.: Since I'm Back... :.

Lemme share with you another tasty food I found in Bandung (thx to someone who's finally willing to let in this secret...) Hidden in the shady Cipaganti Boulevard (ciee... it is a wide street!) is a house called Dahapati and on the pavillion someone decided to open a very small cafe serving Oxtail Soup and Gado-Gado. I think the Oxtail Soup is so tasty and their yoghurt is not bad at all. Of course right across this cafe is another Bandung's favorite: Cireng Cipaganti. Cireng is a snack made of fried flour (yuck, but tasty!) This one is special because they fill it with Sambal Oncom (yum! diarrhea guaranteed! maybe also responsible to my current unstoppable cough!)

.: Vacation Story :.

I'm finally back from my vacation! Whew these past two months have been filled with many trips... Many things happened on this last trip. First, when I got into Batam (still in Indonesia), I found out that my luggage, along with 40 others, were left in Jakarta. The airplane employees told us that they decided the plane was overweight so they removed several suitcases and distributed them among the next flights into Batam. Nice. Finally, after 10 desperate hours, I got my suitcase back. Phew... Then the hotel's concierge cheated us on taxi fare; they told us all taxis cost the same. Later we found out that we can actually bargain the fare. Not cool! And what made us feeling totally uncomfortable was, whenever we walk on the sidewalk, people in private cars & motorcycles honked at us, offering to drive us around Batam! I was so glad when we reached Singapore. Despite the fact that some of the people are rude, they won't cheat on you. Their taxi drivers are courteous, knowledgable and friendly. Suitcases won't go missing. And shopping is always fun (although you don't really buy anything) My must visit shops are the regular Mango-Zara-Forever 21-Topshop (my faves; slightly more expensive but better selections), Charles & Keith (fab shoes!!), Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City, Borders, That CD Shop (they sell their own audiophiles mix CD), and Level One underneath Far East Plaza for HK-style boutiques. The Japanese Dept Store Takashimaya is also my fave since they have wide selections of Japanese products for food & goodies.Aren't those stuff so cute? And also affordable! The drawstring bags are made of thick tissue paper. The stuff on the right image are gift pouches, business card holder (the one with birdie on it), photo album, and coasters. I think I caught a Spring Fever because lately I'm crazy about cheerful floral patterns in spring colors (orange,yellow,red) and cannot stop buying stuff with in this colorful patterns! This is a chiffon top from Forever 21, just looking at it makes me feel cheerful already!Those are basically what I got in Singapore aside from several US magazines & books I cannot get in Indonesia.(somehow Indo magazine stands don't have Domino & Blueprint, maybe not yet?)

.: I'm baaack ! :.

Hi everyone, I'm back! It almost rained everyday in Singapore, but still I had a lot of fun (not to mention blisters all over my feet). Here are some of the scenes I captured:

L-R: 1. scene you can always see along orchard rd, uncles selling fantastic $1 ice cream covered in bread or wafer with many flavor choices (durian is my fave)
2. A girl dressed up in Japanese-gothic style distributing tissues as promotional pieces
3. Sculptures & ponds on top of Vivo City mall, you're free to play with water!

Vivo City is the newest and currently the largest mall in Singapore, right in the harbourfront, with monorail access to Sentosa Island. By the by they're building casinos and Universal Studio in Singapore, will be ready in 2010! Now, move on to food:

1st row: Toast-Box' Chicken Floss Toast ; Chicken Rice
2nd row: Chili Crab ; MOS Burger's Teriyaki Rice Burger
3rd row: Takoyaki ; Old Chang Kee's Sotong Head on a stick

You cannot come to Singapore and not having their chicken rice. Although originally come from Hainan district in China, I think Singapore's version is very good! Singapore also famous for their food-courts; the most famous ones are Newton Circus, Food Republic (at Wisma Atria and Vivo City), Takashimaya's basement 2 (where they have rows after rows of bakeries, gelatos, and chocolate vendor). They have franchised food from all around the world (MOS Burger & Yoshinoya from Japan, Lawry's, etc) Can't wait to be back there again! :) Had fun hanging out with some of you guys, let's visit it again!

.: Another trip... :.

I am leaving for yet another trip! Woohoo! I'm soo nervous everytime I board planes nowadays, got butterfly in my tummy just like a going on a first date! LOL.. I was very crabby today and probably yelled at some people. :( what is it with me lately? :( I think I do need to get away for a while ... and try to take pics for you guys to see! :D ok, I'm off! You got my numbers & all, do SMS me & say hi! till next week!

.: Psychological Monday :.

