I heart sandwich

If you happen to own many cookie cutter,you could use it as sandwich cutter as well,creating mini shaped sandwich for your little one.

Playdoh cutter will do too.

Happy cutting!

Day Tripper: Ragunan Zoo

As much as I want to call this our Day Trip, out visit to Ragunan Zoo this weekend is more like to support our son school's event, a Walkathon event aimed to raise money for couples of Yayasan Social  or organization in needs.

And –bugger- we kind of ambitious when we set our goal to get there on 6.30 the latest –as last year we did make it 6.30; and more incentive were given to student who come early-; but this year, it was 7.03 when we parked on Zoo's parking lot, and it's quite full already.

Once my son registered for walk, we –I & my daughter; my son & my husband- walked in different direction. We all have our own agenda apparently. My son with his ultimate goal to walk at least 20 laps –about 10km- and my daughter dying to see the elephants. So in a minutes, a lost sight of my son and my husband, kept walking slowly with my daughter, and we had a chat about everything. It was great morning after an early shower, so 8 am still feels quite cold. My daughter wanted to take some photos, I reluctantly handed my pocket Leica, it turned out she had steady hand, a lot better than her brother!

6 laps later, my daughter asked for the elephants, so we made a detour from designated lap to see the elephants -3 of those, surprisingly in better state than when we came in before. They looked healthy, the way they moved wasn't in a slow painful way, and one of them hooked my daughter attention when he (he? Not sure though) crushed one big coconut and ate it –my daughter mentioned that this very elephant likes coconut as mommy loves to drink and eat young coconut; so I just about at par with an elephant J

There were Zebras and Giraffe too that draw my daughter attention; they lived on one big area with 3 mini guard-like-houses –or cage? - for the elephants, which only one occupied. We sat on a steel bench right in front of this giraffe and zebras place, my daughter had some conversation with them as they are her best friend from Madagascar; named everyone of them; and laughing hysterically when the Giraffe walked toward to us and nod to her –she said her mouse-ears headband must've made the giraffe think that she is his friend. Who knows what giraffe thinking anyway?

Around 9.30am, crowd started to coming and we felt like we have to go –a bit of drama to get my daughter off from her prime seat- but we had to meet our other half, my son and my husband. We walked 1 lap and met them, walked another lap to completed our day before handed my son walking card to his teacher, and off we went.

My son did 24 laps at the end. 12km wasn't so bad for 7 years old; my daughter did 8 laps -4 km full of joy. As for my husband and I, we never exercise in the last 6months. Now that we headed home, me and my husband just waited and see if our leg will play up tomorrow. Poor us.

Rama & Rama

It may sound strange for children of his generation, yet it's true that my son loves traditional puppet more than Star Wars or Ben 10.

Last project, he made this Wayang all by himself, drawing from scratch -he never interested in short cut which could come easily tracing the original wooden puppet onto paper- ;putting all dots and details, pretty good -or can I say great?- for 7 years old.




(Rama & Rama; from Ramayana story)


May I say that I'm so proud of him?

Day Tripper : Museum Nasional

Now that we knew most museums in Jakarta closed for public on Monday, we felt on the right track when we came to Museum Nasional on last Tuesday –last day of my children school holiday-. Located on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat in downtown Jakarta proved its easy access for visitor.

Some people called it 'Museum Gajah' or Elephant Museum as it had an Elephant Statue on its front yard, gift from King of Thailand when he paid a visit to the Museum dated back on 1871.

It was quite early when we arrived, we saw about 10 westerner-tourists waiting for the tour guide. After couple of minutes of usual travel ritual: photo shoot –perfect time, perfect weather, perfect lighting- we bought entry tickets which surprisingly cheap – Rp.14.000 for 2 adults and 2 children- and walked in to 1^st area which Ethnography area. It's a big room with Indonesia map on the wall showing roots of Indonesian ethnic group, completed with sketch of Indonesian ethnics on their traditional costumes.  It's a jaw dropping map, seeing so many ethnics in Indonesia and I ashamed to tell you that I haven't seen some of them in  their traditional costume before –mind you, I grown up here, in Indonesia, shame on me-

Walked along, there were more and more collections of items displayed behind glass panels, from all around the place in Indonesia. They were grouping based not only of their ethnic groups or location where it was found, also based on the functionality of those items.

