An Explosive Ending – Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends

I would like to start this write up with a reminder that this is not a “spoiler” article. So no reasons to hate me, alright? lol 😉

I was actually thinking if my title will be giving away so much of the movie’s much awaited ending. But I believe you really would have to guess if it ended with a bang literally or figuratively. Well, that is already one reason for you to not miss it.

BUT all I can ever promise is that watching the movie is ALL worth it. Though my bf and I had to bypass one city after the other (4 all in all) just to watch it first as only a few selected SM Cinemas will be showing the film, it was all worth the hassle of traveling that far, getting lost PLUS all the rain.

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Another Kenshin Himura fanatic.

Lucky me I have a companion who, despite all the odds, had the will to watch the movie BY ALL MEANS. 😀 (Thanks, Hon! I salute you.)

But that is because we both LOVE Kenshin Himura that much we are just on energy booster, high-spirits-filled-stamina we just don’t care how we will get to the destination as long as we get there and be able to watch the movie. Yes, that is how I define a DIE-HARD fan. Absolutely. 🙂

General Overview

It was the well-carried out plot that fascinated me most. All 3 Rurouni Kenshin movies satisfied my expectations on the filmmakers’ ability to deliver a movie played in different eras. The movie is an interplay of somewhat similar events dominated by upheavals but socially, politically and historically all differed in context. Oftentimes, the problem with a flashback or a replay of the past or history can sometimes complicate or totally cloud not just the story in the present time but the overall plot thus confusing the viewers.

As for the characters, it was a perfect choice of actors which totally and I must say TOTALLY captured the persona of the characters that they are trying to portray from aura, to looks, and to attitude or behavior. Watching them perform is an exact adaptation of the manga series itself except that the characters are now more “alive” as portrayed by the actors.

This is an action-packed movie thus this review won’t and cannot end without giving credit to the superb fighting scenes set in just the perfect locations. Superb is an understatement actually as I was all mouth agape the entire movie time. Speaking of being totally caught up in the scenes, eh? 😉

So there you go. I will cut this short lest I divulge too much details about the movie already. It deserves my two thumbs up – let the legend live by watching it too. 🙂

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Two thumbs up!

Why Does It Always Have To Be The 4th?

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The ODD String

The D string, I mean. 🙂

I’ve been playing Flicka, my guitar, since 2006 and all I could ever remember was the countless of times I had to replace the D string. And if I am not mistaken, it is the only string that I’ve been replacing for the past how many years.

If only I have the answers as to why it’s the D string that always gets broken. Because I believe I am not the only one seeking for answers. 😉

When I bought the new set of guitar strings yesterday, another guy approached the music store salesman and I heard him inquired if  a new stock of D string is already out. The salesman informed him that new stocks for the D string are not yet available.

There has been a shortage in supplies of the D string in all music stores here in Manila and I’ve been waiting for a restock but to no avail. What they do suggest though is that for you to be able to replace your broken D string, you have to buy the whole set of guitar strings which could be a big waste of money. I, for one, already have like 3 sets of nylon guitar strings still complete except for the D strings.

So yes, I am planning to give them away to anyone who has a broken nylon string other than the D string. This, I guess, is the story of the ODD string.

But then again, why does it always have to be the 4th string? 🙂

 

The 10 Books Challenge

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E-book, PDF, paperback edition – for as long as it is something I can read, I’ll read it. 😉

I was dared by my cousin Nadja and friend Nina for this 10 books challenge which I really had a hard time doing as I LOVE BOOKS aside from the fact that I have a bachelor’s degree in literature and making me choose among the 100+ books I have read is far too tasking. But I was more than glad to join the ride, thus challenge accepted. 🙂

Here it is:

“Friends, you need to list down 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take more than a few minutes and don’t think too hard. They don’t have to be “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. The idea is to instill the nostalgia of vintage books in the online community. Tag 10 friends including me so I can see your list.”

1. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
2. LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen
4. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte
5. A NEW EARTH by Ekhart Tolle
6. THE LITTLE PRINCE by Antoine de Saint – Exupery
7. A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeline L’Engle
8. THE ART OF WAR by Sun Tzu
9. THE DEVOTIONAL STUDY BIBLE
10. THE PURPLE BOOK by Steve Murrell & Rice Broocks

P.S.
11. BRIDA by Paulo Coehlo
12. THE WISHSONG OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks

I made it 12 because I just can’t make it to 10. Sorry, I really am that deviant. What is in your list? 🙂

 

Feasting on a Cantonese Banquet: Crystal Jade Dining IN’s Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration

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Crystal Jade’s Chicken

Indeed, it is feasting on a banquet of delish Cantonese cuisine in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival brought to you by one of the high-end restaurants at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Crystal Jade Dining IN. Its sister restaurant, Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight which is located at Greenhills, has cheaper menu offerings but both restaurants cater a dining experience that’s truly worth savoring.

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Coffee on a cup first.

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Crystal Jade Dining IN’s Promo

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Interiors of Crystal Jade Dining IN.

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Table setup.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the important Chinese occasions celebrated which is a harvest festival and also that time of the year for families and friends to get together and give thanks to the bountiful blessings of the year.

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Boxes of Baked Bo Lo Barbecue Pork Buns.

In light of this, Crystal Jade Dining IN has special dishes prepared for this occasion which consists of the following: Jiang Nan Crispy Sliced Chicken Wrapped in Pancake, Shredded Chicken with Fresh Fruit Salad,  Deep-Fried Garoupa Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce, Sauteed Shrimp with Broccoli Flower, Poached Chicken with Cordycep Flower and Beancurd Soup, Fried Tofu with Mushroom and Chinese Cabbage, Crystal Jade Fried Rice and Mini Mooncake for dessert.

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Mid-Autumn Festival Menu

But before tasting the main course, they offer a mix of pickled veggies that’s truly a teaser for the palate along with a cup of chrysanthemum tea. And I bet it’ll prepare you indeed for the main course offerings.

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Chrysanthemum tea.

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Mixed pickled veggies.

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Food styling. 😉

Let’s start off with the Jiang Nan Crispy Sliced Chicken Wrapped in Pancake which is served along with hoisin sauce and crisp lettuce. The chicken meat is very tender and the hoisin sauce created that flavorful accent to this dish.

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Crystal Jade Dining In’s Chicken and Fish Cracklings

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Preparing the Jiang Nan Crispy Sliced Chicken Wrapped in Pancake.

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Jiang Nan Crispy Sliced Chicken Wrapped in Pancake

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Jiang Nan Crispy Sliced Chicken Wrapped in Pancake

Definitely perfect to pair this with is something fresh and light such as the Shredded Chicken with Fresh Fruit Salad. This salad is a mixture of shredded chicken with watermelon and mango cubes topped over crisp lettuce.

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Shredded Chicken with Fresh Fruit Salad

Next dish that I particularly love in this menu would be the Deep-Fried Garoupa Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce. The breading is perfectly crunchy in every bite even though it’s been drizzled with sweet and sour sauce.

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Deep-Fried Garoupa Balls with Sweet and Sour Sauce

The Sautéed Shrimp with Broccoli Flower is a light dish, very vegetarian and I liked how they preserved the crispiness of the broccoli. Slightly blanched I presume, just the way I prefer it.

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Sauteed Shrimp with Broccoli Flower

They also have the Fried Tofu with Mushroom and Chinese cabbage which is a very perfect vegetarian dish with the tofu being an alternative to meat.

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Fried Tofu with Mushroom and Chinese Cabbage

Any meal for me wouldn’t be complete without a rice dish. Yes, I must admit I am a true blue “rice lover.” And was glad they offered their viands with a serving of their Crystal Jade Fried Rice.

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Crystal Jade Fried Rice

And of course, last but not the least would be the Chicken with Cordycep Flower and Beancurd Soup which has a very unique taste but not too flavorful I could not compare it at all with any Chinese soup dish I have tried. All I can say is that it is a definite must-try.

