the pillow talk

Resign

2012-02-13T15:39:00.003+07:00

Masih seger banget di ingatan, dua tahun lalu tepatnya 11 November 2009, jadi hari pertama saya gabung ke Kompas.com. Posisi saya waktu itu sebagai copywriter dan masuk di departemen kreatifnya Kompas.com.

Waktu itu usia saya masih 24, masih emosian, masih meniti karir, berharap bisa menemukan pekerjaan yang lebih baik, pokoknya karir di atas segala-galanya. Secara lagi LDR ya nek..

Saya yang dulunya kerja di majalah remaja cewek dan menjabat sebagai feature writer dan editor jadi-jadian, punya ekspektasi kerja di Kompas.com tuh berat banget. Dateng harus on time jam ½ 9, pulangnya malem bahkan kadang pagi, orangnya serius semua, bosnya galak kayak herder, trus kerjanya rodi. Tapi rela aja lah ya, namanya juga kerja di tempat femes.

Walaupun begitu, masih untunglah di Kompas.com masih bisa pake jeans. Saya kan nggak suka sama kostum kantoran ala mbak-mbak bank. Jadi pekerjaan ini pun saya siap terima dengan bahagia.

Hari pertama masuk, rada kaget juga. Beda banget sama tempat kerja sebelumnya yang kebanyakan perempuan, di divisi saya ini banyakan lelaki. Dari sekitar 15 orang waktu itu, cuma ada 4 cewek termasuk saya. Waktu itu saya mikirnya ceweknya sadis-sadis nih, ya secara dulunya saya anak majalah cewek kan.. Udah biasa banget sama yang namanya geng-gengan. Waktu itu di umur segitu, ternyata saya masih mikir kalo semua cewek di kantor pasti mean girls. Ahahaha. Shallow, I was.

Ternyata, pas makan siang saya langsung ditegor sama dua cewek yang ada di situ. Irma dan Grace, langsung nyolek bahu saya dan ngajak makan siang. Saat itu cewek yang satu lagi (Mbak Anas) lagi cuti karena anaknya sakit. Dari situlah dimulai keikriban di antara kita berempat.

Grace, me, Irma, Mbak Anas

Singkat cerita, dua minggu kemudian, saya udah ikutan tradisi rebutan martabak, donat atau pizza gratis (kalo ada yang ultah dan bagi-bagiin makanan) dan nyela kawanan pria di sana. Saya juga langsung dapet celaan ‘tukang nyender’ sama ‘tukang ngelem’ gara-gara pembawaan saya yang santai dan dikit-dikit ngakak. Baru kerasa deh bedanya kerja di lingkungan yang kebanyakan cowok. Jangan harap ngeliat ada yang lagi kasak-kusuk ngomongin orang, yang ada pasukan gendut-gendut lagi becanda jorok :))

Kompas.com Creative Team antiwaras

Tapi walaupun berada di lingkungan yang isinya laki semua, justru ceweknya jadi kompak dan nggak geng-gengan. Gimana mau nge-geng juga ya, scara cuma 4 orang ya bok.. Apalagi setelah ditinggal Mbak Anas yg resign demi anak, semakin berkuranglah jumlah kaum hawa nan jelita di divisi kreatif Kompas.com. Saya serta Irma dan Grace pun jadi kompak dalam menangkis cela-celaan sadis dan jorok para pria :))

Soal kerjaan, saya juga salah besarrr sodara-sodara. Divisi saya ini kalau diibaratkan kayak pusat kreatif dan multimedia Kompas.com a.k.a tukang pahatnya AE. Saya sebagai copywriter, job desc nya ya bikin copy segala bentuk kreatif yang diorder AE, baik yang jualan ke klien maupun internal (promonya Kompas dan Kompas.com). Jadi kayak semi agency tapi di media. Berat? YA TOLONG NGGAK SAMA SEKALI KALEEE.. Sebagai copywriter tugas saya ya cuma ketak ketik copy sekaligus bikin kopi kalo udah kepala mulai nyender. Sekali-sekali brainstorming ide, tapi suasana meeting pun nggak pernah serius :D

Soal bos yang saya kira bakal sadistis dan jam kerja yang minta disembah? Lagi-lagi salah banget. Saya bebas dateng jam 9an atau sekali-kali jam 10 paling mentok, lalu pulang ½ 6 sore. Jarang ada deadline mendesak. Bos saya, yang juga seorang lelaki, orang Sunda banget, bodor pisan, dan ngga heran semua bawahannya juga. Doi punya hobi fotografi, dan terkadang saya sama cewek-cewek dijadiin objek percobaan. Horeee!

With Regina, the new girl. Photo by Riki Kurniadi

This was the most fun job I’ve ever had so far J

***

Setahun, saya masih betah bekerja di Kompas.com walaupun emang ada rasa jenuh. Bukan cuma jenuh kerjaan, tapi juga karena macetnya Jakarta yang tiada maaf bagimu. Jarak rumah saya di Lebak Bulus ke Palmerah itu nggak terlalu jauh, tapi tiap hari butuh satu setengah jam sampe dua jam aja di jalan untuk sampe kantor. Pernah diakalin dengan berangkat siang, tapi macetnya sama aja dan saya makin siang nyampenya. Belum lagi kalo jalan pulang. Tau sendiri yah daerah sepanjang Jalan Panjang – Permata Hijau – Pondok Indah bener-bener udah di luar akal sehat di jam-jam pulang kantor. Efeknya? ~~Agak lebih sering~~ memaki, ~~agak lebih sering~~ ngeluarin jari tengah, ~~agak~~ pegel kakinya setiap malem, ~~agak~~ insomnia jadinya harus menghadapi macet tiap hari L. Never knew that traffic can affect me like that.

Emang manusia itu nggak ada puasnya ya. Dikasih kerjaan banyak, bete. Kerjaannya dikit, ngehe. Ya saya yang kedua itu. Kadang-kadang rindu juga jadi jurnalis (jadi-jadian), yang (kesannya) sibuk liputan sana-sini, kenalan sama anak majalah anu, interviu artis anu, photoshoot di studio anu, dan glamoritas anu anak majalah pada umumnya. Kerjaan saya yang kebanyakan di depan komputer bikin saya ngerasa agak tumpul..

Apalagi setelah menikah, semakin terasalah dibelenggu pekerjaan. Jam kerja Mono sama saya nggak match sama sekali. Dia kerja di hari saya nggak kerja, dan sebaliknya. Jadinya saya sering dikomplen deh. Kapan bikin anaknya? :))

Akhirnya, karena faktor-faktor di atas dan sudah berpikir berbulan-bulan, saya pun mengajukan resign. Cukup lama buat saya berpikir untuk ninggalin kerjaan yang lingkungannya menyenangkan + nggak setres + no pressure dan hari-harinya penuh sama tawa. Belum lagi orang-orangnya yang bikin saya ngerasa jadi bagian dari keluarga.

Meskipun akhirnya saya memutuskan resign dan rindu kerja di majalah, saya nggak langsung cus ngelamar di tempat lain. Saya cuma ingin break dari kerjaan dan menata hidup (cieee). Bukan karena berantakan sih, tapi memang setelah berbulan-bulan cari rumah sendiri, saya dan Mono akhirnya dapet rumah kontrakan impian di daerah Serpong. Tambah jauh buat saya bekerja, dan tambah susah buat saya untuk mengatur hidup berdua kalo ditambah bekerja kantoran.

Hari resign saya diwarnai dengan tumpahnya air mata. Nggak nyangka bakal sesedih ini. Apalagi di hari terakhir saya, semua pada ngumpul di rooftop kantor, kemudian foto-foto bareng, yang dilanjutkan dengan saya pamit sama satu-satu. Makin meveeeekk lah saya, mata basah, eyeliner luntur, maskara caur, hidung merah kayak badut. Momen ini pun kemudian diabadikan sama Mas Riki (bos saya) di kamera dan seminggu kemudian jadi sebuah video mengharukan dan bikin mevek part 2 yang diupload di Facebook.

The Farewell from mazta on Vimeo.

Nggak nyesel sama sekali jadi bagian dari Kompas.com walaupun sebentar. Masuk di umur 24, keluar di umur 27 dengan pengalaman yang tambah kaya, temen yang nambah banyak, pelajaran bekerja yang nambah referensi, dan pribadi yang nggak emosian lagi (Insya Allah amien!).

Thank you Kompas.com Creative Department for the 2 years and 3 months of laughters, joy, happy tears, and the crappily tasty foods. Most importantly thank you for togetherness you all shared to me, thank you for making me the part of the family. See u next time J

Letter to God: About Death

2012-01-14T11:06:00.001+07:00

Prologue: Sedang galau. Inilah yang tertulis. Untuk Tuhanku. Semoga Ia membacanya.

Di awal tahun 2012 ini saya banyak sekali mendengar musibah kematian. Bukan cuma kematian orang tua, nenek, atau sepuh, tapi juga anak-anak muda yang sudah dapat giliran dipanggil olehMu. Tahun 2010 saya pernah merasakan ditinggal teman yang meninggal mendadak, Prinka. Saat itu saya rasanya sedih sekali dan hampa. Tak hanya sedih karena kehilangan teman, tapi juga tak percaya betapa umur kita pendek dan bisa saja diputus tiba-tiba.

