Thursday, March 31, 2011

Becoming Angelina Jolie ^^

Yuhuuuu!!! I successfully persuaded my cousin to lend me her fitness equipment! Hahaha ...
So far, her fitness equipment was stored in her warehouse, because she was too busy to exercise. She said, with her work now in the bank, she's already slim without exercise. Huh!

So, guys... here it is the two fitness equipment! Power rider and free style glider! Hehe ...

Power rider

free style glider


I started to use it since two weeks ago. By the way I have a few simple rules are helpful as I develop my own routine.
  • Don't eat for 2 hours before vigorous exercise.
  • Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after a workout.
  • Adjust activity according to the weather and reduce it when fatigued or ill.
  • When exercising, listen to the body's warning symptoms, and consult a doctor if exercise causes chest pain, irregular heartbeat, undue fatigue, nausea, unexpected breathlessness, or light-headedness.

Then there is the so-called heart rate.
Heart rate is the standard guide for determining aerobic exercise intensity. It can be determined by counting one's own pulse or with the use of a heart rate monitor. To feel your own pulse, press the first two fingers of one hand gently down on the inside of the wrist or under the jaw on the right or left side of the front of the neck. You should feel a faint pounding as blood passes through the artery. Each pounding is a beat.

Ow! I can't wait to be as sexy as Angelina Jolie! Hahahaha...

Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Highly Recommended K-dramas

I've created this list for my friends Maya & Gloria who like k-dramas. They are busy at work, and I have more spare time to watching some dramas than them ... so they asked me to tell them some good dramas.

Okay, dear Maya & Glo, this is it!
  • Coffee Prince  
    Coffee Prince
    A strange little romance about a woman who works so hard to support her mother and sister that she has no time to keep up her feminine appearance. Mistaken as a boy and due to a bizarre series of occurrences, she is hired by a rich, handsome man to play his gay lover to get his mother to stop trying to marry him off.  
  • Goong I & II
    Goong/Princess Hours
    Another very popular romance about an alternative world where the Korean royalty still rules and its young prince is in need of a bride (another Cinderella story). I love Yoon Eun-hye's acting in this drama! (I put it to the list if you have not watched it)
  • You're Beautiful 
    You're Beautiful
    If you love Jang Geun-suk is very cool here hehehe...
  • Personal Taste
    Personal Taste
    Not bad. If you love Lee Min-ho too ;)
  • Sungkyunkwan Scandal - Sungkyunkwan Scandal is set in Sungkyunkwan University in the late Joseon era during the reign of King Jeongjo, revolving around the exploits and love stories of four youths.  Hey, you can see three handsome guys in this drama! It's highly recommended!
  • Secret Garden 
    Secret Garden
    It's hillarious story. And Hyun Bin was so cute in this drama hehe...The drama tells the story of Kim Joo Won (Hyun Bin), an arrogant and eccentric CEO who maintains the image of seeming perfection, and Gil Ra Im (Ha Ji Won), a poor and humble stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy amongst top actresses. To complicate matters further, a strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies.
  • Hwang Jin Yi   - The story of Hwang Jin Yi, the famous 16th century Gisaeng. This drama is about a young girl who is very talented in dancing. She gets chosen to be a gisaeng. Jang Geun-suk is here! :D
  • Mary Stayed Out All Night 
    Mary Stayed Out All Night
    Another Jang Geun-suk's drama. I know, I know, I have to stop my unrequited love hahaha... But, I tell you, this drama was very cute! :P
  • Playfull Kiss 
    Playfull Kiss
    It was an  interesting drama in a cliche way! Funny and silly story :D
  • My Princess - was romantic comedy about a modern princess. When an ordinary college student, Lee Seol, finds out she’s a princess. 
  • The Return of Iljimae - The story is about a man fighting against the selfish and corrupt government to save the ordinary peasants. Iljimae was abandoned by his birth father and adopted by a Chinese couple. He returns to Korea to find his birth family and realizes how unjust the world really is. He watched as his first love, Dal Yi, was wrongfully put to death. Iljimae then vows to help the commoners from the corrupt government officials.
  • My Girlfriend is A Gumiho 
    My Girlfriend is A Gumiho
    Cha Dae Woong accidentally releases a gumiho, a legendary fox with nine tails that eats the livers of humans. When he finds out that she is a gumiho, he ends up doing crazy things to prevent the girl from eating his liver.
     
