Keisuke Tokyo Ramen Dining Suntec Review 東京らーめんけいすけ味噌汁ない?

What is a Japanese restaurant without Miso Soup?  Oddly, this one doesn't have.

I'm sure the publicity was done in Japanese magazines such as WAttention since quite a number of Japs dropped in.  Of the 6 or 7 occupied tables at the time,  4 or more were Japanese in groups, couple or alone.

This number can be considered large since Japanese people are usually absent from the usual popular so-called Japanese restaurants in SG.  Many so-called Japanese restaurants in SG serve fake and lousy Japanese rice and food that people queue up for (I can only assume these people haven't been to Japan and so don't know the taste of authenticity).

Having been to Japan and enjoyed the personalized food and attention in their small restaurants, I can understand and appreciate the quality and meaning of their Japanese rice. The authenticity that can be tasted and cannot be forgotten. It is no wonder the Japs place such importance on their rice.

When real Japs patronize a Japanese restaurant in SG,  it's a sure bet that the restaurant is serving real Japanese rice from Japan and the food is accordingly nice.

First off, Keisuke is a nice name. A person's name for a restaurant? Nice.

I also like the wordings of the name on their shop sign. Very Punk-Gothic. Cool.

I like the look of it from the outside. Welcoming, inviting. Brightly lit. Makes you wanna walk in.

Nice front poster of food. Very Japanese layout. It caught the attention of a passing Japanese working man in a suit and briefcase in his 40s or so. He paused at the poster, and I was certain he would go in, and he did. This was after Bro and I were done and I stood outside while Bro was at the cashier.

25 June Wed around 6 pm (bill paid at 6.25pm)

I think we were the earliest customers for dinner since no one was in there. No staff seemed to be about. So I tapped once on the cashier's counter bell for attention. The bell is very near the entrance.

Right away a staff popped her head to look while she stood inside the restaurant. She smiled and I held up 2 fingers. She walked towards us and seemed to indicate for us to walk in, so we did. A smiling, welcoming staff is a good sign, although not having anyone welcome us at the entrance is bad.

The walkway in, is welcoming and inside is brightly lit. But that walkway, is a disadvantage because the staff can't see customers standing outside unless the staff make the effort to look.  (Earle Swensens @Vivocity has a very long walkway that the staff uses to ignore customers standing outside).

She led us to a table for 4, which surprised me a little because usually staff in restaurants tend to be stingy and give small table. She was smiling throughout and very upbeat, quickly pointing out the two slips of paper with pencils on the table before walking away.

I actually had no idea what she said. Throughout, except for the word "sure", I didn't know what she was saying (even though she seemed to be speaking English.  Her voice was very shrill and hard to hear what she's saying.). 

Menu... not much variety but looks delicious. Bro and I were not very hungry (he ate KFC earlier while I ate junk sausage crackers from Korea at Marina Square).

Nevertheless, hungry enough for some dinner.

We ended up ordering all side dishes.  I absolutely had to try the Ramen Gratin with crab stock ($8). The picture looked so good on the poster. Bro ordered the Minced Chicken on rice ($4.50). I later added another order of Sesame & Spring Onion rice ($3).  

After the same staff read out the orders and walked away, Bro said, "She's Japanese.".  He had earlier mentioned it but I didn't think so.  I still didn't think so.  He said, "She said 'mince-zi'."

"Mince-zi?" I laughed. "Are you sure? Didn't she say 'minced'? I can hardly hear what she's saying.".

He said he heard it because she was closer to his side. I only heard it when she turned to me and was walking away.

"She said 'mince-zi'." he affirmed.  Even when we got home, I laughed thinking it and asked bro to say it again.

Ahh, the Japs. They can't pronounce English words. Hades, they say "Hardas". "Issac", they say "Esac", "Thoth", they say "Tot to".  Now "minced", they say "mince-zi".  (The only anime that pronounces "Issac" correctly is Devils & Realists. Hades & the others I mentioned are mispronounced in Kamigami no Asobi).

When she passed by, I made a point to glance at her large name tag. Yasuko.  Hmm.. is it the same as the Japanese word for "promise"?  I think not.

So, she's really Japanese. Bro was right.

Bro ordered ice water. I didn't order any drinks.

The food took some time to arrive.  I can only see 2 cooks. Considering it was just us, it's rather slow.

Shortly after we ordered, two more tables in front of us were filled. But we had ordered first, so I expected the food to arrive in a short time.

The Ramen Gratin came first. Presented very cutely & miniaturized. Bro said it looked like it shrank after cooking. I laughed because that's exactly what it looked like. I had expected it bigger (the poster enlarged it).

Digging in, it's ribbon noodle pasta under the cover of cheese. Small portion, as fitting for a side dish. Taste... Nice but gross.  The cheese flavor is probably for cheese lovers. I finished it, so it's nice. But I wouldn't want more of it and it was just a little gross while eating.

Bro's small bowl of Minced Chicken on rice, I took a spoonful. Nice. Right away, I could taste it's authentic rice from Japan. It's almost the same as what I ate one late night in a back alley of restaurants somewhere in Japan (I still miss that woman's white rice with nothing except 3 chicken neck fillets).

