Cutie Cats Cafe: The First Cat Cafe in Indonesia

other than work, ive been rather occupied with neko atsume on my spare time. im sure many of you are already familiar with the title, as the game has gotten really popular lately. it's basically a mobile game where you buy things to attract cute cats to visit your yard. you can even name them and get special fish that you can trade for goods like cardboard house, burger cushion, pyramid tent, kotatsu, and many more. it sounds really simple, yet it turned out to be quite addictive, like i cant spend an hour without checking my yard and refill the cat food so these cats would still come and play there LOL now i have the yard expanded and there are more of them coming everyday!

while playing with a bunch of cats sounds heavenly, now you can also experience it in real life with cat cafes! the cat cafe phenomenon began in taiwan circa 1998, then it slowly developed as a trend that influenced other countries as well like japan and singapore. good news, the trend eventually ventured to indonesia and i recently got to experience it! its called cutie cats, an integrated cat cafe that offers an exclusive facility for cat lovers to play and also relax with over 16 super adorable cats. they consist of various breeds such as scottish fold, himalayan, and persia. not only cute, theyre also tamed, groomed, and specially trained because cutie cats is supported by indonesian cat association (ICA). the place itself is so comfortable and warm with cat toys scattered everywhere. its definitely hard take my feet off because cuddling with these furballs is literally the best thing to ease my mind after a hectic day :3

after youre done playing with them, its time to have another relaxing session with some delicious homemade desserts made by mama cat's kitchen. the delectable selections are varied from purrfect carrot cake, cherry cheesecake, chocotella with almond, up to their signature cutie cats cupcakes AKA cat shaped cupcakes in vanilla flavor. yum! well its not a complete dessert session without some refreshing drinks right? then you gotta try their apple sparkle, which is a nice balance of soda and apple juice to rejuvenate your body on a sunny day. of course, the food and beverage are served in a separate room to keep them hygiene at all times. to enjoy this lovely experience you only need to purchase an entrance ticket for 50k on weekdays and 75k during weekend with additional charge of Rp 35k per hour. now who can resist this little heaven on earth for real?


Cutie Cats Cafe
The House of Pika Pika Lt.2
Jln. Kemang 1 No.12F
Jakarta Selatan 12150
Instagram: @cutiecatscafe

(photos courtesy by: cutie cats cafe)

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (JJBA) is way more than i expected it would be, and when i say 'more', it says everything about it. the title deserves a special throne for being ultra heavy in action while still keeping its plot progression intact. throughout the course you'll find endless fighting components like blood, broken bones, to thrilling supernatural powers that will take you to the edge of your seat. jjba itself has shifting protagonists, which makes the series a lot more interesting as it goes. it revolves around the joestar descendants from jonathan, joseph, to jotaro (it still continues in the manga though). it's a classic escapade between the good and evil, formulated in such unique yet interesting style that it feels like watching literal comic on tv. to be perfectly honest i initially wasnt into the hyper realistic art design where most of the characters are built with strong muscles and very detailed facial structures, but apparently it's rather easy to get into jjba's flow once you're fully adapted to Araki Hirohiko's signature art style.

other than the illustration, i also needed some time to get used to the way jjba pulled out its battle scenes, where each character literally recites what's happening in front of their eyes. i thought it was sort of dragging and redundant, but then i realized its something that makes jjba remarkable. actually every standout element in this series is fairly remarkable and it goes for the art style, story telling, scenes execution, up to the very fitting voice acting that i just cant help but to put my thumbs up for. these elements complement each other really well that they can combat some parts of the animation that get rather stale at times. for example in phantom blood arc there are a bunch of still scenes that might have gotten dulled if being left that way, but the animation team added various play of color schemes to make them more alive, like the contrast combo of saturated blue and pink to indicate intense sequences. quite an unorthodox way when you witness it on screen though but either way it works!

speaking of intensity, jjba truly lives up to its title. the 'jojos' and their friends will take you to an unforgettable adventure from travelling around the world to meeting a handful of unique characters with varied 'stand' abilities. it's good to know that the series includes well researched references when going through different continents and countries in stardust crusaders arc. it even shows the traditions and different facial features based on the place that jotaro and team are visiting, which is really nice and refreshing. stardust crusaders is my favorite because it successfully made me love all the characters, even the minor ones. plus not all the fighting scenes are built upon fist and kick, but also psychological battles through video games to casino gambling. Araki made sure that each of them comes with a twist, so it wont be easy for the viewers to guess what would happen in the end. its like witnessing a show of magician secrets that got unfold, with 'the secrets' being what jotaro's team got up their sleeves. seriously, it might consist of many episodes but each of them still manages to surprise you with the right portion.

in conclusion, jjba is one of those series that i never thought i would fall deeply for. like i always heard nothing but good things about it, and ive only come to notice it once ive gone through the entire journey (this also explains how i ended up in part 6 of the manga only two weeks later LOL). if youre into anime with great battle scenes, twists, plus remarkable art style then this might just be your cup of tea. jjba is simply rich in those aspects that to call it a 'bizarre' adventure, is an understatement.

