tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59442218604758833032024-03-13T06:55:21.781+08:00The Memoirs of Fat GeishaMy personal take on Japan travel and culture, and anything that rocks the Fat One's boat.FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-19288909634903922032021-03-10T16:41:00.002+08:002021-03-10T17:17:03.818+08:00Away for 8 years, and then COVID-19 Happened.<p>I am certain I don't have enough of a following to have any peeps missing my Japan related posts although I was shocked to see there are 194k (!!!) total views of this blog when I checked my stats. To the great Internet VOID and the accidental readers, hallo again, I am well, and 8 years older, and until COVID-19 closed borders I have travelled to Japan 20 times (I think), and many other places around the world. I was contemplating if I should start a brand new travel blog with a brand new website, then realised to my horror that someone has already taken up the fatgeisha.com domain, and another domain name I was contemplating about was also taken up (yay, genius that I am I cannot find an original name). Long story short, I checked if this blog was still alive, read some of my old posts and found them still quite entertaining, and decided that I should make a comeback.</p><p>I suppose I could have returned to blog writing in 2020, when Singapore was under a 2-month lockdown, but so many things were happening on the personal, professional, and international fronts that I really had no more headspace to do something new (or revisit something as old as this). Now that I am certain the world isn't ending (YET), and we have sort of gotten used to the new normal of masking, social distancing and staying largely at home watching Netflix, what better time than now to use some of my extra time to do a massive information dump on my past travel trips onto this blog as we twiddle our thumbs waiting for travel to resume? The problem is, I may have forgotten half of my travel details, but hey, nothing that Google cannot do if I need help to fill in the gaps right? My travel photos remain intact, and I am certain I will be able to add value for other travellers, who must be chafing at the bit to go forth and explore.</p><p>Enough of my introductory return blog post, time to figure out what to write for my next proper post. And a nice little photo here from my recent visit to the Flower Dome at Gardens By the Bay, where they have imported some nice sakura trees from Japan. But honestly, nothing is as good as the real thing, damn it! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AP4cOCmIQkU/YEiFU5wjhXI/AAAAAAAAUU0/qBx-1lpVt-MFGYZtProhIOfsraw6gZ-DACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/hallokittysakura.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AP4cOCmIQkU/YEiFU5wjhXI/AAAAAAAAUU0/qBx-1lpVt-MFGYZtProhIOfsraw6gZ-DACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/hallokittysakura.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">Hallo Kitty and sakura - a fatal combination.</i></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-88232856220274529832013-04-17T20:14:00.005+08:002013-05-18T09:48:10.351+08:00And Sakura Makes My Seasons Complete<div style="text-align: justify;">
Between the last post and now, I have visited Japan, or specifically, Tokyo, TWICE; admired the beautiful autumn maple leaves (koyo), and 3 months later, finally, FINALLY, saw with my very own eyes the elusive cherry blossoms aka s<strong>akura</strong> on my 6th Japanese trip. So now I can say that I have been to Japan in ALL seasons - from spring to winter. Sakura is like a cherry (hur-hur) on top of my cake, a life-long travel dream come true, and life feels complete (at least for the time being).</div>
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More fragile than maple leaves, less lasting than snow, the sakura blooms in unpredictable fashion, and lasts anything from a few days to two weeks. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to experience the <strong>hanami</strong> season (i.e. sakura viewing season) until the Samurai is retired, not least because he is a teacher and he does not have school holidays in April (usually the month of full blooms). Amazingly, this year the school holidays fell in late March, and after one of the coldest winters in recent memory, it was turning into an unusually warm spring in Tokyo. On a whimsy, I decided what the heck and booked our flights to Tokyo (never mind we just visited 3 months ago. I figured, if we were lucky, we could at least see a few budding cherry trees. Better than nothing right?</div>
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As God would have it (and serendipity!!), Tokyo announced its EARLIEST first sakura bloom in 53 (or was it 56?) years since the authorities started recording the start of the cherry blossom season (based on a single tree at Yasukuni Shrine), on <u>16 March 2013</u>. Full bloom was expected a week later, which coincided with our travel dates!!!! Suffice to say, I totally worked myself up into a frenzy at the thought of finally seeing sakura in its native setting. I went ballistic researching the best hanami viewing spots in Tokyo, checked the weather and cherry blossom charts from JTB and Japanese weather channels fanatically to make sure that they DO BLOOM at the right time, never mind that it was not within my control. I dreamt about all the sakura-related produce I could buy, the types of pictures and self shots I could take against all those gorgeous flowers - basically I went sakura-berserk. :P</div>
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Now, the question you must be asking is that did they match up to my expectations? I did not know why, but I half expected cherry trees to be lining all the streets of Tokyo; the fact that I was no Tokyo virgin, and know for sure that the urban areas have very few trees (unlike here in Singapore) did nothing to stem my slight disappointment when I only saw one miserable tree on my first day at Ikebukuro (where our hotel was). But of course, all the awesome sights that you see from the various pictures on the Internet come from either the large parks/gardens/shrines etc, where sakura trees abound to create wondrous scenes. And once we started visiting all the famous sakura spots, suffice to say, it was an out-of-the-world experience. You do not need to be crazy about flowers or be a horticulturalist, to appreciate the sights you see during the hanami season. The Samurai, with zero flower boy-ness in his blood, was equally awed and humbled by the sakura views as I was. I was floored. I was in pink and white heaven.</div>
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I swear I have never taken so many pictures of flowers and plants, even during my koyo season visits where the colours were more vibrant and abundant. Sakura does that to you. Everywhere you go, the Japanese and foreigners are snapping pictures like Brad Pitt (or Takuya Kimura) is in the house. In fact, Takuya may have walked past me and I would be craning my neck to get a better view of the sakura trees. We turn into crazed photographers with glazed eyes, as we mentally debate on which are the best angles to get that row of trees, or this bunch of flowers. How to frame that shrine among the blossoms, how to capture that falling petal....Madness. You will think the Japanese will be cooler since they get to see this every year, but NO. They are as insane as the Ga-Jin (foreigners) are - the obasans and the ojisans, the giggling schoolgirls and the salarymen, and rosy-cheeked kiddos. I term it, Sakura-Magic.</div>
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So here are a FEW (only a few, mind you) of my pictures from the trip.</div>
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Our first stop was the Yasukuni Shrine, since the benchmarked tree is there. There were mostly the white Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms, and the shrine looked pretty and dreamy, shrouded in white!</div>
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My absolute favourite sakura spot was actually outside Tokyo, when we went on a day-trip to Izu Peninsula. This was at the Mishima-Taisha Shrine, and all the trees were in full bloom, and most of them were gloriously pink. </div>
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If I can decide how heaven would look like, this would be close to it.</div>
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Our last visit was to Shinjuku Gyoen, which had the largest varieties of sakura trees. This particular one was dark pink - gorgeous.</div>
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Japanese kid playing with the flowers @ Shinjuku Gyoen.</div>
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One of the rare and small sakura varieties, a peachy pink colour with bigger blooms.</div>
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White-ish pink variety, and then suddenly a red sakura among all its pale pink siblings! This particular oddity sent many photographers (including me) into a snapping frenzy.</div>
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Almost purplish variety near the pond @ Shinjuku Gyoen.</div>
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Another of the famous sakura spots is at Chidorigafuchi, just directly opposite the Yasukuni Shrine, where rows of cherry trees surround a lake. Absolutely gorgeous.</div>
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For night time sakura, Nakameguro is a great place to visit. A man-made concrete canal is transformed into Sakura paradise during hanami season.</div>
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The sakura at Nakameguro is crowded together, and forms a seamless overhead canopy. Just romantic beyond belief.</div>
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Of course, who can forget Ueno Park? It is crazy crowded during this time of the year (but so are many of the places) and the sakura trees lining the main boulevard is just stunning to walk through.</div>
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Sakura and the Pagoda @ Ueno park</div>
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Close up of the Somei Yoshino - the most common white variety.</div>
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One of the rare street Sakura trees I see, which is stunning in this dark red colour, at Ningyocho.</div>
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Writing this post makes me want to go back there again, right now. Will I want to try to see the sakura again now that I have already seen it? You bet I will. And before the Samurai retires. We just need more sakura luck in the coming years.FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-29118381894413078462012-10-20T10:44:00.000+08:002012-10-20T12:19:53.211+08:00Tokyo Hour - and Why I Still Love Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="color: purple;"><em>Me wanna visit Sky Tree this time!!!! (Photo not mine)</em></span></strong></div>
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Gasp! It has been more than half a year since I wrote a blog post, to my everlasting shame. Before I have time to finish waxing lyrical about all the wonderful things on my Hokkaido trip LAST December, I am getting ready for my next trip to Tokyo NEXT month, and then the Samurai and I are jetting off to Italy in late December for our proper year end holiday (yes you can start drooling in envy now).</div>
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Originally, we were supposed to go on the Italy trip only (since we have been to Japan almost every year since 2008, and our last European trip was to Greece in 2006!). But there was JUST this itch that must be scratched - we absolutely, utterly, NEEDED to get our Japan fix, so with Samurai T's birthday coming up, we used it as an excuse to celebrate his birthday (ON MY account, I might add). Although it would be a very short 5-day trip, both of us were completely jumping in anticipation once the flight and hotel were booked, and I planned the itinerary within A DAY (as opposed to taking my own sweet time reading the Rome guide book).</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">A planned day trip to Kawagoe (Pic from Wikipedia)</span></em></strong></div>
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Our dinner conversation last night went something like this:<br />
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<strong>Fat Geisha</strong>: Which trip are you more excited about? Japan or Italy?<br />
<strong>Samurai T</strong>: I dunno, but I think Japan.<br />
<strong>Fat Geisha</strong>: I know right?!?!?! Aren't we weird?? We have been to Japan so many times! And there are so many new things to see and do in Italy!<br />
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The upcoming trip would be our FIFTH time to Japan (in almost as many years), and I can only think of Thailand (mainly Bangkok) being anywhere close/on par to that record (and maybe China but I mostly go there for work, not leisure, because seriously you need to PAY ME to go Beijing to inhale all that pollution). I have always been disturbed by friends who absolutely NEED to go on their yearly trips to Bangkok and/or Hong Kong, and I could never figure out WHY. I have nothing against Bangkok, but after the first couple of visits, the remaining trips were because our friends wanted to go (and for cheap long massages), and dragged us along. In the case of Hong Kong, you would need to PAY the Samurai to go, since he always developed respiratory problems on both his holidays there. I too, hated the bad air, the crowds (weirdly enough crowds in Japan are different, cos they are so well behaved!!!) and I was NOT at all interested in HK shopping. Disneyland? No freaking way. Food wise was the most appealing aspect (otherwise I would not be called Fat Geisha for nothing), but there is just how much dim sum you can take in one day, although the Samurai would sell a bit of his soul for roast goose. So why not pay a LITTLE bit more, sit for another 3 hours on the plane, and go Japan instead?! At this point I sound like I am from the Japan Tourism Board - and yes they should recruit me as the spokesperson! Seriously! (They probably won't since I am doing it for free anyway.)</div>
