WW: 70th Anniversary of Indonesia in NYC

Indonesiaku...

Always, forever...

Happy 70th anniversary, Indonesia...

The reception at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in New York City for the 70th Anniversary of Indonesia in NYC.

the nasi tumpeng :)

Cheers from all of us :)

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have a great blog hopping experience ;)

Warna-warni kemenangan di Hari Nan Fitri :)

Hidup memang penuh warna.

Seringkali cerah, terkadang mendung dan gelap. 
Namun selalu ada nuansa penuh cerita dari berbagai warna kehidupan.

Tidak terkecuali menjelang hari raya Idul Fitri. 
Tahun ini, kembali kami merayakan hari nan fitri jauh dari keluarga dan tanah air tercinta. Tugas yang kami jalani salah satunya menuntut kami untuk siap ditempatkan di mana saja. Dan lebaran sekarang menjadi lebaran ke delapan yang kami rayakan di negeri orang.

Kangen?

Pasti.

Rasanya ada rindu yang mencekat ketika sahur, mengingat canda tawa keluarga besar saat berkumpul di meja makan atau saat buru-buru menghangatkan makanan karena waktu imsak hampir tiba. 

Pun ketika berbuka... di tengah hidangan yang tertata di meja, terselip rindu berbuka puasa bersama keluarga besar yang selalu heboh dengan makanan andalan masing-masing, yang seringkali adalah hasil berburu ifthar di aneka tempat.

Entah berapa wudhu yang tercampur air mata karena kangen orang tua dan saudara, saat menunaikan shalat fardhu dan tarawih di kantor maupun di Masjid Al-Hikmah, masjid milik komunitas Indonesia di New York City.

Dan telinga selalu mencari merdu azhan, yang kerap absen terdengar karena memang tidak diperbolehkan untuk diperdengarkan keluar. Berbeda dengan tanah air yang semarak dengan beduk bertalu-talu dan panggilan sholat yang merdu.

Ah, Indonesia memang tiada dua :).

Tapi Ramadhan adalah bulan penuh berkah bersalut rahmat
Dan hari nan fitri adalah hari kemenangan.
Hari penuh warna :). Karenanya kami bertekad menghidupkan warna tradisi lebaran di tanah air di mana pun kami berada.
Semangaaaat :)

Meskipun jauh dari orang tua dan keluarga tercinta,  gemuruh semangat berhari raya mulai terasa. 
Saya dan Obi asyik memasak kue kering khas lebaran seperti di rumah Mama.
Bedanya kalau di rumah Mama buat kuenya usai sahur, kami terbalik, masak kuenya menjelang berbuka yang memang waktu lamaaaa di NYC.

Walaupun hanya satu macam kue yang menjadi favorit, tapi ada 2 kilo yang dibuat hehehehe...

hebohnya masak kaastengels kesukaan keluarga :)

Untuk urusan baju lebaran, walaupun Bo et Obi masih berusia hampir 9 dan 5 tahun, namun mereka punya selera masing-masing. 
I know what I want to wear, mommy...begitu kata mereka ketika ingin dipilihkan :).
Bo akhirnya stick to his white top yang menurutnya paling nyaman, et Obi memilih baju atasan berwarna putih dan gaun bernuansa biru muda. 

Kalau mama? tidak perlu ditanya, pasti ungu :). Demikian pula suamiku tercinta :)


Terus rumah pun ditata cantik, kita bersihkan ramai-ramai. 
Gotong royong dengan my hubby dan Bo membereskan kamar dan ruang tamu.
Seru lhooo mengubah dekorasi sudut rumah supaya bisa lebih cetaar :).
Kalau sudah begini, biasanya koleksi wastra nusantaraku keluar.

Dan asyiknya lagi, untuk urusan dekorasi rumah, banyak inspirasi yang saya dapat dari warna warni kemenangan Dulux.

 wastra nusantara penuh warna yang membuat rumah makin cerah :) 

karena melihat booklet Warna-warni kemenangan, jadi terinspirasi menghias rumah deeh :)

Sudah sempat mengintip katalognya belum? Sooo inspiring ;).

Love all those colors and ideas we can get from the booklet.

foto diambil dari http://warnawarnikemenangan.com/assets/bookletwwk.pdf

Mulai dari kamar tidur, ruang tamu, ruang makan hingga dapur plus bagian depan rumah yang makin segar dengan tampilan warna baru.
Juga mengenai dekorasi ruang makan dan jamuan.
Warna-warninya itu lhooo..
Begitu menggoda, begitu menginspirasi.

