Draco's first birthday

Draco's having his first bday this week. He grew up so fast, from puppy to crazy big dog!
See the full video of him eating the "cake" here...

About The Dog

Let me tell you about a story of a soft toy. His name is The Dog.

One night in mid year of 2000 2001, a boy called a girl said he wanted to meet her after lunch break at their uni tomorrow, he wanted to give her something. She reluctantly said yes, because before that day that boy somewhat couldn't be reached for a week and she thought he was just a lame playboy. A day after that she called him said she was waiting for him somewhere behind the uni next to the carpark. She could see his figure coming stepping up and passing the rear gate of the uni. He had a paper bag on his hand. After a big smile that made his eyes almost gone, he handed the bag to her and said, "Here some gifts for you. I've been to Japan with my dad for a business trip. Hope you like it." She got thousand butterfly in her stomach that very instant. Than that boy gone, just like that.

At home she opened the bag and found some souvenirs from Japan and a soft toy. She could smell his perfume on it's head. She loved it and named that toy The Dog. His head as big as his body that's why he couldn't sit properly, his butt will automatically pointing up as his snout fall downward. She always keep him close to her, even when there were some (immediate) years when both the girl and the boy had to lived in different country and lived their life separately, she still keep The Dog with her everywhere, still hoping one day she could see him again just coincidentally every time she visited her hometown.

The year was 2007 in December, the boy and the girl met again and after spent almost 2 weeks together, a day after New Year Eve 2008, he finally said the 3 words in his car before she stepped down to get home.

After that, they still have to life separately for three years, but still she keep The Dog close with her.  And now, three of them and another real dog, live happily ever after..

*she hasn't washed The Dog ever, afraid that she'd lost the perfume smell and detergent would ruin his faux-fur. It shouldn't be any problem now, I think, since they live together, she could spray his perfume on it anytime.

33B33/1 -Getting married

Pssssttt have I told you that I've been married? After knowing Mr Chai for more than 10 years finally we tied the knot.

Engaged

I'm officially engaged today!!

Although we've been arranging the wedding since a year ago but finally I'm engaged for real with Mr Chai, in Chinese custom. Lots of red today, Mr Chai's Family came to my house this morning to hand out the betrothal gifts and the dowry. I will probably explained about the custom - that I know from my experience after preparing this betrothal day- in separate post.
For now, here are some photos from today.  *note my mom's happy face.... 

33B33/6 - do family portrait with mr.chai and draco

This is actually our first picture together. Not actually a 'proper' family pictures, but it'll do for now. I'll try to get a good one once I moving in to Draco's. 

Ceng Beng Festival

End of March until early April in every year Chinese people usually celebrate Ceng Beng Festival. This is the time when Chinese people pay respect to their ancestors by remembering them, cleaning their grave or tomb and burning hell money or other "luxurious" stuff.   This is also the time when everyone come to their parent's home and do family gathering.

Eventho my family is from Chinese line but we - the last 2 generations - didn't actually celebrate Ceng Beng that much.  We do still visit our grandparent's grave in Bogor and usually end up having lunch in one of my aunt's. The last proper Ceng Beng celebration I see was when I was around 10YO. My uncle's wife had lots of colorful food on the table with red candles and lots of burning incense. I waived three incenses each to every single photos on the table, and would patiently waiting there until she said I could eat the food! I didn't like burning the "money" because the smokes hurt my eyes.
However since she joined a certain religion I started to miss those steam chicken, roasted pork, eggs, various chinese cakes, basically the whole food; because she didn't do those ritual anymore.

Last week I had a chance to join Mr Chai's family to celebrate this festival. We woke up early in the morning and went to the Chinese Cemetery at the bottom of Bukit Sulap. Suddenly the memory stikes back.. minus the steam chicken and roast pork (they all vegetarian food) but MORE money! I've never seen so much money like that before. There were some gold plates, dollar from hell bank, suites and dresses with watch and mobile phone and shoes.  After the family gave the respects, all those stuff were burn. The heat was so hot - I had red face after that.

It's great knowing back the culture.. :)  

Random Photos of MrChai

IVU Congress

Mr Chai came to Jakarta!  Mainly was for participating in the 39th IVU World Vegetarian Congress 2010, but he still have time going around Jakarta with me during the weekend.

Ok, now you probably amaze how on earth that our beloved city could host this World class type of congress?? Apparently she could! Thanks to the Vegan Society of Indonesia and specially the lovely and charming Drs.Susianto,MKM; the head of VSI. I don't know him in person but I saw his friendly face a lot during the congress.

Here are some photos taken this morning, photos from one of the symposium, some food stall and from the talk show - broadcasted live in MetroTV from the lounge.