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You have to go to Japan at LEAST ONCE to appreciate the addictive charm of the country. Many people (who have yet to visit Japan) to this day still think that Japan is very expensive, and YES if you compare it to Thailand, it is obviously more expensive, but HALLO? have you been living in Singapore lately?? We now have one of the highest cost of living in the whole world, and we have long caught up to Japan (which has been suffering from deflation for the past 20 or more years - poor things). Add that to the excellent service that they give you, the top notch quality of the majority of their food, products and services, and you feel it is worth every single cent of your money. As a friend told me once, "You feel HAPPY spending money there!"</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Tokyo National Museum at Ueno - another planned destination.</span></em></strong></div>
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There is just something about Japan that makes my insides light up. I can be tired, I can be depressed, feeling stressed and crappy but the minute I disembark from the plane, all is right with the world again. There is something so relaxing (which is weird epecially in Tokyo and Osaka, which are the busiest cities in the world) that it sets my mind at ease. I don't worry about being robbed, getting lost, eating bad food, getting ill-treated, using dirty public toilets (ha!). When I am tired of the city I can take a comfy train ride to see the mountains, rivers, lakes or seas. I can eat the best tasting, freshest sushi, their innovative gorgeous looking desserts and shop for the cutest unqiue knick-knacks (which are not China knock-offs, although they have that too!). There may be the occasional unhappy incident (e.g. Samurai slipping on snow in Hokkaido and hurting his butt - hehe) but these disappeared quickly and we always, ALWAYS enjoyed ourselves tremendously.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">And we would like to visit a Maid Cafe this time too, at Akihabara!</span></em></strong></div>
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And that is why I still love Japan so much. Sigh, if only my love can help me in my Japanese learning. To think I will be taking the N4 exam immediately upon my return. Oh noes! Will I have time to study?? Methinks I gotta catch a few Japanese men to practice in my five days there. Takahiro and Takuya, where are you?</div>
<br />FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-26205108412219886582012-06-29T12:06:00.001+08:002012-06-29T12:31:30.936+08:00EXILE Spectacular - Sapporo Dome Tower of Wish Concert 24 December 2011 Part II<div style="text-align: justify;">
So we last saw the Evil One literally flying into Paradise as she managed to snag a precious photo with the fake Atsushi-san. Still, the REAL deal himself (thinner, hotter, sexier!?) awaits within the concert arena. After satisfying our stomachs with a relatively blah dinner, which improved Samurai's mood significantly (the man gets grouchy when he is hungry), we rushed in to take our seats which is somewhere in Section 55-56 (I forgot our exact seat numbers). The first thing that greeted my eyes as we entered the arena/stadium was this cavernous space that extended outwards in a circular direction and this MASSIVE stage in the centre, like this:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5RjrUGxWYM/T-0VuAqahKI/AAAAAAAAAoU/OMprbogj-Pk/s1600/EXILE7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5RjrUGxWYM/T-0VuAqahKI/AAAAAAAAAoU/OMprbogj-Pk/s320/EXILE7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong><em>A more elaborate stage than that for our National Day parade!</em></strong></span></div>
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Not surprisingly, since the concert was called "The Tower of Wish", the centerstage was hogged by a ginormous lighted tower which throughout the concert would change into a myraid of different wonderful settings, from a chimney with a climbing Santa Claus - for the Christmas song segments, to a Clock Tower in "Anata E" (to die for moment), to a space station, a sun monument (for "Rising Sun") - such a spectacular feast for the eyes. Unfortunately due to VERY STRINGENT patrolling around the arena, I was unable to take many pictures during the concert to showcase these wonderful stage marvels. You would not believe the number of mobile phones that were confiscated during the concert (which we saw being laid along the corridor on our long march out - post concert). No matter how one tries to hide, the concert police with their super sharp eyes could find you and your handphone!!!! </div>
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The number of concert goers was also jaw-dropping awesome. Obviously the capacity of our own Indoor Stadium is significantly less and my latest Anzenchitai concert had only about 7,000 - 8,000 people. The biggest concert I attended was probably the Michael Jackson one (may he RIP) at our old National Stadium and that was very crowded, but I could hardly remember anything of it. Here at Sapporo Dome, all 50,000 seats were sold, and they sold out for two nights!!!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzMYVZxWrNw/T-0bMNOJKXI/AAAAAAAAAog/54cdQyXIxm0/s1600/EXILE6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XzMYVZxWrNw/T-0bMNOJKXI/AAAAAAAAAog/54cdQyXIxm0/s320/EXILE6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;"><em>Just a look at the crowd. Excuse me your HEAD!</em></span></strong></div>
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Needless to say, the atmosphere was electrifying. We had the fortune (or misfortune?) of sitting in front of a gaggle of teenage (I think) girls who screamed over any and everything. "Nani? nani, nani???" (i.e. "What's up? What? What?") all throughout the concert and with every change of the stage setting or costumes, etc. It was funny if not a little irritating.</div>
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The concert itself? Sigh. It was truly the BEST concert I have EVER attended. And I didn't even know ALL the songs (now I do), nor have I learnt sufficient Japanese to understand what my darlings onstage were talking about (10% maybe). And they were so far away! But the Evil One was beyond delirium, "So long as I am under the same roof and breathing the same air as Atsushi, I am happy." But it was a magical three hours. EXILE was, needless to say, beyond amazing with their live energetic performances and solid heavenly vocals. Atsushi and Takahiro, small and far away as they were, were PERFECT - perfectly handsome, perfectly muscled in all the right areas, perfect voices. The ever morphing stage sets, the laser lights, the glittering costumes, the committed dancers and enthusiastic but orderly audience gave me a night I would never forget. I think I spent half the time with my mouth hanging open with my senses assaulted on every front (in a very good way.)</div>
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I screamed and danced as if I was 18 again (and paid the price with aching bones and muscles the following day.) When "Choo Choo Train" came on, the Evil One and I went ballistic. We were definitely louder than the teenage girls behind us, and the Samurai probably wanted to slink under his seat and pretended he never knew us. But please! we saw adult men and hordes of Obasan attending the concert too - surely we were not the only crazy (old) ones in the house. However, it was my turn to want to disppear when the Evil One started sobbing!! when Atsushi sang his solo piece "Ittsuka Kitto". Without a doubt he sang it beautifully, although I was more moved by the earlier "Anata E", but the Evil One cried as if Atsushi has just proposed to her. Momentarily I was worried she would faint from overwhelming happiness and emotions! But I could moderately understand her feelings. Her year long dream to see him finally FINALLY came true. It was surreal, and fantastic at the same time. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4lJZuPvUJho/T-0k3TORO8I/AAAAAAAAAos/qe_kuNkoeNw/s1600/EXILE8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4lJZuPvUJho/T-0k3TORO8I/AAAAAAAAAos/qe_kuNkoeNw/s320/EXILE8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">During the concert encore, we started to blatantly take photos again. Think the one on screen was Atsushi.</span></em></strong></div>
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Objectively speaking, even if I was a non-fan, I would rate the EXILE concert as one of the best ever based on their awesome production values. Can you imagine the cost of shipping that DAMN tower overseas if they wanted to hold an overseas concert? It certainly did not made financial sense. And with such a fervant domestic market, it is no wonder J-pop acts hardly need to pander to overseas fans. Which is sad. But it matters not at that point, since Rome could not come to us, we went to Rome instead! And what a worthwhile trip. And what a once in a lifetime experience!</div>
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Thankfully I now have a copy of the concert video (legally purchased at SGD50) to relive every joyful moment. Thanks to the Evil One and her boundless determination, and thanks to EXILE for the memories, and thank GOD for a most wonderful Christmas Eve.</div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-55343542268722129512012-06-15T18:01:00.003+08:002012-06-29T10:39:19.928+08:00Fat Geisha is in Korean Craze Mode<div style="text-align: justify;">
Omo! My bad! I realised it has been TWO MONTHS since I updated my blog. I feel so embaressed. <em>Sumimasen</em>, my secret admirers. As usual, work took over my life, and Japanese homework became too dreary to look forward to - at several points I was on the verge of quitting but I told myself, "You have stuck with it for TWO years. What's a few more?" LOL. Probably my sanity. It is really, REALLY difficult to study when you are old.</div>
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And the last few weeks, Fat Geisha is in Korean mode, watching K-dramas by the truckload. Like seriously the reason why I don't watch many Japanese dramas is the utter lack of GOOD LOOKING or charismatic actors. What is this Japanese obsession with weak, skinny, girl-like (or drug addicted) FLOWER boys? (The hilarious thing was when I googled "Japanese Flower Boys Images", all the images that came out were those of KOREAN stars! Ironic or not!?)<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><strong><em>Just a sample of the pictures I found on the net. Like ERM........NOT doing anything to Fat Geisha's hormones.</em></strong></span></div>
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Fat Geisha needs a MAN PLEASE! Or at least someone that is considered traditionally good-looking? You know like TAKAHIRO?! And even though I don't have the hots for Atsushi, I would have preferred him over a "flower boy". Please just clone Takahiro a zillion times and put him on Japanese TV. <em>Onegaishimasu</em>! Even when you have a mature hunk like Fukuyama, you put him in a boring historical drama like Ryoma. Even the Samurai, who devours 50-episode historical dramas from China and Korea, could not make himself complete the series because it is JUST.SO.DRY. My dear fellow Japanese, can you learn from the Koreans, please?? <em>Chaebal</em>?! Oops I am already turning half Korean here.</div>
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So I am going to break my own blog rule and talk about my latest K-drama craze. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you to go watch. A shout out to <strong><u>QUEEN IN HYUN'S MAN</u></strong> (shortened to QIHM thereafter). Best K-Drama EVER. And that's saying a lot since I have been watching K-dramas for 10!!! years!</div>
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Fat Geisha, despite her dubious occupation in the entertainment industry, is (er-hem) a romantic at heart. She LOVVEES reading romance novels and watching romance dramas/films, etc. So I have basically come across all types of flawed or supposedly perfect heroes, heroines and the gazillion complications that they have to overcome to get their happily ever after. QIHM is a fantasy time-travel fusion sanguk where the hero is from 1694 Joseon dynasty and the heroine lives in 2012. Their love story is straightforward and comes with none of the <em>bullsXXt</em> baggage (class/wealth differences, hate-at-first-sight, hero-has-yet-to-grow-up, heroine-is-naive-and-innocent, parents-hate-each-other, etc.) that you see all the time on TV until you can write the script yourself. A drama detailing the process of falling in love devoid of fuss and with cackling (and by cackling, I mean the "fry-your-computer" type of chemistry!? I don't remember watching something like that. Add that to the element of time-travel complications which is intelligently thought out and makes the viewer invested and thinking. It is comedic, romantic, dramatic ALL at the same time. Wow, that hits me in all the right spots and I am officially declaring it as a PERFECT 10 in the pure romance genre. Oh and throw in the absolutely PERFECT MAN ever written/shown of my dreams: A scholar who is book smart (he loves libraries) but at the same time has superb EQ and great observation skills, able to fight, RAWR!!!, is courteous, tender, loving, humourous, kisses LIKE A DREAM - DOUBLE RAWR!!!! Has a pair of long legs that stretches from here to eternity - TRIPLE RAWR!!!!! No flower boy, my Kim Boong Do. Oh and the heroine? For once, I did not want to shove her over a cliff despite her hogging the luscious lips of MY boy - so that surely counts for something. Ok, just go watch the damn show. Seriously. </div>
