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Monday, April 30, 2007
Safe and Back
I'm back!
After 4 days and 3 nights, my feet is SORE with tiredness. My hand is red from all those bags carrying, and my kinky toe is super-ithcy, biten by a bug! One strange thing was, I found Singapore less attractive and heart-pulling. I remembered it felt like 4 days ago when I assume Singapore as the wonderland, and now, Singapore is not much more than another advanced nation with stagnant economic growth and undeniably less polution than here.
First thing first, for those of you planning on a trip to the shopping nation, bear this in mind: 655 2222. Knowing this may decide your life and death, since I've been there, done that. It was, in fact, the number for a cab! Seriously, Singapore is nowhere near wonderland when you have to stand for 2 hours waiting for a cab to get home.
And guess what I tried there? Hainamese chicken rice. I'm telling you, take my recommendation and buy a ticket to go to Takashimaya. Oh boy, the experience, the savouring moment was out of this world. I was craving for food when I found the restaurant, and I quickly made my order: steamed Hainamese chicken rice and a mineral water.
When it came, I was shocked by the whiteness of the chicken meat on top of the yellowy rice, it was like little pillows. Immidiately I get settled and took the first spoonful of rice and chicken meat. It was like heaven break loose in my mouth.
It was kind of salty, but then again the softness of the chicken breakthrough the saltiness, and the rice brought the smell of Chinese herbs, carefully fixing the amount of saltiness to a perfection. The chicken and rice was utterly a perfect conbination, I literally didnt have to chew them, they melt together in a eye-closing combination on my tongue.
I savored them with a smile.
And to close the mindset that Singapore was the shopping parade: it's not. Seriously, with all the epidemic shopping malls opening here in Jakarta, it was very hard to find a store which I cant actually find here. Hence, my shopping list was unfortunately cut short.
Although I did manage to get a puny little frog doll clippers for my girlfriends, a gingerbread cookie for the tyrant Ogre and 2 foul texted car fresheners from Topshop for Michelle the golden voice and Marshall the Uncle.
Above all, I was thankful for finally being able to cuddle for warmth in my blanket in the coldness of the air conditioner. I remember how my heart softened, reminiscing on my room, my sanctuary, when I heard a jazzy Corrine Bailey Rae's voice tuning in City Tang's department store.
I missed how the sun peeked through my window in mornings, carefully waking me up to a whole new day, i missed how the coldness of my room is just perfect for me to relax by reading a novel each night, accompanied by the jazzy piano playings from the tape.
And it's all restored now! Glad to be back :)
After 4 days and 3 nights, my feet is SORE with tiredness. My hand is red from all those bags carrying, and my kinky toe is super-ithcy, biten by a bug! One strange thing was, I found Singapore less attractive and heart-pulling. I remembered it felt like 4 days ago when I assume Singapore as the wonderland, and now, Singapore is not much more than another advanced nation with stagnant economic growth and undeniably less polution than here.
First thing first, for those of you planning on a trip to the shopping nation, bear this in mind: 655 2222. Knowing this may decide your life and death, since I've been there, done that. It was, in fact, the number for a cab! Seriously, Singapore is nowhere near wonderland when you have to stand for 2 hours waiting for a cab to get home.
And guess what I tried there? Hainamese chicken rice. I'm telling you, take my recommendation and buy a ticket to go to Takashimaya. Oh boy, the experience, the savouring moment was out of this world. I was craving for food when I found the restaurant, and I quickly made my order: steamed Hainamese chicken rice and a mineral water.
When it came, I was shocked by the whiteness of the chicken meat on top of the yellowy rice, it was like little pillows. Immidiately I get settled and took the first spoonful of rice and chicken meat. It was like heaven break loose in my mouth.
It was kind of salty, but then again the softness of the chicken breakthrough the saltiness, and the rice brought the smell of Chinese herbs, carefully fixing the amount of saltiness to a perfection. The chicken and rice was utterly a perfect conbination, I literally didnt have to chew them, they melt together in a eye-closing combination on my tongue.
I savored them with a smile.
And to close the mindset that Singapore was the shopping parade: it's not. Seriously, with all the epidemic shopping malls opening here in Jakarta, it was very hard to find a store which I cant actually find here. Hence, my shopping list was unfortunately cut short.
