Aah.. I miss you guys...

Hari ini tiba-tiba aja jalur e-mail ramai padat sama email-email dari Dicky, Norma dan Echa.. my 3 best friends from Melb.. Dari yang ngomongnya ngaco-ngaco,, sampe ajakan lunch bareng (yang dari dulu nggak kesampaian terus),, sampe mulai ngomong ngaco-ngaco nggak jelas dan nggak ada juntrungannya gitu.. hehe…

Aah,, jadi rindu dehh sama kaliaaan.. Kayaknya lunch kali ini mesti beneran terjadi deh.. Tapi Echa kejauhan yaa kalo lunch di daerah sudirman, secara kantornya… ada di mana Cha..? ‘Jakarta nyemplung laut..” ya… hehehe… itu istilah si Echa tentang lokasi kantornya yang emang di daerah pelabuhan..


Dicky: ya wes..plasindo aja... yang enak apa ya disana? bakerzin? fish & co, sushi tei, ???
apa dong?

Echa: Waaa... Dakyu tak mampyu niy…. Kejauhan… macetnya ga nahan, bs 2 jam aja gitu
gw nyampe situ secara gw nearly Jakarta nyemplung laut hihihi… Pulangnya aja
gimana say? Biar gw ga bolak-balik? Hihi… terserah deh…

Norma: Eh ujan gak disana? Di tempat gua udah nihhh, enak deh romantissss apaaa sehhh??

Wika: kayaknya blum deh nor... daritadi mendung terus padahal... duh, moga2 gak ujan pas jam pulang kantor yaa,, bikin macett.. enaknya kalo ujan2 gini,, kita ngopi2 trus rumpi2 gak jelasss... naah, ituuu baru endaaaang...!!!

Dicky: ujan... sayang gak ada bakso... hmmm.. makan bakso dingin dingin.. hmmm...

Wika: kayaknya pertemuan kita harus beneran terwujud deh niiih...!!

Norma: Jadi kapan sih kita mau ketemuannya??

Report hasil ketemuan bakal diliput deh.. *itu juga kalo jadii…* semoga jadi deh… I miss them… :))

Untuk sementara, untuk melepas rindu,, ini foto pertemuan terakhir..
buka puasa, courtyard, Plaza Senayan, Oktober 2006..

Temanku yang Sakit...

Kasiaan… temanku yang jarang sakit itu sakit.. udah dua hari dia nggak masuk.. badannya anget dan flu.. kata dokternya, kalo sampe besok badannya tetap panas, dia mesti tes darah.. semoga nggak parah yaa sakitnya.. apalagi sekarang lagi banyak yang flu dan typhus.. L
Padahal hari senin anaknya ultah.. kan kasian kalo bubu-nya sakit..

Biasanya sih kalo kata orang (orang jawa kali yaa yang punya belief kayak gini..), ada yang suka bilang kalo anak kecil suka sakit di sekitar ulang taunnya, sebelum atau gak lama sesudah dia ultah, katanya orang-orang dulu, itu tandanya dia mau tambah besar.. tapi kok ini ibu-nya yaaa yang sakit…

Semoga cepet sembuh yaa Bubu Raska…

Suddenly 30

November 21st, 2006

… just like a title of a movie..
Well, I eventually I am 30… yup, I’m turning 30..

I don’t know,,, some people think that it is a big step in their life.. being 30, you are no longer young.. and that you’re getting old (it seems that you’re getting sooo much older than just other ‘ordinary’ birthdays).

Luckily I don’t fell that way.. :))

I feel so blessed for what He has been giving to me all these years..

