Another Victoria's Secrets

wardrobe: LBD by Forever21, slip-on by Toms and kaftan outer by NurZahra

I thought I was going to spend my Christmas alone here in Bali because I couldn't go home and my friends here are mostly Muslim/Hindu. But last Saturday I met this girl Christine who would spend her Christmas alone, too, so we agreed to spend it together this year. I picked her up on Dec 24 afternoon for Christmas Eve mass at FX Kuta Church at 6 p.m.

Metis Restaurant with garden view

me, ready to finish my big lunch!

my lunch: roasted turkey with pork stuffing, cranberry sauce and potato gratin

me, James and Mba Liz at Metis

James, Mba Liz, me and John at Mano

Due to my book writing project of "NurZahra: A Grateful Ode to Nature and Culture" (published by Afterhours Books), I have to do a photo shoot for the author profile so I asked a photographer friend to capture me wearing the outfits from NurZahra. Rina Ng is a longtime friend of mine. We knew each other since elementary years in Bandung and she has been living in Bali for almost 8 years now. She is an interior design graduate from ITB and focusing in photography now. Check out her works here.


For this photo shoot I was wearing NurZahra's indigo shibori chiffon kaftan outer and the matching NurZahra's indigo shibori chiffon shawl. The white sansan singlet and white viscose pants are from Nyaman Boutique, Bali. Photo location is at Ramada Encore, Seminyak.
Visit Rina's other works also here.

Sometimes you have money, but sometimes you must live on budget. Still, eating is a must and finding great food in budget has its own glory. Here I list the food under IDR 20k (the food alone) but taste great that you'll crave for more.

1. Warung Roti Canai & Teh Tarik Bunana

you can see how they make the roti canai and teh tarik from behind the glass

Been my favorite since 2012, the small parlor from Jl. Raya Kerobokan is now moved to Jl. Sunset Road for a bigger and easier to find location. My all-time favorite is the Roti Egg Keju (egg and cheese bread) with iced Teh Tarik (Malaysian thé au lait or milk tea). The small portion of roti canai is around IDR 11,000-13,000 and for the large one is IDR 17,000-20,000. It's really worth the money, isn't it?

the roti canai comes with curry soup

They have some branches all over Badung regency in Bali:
- Jl. Sunset Road No.28, Kerobokan; across from KZU near T-junction with Jl. Raya Kerobokan.
- Jl. Danau Poso No. 1, Sanur; just at the T-junction with Bypass Ngurah Rai.
- Jl. Uluwatu 2 No. 32x, Jimbaran.


2. Warung Bali (Ibu Ketut Nari)

food display

For lawar and Balinese rice lover, this one shouldn't be missed. The betutu chicken, corn, lawar (some Balinese-style vegetables with beansprout and coconut), pork and satay--the taste of Bali in a very affordable price. It is only for IDR 15,000 and you'll get this 'nasi campur' (a little of everything in one dish with steamed white rice) to make your tummy happy. They also have ayam betutu (chicken cooked in betutu style) and other food by request.

the Balinese 'nasi campur'

 
A very humble place right across the Kerobokan Traditional Market, Jl. Tangkuban Perahu (50m from Lio Square), this one is surely not to be missed (when you're on budget).


3. Warung Sate Madura Pak Ayex

chicken satay and lontong with gulai (curry) soup

It is not really easy to find a nice Sate Madura, with options for chicken or lamb, with rice or lontong (rice cake). But for a portion of 10 pcs of chicken satay with 1 lontong, it will cost you only IDR 12,000--the lamb curry is Rp 10,000 and the lamb satay is only IDR 17,000. The portion is indeed small but for people on diet like me, it's just perfect.

This simple parlor is located at Jl. Tangkubang Perahu, across of the east corner of Kerobokan jail, right at the intersection of Jl. Pengubengan Kauh, and open from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m. Call them at +6287 861 161 033.


4. Kedai Mie Cici

yamien manis ayam pangsit (sweet noodle with chicken and wonton)

If you love yamien (Bandung-style noodle) and can't find a good one anywhere in Bali, go to Kedai Mie Cici. Either sweet or savory noodle, they have a great taste for this and especially great wonton (that filled with lotsss of chicken meat inside) for only IDR 20,000. If you don't like noodle, they also have this batagor (baso tahu goreng or fried fish cake-and-tofu) or banana fritters.

batagor kuah (soup of fried fish cake and tofu)

This small parlor is open from 11 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. from Sunday to Friday, at Jl. Beraban No. 66, Banjar Taman, Kerobokan. Their phone number is +62 878-2355-6065 if you need.


