“Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” (related in Al-Hakim)
Thousands of years ago, several young men of faith fled persecution and took shelter in a cave. In its darkness, they found illumination, and Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, immortalized their faith for generations to come in the Qur’an with a Surah of such wisdom that the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam, recommended it be read on at least a weekly basis.
A means of protection from the darkness of Dajjal himself, Surah Al-Kahf alerts its readers of the very weaknesses within themselves that contribute to the chaotic world that heralds his arrival. Throughout its parables, from the companions of the Cave, to the story of Musa and Al-Khidr, to the expeditions of Dhul-Qarnain, it portrays the many realities of life through the lens of belief in the oneness of Allah. It is an examination of the human condition, contrasting between opposites such as powerlessness and strength, arrogance and humility, and ingratitude and thankfulness, while linking all these states to the presence of the Creator in one’s hearts and actions.
In our current times, where the presence of evil in the world makes some question religion itself, Surah Al-Kahf answers the questions of the skeptics with the clarity of faith and demonstration of the Measure of Allah in the world. Outlining both the importance of the external dimension of the Sacred Law and the internal dimension of Tawheed in our lives, it presents its readers with a compelling look into the relationship between our worldly life, the Unseen and the Hereafter.
Like those youth who retreated from tribulation into the cave generations ago, we all face challenges in life and faith, and it is only in the cave within where we can find peace and security.
Audrey Hepburn in the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
“Moon River” is a song from one of my favorite classic movies, Breakfast at Tiffany‘s. It is a romantic comedy film that was released in 1961. There was a time during my undergrad. university years when I would sit and watch old movies when I couldn’t go to sleep. This was one of them. Furthermore, Audrey Hepburn, who starred as Holly Golightly in the film, is a classic icon and is one of my favorite Hollywood actresses.
I really like the lyrics of “Moon River“:
Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style someday
You dream maker, you heartbreaker
Wherever you’re going I’m going your way
Two drifters off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end
Waiting ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river and me
The following video includes the classic opening for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s a memorable scene that has been incorporated in a couple of American TV serials as well.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is mainly about a young New York socialite. This is a basic description of what the movie is about:
Holly Golightly (AUDREY HEPBURN) lives in a brownstone on Manhattan’s swank East Side. Totally madcap, she has a partially furnished apartment, owns a cat with no name, gets rid of the “mean reds” by visiting Tiffany’s jewelry store, and is forever misplacing her door key, much to the dismay of her upstairs neighbor Mr. Yunioshi (MICKEY ROONEY), a Japanese photographer. Holly makes her living in two ways: she receive $50 from her gentlemen escorts whenever she needs powder room money, and she is paid $100 for each weekly trip she makes to Sing Sing Prison, where she visits Sally Tomato (ALAN REED), an ex-mobster. One day Paul Varjak (GEORGE PEPPARD), a young writer who is supported by an older woman nicknamed “2E” (PATRICIA NEAL), comes into Holly’s life. — IMBDb
Another movie of Audrey Hepburn’s that I enjoyed watching was Roman Holiday. What can I say? Classic movies…they are at a whole different level.
This is a handmade wooden dragon paper lamp that I have in my room. It is made out of Saa paper and has a wooden frame. I’ve had this for a couple of years. My mum bought it for me. It looks really cool when the lights in the room are off and this is the only thing that emits light. The red paper and black art on it creates a warm feeling and nice effect. Not to mention, it also adds an Asian touch to my room.
I went through a phase in which I used to love anything that had dragons on it: decor pieces, images that I had stuck on my wall, bandanas, T-shirts, a chain bracelet, etc. Of course, my favorite mythological creature has always been the dragon xD Hence, the handmade wooden dragon paper lamp is not the only thing that has a dragon on it in my room =P
This is what the handmade wooden dragon paper lamp actually looks like from a distance.
Handmade wooden dragon paper lamp from a distance
Looking at the above pic., one can also see that I have colored glass bottles, which have stars and moons designed on them. Too bad that the design on the one in the above pic. can’t be seen very well. A random point that I need to mention is that the rubber lid for the glass bottle out of the four that I have, is missing. As a result, a mini-Australian flag has been placed as its lid for quite some time. Hahahaha! xD
Other than that, I wonder if there is a handmade wooden cherry blossom paper lamp that I can buy. I think that would look very pretty. I love cherry blossoms!
How I miss playing video games and flipping through my video game magazines… My tomboy phase =P I would love to re-live those days, though – the lovely weekend mornings, curtains apart, sunlight seeping though the windows, controller in hand, and living the video game life and feeling immune to the world around.
As one can see, I used to collect video game magazines. It used to be fun until I realized what a waste of money magazines are =P The Internet has made it much more efficient for reading reviews and looking for info. on any topic of interest for free.
A collage of photographs that I have taken of various objects at home… There’s a lot more, but I’m just placing this one here for now.
A collage of my photographs of home decor
Top Row(from left to right): large Chinese fan, Chinese scroll with artwork on the Li River (I bought this when I went to Guilin, China in 2006), painting of Islamic architecture (I think it looks like the interior of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain), decor near the entrance of home.
Middle Row(from left to right): large wooden work with patterned engraving, Middle Eastern decor in the main lounge, Koala Bear clinging onto a plant (hahaha, yes we have these mini-koala bear souvenirs that can cling onto things…we decided to make them cling onto the plants in our house xD), Italian love knot Murano glass decor from Venice, Italy.
