Akiyoshido

The other day the whole Miyamoto family guided us to Akiyoshi-do. It's a splendid stalagtit-stalagmit cave, known as the biggest in Japan. It's really really really big (covers almost all underground of one hill). Another God's amazing creation.

Mt. Kasayama

We visited a dormant volcano of Mt. Kasayama, called Kazaana. The area surrounding it was surprisingly cool. Only the surrounding of the kazaana. 10 steps out of it, back to hot humid weather. It's so mysterious how nature can arrange such a phenomenon.



Nearby, along the way to the kazaana, we can feed fishes and birds with bread at a beautiful seawater pond. Those fishes were so fat of bread hahaha. The view here was also amazing. Mt. Kasayama on my left hand and seawater pond on my right.


feeding fish

Yukawa Family Resident

During our visit in Hagi, we also spent some minutes at Yukawa Family Resident, now it's kind of museum. It's a samurai-mansion style architecture.


Garden

It has an old style yet high technique utility to take river water into the mansion, called Hatoba. This type of water utilization is typical in the households along Aiba river.


hatoba

The Aiba river itself, in front of the house, has very clear water. There many Koi fishes can be seen swimming around freely. It's public place, but no one take it. Hmmm I can't imagine what happened to those fish if they're swimming in Indonesian's river? =))


Koi fishes along Aiba river

Hagi Yaki

Hagi is very famous for its pottery, known as Hagi Yaki. There're several famous artist (maker) known widely throughout Japan, and we were so lucky to meet one of them, Hamanaka Gesson, and had a visit to his splendid house and shop. A teacup made by his hands costs about 150 USD (and we got 2 for free!! Thanks to Miyamoto's mother-she works there). The pottery from this city is different from those of other parts of japan. More about Hagi Yaki can be read here. We brought back some pieces of this Hagi yaki. Two long fish plates, 2 small unique plate, 6 small round plates, and 2 tea cup made by Hamanaka Gesson. All for free hehehee. Thanks for Miyamoto family.


hagi yaki we got

I know....

Last night I saw it by accident
Argggh....you did promise me,
can't believe you're still doing it.
No need to say anything though,
I just want you to know that I know :(

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Out of sudden I wanted to watch this drama series again. FRIENDS.
It can be said an old series, but I never can get enough of it. No idea how many times have I watched it already and how well I know every episode by heart, I just can't stop laughing at every scene of its every episode.

Last time I watched the episode when everyone just knew that Rachel's pregnant. It really made me laugh out loud. Any of you like this series and remember the story? ;-)



I heard a rumor that there will be a special episodes of FRIENDS?!
If so, really waiting forward for it then!

I miss the self centered Ross; the unique and sometimes-innnocent phoebe; sloppy but pretty Rachel; empty-headed Joey; cleaning-freak and perfectionist Monica; and one-who-claims-that-he's-the-funniest Chandler.

Today I found about this game
Want it badly huks huks huks. Anyone from Indonesia wanna send me a copied PS2 one? (^_-).
Original CD is so expensive hiks hiks....or...anyone kind enough to give me one? hihihi

Samgaetang

Welcoming summer in Korea, besides facing hot sunny day with high humidity, you'd also find long queeing at restaurants serving Samgaetang. Samgaetang, or in other words, Ginseng Chicken Soup, is known as the food for welcoming Summer in Korea. Korean believe that this soup can give cool effect to your body, and give energy to prepare body's stamina along the whole hot summer. It was what I read in Korean newspaper.
At first I was confused. Eh? eating hot soup in hot weather? giving cool feeling? All I could imagine was sweating all over my body :p

But anyway, being in Korea, I'd like to experience it. Besides samgaetang is a delicious food, I also wanted to prove if I really get this cooling effect.

So 2 days ago we decided to have dinner at samgaetang restaurant. It's not early summer anymore (in fact its rainy season!), so I guessed I won't find long queeing at restaurant.

5 minutes after we ordered 2 portions of samgaetang and a bottle of beer, small plates of kimchi came. There were normal kimchi, radish kimchi (can't remember the name), sweetened peanut, a plate of fresh vegetables, white kimchi (not hot one), mashed garlic and kochujang (Korean chilli sauce)

The kimchi was hot, so Hiro didn't even think to try. But it was delicious. Inspite of the hot taste, I can feel the combination of sour and salty taste, mixed with fresh vegetable. The radish kimchi even richer in taste. I can feel sweet among hot, sour and salty taste.
The peanut was not special. It's just a usual sweetened peanut. I passed mashed garlic for sure, and thought of mixing the kochujang with the samgaetang later on.



After waiting for about 15 minutes, finally what we're waiting for was coming. Two bowls of very hot soup. I can see whole chicken drowning inside the soup, decorated with a lot of leek. The aroma instantly went into my nose, produced a lot of water inside my mouth :p.

Samgaetang is a whole chicken stuffed with korean sweet rice (chap sal), that was already mixed with spices. It was then boiled until all the ingredients are well cooked and the chicken's soft.

I poured salt and black pepper into the bowl, a big spoon of kochujang, then tasted it. Hmmm perfect. Then I tore the chicken's breast with my chopsticks. Strong ginseng smell came out. I found the rice with big ginseng inside. First spoon, awwwww HOT!!! But then....it was sooooo delicious. I can feel thick taste of ginseng mixed with garlic. There besides ginseng and garlic, I found ginger, chestnut and jujuba. Mixed with the soup, really....it was a perfect korean dinner!!

Total damage of 2 portions of Samgaetang and a bottle of beer was 23.000 Won (about IDR 230.000). Not expensive for such a delicious food in this expensive country (^__^)

Monday

Monday is the busiest day of the week.
Somehow I feel that I need more than 24 hours, only for this day :p
Every monday I prepare Iki's food for one week. For one week, so that I cook them all and put them in small containers and ice trays to be frozen. So everyday I only need few minutes preparing. Just TINGGG, and ready :p. (except for some food like egg yolk and tofu -fresh one is better, means no freezer). But because he eats different menu everyday, I have to prepare quite a lot for him.

So everyweek I have to cook okayu (porridge), dashi jiru and vegetable soup for basic meal. All other food will be mixed with these basics. Other vegetables are boiled one by one and then mashed. I just realise that this week is the last week I will cook this type of food. Next week, Iki will be 7 months, his menu will be different again!



This cooking thing takes more than 3 hours every monday. With Iki's higher demands of my presence lately, and a must to clean the whole house (well, he starts exploring things on the floor - so it be clean all the time!); I feel time just flies away. Suddenly it's almost 6 pm, haven't finished all the housework yet must start cooking dinner for Hiro's coming any minute. *sigh*

Summer holiday

Summer holiday is coming.
We spent this few days discussing the best way to spend it.
We want to go out of town for sure. Some places came into consideration:

Jeju Island, located at southern part of Korean peninsula. Well, some of you must have heard it from the famous "Winter Sonata". It is about 1 hour by air from here and I heard it's one of korea's must be visited tourist attraction. But the famous food there is sashimi!! Well, for me might be OK, but for the perfectionist Hiro, nothing can be more delicious than Japanese sashimi hahaha. As we gathered information about the island, then we found out that it would be very very crowded there during summer holiday. Beach, our main destination, will be full of people. It won't be a relaxing place anymore, right? :(

Resort at Hainan, China. Never heard about this though, what I know about Hainan is only "Hainan chicken rice" (slurrrp). Recommended by Hiro's friend. Kind of tempting, BUTTT...I need VISA. And there's no way to go to Seoul during working days with Iki. So.....we just have to forget it this time :(

Taipei. This idea was objected at once. Again, the visa problem. uuuh uuhhhh

Hokkaido. Hiro's family will spend summer holiday there. And as Hiro's mother dream is going on a trip for the whole family, we were thinking of realising it. But.....it's high season in Japan, and there's no direct flight to Sapporo from here. Guess what? the air ticket only will cost us about 1700 USD. Bah...!

Then out of sudden Hiro got the idea to go to Wakayama, his friend's house. There's beautiful white sand beach nearby, and we can meet his friend's family and have fun. We just have to fly to Osaka and go there by train.
But apparently his friend won't be in town!! He's going diving at his hometown, a city called Hagi. Didn't ring a bell for me hehehe. It came out that he invited us to join them, and.......then it's decided that we're going to spend our summer holiday there!!
We'll fly to Fukuoka from here, and rent car to Hagi. It will take 3 hours by car, but we can stop and take a rest anytime.

Waiting forward for it \(^_^)/.
Hagi....here we come!!


What's ur plan for summer holiday, friends?

To you, my dearest friend.

Last night I couldn't sleep
The news I just heard disturbed my mind
I can't believe what happened to my friend
Sorry I can't keep it for myself,
I need to release my feeling so I'm writing something here.

I'm so sorry to hear that,
But I didn't dare to say that.
I pity you of what happened,
But also don't want to say that for it doesn't make you stronger.
I wanted so say comforted words,
But I don't know any that can heal your pain.
I'm so speechless yet I have lots to ask.

