Tay Ping Hui winked at my daughter.
Okay, I've been instructed by KH to blog this. So for his benefit and the benefit of my children who will read this blog later in life and realise how cheesy their mother was, here it goes.
We had finished gym practice on Sunday and were grocery shopping at J8. On impulse I stopped to buy some snow ice. Only while I was paying did I glance up at the guy next to me and yikes, it was the very tall and dishy Tay Ping Hui.
Of course, I got all fluttery and flustered and KH was busy shaking his head at me. Not that I'm a fan of Mr Tay's but seeing him in the flesh and a mere inch away really made the old heart go pitter-pat.
So because KH was making tsk-tsking noises, I had to regain some dignity right? So I turned away when I realised Mr Tay was heading towards us - we'd already moved off to stand near a pillar devouring our shared cup of snow ice. Cait was facing me and my back was towards the approaching Star. Then KH chuckled in amazement and said: Wah, Tay Ping Hui winked at my daughter!
According to my sole eyewitness, he said Tay was approaching and Cait was just looking at him and then the guy gave a roguish grin and a wink at Cait. And Cait? Jaw dropped!
My turn to tsk-tsk. Knew the guy was a lady's man but this is too much!!! Now why didn't I turn instead? Darn it all.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Three seemingly random events took place over the past week that now appear to be linked in some indefinite way after all.
Now I'm no mystic, not into any New Age mumbo-jumbo and I'm not particularly religious, but I do believe that from time to time, God speaks to us in ways that are not immediately obvious. Call it a sign from heaven or what you will. My phone connections to God have never been crystal clear and the reception is often poor with lots of static noise in between. So while I believe that nothing ever happens in isolation, I do find it hard trying to decipher the message (if any!) that He sends.
Case in point - these three odd events that took place recently.
First, on Wednesday last week, my colleague showed me photographs he had taken of the church St Mary of the Angels. Beautiful place. He lived in Bukit Batok and enjoyed walking around the neighbourhood, taking pictures of the people and the places he visits. On Sunday, he had gone to St Mary's and taken some pictures. He had taken some nice shots. As he was showing me the pictures, he paused at one bronze statue and asked: Do you know anything about St Bernadine from Sienna?
My first reaction was no, I've heard of St Catherine of Sienna and we visited Sienna and the places associated with her, but I'd never heard of St Bernadine. Curiosity piqued, I googled St Bernadine and came away with a cursory paragraph or two but nothing really stood out and I thought no more of it.
Later that same afternoon I was flipping through my church bulletin in search of Ascension mass times when the usual paragraph on saints' feast days caught my eye. There was that name again - St Bernadine of Sienna. And his feast day was - May 20, that very day. So imagine if you will, the swirl of 'coincidences' that already surround this - Sunday, the day I picked up the church bulletin from church was the same day that KJ my colleague took pictures at St Mary's; Wed, May 20 was when he showed me the pictures and pointed out St Bernadine to me and the same day happened to be St Bernadine's feast day.
Don't you feel a chill yet? It does not end there.
On Saturday while on our usual free time sans kids in the morning, instead of going to the Botanic Gardens where we usually go, KH suggested going further afield. We ended up driving past Upper Bukit Timah Road, towards Bukit Batok Park. I've been thinking hard about it and I'm pretty sure that it was KH who said casually: you know that church, the state-of-the-art one, where is it? Let's go check it out.
St Mary's was re-built in 2004 to a bold and fresh design which later won it architectural accolades. The premises housed the church, the friary for the brothers, a kindergarten and a columbarium. Sleekly designed with straight elegant lines, pared down minimalist in tone... it was quiet and understated but yet bold in many ways. While we've often said we'd visit it and see, we never did. It was just not in our neck of the woods.
So up we drove to the church - which was indeed inspiring and lovely. It didn't look like your typical church but it kept faithfully to Catholic church design requirements.