He said it's too salty (he gave it 7/10).  The sauce of the meat is well infused into the rice, so it's very nice, flavorful and fragrant rice.  Not just white rice underneath which some restaurants do. This rice is moist with the fragrant oil of the sauce and meat.

After my gratin and spoonful of Bro's rice, I decided to order the Sesame & Spring Onion rice. It took rather long to arrive. By then, more of the tables were occupied with a Japanese (according to Bro) guy in T-shirt, knee-length cotton shorts and slippers eating alone to the left of us (looking as if he came from some condo nearby).

Bro said he thought I would order what he had, but I said the Sesame & Spring Onion rice sounds plain and I want to see how it will taste.  I want to test how good it will taste with something as plain as that.

Just Sesame and Spring onion with rice? It was bland and dry. So, I called for one of the staff for Miso Soup. She paused thinking, then said she'll ask. She went off and returned to say they don't have.

Don't have Miso Soup? It was quite surprising. A Japanese restaurant, no Miso Soup?

This staff (I think local or Malaysian) at the beginning, has been sounding tired in welcoming customers in. Also, she sounds impolite compared to the Japanese staff Yasuko.

I actually didn't want to ask her for Miso Soup, expecting the answer would be an outright no. But she made the effort of asking the cooks (or whoever) and the answer was still no (which is quite surprising since Miso is a staple and very common in Japanese cooking).

I had actually intended to catch the attention of Yasuko who might have said yes. But since this local or Malaysian staff saw us, she came over.

Besides the local/Malaysian, another non-Japanese staff also sounded tired, less upbeat and impolite. When she cleared my plate (the Gratin), she asked, "Are you done?".  It's very rude to ask in this way. The correct way should be "May I take your plate?" or simply extend an open palm towards the plate.

The contrast among the staff is great because Yasuko is the only one so upbeat, as if she's the boss.

Anyway, no Miso Soup displeased me. The rice was so dry and bland. It would go well with a bowl of Miso Soup.  They could charge for it, I don't mind. But to say they don't have Miso Soup, is really... disappointing, especially when it's just a simple request.    

[Translation: とにかく、何味噌汁は、私を不快にしない。お米はとても乾燥して当たり障りのでした。それは、味噌汁の椀とよく行くだろう。彼らはそれを有料化できた、私は気にしない。しかし、彼らは味噌汁を持っていないと言って、それだけで、単純なリクエストの場合は特に、···、本当に残念です。

Japanese people proud of their food, would serve the customer in a way that adds pleasure to the food for the pleasure of the customer. I was thinking of Goro-san (Kodoku no Gurume 孤独のグルメ) when asking for that bowl of Miso Soup.

[Translation: 彼らの食糧を誇りに思う日本人は、顧客の喜びのために食品に喜びを追加する方法で顧客に役立つであろう。味噌汁の椀を求めたとき、私は五郎さん（孤独のグルメ）のことを考えていた。 ]

I didn't finish the rice. The bottom half of it, Bro ate it for me.

Zen-nen desu. No Miso Soup. 残念。 味噌汁はありません。

The bill for 3 side dishes (water free) with service charge etc.. = $18.25 

Before then,  I had at some point asked Bro how much was his rice, he thought for a while and said, "Very cheap only. About $4.".

"$4??!"

"Yeah. Around there.".

The manager is a woman with the name of "Nao". Strange short name. I'm sure it's a short version of something longer? I thought she was a China woman with her fair square face, but from her name tag, seems she's Japanese.

She sure took her time to stroll out to be our cashier. No apology for keeping us waiting.  (In the time we waited with no one at the counter, it was tempting to just walk out without paying. Would serve them right if someone did walk out.).

I asked the manager to confirm if their rice is from Japan. She said yes. I said "It's nice.". She just smiled a little. I said, "It tastes different.".  She didn't hear or understand what I said. So, I said, "It's different from other restaurants.".  She smiled a little again. I don't recall if she thanked me for the compliment. Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't.

As a manager, that's pretty cold and impersonal attitude towards customers.

Will we be back there? ...Maybe not.

Food... Bro is more lenient than me in grading restaurants.  I give it 5/10.
Service... 5/10.
Price... Well, it's not too bad. For the authentic taste and flavor of the rice... at that price. 6/10. I was surprised the bill was only $18.25.

Who wins them in terms of service?  Tsukada Nojo Bijin Nabe @ Plaza Singapura.

Gackt looks so Cute being a Girl. Really Cute.

No wonder it's said he's androgynous (-looking).  I never thought he looked handsome as a man. But as a woman... Wow. He's really cute. Amazing. His face softens when dressed as a woman/girl.  As a man,  he's not handsome because he looks like a woman (that's what I have always thought, although he is handsome sometimes especially when wearing dark sunglasses.). 

Meaning... his face is actually a woman's/girlish/feminine face.  The only man I have seen who looks cute in a nurse's dress and girl's uniform. Pretty amazing. I won't believe he could look like this if he was in his usual male clothing.

