Cute Shirts For Cute Little Boys

Photo source

It's always easy to dress up little girls because there are so many cute dresses/shoes/accessories designed for girls. My former colleague and mother of a one-year-old son Nissa, who established Muscingcraft over two years ago, wants to show that little boys can both be dapper and adorable. The patterns make me wishing that I have two little boys. Ha!

Unfortunately, these shirts do not come in cheap because she uses imported materials. I wonder if there is a manufacturer who can produce self-designed fabrics with affordable prices here in Indonesia. I'm sure Nissa can come up with some amazing ones.

Have a wonderful weekends, y'all! :)

The Top 10 Questions An Indonesian Will Likely Encounter In His/Her Lifetime

As much as I don't like stereotyping, I couldn't help noticing that many Indonesians (if not all of them) tend to ask personal (and nagging) questions, even to people they barely know. They may sound innocent and harmless, but they are usually followed by a series of (even more nagging) questions.

Some may argue that they do it out of courtesy, but during the sensitive times, these questions (and the follow-up ones) are not a good way to kick start a conversation. Indonesians are people-oriented and want to know more about other people. Perhaps this is why we have so many infotainment shows on the TVs.

Here are some questions that I gather based on my own and my friends' experiences.
 
1. Which school did you go to?

I've got this question all the way from elementary school to university. While this question seems harmless, there are follow-up questions that may tickle some sensitive nerves, such as "What is your ranking/GPA?", "Which year are you now?" or "When are you graduating?" (and then they will compare you with someone's kid who can finish university in 3.5 years. Ouch.)

2. Where do you work?

Remember this post? Again, this question sounds innocent. But if a random person sitting next to you in TransJakarta asks this question, you may wonder: why would they need to know? My friend @alfianindris says,"Sometimes people ask this question not because they care but because they see you wearing very casual clothes yet holding the latest gadget, so they are just curious."

3. On marital status

There are two versions for this category: "When are you getting married?" (usually asked by close relatives, friends) or "Are you married?" (by people who just know you). And if you are single, be prepare for the judgmental closing statement:"You're picky, that's why you stay single." Ack! I've written a counter-attack reply on this post.

4. Where do you live?

In Indonesia, if you are single, it is considered normal to live at your parents' home. After you're married, it is also still normal to stay in the parents' home but the society deem that the right answer for this question would be anywhere but there. I'm sure everyone would love to have a space on their own but there are circumstances that force people to stay, such as rising home mortgages and ailing parents.

5. Are you pregnant (yet)? 

When asked to a single woman with a chubby tummy (points to self), this is a serious case of defamation. I've learned to not ask this question, even to a married friend who is very dear to me. Another version of this question is "Are you planning to have children?" Hmm.

6. Pregnancy-related questions

My pregnant friends say that the questions they get during the nine-month period include "How far along are you?", "What is the baby's gender?", "When is it due?" and "How come you do not have big belly yet?" (for expecting mothers in the first or second trimester).

7. Post-partum questions

The most infamous questions that fall in this category are...(can you guess?) "So when are you planning to have another child?" and "Are you going back to work after the parental leave is over?" (usually to the working moms).

8. When are you planning to go on a pilgrimage (or any religious place according to your belief)?

I seriously don't know why people even bother to ask this question. They are not going to pay the air fare anyway.

9. Are you celebrating Idul Fitri or Christmas?

I haven't gotten this question since I wore hijab. But in the past, I got this a lot. Sometimes, when I was hanging out with my Catholic friends, a guy would ask which parochial I went to. Perhaps wanting to go to church together? :P

10. Where do you come from?

You may think that they are asking your hometown, but they are actually asking your ethnicity. I've been getting this question many many times because I don't have any accent and I have a generic Indonesian face. Indonesia has more than 300 ethnic groups, with each group having its own language, so it's only natural that each person come from a different place. But instead of finding differences, we should just focus on the similarities. My answer to this question? I'm an Indonesian.

Has anyone asked you one of the questions above? Which annoys you most? Do you have other annoying questions people ask you?

Classic Beauty

Dancers from the Jawa Padnecwara troupe perform Sekar Putri during the Lelangen Beksan Javanese classical dance event at the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta on Saturday. The event presents classic and newly created dances until Sunday. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) Source

That Primal Protective Paternal Feeling

Wouldn't this be perfect for a Father's Day gift? :P Source

I read this article in ANN and D came to mind:). Just like mothers would feel that an ordinary woman would never be enough for their sons, I'm sure fathers feel the same way about men dating their daughters. The article may be about teenagers, but those are pretty much applicable for adults as well. Read it and let me know what you think:).