What threw me was when we entered the columbarium - a lovely airy space with lots of natural light, black stone wells of running water and sandstone niches. I was taking my time admiring the light and the feel of the place when KH called me over. He pointed to the small bronze statue perched on a marble pillar and said: Look at this! Sienna! Do you remember this saint?
I shook my head and corrected him: We visited St Catherine's house not St Bernadine. But it was all I could do to remain coherent - what was going on here? How many references have been made to this obscure little saint in the space of just one week? Hello God, are you trying to tell me something? Paulo Coelho where are you when I need some insight into deciphering this one!I've only won 4D once in my life but I know the feeling of thrill when luck or coincidence or a higher cosmic order comes into play in my life. And that was precisely what was going on then.
I went back and did some research on the net again, trying to find out more. St Bernadine was a dedicated lawyer, orator and preacher and he had refused Bishophood thrice. Yes, he worked tirelessly, selflessly and at great personal risk to himself caring for people during the plague, and his work had made a big impact against the encroaching tide of Protestantism, so yes, he was a good man etc. Yet, nothing particularly outstanding. Just like any old saint. Led a life of general good. That's it. Nothing stood out for me - what was the message? I felt there had to be something in there for me. I just wasn't sure what it was.
Only two possibilities. One, St Bernadine was known for his strong and harsh attacks against sodomy. Was that it? Was this all because I had blogged earlier about my views on homosexuality and how 'neutral' (so AWARE huh?!) I was in my views? Was God trying to give me a kick in the seat for that? Was I being a bad Catholic mummy in having neutral, even sympathetic views on homosexuality? Was this because I was so hooked on Coffee Prince and all its homosexual undertones? And was all this string of sneaky little coincidences God's way of telling me I'd better toe the line? If so, I wish He'd just come right out and say it. All this guesswork is tiring and a real hit-or-miss affair.
I also found out that St Bernadine is the patron saint of advertising, communications, compulsive gambling and respiratory disorders. Okay, if you count the fact that I had childhood asthma, worked in advertising and communications and get a kick out of making scissor-paper-stone bets with my kids (if I win, they give up the computer for the week and if I lose, I owe them a ramen treat) then yes already - I get it, St Bernadine has to be my go-to saint for life.
So which is it? Both? Neither? One or the other?
Like I said, there's no such thing as coincidences. Cosmic events harkening days, thoughts and actions to come? Bah, like tarot cards and other New Ageism - these hold no water with me. But I think I have enough of a streak of mysticism in me that says that nothing happens for nothing - after all, how did He call those other ancient prophets of His - through dreams and in their sleep right? And if we're talking mysticism, you can't go more mystical that St Teresa of Avila and her ecstasies. So He speaks through fuzzy dreams and big showtime productions like a burst of strong light, stigmatas, burning bushes and such. Mine must be somewhere in between because I stubbornly believe the Big Guy up there is trying to tell me something. Only thing is - what?
So frustrating. I wish He would hone His "God calling Earth" act to limit any comedy of errors that might occur and for me, I guess I really should start working on my listening skills.
Pay attention woman! He's talking...
Now I'm no mystic, not into any New Age mumbo-jumbo and I'm not particularly religious, but I do believe that from time to time, God speaks to us in ways that are not immediately obvious. Call it a sign from heaven or what you will. My phone connections to God have never been crystal clear and the reception is often poor with lots of static noise in between. So while I believe that nothing ever happens in isolation, I do find it hard trying to decipher the message (if any!) that He sends.
Case in point - these three odd events that took place recently.
First, on Wednesday last week, my colleague showed me photographs he had taken of the church St Mary of the Angels. Beautiful place. He lived in Bukit Batok and enjoyed walking around the neighbourhood, taking pictures of the people and the places he visits. On Sunday, he had gone to St Mary's and taken some pictures. He had taken some nice shots. As he was showing me the pictures, he paused at one bronze statue and asked: Do you know anything about St Bernadine from Sienna?
