October 25, 2011

Complaining [not]

I remember how hate I was, when I hear someone complaining about Indonesia's condition and starting to compare it with the condition in abroad. Thus, I promise to myself that at the time I go back home, I will not complain.
And now, I really proud to myself since I haven't complained about the condition so far. Well, living in Indonesia is not really like in paradise, but I know well about the condition and I have been so used with this for almost the rest of my life. Complaining and whining about the condition won't make it change, it will just make others irritated and you will look annoying.
Happy or unhappy is a choice, and we are responsible to create our own happiness. The traffic jam, the heat, the indiscipline people, the bad sanitation are still look better since I am near to my love ones...and that is precious!

October 20, 2011

Back home..

Well, finally Im home.. So happy that I could rejoin with my family and friends..

And still.. Let's rock on!!-:D

October 1, 2011

Kindness count!

The woman in the right side of me is Sakamoto san. She's the one who helped me wearing a kimono-hakama on my graduation day. What a nice of her since she came to Deffi's house, helped me and in the end, she dont want to be paid.
In my left is Ono san. She's the one who helped Deffi to find a salon (to wear kimono-hakama). But unfortunately, most saloons are closed at Monday, so she asked her friend to help me.
We dont get each other on our conversation, but surely, they are really kind.
Doomo arigatou gozaimashita..

September 28, 2011

[not] the end of the road

Well finally.. I finish my master. Those hard time have gone. I wont forget those sleepless and stressfull time. But indeed, it's not my end of goals, doesnt have to be the next 'es nong nong nong' just learning in every second of my life. Since the more I know, the more stupid I feel inside..
Though I dont really satisfy to my achievement, but still I'm so gratefull to what Allah has given to me. Alhamdulillah..
So let's enjoy the ambience..hoho..!-:)

And yes..Alhamdulillah.. This is for you MomDad..!-:)

September 25, 2011

Aaah CD..!

Demi si adek, saya rela sedikit puyeng di HMV.. Untuk bisa nemu dua cd ini aja saya berasa udah pengen jambak2in rambut.. Ampun deeeh.. *salah sendiri gag bisa Nihon go-:p

Awal masuk toko saya bertekad untuk nyari sendiri cd yang saya cari karena sangat sadar dengan ketebatasan bahasa Jepang saya. Tapi begitu masuk tokonya malah tambah puyeng, karena modal saya cuma inget tampang Yamapi sama JGS aja, ha2..gimana juga mau berhasil.
Jadilah saya nyari mbak2nya..

me: sumimasen Yamapi no cd wa arimasuka? (Nihon go acak adul)

Mbak: Yamapi? Chinese?

Me: No, Japanese..

*mbak2nya bingung, dan saya lebih bingung..mikir, berusaha inget nama aslinya si Yamapi ini.. Untung akhirnya keinget..

me: Yamashita... (ingetnya sepotong jg)

Mb: oh..langsung ngeh..
*Alhamdulillah nemu satu..*untung cd yg ditunjukin judulnya sama kayak pesenannya si adek.

*lanjut ke pesenan berikutnya..

Me: Jang Geun Suk..?

*sumpah ini lama banget di sini,mbaknya nggak ngerti2. Saya sampe pake 'popat' andalan untuk googling nama dia yg bener,tetep aja berdasar nama yg ada di mbah google tetep gag ada juga.
Berusaha ngomong kalo dia Korean..mbaknya tetep bingung,baru keinget kalo biar lebih jelas harusnya bilang 'Kankoku' duh!
Saya keukeuh setiap mbaknya bilang 'nai dese' secara saya yakin banget pasti ada yg salah ini.
Sampai akhirnya saya buka foto2 si JGS yg ada di mbah gugel,kayaknya mbaknya dapet pencerahan..

Mb: ooh Jang Geun Suk (dengan cara pelafalan ala dia)

Me: *iya2 aja, udah stress*

Akhirnya mbaknya nemu juga cdnya.., dan ternyata nama dia si cd-nya Jang Keun Suk.. Whaaat..? Pantesan..-:(

Yaelah moga2 kalo si adek minta tambahan beli cd bukan artis yg lain lagi..jadi saya udah tau tempatnya..
Ampun dijeee...

September 24, 2011

I'm fallin' in love....-:D

Today, Im such deeply in love...










