Kikanbo Ramen - A Kiss by the Devil

10 days in Tokyo, I was surprised for many things, and one was just how many Sichuan Ma La restaurants there were around. I long knew about this shop (Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo) in particular from one of the Youtube videos by Mark Wiens. Since I was in Tokyo, it was time to try it for myself.  

Devil level!

We thought we better be early to avoid the queue, but at 11h30, there was already a queue anyway. Apparently it was quite renowned around the neighborhood. You knew the shop was serious in their spices when they let you choose separately the level of spiciness / the amount of mixed chilies, and the level of numbness / the amount of Sichuan peppercorn, 4 levels each to choose from, and max out at "Devil" level. Arrogant, I chose "Devil" level for both. Unknowingly I chose my own demise...

The waiter reconfirmed my order and then we entered the shop. The atmosphere and decoration made you feel like you were in hell, literally. But nothing would be as scary as the bowl of ramen that I'd ordered. The waiter came with my ramen, introduced me to spices in this concoction of hell. If you know what is Sichuan peppercorn and if you ever bite into one, you would know the numbing sensation it gives. So in my bowl of ramen, the top layer was thoroughly covered with an inch thick of ground Sichuan peppercorn. And the cherry on top was a teaspoon full of some imported Mexican, extremely spicy ground fresh chili paste.

I gave it a stir and the soup just became so thick from the amount of spices mixed in. I first tried a sip of the soup and damned! I knew then it was going to be an odyssey. The shock was real from my first bite of the noodle. The burn was something I'd never experienced before. I couldn't feel my mouth, as if I was just injected with a shot of anesthetic. Sweat immediately squeezed out from all over my head. Second bite, and my mom told me my face was all red, and the nerves were bursting out of my forehead, screaming for help. Not sure if it was true, I was told that the waiters and cooks all were looking at me suffering with a worry face. To be honest, the spicy chili mix was still manageable for me. It really was the insane amount of Sichuan peppercorn that was killing me. Not only my mouth, my throat, my stomach, my entire digestive system, I could feel each bite of noodle moving down my body.

After just over half a bowl in, my mind was totally lost. No amount of water could help me go through this Herculean obstacle ahead. The only way left was the way out. So I gave up. Then we went to the 7-11 opposite for some cold yogurt drink in desperate hope of putting out the Californian wildfire that was burning inside me.

I have always considered myself to be very high tolerant to spicy food. But for once in my life, I am humbled by a bowl of spicy ramen...

The vending machine to personalize your own doom.

The happy face prior. Ignorance is bliss.

3rd level of spicy and numbness.

Normal - no extra add on chili nor peppercorn.

The aftermath.

Highly Instagrammable Coffee Roastery

This has to be the most extravagant Starbucks that I have ever been to, to say the least. As for now, it is crowned as the biggest Starbucks in the world, Tokyo Reserve Roastery was opened just as recently as in February 2019. I first knew about the place via a FB post of a friend of mine. Not that I am a Starbucks fan, but since I was in Tokyo, I thought might as well go for a visit.

We visited the Roastery during evening, and judging from many Youtube videos, I guess lucky for us or may be the hype had died down, we didn't have to queue hours to get into the premise. Located appropriately in the hipster area of Nakameguro, the four-storey Roastery looks more like a church than anything else to me. What more to say about the Roastery: the lighting, the grandeur, the emblem of a star above a 'R', the criss-crossing conveyer tubes, the overall golden hue that is almost too bright for the eye. Every deco, every corner, is highly instagrammable. Every barista, every worker, is dressed impeccably for you to take photo.

The drinks there are, as expected, pricier than other Starbucks chain. I can't really judge if the coffee quality is better because I'm the kind of guy who is accustomed to the slightly burned and oily kopi kaw in a traditional Hainan kopitiam. Regardless how good or how unique the drinks there are, I don't think it is a good environment at all to enjoy a drink. This is a place built to impress, crowded with tourists is not a side effect, it is the intention. I just feel very uncomfortable having a coffee there, with everyone passing around me with phones on hand for the perfect picture. But who can blame them. I myself also unconsciously took out my phone to snap a few. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." So when in the branded coffee church, do as instagrammers do.