My first reaction was no, I've heard of St Catherine of Sienna and we visited Sienna and the places associated with her, but I'd never heard of St Bernadine. Curiosity piqued, I googled St Bernadine and came away with a cursory paragraph or two but nothing really stood out and I thought no more of it.
Later that same afternoon I was flipping through my church bulletin in search of Ascension mass times when the usual paragraph on saints' feast days caught my eye. There was that name again - St Bernadine of Sienna. And his feast day was - May 20, that very day. So imagine if you will, the swirl of 'coincidences' that already surround this - Sunday, the day I picked up the church bulletin from church was the same day that KJ my colleague took pictures at St Mary's; Wed, May 20 was when he showed me the pictures and pointed out St Bernadine to me and the same day happened to be St Bernadine's feast day.
Don't you feel a chill yet? It does not end there.
On Saturday while on our usual free time sans kids in the morning, instead of going to the Botanic Gardens where we usually go, KH suggested going further afield. We ended up driving past Upper Bukit Timah Road, towards Bukit Batok Park. I've been thinking hard about it and I'm pretty sure that it was KH who said casually: you know that church, the state-of-the-art one, where is it? Let's go check it out.
St Mary's was re-built in 2004 to a bold and fresh design which later won it architectural accolades. The premises housed the church, the friary for the brothers, a kindergarten and a columbarium. Sleekly designed with straight elegant lines, pared down minimalist in tone... it was quiet and understated but yet bold in many ways. While we've often said we'd visit it and see, we never did. It was just not in our neck of the woods.
So up we drove to the church - which was indeed inspiring and lovely. It didn't look like your typical church but it kept faithfully to Catholic church design requirements.
What threw me was when we entered the columbarium - a lovely airy space with lots of natural light, black stone wells of running water and sandstone niches. I was taking my time admiring the light and the feel of the place when KH called me over. He pointed to the small bronze statue perched on a marble pillar and said: Look at this! Sienna! Do you remember this saint?
I shook my head and corrected him: We visited St Catherine's house not St Bernadine. But it was all I could do to remain coherent - what was going on here? How many references have been made to this obscure little saint in the space of just one week? Hello God, are you trying to tell me something? Paulo Coelho where are you when I need some insight into deciphering this one!I've only won 4D once in my life but I know the feeling of thrill when luck or coincidence or a higher cosmic order comes into play in my life. And that was precisely what was going on then.
I went back and did some research on the net again, trying to find out more. St Bernadine was a dedicated lawyer, orator and preacher and he had refused Bishophood thrice. Yes, he worked tirelessly, selflessly and at great personal risk to himself caring for people during the plague, and his work had made a big impact against the encroaching tide of Protestantism, so yes, he was a good man etc. Yet, nothing particularly outstanding. Just like any old saint. Led a life of general good. That's it. Nothing stood out for me - what was the message? I felt there had to be something in there for me. I just wasn't sure what it was.
Only two possibilities. One, St Bernadine was known for his strong and harsh attacks against sodomy. Was that it? Was this all because I had blogged earlier about my views on homosexuality and how 'neutral' (so AWARE huh?!) I was in my views? Was God trying to give me a kick in the seat for that? Was I being a bad Catholic mummy in having neutral, even sympathetic views on homosexuality? Was this because I was so hooked on Coffee Prince and all its homosexual undertones? And was all this string of sneaky little coincidences God's way of telling me I'd better toe the line? If so, I wish He'd just come right out and say it. All this guesswork is tiring and a real hit-or-miss affair.
I also found out that St Bernadine is the patron saint of advertising, communications, compulsive gambling and respiratory disorders. Okay, if you count the fact that I had childhood asthma, worked in advertising and communications and get a kick out of making scissor-paper-stone bets with my kids (if I win, they give up the computer for the week and if I lose, I owe them a ramen treat) then yes already - I get it, St Bernadine has to be my go-to saint for life.
So which is it? Both? Neither? One or the other?
