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Finally ended a long-dreaded week. Happy weekend! To celebrate, I changed my profile pic. This popped up on my soc med pges so I couldn’t resist. Kekeke… https://www.instagram.com/reel/C32eb7Ypiyt/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== -2

‘Harem’ somehow zooms to mind. Kekeke. That’s an impressive number you are keeping! I wouldn’t be able to track them all…my head would fall off. Feel free! Nothing to bear Actually, the actress who played So Yi in Alchemy of Souls is also in the show. She had a bowl haircut in a period of her character’s high school years … it reminded me of my own when I was a tiny tot. What were they thinking?! Atsuko, the comedianne -2

Yay! I’m curious, so if you could humor me, this is your number what oppa? Any geges and/or Xiao geges? Kekeke… He is very tall. And I like that I am not at all confused by the switches in timelines even when I am not quite focusing. @MayanEcho Are you affected by the floods? Hope all is well. -2

Anyone watching this? I just started and am quite hooked. Pace is quick and doesn’t drag. It’s in the news for the wrong reason though… The FL is likable and easy to feel for. The ML is unfamiliar but he played the evil character in one of the shows I didn’t finish. Looks like there’s abs cos of swimming scenes. kekeke. -2

Any time. Permanent: 1) Xiao Zhan, popularized by @rocher22 cos almost every post she puts up, his face is there (I love that!) so I won’t paste his pic here. On and Off, depending on the roles they play/tea spilt aka flavor of the month: 2) Dylan Wang 3) Leo Wu 4) Richard Li (too hard to find nice ones) 5) Deng Wei Up and coming: 6) Liu Xueyi 7) Lin Geng Xin (I ve hit my pic limit) That’s why I have been so busy watching C-dramas. I imagine @partyon would have something to say about my one oppa claim… -2

*Trying to make the font smaller but can’t* Technically, no. They are called Xiao Gege, not Oppa. -2

I only have one oppa -2

Yup, but fear not, my veggie-picky hubby didn’t even know he was eating ALL vegetables. The food is prepared in the traditional way in lacquered boxes and pretty ceramic plates - it’s glorious. The temple we stayed had a tunnel leading to the onsen baths - very convenient to get to in just the yukata and slippers, especially in winter. -2

High impact factor journal! -2

It’s not too far from here and so easy to get around so a lot of people I know go to Japan a lot. Most venture to cities and the surrounding places accessible via the fantastic train network - which was what we did at first but turned inconvenient because we wanted to venture further. Driving became what we did to enable that. And it’s where the magic happened. You travel through towns where people live, eat what they eat, grocery-shop at local markets and drink coffee with the obasans. One of the most memorable is UNESCO Koyasan in Wakayama. It is a key site of Shingon Buddhism and offers temple stays which is one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve had. The 6am prayers every morning are open to all - amidst the scented smoke and chants in an otherwise silent room, you truly feel the spiritual serenity and calm. Inner peace. Heh. It’s real. There’s a big cemetery there much like the Recoleta in Buenos Aires that feels …sacred. I think you can hike up there too. -2

The long breaks here are in June/December, and not seasons cos there isn’t any to speak of unless we’re talking about the seasonal rainy/not rainy periods Taking the Resort Shirakami train is next on our list. It goes from Akita to Aomori in the northern/ northeastern part of Japan in the countryside, just below Hokkaido. it’s just a day but seems fun - should be the highlight of one who likes off the beaten path, non-crowded places. Fantastic! It rubs off on the kids. Selamat Hari Raya to those who celebrate! Maaf Zahir Dan Batin! -2

@partyon i don’t fancy the regular laksa - not a fan of coconut milk but I do love the other version mentioned by @sadthe1st assam laksa has lots of veggies but has a strong taste of mackerel/tuna, part tangy part spicy. Think spicy bouillabaisse with noodles and herbs with a dash of Tabasco. If you can take kimchi, this should be okay. @partyon @MayanEcho @sweetroad Getting sick with diseases is terrible much less overseas at work or attending key events or travelling. Some of my friends think I am paranoid about taking precautions and being particular about cleanliness, but it’s better to be safe. I always spray the bathroom with alcohol-based sanitizer and hot-water flush the room cups before first use Hubs think I have borderline OCD. Kekeke. Do you all have any strange habits while travelling? -2

(To all who celebrate) Have a good one! 874

I don’t know…but I think that guy is a real piece of work. Han So Hee should have known better than to get all impulsive in her circle, and with knetz, she is not going to win no matter what truth there is. Knetz will come up with a version, pass judgement and she’s just there to receive the edict. You can’t expect the crazies to listen nor be logical. Losing her endorsements because of a wimp who got her in the cat fight in the first place isn’t worth it. Who knows, he actually might just be two-timing. Hawaii can lull one into a false sense of security with the soothing mele/hula and Waikiki beach walks. I hope they were happy in the few weeks they spent together in their Polynesian fling. I really wanted to but couldn’t precisely because of the unnecessary scenes you mentioned Those two were likable but didn’t sizzle. Books and coffee are a perfect pair! Good book but quite philosophical -2

