Sandra’s corner
Bio
I got stories to tell, don’t know where to start. Who knows where this road is gonna take me. All I know is the time is now. Come join me in my journey.
Stories (7/0)
Goosebumps
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years but one night, a candle burned in the window. Nobody lives there. No humans at least. Not even my grandma, who is the oldest person I know knew, what happened there. Folks around town whispered tales about the cabin in the woods. Always in a quick brush off don’t go there tone, coupled with a sign of the cross to ward off any evil spirits. For a weak puny mind like mine, this is something I cannot ignore. The days can last so long during the summer but when the lights go out and the darkness wants to be your friend, there is that place that summons me. Sleep always creeps in. But in it carries disturbing dreams. Dreams of a white lady floating in and around the cabin. A white lady that has no eyes and no feet. It looks at you but not really. It walks, it floats but not really. It talks but there’s no words. Only lets you feel that she’s there. I asked around but no one knows. I went up there one day. It was a long walk but my legs got me there. The path became narrow as I climbed up a hill. A hill that goes up and around as if, it’s telling you to stop and turn back, or get lost. It was so remote that I did get lost. By then, it was too late for me to go back. So I trudged on. The sun was hot on my back. And I fear I might actually die up there, alone and weary. Just as I was ready to collapse, I stumbled upon the cabin. Or rather it found me. It was hidden in a high pile of rocks among a swarm of trees. I didn’t noticed I had gotten side tracked off coarse while I was rounding up in circles. The trail I followed slowly disappeared and I, like a stupid fool that I am, continued to put one foot in front of the other. It might have been like a heat stroke or something because I, literally felt like dying. It was by pure luck that I stumbled upon a big chunk of cement that looked like a grave at first. It was the gate that led to the cabin. I dare not open the door. It looks to be as old as they said it would. White dust swarmed the place as it covering the secrets hidden beneath. Cobwebs hanging on the ceiling. Trying to trap whatever that goes inside. Even the birds know not to linger. As if avoiding the dark stories it holds. At last, my courage can only go so far and with one last attempt, I ran back to the path I came. I didn’t know where I was going, I only knew I had to get out of there. The town welcomed me with open arms. My grandma’s embrace were the greatest source of comfort, and the safest haven for me. I could conquer any mountains as long as I have grandma’s embrace. I kept telling her about the cabin. And she quickly shuts me off. Murmuring something about a lady dying there a long time ago and that she died on her sleep. Died on her sleep? And then she quickly ends it with a sign of a cross and then puts her finger on her lips . I have never been more puzzled or more scared in my life. Who ends a tale like that? It was a white lady that lived there and died quietly on her sleep. God bless her soul. Peace to the world!
By Sandra’s corner2 years ago in Fiction
So I’m a Kdrama fanatic, what’s next?
A what now? A Korean drama fanatic? What’s so special about that? Hmm...I really cannot explain it in mere words. Everyone’s watching TV nowadays. Ever since the pandemic started, with all this social distancing and restrictions we have to live with, what has become our best friend? The television. Had it not only saved our sanity on these hard times, it also provided us a sense of escape from the harsh realities of life. Now why Korean dramas specifically and not any other shows because there’s a whole bunch of them. From reality TV to crime shows, documentaries to American, British, Spanish...you name it. Korean drama has that unique touch to it that no other shows could compare with. My very first Korean drama was Lee Min Ho’s Boys Over Flowers. I didn’t know that there were other versions of it from other Asian countries. Meteor Garden from Taiwan and there was also a Chinese version that came out recently. They were all popular versions but the Korean show was the one that started it all for me. The show brought back many happy memories for me. It has it all from the actors to the music and the songs and the funny dialogues. Many years later, I remembered dragging my older sister to a fan concert of Lee Min Ho back in my home country. My poor sister, who didn’t know the trouble I would cost her just to watch that show with me. Nowadays, together with her daughters know more about Kpop music and boy bands than I would I ever know. I thought my fascination with Korean drama would end with Lee Min Ho. I moved on to Song Hye-Kyo and Won Bin’s Autumn in my Heart. That was probably the most tragic story I’ve ever known. That show catapulted Song Hye Kyo’s career as one of the prettiest and most popular actress in Korea. You probably heard of her from the Descendants of the Gods. It a a story about a medical doctor and a captain finding love in a middle of a war and disaster. I think that show introduced the Korean drama to the world. It has everything in it. From the high caliber acting to the catchy action moves to the guns and ammunitions they used, it could compare to the likes of Mission Impossible. Of course, Tom Cruise is unbeatable in that area but this show comes close to it. Song Jong Ki is one lucky man to end up with the lead actress there in real life and sadly, as life happens, ended also separating not too long after. Yet, even after all that, they continued to give as great shows. Vincenzo is currently airing now from Netflix. It is about a consigliere from a mafia family. It’s sort of Soprano style version but Korean made. Without the drugs, without the foul language and without the gritty sex. In fairness, I grew up with American shows such as ER, Ally McBeal and Friends. Then HBO brought us shows like Sopranos and True Blood. Vampires and mafias, all these super gorgeous