Well, just for fun is fine.  I find him a very stern, weird (he has a thing for darkness & spicy food) yet funny and surprisingly intelligent & practical man (for a heavy metal/rock person that I don't associate intelligence with) who thinks differently from the usual (his idea of marriage is surprisingly same as mine) & is very lonely (even though he says he is not interested in marriage or a relationship, I think he's just afraid.).

Wish to get to know him better (maybe). Not that I don't want to, but I get the feeling there could be something very strange about him outside of these public appearances.

Look at him, so sexy being a nurse! Oh my god. So Cute!! I'm smiling.





In this video below, he is really, really, very cool. I love his quiet handsomeness. Very cute. Makes girls want to know what is he thinking. I am however, surprised that Vivian Hsu is here? Isn't she Taiwanese? How come she's on a Japanese show with Gackt? Vivian Hsu is very sweet & pretty here. No wonder he likes her, though I think it's more because she's not Japanese.  He seems to like foreign or exotic things (Chinese food & westerners)? He thinks nothing of rejecting the Japanese girl who is also very pretty & making her feel awkward. These 2 videos are actually when he was younger. He doesn't look like that now, unfortunately.

He is both left and right-handed (right? Gackt fans?) coz in another video, he switched hands.

Singapore Flag Burnt

I was looking for how much selling cardboard pays (coz I had put a few pieces of cardboard by the side of a trashbin downstairs at my void deck & as expected they disappeared when I returned.).

I finished reading the cardboard article on Asiaone. Then saw the side news: Burning of Singapore Flag by Vietnam Rioters...

The news says the SG flag was burnt due to "anti-China" protests. I was thinking what has "anti-China" feelings got to do with Singapore? We are not China.  And their people are also in Singapore.  Seeing the SG flag being burnt in the photo... I think they burnt the wrong flag.

When it comes to flags, it's easy to mistake which country is which. That's what I thought when I was young. Some countries' flags are really similar.  I figured this might be the case here, except that it's the sotong blur Vietnamese who burnt the wrong flag. I think because of the red with stars.  A flag that they should know since it belongs to a neighbour country (SG) where their people also work there. Yet they mistake for China's flag.

Turned out I was right. So sotong blur these people. How the heck can employers hire them in Singapore?

The burning of a Singapore national flag by Vietnamese protesters, who apparently mistook it for the flag of China...

Update Fri 16 May:  Now, how did "anti-China" become "anti-foreigner" protest?  http://therealsingapore.com/content/several-singapore-run-factories-vietnam-set-fire-anti-foreigner-protesters

So did they mistake the SG flag for China's or not? Apparently not. 

If even the "peaceful" Vietnamese know how to protest against foreigners over the China oil rig, how come SG people just keep quiet about the flood of foreigners in SG, NS & CPF? 

Paranormal Incident @ Berlayer Creek SG

Tues 13 May

Maybe SPI might want to bring their measuring counters & stuff there. Or maybe these instruments won't be able to measure a thing.

Prior to entering into such things, I always think positively & realistically & walk calmly as though I don't know it's there. There is no need to run.

At about 9.30pm tonight,  we just finished buying stuff from the NTUC @ ARC & were on our way to the Labrador MRT.  I felt a bit bloated from the spaghetti dinner I made & saw that the full moon was beautiful & bright.

Been wanting to go up to the nearby Berlayer Creek roof top for a while now, but every time some students or people will be there. Tonight, saw that there was nobody. Perfect to view the moon.

Bro was reluctant as we made our way to it after coming down from the overhead bridge to the MRT.

There was a smell as we approached. Probably the decomposing vegetation around. It smelled of urine so I guessed maybe some people come here at midnight & hang around. But I said nothing while glancing around the dark area with the vegetation behind & some plants around.  Best to say nothing.

Bro said it was smelly just as we stepped into the area from the MRT.

The place really needs some proper lighting. The darkness is unacceptable & dangerous. The lamp post at the side don't even work.

I looked up & the moon was so bright like a halogen light with four shots of light around it. Very clear &  cloudless sky tonight.

My idea was to go up to the rooftop & splat myself on my back on the wooden floor to relax looking up at the night sky & moon.

As we approached the ramp, bro was talking about Bestway having 3 storeys in the past & I told him jokingly to stop talking about Bestway coz he had been talking about it earlier. He said, "Happy time mah.".

As we went up the ramp, he said they sold very excellent top quality wood furniture unlike the Ikea now.  I said, "Orh, like Pine like that?". He said, "Yeah.".  Then he suddenly didn't say anything anymore.

I was also preoccupied with something while walking.

These tendrils of overgrown plants on the right wall kept sticking out top & bottom. Quite annoying. Don't they prune them?  They are completely overgrown. Not only that, the wall was emitting heat from having absorbed the heat during the day. Quite warm on our right side.  We were on the longest ramp section & it seemed a rather long way more to go even though I could see the end. 

More than that, the more I walked up, the greater the sense of foreboding ahead.  Something was in front & the feeling grew stronger with every step.  This is not the first time I have felt this way about a place.  I preferred to think that it was caused by the wall of overgrown plants along our right.

