Innocent Love Episode 10 Summary

Innocent Love Episode 10 Review

On the day of wedding, Kano's brother was working and the prison guy went to visit him. He asked why wasnt the brother at the wedding and he replied he is not suitable to attend such formal event. Just then Kano called.

Over the phone, Kano said she had something she had to say. "Thank you for taking care of me all this while." Caught by surprise, the brother apologised instead for his absence due to work as he was unable to take leave. Kano said she understood...

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Innocent Love 09 Review

I have finally finished updating innocent love episode 9 summary. This is a super good episode! Finally a build up though we all already guess what had happened. The exciting part is Kiyoka next week in final episode.....

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Innocent Love Episode 9 Summary

The story starts with recap with Kanon returning to Nagono (her childhood place i think) and rented a place.

She went to prison and her bro asked what was she doing there since he had written to her to sever all ties. Kanon asked why is he lying all these while? "Lie?" The brother asked. Kanon said "That incident was not done by brother right?" Both the brother and the police looked at her....

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Japan: Tiny cute doggies!

I saw quite a few pet shops in Tokyo and they are sooo TINY and CUTE (though the store is abit smelly unless those in Sydney malls which are relatively stank free). All the Japanese girls, including moi, were like going goo-goo gaa-gaa over the tiny ones and saying Kawaii everytime the little doggies turn around to face us. They are damn expensive too!!!

They are so tiny that it makes us wonder if they are seperated from their mummies too early..

licking its nose? hee

wat a cute bun bun!

he's heading out to play!

Japan: Arty Farty day

The Picasson exhibition was split into 2 places. It was a very very good and complete work exhibit, and after the first one in Santory art gallery, we went to national art gallery exhibition on sat.

While the place was crowded and busy, yet everyone was very orderly and we kinda like snaking along the wall in a Q taking turns to view the artwork lined up on the wall on in the center island.

What was intriguing and unknown to me, was this thing that many many Japanese were doing. There was a stack of free A4 paper list with neatly printed artwork names, placed on the table at the entrance. So each visitor can take it so u know if u have seen all the pieces and the Japanese people did. In fact, I saw them actually studying the work, and jotting notes on the paper!! Some even drew sketches of the painting next to the title on the paper. I was amazed actually. I dont think there is a competition, but these people actually jot notes?! And they are not like students. These are like grandma, daddies or gf/bf.

After the exhibition, i took a picture of the art museum which I quite like the futuristic architecture.

After dinner...

I am curious about one thing though... is it common to get souvenirs after dining at Japanese restaurants? For a few dinner places I had gone to, I had a few things to bring home with like a hankie, head scarf. Its a nice touch really.

Dinner@ Inakaya (Tokyo)

This is one of the fun dinner I had in Tokyo on our last night, at Inakaya in Roppongi. ( the link with addresshttp://www.bento.com/rev/2672.html).

I had so much fun mainly because it was a new experience, and also because everyone there was very nice to me.

As you can see, we have 2 chef kneeled before the guests seated before them, divided by the array of fresh seafood and vegetables. So the guest get to pick anything you want from there and the chef will cook it freshly before you, and served hot straight to you via a long wood flat spoon kinda thing. I tell u, the food i so oh my god fresh and yummy that apart from salt, it doesnt need other sauces and the food turn out beautifully sweet and tender!!!

The chubbier chef on the right looked stern at first when when he saw my wide eye grin, he gave a chuckle at me. Everytime when I go すごい (sugoi)!!! He kept grinning at me. I prob look idiotic to him or he just prefer someone appreciating the food he served, compared to the poker face

locals and looking overwhelmed caucausians.

In between, the staff also pounded rice to make sticky rice for us. We have a choice of red bean or raddish, I choose raddish. It was fun to see them pound the cake and after I had taken pictures of them with permission, they jokingly offered the pounding rod to me and asked if I want to have a go! If there were less people, I might, but I declined politely.

