From the bottom of my heart...

Sebenernyaaa udah lamaaa banget pengen nulis ini :). 

Tapi ya ituuu... 
Ada ajaaa yang membuat saya baru bisa menulisnya sekarang. Alesan yaaah hehehe...

Memang 3 bulan terakhir ini saya dan keluarga dihebohkan with all the nitty gritty of our moving-out-of-the-country plan. Mulai dari kardus mengkardus, packing mempacking, bebersihan ssana sini, belanja belenji... Belum lagi urusan sekolah anak-anak, dokumen perjalanan kami berempat, dokumen lain-lain et kantor yang teuteuuup jalan. Bener-bener gubraaaak deeeh. Nanti yaaa aku share khusus di blogku juga hehehe...

But that's not what I have in mind now...aku pengen share foto-foto kopdar dengan temen-temen di hari-hari menjelang keberangkatan kami ke NY. Iya, kopdaran... Seruuuu! I knooow.... kejadiannya udah lamaaaa aja (secara kami sudah masuk minggu ke-empat di mariiih), tapi always better late than neveeer :D...

Well, walaupun ngg semua kopdar khusus buat perpisahan, tapi yang penting bisa ketemuuuu dengan blogger-blogger canggih nan kereeen ini  maupun teman-teman masa kecilku :).  Senengnya bisa ketemu, ngobrol rame, foto-foto dan (mostly) makan-makan :). Pokoknya fun deeeh!

Sooo.. Again, I really wanna say thank you.. 

Yes, thank you..
To all my friends who spent some time to meet me and my family on our last days in Jakarta et Lampung.  

Beneran deeeh..kopdar tuh rasanya bikin terharu hehehe...
Bukan apa-apa..insya Allah kalau rezeki pasti ketemuan lagi kaaan. Tapi berhubung belum tau kapan lagi bisa ketemu, rasanya kopdar kali ini spesial bangeeeet. Cerita sana sini sambil cekikikan, foto-foto gila yang entahlah namanya pose apa lagi ( dan kadang melibatkan 'korban-korban'  tak berdosa yang harus menyaksikan kita-kita pose atau dimintain tolong foto tak berkesudahan).

Okeee.....Yang pertama, kopdar pas acara Kartini Next Generation Award :).

Haaa...udah lama aja bukan (iyaaa bangeeet)...tapi seruuuu ketemu para jawara di sini :). Congrats sekali lagi untuk Mak Gees et Mak Winda Krisnadeva...Went there to support Gees and all but got a bonus of having fun with +Kumpulan Emak2 Blogger  :)

Udaaah aaah, cerita serunya simpan di hati, mari kita masukkan fotoooo :)...

tuuuuh...dari fotonya udah kebayang kaaan heboh, seru dan bersemangatnya kami para ibu-ibu berkumpul :)...

Berikutnya, kopdar di Jogja

Asliiii...di tengah persiapan keberangkatan yang embedded dengan kehebohan packing mempacking, saya masih mendapat tugas kantor untuk berangkat ke Jogja untuk menggelar acara di FH UGM. It was another great adventure in this beautiful land...

Et Jogja..I can't never get enough of it :p... 

Walaupun ketemuannya udah agak soreee, alhamdulillah tidak mengurangi kegembiraan  saya dan mak +Lies Hadi , +Ika Koentjoro, +Siti Hairul, Gracie Melia, 
Kami bahkan lanjut lucu-lucuan di Malioboro..klasik bangeet yaah hehehe
Foto-foto? Checked....
Makan-makan? checked...
Selfie? double-checked :)

agak bureeem tapi tetep seruuuu :D...

aren't we all cuteee :)..

The three of us :D...

makanan enaaak ini yang buat semangat kita tetep tinggi :)...

I just love the colors...

Theeen.... I have one more round of kopdar before finally departed. 

Yuuup...this time with mak +Mira Sahid , +Indah Julianti et +Tanti Amelia ...too bad other just couldn't make it, but we still shared some precious moments filled with laughters :)

tuuuuh...sama serunya kaaan :)..

Bahkan, Mak +Tanti Amelia juga sempet nulis hal yang sama di blognya ..cek DI SINI deeeeeah...

Seruuuuu, unforgettable, dan adaaaa ajaaaaa :).....itulah kopdar bareng ibu-ibu hehehe :p....

Tuuuuh kan...jadi kangen lagi :)))...

