I Have A Train Brain

A train passed Cisomang bridge

My dearies, what means of transportation do you prefer when traveling?  I have always loved taking a train. Perhaps because it was the first means of transportation I used. D took me to Bandung, West Java by train when I was around six months old. He left me there under the guidance of his parents because both M&D worked and there was no nanny to take care of me.

It was lucky for them that I am such a good girl. I was very calm during the train ride. However, according to D, everyone in the train took pity on him, because he had to go by himself.

“Perhaps they were thinking that the wife had been leaving the man and the baby for a much better life,” D said, laughing.

But I digress. Back to the train thing.

A train passes Sasaksaat tunnel

What I find so exciting about the train is that it runs on its own tracks and is unlikely to get trapped in a traffic. And the fact that it’s the only means of transportation that I get along with. The others (cars,ships, planes) get me nauseated.

My love towards train is growing as time goes by. In 1980s, D wrote a book titled Berkelana Dengan Kuda Besi (Traveling With The Iron Horse), in which he told the history of train and how we can actually travel across the globe using trains.Well, not exactly across the globe. We have to switch to buses, boats and planes in some parts of the world.

I watched a documentary on Trans Siberia when I was in elementary schools, and I’ve been having dreams about the train ever since. Reading Agatha Christie’s Murder On the Orient Express only amplified it.

D was assigned to Germany in 1990 (or was it in 1989? He was there during the German reunification) to attend Frankfurt Book Fair. During his stay in Europe, he got to travel between Germany, France and the Netherlands by Eurorail. Oh, how I envied him until I tried the subway of Vienna.

When I went to college in Central Java’s Semarang, I used train to go between Jakarta and Semarang. If I take the morning train from Jakarta, I can see a glimpse of Java’s northern coastal in the afternoon as the train passes Batang-Pemalang. The view is majestic.

For a quick and beautiful train ride, I suggest the Argo Gede that runs between Jakarta and Bandung. If you depart from Jakarta, take the seats on the right side of the aisle. It is a feast to your eyes, since the ride will pass hundreds of train bridges, such as Cisomang and Ciganea. You can also see the amazing structure of Cipularang tollroad.

 

I usually get lucky whenever taking a train. An old man gave me a bag of wingko babat (coconut and sugar snack) when he sat next to me. During my college years, I visited the Train Museum in Ambarawa with cousine Dina. And we got to ride the steam train that travels between Ambarawa and Bedono, thanks to employees of Total Fina Elf (now: Total E&P Indonesie) that allowed two brave-yet-penniless girls boarding the train.

When you read this post, I have probably reached Kebumen by train. Although I can buy plane ticket, I decide to go by train. Boy, if I had the time and the money, I would travel the world by train.

Photos: courtesy of PT Kereta Api Indonesia

Latte Art

Good morning, my lovelies! Do you need a cup of coffee in the morning to get you in the mood? I prefer tea to coffee, so I'm of a Javanese descent who doesn't drink Java, hehehe. But I adore the latte art. Last year, I went to a coffee class and tried my hands on latte art. Here are some pictures from the event. Sorry for the blur and noises. 

You will need a stable hand to pour the milk on the coffee

The last photo of latte art is mine. My hands got a bit shaky and created this abstract pattern:).

Fashion, Films, Food And Football

Found here

It's Friday, people! Time to pack up my backpack to leave the city, yippeee!!! I'm taking a three-day leave next week, and I want to visit my grandma. Finally!!! Posts will be thin, unless if I can prepared some scheduled posts for you. But with extra works I'm doing, I can't promise you anything.

But why should we worry about next week, when there are so much things we can do this weekend? :)

First of all, there will be Brightspot Market from July 8-11. This month, the venue is Plaza Indonesia Extension, 4th floor, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. This month's event will feature around 60 brands. Retail therapy, anyone? :P

Then, there is 2010 Boemboe Forum in Erasmus Huis Jakarta on July 10 from 3.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will showcase five short movies.

Epicureans can also sink their teeth into French cuisine during the Tour Culinaire de France that will last until July 25 at Hotel Le Meridien Jakarta.

