French designer Philippe Starck is well-known for his interior, architectural, industrial and product design. Starck studied at the Ecole Camondo in Paris and he created an inflatable structure in 1969 that questioned materiality and would bring him to the attention of Pierre Cardin who offered Read More …
Probably one of the catchier looking buildings in the trendy area of Shibuya is the Bershka building and the home of the Bershka retail company. A company that is from Spain (since 1998), Bershka is part of the Spanish Inditex group (which owns Zara, Massimo Read More …
Considered as one of the best film adaptations of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, Akira Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood” is mesmerizing and unlike many of the films he has created in his notable oeuvre during that time. While creating a film adaptation of “Macbeth” has always been Read More …
I have had the opportunity to review a good number of travel guides over the years but this is the first time I will be reviewing Lonely Planet’s Ireland travel guide. For those not familiar with Lonely Planet, for the last few years it was Read More …
“Le Samourai”, considered as one of Jean-Pierre Melville’s top films and a stylish and minimalistic take on film noir. The film that inspired many including John Woo who has said his masterpiece “The Killer” was a tribute to “Melville” and have used certain scenes in Read More …
A question I receive a lot is whether I prefer to use a backpack or shoulder bag when traveling. I use both and both have their own positives and negatives. I tend to enjoy using shoulder bags, since I tend to prefer the classy black Read More …
Captivating, witty and definitely a Woody Allen masterpiece! Whether or not what Allen may think, considering he did all he can to have this film shelved. But while I’ve read many interviews of what made him feel that way, I would probably have to say Read More …
A few days ago, I posted a blog about Obon festivals and this weekend, I went to my first obon festival for 2016 in the city of Visalia, California on June 25th. Visalia is located in Central California and its literally in the center as Read More …
Having fallen in love with Pinemeadow’s PGX SL putter, I couldn’t wait to give their PGX 500 Driver a chance! As Callaway’s Big Bertha (especially their Big Bertha Alpha 815 Driver) is known for its size, ability to change the loft and literally, a solid Read More …
With my latest post, this is possibly different from the type of blog posts that I make on this site. But I believe in the power of social media and in this case, I really want to help out family, which I have never met. Read More …
Since I was a college student, I have traveled and taken part in many Japanese obon festivals in California. Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. For over 500 years, this event has been celebrated and features a dance Read More …
Audacious. A masterpiece. Chaplin’s greatest film ever. The greatest speech in a film. Decade after decade, many critics, many audiences have had their own say of how they felt about “The Great Dictator”. I truly believe that for many of us living today, far from Read More …
You probably have read in many articles of how people don’t get enough vitamins in their body. And as I pursue a healthier lifestyle, one of the things that I have done a few times is do a full blood test, not only to test Read More …
Kim Ji-young’s “The Housemaid” was an unnerving, frightful film back in 1960. One can easily call it the “Fatal Attraction” of South Korea, the film is considered one of the greatest Korean films ever made and it all comes down to pacing, the use of Read More …
One of the questions that I often am asked is about college loans and if I paid them off. I managed to pay my college loans off and not only was it one of the most liberating feeling in my adult life but it was Read More …
One of the first stations I had the opportunity to visit during my first time in Japan was Harajuku Station. A well-known railway station located in Shibuya, Tokyo and operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), the station’s beginnings go as far back as Read More …
It’s one thing if you live near the ocean and have cold mornings warm afternoons and back to cool evenings. But in parts of California, the reality is a cold or foggy winter and very hot dry summer. Right now, it’s a hot spring and Read More …
Back when the Criterion Collection released “A Night to Remember”, I remember really wanting to watch this film for so many years and I know that for most people, they tend to compare the 1958 film “A Night to Remember” and the 1997 film “Titanic” Read More …
A wonderful performance by Jacques Tati, “M. Hulot’s Holiday” is the precursor of Hulot’s perspective towards life, modern advancement in society which would eventually become a storyline prevalent in “Mon Oncle” and “Playtime”. In my case, I have watched the order of these films in Read More …
For those learning a new language, one of the things that will become important is practicing with another person who can speak that language. In college, we would have time set for a “Conversational Partner”. For example, if I’m learning Japanese, I would have a Read More …
I’m a big user of PUR products and I have been needing to upgrade my water pitcher. The PUR 7 Cup Ultimate Pitcher that I am reviewing is the non-LED version. What you get is the pitcher, a filter, lid and a reservoir. A few Read More …
It was a little over a month ago that I celebrated my grandmother’s 90th birthday. And at the same time, our family was preparing the 40th day of the death of my Uncle Jun. And here I am again, preparing another week of mourning for Read More …
I have literally worked my ass off in order to lose weight and stay healthy. It was a lifestyle change that I was determined to make after receiving a major health scare last August after my weight had ballooned significantly from early 2015 to the Read More …
