St. Patrick's Day

I actually have never heard about this St. Partick's Day before in my life, until two weeks ago, in the PTA meeting at Iki's school. The school will celebrate St. Patrick's Day on March 17, and mothers are requested to prepare the luncheon. And I must prepare the dessert.

I browsed the internet once I got home, and decided to bake a cake with big green clover icing. I tried to make the clover then, but it was really difficult! Instead of a clover, they turned out to be either a huge abstract leaf, a green flower, or a green tree (>.<).

In the last minute then I got some ideas of green Indonesian's traditional dessert from my friends via facebook. I decided to make 'klepon', small balls of green rice cake filled with palm sugar, and covered by grated coconut. I made some modification though, I used Japanese's rice cake's powder to get a stronger chewy taste instead of Indonesian's rice powder. I colored the grated coconut in green, so here is Iki's school St. Patrick's Day's dessert :))

I didn't expect that they would love them :p

(Another) fun holiday in Bali

We stayed at the Mara River Lodge, a hotel inside the Safari Park on our first three nights in Bali. Iki loved that place. Not only that he could see zebras, and a big rhino and some other African animals from our bedroom, but because there were lots of activities there for him.



He excitedly watched the lions -though they were sleeping most of the time- from the big window glass surrounding the restaurant. Too bad the food there was not good at all, and expensive. We don't mind paying expensive food as long as they are good :)). We definitely won't consider any dinner at Tsavo Lion restaurant anymore in the future

He enjoyed feeding the elephants eventhough he was scared at the first time.



He laughed out loud and was really interested watching the elephants' show.



He rode the camel, with papa-chan.



He loved riding the ponies too. In fact, he rode them for three times, basically every day during our stay there.



And he enjoyed riding the elephants, meanwhile I was scared to death. He kept chattering while the huge elephant brought us around the Safari Park, meanwhile I could barely move because I was afraid that I would fall down (>.<). 

We could take photos with the animals too. I love the picture with the tiger the most!, and Papa-chan loved this baby Orang Utan named Roni.


He screamed excitedly when he found the fun zone and the water park too!! Mara River Lodge is a heaven for Iki except for the food!

   

We also went to the monkey forest in Ubud. Iki was really excited seeing those cute monkeys. Too bad I don't have the pictures. I was too afraid if those monkeys stole my camera :p

We thought that we want to shop till we drop on the last three days. But we met some friends instead. Which was a great thing. We live in this far away Sorowako so that meeting friends, had a good quality time eating, drinking, and laughing together were such a valuable refreshing time.

We met Sheila, Martin, Mariza, Carla, Vincent, and little Michelle for a fun dinner at Jimbaran. I was really glad to be able to meet them all, especially Sheila. Glad that at last I could meet Martin and Vincent. It was really funny to see how Martin and Vincent got along 'pretty well' hahaha!



We went fishing with Tim and Yully's family too. They are our friends from Sorowako, and their kids -Angela an Matthew- are Iki's good friends. They moved out from Sorowako already last month, so that we were really happy to spend some time with them again.


And the next day we met Annerie and Ricardo. The last time I met them was like 4 years ago, when I visited them in Schagen, the Netherlands. Carla, Vincent, Mariza, and Anton joined the lunch too. At last I met Anton!! He was really really quiet for A MARIZA!!! Happy to hear about the plan next year ;-)

Hiro was really sick then, so that we decided not to meet anyone on our last holiday. I was sad that I couldn't meet Luky, my friend from Sorowako too, but indeed we had had a busy holiday already. We just had FEW (really few....) shopping, a quick haircut for me (which is not bad but quite dissapointing...huaaaa!!), and then a great dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, Tratorria, in Seminyak area. It was definitely the best meal I've ever had in Bali hehehe.
Interestingly then after dinner Hiro suddenly felt better and wanted to join Tim's farewell dinner! So we went to Tim and Yully's house in Denpasar at 9.30 pm!! Iki enjoyed his last playing time with Matthew and Angela -last because that family is moving to Madagascar and we don't know when would we meet them again. We went home at 11 p.m. Drunk and tired and sleepy (especially Iki) yet we had to pack our luggage because we had to check out early in the morning on the next day.



It was an exhausting holiday. Now I realize that a romantic-honeymoon style holiday with a lot of shopping time has been ended. As Iki is getting bigger now, our holiday -all the plans- must be based on his schedules and wishes! But we had a great time. We enjoyed watching Iki enjoying his holiday, laughing out loud, eventhough we were mad at him a lot of time too haha!

Looking forward for our next holiday ALREADY hahaha!

Our flight

It was raining when we were about to board the plane from Sorowako to Makassar yesterday morning that the flight was delayed. The plane connecting Sorowako to Makassar is a small one, so the flight operator didn't dare to take the risk flying the airplane during bad weather. Which actually was very good, because safety must come at the first place. I don't dare risking our lives in the sky with that small plane too!!

