Saline

I have a sea in my chest, it's called love.

(REVIEW) Westworld (S01)

Lately I have been carried away solely for Westworld, and it's for a great measure. The HBO's 10 episodes new series are wrapped last night unlocking even more mystery and speculations, much for the whining of its many die-hard fans already.

A Sandwich From Richard's

A sandwich from Richard's, that's how much you owe me. I want to say a certain amount, but money inflates and I’m suck at math. It was three dollars, but it is five dollars and thirty cents now. I don't know how much I should charge. You did owe me when it was three dollars, but it won't be fair. I didn't ask you to owe me the sandwich. I didn't ask you to delay it for so long.

The Theory of What If

(30 Days Writing Challenge)
Day Eleven: Something You Always Think "What If" About

Image: Pinterest

Well, yes. I'm back with this challenge! It has turned from thirty days writing challenge to hundredth, but nevertheless yes I'm doing this again! Summing this up, Jesica is now on her day sixteen, and that's a pretty big gap to catch up, and I realise I can't really write daily, so I decide that I will write as much as I want whenever I get the chance! (Now, by the way, is that chance.)

I have a lot of What Ifs, honestly. Too much that I can't decide on one. Choices are what humans bond to make in their journey called life, so I think the What Ifs have grown daily on a such continuous basis. After a long and exhausting research with tremendous respondents and various scales based on Professors of Time and Decision (a long Tumblr surf and Lang Leav really), I come up with these axioms:

1. What Ifs are bond to be better than the reality, and
2. we forget there are better things reality corresponds, more or less adequately, to the what ifs.

Catching Sadness

(30 Days Writing Challenge)

Day Ten: Something I Feel Strongly

How can you measure sadness? How can people measure pain? Is there people who is more sad. More hurt. More wrecked, than the others. 

Because everyone have the right to be happy, I think it is only fair for them to have the right to be sad. Why can’t people be sad just because there is other people who have life harder. Why can’t we be mad at our parents just because there is people without one. Why can’t we go to class in sorrow just because there is people who can’t afford it.

Hello From The Street of Tsi Sam Tsui! (HongKong Shopping & Eating Highlight)

Well hello you!

(Hong Kong - July 2016)

So here is the post that took forever to create... Ni Hao!

Picture Perfect

Perfect is a relative unit that bends with society expectation and emotional longing. That is one way to explain perfect, but it is a relative explanation of a relative unit after all. But what if you don’t like the ideal perfect?

In this world today, liking the way you are is a rebellious act. It’s painful to not pretend of having the same idea of perfect, because you are instantly dealing with so many judgments by then. People even argue over different tastes of music, so what is the limit to that? How many times did you held your breath to please everyone around you? How much the idea of messing everything’s up and bearing living as a walking failure consumes you?

I am not proud of my perfect. There is fear to go with my perfect and fail to provide even my own expectation. Perhaps it’s the ache of all the people that would be there with long lectures about how they had told me beforehand to follow their path instead. Maybe I’m just a coward that loves being sedated by the society-hating attitude I’m faking, because I still very much want to be the part of it. Before I realize, I’m fading into the background, afraid of saying the different thing. Passionate thing. Love thing. And I fear I’ll be afraid of saying myself next.

Maybe one day, you’ll wake up seven in the morning to the fresh air in the perfect of your own. Maybe one day, you’ll wake up with a revelation that you never need to pretend anymore.

"Are you doing what matters or just reacting to the noise?" Brandon Burchard.

x, Michelle

(REVIEW) The Man In The High Castle (S01)

But first, let's take a moment to praise a beautiful eerie opening they made for the show.

Liking Adolf Hitler is not an easy task—but when he’s in the #WorldWarIIIPreventionSquad, you are left with a very limited option. Set fifteen years after WWII, The Man In The High Castle blows our mind with an alternate universe of the world wherein Hitler won his war. Based on a book with the same name by Phillip K. Dick, the Amazon’s original web-series has an undeniably sterling premise one can’t simply miss. The portrayal of chillingly believable other world manages to leave a solid mark in my mind, and I have nothing else to say about their outstanding job in creating the setting, details, and vibes of The Nazi’s America.

Now is ruled by The Nazis on the East and The Imperial Japan on the West, the world’s superpower country is nothing but history. When The Resistances are busy with their movement to be free from the not so friendly ruler, the two forces in this alternate universe are taken with their own agenda. Words travel fast, and it’s been said that Adolf Hitler is terminally ill and waiting for his time. It is easy to note that not every Nazis are satisfied with his decision to share their victorious win during WWII with The Japs, let alone in dividing America. The Japs has every right to worry, seeing how advance The Nazis’ technology has grown over years. On the other hand, The Nazis can’t just declare a war just like that.

