Top 10 Favorite MV/Teasers of 2017

this is originally an annual thread i posted on twitter at the end of every year, basically to sum up my best picks of mvs/teasers that got released during that period. so without further ado, here's my top 10 clips of 2017 (not in chronological order):

1. dont wanna cry (svt)
i think its safe to say that the entire al1 project has been one of vm's best works to date. love the solemn atmosphere from the long shots which creates a fitting complement to the comeback theme itself. it expresses longing, loneliness, desperation, but also hope to keep going. 

2. flight log arrival trailer (got7)

A CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE? the combination of lush, dazzling landscape shots and existential crisis creates one whole dreamy yet eerie vibe. where the oscar at tho.

3. yes no maybe (suzy)

a heavily wong kar wai inspired work; evoking 90s hong kong cinema style via intentionally grainy film textures, blur effects and saturated color schemes to portray her emotions. nice one!

4. singing in the rain (jinsoul)

queen of aquatic life, queen of metallic eyebrows, queen of dancing on the water bc walking on water is too old school.

5. the.the.the (yongguk & shihyun)

clever play with shadows and lighting as subtle expression for night ambience, also the usage of boxed set and symmetrical shapes feel so modern and visually pleasing.

6. gashina (sunmi)

this year's theme song slash liberating anthem truly comes in the finest form. from léon: the professional reference to creepyyeha body suit? iconic!

7. dream in a dream (ten)

more like art within an art? the visual execution lives up the title perfectly, the dreamy colors and smoky effects make u feel like drowning in a state of peaceful subconscious. also ten is a king and thats that!

8. move (taemin)

this goes without saying i believe. like whom else got the nerve to pull a margiela-esque mask in a sci fi dystopian landscape? taemin is truly da shit.

9. peek a boo (red velvet)

ive said this once but imma say it again that if i were to direct an mv this is the closest outcome as it may get. we love horror b-movies archetypes and the concept of man sacrifice for sisterhood.

10. ending credit (uhm junghwa)

last but not least the queen herself! the velvet body suit itself is enough to bring this work of art into my list and thats all about it lads!

BTS Wings Tour Jakarta 2017

after a long awaited moment i finally got to attend bts concert in my hometown! ive been waiting for this opportunity since i skipped the whole epilogue tour last year so im glad that i eventually got the chance to see them. honestly it was one of the best concerts ever but sadly it also left a bad taste in my mouth thanks to the lack of proper management by the event organizer. 

long story short this experience convinced me that bts pretty much deserve to be considered as top class performers. hell, theyre even much more than the billboard artist title that theyre currently holding. despite several technical issues they managed to keep the good mood alive for the entire show. the members' high spirited nature keeps the enthusiasm going that the fans would not stop singing every song on top of their lungs despite how crowded and messy the situation is. for real, ive attended numerous kpop concerts but the audience's singing power at wings jakarta is *thumbs up emoji*

here are some of the fancams that i took that night. its far from perfect bc of the chaotic crowd that kept on pushing here and there but yeah you can clearly hear how well they resonate with the fans through the fanchants and sing-a-long. its almost like an out of body experience.

SPRING DAY

CYPHER PART 4

also a special one of jhope because he was really glowing in person! everyone in bts is crazy beautiful in real life but jhope is something else, his passion is radiating and its really wonderful to see!

MAMA

ive said this on twitter but im just gonna say it again; bts are god tier performers for making this poorly managed concert a rewarding experience to say the least. and its true. their hardwork to sincerely give their all in every concert is really admirable and its relieving to see that theyre harvesting the result. finally.

Mujigae

finally another food post after a while! last week my friends recommended me mujigae, a casual korean restaurant located at kemang village. according to them this place got a pretty good range of decent korean dishes with a very affordable price. well, since ive been constantly craving for korean food lately so i decided to give it a shot. 

living up to the 'casual' theme, the restaurant gives off a friendly vibe with vibrant colors and fun atmosphere. its way different from most korean restaurants that tend to implement a more conventional approach by emphasizing traditional ornaments. its also obvious that mujigae's target audience falls into the younger spectrum since it really values digital approach in their system. upon entering the place, i was greeted by giant LCD screens that are hanging on the walls. they either showed photos of the customers there (yes, we can take a photo at our table and it will be shown on the screens!) or popular korean variety shows such as running man. not only that, they also provide an ipad on each table where we could order directly through it and even request our favorite kpop songs. how cool is that?!

after browsing through the menus, i decided to order some of their specialties that caught my eyes. the first one is budae jigae (47k). this famous korean army stew has an appetizing look with boiling, reddish soup that i assume comes from the classic gochujang and kimchi. it consists of ramen noodle, luncheon meat, macaroni, beef sausage, tofu, and vegetables. the taste was okay, though personally i think it would be better if the soup had a heavier 'kick'. the flavor falls kinda flat in my mouth, but the variety of ingredients made up for it.

the next menu is the must-try topokki. i tried beef sausage topokki (40k) that comes with generous toppings and sauce. the mixture of sweet and savory flavors from the topokki sauce tastes exceptionally delicious with a hint of spicy aftertaste. the dish is also topped with crunchy crackers for a fun, modified experience in enjoying this famous korean dish.

considering the dining session wont be complete without rice, i ordered kimchi bokumbap (29k) and cheese bibimbap (39k). to be honest, i always prefer fried rice with a drier texture, so this kimchi bokumbap is right up my alley! the seasonings also seeped through it just fine, allowing me to enjoy it with other menus as well without overpowering the flavors. same goes with the cheese bibimbap. although the gochujang comes in a sauce package, it blends wonderfully with the rice, eggs, meat, and vegetables. the flavors played together well, with a light smoky taste in every bite. yum!

mujigae also serves korean fried chicken, which is one of their best selling menus. there are 3 flavors available: original, soy garlic, and honey butter. i tried the original korean fried chicken (25k) and gotta admit its pretty good! its coated with a lovely amount of sauce and the texture is crunchy and juicy at the same time. no wonder its everyone's favorite here. 

to top it off, a chocolate banana milk with nutella pudding (21k) is a must! it works both as a beverage and dessert because its refreshing and silky sweet. the pudding has a very smooth texture that allows you to gulp it within a slurp. mujigae has other signature drinks such as banana milk & matcha pudding and matcha milk tea & asuka bean that look tempting as well. considering banana milk is a popular drink in korea, its such a nice move for them to mix it with other toppings as a variation.

 

overall my experience in mujigae has been pleasantly fun. its a nice place to visit for a casual hang out or even to enjoy some quality korean food with a friendly price. i wouldnt compare it to other korean restaurants out there because as i previously mentioned, mujigae has its own audience category that sets it apart from the rest. i will surely visit it some time again though and hopefully they expand the menu range by then so i can try many other lovely dishes!

Mujigae

Lippo Mall Kemang Village 3rd Floor

Phone: (021) 29528391

Opening hours: 10AM - 10PM