My Love For Life Review

After waiting for over 2 weeks my parcel has finally arrived from Japan yesterday. This parcel contains my most expensive Figma figure yet: SP-001 Choyusha Haruhi. Choyusha means brave in Japanese so this Brave Haruhi Suzumiya figma is the first ever figma to be released back in January 2008. This limited, no longer in production figma was originally bundled with the PS2 game, titled 'The Perplexity Of Haruhi Suzumiya' and of course, this game never got released outside of Japan. Sadly for me, I know beforehand that this figure does not come with the game when I bid for it on ebay. Anyway the parcel comes in a standard brown delivery box.


The seller has taken the initiative to manually mark the box as fragile with a red marker.

In fact, he has written the word Fragile on all sides of the box which is good for me (if only the delivery personnel heed to the warning).

This shot reveals the most damaged portion of the delivery box. Throughout my delivery reviews, experience has taught me that this kind of damage is standard and unavoidable. You just have to apply ample buffer to safeguard the item(s) inside.

A customs stamp stating that my parcel was released from their custody on 16 September 2009.

Closeup on the corner of the box with the most squashed damage sustained.

Upon opening the delivery box I am presented with a layer of Japanese newspaper which shows some nice pictures for a change.

Upon removing the first layer of newspaper I come across this nice full color booklet "FROM GAMERS". More on this later.

After removing the booklet my SP-001 figma can be seen in bubble wrap surrounded by more newspapers.

My Sp-001 figma finally out of the delivery box, still wrapped in bubble wrap. I plan to keep it wrapped as mine is MISB condition until the day I feel like unboxing it.

Rear view of the SP-001 figma box. Luckily it is undamaged from the delivery.

Overview of the delivery item and materials.

Another inspection view of my SP-001 figma (darn the flash reflection).

Now lets take a closer look at the included "FROM GAMERS" booklet. The first thing I notice is the price printed on the front cover which reads 0 yen. I guess the seller got this for free and decided to add this as something extra in my shipment. That is rather considerate of him.

Upon opening the booklet I am presented with color anime pictures.

This page is a promo for a new Japanese game I think.

Overview of the delivery once again.

Generally I am pleased with this delivery. My only qualm is over the price I paid for the limited figma which does not come with the game. Maybe I can try to get a "backup" of it online.

My Love For Life experience review rating for Figma SP-001 Choyusha Haruhi delivery: 3.5/5

My Love For Life Review

My cousin came by on Sunday for our periodic haircuts done by my aunt, his mom. After the haircut session I decided to watch State Of Play with him because its one of those movies which my boo won't enjoy watching. State Of Play is a 2009 American political thriller movie adaptation of the original six-part British television serial of the same name that aired on BBC One back in 2003.

In a nutshell, State Of Play centers on a reporter (Russell Crowe)'s investigation into the suspicious death of a Congressman(Ben Affleck)'s mistress. To make matters even more complicated, Cal McAffrey the reporter is a good friend of Congressman Stephen Collins and previously had an affair with his wife, Anne Collins(Robin Wright Penn). Rachel McAdams plays the role of Della Frye who runs a popular blog and recently turned junior political reporter. Noteworthy supporting cast members in State Of Play include Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman and Jeff Daniels.

State Of Play Movie Trailer


State Of Play starts of slow and I dare say, a bit boring to say the least. But as you get in deeper you start to care for what happens next. Russell Crowe has done a remarkable job of portraying Cal McAffrey where as Ben Affleck's role of Congressman Stephen Collins comes in a close second place. State Of Play is full of twists and turns especially towards the end and this directly bumps up the story a notch or two. I would recommend State Of Play for those who enjoy political thrillers and those who do not mind sitting through the slow first half of the movie before getting to the better second half.

My Love For Life Movie Review rating for State Of Play: 3/5

My Love For Life Review

I recently bought an Illuminated Tranquility Fountain from a major hyper market in my city during their major sales promotion. I have been eying on it since they had it in stock but I could not bring myself to part with my hard earned cash to pay full price for it. So when they had it for 50% off during the sales I quickly grab one off the shelf and headed towards the cashier counter. Here is the frontal box shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain.


There is a caution printed on the box here in red which says "WARNING: Before using please read the notes at the side!"

Side view of the box. I guess the aforementioned notes are not on this side then. Probably the other side which we will be getting to soon.

Rear view of the box with some feature highlights printed:
1. Flowing waters and colored lights create a calm soothing effect.
2. 3 multi-colored LEDs change hues automatically.
3. Beautiful contemporary designs complement any decor.
4. Cordless operation allows for a wide variety of display options.

Now we get to the side with the imprinted notes:
1. Remove the fountain from the packing materials.
2. Open the battery compartment on the bottom of the fountain and insert 3"AA" batteries or use 4.5V adapter.
3. After placing the fountain on a flat surface, pour approximately 300-350ml of water into the reservoir.
4. Turn power switch to ON or OFF.