Tangled in the complicated politics, Joe Blake (Luke Kleintank) arrives as a newbie wanting to join The East Resistance Group. His first task is driving a truck to a place referred as The Neutral-Zone somewhere in between The Rocky Mountains. Then we meet Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos), our heroine. Like every other heroines I know, she suffers stupid-decision-making-disorder; and like every other heroines I know, the consequences are rarely small. In her case, pursuing a highly dangerous errand to deliver some kind of propaganda-film linked to someone coded The Man in The High Castle resulting her lover, Frank Frink (Rupert Evans), tortured and his sister, nephew, and niece killed by the Japs.  Such an experience surely changed your life forever, and it applies well to Frank. Once a calm man seeking nothing else than what’s been given to him, he goes to an extent of planning to shoot The Japanese Prince himself. When Juliana hasn’t been made aware of that, she is already getting herself into something so much bigger for herself. After all, Joe is probably not someone he claimed to be.

I love the way the show present us many perspectives to see this different world. Especially in this different world, because here I am curious about everything. The upcoming war is not something unknown for Japanese Trading Minister Nobusuke Taogomi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), whom interest is always to remain the peaceful agreement. On the other hand, perfect Nazi and cold-hearted loyalist Obergruppenfuher John Smith (Rufus Sewell) may be so much more than the previous description. There something about these two men that caught my heart. I couldn’t really see myself rooting for a Nazi before, but I found myself begging The Obergruppenfuhrer not to die anytime soon. In between the grim and slow paced story, he manages to keep the tension going and that is very appreciated especially in the middle of the series. Honestly, I started the series and hating almost everyone including our protagonists with stupid-decision champion title. Crawling to the closure, I see tremendous whys that don’t right their wrong in killing innocent people, but I understand. This is one of that fiction in which everyone have their own way to justify their decisions to what to them is a greater good.

I believe I can say more about the so called The Man in The High Castle himself when I see the next season, since I feel this one is serving as a mere introduction of the pillars and situations.  Wisely said, this series is not packed with noisy action scenes that thrill you the same time they excite you. I barely see anyone laughing or even smiling, but that is probably unavoidable when you are either held captive by The Nazi or live in this universe at all. Most fight happens with tension eyes and words rather than gunfight, and every episode is darker than the previous one. That being said, getting through the first episode might be hard for many people that not keen on this kind of show—and it doesn’t get better after either. Anyhow, missing this one would probably cost you a very amazing pleasure of one goddamn good creation. The Man in The High Castle is to return this December with brand new Season Two.

x, Michelle

P.S. : I do review movies regularly, so if you are on LINE please kindly add the account here. Thanks!

(REVIEW) I Origins / Magical & Realistic Endeavour (2014)

There is a specific quirky, indie-inflected vibes you can't simply forget after watching I Origins. And that is what a good movie is all about, I guess -- unforgettable. The movie is not a critic' favorite though it has every materials to be. Nevertheless, I love Mike Cahill's way in driving this movie, and his idea, and I will absolutely be excited for his next project. 

Dr. Ian Grey (Michael Pitt) is obsessed with human eye, especially the eye biometrics that are specific and at an extent, define human soul. Rather than taking the scientific implication of what seemingly to be a very, scientific documentary with 3 scientists trying to figure eye evolutions; I Origins please my thirst soul of beautiful philosophical encounter by its approach to long lasting Science vs Religion debate.

Dr. Grey... which maybe or maybe not an extended family of the more famous sibling Meredith, portrays an obvious proud scientist that denies the existence of God. The wheel turned around as he encounters Sofi (Astrid Berges-Fibrey), a model with exceptional beautiful eyes, and soul. Their romance is fast assembled through pretty scenes and carefully selected Radiohead song, but Ian's denial of Divine Creator is peeving throughout the movie, and eventually, relationship. Regret, love, and human ego are issued as Ian needs to face the spiritual power he's been trying to debunk.

Over a billboard of Sofi's captivating eyes.

No matter how unrealistic it was to recognise someone over her eyes (on billboard picture), I can't help but loving the idea.

I Origins has a very few named-casts--one of the fewest out of movies I have watched, even. I believe it takes a very brilliant actors to work those kind of things out. Michael Pitt has a straight Ian Grey's cut of an indie, cocky scientist that is also charming on being that. Astrid Berges-Fibrey is everything but ordinary pretty girl, which is just perfect for Sofi. The Spanish-French actress and model caught my heart from the very first start. Brit Marling stars as Ian's lab partner, together with much loved Glenn Rhee... I mean, Steven Yeun.

