Sex and Diamonds

This is for a new year!

2008-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

Happy 2008 and wishing you guys all the best!

I know this is late, but I've been spending the last few days trying to recover from my illness. It was especially bad on Monday, since I had to work until 8AM in the morning - yes, even though I was sick. The night turned out to be exhausting and I was in an extremely bad mood towards the end of the night. Thankfully, I seem to be recovering a lot quicker than I usually do.. so I am grateful for that.

2007 has been an interesting year to say the least, learnt a lot and met a lot of interesting people. One of the most important lessons of 2007 was learning how to deal with life in an optimistic manner, making the best out of both the good and the bad and learning that everyone goes through their ups and downs, it's how you deal with it that matters.

So I shall stop here before I start sounding like an old geezer, and on my next post I shall start talking about more cocktails and what not related to alcohol (in which I was supposed to discuss about this post, but NYE got in the way).

Until then, take care, be safe and love ya guts (no, not literally).

Cocktail Celebration!

2007-12-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

Ginger Lounge: Cocktail: Cream My Pants

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

I am so glad Boxing Day is over. One of the busiest times of the year (with probably the exception of New Years Eve), so I'm glad I survived with just another barman by my side.

So what have I been doing to celebrate Christmas? Going to Cocktail Lounges and experencing all sorts of new, interesting and different types of Cocktails. Probably one of my biggest new fascinations with my job is cocktail making. It's a style of drinks which has taken upon an art form. It's upto a bartender to make it fancy, tasty and interesting.

Thing is, it's so hard to make a cocktail that's "original" which hasn't been done before. There's probably thousands of bartenders out there that make their own cocktails and for something to be "original", you sometimes have to think outside the box. What do I mean by that? I'll elaborate on the next post.

So, as the year comes to an end and resolutions are made, I have a new short term goal.. to make a cocktail which is 100% original, and good enough to win a competition. Of course, that's only one of them. ;)

So, to end my post, I'm going to wish you all a Happy New Year and a wonderful 2008!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

So first of all, I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
So much has changed over the course of time I haven't been here. I've been so busy with work that I've barely time to breath.

So whats been new around here? As you can probably tell from the picture, I'm now working as a bartender. It's a fun job and I enjoy making drinks - and getting people drunk, but that's beside the point. I must admit life hasn't been easy for me ever since moving here, but I don't regret a single decision I've made.

Life has been good to me for the past few months, and I have a lot to report about.. which I will eventually get to, later. So hopefully I'll see more of everyone around.

Till then, take care :)

Back from a long hiatus

2007-07-23T06:52:00.000-07:00

I don't think it takes a genius to figure out, that I've obviously been busy for the past few months. What have I been doing and where have I been?

For the past few months, I've been in Melbourne, Australia. I've been very busy, even busier than before. I suppose this is partially due to the reason that I decided that I wanted to settle down somewhere for a while, and Melbourne provided that perfect opportunity.

So naturally, I'm taking this chance to further my studies AGAIN and probably work on a more normal job. Something I could add to my resume, that would make me look a little bit less air-headed and provide me with work experience in fields other than modelling.

I really haven't had the time to catch up with people recently, but how has everyone been? Good, I hope. Nothing new with my love life, incase anyone cares to ask. Oh, I did finally manage to get my hands on a digital camera though.. so I guess you guys can expect to see more photos of me soon?

Until then, Au revoir!

With Reason.

2007-05-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

I have nothing intellectual to post today, and nothing long either. I just want to say, I hate my father and even if he is a blood-relative, I could care less if he died tomorrow.

The End

Karma: It bites you back on the ass, hard.

2007-05-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

“Wal-mart... do they like make walls there?”
~Paris Hilton

Well, it is damn about time something happened to her. I feel as if she deserves it this time around. This article was taken from MSNBC.com

LOS ANGELES - A judge sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in county jail Friday for violating her probation, putting the brakes on the hotel heiress' famous high life.

Hilton, who parlayed her name and relentless partying into worldwide notoriety, must go to jail on June 5 and she will not be allowed any work release, furloughs, use of an alternative jail or electronic monitoring in lieu of jail, Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer ruled after a hearing.

The judge ruled that she was in violation of the terms of her probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case.

“I'm very sorry and from now on I'm going to pay complete attention to everything. I'm sorry and I did not do it on purpose at all,” she told the judge before he announced the sentence.

She was then ordered to report to a women’s jail in suburban Lynwood on the set date or face 90 days behind bars. The judge’s ruling excluded her from paying to serve time in a jail of her choice, as some are allowed.

As a city prosecutor said during closing arguments that Hilton deserved jail time, Hilton’s mother, Kathy, laughed. When the judge ruled, Kathy Hilton, then blurted out: “May I have your autograph?”

Paris Hilton was among a series of witnesses who took the stand during the hearing. She testified she believed her license was initially suspended for 30 days and that she was allowed to drive for work purposes during the next 90 days.

She said that when an officer who stopped her in January made her sign a document stating her license was suspended, she thought he was mistaken and did not actually look at the document.

Also called to the stand was Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz. Hilton and her attorneys characterized Mintz as a liaison between Hilton and her lawyers.

Mintz testified that to his knowledge Hilton did not drive during the 30-day period. He said he then advised her that he believed her license was no longer suspended.

The judge called Mintz’s testimony worthless and expressed disbelief at Hilton's lawyers.

“I can't believe that either attorney did not tell her that the suspension had been upheld,” the judge said. “She wanted to disregard everything that was said and continue to drive no matter what.”

Appeal in the works

Hilton looked forward and didn't speak to news media as she left court. Her mother looked upset.

When a reporter asked what she thought of the judge's decision, a visibly angry Kathy Hilton responded: “What do you think? This is pathetic and disgusting, a waste of taxpayer money with all this nonsense. This is a joke.”

One of her attorneys, Howard Weitzman, said he would appeal.

“I'm shocked, I'm surprised and really disheartened in the system that I've worked in for close to 40 years,” Weitzman said.

He said the sentence was “uncalled for, inappropriate and bordered on the ludicrous.”

“I think she's singled out because of who she is,” Weitzman said.

Hilton had arrived at the Metropolitan Courthouse 10 minutes late and ignored screams of photographers as she swept in with her attorneys, mother and father, Rick Hilton. Wearing a gray jacket and white shirt over black slacks and with a black headband on, she said nothing and appeared serious.

The celebrity case brought an unusual scene to the austere courthouse south of downtown in a commercial area. As if at a red carpet event, dozens of photographers and reporters lined up at the rear entrance. Yellow police tape substituted for velvet ropes.

Hilton, 26, pleaded no contest in January to reckless driving stemming from a Sept. 7 arrest in Hollywood. Police said she appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. She had a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent, the level at which an adult driver is in violation of the law.

She was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines.

Two other traffic stops and failure to enroll in a mandated alcohol education program, are what landed the socialite back in court.

