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| Thank you, 2018! - Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey |
Ready to say goodbye to 2018?
And welcome 2019 with open arms?
Well, like it or not, the new dawn of 2019 is arriving.
As the last days of 2018 are looming in, we always take this moment to reflect what we have done and gone through along the years.
For me and my family, it’s always be a melange of love, laughters, tears, hard works and fun.
2018 is indeed special and memorable.
We started the year with super sad news and ended it with some great quality time with my big family. We spent the last day of 2018 at the beach with the big family.
The kids got super excited and I managed to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with my loved ones as well.
In terms of blogging, it's been a wonderful journey as always, as I take blogging as my cup of tea, not really a job or a profession. I did receive a lot of free goodies and paid posts (including those in USD and Rupiah :)) plus won some competition, although I know I can do more. But I like doing things my way, including blogging :). So, I'm blessed I still can enjoy my blogging journey up until now.
I have to say 2019 has a lot in store for us, as some pending matters are wating to be settled.
No matter what 2019 has in store, my family and I will enjoy every single blessing the Almighty bestowed us all. And one of the ways to do it is by reflecting what the previous year has brought us ad learnt valuable lessons from it.
Now, here's a little flashback and let's see how colorful last year was and how 2018 has been treating us.
JANUARY
We started the new year with the passing of our Datuk, my kids' grandpa, my hubby's dearest dad.
He rested in peace on the 2nd of January 2018, 1 day after my husband arrived from NYC, leaving us on Dec 30th, 2017.
He has been unwell for quite some times but still his passing shocked us all.
May Datuk rest in peace and he will forever be remembered.
Terima kasih untuk semuanya, Datuk!
For the first 3 weeks of 2018, my kids and I lived in NYC just the three of us.
It was quite challenging to go back and forth from my house, office and kids' school in winter but we managed to go through it. We used a lot of public transportation and spent quality time with Bo et Obi. I remembered trying so many restaurants as well during this time, with my kids!
FEBRUARY
On the second month of 2018, my hubby and I maximized the time to explore New York City more. As I have mentioned previously in many occasions, my assignment in the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York was extended for 6 months. I was originally scheduled to go home in January 2018 but then it was prolonged until the end of July 2018.
At some points we were happy to be given the chance to stay longer in NYC, but on the other hand, we just couldn't wait to go back home!
So here, we strolled around famous streets, restaurants, and alleys in NYC.
We managed to go back and forth to Katz' Delicatessen (the movie set for 'When Marry Met Sally'), Joe's pizza (the movie set for the Spiderman movie), Friends' apartment (the one they shot to show the outside part of these best friends' apartment), and Serendipity 3 café (obviously, from the movie Serendipity).
MARCH
March is the time for spring, Yet, NYC was still cold and freezing but I managed to get a chance to travel far to the Pacific, this time to New Caledonia. It is one of the non-self-governing-territories under the administering power of France and it's pretty much located in the Pacific. Not only we traveled to Noumea, the capital city, we also go to Lifou and Kone, the capitals for North and South Islands.
On my way here, I transited in Japan and stay for 2 days (visiting Japan for the first time), then headed to Paris, France, and go home to NYC through Lisbon, Portugal!
What a trip, right!
I have to stop at 4 different countries and territories to complete my journey.
Tiring? Indeed!
Excited? Very!
I, as usual, took the liberty to explore those beautiful cities.
Read some posts about New Caledonia here:
5 Instagramable Spots in Noumea, New Caledonia
New Caledonia in Blue
APRIL
I have always loved April for it's beautiful weather! And usually, we took our roadtrip during the Spring Break. But in 2018, I was bogged down with the work as we were in the middle of the campaign for Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council.
Nevertheless, we managed to again browse New York City and its never ending charms.
Plus I got to see Pink in here incredible world tour in Madison Square Garden, with my sister in crime, Erma!
It was really a great night to remember!
MAY
This month, I went to Grenada in the Carribbean, for the first time.
It's always great to explore a brand new place and I manages to stay there for 5 days.
It was for work and quite a series of intense meetings, but I went diving there as well and we went to Catamaran sail with the whole group! It was super fun!
Then Ramadhan came in May as well.
It was our 5th fasting month in New York City and although it was a long early summer day, we, together with the kids, managed to pass it smoothly. Alhamdulillah!
JUNE
We finally won!
2-year marathon of intensive campaigns have beautifully yielded in Indonesia chosen as one of the Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council for 2019 - 2020.
It felt good to know that all our hard work and dedication were paid off!
Starting January 2019, Indonesia will be officially one of the Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council. Our Minister for Foreign Affairs and the team celebrated it together at the UN and in our Mission, right during the Ifthar or the breakfasting, as it was still in the middle of the holy month of Ramadhan.
