I forgot how brilliant the 3 Idiots movie was until I re-watched it this year. It made me crave more films like this so I ended up rummaging through Netflix of films by the same director– Rajkumar Hirani. PK’s journey is a whole lot of fun. This is the best movie I’ve seen this 2020, in a year that needs much joy and cheers we can afford. It was like a complete and perfect mixture of flavours in my very first bowl of Tantanmen Ramen. Hilarious jokes are on point, awesome screenplay, and visually appealing cinematography.
I love Japan. I love their quiet and safe streets, beautiful places, temples, Zen gardens, food and more. I’ve visited Japan three times now, but I don’t mind going back if it means having another great time with my boyfriend. Sometimes if you’re lucky enough, you’ll find a boyfriend, a best friend and travel buddy rolled into one.
Guess where you are going today, milady? Studio Ghibli!!
After he said those magical words to me, my brain started to accommodate Studio Ghibli-related things. It was now preoccupied with possible things awaiting us.
Before this trip, we rewatched all the films made by Studio Ghibli. Yet, I still don’t have any idea that we are going to the Studio Ghibli Museum. Maybe because I assumed that it’s quite difficult to get a ticket reservation. They said that the museum can only accommodate 100 people. One of the reasons why a lot of people queue up to get reservations. And as a fan for quite a long time, I still can’t believe it’s really happening. He did “fucking” get us the tickets to Studio Ghibli! I was so happy I almost cried.
We joined a tour group. We have buffet food, a comfortable bus, not having difficulty finding our way to the Ghibli Museum, and a friendly, professional tour guide. Our tour guide is awesome. You get the sense that she knows what she’s talking about. That she’s also a passionate fan. On top of my overwhelming excitement, I can also feel her excitement in her voice. And the moment she smiles, you immediately see why she was perfect for this job. She’s got this bright smile when she says, “Welcome everyone, my name is Miki” not Kiki from Delivery Service 🙂 Too bad I didn’t have her photo to show. I’m afraid and too shy to take a photo of her.
She brilliantly explained our itinerary that day and provided some trivia about Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki’s favorites and what-not. How important the food is for Hayao in creating a story. Indeed, judging from his works, he always incorporates how important food is in his story. This is one of the reasons why there were food replicas from the movies on display on the 2nd floor of the museum. She also mentioned a few beautiful spots to hang out inside the museum since she will not be joining us inside. It was a fun trip on the coach. Complete with interactive games provided by our tour guide where she will show a photo of food, then get to answer which film that food belongs to. I recognized some. Yay! She showed a photo of a chicken pot pie, no one seems to know that it’s from Kiki so I just said it out loud. So proud of myself. LOL
“No matter how smart or well-educated you are, you can be deceived,” — James Randi
Woohoo! Finally, I’ve got to see James Randi’s An Honest Liar. A documentary of life and career of the world-famous magician (also known as The Amazing Randi) and skeptic of the “superstitious woo” such as psychic powers, psychic surgery, faith healing, paranormal, crystal healers, dowsing, fake channeling, aura reading, and more across the world.
They typically have one thing in common; they’re scammers. In other words, they are manipulative human beings who want money from gullible people. James Randi has been diligently exposing those elaborate hoaxes of these scammers on television for over many years; showing how people got duped with just a slide of hands and illusions.
Philippine: Psychic surgery
If you read Carl Sagan’s book – Demon haunted world. The “Physic surgery” that became famous in the Philippines was mentioned there. Yes, I saw this “psychic surgery” on the television when I was young. As a kid, I for one believe it, and was transfixed on how it was done. Imagine you can have a surgery without them cutting your skin, then pulling some “guts” with their bare hands. Many people have been a fallen prey– vulnerable and desperate people who wanted help to cure their diseases. They are willing to pay without questioning the real medical benefits from it.
Here’s the clip:
Remember this classic, guys? hehe
The film also shows Randi’s life when he was a kid. Just like a typical kiddo, Randi was amazed by magic. It had his attention when a man made the woman float in the air. He joined the carnival and never went home.
“When I introduced myself as a magician “Good evening my name is the great Randal! I’m a liar, cheater and a charlatan. I will lie to you but for purposes of entertainment only, of course.”
For Randi, Houdini was an epitome of a great magician. I presumed every magician kind of treated him as their saving grace. Houdini started out as a magician, escape artist, and debunker, and dedicated his life to keeping people from being duped. And there was a scene in the film where Randi also did the stunts on what Houdini was famous for– being a great escape artist. A chapter in his life where he said this “If the man can make it, I could break it”
On February 7th 1975, an unidentified man (Mr. X) working for a Toronto film company was dangled over the precipice of the Horseshoe Falls at the Table Rock by a crane for five minutes while strapped into a strait jacket.
Joan of Art's Ship of Imagination 