Bari-Uma Ramen @ Jaya Shopping Centre, PJ

It's been a long time since I last ate ramen, not to mention eating out with Mum. Since Jaya Shopping Centre just opened recently, we decided to check out the newly rebuilt neighbourhood mall to fill up our grumbling stomachs. There are still not many tenants hence the number of eateries are limited as well. Mum was craving for something soupy & the ramen shop, Bari-Uma Ramen came to mind. I didn't have any specific preference, so I willingly obliged.

Bari-Uma Ramen reminded me of Goku Raku Ramen in terms of price range & the menu offering. The easiest way to test out whether a restaurant is good is by ordering its signature dish. I always believed a good restaurant should be able to execute its signature dish well as communicated. It's one of the essential factor to gaining success. I ordered tonkotsu shoyu ramen while Mum called for another ramen & a bowl of Japanese fried rice.

The noodle portion turned out to be slightly smaller than expected. Nevertheless, the noodle texture is pretty nice & it sure does live up to its claim of being hand made. It's a pity that the noodles were a little overcooked, not as springy as I thought it would be. The broth was a slightly tasteless even though it looks appetizing. On the other hand, the fried rice that Mum ordered was delicious.

I would give an overall rating 3 out of 5 for this restaurant. The portion is rather small despite charging averagely at RM20 per dish. I think the food was too expensive, lacking the value we paid for. Taste wise is alright, if you know which appropriate dish to order. Otherwise, I'm not exactly sure if I would pay the next visit.

Address:

Bari-Uma Ramen

L3-11, Level 3

Jaya Shopping Centre

Jalan Semangat

46100 Petaling Jaya

Contact:

03-7932 2958

X-Men: Days of Future Past

I remembered blogging about the movie, X-Men: First Class some time ago raving about how refreshingly new the franchise is with the change in screenwriting & directing style. I was so elated that there will be a sequel to the franchise & eagerly anticipated for the release. It's unbelievable that I have waited for almost 3 years for the sequel to finally arrived at theatres.

If you think Michael Fassbender was amazing in the first movie, wait until you see him in this film. He's sizzling hot & hunkier than ever. How can a prisoner looks so incredibly gorgeous? It's sinful to be going head over heels over such character. Guilty as charged. ^^

The exciting bit about this movie is that both the original casts & the new casts come together to bridge the time differences between past & future. The general idea is to tie the loose ends left from previous X-men film plots. Interesting as it can be, the execution was not exactly perfect & the reason Professor Xavier is still alive after being disintegrated by Jean Grey in Phoenix mode was left unexplained.

The pace was fast when the film is needed to be & slowed down in time for the audiences to grasp the intricate storyline. The battle scene at the beginning set the right pace, providing momentum for buildup in the 2nd half of the movie. If only more time was allocated for future scenes with more original casts in action. After all, it's a rare chance for them to assemble in the same movie after more than a decade. Nonetheless, the film is definitely a must-watch.

I'm not revealing any spoilers here. Best to buy a ticket & be blown away by the spectacular duo, James McAvoy & Michael Fassbender's performance. And those who already saw it will surely agree with me that there's one uber cool scene that no one could afford to miss. Best. Scene. Ever. Kudos to Bryan Singer & team! Now what are you waiting for? Go run to the theatres get yourself a pair of tickets to this awesome summer blockbuster~

Pics courtesy of MoviePosterDB.com & Flicks and Bits.

The Amazing Spider-man 2: Rise of Electro

Two years ago, I wrote about how I dislike The Amazing Spider-man, partly because Andrew Garfield wasn't convincing as Peter Parker. When the sequel The Amazing Spider-man 2: Rise of Electro was released, I wasn't the least interested in buying tickets to watch in the cinema. I gave in to watching the movie when I was invited for a free screening by an agency. Cheapskate me!

Honestly & sadly, I certainly didn't enjoy the entire 2-hour movie. In fact, I almost fell asleep due to boredom. The visual effects was pretty impressive but for the most part, it's quite an emo movie focusing on Peter Parker & Gwen Stacy. My friend said it the best - the movie should be renamed as Trials & Tribulations of Peter Parker & Gwen Stacy. I find the scenes between Peter & Gwen cringe worthy - the lines between them were so high school & immature; it doesn't do justice to life in the adult world. C'mon, they look like grown-ups but they don't speak like one. I thought Andrew was great in The Social Network but as Peter Parker? Not at all...