I don't want to remind you of that,
Yet I can't help not to write anything here.
For this what I feel I want you to know.

Be strong, I know you are.
Whatever had happened, it must be for a reason.
For a better "you", it must be.
For a stronger "you", it must be.

Happy birthday

Today is the birthday of my father and my brother, Yosis.
Again, as already happened for like 9 years, I can only send my love by phone call.

But somewhat I feel different this year.
My dad cried on the phone.
Life is not easy anymore for him, he's been struggling hard for his two last children. To finish my brother and sister's education. To make his two last children doctors as he has always dreamed of.
And this year my brother will be. What a best birthday present he got.

I know he cried because he's full of proud.
Yet I know he cried because he feels so tired,
somewhat he felt that he failed being a good father.
In fact, he's not.
He's done his best.
And he's the best father!

Yosis, my little brother.
One egois creature that is now getting matured.
Well, life gave him a lot of lessons, and continously will.
Congratulations for your graduation.
Hope you'll be a good doctor after all.

Papa, Yosis,
I love you and terribly miss you (something I can't say on the phone :p)
Happy birthday....

Our small garden

Living in an apartment almost lost our dream of having our own garden and growing our own plants. But again, if there's a will, then there's a way.
So we bought some pots and vegetable seed, and arranged them at our veranda.
It may not a perfect garden that we've imagined, yet it satisfies us.

Look what we have in our small garden:

Mini tomato. Now we can already enjoy our first "harvest" hehehe. Looks yummy, right?! They're not "very sweet" indeed, but they tasted sooo good. Perhaps because we've been waiting for so long, watering and wondering?!



And then we have edamame (japanese green soy bean), asparagus, and kabu (turnip).
Look at those asparagus (i think u can guess which one!). I've never imagined that young asparagus would be like that. Just like the asparagus I've usually seen in supermarket, just in short and very thin form hahaha.



And last we have mitsuba (one of japanese leaf spices), stringbean (buncis), parsley, italian herb, and of course chilli.
Our chilli trees are like stop growing . They're not dead anyhow, but they don't get any bigger *sob sob*



My rose is dying (that's why I don't put the photo here :p), but I hope there'll be miracle to save it hahaha. And we plan to expand our garden by buying one more pot for morning glory flower ;-)

Iki's menu planning

Providing Iki good and balance food is likely my main job recently. Especially after he started having meal twice a day.
I have to manage so that in a day he could have meal contained enough carbohydrate (Category I), protein (Category II), fat (Category III), vitamin and mineral (Category IV). Or at least 3 categories out of four per day.

That's why now I'm working on excel sheet for better plan :p



Iki likes to eat all food I introduced him so far. Only one kind caused allergic on him, but basically he likes, hmmm LOVES to eat all kinds of food. It really encourages me to prepare delicious meal for him. It satisfies me to see him opening his small mouth widely and eating the food enthusiastically.

Yet too bad that he doesn't like milk now. He prefers solid. The delicious meal his mom plans and prepares everyday ;-)

Typhoon

One thing I used to see on TV only for years. Yet now I experience it here.
I had no idea that today typhoon would hit Korea, so I planned to go to hospital for Iki's immunization after lunch time.
But then around 10 a.m I got sms from Hiro about this typhoon. That probably the wind will get stronger in the afternoon.
So I got ready, woke Iki up (sorry :p), called taxi, and off to hospital.

Downstair it was raining a little, but I didn't think that the wind was strong. So I spoke to myself "bah....exagerrating. It's only little shower here"

So did when I left the hospital.
But then when I opened my taxi door in front of my apartment, I was shocked.
It was not little shower anymore so I MUST use umbrella to protect Iki.
Man....the wind was sooooo strong. The strongest I've ever experienced in my whole life.
I just needed to walk about 10 metres from the taxi to the apartment building but it was like walking 100 metres. I felt like I'd be blown up by the wind. And with Iki and umbrella in my hands I felt so hopeless. So while struggling to reach the apartment door, all came from my mouth was this long and loud "TOLOOOOOOOOONG" scream. Of course no one understood and helped me hahahaha.
Apparantly native language will come automatically in panic situation :p
Iki was so scared, clearly seen from his face.

Well dear Iki...
So this is our first typhoon ;-)
Next time I'm not stepping myself out during typhoon!!!!!!!!!!!

Bet

Both Hiro and me are not so fond of football.
So when the worldcup hit, we didn't waste our time in front of TV till midnight like what others did (except of course on Japan games for nationality reason hahaha).
This early morning (3 a.m Korean time) was the final between France and Italy. Just to feel the tension, then I raised a bet.
Hiro was on Italy side while I was on France.
At first Hiro said the bet would be 1000 USD!!!
Well, nothing to lose for me. If I won, I'd get the money. If I lost, I'd just pay by cashing my CC (in which the bill will go to Hiro) hihihihihi.
Of course he OBJECTED the idea =))
So then we came up with this bet:
The one who lose must give a one hour massage.

Well, I guess the whole world knows who must give a one-hour massage now (>_<)

Meteor Garden

When I was washing dishes in the kitchen, suddenly I heard a song from TV. Sounded so familiar that I stopped my work and ran to watch TV right away.

Meteor garden!!!!
It's played by Mplex (korean TV station) now. With Korean subtitle of course, but watching this drama again, brought me back lots of memories in Surabaya.

In 2002 this taiwanese drama was a hit in Indonesia. Like many other people, I also watched this together with my friends. We were so in love with it that we bought the whole VCD series at Pasar Atum, watched it together. Forgot to eat, forgot to sleep. We stayed awake some whole nights in front of TV. Laughing together, crying together, excited together.

Popular drama brought the OST on top hit as well. Of course I also bought the CD, and can sing all the songs well. Not satisfied enough, everytime we went karaoke we brought the VCD and sang the songs hahahaha.

Seriously now I think that I was a stupid young girl.
But because of watching again this Meteor Garden....
I remember Pei's yellow fence boarding house where we watched this drama together.
I remember those laughes and cries we shared.
I remember starting to learn Chinese because of watching this drama.
I remember hunting the CDs at pasar atum together.
I remember my mobile phone ringtone right away.
I remember my karaoke buddies in Surabaya.



I remember my memories.
I remember my friends......

Pei, Nyo, Ayik....If you happened to read this post:
I miss you guys. So much.
Meteor garden is only ONE of our memories I treasure :)
*Imoet is singing meteor garden OST now*

Indonesia oh Indonesia....

Earthquake in Jogjakarta,
Eruption of Mount Merapi,
Flood at South Sulawesi,
Hot mud at Sidoarjo,
and now another flood at South Borneo!!

Left people homeless, family loss, and rupiahless. Count on nothing than others' help.

One disaster comes after another in a row. It's like an every morning news recently. Is nature punishing my country? (_ _o)..... or what? any explanation?

I'm so sad

World cup fever

Hell yes, this has been a world wide fever.
I can imagine in Indonesia, my male friends would sit in front of TV every night, have bets, and some even will be bankrupt because of losing too much hahahaha. Eventhough Indonesia is not there in Germany, people are so excited to support their favourite countries (of course excited, it's about money also :p)
Fathers stay in front of TV the whole nights. I read from Kompas.com (indonesian newspaper) that some mothers are now complaining a lot because they don't know where their husbands are. Apparantly husbands prefer to watch the game together with their friends and don't want to be disturbed (most of them said that they forgot to bring their mobile phones hhahahaha).
It is the phenomenon I am familiar with everytime worldcup hits the highest level of people's excitement in my country.

In 2004 I went to India and watched one of the pre-qualifications game there, between Japan and India. There I got the experience being in the middle of football supporters (beforehand, the supporters' image in my hand was only Surabaya's BONEK). There I also assumed that Japanese supporters are like BONEK, with no destructive spirit and much more money. Well,...they flied to Calcutta and stayed at Hyatt or Shangrilla just for watching the game! They even managed to build a new special toilet in the stadium for them hahaha. Anyway, my point is the spirit. They have the same spirit.

I experience another spirit here.
The people here are not only the audience.
They have their team fighting in world cup arena in Germany. One of the only two Asian countries. It's a national issue, national pride, and national fight.
Everybody. Yes, EVERYBODY is supporting. All the TV commercials are now about Korea's football team, all TV shows are now red decorated. I can see people wearing red t-shirt written "Go Corea" or "Victory Corea" or "Go red devil" etc etc. Children and parents, love couples, taxi drivers. Everywhere people are proudly wearing the red t-shirt to support the country. Even in supermarket, all the staffs are wearing similar t-shirts to support their country. Not only in big supermarket. Also in small supermarket nearby my house. This makes me confuse...which one is the staff and which one is the customer? hahaha.
On the D-day, all people seemed watching. Everywhere I go, I can hear the song "VIVA COREA" played loudly on big stereo system. After one goal, I could hear people roaring in excitement (We stayed at the 23rd APT yet still can hear the crowd loudly!)

What about world cup fever in other countries?

