Thursday, July 31, 2008

.: Oui! :.

I'm still in the process of uploading my eurotrip pictures to Kodak Gallery... apparently I took about 1800 images in 10 days! Too bad when I was in Paris I couldn't explore that much... very disappointed coz I don't know when can I go back there again. Isn't it weird that when we talk about romance, the number one location that comes to your head is either Paris or oh-so-lovely San Francisco ? When I heard Paris the images that come to my head are lace, velvet, chiffon-silk (maybe I should switch to fashion design?) and sidewalk cafés... Everything about Paris is just lush, elegant and luxurious (although if you see the city, it's not very different from SoHo ...) As a consolation I search etsy for paris-theme items...


Wednesday, July 30, 2008

.: jetlagged :.

I think I'm still a big jetlagged (or just simply lazy... :D) I was planning to sleep early last night (early means 2 AM for me), but I couldn't... and based on previous sleepless nights if I forced myself to sleep I'll have horrendous nightmares; therefore I grab my NDS and got hooked into this game. I almost couldn't get up in the morning (noon) if my hunny didn't call... and I'd miss my chance to get this necklace from my favorite artist. While I could hardly open my eyes I already shopped! I really am a natural shopper! :p
... and while watching Russell Peters repeatedly on Youtube, I managed to squished in a small crafty project, inspired by her works. My whales look a bit lopsided and the stitches are not very tidy but practice makes perfect! :D Then I got into browsing for more felt accessories and found some cute ones on etsy shops.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

.: praise thee, unlimited+hi-speed internet! :.

I used to complained a lot about living in SanFran, but after 2 months of vacay, I'm glad to breathe SF air... :p And cannot be happier to have unlimited, high speed internet once more. So far I've unpacked most of shtuff, relaxing, watching youtube again, and browsing for accessories... I know, I know, got too much stuff already, but what's the harm in admiring beauties? :p
Live outside the cage from Chocolate and Steel

Pensive Alice from Just Be Design



Thursday, July 17, 2008

.: cooking fest :.

Kung-Pao chicken? Too normal. Horse meat steak? Done. Squirrel satay? So last year. So when there's nothing else to stir-fry...

translation : stir-fried ... fireworks???

.: Njambon :.

Sate Sapi Pak Kempleng

Lawang Sewu - 1000 Doors, Semarang

At least once a year my parents travel to Central Java for 'pulang kampong' + 'food' pilgrimage (well, they also visit several religious pilgrimage areas...) and they asked me to tag along. It's hard to refuse because I know good local food awaits.... Here's a list of what-to-eat when you're in Semarang :
  1. Sate Pak Kempleng 1 at Jalan Raya Ungaran (you won't miss it, the billboard is ginormous)
  2. Soto Bu Nasiri at oldtown Semarang (in front of old Bank Bumi Daya)
  3. Lekker in front of Loyola
  4. Nasi ayam in front of Karang Turi High School
  5. Again, nasi ayam at Simpang Lima (open after 10 pm)
  6. Tahu petis at M.T Haryono (this one sells fast, so get them before 7pm)
  7. Ayam Salim at Pringgading
  8. Nasi pindang at Gajah Mada
  9. Soto Mbak Lin (used to be at Mataram, last time I heard it moved somewhere...)
  10. Es Tjong Lik (pasar semawis and mataram) : must get the Lychee and Soursop + durian pieces
Galeri Batik Danar Hadi - Solo

Batik cards from Yogya

I went to Yogya, Semarang and Solo for a batik conquest. I was very impressed with street vendors in Yogya, the artworks were nicely made, affordable and creative. Too bad I didn't bring my camera along that day. I was overwhelmed by printed batik, so I chose boutique-y batik instead and was very happy with what I bought. I wish I can buy some more but my suitcases are full already :(

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

.: always amused :.

Although I claimed that I'm a bit bored in my hometown, there's always something I found amusing from my daily life here. From good food such as:
Pempek Pak Raden + Es Bungsu

Extra Large Lumpia Basah

Cream cheese + red bean Obanyaki

... to interesting line ads you can find in regular newspaper (not Pos Kota)
definitely beats match.com!

with those kind of dresses no wonder Bandung's population is rising...

Monday, July 7, 2008

.: please wait... :.

I think of all the things that I cannot tolerate, waiting is the one thing that really gets on my nerves. Especially if you have to wait in vain; not sure if whatever or whomever that you wait will finally show up. Not sure when you will be able to get into that dentist's office. Completely clueless when your date is going to pick you up because he/she did not answer the phone. The thoughts that run through your mind while your waiting can drive you completely crazy instead of helping to fill time. When a person makes you wait without advance notice I think it's a sign of complete disregard of other people's feelings...

Thursday, July 3, 2008

.: bandung oh bandung... :.

can anyone guess what kind of cuisine this restaurant served?

What I've seen so far of my hometown:
  1. Traffic jams even during weekdays
  2. Due to energy crisis, we'll have rolling blackout without advance notice from 7 am to 3 pm until 2009
  3. Number 2 is causing several traffic & street lights blackout as well (this may very well be the cause of number 1...)
  4. Batik is so very very very hip at the moment, from your neighbor's maid to the high socialite. One out of 3 women you see on the street wear batik. The style varied, from a fancy top to a babydoll dress (your comfy 'daster' modified...) I'm happy to see this change but also concern, will this be just a 3-months trend or a lifelong admiration of batik?
  5. Bandung is all about "comfort food", "grandma's cooking", "traditional sundanese - eat like locals", and the 2007 trend that starts to sprout here : peranakan food with oldies name. I have no complains as long as they have good food, but the name and the interior style is getting repetitive and a bit 'forced'...

.: wedding season! :.

Anna Griffin - 2007

One wedding was done, another one is coming! 'Tis the year to get married, I guess? My very very best friend will get married this November, and I'm still looking for a way to go to her wedding without doing severe damage(s) to my unknown-future projects. Am supposed to be the bridesmaid but since my attendance is still unsure, she get me verry involved in her wedding (including picking her beddings.... which I found a bit weird?!) I'm so excited since she wants my inputs, although so far we're not very productive! We found out so many interesting things about chinese wedding tradition, from the normal one (tea ceremony) to the absurd one (must use red and avoid green+blue since those are the color of death...) We did agree on one thing: love Anna Griffin's stationery and some cakes from Martha Stewart Wedding edition. How I wish I can be there to see her get married :(