Oops, almost forgot, the World Cup Final! Is it going to be Spain or The Netherlands? Can't hardly wait!

Have a fabulous weekend:)

I Wonder What The Baby Has In Mind:)

Taken during the photography exhibition of Lovis Ostenrik

Either The Elevator Is Jinxed...

Found here

...or the universe loves making fun of me, but I always meet him, of all places, in the office elevator. He is  one of those top-level persons, let's just call him GP (It'll take more than three paragraphs to explain this, so let's just embrace the fact that heretofore we'll call him GP). He would wear that ugly black suit, put on the eyeglasses whose frame matches with the color of his shirt and give me that look. 

The look that shoots straight to my eyes, as if probing for something he could not quite grasp. It would only last for about three second or so, but the look never fails to give me a shiver. I don't feel comfortable with the look, but being the stubborn girl that I am, I usually look back straight to the black pupil in his dark brown iris.

Fortunately (or is it unfortunately?), I always leave the office with other co-worker, like Peeyutz, Lln and Mtq. Most of the times, it was Peeyutz who stood by me whenever we encountered GP. So the tension is lower than when it's just the two of us. 

Sometimes he remains silent (and so do Peeyutz and I!), so we would spend the elevator ride in complete silence. However, there are other times when he suddenly says something. Some of the things that I wish he would keep to himself.

"You still wear that headscarf? Why?" was one of his most memorable remarks.

"How have you fared?" was the most difficult one to answer, especially in such a short time.

Sometimes he did not wait the answer and leave me in the elevator as soon as the doors slide open. Other times he just blurted out his feelings.

"People feel uncomfortable having me around," he once said.

"I wonder why they get that feeling," I replied politely, although that was a complete lie.

"Gotta meet someone tonight," he said, smiling mischievously.

"Ok," I said, rolling eyes.

"My wife is hospitalized," he said.

"Oh my God, so sorry to hear that. Is she OK? Are you OK?" I asked.

"Yeah, everything's allright," he said, putting on his ignorant mask again.

Recently I took the stairs. But last week, the stairs area was re-painted and I could not stand the odor. For the time being, I stay close to Peeyutz and other colleagues and glance to his room before making way to the elevator.

Books, Circus And Food For The Weekend

Found here

Hello people, it's school holidays here. Time for families to explore the city's leisure attractions like Ragunan Zoo and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. (Not for me though, it would be like swimming with the salmons) If you want to do something rather different, why don't you go to Indonesian Book Festival from July 2-11 at Istora Senayan? Let's get bookish!

If books are too boring for you, there is a circus festival in town! Indonesian International Circus Festival that will take place on July 2-11 at Parkir Timur Senayan will feature three circus group: America-based Circus Le Masque, China-based New Shanghai Circus and Cyclown Circus from Europe. It's going to be super fun! For more information on the circus festival, click here.

Need new challenges? I hope you have strong stomach to brave Indonesian street food since there will be Festival Jajanan Bango from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It will be held in Plasa Selatan Gelora Bung Karno Senayan. Bango, an Indonesian brand of black soy ketchup, has been known to educate street food vendors on hygiene. So let's go and grab a plate, mate:) For more information on the event, you can check the Facebook page here.

Hope you have a fun, fulfilling or bookish weekend:)

Bicycles In Shanghai

The trip to Shanghai took place in 2004. I went to report on the opening of Bank Mandiri's representative office there. Why I got the assignment? Because I was the only one holding a passport in my previous office. (Basic items most journalists must have: passport) 

I didn't have a chance to wander around the city because the schedule was very packed. But during my sojourn, I managed to take several photos on how Shanghaians love their bicycles. Hope you enjoy it!

I need to make a phone call, but I can't leave my bike

He uses a bicycle to take his motorcycle!

A man, a dog and a bike. Hmm, those will make a wonderful afternoon ride.

This one is captured at a busy intersection

When I took this photo in 2004, I thought he was riding his son's bike. Now I know it's a folding bike:)

bikes, bikes and bikes everywhere.