Where To Watch Asian Drama?

i-hear-your-voice

Korean Drama: I Hear Your Voice Poster

 I get asked this question sometimes, even when I started first watching Korean and other Asian Dramas, I too had similar question. While, I am no way an expert still, I found a few ways to watch Asian drama with English subtitles. Without subtitles, I can not understand much. I now know a few Korean Phrases but nothing remotely will make sense. Although, I do admit, sometimes, I have watched drama without subtitles as I had been too impatient to wait.

There are a few ways to watch Korean Drama:

1) Cable TV or Asian Network: A friend of mine, gets Cable network and she sometimes gets Variety shows and drama with English subtitles but it has not worked for me. So check it out, sometimes free local channels may provide Korean or other Asian network shows on certain days of week at some specific times based on local area.

2) Netflix: Netflix is best source of many Asian Drama and movies. I like that you can put your choices in Queue and it will keep coming to your house and you can mail it back from your house. Pretty convenient for lazy person like me and Netflix has many Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, Indian, Chinese Drama and movie to choose from.

3) Local library: If you live in area where is large Asian population, local library might be carrying Asian movies and drama. Not all may have English subtitles so check it. If you find it, you will get to see Asian, Korean dramas for free from your local library.

4) Local Asian DVD Rental store: In my area, there are a few Korean DVD rental place, where I can rent Drama but not all may have English subtitles so ask and you might get lucky.

5) Ask Kdrama Viewer friend: I have one friend who watches it, sometimes we borrow each other Drama series that we have purchased. For example, I have Rooftop prince, and she has other ones so we borrow each others sometimes.

6) View Instantly from Amazon: You can instantly watch some movies and drama as cheaply as 99 cents and more or you can buy dvd series for home. I have actually bought 4 Korean drama series via Amazon, as they are largest and trusted online retailer and carry many drama with English subtitles.

7) Watch it Online: I have kept best for last, as almost everyone (at least most) people have internet access at home or can get it at library or internet cafe, starbucks so watching online is easiest method for most people. Where in online to see it?

  • You tube: You tube sometimes has whole Korean and other Asian Drama complete series with English subtitles. Only bad thing is you have to search and it might not be there next day.
  • Dramafever: Drama fever has the most largest selection of Korean, Taiwanese drama. You have to either watch with ad or pay for membership. You can pretty much find any Drama you’re looking for in there.
  • Hulu: Somes you can finds whole Korean Drama and Movies on Hulu.com
  • Viki.com : I like Viki.com, the subbers usually work very hard to sub the new episode in a day or less. My favorite is timed comments at the top. You have pay membership or watch with ads.
  • Good Drama: This website has lot of Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese Movies and drama and anime as well. It runs on ads or paid subscription.
  • Han Cinema: I recently found out that you can watch it on Han cinema, but basically it links to Dramafever website.
  • Crunchy Roll: It has many Asian drama, anime as well
  • Veoh:This website is great for older drama and TV shows. Many has English subtitles.
  • Dramacrazy: Many Korean, Japanese Dramas and movies

Other Online Live Streaming websites:

I have not tried following websites, but writing it here for information as having an option where to see Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese Drama:

Do you know any other ways to watch Korean drama, movies? Let me know in comments. I will update list as I know more ways to watch drama for you.

Enjoy Kdrama Humor

If you watch lot of Korean Drama or Kdrama, you can really appreciate the humor. Korean Drama watching is serious thing for many fans, including myself. I sometimes get happy when gathering or party gets canceled so I can watch or finish up Korean drama.

In US, my family goes Black Friday sale just after Thanksgiving day, I reserve that day for watching Korean Drama in my pajamas! I stay up at night, as long there is an internet connection for live streaming video on dramafever or youtube.

Check out the Kdrama Humor from other Kdrama experts, fan and bloggers. Be sure to check out their blogs, as they are way cool to read.

“I could give up watching Asian Drama anytime, however I am not a Quitter!”

humor1

Source: Donna Dramaqueen

lastep

How Last Kdrama Episode is decided. Via Pinterest

 

humor2

 

This below is way to funny yet realistic. I may have done something similar to it. 🙂
humor3

 

humor5
Source: Kpopmemo

 

This is so true! Happened to me, my husband could not carry me, I am not thin enough, or maybe my husband is not strong enough. I am sticking to second one. Yeah, that’s it.
humor6
armgrab
My Korean Husband Via Pinterest
confusion
Confusion Via Pinterest

Take KDrama Fan Quiz

Take Quiz To See If You Are True Kdrama Fan. How do you know you are Korean Drama fan?

Quiz Questions includes;
1. Korean Language Test
2. What is Gumiho?
3. Match Lee Min Ho’s Face shade with Correct Drama (This is tough!)
4. Another Name of Namsan Tower (Popular Kdrama place)
5. Match Halmoni’s picture with correct grandson actor
6. Why do Kdrama character come to US?
7. Which is best place to hide if you are in Kdrama?
8. Which statues has most cameo’s in Kdrama?
9.This stuffed animal comes in which kdrama?
10. Which airport is used most to fly to America in Kdrama?

Check your answers and points and see where you stand. Good luck.

kdrama quiz

How Did you do?

Source: MCM

White and Pink Camera In You’re Beautiful Korean Drama

Lately, I have been watching Korean Drama too closely or may be product placement folks are doing good. I found Camera in several shots of “You’re Beautiful Drama with Park Shin Hye and JSK.  Now, You’re beautiful is one of the earlier drama I had seen and loved but rematching second time, I observed things that I missed the first time such as cool camera this time. it It looked very interesting as I had never seen a camera like that before, yeah really!  See below, if you do not believe me.

