Bad Guys Review (2014)

Drama Rating: ***
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Team lead Oh Goo Tak is given a chance by the Police Commissioner to form a team composed of convicted criminals to help the police force catch other nefarious criminals.  Will this odd arrangement work out or will it lead to further problems?

Marriage Not Dating Review (2014)

Drama Rating: *****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Gong Ki Tae, a plastic surgeon, is constantly pestered by his mother to get married.  To obstruct her plans, he happens to meet Joo Jang Mi and manages to convince her to pose as his girlfriend/fiancee.  How successful will they be at deceiving his friends and family?

Empress Ki Review (2014)

Drama Rating: 7.5/10
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
In her quest to avenge the death of her parents, Ki Nyang becomes entangled in a complex love triangle between the Toghon, the Yuan Emperor and Wang Yu, King of Goryeo. When she enters the palace complex, things get intricately more complicated amidst the power struggles, factional rivalries and ever-changing relationships.

Healer Review (2015)

Drama Rating: ***
Personal Rating: Enjoyable

Story:
Healer is a night courier, a mysterious for-hire messenger who runs various tasks for his clients. Chae Young Shin is a budding reporter working at a third-rate entertainment news company looking for her first big scoop. Both their lives begin to turn upside down when they meet Kim Moon Ho, a famous reporter, who is digging up the truth of what happened in 1992.

Punch Review (2015)

Drama Rating: *****
Personal Rating: All time favourite!!

Story:
Prosecutor Park Jung Hwan spent the last several years of his career helping Prosecutor General Lee Tae Joon get to his current position and was poised to rise even higher in the ranks when he unexpectedly gets the news that he has less than 6 months to live due to a brain tumor. What choices will he make in the short time he has left?

The Admiral: Roaring Currents Review (2014)

Drama Rating: ****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Reinstated Admiral Yi Sun Shin is faced with an seemingly insurmountable task of defending Joseon against the invading Japanese navy. His force of 13 warships with very low morale faces a Japanese navy of over 300 ships intent on sailing straight to Hanyang. The King had already issued an order to abandon the ships while the units under his command are wavering at the insurmountable odds. How will the Admiral make this last stand?

Embassy Suites Anchorage

The Embassy Suites Anchorage is located fairly close to the airport although you will need a shuttle to get to the hotel. Make sure to give them a call when you arrive as the shuttle does not run periodically. The hotel is located a few miles away so it will take some time for the shuttle to arrive at the airport.

As a Category 8 hotel, one night did cost a pricey 50,000 Hilton HHonors points (although you will find most other Anchorage hotels also charging exhorbitant amounts for what they offer as well). Likely the best compromise would be the Sheraton Anchorage which probably offers better value for their points.  Sadly, I had already run out of SPG points so I had 'settle' for this hotel.

Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport

Last year when I was looking for a cheap points redemption in Vancouver, one of the properties that stood out was the Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport.  At the time, it was an SPG category 2 property requiring just 4,000 points on weekdays and 3,000 points on weekends when it regularly goes for ~$140 USD giving a fabulous redemption ratio of ~3-4 cents per SPG point.  It has now (as of 9/7/2014) gone up to a category 3 property requiring 7,000 points per night which is still reasonable but not as good of a steal.

Outbound Love Review (2014)

Drama Rating: ****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Travel agent/guide Law Sik Sik is sent on a (mission impossible) business trip to Malaysia to establish partnerships for a potential tour operation for her company. However, her work is continually disrupted by the incorrigible Luk Kung Chi, her local guide in Malaysia. While there, Law Sik Sik receives a surprise proposal from her boyfriend Ching Zin Bok and also manages to successfully accomplish her work goals. Unfortunately, when she gets back to Hong Kong, she is in for the shock of her life!

The Hippocratic Crush Review (2012)

Drama Rating: **
Personal Rating: Decent

Story:
A new set of medical interns have joined the medical staff at Mercy Hospital for their rotations. As they work with their seniors/mentors, aside from facing the challenges treating patients, they also encounter and have to deal with events in their own personal lives. How well will they cope?

Park Hyatt Paris Vendome

Its been a little while since the trip but I'm finally getting around to posting the pictures of my stay at the legendary Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, one of the top hotels in France. As we went during peak season at the beginning of July, rates were quite high at $700+ per night for a Park Queen room and I was very glad that I was exchanging two night earned from the Chase Hyatt credit card signup bonus and another two nights at the incredible rate of 22,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points!  (which have since been raised to 30,000 points per night)

Warrior Baek Dong Soo Review (2011)

Drama Rating: **
Personal Rating: Decent

Story:
Baek Dong Soo, who lost his father and mother, was saved from the clutches of the evil Minister of State Hong Dae Ju by his father's sworn brothers and raised learning martial arts. Under their guidance and tutelage, he strives to become the best swordsman in Joseon to protect the future King Jeongjo and the people he loves.

