannot seem to find good authentic laksa in Sydney City.

This came about after I told him that I had tried the famous "Malay ChineseTake away" stall located at Hunter Street @Martin Place, where it was famed to be rather authentic to taste based on website customer reviews. My review was that it was rather NOT authentic. Both Stan and I agreed that it was lacking some important ingredients that could have made it sweeter, richer and yummier. We reckon it is the lack of "Hei Bi Hiam" in Hokkien (otherwise known as tiny super dried shrimp with a "fish" smell), and also the portion of coconut milk was not quite there.


As I constantly bemoan about the lack of authentic homefood flavours, several of my friend recommended the package laksa by Prima Taste, a singapore company that sells local flavours in a box. To be honest, I never liked "Plastic food" or package food. Even when I go to cafes and if the soup taste strangely like those from a can, I would actually rather waste it. However, I decided to give it a go and find out why everyone is raving giving thumbs up about Prima's laksa pack.

Winnie brought me to Thai Kee IGA Supermarket at Market city (2 Quay Street, Haymarket Sydney), where the place is stocked with local Asia products. A box of laksa premix cost about A$4.75 here.

The instructions of the premix are rather easy really. Pour the coconut and laksa paste mix into 600ml of water, bring to boil, garnish with seafood or meat and done. The whole thing ideally takes less than 5 minutes for the sauce to be ready.
However, as i would never eat plain dishes, I headed out to grab myself a chicken drumstick, fresh big prawns, beansprouts, scallops and calamari rings. I added more water than the recommended 600ml because I wanted to water down the coconut taste, and also i wanted to cook my prawns (for 2mins) and chicken drumstick (for 12mins) in the gravy to give it the enhanced flavour and taste.

The laksa noodles (thick bee hoon or known as white rice spaghetti on the pack) which i bought was rather crap. They could hardly hold up in the boil water and I swear it was disintergrating before my eyes, like a snowman in an afternoon sun.

There was an additional sambal chilli pack but I didnt use it since it was more sweet than hot. I thought it tasted like Nasi Lemak chilli more than hot sambal. Anycase, the gravy was spicy enough.

Verdict, it was the best laksa I ever tasted since i arrived in sydney 10months ago! As my partner said, "It really tasted authentic!" Everything except the noodles (which lacked the firmness) and calamari were great! My husband even grab a bread to dip into the remaining gravy sauce.


So that is it! From now on, I am sticking to cooking my own laksa (from a box) rather than shelfing out good money for unoriginal laksa in Sydney.

Update: 2012: The seafood version with prawns, boiled eggs, Jap crab stick and bok choy and mushroom. This is my bowl of goodness:)

Food review: Malay Chinese Takeaway (Sydney)

I thought Malay Chinese Takeaway would be worth my effort after reading soooo many raving reviews about their chicken laksa, with some claiming it to be as good as "home" flavour. So I headed there last week and at 12pm, it is impossible to grab a seat with the lunch crowd. I decided to loitter in Borders at Sky Garden instead and waited till the lunch vultures dispersed at 2pm

Not sure why the name is takeaway when they obviously have numerous tables cram together for dining in. The serving is large and it certainly looks good. However, each bowl of chicken laksa cost A$8.20, while a seafood laksa will knock you back by $11.20.

First taste was a disappointment. Ok, I think the gravy is good, but it is NOT how a proper laksa should taste like back home. Rather, it tasted more like our version of malay curry chicken gravy instead. It is missing something but I have yet to decipher what was missing at this instant. It was alright, so so by our foodstall (hawker stall) standard. Cannot even compare to our famous Katong Laksa in Singapore by a LONG mile. The worst horror was when it was served in thin beehoon than laksa noodles. What the hell? They even change the main noodle ingredient... So what's next, squid ink sphagetti noodles? Totally unsatisfying but at least they are smart enough not to ruin it with the yellow hokkien noodles.

What I do like is the fact that there were quite a mouthful of chicken meat, and NOT breast meat thankfully. However the seafood laksa is sooo NOT worth your money. For $11+, they were pretty miserly about prawns. They stick cheap stuff in and soooo totally not worth the additional 3 dollars. If I were you, stick to the chicken version.

