Did Elvis Sing in the Shower?

This sums up rather brilliantly on why I will keep blogging although not every so often. From my favorite motivational blog by Danielle LaPorte:

The conclusion: I don't actually need to write, not like Anais Nin did, or Henry Miller. I don't journal... I yearn to philosophize. My voice - written, spoken, sketched - engages me with life. Either Rumi or God or Orpheus planted a mechanism in my brain that compels me to broadcast my epiphanies in anyway I can. Even on my most interior and complex pursuits I'm thinking to myself, "Can't wait to register this a-ha in The Ever Evolving Big Mix of Cosmic A-ha's." The mix of us-ness. The mix of heartbreak and euphoria, collapses, and victories of determined love. Our mix. My art doesn't work without the Our.

I thank you, my readers. Wherever you are, whatever you do. I know you exist out there from the life traffic feed. You make my day by each click.



May 2010 be an even better years for you.



XOXO

sapimalas

More about → Did Elvis Sing in the Shower?

Recent Things That Made Me Mooing

Movie
The Boat That Rocked. Invite your friends, grab a beer (or four) and rock your weekend with this supercalifragalisticexplialidocious movie.

Food

Daddy's Kitchen Restaurant's Green Noodle and Lao Ta Pudding.
Have a bite at Jalan Puputan Niti Mandala Renon (next to Suranadi & Warug Babi Guling Renon)

Stepper Machine
Post-modern torturous device to kill off extra bulge on your thigh. Try it at your nearest gym.
Extra pain and muscle spasm guaranteed. Weight loss at your own risk.

Before sleep Talk Show
Mata Najwa. Every Wednesday night on 23.00 WIB at Metro TV. Let the gorgeous and super-smart Najwa Shihab stimulate and lull you to sleep. Never before news can be so fun.

Latest obsession when grocery shopping
Lemonade from Berry Juice. Best served chilled when outside is 35 degree celcius.

Treasure found upon blog walking
www.lonnymag.com

Christmas wish list
I hug and kiss thee, my generous Samaritan.

Embracing escapism by reading
The Stories of Eva Luna by Isabel Allende.

Favorite new salad bar
Zucchini on Jalan Laksamana 37, Seminyak

More about → Recent Things That Made Me Mooing

What The Little Blue Bird Can Do

I finally found the perfect template for sapimalas. After what seemed like an endless search, I found this beautiful template in btemplate and wonderfully designed by Insight. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Don’t you just adore the gleeful pin-up girl in the corner?

While we are in the topic of blogging, I found myself lately in the restless mood. I got so easily distracted by ehem, twitter and information flood inside that tiny micro world. I kept clicking over links from newspaper, latest updates from favorite artists and sale info. I kept refreshing the page and skipped lunch so I can just re-tweet or reply comments from friend (which, by the way, is online at moment with me in the messenger). How sick could you get? It’s really is the new addiction. Does twitter kills blogging?

I’m so afraid I would be this tweeting/ blogging/ status updater maniac, I banned smart phone from my life. I know myself and what I’m capable of. Trust me; I will be really out from real life if I get my hands on that thing. Anyway, I still love the old fashioned meeting up with friend over coffee and have a real talk, real laugh which doesn’t involve L.O.L. Is it too much to ask?

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Say Hello to Terminal 3

Despite valiant government's effort of finally developing Soekarno Hatta International Airport and built the new so-called green terminal, it lacks some of essential touches. The most noticeable failure in the new terminal is the echo from flight announcement. It was almost impossible to comprehend what was being said since the voice was bouncing all over the place. However, I had to give a light applause for the coffee vending machines, drinking water pumps, smoking room, etc. which was God's given miracle if you found yourself stranded there for six hours like I did. Design-wise, there was nothing you were not expected in any international airport. Still a long way to go to keep a tally with Changi, but well, it's a start.

P.S: A big applause for Bakmi Gajah Mada. You just saved many starving travelers from cold tasteless soto ayam.

More about → Say Hello to Terminal 3

Daddy Dearest

First.

There was disbelief.

You, your solid chest, the safest place I know

changed marble cold.

Your pair of big fingered hands,

always delicate and fixing things

turned limp and blue.

I bathed you as you did so many years ago

to my slippery child body, lovingly.

I inhale your scent, hungry and wish I could frame it for infinity

soon, it was too robbed from me

replaced by cold cold hand of death

Second.

There were people.

