Winter Time Adventures in the Land Of the Rising Sun

by Khor Su Wern, Sophomore 2 Cempaka, Class of 2015

My fairly long plane flight of nearly eight hours finally touched down in Japan’s second largest island, Hokkaido. I feared at first that there wouldn’t be any snow left by the time I visited Japan. Thankfully, to my relief, when I reached my hotel there was a fresh carpet of snow on the ground. And so on the first day of my trip, I got the chance to learn how to ski! After breakfast, I suited up in layers upon layers of warm clothing, gathered my ski equipment and stepped out into the frosty winter paradise.

Photo Credit : Khor Su Wern

As anyone who knows me can testify, I’m not much of a thrill-lover but skiing was genuinely exciting. I highly recommend everyone to at least try skiing in Hokkaido if one gets the chance. It’s a wonderful experience and I would certainly do it again. After skiing up and down the slopes, my family and I visited Lake Toya, a large volcanic crater lake which never freezes, even during the frigid winter when the temperature is bone-chilling. Later in the day we got the chance to go on a cable car up to Mount Usuzan. From our small compartments high up, we could glance down at the scenic view below which included an active volcano in the valley. Upon reaching the very peak of Mount Usuzan we were greeted by a beautiful, panoramic view of Mount Showa Shinzan and Lake Toya down below, waves still flowing gently across its surface although the ground was covered in snow.

Photo Credit : Khor Su Wern

The next day we visited Jigokudani, also known as Hell Valley, where columns of steam constantly rise from the numerous crevasses in the rocks. It was snowing heavily when we reached Hell Valley - the entire area was covered in a thick sheet of snow! Had I sat on one of their benches long enough, I would be so well-covered in snow that I would resemble a snowman (a shivering, rather thin snowman, but a snowman nonetheless). We then journeyed to the small harbour city of Otaru which is situated northwest of Sapporo (the capital of Hokkaido). This was definitely one of my favourite places throughout my visit. The Otaru Canal (also known as “The Big Drain”) is a short and narrow waterway running through the harbour town which is known for it's incredible history. Given it's picturesque look, it's also a great spot for pictures.

Photo Credit : Khor Su Wern

Otaru’s streets are packed with craft. It's where glass handicraft shops, a music box museum, art galleries, and cute Japanese souvenir shops are located. Not to mention the well-known lavender ice-cream that's only, exclusively sold in this area. Yes, ‘lavender’ ice-cream. It combines the unique lavender fragrance and taste with the smooth, creamy texture of ice cream with the added benefit of making your mouth smell of perfume. It is definitely a must-try if you ever travel to Otaru!

Photo Credit : Khor Su Wern

If you’re a huge fan of Japanese animes such as: Totoro, Rilakkuma, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Doraemon etcetera, you’re guaranteed to go nuts about the abundance of cute merchandise here. There are rows upon rows of shops filled with 'kawaii’ (cute) Japanese cartoon merchandise and goodies. Being a huge Totoro fan, naturally I visited the Totoro shop. The minute I entered their two-storey shop located near the famous music box shop and museum, my jaw dropped. You can find nearly all kinds of knick-knacks, from Totoro chopsticks to Tupperware holders to Totoro music box keychains. I highly recommend this area if you are a cutesy-anime fanatic-like me!

After we were finished walking through Otaru's many winding streets, we visited Shiroi Koibito park, which not only has fantastic winter decorations including real snow (take that, Malaysian shopping malls) and reminds me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but also produces and sells some of Hokkaido's finest confectionery. Outside the factory, once you get pass the stunningly spectacular winter decorations, there’s a small dwarf village filled with cute, miniature houses each one furnished with doll-sized furniture. And of course, like most people, I couldn’t resist going into one of these little houses (because of my petite size, I managed to fit in them quite comfortably). And the bone-chilling cold outside will definitely make you want to step into their toasty-warm, melted-chocotae-smelling store which sells some very well-known chocolates, hard candy and many more delectables!

