Ah Mei memang tidak biasa...

Beberapa minggu lalu, saya mencoba roti prata dari negara tetangga. Saya lupa nama menunya, yang jelas roti hampir setipis kertas ini sangat menarik perhatian saya. Karena saya baru saja makan malam di lantai 4, Puri Indah Mal, maka saya hanya memesan seporsi roti tipis ini dan segelas kopi cappuccino.

Bentuk rotinya unik, dilipat seperti segitiga, disajikan hangat dengan taburan gula pasir halus. Sayang sudah kami cuil-cuil, dan saya baru ingat untuk menfotonya. Rasanya enak, gurih, dan manis. Kopinya biasa saja dan saya tidak begitu cocok dengan rasanya.

Sambil mengobrol, kami menikmati roti ini dan memperhatikan orang lalu-lalang di sepanjang trotoar. Time flies begitu cepat... dan roti pun habis tidak bersisa, sementara kopinya saya take away.

Sekilas Info from Vietnam

Hi guys (Hendry and Andryani),
Miss you so much!!!
Sekilas info dr Vietnam. Ini foto2 yg gw captured dgn N95 gw yg canggih. Hahaha…
Enjoy… Itu dlm perjalanan ke Tuan Chao resort, wah supirnya ngebut. Serem bgt bo. 3.5 jam dr Hanoi ke Ha Long. Di Tengah jalan kita mo pipis di pom bensin, tp jurug banget. Untung orgnya baik, ksh pake wc stafnya yg lbh bersih. :)
Kita tiba di Ha Long jam 8pm. Cuappeee banget. Hotelnya ga ada lift, gw di lantai atas bareng big boss. Wah sedih banget gotong koper segede ini. Ga dibantuin pula. Huhu… ;(
Gw bangun pagi, hore!!! Jam 1am gw terbangun, tidur lagi. Jam 6am bangun. Kali ini bener2 bangun dan sempet liat jendela, ngeliat awan yg begitu cantik… huamm… ngantuk.
Bobo lagi. N95 gw bunyi jam 6am, snoozed ah. Bunyi lg at 06.05am, snoozed lagi. Bunyi terus, snoozed lagi. Gw baru bangun jam 6.45am. Sialan, ACnya mati lagi. Dipencet2 ga mo nyala. Mandi…
AC msh rusak. Sambil keringetan, gw dandan…
Buru2 jalan kaki ke rest. Wah kok sepi… jgn2 gw kesiangan nih. Eh ngeliat dealernya Sosin lg had breakfast with PICnya Sosin, gw approach mereka. Ngobs dan sarapan pagi bareng mrk.
Hmm… mesra sekali dealer ini dgn Sosin, ga kaya…. Hehe… nerusin ndiri ya.
Andry, kenyang dong ama kepiting. Haha… tp gw jd sedih nih, udah ngebayangin daging yg super manis dan tebal itu masuk ke perut gw, tnyata malah masuk ke perut lain. :P
Hendry, jgn lupa ya… lucky draw Thai projector promo. Gw lupa bawa colokan converter gigi 3, so blm tentu bisa cek email lagi. Klo ada apa2, call yah. *winkwink*

Ok, skr gw lg attended training di Tuan Chao Resort, Ha Long. Wah, org2 lg ngerubutin film station dan LMD yg dipajang di front floor. Jepret sana, jepret sini. Mayan deh... foto2 buat kenang2an dan story telling for ma grand children. Tua amaaatt ya gw.

Malamnya, kami had gala dinner with all dealers and some Sony Apac. Wow... mata gw tertumbuk pada benda yang tidak asing lagi: kepiting! Yaayyy! Akhirnya dpt kepiting juga gw. Hehe... walaupun kepiting naas ini berbadan kecil, gw cukup puas menyantap daging yang super imut ini. Hmm... manis sekali. Gw melirik piring di sebelah gw, walah... Philip sudah menyantap entah piring yang ke berapa. Tidak heran badannya begitu besar. Kekekkk...! Hope he's not reading this blog. :P

