JJF 2018: Sightseeing

ini adalah post ke-3 untuk siri JJF 2018. saya janji, ini yang last.

Sebab konsert JJF mula pada pukul 4 petang. Ramai yang datang lebih awal, sekitar jam 3 petang. kami ada masa dari pagi hingga ke tengahari untuk sightseeing and do some shopping! Jadi, ini adalah post berkaitan aktiviti tersebut. 

1 mac 2018 (Khamis) 
ini tiada apa pun. cuma perlu cari SIM card dan jajan. Indomaret! convenience store 24 jam yang sangat berkesan di Jakarta. setiap hujung lorong ada ni Indomaret. ala 7E gitu lah. this is the nearest Indomaret from our Hotel. 


2 mac 2018 (Jumaat)


3 mac 2018 (Sabtu)

4 mac 2018 (Ahad)

JJF 2018: Food

Ini adalah siri 2 post JJF 2018.

kali ini, cerita pasal makanan sebab saya suka makan. ini juga akan kena itemized dengan harga dan tempat di mana makanan tersebut dinikmati. saya extend holiday saya di Jakarta selepas JJF. tapi, supaya post ini koheren, saya akan cerita makanan yang kami makan sepanjang JJF sahaja. 

Another post on the food i had after JJF in Jakarta will be updated in another post (if i have the time to update and upload). you always can check my Instagram for pictures and snippets from the holidays. 

post ini akan cover perbelanjaan makan pada 1-4 mac. Termasuk yang dimakan di KL. kau, sabar sajalah dengan post panjang berjela ni. 

Things on my Kitchen's Windowsill

This is my second favourite window at my apartment. Thats 7 windows competing for a favourite. Someday, i'll show my favourite window.

This is the only window with no dressing and i never shut it completely, even when i'm away. This is my kitchen window, facing a large balcony serving as my laundry/ drying area. 

On the windowsill are;

1. Used fermented bean curds jar as a vase for green plants i smuggled from guest house in Malang, Indonesia. Nothing particularly interesting with the green plant (but, for the memory), and a wild orchid i plucked at the roadside.

2. A gold coloured tortoise i got from a very short trip to Yangoon in 2014

3. 2 rocks i got from Sg. Moroli in Ranau. The river is less than 100m from my kampung house. Item #2 and #3 serve as holder for sheets/ blanket drying outside.

4. Used moisturizer jar as a vase for my ginger seedling. The ginger i brought from Ranau, planted on a hill at Mibang, our orchard. 

5. A cat vase given as a farewell gift by ex-student containing a smallish green plant from the same stock as in item #1

Those things on my kitchen's windowsill might look like a garbage, but, they're a treasures to me. In each etched a memory. Happy ones.

A few more days to Christmas, a few more days for my long year end holiday. 

cheers to happy memories!

Pontianak 3

this would be the last installment for my Pontianak series. not that i'm out of story to tell. the short rendezvous, certainly gave more than what i bargain for. and on top of the list is the desire to face my fear, trying to live life to the fullest (if there's any such thing) where great stories usually sprawling beneath.

my bus to Kuching departed at 9.00 pm. i booked a taxi through hotel receptionist (obviously, that's the only way to book a taxi in town---taxis are rare). i leave the hotel at about 8.15 pm and arrived at Eva bus terminal a few minutes later. we only departed after 9.30 pm. some delay for the economy bus and affected us too. (i took the 'super' bus (seating 18 persons instead of the 'economy' one, seating 40?, and i bought a return tix in Kuching). i'll provide link for Eva's website and their tix pricing later.

13 passangers + 2 drivers (alternately change every 2 hours, elderly, polite gentlemen, chinese, speak indonesian fluently). of the 13 passengers, 6 are seeking medical treatment in Kuching. a young couple with a baby and a girl toddler were going to Kuching for that little girl monthly medical check-up. she have problem with her digestion tracts. i cant imagine going for the ardous journey once a month (i'm not saying anything about the cost!)

i, once was a sickly kid too. when i was 6, my dad was posted in a remote area in Ranau (he's a primary school headmaster). no road to his school, we had to leave our pick-up (Datsun!) at the neighbouring village and walked for miles to reach our quarters. most of times, i piggybacked on my dad (remember, i have a younger sister -- by 2 years, and she had to walk!).

so, i get it, i really do understand that young dad when he softly said to his young daughter "papa, ngak apa-apa kok, vera, tidur, istirehat yang tenang, esok kita ke rumah sakit". he adjusted the seat and pillow, blanket etc, attending lovingly to his sickly child. and he sat on the bus floor, holding that girl all the way. i have a dad like that. a man who put his family first above all else. i made a decision there and then, to buy him a trip he always wanted. while, i have the chance to do so.

it's a full moon night, and everything glow softly under luna's soft beam. i will always remember Pontianak as my first solitary romantic gateway. its certainly, not the most beautiful place to visit, with nothing especially special. but, it'll haunt me for life, for the simple truth that, i found a piece of me in that place. a dim enlightment.

