Finding Mr. Destiny

Was interested to watch this movie because it was Gong Yoo first work after his stint in the army. That's it. Never thought I would connect with the heroine Ji Woo in her fear of commitment and getting hurt. But I was not as bad as her though... if I like the cookies I'll eat it to the last crumb nor can I stand not knowing the end of a story be it movie, novels or anything (I hate it when somebody said to you, they got something to tell but in the end they said never mind, forget it. arghhh!) Yeah, the end might not be what I expected but I still want to know how it'll end.

Anyway, the movie is about a stubborn and meticulous Han Gi Joon who started his own business of "Finding Your First Love" after he was fired from being a travel agent. His first client is Seo Ji Woo, messy-appearance stage director who was still hung up on her first love. She met him while she was vacationing in India ten years ago. In her naivety, although he had given her something to find him and sort of a time and place to meet when they were back to Korea, she tempts fate and said she believe in destiny, 'if they're meant to be, they will meet again'.

Well, actually she has no interest in finding her first love, Kim Jong Wook, it was rather a front to get her father off her back; stop arranging blind-dates for her and pushing her to get married. She was not cooperating at first but the persistent Gi Joon who's gonna track every Kim Jong Wook in Korea, got her curious and participate in the search. Spending a lot times together, make Gi Joon starts to fall for her... then he got a call from a prospective client who wants to find his first love on his trip to India....

The movie, make me feels good inside - make me forget that I have an interview tomorrow!.And I love dorky Gong Yoo as the bumbling Gi Joon as much as the dashing Gong Yoo as the 'supposed to be stranger' in India. and the girl, apart from being too skinny, she's extremely likeable as the girl next door. And after watching City Hunter, I like Chun Ho Jin (Ji Woo's father), I think he'll be forever branded in my head as a good father-figure. Can't believe that I watched so many dramas where he was casted also and never really had his character stuck in my head.

Anyway, the part where I think that really hit my bull-eyes (twice) was during Ji Woo conversation with her dad, when he asked her whether she's going to go meet Kim Jong Wook now that she know where to find him.

Ji Woo: I'm not sure. I don't know if he's the one
Dad: There you go, all scared again. You won't find out unless you give it a try.
Ji Woo: What if he isn't? Then it'll just hurt.
Dad: So you're not even going to try?
Ji Woo: But what about fate and destiny? If it's meant to be, I wouldn't have to try so hard.... Dad: That's why you still have so much to learn. When fate gives you a chance yo have to grab it

Haha... It was almost similar to my repetitive conversation (or argument) with my friend Yanti. She's always getting frustrated by my point of why wasting energy and time, in the end it'll just hurt and if it's meant to be, then you wouldn't have to try so hard. Yes, I do get her point, but I'm just stubborn and maybe whimsical as Ji Woo?

Ohooo... now that I mentioned my friend, I think I got another similarity with Ji Woo. Just like her using Kim Jong Wook to ward off every man interested in her; Yanti accused me of using HIM as an excuse to ward off every guy she wants me go out with.

Daemang @ Great Ambition

I've been hunting for this drama far and wide (even Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) for years....after my obsession with Jo Hyun Jae starts. Alas, the only set available then were without english subtitles... Yeah, at that stage I would even buy an original set which would cost me a lot like Jumong...haha but then last month chajatta! and I think it cost around $30-40 only....but I hesitate not because I don't wanna see it anymore but because I had so many dramas to watch!!!! and rewatching Family Outing and Running Man doesn't help reducing the number either...nor new interesting drama keeps airing every month to add to now three hard discs. But last week, while waiting for my mom 1 hour massage; roaming around the shops at The Mall, I couldn't resist anymore and had to buy it...

Oh yeah, you would think that with my obsession with Jo Hyun Jae, he would be the lead characters in this drama... haha no, he's just one of the supporting characters. My interest was piqued to watch this drama cause I read he attracts attention from this drama even in the few scenes he was in...with his good look and charismatics aura. Well, no wonder...he's the most good looking namja in this drama! (Sorry Jang Hyuk fans)...just like how Bae Soo Bin attract attention in Sea God, Jumong and Painter of The Wind.


Well anyway, the story starteed with a woman roaming the woods about to give birth and she stumbled upon a hunter. After she gave birth, he couldn't just leave her there, so he brought her to an abandoned village and there he helped her to get the house she had chosen in order. He's getting attached to her and the baby but she get another idea, she didn't want her son to be just another runaway-slave baby, so while he was hunting she brought her baby to the father, a successful merchant in the city. That bastard said to his wife he would deal with this problem and told her to go back to sleep but the kind wife said she's willing to raise the baby as her own -for she was barren - if the girl was to disappear for good. When she stepped out of the house - minus the baby - she confronted by the hunter who was hurt by her defection, tossed her her belongings and walked away....

Several years later, the child grew up to be Park Jae Young (Jang Hyuk) and as it turns out the merchant had secretly adopted another son beforehand Park Si Young (Han Jae Suk). Jae Young was a warm-hearted person and befriended many low-born commoners while Si Young is what we could in today's world a psychopath - someone without feelings and empathy. Anyway, Jae Young falls for Yoon Ye Jin (Lee Yo Won) since she tended to his broken arms when they were kids, not knowing at first that she's someone out of his reach, of noble-higher-class status.


