This place is in a hidden place. You wont see it by the side of the road. You really have to seek it out.

Related Read:

• Chung Gi Wa on Food Escape

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We got it at such a great price with TD’s amazing haggling skills (he is even better than me!). We don’t really care if it’s real antique or repro, for the price it’s an amazing piece. TD likes it and that’s all that counts.

Sorry I can’t give the specific address for Rambuata, but if you are in the Kemang Timur road it’s somewhere near Koncept and Galeri Pot.

I came up with a perfect way to display the gun. Will be sharing it with you and where I had it made soon! Watch out for it!

Always perfect with seafood is Jeruk Kelapa, refreshing yummy drink with young coconut meat in orange juice. How did I only learn about this drink this year? It’s so yummy!

Fish in curry 

kangkung bauang putih

deep fried balls of tofu and prawns – a favorite of TD My favorite gurame gorang (deep fried gurame)

We also love the sate ayam, cumi goreng or fried squid, udang bakar or grilled prawns (this  and kerang kapa putih (clams cooked in yummy sauce). I’m salivating just thinking about it.

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PANDAN BISTRO

• (021) 3333 – 1806
• Jl. Pakubuwono VI No. 10, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta

Usually I make the puff pastry with some mozzarella, asparagus, parmesan and salt and pepper (something I learned from Kaho). But I needed an appetizer that would be super easy to make, serve and eat. I found this recipe on youtube. It’s sooooo good and so easy! You can prepare it on several trays and pop them right in 30 minutes before the party so they are freshly baked and ready when your guests start arrving.

TIPS:

• The 12 minutes is only a guide, because ovens are not made equal. Sometimes I needed to extend the time (I kept on adding 2 minute on my timer until the twists were really golden.
• The best part about making this is once the twists have cooled a little and you’ve transferred them from the wax line trays to your serving dishes, I love making-papak or eating the salty-yummy parmesan that’s left on the tray! Burnt parmesan is just so delicious! Try it!
• I get my puff pastry from the frozen goods section of Papaya or GrandLucky Sudirman

Enjoy! Let me know how it goes!

What I love about Dr. Laura:

• First off, isn’t the interiors of the clinic so fab? How cool, to have such chic interiors for clinic. It’s a bonus that’s great to have when you already have great dentists inside.
• Dr. Laura teaches me things, that my other dentists didn’t. Maybe they assumed that I already know it (like flossing first, before brushing). She is so patient in explaining anything and everything I ask about. It is obvious from the way she talks that she is passionate about teeth.
• She is always at the forefront of dental advancement and is always learning new methods and technology.
• If she is unsure about something, she is with a team of dentist with different specialties and consults with them on the best possible solution.
• For example, I needed retainers and a bite guard so she discussed with the ortho and other specialists in her clinic, the best way to handle it. I ended up using Invisalign-type of retainers. Which are even better than normal retainers at keeping teeth alignment, but also protect teeth from night grinding. Which I do! That’s why my teeth has hairline cracks in the enamel, and I once broke off the side of my molar! I love my new retainers, because they are so much easier and more comfortable to wear than normal retainers.
• Another thing I learned from her are there are already removable options for kids, to prevent them from having to wear braces which can be difficult. These options can be worn at night, to align teeth and are much cheaper than having braces.
• Also having straight teeth is not about vanity. The more important thing (for me anyway) to have is a proper bite and not to have teeth crowding so that in your old age, your teeth wont be worn down to stumps, or you don’t have early tooth loss because there is a lot of pressure on our teeth because of a bad bite. Teeth crowding makes it also harder to clean in between and can lead to gum problems.

I am not an expert in teeth so don’t take my word for it. Ask your dental practitioner about it or go and ask Dr. Laura. This is not a paid post, I am merely a happy patient. Soon I will also share details on my other favorite dentist in Jakarta! Please watch out for it!

If you’d like to check out their different services, feel free to set an appointment below.

