Me, Jasmine, and Our Journeys

Thamrin City

2011-08-09T13:52:00.002+07:00

Seems almost all people know this shopping center so well ! except me! poor me... (or lucky me?) Last friday, my fren asked me to accompany her. So, that 's the first time I visited there!

First, I told my self: all goods sale here surely be expensive! But, surprised... when we bought hijab and mukena, the price is right! hihi...So, over there I bought something not urgent and really..really suck, coz' out of my plans, just because I loved that price. What's the hell? My fren said "don't be greedy, Sis! tommorow still coming, you don't have to buy everything today!"

Thamrin City is used to be named JaCC (Jakarta Community Center). This place is not far from Tanah Abang. What I like from here? I can find out quite cheap Muslim clothes !! During the holy month, there are some various Muslim clothes. Want to have clothes like Ida Royani? you'll get it! or maybe like Syahrani? wohoho..of course not like in her video clip with Anang....

Thinking that I should buy something for my servants, I told my fren: 'before Idul Fitri- we must come here again! I have to buy hijab and mukena for my servant and my mother in law..." Enough for today! Thanks God, I didn't move my banks onto my wallet!

Ramadhan is different..

2011-08-01T12:47:00.001+07:00

First of all, I can't stop keep saying "thanks God..thanks God, finally I meet again this holy month after almost 1 year waiting!" . Yeah..I 've been waiting this moment. When the end of last Ramadhan Year 2010, I told my self: will I meet Ramadhan again? I don't know how long I will alive ? If God bless me, and permit me finding next holy month, I promise my self doing fasting much better and improving any kind of worship . And now, no wonder if I say I am so......happy welcoming this holy month! I don't know if there's some people saying that Ramadhan is too hard since we forbidden eating, drinking and doing any pleasure activity.

I think this is time for us introspection what we've done, what we've said. Does it make someone hurt and crying? if yeah,..please forgive. That's why before Ramadhan we're suggested to apologize to other. To me, it's a hard part! imagine? you should apologize to someone who you don't like or maybe they hurt you firstly. I mean, it's not your fault but their fault! Do you wanna ask apologizing for something that 's not your wrong?

Ramdhan is different, eventhough it always comes every year..but not of us will find it. Thanks God for this Ramadhan!

Rumah Air

2011-07-26T14:32:00.001+07:00

Hufft,,...almost 1 month I have passed time posting here! what a busy day..so I couldn't write anything or posting something. I guess everybody who has visited here (hehe..I know I'm not a famous blogger., I just imagine if there are many visitors came here hihi) and they got nothing new and special post here, so that made this blog is soo...boring! Ok..forgive me, I promise I will update as soon as I can.

Now, I wanna talk about Rumah Air. This place is near the Jungle Bogor. Hei..you know the Jungle? of course the Jungle is not a forest! the Jungle is only a name for water park in Bogor. Almost 2 years..(or more?) the Jungle is favorite water park. But now, I don't wanna talk about the Jungle! I wanna talk about Rumah Air as I said before. Rumah Air is a resto having playground, fishing pool, and outbound for children. Foods are quite delicious. Main course has Fish in various taste: grill, fried or steam. Complete! It's a kind of sundanese resto. that's why i like it! Lalap plus sambal ...and spicy mix vegetables, hm..yummy.

Beside foods, kids like this place since they could play ATV, fishing, and riding mini pedicab. How about prices? hm...for a place with many amenities, it seems reasonably if the price is rather expensive, right? moreover, I had lunch not everyday, just 1 day in 1 year..haha..

Chicken Noddles, I like it!

2011-07-12T15:59:00.001+07:00

Do you like chicken noodles and meat ball ?? I like it so much. My friend know me so well, she recommended one place having delicious noodles and good price! That place is quite small and I think it not comfort for those who likes having a long time for lunch. To me, I don’t care about place. As long as foods are delicious and price is right (read: Cheap!! xixixi..) sure I ‘ll hunt eventhough in the depth of sea.

Actually, in the beginning me and my friends wanted had lunch in 7Eleven. But since there is not food I like, I gave my friends good (or bad?) idea: “Let’s go out, I see noodles right beside! What do you think?” My friends said : “Yeah, why not? Besides I feel ashame having lunch here! (he said that just because people around looks teenager!)

