My No.1 Enemy in Dramaland.

If you're reading this post, chances are, you've been loyally tuning in to In Time With You. And chances are, these two cutie pattoties has stolen your heart. And now said heart is being stomped on by a certain Ms. Xu.

I FEEL YOU.

LET'S DROWN IN OUR TEARS TOGETHER T_T

Ex-Boyfriend: Mayday's "Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao"

This is not a translation; just thought I'd touch on the OST for a bit, since this song is tied thematically to the show and plays a central part in the OTP's meeting: Mayday's Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao. Like I said before, Mayday was already fairly famous then, with this being the song that catapulted them to big-time fame beyond Taiwan. It was THE song to sing in KTVs (the chinese equivalent of noraebangs) and due to the simplicity in its meaning and breezy lyrics, it easily became the theme song for the 90's. So you can imagine why everyone in the show starts bursting into the song when they learn of the two leads' name. The name "Juliet" itself will not raise eyebrows, but Romeo and Juliet? Commence snerking and egging.

On the song's meaning... it's actually sung in Hokkien (a Chinese dialect), so I don't really get what is sung if not for the lyrics (i.e in Mandarin). The song is about a couple who were in love but drifted apart (though it's one-sided, for Chun Jiao loves him no more). Yeah, the irony of it is not lost on me. Foreshadowing for the teenage couple, perhaps?

The office workers singing... you guessed it. "Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao"

Though in the song it is not known why Chun Jiao does not love him anymore (Zhi Ming wonders why), I have always thought it was because he cheated on her. Why? Here's my hypothesis: the alternate (i.e English) title for Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao is "Peter & Mary," and the name Peter sounds like "cheating" when you say it Chinese. Hur hur, geddit? 

OK maybe I'm the only one lame enough to have this line of thought, but could it be that the writers were inspired by this too, and hence this drama? LOL, probably not huh. I give myself too much credit.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a not-to-be-missed live version of Zhi Ming & Chun Jiao from their Just Rock It concert in Sydney, Australia. He gives an introduction (in English!) about the song. In the lead singer's words:

Ashin: "It's just a song about uh, love. Two people, uh... a boy and a girl. They fall in love and then they... don't fall in love." 

LOL. Too adorable. See it for yourself here:

It feels like a low-key affair (though by no means low energy); Ashin interacts with his fans, making small talk. He goes about how it has been 13 years [since Mayday's debut], and jokes about "a very special item he brought all the way to Australia" (a chair LOL). Apologizing for a joke, he says "sorry" (in English), leading fans to comment his English is good. Hence his introduction of Zhi Ming and Chun Jiao in English. So cuteee. 

Tough Times

Real life's sucky. That is all. 

If it were up to me, I'll be frolicking in dramaland forevah.

So, this blog and I had a talk. Things did not go well. Heated words were exchanged. 


I've been feeling under the weather this few days, and while I was lying on bed I realize I needed to prioritize my life - more specifically my studies. That means a break from blogging, a looong leave till my exams are over in June. 


But fear not, I'll be still watching my fav dramas, just not all (probably one drama a week, I'll allow myself at least that). Tough times call for tough measures. 


Please take comfort by the fact that I would have no life - busy studying. But I will update once in a while, maybe...probably (don't think I can get stay away from hellochloe that long). Aiming to be a *chartered certified* <--(important distinction there) accountant ain't no walk in the park, baby. 


Bye bye chingus! Don't miss me, visit me weekly. Just think of it like I'm gone for military service, only 4 times shorter.

The Woo-U pedia

The peace lovin' me is glad that despite the differences we may have in Dream High (read: SamGook) on who should get the girl, we can all agree on one thing:  "W" is for "Woo-U wooed my heart. Woot!" 

Sorry for the lame-ish alliteration. That's whatchu get whenever I get near the Milk Duo, they're THEBESTCUTESTCOUPLEOHMYGOD. Forgive me? And won't you join me? Milk is good for you.

Here's the biodata of the couple, plus quirky bits Wikipedia doesn't tell you. Everything else from their favorite food to the endearments given by fans. Geez, what a fan girl wouldn't do. 