And yes...
I'm falling in love with the blue sky....
So lovely..
Subhanallah..

Izumi Chuo Park, September 24, 2011

September 20, 2011

Conversation in the bullet train

Me (I) : Poy, laki sebelah lo itu ganteng lho buat ukuran orang sini (normal tone)

Deffi (D) : Hm...iya kayaknya.. (sok2 nengok) eh enggak ding..

(I) : Coba lo liat dia pas nengok sini, dari samping emang gag tlalu keliatan
... (setelah bisa liat penampakan depan)

(D) : Yeeey, dia sih emang bukan orang sini kayaknya...mukanya Indonesia banget.. Hayoo lhoo..itu sih orang Indonesia..

...gue berasa pengen pindah kereta bisa gag..? Ato lampu keretanya dimatiin aja gimana?.. *pingsan...

September 15, 2011

Pretty moon...

The moon resembled the sun...that was so pretty...indeed...
Subhanallah...



Sendai, September13, 2011

September 9, 2011

Maroon sun flowers

I kinda surprised when I saw those maroon sun flowers. Seems that those are someone's research, since I saw them at the pilot plantation of my campus.. Well, they are cute, but still I prefer the original one.. Because the sun is yellow right..?-:D

September 8, 2011

Green tea muffin for breakfast

Inspired by Mbak Astrid's blog here, I intend to make green tea muffins. It's not really that successful actually, but it is yummy..indeed..-:).

First, mix the vegetable oil, green tea, and vanilla essence.

Then add the brown sugar

Add the beaten eggs and cheese slices

Then add the flour and baking soda

Put it un the muffin cups and bake them

Aaaand... Enjoy!-:D

Behind the lebaran story

Baca berita di sini bikin saya miris. Saya cuma inget saat-saat saya selalu mudik setiap tahun ke rumah Eyang. Beberapa tahun terakhir ini memang pemudik dengan kendaraan roda dua itu semakin banyak, mungkin sejak motor semakin terjangkau. Bukan karena harganya yang semakin murah, tapi prosedur pembelian kredit yang semakin mudah.

Kembali ke masalah mudik, membawa kendaraan sendiri untuk mudik pasti lebih nyaman. Selain di tempat tujuan nanti bisa dipakai buat keliling-kelilng (tradisi lebaran kan silaturahmi tho), membawa kendaraan sendiri juga terhitung lebih murah. Kalau yang bersangkutan mampunyai membeli motor, ya sah aja sih kalau mudiknya pakai motor.

Mungkin nggak semua orang menganggap mudik itu penting, termasuk saya sih. Tapi kalau saat untuk bisa ketemu orang tua dan semua saudara itu cuma setahun sekali saat lebaran, mudik lebaran pasti jadi penting banget kan. Okelah, some people might say, 'kenapa harus lebaran, yang jalanan emang padet?'. Terlepas dari rasa kalau lebaran kumpul bareng keluarga itu 'sesuatu banget', saat lebaran juga udah adalah saat libur bersama, dimana hampir dipastikan hampir semua saudara berkumpul dan biasanya sebelum lebaran dapet THR yang bisa dipakai untuk mudik kan ya.

Saya sendiri sering trenyuh setiap ngeliat pemudik yang berkendaraan roda dua. Mereka terlihat sangat niat, semua bisa diangkut pakai motor, agak sedikit berbahaya memang, but they dont have any other choices I think. But seeing them makes ne realized that Im much luckier than them, and should be grateful for that.

In the end, saya cuma pengen bilang, mudik mungkin suatu hal yang sangat penting buat sebagian besar orang, that's why they hardly force themselve to be able to go home, even itu dengan kondisi keuangan yang pas-pasan. Mudik juga hak semua orang, terlepas dari mereka kaya atau miskin. Kemiskinan bukanlah alasan untuk bisa menyalahkan mereka, they dont ask to be poor. Yang paling penting adalah gimana bikin peraturan yang kuat tentang berkendara selama mudik untuk meminimalisasi korban kecelakaan selama mudik setiap tahunnya. Data yang menunjukkan kenaikan is very something deh, the government should learn more how ro reduce it.

September 7, 2011

September 1, 2011

Memorable Eid,ever!