Of course everyone have their favorite piece.



(Batik stamp;
I wonder if I could make a ring with this pattern)

Pineapples anyone?

What about this so stylish baby-carrier? Long before Baby Bjorn carrier made its famous way.

What amazed me are all those pieces handcrafted meticulously. Every detail was shown how their way of life presented on their culture, and their culture presented on their arts.



(Rama & Rama)





My son –Big R- really into Wayang at the moment –thanks to his school program this term, he loves Wayang more than Star Wars- so he stop on every Wayang's display. He even able to explained to one of the fellow tourist from Germany about Gunungan or Tree of Life-you may call it-; information that my brain never had interest to suck in; or he understood why Topeng or Mask had different colors means different character –good, half good half  bad, or simply evil.




While her brother busy with his Wayang-mind, my daughter –Little Miss R- stumble upon displays of traditional transportation mode. She jumped for joy when she saw miniature of Andong, Dokar and other traditional carts –again, credit goes to her school, which introduces her about all those traditional transportation this term-.

 

Just about on the centre inside the museum –I guess it's a foyer between A and B building –no map were given when we enter this museum, so we have to take clue from display information- it's a mini stage of Wayang Kulit that spread those puppets beautifully as if ready to perform. Brought back my memory when I was about 8 years old and my dad took me to Wayang Kulit show on my neighborhood  on one evening , I was so sleepy and winging, I couldn't see the beauty of it.

Many more items are displayed, the more we looked at those items, and the more we felt we know nothing about our Indonesia's culture.  We fall in love again with our Indonesia.

(Take a break)

Once we finish walked inside this ethnography section, we proceed to the next big hall and greeted with miniatures of traditional building and houses from around Indonesia. My daughter started to feel tired, made me keep walking without having a chance to look at every display. Following room was room full of ceramics collection, from ancient Indonesia kingdom to colonial period. Such a pretty collection with most items is in white and blue.

Out from ceramics room, we came to a big backyard with Archaeological collection, stoney-thing from Hindu & Buddha period, and scatter over this backyard, and there was a water buffalo –I guess???- As a centerpiece on this yard.  Sun was quite harsh, we couldn't stay long there so we took some photos –my son pointed at Buddha-head statue and made a very straight statement: mum, no wonder Buddha statue in Borobudur had no head. His head is here…"

About 2.5 hours since we enter this museum, we went out with different feeling. Not only me& my husband mission was successful –made our children know Indonesia history better; even this might only a tiny part of the process to get to know their country;  we also agreed this was our best Day Tripper so far.


PS:
We took about 400 shoots on that day. Some are blurred, some are amazing snapshots. I promise you to bring those photos to live, sometime next week.
Keep checking....

Empty jars + scrap fabrics = beautiful

I was cleaning up my pantry when I found stack of empty jars. Giving them a bit of facelift will extend their life-cycle and make them noticeable. Teamed with scrap fabrics I had for so long -yes, its coincidence that I had both items and they were perfect match-; simple cutting & gluing transformed these old jars into something pretty.

Even better when filled up with cookies :)

Day Tripper: Between bikes and Old City Hall @ Fatahillah Square

Everyone seems made their way to once a year Eid pilgrimage, left Jakarta half empty, and we don't feel like wasting the opportunity to enjoy every corner of Jakarta. Best traffic ever -85km/h on Jalan Sudirman, anyone? -  ; and we decided it's time to visit Museum in Jakarta, stay away from usual tourism crowd on recreation parks surrounding Jakarta.