The movie takes us to a magical realist endeavour about eyes, soul, and the bigger power above us all. There's a flow in the cinematography and editing of I Origins that carries us along in some picturesque manners, which, has always been my weak spot. I must say Sofi is also one of the prettiest thing of the movie. And despite of all unrealistic (but pleasing) moments, I definitely love I Origins.

x, M

P.S. : I do review movies regularly, so if you are on LINE please kindly add the account here. Thanks!

My Favorite Thing

I think it is important to have a favorite thing. Favorite color, favorite actor, favorite cartoon character, favorite book, favorite movie… an endless lists of it. Simply because I think The Little Prince would be a better answer to define yourself rather than I don’t know, I have so many favorite books.

I love to be judged by my passions. It sounds so weird, the part that I love to be judged, but I gave up the idea of no judging at all a long time ago. The truth is, people will judge you, and when that’s the case, proceed with something brilliantly good. Of course there will always an option to be happy go lucky and carefree about it, but there will be too, people that can’t do that.

Me; definitely the latter. So yes, I overthink and feel insecure over so many things in this world, including being judged. Nevertheless, I judge too. When you ask, read, or even see a post regarding of something someone favoring about, you can’t help to judge. Well, this is a social media era after all. When someone says his/her favorite movie is The Breakfast Club, you judge. When someone says his/her favorite movie is The Avengers, you judge. What kind of judgment it is, of course varies. I like being judged for stuffs I love and favors, because I believe they define what kind of souls I am made of. I want to be seen as what I love. 

Because you will want to be seen like the things you love. Your favorite thing. Thing that, makes you feel relatable, bursting in emotion, and captivated. If that is SpongeBob SquarePants, so be it. It still better than I like everything cliché. So love something… remarkably, insanely, and share to the world why.

In fact, my stuffs are not about all blue just because I love the color blue. I definitely don’t wear a blue shirt over blue skirt with blue bag because it is wrong at so many levels.  Regardless, there’s something personal about blue that feels, me.  That’s why it’s my favorite color.

Just because I love The Little Prince so much, it doesn’t make me un-love Harry Potter. I obviously love Harry Potter. But throughout, at a specific extent, I don’t think Harry Potter defines me. I think the term my favorite is so much more than things you keen, love, and generally prefer. Being a terminal awkward person especially, my conversation often being led by questions like my favorite thing all the time. When you ask me about books I enjoy reading, I can name ten, twenty, thirty of it. It’s not like I love them less (because I am one of those people that believe love can’t be measured), but my favorite book is The Little Prince.

To be seen as someone who loves The Little Prince is a compliment for me, because since it’s my favorite thing, I am bound to always feel good about it. So, judge me, whatever. I always feel insecure about my appearance; my weight, my hair and everything, but never once I feel insecure by my favorite thing.

x
Michelle

(REVIEW) Rudy Habibie / After The First Ten Minutes...

The movie opens in 1942, when Japanese's jets are bombing Habibie's hometown, and I already had like ten things to complain in the first 10 minutes. Fortunately, the rate is not going constantly (the movie is 142 minutes long!). 

Lesson learned: Don't judge a movie by its first 10 minutes. (Maybe 15, because if it doesn't impress you by then, you have the very right to give it up.)

The moment Reza Rahardian steps in, once again as Rudy Habibie, I'm a happy kid. Honestly, I haven't really seen his acting other than this iconic portrayal as the same Rudy in the first movie Habibie & Ainun, but he is by far one of the most high-rated Indonesian actor. This acting has already brought him numerous awards, so well, I am not as impressed as the first time, but will do favour him every time to act again! The star studded casts are also joined by Chelsea Islan, Ernest Prakasa, Pandji Pragiwaksono, and Indah Permatasari. I must say, the casting is amazing, and on point at that. I'd love to point two different contrasts of Indonesia's beauty that is captured on Chelsea & Indah; acted as Polish Ilona and Yogyakarta-Indonesian Ayu respectively.

True to the title, the movie is focusing on Rudy Habibie's journey as a student in Germany. There are a lot of things going on as an international students at those times, not to mention that his family is not very well-off. A lot of press has overly promoted the movie as "Habibie's First Love Story", which is really wrong, because the movie is so much more than that. We get to see why as a scholar Habibie decided to put himself into the crazy politic world, his obsession with plane, and his attachment to Ibu Pertiwi, Indonesia. I'm glad that they put Ilona's storyline in such a manner that gives us an insight about who she really is to real life Mr. Habibie, though they must add romantic and dramatic elements everywhere to make the story likeable enough.