Some cautions:
1. DO NOT turn the fountain on when is no water in the reservoir. It will shorten the life of the product.
2. DO NOT allow water to get into the battery compartment.
3. DO NOT use the fountain consistently more than 8 hours. Take 10 minutes break before you use it again.

Frontal shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in operation. Notice how the water will splash out from the fountain so it is best to put it on some kind of plate to contain the water splashes.

It is good that they affix a yellow label stating "Do not use WITHOUT water! Add water after every 8 hours!" on the base of the fountain (reservoir).

Top down shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in operation.

Top down diagonal view of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in operation.

Close up shot of the power adapter connector slot and the ON / OFF switch of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain.

Top down diagonal shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain with the lights on. It will definitely look nicer with the room lights off.

Size comparison with my clear soda can. Alternatively you can also use the bottles of bath body wash in the background for size comparison.

Frontal shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in operation in the dark.

Close up shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in the dark.

Shot taken when the illumination was blue.

Diagonal top down shot of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in the dark.

Top down view of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in the dark.

Side view of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain in the dark.

It is hard to see the dynamic changing illumination colors of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain through still pictures. That is why I have made a short video of it and uploaded the video for you to see below:

Illuminated Tranquility Fountain Dynamic Lighting Video

All in all I am very pleased with my purchase of the Illuminated Tranquility Fountain. There were other designs available but I opt for this 1 which is the 10 tier tower design. The next time I frequent the hyper market if the fountains are still at 50% off I might consider purchasing another of different design. You can be sure that I will post up the review here.

My Love For Life Household review rating for Illuminated Tranquility Fountain: 4/5

My Love For Life Review

Finally getting to the in dept review of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. This model kit has a dark color scheme apart from its side shields and chest vents which are white. I must say I really enjoy assembling this model but that does not mean it is flawless. I'll get to that later.


TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version size comparison with clear soda can (HermanTurnip another +1 for me?^^)

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Diagonal front view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Side view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Diagonal rear view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Rear view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Top down view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal closeup on the head of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Side view closeup on the head of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal ground angle view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal diagonal ground angle view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Rear diagonal ground angle view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Upper body overview of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Overview of the booster backpack on the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the chest of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have painted the chest vents yellow and black.

Closeup of the front skirt armor of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have panel lined it and painted the 4 hand grenades mounted at the side skirt armor red on the tips.

Closeup on the side shield joint on the shoulder of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. This joint is one of the flaws of this model kit as it is very loose. The same can be said with the joints at both sides. As a quick fix, I wrapped some paper around the ball joint so it can maintain the side shield poses for this review.

Closeup on the legs of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the thrusters on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. Did some painting here but since the parts come molded in dark gray it is hard to notice the red paint job which I did for the outlines.

Rear view closeup on the legs of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the spikes on the side shield of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the deformity found on the right side shield of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. This part was molded with this flaw even when it was still on the runner. It is no big deal for me as it can be attributed to damage sustained during battle.

Closeup on the ammunition discs for the beam assault rifle for the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the leg joints of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. It does look like the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version is flashing indecently in this shot.

Closeup view of the vents on the skirt armor of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I like how it comes molded in color so I only need to do some panel lining.

Closeup on the base of the feet of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have panel lined all that I can here.

Side view of the booster backpack for the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have painted a portion red and panel lined it. Somehow the stickers for the booster backpack do not align properly when applied, another minor flaw of this model kit.

Closeup of the thrusters on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup of the tail fin of the booster backpack on the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have painted and panel lined it (rather messily).

Articulation of the arm and leg of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. Basically they can move up to 90 degrees at the elbows and knees.

Articulation and gimmicks of the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I am amazed at the articulation points here.
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Rear view closeup of the left thruster of the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal view of the guided missile pods on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the missile pod on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in a saluting pose.

TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in a battle prep pose.

Top down view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in firing position.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in firing position.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version ready for action.

Rear diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version with opened booster backpack.

Rear view of opened booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version wielding twin beam tomahawks.

Frontal diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version wielding twin beam tomahawks.

Closeup of the beam tomahawk. Too bad the beam part does not come in clear plastic beam effect part.

Closeup on the beam assault rifle.

You need to disassemble the hand in order to fit in the beam assault rifle.

Closeup of the rear skirt armor.

There is a hidden slit which can be revealed by pushing down the center piece of the rear skirt armor...

... which can be used to store the beam assault rifle.

Overview of the stored beam assault rifle at the back of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Front view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in tomahawk attacking pose.

Front right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in tomahawk attacking pose.

Front left diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in tomahawk attacking pose

Overview of booster backpack a.k.a. Blaze Wizard pack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Over view of booster backpack when opened.

Frontal diagonal view of booster backpack when opened.
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Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal left diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Right side view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Rear right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Rear view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal view of upper body of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal overview of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

I am quite pleased with the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version despite of its shortcomings. At nearly 1/3 of Bandai's retail price, this model kit has remarkable quality even though it is inferior to the original. Do look forward to my expanding line of TT Hongli gundam model kits.

My Love For Life Gundam review rating for TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version: 4/5

My Love For Life Review