The only difference between "awe-some" and "awe-ful" is the ending. I was definitely awed when I first saw the place but my overall experience in the end was just a shrug of shoulders. I would say it is worth to visit, but for once only. 

Fuji-Q Highland is the highlight of my Japan trip

Whenever I tell people I went to Tokyo, people always ask: "Did you go to Disneyland?" My answer would always be: "Why Disneyland when you have Fuji-Q Highland!" May be due to my personal experience with Paris Disneyland because it bored the shit out of me, I would say that Disneyland is for the kids and tourists, good for pictures and souvenir-shopping, and nothing else. Meanwhile Fuji-Q highland is for thrill-seekers!

Fuji-Q Highland is not as near as Disneyland if departing from Tokyo downtown. We took the bus transport to and fro from Shinjuku + 1day entry ticket package, which amounted to 8000 Yen (~RM320). I have never heard of Fuji-Q before. Little to my knowledge, the amusement park used to hold or still holds multiple Guinness world records for the roller coasters and amusement rides in the park. The fastest, the tallest, the most twist-and-turns, everything, Fuji-Q currently holds the records or at least once holds so.

We arrived there at 10am. After a light breakfast, we first tackled the infamous Haunted Hospital. No queue is needed but an extra 1000 Yen and time slot booking were needed. Each time slot was limited to 4 people and between each group there was a 20min gap. Our wait was not that long though. It started off with a short clip to introduce the "history of the hospital", and then we were left to walk through the hospital on our own pace. Our strategy was to hold shoulders, single file, and trying to walk as fast as we could. Even walking really fast, it still took us more than half an hour to finish. In the end, we didn't get as much jump scare as anticipated. But the hype before going in, the creepy and unsettling atmosphere, and our own wild imagination scared the shit out of us. We were just so relieved when we finally got out. Thumbs up for this scary shit!

After that we took the Red Tower to slowly ease ourselves into the 4 main rides of the day: Fujiyama, Do-dodonpa, Takabisha, and Eejanaika. Our first one: Takabisha with its world record 121 degree drop. Out of the 4, I would say that this is my favorite. The ride could really be separated into 2 parts, each part was unique in itself. What's memorable about the ride was it went against all my expectations, such as it straight-away started off with a few drops and inversions in the dark, and the 121 degree drop was not the first thing we did; it was actually in the second part of the ride. The design of some inversions was very unique but the highlight must be the 121 degree drop: 90 degree vertical climb to the top and then brief stop at the apex of the 121 degree drop to let you see your doom. 

 

At the apex of the 121 degree drop. We are all smiling,

while the row behind us, their expressions are just GOLD!  

 

Takabisha

Next: Do-dodonpa. The world fastest acceleration ride, 0 to 180km/h within 1.56s, subjecting the passengers to 3.3G. That's more than astronauts who are subjected to during space shuttle launch time! The figures and the facts were not very telling, until we sat for the ride for ourselves. That world record acceleration was just not something one could get used to even after a few rides. Even with a count down, the G-force still could hit me unexpectedly. Unexpected because it really packed a punch. But besides that acceleration, there was nothing much it offered. Don't get me wrong, it was still very very impressive.

We then tackled the Fujiyama - the flagship ride of the park. One thing for sure: it was huge. In fact, the Fujiyama track dominated the skyline of the park, the first thing you would see when you entered the park. It used to be the fastest and the highest roller coaster in the world in the 90s but right now it became the "tamest" of the 4. To survive the other 3, I would say that you must first pass this test, because although "tamer" in comparison, the height and the speed would still deter many people. For me, I was laughing during the entire ride, because the two girls sitting in front of me were shouting so damn hysterically.

And finally: Eejanaika. This is my least favorite because it gave a headache after the ride. I think my sister puts it the best: the entire ride is like a memory loss. It is what so called 4-dimension roller coaster, so this is not conventional in any way possible. First the seat is independently rotatable. Second the track itself is intense enough without the rotatable seat. So combining both element, you have a vomit inducing ride. The whole thing was just so fast, so disorienting, I didn't remember anything from the ride except that I was flipped and rotated around in all sort of unexpected directions. Just before I was able to grasp what'd just happened, the ride just ended, leaving no time for me to process the all sensations thrown straight at my face. Intense? Yea. Second round? May be not.

