Dubai From Above

Trying to produce creative juices for this blog and ended by editing some iPhone pictures when I was on plane from DBX to LOS. This year was different like before, I flew in the morning from Jakarta and arrived in the afternoon in Dubai. Two hours transit there (it was my third times stopped in Dubai after Abu Dhabi and Qatar, it means I flew five times already :|), quick-surfing at some shops inside the airport and went straight to my gate for the next flight. Afternoon flight gave me another experience with my iPhone (even I’ve tried holding my iPhone as straight as I could to get the angle).

Taken above Dubai, Palm Deira, Ash Sharqiyah, Riyadh, and Ouham.

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Window seat is the best place if you are ‘stare-up-my-window’ kind of person when on flight. A happy moment for myself everytime I sit by the window, listening to my favorite songs, and wondering about this world. A beautiful sunset will be a bonus.

Cherries Play II

It took me so long to write something about best friends in Bahasa. Once I had a will to write, I stopped. No words fitted on the sentences, too bad. Instead, I want to share some accidental shots last Sunday when I came back from grocery shopping in the afternoon and brought some cakes home. When I found cherry in the store even the price was higher because US Dollars is strong right now, I took it home as a gift for myself.

I didn’t even have an idea to snap them before I enjoyed later, then this happened. Sony NEX-5 versus iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 are those last three pictures below. I did a photograph of cherries before, in case you’re interested to compare it with this post ;).

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I didn’t count how many times I played this catchy song on iTunes (even I love more by watching the video, looooovely visuals on the clip!). I enjoy different music genres, from this old Dangdut song, one from Robbie Williams, until this version from Nathan Hartono. Cinematography from this v clip is beautiful, love those wild animals on the scenes!

Well, good night peeps!

Good Times

We all have our definition of a good time. Having a best friends-talk with coffee is my version of what is a good time or, an opportunity enjoying delicious food with my family. On this post, I’d compiled some good times I had when I was really, really enjoyed quality times with my best friends. Reminiscing those moments makes me realize that life is how we should enjoy every precious time with everyone we loved, and let it be a good time.

Many coffee-scenes on our table via iPhone 6 on this post! Let’s start! :)

A | First one was a coffee-scene when I landed in Abu Dhabi airport. A good time I had was simply amazing there, just after I flew 8 hours from here. Ah, annual leave is always a very very good time. I remember I traveled on fasting month when I left by 9 am from this country and landed just after iftar time in Abu Dhabi. It’s mean I was still fasting on the plane so I didn’t take my meal :). I always enjoy my flight-meal every time I travel back home yet that time I still had good time while I had nothing in my tummy. Yep, my excitement for another 8 hours to Indonesia was the reason. When I landed in Abu Dhabi airport which is smaller than Dubai and less confusing, I took a simply light food for my iftar. Just a cup of hot cappuccino and panna cota while I was waiting for my next flight (I kept it light cause I always worry if I have to use airplane restroom for a long in international flight).

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B | Second, a good time with my childhood best friend, Sohib. We had a good time that day watching Ant-Man together in the cinema. Anything better than enjoying an afternoon with your best friend and movie?. Fifteen minutes before the movie played, we shared some sweets on our table even I have to admit that the taste of that rolled-crepes with ice cream on top wasn’t delish as how it looks here. But wait, how could I resist taking picture of them on that super cute table? :)

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C | Third, a very very good time again with Sohib. I asked Sohib to join me for cafe hopping and finally tried delicious mille-crêpes in La Réia, a little cute cafe inside Ciputra World, Surabaya. Best friend-talk, yummy dessert plus coffee in one fine afternoon?, how I missed that moment. Another part of good time that day was when I could meet with Atre and Giri again with Sohib. I always feel good when I have a chance to link my friends like what I did to Sohib. I knew he was quite nervous when he met with Atre and Giri for the first time yet I’m sure his mind would open wider on how to have new friends. Inspiring new friends like Atre and Giri? He must be happy for that moment :).