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Below are some of the pics that I stole from the Facebook International Fan page, done by fans of the show who are equally if not more obsessed than I am. Separately I promise I will finish up my EXILE Concert Part II post SOON (Once I can get my mind out of those long legs...hmmm.)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbIFcZE-mTU/T9sFxh3D_AI/AAAAAAAAAng/tJceMgSpp7c/s1600/QIMH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbIFcZE-mTU/T9sFxh3D_AI/AAAAAAAAAng/tJceMgSpp7c/s320/QIMH.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The Cause-and-Effect Couple</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXtto91wU6w/T9sF-D6sDCI/AAAAAAAAAno/-UskG_Ivxtg/s1600/QIMH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><em><span style="color: purple;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXtto91wU6w/T9sF-D6sDCI/AAAAAAAAAno/-UskG_Ivxtg/s320/QIMH2.jpg" width="320" /></span></em></strong></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Such mind-blowing chemistry. I am refraining from posting kiss pictures. You can find them elsewhere.</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTWNDf5VOd0/T9sGSKcqFjI/AAAAAAAAAnw/yfsmOcBqbK4/s1600/JHW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTWNDf5VOd0/T9sGSKcqFjI/AAAAAAAAAnw/yfsmOcBqbK4/s320/JHW.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Definitely not a flower boy. No siree!</span></em></strong></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxG-sc_jGTc/T9sHXF87-KI/AAAAAAAAAn4/h75lFVPGX1s/s1600/QIMH3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxG-sc_jGTc/T9sHXF87-KI/AAAAAAAAAn4/h75lFVPGX1s/s320/QIMH3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">I find men in libraries the HOTTEST.</span></em></strong> </div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Did I mention long legs?</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Ok right, this is gratuitous. But I am sure The EVIL ONE will like.To quote the perfect man himself: "How can I not like it? It is all very LUSTFUL and good."</span></em></strong></div>
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<br /></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-44219597611294980532012-04-12T17:39:00.003+08:002021-03-10T16:50:19.322+08:00EXILE Spectacular - Sapporo Dome Tower of Wish Concert 24 December 2011 Part I<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The Evil One was supposed to help me post on this, but busy woman that she is... oh well. And I started writing this some two months ago, and was halfway through when my computer crashed and I lost my inspiration.</div>
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But in recent days, I have been watching a lot of EXILE MVs and concerts on Youtube, for the sole purpose of salivating over Takahiro (sooooo cute and delicious looking), and I am now moderately inspired to write about my once-in-a-lifetime experience attending EXILE's concert in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on Christmas Eve 2011. (I know right? What a greatttt Christmas present that was!) </div>
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Although I would have travelled to Japan anytime without any reason, our recent trip to Hokkaido came with a BIG objective: to catch EXILE live in concert at the famed Sapporo Dome. Sometime in August last year, after the Evil One found out that EXILE was holding their concert in Sapporo around the same time that we were intending to visit there, she literally moved mountains and oceans in order to get her hands on tickets for us. J-pop concert tickets are notoriously difficult to get, although we wouldn't think so because according to our limited knowledge, no one really knows much about J-Pop, and who cares since we have Lady Gaga??! So. Wrong. The Japanese are CRAZY about their pop groups, and there is a damn good reason why groups like EXILE and SMAP don't bother travelling overseas to cater to poor overseas fans like us, but I will touch on that in more detail later.</div>
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So apparently tickets are sold through a balloting system due to overwhelming demand, and only to LOCALS!!! so the Evil One had to pull all strings and plead her Japanese contacts to help her ballot for 3 miserable tickets. I was like, "What if more than one of them wins the ballot?" but apparently my fears were unfounded because it was literally like striking lottery. (Initially I did not think so but while we were in Hokkaido, all the Japanese who knew that we were going to the concert - from ANA air stewardesses to hotel managers - were telling us HOW LUCKY we were to get those tickets!) And the Evil One must have moved some Higher Powers with her great love and effort that she (and we by default) struck the EXILE lottery through her first contact and the rest came up blank. OMG!!!! We were going to be watching EXILE LIVE at Sapporo Dome!</div>
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I hardly even attend concerts in Singapore, and to think that I was going to Japan to attend ONE just blew my mind. God was definitely smiling down on us - surely.</div>
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The concert came towards the end of our Hokkaido trip. The Evil One was gradually working herself up into a full blown frenzy and swore that she would get the attention from Japanese reporters in her "Mrs Atsushi" T-shirt (which she specially made for herself JUST for this concert) and put her on front page news which Atsushi would then see and fall in love with her yadda yadda.... The Samurai and I got a little surprise when she presented us with matching Mrs Atsushi T-shirts. Words cannot describe what they were but the picture below should be more than sufficient to express what we felt then:</div>
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<br /><em><span style="color: purple;"><strong>Our LOL Concert Gear for EXILE. Obviously The Evil One is in the centre.</strong></span></em></div>
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In a nutshell, both the Samurai and I were just back-up singers used to highlight our leading lady - Mrs Atsushi - and to make sure that she would get the requisite attention from Mr Atsushi. Samurai was nothing short of flabbergasted, but the sport that he was, he eventually wore the outfit to the concert. I was more than up to the challenge, although I would have thought this sort of craziness was something I would do during my teenage years, and I am like almost 20 years late. Thank god no one knows me in Japan, and they cannot laugh?!</div>
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So concert gear check, winter clothes thrown over, and we set off about 3 hours earlier as we were keen to shop for EXILE memoribilia before the start of the concert. Thank goodness we left early, because getting there was sheer madness. The Sapporo Dome has about 50,000 capacity, and since the concert was sold out, there were A LOT of people going to the Dome. Already trains going to Sapporo Dome were crazy packed. And when we alighted, a walk that was supposed to take about 15 minutes turned to 45 minutes. (And don't even get me started on the journey back!)</div>
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<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">Mostly women on the trains. Like Hallo?!! But of course.</span></strong></em></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;"><em>People, people and more people moving towards Sapporo Dome.</em></span></strong></div>
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The sun was already setting at 4.30pm, since it was winter. There were like 10 or 20 policemen managing the throngs of EXILE fans (poor things) and a couple of them were livening up things by making jokes and even singing through the speakers. It was a cold day, but everyone seemed to be in a partying mood, and although it was a drag to trot slowly behind the crowd, the Japanese were thankfully an orderly bunch.</div>
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And finally!!! we got our first sighting of the massive Sapporo Dome. Awesome! I was getting seriously excited. Samurai was gloomy because he HATES crowds, but I was feeling a rush of adrenaline.</div>
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We entered the Dome all prepared to do some shopping, but it turned out that the shopping area was outside a square nearby and we could not get out. Darn it! So I was snivelling in envy at the hordes of fans in their EXILE gear - from shirts to scarves to bags, flags, etc. Then we realised we had to get ourselves dinner and there were only fast food options inside the Dome unfotunately, and all had long queues. But in the end, this was our dinner....</div>
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<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">I think it was KFC - fries look different from Singapore's right?? </span></strong></em></div>
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And we sat ourselves on the steps near our seating sections. Did I mention that the Dome is HUMONGOUS?? While it obviously wasn't the best dinner in the world, especially after all the delicious wonderful food we were having throughout the Hokkaido trip, the most amazing happened. The Evil One saw the Man of her Dreams - Atsushi-san, sitting next to us on the steps. With a young daughter?! So, it turned out to be his Doppleganger, but after explaining her great love for Atsushi (for the nth time) and her wish to take a picture with him (in garbled Japanese), he finally agreed. I was the photographer, and even I was taken aback by the resemblance - see for yourself.<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The Real Thing - Wow?!</span></em></strong></div>
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AMAZING resemblance right? Unfortunately for privacy sake I am unable to show you the Evil One's expression, but she literally looked ESCTATIC. She probably wished he was the REAL deal so that she could jump his bones there and then. There were quite a number of people staring at us for all the commotion we were creating. Remember this concert was supposed to be only for locals, then suddenly you have this 3 English speaking foreigners crashing the party. How fortunate were we again? To do this? Really really really? Even now, 4 months later, I am shaking my head in wonder.</div>
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Will describe the actual concert in detail in the next post. Till then!</div>
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<br /></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-17066414530043968332012-02-18T11:03:00.000+08:002012-02-18T11:09:30.467+08:00Asahiyama Zoo in a Blizzard<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the most memorable experiences (and there were many) on my recent Hokkaido trip was visiting the famous Asahiyama Zoo. Never heard of it? I didn't too, until my "crazy about Japan" friends told me to check it out, as in "You MUST GO to Asahiyama Zoo! It's fantastic!" And now it is MY turn to tell you: Visit Asahiyama Zoo if you are in Hokkaido. You will not regret it.</div>
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<em><span style="color: purple;"><strong>The Eastern (Higashi) Gate of Asahiyama Zoo</strong>.</span></em></div>
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Located in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, about 2.5 hours away from Sapporo, Asahiyama Zoo is one of the most popular, if not THE most popular zoos in all of Japan. Chief reasons for its popularity are 1) its unique variety of animals on display (apparently there are about 800 animals but we did not see that many because it is deep winter), which included the Red Panda (so cute), the Hokkaido Crane (graceful), the Emperor Penguin (funny!), the Timberwolf (majestic!), etc; 2) the well thought out enclosures they were kept in, to maximise visitors' viewing experience; and 3) the famous "Penguin Walk" by the Emperor penguins around the zoo.<br />
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If you are staying in Sapporo on a free and easy holiday, you can choose to do a day trip organised by <strong>Chuo Bus</strong>, located at the Esta Building very near to the JR Sapporo Station. It costs about 4,700 Yen per person (close to $80 SGD) and is a full day trip, taking up some 9 hours in total, and travelling time to and fro is almost 5 hours (with a rest stop in between)! But I will tell you that it is worth suffering an aching butt, particular if you are fond of animals.</div>
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As with most of our other trips, we were not spared the drama that day. It was like deja vu all over again when the Samurai and I could not locate the travel counter even though we were in the right building and we were in full panic mode (just like our Hakone trip in 2008). While I had the address (kindly supplied by the hotel concierge), all the entrances to the higher levels (where Chuo was located) were shut (as it was early morning). I had also forgotten to note down the name of the travel company. My Japanese finally came into good use when I desperately asked a cleaning lady, "Sumimasen, ryoko no kaisha wa doko desu ka?" (Excuse me, where is the travel company located?). Tip: go down to the bus terminal (at the bottom of the building) and take a flight of steps to the level where the Chuo bus counter is.</div>
