All these pictures from friends going on exchange and all the talk about traveling during Chinese New Year gatherings is making me itch to get out of Singapore!
The holiday mood also hasn't left me since December as well and I so wish I could go on exchange or at least a holiday.

But once again I must remind myself, patience is a virtue and I should patiently wait for my turn and pray that I get my exchange next term (:

On a separate note, I have been in a really Kase Ryo mood recently, especially since I started on Shokuzai a couple of days back.
3 episodes into the series and I am totally a fan, every episode is so thrilling and it is filmed very well just like mini movies.
Each episode also covers different ugly issues that seem to be prevalent in the modern Japanese society but often hidden under the surface.

I also found out something else that is exciting! (to me only I think HEHE)
One of my favourite Japanese crime dramas, SPEC (starring Toda Erika and Kase Ryo) is coming out with a movie wheeeeeee.



I am a big big fan of Kase Ryo, there's just something so awkward and different about him that I find so awesome and of course he can act very well (:

I actually watched a few of his movies before I realised that he was featured in all of them and that's when I started to follow his films because I knew that it was highly likely I would like the films he chose to act in.
I've watched About Love, Nobody Knows, I just didn't do it, Honey and Clover, Tokyo!, Pool and my favourites Restless and Gravity's Clowns and I can't wait to catch SPEC as well (:
Although I am pretty sure I won't be able to find anyone who will be interested to watch with me but I am sure I can turn to Funshion :D

While I was youtubeing, I also came across a Japanese band called S.R.S.
Turns out the theme song of Gravity's Clowns is by them!



Featuring 2 Okada Masakis and a SX-70.
Their other songs are nice as well (:

Shokuzai (Atonement)

5 episode mini drama based on the book written by Minato Kanae.
Kurosawa Kiyoshi, director of Tokyo Sonata, became the screenwriter for the series and filmed it as well.
It is a mind-twisting psychological thriller just like Koukuhaku and Kurosawa Kiyoshi definitely utilises his expertise in the horror genre.
The cast is also very impressive, which includes my favourite Kase Ryo and many others who also have their share of critically-acclaimed films and series.
Kurosawa Kiyoshi, whom I realised likes to work with the same few artists over and over again, also features practically the entire Tokyo Sonata cast in this series.

But enough for tonight, one episode of Shokuzai has already left a great impact on me.
Shall continue with it another day, preferably in the day time instead (:

On another note, I was googling Minato Kanae and came across an article titled: 'New Writers Explore the Dark Side of Japanese Literature' which really caught my interest. It talks about a rising dark side in Japanese Literature with Minato Kanae's Koukuhaku (Confessions) winning the annual Hon'ya Taisho award and about the groups of female writers that are leading this change.

'...Could it be that the young women in Japan, whether they are writing melodramatic quasi-memoirs on cell phones or producing provocative literary works on paper, are the ones most sensitive to the dark undercurrent that permeates Japanese society, ravaged by a long economic slump? Does it explain why so many of them remain single and have stopped giving birth but write scary stories instead? Girls are losing hope for the future. Maybe we can reinstate it by listening to their voices.'

Fresh new start.

I finally found the song I have been looking for so long from Scent of a Woman!!
FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.



JK Kim Dong Wook's Bucket List.
The song was played during every freaking damn heartbreaking and realistic crying scene.
This is definitely my all time favourite Korean drama, and I barely finish any.
GREAT acting from both leads (I love Kim Sun Ah), beautiful scenes, some slightly cheesy lines but still tolerable, nice OST and a VERY good looking Lee Dong Wook. (:

Even though this is my second time doing the exchange application, it is still a pain in the butt.
And unfortunately, FH Joanneum (Graz, Austria) has an early application deadline so I need to stop procrastinating and hurry up zzzzzzzzzz.
As I was writing my exchange study plan, I started to daydream of traveling and this video popped into my head. (:



Enjoying a secure spot in my Top 25 Most Played in my phone, Camera Obscura's French Navy.
Love the song, love this bittersweet video.
A nice song doesn't necessarily mean that the video is nice but I really like this one!

Every once in a while, I will fall into yet another Damien Rice phase where I will put yet another one of his heart breaking songs on repeat for days and days.

Move aside Will.I.Am, Damien Rice is the true heart breaker.

After going on a hiatus due to her illness (and marrying the awesome mizushima hiro), Ayaka is back with a new album (:
She's my idol.
Very classy looking, great stage personality, great voice, faced her illness bravely and can also dress very well hehe.



And I'm really missing Indonesia.
It was just a good break and I think I really needed it.
Even though this team for the OCIP may not have been as bonded as Namaste, I felt like it was a much more eye-opening and meaningful experience.
Perhaps because I'm older now and I tend to pick up more serious issues and perhaps also because I was more involved as a member of the organising committee.
This time round I was in Programs instead of Logistics so definitely much more involved in the teaching part of the OCIP.

I realised I really like little kids, I got free kisses on the cheeks and lips from 2 cute little boys from this kindergarten called Elim Karos HEHEHE!
Next time I am going to inculcate the habit of giving goodbye kisses everytime my children go out of the house!
But I also realised I think I can only have 1 child.
I think I can't really distribute my attention and my care across a few children, I need to give my 100% to 1 child at any one point in time.

Also, I foresee myself going on more backpacking trips <3
Time to explore the rest of Asia!

And damn it, I need to start doing research for exchange application zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Still not sure where exactly to apply to, I'm only sure about Vienna and Budapest :/
Shall worry about this another day HEHE. :D