Introducing The Gu Family Book

Recently, after my overseas trip, I've taken an interest in a new Korean drama by MBC and it's one of the highest rating shows in Korea currently - The Gu Family Book 구가의 서. It combines legends and history and martial arts together in the Joseon Dynasty, something which I like, a little similar to The Moon that Embraces the Sun but I think this is much better because the plot twists and turns oh-so-well and the magical element of the gumiho (forest spirit) adds excitement to it.
Starring Lee Seung-gi as Choi Kangchi and Suzy (Miss A) as Dam Yeo-Wool, it also has a full cast of good-looking actors like Choi Jin Hyuk as Gu Wol-Ryung and Sung Joon as Gon, Yeo-Wool's bodyguard.

Spanning for 2 generations, the tale speaks of Wol-Ryung falling in love with a human, Seo-hwa, who is sold as a state gisaeng as a punishment for her father's accusation of treason by this baddie Jo Gwan-woong, who is out for fame, wealth and power.They got married but Seo-hwa does not know about Wol-Ryung's real identity, while Wol-Ryung attempts to become human by meditatitng for 100days but Seo-hwa got caught and Wol-Ryung had no choice but to reveal his identity, which cursed him to live as a demon for 1000years :( Seo-hwa was shocked and betrayed Wol-Ryung by rejecting him and turning him to the authorities. Seo-hwa later found out she was pregnant and gave birth to a baby (Kang Chi). She gave him to So-jeong (Wol-ryung's friend) and tried to kill Gwan-woong but instead got stabbed herself.

The drama fast-forwarded to 20years later after Kangchi was adopted by a merchant Park Mu sol and brought up as his own son. It seemed that 20 years did pass along rather peacefully but in a flash, what happened 20 years ago to Seo-hwa's family repeated with Park Mu Sol and his family. Deja vu I guess..Things started unfolding very interesting and quickly, I found myself realising that there is a bigger plot amidst the romance and each episode becomes very exciting. No wonder this show is gaining popularity (in addition to the star-studded cast). Currently its up to Episode 14 but in total there are 24.


Can't wait for the next episode;)

Lee Seung gi & Suzy

Seo Hwa & Wolryung

Post race/End of season Muses... :'(

It's been a week since my last race(s) of this semester - or should I say my NUS life (TAS don't count because I'm probably already done with school) and this time, unlike the other races, I'm still feeling the exhilaration after the 2 races (Tertiary & Novice categories for NUS Bi). This is the first time in my life that I'm honestly happy about my performance in the races and no regrets felt.

Training with this team has been really special to me. Training with people who train more and harder than me. Training with people whose passion in this sport drive their lives

Coach David: Thanks for all your dedication to the team, doing all the time trials to help us improve and always making trainings so painfully enjoyable! Really appreciate all your positivity, knowledge you've contributed to the team and the encouragements! :D

Debbie: Thank you for encouraging me with your words & presence throughout my time in the CCA as a student :) You've been a real inspiration to the team! Hope you'll not give up and continue to improve

Chunnie: Thanks for always being so positive. I really admire your strength & determination - your never-say-die attitude! Hope you'll enjoy your remaining time as girls' capt :)

Clara: Continue to train hard and I know you'll achieve greater heights! I really like your humble attitude towards sports & still continue to help us in trainings with swim :)

Sherlynn: hahahaahs..Sherlynn i'll never forget your laughter! thanks for being such a great captain and I really appreciate your positive attitude and cheerful nature!!

Sara: Thanks Sara for all the knowledge and wisdom you've always shared with me and the others! Your determination to do well never fails to inspire me to push my limits!

Charis: Thanks for always being so funny and positive during trainings!

Enid: I thought that you did a really good job for NUS Bi this time despite getting the pressure to race in the first team so late! Thanks for always being so encouraging :) Hope we can still train together after graduation..

Barbs: Though you didn't race this time for NUS Bi, thanks for all the time you've been supporting and cheering for us girls! And not forgetting all your jokes that crack us up..Jiayou for your first tri!

Shuwie: Thanks for standing at the slope to cheer us on! And I think you should just change your school to NUS..hahahas :)

John Chew: I really must include you in my list despite knowing you for about a year only? Thanks for all the encouragements & prayers :) And definitely all the help you've offered too!

