Digicam Photography

Since the anime convention, Shirl has been so eager to learn photography. She has not only been asking Naldo to teach her but she's been reading a lot about it and she's also been befriending her digital camera.

Things she has learned so far:
1. It's very important to learn the camera settings.
2. There's such thing as MACRO settings that you can turn on for small subjects.
3. Digital Cameras CAN take GREAT photos. It's all about perspective, having a steady hand, good lighting and simply being keen.
4. Take several photos of the subject -one ought to be right.
5. Practice makes perfect.

Here are some of the shots Shirl has taken using a Sony DSC-W110 (7.2 megapixels).

Here are some shots by Naldo:

Thank you for reading this post and hope we've inspired you. The world is absolutely beautiful. Go see it through your digicam. Have fun!

How Sweed It Is To Be Loved By You!

One December afternoon as they were strolling down the village, Naldo picked and handed a light brown thin-walled, papery, inflated capsule-like fruit to Shirl. He then asked her to open it for the surprise it contains. Shirl opened it slowly making sure not to drop the surprise for she was certain that it would be small. Inside were THREE black seeds with white PERFECT HEART markings on them. Shirl smiled. Naldo got a kiss.

These seeds are from the plant called Balloon Vine with the scientific name Cardiospermum grandiflorum ("fuusen-kazura"). The brown fruits of the Balloon Vine always have 3 seeds inside- perfect for saying "i love you". Those 3 little seeds will truly be appreciated by your special someone. It's simple, sweet and naturally impressive. So if you come across this weed, don't forget to pick one balloon. Make sure you get the BROWN one because the seeds in the green ones aren't fully developed yet.

That's all for this post. Thank you for reading!

Discovery Channel Magazine

We highly recommend that you buy the Discovery Channel Magazine. There's no need to say how informative it is. What actually makes this magazine tick is that it's VERY easy to read. They show lots of photos. The ads aren't annoying and they aren't that many. The magazine is actually something you'll read cover to cover.

We got this copy from 7-11 store. You can most likely get it from any bookstore.

The Discovery Channel Magazine December/January 2010 issue comes with a neat 2010 Calendar.

Pricelist:
SG $7.90
RM 14.90
PHP 250
HK $45
NT $180
TH 190
JP Y1050
KRW 9000
AUD $6.70
NZ $6.70
US $10

For Online subscriptions:

Asia: www.discoverychannelmagazine.com

Australia: www.readersdigest.com.au/discovery

New Zealand: www.readersdigest.co.nz/discovery

How to prevent blisters caused by new shoes

When shopping for ladies shoes, comfort comes before style. I know that. But there's something about new pairs that ALMOST always cause blisters at the back of my ankles.

To prevent that, I get myself these Scholl heel leather liners. I discovered this product like a year ago but the other day I just found out that not everyone knows about it.

This Scholl heel liners are really helpful. It does exactly what it says on the package.

It is made in India (one of the few that's not made in China-lol!). This leather heel liners cost 213 pesos per pack. One pack contains one pair. There's actually a gel version which is definitely more comfy but it's twice the price. Scholl has other kinds of products for shoe comfort that you may need and they're available at any Watson's, Mercury Drugstores and ladies' socks section of SM Dep't stores.

Now if you find this too expensive, you can always use band-aids or gauze strips and improvise. I just wanted to share that there is such product as Scholl just in case you didn't know. Peace!

This post by: Shirl

Naldo never had any problem with his shoes. I don't think men ever do, now... do they?

Beast Player Erin

Beast Player Erin (Kemono no Sou-ja Erin) is an anime about a green-eyed girl who can tame creatures with the use of her harp.

We like how everything (characters, setting, timeline, plot, etc.) is presented. It is so simple but not at all draggy. Since the chapter titles already give hints on what the episodes are about, then it's really silly guessing what's going to happen. What we're trying to say is that this is not a "guess-who-the-real-villain-is" or "guess-the-ending" kind of show. This anime gives you more than that. This show is so full of heart which you'll have to see for yourself.

