Iryu

aka Team Medical Dragon.

I just finished both series of this show and it's fantastic! Love the ost, the cast, the plot and not to mention the extremely cute Sakaguchi Kenji who is Asada Ryutaro (not much acting, just a straight face).

The 1st series was about this extremely talented heart surgeon, Ryutaro, who was asked to help out with an extremely difficult operation - Batista. In order to perform this operation, he needed the best operation team. So he solicted a talented nurse, a naive intern doctor, a stubborn doctor who specialise in internal medicine, a trouble making anesthesian and together they helped many patients who were 'abandoned' by the hospital (the hospital rejects patients who are dying because they see no pt in saving them and it lowers their mortality rate).

2nd series followed the same style as the 1st, even the OST was similar as the 1st. New characters were added because hospitals are now facing restructuring and patients who are dying and can't pay are left to die. Ryutaro who is transferred to a new hospital have to put together a new team and as usual it was a challenging uphill task.

The surgical procedures are pretty gory for me, but I learnt much medical terms too. I guess in reality, things never go so smoothly in a surgery. But I'm glad no one die on the operating table for this show, because I'm sick of shows with unhappy endings.

The show's underlying meaning is teamwork. In the past, the only time I find myself working in a team, except school days when we have to do project. Even at work, though I belonged to some dept, I did not consider myself working in a team. Instead we were more like individuals tasked with different activities and we just cared about completing our own segment. In some ways it feels that the working world is a selfish place where people fight for own 'survival' even if it means the demise of another. It's an awful feeling and a vicious cycle.

It's easier to find a group of friends to have fun, than to gather a team to work towards a common goal. Because play is always better than work and we are a lazy bunch. I may not be rich, but I have a much precious asset and that's my team of Hana peers who strive for the same things I do.

Like Ryutaro, I want to put together my team of talents. Target 37 people.

Optimism with real truth favor

I was watching Amazing Race with my siblings yesterday. there was a father-daughter team: Ronald and Christine. In the 1st leg, the father keeps apologizing for disappointing her and keeps saying he doesn't want to disappoint his daughter by losing the race. Christine the daughter however keep reassuring her dad that she is very proud of him. During the 2nd leg, the father became quite indecisive and defensive and started showing his bad side. He first scolded another guy from another team for being rude to the airline crew. Next at the detour he keeps repeating that he doesn't know how to hoist furniture and that the other challenge which is hunting the bicycles going to be difficult because there will be an ocean of bikes. The daughter tried to cheer him on saying that it's ok, as long as they stay positive. The father suddenly threw his temper again at her saying he is keeping optimism except his optimism is the truth (which is that it is going to be difficult) Then at the road block, he dissed his daughter by saying he could have done it.

My sister who was watching the show with me made a comment 'if i were the daughter, i would have slap the father who was being so irritating.' I had the same sentiments. Asian parents are not fond of encouragement or praises. They believe by doting on you, by encouraging and praising you makes you an arrogant or big headed person who is too full of yourself. They like to paint a very pessimistic picture of the world, like it is dangerous to go overseas alone, we shouldn't divulge too much of ourselves to other people than our family. Like my mum, who since young believes a good daughter cleans, washes and does housework beautifully (very domesticated) I remembered when the 1st time I got 2nd in class, she was not at all proud. In fact i dun remember her coming for the prize ceremony (subsequent ones she did not turn up too) She never showed her pride for me during my academic achievements. In fact, she told me girls don't need to study so much. just need to marry good husband. So as a kid, I grew up eager for attention, pride, encouragement and praises that my parents never gave me.

Thankfully after working hard in school and coming out to the society to work taught me that it's ok that my parents never praise me as much as I wanted when I was young. It made me stronger and more independent. They are who they are because their parents don't praise them too, so they don't know how to praise us. And they had a hard life, where money is hard earned because they cannot further studies because they are poor. But our generation should be different, now that we can see this. I'm not trying to say my mum is wrong. I still love her alot and she is right in her way, but it doesn't apply to our generation anymore. I see the daughter in Amazing race and I realize Asian women are really strong mentally and physically. Males in Asian countries are still perceived as the dominant gender. Women really still have to do more to prove ourselves, very unlike in the West. plus we have to suffer the gender stereotypes from our parents' generation. If we don't make a difference to our next generation, it's just going to be a vicious cycle.

