another gathering at Mbak Ita's house.

pot luck food spread.... yummy!



activities:







and most importantly, the people.



Happy Chinese New Year!

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my favorite flower, yellow rose. which reminds me of a sad break up song by Dolly Parton.

yellow capelet of the choir's robe, yellow roses and lilies at the altar. lil brother playing the piano, only partially shown on the right hand side. every time he plays for a wedding, I feel so proud to hear him playing. the mischievous, hard headed little boy who always have his own mind since the very beginning, has become a kind hearted, faithful adult who plays piano beautifully.

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Someday, I will have a sitting room like this. Or a bedroom. Or even a small fraction of the (hopefully, my own) house decorated in this elegant style. I don't know what it's called, Parisian something? But I know that I want it bad.

Gentlemen out there, I wouldn't mind at all if you take me here for our dates. Sitting pretty on the plush sofa while sipping coffee and eat cakes. Maybe I wouldn't even say anything (I guess that's good for you, hahahaha)

Hotel Mulia's cake shop. So pretty I want to live there. I remember my first impression walking toward the cake shop and look into the cafe area. Love at the first sight. (Although, the overall service in this hotel is lacking something substantial. It calls sincerity, thank you very much). I also confirmed my suspicion that I suck at taking pictures.

Have a seat here... 



Rows of mirrors and Medusa chandelier

 

Wall of trinkets. The next wall have flower vases on the shelves.



Lamps and flowers. Nice blend of angular, masculine shapes and flower femininity.



What I wore. A crazy patterned 'batik' dress.



I was there to buy cake for my brother's birthday. We've been a customer of Hotel Borobudur Cake Shop for many, many years, for birthdays, Christmases and what have you. Few months ago I took home leftover food from our workshop in Mulia, including some Tiramisu and Opera cakes. My aunt likes the cakes so this time she asked me to buy Tiramisu from Mulia instead.

The cake itself is not too pricey for a hotel like Mulia. However, my irritation started when they charged extra (I think only Rp. 11,000) for the writings since it has to be done on a piece of white chocolate. Their tiramisu has no decoration at all, just dusted with cocoa powder and walled with pieces of white chocolate. I did asked them if their tiramisu comes without any garnish, and they said that it always decorated like that. Fine, I think.

Second, I asked them if they have plastic bag because there is no way I will walk into the office carrying that big box of cake (I went to buy the cake at lunch hour). They quickly said that they have no plastic bag that size. I explained to them that I have to go back to the office. Then, they said that they do have bags but wasn't big enough so I can carry the handle. Doesn't matter, I said, I just need to cover the box. Why they were so quick with saying NO, I have no idea.

Lastly, we (I asked Rins to accompany me there) were asking for Blue Bird, unfortunately they don't have regular taxi except for Silver. Fine. We have to wait for whatever taxi that happen to come into the hotel. So weird that they don't have the signal that buildings have - those police lamp like thingy that they can turn on if they need taxi - but I can understand. Ritz Carlton PP doesn't have regular taxi waiting inline either. After waited for sometime (I was tempted to just walked outside and hail the cab myself, but it was raining), there was an Express taxi coming in. Rins was carrying the cake box and nobody helped him with the door. I don't know what the doormen were doing.

So, that's the extend of the service there. 5 stars hotel with a huge heart *insert irony here*, which happen to be gorgeously decorated.

The final icing on cake was when we actually ate the cake. It was bland, tasteless. My aunt was so disappointed because we've tried their tiramisu before and it wasn't anything like this. I don't know whether it was a stale cake (hotels are not suppose to sell anything older than a day, that's why they often discounted their bakery items after 7PM) or the ingredients were just off. But it doesn't taste like a hotel quality cake at all. Huge disappointment.

I immediately called the cake shop to complain. Fortunately, they were quick to respond to my complain and offer me a replacement. I will freeze some portion of the cake (plenty of left over since nobody wants a second) and they will give me a new one.

I happen to stay home today, but maybe tomorrow I will take on their offer and finally find out whether I happen to receive a bad cake, or their standard has just changed (often happen to hotels if they change the pastry chef).

Too bad, Mulia. You have good reputation as a fancy hotel with good food. At the office, we'll bend over backward just to ensure that our events will be carried on at Mulia because everybody just love your food (second to Mandarin Oriental) but your other service need to be improved. That includes service to people that spend only Rp. 300,000 at your cake shop and took regular taxi. Better next time, OK?