Mungkin lebaran kali ini adalah lebaran yg paling memorable deh buat saya, bukan karena ini lebaran pertama saya harus jauh dari MomDad and the whole family, tapi funny story behind-nya bener2 bikin geli kalo diinget2. Berawal dari Ramadhan hari ke 27, dimana saya udah kasak-kusuk ceting sama orang rumah ttg kapan lebaran. Dimana orang rumah saya akan berlebaran pada tgl 29 Agustus, as I thought before. Belum mention di twitter dari temen saya yang di Tsukuba bercerita kalau masjid di Tsukuba sudah mengumumkan kalau lebararan tanggal 29 Agustus juga. Jadilah kasak-kusuk saya makin intens di hari berikutnya. In the end, pada Ramadhan hari ke 28, saya sudah nggak berniat untuk puasa keesokan harinya.

The problem is, di Sendai sini belum ada berita apapun tentang kapan lebaran, tapi dari yg saya tangkap kebanyakan orang yakin bahwa lebaran di Sendai adalah tanggal 30Agustus. Well, sebenernya this post is not about the difference and wont talk more about that.

Cerita ini sebenernya simple karena urusan niat pengen masak2 buat lebaran aja. Saya dan Deffi udah niat pengen masak lontong+opor ayam+sambel goreng ati buat lebaran. Saya pun berniat bakal nginep di tempat Deffi malem lebarannya. Jadilah hari Senin, Ramadhan 28, saya dan Deffi belanja bahan2 buat masak2. Iseng aja siy, lebih ke nyantai karena kita mikirnya masih ada besok juga buat belanja, karena pada hari itu beberapa items emang unavailable.

Selepas buka puasa di retauran halal with my other friend, saya balik lagi ke rumah Deffi, niatnya mau sholat Maghrib aja, tapi seperti biasa jadi ngobrol panjang dan akhirnya pulang sekitar jam 9 seingat saya. Yang jelas begitu sampai dorm saya dapat sms dari temen saya yg mengabarkan kalau lebarannya jadibya besok. Duarr.

Saya langsung kontak Deffi, at first saya udah pasrah aja, karena mikir masak iya saya mesti balik lagi ke rumah Deffi, even semua perlengkapan buat sholat Id saya udah saya tinggal semua di tempat Deffi. Ternyata Deffi keukeuh tetep mau masak saat itu juga, soalnya kita keburu belanja.

Jadilah kita berdua malem2 tour to supermarket saat itu juga, belum menyatroni tetangga kamar saya juga buat ngangkutin bahan2 yg kira2 dibutuhin-:D. Dan marathon masaklah kita malam itu, the real bergadang it is. Karena masih amatir masak, masak segitu jenis masakan dengan porsi yang nggak terlalu banyak aja bisa bikin nggak tidur semaleman, fiuuuh... Belum sport jantung antara 'keburu nggak ya ini'? dan 'gimana ya rasa masakan ini'?, bikin tambah ribet..-:D

Dan besoknya waktu ngobrol sama Ibu2 di sini, pengalamannya nggak beda jauh ternyata. Aah..ternyata urusan masak memasak di hari lebaran ini butuh informasi yang jelas tentang kapan hari lebaran.. hehe.. Yang jelas setiap kali inget tentang this suprising Eid, pasti saya geli sendiri..huahaa

Finally our opor ayam, sambel goreng ati, lontong, and their friends...

Eid Mubarrak..!

August 28, 2011

From apple to..

We, me and Deffi, like to spend time together by cooking. And yesterday, we made 'apple cake' for ifthaar jami. Actually this is a very simple recipe, but I dont know why the taste was not really good-:(

Do you dare to try...?-:D

Slice the apple

Beat the eggs and oil, then add sugar

Add flour, choco powder,cinnamon,salt,vanilla,and baking powder

Add the apple slice and almond slice.

And finally bake it with 180degC in 30 minutes

So easy right... Enjoy!
*well,I forgot to take the cake picture...-:D

August 27, 2011

Love?

I just a read this post from jum'an.multiply.com. It's definitely such a 'wow' story..

