dawn_1o9's Xanga

Yama Onna Kabe Onna

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:11:48 GMT

I've been watching this Japanese drama called Yama Onna Kabe Onna (山おんな壁おんな). Well for those who don't know Japanese, Yama Onna means "Mountain Woman" and Kabe Onna means "Wall Woman". So yeah, by looking at the photo, you'll probably know what "mountain" and "wall" woman means by now, right? ;)

Actually, this drama is very old now. I've first heard about it like a year ago when forumers were writing about it in forum, and I tried to watch the 1st episode on mysoju.com (or some online site like that). The drama was interesting starting from the 1st episode, but I didn't watch anymore because it takes like half a day to load the whole movie, and I was at work, so not good to watch all the time. So I just tried to find a DVD version at the DVD shops, but they didn't have it either.

Only last month, when a forum friend said he was coming back to Yangon for a visit, I asked him to download it for me. So I got a high-quality rip 4 - Discs set from him. I haven't finished watching it though.. I'm only on Ep. 6 out of 12.

Description
Megumi (Ito Misaki) is a top sales person at the handbag section of a department store. Many people admire, and sometimes even envy, Megumi for her beauty and outstanding skills to sell products to customers. However, Megumi secretly suffers from a complex: she is flat-chested and was once nicknamed "kabe onna" (wall woman) by her former classmate. One day, a new sales person named Marie (Kyoko Fukada) joins Megumi's department. Unlike Megumi, Marie is extremely busty as if she's carrying mounds (yama) on her chest. On top of her great bosoms, Marie also has her own special way of effortlessly selling the products to the customers. Though feeling a little threatened by Marie at first, Megumi soon realizes that they have more things in common than anybody else: they both take pride in their career and dedicate themselves to helping their customers. Through numerous obstacles, Megumi and Marie foster special friendships with each other.

Mon... Mountains??

I like both of the actresses in there. Ito Misaki is very funny when she do that "nose-flaring" thing. Like her, I also suffer from "kabe" complex, and sometimes feel very depressed about it. I also tend to look at other women's chest sometimes, and think, "Why can't I have some more meat on my chest?" (I also dislike watching MTVs where the singers/models will be showing off their boobs :P) But I really like her confidence in the drama, and the way she bounces when she walks, all tall and proud. Kind of remind me of myself, lolz. :D

(photos are from this site)

Kyoko Fukada is also a well-known actress in Myanmar because of her dramas had been shown on Myanmar TV before. The first drama of her shown on TV was "Oni No Sumika", which I remember vaguely as it was on shown on MRTV. Kind of like Cindrella story where she was treated cruelly by her aunt. I remember clapping my hands when she finally stood up to her aunt. :P She's very cute. I really liked her in "Friends" movie with Korean actor Won Bin.

Since the drama is mostly about the two actresses, there is no actor as a main character. However, there are two major actors in there, and I like the one who acts as a manager (Tanihara Shosuke).

I'm going to continue watching it this weekend. :)

If He Wasn't Into You, Don't Worry!

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:21:37 GMT

I watched the movie "He's Just Not That Into You" yesterday. After I watched it, I thought, "This movie should have came out 5 years ago!" :P

I've done my fair share of those "Gigi" moments: where I waited & waited for a phone call that never came, and everytime the phone rang, I'll run there, only to find that the phone wasn't even for me. Then I'll think that he didn't call me because he was just too busy, or he lost my phone no, or someone else was talking on the phone when he called. How I twist up every little thing he said and did with my imagination, building a scenario in my head convincing myself that there was "something" there where there wasn't anything. Like when he sent me songs that had lyrics of love & longing, I will be repeating the song in my playlist and have a smile on my lips while listening to it, thinking that all the lyrics in the song was meant for me to hear. Or being disillusioned in thinking that it was because of the distance that things couldn't work out between us, and that if I was in the same country as where he was, it would have worked out. Then later (a bit recently) finding out that "distance" wasn't a problem for him at all. That maybe there was just something that he didn't like about me.