But the thing is our next flight to Bali from Makassar would be at 9 a.m!! We were supposed to arrive in Makassar at 8 a.m but at last we started at 7.45! I felt like the 45 minutes flight took forever. But the other passanger told me that Lion Air (our next flight to Bali), would understand about our flight delayed and would allow us to get inside the plane. And anyway flight delayed for that airlines is just a normal issue' so we shouldn't be worried that much haha!

We arrived at Makassar 15 minutes before the Lion Air boarded. Hiro ran with Iki to the check in counter explaining about us, while I ran to take the luggage. The Lion Air's staffs kept rushing me to board the plane asap and leave the luggage behind (they said that they will send it with the next flight to Bali, but..... yeah right!!! :p). Thanks God by that time then I saw my luggage and I ran upstair as fast as I could. I lost my breath, but we could board the plane. I felt sorry for the other passanger who waited curiously inside the plane hehehe. 

So we are now in Bali (^____^), for our first one week holiday after 5 months living in Sorowako! 

'Cooking lesson'

Last FridayI was invited to give a simple 'cooking lesson' to Iki's class. Miss Desy said they were interested to Iki's lunch boxes. (Oh yes, I have to prepare simple healthy snack for Iki to bring to school, and papa-chan said that eventhough we live in Indonesia, I still have to make 'attractive' obento for Iki).

I taught the kids how to make cute shaped simple sandwich that day. Well, what else could I think of a preschooler could make easily in 30 minutes?!

I gave each kid two slices of bread and a wooden knife. I told them to cut off the bread's crust and they didn't find it difficult to do that.

Then they could spread some strawberry jam or peanut butter on their bread.

And made some shape. This part was fun. They got really excited and unfortunatelly almost everyone wanted to make heart and star shape sandwich with Thomas stamp on it. And those cute preschoolers were not patient enough to take turn. Some of them even ate their bread already haha!

Not bad, huh? They gave some of the sandwiches to the older students and the other teachers later on during the snack time. 

And here is the preschoolers with their 'cute' sandwiches

And this one is with their 'cute' Imoet :))

Make it Wednesday: Simple Mini Dress

At last I made my own dress for the 1960 - 1970's themed birthday party. It was the biggest sewing project for me so far! For a beginner like me, I really found it difficult to make even such a simple dress. I simply didn't have enough patience (>.<). During my dancing that night, I could feel some thread hanging from my lovely first hand made dress haha!! Oh well....

Valentine's Day

Iki had his first Valentine's celebration at school yesterday. He had to make cards for all the students at school. I helped him cutting the heart shapes colorful papers, he sticked some together and drew something on them. When he got home, he happily showed me his red box full of valentine's cards from the other children with some sweets too!

So when we got home, he wanted me to draw one big heart on a piece of paper. He said that he wanted to make something for papa. So I helped him cutting small paper hearts, and he did the rest of the job. He said that he didn't want to draw faces on that card, but wanted to write names, so I helped him writing what he wanted. 

Look at this. Isn't it beautiful? Papa-chan was really touched that he almost cried last night when Iki handed the paper to him.......

Meanwhile I baked this marsmallow chocolate cookie for everyone.

And this morning, Iki wanted me to cut a big heart shape paper. Then he was busy in his room and I was not allowed to enter it. He ended up bringing this with a very wide smile. "Happy Valentine, Mommy", he said. Oh God....I cried while hugging him. This is my very first card from my little boy too!!!! And he added, "I wrote 'I love Mommy, yo!" while pointing the bottom of the card. Isn't it very sweet???

This is the best Valentine's day, and I hope yours is as beautiful as mine too. Happy Valentine's day!

Make it Wednesday: Tissue box cover

Now that Iki goes to school three times a week, I have plenty of time for myself. I'm glad that I can join more activities here without feeling guilty of leaving Iki at home!

I decided that at least once a week, Wednesday, I will make something productive. Not only doing exercise, chatting and browsing the internet!

So this was what I made on my first 'free' Wednesday. Tissue box cover. It was very easy, and I could finish it just before it was time to pick Iki up at school!





Special thanks for Tomomi who sent me the fabrics and instructions!!

The Party

Last Saturday was the party. The birthday celebration for three of our friends, Jeff, Mike and Geoff. Thank you for the ideas, at last I came to the party with my handmade simple (not so) mini dress. I found the old fabric among my collections, must be from my mother in law. It is a very old fabric. I believe it was really from the 1960's from the smell hahaha!. I don't have boots, so I just wore my pink shoes. I used driving gloves (long ones, to slower my tanning process haha!) as an accesorries, plus a super hot pink wig I borrowed from Bobbie, Iki's school principal, at the last minute! Too bad I forgot my too big sunglasses, but I was pretty satisfied with my outfit :))

I don't have a picture of myself!! I can't believe it! Grrhh!! But I believe someone has, so I will post the picture later on.

