Archive for February, 2009
TO MONK: THE VIEW FROM BOKTOR’S ROOM
Monk: Boktor just sent me a picture of the view from his room at Hotel Venezia. Here it is…
PANDORA’S ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE SPECIAL
The First Shop of Coffee Prince: On discovering what it is to be gay
The First Shop of Coffee Prince (CP) is a Korean romantic comedy that was aired in 2007 by MBC. Although it was not intended to be a story about discovering being gay, it spurred much discussion about this topic.
CP is about Go Eun Chan (portrayed by the popular Korean actress Yoon Eun Hye), a young girl who, after the death of her father, becomes the breadwinner of the family. Eun Chan dresses and acts like a boy in order to get jobs, which are usually given to boys. Choi Han Kyul (portrayed the handsome Gong Yoo) is the heir to a company that sells coffee. Although Han Kyul shows potential for being a good businessman, he has no drive to work. His grandmother later challenges him to resuscitate the business of a coffee shop, which happens to be a favorite hang out of Eun Chan. In taking up that challenge, Han Kyul decides to hire only male baristas. Of course, Eun Chan disguises herself as a boy and is eventually hired as a barista. (more…)
PANDORA’S ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE SPECIAL
FULL HOUSE: Dated but Still One of the Best
The Korean romantic comedy series Full House starring Rain and Song Hye Kyo was broadcasted by KBS in 2004.
Full House is about an orphaned girl, Han Ji-Eun, who inherits a beautiful house by the sea. Ji-Eun is attached to the house as her father built it. In the beginning, Ji-Eun’s best friend finds herself pregnant and is disinherited by her parents. To be able to have enough money to raise her baby, Ji-Eun’s best friend and her boyfriend, send Ji-Eun to China. While Ji-Eun is in China, they sell her house and steal her savings. When Ji-Eun gets back to Korean, she finds herself penniless and homeless. (more…)
PANDORA’S ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE’S SPECIAL
The Ultimate Slob Girl: Hotaru no Hikari (The Glow of Fireflies)
Hotaru no Hikari is a Japanese romantic comedy series that was broadcasted in 2007 by NTV. Unlike Full House or other more popular dramas, which were widely discussed, there is relatively little talk on Hotaru No Kikari. In fact, it was only when I accidentally stumbled upon it on the internet while reading about another Asian drama that I learned about it.
Surprisingly, I like Hotaru No Hikari because, to a certain extent (not the butt scratching part), I can relate to the lead female character, Hotaru. (more…)
PANDORA’S ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE SPECIAL
Have I told you that I am an Asian soap junkie? I am. I am.
As I make this confession, the critics (a.k.a., my family) are probably disowning me as I blog. The critics enjoy reading high-brow books, watching critically acclaimed films and going to museums and art exhibits. Thus, they cannot understand my fascination with Asian soaps. They are fun to watch guys! It gives you a different perspective on reality or non-reality. (more…)
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY (continued)
Mt. Mayon: The Elusive Superstar
Legazpi City, Philippines is on a plain. From almost anywhere in Legazpi, you will see Mt. Mayon on a clear day. It is a green mass rising from the ground to meet the sky. Not being part of any chain of mountains, Mt. Mayon is solitary. Mt. Mayon’s cone shape is almost perfect and it is undoubtably an active volcano. Smoke plumes are seen coming out of its mouth. (more…)
THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES OF BOKTOR AND PANDORA IN LEGAZPI, ALBAY (continued)
The Ruins of Cagsawa: A Testament to the Filipinos’ devotion to God
Mr. Ketel took Boktor and me to Cagsawa, Daraga, Albay (a ten minute drive from Legazpi) where the ruins of what was once a huge church is located. According to the memorial plaque, the church was built in 1724 by Fray Francisco Blanco, OFM (Ordo Fraternum Minor, otherwise known as the Franciscans). The church stands at the foot of Mt. Mayon. When Mt. Mayon erupted on 1 February 1814, most of the church was submerged in lava. The only part of the church that was not buried is the belfrie and the top most portion of the church pillars. According to this article, there were about 1,200 people who sought sanctuary in the church and were buried alive there when Mt. Mayon erupted in 1814. If you want to read more about Cagsawa, click on this and this.
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