Life : 2020 Recap

Life in 2020 is very different from previous years. It is not applicable only to myself but many others in the world. Everybody knows, it is because of Covid-19! The normal life only applicable to the first 3 months of the year, where I went to work as usual, did travelling for my photography hobby which all is done in February, Singapore (group photo travel), Morotai Island (solo travel), and Anyer (group photo travel with Fuji-X friends). Those were during the early period of covid-19 pandemic, especially in Singapore where some cases already happened there, not so many visitors in Singapore already but we didn't want to miss the Lunar New Year's event there, especially the River Hongbao Festival with its fireworks. The travel to far northern part of Indonesia to Morotai Island was next, quite adventure trip there.

March was the start of the covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia, started with first case in Depok, greater Jakarta area. Life suddenly changed, from the full freedom of life where you can go anywhere without worry, then become so restricted and, even most of the year, home is the safest place in the world. Communication is also change, from face-to-face to over the internet, communication applications are all in demand. The way we work also changed, most of the time Work From Home instead of work in office. Work From Home, something that most of the companies reluctant to apply due to doubt in its effectiveness, suddenly becomes the main part of working process and proves that it can be as effectively as working in office. Even after this pandemic over, the trend of working remotely will still become something normal and office space requirement might not be as much as now anymore.

2020 is also become the year where you do most of your activities online, buy things online, order food online, working online, and do many banking transactions online. Fortunately the digital transformation and internet infrastructure have reach level that almost mature so most of our things can be done online. I can't imagine if in this pandemic situation, I have to go here and there to do things, how risky it is...

Being at home most the time, will become so deadly boring if you have little things to do. But thanks to the robust internet connection and maturity of streaming technology, almost all the entertainment content can be found over the internet to fill your day. Since I am the fans of Korean Drama for the past 20 years, many months of stay at home during this pandemic I can enjoy it by watching several new Korean Dramas since almost everyday they have new episodes. Among those Korean Dramas, herewith my favorite of the year: Crash Landing On You (surely because of Son Ye-Jin, ha ha...), The World of Married, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, Hospital Playlist, Flower Evil, Once Again (a very nice long drama of family life story), and Start-Up.

In matter of hours, 2020 will be over, and we welcome 2021. Covid-19 pandemic still be there in 2021, but hopefully will start fading away due to vaccination that building the herd community... and we can back to normal life as we did before this pandemic. Amin.

Japanese Drama : Tokyo Love Story (2020)

When watching TV Drama serial, my main interest in the story about life, real life. Japanese drama quite off about drama with this kind of story for quite many years, that is why I prefer watching Korean Drama instead. This year, spotted this Japanese Drama "Tokyo Love Story (2020)", a remake of its 1991 original version. Well, I haven't watch the 1991 version, but for sure the story line must be similar but with adaption to current condition and lifestyle. And, in my view, have interesting and catching story.

The story started when Nagao Kanji (role played by Ito Kentaro) moved to Tokyo, met his hometown friends, Sekiguchi Satomi (role played by Ishii Anna) and Mikami Kenichi (role played by Kiyohara Sho) for reunion but also joined Kanji office colleague Akana Rika (role played by Ishibashi Shizuka). So the story began. Kanji has feeling for Satomi and seems reciprocal but strangely Satomi fell for Kenichi instead. Rika who is very straightforward and has free and open thinking about love and  relationship, hit Kanji with “Kanchi, shall we kiss?” (yes, she always call him Kanchi instead of Kanji). Short story, Kanji has relationship with Rika, but in the end it didn't last, due to Rika's distinct character and her free thinking and also their long distance relationship when Rika left the company and moved to New York for another job. So as Satomi and Kenichi relationship due to Kenichi's character as well that reluctant tied in a relationship and having another relationship with fellow doctor Nagasaki Naoko (role played by Takada Riho). Well, in the end Kanji and Satomi back to their "original' love, while Rika cast away with her child (not Kenji's, but someone's else).

The real story is actually about the characteristic of each individual, both Kanji and Satomi represents the more "traditional" values of love and relationship, while Rika and Kenichi have more "modern" and 'loose" values and "commitment" issues. The interactions between these characters, flow of emotions, and clashes way of thinking, makes the story interesting. In real world, especially in modern and big city of Tokyo, that might exist.

Lastly, I love its OST, very nice song and beautiful scenery of Tokyo:

If you love real life story drama, this Japanese Drama "Tokyo Love Story (2020)" is recommended to watch.

Life: Re-Activate My Blog

It has been almost 4 years this blog in "hibernate" state. Well, surely a lot had happened in life and also a lot had happened in the world. Like nowadays, the covid-19 pandemic is happening as it is spreading across the globe and has changed the way we used to live, do, and work. Even after this pandemic is over, the changes will still remain and we have to live and adjust to it.

For the last 3 months, like many others, I spent almost of my time at home. It is to prevent the spread of the covid-19, everybody must contribute to that effort by staying at home. With this much spare time available at home, one of the activity that I will start to do again is updating this Blog regularly.

So, please do stay tune and wait for my posting again from now on :-)