Also, am I the only one who finds that the chemistry between the real life couple (Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone) ain't sizzling? I agree they do look together but something doesn't look quite right onscreen. I cringed each time the two of them appear in a scene that I almost stood up from my seat & walked out of the hall. No offence to Garfield-Stone fans, I love them being together but unfortunately, I'm not convinced by their onscreen chemistry.

The only other thing that kept me interested was the new actor, Dane DeHaan for Harry Osbourne. Quite an eye candy to watch even though he does look a little juvenile as the Green Goblin. Nevertheless, DeHaan's sinister & mysterious look is quite engaging. His pretty face does remind me a lot of those poster boy models in fragrance ads.

Oh right, he does model for Prada. No wonder.

Credits: www.annexmagazine.com

Perhaps I have a found a reason to look forward to the next sequel. If only the screenwriters would give more chance to develop DeHaan character's further. Otherwise, I'll continue putting up a poor review of the movie. Jamie Foxx did pretty fine as Electro & the whole story flow is not too bad, but I'd wish the romance part was shorter. You go watch & decide whether the movie is your type.

Dancing Fish, Setia City Mall

Right after baking class, I was whisked off by WL to join his family for dinner at Setia City Mall. Tonight, we opted for a twist from the usual Chinese food for Malay-Indo cuisine. The restaurant is Dancing Fish, named after its signature dish.

The dishes have distinct Indonesian taste with hints of local Malay palates. Quite an appetising experience for me especially after an exhausting day in pastry school. My only complain is that the price is rather steep for such small portion.

Now, here comes the must-have dish that the restaurant is famous for. The Dancing Fish~

It tasted pretty good but the fish is too bony & not enough flesh to feed all of us. Again, it was pricey. =( Boo-hoo!

In summary, I wasn't exactly satisfied with the entire meal because for the most part the portion weren't sufficient to be shared among 13 of us. It was indeed a unique gastronomic adventure but not really hitting the right level in the satisfaction meter. Not too sure if I would return for my next meal.

Address:

Lot UG30, Setia City Mall

Bandar Setia Alam, Seksyen U13

40170 Shah Alam

Selangor.

Contact:

03-3345 6881

Opening Hours:

Monday to Sunday, 10:00am - 10:00pm

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

We have all watched the first movie, Captain America: The First Avenger focusing on Steve Rogers became America's favourite superhero. The show was okay, just not the strongest among other characters (Iron Man & Thor) in the Marvel franchise.

And then came sequel, The Winter Soldier. The plot no longer dwells much on Steve's past, rather showing his journey to adapting to the modern world which all seemed too strange for him. The film began Cap on a rescue mission & oh boy, the actions were mind-blowing.

The pace is just right with the right amount of action & humour. No doubt there were several loopholes in the plot but generally intelligent & witty. What's more, who would want to miss out Chris Evans' gorgeous hair transformation from 1940s to modern day hottie. Me likey!

In typical Marvel fashion, the movie left trails of interlinked plots leading to the upcoming Marvel movie or sequel. This tactic always keeps us anticipated & hungry for more, though the wait can be quite a torture considering the follow-up movie only releases in 2 years time. But we all have to be patient in order to get the good stuff, right? XD I'm not spilling any details because you just have to watch it...

Pic courtesy of MoviePosterDB.com

Remembering MH370

Upon getting news that our PM has called for a press conference at 10pm tonight, my heart skipped a beat. Such immediate action surely points to a breakthrough or discovery of the incident. Although I was partially prepared that no one would be able to survive those harsh sea conditions, I was still anxious to hear what our PM had to say.

Quoted from The Star, he announced that MH370 is believed to have gone down in the southern Indian Ocean at a remote location west of Perth. The conclusion was based on the satellite data analysis conducted by satellite company Immarsat & UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). "This is a remote location far from any possible landing sites", said Najib in the press conference earlier today.

