Bandung & Jakarta so far

Bandung and Jakarta so far

It's been almost 2 weeks I'm in Bandung for my long long holiday of the year!
Bandung is the place where I was born and grew up as a rebel teenager !!@#$!??!! and became the best!!student of class 1992 (on different period of time, for sure!).
This town remains the paradise for shoppers, eaters, and sleepers (like me..).

But the trip to Jakarta with Benny 'my bart' last weekend was really fun.
With one goal of him : Visiting Tandike to buy Karrimor bags - he's a big fan of this brand of outdoor adventure gear.
Having chatted too much in the bus with Esti who was very kind to accompanied us and be our city tour guide, we forgot to stop at where we supposed to!
You will never believe what this shop looks like, imagining from their website..Benny...hope we made you happy that day!

We tried various public transports : tourist mini bus from Bandung to Jakarta, Mikrolet, Kopaja, Mikrolet again, Busway - this is a must try and so fun, Bus Patas AC, Taxi, and finally being picked up by Wina - one my best friend from Jakarta in her nice (new ya?) car.
Jakarta is a big (too big for me) city that has a black and white /contrast scenes from my 'bird eye view' : big n tall high rise buildings, supermall, shopping centre, department store, megamall - you name it, and a dirty polluted hectic bus station such as Blok M, and not to forget those people who are still living under poverty under the bridge.

When Benny's got what he wants (of course he got me one nice Tyrlobyte black day pack with laptop bag inside!), it's time for me to try what I've been really looked forward to : Gado gado Bon-Bin at Cikini IV street. It's gado gado (indonesian salad with peanut sauce) and Asinan (don't know how to say it in english, but it's all about the green stuff I love) are legend!!
Unfortunately the Maison Benny is closed 32 min before we got there..ohh no! Next time ya Win!

Esti, Wina, thank you from me and Benny for this short but fun Jalan jalan!!!..

BALI RIDERS

BALI RIDERS

8 Years in Bali. I still could scream and swear to a motorbike rider who passed my car and cut the line in front of me, or a mother with her 2 kids - no one wearing helmet, just suddenly came out from small road, she didn't even care to look behind from the rear views that there is a car who is coming her way.
I still can't understand why people here couldn't care less of others.
Self discipline is something that people lack of here....

Unlike in Jakarta or Bandung - the main two cities in Indonesia I know them well, in Bali, the right side of the road could be used for a 20-40km/hour speed - slower than someone with Bike to Work sticker on its bike, a big truck carrying tons of mineral water, or a Driving Course car....
Honking means you are looking for trouble, and people could really get mad if you continuously do that to them,even if they're the one who blocked your way and pissed you off!! Unbelievable..
I think they all need a lesson of how to drive safely and understand the street signs...and! traffic lights : RED means STOP!! When it's gonna be...only the birds in the sky know..:)

Some years ago, I tried to do the same as people here - you know, they said when you are in Rome, do as Romans do.
With Bart, we were just 2 seconds after the red light, and we thought it would be fine, but there he was, a policeman stopped us (and the rest is history, if you know what I mean).
I just think this is unfair, those who blatantly violating the traffic rules could get away with this, while me and Bart who always try to be a good citizen, really didn't get a chance, not even one rule breakage!!
...

Hehe...meaning you should always be true to yourself. Keep believing what you think is right is the right thing to do.

Rewarding yourself at Karma

Sometimes you need to give yourself a special treatment to pause from your hectic life and daily routiny at work.
This Sunday morning I went to Karma Kandara Spa, magnificently situated on the cliff overlooking indian ocean(and Nammos Beach Club!) in Ungasan Uluwatu,Bali to have a one hour Karma Rubdown at their spa that is just open on Nov 1st'08.