I think it is square to say that Rudy Habibie is a well acted movie, but really dragging here and there. The problem with Indonesian movie is that everything is always overly soap-operatic (is that even a word?). There are some scene that needs to be dramatic, but replaying it like a few times in one go is not going really well, at least for me. I mean, this is not a hundredth episodes long soap-opera. Who will really forget anything from the last hour? The unnecessary flashbacks are also a bit distracting, repetitive, and at times getting boring.

As an unpopular opinion penguin, I'm not really a big fan of director Hanung Bramantyo. I will forever be disappointed by his 2013 movie Soekarno, that to me fails to portray one of the coolest figure in Indonesia. To be fair, I haven't watched many other movies he directed, but I'm not keen on ones that I watched either. That being said, I have already had some kind of expectation of dramatic amount that will be sparked on this movie before hitting the cinema. Though other than that, I can say I am pretty satisfied with Rudy Habibie, and would probably name it as my favourite Hanung Bramantyo's movie.

It is really too easy to make me like this movie. Like, person wise, I adore Mr. Habibie so much. Seeing his up and down journey for two and half hours is to me a happy joyful ride. Movie wise, I don't like it better than the first sequel Habibie & Ainun, but I enjoyed the movie pretty well. I noted some major disapproval, but overall it is again one of few Indonesian Movies that I'd recommend to you all!

x
Michelle

Well... About My First Ten Minutes. Technically, I can't really get over the first bombing scene in Pare-pare. If you can't do it right, don't. Because this is a very good movie, and those pretty lame special effects (we called it Indosiar's effects) are ruining it altogether. Why they can't do better, though, I don't know why. I believe after the massive success of Habibie & Ainun, this movie should have a pretty big budget to spend. A lot of my friends dislike Indonesian movies, and honestly there are plenty of reasons why: plot holes, shallow stories, weak characterisations, and careless touch. A lot of stupid sex-horror-comedy titles are not helping at all. Things are getting better, they really do, but many details are waiting to be repaired here and there. Well, Leo DiCaprio and Alejandro Inarritu are going as extreme as The Revenant--we really need to catch up, don't we? "Saya belum menyerah dengan film Indonesia, itu fakta, masalah, dan solusinya."

One Day in Macau & The List!

Ola Macau! (Ok, Ni Hao is better suited, but I'll post about Shenzhen and Hongkong in the nearest future, and whilst having three Ni Haos are too much Mandarin in this blog, I'd settled Portuguese instead.)

  

Macau is about one hour ferry ride from HongKong--and learning it the hard way, do travel light as you are expected to hand carry your baggage along the way. Do prepare your ticket and accomodation to the bay too, because people are not really helping there (if you are going directly from HongKong airport, there is a bus and it costs about $40). Big hotels have their shuttle in the Macau Ferry Bay, so avoid people that offer you cars as they can be very persistence. Most people you necessarily need to converse with (e.g. shop attendee, people in hotel, people in bay) speak decent English, but the others are mostly not. And the last but not least, if you are going to Macau because Boys Before Flowers, you really need to research again to avoid unrealistic expectation.

Summing this up, the best thing about Macau is the egg tart. I honestly craving for another Lord Stow's egg tart right now, and speaking of which, funny that the last episode of Game of Thrones features Lord Snow as The King of The North, and Lord Stow here is clearly The King of Egg Tart... which is, totally unrelated whatsoever, so here we go the list.

1. Venetian

Venetian is one thing you thought of after hearing Macau, but it is actually only one of the hotel-mall complex in the city. The marketing force is surely strong in this one.

The mall offers you many stores whose ranges are European Brands to Korean Streetwear. Venetian complex is pretty huge and extremely crowded (huge + crowded = tremendous amount of people), especially near the hotel area. It is so jam packed and people are actually sitting on the floor everywhere I thought we are in an airport. It is a high-season time of the year for me, though. (Fortunately, the room is nice and making up for that!)

  

Out of many pretty stores here,

Lush's is one I love! Oh, they

sell various handmade organic 

soap in uber cute color &

packaging!

I can't say this is a shopping heaven, because you don't really want to shop here whilst you are so close to HongKong. There are numerous food that definitely worth to try, though!

 

Imperial House Dim Sum is not necessarily the best Chinese Dim Sum I've ever eaten in my life, but it is pretty good. But if you want to taste a fine Dim Sum of Macau, like me, I'm pretty sure here is one of the best place!

 

You can't miss LORD STOW EGG TART,

you really can't. Let's do that again:

you can't miss Lord Stow Egg tart.

The Lord Commander Stow (if you know what I mean),

is the best egg tart in my life so far. The so claimed most

popular delicacy of Macau has a very balanced

flavour and crisps around the puff that create

a delicious being that made my day.