I felt a jolt of pain in my heart, trying to comprehend what went wrong on the plane that it diverted off-course & ended up in the Indian Ocean. A quick search on Google shows that the area where the last ping from MH370 was picked up by Immarsat is a path not traveled by commercial airlines nor vessels. This is because the location is too far from landing sites in case of emergency & the sea condition is rough even for huge cargo ships especially during bad weather.

No matter how heartbreaking I felt for the relatives of passengers on board, no one can ever understand their loss. All I can do is join the rest of the nation to pray that the exact crash site can be identified soon in order for the search team to locate the black box. Time is running out as the battery only lasts for 30 days but the search operation has already reached 17 days. The world around hopes to unravel the mystery of MH370 disappearance soon. As for the relatives of MH370 victims, stay strong & keep going. We are all with you spiritually during this difficult time.

Turning 28

Ten years ago, I was just another school leaver, full of youth & vigour, all prepared to enter the next phase of my life - college life. Fast forward to this year, I turned 28 today. Wow. Time flies & I didn't even realised it. In those days, I used to yearn for a birthday blast celebrated among my closest buddies. As time goes by, I didn't expect those happening parties anymore. In fact, I'd prefer to keep my birthday low key & only shared with my loved one. WL religiously celebrated with me for the past 5 years. And I'd have to thank him for that because this year is no different than before.

I opted to have a simple dinner after work since we already went for a short trip last week. We headed to Suki-Ya at Paradigm Mall to try out a Japanese style steamboat.

It's not any different from a typical Chinese style steamboat we're all accustomed to. There are a choice of 4 broths - shabu shabu, sukiyaki, miso & kimuchi. We chose shabu shabu & miso as our soup bases. The rest of the ingredients are served buffet style ranging from vegetables to seafood. WL said the buffet offering was different from the last time he visited. Perhaps the restaurant changes the buffet spread on an occasional basis. Meat for dipping comes in 3 variety - beef, chicken & lamb.

The Japanese are passionate about how to enjoy sukiyaki that they even have table sheets to educate the customers. The step-by-step guide are clearly illustrated with diagrams for easy understanding & I found the tips pretty useful tips on how to ensure the meat is well done without overcooking it. Interestingly, the eating guide can be found on Suki-Ya's website.

Overall, the dinner was a nice change from the usual steamboat I had in Sunway Mentari or Klang. Suki-Ya seems to offer a healthier option maybe because the broth is less oily & fatty. It's a little pricey but I supposed it wouldn't hurt indulging once in a blue moon especially for special occasion. XD

And because today is my birthday, I couldn't hold back the urge to splurge a little bit than usual to pamper myself. I bought 2 CDs at an insanely cheap price (RM9.90 per piece), mascara & a liquid eyeliner from Sephora.

I even got a little birthday surprise from Sephora! I wouldn't have stumble upon the birthday gift redemption email if I didn't have to check for my card number. I must thank myself for being forgetful sometimes. =P

Until now, I still find it hard to believe that I'm already in my late 20s. There's so much more that I want to do, yet so little time. Well, the only advice I can give to myself is to stay focus & make the most out of everything I have now. After all, I'll be pursuing a course soon & in the midst of preparing for my new path. I'm looking forward to it... =)

Address:

Suki-Ya Paradigm Mall

Lot UG-13, Upper Ground Floor

No.1, Jalan SS7/26A, Kelana Jaya

47301 Petaling Jaya

Selangor

Contact:

03-7887 3042

One week & counting

It's been a week & yet there's still no sign of the missing MH370. Speculations are rife on what possibly happened to the aircraft, moreover the debris is nowhere to be found. Some theories are plausible but some were obviously nonsensical. It's also disappointing to know that some Malaysian netizens would rather trust unjustified news, believing it as the real thing.

Here are some of the news which I find ridiculous.

1. The plane allegedly landed at Nanjing airport after the aircraft disappeared from the radar. This is absurd because Nanjing airport would have confirmed their arrival.