So it all starts with us to make that one difference to our daughters (and sons) in the future, to praise and encourage them. Let them know it is ok to make mistakes as long as we learn from it. But at the same time, maintain the Asian values of humility, loyalty, integrity and tenacity.

And the world don't have to an awful place. We can see good in everything and everyone. I firmly believe in learning to not take things too hard and just do our best. What others do, we really can't control.

Everything (North East) Asian

Guess which are the cities below:

Shibuya

Dongdaemun

Ximending

I am really into the North Asia countries, primarily Japan, Korea and Taiwan (not country, err place. Sensitive). Notice how their main shopping areas are similar in the look and feel. Somehow I like this look and feel. (think that's because I'm more of a shopping mall girl than rural countryside person). I love their culture, TV dramas, fashion, food, music, almost everything. Think I'm badly influence by their shows.

But I also find Japanese, Koreans, Taiwanese extremely creative people in terms of technology, gadgets, fashions, etc. Wonder why. Was talking to Cass yesterday about staying in Japan for some time. It's my dream to travel to these places (1st before I branch off to other continents) and stay there for 6 mths to a year in each place, to experience the culture, lifestyle and language (I wanna learn japanese! next korean! and french and... language is my thing. science is so not)

But then again, notice how the roots of all these places were originally from China? Hmmm

Some things I like from each place:

Japan

Sushi! (and sashimi, tempura, teppanyaki, etc. etc. I used to work in Japanese restaurant so I end up loving the culture even more >.<)

Japanese dramas (my latest craze is Galileo. Masaharu Fukuyama is so hot! my eye candy)

Anime (especially Shoujo manga like Paradise Kiss, but the above is from Ah, My Goddess!)

Gundam (I know it's so not me, I blame it on my bro's influence. These robotic shows are damn thought provoking on issues like human rights and politics. and I dig the super cute anime characters and voiceovers)

Utada Hikaru. Like her since that song 'First Love'. Extremely talented but she seems to be missing from the music scene for a very long time :(

Ayumi Hamasaki (the Japanese equal of Ah Lian. Think Jolin always copy her looks loh. But nonetheless she is cute like a doll and her songs are very catchy!)

Kimono (so cute! I want to wear one this lifetime. In Japan)

Nana (whatelse is new. So nice! When and where is the new chapters of manga and new season of anime coming out?)

Korea

Korean Dramas

Princess Hours / Goong (beautiful wardrobe, beautiful cast, shoujo manga storyline and plot. One of my favourite Korean dramas)

Coffee Prince (How do I live without love stories? And this is a super happy light hearted Korean drama unlike those tear jerkers kind. Fall in love with Korean music because of this show)

Yoon Eue Hye, lead of Coffee Prince and Princess Hours. Pretty much says why I love her too.

Joo Ji Hoon (he is the only korean eye candy i bothered finding out the name of. Besides Gong Yoo from Coffee Prince. He is so cute, like manga character)

Hanbok, Korean traditional costume. How come their traditional costume all so pretty?

Taiwan

Variety shows (especially those by ASOS, just because they are so mean, shameless, entertaining, funny, sacarstic, hence they make good entertainment)

Taiwanese Idol Dramas (like It All Started With a Kiss, because they always steal story ideas by Japanese comic, but make a better version than the Japanese) Ariel Lin, the main lead of this show is also one my favourite TW actress, because she is talented, hardworking and daring, though not that mainstream.

Joe Cheng (Zheng Yuan Chang I think in Hanyu Pinyin. Just because he is an
androgynous looking eye candy. super metrosexual man but cute)

Rainie Yang (Queen of cuteness, though not as act cute as Cyndi Huang. She hosts, sings, dance, acts in dramas and movie, like that lesbian Spider Lilies. This girl has range!)