Only took us 15 minutes from our place in South Jakarta to get to Fatahillah Square,  the old city of Jakarta, located in West Jakarta. Tempted with my son intriguing stories about its beauty and great displays of Museums surrounding it –yes, my son visited this place before us, on his school excursion, and come back with a very long uninterrupted story- we greeted with very impressive view.

The Old City Hall radiance its glory, it built by Dutch Colonial Government around 1707. Apart from water fountain located right on its front yard, there was a Portuguese cannon well known as Meriam Si Jagur. The ambience was rather busy though, many local tourist –just like us- biking around on its front yard. Apparently the old-style bikes are one of major attraction, completed with Dutch-style woman hat attached; it is not something to be missed.

It's a shame that we come to visit in the wrong day, all three Museums –Puppet museum, Art Museum & Jakarta history museum- they all closed on Monday.

(I wonder why I didn't do any research before coming, something I never done before when it come to museum visit, and somehow I remember my husband said he could not find any information about it on the net. Strange. I do have Museums Guide Book though, published by Indonesian Heritage Society, and I misplaced it. Perfect, huh?)

10 minutes and Rp.40.000, - later; we up to pedaling two bikes, biking around the square like others. It was fun, my daughter complained a lot every time I want to take a mini break, and she enjoyed this fun game a lot. On one of the square corner we could see a view of Stasiun Jakarta Kota – Old Train Station- without any building blocked this view. The only downside is this corner occupied with many street vendors –as we could see on every single corners here-. The sun was quite hot; we started to get sunburn when we decided to stop.

Oh, did I ever  telling you that I love Post Office?

Weird, I know, but I have my own history with this particular office, anywhere in the world. First place I always look into on my travel was always Post Office or Street Post Boxes. Don't ask me why, but I more like a kid than my kids when  I saw a sturdy –ok, look bit rusty but I know it's quite sturdy- Street Post Box in front of –even better!-  Fatahillah Square Post Office. I managed to drag my husband and my kids into it, thought the view hampered inside this Post Office was rather disappointing –it's dark, smell and dirty- and get my kids to bought some stamps just to gave them the experience. Doesn't really worked, my daughter wanted to run out of this place, left me no choice but follow her.

Almost midday when we decided to stop and have a nibble on Batavia Café, a café situated next to Post Office, on an old two storey building. My daughter bit unease, she so cranky –I guess the ambience just doesn't fit children- and we opt only for drink as we found this Café have no separate area for smokers. Oh, and no kids menu but great choice of wines.

We left Fatahillah Square to get our lunch on other place, promise ourselves to come back next time with better plan. And our own lunch and picnic mats. Sounds good.

DOILIES Envelope

The very first edition of Martha Stewart Living Magazine –it’s Indonesian version, if you might wondering- was like a Godsend for something I really want to create for so long: an envelope that different from usual envelope you will find at the marketplace.

Inspired by this magazine, and adding an extra factor that we will need this envelope for pocket-money give-out on Eid ur Fitr, I created some with extra flavor. Ribbon or sticker –or any other embellishment-; it’s all your call.

Very easy steps, your creativity is the only factor you need to add-on.

Happy trying!



Greeting Cards, Conversation at the Post Office and Eid Al Fitr

I asked my friends through Facebook the other day:

"When was the last time you send greeting cards to family/friends? I mean, the real greeting cards; not e-cards or text message or email with gigantic picture..."

As I expected, many said it was like five years ago, or even more. Some were saying they still kept cards I sent them through the years -thanks friends,I really appreciate it-; some said they expect me to send real card to them this year. Not an e-card; or text message.

The World has change. People change. Internet change the way we communicating. Why bother buying some cards and get it post when you could send free e-card, cheap text message, and furthermore, tagging every friends on Facebook.

And I'm one of these people who send text message to the world for this Eid. And tagging friends on Facebook for the sake of practicality.

