Tatter Scoops

Last Week of July Flips

2010-07-30T05:24:48Z

Time for Friday Flip Offs. Want to know more about it? Head over to Kludgy Mom and link up because she’s awesome like that!

Our beloved internet provider. OMG you has been driving me crazy with your crappy connections. Again, you said you’re cable? Then why on earth would we lose connections every time it rains? And I’m so tired of your same old same old lame way of handling our complaints. Either you dodge my complaints by telling me to do the same thing restart-restart-restart or you simply said “I will forward this to our technical department‘ who by the way, never ever call us back with answer. When I call back I would simply be put through the same loop holes – rinse and repeat! Here’s an idea…how but owning you do are having problems instead of acting stupid once in awhile and stop ping-pong-ing me around? So stupid! I’m on the edge of seriously finding another provider! – Huge mega triple flip offs for you!

To one cell phone provider here. Good Lord! I’m drafting out a complaint letter that will definitely make its way to a national newspaper and a news website here. I’m not their customer, my brother is but it really is misleading your customers the way you handle you international roaming service. Here’s the story, in June when my family and I went to Singapore, my brother had his international roaming opened through the customer service phone line. All went well, we were in Singapore for a mere 3 days. The bill came out to be over $1,000 for 3 friggin days because apparently they did not tell him they would charge a GPRS service per seconds for a stupid Blackberry Messenger Groups while the cell is out of the country? Really?! WTH was that? The fact that they does not disclose this to the customer is what ticked me off…that is misleading and they should have inform everyone before they activate the international roaming services. When I went to their customer service along with my mother they could not answer me when I asked how come that ‘rules’ were not disclose to their customer. So yeah, mega Flip offs to you!

Phew…that feels so much better. Now head off to Kludy Mom and A Beautiful Mess to link up.

PS: With how bad my internet is I do apologize if I haven’t reply to your comments or do much blog walkin’ in the past few days and with the weekend coming I would be running around town doing things before DH leave for another business trip on Wednesday.

Hope you’ll have a great weekend, friends!

Indonesian Jamu Lady

2010-07-28T13:35:07Z

Jamu is one of Indonesian traditional herbal drinks made from natural materials, such as parts of plants such as roots, leaves and bark, and fruit. They are usually bitter but a few drops of honey will helps. They also comes in many types of purposes from feminine hygiene to male’s ‘performance enhancements’ to the usual physical soreness, gas to headaches.

Jamu street seller are typically women and they dressed in kebaya – an Indonesian traditional blouse-dress combination. They will carry the wooden basket on their backs with small plastic bucket to wash the cups. Here’s what the basket typically looks like

These ladies will usually walk and sell their jamu from house to house, something I haven’t seen around where we live for awhile.

This has been my Wordless Wednesday take (although not so wordless) and pictures were taken on my Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walk last weekend.

Join the fun over at A Beautiful Mess.

Medan Is NOT The Worst City In The World

2010-07-28T10:10:24Z

photo credit: a_rabin

I came to read this article that says Medan (capital of North Sumatra) is the worst city in the world from Twitter. Eyebrows were raised reading it, disturbing but at the end I found myself laughing.

Disturbing, because as much as I have this love-hate affair with my own country, it always pull a few nationalism nerves on me when I read others write badly about Indonesia. Funny, because it sounds like that piece of crap – yes it is crap – article came out of an amateur bitter tourist.

Let’s analyze it a bit, will you.

You’re slim pickin’s for hotels, you don’t seem to boast a single, decent restaurant and from what I’ve heard, you’ve got no real nightlife

Last I heard they do have 5 stars hotels there such as the Marriott. Maybe next time you need to consult Mr. Google or better yet a travel agent! As for nightlife ‘activities’…what kind of nightlife are you expecting? It’s not Jakarta or New York City!

Okay, I admit, there’s a personal element to this. See, I got robbed in one of your hotels.

It wasn’t a very nice hotel. It promotes itself as a four star hotel when in actual fact it’s closer to a two. But that’s fine. I don’t need luxury and it cost less than $100 a night.

Except, in the end, it actually cost a couple of grand. Because while I was out one night scouring the streets for a decent meal – in vain, of course – someone broke into my room and stole a giant wad of company cash from my suitcase.

