Healer Fever

image from hancinema.net

That’s it! I’m writing about Healer or Ji Chang-wook for that matter here on my blog even if it looks like jumping into the bandwagon or riding to its popularity in dramabeans. The comments ballooned to thousands which regularly a popular one would get around 300++. The time that I finished watching episode 10, the comments reached more than 800 already and I even tweeted dramabeans on how am I supposed to read them less respond? So this post might contain spoilers. I'm saddened that it seems to be not getting much love in Korea. 

Ji Chang Wook. I thought my gushing over him ended already. In less than 2 minutes he captured me in the way he said his first few lines in Empress Ki. It was enough to let me watch till episode 21 and with Healer I'm sure I'll finished it. I dropped Empress Ki to watch Warrior Baek Dong Soo but for me Yoo Seung Ho is the one who shined the more on that drama. I'm glad I didn't erase Bachelor Vegetable Shop on on hard disk.

Episode 11 aired already and I am not of a great writer to put into words the impact of one particular scene. Beanies at dramabeans are going nuts and I wonder and fear about withdrawal syndrome already. I thought I’ll be nursing my longing for Misaeng, but here goes Healer for’ya. I totally agreed with the recent recap for episode 12 that you'll me lost for words for Healer. Its not a perfect drama but the whole thing is just magical. Also the community that it built, at least over at dramabeans is overwhelming. Last night I watched the live stream of episode 12 and watching it was so fun since there is a chat box on the side and everyone is typing their reactions and sometimes someone will translate. So I imagine seating in a living room with all the members of Healer club all over the world, feeling giddy, excited and left almost crazy with that episode 12 cliffhanger. And as we exit from the living room, all is saying "Isn't it Monday yet?"

So I said magical so what made it magical for me? Let me count the ways.

1.  Meeting the non expectation. Thus surprising and not disappointing (hopes this will not jinx the drama). I haven't said my apologies yet to my dear JCW for not tuning in to his drama as soon as it was shown. I didn't even know that its on a Monday-Tuesday time slot and that it was the show after Tomorrow Cantabile. During that time, I'm so engrossed with Misaeng and entertained with Modern Farmer. After that, I picked up where I left Liar Game because they (beanies) can't stop talking about it. Oh and there's Pinocchio which if Healer is not around will be my favorite currently airing drama. Reading about Healer with another reporter/people in media setting, didn't get me excited especially there's Pinocchio. So with all those factors, it kept me away from this awesome show for a month. I didn't expect it to be awesome but it is! I didn't expect to see Park Min-young and like her, adore her is more apt (I didn't watch New Leaf because I can't get to like her there, so bothered with her nose job). So I approached Healer with just seeing an intro on one of the recaps on dramabeans as "compelling". I didn't expect it to have some mysteries, action, loads and loads of cuteness, funny moments and of course heart, but Healer got it all going on each episodes.

the action

funny and cute

Healer's alter ego Park Bong Soo

2.  Ji Chang Wook. I don't know if I need to say more. As I posted above I was captivated by this guy long before Healer. But seeing him all sweaty in a virtual tennis match and talking with her virtual opponent is enough to get my interest. I really like how he portrays a klutz to bad ass errand guy. With JCW he can be overly cute and playful but if it calls for a drama, he is convincing and effective. 

from JCW Instagram

3.  Back Story. Nothing beats than a backstory rooted on friendship gone sour or rather unfortunate hence the drama. Four guys, one girl and a little boy in tow. Their friendship is as tight as a family but for some reason, two ended up dead, one crippled, one so powerful (and evil?) and one served some time in jail. The show is unraveling each part of the back story in a good pace, just exactly what you need to know for the moment. 

the friends

4.  Soundtrack. I'm a sucker for drama OSTs. I never knew that Michael Learns to Rock has this song "Eternal Love". I love it whenever it plays of course that is when Healer and Young-shin (Park Min-young) is on screen! Its like "Love is the moment" in Heirs but not annoying.