Pontianak 2

"60 lah kak, batu layang itu jauh" plead the boy
i agreed. he went for 'helm'. after waiting for about 15 mins, while watching the 'bapa ayam' expertly 'tucked in' and retrieve motorbikes at their parking area (they're paid by the motorbike's owner-about 1000 Rp/bike)

the good looking boy came "ayolah kak, disana kelihatan mau hujan". then, we went. being 'chickenest' at riding motorbike, i hold to that bony boy. everything's fine, until we cross the traffic light at the main road heading for Kapuas Bridge. A policeman flagged us down. ooooooo... i panickly thought of my passport. ngak ada spion, motornya.. adeh.. (sum of fine= 250,000 Rp)

amazingly, the boy looked calm (macam biasa jumpa polis saja ni). he promised to be back to pay the fine before 6.00 pm. (but, the police said, the fine should be paid at the kantor pengadilan?--bribe?) i didnt ask.

we crossed the kapuas bridge 1 and another bridge (over Landak River?). tightly jammed. (like crushing to lorries/ trucks on both side of the road) its amazing i didnt faint. on the roadside, the large drain (more likely a water canal-- but garbage esp, plastic bags float on it), people are taking bath (like they're in their private bathroom) in the canal. not bathing naked, of course, but, they're there for everybody on the road to see.

its drizzling again. the boy stopped near a stall selling gas (ya, they sell gas by jug, macam jual air tebu) "kak, mau hujan ni.. balik ke hotel aja ya?". i agreed. and thats the end of my failed journey to tugu khatulistiwa. i paid the boy 100,000 Rp. (he got some bribing to do, aint he?)

bersambung... the bus ride home

#1 honeymoon spot: Mulu National Park

ya, i was there last weekend

to see him

and his family

with my colleagues (me, apai jang, nyonya, is)

not on a honeymoon of course, but, this would be my first pick for honeymoon venue (no doubt).

i'm packing my whole family (9 adults) to this place. robbing the bank to fund the flight tix and thinking of going to the along for other expenses. i know, the place wont dissapoint.

for those with doubt (of thinking of going but not really sure what to expect), log onto their website
send e-mail to them. they patiently answered all my e-mails (about 9 in all, i kept e-mailing them since january until june with macam-macam soalan) and secured the booking of our accomodation. i think, this is the best kept national park in the country. neat without being too showy.

Kaamatan

i'm away for long holiday break in my home state. our family Kaamatan* celebration went well. we went picnic in the morning and dinner in the evening. we really should do that more often. it was quite fun. i'll put on pics soon.

i brought home, Dr. Hidayah's books, with intention to read and write reviews. but, so far, i havent finished reading any. i bought two books in KL a day before i flew home. that too lay dormant in my backpack. the holiday mood seep through me thoroughly, making it hard to concentrate on reading, however light. i spent too much time watching movies on DVD. my sis have quite a collection.

Two days of movie marathon, about 8 movies down, only two worth mentioning: Black Swan and The Blind Side. Black Swan for, Oh! so there seductions (it's a very sexy film) without being too pornographic. The Blind Side for, Oh! glorious tresses and fine outfits. and finally i watched Hikayat Merong Maha Wangsa, which requires a post on its own. the movie was impressive, minus the Chinese princess and her handmaiden and the mirror laser, the fake tiger's skin, and the tattoos and way too white....ya, better create a separate post eh?

A bit late, but better late than never, here's my wish to all Dusuns: Kopiinsanagan do Tadau Kaamatan and to the Dayaks: Selamat Gawai. May we truly understand the spirit of the celebrations.

* Harvest (festival)

friday's breakfast special

i should be eating Pho for breakfast in Saigon today. i decided to stay and do my job instead. i have to catch on my classes and finish the syllabus before their mid term, by the end of this month. its a fine friday morning here in Kuching. a bit cloudy, just the way i like it best. But, wouldnt it be grand if i were sitting in a stall in saigon slurping away my second helping of pho bo?

notes: i blame the system in Bahagian pengurusan Latihan for my failure to comply to my schedule. they always sent letter for meetings a few days before the events, like they never plan anything. just because we're under the ministry of health, doesnt mean everything should be done 'emergency' way.

i read in the Star (Sarawak version) about Mahathir's memoirs. let it stew (say, a year?, or maybe when he's gone?). i'll read it someday, but, i'm not dying to know what he has to say about himself. or any justification for whatever done, whatsoever. I am a Sabahan, and i'm not over yet of what he've done to us.