 

 
 

Venetian Macau' Food, Food, Food!

The other things I tried in the food court area (and loved!)

Pork Chop Bun (Est de Comidas Portuguesa Porto Exterior)

Roasted Pork Belly (BBQ King)

Something I Don't Remember (Treasure Lake)

Dried Pumpkin Croquette (Toei Delights)

Baked Portuguesa Chicken with Rice (Est de Comidas Portuguesa Porto Exterior)

Three Various Meatball Rice Noodle with a Sour and Spicy Food (Spicy Boy) - This one is really oily, I'm not sure you really want to eat the whole bowl for yourself.

--

  

Plus, Venetian has 4 different Casinos if you are over 21 and sure that you know when to stop. I do actually enjoy this adult version of game-arcade which is much more expensive! I didn't win anything (surprise, surprise), but it's exciting and fun to try at least once in your life. Just, don't lost too much.

2. Galaxy

If you have done with Venetian, Galaxy is across the way (simply walk or use Cotai Shuttle Bus that travels you from hotel to hotel in the area) Galaxy is another mall-hotel-casino complex with the same stores that are pretty much the same with Venetian. Well, the main reason for me to go here is the free shuttle bus to many places in Macau, but I do like Galaxy more than Venetian after the visit hotel-wise! 

Venetian is a must see place of Macau, but I realised that I needn't to spend the night there, especially during the high-season when the crowd is beyond words. The crowd in Galaxy, on the other hand, is reasonably tolerated. Plus, free shuttle bus. You don't have to be a hotel-guest to enjoy the privilege, though, which I don't understand why economically.

 

The queue for the shuttle bus is always long, especially for San Ma Lo Route (Route 9). 

Galaxy has its own food court, and one of the best scene-stealer is Dong Tai Xian Shanghai Dim Sum in the front row with seeing window.

   

I love love love The Pork Buns!

 3. San Ma Lo + Leal Senado

My dress is matched well with the wall in Leal Senado! #michewall

  

What makes Macau really interesting is the blended culture of thick Portuguese with Chinese local. Honestly, I don't really feel that in the Venetian' district (including Galaxy, City of Dreams, Hard Rock, and several other famous gigantic hotels). Sure the hotels are luxurious and grand, but the road around is rather empty--or in development...

... like this

Well, San Ma Lo area is the truest example of Portuguese x Chinese goes right. Before you hit the Senado Square, do check Leal Senado building which is exactly across of it. It has beautiful courtyard garden and museum-library that is worth to visit! (If you are boarding Galaxy Shuttle like me, you will pass the building before Senado Square.)

 

 

 4. Senado Square 

 

To be fair, I don't really get to explore the whole Macau but Senado Square is a pretty place that definitely need to be visited! It is number one tourist destination in Macau, so yes it is crowded (but the crowd in Venetian still left the most impact in my heart--at least it is a shopping strips, not a luxurious hotel.)



Sasa is everywhere in Macau, but I only got the chance to visit one in here for cheap beauty products. There is also Tony Moly, Forever 21, Nike, and numerous youngster friendly stores located here. Famous Macau's Koi Kei Bakery with famous eggroll have a branch too, but they are also everywhere, and I mean, everywhere.

In the left side street of The Ruin of St. Paul's, there is a pretty tiny cafe called Bakez Bakery, which feels very cozy after a long, exhausting, and sweating walk. The temptation of cheese egg tart is too strong. Taste is not of my liking, though. If you keen on very milky-cheese, maybe you can go for it.

  

5. Ruins of St. Paul's

After walking through the Senado Square, you can finally see the sight of the Ruins!

What is beneath that? Nothing. It was renovated during my visit so... yes, we can only see it (and take a lot of photos of it). The ruin is beautiful, though. I might be biased, because I have a tendency to love anything medieval, but you want to see this in Macau. The stair is pretty high and very crowded every time; just blend in and steal a nice, tiny picture of yourselves!

  
 

And of course, wear a bag that is comfortable during the long walk! Having one that is cute (like PLAYGRND) is definitely a plus too because you'll definitely take a lot of great pictures!
--

Well, that is my kind of One Day in Macau. After Ruins of St. Paul's, I went back to Venetian via Galaxy and did the rest of shopping + sightseeing I hadn't done in the morning after a long, relaxing bath (it was super hot outside, and extremely cold inside!) Okay, so maybe that's the perks of staying in the Venetian. I sadly didn't get the chance, but I do want to try the gondola so badly because it looks like a lot of fun, and the gondolier is actually sang!

Thanks for reading and have a good day!

x
michelle
(and two boyfriends photographers)