Drama Genres I Love & Hate

HI! I am back with another drama post! Today I will be sharing some drama genres I love and some I hate.



1) Tomb Raiding Dramas (Love)





While it is not exactly a genre per se, dramas that involve tomb raiding are hard to classify. It falls under the mystery + thriller genre definitely, but it still is very different from typical mystery and thriller shows.

I am a huge trash for tomb raiding dramas. I have probably watched every Chinese tomb raiding dramas under the sun. Tomb Raiding dramas are a combination of Mystery, Thriller, Historical, Adventure and Action with some having a tinge of Supernatural. They are extremely amazing in the sense that I can get the best of both worlds since I love the suspense and the link towards actual historical people/events.

Tomb Raiding dramas are getting increasingly popular recently, especially in China with almost 1 tomb raiding drama coming out each year.

Dramas I recommend: The Mystic Nine, Candle In The Tomb.
Dramas I don't recommend: Candle In The Tomb, Mu Ye Gui Shi



2) Sci-Fi (Hate)

Yes, I really really dislike Sci-Fi dramas. The reason why I tend to stay away from them? CG.

Sci-Fi dramas rely rather heavily on CG and CG can make or break my interest towards a drama. It makes me feel really uncomfortable whenever I am watching a drama and the CG just looks too artificial or that it doesn't flow well with the actor's actions. I won't be able to get absorbed into the drama and will end up just dropping it.

Another reason why I do not like Sci-Fi dramas is that it tends to spoil the mystery element to it. Many Sci-Fi dramas include the mystery genre and the Sci-Fi aspect makes it impossible to guess what's behind the mystery since there are so many possible ways to commit the crime. It just makes me feel disappointed and that I watched the drama in vain.


3) Revolutionary period drama/Spy dramas (Love - Hate)



Now comes the genre where I have a love-hate relationship with -- dramas that are set in the revolutionary period of China OR Dramas that are set during the Japanese Occupation in Asia.

Why do I love it? Firstly the plot is definitely solid. The plots are thrilling, suspenseful and you will be on the edge of your seat during every single episode. Trying to hope that the protagonist's identity will not be revealed or be guessing who is also a spy is what you will be doing throughout the whole drama. Dramas like these will also give you good plot twists when you find out the real identity of certain characters. It is definitely a drama that will keep your mind busy

But... why do I hate it? Since it is set during war times, it is for sure that there will be many casualties. You will be spending ALL of your time praying and hoping that the main character or your favourite character will be able to live at the end and a happy ending will take place,only to find out at the last few episodes that your prayer isn't answered. That moment, although necessary is really painful may spoil your whole drama watching experience.

It is also important to see who is the cast is. Their acting skills must be top notch or else you will just be cringing for the whole drama and ruin it for you no matter how great the plot is.

Dramas like these : Sparrow, The Disguiser, No Regrets

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Review Part 2 (The Flavours)

Hi! I just posted a review of my new Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo coffee machine which I have enjoyed using so far, so here is part 2 with reviews of the flavors I have purchased!

Since there was a sale, I had to buy 10 boxes of Nescafe Dolce Gusto capsules in order to get a free Cherry Red Piccolo coffee machine. Here are the flavors I purchased :

Espresso





Nescafe description: Espresso is our most classic coffee pod.. Whether you serve it up as a brilliant breakfast accompaniment, or after dinner with friends, our Espresso pod coffee is a timeless drink that has a soft, nutty lingering bitterness.

I bought 2 boxes of espresso, with each box having 16 capsules providing 16 servings. The recommended volume stated on the box is 50 ml, although most espressos served in cafes are around 40 ml. 

Rating : ★★★★☆

The Espresso has a really nice aroma and was very intense. It perked me up real fast despite being a rather small cup. I see myself buying a lot more boxes so I can kinda experiment with it a little.

Americano 




Nescafe Description: Our Americano is a straight-up roast and ground coffee, but don’t let that fool you. Its stylishly smooth blend can be enjoyed at any time of the day


I also purchased 2 boxes of Americano. Each box had 16 servings with each serving being around 240 ml. 

Rating : ★★★★★

The Americano is so far my favorite flavor amongst the 8 flavors I purchased. Just like the Espresso, it had a really nice aroma and despite the volume, it had an intense flavor too. What I really enjoyed was the aftertaste which was extremely satisfying. Because of its volume, I see myself regularly buying more boxes since it makes a good drink for anything, be it for studying or as a beverage during a meal.


