Ocean Park - I Finally Meet the Red Panda!

One of the major reasons I wanted to come to Hong Kong was actually due to Ocean Park. I really enjoy seeing wildlife, and was particularly excited to see the Red Panda. I love red pandas, and when I heard red pandas were in Ocean Park, it was a done deal there and then.

Doraemon Themed Ocean Park

Again, like the Peak, everything was Halloween themed, with a Doraemon collaboration. Cute pumpkins and Doraemon & Pals were everywhere!

Ocean Park Tickets

We headed to the huge aquarium first, where there was an abundance of fish to look at. Then we went to the Panda park which was not as amazing as the Macao one, but still ok. Pandas here were much more active than the one in Macao, who just sat and ate bamboo leaves.

Under the Sea...Well..Almost

Then I spotted the red panda section, where we spent the majority of our time. They were so darn cute!! I think I would have stayed their for the whole day just to watch them, but unfortunately they were tired and went to bed early :(

Red Panda!

Having Too Much Fun in Red Panda Park

The dolphin show is probably the most well known part of the park, especially since there used to be a killer whale performance before as well. Unfortunately, the killer whale passed away a few years ago, but they still have sea lions and dolphins. I dislike watching these kinds of shows where animals perform for us, but they got a decent amount of food for their hard work, which was nice to see.

Dolphin Show

In regards to travel, there are many ways of getting to different parts of the park. As the park is split into two, one part at the bottom of the mountain and one part at the top, you can take the train through the mountain or enjoy the views from the cable cars. I thoroughly enjoyed the cable cars as you have such an amazing view around you, just be careful of the downwards journey as it can get a little bit scary!

View from Our Cable Car

As mentioned before, the whole park was Doraemon themed, including the food. We stopped off at a little restaurant just next to the red panda park where I had some amazing Doraemon themed curry. The portion sizes were very generous, and the curry itself was unique and so delicious.

Beef Curry with Rice and Doraemon Toast

Towards the end of the evening, there was a light show near the main aquarium which was beautiful. The voiceovers were a bit cheesy, but the messaging definitely aims to inform us to love the wildlife around us and try to sustain the natural balance by recycling and reducing waste.

Lights Outside the Main Aquarium

Of course, I couldn't leave Ocean Park with nothing right? I decided to get a red panda plushie, but had the hard choice of choosing between two. They had a safari one and sailor one, and both were so cute! In the end I went for the sailor one, because I really like the sea and ocean.

Safari Version

Sailor Version

Which one would you have chosen?

Find out more about Ocean Park Here!

Rating: 10/10

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Tiny

Until Next Time :)

The House of Dancing Water - Macao's HK$ 2 Billion Production

Hey! I'm back :) I was going to blog much earlier than this, but unfortunately my internet decided to have a tantrum...As the House of Dancing Water was one of my first favourites on my Hong Kong trip, I decided to start off with writing a review about this first.

Tickets for the Water Show

Within the casino City of Dreams, you can find the House of Dancing Water, a famous water show. It features ballet, acrobatics, drama and romance, pretty much everything you could ask for. With tickets costing about $801 HKD, or roughly £75-80, it's on the more expensive side, but is definitely worth the extra.

The Water Stage

The storyline revolves around a sailor who is dragged into a parallel world. He rescues a Prince trapped within a chest. This Prince then meets a beautiful Princess who is trapped in a cage by her evil stepmother, and basically tries to save her. Eventually the Princess defeats her evil stepmother and elopes with the Prince, and the sailor becomes a King of this realm.

Boat Emerging Showing the Deep Pool

The visuals were absolutely stunning, with amazing water stunts and beautiful dancing. In my opinion, the first 10-30 minutes were the most impressive, with a beautiful soundtrack and water stunts. The story began strong, but starts to weaken throughout the show, with sometimes confusing and dragging plotlines. Despite this, I really thoroughly enjoyed listening to the soundtrack, and the ballet sections were spectacular. However, with regards to the actress playing the evil stepmother, I thought her acting was a little weak and needed more confidence and believability. The dance scenes with the evil stepmother were also less impressive.

The Pool Also Transforms into Walking Platform

You really have to appreciate how hard all the staff members worked to pull off this water show. It's definitely worth another visit and if I was to visit Macao again, I would try to schedule in this water show again.