Meanwhile, here are several conversations I've had with D about other men :P.

#1. Safety Driving Tips For A Future Father-In-Law
Situation: when I was a little kid, we would go to Kebumen, M's hometown, to celebrate Idul Fitri. We were on the road in our humble family car when D started to speed up and did some manoeuvrings.
M: Don't drive too fast!
D: We need to arrive in Kebumen soon, right?
M: The driver in that car we passed just now could have been our future in-laws. What if they cancel our daughters' marriage once they saw that you're the driver who drive recklessly?
D: (resumed to driving slowly)

#2. Go Fast And Furious Or Go Home 

Situation: D was speeding up again, this time I was in my twenties.
M: Don't drive too fast!
Me: Yes, D. They could be our future in-laws (trying to look serious).
D: Well, if they want to be part of my family, they should know how to drive fast.
Me: LOL

#3. One Of The Requirements To Be D's Son-In-Law (Seriously)
Situation: I was driving because D was not fit to drive.
D: I wish I have I son-in-law who can drive me around.
Me: Are you looking for a son-in-law or a driver? Am I not a good driver for you?
D: You are too slow
(In my defense, I drive slowly when M&D are in the car with me. If the passengers are my friends, then you'd better buckle up the seat belt for some serious driving :P).

Speaking of fast cars, have you watched Fast and Furious 6? If you like cars, cliche Hollywood ending and are in the mood of light movies, you may enjoy the latest series. Indonesian actor and former judo athlete Joe Taslim also plays in the movie. Although he is playing as Jah, one of the bad guys, he gets many close up scenes, has several minutes of fighting scene with Han (Sung Kang) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson) and even says one line in Bahasa Indonesia.

Have a safe drive, my friends!

TransJakarta Now Has Electronic Ticketing System

Hello everybody, I'm back...not from a holiday, not from an assignment in a faraway land, but from a pit that was writer's block. Hahaha. I wish I could say that it's the work load that kept me away last week (which is also true), but work has never kept me away from blogging so yeah, it's one of those writer's block moments.

 

Now that I'm back, how are you? How is life? Have you gotten your e-money card for TransJakarta? I have gotten not only one card, but two :).

Jakarta busway company TransJakarta has rolled a campaign to introduce its electronic ticketing system, and boy, this is a perfect time to own all electronic money cards at no cost. I now own BCA Flazz card and BNI Prepaid card.

As a BCA customer, I've been wanting to own a BCA Flazz card, which can be used to shop at various merchants. Unfortunately, we used to have to pay Rp 25,000 to get it. While the amount of money is quite affordable, I find it ridiculous to pay for a service that the bank should provide for free. (Do I hear a 'yeah' from you guys?)

Back to TransJakarta, which partners with BCA, BNI, BRI, Bank Mandiri and Bank DKI to support the new ticketing system. Passengers can own one of the cards simply by paying Rp 50,000, which also contain that amount of money, meaning the card is free! Yay!

I love the electronic payment system as it will cut down the paper trash volume from busway stations (the previous ticket system includes paper tickets that most passengers toss away once they pass the barrier). Don't you feel sorry for the paper tickets? A friend kept the tickets and re-purposed them as small notebooks. I've been keeping those tickets to doodle on them. (Please tell me I'm not the only one?)

It will take some time to get used to the new ticket (we need to place the card on the machine and wait for about 30 seconds, which is quite a long time when you're in a rush), but I'm optimistic that more people will join the band.

To add the credit, cardholders can top up in ATMs or certain busway stations that have the machine. This means that we don't have to be a customer at the card issuer bank. Double yay!

And if TransJakarta decided to stop using the electronic ticket like Jakarta railway company PT  KRL did, I could still use the card for other purposes. But I do hope the bus company continues with the card.

Incidental Comics On Iconic Houses

As a former architecture student, this comic is right up my alley. Thank you, Grant Snider for brightening up my day :). Found here

A Syrian Mother

Tens of thousand of Syrian refugee women have been forced to leave their husbands and homes and escape with their children to neighborhood countries.

Iftikar Hsaiian came three days ago from Syria to Lebanon. Three o'clock at night her husband woke her up and forced her and the children to leave they home immediately without any belongings. She was hiding many weeks in forests and empty buildings until she walked across the border carrying her small child while Syrian officials shot bullets to their group. Last news she knows is that her husband was wounded in the battle.

"Insha'Allah, only God knows if we will meet ever again."

Text and photo are by Meeri Koutaniemi, found here