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Thank God, we made it in time again, and we hunkered down for a long journey to Asahiyama Zoo. As the bus progressed up north, we noted that the snow was falling heavier and heavier and the sky was dark and ominous. Strong winds were also rocking the bus slightly - scary! There was a tour guide with us on the bus, but this was a Japanese speaking tour (no English tours were available). Despite focusing my entire brain power on her chatter, I probably only comprehended 10-15% of what she was saying, namely, what time to report back at the bus after our zoo visit.</div>
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And so we finally arrived. And the snow was so heavy I think in my limited knowledge it qualified as a blizzard. And it was freezing. Yet there were still busloads of people rushing off into the zoo. I knew then for sure this was going to be an entirely unique zoo experience.</div>
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<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">Overview of the zoo from the Eastern entrance. White out.</span></strong></em></div>
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Visiting an open concept zoo in a blizzard sounds quite romantic, BUT!!! 1) It is almost impossible to stand admiring animals out in the open for more than 5 minutes before your teeth starts to chatter and you have to rush to the nearest shelter for warmth. Even IF those animals on display are strolling around the enclosures like it is a walk in the park. 2) It is difficult to look at the animals with snow pelting on your face and eyes and you have to clear snow off your head every 2 minutes, lest you get buried. 3) It is near impossible to take a good picture with your camera since the lens is covered with snow every 30 seconds. 4) It is a juggling act trying to take a picture with your thick gloves on, failing which, you try to take the quickest picture in record time with your gloves off before your fingers drop off from frost bite. 5) There were not that many animals on display - I suppose the non-arctic ones are in hibernation mode (smart!). </div>
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Nevertheless!!!!! The animals that we DID manage to see were the most unique and interesting. And it was fascinating seeing them in their natural element in deep snow. As I mentioned before, while we were freezing our asses off, they looked to be having tons of fun. I guess it helps to have layers of fat and fur under such harsh conditions. From here on now, I will just let my pictures do the talking (And I took MANY pictures, at great risk to my fingers!).</div>
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<em><span style="color: purple;"><strong>The famous indigenous Hokkaido Crane.Blissfully unaware of the snow and pecking at unseen food.</strong></span></em></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">An elk (not a reindeer) chilling out in the open while it is getting buried under.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The graceful timberwolf trotting around its enclosure non-stop. Working up a sweat perhaps?</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The cute Red Pandas frolicking in the snow!</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;"><em>The enclosures are designed such that they were climbing across trees over visitors' head. Happy as a clam - this one.</em></span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The majestic polar bear in its element. What snow?!</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The fat spotted seal that refuses to swim and chilling it out too. Being fat is an advantage here.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: purple;"><em>The kissing seals - Come back and play!</em></span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The Japanese macaque foraging in the thick snow.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">A group of Emperor penguins standing as still as statues. And we thought they were statues initially until one flapped its wing.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">The Penguin Walk!! Everyone was squealing "Kawaii!!!!!"</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Happy Feet!</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Leader of the Band. So close I could poke it!</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">Baby of the Band - still not molted yet and so so cute!!!</span></em></strong></div>
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The Asahiyama Zoo visit was a test our of physical stamina and endurance. But I had so much fun, as did the Samurai. Seriously, go check it out.</div>
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</div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-9153335172686209452012-02-08T12:18:00.001+08:002012-02-08T12:28:09.916+08:00EXILE - あなたへ (Towards You)<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was trying to write about my amazing EXILE concert experience at Sapporo Dome last Christmas Eve over the Chinese New Year holidays. Wrote halfway and suddenly the laptop died on me and I lost more than half of my writing and all inspiration died in me. Then of course the holidays ended and work came in waves and I never came near this blog again.</div>
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Today I finally, FINALLY!!! had some time to transfer some new EXILE songs to my iTunes. Chief among them is my new great love あなたへ (Towards You) which I first heard during the concert, when my jaw dropped to the floor and I could literally feel my soul flying to the heavens (like seriously!). Hearing it live, seeing the spectacle on the stage, time stopped for just that few precious minutes. After snapping out of my delirium when the performance ended, I remember turning to the Evil One and demanded, "What was THAT SONG?!" Fanatic that she was, she did not know, and we later found out it was their latest song, to be officially released in the new year. Well, both Takahiro and Atsushi sounded like angels (no blasphemy intended), and in that time and space, with snow falling outside the dome, and it being Christmas Eve, the feeling was really indescribable.</div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: purple;">My EXILE Loot</span></em></strong></div>
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So after the concert we stood outside in the freezing cold to queue up to buy EXILE memorabilia and I also bought a CD having no idea what was contained inside. Only upon returning to the warmth of our hotel at an ungoldly hour of 1AM (concert ended around 9.30PM), I found out it was their latest single. And for weeks the song was on repeat mode in the car, until the Evil One lent us Atsushi's new semi-Chinese album. Then I forgot all about it.....</div>
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Until today. As I was downloading the songs to my laptop, and watching a DVD (also courtesy of the Evil One - yes she the curator of the Everything EXILE museum), I watched the MV of あなたへ with my new HD Samsung TV and Philips surround soundbar and OMG, I fell in love with the song ALL OVER AGAIN. So after going on and on about it, here's the MV (a short version), released officially by the record company. AVEX is seriously miserly you know?! In any case, listen to the full song if you can!</div>
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<br /></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-54988016636654372402012-01-05T16:54:00.003+08:002012-01-05T17:00:29.288+08:00Snow.....is a Many Splendour Thing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKb88_sGKV8/TwVYSXJDB_I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/bbmyhIk-710/s1600/PC190158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKb88_sGKV8/TwVYSXJDB_I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/bbmyhIk-710/s320/PC190158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">One of the many splendid snow scenes we saw during our wonderful trip to Hokkaido.</span></i></div>
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For someone living in the tropics, the idea of snow has always been fascinating and romantic. Both the Samurai T and I detested heat; on my end Fat Geisha thinks that heat leads to sweat and sweat is just so.... unglamourous and unsexy. I know some women get highs from fantasizing about drops of perspiration rolling off 8-pack abs (*cough Evil One cough*) but I shudder at the thought of catching a whiff of anything unpleasant. In any case, cold is good. The colder, the better, or so I believed. And so, having been thwarted by nature to visit the Zao Mountains back in March 2011, I was determined to visit Hokkaido in winter. No one is going to stop me from seeing SNOW!</div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Even before we landed at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, we could see a sea of white below. Wow!</span></i></div>
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You can only imagine the level of my excitement as our plane finally landed in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, literally metres away from Siberia (kidding). From the time we landed till the time we left, we got snow in SPADES, SHOVALS, TRUCKLOADS. God has been listening to my multitude of complaints and wishes - He gave me snow of every kind - soft snow falling prettily from the skies, heavy snow blanketing the horizon, wet icy snow, HAIL, and even BLIZZARDS. By the end of the trip, suffice to say, I have seen enough of snow to last me quite a long time.</div>
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I still love snow, don't get me wrong. While Samurai T suffered mightily respiratory wise due to the extreme cold (he would deny it of course), I thought I stood up to the cold weather of up to <u><b>minus 11 degrees celcius</b></u> pretty well, for someone who has never encountered anything colder than zero. There is just something so ethereal and magical about snow, and how it transforms the landscape to something totally out of this world, or maybe it was just me. After all I guess if you were a Hokkaidian looking at snow (and shovelling it) 6 months in a year every year, there is really nothing special. Still I feel that fresh snow is very purifying and the surrounds become quiet and still, like it is at rest, and at peace.</div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">A blanket of white on the mountains of Niseko </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>Heavy overnight snowfall at Niseko. Buried cars are a common sight.</i></span></div>
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The downside of snow is unfortunately plentiful. Trying to play with snow with your bare hands without your gloves freezes your fingers within 3 minutes. It takes one 20 minutes to get ready to go outside by wearing your multiple layers and preparing your heat packs. It also takes 20 minutes to undress to normal once you get back indoors. In subzero weather, you cannot stand still and admire the snow scape for more than 10 minutes before you need to dash in somewhere for some welcome heat. No, it is not like Winter Sonata where you can stand outside and make small talk forever. (Although the freeze gave me better complexion and rosy cheeks and nose during that period.) It is a BIG pain trying to take photographs with gloves on. And because I was only a tourist I didn't have to shovel snow off my porch and my roof (those poor people). Sun sets at 4.00pm everyday. </div>
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BUT! now I know how snow feels. If you raise your face up to the skies, the falling flakes feel like kisses from heaven, or tiny tickling feathers. During a blizzard, a significant amount of snow accumulates on your head and your body within 3 minutes, and you can be totally under snow within the hour if you don't clear it. Snow can feel pretty heavy on you. Hail in minute form looks like harmless Styrofoam, but are actually like little ice balls, which make plenty of sounds as they hit the ground or hit your body, and they are nothing like snowflakes. Old snow can turn unpleasant and become dirty icy floors, particularly in the cities, and one can easily skid and fall. I fell twice during the trip, and the Samurai once. Thankfully no big damage done, but it could have been dangerous.</div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Snow at the Kutchan train station.</span></i> </div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Snow at Otaru Canal.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Tiny hail stones on the ground.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;"> Hail stones on my body. Thank God they were not bigger!</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>Blizzard at Asahiyama Zoo. Almost impossible to take pictures without the snow covering the camera lenses.</i></span></div>
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Verdict? I would travel to a snowy place again, but I guess I would continue living in a tropical city. More practical. :) At the very least I finally managed to make both a snowman, and a snow angel.</div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Our cone shaped snowman. Very cute and wearing a watch too!</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>And a happy blessed New Year to one and all!</i></span></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-17366422378783031642011-12-31T23:25:00.001+08:002012-01-05T15:39:42.983+08:00Last Post of 2011 - Happy Glorious 2012!!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dear Secret Admirers of Fat Geisha,
This year has been a very eventful year, especially the second half when you can see my posts dwindling. I have just returned from a most wonderful and eye opening trip to Hokkaido, which I hope to share with you in the coming year. 2012 promises to be an exciting and perhaps anxious year, but I look forward to it with much hope nonetheless. I would like to take this opportunity to wish my dear admirers lots of love, happiness and good health in the next twelve months, and Fat Geisha promises to be bigger and better than ever before!!!