On Jan. 15, Hilton was pulled over by California Highway Patrol. Officers informed her that she was driving on a suspended license and she signed a document acknowledging that she was not to drive, according to papers filed in Superior Court.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies stopped Hilton on Feb. 27 and charged her with violating her probation. Police said she was pulled over at about 11 p.m. after authorities saw the car speeding with its headlights off.

Mintz said at the time Hilton wasn't aware her license was suspended. A copy of the document Hilton signed on Jan. 15 was found in the car’s glove compartment, court papers say.

Hilton was also required to enroll in an alcohol education program by Feb. 12. As of April 17, she had not enrolled, prosecutors said.

Hilton, heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune, first gained notoriety for her hard partying as a teen. She attracted worldwide attention when a sex tape she made with a boyfriend was released on the Internet.

Romantic... or not?

2007-04-26T02:40:00.000-07:00

"I recently read that love is entirely a matter of chemistry. That must be why my wife treats me like toxic waste."
~David Bissonette

My friend showed me this, and I thought it'd be nice to share with everyone. A newspaper ran a competition asking for a rhyme with the most romantic first line and least romantic second line. So here we have some of those entries..

I thought that I could love no other
Until, that is, I met your brother.

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead, the sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.

Oh loving beauty you float with grace
If only you could hide your face

Kind, intelligent, loving and hot;
This describes everything you are not

I want to feel your sweet embrace
But don't take that paper bag off of your face

I love your smile, your face, and your eyes -
Damn, I'm good at telling lies!

My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life

I see your face when I am dreaming.
That's why I always wake up screaming

My love, you take my breath away.
What have you stepped in to smell this way

My feelings for you no words can tell,
Except for maybe "go to hell"

What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime

"I'd rather go naked than wear fur"

2007-04-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

"People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs"
~Dave Barry

I remember sometime ago, a certain crossdressing frog was complaning that PETA didn't have any artistically nude males for their ads. Well, here's one that I just happened to find.

The first ad campaign features... one of my favourite male supermodels, Marcus Schenkenberg

Too bad it wasn't a full body shot. Oh well, it's good enough, I suppose.

The Reality of Reality TV

2007-04-15T04:18:00.000-07:00

“Ideas attract money, time, talents, skills, energy and other complementary ideas that will bring them into reality.”
~Mark Victor Hansen

It is an illusion that we are sometimes given, to believe that reality TV will always automatically spawn celebrities upon the end of a season. It's not entirely untrue yet it's not entirely true either.

One of the best examples of a reality TV show that has actually produced a 'celebrity' – that doesn't fade within two months – would be no doubt, “American Idol”. Kelly Clarkson, currently one of America's most popular singers was discovered on this show. I'm sure I probably don't have to go into long extensive details about her, because I’m pretty confident that most of you should actually know who she is. If you don't keep up with pop culture, switch on the radio, watch MTV or read the Entertainment column. You really can't miss her.

Next up, we have a show that doesn’t really produce much of a 'celebrity' but rather a 'winner'. “America's Next Top Model”, sound familiar to y'all? It's the show in which supermodel Tyra Banks is supposed to train a bunch of girls within a certain amount of weeks so that they can become the next American supermodel. I will admit that these girls – some of them anyway – can model but it's just not enough to be a supermodel.

Karl Lagerfeld once made a remark, saying that the show was “trash that is funny for five minutes if you're with other people. If you're alone, it's not funny. Those girls will never be the next Gemma Ward. There is no justice in the fashion business.”

Sadly it's quite true what Lagerfeld said. The show prizes the entertainment and drama factor over a real potential model. I won't deny that the show does give some girls a chance to break into modelling, but to call the winners “America's Next Top Model”? That's a joke that's not even funny.

Simply because

A) The girls who produce the most drama is the one who stays. They should rename the show and call it “America's Next Top Drama Queen – who models on the sideline”.

B) Most of the girls who actually make it to the show have the potential to be the model, but they don’t really have that spark of uniqueness that a supermodel should possess. That and their not stick thin enough (no, I don't support anorexic models but that's the reality of the industry).

So it's sort of interesting to see how many of us watch reality TV shows, ignorantly believing that the person we see is actually going to be the next big celebrity when, all the show has given them is only a chance in the industry. It is from that point onward, that they themselves work towards becoming a celebrity. It was once said, once upon a long time ago that...

Nothing good in life comes easy.

You have to work for it. So what are you waiting for? Work.

Are you ready to be America's Next Top ~~Drama Queen~~ model?

The Qingming Festival: Respects to the Dead

2007-04-07T03:57:00.000-07:00

"I do not believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear"
~Woody Allen

Yesterday, my parents flew in from both Japan and Australia for one very special occasion. The Qingming festival which takes place every April 4th-6th. This festival is probably one of the most significant festivals in Chinese culture to deal with the afterlife. It is required of every family to sweep the tombs of their ancestors and pay some respects - by offering food, money and bowing.

So in my case, I've never really met my grandparents, meaning I don't really hold a sentimental attachment towards them. It is, of course, only proper that I pay my respects at their tombs - even though I haven't met them. So we took a little taxi up this mountain area in which my father's parents were buried.

This is actually my first time attending the Qingming festival - because I was always overseas during my earlier years - so it's quite an eye opening experience for me.

Upon entering the cemetery, the aromatic smell of incense was one of the first things to welcome me. There were hundreds of people all around the graveyard, some who carried the ashes of their loved ones in boxes, and some who simply buried their loved ones in a coffin under the earth.

My grandfather was cremated, so naturally we headed over to this area where all the ashes were kept. He was also, like the others, stored in a nice little box. Beside his box of ashes were some flowers, fruits and incense. My father bowed first (3 times), followed by my mother and than finally by me. I don't exactly remember what was going through my mind when I was paying my respects, but I think it went along the line of something like, 'I know you might disagree with my lifestyle, but I still hope you'll bless me from above'. I'm not particularly religious, but I sometimes like to think that there actually is a higher being.

So upon leaving the cemetery, one thing I noticed was that the people around me were acting in very interesting ways. One woman was bawling her eyes out in front of a tomb, while a younger couple seemed to be talking to the tombstone. The sight is somewhat saddening, but at the same time, I was also thinking to myself

"What the hell?"

It's an interesting festival though. My mum also said something very funny on the way home though, she told me that when she dies, we don't have to buy expensive bouquets for her. As long as we think and remember her, that's enough.

Amen

Gay Men, Fashion and Women

2007-04-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone."
~Coco Chanel

Once upon a time, there was a myth which said that gay men were fashionable little flaming fairies that would prance around in lace skirts and hot pink petticoats.
Well, we know they're all wrong - or at least I hope they are - concerning the stereotypes of gay men. One thing I have came to understand and realize though, was the difference between your daily average gay man and a designer.