VICTORIA and ABDUL STORY
"Ini bukan tentang penyanyi Victoria Justice atau juri American Idol Paula Abdul. Ini lain zaman dan lain urusan. Ini adalah kisah nyata Queen Victoria; Ratu Inggris yang dinobatkan pada usia 18 tahun dan bertahta selama 64 tahun sampai wafatnya pada 1901. Ia juga bergelar Empress of India. Abdul adalah Moh. Abdul Karim, pria muslim jangkung dan tampan kelahiran Agra, India yang tidak lain adalah pelayan Sri Ratu. Ia didatangkan pada ulang tahun tahta ke 50 (Golden Jubilee) Ratu Victoria pada 1887 yang dirayakan besar-besaran di Istana Buckingham dihadiri oleh 50 Raja dan Pangeran dari Eropah serta utusan negara-negara jajahannya. Abdul Karim awalnya ditugaskan untuk melayani makan malam seorang tamu princess dari India dan sekaligus sebagai bukti status kekaisaran Ratu Victoria atas anak benua India. Saat itu Karim berusia 24 tahun dan Ratu Victoria adalah janda dengan 9 anak berumur 65 tahun lebih. Ternyata Ratu jatuh hati kepada pemuda elegan ini. (Sebenarnya Karim sudah punya istri di India). Karimlah yang memperkenalkan masakan kari kepada Sri Ratu, yang kemudian setiap hari selama 15 tahun kari diharuskan ada pada menu makan siang di istana Windsor. Makin lama Ratu makin terpesona oleh pelayan Indianya itu dan terbukti mereka saling mencintai sampai akhir hayat mereka. Suatu saat Ratu Victoria berkata kepada Louise menantunya: “Saya sangat suka kepadanya. Dia begitu baik, lembut dan penuh pengertian…banar-benar pelipur lara bagi saya” Surat-suratnya kepada Karim selalu diakhiri dengan “Ibumu tersayang, sahabat terdekat, Victoria R.I.” bahkan kadang-kadang ditandai dengan cap bibir, yang jarang diklakukan orang dizaman itu.

Karim diminta mengajarinya bahasa Urdu dan diberinya gelar Al- Munshi atau guru. Hubungan guru-murid semakin merasuk sehingga kedekatan keduanya menimbulkan kecemburuan dikalangan istana. Dari pelayan dimeja makan naik menjadi kepala rumah tangga istana, lalu Commmander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) dan Indian Sectretary to Queen Victoria. Bila ia sakit, Victoria selalu menjenguknya bahkan ia yang merapihkan bantalnya, dan bila ia cuti ke India, setiap hari Ratu Victoria menulis surat kepadanya. Keluarga kerajaan semakin geram ketika keduanya menginap sendirian di istana musim panas di Blamoral, Scotlandia. Bila diingat bahwa Abdul 43 tahun lebih muda, tentulah cinta Victoria itu cinta keibuan bukan cinta asmara. Tapi siapa tahu karena Ratu pada usia 68 masih segar bugar. Ia juga sayang dan akrab dengan istri dan ibu mertua Karim yang belakangan diboyong oleh Ratu ke Inggris. Ayah Karim yang sudah pensiun juga dibawa ke Inggris dengan kehidupan yang dijamin oleh Ratu. Karim memperoleh segalanya: kasih sayang, kepercayaan, pangkat dan harta. Karim bukan hanya baik kepada Ratu tetapi taat, hormat dan setia, setimpal dengan ganjaran yang diterimanya. Karena Karimlah Sri Ratu membangun Durbar Room, paviliun istana bersuasana India yang indah dan mewah untuk menerima tamu-tamu dari India.

Cinta Victoria – Abdul juga menyelamatkan minoritas Islam India dari tekanan umat Hindu karena Ratu selalu memerintahkan wakil Inggris di India untuk melindungi mereka demi cintanya dan atas perimntaan Abdul Karim. Bukan saja umat Islam, ratu sangat menaruh perhatian pada India seutuhnya. Ratupun berpesan agar Abdul Karim diberikan tempat istimewa pada pemakaman dirinya bila wafat nanti. Pada saatnya Karim duduk sendiri menatap jenazah Victoria; terkenang ketika pertama kali ia mecium kakinya di istana Windsor, malam-malam mengajar bahasa Urdu, kemesraan, gossip serta kesepian hati Sang Ratu yang ia maklumi. Tiga hari kemudian pengawal Raja Edward ke 7 pengganti Victoria datang untuk mengusir Karim serta keluarganya kembali ke India. Semua bukti hubungan Victoria-Abdul dibakar musnah. Tetapi Karim berhasil menyelamatkan catatan hariannya yang sangat berharga. Abdul Karim meninggal di Agra tahun 1909 pada usia 46 tahun.