XOXO Fat G.</div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-79580134809005522162011-11-26T13:00:00.001+08:002011-11-26T13:55:56.212+08:00Pachinko! (And a Brief Review of Kaiji 2)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before I know it, it is already the end of the month, and I haven't written a thing (other than the first day of the month post). So. Seriously. Busy. Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the looney ice-berg. I doubt I have time to write a single post for December. So better to write something while I can.</div>
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Amidst all the craziness in November, I managed to steal in some movie time with Samurai T on his birthday. Instead of doing the high brow like visiting the ArtScience Museum for the Titantic exhibition, we decided to watch <strong>Kaiji The Gambler: Part 2</strong>, even though we did not watch <strong>Part 1</strong>, and know nothing about the manga series, other than it is in Japanese, about gambling (duh!), and acted by Tatsuya Fujiwara from <strong>Death Note</strong>.</div>
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It is a moderately interesting, occasionally head-scratching movie (probably a result of our ignorance of the background story), although Samurai confessed to falling asleep mid-way through the movie. I kept awake because I was trying to practice my Japanese (again, was not very successful), and scrutinising Fujiwara's slightly bloated face with my newly Lasiked vision. Unfortunately I do not find him hot, unlike my dear Kimura-san, but he is passable. (He was apparently in Singapore for the movie opening, but as usual, I knew of it after the fact. Sigh.)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hq7bL5xrGCg/TtB5YgeEP8I/AAAAAAAAAhg/2ZQ7zfUwxD0/s1600/tatsuya-fujiwara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hq7bL5xrGCg/TtB5YgeEP8I/AAAAAAAAAhg/2ZQ7zfUwxD0/s320/tatsuya-fujiwara.jpg" width="189" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Although he does not rock my boat, it does not mean I cannot post a gratituous pic of him. ;P</span></em></div>
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The biggest thing I remember from the movie was this SUPER extended scene of Kaiji Ito, the titular character played Fujiwara, playing a monster pachinko machine. (In my not-so-humble opinion, that scene was WAYYY too long, making a supposedly climatic scene anti-climatic in the end.) Prior to my first visit to Japan in 2008, I have already read a number of news articles about the Japanese aunties (<em>obasan</em>) and uncles (<em>ojisan</em>) becoming addicted to this pachinko game, forsaking family and friends, and money, of course. And I thought to myself, I must check this thing out and see what the fuss is all about.</div>
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Therefore, during my visit to Shibuya on my first trip to Tokyo back in 2008, I dragged the Samurai into the first pachinko parlour I saw. And this was what we saw:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwrsO21-em4/TtB6jlCYlxI/AAAAAAAAAho/WtLV-GGjJjc/s1600/pachinko1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XwrsO21-em4/TtB6jlCYlxI/AAAAAAAAAho/WtLV-GGjJjc/s320/pachinko1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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To me, it looked like rows and rows of jackpot like-machines and there was a cacophony of noises coming out of these machines, and the players looking quite zombie-like, having obviously sat there playing for God-knew-how-long. Instead of money, they had trays and trays of small steel balls next to them. I tried to figure out how the game was played, but unfortunately with my language handicap, it was all Greek to me. I mean, I never really knew how to play jackpot too.</div>
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According to Wikipedia, which I finally researched after watching <strong>Kaiji</strong>, the objective of the pachinko game was to feed the steel balls into the machine to TRY to win MORE steel balls, which at the end of the day could be exchanged for cash. The reason for using steel balls instead of cash in the game was that gambling is OUTLAWED in Japan (I learn something new every day), so those steel balls are exchanged for cash at a separate site from the parlour (probably managed by the Yakuza!). There are apparently a zillion permutations of the number of steel balls you can win, in short, it IS like a jackpot machine - but a Japanese modified version.</div>
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I almost fell asleep trying to describe what is pachinko, and hence totally fail to see why this is such an addictive activity. Give me mahjong anyday!</div>
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In any case, the highlight of my little visit was when I saw a series of "Winter Sonata" pachinko machines. I am a fan of the Korean drama series, which had also garnered legions of Japanese fans. I used to be CRAZY over Bae Yong Jun, so it was funny to see pictures plastered all over parlour and inside the machines. I guess even the obasans need motivation to sit there for hours to play. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH2UF5-HzaI/TtB9kkxJZLI/AAAAAAAAAhw/iYK-q6GvxrQ/s1600/pachinko2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH2UF5-HzaI/TtB9kkxJZLI/AAAAAAAAAhw/iYK-q6GvxrQ/s320/pachinko2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="color: purple;">Winter Sonata Posters</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="color: purple;">A Winter Sonata themed machine.</span></em></div>
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<br /></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-6759855701995977092011-11-01T09:46:00.002+08:002011-11-01T09:47:01.771+08:00Good News to Start Off November!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I got<b> 89% (or 160/180 marks)</b> for my JLPT 5 Mock Test 1!!!</div>
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After all the agonising and fretting prior to the event, I actually passed.</div>
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I was actually surprised by my excellent results, because I found the test rather difficult, and to be VERY honest, I DID NOT even finish studying all the given materials (probably only read through a quarter of them). So a combination of dumb luck and paying attention during class paid off in spades. Of course, I am not going to take it for granted that I would naturally pass come the actual exam on 4 December. In fact, <i>Sensei </i>has already warned the class that Mock Test 2, to be held in another 3 weeks, would be significantly more difficult (むずかしいですね). Shudder.</div>
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Even the Evil One, who has been travelling non-stop for work, has passed the test. She was practically doing cartwheels in class when she received her results because she was sure she would have failed. In fact, the entire class passed, and it was hard to tamp down the celebratory mood! (And it was not even the real thing. We are so easily satisfied, no?)</div>
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The best part of my day was that my results topped the class. I marginally scrapped past my 19 year-old classmate (89% to his 88%) who is always very good in his Japanese. (It was a funny moment when he realised he lost by ONE percentage point.) I am *er-hem* ALMOST twice his age (not quite) but SUCH satisfaction and a sense of achievement I felt. My older brain is not dead yet! There is still life and vigour! Take THAT, young brains! Take THAT, spring chickens! (Hmm, all this hidden resentment against youthfulness is rising out of nowhere.) Maybe if I was 19, I would have gotten 100%!!!!!!!! (Ok, I am probably stretching it.)</div>
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Well, enough of gloating. It is a good start to November nevertheless. Hopefully I will have more time to write a few more posts but don't hold your breath. I have got to keep my top dog position in class.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><i>Gonna frame this up! :D</i></b></span></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-52971559319784208802011-10-20T14:51:00.003+08:002011-10-20T14:52:01.702+08:00Why I Have Not Been BloggingIn this case, I think pictures speak a thousand words.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Got to finish this revision book in 6 weeks???</span></i> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>On top of this, we got homework in the form of MOCK examination papers. Use 2B pencils to shade please. I feel like I am back taking my A-Levels.</i></span> </div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">That is just ONE PART of my vocabulary materials. Time to cut open the brain and insert more memory. </span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">More new grammar rules to learn even before the dreaded exam. </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">That's my "registration number", in case anyone is keen to buy 4D. 0106??</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">とてもたいへん</span></i></b><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">ですね!</span></i></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">And this is just one of the things I have got to do. And that is WHY!!!!! I am not blogging.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Hang in there, fellas.</span></div>
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<br />FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-68806796144005057572011-10-03T12:37:00.001+08:002011-10-03T12:44:22.444+08:00Movie Review: School Days with a Pig (Buta ga ita Kyoshitsu)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Surprised that I am back on the blog so soon? Me too. After the last post I was wondering what the hell was I going to write this month, and if I had the time to write it in the first place. Then the Samurai was flipping channels this weekend in his usual irritating manner and we found ourselves arrested by the above movie, which was, in a nutshell, based on a true story about an elementary school teacher who brought a piglet for his class to raise for one year before their graduation. At the end of the year, the class had to make a decision on what happened to the pig. Should they eat it?</div>
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*Spoilers*</div>
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Damn the Japanese and their animal movies.</div>
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I bawled like a baby at the end. Which was no surprise, given my track record watching and crying during every single Japanese movie on animals, which stretches from <i>Hachiko</i>, to <i>Quill</i>, to <i>10 Promises to My Dog, to Helen the Fox</i>.... These movies just wring every last drop of moisture in you by the time the credits roll. Busted, I am a big ole' softie. I even cry for a pig going to slaughter, and I love my <i>Kurobuta </i>as much as the next person.</div>
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Before I write anymore about the storyline, let me just say beforehand, "What an awesomely handsome man we have as the school teacher?! Who is he? Where has he been hiding?! OMG he looks gorgeous!! That smile! Ack!" According to Wiki, the actor is<b> Satoshi Tsumabuki</b>, and he acted in many movies and dramas, some of which I have watched. Why didn't I notice him before!? I will keep a keen eye on him from now on.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>Satoshi Tsumabuki - Come to Mama.</i></span></div>
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Now that I have gotten the hormones out of the way, let me address the reasons why a simple movie on children, a pig and a handsome school teacher (okay!!!) has touched me so. 1) A cute furry animal always gets to me, even if it oinks. I doubt a story about an iguana will quite have the same effect though. 2) There were a number of unscripted scenes in the movie, where the children debated fiercely whether P-Chan (the pig) gets to live or go to the meat centre, and the honesty of the dialogue resonates. 3) The themes of life and death, the superiority of man, of responsibility are still the same issues we confront everyday in our adult lives. 4) Crying during movies is very cathartic. I would much prefer crying over fiction than in real life, having just lost a pet hamster and a foster dog to old age and disease very recently.</div>
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The Japanese children are a joy to watch. They were apparently auditioned specifically for this movie. The interactions among themselves and with P-Chan were priceless. You could see them struggling with their own morals. Are they really able to eat a pig that they have raised from young? Who can determine the length of life for anyone, even an animal? What does it mean to be responsible to a pet? How far do you take that responsibility - unto death?</div>
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I remember when it was time to put down my beloved dog, Waggie. It was one of the most gut-wrenching moments of my life. Internally, I wanted to spare myself from seeing him being put down, and I had done that for my previous dog, when I left him to the vet, an act which I regretted to this day. No matter how much I wanted to spare myself from the pain, I know my responsibility as the owner, and as the love of my dog's life, that I HAD to be with him when he breathed his last. So I stayed. Even then, I did not have the courage to hold him in my arms as the vet injected him, and it was in Samurai's arms when he passed on. It is another thing that I hope to correct should I ever have another pet.</div>
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<i>School Days with a Pig</i> won a number of well-deserved awards in the region. And I highly recommend all of you to watch it, but prepare your tissues. Will I still eat Tonkatsu after this? You bet I will.</div>
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FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-31812040618710953672011-09-30T17:49:00.001+08:002011-10-03T11:39:43.257+08:00The Bane of My Life - Kanji<div style="text-align: justify;">
You know, I really admire those bloggers who churn out posts everyday or every other day. I am struggling as it is to even post three pathetic write-ups in a month. Say what? Oh I forgot. These are FULL TIME bloggers and they get PAID for it. I have been blogging for 15 months and haven't seen or smelled a CENT. Thankfully, the Samurai is well and able to feed me. Also thankfully, I can find self-gratification writing posts that only a handful of people will ever read. I guess that is enough for me to spend the next 1 hour typing another insipid post on something Japan related.</div>
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So I am finally down to the last two lessons of<b> Intermediate 1</b>, before embarking on a boot camp to sharpen up my skills and knowledge before my FIRST Japanese exam, the JLPT 5. Failure is not an option, dude, no sir, not for the brilliant-minded Fat Geisha, who was an A-grade nerd in school. Of course, good grades then were a matter of sheer will and brain power, but 20 years later, my brain cells have been dying off bit by bit despite my best efforts to ignore this fact. </div>