5. Buka Baju (Gubuk Makan Bakso Keju)

bakso kuah campur (7pcs)

If you would like to try something a little different, this one can be an option. They have this bakso (beef or chicken meatballs) with cheese inside that makes it unique. But my recommendation goes to bakso keju, bakso goreng and siomay. The others are quite standard, but everything is under 20k. I haven't tried the grilled meatballs tho. Well, perhaps on my next visit (;


This one is located at Jl. Tangkuban Perahu, on the east of Jl. Gunung Salak intersection. Call them at +6281 2330 8668.

Yesterday was the remembrance that it had been 6 year since my Dad passed away. So I went to the traditional market in Jl. Basangkasa, Bali, to buy banten (offerings) and 5 stems of white and red lotus as a sign for the 5 of us--our family member; then off to the Petitenget beach to say a little prayer before I put the banten on the sand and let it washed away by the seawater.


It was indeed a simple, small commemoration, not even a ceremony, but it is nice to have that brief intimate moment on the beach. This was the reason why we wanted Dad to be cremated and his ashes to be spread on the sea--so we can always "meet" him wherever the sea is. And it is much more calming, relaxing and peaceful than to go to a graveyard to "have a talk" with the departed.


I stayed on the beach for about 15 minutes there--or more, I didn't see the time--and watched the waves that came and played with my banten--made it move here and there... but I couldn't stay longer because it was hot. I was certain it was cloudy when I went there but it became really hot with no grey cloud at all after I put the banten there--believe it or not. Yet it made me uncomfortable to stay too long in the heat with full and long clothes on, so I went home. But I was glad, this was the first time again I greeted my dad by the sea after 2013 and I was happy for this moment.

Until next year, Dad!

Coloring Book: BALI by IBG Wiraga

Being all alone in paradise can be pretty boring, no matter how beautiful the landscape is, how cool the people are and how peaceful the entire island is. It's just simply boring when you're on your own and don't have anything to do but writing (which can be blocked sometimes) so I think I was pretty lucky to buy this coloring book about two months ago and had it sent here last week to accompany me to fill spare my time.

the first image we colored--I had this collaboration work with my cousin Goldi and her boyfriend Agung

This coloring book is indeed copying the concept of other adult coloring books from all over the world that are booming and trending now. I bought this especially because I know the artist that did all the illustration, IBG Wiraga, a true Balinese guy whose nickname Hege, and hadn't touched the book since I bought it because I hate coloring--since the elementary school till Color Theory classes at the university. But being alone in Bali now, I asked Mom to send it to me.

the first image I colored all by myself in Bali--color pencils allow us to play with color tint and tone

There are 65 pages of beautiful hand-drawn Balinese illustration in this book ready to give us enough spaces to boost our creativity on colors. The latest study said that coloring can kill boredom. It is one of the therapeutic activity available for us to do (but different to art therapy). Coloring for adults is also proven to give benefits such as more focus on the moment and in doing other things, more relaxed and calmed, vanishing negative thoughts--it works like a meditation (read more here).

trying to color with markers--which incredibly fast yet more even result to save time

Art therapy is good for people to express things they cannot put into words. Also it is helpful for dealing with a variety of other conditions, such as depression, dementia, anxiety, and PTSD, even to cure cancer! My aunt said this coloring stuff is being famous within old people in Dutch. I think it's suitable for all ages, especially for people who are more stressed, feeling lonely and simply bored. So let's color up our life!

Well I just gotta post this here, don't I? Here is a review the Jakarta Post had about me in their "On The Shelves" column. This was posted on Monday edition, Nov 23, 2015. The interview itself was done in Grand Indonesia, Jakarta, last August. It was Aug 13, 2015 if I'm not mistaken. And the girl who interviewed me was still in college in Boston, USA. Sekar Krisnauli T. was on internship in Jakarta Post during the summer holiday and had the chance to meet me.

There are some minor mistakes on details that she wrote about me however, but it is okay. Still, this is like the best article someone has ever done about me--giving another perspective about who I am and what I've been doing from another point of view--the things that I've never thought about before. You can read the article here.

Still about books, I was lucky that I got this Andy Noya's book "Kisah Hidupku" written by Adhi KSP. I read the whole book during my boring nights alone here in Bali (this is my fifth week here now and had spent most of the nights alone although I was staying at a friend's place) and had no idea that a biography book could be this interesting.

The book writing process took years, including the Saturday interviews the writer had with this now famous TV host. That is why the book tells all details about Andy F. Noya's life story, from the war time of his grandparents' to present time that he is a success person. Every single details were told, including his hard childhood and rebellious moments to the ways he climbed his career ladder.