We also celebrated the last Idul Fitr in New York City.
Not long after that, we packed our stuff and sent it to Indonesia.
Well, our once-in-3-or-4-year packing was super exhausting but that 20 feet container would have to go early if we wanted it to arrive in August.
Then after that, we moved out of the house we lived in for more than 4 years and kissed Astoria goodbye. We stayed in the place provided by my office in Manhattan afterwards, until our departure to Indonesia.
JULY
My kids and my hubby bid NYC goodbye!
I was so sad but they needed to go back home earlier to catch the school.
They left on July 3rd, just a day before the 4th of July.
All of us were super sad, but
And the kids and my hubby transited in Japan, so they were not that sad on their way back to Indonesia.
I stayed in NYC to finish all my works and the whole procedures I have to go through.
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| Cuba is indeed awesome! |
In between, I visited Cuba with my dearest sister-in crime Erma and undoubtedly, we had tons of fun there! We went to the old city and the surroundings, to the beach, to the salsa private class, and more. We visited museums, met our friends from Indonesian Embassy in Havana and we went cigar shopping. I really love Cuba!
AUGUST
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| Enjoying Tokyo Disney Sea..my early birthday gift :) |
And I am officially back home to Indonesia!
I flew from NYC on the last day of July, transited in Tokyo and went to Tokyo Disney Sea, (I took it as my early 41st birthday gift), then Jakarta and Lampung directly.
The first 2 weeks I arranged some day-off from the office to go back home to Lampung, meet our parents and families, and take some times off to rest. I do need that!
I visited Anak Krakatau Mountain during this break
But right after that, I went back to the office in full gear.
Tons of works are waiting and even I have been traveling around for work in Jakarta.
I am still handling the same issues, which are human rights and humanitarian affairs.
SEPTEMBER
The crazy September is filled with endless meetings for the preparation of the UN General Assembly meeting headed by our Vice President and the team. Nothing new but still I was laughing at myself for doing the similar routines again. It was fun though, as we worked with the new team in Jakarta and we managed to traveled around and discussed our works in many places, including Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Jakarta.
We also enjoyed the great vibes during Asian Games in Jakarta!
What a great event!
So proud to be the host for this biggest sport event in Asia.
And for sure we nailed it!
OCTOBER
Back to the Big Apple for 9 days and I was so thrilled.
For 5 times in a row, I managed to join Making Strides against Breast Cancer.
Walking 5 km with friends and those who were touched by breast cancer at some points of their lives. It was very moving and I felt blessed to have to chance to be there again!
And I was lucky to stay over in Tokyo, Japan again, visiting Mount Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi, and Sato Nenba. For the first time, I wore Kimono and browsed around the village wearing it. And I got the purple turquoise kimono, my fave!
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| I love this Kimono! |
NOVEMBER
Burkina Faso, here I come.
Unplanned, I was lucky to get a chance to visit another country in western part of Africa.
It was for the OIC meeting on the role of women and I was lucky to be part of the Indonesian Delegation to this meeting. I flew through Turkey, so I enjoyed city tour in Istanbul, in the middle of cold, wintery days.
Before that, I visited Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia, as well, for the first time.
Such a lovely city indeed, packed with amazing sunsets, wonderful beaches and incredible food!
DECEMBER
Alhamadulillah wa syukurillah..
The Almighty has been very good to us.
I have made last-minute trip to Malaysia for work and meet many new friends. Afterwards, I flew straight to Lampung to join my family and have a long break in my beloved hometown.
Nevertheless, at the last week of December, we were sooo sad as tsunami came to Lampung and Banten provinces, particularly in Tanjung Lesung and Kalianda :(. More than 400 people died and many facilities were damaged. We worked together to help all the victims and now the recovery and the rehabilitation processes take place. Let's pray for all the victims and those who were affected.
But all in all, rasanya aku bersyukur banget bisamenikmati tahun 2018 yang penuh warna dan berkah-Nya. Aku dan keluargaku sehat walafiat dan
Alhamdulillah, di tahun 2o18 aku mendapat kesempatan untuk menjejakkan kaki di 6 negara dan wilayah baru, yaitu Kuba, Jepang, New Kaledonia, Grenada, Portugal dan Burkina Faso. Selain itu, it's good to revisit Paris, Istanbul, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur again. Dan bahagia banget bisa menikmati indahnya Jogjakarta, Ambon, dan Bali. Dan pastinya, bahagia bisa berkumpul kembali dengan keluarga besar dan menikmati indahnya Indonesia!
Now 2019 is here!
I am excited to walk on the new days and continue
How's 2018 been for you?
I bet you have many colorful days and unforgettable memories from 2018.
Share with us in the comments yaaa.