But this is my lovely husband hahaha. We decided his costumes just 15 minutes before we left for the party. At first he wanted to go as a hippie with a borrowed red afro wig, but then he thought it would just be an ordinary outfit, so I offered him to wear my yukata. Indeed he was one of the center of attention that night, and he enjoyed it!!!

And these are the birthday boys:

And the audiences:

My pretty hubby then got wild and started to dance with the ladies. He surprisingly caught up with the steps pretty quick. Everyone laughed out loud and there were at least ten people asking me if he was too drunk already. He thought papa-chan was a serious person because he barely talk with everyone!! (ehm, he actually doesn't really talk because of his English level hihihi)

When he was getting hotter, he opened the top part of his yukata and dancing around. At the coffee morning this morning, the wives told me that they were enjoying the 'Geisha Porn' show that night LOL.

He also tried my pink wig

And Margie's hippie wig

He arrogantly challenged Matt

But (of course) was lost within 10 seconds

And still dared enough for a Judo. You could clearly see who the winner was!!

It was a great party. I never thought there would be such party in this far-away Sorowako. Everyone dressed up, and they all did look awesome!


Look, even little Iki also wanted to feel the party eventhough he must stay at home with 'bibik' :p





Thank you for the party ideas. Tomorrow I will ask little Iki to pick up the winner (^___^)

Nervous

Tomorrow will be Iki's first day at school. I've been nervous for the whole week, and today the feeling almost blew me out. Alright, I might be overreacting about this school thing, but I just can't help it. I keep thinking if Iki would be alright at school. Until now he's still a very shy and sensitive boy, eventhough he knows some of other kids he will see at the school later on. I'm so so worried of him (>.<).

Actually there's a school bus picking up all the children, but tomorrow I will send him to school by myself. I know my son, and he will definitely cry his lung out if I just send him off to the bus at his very first day. Anyway we talked a lot about school these past few weeks, about the fun he would find there, about the friends he will meet, the teacher, the toys. He seemed understand but at the end he always insisted that he wanted me to be there too (@_@).

I just finished preparing his backpack, and checked it again and again for at least three times. I baked mini muffins together with him today and he put some himself into his lunch box. I trained him a lot not to talk in Japanese to the teacher, to tell the teacher whenever he needs to go to the restroom, how to open and close his lunch box, where I put his clothes, sandals, etc etc etc etc ETC. Arggghhhhh I'm such a noisy mother!!! (>.<)

Tonight between my long speech to him about school during dinner time, he hugged me tightly, kissed my lips, and said "You are my Mommy, my taisetsu mono (my very important thing)". It was the sweetest thing my 3 years old son has ever said to me.



I'm very proud though, that this baby has grown up, was able to say such things, and will start going to school tomorrow. Yet I'm still nervous haha!

I don't think I could sleep peacefully tonight.....

60's or 70's fashion ideas

I NEED HELP!!!!!!

There will be this birthday party coming on Feb 7. Everyone coming must wear 60's or 70's costume!

Please give me some advices, considering we're living in this jungle, and buying things is impossible. I might have to sew the dress on my own, but I just can't think of any good ideas.

I have something for you who gives the best creative yet easy to make idea, which I will use to come to the party. I will send away MY handmade goodie (^_^)!! But since I'm running out of time, I could only wait for your ideas until Sunday, Jan 25.

So hurry up, think of something unique to help US, and to get my handmade goodie (^___^)v

In search of a good maid :p

I got a new maid now. She started working this morning. How did I manage to find a new maid within one week?!

I brought Iki last Wednesday to the routine boxercise with the wives neighborhood. and they asked me why. I explained them that I fired my maid and there was nobody taking care of him while I was away. Since then the news spread all over "maid network" and everyday some women came over to look for a job. I thought It would be difficult to find a new maid, but I was wrong!

I chose Christina to fill in the job. She is not young anymore, experienced, can cook well, great with children, speaks a little English (just in case Hiro wants to communicate with her), and can stay with us here.

I spent this whole day teaching her the way she should do the house chores here. Hopefully she could adapt well within few days.

I do hope I chose the right person :)

Not my day...

I got my left tummy ache in these past 4 days. The pain come and go so I didn't really pay attention on it. I was thinking to go to a doctor but I don't have maid now, and going to a hospital bringing Iki wouldn't be a good idea.

But yesterday evening the pain got worse. I told Hiro but then because I didn't cook, we went to Wet Monyet anyway for dinner. To my surprise, the pain was getting worse, and I couldn't walk anymore as we arrived home. Hiro was upset because I should have gone to the hospital earlier, for he's afraid if it was my appendices.