New Dishes from The Holy Crab!

finally we're back with another food review yay! this time i got the chance to try out the newest lunch menu selections from the holy crab. i believe many of you are already familiar with this restaurant which is located at one of the hippest culinary spots in town, jl. gunawarman. its famous for its western style crab dishes with a special louisiana sauce that you wont find anywhere else in local seafood places. well, having crabs for lunch sounds like a wonderful idea but it can be a hassle because it takes more effort to eat than any other comfort food, plus it can get quite messy if we're not careful right? now dont worry because the holy crab has come up with some choices of tasty lunch menu to satisfy your seafood cravings in a practical package!

the first menu is mixed seafood dirty rice. honestly i have no idea why they called it 'dirty rice'. i was thinking because they trashed out various kinds of topping into it all at once maybe? but according to the holy crab, this is one of traditional cajun cuisines that is already well known. the rice is rich in flavor and it tastes buttery in my mouth. the creaminess of it is complemented very nicely with the fresh seafood additions like prawns, squids, and scallops. oh, it also has chicken liver as a part of the toppings to make the flavor even richer. personally i like this menu a LOT because the combination of creamy and savory it offers caters to my palette very well that i cant stop savoring it even though the overall portion is rather heavy for one tummy.

moving on the next menu, its time to try out jambalaya, an authentic recipe from louisiana. this one looks more spicy because of the whole reddish hue to it and yeah, it is indeed rich in seasonings as well! jambalaya uses a good selection of spices and ingredients to obtain a fresh taste. though im not the biggest of fan of spicy flavor i would still give it a go because its majorly cooked with tomatoes for a sweet infuse. the menu also includes several toppings like prawns and sausages though its not as varied as mixed seafood dirty rice. both are still a mouthful of menus that would be a good deal for your lunch break, really.

last but not least, the holy crab also offers sandwiches for those who are longing for a taste of seafood but hesitant to grab a heavy portion. so please welcome rolls, a sandwich selection thats served with special creamy soup and cajun fries. the bread is lightly cooked, resulting to a soft yet crispy texture on the sides. its stuffed with a royal portion of crab meat that kinds of surprised me at first because of how packed it is! this menu truly lives up the western styled seafood dish especially when you have it along with the special cajun fries and soup. its a decent selection when youre in the mood to grab the special the holy crab taste while still having it quickly and conveniently!

the prices for these new menus start from 55k and i think its reasonable for the amount of portion you will get and the delicious experience. stop by during lunch break with a group of friends or even by yourself at the holy crab to try these unique dishes out!

The Holy Crab

Jl. Gunawarman No.55

Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta 12110

Ph: (021) 29236155

Twitter: @TheHolyCrabID

Instagram: theholycrabid

(photos courtesy: the holy crab)

Samurai Champloo

if there's an anime that successfully combined cultural assimilation with a touch of intriguing issues like politic, religion, racism, up to sexuality, then i gotta hand it on to samurai champloo (SC). SC is another work of shinichiro watanabe, the mastermind behind the legendary cowboy bebop. theme wise, it's placed on a completely different ground; while bebop toys out with futuristic spaceship and gun fights, SC is set in a historical setting, precisely Edo era Japan. the story generally centers around fuu, a fearless girl who embarked on a journey to find the mysterious 'samurai who smells of sunflower'. she decided to tag along with two skilled samurai, mugen and jin, with each of them bearing completely different personalities. mugen is rather vulgar, impulsive, and violent by nature, meanwhile jin leans more as a composed and calculated figure. its truly interesting to witness the three of them going through a wild and thrilling adventure with their diverse characteristics. even though it started off quite rocky at first, but the events they went through slowly helped them to develop their bonds which makes them come to a realization that they're teaming up as friends and not simply by chance. the 26 episodes journey are filled with rich and colorful encounters from blind assassin, colonial baseball game, illegal homosexual dutch guy, to zombies! oh, also just like bebop, SC is an episodic series. it often gives a brief recap once in a few episodes so its safe to watch it in casual chronological order.

SC aced in good production, decent animation (though there are some fighting scenes that fell quite short), and natural dialogues. it also served some good portions of slapstick jokes and satire touch on the historical background. its effort in fusing hip hop with traditional japanese culture is undoubtedly the most fascinating part of this series though. it starts off with a heavily infused hip hop themed opening, then we get to see the scenes breakdown through beatboxing bridges, hell, even mugen's fighting style embodies some breakdance moves. i gotta say that watanabe is truly lucky for he always got the best composers out there pouring their genius talent into his works (first yoko kanno and now nujabes??? DUDE!). since im a sucker for amazing soundtracks then SC effortlessly carves its way onto my heart. its such a treat to the eyes to perceive lush nature panoramas being followed by beautiful instrumental tracks like aruarian dance, for instance.

this might sound like an unpopular opinion but i do like how this series ends. its not as cathartic and impactful as bebop (i just cant help to bring these two into comparison sorry) but it leaves a nice and natural impression. this series shows that it doesnt take a death of main character to make a story 'edgy' or compelling. SC ended just how it started and its plain perfect in a sense. if anything i kinda wished mugen, fuu, and jin would stay together and board for another journey because their bond is just too great. nevertheless its such an entertaining show with creative tones and realistic premise, and its not an exaggeration to say that SC is truly one of a kind.