Bottom Row(from left to right): Glass decor of a horse, Eiffel Tower souvenir in the glass showcase, more Middle Eastern decor in the main lounge, and Sleeping Beauty Castle in a glass with glitter (bought it from Disneyland in L.A., California – it plays music that makes one go into la-la land as well =P ^^).
Kris chilling with his drink, music, and book on the way to Guangzhou – very cute >.< (Credit: To the rightful owner)
Let me guess…one might be thinking why this post starts off with the word, “flying”, in its title? Interestingly, the reason is that Kris was flying in the sky at the same time as me while I was traveling back home on November 15th and there were a lot of incidents that correlate with that I’ve been discussing in my blog posts and in the comments section with friends. Coincidence? Maybe a few, but the rest…I don’t think so.
What’s surprising is that I noticed on November 13th that Kris had gone back home to Guangzhou in China to see his relatives or close ones on a break and that he also traveled alone. It’s also alarming considering the fact that in my post, EXO-M: 7 Months, 41 Trips…and Counting, which was published on November 10th and before I left on my journey on November 15th, was on the number of airport trips EXO-M has had for work reasons. The post also focused on Kris‘ airport fashion and me stating that I am going back home, which is in Saudi Arabia, for the break after one whole year. To be more precise, this is what I had mentioned about EXO-M in the post:
Just remember that, even though it seems amazing that they have traveled 41 times within these few months, they travel for work purposes. This means they are not traveling for holiday purposes like most of us do…Speaking of this, I’m going to be on a hiatus. I am traveling back home, iA, and I need to do some packing. I have a very long flight ahead of me. It has almost been a year since I’ve seen home. The comforts of home…miss it! ^^
Two days later, after I had published the before-mentioned post, I see Kris traveling to his hometown, Guangzhou, for a short break and that too, without a manager.
On an even more alarming note, I wrote, “I IZ FLYING….Wheeeeee,” on Kris‘ RenRen just hours before he had a flight to Guangzhou. I literally had no idea that he would be flying back home. Hence, my expression when I saw photos of him at the airport in Guangzhou on his own was: o____O Strange coincidence… Am I good at foreshadowing of what is to happen in the future? I really don’t know, but many things that I have mentioned in the past have come true.
Despite being tired, Kris still smiles ^^ (Credit: KrisCharming)
Apart from this coincidence, I saw pictures of Kris with coffee from Starbucks in his hand and then the surprising pictures of him at the airport in Guangzhou and him carrying Ace, the alpaca plushie aka Dui Zhang‘s son, in his bag a couple of hours later (I wonder if he had shown Ace to Aunty Wu and gave it to her as a gift when he reached home). It looked like Kris left Seoul early morning. He appeared very tired =( He probably didn’t get his 8 hours of beauty sleep =P Why do I have a feeling that he probably stayed awake at night and was busy packing? Generally, when I see people in the kind of tired state that Kris was in, it makes me upset for some reason. I get this notion that the guys in EXO are working too hard for their comeback these days. Sometimes I get angry as well – angry at the company. Honestly, I don’t mind if EXO‘s comeback is late. As long as they get enough rest, it’s fine.
Although Kris‘ stay in Guangzhou was short, I’m glad that he finally had some freedom to be able to enjoy the comforts of home.
As for me, my flight was on November 15th around 6 A.M. I left the apartment at 3 A.M. and on the previous day, there was a total solar eclipse, which I had missed out on seeing because I was sleeping xD
My flight had a stop-over in Dubai and the flight from Sydney to Dubai was around 14 hours long. The plane had three seats on the left and right and four seats in the middle. My brother and I sat on the left-hand side of the plane. I sat in the aisle seat, whereas my brother was in the middle seat. Of course, the window seat next to my brother’s was empty for a while and I had completely forgotten that someone would be sitting there.
So what happened next?
Out of all the people in the world, an Australian guy named Chris/Kris, who looked like he was in his early-mid 20s, had to sit in the window seat in the same row as my brother and I on the plane. My reaction was: o___O As if the before-mentioned incident of me traveling back home and Kris traveling back home as well was already not a big coincidence.
Anyhow, my brother and I were about to get out of our seats to make way for Chris/Kris, but before we even got up, he got to his place within two seconds ’cause he had really long legs. As soon as he sat down, he confidently introduced himself and said, “Hi! My name is Chris/Kris,” and politely extended his hand to shake hands with my brother. My brother mentioned his name and then Chris/Kris saw me and asked, “And you?” I told him my name and then we both shook hands.
The Chris/Kris on the plane looked like he wanted to have a conversation. I was ready to talk; I enjoy having conversations with people, but since my brother was really tired and put the hood of his hoodie over his head and closed his eyes to go off to sleep, I thought I should keep quiet. So instead of talking, I plugged in the given headphones and listened to K-Pop music that was available on the plane. However, I later switched to listening to music on my iPhone, as I had a more up-to-date list of songs. Before I knew it, I was asleep. I slept throughout most of the flight, so the journey didn’t seem so long.
