Travel Note: #LUGANO, SWITZERLAND to #MILANO, ITALY

I know this note was baaack in 2008, during the first months of our new chapter in Geneve, Switzerland

but it was good to see the photos and remember those moments...with a lil' editing here and there. I just love taking notes on our traveling adventures.

Hope it can give us more fun pictures of the places we have visited.
Enjoooy.

Waktu Easter Break tahun 2008 yang lalu, kita memang udah punya rencana jalan-jalan, soalnya jarang-jarang kan dapet long weekend begini. Dilalahnya (bahasa apa coba ini...), pas hari libur itu salju turun dengan lebatnya, ngga berhenti-henti malah. 

This definitely discouraged Udi to drive down to Milansoalnya jauh tuh..kira2 5.5 jam. 

Look who's enjoying Milaaaaano :D...



However, setelah dipikir2, berangkat juga deh kita, di tengah2 salju yang makin lebat. Dan bener aja, di jalan tuh malah lebih parah dan jalanan licin. Bahkan waktu kita sampai di daerah yang ada long tunnel (lupa euy namanya), kita harus berhenti 20 menit karena jalan di luar tunnel ternyata lagi dibersihkan.

Alhamdulillah, kita sampai dengan selamat ke Mendrisio, karena kita memang akan stay di sini. Well, setelah di cek and ricek, Fox Town, branded factory outlet yang ada di Mendrisio tuh buka even during Easter Break, makanya kita memutuskan untuk nginep di sini. Dan di sini udaranya better, no snow at least, hanya drizzling and yaa, ujan2 dikit lah.





Overlooking Lugano Lake...
 Dari Mendrisio, kita keliling2 di Luganosouth en north...cantik lho, wâlaupun yang di liat danau juga hehehe....Puas foto2, off we went back to Fox Town, browsing all those branded stores and bought some stuff.  Puas belanja en makan (di Fox Town pizza en ayam panggangnya ueeenaaaaak banget, cobain deh), kita keliling2 Mendrisio lagi. 


Eh, kita sempet ke Como  
juga lho, foto2 di lakenya (again :)) and Piazza Como. 


Rencananya sih mau ke Bellagio (katanya salah satu the most beautiful villages in Italy), tapi berhubung petunjuk jalannya ngga jelas en kita ngga pake GPS, akhirnya nyerah juga...

at the Castello Sforzesco...
Hari berikutnya kita seharian di Milan, en tau ngga tujuan pertama yang dicari Udi..stadion San Siro...untungnya gampang nyarinya (no GPS lho), so that kita sempet foto2 walaupun ujan. Selesai dari San Siro, kita langsung ke Castello Sforzesco,  foto2, terus ke  Duomo,  

in front of the duomo...
and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, lunch di sini sambil  ngeliat ramenya turis yang juga memanfaatkan Easter Break untuk foto-foto di galeri yang memang cantik ini, walaupun toko-tokonya tutup. 

Add caption

 






















Even Udi took a chance to strike a pose :D...



Deket Galleria, ada Teatro alla Scala dan di depannya ada patung Leonardo Da Vinci and his students (including Bo yang foto, hihihi).

Leonardo Da Vinci, his pupils and Bo :D...


Sayangnya, kita ngga bisa liat church of Santa Maria delle Grazie,which houses one of the most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci,The Last Supper (L'ultima cena or Il cenacolo).

Di DuomoBo bener2 having fun main dengan burung merpati yang buanyaaak banget, en he developed new hobby of pushing around his own pram!Di sini nih si Bo mulai demen dorong2 pramnya, keliling2 sambil jerit2 kesenengan. Kita juga sempat masuk ke Basilicanya, tapi karena Bo jerit2 en orang lagi misa Paskah, jadi keluar deh...


So, mission accomplished, kenyang foto en jalan-jalan,  and pulang deh kita ke Jenewa...untungnya cuaca jauh lebih baik jadi kita hanya berhenti untuk makan di Movenpick and langsung pulang ke rumah.. 
Sampai rumah, langsung deh bobo. T
euteup, home sweet home.