Neon Genesis Evangelion

i can hardly find a word to describe my experience with this NGE. its like going deep down into a rabbit hole that leads to a darker tunnel by every layer i went through. dont get me wrong, this series has a really exciting stand point that incorporates a lot of elements like sophisticated robots, aesthetically pleasing imagery (which remains exquisite although the series came out over 20 years ago), divine music scores, and a plot that distinguished it from any other mecha anime. these components seem like a pack of good deal, but honestly it goes way beyond that. NGE explores human psyche down to its instability and fragility, which makes it a memorable journey for people who can emotionally resonate with it.

it also probably had to do with the director's state at that time. NGE was aired in 1995, when Japan's anime industry was not in a good shape. the director, Hideaki Anno, was then forced to finish producing this series despite of the lacking budget and incredibly tight deadline. the level of pressure he was dealing with then got reflected into the series' tone. NGE itself is so dark, violent, and can be disturbing at certain points. it highlights various characters and their ways in dealing with horrible past, self loathing, confusion, hatred, and so on, while at the same time pointing out mankind's unhealthy obsession with experimenting the evolution of humanity. take a look at the main character, shinji ikari. at the age of 14, he's mandated to pilot a cyborg which core function connects to his nerves then fights unknown beings with it, yet the bigger problem lies at his own continuous self battle. shinji always does what others told him (implicit imagery of robot-like trait) even though that doesnt guarantee happiness. moreover he also has a complex issue with his authoritative father who runs NERV, a special organization that creates evangelions. another character that caught my attention was asuka, who appears as a quick-tempered and colourful person with a heavily troubled past that it doesnt make her inner monologue less hollow than shinji. the entire narrative slowly unfolds into a mentally unstable ride that is comprised of surprising flicks like nudity, sex, and religion based symbolism (christianity, judaism, kabbalah).

other than the plot, ive got to applaud the seiyuus because they surely did a good job voicing out the characters that they seem very lively and emotional on the screen. i'd also like to point out that characterization is NGE's strongest point for many reasons it holds. their language hits with violence which is why the series successfully left us questioning our own psychological nature in the end. its a shame though that the last two episodes were conducted poorly because of budgeting issue. the sequences are filled with written text on the screen, still images, and repeated footage. thankfully it was done with so much precision and skill so the haunting effect that left us feeling uneasy remains effective. it might not offer the best closure but it does provide a lingering impression. NGE is an anime that will always be interesting to be subjected into discussion until whenever. it's complex yet relatable, and it's mind bending yet engaging in a way.

last but not least the music that accompanies NGE is also impressive, though it does pull a reference from certain classic sources; for example 'decisive battle' that sounds like a reminiscence of old james bond movie with heavy tensions from the strings, and of course, 'fly me to the moon' with various cover versions and i do adore each one of them. therefore i will leave my favorite (rei's ver.) and with that i just want to say the final word:

congratulations!

Death Note

Death Note is another popular title that obtained massive success ever since it got released. no wonder, Tsugumi Ohba (author) successfully came up with a fresh yet intriguing story that caters to broad audience around the world. it centers around Light Yagami, an ordinary high school student who experienced a sudden turn of fate when he found a mysterious notebook one day. the book, which is called Death Note, apparently belongs to a shinigami (god of death) that accidentally fell into the human world. it has a deadly power in which it can kill anyone whose name is written on it. gradually becoming obsessed, Light then aimed to execute any bad guy or criminal by using Death Note in order to attain a new and 'better' world with zero criminal rate. the main question lies here; does wiping out people who have done bad things considered as a commendable act of justice? will that action turn someone into a God? these premises are what being presented on the table throughout the show.

the plot grows more complex as a bunch of other characters got introduced. Light Yagami then is forced to 'battle' L, a highly intelligent detective who aims to reveal this case. the strength of Death Note mainly lies on the war of nerves between Light and L. Both characters are presented as genius, so it's very interesting to see what plans and assumptions they come up with in order to defend their points. as an antihero, Light is still capable to draw our sympathy to him despite of the menacing things he has done. it psychologically tested us until we got dragged into his ambition and eventually wished his plan would run in success even though we realize that it is not right. meanwhile L also appears as a likable character for his unique attitude and bold methods in catching the main subject. because of that as well it was a bitter experience to witness L's downfall despite of the amount of work he has put into solving this chain of events. he got replaced with his successors later on, namely Near and Mello, but ever since that it feels like the plot gets rather stale. if L has the ability to deduce problems through analytical theories, his successors mostly pull out baseless assumptions that are miraculously proven to be right. my conclusion, in the end Light was defeated not because he's outsmarted, but out lucked by Near (and also Mello). thats also the reason why the plot feels rushed from episode 25 onwards, though a bunch of intense mind games that fish out our curiosity are still conducted decently nonetheless.

maybe im not the biggest fan of this series but i definitely can see why a large group of viewers has grown emotional attachment to it. the complexity of the plot isnt something easy to pull, for it offers surprises at every corner that will blow everyone's mind. the characters are no less interesting and its such a worthwhile experience to watch their efforts in battling their own hearts and minds to reveal the truth. hell, not to mention there are many symbolism being thrown into this (Christianity for example) which makes it even more intriguing to dig. Death Note is a pleasant pick for those who want to get into anime, and it certainly remains memorable even for those who already consumed a handful of titles.