Dim Sum, not Taiwan food, but it's Chinese food too. Though more of cantonese cuisine. But I still like!

Xiaolongbao. Big in TW, but apparently from Shanghai. Then again it's yummy! (notice how the food i like is usually bite size.)

Things I want to try when I go Korea / Japan (since I've been to TW twice)

Skiing (must try at least once in my lifetime though it is super likely I will fall like nobody's business)

Hot Spring (I like being in warm element in cold climate. like under blanket when i turn my aircon to 17 degree celsius)

Snow. Just because I never see snow before :(

Sakura (because it is so pretty)

Reflection

I heart my playlist. It probably is intuitive because it plays just the kind of music that i want to listen to when i feel like it.

I enjoyed Len's lesson very much. Especially the 7 things we can control. I laughed my head off, mainly because I am laughing at myself, for doing all the 7 things he mentioned. Me not very good with controlling... partly because too emotional. And being emotional is no good for business.

Saying this, reminds me Nana K. aka Hachiko. She is a character from Nana, who always have the habit of falling in love at first sight. Which doesn't work very well for her because in the end, love slipped by her hands. She jumps from one relationship to another because she is always feeling lonely. Actually she loves no one, but herself. And she just wished for someone, anyone to love her back.

Incredible. Resembles real life.

Anyway on a cold turkey for Nana. Still got a few more episodes to complete the series. Planning to do so late at night on Fri. In the meantime, suddenly got a lot of work at work to complete. And still got several new projects for Hana. Keeping myself so busy, sometimes pushes me to the brink of breaking point. But I like working and doing. It keeps me alive and useful, needed.

Fear. Fear of failure, disappointment

Doing vs thinking. Are you a 'I should' or 'I could'? There's 2 sides to everything, which side do you believe in?

Words carry alot of weight. Ever heard of self-fulfilling prophecy? We are indeed who we describe ourselves to be

Just something I learnt from yesterday's lesson.

Shojo Manga

I'm really slow in catching up on shows and anime. Nana was such a craze in 2005 when the movie was launched, but I only caught on now! argh. If not for that incredible song Kailin sang, I won't be hooked on this seemingly hentai lesbo show.

But after watching it, it is so not what I thought. No wonder it's such a popular shojo manga because this show is so relatable to young girls. Nana Komatsu aka Hachi, the girl from countryside looking for love and happiness is very relatable and certain characteristics reminds me of myself (like falling in love on 1st sight, idealising love etc). The other Nana, who is the vocalist of the band, remains me of the girl I wanna to become, achieving her dreams despite giving up love.

I'm neither as stupid as Hachi (as least i hope), nor am I strong like Nana. Both girls are incredible in their own right. There was this episode where Nana disapproved Hachi's choice of guy (because that guy is such a player and jerk. I hate it when she married him!), but she didn't dare to criticise Hachi's choice (or rather can't bear to) because she knows to Hachi, a woman's happiness is being with the man she loves.

Sad but true. sometimes we see others making a mistake but we don't dare to reproach them because we scared they will be angry at us. I've seen some of my friends fall head over heels for guys who totally don't deserve them, but I dun dare reproach them. the only thing I can do is probably cheer them on and support them when they need someone. because I've been through it. I've made some pretty stupid decisions when it comes to men... but last thing I want is someone criticizing my decisions. come to think of it, it's stupid. But love is blind.

Why do we let ourselves fall in the same vicious cycle all the time?

Anyway Nana rocks!

The TV bug bites again!

Gundam OO

I'm a closet anime junkie who likes Gundam! Influenced by my bro since sec sch days, the latest Gundam series is here! Saw the 1st 2 episodes and I am hooked. Setsuna Seiei and Marina Ismail!!! Will they be the new couple of this series? (girl's 24 and he's 16, unlikely right?) Oooo and the gundams are way COOOOOOOOOOL!