actors, what’s there’s not to like ? But after a while, the shows got more violent, the sex more sexier and the stories, more darker. Is this what Hollywood is all about? All the senseless drugs, strong sexual content, unnecessary violence, foul language and twisted versions of their realities proved too much for me. Truthfully, I got sick of them. Who likes to wake up and start your day, feeling pissed at the world ? No one, right? The world is scary enough already. I don’t need to be stressed inside my own house. So my fascination with Korean drama continued. Back then, I had the help of Dramafever which introduced me to a lot of korean shows and I spend my off days, doing all 16 episodes one hour each in one sitting. I’d go to work feeling heavy eyed, sleep deprived and yet energized, looking forward to my next show. What would it be this time? A love story? Horror or action or a historical drama? My next show on the list is Coffee Prince. I fell in love with Gong Yoo long before his Train to Busan movie. The story is about a happy go lucky bachelor who has not found his nitch in life yet and hardworking girl who pretended to be a boy so she can work. Some sensitive issues were covered such as same gender as the actor fell for the actress, not knowing that she is really a girl. That show was very upbeat , fresh and very relatable and one that I still watch when I get bored or just want to pass the time. My all time favorite Korean show would probably be Goblin. If you haven’t heard of it, please keep that on top of your list. If anything, that would be the Korean show I would recommend to you. Not only is Gong Yoo on it but he portrayed a God who is looking for his bride to end his immortality. Beautiful cinematography, out of this world script, unrivaled special effects and beautiful music. I was such a big fan I bought a Goblin mug and sweatshirt from Dramafever. That company got taken out by a giant network mogul not too long after. That broke my heart for a while there. Perhaps of the shows I mentioned or not, the world has caught a whiff of the Korean bug. One by one, Korean shows we’re slowly being introduced by Netflix, Amazon Prime and Viki Rakuten. These are the networks I personally have and currently using. Thanks to them, i get to indulge in doing my favorite past time. There are a lot of other networks, websites out there. You tube carries them too. It just shows how their audience have grown worldwide and include all ages. The fandom of Crash Landing on you with Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin’s tandem made us ladies crazy and went gaga for months. My friends from London, Philippines and here in the US won’t stopped talking about it in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And for these two actors to become a couple in real life was an added bonus. Yes, I’m a die hard fan of these two. And just as I haven’t had enough of this craziness, I stumbled upon Ji Chang Wook’s Healer. OMG. This is probably one of the best action shows I’ve ever watched. It’s about a hacker with good fighting skills and a quirky reporter who has a connection with their troubled past. I ended buying its DVD from Amazon because I liked it so much. So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo-jin’s Master ‘s Sun was another show that stole my heart. It’s a ghost love story with an interesting twist. If you’re lighthearted and hate hair rising scary stuff, this isn’t for you my friend. I personally found it funny and yes, quirky but in a good way. It was a huge hit in Korea. This would be a perfect show to watch during Halloween. You can add Jo Jung-suk and Park Bo-young Oh My Ghost if you like this kind. I can still picture out the heated exchanges between these two, the arrogant chef and timid assistant possessed by a ghost. Among the historical drama that caught my eye, Lee Joon-gi and IU’s Scarlet Heart Ryeo tops the list. Modern girl gets to be transported back during the Goryeo dynasty and finds love among the princes and is swept up on the wave of politics and intrigues. For the producers and the sponsors, I’m still waiting for part two please. Who could forget Kim Soo-Hyun emotional portrayal in Moon Embracing the Sun? It garnered major awards for the Best Drama and Best Actor in 2012 Baeksang arts awards. Who could forget the love story between Han Hyo-joo and Ji Jin-hee in Dong Yi? I’m not even korean yet I feel like I know more of their history than that of my country. Empress Ki is also quite impressive with its well rounded cast of Ha Ji-won and my beloved Wookie a.k.a Ji Chang-wook. My magical world broaden when I came upon Secret Garden. How I love to take home Hyun Bin and Ha Ji won and stay on their lovely house by the lake that has stacks of books from floor to ceiling . That house, up to this day is my dream house. Of aliens and time travel, nothing can beat My Love From Another Star. Kim Soo-Hyun starred in this show alongside Gianna Jun, a match made in heaven. Among unforgettable characters are Lee Seung-gi and Ha Ji-won’s King 2 Hearts. The story between a modern Korean King and a North Korean officer stands out. The famous quote “my power are my people” or “my people gives me my power” are echoed through another show excellent show Itaewon Class. How can you not fall for Park sae-ro-yi and Jo yi-seo’s characters? His hedgehog haircut and rigid personality bumped heads with her brazen sociopath personality. In the end, the line that got me on this show was when she /he threw it out there “Was that life? Well then...once more” Life maybe a series of defeats, even boring at times but just keep on living. Who knows? Some thing will change and will even come to surprise you. In a world of make believe, I am free to dream, to watch and to love. In the real world nowadays, where hate and fear fills up the streets and is all around us. Where this pandemic crisis has taken so much of our lives, korean drama has helped filled that void. I am a korean drama addict. I craved for ramen noodles to drinking sojus and grilling pork and eating Kimchi. I live. I survived.
By Sandra’s corner3 years ago in Geeks