Pada tahun 2010 buku harian yang tersimpan selama satu abad itu diserahkan oleh Begum QamarJehan (85 th), satu-satunya kerabat Karim yang masih hidup, kepada seorang penulis wanita dari London yang sedang menulis kisah cinta keduanya yaitu Shrabani Basu. Bacalah buku Shrabani Basu yang berjudul Victoria and Abdul. Bukan hanya disarikan dari catatan harian Karim, tetapi juga dari catatan harian Ratu Vicoria sendiri yang biasa dinamai Hindustan Journal. Tetang kekuatan cinta yang tidak mengenal batas, tentang Victoria Ratu Agung yang mencintai pemuda India dari kalangan bawah. Pada saat Kerajaan Inggris mencapai puncaknya, seorang pemuda Islam menempati posisi sentral dan berpengaruh atas kedaulatannya."

I really have just known about this..surprise..surprise..-:D

Ala Po-Lem

I accidentally could make this 'po-lem' style using my black ruffle shawl, haha..not bad laa..
And everyone whom I met asked: 'kami'? (hair?). I just smile..off course not laaa..!

August 24, 2011

Eternal love

Last night I read my friend's post at his blog [here], and suddenly I remembered my conversation with one of my friends. She said that it is understandable if someone want to live far away from his/her parents without any bonding feeling. So, it is okay if you live separately from your parents and you do not even call them or visit them. For me this is silly idea, how come it is understandable or okay? That is your parents. But she argued that not all people have a good relation with their parents, not all people think their parents are their best friend or their hero. And she also said I might not understand that since I have a very good relation with my parents. So I just keep silent, I do not know what to say at that time. I just thought that is it true, if you dont have a good realation with your parents back then, then you lost that bonding feeling? When I come to another argument that taking care our parents is an obligation in our religion, she said it is for men, while women only have obligation to her husband. Is that so?

Well, I dont want to give any comment about the religion side, whether it is obligation or not. I just want to view the picture from my senses. Apart from the relation back then, have we ever realized what have our parents done for us? They both have raised us, with much love or without any love you could remember, but still they took care of us, right? Feed you, taught you, paid you, protected you. Parents are also human, they might make mistakes. They might not as perfect as you have dreamed of, not as warm and lovely as you might wish of, but I think they might do their best for you. Have you ever counted what they have done for you? Could you pay those back?

IMHO, I still can't understand someone's opinion who think that after grown up, our parents are another strange person, who live separately from us and no longer have connection with us. Some people might have different experience back then, but do you still have heart to remember your parents kindness? Please see this video below, and do think back what have your parents done for you, and what have you done for your parents, have it been equal? My personal answer is no. Thus I always found myself wept seeing this video-:((.


video courtessy of you tube @rajeshn765

August 18, 2011

My Indonesia

I dont know why, today I start my day with the dissapointed feeling knowing that one of the corruption suspect is still at his early 3os. The naif me hopes that the young generations of Indonesia have different attitude, principle and character to the old generations, since I do hope the better Indonesia someday.

Aaaand, what is more, later on I read this news [here]. Another sad fact-:((. First she doesnt know who was the author of Indonesian anthem, then she also doesnt know much about Pancasila (Indonesia's five basic principle), and fyi, she is what's so called the Miss Indonesia, duh!

I might look like the miss drama queen, but for me this is just so sad. As Indonesian, you should know about the very basic thing such that. It is not our basic principle of life indeed, but as a citizen, the part of a country, you should know your country's history, at least a liltle, and also know the basic priciple to live together as the member of the country. And I have nothing to say more...this is just unbelieveable...but real...

This is Pancasila, if you're Indonesian, you must know about this well. When I was in school, I have to memorize this thing, and the other detil points of Pancasila, it's a bunch. As basic principle, this is the ideal view of Indonesian, like all Indonesians have to believe to God, tho we have different religion. And sorry to say, I dont think you can say that you are an atheist if you are Indonesian.

