I hope y'all like my new blog layout! 😅
It’s been several months since my last travel and it already felt like 2 years of being stuck in the UK. My adulting era has paved to its fullest during my long haul stay as I juggle a Monday-Friday job, carry my own flat chores and facilitating my residency status (which was approved!) Last March, I took the ‘Life in The UK’ exam on the same day that I landed in the country—and it was truly promising.⭐️ Since then, I kept reminiscing how I made throughout this overseas life. Did I make my 25-yr old self proud? 
Here's my bucket-list check for my quinquennial British life. This might sound boring and a little self-centered but all thoughts are of my own 

Scandinavian Files: DENMARK

(15MAR24) This month marked my 5th year in the UK—and look how I celebrated it outside the country again! 😆 Pretty much because 1) I want to treat myself after passing the “Life in The UK” test which I hope will lead me to a better path and 2) Apart that I wanted a change of scenery, I wanted to use my Schengen visa before it expires. Hence, this happened; though, who would have thought that I had gone to Sweden’s frenemy?!

It feels great to tour another Scandinavian country; I actually had doubts on embarking a solo trip here owing to the fact that I had less preparations for it. I’ve said to myself that I’m just going to rely on my spontaneous instincts when I get there; Yet, Denmark is a breath of fresh air. The hygge has led me to enjoy and explore. So, here’s my 3-day itinerary to the 2nd happiest country in the world!

2023 Memories

Chibi in a box made by yours truly!💜
Has this year hopped by so quick? Or perhaps, it was just utterly eventful? I randomly don’t like the number ‘23’ for some reasons yet I remained hopeful that this year would be better than the previous—and certainly, it was. 2023 has been my milestone moment despite sad days, a heartbreak and irrational decisions. But these challenges shaped me to become better that led to new beginnings (with travelling on the side, of course😉) as I reached another decade.

So welcome to my world. Here’s my annual year-in review…for better or for worst. NB: all thoughts are of my own.

Ciao Italy (part ii)

(24APR23) Who would have thought that I was FINALLY able to come back to Italy?! I have never really thought of touring there again yet but thanks to my friends for bringing me along their trip! We visited the Tuscany/Liguria region which includes Pisa and Cinque Terre---I cannot believe it. What once I was reading in other travel blogs now turned into something that I have gone to. Hence, I guess that the Trevi Fountain wishes must have worked (well, 2 out of 3 coin tosses yet!) ! Check out my pre-pandemic visit to Rome here. 😉

So here’s a 4-day itinerary to one of Italy’s beautiful cities and coastlines. Indeed, this has given us a break from the gloomy weather (and hectic work life) in London. 😝

Japan Tales: TOKYO (part 4)

PS: Yes, I have been watching Spy x Family and I superr love the series! So much love for the Forgers 💝

(31MAR23) In less than 2 months, I can’t believe that I’m back in Asia! Moreso, I am thrilled to spend this year’s Lent in Japan with my family❤️ I know a week’s never enough to tour another continent but I pushed through with this for personal reasons (and I’d save that story for another time, maybe?Haha!) and also to attend my cousin’s wedding. Nevertheless, it’s great to continue my “Japan Tales”—the post-pandemic era. 💓
Of all the countries that I went, it’s Japan that I have visited frequently and it’s a country that I wouldn’t really get tired of going back. It has a very safe community no matter which city you head on despite the language barrier. And apart from being a tech-world and a fashion district, Japan is known for its gastronomical cuisine.

I made a lot of Japan contents over the years already so as answered from my previous Instagram stories, here’s a random entry about my trip in Tokyo which will focus more on the food that I ate there! 😅 I have to say that Japanese food is a necessity for Asians like me and an interesting palate for other walks of life. 😉

Scandinavian Files: SWEDEN

(06MAR23) Is it ironic to say that I celebrated my 4th UK anniversary outside GB? I had the saddest February but lets not go in to that. To love yourself is to do the things you want; And so, I went on a very spontaneous solo trip to Sweden. I once told myself not to embark on Scandinavia yet (because it’s expensive) but my not-so irrational decision happened. I might have gone as a lone traveler again though I enjoyed the company of my own. Sweden’s cold, snowy aura has given me the good vibes. 🖤

Here's my 4-day chill and DIY itinerary that I had in Stockholm! I will stow my honest suggestions especially if you are planning to visit this Nordic country during Winter. Believe me, it can be the best time to travel if you want a quiet and crowd-free trip. 😉


NB: My recommended tours in this blog are valid any time of the season!