Tuhan, mengapa pilu sekali jika mendengar orang mati muda daripada orang yang meninggal karena tua dan sakit? Saya langsung membayangkan betapa cluelessnya orang itu, betapa ia sedang semangat menyusun rencana, bekerja demi kehidupan yang lebih baik, bertemu dengan orang baru, jatuh cinta.. namun di tengah sibuknya kehidupan itu, ia harus meninggalkannya ke destinasi yang kita tak tahu dimana.

Sedihnya, karena terkadang kita sibuk menyusun destinasi liburan untuk tahun depan, menyusun itinerary, menjaga kesehatan, menabung, tapi terkadang suka lupa destinasi sebenarnya. Destinasi yang ini bukan kita datangi, tapi mendatangi kita, kapan dan dimana tanpa rencana.

Seringnya kematian seperti jauh sekali. Seperti tak mungkin terjadi. Apalagi sekarang sudah ada Twitter. Melihat akun Twitter seseorang yang sudah meninggal itu menyakitkan, karena terlihat betapa cluelessnya ia dalam hitungan minggu/hari/jam ajal menjemput. Betapa sebaris kalimat yang ia tweet itu jadi terkesan ajaib, padahal mungkin jika ia masih hidup, kalimat tersebut mungkin cuma kata-kata biasa yang terekam di dunia maya.

Kadang suka tak sadar betapa gratisnya hidup ini. Betapa bebasnya dan luasnya hal yang bisa kita lakukan. Mengambil nafas, memutuskan memilih sepatu yang mana saat belanja, makan nasi goreng enak, memesan cappucino, memilih channel TV, ngegosip tentang teman yang menyebalkan, beryoga, quality time atau apalah atas nama hidup bermakna. Namun betapa tak bermaknanya hal itu saat ajal datang.

Tuhan, mengapa saya takut? Apa mungkin karena tak pernah ada preview tentang kehidupan lain yang akan kita datangi itu.. Ketidaktahuan membuat saya takut.. namun lagi-lagi takut tak bermakna jika dibandingkan dengan kepastian 100% akan kematian.

Bagaimana dengan dosa, Tuhan? Saya pasti banyak dosa. Tapi saya tahu juga Engkau Maha Penyayang. Namun bagaimana aplikasi hukuman dan kasih sayangMu? Karena sepanjang hidup ini yang kurasakan hanyalah kasih sayangMu. Tak pernah kelaparan, sekolah sampai selesai, lalu bekerja dengan nyaman di kantor, bertemu dengan pria baik yang akhirnya menjadi suami, bisa makan enak kalau habis gajian, kalau belum gajian juga nggak pernah kelaparan. Sekali-kali mengeluh kurang tidur atau mengutuk kemacetan. Di rumah selalu ada orang tua yang menyambut mesra, tak pernah sekalipun diusir ke luar rumah.

Tuhan, saya tak pernah tahu rasanya mati itu. Mungkinkah rasa juga akan mati dan hilang? Tapi bagaimana perasaan orang yang saya tinggalkan nanti? Bagaimana jika saya pergi meninggalkan rasa yang belum termaafkan untuk seseorang. Kalau di kehidupan, tinggal bilang “I don’t care, people can say anything they like, I live my own life”. Tapi bagaimana saat mati nanti?

Terkadang saya bertanya dalam hati, lebih sakit mana, ditinggal mati orang terdekat atau meninggalkan mati mereka? Di dalam hidup, kita tenggelam dalam kesedihan, namun orang-orang terdekat pasti datang menghibur. Kita masih terhubung dengan manusia lain. Tapi nanti, apabila saya sendirian di kuburan saya, apakah teman-teman yang sudah mati akan datang menghibur karena saya sedih tak bisa bertemu lagi dengan manusia yang masih hidup?

Sesak rasanya Tuhan, menulis ini. Sesak rasanya tidak mengetahui kapan, di mana, bagaimana, tapi pasti akan terjadi. Sesak rasanya menunggu musibah yang pasti.. namun lebih sesak adalah momen nanti saya lupa akan semua ini lalu akhirnya saat itu datang.

Ingin rasanya selalu ingat mati. Ingin rasanya tak selalu terjebak dalam godaan duniawi.

Semoga tulisan ini selalu jadi pengingat akanMu.

2011: The Stories

2011-12-30T19:21:00.000+07:00

Gonna write this post in English. Why English? Because I can’t speak or write France, Spanish, let alone ngapak Tegal-ish. The next reason is because this post is gonna be kinda emotional, which I truly hard to find the comfortable words in Bahasa.

Here we go.

So, it is the end of 2011. The year I’ve been very grateful of. The year of change. The year I stepped a lot further I just can’t believe it myself.

It’s not hard to find the highlight this year is my marriage. Half of the year I’ve spent all my energy preparing this. Eventhough my wedding was not involving so much traditional ceremonies, but it still demands a lot of attention and details it leads me a total weariness. I’ve heard a lot that preparing wedding means firing up the drama, but words are words if you don’t undergo it yourself. I’ve cried so much during this preparation, my relationship with my mother was getting worse, and I’ve lost confidence a lot that I can’t handle everything by myself. Let alone I feel so tired because I haven’t had vacation for two years during my job probation. I was overburden.

But when the day comes, I feel like the rain of relief on me. It was like everything’s flashing before my eyes and I realized, “here it is….” My life finally begins… I’ve spent half a year being occupied that I ran a lot of things to be grateful. And by June, half of 2011, I woke up to the half of remaining of the year, of so much beautiful things.

First, the man I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve drowned so much in the hecticness of preparing wedding that I forgot I DID THIS TO BE WITH HIM. It’s like I lost the bigger picture. When it’s over, finally I can see that the pain I underwent was worthy: the unconditional love, the patience, the cuddles, the laughter, the silliness and everything we share together. I’m so grateful it’s him, not anyone else. I never thought being a wife would feel this lovely.

Also started half of this year, I was finally given the opportunity to travel. Travel, vacation, holiday, or what-the-name is the thing I’ve been always dreamed of but the chances never came. June 2011, not also I finally have a morning flight to Bali like I always wanted, but God decided to give me more; a vacation with a wonderful husband. Now I see why holiday feels so delayed for me; because He wants to make it very special :)

September 2011, with my friends, I also finally have a chance to have a holiday in a country I’ve never expected it before. Bangkok, Thailand is a second city overseas that I’ve visited (according to my passport, I have visited Singapore in 2007). I experienced the joy of staying in a hostel, shopping in one of famous market in the world, Chatuchak, and strolling around the city by water transportation. Sounds simple, but in every travelling journey I’ve found something, some satisfaction that a stuff can’t replace and can’t be explained.

The last six months of 2011 I feel so energized, so charged, that I did something I’ve never thought I would. So I cook and took photos (and even blog about it). I don’t know, I just do, and it’s an instant happiness for me!

Oh my God, I babbled so much, did I?

Guess in 2011 I feel so enlightened I can’t stop telling stories about it :D. But life has it ups and downs. 2011 not only contains happy stories, but also unpleasant ones.

Until now, I have some broken relationship with some people. Some very significant, some finally I know they’re not that significant *giggle*. With the significant ones, I just realized that our relationship has been broken a very long ago and it’s not easy to fix. In 2012, I have a goal to repair this. And for the people that finally revealed that you’re not that significant, I’m very grateful I finally can cut the crap with you :)

Some more unpleasant story: I’m also still dealing with insomnia. It started out in 2009, getting worse when preparing my wedding, somewhat cured in this last six months, but sometimes it relapsed. I tried to cut the caffeine, add more veggies to my menu and work out more to make it gone forever.

Finally…

I’m so happy I can finish this post. It’s been a long time I didn’t write this long. I hope in 2012 I will enjoy the whole year, not only half like I did in 2011 :D But I already took some steps in the end of the year. I’m quitting my job but thankfully, new exciting opportunity has been waiting for me. One lovely house in suburban area also already awaits for me and my husband to be occupied. Yes, I’m starting my new life, the first time separated with my parents! I bet it’s not gonna be easy in the first times, but I know it’s gonna be awesome.

Cherish to lovable 2011. You’ve been great. Thank you!

New Found Love: Cooking

2011-11-18T18:18:00.004+07:00

Emang bener ya kalo status baru itu terkadang bisa membawa kita jadi punya semacem energi untuk ngelakuin hal yang bener-bener gak dipikirin sebelumnya. Contohnya MASAK. Sebelum menikah, nggak pernah kepikir seiprit pun mau coba turun ke dapur. Kenapa? Keputusan ini dilandasi oleh 3 hal:

1.Waktu kecil, mungkin saking Mama saya selalu mau saya makan sehat, maka di rumah itu menunya itu-itu doang. Yang paling saya doyan itu ayam goreng mentega, selebihnya udah ‘kenyang’ banget sama bening bayam, gado-gado, atau paling banter ikan kembung goreng. Jadinya saya kayak kodok ditempurungin, makan di luar pun paling banter KFC atau kadang Pizza Hut. Jadi menurut saya, proses masak memasak itu cuma buat makanan rumah yang ngebosenin.

2.Selain alasan tersebut, saya juga ngeliat dapur sebagai tempat yang jorok dan memasak sebagai proses yang kurang endes dilihat. Bau bawang, jahe, dan motong-motong sayur itu nggak lady banget (najis ya sombongnya).