And that's not all..
Karena masih ada berbagai informasi mengenai masalah dan solusi warna pada plafon hingga tahap pengecatan rumah yang pastinya memberikan kita panduan untuk menghias bagian dalam maupun luar rumah. 
Dulux Previews Consultant is another great feature we can use here.
Dengan tahapan yang sederhana, mulai dari foto bagian dalam dan luar rumah kita, lalu daftar nama, almat, dan nomor telpon di www.dulux.co.id, Dulux Previews Consultant akan mensimulasikan warna dan hasilnya akan dikirimkan ke kita melalui e-mail.
Asyiiik bangeeet ngga sih :).

Dan..ini juga tidak kalah asyiknya...
Dulux ada Home Painting Service lho :).
How cool is that?
Tinggal menghubungi 08001138589, proses pengecatan yang seringkali membuat kita kesulitan atau tidak nyaman bisa dilakukan tanpa banyak masalah. Sementara ini masih khusus di wilayah Jabodetabek saja sih, semoga nantinya bisa tersedia di berbagai tempat di tanah air.
Kalau sudah begini, jadi pengen pulang ke Indonesia dan merenovasi rumah ;).

Sudah terbayang kamar bernuansa ungu, dapur bernuansa ungu, kamar mandi bernuansa ungu. Lhooo... Judulnya ungu semuaaa :).

Tapi di rumah kami di NYC kali ini, karena judulnya menyewa dan tidak boleh mengganti warna dinding sembarangan, saya jadi semangat mendekorasi rumah dengan kain dan pernak pernik yang ada khusus untuk hari raya nan fitri ini :).

Dan psssst...sedang ada promo khusuuuus nih..
Dapatkan potongan harga untuk setiap pembelian produk Dulux senilai 1 juta Rupiah yang pastinya lumayan banget untuk kita yang berencana untuk mendekorasi kediaman tercinta.

Foto diambil dari http://warnawarnikemenangan.com/assets/bookletwwk.pdf

Dengan pilihan warna yang banyak dan cantik, Dulux memang memberi Warna kemenangan untuk kita semua. 
Benar-benar Warna-Warni Kemenangan 2015.

Tambahan lagi, jangan lupa ikutan photo competition di www.warna-warnikemenangan.com. 

Yuuup... Photo competition:).

Seruuuu banget..ada banyak frame dan stiker yang bisa dipakai, semua disesuaikan dengan tema lebaran yang istimewa.
Aku juga ikutan lhooo :)

cheeers...doakan kami menang yaaa :)

Untuk yang mau tau lebih jauh, silahkan klink dan follow link di bawah iniiii :)

Dijamin pasti terinspirasi juga seperti saya.

Website: http://warnawarnikemenangan.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/LetsColourIndonesia

Twitter: http://twitter.com/letscolourid

Instagram: http://instagram.com/letscolourID

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LetsColourID

Seeee...

Lebaran penuh warna yang kami jalani betul-betul membuat hari nan fitri ini terasa begitu istimewa.
Belum lagi saat silahturahmi dengan keluarga baru dan teman-teman di New York City yang pasti seru banget dan penuh dengan makanan khas Indonesia dan selfie seru :).


Penuh canda tawa dan warna. Berkah Hari Raya yang luar biasa bukan?
Warna-warni kemenangan di Hari Nan Fitri.

Bagaimana dengan teman-teman?

Salam warna-warni dari kami :)

cheeers from NYC :)

Dirgahayu Indonesiaku tercinta

Happy 70th Anniversary to the most beautiful country in the world

Indonesia..

Who could not miss this wonderful country...

Sentani Lake, Papua

With breathtaking landscapes ..
even underwater...

Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi

Jaya selalu...

Merah putih tetaplah kau berkibar...

Indonesiaku...

Jayapura, Papua

Damai senantiasa dengan segala keragaman budayanya....

Singkawang, West Kalimantan 

Lestari selalu alam cantik dan para penghuninya...

Tegal Island, Lampung

Kiluan, Lampung

Selamanya......

Merah Putih di New York City...

Welcome to Miami, babe..

Alriteeee... 

Back to #MyItchyFeet story for the #roadtrip this summer ;). 

After Orlando, we hit Miami and we're loving it.

It was 4 hours drive from Orlando and after a magical day in Disney Magic Kingdom the night before, we really took Miami nice and relax. 

Just chillin'.. Soaking in the pool, strolling at the beach and grabbing some yummy bites in the Marina. Saying hi to the Atlantic Ocean ;)

We stayed in Holiday Inn Ocean Front which is located in the MidBeach. It's a nice place with lovely pool the kids love.

It took around 20 minutes to go down town the Bay Marina and had some dinner there. We truly enjoyed Cuban food at Mambo Cafe at the Marina and Udi had Cuban steak while I savoured the oxtail and sipped my virgin Pina Colada. Supeeer yuuum indeed.

the Cuban steak

oxtail :)

the virgin one :)

That night we drove around the city with our car as well. Passing Little Havana et Little Haiti, the famous Calle Ocho. 

