- Never Stop Dreaming -
Alrite the orders for the Death Note Nendoroids are closed. The stock will be shipped out to me by the end of September. Almost everywhere in Japan, the L and Misa figures are completely wiped out. The place that I got the figures, the status of the items were originally on PREORDER, then after preorders were closed, the status changed to COMING SOON and then last week, it officially changed to SOLD OUT. This means that unless you are on the preorder list, the item was NEVER available. From COMING SOON status to SOLD OUT status, there was just absolutely no way one can get the figures.
Darn...unless you want to buy them at a premium off Amazon Japan, which I have to remind you that the price is crazy, Lawrence and me are the only lucky ones to get these otherwise adorable figures.
So that`s it for the figures...now it`s just more shopping for me to get my winter gear ready.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Last weekend...
- Never Stop Dreaming -
For the past 2 weekends, I had consecutive off days on 2 respective Mondays. While one was a National Holiday, the other one was simply just a normal day off ( I think )...Well with no trnasport, there is nothing much I can do as I couldn`t go anywhere and I am simply stuck in my little shed. Yep that`s not a very nice thing to do on weekends but the little consolation that I got was that I had actually finished watching the anime Gundam Seed online...was diversing away from the usual CSI and I am pretty sure I will probably catch 24, which was introduced to me by my students.
Anyway, last Sat, I attended the Elementary School`s Sports Day for half a day which was great. However since everyone was supposed to bring their own lunch, I was such a dweeb to actually forget it. So out of goodwill, those kind teachers offered me some of their lunch which of course I declined. I cooked up an excuse that I had to be back home for lunch and when asked how I am getting back, I simply replied, "Well, I`d walk like I did every morning...". No hidden agenda here but simply I knew I would have a way to get home as I am not a retard to walk the full distance. But as usual, some teacher who would be SUPER kind to offer me a ride back and I would humbly accept. I guess to them, none of them had actually experience army so when they heard me walked 8 km home, most would foam at their mouths and explode in their mind figuring out how the hell I could do that.
Haha so army did do wonders after all but I detest going through it again, simply it`s just wasting my time and money and youth.
Alrite back to the sports day...yep those little kids were SoOooOooOoOo cute and I promise I will post the pics up once I get enough of my laziness due to the superb weather. Resistence is futile as the cool temperature and my comfy bed will weave magic to blur my vision, drop an anchor on my eyelids and eventually stupefy my senses...ok ok, back to the kids, their parents were there too, with cameras, mats and tents littered all around the school`s "field" (which is a gravel covered piece of land with sparse grasses.). As usual I whipped out my Canon EOS baby to fire away only to be destroyed brutally by the other cameras from the parents. Some even spotting 200mm lenses with a distinctive red circle on the tip, which is like a luxury line of lenses from Canon easily sporting a scary SGD$5000 and above.
So losing my momentum slightly, I continued to fire away salvo series of shots totalling like 500 odd shots for the day.
That`s about it for Sat and on Mon, while I was doing my usual shopping at the grocery store, the cute girl wasn`t there...*sigh* what a retard I was...ok ok I will look for other forms of cheap eye candy thrills.
For the past 2 weekends, I had consecutive off days on 2 respective Mondays. While one was a National Holiday, the other one was simply just a normal day off ( I think )...Well with no trnasport, there is nothing much I can do as I couldn`t go anywhere and I am simply stuck in my little shed. Yep that`s not a very nice thing to do on weekends but the little consolation that I got was that I had actually finished watching the anime Gundam Seed online...was diversing away from the usual CSI and I am pretty sure I will probably catch 24, which was introduced to me by my students.
Anyway, last Sat, I attended the Elementary School`s Sports Day for half a day which was great. However since everyone was supposed to bring their own lunch, I was such a dweeb to actually forget it. So out of goodwill, those kind teachers offered me some of their lunch which of course I declined. I cooked up an excuse that I had to be back home for lunch and when asked how I am getting back, I simply replied, "Well, I`d walk like I did every morning...". No hidden agenda here but simply I knew I would have a way to get home as I am not a retard to walk the full distance. But as usual, some teacher who would be SUPER kind to offer me a ride back and I would humbly accept. I guess to them, none of them had actually experience army so when they heard me walked 8 km home, most would foam at their mouths and explode in their mind figuring out how the hell I could do that.
Haha so army did do wonders after all but I detest going through it again, simply it`s just wasting my time and money and youth.
