Chillin’

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I always try to make my life balanced from this hectic life. Spending today with cooking simple food from left-over ingredients, arranging my outfits (and now they’re tidier arranged), napping like a cat (and took bath after nap made me feel I’m a normal human if only I could do that everyday), having hot chocolate time in the afternoon with sweet strawberries (well, couldn’t resist to document the scene with an iPhone), and now, trying to keep this blog on.

I know tomorrow I’ll have so many deadlines plus obstacles plus stresses. There is no choices but I have to be ready. I’ll try to do best and hoping I can pass this week with a smile in the end. Hopefully. Now, let me chill myself inside this chill room. WIll grab frozen chocolates and maybe, watching ‘Frozen’ on my bed.

Thank You, 2014

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Saya bukan orang yang rajin menulis resolusi-resolusi saat tahun harus berganti. Saya juga bukan orang yang menganggap pergantian tahun adalah saat penting untuk me-review apa saja yang berhasil saya raih dan yang belum. Saat seorang sahabat menanyakan apakah saya sudah memikirkan resolusi-resolusi tahun baru, saya hanya bisa tersenyum. Bukan karena saya tak ingin mencatat hal-hal yang ingin saya raih tahun depan di atas kertas, hanya saja, saya ingin berpikir lebih sederhana tapi terarah dan jelas.

Sebagai ganti catatan resolusi-resolusi tahun baru, saya lebih memilih merawat tiga kata ini. Keep dreaming, keep fighting, and keep thanking.

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Sepertinya saya tak bisa melepas kata mimpi dari blog ini. Sebentar, saya tak ingin anda menganggap kata mimpi yang sering saya sebut di sini sebagai kata cantik yang tak berarti. Bagi saya, mimpi itu kata yang teramat magis. Kata yang selalu membuat saya ingin bergerak. Kata yang membuat saya terus berusaha untuk berpikir positif. Kata yang mampu membungkam kemalasan-kemalasan yang bisa melumpuhkan saya untuk tumbuh.

Saya memiliki kotak mimpi yang masih penuh dan sesak, meski beberapa mimpi-mimpi besar mampu saya wujudkan tahun ini. Selebihnya, saya masih menyiram dengan sabar benih-benih mimpi lama dan memupuk beberapa benih baru. Benih-benih mimpi itulah yang mampu membuat saya berani berimajinasi pada kesempatan-kesempatan besar dalam hidup. Selagi hidup.

Tentu saja saya tidak akan berhenti bermimpi dan membiarkannya hanya sebatas angin. Saya akan terus dan harus selalu bermimpi kemudian bergerak mewujudkannya dengan berjuang. Fighting.

Benar adanya bahwa hidup yang penuh perjuangan adalah hidup yang memiliki makna. Dan saya adalah manusia yang selalu percaya, kerja keras itu salah satu bentuk perjuangan dan satu-satunya cara untuk mewujudkan mimpi-mimpi. Tanpa berjuang, kita hanya akan hidup dalam mimpi.

Tahun ini saya mampu melewati salah satu jalan terjal dan berhasil membuat keputusan besar. Salah satunya adalah momen saat saya harus memilih untuk bertahan di Afrika atau pulang ke Indonesia. Saat senior-kakak-sahabat saya di sini, mas Andhi memutuskan pulang sementara ke Indonesia, saya seperti dihadapkan pada dua jalan terjal (saya sempat curhat galau di sini, jauh hari sebelum mas Andhi memutuskan untuk rehat :|). Sementara ini saya harus melaksanakan beberapa tugas yang dulu ia kerjakan. No, saya tidak menggantikan posisinya sebagai Art Director di perusahaan tempat kami bekerja, saya hanya bertugas melanjutkan beberapa tanggung jawabnya. Tekanan, tantangan dan rintangan yang harus saya hadapi dua-tiga kali lipat besarnya. Pun masalah-masalah di pekerjaan yang sepertinya tak berujung, benar-benar membuat saya takut. Bahkan untuk sekedar mencoba.

Tapi pada akhirnya, saya patut berterima kasih pada diri saya sendiri karena masih bediri tegak hingga detik ini. Itu karena saya berani, berani mencoba mengambil tanggung jawab yang mengajarkan saya untuk lebih berjuang lagi. Saya justru harus berterima kasih pada tekanan, rintangan dan tantangan-tantangan yang tadinya menakutkan itu karena mereka benar-benar merubah saya menjadi pribadi yang lebih kuat. Saya akan selalu belajar bahwa salah satu hal terpenting dari berjuang adalah berani mencoba. Tak penting untuk tahu apakah kita akan berhasil atau tidak, coba saja dulu karena mencoba adalah titik awal sebuah perjuangan.

