Just recently, I found 公主小妹 (Romantic Princess) on CETV1 as well as Princess Hours =) I previously watched a couple of episodes of Princess Hours, but it was the female lead, Yoon Eun Hye, which made me want to watch it again. She’s the same girl from Coffee Prince and there’s just something about her which makes me like her.
Anyway, I just wanted to rant about 公主小妹 (Romantic Princess) because I actually watched the ending of this very short Taiwan drama and was left extremely disappointed. Of all the different types of endings they could have had, the last episode of 公主小妹 was definitely one of the worst ones I’ve seen!
Instead of leaving me smiling and feeling happy, crying my eyes out or even satisfied, 公主小妹 (Romantic Princess) left me with thoughts of how stupid the characters were. I mean, the characters were all making it seem like Xiao Mai leaving for 3years was a life or death event, and that it would be a tragedy if Jin didn’t see her before she left. She’s an heiress for goodness sake! How can she not be able to afford a plane ticket within those 3years?
I don’t think the director or whoever was in charge realised that the last impression is just as important as the first impression.
If they repeat Romantic Princess 公主小妹 on another channel, I’m going to attempt to watch those episodes I’ve missed. I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe, those missed episodes make a difference to how I view the ending….
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On a side note, I’m starting to notice a strong trend with these drama’s that I enjoy so much. They all seem to be based on a manga / manhwa / comic! No wonder I’m such a sucker for these dramas… I can still think of a few mangas which I’ve read that I would like to see in Live Action, I have a feeling I won’t have to wait too long at this rate =P
When I was going through my Manga phase, gobbling up all the Manga I could get my hands on, I stumbled across Hanazakari no Kimitachi E (For You in Full Blossom) or better known as Hana Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo. And I have to say that this Manga is definitely still one of my favourites because I can’t resist these romantic comedy storylines full of fluff and the beautiful artwork. I suppose it’s because this is such a typical Japanese story, so much like a fairytale and full of things we deem not possible.
I didn’t like Sano at first, the main male character, because of his lack of emotions and expression. But in reality, that’s exactly how some people are… all emo and that, and it just makes it even sweeter to see Mizuki bring his personality out. Nakatsu is another character I grew to like, he’s a complete opposite to Sano. Where Sano is calm, cool and collected, Nakatsu is full of energy and emotion and comical expressions.
So when I stumbled across the Taiwan drama version of Hana Kimi when I was shopping in Dalian, I just couldn’t resist – I had to buy it.
The good thing about the Taiwan drama is that they follow the manga pretty accurately, I really hate it when movies based on novels or what not are completely killed because they’ve made so many changes to the storyline. I’m a strong believer that the novel is better than the movie because a novel gives readers so much detail which you can’t find in a 1-2hour movie.
Obviously the original Hana Kimi story was changed – they cut the 23 volume Manga down to around about the first 9-10 volumes. I found the drama to be a a little too condense….If they didn’t change and cut the storyline with the photographer, I think it would have clarified it a lot more. Without the extra information, viewers would think that the photographer was just thrown in for the hell of extending the series…
Although Hana Kimi it’s a fairy good fluffy drama, I personally found it a bit TOO unrealistic to be a Live Action Drama. It’s one thing to have a fairytale on paper but another thing to have it played out on screen. BUT I still found it as great entertainment, I liked the cast (mainly Ella - Mizuki, Chun - Sano and Jiro - Nakatsu) and it’s good for me to practise my Chinese =P
Watching drama series or movies in Mandarin is classified as Studying!
I’ve been so busy these couple of weeks with my exams (which I’ve just finished Tuesday), and also with organising the degustation dinner for Fu Restaurant in Northbridge! First of all, what the heck does “Degustation” mean? I didn’t actually find out for myself until that very night and had a WanderingGormet explain it to me. To put it quite simply, degustation means a little bit of quite a few of the yummy stuff the chef prepares just for you, which in turn allows you to taste a variety of food in one sitting… hrmm, that still sounds confusing eh? =)
Penneigh from WanderingGormet.net already wrote a great review of the dinner at Fu Restaurant (click here to read the article) so I won’t go into any details. There’s also some really great photos of the food served as well as the premises found here on flickr thanks to WanderingGormet.net.