Setelah itu tiba di penghujung acara... penghargaan bagi delaer2 yang berprestasi. The first winner goes to... sapa lagi kalo bukan dealer-nya SoIndo. Satu per satu dealer diberikan plakat dan mereka boleh merogoh2 box yang berisi potongan kertas untuk mendapatkan hadiah consumer electronics. Acara selesai. Wah leganya...!
Eh tiba2 Big boss berdiri dan mulai berpidato. Hmm... mo ngapain siy dia? Eh tiba2 dia bilang, "mari kita memberikan penghargaan dan terima kasih kita dengan melemparkan Fujisaki ke kolam renang". Whaattt?
Byuuurrr...! Gw dan bbrp org lain turut mendukung acara itu. Baru gw mo balik ke meja gw, eh tiba-tiba ada yang sponsorin: "elny, elny...!"
Wah ini sih bener2 gila deh. Gw sama sekali ga ada persiapan karena rumors tadi siang di boat bahwa new comer akan diceburin ke kolam doesn't reflect Sony culture at all. Gw digiring or dipaksa tepatnya, ke pinggir kolam renang. Gw masih coba nego bahwa jam tangan gw masih nempel di tangan, kudu dicopot, etc. Aduh, gw udah ga ingat lagi siapa yang ceburin gw ke kolam. Kayanya ada 3 orang deh, salah satunya adalah Hadi.
Buset... pas cebur itu, air kolam masuk ke pipa celana gw, kaki gw jadi berat banget... ga bisa digerakkin. Oh no...! Kolam ini dalam sekali. Panik gw langsung refleks meraih benda yang terdekat... Untung ada Fujisaki. He saved my life. Brengsek deh. Udah cape2 dandan... basah semua deh. Luntur ga yah? Duh, gw malu banget diliatin begitu banyak orang. gim nih, baju gw nempel ketat. Keliatan montoknya dong. Huhu...
Fujisaki ama SoThai bantuin angkatin gw dari kolam renang. Sialan tu si Hadi. Mana dia? Ternyata dia lagi enak2 duduk di anak tangga. Gw tarik dia, mau gw dorong keras2 ke kolam renang. Belum sempat gw dorong dia, dia sudah lari dan loncat ke dalam kolam renang. Ya ellahhh...!
Akhirnya gw balik ke kamar, ganti baju. Waduh, gw ga bawa baju banyak. Terpaksa pake kaos yang dibagiin panitia, gatel dan bau pula karena belum dicuci. Kita ke disco di Ha Long. Hehe... asli itu org Vietnam aneh banget kalo joget. Gaya mereka seperti mau do martial arts, malah yang lebih cilaka, ada yang bergaya seperti mau sembahyang. Wakakkkakkk...! Asli lucu banget.
Semua pada bete. Gw melihat mata Jin Han sudah merah. Ini anak asli polos banget. Kata Herman, dia culun abesh. Hihi...
Setelah menghabiskan bir di gelas2 kecil itu, kita semua keluar dan foto2 di depan Club 18 ini dengan gaya dan yel-yel "welcome to Ha Long Baaaaayyyy...!"
Balik ke hotel, kita nongkrong dan ngobrol lagi di pinggir kolam renang. Seru deh. Ngobrol sampai jam 1.30am. Besoknya kita berangkat menuju Hanoi.

Hmm... ceritanya masih panjang gini ya. Cuapee deh ketiknya. Ntar ya, to be continued. Gw mo take a break dulu, guys. Catch up you later. Take care, all!

Shy Restaurant in Kemang

Memasuki gedung tingkat berkaca yang glamarous dan architectural merupakan pengalaman tersendiri bagi kami. Setiap anak tangga yang dihiasi lilin dengan gelas kaca yang cantik, menghantarkan rombongan kami tiba pada ruang makan dengan ambience yang chic dan elegan. Kami memutuskan untuk fine dine di Shy restaurant, sesudah selesai menyelenggarakan XD-Cam launching di salah satu cafe di bilangan Kemang yang sangat padat malam itu.

Menu set yang telah dipilih oleh Hendry, rekan kerja saya, satu per satu disajikan oleh para pelayan yang dengan sigap dan sopan melayani kami semua makan sampai selesai. Acara makan dimulai pada jam 7pm dan selesai pada jam 11:30pm.

Let's the story begin...

Sambil menunggu menu set dan minuman yang dipesan disiapkan, kami menikmati snacks berupa roti kering dengan beberapa bentuk yang dihidangkan dengan saus putih terdiri dari mayonaise yang dikocok bersama lime juice dan aneka rempah lainnya. Rasanya pas sekali di lidah dan menambah kenikmatan roti yang begitu crispy. Tidak lama kemudian, pelayan menyajikan hidangan 'ekstra' diluar menu set yaitu veal cheek yang dimasak ala rendang. Begitu digigit, terasa lembut sekali di lidah. Sausnya tidak melimpah, namun cukup memberikan rasa gurih untuk sepotong cheek. Sambil mengunyah, saya mencoba tidak memikirkan sosok binatang yang lucu ini.