And Garuda Pancasila as our symbol. I really love the 'Bhineka Tunggal Ika' word as our motto which means 'unity in diversity'.
I do hope that the Indonesian youths know more about this. Though still, I personally believes that the most fundamental thing in our live is religion, but this nationality basic priciple is also important, [IMHO].

pictures from: 4.bp.blogspot.com and id.wikipedia.org

August 17, 2011

Red and white spirit


Many people might think that, why should we have the flag ceremoy? Just standing in the field, honouring our flag, it might sound silly. Yes, it might sound silly, but have you ever thought about how can we raise the red-white flag there up to the sky now? I believe, long time before there were just The Netherland or Japanese flags waving up in our beloved country sky.

Flag is the symbol of teritory, meaning that at that time our country is part of those countries. So have you ever imagined who many souls sacrified to make the red-white flag waving up in our sky? For me, the flag ceremony is a time when we think back to those souls who fought for our independence. I mean the literally meaning of independence from the imperialization. Thus we have right to put up our flag, as a symbol that Indonesia is Indonesia, no longer the part of The Netherland or Japan.

Regardless of some people who might think that our independence is just the matter of a chance, which at that time Japan was hit by the bombs and the Allied did not even think about the importance of having 'us', those souls have many contributions in our independence. We own them so much.

For me [again], the flag ceremony is the time when Im reminded to those sacrificied souls and the same time, it also makes me think back what can I do to our beloved country. The touching Indonesia Raya song also emerges my optimism to the better of Indonesia someday. It's just as simple as that.

So those people who might think that flag ceremony is just so silly, you have to think where were you now without those sacrified souls. And other people who might think that flag ceremoy means we worship the flag, well, you are defiitely wrong dude..!

August 16, 2011

the G word!

Have ever heard 'galau' word? Do you know the meaning, or have you ever used that kind of word in your sentence?
Me? I dont know the exact meaning of it, but Ive used that word many times, spoken and written.

For me, galau is unstable feeling that turns to mellow, mostly it's caused by 'love term'.
And for me [again], galau is reading 'his time line' who was so happy for tonight ocassion and ended up with me opened all his time line, that brought much more 'galau' feeling in me...

Well okay...this unimportant writing is just to relive what I feel inside...
I do feel so unstable today...-:(

August 15, 2011

a friend and a ship?-:D


Ive just finished watching the latest XMen series called 'The First Class', it's a great movie anyway..anyone has watched the movie?So please tell me that you're agree with me..It's just so great right..?

Well the movie is about the beginning story of them. If youve already watched the previous movies, you will find many answers from this movie, like now I understand why Magneto is really full of hatress, tho, Im not saying that it is right, and many other things actually. But Im not gonna tell you how the story goes, you could just find the DVD I think, it will be much more easier.

The tag line from the movie that has really remained in my heart is what's so called 'friendship'. The friendship of Erik 'Magneto' and Xavier 'Prof. X' is really uniqe and heartbreaking. They both are good friend, but then they become enemy because of different principle. Watching how good they were, was tearing out my heart. Even in the last scene that finally they decide to walk in the different way, they both are understand and respect each other, and even Xavier let Raven go to follow Erik. Me? I could not take this actually, why...? You are good in being friend..-;(.

But when I think back, friend will always be friend, when no one is understand, your friend will. Is it how it worked? They are friend, so he let his friend go, since he's understand how his friend feels. Well, I still dont get it eniwei, a friend should prevent his friend in doing bad things right? Was what Erik did not really that bad? Did he just want to protect himself and other mutants? Dunno exactly about that thing,but still true friend will always there and will always understand -:(.

Watching the movie, I just wonder that they might dont like that change, they might want to stay as happily as before. It is just like how I feel, I want me and my friend are as happily as before, always have time to hang out, chat, and laugh, but the change will always come. It can't be helped, because life is about growing and changing, it's just so sad isn't it?

A wise man said:'Don't be afraid of change! You may lose something good, but you may gain something even better.' Is that as simple as that...?

But I definitely [still] dont want to lose that good times with my friends...-:D

August 14, 2011

lovely sun flowers!

Im really happy today, since I got a chance to view the beautiful scenery, the sun flower plantation.
Well, I love flowers, I think I love all kinds of flowers. Are there any flowers which are not beautiful? I guess not-:D.
If I rank my favourite flower, sun flower gonna be my second favourite flower, while my first is lily. So, being at Sanbogi, is really like a gift.. Trust me it's beautiful...