Phone Pictures Showing Light Displays

Visit their website Here! and book your tickets if you're off to Macao sometime soon :)

If you love your soundtrack music, I highly suggest you give the House of Dancing Water a listen on Spotify!

Rating: 10/10

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Tiny

Vietnamese Food and Bubble Tea @ Aobaba

Spicy Hue Beef Noodle Soup

Aobaba is part restaurant, part bubble tea and part Asian supermarket. They specialize in Vietnamese street food, which is deliciously tasty!! I went to the Elephant and Castle branch in London but there's also branches in Hoxton, Kingston and Dublin.

Plate of Veg

I had the spicy hue beef noodle soup which came with a plate of veg which you can pour into the noodle. The noodle itself has lemon beef broth base in which beef shin, pork ball and pork meat is cooked in. Don't worry vegetarians, Aobaba also have some great choice especially for you. As you can see in the picture above, beansprouts and other veg and herbs are included on a separate plate, and you can pour these into the noodle.

Lychee Green Tea with Lychee Boba

I also tried their bubble tea which was really nice. It's the equivalent size to a small Bubbleology bubble tea and costs £3. The best thing is if you are not a big fan of tapioca, they don't charge you extra to switch to popping bobas.

You can see their full menu Here!

For £10 for the complete meal, which was very filling and definitely delicious, it's pretty much a bargain. I really want to try out their spring rolls as well, but I guess I'll have to wait until next time!

Rating: 10/10

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Bash Bish Falls - Discover One Waterfall, View 3 States

Bish Bash Falls

Bash Bish Falls lies within Massachusetts, and borders New York and Connecticut. From the very top of the falls, you can see all three states, whilst being surrounded by the calming sounds of the waterfall and beautiful scenery.

Off Into the Forest & Away We Go

The fun begins even before you reach the top of the mountain, as thrill seekers slide down the mountain on skateboard like vehicles, narrowly missing upcoming cars. The roads took us through a lovely woodland stroll before finally arriving at the waterfall.

The Waterfall

Despite its obvious beauty, Bash Bish Falls has actually been named one of the most dangerous tourist destinations in the US, as it has seen several drowning incidents due to rock climbing or rock jumping. Security guards constantly survey the area to ensure everyone is safe, although you do get the odd crazy daredevils attempting to escape their line of sight. You can sit and play in the shallow waters of the fall, where there are large rocks which you can sit on and just dangle your feet in the water. Swimming is prohibited, but water fights are more than welcome, as long as you make sure you're not too close to a ledge.

Nearby the Shallow Pool (Ideal for Waterfights!)

As New York is mostly sunny throughout the summer seasons, it's easy to dry off your swimsuit before heading back to wherever you are staying. Bash Bish is a must-go for everyone visiting any of these three states, and whilst you're there, why not pay the tiny town of Copake a visit as well?

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

New York - Everything I Thought It Would Be & More!

Spontaneous trips? Why not?! When I went to the US for the first time to be a music tutor in a summer camp, I visited New York City not once, but 4 times. Despite the grueling 4-6 hour trip, and burning sun, it was all worthwhile as soon as I stepped out of the train and onto Grand Central Station. I adore New York City, and if I had to chance to visit again, I would book myself onto the next flight out.

NYC View

You can't go to NYC without experiencing shopping there at least once. With A&Fs, Hollisters, Sephoras galore, be sure not to miss out on the amazing prices that would blow your mind. Central Park is another must-go, with it's little streams and beautiful architecture, strolling under the summer sun was a much needed break from camp life. We also visited Times Square, where we just stood and looked at all the media surrounding us...and Picadilly Circus paled in comparison.

Getting Ready to Party in the Bronx

As our camp chef lived in the Bronx, we decided to visit there as well. Apparently the Bronx is separated into specific parts depending on their ethnic group, which I never knew, and we visited the Mexican populated area. We went to this lovely Mexican bar/club, where Spanish music ruled and we learned to dance Mexican style! Shopping in the Bronx was ridiculously cheap, and you can find some great fashion there. I got my Bearpaw uggs from the Bronx for just $20, which was $60 off RRP!!