Learning photography

Another reason why I hardly can spend my time in front of my PC recently (besides taking care of attention-demanding IKI, houseworks and playing nintendo hehe).
I can't resist not to touch this new camera. Well, let's say that this is the first time I can play with this kind of camera. Back in my childhood time, my dad would blow up if I touched his camera.



It's not easy. Especially for a REAL beginner like me, with no one tutoring, and has less art sense :p. But I guess I'm doing this for fun. IKI is my object, and perhaps it was not a right decision since he can't stop moving. Yet I enjoy catching his expressions and smiles with my lense. I still haven't got the result yet for it's a film camera and I have to wait until we finish the whole roll.

I hope not to get bored until at least I can take photo as good as Carla? ;-) ( Carla....it means that I adore your photography talent!)

Nintendo DS Lite

This is one of our new stuffs brought from Japan.
As usual, as a new toy in our house, every body wants to spend as much time as possible playing. Hiro bought 2 softwares along, new super mario bross and Oideyo Doubutsu no Mori.

Super mario bross brings me back to my childhood time in Banjarmasin. When I often played this game together with my brother, sister and cousins at home. The new version of this game is much more difficult yet interesting.

The other game is about surviving in a new place. My character, who just moved into the city must survive living there by working part time and building social relationship with the neighbors. Could be an interesting game. But it is in Japanese, all the instructions and conversations. Hiro persuaded me that I can choose hiragana mode so that i can read them easily, but indeed after 30 minutes playing I felt my head was so heavy. Yeah right....I can read, but I can't understand!!!! (@_@). So instead of having "relaxing" game, I've got to push my brain to work trying translate the language. Though sometime i got help from Hiro, I can't say this is a fun game anymore hahahaha



I suspect hidden agenda now [devil grin]. Am I persuaded to play this game so that I fall in love with the game and have no choice than seriously learning Japanese?!?!?!

Thank you

Last year I felt so blessed.

This year I feel so fullfiled.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Today was such a sweet and perfect day.

And it's been a great first year.

Thank you.

Folding t-shirt

Wanna know how to fold t-shirt in split seconds?

Watch this interesting video!

It's in Japanese but can be understood by watching how they do it. Very helpful for a lazy type person like me heheheheh (^.^)v

Diet Hoop

Though now my body weight is already close to my before-pregnancy one (0.5 kgs left to reduce), I still have my stomach and some other parts of my body fatty. I mean, really a lousy fatty type. Perhaps if you pinched my stomach, you could grab 5 cms fatty skin easily. I really do not look good in my favourite XS size t-shirts anymore now! (_ _o)

That's why when accidently Hiro found this diet hoop, I got motivated to force myself having some exercise.

This hula hoop has magnetic button along its inside part. The package is in Korean so I don't understand, but I assumed this magnetic things have something to do with reducing tummy fat as well as waist shaping faster than the normal hula hoop.

Well, in fact, I found that it's not an easy sport after all. So wish me luck with this new toy! (though now I got lots bruises on my hips since the hoop keeps hitting my bone!)

Personality

Found this from Vanie's blog.



Uhmmmm......I'm still sangunist dominant hahahaha.

Try the test, and learn your personality (^__^)

The growing hope (^_^)

I love Indonesian spicy food, and Hiro loves Italian peperontini. We need chilli that can't be found in Korea. Trust me, though Korean food are almost all hot, the taste is somewhat different. As a chilli lover, I can feel the difference.

Last November I still had my Indonesian chilli left, and Hiro just got peperontini sent from Italy, so we planted them in our house. But none grew up. We watered them everyday, for nothing. Until then we got bored waiting. Thus there were two green pots we almost forgot in our house. As well as having chilli trees.

Last two weeks by accident we saw mini tomatoes trees sold in a supermarket. We remembered that we have two empty pots in our house so we bought two trees. Then we enjoy these new "toys". Watering them everyday, and checking their development.

But....
Look at what we found growing up together with our tomato trees!!



Small chilli trees are suddenly popping up!!!!!

The hope of having chilli trees is growing up again \(^o^)/


........but whose chilli trees are they? mine or Hiro's? [curious mode: ON]

Falling hair

It's my hair's picture. Lots are falling down recently. I mean, really a LOT.

At first I was wondering....am I stressed? Back in high school I got the same experience when i got stressed of exam. But am not. I life my life to the fullest here. So why the hell are they falling down?! Some parts of my skin head are now uncovered. And am pretty sure the possibility of being bald is BIG enough. Ughhhhh

Hiro, who was so much influenced by ER (Emergency Room) once freaked me out. Cancer!! It's sign of cancer!! You got cancer!! Cancer!! Cancer!! (He just watched the scene when Dr. Green died of cancer hahaha)

Then we googled for information just to find out that this thing always happens to a woman, 6 months - 1 year after delivering a baby. Yeah Right!!!! so this postpartum delivery stuffs haven't finished yet?!?! huuu huuuu huuuuu *sigh*

Meanwhile.....
Iki is also losing his hair now. Some information said that it is because of hormon. During his 6 months old until 1 year old, a baby's hair will fall down. Thus new hair will grow, sometimes are completely different with the first one.

In Indonesia, parents shave the baby's head bald on his first month old. They believe that by shaving bald a baby's hair, beautiful dark and thick hair will grow.

Relating the new information I got about baby's hair and Indonesian's belief; now I assume that every baby will have new hair. Either shaved or not. Because eventually the first hair will fall down anyway, replaced later on by the new one. Indonesian's belief just make the process faster!! Kind of shortcut gitu lohhhhh.

About beautiful black and thick hair that comes after shaving.....I think it's just a belief. Hair is genetically inherited. So if a baby's genetical line doesn't have the DNA, just forget about black and thick hair!

Am I right? (^__-)

*Iki and mama will be bald together....?*

Homesick

Don't get me wrong!
It's not that I terribly miss my home that I wanna go there. Nope. Not at all.
I just miss the food in my house. Somewhat after I read several recipe websites about Indonesian food. [drooling mode: ON]
Hmmmm so perhaps this blog's title should be "home-made food-sick"?! (^__^)

Because today Hiro is drinking with his colleages, I found that tonight is the best time to cook dinner that reminds me of my home. And anyway, Manadonese food is famous with its hot and spicy taste. Hiro won't even think to try it hehehehe.

I found my mom's Babi rica-rica recipe in my inbox. Babi means pork, and rica-rica means chilli sauce. My favourite. My mom always makes it everytime I go back home.

Got headache at the beginning since the there were no complete ingredients available in my house. But I didn't give up coz I drooled too much already. So I checked my refrigerator and decided to try to cook it anyhow.

I substituted tomato with bottled lime juice for sour taste. I substituted kemangi leaves with laurel leaves. I substituted Indonesian chilli with bottled Thailand chilli and Korean big chilli. Daun bawang with negi, and bawang merah with bawang bombay (big onion). And no lemongrass-alike thing here so I just skipped it. I wondered what kind of food would it turn out, but.....IT WORKED!!! click here for the recipe.

Not perfect! thanks God I'm not a freak perfectionist person. But the taste is strong enough to bring me back home. Soooo damn hot. And paired with a can of cold beer, I did feel at home (^____^)



Satisfied? yes....but now I'm in danger of stomachache!!!! well....9 chillies!!

Spring has come

Spring has come!! Spring has come!!! [happy mode: ON]
Bye bye cold weather, bye bye strong wind, bye bye thick heavy jacket!!!. Hello sunshine!! hello colorful flowers!! and hello sakura!!!!



Yep! Finally I can see Sakura. Not in Japan, where it originally comes from. But here, in Incheon. Just a short walk away from my apartment building. Really really are beautiful. Those brownish branches-only trees along my apartment street suddenly became one amazing view I've ever seen here.


APT building

Those white-pinkies flowers are as beautiful as they're seen at night. I feel so damn happy to be able to see them, after what happened last year hahaha. I have this unexplainable feeling everytime I see them.


Sakura at night

Well....since I went with Iki this afternoon to watch Sakura, I can't have a good shot of myself. I hope this weekend they would still be as pretty as they're now!

Japanese children song

Iki is getting bigger now. His consiousness towards his surroundings is increasing. He begins to explore and understand things. Watching his development is such an amazing experience.

As the parents, we are now thinking more about the best way to educate him.
Iki is a product of international marriage who is raised in a multilingual environment. A father who speaks Japanese, a mother who speaks Indonesian, both communicating in English, and lives in Korea. We decided that his first bilingual languages would be Japanese and English due to some reasons (he could learn Indonesian later on). Research shown that three languages at a time can cause a stress to baby.

Iki likes to listen to music, so playing songs is one way to introduce him to his first languages. So our iTunes is now playing English and Japanese children songs. Even we install an ipod with speaker in the bathroom because Iki likes to bath with music. From the sources I've read and the knowledge I'd learnt, I knew that a baby could understand languages quickly and pick one that he thinks is the easiest for him to be his first language.