See our review of “You’re Beautiful” Korean Drama Review:

cam1

cam2Source: You’re Beautiful Korean Drama

I asked my brother who is all Camera expert (but not Korean Drama expert) who did not know. I looked searched internet online sites but I could not do search on image, as that is all I had. I am sure someone will come up soon with image based search soon.  Until then I had to find answer hard way. After searching and looking at yahoo answers, I came with two possibilities thanks to suggestions from other Kdrama addict like me, I thank them for pointing me right way.

I still am not sure, which camera it is out of 2 brand, but pictures comes closer to the images above.

My first guess is that it might be Fujifilm INSTAX MINI Film Camera (Pink Trim)

cam22

Image source: Amazon

Features for Fujifilm INSTAX MINI Film Camera (Pink Trim) are;

  • Fun, credit card-sized prints
  • Motorized film advance
  • Exposure Compensation controls
  • Built-in flash
  • Manual exposure compensation

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S is the compact, ultra-hip, instant film camera that you’ll want to take everywhere. Rounded lines, retro styling, and simple operation make this point-and-click great for parties, art projects, and anywhere you’d like to take instant photos. Like larger Instax cameras, the Mini 7S produces near-instant, vivid, high-quality prints. Unlike other models however, the Mini 7S uses Instax Mini film cartridges for pocket-friendly, credit card-sized images. Bring back the fun of instant photos! Give prints away or trade with friends. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S lets you shoot and share amazing pictures with ease. Includes camera strap and 4AA batteries.

You can find this camera Under $100 and with free shipping from Amazon: Fujifilm INSTAX MINI Film Camera

My second guess is that it might be Polaroid 300 Instant Camera PIC-300L in Pink and White Color (I could not find the right image from Amazon)

cam21Source: Amazon

Features for  Polaroid 300 Instant Camera PIC-300L  are;

  • Takes business card size instant color photos
  • Auto flash in low light, auto adjust
  • Electronic shutter 1/60 second
  • Manual exposure compensation
  • Works with Polaroid 300 instant film
  • Takes business card size instant color photos
  • Four scene settings help capture the perfect shot in any light
  • Works with Polaroid 300 Instant Film
  • Automatic Flash feature
  • 1/60 sec electronic shutter

This camera allows you to take pictures you’ll see developed in front of your eyes in minutes. It’s the modern version of the classic Polaroid instant camera you’ve grown to love and it’s just in time for your wedding, anniversary, birthday or other big event! The Polaroid Pic-300 is great for guest books when you want to put a face on your special day, registration events or any other time when you want quick results you can share within minutes. The camera prints pictures about the size of a business card (1.8 inches x 2.4 inches) on paper that’s 2.1 inches x 3.4 inches.

You can find it on Amazon for Under $70 here: Polaroid 300 Instant Camera PIC-300L

Conclusion: I think both cameras are pretty cool! I want to get a good camera that I can take pictures of freeze frames from the screen when I am watching Korean Drama with subtitles. Right now, with current camera it comes bit blurry with freeze frames.

Do you know which camera it is for sure? My guess is that it is 1st choice Fuji. If you know, do write a comment and let me know, okay?

Top Korean Dramas Of 2013

masterssunMaster’s Sun: Korean Drama

Year 2013 has ended and 2014 has began. What were the top and best rated Korean Dramas of Year 2013.  According to several website survey done by Korean Drama fans have picked following Korean Drama Series as top Korean Drama for year 2013.

If drama ended in 2013 then is considered to be 2013 Drama list for voting. However, if a few drama that started in 2013, but will end in 2014 will be part of 2014 drama series voting to make easy voting choice.

There were about 88 Korean dramas that aired during year 2013. Some of them are obviously better and many are not. I did not even realize before writing this post and before research that there were so many Korean dramas were released.  Obviously I have not seen all of them and nor I should.  See below of all drama that aired in Korea on various Television network.

(Scorll Down to see Top Korean Drama Pick for 2013)

88 Korean Dramas Showed in Year 2013

100 Year Legacy (MBC)
Advertising Genius Lee Tae Baek (KBS2)
All About My Romance (SBS)
Answer Me 1994 (tvN)
Birth Secret (SBS)
Blue Tower (tvN)
Can We Get Married ? (jTBC)
Cheer Up, Mr. Kim (KBS1)
Cheongdamdong Alice (SBS)
Childless Comfort (jTBC)
Crazy Love (tvN)
Cruel City (jTBC)
Cruel Palace – War of Flowers (jTBC)
Dating Agency: Cyrano (tvN)
Empire of Gold (SBS)
Family (KBS2)
Fantasy Tower (tvN)
Flower Boy Next Door (tvN)
Glass Mask (tvN)
Goddess of Marriage (SBS)
Good Doctor (KBS2)
Good For You (MBC)
Her Legend (jTBC)
Here Comes Mr. Oh (MBC)
Hur Jun, The Original Story (MBC)
I Hear Your Voice (SBS)
I Love You (SBS)
I Miss You (MBC)
I Summon You, Gold! (MBC)
Incarnation of Money (SBS)
IRIS 2 (KBS2)
Jang Ok Jung (SBS)
Jeon Woo Chi (KBS2)
Jung Yi, The Goddess of Fire (MBC)
KangChi, The Beginning (MBC)
King’s Dream (KBS1)
Lee Soon Shin is a Best (KBS2)
Level 7 Civil Servant (MBC)
Looking Forward to Romance (KBS2)
Mandate of Heaven: The Fugitive of Joseon (KBS2)
Marry Him If You Dare (KBS2)
Maybe Love (MBC)
Medical Top Team (MBC)
Monstar (Mnet tvN)
My Daughter Seo Yeong (KBS2)
My Love, Madame Butterfly (SBS)
Nailshop Paris (MBC QueeN)
Nine: 9 Times Time Travel (tvN)
Play Guide (tvN)
Princess Aurora (MBC)
Pure Love (KBS2)
Queen of Ambition (SBS)
Royal Villa (jTBC)
Rude Miss Young Ae 11 (tvN)
Rude Miss Young Ae 12 (tvN)
Scandal : a Shocking and Wrongful Incident (MBC)
School 2013 (KBS2)
Secret (KBS2)
Shark (KBS2)
She is WOW (tvN)
Short Family (E-Channel)
Sincerity Moves Heaven (KBS1)
Special Affairs Team TEN 2 (OCN)
Sword and Flower (KBS2)
That Winter, The Wind Blows (SBS)
The Birth of a Family (SBS)
The End of a World (jTBC)
The Great Seer (SBS)
The Heirs (SBS)
The King’s Doctor (MBC)
The Master’s Sun (SBS)
The Queen’s Classroom (MBC)
The Queen of Office (KBS2)
The Sons (MBC)
The Suspicious Housekeeper (SBS)
The Virus (OCN)
Thorn Flower (jTBC)
TV Novel – Dear Love (KBS2)
TV Novel – Eun Hee (KBS2)
TV Novel – Sam Saeng (KBS2)
Two Weeks (MBC)
Ugly Alert (SBS)
Unemployed Romance (E-Channel)
When a Man Falls in Love (MBC)
Who Are You? (tvN)
Wonderful Mama (SBS)
Your Neighbor’s Wife (jTBC)
Your Woman (SBS)

