Amy Tan's Book: E-book Version

As a conventional person, I still think that the best way to read a book is by having a real book phisically. I adore the smell of a new book paper. Therefore I never have any interest to read an e-book. But lately it's getting hard to find time for reading. When I read at one of my friend blogs, Alaya, that she could read faster using the e-book, I think it's time for me to try it on.

To make it even better, Alaya generously sent the e-book version of Amy Tan's latest book. Couldn't thank you enough. It's time to set up a relax athmosphere before I try reading the e-book. Happy Sunday all...!!!

The Book of Life (2014)

It's been quite sometime I didn't take my girls, Najla and Zea, to a movie theatre. Not because I am too busy or something but I just couldn't find a suitable movie for them. So far there's no movie that interesting enough for the girls. Until I found out about The Book of Life. First, the title has successfully captured my heart then the story is also really impressive.

The story took place in Mexico. If American celebrate Halloween, Mexican also have their special day called Day of Dead. Let's follow the adventure of three best friends, Maria, Manolo and Joaquin. Beside its awesome story with Mexican culture here and there, the movie is enriched with lots of good songs, some are quite popular as well.

It's not only a movie for children yet it has a lot of life lesson for all of us, children and parents. The story is definitely inspiring. There are a lot to ponder. Just like the closing of the movie says, we all have our Book of Life and it's time for us to write our own story . A must see !!!

Find more about the The Book of Life the movie here.

Sunday Morning at the Pool

We went to Bogor last weekend. No, there is nothing special though. We just wanted to take the girls, Najla and Zea, swimming at  the Jungle. Najla as a swimming freak was on heaven. Her favorite was trying the pool with a high slide. She kept sliding all day long. While Zea, as a not-so-crazy about water sport, enjoyed the indoor pool hot water.  The girls really had a good time since they were able to choose the kind of pool they like according to their personality:) 

Yes, that's Najla up there!!!

We left the pool in the afternoon since it's already hot and crowded. Never ending visitors kept coming to the pool area. We had lunch at a nearby restaurant Rumah Air. They serve  Sundanese food. The place is nice surrounded by several bamboo hut, a lake full of fish under and a playground for the kids. The girls loved eating here because they could share their leftover food to all fish down there. All in all we're happy  for having a full tummy and an awesome weekend. 

      

Trinity: 1 Year Round-the-World Trip

pic from Trinity's blog

Currently travel writer becoming one of people favourite professions. Travel blogs are getting more and more and if you go to Gramedia bookshop, you will find travel books are scattering with lots of different choices either for the destination or the writing style.

But I only enjoy several travel writers, one of them is Trinity with her popular blog: http://naked-traveler.com.  The way she wrote is always entertaining. It's not easy to write a witty yet informative writing at the same time but she did. I always enjoy her writing since some parts of her story will definitely make me laugh. I just bought her two latest books. A perfect companion for this coming weekend. Happy Friday, everyone!!!

School Fun Days

School days are one of the most memorable moments. I remember when I started writing my memoir #BukuSelfie, my friend and I discussed and shared lots of awesome moments that we spent together for the past 34 years. Tell you what our favorite parts turned out to be our days at elementary school. Spending time together at the same school for six years are really something.

It happens to my girl, Najla. She is 9 and at the 4th grade now. Currently her teacher asks her and her classmates to do some group projects. The project varies from different kind of subject. A few days ago Najla just finished her latest group presentation about healthy food. Each group had to deliver their presentation and brought the example of the food. After all groups finished the presentation coming the best part of the project which was enjoying and eating all the food together. Look at their happy faces, the smile is definitely contagious, isn't it???

Najla's teacher sent some pictures on the presentation to parents' Whatsapp group (yes, there are many ways to contact our kid's teacher now). Never thought that they could be really creative in preparing and delivering the presentation. Love to see the pictures and very proud of all of them. Way to go, kids!! 

Thank God It's Friday

One of the best things about becoming a part-timer lecturer is the ability to choose our teaching schedule based on our own preferences. While most lecturer choose Friday as their day-off, not for me, I prefer to have a day-off on Wednesday since I think having a break in the middle of a busy week is quite a luxury. I also choose all morning classes thus I can finish my teaching in the afternoon before Jakarta's traffic kills me moreover I will still be able  to pick up my girls and drop by at a bookshop or a nearby cafe for one hour or two or even do grocery shopping.

Today I have a 5,5-hour-nonstop teaching. Class will be started at 8 and finished at 1.30 pm. Well...I think it's time for me to get a proper breakfast that will survive me until the end of the day. I just dropped by at a nearby Starbucks (since it's the only coffee shop which already open at 7 am) and ordered a smoked beef quiche and a hot green tea. Hope this brekkie will help me with the teaching and stuff. After all it's a lovely sunny Friday and what is better than Friday? Almost nothing, right? Let's enjoy our day, everyone!!!

Wedding, Weekend, etc

Last weekend we had a one-day trip to Bandung for a friend's wedding invitation. We left Jakarta on Sunday morning and arrived in Bandung in time. The traffic was quite friendly. We didn't spend much time at the wedding reception since we're afraid that the traffic would be getting worst in the evening. After congratulating the bride and the groom, we decided to leave the place.

On our way back to Jakarta, we passed this beautiful housing complex, Kota Baru Parahyangan.   I read lots of their housing advertisement in the media. Curious about the place then we just turned left and entered the area. It's such a huge area with complete facilities. After browsing around the complex, we dropped by at Bale Pare. It's a place provided by the developer to hang out with family and friends, listen to the home band while sipping a cup of coffee. The place is very cozy with several restaurants, shady trees and a wide field with green grass everywhere. Najla and Zea enjoyed it a lot. They run here and there. So happy to breathe a fresh air. We left the area around 3 pm and arrived home at 5 pm. Wow...such a lucky day, back and forth to Bandung with a very smooth weekend traffic.