New bustle....dating with "knitting"

Sometimes, when I am doing nothing in my spare time, I keep thinking to do something valuable. One day, when I was reading magazine, my eyes stuck in a lovely sweater which was knitting hand made. Ahaaa... why did not I learn about that. I ever saw my mother did that when I was a child, long time ago. If succeed, I can sell my product.

First step, I went to Gramedia, looking for certain books then bought it. 2nd step, I went to thread store, bought some thread and hakken needle. I was encouraged to try it. But, it was not so easy as I imagined before. I got confused when I learned the book. Tried many times and only got chain stick. Basic stick. Poor me. I gave up. I put that tools far away from me. All planning flew out of my head.

A week later, I met my old friends, and not on purpose to show my knitting tools and told my planning and what I had done before... "Hi, I can do that, let me show you..." one of my friends screamt to me. "Really..." I became full of spirit again. And they taught me a while. Result?? still no succeed when I tried by myself. Twice Gave up! But, I still had some friends. They could help me.

I arranged appointment with my friend to come to her home and would take brief course some days later. I also talked to another friend. And what she said?? "Hi, my mom can do that fluently. You can come here and learn with her". Again, it was good idea. Her mom was a retirement. She spent her day by doing this activity. A lot of goods already been made, just for spending her time, not for profit oriented. She made bag, hat, table cloth mostly for her family only.

Thanks God. I found the way to learn it. I had to be expert someday. Hopefully I could make it valuable by selling it. I can get money!
Now I am still studying and learning. I like doing it although my fingers and hand are quite painful. It is new activity for me. I am happy, I am zest. I can not stand to see my work. Hope it is not temporary enthusiastic

One fine day in Yogya

yummi...


tamansari







It was lovely Sunday morning. Sky was so blue. Sun shined brightly. She showed her soft gold color and smooth touchy.
I hadn’t had breakfast yet. It was better to fill my stomach up before I was getting headache. Planned to do short journey, it required full energy as I would have many activities by foot and via public transportation.

Arriving Kaliurang in the morning. Breathed fresh air. Felt the warm sunshine. Heard the melodius voice of birds and mountain insect. Thank God for let me through this day… Anyway, this resort was located on the slopes of Mt. Merapi, 24 km north of Yogyakarta and surrounded by an enchanting countryside. It lied at the foot of Plawangan hill on the southern slope of mount Merapi, some 28 km, north of Yogyakarta.

Fresh air of Kaliurang brought my step to feel the atmosphere of Beukenhof Restaurant. It located beside Ulen Sentallu museum. Yummy…sandwich and small sweet pancake. Both buildings were belongs to Javanese person who loved his homeland very much. Mr. Thomas Haryonagoro. The buildings were architecturally designed and built from local stone, sheltered by trees and featuring walkways, large courtyard spaces and gardens. So homey.
Brief summary of Ullen Sentalu that it was museum of Javanese art and culture.
Inside, you could see historical photographs of the palace, images of people, many oil paintings, including painted portraits of various sultans, their wives. and memorable events during the colonial era, various artifacts, and being displayed in glass cabinets were the actual items of clothing being worn in the portraits. Fantastic!
You also could find batik styles of Yogyakarta, Surakarta, and Chinese influence from the northern coastal towns of Java, and traditional Javanese wedding garb which was displayed and had a meaning. Again, waow, only that word came repeatedly from my mouth. Couldn’t count how much! 1, 2, …..100, I didn’t know.

Gentle sound of "Telogo Muncar" waterfall capture my mind to be back to yesterday morning. Same menu, I laughed by myself as I ate sandwich in Omah Dhuwur resto Kotagede. Kotagede? Silver craft center, friends….

It was better to go on pleasure by visiting another place. TransYogya busway brought me slowly since it had to stop over certain shelter to put in and out passenger. Finally I was ended in front of Bringharjo traditional market which was placed in point of Malioboro. Well known pedestrian street.

I set myself in front of some old buildings in the intersection of Malioboro and Sultan Palace a.k.a Kraton. Let read my story. Keep attention. I was serious. I meant it. No,no,no just kidding. I was just influenced by spirit of that buildings, and my sense moved around, back and forth, from the past to present time.

1st, Vredeburg Fortress! This fortress was built by Sultan to fulfill Dutch colony’s request, by this fortress they could watch Kraton more easily and as a defender fortress. But it is museum now. This ford becomes Museum Khusus Perjuangan Nasional by the name of Museum Benteng Yogyakarta.
2nd, Kantor Pos Besar (Big Post Office). In Dutch period, it was used as a post office and telecommunication center.
3rd, Representative office of Indonesia Bank firstly used as de Indische Bank office.
4th, BNI Bank, previously was Nill Maattschappij office and De Javasche Bank, but now it’s used as BNI Bank. Those old buildings were still in good condition and the architecture of their exterior even also does not get much changing.