Don't forget your snacks and a cup of hot chocolate, gals!
So, happy watching! ^^

    Friday, March 25, 2011

    Still About Yoo Ah-in ^^

    Hey! These are Sunkyungkwan Scandal (SKKS) co-stars commenting on Yoo Ah In.

    Park Min Young:

    Park Min-young


    “I’ve talked about this with Ah-in, that everyone: Park Yoochun, Song Joong-ki, Yoo Ah-in, was so passionate about acting that we spurred each other on. The teamwork was so good that even when doing reactions for each other’s shots, we were diligently acting. But I have one complaint. All three of them have such baby faces. Especially Ah-in, when he cuts his hair and shaves his face, he looks like a total kid. Next to the three of them, I look old! On top that, I think the stress of the shoot has aged me.” (via Yonhap, Sports Khan)

    Yoo Ah In, the more you see (of him), the more you fall for him. Song Joong Ki is intelligent and smart performer. Park Yoo Chun is sincere (or devoted).” (Entertainment Relay 11/06/2010)

    Joo Ah Sung:

    Joo Ah-sung


    Startoday interview of Joo Ah Sung aka Nam Myung Sik (So Ron leader) in drama SKKS, his comment about working with YAI:

    During the first scene with Yoo Ah In, I thought to myself he was born to be an actor (also mean celestial star or the highest/best actor). He was really Gurl Oh. At the location, he was in Gurl Oh character always, really focused… watching them (refering to Park Yoo-chun & YAI), even though they were still young, they were so good I thought to myself I should make greater effort.”

    Song Joong-ki:

    Song Joong-ki


    During KBS 2TV 'Entertainment Weekly', Song Joong-ki, who is well known for playing Goo Yong-ha in 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal', confessed, “I want Yoo Ah-in's lips, not in sexual way though.”

    Song Joong-ki said, “My complex is my lips. I occasionally saw Yoo Ah-in's lips during the shooting of 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal', and I really envy these lips.”

    Yoo Ah-in


    And look! This guy is very-very cool, right! Hahaha...


    Thursday, March 24, 2011

    I love You, Yoo Ah-in!

    I think, I want to ask for temporary break from Jang Geun-suk and dating this guy: Yoo Ah-in.
    Look! His charisma shines in every photo .... and also in every scene that he played in drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal as Moon Jae-shin.

    I can only say: he's successful role as Moon Jae-shin, who had a nickname Gurl-oh (Wild Horse). He's cool, messy, untouchable, mysterious and rebel.

















    Sungkyunkwan Scandal, I Love It!

    I just finished watching Sungkyunkwan Scandal! Whoa! It's very good drama!

    Sungkyunkwan Scandal is set in Sungkyunkwan University in the late Joseon era during the reign of King Jeongjo, revolving around the exploits and love stories of four youths. This drama is also based on the best seller novels "The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Schollar I & II" by Jung Eun Gweol.

    When her younger brother's illness worsens and their family is in danger of being evicted from their house for lack of money, Kim Yoon Hee enters the school under his name, disguised as a boy in her desperation to support him. There, she becomes friends with the intelligent and upright Lee Sun Joon, the playboy Goo Yong Ha and rebellious Moon Jae Shin.

    I love the character of Moon Jae Shin. He's so cool and handsome! Hohoho...
    Yoo Ah-in was very successful play this role! I love you, man! Some of my friends call him 'The Hot Lips'. Geez! Hahahaha... I agree with you, gals!

