to see with eyes unclouded

Watched an anime movie today, Princess Mononoke. Although it purely has a storyline about:

Ashitaka, a young man and prince of the tribe, engages a demon-possessed boar in an attempt to save his village. During the battle, the boar bites him on the arm, leaving it blackened and cursed. Thus, embarking him on a journey to remove the curse before it engulfs him.

He arrives at Iron Town, a fortress built through the clearing of the surrounding forests, and produces large amounts of Ironsand, used for gunpowder and other machinery. However, because of the forests destruction, nearby animal clans seek revenge led by a human girl of the Wolf clan called San.

Ashitaka attempts to create peace and befriend the Wolf Clan.

Still, the plot is very close to the problems we now face; Ongoing war and its victims, greed of humans by wanting power or more earth's resources, innocence of the animals and etc. There is this line in the movie that goes, "How like a human, to think only of himself". Other anime movie recommendations:

Spirited Away
Howl's Moving Castle
Castle in the Sky

(Hayao Miyazaki is just so talented *v*)

PRINCESS MONONOKE - THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST

stitched together

Today, I had a dream...a sweet dream :) I dreamt of my crush from primary school. And in that dream, he pursues after me as someone he loves ♥ Such a dreamy ending. I could still remember his expressions in the dream; his smile, his lovey dovey eyes, and his desperate look while chasing after me from his motorbike (he doesn't ride one in fact)

And upon waking up, all I could do was to reminisce on that dream. What a sting it felt...

Watched Mnet MAMA 2014 today ^^ Loved all the performers, the prize presenters and loved the whole atmosphere. My TOP 3 performances:

GD&TY (Eyes Nose Lips, Good Boy)
EPIK HIGH FT MINO BOBBY BI♥ (Happen Ending, Born Hater)
BTS (War of the Hormones, Danger)

P.S. My grandma commented that the song itself, Danger is nice. And i think my grandma has great taste cause her fave actor has been Song Seung Hun since a long time ago. My Mum loves Kwon Sang Woo since "Stairway To Heaven" too. I worry for my future partner, since I might be as picky as them (>.<)

KOLOTO - FOX TALES

to the wind, to the stars

It's been ages since I wrote about my dreams... Cause they were just getting endless and I couldn't be bothered to be jotting down every episode daily. However, last night, I had a really long dream with lots of scenes. And it involved my family members too at the start.
Scene 1: -
So the intro is rather random and has no link to the main plot. It starts with my family and I joining this "Families Games Day", in which we clinched first. We then went to celebrate at a grand ballroom bar, where most of them got dead drunk. I then excused myself for the toilet, only to return to an empty ballroom, which I had no idea was actually another area in the building. It was much run-down, with cobwebs everywhere and a few furnitures overturned. I then caught a glimpsed of a silhouette at the far end of the table; and after adjusting my sight to the dimly lit room under the moonlight, I saw this charismatic, dashing young man who's about my age. We then talked and made love throughout the night. (0_0)"

And so it turns out that handsome young man was a spirit. (-.-) But I was still fond of him, and vice versa.

Scene 2: -
(Skips into another scene) In this scene, we are both humans and he came to visit my house (which was a really traditional looking chinese house with a yard at the front and stone walls surrounding it) But somehow I was hiding from him, and my *younger sister went to answer the door. She then told him the address of another place which I might be at (under my instructions) and he set off quickly in search of the location. He arrives at a deserted building which has very much the same architecture as our house, stone walls surrounding its expanse and a really huge yard in the middle of the building.

Scene 3: -
Upon entering it, he was able to see many spirits roaming the place. All of sudden, he caught sight of an entity which looked very much like me. She was sitting by the stairs and he was about to approach it when I held on to him from behind. I had followed him to that building. He had this confused look on his face and I too myself couldn't explain what we were seeing. Still we approached her, and helped her in finding something precious to her, a photo album. As the night grew nearer, she told us to take caution of our surroundings and we watched as the other spirits all started to go into hiding.
Upon finding the photo album, I led us on our escape. Somehow she was a fraction of myself, which I left in that estate, in search for the photo album. In it, were pictures of a couple and their baby. It sent a punch to my head as I recall who were they. They were his parents. And that was why I left a part of me there in that run-down building.