2. Three bomohs turned up at the airport performing a ritual, supposedly to help locate the aircraft. One was holding two coconuts while the other was paddling using a walking stick. The third guy held a basket. Instead of helping in the search & rescue, the trio generated much media attention for no good reason.


3. Families of passengers  from China was flown to India instead of Kuala Lumpur. Omg, this has got to be the stupidest rumour I've ever read. Are you trying to tell me the passengers boarded a flight to India by mistake? Hell, no way.


4. An Australian lady suddenly came to the public accusing the co-pilot of MH370 for being irresponsible by allowing her to enter & snap photographs in the cockpit despite strict rules on forbidding pilots to invite non-authorised personnel into the cockpit. If such rules have been enforced, the incident should be taken in a separate investigation. Right now, the main objective is to search for the aircraft & this lady is not helping to make the situation better.

It gets disheartening reading the papers on the unfruitful outcome each day. The chances of survival for the passengers all seem like a distant hope. Whatever it is, all we can do is have faith that we'll recover the aircraft. Let's not give up until MH370 is found. #PrayForMH370

Flight MH370

As I woke up frantically & prepared to go for a check-up at the skin specialist clinic this morning, I caught a glimpse of the news that Malaysia Airlines' MH370 bound to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur lost contact with the air traffic control at 1.30am on Saturday. The flight operated on B777-200 departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am & was scheduled to land in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day.

I read with much despair that there are 239 people on board which comprises 227 passengers (including 2 infants) & 12 crew members. There are 15 nationalities on board with the majority originating from China. It was reported that the plane disappeared from the radar at 1.30am & failed to arrive at the destination. Friends & families were shocked to receive the news & were anxiously waiting for news update from the airline.

Search & rescue team have been deployed at sunrise, scouring through the South China Sea near the Vietnamese airspace where the aircraft was believed to have vanished. Speculation arise that MH370 may have crashed into the sea. Until now, there is no sign of debris at the purported crash site though the Vietnamese officials have found oil slicks nearby which could possibly be jet fuel from an airliner. This piece of info is unconfirmed until the sample is sent for lab test.

I personally found the whole incident perplexing mainly because it is hard to believe that such a technologically advanced aircraft could mysteriously disappear without any trace. I'm sure there are other communication device that beams the aircraft's location should the radio signal device suffer technical failure. If the plane crashed to the ocean floor, debris could be seen floating on the surface by now. Yet, there is sightings of broken aircraft pieces.

I feel for the affected parties whom their loved ones are passengers of MH370. I don't think I can ever understand how much pain they're going through right now. All I can do is pray silently for the crew members & passengers to return safely. There's still hope... #PrayForMH370

The Journey

Any Malaysian would know the movie, The Journey at the mention of its name. It gained momentum as soon it was released & many friends of mine gave rave reviews about the film. I certainly didn't want to miss out supporting a good local movie & decided to watch with WL after work. The turnout at the cinema hall was tremendous. A rare sight to see young & old alike gathered at the same place.

The plot is simple & predictable, something that all Malaysian Chinese can relate. Nevertheless, one can't deny how charming & heartwarming the movie turned out to be. It began with Bee (Joanne Yew) returning hometown with her Caucasian boyfriend, Benji (Ben Andrew Pfeiffer) to visit her estranged father during Chinese New Year. Their wedding announcement infuriates her father (Lee Sai Peng) who is unsurprisingly against the idea. Finally, the father gave in on one condition - the future son-in-law accompanies him to deliver wedding invitations to his ex-classmates on a motorcycle.

Many middle aged audiences were reportedly exiting the theatre halls with teary eyes after the movie. Such achievement with simple storytelling definitely deserves an applause. My take on the movie was more of a stark reminder about my relationship with my family especially with Grandma. I describe it as a love-hate relationship whereby I detest her conventional beliefs & stubbornness to change with the times. Again, no matter how much I disagreed with my elderly lady, I still try to accommodate her out of love & filial piety. In this case, I share Bee's sentiments. She wishes for her father to give his blessing for the wedding & unconditionally submit to his demands.