Although I did manage to get a puny little frog doll clippers for my girlfriends, a gingerbread cookie for the tyrant Ogre and 2 foul texted car fresheners from Topshop for Michelle the golden voice and Marshall the Uncle.
Above all, I was thankful for finally being able to cuddle for warmth in my blanket in the coldness of the air conditioner. I remember how my heart softened, reminiscing on my room, my sanctuary, when I heard a jazzy Corrine Bailey Rae's voice tuning in City Tang's department store.
I missed how the sun peeked through my window in mornings, carefully waking me up to a whole new day, i missed how the coldness of my room is just perfect for me to relax by reading a novel each night, accompanied by the jazzy piano playings from the tape.
And it's all restored now! Glad to be back :)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Leaving On A Jetplane
I'm leaving for Singapore in less than 12 hours, and still havent packed my suitcase! A 4 days-3nights trip for treating my exhausted mind after the mid term examination, before coming back to chaos on Monday, with dissappointing results waiting.It's been a while since I last visited that small, BEAUTIFUL, clean country. And now I have a feeling that I'll love it once more. More details coming! (And pictures :p )
Friday, April 20, 2007
Marshallia
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Free Text Messages
I recently bought an XL sim card for the unused Motorola Razor in my house. And the phenomenal thing is: I can send 100 SMSes/day. For free. Which means, zero cost. Zero reduction to my prepaid credit. Even just to fellow XL users, still! 100 SMSes. That's like, free IDR 35,000,- perday!
Now I wonder how they do this. How can they offer a 'competitive edge' which their fellow competitors are unable to offer, even to this point of time? For any of you who knows, please kindly let me know :)
Now I wonder how they do this. How can they offer a 'competitive edge' which their fellow competitors are unable to offer, even to this point of time? For any of you who knows, please kindly let me know :)
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A Birthday Cake from Bestfriends
Last night was the perfect picturesque night. I celebrated my 17th birthday dinner (as I have wrote) at The Nine Muses French Dining Club in South Jakarta. Eventhough I arrived a bit late (due to unexpected traffic and mis-scheduled friends' arrival), everything went as smooth as the live jazz performance.
The most tongue-savouring food was in fact the appetizer, not the maincourse (which is a good/bad thing?). The cream sauce escargot was a delicacy, smooth and tender while sweet and salty at the same time, a total treat. The main course (my choice) was Australian Rib Eye (which was fine but too dry, and the mashed potato was totally plain, although the baby carrot was so cute, it looked like a mini carrot with mini vegie on top of it, the kind you would see in Bugs Bunny movies). The desert was unfortunately too sour (chestnut pudding with rapberry ice cream and fresh blueberries and strawberries) but my birthday blueberry cheesecake was a huge hit! <3
And of course, there was the surprise candle prepared by my friends. I was walking when 1 of my friend put on a scared face and ordered me to go with her in order to help her. I bought her acting, and followed her to the restroom. Then we climbed the steps back up, when she closed my eyes and lead me back to our table. I smelt burning wax.
When I opened my eyes, my heart melt along with the flickering fire on the white candles. Infront of me, there was already a cake waiting (picture inclosed) with my name, and 2 candles which spell '17', waiting to be blown. People started to sing "Happy Birthday", and the person next to me instructed me to blow it.
'Make a wish' , she said.
I closed my eyes in prayer, opened it, and blew the candles. People started cheering and 1 by 1, they present their wishes, and I blew the candles that they were holding. 1 by 1, a wish came out, and a candle died.
After 16 candles were blown, the piano started and Miche lle sang a jazzy song for the birthday girl, her golden mature beautiful voice filled the room, putting the other guests on some kind of a spell, pulling their eyes to her in enjoyment and approval. Then she lighted her candle, gave me a wish, and again the fire died in silence.
Then Michael gave a speech (thank you, it was a heart-blanket :) ), and our wine glasses rose up to the air for a toast. His wish, speech, and farewell note was.. Incredible sharp to the heart, warming, and sad at once. Thank you.
God I cant believe this is my last birthday with these people. Im gonna miss them so much after we went to university next year.