People smile. People cry. People mourn. People remember.

People ask. How, when, where.

I answer, a wrecked cassette all tangled up inside.

Be strong, they tell.

Be brave, they hearten.

After all, what other things can they possibly say?

Third.

It was a beautiful day to say goodbye.

It was raining during the whole way (I’d like to think the sky also cries).

I held your framed picture as we passed the familiar streets of our life.

That’s the place where you went to check your car’s wheels.

That’s the restaurant where we shared our favorite noodle.

That’s where we bought our tiles, right Dad?

The last time I pass this street with you.

Fourth.

Your sixty year old body goes up in ashes.

I watched the entire time.

When it was done, I held your whole being in a small terracotta jar.

For all you’ve been, a father, a husband, a brother, an uncle, a friend, you fit in a jar.

I scattered your ashes into the sea, a place you loved so much.

The same sea where you taught me to swim and you windsurfed so many decades ago.

Fifth.

I’d like to think of you now, back to being young

Windsurfing in all ocean of the world

Eternal brave Odysseus, as you’ve been during your life

Sailing ahead to Ithaca

When you watched us from afar

living the life to make you proud.

More about → Daddy Dearest

In a Hope for a Good Samaritan

If I learn one thing these past few months, is to never say never. So here is my wish list. I kiss and hug you virtually, my Good Samaritan.

More about → In a Hope for a Good Samaritan

I Would Kill For This

A collection of 100 postcards, each featuring a different and iconic Penguin book jacket. From classics to crime, here are over seventy years of quintessentially British design in one box.

More about → I Would Kill For This

Books That Nearly Broke My Back

Recent purchase on latest trip to Jakarta:

1. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (hardcover & on sale for a mere 100.000 IDR)
2. Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang
3. More About Nothing by Wimar Witoelar
4. Oeroeg by Hella S. Haasse
5. Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
6. A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman & Karen Mack
7. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
8. Middlemarch by George Eliot

and it was only a week trip.

More about → Books That Nearly Broke My Back

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2009: Indonesian Literature on the Global Stage

Due to a very busy schedule of holidays, my work in BaLi (or affectionally shortened as “Banyak Libur”) was interrupted to a certain degree causing e-mails traffic jam in my inbox. Idul Fitri was not fully done as can be seen in the unfinished paving project in front of my office; but yet we are welcoming Galungan and Kuningan tomorrow. This year’s Ubud Writers and Readers Festival was jammed between those two holidays. Dreadfully, I had only one day to spare.

After a late start (was watching a splendid performance of ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream’ the night before), I made it on time to Neka Museum just before Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Zeffry Alkatiri, Nelden Djakababa, NH Dini and Pam Allen (as moderator) took their seats. The panel session: Indonesian literature on the global stage. Or, lack thereof. The small audiences, consisted mostly of foreigners and as usual, only few locals, were obviously has been exposed to one or more works of Indonesian literatures. After a brief introduction of the writers, the moderator then moved to ask about how important it was for the writers to have their works translated and published abroad. Seno Gumira Ajidarma in his reknown candid self answered, “It’s not that important for me but it is important for Indonesia, to show the world that we can write.”

When the moderator asked to the writers about what was their early exposition to literature and if formal education got anything to do with it, the response were amusing. It is fair to say that all of the writers have had little brush with literature on their early ages. Nelden Djakababa admits frankly that she was traumatized by her school experience when she was pressed to memorizing Armin Pane’s ‘Belenggu’ instead of discussing it. Zeffry Alkatiri also admits that in his limited childhood, he was at first reading only magazines or comic books. Seno Gumira Ajidarma recalled Chairil Anwar poems as his early exposition on Indonesian literature and it was due to the fact that his poems was always in use at every school competition. The Grande Dame of Indonesian women writers, NH Dini, admits that she was lucky to have good teachers at school who shared with her the passion for reading, which ultimately made her a reader for life. In her soft Javanese accented voice, she says she's an autodidact writer who learns how to write by reading. To my surprise, she also admits to the audiences on how limited was her budget to buy books and how she counted on her friend in France to send her books. It was NH Dini, a well-known writer and I dread to think of another readers who share the same hardship on purchasing books which by the way, are getting more expensive each year.

