Such A Precious Friendship, Ao-san And Haru-chan. 🌼

In a world full of 'Instagrams' be a Tumblr.

My parents have quirks of their own.

The more I spend time with them, the more I realize they are their own people. Sure, they are birth-givers and that's the label I am most comfortable with, but they are their own, whole selves too.

Selves that love murder mysteries and crime thrillers. Selves that like slurping on instant noodles, if someone fed them those everyday. Selves that like table-tennis and purple tee-shirts. Selves that don't like being married as much they enjoy it. Selves that love talking about upset stomachs and sinsuses, and selves that love online shopping and going out.

Selves that I am just beginning to notice, after over three decades of being their offspring. It is these quirks that I cherish, that I have come to love the most about these two beings who brought me into the world.

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02: A little nugget to help me fall in love with life again.

Picture: @harrylawlor​

Hyori's Bed & Breakfast ~  Season 1, Episode 1

Hyori's Bed & Breakfast has been a non-pushy contender on my Netflix to-watch 'list' give and take, for the past 6 months.🍄

At the forefront are Lee Hyori and her husband Sang-Soon who live on Jeju island. The house in itself is modest (considering they have an entire field as a backyard and then some more). It serves as a reflection of the quiet, lazy life the couple prefers. 🍄

Episode 1 opens up to Hyori and Soon starting their day, sitting in their dining room sipping tea. Hyori is yet to figure out a camera angle that shies away from her nasal hair. She'll target Soon's next. 🍄

The couple are having second thoughts on signing up to have their home serve as a bed & breakfast for surprise guests. Living with 5 dogs and 2 cats (their children), it is Hyori and Soon's easy, nonchalant, loving camaraderie that I spot right away. 🍄

Having failed to look good on camera as they eat breakfast, the couple settles on prepping their home as the next B&B on Jeju. Their pace is slow, unhurried and they are very good with unintentional, slapstick comedy (especially the part when Hyori drops a comforter on Soon's head). 🍄

You'll see them clean, head out to get groceries, play with their pets and have a lot of moments where they don't have anything interesting for the camera. But rest assured, for the English subtitles deserve a mini Oscar. They do a hilarious 'reading between the lines' and accurate (read: LOL-worthy) interpretations of the on-goings in the house. 🍄

The episode ends with the to-be B&B owners having their last restful night of sleep as their first guests are due to arrive the next day. 🍄

My favorite bits:

1. Hyori and Soon's fail humor. 🍄 2. Little Mocha's (their tiny dog) adoption story. 🍄 3. Hyori's take on worldly possessions after she nearly buys the entire slipper shelf at a store. 🍄    4. Soon's adventurous-chef spirit. 🍄 5. Their drive to the local market filled with open highways, trees and sunsets. 🍄    6. Hyori and Soon's little tea setup in the dining room. 🍄 7. The house cats’ 'why do I tolerate these humans?' faces. 🍄 8. Hyori waking up after a nap. 🍄 9. The real reason why Soon married Hyori. 🍄

Image Credits: 1) channelkorea.com 2) Netflix

~ One of my favorites from ‘My Roommate Is A Gumiho’.❤ ~

~ Secondary Character Love: 1~

Drama: Meteor Garden (2018)  Character: Huaze Lei   Actor: Darren Chen  

I became a hardcore Huaze Lei fan right off the bat. Warm, kind, suffering from a mild case of childhood autism, Lei spelled f.r.i.e.n.d.s.h.i.p. for me.✨

Even though he's part of the F4 and Ah Si's best friend, I totally ship the course of his friendship with Shancai, through the drama.✨  

Like a shadow, he was there exactly when she needed him and vice versa. They leaned on each other, picked each other up, pushed each other to grow and displayed this pure, unconditional love reminiscent of soft, glowing stars.✨

