Month: March 2024

BOYS OVER FLOWERS (CRAZE)

Here’s the catch.

I just recently finished watching Meteor Garden 2018 on Netflix with 49 episodes & I happened to check/google all the related shows similar to the same (which I always do in every series/movies/etc. I’ve seen) & found out that aside from the Original Taiwan version which I have also seen a few years back, there are also Korean and Japan version!

What is even more exciting is that they have the Korean version on NETFLIX too. And yes, since I’m not over the craze yet, I wanted to know and compare all the versions and write my self-review as usual, so I watched it too and completed in a little more than a week!😂

Not much different from all the versions where the story is based aside from the few little changes they  made to blend with the Country, situation, latest craze, culture, and traditions I assume, plus the change of sequences where some happened first on the Taiwan/Chinese version and happened later on the Korean version and vice versas.–> but all in all, it will come to the same happy ending with the Main characters of both versions Dao Ming Si & Dong Shancai and Gu-Jun-Pyo & Geum-Jan-Di ending up together.

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So, what I like in here? Of course, I will not mention that again, I developed a huge crush on Lee Min Ho (Gu-Jun-Pyo) because who else will not? –> and my husband Rj kept teasing me about this fine-young-man just like what he did when we were watching MG2018- Dylan Wang 🙂

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 Anyways, I super like his face especially when he smiles, super giggles!

I liked the fast-paced story. This has only 25 episodes which is shorter from the 49 episodes of Meteor Garden 2018 that some may actually bore the viewers (but not me) because of the sub-plot & additional story to spice up the series.

It’s more realistic and convincing, I think the Meteor Garden 2018 focused more on Cinderella-type Love story, Rom-com type while the Korean version tackles a little bit more of the usual daily living of an ordinary person, not only romance.

Geum-Jan-Di carries the character of an average person, not so beautiful, not so smart, not so gorgeous bod as what they want to establish in the series which made the Love story even more realistic.

In this version, Yoon Ji-hoo (Kim Hyun Joong) has a more significant role in Geum Jan-di’s life than the other versions, more strongly depicted as a romantic companion.

And yeah, it is more likable that they decided to get married after College Graduation (4 years later) rather than to marry immediately without completing their Education.

What I didn’t like? Well, I guess the lack of emotions from the characters to express their sentiments and emotions for all the problems they had to face in their relationship.

This is what I liked about in Meteor Garden 2018 anyways, both Dao Ming Si and Dong Shan Cai had given their best share and extreme efforts in proving how much they loved each other they are willing to defy all odds.

I wanted Geum Jan Di to express her inner feelings and hurt with a lot of emotions during the time Gu Jun Pyo was overseas trying to ignore her but failed to do so.

I also want to see Gu Jun Pyo fights for his love, but then, there’s a lack of emotions in here. That’s what I expect for someone who turned from a selfish bully rich kid to someone who got madly in love with a commoner despite his mom’s strong disapproval but he wasn’t able to articulate this.

Not to mention I’m longing to see the episode in Taiwan and Chinese versions where Dao Ming Si refused to eat for days in return to retaliate to his over domineering mom when she restricted him for going out of the house and later Dong-Shan-Cai went over to see him and how they talked outside his bedroom door with so much love and compassion that Shan Cai stood for days outside their home, days and night, rain and shine to support Dao Ming Si.

But then I love the way he said…“I’m in love with a girl. The first time since I was born and the last until I die.” Yay!

My thoughts about it? I liked them both with different feelings. I like the super cute yet childish ways that will give you romantic excitement to the bones on the Chinese version and I equally like the much more mature characters and outlook in life on the Korean Version.

All in, I love them both. Can’t wait to watch the Japanese version…soon!

Till next time!

Reposted from my Tumblr account- 2018

Hana Yori Dango

 

Oh well, I’m still not over the craze yet, *Giggles* Here I am, just completed the Season 1 & 2 of Hana Yori Dango with 20 episodes in less than a week, yaey! (This is the Japanese version of Meteor Garden & Boys Over Flowers). If I’m not mistaken, this is the TV adoptation of the versions where it was based, originally from the Japanese Shojo Manga written by Yoko Kamio.

The fact that I’m now very much familiar with the plot even with my mind shut as I’ve seen all the 4 versions of this story. This is also the second version I  completely watched with my husband RJ since he skipped the Korean version all because he didn’t like the way it was expressed. But for me, I loved them all with all of my heart, lol.

To refresh with, This is the story of MAKINO TSUKUSHI, a tough, hard-working, below class student of a prestigious school, Eitoku and how she immersed her life with the School legendary bullies which consist of four sons of the wealthiest and most powerful family, the F4 (FLOWER 4) when she got the red notice from them (anyone who gets this card will be the subject of bullying from the entire school at all cost until the target decides to quits or expelled).

Despite embarrassment and harassment, Makino refuses to quit, and her retaliation and declaration of war against them caught  DOMYOUJI TSUKASA’S (the leader of  F4) attention and made him fall in love with her. 

All the versions have the same plot but all shown in different flow/different impression to spice it up. But still, the story revolves around the love and courtship of the Main Characters,  Domyouji Tsukasa and Makino Tsukushi. How they faced various challenges and obstacles including their social status and social differences not to mention Tsukasa’s mother’s extreme disagreement with her.