Anton Kurnia, another panelist, came belatedly at that moment and in a brief summary (between sweating and talking, since it was very hot in Ubud) told the audiences about his reading (an adult magazine which published crime and sex articles together with Camus’s short story) and what it means for him to write. He calls it “solidarity in solitude” on how he writes about the country and its people. The panelists also discussed about the need to strengthen readership in Indonesia first, then later to bring it abroad. What kind of literature would it be if the work was not known in its original language and origin. It was quite a memorable session and as an Indonesian hoping to be one day hearing Seno Gumira Ajidarma or Danarto mentioned in the same breath as Vikram Seth or another Asian writer, I hope this event could be a platform for Indonesian wealth of literature to be known abroad.

To sums it up, Indonesian literature should first be founding a strong hold in Indonesia itself. It can be done only by erasing the grave prejudices most people have on the word ‘literature’ as a heavy, intimidating and intellectually superior meaning. Memorizing poems or classics surely are not enough to create a reader out of a student. Reading is a process. One moves from fairytales and storybooks to comics to short stories to poems to novels. Adapted film can also be another media to put Indonesia on international stage such as “Laskar Pelangi” to name one. Richard Oh, in his sparkling comment, said, “We are unfortunate that we weren’t colonialized by the British” as witnessed in the thriving growth of Indian or Malaysian literature and their easier access to international publication. Eric Setiawan’s “of Bees and Mist”, for example, has been published abroad and he might be a beginning of many Indonesian diaspora writers who can tell the world about Indonesia.

Before I ended this entry, I’d love to quote Seno Gumira Ajidarma when he says that ‘the love of literature doesn’t always to be found in school and writing doesn’t always about technique but also about things that you have to say’. Very well said, indeed.

P.S: Sorry, due to my camera being broken, I couldn't take any shot of this event.

More about → Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2009: Indonesian Literature on the Global Stage

J'adore Don Draper Part.2 : Here's Why

Donald Draper, fictive ad-man extraordinaire, recently been nominated as the number one of 49 Most Influential Men by AskMen.com. I just couldn't agree more.

Don Draper may be a fictional character on AMC's Mad Men, but he's just as real as any other public personality you can think of. Celebrities are brands, with carefully constructed images, and most of us are just as likely to have a beer with Don Draper as with anybody else on this list. What matters is that Draper's hardass 1960s persona represents something about male identity that is enduringly captivating but has nonetheless vanished. The man that Don Draper is -- value-driven and thoroughly masculine -- is the product of a bygone era; without him, there would be no contemporary figure to represent it. Yet, as removed as his persona may be, it is also contemporary and familiar. He's a postwar archetype, both a brilliant career man and a temptation-swayed philanderer who sincerely wants to be a family man. Like most men, us and our fathers both, Draper is permanently conflicted over how to reconcile his morals and his desires.

Draper illustrates old-school values even though he often fails to meet them himself. His human flaws are what make him so relevant to men today. He is by turns a chain-smoking, drinking-in-the-office emblem of a bygone age, and an unusually real, earnest human being who illustrates the struggles modern men know all too well.

More about → J'adore Don Draper Part.2 : Here's Why

and they live happily ever after...not

All works by Dina Goldstein via yatzer.

More about → and they live happily ever after...not

Julia is One Country Closer

She's in India and angered the Indian public for interrupting their praying. However, the shooting continues. Next trip: Bali. Julia Watch is on. Over and out.

More about → Julia is One Country Closer

Confessions of A Bookaholic

1. I confess I have plenty of unopened books scattered all over the house and yet I still appallingly buying or borrowing new books whenever situation permit me to do so.

2. I confess I shamefully prefer not to lend my precious book to a stranger or a ‘friend’ (because in most of the case, it happens that a friend of a friend borrows it and it will eventually ended up in wilderness). It feels like that I have missed a limb.

3. I confess I once stole a book from hotel library. Guilty as charged.

4. I confess that there are some low moments in my life when I prefer to spend time with a book and a cup of strong Toraja coffee, getting swept of my boring mundane life to the other world, than going out with real people.

5. I confess I still read on bed in the worst yet most comfortable position ever known in history and certified by optometrist to be sure giving you bad eyesight (I’m minus 4 and counting, for this very reason). Oh well.

6. I confess that if there is such a thing as ‘bibliorgasm’ I surely have had hundreds of them whenever I got a new book to read ;-)

7. I confess to wishing fervently that one day I will fall in love with someone by the books, or library he owns.

8. I confess if it happened that my check-out time from Hotel World has come, my heaven will be some sort of a spectacular library.