Top Korean Drama for 2013:

My picks for best dramas are based on dramas that I have personally seen and liked or disliked, and has some influence by other Korean drama expert and fan forum chats. Without further ado, here are my top pick for Kdrama.

1. The Heirs:

heir

 

My favorite actors Lee Mino and Park Shin Hye are both in it so I had to watch it and I would say it was best 2013 Korean drama that aired this year. “The Heirs” depicts the friendships, rivalries and love lives of young, rich heirs led by Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) and a girl named Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye). The series follows a group of privileged, rich, elite high school students as they are groomed to take over their families’ business empires. These wealthy students seem to have everything under control, except their love lives.

2. Marry Him If you Dare:

marryhimThis series also known as Mirae’s choice. Set in the world of television broadcasting, Na Mi-rae travels back in time to prevent her 32-year-old self from marrying news anchor Kim Shin, thus sending her past self down a different path and enabling her to pursue the things she really wanted in life. It was great, except ambiguous  ending that left me and others baffled.

3.  Master’s Sun

masterssun

The story line seemed unique and interesting and so was the drama. Joo Joong-won (So Ji-sub) is the stingy and greedy CEO of Kingdom meets the gloomy Tae Gong-shil (Gong Hyo-jin), 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.

4. That Winter Wind Blows

winterwindblows

This series is based on the Japanese drama I Don’t Need Love, Summer. Oh Soo – An orphan who doesn’t care about anything after the death of his first love, he becomes a high-class gambler and playboy. Desperate to find money to repay a debt or forfeit his own life, he becomes a con artist who sets sights on a new target: Oh Young, pretending to be her long-lost brother.

5. I Miss You

I_Miss_You_-_Korean_Drama-p1

I watch everything that has Park Yoochun, so I had to watch it. High school sweethearts Jung-woo and Soo-yeon were separated in a horrifying tragedy that continues to weigh down on them as adults. Now a guilt-ridden detective, Jung-woo has been desperately searching for Soo-yeon for years, but when he crosses paths with her again, she has already become someone else with a new identity.

6. Answer Me 1994

answeme1994

Going back to past (to 1994). Six young students from Jeolla Province, Chungcheong Province, and Gyeongsang Province room together at a boarding house, while attending a university in Seoul. The boarding house is run by a couple (Sung Dong-il, Lee Il-hwa) with a daughter (Go Ara), exploring kpop and Korean baseball in early nineties.

7.  Two Weeks

twoweeks

This is Lee Joong Ki’s comeback acting series after being discharged from mandatory military service. Orphaned at a young age when his father left and his mother committed suicide, Tae-san became a small-time gangster. After getting falsely accused of murder and learning that he has a daughter with leukemia, Tae-san spends the next two weeks in a life-or-death struggle to save himself and the girl.

8. Secret

Secret

Kang Yoo Hung sacrifices her future by going to prison in her boyfriend Do-hoon’s place after he kills a woman in a hit-and-run accident. But in exchange for her devotion, he abandons her. Refusing to give in to despair, she emerges from prison a stronger woman who’s determined to make a fresh start and live differently. As story unfolds, secrets began to reveal

9. I Hear Your Voice

i-hear-your-voice

Goo Seung-hyun as young kid- He receives a secret ability of being able to read people’s minds by seeing their eyes after witnessing his father’s death. After Jang Hye-sung testifies in court, he swore that he would protect and guard her if he ever meet her again. 10 years later, he meets Jang Hye-Sung, now a public defender and helps her while falling for her.

10. Cheongdamdong Alice

cheongdamdong-alice

Han Se-kyung is an optimistic girl living her life with the belief that “hard work is my strength. The Korean president of Artemis, a famous luxury brand. Although he was born into a rich family, he is estranged from his father and built his company based on his own hard work. He says he will never trust women again after getting hurt by one; actually, he desires true love more than anybody else.

Which are your Favorite 2013 Korean Drama?

How To Make Omurice From Roof Top Prince

rooftopImage source: www.therebelsweetheart.com

One of the interesting thing I have noticed about myself is that when I watch Korean Dramas, I get completely hooked, especially if Drama is really good. I like food they eat, I drool as I watch female lead eat a lot, and still look very skinny. (I wonder why it does not happen to me? Maybe I do not have the high metabolism “Korean Genes!” )

Ever since I watched Rooftop Prince (Shh…don’t tell anyone, I have watched it already twice the whole series!) I drool every time, Han Ji Man’s Character makes Omurice for J4 or better known as Joseon four, Prince and his 3 companions. As they drooled over the food and left the plate clean. I wanted to eat with them.