Photo Credit : Khor Su Wern

To conclude my journey to Hokkaido, I dropped by Odori Park, the venue for the annual ice carving festival where, as you've probably guessed, contestants carve ice. Every February, master craftsmen will carve impossible sculptures using only ice, chisels and hammers, and lots of hard work and determination. Hokkaido, with it's beautiful scenery, both natural and man made, is truly a winter wonderland. Indeed, I was sad to say ‘Sayonara’ to this wonderful place but at least I’d keep the amazing experience.

Trend Report: Sweater Weather!

by Nur Habibah Ishak, Junior 1 Cempaka, Class of 2014

If there was one piece of clothing worth investing in, it would have been the sweater and more specifically, the sweatshirt. Givenchy set the sweatshirt trend a few seasons ago — ever since a dog’s head (a Rottweiler, with a snarling nose and panting tongue) growled from the catwalk of the Givenchy men’s show. And now, this trend is popping up in countless other street fashion collections, filling the Autumn/Winter collections of 2013 with a plethora of cozy garments. 

Bottega Veneta

With rich imagination and creativity, designers are experimenting not only with colour or print (if you’re not into Bambi, the leopard print is a smart option or maybe even some Jeremy Scott), but with architectural shapes, materials and graphic logos too (Kenzo’s got this in the bag) - making the sweater into a fashion item to suit everyone’s taste. Plus, comedic catchphrases can add a certain affinity to that sense of humour - much like Ashish’s contrasting phrases; from “Have a Nice Day” and “Don’t Forget To Smile” to “Shut Up, You’re Not My Real Dad”;  Behavior that now seems frisky and semi-adorable would have landed you in reform school 60 years ago. Presentation isn’t the only key factor here though. The main point of wearing a sweater is to keep you warm, no? Unless of course, it’s for the sake of fashion which in my case, is quite frequent. 

Jeremy Scott sweater

At this point in the season, it’s safe to assume you’re building a close-knit relationship with your favorite sweaters. The story this winter - unfortunately not in Malaysia - is either the big cotton sweatshirt, a version in high-tech fabric, or the original thick wool knit sweater worn with a full, knee-length skirts or with pants and other fitted bottoms. The lower halves that go with the modern tops are often conventionally designed: full skirts, others pleated and some long and slightly transparent. Pants are narrow, recalling the image of Marilyn Monroe photographed in a chunky sweater with taut knee-length trousers. Now we all know the actual sweating part (thus sporting) has nothing to do with this hit item; not anymore at least. Just make sure to pair it with some type of skirt (as seen at Hilfiger, Matthew Williamson, Kenzo, and Philip Lim) to give it an extra feminine twist. Sweater combos of all types and varieties rolled down the runways of the top designers for Autumn/Winter 2013.

Balmain

Bottega Veneta created a simple Italian day-to-night look, with a matching colour palette that hides the casualness of a sweater. In Paris, Nina Ricci came up with a beautiful evening statement look, combining a silk evening skirt and layered cashmere sweaters with a cropped sleeve and matching wrist warmers. An oversized knit also acts as a dress, with a plain neckline and V-neck in fashion (as seen in Vivienne Westwood Red Label and Chanel). Although power hips and shoulders aren’t my taste, Balmain courageously rocked the Eighties feel with a structured (MC Hammer alert!) as well as one-off shoulder looks paired with magnified waists and voluminous harem hybrids below.

Nina Ricci

Inevitably, the sharp, fast-fashion companies have followed the trend. And it’s just as well, because the designer prices for what would once have been considered as sport and weekend wear have now soared sky high. Click on Net-a-Porter and the cost of a sweater for the top designer labels is $2,000 to $3,000, with the Givenchy Bambi — sold out almost everywhere — in Neoprene at $1,375. At cheapest, prices for these upscale sweatshirts start at at least $150. 

The Givenchy Bambi sweater

Based on New York Times, not only is the cost of a sweater for the top designer labels increasing but it crosses genres and genders too. A business once raised in cashmere and class has become more tougher and androgynous nowadays. The basic materials are often high tech and presented in a street style; the sloppy shape of a sweater not meant to imprint a shapely figure or enhance feminine allure. No complaints though. I still love sweaters.