9. I confess I’m not the neatest reader. My books are creased, spilled, tattered and occasionally ripped…a healthy sign that it’s been savored passionately.

10. I confess the concept of retirement is very tempting. I can’t wait to read as much as I can when that time arrives (optimistically thinking my eyesight then will be as good).

11. I confess the reason I select my handbag is if it’s big enough to carry a book.

12. I confess that my friends find me insufferable if they found themselves trapped with me in a bookshop. It will be most likely that I spent few hours in there, lost between shelves (and later on, will belatedly realize I came with a friend).

13. I confess I visit online book store when I’m supposed to finish works.

14. I confess whenever I travel; local book shop is always in my top priority even tough in some countries I couldn’t even read the alphabets.

15. I have confessed. Now is your turn.

More about → Confessions of A Bookaholic

I Eat, Pray, Love for Julia & Javier

...so that they will come to Bali and shoot their new adaptation movie "Eat, Pray, Love" based from Liz Gilbert's best-selling memoir. Above, a pic of Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) divorcing her husband (James Franco), taken in NYC.

Based from an article in The Jakarta Post, the third part of the movie will be filmed in Bali (after Italy and India for sure). Keep watching this space for future update. I'm so stalking Julia and Javier Bardem from now on. J & J watch is on, people!

More about → I Eat, Pray, Love for Julia & Javier

One Fine Day

Off we go, Miss B & I, to the Sanur Village Festival 2009. Mertasari Beach was hot and no self-respected local ladies went there. They paid too much for skincare products already. However, this two local ladies adore the sun, word 'festival' and things called 'food'. It was hot but windy enough to pass for 'breezy'.

There were kites. A surreal flying teddy bear and octopuses.

We arrived at the food depot. Pork ribs and curries wafting in the air. The area was dead quiet. Few people who were there, ready for the sun grill, were either in the committee or rehearsing. We picked a nice seat right beside a giant mist fan and started our culinary adventure. First, came the beef lasagna flushed down by melting gelato. After a initial pause, we continued to samosas ended with buttery coffee bread. Public toilet mysteriously hidden somewhere.

People started to come around 4, when the sun begun to weaken and moved to shine on another continent. There was emergency boutiques where local garments manufacturer sold their leftover products. I got my hand henna-ed for the first time. Miss B bought few pieces of tres chic kid clothes made for France. We went home happy. The end.

More about → One Fine Day

Indonesia Unite!

"Negeri kita kaya, kaya, kaya-raya, Saudara-saudara. Berjiwa besarlah, berimagination. Gali ! Bekerja! Gali! Bekerja! Kita adalah satu tanah air yang paling cantik di dunia".

Kutipan Pidato Bung Karno di Semarang, 29 Juli 1956

More about → Indonesia Unite!

J'adore Don Draper

What is not to love from Don Draper? His dark and cool exterior, persuasive and insightful performance in board meetings, not to mention his boudoir actions with various different women. Even his excessive chain smoking looks hot. Oh Don, you can harass me anytime!

I first learned about this show from my cousin who told me excitedly: "You're going to love the dresses!". She knows about my peculiar obsession with vintage clothing. I spent an entire week drawn to that American era when smoking was still considered healthy in addition to the men being proud sexist pigs and had not a clue about the words "sexual harassment". I enjoyed every second of the meeting and brain storming scenes where you can see all types of advertising individuals in action. The supporting characters are richly pictured in their own trouble and glory. The office affair, intrigue, competition...some things are always stay the same. Have I mentioned the setting? Oh my. It will need a blog of its own to describe the meticulous details it has, from the set design to the vintage clothing.

My favorite Don Draper's quote:

What you call love is was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons. You're born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts. But I never forget. I'm living like there's no tomorrow, because there isn't one

So in this joyous momentum to celebrate Mad Men's third season, AMC made this fun game of turning yourself into one of the Mad Men's character: Mad Men Yourself. You can use the character in your facebook, twitter or even your desktop. This is me visiting Sterling Cooper's office :-)

More about → J'adore Don Draper

Daily Snippet #1

Moi : Can you please pass me the thesaurus?
Bro: I thought they're all already extinct

More about → Daily Snippet #1

Trust Me When I Say It's Hot in Here

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Wonderful Way to Spend Your Retirement

A 91-year-old woman from Stranraer in south-west Scotland is believed to be Britain's most prolific library book reader after staff at her local library realised she is on the brink of borrowing her 25,000th book. Louise Brown, who borrowed her first book from Castle Douglas library in 1946, now reads about 12 books every week – chiefly Mills & Boon romances, war stories and historical dramas – and has never had a fine for returning a book late. Janice Goldie, of Dumfries and Galloway Libraries, said: "The staff at Stanraer library think she is a remarkable lady and look forward to her weekly visits."

