(CR) Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho: A Story That Leads to Antarctica

[Wandering Soul]

I find myself liking Yuzuki even more after this episode. For some reason I just find myself sympathizing with straight man characters that have to be put up with the other characters antics.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

They aren't in Australia yet, though. This episode was a layover in Singapore before they catch the connecting flight to Fremantle, Australia.

What Random Wanderer said.

I probably echo the thoughts of many Singaporeans who watched this episode. It's weird and thrilling at the same time to find one's home glowingly featured in a show produced overseas.

Singapore has been used as a setting in anime before, with the Merlion being the usual and obvious "star", such as in Cowboy Bepop from long ago (and I agree with the girls, the Merlion is really quite underwhelming; not surprising, given that its use as a tourism symbol was entirely manufactured by clever PR guys several years ago; Singaporeans don't really care that much about the Merlion in real life!).

I do believe this is the first time a TV anime actually dwelt on real-life Singapore for almost a full episode (the Singapore Tourism Board would be thrilled with the free advertisement; I wonder if any of its officers are aware of this episode!).

funtimesayshi on reddit compiled a list of the real-life Singapore locations featured in the episode, and they're all legitimate places of interest for tourists, especially the Maxwell Road hawker centre, where the girls ordered Hainanese chicken rice. I'm genuinely surprised, as it seems the producers have done some good research: there's a stall in that food centre that is very well-known, throughout Singapore, as one of the best for the famous dish.

Heck, the producers even featured a place — Ah Hung D24 Sultan Durian — I myself have not visited! (I'm neutral when it comes to durian. I don't mind the smell, and I certainly enjoy the fruit — it's very creamy, and has a range of flavours, depending on the type of durian — but I'm not the type who'd go out of the way just to feast on it).

If I had to nitpick, I'd say that:
1) If the girls were truly flying and visiting on a tight budget, they wouldn't be flying with Singapore Airlines. Given its pedigree, SIA is one of the most expensive airlines in the world to fly with. Even I rarely fly with SIA, let alone consider getting business class tickets on one of its passenger jets!

2) And again, if the girls were truly on a budget, they wouldn't be staying in Orchard Hotel. It's not the most expensive around, but it's not exactly cheap either. There are cheaper boutique hotels that would have more realistically catered to budget travellers.

3) Durians are a hate-it-or-love-it affair. But it's a bit of an exaggeration to have the girls gagging on durian ice cream, which wouldn't have the smell or the intensity in flavour as the actual fruit. We've had durian cream puffs and durian cake, and all other kinds of confectionery with durian flavours, and I assure you, they are perfectly delectable, even if you hate the actual fruit!

4) The girls were eating at expensive places! Pro-tip to would-be visitors to Singapore: Go where the locals go — the food courts and hawker centres — if you don't want to be ripped off. Great meals can be had here, for not more than 10 Singapore dollars per person, including drinks!


My apologies for gushing over my hometown. As for the episode itself, it was thoroughly enjoyable, and I take back my earlier words about how I doubt an episode in Singapore would advance the story. Great development for Shirase as a character, and more hints dropped about Hinata's possibly troubled background.

Looking forward to Fremantle next!

[jwai]

I wouldn't think of eating durian as being a punishment, but I'm Malaysian born.

The stuff is awesome, but unfortunately, fresh durian isn't really available in Sydney. Only the frozen stuff, which isn't nearly as nice.

[Vegard Aune]

Super ultra mega nitpick: How exactly were they able to talk to each other from across several rows of seats on the plane? I've been on quite a few planes in my life, and they are LOUD. Yet here the interior of the plane is shown to be completely quiet.

[jwai]

Originally Posted by Vegard Aune

Super ultra mega nitpick: How exactly were they able to talk to each other from across several rows of seats on the plane? I've been on quite a few planes in my life, and they are LOUD. Yet here the interior of the plane is shown to be completely quiet.

I don't think ambient noise would have added anything particularly meaningful to that scene.

[LoweGear]

Ah, the international traveler's worst nightmare: losing their passport. Really got scared for Hinata throughout the entire episode, but in the end it worked out. I originally thought it got left behind at the airport, but the reveal was much funnier and more satisfying.

Also, I truly get what the girls are feeling going around Singapore: I was just there last week, and got to see a lot of Marina Bay, including MBS and its observation deck. Though the girls got to see the night view, which I wish I could've

I like how they managed to turn a lost passport into a catalyst for some heart to heart between Shirase and Hinata, which I really should've expected out of this show.

Edit:

Someone did a comparison doc featuring the locations seen this episode.

[SeijiSensei]

Yeah, of course. I was deceived by the teaser scene with the adult women wondering if they were waiting on the children. I guess they were gazing across the waters to Antarctica.

[Vegard Aune]

Originally Posted by jwai

I don't think ambient noise would have added anything particularly meaningful to that scene.

