A World Through Lenses http://awtlblog.vitsco.com Our world through the lenses. Sat, 18 May 2013 04:20:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Giant panda at the zoo http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2013/05/giant-panda-at-the-zoo/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2013/05/giant-panda-at-the-zoo/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 04:07:43 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=5209 Today the Metro Toronto Zoo opened their Giant Panda exhibit as an member’s only event. Tomorrow May 18th 2013, the exhibit will be officially opened to the public. Even though I have always been a zoo member for all these past years, I haven’t been at the zoo for a long time. However, this time [...]]]> Today the Metro Toronto Zoo opened their Giant Panda exhibit as an member’s only event. Tomorrow May 18th 2013, the exhibit will be officially opened to the public. Even though I have always been a zoo member for all these past years, I haven’t been at the zoo for a long time. However, this time for the pandas, I put my busy work schedule aside for a little bit and gave them a very quick visit.

Giant Panda


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Permalink | Tags: , , | Categories: Nature, Photography | No comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2013/05/giant-panda-at-the-zoo/feed/ 0 LEGO Ultimate Collector Series R2-D2 http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/07/lego-ultimate-collector-series-r2-d2/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/07/lego-ultimate-collector-series-r2-d2/#comments Sun, 29 Jul 2012 22:06:50 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=5150 I was at a LEGO store and saw this adorable R2-D2 in their window display, I just knew I had to have it. So without even knowing the price, I took it to the cashier. Five minutes later and $260 CAD poorer, I was on my way home with this adorable model.

Continue reading [...]]]> I was at a LEGO store and saw this adorable R2-D2 in their window display, I just knew I had to have it. So without even knowing the price, I took it to the cashier. Five minutes later and $260 CAD poorer, I was on my way home with this adorable model.


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Permalink | Tags: , , | Categories: Mecha, Toys | No comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/07/lego-ultimate-collector-series-r2-d2/feed/ 0 More Japanese Knives http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/05/more-japanese-knives/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/05/more-japanese-knives/#comments Mon, 21 May 2012 05:44:52 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=5119 With the number of Japanese knives that I own, it almost seems that I am also starting to collect Japanese knives. I’ve made a few more additions to my knife list since my last post about it.

This first one is not technically a knife, but rather a pair of scissors. Back when I was [...]]]> With the number of Japanese knives that I own, it almost seems that I am also starting to collect Japanese knives. I’ve made a few more additions to my knife list since my last post about it.

This first one is not technically a knife, but rather a pair of scissors. Back when I was young, I’ve used many different scissors, some are really good and some average. After I started to live in Canada, I’ve got accustomed to the $5 disposable safety scissors that I forgot what a fine pair of scissors feel like. Well, that is until I saw this pair of scissors. This is DDS-170 Sakura Scissors by MCUSTA. The scissors came in a nice wood box.

 


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Permalink | Tags: | Categories: Food, Miscellaneous | No comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/05/more-japanese-knives/feed/ 0 New Outfits For Marisa http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/02/new-outfits-for-marisa/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/02/new-outfits-for-marisa/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:08:31 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=5096 Ever since I got my Dollfie Dream Sister Kirisame Marisa, she has always been in her default witch outfit. Part of the reason is unlike the typical Dollfie Dream which is 60cm, the Dollfie Dream Sister (DDS) is actually a 50cm doll. And I haven’t go any 50cm outfits. Now of course I can dress [...]]]> Ever since I got my Dollfie Dream Sister Kirisame Marisa, she has always been in her default witch outfit. Part of the reason is unlike the typical Dollfie Dream which is 60cm, the Dollfie Dream Sister (DDS) is actually a 50cm doll. And I haven’t go any 50cm outfits. Now of course I can dress Marisa in 60cm outfits, but some of them don’t look that good. Now finally I got my hand out a few 50cm outfits from Azone.

The first outfit is the Azone’s 50cm Santa Set 2011 (Red). Yes, yes, I know Christmas is a long way in the past. I actually did get the outfit by Christmas, but I was dead sick during the holiday season that I didn’t take any photos at all. So I guess this is more of a late late make up photo session.

 


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Permalink | Tags: | Categories: Dollfie, Toys | 2 comments ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/02/new-outfits-for-marisa/feed/ 2 Infinite Love Kimonos http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/02/infinite-love-kimonos/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/02/infinite-love-kimonos/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:25:42 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=5072 Got some kimono from Infinite Love (Chinese) recently and had them on two of my doll for a long time. Finally sit down a snapped a few shots of them. These kimonos are actually pretty well made for their price, if you search on auctions outside of China, they are actually listing at very high [...]]]> Got some kimono from Infinite Love (Chinese) recently and had them on two of my doll for a long time. Finally sit down a snapped a few shots of them. These kimonos are actually pretty well made for their price, if you search on auctions outside of China, they are actually listing at very high prices (see Yahoo Japan Auction). For me I got it through a deputy from Infinite Love’s Taobao shop directly so the the two set of kimono with shipping and everything included only cost around $125 USD.