When we ordered the fish, the guy was very nice. He noticed we didnt eat the fish correctly with the sauce and sides, so he came over to show us. When we were done with the body, he even came to me and started talking in Japanese. I didnt quite get him and so he asked for permission for him to use our chopstick to demonstrate his meaning. So he flipped the fish head inside out and there were flesh under the jaw. he took that and gave it to me, saying its for lady and he managed to dug out more meat from the head for my husband. It was amazing on the hidden meat! I would never know! In between, he even said we should suck at the fish head and he had that sucking sound which had me laughing quite happily. He grinned. (we noticed he didnt do half of what he did for us for the caucasians guys seated a corner away from us.. so i guess its not a standard practice

Ok, one of the fun side was I get to order it in my smattering basic Japanese. Those I have no idea (which are many!!) , I just point, and the waiter would state the name for me. It wasnt until 2 hours later when we were leaving, I realise that they have an english menu because they passed it to this indian-french girl next to me. I was like "Hey!! how come I wasnt offered one?!" Oh well... I guess they assumed I wanted to learn or overestimated my Japanese....

Towards the end of our meal, the 2 chefs changed shift with another 2 chef and we had this clapping hand ceremony. I had a video but yet to load it. Before I left, I thank them for a very interesting and fun night. The guys laughed when I said interesting. Maybe interesting wasnt a word they were expecting? Hmmm...

Haagen Dazs new flavor and Tully cafe

Did I ever mention I love icecream and trying new flavours? Spotted this new combination in Tokyo so I had a go. It was alright...nothing spectacular. It lacks the richness of Belgium chocolate and doesnt have the sweet cream lightness you would expect. Maybe it didnt match what I was expecting so I wasnt overly impressed.

Not sure if it will stay (sold) in Japan only. I have yet to see it in HK. Maybe they have it somewhere else in states? Dunno. In Japan, its amazing to see the range of new flavors....

Oh, I love the hot cocoa from this coffee place. One would describe it as smooth, rich but not overly, and sweet to the right degree. Coming from a person who drinks hot chocolate for pretty much over 2o years of her life. This Tully Coffee place is always pack with people and mainly locals. So i guess the coffee must be good too.

Japan Trip : Dinner out with an old friend

I am so lazy... so here is the 2nd half of my Japan trip update.

Met one of my "old" dear friend for dinner. We decided to try somewhere her friend had suggested in Ginza and it was good! Both dinner and company was great. Of course I was too engrossed in catching up with her latest development and experience living in Japan these few years by far, and stuffing my face silly with food that I forgot to snap some pictures at some point....

Dinner was fun because we were looking at the Japanese Menu and I had her in charge of ordering since she could obviously read more of it than me!! Hee hee..I believe we did well! Of course we chat till we HAD to leave when the shop closed.

Thanks Cyn for such a wonderful night!!!

Zuma Restaurant (HK) Pictures

(Previous Brief Review)

Some parts of the interior. The spiral stairs lead to the bar on level 6.

Oh this thinly sliced beef with seawood is excellent!!!!

Oh this is one of my fav sushi dish. There were a few more but i didnt snap a shot.

(Too busy eating)

The sashimi is fantastic!

I dun quite like this dish. Wasnt done too well.

Our dessert (part of the course set meal)

The singaporean look?

I'm pretty amused recently. As I had mentioned somewhere before, when I was travelling through Vietnam, the locals (including the immigration custom guy who eye at my passport with suspicions) thought I was Vietnamese. When I was in Sydney, some thought I was Vietnamese, some thought I was Thai.

When I was chatting with my part time help the other day, she was shocked when she realised I was chinese. She didnt think I look like 100% chinese (HUH??How did that happen?). She thought I could have been from Philippines or maybe Malaysia, like partial Malay. She insisted I didnt look Singaporean. (I was like really? Does Singaporean have a specific look? haaa haaa.)

Today was even more hilarious. The management got some 3rd party contractor to fix the fuse box. For some unknown reason which is so unexpected, the HK contractor assumed I was Japanese??? He addressed me as 日本人 and I was stunned and wanted to laugh so badly but i didnt bother to correct him. Just last week on the phone with the landcrawford woman, I was labelled as Gweipo, and now visually I am something else??? The management guy saw my bemused look, corrected the guy that I wasnt Japanese.

Honestly speaking, I have never gave much thoughts to how one look but its strange to constantly have my descent being mistaken... Well at least I have never once been mistaken to China. Come to think of it, no one ever said I was from Taiwan or HK either. Guess I'm not fair enough to qualify.. heh heh heh

I'm curious though. To other people, what is a singapore look? I mean if we just shut our mouth and not let our accent betray us, how does one distinguish a Singaporean? Hmmm... Do u look singaporean, or not? :)

Bloody Monday 10 Review

Finally.... this Bloody Monday series is reaching the height of excitement and last episode soon!

