Yotsuba&! 10, Electuurrooonik store!

Yotsuba&! (よつばと!, Yotsuba to!), the story revolves around a little girl, Yotsuba's free and easy life. I swear during the moment reading, the universe temporarily revolves around her! What's so exciting about childhood? Try new things and play all day long! And that's what this manga all about. If Piano Hutan is the perfect world of Kai, Yotsuba to! is the blissful world of Yotsuba. This little too cute to be true kiddo rules her world blissfully, sometimes I worry she may take over the world when grew up. A bit of background, Yotsuba is a daughter of Pak Koiwai, adopted daughter. If I remember correctly she was adopted when Koiwai is abroad. Now we can only wonder from which country could he fetch a green hair little girl with irresistible innocent look and a born-talent to be world sovereign? Now this will be a long waited side story of Yotsuba, please azuma-sensei? XD

"Harga tahu lagi murah.. Jadi makanan hari ini..sup jagung, jagung dan ikan makarel" Now where did that deduction come from? XD In vol 10 (like any other vols), you'll find a lot of funny lines being said irresponsibly by Yotsuba. Volume 10 is just perfect from start to end, heck even from the cover. Take another look at the cover again. The pastel colors, the suggestive cool afternoon and Yotsuba on the way home after playing with Juralmin, is amused at something she realized for the first time. Now do you know what she's looking at? The afternoon shadow getting longer? The squirrel collecting nuts across the street? Exactly the extent of how beautiful the cover is.

Yanda appearance which to our amusement annoyed the security of Yotsuba. Jumbo who takes a lot of space in the panels and to our amusement still misunderstood Tora is his love rivals XD. Fuka who naturally kids best friend often worries of her weight, carelessly grows unintentional love seed with Pak Koiwai (the doujin is already out there you know!). And the grandeur come back to life of Karduuuu!! The last chapter is lovable! But my favorite is 'toko elektronik' chapter, is so damn funny, laughs are coming from every panel XD The ultimate one is Yotsuba tried a handphone and pick up a call, "Halo, ini Yotsuba.. Ada apa? APAA?!? GA MUNGKINN!!" ROFLLLLXDDD

This slice of Yotsuba's happy life is most enjoyable during a sunny day in open air with not too much crowd around. You can really feel the always summer scenes and background pictures. Especially the transition scenes (panels with no text bubble), do not just take a quick glimpse, have a moment to indulge and feel it.

Now who wants to be parent but only if your child is like Yotsuba? hahaha yes we're selfish aren't we.. Pak Koiwai is the perfect example of passionate and patient parent. Don't even think you can match him. But this manga is a nice read to teach one or two about parenting though.

Lastly, I feel grateful to live in one of manga paradise on earth, Indonesia and able to get this manga regularly :)

Secret Garden - Money, Love, and Tracksuit

Secret garden (시크릿 가든, Sikeurit Gadeun), is not a manga! XD I'm having too much korean drama this weekend, no world of shonen for now ^^;; I haven't seen korean drama since ......... a long time I guess. Well this one is worth the time and hunger (stuck on the chair). Let me tell you why :)

Secret garden is a story about a really filthy rich society leader (automatically handsome) guy Kim Joo Won, who can make stock market fall down if he had an accident, fell in love to a short leg middle class (also automatically pretty) stunt woman Gil Ra Im with scars all over the body (which suddenly beautifully disappear at the middle of the series). Kim Joo Won is soooo insanely rich always get what he wants is puzzled as why he become attracted to Gil Ra Im, woman who has no exceptional education, no reputable household and why she is so hard to get when other girls he met submitted to him in no time, and even more dumb founded seeing a new reality check of Ra Im is a poor and alienated neighbor lives in small rented flat with her gorgeous friend Im Ah Young who works in the dept store instead of becoming a model (so pretty!). Sounds standard to you? Added with few twists of soul switches between their bodies, courtesy of the twisted ghost of fire fighter father (Gil Ra Im father, ooh I knew it from Jeju island already! XD). Now we know liqour not only bad for your kidney, but also for your soul hehe XD

The soul switches between Gil Ra Im and Kim Joo Won which makes this drama interesting and funny. President of LOEL department store Kim Joo Won had to live in the small flat (but with Ah Young, lucky bastard XD) and work at action school. While the lavender flavor action girl Gil Ra Im had to handle meetings of director and sign big money projects. At this stage they must learn to understand how to be in their partner's shoes and each other circumstances. As in any relationship between lovers, understanding each other is a big big test. This movie sends a message, that your partner has actually done for you more than you think you know or have seen, so be considerate. The ultimate switch when Kim Joo Won decided to switch bodies and sacrifice himself to bring Gil Ra Im back to life is teh love! Impossible to withstand tears from falling down.

The ultimate moment

This drama has lotta love besides couple's love, but mother's love is definitely not one of them. What's wrong with these rich mothers? Older Brother's love (not BL >,<) from Oska who silently cares his younger cousin Joo Won, fans-entertainer love (during Oska's gloomy autograph signing session in the middle of plagiarism scandal, fans cheering and Oska responded as how entertainer should be is touching), Oska's Cinta lama bersemi kembali (a.k.a Long Love Blossomed Again, courtesy of google translator XD). Hmm, Kok Oska semua?? All these love ammunitions is enough to make me sit still for 12 hours without eating. Now who said love can't feed hunger? XD Good job to the movie writers! Oh almost forgot one more love. Forbidden love for hand-sewn glitter glitter tracksuit, hahhaha XD

In the end it's all happy ending to the couples, and Oska get his 7.1 album concert, OPPPAAAAA!! XDD With that irresistible charming, Oska must be a libran he he :p The ending with flashback when Ra Im's father funeral is kinda awkward for me. I haven't seen the special episode, gotta find it :D

This blog should switch back to world of Shonen again next week when it rains ^^; Sekarang mari kita sama-sama mengucapkan: Kamsahamnida, sarang hae XDD

The Hunting of The Snark, is a revenge!

