1°17' N, 103°51' E Island Slacker

No.of Eps: 10
Yr/TV Stn: 2012/Fuji TV
Cast:
Fukada Kyoko ~ Shinoda Kaori
Sasaki Nozomi ~ Sakai Mana
Kaname Jun ~ Kondo Yukihiro
Seto Koji ~ Yamashita Yuji
Hiraoka Yuta ~ Honjo Keisuke
Seto Asaka ~ Takeuchi Hiromi
Synopsis: (edited from Asianwiki)
Kaori Shinoda is a new air traffic controller. She visits Haneda airport one day before her actual work begins to say hello. Kaori arrives at the control tower and watches the air traffic controllers work in their hectic pace. An airplane that has just taken off has the possibility that a bird might be jammed somewhere in the airplane's engine. Chief air traffic controller Yumi Takeuchi quickly contacts the pilot and other agencies to prepare for the worst. The air traffic controllers guide several airplanes including the troubled airplane to make safe landings. The air traffic controllers are relieved and the ground staffs at the arrival gate become busy dealing with the passengers. On Kaori's first day at work, she is introduced to other air traffic controllers in the middle of a briefing. Yumi takes Kaori to the opposite direction of the control tower. Yumi and Kaori arrive at the simulation room. Kaori gives exact instructions, thinking of costs, but Yumi tells Kaori that air traffic controllers shouldn't think of cost and makes Kaori practice more. After a couple days of strict simulation, Kaori gets the order and she is excited that she can finally work for real. Kaori goes to the control tower and sits with Yumi. She begins to direct an airplane, but ...
Review:
"TA" is an occupation themed Jdrama dealing with airport traffic controllers. This occupation is new on the TV, as the common ones are either airport ground staff or airline crew. The plot is very standard, as each episode feature a cast's story or error. Plot development is routine hence boredom sets in, but I managed to finish the show.
Glad to see Fukada in full form again. She's not the best actress I've seen but she's willing to give various characters a try (not someone who always go for pretty roles). Shinoda is probably one of her most professional/serious roles I have ever seen, and her performance was not bad. Like her scenes with Seto as their mentor/student relationship was one highlight of the drama. Shinoda and Honjo scenes are alright, though romance was not hinted until the last episode.
Good to see Seto back as she's not that active in dramaland these years. Takeuchi seemed cold on the outside but she cares for her colleagues.
The supporting cast like Ssaki are forgettable. Kaname is always stuck in support roles, but Kondo got more scenes this time round. Seto Koji is ok while Hiraoka got too little scenes. Hope to see him leading a drama soon.

Change of plans.

My new year project will become year end project now. A good way to end 2012 :)

Venue would be Gardens by the Bay.
I have delayed this trip for a few months, so hopefully I can make it this time and produce some nice photos.

No.of Eps: 11
Yr/TV Stn: 2012/Fuji TV
Cast:
Kanno Miho ~ Tanaka Chiharu
Amami Yuki ~ Kirishima Haruko
Tamaki Hiroshi ~ Kudo Junpei
Synopsis: (from Dramawiki)
The women appearing in this drama are unmarried for various reasons including, they have high expectations, are not able to be themselves in front of men, become attracted to losers, think being single is much more easier, or they think men are unreliable. They’re almost about to lose all hope, however, it’s not that they don’t want to get married, it’s just...things just don’t work out, they don’t know if they’re getting married for themselves or to please others, or they question whether there really is a reason to get married. This drama will realistically portray the trials and tribulations of love, friendship, and work of these women.
Review:
I was excited to see Kanno and Tamaki leading a drama again, but "Kekkon Shinai" is not a rom-com and I did not expect too much on their love affair. True enough, they do not have many intimate scenes together. Each of them have a love line, though Chiharu and Junpei ended up together, while Haruko ended up with the professor. The drama actually falls under the typical Jdrama talking about relationships between a group of people hence the plot is pretty standard. What made me anticipated was Chiharu and Junpei. Their romance developments are slow, but their chemistry built up after each episode. Even though I am not too pleased with the ending, I guessed it somewhat fit the drama's theme...which is romance does not necessarily lead to marriage.
Kanno Miho finally acted in a character which is cheerful and bright. Her scenes with Amami are interesting as they are landlord & tenant, yet they are good friends who guided each other in life. Amami is good as usual, but I was not engaged with her character (not that Haruko is lousy or what, but I am just too engross with Chiharu and Junpei).
Tamaki returns with a new hairstyle and looking younger. He has been acting in all sorts of roles recently, and most of them are serious characters. Glad that he's still willing to act in small budget dramas. Junpei is a slow fella, and I thought nothing wld happen between him and the ladies. Luckily the drama aimed to pair Junpei up with Chiharu or else I might gave up watching. Lol! However, Tamaki's performance was kind of restricted here. Junpei is just a typical nice guy, nothing more. I think the ladies' characters have more layers.
Themesong by Kobukuro is nice.