We just paid IDR12.000 for a bowl of chicken noodles, plus 3 pieces of meat ball, mushroom and fried dumpling. Hm…yummy! Upss..almost forgot, the place is in front of Alfa Midi Jalan Salemba Raya. Try it out!

Bali and Galungan

2011-07-08T16:20:00.020+07:00

I am actually little bit hesitant talking about Bali here. Because almost all people know about this island so well. But, who cares? who know there's a reader here ever been yet come there?

A year a go I went to Bali with Jasmine. We stayed at Hotel Sanur Paradise. This hotel is close to Sanur Beach. From the hotel you only walk about 500 yard to Sanur Beach. The hotel is so exciting. They have swimming pool with a typical Balinese architecture.

We just spent 3 days in Bali. When I was there, Balinese people was celebrating Galungan. I have a little silly story about that day: when I arrived and along the road I saw a lot of Penjor (Java culture we call "Janur Kuning". Usually it is used for a marriage sign. Put in front of a house). Suddenly I shout: "wow..so many people is marrying today, isn't it?", then the driver (he is from Bali) laughed and said: "No, mam.. there is not a marriage. Today is Galungan, you know?"

Exciting looked at people with traditional gown to Pura. Women brought bouquet, while men wore white clothes plus sarong and a headband.

When I was in Bali, we only went to Kuta Beach, Khrisna, and Sanur Beach. Actually a couple years ago me and family had been to Bali, but Jasmine was not born yet. We took a package tour. They arranged our programms like this: First day to Bedugul, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu temple, Second day to Garuda Wisnu Kencana and Tanjung Benoa, etc. We never thought about where we had to having lunch or dinner. Everything arranged by Tour guide. So, I think better using Tour guide with a package tour in Bali, right?

Jasmine and her babysitter in back yard hotel

our sillhouete in Kuta beach

in Kuta beach

Jakarta, my second home!

2011-07-06T12:07:00.005+07:00

How could? because almost all my life is spent here. Everyday I going work at 06.00 and back home at 17.00. So..12 hours per day I spend in Jakarta! I can feel every changes of this city more than Bogor (my first home). Sometimes I feel shame if someone ask me where is the good places for shopping in Bogor? or where the good places for food maniac? I just say "ehm..ehm...I don't know!" .

But if you ask me where the place for cheap and tasty food in Jakarta ? I can shout: Jalan Sabang! You can find there so many choice places. From Arabian, Chinese, Western till Indonesian /regional Cuisine, very complete! and the price is right , I mean cheap enough!

Usually I have lunch with my friends at Ikan Bakar Manado! this place is across Wisata Kuliner Sabang. But if you don't like Manado cuisine, you can choose another foods around it. I bet you 'll not regret!

Then, talking about hotel, where is the good hotel in Jakarta? To me, I like Hotel Borobudur! why? because this hotel has many facilities and has an extensive rear garden. Fitness center, swimming pool, kids club and jogging track with an exciting atmosphere! And this is what most I like from that hotel: a wide-wide playground!! it make your children asking to stay more than 2 nights and succeed emptying your pocket...ffiuu..

This hotel is a five-star with diamond hotel! located in the center of Jakarta. Close to business district, shopping mall, and governance's offices. How about foods?? Breakfast, lunch and dinner with various foods! choose it, take it and eat till you full!! xixixi....

How much room rate? hm..as a five star hotel, of course do not think the price is under IDR700.000 ! You can check it in Hotel's sites. Honestly, if I should pay myself, I won't choose this hotel. I can stay here, because my offices always held meeting here! hufg... dodgy!

playground in the back yard

swimming pool, still in the back yard

Bukit Tinggi

2011-07-04T12:45:00.005+07:00

Almost two weeks I passed my blog! First, I was busy, last I was off work, so I did traveling with my family: Semarang and Puncak Bogor. But Now, I am not talking about it, I still wanna share my traveling on the couple months ago : Bukit tinggi, West Sumatera!

I was excited , finally I could be there! This was my first time. I went with my friends. Only 2 days, but so many places we visited : Lembah Anai Waterfall, Goa Jepang, Ngarai Sianok, Port de Kock, Danau Maninjau, Birth House of Bung Hatta, Pantai Air Manis.

First day, We stayed at the Hills Hotel, and the last day we stayed at Dahlia Hotel (class Melati ). Frankly, we preferred last hotel than first! Since it’s more cozy, simple and specially: more cheap. We just paid around IDR300.000,-. Breakfast only one choice: lontong sayur ! but hm…delicious! Very recommended for backpacker! Located near the heart of city. Crowded when evening till night. Easy to get dinner!