The Hunting of The Snark (スナーク狩り, Sunaaku Kari), is all about one topic that has been told and told before, revenge! One ill-fated girl Keiko who has been cruelly cheated of her life by his ex boyfriend, set to commit herself for one sweet dark revenge, DEATH! (can i have sweet dark chocolate? ;p) In the midst of dark cloud of hatred, she went inside a bar for a drink and met this one innocent bartender Shu. Shu offered her more than just margarita, but also his charm and purity. I guess somebody up there responsible for destiny, either want to screw this pure poor man or believe that this innocent bartender is able to lift up the darkness. From here on is a battle of emotion between settling with the cruel past vs a chance to let it wash away.

With the story continues, the pieces start coming all together and intertwine nicely towards the end. The surprisingly sad history of the pervert geezer bar owner Origuchi, Shu's broken family of hapless father and Shu's little angelic sister (who doesn't deserve to be in this gloomy manga). Not to mention sang pelengkap penderita (what's this in english?), Yumi, Shu's childhood friend who's in love with him but will never have him even she waits until eternity (even Setsuna came back to Marina Ismail after 50 years of quantum space travel). The story spans exactly one year from Christmas to Christmas. The last few pages is astonishingly beautiful drawing of snowy Christmas where it all ends happily (most of). 

Now what is this scary dark human shaped shadow called Snark? I guess the cruel intention of revenge no? It's everywhere and once you give in it will eat you alive until no more. But, if you pay close attention, the real Snark is not from within your heart. The real Snark is that black cat Alice! It's all started once Keiko brought that cat home! ooh noo it's after me!! XDD

Revenge, revenge, is there anyone in this world immune to it? Even the innocent and pure Shu finally give in to revenge. And even more confusing, what makes them stop in the middle of it? With all those fuel burning feelings going on your head, suddenly a piece fragment of divine memory reminds you to stop? It won't happen every day of the week, gotta pray you're in the right day.

Hmm this manga title seems familiar, i think i've heard it somewhere before. *tepok jidat* aaah it's Lewis Carroll piece of work. No wonder this nonsense naming all over the story, Bar Jaberwocky, Apartment Bandersnatch, Alice the cat.. I guess the mangaka inspired by Lewis Caroll? Most possibly.

With this, I christen this little blog with IntenseDebate! \^^/

Bambino, Bene!

Bambino! ( バンビーノ! Banbiino! ), a story of italian food chef in the making, Shogo Ban. Ban works at Tratoria Baccanale, an italian restaurant in Roppongi where we never know how much money you need to part for a dinner there, and maybe we'll never know.. Ban inherits the royal blood of shounen hero which makes him quicker, harder and stronger! XD I mean he's a quick learner able to do in a few days where the previous masters has only done it in weeks or months.. Even though it's cliche, you can never get enough of it, isn't it? ;)

Vol 8, 9 & 10, is Dolce saga. What is dolce? some kinda dessert i guess.. Yaay chocolate, ice cream! XD~ From knowing nothing at all about dolce until able to make a rose flower candy in one night (who didn't see it coming?), Ban amazingly rose to the top of dessert competition, thanks to his genuine royal blood of shounen :D He won it with an interesting surprise-packaged-inside-mini-tratoria dessert that again I don't know how much i should pay for that drocilicious dessert..


And like a hurricane, this dangerously intimate relationship between Ban and Oda (at least how Kozue sees it -_-" ) has to come to an end, well actually worth of 3 long awaited vols. And back to cucina!


These vols actually has more in store than just a fiction story of chef world. In 2 different ways, it brings up the subject of delicate situation of choosing your career. First is the situation of Oda, who think it's enough to be master dolce chef in Tratoria and never see the great possibilities the outside world has to give. Second is the situation of Atsushi, who is given the dilemma to choose between start his own dream restaurant or become the master chef of the new branch of Tratoria. This kinda situation is common in the career world. Challenge yourself more vs satisfied in the comfort zone. Work up your way to the top of the company hierarchy or be an entrepreneur. Everybody have their own choice, but personally I will never suggest the comfort zone.


Lho kok jadi ngomongin dunia kerja?!? XD And so back to pasta, bye2 dolce.. I have this genious tips: while cooking indomie read Bambino, it will taste even better, seriously XD *asal jgn keenakan baca lupa merhatiin masakannya* Now please excuse me, I'm off to cook indomie for dinner (and read bambino while at it)! XD
Thanks for reading :)

The Drops of God, Marriage.

The Drops of God (神の雫 Kami no Shizuku, Les Gouttes de Dieu), depicts the wine world so damn beautiful, left me high and dry in a flower field (with OO QanT XD)..

Vol 3 which I call it Marriage, tells you that there's a drink for a meal or is it a meal for a drink? ^^;; The combination between meal and drink can bring out the best of taste. Hey! That's what I always do with mie ayam and teh botol, nasi goreng and teh botol, somay and teh botol.. *Lho kok teh botol semua!!??* XDD


And what do you know, Chateau de saint cosme cotes du rhone les deux albion vintage '01 (nulis apa sih?) is the taste of Bali? nice try Dewa wine Yunani!  Now one family restored by wine.. :)


On to the battle of Bold Italy vs Rich Variety France, stay tune!


Sekarang mari kita menjilat2 kulit pisang, biji ek dan bunga akasia :D And excuse me, I need to book KLM just to drink wine at 3000 feets XD