Two weeks ago, Michael and I travelled by train to get back to Jakarta from our regular visit in Bandung. Well, ever since there has been highway that connects the two cities, travelling by train rarely comes as the first option anymore. First, it takes longer time. Second, why go to the station if we can go to the nearest shuttle that takes us to Jakarta/Bandung? Third, the journey won’t likely put most people at ease: inconvenient station, train, etc. So, it has been a long time since my last travel by train between Bandung and Jakarta. I’m a strong believer that a leading country leads in public transport system. Convenience in public transport system make people happy. That says, our country needs a hell of improvements not only to become a leading country but also (most importantly) to ease the people and make them happy. Seriously.

Really sorry about the continuous rants on country, the people, and public transport. hahaha.

So why we took a train then, you may ask? As a start, these two people, Michael and I, were sooooo sick of routines. Even though going to Bandung every 2 weeks was in account of breaking routines, we still needed refreshments – just something different, and sensed this as a challenge to improvise our routines since we could not escape from them just yet. The idea initially came from him, my knight in shining armour.

I had been commuting by train a few years back before the Cipularang highway (the highway that connects Jakarta and Bandung) was established. This experience reminded me a lot of my first year of college. In fact, it felt and looked exactly the same as those days when I travelled Bandung-Jakarta by train frequently. Well, it’s either I’m too sentimental or no major improvements in the train system. It also quite amazed me that they still applied traditional way of purchasing tickets (filling in a form, standing in line then handing in the form to the official). But never mind. I really loved seeing the old coach, crowds of people in the station and simply the ambience. I also loved the familiar noisy-sounded announcement. Is it weird? Haha. Well, we didn’t really luck out that day. We could only get on the second class coach (with no air condition) because first class tickets were all sold out. Despite having to cope with bad-smelled coach, I think it wasn’t that bad and we still enjoyed every inch of our journey. Train station just had the right amount of vintage vibe, I found myself fall in love over and over again. Truth be told, train is my most favourite means of transport. Well, let’s hope train system develops and gets better here in this country so people can travel by train happily.

P.S. Really thank my boyfriend for such cool idea. This one we just did succeeded making me feel like I’ve just been in or accomplished a super adventure. I’m always happy after completing a journey and adventure. Also thank him for his patience coping with my constant grumble and complaints about how I need a holiday and short getaway, haha (sometimes I’m just that annoying to him) This simplest form of adventure was a proof that we can always have getaway from routines. Love you, boy.

P.S.S The next closest adventure is tomorrow! yay! A very exciting photo shoot will be held and I’m waiting in full anticipation. Hope it’s going to be massive fun! Anyway, HAPPY WEEKEND!!! x

Hi! Finally I come with pictures! I reunited with my college best friends a while ago and we met up at Ketjil Kitchen. I love this place so much that I took boyfriend there some days later for our little date. The place is very homey with a strong vintage ambience. It’s since become my new favourite go-to place like nowhere else. The meeting itself was really good, lots of stories and laughs! A very nice reminiscence to the good old days, a very pleasant way to spend Sunday afternoon, I would say.

As for pictures above, I experimented with the Lomography X-Pro Chrome 100 ASA (yeah, finally I reunited with my lomo lc-a). I really like the more vintage-feel it gives. However, my bad that all pictures were taken indoor. This kind of film won’t work best in a low-light room. Perhaps if we did it outdoor and soaked in brighter and shinier sun, we could get better results?! Fingers crossed. Ah, next time must be better!

I’m leading quite a tense and packed schedule these days that I almost forget that going for a little jaunt and taking pictures are so relaxing, effectively relieving stress and breaking the mundanity of everyday life, in my case. I need a lot of this sort of thing to keep me sane. That says, I need a lot of vacation. Haha. Well, who doesn’t?!

I have a confession to make. Whilst some might think that my new hobby you’ll know in a bit sounds very mummy-ish, I don’t care (even my boyfriend told me the same thing. ouch, heart break!). Some days earlier I posted on twitter about the impact of fabrics-shopping activity on me. It was really immense joy I feel every time I go to fabric shops, screen through piles of fabrics, ask the details and finally bring home some fabrics. I would go mad and wild, in a good way of course.

I guess it all started several months back that mum and I were regular visitors of fabric shops mainly for my wedding stuff. Honestly, I was not that keen in the first place. I even argued with mum at most time because of her habit that prone to stay all day and night long at a fabric shop. I tell you, it killed me so much that my bored-level often reached the highest limit. By this time, I know I should have been aware that many times things could work weirdly. Just when we hated something too much, it could go the other way round. haha. Be careful, love and hate are only a few inches away. And what happens to me now, I’m obsessed with fabrics. (thanks mum for introducing me to this activity) As the result, recently I’ve been visiting fabric shops e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y (ok, I mean almost everyday)! In another good news, my place is only hop and jump away to the marketplace of fabrics. This close proximity allows me to sneak the least of 1 hour for each visit everyday. Crazy, yes!