The event turned out quite nicely even with the few hiccups and late comers. I’m even happy to say that I may have been the thorn and cause of great stress to the dear MrFoo on that eventful night! That’s not to say he didn’t give me a few extra frown lines either, the 10 dishes somehow turned into 12 and the order on the menu was not adhered to! Just as we learn in good ol’ Marketing: “Garbage in, Garbage out“, meaning your results are as good as the data you enter. So in this case, the data might not be as reliable when the respondents are confused about what dish is what….
To be honest, I didn’t know how the whole thing would turn out and was a bit uneasy, not only because of all the tension I could feel rolling off Mr Foo either. Now that the event is all over with and people parted with smiles and a full tummy, I’m sure that next time I’m in a similar situation things will run much smoother. I’ll also know that no matter how much planning is put in, something will not go according to plan!
Thanks again to all those who attended and filled in the survey!~
Fu (富) Restaurant
287 William Street Northbridge, Perth
Ph: 9328 3899
When I went away last year to Beijing, I was really disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to go to the Grand Opening of Fu Restaurant in Northbridge, Perth. But as fate would have it, unluckily for Chung, delays pushed the opening until yesterday night! Although the Grand Opening won’t be until next month, I figured it is as good time as any to go and try out the ‘Fu(富) fusion experience‘ before it gets busier with more people discovering the place!
Fu (富) Restaurant
287 William Street
Northbridge, Perth
Ph: 9328 3899
I’ve been to Fu a few times before it actually opened the doors and was impressed by the spiffy looking décor, too bad I accidentally deleted the pictures I took before the place was completely finished… it would have been good to have a before and after photo. I just love the water feature and the bar/lounge feel of the place!
Since I was lucky enough to actually test taste a few goodies, and Chung’s description of the meals provoked my curiosity, I was excited to find out more! I’m not exactly sure if I’ve ever been to an official Fusion restaurant before, a lot of the nicer restaurants around Malaysia have been attempting to mix a bit of West into their experience but the food has always been very much either Asian or Western. So now it was my chance to try out FFF (Fu’s Fusion Food - sorry, my lame-self just couldn’t resist)!
Our initial table for 4 ended up being a table for 8, this was pretty handy because it meant that we could taste test more of the items on the menu! Unfortunately we were a little too ambitious, we didn’t realise the Tapa’s and Mains had decent sized servings and ended up stuffing ourselves! What can I say, the food was just too YUM to resist! =P
I forgot to take photos of the Tapas but here are some of the Mains
Top Row: Duck, Kalatan Chicken, Sambal Penne
Bottom Row: Belly Pork, with 五舅舅, Lamb
Seriously though, I’ll be going to Fu 富 a lot more because I plan to try everything on the menu! hAHa funny thing is, that might be the only way I get to see more of Chung since he’s a busy little bee with this new opening =D
Once again, a HUGE Congratulations to Mr Chung Foo! You’ve done an amazing job!!
Although OneRepublic was popularised by their song Apologise ft. Timberland, they have some pretty good tracks to listen to on their album, Dreaming Out Loud. It’s funny though, I don’t really like their title track, Dreaming Out Loud. I usually prefer the title track over the other songs but I just didn’t find it to my taste this time around.
Stop and Stare has already made it into the mainstream media and Say (All I Need) will most likely be all over the radio as their 3rd single to be released so I won’t go into how nice it is, you can judge for yourself. But I also really like their song Goodbye Apathy. It has a really nice beat, and when the music and vocals combine, it makes a great chillout song.
Mercy, Someone To Save You and Prodigal are another few tracks to have a listen to. Wow, that’s almost their whole album! Anyway, I’ll end it here with the lyrics to Goodbye Apathy and Mercy.