To a fabulous 2013....

It's almost the end of December, in fact today is the last (official) working day in 2012 .....

The end of 2012...

How time flew...when you were having fun, as the proverb says...

Were you having (enough) fun? My answer is YES..

So many highlights of my 2012 that should make me a more grateful mother, a happier wife and a

I don't usually take special extra time to sit still and ponder how's life has been in the past 12 months...

yes, I usually go with flow...see how things works and prepare myself to plunge to a new adventure..every single year :D...

I know some of us, if not most, have made, or start thinking to have, resolution(s)...Reflecting what has been done and accomplished so far, assessing oneself, and formulating new or re-new-ed resolutions.

Well, that's great! 

But for me, frankly, I haven't been that successful in formulating, let alone implementing resolutions..Again, I just go with the flow...see what's on the menu and hit it! Seize the moment and make the best of it!

Call me crazy or lazy, but I believe that's the best way of doing it...I just make sure that I know what I have to do, - know what I want, and focus on that, and of course pray to Allah SWT for the best...as simple as that..

Of course I keep on trying to list down my priorities and my so-called resolutions, but I limit myself to stick to the basics...Be a better, happier person; be a better mother and wife; work smarter; and contribute more...sounds like resolutions? So be it...To me, the most important part is that I can fulfill them and benefit from it..

Easy, rite...:D

Meanwhile, as Christmas has just passed us peacefully, allow me and my family wish everybody a very happy holiday and may 2013 bring all that jazz for us..keep your spirit up and put that smile on your face..

To a fabulous 2013!





have a fabulous 2013 y'all...

Pulang Kampung #2 ....Hello Lampung

Okaaaay.... more delicious note on my culinary expedition in Lampung :D...

This time, I got Bakso Sony on my list...

To those who are familiar with Lampung, most of you must agree with me that Bakso Sony is arguably one of the best warung bakso (meatballs) in Lampung. 



Bakso, or meatball, is probably the most common, if not the most famous :D, all-time snack for most Indonesians. Whatever the weather, - drizzling day, warm morning, or even hot sizzling afternoon, bakso will be available and enjoyed by most of us...by me, to be exact :D..

And in Lampung, during my stay there, Bakso Sony is always be my favorite...

Maybe because the meatballs are made of pure, juicy minced beef...and the broth they use for the soup is also tasty..I usually order it with bihun (some call it angels' hair, or vermicelli :D), with extra fried onion and celery....they also provide fried wonton, or keripik pangsit, perfect companion for bakso. They also sell pre-cooked bakso for those who like to cook them at home.

My fave is the one in Jl. Wolter Monginsidi, near the old radio where I used to work. I think that's the original outlet, as they have many now...




Well, I have also tried other Bakso outlets in Lampung, like Bakso Marem, Rumah Bakso, Bakso  Jendol and many more :D...






So, in conclusion, Lampung is the perfect place for Bakso lovers :D....bon appetite....

Indonesia's Culinary Haven #1: Siomay

Indonesia is indeed a culinary heaven.
If you have tried Indonesian food, I think you will nod as well..

We are very proud of the richness of our authentice cuisines and delicacies :).

Come to Indonesia and you instantly spot many interesting and of course delicious, culinary destinations.

And todaaay..I feel the urge of eating SIOMAY :).
Have you tried Siomay before?

It might sound similar to shiumai that you can find in Chinese restaurant but Indonesian version is much more delicious. At least for me :)

Yuup..mendadak pengen siomay niiih judulnyaaa "_"









Yang enak, lembut, et ikannya kerasaaaaaa bangeeet...

