september ceria

when you have less than 48 hours left in a city where (almost) everyone feel welcomed. it's kinda sad, really. had the last farewell dinner with everyone. came home for another dinner for another party (it's a birthday party actually). it feels weird, knowing you may not be able to come back (soon -- well, I hope I can come back for whatever purpose later in the future, but it may not be for the same purpose). this past couple years has been terrific. now that I think about it, seven years ago, I never thought I could go this far (literally and figuratively). there are some things I regret for not doing, but I believe if I work harder in the future, I will be able to do more things that I wasn't able to do this past couple years. I must thank a lot of people for helping me to go this far. I find it funny that it all started with SMS. perhaps, in the future, I must send more SMS to more people. LOL. ah well, it's Christmas eve, everyone... merry Christmas!

when you finally are going to go home (maybe for good), but the tube service may be disrupted because of a strike (that's the cheapest way to go to heathrow) and the express train to airport won't be working either (the most convenient transport to airport). am I supposed to pay for a taxi? or to sit on the bus for more than 2 hours - while changing every 20 minutes or so? damn it.

when you find out the very uncertain nature of your future AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

when you find it hard to go back home - to reality very old song from Kla Project, about a hometown as far as 18 hours or so by plane from where I am now PS: again, why is it so hard to begin to write an academic paper?

"How much longer do I have to cry until you'll love me properly" *sob*

people who have long known me must understand that I was a big fan of Boyzone - my first crush at that time was Ronan Keating which then was followed by the rest of the members; except for Mikey. Hmm I don't know why but I was never really that into him. Well, I still am a fan of Boyzone - though not to the extent I went to when I was much younger. I did shed my tear when I heard Stephen died 3 years ago, heck, who didn't? I watched their documentary that year following Stephen's death and bawled my eyes out. They were gonna launch a new album - a reunion you might say. He was the happiest and most enthusiastic about it - says the rest of the members. But, in the process of album production, he passed away. His last recorded songs include this - the music video itself is tearjerker. But, I did not follow Ronan's venture in his solo career. I did, when he launched his first solo album. I bought a cassette, but I also bought Stephen's solo album. However, I am

Do you have a song or two reminding you of your youth? well, for me, this is one of them. and just because of the mellow tone fits this cloudy day. and perhaps because I miss you?

LOL - I have a really great time this week - and I have a great time too listening to this song! such a cute message!

I've been meaning to write another drama review since a long time ago, but I didn't have enough time to put my train of thoughts in order. As you might have noticed, I (used to) like to watch Korean drama, especially when I was still doing my undergrad study - or to be precise, when I was lost in doing my thesis. LOL. However, I'm pretty selective in choosing what to watch or not. We're talking about drama here. Yes, Korean drama (not like Indonesian soap opera with very long episodes. oh they can be in years) tend to be short, but still they generally span around 12-20 episodes. I DON'T watch drama with 20 episodes. So, even with the drama being very popular (such as: Rooftop Prince - which I stopped watching after the sixth episode or so) or actor/actress I like (again the example is Park Yoochun in Rooftop Prince ), I resist not to watch it. Why you might ask - well, I get bored pretty easily and I tend to find filler episode annoying. So, I become impatient most

you know you miss your home when you start browsing Indonesian food on tumblr almost non stop every day when you get the chance. finally, the feeling after 14 months. just across my bedroom door at home

Taking a break from watching all those horror movies for my presentation this Thursday. But then I'm torturing myself by watching Osen ( 2009) - a Japanese drama centred around the life in Isshoan, a traditional Japanese restaurant in a suburb near Tokyo (or perhaps suburb of Tokyo). It follows Handa Sen (a.k.a Osen) - the okami  or proprietor of the restaurant: a young, at times seems naive and innocent (but in actuality that is not the case) and talented woman who LOVES drinking and Ezaki Yoshio - a know-it-all annoying young apprentice (who grows throughout the series). Isshoan here is contrasted with all other meals that ordinary Japanese find more convenient nowadays like the bento box you can get hold in konbini , fast food, and easy cooking (with the help of Mr. Microwave that is shown in the first or second episode). Not only does Isshoan prepare their meals traditionally without the help of the made-to-help-human-life-to-be-easier machines, but they also grow and prepares

"Actually it's like this, what use is it to hold onto to something that is scattering? Only the heart will hurt more But I wonder, what is the purpose of living like this?" (Nell - The Day Before ) a sad song for a sad heart - don't listen or watch it if you have a faint heart! hahaha...

I truly believe that the director and script writer of this drama totally want to promote Japanese food. I respect that, but what does that make me? watching last episode of Konkatsu! (a.k.a Marriage Hunting!) now - it's only the first five minute or so, like in the opening scene before the title unravels. but there are already around 10 scenes of eating! ramen, then zaru udon (or so I thought), tonkatsu, burger, (cheese) cake, cocktail, zaru soba, bento, ice cream parfait, odeng, and last, sweet bread.  what's wrong with you people? now you're showing me Italian food? and more tonkatsu, bento, and mango parfait. well, I'm full now actually. just had kimchi fried rice for my dinner,  yet I'm craving for Japanese food NOW - authentic ones preferably.  ps: Konkatsu! is a Japanese drama which revolves around the story of Amamiya Kuniyuki, a thirty-something unemployed guy who found a job in a district government office. It tells the story about the stru

in love with this country - from the moment I stepped foot on the first day. a very rare feeling. hahahaha... i wish i could just live here for some period of my life! :) too bad, it's too soon ending...