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Which brings me to my hated subject - Chinese. I speak Chinese well enough - actually pretty good to win story-telling competitions (yes, in Mandarin). But I so hate writing Chinese characters. Unlike most other languages of the world, each freaking word is a unique character and there are up to 8,000 (or more?) Chinese characters in the Chinese dictionary and a normal adult should know about 3,000 characters (I doubt I am under the "normal" category though). You need to have the MEMORY of a computer to remember all those Chinese characters! I still remember vividly that it was such a pain writing compositions in Chinese. After 18, once I was done with my A-Levels, I swore I wouldn't touch written Chinese again, and didn't....until NOW.</div>
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The Japanese Kanji is like my greatest recurring nightmare. Some of them ARE Chinese characters, some of them are VARIATIONS of Chinese Characters, some LOOK like Chinese characters but are actually NOT Chinese characters. Since my Chinese vocabulary is quite weak to begin with (in terms of word recognition, not speech), after learning Japanese Kanji, I no longer know if a particular word is Chinese or Japanese. Is that a REAL Chinese character? Or just a Japanese variation?? I cannot tell. It is screwing up what little Chinese knowledge I have.</div>
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To rub salt in the ever enlarging wound, a single Kanji character has up to three!!! or four!!!! pronunciations! And three!!! or four!!!! different meanings! How in the world am I ever going to remember them with my diminishing brain capacity!? Are they crazy? Insane? What is wrong with Hiragana?! Or Katakana? Seriously dudes! Aren't you enemies with the Chinese or something? Can't you not just drop Kanji?</div>
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The only thing positive (if one can call it that) is that I enjoy doing Kanji homework (as compared to the others). It is the brainless writing of characters (like when you are back in nursery practicing your alphabets) and you can do it while drooling over Kimura-san on TV.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Doing my Kanji homework!</span></i></div>
FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-55589633612445799922011-09-16T16:26:00.000+08:002011-09-16T16:33:28.635+08:00Cat Adventures: Maru Desu (まるです)<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ever since my beloved pooch, Waggie, passed into eternity more than a year ago (14 months to be exact), I have been without a dog, and I had dogs since I was 11 years old. As an adult, it is infinitely more difficult to commit your time and love to the little canine, what with all the various distractions and responsibilities one has to face each day. But the death of my dear friend of 15 years (!!!) left a huge gaping hole in my life that even the Samurai cannot quite fill (I mean, he is not cute and furry after all. HAIRY, but not furry. Heh.)</div>
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Thankfully, in our neighbourhood we have a number of the cutest stray cats in Singapore, all lovingly cared for by a group of "cat ladies" who fed them with the best food, and brought them to the vet when they got injured or sick. Both the Samurai and I have made friends with these cats. (Samurai, for some reason, LOVES CATS, but cannot keep one as he is allergic to fur.) We feed the strange motley of cats with treats frequently, and play with them almost everyday. Although they are not as passionate as dogs, they have come to recognize us, and will come to us to be stroked (or fed).</div>
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Just this weekend, we found a new kitten meowing pathetically under a car. Since all the cats in our neighbourhood have been neutered, this newbie must have been abandoned! It turned out to be the MOST GORGEOUS Siamese kitten I have ever seen, with the most magnetic blue eyes EVER. We brought it up to our house (very dangerous for new kitty to be outside), and I fed and played with it for a good three hours.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Young Blue Eyes.</span></i></div>
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I totally fell in love. For the first time since Waggie's passing, I was tempted to keep a pet that is NOT a hamster. The Siamese kitten was playful and extremely intelligent. It was also very expressive in its adoration, being a motherless kitten and all. When it got tired of exploring our house, it promptly jumped onto my lap and fell asleep!! Such a dear. But one look at the Samurai sent my hopes crashing down to earth again. Unless I want to murder my husband, using the "Death by Fur" method, i.e. flood his windpipes with fur and make him gag to death, we cannot keep the cat. In the end, VERY reluctantly, I had to let the little kitty go to Samurai's colleague, who has experience in rehabilitating and re-homing cats. :(</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The little dear falling asleep on my lap. Isn't he the sweetest feline?!!??!!?</span></i></div>
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In view of Samurai's physical weaknesses, we normally admire cats from afar, including on YouTube. Unless you are a cat hater or from Mars, you should have heard of the most famous Internet cat from Japan, known as "Maru". He is a tubby Scottish Fold cat and his adventures (he gets into the most laughable scrapes with boxes) are faithfully recorded by his mysterious female owner, <b>mugumogu</b>. He even has his own blog (<a href="http://sisinmaru.blog17.fc2.com/">http://sisinmaru.blog17.fc2.com</a>) and a book out now too! (For those practicing Japanese, the blog is in both English and Japanese.) Amazing.</div>
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Some of his funny videos I have posted below. Enjoy!</div>
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FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-36530775291989531082011-09-09T09:42:00.002+08:002011-09-09T09:42:19.718+08:00Drama Review: JIN Seasons 1 and 2 (Spoilers)<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, you thought this blog was dead? I did warn you admirers out there that due to a myriad of responsibilities, I would not be able to post as frequently as I would like to. Of course, much of last week I was busy falling sick, and since I was stranded at home half dead (together with the Samurai who received the flu bug from me), we had nothing better to entertain us but watching Season 2 of my favourite historical-cum-medical drama series, JIN.</div>
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Those who have been following this blog, or those who know me personally will know that despite my overt Nippon-phile status, I have shown a marked preference for Korean dramas over Japanese dramas. For one, I think the Korean actors are infinitely better looking, with the exception of my dear Kimura-san, and Fukuyama-san.The Japanese dramas also conclude too speedily for my liking, usually within 10 episodes. Although this makes for speedy viewing and less endless plot dragging, it is difficult to get invested in the show and the lives of the characters. This is not too say that the Japanese drama scene is not without its gems, and JIN is one.</div>
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Oh JIN! How much I love thee! Even though the main lead is played by someone totally unfamiliar to me - Osawa Takao), we brought the first season last year based on the STRONG recommendations of the Evil One, and became engrossed hook, line, sinker. This drama series has all the elements that I love: time travel, period setting, political intrigue based on actual historical events, tight medical plots, realistic gore, unexplained mysteries and an unfulfilled love story (did not really like this part but more on that later)</div>
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In a nutshell, the main story arc was about a modern day surgeon named Minakata Jin (hence the title of the show), who was roped in to operate on the brain of a nameless injured man found in a park, and found a tumor which was shaped like a fetus (gross). Jin himself was depressed because he had just lost his beloved girlfriend, Miki to brain cancer and blamed himself for his inability to save her. The nameless man was then caught by Jin trying to steal medical supplies, and in a struggle, he fell down a flight of stairs and found himself transported back to the end of the Tokugawa period of Edo (Old Tokyo), in late 19th century, a few years before the Meiji restoration, where the samurai still roamed. The mystery of how and why he travelled back in time was not unravelled until the last episode of Season 2! (Imagine my frustration as we waited for Season 2 to be shown!)</div>
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In Edo, Jin found himself rescuing a young samurai named Tachibana Kyotaro and was taken in by his family, which included his beautiful and brainy younger sister, Saki (played by the gorgeous Ayase Haruka), who later fell in love with Jin and decided to follow him in learning medicine (a strict no-no for women in olden times). This was followed by a series of mini stories in which Jin used his modern medical skills to assist the Edo folks, which included scenes of bloody operations, and also his "invention" of penicillin to treat injuries and diseases, making himself a phenomena and garnering a number of followers who together set up a medical hall "Jin Yu Do", to help the poor. Along the way, Jin got entangled with historical characters like Sakamoto Ryoma which resulted in a comical bromance of sorts, and met a dead-ringer of his dead girlfriend Miki, who was a famed geisha in Edo. Whoa!!! Many things going on indeed, yet they came together oh so beautifully.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Jin and Ryoma - An Edo Bromance</span></i></div>
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The individual stories were beyond moving, and the actors convincing in their happiness and grief. How many times did I find myself teary throughout the 22 episodes of Season 1 and 2??! Totally lost count. Jin himself was not the typical drama hero - besides his superb medical skills and soft heartedness, he was actually a bit of a weakling and a total waffling character, compared to the quiet determination and sureness of Saki. Their love was a love not meant to be, although many times I wished I could smack them out of their doldrums, and tell them to "go to bed already!" and stop their self-sacrificial nonsense. It just doesn't cut it with me that divided through time and space as they were, they were contented in their knowledge for their love for one another. Total and utter BS! Gah!</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">RIP Jin and Saki</span></i></div>
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But all things considered, Jin is one show with a lot of heart, and a totally superb script. Both the Samurai and I are concurrently watching the Ryoma series, acted by the delectable Fukuyama-san, but it bores us both to tears with all the slow moving action. So even a good looking actor cannot keep me awake if the script sucks.</div>
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So what else is there to do now? Go watch the damn bloody drama. You, the readers, I mean.</div>
FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-38954256876352989072011-08-22T11:30:00.001+08:002011-08-22T11:33:27.542+08:00EXILE Here We Come<div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to the Evil One, we have SUCCESSFULLY balloted for the EXILE concert tickets in Hokkaido on 24 December 2011. While I am jumping up and down in excitement (figuratively), this also means there will be a crazy mad rush to nail down our holiday itinerary. And I have been so incredibly busy and WILL BE incredibly busy from now until the end of this year. There are business concerns, moving to a new house and planning renovations, studying for JAPANESE N-5!!!! and learning how to drive?! I think I am insane since I have so obviously bitten off more than I can chew. So help me GOD!!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, this is a warning that my posts will likely be spotty for the rest of 2011. I will TRY my best to write whenever possible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So here I leave you (and the Evil One) with another cool-looking EXILE poster, with a slogan totally close to her heart and directly aiming at Atsushi.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmLcKF_l61A/TlHNO1OWAcI/AAAAAAAAAfc/Z3DPkV2l8Ug/s1600/exile_japan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XmLcKF_l61A/TlHNO1OWAcI/AAAAAAAAAfc/Z3DPkV2l8Ug/s1600/exile_japan.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-25086790734217276672011-08-13T11:26:00.000+08:002011-08-13T11:26:17.986+08:00Random Hokkaido Pictures<div style="text-align: justify;">I was so inspired after my Takuya dream, but after the last post, all inspiration dried up like a prune. Although to my defence I must say that I had an extremely busy week which included celebrating my wedding anniversary with the Samurai, and then celebrating my country's 46th National Day. Yes, I celebrated by eating lots of good food and gaining weight, despite my best efforts to uh, do some exercises. All to no avail.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, just so that this blog does not seem too dead, I am going to post random pictures on Hokkaido (nice ones ok) that I have found all over the Internet, mainly to whet up my appetite for my planned year end trip. (Unfortunately, I have yet to book my trip but I am waiting for an upcoming travel fair.) Don't sue me for copyright - I am just sharing good stuff with fellow Japan lovers!!!<br />
