I CANNOT resist the 2015 new campaign of McDonalds Hello Kitty crossing over different Sanrio friends!!!!... They are coming to make a ceremonial call(－"－Ads say so...celebrating the new year with you)!!!
Anyway I have a long term food history in McDonalds, any time I get in there I am always happy to get what I longed to eat in my childhood... At the time I just graduated and got my first job(dine out in lunch time), when I was able to take control on the meals I ate McDonalds 4-5 times a weeks, used to it so much and seldom got bored! After maybe after a quarter of a year, my enthusiasm started to fade and so I tried different. Fast food is not healthy, now the food there are treated as snacks or comfort food, but not my regular choice any more.
Everyone love to meet its childhood memory... guess it may be a reason why McDonalds succeeded in all parts of the world? On the other big hand McDonalds developed well in Property investments(read this from a book, forgot the tittle..), both sentimental and rational reasons, making McDonalds entrepreneurship impeccable.
If you are a fan of Hello Kitty, this is a collection you can completely contented with, even I am barely in a median level, the mini cushions are adorable as well. My favorite character in Sanrio is Cinnamon, always(but not here, sadly). And by the print ads I just knew another members in theSanrioFamilia~
Existing now are Kerokerokeroppi, Tuxedosam, Pompompurin, My Melody and Osaru No Monkichi. The way to get any one of them is simple, by any purchases in Hong Kong McDonalds branch and add $28HKD. Buy the whole collection by $238, the Special Red-bubbly one(I gave up on this, too big for my bed).
There is also a special plush doll "Han-Gyodon" for adding $28 with any 24 hours McDlivery food ordering for more than or equal to $70. It looks like a かっぱ(kappa). I don't know what it is...Maybe it is exactly like what Ms. Tyra Bank says "Ugly pretty", just me not getting it right. XD
On the first day its launch, got the Purin dog and I thought this is already cutest of all...so I am not buying any more! Yellow is an auspicious in the Chinese Culture; At the past only emperors are allowed to wear items in yellow.
Besides, in Qing Dynasty, there were eight flags(teams) in the Mongolian military unit and the flag in golden always stay fierce and win. Maybe it can act like a fortune cat, and bring some luck to my home(by this excuse, my mum approved its stay:P)
Approaching the end of this year, I am going to write this blog entry to summarize some of my favorite Jp drama(ドラマ) background music and OST in this year 2014.
Those songs are definitely classic and worth attentions(+my quick trans)!!
------------------------------------------------------------- 《失恋ショコラティエ》 (Heartbroken Chocolatier)
The theme song"bittersweet" by 嵐(Arashi)
夢の中で君と笑えるなら ありのままを
伝えたくて 分からなくて ただ君だけを見つめてた (If I can laugh with you in a dream, just like that way, want to reach you, cannot understand, I am only looking at you
離れた場所からでも届くから 今どこかで
幸せを運ぶ 甘く切ない君の歌 Even from far away it can still arrive, now from somewhere spreading happiness, your song is sweet and heart-moving
巡り会えた奇跡がほら この胸を叩いた
生まれてく世界は ためらいもなく ただ君で染まってゆく You see our meet is a miracle, patting my chest A new world from it, is unwaveringly dyed by your colour
恋は甘くて苦い 溶けてくような 忘れられない香りばかり
叶わないけど愛おしい 僕を強くさせる Love is sweet yet bitter, feels like melting with a scent that not to be forgotten
won't be fulfilled but it is lovely
making me strong
知りたい 消えない思い出なら あの日のまま包み込んで
君を強く抱き締めたら 溶けてゆくほど優しく want to get to know this unfading memory like that day it is wrapped in that way If I can hold you tight, this tenderness is going to melt us two
君にもしも出逢わなければ まるで違う世界が見えていたんだ If you and me haven't met each other maybe we would fall into a complete different worlds
確かなことがあれば 君がいるから ここに僕はいるよ
誰よりも 君を... What I am sure about one thing is that, because your are with me, I am now here More than anybody else, to you....)