… that God gives me the most wonderful, caring, understanding and loving husband who I love sooo much…
… that He gives me the greatest mother, whose love for me is so unconditional..
… that He gives me a father, who sometimes I feel like it is hard for him to show me that he really cares for me,, but I know that he really does…
… that He gives me the most special Nini, who is not just my grandma, but she can also be my friend.. *I believe not so many people having the special relationship with his/her grandma like I have with my Nini.. and I’m so thankful for that..*
… that He gives me – even only one, but one like that is so precious - a sister who loves me so much, that I can’t even imagine how big is her love for me..
… that He gives me a wonderful great big family who always there when we need each other..
… that He gives me health…
… that He keeps me and my family save from war, poverty and disaster…
… that He helps me through the hard times…
… that He gives me so many incredible wonderful lovely friends… friends from elementary school, from high school, from college, at the office (that means all of you guys… J )

… and so many many many other of His countless blessings for me throughout these years..

Thank you God.. for all your beautiful blessings to me.. it may means nothing for everybody else, but it means everything to me..

Please keep me in Your guidance for all my years to come, keep showering me with your blessings and forgiveness.. Teach me to be a better and better person, each and every single day, for You, for all the people that I really care and love and for everyone I meet..

Thank you also for everyone who really care to remember and cherish my beautiful day… Thanks honey, for the beautiful roses.. Thank you for the first 5 person giving me birthday greeting (well, no need to mention all of them, but Rondang and Dini, you are in the list.. hehe..).. Thanks to Irma, Tiessa, Jika, Dinar n Winnie for the lovely clutch bag and your sweet thoughts (also to Irma and Tiessa for helping me preparing the J.Co for the office)… *Also check out Irma's review on my birthday at Ultah Si Bude Brownies*. Thank you all for your sweet and wonderful thoughts and wishes to me.. they are priceless..!!

I am grateful being 30… It is better to be 30 and having so many of His blessings in my life, rather than not be able to ‘experience’ the age of 30.. I want to feel being 40, 50, 60, 70 and maybe 80.. and keep thankful for His blessing for me..

Cafes

In afternoons, take the weight off you feet, sit on a nice fluffy couch, take a sip of a nice warm cup of latte, close your eyes for few seconds.. aah,, perfecto…

Coffee is one of my favorite drinks.. and these are the experience of my journey from one café to another..

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Rate: Love it!
Nice coffee.. nice ambience.. provides separate smoking area.. good deal for breakfast (with the free refill to your big cup of coffee or tea).. provides you stamp card valid internationally (for 12 stamps, you’ll get 1 free coffee..)

Bakoel Koffie
Rate: Love it!
Established since the colonial occupancy in Indonesia.. first outlet was in Cikini, Jakarta.
Very nice and strong coffee from various places in Indonesia (I think, particularly Sumatra and Java),, cozy place (you should check out its Barito and Senopati outlets),, at Bakoel, you will be occupied with many games (mostly traditional games such as ular tangga, halma, congklak and bekel),, Love it, love it…

Gloria Jeans
Rate: if there’s any other café, go to the other café
I knew Gloria Jeans since I was in Melbourne.. just because it was on my way back to the apartment, so I once in a while bought a cup to go..
Here, I like its atmosphere in Plaza Semanggi.. but I hate the ‘take away’ cups.. even if you are dining in, you still get the take away cup (that cartoon-heat proof-cups). I would much prefer if I drink it from a ‘real’ cup (you know what I mean)..
Ow, and the waiter at Citos,, is horrible. *Sok tau dan asal banget orangnya..!!* I went there twice and I had to face the same jerk.

Starbucks
Rate: moderate
Upps.. sorry if some people would probably disagree with the rate I give to Starbucks. I don’t really like its coffee.. particularly the flavor coffees,, it is so mixed with various flavor so you won’t taste the coffee in it..
But I love its muffins.. yummeh.. the taste is just like the original muffins of Dunkin Donuts back in ‘90s (now Dunkin Donuts don’t use the same recipe as it used to for their muffins). I also like to see Starbucks collections of mugs, tumbler and its other souvenirs – yet they are so expensive..