Just finished summary for episode 10... Gooooood epi!!!! We finally know who K is!!!

Alright, for those waiting to read on, here's Bloody Monday 10 Summary

New Japanese Drama: AKAI ITO

This new Japanese drama "Akai Ito" (赤い糸 ) - (Thread of Destiny) (official Jap website), got its first airing on 6th Dec 2008 (sat).

Akai Ito" is one of the best-selling books of last year, is being adapted into a drama series and a film. Like "Koizora," it started out as a mobile phone novel and quickly gained in popularity, pushing it into the top 20 of Tohan's 2007 rankings.

I have finished watching the first episode and quite like it as far. I hope it will be nice sweet romance and wont be too tragic like Koizora....though we already know from first episode that Nishino's mum may have poisoned him via drugs or maybe some accidental drug overdose? Hmmm.. anyway, the male lead is super cute and love his smile!!!!
(Akai Ito Episode 1 summary)

Over-indulgence parents

Buyers drawn by sea view (read original article here)

This would seem like another those boring overhyped HDB flat prices. The only line that caught my eyes was the seller's sharing that he sold the flat because :

'We were not in a hurry to sell the flat. But I wanted to move so that my son would be closer to his secondary school in Tampines. It takes him about an hour to get to school, and I've received complaints from his teacher about his being late. So I thought we should move closer to his school instead.'

(Pictures from Newpaper Article link)

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Afterthoughts

WTF?!

Is this another shining example of our parents possibly overly spoiling our kids in the name of misguided parental love. If he had said "oh the price is good and we like to keep the profit." Its fine by me. However, to uproot and move the whole family for a super lame excuse for a seemingly boy who could not even learnt to time manage, is way way way way overly way indulgent.

Rather than giving the boy a good talking to, the parents are encouraging such wayward behaviour. So why couldnt the son get up? What have been done to correct that with the techer's complaint, apart from resorting to moving house? Before the word MRT is in existence in Singapore, I used to have to wake up at 5am to take a bus from Bedok to Toa Payoh for school that starts at 7.20am. Dont see my parents selling the flat for me.

Singapore is fking small. 1 hour travel is no big deal either. From Marine Parade to Tampine, big freaking deal. Other children in other poorer nations are either dying to receive a proper education, and some even walk for more than half hour ON FOOT to get to school.

Hence to read about such questionable parental decision, to minimise all sort of inconvenience for their children is truly disheartening. (I hope it really just boil down to money... and the son was just a shield) Why on earth are we spoiling our kids so much? I am sure if the son had a party to head to, he wont be complaing about that 1hr journey. If the son has to Q for 1hr for some lame concert or tickets for something he like, he wont complain about the 1 hr. If the son had to ever travel the 1hr distance to send his future gf home or pick her up in the morn, he wont complain.

I can only hope and pray that people I know do not develop such unhealthy indulgence towards their kids. Sometimes, like caterpillar morphing into butterfly, a little hardwork and suffering is necessary for character building. Sometimes, good intention does more damage than good.

Sure, breaking through the chrysalis may prove to be frustrating or difficult, but what do butterflies know? It's just something that HAS to be done isnt it?

I believe people are made the same way. Like the butterfly, we each have a chrysalis. If we always remain comfortable and unwilling to "rough" it, we will die without getting to dry our wings in the sun, much less spread our wings and fly to the sky.

Leave these S'porean habits behind?

I put a question mark in the title because I do not necessarily agree with the news article.

It's one of those days when you click to read the online Newpaper, and some articles just leave you snorting away, just like this one did. I wont go as far to say this article is overdramatic, but it certainly doesnt carry a powerful voice. Of course we must remember, we are all entitled to our own opinions.

Article

Going on holiday? (Read original news article here)
Leave these S'porean habits behind

THE 'SINGAPORE IS BETTER' MENTALITY

When we are in Singapore, everything is bad. When we are overseas, everything in Singapore is better. Weird, huh?

>> Actually, from my experience of living away from Singapore, i DO THINK Singapore is better in many ways. Of course we have our failings for sure, and despite whatever issues one may have with the govt, like it or not, many things in our country is run better and smoother. So i do not think its weird or a nasty habit to think so. In some ways, its national pride perhaps that shouldnt be doused with one sweeping statement. the only thing that should be said as a bad habit is Singaporeans should STOP saying CHEAP CHEAP in another country. That is rude.