Above you can see the three important persons in this event John Davis, George Jacob and the charming Susianto during the talkshow.

A lot of Veg restaurants, veg food and environmental friendly products were introduced in this event. My favorite was the Indonesian owned Chocolate product named Monggo Chocolate. Produced by Jogjakartan company using our famous Indonesian cocoa. They sold dark chocolate range in this event because vegan are not supposed to consume milk and they use 100% cocoa butter not gluten, But I still think their 58% dark chocolate are still too sweet.  Anyway, I'm still proud to know that we have this chocolate tho mainly it is because of their nice packaging.  I'm so absurd! but who cares... :) 

Oh and I am now officially a member of IVS.  I'm proudly a vegsible - flexible vegetarian LOL  

LLG second visit - The boy and a dobbie

Another visit to LLG.. but this time I had friend to come with. Draco, our 'tall' dobbie puppy flew with me from Jakarta to Bengkulu, He will live in LLG with Mr Chai now.

The trip was quite tiring because we have to make a couple of stop for Draco to stretch his legs and paws.  Mr Chai strict order was not to give him any food, except some biscuits and lots of water, during the trip to avoid any nausea or vomiting. 

After a lot of pee and poo, he was running around his new house and had a nice sleep finally. I cant imagine how he could ever survive the first trip from his hometown, transit and a week in lousy quarantine before. 

Above are pictures taken where we had a stop at the local restaurant, and the water lilies was taken at the Lake Dendam Tak Sudah - the translation probably will come out quite funny: The Unsettled Revenge Lake...  LOL, post a better translation please... 

I asked about the story of the lake to our driver, Sri. He began the story saying "It's all about a boy". He fell in love with the local Princess and get rejected because she already had her heart set on a Prince. The lake was where all this love triangle happened.  But on how the Lake ever appear, Sri couldn't tell me anything about it.  


It's all about a boy.... I like how the story started. Not often I heard something like this, usually all the stories I heard were always about a girl...LOL  

Mr Chai in my bedroom

 
The famous Mr Chai, testing the new stair...

LLG - first visit

This would be my 4th day in LL and so far all these 10years-backwards villages have been entertained me. What can I say, there is no traffic-only crazy drivers on their expensive rides, no pollution (yet), 20 minutes to rice fields, rivers, people still taking bath in the sewer!, chickens and goats on the road. It just simply looks like my home town before I was 12!
I wish I could have one small house with tiny rice field, vegie patch, flower farm and a chicken coop (of course with all the assistants I need!)

Nearly There....

I left Adelaide on the 20th Feb and was in Singapore for 5 days, mainly just walking around the city – can I say Orchard road as a city?
So glad I saw Mr Chai waiting for me at the Airport gate with his new hair cut. A little bit like highschool-style I may say. Oh, and I've got a special request not to post any of his picture in this blog.
The second day we met friends from uni, the famous PawPaw and the lovely Meryani – 7 years seems just like yesterday. She hasn’t changed much, but absolutely look pretty with her makeup and cute voice. It’s too cute – I couldn’t take my eyes off of her when she speaks.

Pawpaw walked us around from Ion Orchard and walked to Chijmes. It was like a walk-marathon – Shopping walk, China town walk and A little bit of Colonial District Walk.


I love love love the Chijmes area and The Raffles. sorry I'm not a big fan of shopping in Singapore. The courtyard with small fountain in centre and all the old details, it was so perfect IF the weather is a bit cooler – say uhmmm 26-28° Mediterranean weather!
Here is photo of my feet after 3 days walking nonstop. Notice all the inflated fingers! Never in years I have this kind of feet. They look like bear-foot.

I miss Adelaide already...

korea korea korea

Annyong haseyo!!
The (only) other words that I can remember beside ermayeyo and gamsa hamnida. Although the tour was in Mandarin I surely enjoyed the trip to Korea last month.
Interesting bunch of people: Mr. Wang whom I keep trying to make conversation with in English but always fail at second lines, sexy gurl AKA panda eyes and mickey mouse tshirt boy, 18 years old photog and his parents, excited happy face couple from Singapore, lovely Oba-chan with her daughter (nice aunty), and of course the lovely Mr. Chai and his big family.

My big impression of this South Korea tour would be:
- all beautiful flight attendances – I repeat beautiful, I don’t care if those are plastic surgery, botox or BB cream.
- Kimchi – never absent at any meal time
- Roller coaster in Everland – I’ve seen worst but still… it made my knee weak
- Sotong – just because Mr Wang keep repeating that word in the bus
- Toilet breaks – in every stop
- Stainless steel chopstick and bowl
- beautiful flight attendances
- “Made in Japan, no discount”
- not vegetarian friendly
- beautiful flight attendances -- have I said that?