*I do not have a younger sister in reality but it just turns out that way in the dream

In conclusion, i think i was sort of a pretty girl in the dream, cause my views would switch between a first and third person perspective, and I definitely look like some pretty girl in the dream. Scene 2 and 3 was a recollection of our past i think (cause the buildings all looked so historic) whereas we kind of reunited in the present in scene 1, only that we didn't knew our past and how we kind of loved each other. The saddening part was that when we met in the present, he's already a ghost. :(

“It's like I'm dreaming of a soul. I can't describe it. I can't explain it. I can't even feel it. I can only dream it."
(Hedonist Poet)

SUN GLITTERS - ALONE FT. SLEEP PARTY PEOPLE (TOURS EDIT)

happy birthday bingu TOP ^^

Here! Over here! I'm your TOP fan!:D

This has been my 7th post? or at least my 7th year wishing T.O.P on his birthday (^~^) Had my gaze first locked upon him cause of his charismatic stare; then i heard his deep, manly voice as he raps; and i slowly started to notice his shy character; and his cool persona finally transcends into a cute, bingu, 8D personality which surprises almost anyone (>v<) And from then on, he got me hooked... Such a cute guy under all that suave looks

ODESZA FT. MONSOONSIREN - MEMORIES THAT YOU CALL

happy birthday mum

Kudos to you mummy, for tolerating my rebellious character nowadays. Something I unknowingly display despite all the guilt which then follows :( I can imagine myself in your shoes and I think I'll explode out of frustration because this child is so LAZY, STUBBORN and UNRESOLVED :(

However, you'll have to give me credit for giving in to your overbearing mood swings too :p But all the more I thank you for maintaining this "friend-boundary" with me, as compared to how awkward I feel around daddy (cause he keeps it in all inside, like us your children ^^)

Please daydream less, and maybe pick up a hobby so that time passes more meaningfully (and you'll be less grumpy). But amongst us all, you're most optimistic and bubbly, and sometimes the mood maker! :D Love you mum.

ADAM LEVINE - NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU

#happyHANBINday

To the leader who's already achieved so much at only 18!

The BEST leader any group could have (최고의 리더). He's always demanding more from their performance, rehearsing dance choreography endlessly, as well as taking on the burden to create unique remixes the group can dance to. And the fact that he monitors everyone's progress instead of just focusing on individual well-being. But most importantly, all that cute sides to him when he fools around with his team mates, while he takes a break from all that composing of music. I think I hope to achieve his sensibility and responsibility one day ♥

NOMADIC FIRS - COVER BOMB (ODESZA EDIT)

the cold wind wipes away the loneliness

Happy girl is happy :) Love the chemistry (love and squabbles) between the leads Arang and Eun Oh. And mesmerized by Lee Jun Ki's character, the embarassed man falling in love with every moment that passes.

“I’ve watched the flowers lots of times, but this is the first time to watch flowers with you. That makes the same scenery look different”
(Arang)

And from a random character: “ For a guy to worry about a girl and feel sympathy towards a woman, it means I have you in my heart. It's the same thing. That's how it all starts. ”

happy birthday veve

From Ages ago

Veda, i miss you a lot from the times when we were super close! And now, although our interests are both in Kpop, but we hardly contact anymore :( Thanks for being the mature friend I could rely on and tag along during our secondary school days and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Will always remember your birthday 2409!! I still remember how we 7 eleven buddies would test each other on our birthdays :D

LALASWEET - MY OLD ORANGE TREE

we light our own way

Here wishing Shawn and Alvin a smooth journey from your Enlistment til your Operationally-ready Date out from the army.