Other than the obvious facts that designers are innovative trained tailors with experience and knowledge in the field of fashion, there are other things which set the two apart from one another. This is, as uninteresting as it may sound to most of you, an appericiation of women.

I'm not talking about being sexually interested, because obviously no man whose gay would be sexually interested in women, otherwise they wouldn't be gay now, would they? I'm talking an artistic appericiation of women. It's having the ability to view them as beautiful while not feeling sexually attracted to them.

I don't like to make assumptions about people, so I'm just going to make facts based on my experience. Most gay men I know would never even bother with a glance at a women whose gorgeously dressed, while they always seem enamored by the next most gorgeous man to walk pass them. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with caring about your dick and only your dick, because who am I to judge another man?

I suppose in my opinion, I have a respect for people who have respect for women. I'm not a girl and I'm not sexually attracted to them, but one thing I do know is that I don't only care for the male species. Why am I saying all this?

Because there's a certain breed of gay men out there who say dumb things like

"We don't care for women. We don't care for straight people either!"

And that pisses me off. You wonder why some people hate gay men huh?

My first girl friend and best friend

2007-03-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere."
~Tim McGraw

Have you ever been through a period of time when you tried to deceive yourself into believing that if you dated a girl, you could try and become straight?

I have, once upon a time when I was very young. I was about 12 years old when it first happened and - as hard as it may be to believe - a loner too. I didn't really have any friends because I was studying in Australia at the time, and a lot of people who've studied there, will tell you that Australians are a bit racist.

So I was very lonely and constantly picked on by other kids, just because I was asian and no one tried to really understand me - that is, all but one.

Her name was Sarah Lovett, and while she was kind of tomboyish, she was also very pretty at the same time. She had something about her which made her different from the other kids. She was energetic, she was loving and above all, she could see someone for who they were and not be phased by all this popularity bullshit which high school kids only care about.

Sarah had a thing for me, and I admit that I wanted to try and see if I could be straight. We dated for about 2 months, but it didn't really work out for obvious reasons. We still remained good friends though.. and unlike most people who say "Let's just be friends". She actually stayed by my side as a best friend.

She never cared much about being popular in high school because she was always herself, a unique individual. She would stand up for me when all the other kids in class made fun of me - this meant, even against her own friends. She also tried to get into anime and not simply see it as 'a cartoon' (as the other kids liked to call it).

To me, she was one of those friends whom you come across a lifetime and will always remember no matter what..

Whether it was life or in death, I pray that she finds the peace she's always deserved.

Rest in Peace girl..

Pride: The importance of believing in oneself

2007-03-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

"Nothing makes one so vain as being told one is a sinner. Conscience makes egotists of us all."
~Oscar Wilde

One hour in the shower, twenty minutes to assemble the perfect outfit and another thirty minutes spent on grooming myself - spraying cologne, styling hair, moisturizer and all that. This is how long it usually takes me to get ready every day, usually resulting in me having to wake up earlier than normal.

I'm a vain man and I won't deny it. I take great pride in my appearance whenever I'm in public and in front of others. I can't pass by some reflective surface and not look at myself to make sure I'm still good looking - of course, I do this all quite discreetly.

In my opinion though, its important to always look your best whenever you meet someone - as a sign of respect to yourself and to the person - and while it may also come across as vanity and narcissism - which I won't deny, I have the first but not the latter - it helps to make an impression on that person. I may have said that appearances aren't everything in this world, but a lot of the time, people do judge you based on how you dress. It's a fact, not a myth.

I am a very proud man and that pride probably makes me who I am. I'm not very arrogant though, because I do have a modest opinion about myself. However, I also hold the belief that I can be better than others if I try harder - at least, in terms of skills and abilities that I take pride in. I'm not one whose ever really afraid to show his flaws, but most of the time, I never feel the need to show them as well. I try to be as perfect as possible, and if I can't, I try to make others see this imperfection as perfect.

Pride, which can also be translated into confidence - sounds nicer, doesn't it? - has gotten me very far and taken me to a lot of places. People feel intimidated by brutal honesty and at the same time they respect people who can speak their minds without finding the need to criticize them every other moment. My confidence comes from knowing who I am, without being intimidated by what others have to say about me. That is not say that I don't accept criticism, I take it all in, just that I'd rather think of it as ways to improve myself - if I agree with what is said, that is - and not be shattered just because someone dislikes me or what I do.

The other thing you need to know about me and my pride, is that I always have an opinion about something. I do fight for my opinions, but I don't ever believe that it contains the whole truth or the only truth. I hold respect for other people's belief, so I expect them to hold the same type of respect for mine. If they don't, then they can just walk out and it wouldn't bother me.I do everything I do because I'm sure of myself and what I want to do, and I don't relinquish it simply because others don't believe in me. I'm here to prove myself to only myself and I'm not here to impress others.

Come to think of it, I don't think my pride has ever really affected anyone in a bad way, because I've never felt the need to step on others to defend my pride. Have tact, and be constructive if you feel the need to criticise.

People who truly have confidence in themselves are rare, and people who doubt themselves are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger - and this means, the former outshines the latter.

Exhaustion: Tiring days and the like

2007-03-23T03:21:00.000-07:00

"Living in a constant chase after gain compels people to expend their spirit to the point of exhaustion"
~Friedrich Nietzsche

There are things we're bound to love and things we're bound to hate about our jobs. If you ask me, partying - or as they like to call it, socializing - is one of the most tiring responsibilities of my job. It's ironic considering most people like to party, but I find that without the right people, it can be mentally straining and very tiring.

In the past few days, I've only had one day in which I wasn't bothered by agents, clients or friends from work. Most of the time, if I'm not attending go see's and auditions, I'm spending my time at the studio or socializing with the designers, clients, agents and whoever else is related to my job. I don't really have much qualms about staying up late, but I really dislike having to scream over the loud music - considering that even the private rooms aren't very quiet - and drinking too much. Not only do they make you drink and drink and drink.. you still have to work off all the fat in the morning!

Sometimes I just wish all these 'social' occasions could take place at a quieter place and they could hold somethign like a cocktail party. I much prefer just sitting around and chatting - as opposed to screaming.

I understand every job has its pros and cons, I just feel like complaining about the cons once in a while. I still love my job regardless though, because I'm thankful for all the opportunities it gives me while at the same time, I'm able to enjoy what I do - to a certain extent.

It may not apply to everyone, but the pros outweigh the cons in my opinion.

Shopping: The Ultimate Bitch

2007-03-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

"Half the world is composed of idiots, the other half of people clever enough to take indecent advantage of them"
~Walter Kerr

There’s nothing that irritates me more in this world than people who don’t have manners. So now, let me tell you the story of a bitch who couldn’t keep her trap shut.

Once not so long ago – in fact, today – I decided that I wanted to go shopping in Central, Hong Kong with a few friends. The weather wasn’t exactly ideal since it was kind of cold and that required us to wear an extra few layers.

