Busy April

April has been a very busy month for me. Besides my daily work routine, I also have to squeeze in working overtime (weekend per say). I have been scheduled to work 3 out of 4 weekends this month and managed with long meeting hours during weekday.

It seems like things will get worst for the up coming months as well since one of my wo-worker is on maturnity leave and I have to take over most of the work. On top of that, there's my daily work task + that big project there requires me to work overtime. I really should take some days off here and there just to get myself charge up. Can't wait til my 3 weeks (maybe 4 weeks ) vacations in Novemeber . That reminds me, Ms. S, we need to plan our trip soon .

白色巨塔

Once again, it proofs that good story is bound to be remake in different country.

Japanese Version:
白い巨塔(白色巨塔, Shiroi Kyotō) was a well known Japanese TV drama adopted from a novel by 山崎 豊子(Toyoko Yamazaki). The story contrasts the life of two doctors, former classmates and now both assistant professors at Naniwa University Hospital in Osaka. The brilliant and ambitious surgeon Goro Zaizen stops at nothing to rise to a position of eminence and authority, while the friendly Shuji Satomi busies himself with his patients and research.

Taiwanese Version:
白色巨塔(The Hospital) adopted from a novel by 侯文詠. Although this novel shared the name as Toyoko Yamazaki's novel and similar story line, but they are not related to each other. The story portraits the struggle between reality and dreams for all the young doctors in an University Hospital. They are dragged into political wars and medical lawsuits.

Korean Version:
하얀 거탑(White Power/White Tower) adopted from Japanese novel "Shiroi Tower" [白い巨塔] by Toyoko Yamazaki. The story of two doctors who have contrasting personalities . Jang joon hyeok, a genius surgeon who is overly ambitious and will do anything to climb his way up the corporate ladder and Choi doyoung, a physician, kind and upright person who strongly hold onto his beliefs. And the plot will reveal the power and emotional struggles within the white tower itself .

Just so happen that I'm currently watching the Taiwanese version on one of my local Chinese station and the Korean one on cable TV. I have to say, both are a bit extreme on the political war trying to raise high. Which one is better? I can't tell since I haven't watch the "original version" (Japanese version) yet. But I'm more into the Taiwanese one because I'm half way through the drama already (I think). Just started on the Korean one couple days and it seems kind of boring (I guess because of no cuties, only a bunch of ajushi and ajuma).

清明節

今天是清明節。天陰陰和微微雨，令我想起《清明》這首唐詩。就等我拋下書包啦!

《清明》
作者 杜牧
清明時節雨紛紛，
路上行人欲斷魂。
借問酒家何處有？
牧童遙指杏花村。

忘記了這首詩的意思? 看看這裡吧!

愚人節遊記

A friend had organized a BBQ trip at Tomales Bay on April Fool's Day. No, the trip is not a trick, but we do have some tricks on our sleeves in order to make it a memorable trip



The ride to the site is shorter than expected. The scenery is nice since most of the location is part of the reservoir. But this particular view reminds me of Katamari. I have a feeling that I want to and stick the cows onto the ball.








We started the fire for the grill once we got there. Obviously, none of us joined boy/girl scout when we were young because none of us know how to start the "fire". We have tried so many ways, even stealing neighbor's charcoal and it still won't work. It took us almost an hour to start the so-call "fire" and we end up having "無火煮食" -- slowly cook the meat with heat. This must be a "first" for all BBQers and we are the pioneers (FYI, our "fire" looks exactly the same as the one you see here throughout the whole day)

Everyone were so hungry by the time the grill is ready, we just dug into our BBQ fork and started grilling. Chicken wings, balls (beef ball, fish ball, shrimp ball, etc), and cheese dogs (hot dog w/ cheese in the middle) were the to hit the "fire". Soon followed by ribs, mackerel, veggies (bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, etc), and oysters. We tried so many different way to grill the oysters: garlic black bean sauce, garlic with green onions, garlic with cilantro, butter with beacon. Unfortunately, none of them match up with plain oyster. I mean the one that you just grill it with the shell. Of course, raw is also another runner up.

Overall, the trip was fun especially when we crack up the crowd with stupid gag. I wish that they'll have more shell fish on site so that we can taste all local farm products. If I'm going again, I would love to purchase the oysters from Hog Island since they tasted so good in SF store.

Useful link:
complete photo book

황진이 Trailer

... OMG .. this girl is really breaking out of her shell in this movie ... I think (I hope) she could make it BIG with this movie ...

宋慧喬在片中飾演琴棋書畫樣樣精通的朝鮮名伎黃真伊，與愛人劉志太有一段激情床戲，她秀出一雙嫩白的腿任他摸，鏡頭更帶到喬妹全裸的背，加上「我把貞操給你，當我的男人好嗎？」、「哪有男人跟藝伎獨處一室還束手無策的？」等露骨的台詞，讓不少粉絲看了臉紅心跳。

I wonder what is her best friend's reaction will be when he sees it in the theater in June. Will it be ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Anyone up for the challenge to make a guess? (hint: you may find some hints in the previous post)

Useful link:
Movie 황진이 Offical Website
황진이 movie photos
New Song picked for ‘Hwang Jin Yi’

The producers didn’t like the old Song. She was a top star but she still had that cute image.