I tried to retain one -yes, only one, I suppose- good habit, sending Eid Cards to my parents, grandma and all in laws, made myself busy with my last minute handmade cards and walked them to nearest post office to get them posted.

Very interesting conversation happened though, during my drop off time to my local Post Office. Where the gentleman behind the desk sadly saying they haven't got many cards as before, numbers are declining, and he admitted himself preferred texting than sending a card. Cost ten-times -or more- to buy a stamp than sending a text message. Long gone those glorious days when people queing on Post Office counter with stacks of cards and busy staffs helped with 'Telegram Indah'.

Ooh.. I missed those moments too....

I made myself promise to pay a visit next year -next Ramadhan if possible- to GPO in Pasar Baru Jakarta to experience the same feeling like I used to feel 15 years ago.

Happy Eid Mubarak...

May Allah Bless You....

Very skinny fries

Ever wonder why it called 'french fries' ? As long as I see here,French are not skinny anymore.Sorry if I sound offensive,I never meant to, just a curiosity spark inside my mind while watching my daughter eating it for lunch.

Enlight me please...

Borrow a bag...and please return it!

I have nothing to do -not nothing-nothing, it's more like a leisure 30minutes off- so I flicked on my TV remote and landed on Martha Stewarts show -that I believed date back sometime in 2007-. Anyway, it was interesting because it talked about women and handbag. Martha Stewart itself carried her 17 years old -yes, 17- Birkin Bag from Hermes that I could see still in perfect condition. She mentioned about how a good bag could be an investment -which I bit disagree, of course, noting that I'm not in the position to splurge so much money on one handbag- and how women these days dying to get desainer handbag.

So, this is the good part: If you can't afford to buy it, just borrow -or rent- it and carry around like you own it. I heard about it before in Indonesia, from one of leading Magazine here; but this website is unbelieveable!  They have like thousand different items -designer items- ready and I guess it'll be hard to choose which item you would like to borrow!

I guess many people tempted not to returned it, so that's why the named their website: Bag Borrow or Steal; borrow it, not steal it.

It's a shame they in US.

I started to think to borrow one of the bag featured in Sex and The City.Only happen in my dream :(

(D&G paperdolls Tote; photo courtesy of bagborroworsteal.com)

Peanut Butter Cookies

Many people talk about this particular cookie on one of mailing list I joined. So I tried my own version of it.
Very easy to make, you need no electric beater/mixer.

What you need:
250g flour
100g castor sugar
125g peanut butter (I use smooth version, crunchy version will give extra texture, I guess)
100ml canola oil
1 tablespoon butter (not margarine)

How to:
* Preheat your oven to 180C
* Mix castor sugar, peanut butter, canola oil and butter altogether.
* Add flour, mixed well
* Form into shaped. I made 8g mini ball and flattened using fork
* Bake for 15-20minutes

If you like to have your cookies shine and golden brown, coated with egg yolk before you bake.

Enjoy

Plain lazy...or simply ignorant?

Short Order: Coconut Macaroons

Arrived at last

Been looking for weeks, I got it at the end. Not only one magazine my friend Vivi care to bought me one from her last trip to Australia; but two. The second arrived last week, from my friend Maria in Sydney.

Thanks sooo much girls, I'm over the moon now :)

Jack dan pohon kacang

This week is  Book Week at Big R school. They invited me to read a book for his class mate. I choose this book, Jack and the Beanstalk -not for no reason, this is the only book I have on mind when they request a story  children quite familiar with-.

Trust me, it's not easy at all to read a book printed in English while you have to tell the story in Bahasa Indonesia. I should known this.10 minutes skipped reading inside my car while on the way to Big R school resulted in rather shaky story at the very beginning. I moved on, finished well though, dozen question fly into me, and went home happy. I know Big R was really proud of me -I can see on his face-.

A great event to starting  my day.

photo courtesy of Amazon.com