PATTING SEATS
No one knows why we pat seats.

>> Is this column writer close to grandparents or this person must be very young? For the fallacy that NO ONE KNOWS WHY, I hate to contradict but there are people out here familiar with the old folks tales - enlightening WHY people pat seats.

For one, there was a misconception that one can get piles in your arse if you sit on a super warm seat immediately after the previous occupant leaves. So the pat was an alleviation to cool the heat from the surface to "reduce" the heat. The hand is kinda acting like a thermomter to gauge when it is "safe" to sit, while some thinks that patting will "clear" piles contamination. (false of course) .

FANNING AWAY CIGARETTE SMOKE
We love inhaling clouds of dust from dirty seats, but we draw the line at nicotine

>> I think it is NO rocket science to clearly distinct that dust differs from nicotine smoke. While inhaling a short bust of dust doesnt exactly kills you or irritate your organs, cig smoke does. I have yet to hear of any reports that says a puff of dust will warrant bronchitits and damage your lungs( there are contant pollutant in the air anyway), but 2nd hand cig smoke has been told specifically harmful to non smokers. So we do NOT LOVE inhaling clouds, but we definitely SHOULD draw the line at nicotine.

Fanning away the smoke is not necessarily a true act of getting rid of smoke but rather, previously was an indicator to an unware smoker that his smoke is getting to someone. So he might want to put the distance. Of course overtime, the non smoker gets ruder with added commentaries, and smokers just got tired of rude non smokers that this fanning business seemed rude.

There are lots of smokers in HK and it is terrible standing in Q for mini-bus and have a smoker before you. However, I dont fan, I keep a wider distance and that normally does the trick and the smoker either move away more or he quickly puff more and butt it out. See, its not the act itself, its how u interpret the act. Then again, this is a personal opinion.

'CHOPING' TABLES WITH TISSUE PAPER
Another Uniquely Singapore trait, it is an honour code forged in the war zones of lunchtime Raffles Place.


>> While it seem annoying at first glance esp for hungry lunch people, step back and look at it in new light. It means that our society is CIVILISED enough to understand this hidden code. Its our own culture so why take such a bad light of it. A pack of tissue vs another colleague sitting there to book the table. What is the difference? End result, the table is still taken, except that with tissues, everyone can head out and buy their lunch quickly, eat quickly and leave, vs the one guardian being slower and the whole table has to wait for him/ her, hence resulting in longer waiting Q for others.

I honestly do not see the vice of this tissue culture to book seat. It only means that we are polite enough to understand the table is taken, since there isnt a paper and a pen for us to write reserved and person gone to line up for food. It sure is handy when you are alone and you know you have a seat to return to after a long line up for your food order. Surely, it only means our society has evolved enough not to fight over tables?

What is annoying however for potential table hunters, is not tissue to "chop" (reserve) seats. From past experience, the TRUE culprits are those who have finished eating but decided to linger on and hog the table to chat, despite knowing its busy lunch time and there are people waiting for empty tables. THOSE are inconsiderate behaviours that should be highlighted, not the tissue paper culture. These people didnt place tissues there for fun to prevent people from having tables, its for people who need to get their food since we are not table served by the stalls.

Incidentally, I am not a tissue culture groupie. I dont ever carry tissue. The other alternative is to get stranger next to me to hold the seat for me. Tried it, it worked. And honestly, except for the added "excuse me" and "thank you", I fail to see the difference between that and a tissue "stamp".

Then again back to topic at hand, I have NEVER seen any singaporeans doing that out of Singapore. So it really isnt a big deal. Singaporeans are NOT that stupid to assume other nations know our habit. Give our people some credit.

QUEUING OVERNIGHT

>> I like to point out, this is NOT only peculiar to Singapore. I have seen long Qs, overnight or not, in HK, Tokyo, London. Have u seen a crazy Q during sale in HK? So Singaporeans are rather placid by comparison. And how does joining or forming a Q ever do any harm to anyone? What's the big fuss? Kiasu is not a trait only Sg have, everywhere in the world, there are. Its just we dont live there, we dont see it. Period.

Bloody Monday 08 Summary

Phew... finally caught up and finished...

Bloody Monday Episode 06 Summary
Bloody Monday Episode 07 Summary
Bloody Monday Episode 08 Summary.

Read Here