What is Omurice?

Omurice is surprisingly comes from contemporary Japanese cuisine consisting of an omelet made with fried rice and usually topped with ketchup. I thought it has roots in Korean Cuisine, I guess many Asian food and culture are sometimes inter-related.

Omu and raisu being contractions of the words omelette and rice hence the name Omurice. It is a popular dish both commonly cooked at home and can be found at many western style diners in Japan. The dish was brought to Korea during Korea under Japanese rule,and today it is a fixture on gimbap restaurant menus throughout South Korea. Omurice is also popular in Taiwan, another territory that was occupied by Imperial Japan. Children, in particular, enjoy omurice, and it is often featured on kids’ meals. (Source: Wikipedia)

Japanese Omurice Method

How To Make Omurice?

Since I am not in K-drama land, I had to search how to make Omurice myself and make it suitable for my taste, as I am not big on meat. If you ever wondered how to make Omurice, here is my customized version of Omurice recipe. Here I have seen many videos and recipes and modified and tested the recipe until it came out okay.

RooftopPrinceEpisode2038Image source: www.pelangidrama.net

(Almost) Vegetarian Omurice Recipe By Drama Girl (me)

Ingredients :

  •  2 small Carrots
  • 1 small red onion
  • 1 cup frozen or fresh Red, Yellow and Green Capsicum
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 8 tablespoon Tomatoes sauce
  • 6 Eggs or use Egg replacer for vegetarian
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon grated ginger and garlic puree
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 cups steamed rice (I used leftover cold rice)
  • Olive oil for stir frying
  • Tomato Ketchup and Chopped Cilantro for  for Garnish

Direction:

  1. Chop and cut Carrots, Red Onions, Capsicum (if using fresh)
  2. Preheat a wok or large nonstick Omelet pans on medium heat
  3. When Pan is heated, add 3 tablespoon olive oil
  4. Add ginger, garlic paste and stir fry it for a few seconds
  5. Add frozen peas and cut vegetables and onions
  6. Stir fry it fast with wooden spatula for 3-4 minutes until vegetables are soft and cooked
  7. Add Tomato sauce and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce to vegetables
  8. Mix it well
  9. Add steam rice to mix and mix it well on low heat for 1 minute or so
  10. Once everything is mixed, take it off from heat and keep it aside.

Make Omelet cover:

  1. Take about 2 eggs for each serving.
  2. Beat eggs in mixing bowl, add salt and pepper to taste
  3. Heat frying pan, add oil,
  4. When oil is hot, add egg mixture and pour it covering the bottom of the pan
  5. Make it very thin, large Omelet
  6. Place rice and vegetable mix in middle and fold the sides of omelet like a burrito on each 4 sides
  7. Do it slowly, especially at first so you do not break the Omelet.
  8. Slowly flip it on a plate, garnish with Tomato Ketchup spread and Chopped Cilantro
  9. Repeat 2 more times. Roughly makes 3 servings.
  10. If by chance Omelet breaks, it is still edible and tasty but may not visually look great. I got it better for 4th time.
  11. If you use egg replacer for Vegetarian Omurice, it may come out little different but still works, I tried it.
  12. Enjoy and share it with friends and family while watching Roof Top Prince!

By the way, if you wanted to buy Roof Top Prince Korean Drama series with English Subtitles, Amazon have it best deals right now;

See: Roof Top Prince Korean DVD set (English Subtitle)

Korean Ramyun or Ramen Noddle Hacks

noodle4Ramyun/ Ramen Noodle Isle:

I always ate Ramen noodles as a broke, starving college student and did not care much about it. That was until, I started watching Korean drama, now I have new appreciation for Ramen or Ramyun as Korean Native would say.  I am went around to search for Ramen noodle history and I found Zengirl’s post : Inexpensive Food: Ramen Noodle Hacks which has done extensive search, so I got permission to share it here with my thoughts.

In typical Korean drama, there is at least one Ramen/Ramyun noodle eating scene. In Boys over flowers, Lee Min Ho’s Character eats Ramyun once and he likes it a lot, so later he wants to eat it again and does not know how to cook it. So he eats uncooked Ramen noodles. Usually in Kdrama, ramyun is cooked in pot and pot lid is usually used as plate or eaten straight from the pot, something I learned was not a good manners by family members, but when Kdrama actors does it, it seems cool trend. now I too want to eat my Ramyun in pot lid with metal chopsticks just like my favorite Korean stars!

ramen1

Image source: Kimpoppers

Ramen Noodles History:

Instant noodle were first marketed in Taiwan, which was under Japanese regime in late 1950s.In early 1970′s Japanese Company called Nissin introduced “cup Noodles”, which you can still buy at grocery store, which comes in waterproof Styrofoam cup, and all one has to add is boiled or warm water for noodles to be cooked and ready to eat in no time.

Instant noodle is one of the major inexpensive food, eaten in many countries, specially popular with not so rich, college students who can eat cheap and quickly make these noodles for their busy college life. There has been said, that about 95 billion people in world eat some type of instant noodles. Top Noodle consuming countries are China, Indonesia, Japan, and south Koreans along with many South Asian Countries such as India too.

Instant noodle have been criticized for low protein, vitamins and fiber while being rich in carbohydrates. One can add fibrous veggies with vitamins to make it much rich and healthy in nutrients.

I asked my Korean friends and tried out 7 different brand/version of Korean Ramyun and here three that I liked, other 4 were so so. Here are the favorite Korean Ramyun Noodles, if you ever wanted to cook for yourself at home.

noodle1Nong Shim Shin Noodle Ramyun:

This Ramen is the best Ramen in the world. It is very spicy and has great flavor. It is so much better than the $.10 Ramen you find in your avg. grocery store. Authentic Korean ramen. Add some egg to it, and you’ll be in Ramen Heaven. Many native Korean seemed to agree that it is one of the best Ramyun. If you like less spicy food, then use less of spices packed with it, simple as that.