Nesquik 




Nescafe description: The delicious cocoa pleasure of a hot cup of NESQUIK® in one capsule - an irresistible treat for the young and the not-so-young!

I only purchased 1 box of Nesquik and it has 16 servings in a box with each serving being around 150 ml.

The Nesquik is a new flavor and is caffeine-less. It very similar to the Milo (also from Nestle) and enhances calcium in your body. However, it is only sold in Asian countries.

Rating : ★★★★☆

I was really surprised when I first drank Nesquik. It tasted very milky with a tinge of chocolate yet is a very light drink. It was not overly sweet and thus does not make you feel thirsty after drinking it. My Grandmother really loved this drink and I feel this drink is suitable for people of all ages. Will definitely purchase more boxes.


Chococino 




Nescafe Description: . This isn’t a regular hot chocolate. Chococino has an intense chocolate taste with notes of vanilla, rounded off with a deliciously dense and chocolaty froth.

I only purchased 1 box of Chococino. There are 16 capsules in 1 box, however, it as one serving requires a milk capsule and a chocolate capsule, 1 box only serves 8 servings. Each serving serves 210 ml

Rating : ★★★★☆

The Chococino has no caffeine. There is only slightly more milk than the chocolate so you can taste both the chocolate and milk at the same time, making it a very delightful drink to drink. Just like the Nesquik, it is not that sweet making it more enjoyable to drink. I may purchase the Chococino occasionally.

Vanilla Latte Macchiato 



Nescafe Description: This uniquely attractive coffee is an upside-down café latte with a little twist. Beautifully smooth with a hint of sweetness, our Latte Macchiato pods turn into a stunning drink that will impress every time.

I only purchased one box. Each box comes with 16 capsules, 8 milk and 8 coffee capsules. Thus one box provides 8 servings with each serving being around 220 ml.

Rating : ★☆☆☆☆

I was the most excited to try this flavor since I love vanilla flavor and it looked so visually appealing. However, it became one of my least flavors. The milk tasted rather artificial, and the coffee taste was overpowered by the taste of the milk. It was so bad that I struggled to finish the drink. I saw many reviews on the Nescafe website and most of the reviewers had the same experience as mine. I probably will not buy any more boxes. 

Green Tea Latte 

Nescafe Description: Discover the indulgent NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Green Tea Latte, finest quality Japanese green tea topped with a smooth frothy milk foam.

I only purchased one box. Each box comes with 16 capsules, 8 milk and 8 coffee capsules. Thus one box provides 8 servings with each serving being around 190 ml.

Rating : : ★☆☆☆☆

Boy am I glad that I did not succumb into temptation to purchase 2 boxes instead of 1. I am not even sure if I can finish one box. The green tea + milk combination did not go well at all. Not only did the green tea taste fake, the smell of the drink was unpleasurable. I could not bring myself to finish even a single cup, and will definitely not purchase more boxes. 

Mocha

Nescafe Description: Discover NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Mocha, a delicious cocoa beverage with a hint of coffee made with two capsules. An indulgent, creamy drink topped with a generous cocoa foam.

Each box comes with 16 capsules, 8 milk, and 8 chocolate capsules. Thus each box serves 8 servings with each serving being around 220 ml.

Rating : ★★★★★

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every sip of  Mocha. While some might say that there is not enough chocolate flavor, I feel like it was perfect. The coffee taste slightly overpowers the chocolate flavor, yet you get a tinge of chocolate flavor explosion in your mouth every few sips you drink. It is not sweet and the amount of milk was just right. It is my second favorite flavor and I will definitely buy more boxes.


Cappuccino



Nescafe Description: Rediscover an Italian icon with NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Cappuccino. An intense espresso with rich and bold aromas, combined with the smooth taste and creaminess of whole milk froth.


Each box comes with 16 capsules, 8 milk, and 8 coffee capsules. Therefore each box serves 8 servings with each serving being around 240 ml. 

Rating : ★★★★☆

The Cappuccino tastes exactly like what the description said. It is very smooth and the milk does not have a weird taste. I really loved this drink since it exceeded my expectations greatly. It would have had 5 stars if the Cappuccino was slightly more intense and less sweet. Will definitely buy it regularly.