-From an article in Guardian.co.uk.

More about → Wonderful Way to Spend Your Retirement

Recent Things Learned

1. Coffee is good for your body. Don't let people convince you otherwise. Based on this Kompas article, coffee helps to prevent Alzheimer, diabetes, kidney stone, as well as protecting your skin from cancer and lower your risk of breast cancer.

2. Over excitement upon playing with your pet might injured you in the least expected place. Say, your lips, for instance. Suffice to say, it hurts.

3. There is indeed such a thing called luck. It gave me a goody bags full with surfing merchandise from Roxy because four other losers before me didn't answer a phone call. Take that, suckers!

4. Having a brother who eats like a boy-pig is such a curse when you tried to shed few kilos. He convinced you all the time that eating that piece of tiny pizza won't hurt anyone. He was wrong.

5. Eating spicy foods during weekend was really not a wise decision.

6. Check out this color script from UP the movie. Je adore!

More about → Recent Things Learned

World's Worst Tourists

Not the Russian. Nyet. I also thought it would be the Russian. Apparently, the world's worst tourists are our Gallic friends, tze French. Yes, they might control the fashion world, has a gorgeous First Lady, invented croissant, claimed to produce the best wine in tze whole world and played host to the most prestigious cycling event. But ohlala, when it comes to being a tourist and visiting other countries, their manner is uncharmingly French.

Don't get me wrong here. I love France, the French in general and their culture. In fact, I might say I'm a bit of a Francophile. During my travel, I met superbly generous and warm-hearted French who welcomed me to their country even tough they speak no English, I speak no French and our communication was basically Stone Age. An old man in Paris led me to the nearest Metro station when I got lost and said sincerely 'bonne chance!' (little did I know then, that when a Frenchman told you 'good luck' it means that you're in real need for luck).

I met a fine gentleman from Bordeaux who informed me on how the French made foie gras (those poor French ducks!) and where to find the most authentic French cuisine. I also met two fine specimen of what French guys are famously known world wide. Mais oui, those penetrating deep dark eyes, one day unshaven beard, knee weakening accent and all that. Unfortunately, their manner was invicible. They kept speaking in their native French tongue, ignored me and my friend completely, responded icely when one of my friend was brave enough to said the one and only words he knew in French: voulez-vouz coucher avec moi (ce soir)? It's a bit kitschy, I know, but what's the harm in smiling?

They also accused to spend less than nationalities when abroad. Well, I find spending lots of money shopping while you traveling is a waste either. You can use it to travel more better than buying those kitschy snow globe or giant size pencil that you'll never use anyway. Maybe Indonesian tourists could learn that from the French. To be fair, French tourists are not all bad. They are also happened to be the best dressed tourists on holiday, after the Italians and British. That I absolutely agree. Living in Bali, my eyes are pretty much trained to tell which tourist is from which country. We loved playing that game on the beach.

Australians: you can pretty much tell from their red face (Bintangs effect), Billabong shorts or Roxy T-shirts and their cheerful, friendly nature.

Japanese: you can find in most shopping arcade, well (over) dressed, always with big hats or umbrella (a trait they share with other Asian tourist whose biggest phobia are having dark skin). When you take a picture of them, there are 90% chance they'll pose with that Winston Churcill gesture of victory.

Chinese/Taiwanese/Korean: usually comes in big bus, having their meals in Chinese restaurant which has Lazy Susan all over the tables, not as well dressed as their Japanese counterparts and loud.

Italians: good looking people. Well dressed (less is more is their spirit). Tanned (I've never seen a pasty, white faced Italian before). Mostly wear good shoes and always wear at least a piece of bling bling (regardless of their sex)

Germans: well, what can I say about this one? German tourists are much ridiculed everywhere on their-too-casual-tend-to-ignorant choice of fashion, their Birkenstock (although I must admit it is very comfortable) and their beer belly. They're nice people tough. You can always depend on them for being on time, never break the laws, good partner for hiking (they have diesel stamina).