Hidangan pertama dari menu set adalah terrine of foie gras de canard with jelly of sherry vinegar, caramelized macadamia nuts and apple foam. Hati angsa yang dimasak dengan sherry vinegar ini disiram dengan saus kacang macadamia berwarna cokelat lembut. Cara menyantapnya: celupkan irisan hati angsa ke dalam foam apel yang rasanya manis asam. Nikmat sekali...

Kami segera menyantap bisque de crevettes with prawn ravioli, braised leek and crispy prawn cracker, yaitu sepotong ravioli berisi udang cincang yang disiram saus bawang berwarna orange seperti kari, disajikan dengan keripik udang berbentuk segitiga yang sangat tipis dan renyah. Piring dengan bulatan cekung di tengahnya segera tandas sampai tetes terakhir.

Sea bass with breaded squid filled with oxtail, beurre blanc infused with lemon grass and mousseline of young carrots merupakan menu set ketiga yang tersaji ke meja kami. Sea bass adalah ikan yang hidup di pesisir Atlantik di Amerika Serikat. Daging ikan ini tanpa tulang, sehingga tidak merepotkan ketika disantap. Cuminya terasa kenyal dengan saus wortel yang manis. Secara penampilan, hidangan ini yang paling sensasional diantara lainnya.

Menu set keempat adalah ballotine of organic chicken with red port jus, morels, pommes dauphine with truffle and green pea puree. Daging ayam yang disajikan dengan saus red port dan puree kacang polong tidak terlalu istimewa menurut saya. Red port-nya tidak terlalu memberikan cita rasa pada daging ayamnya. Tetapi sentuhan keindahan yang terdapat pada sajian ini cukup menghibur, sehingga tidak ada yang terbuang percuma malam itu.

Are we done yet? Yes, we're almost finished, but wait a minute. Dessert yang berupa serutan es batu dan disiram dengan cairan yang mirip strawberry syrup tidak ada dalam menu set list kami. Wah, Shy sangat generous malam ini. Sekali lagi kami memperoleh sajian ekstra yang mengejutkan! Hopefully these extra menus won't be charged at all in our bills. Penasaran, saya segera menyuapkan sesendok cairan berwarna merah itu ke dalam mulut dan terasa karakteristik aperitif yang saya kenal menguak memori jaman dahulu di dunia gemerlap. Hehe... Ternyata serutan es batu itu adalah dry gin yang telah diesbatukan, diserut, dan disajikan dalam mangkuk. Surrein, salah satu kolega yang datang dari Australia berkomentar, "buat apa susah payah dibuat es serut kalau akhirnya meleleh juga?"

Akhirnya kami sampai pada menu terakhir yang bernama sable breton with raspberries, mascarpone creme and raspberry sorbet infused with verbena. Berbentuk bundar dengan krim mascarpone berwarna kuning pastel di tengahnya dan dikelilingi raspberries, kue ini tampak cantik dan manis. Dessert ini disajikan bersama sorbet raspberry berwarna orange kemerahan yang terasa sangat asam. Saya sudah tidak sanggup lagi menampung hidangan terakhir ini sehingga sable breton ini masih tersisa di piring. Sungguh mencengangkan, semua hidangan berukuran mini dan hanya beberapa suap saja sudah habis di mulut, ternyata mampu membuat perut kami kekenyangan. Entah kenyang karena terlalu banyak diisi oleh wine, ataukah memang benar-benar kenyang karena makanan berukuran mini ini.

Hampir tengah malam saat kami meninggalkan Shy yang duduk termangu di lantai empat. Gedung tinggi berkaca di segala sisinya itu hampir sunyi diterpa angin malam dan deru suara mobil semakin jarang terdengar. Jalanan sudah lengang saat satu per satu mobil rombongan kami meninggalkan tempat itu. Hmm... Shy... I wonder why the owner of this restaurant picks such a name of it?

Ps: Total kerusakan Rp 17 juta/22 orang (5 dishes set and 4 bottles of wine)

The Beautiful Angels

Ini Julia, umur 7.5 tahun saat ini. Julia sekolah di Trinity International, dekat sekali dengan rumah. Julia senang sekali menggambar dan berkhayal. Hampir setiap pulang sekolah, Jul tidak lupa menuangkan imaginasinya ke dalam gambar, tapi sayangnya gambar-gambar yang indah itu hampir tidak pernah diwarnai. Kenapa ya? Ayo, Julia... warnai gambarmu agar kelihatan cantik dan meriah!

