Adventures and Musings

I feel like I've been on an anime ball which is great! I loved it so much as a child and then went through a very, very slow phase so now I really am so happy to be a seasonal watcher, not a casual!

Now, as for things I picked up over the autumn!

*MAJOR SPOILERS AND OPINIONS ALERT!*

Terra Formars ~ Dropped

I only watched one episode of this in the end. It just wasn't my thing and apparently not David's either so neither of us carried on with it.

 Danna ga Nani wo Itteriru ka Wakaranai Ken ~ Completed!

This gives an interesting insight in what life would be like if my other half were an otaku and I were to be 'normal'. A fun, fun anime with fun references but the episodes were a bit short for me, I prefer things with a bit more umph!

Madan no Ou to Vanadis ~ Completed!

So...nothing was super exciting about this anime even in the end but I enjoyed the whole thing, it's characters and the art.

Psycho-Pass 2 ~ Completed!

I really loved Psycho-Pass so was quite excited for psycho-Pass 2. However, I was sadly disappointed. It just didn't have the same 'umph' and charm that the first series had and it just wasn't the same without the characters I loved so much in the original series.

 Akatsuki no Yona ~ Completed!

I picked this up out of curiosity and I'm so glad I did because this was my favourite anime of the season! It has been a good ride watching Yona grow as a person as she learns to cope and strives to survive and protect those that are close to her. It has been good fun following her on her adventure and meeting those who come to join her, especially Jaeha - his scenes with Hak were very enjoyable to watch and Jaeha is best dragon!

I found myself really moved by the whole thing and that last scene that Yona and Hak shared was the most beautiful thing! There simply must be a second season!

Parasyte ~ Completed!

This was a VERY different anime! I haven't seen anything like Parasyte before. It was very interesting to watch Shinichi change long the way from the scared boy who first finds that a parasyte has taken over his right hand to the strong and logical character he becomes! Most enjoyable and I am intrigued about the live action movie!

Shirobako ~ Completed!

WELL! This was NOTHING like Mangaka-san to Assistant-san! It was great to get an insight into how the anime industry works - all the hypes and stresses and the people involved. It was interesting to watch the main characters grow and achieve their dreams and discover why they want to work in the anime industry. It also made me question what I want to do. Very inspiring! I especially loved the idea of wearing Lolita like armour!

And some others:

AnoHana ~ Completed!

One off my hard drive and boy does this anime have a LONG title!!!

This was full of laughs and tears galore! The discovering of Menma's wish and the coming together of a loosened group of childhood friends was very heart warming! A lovely anime in both story, characters and art!

Durarara!! ~ Completed!

One that David brought over one weekend out of the blue! This also a very different watch with a LOT of characters! It was a fun ride and I grew to love a lot of the characters, especially Celty, Shinra, Shizuo, Izaya and Simon! I also have the greatest curiosity about Russian Sushi. Like is the rice infused with Vodka? I'd love to know!

So there we go! A nice juicy roundup of the things I'd been watching! What did you watch? I will share my winter watches very soon!

I very recently came across this list of reason to stay in Belfast forever and I am sold!

1. Because the locals are great craic.

Facebook: Limelight / Via Facebook: limelightbelfast

They’re wrongfully thought of as being a rowdy bunch (and they can be occasionally). But most of the time, you’re welcomed in with open arms.

2. Because there are so many bars here.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: antxoa

You can find the full list here, but The Spaniard, The Dirty Onion and Cloth Ear are all top watering holes in the Cathedral Quarter.

3. And the bars look like this.

Cat Morley / Via catmorley.com

That’s Café Vaudeville.

4. And this.

Lorenzo Mosica/Archivolatino/Red / Via travel.nationalgeographic.com

It’s pretty cool when your local dates back to 1826.

5. Because there’s amazing architecture everywhere.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: nicokaiser

This is Custom House Square, another example of Belfast’s Victorian heritage. There’s usually some sort of festival or event on in the Square (another reason to love living here).