Siomay is Indonesian steamed fish dumpling, served with peanut sauce. Sometimes, it is mixed with vegetables like steamed potatoes, cabbage and bitter gourd 




Kalau lagi di Lampung, I can just easily go to Pertiwi or Kolam Renang Pahoman to get a plate of yummy somay...yang 

Cemilan yang katanya asli berasal dari Cina ini ( tapi sudah heavily modified a la Indonesia :D, memang sudah jadi jajanan sehari-hari kita di Indonesia...

Mungkin di setiap pangkalan ada deh (at least di Lampung :D) et rasanya enak ;D..


Jadi inget masa-masa di Melbourne et Jenewa yang kalau mau makan somay harus usaha dulu :D. Kalo di Jenewa, mau makan siomay yah buat dulu, soalnya mamangnya musti diimport dari Bandung or Lampung, hehehe..


Sebenernya resep siomay tuh macem-macem, masing-masing punya resep sendiri-sendiri. Buat temen-temen yang tertarik, mungkin resep ini bisa dipraktikkan (tapi jangan tanya ukuran bahan2nya berapa gram ya, soalnya modal nyicip, hihihi...)

Well, this is the recipe that I usually use, particularly while we were in Geneve..


Wanna try?


Bahan dasar:

-          ikan berdaging putih (biasanya pangasius or yang sejenis), diblender
-          udang segar (dikupas kulitnya dan diblender)
-          bawang merah/bombay
-          bawang putih
-          garam, penyedap, dan gula secukupnya
-          kecap ikan kalau suka (untuk nambah wangi, soalnya ikan di NYC suka terlalu steril :D)
-          daung bawang jika suka, dirajang halus
Bahan campuran:
-          terigu dan sagu secukupnya
-          telur secukupnya (untuk campuran bahan dasar)
-          kentang
-          kol, dikukus sebentar supaya layu
-          tahu, dipotong segitiga, kerok isinya, lalu diisi
-          telur rebus
Bumbu kacang
-          kacang tanah, digoreng terus digiling halus (or serahkan kepada food processor :D)
-          bawang merah
-          bawang putih,
-          cabai
-          gula merah
-          gula pasir
-          minyak goreng
-          garam secukupnya

Semua bahan dasar dicampur dan dicicipi, kalo udah ok, ambil sedikit2 (kira2 200 gram gitu…kali…) terus dicampur dengan terigu dan sagu, kemudian telur terakhir..jangan terlalu banyak terigu dan sagunya (rasionya sama), jadi adonannya lembut dan tidak keras. Kalo mau ditambah dengan ‘aksesoris’ lain seperti kentang, kol, telor, or even pare, silahkan saja…
Kalau semua adonan sudah siap, tinggal dikukus deh sampai matang, terutama bagian tengahnya.
Untuk bumbu kacang,  setelah semua bahan bumbu diaduk, ditumis dengan minyak panas sampai tercampur rata et matang..


Selamat mencoba...

Pulang Kampung #1 ....Hello Lampung...

It's always good to be back home :D...

Terlepas bahwa pulang kampung dalam rangka kerja and most of my families are in Jakarta, I always cherish the moment of going back home to Lampung

This time, I got a chance to go home for a 2-day meeting..

And like many other Indonesians, homage visits to culinary destinations are on top of the agenda..

Now, I will take you to one of the many favorite spots in Lampung to satisfy my glorious food craving:

First, Mie Ayam Lampung

For me, chinese noodle is an all-season menu..
my faveeee....

brekky, lunch or dinner, I can take 'em all..




Located in Enggal, one of the busy corners, and one in Gajah Mada street (brother's outlet :D), you can enjoy soft, juicy chinese noodle soup with all its condiments...beef meatballs, tofu and fishball, chicken wonton, and many moreeee....




bakso tahu...nikmaaat beraaat :D...


adorned with marinated mince chicken (sometimes mixed with mushroom...soooo yummy!), fresh celery and fried onion, I can never say no to mie ayam :D. 

You can also try lou cu pan, fresh noodles made of rice flour and come in bigger size. Similarly adorned with minced chicken, onion and fresh green vegetables (usually pok choy), this type of noodle can be a perfect choice for you...


