ABC Interview

Wow ... I didn't know about this clip until now

"Chronicle" magazine program on Boston's ABC television station on January 30, 2008

I guess she is "really" ready for Hollywood: filming "Fetish", interviewing with Boston ABC, attending "My Blueberry Nights" premiere in NY.

OK, Ms Song, we all know your "snow man" is heading this way, and are you trying to stay close to him?

Also, isn't it a bit late to "report" on "hallyu" now? It seems like the wave is slowly dying down in other parts of the world now.

BTW, Daniel Henney just announced that he has taken a part in "X-men Origins: Wolverine”, scheduled to be released in May 2009.

Strike back

Remember "He's singing in Korean" talk by Steven Colbert last year? The race is on again for this year, and he has brought his "lovely" video to NBC Today Show.

Just couple days go, he strike back with a really good joke, and the heat is on.



News said he will be on Colbert show on Apr 28th. It'll be exciting to see their real "face off".

Edit: Times is so funny ... their article suggested they should have a wii off because both of them lost to Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamot this year.

Source: The Colbert Report @ Comedy Central

兩國三州遊記 Part 1

開始我的兩國三州之旅 -- 海上篇

April 18

第一站 - Long Beach, CA

駕車6小時前往Long Beach上船。第一次在美國遊船河，心情有點緊張加興奮。 再加上外來“催眠”因數，難免會對一次的旅行有一點點的期望。

上船前也關卡重重。 先要在check in counter辦離境加登船手續。然後要拿SeaPass card（Boarding Card加房卡）加Passport入閘。 入閘後還要過x-ray。 過完x-ray後，已經有一大班攝影師準備就緒，為我們拍第一張on board團體照。 拍完照後，還要對著一部機器，scan你的樣貌落張SeaPass Card。 臨上船前還要出示張SeaPass Card才踏上甲板。

上船後第一件事就是找我們的房間放下行李。我們的房間在８樓，屬Obstructed Oceanview Stateroom。原因是我們的窗外看到半隻救生艇。但幸運的是我們的房間剛在兩隻救生艇的中間。所以我們的oceanview可算是“無遮無掩“。



在床上的是一隻大象。是那個貼心的房間服務員為我們準備的禮物。（那是我的太陽眼鏡囉）

放下行李後，第一時間衝上１１樓吃自助式的午餐。食物質素一般。吃過午餐後，在１１樓參觀了它們的pool 和Open-air basketball court內的乒乓球場。 它們的乒乓球板是全塑膠的。

５:00船長擴播要所有人到７樓集合，為進行安全求生演習。大家到穿上救身衣，感覺好似上了Titanic！（You Jump, I jump?!)

5:30慢慢駛離Long Beach港口，向著墨西哥進發。當時我也換上一身泳裝，在甲板上享受著我的日光浴。

6:00是我們在Main Dining Room的晚餐時間。 Main Dinning Room好像是一所高級餐廳。 它們每天提共3-5 course meal。 餐單都是每天更新的。材料方面比自助新鮮。


[Top: Garlic Prawns with White Rice, Lam Rack with Mash Potato]
[Bottom: Tiramisu, Warm Chocolate Cake]

晚餐後大家自去尋歡。有人去看show，有人去玩Bingo，而我就上了甲板看“夜景“。

April 19

第二站 - Ensenada, Mexico

Woke up at 7:00am while we are closing in to the port. I have decided to get up to the deck and trying to view Ensenada from afar.



Luckily, I was able to catch them disembarking as well.


[Top: (Left)That's our Port (Right)Captain, what's you doing? We are going to crash ..]
[Middle: (Left) That's our Captain (the one in the middle). (Right) Throwing the ropes to the shores]
[Bottom: (Left) Lowering the chains. (Right) Hooking the ropes]

Our First breakfast in one of the main dinning room was very "fulfilling". They have everything, like cereal, oatmeal, fruits, pancake, waffle, omelet, eggs, bacon, smoke salmon, herring, etc. Everyone ordered the "Smoke Salmon Platter" (FYI, what you are seeing here is 1/2 of the dish. The comes w/ 2 slides of smoke salmon, 1 whole bagel, 2 slides of onions, 2 pieces of tomato slides, etc)



We joined the tour offered by the cruise line to La Bufadora after breakfast.