Alrite back to the sports day...yep those little kids were SoOooOooOoOo cute and I promise I will post the pics up once I get enough of my laziness due to the superb weather. Resistence is futile as the cool temperature and my comfy bed will weave magic to blur my vision, drop an anchor on my eyelids and eventually stupefy my senses...ok ok, back to the kids, their parents were there too, with cameras, mats and tents littered all around the school`s "field" (which is a gravel covered piece of land with sparse grasses.). As usual I whipped out my Canon EOS baby to fire away only to be destroyed brutally by the other cameras from the parents. Some even spotting 200mm lenses with a distinctive red circle on the tip, which is like a luxury line of lenses from Canon easily sporting a scary SGD$5000 and above.
So losing my momentum slightly, I continued to fire away salvo series of shots totalling like 500 odd shots for the day.
That`s about it for Sat and on Mon, while I was doing my usual shopping at the grocery store, the cute girl wasn`t there...*sigh* what a retard I was...ok ok I will look for other forms of cheap eye candy thrills.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wits and Guts...
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Since the "death" of my bike last week, I have been forced to take extreme measures to ensure that I go to work on time and get home in 1 piece. So without any means of transport, living 8 km from the work place and 1 hour walking distance from any main districts with a house located deep in the forest, what will you do?
Well, presented with a clear and present situation above right in my face, I sorted out realistic and realisable options and weigh the risk and return factors...I finally settled with only 2 feasible options...
1. Suffer at my own expense and try to pull through without losing a limb or two.
2. Suffer at other people`s expense and never stop believing.
Given that I tend to take risk more often than usual, I took the second option...So instead of walking 8 km thru the forest with God knows what kind of animals residing in it and awaiting a high cholesterol meal like me, I hijack innocent passing vehicles...hahaha
Well literally the word is hitchhike, which till date I have yet managed to actually solicit any passing vehicles in Singapore. So with my poor bike busted, I have no other options available so hitchhiking is the only way to get a free ride. So as of today, I have successfully hitch a ride to work every morning without fail to a close proximity of around 1 to 2 km from my school. Given that I have only started this insane stint last week with respect to my entire years of existence, it`s still a hell of an experience. All the drivers are male by the way, which makes perfect sense since no sane female would expose themselves to such risks and given that a huge percentage of Japanese females are pretty shy.
Most of the time, I am pretty lucky to get a ride within like 15 mins of walking from my house and it does really help if you can speak Japanese. Chances are that if they can`t understand where you are going, you ain`t getting on board. Yesterday nite was probably the most memorable journey till now. I went to Nagano City to get some paperwork done for my VISA, and got back to Komoro Station by train at around 1800 hrs which the skies were already stripped of any light with only a very faint glimpse of barely visable golden streaks lurking on the horizon. From there, I had to ask my way around to catch a bus back to Mochizuki town where I reside as there are like 4 bus stops instantly outside Komoro`s station.
As usual I did managed to find my way back by bus by politely striking informal and unrehearsed conversations with sweet high school students in their unbelievably short skirts. Alrite, I confessed I did looked at how darn short their skirts are but that`s about it...haha.
So the bus ride was about 50 minutes and when I got to Mochizuki, I still had to walk like almost an hour thru the complete pitch black forest path as there are absolutely no street lamps. And so after walking like almost 30 minutes with no success in hitching a ride, my hopes began to whimper and the image of resting on my comfy bed seems to fade. As I begin to climb the ardous slope up the forest path, I gritted my teeth and told myself never to stop beliving while secretly plotting insane tricks to get a ride home in the corner of my mind. Feigning to be injured looks pretty tempting as the virtual imagery plays in my head.
And then a mini Kei-truck pulls up beside me after seeing my hitchhike sign...I am saved! The driver was a young Japanese dude affectionately names Terry, which I am still trying to figure out the original motive for acquiring that name. So the much scary thought of walking thru the almost impossible pitch black forest vanished instantly...
There there there...it ain`t so bad after all, a few phrases of Japanese, wits and tons of courage will solve minor issues temporary I guess...so until I get my transport, I will enjoy these insane hitchhikes...haha
Since the "death" of my bike last week, I have been forced to take extreme measures to ensure that I go to work on time and get home in 1 piece. So without any means of transport, living 8 km from the work place and 1 hour walking distance from any main districts with a house located deep in the forest, what will you do?