So this is my review of all the flavors I purchased. Overall, I am really enjoying the Dolce Gusto capsules with a few exceptions. There are many more flavors that are being sold and I am really excited to try all of them. 

The ranking of my favorite flavors are 
1) Americano 
2)Mocha
3)Cappuccino
4)Chococino
5)Nesquik
6)Americano
.
.
million light years 
.
.
.
7)Vanilla Latte Macchiato
.
.
.
another million light years
.
.
.
8) Green Tea Latte 

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Review Part 1 (Piccolo Machine)

Hi! Just last week, my new Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo coffee machine that I have always wanted for years now have finally arrived and I will be sharing my experience so far including a simple review.

In my country, there was a sale on the Nescafe Dolce Gusto online store where if you purchase 10 boxes of Nescafe Dolce Gusto capsules, you will be able to redeem a FREE cherry red Piccolo machine.The Piccolo machine is on sale for $109 SGD whereas a single box of capsules sells for $11.90 SGD. That means for $119 SGD, you will be able to receive 10 boxes of capsules and a Piccolo coffee machine, a HUGE bargain. This means that you can enjoy a cup of cafe style coffee for less than a dollar!

The Machine 



Of course, with such a good deal, one cannot expect the free machine to be the latest model. The Piccolo machine is a rather old model that came out in 2010 (8 years ago). However, don't be put off by this as the Piccolo machine has many pros.

The Goods :

- The Piccolo machine is a very compact sized machine, only slightly bigger than your average sized kettle. It fits on small table tops and very portable too
- It is also extremely easy to use. It is simple and takes a really short amount of time to dispense your coffee
- It can dispense both hot and cold water. This function is extremely useful to people living abroad or in small places.
- It is very nice looking. The picture speaks for itself

The Bads :

- (for the sale only) When you purchase your 10 boxes of capsules, you can only get the Cherry Red Piccolo machine and cannot choose any other colours, however, Cherry Red is still very pleasing to the eye
- It makes a rather loud noise while dispensing the coffee. (only for minute at most though since coffee dispenses very fast)
 - It has a very small water tank, probably only enough for you to make 2 drinks. (you can buy a bigger water tank online though)

Overall, I think it is a very very worth it coffee machine even if it is at its usual price of $109 SGD. It is the perfect coffee machine for a beginner like me and for people who lives in small places.

Rating : 8/10

Stay tune for my next blog post where I will be reviewing the flavours I purchased! Thanks for reading :)

Anime Reviews pt.2

It has been a long time since I last wrote an Anime Review, so here is a part 2!


Zankyou no Terror

Plot : 

Zankyou no Terror tells the story of Nine and Twelve, the two boys behind the masked figures of Sphinx. They should not exist, yet they stand strong in a world of deception and secrets while they make the city fall around them, all in the hopes of burying their own tragic truth. (taken from MAL)

Episodes : 11

Rating : 8/10

I chanced upon this anime while browsing through Netflix last month and decided to watch this anime. Apparently, it was a huge hit when it came out in 2014. I was a little skeptical since this anime was about terrorism and violence which is a genre I tend to avoid but the trailer seemed pretty interesting and I gave it a go.

Anyway, Nine and Twelve, the main characters stole a top secret weapon from a nuclear facility and threatens to bomb Japan with this stolen weapon after already successfully bombing a few buildings despite being heavily tracked down by the police.

I was really into this anime when I was watching it. Although it may seem really heavy with terrorism and all, there are many lighthearted moments since Twelve is a very easygoing and funny character. As the story delves into Nine and Twelve's tragic past, we get to see more as to why they are committing such acts and actually get to sympathize with them. I really liked every part of this anime and the ending was really well done and left a really empty feeling in my heart. It is an anime I will always love but probably never rewatch.


Re:ZERO Starting Life In Another World




Plot :
An avid gamer, Subaru mysteriously gets transported to a fantasy world. Upon arrival, he gets into trouble with some thugs only to be saved by a beautiful lady called Satella. With his newfound friend, Subaru tries to hunt for Satella's lost insignia, however, they are mysteriously murdered before Subaru awakens to a familiar scene -- meeting the same group of thugs and rescued by Satella.

Episodes : 25

Rating : 9/10

After finished watching Zankyou no Terror, Netflix recommended me Re:Zero. Re:Zero really has everything I love, mystery + action + fantasy + comedy.