Like I said, there's no such thing as coincidences. Cosmic events harkening days, thoughts and actions to come? Bah, like tarot cards and other New Ageism - these hold no water with me. But I think I have enough of a streak of mysticism in me that says that nothing happens for nothing - after all, how did He call those other ancient prophets of His - through dreams and in their sleep right? And if we're talking mysticism, you can't go more mystical that St Teresa of Avila and her ecstasies. So He speaks through fuzzy dreams and big showtime productions like a burst of strong light, stigmatas, burning bushes and such. Mine must be somewhere in between because I stubbornly believe the Big Guy up there is trying to tell me something. Only thing is - what?
So frustrating. I wish He would hone His "God calling Earth" act to limit any comedy of errors that might occur and for me, I guess I really should start working on my listening skills.
Pay attention woman! He's talking...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Been following the AWARE sage and the resultant controversy over sex education and its place in our lives, or more accurately, our children's lives. While its been interesting to watch the drama unfold, my comments were usually kept to dinner table talk. But last week Lianhe Zaobao interviewed me briefly on my views as a parent on this issue, which forced me to think carefully about the issue before opening my big mouth on it on a national platform.
So here are my two cents:
First, I don't think there is an either-or solution to this. Sex ed should not be the premise of either parents or schools but a good partnership and mix of both. While the call has been for parents to be actively involved in sex ed for their kids - ie talk to them about the birds and the bees and the values that go with these, I believe schools have a very important part to play in all this too.
A key reason being that not all parents are comfortable with speaking to their children on all this. Yes, ideally, we SHOULD. But the reality is, many, or most, don't. Many feel uncomfortable broaching this topic. Many may feel they do not have the facts themselves. Parents who want to speak to their children about sex may not also know the best way to approach this without looking stiff and authoritarian. Heck, once kids turn teenagers, its hard to even talk to them about the weather without the usual blank stoned expressions and monosyllabic grunts. So how to talk to them about something as delicate as sex? Trust me, the kids feel as paiseh as their parents about this!
So maybe sex ed should be for parents and not for kids - not just about the facts but HOW to talk to their kids about it. How to adopt the exact correct combination of cool nonchalence, and parental concern. After all, the hip quotient has to be just right!
Ultimately, no matter what, there will be parents who feel extremely uncomfortable and I guess this is where schools come in. I think whatever sex ed the schools take should follow the social norms of the day. Or the values that the schools themselves espouse. So naturally if you send your child to a catholic school, you can expect any sex ed dispensed there to follow catholic precepts.
It takes a village to raise a child. And schools are a valuable extension of the village concept. Thus it has to reflect the views of larger society - what does Singapore society at large think about homosexuality or premarital sex etc. Note, I said larger society - not the loud voices of the liberals, which I believe are a minority. So if we say we live in a conservative society which views heterosexual sex as the norm, then let sex ed reflect this.
There was a letter in today's newspaper which called for schools to just teach the biology and parents, the morality of sexuality. I don't think you can divorce these issues so neatly. And honestly, I'm not sure how many parents really think about the morality of sexuality themselves.
Take me for instance.
The whole episode has forced me to think long and hard about my views on homosexuality, premarital sex etc. I've never been one to be particularly conservative and neither am I too liberal. On an intellectual level, I am comfortable with homosexuality. I have friends and colleagues who are homosexual and that is fine by me, or rather their sexual orientation have never made a difference in our friendship. I think so what if two people of the same sex love each other? Being of the same sex does not make their feelings any less relevant, real or important.
But then, what do I tell my kids? At the age of 13 or 14, do I give them this liberal viewpoint?
And if I censor, then am I not being honest or real? But if I say all this at a time when they are just beginning to discover their own sexuality and are prone to confusion and crushes, do I not complicate things even further for them?
Probe deeper and I ask myself - what if one of them has homosexual leanings? Can I accept this? I think I can. I hope I can. See how unsure I am? All I know is that I love them no matter what. But do I tell them this?
