Learning Vietnamese with Anh & Japanese with Ben

Special guests Anh and Ben joined me for the specail 2 hour season finale and taught us Vietnamese and Japanese.

Listen to the fun lesson
Anh & Ben teach us Vietnamese and Japanese 110624 by CherriiPOPShow

Utada on Twitter this week

Utada fans! Are you guys following her on twitter? She is a total twitter bug and she tweeted some interesting things this week. Last week on the show I mentioned that in addition to the release of her Singles Collection Volume 2, a best of English album will also be released. All her hit English songs will be released in a brand new album. Utada tweeted about this, unlike other artists that plug their albums Utada wrote:

The release of "Utada the best" is entirely against my will. I wish that my fans won't have to buy it. There's no new material in it. Monday, October 25, 2010 2:02:07 AM via web

It’s interesting that Utada doesn’t get the final say on this because she has a lot of control over her music career. I think her record label wants her to release it because she is going on an indefinite break from the music industry at the end of the year, so it would be meaningful if she would also release the best of English album.

Another interesting tweet she wrote during the week was:

Philippines, Finland, Vietnam, Austria, Germany, my my! I need to travel more! BTW Vietnamese is my fave Asian cuisine after Japanese :) Sunday, October 24, 2010 9:30:26 PM via web

It’s so cool to know that she enjoys Vietnamese food! I love Vietnamese food too well I am bias because I’m Vietnamese. Vietnamese food is fresh of full of flavour. My second favourite cuisine would probably be Japanese because I love sushi and sashimi a lot.

Happy Weddings on 10-10-10

Many couples will be getting married this Sunday! Coincidence? No, in fact this date is an auspicious date to get married because the day, month and year are the same 10-10-10. In Asia, people believe that when you get married on this date you will live a happy life together. In the past, the dates 08-08-08 and 09-09-09 were highly popular for weddings for the same reason. In addition the numbers 8 and 9 are considered to be lucky numbers in China and Vietnam.

If you are planning to get married in the future there are two more dates that are considered auspicious 11-11-11 and 12-12-12. Key those dates in your diary!

Miss Universe 2010

The biggest beauty pageant in the whole universe, galaxy was broadcasted on the 24th of August in the Party Capital of USA, Las Vegas. Beauties from 83 nations participated in this years Miss Universe competition.

I love watching Miss Universe, its part of my staple TV viewing for the year alongside the Oscars, Emmys, Logies. The glamour, the national costume contest, question time its all just so entertaining to watch.

Asia was well represented this year with China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and India taking part this year. Interestingly Vietnam withdrew from competition. Philippines did incredibly well this year making it to top 5. She had a lot of support from the audience, every time she was on stage her cheer squad cheered so loud for her. None of the other girls got quite the same reception.

Australia’s Jesinta Campbell, a fresh faced 19 year old Brisbane girl did Australia very proud with her 2nd runner up and Miss Congeniality win. Her National costume was a bit odd, she wore high heeled ugg boots… enough said lol, but she is proud of her costume and I think that is awesome.

The national costume contest is a highlight of the show for me. I love seeing the outrageously, bright, feathery over the top costumes the contestants wear. Paris wore the Eiffel Tower on her head. Maybe Australia should have worn the Opera House on her head? I thought China’s costume was very simple this year, not really a standout. The costumes are quite theatrical and huge! It must need its own suitcase when packing.

In the evening wear category, most girls chose soft pastel colours. Mexico wore a show stopping cherry red dress. She really stood out in that category and the dress had so much movement when she walked, it really flattered her body. She won the contest! Congrats to Miss Mexico!

Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) July 22 - Aug 8. Lots of great films from Asian Cinema!

Movie lovers must check out the MIFF festival ! MIFF Showcases the best of world cinema. With over 50 countries participating in this year's festival, it's diverse program will surely cater for everyone's taste in film.

Here is an overview of the films from Asian Cinema in MIFF.

China
- 1428
- Apart Together
- City of Life and Death
- Like a Dream
- Petition
- The Search

Hong Kong
- Dream Home
- Like a Dream
- Love in a Puff

Indonesia
- The Dreamer

Japan
- Air Doll
- Beetle Queen conquers Tokyo
- Caterpillar
- First Squad, the moment of truth
- Kanikosen
- Mai Mai Miracle
- Summer Wars
- Symbol
- In a pig's eye
- Still in Cosmos

Malaysia
- Karaoke

Philippines
- For Y'R height only
- Independencia
- Lola

South Korea
- The Actresses (Interesting film, reminds me of the tv show 'The hills')
- Hahaha
- The housemaid (classic and remake versions)
- Paju
- Poetry
- A perm
- The wonder hospital

Taiwan
- Au Revoir Taipai
- Like a dream

Thailand
- A letter to uncle Boonmee

Vietnam
- Adrift

Enjoy the MIFF festival everyone!