Yu Yu Hakusho

sometimes i wonder what makes a certain series a so-called 'masterpiece'? is it because of the well written plot, sophisticated animation, genius soundtracks, or must it be the combination of all of them? as the thoughts sink in, i recently happened to finish rewatching one of 90s classics, Yu Yu Hakusho (YYH). as a legendary trope in shounen category, i find YYH as an anime that's always entertaining to watch at any given time and not only that, there's also a new value to grasp every time i go through it all over again. 

the theme embodies mythical element in it, as it follows the story of yusuke urameshi, a punch-drunk punk who got revived to life after getting into a car accident. then he got assigned as a spirit detective to investigate suspicious demon activities in human realm that might endanger humankind. as the journey goes, yusuke made a bunch of friends along the way whom eventually ganged up with him together as a team. with non stop packed fighting scenes and continuous plot that's easy to follow, YYH offers a fun experience from start to finish. well, i wouldn't doubt that since it came from yoshihiro togashi, the man who holds the golden shounen formula in the palm of his hands. he successfully explores a whole new world beyond our realm and invites us to experience the magic in it. for me, the most memorable sequence is dark tournament arc, because it genuinely focuses on the main concept this show is trying to offer: a search for unbeatable strength. another favorite of mine is chapter black arc, which is like a blueprint of hunter x hunter's chimera ants arc since the underlying theme is similar; it questions whether or not mankind still deserves to live albeit their rotten behavior. it is more thoughtful than the dark tournament because it requires the viewers to dig more about the villain's mission that battles ego and morality.

the overall story is very engaging especially for shounen fans. despite of the old school animation style, i've got to say that intensity still lives up to this day. it would be nice if YYH also gets a reboot just like hxh (HEAR MY PRAYER, MADHOUSE) because there are tons of potential fighting scenes that can be developed with current technology. the character developments went pretty smooth, and even though there are bits of plot holes it remains genuinely delightful to watch. YYH is a raw gem at that time and the series still deserves its trophy till now. i cant help but to throw it in comparison with hxh because YYH stands as togashi's playground in developing ideas and stories before they get more polished afterwards. nevertheless it's a classic anime that fights its own flaws with authenticity and sincerity to charm its viewers. so does YYH deserve to be classified into a masterpiece while it stands on its own ground? absolutely.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

every time i go through various anime related discussions, there has got to be one predominant title that is always mentioned, especially when it comes to listing out highly acclaimed series. yeah i bet you already guessed it, it's none other than fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood (fma:b)! the series immediately holds its own throne of mass popularity ever since it got released. at first i was a bit apprehensive that i'd get overhyped while going through it, but the series proved that all the massive talks surrounding it aren't simply blurted out of the blue. so does fma:b deserve the position it holds as one of the, if not, highest rated anime of all time?

it feels like there's a universal law in shounen class that requires notorious titles to pull a plot where the main protags are born from legendary and powerful fathers that are either gone or missing (e.g hunter x hunter, attack on titan). this time around, fma:b is also one that carries the notion. it follows a journey of the Elric brothers to gain back their original bodies after carrying out the ultimate taboo in alchemy: human transmutation. ever since their mother died from a plague, they've been struggling to bring her back to life using various prescriptions yet it backfired in the end, causing the elder brother, Ed, to lose his limbs and Al, the younger one, to lose his entire physical figure. their adventure to find the mythical 'philosopher's stone' which is rumored to be so powerful it can bring 'the dead' back into life eventually leads to a riveting trip that involves a lot of people and conflicts along the way. this is the vital element that makes fma:b standout, it introduces a handful of characters throughout the course, but each of them appears with remarkable strength and personality that make them exceptionally noteworthy. it varies from an arrogant colonel who also serves as a talented tactician, a young prince who appears to be silly yet holds a strong devotion for his clan, a vengeful macabre survivor, up to a highly combative "ice queen" soldier. literally no one that's ever introduced is left out because they all carry important roles to complete the progress of the story, even the minor characters.

speaking of story, fma:b breaks the dogma of action series with lack of deep plots. out of all 64 episodes, not a single one of them roles as a filler. they're heavily packed yet not draggy, and they're perfectly paced with proper intensity measures. the only drawback is i was slightly bugged by the slapstick-styled jokes at the beginning, it felt too much and didn't fit into some serious sequences, but thankfully as the story progresses it goes more balanced throughout. fma:b portrays a really dark theme with hefty political nuances, yet at the same time it offers interesting twists in every corner that easily hook the viewers' attentions. as an author, Hiromu Arakawa clearly put a profound research to bring up the theme of alchemy and historical views that are often taken from literature works. the idea is then supported with great animation, especially the fighting scenes that are choreographed extremely well they surely will take you to the grip of your seat.

fma:b indeed excels in extensive factors such as plot quality, story telling, and even voice acting. it doesn't only provide entertainment to its viewers but also numerous lessons about love, compassion, humanity, and of course life itself. it's definitely not the kind of series that will be easily forgotten after many years have passed, hell, not even when it eventually comes in term as being an old school classic. i believe it's nearly impossible to classify a single title as the best anime since every viewer's taste is relative and is comprised of varied interests, but good thing about fma:b is it has genuine appeal to broad audiences, for it holds a complete package of not only an enjoyable show but also another step to explore favorable values in real life. as a magnificent work, this one is too good to be missed.

