Review: Big Issue

When I look at this blog I can’t believe I haven’t written any review in 2019. I still watch dramas and read wuxia novels however I find it increasingly difficult to write for various reasons.

But I decide not to be stopped writing at least not by my inability to finish a drama. I’ll write reviews whenever I feel like it. Let’s start with Big Issue.

So far (that’s until episode 8), I haven’t found any big issue that might compel me to drop it midway. The biggest obstacle to a happy ending – the wife – is no more when she married someone else.

Although I have no particular feeling for Joo Jin Mo I love Han Ye Seul. Her character Ji Soo Hyun is smart, tough and wicked. While Joo Jin Mo’s character Han Soek Joo seems to be weak at first, but as the story progresses proof to be tough and resourceful.   

I love the scene when Ji Soo Hyun realised her role in the destruction of Han Soek Joo’s life. And I love how she reached out to the useless Han Soek Joo, of course not to atone for her mistake but because he was really good at his job and she needed someone to work for her.

I also love it when Han Soek Joo said that he was actually touched by how Ji Soo Hyun treated him by sending him to a world class rehabilitation facility only to realise that it was because her next target was held in that place.

There are already enough loves to continue watching I just hope that the good premise is not ruined later.

Mass Shooting Wakeup Call

I was utterly shocked by the horrific mass shooting in Christchurch New Zealand wherein Muslims were being massacred while they were doing nothing but praying. To make matter worst the murderer even live streamed his crime so that we could see how he slaughtered his victims as if they were nothing but ants.

If you happened to watch that gruesome recording, you will understand that this person is not human. He may look like a human being but that is just his outer shell, there is no trace of humanity on him.

The live stream perfectly showcases what hatred does to anybody who chooses to nurture it. It shows how dangerous and toxic hatred is.

We should never allow anybody who tries to incite hatred or to promote hatred against others to continue their dangerous endeavour. We should not accept those in power or those seeking power to use hatred to gain the support of our community.

New Zealand has been named as a piece of Heaven by many and it does feel and look like a Heaven. It is beautiful and home to kind hearted and wonderful people, so for something this evil to occur in Heaven is an affront as well as a dire warning to all of us.

I feel extreme sorrow not only because the victims were Muslims, but also because it happened in New Zealand a place that has a special place in my heart. It hurts. The pains are such that I no longer feel other emotions.

I feel no anger as a chilling realisation wake me up to the fact that the world has become a really dangerous place for the Muslims, the migrants, or the minorities that seek refuge in other countries.

They are being called invaders, criminals or terrorists, when they are nothing but people in need, seeking help and refuge from their fellow human beings because they are desperate and helpless to help themselves. They come to other countries not to invade since they come with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and not impressive arsenal to kill, conquer and rule like the white people who came to other countries and continents not too long ago.

I personally don’t think it’s important to listen to what xenophobic people say to justify their sentiments. But this mass shooting in Christchurch tells me that we should care. We should pay attention to their ignorance. We should be willing to fight their nonsensical claim with facts.

We should never let the liars freely spread their lies unchecked, especially when their main purpose is to spread hatred and incite genocide of other races. This dangerous ideology should not be allowed to grow.

What kind of world are we trying to create? A world where we are totally immune to the killing of others either by their own governments or the terrorists? A world that is ruled by liars who have no moral nor principles or knowledge of what is right and wrong?

I find it extremely alarming that people in power are openly spreading and supporting the lies about the Muslims, the migrants and the minorities. I find it extremely appalling that those in power are inciting hatred amongst their own citizens. But most importantly I find it mind boggling how could they be elected to be in such position by their own communities.

What does it say about us? Does it mean that we no longer care about moral values? Does it mean that the hate in our hearts make us no longer care about right or wrong, therefore we are willing to put and support these hateful people in power just to vent our dissatisfactions?

My fellow human beings please wake up!

Look at this tragedy and please beware that hatred is toxic. You might think that you have a just cause by putting these people in power because they support your political views and agenda, but you must think of the far reaching consequences of putting them in power. They will determine right and wrong. They will be the ones to set what values are acceptable. Are you really so far gone in hatred that you are no longer care?

If that is so, how long will it take for you to openly support this kind of atrocity against others?  

If we are no longer care about right and wrong, no longer feel bothered by the lost of lives, then we should be prepared to have Hell on Earth. By then it’s too late for regrets.

The white people who are so oppose to migrants and refugees would finally have a taste of having wars and destructions in their own countries. They would finally experience the desperation of leaving everything behind to find a safe place to live. But with Hell on Earth, there is no safe Heaven, because we had destroyed the chance to have Heaven on Earth ourselves.

