THINGS that WE NAMED AS 'ATTENTION'

I started my day very early today.
After arriving at my office - about 45 minutes later, as usual an office girl and an office boy do their cleaning task in my office.

They work based on roster, usually they work for several same offices for a couple of days, before transferred to other offices area.

I noticed the girl that work for 3 days up to today has a very nice smile. She is very polite and have a very well mannered.

I never have a chance to chat with these office girls and boys. Only exchanging smiles and say thank you for their assistance.

Today, since it is not too busy, I started a conversation with the girl.

Responding my question if she employed here or on the job training, she said that she is on the job training at my company. She took a year of housekeeping hospitality diploma program. One semester learning the theory and one semester on the job to mastering her knowledge.

I asked her, what is the reason for her to take one year diploma program instead of taking a program which can lead her into a brighter career in the future? She said that her uncle who suggested him to take the program and so on.

From her explanation I can read between the line, that funds is actually the problem for her to get a better education.

Then....., I continue my conversation. I asked if she speaks English. Her answer: she does not have the capability to communicate in English.

I feel pity for this girl. To enter the jungle of hospitality world, it is a must to be able to speak English. She took the one year program, for the reason to get job quicker. But how can she survive from the competition if she does not have English as one of the main 'weapon'? She is a very nice girl, her character will be suitable for service industry. But............??

I learn from my experience talking to the girl. Being too busy doing my job and self centered....... (still I guess), I did not pay enough attention to small things happened surround me.

At the end of our conversation, I suggested her to learn English, even I know, maybe the fund for it can still be a problem.

Nyepi - 2009

What makes Bali so unique, I think one amongst other uniqueness is the NYEPI DAY. Nyepi Day or Silence Day, when all activities are stopped, the day is used to do a self instropections.

Experiencing so many Nyepi Days, I still feel the great sensation. The island is truly purified during the day. No polution, very quiet ...... so wonderful.

Many people do not like Nyepi Day, but not myself.

Nyepi day this year, that will be fallen on 26th April 2009 will be different.
WHY?
We would not have any Ogoh-ogoh on the Pengerupukan (a day before Nyepi Day).
Ogoh-ogoh is a big statue reflecting bad spirits that should be beaten by good spirits.
The lose of bad spirits visualized by burning the Ogoh-ogoh after it carried surrounding the village.

Campaign that due in the same period as Nyepi Day, caused the government thought, it will be wise for not having Ogoh-ogoh for this year.

Well, I hope I will have the same great sensation experiencing Nyepi Day, although without Ogoh-ogoh and the noise following the parade on the Pengerupukan day.

GALUNGAN - a BALINESE Holiday

Today is a big holiday for Balinese people.
Recurring every 210 days, Galungan is a big celebration.
The ceremony lasts in 10 days, closed by a Kuningan Day.

The city of Denpasar feel like 'empty' during the day.
People are going back to their villages, visiting families and friends, after praying at the temple.
They also pray for family members who passed away but yet still not be cremated.

It is not easy to find a restaurant or food stalls selling tradisional Balinese food during this days.
At least for 3 days on the Galungan day you will have problems in finding food.

Balinese also erecting poles which have been decorated beautifully with coconut leaves and flowers, these poles giving an atmosphere of big festive for 10 days here in Bali.

This Galungan Day is very special as it is very close to other Balinese big holiday - NYEPI DAY.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA GALUNGAN!

MY BUDDHA STATUE

What do you think of that statue?
I like it very much. After thinking '1000' times................, I decided to buy.
And I never feel boring seeing it. I put it on a temporary desk.
Actually it should be placed in my room, but it still being renovated.

It is not a real antique, but somehow........ the first time saw that statue, I have already fallen in love. It just looked perfect! The proportion, the broken arm and legs.

If you want to buy that kind of statue just drive along Sayan Village, near the Four Season Resort you will find several art shops, take a look! I am sure you will find something that you really like.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

one corner before the main 'joglo' exhibition

The first day of 2008, I and my love ones decided to go to Ubud - Our favorite village in Bali where culture and art is in the blood of the people there. Once you are there you can immediately feel it.

A friend of mine told us that there was an artist community located in Kubu Bingin, about 3 or 4 kilometers before Ubud, where a one year masks & puppets exhibition is being held. That is our first to visit.

The Kubu Bingin Artist Community located in a 3 hectares land, surrounded by beautiful rice fields. I do like the place.




















(the view from the main joglo exhibition)


There are 2 Demak Joglo (traditional java house from Demak - Central Java) which build in one section. Traditional and antique masks collection were exhibited in these joglo House. While the other East Java Joglo which located in the opposite section packed of thousand of puppet collections. The colorful the puppets exhibited made me stunning.

Their collections represented art and culture from all parts of Indonesia and the world. According to Bpk. Prayitno - the manager of the place, it is only 1/3 of their collections that were exhibited.

