Family Party

To celebrate Dai Papa's successful heart operation and return from Japan, AND to celebrate him seeing his new born Grandson Rique for the first time, we invited people who knows him and had a BBQ party at home.
Started from 6pm and ended at 12am. About 40 people turned up.

Food is always nice when Daichan fixes them. But for some reasons, he only handled half leaving the other half to Mom and me. For the first time I contributed 3 dishes, spagetti bolognese, potato salad and 2 dips! It's a very nerve wrecking job considering I'm serving them to the iron chef!

Rockabye Baby

Hi-tech baby cradle like this is not available in Jakarta (or it's very expensive) so Grandpa made a make-do cradle from his own sarong. Rique is a lucky baby.

Then I remembered the spooky lullaby "Rock a bye baby" and the ugly monster from Goonies.

Rock a bye baby on the treetop,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.

X2

Went to check out X2 club in the name of research.

Heard there are few halls playing different music but only managed to go to one room playing House music, where girls gone wild and amazed guys just couldn't hide their excitement.

Like in CJs, working class and working girls cannot be clearly distinguished. All girls just wanna have good fun.

H2O

A bunch of young rich kids (in their 20s - 20s is young when u look back) came to H2O.

They stayed for 7 freakin hours. It's unusual considering how empty 2nd floor was and being partially renovated).

It's a good news for the bar but I wondered 'Don't they have anything better to do?'

And then I remembered, I used to do that too, not long ago.

One of the Korean chic asked my age and when I said I'm in my 30s, the air went cold.

Solo Cafe

Went to DAPUR SOLO with Emi. It's a newly opened cafe/restaurant, walking distance from home, serving traditional Solo (Central Java) food.

To our surprise it was really good. The fresh fruits juice was icy and thick, music was a traditional Javanese music played with Kenny G style, food was presented delicately but generously, and the price is more than reasonable. We will be repeaters.

Trust me it is a sophisticated serving compared to other Indonesian cuisines like Padang food or Manado food.

Each food around the yellow rice has a meaning and the rice is stacked up like a tower - tradition for Wedding banquets represening acheivements and growth or something like that...

Ms. I lost my phone again

If anybody wants a model for a reseach on a person loosing the most mobile phones, or a test dummy for body imbedded phones, that's me.

Yes yes, I will hang it around my neck from now on.
Yes yes, I will get a chain.
I know.... don't buy an expensive phone.
Good idea to buy a spare phone just in case.

And always make a back up!

Matt's 2nd visit to Jakarta

This time we stayed at Dharmawangsa Hotel for the whole weekend.

The Monday 3am flight is a killer for Matt who has to work but I'm not complaining.

Matt got me this film camera (yes, not digital) from Japan.

I miss the whole developing, anticipating and framing the nice photos up experience. I would have been happy with the "bakachon kamera" (instant camera) so this Klasse W is so precious! I'm so gonna hang this around my neck!

Had brunch at home with parents, Daichan, Emi and Rique.

8days old

After returning from a short trip to Singapore, Rique was visibly bigger.

He still can't see things and sleeps all day if not he cries a little for milk and has his pampers changed after.

He is the prince in the house.

A Very Special Day

After 3 attempts of induction, Emi did not get contraction so she had to opt for caesarian operation.




Daichan witnesses the operation. According to him, even though he's used to butchering cattles as a chef, it was quite a traumatic sight, seeing his dear wife being cut opened and placenta being ripped.
And... the baby was out!!
Rique Leon Takeya, Born on July 23, 2007, 07:21, 2565g....

Rique = Initially he was going to be named Riku but because it is too common in Japan, his name was changed to Rikki. The spelling Rique was already embroidered everywhere so they decided to keep the spelling. Instead of the name looking like French, it is now looking Spanish.
Oh well! Whatever!! This is just the start of all the hype from the Grand parents!

And I may sound like a typical aunty, but he is the cutest thing alive I've seen in my life.

Gotta salute the Indonesians for their boldness.

Family dinner

Had dinner at home with Matt, Dad, Mom, Emi and Daichan.

Mom had prepared fusion food (which is our normal) Western, Japanese and Manadonese fusion.

After some wine and whiskey, Dad turned on Irish folk music. Don't ask me why.

Sunday afternoon in Jakarta

Seems it's all about food and booze but well, that's what's Travel & Living all about isn't it?

After skinny dipping at newly renovated Kemang hotel, we noticed there's a Scottish Pub in the corner. Matt couldn't help it, we had to go for a pint. This is Matt and a very typical Scottish dude......

Joined by Emi, we went to Cafe Batavia for a brunch, the North end of Jakarta, passing throught the city central and Kota - China town of Jakarta.

This is a colonial building with Dutch influence everywhere, turned swanky restaurant that looks like it would be featured in the Lonely Planet Jakarta sites. Again, food wasn't fantastic but wonderful place to soak in the ambience of the old Jakarta formaly known as Batavia.

Girl Power with Yakiniku & Shabu-Shabu

Had dinner with my girlfriends, Emi and Matt at Manpuku restaurant and had loads of food & Shochu.

Matt was taken aback by the girls' appetite.

Daichan gave us complimentary Sushi, that's the power of the wife :)

Padang food

Went to Bintaro just outside of Jakarta, where I buy fabrics in bulk and where she-boys can peacefully dance and sing on streets in the daylight. The price of fabric is 1/5 of what I pay in shops in Jakarta city.

On the way, we stopped by for Padang cuisine lunch. This is a very common Indonesian food from Padang district. They serve as many plates (and food) as they can on the table and what you eat is what you pay. So yes, just enjoy what's in front of you and don't think too much.

Mom showing Matt how to eat with fingers. Matt getting good at it, had 3 servings of rice!

Jakarta night out

Went to Aphrodite, my old friend Fred's establishment and met Fumiko-san there. My simple mind thought of this place equals white guys' joint, thus Matt might find some comfort in.

I hadn't been there for almost 10 years but it was thriving than ever. It used to have a fine dining section, a bar and a club. But now it's a whole big sports bar.
Jakarta Kini magazine writes about them, "a loyal following of young professional expats and everything that traditionally follows in their wake. Pool tables, reasonable drinks prices, kick-ass happy hour and above standard food make Aphrodite a firm favourite." (you get the picture)

The good news is, Fred and Aphrodite actually do support few sport events including rugby, soccor and billiard.

Decided it was too sleazy for a 3rd drink, Mayu-san joined us and we went to Lara Djonggrang - an Imperial Indonesian Cuisine restaurant/bar/museum. Food was so so but great ambience. http://www.tuguhotels.com/laradjonggrang/index.html

Then went to UTA PARK, one of Daichan & Ooki-san's Karaoke for some vocal training.

Darmawangsa Hotel

It was Matt's first visit to Jakata!

And so staying at the beautiful Dharmawangsa Hotel featuring ethnic Javanese style, which happens to be just around the corner from Emi's house was undoubtfully the best choice!

Ofcourse, I want him to see the best. (at least on the first trip!)

Rani's Wedding

Our family had little or almost no involvement in Rani, my cousin's wedding preparation. But my parents took place of her parents, as her dad passed away few years ago and her mother and sister sought assylum to USA and couldn't come back. We didn't know what to expect and almost had no expectation but it turned out to be a simple, well arranged wedding ceremony, thanks to her Church friends who helped her. When she sobbed, I felt a pang in my heat as I thought how happy yet sad she must be feeling, without her family, all this time and on her wedding. I hope she finds love and happines with her new family.