[Drama Crack] Misaeng Incomplete Life

After the huge success of You From Another Star or Man from the Star in the Kdramaverse and of course in my heart, my Kdramaverse was not occupied with a good drama as YFAS. Although I enjoyed, Marriage not Dating, Bride of the Century and Plus Nine Boys, the fall Kdramas are good!

Let me start with Misaeng. How do I love thee? Wasn't that excited for this drama even if Im Si-wan is here and Kang Ha-neul. I know that Kang So-ra is there as well but I haven't seen her on a drama so... Misaeng is an adaptation of a highly successful webtoon. Which made me remember "reading" Flower Boy Next Door webtoon. All I know about Misaeng is that its from a webtoon and most likely to be an office drama, based on the wacky teaser. By the way this post contains spoilers.

Episode 1 opens to a familiar view of Petra in Jordan and a guy that seems to be finding a way out. Then came a chasing scene. Boy, I really love those kinds of  movies where they run from building to building and jumping from one roof top to another. Our hero -- Jang Geu-rae is chasing someone and as he jumps from a roof top to a window to catch the guy and then we were sent back to 2012. That chase is enough to catch my attention.

But as we were sent back to 2012, we'll see way different Geu-rae, a loser so to speak. He was doing different part time jobs to make the ends meet. The scene on how hardworking Geu-rae is and only to be told that his services on the sauna is not anymore needed is heartbreaking. His mom told him that she called someone and got a job for him. I expected Geu-rae to object, but he obliged. I'm not sure whether his mom has been telling him to get that job for a long time and that he just agreed now. Come the next day when we see him on his dad's old suite. Of course its ill-fitting but we don't hear any complaints.

Geu-rae's character was really painted as an underdog loser. Ill-fitting suit, check! Did  not even have a college degree, check! Did not have office related experience, check! and not that young? check! The only thing is he has is a computer application certificate and GED. Oh he's done with military service. So what he did with his life? Dong-shik asked, he played baduk. He devoted his life to baduk but he didn't reach pro.

If you've worked in an office all your life, we can easily relate to Geu-rae. That first day when you don't know where to sit or stand and that everybody is busy, even the person that was supposed to train you is busy on his work and that you can't blame them in seeing how annoyed they are with a newbie that knows nothing and probably be a burden to you. Poor Geu-rae. Adding to his no college degree and no experience issues, he got in because of connections. And we all hate that right? Up until episode 6, we still don't know how he is connected with the executive director. I'm guessing that his father used to work with executive director-nim. Right now as he successfully became a full time employee and learning hard.

Misaeng, How do I love thee? I love that our hero did not become a superhero overnight. He is learning bit by bit, episode by episode. I even like the attitude of Geu-rae working hard and not blaming how poor they are, how life isn't fair. He is not stupid but not overly smart. The casts are great especially Siwan. He is so perfect for the role, his looks, his physique. I first saw in Moon that Embraces the Sun and was surprise to learn that he is part of ZE:A, a Kpop boy group that I tried to like but no avail. ZE:A really I tried. Now I have to start with The Equator Man and Triangle. But I wonder where will I get the time.

Lee Sung-min is great as ever. I'm surprise with Kang So-ra, I was so impressed with her English and Russian accent. Though I don't know Russian but to my ears its believable. I love how the top interns were not doing much on their actual jobs now and Bae-ki's character is intriguing. I can't wait for him to join the pack. 

I just hope that this show will end or will show how Geu-rae ended up in Jordan chasing a person to death. I'm disappointed with High School Savvy that it failed to continue with what it showed on the first episode when noona was helping him change to his uniform after a successful meeting in Singapore or did I miss it? 

Fall for fall

As I am watching Korean dramas, I can’t take my eyes off how beautiful the background is! The landscape that comprises of yellow, orange, crimson, brown and green trees that reminds me of how wonderful and great God is.  And I can’t wait to see it for myself. I just hope I’ll be not lazy in taking pictures because I am most of the time and I usually regret it when I will write a blog and not to have a picture. Hehe!

Having been born in a country where there are only 2 seasons, my fascination over snow and the changing colors of the leaves during fall is always there in fact, experiencing the two other seasons are on my bucket list. The only thing that I can relate with countries having 4 seasons is summer so I’ll skip that. Summer is more fun in the Philippines!

