Anime Recommendation: 1. Honey and Clover (Hachikuro)

The story involves 5 main characters:

M-Yūta Takemoto
M-Takumi Mayama
M-Shinobu Morita
F-Hagumi Hanamotou
F-Ayumi Yamada

The story follows these five characters in their love triangles, graduating from college, finding jobs, and learning more about themselves.

Among all the animes i've watched, this is probably one that touches on issues closer to reality. Rather than fantasy romance, it tells of a life and love story viewed from different perspectives. The story itself is not much of a suspense though.

For me, it was probably the heart to heart and inner conversations that the characters exchange that strikes close to home. Some events may even be nostalgic to some viewers.

On a personal note, my attentions throughout the story was focused on Yamada-san. Watching her was like watching a fictional version of myself. During the times that she was down, so was I. And when she began to understand and improve herself, so did I. There were countless times when I felt like she was conveying on my behalf, all those inner thoughts that i could never put into words, that I could never share...but note that I do not have the same love problems that she does. Haha...

In conclusion, there will be at least ONE character there that you will find with a close resemblance, whether in thoughts or looks to you. If you liked the first season, you will most probably be hunting for the second season. And yes, there is one. And it is complete.

H&C episode 19- Yamada & Nomiya (Ferris wheel scene OST)

Song Collection: 4. Lily Allen - LDN

Amusingly sarcastic...
True of the world today...not only 'London' as described...
Same for Sweeney Todd's "There's no place like London" ...


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Lyrics
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(Verse 1)
Riding through the city on my bike all day,
'Coz the filth took away my license.
It doesn't get me down and I feel OK,
'Coz the sights that I'm seeing are priceless!
Everything seems to look as it should,
But, I wonder what goes on behind doors.
A fella looking dapper - and he's sitting with a slapper,
Then I see it's a pimp and his crack whore!

You might laugh - you might frown,
Walking round London town

(Chorus)
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
When you look with your eyes,
Everything seems nice...
But, if you look twice,
You can see it's all lies!

(Verse 2)
There was a little old lady,
Who was walkin down the road,
She was struggling with bags from Tesco.
There were people from the city havin' lunch in the park,
I believe that is called 'al fresco'.
When a kid came along to offer a hand,
But before she had time to accept it,
Hits her over the head - doesn't care if she's dead,
'Cause he's got all her jewellery and wallet!

You might laugh - you might frown,
Walkin round London town.

(Chorus)
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
Sun is in the sky oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
When you look with your eyes,
Everything seems nice...
But, if you look twice,
You can see it's all lies!

Life, yeah that city life, yeah that city life, yeah that city life...
Life, yeah thats city life, yeah thats city life, yeah thats city life.

(Chorus)
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?
Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why
Would I wanna be anywhere else?

When you look with your eyes,
Everything seems nice...
But, if you look twice,
You can see it's all lies!

When you look with your eyes,
Everything seems nice...
But, if you look twice,
You can see it's all lies!
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Song Collection: 3. Fukuyama Masaharu - Squall

OST of Perfect Love:

============================================== Lyrics ==============================================
Sakki made no toori ame ga Uso mitai ni kirei na sora The sky is so beautiful Making the recent rain seem like a lie Sonna fuu ni hohoemu kara Itsu no ma ni ka ureshiku naru yo Because you smile like that I get happy without even noticing Chotto ookina anata no shatsu Tooshita sode wo tsumande mita ima... Your slightly-too-large shirt I just now grabbed onto the sleeve as you passed... Watashi koi wo shite iru kanashii kurai Mou kakusenai kono setsunasa wa Motto issho ni itai Futari de itai Kanaete hoshii natsu no akogare Sagashiteta anata dake... I'm so much in love it's sad I can't hide this pain anymore I want to be with you more Just the two of us I want you to make my summer longing come true I've been searching, just for you... Ase wo kaita aisutii to Toorisugita poraroido shashin The sweating glasses of iced tea And too many Polaroids Anna fuu ni hashaida kara Kaeri michi wa samishiku naru yo Because we frolicked around like that The way home seems so lonely Yuuyake somaru eki no hoomu Te wo furu anata tooku natte iku... The train station dyed by the sunset You wave your hand as you get farther away... Watashi koi ni ochiteru kurushii kurai Mou kakusenai atsui tokimeki Zutto meguriau koto Yume ni miteta no Wakatte hoshii natsu no akogare I'm falling in love so much it hurts I can't hide this passion anymore I always dreamed That we'd meet each other I want you to understand my summer longing And I touched the rain! So I need your love Watashi koi wo shite iru koi ni ochiteru Mou kakusanai atsui tokimeki Yatto meguriaeta no Yume ni miteta no Sameru koto nai natsu no akogare Sagashiteta anata dake... I'm in love, I'm falling in love I won't hide this passion anymore I dreamed That we finally met An unending summer longing I've been searching, just for you... ============================================== P.s: Lyrics aren't that touching but the song has a nice, calming feel to it...

