Venus

 I see fireworks, as Venus hangs low on the horizon.

Canopus

She glanced up and searched the night sky. A solitary star twinkled in the southern part of the heavens. She smiled and said, "Canopus, I see you."

Smile

Smile (Glee Cast Version) - Cover of Charlie Chaplin Song 

Music by Charles Chaplin, Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

Smile, though your heart is aching 

Smile, even though it’s breaking 

When there are clouds in the sky 

You’ll get by 

If you smile through your pain and sorrow 

Smile and maybe tomorrow 

You’ll see the sun come shining through 

For you... 

Light up your face with gladness 

Hide every trace of sadness 

Although a tear may be ever so near 

That’s the time you must keep on trying 

Smile what’s the use of crying 

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile 

If you just...SMILE 

That's the time you must keep on trying 

Smile what's the use of crying 

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile 

If you just... SMILE 

Smile, though your heart is aching 

Smile, even though it’s breaking 

When there are clouds in the sky 

That’s the time you must keep on trying 

Smile what’s the use of crying 

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile 

If you just...SMILE 

You’ll find that life is still worthwhile 

If you just... Smile... 

Smile

Lyrics by Musixmatch

Pandemic Watch - Hwarang

"You can catch ten thieves hiding in the mountain, but you can't catch the one thief in your heart." -  Sam Maek-Jong 

Introduction

 

Image source

First impression — 2016

When Hwarang first came out in 2016, I watched the first episode but did not finish the entire season. I think it was partly due to my ignorance of Hwarang’s historical background and the fact that I thought the producers of the K-drama came up with the idea as an excuse to bring together a group of handsome actors and singers in one show. On hindsight, even if that were the case, that should have been okay too. I mean I did watch Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo that year :P

Second impression — 2020

Fast forward four years later and in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, as usual, I was channel surfing to see if there was anything interesting to watch. It so happened the KBS channel was showing the first episode of Hwarang and perhaps out of boredom, I decided to check it out since I had watched it before. Strangely enough, I found the first episode intriguing enough when I watched it the second time. The disclaimer at the beginning of the episode must have contributed to the experience as well: “This drama is a work of fiction based on real facts of Hwarang in the era of King Jinheung of Silla.” I had heard of Silla as one of the kingdoms of ancient Korea, so the fact that the drama is based on history made me curious.

I need to figure things out myself

The COVID-19 era we are all going through at the moment has made us yearn for the good old days without social distancing, various SOPs and travel restrictions. I'm sure I'm not the only one who seeks nostalgia for a less stressful time. I have been watching old K-dramas and sitcoms (some as old as 10 years back back to the ones that are more recent, like five years ago). Once there was nothing to watch, I searched for a book that would transport me to a magical place and this naturally meant Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Umareru Negai (生まれる 願がい)

Performed by: Uta Airi
Fruits Basket 2019 Insert Song
Lyric credit: Alice

くらやみのなかをさまようあるいて
I wondered aimlessly in the dark

こきょうさえわつれていた
And even forgot how to breathe

いっぽうのみちじゃないって
Even though I know there’s not a single path

わかってもみょうことで
I could take, I still felt lost

どうまわりさいもなつすかしい
I miss the days of when I could still go for a detour

だれもがおもいえなくしあわせにみるれなくて
Everyone wishes to be touched

なみだしては、またすすんでいく
While crying, I’ll continue to move forward

やさしいそのことばで
The words of kindness

ここらがあたたかくて
That makes your heart feel warm

かんじてるよ
I can feel it

ひとりじゃないこと
That I am not alone



ちっぽうけなせかいまどのむこうにわ
Beyond the small, window of the world

ひかりがひろがっていた
Light is pouring out

こんなんをのりこえて
Overcoming the difficulties and then

えがおにかえていける
Turning into something you can smile about

そんあきみにあえてうれしい
I’m glad I met that kind you

うまれるねがいのなか
Inside this wish that’s been born

かがやきをますすえき
An even brighter future is waiting

みにくいかんじょうも
Even the ugly feelings

ほらきえていく
Are disappearing, you see?

このてにみちびかれて
That hand that guided me to reach

たどりついたこたえば
The answer I was looking for

しんじられる
I’ll believe in it

どこにもいかないと
That even I “can go anywhere”



なんかいもなんかいもしゅっぱいしたって
Failing over and over again

どれもぜんぶたいせつなおもいで
Even those were precious memories

だいじょうぶそれそれのしあわせがまってるから
It’s okay, because a whole lot of happiness is waiting out there

ここからまたはじまる
I’ll start all over again from there

だれもがねがいいえなくしあわせにふれたくて
Everyone wishes to be touched by the kind of happiness they hope to feel

なみだしては、またすすんでいく
Even as they cry, they’ll keep moving forward once again

やさしいそのことばで
Your kind words that

ここらがあたたかくて
Can’t help but warm my heart

かんじてるよ
I can clearly feel it

ひとりじゃないこと
That I’m no longer alone.

Ever the stargazer

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash.

Photo is for illustration purpose only.

I actually woke up (on my own) at 5.33am today. I had set my alarm at 5.40am to wake up to see the Lyrid meteor shower but in the middle of the night I figured I might not wake up early. Since I was up, I played with my phone for a while and then went to the see the night sky from the vicinity of the study room. The sky was cloudy at the bottom part close to the horizon but the upper-middle part was clear. I did not see any meteors no matter how hard I strained my eyes but I did see some planets and stars.