------------------------------------------------------------- 《ビター・ブラッド》 (Bitter blood)
The theme song by Mayday(A boys-band from Taiwan). " Do You Ever Shine? "
Do you ever shine Do you ever shine to live or die If you run away from the fiction You will still be trapped in the cage Do you ever shine Do you ever shine to live or die Do you get lost in the trouble You will see the bright sunlight Do you ever shine?
------------------------------------------------------------- 《アリスの棘》 (Alice's Thorn)
The theme song by 高橋優(Mr. Takahashi Yuu) "太陽と花(The sun and flowers)"
笑っていたらいいな 幸せに包まれ
頼るあてもないまま 戦っているのかな (If only can laugh it out, wrapped in happiness without a support, you have been fighting til now 太陽は自らを焼いて光る 陽を浴びた草木は花咲かせる
その眩しさは誰も見つめられぬほど The sun shines by burning itself, bathed in the sunshine there are blossoms That brightness is like nobody can look into
孤独な輝き 淋しい輝き
語られることもなくただ愛し続けてる The single shine, The lonely shine Without a one can talk to, it still glows on to love 命の瞬き 誰もが一人
それぞれの空見上げて 今も繋がっていると信じながら In blinks of life we are all alone look up to the sky, and we believe we are tightly connected together)
------------------------------------------------------------- 《Border》 This is just a background music for the drama, not a song. But I liked it a lot and got a great impression by that during the climax of the drama.
------------------------------------------------------------- 《弱くても勝てます》 (Can Win Even If Weak) (弱くても勝てます～青志先生とへっぽこ高校球児の野望～ )
The theme song"GUTS!" by 嵐(Arashi)
目まぐるしく回る 迷い掻き分けて
確かな正解なんて 見つかるはずもなくて
It is getting dizzy, falling into another self
What is the real answer, it is not a sure thing to figure it out
夢を見ることも 容易くはないさ
耳を澄ましてみれば 心がざわめいていた
Pursuing your dream, not quite easy
but just when I get closer to hear
my heart is pumping loud
光の無い 荒野をひとり いざ行け
Without a light, here is I coming to that place of wilderness
握り締めた手の中には 君の言葉
雨に打たれ 風に吹かれ 僕らは叫ぶ
Holding tight in my hands is your words
hit by rains blown by strong we start to cry out
**VIVA 青春 胸を張れ いつでも変えられるさ
VIVA Youth! Heads up high You can always give it a change
イチニのサンで さあ前を向け
常識なんて吹き飛ばせ
1 2 and 3 let us move forward
what is knowledge indeed we can blow it away
VIVA 青春 立ち上がれ 君はひとりじゃないさ
僕らだけの革命を
VIVA Youth! Stand up high You are not aloneOnly for our revolution
夢と希望のパレード
歓びへと舵を取れ
The parade between "Dreams"and "hopes"
Enjoy and take it under controls**
答えが間違いでも
その勇気があれば
真実はいつだって ひとつだけじゃ終わらない
Even the answer is wrong , just when you have that courage
You cannot call it a wrap when only one truth is revealed
風を受けて 飛び立つ君に 幸あれ
Leave by the wind, you are having the time in your life
人は誰も弱いものさ 泣いてるんだよ
People may cry when finding themselves weaker than others
雨は上がり 幕も上がり 僕らは誓う
The rain stops, and the curtain is pulled up, we swear
VIVA 青春 咲き誇れ 全てを変えられるさ
VIVA Youth! Make a blossom every thing can be changed
イチニのサンで さあ走り出せ やりたいように突き進め
1 2 and 3 let us run. Going forward with this push
VIVA 青春 声上げろ まだまだ諦めるな
VIVA Youth! Volume upWe cannot give up
どんな小さい希望でも
明日のためのエール 心でぎゅっと抱き締めて
No matter how small the hopes are
For the cheer we are going to hear tomorrow
hold your heart tight!
