Anime Oldies - They are better than you think.

Post will be up later. Sleep first. School has been crazy these few days. *shudders just thinking about it*

I have to confess, I'm too lazy to blog. Really lazy. But anyway, I finally got down to blogging, after procrastinating for another month. I know. I'm lazy.

Spent my holiday digging out old classic anime to watch. Believe it a not, I actually decided to give Conan a try. The detective series is the longest anime I've ever come across - and it's still ongoing (500 episodes and up). The best part about Conan is when Shinichi is dealing with the black organisation and trying to figure ways to get his body back to normal (In case you don't know, Shinichi is the main character of the story. He was forced to drink some kind of poison which turned his body to that of a 7-year-old.) ALso, not to forget, I like any episodes that has t o deal with Shinichi and Hattori (another high school genius detective) competing against each other. And of course, being the romantic I am, the ShinichixRan moments. Boy, were they cute. Other than that, the rest are basically filler episodes. But if you guys have plenty of time to spare and nothing to do in mind, you might want to give Conan a try. It's not the best anime out there but it's good enough when you've got time to kill.

Another anime I watched during my holidays were Glass Mask and Marmalade Boy. Glass mask was good. I never thought i would enjoy an anime that was adapted from a manga drawn in the 1970s. That was like 30 years before I was born. I watched the 2005 remake version of the anime - most of them are in RAWs though. No english fansubbing group has completed that series, a pity if you ask me. It came as a surprise to me that I would like Glass Mask not only because of its age but also of its genre. Glass mask is about how a girl struggles to fight her way to the stage and the world of acting. Sounds kinda boring to me in the first place and I watched the first episode with no expectations whatsoever. Before I know it, I was already halfway through the series. It was that addicting (Hayami and Maya forever!). However, the down part of this anime was that it was never finished - just like many other anime. The anime stopped halfway through the manga, just like that. And when I searched for the manga to continue my pursuit of the story, it just turned out that the author of the story halted the story as well - at volume 42. It was said that Suzue Miuchi (that's the author) wanted to do some changes to the story and modernise the plot as back in the 1970s, there's no such thing as computers and handphones. It's just stupid, really stupid. She just have to go enrage and lose her fans like this. It's like we're dying to know the end to the series and she's taking what, 7,8 years to finish ONE manga volume? It really pisses me off. It took me some time to actually get over this.

Marmalade Boy was not for my age. I'm 17 turning 18 and Marmalade Boy proves to be a little to childish for me. The story centers around Miki and Yuu, who came to know each other when their parent decide to "switch partners". It's basically a romance anime and a rather predictable one at that. I started to watch this series for no other reason than I'm bored and I ran out of anime to watch. Like I said, the story's quite predictable, which makes it rather bland. There are not many surprising elements in the story and I have to force myself to finish the anime just because I started watching it. In that sense, it's still not that bad as I could still cope with having to finish the series. There are some anime which I stopped watching at the first episode.

There now, I finish my February post. Finally.

HK Trip - plus the photos.

I'm just on time before the clock strikes 12 and the last day of January in 2008 is over. Anyway, i'm so lazy lately i'll just copy and paste the whole segment of the speech i did in class talking about the time i spent in HK.

There you go.

It all started one early morning when I was still lying comfy in my bed cocoon when my phone rang. It was my mum. She was calling me early in the morning to ask when am I having my holidays. Since still half-asleep, I answered half-heartedly until her last response stop me short before she cut the line off.

Early in the morning of one of those usual, boring, never-ending days which was supposed to go normal, she told us we were going to Hong Kong.

Now, you must realize, that was big news indeed to me. It was like waking up to find a handsome prince by your side and you’re actually the long lost princess of Atlantic. In other words, it sounded too good to be true. It sounded phony.

The last time I boarded a plane and actually flew to another country besides Singapore was when I’m 5 – when I can hardly remember anything at that age. Ever since then, my mother just make me empty promises every year about how we will go to The states in year 2000 and go Japan in year 2001 and go Hong Kong in year 2002, yada yada.

So after the shock subsided, I continued lying in the warmth of my bed cocoons and stare blank at the ceilings. Then I think, yeah right, Hong Kong, and went back to sleep again.

Forwarded to the day 18th December 2007, I found myself checking in at the airport with my family. Since it’s still an hour away before we could actually board the plane, I went exploring around and snapping at everything with a newly camera I just bought not long ago.

This picture is taken in a chocolate shop in the airport. Prices here really skyrocket and you can’t do any bargaining. One pack of merci chocolates which could be bought at about 7 ringgit here is sold for 21 ringgit there. Just impossible. And ridiculous.

The following are more shots of Malaysia’s airport. After my brothers and I are tired from all those exploring, I gave in to the impulse and bought some ridiculously expensive chips for our journey.




…boarded the plane and before we knew it, we’re in hk.


…captured some more shots of the airport in hk and then think, airports are about all the same anywhere, and then think again, not that I’ve been to many airports.