Updated Day 1 of my Japan trip! Check link below.

Day 1 @ Osaka

--Hangoga Grill @ Marina Bay Sands--
Met up the girls for our Christmas gathering. It's our first visit to Hangoga and they are not the traditional type of Korean restaurants. Food choices are rather limited and the Korean bbq was not served with the usual Korean veggie.
Price is slightly on the steep side, but still affordable. 

4 side dishes are quite "stingy" as compared to other Korean restaurants.
Pork belly for bbq!
Samgyetang. Ginseng not very strong so it's not too bad for me.
Got the staff to help us bbq.
Kimchi pancake. Surprised that they don't have seafood version. They also added lemon to the dipping sauce and the lemon flavour is too strong for my liking.
Seafood beanpaste soup...nice too.
Spicy pork belly. Not spicy at all, perhaps beanpaste too strong.
--Coffee break @ TCC--
Had our gift exchange at TCC, and chatted about KH and my Japan trip.
--Dinner @ Ichiban Sushi--
Met up with family at Chinatown. I told everyone that I would refrain from Japanese food for a month, but Mr. Chean wants to eat his favourite Japanese food from Ichiban, so here we are.....
My seafood nabe set with half grilled mussles and salmon sashimi.
--Christmas Gifts--
Thanks CH for my Rilakkuma photo album, and SC's Forever Friends bookmark!

No.of Eps: 10
Yr/TV Stn: 2012/TBS
Cast:
Sakai Masato ~ Madenokouji Arikoto
Tabe Mikako ~ Tokugawa Iemitsu
Aso Yumi ~ Kasuga no Tsubone
Tanaka Koki ~ Gyokuei
Hirayama Hiroyuki ~ Inaba Masakatsu
Synopsis: (from http://saderach.blogspot.sg)
During the reign of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, an infectious disease called red smallpox spreads only among young men, causing the population of males in the country to plummet to one-fourth that of the population of females. Iemitsu himself passes away suddenly of this illness too. Fearing that the Tokugawa bloodline would be cut off, Iemitsu’s wet nurse Kasuga no Tsubone sends for a young girl whom Iemitsu sired outside Edo Castle, makes her dress as a boy and secretly brings her up as the shogun within the castle’s inner palace. When the girl is 13, she is violated by a bodyguard who is later beheaded. After that, the girl will not open her heart to anyone. When she turns 16 as Tokugawa Iemitsu, Kasuga no Tsubone forcibly detains the monk Madenokoji Arikoto who has come to Edo from Kyoto and presses him to return to secular life. Together with his disciple Gyokuei, Arikoto is made to serve in the inner palace as Iemitsu’s attendant. In an audience with Iemitsu, Arikoto is astonished to realise that the shogun is a female.
Review:
I think I can proclaim myself an official "Ooku" fan, as I watched all the related dramas and movies. Even though the story is the same all the time, I can never get tired of it. Amazed!
The female shogun storyline was not new as there were already 2 movies on this version. There will be an upcoming movie following this drama featuring the 5th shogun, starring Sakai and Kanno Miho.
"Tanjou" plotline is somewhat similar to the original version, but there are changes as the "concubines" now are men. If you've watched Fuji's "Ooku Chap 1" then the plot is nothing new. However, "Tanjou" focused more on Iemitsu and Arikoto while "Chap 1" focused more on the rivalries between concubines.
It's my first time watching Sakai in period dramas, and I am pretty amazed with his ancient look. Seriously speaking, he's one matured ikemen! Haha! Sakai is quite a veteran but I only got attracted with his performance here. All the emotions were well displayed and you simply adored him. Tabe is actually too young to be his co-star, but their chemistr was not too bad.
Tabe has stablised her position as A lister in Jdrama land, though she has not made it to my favourite actress list. The young actress has lots of experiences in acting, but this is probably her first time acting as such a controversial character. I am quite impressed with her performance, as she managed to display Iemitsu being manly yet feminie at the same time.
Kasuga is an impt character in Iemitsu's story, but Aso failed to impress me much. I preferred Matsushita's Kasuga in "Ooku Chap 1".
Tanaka is KAT-TUN's rapper, and he has been active as an actor too. I thought they cld get someone better to act as Gyokuei. Did not like Tanaka or Gyokuei.....Tanaka's acting was average while Gyokuei was a character gone from good to bad.
Hirayama's Inaba formed one of the most impt sub-plots. I actually pitied this character as his mum sealed his fate. The actor's performance was great.

but not surprised.