    These are some of my favorite scenes!
    The first meeting between Yoon-hee and Jae-shin.  They do not know that they'll become bestfriends later

    This' after the arrest of Sun-joon. Jae-shin appears, declaring that he’ll go make it right, since no one would believe that the bumbling idiot they have in custody is actually the Red Messenger. But Yoon-hee’s not having any of that. She stands in his path, hands stretched as far as they reach.  She declares, tears in her eyes, that there’s someone who took his place; she won’t forgive him if he doesn’t honor that sacrifice. She said, “Because…for you…I would’ve done the same.” It's really a beautiful friendship, right?

    Jae-shin: Kim Yoon-shik. Have I ever told you? Thank you.
    Yoon-hee: For what?
    Jae-shin: You. Thank you, for you. 
     

    Yoon-hee leads the students to the palace, where they chant for Sun-joon to be set free, and plead their case to the king. Yoon-hee looks on at her classmates, proud and amazed at the power a group of vocal students can wield. It’s akin to the feeling you have at your first student protest, when the world is open and full of hope, and you feel for the first time that with enough people on your side, you could move mountains and change the world.

    It's just because they already know that Yoon-shik is Yoon-hee, a girl. That night come bedtime, Sun-joon does some quick thinking and immediately claims the middle spot.
    Jae-shin: Oy, Noron. That’s my spot.
    Sun-joon: There’s no my spot, your spot. You’re the one who said that your spot is where you lie.
    At which Jae-shin kicks Sun-joon’s pillow. What follows is some major butt-action as Jae-shin tries to push Sun-joon back and Sun-joon holds his own. They get into a “What is wrong with you” exchange before they’re interrupted by Yoon-hee’s appearance. Hahaha it's so ridiculous!

    The Student President, In-soo has been busy outing the Red Messenger the night before, presenting Jae-shin’s bracelet to his father as proof of his identity. He insists they march into Sungkyunkwan with soldiers, and when his father resists, he mounts a plan on his own.
    He catches up to Yong-ha and Jae-shin, surrounding them with soldiers and taunting them with the bracelet, declaring that he has the evidence to put away the Red Messenger for good. He bares Jae-shin’s wrist, sans bracelet, as proof.
    Only Jae-shin presents his other arm—with the exact same bracelet. And then Yong-ha shows his wrist, with another of the same. That shuts In-soo up in a hurry, and they scamper off, even managing to retrieve the original bracelet from In-soo’s grasp. Hahaha! Nice scene. It's smart sense of Gu Yong-ha!

    I dunno, the romantic scenes between Yoon-hee with Sun-joon does not make me interested. Their acting was too ordinary. Nothing special.
    But the charisma of Yoo Ah-in as Moon Jae-shin who make scenes between Jae-shin, Yoon-hee a.k.a Yoon-shik was very nice, and make us wish they are dating at the end of the story.

    As expected, Yoo Ah-in totally commands the screen when he’s on. He’d be the sharpest and most charismatic. Ah-in has a really fantastic ability to be a chameleon, be able to take the careless rebel character and make him intriguing.

    I also like Song Joong-ki's acting in this drama. He is also very good, playing this bored hedonist type. Not quite as cruel, but he has a dark streak. Good job Joong-ki!

    Although some reviews say that this drama is almost the same as Boys Over Flowers, I personally feel that this movie is better. There is absolutely no showing off wealth or power. The main characters are people who uphold the friendship and common interests, even though they are children of the powerful state officials.

    I think this drama is a must-watch!

    Wednesday, March 16, 2011

    The Beast & the Beauty

    Okay guys...

    Another old Korean film that I watch again is The Beast & The Beauty.

    The Beast and the Beauty (Yasuwa minyeo) is a 2005 South Korean romantic-comedy film. It involves voice-actor Dong-gun (Ryu Seung-beom), whose blind girlfriend Hae-ju (Shin Min-ah) suddenly receives surgery to regain her eyesight. Having lied to Hae-ju about his appearance, the beastly Dong-gun chooses to undergo extreme measures to change his appearance, while promising Hae-ju that he will return soon. Meanwhile, Hae-ju bumps into the Joon-ha (Kim Kang-woo)—Dong-gun's high school friend whose appearance is how Dong-gun described himself to Hae-ju—and mistakes him for Dong-gun. Hilarity ensues, and Dong-gun finds himself struggling to hold onto the love of the woman he loves.