2022 Memories

Oftentimes, I have been asking myself if I had a good run this 2022? The year progressed with a promising note that the world recovers from a 2-year pandemic. Hence, we welcome this ‘new normal’ with open arms while everyone had their own battles and shining moments. And for me, I guess the year has been a bittersweet ride. Were there struggles behind the flags I went? Even people bears it own red flags as well. Not every moment in life has diamonds and glitter. But they are still happy, difficult times in which I commend myself for being brave to overcome it.
This entry might come a little personal as this is my own year-in review. So welcome to my world, folks! Brace yourselves for this narrative post.

2021 MEMORIES

Twenty-twenty ONE thing’s for sure: that this year has been a lot better than the previous despite how COVID continues to evolve its variants. But as least now we are on the verge of getting fully-vaxxed and boosted on the way to normalcy!

Here’s to share my annual highlights in a year of face coverings (and lateral flow tests) ;p

A SWISS Escape (part 2)

Here’s a continuation of my Swiss trip which focuses on my stay in Zurich and the filming locations of the hit k-drama “Crash Landing On You”. Special thanks to my friends in the BinJin fandom, Andy for her local Swiss tips and O for creating a Google map of CLOY filming sites. I wasn’t able to go to those places in Interlaken and Iseltwald but I mostly got all the Zurich sites covered (plus Sigriswil!)
And as I trace the steps of Yoon Seri and Ri Jeong Hyeok, I have to say that it’s very nostalgic and heart-fluttering all at once! 💓

#CLOYtober 2.0

Another month of creativity begins as #CLOYTOBER had its second run hosted by @cloysauce. It’s a BinJin fan event in which the fandom showcases CLOY-inspired content based on a day-to-day prompt. There's a twist this time in which the prompts were abstract words compared from the previous year. Despite the challenge, a lot of fans on Twitter still managed to join and I really enjoyed seeing everyone’s entries! It mostly took me back down memory lane about BinJin’s loveable moments in CLOY as such an event fills in the content drought. I loved how every fan had their own unique ways to execute the prompts through either arts or literary works. 🖤
While for me, I offered my usual serves of random chibi arts. Honestly, I was silently ranting the first time I saw the prompts because the words were too broad; To my mind, I was like, how do you make an art out of ‘green’? ’letter’? ’remedy’? then associate it with CLOY? wtf?! Just kidding. Never had I really expect that I miraculously created something out of it and the mere fact that all of my entries were chibis since I’m no fic writer, poet, musician, etc. lol. So let me share how I arrived with such ideas per entry. But wait---why and how did I start with chibi arts?!

My Princess Diary: #ohsoBRIGHTON

(27JUN21) An army for a day, but rain, rain, it didn’t go away.
Although, we still got to maximize our day trip in one of the finest cities in the South---BRIGHTON.

This blog covers a DIY day tour to “the hippest town in England” that is located in the county of Sussex. I have to say that 1 day ain’t really enough to explore it for all the Instagram-worthy spots it offer. Plus, I will share our experience to the BT 21 Café: pretty much, the highlight of this trip.

(More) BinJin Musings

I’m back in the blogging zone. Definitely, long time no update though I’m often active to my socmed accounts for my chibiarts and #OOTD’s ;D But finally, this most overdued entry is up!
Let me recap the swarm of BinJin contents with my own two cents as the fandom suddenly experienced drought season (again)---WELL, NOT UNTIL their dog, "kitty" had made its debut in the public eye. Haha! She is one, cute lucky maltese 🖤  Talking back about the drought, I believe this is more tolerable than before since at least now there are no second guesses about their status and surely, they will bounce back together, right? And if they do, will we even be ready? ;)

#SuitFitCupid x #CLOYCYCLE Recap

This girl has been so pre-occupied with her chibiarts that she forgot about her blog. Lol, my apologies! 🙈 My blogdrafts have been on queue since I finished my previous entry but apparently, I was really busy with work as usual; Oftentimes, I take my artworks as a form of ARTherapy during my days off. There were a lot of BinJin inspos from their new contents so my urge to draw out of my random box went endless 😝
So in the meantime, here's a filler blog entry about the past 2 events from the fandom's twitter hub. February's #SuitFitCupid was about creating CLOY/BinJin contents from song lyrics/movie prompts suggested by fellow fans while March' #CLOYCYCLE took down memory lane of previous tweets based on the prompts per day. I got to say that the first event was more challenging for depicting artworks from dialogues. Though I'm glad my BinJin chibis were able to pull through some of it! Special thanks again to @cloysauce for always organizing such events. These truly keeps the CLOY/BinJin fandom alive 🖤

Thank You 2020, Next?

 

will COVID go away if we say 10 nice words a day?