3.Oknum pencicipnya adalah keluarga yang apresiasi terhadap makanannya kurang. Lihat alasan nomor 1.

Ternyata setelah merit, ketiga faktor di atas rada-rada bubar jalan. Apalagi saya menikah sama lelaki yang punya apresiasi tertinggi terhadap makanan dengan cara naik 13kg semenjak officially jadi pacar saya (sejak tahun 2007). Tak diragukan lagi lah ya ukuran appetite nya. Tapi, walaupun rakus, suami saya juga termasuk picky eater. Alias kalo makan milih maunya yang enak-enak doang. Yeeee.. selain gak suka makanan pedas (kecuali makanan Padang), dia itu sebenernya nggak masalah sama makanan rumah asal rasanya ENAK. Yaweslah, langsung tertantang hormon ini untuk cuus masak sesuatu!

Thanks to Masterchef, motivasi masak saya yang kedua. Masterchef bener-bener ngebuka mata saya kalo masak itu effortless, dan yang pasti bisa dilakuin dalam keadaan rambut di blow dan mata dishading. Dan hasilnya itu, bikin happy tummy and happy heart. Tekad memasak pun semakin bulet.

Pencarian resep dimulai dari internet (where else?). Berhubung kompor di rumah ortu saya itu udah lebih toku dari saya, nyalainnya kudu pake korek, dan oven di bawahnya udah meninggal sejak bertahun-tahun yang lalu (innalillahi), maka pencarian dimulai dari blog-blog pemula. Masakan saya sementara harus mentok di tumis atau kuah. No baking-baking atau presto-presto ing!

Ketemulah resep-resep gampang dan ciamik dari mbak cantik yang tinggal di Aussie milik Nadia Primaji. Ia dan suaminya itu newlywed yang masak demi pengeretan (which is every wife’s main duty, save the money for: MAC Palette, a pair of shoes, or Zara Dress). Semua masakannya terlihat yummy dan yang paling penting, kebanyakan cuma ngelibatin wajan/panci+kompor+sodet. Percobaan pertama saya, yaitu Honey Chicken yang nyontek dari blog Mbak Nadia ini sukses tudemeks. Rasanya ni'mad, sampe hubby tambah nasi. Yeeaay, you’re talking to the next Martha Stewart, baby! *kepedean

my darling honey chicken

Selanjutnya, nggak afdol rasanya kalo urusan perdapuran nggak masak pasta. Apalagi pasta termasuk kedoyanan suami. Nah, untuk resep yang satu ini saya nyontek dari blog masak paling hip masakini, yaitu Belajar Masak. Blog yang awalnya terkenal di Twitter ini emang bikin gemes minta dijajal. Akhirnya saya coba masak Mac and Cheese. Biasanya yah, bikin mac and cheese tuh harus dipanggang. Nah, di Belajar Masak bikin resep yang tinggal aduk-aduk aja di wajan! Mejiiik.. lagi-lagi percobaan kedua saya ini menuai sukses.

Yang terakhir, blog yang harus harus harus banget dibuka sama para beginner avid cook, yaitu resepnugraha.net. Blog ini juga punya ibu cantik bernama mbak Astri Nugraha, seorang caterer, designer, ibu beranak 4, suka berkebun, rajin ngeblog, pokoknya multitasker tingkat dewa! Ibu yang juga tinggal di Ostrali ini punya blog resep yang di-archive-kan secara super-duper sistematis, berdasarkan kategori ayam, daging, ikan, sayur, dst. Nyontek dari sini, saya sukses bikin sayur kangkung belacan. Eits walaupun cuma kangkung belacan, ini termasuk prestasi lho. Karena suami saya kurang doyan sayur, dan walaupun akhirnya rasanya kebanyakan terasi, tapi tetep dimakan sampe habis. Saya jadi terharu..

Yes, bukan usaha namanya kalo gak pake gagal. Kejadian ini baru dua minggu lalu, waktu percobaan bikin cumi saos padang yang nyontek lagi dari blog mbak Nadia. Saos padangnya siih berhasil, tapi pas dicobain gigit cuminya, alamak neeek! Lebih alot dari sendal jepit nenek-nenek. Ternyata, masak cumi itu ada triknya biar nggak alot, dan saya baru sempet baca setelah kelar masak. Ih, sedih deh…

Motong cumi ketebelan+gak direbus dulu = ALOT!

Soal frekuensi masak, saat ini sih belom sampe seminggu sekali, yah berhubung masih berstatus karyawati ya, dan ada masanya di mana weekend cuma pengen gegoleran doang. Tapi yang namanya fondasi niat itu udah ada (jieeeh). Until then, wait for me, Masterchef (not Indonesia)! :D

Bangkok, The Love/Hate List

2011-10-18T18:05:00.002+07:00

THE LOVE LIST

1. BTS Skytrain
Bersih, dingin, kemana-mana nggak pake macet. Beli tiketnya menggunakan mesin yang tinggal masukin koin pecahan 10 baht dan 5 baht. Nggak punya koin? Tuker aja di loket!

SIRIK RIK RIK RIK! *meratap*

2. The Traffic
Meskipun di sini katanya macetnya lebih parah dari Jakarta, alhamdulillah saya nggak pernah melihat/ngerasain pemandangan hina itu. Malahan menurut saya, walaupun di sini semua driver (mulai dari taxi driver sampe tuktuk) nyetirnya kayak orang kebelet, tapi mereka hormat banget sama pejalan kaki. Kalau kita mau nyebrang, dari jauh mereka udah ngerem. Kalo di Jakarta, astagfirullah ya, kurang dari ½ centi baru diinjek itu pedal rem...

3. The Ignorance
Mungkin perasaan saya aja, atau di Bangkok memang orangnya kurang ramah. Tapi sebenarnya sikap kayak gitu menyenangkan sih. Mereka rata-rata cuek dan nggak suka menatap orang lain. Waktu baru sampe di Bangkok, saya naik BTS dan bawa koper segede gaban, foto-foto, nggak ada satupun yang peduli, apalagi ngetawain. Ada juga cewek pake rok mini sampe pahanya kemana-mana, saya ngeliat sekeliling, nggak ada orang cabul yang ngedeketin atau ngeliatin. It’s like when you don’t disturbing another people, then take your time to do everything you want. It’s kinda nice to have some private space in public room like that :)

Kebayang nggak bernorak-norak kayak gini di Jakarta?

THE HATE LIST

1. SIM Card
Dari awal saya udah yakin bisa dapet nomor dengan gampang, ya apalagi karena saya tinggal di Jakarta yang bisa ketemu tukang pulsa dan jual nomer perdana 2 meter sekali. Dari info-info yang didapet di Twitter sih, kita tinggal ke 7Eleven sana, beli nomer TrueMove, kemudian bisa langsung aktifin paket BlackBerry hanya untuk 3 hari. Sounds practical, pada kenyataannya, ternyata para karyawan 7Eleven bengong pas kita tanya TrueMove. Udah bolak-balik ke sekitar 5 7Eleven, nggak ngerti-ngerti juga. Akhirnya kita nemu booth-nya di Chatuchak, dan ternyata udah dijelasin panjang lebar, butuh sekitar 3 hari untuk aktivasi. Jiah, bagaimana ini Doremon? Ya akhirnya kita menyerah, dan Cuma bisa update status dengan naungan WiFi hostel saja...

2. Makanan nonpork susah
Kalau di Indonesia, kayaknya susah ya nemu makanan mengandung babi. Nah, di sini justru kebalikannya! Hampir semua restorannya ada menu babinya. Ya walaupun kita bisa pesen menu ayam/sapi, tetep aja was-was karena kecampur saat dimasak. Bismillah aja itu kuncinya. Oiya di Chatuchak ada satu tempat makan yang namanya Saman Islam, tanpa ba bi bu lagi kita langsung nyosor kesana meskipun ngantrinya panjang. Di sini Tom Yum nya alamak enaknya! Saya sendiri pesen Pad Thai alias kwetiaw yang rasanya surprising, yang dikira gurih ternyata agak manis karena ada campuran bumbu kacangnya.

Restoran Saman Islam

Hampiiir ngambil yang sate, kalo nggak distop sama pedagangnya yang bilang itu berbabi, hiks

Kalo ini ayam. Enak? Pastinya. Higienis? Insya Allah.

3. Urusan ke belakang

Hal-hal kecil yang bisa bikin bersyukur di Indonesia meskipun tersiksa, yaitu tersedianya air di setiap toilet umum, DIMANAPUN. Di Bangkok, dan seluruh negara di dunia, ternyata air di toilet bukan hal biasa. Sungguh. Menyiksa. Sebenarnya mungkin nggak segitunya kalau Cuma pipis, tapi kalo BAB kebayang lah ya ribet dan jijiknya. Untung, di lobi hotel, ternyata ada tersedia semprotan untuk membersihkan selesai urusan ke belakang. ALHAMDULILLAH. Untung saya ga lagi diare, maka bolak-balik ke lobi cukup sehari sekali.