Half a century ago, the pretty, decorated shrugs were plainly meant to lend a bit of cozy warmth to chilly shoulders, but sweaters now prove to be a sign of elegance - Riccardo Tsici, you did good. Seventy years ago, who knew that sheer skirts and pointed heels could make Bambi look glamorous?

Yuletide Joy & Cheer!

Amanda Lee Yue Ping, Class of 2014, Junior 1 Cempaka

Submitted by Law Veng Yee, Class of 2014, Junior 1 Cempaka

Submitted by Lim Jade, Class of 2014, Junior 1 Cempaka

Barreling Over Tolkien: A Review of The Desolation of Smaug

by Chua Zi, Class of 2014, Form 4 Science 1

Having seen both An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug several times — before I’d read the book and after — this is clearly Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, not Tolkien’s.

In its entirety, The Hobbit, unlike its sequel, was merely a serial that Professor J.R.R. Tolkien initially wrote to read to his three sons. After being persuaded by his colleagues at Oxford and a publishing company, he eventually completed it. 

It’s about a well-to-do hobbit - little people about half our height - named Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who, thanks to a wizard named Gandalf (Ian McKellen), finds thirteen dwarves at his doorstep one day. He then accompanies them on a long adventure to recover the treasures of the dwarves’ ancestors. Along the way they encounter trolls, a dragon, orcs, elves, men, all the while singing rhymes and riddling their way out of trouble.

You don't need to read the Lord of The Rings trilogy to love Jackson’s movie adaptations enough to feel quite excited to see more. So from the first film of The Hobbit, it’s obvious why Jackson would try to adapt Tolkien’s classic children’s book into an epic on the scale of LoTR.

But from the second, not only was it nowhere close, but it seemed like he was aiming to imitate or top his past work and was failing at it. Jackson’s attempted adventure epic is a lot more ‘grown-up’ and tried to be a much darker tale than it actually is. It tried.

Naturally, the films should lack the structure they would have if the book was only split into two parts but really, it can easily be read as three. And considering the high production values demanded by this franchise — shooting in 3D, at 48 frames per second, the sweeping CGI landscapes, and keeping track of 13 dwarves — it's a wise decision. Even so, the tedious length of each film is uncalled for and due, in part, to the unnecessary additional material which are especially prevalent in this one.

We've reached a faster-paced part of the story where Bilbo and company are approaching the Lonely Mountain to face the dragon, Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch), that guards it. 

Radagast is still being driven by bunnies, and Bard the Bowman is now a lowly bargeman, giving leeway to write new scenes only to reach the same conclusion 10 minutes later. Just as Thorin Oakenshield’s ‘death’ was written as a new denouement for the first film, a time-stalling action plan was written for the dwarves to carry out in hopes of defeating Smaug in the second one, only for him to emerge unscathed in the end anyway.

Orlando Bloom was also brought back to set as the silver-haired Wood-elf Legolas, only to be stuck in long choreographies of fight scenes. At first sight, I think back to the innate elven grace of the Legolas of LoTR, then the fighting starts to get a little tired. Scenes are written so he can swoop in and perform a dance of decapitating orcs except it’s less like So You Think You Can Dance and more like Dance Moms.

The lack of female characters always seems to be an issue whenever Tolkien’s works are being discussed. Although I don’t see the need for a main female character in The Hobbit, Jackson’s decision to write in the Wood-elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly), who is almost as cool as Legolas, is a welcome change.

Alas, even the Middle Earth franchise couldn’t escape from the parasitic plot device that claimed the first Hunger Games movie: a love triangle. One of the reasons why the film fell short, even before I had read the book, is that it is cliched. Likely a half hour of footage was added to entertain the love triangle between Legolas, Tauriel and the young dwarf Kili. Due diligence was put into writing a string of scenes to develop her relationship with the dwarf, which seems all too reminiscent of a fanfic headcanon. The lesson here is: trying to appeal to wider audiences does not justify lazy writing.

Peter Jackson does still have a love and awareness of Tolkien. In the films, he expands on what is going on in the background of our little adventure story, in the wider Middle Earth, drawing from Tolkien’s other works about this fantasy world’s history.