When I reached Saudi Arabia, my mum later asked me who sat with us on the plane from Sydney to Dubai and I said, “A guy named Chris/Kris.” My mum laughed and mentioned, “I’m sure you must have started talking to him.” I replied, “No…I was about to,” and then I stated the reason why I didn’t. My mum answered, “Well, since you can’t talk to the Kris that you’re a fan of…this was a good opportunity to talk to the Chris/Kris that was sitting with you.” She had a point…hahahaha! xD
Kris chilling out with fans at the departure lounge in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as he receives their gifts. (Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
Before reaching Saudi Arabia, however, I had a three hour stay in Dubai and as I waited in the lounge in front of the departure gate after having lunch, I decided to check Tumblr and Facebook on my iPhone. All of a sudden I saw pictures of Kris at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on his way back to Seoul and a notice that he was going to arrive in Seoul at 9:30 KSA time. So Dui Zhang and I were at airports in entirely different countries and we were also flying in the sky at the same time but not together…hahahahaha! xD My flight from Dubai to Saudi Arabia was only 40-something minutes long and I’m guessing a flight from Guangzhou to Seoul is around 2 hours (P.S. I’ve been to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on a school trip back in early 2006. It’s a nice airport).
As for Dui Zhang on his way back to Seoul, I had the opportunity to see pictures, watch one or two videos, and read a few fan accounts of his interaction with fans at the airport in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport while I was at Dubai International Airport xD How…interesting. The most hilarious part was seeing pictures of Dui Zhang in the departure lounge with fans surrounding him as I was waiting in the departure lounge with empty seats nearby and everyone else in their own little world xD
This makes me wonder…you know how people talk about parallel worlds? Well…what if you were KIND OF living a parallel life as someone else but your paths have not crossed yet? Hmm. Life can be so strange at times. I should probably stop being philosophical =P
Anyhow, I’m not really surprised by Kris‘ lovely interactions with fans at the airport that day. I have known that he has been working hard to be a good role model and set an example for others for quite some time. He is definitely getting inspiration from somewhere =P Many of the things that I have previously mentioned in my blog have pretty much turned into reality and I will state which points in a while here.
A fan receives White Rabbit Creamy Candy from Kris at the airport (Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
What I found really surprising and amusing is that Kris gave out White Rabbit Creamy Candy to some of his fans.
Remember when I jokingly mentioned in the post, EXO’s Kris Wu – The “Mysterious” Member, which was posted on March 6th, that the reason for Kris‘ stern expression and no smiley face is that someone must have stolen or taken away his candy? Well, it seems as though nobody stole candy from Kris this time and that he had plenty of candy to hand out, hence the bright smiley face at the airport he had that day xD I wonder what was going through Kris‘ mind at that time that he decided to hand out candy to fans. Hasn’t anyone ever heard to never accept candy from strangers? ‘Cause the last time I refused to take candy from a stranger was when I was on a plane and this was when I was around the age of 7.
I heard that White Rabbit Creamy Candy is really popular in China. It sounds very similar to Ding Dong Bubble Gum, which is a well-known candy in Pakistan. The cat mascot is rather famous xD
Ding Dong Bubble Gum – famous candy in Pakistan
Speaking of this, China kind of reminds me of Pakistan at times. No wonder why they have strong alliances with one another! Apart from that, Seoul is an upgraded version of the city, Karachi (this is one of the cities that I am from), in Pakistan. South Korea even copied Karachi’s “Five-Year Plan” for economic development and the World Financial Center in Seoul is modeled after Karachi too, but this was during the time when Karachi was regarded as the future New York City of Asia.
I guess things sort of changed in Karachi as time went on, but that’s an entirely different story all together and involves a lot of in-depth information on the political situation over there that I don’t have the patience to talk about at the moment. My uncles often have hours and hours of debate over a cup of chai on Pakistan’s political situation. It’s quite interesting.
Kris with his White Rabbit Creamy Candy xD (Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
On the other hand, one of my lecturers in my class stated that I should be doing public relations work for my country so that I can improve the nation’s image. I think it sounds like a good idea. My friend from Changsha said that she wants everyone to know about Pakistan ’cause she finds Pakistani culture to be very vibrant, states that the traditional outfits that Pakistani people wear are unique, and she loves the country’s food a lot. She even made a couple of her Chinese friends try Pakistani food for the first time and they really loved it…and let me just mention that our food is pretty spicy for those that try it for the first time. Then again, people from Changsha or the Hunan Province are known for eating spicy food, so it’s probably not something that they would have to get used to ^^
Now moving onto Kris‘ beautiful moments with fans at the airport in Guangzhou on his way back to Seoul…I will be quoting comments from various posts in my blog and comparing them to some of those beautiful moments that eventually occurred. It should be noted that here, I’ll be using fan account descriptions, fan taken pictures and gifs., and fan cam. video captures on that day for comparison. (NOTE: All pictures, gifs., and videos belong to their respective owners…there was a problem in placing the credits underneath each medium. I deeply apologize about this).