Known as: IU

Name: Lee Ji Eun

Height: 162 cm Weight: 43 kg

Blood type: A

Debut date: September 23, 2008

Stage debut: Mnet's M!Countdown music program, for her single "Missing Child"

Interests: Reading, Singing and Dancing

Featured Talent: Singing and Guitar playing

Genre: R&B, Pop Ballad, Soft Rock, Soul

Fav Food: Sashimi, Candied sweet potato

Fav Actor: Kang Ji Hwan, Jung Jae-young, Han Ji Min (something tells me she's a Capital Scandal fan)

Fav Musicians: Kim Tae Woo (lead singer of g.o.d), Gummy, Tamia

Part of body not satisfied with: Nose is flat (quoted IU in SBS's variety show, Heroes)

Ideal man: Kim Tae Woo, Yoo Ah In (hehehe, don't we all?), BIGBANG's Taeyang, Song Joong Ki, Yoo Seung-ho. 

Agency: LOEN Entertainment

School: Dongdeok Girls High School

Endorsements: Online game, "Alicia Online" and "Dungeon & Fighter"

China Fanclub: GuiStar (about GuiStar, it's a mashup word from Guitar+Star, the guitar refers to IU's guitar, fans hope to be IU's guitar, accompanying her as she churns out wonderful melodies)

Name: Jang Wooyoung 

Group: Member of JYP's 2PM, specializes in acrobatic dance

Family: Father, mother, sister.

Interests: Dancing, Listening to music, Online games

Featured talents: Hip hop dance, Ssanti dance (cheesy gag dance)

Fav Food: Everything

Fav color: Yellow

Fav musicians: Bobby Kim, Ra. D, Yoon Do Hyun, Park Jin Young

Ideal woman: Lee Sooyoung, Jung Ryeo Won, Yoon Seung Ah, Kim Yuna (likes the "pure" image, doesn't like skinny woman, especially hates scantily dressed women) (B-but...isn't Jung Ryeo Won skinny?)

Part of body not satisfied with: Face, eyes. His face puffs up, especially when he wakes up in the morning, looking as if he'd cried. 

Unable to live a week without: Rice, chicken, water

Secretly dreams to be: A bird, because it can fly faraway. 

*cue DH pic*

Nicknames/Monikers: Gosh this list is too long (mostly acquired from his participation in variety shows). Meanings as to why on the side.

Woodong/Udon/Mandoo - due to his puffy cheeks (you mean like Park Shin Yang's?) *pinch*

Owl (Boo Ung Ee) - sounds like his name in Korean

Jang Jandi - Him cross-dressing in uniform, a parody of BOF's female lead Geum Jandi. 

Chicken Lover (Dakdukhu) - Because he loves chicken.

Toshio Wooyoung - due to him wearing a costume in 2PM's reality show "Wild Bunny" that made him look like Toshio, the boy ghost from The Grudge).

But a very very cute Toshio ^o^

Tibetan Fox - It is said that it looks like him. Or vice versa. 

(credits to PioTheOreo for the illustration, thanks for the lulz)

Also, here's what the Chinese fans dubbed him, please take note that his name in Chinese is Zhang You Rong. To get the pun, I inserted the hanyu pinyin of the nicknames.

Rou Rong - means meat. A pun on his name in Chinese, You Rong.

Rou Rou - also meat. "Rou" is meat. In Chinese, we double the words for the cutesy factor.  

Wu Hua Rou - meat also. Literally means "5 flower pork" which is basically pork belly. What's with the carnivorous nicknames, haha.

Zhang Mei Yong - Zhang is his surname, "Mei Yong" means useless, probably meant it in a cute way? I dunno, since if anyone called me that I'll be majorly offended.

Zhang You Yong - again Zhang surname, "You Yong" means useful.

Rou Rou is most popular ^^

Via Baidu, dc

Lee Min-jung in all her wedding splendor

For her upcoming show, Midas perhaps?

Nah - me thinks not, it's most likely for a CF or something. She updated photos of her in a strapless wedding gown on her minihompy on the 20th, eliciting many favorable comments from the netizens on how she looked in that wedding dress. 


I must say I'm not really looking forward to Midas, I've got enough gambling subplots from All In already, so thanks but no thanks. But then I sooooo love the cast. Lee Min-jung is my girl crush and Jang Hyuk is my man crush. So how can I not check this out? Gah, darn you two good lookin' people! 


SBS's Mon-Tue drama, Midas will be premiering on the 21st of February.

What will our Binnie look like 20 years later?

He'll age gracefully, that's what. This is too cute not to share: it seems like Binnie's fans are having fun at the expense of two actors. Which veteran in the k-entertainment industry do you think they posted up? C'mon, use your imagination...

