Making Strides against Breast Cancer - Kickoff Breakfast 2016

It's the time of the year again to have our Making Strides against Breast Cancer - Kickoff Breakfast 2016.

How time flew!

I still remember vividly when I joined the kickoff breakfast last year, annually held in the Marriott Marquis Hotel, Times Square.
Such a great crowd and how I was moved and inspired to do more in our fight against breast cancer.

Read my story from last year here - Kickoff Breakfast Making Strides against Breast Cancer

This year will mark my second year as breast cancer survivor.
I know, 2 is a small number.
But for me, and all the survivors, it means a lot.

I was diagnosed of stage 1C breast cancer in July 2014. 
After a long series of procedures that included mastectomy, 16 round of chemotherapy, breast reconstruction, and 25 sessions of radiation, I finally got a clean result mammogram in August 2015.

It was a huge relief but I now that I still have to continue my fight. Of course I am still under intensive observation of my oncologist and at the mean time, I am taking Tamoxifen and just started Luprol injection to manage the risks of having my cancer cells back or metastatic. It's a long road but it all starts with determination to live better and healthier.

In August 2015, while joining this breakfast event, I was crying like a baby when we lit the candle for those who have finished their battles against cancer and those, like me, who are still continuing their fight. 

This year, it was the same :)

I just can't stop the tears rolling down my cheeks as I lit the candle and held it up to pay this tribute. For sure it's happy tears, for I am so blessed to be abundantly bestowed with faith, strength and commitment to fight my fight.

me with my survivor candle :)

Just like last year, we have some inspirational speeches and videos being displayed, mostly from the survivors and the organizers. Their stories are always moving.

As you know, unfortunately, cancer is still topping the list of non-communicable diseases that kills and affects so many lives according to World Health Organization.

So, besides moving stories of survivalship, great ideas on how to participate and contribute more to the global fight against breast cancer were also shared, including some  fun fundraising ideas.

it was packed with friends and supporters

This is truly one fun and exciting event that successfully inspire more people to get involved in this global cause. It has also provides more tools and means needed to generate more support and assistance from others in our fight against breast cancer.

This year, I happily brought Bo et Obi to the breakfast meeting. They are still enjoying summer break and they're happy to come along with me.

My kids, my love, my source of undying energy to stay healthy and continue to fight!

We are ready to continue the fight

The actual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event itself will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2016. 

Like previous years, it will start at Central Park 72nd Street Bandshell and end up there as well. Registration will be open at 07:00 AM and the start time will be 08:00 AM New York Time.

I am honored to join the walk again this year. Still bearing the same group, Indonesia Ceria & Beyond, I have formally registered my group and hopefully we can have some friends coming and join me on the walk, just like 2014 and 2015. Feel free to see my story here.

And if you are willing to support my team and our global fight against breast cancer, kindly join me and please check out my team here. I hope you all can join and support me in this noble cause.

I will surely get back with more stories on this.
Stay healthy, people.

And keep the fight :)

WW: Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!

Happy 71st Anniversary of Independence to my beloved country, Indonesia.

17 Agustus 2016

Back home in Indonesia, we have so many events and activities during the celebration of the Indonesian Independence Day. 
How I miss those sports and traditional tournaments, flag-raising ceremonies, performances and so many more.
Here, we have the commemoration for the 71st Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence at the Indonesian Consulate General here in NYC.

One thing for sure, wherever we are, even far away from home, the love for our country will remain strong and resolute.

Happy Independence Day!

with my Ambassador and colleagues from the office :)

And we also have a special golden gift, as Indonesian badminton athletes won gold medal at the Olympics on the same day! Yaaaay..

Photo is taken from twitter.com

Dirgahayu Indonesiaku

Maju terus dalam karya nyata.
Happy Independence Day Indonesia

#RI71 #KerjaNyata

Wonderful Wednesday with Oh My Heartsie Girls

And summer continues.

#summerisON.

While enjoying super hot NYC, we managed fully enjoy NYC Restaurant Week.
Do you like to explore some cool eating places during this promotional week?
I do!
Here are a few snaps I have from my visit to 4 different restaurants this week.

NYC Restaurant Week

We also strolled around the city and spent some cool time with the kids.

We were actually thinking about heading somewhere in the upstate NY to enjoy cooler breeze but we decided to stay around as the trip would be super hot and we might not enjoy it after all.

cheers from Dumbo, Brooklyn

So, there we were.

Strolling around the city, catching Pokemon and having cool time with lots of ice cream and cook drinks involved :).

cheers

Although it was more than 100 degree F, Bo et Obi insisted on going to the beach. 