Nodame Cantabile

Recommended by Kailin (whom I met for KTV on sunday, this girl can really hit the high notes), this is surprisingly a great show to watch. Reminds me a little of 恶作剧之吻 japanese version, except the girl in this show is slightly prettier, more talented but 100 times more disgusting. alot of hilarious parts but also very touching at the same time. Jpop and Japanese drama still rocks! I'm now hooked on classical music because of this show! My favourite is Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue. 1/2 way thru the series, can't wait to finish it!

*Listen to the songs playing by choosing from the playlist at the bottom of the tagboard. You can turn it off too if it is too irritating. But that playlist plays my current favourite songs! I heart music!

I'm truly an international TV Buff. I watch Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, certain HK shows, US drama series, not to mention anime as well! So many new seasons out now! I'm also hooked on Ugly Betty, Grey Anatomy, Prison Break, House, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & sisters! someone save me by blessing me with more time!!!

Brothers & Sisters

A typical American drama on family (albeit an American one). Calista Flockhart is in this show and I used to watch her so often on Ally McBeal. I've grown to love the series and the women in the show. Like Sally Field who plays the mother and the elder sister whose name I've forgotten. She is one strong lady who works and takes care of her own families (her own children and her siblings). I enjoy the dialogue very much, quite witty, not like the spoken english we have in Singapore. And it just seems so touching. The quality of film and choice of music works well for this show, hence touching the hearts of the audience. Alot of screwed up things happening to this family, like father's mistress, drug abuse, casual sex (which seems pretty common in the States), and hot gays kissing!.

I love these kind of All-American dramas. They cover all kind of genres, from CSI to Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives to 24 Hours. And it's great Channel 5 is bringing in more and more of such dramas. Still remember those days when I used to stay up late till midnight to catch JAG, Ally Mcbeal, One Tree Hill, Gilmore girls during my sec sch days. It was not until I was in Poly, when I learn to appreciate Friends. It made me laugh even more. I could rewatch the earlier seasons and laugh at the fashion then somemore.

And who can forget the all time favourite - Sex and the city! They have a similar season coming on now too by Candance Bushnell, the same author of Sex and the City - Lipstick Jungle. Career women trapped in New York's dog eat dog world. A fashion designer, a magazine editor and a production house owner. Not as good as Sex and the City but I could empathize with the girls

So why can't Singaporeans talk witty like the Americans?

Liar Game

Highly recommended by Len. This show rocks man! the scheming cunning ugly side of mankind. The greed, the fear... I can relate. Mankind has flaws, but I believe in justice and karma.

'The only formula to win this game is to trust one another, forgo any selfishness and work as a team.' So true

I believe in Hana and the team. no looking back.

It's over

My Coffee Prince has ended its run this week and tonight is the last episode. so sad to have a good series end, but any longer would have been too much.

This show is really unlike most korean dramas where it is either too sad, or too goofy. Quite confident it's going to be an even greater hit than Goong. Yoon Eun Hye the female actress acted well for her role I feel. Really very tomboyish yet endearing. And the male lead Gong Yoo is to die for, cool personality with childish antics. And Mr Soulful voice and his so cute dog!

I know I am just rambling nonsense here but this series is a super must watch, feel good show. Optimistic and I love the music and the setting of Coffee Prince. I want to set up a cafe just like Coffee Prince, complete with Baristas, waffles and cute male waiters! whahaha

To read about Coffee Prince, you can visit http://www.dramabeans.com/ for episode summaries or www.imoovee.com to watch the show.

Superb show! Must watch!!!

So cute!

Choices

Watching unsub episode 11 of Coffee Prince. She is having a hard time deciding whether to tell him she is actually a girl, scared that he will leave her. Longer she decides, longer she has to lie to him. When he knows, he does not understand and walks away.

I may actually write the episodes synopses of this show soon! it is so good.

In life, we always face many choices. We try to make the right one, we dunno what is the right one. We delay our decision making, hoping by delaying we can eventually arrive to an answer. Well delay tactics don't always work. Not making a decision sometimes make things worse. So what?