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D | Fourth, let’s throw back to Singapore. I had a good time on my second day there when I finally met Maya! and Ranu ;). How I missed Maya and her cheesiness right now. A good time indeed when I just came back from Jummah prayer, met Maya and ready to explore the day (hope you guys aren’t boring with my late post from Singapore cause I still have a lot of photos from that trip ;)). First stop when we met was for pies and cold lattes at Le Kue. We spent two hours (if i’m not wrong ;P) for best friend talk and free wi-fi for our next destination. Oh, say hi to Ranu! :) He’s as cheesy as his mom, huh?

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E | Fifth, on my last day in Singapore with Maya and Ranu we stopped by at I-am after we went separately in the morning. I went to Gardens by Bay while Maya took Ranu to Bugis mall looking for Minions kids bag (and ended with toys, sigh). It was drizzling a bit that noon and made the day was cool enough (humid Singapore was something). Had to admit that a good time with Maya and Ranu on our last day was quite missed. Sharing rainbow cakes and mille-crepês with both of them was good (though the taste of those eye-candy desserts wasn’t delicious as they look!). I always enjoy my time when Maya starts laughing loudly with ‘who-cares’ feeling for everyone around us ;).

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F | Sixth, how lucky I was when I had a short time in Jakarta extending my visa and finally met Mbak Ririn this year. She is a kind-hearted woman I always excited to meet with. When I knew I had to stay one night in Jakarta after I was done in Embassy I, asked Mbak Ririn if we could meet and it would be exciting if Maya could join us. I though I could meet again with Giri and Atre when they were in Jakarta that time (sadly they had their own event). So, it happened when Maya closed by 21.30 pm and we met near my hotel and went straight to Koi Kemang. It was a good time meeting with Mbak Ririn again! We shared stories and oh, she knew me well and didn’t feel interrupted when I had to move our food to another table near us for pictures ;P. Just because there was a brighter lighting and, how could I resist to keep that moment into photographs?

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G | Seventh, it was such a dream sharing a beautiful Saturday morning with my best friends, Andhi and Sohib (again? ;P). I was beyond happy we had best-friend-talk with desserts and coffees at this cute coffee shop that day (one of my fave green tea latte in Surabaya). We didn’t stop at this cafe only and spent an afternoon with another best friend-talks and Indonesian food for lunch then ended by homemade martabak in my parent’s house. It was a real good time indeed.

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H | The last one was a good time with another best friend of mine that ran away from her house just to see me ;) (I’ll write another story about her that day, later). Cafe hopping in one of the newest coffee shop in town, Caturra Espresso (hope I’m not wrong ;P) plus best friend-talk along with taro and green tea latte was a beautiful day. Sadly the cake wasn’t that delicious but the interior, and the light, and those wide clear glasses is on point. As I wish I had longer time with Mbak Ika that day :).

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Well, looking for continuous posts after this hopefully, and hello September! 

Ladurée Singapore

While I’m still thinking and trying to write about how grateful I was, when I had chances to see my best friends this year in Indonesia, let me jump quickly for some iPhone pictures of Ladurée Singapore.

Visiting Ladurée store was on my list when I spent 4 days in Singapore for my quick jaunt this year. I had two main reasons why. First, I’ve eaten macarons several time but wondering their luxury double-decker macarons taste was on my mind since I dreamt about Paris. Second, I wanted to learn how Ladurée as one of the most well-known luxury bakery and sweets maker house in the world package their products. So in one fine afternoon on my third day in Singapore, I went to Takashimaya in Orchard road with Maya.

Entering hi-class mall with hi-class stuffs everywhere made me dizzy a bit (cause I couldn’t bring them home :P). Just five minutes after we entered the mall we found Ladurée’s counter. But I said to Maya that I wanted to buy the macarons in their store because I was so sure we could see more eye-candy macarons and other products, plus their beautiful interior. Because it was lunch time, both of us and Ranu (Maya’s cute son) decided to find something heavier for lunch. Then, after we went around to Harrods and other stores buying some goodies for both of us, we finally found Ladurée store and our eyes were sparkling. The interior is beautiful, details everywhere, and I fell in love with how Ladurée takes graphic design on their packaging seriously. I was so confused when I had to choose my own box of 6 and 8 macarons :P. The macarons? well, you’ll know the difference why their macarons is quite expensive if you grab some :). The texture and the taste of their fresh macarons is different. Crunchy outside, fluffy inside.