Daily Bread
Rate: I love it!
Nice coffee, friendly price for its coffees and bakery.. on weekends, Daily Bread at PIM 1 has its additional value.. they –luckily – have live music in front of its outlet..
Used to be merry’s and my favorite place (also for ‘curhat session’) during college. :)

Mr. Bean Coffee
Rate: Moderate
Overall, so so laah..

Ground Café
Rate: *not yet rated*
Recommended by its owner, who is a good friend of Irma.. located at JakTV studio. The owner told me that the coffee is imported from Aussie.. it’s lavazza. Should be a nice coffee.. but hasn’t got time to stop by there..
But merry, who once went there, said that the place is not as nice as she expected..
I’ll stop by there sometime and prove it by myself.. :) *Irma, Rondang, Tiessa.. you guys are coming with me, right..?* hehe..

Brew & Co
Rate: if there’s any other café, go to the other café
The hot coffee apparently is not hot at all *langsung ilfil deh..*. Just went there once.
Few weeks ago mas Reggy went there just because he could access internet from the café.

Excelso
Rate: I love it!
Similar type with Bakoel Koffie.. offering ‘traditional’ coffee.. cozy and warm place..
The coffee float is refreshing.. you should also try the coffee with avocado in it.. so hard to find in other cafés..

Café Regal
Rate: moderate
We (merry and I) used to find cheaper coffee here (again, back in college). But now the price is just the same with others. The coffee is fine. Surprisingly the seafood pasta is quiet nice, with many seafood topping including fresh shrimps.

Dome
Rate: moderate
I don’t know why not so many people go there, it’s not too bad actually.

Oh La La
Rate: moderate
Well, if there’s a rate between “moderate” and “I love it!”, I would chose that..
I enjoy its variety of bakery.. it’s best spot now is at the skywalk between PIM 1 and PIM 2.
I had a funny experience there when I was in high school.. Shanty (my good friend from high school) won’t forget that.. hehe..

Melrimba Cafe
Rate: I love it!
located in Puncak.. nice place, with cool wheather.. now is re-decorated with new style.. love it..
Please make your own rate to the above cafés.. :) You can walk through its beautiful garden, just like a small hidden botanical garden.. very romantic..

Losari Coffee Plantation
Rate: I love it!
Located in Losari, near Ambarawa, Central Java..
The cafe is uphill, so you can see the beautiful scenery from there..
The coffee is superb.. also love the way they serve the coffee..
It has its own coffee plantation *you can take a tour around the plantation and have coffee or high tea inside the plantation* and its beautiful resort. The cottages are design with natural and traditional decoration. even the bath tub is made of single big stone.


Please make your own rate to the above cafés.. :)

Dombrut vs. PSK

As recommended by a friend (= Irma), akhirnya aku nyobain juga Sate Dombrut (Domba Garut) di Kemang Food Festival.

Ya ampyuun,, rame banget deh si KFF itu kalo malem minggu..
Aku ke sana sama Mas Ip dan si Merry..

Setelah ‘numpang’ duduk di meja yang udah di-reserve sama orang lain (Cuma bisa duduk 1 jam, selesai nggak selesai, mesti berdiri, karena si pemesan meja bakal datang,,), pesen deh si sate dombrut tanpa lemak, nasi goreng dombrut dan tongseng dombrut..

Mmm,,, yummy.. yang paling enak tongsengnya.. lumayan banyak lagi porsinya.. sate dan nasgornya ok juga.. Menu unggulannya tongseng kalo menurutkyuu… *ugh, tapi di KFF kemarin blum sempet nyobain mie item yang diceritain Irma diblog-nya niih..*

Tapi aku dan Mas Ip lebih suka sate di PSK (Penggemar Sate Kiloan).. sate kambing yang ada di daerah Pondok Cabe.. Pusatnya sih di cibubur *penghuni cibubur ada yang tau nggak..?*
Waaa,, enak banget si PSK.. Kambingnya digantung-gantung gitu.. terus, kalau ada pesenan, baru langsung dipotong.. Fresh… Namanya PSK soalnya kita bisa pesannya per-gram gitu. Misalnya 200 gram.. nanti bisa jadi beberapa tusuk... Hasilnya, potongan dagingnya besar-besar.. dan empuk… nyaaam… Nasgor kambing dan sop kambingnya juga ok..

