Monday, December 14, 2009

Long Weekend Blast : [Part 2] Braga Fest and Lazy Sunday

Setelah gue tewas sepulang dari company outing di Lembang, Sabtu (12/12) kemarin, gue terbangun jam 4 sore dan menyadari kalau si 8 belum nongol di tempat gue. Baru sekitar jam 5 sore dia dateng, dan karena gue terlalu males untuk pergi-pergi, gue dan 8 akhirnya memasak (okay, tepatnya menggoreng) fish fillets dan ayam buat makan malam. Lumayan menyenangkan, gue suka banget fish fillet.. Dan 8 suka banget makan sambil nonton siaran langsung sepakbola Persib lawan Sriwijaya Palembang. Hahahahaha.

Tapi setelah makan, 8 ngajakin gue ke pameran komputer dan liat Helarfest di Braga. Akhirnya gue nurut dan ganti baju, lalu kita ke Braga. Pameran komputer itu ya seperti pameran pada umumnya. Tapi yang nggak umum mungkin karena ada satu stand yang nyetel siaran bola dan semua orang berkerumun demi menyaksikan Persib main. Hal yang sama juga terjadi di jalan Braga. Jalan Braga hari itu ditutup karena ada Brotherhood Bike Fest, yaitu semacam festival yang diadain oleh para bikers Harley Davidsons. Ada panggung band, dan pameran motor-motor gede di mana-mana. Lengkap dengan para cowok-cowok bikers dimana-mana. Dan, tentu saja, ada satu resto di salah satu pojokan Braga yang nyetel TV dan orang-orang berkerumun nonton Persib di situ XD

Gue dan 8 memutuskan untuk masuk ke Citywalk (karena ngapain juga kongkow ama para bikers di Bike Fest) dan liat-liat.. Eehh di salah satu factory outlet yang kita masukin juga banyak orang berkerumun dan semua bersorak waktu Persib mencetak gol!! XDDDD
Gile ye, dimanapun gue berada, semua orang menonton Persib. Hahahaha! Sayangnya hari itu Persib nggak menang, tapi imbang 1-1 dengan lawannya.

Kita pulang ke rumah sekitar jam 10-11 malem, dan gue nggak tau jam berapa gue tertidur karena tiba-tiba gue terbangun pas si 8 bilang kalo dia laper, gue baru sadar kalo gue laper juga :P Pas kita jalan ke Gemboel, baru gue sadar kalo itu udah jam 3 subuh! XD
Sehabis makan di Gemboel, udah jam 4 pagi pas kita nyampe rumah.. dan gue langsung molor lagi sampe jam 10 pagi di hari Minggunya (13/12). Well, gue menghabiskan seharian itu lebih banyak leyeh-leyeh di kasur sih. Cuma keluar buat mandi, beli makan siang, trus leyeh-leyeh lagi sambil nonton TV atau main games. Hehehe. 8 sih lebih dodol lagi, dia bener-bener molor seharian dan cuma bangun buat makan siang yang telat banget secara udah jam 3 sore (tapi dia kan memang lagi sakit, jadi gue juga nggak ngarepin dia ngajak jalan atau makan di mana gitu).

Untungnya sehabis mandi siang itu gue sempet beres-beres kamar sedikit, dan mengumpulkan baju-baju kotor gue yang ternyata udah banyak aje, akibat males nyuci berhari-hari dan efek pulang dari Lembang. Malemnya gue keluar bareng 8 yang mau pulang, buat nganter baju-baju gue ke laundry - karena gue terlalu capek dan males buat nyuci baju sendiri :P

Setelah beli makan buat jaga-jaga kalo gue kelaperan malemnya, 8 pulang dan gue melanjutkan leyeh-leyeh bareng Irena dan Puji di rumah, sambil nyicipin pancake bikinan Puji dan nonton film apapun itu yang diputer di TV. Oh, ada Shallow Hal :P Udah lama nggak liat Gwyneth Paltrow. Gue baru beneran tewas jam 1 malem, itupun nggak sadar kalo gue belum mengunci pintu dan tau-tau udah jam setengah tujuh pagi tadi XD

Oh well, there goes my long weekend ^^ Menyenangkan, full of food, and exhausting. Untung pak Boss lagi nggak ada di kantor hari ini, jadi gue bisa melanjutkan leyeh-leyeh sambil menulis blog entry panjang lebar nggak penting ini :D

Now it's Monday, chill out. Tomorrow is a brand new day!