It's actor Lee Dong-jun (no, not the basketball player), best known for his work in 1992's Bihwang:

 Eh, not convinced? Here, a pic by pic:

Gosh, talk about a doppelganger. This resemblance can match my Kimutaku x Yoon Sang Hyun connection. 


Via Baidu's Secret Garden

Miss A Visits Suzy On The Set Of DH

[Announcement: For next week's Episode 8's broadcast, it will be deferred to the following week. Thanks to 22 sane adults chasing after a ball. It's KBS2's turn to air the soccer match, you see.]

In my noob-ier days, I would have thought that an individual was coming to visit. But hmmph, now I know better, it would be Suzy's *three* team members.

I must say this kdrama-catching up week has been pure bliss for me, at first it was meh (didn't help that SG ended), but right now AT THIS MOMENT, it is bliss. Episode 14 of IADD is daebak, am so glad I didn't abandon thee, Show. Nearly did but then I would have missed Jin Goo's telling of his life story to wifey. O, I cried. How he humbled himself in front of the woman he loved. 

The girls share some hugs.

Dream High, from Episode 2 onwards I knew I was high (time to update the 'lil pictures on my blog). And it's heartbreakingly clear to me that my Sam Dong never stood a chance. *Sob* This is the way of kdramas, they can be so cruel. I guess SD can be K as a consolation. Havta say the weakest link of the story right now is Baek Hee's - I'm invested in everyone's except for her's. Maybe it's because I'm only in the 3rd episode right now, so perhaps I would empathize with her sorta baddie character. Maybe.

Miss A came to the set on the 18th for a surprise visit and needless to say Suzy was the happiest. But Miss A did not forget to cheer for the other cast members and crew as well. Although the DH crew were busy, they did "sneak in" some moments and chatted with Miss A's members, and the set is filled with laughter. 

Eh, I just found out that Wooyoung and Taecyeon are bandmates. Sigh, I'm still a noob. 

Best SG Moment: The Stare Q_Q

Ahhhh my heart hurts like it has just been ran over by a bulldozer. Several times. But no words, please. Like how they're staring at each other...I too, could stare at these screencaps for hours. 


To think that the OTP's best scene involves no words and none physical contact whatsoever. If you'd tell me that yesterday, I'd say you were crazy. But now I believe. This tops whatever moment they had before, The Sit Ups, Bench Kiss, Cappuccino Kiss...all of them COMBINED can't even whole a candle to this. Perhaps because, for once BOTH of their feelings are poured in.

At this moment I'm listening to this song and I realize it is telling 
Joo Won's and Ra Im's story. Or maybe the lyrics just apply to all painful relationships. It's a local song (i.e Malaysian), performed by a finalist of One In A Million (our local equivalent of the American Idol franchise). 


A Love Created -Faizal Tahir

The (original) lyrics in Malay are almost poetic, and I hope that that element of the original is retained in my translation. Please lend me your ear and listen to this hauntingly beautiful song; its melody continue to echoes in you afterwards:

No use dwelling on a love lost

After my love you'd worship

Yearning moans continue to hit

The light in my heart dimmed; oh it hurts

Whisper to me if I'd done wrong

A moment with feelings

You created this love that I have

My love was honest all along

Please find me in your heart

Dear tell me you've missed me

Oh...That's all I ask

For your love to stay true

Don't let me get hurt continuously

Oh...a love is created

Oh...please find me, dear

Your friendly voice is different now

Failed to hide its sadness

Memories that pierce the soul

Beautiful sweet turns to pain

Ohh...

Ohh...

Find me in your heart

Dear tell me you've missed me

Oh...That's all I ask

For your love to stay true

Don't let me get hurt continuously

When I'm with you

My blood flows a stream of love

Borne forever

Give me a kiss dear

So your face will be engraved

A love created

Give me a kiss dear

So your face will be engraved

A love created

Oh...a love is created

Now I understand

Although poisonous

I'm willing if you're happy

Ohhh o...

O' what power these set of stills hold, for me to wax lyrical on it (and I'm still teary eyed). I must be bichuso, bichuso...

Credits: Baidu's Secret Garden (screencaps) 

Sohn Ye Jin Works Out In Elegance

 Yup, you read that right. I never would have thought that the word 'exercise' could go hand-in-hand with 'elegant', but while the rest of us sweat like pigs when working out, she's practically shining in the pictures, so bright is her aura.