Russians: scandalous. Rich. Spending like there's no tomorrow. Always bring a blank-faced -killer body- trophy wife/mistress/girlfriend/harem/slave/prostitute whenever they travel. The men always looks like they've been recently released from a prison by the gulag.

And to be fair, Indonesian: travel in a bunch. Most of the time can be found in major shopping street all over the world (tell an Indonesian tourist that there's no shop in your small town, they'll be able to find one eventually). Always posing in front of famous landmarks or everywhere they think will looks good in their facebook page, even if they block the traffic. We don't care.

So there you go. Please don't take it harshly. It doesn't mean to ridicule people or their nationalities. It's only to prove that cliche does exist.

More about → World's Worst Tourists

More Reason to Take Coffee Break

..if the coffee itself is not already an excuse, I mean. Listen to these three charming fellow reading passage from some of the best classic books such as Pride & Prejudice, Great Expectations or High Fidelity. I don't think drinking coffee will ever be the same after this.

More about → More Reason to Take Coffee Break

Murakami New Book: 1Q84

Can't wait for it to be translated into English. As Haruki Murakami's die-hard fan, I pledge to start saving now. After all, two hard-covers of 1,000 something pages does sounds expensive. No publisher review has leaked yet beside this tiny bit of info that the book is about 'two characters, a man and a woman, who are searching for each other'.

More about → Murakami New Book: 1Q84

Summer Reading

Ah, Summer. The glorious season to read. During vacay, at home or in your favorite cafe (like what I do all the time). AbeBooks compiled lists of 2009 summer read. There are classics as well as new books from new writers. Currently, I have 52 to-read books in my goodreads page. How I wish I own more than a pair of eyes and hands.

More about → Summer Reading

Around the Road on Sunday

Literal translation. The pic is blurry because my other hand was on the wheel.

One can only assuming that inside there is no skinny chef.

More about → Around the Road on Sunday

Breakfast at Bali

A great way to start the day.

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Meet Le Petit Prince and Matilda

There is finally a sun in Bali. I've been sitting my days at the office, grumpy and mellowed by the gray weather. I've been around the internet today (yes, during office hours. You got me busted!) and found this post in notcot.com about illustration made by artists, inspired by children book covers. Children books and illustration is inseparable. It is part of the magic. As you can see I took the liberty of showcasing few illustration in this blog. For complete report and drawings click here.

I really adore this picture of Matilda I made it my profile picture in goodreads.

And of course you just can't miss the all time favorite, Le Petit Prince. I wish I can own them all!

More about → Meet Le Petit Prince and Matilda

Jakarta: Best Place to Learn Patience

Patience is a virtue. Patience is a virtue. Patience is a virtue. Om... or so the mantra went in my mind during one of the worst time ever in my life. I sat hunched in a small car with four other girls, all of us were starving, in serious need for relieving ourselves from the increased pressing down under and was so tired from swearing everyone in charge of this stinking hell hole which was Jakarta. We were trapped in a freeway (freeway! Oh the irony of it!) for almost six hours just because we wanted to celebrate my friend's birthday.

Luckily, I don't live there anymore. I live in an island where you don't have to be trapped for three hours just because you made a spontaneous decision of visiting your boyfriend in his house. Here, I could just do a spontaneous U-turn and reward myself with a lychee martini and peaceful sunset without the need to stuck in traffic for hours (except of course when Homo Jakartanesis decides to have an island getaway and flock to this tiny island and create yet another traffic).

My favorite Time magazine recently created a list of The Best of Asia 2009. Maldives was rewarded as the best place to hear the call to prayer. Philippines was named as the best place to eat suckling pig. China was mentioned as the place to get autumn hike. How about Indonesia, you ask. Well, it certainly received a mention as well. Jakarta to be more precise. Apparently, Jakarta is the best place to learn patience. In a car. For hours. Waiting for your gallbladder to burst open.

In the article written by Jason Tedjasukmana, Jakarta's traffic will grind to a complete halt by 2014. That is five years from now. If the government don't take any immediate action, Jakarta will be an underwater city with traffic. Advice to the hip-trendy-cooler-than-thou-Jakartans: maybe it's time to seek job else where? You know, just in case.

More about → Jakarta: Best Place to Learn Patience

Bonjour Française!

Click here for complete schedule

More about → Bonjour Française!

Come Ye Readers Wherever You Are...

Click to enlarge the picture.