Next, bakso Sony.....well, well... I have to come back for that...#sambil ngebayangin semangkok bakso enaaaak panas-panaaas :D....

Cakes, anyoneeeeeee....?....

Desember identik dengan pesta....at least I have many birthday celebrations :D


Vanilla cheese adorned with Sapi Swiss :D..celebrating the 2nd birthday of Obi, the genevoise girl :D



And usually, cakes are one of the most wanted items...












Mau buat sendiri kok rasanya gimanaaaa gitu :D...either ngg punya waktu atau memang ngga bisa  hehehe...Personally, I don't really fancy cakes and tarts, savouries are my fave..so, kebayang kan instead of blackforest aku prefer martabak telor :p






Besides, Jakarta has tons of great pattiseries which can provide you with delicious masterpiece cakes:D...Mulai dari industri rumai dahan (yang udah banyaaak banget) sampai toko-toko chain internasional ...mulai dari kue tradisional seperti lapis legit, bolu surabaya dkk, sampai cupcakes, red velvet et rainbow cakes yang kayaknya lagi jadi favorit....Mulai dari yang pesennya 2 minggu sampai yang instantly ready..


Sooo.....Perlu info toko kue yang enak di Jakarta?

well, I know it's just a google away, tapi kalau kebetulan perlu beberapa perbandingan selain toko-toko kue yang memang udah ngetop, mungkin the following list can help :D...thanks to http://mamakhansa.multiply.com/journal/item/16 yang mengkompilasi most of them...

The Harvest
They have many outlets, so better check their website..
www.harvestcakes.com....some are here...
Jl Senopati Raya, No.78, Jakarta Selatan
Telp. 021-72788657
Fax 021-7396125
Jl. Boulevard Raya, Blok TA 2/4
Telp: 021-45844954
Fax: 021-45840880
Jenis Kue: Cake, Roti, Kue kering
Range Harga: Rp. 170.000,00 – Rp 985.000,00


Dapur Cokelat Menteng
Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto no.62A Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
Telp: 021-31923988
Jenis Kue: Cake, chocolate candy and Truffle, parcel
Range Harga: Rp 125.000,00 – Rp 985.000,00 

Coklatnya lucu-lucuuuu....

Souly Butter Kitchen

Phone: (021) 719-9985
Jl. Kemang Raya No. 15
Kemang, Jakarta

Red Velvet enaaaaak :D

Le Rouge Flamingo
Phone/sms: (021) 68 766 723 
E-mail: lerougeflamingo@yahoo.com
Twitter: @LeRougeFlamingo

Online pattiserie....must-try niiih....pilihannya banyak et mantaaaap...

Lapis Legit Ny. Tjoen
Jl. Kemanggisan Utama III No.27, Jakarta Barat
Telp: 021-5481631/5322751 (order by phone)
HP: 0815-9600355
Jenis Kue: Lapis Legit dan Chiffon
Range Harga: Rp 80.000,00 - Rp 135.000,00.

Michel's Patiserrie


Central Park Mal, Jakarta Barat
Telp: 021-29200199


Le Gourmet 


Grand Indonesia Shopping Town (Dekat Ranch Market)
They have many outlets, by the way....
East Mall, LG Floor Grand Indonesia Shopping Town
Jl. MH Thamrin No. 1. Jakarta Pusat



Anne Cake
Telp: 021-30142462
HP: 081808133358
Jenis Kue: Cake, Lapis Legit, Lapis Surabaya
Range Harga: Untuk Cake Rp 175.000,00 - Rp 875.000,00 dan Rp 300.000,00 - Rp 425.000,00 untuk lapis legit dan lapis Surabaya.