Is it due to TRX training? In case you are wondering, TRX suspension training is a form of resistance training, as you can see in the pictures, the rope-like thing is call a suspension trainer.

Do you envy her trim figure? Me too. But fret not, we can have it to. That is, if you work out four times a week doing Pilates, cardio exercises, and this TRX thingy. 


Blog readers, I think it's time to get our arses off the couch and work our butts off :o

Thinking Back: K-pop and Me

Oooh~ SKKS's Micky Park Yoo-chun! and the Postman from Heaven!!

People who know me well know that in contrast to my in-depth (self-proclaimed) knowledge about kdramas, I'm totally clueless when it comes to the kpop scene (wait, are you saying TVXQ and DBSK is actually one and the same?)

Thousands of J-Park fans cheering him on as he leaves Korea.

Though slowly but surely, this kpop virgin is learning more and more as she gets curious about the k-music industry (mainly about the 'wonderful' world of trainees) and the artistes' relentless training routines (the management may be overworking them, but I can't help feeling that the artistes are actually enjoying all the work). The Jay Park incident enlightened me on the power of netizens; for better or for worse, you gotta admit they're a force to be reckon with.

Sorry I laughed at your 6-member group, PCD. It seems like such a trivial amount now.

Gone are the days when I thought that Suju was a typo for soju (true story, pinky swear) and I'm even beginning to accept the ridiculous concept of a music group having more than 5 members (I used to think that only one could sing, the rest were redundant).


All in all, I'm proud to show off some of the names I've learn through kdramas OST and the rising trend of idols crossing over to the acting field. I know who Micky Park Yoo-chun is, Miss Suzy of ??? is going to be in an upcoming kdrama Dream High, and T.O.P got so good in acting even the First Lady complimented him.


And did you know there's such a genre called popera (opera+pop)? I made the discovery when I re-attempted to watch Sassy Girl, Chun Hyang with the newfound knowledge that the famous Hong Sisters wrote it (I think it was nicer after I got the drama parodies and appreciated the Korean folktale).


Viewers might remember this song that cues the oh-so-fabulous angsty scenes of SGCH: Hope You'll Be Happy (Haengbok Hagil Parae) by Lim Hyung Joo. This MV includes english subtitles, please enjoy >>

Well, it turns out that he's a popera singer, the youngest male vocalist ever to debut at the Carnegie Hall and has since completed his studies in Julliard and went to Academia San Felice in Florence, Italy to further his studies.

And I heart his rendition of Sally Gardens. It's beautiful! <3



So really, SNSD and Girls Generation are the same thing right? 

Amanda Zhu's mushroom head is the real deal

What's up with this kinoko-head trend really? This style does not flatter 99.9% of the female population. I swear, lately all the weird hairstyles cropping up on tv is all really a grand conspiracy by hairstylists to make stars look uglier. And in turn makes us viewers look uglier too, 'cause there's bound to be some idiot who will follow the hairstyle they see on TV.  Sigh. The day this hairstyle becomes popular is the day I will shave my hair bald. Pinky promise. 


And the worst part is...

Amanda Zhu really cut her hair for the character! *gasp*

The drama's producers wanted to portray a cute and innocent image for her character, thus they gave her a mushroom head. I think I can hate her less now.


This is how she looked like before the haircut>>





Conclusion: It's all Han Hyo Joo's fault for looking so good sporting a kinoko-head.

My Fav List: Mangas/ Manhwas

Have you ever find yourself in this scenario: You're following tons of dramas, but finding yourself not in love with any of the shows? Heh. Luckily for me, if dramaland fails me, I shall not fret, for I still have my mangas. Futhermore, many of the dramas nowadays are based on mangas, so what's better than to read the original material, right? 