Do you think spending S$70 for 14 macarons is worth-it since the macarons have to fly over from Paris?

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Oh, visiting Ladurée in Paris is still in my dream, tho :). Just like how Alice Gao was excited about Ladurée when she hadn’t never been to Paris that time (I think she made a wish to see Paris on that post and she flew to Paris many times years after!, should I put this post as a simply wish to see Paris soon? :)).

It’s Been A While

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Fiuh, let me take a deep breath…

It’s been a while I know I’ve ignored this blog since I travelled back to Indonesia. I landed back here on 9th of August and right now (breathing), I have a loooot on my plate. I’m having 5 different concepts of wedding in the same time, in a short time. All is need to be done while I’m still having A, B, C, D, E around me. Back to real life, indeed. Well, what I’d love to do is being grateful cause my brain is working and practicing new challenges.

Above is a coffee-scene this morning when I had to keep my eyes opened from 4,5 hours-sleep, cooked for breakfast, and back to office for some deadlines.

Will come back for some new posts soon, I promise.

Back to work. Again, let me take a deep breath.

Few From Abu Dhabi

Oh gosh time flies so fast, indeed. I’ve been here for wait, ten days? And it’s just like three days (in my dream).

In this short post, I just wanted to share some cuties I brought from my five-hours-transit in Abu Dhabi. As usual, every time I’m going home, I can’t keep my wallet close for some souvenirs. Since I didn’t bring many from Africa this year, I took some for my best friends, my family and for myself while I was in Abu Dhabi airport.

On this iPhone shot below, I brought as always fridge magnets, camel with snow-globe (I brought two, here is mine), camel with candle (two as well), a book of 100 interesting places in Abu Dhabi, chocolates (and chocolates, and Arabian key-chains, not captured here :)). Some of those cuties had been shared to few best friends of mine. Not only them, I couldn’t resist to grab the latest Kinfolk magazine when I landed in Jakarta.

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I thanked God for another opportunities to see some of my best friends until today (more to see, hopefully!). It’s always exciting to see them after a year. Yesterday when I met my best friend, Yuriko and his little family, I had a spring of joy. It wasn’t because I finally met with his too-cute baby boy as well, Brian, Yuriko gave me D&G-ish tee by Zara for my birthday present even it was two months ago. Another best friend, Rifda, brought me some cuties from Hawaii when I met her and her husband two days ago. I always take a serious appreciation for a simply gift that has a very, very deep meaning. The meaning of friendship.

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If you are a reader of this blog, it’s not a secret if I love collecting fridge magnet from all over the world. It’s a simply happiness if I can add more and more magnets from different countries. Most of these magnets here is a gift from my best friend. My fav magnet so far is those two from Egypt and New York of course :). Guys, I’m waiting the one from my dream city, Paris ;).

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Fifth Of July

Here we are, July!. I’m so pleased I can start counting hours to fly home (in fact, I’m so sleepy right now!). It’s always exciting wondering what should I do there, who will I spend my quality time with, what will I eat (oh Indonesian food, I can’t wait!) and where will I go this year.

Alright, before I fall sleep and wake up again for my last suhoor in the next four hours in this apartment, I would like to share some shots I did today. I can’t argue if you think these pictures would be so cheesy (since I’m not stylish enough to start sharing ‘fashion-stylist’ post kind of, sigh!). Hope you guys can take it as ‘photography-practice’ via iPhone ;).