When he ran away from home, abandoning even his own name after his greedy father and heartless brother manipulations that results to his friends death, his path crossed again with Choi Dong Hee (Son Ye Jin), a daughter of another merchant who masquerade as a man to move freely and through her prodding and her father wisdom, he finds a will to live again and get involved with other people. (I kinda predicted she would fall or him... but the way they end her story and him kinda left me unsatisfied. Haha I was hoping that Si Young got to married Ye Jin and Jae Young falls in love with Dong Hee too, but remain loyal to Ye Jin but in the end Ye Jin died and the living have to go on living right?) ANYWAY, through some chance encountered and these people Jae Young was involved with the politics and helps the handsome-can't-be-missed-Crown Prince (Jo Hyun Jae).

In that time, his brother also encountered Ye Jin and might be because of the cold shoulder she gave him, and she of higher class, he was intrigued by her and wants to possess her eventhough he knows she only loves Jae Young. Ye Jin knows about his 'illness' or lack of feelings and for Jae Young sake wants to cure him... haha! like how? even the modern medicine with all the available drugs cannot cure that kind of person methinks... Oka y maybe I'm a bit bias against Lee Yo Won, she's beautiful and all, but she's like a doll - so lifeless (that's why she so perfect as the zombie-Yi-Kyung in 49 Days).

Oh yeah young Jang Geun Suk whom I almost didn't recognize and Jo In Sung cameo in this drama too... I'm trying to rack up my brain though who/where I've seen Jae Young birth's mother before...


Now on my hunting list is The King and I, please...please...can someone subbed it....

Hunger Games Trilogy

When did I borrow this books from my niece ah? I can't remember, but I borrowed it for the purpose of elevating my boredom when manning a booth for some fair which I can't recall what, was it the recent Islamic Tourism Exhibition? Well, I finished off the first book while vacationing in Korea, mostly I read while on the plane or bus - cause when we reached the hotel room I crashed on the bed - slept, only after a brief nap then I had energy to eat, watch tv, pack or wash my hair; which remind me I need to wash my hair later! Then, the second book the day before I'm went back to work and would've finished the third soon after that if I didn't save a few chapters for my last shift at the above mentioned expo yesterday. I wouldn't be able to rein in my patience of finishing the book if my curiosity didn't overwhelmed me after I finished the first book and I peek in several last pages of Mockingjay to see whose name was mentioned in most of the pages hehe....

As it turned out, I was so busy giving away freebies the whole morning that I couldn't even manage to get the book out of my bag. Darn B%^*#ians with their freebies... sometimes they wouldn't really wanted the thing but they just sapu... What irritate me during my last shift was they were hordes of school children came with their teachers herding them, so I purposely brought some mouse pad and fan for the schoolchildren - though some of the uniforms people on duty also comes by wanting one or two for themselves. Anyway, we had only so much stock and there's a limit on what I can carry, so in no time at all... I'm all out of stock except for the pens. Then this teacher comes by asking for a mousepad, I said all gone... and she went whining "Aiii...nda tah ku ampit" so??? it's not the end of the world kali ah... you won't die... thats the words running in my head. Then one of her students mengalah gave her her mousepad, "Nah 'cher" she said, and the teacher just simply put it her handbag. I was like OooooooMmmmmmGgggggg... well, I salute the student, for being so kindhearted and well I know teachers are the highest profession that should be respected, so yeah she should value her teacher... but the teacher for accepting it without so much as "eh nda payah tah... biar tia for you"

Okay back to the book before I rant some more on some ppabo people. My intention -before I get sidetracked to ranting -on mentioning the expo was because I put the first book in my bag during the expo with a bottle of mineral water which leaked - I ruin my niece's book so I bought a new one to return to her in Singapore, and when I was paying for the book I thought to myself what the heeck, just buy the second and third book also, to complete my book collection. Anyway the setting was somewhere in the distant future in a land formerly known as U S of A I think - malas to check back the book - where the country was rule by president who reside among the privilege people in the Capitol. They ruled over 12 districts and to rein in control and fear over the districts they hold an annual Hunger Games where the contestant are two children from each districts who must fight in an Arena - to the death. The author said and that she got the idea from flipping thru tv channels and on one channel there was a group of young people competing for money- she thinks - and on the other channel a group of young people in an actual war.


And that what she's trying to convey in her books - I think - of the decaying moral values of civilization today, we could be the people in those books, who thoughts of nothing seeing other people's suffering, taking another lives - survival of the fittest.


I know I will also flipped out like Katniss did if I went through the same thing she did, maybe even much worse. My niece said she didn't like the ending, but I find the ending is just nice... both Gale and Peeta still alive and though she didn't really made a choice, it's what life really is... the decision just fall into place on its own. Yeah, at first I don't like Katniss's 'confusion' state, Peeta or Gale, Gale or Peeta; then okay cut her some slacks she's in her teens and yeah even me in my old age I'm not sure what I want either... but before the her second reaping she did chose Gale though what her heart's want doesn't really matter because she intend not to marry and bring an innocent child into the harsh world - which I salute her for... why bring in more misery for a moment respite?