…took a train to the island of hk.


…we live our 2 weeks to the fullest by indulging ourselves with shopping and all the yummies of hong kong.

…visited my aunt’s restaurant and spoil myself with the food she served.

…famed peak of hong kong which is supposed to cover all of hk land when you looked down. Too bad we couldn’t see anything because it was too foggy.




…tong luo wan – the equivalent of orchard road in sg. All the major and happening shops and malls are there, sogo, times square, blah blah.




…Another thing to note about hk is that wherever you go, whenever you are, you always find yourself surrounded in a crowd. Before you can get anything you want, there’s always this queue in front of you.



…went seeing the lights on Christmas day. As usual, it was very packed and you literally have to squirm through everyone to go anywhere.


…went to ocean park. More people than usual. Hate it when you have to wait 2 hours just for a 2 minutes ride.

…see pandas. Those cute, fluffy, furry creatures.


...more shopping and eating. Were indulging ourselves with dim sum.

…took pictures of the famous bridge of hk when you see in the movies on the tri back home. Brr, was it cold that day. It was around 10 degree celcius that morning.


...took pictures of clouds and scenery.




...landed home and took more pictures of planes and the K.L. airport.

See, I'm so lazy, I'd just "..." everything for my speech. But who cares anyway. I'll upload my photos later and it should make up for everything. Probably. And then I feel lazy again when I think I've yet to post on the Anime Winter 2007 season. Crap, blame my lazy bones.

Urgh, exams are tomorrow and I can't believe i'm updating my blog. Really gotta ciao. Till then, people.

25th Dec 2007.

Brrr... It's like friggin' cold this evening, around 14 degree celcius (If my memory does not fail me when I saw the news this morning).

Went around the streets in Hong Kong and bought some clothes, shoes, books, etc. I wanted to buy manga. Wanted. Desired. Too bad I can't find any decent manga shop around. Urgh. And I thought Hong Kong is the closest country to Japan (close, as in, not measured by distance. Close in spirit, atmosphere, people. Blah blah.)

Haven't done much walking lately in Malaysia since I knew how to drive. Heck, haven't done much walking ever since I've moved to Malaysia. My mum practically drives me everywhere. God bless her. And now, I've been doing so much walking I feel should be able to make up for the last few months of inactivity. My legs feel like they're made out of wobbly jelly as of current. Besides shopping, I even went climbing hills and find myself going to Ocean Park (one of those many attractions in Hong Kong), waiting and queueing up HOURS for a few minutes' ride.

By the way, did I ever mention that food over here is simply mouth-watering? Oh my god. I'm willing to risk putting on a few Kilos to have a moment's taste of heaven. Then, I'll regret and lament about it later when I come back to home K.L.

I'll put up the pictures I've taken during my time here when I got back to Malaysia. It's the 25th, so 6 more days to go.

But anywayz ppl, Merry Christmas!!! See you ppl when school starts. Next year. ^_^

Boring Ramblings. Indeed.

I'm bored. Very bored. Extremely bored. So bored I started blogging again rewatched series after series of anime I've already watched for the thousandth time. So bored I'm now reduced to watching Totally Spies and Mr Bean the animated version on Disney channel. Good Grievance. I rewatched Blood+, rewatched Hikaru no Go (Ah, that made me cry again), rewatched mushishi and realised I'm really leading a boring life. Oh, what news.

Well, at least the only thing I'm looking forward to with the exception of the anime Winter Season is that my mum got us a ticket each to Hong Kong for two weeks! We're leaving on the 18th and spending Christmas (Did I ever mention Christmas is the anniversary date for my debut in the blogging world? I can't believe I've been blogging for a year.) in HK. Sounds good for the time being. Being two whole weeks away from my home sweet home isn't exactly without its drawbacks as well. Being in Hong Kong 2 weeks is missing 2 whole weeks of anime. Just great. Why must everything has its ups and down? Oh and did I ever mention I my paternal's side family is all living in Hong Kong. The last time I met them was like when I'm 2 or 3. So, I guess things could get pretty awkward for a while. But nevermind that. I still plan to have a helluva time enjoying myself there. Wish me fun.

Oh and people, I'd probably be not returning to Singapore due to the lack of time. So yah, maybe I'll see you guys during the New Year. Probably.

I was just reading through a post of my friend where she was criticising sharing her comments on my driving skills one day when I offered to fetch her back to college to wait for her mum in my ride.

According to her, she wouldn't sit in my car ever again until I've had at least 5 years of driving experience. Here's how it started.

FULL BLOWN STORM

So, my friend, Chen Yee , who has recently gotten her driving license a few months ago, has always been saying something about she isn't a bad driver as we think she is, and we might just go give her a chance by sitting in her car.

So I, kind-hearted old me, became the first fellow college-goer to sit in her car to go to the Pizza Hut place, and then back to college. Poor fool kind heart of mine.