Well, it doesn't matter for me if his first language is japanese since he is a Japanese. But I do want him to master his second language (in this matter, English) as well as his first one. Therefore lately pronunciation matter disturbs my mind.

You know that Japanese has limited ability to pronounce some English alphabets, therefore they have this "katakana" system to make them easier in importing foreign words. Shortly, they adjust foreign words so that they can read them easily based on their reading system. And for me this sytem caused them having this pronunciation problem.
Let's see these examples:
Hamburger ==> ham ba- ga-
Mc Donald ==> maku donarudo
sprite ==> supuraito
speaker ==> supi- ka
lunch ==> ranchi

It's scary if my son was so much influenced with this pronunciation tendency!! yet the children songs played in my house start introducing him to such error. Imagine!!! this error is introduced to Japanese since they're kids! Some song lyrics disturb my ears now hahahaha!! watch some few examples:
mixed juice ==> mikusu ju-su
pocket ==> poketo

and you guys know the song: do re mi?
In english the lyrics is like this:

do a deer, a female deer
ray, a drop of golden sun...
etc etc

in Japanese they make it like this:
do wa DOnuts no do
re wa REmon no re......
etc etc

REMON!!! it took me a while to understand that it should be "LEMON" hahahaha

well well well....

I do not hope Iki will say: "I'm starving mama. Please buy me HAMBA-GA"
or
"I love Spongebob Squarepants. I watch it every morning on TEREBI"

[pusing mode: ON]

So long dear friend....

Pei went back to Indonesia already. 10 days flew by so quickly. I couldn't bear sending her to the bus stop to airport this morning, so Hiro did it instead. Her being here was more than just a visit from a friend to me. She is more than a friend, even more than a family. No one knows me better than her. Not even Hiro yet ;-)


with pei

I did really enjoy our time here. I was so happy to be able to show my son to her, after all the things she's done to us since I knew I was pregnant. I already missed talking with her, about all the gossips, what had happened to our lives, and wondering together how the future would be. Seeing her hugging Iki, playing and talking to Iki. Walking around. Taking photos. Not to mention her big help during her stay here. Also the cooking and eating together. Now I just realised how sucks it is eating alone here!!!

It really broke my heart to know that she couldn't manage to spent Iki's 100 days celebration with us, especially the family photo.
Pity also that we haven't done lots of things we have planned: eating solontang and fire chicken, go to Full house setting, trying Korean's colorful coffee house, cooking some delicious menu together (the ingredients are even still on the way here!!). But I am so happy that she got a good job with promising future. I really am. I do wish the best for her career and love life. I know that someday in the future we will be able to meet again. Because I know we want it.

Look how happy we were spending time last Sunday though we were wearing the wrong costume (though sunny, it was extremely cold with wind speed56 mph!)


dae jang geum

We went to Dae Jang Geum theme park. This Korean drama is now popular in Indonesia. I haven't watched it myself though. I saw it on TV, but no english subtitle here. I understand no words. Pei will send me the DVD instead hahaha.
At last after 4 months coming to Korea, I visited tourism place and acted as tourist (of course the photo part!)


bibimba

Hungry after discovering the theme park, we had lunch at a Korean instant food stall just outside the theme park area. The bibimba was nice, and the owner was also nice (and handsome according to Pei) ==> she bought 2 take out korean instant food because of that!


pei at seoul tower

Then we went to Dongdaemun, but the market there was so dirty and the cold wind was not friendly either. We left that place soon to Myeongdong, and then looked for some souvenirs at Nandaemun. Spent a moment at Seoul tower and then rushed back to Incheon because I heard Iki cried loudly on the phone hahaha

Well, I enjoyed her companion. I always did. Really thanks to Hiro for inviting her here. I can't describe the feeling with words.

Missing you already, Pei....wish the best for the job, and looking forward to meeting you again!

Surprise

He was bit late after work today. No wonder...he got some flower for me heheheh

Second flower for this year. Thanks dear!

Birthday gift

Yesterday afternoon I got a package from Japan. I sms-ed Hiro right away asking if it is ok for me to open it since I thought the content were child care book and kitchen utensils as written on top of it. But Hiro's answer stopped me. He said that there's my birthday present inside it so it's up to me when to open it.

Hohoho...I was happy. I talked to Iki that the day before papa said that he didn't prepare anything. Indeed he ordered something from Japan. We smiled together, waiting forward for him to go back home.

So look what I got as birthday present!




Pretty right....? But I misunderstood. It was not from Hiro hahahahaha (_ _!). It's from my parents' in law!!

Olala Hiro hiro...what a surprise hahahah!!! [cegek mode: ON]

I K I - chan

Dedicated for my boy:

I K I - chan

ha te te pe : iki-chan /dot/ blogspot /dot/ com

Injection

I hate injection. I always shivers imagining the long sharp scary needle stabbed into my skin. I am also scared to see other people got injected, including MY BABY!

And I must assist IKI for lots of immunizations (T_T)

Like this morning when IKI got hepatitis B injection.....
I tried to be strong when I left home.
I was still strong when I put him on the "operation" bed, undressed him and woke him up.
I was still trying to be strong when the nurse came with the needle, opened the cap and looked for the best spot on IKI' right thigh.
I even talked to IKI that he's going to be fine. That the injection will only last for 1 second. That it would feel like an ant bite only....(huuu huuu mother always has to whisper good supportive words, rite?)

And when the nurse stabbed the needle into his thigh, I heard a loud scream. Everybody was surprised, including IKI.

Then I realised, Shit....it was my voice!

Oooppsss [malu mode: ON]

Trauma

Do you have this sick called trauma?

Well, I do have one...
More painful than giving birth,
flushes away my confidence
tears my heart into pieces,
again and again once reminded.
No matter how hard I tried to forget

But I guess I have to fight this alone
No one can help to cure
Only me
By myself,
Alone...

Sad oh, so sad...
I don't know how to

I'm just scared.

(^_____^)

Look look look...!!!




I got a flower!!!

My first flower ......... (^_______^) [senyum2 terus sambil ngeliat bunga di meja makan]

Giving Birth

Some friends were asking me of how the giving birth process was. Painful or not. Scary or not. Easy or not.

So....here I will write the details of giving birth process hihihihi. Hope could be informative enough and answer all your questions.

WARNING: Not rated!!! some content might be too VULGAR. Not for children under 17 years old.

Giving birth process is initialized with the continuous contraction. I read many books and information in internet about this. That there are two kinds of contraction. First is the fake contraction or also known as Braxton Hicks contraction, and second is the real contraction. The first contraction is not so painful, and if your change your sleep or sitting position, it will be reduced and gone. Meanwhile the real contraction is SO DAMN painful. It won't go by changing your position, and comes continuously in certain period of time.

I think I got the contraction on the last two days before giving birth. It came continuously, but I still could handle it. I still thought that it was the fake contraction since my due date was still about more than a month ahead. So I refused Hiro's suggestion to go to hospital. I didn't want to look stupid going to hospital TOO early. I would have my regular check up schedule on Saturday (31 Dec), so I thought I would just tell the doctor about my contractions.

9:30 am
Therefore as planned, I went for my regular check up that Saturday morning with Hiro. There I told my doctor that I got regular contraction on the past two days, but not the hard one. Then he checked my stomach, said that my baby was not gaining weight for the past 1 month control. Then when I told him that the day before I found blood stain, he looked surprised and checked my vagina. Ouuuch....it was a hell of pain. ALREADY OPENING 3, and I MUST GO TO DELIVERY SECTION AT 3rd FLOOR RIGHT AWAY.

OH MY GOD. We were not prepared at all!!! I turned pale and so did Hiro, but we just followed the nurse.

At the delivery section...

One nurse lead me to one of the small rooms there. The room was 2x3 metres size with one bed and one USG equipment for external monitoring. The nurse asked me to change my cloth into a pink operation cloth and lay down on the bed. She put kind of belt on my stomach, connected to the equipment to monitor the baby's heart beat and to detect contraction strength and length. Then the doctor came, checked again my vagina, made me screamed till crying. Still opening 3 cm. I could hardly stand up. The nurse brought me to a cozy room with some sofas and equipments to relax from contractions. Hiro joined me in a second, and both of us stayed in that room waiting for the next openings.

2:oo pm
The nurse picked me up at the waiting room. She is actually pretty, but seeing her coming and remembered the pain I would get if I follow her made me sick of her. Again she brought me into the small room and checked the opening. Still opening 3 cms. DOH...Iki...Iki....why it took so long?!
But then doctor came and talked to her. Ah ya!! FYI, they all speak Korean that I didn't understand at all what they said. So mostly between my pains, we communicated using body language hihihi. Interesting experience, huh? my-already-weakened-brain must work hard trying to understand the body language.
Anyway, then the nurse came back to me with kind of tool. She asked me to open my legs again. Arrghh AGAIN?! But this time she put kind of basin under my body. I got bad feeling already. Uh Oh...what the hell was she going to do?!
She put the knife-looks tool into my vagina and then suddenly bunch of water came out. My amnion water!! Which means, the baby must be pushed out within hours.