Benar kata orang, lahir miskin itu bukan salah kita. Mati miskin itu perkara lain. Agar kita tak mati miskin, satu-satunya cara hanya dengan bekerja keras. Bekerja yang ikhlas, straight forward, dan terus berikhitiar. Berjuang saja and trust me, hanya orang-orang yang berjuang dan bekerja keras lah yang mampu merubah hidupnya menjadi lebih baik.

Yang terakhir dan tak kalah penting adalah selalu bersyukur dan berterima kasih pada Sang pemberi kehidupan. Tanpa berkat-Nya, tentu kita bukan apa-apa. Saya bersyukur pada kenyataan bahwa tahun ini beberapa mimpi sudah terwujud, saya bersyukur masih memiliki manusia-manusia baik yang diberkahi kesehatan dan hidup yang lapang. Saya bersyukur karena Tuhan telah memberi jalan baik agar saya tetap berjuang. Saya bersyukur karena Tuhan memberkahi perjuangan ini dengan tekanan, tantangan, dan rintangan. Itu tandanya, Tuhan memberkahi saya dengan kesempatan untuk berkembang dalam hidup. God, I can’t say anything again but thank you. Huge thank you. You’ve been blessed me with a fantastic year, I’ll keep my big dreams on track but well, I’ll need You to make them real. Some for next year maybe, no? :)).

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I know this sounds cheesy, but I’ll say it to you guys. Tons of thanks bagi siapapun yang sering berkunjung atau hanya sekedar mampir ke blog ini. Jangan bosan mampir yes! :P. Semoga tahun depan, banyak mimpi dan kesempatan-kesempatan besar yang bisa saya bagi di sini. Well, happy new year in advance!. Keep dreaming, keep fighting and keep thanking!. Tetaplah bermimpi, berjuang dan bersyukur :).

Lagos, 1 ; 08 am.

P.S. Saya iseng membaca kembali postingan ini, haha, rasanya perlahan blog ini terus berkembang. I’ll keep the contents more thoughtful and deliberate guys! I will :). Have a fantastic last day in 2014!

Blue Cup

Even I do know that I always make a promise to myself to not to spend money for something I don’t really need, I do know that I always fail too. Yesterday, after I had a very stressful event with a sweet ending on Saturday (I think I’d mentioned this on my previous post, no?) I had to do another one on Sunday. Even it was simpler but guys, working over night until Sunday noon wasn’t easy.

As a gift, I took home two new cups, a blue tea cup with a saucer and another one is a white ceramic cup only. I had no plan to buy it while I knew that my December allowance already very short. Even I do not really need those cups (well, except for Instagram purpose, only), I didn’t regret to spend for it. I think it’s time to keep beautiful things one by one until someday, I can arrange them beautifully in my own kitchen. My dream kitchen.

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November Gifts

This November has become one of the hardest month of work to me.

Even it went so much slower than past years (“ber” months are our hi-season in event industry, fyi) but I had a very stressful project out of town in the first week and spent a week for an event, it was hard indeed. Breakfast at the hotel left a lot to be desired, lunch was rare (imagine if you have to work upside down under the sun and you’re not eating and drinking), and all this on little to no sleep. After that stressful project, I decided to give myself a reward by grabbing some gifts (please don’t judge me as a cool kid who loves spending money for some branded things). This is just the way I thank to myself after I worked so hard :) all via iPhone.

1/ I’m not a ‘perfume’ person but I couldn’t resist to take home this fragrance by Gucci (oh, this sounds ridiculous but I really take attention to the design of perfume bottle before I buy, and I’m looking forward for another fragrance). Well, let’s talk about food :).

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2/ I couldn’t say no to a delish treat after I had to survive without proper lunch for days (eek!)Little guys for an evening snack, and….. Belgian chocolate ice cream added with more almonds and yes, more dark chocolate from Trader Joe’s.

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Oops, another chocolates completed my home-made mousse pudding with a cup of sugar free tea this noon.


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3/ Maybe you guys already seen quite often for strawberry and friends on this blog, but again, I couldn’t resist to have them again and again with yogurt and raw honey for breakfast. For an afternoon snacks (with a lifestyle) was frosted kiwi and assorted berries, such another way to enjoy iced fruits in a hot weather :).

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4/ I haven’t done with food. Who can resist fresh prawns? (who?). I cooked spicy chicken and prawns soup with Chinese egg noodles, broccoli, chicken samosa, fried tofu and sweet corn in dumplings like this.