Very kind he showed us their stores where other collections kept, and he said there are still many more which has not been sent to Bali.

I do admire people who do things with sincere and love.

Please visit the place, and I believe you will find the happiness as I am.

SANUR FISHERMEN

Went to Sanur (a beach area east to Denpasar) quiet early morning 2 hours ago with my love one. Hope to get fresh fish from his fishermen friends.

Unfortunately, they came back with empty hands. Traditional fishermen's life is very hard. Taking the risk going down to the deep sea area when we are all having our nice sleep, trying to catch fish for continuing their family life, giving education to their kids, etc. Many times get good catch, but many times get nothing.

If you wish to get really fresh fish, go to Sanur early in the morning, wait for the fishermen who just come back from their night journey. Once you experienced having those fresh fish, the fish which claimed also fresh sold in the supermarket will become tasteless!

ENVIRONMENT CONCERN - Maya Ubud Resort & Spa

I visit regularly a beautiful resort located in Ubud, which I knew very well has always improving quality of service, facility and activity programs extended to their guests.

The latest program they have just launched is "TREE PLANTING"
Please find below the media release I have just had:

Plant a Tree and Enhance the Environment

Ubud, Bali – Since its inception six years ago Maya Ubud Resort & Spa (http://www.mayaubud.com)has been very concerned in preserving and protecting the environment surrounding the resort. To enhance these efforts the resort has introduced a program inviting guests to plant a tree along the resort’s riverside nature walk so they may be part of the environmental protection project of the resort. A small fee is charged with the proceeds being donated to an environmental protection agency in Bali.

Guests may choose from a variety of trees available from the resort’s nursery. These include mango, coconut, clove, guava, jackfruit, breadfruit, mangosteen, water apple and coffee to name but a few of the indigenous trees available for selection.

With more than three hectares of land are available along the riverside nature walk, guests may also choose the spot where they would like to plant their tree assisted by a Resort Guide. Each tree planted will then be tagged with the guest’s name and date of planting. They may also add a few special words to the tag as a memento of their visit to Bali.

Mr & Mrs Wolfgang Baermann from Germany on the occasion of their eighth visit to the resort commented while planting the first tree, “We have tried to grow tropical trees we have brought from Bali back in our home town, but have had no success. Now we will have our own mango tree here in Bali and will look forward to seeing how it develops on future visits”

”We are fortunate in having such an amazing site of over ten hectares of land surrounded by rice fields and tropical rainforest, with the resort buildings occupying only ten percent of this land area. The remainder is devoted to lush cultivated tropical gardens and the riverside walk, enabling guests to be at one with nature” commented Paul Blake, General Manager of the resort.

The Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, sits majestically high above the banks of the legendary Petanu River, across from charming historical villages of Bedulu and Pejeng and within walking distance of the vibrant artist centre of Ubud.

For further information please contact:

Ayu Martiasih
Marketing Communications Manager
Maya Ubud Resort & Spa
email : marketing@mayaubud.com

It is good to know if somebody do something nice for the environment. Our world has already been 'screwed' by us. The paradise has faded leaving ruined forests, pollution, and poverty at the end.

Hope the program held by them will run successfully. So in my future visit to the property I can see many more fruits plantation there.

'FOOD' FOR SOUL

I was invited to see my friend new orchid garden. Yet, there is only a few orchid collection there, but I believe it will grow as she loves anything related to plantation.

I took a good lesson while seeing her collections, it is not merely a group of orchids. She really takes care of it. Do you believe when we put our attention or care to somebody, to plants or pets, it is good for our soul? Caring over something with sincere is a good food for our soul. If we feed our soul with a good food, we bring healthiness for our body too.

Caring over something with sincere, automatically also spreading generous love and caress, it sweeps away anger and hates from our heart, leaving a warm and pleasant feeling inside.

By caring over something with sincere meaning the person drops their ego too. I have a good example for this. When you have 2 apples with you. One is bigger to the other, and you want to share it with your friend. Which one will you extend? Naturally, people will give the smaller one . If you can extend the big one to your friend and keep the small one for yourself............that is the real caress!

PAMPERING MYSELF

Yesterday, I left home too early, forgot that before start working I have to go to the bank.
It was 10 minutes before 08.00 in the morning when I passed Monkey Forest street, the bank will be opened at 08.30. And it takes only 5 minutes from Monkey Forest to the bank at the main road.

I always dream to pamper myself early morning before my working hours in Ubud by having a cup of cappucinno or a glass of latte, sitting in a corner of a cafe, writing a post or taking pictures.

"I am going to do it now! I am not running out of time this time!" that was what I thought that day. Usually, it was only a dream in my mind. I always don't have time to make it realize.

So, I parked and walked to my favorite cafe. Ordering a glass of coffee latte and rye bagel with eggplant and garlic hummus.

I sat nicely waiting for my order, opening my laptop and start to edit several photos and write several posts.

I smiled and thought what a nice way to start a busy day!


