I envy you…

Don’t you know that?

Why did you upload so many pictures of your new born beautiful and charming baby every minute, dear friend? You used to be so hostile to facebook. You never upload any of your pictures before. You said people were too mesmerized by facebook and all its apps. You said, I was too mesmerized by facebook. But look at you now. There is no day when I log in to facebook that I don’t see the photo of your baby. Not that I complain, though. I was just thinking, about some of my friends who are waiting patiently for the gift of baby in their lives, yet never comes. How would they feel when they log in to their facebook? Not that you did something wrong. No. Not at all. I just… we just… envy you.

Baby, you’re a firework…

I love fireworks. The one on the sky and the other one on my hand. I love all kind of fireworks. Apparently, kids love fireworks. Hihihihi…. I don’t know why. Last New Year Eve, we had a small firework party, my nieces and nephew actually.

And then I remember Katy Perry’s song…

I will survive

Going back to work after four weeks holiday is a very ankle-twisting thing to do. Well, in fact, I did get a twisted ankle during my first week of work. Guess, it is true what they said, starting well is not necessary ending well. And if I look at the in between, boy, how thing never happens as we intend it to be.

This past week…

My dietary program did not run smoothly but it was not a total failure as well. I blamed on my twisted ankle. I argued to myself that I needed more energy to get a fast recovery hence I should set aside my dietary program. After couple of days, I argued back to myself… what a lame excuse. Next week should be better. I should feel hungry.

5 cm

It all started on New Year’s Eve. I was writing my blog,  Vallaura Awards. I was shocked to know that I did not read a lot of books in 2011. So much for a person who claim to be a bookworm. So, I got some gears and started reading again. 5 cm was the first book I finished in this 2012.

It’s an Indonesian book and I borrowed it from my friend. I found the book not really have that wow factor but it was not a disappointment as well. It was about 5 friends who like to hang around until they decided to have 3-month break of seeing each other. And after the 3-month period they set a time to meet and go for Mahameru trip (Mahameru is a name of the tallest mountain in Java, Indonesia). The Mahameru trip was described interestingly vivid. So, it was a good part of the book. But that’s all.

The writer also spiced up with his thoughts through out the pages, as if he was reading with us. Some of the spices, I admit, keep us going for the sake of curiosity. while the 5 cm philosophy, it’s a bout dreaming. In essence, if you have a dream, hang it 5 cm before your forehead, so you will always see it and determine to pursue that dream until you make it happen. A good one.

Here I quote original writing from the book, it’s in Bahasa Indonesia (but have similar meaning with what I’ve told you before).

How was your Christmas, friend?

was it peaceful?

was it joyful?

Kedai Bunda

.. in English, Mother’s Diner. 

I was starving to death last week on my journey from one of Indonesia’s famous national parks, Cibodas. It was cold, dark and drizzling when we found this diner across the street.

We were not expecting much to be honest. The place was overly decorated to my taste. But the ambience from colors displayed indeed gave warmth in a very cold night like such.

Vallaura Awards

To commemorate the passing year, I, instead of making New Year resolution, made this list which I named Vallaura Awards, simply to remind myself those marvelous things, places or people throughout the passing year and hopefully the coming year as well.

Since I am new to this, let’s start with things that I like the most:

Best Book: ….err, I just realized that I haven’t finish any of my books. But I did finished reading Wimpy Kid Series… does it count?

Best Gadget: On January 2011 I bought macbook and on December 2011 I bought EOS 550D. I would like to shout EOS as the best gadget but I realized that it will be because it’s still brand new. And it will be not fair for my macbook who has accompanied me throughout the year and not be nominated. ….after careful thought. Macbook is the winner!

Umbul Sidomukti

I am not a mountain person I have to admit. But this holiday, being cheapskate to myself, I decided to travel with my friend for a city tour and mountain view.

After 2 days of city tour in Semarang, a city in Central Java, Indonesia, we decided to go to Umbul Sidomukti. It is a resort up in a mountain range of Semarang. It was raining and the road was slippery and steep. But the place was worth to visit.

These are the 10 rooms they have. Yup. This resort only has 10 rooms! We got Room A to later find that we were lucky to get that particular room.

We took a walk under the drizzle to ease our car sickness. It was almost 1.5 ride from Semarang to get to this resort. And the mountain breeze really invited us to go around.

 

It's not raining anymore.

My travel companion

Our room... We got the one that is furthest to the right end.

 

25 December

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thank you for your love.
Thank you for your love.
Thank you for your love.

I can never say it enough, can’t I?

Thank you Jesus.

Spa on The Sky

Tranquility at its best.

 

Isaiah 26:3

”You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

It was not a perfect peace but it was nearly as close as peace. Sometimes, small things can give you a sense of peace that you have never expected. And the story goes like this…