That wasn’t all too bad until we came across the Cartier boutique. We came across what I’d like to deem a “monstrosity”. She was about five foot tall, wearing a hideous dress sported in pink polka dots on top of a black canvas and to top it off, she was wearing slippers. Now, don’t get me wrong here. I don’t usually make fun of fashion disasters, even if I do think they’re absolutely hideous. This girl was an entirely different story by herself though.

The first thing I noticed about her – other than the fact she was wearing an extremely hideous dress – was the fact she squealed whenever she was delighted with a piece of jewelry, if not, she’d go "URGH" when she saw something that displeased her. Keep in mind; she did both of the above actions, very loudly. So that wasn’t all…

"Oh darling! I’m a size 7!"

I’m not sure what in the world she was referring to, but I’d like to think she was just talking about ring size. That was the last straw, and it wasn’t even ten minutes after I had entered the Cartier boutique. I just turned around and stormed right out of the store, not before making a remark to one of her friends about "people who can’t keep their fly traps shut".

Honestly, no one needs to know what size you’re ring finger is and no one cares about your opinion on the jewelry. If I ever see her again while shopping and she starts screaming, "Oh look! I’m a 37 D", I will not hesitate to strangle her with the bra she’s holding. Last but not least, learn to respect others when you’re in public and don’t scream or make weird noises unless it’s necessary!

What a bitch, she really does bark the loudest.

Anime Review: Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou Chou

2007-03-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

Aisurumono yo shinisourou e
愛する者よ死に候え相思相殺
My beloved, prepare to die

Basilisk - Kouga Ninpou Chou
Warning: NC-17 for Violence and Nudity

Click here for the OP for Basilisk

Synposis

For years, the Tokugawa Shogunate has prospered in peace and now the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu is finally finding the years of death coming closer to him. Listening to the voice of his adviser, he summons the heads of the Kouga and Iga Ninja clans to him.

For four centuries, the two clans have been at each other's throats, their common goal being to eradicate each other. Then the previous Hattori Hanzo had called for them to stop their feud and seal a pact to serve the Shogun for the peace of the country, which the clans reluctantly agreed to. Things are however about to change...

Each clan is to be the Champion to each of his two grandsons. The pact has been revoked! Ten selected ninja champions of a clan must be killed for the other to claim victory. The patron of the victorius clan is hence proclaimed to be the successor to the position of the Shogun.

The battle unfolds in intrigue befitting these ninjas of intrigue. Ninpous fly as their mysterious powers are unleashed in the gathering storm.

In the center of this storm, stands Gennosuke of the Kouga and Oboro from the Iga, the two heirs of the clans who are deeply in love and possessors of powers deadly to the ninjas. What will happen to them when they learn of the revocation of the pact?

Ten ninjas of a clan must fall! However who shall fall along with them?

Synposis was taken from Anime-source.com

Review

Story: The story which was based on the popular manga by Futaroh Yamada, is what I consider a deeper and darker version of Romeo & Juliet set in Feudal Japan.

The story is quite simple, considering the fact it's practically just a story about war between two clans. However, simplicity doesn't necessarily mean its boring, for its actually quite the opposite for Basilisk. The plot carries not only an unexpected twist but unbearable tension, which makes you want to just keep watching until you can't dig any deeper.

More importantly, this whole story which revolves around both romance and revenge, makes Basilisk a classic masterpiece.

Score: 9/10

Characters: One of my favourite things about this anime, was the number of characters you could actually sympathize with. It's like watching a reality TV show where there's never a clear line to distinguish between the good and the bad. The diversity of the characters and their jutsu (ninja art) makes each and every character unique and set apart from the rest.

One of the more interesting things about Basilisk, is the way it focuses on its characters, taking you more in-depth to understand the characters and their motives.

Considering how unique each character is, the show will generally have you rooting for one and cursing at the other.

Score: 10/10

Graphics: The animation is absolutely beautiful. It also does contain some female nudity and violent animation, so it's recommended that only mature audiences watch this anime.

The fight scenes are extremely well done and will generally leave you trembling in your seats wondering what'll happen next.

As Studio GONZO - better known for having done the animation for Black Cat, Chrono Crusade, Full Metal Panic, Hellsing and Gankutsuou - is in charge of the animation, this anime is nothing short of spectacular in terms of graphics.

Score: 10/10

Music: Marvelous job. The music was just right, never overbearing and always fitting for the mood. The use of the koto (Japanese harp) and shakuhachi (Japanese flute) also added a very nice touch of Feudal Japan.

Score: 9/10

Overall: There's only 24 episodes in this anime, making it pretty fast paced. If you can stand the blood, violence and nudity than you should really go watch it.

Total Score: 48/50

Need I say more? Go watch it now!

Random Trivia: The Japanese movie Shinobi starring both Joe Odagiri and Nakama Yukie, was based on the manga Basilisk. It was honestly a disappointment when compared both to the anime and the manga though.

P.S The reason I decided to start a post on anime reviews was because I realized that some of my readers were actually quite into anime.. and yet there's quite a number of good animes out there that's not getting the recognition that they deserve. So I'll be doing this every month until I run out of good animes.

Lust: Sex, sex, sex and more sex. It's all about sex.

2007-03-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

“When you feel a connection, a gut connection, a heart connection, it's a very special thing. What's familiar to everyone is watching people falling in love; it doesn't happen on screen that often. People fall in lust and then they're suddenly together.”
~Alfre Woodard

Sex, it’s all about sex. If you’re straight and you think about sex every 7 seconds, than it’s probably every 4 seconds if you’re gay. You could be walking into the gym locker room and checking some guy out and the next thing you know, your practically eye-fucking him. Your eyes connect and somehow you end up in the shower. Gee, I wonder how? Chances are, for this moment, you’ll end up thinking “Fuck that guy I was dating. Fuck my boyfriend. I’m with this gorgeous guy right now, so screw all that!”

Have you ever done that?

I can’t say I have, since cheating is taboo for me – unless it’s an open long distance relationship – but to sleep with someone while I’m single, is a different story entirely.

I’ve slept with, a good number of people, none of which I was in a relationship with. I’ve done my blood test consistently to make sure I’m fine too. I also know people are probably going to label me as a slut after reading what I just said, but I have my morals. Being single entitles me the right to be promiscuous without having to feel sorry for anyone. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to have a boyfriend one day – because if I had a boyfriend, I’d be very loyal to him - it just means that until that day, I have the right to sleep with whoever I want without feeling guilt.

Sex can sometimes be boring though. It’s a given that emotions play no part in this “love making”, so the only gratification left to be received is to be determined by how skillful your partner is. Sometimes they can be fantastic, sometimes they can be average and sometimes they can be absolutely horrific.

There’s only one time in which I recall ever being really lustful for someone though. I don’t know if it was because I did feel something for him, or because there was just so much unresolved sexual tension that it just exploded the minute we let it out. Whatever it was, it was both fantastic, and I dare say, horrific, at the same time.