Anyway, here are photo clips and quotes from each chapter. All quotes are from the subtitle, we didn't change a word of it. The subtitle isn't perfect but it's understandable. :-)

Chapter 1:Green-Eyed Erin

This isn't really a quote but we love the closing song specially it's last two lines.

Chapter 2: Soh-yon the Healer
The girl is Sah-ju - Erin's bestfriend in Akeh Village.

Stringent -adjective 1. rigorously binding or exacting; strict (definition from dictionary.com)

Chapter 3: The Fighting Beast

This is Dahmiyah - the Shin-oh's nephew.

Chapter 4: Secrets in the Mist
All workaholics think about is work - SO NOT TRUE! Just one of the things that this chapter reminds us. So if you live with one, don't forget to thank them for working so hard for you. We all have our ways to express our love and as they say just because it's not the way we want doesn't mean they don't.

Chapter 5: Erin and the Egg Thieves

Chapter 6: Sohyon`s Warmth

Chapter 7: A Mother`s Whistle
These are Nugan and Shunan - the Grand Duke's sons

Chapter 8: Joh-on the beekeeper

Chapter 9: Honey and Erin

Chapter 10: Birds of Dawn
This is Ia-lu - a sehzan or bodyguard of the Shin-oh and the royal family.

Chapter 11: Inside the Door

Chapter 12: The Silver Feather

Chapter 13: Valley of the Beast King (Ohju)

Chapter 14: People of the Mist
This is a recap episode of chapters 1-13.
This is Na-sohn - watchman and explorer of the People of the Mist.

Chapter 15: The Two's Past
These are Nuk and Mok.

Chapter 16: Ialu the Seh-zan
We think it should be "turn our backs to all...".

Chapter 17: Shin-oh in Danger
This is Princess Seimiyah - heir to the throne, granddaughter of Shin-oh Harumiyah.

Chapter 18: Master Esal
Master Esal: "This isn't Tamu-Yuan. At Kazalum, the Grand Master spends most of her life here. You won't be able to do your jobs, if you had any ambitions."
(Although this quote may seem odd, you'll understand what she's really trying to say once you watch the series. The "ambitions" has deeper meaning. )

Chapter 19: Friends at Kazalum

Chapter 20: The Ohju named Lilan/Lelang
There seem to be more than 1 person translating. Watching the series, we have noticed a lot of the names (spelling) change. Although we don't really mind it. We're just happy that Japan is able to share this with us.

Chapter 21: The Disappearing Light
This is Tomura -one of Kazalum's top students and a friend to Erin.

Chapter 22: The Harp's Sound

Chapter 23: The Oath of Kazalum

Chapter 24: Song of Grief

Chapter 25: An Errand for Two

Chapter 26: Lilan's/Lelang's Feelings

Chapter 27: Fallen into Hikara

Chapter 28: Joh-on's Death

Chapter 29: The Beast's Fangs

Chapter 30: The Fourth Winter

Chapter 31: Luminous Sky

Chapter 32: The Great Crime

Chapter 33: Flying

Chapter 34: Ia-lu and Erin

Chapter 35: A New Life

Chapter 36: The Graduation test

Chapter 37: Birth
This is Shiron- the third girl student at Kazalum.

Chapter 38: Shin-oh Harumiyah

Chapter 39: Tohda Attack

Chapter 40: A Nation in Shadow

Chapter 41: The Truth of Shin-oh
Shin-oh Harumiyah: "You have such composure. Even if the pond was murky, you would surely still be able to catch the fish swimming in there. "

Chapter 42: Seimiyah's Tears

Chapter 43: Beast Healer

Chapter 44: Akun-Meh-Chai

Chapter 45: Caged Bird

Chapter 46: The Bond Between the Two

Chapter 47: A Pure Night

Chapter 48: Dawn of Tahai-Azeh
We think the snow effect in this episode was too much.

Chapter 49: Final Battle

Chapter 50: Beast Player
(Ending)

Here’s a link to the official site (it's in Japanese but you can "google translate" it):
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/erin/

Here's where you can watch the complete series: http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Erin
Downside of this site is that if you're not an anime member, you'll have to experience a lot of ads.

FYI: This is a fan-post. We do not own any of the Beast Player Erin images. Thank you!