So here it is, Tohsaka Rin and Saber will show you what these kimono looks like.

 


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Permalink | Tags: , , , | Categories: Dollfie, Toys | 3 comments ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2012/02/infinite-love-kimonos/feed/ 3 The Toys Story Collection – Part 2 http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/the-toys-story-collection-part-2/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/the-toys-story-collection-part-2/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:44:23 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=5009 Continues from The Toy Story Collection – Part 1, this is part 2 of my Toy Story Collection post. In Part 1 I covered my recent acquisition of Thinkway Toys’ Toy Story Collection’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear. These two are the characters from the first movie Toy Story. Now in Toy Story 2 two new [...]]]> Continues from The Toy Story Collection – Part 1, this is part 2 of my Toy Story Collection post. In Part 1 I covered my recent acquisition of Thinkway Toys’ Toy Story Collection’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear. These two are the characters from the first movie Toy Story. Now in Toy Story 2 two new characters are introduce as part of the “Woody’s Roundup” gang – Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl and Woody’s Horse Bullseye.

Let me start with Jessie. Just like Woody and Buzz, Jessie carries a price tag of $60 CAD at my local Toys R Us. I’d like to reiterate that the price tag is definitely more justifiable as a “collectable toy” than a simple child’s play thing. There are other Jessie dolls that does similar things that are priced at $30 CAD or below. The whole selling point of Toy Story Collection is that this is supposed to be a premium quality exact replica of the toys in the films.

Let’s hope that Jessie will bring me some joy where Woody and Buzz have failed…


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Permalink | Tags: | Categories: Figure, Toys | 4 comments ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/the-toys-story-collection-part-2/feed/ 4 The Toy Story Collection – Part 1 http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/the-toy-story-collection-part-1/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/the-toy-story-collection-part-1/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:05:38 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4974 In my previous post ‘Tribute To Steve Jobs‘, I’ve mentioned that I really love Pixar Studio’s animated movies. And I’s also posted that I think Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) are two of the best animated films that Pixar has ever made. So one would expected me to own some Toy Story [...]]]> In my previous post ‘Tribute To Steve Jobs‘, I’ve mentioned that I really love Pixar Studio’s animated movies. And I’s also posted that I think Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) are two of the best animated films that Pixar has ever made. So one would expected me to own some Toy Story collectable toys. But, in reality, it is not the case. The main reason, as I look back, is because Disney kept on putting out toys that looks like they are some bootleg figures from hell. For example below to the left is an authentic Disney’s Talking Sheriff Woody doll. While to the right is a screen shot of what Woody looks like in Toy Story 2. Now as you can see the resemblance is remote at the best. Disney’s toys look like something coming out of a horrible Halloween costume party.

Well no wonder while I was a fan of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, I’ve never purchased any Toy Story merchandise. But all that was about to change…


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Permalink | Tags: | Categories: Figure, Toys | 2 comments ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/the-toy-story-collection-part-1/feed/ 2 Diecast cars – Something old, something new, something terrible, something wonderful http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/diecast-cars-something-old-something-new-something-terrible-something-wonderful/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/diecast-cars-something-old-something-new-something-terrible-something-wonderful/#comments Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:44:52 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4930  

I wasn’t really a diecast model car collector, but ever since I bought those Porsche Boxster models, I started to buy more 1:18 scale model cars. So here’s some of the new additions.

First let me start with something old. This is a 1936 Mercedes Benz 500K Roadster diecast replica made by Bburago. I like [...]]]>  

I wasn’t really a diecast model car collector, but ever since I bought those Porsche Boxster models, I started to buy more 1:18 scale model cars. So here’s some of the new additions.

First let me start with something old. This is a 1936 Mercedes Benz 500K Roadster diecast replica made by Bburago. I like these old cars because I like the smooth curved designs these car has. These days most of the cars are very angular and very mechanical, while in the old days cards are much more organic with smooth curves.


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Permalink | Tags: , , | Categories: Automotive, Toys | No comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/11/diecast-cars-something-old-something-new-something-terrible-something-wonderful/feed/ 0 Tribute to Steve Jobs http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/10/tribute-to-steve-jobs/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/10/tribute-to-steve-jobs/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:16:07 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4909 This past Monday 2011/10/24, is the release date of the official Steve Jobs’s biography by Walter Isaacson. After receiving the book, I decided to put together a few bits and piece in memory of a great man.