K-Town

Whether you are Asian or not, K-Town is the place to be. With authentic Korean food that would put any Korean chain restaurant to shame, K-Town offers stunning eating areas and really good bibimbap. Of course, a trip to K-Town wouldn't be complete without a karaoke session, which was roughly $11 per head, and you can choose from your K-Pop faves to attempt to sing along to. I also had my first Maccy D in NYC, and the portion sizes really are huge compared to the UK but their breakfast is too good to be missed. Definitely try Maccy D USA style once, you won't regret it.

The Sanrio Store

Overall, I had an amazing time in NYC with some of the most amazing people I have met in my life. Every trip to NYC was enjoyable, and it really is a city of dreams. Just be careful of your bank balance, as every outing would set you back a lot. My luggage was filled to the max with A&F, Hollister, Forever 21, American Apparel, Pillow Pets, Bearpaws, Converse, Sephora, Metal Gear Solid and more!

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Curry Shack - Are You Ready to Sizzle?

Free-Range Chicken Curry

Last Friday, we went to the Real Food Market at the Southbank Centre, London, for lunch. With so much variety in foods, you are really spoiled for choice as soon as you arrive. One stood out to me, because their rich aroma caught my attention right away. I knew that my lunch will be from Curry Shack.

Upon arrival, you are immediately offered to try the curry. When I went, there were three types, from mildly spicy to very hot. All of their chicken is free-range, sourced from local farms and you can really taste the difference when you dig in. After you choose your curry, you can personalise your curry to your taste by adding in vegetables, spices or chilli if you wanted to. Not a fan of meat, no worries, Curry Shack also offer veggie options (so let me know how it goes =]! )

I went for the super hot one, which looked like a soup of lava (silly me), and it is definitely very spicy, so if you're not a spicy lover, I would recommend you stick with the milder choices available. After the first few bites, I had to get something to drink from another stall in the market. I can't remember the name, but their apple and cranberry juice was really good, despite being a bit lukewarm. Also, if you don't like bits in your juice, be sure to ask first, as my orange & mango gave me a little shock.

From just £6, it's a very reasonable price for the food you eat. I'm very glad I went for this option and would not hesitate to try it again next time I go to the Southbank Centre. Remember guys, Real Food Market is only on Fridays to Sunday (most of the time)!

Check out their website here, and discover your new favourite street food today:

Real Food Festival Homepage

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

BeautyBlender - It Really Is Magic!

I've been using the BeautyBlender for about 5 months now, and I absolutely love it! Before getting the BeautyBlender, I either used a brush or my fingers. With the brush, it was always a bit too rough for my skin and irritated it, and with fingers, I was sometimes left with streaks, plus contouring was quite hard to achieve. So, I finally decided to get the BeautyBlender, and am so glad I did.

BeautyBlender Case

This sponge is so soft and the shape is really easy for applying makeup to your whole face, including those tight corners that you can sometimes miss. It is recommended you wet the sponge first (which literally doubles it's size), squeeze the excess water out, and towel dry it. You can then apply your foundation or concealer. I like to use my fingers to first dab a few dots of foundation on my face first. They recommend you to bounce the beautyblender softly on your face to blend the foundation, but I actually found that this can sometimes leave foundation looking like powder on your face in certain spaces. Instead, I like to use it as a brush, using the tip to blend the makeup outwards on my face. I found this motion actually creates a much more flawless effect for my face compared to bouncing it. Afterwards, I use concealer, and I use the wider round base to blend this in using a bouncing motion.

The beautyblender, wider at the bottom, thinner at the tip

It's really easy to maintain this product as well. I like to use baby shampoo to clean it right after I use it, towel dry it, and leave it in the original casing to air dry it when I go to work. At just £14 for one, it's definitely worth it and you achieve really beautiful flawless makeup as well. Contouring is so easy with the beautyblender as well, because the sponge is just perfect for blending the two colours together. Why spend a fortune on a brush kit, when you can have one to do pretty much everything?

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

The Red Lion - Great British Food at Decent Prices

Before today, I only knew the Red Lion to be a place to get a few drinks with friends. I had never considered their food menu, instead opting for a WKD or Smirnoff Ice. This may appear strange as normally I love pub food, but putting Red Lion and pub grub together never clicked in my head.