4. Nggak sempet nyoba MANGO STICKY RICE! :(
Penyesalan luar biasaaaa....

Akhirnya, journal trip akhirnya kelar setelah satu bulan karena kelamaan dianggurin. It’s been a great and unforgettable experience. Semoga umur saya masih cukup untuk bisa jalan-jalan, dan nulis lagi trip tersebut di sini. Amin.. :)

Bangkok Trip Part 2: Where Our Feets Stepped

2011-10-18T17:57:00.003+07:00

The Chatuchak Market
The combination of girls plus Bangkok = SHOPPING! Karena kita sampe hari Sabtu, inceran pertama di hari Minggu tentunya The Famous Chatucak Weekend Market. Kita naik BTS Siam dari depan hostel sampe stasiun Mo Chit yang Cuma butuh sekitar 10 menit. Setelah sampe sana, SPEECHLESS! Saya baru pertama kali nginjekin kaki di pasar yang gedenya luar biasa. Ada 27 section aja gituh! Plus 15ribu booth! You name it deh.. Segala cardigan, jeans, kaos, celana setrit.. sampe panci pun ada. Tapi jangan bayangin pasar yang super beceknya kayak Mayestik kalo ujan ya.. Cuma dikit aja kok yang kotor dan becek. Selebihnya Chatuchak ini bersih dan ditata secara cantik. Karena, yang jualan di sana itu beragam, ibaratnya mulai dari abang-abang pasar Senen sampe young fashion designer yang bersarang di 1 Grand Indo. Boothnya pun dibuat lucu dan menarik. Malah ada satu section yang bikin kaget, karena suasananya kok mendadak kayak di Legian? Tapi yang paling bikin betah di sini ya HARGANYA.. Yah kalo model chiffon-chiffon-an kayak di Mangga Dua udah bikin emosi karena first bargainnya 200ribuan, di sini udah bisa nyengir karena tawaran mbak Thainya buka harga mulai dari sekitar 200-400 baht atau sekitar 60ribu sampe 120ribu rupiah! Surgaaa...


Pemandangan waktu pertama masuk ke Chatuchak. Kurang endes..

Topi-topi yang bikin ngiler

Jreng! Mendadak lucuuuuu...

Habis foto ini langsung dimarahin, "no picture no picture please!"

Some random booth decoration

Another cuteness

The Calypso Ladyboy Show Cabaret
Ini tujuan kedua kita di hari kedua. Meskipun badan udah lengket peliket abis bergumul dengan mas-mas tukang jual kaos Junk Food di Chatuchak, yang satu ini tetep nggak boleh kelewat. Kita emang nggak ke Pattaya yang katanya Ladyboy-nya lebih dahsyat cantiknya. Tapi nonton The Calypso Ladyboy Cabaret Show udah cukup menarik kok. Apalagi lokasinya deket dari hostel, yaitu di Asia Hotel. Kalo nggak salah biayanya sekitar 500 baht atau sekitar 150ribu rupiah untuk nonton show ini (lagi-lagi semua diurusin mama Septy yang sekali lagi, single dan available). Overall, show para transgender ini menghibur pisan. Profesional dan nggak asal. Koreografinya narinya rapiiiih banget dan kostumnya niat. Ya APALAGI HASIL SURGERY-nya, ya . POL-POLAN...(sambil ngeliatin teti-kadinya para Ladyboy).

Yuk, neeeeek...

Katanya kalo mau foto sama para Ladyboy ini harus ngasih tips lho.

Kebagian foto sama pemeran yang paling kocak :D

The Grand Palace
Yak hari ketiga, mari kita lupakan sejenak hedonisme akan fashion dan mari kita jelajah tempat-tempat layak foto alias candi-candi di sepanjang Sungai Chao Phraya. Dan terpujilah kau Bangkok, kota yang bisa memanfaatkan transportasi sungainya. Halo, bisa bicara dengan sungai Ciliwung?
Untuk menyusuri sungai Chao Phraya ini, harus bayar 150 baht untuk tiket terusan alias bisa turun dan naik dari dermaga aja sampe puas. Kapalnya beroperasi dari jam 8 pagi sampe jam ½ 8 malem. First stop nya Maharaj Pier, di mana Grand Palace berada. Selama perjalanan dari dermaga sampe Grand Palace banyak jualannya, oiya di sini banyak cincin murah lho. Karena di Chatuchak kemaren nggak nemu saking gedenya.
Singkat cerita, setelah foto-foto berbagai manuver gaya di Grand Palace, setelah makan siang, kita pun ngebatalin rencana ke Wat Arun, Wat Pho, ataupun Chinatown. Waktu terbatas, padahal kita mesti belanja di Platinum! Trus, tiket 150 bahtnya gimana? Tabur ke sungai supaya suatu saat kita bisa balik lagi, hahaha..


Row, row your boat..

Pemandangan menyenangkan setelah turun dari kapal

Sawatdeekhrab..

Langsung pose membabi-buta

Platinum Fashion Mall
Lagi, lagi, destinasi surgawi feminin. Jika kamu ngebayangin Platinum Fashion Mall itu kayak Mangga Dua, jauh banget. Mangga Dua itu nggak rapih, dan setiap item nggak ditata tiap lantai. Apalagi mesti dikotori dengan barang-barang lelaki seperti toko HP, games atau mainan yang bikin alergi. Di Platinum ini semuanya adalah SANDANG. Ada 3 Zone di mall geda ini, dan baju ya cuma ada di lantai khusus baju! No sandal no sepatu no tas. Kalau mau nyari sepatu ya harus di lantai lain. Tapi kalo soal harga, Platinum Fashion Mall ini memang agak mahal, dan kayaknya targetnya buat reseller. Jadi kalau satu baju harganya 350 baht, tapi kalo beli 2 dikasih 300 baht satunya. Bedanya sampe 15 ribu. Lain kali ke sini udah harus punya toko online di Facebook ya kayaknya..

Photos are taken from Google karena penulis sedang LUPA DIRI!

Madame Tussauds Wax Musseum
Nggak kalah sama di Hong Kong, akhirnya Bangkok punya juga museum yang penuh sama creme de la creme ya Hollywood ini. Nggak jauh, tinggal jalan kaki ke mall Siam Discovery. Tapi di tempat ini adalah tempat di mana saya nangis kejer, karena batere kamera HABIS BIS BIS! Padahal udah dicharge semalem loh. Dan yang lebih parahnya lagi nggak cuma punya saya aja yang habis, kamera Lulu, Mely dan Omi juga is det. Padahal setiap spot di tempat ini serasa memanggil-manggil flash kamera. Huaaa.. Untungnya masih dapet beberapa foto norak serasa pose sama orangnya langsung pake iPod. Lady Gaga, ternyata kamu pendek ya?

Sebentar ya saya approve dulu..

Ternyata!

Aduh kakaaanggggg...

Hope pose (pose ngarep)

MBK Mall
Hari terakhir, udah nggak banyak mau. Jika bisa kucopot kaki ini, maka akan kutitipkan pada Sleeping Buddha. Agendanya hari ini cuma nyari oleh-oleh berbentuk makanan, dan liat-liat dikit di Siam Square. Bagi yang nyari oleh-oleh cemilan manisan mangga, atau ikan yang bentuknya panjang-panjang kayak tali sepatu (lagi-lagi nggak difoto :(), atau keripik duren, datanglah ke MBK. Ada toko di lantai 2 yang khusus nyediain cemilan yang unik banget bentuk sama rasanya. Selebihnya, mall ini emang super luas dan kebanyakan jualan gadget. Ya mirip-miriplah sama Roxy.

Oiya di hari terakhir ini saya juga nggak lupa nyari Nestea Milk Tea yang katanya super nikmat dan yang pasti nggak ada di Jakarta. Ini dia fotonya, dan memang ENAK!

to be continued again...

The Bangkok Trip Part 1

2011-10-18T16:32:00.004+07:00

Prologue: This blog is owned by a newlywed. But this coming trip story doesn’t come from the couple, it’s from the wife and her girlfriends.

Ceritanya, saya dan temen-temen cewek bertujuh jadi salah satu yang berhasil dapetin tiket murah Jakarta-Bangkok naik penerbangan lowcost yang terkenal seantero dunia itu. Tiketnya berhasil dibeli sekitar bulan Oktober 2010, di mana saya belum menikah, dilamar pun belum! Tapi dengan pedenya saya langsung minta izin pacar (yakin amat yaaa... untungnya sekarang sudah jadi suami #hihi) untuk pergi ke luar negeri tiga hari. Untungnya dia ikhlas, kayanya kasihan sama saya yang fakir traveling. Jadilah 10 September sampai 13 September kemarin saya berangkat. Yeay!

Oiya, sebenernya trip ini nggak bakal berhasil tanpa kehadiran sang mami Septy (Twitter: @TianyUD). Gadis manis (single and available) ini yang paling rajin browsing tiket, cari tau jalur-jalur Skytrain, booking hostel, pokoknya saya berenam yang males-males ini tinggal bayar, rebes! Dia juga yang bikinin itinerary super lengkap beserta perkiraan biaya-biaya dan waktunya segala, walaupun pada prakteknya nggak semua sempet dilakuin. We love you Septiany! Well, And the Bangkok story goes..

The Three-Nights Stand
Kita nginep tiga malem di Bangkok, dan sampe di Bangkok sudah jam 9 malem. Walaupun kita bukan backpacker, kita juga nggak mau stay di hotel mahal-mahal dong! Tapi harus tetep clean dan layak buat selonjoran. Dan Septy nemuin satu hostel yang super niceeeee banget bernama Lub. D. Youth hostel ini bersih, murah, dan strategis banget. Terletak di depan mall Siam Paragon, tinggal ngesot ke Siam Discovery dimana museum wax Madam Tussauds berada, deket 7Eleven kalo mendadak laper, plus yang paling penting di depan kita BTS Station Siam yang bawa kita kemana-mana... Cihuy ya?