Sebenernya keduanya kurang tepat untuk dibandingkan sih, karena yang satu domba dan yang satu kambing.. tapi rasanya kan agak mirip, jadi kurasa bisa dijadiin comparison..

PS. Sebenernya lagi, ada juga sate kambing yang OK banget.. tapi di daerah Slawi, Jawa Tengah.. istilahnya Sate Kambing BALIBUL (BAwah LIma BULan).. iya, jadi kambingnya masih berumur di bawah 5 bulan. Kasian yaa, kecil-kecil udah dipotong,, tapi emang empuuuk tenaaan… enak banget!! :p

My * Bestfriend's * Wedding

Yesterday, one of my close friends was married..
Dia dulu juga temen sekantor, yang sekarang udah jadi ibu direktris di perusahaannya sendiri.. :)

Seru juga kawinannya.. soalnya kali ini dari seluruh anggota pertemanan di kantor, hampir semua dateng. Ada Wulan, Irma, Tiessa, Jika, Dinar (with her stunning new haircut – ‘modern style’ kalo kata Mas Ip.. hehe..), Winnie dan Evi – the Bride – of course.. Yang absen, (lagi-lagi…) velina.. katanya mau ada ujian sertifikasi besoknya, jadi dia mesti belajar.. Rame dan seru,, soalnya udah lama juga kita nggak selengkap ini..

Evi cantik banget dengan kebaya orange-nya itu.. (as also mentioned by Irma in her orange wedding review) Pestanya bernuansa orange (or peach tua?) – biru.. Makanannya juga macem-macem.. dan foto-fotonya pre-wednya bagus dan lucu.. Foto-foto yang serius, bagus-bagus.. *Gue kan ketemu elo ya Vi, di PIM pas elo abis foto pre-wed.. nah, kemarin gue bisa liat deh hasil fotonyaa.. =) * Foto-foto yang casualnya, lucu-lucu.. apalagi foto “Reggy’s and Evi’s” yang a la iklan Levi’s itu.. hihi.. sampe difoto lho sama Irma..

Seperti biasa, kita (baca: Irma, Winnie & aku) diminta untuk jadi wedding singers. Kali ini bisa bertiga, soalnya di kawinan yang dulu-dulu, nggak tau kenapa, jadinya cuma berdua terus..

Wah, request lagunya the groom and the bride susah-susah banget. Evi minta lagu “She” (by Elvis Costello) dan Reggy minta “Selamat Datang Cinta” (by AB Three). Gleg… lagu pertama agak susah karena yang nyanyi cowok, sementara range nada-nya cukup jauh. Jadi agak bingung, mau coba nyanyi di kunci apa.. dan agak aneh juga kalo dinyanyiin bareng. Terus lagi, ternyata pengiringnya blum terlalu familiar sama lagu ini. Lagu kedua,, nah, kita yang susah.. soalnya nggak punya waktu untuk latian bareng, sementara lagu itu perlu waktu banget untuk latian harmoni-nya.. well, so much of excuses, so we decided to sing L-O-V-E dan “Because of You”-nya Keith Martin.. Hehehe.. standard banget yaa.. Itu aja udah bela-belain lho latian ke Dhamawangsa Square jam 12 siang di hari kerja..
Udah gitu, pas on ditetapkan, nyanyi-nya cuma 1.. L-O-V-E aja.. ihihi..
Vi,, Reg,, sorry yaaa.. semoga biar cuma 1 lagi tapi gak mengecewakan…

After quiet a long journey for you and Reggy,, the day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.. So happy for you and Reggy ya Vi.. Happily ever after..!!

minal minul..