Interior of the Red Lion

That all changed today, as I went with my family to the local Red Lion (which I knew of before but completely forgot about!) to get some dinner with friends. The interior was lovely, with a standard British pub feel. I also have to say the seats were also so comfy! The staff were also great and very understanding. My parents don't speak very good English as they are Chinese, but our waitress, bless her, tried her best to decipher their responses.

Full Rack of Ribs, with Chips, Onion Rings and Peas

The menu was pretty standard, everything you would normally find in a pub. I ordered a full rack of ribs in BBQ sauce, with chips and peas, which was amazing! I need to get my hands on their supplier for peas because they tasted so fresh, as if they were just picked from the garden. The chips were also great, I normally dislike chunky chips, but the crisp outer coating and soft inners were cooked to perfection. My rack of ribs were also very delicious and easy to eat.

My Sister and Me

My family and their friends were also very happy with their meals. My sister, especially, loved her 'Hunter's Chicken' which consisted of chicken breast wrapped in bacon with cheese. It was definitely a very filling meal, which is always nice.

Rating: 9/10

Tiny

My Beauty Diary - Red Wine Mask

Mask Packaging

Isn't it cute? This is the My Beauty Diary Mask and originates from Taiwan. It is currently very popular in Asia and has many celebrities endorsing how good it is. I don't actually know how much these cost, as I received mine as a gift. It comes in a pretty big box and you have about 20-30 masks in them.

You may not believe it, but as soon as you open up the packaging, the smell of red wine surrounds you! Surprising though, it smells pretty good as well. Inside, it's just a normal mask, but unlike most, it is literally dripping with the good stuff. It is also easy to apply as they have provided slits near the chin and temple areas, so if you have a small face like me, you can overlap the parts of the mask to suit your face.

Directions:

1. Cleanse face thoroughly

2. Apply mask for about 20 minutes

3. Remove and massage the excess into skin, rinsing is not required

4. Apply toner or moisturizer if required

They actually recommend you to use this mask a few times a week, but I like to keep mine to once. This is purely because I don't have that much time after work and prefer to use masks on the weekends. The great thing about this product is that you don't really have to moisturize afterwards, as the excess mask fluid acts as a moisturizer already. So you can remove the mask and then just massage the rest into your skin, and you're ready for bedtime. It doesn't make your skin feel softer, in fact when I wake up, my skin feels a bit oily, but it gives your skin a nice glow. Of course, this is also due to how much it hydrates your skin as well.

Rating: 8/10

Tiny

Cure - Japan's Best Selling Face Wash

Cure in it's original packaging

Cure has to be one of the best kept secrets outside Japan, if you are not into Japanese culture or do not follow Asian blogger and vloggers, it's very hard to find out about this amazing little thing. I actually found out about Cure from Bubzbeauty, the YouTube vlogger, and since then have been waiting to get my hands on one.

At around £20, you get a 250g bottle, which is a lot! Mine has lasted me about six months and I still have half to go. It is, essentially, a gel exfoliant, which rids your skin of dead skin cells. The interesting thing is, you can actually see your dead skin cells appear and be washed away!

Directions:

1. Wash face thoroughly with soap and water. Dry face well
2. Apply Cure gel to face, neck or other areas that are dry and rough
3. Massage gel into skin until gel becomes white, and small white granulars appears (do not rub hard) and rinse well
4. Apply lotion or cream that you normally use

They recommend using Cure twice a week, but I usually use it once and then use an apricot scrub another day. Cure is definitely not a product you should use everyday, as this will be harsh to your skin. I also like to use a cleanser and face wash instead of soap, as I like to wash off any makeup I wear during the day, and then follow it up with toner and moisturizer. What I love most about Cure is how soft it leaves your skin feeling, and how easy it is to apply.

Since buying Cure, I don't think I will ever turn back. It's such a great product that actually does do wonders for the skin. There is a reason why it is Japan's best selling face wash, and also why there's so much hype about it. If you're looking for a new exfoliator, you should check out Cure, which you can buy on their official website Here!