Tampak depan Lub D

Ada tempat mainnya lho

Kebagian tidur di atas :D

Mesin-mesin serbaguna

Ini juga pengalaman saya pertama kali nginep di youth hostel. Amazed sama tempat tidur bertingkat, ruangan yang nggak spacious, tapi sangat-sangat nyaman. Setiap tempat tidur disediain 3 colokan charger. Kamar mandinya pun rame-rame, tapi bersihnya ngalahin kamar mandi Celebrity Fitness. Ada mesin kondom (ehem), mesin washing powder, dan mesin cuci buat para backpackers kalo susah nemuin kali dan papan penggilesan di Tibet sana. Di lobinya pun ada komputer terkonek internet dan WiFi gratisaaan... Malahan ada movie theater di lantai atas (yang nggak sempet saya ceki-ceki berhubung kamar kita di bawah)! Seru ya.. Bayangan saya tentang hostel itu jorok langsung buyar. Oiya, satu malem di sini untuk dorm-nya hanya 40 Baht saja atau sekitar 120ribu rupiah lho...

to be continued...

God, before I turn 50, can I…

2011-09-09T11:20:00.000+07:00

Standing in the front row of John Mayer Concert,

Sleep under the moonlight at one of the houses at Santorini,

Swimming in the blue sea of Maldives,

Crossing under Grand Canal by Gondola at Venice,

Taking pictures the colorful scenery at Raja Ampat underwater,

Having a new year’s eve at New York Times Square,

Wearing pink boots and joining at the hecticness of Shibuya,

Lying down at the sea of tulips at Holland,

Riding hot air balloon,

And then have a fine dining at one of the Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant?

Amin.

CJ Tom Yum

2011-08-28T22:47:00.003+07:00

Saya dan suami itu selain pasutri juga merangkap sebagai culinary partner. Bukan karena sering nyoba tempat makan baru, tapi ya emang karena suka banget mamam aja. Sayangnya, nyoba tempat makan baru bukan keahlian kita. Soalnya kalo udah nemu satu tempat makan enak, jadinya males nyoba yang baru. You can say goodbye to the dream of being food writer! *ngomong sama diri sendiri*

Tapi suatu hari ceritanya ada restoran baru nih yang buka deket rumah. Namanya CJ Tom Yum. Lagi-lagi, karena plangnya cuma berwarna kuning, bergambar udang, dan bertuliskan CJ TOM YUM belaka, kita pun nggak pernah niat untuk nyamperin. Nglirik aja nggak! Kemudian, ada temen kita Romita yang ngetweet kalo makanan di sana enak banget, beserta twitpic-twitpic yang bikin ngiler. Baru deh manusia-manusia ogah rugi ini langsung nggak mau kalahan. Hihihi.. lagian ternyata juga Tom Yum itu makanan yang bisa dikompromiin kita berdua (hubby alergic to sushi and durian). Berangkatlah kita.

Sampe di sana, ternyata tempatnya rame banget. Tempat parkirnya penuh. Nggak heran, sebenernya udah tau sebelumnya kalo tempat ini punya pemain sinetron Chicco Jerikho (nonton infotainment dulu gih kalo nggak tau). Bukan cerita baru lah ya kalo tempat makan punya artis selalu rame..

Ngeliat menunya, ternyata CJ Tom Yum ternyata juga nawarin berbagai macam seafood. Dari gurame goreng yang ada di restoran Sunda, udang cabe garam, cumi goreng mentega, sampe udang mayonnaise yang jadi ciri khasnya D’Cost. Tapi karena perut kita udah settingannya Tom Yum-ready, jadi pesen deh yang ukuran kecil plus udang mayonnaisenya, buat netralisasi kalo-kalo ternyata si tom yum nggak sesuai ekspektasi.

Ternyata oh ternyata... TOM YUM-nya enak! Walaupun ukurannya kecil tapi mangkoknya dalem kayak sumur, bisa lah buat bertiga sampe berempat. Disendok terus nggak kelar-kelar! Dan yang penting, kuahnya rasanya seger, nggak amis. Isinya juga brutally abundant, ikan, cumi, udang, kerang semuanya sesek-sesekan di situ. Rasa pedesnya juga pas, beautifully blended sama rasa asam khas tom yum. Puas luar biasa.

Not to mention juga udang mayonnaisenya yang ternyata bentuknya nggak irit kayak di resto-resto lainnya alias geda. Gorengannya nggak terlalu berminyak, dan mayonnaisenya bikin makin ikhlas masukin udang indah ini ke mulut. Ah, enaknyo..

Untuk harga, walaupun nggak terlalu murah, CJ Tom Yum masih reasonable. Next, kita mau cobain kerang hotpotnya (sambil nunggu tweet review dari temen lagi, hahahaha..). Yeay, nemu tempat makan baru itu serasa bulan madu lagi!

R I N D U

2011-08-14T12:17:00.001+07:00

Berkunjung lagi ke blog saya di multiply, rasanya campur aduk. Kok bisa ya saya dulu sepolos dan se unpretentious itu. Cuma nulis aja tanpa mikir. Begitu sederhana, tak muluk-muluk, bahasa Inggris dan bahasa Indonesia tumpang tindih peduli-setan-dengan-grammar. Mengalir saja. Padahal sekalinya saya klik “Post” sudah ada teman-teman di contacts yang bisa langsung baca dan komentar.

Le sigh.

Self, would you promise, to be that person again? A person who never does blogwalking, and if this time I do, I won’t overthinking it and trying to be those bloggers whose followers reach thousand? Would you promise, to be just YOU?

The Cranberries Concert

2011-07-31T12:09:00.001+07:00

I am a 90s kiddo. I lived and grew watching The Power Rangers, Teko Ajaib, and Keluarga Cemara. I used to think that Walkman is the coolest invention on earth. I said “Nggak kuku lah yaaa..” to my friends. I ate anak Mas like there’s no tomorrow. And I spent my weekend watching MTV Asia Hitlist.

Yes, tahun 1997-2000an dulu, dimana MTV masih menayangkan musik (bukan acara abege hamdun dan abege annoyingly spoiled yang ngabisin 1 million dollar buat pesta sweet sixteennya), MTV Asia Hitlist was in top of my list. Seneng aja nontonin acara dimana lagu-lagu saat itu cuman bisa saya dengerin di radio Prambors di-compile jadi satu. Plus video klip pula. Cintaaaaa!

Kebiasaan nonton MTV Asia Hitlist bikin saya juga jadi 90s music adorer. Alanis Morissette, Backstreet Boys, Marcy Playground, Cake, dan salah satunya The Cranberries. Saat itu ngefans sih nggak sama The Cranberries, tapi tanpa saya sadari I grew up with their hits.

Tahun 94 video klip “Zombie” ngalah-ngalahin iklan di RCTI. Tahun-tahun berikutnya udah hafal “Linger” sama “Ode To My Family”. Tahun 96 rada ngeri plus suka sama video klip “Salvation”. Lanjutlah “Analyse”, “Animal Instinct”, “Just My Imagination” sampe “Promises” secara nggak sadar nempel terus di kepala, mungkin karena gitar mereka yang simpel plus lirik yang nggak susah-susah banget dihafalin.

Video klip favorit saya, "Promises"

Makanya, waktu tau ada The Cranberries ada di lineup Java Rockin’ Land kemarin, nggak pake ragu langsung cusss kepengen nonton. Soalnya menurut saya, band/ musician yang lagunya saya hafal lebih dari 10, wajib ditonton live, hehehe..

Kesimpulannya setelah liat langsung Mama Dolores and Friends? Epic! Nggak usah tanya lagi deh ya lighting yang dipake sama Papa Peter Gontha, udah pasti spektakuler. Di luar itu, The Cranberries juga ngerti banget sama yang ditungguin fans-nya. Setlist nggak jauh-jauh dari hits 90an-nya. Signature style Dolores nggak berubah, jogetan plus Yodeeling voice nya itu loh! Although Dolores wasn’t too talkative, I drown myself in one hour of 90s. The Cranberries just gave me time machine.

Too bad, “Stars” sama “When You’re Gone” nggak dibawain. Nggak apa-apaaa...Yang jelas, konser ini udah jadi obat buat gue yang kecewa karena nggak jadi nonton konser Mocca beberapa hari sebelumnya.

Thank you so much The Cranberries!

Photo by: Indonesian Tunes

(Lebih) Satu Bulan Menikah

2011-07-24T22:12:00.000+07:00

Saat menulis ini, ada satu dengkuran yang menemani persis di sebelah saya. Alhamdulillah, suara dengkuran suami. Dengkuran yang sudah sebulan lebih menemani sejak 5 Juni 2011.

Banyak yang bertanya, bagaimana rasanya jadi istri? Well, pengalaman satu bulan menjadi istri memang belum banyak yang bisa diceritakan. Yang jelas, saya begitu menikmati masa “honeymoon phase” yang katanya, cuma 14 bulan ini. Katanya sih menurut penelitian, setelah 14 bulan masa pernikahan, mulai muncul rasa bosan menjalani pernikahan (ah semoga tidak).

