Pieces Of My Weekend

Hi everyone, how was your weekend? As last Thursday was the Islamic New Year 1434 H and also a national holiday here, many offices set Friday as the communal holiday, making it a very long weekend. While my office was not one of those offices (I worked last Friday, hmph!), I had quite a fun weekend. 

So what did I do last weekend?  Well, after doing the weekly laundry on Saturday, I went to the Tulip Bazaar I mentioned in last Friday's post. I thought it was a place that sold tulips, boy how wrong I was. It's actually a bazaar that sells many Dutch knick-knacks.

Items that fall under the Dutch knick-knack definition are, among others, mini windmill-shaped ceramics and Dutch clog-shaped ceramics. There are many people selling out-of-topic items too, such as Manadonese porridge. Guess what I bought there?

Sambal Ikan Roa (Roa fish chili paste)! It's very spicy as declared by that piece of paper, but also so delicious. Let's hope I don't have a mild diarrhea this week.

While I was in Erasmus Huis, I went to the exhibition hall. There was an exhibition on public housing in the Netherlands (which was supposed to end on Nov. 7, but it's still there, I don't know until when). I had planned to see it but somehow couldn't make it until Nov. 7, how lucky I was!

Public housing in Indonesia usually has the unflattering box-shaped design in order to optimize space and budget. The photos show that it is possible to apply good design on public housing.

As a fan of bicycle, the last photo appeals to me the most:)

Afterwards, I picked up my ticket for Namaste Festival next week and have a free facial treatment (I got vouchers for both). 

On Sunday, we had a visit from a relative and her family. But a few hours before their arrival, we had an unexpected guest from the wildlife: a one-meter long creature that sneaked into our kitchen.

I was the first person to see it, well actually I only saw its tail when I was going to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Then M saw it eating the poisonous trap for the rats. At first we thought it was a civet (because its skin has a similar pattern like a civet). When our guests arrived (a couple with three sons), the boys were excited to hear that we had 'a civet' in the kitchen. We're not that happy, really. So when they offered to catch it, we gladly welcome the offer.

What we thought as a civet turned out to be a very big lizard! In the midst of the ruckus I forgot to take the pictures of the lizard. Long story short, we caught it. Since the boys wanted to keep the lizard as a pet, we gave them a box to carry the animal.

Then we had a fishing party. We had two fish ponds, but the one on the backyard was being dried for cleaning. So all the fishes occupied the front porch pond.

The fishing party begins

We kept the mujair (cichlid fishes, Tilapia mossambicus)

But took out two gurame (fresh-water carps, Osphronemus goramy)

And three patin (large catfishes, Pangasius nasutus)

Our activity attracted a stray cat. Look at how the cat pretended to be cool and calm, hahaha.

Laying out my weekend in pictures made it more interesting than it really was. Hmm. Now, it's your turn. What did you do last weekend? :)

Two Images To Think Over This Weekend

Kindergarten children wearing batik apparel participate in a parade to celebrate the Islamic New Year in Pamekasan, East Java on Thursday. Thousands of elementary and junior high school students in Pamekasan also joined the parade. (Antara/Saiful Bahri, found here) 

Parents and students wade across the Surantih River to reach a school in Jorong Lambung Bukik, Sutera district, West Sumatra, on Wednesday. The children of at least 35 families are forced to wade across the river every day due to the lack of a bridge. (Antara/Arif Pribadi, as seen here)

Oh hello there,  how was your week? Sorry for being MIA. I've been swamped with excessive workload that came over to my desk after my colleague Fith going for three-week holiday. A lot of work means a very demanding week but somehow I like having a lot of things in my hands.

Any plans for this weekend? There will be a Tulip Bazaar on Saturday from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. at Erasmus Huis and Europe On Screen will start next week, you'd better pick your movie from now. 

Have a lovely weekend!

P.S. There are many students across Indonesia who face the problem depicted in picture #2. You can help change the condition in Jorong village by signing this petition. I just did.

Four More Years

President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden acknowledge the crowd at his election night party on Wednesday in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP/Carolyn Kaster, found here)

Long Eyelashes And White Skin

I find it interesting how the children upbringing affecting how boys and girls view things differently. Boys are raised with the thought that they should be tough and strong, while girls should be calm and stay indoor. At some points, the society requires each gender to have certain physical features.