The next day, before hitting Key Largo, we visited the famous South Beach, had our brunch, strolled around the Art Deco district and took pictures here and there. 

one of the lovely Art Deco buildings in South Beach

We managed to play in the water but didn't really swim although pretty much tempted ;).

blue water...

It was scorching here, about 31 degree C, and even for us, Florida sun is a torture ;). Sun screen and lots of water help but we didn't spend too  much time under the direct sun.

Bo et Obi really enjoy the beach but we had Key Largo waiting. And we'll have pur snorkeling session and more beach down there.

One last stop in Miami was the Cuban Crafter ;).

We have a big fan of cigars here and this is the closest we got to the real Cuban cigars. The original Cuban rollers. And fresh rolled cigars.

the roller..

Rolled freshly in Miami :)

Be right back with more episodes of our roadtrip ;)

Magical birthday at Disney Magic Kingdom, Orlando #1

And I am blessed...

A few days ago, I celebrated my 38th birthday.
It's been an amazing life thus far.
With so much to be blessful for.

Those who have been reading this blog may know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014 and I have been undergoing various procedures and treatment ever since. Last year, a few days after my birthday, I had my mastectomy. That's my birthday gift to myself.. Getting rid of all those cancerous cells from my right breast.

So now, after around a year, I decided to take a leave and have a roadtrip. 

A birthday roadtrip.

I have shared some of our trips, mostly photos, here in this blog. We stopped at Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Orlando.  

And right on the day, we celebrated my birthday in Disney Magic Kingdom Park Orlando!

How lucky I am ;).

cheeers..

It was a magical day indeed.

Like a dream come true to me.

Although tiring ;).

As we were there since the morning.
We just don't wanna miss all the fun :), 

cheeeers...

Since the first time you entered Walt Disney World Resort you know exactly that it is a huge complex.   

Well, here in Walt Disney World Resort Orlando, there are 4 parks.

Yes, 4.

I remembered the ones in Paris are only two when I visited them yaers ago.

But here, we have 4.

Disney Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

But wait.. We still have Disney Water Park and Downtown Disney that are also packed with entertainment.

So many to choose indeed and I want to see all of them ;).

But considering that we only have 1 day and Florida's sun is scorching hot, we decided to get the ticket for the Magic Kingdom and made the most of it ;).

our ticket for endless fun :)

Before coming here, I have set up the account at My Disney Experience  and and download the app, My Disney Experience. 

The app..very complete and handy :)

                                                               

The app is super handy..as it has all my planned itinerary, Fastpass , as well as the interactive map of all the attractions complete with the waiting time. How cool is that! It also shows you the dining places, restrooms as well as the entertainment schedule. 

Don't forget that you can have up to 3 Fastpass for a speedy line in 3 attractions for free by getting them in the FP kiosk or through the app. Once you have used them, you can line up to have another 3 attractions. All for free :). We used 6 of them at least.

So, after parking the park, taking the tram and the monorail, there we were. 

At the world of magic and adventure for everyone :).

We had our breakfast from the Bakery in the Main Street and ready to go.

one croissant and one Frozen cupcake please :)

Again, even the Magic Kingdom is huge with 6 big areas with specific themes, namely Main Street USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Frontierland and Adventureland.

We started our adventure in Fantasyland. Here's where you have all those beautiful houses from the kids story books and characters that we are so familiar with. You name it..Disney's Princesses like Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Ariel, Mulan .. Also the classic ones like Peter Pan, Dumbo, Pinocchio and the Friars ;).

First ride was Prince Charming Regal Carousel, one of Obi's favorite.

the first ride

Then we lined up to meet Elsa et Anna of Frozen at the Princess Fairytale Hall ;).

the Princess Hall :)

Look who's finally meet Queen Elsa :)

She was super excited to meet these two favorite characters of hers.

We even got them signed Bo et Obi story book :).  

Don't be surprised is the line ca be very loooong here. We took the FP and waited for about 20 minutes to have this photo session :).   

We also took Peter Pan's Flight and watched 3-D Mickey's PhilharMagic Orchestra :).Belle 

Later that day, we came back here and tried Under the Sea journey with Ariel, Enchanted Tales with Belle and the famous It's a Small World.

always love Fantasyland...

It was super fun indeed, especially the Enchanted tales with Belle, as the kids can join the play and become one of the characters in the story. Bo was Maurice, Belle's father, while Obi was the little cup :).

From here, we were heading to Tomorrowland as Bo wanted to see Buzz Lightyear and friends :). And rode those rollercoasters.

I'll get back with more stories on that.

Who's your favorite Disney's Princess, btw?