 This guy's reaction describes pretty much how I felt for Eejanaika.

Each of these 4 rides didn't take very long. In fact we spent most of our time there just queuing. During the day of our visit, the crowd was average. Even so, the queue for the most famous rides would still take more than an hour each. So at the end Eejanaika, it was already 5.30pm, time to hit the bus to go back to Shinjuku.

Was the RM320 worth it? Yes, every penny! It was an EXPERIENCE! I would even go as far as Fuji-Q is THE highlight of my first Japan trip.

Tamago Sando is just the Best

After 10-day stay in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the two food items that I miss the most got to be wagyu beef and, surprisingly, tamago sando (Japanese egg sandwich). No more introduction is needed for wagyu beef. We all have heard of it and seen it on TV or on some Youtube channel. Yes, it tastes like heaven. My expectation for wagyu was skyscraper high but it still tastes better than I could have imagined in every way possible. In my experience, not many things can survive such a hype. Wagyu beef is among the rare cases.

However, it is the tamago sando that wins my heart. Hard-boiled eggs, kewpie mayonnaise, and fluffy slices of bread, a combination of such simple ingredients creates a delightful flavor. The slightly bulging center with creamy egg and mayonnaise goodness on the brink of oozing out is what I would say as the defining characteristic of a Japanese egg sandwich. Unlike wagyu, the price of an egg sandwich is super down-to-earth and it is readily available in every convenience store in Japan.

I guess nostalgia also plays a role when I say I miss it the most. When you travel on a budget in Japan, convenience store becomes your best friend. Most of my meals were settled here during the 10-day stay. I tried many items in the convenience store, but in the end I still grabbed a tamago sando, and may be occasionally a slice of cheese cake. Sushi, ramen, donburi, udon, tempura, I would say none of them really trumps over a simple tamago sando.

Dance your heart out

 "When the emotion becomes too strong for speech, you sing; when it becomes too strong for song, you dance."

-- Proverb --

Some songs are just not the same without the dance. This is the case for the current trending song of Sam Smith, "How do you sleep?". I had listened to it many many times through Hitz FM on radio and my reaction was always just "meh". But I accidentally stumbled upon the MV of the song for the first time a few days ago, needless to say I have gained a fresh new appreciation for the song. 

The highlight of "How do you sleep?" is the dance choreography in the MV. At first I was intrigued and at the same time, mildly shocked by the strange clothing, the excessive hip swinging, and the stereotypical feminine dance moves performed by all-men dance crew. However on second viewing, it started to grow on me. And before you know it, I have watched the MV a few hundreds times.

All I can feel in the dance of this song is purely unapologetic sincerity, to the point that it is hypnotic to watch. Even though the dance moves are what normally categorized as feminine, by no mean that it is easy to perform. They perfect every motion with such strength and vigor that I just find it so cool. Simply put, I wish I could dance like that. This song is seriously challenging the stereotype!

Was it too easy?

Penang Eco 100k, 104km total distance, 3900m total cumulative altitude gain. I finished the run just within 24 hours, placing 34th overall over 130 finishers, while more than 200 started. This is not the first time I take part in Penang Eco: 160k 2017 and 160k 2018 but I DNF both. That's why I had decided to step down the challenge and took on the 100k this year. 

"Was it too easy?"

Am I too cocky to think this? Although it sounds like I'm bragging myself, for a long time after I finished the run I am genuinely feeling disturbed by this thought. Unlike all my ultra attempts prior to this, finished or not (Ut4M 2015, Ut4M 2016 : Second Chance), where I was always half dead at the end, I was still feeling fresh and strong after completing the 100km surprisingly. This feeling was totally new to me.

The course can be divided into 2 distinct stages: first 50k is almost all flat, while second 50k is all the ups and downs. I remember I went through the first 50k with relative ease. I can't say that I flied through it, I had some run and some fast walking, keeping the myself away from hitting the red zone as usual. I reached back at Sungai Lembu the 50k point at around 20h30, with 3 hours and a half margin gained from the COT. The major challenge of the first 50k was the heat because it took place during the intense heat of the afternoon. I saw some were having troubles with the heat, but I was not. I guess my intentional training run under the hot afternoon sun had paid off.