She brought me again into the waiting room, and then checked my opening every 30 minutes, while sometimes checked the baby's heart beat. The contractions were getting more and more painful. It's like the pain you got when having menstrual period, but 10 times harder. When the contraction came, I had to arrange my breath like what I learnt at my yoga class, and hiro massaged my back to reduce the pain, meanwhile the nurse guided me to keep the rhythm of my breath.

4:00 pm
Still opening 4 cms. I felt like losing my power already. The other pregnant women in the waiting room were screaming and crying during contractions. What a tensed situation. I couldn't scream or cry. I thought I must keep my energy inside the delivery room.
This time the doctor didn't look patient anymore looking at my progress. I could feel from his voice tone though I didn't know exactly what he said. So the nurse started the painful process.......

She asked me to lay down on the bed with opened legs, and gave me a piece of paper. Among my dizziness I tried to understand what's written there. Doctor's handwriting. Instruction that when the contraction came, I must started twice taking-and-releasing breath, then took one deep breath, pulled the handle beside my bed, pushed my heel and my anus strongly for about 40 minutes. Well, actually his english was quite confusing, so I almost laughed reading the paper. Huahahahaha can you imagine?? I will give birth to my baby using a piece of broken English instruction?!
But I learnt new vocabularies accidently during this time, because accidently I did the wrong thing. Like I "stopped" when she said "to" - meanwhile "to" in Korean means "more" hahaha

But my laugh was gone as soon as the pain came. This process was really painful. I really started to push the baby out with the nurse's fingers inside my vagina. Ewwwwwww....now writing this, I can still remember the pain and feel her fingers around my baby's head to open the vagina more. GOD...is this the process every delivering woman must pass?! Here I started to cry, I remembered my mom right away and imagined the three kids she had delivered.

If she thought I needed a break, she brought me again to the waiting room and there Hiro was helping to release the pain with the massage on my back.

5:oo pm
The nurse brought me again to the small room to check the opening. It was opening 8. When it reached opening 9, she told me that she could see the baby's head already. Though I felt so weak, my crazy mind felt like I wanted to touch the baby's head when he's still hanging on my vagina. Of course the nurse was angry when I was about to do it. I just grinned to her hehehe

5:30 pm
She brought me into the delivery room. I had to sit on the delivery table I used to saw in the movies or read in books. It was exactly 5:30 pm when the nurse said that it's opening 10 already. I must started to push much stronger this time. It was SOOOOO DAMN painful. I felt like I couldn't continue anymore. I couldn't bear the pain, and I lost my power already. All the nurses in the room were panic. One was checking the baby's heartbeat, one was keep pushing me to try more, one tried to translate with her poor english. But all I felt was just pain and pain and pain.

5:45 pm
One nurse yelled to the doctor. The door opened, one nurse came in a rush, with Hiro following behind her. WHAT?!?!?! I thought he told me that he's scared to go inside delivery room?!?!

It was really a power for me. Then everything happened so fast. I tried my best to push and push and push. I forgot the pain. All I wanted was to let this baby out of my body as soon as possible. Hiro was beside me. Actually I couldn't really hear what he said anymore. He was just a blur image talking to my right ear. But then I paused. I saw the doctor holding a big scissor. What the hell?! And before I could think more, "KREK KREK KREK". He cut something down there. OMG. I could feel the scissor cutting my skin. It made me shocked that I made one very strong push and BYORRRRRR!!!!!

It was the only sound I could hear, and then two nurses was holding me so that I stopped pushing and relaxed.

5:55 pm
IKI was born.
Hiro cut the placenta (I saw the doctor handed him the same scissor he used to cut me!!). I heard a loud cry and saw a red cute baby. I thought I would see an alien-looks creature, but he was soooo cute (^__^). The nurse brought him and Hiro out of the room and left me there.

I thought everything was over.....
Yet the doctor then sew the wound he made by the scissor previously. I could feel nothing because of the anesthesia. Then he tried to pull out the placenta from my wound. BUT COULDN'T!!!!! Seemed like the placenta was too big.
Huaaaaaaaa....so he cut me again, pull out the placenta, and started sewing again. I thought it would be OK.....but seemed like the anesthesia was already finished. So this time I was in a great pain. I still can feel the needle now. Ewwwwwwwww


Iki when he was just born

So dear friends......this is my story of giving birth. It was painful, but it was a wonderful experience you should try in the future (^_____^)

New Year Gift

Well ehm, gotta say goodbye to 2005. Lots of things happened that changed my life upside down. I was thinking to close 2005 with something simple and nice yet unforgetable. This would be the brand new year to be spent with Hiro.

And so we made plan.....
That I would prepare Japanese new year's must-be-eaten food; and I would make cheese cake as my new year gift for Hiro (after the so-called failed christmas gift hehe). I bought all the ingredients needed already. Just waited for Saturday to start preparing all.

But then.....
Something happened.
I could never prepare new year food for welcoming 2006. I could never bake cheese cake to be given as new year gift for Hiro.

Unexpectedly we spent saturday (that was supposed to be preparation day for new year) in the hospital.

BUT WE GOT BEST NEW YEAR GIFT EVER:
Tadaaaaaaaaa




Dear friends....

Let me introduce you to IKI.
Born on 31 December 2005 at 5:55 pm
Prematur, 1.9 kgs and 43 cms yet surprisingly healthy

Christmas Gifts

Look....look....my christmas gift from Hiro!!! [show off mode: ON]



I got Ken Hirai's special edition 10th year single album collection ('95-'05) with DVD bonus. It's public secret that I love Ken Hirai. His soft sexy voice, plus his muscular body, tough jaw, soft eyes, sexy dimples and smiles. Ehm...remember my HP's ringtone when I was in Indonesia? I remember some of you guys hated it...tick tack, tick tack....

Well, this Christmas present supposed to be a surprise gift tonight, but Hiro was not careful enough to hide it from me hahahaha. I found it last week, so sadly he just handed it to me. Sorry dear, to ruin your surprise gift. But I did fel very happy with the present. Ken Hirai is sooo damn handsome hehehe.

Therefore today I planned to made christmas cake as a present for Hiro. You know I'm not good in baking -ehm, I ruined my Kue Sus last time- but I wanted to try again. I couldn't give anything to him, so perhaps this cake (made by my love) could be a nice simple gift from me (^__^).

As a beginner, I wanted to make strawberry sponge cake. From my recipe book, it looked tempted and easy. And so did I try.

I had no electric mixer or whisk, so I had to beat the eggs and sugar manually. I took me 3 hours beating to get the similar batter as shown by the pictures in my recipe book. I almost cried and gave up, but because sometimes Hiro helped, I was encouraged to continue beating. Hmmm...you have no idea how painful my right hand was.

BUT THEN!!!! After baking it in the oven for 10 minutes (as written in the book), all I got was the black-overcooked-BANTAT-cake. DAMN DAMN DAMN. My heart sank. I fell on my knees in front of the oven, staring at the failed cake desperately, CRYING. The tears just fell down unexpectedly. It's supposed to be a christmas gift for Hiro. He might be glad with a bit too sweet or not beautifully decorated cake, but this one was definitely a CRAP. I was so dissapointed. Not only because I don't have another gift for Hiro, but also for the 3 hours beating!!! HUAAAAAA



Hiro laughed seeing me crying in front of the oven. And maybe because he understood my dissapointment, he told me to change my cloth and to go shopping together.

It was then how I got my second christmas gift. Electric mixer or whisk. Completed with hand blender and electric chopper hehehehe.

How I LOOOVEEEEE Hiro!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas, everybody...............!!!! (^_-)

Beautipul

One thing I like being in Korea is that most of people I met said "Oh...you are very beautipul" (Korean can't pronounce "f") hihihihi

In the bank, in the taxi, in my yoga class for instance

(^_______^) [narcist mode: ON]

Christmas Tree

December.....

Time where Christmas decoration can be found at almost every corner of the street here. The colorful lights on the trees can bring a kind of warm feeling during this breezing winter.

This december is different for me. This would be the first Christmas spent with Hiro. This would be the first Christmas of me being a wife, perhaps also the only Christmas with huge stomach in which an-always-moving-baby exists. This would also be the first Christmas for me away from my own country. Well...I'd lived separatedly with my family for 8 years that i thought this won't make any difference. But still I feel the difference.

No familiar gift exchanges here. No familiar rush to the Church. No familar warm hand shakings. No familiar shopping-for-christmas aura. At least in my house.

But one different thing this year, I have this big Chrismas tree from Hiro. At least I can feel that I'm one of those who are actually celebrating Christmas. After decorating tiny CDU's christmas tree for 3 years, at least now I have my own tree hehehehe.




I doubt if I will go to church this year -Forgive me, God-, but I will celebrate this holy day with my own way. Well, not going to the church doesn't always mean not believe in God rite? He...he...he.... (^__^)

My first winter

During my childhood, through televisions, story books and pictures, winter in my mind was equal with the white world. Where beautiful snow covered the houses and trees and cars and roads thickly. Where people with thick jacket walking happily with their smoked breath. Where snowman statues and christmas decorations could be found almost everywhere. Where there's nothing but happiness you can see and feel.