Cowboy Bebop

i think it’s safe to say that 90s anime series always have their own ways in being true classic. i grew up with bucket tons of titles that used to live up my sunday morning, like sailor moon, doraemon, magic knight rayearth, and the list goes on. after years went by, i finally finished another title that might be considered legendary for so many elements it embodies. it’s none other than cowboy bebop.

the first thing that hooked me up with this series is the soundtrack, which is composed by the genius and super talented yoko kanno! yes, i literally shrieked on my seat when i found out that she did the entire scores for bebop, I MEAN IT’S THE ALMIGHTY YOKO KANNO who’s able to magnify any anime episode into gold with just a touch of her pinky finger. the versatile composer successfully combined dynamic jazz with country music as the major theme that enveloped the entire series in general, as well as giving it a standout characteristic on its own. guaranteed, i wasn’t let down the least bit by the atmospheric tunes that flow really smoothly with all the scenes that follow.

story wise, cowboy bebop offers a tale of bounty hunters and their course in hunting down potential 'fish in the sea' for a living. sounds pretty cliche, but the value is apparently more than it seems. despite of pulling an episodic framework that's singular in nature, each episode gradually digs the major characters’ traits, personalities and emotions very well. it flows with a really nice dynamic which eventually develops a unique bond that i barely thought i would fall for. also most of their dialogues are crafted in realistic manner which fits the mood even better. last but not least it's all entwined with a journey to reveal one's identity and their struggle to embrace the past and present. this concept is also symbolized through the eyes of spike siegel, the major protagonist. he lost one of them to an accident, and since then he's been seeing the past with one eye and the present with another. at the end of the series you will be served with a vague query; if living life feels like watching a bad dream then would it be better to end it right away or continue trailing down the road that might lead to somewhere unpredictable? tough question, yet cowboy bebop answers it perfectly, with an episode finale so magnificent it's almost unbeatable to be replaced even with any other alternate idea. it's haunting, dreamy, yet satisfying.

despite of the limited 90s animation, cowboy bebop is capable to defy all of its generic flaws. the action motions are rich and crisp, with incredible details that fit into the space theme necessities. it's like hopping into a thrilling spaceship journey with some touch of john woo's movie elements in one go. some episodes have kinda tacky names though ('boogie woogie feng shui', anyone?) and felt a lot like fillers (who would have thought an expired lobster in the fridge could create full 20 minutes of deadly trouble?) but strangely they're what made each of them feels remarkable. cowboy bebop surely stands tall above the littlest defects it has, and that fact alone simply sums up why it is a staple classic. see you space cowboy, thank your the memorable adventure that you have brought us into.

shame on you. shame on me. shame on us for falling into this foolish tragedy

there's a lot to pay for a cheap thrill and we were too naive to play a game that we both knew very well we would lose in the end. pretending is easy yet when it comes to say goodbye our bodies immediately transformed into tiny particles that are never destined to float into the directions we ever desired. i've lost count of the number of times that i have found and lost you but even now i still keep you in mind. we are grown we don't need to be saved it's tiring to run in a circle trying to cheat on fate over and over so i'm placing these pills under my tongue the faster it disappears the better i crawled out from fear.

my voice echoes loudly throughout the sky and in that moment i can no longer tell whether i laugh or cry

the night is still young and the roads are still warm

im following these footsteps whichever path they take me cause who cares, i've lost my senses

it's like having your tongue tied and each word becomes hard to verbalize

maybe "words" are the only thing i'm good at, i'm not good to be kept around

the history repeats itself over and over i'm forced to wave goodbye to what seemed to be dreamy from afar because when i take a look closer i am but a silent burden that hangs on everyone's shoulders. it must be nice to be able to live without extreme anxiety and insecurity that transform you into a stupid clown in front of people. it might sound funny but its not, and its sad

im about to close the door and walk another five steps into the border

let's meet again when we are better for each other

i stare in amazement as you talk about your favorite things; songs, books, and dreams. there's fire in your eyes as each word is being thrown and in that moment i feel like being home. you're filled with motivation and endless amount of inspiration yet who am i kidding? even if i dig my own grave i wont perceive them any longer they're tangled in the wind along with those undying dreams. life is beautiful, you told me with a smile, and i swear im fighting on each step i take to recall the things you say just to elevate my feet higher. every time i take a breath i can hear your voice clearly, the distant voice that initiates nothing but false intimacy. people only listen to others so they get a chance to talk but i'd rather ask you to not stop conversing. i'd sit under the moon with my mouth sealed like a dog that stays and listens to its master's rants and hopes; which i dont mind at all because if you can read my mind you'd be in tears

its the third weekend and im lying still with half make up on, apparently tears are a much better form of make up remover they even removed these undying waterproof chemicals on my lids. how great it is to be able to travel within 100 kinds of reality at the same time and as i peek into each door there's a new possibility waiting in the corner, waiting to be greeted warmly. i need an approval to jump into one where theres so much distress and lack of emptiness or needless to say the thoughts ive been dreaming of for so long. its better to be alone but not so much when you're lonely; i try to identify the issue but wasn't allowed to do so since time keeps on looping and i wake up to another same day and same thing. once they whispered in my ears that all of this would change when i look outside and embrace the "normal" and "sane" circumstance though little did they know that its easier to replace those words with "monotonous". one day constant solitude might be our normal condition yet its too late, the sun is starting to climb up and my fingers remain cold

shouldve kept my mouth shut yet my tongue came undone; at least it started off as a great ride, at least it is what it seemed to be. its alright i keep telling myself so then the effort to ignore the best part of you becomes the hardest thing to do. being in love is like sticking your hand into a bag full of snakes and broken glasses just to find a piece of candy thats hopefully not poisonous. i've learned my lesson i said a thousand times those are the words and sometimes words mean nothing because they are but a train of thoughts that leads you to a twisted darkness far far in the woods. people say let it flow like a river but im just a cold deep lake