Just as I was considering whether to continue, Bro said, "Got funny feeling.".

Straightaway, no questions asked, I turned around (with sudden weird & brief goosebumps) & we proceeded to get down.

If he had not said it, I might still have ignored my feeling & continued to the top. But that is a big Maybe because the feeling was quite strong. I may have turned back anyway without him saying it.

When we turned around,  Bro said, "Walk faster.". So we did. I got that sudden, brief goosebumps again.  He bumped against me & I could feel him hurrying beside me, practically almost going to run if I wasn't there.  I chuckled because it was funny even though I understood how he felt (although I didn't feel it).

As we reached back to the start of the first short ramp, he exclaimed with a relief-releasing chuckle that it was a "Clementi re-enactment" (referring to our grandmother's Clementi block in the past where separately as kids, we used to feel there was something pursuing behind us every time we used the stairs alone. Only recently when we talked about it, did we realize we had felt the same thing, except I was calmer at that time because I was older & same as now, preferred not to show my fear. I was able to control my reactions better than bro who said he had flown down the staircases at that time and didn't care if he scraped his small hand on the railings.).

When we returned to the MRT, he said he had felt a presence behind along a part/turn of the ramp, but when he turned, there was no one there. He dismissed it but the feeling returned at another part & again there was no one there.

I said I had felt nothing behind, but it was in front.

But either way, we both agreed the feeling was rather strong & disturbing. He said he wasn't even thinking of anything about the place at the time while happily recounting the happy times of the Bestway emporium.

I said, I had already considered there might be something there when there was that urine smell when we approached, that's why I didn't mention it. He said, "Then you still want to go??!".  I said, "Aiyah. Just calmly walk, it's Ok.".

Back home,  I said I turned back with him no questions asked when he said "got funny feeling". He agreed it was the first time there was no protest from me.  I said, coincidentally when he said it, I was also feeling the same thing.

We both agree there is something there. He said even that one time when we went in the hot afternoon, he also didn't feel good about it. Hmm... well, I admit it wasn't great at that time (too hot weather), but... it didn't feel the way it did tonight. Maybe it's the wall of overgrown plants tonight? He denies it's the plants. He said he wasn't even thinking of the plants.  He had dismissed the plants since it's no big deal during army.  It was something following behind.

When there are such feelings when we go to a place, I always tell bro that people buying new houses should hire us (I said so on our way walking back home).  But they hire Fengshui "masters".  But we can charge cheaper.  But then these days, it's BTO apartments. Don't even get to see or choose the houses they buy even though spend more than half a million. Absurd. It's worse than buying beauty boxes.

Just now, Bro explained clearer than we were just going up the last longest ramp when he felt a presence coming up the ramp below us. He turned to look back but there was no one there. He dismissed it since I didn't show any notice of it and continued walking behind me.

But suddenly,  the presence was just behind him as we went up the ramp. He turned back again to look but again, nobody there. That's when he said, "Got funny feeling.".

At that point, he thinks the presence must have then gone in front of me. That's when I felt a strong/stronger sense of foreboding in front the more I went up. That presence was trying to prevent us from going up. Perhaps, it was on ground level, but saw us coming closer & it rushed up to stop us.

That would be the only explanation that matches with what we were feeling at that time.

Bro thinks it's better not to disobey that feeling. Perhaps there is something wrong along that ramp. Better to stop & turn back.

I said I didn't feel anything behind us. I agree there is something there, but perhaps, he had heightened the feeling that it was chasing us out from behind? Well, he admits perhaps he had heightened his feelings although he doubts it.  On my part, I also think perhaps, he has keener senses than me regarding such things because I shut such things out.

I told him about the stone steps of a Japanese castle.  I said if he thought the Clementi stairs were horrible, these stone steps are much worse.  If he were there, he would feel like wanting to run up those steep stone steps at the risk of falling off.  The feeling is very strong that there is something behind (waiting for you to fall while you climb). He said I had never mentioned it before. I said I just ignore it.  (It's not something of importance compared to the overall beauty & experience & probably just my imagination. It actually took a lot of will power to just ignore it at that time).

I don't know whether the stone steps are the originals or reconstructed, but there is definitely something there. It was bad enough that I told myself at that time, that I don't want to be going down those steps again when I go down. There has to be another way down.

List of Useless/Useful Skincare Products from Korea, Australia etc...Reviews

I have purchased directly from many skincare brands & will give you lists & reviews of their products that I have already tried & tested.

Payment with Paypal or local ATM bank transfer.

Mink Printer for Make-Up on TechCrunch

7 May Wed 1:39pm

The moment I saw her surname "Choi", straightaway I was thinking "Hongkee" (from Hong Kong). It seems Harvard is now producing foreign grads who aren't up to the mark just like NUS now. Is it true anyone can graduate from Harvard now?

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/harvard-girl-figured-3d-print-165045734.html
http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/05/mink-is-a-3d-printer-for-makeup/

1) Are you sure she's from Harvard? She can't spell "convenience".

2) Her blouse open at the front is used as subtle persuasion = Male judges & mainly male audience.