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Permalink | Tags: iPad, iPhone, iPod, Saber | Categories: Miscellaneous [...]]]> This past Monday 2011/10/24, is the release date of the official Steve Jobs’s biography by Walter Isaacson. After receiving the book, I decided to put together a few bits and piece in memory of a great man.


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Permalink | Tags: , , , | Categories: Miscellaneous | One comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/10/tribute-to-steve-jobs/feed/ 1 Two more Saber dollfies on the way… http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/09/two-more-saber-dollfies-on-the-way/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/09/two-more-saber-dollfies-on-the-way/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:11:41 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4885 With the addition of Saber Fate/Extra Version and Saber Alter 2nd Version banner on the side of the web site, you can probably guess that this is coming: Yes, I have ordered everything Volks has to offer from this TYPE-MOON x Dollfie Dream project.

 

Dollfie Dream Saber Fate/Extra Version, Dollfie Dream Saber Alter [...]]]> With the addition of Saber Fate/Extra Version and Saber Alter 2nd Version banner on the side of the web site, you can probably guess that this is coming: Yes, I have ordered everything Volks has to offer from this TYPE-MOON x Dollfie Dream project.

 

Dollfie Dream Saber Fate/Extra Version, Dollfie Dream Saber Alter 2nd Version, Saber Alter’s Training Jacket Set, and Saber Alter’s Swimsuit Set, one of each will be coming to me from Volks USA by April of 2012. The total of the spending spree came out to be 1,569 USD + 91.75 USD for shipping to Canada. Expensive indeed, but consider that Dollfie Dream Saber Lily was 1,045 USD, the price for these two dolls are much reasonable. The pre-order closes on October 30, 2001, so there’s still just over a month to place your order.

About the pre-order for these two Saber dollfies…


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Permalink | Tags: , , | Categories: Dollfie, Toys | 9 comments ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/09/two-more-saber-dollfies-on-the-way/feed/ 9 Volks Saber Alter 2nd Version Project Start… http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/09/volks-saber-alter-2nd-version-project-start/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/09/volks-saber-alter-2nd-version-project-start/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:22:09 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4859 As part of TYPE-MOON founding 10 years celebration, Volks is working on a new pre-order Dollfie Dream project. And surprise surprise, Saber Alter is getting a 2nd release together with Saber Nero.

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Permalink | Tags: Fate, Saber, Type-Moon | Categories: Dollfie, Toys | No [...]]]> As part of TYPE-MOON founding 10 years celebration, Volks is working on a new pre-order Dollfie Dream project. And surprise surprise, Saber Alter is getting a 2nd release together with Saber Nero.


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Permalink | Tags: , , | Categories: Dollfie, Toys | No comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/09/volks-saber-alter-2nd-version-project-start/feed/ 0 An American Robin Under The Porch http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/an-american-robin-under-the-porch/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/an-american-robin-under-the-porch/#comments Sun, 22 May 2011 18:58:49 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4825 A pair of American Robin (Turdus migratorius) has built its nest under my neighbour’s porch. It wasn’t high and I can get a good leveled view if I climb up on a ladder. So that created the perfect opportunity for me to take some good photos of the nesting bird. American Robin is probably the [...]]]> A pair of American Robin (Turdus migratorius) has built its nest under my neighbour’s porch. It wasn’t high and I can get a good leveled view if I climb up on a ladder. So that created the perfect opportunity for me to take some good photos of the nesting bird. American Robin is probably the earliest bird to lay eggs. Due to the weather, I didn’t have a chance to take photo when the bird just hatched. But now that the week worth of raining weather is over, I can take some photo of the now much bigger juveniles.

So here’s the nest, I can see four beaks there.

 