Yet, the real strength of the films lies in the small interactions. These are the scenes where you catch a glimpse of the relationships between the characters or the different races. The emphasis on a more ignorant Master of Lake-Town (Stephen Fry) showed the unbalanced relationship between the ruler of men and the men themselves like Bard. That provided a relatable view in a world as far-removed from our own as Middle Earth. It was also interesting to see how coldly Thorin (Richard Armitage), the king of dwarves was treated by Thranduil (Lee Pace), the Elvenking, reflecting the Wood-elves’ aversion to interfering in foreign affairs.

If there’s one thing these films did right, it is casting Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins because he brings the warmth and lightheartedness that is what these films should embody. It is the iconic scenes like the riddles in the dark between Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis) in the previous film, and the banter between Smaug and Bilbo in the echoing halls of Erebor in this one that are memorable. Sadly, in losing track of the spirit of the story, the film constantly loses track of the main character in a bout of fight scenes and backstory.

I still would take a hobbit film over another blockbuster almost every time. As Laura Hudson of WIRED admits,“Sometimes when you really love something, all you want is more, even if it’s less.”

Despite being riddled by a banal love story and blatantly overdone fight scenes, the film is decent if your attention span can take it. I’m sure the cast and crew of The Hobbit are big fans of Tolkien or are just having a lot of fun making these movies. Middle Earth still looks breathtaking through Jackson’s lenses, even being as CGI-ridden as ever. Smaug really does live up to his name as the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities.

However, while there is an inherent humour in the characters and especially the dwarves written by Tolkien, Jackson misses it and forces it. That is what these films are — forced. It is a shame that Middle Earth missed its chance to showcase the charm that endeared people like me to the world those many years ago.

Rating: 3.7/5

Christmas Food

by Omisha Lim Phaik Chern Ng, Class of 2017

It’s that time of the year again! The twinkling of lights by the streets, houses filled with joy and laughter, Christmas-themed cakes sold in bakeries and Michael Bublé’s Christmas album repeating in every shopping mall that you walk into. The main focus of this article is on Christmas foods but I would first like to explain a little about Christmas. Well, Christmas is not only known as the day of Jesus Christ’s birth, but it is also an international holiday around the world. Businesses and its employees take time off to gather with their families at home and celebrate Christmas. Some families even go overseas to spend their Christmases in actual snow. 

        

In the spirit of Christmas, my family and I get together at my grandfather’s house every year. Usually in such a celebration, we would find ourselves with plenty of food laid out on the table to commemorate the joyful occasion. Along with the food, we enjoy each other's company and catch up with relatives.

Now to get on to the feasts of Christmas! There are many traditional Christmas foods that you will find during this time of the year. One I would like to talk about is the fruit cake. Fruit cake is cake baked with dried fruits and nuts. Fruit cakes are also known as the Christmas Cake. Fruit cakes are almost always included on every Christmas menu because they are a delightful addition to the range of food that is brought to the celebration. The fruit cake originated from England; it evolved from plum cake recipes.

Then besides the fruit cake, we also have mince pies amongst the smorgasbord of delicious deserts! The mince pie was originally filled with minced meat, fruit, spices and alcohol. This savoury desert goes back 600 years in British history. King Henry the Fifth was a great fan of them and was served mince pie at his coronation in 1413. 

Now, let’s talk about eggnog! Although it may be uncommon in our society, you may be interested to know about it. Eggnog is a nice and warm beverage sold during Christmas time. It is made out of whipped eggs, sugar, cream and milk. It can be finished up by garnishing with powdered cinnamon or pumpkin spice on the top surface of the beverage. Most people would agree that Eggnog originated from the early medieval time of Britain. Milk, eggs, and sherry were foods of the wealthy, so eggnog was often used as a toast to prosperity and good health. 