Tea & food pairings

The information below is obtained from a website:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ White Tea: Because of the extremely subtle flavor of white teas, we recommend pairing them with only the mildest of flavors, like basmati rice. Green Tea: In general, the subtle, vegetative flavor and aroma of most green tea is well suited to mild or subtly-flavored foods, such as seafood, rice, salads, melon or chicken. Oolong Tea: Many argue that the subtle complexity of flavor and aroma attributed to oolong tea demand drinking it on its own. However, because oolongs can range in character between green and black teas, many can be paired with food along the same lines as their green or black counterparts. For instance, greener oolongs tend to go well with scallops, lobster and other sweet rich foods, while darker oolongs compliment somewhat stronger-flavored foods such as duck and grilled meats. Black Tea: The more robust flavors and aromas of most black teas, as well as the most pronounced tannins, are well suited to pairing with full-flavored foods such as meat and spicy dishes. Pu-erh teas are worthy of special note, being known for their digestive benefits. Not only do these teas pair well with meats and oily foods, they can offer a welcome settling effect after large, multi-course meals! Green Tea Dragonwell After a Large Meal; Seafood or Fish, Salads, Chicken Gunpowder Strong-Tasting Foods; Asian or Middle Eastern Foods Jasmine Alone Oolong Tea Formosa Oolong Alone or with Chicken, Seafood, or Fruits Ti Kuan Yin Desserts and Fruits Black Tea Assam Hearty Foods; Breakfast Foods; Chocolate, Custard or Lemon Desserts Darjeeling Egg Dishes; Creamy Desserts Keemun Meats; Fish; Chinese Foods; Spicy Mexican, Italian, or Indian Dishes Yunnan Highly Seasoned Foods Lapsang Souchong Chicken, Smoked Salmon, Lemony Desserts Kenya Strong Savory and Sweet Flavors Pu-Erh After a Large Meal; Chicken and Meats, Stir-Fries, Oily Foods

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The Categories of Chinese Tea

Chinese tea may be classified into five categories according to the different methods by which it is processed.

Green tea

Green tea is the variety which keeps the original colour of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing. This category consists mainly of Longjing tea of Zhejiang Province, Maofeng of Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province and Biluochun produced in Jiangsu.

Black tea

Black tea, known as "red tea" (hong cha) in China, is the category which is fermented before baking; it is a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea. The best brands of black tea are Qihong of Anhui , Dianhong of Yunnan, Suhong of Jiangsu, Chuanhong of Sichuan and Huhong of Hunan.

Wulong tea

This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, being made after partial fermentation. It is a specialty from the provinces on China's southeast coast: Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan.

Compressed tea

This is the kind of tea which is compressed and hardened into a certain shape. It is good for transport and storage and is mainly supplied to the ethnic minorities living in the border areas of the country. As compressed tea is black in colour in its commercial form, so it is also known in China as "black tea". Most of the compressed tea is in the form of bricks; it is, therefore, generally called "brick tea", though it is sometimes also in the form of cakes and bowls. It is mainly produced in Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

Scented tea

This kind of tea is made by mixing fragrant flowers in the tea leaves in the course of processing. The flowers commonly used for this purpose are jasmine and magnolia among others. Jasmine tea is a well-known favourite with the northerners of China and with a growing number of foreigners.