If you have to choose between hate and love. The choice is obvious. Once we lose our own humanity, once we lost mercy in our hearts towards others, no one would be merciful towards us.

Ahn Ji Hwan (안지환) If I Were

I fell in love with it when I heard Song Seung Hun’s voice singing this song.  If I Were had been sung by others but Black and Song Seung Hun were what it took for me to notice it. After some searching I finally found the original singer. 

Please ejoy. 

Welcome to Paradise: Maratua Island

This would be my first time writing a recommendation for a place to visit. But in my own defence travelling is not one of my hobbies. My love for hustle and bustle of the big cities is simply too enormous. Going to far flung places are not my thing. 

But there is always an exception for everything. Hence, I’m going to sing the praises of this incredibly beautiful remote island to high heaven. I would even like to put this place in ‘a place you have to visit before you die’ category.

Am I being excessive? Not even a little. Maratua Island took my breath away with its out of this world beauty at the first sight. If there is heaven on earth then Maratua Island deserves to be considered as one.

Its pristine white sand beaches and turquoise crystal clear waters are the best prize to get after our very long trip from Jakarta.

Situated at the border between Indonesia and the Philippines Maratua Island necessitates us to wake up at the wee hour to catch the 5 am flight from Jakarta to Balikpapan (East Kalimantan/East Borneo).

After 2 hours flight from Jakarta to Balikpapan, we continued with another 45 minutes flight from Balikpapan to Berau. From Berau we drove about 3 hours to Tanjung Batu harbour to take a small boat and ride the waves for 90 minutes to our final destination.

It was only on our last day when we were about to leave for Balikpapan from Berau that we learned that we could fly directly to Maratua Island every Wednesday with a small plane.

I’m not fond of flying and I certainly have no craving for sailing. However, although deep waters always give me chills I have a huge love for water. So, despite rather anxious about our safety, the boat ride to Maratua Island was actually quite fun.

We stayed at Paradise Hotel which was the best hotel to choose if you wanted to have not merely an ocean view but direct access to turtles, stingrays and other fishes as well.

Despite the rather salty water and challenging TV channels the room itself has a spectacular view to boast. If we are lucky we could see a stingray or turtles from our living room or even from our bed when we lie down with prop up pillows.

If you want to leave civilization behind and experience what it feels like to own a private island, Maratua Island is a perfect getaway. You won’t be bothered by phone calls or perfect strangers particularly if you visit on weekdays.

Its terrible food aside, Paradise Hotel is the best hotel to stay in Maratua Island. When it’s high tide you will get turquoise crystal clear waters in front of your porch and when it’s low tide you will get perfect white sand beaches at your backyard. At night you will get to see twinkling stars in the sky.

Maratua Island also has a rather charming little pond in the middle of the forest which gave us a different experience. We had a lot of fun in this spot prodding one another to see who had the bigger guts to jump into that pond.

Due to weather condition we couldn’t have our planned trip to see the famous jelly fish and stingrays in nearby islands. However, on our way back home we got an unexpected bonus.  Being on a boat we got a first row seat to watch the sun rose from the bottom of the sea.

I don’t have enough words to describe my feelings when I saw that giant red ball slowly ascending towards the heaven. If I have to use only one word, that word is perfect.

If you love traveling you have to come to Maratua Island. You simply have to. You don’t have to book the whole island for yourself, chances are that when you come to Paradise Hotel you would be the only person in this heaven on earth.

This is the most worthwhile trip that I’ve ever had.

Review: Black

I don’t keep it a secret that I love Song Seung Hun. The proof is Song Seung Hun the Hand Towel and Don’t Call Me Mr. Hand Towel’s post which you could also read in this blog.

Whenever I look at Song Seung Hun’s perfect features my heart automatically screams ‘His Gorgeousness!’

When he closes his eyes I want to say His Gorgeousness may I have your eye lashes please! When he smiles I pray His Gorgeousness may you always smile like that. When he appears on screen I humbly say His Gorgeousness thank you for gracing us with your presence!

Black was a God sent for my sore eyes. The only reason I watched this drama was for Song Seung Hun. I didn’t have any expectation but to drool over my man. So, it’s quite a surprise for me to find that although it’s not perfect Black is actually a rare gem.

Black is supposed to be dark. I think. But I couldn’t keep myself from smiling during all of Song Seung Hun’s scenes. His face alone is enough to make me happy. When he starts to play that guitar in episode 15 and sings, I melt. Not only does he has the face but he also has the voice!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBuDV1GiDE8

I expect a drama with a grim reaper as the main character to be grim or at the very least solemn. But there is no ominous darkness in Black despite its piles of corpses. The only darkness in this drama is the black shadows on those who are about to die.