While certain plot points are absurd, the cinematography is excellent. Those beautiful scenery resemble a travel documentary ala Samantha Brown's & I was able to appreciate my country in a different perspective. I would never have thought our homeland could look so gorgeous in the eyes of the camera. It is certainly an eye-opener! After this, I'm looking forward to the next homegrown production with solid storyline which is able to emulate the success of The Journey.

Pic courtesy of Golden Screen Cinemas

Tabletalk Restaurant, Taman Tun Dr Ismail

My last experience at Tabletalk Restaurant was mediocre because the dishes I ordered were less favourable. I remembered WL complaining the food tasted awful perhaps due to less fresh ingredients. Upon hearing him commending about their tom yam soup, I was surprised & agreed to go back to the restaurant for another round.

This time, I ordered a breakfast platter while my beau opted for his favourite tom yam soup. I was in for quite a shock with the portion of the soup. It was huge & had a lot of seafood in it. I digged in my spoon into the soup & put one spoonful in my mouth. The sour-ish taste is pretty authentic although thankfully not as spicy as I thought it would. See the seafood galore peeking out of the soup surface!

And then, my breakfast platter was served. Fabulous, isn't it?

I was pleasantly surprised that the dish turned out be pretty delicious. All for the price of less than RM20. Just look at the yolks oozing out of the poached eggs. Bliss! The eggs were complemented with chicken ham & spinach which the restaurant claim to be a healthier pairing. Although spinach was the least I expect in the dish, the veggie adds an interesting flair to the palate nevertheless.

Now I wouldn't think twice about getting my lazy weekend brunch at Tabletalk again. Glad that I gave another chance to the team, else I could've missed such good food. It's certain I will dine in again when I'm around the neighbourhood. =)

Address:

Tabletalk Restaurant

No. 4, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman

Taman Tun Dr Ismail

60000 Kuala Lumpur

Contact:

03-7733 7718

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday 10:30am - 3:30pm, 5:30pm - 10:30pm

Saturday & Sunday 8:00am - 11:00pm

Awesome Canteen @ Taman Paramount, PJ

My ex-colleague, THE secretary made plans with me to have lunch together. I recommended to try Awesome Canteen which is nearby my office for a quick lunch since my lunch hour is limited. After all, I have been eager to try this place which has become one of the many other haunts mushrooming around PJ recently.

The cafe interior lives up to the name, a tastefully done canteen-inspired decor I'd must say. All orders are taken at the cashier counter due to absence of waiters/waitresses. Nevertheless, the food & drinks you ordered will be sent to your seats. I was craving for coffee & pasta hence I settled for cafe mocha & grilled chicken spaghetti.

The price is pretty affordable but the quality wasn't on par with other eateries of similar price range. The pasta was okay in my opinion but then again, I'm a picky eater when it comes to pasta. As simple a dish it may sound, it's never easy to whip out a great tasting pasta. In this case, the spaghetti was overcooked thus a little soggy. Thankfully, it wasn't soaking with olive oil; otherwise it would be a pain to gobble it up.

I sipped the mocha & concluded the taste fell flat. Aroma seems to be lacking & I couldn't get the chocolatey kick I was looking for in the beverage. But I shouldn't be complaining since the drink only cost about RM8.90. I'm doubtful about returning for the next round but I would still recommend it if you are looking for a decent Western lunch. Just keep your expectations at bay & the overall taste experience should be fine.

Address:

Awesome Canteen

19, Jalan 20/13

Taman Paramount

46300 Petaling Jaya

Selangor

Contact:

03-7865 8048

A week at the new workplace

I have just spent a week at my new workplace. So how am I adapting to the new environment? I had mixed feelings. Aside from a decent office, I was a little overwhelmed with the work assigned under my care. The job responsibilities brought back unpleasant memories of my short stint at one of my previous employment. Let's just say that I'm having a phobia right now & feeling unsure if I'm able to cope with the expectation. People seemed genuinely nice at the moment but time will tell.

I'm starting to have 2nd thoughts about the job but I'm trying my best to hold back from behaving rashly. In fact, I have yet to start real work & I shouldn't be hating any of this. Do my best, I will, and hope to carry on in this positive spirit for the next 6 months. Nevertheless, the lingering thoughts behind my head made me realise one thing - my dwindling interest in working in the corporate world. Indeed my heart speaks truly of my intention to be a pastry chef. Oh well, I seriously need to do something about it. Wish me luck, peeps!