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Below are just some of the things that I would love to see and do (and eat):</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BK0ISPOrdpo/TkXlEEEr3nI/AAAAAAAAAes/d2Q3D6H7E3M/s1600/hokkaido.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BK0ISPOrdpo/TkXlEEEr3nI/AAAAAAAAAes/d2Q3D6H7E3M/s320/hokkaido.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Hokkaido crabs - I dream about you night and day (never mind the cholesterol).</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5t0EjVhRSMU/TkXnDU5wqnI/AAAAAAAAAew/Pj-2IB7oT0g/s1600/Hokkaido2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5t0EjVhRSMU/TkXnDU5wqnI/AAAAAAAAAew/Pj-2IB7oT0g/s320/Hokkaido2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Hokkaido is famous for its sprawling and jaw-dropping natural landscapes. This is Mount Kurodate.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olI80Cut4i4/TkXnDxto2eI/AAAAAAAAAe0/_07Ovsd6bNA/s1600/hokkaido3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-olI80Cut4i4/TkXnDxto2eI/AAAAAAAAAe0/_07Ovsd6bNA/s320/hokkaido3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>This is Lake Akan, another well-known sightseeing spot.</i></span></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vzsk00-IOcQ/TkXrPV_KhUI/AAAAAAAAAe8/W7msq_HaX70/s1600/hokkaido4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vzsk00-IOcQ/TkXrPV_KhUI/AAAAAAAAAe8/W7msq_HaX70/s320/hokkaido4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>What is Hokkaido without snow? I know the Evil One is dying to go skiing, although the Samurai is barely enthusiastic. I'm game for anything. This is Niseko, where the snow is like powder!!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRaILq9I9nI/TkXum5rg-7I/AAAAAAAAAfY/vGW9YCLR7Fo/s1600/Hokkaido11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IRaILq9I9nI/TkXum5rg-7I/AAAAAAAAAfY/vGW9YCLR7Fo/s320/Hokkaido11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>The majestic cranes that are so symbolic of Hokkaido - enough said.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l3xY9YwIyWE/TkXt_tAPm-I/AAAAAAAAAfU/bJVeoLZ1SRI/s1600/Hokkaido10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l3xY9YwIyWE/TkXt_tAPm-I/AAAAAAAAAfU/bJVeoLZ1SRI/s320/Hokkaido10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>Why would I want to go to Hell Valley?! Why, to enjoy a good onsen, of course!!!</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTaWh_8ILMg/TkXrQL1dB1I/AAAAAAAAAfA/CdYtJTLQWNc/s1600/hokkaido5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTaWh_8ILMg/TkXrQL1dB1I/AAAAAAAAAfA/CdYtJTLQWNc/s320/hokkaido5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Hokkaido also has an indigenous population known as the Ainu people. This is an Ainu Village at the Akan National Park. Have they turned into tourist traps, I wonder?</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1v71Uk72ys/TkXrQgzvjqI/AAAAAAAAAfE/EKqSu72eiKI/s1600/Hokkaido6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e1v71Uk72ys/TkXrQgzvjqI/AAAAAAAAAfE/EKqSu72eiKI/s1600/Hokkaido6.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ako1FoX1eBQ/TkXrQ8sIdwI/AAAAAAAAAfI/k2qtqYwHAoE/s1600/hokkaido7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ako1FoX1eBQ/TkXrQ8sIdwI/AAAAAAAAAfI/k2qtqYwHAoE/s320/hokkaido7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Another place I would love to visit is Otaru. I have seen countless gorgeous pics of the Otaru Canal just like the one above. So romantic, no? </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPxqklSLUso/TkXrRt4vrcI/AAAAAAAAAfM/pqUfkJrqf6s/s1600/hokkaido8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PPxqklSLUso/TkXrRt4vrcI/AAAAAAAAAfM/pqUfkJrqf6s/s320/hokkaido8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Of course we must not forget the capital Sapporo as well. Despite all the natural beauty Hokkaido has to offer, I am a city girl at heart. Really, where else can you get to shop if not at a bustling city?!</span></i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHDsXWAk4hQ/TkXrSH9j5BI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Yy93wV9xMP0/s1600/hokkaido9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHDsXWAk4hQ/TkXrSH9j5BI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Yy93wV9xMP0/s320/hokkaido9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>As usual, I must end the post with another food picture. This will make the Samurai happy for DAYS. The Hokkaido Ramen. Just like we have got to eat the crabs, we are certainly going to slurp down these delicious noodles.</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-8193894103752122362011-08-01T16:52:00.001+08:002011-08-01T16:56:55.585+08:00I Dreamt of Takuya (and a 2-cents worth review of Moon Lovers)<div style="text-align: justify;">For the first time in my life, I dreamt of Takuya Kimura.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It wasn't a nonsensical daydream conjured up by the brain in boredom, nor one of those "I think it was Takuya Kimura, but his face was quite blur lah" but a long drawn out dream, with fairly logical happenings, and you could still remember bits of it when you suddenly wake up and realise, DAMN, you were NOT having dinner with Takuya afterall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The crappiest thing about this dream was I wasn't even making out with Takuya (seriously I need to go for a brain check). I don't THINK I even got to TOUCH him. I spoke to him though, logically, sensibly, which was even stranger to me because I believe in real life I would have squealed, hyperventilated and fainted, rather than stand there and make normal conversation, which was what I did, in the dream. As much as I could remember now, many hours later, it appeared that a group of us (could not recall exactly WHO) attended what was likely to be a SMAP concert, and somehow, we got to make a date with Takuya (!!!) to meet us for dinner outside and he appeared in semi disguise (looking most plain and normal) and my first thought was, "He's short!" and then we proceeded to have dinner in a foodcourt like place and just talked. And I have no freaking idea what we talked about. THE END.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The weird thing was I wasn't even thinking about Takuya in recent days. I wasn't even listening to SMAP songs, since Samurai T totally preferred EXILE music (a key reason why he was willing to join us for the Hokkaido concert). The only thing I could think of that could have sparked my brain into dreaming this inane dream was a TV preview I saw on an interview with Lin Chiling (Taiwan actress/model) who was talking about acting in "Moon Lovers" or "Tsuki no Koibito" with Takuya Kimura, and I told myself then, "Ah ha, I should blog a review about "Moon Lovers" in my next post."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Obviously the brain works in mysterious ways.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWZlAubXonk/TjZfUbReV9I/AAAAAAAAAek/4cZ7SXw_29Q/s1600/Moonlovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWZlAubXonk/TjZfUbReV9I/AAAAAAAAAek/4cZ7SXw_29Q/s320/Moonlovers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Since I have expended significant energy talking about my Takuya dream, I am just going to do a half-assed review of "Moon Lovers". Shown sometime last year, it was Takuya's latest drama project and it was supposedly "exciting" because Lin Chiling, a relative famous Taiwanese personality was going to play his love interest. (Bitch.) So of course I was curious how she would fare trying to ACT and speak in Japanese at the same time. Afterall, her acting has been slammed by a zillion supposedly objective critics and not just by sour grapes like me.<br />
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To cut a long story short, Takuya was acting as a suave young president of a furniture company Rensuke who somehow fell into the company of a poor Chinese worker working at his Shanghai factory, Lin Chiling's Shumei. Like a swan she was recruited to become the face of Regolith (his company) and at the same time romance the boss and kiss him passionately. (Bitch.) Even as he was fending off the attentions of another heiress from rival company and his long time best friend. Somehow in the course of 8 short episodes, they realised they were not for each other, and he got married to his best friend instead, while finding himself and whatever else he was trying to find. Bottomline was, the script was so blah and illogical, it resulted in the poorest ratings of a Takuya drama EVER, and what was originally 10 episodes got snipped to 8 episodes. Obviously Takuya's brooding presence (The Evil One commented he was like sour grapes throughout) couldn't rescue a sinking ship. Even I couldn't quite remember what the story was really about, and I have a pretty good memory.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gunbypnyuc4/TjZoVv4VSbI/AAAAAAAAAeo/KHHleK7NqlU/s1600/moonlovers+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gunbypnyuc4/TjZoVv4VSbI/AAAAAAAAAeo/KHHleK7NqlU/s320/moonlovers+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Bitch.</span></i></div><br />
Throughout the show I only remembered doing a few things: 1) Admiring Takuya's boyish tycoon image in spite of his sour expression; 2) Cursing while they were engaged in a passionate kiss; 3) Admiring Takuya; 4) Bitch. And so on, and so forth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Honestly, the best thing about "Moon Lovers", other than Takuya Kimura was the title soundtrack, which I positively LURVE. Below is one of the coolest MTV, and yes, the singer does not look even remotely like a Japanese, but he's quite cute and you can enjoy the great music.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mcM0IW_TM6c" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The following is a performance of two songs of Curly Haired Man with SMAP. Check out Takuya in his "Rensuke" guise and his oh-so-slick dance moves. Um-ummmm, I LIKE! To be honest though, SMAP sort of spoils the song with their singing. ;P</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XSkSrEZJtww" width="480"></iframe>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-36245531375372507922011-07-25T12:36:00.000+08:002011-07-25T12:36:41.502+08:00Dying of Laughter - Another SMAP Softbank Ad<div style="text-align: justify;">I know I just posted yesterday, but I accidentally came across this video while trying to repair my Youtube links for the last Softbank Singapore Ad post (see <a href="http://fat-geisha.blogspot.com/2011/06/doing-locomotion-smaps-softbank-ads.html">here</a>), and nearly perished from laughter after watching this. It is just TOO GOOD not to share it. Words fail me at this point, but thankfully you can just watch it. Evil One, I know you WILL love this!</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QmlB8_CirP4" width="480"></iframe>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-71769429193711201572011-07-24T12:03:00.002+08:002011-08-01T10:08:03.321+08:00EXILE-D to Hokkaido!<div style="text-align: justify;">The Samurai has left me all alone to attend a STOOPID conference in Philadelphia for a week. Thank God for my buddies who are stepping in to accompany me during these solo times. Fat Geisha is incredibly blessed and her friends rock!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, more about the nefarious plans that The Evil One and I have as mentioned in my last post. EO has discovered to her eternal glee that <b>EXILE </b>will be holding a concert in Sapporo, Hokkaido, this coming Christmas Eve. We have been thinking about travelling together to Japan for quite some time, either to Kyushu or Hokkaido (avoiding those disaster affected regions), and she was especially eager to try to catch a SMAP or EXILE concert if possible. You can imagine her hormones going all haywire when she found out the news and realised that her dreams of pawing Atsushi's tattooed chest and abs are within reach. I was initially worried that she would hyperventilate and faint from all that excitement. I believed that she hadn't come down from all that sexual high since I posted the first EXILE piece (see <a href="http://fat-geisha.blogspot.com/2010/12/exile-d-to-land-of-cool-men.html">here</a>) many moons ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35qG9PATkNw/TiuVUYuBAHI/AAAAAAAAAeg/6mv3ZG0Zl1k/s1600/atsushi_tattoo_exile_mune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35qG9PATkNw/TiuVUYuBAHI/AAAAAAAAAeg/6mv3ZG0Zl1k/s320/atsushi_tattoo_exile_mune.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Chest of Her Dreams......</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While I am also excited about watching EXILE live in concert (although my excitement will never reach EO's levels), I am even more pleased by the prospect of finally visiting Hokkaido, a place which many friends and relatives who visited have praised to the skies. I look forward to my virgin frolicking in a snowy winterscape, possibly trying out skiing, eating super delicious fresh seafood and SNOW CRABS (OMG I am salivating now). And finally, FINALLY, being able to speak Japanese in Japan. Hey, EO, you better brush up your flirting Japanese phrases in case you really get to meet Atsushi one-on-one. I promise I won't interrupt.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the travel portion of which I am in charge (she's taking care of the tickets), there are a number of options that we can choose from. In view that we are likely to have 7-9 days in the week leading up to Christmas (and EO needs to take off on her business trips after Boxing Day), I am leaning towards going for a one week package tour which should include a ski resort and/or onsen, and then we can extend our stay in Sapporo. I don't fancy taking public transport by ourselves in deep winter. Brrrrrr.....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I have more details about our Hokkaido plans, I will share more in future posts. Oh, and the Samurai? He is coming with us of course. He is resigned to tagging along for the trip, but bringing ear plugs just in case the two screaming <i>Obasans </i>deafen him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Below are some of the concert videos to further pump up our heightened expectations. Yooohooo!!</div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">First time I heard "Last Christmas" sang in Japanese. I would if they would perform this again since the concert would be on Christmas Eve. So incredibly sexy. Evil One, you can have Atsushi, I will have Takahiro. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">This is one of our collective favourite songs. Samurai saw the actual lyrics on another video which actually contains a lot of English words (not that we can catch all of it) and remarked that it was a very silly song. But it is so incredibly catchy and has so many hilarious signature dance moves. Even my Sensei can dance to it!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zsJ3op_yVyk" width="480"></iframe><br />
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</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Hmm, very nice song here and I absolutely LOOVE their shirts. Am definitely going to get one!</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"> </span></i><br />