5.  Hug. No not the DBSK song that Young-shin was singing while our hero is under her bed. Initially its just a way avoid her from looking into his face but later on for comfort and luuuuv.

6.  Kiss. Acck! Every drama has its own kissing scene and if a drama is tagged as a romcom its something that I watch out for. After being rescued from the elevator. Man that elevator scene is something! Anyway as Healer ushered Young-shin to safety, she called for him. He leaves but hesitated, he came back and kissed her! 

image credit dramabeans.com

7. The Date. Healer is an errand guy and apparently you can email him and ask for a date. Well that is if you're Young-shin. I love how Young-shin stayed true to her promise that she will not utter a word, or even try to look for/at him. Like a real date, Young-shin dolled up herself and sneak out of her house. She stayed and waited in the cinema for hours only to be asked to leave because they are closing. But the revolving door suddenly spun like an invitation for her to come in. This is all I believe with the help of ajumma! I've seen a dozen secret dates but this one is daebak!

8.  Interlocked fingers. As the movie (they saw the latest movie of Lee-Seunggi) ended, Young-shin turns to leave but her arms was grabbed by Healer. Many despise that gesture in most Korean dramas, but in here no harm down and is rather sweet. That holding hands. When I saw it I could feel that my cheeks turned red and there is a tingling sensation down to my spine. **fans self** I was biting my pinky as I watch this scene. 

Episode 12 left us with a killing cliffhanger. I didn't lurk into dramabeans today as much as I did yesterday so that I will not sink deeper to this mania because apparently I have a life.

Day 2 - Coby goes to DMZ!

It was on our itinerary last year but since there was some news concerning North threatening the South, we decided to ditch the idea of going to DMZ. Since this will be our "last" chance for us to go to DMZ (Korea for that matter) we decided to go this time.

After some tremendous search for the cheapest available tour package, we found Adventure Korea! Its 40,000 KRW and it covers the tour plus lunch! It was a bit difficult though to pay for the tour because we are coming from abroad and sometimes wiring money to a bank from another country is difficult. I'm glad that my bank caters to free international bank to bank transfer. It took a while for it to be confirmed and it almost did not get to their bank account on time because I just did the transfer a week before the tour. Phew! I learned about Adventure Korea upon researching doing paragliding in Korea and apparently, they do DMZ tours as well.

our tour group

Day 1 - Autumn in South Korea!

I (actually we), spent 8 days in South Korea last November, hoping to see the lovely autumn colors and the first snow. We didn't get to experience both, but still its an experience of a lifetime. I don't know if I'll get to visit South Korea again, but it will not hurt if I will! Darn the thought itself makes me feel giddy. It is rather a sad thought that I'll not be visiting the websites catering to tourist who wished to visit Korea because it will not have a use for me for the moment. Every blog entry that I'll post about my recent trip in Korea will be bittersweet. I'll try not to be nostalgic sniff..sniff.. I hope I'll get to finish all before anyone starts to plan a tour to Korea next fall and I hope that my blog entries will be a little helpful, just like the other blog posts that I relied as I plan our trip to Korea.

The planning stage was not that long compared to our first trip. We are not that excited or maybe its mixed with stress. I didn't get to check thoroughly our itinerary especially the last 2-3 days, thus we got to pay being lost and spending an awful time walking on the streets of Seoul with less than 10 degrees Celsius brrrrrr... its a big deal for a couple of tourists from a tropical country and living in the Middle East for more than 5 years. 

We arrived at around 8pm at Incheon International Airport. This time we did not look around the airport, we head straight to the convenience store to reload our T-Money. Ugh! I remember losing my old T-Money on our 7th day with more than 20USD still stored. You know that moment you know that when you put it there it will get lost but you put it there anyway, and then it got really lost and you ended up hating yourself for getting that warning but ignored it. Silly me. As usual, I exceeded my trip budget that's excluding airfare and hotel, which I've already paid in advance. Its funny that on the first few days we are splurging and on our last night counting our won (Korean currency) down to the last coin. hehe!