New job!

I'll keep this post really short since the blog title is self-explanatory. I hate to admit it but I felt a slight hint of relief that I finally found a job. Moreover, I was quite ecstatic that my new place is nearby home so I no longer need to drive far. How lucky is that? =D

Ironically, my feelings have been mixed about going back to work because I was more eager to sign up for the part-time patisserie course. It's definitely a risk to my bank balance, with no certainty of what lies ahead upon completion. I thought to myself, am I ready to make a career change? Not yet. Perhaps I should train up first before I make such a bold move.

The job offer came at the right time when I needed to break away from home. I feel bad saying this...but it has been quite stressful dealing with Grandma for the past 1 month. I'm trying my best to stay patient & please her in any way possible. Forgive me, Grandma. I hope we can do better together in due time. Wishing that you would feel proud of me in my own skin & not compare me to anybody.

Three Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf, Tropicana City Mall

What other better way to start a new year than having a hearty meal with your family? I guess not. My sis, Grandma, aunt & I headed to the newly opened Three Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf at Tropicana City Mall. The new opening was much hyped after its first outlet at Bangsar Village received good reviews. We haven't tried the Bangsar Village outlet since the location is less strategic & difficult to find parking. Tropicana City Mall was the viable option for us.

We arrived at the restaurant a little earlier, right before the lunch crowd started filling up the premise. Quickly we placed our orders so that we didn't have to wait long. Boy, we were wrong because the kitchen seemed to be taking their own sweet time to serve our dishes. The wait was almost 40 mins & you would've heard our stomachs growling out loud in the next table.

Finally, the dishes arrived & we couldn't wait to dig in. Grandma's priciest salmon dish is nowhere to be seen. Luckily, it didn't take more than 10 mins for the waiter to bring out her plate. The first thing I noticed is that the pasta portion is abysmal. Why so? Because I'm paying close to RM30 for a pork pasta & yet the several strands of spaghetti ain't sufficient to fill up my already starving stomach. Even my aunt's breakfast platter left much to be desired. Not even comparable to Plan B's.

I wouldn't discount the fact that the taste quality is pretty okay. However, the slow service coupled with less than satisfactory portion is unforgivable. There needs to be added value in the amount we pay for. The photos will show how small portions were with price averaging between RM28 to RM35 (Grandma's dish not included because she's less impatient to wait for me to snap a photo).

I'm not sure if I would return for another dine-in since the food ain't worth what I pay for. Go try & judge for yourself. But beware of the slow service if you are expecting quick service.

Address:

Three Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf

G-35, Ground Floor

Tropicana City Mall

No.3, Jalan SS20/27

47400 Petaling Jaya

Selangor.

Contact:

03-7722 3561

Opening Hours:

10:00am - 10:00pm

It's 2014!

2013 was indeed an eventful year that passed by without any hints of pity nor empathy. Like an age-old ritual, everyone scrambles to put down a new set of resolutions to be accomplished by end of 2014. I was referring back & forth to last year's post while composing this piece & came to a painful realization that my current situation is not any better than last year. I did managed to be more optimistic last year, however, I failed miserably in achieving the last 2 resolutions. Due to work commitments, I sacrificed all my other interests. As for WL, it was never easy to instill change to begin with.

While Grandpa had left us to be with God not too long after my New Year post, I left my job again to seek for a short break. Am I feeling the same demotivation I felt last year? Yes, indeed. Which is why I'm feeling anxious about finding a new job as soon as possible. On a positive note, I have laid down plans to pursue a pastry arts course. Shocking as it may sound, I'm eager to sharpen my baking & patisserie as part of my preparation to start my own business in the future. Lets just say that I'm determined to go through a career change when the time is right.

By then, I hope I'll be able to put my marketing experience to good use for the business. Naysayers beware! There is no obligatory reason for me to prove to you that I can do it. Instead, I choose to prove myself that I'm able to overcome this challenge. Therefore, I have made up my mind on what I intend to achieve this year.

