Zenkai Girl

My jdorama for Summer 2011, Zenkai Girl stars Aragaki Yui and Nishikido Ryo.  Aragaki is the overachieving Ayukawa Wakaba while Nishikido is Yamada Sato, her exact opposite -- stay at home single dad, no college education and no great ambition.  The Ayukawa character reminds me of Tracy Flick from the American movie Elections.   But since this is a jdorama and she is in the land of "ganbarimasu" - overachieving, overdoing and over-everything is the norm.  There are no gray areas in how she her character is presented.  In fact, unlike in the American movie, Ayukawa's success is appreciated by all the other characters who eventually came to like her (or if not - they at least respect her).  Well, maybe what really sets Ayukawa Wakaba apart from Tracy Flick is her Japanese sense of belonging in a community.  More than her individual achievements, she is first and foremost a member of the Samejima Sakuragawa Law Firm and the Parent Rotation Club.  

All the child actors and their characters are memorable.  The young Wakaba is overzealous yet lovable; Hinata is an adult-child fashionista.  Last is Pitaro who should not grow up and stay as his cute five-year old self forever.   

Here are my favorite lines from the last episode:

I believe that people who have had the taste of defeat are stronger than those who only know how to win - Ayukawa

If you like him, then it isn't about what you want but about what you can do to make that other person happy - Hinata

I can't do anything great for you.  But I will love you my entire life.  So, will you marry me? - Sota    

Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, 2011

Went back to these three countries after less than a year. I was supposed to do a lot of things here but figured at the last minute that I'd just rest and enjoy the food. Finally ate the Hainanese Chicken Rice, took pictures of the Marina Bay Sands and made the decision to let go and move on.

South Korea, 2011

Finally got to visit the land of kdramas with Mina. This trip was planned five years ago at the Jasso Dorm in Nada. All the places we visited are featured in a drama, ;)

The Greatest Love was showing at the Incheon Airport when we landed. Hence, Dokkogin, Ding-dong and Pil-soo were here. Most airport scenes in kdramas are shot here - Dokkogin when he came back from the States has an Incheon Airport scene.

Myung-dong - The last scene when the Prince and Princess kissed in Goong or Princess Hours was shot in the middle of the shopping streets. Hwang Taek-yung of You're Beautiful bought Mi-nam's hair clip for 100,000 Won here.

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon - I wanted to stay out of the Nami Island pilgrimage and opted for this World Heritage Site. But when we got there, Jewel in the Palace was shot here. I think the archery area was also the scene for the competition in Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

Seoul City Hall - I'm not sure where but I think, Lovers in Paris featured this or I think a Super Junior MTV was shot here but all the kdrama idols serving their military duty was staging a concert. I didn't even know that such things exists but when we got off the train from the Suwon trip, I told Mina we're going there and to my surprise, I saw lots of high school students and kdrama fans waiting for the concert. Lee Jun-ki, Lee Dong-gun and lots more were there. If only for this concert experience, the trip was really worth the airfare and travel expenses.

Coex - I think One Fine Day was shot here. There were lots of students hanging out because of the book fair. We also visited the shrine near the building.

Namsan Tower - Jandi told Jun-pyo from Boys Over Flowers that the best tasting three-dollar coffee is found at the vending machine where the cable cars are stationed. We didn't try as we were there at the start of the summer season but Mina and I ate the best tasting burger in Seoul, :p.

National Museum - don't know if a drama has been shot here but I don't care - a visit at the museum is always on my travel IT. Got the best value for money in terms of museum souvenirs - 3 dollars each for the document holder. I bought three - one for Lenisse, one for Ziyan and one for me.

The Palaces - watching the seaguk dramas now made me aware of the palaces that they use as backdrop.

Dong-daemun gates - we ended the trip here. I'm not sure if this is the market where Choi Ji-woo's character in Stairways to Heaven sold her clothing stuff. But all the major department store were closed that time. I'm not sure why.

I totally forgot to take pictures during the guided tours - the first one was in Han River and the last one was Cheongyecheon.