Apple

"Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

Steve Jobs, from his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University

#my late dad owned the same BMW motorcycle..my husband ride it at our wedding day..
I miss u so much dad.. rest in peace..miss u everyday#

"breaking the habbit" journey

I just did a "crazy and fun" trip to Singapore last month. Actually, it was started when I watched Tv ad about "F1 GP featuring LInkiN park (LP)". I grew up listening to their music, I remembered when I was in high school.. 17 years old.. I listened to their cassette in my room, I locked the door, sometimes I scream.. and my mom just knocked the door and asked for silent:).. I also remembered when my best friend, Nita used "chester" on her email address:).. sometimes me and my best friends listened to their music in the car after school.. so.. quite memories with this band.

So, I was thinking that I've never been to music concert for soooo loooong..than I decided to ask my friends at the office whether they would be interested to joint me to Singapore for F1 and LP. Surprisingly, two girls agreed on the trip and we started to book the ticket and arrange our trip.

We decided to bought three-day ticket for F1,, and bought the ticket for Universal Studio.. while the air ticket and accommodation also secured. I said to myself, that it's gonna be unforgettable trip. Watching Linkin Park "live performance" was on my wish list a decade ago, despite the fact that I haven't really catch up on their album,tour, etc.

Usually, when I went abroad I often used Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Garuda,, but this time, we decided to try "the backpacker" lifestyle. So we flew by budget Airlines and booked RuckSack for three days. Apparently, we were lucky enough choosing this place, it's only 10 minutes walk to the Gate 4 of F1 (Padang stage) and it's a walking distance to the Marlion and Esplanade.. and it's only 7 minutes walk to the subway station:).. amaziiiiing... This place also reminded me to the "student hostel" in Brussels and Paris. I was staying in this kind of hostel when I did the trip to EU Commission back in 2003 when I was student of Hogeschool Holland, Diemen, Amsterdam. In 2007, I went to Paris for "Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Excha nge" sponsored by Asia-Europe Foundation , and I stayed in a hostel that full of young European..just similar to what I've found in Rucksack Singapore.

Anyway, back to my trip in Singapore.. yeah.. the first day we arrived, was nice. We had lunch at Kopitiam .. and we went to the F1 venue, enjoy the life performance, had dinner at the venue, listen to the sounds of F1 car.. great experience.. and the best thing was.. the grass .. I love the green grass at Padang stage.. so nice.. here is the picture .

So, that was the first day.

The next day,we went to Mustafa to bought some snacks, chocolate, etc and proceed with Universal Studio.
It cost 69 Singapore Dollar to enter the Universal Studio plus 3 $ for the train to Sentosa Island, but better book online or through travel agent.. coz sometimes the ticket is sold out:).

I like Universal Studio a lot!! so fuuuuuuun!! Kungfu Panda was there..
First stop, we went to "Steven Spielberg show".. stunning!! then we went to "the Mummy", this was the highlight.. so fun and threatening !! continue with "Far Far Away aka Shrek".. "Madagascar".. though the weather so humid, but we still had fun.

Then we went back to Rucksack at Hongkong Street, and went to "Bugis" for dinner and some souvenirs. At 9pm, we went to the F1 for the "qualifying" and performances of Shakira and Shaggy.

Day 3, hmmmmm... this was the highlight!!!! We went to the venue at 12pm for queuing the "Fan Zone" for LP at Gate 4, in front of St. Andrews Cathedral. Surprised be the queue, we just sit down and enjoy the time, as the gate only opened at 3 pm.. So three (3) hours of waiting in sunshine!!! luckily, so many "free entertainments" delivered to us.. a cute guy and the sound of LP doing their rehearsal.. not bad:).. then the gate opened right at 3 pm.. I was running to be in the "Fan Zone".. and yeaaaah.. another queue.. and this time with so many young Japaneses boys and Korean couples with their IPAD.. and yeah..me..with my umbrella.. queuing for another 3 hours outside the bench of the fan zone.. as the "zone" only opened at 6 pm.. yeaaaah.. but it was so worth it!!! I got the best spot!! so close to the band!! I was so happy and glad that I made it.. my wish list a decade ago:)..
the performance of LP was beyond great! they were so communicative..so live.. even Mike Shinoda went down the stage to greet the fans.. I even touched his hand/ shoulder twice.. that was great.. !! they just sooooo friendly and had fun with their song.. just loooove it.. super excited!! Thx God for giving me the chance to do this..


so.. MOnday morning..went home.. couldn't stop talking about LP.. my soul was full of happiness.. just thankful for everything and back to the reality with happy face and new spirit :)

holiday resolution!!!!

I can't believe that the last time I wrote a blog was 11 September 2008.. Gosh! what happened? two and a half years already... *sigh

anyway, this blog is about "me and my journey".. so let me tell you this..
I really really need a break for a real vacation... when I opened my FB, most of the posts were titled "year-end holiday or what so ever"... and me? haha.. just stuck here in Jakarta or Bogor... or Bandung.. well, not bad I think,,

2010 was actually not bad at all in terms of "trip" .. I went to Singapore,Tokyo, Hoi An (an ancient Beauty of Vietnam), Pattaya (and its Alcazar show), and Lombok... see? not bad at all right? considering that all trips were paid by my office.. and even I got paid for this (is it legal to say it this way:p...haha)

but you know, when you spend a week in a beautiful places I mention above, but you combine it with work, meeting and all pressures, can we define it as a "vacation"? yeah, of course the answers is NO..
so.. I desperately need a vacation without the word of "work" ..
and here is my holiday resolution for 2011:

a) visit Bali.. yes, just spend 3-4 days in Bali with the boys (my hubby n my son);

b) visit Malang and Batu (I've never been to Batu Night Spectacular/ BNS, so just rent one bungalow for me and my sisters' family.. then we'll rock "Batu" City, go to Kota Bunga/ City of Flower, Jatim Park and others tourist sites; and

c) visit Semarang and Central Java.. yup... I need to visit my relatives in Semarang and Jogja.. and for this,, I might need another 4 days..

d) visit Bosscha Observatory.. yuuup, this is my wishlist since 2000:((

and the most important thing in 2011 is.. I need a good book.. inspiring one or at least can make me laugh or even cry.. any idea?


so, that's all.. very "local" .. I know.. I don't put Singapore, Thailand or Australia on my vacation list.. coz I just need "Quality time".. and I love Indonesia..
I can rock another spot as complimentary trips from my office.. can't wait to have the chance to visit Seoul actually...
so, welcome 2011.. holiday... here I come..
(cross my fingers to rock Bali first!!)