Well, why not...

As long as it's not in the middle of the day >_<. 

So we went to Plumb Beach in Brooklyn when the sun almost set.

Plumb Beach, Brooklyn

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Sop Buntut - Indonesian Oxtail Soup

More Indonesian culinary experience from my kitchen table :).

Let me introduce you all to Sop Buntut - Indonesian oxtail soup.

I recently went to our local supermarket here in Astoria and found halal oxtail. Yup, oxtail.

Although oxtail is obviously not a common ingredients here, but I found various menus from different countries using the same ingredients, like oxtail osso bucco and oxtail stew, for example.

Back home in Indonesia, sop buntut or oxtail soup has been widely known as a famous plate. Not only in authentic warung or street food vendors, but also in five-star hotels in Jakarta. Hotel Borobudur Jakarta, one of the luxurious hotels in the Capital, has long been recognized as 'the place' for the best sop buntut in town. 

Served with a warm plate of steamed rice and crackers, be it kerupuk or emping - or bitter nut crackers, sop buntut is one of the favorite choice for lunch or dinner. The rich texture and tender meat, enhanced with special aroma from the spices being used, makes sop buntut a yummy 

Some of you might not get a chance to try it in the restaurant here in the US,  but if you want, you can cook it at home.

Ingredients:

Oxtail - 2 pounds, usually it's already cleaned and chopped to pieces.

Garlic - 3 cloves

Shallot - 2 medium cloves

Coriander - 1 teaspoon
Candlenuts - 3 pieces

Nutmeg powder - as desired

Salt and pepper - as desired

Sugar - as desired
Vegetable oil
Carrots - cut in dice
Celery or cilantro or spring onion - all serves as garnish and my fave is cilantro and spring onion
Tomatoes

In some recipes, they use cloves. You are indeed welcomed to use it as it brings an exquisite aroma to the soup. I don't find one here so I skip it. But I make sure that nutmeg is added as it is sort of a 'signature' hint for this soup, at least in my family's recipe :). 

How to cook:

First, we get all the spices ready. Using mortar and pestle, grind the garlic, shallot, coriander and candle nut. Of course you are welcomed to use your food processor as well. Then heat one spoonful of vegetable oil and sauté the ground spices until it's well cooked and fragrant. In a large pot, boil the oxtail, together with the spices, until the meat is soft. I takes around 3 hours to get it tender, depending on the oxtail. Once the meat is tender, put carrots, celery/spring onion and boil it for 5 - 10 minutes. And sop buntut is ready.

Give some drops of fresh lime or lemon to add extra tangy kick in your soup and some fresh chopped chili if desired. You can also eat it together with a bowl of warm steamed rice.

lime or lemon gives you a fresh kick in the soup

Hope you get a chance to try this exotic culinary.
Selamat makan, bon appetit

An Afternoon at Central Park

New York City is warmin' up.

If not burning.

Or more appropriately, hot and humid.

I didn't remember New York City this hot.

Last year we spend our summer break in North Carolina and Florida, which are hotter, almost always above 100 degree Farenheit or  around 35 degree Celcius. Well, what are you expecting, it's the capital of sunshine :).

Again, we are so used to the sunny weather, just like back home. But somehow, I thought NYC in summer is hotter than Jakarta. Or perhaps, I don't expect NYC to be this hot.

Anyway, hot, sunny weather does not prevent us from walking out with the kids. And Central Park is one of our favorite spots. And an afternoon at Central Park is always lovely.

First, because it's beautiful. Alot to see and it's huge, so the kids can just run around freely. Stretching more than 50 blocks, we have a lot of space and choices as well.

Then it's so easy to reach with our Subway line. Take N or Q and stop at 5th Avenue and 59th street. And voila, one block away is Central Park.

And, finally, the kids love to be here to catch more Pokemon. I know, don't give that look LOL. And I guess I will l get back with more story on that.

look at all those Pokemon lovers :)

Well, another thing I love about Central Park is that there are so many beautiful photo spots. On the last visit, we only strolled around the 59th street, near the Grand Army Plaza. We have the statue of General Sherman, beautifully guided by an angel to victory. 

looks so royal..

Nowadays, we can easily capture all those beautiful places and moments.

Just take out your smart phone, aim and shoot.

it has its own story of immigrants :)

As always, the blue sky will always be the perfect background.

the mesmerizing blue sky

So, that's our afternoon at Central Park.
I hope you get to enjoy the clear blue sky as well, wherever you are.

Cheers...

Join us on Skywatch Friday 

Everyone is welcomed  and enjoy the magnificent skies from many corners of the world