whimsical*girl

With all the hype about Haneda airport and direct flights (SQ, ANA, etc) there, my enthusiasm about Japan is re-igniting back to yesteryear's level! For some illogical reason, it could all have started off from the Nodame turned anime effect. I will find a means to get myself there soon, which my first attempt was to enter in an itinerary contest! *Please pick me, please pick me...*

While before that happens, I'd like to share my discovery of the day:

Kobukuro - Sakura

最近みった過ぎるのアニメが好き。

九月の中で　「のだめ」と「君の届け」と「夢パティ」と「メイド様」 全部は早いスピドが終わる。

「どうして好き？」の言って、自分もわからない。良い感じだからね。

すみません、日本語は上手じゃないで、いろいろ思って事は話さない。幼稚園レベルでしょう。

でもアニメのため、ピアノと日本語もう一回練習する。

じゃ次まで、日本語がもっと頑張ってね～

このブロッグポスト解っての人がある？

If I were to pick a must-do in London, it has gotta be catching a musical at the West End. I managed to squeeze 2 into my schedule - The Phantom of the Opera and its newly launched sequel Love Never Dies.

POTO was of course the well-known, well-loved and an unparalleled musical of all time. LND picks up the story 10 years later where the Phantom still yearns for Christine and lures her to sing in Coney Island, America.

In comparison to its successful predecessor, you'll probably be disappointed with LND as I initially was. It is not unexpected that the tone, the themes and the characters will evolve with time and so for a while I was trying to identify with the dissatisfaction felt. The build up was slow, picked up during the 2nd half and the end was flat. It was precisely too much width in the story that its depth had been compromised. This was however made up for by the superb cast and impressive set. Ramin Karimloo delivered such an unforgettable performance as the Phantom, that he's undoubtedly the one of the best around (imo). His soulful rendition of "Till I hear you sing" was simply stunning and left me deeply impressed. And not to mention the good looks, it's a lethal combination.

Thought I'd put a closure to it, before launching into frenzy writing of the trip.

So the whole of 2nd half of May was spent on the roads of Europe, my much needed annual vacation from routine life. On itinerary were London and Spain. We tossed and turned about Paris and decided to go for it at the very last, which I'm glad I eventually did.

This trip has been a rollcoaster.

What seem little was actually a lot. And just when you think you've seen it all, there are always new surprises at the turn of a corner and probably just as many that you've not even stumbled upon. I ended the trip on a sad note though, and returned ailing from the flu bug, till now. I think I struck lottery with a 100 days' cough. Missed home a little at the end of it all (surprise surprise), but right now I'm actually having post holiday blues. I can't say that I'm quite done with Europe yet.

I'm no food connoisseur but my philosophy is to try the good foods in Bali - while they aren't considered cheap by Bali's standard, it's at least a good half of the price for the same quality found back home. Here are some of our recommended eats, tried and tested.