Now throw religion into the mix and the waters get murkier. We are Catholics and while the church is not anti-homosexual (love the sinner hate the act), heterosexuality is promoted as the norm. They go to catechism class in church, they are taught about sexuality as viewed by the church. My personal values and views might well clash with those of the church. Does this make me a bad Catholic? How then should I guide my children?
And that's just about homosexuality/heterosexuality alone. Let's not even go into premarital sex!
The good thing for us is that sex is not a taboo subject. It's dinner table talk. So everyone from the 14-year-old to the 3-year-old listens and joins in. We've discussed what French kissing is, what is oral sex, teen pregnancy, heavy petting (and its perils) and so on. Body parts and functions are (pun unintended!) touched on. And of course, kids keep their ears open whenever its time to test Gillian on her favourite science chapter - human reproduction! At home, we're also comfortable with our bodies and our nakedness - we still change in front of the kids - well, the younger ones at least!
So maybe I'm luckier that in my family, we find these things easier to talk about. But how many others out there have the same experience and are just as comfortable?
Parents, schools, religious groups - it takes a village and a multitude of views to raise children. The burden and the responsibility does not just rest with one group. So it's not just so simple as to say well, its the parents' job. Because I think parents have their share of personal baggage and angst and unless parents really sit down and think hard about their own personal views and convictions about sex, they are likely to muddy the waters more than clarify it.
So here are my two cents:
First, I don't think there is an either-or solution to this. Sex ed should not be the premise of either parents or schools but a good partnership and mix of both. While the call has been for parents to be actively involved in sex ed for their kids - ie talk to them about the birds and the bees and the values that go with these, I believe schools have a very important part to play in all this too.
A key reason being that not all parents are comfortable with speaking to their children on all this. Yes, ideally, we SHOULD. But the reality is, many, or most, don't. Many feel uncomfortable broaching this topic. Many may feel they do not have the facts themselves. Parents who want to speak to their children about sex may not also know the best way to approach this without looking stiff and authoritarian. Heck, once kids turn teenagers, its hard to even talk to them about the weather without the usual blank stoned expressions and monosyllabic grunts. So how to talk to them about something as delicate as sex? Trust me, the kids feel as paiseh as their parents about this!
So maybe sex ed should be for parents and not for kids - not just about the facts but HOW to talk to their kids about it. How to adopt the exact correct combination of cool nonchalence, and parental concern. After all, the hip quotient has to be just right!
Ultimately, no matter what, there will be parents who feel extremely uncomfortable and I guess this is where schools come in. I think whatever sex ed the schools take should follow the social norms of the day. Or the values that the schools themselves espouse. So naturally if you send your child to a catholic school, you can expect any sex ed dispensed there to follow catholic precepts.
It takes a village to raise a child. And schools are a valuable extension of the village concept. Thus it has to reflect the views of larger society - what does Singapore society at large think about homosexuality or premarital sex etc. Note, I said larger society - not the loud voices of the liberals, which I believe are a minority. So if we say we live in a conservative society which views heterosexual sex as the norm, then let sex ed reflect this.
There was a letter in today's newspaper which called for schools to just teach the biology and parents, the morality of sexuality. I don't think you can divorce these issues so neatly. And honestly, I'm not sure how many parents really think about the morality of sexuality themselves.
Take me for instance.
The whole episode has forced me to think long and hard about my views on homosexuality, premarital sex etc. I've never been one to be particularly conservative and neither am I too liberal. On an intellectual level, I am comfortable with homosexuality. I have friends and colleagues who are homosexual and that is fine by me, or rather their sexual orientation have never made a difference in our friendship. I think so what if two people of the same sex love each other? Being of the same sex does not make their feelings any less relevant, real or important.
But then, what do I tell my kids? At the age of 13 or 14, do I give them this liberal viewpoint?
And if I censor, then am I not being honest or real? But if I say all this at a time when they are just beginning to discover their own sexuality and are prone to confusion and crushes, do I not complicate things even further for them?