So basically, Subaru was transported to fantasy world and he gets murdered many times while waking up to find everything has restarted. He has to find who his murderer is and why he was killed and must try to avoid death in order to proceed to the future.

What I really like about Re:Zero is the plot. It seems really fresh to me and has a combination of many genres I really love. Each time Subaru 'wakes up' and tries to find the truth behind his murder, there will be a different series of events that happen compared to his 'past life'. There are also many plot twists when Subaru uncovers his murderer, and its really shocking. I also love the fact that since there are many different 'timelines', no one is who they seem to be thus characters can be both good and bad. Re:Zero also shows alot of character development for Subaru and Rem which I loved.

Re:Zero kinda ended the season on a cliffhanger and there are still no news of a new series as of 2018, but this anime achieved huge popularity locally and internationally so a new season will just be a matter of time.



Erased



Plot :
When tragedy is about to strike, Satoru Fujinuma finds himself sent back several minutes before the accident occurs. The detached, 29-year-old manga artist has taken advantage of this powerful yet mysterious phenomenon, which he calls "Revival," to save many lives.However, when he is wrongfully accused of murdering someone close to him, Satoru is sent back to the past once again, but this time to 1988, 18 years in the past. Soon, he realizes that the murder may be connected to the abduction and killing of one of his classmates, the solitary and mysterious Kayo Hinazuki, that took place when he was a child. This is his chance to make things right. (taken from MAL)

Episodes : 12

Rating : 7.5/10

Erased was HUGE when it was released and my friend recommended me to watch it so I did lol.

I was really engrossed in this anime since I really love mystery and Erased gave me a typical Japanese mystery drama vibes while I was watching it so I had high hopes for a huge plot twist.....but I was wrong...dead wrong.

Don't get me wrong, Erased is a great anime, but the ending was really really disappointing (thus the 7.5). The killer was a person who was really obvious, so obvious to the point where it made viewers think that it wasn't possible since its too obvious.

BUT.. other that the sub-par ending, the rest of the anime was really really good. It didn't have much comedy in it, but it wasn't an extremely serious anime. There were many warm moments where Satoru was able to appreciate his childhood, friends and family. Erased is probably not meant for rewatching and I probably won't rewatch Erased, but it is a anime that will always leave a positive impression in my mind.




So thats it for the Anime Review Part 2! I have other completed animes I want to review but I will probably do more drama reviews before that. See you next time! :)

My Nano-Block Collection 1 (Nanoblock)

Recently, I have found a new hobby of mine ---- building nanoblocks!!

As you know, I love aeroplanes and am obsessed with aviation-related objects. Thus it is no surprise that I too take a deep interest in space-related objects. This is why the Space Shuttle Nanoblock caught my eye and I decided to buy it.

Name               : Space Shuttle Orbiter
Difficulty         : 3/5
No. of pieces   : 370


Although it may seem rather difficult to assemble the space shuttle, it was actually really easy. The instructions were really clear cut. The space shuttle can take many different shapes. The 'doors' of the space shuttle are movable and you can close it. The space shuttle is also extremely durable and does not break easily. I tried dropping it a few times and none of the nanoblocks came off!

Name                 : Saturn V Rocket
Difficulty           : 2/5
No. of Pieces     : 370


This nanoblock is able to 'transform' itself. It has 3 different forms. The basic mode (shown above), the separation mode (where transparent nanoblocks are attached to various parts of the rocket to make it seem like it is separating) (last picture) and the detached mode (3rd pic). Of course, the separation mode is extremely 'fragile', however, the detached mode and basic mode are extremely durable and can withstand drops.

                               


Name                 : Space Station
Difficulty:          : 3/5
No. of Pieces     : 390

The International Space Station may have the same difficulty as the Space Shuttle, however, I find it more difficult than the latter. The panels of the space station are rotatable. Unlike the first 2 nanoblocks, the Space Station is extremely fragile, even the slightest movement could allow a piece or 2 to fall off. It comes with a transparent base panel, where you have to attach 4 or more transparent square pieces to the Space Station in order to attach it to the base panel. Thus it allows the Space Station to fall off the base panel very easily and when it does, the impact will cause parts to fall off. Thus it is extremely fragile so treat it with care.



That is all for my Nanoblock Collection Part 1. Part 2 will be coming up soon!