AFFINITY DENTAL CLINIC

• 6/F, Angelus Plaza, 104 V.A. Rufino St., Legaspi Village, 1229 Makati City US Tel. No. +323 247.8553
• Tel. Nos. +632 751.8798, 751.8246, 519.3312
• Mobile Nos. +63920.983.3284, 0908.897.4018
• Email makati@affinitydentalclinics.com
• www.affinitydentalclinics.com, www.affinityhealthandwellness.com

It’s official! We’re moving to BERLIN! The city of cool! Woohoo!

So the practical footwear is a must because we’re going from being chauffer driven to pounding the pavement, riding a bike (we bought a bike here for TD to practice on because he didn’t know how to ride a bike) and taking trains. Today was day 1 of packing and we’re 27 boxes and counting! My bet is about 100 boxes! So what’s it like moving as the wife of a Filipino Diplomat?

Different embassies from different countries have different ways of moving. Just as an example American diplomats get a weight limit for their stuff, and usually when they get to their post, they can choose from different housing options provided by the embassy. They are provided with fully furnished housing, so on the downside, they dont get to choose their furniture, but on the upside they don’t need to spend for it. I imagine it is very hard to fit in all of one’s stuff in a weight limit. Some countries (like Laos and Cambodia if I am not mistaken), don’t have shipping and they are given rent to cover fully furnished homes/flats. Some people prefer this though because it’s a more hassle free form of living abroad. It’s easier, no packing needed. But when they find something they like and want to keep from their post, they personally have to pay for shipping home. Different Embassies, different arrangements and with any arrangement there is a positive and negative side.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TRAVELING FILIPINO-DIPLO STYLE?

Filipino diplomats on the other hand, get a 20-foot shipping container or the option to take half of the allowable shipping allowance to ship select items (if you have few items that don’t require a 20foot container this is advisable) yourself. Some people take the allowance and then just buy what they need when they get to their post.

We opted to go for the shipping allowance, because as you can see in my furniture posts, we decided to invest on teak furniture in Indonesia, where teak is still somewhat affordable and the quality is amazing. (Mind you not all teak are created the same and you can also get very bad teak which will open like the Grand Canyon, if you are not careful). Also I loved what my MIL said to me about her trying to make every post look familiar and the same, which is why she brought her furniture and stuff around the world. So we have a shipment for a 20foot container, however insurance is not covered by the DFA. When we get to the post, other expenses like fitting out a house/flat is all our own. We also find our own shipper by getting three quotations to be approved by the DFA.

You book your own ticket in coordination with your admin officer for the budget. Our tickets (mine and TD’s) are paid for,but we are also paying for DiploDog’s transfer and the ticket of our Filipina maid.

When you arrive at post, if you arrive exactly 7 days before the first day of the next month, you get 7 days hotel allowance. If you arrive 4 days before the first, you only get 4 days hotel allowance. It’s a bit random in my opinion. And how the heck does one choose a home that you will stay in for a few years, in only 7 days? it’s improbable. (We don’t like to move within the city because expenses for moving within post are not covered by DFA) So what ends up happening is we spend our LQA (Living Quarters Allowance or rent money) on our hotel. Renting per month or long term is so much cheaper than a hotel, so you can see the discrepancy right there.

I am not sure, but it’s entirely possible that the DFA LQA hasn’t been updated in about a decade. It is up to us to make it fit. There is no allowance for household utilities, household help, car or transport.

Side story: When we first arrived in Jakarta as a “newly” married couple. We lived in our home with only a coffee table to eat on for 6 months. We sat on the floor. Until our friend Imman, lent us an old table and some monoblock chairs. Yes we could have gotten a fully furnished apartment, but to be honest I’d rather have no furniture than ones that don’t please me aesthetically. And most of the fully furnished apartments we found (at that time) were not modern. They were decorated in traditional old fashion style (think ornate). But first we had to save up for a car. So for 1 year, that’s what we did. After our first year, was the only time we started buying furniture and decor. Piece by painful piece when we could save up money for good quality furniture. Each set of order took a few months to save for. I don’t have any regrets, and I know that our government isn’t that rich, But perhaps they can contemplate raising allowances once in a while (every few years at least?). This is what I tell myself when I see how much we are getting for a post.