Some years ago, I thought that if I changed myself to be the person that he wanted me to be, he will like me back. So I thought if I stopped watching Korean dramas (for awhile :P), started focusing on my career, become more outgoing, stop wearing make-up, keep my hair long and etc. he would like me back. Don't worry, I've grown out of that illusion, but it was good for me in a way, for it improved me. I'll have to thank him for that. ;) I still listen to his advice (like when he told me to learn cooking) because he's my best friend and was just looking out for me.

I'm not saying all of this because I'm feeling bitter though. You can't help it if you have no feelings for a person. You can't force yourself to like someone just because he or she might be so crazy over you. I just wanted to say that you have to accept the truth as it is, and stop twisting things out of proportion. If a guy likes you, he'll SURELY make it known in some way or another. You don't have to wait around for him to call you. You don't have to wait around for him to tell you that he loves you. You don't have to wait around for him to tell you that he'll marry you. Don't feel bad that he doesn't feel the same way towards you either. It just can't be helped!

Yet, every time a person tells me, "There's plenty of fishes in the sea", I don't know about others but I feel like going on a homicidal rampage. lolz Or when he tells me, "You'll find someone." or something along that line, I wanted to say like, "Why couldn't that person be you?" But instead, I just blinked away the tears swelling up in my eyes, and said, "Yeah, I hope so."

Even if there's someone else in my life in the future, it wouldn't be because I didn't love "him" anymore. I know that I'll always love him in a way, and have him in my heart. And he'll always be my best friend, and I his. :)

Photos: Bus Trip to North Dagon

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:58:07 GMT

Last Sunday, I went to North Dagon Township to a birthday party of a forum friend. Another friend came to our house to go to the party together, and we took the one-stop bus from home to there.

On "Special Bus" (အထူးယာဥ္) on route to North Dagon

Adipati Bus (one of those another special buses)

Bicycle Riders Along the Road
(the one with the green roof is a teashop)

Most of the buses on route to North Dagon
cross this bridge called Bailey(?) Bridge (ေဘလီတံတား) to
reach to North Dagon Township

One of the Wooden Buses

Because I'm Stupid

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:16:31 GMT

I watched the Korean drama Boys Over Flowers many months ago. The drama was very fairy-tale like, but it was good. It was quite popular among the girls (and some boys) in Myanmar also. On the sidewalks, you can see many wall posters of the F4 members.

I liked the drama soundtrack too. It's really nice to listen to, and out of all of them, I like one song the best.

It's called "Because I'm Stupid" (Nae Meoriga Nappaseo). In the OST, it's a song sung by SS501, a boyband. I really loved that song. :)

SS501 - Because I'm Stupid

English Translation

I’m really, very foolish
I know of no one other than you
you’re looking at someone else
yet you have no idea of my feelings like this

I won’t be in your days
I won’t be in the memories either, however
only you, I looked only at you
and the tears keep coming

As i watch you walking past, I’m still happy
even yet you still don’t know my heart
I should stop this and go

I really want to see the day
I’m withstanding the pain each day
“I love you” is playing on my lips
Alone once again, crying for you
alone once again, missing for you
Baby, I love you, I’m wiating for you

I won’t be in your days
I won’t be remembered either, however
only you, I looked only at you
I’m making memories alone

Loving you is like having a beautiful wound
I look at your pretty smile also
but I cannot laugh with you

I’m thinking about you so much everyday
my heart is hurting in all these sad days
‘I want to see you’ is playing on my lips
alone once again, crying for you
alone once again, missing for you
Baby, i’m waiting for you, I love you

bye bye, never say goodbye
even though I cannot hold you like this
I need you, I cannot say anything more, I want you
I keep on hoping too, I’ll keep hoping….