Probe deeper and I ask myself - what if one of them has homosexual leanings? Can I accept this? I think I can. I hope I can. See how unsure I am? All I know is that I love them no matter what. But do I tell them this?
Now throw religion into the mix and the waters get murkier. We are Catholics and while the church is not anti-homosexual (love the sinner hate the act), heterosexuality is promoted as the norm. They go to catechism class in church, they are taught about sexuality as viewed by the church. My personal values and views might well clash with those of the church. Does this make me a bad Catholic? How then should I guide my children?
And that's just about homosexuality/heterosexuality alone. Let's not even go into premarital sex!
The good thing for us is that sex is not a taboo subject. It's dinner table talk. So everyone from the 14-year-old to the 3-year-old listens and joins in. We've discussed what French kissing is, what is oral sex, teen pregnancy, heavy petting (and its perils) and so on. Body parts and functions are (pun unintended!) touched on. And of course, kids keep their ears open whenever its time to test Gillian on her favourite science chapter - human reproduction! At home, we're also comfortable with our bodies and our nakedness - we still change in front of the kids - well, the younger ones at least!
So maybe I'm luckier that in my family, we find these things easier to talk about. But how many others out there have the same experience and are just as comfortable?
Parents, schools, religious groups - it takes a village and a multitude of views to raise children. The burden and the responsibility does not just rest with one group. So it's not just so simple as to say well, its the parents' job. Because I think parents have their share of personal baggage and angst and unless parents really sit down and think hard about their own personal views and convictions about sex, they are likely to muddy the waters more than clarify it.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
First off, I found my English-subbed Coffee Prince - yay! And a very nice 3-disc soundtrack from Lovers in Prague. Both of which I am enjoying at the moment.
Just wanted to put on record the funny stuff that Owain and Cait did recently that almost my side split.
Owain has started swimming lessons. He's the smallest guy there in his group and always looks so cute in his trunks and wet curly hair (Gill and I agree that he's a mini version of Gu Jun Pyo!). He's doing well, gamely doing everything the coach tells him to, and he seems to enjoy it. He has little fear of water since we've brought him to the pool as a toddler, so learning the proper strokes etc is just the logical next thing to do.
During swim class, there is one boy there who loves to 'bully' Owain. The guy is at least a head taller, bigger-sized and fits KH's definition of a bully (in other words, loves to pick on someone smaller than him but who would fall to pieces if confronted!). So this guy picks on Owain - pushing him, splashing water at him, taunting him, stepping on his feet etc. To all this, Owain just assumes a resigned indifferent attitude. Nothing the guy does fazes him. He does not bother to retaliate or tell the coach or lose his cool. Finally, in the shower room with his daddy, KH asked: Owain, that boy loves to bully you. Why don't you fight back?
And my son tells his father patiently: Dad, it's okay. He will just go to hell faster than me, that's all!
And as for Cait...
The other day, she was doing a comprehension passage for exam practice. The passage was a touching one about a young man who chanced across a little boy in tears because he could not afford flowers for his mother. The young man himself was about to just order a bouquet from the florist to be sent to his mother since he could not make time to celebrate her birthday. Touched by the little boy's tears, the young man bought the flowers for him and gave him a lift. He directed the young man to the cemetery and laid the flowers on a fresh grave. His mother had died recently and the little boy wanted to tell his mother how much he loved her. After he heard the story, the young man immediately went to see his mother.
The comprehension question asked was: Why did the young man visit his mother suddenly?
And my dear daughter's reply: It was cheaper to send the flowers there himself instead of asking the florist to send!
Just wanted to put on record the funny stuff that Owain and Cait did recently that almost my side split.
Owain has started swimming lessons. He's the smallest guy there in his group and always looks so cute in his trunks and wet curly hair (Gill and I agree that he's a mini version of Gu Jun Pyo!). He's doing well, gamely doing everything the coach tells him to, and he seems to enjoy it. He has little fear of water since we've brought him to the pool as a toddler, so learning the proper strokes etc is just the logical next thing to do.