I'm sorry to say the whole food experience was another let down. Well, it was nice in its own way, but its like someone telling you "raddish taste the same as carrot" which you know obviously is false even though you know they may fall under the same category.

So there my fellow singaporeans, take my advice, lower your expectations (even if you think Katong Laksa is no longer as good) and you will have a more fulfilling eat than I did. Not sure how malaysia laksa taste like so no advice there.

Address
50-58 Hunter StSydney 2000 NSW

Zettai Kareshi 06 Summary (Part2)

Zettai Kareshi Episode 06 Review (Part2)

Back to the bar as Night continues to seek advice on how to reconcile Rikko and her father. He seemed to get an idea as he stares at the (picnic cover) magazine lying on the table as the lady boss left the key for him to lock up for the night.



The next morning, he rosed everyone from sleep and announced that "We are all going for picnic!" The family went along and ended up in Children's Park. While Rikko was sharing a canoe with her dad, Rikko's mum confided in Night that it was actually Rikko's dad who wanted to visit Rikko badly as he missed her. He was obviously worried about Rikko but refused to admit it, in addition to being bad in communicating his true feelings. Meanwhile, Rikko and her dad started bickering on the boat. She complained that the boat was "hardly moving", while the dad retorted that Rikko was being noisy and asked her to just quietly sit there. Night appeared in a boat passing yelling "enjoy family time". Rikko's father got more exasperated, stood up and yelled for Night to shut up. In the process he fell into the water instead!

Night arranged for a family shoot. When Rikko's father passed the photo to a sulking Rikko, telling her to "give up her dream", Rikko told him to leave her alone and started bickering again, resulting in the family picture being torn apart! Rikko's father insisted on her returning home and stop her wishy washy attitude (thus resulting in all the halfway failures in the past). Rikko was upset that she was being compared to the carrots (and told being worse than carrots!) In anger that her father didnt understand her, Rikko ripped up the picture further and stormed off after exclaiming she doesnt like him.

Night chased up to Rikko and yelled at her to stop, saying that he finally understood "why one has to scold the person you love". Rikko blasted at Night that he doesnt know anything being a programmed robot, despite him sharing that "Your father loved you and hence was very worried, as such, shouldnt you (Rikko) at least minimally understand that?" Still in anger, Rikko stormed off refusing to take any further advice from a robot. Concurrently in the lab, Gaku and assistant was surprised at Night's new ability to form an advice.

Rikko received a call from Soushi and went back to office while Night sped off to tirelessly search for the photo pieces (thru the night). Soushi wanted Rikko to compete in the competition (with the carrot ingredients) and encouraged her as a chance to fulfil her dream as a patisserie. During baking, Rikko explained to Soushi's query that her aspiration had come from a movie of a female patisserie (which she had watched when she was young with her dad). Since then, she believed it was a joy to bring happiness to others with sweet desserts/ pasteries. Soushi smiled and said "It's so your style." When he causally asked and found out that both daughter/ dad were still bickering, he offhandedly commented "Speaking of which, your father is amazing to be able to grow such delicious carrots!" Rikko stared at the carrot wistfully.

When Soushi realised Rikko's parents were leaving that morning, he insisted for her to go and send them off. Despite being secretly pleased to see her, the father/daughter started bickering again when he accusingly disbelieved her to be at work the whole night. At this point, Night arrived to hand the "fixed" picture to Rikko's dad and proclaimed that "His love is as deep as Rikko's father for her". Rikko apologised as she saw the softened look on her father's face. Before Rikko's father depart and told Rikko (to tell Soushi) the ingredient to enhance the carrot taste, he formally left Rikko in Night's care. Night responded that "I wont lose to you (dad) and will protect Rikko as well as you (as her father) would."

Meanwhile, Gaku's manager was furious about the program abnormailty in human traits. Gaku was forced to retrieve Night for repair or for destruction! Unknowingly, Night took a ride from Gaku and happily shared that Rikko's dad had accepted him as the boyfriend.

Back in office, Rikko tried her dad's receipe and it was a success! Just as discussion progressed, Rikko nearly fell from fatigue and exhaustion suddenly. Soushi asked worriedly if she was alright while stabilising her.