I love you all, thank you for everything. Thank you for a great year, and an awesome birthday dinner. It was more than what I thought it would be.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Sweet And Seventeen
I am a legal citizen of Indonesia who can drive, vote, and drink. Yay me.
A bit dissapointed.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A Teacher's Note
I was passioanately briefing a teacher about my degree complication, when suddenly:
My former Chinese teacher: "Den, I noticed how you've changed from Yr 10. Somehow, more mature."
Hip hip hurray <3
Monday, April 09, 2007
Homemade Invitation
After some thoughts and doubts and excitement, I'm going to host my Sweet 17th at The Nine Muses Club in Jakarta, a private party of 17 people fine dining and enjoying the music. Even after designing, printing and distributed the invitations this afternoon, everything feels surreal, somehow weird. I cant believe I'm turning 17 this Thursday, in 72 hours.
It seemed like yesterday, the day that I turned 16, April 12th 2006. And look at me now, feeling like nothing has changed in a year, and this is 17 we're talking about, the year when we become a legal citizen of a country, I can even vote for God's sake. And what has changed? Except for the fact that this is the first year after 16 years in a row when I will not celebrate my birthday with my brother who is currently studying in Amsterdam.
Closed my eyes, thinking back, frowning while thinking. Everything feels same-o-same-o. I still face the same issues. Stuck in the school routine. Playing and joking and making a fool of myself infront of my friends. Coming late to school. Sleeping too late. Going out too much. Staying home to little. Wasting most of my time doing triffles.
Everything in a ditto state.
Oh God I cant believe I'm turning 17 in 72 hours. Next year I wont even able to call myself a high school student, I will be a university undergaduate. God I'm old, getting older and older without any chance to feel younger.
By the way, talking of universities, why in the hell the University of Ind has not replied my email?? I called them this afternoon in the middle of book shelves in the library, assigning an appointment tomorrow, but the counsellor has called in sick and will not be present even tomorrow. I hate delays. The school also hasnt give the HSC=IB Declaration which is required to follow up my application to the University of Ams. I hate delays.
I hate delays. And waiting.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Midnight Call
For the first time in my almost 17 years of life, I called 27hrs McDon ald's delivery service last night (/morning). As I was on the phone with a friend of mine, he responded to my hunger by recommending me to call McD's 24/7 delivery service, and I did. The time was 12:05 midnight.
After some thoughts, I ordered a cheeseburger, medium french fries and an iced chocolate milk. Then I continued to speak with my friend for half an hour, and when we hung up, I continually peeked out from my window, wishing to see a guy in a McD uniform on his motorbike, ringing the bell to inform his arrival.
30 minutes passed, no sight, no sound, nothing of him. The time was 01:30.
As I made my way down, the phone deliberately rang, crying the ringing tone, cutting through the silence of the night. The guy from McDonald, my heart pounded with hope. It was. The problem is that he called in to inform me that their raiders is all currently very busy, and will be able to deliver my order in an hour.
Clouds clouded my eyes, thunder roars in my stomach. What the hell?
Pissed, I canceled my order, and made myself a cup of hot chocolate to cover the hunger for the night, then went to bed. Finally. When I woke up the sun was already high in the air, and I'm still hungry. Then what do I do? I ordered my brother to call McD for us :)
After some thoughts, I ordered a cheeseburger, medium french fries and an iced chocolate milk. Then I continued to speak with my friend for half an hour, and when we hung up, I continually peeked out from my window, wishing to see a guy in a McD uniform on his motorbike, ringing the bell to inform his arrival.
30 minutes passed, no sight, no sound, nothing of him. The time was 01:30.
As I made my way down, the phone deliberately rang, crying the ringing tone, cutting through the silence of the night. The guy from McDonald, my heart pounded with hope. It was. The problem is that he called in to inform me that their raiders is all currently very busy, and will be able to deliver my order in an hour.
Clouds clouded my eyes, thunder roars in my stomach. What the hell?
Pissed, I canceled my order, and made myself a cup of hot chocolate to cover the hunger for the night, then went to bed. Finally. When I woke up the sun was already high in the air, and I'm still hungry. Then what do I do? I ordered my brother to call McD for us :)