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Comfortable outfit is a must if I travel for almost 20 hours (oh 22 hours to be exact if I have to count my transit time). I choose super comfortable basic tee by Zara for top and loose harem by Giordano for under (super comfy and who need belt in the airport? I wore the same thing last year). Just because a blanket can’t warm me enough inside the airplane, I take two-sided jacket by Zara (dunno, I always feel international flight is much chiller). Shoes with shoelaces is big no no when I have to travel with an airplane, basic jute shoes by Zara is big yes. A watch is substantial as well (it’s Fossil). Oh, I bring some of my cooking books along with other stuffs home.

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I have to make sure that my stuffs are neatly arranged inside my medium suitcase. First, because I love to see them arranged tidily, second (and I think it’s the real reason why) is the check-in officer in the airport will always ask the passenger to open their suitcase. By arranging your stuffs neatly, it means you don’t need to waste your time with them (cause sometimes it’s a bit annoying when they start asking you a, b, c, d). Picture above is the only one taken with mirror-less.

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What I put inside my mini Herschel backpack are my iPad, important files, portable charger, earphones of course, my travel wallet from Fossil, light chips and chocolates. I keep it as light as possible cause I put my MacBook and all those chargers, portable hard drives inside the smaller suitcase. My mirror-less is going with me as well just in case I find interesting moment/objects later.

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This year I have to be reasonable in so many ways, including how I spend for souvenirs. Tight budget is never be my friend yet I have to be more discipline for it. This noon I went to get two Ankara, one for my Mom and for the other one, I know who will I give to. I should bring more for my sisters but I think I’ll get something in Abu Dhabi. The rest of those souvenirs are already booked by the owner-will-be.

Well, I thanked God for another year I spent in this country. Challenges, tension, and obstacles I face for past eleven months made me stronger and stronger. Now, time to rest a bit and find big smile on my face when I wake up (gosh, it’s almost mid night!).

Indonesia, I’ll see you soon :).

Cheers,

-A-

Today’s Inspirations

Sometimes, inspirations come instantly at nowhere.

I came back to my apartment this afternoon after I spent one night at other Indonesian expatriates’s flats. I rarely spend my Saturday night outside esp when I have no events on the weekend. I pretty happier when I spend it inside my room, chilling and watching movies from my MacBook, snacks of course, and wake up late on Sunday morning. But yesterday, when my two other flatmates asked me to spend there, I said yes to myself. I just wanted to spend my Saturday night quite different.

It was quite fun when I could meet with some familiar faces and some ‘just-met’ yesterday. Having conversation with Indonesian woman who has been living in this country for almost twelve years, I cooked with others, and ate (I should repeat this word three times, ate and ate and ate). Yes, too-much hi-cholesterol food there!. One wasn’t finished, another one came.

My fav moment from my stay was a chance to go to Sunday market with them this morning. Sunday market opens very early only on Sunday at somewhere near their apartment. We went there to shop local fruits & veggies, fresh fishes, butchery, chinese tofu of course, and some other things. I always enjoy traditional market vibes where I can see people doing their activities, selling, bargaining, offering their things to costumer and other simply things. From our visit I went home with fresh prawns, fishes, and tofu. And bonus for me, when I could capture these ‘texture-play’ photos via iPhone 6.

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I always love a moment when I find something interesting around me, take my iPhone and feel happy for clear pictures then. So many interesting objects at the market as I wish people here could me more humble. Well, I think I shouldn’t talk longer, will enjoy my rest of Sunday with my new scented candle. It’s lavender.

 

Cheers,

-A-

Oh, I thought tomorrow is still Sunday, uh.

So Tasteful

Just want to share some iPhone shots from my breakfast this morning. I cooked meat balls in thick tomato and oyster sauce last night and the idea enjoying it with butter basmati rice came out when I woke up this morning. Fresh carrots with lemon juice and mint was so so good!

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My flatmate is going for his annual leave back to Indonesia this noon and I’m gonna miss him (can’t wait for my turn!).