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Picture Credits | Netflix Picture Art | The Doodle App

if tumblr was person I’d hug the shit out of them. ❤

“My love language is reminding you of your power.” ~ @galadarling

~ When we have a constantly active inner critic that thrives on self-hate, try as hard as we may, it becomes extremely difficult to move towards positive self-growth. . The negative self-talk from such an inner critic instantly demotivates you and since that's all we hear, we begin to see ourselves solely from the eyes of this critic. . This propels us to second-guess the nourishing choices we've decided to make and stops us from taking regular action to back these choices, hence causing us to stay in this same toxic loop of self-caused pain.  . If we get down to the root of this, we realize, that in order to back ourselves up, we need to trust ourselves. Due to loop patterns of self-destructive behavior (both conscious + unconscious), without knowing it, over time, we lose trust in our self and our power to make healthy choices. . The way out, I've realised over this past year, is to back the promises you make to yourself by regular, consistent actions.  . This weakens the negative self-talk the inner critic often thrives on and suddenly, there opens a tiny space where you start seeing yourself minus this toxic lens of self-hate (which is the primary cause of self-hurt and self-sabotage).  . Slowly, by backing the words + choices we tell & make for ourselves with regular, positive actions, we invite buds of self-trust to bloom once more. 

Manchurian Dosa | 11th May, Sunday

Went with the Nanus to eat Manchurian Dosa and Schezwan Cheese Frankie at Ghatkopar, on a whim. 👯‍♀️

The Manchurian was green oniony, hot, sour, and garlicky. The chutney was a refreshing contrast against the heat of the Manchurian. The dosa was beautifully soft and yum. 🤤

Unfortunately, it was too dark to take a photo of the Schezwan Cheese Frankie. But it ticked all the boxes --- flaky, crispy cover, potato filling that was heartily assembled with cheese and a generous addition of onions (my favorite part is their crunch), and the goodness of Indian Chinese's version of Schezwan sauce.🤤

~ ‘Hyori’s Bed & Breakfast’ Reaffirmed My Love For A Simple Life ~

A lot of folks on my IG feed kept posting stories of them watching reruns of ‘Hyori's Bed & Breakfast’. After a point, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to add it to 'My List' on Netflix. It took a while before I actually got down to watching the first season, but man, when I did, I had to stop myself from falling head over heels for it.

A bit about the story:

The show revolves around K-Pop sensation Lee Hyori and her house on Jeju Island where she lives with her husband Lee Sang-Soon and their pets. The couple decide to open their home for a 'bed and breakfast' experience to selected guests.

Introverts by nature and unaccustomed to company, Hyori and Sang-Soon are initially quite apprehensive about the idea. But as the days go on, we watch them turn into beautiful caretakers to every single guest they host. 

Their pets are whole different level of cute. There's Mi-Mi the cat who's stoically disdainful of human beings, there's Sam-Sik who's so fat that she gets mistaken as a pillow most times, and then there are 5 dogs, among which Mocha is my personal favorite.

As the B&B opens, we watch people from all walks of life come in and make a home here. From college friends, to old couples, to high-school siblings and even scientists and explorers, the guests have a wonderful charm of their own.

If you've watched this show already, you know how IMPOSSIBLE it is not fall in love with IU a.k.a. Ji-Eun. 🐼💕

Even though I don't listen to K-pop music, knowing IU for the first time onscreen through the show felt like finding a kindred spirit. She's warm, kind, cool, extremely talented and humble. I love how she took over Sang-Soon's coffee duty at the B&B.

I've learned a gazillion things from this show but here's listing down my 4 favorites:

1. As we watch Hyori make peace with her super successful past as a K-Pop superstar, we also watch her in love with her present. Choosing to lead a life that feels right to her is what brings her immense peace and satisfaction, even if it isn't a life everybody (her fans, more specifically) would have her choose. Living in her own authentic way, I took pride in the way Hyori stayed true to herself.

2. Sometimes, discomfort is a pathway to new adventures. This is beautifully proven when we see Sang-Soon and Hyori open themselves up to other people, other ways of thinking and being, through the show. Initially awkward, we see them grow more confident and then even excited, to welcome new folks home.

3. When you watch Hyori and Sang Soon with each other, it just reaffirms the fact that the right kind of love will always find you if you allow yourself to be found. I felt my heart soar as I watched the ease, comfort, honesty, care and affection the two showered on each other without the need for words or loud actions.

4. Last but not the least, this show's taught me that we should laugh, as much as possible and be kind, as often as we can. Be it absolutely terrible jokes between Hyori and Sang-Soon or the camaraderie between IU and the guests or just our pet babies faffing around the bonfire for a piece of meat, the house was always filled with sounds of laughter and quiet, steady, care.

Picture Credits | Korea Boo, Netflix, (Art) The Doodle App