Wanting to avoid Soushi's grip on her (from falling), Rikko hurriedly stepped back and replied she was alrite. Just as she was thanking him, Soushi lunged forward and hugged her instead!!! Both looked equally shocked at this new development!

[End of ep 6] (Ahhhhhh!!! Hug me!! haaa haa)

Zettai Kareshi 06 Summary (Part 1)

絶対彼氏 Zettai Kareshi Episode 06 Review

Again this episode is showing up on Night's program irregularity (they need to speed this up man, Night is getting annoying) and at the same time, depicting the growth of friendship between Rikko and Soushi (which i am rooting for!).

The moments in the office between Soushi and Rikko had me laughing quite a good bit, mainly because of the good chemistry. I found it hard to like Night as he continue to act stupid and "cutesy". I was rolling my eyes in the early parts where he was suppose to convince the parents he was a good massue but ended up sounding like some horny provocation. I'm not sure how much his good body is keeping Japanese ladies swooning but i personally didnt like the way he does it. It just looked stupid (even with a good body). However, with his awakening of human traits, I am looking forward to the development. The episode ended with a cliff hanger sort with "THE HUG" and just left me dying for more!

Only 2 points were rather illogical to me...

1. How on earth did Night knew about the parents departure and where/time to find them! Since Rikko herself only knew about it the next morning via sms! Night doesnt have a mobile and was bz the whole night...so seriously...

2. For Rikko to grow up with carrots and the fact that she already knew how to bake, wont the first ingredients to try be something abundant from your backyard? So I found the experimental bit mystifying..then again, its just entertainment:)

Ep6 Recap (Part 1)
Night is back in the Kronos lab again for the repair of his injured wrist (resulted from saving Mikka being crushed to gruesome death by the fallen billboard in the previous episode).

From Ep5 recap, Gaku is increasingly uneasy about the irregularity of Night's program (the displaying of human emotional consciousness). Without elaborating his anxiety, Gaku told his assistant "..to keep Night under 24hours monitoring. This is a secret between us. Do not worry. I will bear all responsibility". His bewildered assistant looked at Night in the capsule and asked worriedly "What exactly is happening to Zero One?".

While Rikko is heading to work, she received a call from Gaku, informing her that Night's wrist is fixed and it will be free, totally keeping her in the dark of any abnormality. Just after she ended the call, she saw the sticker label with a wave of mixed emotions (probably still reeling from shock about about Soushi's had said the night before).

As Rikko stepped into the empty office, she got a shock when Soushi called her name and froze on the spot. Sensing her unnatural behaviour, Soushi walked towards her and asked if she was having a fever as he put his hands onto her forehead. The action sent Rikko into further shock and told him to stop /not to do that and pushed his hands away. Soushi gave a weak laugh and told her "You are pretty weird" and Rikko indignantly told him she was not and the weird one is him the boss. At this point, The (awkwardness on Rikko's part) conversation was witnessed by Mikka at the doorway, as Soushi reminded Rikko that he is no longer the boss and to address him directly by his name. In Soushi was lamenting about the full rubbish bin, Rikko quickly scooted off, leaving Soushi to look at her direction muttering "What's was that about? (or can be interpreted as what is wrong with her?).

Back in the lab, Gaku planted a secret memory monitoring device into Night for further observation. Meanwhile, his boss told him that he could start on manuafacting "Zero 2".

In next scene, as Rikko made her way back to the apartment, she looked at the sticker on her mobile and convinced herself that it was impossible for Soushi to take notice or like her. When she stepped in, she was surprised with a fully decorated unit and Night sitting in nothing but an apron greeting her return. Rikko tiredly sat down and stared at her phone while Night profess his love again. Nigh's vision blurred away as he looked on Rikko's listlistness at the phone and started recalling Soushi & Rikko's bantering at the sweet exhibition and suddenly commented "In Rikko's heart, you have something more important than me". At the exact moment back in the lab, Gaku was stunned by Night's ability to recall "memories".

Out of the blue, Rikko's parents came to pay a visit suddenly and appeared in her flat within the next few minutes. While Rikko's mum was completely taken by Night's model like "beauty" and massaging, Rikko's dad was fuming mad with this "unknown" male presence as Night broadcast himself as "Rikko's boyfriend!" To appease her dad, Rikko sent off Night to the bar.

