Travel note: #Basel, Switzerland..

Traveling, traveling, traveling....

Traveling around proves to be the best remedy for me, Udi, et the kids....no matter how hard we have worked during the days, our itchy feet have always sucessfully lead us to new places, new spots, new adventure..

While we were in Switzerland, we tried to go around and see this land-locked country...

Don't get me wrong...I love Indonesia to my bones, but Switzerland is a pretty little country, too..

So, here's another note and this time is on BASEL...

One weekend, we got two free tickets to go to any cities in Switzerland  ...so, off we went to Basel...

Being stationed in Geneve, the Capital of Peace (that what the billboard said ;D), was quite an advantage for us...well, near the border of Germany, Basel holds an interesting piece of history as it joined CH..well, as it was rather long, feel free to check it on ....  

A lot to see on the way there as well....as we truly enjoy our train ride, beautiful weather allowed us to enjoy the scenery out there...

to

the clock, right under the painting of Emperor Heinrich II and Queen Kunigunde






the town hall is indeed unique..

The clock for everyone to see...

Outside of the Hall, the city center is there to see... Beautiful cafes, petite stores...

 

It was quite a journey....

  

in front of the station...with Bo's ransom :D...

Indonesia Fashion Week 2013

And agaiiiin....

Indonesia is celebrating her colorful, upbeat, and outstanding work-of-art in the fashion world...

This time, Indonesia Fashion week is unveiled.. 

Brilliantly managed and conceptually tantalizing , this  first ever Indonesia Fashion Week had 405 booths with 380 local brands participating. 

That's a lot...  

Imagine spacious Jakarta Convention Center filled with colorful patches, beautiful cutting, unique patterns and aesthetics work-of arts with finishing touch...Oooh, heaven...

It was a blast indeed...and a big statement for sure...

At least 114 designers had take part in this event and successfully drawn 32.351 visitors in 4 days. Not bad for the first event, I guess..

Coining Inspiring Indonesia as the main theme, the spirit is high in the air..In this even as well, Indonesian blue print of fashion was born...

taken from the official website of ifw 2013...

I see how sarong can be such an amazing element in a haute couture collection..or tenun Lombok beautifully shaped a sleek cape ...or beaded works from Borneo adorned edgy wedges...or batik incredibly turned into one-of-a-kind matching necklace and earrings...Supeeeer...

I managed to come and visit on Saturday, 16th, to see my dear friend Novita Yunus and her fabulous Batik Chic Borneo Beat collection....

and many more, of course...

in one of the fashion shows...

Proud to see soooo many young designers, like Riri Rengganis, Didiet Maulana, and Qisthas Noeman, to name a few,  showcasing amazing collection using indonesian beautiful and inspiring heritage..I was so proud I almost cried :D...
˜

I was lucky I managed to be part of this fashion haute celebration .. together with Bo et Obi, and my two aunties, it was surely a colorful experience..

loook at Obi.....

...and Abang Bo...

Combining fashion shows and trade exhibition, that's what IFW is all about. Not only providing avenues for promising as well as well-established  designers, with a number of extravagant fashion shows, but this 4-day event also present a complete fashion exhibition for all ages....ranging from Women’s wear (you name it, you got it...Moslim, Casual, Cocktail & Party), men’s wear & kids wear. Of course, accessories are there as well and textile as well as traditional fabrics are available. Apparently, seminars and competitions are conducted, too...

The local fashion Industry is on its hey day. And this event has sucessfully united all important elements and significant stakeholders of the fashion industries, from designers to academic institutions, from business and association to government and potential buyers.

Bravooooo, Indonesia ...

I can't wait to see the next Indonesia Fashion Week...

Hasta la vista, fashionista....

P.S: I know it's been resumed but if you would like to find out the details, check http://www.indonesiafashionweek.com/about_exhibition

This event is surely buzz-worthy...

Istanbul revisited - # Dolmabahce Palace...

On my 7th visit (I just realized that :D...) to Istanbul on my to Geneve last January, I managed to visit Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul...

One majestic palace, that is...

Claimed to be the biggest palace in Turkey, residing almost 15.000 m2, this relatively modern palace was constructed between 1843-56. Many Sultans had lived here..

Several choices of tour are available...

I took the Selamlik tour, or the administrative part of the Palace. It lasts around 45 minutes and you have to wait till the designated time with a guide, no individual tour, et no photos inside. If you're coming with your own tour guide et group, you'll get a priority.

In less than 1 hours, I saw a lot.The inside is really lovely, too bad we cant take pictures inside...

some are amazing while the rest need to be maintained. The heavily Turkish accent guide took us around.  We saw the secretariat's room, entrance hall, noble room, crystal staircase,  wood panels, noble floor, ambassadorial, waiting room, sultan's reception room, crown prince room, sultan's apartment, with ebony, mahagony, and walnut wooden floor panels , and of course french baccarat fireplace..

We also see the study room, library, and remarkable turkish hamam with carved marbles, and lovely, lovely view of the Marmara sea...I would loveee to spend sooo much time here :D

The best part is indeed the grand ceremony hall..with biggest chardeliers, weight around 4.5 tons, great carpet, huge pillars, and special balconies for jurnalists et musicians. Picture yourself dancing around the room...or maybe not dancing, just roaming around :D...

Btw, most of the information given by the  guide are printed in the brochures...so, make sure you have one copy...

In one of the rooms we saw collections of big paintings,  dining sets in gold et silver! Crystals and many gem-tinted objects..

Vases, draperies and some other valuables are presented, but the  information on those  displayed objects are not always available.//

All in all....The interior  is amazing...the outside is also lovely...overlooking Marmara Sea..

The ticket price is quite costly, compared to others....

40TL for all parts (selamlik or official parts) and harem (Sultan et families' houses); 
30TL for selamlik, and 20TL for harem only..

Do come and enjoy the palace..especially of you have visited Topkapi; :D...

I really enjoy my historical visit to Istanbul...I really wish we can do the same in Indonesia, particularly Jakarta...

What a start....

2013...

A year of anticipation...for all the good things, and the bad things as well, unfortunately..

2013 really starts with a kick-off for me..

The first 2 weeks, particularly...then goes to the weeks after...and after....

When I have back-to-back important tests, followed by similarly back-to-back trips to the hospital as my hubby suffered from acute ashtma...8 days in hospital was quite an experience, after spending long hours in ER, watching people come and go and died....

I was lost in time, fatique, and angry, too....

Then came along the worst flood in Jakarta, or some might say, city of the dammed (oouuch...)...
Literally being stuck for hours on the roads, watching people and cars and everything went frantically chaotic and seeing children and families suffer from floods...that's another roller-coaster ride  for me and my family...Lucky us, it was not as bad as other areas, as Rawamangun is relatively managable in terms of flood... Some of us might not that lucky..

Then, some more rather unfortunate events occured as well... Either to me or those I love...

Well, well... Is it a sign? I certainly hope not...I always keep my positive me shining, kicking back the negative one...but this time, perhaps, it is too much and too frequently in such a short period of time...

Well, again, ...is it tough?

Perhaps....
Frankly, I don't know..for sure I know that there were tougher times that I have to get through in the past...and alhamdulillah I have always managed to survive...

Maybe I have to stop at one point and look back... Reviewing all the steps taken so far and have a frank dialogue with myself and my Creator...

And hope Allah SWT has mercy on me...

Amiiiiin...