Altough I came there with Bart as a trial guest on a complimentary basis, and the spa was just preparing their place to receive guests, we were greeted in a warm welcome by the spa receptionist & male therapist there, and they really made us feel like...a paying guest!...:))
We enjoyed the surroundings : the waterfall by the pool, the bridge, the gym room (also on the cliff!), nice lobby with all these luxes Spa magazines, yummy coconut sweet cake & fresh iced water as a welcome snacks..mmhhh..I'm ready for the rubdown, really need it!

Tari, my therapist was ready for me, and here we are, in this 'healing hut', I could see the beach down under from the window.
Tari's first rubdown was a bit shock for my tiny body because she really gave a deep muscle rubdown on my buttocks - something I wasn't ready for.

As a massage lover (en fait, c'est obligatoire!), I tried many on call masseuses, spas, massage house, they all have approximately the same choreography,and using a medium pressure,shiatsu technique that often hurted my arm, sometimes I feel they were just rubbing, and touching, rather than really releasing my mucsle pain.
But at Karma Spa, this is my first experience to feel a real massage. Before, I thought the word 'spa' has more things to do with flower bath, a room with aromatherapy scent and burning candle, body scrub, etc..

Their acupressure technique was just right, the pressure was exactly my body needed, the smell of their coconut oil made me....hungry :p
It would've been nicer with a soft balinese bamboo gamelan background, and an aromatherapy oil scent, but the most important thing my body needs to experience is the perfect Rubdown & right pressure. I got it all here.

Some would say this is more like a spiritual encounter rather than just having a nice massage, for me it's simply a way to pamper yourself after one year of hard work at the office, this is my 'annual bonus' to reward myself, at a perfect stunning place like Karma Spa - totally recommended for spa lover !

Clinton, Michelle, Benny, thank you so much!

MAN vs WILD

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, covered in scars, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'yahoo!', what a ride.'
-quoted from Bear Grylls blogspot - http://beargrylls.blogspot.com/

If there was a man who inspired me the most today and made me down at the same time,that would be a TV host, motivational speaker, author - BEAR GRYLLS. It took couple of spelling mistake of his sir name (gyssll, grysll) to be able to google his blog and website.
Many of you must know him from his famous TV show on Discovery Channel : MAN vs WILD, every Tuesday night at 10.15pm-Bali Time (GMT +8), a TV program that my Benny adores it so much and has been a while inspired him as well, as he also has the same passion as Bear : NATURE & ADVENTURE!

Yes, talking about a man who not only has a huge passion on outdoor adventure, but mainly living his dream, pushing his limits,and overcoming challenge. A life that is far far away from dullness,he has, for sure! He has become an international speaker in many countries by using his experiences on climbing a Mount Everest at the age of 23, and how these can help us in our life and business environments. For him, fear,doubt,nervousness should not be an obstacle in focusing to your goal of life and dreams, in fact it will make you become stronger to achieve whatever you want to be and to get.Woww...
I tried to look onhis background to justify all his character and experiences : served in British Special Air Service, black karate black holder, trained in unarmed combat, desert and winter warfare, combat survival, medics, parachuting, signals, evasive driving, climbing and explosives. In late 1996, broke his back in a free fall parachuting accident in southern Africa. In1998, at the age of 23,he entered The Guinness Book of Records as the youngest, and one of only around thirty, British climbers to have successfully climbed Everest and returned alive,etc.etc...Just to say to myself : no wonder he is that strong.
But now I would rather see it as a person who, firstly, know what he wants to do in life with his passion, skill, and ability, and then use it for his own good, to inspire,motivate and strenghten people. Bear Grylls,in brief has motivated me more today to do something different,dare to face a challenge, become a fearless person yet fun! (woman).
If at first I said he also made me down at the same time, it is because seeing his tv show and read his blog,made me see how flat is my life now, being stuck at 9 to 6 office situation, answering phone calls and emails, although I'm working at an event company that has so many things going on now, still...nothing compare with all the crazy and wild outdoor experience of Bear Grylls.
2008 - is The Year of the new beginning, that is my vision. It's September now, and I'm still loong forward for something excited, crazy, thrilling, adventurous, and new happen with my life. Once again, I would like to quote what The Man vs Wild says on his blog,that : "Feeling nervous is normal though, I guess. What matters is that you still go, and give your everything, no matter how hard it is."
Bear & Shara - whereever you are now, and miraculously could read this, I just want to say thank you for giving me the inspiration to get something new and exciting and passionate in my life.

