Attack on Titan - 進撃の巨人 (Shingeki no Kyojin)

I came across Attack on Titan while I was surfing around YouTube. It was on the homepage, and I thought, Meh, okay. Let's give it a try. It's a post-apocalyptic show, about a small percentage of humans who live in city surrounded by a wall they built, keeping these incredibly tall, man-eating giants, called Titans, out. The plot sounded pretty interesting, and I thought it would be a great bonus for practicing my Japanese. Therefore, I watched the first episode on YouTube.

I thought it was great enough to watch the next one. I, in some odd way, like to watch creepy things, and the Titans were pretty creepy and freaky. They came in all sizes, shapes, and expressions as well! So I deiced to continue watching on. However, YouTube started to remove the episodes, due to copyright issues, so I had to go to other sites to watch it.

The Giants.... How creepy is that!?

I am so glad I did. The more I watch it, the more I loved it, Especially after episode five (or four?), I was immediately hooked. A jaw-dropping twist occurred at the end of that episode, and I was thinking, I can't believe they did that!!!! It also gets better after that. The surprises just drop like that. Just when I thought it could not get any better, that there couldn't be any more shocking or WTF moments, there was. Moreover, there are also some mysteries that can make you theorize all day long. A simple one is, Where do the Titans come from?. Therefore, I love the twists and the mysteries in this show. 

In addition, this show is also gruesome and tragic. It pierces my heart, because the way the characters act is exactly how I would react as well, if I were in a similar situation. Some want vengeance against the Titans, some want to stay at home and be with their loved ones, some go hysterical, some fight for humanity, etc. Would you dare stand up to those disturbing giants, or would you sit back and watch others sacrifice their lives for you? Wow.

Attack on Titan was based off a manga. I've never read it, but I was curious enough to google it, hence the photo above. You can also check out the intro music below, which I loved.

I also like the main characters, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the supporting ones, Jean, Connie, Reiner, and many more others. I initially gave no thought to the main character much, Eren Jeager, because he was a pretty loud guy at first, and while he had a good reason to be pissed, it's also enough to make a person get annoyed by him. However, he matures as the episodes go on, and he also does something in the later episodes that made me love him more. Mikasa, Eren's adoptive sister, was a very interesting person from the start, and because she's so calm and bad-assed, I loved her since the beginning. Armin, while he always considers himself weak, is actually a pretty smart guy. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are extremely good friends, and I love their relationship. The supporting characters are also very interesting, and while they are not all perfect, it's okay because that's a reminder that they're human.

The intro.

I don't even like anime, but after watching this show, I think I'm starting to change my mind. I even introduced it to my brother, because I couldn't stop talking about it (well, episode five.), and my brother decided to watch it after listening to me blab about it and reading about it on Reddit, and now he loves it as much as I do. We have so many theories, and we discuss the characters all the time.

This show is still ongoing, and it's getting more awesome!!! とてもいいですよね！！

The photos and video above are not mine!

Summer in Hsinchu & Taipei

It's summer! Which means my cousins are finally off school and starting vacation (well, whatever vacation they have left. They are still awfully busy.). My mom and I went to Hsinchu to see my two cousins on Wednesday morning, who I have not seen since New Year, and spent the day shopping at a mall called Big City. The place was enormous! Moreover, there were so many food and ice cream stands.

The following day we went to Taipei to see my grandparents, and to celebrate my grandfather's birthday. I also did many other things, like going with my cousin to her audition, her belly dance classes, and helping her carry her supplies from an alley that consisted of art supplies. Check out the pictures!

At the train station on Wednesday morning.

In Hsinchu. My first ice cream for the day.

We lunched at a Taco House.

My cousins and I waited for seats. (I know, we were sitting on one. I mean, tables.)

My Taco flavored chicken.

My aunt's.

Chips! Because we were still famished. (Yes, driving around took the wind out of us.)

We shopped at the huge department store, Big City.

We walked past some food booths...

..until we came across an ice cream stand!

We waited for our ice cream..

Chocolate and mango with strawberry.

My mango flavor one, and also my second ice cream for the day.

My whole family looks at slippers.

Love this photo of my mom!

We shopped for a whole day, and finally went to have dinner.

My cousin's milk tea.

My green tea.

Because I love cats, I had to post the diner's cat. Here's one...

...Two...

My mom's vegetarian sandwich with French Fries.

My, um, dinner, which I forgot the name. Although after dinner, I went to have a Popsicle  and my third and last "ice cream" for the day.

.... Three....

...And four... Seriously, that cat has the funniest look. "What have I got myself into!?"

Goodnight, Hsinchu!

Hello, Taipei! 

Thursday morning, we drove up to Taipei.

My mom and my aunt made soybean milk with a machine they brought.

We dined at the vegetarian restaurant we always go to whenever we're in Taipei.

A plate of vegetables.

Our lunch on the following afternoon. my lunchbox.

My mom's vegetarian lunchbox.

I accompanied my cousin to her audition. 

In the elevator.

After the audition. (We found out much later that my cousin managed to get in.)

Not a sight you see everyday.

My aunt and my cousin went to have a snack. This is a bookstore next to the cafe.

My aunt and my cousin's.

My hot latte.

Saturday: My cousin came.

That was to help my cousin's instrument's strings, but it broke, so she burned it together.

The only good picture I could get of the ape-man, who was passing fliers out.

My Ah-ma's delicious dinner.

Sunday afternoon: A Vietnamese meal.

I accompanied my cousin to her "art alley".

That night, my mom, my aunt, my cousin, and I shopped at the night market.

My ice. Yummm...

An ice cream stand.

My aunt was waiting for her snack.

My mom and I were browsing through clothes while waiting for my aunt.

Thanks to my cousin's tall form, she could take better views than I could.

We bought some sunglasses.

Monday morning: Home.

I spy my mom....