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Permalink | Tags: , | Categories: Nature, Photography | One comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/an-american-robin-under-the-porch/feed/ 1 Revoltech Danboard & Danboard Mini http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/revoltech-danboard-danboard-mini/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/revoltech-danboard-danboard-mini/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 04:19:50 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4741 Kaiyodo (海洋堂) made a lot of action figures in the Revoltech lines. At the end of 2007, one of those series being produced as a line of Revoltech toys is Yotsuba&!. There was a few character action figures in that series as well as Danboard (or in Japanese it’s Danbo ( ダンボー)). Danboard is a [...]]]> Kaiyodo (海洋堂) made a lot of action figures in the Revoltech lines. At the end of 2007, one of those series being produced as a line of Revoltech toys is Yotsuba&!. There was a few character action figures in that series as well as Danboard (or in Japanese it’s Danbo ( ダンボー)). Danboard is a cardboard box robot costume wore by Hayasaka Miura in the Yotsuba&! manga. When the Revoltech Danboard action figure was released, I thought it looked a bit plain. Then comes the amazon.co.jp box version which has amazon.co.jp prints on all the cardboard boxes and that made Danboard looked like made out of Amazon Japan’s shipping boxes. That was really interesting since I do buy things from Amazon and from time to time have Amazon’s boxes lying around the house. But since Amazon Japan does not ship toys internationally and I didn’t want to pay deputy service’s high purchase service fees, I didn’t get my hand on it back then. One day while casually browsing through Amazon Japan, I saw the amazon.co.jp version of Danboard and Danboard Mini is marked as pre-order again. Apparently Danboard and Danboard Mini is being re-released. So now with Tenso package forwarding service at my disposal with their much cheaper fees, I placed order on Amazon Japan for the amazon.co.jp version of the Danboard and Danboard Mini. And so now, three and half years later, I finally have my very own Danboard and Danboard Mini.

Kaiyodo Revoltech Yotsuba&! Danboard amazon.co.jp Box Version. Original sculptor 榎木ともひで. Re-released on April 2011 with a price of ¥3,980.

Here’s the box for Danboard. Since Danboard is a cardboard box robot, its container also looked kind of like a cardboard box.

 


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Permalink | Tags: , | Categories: Mecha, Toys | 5 comments ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/revoltech-danboard-danboard-mini/feed/ 5 Nendoroid Sengoku Basara Date Masamune http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/nendoroid-sengoku-basara-date-masamune/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/nendoroid-sengoku-basara-date-masamune/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 02:01:28 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4717 Date Masamune (伊達 政宗) is a regional lord in Japan’s Sengoku period. He’s named the one-eyed dragon because of his missing right eye. In this case, however, I’m refering to the character from Capcom game Sengoku Basara series as well as the anime series Sengoku Basara which was aired in 2009 with a second season [...]]]> Date Masamune (伊達 政宗) is a regional lord in Japan’s Sengoku period. He’s named the one-eyed dragon because of his missing right eye. In this case, however, I’m refering to the character from Capcom game Sengoku Basara series as well as the anime series Sengoku Basara which was aired in 2009 with a second season Sengoku Basara 2 aired in 2010. I wasn’t too happy with the figure when I saw the decoration master, even less so when I see it is made by Phay! instead of Good Smile Company. But since my girlfriend likes this character, I ordered it anyway.

Nendoroid Date Masamune by Good Smile Company. (ねんどろいど 伊達政宗). Original sculptor M.I.C., Yaichi (やいち). Released on April 2011 with MSRP of ¥3,500.

Here’s the typical nendoroid box. Sengoku Basara’s logo is printed in the middle. Also shows the 6 drawn swords and the 6 sheathed sword in the clear window. You might have guesses that this nendoroid comes with a LOT of swords.

 


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Permalink | Tags: , | Categories: Nendoroid, Toys | One comment ]]> http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/05/nendoroid-sengoku-basara-date-masamune/feed/ 1 Cute little mischievious vampire x2 – Nendoroid Flandre Scarlet http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/04/cute-little-mischievious-vampire-x2-nendoroid-flandre-scarlet/ http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/2011/04/cute-little-mischievious-vampire-x2-nendoroid-flandre-scarlet/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:42:52 +0000 phoenix http://awtlblog.vitsco.com/?p=4693 After the release of Nendoroid Remilia Scarlet, Remilia’s little sister Flandre also got her nendoroid release. And since they are sisters, and that I’ve got Remilia already, I will just have to get Flandre as well to complete the pair. Just like Nendoroid Remilia Scarlet, it was only available from four different shops Niconico Chokuhan, [...]]]> After the release of Nendoroid Remilia Scarlet, Remilia’s little sister Flandre also got her nendoroid release. And since they are sisters, and that I’ve got Remilia already, I will just have to get Flandre as well to complete the pair. Just like Nendoroid Remilia Scarlet, it was only available from four different shops Niconico Chokuhan, Animate, Gamers, and Tora No Ana. And just like Remilia, I ordered from Animate and got it forwarded to me by Tenso. Now I’ve got two Scarlets with twice the vampire power!

Nendoroid Flandre Scarlet by Good Smile Company. (ねんどろいど フランドール・スカーレット). Original sculptor JUN (E.V.). Released on January 2011 with MSRP of ¥3,000.

 


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