Sly and Single Again Review (2014)

(Also known as Cunning Single Lady)
Drama Rating: ****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Na Ae Ra and the geeky Cha Jung Woo were enjoying their married lives together when he decided to quit his job to work on his own start-up. After a miserable couple of years and drowning in debt, Na Ae Ra calls it quits and divorces her husband. Little did she know that Cha Jung Woo's start-up would literally find success overnight and her former husband would become CEO for his thriving company. They finally meet each other a few years later but will Cha Jung Woo and Na Ae Ra be able to start anew?

Sign Review (2011)

Drama Rating: ****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Newbie Dr Go Da Kyung joins the NFS after being inspired by the straightshooting and direct Dr Yoon Ji Hoon. Her persistence and enthusiasm combined with his determination to find the truth make the pair a great forensics investigation team. Coupled with help from Prosecutor Jung Woo Jin and Officer Choi Yi Han, will they be able to put their biggest criminal foes behind bars?

Emergency Couple Review (2014)

Drama Rating: ****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Divorced couple Oh Jin Hee and Oh Chang Min reunite after six years as interns working in the same hospital's ER department. Fireworks immediately begin to fly but will they be able to move beyond their past and develop a less antagonistic working and personal relationship?

Three Days Review (2014)

Drama Rating: *****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Han Tae Kyung, one of the Secret Service's most dedicated agents, is devastated by the loss of his father, the Finance Minister and is in mourning when the President goes on a short retreat at his villa. Not long after he arrives, gunshots are heard, the Secret Service agents closest to the President's location are dead and the President himself is missing. What could have taken place at such a secluded location? Tae Kyung is determined to find out.

Good Doctor Review (2013)

Drama Rating: ****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
Park Shi On is an autistic child who, aided by his incredible spatial intelligence due to Savant Syndrome, dreams of being a pediatric surgeon. The director of Sung Won University Hospital brings Shi On, a child he helped raise, to his facility in the hope of helping him achieve his dream. Will Shi On be able to reach his goals?

My Love From Another Star Review (2014)

(Also known as You Who Came From The Stars)

Drama Rating: *****
Personal Rating: Loved it!

Story:
College professor Do Min Joon is actually an alien who arrived on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty with supernatural powers. In the present, he happens to chance on Cheon Song Yi, a popular Hallyu star who bears a striking resemblance to a beloved young girl who was saved by him and in turn died for him not long after he arrived on this planet. By chance, she moves in next door to him and the sparks begin to fly...

The Heirs Review (2013)

Drama Rating: ***
Personal Rating: Decent

Story:
Park Shin Hye is visiting California to look for her elder sister who's ditched her family when she chances on Kim Tan in Los Angeles, an unlikely heir to Jeguk Group, a chaebol back in Korea. Through their coincidental circumstances, they are reunited in Seoul and their love continues to blossom after their return. Rarely do things go so smoothly and as expected, they run into stiff opposition from Rachel, Tan's fiancee, Choi Young Do, Tan's former best friend and Tan's father, the chairman of Jeguk Group. See how things unfold in this answer to the age-old question, will love conquer all?

Starwood Hawaii Sweepstakes

Starwood Hawaii and Hawaiian Airlines are pairing up to give away free points to use on a Hawaiian getaway.  The grand prize winner will get a total of 80,000 SPG points and 80,000 HawaiianMiles. The airline miles are sufficient for two roundtrip Coach SuperSaver awards from North America and 80,000 SPG points can get you anywhere from 10 nights at the Category 4 Sheraton Kona on Big Island to 2 nights at the Category 7 St Regis Princeville on Kauai.  (Remember if you redeem 4 nights, you get the 5th free!)

As a reminder, Starwood has the following properties in Hawaii:

Category 4 (10,000 points / night)
Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa, Keauhou Bay

Category 5 (12,000 to 16,000 points / night)
Sheraton Princess Kailuani
Sheraton Waikiki
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

Category 6 (20,000 to 25,000 points / night)
Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki
Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach
Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka'anapali

Category 7 (30,000 - 35,000 points / night)
The St Regis Princeville Resort
The Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas

Although I haven't had a chance to visit the other islands, I had a wonderful time at the Westin Princeville and would definitely recommend a visit to Kauai. Both the Westin Princeville and the St Regis Princeville are incredible Starwood properties and you definitely won't go wrong at either one.

Sign up here before Nov 16, 2013 for your chance to win! Travel must commence by Oct 30, 2014.