Another thing is that there is almost no education allowance. Education allowance is only USD 1,000 per year per kid for a maximum number of kids (is it 3 kids max?). When you are a diplomat in a non-english speaking country, I don’t think it’s practical to send your kid to local school. It will also be smoother transition for children moving from country to country to go to international school. When I found out the rates for international school in Jakarta, I thought “this can definitely bankrupt us.” A mom told me for her kids kindergarten she pays USD 7,000. That’s not including uniform, supplies, expenses, etc. No wonder there are so many Filipino diplomats’ kids that are sent back to the Philippines for schooling. It’s sad that families have to be separated. But you just can’t afford it, unless you are already personally rich. I really hope that our government addresses this in the near future. I can live with a small living allowance, but education for my future children is important, and their safety is also a major concern – if you are a diplomat it is possible to become a target for kidnapping for political agenda.

Filipino Diplomats are not given any language training or budget for language lessons in non-English speaking countries.  If you come from Manila, you get x hours of “language training” which consists of sitting in a room with a CASSETTE TAPE player and listening to it. #WTH right? Hindi lang man CD o DVD! And many Filipino Diplomats are so busy that they end up logging in and logging out and not really listening to the tapes. Besides if that’s what they give, it’s the same thing you get from downloadable DIY language lessons. I am not sure why they even bother. Baka sayang yung cassette at cassette tape player?  You can’t even practice with a language partner to see if you are learning things right. It’s definitely not an effective way of learning a language. Basically walang budget.

Sidestory: The most stressful thing about moving to Jakarta for me. TD said I should wait because they were going to request for budget. Budget came 2 years later but they were too busy to take the lessons,  so we finally took lessons THREE years after we landed in Jakarta. I basically joined the missions group (paying for my own lessons because I am not part of the mission) to get a cheaper rate. I should have just bit the bullet and spent the money, so I didn’t get so stressed the first 2 years of my life in Jakarta.

We only get maximum 60 days to get to post after accepting an assignment. I’ve been preparing for a while now, but I really wasn’t sure where we were going. And preparing for living in a temperate climate like Berlin is something, I have zero experience in.

UPDATE: Sorry just had to add more to the moving-conditions of Filipino Diplos below….

If the “Diplomatic Clause” is not honored in post  it is your financial loss if you get assigned mid year. (In Jakarta they don’t honor it, even if it is in the contract.) The worse thing is that in Jakarta we pay rent annually and if we got reassigned before our year is up, the loss of that rent money is ours alone to bear. We had to renew our lease short term (with great increase every renewal) since 3rd quarter of last year coz we were expecting a move in December.  

Now that our lease is finally ending on May 20, we are not given any hotel allowance for days between lease expiry  (May 20) until  our departure date (May 24). We are having to rely on the generosity of friends/colleages and we are so lucky that TD’s boss is nice enough to let us couch surf with our maid. 

We have to process our own visa. TD had to get in touch with the Philippine Embassy (PE) in Germany, some German Embassy staff in Jakarta to ask for help. He requested for the wrong kind of visa initially and was rejected so he had to do a workaround, by going to the Netherlands Embassy to ask for help, on the 3rd day of our pack  out. 

There is no reasonable clothing allowance so to prepare for a post with 4 seasons, you get the money to buy a 2 reasonably priced coats.  TD gets a really small clothing allowance for Jakarta, $150/year (the equivalent of a pair of good leather shoes), and when we move to Berlin he gets a whopping $400. This can possibly buy us one coat each per year. 

How about entertaining, Diplo-style at post you say? TD get’s $150/month for entertainment allowance. That can be one dinner with a few other people. I didn’t want to even place this on this post because it’s really embarassing. When we entertain at home for several colleages, we spend so much more than that already. 