So he made me called the expat doctor at 9.30 pm yesterday, and he met me at the hospital not long after that. He checked me up, did some tests (vaginal, urine and pregnancy), and came to a conclusion that it was not my appendices (thank God), but that there's infection inside. He gave me antibiotics and pain killer, and asked me to give him a call in the morning again.

I felt better then. I still could feel the pain but it is not as painful as last night. I called the doctor and he said that I must finish the whole strip of the antibiotics and take a good rest for few days to recover from the bugs. The thing is, I don't have maid now. I had to do the house chores and cooking and I couldn't take a minute rest with my active son bugging me around the whole day. I told him that I'm sick and need to lay down to reduce my pain, but he kept jumping on my damn stomach. I was so upset but I also pity him. I know he's alone and wanted me to play with him. He didn't have nap today and I didn't have any power to make him so that he was so grumpy in the evening. I was so exhausted that I was really waiting forward for Hiro's coming to help me out taking care of him. But Hiro suddenly called me that he had something to do at the camp and would go home very late. It's now 9.40 pm, and he just left the camp. Which means he would arrive here in another hour. He hasn't had his dinner yet, poor papa-chan; so I'll have to cook for him again after this - and cleaning up, poor me. I guess having a maid these few months spoilt me a lot (>.<)

Hhhhh today is just not my day!

I'd better take a short rest now. Feel so good to be able to ramble again here, after 3 months!!

Bye bye Mina-chan

Yesterday morning I fired Mina-chan. After I got a phone call from her telling me (not asking me) that she's not coming because of sick (again!). Lately it happened every week. And Hiro already had long list of complaints about her job. And i'm so tired listening to his complaints. And I'm also tired telling her what to do over the same things every single day. And I just can't stand it anymore whenever she ruined my plan because she couldn't stay until night after her quarrel with her boyfriend. And I'm bored already with the food she cooked.And...and...and....anyway she was fired already :p

I felt good afterwards though a bit sad, especially when Iki cried (yeah...Iki likes her). Learning from this experience, I think I will make a printed "rules and to do list" for my next maid hahaha!

Hope I could get a better maid. Soon. Bye bye Mina-chan

Beauty and the beast ;-)

Leftover piece from our trip to Bali last October.

Imoet, the beauty. And Carla, the beast (^_-)v



Thanks for the great time, baby!

Rafting

One weekend after Christmas we shared a rented boat with my friend, Nira to bring our family around Matano Lake (my parents and sister were visiting, and Nira's sister's family was here too).



At first we asked the driver to bring us to an underwater cave. Hiro jumped into the water as we arrived and said that the view from the cave was amazing. Exactly like Capri in Italy. Iki and I got ready to join him swimming into the lake, but then we found there were some bees buzzing around the lake's entrance. Too bad......we just didn't want the risk to get stung by a bee at the beginning of the trip so at last we passed it :(



Then we went to some small islands there to swim.





And then we went to Nuha village for some "shopping". The villagers there made and sell rattan souvenirs. I bought one small basket and one very big one to put our dirty laundry in.



It was raining very hard on the way home. It was my first time feeling cold in the afternoon in Sorowako haha. I mean, seriously cold that I was shivering!

We enjoyed the trip. I'd like to go around Matano lake again someday. Matano Lake is breathtaking :). As the world's second deepest lake, it has amazingly clear water. I'd definitely like to go rafting there again someday

Happy?

Bed time is always a fight between me and Iki. He always tries to find
a thousand and one reason to postpone his sleeping time, and that
attitudes really drive me crazy. So every night I have to talk to him
in a very high tone to send him to bed :(.

And last night he asked me after I lost my patience,

"Mommy, are you angry again? how to make you happy?"

Which made me teary......

I gave him a huge cuddle. He always makes me happy, but he also drives
me crazy at the same time :p

Our Christmas

I know it's late. As what happened to the Christmas cards we sent to our friends too. Thanks to Indonesian Custom department and post office who charged us 40 USD for receiving blank personalized Christmas cards from Japan. And then when we finally got (and paid) them, the local post office didn't have enough stamps for the whole cards so they had to send them to the other city's post office AFTER CHRISTMAS.

Well anyway, we had a nice Christmas. My parents and my sister
here visiting us. So let me share our happiness with all of you...

We spent the Christmas eve at the expat bar, Wet Monyet. Iki met Santa Claus but was scared of him. He cried when I wanted to take his picture on Santa's lap.

Iki was a "good boy" so he got a lot of Christmas presents from Santa Claus this year. He excitedly opened them all and were really happy to find some cars inside.

We had special Christmas menu this year. Special because my mom cooked everything I missed, though for Hiro those food are not supposed to be Christmas food haha!

There were several events here too. There's Christmas concert from the Children of the International school. And some women from Boxercise and Fun Golf got together for a coffee after their exercises.

It was a nice Christmas after all, hope you had a nice one too ;-)