{posted by Chibi on 3:19 PM} +

Long Weekend Blast : [Part 1] Lembang Outing

Gue baru nyadar, ternyata di bulan-bulan terakhir tahun 2009 ini banyak sekali long weekend yah. Dan kegiatan di gue juga menjadi semakin bervariasi, malah banyakan pergi-pergi.
Salah satunya adalah acara Company Outing yang diadain ama kantor gue dan kantor pusat. So here's my long weekend story.
Acara company outing kantor gue (KNet dan KS Plus Indonesia) taun ini diadain di Lembang. Sejak beberapa minggu yang lalu udah dikabarin kalo buat acara ini kita musti nyiapin kado juga seharga 25 ribu, buat tuker-tukeran kado nantinya. Dan di rundown acara yang gue terima, kayanya sih bakal mayan sibuk dengan games-games antar karyawan gituw. Karena ini pertama kalinya gue ikutan outing kantor, jadi agak penasaran juga kaya gimana sih gathering kantor itu (secaraaaa selama gue kerja kantoran gak pernah ada outing bersama) :P

Anyway, akhirnya gue berhasil mendapatkan sebuah kado yang lumayan universal buat tuker-tukeran, dan pada hari Jumat kemarin (11/12) kita berangkat menuju Lembang. Jam 12.30 siang kita berangkat bersama-sama rombongan dari KS Plus, dan mampir dulu ke Hanoi House untuk makan siang bersama. Agak susah juga ya menjelaskan apa itu Pho Bo ke orang-orang yang belum pernah makan masakan Vietnam ^^;; Jadi dengan agak ngasal, gue bilang kalo makanan itu mirip dengan mie kocok (doh) *maksa ya*. Hiahhaahha XD

Perjalanan ke lembang dari Dago Pakar ternyata cuma memakan waktu kurang dari 45 menit. Melalui jalanan yang berkelok-kelok dan cuma selebar satu mobil, akhirnya kita sampai di Hotel Panorama Lembang pukul 15.00. Abis itu (harusnya) acara kita adalah games, tapi kayanya bahkan para boss-boss kita aja pada males, jadi setelah ganti baju dan leyeh-leyeh menikmati suasanna cottage masing-masing (oh, lodge tempat cewek-cewek sangat menyenangkan, by the way. Tiga kamar tidur dengan perapian di ruang tengah dan balkon belakang menghadap ke gunung), lalu sekitar jam 16.00 sore kita memutuskan untuk main-main sekedarnya di taman hotel. Gue diajarin main tenis meja sama Mr. Park (boss kantor pusat), LOL! Abis itu gue juga mencoba main badminton, yang ternyata nggak susah-susah amat (walopun nggak bisa dibilang bisa juga sih) :P Mr. Park ternyata juga membawa bola untuk sepak takraw dan menyuruh kita semua untuk ikutan main bola rotan itu. Dan gue menyadari ternyata kemampuan gue untuk menendang bola sangat payah, dan akhirnya gue mempermalukan diri sendiri dengan menerima bola rotan itu dengan jidat gue (bukan menyundul, tapi menerima dengan pasrah-bin-bengong). I am so out of sport :P

Jam 18.00 sore, akhirnya Mr. Park menyudahi permainan dan gue selamat sentosa dari arena pembantaian kembali ke lodge :P Setelah pada mandi-mandi, jam 19.00 malem kita mulai makan malam (plus barbekyu) yang disambung dengan acara karaokean. Setelah mesin karaoke (seadanya) itu diusung ke lodge cewek (karena lodge kita paling luas), acara karaoke berlanjut dengan tukar kado. Gue dapet sebuah frame foto yang gue-banget (karena di bagian belakangnya ada cerminnya :P), dan kado gelas Luminarc gue ternyata dimenangkan oleh Dwi. Yeaay! Oh, gue mendapat tambahan hadiah mug karena berhasil menjadi salah satu banci mic XDD Ada dua orang banci mic juga yang dapet mug, yaitu Rini dan Bu Trisna dari kantor pusat. Huahahhahahaa.