I really want to see the day
I’m withstanding the pain each day
“I love you” is playing on my lips
Alone once again, crying for you

I’m thinking about you so much everyday
my heart is hurting in all these sad days
‘I want to see you’ is playing on my lips
alone once again, crying for you
alone once again, missing for you
Baby, i’m waiting for you, I love you

(lyrics are from this site)

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There's also another version of that song sung by Kim Hyun Joong (from SS501 and one of the F4s). I've recently acquired the KHJ version. *swoons* :P

Kim Hyun Joong
*kisses* :P

Kim Hyun Joong version (acoustic)

Random

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:48:54 GMT

Shopping List for Next Month

1. Two-way cake
I need this because the one I bought while I was in Hong Kong cracked (I only used it one time) and became powder dust. I got angry (at myself for dropping it) and threw away everything into trash can :P I'm gonna be buying the exact same one again. I think.

2. Moisturizer
I'm running out of old one. What should I buy? The brand I'm using now (BSC) or Kanebo?

3. Mascara
Maybe Kanebo one.

4. New Music Cds

5. Dresses
I'll have to wait for expert advise though cos I really don't have much fashion sense.

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Woe is me.

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I don't feel well. I have headaches and am slightly woozy. I don't have any fever though. When I lie down on bed, I'll get vertigo, so I have to close my eyes for awhile so that my head will stop spinning. I don't feel like doing anything else either.

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What I cooked last Saturday.

Kyan Ma Sine (will update with English name once I look it up)

Stir-fried Mon Nyin

Deep-fried Pork Ribs

A Woeful Story about My Pinky Toes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:04:26 GMT

I don't know why. Aren't there any good shoes in Yangon that doesn't leave wounds on my feet? -_-

There was a company event on Tuesday, so I went there, wearing a new pair of shoes to match what I was wearing. Half-way to the bus stop, I was limping because the straps on the shoes were hurting my pinky toes. So I had to buy a bandage at a shop near bus stop, and stick it on. Yeah, very suave. hahaha

This is the shoes that made my pinky toe get hurt :(
(You can see the bandage on my left pinky toe :P)

Is it because the shoes I bought were cheap? Would it matter if I bought shoes from Charles N Keith? Would my feet be better that way?

Well, I do know for a fact that if I spent that much on shoes, I would totally get scolded. haha

Since my pinky toe has a flesh wound now, I am wearing velvet slippers. I love velvet slippers. They're very comfortable, and has unique designs too.

Me wearing Burmese velvet slipper

But the one I'm wearing is an old one that I had put in office to change into if the other shoes got wet in the rain or something. So I have to buy new pair of velvet shoes. So after the rainy season, I wear these shoes, changing every month. :D

I also like wearing shoes that look like ballet slippers. They're very comfortable, but sometimes also hurt my feet. So I have to wear bandage on toes beforehand. haha

still wearing occasionally but doesn't look as new anymore

I remember that I bought this while I was in Indonesia. I had to put on some bandages on my feet before wearing it, but only on the heels. So I carried around bandages in my bag. =P

I think my feet are just too sensitive. -_-

Buses

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:28:05 GMT

The Orange Coloured Bus is called "Ga Gyi" Bus
(named after the 4th Burmese alphabet)

When I come to work, and go back home, I usually take these "Ga Gyi" buses. There used to be a time a few years ago when buses going/coming from North Dagon is rare and few, so at rush hours, buses can be really really really crowded. But nowadays, those buses are still abit crowded, but not as much as before because of the "Ga Gyi" buses.

Inside the Bus at Night

It's usually already dark by the time I go back home. When I go back home, I don't want to have to stand up so I usually ride the bus at the end gate, and the bus will loop around Sule Pagoda roundabout to the start gate (which is at the opposite side of the road from the end gate but not directly across from each other) continue on its return journey. I don't usually have to pay money for the bus ride to the start gate, and I'm not the only one to ride like this too.

Ofcourse, when I'm really late and in a hurry, I don't do this and just ride from the start gate, because sometimes, the buses stops for a long time at the end gate, calling for passengers.