I see the resemblance of Andy Noya's life story to Ajik Cok's--the previous biography book I read. Both of them came from very poor family that they had to struggle to get through their childhood and teenager years. Both of them are witty and stubborn but remain honest and hold strong moral values and principles in life. Both of them are champions in life--and they did it because they got the characters since the beginning.

This is a great book to read, especially if you are a fan of Andy Noya. But even if you're not, it's still interesting to know how life were in Maluku, Surabaya and Papua back in the 60s, 70s and 80s--and how it was in Jakarta in the early 90s or to simply peek on the situation inside the editorial offices, the newspapers, magazines and TVs. An inspiring story, usually, hides behind it a hard struggle indeed!

I finished reading this book months ago but hadn't time to update so here it is. The Indonesian title is "Seperti Bulan dan Matahari" but I got this autographed English copy I bought from my publisher (we have the same publisher) and surprisingly enjoyed reading it. At first I thought it was a political book but it also has personal touch as well as romance. The book mostly describe Indonesian diversity from the eyes of a US diplomat.

Pak Stanley first came to Indonesia on a state duties but he soon fell in love with an elegant Javanese woman, Bu Henny Mangoendipoero (I met her in person and talked a lot with her on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival last month and turned out she was the sister of my aunt's schoolmate and yes, she's a truly lovely and open-minded intelligent woman for sure!)

This book tells all of Pak Stanley's experience about blending with Indonesian traditional yet modern family and its culture, the politics in the governments and the world during the 20 years he worked, and his trips from Sabang to Merauke. This is an interesting book one should read, especially when you are interested on knowing what happened in your own country, from the perspective of other country's diplomat!

the photo setting

During the #UWRF15 festival, I skipped the fourth day and be around Denpasar instead. I spent the day showing Seminyak to Mariska (my publisher representative) and ended up dressing up in formal dress (but since I didn't bring party shoes, I wore my rubber T-bar sandals instead). We (me, Mariska and Mas Yunas, the Kompas Book Publisher's new supervisor) arrived at Aston Hotel Jl. Gatot Subroto at around 6.15 p.m., welcomed and ushered to the ballroom by many people in uniforms.

me, attending the great book launch

There were photo backdrop set where people took pictures at, and many receptionist desks for there were around 600 invited guests, if we didn't count it wrong. We got table No. 18 with the book writer, A. Bobby Pr, and his wife. The setting was more like a gala dinner than book launching, and I felt so wrong to be there at first because I didn't wore fancy shoes... but then again it's Bali so I chilled down eventually.

the stages and tables setting

They let us have our dinner until 7.30 p.m. and the event began. Gading Marten was the MC, together with Ayu, one of Ajik Cok's employees. There was Krisna Bali signature dance, a local stand up comedian and some opening speeches from people who have known Ajik Cok for a long time. These stuff really helped us guests to know more about the person discussed in the book.

the writer and wife, Mas Yunas and Mariska

There was also Syahrini, an Indonesian singer, who entertained us (really), and Andy F. Noya as the moderator for the book launch. They all introduced us to the figure of Ajik Cok, who started literally from nothing when he was in junior high school, moving from a small village to big city by himself with no money but strong determination to survive in life.

Gading Marten, Ajik Cok, Syahrini, Andy F. Noya and Ayu Saraswati

Throughout the event we got so many testimonials about how humble, modest, honest, but a hard-worker Ajik Cok is. And this story is indeed inspiring, for that simple village boy had shown and proven his willpower to all people he met that would lead him to build his empire of Krisna Bali (that started as convection, to souvenir stores, to other growing business) in the age of 44 years old. He is truly blessed to have a lovely family, loyal friends and famous for having luxurious cars despite his humble character.

what we got inside the goodie bag: 2 biography books and a shirt

I felt really lucky to be able to attend this book launch, which was another 'first time' for me, and to know such an inspiring story behind the successful local Balinese business and got so many great lessons from it. The event ended at 10 p.m. after the book launch and birthday celebration of Ajik Cok's youngest son. We all got a goodie bag to bring home with, along with great knowledge we just experienced. You should never say no to new things indeed, for you'll never know how blessed you could be!

me, on the festival #UWRF15

me, Frischa Aswarini as speaker, and Vanesa Martida as MC

So it's November already and I'm back in Bali. I came first for the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2015 which was held from Oct 28-Nov 1 this year (read my experience here and here--and more pictures of it here). It was a great and unique experience for this was my first time to be at the festival and my book was launched here. I got so many new experience, broaden my knowledge, and met new people. It was so refreshing!