I love fabric-shopping and fabric shop is equal to seventh heaven to me. That kind of heaven where you want to stay and get lost at and splash a lot of your cash on. haha. It’s probably because this activity allows my imagination go crazy and lets my inner daydreamer go beyond wild. My very own classic idea of fabric-shopping works this way: I browsed for nice clothes inspiration on magazine, television, blogs, stores etc, I wanted one for me then I went to fabric shops, found quite some nice ones there, bought them and off to the tailor. However, soon as I arrived at the fabric shops things changed. There were often way too many good stuff and a whole bunch of inspiration just suddenly struck in my mind. I want a lot of fabrics. So, instead of the aforementioned, things work this way most of the time: I arrived at the fabric shop, took a thorough look to the fabrics… then “oh this one is nice” or “oh it’s pretty!” or expressions alike blurted out. That was the exact moment when suddenly my mind wandered for inspiration, I dreamed a little and murmured “this would be nice for this kind of dress/skirt/tops/etc”. I would even bargain (mum told me bargaining is a must when shopping at a traditional market!) In the end, I went home with a lot of fabrics! haha. Call me impulsive as you may. Now my room is full of fabrics in which some of them have been taken to the tailor and the rest are still in line.

Knowing that I don’t lead a glamorous life (yet a woman is still a woman, a creature who’s always on the hunt for pleasing things as clothes) and I have to be more thoughtful about expenses, I assumed this could be a wise move in terms of cutting expenses. On the bright side, with the same amount of money I used to spend on 1 dress, now I can get myself about three dresses by buying the fabrics myself and taking them to the tailor. Cost per item is usually cheaper and bank account is safe (or it’s supposed to). But the question is, will it still be the case with this impulsive habit of mine? The answer is an absolute no! I am broke, as fact. Oh yeah, I need to put extra hardwork on financial planning thingy, tell me about that! Shopping on purpose always works better than aimlessly and further end up with a lot of stuff. Easier said than done, I know, haha. But seriously, trying to hold down the impulsive habit could do a good start, no?

Back to fabrics matter. Choosing the fabric then designing the model is so interesting that I might as well learn to sew myself. Hmm, sounds like an idea..

image source flickr.

Heyho blog! I truly miss you. Ah, it’s been a long time and I’m feeling a little awkward now as I start writing again. That kind of awkwardness when fingers can’t do the job of typing because the brain is working in the pace of a snail in giving words. I just couldn’t figure out how to write naturally. Ah, bring my chatty-being back! I believe I was very chirpy back then. So, forgive if this post might be lacking its eloquence, just bear with me. Let’s hope it won’t take too long to get back on my feet and… let’s get started!

Now as Michael (my boyfriend) and I are approaching our D-day, perhaps the most frequent questions people throw at us as we bump into them is “how’s the wedding preparation?” Ok there we go. I could actually talk all night long to answer this particular topic. But my answer was usually simple as “Well, everything is pretty well on track” I think they were all on track and I worked quite fast. At least until my lovely detail-oriented papa came to me, fussed around and reminded me about this and that and all which I often ended up with “Oh yeah I miss that one, will do later” to almost all of his questions. haha. Thanks papa for reminding your scatter-brained daughter… I am. But worry not, I think we’ve got several things done at the moment. Big thanks to our dads, mums, and everybody for such kind-hearted and helping-hands.

About this wedding preparation thingy, Michael and I realise right from the beginning that wedding party in our culture involves many people from both sides. It’s our parents and family necessities over a mere ours as a couple. Hence, we don’t want to stress out or become very decisive on every single detail. Even though the control is in our hands, we try in every possible way to listen to what our parents have to say (only our parents though), collect their opinions, combine with ours then decide. I personally don’t feel the need to argue fiercely with them when there are clashes of interests. Thus I really really hope there won’t be such fierce arguments along the way. Amen to that.

We think what’s more important then the wedding is the marriage itself. In fact, it felt so surreal yesterday as we stepped into our very first day of pre-marriage class held by our church. For the first few seconds we only looked at each other and in a bit of teary-eyed (ok, not so teary-eyed, that’s just for a bit dramatic sound) told each other “Wow, here we are.. pre-marriage class? Did you imagine this before?” then we couldn’t help but burst into cracking laughter. The class will discuss everything we need to know about marriage life in all aspects – as a husband and wife, as parents to future children, as a part of big family, as a part of the society, and as God’s children. Marriage might not be as easy and always sweet as we both imagine, problems could surface at times. However, good things never come so easy either. It is a lifetime commitment as well as lifetime learning. I know it’s easier said than done, but a successful one requires more ‘us’ than ‘me’, a lot of ears, a lot of giving, understanding, respecting, compromising, and so the list goes. That’s what I’m said and what I believe. Am I scared, you may ask? Well… yes, a little bit. I’m a human being after all, despite the fact that we’ve been together for as long as I could remember. But we’re in love with each other, we have faith in Him. We’re pretty much ready. Dear God, bless our every path.

p.s. yay! I finally write a long one, even without any pictures!

p.s.s. Am I the only one who gets too excited looking for outfits for prewedding shoots?haha!