Port De Kock

Goa Jepang

Ngarai Sianok

Danau Maninjau

Lembah Anai Waterfall

Pantai Air Manis

The Hills Hotel

Basically I was very enjoying this traveling, just one that made me sick: I've missed eating with salt fish, sambal, lalapan, vegetables like soup or such it! Very difficult to find Sundanese Restorant.

Bandung, Again!

2011-06-23T17:04:00.005+07:00

Hurray..I came again to Bandung! Seems once was not quite visit to this city! Because so many places that have not been visited, many foods and many shopping center unexplored.

This time I stayed at the Hotel Cipaku Garden jalan Setiabudi. Not far from University of Pendidikan Indonesia. First, when my car was entering this hotel, I was disappointed why my husband chosen this hotel? The Hotel was very far from highway! But after we arriving at the Hotel and we came into our cottage, wow….suddenly I fell in love! Our cottage was big enough for me, my husband and 3 children! There were a living room, spacious bedrooms with TV cable, and there was a terrace next to bedroom. This terrace overlooking a garden that have many trees looked like little jungle.

Deluxe room price was around IDR675.000 / night including breakfast. How was breakfast taste? Very delicious! With standard menu: chicken porridge, fried rice, eggs, bread, fruits, various juices and yuhuu….Serabi with various taste!!

After breakfast we went to the park which have grass field for children playing football.

Hey..look! there was a gateway to the ‘secret garden’! when I opened the gate, I looked a beautiful fishing ponds! The architecture of fishing ponds area looked like the Princess bathing. Beautiful!

We also spent the times by swimming ! There were 3 pools: adulth, kids and water warm pool. Very complete!

I think I am not regret stayed here! Although the hotel location is quite far from highway, but it doesn't matter, because the hotel give everything complete!

Malang, pretty cool!

2011-06-22T09:24:00.007+07:00

This was my first time to Malang city. I was really glad finally visiting this city. I wanted to Jatim Park, Apple Garden, Sempu Island, Bromo, etc.

I stayed at Hotel Olino Garden Jalan Aries Munandar No. 41-45. This hotel is located in strategic area: surrounded by food places, close to the city park and shopping center. The Hotel is quite comfortable. The price is pretty cheap! Deluxe room costs around IDR450.000. Breakfast with standard menu: Chicken porridge, soup, bread, eggs and juice. Delicious!

The atmosphere of Malang is almost like Bandung. There is so many trees and pretty cold. I used a pedicab to go anywhere. Unfortunately, over there I did not get to go to the places as I mentioned before in the first line! Because of the rain falls all day, I am worried Jasmine would getting sick. We just went to a city park and shopping center. And she was very enjoying in the city park, since there was a lot of pigeons!

Jasmine in hotel olino

city park

Royal Safari Garden Hotel

2011-06-21T13:49:00.005+07:00

Where do you stay when you go to Puncak Bogor? there so many hotels or villas, but I usually prefer to stay in Royal Safari garden Hotel. Why they? why not here or there? there so many reasons as follows:

1. We can choose what kind of cottages we like! caravan model, traditional house model, one room, two rooms or else.

2. they have swimming pool with waterboom

3. have complete area for sport: badminton, tennis, tennis table, basket ball, soccer, jogging track, riding bycicle.

4. have a game zone

5. karaoke hall

6. meeting rooms

7. fishing ponds

8. outbound area

9. garden with various vegetables

10. etc..

Almost forgot, since the hotel is one of management with the Safari Garden, if you want to visit the Safari Garden then the hotel will deliver you to park and you also will get a discount price.

I'll bet you will likes to stay here!

1 night stayed in Bandung

2011-06-21T13:14:00.004+07:00

Bandung is one of my favorite places for vacation. Eventhough this city is so crowded, I always love it! what are you looking for, it's all there! foods, shopping, outbounds area, very complete!

On November 2010, I and Jasmine went Bandung and stayed in Hotel Puri Setiabudi. This hotel is located at Jalan Setiabudi. Near Rumah Sosis. This hotel has a beautiful landscape. There's no swimming pool, but they have jogging track area. Breakfast and dinner are simple but delicious foods.

With strategic location, you can reach Cihampelas Walk, Factory Outlet area and railway station! You only ride public transportation in front of hotel!