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5/ Tara Ramsay to be added to my cook book collection, and a note book I needed for work.

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6/ Another fact of me, I’m a fan of Zara, it’s affordable yet quite classy. I got this white crisp shirt from Indonesia through my flatmate when he came back from his annual leave (I really wish there is Zara store here). If I have a wish, this and this and this, would be on my wardrobe someday (now, I give up if you call me ‘cool-kid wannabe’ :P).

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When I was painting a pergola for that project with white cellulose, my dark jeans got stain (not only that, my Mickey Mouse tee had too). I knew I enjoyed the work even if I had to do it under the sun. I wish I took a pic from that day so you’ll know that my job isn’t that glamorous :P. I thought that cellulose would easily vanished from it yet I had to get another one. And stretch dark jeans is so so good. And the last one (I promise). I wanted to find backpack but this took my attention (mine is the navy blue one, oh do not know why the price here is higher?, let’s make another wish, this and this are on my waiting list :)).

Well, hello December, let’s work harder for another fancy gifts! :P.

Reminiscing Culinary Delights

I still have some food pictures when I was in Indonesia for this blog. Looking at them reminds me how delicious they were and of course, I enjoyed them so much cause I was in vacation (there is nothing like that, when all you need is just follow your desire everyday on what you want to eat). I rarely snap street food for this blog but here, you’ll find some iPhone pictures with little stories on them :).

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1/ Batagor was among of ‘must-eat’ list and I had a chance to enjoy Batagor with Ruli and Ayos near their house. The best thing that day wasn’t only the Batagor itself but the fact that the place was near airport, where you’ll have a rice field in front of you and…airplanes flying very close. Sumedang fried tofu was another yummy snack that day when I and Ruli tried to catch sunset after we had Batagor.

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2/ There was an afternoon when I wanted a treat of Crème brûlée while my sister and my nephew just had snacks. Another day, dinner with Andhi and Fahmi (it was such a great time!) and what I had on my table was a bowl of spicy ramen.

StreetFood-Bakso&Fried Duck

3/ Another street food I ate was with Andhi when we had fried duck for our lunch, and it was so so good. Sometimes it’s okay to stop by at one street food corner and guessing how the food will taste. It was I and Sohib’s late noon snack that day when I wanted to eat Batagor and found Bakso in the end.

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4/ I throw back to Bali when I had to manage myself to enjoy some Javanese food for breakfast and lunch. It wasn’t bad at all to try some inexpensive food, well, especially when you have to manage your wallet but you’ll have brown rice on your plate :).

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5/ I think granola with yogurt and passion fruit at Zucchini, Seminyak, was a perfect breakfast to start the day. Another breakfast scene I had while I was in Bali.

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6/ When I was in Bali, I took a day off to Ubud with Sohib and Andhi in the morning (I do not want to remember about how we drove our motorcycle that day! super terrible). By evening when I and Sohib went back to Seminyak, we stopped by at Denpasar for Surabi. Yes! Melted cheddar cheese with chocolate on top? I’m dreaming of it right now.

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7/ Warm croissant and a cup of cappuccino was so so good to start the day. Morning scene at Anomali Coffee, Seminyak.

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8/ Had seafood spaghetti at Warung Itali, Seminyak was awesome. Well, creamy ravioli was another mouth-watering treat. Enough said :)

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9/ One of well-known food in Ubud, Ayam Kedewatan for lunch. And I was enjoyed my short time at Ku De Ta with slices of warm pizza.

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10/ Well, I have to say that I’m a big fan of well-cooked tuna fish on street food.

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SushiTe211/ Salmon in the afternoon? I could ask more (!!) at Sushi Te. And, matcha ice cream such a perfect ending.

Food Collage via iPhone

I think one of the best thing from Instagram is how the account looks. I always love how beautiful pictures are nicely arranged in square, particularly gorg account from Instagram stars like Alice Gao (I know it isn’t a secret that I’m her big fan of Alice’s rad works!), Pei Ketron (another brilliant one!), or Aiala Hernando. Not only every time I see through my iPhone, on the website, those squares tell so many stories about them. Especially for Alice Gao, every time she uploads food photos, I’ll stop for seconds to observe the taste of food (by air, obviously), the composition, the lighting and the angle.