And taking the chance to post this beautiful medley of shinee songs I heard on youtube.

One Day

One man always on the move, will have an encounter that puts into question everything he knows.

happy birthday A lvin

Alvin! All the best for your NS life. Like leck qi said, you have changed to be more mature, so I know you'll do well in army :) Stay strong with Desiree ♥♥♥

FAMILY OF THE YEAR - HERO

In Between

A young woman is being followed by a crocodile who represents her shyness. As he makes her life a living hell, she tries every means to get rid of him.

scars from touching certain people

Dedicate this post to all your ex-lovers, whom left precious memories, or the people who came and went in our lives.

Be the flower that gives its fragrance to even the hand that crushes it.
(Inam Ali)

蘇打綠 - 我好想你

incapable of tolerating my own heart

I didn't have a good first impression of Ji Chang Wook when he acted previously in other dramas. But I fell deep for his character in Empress Ki! The struggles and hopes his character were potrayed brilliantly!
Or maybe I am just a great fan of the cute/needy character potrayed by Ji Chang Wook *V*
Ha Ji Won was as beautiful as always when acting in her role :)

“Because you've seen my weak side, it feels even worse than death. That's why I want to garner my courage. Stay by my side and watch as I become the emperor. I'm not afraid when you're with me.”
(Ta Hwan)

happy birthday 2nd sister

Thanks for being the best sister anyone could have! You have guided me in many ways and I grew up to be someone I am proud to be. Sometimes, you even take on the role of being our guardian when mummy and daddy were busy or when we need a listening ear and moral support. May God bless your family and ours ♥

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - SECRET GARDEN

happy birthday dickson

Thanks for being a great friend when we were little! Wish you well in your NS life and relationship :) A song dedicated to you and her...

LILY ALLEN - SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW

fated to love you

Been watching Fated To Love You for the past month. Although I had previously watched the taiwan version, the korean version gave me different feels as it progressed. Anyway, love both Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara in the drama, and their cute families. If only finding true love was this easy... "fated" :)

“There was once a girl I knew and thought of herself as the ugly duckling. In her heart the widest sea and the brightest star. She was a girl with those beautiful qualities. Women want to change into something different from themselves on the outside, but the most love-able and beautiful moment is when they are little girls who are filled with dreams.”
(Lee Gun)

happy birthday Qi

From left: me, leck qi, alvin

For you and malcom ♥♥♥:
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
(Billy, 4 yrs old)

OF MONSTERS AND MEN - DIRTY PAWS

happy birthday girls~

Birthday as follows:
Choong 27 th May
Seraph 26 th May
Xin Lin 2 nd June

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

MICHAEL JACKSON & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
- LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD

:) happy birthday smiley guy

♥

To say objectively, I’m probably a very positive and outgoing person…who always tries to smile. Because I’m the oldest, I’m a leader who tries to be nice to the dongsaengs.
(Jung Yong Hwa)

COLDPLAY - SCIENTIST

subtle, to the point of formlessness

happy birthday cool guy

I am a bit shy. I’m not that sociable either so I mostly hang out with friends I already know. The friends that I meet are usually friends from back in high school. We all went to different high schools actually but somehow got close because we all used to hang out in the same neighborhood. There are people who see us as some kind of ‘celebrity group’ because of some of us are popular such as being singers, stylists and other jobs but that’s a misunderstanding. We just happened to become friends.
(Lee Soo Hyuk)

RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS - OTHERSIDE

My graduation: twist in the waking world, never quite awake

PETITE MELLER - BACKPACK

the essence of every surprise

Today my mum told me some good news :)

The past was a mistake because I didn’t know then what I know now. Because too many people imposed their truths on me. Experience has taught me that I will not be won over by grand gestures or by sweet, poetic speeches. I will be won over by banter, by silence under the stars, by comfortability and the silent promises made only by two people who have known the privilege of time.
(Isa Garcia)

FLORENCE & THE MACHINE - COSMIC LOVE

happy 80th birthday grandma ♥

Just us cousins

It has been a long time since them relatives all gathered; and it has been down to chinese new years and our grandparents' birthdays. These days, my mum, my sis and I have been reminiscing about my uncles & aunts during the olden days, and I have never once felt bored listening to these fascinating stories. This huge family has brought to us many pasts to laugh at and many lessons to be learnt from one another.