KRIS SMILING AND WAVING AT FANS AND FAN CAMERAS
BEFORE…
I’m really happy that he (Kris) has become more comfortable around the public and has gained confidence in being able to express himself better….I know that a couple of people like him more now that they have seen his gentle, soft, and “angelic” side. I suppose he was quite nervous during the showcase days and decided to keep a straight face so that others do not notice. Due to his nervousness and the many thoughts that must have been running through his mind, I think he must have had a difficult time looking at the audience with a warm smile. For instance, in one part of the showcase in China when the members of EXO were walking off the stage, Kris waved to the fans but his face was turned the other way, which many would probably see as a very rude thing to do ’cause one is supposed to look at the person or crowd while waving. LuHan did the same with his heart formation but I can tell that he was shy too. As mentioned before, the members of EXO are much more comfortable in facing the crowd now. — Me (Dui Zhang Kris – From EXO’s Showcase to 3 Months of Debut [POST], July 7th, 2012)
Kris was in a good mood today, walking slowly and told the fans to be careful in Cantonese. Even bowed 90 degrees for the entire crowd. — (Credit: EXOPERÚ)
There’s something really honest and pure about the way he smiles at his fans. — (Credit: wu-fan.tumblr.com)
KRIS WANTING TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE FANS
BEFORE…
I’ve seen Siwon and Zhou Mi take photos with fans. I wish Kris and the rest of the members of EXO could do that too. Actually, I’ve seen Baekhyun take photos with fans at Disneyland and Lay has taken a photo with a fan at Disneyland AND one of the SMTOWN concerts. I think Lay is pretty relaxed about taking photos with fans, but you will have to ask when their manager is not around. Even though there might be a slim chance, I would still ask Kris for a photo. At least I would know that I tried =P If Kris considers his fans as friends, then he should take a photo with his friends, like friends normally do…kekeke! xD — Me (Kris and the Alpaca, Vintage Kris, and Discussion about K-Pop in General [COMMENT], November 3rd, 2012)
AFTER…
拉麵_Ramyun@weibo:Kris was too nice. After he checked in he wanted to take a group photo with the fans, but it became too crowded so it became unfeasible. He kept on telling fans that he will come back to Guangzhou. — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
KRIS TALKING TO FANS AND STATING, “WE ARE TOGETHER!”
BEFORE…
Today is the present and now we see smiley Kris ^^ However, like you…it would be nice to see how Kris truly is. He actually seems really down-to-Earth and talkative when he is just himself. I wonder how interesting it would be to have a conversation with him…but it’s sad that that can’t really happen ’cause the entertainment world draws a line between a celebrity from the general public and almost makes it seem like there is some kind of hierarchy in society -_- As much as we like to say that he and the rest are humans like us, the entertainment world that they are in does not think that way. The ones pulling the strings above want them to be seen as someone more important than we are and are the ones that draw this line or division. — Me (My Last Post on Dui Zhang Kris: HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRIS! [COMMENT], November 6th, 2012)
By the way, did you see pictures of Kris shopping in Myeongdong today? He had a Zara shopping bag in his hand. The pics. were up on Tumblr. I couldn’t help but giggle. Zara is one of my favorite stores ^^ Kris and Zara… xD Why is it so hard for me to digest this? Let us all go shopping together. Wheeee! Hahaha! Kris – jjang! — Me (EXO Kris’ Unique Style at the Korea-China Music Festival [COMMENT], September 1st, 2012)
AFTER…
惊蛰是黑皇后@weibo: Honestly speaking, Kris today… I have not seen an idol like him in my whole life. Seriously! Joking with fans… when asked to speak Cantonese he would speak Cantonese…bowing… bought a 2000+RMB suitcase to carry all the gifts from fans… changing T-shirt like he was playing a game… when asked for an autograph he would autograph everything without hesitation. The most stunning part was, because there were too many fans surrounding you, the airport staff came to check on the situation, you told them that “We are together.” Just for these words, fanning you is worthy. — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
拉麵_Ramyun@weibo: Today while hearing you speak Cantonese I felt that you were so friendly and down-to-earth. If you have time come back to Guangzhou more. Today there were so many fans, you are certainly a highlight of Guangzhou. I really feel that… you are so good looking, skin is great too… — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
KRIS ASKING EVERYONE TO TAKE TURNS AT GETTING HIS AUTOGRAPH
After he was done changing clothes he told everyone to take turns at getting his autograph, he said: “then I’ll sign for everyone.” He also said that his signature would have looked a lot better if not for his trembling hands today~ There were too many gifts, he started the autographs with “to:” and wrote a few encouraging words, there was so much love. I felt so much warmth today, and when staff came to question fans about the situation, he would protect everyone by saying “they are with me, they are with me ..” he kept protecting everyone … — (Credit: Kris_Perfect, Translated by: heecups.tumblr.com)
KRIS GIVING OUT AUTOGRAPHS GENEROUSLY
BEFORE…
Another important thing, which is a little more serious from what I have just mentioned, I saw a gif. of one of EXO-M‘s managers hitting a fan boy because the fan boy wanted an autograph from Kris. I was quite angry for a while when I saw that. Is this the way SME’s managers are supposed to treat fans that make the effort of purchasing their music artists’ albums and supporting them or coming all the way to the airport to greet them? That fan boy wasn’t doing any harm at all. Poor guy…if I had a manager like that, I would have definitely said that what he did was wrong and I would have given an autograph to that fan boy so that he wouldn’t feel bad. At least he would have a smile on his face rather than resentment while going back home. — Me (Kris and the Alpaca, Vintage Kris, and Discussion about K-Pop in General [POST], November 2nd, 2012)