I complaint too much; somebody recently pointed that out to me. I do tend to express my opinion when something or someone disagree with me. I thought that my life will be a major mess unless I carefully made plans and schedules. I tried to get my life organized. Of course things rarely goes the way I wanted to be or else my life will be too easy; and where's the fun in that? Unfortunately, when that happens, when things don't go my way, I tend to open my mouth first without thinking. And unfortunately, that annoys people around me. My initial respond was, 'Since when complaining becomes a sin? If you cannot get your point across, people may think it is ok to walk all over you. That it is completely fine to be such a pushover.' Anyone agrees with me on that self-defense? However I don't like to disturb people, so whenever I tried to b*tch about something, I stop & quickly think of one thing I'm grateful of. (lesson learned from my 'so-called-online-therapist' of a friend, mrs WQ) Did not always work, but I won't stop trying. I might not built for sunny & bright, but I'll try! Let's take Eeyore for a joyride! =)

.: am seeing spots :.

Uh oh... it seems that I need stronger vitamins coz lately my health is declining... is it because of all the good food I ate? *wink* I got itchy spots all over that unfortunately forced me to stay indoor for the next 3 days, so I can only hope there are nice people out there who's willing to feed me with good food *you know who you are!!* Meanwhile I'm going to catch up on my movies & books marathon. But I did eat something that satisfied me last Sunday:

L-R: honey glazed deep fried chicken, bulgogi, and red bean+mochi ice+waffle ice cream

We went to Korean House at Jln Sukajadi where they served tasty Korean dishes (altho' no other places beat Nakwon, but this is sufficient for Bandung); they also gave free ice coffee! Free! Coffee!! *faint* For desserts you can have the mcYummy ice cream above or Pat Bing Soo; mixed fruit with shaved ice & chocolate syrup on top... double yum.

.: show & tell Friday :.

Ah, what do you think? I know, similar bangs that I've complained so much about ... but I've decided to give straight bangs a second chance...maybe it'll work with my shorter hair. I'll be waiting for your comment... =)

.: What & where to eat in Bandung 01 :.

The pic above is what I had for dinner yesterday. I ate them all! MUHUAHAHA.. kidding. Actually we went to a Padang restaurant on our way home from messy, busy Jakarta. We ate the 'ayam & udang gulai', 'sambal ijo' and 'daun singkong rebus'. Nope, I did not eat the eggplant dish that you see in the middle.
Since my friends from SD-CA are on vacation here in Bandung, we planned to eat 'jajanan pinggir jalan' as much as possible during their last week of stay (or the 'diarrhea week', according to crazy mr S.) I believe the only reason so many people come to Bandung is for the food. So I try to come up with my own version of makansutra (it's like zagat for asian regions).
My favorite restaurants in Bandung:

1. Kafe Bali on Jln Riau (don't kill me, Pen! It has to be on #1): Lotek, Gado2 & Kolak Campur
2. Mie Rica on Jln Kejaksaan : Their 'pangsit goreng' is the best.
3. Batagor Kinglsey on Jln Veteran :a bit pricey but worth it
4. Kedai Teteh Indorasa, Lembang : Order 'Nasi Timbel Komplit'. Choose your rice: white, black and red.
5. dPalms on Jln Lombok: good decor, great food & affordable. Best dish: nasi tutug oncom, dPalm grilled fish
6. Atmosphere cafe in Jln Lengkong : live music everyday, good ambiance (they didn't name it 'Atmosphere' for nothing). Must have: Balinese Nasi Ulam, Entrecote d Paris.
7. Boemi Djoglo in Dago Pakar : Nasi Liwet with mushrooms!!!
8. I Scream for Ice Cream on Jln Hariangbanga : best homemade ice cream & gelato. Must have: butterscotch & rum raisin ice cream.

Those are my fave -originally from Bandung- restaurants/cafe. More to come!

* my friends and me at dPalm restaurant *

.: 5 0f ... Tuesday 100407 :.

It's 5 Of time! The only day-theme that is constant in this blog... =D No pic today tho' ... I packed my cammie away for my trip tomorrow. By the by today is someone's birthday! My fave girl & loyal reader! Happy birthday girl! May all your wishes come true!! Mwach!
As my mood has not improved today since someone really really makes me upset, I decided to put together a 5 things that *usually* makes me feel better:

1. Watching FRIENDS & Scrubs rerun. Does not matter which season.
2. Eat chocolate covered strawberries; or any kind of yummy choco delights
3. Venti Iced caramel macchiato, extra caramel
4. Read good books; funny & calming ones
5. Drive around, honk & scream at random people =D

How about you guys? What are the 5 things that makes you feel better?

.: Psychological Monday :.