I won’t reveal his name online, so let’s just call him J. J, who was asian with a tall and lean build, was working as an event manager when I first met him at an audition for some voice over work. He was approximately 10 years older than me, but he didn’t look it at all. I wasn’t really sure whether he swung that way when I first met him, but we hit it off quite easily and became good friends only after a few days. It was a few days later when he drove me to another audition – since he insisted that I go – and afterwards we had a drink at Friendster Café at Damansara Perdana where he revealed to me he was bisexual. He also told me about the first time he jerked off a mate of his in high school in the locker room – this was in Australia, in the same high school my brothers attended, funny enough.

It doesn’t take a genius to find out that I wanted him. The funny thing is, even after revealing to him that I was interested in men, the both of us didn’t do anything at all. We just continued talking and this went on for like about a month or two every time we met. It was only one night when he was finally drunk; he asked me if he could kiss me. I was sober but I was kind of high at the same time. I let him kiss me and we continued on like this for about, say, 3 minute tops?

I went home and afterwards nothing happened. So that’s the end of my story… I’m serious! Oh okay fine... so there’s more...

He came over to my house one night, when he was drunk at about 3AM in the morning. I’m generally a nice guy so I don’t mind if people disturb me, as long as there was a decent reason behind it. So I just slipped on my jeans and a singlet and invited him into the house. We talked for a bit and all, but there must have been a reason for him to come disturb me this late at night, and if there wasn’t, well, I could have my fun. Let’s just say I got what I wanted all night long in any room possible to exist in a house. However, that means that the rest of the story isn’t anyone else’s business, but mine.

I suppose somehow I did have feelings for this man. He was nice, definitely attractive – nicely toned body, looked younger than his actual age and charming smile – was successful in his job, and he was a smart guy. What more could I ask for? You see, his one flaw was enough to overshadow all his strengths. He would promise me a lot of things, and 9 out of 10 times, he wouldn’t have it accomplished.

I don’t really talk to J anymore these days, he’s been busy and I have been as well. He actually asked me a few days later whether I wanted to be with him, but I suppose I couldn’t fathom the idea of being in a relationship with no promises, so I told him no. I don’t regret the decision I made though, because I’m happy the way I am.

It’s almost been a year since that incident, but I still remember it quite clearly. It’s true while I was displeased with something about him as a person, I still lusted after him. There’s just something exciting each time you do it with someone you fancy. It’s just a matter of their skills which makes the journey either fantastic or horrific.

On that note, we shall end here for today.

Envy: The Greenest of Sins

2007-03-11T01:37:00.000-08:00

"Envy is mere unmixed and genuine evil; it pursues a hateful end by despicable means, and desires not so much its own happiness as another's misery."
~Samuel Johnson

As the vouch for envy came before lust, I’ll talk about the greenest of sins first and then write about the sin of craving bodily pleasure next time.

I must say, envy does not really become of me. I won’t deny that I do fall victim to its hands sometimes and when I do, it becomes quite a destructive emotion to dwell within me.

I remember the first time I really ever felt envious of someone. It’s kind of embarrassing to bring it up now, but it seemed like the world to me back then.

I was attending Kindergarten in Melbourne at the time and I had just recovered from lymphoma. I think it’s typical of most kids to want to play with the newest toys and I don’t think I was really an exception. You see, there was this Hispanic boy in my class whose name was Benjamin. He was – in my memory, at least – kind of retarded and slow-witted, not to mention he wasn’t exactly the best looking bloke with his mouth constantly hung open. I wasn’t envious of his slow nature, but rather the fact that he had a Nintendo game boy - keep in mind, this was years ago and the game boy was one of the best consoles out there.

It wasn’t fair! Why did this little twerp – whose looks and intelligence was fit for a donkey – get to play with the newest and hippest console? My parents didn’t even buy it for me and I was one of the smarter kids in class! If that wasn’t enough at the time, the kid wouldn’t even let me play with it for a few minutes. It took a lot of self restraint from wanting to poke him with a pencil, but I held back.

That was about 16 years ago, so let’s leave that behind and never bring it up again, shall we?

Sometimes I still feel envious of how carefree some people can be. These feelings of desire and jealousy tend to fade the minute they appear though. It’s ironic but when I hang out with other kids who are just as old as me, I feel as if I’ve missed out on a whole lot more of life than I can imagine. Truth be told, I wish I was still schooling at the moment, with the luxury of being able to go clubbing and playing games in your spare time. Heck, I even wish I had the luxury of sitting around and talking about cute guys.

All these things seem so alien to me when it should seem normal. These are, however, only passing thoughts which pop up in my mind occasionally though, so it never really affects me. I just need to remind myself why I do what I’m doing in a realistic world where men eat men.

Envy comes in many different forms, and it can be harmful depending on how it’s manipulated. Every human has the ability to be envious, it's whether we let it take over us that determines how harmful it is. I don't think I'm envious... much.

Sins: The Epitomy Of Man

2007-03-08T00:52:00.001-08:00

"Some rise by sin, some by virtue fall"
~William Shakespeare - from the play, Measure for Measure

I'm a little bit busy today, as I'm caught up with designing clothes for fun. So I'm just going to let my readers determine what my next post will be about. Read the question, leave a comment with your preferred answer. The option with the most votes will automatically determine what I'll write about in my next post. On the other hand, you can finally post comments! Woo hoo!

Seven Deadly Secrets
Pick one of the following seven sins, in which you want me to write about in my next post

Sloth
Gluttony
Greed
Wrath
Lust
Envy
Pride

I'm not expecting a lot of votes since I don't exactly have a parade of readers. Oh well, it's all in the spirit of fun. Who knows, I might even reveal a dirty secret

Shallow is the heart of man

2007-03-07T01:53:00.000-08:00

"For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it."
~Ivan Panin

I'm a very argumentative person, although most of the time I don't bother wasting my time with fools if they cannot be bothered to listen. There's a funny quote that someone once told me a long time ago, this quote also made me realize that I don't have to bother with people who aren't willing to reason.

Trevvy Forums: Fugly Couples

When I first read this post, I was appalled. Do you really find the need to degrade someone just because they're ugly? Honestly speaking, I think that it's immature and to believe that good looks will equal success is such a naive way to think. I won't deny that good looks will help you out to a certain extent, especially in the world of entertainment (fashion, theatre, film and music). Besides, people forget that plastic surgery is available these days.

It can get you only that far though. There's a million pretty faces out there, what most of them might lack though, is skill. Not everyone is photogenic, knows how to walk down a runway or pose and distort their body.

A good example is Ian McKellen who played Magneto from X-Men: The Last Stand, Sir Leigh Teabing from the Da Vinci Code and Gandalf from Lord of the Rings - that's just a few of the many roles he's played. He's an excellent actor and I hardly deem him as good looking. He's old but I still respect him, and he's gay too.