6. And the insides of buildings are beautiful too.

Miss Copenhagen / Via Creative Commons / Flickr: comawe

That’s inside Harland & Wolff’s Headquarters.

7. Because you know you’re home when you see Samson & Goliath from the plane.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: massiveblur

8. Or maybe it’s when you fly over Slieve Donard.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: erase

9. Because it makes you kinda proud that people choose to film so many series here.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: spatial_pan

They film The Fall in the city, and countless other productions around Northern Ireland. This is Ballintoy Beach… 10 points if you know where it appears in Game Of Thrones.

10. Because the city is literally surrounded with natural beauty.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: 64320477@N05

11. Just look at this.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: glenncartmill

12. Because when you want a day out, you can just visit your local castle.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: black-and-white-prints

This one’s in Carrickfergus.

13. And you can literally take your pick of castles.

John Purvis / Via Creative Commons / flickr.com

This is Dunluce Castle (or what remains of it).

14. Because Northern Ireland’s coastline is definitely on a par with the rest of Ireland’s.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: benamunra

15. And there are epic coastal walks everywhere.

Uccia Graziella Russo / Via Creative Commons / Flickr: 61605871@N07

16. Because we even have our own castle.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: e_phots

Creatively named, Belfast Castle.

17. Because once a year, our parks are lit up with the Festival of Light.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: mrulster

This is Mount Stewart, which happens to be framed with lights and music during the festival. However, there are other monuments in the city that are lit up too.

18. Because look at our city hall.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: rwp-roger

19. Because we know how to do Christmas Markets.

Belfast Christmas Markets / Via facebook.com

The market’s been named 2nd best in the United Kingdom!

20. In fact, we do all markets really, really well.

Via Facebook: StGeorgesMarketBelfast

Yes, St George’s Markets have all the lovely local produce from around Northern Ireland (and some excellent breakfasts), but you can also buy a proper farmers cap, see some live music AND be totally sheltered from the rain (it’s an indoor market!).

21. Because you’ll never go hungry here.

Via Facebook: belfastalleycat

If anything, there are too many restaurants to choose from. Alley Cat is your man if you want a big old burger with plenty of fries.

22. Because we have fresh seafood being served in the city, daily.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: fillyc

It’s one of the benefits of being a coastal city. Here’s the full list of delicious places to eat in Belfast, including steaks, cakes and more.

23. Because our standard shopping centre has a viewpoint at the top of it.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: infomatique

Although Victoria Square might look like a spaceship from the outside, it’s actually because there’s a glass globe inside you can climb to the top of for a panorama of the city.

24. Because in summer, your walk home from work might look like this.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: 13857315@N06

25. Especially if you have a waterfront apartment.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: infomatique

26. Because our waterfront actually looks pretty fantastic at night.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: jonnymckee

This is the Queens Bridge and the Beacon of Hope. So yeah, take that, London, Paris, Sydney…

27. Because our skyline is pretty damn fantastic, too.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: nicokaiser

28. Because our city has a unique history.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: nicokaiser

The SS Nomadic was the tender to RMS Titanic. She was built in Belfast in 1910, but she was too big to get into Cherbourg Harbour. You can now visit her in the Titanic Quarter.

29. And that history is worn on our sleeves.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: magistra-montgomery

We might have a nice waterfront, but we also have murals that could rival Berlin’s.

30. Because we make delicious whiskey.

Via Creative Commons / Flickr: mariejirousek

Bushmills Distillery was founded in the early 17th century, and they’ve been providing the city with delicious single malt whiskey ever since. Mmmmmhm.

31. Because we have clubs hidden under our buildings.

Via Facebook: 361655524012202

See, told you the locals were great craic.

32. Because we also have a lively music scene.

Via Facebook: sketchybelfast

Most of the bars (like Ollies) will have live music during the week, Limelight and the Union do “medium” sized gigs from well known acts. There are occasional acts on at The Empire ,and the Odyssey is where you get the musical heavyweights. The Waterfront Hallhosts classical musicians, shows, and musicals. And the Grand Opera House is the oldest theatre in Belfast.