I said it was a "super ultra mega nitpick", did I not? It just distracted me ever-so-slightly that they really should not have been able to hear each other from across several aisles without shouting.

[Liddo-kun]

Watched episode 6:

Laughed at the scene where they asking for discount at the food. So we get a little view of Singapore - nice tourist attractions there. Hinata losing her passport is indeed panic inducing.. glad they managed to find it in time. Yuzuki is good at finding out if a person is hiding something.

[SeijiSensei]

China tell its Antarctic tourists not to touch the penguins

Last summer’s news that a behemoth iceberg detached from one of Antarctica’s largest floating ice shelves has sparked a sense of urgency among tourists eager to check the continent off their travel bucket lists.

That’s especially the case for Chinese tourists, so much so that the Chinese government on Thursday established a new list of rules for people visiting Antarctica: No hunting. No leaving behind solid waste. And no touching or feeding the penguins, according to the South China Morning Post.

I suspect a no-touching-penguins rule would not welcomed by our intrepid young adventurers. Luckily they're not Chinese.

[Anh_Minh]

Polar explorer Jade Hameister explains why she served trolls a sandwich during South Pole trek

[Mistyclear]

I don’t know why but I really liked this episode. The characters are all great, and the story is great—I love how they are not trying to hide how difficult Antarctica truly is, underestimate the place and you are dead.
Hinata is still my favorite character, she’s so steady and supportive and she never complains or anything like that. Also Shirase really likes penguins, since she took Kimari’s plush penguin toy. The character dynamics for this story is fantastic.

[Gan_HOPE326]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

Polar explorer Jade Hameister explains why she served trolls a sandwich during South Pole trek

While she's still there, someone needs to tell her about this show and have her make a reference to it . This is required for the next step of the "anime seeps in real life" plan, after skaters doing the Yuri on Ice routine at the Olympics.

[BBOvenGuy]

The South Pole Is a Great Place to View Space

What a great episode, and what a great job of getting in a lot of exposition without making you feel like you're sitting through exposition. I like these Antarctic explorers a lot. Even the whiny one crying to her boyfriend on the phone... maybe...

[ScrewySquirrel]

Originally Posted by Gan_HOPE326

While she's still there, someone needs to tell her about this show and have her make a reference to it . This is required for the next step of the "anime seeps in real life" plan, after skaters doing the Yuri on Ice routine at the Olympics.

don't remember what happens in Anime-Gataris? We don't need too much anime leaking into the real world. anyone not a primary protagonist will die.

[Gan_HOPE326]

Originally Posted by ScrewySquirrel

don't remember what happens in Anime-Gataris? We don't need too much anime leaking into the real world. anyone not a primary protagonist will die.

I haven't watched that show. Is it worth my time? Also isn't that similar to what happens in Re:Creators?

[Random Wanderer]

Did the girls not bring any anti-nausea medication with them? Surely the ship/expedition doctor has some: there's no way they wouldn't. They shouldn't have had to suffer through a whole day or more of that.

Bloody hell, girls, DO NOT go out on deck during a storm like that! Are you utterly insane?! You could easily have been washed away, especially in your condition at that point, and no one would ever have known what happened to you! Presumably there are safety harnesses and such for crew who absolutely have to go out in rough seas, but you kids didn't even think to look for something like that. And as if that suicidal behavior wasn't bad enough, you left the hatch open, putting the whole ship at risk of flooding!

Look, it's great that you have these emotional moments that help you bond and reaffirm your purpose and all, but can you please have them in a less disastrously stupid manner?

...Putting that aside, it was a good episode.

[Kazu-kun]

This episode felt somewhat weird. Like they were going for a bit of an emotional moment with Kimari delivering some speech and whatnot but the whole thing felt so forced and nonsensical I didn't feel emotional at all.

Honestly I think the writing in this episode was weak. Episode 7 was top notch though.

[grecefar]

It is bad to laugh and think that is hilarious their suffering?, fun chapter.

[Gan_HOPE326]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

Did the girls not bring any anti-nausea medication with them? Surely the ship/expedition doctor has some: there's no way they wouldn't. They shouldn't have had to suffer through a whole day or more of that.

Bloody hell, girls, DO NOT go out on deck during a storm like that! Are you utterly insane?! You could easily have been washed away, especially in your condition at that point, and no one would ever have known what happened to you! Presumably there are safety harnesses and such for crew who absolutely have to go out in rough seas, but you kids didn't even think to look for something like that. And as if that suicidal behavior wasn't bad enough, you left the hatch open, putting the whole ship at risk of flooding!

Look, it's great that you have these emotional moments that help you bond and reaffirm your purpose and all, but can you please have them in a less disastrously stupid manner?

...Putting that aside, it was a good episode.

Yeah, first qualm I have with the show is that scene's lack of realism . That said, it's a pretty small one! This show is stellar and I love every second of it .