J&C Kue Kering Roombutter
Villa Pancoran Mas, Jl. Papandayan M/31 Depok
Telp: 021-7754065/71040050
HP: 08159160091

HAPPY Lapis Legit
Jl. Haji Nawi Raya No. 18 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan
Telpon: 021-7691861; 7697764
Jenis Kue: Berbagai jenis lapis legit dengan kualitas terbaik, menengah, standar dan macam-macam kue kering lainnya.
Range Harga: Rp 150.000,00 - Rp 580.000,00 (lapis legit) dan Rp 50.000,00 - Rp 200.000,00 (kue kering).

Graha Obor
Jl.Prapanca Raya No.35-37 Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan
021-71502652
Jenis Kue: Puluhan Jenis Kue kering dengan berbagai Jenis
Range Harga: Rp 40.000,00 - Rp 55.000,00.

AJ bakery
Jl. Boulevard Raya Blok DF No.9-10, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara
Telp: 021-4528468
Fax: 021-4528467
Jl. Summagung III blok KR No.22 Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara
Telp: 021-4523956
Fax: 021-4522984
Jenis Cake: Cake hias, roti, jajanan pasar, kue tradisional
Range Harga: Rp 1500 - Rp 5000/slice, mulai Rp 155.000 untuk cake hias.

SunFlower
Jl.Kelapa Gading Boulevard LB-3 No.18 Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara
Telp : 021-4505425

La Madeleine
Jl. KH Ahmad Dahlan No.41
Telp : 021-7226472
Jenis Kue: Cake, cookies, parcel
Range Harga: Cake mulai dari Rp 100.000,00 - Rp 775.000,00

Helen's Fine Food & Patisserie
One Wolter Place
Jl. Wolter Monginsidi No. 63 B
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan - 12180
Telp: 021-725 8885
Jenis Kue: Cake dan kue kering
Range Harga: Rp 235.000,00 – Rp 1.070.000,00

Seven Grain
Jl. Mampang Prapatan Raya No.1, Jakarta Selatan
Jenis Kue: Cake
Range Harga: mulai dari Rp 100.000,00

OKKY Cake Chocolate Bakery
Alamat : Jl. Guntur 40-42, Jakarta Selatan
Telp: 021-8295140, 8294910
Jenis Kue: Cake, kue, cokelat
Range Harga : Rp 80.000,00 – Rp 300.000,00

Cheesecake Factory
Jln. Tebet Barat Dalam Raya no.23 Jakarta 12810
Telp: (021) 8354735
Open Daily: 07.00 -22.00
Ada juga yang di Cikini Raya no. 16
Jenis Kue: cheese cake, kue kering
Range Harga: Rp 17.000,00 per slice, Untuk ukuran 10x20 cm harga mulai Rp 100.000,00, terbesar 40x60 harga mulai Rp 985.000,00.

Cheese cakenya paaas...ngg eneeg et ngg terlalu manis...

Lapis Legit Ny.Gouw
Jl. Kyai Mas Mansur No.81 Tanah Abang, Jakarta Pusat
Telp:021-31927802
Jenis Kue: Macam-macam lapis legit dengan berbagai ukuran
Range harga: 275.000 – Rp. 550.000

Martha Cake Shop
Jl. Jambu 33 Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
Telp:021-3143567; 3152573
Range harga : Rp 230.000,00 – Rp 1.365.000,00
Awfully Chocolate Indonesia
Jl. Senopati No.41C, Jakarta Selatan
Jl. Metro Pondok Indah Plaza 2 No. BA 37, Jakarta
Telp: 021-5731457
Jenis kue: Cake coklat berbagai varian
Harga: mulai Rp 150.000,00
( dev / Odi )

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....#1

It's December now...

To those who live in Europe, America and some other parts of the world, snow is coming to you..

yeaaah...

Sunset at Leysin, Suisse...

For us who live on the warmer sides of the earth, at least we hear that song frequently as Christmas is coming...

Well, it got me thinking...when is the first time for you to see the snow...hehehe..iseng banget yaaah...

Yaaah, namanya juga anak kampung :D....kalau mau liat salju, you have to go abroad..or climb Cartensz for  its eternal snow...