Hal-hal baru yang menyapa pasca 5 juni 2011: Bangun jam 3 pagi untuk menyiapkan makanannya yang akan segera dijemput bekerja, space di lemari yang kini terisi dengan boxer dan kemeja kotak-kotak, satu lagi suara laki-laki yang terdengar di ruang keluarga, tempat tidur yang tak lagi milik sendiri (untung saya tidurnya kalem :)), sepatu pantofel hitam di rak alas kaki, tangan yang bau bawang karena mencoba memasak untuk suami, minum jeruk nipis tiap pagi saat menginap di rumah mertua, dan yang paling menyenangkan adalah pelukan dan ciuman hangat sesaat sebelum tidur dan saat bangun pagi.

Memang semua serba tak familiar, tak akrab, and some speedbumps are already blocking in the beginning of our road, but it’s not a thing to be afraid of. Ya dinikmati saja.

Karena rasanya sangat menyenangkan :)

My 2010 Highlights

2011-01-12T11:13:00.013+07:00

2010 buat saya merupakan tahun yang sangat banyak cerita, namun sayang tak banyak yang ditulis. "Sibuk" dan "tak sempat". Dua hal yang mudah sekali untuk dikatakan namun tak menghasilkan apa-apa. Semoga lewat tulisan ini saya bisa mengingat-ingat sebaris kalimat di diary tahun 2010 yang mendapat warna stabilo cerah di otak saya :)

1. End of LDR

Januari 2010, akhirnya status long distance relationship saya selama 2 tahun berakhir. Setelah melalui malam-malam panjang dengan koneksi putus-putus dari seonggok aplikasi Windows bernama Skype dan YM selama kurang lebih 23 bulan, pertengkaran tiap minggu, rindu yang sudah mau meluber, akhirnya saya dan dia berhasil melewatinya. And it feels really, really worth the wait.

2. A friend's passing away

Juni 2010, seorang teman meninggal dunia. Namanya Prinka Dwitya Nurvianti, teman SMA saya. Memang saya kurang begitu dekat, let's say saya dan dia ada di satu kelompok pertemanan besar yang di mana saya lebih dekat dengan 'kelompok kecil' saya, namun sekali-sekali bertemu jika ada pesta pernikahan, ulang tahun, dsb. Prinka meninggal karena selama ini ternyata ia menyimpan tumor di rahimnya dan mengira sering ia sakit perut karena maag. Saya shocked luar biasa, tak mengira umur Prinka hanya sebentar. Dia adalah orang paling baik dan lurus yang pernah saya kenal. Jika ada yang berulang tahun atau menikah, Prinka tak segan-segan memberi hadiah yang cukup mahal. Jika saya dan teman-teman sedang bitchy and talking trash, Prinka diam saja dan tak pernah nimbrung.

Kematian Prinka sangat membekas di hati saya. Walaupun tak begitu dekat, namun saya jadi mengerti arti satu orang individu di dalam hidup. Never take someone for granted and always give good deeds everyday. Because we never know when our time will come. Rest in peace, Prinka.

3. I am the finalist!

Jujuuur, sejak umur 12 tahun dan membaca majalah Gadis saya sudah bercita-cita menjadi finalis Gadis Sampul. Hehehe... Wajar yah anak ABG ngiler kepingin difoto cantik, dihujani hadiah-hadiah mewah, and so on and so on. Tapi apa daya, tingkat pede rendah ditambah berat badan agak di atas rata-rata membuat cita-cita ini sulit diwujudkan, hehehe..

Tapi tahun 2010 kemarin impian saya sedikit terwujud. Membaca sebuah thread di forum Kaskus, ada sebuah acara yang menamakan dirinya "Soy Joy Healthylicious, reality show online pertama dari Soy Joy". Jadi saya iseng mendaftar karena tergiur hadiahnya yang jalan-jalan ke Jepang. Saya tinggal menyertakan resolusi sehat saya di tahun 2010 yang akan dibawa jadi 10 finalis. Nanti, 10 finalis tersebut yang bakal dicek kesehatannya dan bersedia untuk mengikuti fasilitas ngegym yang sudah disediakan Soy Joy, dikasih bermacam-macam hadiah, dan harus cerita tentang pengalamannya mencoba hidup sehat di social media. Dua pemenang bakal dikasih hadiah jalan-jalan ke Jepang. Nggak tahunya, JRENG! Saya kepilih jadi salah satu dari 10 finalis. Hahahaha.. reaksi pertama agak geli juga, gini toh rasanya jadi finalis. Dipajang di press conference untuk difoto wartawan, diliput profilnya untuk ditulis halaman Kompas.com (yang ini sih ketauan nepotisme karena Kompas.com tempat saya bekerja, hehehe), dan dikasih hadiah-hadiah kayak fasilitas spa. Cihuy bangetsss deh! Ngejalaninnya hidup sehat awalnya berat, tapi karena wajib posting cerita di social media, dapet banyak dukungan dan support yang bikin tambah semangat. Lumayan, saya memang nggak menang tapi berat badan berhasil turun 3kilo :) dan mengubah mindset saya, bahwa living healthy is a lifetime job . SoyJoy Healthylicious is soooo highlighted in my 2010!

4. Engaged and plan a marriage

Dari dulu kata "menikah" tak pernah mendapat tempat spesial di hati saya lho. Curhat sedikit, status "cuma dekat nggak ada kelanjutan" dari dulu membuat saya pernah jadi perempuan yang apatis dan pernah ngebayangin gak akan menikah. Tapi ternyata, love is not hard as I thought. When God wants you to find your soulmate, no matter how far the distance, the tears you've cried, in the end there's always him. In my despair, suddenly he popped out of the crowd and never leave.

Singkat cerita, saya dilamar 21 November lalu :) Alhamdulillah semua lancar, nggak ada hambatan berarti, dan tahun ini Insya Allah saya akan menjadi nyonya. Bridezilla much? :)

Well, there are things that made my 2010 a story to remember. Not much, but I promise to write down more things on 2011. Ciao!

Katanya Pulau Ini Pasaran

2010-06-13T10:43:00.008+07:00

Tapi, tetap saja indah.

Location: Tidung Island
Photo by: Me, Raihana Rosalina, Bemup Mohammad

When The Kings Bring The Ultimate Convenience

2010-03-29T10:36:00.009+07:00

Everytime i hear the sound of Kings of Convenience I just instantly calmed. Fell in love with Erlend and Eirik's calming voices, their delicate tunes, and their subtle guitar melodies.

And that's what I've got from their concert last night. They successfully brought the music on CD became real. As clearly, similarly, humbly, as the music you can hear. Not only I got the music, Even I fell in love more with their silliness, their stage effort, and their chemistry when playing music together.

For instance this conversation: Eirik told the audience he got flu just before the stage and said,
" Yesterday I just lied in bed, do nothing, because of this flu".
Erlend replies, "Yesterday I just lied in bed, do nothing, without the flu." And the crowded laughed.
And then Eirik replied with smile, "But all I know is, even you're sick, it's always good to be on stage and see you all."
Then Erlend tells us, " And all I know, without Erlend, I can't be here and face you all."

S W E E E T. Their friendship is sweet.

I also magnified by the tracks they've chosen to play. It's like reading my mind, knowing my favorite songs such as: "Boat Behind", "Me In You", "Peacetime Resistance", "Rule My World", "24-25" and their hit "Mrs.Cold". They also played some songs from former albums like "I'd Rather Dance With You", "Misread", "Homesick", and "Caymand Islands".

I never get a much chance to watch a concert, so having Kings of Convenience and their mesmerizing show in front of my eyes was very delightful to me. :)

photos from: detikcom

The Tree That Shedding Leaves

2009-10-18T09:29:00.006+07:00

I feel like the tree that shedding its leaves
Til it's bald
I might be taking the risk
For being rotten alone

But what to fear
Even teak tree sheds its leaves
Just to make things alright
Just to protect itself
Through the hard times of dry weather

All I know, I've got stronger root now
I'm no fear in shedding my leaves
I know, someday..
My leaves are gonna grow again
Ten times greener
Ten times denser.

goodbye Sister Magazine. I know you're in good hands now. I'm leaving but will always take care of you along the way.

Picture taken from here.

The Tweet Axioms

2009-10-08T20:02:00.000+07:00

We cannot not tweet.

Well, we refers to me.

What I Most Likely Feel Right Now

2009-06-19T14:45:00.002+07:00

Even two cups of coffee cannot keep my eyes opened.

Finally, You Let Me Go

2009-06-18T11:41:00.010+07:00

Normal people get through you for only 4 years.
For me it took 6 years.
It was rough.
It took tears and hatred.
I mess my life here and there.
I struggled so hard to be free from you.

And finally....
On Wednesday, 17th of June

You let me go...

Thank God...

I graduate.

Miska, Me, and Oik after sidang

The Thin Line Between Love And Hate

2009-06-05T22:41:00.005+07:00

Once I fell in love with this girl's blog since her writings are kindly inspiring, sometimes mind-blowing. But then when I read over and over again, it turns that her critical mind has transformed into judging with art.

Once I really hate this situation that I am still registered as a student in the age 24 but then I realized it's kind of privileges to skip office when I get bored.

Once I like a friend because she's got a point when talking and sound courageous to me but then she sounds like a statement girl because she's always starting sentences by, "Because I am...."