嵐の中 闘う友よ いざ行け
In the hurricane, friends wth us fighting tgt, let's go
握り締めた手の中には 君の言葉
Holding tight in my hands is your words
雨に打たれ 風に吹かれ 僕らは向かう
hit by rains blown by strong we keep looking forward
**
------------------------------------------------------------- 《昼顔〜平日午後3時の恋人たち〜》 (Hirugao~ lovers after 3pm)
c/o song "Never Again feat.青木カレン" composed by 菅野佑悟
Drowning away from the start to the end
And you’re sailing away and nowhere else to strain
Come and take my all away
So far away from the start to the end
And everything seems so veiled and blue
Run away, sail away
You’re the one to have and love and shame
Will you be mine
Come and take
We will be far away
Never again I’ll find someone else kiss me goodbye to the end
Worst I’m alone to despair end up in crazy for the love to insane
Never again I’ll love someone else
Please be mine till the end
This is our last night I’m fallin’ in love
Your lips, your soul, your eyes, your arms, your hairs, your heart
Our love, our mind
------------------------------------------------------------- 《ディア・シスター(Dear Sister)》 OP song "Happiness" composed by シェネル(Che'Nelle)
The happy things, the things with regrets, I want to tell you the most bu I always tried in vain My happy moments, my regretful moments, keep searching and forgiving I cannot figure it out Do you feel the same? When you're sad in the dark, I know it soon. I'm not gonna give up tonight, I am not good at expressing myself, But I will stay by your side. Always I'm always gonna be with you want to protect in this world the most treasure you are important to me I like you too much maybe that makes me cannot say it well you are here, that is great enough, Cos always, you are my happiness ------------------------------------------------------------- 《ごめんね青春！》 (Sorry my youth!)
Theme song "言ったじゃないか" by 関ジャニ∞(A boys band including the leading male character Mr. Nishikido Ryo)
誰とも付き合わないって 言ったじゃないか
勉強が恋人って 言ったじゃないか
チャラいヤツは無理って 言ったじゃないか
見た目で判断しないって 言ったじゃないか
(ららららライアー)君はウソつき
(ららららライアー)僕は君が好き
親が厳しいって 言ったじゃないか
門限あるって 言ったじゃないか
友達からって 言ったじゃないか
夜9時までって 言ったじゃないか
(ららららライアー)君はどうしようもないバカ
(ららららライアー)僕はどうしようもなく 君が好き
本当のことが知りたいの(神さま)
本当のことなんか知りたくはないの
本当のことを言ってよ(仏さま)
本当のことなんか聞きたくはないよ
「大倉くんの顔見るとホッとするって言ったじゃないか!」
「村上くんなら何でも話せるって」
「昨日、横山くんの夢を見たって」
「結婚するなら錦戸くんみたいな人がいいって」
「言ったじゃないか」
「言うたやんかーーーー!」
その日はダメって 言ったじゃないか
塾があるって 言ったじゃないか
遊園地に行くなんて 言ってないじゃないか
友達だって 言ったじゃないか
(ららららライアー) 懺悔したほうがいいよ
(ららららライアー) 僕は許さない
携帯持ってないって 言ったじゃないか
お婆ちゃんが病気だって 言ったじゃないか
ハムスターが死んだって 言ったじゃないか
でも行けたら行くって 言ったじゃないか
(ららららライアー) お祓いした方がいいよ
(ららららライアー) 僕は君から離れない
本当のことが知りたいの(神さま)
本当のことなんか知りたくはないの
本当のことを教えてよ(仏さま)
本当のことを言わないでくれよ
本当のことが知りたいの(神さま)
本当のことなんか知りたくはないの
本当のことを教えてよ(仏さま)
本当のことを言わないでくれよ
言ったら ぶっ飛ばす~~~~~!!
好きって 好きって 好きって 言うたやんか
好きって 好きって 好きって 言うたやんか
…言ってないか
------------------------------------------------------------- 《First Class 2》
Theme song "BRIGHTER DAY by 安室奈美恵(Ms Amuro Namie)
BRIGHTER DAY
作詞：TIGER
作曲：Erik Lidbom・Ylva Dimberg
You're a dreamer
時には 驚くほど無邪気で
You're a dreamer Your pureness sometimes surprise me
You are stronger
そう君が 思うよりもずっとずっと
変わらない Smile 諦めない
You are stronger
Yes you are much much unchanged than I thought
Smile. Without giving up.