The next day, Rikko clumsily dropped her bento lunch on the floor and was witness by Soushi who secretly chuckled and called her "clumsy" to himself. Just as he wanted to stop her idea of eating the dropped food, Rikko parents and Night appeared. After introductions, her parents happily presented Soushi with 2 big boxes of home planted carrots. Rikko looked on again with mixed emotions as Soushi bowed and thanked her parents stating that "he is the one who had been in Rikko's care in office."

Mikka tried to profess her serious love to Night again in office. Night removed her hands and told her he loved Rikko even more (comparing to her love for him). In "anger", she spilled that Rikko actually liked Soushi. "Memories" of Soushi and Rikko appeared in Night's vision and Night "realised" that Soushi is the "other important thing" in Rikko's heart. In jealousy, Night stormed off looking for and confronted Soushi outside office if Soushi loved Rikko, and if he was able to give Rikko happiness. Initially Soushi was taken back by the line of questioning. Upon hearing Night's confirmation that he(Night) could provide Rikko happiness, Soushi paused and ponder, before finally turned away to convince Night "Not to worry and that he(Soushi) doesnt like Rikko at all. Instead, they (Night and rikko) should both get along happily and stop fighting." Soushi's statement was overheard by Rikko who had approached them. As Soushi walked away unknown to her presence, Rikko stared lingeringly at the departing figure of soushi with mixed emotions.

During dinner, Rikko got into a fight with her father misundertanding over Night's cohabiting with Rikko and her past failures. While Rikko stormed off and ended up in office, Night who chased after her ended up in the bar instead and subsequently complaining that Rikko's dad doesnt love her as he kept scolding her. However, he was told that it was precisely of the father's love that the fight occured and that he need to please Rikko's father if Rikko is the woman he loved.

Back in office, Rikko hungerily chomped on her dad's carrots when Soushi suddenly appeared asking "Are you a Rabbit?" (refering to her eating raw carrots). Rikko confided that she had run to office as refuge after a fight with her parents during dinner, while Soushi commented how lucky it must be to be able to eat hotpot with parents, something which he never did. Rikko joked on that her father is a self professed "Carrot man" and not a Japanese (Play of Japanese words: "Nihonjin (Japanese) vs Ninjin (Carrot-man)") Soushi exclaimed those were the best carrots he had ever tasted and bot laughed when Rikko commented he looked like a Horse with a carrot in his mouth!

Planning a trip to Canberra

Decided to head out to Canberra for the weekend, solely for purpose of viewing the "Turner to Monet- Truimph of landscape" art exhibition at the National Gallery of Art.

Before that, I spend the whole friday night looking for a decent hotel in Trip advisor. You wont believe how little good hotels there seem to be in Canberra. I looked through several from Crowne to Hyatt and each hotel has such bad reviews from bad service to paper thin walls that it's almost scary to think that Canberra can be so lacking in good accomodation for a state capital.

Even though it is only for a night, a decent sleep is still essential. Finally I settled on Hotel Realm. Despite a few bad remarks about it being expensive and spartan, I went ahead with the booking because mainly it is new. How bad can a new hotel be? Plus it was only $185 a night and there was a review stating that the bed was comfortable. So I would rather fork money for a new hotel (and a "newer" bed slept on with less human traffic volume) than a ridiculous price for old run down Hyatt in Canberra.

I cross my fingers that it would be a wise option. We will find out on Saturday.

Japanese Music Track: Prisoner of Love (May New Release)

Yeah! Utada Hikaru has released a new song "Prisoner of Love" few days ago (May 20) ! Yep, it has already secured the #1 spot under iTune Japan Top Song.

The track has a few versions, and this original will serve as the theme song for the Japanese TV drama "Last Friends" with (official website).

Came across her song while watching Hana Yori Dango 2 (F4 series). It was the insert track "Flavour of Life" (dwnld) that caught my attention to this singer even though by then, the song was already her 18th single releases.

Thought about it and decided that I would only share the "Prisoner of Love" original version (dwnld) here and not the whole album because the idea is for people to like songs heard and START buying artists ORIGINAL albums like I did.