1. Continue to spare time for my passion - especially baking
2. Persuade WL to lose weight - doesn't matter how much, as long as he does it
3. Stay healthy & happy

Those of you who have yet to set resolutions. it's still not too late to do so. Just be realistic about your goals. Happy New Year!

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

A year long wait for the more exciting sequel is already agonising enough. But what made it even harder to endure is that the ending wasn't what I expected it to be. Yes, I was referring to The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug which finally reveals who & how the dragon looks like, hibernating in Erebor for years with mountainous gold.

In Desolation of Smaug, we get to see more elves in action as Thorin's group travels pass Thranduil's Hall in order to reach Lake Town. Orlando Bloom fans, unite! He reprises his role again as Legolas, looking gorgeous with platinum blonde hair & strikingly blue eyes. In my opinion, he looked a little mature in this film compared to his similar role 10 years ago, which doesn't sit too well wit the idea of ageless elves. I still remember gushing over Bloom appears in each scene just because he looks so boyishly handsome. Now no longer but still hot nonetheless. After all, there's still Kili to swoon over despite being vertically challenged XD.

I wouldn't bother giving you a gist of the story. Otherwise, it would rob the excitement of watching it yourself. This kind of movie is best enjoyed with your own eyes rather than living it through the eyes of others. There are several new additions to the film which are not found in the book. Peter Jackson defended his actions against critics about the need to expand the Tolkien's works for a more immersive & better understanding of Middle Earth.

I'd have to agree in some way when it comes to film adaptation of literary works. The 2-3 hour length of each film is crucial to capture the essence of the book, something that filmmakers can't afford to waste every minute. In contrast, a book involves imagination from the readers & each individual interpret Tolkien's literature in different manner at their own pace. Hence, no one blames each other for their own Middle Earth whereas filmmakers feel the pressure of recreating that universe ideal to Tolkien's fans.

Glad that those new twist to the plot turns out pretty exciting, thus jacking up the whole interest level on certain characters' development. Just to tease you guys, look out for Kili & Tauriel. Meanwhile, the rest of the movie is awesome so please don't ever miss it.


Pic courtesy of MoviePosterDB.com

The Heirs

Recently, I've caught on the kdrama bug again & couldn't keep my eyes away from this new drama starring Lee Min Ho & Park Shin Hye. The title drama title is 상속자들 or loosely translated as "The Heirs" or "The Inheritors".

The drama started airing on 9 October in Korea on SBS channel, Wednesday & Thursday at 10pm (Korean time). Scheduled for 20 episodes, the story follows a group of privileged, rich & elite high school students who are groomed to succeed their families' business empires. On the surface, these students may have everything under control except their love lives - family, relationship, friendship. Things turn topsy turvy when chaebol heir, Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) fell in love with lower class girl, Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) & later entangled in a love triangle with Choi Young Do (Kim Woo Bin).

The series' main theme of forbidden love between a rich lad & a poor girl bears a lot of resemblance to Min Ho's previous work, Boys Over Flowers but takes on a more realistic storytelling approach. While I enjoyed both Boys Over Flowers & The Heirs for its entertaining elements, I preferred the former for its stronger female protagonist. It irked me that modern Korean society still dwells in the age old traditions that favours male dominance & portraying females as weaker beings. I was especially annoyed by the writer penning Eun Sang's character as someone who gets pushed around & being told what to do by her boyfriend, Kim Tan. In these days, women are equally capable compared to men.

Personally, I thought the plot was developing rather well at a decent pace; introducing significant characters at the right time. Not to forget the beautifully shot scenes in US on summer love really does tug the heartstring. Who can ever forget the scene at the almond farm when Kim Tan looks up to Eun-sang with tearful, lost puppy eyes while drenched by water sprinklers? Poor boy.

As the series progresses, instead of allowing sufficient airtime for each character's story unfold, the writer opted to focus more on Kim Tan-Eun Sang's tormented love story. No doubt the couple forms the core of the series, other equally crucial side stories lack development, leaving much to be desired with 2 episodes wasted. After watching yesterday's finale episode, it was just as I predicted that the writer rushed to tie up the loose ends in 1 hour. It almost felt like some of the characters had a 360° attitude change within a short span just so the plot could go in favour of the main couple. And c'mon, why only start building on the intimate romance between Kim Won (Choi Jin Hyuk) & Jeon Hyun Joo (Im Joo Eun) towards the last episode??