Thank goodness that this year has reached its end; The world has faced so much struggles and devastating events throughout this time from the occurrence of a pandemic to societal issues. 2020 may not be the perfect vision that we expected but I believe that there are still little sparks of joy while we adjust to 'the new normal'. Hence, here's my top 5 precious moments during the this 2nd decade.

Throwback #CLOYtober

My birthmonth has been blessed with overflowing BinJin contents together with the fandom's socmed event entitled, #Cloytober. Organized by @cloysauce who's currently behind the works of a #serihawky twitterserye, the event has brewed up the creativity of the whole fandom through graphics, artworks or written pieces throughout the day-to-day prompts. 🖤
Thus, I would like to share my compilation of entries with little concept backstories. Truly, I tried to make every piece as meaningful as how CLOY & BinJin became my inspiration. ;)

Hyun Bin Filmography

I won't definitely let Son Yejin's other half left behind!---and yes, 'her other half'. 😜 Whether you're a BinJin stan or not, I would claim them either way because they are a showbiz couple--is the confirmation coming anytime soon? ;) Anyhow! Here's my 2 cents of all Hyun Bin's films over his past 17 years in the entertainment industry. I didn't expect that he only got a few movies back then as I think that he might've invested more on drama series. Nonetheless, I got to say that his works are merely on the action/drama genre and SYJ was on point in commending this handsome oppa that he always has a sweet, calming tone on his action film roles.😆


Here are his lead act projects (in chronological order as usual to prevent from being biased!). Expect some CLOY and Yejin-related bits as you read along--my BinJin fan heart couldn't help it while I was working on this ;pDISCLAIMER: all thoughts are of my own.

SMART x BinJin

Despite reliving old updates, re-watching BinJin projects and having a merchandise spree(which I'll be posting soon!), BinJin nation has been experiencing drought for the past few weeks. Yet recently, almost the entire world got whipped as SMART telecom dropped the bomb of having Son Yejin as its newest endorser 🖤 Well, I know it's just a commercial film (CF) but the mere fact that she and Hyun Bin are on the same page once more is definitely brewing something!

This is my appreciation post to SMART for choosing BinJin as their product models that somehow became a bridge to make them work together for another time.🥰 And of course, this entry will include a continuation of my own BinJin speculations from ze previous post (by demand!Many thanks again to everyone who have read it 🖤). So, are we getting close to hear the real deal? ;)

9/10: Something In The Rain

Annyeong! Here's another Kdrama series that I've watched during my quarantine period last April entitled, "Something In The Rain" (Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food). It's a 2018 drama starred by Son Ye jin and Jung Hae-In.
Truth be told, I had moments of having second emotions for this especially after seeing the trailer.In fact, I wouldn't bother to watch this if it really wasn't for SYJ! 😅 Though as usual, some of my friends from the fandom urged me to watch and finish it ('cause I almost gave up after 2 episodes, I'm sorry 🙃) so I did. In conclusion, I find the story beautiful with its real-life events and it will really make you fall in love just like what they said on their promotional events 🖤 Intricate as it seems but there's a subtle reason why they put on an old girl-young guy relationship ;)

There might be negativity as you read along but keep in mind that these are purely my own thoughts (from a solid BinJin fan).

My 2 Cents of BinJin

My fangirl heart has come beating again---surprisingly, it's due to K-DRAMA and it's Hyun Bin&Son Yejin to be specific.🖤
I wanted to share this because these 2 people brought a positive omen to me during the peak of COVID19 when there was global lockdown plus my stressful job as a medical frontliner. Since then, I gave in to watching "Crash Landing On You"(CLOY) until my obsessions went on a roll. Consequently, the RiRi Couple unexpectedly became my happy pill. 🖤
This post contains how I gave my free will to support them including the fan group that I joined, what I know and my thoughts about them as close friends.
NOTE: Please bear with my delusional fangirl blurbs as you read along. All thoughts are of my own 

Son Ye Jin Filmography

DISCLAIMER: all thoughts are of my own.

As promised, I'm going to critic about Son Ye Jin's films after watching them all (well,not completely all since I skipped 2 of her first movies because there were no available links of it online) during my quarantine period. SYJ has been in the industry for 20 years and she's known to be the "Melodrama Queen" which she truly deserve!🖤 Her acting skills are amazing having said that she has taken different kinds of genre from rom-com to crime/thriller/adventure. Generally, most of her movies are mere tear-jerkers with unique storylines and unpredictable endings. Hence,here are my thoughts on each of her craft in chronological order (so it won't be biased!Haha)

**click on each title for the film synopsis c/o Wikipedia/Asian Wiki**