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Bubble Tea - The Worldwide Phenomenon

I first heard about bubble tea more than 4 years ago now, back then I heard it being referred to as Nai Cha or milk tea. Originally, I was a bit repulsed by the idea of having milk in Chinese tea, and I'm not a big fan of milk anyways (I'm a little bit diary intolerant in the sense that I stay away from milk, cheese, butter etc) so I left the idea of trying it out.

When university started, I saw an amazing picture posted on my friend's Facebook, showing bubble tea in Bubbleology. All those different colours and the way the picture was taken took my interest. At the same time, I also found out about fruit tea, which included my favourite flavour: Lychee. I absolutely love lychees and anything lychee flavoured, so this was a big bonus for me.

Bubbleology Lychee Fruit Tea

Finally, in my second year, which was in 2012, I decided to try bubble tea from Bubbleology. If this many of my friends are recommending it, it must be good right? So, I stepped in and ordered a Lychee Green Tea with tapioca pearls (back then, I didn't know about popping bobas). First taste was just heaven, I didn't know tea could taste THIS good! At that stage, I knew this was going to be an instant favourite. Afterwards, we actually went there a lot (probably too much, as I can now identify new Bubbleology employees from old ones...), and at first I was a bit cautious, sticking to my lychee flavour, but soon decided to expand a little. I tried Taro, which was alright but confirmed that I'm not a milk tea person and definitely more fruit tea, but it was actually an alright flavour. I also had Apple and Peach which were really nice, but not a big fan of pomegranate.

In my second year, we also had weekly visits from a bubble tea company from Brighton, called Pearls. The guy who served us was actually from Taiwan (I think?) and offered us great tasting bubble tea at a cheaper price than Bubbleology. Their staff was so friendly and this was where I discovered popping bobas (or popping pearls). So, for those of you who are not a big fan of tapioca pearls, I suggest you try popping bobas instead. Basically, they have a fruit based juice inside a soft jelly like membrane, and literally pop in your mouth. So whilst you're enjoying your tea, you also get bursts of fruity flavour every once in a while. Also, it's just fun to pop them in your mouth! I've tried the lychee and orange ones which taste quite similar, mango however has more kick in it. You can also add in fruit flavoured jelly into your tea, but I normally just go for tapioca and popping bobas.

At £3-4, a similar cost to coffee and tea, you receive a decent sized portion with great fruity flavours. It's especially tasty in the summer because it cools you down as well and can serve as a drink or a snack. Not sure if you will like bubble tea? Give it a go, and you might surprise yourself, just like I did 2 years ago!

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Marbs - Where Night Owls Rejoice

As I looked out of the plane window, I saw beautiful city lights shining below. It was only another 20 minutes or so until we land in Malaga. As this was my first trip to Spain, I was both excited and also a little nervous about stepping foot into Europe (this is only the second time I have entered EU, the first time was Amsterdam with my school for an art trip!).

We stayed at a hotel called H10, just a short drive and walk away from the busy Marbella nightlife. It was a pretty decent hotel with a lovely pool outside, and we had a small balcony with tables and chairs which is nice for relaxing in the afternoon. I actually lost my phone of the first night so unfortunately I wasn't able to take pictures *sad face*.

Every night, we went to at least one club and didn't get back home until at least 5/6AM in the morning. We went to Linekers the most, as this was always open after around 10PM and had very cheap drinks. The people serving drinks also looked like they just stepped out of magazines! On top of this, there were a lot of hen nights there, where we were able to experience the weird and wonderful sides of hen dress ups. On the first night we went to Kube, which was just around the corner from Linekers, which was very pretty inside. The music was good and drinks were fairly priced. The next day we went to Aqwa Mist (just under La Sala restaurant), which I enjoyed the most and is definitely the club I would visit again next time (See my Blog Post!). Lastly, there was Tibu, which was paid entry and drinks were definitely on the more expensive side. It was nice inside, but the music was too dubstep for my taste.

My friend and I in Linekers

On top of the exciting nightlife, Marbella also offered many daytime treats. Our first morning was spent hunting for food, which happened to be just next to H10 hotel, and we had a nice English breakfast there. Beware, the bacon does taste different over there though! Afterwards, we spent a nice afternoon on a beach near our hotel. It was lovely lying there, enjoying the sun, although there are a few people who change on the beach without a towel! We also ate at La Sala, which was alright, they had a good selection of different foods for everyone. My friend and I actually spent most of our time in McDonalds, since they had the chicken McNuggets which UK McDonalds stopped serving.