Once I hate my boyfriend, but mostly I love him. :)

I really really hate when this accute insomnia attacked me but then I track that that is when the "rare thoughts" come.

Once I hate how I am becoming worse each day, but hey, I enjoy it. I also love the consciousness to fix it before too late.

Once I hate how problems hit all of the sudden and make me bleed. But afterall I'm bleed just to know I'm alive.

Lighten!

Because I am Human

2009-05-24T18:18:00.008+07:00

I pray but I curse

I am a struggler but also an opportunist

I flatter but I also talk behind your back

I am honest but I am also a smooth-talker

I don't imitate but I take a peek

I save but I spend in a glance

I'm progressively degressive

I make you laugh but I avoid you

I'm happy for you but I envy you secretly

I give something but I hope reward someday

I'm always here but not always available

-Karang Tengah, May 24 th, 07.56 PM-

So, Wait....

2009-05-14T10:40:00.008+07:00

"Everything happens to everybody sooner or later if there is time enough."
George Bernard Shaw

When The Needle Goes Right

2009-05-10T20:36:00.008+07:00

Ok.
The needle goes to the right.
But that right movement is so wrong.

(this is just illustration, okay?)

Then I straightly wonder...
Do I exactly eat thrice a day? Yes I do.
Oh well, I've always ordered ice tea with sugar along with my lunch.
Oh yeah, I admit that I've indulged to afternoon snack, sometimes.
But how can a human resist one bite of risoles or two?
How all of the sudden my metabolism decided to move slower than it used to?

But I feel fine, really. Maybe I regain what I lose, but it doesn't depress me at some ways. Maybe what would bother is what people would say. How people around would comment to the changes they see. It's quite bothering because getting fatter and chubbier is identical with:

1. the condition under the stress
2. broken hearted
3. getting uglier (damn.)
4. happiness (it makes you crave all the time?)
5. pregnancy (d'oh)

However, getting fatter always leading to some perceptions behind it. Well, just guess mine.

Up!

2009-05-05T15:12:00.000+07:00

I bet this movie will be really funny because it already make me giggle just by its posters. Can't wait!

Watch the trailer here.

The Formula Of Everything

2009-05-04T19:49:00.000+07:00

Sometimes we don't have any idea the origins of our feelings, statements, or behaviors. Where it came from? It's some kind of mixed thoughts, but how we count the mixes?

But I got the answer here.

How I love it.

It's cynically exact.

Oh.. this one's my favorite.
Happiness is a simple formula. Cannot agree more.

Degradations

2009-04-29T11:09:00.001+07:00

Life supposed to be upgraded, isn't it?

But a lot of humans are downgrading it instead.

Someone who used to be anti-caffeine becomes caffeine junkie.
Someone who used to do exercise becomes a lazy ass and sport absent.
Someone who used to pray five times a day reduces it into three times to zero.
Someone who never disobey parent's rule finds a way to make a lie to them.
Someone who used to be tidy becomes a mess.

Why?

Because degradation happens slowly.
Because degradation feels good.
Because degradation seems excusable for the first times.
Because degradation is simple and a lot easier, so it's hard to realize.

Please... don't open when it's knocking on your door. Don't even hear it.

Relationship Equals Drama?

2009-04-19T22:22:00.000+07:00

My two female friends from college just had a sleepover in my house and you can guess what the girls do at a sleepovers: trashy, trashy, trashy talk! Well excuse us for making news even juicier! Hahaha...

Yes, that night we're talking about our friends around (especially girls) who seems to like to be in the spotlight on relationships by making such a drama. As far as we concern, these girls are making at least these three things:
1. By dumping their boyfriend for no reason, mostly they answer for the sake of being single, I don't know.. Maybe they're just feeling bored but have no other choice?
2. By writing their feelings in their status updates. Yeah you name it.. Facebook, YM, or else. They write down their feelings implicitly so people will ask, "What's wrong dear?"
3. By being a "firestarter" a.k.a "stormypetrel" a.k.a the one who cause a bad fighting for the most simple reason, like why their boyfriend didn't park their car in order.

After doing that, they REALLY let people know about what happened, in many ways. They could show up in the office with the swollen eyes or teardrops still hanging in there. Or they could spread it by telling it to everyone they meet. Everyone. Or the easiest way: put down their feelings in Facebook's status update box.

Why do they need that drama? Aren't we live in a real world, with no camera watching (exception for invisible God's camera)? Do we need that camera to spice up our life? I'm pretty sure that these Drama Queens are not seeking anything but attention. Maybe it's a mixed feelings of being left alone, anger, and a lot of hope to not be left out again.

I am very sorry if I sound like a judge here. But the term "Drama Queen" is not only prevailing for the "firestarter" type. I often think, maybe I don't start the fire as a part of playing the role. I don't get mad easily. I choose to be quiet for everything bothers me. But in the end, I do hope my boyfriend could feel what I feel, and then expect him to start the fire. So I'm not the firestarter, but I MAKE him to be.

Oh no. I think because we consider that life is too flat or too plain, we create a little festivity to make our life merrier.

By the way, where's the camera?

Dehumanizing Technology

2009-04-17T23:15:00.000+07:00

Excuse me.

What is the ESSENCE of hanging out and chit-chatting if your thumb is busy scrolling for sending e-mails, tagging and replying photo comments, and sending jokes in your phone messenger?

If so, why are we here? Why we don't we just sit in silence and exchanging the messages by thumb anyway?

Sorrrry....No offense. Just a complain from a non-user of that famous phone brand who surronded by the users.

Sigh.

Life

2009-04-10T00:55:00.000+07:00

“ Life isn’t supposed to be an all or nothing battle between misery and bliss. Life isn’t supposed to be a battle at all. And when it comes to happiness, well, sometimes life is just okay, sometimes it’s comfortable, sometimes wonderful, sometimes boring, sometimes unpleasant. When your day’s not perfect, it’s not a failure or a terrible loss. It’s just another day." - Barbara Sher

Jay Kay Is A Shy Person

2009-04-09T11:33:00.000+07:00

Ok, before you read this review about Jamiroquai's concert last night, I want to tell you that I'm not their big fan. I adore few of their songs, but lately I didn't catch up. Moreover, I got the last-minute free ticket so I was kinda lack of preparation (reciting Jamiroquai's songs a week before called preparation for me, hehe).

The concert started at 8.30 pm (late half an hour from the schedule), with opening act by Dimi. I recognized her as an ex member of Maliq n D'essentials. She performed very well and smooth, despite that her baby bump whose the occupant looked like to see the world soon :D. After one hour performing, the crowd seemed like to be jittery since it's already 09.45 pm. And then the MC showed up, bringing Judika to the stage and asked the crowd to sing our nationality song, Indonesia Raya. I was really disappointed with these people, because they seem so ashamed to sing THEIR OWN nationality song. Unenthusiastic. After the show, I found out that "Seven Days in Sunny June" echoed louder than Indonesia Raya. *sigh*

And finally, at the 09.52 pm, Jay Kay and friends showed up and the crowd started to shout. Besides Jay Kay, the personnels on stage were: Derrick McKenzie (drums), Matthew Richard Johnson (keyboard), Paul Stephen Turner (bass), Robert Kenneth Harris (guitar), William Kenneth Fry (percussion), with two back vocalists, Valerie Etienne and Hazel Fernandes. Jay Kay wore a checkered hat, blue jacket, and white slack. Sexy!

Without waiting very long, Jay Kay opened the show with "The Kids". Ehem. I don't know this song. And they continued with "High Times". Once again, all I can do is shaking my head without ever humming with the crowd. Hehehe, sorry! After that, I expect that Jay Kay will scream a loud greeting to Jakarta like Jason Mraz did on Java Jazz Festival 2009. But no. He just smiled, and said, "the next song is...."

Back to the show, they then brought "Seven Days in Sunny June". Aww, my favorite song! But unfortunately, they kinda cut the song and continued it with "Alright". But nevermind, because Jay Kay was very energetic! He continuously jumped from one side stage to the other. I also love the way he danced. "Little L" added much my to my boogie, but the next three songs just made me sit in the chair because my lack of lyric-knowledge. Hehehe! They are "Black Capricorn Day", "Use The Force", and "Traveling Without Moving". After those 3 songs, they erased my boredom by singing 4 songs I know: “Cosmic Girl“, “Space Cowboy“, “Canned Heat” and “Love Foolosophy“. Yeah, finally I can sing, hahaha...

After "Love Foolosophy", the band put the music to the end and went to backstage. Haha! Classic encore. The crowd started to shout "we want more" chant. I bet they are coming again with"Virtual Insanity" or "Deeper Underground". Yes! They showed up again, and they chose "Deeper Underground" for Jakarta. And the show ended, for real.

In conclusion, I once again would say: Jay Kay is a shy person. Because he didn't say much to his adorers. I can give you guidelines to what he said yesterday:
"Everybody cool?"
"I heard you guys are going to vote tomorrow."
"The next song is called.."

Hello Jay Kay! How come you didn't say hello for your starter? For the transition one song to another, he mostly spent it busy talking to the band. I'm a beginner at concerts, so I assumed that EVERY musician is a festive person. But then I realized, every musician has their own character. I thought that every musician could put some more energy to the crowd, but afterall musician is only human, so it's not their fault if they are shy, right?