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Free Screening "Une Femme est Une Femme"

Friday, April 17, 2009
7pm
Alliance Française
Jalan Raya Puputan I No. 13A
Renon - Denpasar

Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Starring: Anna Karina, Jean-Claude Brialy, Jean-Paul Belmondo
1961/80mins./Comedy
French with English subtitle

More about → Free Screening "Une Femme est Une Femme"

Why I Will Never Set Foot Again on the Mangrove Information Center

#1

Upon entering the entrance, a man demanded entrance fee for 50,000 IDR for foreigner. He gave me no ticket, no nothing. When I pressed him about this matter, he said coyly ‘for the maintenance purpose’. Yeah right. Can somebody confirm to me about this entrance fee? Obviously, nothing is being maintained there as you can see below…

#2

First thing first, there was much plastic garbage dumped or stranded on the mangrove trees. I know this happened because of the disgusting amount of people are still dumping their garbage to the river which eventually ended up in the trash mangrove forest

#3

The famous 1.9 km wooden walkway was in such a bad shape I didn’t believe that so far there is no accident reported. The track was disjointed, terrifyingly angled to only one side and some are simply gone (wood fire?). I wonder where the 50,000 IDR go

#4

It was hot, humid and apparently the mosquitoes were so hungry there. Don’t get me wrong, I like nature and I’m not a whiny princess who is afraid of sun and mosquitoes but it was too much. So it was totally beyond me how so many hormone-raging teenagers went there to make out. I understand the place is quite and hidden from parental view but still…oh, and they left so many vandalistic cryptograms (“Eko & Ayu Forever”) it was not cute anymore

In conclusion: Don’t go there. Just don’t. Find some place else for your pre-wedding photographs because bride with broken limb is not a pretty bride. Unless you are fully-covered by insurance and you love the adrenaline thrill of walking on ruined walkway with knowledge that you might fall to the swamp if you step on the wrong wood, then be my guest.

More about → Why I Will Never Set Foot Again on the Mangrove Information Center

Michelle & Carla's Fashion Showdown

I know I’m supposed to be more aware of the outcome of G 2O Summit and watching Obama kickin’ ass in his first international forum. However, I found his wife also particularly interesting. Her not-so-conservative style has been much complimented and debated. Even in this summit, she made splashes in the news regarding her ‘warm touch’ to the Queen and even this fashion showdown between Michelle and the badass First Lady of France, Carla Bruni- Sarkozy. Who do you think wear it better?

Michelle in Thakoon floral- print coat v.s Carla in Dior gray trench coat with her trademark, black flat

(not much choice there, considering her hubbie’s limited height).

More about → Michelle & Carla's Fashion Showdown

One Hour for Mother Earth

I can't help but share with you this cool link where you can find pictures of famous landmarks with the lights off and on. Just click the picture to see how the light dimmed for one hour to celebrate Earth Hour 2009, like this dark Bundaran HI in Jakarta. A small step but it was a step after all. We joined this green awareness by switching off our most of lamps in the house. I said most, because I couldn't help not watching the first episode of "Project Runaway" Season 5. Sorry, Mother Earth.

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Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover…

...or so they say!

Undeniably, book cover is what attracts potential reader to pick up a book from the rest of the stack. Well-designed books enhance the value and enrich the experience of reading. For me, there’s nothing more beautiful then holding a beautifully designed book in hand while sipping a latte. One of my favorite publishers is Penguin, which I believe successfully bring the concept of ‘well-designed cover’ to the whole new level. See here for yourself if you don’t quite believe me.



To take this subject even further, Abebooks also published a blog about “30 Novels Worth Buying For the Cover Alone” which includes some of my favorite designs. I guess what I’m trying to say is who doesn’t want these kinds of books in her or his library:or this:

Even their classic edition is simply gorgeous, don't you think?

More about → Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover…

"President" Ilham Anas

A photographer from Bandung made a splash in the internet because his resemblance to current USA President, Barack Obama. President Obama’s almost iconic status inevitably delivers a spawn of imitators including Mr. Ilham Anas. So far, Mr. Anas has been invited to Indonesia’s popular talk show, Bukan Empat Mata as well as becoming a star in in a Filipino medicine ad (supposedly “Mr.Obama” having a dinner with “Mrs. Gloria”). I won’t be surprised to hear if Mr.Anas will move to States someday soon and make a career out of it. Gather ye’rosebuds while ye’may...

More about → "President" Ilham Anas