108 Dyna Bus

For example, 108 bus. It waits for passenger at the end gate for such a long long time, and also do the same at the start gate. So I only take the one that's about to leave from the start gate. It can be abit faster than "Ga Gyi" buses because they take a different route from those buses, and there are few stops along the way. So when I'm in a hurry, I usually take this bus.

There are also 202 buses, which is the recent addition along this line (Sule - North Dagon line, I mean). I haven't taken a photo of those buses yet. They are bigger and imported from Japan. And they've got a fixed price: 200 Ks. anywhere, unlike the other buses. These buses are included in "Special Vehicles" (A Htoo Yin) because they only carry passengers according to seats, and don't allow standing up. Some of the buses even have TVs on there and play music. But none of them have air-conditions, even though at first, they were advertised as "air-conditioned buses". Now, they have become "open-aired" buses. :P I like these buses though, (well, at least 202 buses) because if the seats are full (and they usually are), they just drive straight to the bus stop that the passengers need to get off, and don't wait for a long time or stop at every bus stop calling passengers. However, they are fewer than "Ga Gyi" buses, so I can't really wait for them.

There used to be wooden buses which I really liked because it was less crowded. I think I even wrote about the journey one time. But since about 6 or 7 months ago, those wooden buses are not allowed into downtown area anymore. So their routes had changed to outskirt areas. It was quite a shame.

There are also the small "hi-lux" buses (the red one at the top at the top photo), but they are very very few on this route. I took this bus back home yesterday. When I go to Hledan, the buses that runs on that route are mostly those hi-lux buses. They are extremely fast, but only runs when passenger is full, so can be a long wait at the beginning stops, such as Hledan and Yankin bus stops. I think that it's sometimes unfair for those who rides from the middle routes because there wouldn't be any seat anymore because the seats are mostly full starting from the gate, and it wasn't as if you can stand up in the aisle.

Yeah.. I'm really a "bus" expert. :P Riding buses can be an enjoyable experience, when you get a seat, that is. :P I want to ride different buses to places that I've never been to before.

I want to ride the bus with someone. I want to be able to rest on his shoulder and have him put his arms around me as I see the couples do on the bus. ;) I think it'll be sweet. I don't usually fall asleep on the bus though, but sometimes, I just close my eyes and rest them for awhile.

But for now, I just stare out the bus windows at the sights I see everyday while listening to my mp3 player. Even though it's the same sights, I never get tired of looking out the window. (That's one of the reason I ride from the gate: so that I can get a window seat.) I like being able to see the Shwedagon Pagoda at night, with all its glowy-golden light at night as the bus goes around the U Htaung Bo roundabout. I like looking at Excel Shopping Centre's Dolly Bird fashion outlet's window display. I like looking through the window of this one fitness centre near Shwegondine and see the guys working out. (Nice muscles, I would say to myself. :P)

Ofcourse there were also times that I had taken taxi back home, but I haven't done that recently. Trying to save money. :)

Happy weekend!

Book Buffet

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:56:37 GMT

That's right: a book buffet!

On Wednesday, I went to Myanmar Book Centre with my sister. There was an advertisement in the newspaper about a "book buffet" saying that we can get any books we want, as long as it fits into the bag that we have to buy from the store. There are two sizes: 12" x 10" x 3" bag is 10,000 Ks. and 16" x 10.5" x 3.5" bag is 20,000 Ks.

So my sister thought that it was an all-sale event of the entire bookstore, and she was interested in getting some ELT (English Language Teaching) books which they usually sold for 8000 Ks. for a thin piece of booklet. So we went to the bookstore early in the morning. It was a good thing we did.

There are two Myanmar Book Centre in Yangon: one in Ah-lone Township, and another in Pansoedan. We went to the Pansoedan branch. When we got there, it turned out that it wasn't an all-sale event: the books that we had to choose from were used but new books. There wasn't any ELT books, and only books for children under 10 years old. Plenty of picture books. So we just went into the novel section, and looked first before buying the bag. We found some good books, so we just bought the 10,000 Ks. bag, and tried to fit the books in as much as we could, without trying to look too greedy. lolz!