Acara nyanyi-nyanyi akhirnya selesai jam 11 malem, dan para cowok kembali ke lodge masing-masing. Beberapa cewek (termasuk gue) masih kongkow di ruang tengah lodge sambil ngemil makanan full main course yang tadi dibawain dari ruang prasmanan ke lodge O_o Dan karena para boss bilang besok pagi harus kumpul buat sarapan jam 7.30, jadi gue memutuskan untuk bobo pas jam 12 malam. Oh ya, gue sekamar ama Dwi dan dia udah molor sejak dismissal jam 11 malem itu XDD

Gue kebangun jam 5 subuh karena gue mendengar suara-suara TV nyala. Argh. Tiba-tiba kenangan jaman SMP gue muncul, di mana nyokap gue selalu ngebangunin gue dengan cara yang (buat gue) menyebalkan sekali, yaitu membesarkan volume TV (yang kebetulan ada di luar kamar gue). Gue keluar dan meminta salah seorang cewek untuk mengecilkan volume, trus bobo lagi sampe jam 7. Pas gue bangun sih di lodge udah nyaris ga ada orang, secara semua udah pada asik main badminton lah, atau apalah di luar sana. Gue cukup bahagia dengan ngingsut ke sofa dan berusaha melek dengan teh-nyaris-dingin gue dan mengumpulkan niat untuk mandi. Untungnya salah satu kamar mandi di lodge ada bath tub-nya. Pas gue selesai mandi, kita semua langsung digiring ke resto hotel untuk sarapan. Karena gue nggak terbiasa sarapan pagi, gue cuma ngambil sedikit-sedikit - telur ceplok (sunny side up yang udah dingin), kentang goreng, dan sejumput kwetiaw, ditemani secangkir milk tea dan OJ yang anehnya kok berasa markisa :P Sementara temen-temen gue pada bersemangat menyantap bubur ayam, nasi goreng, dll, dll.
Selesai sarapan, para boss langsung menyuruh kita berangkat ke Ciater ntuk berendam di sumber air panas Sari Ater. Gue baru nyadar, ternyata cuma gue yang udah mandi pagi, karena yang lain memutuskan untuk mandi sambil berendam di aer panas aja :P Gue sih nggak bisa pergi-pergi tanpa mandi dulu :P

Di Sari Ater, gue dan Dwi memutuskan untuk sekamar aja, karena kita semua dapet private bathroom. Menyenangkan sekali lhooo :D Berendam selama kira-kira 30-40 menit, trus kita kongkow sebentar dan akhirnya balik ke hotel lagi jam 11.30 siang. Oh, kita sempet mampir pasar Lembang sebentar karena tiba-tiba Mr. Kim pengen belanja buah (yang awalnya dia bilang pengen semangka, tapi kok tau-tau belinya malah manggis?), jadi gue juga sempet beli kripik pisang just because pengen beli aja (bukan karena gue doyan atau buat oleh-oleh gitu) :P

Balik ke hotel, kita semua makan siang dan siap-siap untuk pulang ke Bandung. Rasanya kaya abis ngapain aja, badan kok berasa capek ya. Padahal jelas-jelas outing ini isinya cuma makan dan bersenang-senang, dan makan. Hiahahaha. Gue nyampe rumah jam 14.00 siang dan langsung bobo, recharge energi buat malem minggu ^^

Well, company outing ini menyenangkan sekali. Mudah-mudahan outing tahun depan para boss mengajak kita ke Pulau Umang atau Karimun Jawa (huhu ngarep bangeett)! XD

{posted by Chibi on 3:11 PM} +

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

FASHION NISTA?

It is amusing that some of my friends told me that I am a fashionable person. I must admit that I am flattered with such compliments, but yet I could not help to think of what qualification did they see in me which made them give such exclamation?

If being fashionable considered as a person who follows the fashion trends, I could say perhaps I am fashionable. But, I am absolutely not a fashionista, of a person whose always in the fashion trends. Which means, I am not always get myself involved in the latest fashion, furthermore making myself one.

So if one is not in the latest fashion trend, why do I keep on following the trends?
I'll tell you why.

I don't really like wearing things that everyone wears. I don't really like to do things that everyone did. I'd rather to be different, not too unique but could still stand out among the many.
Furthermore, I really don't want to be a fashion victim which often happened to those fashionistas, and turn myself into a fashion-nista (nista is Indonesian for 'disgrace'). I refuse to humiliating myself by wearing things that might be trendy now, but actually ridiculous for me to wear.

Yes, I always concern about what's new what's hot in the fashion world. But I carefully sort those information and pick some that I consider useful and would fit me well. And I carefully try to avoid to be in the trend too much, as it would easily turn me into a fashion-nista.