My Suitcase:

4 Party dresses

2 Cami tops

2 T shirts

1 Gillet with hood

1 Small over the shoulder purse

3 Pairs of shorts

1 Cardigan

2 Pairs of heels (nude and black)

1 Pair of flip fops

1 Bikini

1 Pack of heatless curlers
400 Euros

Party lovers and night owls, Marbs is the place to go. Whether it's a hen party, graduation or just a trip with friends, this part of Spain offers affordable prices complimented with a lovely beachy feel.

Rating 8/10

Tiny

Aqwa Mist - Best Club in Marbs

Just beneath the restaurant La Sala stands Aqwa Mist. During the day time, you may not think much of it, in fact you might not notice it at all if not for the club like photos promoting it. However, at night, the outside wall of this club turns into a beautiful cascading waterfall.

We actually went on a Friday evening, relatively early, so not many people were there already. The lounge was elegant, with huge champagne bottles on the white stone like tables (empty, but still a nice decorative feature). There were leather seats and sofas which people can sit on if they needed a rest from dancing and clubbing. Another set of doors lead into the nightclub area, where a DJ podium was set up in the center as well as a bar.

Enjoying a night in Aqwa Mist

The drinks there were at an alright price, depending on how much you expect to spend. A vodka and gin would probably set you back about 11 euros, but then again the entry was free. They also had these massive buckets champagne and sparklers, which looked amazing! What I liked most about Aqwa was definitely the music, which ranges from top hits today to hip hop, a genre of music that other clubs in Marbella rarely delved into. Who can withstand dancing to hip hop, especially with a great DJ! Another thing to mention is the woman giving out candy in the toilets, she was so helpful. She'd offer kitchen towels to people washing hands, and actually got her hands a bit dirty cleaning up some drunken ladies.

Downsides included the "mop lady", a cleaner who constantly cleaned, and I remember her mop actually hitting my feet more than a few times. I understand that keeping the floor clean reduces accidents, but deliberately hitting people with the mop is totally unnecessary. You will also be followed by random strangers who will try and talk to you whenever possible, but I guess that happens in any club you go to.

We actually stayed there until about 7AM, when the club was nearly closed, so party animals should definitely enjoy an evening here. It also stays open much longer than other clubs in Marbella, which usually close around 5/6AM. The music, I would say, definitely blows all other competitors out of the water, but then again, I do love my Hip Hop and R&B!

Rating: 8/10

Tiny

The Electric Elephant Cafe - The Hidden Treasure

Last week, I had the pleasure of being recommended to eat lunch at The Electric Elephant Cafe. If it wasn't for my friend pointing it out, I would have almost missed it and walked straight on towards the church at the end of the road.

After stepping inside, The Electric Elephant Cafe gave an American Diner feel, which a touch of Britishness. On the wall, there was a blackboard with the drinks menu and an elephant that looked like one from the Dumbo scene. As we walked over to the food display, the waitress announced their lunch menu: beef and potato pasty! I am a pasty lover, so this was definitely looking up already.

We decided to sit outside, where we faced a building with red doors that looked like it was converted from an old stable. Apparently, this was also where Charlie Chaplin lived for a short period. The narrow cobbled stone path between the Cafe and this building gave the whole outside environment a very authentic feel, it actually looked a bit like a movie set from Oliver.

Finally our food arrived, my pasty had a full salad with it as well. The pasty was amazing, the flavouring was perfect and the pastry was fluffy and light. Even though I am not a fan of beetroot, which came with the full salad, the rest of the salad (tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and pepper) perfectly complimented the pasty. It also came with a yellow sauce, which I'm guessing is mustard? Not sure about that though...

The Electric Elephant Cafe is a hidden treasure among the various lunch choices around Elephant & Castle. If you're looking a beautiful quiet cafe where you can enjoy a filling and delicious lunch, The Electric Elephant Cafe should definitely be on your list!

www.electricelephantcafe.co.uk

186a Crampton Street
London, SE17 3AE

Rating: 8/10

Tiny

Puzzle and Dragon

I was introduced to this game by my boyfriend, who was completely and utterly obsessed with it. I wanted to know what the hype was all about, so I downloaded it too (Japanese version) and boy did I get addicted to it too.