Fellow "Lane 9-ers" (or ex) - Naz, Subra, William, Mathias, Yinghao, Baldwin, Baris, Ken:
Happy to see you guys improving so so so much (& definitely much more than me) that some of you guys have already "upgraded". Well, keep up the good work and let's continue to motivate each other!:)

Seniors (Lemin, JJ, Jon Ma): Thanks for all the help and support during races and trainings! Especially walking a long way to encourage us and cheer us on..Appreciate all the laughter and fun you guys bring to the team too :)

The rest of the team: Sorry I can't mention all of you because there's too much to thank you guys for  but I'm sure you don't want me to ramble on..Anyways, each and every one of you have impacted my life in one way or another and I do really treasure your friendship. I think that you guys hold a really special place in my heart as Team NUS Aquathlon, memories that we've all spent together were really good times for me. <3 you guys loads!!


For every chapter of your life you close, a new one you will open..

Mixed feelings of sadness, apprehension and hope.

Who knows what the future holds? Let's go.

HISTORY (히스토리)- up and rising

우리 알지 않아요?

I really like this guy group a lot and I do believe thwy've got potential to shine! :D

And yea my bias is Song Kyungil, the leader and also the most charismatic (goodlooking) and oldest.

Here are the lyrics:

불렀다
마침내 내 이름을 불렀다
그 때 난 모든 것을 꿈꿨다
내 곁의 너를 빛낼 찬란한
나의 모습을


One step 내 뒤에 널 태우고
Two step 저 높이로 날으고
아주 미칠 듯 멋질 테니까
놀라지 마요
You are so beautiful You~
One step 가슴에 널 채우고
Two step 첫 단추를 채우고
이제 딴 곳을 보지 마요
한 곳만 바라봐 줘요
나만 바라봐 줘요


(네 마음을)
훔쳤다
이걸 절대 놓지 않을 거야
(나에 대해서)
알았다
한 치 앞 볼 수 없던 내가 아냐
내 모든 친구들
모두 널 좋아 할거야
나의 사람이 될 너를


느꼈다
널 보는 순간 나는 알았다
내 생애 최고의 순간임을
날 전부 바꿀
결정적 그 순간임을


One step 내 뒤에 널 태우고
Two step 저 높이로 날으고
아주 미칠 듯 멋질 테니까
놀라지 마요
You are so beautiful You~
One step 가슴에 널 채우고
Two step 첫 단추를 채우고
이제 딴 곳을 보지 마요
한 곳만 바라봐 줘요
나만 바라봐 줘요


훔쳤다
조심스러워 보여도 맡은
Mission은 이미 Possible
알았다
풀 수 없을 것 같았던
심리전 끝에 얻은 그대의 Password
You’d better watch out 느낌을 갖춰
네게 찾아온 이 밤 우리 발맞춰
One step and two step 숨죽여 I got you


이 느낌이 좋아
숨을 깊이, Who-A
조심스레
너의 맘을 가질러 찾아온 이 밤


One step 내 뒤에 널 태우고
Two step 저 높이로 날으고
아주 미칠 듯 멋질 테니까
나를 보고 놀라지마
You are so beautiful You~
One step 가슴에 널 채우고
Two step 첫 단추를 채우고
이제 딴 곳을 보지 마요
한 곳만 바라봐 줘요 wonderful~


(네 마음을)
훔쳤다
이걸 절대 놓지 않을 거야
(나에 대해서)
알았다
한 치 앞 볼 수 없던 내가 아냐
내 모든 친구들
나만큼 좋아 할거야


너의 맘을 가진 오늘
니 꿈을 꾼다



You called me
Finally you called my name
And here began all my dreams
Having you here with me
Makes everything shine brighter


One Step You sit behind me
Two Step We fly up high
It will be incredibly cool
Don’t be surprised
You are so beautiful You~
One Step Fill my heart with you
Two Step Fasten the first button
Don’t look anywhere else now
Only look here, please
Only look at me


(Your Heart)
I stole your heart
I won’t let go of your hand
(Things about me)
I know you now
Couldn’t see beyond my nose, but now I can
All my friends will like you
As much as I do
You belong to me


I feel it
The moment I saw you I just knew it
This moment will be the best in my life
The decisive moment
that can change me


One Step You sit behind me
Two Step We fly up high
It will be incredibly cool
Don’t be surprised
You are so beautiful You~
One Step Fill my heart with you
Two Step Fasten the first button
Don’t look anywhere else now
Only look here, please
Only look at me