Frankly, I do miss my cousins as well. For a first, we have stuck together our whole childhood from the age of 3 til we were 10. Then I drifted away from them due to who knows what reasons... /sigh/ Today, listening to them share about army life and work/studies, has left me stunned at how fast time flies! I still do miss our child-like period, when we didn't have any worries and could play all day at grandma's

SAM SMITH - STAY WITH ME

The adventures of ram and otter

To sum up our day: we missed an mrt station due to our reminiscing of old times, how we missed each other and our own new beginnings in life; we got lost in some deserted road/construction site while on our way to the theatre; and we enjoyed wholesome LOTS of fangirling face-to-face with our faved celebs. #emergencycouple #songjihyo #choijinhyuk

Thanks Banana Budd, for sharing with me all your likes & dislikes, moods and inner-most thoughts. Thanks for always thinking of me whenever you are involved in some great excitement, and including me into each fun event. And thanks for encouraging me whenever I am disheartened.
Thanks Ram budd, for assuring me that i'm "just a lil' clueless and definitely not insensitive" ♥

LIM JEONG HEE - SCENT OF A FLOWER

roommates

Roommate is a South Korean reality show. The show features eleven celebrities living together in a share house, sharing common spaces such as the kitchen, living room, and washrooms, as well as household tasks.

The roommates are Lee So-ra, Park Bom and Song Ga-yeon, Jo Se-ho and Lee Dong-wook, Nana and Hong Soo-hyun, Chan-yeol and Shin Sung-woo, and Park Min-woo and Seo Kang-joon. This mix of singers, actors/actresses, comedians, models, and martial artists who have little reality and variety program experience is expected to create new undiscovered characters and laughter.

As of now, I'm already loving Park Bom, Jo Se-ho, Lee Dong-wook, Chan-yeol and Park Min-woo as roommates. Looking forward to more hilarious and heart-warming moments! ^.^

JAMIROQUAI - LOVE FOOLOSOPHY

happy mother's day

Thanks for sharing with me all your stories from when you were younger. Your life and relationships from Koh Sek Lim (A village, also known as Kampong) are all so intriguing and they'd never fail to make me wonder how my life would be in that era. Your experiences have been some form of life lessons for me and these memories will, too, fondly remain with me.

BEYOND - 喜歡你 COVER

inspiration

I feel now that I've really received my calling. I can’t imagine what I could have done if it wasn’t for what I’m doing. I’m not doing this out of pressure but because I enjoy it. I think it’s my destiny. I believe the best job is doing what I can enjoy the most.
(Jung Yonghwa)

CAN'T STOP CONCERT
Yonghwa was so bubbly (interacting with the fans) and giving it his best performance, Jonghyun was enjoying the music and moving to the beat with his strumming, Jungshin was smiling so much at the fans and doing his best with the back up singing and bass, and Minhyuk was playing one h*ll of a drumming! I coo-ed whenever they would throw jokes at the fans and whenever they shouted "I love you singapore!". The four dashing guys jamming through the night... such a captivating sight! ♥

CN BLUE - MY MIRACLE

cunning, single lady

Na Ae-ra grew up believing she was born to be only pretty and not smart. While working at her family's restaurant, she falls in love with Cha Jung-woo, a geeky engineering graduate studying to enter civil service. She wants to become a housewife and he promises that she will be, they get married. During their 100th day wedding anniversary, Jung-woo announces that he quit his job because he has an idea for a business. Jung-woo's businesses keep failing and Ae-ra struggles to keep them afloat by working multiple jobs. Suffering a tragic event from the stress of being the sole breadwinner and living in poverty, Ae-ra divorces Jung-woo after four years of marriage. Three years after the divorce, Ae-ra finds out that Jung-woo became successful and wealthy, while she is still paying debts that accrued during their marriage.