There are many other foods that one can find aplenty during the Christmas season. Putting aside the drinks and desert, there's also talk of appetizers and mains. A hearty roast is common for the main dish with beef and turkeys being a popular choice. Of course, a roast would be incomplete without its complementary gravy and sides like boiled vegetables or mashed potato. My mouth waters just thinking of the variety of food served during Christmas! Fresh vegetables, crusty potatoes, succulent meats and sweet deserts are all aplenty on a Christmas dinner (or lunch) table. And of course, plenty of people to help clean off the plates too. 

The amazing food is just one of the many reasons Christmas is such a highly-awaited and merry holiday. Though I understand how the food can be oh-so-tempting, don't forget what Christmas is really about - sharing! It can be hard with food that's so scrumptious but it wouldn't help out waistline anyway to stuff ourselves. Seasons greetings and to all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

THROWBACK: Thanksgiving! An American (& Canadian) Holiday

by Austin Ng, Form 3 Cempaka, Class of 2015

Many Malaysians may have heard of this holiday but up until today, have had no clue what it is, when or why it's celebrated.

Some see it merely as "an enacted document orchestrated symbolically and semiotically through eating,” but generally, Thanksgiving Day is when families all over the USA and Canada gather to give thanks for the previous year's harvest. In the United States, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November whereas in Canada, it falls on the second Monday of October (or rather Columbus Day in the US).

Thanksgiving is always celebrated with a feast, bringing families back together by way of delicious food. Most iconic is the gargantuan stuffed turkey, so much so that Thanksgiving is also known as Turkey Day in the US.

While a notoriously American holiday, it has its roots in European traditions. In fact, the origins of the Canadian Thanksgiving are more closely linked with European traditions than that of the US. Before North America was colonized, celebrations of thankfulness for the products of the annual harvest took place every October in Europe.

The inaugural Thanksgiving of The Great White North took place when an English explorer by the name of Martin Frobisher arrived in Newfoundland in 1578. The first Thanksgiving of the US, however, can be traced to a 1621 document which marked the celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

That means that the first Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated 43 long years before the pilgrims disembarked on their journey to Plymouth (take that, America).

In the November of 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest (which was a substantial success), Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast which was also attended by their Native American allies, including the Wampanoag Indian chief, Massasoit. Now acknowledged as America’s 'first Thanksgiving', the feast lasted for three whole days.

Historians believe it likely that many of the dishes back then were prepared using orthodox Native American spices and cooking methods. The Pilgrims had no ovens and the Mayflower (their ship's) sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, so there were no pies, cakes or other desserts — a hallmark of contemporary celebrations.

The two distinct holidays do share a similar way of celebrating with their parades and archetypal football games. In America, the most well-known parade is Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which has been going on since 1924. In Canada, it’s the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest parade which is broadcast nationwide on CTV every year. And the universal love for football has made the game a part of Thanksgiving as deep-set as pumpkin pie.

Whilst both the holidays are similar, there are some differences between the traditions of both the countries. For instance, what is the significance of Thanksgiving? In America, it is to be thankful for God’s generosity and for the bounty of the Native Americans. In Canada, it is to thank God for a superb harvest. Thanksgiving is optional in Atlantic Canada as well.

Staple Thanksgiving dinner recipes have also evolved in ways unique to Canada and the US. Canadian pumpkin pie is spicy, with ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon while American pumpkin pie is typically sweet and has custard on it. Canadians bake their sweet potatoes and mash it into a purée while Americans make a casserole topped with marshmallows or candy. Canadians stuff their turkey with bread crumbs or rice while in the US, stuffing is made with cornbread base (in the Southern states), oysters (Eastern states) or rice (Northern states just like Canada). In Canada, they even have the classic Chinese dim sum in lieu of turkey.

They also don’t need to wake up at odd hours to participate in Black Friday.

Now, the day after Thanksgiving is distinguished by heavy shopping, encouraged by generous deals and discounts offered by retailers. What some see as an ironically American celebration, Black Friday commemorates the day when the then hand-written accounting books kept by retail stores would go from red to black (red ink marks a loss, and black a profit). Even after Black Friday, there's still Cyber Monday where people shop heavily online.

Some may say that the true American Thanksgiving Day is obsolete. They want America to do away with the holiday. They tell their children that is it fine to be pleased with what they have, but never to be satisfied. They will constantly be in a state of need. As they've begun to say,“Out with Thanksgiving, in with Thanksgetting.”