Dan ini adalah Jessica. Umurnya 5 tahun saat ini. Jessica lebih suka menari dan menyanyi. Ohya, Jess juga suka sekali difoto. Binatang kesayangannya adalah kelinci. Jessica sekolah di IPEKA Greenville. Jess punya sahabat di sekolah, namanya Aurel. Setiap hari mereka main bersama.

Julia dan Jessica mempunyai imaginasi yang sama mengenai princess yang tinggal di dalam istana. Beberapa gaun putri dari bermacam karakter kartun menghiasi lemari pakaian mereka. Mau tahu seperti apa gaun-gaun yang dimiliki Julia dan Jessica? Lihat di bawah ini ya...

Julia senang sekali dengan kuda. Kami sedang pergi ke salah satu mal di kawasan Thamrin. Di sebuah toko, ada kuda-kudaan terbuat dari kayu dicat warna merah muda. Julia selalu keranjingan dengan segala warna pink. Mereka segera berebutan menaikinya. Kasihan Jessica, sampai menangis karena tidak kebagian. Ayo Julia, mengalah pada adikmu. Akhirnya Jessica mendapat gilirannya. Horeee!!!

Nah, setelah puas bermain, kita pulang ya. Besok Julia dan Jessica harus bangun pagi untuk pergi ke sekolah. Sekarang waktunya tidur... my lovely little angels. Besok main lagi ya. Jangan lupa sikat gigi sebelum tidur. Mommy loves you all very very much. Zzzz....

An Unforgettable Trip to Thailand

My trip to Thailand is on Dec 7 - Dec 13, 2006. I was damned tired coz I didn’t take a direct flight from Jakarta to Bangkok. The several flights and continuing by boat to across from Batam to Singapore give me a lot of troubles. The purpose to make the travel cost lower has turned the other way round. It gave me double cost, which I did regret it later on, since I lost my flight when arriving in Singapore. I have no idea that it will take around 45 minutes from Harbor Front to Changi by MRT.
The returned flight of Jakarta-Batam costs only USD 43.35. It's very cheap in the current season. Crossing from Batam to Singapore by boat called Penguin Fast Ferry is SGD 21 (the two-way ferry ticket). You can easily find its locket inside the harbor. As for the advance booking, you should call their office in Batam centre: (0778) 467 574, 460092-93. If you carry a lot of luggages, it's more convenient by letting them be in cargo. After we arrived in Harbor Front, we can claim our luggages. As far as I remember, there's no charge fee for it, but when I was back from Singapore to Jakarta, I had to pay IDR 5,000 per luggage (USD 0.54). Well, I'd better to pay the luggage charge than carrying it alone to the deck.

Harbor Front is very amazing. To me, its architectural landscape is as splendid as the ones in Orchard. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes where people can relax whilst sipping their hot coffees or tea with crunchy bread in comfortable couch. I always love to go abroad during Christmas because that's the only way I can feel the real and true Christmas. In many other countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, there are big, wonderful, and vivid Christmas celebrations. Sadly that I hardly find the same experience in my own country. Using my Sony camera, not intend to promote it though, I snapped a few pictures of giant Christmas tree in the main entrance of the mall. Its tree decorations mesmerized me. There were so many cute and adorable teddy bears on the giant Christmas tree. Mmh... I'm thinking to do the same decorations to mine.

I ended up my feet at Deli France. The food taste is quite good and similar to the ones in Indonesia. I enjoyed the meal so much until I forgot to catch up my flight. Hurrily, I ran to the nearest MRT gate, and never stop running along the way to reach the Air Asia office in Gate F. I was nearly out of breath when finally arrive in the office but it was closed. After spending much times in explaining the situation and the reasons why I was late, I realized there's no use to more convincing this guy. So I begged on him to let me be in the next flight. The first time he refused to help me out but later on, he agreed. And guess what? I had to pay SGD 244 for a single-trip ticket. What I could do was just accepting his offer and waited in the Changi airport for more hours. Tragically, I waited in Deli France cafe again, where I was too much enjoying my coffee until I lost my flight! Now you all can learn from my bad experience. If you go flying by Air Asia, be sure to arrive in the airport earlier couple of hours. There's no tolerance for any late and for any whatever reasons, you name it. :(

Finally, arriving in Bangkok
I arrived in Bangkok around 9 or 10pm. I went down by escalator to queue up the cab, which took me to the hotel. The cab costs around 300 Baht. The First Hotel is pretty lousy. The bad smells of the room made me hardly slept over even though my body felt melted from head to toes.