Taking food photos has become my biggest indulgence right now. Every time I cook or having a brunch in a cafe, I always try to take photos of it (yes, taking photos first then I’ll eat them). Food photography via iPhone or mirrorless of mine are taken mostly from above. I can’t lie it is the best angle. My friend told me that the top angle doesn’t need photography technic but composition. I don’t really agree, I mean, even composition play is more needed, there is technic on how to capture the food.

Because I always depend on natural light, breakfast is the best time to snap my food. Sometimes I’ll have a plan ‘plan’ to snap but sometimes it’s an impromptu. You might have seen most of my breakfasts below on my account yet I personally couldn’t resist to post them on this blog. All are taken with my iPhone5 weeks ago (even, sometime a year ago).

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I can’t lie that seeing my breekies above is such a simply joy for me :). Hope you guys do not mind for some of recent breakfast scenes taken last week and this week. My fav time was the one with croissants and a bowl of rainbow :).

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Dazzling Oranges

Lately I’ve been missing a bright sky that brings me sunset though I do love the rain in the night and a cold peaceful morning either. Almost everyday here is gloomy, rainy and windy that makes me kindly miss simply joy like sunset. When all I need is just a cup of hot tea and thinking for all my dreams, staring to the sky and believe that there is nothing impossible. When all I need is just to live my life and enjoy every obstacles, every rejoice, and all the things that make me grateful to be alive.

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There was a day when I was in the middle of many deadlines and stress on my head, I sat down on an old car and took minutes to enjoy this dazzling orange. I couldn’t resist for an iPhone snap below.

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In The Name of White

Recently I’m in the mood of simplicity for picture. I always love to see white as a main background that makes the object comes very clean and crisp. I love how black and white picture is so artistic and dramatic, like some of iPhone pictures below (I picked randomly for this post, some you have seen them on my Instagram).

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Some of color sparks on white here, if you don’t mind.

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A Better (Stylish) Vision

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One fact about me is I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in second year in junior high school. I pretty clear remember when my Dad and I went to the optician after he checked my eyes in ophthalmologist. We chose (he was the one actually) the frame for my first glasses with a quality lenses. He thought that the glasses was more important than the frame. Oh okay, I did agree without asking anything. I did remember first time I wore the glasses I felt like I was so cool. A year after I wore my first glasses there was a time to change the lenses. I should scared with my higher minus yet I did not. I was so happy cause I thought if I changed the glasses I would have new frame in the same time yet it wasn’t that easy. My Dad said that the frame was still okay, again, the lenses was more important for him (not for me :(). I knew that was made sense but you know guys, after a year without a new look (that time!) was a disaster, haha. I remember when my Dad spent his money for my second glasses (only :() I made a vow ; “Someday, if I have my own money, I won’t buy a quality glasses only, I’ll get my “me” stylish frame”.

After then, I did not remember how many times I changed my glasses but this one is the best I ever had. I browsed that frame few days before I went home. I knew I felt in love with the John Lennon-esque design but I didn’t expect that the frame is so comfortable and super light after I wore for the first time. I love the whole look of that frame, stylish, black, sleek, and I do love so much if the brand is not obvious in the eye. You will have a little “wow” pleasure when someone guess “what brand is that?” and they’ll see it from the back :). I truly made a good decision to bring it home :).

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The pictures above was an impromptu shot when I was waiting while my two flatmates were eating their fast food (I just ordered a bottle of mineral water with an apple in my bag, I swear :)). I didn’t expect that the sunlight was so bright yesterday noon cause since I landed here the weather is windy, rainy, and cloudy. So, when I realised that I had beautiful lighting and the table in front of me is white my brain and my eyes worked quickly. I took my iPhone and yay, I’m happy everytime I have an impromptu moment and get a beautiful shot! :)

Happy Monday guys!

Historica

I could say I fell in love with the vibe of Historica, one of the happening coffee spot in Surabaya. I went there three times yet I didn’t take many photographs cause sometimes, it’s better to feel the vibe and the coffee than busy taking picture. First time I went there was that day I met Ayos and Winda (I know, you’ve seen my previous post shown the space before), and accidentally fell in love with their Macha Latté.

If you want to visit Historica for coffee, I suggest to come when they just open in the morning. You’ll get the perfect morning light (it is very important if you love taking picture like me :P) and the calm ambiance to enjoy your coffee more with your Kinfolk or Cereal :). Cause sometimes it is a bit annoying if you are in the coffee shop and get clamorous from people around you (I had that experience in my last visit when I came in the afternoon, gah!).

Here, I just wanted to share some iPhone snaps of the interior. Two last pics are an exception, taken by Sony NEX5. Oh, did I mention I want to have that gorg tiles for my future home? :)

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