=====

update on the cake situation:

the lady who answered my call was so nice, and I took up her offer two days later. there was a major rally on thursday near the DPR, so there is no way I could go to Mulia. then I decided to go on Friday, call them beforehand to let them know that I'm picking up the cake. they were nice, everybody. it took me less than 5 minutes, no explanation needed. the doorman help me with the cake and put it nicely in the car (yes, I had a car picking me up at the lobby). so maybe niceness only applies to those who ride cars? don't know.

sadly, the cake.... is only slightly better than the previous one. it's nowhere near the one we tried few months back. I strongly suspect they change the pastry chef.

ah well.... too bad that cake from 5 stars hotel doesn't taste much better than something from regular bakery. this serves us a lesson, don't stray from the usual. borobudur, here we come again....

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dear face,
could you please stop acting like a teenager. cut the break out already. acne is not attractive at any age, especially MY age.

desperately,
the rest of the body, and my vanity

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ceritanya ikut trend, rekap tahun yang sudah lewat, 2011.
tapi terus bingung sendiri, karena tahun lalu serasa lewat blas gitu aja gak kerasa. gak ada milestonesnya ya?

awal januari: pulang kampung, bergerak dari Medan - Tebing Tinggi - Siantar - Parapat - Sibolga - Padang. balik ke jakarta, sakit parah (hyeee?? nggak enakin banget endingnya)

februari: yang keingetan cuma si babe nanya "knapa valentine's day lunch makan di meja?", dan malemnya berakhir dengan makan malam di ketjil kitchen dengan nan yang lagi hamil segede-gedenya, walaupun sebenernya gue craving KFC. nice valentine's day dinner with my best friend.

maret: lupa deh.

april: another baby drama, alias nungguin nan melahirkan bayi kedua. syukur puji Tuhan, lahir selamat... cakep lagi baby-nya.

mei:  mulai dag-dig-der mengenai perpanjangan kontrak. akankah? mungkinkah? selebihnya gak inget ngapain. kayaknya geng nongkrong kem chick mulai terbentuk  dan semakin kuat, dilanjutkan dengan makan2 di KFC.

juni: my birthday! yang mana geng bedeng pura2 lupa, bilangnya ada donor meeting, dan mereka nraktir gue di Potato Head. hits banget deh kejadiannya :)

juli: kemiskinan menyeluruh. gak bisa nagih booo... belom ada kerjaan, hahahhahaa

agustus: sama aja miskin juga (ini recurring theme ya?)

september: mulai napas, financially. tapi 2-3 bulan gak berduit itu paraaaahh akibatnya! trus bane balik jakarta, yay for my partner in crime!

oktober: sutris berat soal kerjaan. berusaha keras mengatur diri, emosi, dan otak. my first time nginep di kantor juga (bangga ya? iya dong, gak banyak lho yang pernah nginep, hehehehe)

november: kerja super keras pagi-siang-malam dalam rangka menyukseskan workshop subnational borrowing.

desember: ya gitu deh. setengah bulan pertama nggak santai banget. pake acara marah2 lagi. malu.... abis itu leyeh2 sampe kelar natal dan tahun baru.

tapi apa inti dari semua yang udah dilewatin di 2011?
- gue harus terus belajar. untuk semua hal. mulai dari kerjaan, sampe emosional
- yang emosional itu yang paling penting untuk dikontrol
- gak bisa ngandalin kekuatan sendiri, bisa gila nanti
- sometimes, it's not you. it's him (hahahhahaa.... )
- but often, it's also me. don't be so quick in saying no
- seperti motto yang sering gue ucapkan dulu, dan ternyata gue lupain sendiri akhir-akhir ini: napas.... napasss...
- love and cherish your friends
- modal utama: lutut dan mulut untuk berdoa

dan apakah resolusi untuk 2012? kayaknya nggak perlu ya resolusi-resolusi-an. wish list aja:
- gue pengen nurunin berat badan. gue gampang cape dan gampang ngantuk.
- ngatur duit.... ya Tuhan, berikanlah uang untuk diatur (yess!)
- semoga, semoga, gue bisa jadi orang yang lebih sabar lahir bathin terutama kepada keluarga dan temen main sehari2

sekian.

foto tahun baru, 1 januari 2012 di sbux PIM. festive sekali ya kesannya? on the way ke rumah ade gue buat acara tahun baru keluarga, kita mampir dulu buat beli jajanan. mungkinkah 1 januari 2013 saya sedikit lebih langsing?

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this is how I welcome 2012. curling up on my bed with my laptop on and an engrossing book. the fireworks blazing outside, cellphones buzzing (I imagine with text messages saying happy new year), but I keep myself planted on the bed. by the time the clock changed to 00.00, I sat on my bed and said quite a long prayer.

welcome 2012! sure does hope the Mayans were wrong and I will welcome 2013 with a prayer, just like what I did at 00.01 AM this fine January 1st, 2012.