This Shin noodle is made in the USA and it is a American version of the very popular Korean instant noodle.

You can try you local grocery store, order it online with discount and home delivery from amazon: Nong Shim Shin Noodle Ramyun

 

 

noodle2Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood Noodle Ramyun

This is one of the tastiest brands of ramen ever. There quick and easy to make, no prep work needed, just boiling water. The noodles are thicker then those card board cup o noodle and so much more tastier. The sauce is spicy so it’ll get you sweating on a cold night. I recommend eating these while watching your favorite TV show or if you need a quick noodle fix. As an added bonus, after you finish off the noodles, you can add a bowl of rice to the soup and enjoy a 2nd serving! Eat it with Kimchi and you will again be in heaven!

This is spicy ramyun noodle, so if you like less spicy food, use less amount of spices that comes with the package.

You can buy this Ramyun here: Nongshim Neoguri Spicy Seafood Noodle Ramyun

 

 noodle3Nongshim Chapagetti Chajang Noodle

East meets West with spagetti-style noodles in a secret Chajang sauce (Chinese black soy bean sauce). Chapagetti is “chajang” + “spaghetti”, chajang myun (noodle) being a Korean interpretation of a Chinese dish.

Chajang literally means “fried sauce”. It’s a thick, black, soybean paste that’s slightly sweet. For the instant version, Nong Shim replaced the paste with a mix-in powder. Inside the bag are 3 flavoring packs: a packet of sauce powder, an oil packet, and a dehydrated vegetables packet. Preparation is easy. Just add the vegetable pack to the noodles when cooking, drain, then add the other 2 packets and stir well before eating.

A tip for you all: Don’t boil the water first and then add the noodles. I recommend having the noodles in the cold water as you bring it up to a boil. For some reason it adds another level and the noodles come out tasting better.

Click here to buy: Nongshim Chapagetti Chajang Noodle

Nongshim Ramyun Noodle Review

Top Instant Ramen Noodle Hacks:

Since I am vegetarian, I am sharing vegetarian hacks that I know and have used successfully in kitchen. Ramen Noodles have come a long way in US and I have eaten a lot during my college years.

Adding Veggies:

  • Adding, red onions, green spinach, Thinly sliced cabbage, lettuce, Scallion, will do wonder. Once I put home grown potato because my son wanted to try it, and it worked out so well.
  • I have tried also broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, sweet peas, corn, and other veggies in the noodle. Some vegetable may need to be pre-cooked before as instant noodle cooks quicker.
  • One can add frozen or boiled veggies inside the Ramen noodle too.

Add Sauces and Condiments

  • In addition to vegetables, I like to use my own spices, sauce or condiment with Ramen noodle. You can try curry power, ginger, garlic paste, soya sauce, chili sauce, miso paste, bean paste (from Chinese or Japanese store), African Harrisa paste, Garam Masala and Emli sauce  (Indian Store)

Other Cooking Suggestions:

  • I have made Vegetarian Pad Thai with Ramen Noodle instead of Thin Rice noodle and while it looks different, it taste wonderful.
  • Make Chinese sweet and sour chow mien or low-mien with Ramen noodle. You can use pineapple chucks or pineapple for sweet ingredient.
  • Make Spaghetti with sauce and wheat balls with Ramen Noodles.
  • Make a cheesy, noodle with cheese and tomato sauce.
  • Instead of Mac and Cheese with Macroni Pasta, Make Ramen and cheese for kids.
  • Make Ramen Veggie Primevera, Ramen Fettuccine, or Ramen with extra virgin olive oil and garlic to make simple pasta dish with instant noodles.
  •  If you make vegetarian Shepard pie, make it with Ramen noodle instead.
  • I have also make Green spinach salad with walnuts, and broken pieces of ramen noodles (extra crunchiness) with red wine vinaigrette dressing.

How To Make Korean Ramyun Noodle

Enjoy your Ramyun Noodles while watching your favorite Korean Drama! Let me know how it turned out.

Which Kdrama Is Best For Beginner?

Boys-over-Flowers-korean-dramas-32444329-500-281

Boys Over Flower: Another Love Story Couple

When I first started watching Korean Drama was by accident and I chose the good Kdrama for expert, but not for a beginner. I watched melodrama which was slow and had many sad scenes. However, somehow, I stuck along 20 episodes of it and survived. Since then I realized that there are much more better choices of Kdramas I could have started with.

Watching Korean Drama is very different compared to American Drama and even BBC mini series sitcoms, it is very unique experience.  If you are new to Korean Drama or want to experience the craze about Kdrama, then these are the dramas you should start with.

Things to know before watching any Korean Drama:

  1. Korean dramas are 16-24 episodes long, unlike decade running series like “All My Children” or “General Hospital. That means there is finite time and end.
  2. Korean dramas are over an hour long, without any ads or commercials. If you watch it on some streaming drama sites, they would add their own ads every 15 minutes or so, making it long (Unless you get paid subscription)
  3. Make sure before you buy or pay for Kdrama, it has fully English subtitles, or whichever language you prefer. If you are native Korean speaker, ignore this tip.
  4. Korean drama are slower in pace and culture is quite different compared to US or western culture and drama. Sometimes holding hands between lead pairs can take long time.
  5. There is less importance on physical relationship. Sometimes lead pair can kiss in last episodes, or sometimes they may not even kiss despite loving such as “49 days”. Don’t worry, it will not make it dull or less romantic viewing. Believe me and other Kdrama addict fans.
  6. There will be lot of back hugs, piggy back rides, drinking and eating food together, plenty of guy shower scene as they seemed to do lot of thinking during shower.
  7. Storyline either be modern time, or Joseon era of past, or time traveling between old and modern time such as Rooftop Prince or Queen In Hyun’s Man.
  8. Do not start a Korean Drama just before test, before project is due. Believe me, everything will be left as it is and drama will be finished.
  9. You may lose your sleep, just trying to watch JUST ONE MORE episodes. I have done it plenty of time.
  10. You may start to read Kdrama blogs and recruit other people missing out on watching Korean Drama.