Wives are usually not allowed to work, depending on the bilateral agreement with the post. We get an allowance of $150 per month, to remunerate us for this. I don’t believe this is fair compensation. I earned a lot more than a pair of reasonably priced Ninewest shoes when I was working. It is really sad that this is all the government can afford. 

These are the reasons why I am stressed and scared. I am really happy to move to Berlin, and I feel really fortunate to be able to experience such a fabulous new city. However, these things that I mentioned keep me up at night. I need to save, and save and save. I really try to spend my money wisely, quality over quantity. And I am willing to sacrifice to get good value for my money. Though the children’s education don’t apply now, but I should definitely be already saving up for it!

I am so sorry that I ended up griping. Now on to the cheerful side of thing

• Berlin is the city of cool!
• Green living – looking forward to clean air and getting thunder thighs from biking around the city. And I am looking forward to segregating trash and living greener!
• The party scene is supposedly insane
• Public transport is a breeze
• Traveling around Europe is something I never really expected to do ever, but we definitely want to maximise when we are there.
• Berlin is so much more dog-friendly than Jakarta, DiploDog will love it!
• To live in such a historical city would be amazing! To see places that you read about in history books in person, is a privilege.
• Museums!!! There are so many in Berlin and I read that they have 2 nights a year where more than 100 museums stay open till past midnights and there are shuttles that carry families with their kids from one museum to another. Museum hopping!
• The culture, art  and music scene is so vibrant. They have all these festivals that celebrate it throughout the year!
• Berlin Christmas Market #OMG Berlin is the capital of German Christmas Markets. Sooooo excited!

That’s all I can think about off the top of my head! I am not even half-way through the Berlin City Guide. There is so much more to look forward to! This is going to be my first time ever to go to Europe. So I don’t really know what to expect!

I’ve gotten some really reassuring words from my friends that I need to repeat to myself…

• It’s okay to be scared of moving, it’s perfectly normal to be stressed. Moving is one of the most stressful things a person can go through in life (right up there with losing a loved one) so of course it’s only natural to be stressed. Especially when certain expenses are not covered by the organisation that is moving you.
• We count ourselves lucky and fortunate to be able to move, when some people quite their jobs and give up everything for a move like this. Moving as part of the Philippine embassy is a secure way to move. The embassy people already there will be very helpful to a fellow DFA person. 
• We are smart practical people who will figure out a way. Mistakes will be made, but lessons will be learned.
• If things don’t work out, we can always go home.
• “Don’t be lonely about being so far away. Think of it as being peaceful.” (Thanks K!)
• “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing” -thanks for the tips currystrumpet
• “ you can’t let the cold stop you from going out and having fun” - currystrumpet

If anyone has any tips for me about moving to a cold climate country (especially money saving tips), I would love love love to hear from you!

P.S.

I will still be doing posts on Jakarta because there is so much I still want to share. Please bear withme, as I will also be doing the Travel Diaries post and posts about Manila and the Philippines, that I’ve not been able to do. These will be about travels TD and I did 2012 and beforehand. The little details might now be up to date, but I hope you enjoy the pictures of our travels, even if things may or may not have changed since the time we visited. 

For Jakartans, feel free to unsubscribe to my posts, if you feel that the information you are getting is not longer relevant to you. I wont take it against you, I promise! However I would love it if you continue to go along with me on our European adventure for the next 2 years! Thanks for reading my blog and I always appreciate your comments, tips and suggestions!

ocha panas (hot tea)

TD and I order this meal with 12 chicken gyozas and some Japanese fried rice. It’s pretty big so we usually share.

My favorite part of this meal is the gyoza and the fried rice. I could do without the soup and the slices of meat. 

I like that they give free jello at the end. This is a reliable place for us if we want to have a quick meal when we are in Gandaria. It’s very near ACE hardware, which is my favourite store for home accessories.

Ramen Sanpachi or Ramen 38 has different menus per branch. You can see the different menus here.