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jam 10 kurang terbangun, ngecek sms, dan ada 1 dari nan. tumben. biasanya kalo libur dia cuma sms kalo mau curcol. ternyata isinya berita duka.

salah satu temen di master program dulu meninggal dunia. rita, dulu sempat jadi room mate gue di manila selama 3 bulan. meninggalkan 6 anak di akhir tahun, karena penyebab yang kayaknya sepele: diare. rupanya diarenya parah sekali sampai dehidrasi.

aduh kelu banget pagi-pagi dengar berita seperti ini. memang gue bukan orang yang keep in touch dengan banyak orang dari masa lalu, tapi mereka tetap bagian dari hidup gue. sedih betul, apalagi mengingat anak2 yang ditinggalkan.

selamat jalan, rita. sampai ketemu lagi di surga nanti.

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so proud of my baby brother and my sister in law, the homeowners. today was their housewarming, I'm sure one of many, since this was strictly close family pray together then have dinner while sitting on floor mat. they don't have any furniture yet.

they've been so blessed. a really good deal just came out of nowhere, at the right time for them financially. wow!

*and a bit jealous, hahahahaha*

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Before the break, Pak Trimo sheepishly asked if I will hold an open house for Christmas. Being a non-committed person that I am, and again, I have to ask my aunt first, I didn't have the firm reply until late night of Dec. 24.

On Christmas day, I sent invites through Facebook to the regular hang out crowd. After much -oh why so last minute - sorry I have other engagement - let's see, finally we arrive at three groups: Beng and Suri, Nan and family, Pak Trim and family. More than enough to have fun, I think.

So after family lunch/early dinner at mom's, we proceed with the shopping at Hypermart and Giant. Knowing that my aunt usually go overboard with gathering like this, I have to bite my tongue many-many times from stopping her. Let.it.be. I want a gathering at home, I have to accept that it will be done in the manner usual at this household.

The result? More than enough food for all, even for doggie bags. Kids are happy watching TV and playing with non-breakable Christmas tree ornaments (seriously, they took the ones on the lower part and throw them up to the tree). I saw them doing that but I didn't say anything. It goes with the territory that if you invited kids, accidents may happen. No sweat. A little tears here and there when one slipped over while standing on the wing chair ledge, more because he's embarrassed than pain, spat over toys and sleepy crank. The only baby becomes the darling of everyone, because he's just that sweet. The adults? We eat, eat, laugh, drink, watch TV, chat and be merry.

This is the crowd I really don't mind spending my free time with. They've showered me with friendship during the year, and once a while, I want to show them that I appreciate them. There are others that I wish to be there too, too bad many are out of town or couldn't make it, otherwise it'll be merrier than this. Maybe next year

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Few days ago I just blew up when somebody talked endlessly about her pregnancy. I shouldn't. I really, really shouldn't. It was rude of me. But I just find her voice annoying while I was trying to relax before rushing off to another place while enjoying my dinner, and a (often heard) story about almost miscarried doesn't really fit with the mood. I wasn't really mad at her, but I admit I kinda take it on her. I'm just annoyed at people who doesn't have anything else to talk about except their kids. I really don't want to know what your kid had for breakfast.

Luckily, I know for sure that this person doesn't bear a grudge. She and I were talking normally again the next day, we even went to a karaoke farewell. However I come off as a kid-hating asshole in front of others. They said that they are looking forward at the time I fall in love, married then pregnant. They'll love to see me turned into one mushy mama I dislike so much at the moment.

I was fumed so my message doesn't come clear. I don't hate children. I like children, and even I'm not one to coo over cute babies, I'm capable to take care of them. I know how to handle babies, even newborn. Toddlers are taken to me. It's just my childish demeanor I think that attracts them to me. My point is, unless it's your close friends or family, please refrain from talking excessively or in details about your kids. Nobody wants to hear the poo accident, the crying game, or gory details about labor and pregnancy. That's not dinner table conversation. Keep it to your moms group.

I know people may think that I'm bitter because I'm single. I'm not. I have told another friend a truth not long time ago, that for now, I honestly am not bothered by the fact that I'm single; 35, no boyfriend, spinster in the making. I told her that maybe I will freak out later, maybe when I reached 40, but for now I'm perfectly content of being single. I just can't stand all the babies-pregnancy-labor-breastfeeding talk at inappropriate moments. Don't you have anything else to talk about except your kids?

Today I sent text message to friends to invite them to lunch at my place tomorrow. I said to one of those who witnessed my not so fine moment above: senior citizens and children are welcome. I don't hate children, I just can't stand parents who keep talking about their kids. And I don't hear back from her

Oh well.

On the other hand, I received some Christmas wish messages. One I'm laughing over was: Ren, selamat natal dan tahun baru. Semoga di tahun yang baru semakin sedikit keinginannya....

I think my wish of dinner free of gory conversations is considered too much for some people, hahahhahaa....

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