Visit also a website of a very blessed woman :
http://www.sharagrylls.com/

BolaNews di hack?

Hari ini gw liat websitenya Bola News di-hack org.
Buset, sadis juga. Jail, dan kurang kerjaan jg.
I still don't understand until today, what's in a hacker's mind doing all that "kurang kerjaan" thing...
Mending nonton gosip Mayangsari-Bambang-Halimah dan Ahmad Dani-Maia-Mulan.

Cape dehh...

wedding of the year

NO..not mine! Relax!

It's my younger brother who got married with a sweet japanese girl.
It took place in a beautiful by the beach villa - VH - in Jimbaran,Bali.
Around 60 guests - all families and friends joined on this amazing sunset wedding.
Thank God for the perfect weather, on this rainy season!!..

As an office person working at the Bali's finest wedding planner & event & entertainment company (www.balistarz.com), I'm not used to have to create a wedding theme or organise a party, but I used my knowledge & experience, and with a help of some friends, I gave my best for I&T wedding, on 23 Feb'08. The wedding ceremony did not go as smooth as I wanted (mom, how could you leave without me!!..erghhr..), but it doesn't matter as this is a family gathering rather than a formal reception! Love is in the air,indeed! The night was ended with final closing by none other than the lovely voice of my mom...(as people were leaving...:) ) !!

One thing that I did not appreciate was the villa staffs, including security guys who tried to steal our food & some props after party, and pushed us to clean up the villa by 10pm as they wanted to prepared breakfast for the next morning. This so annoying, considering we are the villa guest, to whom they should give the best service, and!! courtesy. Anyway, despite its perfect & beautiful location, I would personally not recommend to anybody to rent that VH.

About this wedding, to be honest, it took couple of weeks for me to accept that my younger brother decided to get married before me. I was happy my mom was there and offered me her shoulder to cry on.
For you who does not quite understand indonesian culture, it is not very common that a younger sister/brother get married before his/her older one.
Anyway, I'm fine now, my moment will come, I will see my wedding dream come true!
I wish I&T a happy & blessing life ever after. Love,Bee.

(Photo courtesy of www.risanto.com)

BIENVENUE CHEZ GABY!!...

BONJOUR!!

Welcome to my blog! Yes,it's GABY 'Bee' 's blog. Can't believe it? Me neither!
If it's not because of 'my benny bart' who consistently and annoyingly keep asking me to make my own blog, I would've been still 'zapping' the TV remote control watching celebrity gossips on E! or Kilas Selebritis on MNC...my fav programs.
I don't see what's wrong with being a fan of those infotainments on tv.
I spent most of time at work, monday to friday, 9 to 6, when I get home, last thing I want to do is to touch a keyboard, no more computer..and that's why I prefer to be a tv junkies.
SO it is all gara-gara si bart.

Having been living in Bali for almost 8 years, there are soooo..... many things I have experienced on this paradise island, so many things have happened in my life in Bali. Good or bad, it's my island, yes! BALI IS MY LIFE now. I could still answer that I'm staying in Bali, not just a temporary 'kaum pendatang'/'tamu'/ guest to those who questionned me if I have a plan to go back to the Parij van Java-Bandung-where I originally come from.
But this blog is not solely about BALI, it tells you anything about what I want to share with you all.

It is always worthed to share stories and hope somehow one of my story could inspire or even better, change someone's life-in a good way- but I wouldn't mind to have one or two comments or a smile!

Let's share stories on Bali, on MY BALI STUFF!!


BEE