どんな時にも
だからこそ I'm proud of you
No matter when, that is just why I'm proud of you
But everyday's a winding road
思うように全てを
手に出来ずに 立ち止まるけど
But everyday's a winding road
Than going well in your mind,
everything just stops and you cannot make them work
Got a brief review for Ms. Amuro Namie's live in 2014 from Fuji Tv (フジテレビ), cannot wait for the DVD or blue- ray.... though the show is still on-going in Tokyo! Look! The Queen!!
「LIVE STYLE 2014」
Just quickly do a translation & summary of her singing in this clip.... "SWEET KISSES" 0:08 Sweet kisses, lay them on my lips Your sweet sweet hands get wrapped around my hips Feel my loveliness Know you're gonna like this Non-stop candy shop I'm full of surprises ... So get ready for me Take a piece of my heart I will tempt you Try out what you see "グロテスク(grotesque)" feat. 0:28 アイツの幸せ喜べますか？ あのコのもの欲しがってませんか？ 果たしてあなたは特別ですか？ (Will you be happy for his happiness? Don't you once wanted her belongings? At the end are you that special?) (She came out on top in the game of musical chairs!!!) "FUNKY TOWN" 0:38 真っ先に we gonn' rush to the floor サイケに目が回るまで dancin' all night, drinkin' all night, talkin' all night, oh yeah (Before all we gonn' rush to the floor Until we get dazzling eyes) ... 眠らずに C'mon now エレクトロニックな funky town パーティ・アニマルは夜な夜な繰り出す (Without sleeps C'mon now Electronic funky town Party animals march down here every night) "BRIGHTER DAY" 1:02 涙も悲しみも忘れて 歩いてこう Brighter day 君だけの Story 心に 綴ってよ Night and day I'll be there for you I'll be there for you さあ 顔上げて一緒に 行こうよ Brighter day (Forget the tears and sadness Go forward Brighter day Only for you "story" in your heart Spelling Night and day ... Hey Face it up, walk together Brighter day) "Contrail" 1:29 life私はそれを知っているんだ What is life君にも見えているのだろうか どこまでも続く雲海を... ("Life" I always know about this What is life? Maybe you are looking into it too The flowing cloud towards somewhere...)
Guess I should call it a wrap to my passport in 2014...
(Take a little break)
since I will be staying in Hong Kong for the Christmas,
those are already all travel tickets that I got this year.
+:。(●ゝω・)Places in my memory of 2014:
今年のいい旅だち
Phuket(Thailandタイ) January
Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi (Malaysiaマレーシア) February
Seoul(Korea韓国) March
Singaporeシンガポール, Sydney(Australiaオーストラリア) July
<also Macau in July...it did not count as I didn't fly there, just via turbojet>
Kuala Lumpur(Malaysiaマレーシア) September
Nagoya and Osaka(Japan日本) October
Taipei(Taiwan台湾) November
and nearly half of them were my private travels ^口^//!!
Maybe that should be put into this way....I must confess, since my very first time to be a solo tourist, I just cannot stop traveling as an One man army(OMA)!!!!
Appreciated a lot freedom (or versatility in schedule when oversea)in my spare time, so I can go explore or imagine myself living in those countries like locals (escape from the reality momentarily....)
Living in Hong Kong is kind of a blessing(despite of its political situation nowadays, we're still finding hope there)/ First of all, HK locates well geographically, and it is so accessible to most of the countries in Asia Pacific areasヾ(￣∇￣).
Budget flights do not really prosper here as airline plutocrats tried long to keep edges in their base, but the HKExpress(UO) and HK Airline(HX) both seem to be a promising start to the leakage for budget travelers(Yes me! I'm talking about). To near places for further extension from Hong Kong, it is easy and handy to fly via Malaysia(AirAsia), or Singapore(Jetstar, Scoot, Tigerair) as springboards. (*´∀｀*)(*´∀｀*)
But to the west side from HK, I guess there are limited choices, can readily transit through Fanfare<a discount programme> by Cathy Pacific(CX), or via Airchina (transit in PEK, not very recommended, my mental wound still not yet healed).