During swim class, there is one boy there who loves to 'bully' Owain. The guy is at least a head taller, bigger-sized and fits KH's definition of a bully (in other words, loves to pick on someone smaller than him but who would fall to pieces if confronted!). So this guy picks on Owain - pushing him, splashing water at him, taunting him, stepping on his feet etc. To all this, Owain just assumes a resigned indifferent attitude. Nothing the guy does fazes him. He does not bother to retaliate or tell the coach or lose his cool. Finally, in the shower room with his daddy, KH asked: Owain, that boy loves to bully you. Why don't you fight back?
And my son tells his father patiently: Dad, it's okay. He will just go to hell faster than me, that's all!
And as for Cait...
The other day, she was doing a comprehension passage for exam practice. The passage was a touching one about a young man who chanced across a little boy in tears because he could not afford flowers for his mother. The young man himself was about to just order a bouquet from the florist to be sent to his mother since he could not make time to celebrate her birthday. Touched by the little boy's tears, the young man bought the flowers for him and gave him a lift. He directed the young man to the cemetery and laid the flowers on a fresh grave. His mother had died recently and the little boy wanted to tell his mother how much he loved her. After he heard the story, the young man immediately went to see his mother.
The comprehension question asked was: Why did the young man visit his mother suddenly?
And my dear daughter's reply: It was cheaper to send the flowers there himself instead of asking the florist to send!
Friday, May 08, 2009
Forgive me for I am addicted.
It has been one month since I confessed my K-addiction and I am more deeply addicted than before.
In that time, I have spent sleepless nights and endless hours in front of the television. I have neglected my children, forsaken my books and ignored my cat. I have spent much money wantonly on numerous boxsets. Mysoju and Dramabeans are now part of my permanent list of favourites (thanks Mag!).
In that one month, I have watched The Vineyard Man, Boys Over Flowers, My Girl, Princess Hours (twice!), Lovers In Prague and one episode of Winter Sonata. I have three more boxsets bought on impulse and still unopened. I have taken to haunting TS and Poh Kim in search of Coffee Prince with English subtitles. I know I can catch this online but I like the idea of watching it on a bigger screen with much clear visuals. And anyway, I need an excuse to keep popping in to TS all the time!
We are so immersed in the Korean language that I think the kids speak better Korean than Mandarin these days. Korean dramas, K-pop at home, on the car radio, K-sites online. Isaac has taken to striking up a friendship with the lone Korean boy in his class. Gillian even greets me in Korean when I get home from work with a cheerful "Annyeonghaseyo Oma!" We are trading Korean words and phrases these days. My favourite is "Pahbu!" heh... Even Owain now asks: "Boh?" instead of "What?" and Cait warbles K-pop (she doesn't understand a word of it but just takes it on a phonetic level!).
Only thing we have not done so far is eat Korean - but that might change soon!
Of all the series I've watched, I still like Princess Hours - great sets, very lush colours and overall beautiful art direction. Interesting plot, cute leads and coupled with a really nice soundtrack. The much-touted Boys Over Flowers runs along similar lines - fish out of water concept where ordinary girl gets thrust into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The art direction and set design was nice, even extravagant in some places - think beautiful scenes in the South Pacific heaven of New Caledonia compared to PH's shoot in Bangkok!
But despite the big budget overseas shoots that BOF had, I thought Princess Hours was still a superior production. I found BOF to be inconsistent in terms of quality - plot, continuity and acting. The soundtrack is not bad. But overall, the whole package does not measure up to what I expected given the hype. Still, have to say Lee Min Ho makes the best-looking lead compared to the Japanese Hana Yori Dango and Taiwanese Meteor Garden leads.
The series I liked the least is The Vineyard Man. Fast-forwarded my way through most of it. Even though it had the lovely Yoon Eun Hye from PH in it, I did not like the plot or the setting and the soundtrack was meh. Worse, the male lead had googly eyes!