So putting the entertainment industry aside, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are two extremely ugly men who are by far successful. They are the perfect examples, for the both of them have revolutionized the IT industry and that is purely skill and not one ounce of their looks matters. They opened many doors leading to many opportunities simply using their knowledge, not their looks.

Charles Frederick Worth, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld is another perfect example. They are all not good looking but they are all very talented men who have revolutionized the fashion industry - especially Charles Frederick Worth. These men didn't get to their current positions because of their looks, they got there with talent.

To sum it all up, my point is: Just because you're ugly, doesn't mean that all doors will slam shut in your face. Just because you're good looking, doesn't mean all doors will automatically open for you.

I choose to try and find a type of beauty thats internal when it comes to making friends. I could care less if you're old, ugly or have a disability, because I'm just making friends, it's not like I have to kiss you every other minute because we're friends. I don't deny that when I choose a lover though, I'd want someone whose at least decent looking with the prerequisites of being a friend.

I'm a very cynical person, that's true. I'm a kind one though, and I'm not shallow. So "ugly people", just because you're not gifted with looks from god, take comfort in the fact that some people will look at you for your talent and whats inside rather than how you dress and all that load of crap.

Okay, I'm done. Till next time~

P.S I hope I haven't offended anyone here. I'm extremely straight forward about my opinion, but I like to try and be nice about it too. Most of the time, it's never anything personal.

Androgyny is beautiful, in its own way.

2007-03-06T00:15:00.000-08:00

“Androgyny is not trying to manage the relationship between the opposites; it is simply flowing between them.”
~June Singer

Sometimes one of the stupidest things that can ever happen is when I get mistaken for the opposite gender. It's not the first time this has ever happened either, and I'm aware of that.

The first time it ever happened, I was in Singapore, waiting for an MRT to arrive. I happened to be carrying a drink that day – which isn't allowed, when you're waiting in an MRT station. I had longer hair back than, which came down to about my armpits. It was layered with different shades of hazelnut brown highlighted through it; however, the front of my hair was a lot shorter. It was so short I could almost spike it up.

So I was waiting for the train when a few Malay guys kept staring in my direction – and I looked behind, but there was no one. It didn't really bother me until I overheard what they said when they were swinging their head in my direction: “Gadis itu cantik” – which basically translates into, “That girl is pretty”. I was trying to hold in my laughter. It was funny, for the first few minutes, but it wasn't so funny when one of the MRT staff came up behind me and said “小姐, 我们这里能带饮料” – or something like that, and that translates into “Miss, you can't bring drinks in here”. I suppose he got the shock of his life after I opened my mouth, because I don't exactly have a girl's voice. I'm a Baritone, so my voice is kind of deep without being too deep.

That was that. I don't exactly dress feminine - at least not that I remember - but people do sometimes mix me up for a girl – which is one of the reasons why I cut my hair short. I don't dislike looking androgynous, in fact I love it and embrace it, but sometimes when the whole world confuses you for the opposite sex, it's gets on your nerves. My features derive from my mother and that probably explains why I got feminine features.

There is one thing which gets on my nerves though, and that's the first impression I generally make with people. Most of the time when they see me, they're convinced I'm some sort of sissy boy. No offense to anyone who is a sissy – because I still respect you for being you and for daring to live your life the way you do – but I know I look like a girl sometimes, and I can't help that (short of shaving my hair, and that looks ugly on me) but, there is one thing I can assure you, I'm not a sissy. If anyone ever calls me that – and this isn't going to sound cute, but I'm still a nice guy! – I'll punch your face in till you have no teeth left.

These experiences still happen occasionally, and sometimes it can draw some quite cute and handsome but straight (I wonder...) guys over. So I suppose there are advantages of not looking like an absolute beefcake. The only irony is that girls these days tend to find my look more attractive than guys. Such a sad world, it's so unfair!

Oh well, time’s up for today. Till next time~

Yoshiki of X Japan. It's like a split personality or something.

The Small & Simple Things In Life

2007-03-04T00:38:00.001-08:00

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
~Leonardo DaVinci

It’s another lazy Sunday afternoon for me, a perfect day to relax. Come to think of it, I haven't had much time to really rest and relax in the past month. It's sometimes tough having a hectic life, but its time like this; you learn to really enjoy the small things in life.

I generally love having the company of my friends, but sometimes having others around doesn't really allow me the time to just sit down and think or relax. I mean, at this very moment, I'm just listening to the music while chatting to my friends over messenger. It might seem very boring to some people, but at this point and time, this sort of peace and solitude is just what I need.

More than anything, it's a time for me to rest and recharge my batteries. For this moment, I can just drop everything that's old and think about the new things I want to do. I can find the inspiration I need to continue on what I'm doing now and to begin what I haven't started. Sometimes even I don’t realize it, but it’s all the small and simple things, which gives me inspiration to keep going, to be better than I am now.

It’s always easier appreciating what you have around you than moping over what you don’t have. If you can learn to appreciate the simple things, you can also learn to appreciate life.

Remember, it's the small and simple things in life which people always tend to be unable to appreciate.

Personal Flavor

2007-03-03T06:41:00.000-08:00

“I would much rather have regrets about not doing what people said, than regretting not doing what my heart led me to and wondering what life had been like if I'd just been myself.”
~Brittany Renée

I'm not afraid to admit that I have a taste for guys which sometimes might seem weird to others. Generally speaking, I'd like a guy whose soft-spoken, kind, intelligent and well, perfect. It's always somewhat impossible though, so let's scrap everybody's favourite Mr. I-Am-Too-Perfect-To-Even-Exist and move onto something else we could settle for.

Bad boys, I have a real thing for them. I'm not talking about thugs or gangsters who are out to kill each other every other week, but someone whose outgoing in a crazy way and daring. It's probably something that's dangerously sexy about them, a mix of intellect, guts and a playful attitude towards life. I'd easily settle for someone whose decent looking & fun to be around than a bland gorgeous guy. I suppose in its own way, I want someone whose opposite of what I am. Someone who'd make me less of a cynic. Haha, we can all wish, right?

I'd still settle for Mr. Perfect though - if he ever comes along in this lifetime.

Mitsuyuki Miyake, 三宅光幸

Although I find this guy absolutely hot, my friends seem to disagree. Oh well, this is my personal taste after all.

So, what's your personal flavor?

P.S I know I promised an update about China and its dirty waters, but my brother lost the cables for his digital camera. So I guess that means you won't be seeing my amateur photography until he digs up the cables.

Happy Belated Chinese New Year!

2007-02-21T07:02:00.000-08:00

"Like Weather, one's fortune may change by the evening."
~Luu Mengzheng

Happy Belated Chinese New Year everyone~!

All the best, may you all be rich, score cute/handsome boyfriend/girlfriends and all be healthy!