Cheers,

-A-

Just A Little Gift

Ada dua alasan mengapa tanggal sebelas bulan Mei cukup istimewa. Pertama, itu hari lahir saya. Secondly, tanggal sebelas Mei tahun lalu dua sahabat baik saya, Ayos dan Winda resmi menikah. Ayos dan Winda sama-sama lahir di bulan Mei. Tanggal enam Ayos lahir, sedang Winda lahir tanggal tiga belas. Tak hanya mereka berdua, sahabat saya yang lain, mbak Ika lahir di tanggal yang sama dengan Rifda, tanggal empat. Dan terakhir, Sohib, lahir tanggal lima. So, we are bunch of cool Mayers exactly.

Tanggal sebelas kemarin, saya tak merayakan apa-apa. Selain memang bukan tradisi, kali ini saya memilih untuk mensyukuri lebih pada nikmat-nikmat yang tak kentara. Tak ada satu hadiah pun yang saya beli untuk diri sendiri macam ini. Hadiah dari sahabat-sahabat saya? Ada, meski bukan berupa sebuah benda. Melainkan hadiah sederhana yang mampu membuat saya terharu. Yup! ucapan selamat ulang tahun.

Saya selalu menaruh iPhone on airplane mode setiap akan tidur dan menyalakannya kembali saat bangun. Sebelum pergantian hari, saya sengaja mengatur alarm pukul sepuluh, setengah sebelas, dan pukul dua belas kurang lima belas menit. Jaga-jaga saja agar saya bisa bangun tepat setelah pukul dua belas malam. Saya hanya ingin memanjatkan doa sederhana berisi rasa syukur pada Allah yang telah melimpahkan banyak berkah dan kesempatan hidup. Panjatan rasa syukur karena Allah memberkahi orang tua, keluarga, sahabat, dan guru-guru dengan kesehatan. Pun doa-doa singkat berisi permintaan pada hal-hal yang belum saya capai dalam hidup. Bertemu jodoh kemudian menikah, melanjutkan pendidikan, hingga meminta petunjuk untuk dipermudahkan jalan menuju Eropa. Benua yang saya yakin akan menjadi tempat berpijak setelah Afrika. Lima belas menit setelah bangun tengah malam, saya kembali tidur.

Saat saya bangun dan mengaktifkan kembali iPhone, notifikasi di Line saya menumpuk. Ucapan selamat dari Winda, Ruli dan Maya yang tergabung dalam satu grup (baca : grup Sogeh) memenuhi layar. Saya membalas mereka dengan ucapan terima kasih pun menyempatkan mengucap selamat pada Winda yang telah melewati satu tahun pernikahan. Ucapan dari sahabat-sahabat saya yang lain, mbak Ika, Rifda, Fahmi, Sohib, Ayos, Edwin, Yuriko, Tomo, Dimas, juga memenuhi notifikasi di iPhone. I was like I had spring of joy because their wishes was so touchy, and I felt blessed when my bestfriends remembered the day I was born.

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Saya memiliki ide sederhana untuk hadiah first wedding anniversary si Winda dan Ayos yang indah sekali diterjemahkan lewat goresan tangan flatmate saya di sini, mas Danang. It was an impromptu idea actually saat saya melihat mas Danang sedang bosan di kantor dan mulai mencoret-coret kertas gambar. Saat melihat tangannya gatal menggambar sebuah karikatur, saya langsung menyodorkan buku sketsa dan mentrasfer ide yang ada di benak saya. I know he is so so good in drawing. “Mas, yang ada di pikiran saya, Ayos memeluk Winda. Sedang saya, Ruli dan Maya ikut berbahagia melihat mereka berdua bahagia”, kira-kira itu yang saya ucapkan pertama kali. Mas Danang langsung meminta saya menunjukkan foto kami berlima. Saya mulai bersemangat setelah ia menggoreskan goresan pertama dan menggambar Winda. Ia hanya butuh sekian menit kemudian mengganti goresan pensilnya dan mulai menggambar wajah Ayos. Saya bertambah semangat saat mas Danang menangkap wajah Ayos dengan sempurna lengkap dengan kacamatanya. Kemudian, ia mulai menggambar Ruli.