Though I have to admit, I have not found any read-worthy mangas lately. So if you have any suggestions, please do tell me. Please note that I'm not into overly cute shoujo stuff and shounen mangas where the girl's boobs are as big as watermelons. I thank you in advance <(_ _)>

Top 10+1 mangas/manhwas I dig (in no particular order):

Ratings guide: ( Visual appeal + Storyline /  How much I enjoyed it )

*Mangas with explicit contents are marked ★

*Readability--Mangas I've read more than once and still lovin' it★

1)Goong/Palace (8/10) ★

2)Bride of the Water God (8/6)

3)100% Perfect Girl (10/8) ★★

4)Skip Beat! (7/9)

5)Akuma de Sourou/ The Devil Does Exists (7/7)

6)Vampire Knight (9/8)

7)Parfait Tic (8/9)★

8)Kimi wa Petto (10/10) ★★

9)Hana Yori Dango/ Boys Over Flowers (8/9) ★★

10)MARS (10/9) ★★

11)Nodame Cantabile (9/10) 

Notes: Like angst? 100% Perfect Girl is a total makjang-- I don't think I've read anything like it before. It's a manhwa and NOT to be confused with Perfect Girl Evolution (a.k.a Wallflower/Yamato Nadeshiko Shinchi Henge).

Special mention: I think ANYTHING by Motsumoto Tomo sensei is worth a read. The drawings aren't exactly the best, but the way she tells her stories are so riveting yet realistic. A must read for fans of slice-of-life genre.

Mark That Makjang: Dramas You Love To Hate

Oh boy. I was looking for something cute and fluffy to watch (just like I always do), but little did I know I was in for a hell of a ride (the title says Please Marry Me! How misleading can it be?)


TV masochists around the world, you can test yourselves by watching this family drama (there ain't an ounce of family warmth so far).

One big happy family...NOT! 

Think the first 8 episodes of Smile, You x100000000 (you think Seo Jung In's family was bad? You ain't see nothing yet, buddy).

Family members range from spineless (brother-in-law), selfish (sis-in-law) to ignorant (father-in-law). And I've saved the best for last: spineless selfish ignorant bastard (husband).


Every single one of them makes my blood pressure boil, with the exception of Holy Mother-In-Law (she's every daughter-in-law's dream) and of course the daughter-in-law herself (she's the heroine in this drama).

Lee Jong Hyuk, I hateeee youuuuuuu!!!! You cheating @!#$%^

I get the concept of the drama. I really do. They're all suppose to change for the better towards the end. But I dunno if I can survive until then. I'd probably die halfway. Sure, they're changing (except for the dad), but real slowly. Oh so S-L-O-W-L-Y.


The Story
Like all 50+ episode dramas, each of the characters (i.e family members) have their own story to tell. I'll just do a brief summary here:

The main couple: They married young, way back when Tae Ho was jobless and studying for his professorship. Jung-im has supported him all the while (7 years) and he finally gets promoted. Now that he has succeeded, he looks down at Jung-im for being a mere housewife and starts having an eye for another woman (played by Lee Tae Im of Don't Hesitate).

The in-laws: Mom is practically Mother Theresa, while dad is the opposite. Dad has never approved of their relationship, wanting his son to marry a wealthy daughter in law to bring his son to greater heights. Very proud of his eldest son's achievements and ignorant towards his faults. Neglects his wife (treats her as a rice cooker cum house cleaner). 

The brother-in-law: He's still unemployed, flunking interviews due to his nerves (he gets so nervous he hyperventilates. A must watch). One day, on the way back from interview he meets this woman fighting off a bunch of delinquents. Some stuff ensues in the middle, he ends up dating her after a one night stand. Soon after, she finds out that she's pregnant with his baby.

The sister-in-law: She's behaves like a bratty princess at home, treating Jung-im like a maid. I wouldn't say she's evil, she's not doing it on purpose but rather she takes Jung-im's help for granted. Also, she will have a 'lil love story of her own (one of her student's father).

The "3rd parties": 

Kim Ji Young- Tae Ho's hoobae and his boss's daughter. She believes in love but not marriage. Has an unrequited love towards Choi Hyun Wook (the cutie below) for 4 years before moving on to Tae Ho (a MARRIED man). 

Choi Hyun Wook- Music producer cum C.E.O of a talent company. To others, he may seem cold and aloof, but I think he's merely a man of few words. Also known as Mr. YUMMY to hellochloe. Oh ya, Mr. Yummy has a crush on Jung-im (I think. Say yeah to noona love!)

Stop whining hellochloe! Just stop watching already!!!

Yah!! do you think I would be doing this post if I could? Honestly, I'm not interested in the other family member's stories. I am only tuning in for one thing: Revenge. Payback time!!! And they better make it sweet.

Ryu Tae Joon: yummy personified

 I am patiently waiting for the day Jung-im kicks her husband where he deserves it and both Tae-ho and his father begs her for forgiveness! Until then, watching Ryu Tae Joon will nurse my wounds :D