Three famous songs missing though, "Virtual Insanity", "Corner of The Earth", and "Emergency on Planet Earth". And "Falling", my favorite one. But it was OK. Not dissapointing, yet not very satisfying.

Oh and did I hear Jay Kay say, "see you next year"? Will they perform on Java Jazz 2010? Let's see!

photo by: Jazzuality

Appreciating Yourself Through Fashion

2009-03-25T14:25:00.001+07:00

Hello! This is the third day I've been attacked by flu, and after two days forcing myself to work, I officially gave up today. Hehehe.. Well I supposed to work on my thesis, but I think I'm gonna spend my hours watching DVDs and surfing people's blogs (my favorite activities in the whooooollllee world).

Recently, I love reading blogs from fashionable people. Usually, these people (most are girls) take photo of themselves and post it into their writings daily. Not to forget, they also tell the readers where they got that stuffs, following the price. I first knew one fashion blog is from Hot Chocolate and Mint, belongs to Diana Rikasari. I think she is a brilliant girl! Not only she's a die-hard fashionable girl, but she's also effin' creative that she can make a tie-dye pants by her own. From her blog links, then I found out that sooo many Indonesian girls who have their own fashion blog too.

As far as I know, Indonesian people has a rapid and significant changes in their taste about fashion. If we look back in the year 2000s, where would you find girls wearing a black tights and a neon pink high-heels in the mall? We used to think that those kind of styles are just for Japanese teenagers hanging out in Shibuya where no people would stare strangely at them. I also read some old magazines from my collection back when I was 16-17 years old, and rarely find "fashion spread" pages in them. And if you do, don't you just pass that pages, because the clothes are kind of haute-couture style, not affordable, and odd?

But now, you can find stylish people everywhere. Stylish here means that they "dare" to put something "WOW" like knee boots, unmatched pairs of top and bottom, and even glittery leggings. Fashion spread rubric in a magazine is a MUST, and it becomes more inspiring to see. And if we look back again, fashion industry never been this promising. You name it, fashion designer, fashion buyer, visual merchandiser, fashion editor or fashion stylist are just a part of the long list fashion professions.

Despite my job as an editor in teenage fashion magazine, I don't see myself as a fashionable person. I don't like wearing bright colors, and I don't have any courage to wear something that a little bit quirky. I have too much ordinary taste like skinny black pants, plaid shirt, some colorful shawls, and flat shoes. Sometimes I gazed into my fashionable friends at office and some stylish people I met, I can say I'd love to be one of them! But mostly, that wish let be a wish, because then I end up buying stuffs that I feel safe in them. For me, change in fashion is like.. an courageous jump! I don't exaggerate because in my opinion, if you change your style, it means you are ready to receive strange look or comments (positively or negatively) from people, and it also changes the way you see yourself in the mirror.

I just admire girls with their witty taste of fashion, yet brave to go out from their house and let the people have their own interpretation. I think these girls exactly know how to appreciate themselves. They love their body and they put fancy stuff from top to toe to make it look incredibly good. Me? I'm on my way to find something to appreciate myself, and I see being more fashionable is worth to try.

Oh.. As a starter, I bought one pair of red Vincci boots yesterday by online. I don't have any guts to wear it. Encourage me, please!

Jumping From Seventh Floor!

2009-03-17T22:46:00.000+07:00

I consider myself as a "unlucky". Not to mean being ungrateful, but unlucky here means I rarely get a chance to win a lottery. Hehehe.. But that does not happen when this afternoon I came to some press conference in FX Mall, Sudirman. Actually it was some kind of ordinary press conference I usually attend: Pay TV Cinemax has changed its name into "Max" and become a action channel, bla bla bla.. At the end of the show, they drew the name cards from the press. They choose 15 lucky people to experience the Atmosfear, an FX Mall's famous sliding.

I really didn't think my name would come out. Plus, I have a second thought about trying that terryfing sliding board.. Yes of course! What do you think about throwing someone from seventh to ground floor for just 10 seconds? CREEEPPPYYYY... But then I shocked when Mario Lawalata, Cinemax ambassador, read the first name that came out... Guess who?
Syarifah Maulidina, from Female-Sister Magazine.. which is me.

Ha-ha. I was frightened at the first place, to be honest. But then I realized that somehow I SHOULD hit that frightening thing since that Atmosfear costs pretty expensive for the ones who'd like to jump for it, so the chance for trying this was like a golden chance... hohoho!

taken by Susan, Sister Magazine's intern before I jump
finally landed!

Not much said! I was like drowning in heartbeat while I was waiting for my turn (the LAST turn), so I said "Bismillah" and then I was pushed into that hole of terror!!!! AAAARRGGHH!!! I barely remembered where am I, I was just trying to close my eyes but I also want see what I could see! But before I could think, I have landed in a soft pad in a speed that only God knows... And thankfully I survived... Hahahaha... I record 10, 46 seconds for that slide, and what I could just say is, that is the LONGEST TEN SECONDS I EVER HAD!!

Thank you MAX (before: Cinemax) for giving me such an experience!

Comfort

2009-03-16T22:09:00.000+07:00

Comfort to me means..

the smell of coffee
the sound of sudden silence when I turn the air conditioner off
the smell of someone I fond of
when radio plays my favorite song
disney's soundtrack.. don't know why
after watching a good movie
hearing nice words from a friend when I was clueless and down
lost and then found things
unpolished nails
and..
loved.

I'm Really Good At Wasting My Time

2009-03-15T21:15:00.000+07:00

Today is Sunday, and all I have done is:

07.40 AM : woke up and had breakfast.

08.00 - 10.00 AM : watched that cheesy-horror movie on Cinemax titled "Behind The Walls".

10.00 AM- 12.00 PM : found that HBO playing "The Ghost Rider" so my ass didn't want to move. :P

12.00 - 13.00: hit the internet a.k.a checking Facebook, reading people blogs, and bla bla bla..

13.00 - 14.00: took a shower and sholat.

14.00 - 15.00: I really didn't remember what I did. Oh! I was frightened by the huge storm and massive rain out there.. My window just keep opened although it was locked. I was REALLY scared.

15.00 - 17.00: slept like a baby.

17.00 - 18.00: hungry like a pig. Thank god there was fuyunghai in the table.

18.00 - now: coffee, music, and still trying to concentrate.

What
a
waste.

To stop feeling guilty, then I listened to the The Comforters who said: "long live lazy Sunday.."

This is the last time..

2009-03-14T08:18:00.001+07:00

I took you to airport to leave me. We will struggle for the next and the last five months. Just can't believe after a year of distance we are still here, at the same place. This is finally the last phase, baby. So let's do it.

Morning Waker

2009-03-12T11:37:00.001+07:00

This morning when i woke up, i saw this scene. My hungry cat was waiting for me to beg for her breakfast, hehe! Unfortunately, she stucked on plastic bags. I don't know where she got it. But she just made my day. Love love love.

Which One Do You Like?

2009-02-11T13:46:00.000+07:00

city view never been this gorgeous.

I am a morning person but I love the afternoon scene the most.

Sushi-Ya, A Little Japan Escape In Tebet

2009-02-11T11:02:00.000+07:00

This weekend i don’t want to be a bed bug. So I said to a friend, take me wherever to the place I’ve never been. Hehe! She took me to a place called Sushi-ya in Tebet. Actually the place is somehow strategic, by looking at Endorse Distro Tebet in front of this place. But it’s so tiny that you would miss it if you’re not concentrating.

First time I entered it, I felt the atmosphere of Japan instantly. This place really looked like small sushi eatery I’ve seen in mangas or Japanese movies. The owner decorate this place with Daruma dolls and red lampions. They even put a “Jaian” doll too!

I ordered Nama Sake, fresh salmon sushi for just IDR 8.000! I was a little bit shocked, because the only sushi experience I had is from Sushi Tei. Well I just couldn’t believe that sushi can be that affordable. I also ordered Mount Fuji, whose description was really interesting: “smoke salmon roll topped with creamy sauce then baked until golden brown”. Sounds yummy, right? For this dish, I get 8 pieces of sushi only for IDR 18.000.

Nama Sake

Mount Fuji Roll

My friend Lulu ordered Salmon Skin Roll for IDR 11.000. Lia wants Shoi Maki Roll, salmon roll coated with tempura butter and lightly fried and topped with mayo for 25.000. For drinks, maybe we didn’t get free-flow Ocha like in Sushi Tei. But hot/cold Ocha here is ranging for only IDR 5.000. Oh, beside sushi and sashimi, you can try their Udon, Ogura Ice Cream, or Donburi (Rice Bowl). My stomach can’t accomodate those all, so why not you try and tell me how it taste?

Salmon Skin

Shoi Maki

My assessment for the taste, well… it’s good. I’m not a culinary expert so forgive my short review. All I can say is, for this affordable prices and a unique place it offers, I think Sushi-Ya is really really worth to try.

Look What We’ve Done!

2009-01-30T13:28:00.001+07:00

Feeling bored in office for me is like a vicious circle, you face it everyday on and on and on and on…
So, me and my office buddies decided to escape after lunch, look for some tie-dye shirts (even tie-dye is now very lame) at Pasar Tanah Abang, and then have some photoshoots in Monas! Haha..

It was reallllyy reallllyy fuuunnnn…
I didn’t realize that time really flies when you have fun, so I got back to my office at 7.37 pm.
I feel guilty to my boss…