Well, presented with a clear and present situation above right in my face, I sorted out realistic and realisable options and weigh the risk and return factors...I finally settled with only 2 feasible options...
1. Suffer at my own expense and try to pull through without losing a limb or two.
2. Suffer at other people`s expense and never stop believing.
Given that I tend to take risk more often than usual, I took the second option...So instead of walking 8 km thru the forest with God knows what kind of animals residing in it and awaiting a high cholesterol meal like me, I hijack innocent passing vehicles...hahaha
Well literally the word is hitchhike, which till date I have yet managed to actually solicit any passing vehicles in Singapore. So with my poor bike busted, I have no other options available so hitchhiking is the only way to get a free ride. So as of today, I have successfully hitch a ride to work every morning without fail to a close proximity of around 1 to 2 km from my school. Given that I have only started this insane stint last week with respect to my entire years of existence, it`s still a hell of an experience. All the drivers are male by the way, which makes perfect sense since no sane female would expose themselves to such risks and given that a huge percentage of Japanese females are pretty shy.
Most of the time, I am pretty lucky to get a ride within like 15 mins of walking from my house and it does really help if you can speak Japanese. Chances are that if they can`t understand where you are going, you ain`t getting on board. Yesterday nite was probably the most memorable journey till now. I went to Nagano City to get some paperwork done for my VISA, and got back to Komoro Station by train at around 1800 hrs which the skies were already stripped of any light with only a very faint glimpse of barely visable golden streaks lurking on the horizon. From there, I had to ask my way around to catch a bus back to Mochizuki town where I reside as there are like 4 bus stops instantly outside Komoro`s station.
As usual I did managed to find my way back by bus by politely striking informal and unrehearsed conversations with sweet high school students in their unbelievably short skirts. Alrite, I confessed I did looked at how darn short their skirts are but that`s about it...haha.
So the bus ride was about 50 minutes and when I got to Mochizuki, I still had to walk like almost an hour thru the complete pitch black forest path as there are absolutely no street lamps. And so after walking like almost 30 minutes with no success in hitching a ride, my hopes began to whimper and the image of resting on my comfy bed seems to fade. As I begin to climb the ardous slope up the forest path, I gritted my teeth and told myself never to stop beliving while secretly plotting insane tricks to get a ride home in the corner of my mind. Feigning to be injured looks pretty tempting as the virtual imagery plays in my head.
And then a mini Kei-truck pulls up beside me after seeing my hitchhike sign...I am saved! The driver was a young Japanese dude affectionately names Terry, which I am still trying to figure out the original motive for acquiring that name. So the much scary thought of walking thru the almost impossible pitch black forest vanished instantly...
There there there...it ain`t so bad after all, a few phrases of Japanese, wits and tons of courage will solve minor issues temporary I guess...so until I get my transport, I will enjoy these insane hitchhikes...haha
Monday, September 17, 2007
Scenes of Summer - 02
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Alrite here's some pictures of the views that I see everyday when I wake up, go to school and back from school. There are also those views where I travel to the grocery store except the picture of the girl who works there. These are just pictures that are within 10 minutes from my place...well it's only the beginning of autumn so everything is still fresh and green...
Here we go...these first 8 pics are what I see everyday when I go to school which I have inevitably taken for granted...All around Mochizuki and Asashina are mainly beautiful and vast rice fields which span great distances. A sight that will cast an astonishing awe to most urban dwellers...good air, almost negligent traffic and calander quality scenery.
This is just a series of long passes which I take to school since my little humble shed is located within the forests...haha.
More scenery to enjoy...and only on a good day can you see the huge Mountain Asama in the backdrop as it's usualy shrouded by clouds. Well I will certainly be paying those fantastic ski and snowboarding resorts in the mountains in late Dec all the way to late Feb to do snowboarding...haha. I will enjoy on your behalf so please work harder and drool more reading my blog... :p
Alrite here's some pictures of the views that I see everyday when I wake up, go to school and back from school. There are also those views where I travel to the grocery store except the picture of the girl who works there. These are just pictures that are within 10 minutes from my place...well it's only the beginning of autumn so everything is still fresh and green...
Here we go...these first 8 pics are what I see everyday when I go to school which I have inevitably taken for granted...All around Mochizuki and Asashina are mainly beautiful and vast rice fields which span great distances. A sight that will cast an astonishing awe to most urban dwellers...good air, almost negligent traffic and calander quality scenery.