3) Unprofessional delivery. Defensive attitude, afraid of audience's negative reaction. Rather than the desire to communicate the idea of this new thing, she is letting her defensive emotions get in the way.  Used the word "freaking".  In the demo, she said she is using a particular thing: "Why? because I like it.". 

4) Her replies to the judges are not credible. She has not thought out much (as one reader also commented). 

5) As one reader commented, how is this 3D? 

6) The judges should be female. She will surely get a lot of questions & doubts regarding the product.

7) Why was there a rush to produce a "hacked" demo? Why didn't she take the time to do it well if she really cared about her idea?


She said she has failed many times before. I can see why. This printer of hers... I don't think is going to work.

1) Targeting the wrong buyers. The money-spenders are in the older group of women who have buying power & greater needs for skincare & cosmetics.

2) There is more to the cosmetics industry than just colors.  It is also about branding & the "raw materials" as she put it. If it were just about colors, anyone could have done it and the cosmetics industry wouldn't have lasted so long. Cosmetics users for instance, for eyeshadow, will compare the spread of the product, how long it stays etc...

Also these days, consumers are looking for more natural & safe products for use on their skin & face. If she can provide such true natural/organic & safe cosmetics products at cheap/affordable prices than what other companies are doing now, it will work better than her printer idea.

But she is lazy. She prefers just getting "a cut" & leaving everything else to the big companies such as Epson. Just like a Hongkee would, she just wants quick money with a flimsy idea.

3) Getting Epson or any printer company to do this cosmetics business... is a bad idea because these companies don't know about cosmetics. Companies that are specialized in doing a particular product are bad at trying other products that they have no experience in doing.

The Tempest (Japanese Drama) Ep 10 Last Episode

12:46am  Wed 7 May.

Hmm.. looking at my laptop clock date, in another day, it will be my birthday.  Dad already called to wish me happy birthday yesterday morning.

Hahahaha... eh, this man is handsome. Checking up on him, he is 183cm tall. Wow! [In this Wiki pic, he looks a little like my Amby (Ambrose Hsu) *looks at his date of birth* ^_^].

So tall, no wonder he carries the clothing so well. Looks good in samurai dress up & even better in western dressing. So Dashing. ^_^ Wow wow!

Didn't think he looked handsome at the start. Looked a little silly. But I started considering him right after the old lady (Oba) called him "good-looking".  He had come to Son Neion's house holding an umbrella in the rain & the old lady told Son Neion that there is a good-looking man looking for her.

Hmm... he does seem to look a little better after that... but not yet handsome. Only later, the more he asserts his influence, strength & conviction, he started looking handsome.  Hehehehe...

He's also quite intelligent & dependable. Coming to her rescue very quickly even without her asking or telling him anything. Too bad however, that he has rather old-fashioned ideas, although... not entirely old-fashioned.

Actually, I don't quite understand him.  On the 1 hand, he wants to free her from old fashioned ideas, so that women like herself can freely study & educate themselves. He wants her to be herself, so that she don't need to hide her gender anymore. On the other hand... he wants her to quit being brilliant & just be a housewife for him.

Don't know why he keeps insisting on her being a woman for him.  In this regard, he is not much different from the young king who also wants her as a woman for himself.

In this last episode... I really hate the singing in between. Sounds like Malay.  Wrong time, wrong place, wrong background "singing", wrong singer. Very jarring.

Also, their clothing. Since the start, I have been noticing that their clothing looks Malay with that cap they wear on their heads. Weren't they influenced by China dressing? How come they are wearing Malay type of clothing?

Even their dancing is Malay style. Strange.  Is it some kind of island effect? Because Singapore's Malay community dressed like that in the past as well.

What a mess this last episode.  All because of wrong decisions of 1 woman & 1 young king.  As the prophetess said, she doubts Son Neion was forced into sleeping with the young king. I have to agree.

Son Neion wasn't forced into doing anything she didn't want to. She could have talked the young king out of it. She chose to sleep with him & bear his kid. She intended to have her child have the blood of the 2 dynasties & sit on the throne when the time comes.

What was disappointing was that she disappointed the love of that samurai. When the Commodore Perry wanted to enter Ryuukuu, she told the samurai Asakura to protect his Japan instead while she will protect her Ryuukuu. She then sent the enemy over to Japan.

Although even with her brilliance, she could not think for both her Ryuukuu & Japan, it's still rather unforgivable & disappointing for her to just dump the enemy onto Asakura's country. It just means she didn't care for him.

Her decision, resulted in Japan fighting very bloody civil wars with all the samurais destroyed. In the end, her plan backfired anyway. Ryuukuu was absorbed into Japan. According to history, Japan captured the Ryuukyuu king.

In this drama, the young king foolishly surrendered. His reasoning for surrendering doesn't make sense. And why didn't he purchase ammunition beforehand? Even the Japanese knew to get weapons to fight among themselves. Even the Shinsengumi bought weapons & western clothing to fight in Hakuouki (anime).