I can’t sleep. No, not like I used to
I can’t breathe in and out like I need to
It’s breaking ice now, to make any movement
What’s your vice? You know that mine’s the illusion
And all at once I can help you out
(As I’m trying just to keep things right)
I’ll be what you need, I’ll do anything
(I kill myself to make everything perfect for you)
Goodbye apathy. So long, apathy
So don’t sit still. And don’t you move away from here
So goodbye apathy. So long fancy free
(As I’m trying just to keep things right)
Goodbye apathy. I don’t wanna be … you
(I kill myself to make everything perfect for you)
I don’t walk right, not like I used to
There’s a jump in my step, as I rush to see you
I could be happy here
As long as you’re near to me
As long as you’re close to me
Now that I’m alright I can help you out
(As I’m trying just to keep things right)
I’ll be what you need. I’ll do anything
(I kill myself to make everything perfect for you)
Goodbye apathy. So goodbye apathy
So don’t you stop pushing me. I can take so much
So goodbye apathy. So long fancy free
(As I’m trying just to keep things right)
Goodbye apathy. I don’t wanna be…you…
(I kill myself to make everything perfect for you)
Everybody is watching you, everybody is watching me too
Everybody is watching you, everybody is watching me too
(I can’t sleep no, not like I used to)
Everybody is watching you, everybody is watching me too
(I can’t breathe in and out like I need to)
Everybody is watching you, everybody is watching me too
(It’s breaking ice now, to make any movement)
Everybody is watching you, everybody is watching me too
(What’s your vice? You know that mine’s the illusion)
Everybody is watching you, everybody is watching me too
Angel of Mercy
How did you find me?
Where did you read my story?
Pulled from the papers
Desperate and hardened
Seeking a momentary fix
All I wanted to say
All I wanted to do
Is fall apart now
All I wanted to feel
I wanted to love
It’s all my fault now
A tragedy I fear
Angel of Mercy
How did you find me?
How did you pick me up again?
Angel of Mercy
How did you move me?
Why am I on my feet again?
And I see you
Whoa Whoa Whoa…
I feel you
Whoa Whoa Whoa…
Before just the daylight
Come and I stand by
Waiting to catch the quickest plane
Flying to nowhere
It’s better than somewhere
That’s where I’ve been and nothing’s changed
All I wanted to say
All I wanted to do
Is fall apart now
All I wanted to feel
I wanted to love
It’s all my fault now
A tragedy for sure
Angel of Mercy
How did you find me?
How did you pick me up again?
Angel of Mercy
How did you move me?
Why am I on my feet again
And I see you
Whoa Whoa Whoa…
I feel you
Whoa Whoa Whoa…
I’m so lost in you
A tragedy
It seemed to be
Over now…(over now)
A tragedy
It seemed to be
Over now
Angel of Mercy
How did you find me?
How did you pick me up again?
Angel of Mercy
How did you move me?
Why am I on my feet again?
And I see you
Whoa Whoa Whoa…
I feel you
Whoa Whoa Whoa…
I feel you
Oh oh whoa…
I feel you
Whoa Oh Oh…
I was watching CCTV 9 when they announced a music video for the Olympic games, One World One Dream. Interested at what it might sound like, I saw this One World One Dream music video. Note: The video quality isn’t perfect but the audio is fine.
First of all, did they really HAVE to make his hair look like that? Couldn’t they have messed up his fringe just a little bit?? Oh well, I suppose they might have wanted him to look like a good little china boy and not a lady’s man.
So the song itself isn’t actually too bad and could even catch on. But (and it’s a big but) in my opinion, everything starts to go down hill when the English kicks in… I’m hoping they don’t sing this in the grand opening because people from English speaking countries will be cringing in their seats hoping no cameras are on their face. Nowadays, you can’t react to things like this in fear you get sued for discrimination and have eggs thrown at you. And since it’s the Olympics, there’ll be a huge public outcry about how insulted people are blah blah.
I think it’s too late now, if it’s already out on CCTV 9 then it’s probably going to go world wide. I just wonder if the Olympic committee did a test run on this song before they publicised it, to get any positive/negative feedback? And if they did, was it done with people from outside of China? Because I can tell you, my parents would probably think he sings pretty well in English too.
Just recently, I found 公主小妹 (Romantic Princess) on CETV1 as well as Princess Hours =) I previously watched a couple of episodes of Princess Hours, but it was the female lead, Yoon Eun Hye, which made me want to watch it again. She’s the same girl from Coffee Prince and there’s just something about her which makes me like her.
If they repeat Romantic Princess 公主小妹 on another channel, I’m going to attempt to watch those episodes I’ve missed. I’m hoping that maybe, just maybe, those missed episodes make a difference to how I view the ending….