I love reading interesting books, especially those that makes me think about my life. This book by Elizabeth Gilbert is hilarious & stirred some thoughts in my 'in-semi-hibernation' mind. She said "Destiny... is a play between divine grace and willful self-effort. Half of it you have no control over; half of it is absolutely in your hands... I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life–whether I will see them as curses or opportunities." My immature & so negative mind used to say,"Oh geez, easier said than done. Too romantic." However, when I put that to practice, I'm quite amazed. Sometimes, after several problems at life & work, my mind will whisper, "You're such a failure!" "See? Told you, you won't be able to do that!" Now I'm learning to shush my mind, try to let go and make peace with my failures. So what if you fail? Nobody said you're not allowed to make mistakes. Acknowledge it, make peace, move on. Never say something is hard before you try. Always, always try to see failures as oppportunities to do something better. I tend to rephrase some words to fool my melancholic mind, and it works! =D Too romantic? Nah... And one mistake that I have to let go is ... cutting my bangs straight. I thought I will look kinda cool, just like Anne Hathaway in Devil Wears Prada. Boy, am I wrong! So, I plan to have a new hairdo, especially when I realize that my hair is so long!! Almost down to my waist! Let's look at it before I cut it tomorrow...

.: Break :.

Uhm, hi all... :) Thx for your input, however lately I'm not feeling well enough, got another cold coming and I did not go out that much so I cannot update you on my life... life's on hiatus. :p But, since I will stay at home a lot until I got better, maybe I can do some crafting! :D Got several ideas from my fave blogs (links on the right hand side), people are so creative! What fun! See you when I feel better!

.: Phooey ! :.

Oopsie ... haven't blog anything for the last couple of days... Life was a bit slow, rain heavily almost everyday, had weird nightmares for days (one is like a scene from jurassic park met texas chainsaw massacre...the dinosaurs will saw people's heads off!! Not exactly a good dream...) I have no idea what caused those nightmares since I'm too scared to watch horror movies, oh dear, maybe my friend was right! Messy bed cause nightmare!!! AARGH!! *hurry hurry clean your bed!* I don't want to share such depressing thoughts here and rained on other people's life... How about I make you guys drool as usual? Those are: Onion Loaf (full size!!), baby back ribs with double order of french fries, and New York Strip Steak - medium rare; from Tony Roma's. Thx to ma girls who treated me to these feast! We had a blast! Link to embarassing pictures will be posted here as soon as I got the pix. =) Happy Wednesday peeps! By the vay, anyone have any ideas or questions on my life that I can blog here? Without that particular San Diego couple as my readers, suddenly I'm running out of ideas! :p Comment please!

.: Told U So! :.

Being sad means I have to eat well so I can recuperate faster! Feed me good stuff only or I will cry. HUAAAAAA...... ok, stop. My friends complied to go to one of my fave place in Bandung called Boemi Djoglo (whatever that means, Earthly Abode??) which is located at Dago Pakar area that boast a spectacular view of Bandung. This one is not as commercialized as others and their food is different. We always order both type of Nasi Liwet, one with salted fish and the other with chicken & mushroom. Yummy yum yum! We actually wanted to eat Lamb Satay but they ran out of lamby to chop, so we ordered the beef satay (beef? cow? bull?? calf??) which was served on a hot plate, all slick & oily. A bit gross, I know, but taste & smelled so heavenly!!! (ok, maybe not that heavenly, but you got the meaning)

.: Psychological Sunday :.

"How do you guard against loneliness?", ask the Guard Dog from Mutts comicstrip. A question that has been pondering on me lately. Loneliness has been my topic in the past. People said you can never feel lonely if you have lots of things to do. That you don't need other people to have fun. Be yourself, they always said. However why do I feel that being myself means to be by myself, a.k.a alone? I am currently living in my very own home country, where everybody speaks my first language, but how come nobody understand what I'm saying? Is loneliness the price I have to pay by being myself? Shall I sacrifice what I believed in for company of others? Hmm... sounds too desperate isn't it? =D so unlike me! Lately my strong melancholic mood has resurfaced despite the fact I try so hard not to be too mellow. The outside force is stronger than me this time. I can laugh and smile and be totally crazy when I'm out with my friends, but when I'm enclosed inside the four walls of my room, that's where those desperate feelings start to crept inside my head. I must acknowledge it shamelessly: I am lonely. Not alone, since sometimes I think alone is good. 'For all I love, I love alone...' said Poe. 'In solitude where I feel least alone,' said Lord Byron. Loneliness is no good. I don't want to be one of those aging ladies living alone with their cats with no family members who cares about them; too sad for me. How am I to survive these feelings? Anyone have a wise advice? =) Be more logical, perhaps? *wink2* I hope nobody mind my random ramblings, this monologue helps me to clear my head. I'll try to get back to my old self who only cares to eat good food, buy nice stuff & go to nice places! =D have a good sunday everyone! ps: someone promised to hangout with me next week! this is a friendly reminder, LOL ...