This young king just wants to have sex all the time. -.-

In episode 9 when he wanted Son Neion in the bedroom, she should have negotiated thus: If you want my brains, then set me up as Son Neion & don't meet in the bedroom ever again. If you want my body, then sorry, when you need my help, I am busy with the baby. If you want my heart, sorry, it is for myself to have. I decide who to give it to. It is in your best interest to accept my brains since it is the greatest asset of all 3.  (if you will not, then you were not entirely smart to begin with.).

Here is the handsome Asakura-dono. Just ignore his strange old-fashioned yet not old-fashioned views. Just admire him. ^_^

Very nice here, as he turns his head looking aside, in long Hakama (pants). I was actually thinking he looks good in that long skirt... haahaha... click to enlarge. By the way, I didn't watch on GoodDrama.

Below: View from the ship as he leaves Ryuukuu, "never" to return. His lord Nariakira passed away, ruining all plans for Ryuukuu takeover.  So handsome as he looks towards shore where Son Neion is watching.

*looking closer at his Wiki info* Tanihara Shosuke. Eh? He married a married woman (who divorced)?

Below:  So Dashing!!!! So Charlotte Bronte!! He should do Jane Eyre as Rochester!

Below:  Ohhh... he looks so much like my Ambrose Hsu (when he was young & handsome like this). This hairstyle suits him. The sharp down turns of the white collar suits him. *sighs* And with such deep voice....

I wonder how different this drama would have been if Korean scriptwriter who wrote for Faith, wrote it. Definitely, the romance part between the Satsuma samurai & Son Neion would have been given more attention. ^_^ The female lead might not have done what she did with the young king & the samurai & Choukun.  Would be interesting to see how the romantic Korean scriptwriter would have turned it.

This script by a man, is still a male's point of view. He seems to want to make women into...  women. The decisions he makes for Son Neion, might not be what a female scriptwriter would agree with. I certainly don't agree with what he did with Son Neion.

The ending is.. kinda ... well, I won't say it's no good, with that dashing samurai returning as expected but in his lovely western suit.  It ends the same way it started.  So, that's nothing to wow about.

Son Neion's son is also not handsome at all. And the drama creators didn't age Choukun, the young king & Son Neion enough (after so many years). Only the samurai looks noticeably aged (and handsomely so).

OOHhh... I have to see that handsome man in his dashing western clothes again as he smiles.  *goes to replay the scene*

It can be said he loved her to bits...  but she, I feel, is not worthy of his love when she saved her Ryuukuu at his expense. And even when she so-called loved him, she still slept with that awful-looking young king.

How can 2 persons (1 Japanese, the other Taiwanese) look so much alike? The resemblance is strange in this comparison. On the left: Here's my Amby (Ambrose Hsu) when he was around 25 yrs old. On the right is Tanihara Shosuke age 39 when he did Tempest.

The Tempest Japanese Drama 「テンペスト」

Tues 6 May 2:25am

I can't stand stupid women. What's the matter with her? Watching her, I very pek chek.  Just finished Episode 8. Aiyo shit. How can she have sex with that stupid king who is so much younger than her? Crap. What the heck. And she's supposed to be a genius?? *rolls up eyes* Can't believe it.

Who is the scriptwriter? *checks Wiki*  Oomori Sumio 大森寿美男. A man.  The same guy who did Nezumi-Kozo (starring Takizawa Hideaki).  Nezumi was quite nice, how come this Tempest has such lousy main character?  So unstable, the way she swings from brilliant to stupid.  (How come IMDb says he wrote only 1st episode when the Japanese official site states him as the scriptwriter?)

When she's a man (eunuch), she's brilliant. When she dresses as a woman, she becomes stupid. What is this? Transformation arts? Like those anime where the kid hero becomes cool & brilliant when wearing glasses & becomes silly when take off glasses??


I can't say Tempest is lousy, because it's not quite. There are 2 strong male characters there, with a quite good-looking Satsuma samurai Asakura. And the romance part is quite captivating. This untouchable romance thing because she's a man. I was waiting for more but episode 7 & 8, she's just disappointing as a woman. Totally.

I actually watched this drama to see Gackt. Hahahaha... silly funny man.  He died also with a funny expression. Jyo Teigai. What a name. Supposed to work for Shin (China in that era).

At first, the first 2 episodes were quite boring. I was giving it a chance & continued with the 3rd episode. It started getting better from there with the Asakura guy & I was waiting to see Gackt who later appears in episode... 5 (I think).

I heard of Tempest while checking out what people said about Gackt & in a forum, there was some mention of his role as Jo Teigai with his long tongue that he uses to pleasure women even though he is an eunuch. And some people said they were totally grossed out. So I was curious what tongue... CGI? I was having the impression that it was some kinda long snake-like tongue.

Turns out, his tongue looks real, just longer and with a point compared to other people's tongue. He probably practised in the mirror to make it look that way. I didn't know Gackt has a tongue like that? I don't think it was CGI-ed.

The pleasuring part... wasn't really there. Didn't see anything except Opium in a room with pretend-sleepy women.  His fans recorded scenes of his inane laughter on Youtube and I watched it, but in the actual drama, it wasn't anything that special.  His role was surprising very short. Around 2 episodes before he is killed.