Hunter x Hunter

i still can hardly believe that I finished this entire series in less than a week and it literally consists of 148 episodes. like, i wasnt a patient viewer to begin with so it was pretty tough to convince myself to embark on this long journey. then thats it; i came to the realization that i couldnt stop myself from watching it. every episode makes me crave more, more, and more. hxh is an amazing quest that unfolds through compelling narrative that easily hooks not only shounen enthusiasts, but also everyone whos in for a brilliant storytelling. throughout the journey i become very emotionally invested that i desperately need to find out whether gon is eventually able to venture into a new continent, whether killua will find what he's looking for in life, or whether chrollo will get his nen back and head home from the east. ok im gonna throw those questions into the ocean because just like all suffering hxh viewers out there we will never know when this series would resume, hell does togashi himself know?

more than a typical action with packed thrills, hxh is a wild journey that immediately kicks off once u hop on the backseat. its exhilarating and sentimental at the same time. each character has an interesting backstory or dynamic that easily catches my sincere attention. one time i feel like throwing a fit upon them then 3 episodes later i want them to stay alive as long as as they could. lets take meruem for instance AKA the most powerful villain in the series that shows up during chimera ants arc. togashi successfully toyed out with our feelings by developing a character that appears heinous yet secretly holds a genuine compassion inside. also we got to witness gon and killua's captivating friendship encounter a bunch of rocky roads as their bond blooms wonderfully. every emotion got mixed into a fast paced blender that leave the viewers breathless as they watch them swirl. props to madhouse for the amazingly fluid animation where every second feels very enjoyable to watch! 

now you must know the empty feeling that crawls onto your lungs after finishing a really good series like you dont know what to do with life anymore because yeah thats what hxh does to me. im truly impressed with this series and im counting on to see how the curtain will close in the end.

as a plus factor, hxh's soundtracks are incredibly good. that the whole piece of music that supports the entire ride are simply perfect and remarkable. so with that im gonna leave some of my top picks here!

1. riot (amazing piece from my all time favorite arc. this song is like the embodiment of bloodlust in a tune)

2. elegy of the dynast (meruem and komugi im still crying)

3. phantom troupe theme (long live the best troupe of all time!)

4. the last mission (such a great music to accompany a golden battle between the most powerful beings. top notch!)

5. hyori ittai (the feels... really)

Tatami Galaxy

all this while we spent our lives hoping for solely great things to occur in every phase we go through. one of those phases is undoubtedly college life which has a remarkable impact considering it’s an advanced stage of our transition into adultery. this makes me notice the reason why most of the best anime series i’ve watched so far revolved around college life theme like Honey and Clover, and now it's Tatami Galaxy (Yojōhan Shinwa Taikei). honestly I couldn’t emphasize enough why this series is a masterpiece since nearly aspect in it is notably unique, unorthodox, and thought provoking.

the story follows an unnamed protagonist called Watashi – literally “I” in Japanese, who’s looking forward to experiencing a “rose-colored campus life”, but once again reality is our ultimate enemy and not all things would go as planned, right? Watashi stumbled upon numerous unpredictable events from jumping into eccentric club activities, getting acquainted with a guy who secretly fetishizes a love doll and indoor plastic breasts rock climbing (yeah YEAH i know), lovely crush akashi, to someone named ozu who brings him nothing but disaster, at least according to Watashi. once in a while he would also meet a fortune teller who keeps on saying similar things to him, that opportunity is always dangling right in front of his eyes and if he doesn't grab it his life would remain unchanged.

never had i thought endless repetition would make a series interesting and Tatami Galaxy successfully wiped it away. it has a very rich and challenging narrative that goes 10 miles of words per sec but they're not simply just words being spewed here and there. the script is very remarkable that each sentence will drown you deeper into various thoughts every time you reread it. other than the narration i gotta applaud the animation style as well. watching Tatami Galaxy is like viewing an endless motion of art from the beginning till the end. they aren't afraid of playing with lines, colors, up to the point of breaking the classic barrier of anime 'style' by combining motion graphic with live action outlook as seen in one of the b&w scenes below.

for some viewers Tatami Galaxy might feel like a long road trip to reach the top of the mountain. to me, the cathartic ending serves a decent experience to this overall 'trip'. the message its trying to present doesn't feel preachy at all and it's enjoyable to relate instead. i won't start with the metaphors because they are scattered everywhere throughout the show and furthermore everyone might have different interpretations regarding those but i love how Tatami Galaxy will always be there to remind us about the basic principle in life: never regret anything.

allowing ourselves to wallow in remorse would only take us nowhere anyway so why not get our feet off the ground to find something that we can do about it? and Tatami Galaxy perfectly shows how difficult it is to cope with such matter. as Ozu said "it doesn't matter which path you took, you'd keep ending up where you are now." you know, possibilities are either spread across the galaxy or simply a 4½ tatami room; but friendly reminder that they're actually always placed inside our hands.

as a cherry on top here's a chunk of Tatami Galaxy's fine soundtrack by the genius and versatile composer, Michiru Oshima. it's really gorgeous that i haven't been able to put it down ever since i finished this series and yes wished i had watched Tatami Galaxy at earlier points in my life. 