Okay…number 1 rules of travelers are: NEVER EVER EVER leave your money – especially couple of grand like you said in your hotel room! That’s what the hotel’s safety deposit box at the Front Office is for! Common sense…not that hard. You know you’re staying in an ‘average’ hotel with several grand in your suitcase, isn’t exactly the smartest move! The guy said the hotel doesn’t have safe deposit…well, tough luck then you shouldn’t even stay in that measly hotel in the first place!

Needless to say I moved to a different hotel for my final night. I woke up the next morning in blood-stained sheets. Mozzies never take any interest in me but your Medan mozzies made quite a frenzied exception.

I didn’t get malaria. But I did get spectacularly, violently sick about a week later from an intestinal parasite, which I’m certain I picked up from you, Medan. I just know it.

See the pattern here people…cheap hotels? Wait, maybe all the 5 stars ones were booked? Could possibly be…but intestinal parasite? Maybe this guy just ate something that’s not cooked right or ate street foods that his weak stomach can’t hold. Oh and he said he lives in Jakarta too? Interesting isn’t?

Personally, I haven’t been to Medan but knowing how poorly some of Indonesians infrastructures are outside of Jakarta, it is possible that the roads are bad, their public transportation are inadequate but to call it the worst city in the world? I think that’s a tad too far!

I understand some tourists will have digestive problems when they first got here because let’s face it, in Indonesia hygiene issues are still questionable. You most certainly cannot drink straight out of the tap like in some other countries. That’s why if you consider coming to Indonesia for a visit I strongly advise you to bring some pepto-bismol (or anything like that) and just take it religiously everyday for at least a week and always drinks bottled water and avoid ice in your drinks if you’re in a place where the hygiene may be questionable.

Indonesia is an acquired taste…that’s for sure but when you are a tourist, try to explore the country with an open mind. Keep in mind that Indonesia is still a developing country and also a country with such vast cultures so chances are things will be different than back home.

Granted, I haven’t seen all the cities in the world but Medan is certainly not the worst one.

Do you have any bad experience in a city that you considered calling them the worst city in the world? Share away.

Weekly Roundup – 4th Week of July

2010-07-28T14:41:52Z

WOW…July is almost over? Hard to believe how fast the weeks has gone by.

Here are some updates from my side of the world:

I had join SITS in doing the ProBlogger‘s 31 Days to Build A Better Blog (31DBBB) since last Monday (July 19, 2010). Actually, I had ‘attempt’ to do this in January but never get to finish it so when the SITS girls came up with this I signed up and it’s more enjoyable to do this as a community. So far I’ve ‘met’ new fantastic bloggers through the challenge and although it’s not easy to keep up with the task especially during the weekend, I truly enjoy this challenge and hope to complete it along with so many other great SITStahs out there. Not only we get to learn many new things about building a better blog, it’s amazing to see how powerful these women can be working together as a team. Thanks SITS! It’s never too late to join in. Just click on the button below.

On the job front: I had another job interview last Thursday at one of a prominent PR companies here in Jakarta. It was one something different, because although I did studied PR in college I never work as a Public Relation before and after finally admitting that I am too old by Indonesian standards to return to my previous career path as an Executive Secretary, I thought I’d finally give this PR thing a try. The company looks very promising, Love their atmosphere immediately but we shall see if I make it or not.

Toddlerhood wise: Now I realize why I’m not suppose to be bone stick skinny again – because let’s face it, there’s no way a skinny body can endure such roughhousing Lil’ A loves to do! With a busy Daddy who travels a lot for business, he’s left with a Mommy to take on that part. Sigh! It is fun playing roughhousing with him although my back really begs for mercy. He’s over 40 pounds so yeah…Bengay here I come!

Last Saturday I went on my first Photo Walk. It was a great experience – from my photography passion side but it’s also kind of sad because I got to see how poverty is still a huge problem in this country.

On a lighter note: Tatter Scoops is being featured on Top Mommy Blogs and I really am stoked about it. Thank you so much for you who had voted. If you haven’t can you please vote for me? Pretty please, with a cherry on top?

Hope you had a great week and will have a better week ahead!

Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photo Walk

2010-07-28T14:39:40Z

It all started from one tweet from PD-JKT (Photo District Jakarta) two weeks ago or so about a Worldwide Photo Walk. Not just your typical photo walk but it’s The Scott Kelby!