Well, resiko merantau...sekarang sementara ini harus puas 'kopdar' dengan WA, BBM, FB, twitter, Path, Pinterest, Google+ et Blog (banyaaak ajaaah :) )...

But for sure, from the bottom of my heart, let me thank you all again ladieeees...

Makasih banyak buat waktu yang diberikan, pertemanan yang begitu hangat et invigorating. dan semoga kita bisa segera bertemu kembali yaaa ...

Pojokan Manhattan, suatu malam di bulan Juni yang hangat

WW: old Balinese painting

I found this beautiful piece of old Balinese (yes, I guess it's from Bali ) hand painting at my new office in NY.

I love it ..and I bet it's very valuable. But I have no clues and don't know the meaning of it...

Can anybody help me with it?

the ancient verses...

it's one big masterpiece...

Join me on Wordless Wednesday...check the link down hereee yooo...

In a split-second...

In a split second....

This is the thrilling theme for this week's photo challenge :)

Not that easy though...trying to find the one-frame-tell-you-all-moment ..

Here's what I got...

Can you guess what they're trying to capture?

You're ritee.....Sunrise, at Punthuk Setumbu, Jogjakarta....

Check out more split-second stories hereee...

http://exploratorius.us/2014/05/30/in-that-split-second/
http://inigobautista.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story
http://whymatters.me/2014/05/30/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story/
http://architar.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/tomorrow/
http://justapieceofafrika.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story
http://sfchapman.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/weekly-photo-challenge-httpsdailypost-wordpress-comdp_photo_challengesplit-second-story
http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story
http://ambitiousdrifter.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/weekly-photo-challenge-a-moment-in-paris/
http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/7873/

One night with the Maestro...

The Maestro, Jaya Suprana, is in town!

Yaaaaay...

Tau dong Jaya Suprana? Ayo coba di google :)

a happy merry selfie with the maestro :D

Saya sendiri sudah lama tau kepiawaian seorang Jaya Suprana...

seorang pianis, philantrophis, pengusaha, komedian, pemilik museum...pokoknya banyak deeeh :). Beliau terkenal dengan senyum dan tawa renyahnya...plus Jamu Jagonya :)

Dan di Indonesia, aku malah belum pernah nonton konsernya hehehe :).

Yuuup....

eye-catching candeliers...

We're lucky to get the free ticket for his Piano recital in Carnegie Hall, NYC...
Carnegie Hall sodara-sodaraa...ngg main-main lhooo. Tempat prestigious ini sudah terkenal dengan daftar para maestro yang pernah manggung di sana. 

getting ready for the concert..

Dan kali ini, maestro Indonesia yang datang. Pak Jaya Suprana..

First time ever, playing all Indonesian music repertoire in Carnegie Hall..Cool, rite...

The performance we saw that night was titled Indonesia Pusaka, a solo piano recital.

There were 6 compositions beautifully presented by the Maestro.

Starting with Uri-Uri; the prelude for the Indonesia Pusaka recital, a meditative piece based on pelog pentatonic scale inspired by the ambience of Indonesian rice fields (can you imagine that :) ); followed by Uro-uro..still using pelog pentatonic composition reflecting the  rhapsodic rhythms of Central Java traditional fol-music. Those were the introduction :D.

Next we enjoyed Fantasi Arum Dalu, a complicated composition (to me :) ) yet melodious and hypnotic at the same time, followed by Metamorfosa Rinduku Padamu, a beautiful composition that takes you far beyond..for sure this version is much better than the original one melancholicly sung by our President :). Then we got a chance to hear Suita Marzukiana, a lovely parade of melodious hits from Ismail Marzuki which are so familiar to me and most Indonesians, like Aryati, Sabda Alam, Payung Fantasi and many more. truly serenading my heart, making me missing home miserably.

Then as the final touch, we have Indonesia Pusaka, one of the most beloved eternal song written by Ismail Marzuki, that always successfully shed tears on my eyes whenever I hear or sing it. Uniquely, Jaya Suprana produced a video, with those celebrities, mostly previous presidents and 2014 presidential  candidates including Jokowi, singing this song. It was funny yet still solemn, interesting video :). Then the finale was Jaya Suprana playing this beautiful tunes asking everyone to sing together. And I sang my heart out...with big smiles and tears rolling from my eyes. Touche...

Well, I actually have recorded some of the songs in my smartphone but somehow the results are not satisfactory :((. 