I apologize for the delayed post but I really have been quite busy lately, with family reunions and what not. I'm currently in China at the moment, so as most of you can imagine, I am bored out of my mind. Everything other than the supermarkets and McDonalds is currently closed.

It's ironic that the most festive time of the year is also the dullest. It's not like there's more than one family reunion to attend. So eventually the Internet, DVD machine and Playstation 2 end up becoming your best friend. Before anyone ever says anything about cute guys, there are absolutely none over here - nearly none anyway.

The only occasional "decent" guy somehow reminds me of a lala zai cross ah beng in winter clothing. There was one guy who caught my eye though - for about, two seconds. This tall buff European guy who looked pretty handsome, but he was way too enthralled in the Chinese girl next to him to be gay, so I didn't bother.

So with absolutely nothing to during the holidays (which last about till next Wednesday), I'll probably pick up a book to read and snap a few photos of China and its ugly brown waters so I can write up a review to post up next time.

Till then, take care.

P.S Just because it's the Year of the Boar, don't end up being fat and lazy like one okay?

Valentines: Of roses and chocolates

2007-02-14T06:01:00.000-08:00

“Which is loveliest in a rose? Its coy beauty when it's budding, or its splendor when it blows?"
~George Barlow

Probably the most commercialized and in significant day of the year, but nonetheless it's a joyful occasion. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that I'm talking about Valentine's Day.

I've never really celebrated Valentine's Day, considering I spent my last 18 and a half years single. The only time when I wasn't single, I wasn't even in the country to spend Valentine's Day. Come to think of it, no guy has ever given me a chocolate - on Valentine's Day. I suppose its karma, because I've never given another man chocolate either. In Japan though, the women give men chocolate on Valentine's Day, and the men return the favor on White Day (March 14th). I am suddenly reminded of an incident though...

It was about 4 years ago when I was still studying in High School. I wasn't exactly living in the most crowded province of Japan, but it was big enough. The little province where I went to school was known as “Chikushi”, residing in the Fukuoka Prefecture.

I received a few chocolates here and there from the girl's back then, however, what really intrigued me at the time, was when another guy – and mighty good looking too, at least, last I saw – from another class dropped a box of chocolates into my locker. He was slightly taller than me – okay, maybe half a head taller – with gorgeous features, mesmerizing eyes and a smile that could melt your heart away in an instant. I remembered thanking him, but I didn't say anything more than that. It only hit me a lot later, that he might have been interested in me. I could have almost kicked myself for realizing so late, but than again, I am quite oblivious to my surroundings on certain days. We didn't really speak after that, occasionally he would greet me, but that's about it. It went like this all the way till I left Japan. A real pity, for me anyway.

So anyhow, I don't encourage people to have a pessimistic person on Valentine's Day just because you're single, because that’s not having a very positive outlook on life. Don’t be a bitter single, you'll grow wrinkles and grow old!

So why do I call Valentine's Day an over commercialized and insignificant holiday? Well you see...

Anyone who has a decent understanding in marketing would find it logical to raise the price of flowers (or whatever can be commercialized and put to sale) during this upcoming insignificant holiday. Boys run around buying flowers and treating their lovers to dinner – even when they're dirt poor – because, it makes them feel macho and that in turn makes them feel happy. The person who receives the treat is also happy because they can feel beautiful and loved. So in the end, the businessman is happy, the boy is happy and his lover is happy. Everyone's happy!

That is, bitter singles aside. Oh well, we can't all be happy now, can we?

Love and Hate; Winners and Losers

2007-02-10T00:29:00.000-08:00

“Have you ever been in love? Horrible, isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your heart and it means someone can get inside you and mess you up.
~Neil Gaiman

I was thinking about my very first relationship the other day – ironically, it’s the last one too. It really has been a very long time, and yet while it probably never affected him in anyway, I changed.

There was once a time when I was dependent on others to survive. I needed to know people cared for me. I tried so hard to please everyone around me, only to end up alone. At one point in life, I had thought of this life as a fairytale, that I’d meet someone, fall in love and live happily ever after. So when I met him, we both fell in love with each other. No, that’s probably too strong of a word; we were infatuated with each other.

However, if my life were a movie, the words “The End” would appear on the screen. The viewers then believe that the couple lives happily ever after, what bullshit. They never show what happens after those words appear because that’s when real life begins and the fairytale is long over.

Reality is facing the harsh fact that love can’t keep you both alive and that you’re partner is fantasizing about the guy sitting at the table behind you. It’s like waking up to a nightmare, and the worse part is you can’t hide or run from it. So when human nature had set itself into motion, we began to drift apart. We argued a lot more often and I found myself cursing him than feeling fond of him.

I drew the last straw when we couldn’t come to a compromise. Neither of us wanted to give in, and both of us were too prideful to just apologize to the other. Perhaps we were too alike one another, and that’s why I had felt fond of him.

Somehow this relationship had royally messed me up though. It followed with six months of depression, indescribable pain and jealousy, and it made me really feel at the bottom of the world, no, below hell would be about right.

When you have too much of something though, it manifests itself into something else. The line between genius and madman is very thin, and so is the line between love and hate. It was probably the only way I could have dealt with the pain back then, but my love for him manifested into hate.

I hated the fact that he just came into my life, threw everything upside down and left me to clean up the mess. He didn’t make it an effort to make it any of his concern. I was left alone in the dark and I cried, cried and cried until I had no tears left.

Once weak and once vulnerable, I swore to never be like that again. It’s a morbid way of thinking, but it’s easier to kill than be killed. Losers don’t make it far in this world; only winners come out on top. The winners? They were all selfish, ruthless but intelligent people. Good people will always be good people, but they aren’t always winners.

Maybe that’s why I can’t stand people who have weak willpower and no motivation in life. It probably reminds me too much of an Andy I left behind. Who knows?

P.S I am so sorry for not updating for about a week plus. I'm currently in Hong Kong, and I'm finding it hard to make time for the internet on this vacation - blame the parents.

Also, I'm aware people can't really comment on my posts.. so I'll try to get that fixed soon! Cheers~

The Yurei of Toyotakeza theater

2007-01-25T04:54:00.000-08:00

"La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid"
~Pierre Ambroise Francois Choderios de LaClos

It was a time long before 'the Ring' was ever known, or any other Japanese ghost story featuring undead little girls for that matter. It was Okiku who became one of Japans first well known ghost.

An extremely old tale better known as Bancho Sarayashiki to those of Japanese origin. The story begins with Okiku, a maid who was serving under Aoyama Tessan - a samurai in the service of the Shogun. Okiku was entrusted by Aoyama with the task of taking care of the family heirloom - ten draft plates. So skipping a whole bunch of unimportant dialogue, eventually Aoyama hides one of the plates and tricks Okiku into believing that she lost one of his ten precious plates. Aoyama then offers to overlook the matter if Okiku becomes his wife, in which she refuses. So he gets angry and tosses her down the well.