Last 2013, I’ve experienced spring and sakura, though not in Japan but in Seoul.  The cherry blossoms are lovely. I really like that its not that hot and not that cold. Although some trees are still yet to show some life (leaves). And so as we board the plane to Manila, we vowed to comeback. I can’t remember if we talk about going back during fall, but I guess we did! In Dubai, I’m not quite sure why they coined the colder months as winter. But I guess relatively to the months where the temperature gets as high as 50 degrees Celsius, I’ll take it. I’m grinning right now because I realized that there are hundreds of stores here in Dubai selling mink coats that I’m dying to have one and yes with especially the one with a fox’s tail ok, I actually want the one with the head! Thanks to SHINee’s “Dazzling Girl” promo pics! But of course it will be downright silly because it doesn’t snow to where I live.

image credits: dramabeans.com, kjtamusings.wordpress.com and seoulbeats.com

Day 7 - Goodbye Seoul!

Bye Jeju.. later Seoul

Touchdown Gimpo! I can't believe that we've been to several airports in Korea. Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju yay! I can't also believe that this is our last day in Korea. I thought we will be late for our 1:35 pm flight but thank goodness we were not! From the airport we get a glimpse of Mt. Hallasan. Our itinerary for the day is to 1) get our luggage from our hostel 2) go to Myeongdong and have lunch 3) head to Incheon. Until now I am so happy that we get a cheap flight to Jeju. Its just 65.8 USD for our Busan(PUS)-Jeju (CJU)-Seoul (GMP) via Jeju Air.

clearer view of Mt. Hallasan

We went back to our hostel to get our luggage. Mr. Young is so nice that he let us leave our luggage. It rained that day but that didn't stop us from going to Myeongdong and made last minute shopping. Our flight is at 10pm so we still have time. I bought socks, those kpop socks! I completed all SHINee members. Too bad that only Yonghwa is available for CNBLUE and Hongki for FT Island. Actually the choices were limited and its kinda sad. Those idol printed yangmal are so comfy and sturdy. We shopped at SPAO. I bought a belt and guess what? socks! hahaha! I like how big posters of SM Entertainment artists in SPAO. Honestly we went there simply because of its association with SM, but my friend bought a pair of pastel colored pants and swears that its super comfy and now its her favorite pants.

Rain will not stop us from coming to Myeongdong!	SM Entertainment artists! Siwon!
Yonghwa socks!	Taemina!

I wish train stations here in Dubai would house lockers too! It is so convenient to leave your things or luggage to easily roam around the city. But that time it was difficult to get a big locker for our luggage but we still manage to get one otherwise our Myeongdong shopping will be impossible.

I remember having just a street food for lunch. I was about to stop ajumma in pouring a ketchup like thingy (I am not a fan of ketchup) on my sausage but its too late, but when I tasted it, it was super and I want to go back to her and ask for more! Well I actually glad I didn't because the sauce landed on my wallet, bag and shoes! 

Then we head to the airport. I thought we will be running late for our flight so to save time, we opted for the Airport Railroad Express (AREX). Its super comfy and non stop. There were attendees which is super cool. Not to mentioned that 2PM are on the magazine of Lotte Duty Free which we took it with us. What I didn't know about AREX is that it has timings. I thought its like the one in Hong Kong that doesn't have timings meaning you just hop on to the next train that will arrive. After purchasing our tickets, just then we realized that its for 7:30pm , our flight is 10pm-ish so given the 45-minute journey, we will be at Incheon passed 8pm. Still I think we will arrive at Incheon International Airport earlier if we took the regular train that goes to the airport too plus I know its cheaper. 

And so as usual, Cebu Pacific is late. After check-in we still managed to see duty free and buy bread and coffee at Paris Baguette. Our feet are heavy as we walk towards the plane. We already promised to be back. At that time we don't know exactly, but now we will comeback this autumn! YAY!

Our Seoul-Busan-Jeju trip is awesome! Nothing beats being in a place for the first time. I thank God for the letting me go to places that I just see on the countless drama that I've watched and been watching. Reading my posts, I wonder where I got all the energy to roam around Korea in 7 days.