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Poached Chicken with Cordycep Flower and Beancurd Soup

Any fine dining experience wouldn’t be complete without dessert and drinks, right? For their Mid-Autumn Festival menu, which is priced at Php3,800.00 for 4-5 persons and Php7,800.00 for 8-10 persons, they serve Mini Mooncakes for dessert and your favorite fruit drinks.

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Our fruit drinks.

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Mini mooncakes.

After indulging ourselves with the lavish feast, I allowed myself to be enchanted by the stylish, sophisticated but modern ambiance of Crystal Jade Dining IN. Classy chandeliers often give that illuminated feeling and the elegantly pieced furniture provided that mixture of both modern and traditional Chinese setup.

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Elegant Crystal Chandeliers

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Dining tables near the entrance.

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Table napkin on the spot.

If there is one key feature that I adore with the overall look of the place that would be the high ceiling in the dining area at the first level. I loved high ceilings partly because I am claustrophobic and partly because it provides just the right amount of lighting to the entire area leaving that impression of a wider, freer space.

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High ceiling and mellow lights.

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Well-arranged tables and chairs.

Though I must admit the place is indeed wide enough. It is a perfect choice to eat along with friends and family, conduct conferences and meetings and not worry about people cramping together to get their preferred best seats around the table. They also have a function room for special gatherings at the second level and a couple more tables for diners.

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Round table.

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Wine corner.

But that is not the end yet of your Mid-Autumn Festival dining experience that you’ll be getting at Crystal Jade Dining IN because every Php5,000.00 minimum spend will give you a chance to one lucky roll of the dice in their traditional Chinese Dice Game which thus entitles you to win a P1,000.00 worth of Crystal Jade Gift Voucher.

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Let’s roll the dice!

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Giveaways for the Chinese Dice Game.

Tried my luck and got these yummy treats as prizes: a box of Mooncakes and a box of Baked Bo Lo Barbecue Pork Buns which I shared with my family and friends. Yay! Don’t miss out on the fun, so why not try your luck too. 😉

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Yummy treats! 🙂

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Baked Bo Lo Barbecue Pork Buns

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Mooncakes

Dine with class, in style and in good spirits at Crystal Jade Dining IN for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration from September 1 until September 14, 2014. 🙂

(Thank you so much Mr. Kenneth and to the entire management of Crystal Jade Dining IN for the warm welcome!)

(Thanks as well Ms. Tess for tagging me along. 😉 )

Setting The Trend As An Avant Garde: Revolutionary

TRENDSETTERS.

Fashion usually comes into your mind, right? It is a colloquial term commonly used in pop culture but on the discourse of historical, political and social studies, it may be equivalent to this – revolutionists. This only holds one meaning – setting up a benchmark.

I will name a few who are icons and heroes alike, bringing their own names to light by changing the world with their concepts, their beliefs and their ideals. There’s Audrey Hepburn in terms of fashion and feminism. There’s the late Nelson Mandela who died just recently (may his soul rest in peace) in apartheid and education, which are, but some of his accomplishments. Then we have Karl Marx who dealt with society’s taboos and introduced a discipline that, although oftentimes regarded as communist by nature, benchmarked most of today’s social and political ideologies.

Big names, great works they are. But you can also be a trendsetter in your own way with your own varied interests.

How?

Inspire your friends and your social network to follow suit with what you did/you’re doing. When you become a trendsetter, be a person of influence – that is, good influence. Empowering individuals, that’s how you change a nation for good.

BUT with the proper mindset – never for personal gain but for community development, to help others and by honoring God.

I have listed 3 character traits that are evident among revolutionists:

  1. Credibility
  2. Integrity
  3. Dedication

Keep in mind that your achievements are never yours.  They were meant to be shared to the many others so they, too, will reach their goals. But what may be good for others may not be good for you though. There will always be those who will be better than you. Because that is how God has planned them to be. But by the end of the day, it is never about you, never about competition and never about who’s the best but Him and knowing His mission for you. 🙂