Assassination Classroom

after neglecting it midway for almost a month I'm glad that I could finally catch up with this series! Assassination Classroom (or Ansatsu Kyoshitsu) started off as a manga series written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui, which eventually hit a popular mark in Japan with over 10 million circulated copies. the plot itself sparked my curiosity at first like How could a bunch of junior high students assassinate an inhuman creature who's powerful enough to blow 70% part of planet moon?? well apparently that's the main thread that connects us to class 3-E of kunigigaoka junior high school.

first of all, does the characters' design remind you of something? Yeah the anime is directed by Seiji Kishi who previously did Dangan Ronpa, so no wonder the vibe is rather familiar. The main character in Assassination Classroom itself is a big yellow octopus who plans to destroy the earth within a year period. Equipped with a special ability to accelerate in speed of mach 20 it's definitely tough to knock him off even by using the entire forces of government's special unit. But this Korosensei has another deal to offer, in which he would like to teach the specific underdog Class 3-E how to assassinate him before he blows up planet earth in a snap. The whacky plot continues as we discover unique students in this class with their own interesting characteristics. There's Nagisa, who's practically the main protag with striking baby blue twin tails and superbly collected and observant personality, also Karma (coughs my golden son coughs), a slick minded and brilliant student who got thrown off to class 3-E because of an unpleasant event in the past. As the story goes there are many other remarkable characters that got introduced like the special agent Karasuma or a professional yet hilarious hitwoman, Irina Jelavic (Bitch-sensei!).

Contrary to the title itself, Assassination Classroom doesn't serve bloody sequences let alone the actual act of assassination itself, well at least until now. Instead it provides a 'sweet' progress of how Korosensei embraces their students just like his own precious children then patiently lectures them so they could achieve great remarks and not getting bullied by other students in higher classes. At certain points we are taken into conflicting process from despising a character with seemingly bad motive to realizing that some motives are only classified as bad when we look at the mere surface. Korosensei might seem sus enough with his initial mission but later there are other parties with even more dubious plans coming up that might or might not lead to way worse result.

I know it sounds pretty weird to call this series 'heartwarming' but despite of its raw premise Assassination Classroom is indeed enjoyable to watch and tends to leave us with lingering smile at the end of each episode. I could relate to the students of class 3-E so much that are struggling to go on even though their lack of self confidence keep them below the ground. The X factor they need is a right figure to motivate and guide them to spark the inner abilities that lie within themselves, and the figure is none other than Korosensei himself, of course. 

For the drawback I kinda wished they would focus more on each student instead of introducing more and more assassins along the way. Maybe it would be a little packed considering the amount of kids isn't anywhere near few But hey, since even Korosensei only wants his own students to assassinate himself then why not making use of the chance to put these adorable kids under the spotlights? Furthermore we're also curious of the lecturer's past and the closest way to reveal it is through his utmost trusted companies, yes, the students of class 3-E. I think it's such a unique bond that you won't always encounter in most generic series.

Overall Assassination Classroom is a decent pick when you're looking for a light and fun series to lift up your day. It's also enriched with tickling humor that are situated in smart sequences. I took a sneak peak on its manga chapters and apparently the anime is pretty loyal with the contents. The first season hasn't even finished yet for now but considering the hype it builds I heard they're already preparing for a second season, not to mention a live action movie on the line and the on-going manga itself. Assassination Classroom seems to run for nothing but a bright future, at least until we can determine what would eventually come to Korosensei's fate at the end.

Obsessed

Ever listen to a song so good it makes u realize that heaven isn't a place but simply a state of mind where it takes your head off the ground?

The newest joint from Ta-ku, JMSN & Sango (dreamy collabs indeed) feels like a short pilgrimage for the souls, and if the music alone isn't a gift then let me crawl deep into the lyrics which sound more like a subtle greeting for better days ahead.



Give it time, give it time
Cause this ain't no race no
You'll be fine, you'll be fine
Do whatever it takes
/
I don't mean to hurt you
But we all know that I might
Nobody's perfect baby

I know I don't deserve you
But you saved my life.

E&O: Eastern & Oriental Restaurant

E&O is a charming collaboration between Chef Will Meyrick (Sarong and Mama San restaurants in Bali) and the same company that handles Loewy and Union. Initially the restaurant planned to highlight a unique blend of Thai and Vietnamese cuisines as their main concept but as time goes by E&O expanded their kitchen creations to cater to everyone's diverse tastes. Therefore prepare yourself to face a wide variety of Asian cuisines with some interesting twists coming from the West!

I like how the mixture of rustic and vintage atmosphere in this restaurant is wrapped nicely in elegance. As you can see, most visitors in E&O fall into executives or businessmen/businesswomen category during weekdays but on weekends there are also crowds of families and teenagers filling the seats. Fancy enough but still pretty casual after all. Also the food portions here are made to share so it would be very fitting if you tag along some friends or relatives on your visit.

E&O's menu selections are divided into starters, mains, and desserts. One of the hallmark of their fusion creations can be found in Thai-styled Caesar Salad and Vietnamese Cheong Fan for starters, which consist of shredded pork, Shiso leaf, and Thai basil. Meanwhile Crispy Pork Belly would be a top notch option for main course. After landing my first try on this menu I understood why this is simply (almost) everyone's favorite every time they visit E&O. The pork is served in fair cuts, with incredibly crispy skin and tasty seasonings that soaked in perfectly into their juicy texture. Wonderful! I find it interesting that they pair this menu with double sauces, Tamarind and Tamarillo. Both have distinct characteristics though there's a certain blend of flavors that connect them that are derived from sour, sweet, and spicy. It is also served with a handful of sticky rice. Gotta say it's quite an impressive result from Thai and Western styles crossover!