I like to be myself, with my own style. Perhaps considered classic or common, but of course I try to not being dull and boring, after all that's why we follow the fashion trends, aren't we? ^^

Here are some latest fashion trends that I try to avoid myself from wearing (and some I loathe) :

- Skinny jeans

Of course, almost EVERY GIRLS are wearing skinny jeans. Almost. Not me.
Considering the fact that I have short legs and rather big than slim, I prefer basic straight cut for my hip-huggers (which makes my legs look slimmer). But look around, and you'll find dozens of teenagers wearing skinny jeans (even colorful ones!) regardless their fat legs, which make them look like turnips -_-

- Flat shoes

Since I have small feets, and I'm not tall, flat shoes are not really my type of shoes. But actually it looks cute if you wear it with short pants. The thing is, most girls HERE (in Indonesia) like to wear flat shoes with their skinny jeans. That is the most horrible fashion crime I've ever seen -__- Skinny jeans are meant to be worn with heels, so it would empasize your legs. But with flat shoes, you turn yourself into a penguin (with turnips legs). D-uh.

- Gladiator shoes

As my boyfriend told me, girls' ankle is sexy. I so agree. So it would be such a waste to cover it with high-ankle gladiator shoes, which makes you look like some Roman (fashion) slave.

- Harem pants

I have no idea why oh why, some people think this pants could look gorgeous on them *__* Lucky that this fashion item is NO LONGER IN THE SEASON! HA! So if you still wearing this kind of pants, believe me darling. You are soooo last season. *smirks*

- High-waist pants

Uhm, I think this is so 80s recycle. Which no need to be brought back, actually.

- Check shirts

I am so tired with those Southern Jakarta teenagers style, wearing oversized check shirts with their skinny jeans, flas shoes and messy haircuts, and it seems like EVERY TEENAGERS have the same style!
It is no longer cute or cool, it's merely common boring fashion. Check shirts are cool, but when everybody wears that, it is so cheesy. It's almost like a sorry version of Agyness Deyn's rip-off.

I myself prefer some everlasting and must-have items like : black and white tank tops, trench coat, boot-cut and straight-cut jeans, cigarette pants, high heels, stilettos, satin shirts, and of course, a little black dress.

Well, whatever style you like, it's always up to your personal taste. But I keep my rule : There is no need to be a fashion victim when you better off without wearing it. :)

{posted by Chibi on 4:29 PM} +

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Digging Romance Wolrd of Barbara Cartland

There is no doubt that I am a huge fan of Dame Barbara Cartland, the writer, the Queen of Romance. So everytime I visit the bookstore - especially secondhand-book shops - I'm always looking for her books.

Lucky that few weeks ago I got some Barbara Cartland's books from Reading Lights, when I visited there with Yuwonosigit and Sassy. I bought 3 books : "Love Under Fire", "The Cruel Count", and "The Slaves of Love".

I personally love the book "The Cruel Count" very much. When I read this book last weekend, I expected the usual damsel-in-distress situation wrapped in a romantic love story.
But what came to my surprise was, I miss-judged the ending! LOL.
This is the first time I read Barbara Cartland's book and I guessed the ending wrong.
The story is about Lady Vesta who travelled to Katona to marry a prince whom she never met, but when the revolution broke down in Katona, she incidentally fell in love with Count Miklos, the handsome royal who was at first told her to go back to England, but finally took her to the Prince Court because she insisted to.
She thought Count Miklos was cruel, but after having series of adventurous journey to the Capital with him, she realized not only the Count's confession of love that dazzled her, but also how to choose between the arranged married to the Prince, or to live happily ever after with her love Count Miklos!
... And so I got wrong in the end :D hahahaha. Still happy ending, though. It's just caught me off-guard when I read the ending. Yeayy Vesta! *I like her, really* :P

The second book I read is "Love Under Fire".
As a Barbara Cartland's fan, I am well aware of the plot which the handsome duke/lord/baron met the angelic-beauty lady kind of story.
But in this book, I got more than i expected. Love Under Fire gave the detail description about the war between the British army with the French during King George III reign. The whole scene were exciting to read, not merely a love story with small incident. I found a lot of interesting action-packed adventure in this book :) Oh, and plus the cameo in this book, is Lord Wellington. You know, the Duke who won the battle in Waterloo against Napoleon :P

I read the last book "The Slaves of Love" just last night. My Plurk friend Winda already read it, and, as we both fangirls of Dame Barbara, she excitedly told me that this book has good plot too. And she was right, I really did enjoy every details written in this story, about a lady named Yamina who had to hide in the Turk's Castle as a Harem, but then she managed to escape by hiding in a trunk sent for Lord Castleford on a yacht to Greece. I practically laughed when I read the description of Lord Castleford's expression when he found Yamina - dressed like an eastern harem with so much revealing - stepped out from the trunk in his cabin. LMAO. That must be quite a shock therapy. XD

What makes me enjoy Dame Barbara's writings is the character she built in every story. Even though the settings are usually set in the 18-19th century (during the reign of King George to Queen Victoria - basically the House of Hanover), but the female characters were usually not the weaklings spoiled-brat kind of girls. On the contrary, Dame Barbara showed the readers how women at that time were struggling for acknowledgement, by learning foreign languages, being independent and showing their pride as a royalty which has courage and determined heart.
And considering the situation at that time, it must be hard for female to be stood out among powerful men.