Yes, I always have this thing for movie with open ending or rather sad ending. A friend suggested me to watch this 2011's movie "Like Crazy". He said, if I like Before Sunrise/Before Sunset so much, I would definitely like this. Except I don't. At all. So I rented this movie (along with Gilmore Girls - which remind me so much of high school and my mom, oh I always enjoy watching this). I don't understand the movie premise. Again, at all. Okay, perhaps I am a little biased - based on the fact that, yes, I had a relationship before that moved to a kind of long-distance relationship type, which then didn't work out. So that added my expectation to what this movie all about. But, I must say it didn't live up to my expectation.  Good thing or I think it's more appropriate for me to say, "the things I like about the film": its camera and editing work, or its visual presentation. It used Canon EOS 7D - an inexpensive camera to be used for a

another year in a land - not called home - celebrating eid mubarak, for the fourth time in a row. 

[just because] I currently like making collage.. Hahaha...

it's best to post photos of food when it's ramadhan

sometimes several hurricanes happen within a period of time - like this. but you gotta be strong! :)

the most dreadful thing happen to me -- there's always the first time you experience thing, and it's the first time in my life experiencing this. don't quite know what to do. my plan is slowly coming nearer to the edge. the future seems darker than usual. hopeful faces turn to shocked ones. only myself to blame this time, yet it's hard to change habits I've grown accustomed to. it's indeed a hurricane...

when you find it hard to focus to do what you have to do, and instead find another interesting topic to do for your future plan -______-

when I finally get home, and know for sure if I finally make it or not through this MA degree, I hope for a little vacation with my mother  :D :D :D

went out today, after some time not using my camera to take lovely pictures of food, I finally managed to do so. and London was so busy today because of PrideLondon march which remind me of New Year's eve. well, not entirely similar, only the way we walked towards Marble Arch and met a swarm of people coming from the opposite direction - I suppose from Trafalgar Square [and, we couldn't move unless turning the other way around - haha]. anyway, this East Street is a restaurant around Soho area, London. In its website, it says it serves "exciting and varied cuisines of East Asia" which include (to my surprise) Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and Korea. I wonder what "East Asia" exactly means though, since to my comprehension, if looking at the menu, only those menus from Japan and Korea can be considered as East Asia of origin; while the others are Southeast Asian. but, well, it's all Asian anyway. :D and I did

when you met the person you liked *giggling like crazy*, but you know at the same time, he won't be yours an old song, I know. but, it always lifts me up in moments like this. definitely an all time favourite song!

when you gain another kilo without knowing what you've been eating

when real unexpected things happen during your research - and you're just left mouth-opened for the whole 3 minute, straight for this, let me just hear these two beautiful songs; performed by Park Hyo Shin to recover myself ( Bogoshipda -  not his song, but the other guy's song, the other guy is Kim Bum Soo and his own song:  Things I cannot do for you )

ah, i just realized. been here for a while, but i hardly wrote about my impression of london. it's summer already. weather is nice, though sometimes it's terribly hot in my attic room.  about a month ago, I eventually made up my mind to reorganize my room. as a result, now my study desk faces the window directly to allow sunlight; hence hopefully prevent me from laziness view from my window, yeah it's a sunny day when I first wrote this draft, that was my first impression on London's summer. but I must take it back as summer days are often not so different than any other days in London, be it winter, spring or fall. like today, it's now 13 degree Celsius - and don't ask me about rain or wind coz it happens almost every day. I just went back from uni.   one day, I came back from school and got on a bus. I sat with an African lady who talked on the phone since I got on, up until she got off - which took about 40 minute. but that's not an un

when girl meets boy, and nothing happens for every good (and bad) reason *sigh* and for that, I just want to sing this : Park Hyo Shin (again!) duet with Lyn,  singing a song that gets covered A LOT by Korean singers: Falling Slowly

okay, before I get to write my full detailed plan of my dissertation, I feel a huge urge to write a confession here. I think, now I become a full fledge Korean pop culture fan. So, this post will be the first of a series of confession of a (not-so) aca-fan  which will be updated (hopefully) regularly.  Full House Well, my first encounter with South Korean (hereafter Korean) pop culture was perhaps watching episodes of Full House  on one of Indonesian television broadcast station - if I remember correctly. I wasn't a fan of the actors and actresses at the first time I watched it, but later was drawn to watch more of Song Hye Gyo's work . What drew me first to Full House  was a desire to watch a fresh romantic comedy which saved me from boring Indonesian soap opera with many eyes-widening-kind-of-acting. Though its storyline was probably not the best when I come to think about it later (for instance: I cannot accept the fact that a best friend sold her friend's hous