The next prima donna is called Country Style Roast Chicken served with Spicy Thai Sauce. Instead of french fries, it's paired with fried cassava! Such an unforgettable fusion experience, indeed. For other selections in the book just take a look at Jungle Chicken Curry, "Choo Chee" Crispy Barramundi,  or Caramelised Duck. The humble and skillful waiters/waitresses will be pleased to elaborate more about the menus to every guest so no need to worry if most of them don't sound familiar to you.

Now that our happy tummies are satisfied, it's time to spend the rest of the night by moving on to the bars and pick up some nice drinks to lift up the mood. Cocktails, mocktails, even wine selections, all is complete all is good. If you still have some space for desserts (WELL WHO DOESN'T?) please give a try for E&O's super smooth and glazy Coconut Crème Brulee. It is topped with crunchy almonds and some fruits that blend perfectly with the creamy texture. I'm definitely in love with this dessert!

E&O is undoubtedly a must visit restaurant for it will not only enhance your culinary experience but also a decent pick for your afterwork or weekend getaway.


(photos by: Hardiman Widjaseno)


E&O
Menara Rajawali Lt.1
Jln. Dr. Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Lot#5.1
Kawasan Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950
Ph: 021 5761645
Average spending: Rp 200.000,00 — Rp 300.000,00 for each person
Twitter: @eandojakarta

Love Live! School Idol Festival

I was hesitating for a while as whether or not I should pour it here but the fact that this freaking game had gotten me hooked for over 3 months now surely left me with no choice. Since I’m pretty much a late bandwagon jumper (as always) bet most of you are already familiar with the title, or maybe avid players of it as well.

Yeah it’s called *drum rolls* LOVE LIVE! School Idol Festival (LLSIF), a mobile rhythm game for IOS/Android developed by KLab and Bushiroad. It’s completely free to download along with tons of content in it; however there will be items like love gems that can be bought with real cash too.

On a brief note, the game itself is based on Love Live franchise which has been expanding in forms of anime, manga series, and music CDs. I haven’t managed to binge watch it yet but the main plot in general revolves around a group of school girls who become idols in order to prevent their school from shutting down. These lovelies consist of Honoka, Rin, Kotori, Umi, Maki, Nico, Nozomi, Eli, and Hanayo. They later declare themselves as μ’s (read: muse).

WHY IS IT SO ADDICTIVE? Okay, again, this comes from someone who barely even follows the series whatsoever but for me LLSIF aced in excellent choice of songs equipped with simple gameplay and cumulative goals to achieve just like the generic system of most rhythm games out there. Not to mention the characters look adorable and engaging, even other rando girls outside μ’s circle, that I personally favor even more. The gameplay requires you to train these girls through practice mode with numerous song collections that can be unlocked whenever you raise a rank or complete the goals given. For every new cluster of rank there will also be a main story about μ’s and their path to stardom. It is indeed THAT simple that you want to play more and more, unlocking new songs you haven’t listened to, new stories, new members to scout, and the list goes on. Especially during events where you gotta keep playing to maintain your rank otherwise other players might snatch up the position you've been working hard to reach while you're off.

When you already get used to playing it then it’s time to step up your skill by clearing the goals for every song, mainly full score and full combo goals. This is also where the interesting part lies because instead of giving up when you fail one you will become more curious and passionate in overcoming it (that thrilling feels when your fingers are dancing carefully for the sake of tapping the correct notes though!). It has come to the point where my phone screen literally reflects a row of finger print marks forming circle notes when it is placed under the sunlight *soulless laughs*

LLSIF's events are held periodically to provide newly released cards with certain level of rarities. In Japan LLSIF app, there are 3 event variations so far: Token event (collecting as many points as possible until maximum goal is reached), Scorematch (competing with other random players on randomly selected songs), and Medley Festival (playing three songs in a row with selectable difficulties). Since I’m a newbird in LLSIF Japan I’m really looking forward for the next Medley Festival event! It will be my first time joining it, also so far it’s still only available in the original Japanese version of the app. Well, everyone sounds excited about new events but when the actual thing starts, it will be another Hunger Games kinda world; sleepless nights and super tight competition until the event is over lol (usually it lasted around 10 days). But the satisfaction of getting special rewards like SR cards of your favorite Love Live! Character and many other prizes are just irreplaceable.

Here's a look into the gameplay. It's one of my favorite songs in the game, called 'Loneliest Baby', and this is the Hard mode with full combo:

While below is a sneak peak of my current LLSIF account. I used to go with the English version since it was easier to grasp the game's details of course, but somehow I find better luck in JP version. It's way more generous in handing out love gems, and most importantly better songs and characters variations for it is the first version to ever release.

That’s all for the bigger picture of the rhythm game. I still barely even recovered from the last SR Umi scorematch event which I was quite butthurt with because my rank flew away at the very last minutes. Those hours spent seemed so far away because people were competing like there's no tomorrow!

Afterall LLSIF is a well-made game though there are still rooms for improvement in the future. Simply prepare yourself before freefalling into this hole because once you’re sucked in escaping wouldn’t be an easy story.


Download Love Live! School Idol Festival Game (Japan/English ver.) Here