The photo walk is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 2010 and knowing DH’s schedule, I had ‘booked’ him well in advance so he can watch Lil’ A. He’s great tho’ and kept Lil’ A entertained at home while the driver took me to Kota Area where the group meet-up.

Scheduled for 3:00PM, I got there just 2 minutes shy of exactly 3 o’clock! There were plenty of people – none that I know of. Mind you, this was my first ever photo walk and I didn’t know a soul there. Luckily, I started talking with one guy, Bisma. He’s one of the ‘coordinator’ for our walk. The awkward few minutes quickly disappeared as we started talking about photography then two other guys one an Australian and one a Welsh joined our conversations.

30 minutes later we started the walk from in front of Bank Mandiri Museum towards the Chinese Temple.

I got to meet 3 Australian girls who were so funny and said they’ll use me if they get behind in the group since obviously I wore a pretty noticeable purple blouse. We stayed as a group although we did wonder off on our own to take pictures. It was so much fun! There were over 50 people in the group and it really does felt so much easier taking pictures of people when we’re in a group because I still find it a bit awkward to ask myself. Most of the people we met yesterday would either asked for their pictures to be taken or they would smile and nod when I asked “Boleh di foto?” (May I take your picture?).

Like this one guy who asked for his picture to be taken

We passed a small street that looks like a traditional wet market and it reminds me so much of the market at Shanmulan Lu in Guangzhou, China. They sells crabs, frogs, even baby turtles – the sight that made one of the Aussie’s girls freaked out.

We reached that same Chinese Temple our tour guide took me once last year.

After the photo walk, they said let’s go for coffee at Oh La La cafe across from Sarinah Thamrin mall, we all hopped and rode the Bus Way to get there. The girls didn’t joined saying they had to head home.

Little that I know the guy sitting next to me is one of the professional photographer on board the group. He asked to see my pictures and that’s when I felt my seat sink! Gulp! He went through my pictures shaking his head and I knew I failed to impressed him so when he praised 3 pictures and told me what to do with them I find it hard to believe. We talked about the technicality and the art of street photography. He shared his knowledge and I will be forever grateful!

That guy like this picture and after looking all of 200 something pictures I took, I agree with him – besides he’s a pro!

Too bad I couldn’t stay long – it was 7 PM and this mommy had to go home before she turned into a pumpkin!

Can’t wait to join the next Photo Walk and explore the city oh and you can check out some other pictures on my Flickr.

Friday Flip-off ~ Third Week of July Edition

2010-07-23T12:32:46Z

Time for that weekly virtual detox again called Friday Flip-off. Never heard about it before? Then go check out Kludgy Mom.

To the weather: Seriously this is July – almost August actually, so why is it raining every day like it’s December? Rain in Jakarta means traffic will be your worst nightmare! And even when it’s raining every day the humidity is a pain in you knows where. So to these rains – flip off!

To the national electricity company: Here’s an idea – buy real spare parts for God’s sake! Not some cheaply made one then probably you won’t have your power stations blasted out at least once a month and leave people without power for hours like what happened on Wednesday. You raised the electricity prices…fine…we’ll pay for it but if you can’t keep up with the maintenance then it’s so not cool – flip off!

To those “pimps” that use little kids to begs on the street: Get off your lazy behinds and stop exploiting these kids! Not only you exposed these children to dangers on a daily basis but you had given them such a bad attitudes like that one little girl I saw the other day. She tapped on our taxi window and she looked so dirty and frail and my heart breaks. Gave her money but instead of saying thank you she sneered at me because the 1,000 bill I gave her was slightly creased. So you pimps – FLIP OFF!

To money changers in Indonesia: Where is the law that says you have the rights to cut down the exchange rates if the money is creased or folded?! I failed to see the written rules over this. No other countries I’ve been to have this obnoxious ‘policy’ – Flip off!

Phew…that sure feels better. Now hop over to Kludgy Mom and link up

Bule Style Girl?

2010-07-25T12:44:08Z

Couple of months ago when I went shopping at one of the ‘average malls’ here in Jakarta and in between trying on some blouses the very helpful sales associate asked me something that no one…had ever asked me before.

“Are you married to a bule*?”

My hands stopped mid-air while handing her back some of the blouses I just tried on.

“Uhm, yes. Why?” Someone ask you that, you just have to know why and I knew DH was at the play area with Lil’ A.

