I don't know how I ever thought of checking out Asimo while in Japan. But I just found myself asking Atsuko-chan when we had drinks how to see Asimo. And being the science and technology journalist that she was, she knew exactly how and where. So on the morning I was flying back to Bangkok, I went to the Honda showroom in Aoyama. My luck, they had an Asimo demonstration that Sunday morning. And oh my goodness, move over Arashi and Takuya, I'm in love with another Japanese. His name is Asimo. And he's a robot.
Dear BB,
I'm on my way!!!
So who isn't happy about the Golden Bell result, especially for Best Actor?
Now, for best actor, I was hoping, and expecting, Zaizai to win.
Okay, Zhao You Ting (Mark) was good but I agree with most netizens' observation that the GBA panel seemed to have judged him based on his being a newbie. For a newbie, certainly, Mark acted well.
BUT.
His role was one-dimensional, it did not show depth in characterization. On the other hand, Zaizai's role was more difficult to do. He was good and at the same time bad. He was funny, at the same time pathetic. And Zaizai managed to get across the constant struggle of his character.
That is why I think Zaizai deserves the award more.
Ah well, another year, another GBA. They don't fail to disappoint anyway, always.
Let's see now if there's truth to the GBA curse. That would be unfortunate for a newcomer like Mark who still has a lot to offer though.
It's been two years since I was last there.
And I missed it so.
As Puffy Ami Yumi sing: "Tokeeeeoooohhhhh I'm on my way!!!!"
* watch the cityscape from the Tokyo Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku
* have a drink at the Park Hyatt (@cnngo recommends to go there at sunset and leave before 6pm to avoid the killer tax surcharge)
* meet up with Atsuko-san
* catch the screening of Snowfall in Taipei at the Tokyo International Film Festival
* check out Uniqlo and HMV and the bookstores
* watch the Shibuya crossing from Starbucks
* eat sushi & sashimi at Tsukiji
* say hello to Tokyo Tower again
* check out Roppongi (which is near my hotel)
* maybe check out Harajuku too and the shops in nearby Omotesando
Oh so many things I want to do, I hope there will be time! I just want to sit back and soak in Tokyo this time.
This is my view from my flat as of 15 minutes ago.
And when the dark skies finally released its fury, the skyline of the city which I could normally see from my window practically disappeared. I closed the heavy drapes scared of the lightning and I actually heard the water sloshing against the glass windows and the veranda. I'm on the ninth floor but I am scared that the water will get to me; there's water seeping through the gap of the glass door I'm scared it will flow into the carpet. But one can just imagine those in eastern Manila watching as the floodwaters seeped and took over their homes.
I've never been scared of rain, in fact I love it as I said earlier because it's always a good time to curl in bed and read. But of late, nature has become scarier. Typhoons in Taiwan and the Philippines, earthquakes in Samoa and Indonesia and they brought floods and landslides, claimed lives and properties.
I was on my way to Manila on that Black Saturday (September 26). My flight was delayed for two hours but I didn't realise until we arrived in Manila how bad the situation was. After all, the Philippines is along the typhoon belt, storms are of regular occurence. But it was an entirely different story when we landed; our plane was grounded on the tarmac for an hour and I was stranded at the airport for six hours. That's nothing compared to those who lost loved ones and properties that's why I consider myself lucky.
The Climate Change talks ended today in Bangkok. There was little optimism that much will be resolved. The world's rich countries still refuse to lower their emission targets, if at all. They're rich, maybe they can afford the cost of nature's fury that their pollution dump into the rest of the world. But what about poorer countries?
I love the rain but now, it brings fear.
Mahliza, my 12-year-old niece, got addicted to Why Why Love while we were vacationing. Her mom, my cousin took her to the salon to have her hair rebonded. It was going to take three bloody hours so I let her borrow my iPod so she won't get bored. for some reasons, she ended up watching WWL. I have no idea how or why. she was raised in the US, have no idea about Asian dramas (her older sister loved to watch Gossip Girl in my iPod) and yet, she got addicted to a Taiwanese drama whose stars she hasn't even heard of. and since then, she'd watch the episodes every day and ask me questions on why this happened etc. To an innocent (and extremely shy) 12-year-old girl, there were things in the drama that were still not within her comprehension I suppose. And it was refreshing to see it from the perspective of a young girl. I was happy of course when she told me she prefers Huo Da (Mike) than Huo Yan (Kingone) for Jia Di (Rainie). A light bulb quickly lighted up in my head... I just recruited someone into the RM ship!
Mahliza's four-year-old brother, TJ bonded with my sister so much they were practically inseparable. TJ has lots of allergies and he survives only through French fries, rice crispies, milk and apple juice. The first time I saw him, he practically hid under my cousin's skirt except she wasn't wearing a skirt. It took a while for him to warm up to me and even then, not totally warmed up. But he's such a sweet little boy who loves to say "I love it here" in his soft voice.
One time, Mahliza and I were talking about WWL and her 10-year-old sister Allyson joined us. Ali is such a bubbly kid, the kind with the witty comebacks in sitcoms. And I told them about Devil Beside You.
Me: It's a story about stepsiblings who fell in love with each other.
Mahliza & Ali: Eww! Stepsiblings?
Ali: That's gross!
Me: Not exactly, they're not related by blood.
Ali: But still... you mean, they go to the same school, go home to the same house and they're dating?!
Me: That's why the drama is so interesting. You wanna watch it? But you have to promise me you'd watch it only after you do your homework otherwise, I'd be in trouble with your mom.
Ali: Well, we do homework for like 10 minutes and after that we're free to do anything.
Now I have to burn DBY and WWL for my new recruits to the RM ship.
On record, this is what she said.
But this was edited out of a TV interview:
"I don't want to comment... I am professional. I am well educated. I don't betray my friends and most importantly, I don't have any ambition."
Did someone just say OUCH?
Grapevine says she-who-shall-not-be-named tried to stop the airing of her radio tirade (maybe after she realised the extent of what she did) but it was too late. She already stepped on some people's shoes.
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