I knew that it must be cold. But since I lived in the hot-the-whole-year Indonesia, I'd love to experienced cold white winter. I'd love to try making snowman. I'd love to play with snow balls. I'd love to be under the beautiful snow shower. And I'd love to step my small feet and running along snowy roads. All I imagined was happiness in the white world.

Yet now I really am living in a country with its famous cold winter. All my childhood imagination were all gone now. I saw snow shower and experienced living in this white snowy place, but this is not as what I imagined hahahahahaha



It is beautiful. Look at the photo taken from our apartment. I wanted badly to run downstair after taking the photo, doing all the things I'd imagined during my childhood. But once the elevator door opened, I was shocked. IT WAS SO DAMN COLD. I can hardly move or breath. First because of my too thick clothes that stiffed my body, and second because of the cold air was like a sharp knife to my skin.

Then once I walked onto the snowy road, I almost fell down. It was really slippery!!! Well, I had to hold Hiro really tight because several times I got slipped. If I fell down.....it would be really dangerous. Not for me-because I fell down a lot in my life- but for my son. This surprisingly slippery snow changed my mind of beautiful snow, and made me extra carefull to walk alone.

And today.....the beautiful of the snow was gone. Wet slippery roads with dirty snow were all left. The city looked very dirty today because of that, and not to mention the cold air. I felt suffering walking with my shopping stuffs this afternoon. I was like a walking ball with my ready-for-a-war-with-cold clothing meanwhile those Koreans were only wearing 1 pieces of jackets. I can't believe it. Are they skins so thick that can protect them from cold?!?! (Jadi mbayangin kulitnya badak hihihi)

Anyway, here's my first winter. It's only December now...I can't imagine how cold would it be on January brrrrrrrr

Eating alive octopus

As usual, Hiro and I usually have dinner outside on weekends, which could be either Saturday or Sunday. He introduces me to delicious yet sometimes weird Korean food. Well, being in Korea does also mean that I have to try Korean food, rite?!

So last Saturday after going back from Gangnam, we looked for restaurant nearby our apartment that sells octopus. The previous two weeks we had a really nice octopus soup so I'd like to eat the same food again. We were too exhausted to think of trying new food as well as too scared of getting new weird taste.

First restaurant we entered sold the octopus soup for 50,000 won, which is damn expensive because the previous octopus soup we had was only 15,000 won. So we just got out of that restaurant quickly and looked for other restaurant. The restaurant we knew was closed that night, so we felt lucky enough to get 20,000 won octopus at this other restaurant. With his limited Korean, Hiro explained what we wanted to the waitress, and then we just waited for the food coming doing some chit-chat.

Then the food came. It was not Octopus soup like what we expected!!! apparently there was misunderstanding, and we just knew no words of how to explain it. Instead of hot octopus soup served, we got a plate of alive baby octopus. Though finely cut, still alive and moving!!!! Some body parts even tried to run away from the plate. Well, follow this link to see the still-moving-octopus and you will understand how I felt!

I was so shocked. What a poor baby octopus!!......I couldn't imagine of eating it!! I could feel its desperate defense when I tried to take it by chopsticks. It moved panicly in my spoon, and I could feel the so called tentakels sticked on my tongue and throat, as if trying to prevent itself of getting drown into my stomach. I almost vomitted, and was sure I wouldn't manage to eat the second one. Come on....!! that thing was still alive! I even still saw it in the aquarium in front of the restaurant just before we entered. Was so small and cute. I didn't have such a cruel heart to eat more!
So Hiro saved me by asking the waiter -of course using body language as well- to put some moving octopus into boiled water. Phew...

And the poor octopus suddenly became so delicious in a clear soup hahahahaha

The previous octopus soup

Fried Fingers

Accidents unexpectedly happen, dear friends....and so did to me again today.

As you read the title, perhaps you could guess when could it be. Yep. During cooking.
Our menu tonight was Japanese koloke. Differ to the koloke we are familiar with in Indonesia, Japanese koloke is like a croquette. More about this koloke thing can be read at kitchenku, but anyway the accident happened basically because I made too big koloke.

The koloke should be fried in middle temperature, that is about 170-180 Celcius degree. So we fried the first giant koloke in the right temperature. Then we decided to make the rest of koloke smaller, so I had to re-shape the other koloke before got fried. I got too concentrating in making new ones that I didn't make the fire smaller nor turned the stove off. When the koloke ready, I put it in flour bowl, then egg bowl and finally bread powder bowl. This stages made my fingers covered with thick bread powder and it was when I couldn't really feel stuffs. So when I put one new koloke into the TOO HOT oil, I put also my fingers together with it. And that's how I got my right ring and little fingers fried, covered with mixed of flour, egg and bread powder.

I screamed and cried like a kid. Was so DAMN painful, and IS still now. I already put my fingers in cold water for more than an hour, but they're still painful. I can't use my right hand properly now (T_T)

Ummm one thought just passed my mind. What if I didn't pull my fingers out immediately at that time? perhaps I got them overcooked now. Would they be as delicious as those fried koloke?! hihihihi bego!

Kitchen-ku

My kitchen is my office, my territory now. The only place to run away, hide myself behind my PC monitor and make myself busy. Place where I spend most of my time here, either cooking, having lonely lunch, cleaning or nge-net. Uhm plus daydreaming sih (^_-)


kitchenku

So fresh from this kitchen, i proudly published, daily recipes I have cooked:

Kitchen-ku

It's in Indonesian, my native language. I found out that it is so much easier to write those cooking stuffs in Indonesian. Suddenly I become incapable using English in cooking field hiks hiks hiks. I am definitely a beginner!

I know some of you don't believe that I can cook something instead of poison, so please check it out. Perhaps you wanna try some. Don't worry....the recipes have been tried already by Hiro and he's still alive or having no stomachache up to now.

OBS-GYN

Since I came to Incheon, I've visited two OBS-GYN hospitals. To talk to the doctors, and decide which one would be the best for delivering my baby. Previously, Hiro and his interpreter already visited several hospitals here, so they came up with two best ones for me to choose.

The first hospital I visited almost two weeks ago is supposed to be the best hospital according to Hiro. The staffs are kind, they can arrange any of our requests: have a VIP room where I can stay alone, give permission to my husband or my relatives to accompany me inside the labor room, can arrange a pre-natal exercise, and close to our apartment. The thing is, the doctor couldn't speak English well. He couldn't even tell us about date in English. Sad...sad. We like this hospital, but I feel somewhat uncomfortable with a doctor who speaks language I don't understand.

And so this morning we went to the other hospital that is well-known as the best OBS-GYN hospital in this city. Unfortunately there I can't have pre-natal exercise nor a privacy room on my own. The doctor speaks English fluently. The things is, she's kind of senior doctor who has her own rule and I can't say she has this comforting aura. Anyhow, she does speak English and that's important for us.
As usual, before laying down myself onto the USG table, I asked the doctor not to tell the baby's gender to Hiro. I thought it was fair enough since the father has the right to choose whether he wants to know the gender or not. BUT SHE TOLD HIM!!!! At first she told me in an implicit way: that the baby goes after the father. OK I can accept it, I knew Hiro won't understand that expression. BUT then she made it clear. Its a MALE. a BOY. Congratulations!!!!

We screamed. OH MY GOD!!! Why should she tell us?!
She said that it's a must in Korea. That it is illegal if the parents don't know the baby's gender. Things we couldn't understand logically. Damn. I was so down to see Hiro's dissapointed face. It was supposed to be a nice surprise later on!! (>_<)

Anyway.....in spite of that unexpected surprise, we're happy to see our baby. This time Hiro can already recongnize it. He can see the head, body, thigh, spine cord. Even we can see the face quite clearly. We can see the ear. We also can see the eyes and mouth, which were closed first but opened slowly later on. Dear God, the feeling was unexplainable. Look at the picture below. Can see the face? can see the big nose? - just like his father's hahaha. Hiro said he's like a monkey hahahaha....but he's my handsome boy (^_-).


My baby's face


mouth and eyes opened

How how how? Can you guys see that my baby is handsome?? huehuehuehe

Where's my confidence?!?!!?

During pregnancy, hormones plays a great role. Well yeah, trust me. It can make you very happy that you feel like flying in an air balloon passing through beautiful countryside area at one time, but at another time it can make you feel like drowning in an arctic ocean. Deep, cold, dark, unpredictable...

I got the last one now.

As my pregnancy getting older, I feel like I lost my self confidence. Let's say it used to be one important factor in my life. I believe you guys knew me as a little girl with high confidence, rite? Pity, am not right now.

My stomach is getting bigger, the skin is darkened and there're blue lines started being clearly seen. No waist left so I look like flat ironing board from behind. Not to mention my boobs. OK, big boops are probably sexy, but TOO big are scary!! especially if they're also darkened with brown spots and of course blue lines. As if my chest couldn't hold them anymore.