Puzzle & Dragon Main Page

It is essentially a puzzle game, where you have to create combos with similar elements. In order to progress, you have to complete a series of stages and levels, and you can recruit friends to fight alongside you too. Everytime you complete a stage, you receive a magic stone which allows you to use the Rare Egg Machine where you can get rare powerful characters to use. You can also collect "Pal Points" when you either recruit a friend or they recruit you which allows you to use the Pal Egg Machine where you can get materials to power up your characters.

Gameplay Visuals

The main attraction of this game is that Puzzle & Dragon frequently partner up with major Japanese brands. In the past they have had collaborations with Dragon Ball, Hello Kitty, and various anime series. There are also talks of a new Sailor Moon collaboration which I'm looking forward to. Every once in a while, you will also have God Fests, where the ratio to receive Gods is increased greatly.

I really enjoy this game, and it's been a number 1 app in iTunes Japan and UK for a few months now. If you enjoy games like Candy Crush, but with an anime twist on it, you should definitely check out Puzzle & Dragons. I'm currently playing the Japanese version, however there are also different versions for different countries e.g. EU, UK & USA. Currently, in the UK version, there is a Batman collaboration, which I'm sure all you DC Comics fans will enjoy.

My Box:

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Drinks at El Camion - Soho, London

I've walked past El Camion many times whenever I've been to Soho, but never had a chance to go in until recently. We actually went to the Pink Chihuahua Cocktail Bar below the restaurant you see on the main road, which was for members only.

Our table

The whole atmosphere was authentic, and looked like I stepped into the Mexican bar I went to in the Bronx back in 2012. They had great music and our table was just amazing. I started off safely with a vodka cranberry, but was persuaded by my friends to try the Daiquiri Deluxe which is made with rum, pineapple, lime and orgeat. Normally I'm not a rum person but this was really good. It tasted a bit like pineapple slushie with an alcoholic kick to it. We also had Tequila shots, which my friend's friend insisted upon. Tequilas at El Camion are not served with salt and lime, instead they serve tequila with homemade sangrita, which literally burned your mouth!

Beautiful wall deco

Just be careful not to drink too much! I live outside London and getting home after those drinks (I'm a lightweight and I get Asian flush >.<!) was a bit of a nightmare. Despite this, it was a great night and I had the chance to catch up with my uni friends in this beautiful authentic bar.

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Hyper Japan 2014

Hyper Japan 2014

On Saturday 26th July 2014, I escaped the UK and stepped into Japanese culture galore. With human-sized Pikachus, huge blow-up anime characters and a huge selection of Japanese food stands, it's hard not to be amazed as soon as you step into Earl's Court exhibition centre. This year was definitely a step up from last year!

Pikachu!

Fans of Japanese culture, gaming, anime & manga, and cosplay should definitely consider visiting Hyper Japan at least once in their lifetime. Although cosplayers diminished in numbers compared to Comic Con earlier this year, there were still people who put a lot of effort into their transformation into their favourite character. Gaming showcases included the new Monster Hunter for 3DS and a new One Piece games. Meanwhile, trailers for the much anticipated Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire which were playing in the background, making you more excited for its release. Siro-A also had a showcase there, although we were not able to see them perform.

Cute little pig from Monster Hunter Franchise

In terms of shopping for items and clothing, Hyper Japan offers a huge range for everyone. From kawaii stores to katana stores, the choices are endless. There is also an option for you to cosplay (full costumes provided) or allow someone to make up your face into your favourite Japanese make up style. Of course, cute plushies and cuddly toys were endless as you walked through the various stands.

Selection of Cuddlies

Overall, I had a great afternoon and I very much look forward to Hyper Japan next year, especially if the standard is this high. I would highly recommend anyone with an interest in Japanese culture to join in next year. At only £12 a person, it's a bargain!

One extra bonus at Earls Court station included quotes from Code Geass and NaNa which I was pleasantly surprised at.

Rating: 9/10

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think about Hyper Japan!

Tiny