Can't we just treat others equally so we don't have to hear the following conversations?

#1. Long eyelashes 
Boy: What are those?
Girl: These are eyelash extensions
Boy: What are they doing on your desk? You're going to wear those?
Girl: I got them for free. So what if I'm wearing these?
Boy: Why would you want those?
Girl: To look a bit feminine, I guess. 


#2. White skin
Boy: Wow, you look very tanned. Did you sunbath everyday during your vacation?
Girl: No. I just have this gift of catching up tan quickly. I was born tan anyway.
Boy: You're lucky. I really want to have darker complexion.
Girl: Why would you want to be tanned?
Boy: Because it would make me look macho.
Girl: Why do you want to look macho?
Boy: Because boys just have to look macho.

To boys with white skin and long eyelashes, the girls still see you as macho men if you treat them nicely. 

To girls with dark complexion and short eyelashes, your femininity are not defined by the physical appearance.

Have a thoughtful Tuesday! :)

Batik Danar Hadi

Batik Danar Hadi celebrates its 45th anniversary by holding fashion shows at its outlets. Established by Santosa Doellah and wife Danarsih Santosa in 1967, Batik Danar Hadi has challenged Indonesian creative designers to translate their fine fabric into premium and limited designs.

I happened to be at the fashion shows held at the outlet on Jl. Raden Saleh. The fashion show featured many outfits, but the following are my favorite ones :).

Danar Hadi Sport for a casual look

Bat-winged shirt

Batik coat

Batik jacket

Something Sweet To Close This Week

Yoshimi, 10-year-old female giraffe, looks after her male calf Pemuda at Taman Safari II zoo in Pasuruan, East Java, on Monday. Pemuda, born one day after the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day, is the fourth offspring of Yoshimi and 9-year-old male Dhavi. (JP/Indra Harsaputra, Source)

If you've been reading this blogs for a while, you can probably tell by now that an animal giving birth in the zoo would make it here. But seriously, isn't the baby giraffe so adorable?

I haven't found any interesting events for this weekend, so it's all up to you. I'm going to a wedding party with M and then spend the weekend at home. Have a sweet weekend, y'all!

Does Your Mother Do This?

#1. Scolds You When You Buy Something Expensive
M: Hey, I haven't seen that shirt before. Is it new?
Me: Err...yes.
M: How much is it?
Me: (mentions the price, which is a wrong thing to do)
M: What? That is so expensive!You should save money.

#2. And Then Scolds You Again If You Dress In Cheap Outfits
Me: (coming out with faded jeans and shirt in a very weird color/shape)
M: Are you coming to office like that? Change into something more appropriate! You work for a respectable organization. You should buy quality clothes.
Me: What happens to the "save your money"? -_-


#3. Picks Up Their Local Dialects When Speaking To Their Siblings/People From Their Hometown

M was born in Jakarta but grew up in Kebumen, a part of Banyumas regency in Central Java that has this colloquially dialect called ngapak. When she talks to me and other people, she will speak without any dialect. But once she meets her siblings or people from Kebumen, the dialect comes out. This also happens to D.

#4. Insists That You Should Bring A Lunch Box And Then Wails If You Tell Her You Have Other Plans (Which Basically Means You Can't Bring The Said Lunch Box)

This happens so many times. Enough said.

#5. Request For Weird Souvenirs When You Go Traveling

The following conversation took place when I went holidaying to Belitung

M: Since you're holidaying to Belitung, can you buy me terasi (chili peppers with fermented shrimp taste, has very strong aroma)?

Me: But M, I'm taking an airplane. I don't think it'll be allowed into the cabin. The aroma will annoy other passengers

M: You can wrapped in in air-tight package.

Me: -_-

Note: I did buy her that terasi and had to wrap it very tight. It's worth the effort because she made the best sambal (chili paste) with terasi from Belitung. She has been asking me if I'm planning to visit Belitung again in the near future.

At least, M doesn't ask me to buy mangoes...

Aneen's mom: I heard on TV that Probolinggo's mangoes are getting very sweet due to the prolonged dry season. You're going to Probolinggo, right?

Aneen: Err..yes

Aneen's mom: Could you buy me mangoes from Probolinggo as souvenirs?

Aneen: T_T 

P.S. M, I love you with all your quirks and antics:)