Okay, now that I said what to expect, let’s move on important part such as which is the best Korean Drama to start watching. After watching Korean Drama since 2010 and watching many good, bad, ugly and all in between dramas, I can suggest and share my best drama list for new beginners to Kdrama world.

Best Korean Dramas For a Beginner:

One more thing, first episodes is always a introduction of situations, characters and it is all jumble usually for most Korean Drama. You will have to watch at least 2 or 3 episodes to really get in to drama. So, have little patience and watch 2-3 episodes at least.

 

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 City Hunter

This is best Kdrama for beginner in my opinion, as the story takes place in modern time, and has cool spy things, politics, love, revenge all rolled in to one. Of course, having a Good looking Lee Min Ho starring in it, sure helps.  Based on a famous Japanese comic, CITY HUNTER is a Korean TV drama thriller starring Lee Min-Ho(Boys Over Flowers(  and Park Min-Young (Sungkyunkwan Scandal) that follows a trail of revenge and romance all the way to the presidential Blue House.

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 You’re Beautiful

This series is about 3 guys in boy band group and one girl, pretending to be a boy in a boy band which surely leads to love, confusion and heartaches. Taekyung (Jang Keun-Suk) is A.N.JELL’s arrogant and insufferable lead singer. Guitarist Shinwoo (Jung Yong-Hwa of C.N.Blue) is too perceptive for his own good, and happy-go-lucky drummer Jeremy (Lee Hong-Ki of F.T. Island) is just plain slow on the uptake. Into the boy band mix comes A.N.JELL’s bumbling newbie, Go Minam (Park Shin-Hye). But what the fans don’t know is that he’s actually a she! Roped into posing as her twin brother, Minam has to hide her real identity. But secrets have a way of coming out, especially when her bandmates start falling for her!

 

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Secret Garden:

Story is cute and has un-realistic plot line, but that will not matter, you will want true love life like them in no time. From shiny tracksuits to cappuccino foam kisses, the fantasy romance Secret Garden provided some of the hottest topics in 2011. Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won bicker away in the series as an eccentric, elitist CEO and a spunky stunt woman who hate each other almost as much as they’re undeniably attracted to each other.  It’ll take some magical intervention to get these two stubborn lovebirds to ‘fess up to their feelings!

Rooftop-Prince-Poster-2

This drama story takes places in both modern and old Joseon era times, however it is mostly in modern present time. There is re-incarnation of both male leads and female leads in both modern and olden era.

Prince Lee Gak finds himself time traveling 300 years into the future with his 3 trusted sidekicks as they are investigating murder of Princess, his wife. They would have to go through considerable challenges as he adapts to 21st century Seoul and Park-ha. Can love last when there is 300 years gap? You will laugh, cry and fall in love with Omurice, J4 (Joseon 4 guys) and lead pair’s love story.

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Full House:

This was very popular series in 2004, by singer actor Rain and I can see why, it has every thing Kdrama needs, rich, good looking male lead, pretty, happy go lucky poor female lead, fake marriage contract and love square.

Female lead Han Ji-eun’s loses her house by greedy friend to Rain. She and rain makes an arrangement for her to earn her house back by working at home for him, which leads to Fake Marriage contract and confusion and eventual love. Even though I am not a big Rain fan, I like his acting in this series.

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Boys Over Flower:

This is high school romance story between unlikely pair has its origin in Japanese Manga. Only reason you should watch this drama is, unless you have watched Boys Over Flower once you do not know Kdrama. While it has too much hype as most popular Korean dram, you should watch it for experience and who Jan Di and Gun Pyo are, and who F4, fabulous four guys are.  Story takes place in high school where F4 are rich, good looking and bully to the core. One poor girl, stands up to them and 2 guys falls for her from F4. How their love survives between evil mom, memory loss and fiance is what makes it fun.

 

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Queen In Hyun’s Man:

To people who complain that there are not enough hot kisses in Korean drama should watch this drama as it has many passionate kisses between the lead pair. They are dating in real life at the time, so I guess the chemistry shows up on screen. The story takes place in modern time but time traveling is also there. Male lead who is smart, considerate and adapts to modern life quickly. Love story has cute, comedy scenes are there and fun to watch, so go ahead and try it.

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The Heirs:

The Heirs also takes place in high school and stars Lee Min Ho. But unlike Lee Min Ho character from Boys Over Flowers, here Lee Min Ho’s Character Kim Tan is more mature and level headed person, even though he used to be a bully in past. Kim Tan is in California in first few episodes, his English leaves lot to desire but it will not matter. Love story between illegitimate rich son and housekeeper’s daughter is shown in realistic way. Seeing screwed up lives of rich parents and kids made me feel at ease that I am not rich. Watch this series for fun viewing as it is in modern times that we can relate.

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IIjimae:

Unlike other Korean Drama for beginner, this is only Kdrama that is completely takes place in olden time. The reason I picked it here but it story line is similar to Robin Hood. The hero or Iijimae robs and steal to help poor, oppressed people under corrupt lawmakers. We get to see his past story to why he does what he does. There is love from 2 girls that Iljimae has, but does he have time for it? I believe, new Kdrama viewers will love this series even though it is takes place in Joseon era.

Dream-High

Dream High:

Dream high is a feel-good fluff Kdrama that is fun to watch. Six students at Kirin High School have the dream of becoming K-pop idols. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also go through their love life and start to develop feelings for each other. Each one of the students has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, but they strive to debut with the support and guidance of each other. The series was so popular that there is season 2 of Dream High was made with new actors and season 1 actors making a cameos in it.