Although Black is full of killers and mysteries it feels light hearted and speedy. Nevertheless, deep underneath lies a substance that offers us food for thought. It provokes us to think about human nature. And most importantly it forces us to think about what it means to love.

Instead of being scary Black our male lead, the cold hearted and legendary Grim Reaper Number 444 is actually very amusing. He is such a cutie pie. He looks adorable even when he is being rude and cocky.

Although I don’t like how this drama ends, for the first time ever in my long career of watching Korean drama, I couldn’t bring myself to swear at its ending.

I love love that conquers all obstacles. I love love that triumphs against all odds. Naturally, I hate ending that ends the relationship between the male and the female lead with a passion.    

If you love someone, you would want nothing more than to be together with that person for as long as possible. But, if you can’t have that, if you’re completely powerless to make that happens, what would you do?

Black’s choice is to receive the severest punishment given to grim reaper because that punishment allows the woman he loves to lead a normal life that she has never had. It allows Kang Haram to love another man and live her life to the fullest.

My heart hurts for him. It feels like a betrayal.

I can’t accept the fact that Haram completely forgets Black and falls in love with another man. I can’t accept that she has a happily ever after with a man who is not Black. Not when she never loves any man but him. Not when she has loved him her whole life. Especially because when she finally finds out that he is not who she thought he was she loves him still. She loves him when she thinks he is Kim Jun and she loves him when she thinks he is not Kim Jun. She loves him regardless of who or what he is.

I’m unhappy but the fact is if you love someone, if you sincerely love that person, all that you would ever want is for that person to be happy.

Even if that happiness means your extinction from their memories.

Black who is always jealous when Haram pays even the slightest attention to another man willingly lets Haram to marry another, has his children and spend the rest of her life with him.

His greatest parting gift to Haram is her happiness. Even if that happiness is given to her by another man, it’s okay because he couldn’t personally give it to her. He also leaves her another grim reaper in the form of a famous movie star who is tasked to always protect her as long as she lives.

Black breaks so many rules for Kang Haram fully aware of the heavy consequences that he has to bear in the end.

This drama tells us that we all have that special someone. The problem is we have no idea where that special someone is. We don’t even know whether that special someone lives in the same world with us.

If we already have a special someone, the destined one, is it okay to love someone else? Is it okay to spend the rest of our lives with that other person? What if the person that we have in our lives is actually that special someone?

The original Kim Jun who is loved by Kang Haram has always been in love with Yun Suwan. Even when he dies and his heart ends up in Han Mugang’s body, he is still in love with Yun Suwan. It is only after Hang Mugang dies and he returns to Han Mugang’s body that he falls for Kang Haram.

His loves for Yun Suwan doesn’t stop with his death. Because although he lost all of his memories as Kim Jun and Han Mugang, his heart remembers her.

The thing is, the cold and emotionless Grim Reaper 444, who looks down on mere mortals is only curious why his heart reacts to Yun Suwan, because he himself feels nothing for this human.

On the other hand the girl called Kang Haram makes him feels and does thing that no sane and respectable grim reaper would do.

Black is in quite a shock when he finally learns that the symptom that he has is what human calls love. It is hard for him to accept the fact that he falls in love with Kang Haram. But, even when his memories return, and he realizes how much he loved Yun Suwan both as Kim Jun and Han Mugang, his feelings for Haram remain.

The only thing that changes is his indifference towards Yun Suwan turns into a warm appreciation of her.

That’s how the drama explains the ending of Kim Jun and Han Mugang’s love for Yun Suwan, which I find rather unacceptable. Of course I’m happy that Black’s love for Kang Haram is that great, but the ending of his love for Yun Suwan is a little bit hard to swallow.

It reminds me of Oh My Ghostess wherein the romantic lines as to which girl the male lead really loves leave a bad taste in my mouth. Black isn’t as bad as Oh My Ghostess since it is pretty clear that Black only loves Kang Haram. Still….

If this drama makes Kim Jun’s love for Yun Suwan more trivial like ordinary puppy love or less intense, it would be easier for me to accept the fact that he left her just like that for Kang Haram.

Or the drama shows or gives hints that although Kim Jun was in love with Yun Suwan, the little Kang Haram was someone extremely special for him, so special that despite his love for Yun Suwan he still put her as his priority.

Like I said before Black is not perfect. There are things that could be done better. But overall, I love it.

The ending is not a plus but I have no grudge against it. It’s extremely difficult to make a happy ending between two creatures of different races who come from two different worlds.

Unlike 49 Days which deserves the wrath of its audiences for brazenly cheating them out of their happy ending, Black’s ending is not unexpected. It won’t make you happy but at least you would understand and feel sorry for Black. Hence, forgive the drama for even more.