Right now I am thinking about using Aeroflot for my next long haul solo travel, transit in Moscow, would I be able to get through the customto terminal F within 1 hr 25 minutes? Still a concern. That was why I was not determined enough to shop the HKG-SVO-BCN round ticket <I almost did it last week!! 480USD.....Boze, kak ja liubliu!!!(P.S.1 Forgive me, the only people that I know in Russia are just Putin and Vitas// P.S.2 Well I should not say 'just' before Mr. Vladimir Putin His majesty)>
Am I thinking too much? But visiting Gaudí's architectures is definitely one on my to-do list in 2015(or 2016? I prefer asap... just take time before time takes you:) (バカ mode) Started planing my next next trip before my next trip yet been to.... shall be on my own OMA(again, nvm), therefore have to seriously and carefully plan for it!
Really looking forward to travelling to more new places next year 2015. Travelling means a lot to me and it goes too deep that like itself is one part of my life.
New excitement, new experience.
Work hard and play hard....
Make the world to be our playgroundヾ(●´▽｀●)ノ
Compare to last year(2013) the travels are a bit more(seems to be)
the smell of graduation is filling the air of this season.
Back to few year ago at 2009, one of Japanese pop songs《10年桜/ 10 years sakura》by AKB48(A Girls-music-group, see wiki) was famous for its meaning in celebrating high school graduation[btw, Japanese students start their academic year in April, instead of HK ours following British in September]. In the spring time when Japanese students graduate, there are always Sakura blossom, so there is a strong connection between this flower and the sentimental moment.
Most of us know that Sakura(cherry blossoms) is kind of a national flower to Japan, although it has never been officially stated by the Jp Government. The feature of Sakura is quite matching to the Japanese "Samurai spirit" too, from the long Yamato's history, they have a strong attitude of "Do or Die", putting ones name and honor before every thing. When they lost, they didn't just say sorry and sneak awayΣ(☉A⊙ｌ|ｌ)... In history, an ancient "true" samurai would even 腹切り(はらきり/ ritual suicide) to death to show their strength of character. Of course no body will end his life in a bloody way like this nowadays, but the admiration of "die a hero or become a villain" in the Japanese culture, (I think) it is somehow transformed into their people's prevalent love to Sakura. As we all know Sakura, this kind of flowers... really start to fall in their full blossom.
(●´∀｀●)ノ。.:*・゜*:.。.
Go back to the promotional video(PV), this is as joyful as it shows, I thought the same too... but wait. It actually is just not.
After I was told by the online fans group about the true meaning of this PV, I got chilled and watched it again in a complete different way, Ended up in sorrow. Sometimes you really impressed by their producers Mr. Yasushi Akimoto's<AKB48's main producer> twist. In the video it first looks like audience can see a bunch of girls are happy singing and looking forward to the reunion 10 years later(as the song tittle may suggested).
No....please, go back to the PV, in the story, there are indeed lots of signs that implying most of the teenagers die from the car accident at the tour coach(at the time they graduated); and only two girls(at the beginning of the PV) survives, they are then able to read the letter after 10 years and mourn for their friends.
Start rewinding(Hints):
<trans from a online fans group interpretation page>
The story starts off as flashback, two girls(short-haired: Atsuko, Pregnant: Yuko) after ten years are walking on the dam, saying that time flies and "it looks like just a dream".
Another three girls in a group(dead in the accident) ask each other "How come only three of us here?"
--------------------------
Main plot(back to years) as the school is getting crowded, they are about to start their graduation tour by a coach.
2:56
the flipping of screen, showing the coach crashes to upside down
3:00
A "Q4" mark of the backboard, the pronunciation of Q4 in Japanese is same as 「急死」(sudden death)
3:44
The pink car is upside down, implies a car accident
4:36-4:40
showing a car falling from a cliff
4:36
the real car is turning in direction,
with fences lining the road from the cliff
4:38
Someone is holding a toy car across a paper
4:39
The real car is heading to the fences.
