Another Victoria's Secrets

via kalibatacity

I went to Kalibata City Square for a meeting and got time for some mall-sweeping so I went around and found out that this mall, hidden underneath the many of high-rise apartment buildings, has almost anything, from open-space food court, restaurants and cafes to supermarket, gadgets, fashion, sport equipments, and even a bag maker in small kiosk!


Another fantastic thing I found was a book store that sells the kinds of books that I was looking for. I couldn't find this one book of Nibiru & Kesatria Atlantis anywhere else for more than a year now and look, there it was, piled up for sale here. I bought another three of Javanese language and traditional clothing here before I chilled at a coffee shop.


Overall, I like to have my coffee break at Kedai Kopi Phoenam, just around the main entrance to the underground mall at the open space. Besides the coffee, it serves one of the best fried rices I love (try the original fried rice and spicy cakalang fried rice!) I never really expect to find such things in the area that I almost never touch my whole life, but yeah, life is full of surprises sometimes.

After Parijs Van Java (2005), I bought Remy Sylado's newest book, Malaikat Lereng Tidar. I don't feel I could copy his way of telling things for my own writing reference, but it's his uniqueness and I love reading his book for he always use rare words I never knew existed before and the rich information in all his writings. He is the master of authoring a full-research fiction novel based on Indonesian history. One of his books, Ca Bau Kan, was already on screen on 2002.

I met Oom Remy in person years ago, on 2003, when I was interested on theatrical play, directed by him. He is a very typical Holland-Manado guy with all white outfit up to belt and shoes. My parents knew him first from the church then I started to follow his theater activities for some time before I enter the interior design major in Bandung. I hope I could have another chance to meet him to discuss even much more interesting stuff about art, play and writings. He is one of Indonesia's greatest artists and I'm glad to both know him and read his pieces.

the front desk

coffee beans

I went to visit Javanegra the other day because their cooking studio is now open. Now you don't have to climb the stairs for 4 floors but instead can enjoy the warm ambient of the studio from the moment you step in. You can choose the many kinds of arabica and robusta beans and you can even blend it on your own taste.

variants of arabica coffee from all over Indonesia

Inside, the studio has  a set of sofa for chilling and further behind, equipped with full functioned kitchen set and coffee bar by De Dietrich, ready for some cooking. This studio is open for coffee sales, consultation, coffee breaks and even dining parties by appointment. Come by and experience the best of Indonesian coffee with us!

kitchen, bar and dining table for 12

Zapatos, Indonesian made backpack

After a very long search since 2008, I finally found a perfect backpack that fits my taste of fashion and also functional for carrying a 13" laptop inside. It was on my casual walk to Teraskota that I saw the only one washed black canvas backpack displayed on the expo stall that sells man's shoes mostly, waiting for me to grab it home. I didn't think twice to buy it, and seriously, IDR 295,000 is a cheap price for this kind of backpack. I'm so happy about it!

the bag that fits my needs and style

Today I, my brother, sister and cousin went to a dermatologist, dr. Kun, at Senayan area. We had to take our queue number from 8 a.m. then come back for consultation/treatment at 11.30 a.m. We came at 12.30 p.m. today and met the friendly and brilliant dr. Kun. He explained all the misleads about skin problems.

After 15 years of having acne on my face, I finally know the main reason of having it. It's genetic. Not hormonal but genetic--sometimes hormones trigger the sebum production but everybody has hormones but not everyone has skin problem. So, the only way to heal it is by medical treatment.

There are some mistake on handling acne problems, and you must beware of it. Here are some tips:

1. Never touch, punch or burst any blackhead or pimple for it will leave a lifetime scar on skin.
2. Never do facial for it will only hurt and pierce your skin and cost you money for that.
3. Never trust any crap of Vitamin E or Chlorophyll can make skin problem get better.
4. Never trust such prohibition on eating certain kind of food to avoid acne.
5. Never lick your dry lips for it will only blacken it and makes the lips even dryer.
6. Never use cleansing foam with scrub on daily basis and when in treatment.
7. Never forget to apply sunblock when skin is being exposed to sun.
8. Pay attention to which doctoral title who takes care of your skin. Dermatologist is a SpKK.
9. Never blame any food such as peanuts, oily and spicy ones to cause pimples. It's the genes.
10. Drink more and more mineral water.

What makes this dermatologist special is that he doesn't recommend his patients to come often (check up in 4-6 months if necessary then not to come back if the skin already healed) or to do any facial treatment (which every other skin care center suggest us to do facial treatment every 3-4 weeks) and he frees us to consume any food we want.

And the price is very affordable. Consultation fee is IDR 250,000 and the medication ranged from IDR 40,000 - IDR 200,000, depends on our skin type. And the fact that the check ups are only 2x a year, it makes it so much cheaper than any other skin center in the town that I know. So, let's see in few months on my skin's healing progress. I'll update about this.


dr. med. Kun Jayanata, SpKK(K)
Jl. Hang Tuah Terusan I No. A1
South Jakarta
t. +62 21 7278 7518
t. +62 21 7278 7519
f. +62 21 7278 7520

Ngobaran Beach, South Yogyakarta

I went to Yogyakarta (again!) last week with Timen Cheryl and other friends for some project we're working on. It was a 16-hours road trip from Jakarta-Yogya (we stopped for meals and quick breaks) and another 12-hours trip from Yogya-Serpong. We stayed over for 2 days and went around the keraton city and got many new experiences and made new friends during the trip.

Rei "Wilson" grey

I specially bought a pair of trekking shoes for this trip after just a night of quick online research. Luckily my cousin Ray who loves to mountain-trekking showed me the cheapest (and pretty much a complete) store in town for trekking equipments at Outdoor Station, between Mayestik and Taman Puring markets, South Jakarta. I got this beautiful pair for IDR 595,000 (about USD 50.9) and very happy about it. It's all comfortable, good-looking and not so expensive. Both of this brand and shop are highly recommended!

me and Timen

I came home from Yogyakarta at 10.30 a.m. on election day (July 9), had some breakfast and took a shower, then went on voting at 1 p.m. After that I had a full day with family, with all aunts and cousins: lunch at Holycow! and chilled at Mall @ Alam Sutera. I was exhausted but happy all the same. It all really worth the energy.

Rachelle, me and Angelika

Yesterday, I met Rachelle for some catch up at Gandaria City--went there with my family and cousin Angel then she joined us. It had been more than 8 months since the last time I met Cheryl and about 3-4 months with Rachelle, so I feel so happy this week for meeting them both, tho in different occasions. It was a really fun shopping and chatting time for us. We chilled at the mall till 10 p.m.!

me at Ngobaran Beach

After all this time, I know that these two are my best friends who'll stay the same tho we're apart for some time. For the past month, I've met 3 of my best friends (met Julie last month in Yogya) and tho there were some reductions in the number of friends since the beginning of this year, at least I know now who my real friends are and who are the fake ones. I really am happy and feel blessed. Matur nuwun!