Next are my underarms. The skin there are also disgusting now. Blackened that i had to put my tank top shirts inside the suitcase when i was in Indonesia last week. The arms themselves are getting bigger, showing how much fat I gained in these past few months.

My thighs and legs. They're basically big, and now they're getting much much bigger; decorated with eschema. Arrgghhh!! I look like having acute skin disease.

And last, my fingers. They are swelling. I can't even wear my wedding ring now.
So I have 10 small and fat fingers that look like small fat carrots.

I am easy tired, can't walk a lot. My feet can't support my heavy body and become painful. So despite my ugly physical appearance, I also hate being a burden to people surrounding.

Can I rent Harry Potter's invisible cloak? or can I just become like Violet of Mr. Incredibles who can make herself invisible? Or simply like yahoo messenger, where I can exist yet invisible the whole day?

Am drowning in an Arctic ocean right now. Deep, cold, dark, unpredictable....

Help me. I want to get back my self confidence

My New Life

Hi Hi Hi.....

I'm in cold Korea now. 5 busy first days here, I started my life as a real housewife already!!!!
Imagine!!
I must do the housechores. From cleaning, cooking, to shopping for daily needs. Kitchen is my office desk now, and there I spend most of my time. Well, I mean, really like my office, facilitated with a PC hahahaha

We live in a 23rd floor 3-bedrooms apartment. It's still messy now since we have still many stuffs in boxes, and expecting lots more coming this week. The view from our place is gorgeous since it is at the highest floor, but my husband got this high place phobia hahahahaha. This place is also well furnitured and equipped. I got nice spacey kitchen, but unfortunately I can't access all the cupboards since they're the way too high from my reach hiks hiks.


View from our apartment

Anyway, this would be our home for this coming 3 years. It's still for the two of us, but coming year we'll have this new family member here. Please wish me the best to be a good wife and mother (^_^)

These past two weeks

Woa.....long time not writing anything here!!! At last now I got the mood and the chance.

I am not in Japan anymore since about two weeks ago. Ehm....I was in INDONESIA!!! Thanks for you friends who were willing to accompany me, and sorry to those I couldn"t meet during my short visit this time. I am in Korea already now and starting my real marriage life here.

It was busy days, but I HAD A GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!! Oh how I loved being back in my country.

Only Vebby and Nyo knew about my coming back to Indonesia, so I had some funny and interesting time to surprise some friends. Wehehehe I always enjoyed being a surprise [narcist mode: ON]

Vebby asked Valens to come to her place to treat him dinner. So he was like the first one to be surprised. I still remembered his wide round opened rounded eyes and mouth when he saw me got off the taxi hehe

Vebby arranged an all-you-can-eat dinner at Tomodachi for Vitria, Adnan, Valens, Mariza, Carla, Rina and Arief. But Arief didn't show yet accidently I met June and Devina there. I enjoyed their surprised face and reaction. Carla cursed, Vitria screamed, Mariza couldn't talk, and Adnan with his wide opened mouth.

Surprising Arief was the best part cause i got the best reaction hehehehe. I came to CDU out of sudden, opened the door cheerfully, and made Arief shocked, called my name for many many times and fell on the floor with his tears. His reaction made me speechless. But I was very very happy to be able to meet him again. He was still Arief I used to know, with his special characters and funny jokes, but with his new hobby: making cookies (to be sold unfortunately, not be be given to me as present). But I can say here that you should try his Kaastengel. Ehm...bit expensive, so better ask lots of sample Kaastengel cookies from him hahaha.

Sheila surprised me just before I went to Japan by coming out of sudden to my apartment. She was still in Surabaya when I came there, so I got the chance to pay her back for her surprised hohoho. I loved her funny shocked face, rounded eyes and oh-so-loud scream on her door when I came there with Vebby, Nyo and Carla. hihihi GOTCHA girl!!

Nina got surprised by Vebby's joke (that she's getting married) on the phone. Vebby and I made tricky story to fool Nina and Vitria at that time, but it made Nina came over the weekend to Surabaya hahaha. So happy to meet her again. We had a great time going to TP with Vitria, and Karaoke with Adnan, Arief, Mul, and Roy.

Vebby asked Emmy to come to Banana Leaf restaurant when Vebby, Nyo and I had lunch together there. Hihihihi she was surprised that she mumbled out some weird words. After watching us having lunch, Emmy went to my house; and the next weekend we watched movie together at TP with Mariza as well.

Carla said that she would go for a movie one afternoon with some excellogix friends: Boo, Denny and Jon. So suddenly I got the idea to surprise the boys.

Hmmm but I failed to surprise Tina because bitchy arief stole the thunder. He told her in advance on the phone. HUH..!!

This visit was wonderful. Full of laughter and jokes. It was the best way to say good bye, with wide smile and happy faces. Even Ayik came from Bojonegoro a day before I left Surabaya. Perfect.



------------

I ate almost all the food I've terribly missed and ate some other more delicious than ever food:
Kangkung hot plate and Gurame rica at Layar
Bebek goreng canggih with its special tasty oily sauce
Kwetiaw siram at Apeng
Yakiniku at Angus House
Soto ayam at Pucang
Nasi Padang with Tina at CDU
Chinese food at XO in restaurant in TP
Soto Banjar at Kedung doro
Cocofrio ice cream
Lele penyet at Indokee in Citraland
Mie Dok dok Ploso
Javanese fried noodle at Ondomohen
Mie Ujung Pandang at Kertajaya Indah
Bubur ayam surya
La Mien at PAM's
Bakso Pak Salam
Cah Jagung and Bakwa pedas made by Tina's maid
Tom Yam soup at Banana Leaf
Terong goreng made by Tante Nanik's maid
Indomie goreng made by Vebby
Indomie Ayam with egg made by Valens
Ham and Cheese crepes at de'Crepes TP
4 Kgs Rambutan sent by Ayik from Bojonegoro

Hmmmm...writing those food down already made me drooling again. But life must go on. I was lucky enough that I got chance to eat them in such a short time.

Well, new life is starting now. Bye-bye surabaya, see you again friends. Ehm!! this time i won't come out of sudden in a month hehehe (^___^)

(_ _o)

These past few weeks I feel like doing everything wrongly. I feel like I took the wrong decision. I feel like I said the wrong words. I feel like I couldn't understand anything and left blank. I feel like I forgot-and dropped-and left many important things. I feel like I lost my brain and consciousness.

I was thinking that it is because of the situation. It gave me pressure that I lost my control and sense.

I also once blamed the hormones that caused me into this weak-fragile-sensitive-and easy crying woman.

But today in the train on my way back home, I knew one thing. The center of problem is ME myself.

Am scared now.......

Mt. Fuji

Yesterday I had a trip to Mt. Fuji with my sister-in-law's family and my parents in law. They had planned it since last week, but due to bad weather they were about to cancel it. Therefore last weekend I went to Yokohama to stay there, because I didn't think I couldn't manage to Mt. Fuji with my big stomach. I would only be a problem to them.

But well...dealing with kids and promise hahaha. The two children kept begging the father to go to Mt. Fuji if the weather forecast was positive, and they used me also as a reason (>_<). "Papa...mama...shierly never goes to Mt. Fuji. Want to go there while Shierly is here..."

So, early morning yesterday, the kids woke up very early and grabbed newspaper. Once they saw that Shizuoka area will only be cloudy, they woke up everybody and cried to the father to go to Mt. Fuji.

So At last after four times coming to Japan, I visited Mt. Fuji.....


Mt. Fuji

Beautiful mountain, right? and I DID wish I could see it!!!!!!!!

WELL......it was NOT raining, but it was FOGGING. Great!! We had a trip around the mountain; got out of highway from Shizuoka area, visited a pasteurization ranch there, had Soba as lunch at a very traditional Japanese restaurant deep in thick-fogging mountain, moved around to see the five lakes of Mt. Fuji , and at last went back to Yokohama from highway entrance at Gotemba. If I saw a map at the guide book, we've driven almost around Mt. Fuji. Only to see large bottom of it hahahahaha.

Tragic huks huks....I went to Mt. Fuji, but the Mt. Fuji was hidden by the thick fog.

Anyway, I had a great time. To experience that Mt. Fuji area was not cold during autumn. It was FREEZING (^_^). Everyone said that it's for my training to experience how cold Korea wuld be hahaha....

Happy mother

I was so happy...

I went to doctor last week. Saw my baby again after a month, at a maternity clinic at Takashima Daira. Well, it was not so easy to find an English speaking doctor here, so I was so thankful finally I could find that clinic. The clinic is owned by a couple of obs-gyn, and both can speak English fluently because they stayed at the USA for quite a long time.

At first she showed me the baby's heart beat. I was almost jumped of happiness. Well, that it the SIGN that my baby is ALIVE!! strong and fast, sounded loud to my ear.