From the beginning I start watching EXOM’s interviews I kind of feel like are what they saying true? Why are they always saying good things about each other and it just seems perfect too perfect. Not that its bad but come on of course there will be bad times or sth. That’s natural. This makes me have a lot of questions about Kris. Because he is not allowed to show his real self. SME is too strict. This would probably be why No Min Woo left SME. There are a ton of video of him that really shows the real him and what he is like. He even stopped by the airport to give autographs to fans. How sweet! — Josialyn (Kris and the Alpaca, Vintage Kris, and Discussion about K-Pop in General [COMMENT], November 2nd, 2012)
About Kris…I think he is trying to be the best that he can be – to be a good role model and leader. I can see that and I know that he is working hard, but I hope he doesn’t lose himself in the process…as in entirely turn into someone that he really isn’t. Him wanting to be a stronger and better person is what I admire about him…I really like it when music artists are down-to-earth with everyone around them, just like you said about No Min Woo giving out autographs to people at the airport. — Me (Kris and the Alpaca, Vintage Kris, and Discussion about K-Pop in General [COMMENT], November 3rd, 2012)
AFTER…
There were too many gifts but he still signed for everyone; he wrote words of encouragement; and everyone felt his kindness. — (Credit: Kris_Perfect, Translation by: wisdom-of-the-moon.tumblr.com)
Kris said he would sign for all the fans there. He wrote words to cheer fans up and drew hearts. He also addressed the names of the fans next to the autographs. — (Credit: exo-what-is-love.com)
吴亦凡效应@weibo: Fan account summary: 1) Last time he mistakenly wrote 凡 instead of 丸 for a fan, he corrected it for her this time (t/n: what a lucky fan… to have him autograph not once, but twice). 2) He autographed as much as possible. 3) Fans were helping him to organized the gifts, Kris said “give me all the letters, I want to put them on the inner shelf of the suitcase. 4) He shared “big bunny”(大白兔) milk candy with fans. 5) After he signed, he told fan to be careful because ink was still wet and it might smear. — (Translation by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
KRIS BUYING A SUITCASE FOR HIS NUMEROUS FAN GIFTS AND SHOWING HIS APPRECIATION TOWARDS FANSBY WEARING THEIR GIFTS
BEFORE…
*Talking about the length some fans take, such as buying expensive gifts or making extravagant gifts for a public figure* Honestly, I would never do that unless I’m in a situation where the feelings are mutual and I know that my feelings of appreciation would be reciprocated by the receiver.—Me (A Day in the City of Sydney to Wish EXO’s Kris ‘Happy Birthday’ [POST], September 10th, 2012)
The hat and shoes that Kris wore on this day were given to him by fans and a fanbase also gave him an iPhone 5. I’m telling you, it’s like everyday is his birthday, thanks to thousands of fan girls =P I always say that it should be the other way round, where the guy gives a present to the girl (I’m a traditionalist and sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era =P).—Me (Kris and the Alpaca, Vintage Kris, and Discussion about K-Pop in General [POST], November 2nd, 2012)
It must be hard for these guys, or anyone that is in the entertainment industry, to thank everyone. Considering the fact that there are numerous people that do so much for them, such as spending time and money to create or buy things, they probably don’t know how to repay all of them. Maybe if people stopped treating them like royalty and more like humans that you see everyday around you, they would feel less pressured or feel less bad/guilty by the fact that they have so little to return in comparison. — Me(EXO Kris’ Birthday Message aka “Love Letter” xD [POST], November 8th, 2012)
AFTER…
Kim娜娜_范@weibo: Today Kris went back to Korea. Before he left he accepted many gifts from fans and they were really heavy. Some fans offered to help him carry them but he insisted that he carry them himself. Later a fan joked with him “You cannot bear to leave these behind?” He nodded his head and said “yes.” Girls… this kind of idol comes once in a lifetime! — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
hoho-Y@weibo: Yesterday EXO-M Kris Wucame to the store to buy a duty free 2460RMB (~395USD) colorful suitcase to carry all the gifts that fans brought him. When I was helping him to checkout I saw on his passport that he was born in 1990, has Canadian citizenship, and his photo was handsome too. He was really friendly, in the store, there were approximately 20-30 fans + workers + tourists, all taking his picture with flashing cameras, he didn’t show a single bit of cockiness. I hope he becomes more and more popular. — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
He totally left his belongings with the fans when he went to get changed with a T-shirt given by fans…When tidying up gifts from fans, Kris said “Give me the letters. I’ll put them at the inner side of the luggage.” — (Credit: exo-what-is-love.tumblr.com)
When he saw that one of the fangifts is a rilakkuma keychain, he took it out immediately and hanged it on his bag, then he started talking about the keychain on his bag. Kris: It’s not that I stop using them, but it’s because I lose it in the crowd at the airport. I only realised it after I passed the customs I wanted to go back and find the keychain but it seems unrealistic… Fan: If you were to go back and find the keychain I’m sure it wouldn’t be just that…. — (Credit: Kris_Perfect, StellaJo_晨曦寶寶, Renee_be; Translated by: boxiian.tumblr.com)
On a side note, Kris should be careful when leaving his belongings behind…ESPECIALLY at an airport! NEVER ever do that!