Honestly I would never have bought all the manga figurines (bleach bleach bleach and all the way from Japan Tokyo, not some cheap Taiwanese ripoff!!!), original DVDs and CDs (subsequent) if I had not first stumbled into them free on the internet and fall in love with them. I too have suffered the extreme frustration of loving a song/movie/drama but only having them being not released out of the originating country at all, or until much later...you just wished desperately someone would fulfil your fervent search...

However, I think if the artists/ dramas have proven themselve to be of sustainable interest and not a one song/ep wonder rip off, it is only fair that we should really not quibble over $20 or $1/per track on iTune and just buy them isnt it?

Japanese Music Track: 灯火 (Touka)

After several days of listening to Fujiki Kazue's cd album, the 2nd track "灯火" (とうか/ Touka) (dwnload) is growing on me more than "Sunny Day", the Accuracy of Death (Sweet Rain 死神の精度) theme song.

I think the biggest flaw in "Sunny day", is that I could almost hear her trembling voice as she struggles to go up the vocal range. In the 2nd track, her flaw is seemingly less obvious and hence doesnt grate my listening pleasure I suppose... Oh well, its all but a personal preference...

Manga: Skip Beat

Unknowingly the last few days, I was totally absorbed by a manga "Skip Beat". Before I knew it, I was laughing through to Chapter 100! Perhaps I am the sort of easily tickled person, but I honestly had such good loud laughs with many chapters. The lead character has a tenacity of a pitt bull terrier!!!



In many ways though the plot may appear common with typical pretty characters, yet it was the unexpected way it lead up to it that got me glued. There was also certain twists that was nicely presented. The various sudden twists in mood and character reactions had me gaffawing my head off. It is certainly not some pansy sweet romantic kick. I wont reveal too much nor the funny bits but here's a summary for those interested. I would rate it a 8/10 up to chapt 122 I had read


Story Plot

Kyoko Mogami, a wistful yet cheery sixteen year-old girl who "adored" her childhood friend, Shotaro or "Sho" to the extent of being ostracised by her peers (in jealousy), but was cruelly betrayed by him in the early chapters.


Sho had asked Kyoko to leave her life in Kyoto life, to help him escape taking over family business and pursue his dreams in a music career (he later became top 20 popular artist). Upon arrival in Tokyo, Kyoko lives an unreasonably frugal life on cost of food, apart etc and nothing on herself .


The stort progress from here and this is where the real humourous bits appear.

Despite her strong belief in fairies, princes and elves, her sealed off "Pandora's Box" of all the ill feelings & murderous intents opened for Sho. She vowed ultimate vengeance on Shotaro, who had mockingly told her to better become a bigger star than him to suceed, before throwing her out. She then single mindedly focused on accomplish her "dream".


Kyōko immediately cuts and bleaches her hair, while selling her possessions to throw away her past. She goes to the largest production company L.M.E. that also manages Ren Tsuruga, one of Japan's most popular actors and Shō’s main hated "rival" (only to Sho). Ren's initial reaction to Kyōko was immense dislike when he found out her revenge plans!



At the first audition, Kyōko, impressed the judges with her originality and uniqueness of her skill.
However, she's failed the second audition. She was told her reaction lacked the desire to be loved. In order to be an entertainer and win over fans, she had to love them and herself as well. Alas, this was something she felt impossible; essentially, Kyōko has lost the feeling of self-worth since her childhood and after Sho "ditches" her.


Nevertheless, Kyōko made a huge impression on the eccentric President, Lory Takarada. So much that he privately notes to Sawara one of his talent agent, that if she returned on her own initiative, he'll have a special program waiting for her. With some initial blunders, Kyōko actually started to excel. She also accquired some feelings of love, as well as some memories of a crystal stone from a boy named "Corn" whom she had a special bond with when she was a child.

Will she suceed? Will she find out what happen to Corn? Will Sho ever regret his folly? I can't wait to find out!



Current Volumes.

The story plot is an easy one probably aimed at older teenagers. However, any adult looking for a light laugh probably wont mind this. In Japan, it was first published by Hana To Yume in 2002, while in the United States, it is published under the Shojo Beat label in 2006. There are currently 19 volumes in Japan and 12 in the United States.