Although the second half with all the ups and downs was where people said the harder half, I was surprised that I was able to keep the same pace throughout. No matter how steep the up or how gnarly the down, I was always on the same pace and without stopping. My mom and my sister who visited me at CP6 were also amazed and said that I was looking really fresh when they saw me. When I reached CP7 Berapit at 3am, I was already pretty sure that I could finish the race already, which again this feeling shouldn't happen this soon according to my previous experience. I was feeling good and at the same time very scared because the feeling was something unfamiliar, just as a huge thunder cloud was approaching.

A storm started as soon as I left CP7. On the super exposed paddy fields, the angry thunder lighting got me worry. It took no time before I got soaking wet and cold. I was planning to walk fast only until the end, but the cold forced me back to running pace just to keep myself warm. At CP8 I didn't stay too long either, because it was just so cold and I had to keep moving. With the heavy rain, the route between CP8 and CP9 became very muddy and sometimes dangerous. I was in a group, all with the same pace, went through this route together. I did slip and fall a few times, got a few scratches here and there but luckily nothing serious.

At CP9, the sky cleared up. It was 7am. I could almost feel the finish line. At this point, I figured that I must have some blisters under my feet because I could feel the pain already. The blisters may be due to the wet shoes and socks. And also, I just wished that I had gaiters because little rocks and sand kept going into my shoes and socks, and rubbing my feet, worsen the blisters even more. "Let's just forget about it and keep going", I thought.

Soon enough CP10 was behind me. Reaching CP11 at around 11am, the last CP before finish line, I just decided to make the finish line before 1pm. So I did, reaching at exactly 12.43pm, 23 hours and 43 mins. Done! 

Beside a few blisters and scratches, upon finishing the run, my legs were strong, my spirit was still high, and I felt like I could still going further on. So was the run too easy for me? Or I had trained myself very well this round? I'm not sure. What I am sure is my limits were not reached. 

Will I come back to challenge the 160k? I reckon not because the most interesting parts of Penang Eco are all explored in the 100k category. The extra 60k from the 160k category is very flat, mainly on tar road and too often running side by side with other vehicles on the road. Time to aim for the other ultra. 

All the Raptors needed was the Klaw

OMG! The Raptors has won the NBA title! After days have passed, I still cannot believe that this is true. Raptors' title run cannot be better described than as a Hollywood movie:

1st round: Losing their first game against Orlando Magic but the Raptors prevailed;

2nd round: Kawhi's ridiculous game 7 buzzer-beater, which bounced around the rim 4-times before sinking in, to close out the series with 76ers;

Conference Finals: Losing the first 2 games to the Bucks leading by the Greek Freak Giannis himself only to come back by winning the next 4 games straight, and Raptors going to the Finals for the first time the franchise history;

NBA Finals: Ending the Warriors dynasty and preventing them from 3-peat, and bringing the first NBA title to Canada!

At the beginning of the season, with all the circumstances, nobody in the right mind would have predicted this. I mean the fact that Demarcus Cousins joining the already stupidly strong Warriors, it just seemed like the unstoppable Warriors was going to 3-peat.

This Raptors squad is something special. You just cannot hate them. The leading man himself, Kawhi "The Klaw", the Finals MVP and the superstar of the team, is just a very humble guy and you just want to root for him. The same goes for all the team members too. Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Danny Green, Norman Powell, etc.. And also not to forget Jeremy Lin too!

I haven't felt so emotional following the NBA playoffs for a long time already. Not every title run has the same value. This Raptors' NBA title run is definitely historic. Ever since I started to follow NBA, there are just a few NBA titles that I classified as unforgettable: 2004 Pistons, 2010 Lakers, 2011 Mavericks, and 2016 Cavaliers. And now adding 2019 Raptors to the list.

晨雨登高

吾独雨登将军山
想方涉险路难攀
彩云艳阳远初照
欣逢美景使心欢

Blade Runner 2049

I regret that I didn't go to watch it on the big screen in cinema while I could. Blade Runner 2049 by Denis Villeneuve, premiere in Malaysia at the beginning of October 2017 and it was in cinema for less than 3 weeks! It just got off the "Now Showing" list so unexpectedly fast! Then I was waiting for it to be shown on Astro, waiting for almost 18 months, but to no end. Finally I watch the pirated version last week and it is beyond my expectations.