But the best part of the night is my or our to be precise, selfie with the Maestro!

Hope we'll meet again soon, Pak...Keep up the brilliant works and make us proud!

Cheers,

The underwater world of Tegal Island, Lampung...

Well, frankly speaking, I have posted several articles on diving sites in Lampung.

For me who doesn't have the luxury of traveling around the country anytime I want (PNS oooh PNS :(( ), going back home to Lampung and have a day or two diving with my club here is heaven! Especially since I got that 'red notice' instructing me and my family to move to the Big Apple for the next assignment. Always, the clock is ticking at the very last moments...

Anyway...I managed to dive just with my dive master near Tegal Island, Lampung. 

Check out more infos on Tegal Island in my previous posts , Reef Check at Tegal Island, Lampung, and  My Unforgettable Journey: Take My Breath Away. 
Well, apparently, not that many :) as most of them are in Tanjung Putus or Pahawang Islands, also in Lampung.

To reach Tegal Island, there are several choices that you can take. All the starting points stretched out along Hanura and Ketapang area in Pesawaran, Lampung. It takes around 40 minutes to go to this place from Bandar Lampung, the city center. It's not because it's far but mostly because there is only one road with two lanes for everything, trucks, public angkot or minivans, tons of motorcycles and cars. Here are the choices you have:

1. From Ringgung beach. You can rent the boat here and chances are you won't have any problems as many fishermen live in this area and they offer you the service to take a-day tour to Tegal island, back and forth :D. They will usually wait for you until you finish.

2. From Balai Benih Lampung. This is not really a public area but if you can contact the boat man beforehand and ask them to come and pick you up here, then it will be closer to go to Tegal island. I usually go to Tegal island with my diving group from here.

3. From Mutun beach. Mutun beach is a popular place, especially during weekends and holidays. The good thing is, you will always find a water taxi or a boat to rent from here. But then it will be a bit further from Tegal island and the boat ride will be slightly longer. Moreover, you will have to pay the entrance ticket and the parking for your car here. But it's still not that much. So, in case you change your mind and you just wanna stay on the beach instead of going to the island, then Mutun will be a good place.

The boat ride will take approximately 30 - 40 minutes from the three starting points I've mentioned above. Make sure you got your logistics ready yaaa...Do not expect to have cafes or restaurant to cater your appetite, so better bring your delicious lunch boxes, chips and munchies as well as plenty of water and fruits :).

So nooooow.....lemme now put some lovely (but now living me with the agony of missing diving in Lampung more and more terribly) photos I got from my last trip there. Oh ya, we did have 2 dives that day, approximately 1 hourish on each dive. Tell you what...it's not enough, hiks :)). As an amateur  underwater photographer, I really like to stay longer down there, if the oxygen permits of course :).

Now, now....Enjoooy...and don't forget to breath :)

Let me start with this crowded spot :)...where I found this cute skunk anemone fish trying to run away from me and my camera :D... 

Clear blue water...so peaceful..

And can you guess what it is? 

And lion fish...you'll find them abundant here...

isn't she pretty :)...but still dangerous yooo...

Another interesting creature you'll find here is nudi branch :)...let me introduce you to them...

so tiny tiny....

this one is bright orange....cute!

Nemo nemo nemo.....I guess, everybody is familiar with this cute yet territorial fish thanks to finding Nemo movies :D. Just like a kid, I can't hide my excitement meeting this cute striped creatures down there..

Meeting Mr. Turtle was indeed a bonus....although I have met them once on my maiden underwater voyage here in Tegal island as well :D... and believe me, they are really a swimmer! So fast ... dude, wait for meeee....

he's running away from meeee :D...

Then who like starfish? I do....there are plenty of them down here..with different colors, sizes and models :)

I always call it ikan batik :D...she's cute as well :D..

it' kima...the giant clam :D....

And purple is indeeeed everywhere....including down hereee :D...

They call it bintang seribu or thousand stars, literally...it's extremely dangerous..so touche pas! 

Cheeeers from me to you :)...

Well, don't blame me if I can't get enough of diving...wherever it is...
hope to see you all again soon :D...

WW: The Maestro..

Jaya Suprana...

The first Indonesian maestro who performs piano recital with all-Indonesian-music-composition repertoir on international concert stages, including just recently in Carnegie Hall, New York

He is truly remarkable...

Join me on Wordless Wednesday...check the link down hereee