Someone once shared with me, the difficult part of decision making is not choosing the right decision to make. But it is the action of making a decision. Some decisions in life, once made can never turn back. But things could be worse if we don't make a decision. We end up losing more.

I would say give your decision a serious thought. Once you have decided, don't look back. You can survive the consequences, good or bad.

*Yesterday I had alot of fun doing makeup for the pageant photoshoot. Don't know why, maybe because it has been a while since i can do such colourful eyeshadows on others. Do you know the eyes are usually the focus of makeup. Just on the eye, we use eyebrow pencil, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara. so fun!

It's a beautiful and wonderful Monday...

I am determined to not let another sucky morning bus ride ruin my Monday! But I'm really so tired. -_-

Coffee Prince

This korean show definitely have the makings of a must watch one after Goong!

Short Synopsis: "With a foolish mother and the need to look after her younger sister, “pretty boy” Go Eun Chan has to give up her feminine image to help support the family with multiple jobs. Because of her previous experience with Tae Kwon Do, Eun Chan has quite the bold and opinionated personality. Choi Han Kyul seems to know women well and thinks of himself as a great guy.

After accidentally being mistaken for a man by Han Kyul’s cousin, Choi Han Seong, she starts working at Coffee Prince, and falls in love with the hot-tempered owner Choi Han Kyul. Han Kyul hires Eun Chan to avoid an arranged marrage by pretending to be romantically linked to a “gay” Eun Chan. But Choi Han Kyul slowly starts to develop feelings for her, but still doesn’t believe in love. Eun Chan also starts to have feelings for Han Kyul but can’t confess that she’s a woman, Han Kyul, continues thinking that the agonized Go Eun Chan is a man. Choi Han Kyul thinks he’s experiencing feelings of homosexuality towards her, and gets heartsick. This side of him was drawn in a risky but fun way.

The part when he discovers that Go Eun Chan is a woman is shown in an undemanding way, and the story doesn’t concentrate on just these two people, but also on the other people who frequent Coffee Prince. These people are shown one by one in a natural way, and since the story isn’t just about romance but about the natural conflicts of all the characters." - taken from coffee-prince.com

It's super nice loh!!! especially its latest episode 5 and 6. Starring Yoon Eun Hye who is the main female lead from Goong, she totally transformed into this little androgynous boy/girl character. And the romance between the actors are so natural and heartwarming and hilarious all at the same time. The setting of this drama is so nice, i.e the cafe, their houses. Still showing in Korea, there're 16 episodes altogether. I'm sure this show will have many followers once start showing in places like TW, Singapore.

Getting my pay this week! finally! I wanna get a new Handphone and this is the one, after it was highly recommended by Caren:

I know of at least 3 people who is using this phone. Guess it must be a really good and cheap one as it is only $68 bucks after I trade in my current phone and upgrade my phone plan. Provided they'll accept my damaged 6100 >.<

This is meant to be a superficial, my happy post. Enough upsetting news from last week. I just wanna be happy.

Family, Friends and The Earth

I love my family and friends and my Earth

My weekend can be considered well-spent with those I love. It was clubbing at Bar None with Sarah and Shumin on Saturday (it was Pam's birthday party and I brought those two party animals along for some fun)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM! (though I dunno if you read this)

Was intending to head to New Asia Bar / MOS after the party, but we were having too much fun drinking, dancing and socialising with Pam's friends that we stayed at Bar None and Living Room until 4am. Was introduced to Edwin Yeo, a used to be journalist. Apparently he used to gave us a lecture when I was still at CMM, but i completely can't recall that lecture at all. Anyway he is now running a PR company and I cheekily asked about whether there was any job offering.

And things start rolling out that probably PR is not the way for me as I do not have much experience in the media industry. Been in the hospitality industry since graduation probably have not been a very smart move for me. But I have not looked back since. Choice been made and I am sticking by it. Anyway work is just as transition period. But choosing a relevant job is important. So morale of the story: DO NOT COMPROMISE.