My last visit for finishing this afternoon was coming to Water Castle, also known by the Dutch name waterkasteel (water castle).or Taman Sari, the Sultan's (king) recreation garden.

My guide told me completely and clearly. Of course, it was absolutely his job.
Formerly Tamansari was a recreation garden or a resting house for the Sultan and Family, about 2 km south of Yogyakarta Palace, this garden was built by Portuguese architect in European aquatic construction adorned with Javanese Symbolize ornaments. Tamansari was built in the Sultan Hamengku Buwono I period in the end of 17th Century. It's become a recreation area, a compound of bathing pool, canals, rooms at that time.
And what the king did there? The King would take a bath in the pool with a lot of pretty girls. And only one girl, whom he really likes, would be then invited to another private pool, having a private bath with him. Or, king would watch his girls swim from his private tower then he chose one of them to be his all night partner. Waow!

Tired!! I had to go back to hotel, using my time to refresh my body and soul. Before taking a bath, I spent it on swimming at Ibis hotel swimming pool. Yihaa….

Something unique in Padang Padang Beach

Padang-padang beach. Just an ordinary beach. White sand, reef, small green plantation under the water. When tide went down, we could walk upon the reef. When tide went up, we could swim.
I saw pre wedding arrangement, took a picture session. The pictures would be used for wedding invitation and some pictures were added in wedding ceremony as supported decoration. It become tradition in Indonesia recently. Many lovely places with good scenery will be used, like beach, hill or mountain.





Dinner? Sure! Sunset came, stomach sounded hard, warning to be ready to have dinner. Oops, two big pillows, little table and complete table tools. A pair of glasses, plates, spoons, forks, candle, wine…so sweet! It was a good idea to be one of hotel facility to reach guests. And went the sun went down, a young handsome man and beautiful woman came by small boat across the sea. Really??? They looked like a newly bride. Too bad I couldn’t steal a rare moment on my camera. Forgive me!

Bali beaches....I am coming

Kuta beach was very crowded. The White sand and big waves were still interesting people to stay there.
Instead of sun bathing, lying down, sitting, sleeping, surfing, screaming, laughing, chatting, so many seller there, tried to persuade visitor to buy their sarung fabric (unique motif in Balinese fabric), give massage, paint our fingernails with fancy color and picture, do temporary tattoo and do some hair arrangement to be like young Stevie Wonder or Alicia Keys.



Legian beach, neighbor of Kuta beach. It was quite beautiful in the morning when some sea shells spred out, lying down on the black sand and touched by waves all the time. People did some jogging, some old ladies walked through the small waves by foot, without slipper. Naked feet. fresh air and morning sun supported visitor to do some healthy exercise. 100% good news.



I love go there. Until now. Eventhough I just put my butt in white sand and do nothing. I can daydream, dream, think, imagine, or just sleeping….Watching people activity is also good to do. Seeing topless women, seeing women on bikinis. Judging them from their body shape. Too sexy, too skinny, too fat, too dark, too pale. So many…


Beaches...everywhere. When you were going to Discovery mall near Kuta, you also could find beach. Just walked to the back of the mall....

Warung Tunjung, Denpasar

One of tradisional food of Bali. It is called Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice). It is rice accompanied by some vegetables with all chicken side dish. Chicken is cooked in some variation like sate lilit, chicken curry, chicken rica-rica, fried chicken, chicken meatball with soup, fried chicken skin. This warung locates in Denpasar, in small street. It names Warung Tunjung. Many people comes here. Cheap price too. Please try and you will not regret it.

Kertalangu Village...it had not interested in me yet...

Kertalangu cultural village located in the middle of 80 hectare everlasting rice cultivation at Jl. By. Pass Ngurah Rai-Sanur. This place closes Ngurah Rai Airport, Nusa Dua and Kuta area. The facilities was build in efforts of Development based and community of Kesiman Kertalangu village society.

I didnt know how this place looked like, so I went with my friends in the mid noon. Oops, it was so hot with sun shined over our head. It was not enjoyable to walk along the jogging track as far as 4 km in the middle of rice cultivation, surrounding by fresh vegetables and rice plant. Near entrance place we could see horse playing ground and Bali Handicraft Center to see how the society processed and created various kinds of handicraft product like ceramics, candle, glass, resind, wind chime, earthenware vessels and wood and stone carved.