4:40
The toy car is crashing to the flower petals (fences), implying the real coach does not make it. The decorative star stickers turn red.
4:48~5:03 The crowd is having their moment of life
5:06
The red umbrellas getting into the screen(bloody screen)
5:26
Start from then on, they become silent. The girls step from the coach to a wasteland one by one. The three girls group gets of the car too.
5:57
Only Mirami and sleeping Atsuko are left.
6:04
Atsuko reminds in the car, Mirami leaves and watching her(in the car) goes. Maybe Atsuko remains alive by Mirami's protection.
7:06 There is a reunion by the three-girls group with others, but not Yuko and Atsuko.
7:10
Yuko and Atsuko say "They are waiting for us", but seems not gathering arround, rumors saying that they may just go sweeping graves.
7:20
Mirami is looking down at Atsuko
7:26
Atsuko asks for the baby's name, Yuko say it will be "Sakura" if it is a baby girl. Atsuko looked shocked, just as in the story (Keeper)Mirami's name is "Sakura"
dokoka de sakura no hanabi raga harari to kaze ni mau you ni dare ni mo habataku toki ga kite hitori kiri de arukidasu n da
Somewhere out there the cherry blossoms Are gently fluttering in the wind Now's the time for somebody to flap their wings And head out alone
kimi to aeta koto ga sugita kisetsu no imi sono egao ga mabushikatta issho ni ikenai kedo sonna ni nakanaide boku wa wasurenai
The fact that I met you Is why the seasons keep passing You had such a dazzling smile We can no longer go on together But don't cry I will never forget you
juunengo ni mata aou kono basho de matteru yo ima yori mo motte kagayaite sotsugyou wa PUROSESU sa saikai no chikai sugu ni moetsukiru koi yori zutto itosii kimide ite
Let's meet again in ten years I'll be waiting right here Shining brighter than I am now Graduation's just a process to renew our vows Even when this love's been burnt out You'll always be dear to me
ima made deatta dare yori mo honto ni kimi ga suki da kara jibun no sono yume taisetsu ni motto kimi wo mamoreru you ni
Up to now I've met a lot of people But because I love you the most I'll keep your dreams close to me And hope that I can keep protecting you
tsurai koto attemo umaku ikanakutemo sugiru haru wo kazoe nagara sabishiku naru keredo mirai wo sinjireba boku wa gambareru
There will be tough times ahead Things might not go the way I want And as I count each spring that passes I might become a bit lonely But if I just believe in the future I can keep fighting on
juunengo ni mata aou kono sakura saku koro nani ga attatte koko ni kuru sotsugyou wa SUTAATO sa eien no mitinori ima wa kanasimi ni kuretemo zutto te wo furu kimi de ite
Let's meet again in ten years When the cherry blossoms bloom No matter what happens, I'll be there Graduation's the start of an eternal journey Even though it's dark with sadness now You'll always be waving to me
Cherry blossoms! nando saitemo kyou to iu hi wo wasure wa shinai
Cherry blossoms! No matter how many times they bloom I won't ever forget What we knew as "today"
juunengo ni mata aou kono basho de matteru yo ima yori mo motte kagayaite sotsugyou wa PUROSESU sa saikai no chikai sugu ni moetsukiru koi yori zutto itosii kimide ite
Let's meet again in ten years I'll be waiting right here Shining brighter than I am now Graduation's just a process to renew our vows Even when this love's been burnt out You'll always be dear to me
dokoka de sakura no hanabi raga harari to kaze ni mau you ni dare ni mo habataku toki ga kite hitori kiri de arukidasu n da motto kimi wo mamoreru you ni
Somewhere out there the cherry blossoms Are gently fluttering in the wind Now's the time for somebody to flap their wings And head out alone I hope that I can keep protecting you
juunengo ni mata aou
Let's meet again in ten years
Would those hints in the PV....
make you watch it in a different way as well?!
Let alone some of the online fans forum said they see something behind the classroom window at 3:08....real creepy.