After such a tiring night, I only woke up at ard 2 / 3 pm and watch Live Earth. And I was so lucky to catch Madonna. Love her man, she is so damn cool. Really an icon over the eras. Anyway I was really inspired by all the artistes' performances, the commercials and the short films. Feel that the whole publicity of this event done by Ch5 is really good, however publicity in newspapers are probably lacking by alot. This event super reminded of my 1st job after graduation which is public relations for an non-existent event - Listen Live. So sad my event never took off in Singapore but so happy that the concept has taken its life in Live Earth. I really feel that more of such events should be organized to gather the world together for a common cause. Go to liveearth.org to find out more and do your bit to save our dying earth. Oh ya, and switch off that light you are not using.

Last night was truly the highlight of my week, because I finally spent time with my family! We had a crab zhi char dinner at Punggol and I really feel very blessed to have the chance to have dinner with my family. Can't remember when was the last time I actually sat down with them to eat a meal together. Must be CNY... so sad right? We bought durians and walked home from Punggol with it and talked alot. I finally did that long overdue facial for my mum and sister too! I kept really quiet when my parents was saying we should be doing this every weekend. I really wish I can, but if I got more impt priorities I've gotta go fulfill those first before I can be with my parents 24/7. Ever since I have joined Amway, I really really really wished my parents are fighting on the same line as me, so that it won't be so tough and we can go overseas together within the next 2 years too. I wish for that day to come real soon!

Belief

I've went through quite a emotional roller coaster with the leads from Spring Waltz. The love so pure and innocent, leave me wondering will I ever have a love as great and wonderful as this? The songs of the show speaks of the strong emotions I have for love. Yes I do need love. And I'm happy it's all around me.

I wish I can write forever about love. But to be honest, the love between a boy and a girl is hard to come by. And the strange thing is the more you wish for it, the more it deludes you. And the more you ask from it, the further it runs away from you. So how do you keep the balance.

However in the worst of times, other loves come in to save you from misery. Scared of being lonely? Find some friends and actually be happy you've got them. When everything is falling apart, go home and find solace from the family who would always be there to love you for who you are. Love the activities you are doing right now. It might just be the last time you are doing it.

Maybe it's the songs that are getting me so emotional today. I'm emo I admit. I'm nothing more than flesh and blood without emotions. And dreams. Dreams shape our lives, our existence in this very world. Gives us a purpose for our being here at this very space of time. If you have wasted your 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 1 hour, 1 minute or even a single second, you are never going to find it back again. Before you know it, you have lost it. So grab every opportunity you have to learn something to make yourself better. Learning helps to attain your dreams, experiences make each moment worthwhile. At least that's what I believe in. Want something? Show that you want it that badly, so that you truly deserve it and own it.

child of our time

i enjoy this documentary ALOT. become such a salesperson for it when talking to Serene just now. it just makes so much sense to me why certain people act the way they are. Like the most shy person may not be one with lowest self esteem and people who are outgoing and talkative may not be very confident of their ability. and we as humans strive for praises, compliments and encouragements since young and all these go a long to shaping our self esteem and build the person we are now. cool to know how one can be successful in life, not only because of good genes, but also the proper nurturing the parents give their children. Making your children feel good about themselves go a longer way than buying gifts and giving them just money and a good education. I wish i can take all these points down so that i can remind myself how to be a gd parent next time.

Parents of Singapore should really slow down and spend quality time loving their children. they're after all a part of them and the result of love with their spouses. I'm such a preacher. if only my parents gave me more encouragement since young, I'd probably grow up to be a different person who wouldn't yearn fro compliments and praises so much. I yearn for recognition for my good work, my good points, someone to tell me i'm successful in life. Should i have more self esteem, i could tell myself i'm good enough in my own eyes. I shouldn't keep thinking of the failures and mistakes in my life, but remind myself of the positive qualities in myself. not to the extent of being oblivious to my flaws of course. But i shouldn't be hard on myself for compliments.

it feels really good that no one is judging what i write when no one knows i'm keeping a blog. but somehow i'm also dying to give this blog address to my friends. am i that hard up for attention?