Ia menangkap karakter wajah Ruli begitu sempurna lengkap dengan alis tebal dan bagian jenggotnya. Ide saya kemudian berkembang liar. Saya meminta mas Danang untuk melengkapi Ruli dengan odong-odong. Saya tertawa membayangkan Ruli mengayuh odong-odong mengingat badannya yang cukup tambun. Saat mas Danang mulai menggambar wajah saya, saya berpesan untuk melengkapi tangan saya dengan tumpukan dolar dan beberapa koin-koin emas berceceran. Please don’t judge me I’m a greedy person yang materialistik :). Konsep dolar dan emas hanyalah konsep yang datang tiba-tiba saat saya ingat obrolan saya dan Maya di Line yang selalu membuat kami berdua tertawa terbahak-bahak. Candaan saya dengan Maya kadang dibumbui candaan-candaan macam orang stress. Maya selalu menuduh saya mendewa-dewakan uang, hehe, sedang saya selalu menggoda Maya bahwa ia akan bahagia jika memiliki banyak uang. Karena dengan uang, Maya bisa membeli lipstik merah yang ia idamkan, membayar uang pendaftaran Ranu, ke salon hanya untuk creambath, atau sekedar duduk-duduk ‘ha-ha-hi-hi’ dengan teman-teman sosialitanya ditemani teh dan cakes cantik-cantik di kedai teh seharga lima ratus ribu. Dan, dengan dompet tebal, Maya bisa membawa pulang Skippy.

Ini lucu, ide saya berkembang lagi saat mas Danang menggambar wajah Maya. Saya meminta ia menggambar kaleng-kaleng Skippy di depan Maya yang sedang duduk dengan kalung emas tebal di lehernya. Kenapa tiba-tiba saya berpikir Skippy?. Malam itu saya dibuat kembung dengan cerita Maya yang tak kuasa menahan air liurnya pada Skippy. Maya berdiri di depan tumpukan Skippy dan Nutella saat ia berbelanja di sebuah supermarket dan tak mampu membawa pulang sekaleng Skippy. Kata Maya begini, “Sayang duitnya Jis, kalo gw beli, gw mikir. Anak gw makan enak ga ya di Batam?.”. Saya setengah terharu tapi tak mampu menahan tawa di dalam kamar. Saya membayangkan wajah Maya di depan rak dengan Skippy yang memanggil-manggil untuk dibawa pulang. Tawa saya semakin kencang saat saya membalas Line-nya dengan stiker si Brown yang menabur uang dan sebuah bebek kecil yang mencoba menangkap uang-uang yang ditabur. Maya membalas, “Jis, itu si bebek kayak gw, sedang elu yang nabur-nabur duit.”. Bagaimana saya bisa menahan tawa dengan obrolan gila macam itu :).

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Melihat sketsa mas Danang ini membuat saya tak sabar bertemu mereka tahun ini. Saya memiliki ide untuk makan siang bersama merayakan cool Mayers nanti saat saya pulang. Dan tentu, saya berharap Maya bisa ke Surabaya lagi seperti tahun lalu saat kami merayakan persahabatan seperti ini. Di suatu siang yang hangat, dengan makanan-makanan yang menggugah selera, melepas rindu dengan cerita dan canda tawa. Oh, saya pun akan mencetak sketsa ini di kertas foto dan membingkainya sebanyak empat buah. Untuk saya sendiri, Winda, Ruli dan Maya macam simply gift untuk wedding anniversary Ayos&Winda dan untuk perayaan persahabatan kami berlima. I’m blessed I have them and our friendship and I feel happy as well that soon, Ayos Jr will come to this world! :).

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This iPhone picture below was taken on 11th of May when I shared some pizzas with my colleagues at our office. Please dont judge my messy hair that day :).

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Oh, Maya, sketsa dan tulisan ini adalah kejutan yang saya tutup-tutupi dari hari kemarin. Semoga kamu tersenyum dan bahagia like I do :).

Cheers,

-A-