I remember my first...and Udi's as well :p...not until I was 27, that makes Udi 29,- that we manage to see the snow :D...

Mt. Baw Baw, Australia....yuuup, funny name, isn't it...

we joined MIIS group trip to this mountain..and it was fuuun fuuun fuuuun :D....

Well, actually..for me...I have spent some time in Europe before staying in Australia...I had my diplomatic training in Clingendael, Den Haag for three months, followed by 3-month internship in Bruxelles, Belgium...but I was there from May to beginning of October 2004, so I only experienced the cold, not the snow..

Then after that, as faith brought us.. we were posted in Geneve, Switzerland...this land of cheese and chocolates happens to be one of the best winter spots in the world...and snow is everywhere :D..

Bapak et Bo on top of Leysin, Suisse...


When we first arrived in 2007, winter was okay...no snow in Geneve, but we only need to drive less than an hour just to play with snow..lucky us, we lived in a border between CH and FR, so many places to see for sure :D...Guess who's having fun???
Coles des Moss, Suisse...2007...

BO et BAPAAAAK :D...

Well, Udi got a chance to actually learn how to ski, while maman babysitted Bo :)...


look who's sliding down :p..


trying to learn the rope....

I am having fuuun....

ready to roooock....




I'll come back with more stories about it..meanwhile, thanks to Yasmin, here's a few frames of photos of Bo enjoying the snow :D...

let's have fuuuun.....

Digital Diplomacy #1

Digital Diplomacy.... 

An introduction 

As the robust advance of information and communication technologies (ICT) continue to enable and facilitate people around the globe to connect and to interact directly with one another, social media outlets have stolen the attentions of many bureaucrats for their major role in voicing peoples’ aspirations and shaping public policies in many areas.Along with the exponential growth of social media around the world, many government officials, including diplomats, have utilized this channel to conduct and expand their public diplomacy. 

This emergence of new diplomatic operating environment enables diplomats and relevant officials to communicate, connect, interact and maintain contacts with their domestic as well as foreign constituencies. Two-way dialogues are easier to build, creating direct and personal communication channels to listen and respond to the societies’ needs. 

Although many argue that the advance ICT in the form of social media only add a new dimension in foreign policies’ business, it is widely accepted that the wider use of social media outlets, such as Facebook and Twitter, do create and bring significant impacts on the ground. As a wide range of opinions, political views and interests, and even mobilization of activities are widely and easily shared, peoples-driven transformation process are more likely to take place. The Arab Spring is indeed one of the illustrious examples of this phenomenon, lauded the role of social media and even coined the term “Twitter Revolution”. 

While security and political issues are still considered sensitive and tend to be handled in more traditional ways, many foreign ministries expand their public diplomacy efforts focusing on social, economy and cultural exchanges through social media.Rigorous dissemination of information of one country’s values and cultures has been aggressively conducted in these platforms. 

 Nevertheless, as this new technological revolution is utilized in some foreign ministries, it proves to be difficult for many. The adaption of digital diplomacy by many foreign ministries takes slow pace and to some extents, it suggests that there is a degree of uncertainty over this novel concept. Perhaps, two of the biggest questions here are what digital diplomacy is and what it can be used for. In addition, how to effectively formulate and implement communication strategies using these new platforms continues to be debated. 

At this juncture, one particular foreign ministry has been considered successful in embracing these novel technologies. The U.S. State Department has arguably been known as “the world’s leading user” of e-diplomacy or some might say, internet diplomacy. The U.S. State Department, including its representatives and missions abroad, has been strategically using websites and technology-basedvenues to help carry out its diplomatic affairs. 

Along the same line, the European Union continues to adapt its policies and approaches in dealing with the world’s affairs and responding to the exponential growth of social media. Some ASEAN member countries,such as Thailand and the Philippines, are also on the front lines when it comes to digital diplomacy.Indonesia, to some extent, has also joined the game and made use of these latest technologies. 

Now, how about Indonesia?