Overall, I believe this series is enjoying high ratings due its stellar casts' great performance & popularity. It's their fantastic acting skills that filled up the gaps in the lacklustre script. Otherwise, it would be a boring piece to follow through. Nevertheless, The Heirs was still an entertaining watch despite all its flaws. After all, the casts are fine looking men & women - a definite eye candy feast! Yum...

Jobless (again) yet a new chapter awaits

I could barely believe that today was my last day of working at my current company. Serving two months was agonising, more so the workload that I intend to complete or pass on to someone else, just keeps flowing in like a burst water pipe. For the first time in my working life, no one bothers to have a proper handover session. Yes, you read it right. NO ONE. Not even my own boss.

So, how did I endure the last 2 months? I continued to work my ass off as if I didn't tender my resignation at all. Even to the extend of covering a portion of next year's project. And my boss didn't even bother to take over those tasks until my very last day. Can you imagine staying in the office until 8pm on your last working day? Unbelievable!

Now I'm sitting here happily blogging about this with a sense of relief that I'm finally off the hook. I look forward to my less stressful days ahead as I focus on developing skills in areas of interest that is close to my heart. No doubt the thought of being jobless again while worrying about necessary expenses still linger. But, this is part & parcel of sacrificing something in order to focus on building what I'm truly passionate about.

I've been told that I hop in between jobs too often, which I shamefully admit it. Although I enjoy being a marketer, the companies I worked for, sadly, does not believe in marketing initiatives. As an individual, why would I want to be involved with an organisation (being insulted, belittled, yet expected to work non-stop) when they do not value marketing itself? What more people like me in this area of expertise? After all, marketers are spenders & they're hired to spend efficiently & bring extra returns. Above all of that, the situation worsened when I had a cynical boss with an identity crisis, whom I couldn't trust. The next question remains, do you want to work for someone who asks you to jump into the cliff first when he/she smells trouble?

Many people told me countless times that I just have to accept & deal with the problems if I want to continue staying in a corporate environment. I guess I've lost the battle again in dealing with a bunch of pretentious people who lacks integrity & expertise, yet still able to leave a life outside work full of lies & deceit. God bless you! Karma will soon come.

I've finally realised that I'm not the type who works for people. I'm pretty sure of myself that I should be self employed. Hence, I've decided to pursue my passion seriously without turning back. Definitely not jumping into the business bandwagon as of yet but I'm making plans. I'll still search for a job & work until I'm ready. Wish me luck!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Another anticipated sequel for the year end holidays has finally released! Having watched The Hunger Games last year without any prior knowledge of the story kept me wanting for more. It's quite a "torture" to wait for 1 year later for the movie to be released. So, is it really worth the wait? I'd like to believe so. After all, I refused to read the trilogy books for fear of spoilers.

For the record, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire picks up where the first movie left off whereby Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mellark return home after winning the 74th Hunger Games. President Snow threatens Katniss to convince everyone that her actions during the games were out of genuine love for Peeta. Later, Snow announced a Third Quarter Quell whereby tributes are selected from previous victors. When Katniss & Haymitch was picked to represent District 12, Peeta volunteered to take Haymitch's place.

The development gets better this time as more characters are introduced into a more complex plot. Pace is quicker hence it almost kept me at the edge of the seat most of the time. Of course, Sam Calflin as Finnick Odair is no doubt an eye candy throughout the 2-hour movie. *drools* Although he buffed up for the film, Calflin's face looked chiseled & slightly hollowed, as if he lost some weight in the process. I need more Finnick in the 3rd movie considering I fancy Liam Hemsworth less.

A great watch for sure so don't miss this out. Otherwise, you wouldn't understand how the heck the 3 parts piece up together when the 3rd instalment is released next year. After all, The Hunger Games is one of the must-watch year end holiday movie.

Pic courtesy of MoviePosterDB.com