The romance that I anticipated while watching this drama was, between the female lead and the male supporting character; Na Ae-ra and Gook Seung-hyun, instead of her reuniting with her ex-husband.

“In love, the one who loves the most is the weaker one."

YOO SEUNG WOO - WHAT DO I DO?

for us there is only one place

"And in the end, we were all just humans...drunk on the idea that love, only love, could heal our brokeness."
(F.Scott Fitzgerald)

Here are 2 short films which I find both very cute, touching and meaningful.

Out of Sight (敲敲):



rain town:

"I looked at everyone and wondered where they came from, and who they missed, and what they were sorry for."
(Jonathan Safran Foer)

happy birthday che wen

So many people are shut up, tight inside themselves like boxes, yet they would open up, unfolding quite wonderfully, if only you were interested in them.
(Sylvia Plath)

Thanks for being such a great friend & for unknowingly sharing so much laughter with me!

VANILLA ACOUSTIC - LATELY

happy birthday wei qi

"I can think what I want as many times as I want. This could be the 72,001st time, but what's wrong with that?
As long as I'm alive, I can think what I want, when I want, anyway I want, as much as I want, and nobody can tell me any different."
(Haruki Murakami)

Thanks for being the best banana budd & ram buddy!

AKDONG MUSICIAN - I LOVE YOU

aim to be lion hearted

What is love? How to love? I still don't have the answers, cause I have yet to experience it. All I have are strong emotions that I don't even know how to identify...
And because I don't have the courage to be rejected or cheated, I choose to pass these stages by. All I have been doing, is to "let them go".

“You never get over it. But you get to where it doesn't bother you so much” (Jeffrey Eugenides)

SHAWN DESMAN - SHIVER

Simple pleasures

Do watch episode 188 of Running Man right now!! It has been a while since an episode gave me so many laughs :D

Paired with the recent drama I've watched, The Master's Sun, RM made me yearn to re-visit Korea. I think I really fell for the spirit and soul of Seoul :)
♥

DIGITALISM - POGO

master's sun

Joo Joong-won is the stingy and greedy CEO of Kingdom, a conglomerate that includes a major department store and hotel. He meets the gloomy Tae Gong-shil, who started seeing ghosts after an accident. Their lives take a new turn as they work together to deal with the terror and sadness brought about by the spirits, while delving into a kidnapping incident in Joong-won's past.
BEST DRAMA FOR ME! EVERRRRRR

“The fact that you're coming with me even though you don't see it, that's called trust.”
(Tae Gong Shil)

HYORIN - CRAZY FOR YOU

happy birthday duckie

“Tomorrow is another day. Your day will come!”
(Lee Jung Hwan)

B1A4 - AMAZING

happy birthday nicholas

Thanks for being such a great cuz! Wish you well in your NS life and relationship :)

THE NEW FRONTIERS - WALKING ON STONES

Strangers

happy birthday shawn

Thanks for being such a great cuz! Wish you well in your further studies and career :)

THE BOXER REBELLION - IF YOU RUN

Imperfection is beauty

When I first met you, I felt a kind of contradiction in you. You're seeking something, but at the same time, you are running away for all you're worth.
(Haruki Murakami)

“Once you've accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you”
(Tyrion Lannister)

STEPHEN SWARTZ FT. JONI FATORA & CHRIS PETROSINO - BULLET TRAIN ACOUSTIC

have a cheer valentine

Many different people have many different feelings on this day. Those who gave their chocolates, those who couldn't give theirs, those who accepted them and those who didn't, those who decided not to give any chocolates, and those who simply didn't receive any.