 

So, pick any one of the drama and start watching Korean Drama, soon you will be viewing more complex and wonderful world of Korean Drama in no time.

My Lovely Kim Sam Soon

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My Lovely Sam Soon Korean Drama Review

This Kdrama Genre is Romance, Comedy with 16 episodes and aired on MBC network from June 2005 to July 2005. Main star cast are, Kim Sun Ah as Kim Sam-soon, Hyun Bin as Hyun Jin-heon, Jung Ryu Won as Yoo Hee-jin and Daniel Henney as Dr. Henry Kim. I liked Hyun Bin since “Millionaire’s First Love” and had seen Daniel Henney in “Seducing Mr. Perfect” and both are great in here as well as female leads.

Plot follows like a quite a few Korean Drama before, poor female leads is too good, gets dumped by boyfriend. She gets in love/marriage contract with rich and jerk male lead, and eventually both fall in love for real. Kim Sam Soon (Kim Sun Ah) is a baker who has a talent in making pastries and cakes. On one day, she caught her boyfriend, Min Hyun Woo (Lee Kyu Han), cheating on her and breaks up on the same night.  By sheer coincidence, Jin Hun needs a baker for his restaurant Bon Appetit and Sam Soon is unemployed. Sam Soon is hired as the restaurant’s chief baker. Nevertheless, they started to have feeling for each other and Sam Soon agreed to post as Jin Hun’s girlfriend so his mother would leave him alone. Things got complicated when Jin Hun’s ex-girlfriend Yoo Hee Jin came back from the States intending to win him back.

It’s a story about a 29-year-old woman named Kim Sam Soon. Prior to turning 30, Sam Soon had basically three goals, i.e. to find love, to officially change her name to Kim Hee-jin and to run a bakery business. She graduated in Paris and was a highly qualified pastry chef, who, has the habit of baking cakes and pastries to relax. Nothing was going right for Sam Soon at the start of the story. Her long-time boyfriend dumped her for a slim, pretty, rich, and younger woman. Worst, people often laughed when she introduce herself. And she was jobless. She lived with her mother and elder sister who returned from Paris after a divorce.

Buy: My Lovely Sam Soon (English Subtitles)

My Lovely Same Soon Korean Drama Trailer

Plot in details: The story starts with Sam Soon’s series of bad luck. Her luck changed when she was offered a job as a pastry chef in an expensive western restaurant called ‘Bon Appetite’. There, she met Hyun Jin-heon who was 3 years younger than her and who was also the owner of the restaurant. Jin-heon, was not a very nice boss and often bully her.

However, forced by desperation for money, Sam Soon approached her boss for a loan. At first he flatly refused. Later he agreed, but on the condition that she agreed to pose as his girlfriend and fiance for the next few months. Sam Soon reluctantly agreed and vowed to pay him back as soon as she could. Jin-heon had his own problems. He was trying to runaway from his mother’s arranged marriage plans. He thought he could convince his mother to stop, thinking that he was already involved in a serious relationship with Sam Soon.

Gradually, Sam Soon developed feelings for Jin-heon and later confessed. Jin-heon, on the other hand, was confused especially when his ex-girlfriend, Lee He-jin, returned from the United States to continue their relationship. Jin-heon refused to admit that he loved Sam Soon and forced himself to start again with Hee-jin. At about the same time, Sam Soon’s ex-boyfriend returned and started to woo her back despite being married. He wanted to make her his mistress.

This drove Jin-heon crazy and he finally understood his feelings for Sam Soon. He confessed to Sam Soon but was too afraid to break-up with Hee-jin. Hee-jin was suffering from an eating disorder and had just recovered from cancer. Obviously, the poor woman found out and fell ill again. It worried Jin-heon but luckily, her hunk of a doctor cum friend Daniel Henny was there to support her. She decided to return to the US with Dennis but requested Jin-heon to accompany her to the US for one last time and stay for a week. Jin-heon was reluctant but went ahead after seeking ‘approval’ from Sam Soon.

Surprisingly, he didn’t return as promised. After waiting around for months, the broken-hearted Sam Soon decided to move on and start a bakery shop together with her sister. When Sam Soon was starting a new relationship with another guy, came back. He claimed that he has been sending postcards to her while traveling alone in the US. Of course Sam Soon accepted him back but the ending is not 100% happy and is a bit disappointing. If you want to know, buy the DVD la.

One outstanding thing about the drama was that Sam Soon’s character wasn’t the typical feminine roles Korean dramas often portray. In fact, she’s quite the opposite. She has bad hair, a bit fat, poor sense of fashion, rough demeanor, often uses rude language and has a really bad temper. It amazes me how an anti-hero character would grow into such a lovable one.

Overall, I’m giving this drama a high score of 8.5/10. It’s highly recommended for those who are desperate for a good laugh. It has many funny scenes that would make your eyes water with laughter. (Source: CheAyu)

This drama won a quite a few awards, such as;

Awards

42ND THE PAEKSANG AWARDS
– Best Drama, My Lovely Sam-Soon
– Best Screenplay, Kim Do Woo
– Most Popular Couple, Hyun Bin, and Kim Sun Ah
– Best Cast, My Lovely Sam-Soon

MBC AWARDS 2005
– New Actor Award, Daniel Henney
– Popularity Award, The Main Couple Hyun Bin and Kim Sun Ah
– Best Couple Award,Hyun Bin and Kim Sun Ah
– Excellence Award , Jung Ryu Won
– Top Excellence Award/ Male: Hyun Bin
– Top Excellence Award/ Female: Kim Sun Ah
– Greatest Award, Kim Sun Ah

SEOUL DRAMA AWARDS 2006
– Best Mini Series, My Lovely Sam-Soon

Buy: My Lovely Sam Soon (English Subtitles)

Queen Inhyun’s Man Korean Drama Review

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Rating:*** (A-)

This is nice romantic korean drama that ran from 18 April 2012 – 7 June 2012. It is 16 episodes long. Plot is not simple and keeps viewers intrigued throughout 16 episodes, it did at least for me. The story flips back and forth from Joseon era to modern korean time 2012 when the series first aired.  Kim Boong-do (Ji Hyun-woo) is a noble-born scholar in 17th century Joseon era and his family’s sole survivor after they were massacred in a conspiracy. Boong-do supports the reinstatement of Queen In-hyun, who was deposed due to scheming by royal concubine Lady Jang.