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RAMEN SANPACHI

• Gandaria City Lower Ground 101, Jl. Iskandar Muda (Arteri Pondok Indah) No.6 , Kebayoran Baru , Jakarta Selatan 12240
• Tel.(021) 2905-3114

Even the waiters have a retro-ish uniform! Cool!

They are popular for their milkshakes. TD loves milkshakes and despite the sizable portions in the diner, he always has to have his milkshake fix at Mr. Jones!

My favorite thing to order here is their Truffle Mac n’ Cheese. Their salads are really delicious too!

I love that they have all these games which you can help yourself to. Perfect when people are taking their children. It’s perfect for a chillax Sunday afternoon with family.

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MR JONES DINER

• Greenbelt 5, Makati
• Click here for the menu (I don’t know if this is the updated one, but it can give you an idea of the dishes and prices)

From Pawday 2011:

Socializing a dog is important and as there are not many “dog parks” in Jakarta, JAAN’s PawDay Dog Walk offered a rare opportunity for dogs and owners to get together.

The JAAN PawDay event raised much needed funds for JAAN’s ongoing programs: rescuing pet dogs, stray cat sterilizations, and wildlife protection. JAAN also is working to end the cruel Topeng Monyet Industry and improving the health of carriage horses in Indonesia.

In the past years, JAAN has re-homed hundreds of pet dogs, sterilized 1500+ stray cats and dogs, and rescued endangered Brahminy Kites, Sea Turtles, abused Dolphins and primates.

 

Activities for Pawday 2013:

• A Guided Dog Walk through the Park at Kebayoran Baru’s Taman Langsat
• International Food Restaurants
• Vendors Selling Interesting Merchandise
• Entertainment
• Games for Dogs
• Our Super Duper Raffle-grand prize Samsung Galaxy Tab 2
• And an Opportunity to Enjoy a Day in the Park with your Family and Friends
• 8:00 am-1:00 pm

There were also dogs up for adoption, if you love animals and want to look for a dog to adopt this is definitely an event to watch out for. Sadly there are many dogs in Jakarta, from mutts to purebreds that are abandoned, abused or live in unacceptable conditions. Recently we know a lady who found a yorkie-mix that placed in a trashbag that was tied close and thrown in a trash can to die. Who would do such a thing? Place a dog in a plastic bag to suffocate and die? Wow. The owner could have just dropped the dog off in JAAN. There is no need for such cruelty.

This poor pup was just all tuckered out and fast asleep, oblivious to all the activity around him. Cute!

There were many more cute dogs and I took so many pictures. If you wanna see all the photos of the park and of Pawday 2013 click here!

It was a really amazing event and we are glad we got to drop by and meet so many cuties! If you are interested in getting a dog, please do adopt one instead of buying from breeders. JAAN has many dogs (and cats) that need a good home!

Click here to see animals available for adoption.

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I  blame being to crazy busy moving for posting pictures of the second meet up before the first. Forgive me! Stay tuned for an official announcement on where exactly we are moving! #TheDiplosAreOffToEurope

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The lime green entrance is modern and striking against the Bimasena club backdrop. 

Authentic food with an authentic Japanese chef. Only the freshest ingredients are ever served here.

The Teppanyaki station.

Miso soup and all my other favorite Japanese dishes…

The highlight of my brunch was the wagyu fried rice, prepared fresh in front of the diners. OMG this was so yummy!

On the dessert table, I particularly liked the green tea ice cream, traditional mochi and one made with black sesame seeds. 

Check out that plate of yumminess!

Drooling over that wagyu fried rice!Delicious SukiyakiShared the Beef Ramen with TD. Because of it’s amazing flavor, we were able to finish it despite our full bellies. =p And of course, dessert!

I love the lush greens and the flower vendors that surround the Dharmawangsa. My only regret is not buying more orchids while living so nearby. 

The Sekitei Saturday brunch is from 11 am to 3 pm and costs Rp 325.000⁺⁺/adult & Rp.225.000⁺⁺/child (4-11 years old) (Inclusive of free flow of cold or hot Ocha). The quality of the food you get is amazing and well-worth the cost. So if you are looking for a weekend indulgence or a place to get-together for a long lunch with friends/family this saturday, I highly recommend Sekitei’s Saturday Brunch!