I mostly liked Makino’s character in here. Not that loud, not that messy, not that clumsy. She has this tough character as a seaweed at the same time with a very sweet, innocent and refreshing personality. She is dainty and feminine here which is similar to Chinese Dong-Shancai ’s character rather than that of Geum Jan Di’s gracelessness, loudness, and clumsiness.

Tsukasa’s character is a bit different here as well. He is more funny, witty and comic that is different from all the versions and of course, not to mention (once again) that he is cute as ever. I literally liked all the series Lead Characters, tbh, (From Dao Ming Si of Taiwan & Chinese version to Gu Jun Pyo of Korean version and now Domyouji Tsukasa of Japanese version). -> exactly the same order how I’ve seen them. He is a bully and childish at the same time in a comical way, that is very original of him, like how he would always speak erroneous Nihonggo and how he would shudder with excitement like a kid just by talking about Makino on his friends.

Hanazawa Rui also shows obvious admiration for Tsukushi he becomes slightly perpetrator to the Main Character’s Love story but eventually gives in to Tsukasa on the latter part of the series.

Nishikado Sojiro & Mimasaka Akira were also cute in a different way. 

Moreover, I liked the part where Tsukasa develops an amnesia when he gets into an accident and Makino’s series of funny attempts in order to help him regain back his memory. After Tsukasa saved Makino from freezing to death in the blizzard, he develops a fever inside the log cabin, and while Makino is taking care of him, some flashbacks from the past made him remember Makino that is similar to the circumstance happened on their first date in Season 1, then finally remember the  “first girl he has ever fallen in love with.”

I also like the Soundtrack of both Season 1 & 2 especially the Opening Theme of Season 1 titled Wish & Love so sweet in Season 2 (Sang by ARASHI where Jun Matsumoto is a member.)

To be continued as I’m still going to watch the HANA YORI DANGO FINAL (film)

Reposted from my Tumblr account- 2018.

A day in Dubai- UAE (my 5th) While finding a place to eat

 

I got tired from walking inside the mall, got  hungry and decided to find a place to eat in the Food Court. I rounded for about three times trying to find what I wanna eat.

There were so many choices. So many unfamiliar restaurants and unfamiliar food.

I checked one more time. Counter to counter, Chinese, Japanese, Asian, Italian, Indian, and some other I’m not familiar with, etc etc but couldn’t seem to find what I’m craving for.

*Sigh* then I settled for something familiar and something I used to eat. NEW YORK FRIES! I ordered a meal set of NYF, beef hotdog with cheese, fries with cheese & vegetable toppings and Pepsi.

See, this is what happens when you’ve got a lot of choices. You find it hard to decide with the fear you might pick the wrong one. You might end up selecting the wrong one and go home disappointed rather than pleased.

So, go for something that you are familiar with, something recognizable,  something that you’ve tried before, something you will surely like. 

Better go for something you have tried and tested, something that you are very much aware of. Don’t easily fall for something (or someone) that is only good in the beginning, good on the outside but sneaky dark on the inside. Yeah, you may have a lot of choices, but the question, are they worthy to choose?

Some may look good, may look attractive, may look tasty, some are even made intentionally to look enticing on the outside, but tastes awful inside!

So I don’t wanna make the same mistake again….even just by selecting what to eat this day!

Yeah, I’m talking about food and nothing else…

Oh well…  Hahaha!

Marassi Aquarium and Underwater Zoo- Bahrain

Where to take your kids for some edutainment in Bahrain, 2024?

Marassi Galleria– Bahrain’s most exquisite beach front shopping mall with a lot of dining & entertainment just recently opened is now the home of Bahrain’s largest oceanarium- THE MARASSI AQUARIUM AND UNDERWATER ZOO.

MARASSI AQUARIUM AND UNDERWATER ZOO, now being the largest aquarium in the Kingdom that houses over 200 species of fish. Explore the Rainforest, Reef zone and explore the ocean trench & underwater ecosystem, and take a look at the sharks, rays, octopus, arapaima, jelly fish, among other types of marine & fresh water species.

Surely, you will find the place fun as well as educational for the whole family.

We went there last weekend with our toddler Rain who is very fascinated with water and fish ever since and needless to say, he did enjoy our almost 2 hour walking around the 20 foot long tunnel exploring the oceanarium. He was very amused to see these fish swimming in a state-of-the-art large aquariums bigger than him. He even wants to dump his hands in the water or jump inside to swim with them.

We also have taken a lot of photographs, and I myself was surprised to see how good all my snaps turned out. I love the dim lighting, the ocean blue reflection which is very enchanting, and the smell of the ocean everywhere.

Visitors can also have the chance to participate in the feeding activity.

There is also a small cozy coffeeshop on the second floor named Treetop Cafe complete with artificial hanging grass and trees where you can relax and rest if you get tired of walking around.

Before the end of the tunnel, you will find an aquarium in the middle of the hallway full of doctor fish where you can dip your hand which is said to be good to stimulate and improve blood circulation.

The Oceanarium is open all the week from 10AM to 10PM. The ticket price is bhd5.5 each including children older than 3 years old.

Definitely, living in a small Island of Bahrain, this is really worth to visit!