We had tried some really good food at La Bufadora. Ensenada is famous for their fish soft taco. Which is good, very tasty fried fish; but their shrimp soft taco is the best, IMO. We also tried some of their grilled clams. Of course, how can we not try the "authentic" Mexico churros?!


[Sorry for the blurry shrimp taco picture]

We also walk around in the downtown area before we head back to the ship. Nothing much excited to see in downtown except for pubs and bars. But, we found Mexico version of 紅白藍膠袋.


It's French cuisine for the formal dinner. They have a wide range of selection



[Top: (Left) Escargot (Right) Lobster Bisque]
[Middle: (Left) Lime sorbet for cleaning the taste bug (Right) Beef]
[Bottom: (Left) Roast Duck (Right) Souffle with Orange Cream Sauce]

晚上回到房間，一開門迎接我們的是 . . .



April 20

第三站 - Fun day at Sea

Fun day at Seam meaning we are stuck in the middle of no where. Our ship is not moving, just anchoring in the middle of the pacific ocean. So, what can you do on the ship? Oh yeah, start off with watching the sun rise, rock climbing, casino, table tennis match, speed climbing match, etc. Of course, not to mention more yummy food.


[Top: (Left) Sun Rise (Right) Rock climber Mr. A]
[Bottom: (Left) Blueberry cheesecake & Earl Gray Tea @ lunch (Right) Pineapple & Earl Gray Tea @ lunch]

Entertainment for tonight was the best, IMO. We went to the "adult comedy show" where the comedian focuses on the difference between man and woman. A little adult content but not so bad. The one after that was a scavenger hunt where people get so wild just for a key chain.

Complete Photo book: here

不要問為什麼要加這個playlist。 終是覺得好像少了點什麼似的。

兩國三州遊記 Part 2

開始我的兩國三州之旅 -- 沙漠篇

April 21

第一站 - Long Beach, CA

Finally got back to land. We were suppose to be disembarked at 7:30am but we were delayed for 3 hours because the stupid immigration were taking their time to process each party. They asked each person at least 2-3 questions which takes like 5-10 mins to process one party.

My parents wanted to visit one of our relative who lives in LA before we headed to LV. So we stayed in Montery Park in the morning and headed to LV in the afternoon

第二站 - Las Vegas, NV
We got to LV around 4pm. They wouldn't let me use the trick to get a better room this time as they claimed we won't be spending time in the room. I never knew that Vegas could be so empty on Monday. We hardly see any cars on the strip. We can park/turn anywhere on the strip at anytime. This is something that you won't see in the peak season. We went to Makino Seafood Restaurant for dinner. I have been trying to find a replacement ever since my favorite Japanese restaurant was sold to Korean. Someone mentioned this restaurant as a "good Japanese" place as it is owned by founder of Todai. I have to say, they do have better quality than Todai, but the food are still not the best. They have lots of choices in sushi, the fish are good, but let's say I have tasted better (I guess I get spoiled by Sushi Sam already). One of the dish that I really like is their Udon. The soup tasted so good that it makes you feel like you are eating authentic Udon in Japan. Oh yeah, their red bean ice cream is really Japanese like too.

April 22
Return to LV in the evening after the trip to Grand Canyon. We went to Wynn for buffet this time (trying out something different). Their food choices are different from Paris and PH. They are more European/Westernize, like you'll find anchovies in their salad section. One of the dessert that they have is Green Tea mouse with a small piece of gold on the top

兩國三州遊記 Part 3

開始我的兩國三州之旅 -- 峽谷篇

April 22

第一站 - Hoover Dam, NV

I haven't been to Hoover Dam for more than 10 years. I remembered you had to climb through lots of hills before getting there in the old days. This time, there is a 6 lanes freeway that cut through the hills. Which cut down on the travel time alot. The dam itself hasn't change much, except new building surrounding it. They are also building a "freeway" there (raather than 2 lanes curve roads), which will be convientant in the future.