    Initially I bought this movie because the female cast is Sin Min-ah. I like her because her face is similar with Indonesian. In addition, there is a cousin whose face looked like her! hehehe

    This movie is really-really funny! Trust me! I got to laugh out loud!

    Monday, March 14, 2011

    Pray for Japan

    My nightmares come again. The nightmare that emerged after my reportation about tsunami in Aceh many years ago. The nightmares are also experienced by my journalists friends who went to Aceh with me. Some of them had to consult a psychiatrist because of trauma.

    The nightmare of rotting corpses in the gutters and the edges of the road. The houses are nearly flat on the ground, little children who cry hard to find her parents, rancid and foul smell that floated in the air to make you could not breathe. All came back last night, after I watch the coverage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan a few days ago.

    My tears never stopped flowing, although I do not know them. Although they do not compatriot with me. But in the name of humanity, our brotherhood is real.

    This tsunami was even more horrible than the tsunami in Aceh, because they were there in danger of radioactive of nuclear reactor that exploded due to earthquake.

    I grieve deeply, condolences to the victims who died.

    I pray for Japan.







    Show your support for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan today by putting a ‘Pray For Japan’ ribbon on your profile pictures on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and beyond.

    Just click here to get the stamp!

    Saturday, March 12, 2011

    Beauty & Plastic Surgery

    I just watched my old collection of Korean movies yesterday: 200 Pounds Beauty. The film was immediately highlighted by the practice of the Korean people for plastic surgery.

    It's about Kang Han-na, a fat girl, weighing 200 pounds, which lend her beautiful voice to Ammy, the pretty famous singer who actually can not sing. So, Han-na records all of Ammy's songs and hiding behind the concert stage and sing, while Ammy pretending to sing in front of the audience who do not know about her lipsync. Oh, by the way, Han-na is also a phone sex employee.




    I thought the movie plot was not too special. The fat girl who has a beautiful voice falls in love with Ammy's artist manager, Sang-jun, and finally she decided to do head-to-toe plastic surgery. She changed her name became Jenny after the surgery.

    The question is: does Sang-jun fall in love with her?
    Of course. Because she becomes beautiful and slender like a barbie doll, and her voice is really beautiful so that makes the artist manager eager to make her as a singer.






    And another question: Is it true that everything went well and happy?

    Hohoho. Of course not, people!
    When Sang-jun knows the truth, he seems to be unable to forgive her for lying to him but says that he will still work to promote 'Jenny' and carry on with her concert scheduled the next day.

    Han-na breaks down at this point, heartbroken and unable to pretend to be someone else anymore. Han-na tells him that it is incredibly frustrating and painful not being able to be just be herself but have to live a lie, especially in front of him. The surgery that took a whole year to recover from was not nearly as painful as realizing that she still could not be close to Sang-jun.

    As Sang-jun tries to comfort her, she brushed away his efforts saying, "You broke my heart. Tissue paper cannot fix it."

    FYI, 200 Pounds Beauty (Minyeoneun Goerowo) is a 2006 South Korean comedy film based on a Japanese manga, Kanna-San, Daiseikou Desu by Yumiko Suzuki. The literal meaning is 'Being Beautiful is Agonizing.'

    The film was a financial success, earning approximately $45 million against its $4 million budget. It also received large critical acclaims, winning Grand Bell's Best Actress for Kim Ah-jung and Best Cinematography together with nominations for Best Film and Best Director.
    Wow! Bravo!