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</i></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-14942878129642055192011-07-16T12:43:00.001+08:002011-07-17T12:18:03.368+08:00One Year On My Japanese Learning Journey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KwVABV2SBCU/TiEWhzHdYQI/AAAAAAAAAeY/Kglp3lUrf9g/s1600/japa.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KwVABV2SBCU/TiEWhzHdYQI/AAAAAAAAAeY/Kglp3lUrf9g/s320/japa.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think I should just change my nickname to Tardy Geisha, instead of Fat Geisha (but it does not mean I have lost any weight, sigh). But here I am again and I have FINALLY - FINALLY!!!!! reached the one year mark in my part-time Japanese Language classes, and ta-dah! am moving on to the Intermediate Level come next Monday. This also means that I will be able to take my first JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) Level 5 in December this year. If I can take any comfort in the mini in-house test I took earlier this week (43/46!), I think I should be able to pass the JLPT without too much angst, and so long as I keep up with my revision (which is not a given in view of my overwhelming tardiness.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The crappy thing of course is that since I started learning Japanese, I have not been able to step foot on Japanese soil, no thanks to the 11 March disaster. Hence I have not been able to show off, or rather, er-hem, UTILISE my new-found Japanese skills. (Although now I am plotting some exciting plans with The Evil One, to be discussed further in the next post.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite being surrounded by a ton of girlfriends who are studying the language at the same time with me, AND knowing a number of people who HAVE studied Japanese, I realised that we are not actively practicing with one another, for God knows what reason. In fact, our fave Japanese phrases, if we did in fact use them, are still "Arigato!", "Sumimasen!", "Chotto Matte!", "Mata Raishu!" etc., which HALLO, I was already using prior to starting my lessons. Are we too old, too shy, too afraid, too lazy to use the language on one another? How in the world are we going to improve if we are confined to using it once a week in class?! What is the point of learning a new language then? I can't travel to Japan every other day (much as I would looove to). To my detriment I still prefer to watch Korean dramas to Japanese dramas. (I think my Korean is quite powerful too, thanks to Lee Min Ho.....) I try to listen to more Japanese songs but can only catch random words, without understanding the full meaning of the sentence. Japan Hour on TV is repeating its episodes which is SOOOO boring. ARGH! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So how? How am I going to become a Japanese language expert? Or at least, learn sufficiently to flirt shamelessly with Kimura-san (should I ever meet him)? I need an immersion programme, immediately. Preferably immersing myself in an onsen full of gorgeous, naked Japanese men, and I can assure you, I will reach Advanced Level in no time at all. </div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-54312957097671289852011-07-09T13:26:00.000+08:002011-07-09T13:26:07.249+08:00The Goriness of 13 Assassins - Movie Review<div style="text-align: justify;">I am supposed to be studying for my upcoming Japanese test on Monday, which requires me to study an astonishing 21 chapters, and I am choosing to break my blogging duck for July instead to post my reviews on a movie I just watched last night - the <b>13 Assassins</b>. Of course I also chose to go movie watching so near to my test date in the staunch belief that I was going to be able to practice my にほんご Nihongo (being a Japanese movie and all), but alas, they were speaking in some ancient Japanese structure and I barely caught 10 words, most of which was おもしろい ("interesting/exciting") and たのしかった ("enjoyable") uttered by the psychopathic villain Lord Naritsugu, played to freaky perfection by SMAP member Goro Inagaki.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw7w8LHGUE/ThfXRQhXMjI/AAAAAAAAAeM/vWmYs-ppb4g/s1600/13-Assassins-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Glw7w8LHGUE/ThfXRQhXMjI/AAAAAAAAAeM/vWmYs-ppb4g/s320/13-Assassins-Poster.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The 13 Assassins in full glory - some old men, some very hot men, and one VERY MAD man (Goro in white at the bottom of the picture).</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Samurai T had actually watched part of the movie, a remake which was released in Japan last year, on Singapore Airlines' wonderful KrisWorld system during our December holidays to Taiwan. Being the bloodthirsty man that he is, he has been raving about the movie non-stop to me, and when the movie finally reached Singapore shores, he was more than game to re-watch it again with me. The Evil One was also keen to join us, since she had read that Goro had received a Japanese Oscar-equivalent for playing the Naritsugu role - and let me say that he TOTALLY deserved whatever acting accolades he got.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Evil One and I were prepared for an all-out gore fest since we were amply warned by the Samurai and our mutual friend Z-san, who said <b>Kill Bill</b> was "child's play" compared to the <b>13 Assassins</b>. So the Evil One quickly went to the toilet beforehand in case she pissed in fear during the show. As it was, the very first scene showed a very long painful scene of a samurai committing <i>hara-kiri</i> or <i>seppuku</i>, i.e. ritual suicide. Although they did not show all the entrails falling out, the expression on the actor's face, as well as the sound effects were sufficient to make me clutch my tummy in fear.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The plot was simple and I doubt it would be spoiling the movie for anyone in telling the whole story. A respected middle-aged Samurai, Shinzaemon, was tasked by Sir Doi, a senior advisor on the Shogun's Council, to assassinate the Shogun's half brother, Lord Naritsugu, a most sadistic and evil man, before he could take his place on the Shogun's Council and wreck havoc on Japan. The audience was quickly made aware of how coldly insane Naritsugu was by flashing back to his multiple crimes, chief of which consisted of a screaming LIMBLESS woman shedding tears of blood whose image would be ingrained in my brain for a long time to come. His insanity was boundless, and Goro made the character even more frightening by being calmly aloof (instead of cackling with mad laughter) as he carried out his nefarious deeds. Thereafter, Shinzaemon gathered his band of brothers and the last hour was just all-out slaughter between the 13 assassins, against Naritsugu's party of 250 (!!!) men in a remote village full of death traps.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sptgi201K70/Thfi8sQRDHI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/eVRgdXNnZE0/s1600/13assassinslordnaritsugu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sptgi201K70/Thfi8sQRDHI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/eVRgdXNnZE0/s320/13assassinslordnaritsugu.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Naritsugu was the only one dressed in pristine white throughout the movie, irony being he was the evillest of them all.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The brilliance of the film lay in the execution of the story - laying the groundwork on why Naritsugu must be killed, the bonding and motives of the various Samurai, to the eventual climatic battle unto-death. It was engaging, it was gripping, it was BLOODY. It was funny in parts, too funny especially in the scenes involving the last assassin, Kiga, a mountain hunter-cum-potential mountain spirit, and the cinema broke out into loud guffaws in spite of the serious themes involved. The Evil One and I still had time to admire several hunky Samurai (yums, ronin Hirayama) even as they were being sliced to pieces. Suffice to say, this being an almost one-sided contest, most of the assassins met a glorious (in their warped Samurai mentality) and gory end.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We enjoyed ourselves tremendously, with the Evil One proclaiming it was one of the best movies she had seen in a long time. I wouldn't go that far, since I was never fond of violent movies, but it was a movie that was definitely worth all the time and money you spent on it. Thankfully in spite of my fears, I was too tired to have a nightmare of a limbless woman crying blood emerging in my dreams.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSzmC072pyM/ThfmShE96kI/AAAAAAAAAeU/5Bw_fOiSslg/s1600/13-assassins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lSzmC072pyM/ThfmShE96kI/AAAAAAAAAeU/5Bw_fOiSslg/s320/13-assassins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Near the end - the killing fields.</span></i></div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944221860475883303.post-48804225833841558222011-06-23T14:45:00.001+08:002011-06-23T14:53:06.699+08:00THAT School Uniform Party (NC-16)<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE BELOW 16. I will NOT be responsible for your mental corruption. >.<</span></b><br />
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Hmmm, me bad. My propensity to procrastinate on things is boundless. For example, if I had bothered to haul my own ass, I would have done LASIK a long time ago, and start to enjoy splendid vision for a much longer time. And, about 2 months after the event, I am FINALLY getting down to blogging about THE School Uniform Party the Evil One and I co-organised with a couple of other friends. Be warned: although I would be blurring the faces of the participants, if you don't think you can stomach seeing 30-somethings dressing up as 16 and 17 year-olds (or even younger, hur hur), STOP READING NOW.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The idea to hold this wacko party arose out of a fairly harmless conversation about my predilection for younger, hot men (shall not name names just in case he/they read this blog) with a group of friends. One of them, let's call him Z-san, suggested to Samurai T, that in order to hold onto my interest as a result of my "cougar" instincts, he should wear his old school uniform around the house. Somehow, one thing led to another, and we decided to re-visit our long gone youth by holding a School Uniform Party, and at the same time use this as a platform to raise some funds for the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Obviously I had thrown my school uniforms away donkey years ago, and in any case, I seriously doubt I could fit into any of those without rupturing the seams. The Evil One and I decided to embrace our inner sluts and go for the "Japanese School Girl" look, which stirs up all kinds of objectionable fantasies, and look something like this.....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2QkYvdqDPA/TgLTaCFs_6I/AAAAAAAAAdo/a2x2IAy_xS4/s1600/uniform1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2QkYvdqDPA/TgLTaCFs_6I/AAAAAAAAAdo/a2x2IAy_xS4/s320/uniform1.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>This is about the most conservative Japanese school girl look that I could find on the Internet. Obviously, the chaste "virgin" thingie ain't gonna work for us older folks.</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3K02EiDAF0/TgLUB5j7QMI/AAAAAAAAAds/pjzH9z68KGg/s1600/uniform2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3K02EiDAF0/TgLUB5j7QMI/AAAAAAAAAds/pjzH9z68KGg/s320/uniform2.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>You cannot BELIEVE the number of PORN SITES that popped up the minute I googled "Japanese school girl image". I believe this is from one of those "adult" sites, even though this image actually looks quite innocent. This uniform actually looked REALLY similar to what The Evil One ultimately wore that night - right, right!?!? </i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDGbN11BHF4/TgLUE_qDGQI/AAAAAAAAAdw/ocOCEvz6vcw/s1600/uniform3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDGbN11BHF4/TgLUE_qDGQI/AAAAAAAAAdw/ocOCEvz6vcw/s320/uniform3.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The key thing about Japanese school uniforms is that the skirt has got to be SHORT. Very short indeed. The one I ended up buying was sooooo short half my butt was showing, much to Samurai T's horror. As I did not have slim thighs and long legs like this hot lady above, I had to wear tights so as not to look overly obscene.</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the beginning I was contemplating on going as <b>Sailor Moon</b>, which was one of my favourite manga characters as a kid. The Evil One, Z-san and I made a trip down to a cosplay shop in town and indeed they had a Sailor Moon costume for rental. But I changed my mind immediately. If you don't know, or remember, Sailor Moon looks like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr4_Djx31qY/TgLcXXHkbqI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Q7Qxj8J4mdE/s1600/sailor+moon_1242926568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr4_Djx31qY/TgLcXXHkbqI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Q7Qxj8J4mdE/s320/sailor+moon_1242926568.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">No way in the world am I going to be able to carry this off!!!</span></i></div><br />
For one, her skirt cannot be in all honesty be classified as a "skirt". Two, the top is the tightest thing ever known to mankind. Three, I had to get a blond wig to complete the look. In the end, both of us decided to stick to good old Japanese schoolgirl uniforms which cost us SGD89 each!!! She had on a summer version, and I took on the winter, long-sleeved version. We both turned out looking like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K-im4rCqKYk/TgLdfshWioI/AAAAAAAAAd4/sH0Xg4XaLX0/s1600/uniform4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K-im4rCqKYk/TgLdfshWioI/AAAAAAAAAd4/sH0Xg4XaLX0/s320/uniform4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The Evil One and The Fat Geisha - how wonderful did we look?!</span></i></div><br />
We did up our hair in style - I had mine tied up in ponytails and she had on girly hair clips. I was totally in love with my seriously bright pink uniform - under poor lighting I was quite sure I could pass off as 16 years of age again. The party was a rocking success because many of our guests came dressed up to the nines, but I am not going to post all of them because it is such a chore to "pixel-late" faces.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r29QJqimH8U/TgLemSr_YDI/AAAAAAAAAd8/9gVMUXXLZ_c/s1600/uniform5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r29QJqimH8U/TgLemSr_YDI/AAAAAAAAAd8/9gVMUXXLZ_c/s320/uniform5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"> This is us with Z-san, who is looking trim and fit in a local school uniform. We were supposed to be "seducing" an innocent school boy, but I don't think we succeeded. LOL.</span></i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sLVlShOQa8/TgLewQw9SqI/AAAAAAAAAeA/hmEKtFjuuXE/s1600/uniform6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sLVlShOQa8/TgLewQw9SqI/AAAAAAAAAeA/hmEKtFjuuXE/s320/uniform6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">That's me, posing with a strawberry and trying to give off "come-hither" vibes. I think I failed on that count too! Don't you think those black tights are very slimming?!!?!?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XTGgCKHr9Mc/TgLiQrufL5I/AAAAAAAAAeI/JZ3kURNQuYU/s1600/uniform7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XTGgCKHr9Mc/TgLiQrufL5I/AAAAAAAAAeI/JZ3kURNQuYU/s320/uniform7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">This was another one of our co-organisers, C-san, who was wearing the tightest imaginable shorts EVER, and yet still looking hilariously like a primary school boy. Insane!</span></i></div><br />
Despite our supposedly raunchy poses, it was a night of good, CLEAN fun. We were happily playing mahjong, and cards, and stuffing ourselves silly on a scrumptious Thai buffet spread that The Evil One sponsored (I forgot why it wasn't Japanese). Here's a pic to make you drool.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDY3sfDEDGs/TgLgeQGvX4I/AAAAAAAAAeE/1qyrFPXpww0/s1600/P1040397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDY3sfDEDGs/TgLgeQGvX4I/AAAAAAAAAeE/1qyrFPXpww0/s320/P1040397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">So, so, so YUMMY......................!!!!!!</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Ultimately, we did some good in the end. We raised <b>SGD 500</b> (not a lot but it was a last minute gathering) for the Japanese Red Cross while having oodles of fun. Applause, applause, everyone!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
P.S. If you are wondering why there are no pics of the Samurai here, he was wearing boring PE (Sports) attire because he couldn't find a uniform to fit his bulk. ;P</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>FatGeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16476589475887537757noreply@blogger.com0