Yep, that’s a chain though, like Starbucks, but with Japanese quality control, packaging and costing. That’s the thing with chain stores. Their products cater to the masses, sometimes discerning but the younger ones mostly are in it for the hype and/or caffeine boost and/or sugar rush. At the risk of sounding like a snob, , the frappes and something-cinnos are desserts to me, not quite coffee. I mean, look at the amount of cream and syrup used…there is no coffee left to taste… That said, the comparison was only made possible with third wave coffee that began in 2000 or so. But lots of people like drinks like that, that’s why the chains’ businesses are still doing pretty okay. Will remember that next time I make chai! I used to say that until a friend of mine who taught me how to make it corrected me. Now I say it to annoy her kekeke. That sounds like fun. I know they do it with tea leaves too. But I am quite hesitant to have fortunes read cos I don’t wish to have it foretold for superstitious reasons. Kekeke. Wut…kekekeke….they taste better if cooked with something- like briyani! I don’t like cardamom tea though. I don't either; not really a fan of the flavour. it tastes better during monsoon season though. It does? Interesting! The green ones or the regular ones? -2

I love masala chai! I make it too but I think it is not quite up to standard . Do you put more cardamom or cloves? There is also Prana Chai that originates from Australia that I like but it’s really sweet. -2

Never had that but I’m sure it’s gotta be pretty good if they specialize! I like El Salvador specifically Pacamara beans and Guatemalan generally. Not so keen on Honduras nor Costa Rican cos I find them too acidic - good in whites. I am not a fan of Asian coffee either but Japanese/Korean/Taiwanese beans are pretty nice if they are specialty. Jap coffee is typically mild though, so is easy to drink it black like having water. But they are evolving - some shops there roast on demand (light to dark, your say) with a little roaster in the back with an impressive variety of beans to choose from. Quite cool. it usually depends on how energetic I feel and what kind of cleaning I want to do. Espresso, V60, Clever Dripper, Ibrik, French Press, Nespresso, Instant. Even McD’s kekeke. Do you make it at home too? That’s really traditional! They roast and crush by hand. You do that yourself? @MayanEcho 小 and 肖 sounds similar if the tone used is not differentiated kekeke He must be laughing his way to the bank with all those endorsements he is doing. -2

Yep, the blue is nice - creamy and not too acidic. I find it fairly similar to the Kenyan SL28 beans that I like a lot. Panama Geisha is very good too but only those from specific farms like La Esmeralda, Elida Estate. If you like citrusy bergamot, this is your coffee Qahwa tastes like tea but trifle bitter. But again, it depends on who is making it. Only coffee I find rather different is Kona…super mild. Justice is done to good beans if drunk as a pour over by a barista who knows what he/she is doing. But I get that sometimes when you’re in a hurry and need caffeine, wherever the cup comes from is gold. Kekeke. Instant Qahwa! I’ve not seen that. Would love to hear from @Lmangla about coffee! Lolz, didn’t know they have the Xiao Gege terminology! So cute. -2

@kingpin @MayanEcho one of my favorites and another getting there in the pic Li Geng Xin is growing on me in the Legend of Shen Li. He does the nonchalant and cool very well. What do we call Chinese oppas? Geges? Kekeke I’d have to dig out my itinerary but it was one where we connected at to fly into JFK. Security clearance was a pain. But it’s not the Iguazu one…Ushuaia maybe or the El Calafate one. @MayanEcho @partyon i am sure you get Ibrik coffee in the ME - that’s very good. Why McD’s n Starbucks? -2

Local coffee in the hawker centres is about $2 currently, but the prices have gone up from before - used to be $1.50 for awhile. Same with the sets in Ya Kun - prices hv shot up with the third wave coffee culture here, catching up to the prices in Europe/US/ME. For non-specialty coffee, that’s a bit much cos local coffee is supposed to be accessible to the masses. Hence the gripe. Yes, in Terminal 2. I don’t remember the name but it sells Singaporean items for tourists. Comes as a two-pack for about $20 if I recall correctly. Yep, I got that in Argentina with the smaller airports but the international ones typically don’t unless like you said for special reasons. Kekekeke!! Sometimes I wonder about the orientation of my oppa… He looks good in the pictures for a 40+y.o.! -2

Good buy! Glad you got a stash! There is a shop after immigration where you can get bigger jars - they seal it for you the same way as liquor/perfumes you buy. Duty free too if exiting the country. Next time? I find the checks at gates strange too - it’s the only one that does it this way if I am not wrong. I can’t stand that I sometimes forget and buy a drink just to guzzle it up before boarding. Then I got to pee the moment the plane levels. They get you at the last minute! Muahahaha! True that! -2

I first encountered these in a local shop and found out that they were Korean-inspired daquoise cookies with flavourful centres. Loved them ever since the first bite! Injeolmi was the first one I tried…unforgettable… Perhaps I never found the right ones but the ones I have had here I find are better than the ones in Korea. Be happy to be proven otherwise! Yeah, we see them in hypermarts or Japanese convenience stores like Family Mart, if you’re in Asia. Or Don Quijote if you are in Hawaii. They are very sweet though… -2

This is good! I haven’t watched a crime-busting drama I enjoyed in a while. I think I am enjoying it also cos of the leads - FL I’ve seen in one other show but it’s my first time watching the ML. Never heard of him but he’s definitely period drama ML material. And perhaps also makes an excellent villain - easy for him to turn convincingly evil. @rocher22 @MayanEcho hi!!

@4evrkdrama Hmmm…might restart this given all the good things I have heard. They look like the fish I just took out from my freezer. Blood seemed to have drained from their faces - why are their lips so pale? -2

Kekeke, not everybody can pull off long hair well… ok..I can’t look for more…gah. True that! His hair does help balance out a smallish head, no? Kekeke Sweet young girl but naughty. Perhaps that is his type? He looks like her uncle. Better get those neck wrinkles fixed methinks… -2