I like the conversation Katniss eavesdropped Peeta and Gale had when they tried to get into the Capitol, in which Gale admitted on how much Peeta loves Katniss in which he gave 'everything' for her... well that what made me fall for Peeta anyway, that he loves unconditionally. I hope I like the guy they would cast as Peeta in the movie...

Family Outing

I just finished watching 85 episodes of Family Outing over the period of around 2 months!!!!

When I went for a week vacation to Korea last month, whats in my head was - it's useless to bring my brand new laptop along since I won't have the time and the energy to watch FO - I'm gonna miss Family; Kook Jong, Daesung, Chun Hee, Ye Jin etc etc... And to think that I scoff at this show when I first tried to watch it before saying it was boring and not funny! Hehe... Can I collect back my words now?

The Family's song

I think I know what I did wrong the first time around. Then, I was picking the episode randomly by choosing the episode with guests that I like. That way, I don't really get to know the family, how their relationship grew over time, their group dynamics, each unique personalities. I don't know what makes me start watching from the first episodes afterward, but as the laughter erupts so my addiction grow... I need to watched at least one episode per night before I go to sleep.

Well, if you don't know what Family Outing is, it's a Korean variety show (SBS) where on each episode the "Family" travels to different parts of South Korea and takes care of the house of an elderly family while that family goes on a vacation. The "Family" then accomplishes the tasks left for them by the house's owners... and in between the tasks they had childish competitive games among themselves.

The Family consist of:

Yu Jae Suk - the Nation's MC. Though in this show, he really shows a pitiful characters that keeps on getting bullied and orders around by the other family members. But you can see that the others are really comfortable with him, even the guests in that he almost always get picked to do chores along with them. I think he took care of them so that they would not feel awkward by... well making himself looks stupid...hehe


Lee Hyo Ri - the Nation Fairy. A former member of a famous girl group back in the 90's but I think she's still pretty popular even now. Like Jae Suk she really discard trying to maintain a good and pretty image for the sake of bringing the laughter. There are times I really wants to hate her personalities but without her the show will lack luster.


Yoon Jong Shin - the elderly. He's a veteran singer, the eldest in the family. Sometimes his jokes could be so lame and his facial expression so creepy.


Kim Soo Ro - the Game Devil. He's very competitive and before Kim Jong Kook joins the family, was the most intimidating family members. The one he ordered around the most was Chun Hee, but I think he's a softie behind the camera cause Chun Hee still regards him fondly outside of the show and he's one of the guy that cried hardest when Chun Hee have to leave the show. He even tried to hide his emotion from the camera which made that more sincere.


Kang Dae Sung - the cute maknae. He's one of the member of Big Bang, and I think feeling a little bit inferior in terms of looks and popularity compare to the other good-looking member. He's cute because of his personalities, he maybe 22 but the girls took care of him like he's a little kid and the guys don't dare to bully him much scared of the outlash of the Big Bang's fans.


Kim Jong Kook - trainer Kook. I first saw him in Running Man (among the latest variety show), though he seems harsh in there, but there's something that not quite right of painting him so mean. Then I saw when he first joined FO, he's mostly a silent spectators and very shy to 'silly' himself. The earlier episodes when he was so awkward with Hyo Ri was so cute then when they started to get closer and constantly bickering, it's cute too haha... If he doesn't have such amosquito voice I would be smitten by him... I do hope he have a good ending with Ye Jin ^^





Park Hae Jin - the delicate boy. Fall for him in East of Eden, tried to watch Hot Blood because of him, but the storyline was so ridiculous that I had to stop wasting my time. He maybe tall and good-looking, but he was really unlucky in terms of games and usually get chosen for chores. Kook Jong points out that he lacks strength in his lower body and train him a few times on the show for strength. Oh yeah, during the girl group dance face-off where the man dress up as a girl, wow! ipo...


Lee Chun Hee - the clumsy chunderella. he really is a good guy, no matter how others bully him, he doesn't answer back, just "Ne, hyung" unlike Hae Jin who retorts back (but still I like that about him, he stood up for himself). He was so comfortable with Hyo Ri, his same age chingu that I kinda hoping there's something there, but then I think he needs a girl who respect him which I doubt Hyo Ri will. Then last month he got married with a fellow actress and I was so happy for him. What I will remember whenever I saw Chun Hee will be the time he washed radish with soap haha!



Park Ye Jin - sweet, savage lady Ye Jin. I watched a few episodes of My Princess before I watch this and I sooo hate her woody spiteful character there. But in this episode she was so sweet and at times cute, with abilities to handle any kind of animals. Despite her small skinny stature, don't underestimate her strength!



Park Shi Yeon - city girl. I don't have strong feeling for her either positive or negative from watching her dramas. I don't think she stand out much in this show - well with the limited episode she had because of her health issue.

So there you go a brief intro to the Family... I'm gonna miss the show... Well, better get back to my korean drama now. I don't think I want to watch Family Outing 2, its only got 17 episodes so i guess it didn't get much viewership although some of the members are idols.