Thinking of Saigon (and longing to be there) makes me think of that book. Saigon: being re-named Ho Chi Minh City, when it's the last and least to abide to communism. i'm mulling over the idea on correlation of important figures, ego and ego-feeds (just finished reading Heartsblood by Paul Martin- a book so medically entertaining (relatively to the books i skimmed through, writing the proposal) and concerning the ego things). Mahathir's book and HCMC are ego-feeds.

p/s: feeding myself tomato for dinner. the first tomato from my window's balcony garden.

make you feel my love

en route Ranau-KK, feb 05th 2011

i was home last week, holidaying. ate too much. watched more K-dramas with my younger sister than i can ever do in a year, alone. (and i said i'm cured from K-fever?). fat hopes. 16 episodes of MY GF GUMIHO.

My siblings did the Pirate of the Caribbean movie marathon using LCD projector, which worked awesome. We passed playing cards, not enough coins to bet on. Besides, Zombie vs Plants hooked two of our MVP of laplappu @ Chinese poker. quality time, eh?

I got Agnes Keith's Land below the wind from Popong. Asael taught me how to download free MP3 music. We talked books (toy soldier, time traveller's wife, the bad place) ended up telling him Indonesian tangon*. its good to have a brother who read. he's geeker than me.

And they laughed at my favourite: Adele's make you feel my love. rainy, cloudy, lonely. perfect song. aint it? i love..i love.. i love..

*tangon = Dusun for folklore

2011

i learnt a lots during the holidays. of putting family first, of spending more time with friends, of how small gesture transformed the whole situations, of trusting ones instinct. i did a lots of thing i never thought i could ever done, like, enjoying 5 hours trekking on a knee deep muds, cold showers at night, enjoying the company of strangers of whom i tried my best guessing what they were talking about.

i went up the hill in Bario and loved what i saw up there. i will sorely miss the evening teas, rice cake and the company of concerned aunties.

thank you, Jane, for making the trip possible.

so, for 2011,

spend quality time with loved ones

make plan and lists

but dont overdo

learn crafting

drive

swim

dive

dance

listen more attentively

pause to smell the flower

read more poems

read more of culture and history

get an ipad

bring home a puppy

finish reading the Book

get a boyfriend (macam pi membeli sana kadai saja kan? muahahhaha!)

updates:

1. plan and lists and estimated budget done for major vacations

2.beads bought for beadings

3.mimi gave me large pot of flowers.. farewell gift. i will literally take time to smell the flower!

4.i'm starting to read Edgar Allan Poe's Poems- it gives me creep.

5.i'll search for Jared Diamond's book

6.will go to animal shelter for puppy this weekend

i'll advertise for boyfriend in class next week. OOOO.. lame.

some weekends are better than others

last weekend was certainly one of my best this year. Popong from Sibu, Jen from KL flew in Wednesday (Hari Raya Qurban) and friday night, Fread and Dawn came from KK. Saturday, we sunburned ourselves in Serikin.

The highlight of the weekend was Noel's Birthday party on saturday's night! too many good things to mention (and i dont have a picture to share). enough to say, from now on, i'm a converted baking enthusiast! O i so love the moist carrot cake (and i never ate anything sweet with cinnamon).Dy, your carrot cake was the only exception.

and the plan for 10 days DownUnder?! guys, i AM in.

kaibigan, kasi up stamina okey? mesti berjalan dengan sangat bersemangat merayau-rayau di Wat itu..

when words failed to describe the outburst of feeling you felt when that boy ran to his grandpa and said "you bought everything for me?". and you knew part of his history. and looking at apu's, nenek's and mommy's faces (the struggles they may have been through). and realized, this is love. this is the feel of being loved.

a very fine day

on a fine day,  

sometimes, we get lucky to see the blue sky

with blotches of fine clouds

(most of the times, we're just too busy to look up) (sigh!)

on  a fine day,

sometimes, we get lucky and get away

to an island

with friends we love to hang with

(most of the times, we're too busy minding our own business) (darn!)

on a fine day,

we get lucky to come across

with a person

we're more than honoured to be friend with

(yay! u guys rawk!!)

p/s: all pics were taken by Jane's Nikon D80. thanks jane!

Happy Holiday

hari ini, sangat terkejut ditunaikan itu lagu permintaan oleh tompinai Paladius "leaving on a jet plane" (oh! i wish, boli balik rumah...). thanks Nit.

mau celebrate raya sudah ni (aku menumpang celebrate laa). bah... wishing all fellow Muslim bloggers a very happy Raya celebration and to those not celebrating it, (yg mcm sy) come pigi beraya rumah kawan-kawan kita.... and (sadly) for those yang teda cuti, mcm c Bambangan n Reno... bah ni taun, korang karaja lah... harap taun dapan dpt cuti... (haraplaaa...)

happy holiday all..