    By the way, I like this movie soundtracks. Almost all of the songs are pop rock genre, and Kim Ah-joong, the actress who plays Kang Han-na has a really good voice! Especially when she sang the song 'Maria', the Korean version of the song originally sung by Blondie.
    __________________

    The moral message of this movie is: self-confidence comes from faith in yourself, not from the physical. Being yourself is more important, because that's what makes other people respect you.

    Saturday, March 5, 2011

    Changing the Plan

    When I was googling about my mother's hometown, Garut, there are many tourist objects!
    It's so embarrassing! During the year I lived here, in Garut, I only know a bit.
    I love nature tourism, and you know that? There's so many nature tourism here!

    So far I only know some of the most famous places, which turned out recently became unnatural again because too many visitors.

    So I made a list of tourism objects, and I promise will track it down one by one.
    I feel stupid. Many people want to go to this small town to enjoy the beautiful nature and great attractions, but I was even fun to design your tour to other regions.

    Magdalene, my cousin's wife had agreed to be my journey partner, and we named this plan 'Tour de Garut' hehehe ....

    We will start as soon as possible. Magdalene is still waiting for her husband return from overseas this week, and I am waiting to hear from Eka about the certainty of our trip to Green Canyon. About Bosscha Observatory, I think I can wait, besides I do not have friends to go there.


    Tuesday, March 1, 2011

    The Hot Youngblood

    Hola gente! Ahora he enamorado de un chico!

    Hello people! Now I have a crush on a guy! Hohoho, I'm sorry for my spanish. It's just because I feel got back from Mexico after filming the movie Apocalypto! Hahaha...

    How about this!

    Yan in canic Maya. Bix a bel? Bix a kaba? In k'àab'a'e' Enno.Jach ki'imak in wóol in wilikech. 

    Hihihi...
    It's Yucatec Mayan. I found some sentences after googling. It's FAMSI. A foundation for Mesoamerican studies, they have this site to studying Yucatec Mayan.
    And the sentences above mean:

    I'm learn about Mayan. How are you? What's your name? My name is Enno. Pleased to meet you.

    Back to the topic. You must curious about the guy. Who is he? Ow, he's absolutely hot! Yay! Hahaha... what am I talking about right now? Is there a guy more hot than Jang Geun Suk? Of course.

    Just take a look this picture, please.









    Yup! He is Rudy Youngblood. The leading actor of movie Apocalypto. I watched the movie five times until now and suddenly fall in love with his acting since the first time I saw him.

    Originally from a small town in Texas, Rudy Youngblood came to Los Angeles to start a Native American dance troupe. As fate would have it, he was in LA for only about 3 months before he got the role as Jaguar Paw. He went for the audition and he got a call from Mel Gibson himself.

    Youngblood left to Mexico the next day, early in the morning, to start on the movie. He still did not understand that he was going to have the starring role. "Everything happened so fast. 'Starring role' in a movie? I wasn't sure what that meant. I would ask my friends, what does that mean, 'Starring role'? Is that the 'main guy'? It's crazy!"

    He said that he's just a country boy from a small town in Texas.

    He's a native American of Comanche, Cree and Yaqui decent. In the movie, he's representing a Mayan person. He wanted it to be natural- as natural as possible, so he studied a lot. Day and night. "I love the Maya people. They are gentle, giving, very intellectual and a beautiful people." To learn the script was not enough. To learn to speak Mayan was not enough. So he wanted to learn about the culture."

    Rudy also speak Spanish. He learned a lot about the Mexican people too. He  learned Spanish while he was filming Apocalypto there. The spanish is fluently. I think he's not only good in acting, but he's intelligent and smart. Totally gorgeous! Oh I'm blown away! Gorgeous and speaks Spanish! It's so sexy!

    When some journalists ask about his prepare for the Apocalypto premier of  2007, he said that he don't even know what he's going to wear.

    Oh come on, Rudy! I think you don't need to wear anything like tuxedo or else in any event. You'll be fine with your half-naked body such as Jaguar Paw, your role in Apocalypto. You're so damn hot, you know!

    Hehehe *devilish grin*