I stole it
Seemed to be cautious,
But the mission is possible
I knew it
Seemed to be mysterious,
But I got the password at the end of the mind game
You’d better watch out, can’t fight this feeling
Come to you this night, we walk together
One step and Two step, I whisper, “I got you”


I like this feeling
Take a deep breath, Who-A
Carefully
I’m here to steal your heart tonight


One Step You sit behind me
Two Step We fly up high
It will be incredibly cool
Don’t be surprised
You are so beautiful You~
One Step Fill my heart with you
Two Step Fasten the first button
Don’t look anywhere else now
Only look here, please. Wonderful~


(Your Heart)
I stole your heart
I won’t let go of your hand
(Things about me)
I know you now
Couldn’t see beyond my nose, but now I can
All my friends will like you
As much as I do


Tonight I stole your heart,
And I dream of you

Exams overrr..& that ends my 4 years in NUS

My last paper ended on 10 May 2013.

My brain really couldn't register that the exams were finally over.

I've reached another crossroad of life but there's so many things to do now and yea I should start blogging about more variety of things like kpop, experiences, food ...

And last weekend was awesome and packed as well.

1. Nike Race - Finally Meihui and I got 3rd for BUDDY category - although the timing was my worst 5k timing at 23min but oh well.It was really a hurried race and didn't have much feelings into it so I shall not elaborate too much..Thank you GOD!

Photobooth!

2. Lunafly in Singapore (Caught them at the Sheng Siong Show after the Nike Race & the concert, which I will blog later)

Roomies!! :D

3. Trifactor Swim (12May) - John and I went together - he did 3k while I did 500m :P But it was quite an interesting experience as it was my first swim event so I wasn't expecting much out of it. *UPDATE: OMG I WON FIRST!!!!! At 9min 52s* It was probably my best open-water swim ever! Won a pair of Radarlock Oakleys, 3 cartons of Pokka Sports Drinks and a medal :)

 Just that I kinda realised a huge difference between people who does sports and those who do not. This is what they will say during pre-race:

"All the best! Have a lot of fun :)"

While those that don't,

"All the best! Don't kill yourself trying though :( "

See my point?

I'm always envious of people who receive a lot of support from their loved ones during sports events because of the common interest in the sport or just support.

Fly to L.O.V.E. - Lunafly's showcase at Hard Rock Cafe

Finally I have some time to update you guys about the Lunafly concert! :)

ONE WORD IN TINGLISH (Teo's English): AMAZING. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ...

Went for Trifactor Swim with John at Sentosa in the morning..While everyone did 3k, i did a 500m (well, at least i did an easy 5k run). After that I had to rush home to get ready for the concert. Esther and I arrived at Hard Rock at 2pm and the queue for fans waiting to get in snaked into the carpark already. Luckily 2 girls I met at the Sheng Siong Show actually offered me a place near the front. The sweltering heat didn't help with the mood and it really made me perspire so much that the girls behind me offered tissues :O OMO..

3pm came after an excruciatingly long wait and we were ushered in..EXCITED! It was much cooler inside but we felt a little cheated because Hard Rock customers could watch for free while we had to pay..urgh.

Finally Lunafly appeared :) And boy, I was really enchanted by their entrance..We were standing quite close and I was rather tall so it was quite a good position; just that it wasn't close to shake their hands or fancam with them but anyhow, I had fun.

entrance in

  They performed a lot of songs - both covers & Lunafly's songs and a mix of the Korean and English versions & also had a costume change, from black to multicoloured :) I'm not trying to be biased or anything but this is the best concert I've ever attended because Lunafly really tries to connect with the audience through eye-contact (Yun especially!), Teo's bantering with Sam and the audience and how Sam tries to make everything clear in English for us.

I'll never forget how Yun stared at me..hehehes..I gave up making eye contact with Sam because clearly he is professional through eye contact with the audience - he makes eye contact with everyone but for Yun, you can actually feel that the eye contact is personal. His gaze is electrifying and has, in the split moment made me like him a lot. :) <3 Although he likes Hyorin, tall older girls and girls who walk with a gentle pretty gait, I doubt I caught his attention..hahahs me & my wishful thinking...

camwhoring - wished its my camera though

Sam's looking here

Yunnie ^^

Hard to capture Teo cos he is so far

Photo with the guys - i was grinning a little too much :/

Summary of my 4 years of Sociology education

Sociology is the study of differences in society, to understand who they are, why they are different & how to improve the situation!