On the second day, I woke up and was very enthusiastic to explore one of the exotic cities in the world. Bangkok, I'm ready to go!
I was so excited to see Siam Paragon mal. You know all women type, quite addictive to malls and shopping. Well, I don't consider myself as a shopperaholic, but will be freak-out for sale and discount, too. Hehe...
Okay, let's continue my story. Going to Siam Paragon is quite easy. Just walk around 5 minutes to the nearest BTS station. There are several stops before the Siam station. Once I came out from BTS, I walked through the connect bridge to the mall. Wow... it's very very convenient. No need to be sweaty. The entrance is so spectacular with waterfalls and green plants on the glass walls. Strolling around the mal for hours is very fun, even though I haven't got anything home yet. It's too early to spend money in my first day. Besides, the best way to spend money is go shopping in flea market. I heard that Chatuchak is such a good place to cheaply buy some jeweleries, bags, clothes, and many things that women must like them.

I spent my evening time to watch a cultural show in Siam Paragon. It's free of charge. Sitting and enjoying ice cream at the Cream & Fudge Factory for a while before going to aqua-theme aquarium inside the mall. The ticket is relative expensive. It's around 450 baht. But it's worth it for such good experience. They put the fishes in refrigerator, microwave, and even in a car! What a brilliant idea. The next day, MBK (Mah Boon Krong) is my destination. I bought some nice flower-shaped lights and fragrances. The average price in MBK is a bit higher than the price in Suan Lum Night Bazaar. I took my lunch, Pad Thai, over there. This yummy fried kuetiauw costs me 35 Baht plus mineral water around 10 Baht.

Feeling refresh, I continued to go to the National Stadium station to go to Central Plaza. I stopped in the Chit Lom station. Spending more few hours there, before going to Suan Lum night bazaar by cab at 6pm. My ordinary dinner, pineapple and ham fried rice, was taken in an open-space area behind Suan Lum. While finishing my dinner, I was accompanied by a boring live-local band. The tables centered in front of the performance stage, surrounded by various local food stalls. All the foods contained pork. So if you're Moslem, better packed your meal in your bag when going to Suan Lum coz it's quite hard to find any free-pork meals.

How to go to Chatuchak?
From Ratchathewi station, stop in Mochit (1) station, then walk across the Chatuchak garden, you will find the Chatuchak market which is open only on Saturday.

Chao Phraya River Excursion
Every time you across the river, you must pay 3 Baht. And pay another 3 Baht to across back from your origin point.
I bought a one-day boat ticket for 100 Baht. The last boat is at 4:30pm. But don't waste your money for a 100-baht boat ticket, coz you won’t be able to make it. I was left behind because there are so many interest places I visited. You’d better buy a single-trip boat ticket (18 Baht) which you can save your money for entering the temples.

These following places that I went:
• Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha)
• Wat Arun
• Grand Palace (I went to Grand Palace twice. The first time I went there, the officer didn’t let me in due to the ceremony held inside. It was on Sunday. So I went back on two days after tomorrow. It happened again. Another officer held me to go inside. I ignored him; instead I left him and walked away to find another gate, and finally I found it. The building is so huge, so you must bear to walk for miles. It’s tiring due to the day light and the temperature is so hot. And it’s true; they held the Buddha religion ceremony. The crowd fell over the space within the building. Inside the Grand Palace, stand some buildings which are museum, cafeteria, the king palace, library, etc. Don’t miss them.)
• Happy Buddha (it is a lousy temple. I was told by the officer who didn't allow me to enter the Grand Palace in the 1st day).
• Marble Temple
• White Buddha (Marble Temple and White Buddha are in the same location, but it’s so far away from the last port. That’s why I missed my last boat).
On the way return to Indonesia, I took a cab from my hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Prepare the cash of 500 Baht each person for airport tax. The flight took me to Changi airport, terminal 1. Note: Air Asia flight is flying only in terminal 1. I went to terminal 2 by skytrain in order to take MRT to go to the Harbor Front. Take the lift to downstair, you will arrive in MRT terminal. I bought the MRT ticket for about SGD3.

The MRT route from Changi Airport to Harbor Front (there's an interchange):
1. Tanah Merah (just cross to the left side of the train: PLATFORM B)
2. Stop in Outram Park station then go down by elevator. A little bit walk for couple of mins, and go straight to Gate 6. You will arrive in Harbor Front.

In Harbor Front, I took my lunch at Noodle Hut. Well, the food is very strange and awful. Too Singaporean, I must say. Even though I don’t appraise Asian food much, but this is the worst dish I've ever had. After finishing my last spoon of noodle soup, I continue going home to Jakarta through the same way as I came to Thailand. Will write some more for my next trip. More photos are upcoming. Please bear with me.