This was how I reacted when my boss told me that he has resigned.
I did not even expressed that I was shock, and I did not ask the word WHY.
Thinking back now makes me feel weird.
I know I am not an emotionless being, but even I am surprised with my response. Lolz!

Well, everyone comes and goes. It's just the matter of time.
I guessed afterall I am not too attached to him, as compared to my very first boss.

I thank you for your guidance this past one and n months.

But I am more concerned with the future now. It seems bleak....

Finally I returned home after 15 days in Japan!
I am glad to be home.
Many things happened during the trip, but I shall blog on it in my travel blog instead.

Got many things to update now!

Ciao~

No.of Eps: 21
Yr/TV Stn: 2012/TVB
Cast:
Kevin Cheng ~ Luo Li Ya
Myolie Wu ~ Wang Si Ku
Sam Lee ~ Ding Jia Fu
Alex Lam ~ Mi Zuo Zhi
JJ Jia ~ Qian Xin Xin
Raymond Cho ~ Liang Bao Shen
Christine Kuo ~ Jing Ling Li
Synopsis:
Luo Li Ya returns to Sham Shui Po after one and half years in jail and is glad to see his girlfriend Wang Si Ku doing well to serve the people in the neighbourhood. Si Ku wants LA to become a lawyer again, but LA is not keened. During LA's absence, his buddies Ding and Mi rented his room to a police officer Liang Bao Shen, who later became their good friend.
A new face appeared in the neighbourhood and she's Jing Ling Li, who opened a clinic and happened to be the guys' neighbours. Si Ku soon finds out that LA knows Ling Li for quite sometime...
Review:
Ghetto 2 returns with original cast plus a few more new additions like Xin Xin, Bao Shen and Ling Li. The plot continue to focus on the cases happening in the neighbourhood, but romance took up more plot this time round. Besides adding a love triangle for the lead couple, other support cast also have love lines. I think the drama was pretty well done, except for the less than ideal ending. I really hate TVB for spoiling the drama with lousy endings.
Kevin and Myolie are already familiar with their roles, but I saw some improvements from Myolie. She's getting better with her emotional scenes. Kevin's acting remains the same, no breakthrough for LA.
Sam Lee was given a new love line with JJ and his character has more developments. I like his chemistry with JJ! 
Raymond Cho is a nice addition as "Liang Bao" is really quite a funny but irritating character.
I did not like Christine's character, but her acting has improved. Her scenes with Jin Gang were better than with Kevin.

No.of Eps: 18
Yr/TV Stn: 2012/KBS
Cast:
Kim Jung-eun - Na Yeo-ok
Shin Hyun-joon - Go Soo-nam
Han Jae-suk - Jang Hyun-woo
Han Chae-ah - Victoria Kim
Synopsis: (edited from Wikipedia)
Yeo-ok and Soo-nam's marriage is on the rocks after Yeo-ok catches her hotelier husband cheating on her with his colleague, Victoria. The couple filed for divorce, and one day, they find that their souls swop bodies. Yeo-ok's first love, Hyun-woo returns from abroad and happens to be Soo-nam's superior! Yeo-ok is glad to see Hyun-woo again, but her body is occupied by her ex-husband...
Review:
It's good to watch rom-com sometimes, as I can laugh out loud and enjoy the drama without much thinking. "Ohlala" is definitely one good option. The plot is actually about a couple who has been married for years, have a kid and their lives became routine. The husband cheated on the wife and their marriage failed. The fun part comes in as they swop bodies and have to handle each other's new romance. It's super hilarious! Haha! Though it's a pity that the drama ended with no surprises. The couple married again, and the love triangles ended peacefully. I wished the ending could be slightly different, but it's ok.
The plot can be simple, but the cast made the drama lively. I've never seen such a crazy Kim Jung Eun and Shin Hyun Joon, but they are just so funny when their characters swop bodies! Ha! I totally adored SHJ when he gotta act girly in his behaviour, posture and speech. KJE's acting was over exaggerated, quite unnatural, but it's still funny to see her acting manly. I think KJE performed better when she acted as Yeo-ok.
Great to see Han Jae Suk, though he has been acting in supporting roles these years. Hyun-woo is such a nice guy! Till the last episode, I thought Yeo-ok and Hyun-woo might just end up together but the guy gave up la! Haiz!
Han Chae-ah is pretty new to me, but her Victoria was great. She's quite pretty and her acting was natural. Though Victoria came into Soo-nam and Yeo-ok's marriage, I did not hate her that much. She's actually a nice woman.