Now that I've just finished Lovers in Prague (ah, great scenery, very nice cinematography - some shots very beautifully framed and angled, interesting plot and premise, likeable characters, smouldering male leads and hummable soundtrack) I'm looking for the next Big One to watch. Will it be Winter Sonata or the mega omnibus of Dae Jang Geum (Jewel In the Palace)? Not quite in the mood to plough through so many episodes and not in the mood for the teary histrionics of Winter Sonata even though both were apparently big hits and have garnered strong positive reviews.
Now where's my Coffee Prince when you need him? If I can't find him and I'm feeling desperate for K relief, I think the DVD boxset for My Lovely Kim Sam Soon is now going for a mere $15 at TS...
It has been one month since I confessed my K-addiction and I am more deeply addicted than before.
In that time, I have spent sleepless nights and endless hours in front of the television. I have neglected my children, forsaken my books and ignored my cat. I have spent much money wantonly on numerous boxsets. Mysoju and Dramabeans are now part of my permanent list of favourites (thanks Mag!).
In that one month, I have watched The Vineyard Man, Boys Over Flowers, My Girl, Princess Hours (twice!), Lovers In Prague and one episode of Winter Sonata. I have three more boxsets bought on impulse and still unopened. I have taken to haunting TS and Poh Kim in search of Coffee Prince with English subtitles. I know I can catch this online but I like the idea of watching it on a bigger screen with much clear visuals. And anyway, I need an excuse to keep popping in to TS all the time!
We are so immersed in the Korean language that I think the kids speak better Korean than Mandarin these days. Korean dramas, K-pop at home, on the car radio, K-sites online. Isaac has taken to striking up a friendship with the lone Korean boy in his class. Gillian even greets me in Korean when I get home from work with a cheerful "Annyeonghaseyo Oma!" We are trading Korean words and phrases these days. My favourite is "Pahbu!" heh... Even Owain now asks: "Boh?" instead of "What?" and Cait warbles K-pop (she doesn't understand a word of it but just takes it on a phonetic level!).
Only thing we have not done so far is eat Korean - but that might change soon!
Of all the series I've watched, I still like Princess Hours - great sets, very lush colours and overall beautiful art direction. Interesting plot, cute leads and coupled with a really nice soundtrack. The much-touted Boys Over Flowers runs along similar lines - fish out of water concept where ordinary girl gets thrust into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The art direction and set design was nice, even extravagant in some places - think beautiful scenes in the South Pacific heaven of New Caledonia compared to PH's shoot in Bangkok!
But despite the big budget overseas shoots that BOF had, I thought Princess Hours was still a superior production. I found BOF to be inconsistent in terms of quality - plot, continuity and acting. The soundtrack is not bad. But overall, the whole package does not measure up to what I expected given the hype. Still, have to say Lee Min Ho makes the best-looking lead compared to the Japanese Hana Yori Dango and Taiwanese Meteor Garden leads.
The series I liked the least is The Vineyard Man. Fast-forwarded my way through most of it. Even though it had the lovely Yoon Eun Hye from PH in it, I did not like the plot or the setting and the soundtrack was meh. Worse, the male lead had googly eyes!
Now that I've just finished Lovers in Prague (ah, great scenery, very nice cinematography - some shots very beautifully framed and angled, interesting plot and premise, likeable characters, smouldering male leads and hummable soundtrack) I'm looking for the next Big One to watch. Will it be Winter Sonata or the mega omnibus of Dae Jang Geum (Jewel In the Palace)? Not quite in the mood to plough through so many episodes and not in the mood for the teary histrionics of Winter Sonata even though both were apparently big hits and have garnered strong positive reviews.
Now where's my Coffee Prince when you need him? If I can't find him and I'm feeling desperate for K relief, I think the DVD boxset for My Lovely Kim Sam Soon is now going for a mere $15 at TS...
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