What else we could see there? Hmmm... There were 9 fishing ponds in the middle of rice cultivation completed with gazebo and restaurant as a family recreation facilities. Tourist could learn and practice traditional Balinese dance, instrument, gamelan or others Balinese culture, an expert and friendly instructure would be ready to train you. SPA and beauty salon were available with complete, comfortable, facilities, and an expert therapists in a luxurious rice view as an other alternative to spoiled our body's. Open Stage Any kind of events could be performed in this place e.g: wedding, launching product, birthday party, exhibition or traditional art performances Kecak and Barong dance. Restaurant was near to beautiful and luxurious rice view with a various kinds of food available, eventhough the menus was not completed enough . The last was photo Studio Complete and sophisticated photo technology to make a picture before wedding or souvenir wearing a Balinese costums.

To be honest I didnt find any enjoyable moment there and did not know what to do except feeling hot in my skin. Sunshine touched and stabbed my lovely white skin. Situation was also so quite and calm. There was not much visitor eventhough it was long holiday.

Warung Made .....Poor me!

As I looked for something cheap in "Warung Made" resto in Kuta, I ordered bacon sandwich for dinner. Wrong order hahhahaha, as this should be for breakfast instead of dinner.

originally located in Kuta was only a small joint serving traditional snack to rice farmers and surfers. Run by Made’s family, and recently become the most popular eatery in Bali with its strategic location, resembles a traditional country house, full of painting pictures, ancient things, with wooden warung style tables, long table and bench seating, and a good view of the bustling main road. Made’s Warung is a people watching place galore, and cool just to sit and sip a drink. The staff are all Balinese and I chatted with a couple of them

I ever heard that the special menu is Nasi Goreng (fried rice) but unfortunately i was not in the mood to eat it. Again, I was not lucky. Why? As the sandwich was very dry and so crispy like dry bread. It was not what I had ever eaten before in another place.

As I was curious, I asked the waiter, why? Then he apologized because usually waiter would inform how it look like to avoid dissapointing and it can be changed to original sandwich.

Poor me, as I already eaten it up without complaint, cause I was very hungry, and when I was full, my mind became normal again and realized what happened.

Well, please all the waiter, your friend already apologized, do not repeat your treatment. As till now I always heard and read (from blog,mailing list) for unclearly message and treatment is done. Do not dissapoint your client and your company.

Balinese gado-gado

One of my lunch in BaLI was Balinese gado-gado (mixed Long beans
Cabbage, sliced thin, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Tofu, potato, cucumber, boiled egg, crispy shrimp crackers, poured by peanuts sauce).This Balinese salad is is flavorful and unique, served cold with a tasty peanut sauce. Suddenly hungry? Want to try??

Toasted Bread

My breakfast at Ayu Beach Inn, Poppies Lane I,Kuta,Bali. Yummy toasted bread, accompanied by ommelet, butter, jam and some fruits like watermelon and pineapple and a cup of hot tea or coffee.Just simple menu! Worth it for 130.000 rupiahs single room with fan on peak season of moslem Idul Fitri holiday.

Liitle chat about Manadonese

2004 year, I went to my family land, where my father and mother come from. I went to my mother land, Kolongan,Manado, North Sulawesi. Arrived Sam Ratulangi airport, I was impressed by word "Si Tou Timou Tou" that stated in front of entrance of airport. This word was very well known in North Sulawesi region, especially in Minahasa inhabit. It meant human grew up to humanize human. I thought, it meant we live to help each other, to do interaction, close and honest relationship. By doing that, we kept ours to be human who had feeling, mind, thinking, soul, art, creativity and faith of God.
Anyway, do you know Minahasa? Maybe you know Manado. Actually Manado is capital city of North Celebes but Manado is identically with name of Minahasa tribe. People will say Manadonese than Minahasan. So, dont forget Angelina Sondakh,ex Indonesian princess, Pinkan Mambo,singer, Rima Melati,actress, Greysi Polii,badminton player and Ben Joshua Rompis,actor. Also, Bunaken,the beautiful and famous undersea park in the world, bubur Manado (mixed vegetables porridge),the yummy breakfast, tarcisius,the little primata in the world and kolintang, taditional music tools from mawenang wood.

Ketapang (Banyuwangi) Crossing

6 am, 29 Sept, I was tired after leaving Mutiara train ex Surabaya-Banyuwangi then change to train bus. But looking at beautiful scenery at the sea, some ferry was back and forth with full of passanger, openbaar vervoer a.k.a public transportation and personal cars, all made me relief from my tiredness.