Ever since then, Okiku becomes a yurei. So she haunts the family in the most "horrifying" way possible. She counts from 1-9 over and over again till you go insane.

By the way, this is the original version of the tale. There are a few variations out there.

--

So why did I bring up this tale? I went to see "Okiku, A Tragedy Retold" currently being held at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. I decided that since I was friends with the producer, it'd be nice if I showed him some support - in which I did.

The stage was simple and at the same time, complex. It was kind of interesting since you could fold the walls to create many different sceneries. The show wasn't too crowded either, leaving us with a lot of space. It was way too cold in there though.

In terms of acting...

I think Louisa Chong was probably the best actress in the entire show. It's not that the others are bad, she was just a lot better. She was never over-dramatic and always seemed to be in character, which is important as an actor. I think the others were okay as well though. Overall, it wasn't too much of a let down.

Now my only REAL big complaint is costumes.

I have no idea what in the world Aoyama's wife was wearing but it seemed someone accidently sow an ugly green fur coat over her "kimono" - if you can even call it that. I can't believe JPKL was sponsoring this production and they couldn't even provide this show with a decent kimono.

As for Aoyama's costume, there was actually light reflecting off his gi. If you can't be exact in terms of material, don't try to make it worse. Why people always think bling will save the day is beyond me.

That aside, the show was bearable. If you have the time and you enjoy theater, do try and catch the show. It will be playing until the 28th January at Kuala Lumpur Performance Centre.

For more details, you can refer to the KLPAC website @ www.klpac.com

On one last note, the quote at the top of my post actually means "Revenge is a DISH best served cold" in french. I hope you get the pun.

P.S Toyotakeza theater is where Okiku was first staged in 1741.

The Eternal Debate On Beauty

2007-01-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart"
~Kahlil Gibran

Beauty is something hard to define. In fact, I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to define what beauty is. Just because someone may come off as attractive to one person, doesn’t mean he’ll appeal to the boy next door. So the question is, how can you tell someone's beautiful?

A few days ago, I met this really attractive boy (even though he’s older, he talks and acts like a kid) at a cafe. On the surface, he’s everything I’d look for in a guy – clean cut, tall, possesses a fashion sense, looks decent and has a toned body. Unfortunately, I didn't hit the jackpot because while he was beautiful on the outside... well, let's just say that before he opened his mouth, I was actually quite interested in getting to know him.

“Are you a top or bottom?”

That was the first thing he went ahead and asked me. I’m sorry, but I find it extremely rude and offensive if the first thing you’d like to know about me is which position I play in bed. So I held it in and gave him an answer, in which he asked me

“How many times can you cum?”

Okay, I have an extremely low tolerance for people who use their dicks to think instead of their brain. I mean, if you want to get into someone’s pants, at least be smart and seduce them first – not that I’m encouraging it or anything. That was the last straw. I just excused myself saying I have an appointment to attend and left. So this person who was my prince charming on the surface turned out to be another sex-crazed maniac. Not so beautiful after all.

The next time you think someone is attractive; spend sometime finding out more about him or her. I’d rather have an intelligent decent looking guy with a stable job for a boyfriend instead a hunk with no brains, no matter how hot he is.

Beauty is subjective in opinion and preference to each individual though. So if that’s your cup of tea, by all means. As for the answer to my original question, you can't. Not unless you wish to judge people in a superficial manner.

-----

P.S Since someone requested a picture of me, here it is.

This is me when I was 17, taken at a Purikura (the photo sticker machines) in Shibuya, Japan after a local designers fashion show. I know I look girly in this shot, but I can't help it. It's a bit old but I just realized it's one of the last few good photos I've taken that's not from a magazine. I suppose being in front of the camera too often can make it repulsive.

My hair's a bit shorter and black now. There's a few other minor changes through out this period of time so next time when I get my hands on a camera that doesn't belong to the studio, maybe I'll try to post up some new photos.

It's What You Call An Introduction

2007-01-18T23:17:00.000-08:00

It’s just another Friday afternoon. People are busy running around as usual; some are busy rushing to complete their assignments while others are just having lunch. So here I am, laptop in hand, sitting down quietly at a small corner of Midvalley’s Starbucks trying to make an entry.

I suppose my mind is quite blank at the moment even though there’s a J-Style exhibition going on 3 floors above me right now. This is going to sound really cruel but I’m not really interested in seeing local girls dress up as maids or gothic lolitas.

That aside, I should probably just start off my first post with an introduction of sorts. Let’s see, what can I say about myself…

I’m 20 this year, half Chinese and half Japanese, but I was born in the United States. So that makes me American and that’s all I can tell you for now.

I’m an extremely independent individual. I’m extremely honest with people and rarely ever do I spare their feelings. Some people like to think I’m arrogant and others like to think I’m cynical. I won’t deny those claims because people are subject to their own opinion, not that their opinions are necessarily correct though. I will tell you here and now that I’m not the type of person to look down on others unless you actually give me a proper reason to. It’s not like I dislike people because it’s fun or something. I just really can’t stand stupid & dense people.

In my spare time, I like to hang out with my friends. I love to shop because it’s the perfect way to kill time when you’re out with your friends. I also take an interest in a lot of things, but my few main interests lies solely in art (acting, fashion, modeling, photography, singing). I’m also a big fan of Hugo Boss, Ermenegildo Zegna, Xavier Delcour, Alexander McQueen, Dolce&Gabbana, GUESS, Emporio Armani, Versace and Calvin Klein.

I hold a bachelors degree in Hospitality Management, although it isn’t the field I actually want to break in. I’m currently doing freelance jobs for several agencies and magazines, mainly commercial modeling. Although I have plans to further my studies in Australia, I’ll probably still continue to pursue my dreams in hopes of becoming a famous actor one day. It’s just a dream for now though.

When it comes to music, I’m open to anything although I’m not extremely fond of techno. I’m a very big fan of Japanese music and I think Koda Kumi rocks while Ken Hirai is my ideal guy – even though he does have the voice of a soprano, he’s only ideal in terms of looks though. I also like listening to English songs a lot, but I’m more rock orientated when it concerns western artists though.

Koda Kumi~!

Ken Hirai~!

I want to meet people who can go through life constantly trying to improve themselves. Not only in terms of personality, but also in terms of intelligence, appearance, etiquette and confidence. I always think it’s important for people to have a realistic grasp of themselves, and at the same time to love & treasure what they have been given. We’re all born with something different, some are lucky and some are not. I think it’s important to realize that no amount of whining, crying and bitching can ever change that. So if you’re one of those people who never stops saying things like “I’m fat” or “I’m ugly” than I suggest you stay far away from me.

Last but not least, I don’t like to associate myself with stereotypes because I don’t think you can define someone just by simply using society’s stereotypes. You can’t just call someone “macho” or “sissy” by looking at them. If any of you like to pass such quick judgment on people, than you should probably just label yourself under “shallow & bitchy”, how about it?