Then she showed me the baby. Woa.....already much bigger now. Not as tiny as I could remember. The head is perfectly round, completed with brain, eyes and nose bone. The heart is beating strongly. The back bone has a perfect shape. Fat already covered the baby, so I could see the fatty hands and thighs already. Cute cute cute!!!!! I can't describe my feeling here. It was just so wonderful to see him moving around. To see the baby opened the palms and shows the complete fingers. Especially to see how the legs opened and showed me the gender. Huehehehehehe!!!

I screamed. hihihi the doctor was surprised, but she said that the reaction could be understood.

I will be mother soon. Woa....unbelieavable!!!!

I went home still full of happiness, and in the full train, for the first time someone stood up and gave the seat for me!!! Hehehehe really a mother day.

Then last weekend Hiro came from Korea. So happy to meet him again. And most of all, my baby showed the movement already to him. The father could feel the baby kicking.....

Hmmm....waiting forward to see you again, kid!

Sloppy bitch

At last my sloppy habit came after being careful not to show it to anybody here these past few weeks (_ _o)

I lost my new ID CARD axdcwiezxawlkzfnwaezefj;ld GRRRRRRRRRR

WHY ID CARD?? WHY??

Damn, I'm a sloppy bitch!

I miss Indonesian food!!!

It's almost dinner time now. Been more than two weeks eating these Japanese food already. Now guess what's in my mind? all kinds of cheap 'warung' food from indonesia are jumping around. I can't help not to drool right now.

I just read my maternity book. There written that during these few weeks, pregnant woman of my age will want some unbelievable food badly. But....these are not weird food. All I want now are those cheap Indonesian food I used to have. Help help help. Really want them badly now!!!!

Siomay at Widya Mandala University Kalijudan
Pentol seribu-an also at Widya Mandala University Dinoyo
Bakso and Pangsit Mie Pak Salem
Mie rebus at a warung nearby Lempuyangan station at Jogjakarta
Soto banjar at a warung on Jl. Kedungdoro
Nasi Padang near CDU office
Kwetiaw siram babi - without vegetables- at Apeng
Nasi bebek Canggih
Nasi Kuning Banjar in front of KONI
Pangsit Mie Ujung Pandang on Jl. Kertajaya Indah
Bakmi Goreng + telor penyet of Depot Lestari
Lele penyet at warungs along Jl. Dharmahusada
Cakalang pedes made by my dear mom
Kangkung pedes made by Pei's mom
Pindang pedes made by mbak Parti
Bakso bakar at Malang
Soto ayam Pucang
Cocofrio icecream with Valens
Nasi Goreng ikan asin at Bima
Lo Mie at Pasar Atum
Cakwe Isi udang at Pasar Atum
Tahu tek tek that moves around Dharmahusada area
Mie dok dok pedes that passes nyo's kost every 10 p.m
Nasi Korned at canteen of Widya Mandala Kalijudan
Indomie goreng made by Pei
Indomie kaldu ayam + telor made by Valens
Cah baby corn + bakwan puedess made by Tina's maid
Babi rica made by my mom
eRWe aka spicy dog of Manadonese restaurant nearby Bratang
etc
etc
etc

GOD!!!! I'm really drooling now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (>_<)
And my baby just kicked my stomach right now = "MAMA!!! I WANT THOSE FOOD!!"

Thanks to Mariza that lead me to imagine these foods!

Nori Spaghetti?!?!

I spent last weekend in Yokohama. Stayed over at Hiro's sister's house and visited the famous Yokohama harbour. We had the last lunch togeher at a small Italian Restaurant nearby their house. As I walked inside the green-decorated restaurant; I already can feel the thick Italian atmosphere surrounding me.

We ordered some food in a second since we're starving, and (two thumbs for the service), all came out as fast as shinkansen!

I had my carbonara spaghetti. Really was delicious. There I thought that this restaurant was really keeping the quality of Italian food. But then I got amazed as the meal ordered by Miku-chan arrived.

NORI SPAGHETTI?!?!?!

Spaghetti with tarako (small fish eggs) as the sauce, and lots of nori as the topping.


Nori Spaghetti

Wahahahahaha....I really didn't expect this! Everybody said that that food was delicious but I didn't dare to try any. I didn't want to break the image of italian food in my mind.

I was even more amazed when Hiro's sister said that there's Natto Spaghetti available. NATTO?!?! the weird smelly sticky food that is unbelievably loved by those Japanese people?!. Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

Hmmmm so this is how people adapt foreign food into their traditional taste? Last night Hiro said that in Korea there are Kimchi Spaghetti and Kimchi Pizza! (@_@)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I got this book as a gift from Nyo, in her car, when she sent me to airport last time. I screamed for happiness. I was longing for this book since it first published last July, but kept postponing buying it. Hoping that the price would be lower and lower.
But got it as a present?? Big kiss for nyo! Thanks for completing my English version of Harry Potter.

I started reading it on Monday, and due to my idle time in Japan, finished the whole 607 pages story last night.

As usual, Ibu Rowling was able to hypnotize me and put me into the book. I love her way of describing things, and I admire her imagination. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was able to raise my curiosity, following Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts school of Magic. Revealing his adventure in a more mature phase of his life, still together with his best mates: Ron and Hermione. But.....

I HATE THE ENDING.

How come Professor Dumbledore died?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!? HOAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

What would happen to Hogwarts???

The next book would be the last book of Harry Potter (as far as I believe?), but from the latest story, Harry has still far way to go to be able to kill Lord Voldemort. Still 4 Horcruxes to be found, and his enemies could be at around any corner of the world.

Well well...smart Rowling is driving me crazy. Can't wait for the next Harry Potter. Hurry up writing, Rowling!! Hurry up!! There's one muggle out here waiting forward for your next outstanding piece of writing.

Between Imoet and kids

I used to think that kids are irritating. They're just cute when they're sleeping or laughing, and I felt like throwing them when they start to cry with their very high pitches.

I remember if I saw kids playing in the shopping malls, I always wanted to bug them, especially if their moms were not around.
If some kids played hide and seek, I would kindly tell the kid where his other mates are hiding. Or if they're just walking while sightseeing, I would kindly walk beside them and covered their sights with my bigger body.
And I hate them most if they must sit around me in the airplane. They would just be the most irritating creatures ever, and everybody was forced to understand just because they're kids.

I also never wanted to lose from kids. Though people said I win because I am an adult already, I still enjoy the satisfaction of beating a kid. Let's say Nando, Vei's little brother. Whenever I met him, at least we have 1 quarrel, and trust me, I did my best to win from that monster.

But lately I just can hang around with kids so easily. Weird. Few weeks before I moved here, I could communicate well with Nando. We could watch Cartoon Network together while talking. We even ate and sometimes slept together.

Moreover, I spent last weekend with Hiro's sister's children. They came and stayed over the weekend, so we were always together almost the time. I just found out that it was so easy to communicate with them though we understand different languages. We played the game Hiro and his sister used to play when they were children. Again and again. And surprisingly I COULD HAVE FUN!! hahahaha. Am even now waiting forward for the coming weekend, to meet them again and go to Yokohama together.

Do I change because I'm expecting a baby now? Is it what people called motherly sense?

An Email

This morning I got an email that brought me into smiling.....

Hi there

I think you are a very passionate and sensitive person. I am too and I think I understand you ... to an extent.

I love your pictures ... and your eyes. There is something enigmatic about them ... and they look honest, with a touch of melancholy.

Well ... may be you should check out my profile and then may be write back to me??

Hope you will write back.
Take care

ps. You are very beautiful ... I love the complexion and color of your skin. Take care and have a nice day :-)

Wehehehehehehe...sapa sing yang gak seneng dapat pujian????? [blushing mode: ON]

Well..

After those horrible messy and busy yet happy last weeks I spent in Surabaya, here I am now in Tokyo. Hiro had flied back to Korea two days ago, but surprisingly there were no more tears running from my eyes when I sent him to Haneda airport. Maybe because as what he said, that this hopefully be our last "bye-bye at the airport"?

Time flies so quickly. I feel like it's just yesterday I spent my days in Surabaya. Going to the office every morning, having meals with friends (esp. Pei and facing the annoying question: hmmm what to eat today?), talking for hours, walking around TP and Supermall till we broke our legs, drinking like there's no tomorrow at Excelso, and most of all planning my wedding party at the previous three months. Not to mention how excited I was waiting forward for the time to meet Hiro again, everyday phone calls, and curiosity over the baby's development.

And now.....?
The party was held successfully already, the honeymoon was over, I had several farewell with my beloved friends, I went to Japan together with Hiro and my parents in laws, Hiro went back to Korea, and I am now in front of computer in Hiro's parents' house alone with my runny nose. Oh yeah.....time runs unbelievably fast!!!

Do I feel alone? Nope.
Do I miss Hiro? stupid question. Of course yes, as usual.
Do I miss my friends and times in Surabaya? Yes, terribly. Vitria, Carla, Valens, Emmy....But I've decided to start my new life here.

So how exactly do I feel now?

I miss Vebby the most......more than I've ever thought, more than I've ever missed anyone else -including Hiro.