OTHER FAN ACCOUNTS
Kris…posing like a boss! (Credit: KissKRis)
Kris‘ flight was delayed. There was a little boy that sat near Kris, maybe because the boy sat rather long waiting there, then he started crying because he couldn’t find his mom. Fans that sat beside him tried to calm the boy down. Kris then asked some staff to help look for the boy’s mom. Later, the boy’s mother came back. When Kris passed by the kid, he touched the little boy’s head. — (Credit: NTcalm__汗濕, Translated by: toffeegee)
That’s sweet of Kris and the fans that were present, but at the same time I find such fan accounts highly amusing. Why? ‘Cause I see people do this sort of lovely act on a usual basis. In fact, when I was at Sydney Airport on the day I was traveling back home, a few other people and I were talking to toddlers at the departure lounge and even on the plane, but no one really gave a…sugar =P
KRIS’ OVERALL IMPACT ON FANS AT GUANGZHOU BAIYUN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
(Credit: MATCHA.S)
With eyes filled with depth and gentleness, and spoken language that is amiable and easy going, that’s our Kris, our warm man. With no distant feeling of a celebrity, but a personality of a brother next door, making us feel that we aren’t very far away from you. Even your domineering attitude on stage has concealed your smile. Your smile is the greatest comfort for the fans, to let us know that you’ve been doing great. With lesser indifference and more heart warming times, this is you, our Kris. — (Credit: EXO潮流资讯 Weibo, Translated by: Adora)
MY WORDS OF MOTIVATION FOR KRIS IN THE PAST
This is something that I’ve said in the past that I’m placing here just for fun, ’cause it sounds kind of similar to what eventually occurred.
Good luck, Kris! Wish you all the best for your future and I hope that you don’t pay a lot of attention to fame. Just continue being yourself and being inspired by the positive things around you. We all are looking forward to seeing a charming smile on your face, inshAllah ^_^ — Me (EXO’s Kris Wu – The “Mysterious” Member [POST], March 6th, 2012)
Furthermore, I remember writing the following message in my blog and underneath the pic. of Kris standing on Andy Garcia’s star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on his RenRen several months ago:
Who needs a name on a star when you can have an impact on peoples’ hearts by simply being awesome and by being a good role model? =) Those stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will one day fade away…but the impact that you may have on other people’s hearts for the before-mentioned reasons will always stay…for eternity. This is just something that everyone should think about! ^^ — Me (July 23rd, 2012)
KRIS’ RENREN STATUS UPDATE ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2012
Same sky, same starry night? Mom said when it becomes cloudy the stars would disappear, but in my memory every day there was a clear sky, and in the future… it will be too. Good night, my every you. Author: Me. — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
Krishad to indicate that he owns this lovely piece of writing. I’m going to take your quote, Kris, and put the author as ME, as in Moonlight, instead. Just kidding! As if we’re going to steal it… =P Goofy Kris.
Pre-debut Kris…5 years ago. He, himself, probably didn’t know what the future had in store for him (Credit: RunWithKris)
Also, I’ve seen Kris‘ pic. in which the caption underneath it mentioned that he wants to have his name on a star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame one day, his message on EXO-M‘s Weibo talking about sunshine, his recent RenRen status discussing stars, and heard his description of a Halloween card that included his drawing of a moon and a sun, which had a similar expression as his own, that went along the lines of, “The Sun is angry at the Moon.” I think Kris has some sort of grudge against the moon. Hahahaha!
In regards to Kris‘ RenRen status, he should listen to his mum’s words. Mothers are wise for they have more experience in life. I told my mum about Kris‘ RenRen status and she also agreed with what Aunty Wu said. Interestingly, my mum has shared the song, Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) by Doris Day with me a couple of times and I think it perfectly describes what all mothers would like to tell their children. It also fits very well with what Kris‘ mum may have been trying to indicate. The song has the following memorable lyrics:
Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future’s not ours to see. Que sera, sera. What will be, will be.
The message in it seems to be one that many may agree with.
*****
Moreover, I read a fan account about the thrown fan gifts when Kris arrived at Incheon International Airport from his trip to Guangzhou. Okay…now this time I think this was planned. Don’t ask me why…but I’m guessing that it’s one of those situations where the company wants to gather sympathy for its music artists by making us go, “Awww…they must be so strict on these young guys!” I don’t know what the truth is…but that’s a possibility. Why would Manager Khyun want to get involved in this kind of situation after fans already expressed their anger towards the other managers in SM Entertainment on how they have rudely behaved towards fans? It just doesn’t make any sense. Something’s fishy… and when something’s fishy, I thought Kris wouldn’t like it *raises eyebrows*
Thrown fan gifts…. That poor ‘lil teddy bear (Credit: To the rightful owner)
Anyhow, it’s something that shouldn’t be given too much attention if that’s what SM Entertainment is asking for xD I will always remember my first day of Masters and when I was in my Public Relations Strategy class in which 100 or more students were shown a video of doing PR work for celebrities in entertainment companies. What we saw was something that would probably get most people shocked. After the professor had shown that video to the class, she asked, “So who wants to do PR work for a celebrity?” Nobody raised their hands. I was about to…but that video really turned me off about the whole thing.
The video depicted how clever entertainment companies can be in deceiving the general public. They literally plan everything out ahead of time. It’s all about getting attention through all kinds of means…as in, they are the ones that start rumors and pull off stunts so that they have the audience’s attention…regardless of whether they are positive things or negative things. The company needs to have people talking about something so that their name is known and that they have some form of popularity. Many say that to work in the entertainment industry, is something that many innocent people have a difficult time doing. Whoever is innocent in that industry, I applaud them for their efforts, will-power, and strength of character.