Yet while the behaviour of consumers on Black Friday will always attract snide remarks from outsiders, Thanksgiving Day will always serve to bring families together no matter how far they may be from each other.

Thor: The Dark World (Spoiler Free Review)

by Akhilan Manivannan, Sophomore 2 Cempaka, Class of 2015

GENRE

Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction

CAST

Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Natalie Portman as Jane Foster; Tom HIddleston as Loki; Anthony Hopkins as Odin; Christopher Eccleston as Malekith; Idris Elba as Heimdall; Jaimie Alexander as Sif

DIRECTOR

Alan Taylor
DISTRIBUTOR

Walt Disney Pictures

PRODUCTION COMPANY

Marvel Studios

IN THEATERS

November 8 2013

Marvel’s favourite god of thunder returns once again to the big screen in “Thor: The Dark World”, a sequel to Thor (2012) and The Avengers. Thor is arguably one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Universe, directly termed by many as Marvel's Superman - a rather big name to live up to. Due to its basis of norse mythology, Thor does usually have some magnificent stories. This particular tale from the Marvel archive is one drenched in history, with an ancient power called the Aether sparking the return of an old enemy of Asgard. In terms of commercial value, the film definitely lived up to it’s expectations, commanding the box-office opening weekend with a massive revenue of $86 million. However, Thor: The Dark World received some very mixed reviews.

In terms of plot alone, Thor: The Dark World turned out to be a huge step up from it’s prequel in 2012. In fact, Thor: The Dark World is miles more intriguing and it’s level of complexity is surprisingly high. From the Aether to the alignment of worlds, everything is designed perfectly to draw viewers in. Sadly with such a huge plot, there are bound to be plot holes. We're talking a lot of plot holes. At some points in the movie, even those still engrossed with Thor’s fabulous hair could have seen the gaping flaws in the storyline. The director could have definitely put more effort into masking the glaring plot holes but as we've seen time and time again with blockbusters, more focus is put on special effects and making the movie look pretty. Nevertheless, if you can manage to look past the plot-holes, the intricate storyline is a solid reason to watch Thor: The Dark World.

Another thing Thor: The Dark World has over its prequels is its wonderful character development of Loki. While Thor (2012) was almost completely focused on Thor (well he is the main man), Thor: The Dark World gave us a whole new perspective of his adopted brother Loki and his personality. This injects some new interest and flavour into the storyline and gives viewers another perspective to the plot. Furthermore, the Loki character was portrayed hands-down brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston. This was very unexpected as many saw Tom Hiddleston only as a simple understudy to Chris Hemsworth (playing Thor). Hiddleston however emphatically proved the critics wrong and quite frankly, overshadowed Hemsworth at almost every turn.

While Tom Hiddleston and Loki were the most interesting aspects of Thor: The Dark World, Chris Hemsworth's acting and the movie itself was rather lacklustre and disappointing to say the least. Hemsworth in all honesty seemed to take his role for granted and the movie itself did nothing to further the character of Thor. Also, while Loki brought unpredictability and excitement to the movie, Thor brought the exact opposite. Predictability and boredom. Hemsworth played the character with no vulnerability and made him look almost invincible. Furthermore, Thor’s romantic angle with Jane Foster was unbearable to watch. Hemsworth and Portman had absolutely no on-screen chemistry and they were quite frankly boring.

Overall, Thor: The Dark World, whilst having its flaws still adds exciting and intriguing twist to the Marvel Universe. The film is unique, fascinating and has a perfect mix of humour and action. Hiddleston was undoubtedly the stand-out performer and Thor: The Dark World in my opinion, should have been more fittingly called “Loki: The Dark World”. As anyone who has seen it will testify, Loki himself makes the movie worth watching. Alas the plot holes and the dismal acting by Hemsworth drags this film down quite a bit. Certainly not one of the best movies of the year, but it's always fun to watch the bad guys be bad, not to mention, marvel at Thor's flowing locks that can even make Goldilocks jealous.

Rating: 3.5/5