Lebaran…
Waah,, selaluuu heboooh deh di rumah..
Saat yang dinanti-nantikan seluruh keluarga..

Tahun ini buka puasa bersama keluarga besar papa-ku cukup banyak.. diawali dengan dinner bersama sebelum puasa di Roro Jonggrang – di mana ditemukan beberapa ‘penampakan’ hiiii…-, terus, tiap weekend, salah satu oomku rajin banget dateng ke rumah Niniku (nenekku) untuk buka bersama.. menyenangkan...

Terus, sekitar 2 minggu sebelum lebaran, mailing list keluarga mulai rame dengan usulan menu makanan lebaran. Kita biasa pake system potluck.. jadi diaturlah menu apa dan siapa yang siapin. Fyuuh, aku kebagian beli buah.. hihi… no problemooo at all…

… tapiii….
Biarpun cuma bawa buah, tetep nggak lepas dari kewajiban nyiapin rumah Nini yang dijadiin tempat ngumpul seluruh keluarga.. plus ikutan masak bareng dengan bude, tante, tante lagi, mama, Nini, sepupuku dan kakakku..



H-1
Gleg,,, itu rumah bagian depan udah kayak kapal pecaah… panci dan wajan ada di mana-mana.. mana gede-gede banget lagii.. kakakku bilang, itu wajan buat goreng bayi kali.. saking gedenyaa.. maklumlah, budeku si pemilik wajan dan panci ini pengusaha catering..

Dari pagi sampe sore, kita masak bareng.. bikin lauk lengkap ketupat,, bakwan malang, rujak serut (aslinya sih asinan buah.. tapi karena panas banget, buahnya jadi matang,, disulap deh tuh asinan jadi rujak) dll. Iih, mana panas banget lagi hari ituu,, maaf ya kalo sayurnya agak asiin, mungkin keringet kita ikut netes.. hiiiii… :p
Malem-malem baru pulang deh…



Hari H
Selamat Idul Fitri.. Mohon Maaf Lahir dan Batin..

Akhirnya dipilih hari ini sebagai hari Lebaran.. setelah terjadi kebingungan kapan siih lebarannya.. sampai minggu malam, kan masih belum jelas kapan 1 syawal-nya..

Abis sholat ied, langsung berangkat ke rumah Nini di cilandak..

Waa, makanannya banyak banget.. selain ketupat lengkap, ada dendeng balado, rendang suir dan rendang daging *yang enak banget*, rendang paru, bakwan malang, gudeg wijilen, aneka pempek, rujak serut, asinan (tetep adaa,, ada eyang yang kirim karena dia tau kita pingin asinan. Hebat yaa..), pasta, punch, buah-buahan… bener-bener bisa ‘bales dendam’ setelah sebulan puasa deh.. hehe…

Selain keluarga besar (Niniku dan seluruh anak dan cucunya yang ada di sini), banyak juga sodara yang lain.. intinya, nggak perlu keliling lagi deh untuk halal bihalal.. cukup stand by aja di rumah Nini.. and you’ll get everyone you need to meet.. *walaupun mesti capek juga nyiapin makanan/minuman untuk para tamu…*

Sorenya baru ke rumah nenekku yang satunya di Bintaro.. ngumpul juga dengan seluruh keluarga dari mamaku..



H +1
alias Lebaran kedua..
Bapak dan Ibu mertua beserta seluruh keluarganya dateng ke rumah..
Waa,, masak dari pagi sama mama. Mamaku yang hebat itu, bisa selesai masak dalam waktu 2 jam aja lho,, padahal masak 4 menu!! Rame… :)

To conclude,,, capek, tapi menyenangkaaan… get to see all my family….

For me, Lebaran is always one of the most important days of the year…
*My other most important days of the year are.. my birthday (21st of November – coming soon and don’t forget!! Hehe..), my wedding anniversary (12th August), my hubby’s birthday (17th Jan) and new year.. well, so far, there are 5 days in a year.. but the list may be added.. :) *