*****
(Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
I can guarantee you that Kris definitely trolls around blogs and other various places on the Internet where people are discussing EXO. I’m watching you Dui Zhang (as I always say =P). He even stated in the EXO-M Yahoo! Interview, which was released yesterday (I need to add comments on this interview =P), that he surfs/browses the Internet during his free time. Furthermore, I know that Kris uses his ability to read and speak in English, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese to his full advantage. Reminds me of a sly fox…but we, fans, also have a very sharp mind =P That is why I want to throw a rubber ducky at him when I meet him in person.
According to a fan account on Kris‘ surprise birthday event on November 6th, Lay mentioned that when Kris reads his fan letters (may we add blog posts to this as well?), the things that are written in them stay in his mind. For more details, read the following excerpt of the fan account:
When asked about the most treasured item, Kris said it was the fans’ letters and as compared to presents, he appreciates letters more. This time during his birthday fans compiled letters into a book so he really likes it. Lay added that when letters are read, they stay in his mind while when he sees presents, he gets reminded of the person who gave it to him. — (Credit: 小智MAX)
I guess people give expensive gifts to someone famous because they want to be remembered by him/her…I think letters of appreciation are the best. They seem more meaningful and motivating.
My intuition was right! xD
All I can say is that I would make a pretty darn good PR adviser for a celebrity! =P On the other hand, Dui Zhang is doing a pretty good job at “marketing” research xD I’m sure that Kris was also waiting to see what I would write about his beautiful moments with fans. I’m watching you *throws rubber ducky*.
I also remember Kris saying that he wants to understand the feelings of his fans by browsing or doing research on the Internet. This was during the time he replied to messages on the EXO-M fan board in May, 2012 (see EXO’s Kris The Magic Dragon). Ahhh, so warm and caring, but very sly too =P Kris, I hope you don’t get pressurized or pushed by people’s comments a lot. Take it easy… Everyone has opinions and different feelings and you don’t always have to agree with them =) Though, I do have to mention that I don’t like some of the practices in the entertainment industry. Remember, you are not a product that needs to be customized according to people’s preferences and to satisfy their expectations. You are a human being with a free mind. The freedom to be yourself and think for yourself…that’s jjang!
On a random note, I guess Dui Zhang knows that he looks cute and is now emphasizing that in his photos. Smart move.
Last but not least, months ago I mentioned that I have an Angry Bird stuff toy in my room that I bought around a year and a half ago. Well, here it is =P
Angry Bird!
Hope this post makes up for all the days that I’ve been absent! ^^
*waves*
P.S. I know this may sound of context but it is crucial for me to mention this. I don’t know how many of you are aware of the situation in Gaza, Palestine, but there are innocent people that are currently dying and suffering over there due to injustice. Please pray for them. It’s the least that we can do while sitting in our homes. May Allah protect them and save them. Ameen.
Ever since Ace Wu, the alpaca plushie, was spotted with glasses and a scarf in his father, Kris Wu‘s arms, it seems like the sales of alpaca plushies, particularly the Pirate Arpakasso, have increased in various places.
I knew it…
Whatever Kris buys, others will buy too. I mentioned this in my post, EXO’s Kris – Smiles and Thoughts, in April that, “As a marketing major, I think Kris would actually be a good celebrity endorser for high-end products, ’cause seeing his image + acting skills and how there are so many crazy fan girls of his, ladies would actually go and purchase them.” At that time, I was talking about the Gucci Guilty Pour Homme cologne that was given to Kris by a fan. Let’s just add medium-end products, such as alpaca plushies to the list too? =P
In Japan, the owners of a claw machine containing alpaca plushies decided to take the opportunity of displaying pictures of Kris and Ace for promotional purposes, and guess what? It worked! It’s as if the alpaca plushies sold like hot cakes. Here are the before and after photos of the claw machine containing the Pirate Arpakasso alpaca plushie that is similar to the one that Kris had. The latter photo was taken three days after the pictures of Kris and Ace were displayed on the machine.
BEFORE
Alpaca plushies in a claw machine displaying pictures of Kris and Ace – May I say, free celebrity endorsement? (Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
AFTER
An an almost-empty claw machine with only two alpaca plushies left (Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
If that wasn’t enough, check out Kris and Ace in a Chinese newspaper!
Kris and Ace mentioned in a Chinese newspaper (Credit: To the rightful owner)
If one of my elder cousins saw this…he would think that the whole world has gone insane =P
Apart from the dramatic increase in sales of alpaca plushies, many fans have visualized Ace in his human form and have implemented this in their artwork, which has also become widely popular on the net.
Ace as a young child (Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
Ace as a teen/young adult (Credit: 0_ran)
It seems like Kris‘ son is going to be very cute and handsome when he grows up. Like father like son =P No wonder why SM Entertainment decided to recruit him and make him be part of EXO-M. Will Ace‘s specialty be singing, or dancing, or rapping? Who knows? At the moment, his position in the group is still unknown, but as mentioned before, he is the visual of the group and no one can deny that.
Let’s see how other fans have caught on with the Ace Wu phenomenon.
A fan puts a blue scarf and a pair of glasses on her Pirate Arpakasso alpaca to make it look like Ace. (Credit: To the rightful owner)
Kris and Ace stitch work (Credit: my-inhyeong-nim.blogspot.com)
The Ace Wu Wave just doesn’t stop. On a random note, one of my Chinese friends can stitch cute things like these ^^ Interestingly, fans seem to love making stitch work on Kris‘ drawings too =P
Additionally, there are numerous pieces of artwork on Kris and Ace, particularly ones in which Ace is wearing Kris‘ blue scarf and glasses.
(Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
(Credit: @MGraceM)
(Credit: As mentioned in the pic.)
But why has Ace become more popular than any other plushie that was given to either Kris or the other members of EXO?
The following scenario that I found on Tumblr describes the situation perfectly:
Kai: \has 2 toy poodles. ignored by fandom Kris: \has toy alpaca. alpaca has name, birth certificate, baby shower, fanfics, fanart.
(Credit: baozisommelier.tumblr.com)
What if Kris never made the alpaca plushie wear his scarf or glasses? What if it wasn’t given a name? What if it wasn’t announced that it was the seventh member of EXO-M?
Hello! Just landed in the sandbox aka the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last night. What a long flight! Right now I’m enjoying my time at home. It’s so nice to finally see my room after almost a year. As soon as I entered, I could see a burst of colors and my personality in each and every object that is present. I’ve pretty much grown up in this house that I’m in and it’s good to look through all of my old things and reflect on the old me. I feel happy when I’m at home, alhamdulillah.
As I was looking through my belongings, I realized that I’ve hidden a few things under my bed, which include drawings, a few diary entries, some pictures, and a couple of poems that I’ve written. One poem that I mentioned in this post, A Spark of Moonlight is a Song!?, back in May this year is one that I have wanted to share for quite some time. Remember when I stated that I would place my poem here once I go back home? Well, here it is! ^^
This poem is one that I have written back in 10th grade. The focus of the poem shifts from fantasy and imagination to reality. I did this intentionally as I wanted to depict the feeling of being stuck between fantasy and reality and also pinpoint elements of good vs. evil and life and death. It’s also a reminder that one day we will not be here on Earth.
DREAMS By: M.A. aka Moonlight
Dreams of fairies dancing in the forest
Dreams of dragons circling around the flames
Dreams of enchanted woods hiding in the mist
Dreams of another unicorn to tame
Dreams of mermaids glittering under rainbows
Dreams of boiling deserts and golden sand that glow
Dreams of sparkling mountains and flower meadows
Dreams of pirates and ghost ships setting sail on grasslands very slow
Dreams of witches and dark magic
Dreams of elves and their grace
Dreams of orcs and their tales all-tragic
Dreams of another griffon with watchful eyes on its face
Dreams of hurricanes tearing a hole through the sky
Dreams of whirlpools swirling to the raging sound
Dreams of volcanoes erupting rocks many feet hight
Dreams of earthquakes cracking through the ground
Dreams of thunders roaring up above
Dreams of lightning flashing in the air
Dreams of rain pouring down on the wings of a dove
Dreams of another cloud not so fair
Dreams of science and an unsolved mystery
Dreams of numbers, shapes, theorems, and proofs
Dreams of the past and forgotten history
Dreams of writing, literature, and books
Dreams of the arts, paintings, and expression
Dreams of libraries stack full of stories and books
Dreams of music and melody to take away the tension
Dreams of another attempt to be in the fashion magazines and movies for the looks
Dreams of reptiles, the Stonehenge, and pre-history
Dreams of the Dark and Middle Ages; the Renaissance and the Golden Age
Dreams of the Greeks and the Fall of the Roman Empire, an ancient history
Dreams of the modern era, the future, and the End of Time right before us on stage
Dreams of an expanding universe
Dreams of black holes and the milkyway
Dreams of planets revolving around the sun in reverse
Dreams of another shooting star and spaceship in the way
Dreams of angels and their wings
Dreams of Heaven on the seventh sky
Dreams of devils and their stings
Dreams of Hell deep down below those who did no good and did not try
Dreams of an apocalypse on its way
Dreams of the final battle
Dreams of judgement day
Dreams of another attempt to bring justice soon to the sound of a rattle
Dreams of a skeleton lying six feet under in a grave
Dreams of death and all the wars we’ve fought
Dreams of an Earth we have to save
Dreams of what life is all about
P.S. I have many more poems that I’ve written back in 10th grade. It feels like I was more creative back then =P Also, I will reply to comments as soon as I can. I’ve just been spending time catching up with my mum and dad ^^ I’m also well-aware of what has been going on in the world of EXO…ahem ahem, but I shall talk about that in the next post iA. Apparently the Dragon was flying in the sky at the same time as me yesterday, which I find hilarious. Hahaha! ^_~
In a span of 7 months, EXO-M have traveled 41 times. Although, it would have been lovely if the creator focused on all of the members of EXO-M, the video is mainly on Kris‘ airport fashion. This means 41 outfits =P Just remember that, even though it seems amazing that they have traveled 41 times within these few months, they travel for work purposes. This means they are not traveling for holiday purposes like most of us do.
I like the editing in the video. I wonder what program was used to make this.
Speaking of this, I’m going to be on a hiatus. I am traveling back home, iA, and I need to do some packing. I have a very long flight ahead of me. It has almost been a year since I’ve seen home. The comforts of home…miss it! ^^
P.S. I just wrote on Kris‘ RenRen that when I see him in person, I will throw a rubber ducky at his face and that I will steal Ace because he “stole” my nickname, “Koala Bear”. Hahahaha!
Good night, my every you. Author: Me. — (Translated by: love-exo.tumblr.com)