met Kenzo here, a beautiful macau bird at the warung in the neighborhood

But I didn't fly back to Jakarta after the festival. I stayed at my friend's place in Sanur instead and been spending my time writing here, trying to find answer to yet another life journey of mine. I am opening myself to a whole new adventure, breaking the habit from my comfort zone in Jakarta for the past (almost) two years now. Another chapter has begun for me, and I'm living it in Bali! Wish me luck please (;

me, Albeta, Maria and Alex

Yesterday I went to Kemang for brunch at 10 a.m. with my schoolmates from Bandung: Albeta, Alex and Maria. At first we went to Sophie Authentique Splash at Jl. Kemang Utara but it was packed so we moved to the first branch at Jl. Kemang Selatan. We had a brunch until 1 p.m. and shared stories to catch up with our latest life story. It was actually a really fun thing to do, this brunch thing, instead of having lunch/dinner meeting, especially to start a long day with.

the first Sophie Authentique at Jl. Kemang Selatan

Sophie Authentique was started as home industry bakery that based on order and delivery since 2010. After three years, an opportunity came and the first bakery parlor was set at Jl. Kemang Selatan. The business was building great, consumer's accepting this positively and soon two other outlets were opened at Jl. Kemang Utara (Splash) and Jl. Cipete Raya.

can't help finding this cute swing stood idle

the warm, inviting, small bakery / café parlour

our breakfast: tuna salad, pork pâté authentique and butter sugar crêpe

Sophie Authentique
+62 21 7180011 - Open 8.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m.

• Jl. Kemang Selatan
  
• Splash Kemang, Jl. Kemang Utara
• Jl. Cipete Raya

@authentiquejkt

The Nine Brothers

On Saturday, on Oct 3, 2015, I attended the big family reunion from my father's bloodline. This is a Bantenese family association started by Thung Ho Boen, the sixth generation from one of Bantenese heroes, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. He had 9 sons and 3 daughters, and all of the sibling's descendants are gathered in Kioe Seng Tong association (which means "the Social Society of the Living Nine Brothers"--who carried the surname).

photo backdrop

The group name was updated into Keluarga Serumpun Tirta (which means the Tirta Cognate Family, to keep the KST abbreviation) in 2011 to avoid the use of Chinese language, according to the rules applied and filled with lots and various form of Tirta or Thung (which both mean "water") as last surnames.

some of the extended family we rarely meet

The big reunion was held at Hotel 101 at Jl. Surya Kencana, Bogor, located right in front of the family heritage house. We arrived at 7.45 a.m. but the event was started at 9 so we still had time for buffet breakfast at the hotel's restaurant so we did. At 9 a.m. we came to the function room where big tables of 10 were already set by the ancestor's group. I came from the first son of Thung Ho Boen, which was Thung Bouw Liem, so I'm at group number 1.

group from first son's line

After some opening speech and art performance, I had time to introduce my book Gerbang Nuswantara to the big family for 30 minutes. It was the first time I had to talk in front of a large audience all by myself but the fact that they're still family calmed me down. At lunch time, many came to me to discuss about the book or order it. It was really nice that I got to know more of them, too.


To add more excitement, a couple from the eleventh' siblings greeted my brother-in-law, recognizing us because they came to my sister's wedding party. The couple are friends of Kak Mona, Maruli's sister-in-law. I know things can be complicated when it comes to family, but it's always nice to have large, extended family, isn't it?

me, speaking about Gerbang Nuswantara on stage

After lunch, Bogor mayor, Kang Bima Arya, came to the event. He is interested on preserving cultural heritage--and our family house is one of the historical building in Bogor--plus he is married to one of the Tirta's descendants from the eleventh sibling. So I spoke to him and he was interested on reading Gerbang Nuswantara, which excited me so much.

the young mayor of Bogor and I

We came back to Jakarta at 2 p.m. and reached Cipete area at around 3:30. It was very crowded on the highway but thankfully we could make it back to Jakarta earlier so we could get some rest before heading to Frank's Smokehouse & Bar for its grand opening party. They had this smoked brisket beef and pulled pork buffet bar for only IDR 100,000 and some Jell-O (with Smirnoff) shots special for that night.

smoked brisket beef, pulled pork and side dishes

We stayed at the bar till midnight with lots of booze and laughter, and introduced to some new friends. What a change of situation! We had fun that night with some blues music and I felt so great being surrounded by the people I love. I really wish more days like this to come :)

my lovely family