We were able to fit 1 hard-cover and 10 paperbacks. :P

I think it was really worth it, and we were beaming all the way back home. Typical bookworms! =D

I think there were a lot of John Grisham left at the shop. We took all of the Michael Crichton books we saw, but who knows: they might put in more later on, if they had more. I feel a ping of guiltiness because we went there at like 9:20 am, and hoarded the good stuff. But everyone else would have done the same thing too, right?

So yeah, early bird got plenty of worms that day. :)

The "buffet" started on Wednesday, and will be on until 15.11.09 (Sunday). So go check them out if you're interested!

Shop 1: No. 55, Baho Road (Corner of Baho & Ah-lone Road), Ahlone Township
            Tel: (951) 212-409

Shop 2: No. (561-567), Room (3), Ground Floor, MAC Tower 1
            Corner of Merchant & Mahabandoola Garden St., Kyauktada Township
            Tel: (951) 370-532

There's also a shop in Mandalay.

Mandalay: Room 429, 4th Floor, 78t Shopping Centre, Mandalay

(Not an advertorial!)

Mohinga + Kimbap

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:49:34 GMT

Sunday

I cooked lunch, which was simple: fried water cress and scrambled eggs. hehe

I helped my cousin cook mohinga also. ^_^ Mohinga was going to be our dinner, and it is a long long process. We went to the market together in the morning, and bought the ingredients. And then I cooked lunch first, while my sister prepared the necessary things for mohinga. We started cooking mohinga at around 10 am, and only finished at around 1 pm, when the mohinga soup was on the stove.

I didn't take photo for all the process so there might be gaps. I'm not writing this as a recipe but just as a journal, so please find other articles if you want to know how to cook it. :)

Here's me picking the meat out of the fish.
The fish had been seasoned beforehand, and boiled, so it already tastes delicious!

Fish Meat is then cooked slightly with a mixture of mashed garlic, ginger,
a little paprika and lemon grass stalks. This will be put into the mohinga soup.

While we were mashing the ingredients, this pot was on the stove
(rice flour and gram had already been put in there)

After putting in the cooked fish meat, and banana stems,
it was put on stove for about 3 hours.

I didn't eat the mohinga as soon as it was cooked, because I was at the cyber-cafe for about 3 hours. Only after I came back, I ate it. By then, it was already about 7:30pm.

Mohinga :P

I know that it might not look very appealing, compared to this photo of mohinga, but I like my mohinga plain, without putting in coriander leaves, or roasted chili powder (nga yote thee mhote). This is home-style cooking, and we forgot to buy fried peas or gourds (a kyaw) to put in the mohinga. When I eat mohinga for breakfast, I'll put some rice into the mohinga.

Here's the WikiHow article on how to cook mohinga. Yangon Now also has a step-by-step article with photos! It's very helpful, I think. :)

I'm thinking of learning to cook every weekend. I think it's time that I started cooking, because otherwise, no men will marry me I wouldn't know how to cook if I have to live alone. =P hehe

Monday (Today)

I went out with a friend at lunch time to go to Latha St. My friend wanted to buy some DVDs so I was accompanying him to the DVD store where I usually buy. He doesn't know where it was, since he was visiting Yangon from abroad.

I bought kimbap to eat with my co-workers.

The kimbap seller was telling me not to take photo of him. I said, "Don't worry! Because I just wanted to take a photo of your kimbap, not you!" :P

The vendor was on Mahabandoola Road, in front of the Chinese Temple on the corner of Latha Rd.

Chinese Temple

There was a dried-fish seller beside, so I also took photo of them. The kids were helping their mother remove the fish heads, I think. ^_^

Jello

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:34:47 GMT

Please have some jello. Well, not exactly "Jell-O", but it's the closest thing they've got here. Many kids like to eat this J-Cup jelly. And I'm one of them. :P

And it's orange!