Meanwhile in modern-day Seoul in 2012, Choi Hee-jin (Yoo In-na), an unknown and upcoming actress, lands her big break when she is cast as Queen In-hyun in the television drama “New Jang Heebin”. Due to a mysterious talisman, Boong-do time-travels to 2012, where he crosses paths with Hee-jin and falls in love. I like the part where Choi Hee Jin’s friend and manager keeps asking same questions to Kim Boong do as history keeps changing by the action they have taken.  While I do not think Hee Jin is not the “most beautiful person in world” as she names herself in Boong Do’s cell phone but it makes me chuckle at cuteness.

Of course, there are a few plot holes towards the end of series such as why talisman changes (without giving away spoilers for those who have not yet seen it) sometimes I just take happy ending for sake of feeling romantic or good as sometimes dramas do not follow logic but they entertain us. Quote from the drama’s narration – “A chance encounter that started with a gap in time… that meeting already ended a year ago. Our reunion now is not because of a mysterious talisman written by a monk, but because of a string of memories that belongs only to us both. Now begins our second encounter. Now, I am his lifesaver. The price to pay? All he has to do is stay forever by my side.” May explain the last episode time travel via cell phone was possible, may be?

There are a few dramas  that I can re-watch and this is certainly one of it. It has history, romance, mystery and of course time travel unlike in roof top prince, where time traveling was not frequent as in this one.

During filming, actors who played the lead roles actually fell in love and after much gossips and Hyun Woo and Yoon In Na admitted to be couple. I like sometimes that romantic couple I rooted for in the series were actually in love and it comes across the scenes.

Queen In Hyun’s Kissing Scene (English Subtitle)

Cast:

Ji Hyun-woo – Kim Boong-do
Yoo In-na – Choi Hee-jin
Kim Jin-woo – Han Dong-min, Hee-jin’s ex-boyfriend
Ga Deuk-hee – Jo Soo-kyung, Hee-jin’s friend and manager
Jin Ye-sol – Yoon-wol
Uhm Hyo-seop – Minister Min
Lee Kwan-hoon – Ja-soo
Ji Nam-hyuk – Han-dong
Park Young-rin – Yoon Na-jung
Jo Dal-hwan – Chun-soo
Seo Woo-jin – King Sukjong
Kim Hae-in – Queen In-hyun
Choi Woo-ri – Jang Hee-bin
Kim Won-hae – Eunuch Hong

 Memorable Quotes from the Series:

Hee Jin: „Wait, don’t go. Don’t…go. If you go now, I might never see you again… Don’t go. After trying so hard to save your life, why are you treating me like this? Didn’t you say you’d be responsible for me? Why are you not honouring your promise? Don’t go…“

Boong Do: „I didn’t know it myself, but I think I just might be a player. This I admit.“

Boong Do: „But why is my letter still around? How?“
Hee Jin: „Minister Nam kept this in his possession. Last month, his descendants officially disclosed it.“
Boong Do: „How can they disclose someone else’s private letter?! It has to be destroyed.“
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Hee Jin: „That letter is now in the museum. Now, you definitely can’t destroy it. Unless the museum collapses.“

Where you can watch it with english subtitle?

You can watch it on Drama Fever or buy DVD of Queen In Hyun’s Man with English subtitle on Amazon so you can rewatch, freeze your favorite scenes like I do.

If you are interested in Queen In Hyun’s Man’s Original Sound Track which is wonderful by the way, you can get it here: Queen In Hyun’s Man OST.

[English Lyrics] Queen In Hyun’s Man OST Part 3-Another Time, The Same Sky

OST: Queen In Hyun’s Man OST MV: My Man Kim Boong Do

Queen In-hyun’s Man OST
No. Title Lyrics Music Artist Length
1. “인현왕후의 남자 – Title” (Queen In-hyun’s Man – Title) Kim Hee-jin, Nam Hye-seung
2. “같은 하늘 다른 시간에” (Same Sky, Different Time) Jo Hyun-joo Kim Do-hyeong Joo Hee of 8Eight 03:40
3. “꼭 한번” (Just Once) Young Jae, Min Yeon-jae Young Jae, Bae Gi-pil Young Jae of 4Men 03:35
4. “그대가 왔죠” (You Came) Jung Ho-gyu, Pabaki, Mr.Sync Jung Ho-gyu, Pabaki, Mr.Sync Kim So-jung 03:10
5. “지금 만나러 갑니다” (I’m Going to Meet You) 노는 어린이 노는 어린이 Deok Hwan 03:18
6. “시간을 넘어” (Leap Through Time) Kim Hee-jin, Nam Hye-seung 이크거북
7. “같은 하늘 다른 시간에 (Inst.)” (Same Sky, Different Time (Inst.)) Kim Do-hyeong 03:40
8. “꼭 한번 (Inst.)” (Just Once (Inst.)) Young Jae, Bae Gi-pil 03:35
9. “내 남자, 김붕도” (My Man, Kim Boong-do) Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee 이크거북

Get Queen In Hyun’s Man Korean Drama with English Subtitle

Get Queen In Hyun’s Man Original Sound Track Music