The main takeaway I have from sutdying in NUS for 4 years - learnt a lot and really enjoyed it. When people ask what am I studying & what is Sociology, no longer I will tell them it is "all about Society" which is rather vague I realised. 

Sociology has indeed opened my eyes to the inequality, as well as cultures, around the whole, things I would never learn nor take interest of if I'm studying Business, Science, Medicine...etc. And I'm glad I did, despite my lousy grades.

Stuff that I've did: Sociology of Food, Culture & Anthropology, Health, Social Movements, Urban Cities, Religion & Secularity, Sports, China, Visual, Gender, Ageing, Citizenship, Interpretive, State & Society, Rituals, Popular Culture, Methodology, Sexuality, Tourism & Leisure

From the basics of the literature on Marx, Durkheim and Weber, which were the founding fathers of Sociology (and yes, pretty boring), I delved into more current and interesting topics like the sociology of death, cultural inquiry, tourism... 

On top of that I minored in China Studies, one topic dear to me :)

The Perfect Boyfriend...

Nothing ever stays the same - your looks, your thoughts, your feelings.

The image of the perfect boyfriend (maybe now not perfect anymore) changes for me since I discovered the presence of the other gender.

The only good-looker in primary school was probably a variation of the Ken doll or some pop idol - tall, muscular, dark and handsome (then again, at that time, you don't really notice guys)

The bad boy has always been attractive to me since then - cocky grin, the piercings and tattoos, the heck-i-don't-give-a-damn attittude, soccer star and who often also has a soft and sweet spot for girls (esp their mums)

The star athlete was also my choice after I started picking up sports and wanted my ideal partner to shine  - I grew up watching volleyball matches and soccer matches for a certain particular reason, I picked up soccer and liked Jay Chou because of a certain someone too! Fit, tall, tanned, sporty was totally my kind. One whom you can go about supporting his matches/races & feeling proud that you have such a guy.

Was really envious when friends my age were starting to get attached in secondary school onwards and still, I kept reassuring myself, you'll find someone soon, you're still young - echoing the same sentiments as my mum. Well, I was quite wrong, for the record.

In university, you get surrounded by eligible (& non-eligible) bachelors, each better looking than the previous and when you learn about class, most of them are of equal or higher social status than yourself. And still you see everyone getting attached, all except yourself :( Now this is sounding more tragic..You see this guy, running on the track, no doubt good-looking, and he becomes your EC for 4years and it makes you really depressed because in these years, he was in 3 relationships - but none with you.

Life is not just about finding someone, you tell yourself, and so you train hard, join more activities (and yes, hang around with more guys) to occupy yourself. You went out with a number of guys but you were probably friend-zoned. Still, no luck and you suffer a number of heartaches here and there but you don't learn. After all, it was sweet memories. Slowly, your expectations lower - by a huge drop - and you start liking guys whom are just nice to you. And this makes things worse because they are nice to everyone, not only you. 

You need an affirmation, an indication that you are a perfectly normal girl just praying to God that things would turn out right. Finally, you managed to get a guy smitten over you. It's a refreshing change from the opposite, where you just pin and hope for the best. This time you get roses, car rides, gifts, hugs and most importantly, an affirmation that there is someone in the world who cares deeply about you and is probably willing to sacrifise for you. He's not the perfect boyfriend - none of the above, not even close - and you know that deep down but you just need to hang on to someone for positive affirmation.

Still you're unsure and not all satisfied. Why? Because you realised that there's someone else occupying your thoughts - your nice and friendly neighbour, one who has the same interests as you, one who enjoys competing in races as you & that you can spend time supporting/watching him race, one who understands your needs, one you feel comfortable sharing your deepest wishes with, one whom you can just sit and do nothing with and still feel happy. He's not the perfect boyfriend but somehow he feels like it. Unfortunately, he hasn't made things clear too - so you're left alone and lost, probably just waiting for a reply. All you can do is wait. And you're willing to give up everything for that.

I'm no longer waiting for the perfect boyfriend; because that only happens to pretty, rich and smart girls - I'm just waiting for you to ask. <3

If you were me, what would you do? 

Grown-up Charm - 2PM my ideal type of guy