It isn't the going to Pizza Hut place that's hard. It's the going back to college that took almost an hour to reach, even though going to Pizza Hut took about 10 to 15 minutes.

Why?

Okay, before I got into her car after the LOOKING AND SMELLING BUT NOT TASTING AND EATING DEBACLE of PIZZA HUT, we tried to rescue this kitten who got stuck down the drain. I didn't even realize it was there, but Chen Yee heard it mewing and went back to rescue it, trying to move the metal coverings without even moving the flower pot that was right on the metal steels. It was one of those BIG GIGANTIC flower pots too.
I tried to move it away, and the cat kept staring pitifully at us, but WE JUST COULD NOT MOVE IT. And people kept staring at us like we were trying to steal the pot. Please lo. Want to steal steal nicer one, not those that are put by pavement sides to, I don't know, add more oxygen?

Then we walked into the store that the drain was right in front of, because Chen Yee was convinced they would help, and the old guys said the kitten was rescued many times but still would squirrel it's way back into the drain. It'll be fine, they assured us, and even swore that they weren't lying.

Then we got back out and saw people trying to help the kitten out too.

Awwww. My faith in human kindness for animals is slightly restored, what with all the tales of people catching and eating stray dogs. Yuck.

Anyway, on to the storm.

I, for one, am not afraid to admit, that I am GEOGRAPHICALLY challenged. I am exactly one of those females who can't read maps, except for Disneyland attraction maps.

And Chen Yee, well, let's just say her driving skills and tales of her fearsome driving skill of not putting the car on brake while she was getting out of the car and the car rolling back, plus the fact she does not know the roads of Malaysia, is already reason enough that the both of us are not safe enough to be driver and passenger on the roads, especially maniac roads.

Our guides to Pizza Hut had decided to eat and left the fates of two, poor, defenseless girls driving around the roads of Malaysia, looking for my college because my mother was going to pick me up from there.

From Pizza Hut, we turned left. And kept on going.

For some reason, we ended up wheezing past Eastin, the Star, Mont Kiara, all the way to Jalan Parliament in KUALA FREAKING LUMPUR, before turning around back to our civilization.

That took one hour.

Oh, and not to mention the fact that

A) When Chen Yee reached over to get my Touch and Go card at the toll, her mother called at the same time - and the T& C card fluttered down. A line was beginning to build up behind us at the toll.

B) My hand was grasping urgently for the card, got it, and when Chen Yee tried to put it out the window, she was too far away from the swiping thing, so she had to open the door to get it.

C) When she was done with the swiping card thing, she tried to get ahead, and she kept clutching the clutch, but THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T BUDGE (OH IT RHYMED!)

Frankly, when the car got moving I was ready to start singing Hallelujah and Praising God. Thank God nobody tooted their horn at us for the flustered 30 seconds of stalled car at toll.

Plus the fact my driver was panicking badly about driving ourselves all the way to Timbuktu. The car verve around as she was panicking.

*Starts reaching for my rosary beads and praying*
And as we called our guide to tell him we were lost, all my driver was doing was screaming at him about how lost we were.

*Already praying with my imaginary rosary beads*
*Ah, Mother Theresa, give me some of your strength in being noble, and kind, and loving.*

Then ze driver was also blaming the road for the bump she didn't see, plus etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Then she sent me a msg way way later that night, as I was tucking into my food, something about scratching the underside of her car with the bump.

AND WHAT'S MORE -

1. Her lights weren't on. AT NIGHT. She had no idea how to turn them on, instead the windshield and viper went on.

2. We got lost. Several times. Again.

All I could say, was, stoically, throughout the whole journey, was
"Think of this as an adventure."

to her, even as she backed into the wrong road and had to reverse to get out.

I now know that I can be remarkably calm in the face of adversary and stress. Good to know, I guess.

I was a mite terrified to take out the camera and start snapping pictures of words like Jln. Parlimen, or Mont Kiara, or the road to KLIA, for instance, because we were driving to Timbuktu, after all.

I'm not lying, though. I wish I was.

Then I arrived in dark, gloomy college at around 8 pm ++. It was dark, it was dreary, and I kept thinking of Mr Naasir's ghost stories about KDU.

See. Thanks a lot, Mr Naasir.

Note to self - do not sit in Chen Yee's car again until

a) own self have had driving license to own's name
b) we both KNOW where we're going
c) She has owned her own driving license for at least five years.
d) She has known the FUNCTIONS of her own car, including why the car had STALLED and WHERE TO SWITCH ON THE LIGHTS.

P.S. I am NOT, in any way, exaggerating my note to self part. And don't the driver deny it, too.

YOu know what? I'm glad I had such a great friend who's not afraid of pointing out so relentlessly whatever flaws I had. That's one true friend indeed. Thanks, Chell.

As a side note, I'll be sure to take lots of pictures in HK to share with you guys. So till then.