“Oh, it’s just your style…” she hesitated for a moment. “You just looked like that type of girl a bule will hook up with.”

*insert dropped jaws here…*

Of course she got me more curious and I tried to dig it out of her what is exactly a ‘typical bule style’ that she meant. She apologized first then went on to explain that she’s been working in a store for a long time and she can tell the difference just by the way her customers are dressing up.

Mind you that day I had a light tunic sleeveless top, an old super comfy jeans, bunch of bangles, a small messenger bag, a sandal, not much make-up, hair pulled up because that mall is pretty hot.

Was that a ‘bule-taste-style?’ I asked her to elaborate.

Shyly she said she thinks so. Most ‘bule wives’ are much more relaxed than other local women, according to her observations.

I asked her back “So because I don’t wear tons of make-ups and doesn’t wear sexy heels just to go to the mall, I look like a typical bule wife – do you mean that famous maid resemblance that some bule seems to be attracted to?”

Quickly she apologized for the second time.

Oh, I’ve seen so much of these stereotyping when it comes to a white guy and an Indonesian girl. Of course beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and sometimes the contrasts differences between a mix couple can be so ‘visually loud’ that people comes to think that all white guys only after those “dark complexion, buck teeth, and a high forehead typically found among remote mountain villagers in Java” as described by Thang D. Nguyen on his blog (too bad he shut down his blog!) but here’s an excerpts:

As my friend and I sipped our coffees last Sunday afternoon at Plaza Indonesia, he asked, “Don’t you think that many of the Indonesian women that white foreigners (buleh) go out with or marry are so unattractive?”

“They look like maids, don’t they” he continued.

“Not necessarily so,” I replied.

Beauty, like many things in life, is bound by the rule of relativity. In other words, what one man considers beautiful is ugly in the eyes of another.

Being an Indonesian himself, my friend’s view of a beautiful woman is that of a fair-skinned one, who has the look of a financially independent, educated, and classy lady.

Thus, in his eyes, an Indonesian woman with a dark complexion, buck teeth, and a high forehead typically found among remote mountain villagers in Java, is not beautiful.

A mix couple here still stood out like a sore thumb and no my skin is not too dark – it was darker back in States actually! I don’t have buck teeth and my forehead is pretty average – but still, I married someone with a white skin.

Back in the US these things never bother me…maybe because it’s been a country of such a huge ‘melting pot’ that people there are more open to interracial dating although there are some racist out there like mentioned by Paul from The Butler Way.

Here in Jakarta, I’m more self conscious when it comes to going places with my Mr. Bule. Why? Easy, because people stare more at us even with a screaming toddler in tow! Dress too sexily people will have that ‘Oh she’s an ayam**!’ look on their eyes, dress too casually then you fall into that maid stereotype.

I have to admit I’m somewhat more laid back now that I’m a mommy..yes I still love those heels and love wearing sexy things but it’s no fun wearing them and chasing down a toddler with the risk of breaking my neck or my ankle? Uhm…not cool! So for now, comforts are no.1 unless of course the boy is staying home.

If you’re a mix couple how do you handle this? If you’re not a mix couple, what do you think of one?

PS: *Bule = white people

**Ayam = chicks in a negative term

12 Unique Facts About Indonesia

2010-07-28T01:52:16Z

Being Indonesian, let me introduce you to 12 Unique Facts About Indonesia

With over 17,000 islands – approximately 6000 of them still inhabited, Indonesia is the largest archipelago country in the world.
Over 580 languages and dialects, Bahasa Indonesia is the formal language (I only knows several traditional languages and dialects)
Rice is the main food staple in Indonesia. That’s why most Indonesians will say they haven’t had their meal before they had rice even after they had eaten pizza or hamburger!
Indonesia is home to one of the previous 7 Wonders of the world – The Borobudur Temple. It’s the biggest Buddhist temple in the world built in 9th century. Still one of the huge tourism spot in Indonesia. Sadly, on the new 7 Wonders of The World, Indonesia fell off the list.

The only dragon in the world can be found in Indonesia at the Komodo Island where the Komodo dragon resides.
One of the largest Muslim population in the world but Indonesia IS NOT a Muslim country. The government only recognized 6 religions here: Islam, Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, Hindu and Konghucu.
One of the world’s unique funeral procession takes place in a Toraja, a small town in Sulawesi island. Funeral procession will took around 7 days and cost a fortune. That’s why families usually save up their money for years before they can buried their loved ones. Where do they keep the body? In their house! Traditional embalming involved.