第二站 - Grand Canyon, AZ

This is one of the destination that I have been waiting anxiously for. We stopped at the visitor center for IMAX experience first. We thought that we won't be able to visit all the spot in the park, so mind as well just see them all in the movie instead. The movie is cool, but it would be better if it's 3D (still can't forget Harry Plotter 3D experience, that was way too cool). We only had 1-2 hours in the park before we head back to LV. So we asked the guide in the visitor center for some advice on which spot to hit for the best result. We followed his advice and visited Yaki Point, Grand view point, Yavapai Point. I would love to see more if I can go again. I would love to goto the Skywalk on the west side where you can walk on the edge of the canyon.

Complete photobook: here

ハチミツとクローバー

I have heard about Honey & Clover (ハチミツとクローバー Hachimitsu to Kurōbā, HnC for short) for a while, but never got the "motivation" to watch it. Until recently, the hype on this has grown, most likely because of the movie, and the TV drama from Japan and Taiwan. Well, the Japanese version doesn't seem to interest me (no cute guys/gals), plus the Taiwanese version is not out yet; so I have decided to go for the "original" - the anime version. Thank god that I did, because this anime rocks.

The story outlines the life of 5 young collage kids (Yūta Takemoto, Takumi Mayama, Shinobu Morita, Hagumi Hanamoto, and Ayumi Yamada). The story follows their love triangles, graduating from college, finding jobs, family responsibility, and learning more about themselves.

My most favorite character(s) got to be Mayama and Yamada. Don't ask me why, but somehow those 2 just got all my heart (it could be personal experience). I really don't care who they end up with, just their "relationship" really aches me. The "Nomiya-Yamda-Mayama-Rika-Harada" link is really something. It was very well written in the story. I'm sure if anyone has similar experience will understood what they have gone through. But I have to say, the "ending" on this love pentangle was ended on a good note and it just make the story seems so perfect, yet so real.

Another character that really cracks me is Morita. He is one hack "spontaneous" funny guy. You'll never know where he comes from and what does he do. He has eased a lot of tension in the story. He was serving as a clown within the group, but also have a very serious side that was revealed in the later part of the story.

Another story line that I really like is Hanamoto's. Even though her character seems a bit "over boarded", but what she is facing is one that will go through in life at least once. Stress/Pressure from surrounding that will get you to lost the sense of yourself. Facing the choice of scarifying family or something/someone that love. The very first feeling of being loved by someone and loving someone. This is all what youth is, I believe.

I really enjoyed watching it as the story was really close to our every-day lives. Things that they have talked about are something that you and me had gone through once in life. It was once in our youth that we have dreamed and loved. Not sure why, but recently I'm more drawn to watch something that is more close to life/reality than those "fantasy" drama.

BTW, I saw the 8 mins preview on Taiwan H&C. It's really close to the anime, so it could be something that I'll watch every Sunday starting in May (speaking of which, TKA is ending in 2 weeks .. woo woo woo).

Record Breaking

Woo hoo ... 至從上２個禮拜入咗$49油後。 今日終於衝過$50關口，入咗13.x gallon，總收$51.

償花一日遊

Ms. S found another short trip on AAA travel book and she was nice enough to bring us along. (Thank you Ms. S)

Our destination this time is Nice, CA. This is my first time to travel this far to the north bay. Never know that it's really nothing much exciting on the north side except farming.

One exciting part about the trip is the drive to Nice. We are on a 頭文字A quest (Why 頭文字A?! because our driver is Mr. A, hahaha)


(Mr A, until I know how to "PS" the video so that I can edit it .. else your voice will be on this video .. sorry)


This is a winery called "Tulip Hill Winery" and they planted over 1500 tulips in their winery. They hosted a "open house" event for wine tasting, local food sampling and of course, tulip seeing. The food was great, the wine was good, and we have lots of fun.

Photo book: Tulip Festvial