Oceanshaft

Just caught the Japanese movie "Departures" at Vivocity today. Rushed down after work to meet with LLL. Unfortunately we could only get seats in the very first row. Good thing it was not an action film, otherwise I would never have been able to catch what was going on, what with being so close to the screen and all. Really affects your vision when trying to follow movements across the screen.

The film (Japanese title おくりびと) was a typical heartwarming tale. Very Japanese in its understatedness and theme, actually. But it was a good film, and the comic moments were not overdone, as is often the case. The funeral scenes were good, but the family members in all of them being so grateful did seem a little contrived. The main character's wife needed just a wee bit more work in fleshing out as well.

Overall, a good film.

Happy New Year! Very late I know. Let's see, oh, I haven't posted since September?!?!

In the interim, some of my friends got married, some people I only know from afar got married, my friends'kids were born, I started work, etc. Sorry, not in order of occurrence.

So if I know you, maybe I'll see you.

Wow, Chrome is really fast. The interface is really clean and simple too. But I'll probably use Firefox more, for now. Those handy plug-ins, you see.

Am in Yogyakarta right now, having a good time overall. Have been to Borobudur and Prambanan. The weather here is drier than Singapore (it's the dry season right now) so it feels cooler. It's still hot in the afternoons, but not muggy like in SG. No rain either so far. Write more next time.

For my first backpacking trip to Europe, I prepared way in advance, planned and packed. After the first one or two trips, I've become a last-minute packer. I generally pack the night before (and rather late at that). Preparations are done quite late too. Maybe it's because I've got my packing list more or less standardised - I know I won't miss anything and that if I do, I'll still live. Maybe it's because of the feeling of laziness and not wanting to do anything that strikes me the afternoon before I leave.

Anyway, I'm more or less packed and ready to go. This is probably the last trip for my grey backpack that I got in 2001. Why? Well, some of the smaller pockets are torn and can't be used anymore. Hopefully it'll last through this trip. It's always the loading onto buses and airplanes that damage it, sigh. I'ld rather not check it in, but with all the rules restricting liquids, gels and etc. in hand luggage, I've opted to check it in this time.