This is just a series of long passes which I take to school since my little humble shed is located within the forests...haha.
More scenery to enjoy...and only on a good day can you see the huge Mountain Asama in the backdrop as it's usualy shrouded by clouds. Well I will certainly be paying those fantastic ski and snowboarding resorts in the mountains in late Dec all the way to late Feb to do snowboarding...haha. I will enjoy on your behalf so please work harder and drool more reading my blog... :p
Friday, September 14, 2007
Day 40
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Log 7002H19.90.41
Today is the 40th day in the new place. As the days passes, each nite I made reflections about everything that I have done so far. Made plenty of contacts with the locals and have proven those theories that I have noted so far. Nothing actually deviates from the studies which is a good sign. Courteous, friendly, humble, polite and accomodating are common traits to note from the locals.
Am still learning about them and their cultures that are specific to each zones and sectors. Despite coming in from the "outside", common physical similarities allows me to blend in with ease and without much attention which is advantageous since close proximity is the key to unlock the essential information.
Staple here varies which are dependent on preferences. Have not actually seen or ate anything fowl so far...mandatory meals are pretty well balanced between greens (fibres) and carbohydrates eventhough sometimes I can`t seem to figure out which is the main. Tastes do varies greatly at times but still they are acceptable...have yet tried the rumoured "Never Never" which is probably mimicking some eating sounds. However, a close variant was tested and indeed, it was pretty unplesant which leaves doubts to whether the actual one should ever be tested.
The atmosphere is slightly chilly from dusk till dawn and temperature will probably go lower when there is precipitation. Winds hardly exceed 5 knots since pine trees don most of the ridges. View is breathtaking, sometimes almost unbelievable. Since now it`s only the beginning of autumn, corps like corn and rice will be harvested soon leaving only huge plains of barren land awaiting stray growth only to be covered in snow sometime on January.
Will update as necessary,
Out.
Log 7002H19.90.41
Today is the 40th day in the new place. As the days passes, each nite I made reflections about everything that I have done so far. Made plenty of contacts with the locals and have proven those theories that I have noted so far. Nothing actually deviates from the studies which is a good sign. Courteous, friendly, humble, polite and accomodating are common traits to note from the locals.
Am still learning about them and their cultures that are specific to each zones and sectors. Despite coming in from the "outside", common physical similarities allows me to blend in with ease and without much attention which is advantageous since close proximity is the key to unlock the essential information.
Staple here varies which are dependent on preferences. Have not actually seen or ate anything fowl so far...mandatory meals are pretty well balanced between greens (fibres) and carbohydrates eventhough sometimes I can`t seem to figure out which is the main. Tastes do varies greatly at times but still they are acceptable...have yet tried the rumoured "Never Never" which is probably mimicking some eating sounds. However, a close variant was tested and indeed, it was pretty unplesant which leaves doubts to whether the actual one should ever be tested.
The atmosphere is slightly chilly from dusk till dawn and temperature will probably go lower when there is precipitation. Winds hardly exceed 5 knots since pine trees don most of the ridges. View is breathtaking, sometimes almost unbelievable. Since now it`s only the beginning of autumn, corps like corn and rice will be harvested soon leaving only huge plains of barren land awaiting stray growth only to be covered in snow sometime on January.
Will update as necessary,
Out.
Thank you all...
- Never Stop Dreaming
Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone who have sent me mails and replies regarding my post crash well being. I am really fine so dun worry and besides, having a few scars here and there are quite a fashion statement for me (Yeah right...). I am very well, alive, living off great food, snacks and sake...haha and not to mention the unnecessary attention that I am receiving being a foreigner.
Right now I am more concern over the recent spate of mind blowing news that`s sweeping both Singapore and Japan. For Singapore, it`s probably the case of Cpl Dave Teo being arrested for carrying a SAR-21 rifle while doing his uber cool shopping spree. I am not really paranoid about the tremors that hit SG due to the earthquake of Sumatra Island.
Well I really do not want to speculate or ride on Cpl Teo`s mishap but when it comes to affairs of the heart, no one can be sure what will happen next but I do know that usually a moment of folly will sealed one`s future so please rationalise with untainted sanity before taking any action.
As for the little video clip of a mask lady attacking the local paparazzi, that was totally uncalled for but I do sympathize her for being indirectly inflicted with unnecessary "fame".