To be honest I am not one of those hardcore fan of the original Blade Runner. To me, it is just "meh". My first encounter with the original Blade Runner was for a school project. As one of the courses during my uni years, I was required to do a film analysis and Blade Runner was the film to be analyzed. Although it is philosophical and stylized, my general feeling towards Blade Runner was and is still the same - so boring... Without a doubt the film is highly influential, culturally. So when I heard about the 2049, I was expecting the more or less same slow pace as the original, the same philosophical storyline, the same style, etc.. With all said, the actual reason I wanted to watch it is because I just admired the audacity of the director to pick up this project - to make a sequel to a cult classic.

Blade Runner 2049 is everything like the original and more. It is B-E-A-U-tiful and it should only to be watched on the biggest screen you have. It won the best cinematography in Oscar for a reason but it should have won more than just that. I complain about the boring storyline in the original, and 2049 remedies it. I have been trying to avoid spoilers before my first viewing because I want an Experience watching the movie. It is not that hard to avoid spoilers though since nobody has watched it and talking about it. Anyway, during my first viewing, I can say that I totally get the story - every ups and downs, every emotion felt by K the main character. The feelings really hit me especially hard during the final scene - a medley of melancholy and bliss, even a drop of tear...

All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

Besides 2049, I had also recently watched the Annihilation by Alex Garland and it is equally good. I'm just sad that great hard sci-fi, or in general, great films like these aren't getting much attention as they should. The fact that nobody in my circle is talking about these movies is just outrageous. For a moment, I hated the society for going only for movies like MCU and countless obvious cash-grab of remakes and reboots, while ignoring great movies. But again, I can understand that these movies are not for everyone. Hard sci-fi is just not something you can sit down and have a good easy time watching. It is usually thought-provoking and demands some brain power.

I am not a big fan of the original Blade Runner, but to me, Blade Runner 2049 is truly a masterpiece. Sigh... I just hope that people pays more attention to it.

The Bat

A song, any song, when played at the right moment can be truly magical. In a previous blog about Memories, I wrote: "Often, the most intense, the most important, emotional memories are not photographed... Some of my memories, ... are captured through songs." Die Fledermaus Overture by Johann Strauss II is one of these songs. 

Listening to this piece by Johann is not only able to bring back my memory, instead, just like Auguste Gusteau first tastes the ratatouille by Remy, it instantly teleports me back to the Vienna State Opera where I first heard this song. The grandeur of the opera, the majestic entrance hallway, the live orchestra that was better than any Dolby surround sound, and there I was, at the top storey, miles away from the stage, and worrying how underdress and out of place I was. If you are wondering whether you've known this place, yes of course, Vienna State Opera is where the assassination scene in MI5: Ghost Protocol is shot. 

Die Fledermaus, also known as The Bat, by Johann Strauss II is an operetta combining ballet and orchestra. There is no dialogue, just an amalgamation of classical music and body movement. That was the reason why I chose to watch this show among others during the time I was in Vienna. That time I was traveling solo from Bratislava to Prague while stopping by Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich. I knew I wanted to watch a classical show in Vienna just like any tourist would, but I knew nothing on the list of choices. The only one that didn't involve knowing the language was Die Fledermaus.

So I went into the show with no knowledge and no expectation. But once the overture hit, I was stunned, goosebumps to say the least. Time passes, and if you would have asked me about the story now, what is it about, I totally forget already. I don't think I can say that I understand the whole story either. What's left of the show is just a feel, more precisely a Disney feel. To describe the show, it would be wise to compare it to a classic Disney film like Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. Now I can see where these classic Disney films gets inspiration from.

What else is left in me of the show is the overture song. Probably the setting, or probably I heard it live, the biased me still think this is one of the best classical musics ever. In fact, listening to this song, it not only teleports me back to the Vienna time, it also reminds me of the amusement rides in Genting Highland during those rare times my parents brought me there when I was small. Rare because we were poor. I got older now and I now understand the sacrifice of parenthood. We were poor but they still squeezed out whatever they had to bring my siblings and me there.