TARU - KISS KISS

full house

A chance encounter of fate brings two strangers of different status quo and of different troubles, together. Forced to live under one roof, their annoyance over the presence of the other transcends into a companionship. Their hatred extends into concerns and finally love. And a love story between the egotistical and stubborn male lead, and the kind hearted and cheerful female lead unfolds.

“...but I've got a problem right now. And you are the only Thai I know here.”
(Aom-am)

MIKE D. ANGELO & AOM SUSHAR - OH BABY, I

So beautiful, it aches

“Just because you don’t say much doesn’t mean people don’t notice you. It’s actually the quiet ones who often draw the most attention. There’s this constant whirlwind of motion and sound all around, and then there’s the quiet one, the eye of the storm.”
(Amy Efaw)

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! :)

THE XX - RECONSIDER (JAMIE REMIX)

how long is forever

Just had a realistic dream of him. Him being in a black cloak, as a "boat steerer" at a dark gloomy amusement ride. And he sits beside me, as I can only stare at his perfect features. That small space between us felt so empty at that moment that I had the urge to fill it all up: probably with the memories that we were about to share in that "haunted cave", or as I unveil my feelings to him.

“He followed the sun, and she followed the stars; and in dreams they listened closely for the beginning of all things, for that was where they knew they’d find each other.”
(Brian Andreas)

ALEX & SIERRA - SAY SOMETHING

happy birthday xin yun

I am nothing
I'll never be anything
I couldn't want to be something
Apart from that, I have in me all the dreams in the world.
(Fernando Pessoa)

Thanks for being such a great friend & for being together through thick and thin!

GEEKS FT. HARIM - HOW ARE YOU

most vulnerable, immature, yet precious period of life

B1A4 - OH MY GOD

I'll breathe you instead

I would like to have the company of someone, who would say this to our children 50 years down the road, "Your mother is the most beautiful woman."

ALEX & SIERRA - GRAVITY

happy birthday charismatic jong in

“Make memories you know you will never forget”
(Kim Jongin)

COLD CHERRY - GROWING PAINS 2 INSTRUMENTAL

happy birthday little otter

Taken in 2012

The big 20 has eventually gotten hold of me. Continuing on from my last birthday post, http://theuntainted-illusionist.blogspot.sg/2013/01/happy-birthday-me.html

I realised what did I gain from these precious 19 years of my life: Blood Ties that bind me and my relatives, Bonds that are strengthening every single day with my family through thick and thin, wonderful Friends who accept me as I am and my constant realisation of the love of God towards his children. These precious people around me; insensitive and apathetic me. Who am I to deserve such over-flowing love and concern?

"I miss myself, as a child. Always happy and bubbly little Jocelyn, whose smile and scrunched-up face could light up almost anyone's day. The little girl who would always look forward to meeting her cousins, so that the 4 puny ones could embark on another exciting journey. The nights were lovely, as she would spend them wrestling with her brother, sneaking up on her sister's online conversation, praying and praising the lord with her older sister and climbing into her parents' bed in the middle of the night. I'd prefer to live the rest of my life just like that."
(From my 19 yr old revelation)

And I want to be a better person, towards others and to myself. I want to sincerely love others, and not because people around me are doing so. I want to try the things that I want to do, and not hold myself back just because I am afraid of the outcomes or feel pressured by people's opinion of me. And I want to have a different outlook on my life when I am 21 next year, on this day.

Something we were withholding made us weak,
Until we found it was ourselves.

THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA - TO BUILD A HOME

happy birthday dyo dyo kyungsoo

“To bind us and keep us strong in a special world where we belong”
(Do Kyugsoo)

TAYLOR SWIFT FT GARY LIGHTBODY - THE LAST TIME

happy birthday dad

Thanks for being dependable. You taught us how to put others before ourselves, to be honest and upright, and to respect others. You set an example for us to follow without restricting us on our own morals and values. And you gave us the freedom of interests. I hope we could go on following your lead for many more years to come.

U2 - WITH OR WITHOUT YOU