The title says BS時代劇  「テンペスト」.  I keep thinking BS for bullshit every time I see it before an episode starts.  Bullshit period drama The Tempest. 

In episode 9, she's going to be pregnant. Ah, crap. This king is so... what an ass. Punk. Deepens his voice just to sound older. Goddamn punk.  A true wise leader would have reinstated her as the great Son Neion, rather than insult her by making her a woman. What a fool.  Both of them.

I don't know how true this Son Neion story is in real life history. I first heard of the Ryuukuu islands (present day Okinawa) in a recent news about China & Japan fighting over it.  I then read up on Ryuukuu's history from a library book (some time back & I have forgotten much of it because there wasn't anything significant.). 

China & Japan are still fighting over Ryuukuu even after so long. Because Ryuukuu was used as an administrative office for China at that time, their buildings & clothing reflect that.  Okinawa actually has its own dialect from since that time (which I was surprised & amazed to know when I read about it since I assumed it's Japan).

Last night, I was thinking it's a pity they allowed the Americans to set up naval base there. Some time back, that bad incident happened--US men raping an 8 yr old girl.  The Okinawans were naturally angry but I think nothing happened to get rid of the US presence there even though the Okinawans have been against it for a while.

There was a man from Okinawa who used to cook at the Jap food counter bar outside the cashier counters of Meidi-ya supermarket. He told bro & me that he was from there when he got to know us better (we ate there quite regularly).  He once gave us desserts in the form of cut red bean/green bean jelly diamond-shaped on a plate. Very nice man.

Around the last time we met him, he gave us a packet of red bean rice topping. Said to put it into the rice cooker.  The red beans is a celebratory ingredient. Said he was giving it to us in celebration of our Singapore's National day. ^_^  What a nice man.

He also gave me a tip on how to make the rice fragrant. He could speak just a little English while I could speak just a little Japanese. So, it was fun.

I do miss him. That last time... or maybe it was the last last time... he told us his wife and kids were around & nodded in their direction while bro & I were eating at his counter. We never did catch a look at his wife or kids.

Hmm.. I wonder if all Okinawans are like him. I will keep in mind they have a dialect different from Japanese if I go there one day. I keep thinking if I might see him there. If I do, I will disturb him about that Jap food counter that he left behind. Bet he doesn't remember me.

Sad that just before he left, there was an unfriendly Japanese man cooking in his place. He said it was his boss.

Well, we didn't like his boss's cooking anyway.  After the Okinawan man left, his boss left & the counter changed hands to some foreigner Filipino or such. Very lazy. Food must have been bad since very few people ate there. And 1 Japanese woman was so angry one day, she went back to complain loudly.  Something about some missing dishes she ordered but wasn't packed with her order (I can't quite recall).

フランフラン 閉じる Franc Franc: I am sad to see U go. 寂しい Lonely

Update 3:43pm 26 Apr Sat:  Taking back all positive comments regarding Franc Franc.

I was  just now changing my bed sheet & when I pat the mattress, white powder flies from it. Bro had previously told me that it's the memory foam or mattress top disintegrating into powder. Meaning their stock was old to begin with.

It has only been 1 year and 9 months ago. Although I didn't expect it to last long (since it's an unknown brand), I didn't expect it to disintegrate like this. Bro said their furniture is overpriced. I think it's better they close for selling such crap.

The bed is indeed very good & cooling, but it is turning into powder on top. 

-------------------

I love their last sentence in their closing announcement at their store entrance:  There shall come a time where we will meet again.

It sounds a lot like a Japanese promise.  "Surely" きっと kitto they will return. Sounds a lot less lonely.  Not a goodbye. Comforting.  I like it very much. Tanoshimini 楽しみに (looking forward to it), although bro & I think that once a company leaves, it's unlikely to return. Many companies left in the past never came back.

The sentence also reminds me of Jack Sparrow... "There will come a time when you have a chance to do the right thing.".

So far, no establishment has ever said it in this way. It's a very personal message. Not just customer and business. But a message from a friend.  T.T  Very touching in  a way.  "a time where we will meet again".

I also like the ending:

The management of Franc Franc,
casually and stylishly signing off.

Cool & "Betsuni". Like its no big deal. No disgrace.

In a plastic stand at the store entrance, the notice with red background says:

Dear Valued Customers,

Our Management regrets to inform you that we will be ceasing to operate in Singapore by May 2014.

Further reduction starts from 7th March through 31st May 2014 with JCube closing in April and VivoCity in May.

We would like to thank all customers for the generous
support given to us the past 2 years.

There shall come a time where we will meet again.

The Management of Francfranc,
casually and stylishly signing off.

(Final call additional 30% discount).

I bought my best ever bed from Franc Franc @ Vivocity. I blogged about it here. Has it been 2 years already? Lemme check my receipt... can't find it.  No, lemme check my date of post here... 07/07/2012.

Yeah, 2 years. Wow. My bed has a slight creak now, by the way, but it's still cooling & comfortable.

When Franc Franc first took over from Page One @ Vivo, I already knew it would not last long.