Bali has been famous for years but Lombok is the most happening place among others beautiful places in Indonesia. Remember, being a country with so many islands there are plenty of beautiful beaches scattered all over Indonesia.

photo credit: java tourism

Java island where Jakarta is situated is as big as New York State
The Dutch (or was known back then as the Dutch East Indies) colonized Indonesia for 350 years. That’s why many older Indonesians speak fluent Dutch and plenty of Indonesian word derived from their language.
Indonesia is home to the largest flower in the world called The Rafflesia aka The Corps flower. Reaching 5ft high and 4ft wide, it only blooms for 3 days and for 8 hours of these 3 days, the flower gives out the rotting flesh smell.

photo credit: NeilsPhotography

Indonesian loves spicy foods! Order a pizza or hamburger here, you will get some chili packages!

Double Chocolate Cookies With Vanilla Lime Basil Ice

2010-07-22T15:27:02Z

This the my first guest blogger on Tatter Scoops. Please welcome Mindy. A beautiful Indonesian girl living in Caracas, Venezuela. A world traveler, photographer with the love of cooking, she shares her recipe perfect for summer time. Please show her some love and do check out her Mindy’s Deli for more delicious recipes and her Traveling Bug in Venezuela that chronicles this one lady’s journey.

Double Chocolate Cookies With Vanilla Lime Basil Ice

The cookies can be easily made and also a big fun for children. For the best result, I recommend best quality of Dutch processed cocoa. The combination between dark chocolate, lime, basil and vanilla ice is just heavenly perfect for summer. Sweet, chocolatey and sour you’ll have in one cup. If you don’t have time for baking the cookies, you can buy your favorite chocolate cookies.

For Cookies
Adapted from Easy Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter — softened
1 egg — beaten
2 tsp vanilla essence
1/4 cup raw sugar cane or brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/8 cup half flour and half Dutch processed cacao
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F

Combine flour, Dutch processed cacao, salt and baking soda in a bowl. Set aside
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and both sugars until well combine. Add the beaten egg and vanilla essence. Beat again. Sift flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix well and add chocolate chips

Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake for 7-10 minutes or until set

For Ice
Adapted from Leo Garces of Posada and Lodge La Salamandra

Your favorite vanilla ice cream
Lime juice
Basil — thinly chopped

Finishing

Combine well vanilla ice, lime juice and chopped basil

Make smaller parts of each chocolate cookies then add to ice mixture. Combine well and serve

Weekly Roundup – 3rd Week of July

2010-07-20T08:08:35Z

Time to do a roundup again. I’m starting to love doing this.

Last Tuesday, I had my first guest post over at The Urban Mama. They are one of the most influential Indonesian Mommy Website. Their readers were really sweet and gave me great response. Thanks TUM for having me. Don’t you just love something with a tag line “there is always a different story in every parenting style”.

Word of the week in this household has been “Oh, man!!!” Told the Little Tornado it’s time for his bath, he grunted “Oh, maaaan!” same replies when I told him it’s time for bed. I’ve been so fascinated seeing him playing by himself and talking away imagining things while he built his blocks.

Last week DH had to go to another business trip to Timor Leste (previously known as East Timor) – a small island that used to be part of Indonesia until 2002 after years of battles. Mr. Busy somehow left his camera at home – battery still charging so he couldn’t take any pictures except for this one taken with his cell.

On July 14, my brother, Reggy turned 28 and we all went to dinner at a nearby mall – nothing fancy since it is during the work week.

While waiting for him to show up we went around the mall and Lil’ A saw some cupcakes and of course we had to get one – which I regret because when he was done, his hands and lips were bluish! That shows whoever made that cupcake used cheap food colorings. Ewww yuck!

Btw, I’ve been meaning to write about this but just keep forgetting it and I am so sorry, Kristin! Sometimes in June I joined The Snail Mail Project started by DysFUNctional Mom

her blog

blog about the package she got from me

She sent me beautiful card with a picture she took herself in Europe,

a pretty bookmark,

and this beautiful snow flake looking thing, it’s just so beautiful

and a small notebook that I love.

I really enjoys this Snail Mail Project…there’s just something about getting a mail that excites me

Alrighty, hope you will have a great week ahead!