Over to Japan`s side, the sudden news of the resignation of Prime Ministor Shinzo Abe was indeed shocking but like many others, it was already anticipated since exposure of the scandals within the cabinet. Still the news generated many questions and voids leading to many unfounded speculations as to why Shinzo Abe resigned.
Alrite, news aside, it`s the beginning of fall here in Nagano Ken...weather is good despite the occasional rain. Basically, it just feels like being in a air-con room in the mornings and evenings and mid day with the sun, it feels cooling like after a heavy rain. I have to start taking pictures of the magnificient scenery here before fall really comes as right now it`s just plain greenery beneath the blue sky. Soon it will be bright orange and yellow and by January next year, yes...all white and barren. I am pretty sure I will get the pictures up so do feel free to whine and complain why I am here and you are there... :p
Firstly, I want to say thank you to everyone who have sent me mails and replies regarding my post crash well being. I am really fine so dun worry and besides, having a few scars here and there are quite a fashion statement for me (Yeah right...). I am very well, alive, living off great food, snacks and sake...haha and not to mention the unnecessary attention that I am receiving being a foreigner.
Right now I am more concern over the recent spate of mind blowing news that`s sweeping both Singapore and Japan. For Singapore, it`s probably the case of Cpl Dave Teo being arrested for carrying a SAR-21 rifle while doing his uber cool shopping spree. I am not really paranoid about the tremors that hit SG due to the earthquake of Sumatra Island.
Well I really do not want to speculate or ride on Cpl Teo`s mishap but when it comes to affairs of the heart, no one can be sure what will happen next but I do know that usually a moment of folly will sealed one`s future so please rationalise with untainted sanity before taking any action.
As for the little video clip of a mask lady attacking the local paparazzi, that was totally uncalled for but I do sympathize her for being indirectly inflicted with unnecessary "fame".
Over to Japan`s side, the sudden news of the resignation of Prime Ministor Shinzo Abe was indeed shocking but like many others, it was already anticipated since exposure of the scandals within the cabinet. Still the news generated many questions and voids leading to many unfounded speculations as to why Shinzo Abe resigned.
Alrite, news aside, it`s the beginning of fall here in Nagano Ken...weather is good despite the occasional rain. Basically, it just feels like being in a air-con room in the mornings and evenings and mid day with the sun, it feels cooling like after a heavy rain. I have to start taking pictures of the magnificient scenery here before fall really comes as right now it`s just plain greenery beneath the blue sky. Soon it will be bright orange and yellow and by January next year, yes...all white and barren. I am pretty sure I will get the pictures up so do feel free to whine and complain why I am here and you are there... :p
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Macross (Valkyrie) 25th Anniversary Special
- Never Stop Dreaming -
This is especially going out to my bro for more than 10 years...Song. Yo bro I know you like Macross a lot so I did a check for you and I found a these...(click on the photo zoomer on the top right of the Yamato site for more pictures!)
1/48 scale VF-1S Macross 25th Annivesary Special (Click here for more info)
Anyway this is a really cool, special 25th Anniversary limited edition Black Macross VF-1S which will be released in Japan in Dec this year...so far the cheapest I have found is around SGD$170 before shipping and handling. Might be a little pricey bt the current conversion rate so let me know if you are interested.
And the other one is 1/60 scale Macross Zero VF-0S (Click here for more info) which is around SGD$190 before shipping and handling. Yep both these are fully transformable planes with removable pilots and realistic landing gear. Well the price is a bit of a factor and I am not urging anyone to get it but I might be getting one...just a slight possibility only.
Cheers brother...
This is especially going out to my bro for more than 10 years...Song. Yo bro I know you like Macross a lot so I did a check for you and I found a these...(click on the photo zoomer on the top right of the Yamato site for more pictures!)
1/48 scale VF-1S Macross 25th Annivesary Special (Click here for more info)
Anyway this is a really cool, special 25th Anniversary limited edition Black Macross VF-1S which will be released in Japan in Dec this year...so far the cheapest I have found is around SGD$170 before shipping and handling. Might be a little pricey bt the current conversion rate so let me know if you are interested.
And the other one is 1/60 scale Macross Zero VF-0S (Click here for more info) which is around SGD$190 before shipping and handling. Yep both these are fully transformable planes with removable pilots and realistic landing gear. Well the price is a bit of a factor and I am not urging anyone to get it but I might be getting one...just a slight possibility only.
Cheers brother...
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