1) Too big floor area = very high rent
2) The things they are selling are luxury/ornament type of items. Furniture expensive. Although I really like their comfy sofas, it's just too expensive (& no space to put them).

Since their opening, the cashier has no queue, nobody seems to be buying anything. Bad sign.

Many months ago, even before their closure announcement, it was obvious they were not doing well.  Empty spaces meaning no stocking up and sloppy arrangement of the beds.  Previously (the time when I bought my bed), the 3 display beds were given pride of place but many months back, they were moved to a corner with things piled on top of them.

Jacqueline who patiently served me regarding the beds, had earlier on already left. I never saw her again after I purchased my bed.

This closure is no surprise, but still very sad. I hate seeing stores close down.  Yaohan, Daimaru, Carrefour, Page One...

Although the articles and the management don't say why Franc Franc is closing down, it's pretty obvious it's the high rent.

It's an embarrassment that Mapletree drove out our own homegrown bookstore Page One that now can only be found outside of Singapore.  What a disgrace. Is Mapletree owned by Singaporeans or foreigners?

According to that article, Habitat will be returning to Singapore.  Habitat.... Wow, I haven't heard that name since... ages. It's sounds so vague now.  I  remember mom used to go there. And I think we still have a piece of furniture bought from there?

While typing, I tell bro that Habitat is coming back.  Bro replies from his room, "Habitat last time open at Marina Square. At that time don't have Youtube. Marina Square... near the entrance. Near where Muji is.".  (bro is everything Youtube now ever since he discovered it & gets his education from there.).

"Are you sure????" I ask.  My bro's memory is amazing. If he says so, then it must be so. I totally don't remember.  And he is younger than me, so I should be remembering more since I was older at that time, but my memory is really crap.

"Are you sure it's Marina Square???" I ask.

"Of course." he says. "because I go there to look at their bulbs. Gui ah.". (Gui = expensive). "At that time, their bulbs were strange, their brand. Not Osram. I was very young, primary 5 or 6.".

*Shocked* "Then did we buy anything from Habitat?". I ask.

"Like bo leh..." he says.

Well, I am glad to hear a familiar name Habitat once again. Looking forward to seeing you again. They say it will be at the new Big Box @ Jurong East.

"Habitat closed due to poor sales, you know.". I say.

"Same lah. Franc Franc also bo lang go in." says bro. "I see Franc Franc I remember Habitat. Very vague idea lah, but I think it's Habitat.". 

(actually by my calculation... bro wasn't primary 5/6 at that time...his memory also not perfect.)

Kissing Causes Alzheimers (Parents Children Lovers Couples)

When I was young, my mom never kissed me on the lips. She said it's dirty for an adult to kiss a clean child. Germs can be passed that way. And adults are dirty. They eat all kinds of junk.  She always said a baby's breath is the cleanest & freshest.

She never let any one else kiss me either, and I was cute.

There was a prostitute who lived close by who always came over to carry me. I was a baby/toddler at the time. My mom was always afraid she would kiss me & I think she only succeeded in kissing my cheek which mom saw & didn't like. Henceforth, mom somehow prevented her from carrying me again.

Turned out mom was right. She said the Ang Mohs/westerners kiss their kids on their mouths, but it is very bad practice.

http://www.oprah.com/health/A-Link-Between-Alzheimers-and-Cold-Sores: 

Most people get it as children," Itzhaki says. "It's in your saliva, and it can easily be passed along with a kiss from a family member." She says it's not really that puzzling that most people who carry the virus never show symptoms—as she puts it, not everyone who's infected with a microbe is necessarily affected by it. "It depends on the person harboring the virus," she says. "It's probably based on genetic factors."

How might a germ you could have contracted from, say, a grandparent potentially destroy your brain when you become a grandparent?

As usual, money is a bad thing. It has been causing problems in the search for cures.  Pharmaceutical companies are evil.  The cure for cancer was found a lot time ago but it was buried. The methods currently in use kill people and yet nothing is done to change anything because it would mean the loss of billions for the pharmaceutical & medical industries.  They want people to be dependent on their drugs & methods.

Doctors push for operations just to buy themselves another car or other personal purposes.

The Hippocratic Oath has long become the Hypocrite Oath.

I won't be surprised if this funding problem & dismissal attitudes in this case is due to some pharmaceutical company/companies attempting to squash the study.

Money shouldn't even be involved. The search for cures should be above money.  This is for the good & betterment of Humankind. In turn, without money, it can translate to our betterment towards other species. This is not the vision of the future, but something that can be done anytime.

Everything in society in our current situation is manmade. It can be remade in any number of different ways anytime we want.  Not happy with something? Change it.

Just for instance, due to consumers' preferences & awareness,  companies are forced to sell better food & products.  It is possible to steer things in the direction you want. Currently, consumers are calling for the removal of toxic petroleum-based ingredients in many products including those for babies.

On the last page of the article however, ... I think it's a bad idea to even hint that people can take preventive medication when pharmaceutical drugs can cause visible & unknown side-effects or illness over a short term or long term use.

Anyone of the researchers looked into whether & how much the disease affects the Japanese people?