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Sekitei Japanese Restaurant :

• (62-21) 725 8668 ext. 6219 *reservation is a must
• 2^nd Floor Grha Bimasena of The Dharmawangsa Jakarta, Jl. Dharmawangsa Raya No. 23, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta 12160

Love the placemats!

My favorite curry dish! Fries dipped in curry sauce You can also order different kinds of curry dishes!

Cheese Naan

Dessert

GO CURRY!

• Pacific Place 4th Floor, Jakarta, Indonesia
• (021) 51402751
• Follow on Twitter

This restaurant was another recommendation of fellow Filipina traveling spouse, Travels with a Gourmet, who has always such fabulous food recos! The indoor decor was also breathtaking, very modern but still very Bali. I especially adored the lighting made of inverted teacups! How clever!!! All the stoneware used in the store are from my favorite Bali shopping haunt, Jenggala!
We inhaled our order and enjoyed every sip of iced coffee. I can still remember the taste in my mouth of the delicious cold coffee on a warm Bali day… together with the amazing banana pancake we shared! 

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CAFE BATUJIMBAR

• Jl. Danau Tamblingan No 75 A, Sanur – Bali – Indonesia 80228
• +62 361 287 374 (Restaurant)
• info@cafebatujimbar.com
• click here to see the menu (may have changed since I took the photos)
• Open from 07.00 – 23.00
• Like on Facebook

It’s several stories, the first story is where they process the beans and make their fabulous chocolate creations. Go up to the second floor to be seated. They have a long dessert/chocolate menu you can choose from or take your pick of pralines and macaroons on display (I highly recommend the salted caramel macaroons)

They have a wide variety of super yummy coffee and teas, and a short savoury menu. So far what we’ve tried of the savoury dishes are delicious. The spicy bolognese fries and the Tasmanian salmon are favorites. The price is very affordable (for now?) for the quality of the food.  And I am totally in love with the industrial chic interiors! So far I’ve been back with TD and he loves the caramel nut coffee, reminds him of his favorite creme brulee coffee in Anomali (which one of the owner also happens to own). We tried the motion dessert plate and it was so interesting and different, but we wiped it out. This is a place to wake up your palate to different ways to taste chocolate. Next time we go back I want to try the new dessert plate that looks like a beach, with chocolate from Bali. (Tissa what is the name again?)

During the times of the Aztec Empire, the Pipiltin were a social noble class that held top positions in the government, the army and priesthood. They also produced high-quality chocolate, which they used as an offering to their gods, thus treating the sweet delicacy meticulously and with the greatest of care.

The Pipiltin now also serve as the namesake for a new venue in Jakarta, Pipiltin Cocoa, which is located in Kebayoran Baru in the South of the city and specializes in everything chocolate and, as far as quality is concerned, recalls the era of the Pipiltin.

The brainchild of brother-and-sister duo Irvan Helmi and Tissa Aunilla, Pipiltin Cocoa opened its doors earlier this month and boasts a sleek, wooden interior design over two floors, inviting for both larger groups and more romantic and intimate parties of two.

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Read more about Pipiltin:

• Quality Cocoa Comes to Town

PIPILTIN COCOA

• Jl. Barito 2 No. 5 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan 12160 click her for location
• 021-72800011
• @pipiltincocoa
• Pipiltin Cocoa
• info@pipiltincocoa.com

The Bayanihan national dance company is the first Filipino group to break into Broadway and the first non-American dance company to perform at the New York State Theater of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; and the only Filipino dance company to receive the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay award for international understanding.

They have TWO shows every evening at 740pm and 840pm, each show different from the other. Reservation is a must.

We were there last Sunday and invited our friends from other countries so they can try some Filipino flavours and also see our fun and exciting dances. I saw that the Filipino kids really enjoyed watching. What a wonderful and fun way to show children our colorful Filipino culture.