If I think of the women these days, I think we must be grateful since it is more convenient for women to do almost anything equals to men. And sometimes I feel like women now are more spoilt than in the Victorian era. For instant, I don't even know how to cook while the ladies in Barbara Cartland's books were usually splendid in housechores! XD

Well, nevertheless, I am still trying to improve myself as a woman :) Hopefully someday, like the girls in Dame Barbara's books, I could please the one I love with my skills and personal qualities (although perhaps it's kinda difficult to nail a handsome duke or prince charming nowadays - furthermore in Indonesia) :P There's something I learn from these historical romance books, so I will keep on searching for another enchanting stories :)

{posted by Chibi on 11:33 AM} +

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Lazy-blogging

It is said that today is Hari Blogger Nasional ^^ Well, I don't really know / care about it actually. But I just realized that it is so lazy for me to update my blog lately. Compare to few years ago, I usually posted two or even three entries a day. But now, perhaps once a week - or month!

Oh well. Microblogging seems pretty convenient for me lately ^^;;;
But I promise, I will update this blog and hopefully with some book reviews (because I read some interesting books lately). Yeay!

{posted by Chibi on 4:29 PM} +

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

New Books!

Hello, world :)
It feels like ages ago since my last entry, and now I just want to share some books I got from my favorite secondhand bookshop here in Bandung ^^
It's Plum Sykes' "The Debutante Divorcee" and Philippa Gregory's "The Other Queen".
I love those book sooo much! Yeayy! XD

{posted by Chibi on 4:20 PM} +

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Happy Eid, Happy Holiday!

Finally Eid is coming! ^_^
This year I spend the Big Day in my Grandma's house in Bogor. A perfect place for holiday - nice view, fresh air, great food XD
Happy Eid for everyone who celebrate it. Have a great feast!
And happy holiday to all of you~!

{posted by Chibi on 10:54 PM} +

Sunday, August 23, 2009

My Playlist on August 2009

It's already passed mid-August, and I haven't share my playlist of the month :P I'm in a very moody-rather suicidal mode lately, so I hardly have any excitement of what's new what's not in this world. I'd rather curled up on my bed and try not to think of how to blow my head out. But I guess life goes on, and I have to keep on living, no matter how. Just like anybody else *shrugs*

Well I might say not much new songs this August, but some songs are frequently aired in my room. Haha. So here it is (in random preferences) :

1. The Fray - Never Say Never
(Yes, same like last month, I still love this song. Even deeper.)

2. 2NE1 - I Don't Care

3. Haptic Mission - Mission No.4
The song is so catchy I can't help it.

4. Jamie Foxx ft. TI - Just Like Me

5. Rob Pattinson - Never Think (click to download)
It's in the Twilight OST soundtrack, but I don't think it's included in the movie. Rob may not much a singer, but I love the guitar and the lyrics. As Edward, he sure does grab my attention with this song :)

6. Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth

7. The Rescues - Break Me Out
All credits to Monika XDD You poisonous song-giver, you!

8. Hari Moekti - Hanya Satu Kata
LOL, very 80s Indonesian, I know :P

9. Davichi - Seulpun Dajim

10. Chae Yeon - Shake

11. Antonio Vivaldi - Violin Concerto in B Flat, Op. 8 No. 10, "La Caccia", Mv 3 (Allegro)
Yes, a classic. It soothes me a lot (the whole album, actually), especially when my head was about to explode.

12. Taylor Swift - White Horse

13. Demi Lovato - Don't Forget

14. Super Junior - It's You (너라고)

15. Kim Dong Ryul - Chwijung Jindam (The Truth When I'm Drunk) - Live concert version
I also love Fly To The Sky version of this song, and also Park Hyo Sin's. Even Lee Bum Soo's version in the drama On Air. Ugh, basically, I LOVE THIS SONG!

{posted by Chibi on 7:25 AM} +

Song:'80s-'90s songs; new K-pops
Obsession: Publishing my book
Reading: Philippa Gregory books
Movie: Sunday morning cartoons
Addiction: Books & Mp3
Project: Magazine articles