Sometimes we need to have time JUST for ourselves. Get rid of our routine life and do what we want to do. It makes us feel better.

BELIEVE ME

THANKS FOR THE MAGAZINE, PUTU!

My friend who knows exactly how I love culinary world - Putu Sekar - handed me the October edition of a food & entertainment magazine titled APPETITE JOURNEY.
(visit Putu's blog: http://putusekar.blogspot.com, she posted many interesting articles - in Indonesian- but I think she will expand her blog into an English edition as well!)

I found on the cover the magazine's website: http://www.appetitejourney.com, click on that if you wish to know more about the magazine, or if you miss your free edition.













As a lover to a culinary world, I would expect kind of culinary journals will be long lasting or don't be last please....! BUT.........., for sure the content should be also valuable.

I was very sad few years ago, when found a good culinary magazine titled "SANTAP" was discontinued their publishing. Each edition of Santap was beautifully done. Very educated and contained lots of information. An elegant magazine!

Thanks for sharing the journal, Putu! I will enjoy it for my weekend reading.

DON'T EAT IT! TRUST ME!

"What would you like for your afternoon tea time? Chocolate Cake, Orange Pie, Strawberry Pie or Apple Pie?"
"Hmm..................., I like all of them, but just a small piece please..........."
"Certainly!"
"And what would you like, tea or coffee?"
"Do you have mint tea?"
"Certainly!"

Talking about mint tea, last night I watched Discovery Travel & Living Asia, there was a documentary movie about Morocco Culinary. It was said the best way to make a fresh mint tea, is by using fresh mint leaves (generously), sugar (I thought it must be rock sugar they used not the cube tea sugar), and tea. The man on the movie said, do not stir the tea, but pour the mixture (which already combined with hot water) to a glass, and then pour back the tea into the tea pot. Do it several times until the sugar dissolved. Higher you can pour the tea is better.

BUT........., let me tell you. The above Chocolate Cake and various pies are not real. They are all made of Polymer Clay. I made it last year. Looks good, doesn't it?
















Psssssssssst......................! These breakfast choices is also not real. It is all made of polymer clay.

Last year I was addicted to make any kind of food, fruits ......... anything from clay.
Now, I am very busy doing many things at work, and has to forget my hobby.

Have a great day!

RUNNING A RESTAURANT BUSINESS by HEART

I went to a bookstore near my house last Friday (Thanks God, finally a decent book shop opened on a walking distance from my house!), and found a book about Carnegie Deli on a NEW BOOK display table. (http://www.carnegiedeli.com)

Can not wait to reach home and start reading the book, that night. Anything about culinary or running a restaurant business always attracted me very strongly.

I am a believer of how happy a person can be, earning for living from doing what they love & like.

I have examined business that run by heart. It always shines more brightly. People who involved in running the business have more smiles, and indirectly influenced their customer to have a happier feelings too.

These people enter ordinary fields of business, which many people even more expert has already in there, but since they did it happily, the end result is different.

I want to get the book in its original version in English (the one I bought is in Indonesian). I found many mis-spelling words in it.

In this post, I also want to share a story about a small cafe which I am very sure are run by heart by the owner. I have written about this last time http://foodiecookie.blogspot.com/2007/09/taste-improved.html
But on my previous post, I did not highlight of the business, it was a story of my three 'musketeer' friends (GRIN).

The cafe named "CAFE TERAS LEMPUNA". Located in Bedugul, a hilly region of Bali Island. I knew it is owned by a Japanese lady.

It has a very cozy interior. A Japanese alike neat, with several cute ornaments inside. They also put several sets of dining table + chairs on its verandah. Giving a pleasant outdoor place to have your meals. But beware, do not eat outside during mango & jackfruit season! You will get crazy in getting rid of flies :-(

My latest visit to Cafe Teras when I took all pictures displayed here, was Saturday, 13th Oct 2007. The plantation planted on its yard, being one of the focal interest too! They changed it regularly. This time they have a beautiful white lily on the yard. It was still raining heavily when I arrived there. But soon after ordering our lunch, the rain stopped gradually, leaving a freshness on the white lily.

A bush of pink wild roses was planted near the right side wall if you are facing the road. Whilst, tomato planted in a row next to the front fence, carrying its fatty fruit. Yet, not ripe but it would be a lovely fresh tomato from the garden.











Inside, you will find a nice little bar, where the waiter prepare drinks for the customer. Many kind of glasses and cups displayed on its bluish rack.

Next to liquor & wine displayed rack, you will find a door - the entrance to the kitchen. What I missed is only a good music. It must be lovely if they have a nice easy listening jazz selections as a background music.

If you decided to visit this place, don't think that you will get a 5 stars categorized meals. The food is good but not so special! You can get similar lines of foods any else where easily. What you won't get is the nice ambient of the place.

Cleanliness of the place included the toilet is two thumbs up! Except one thing, I never agreed when people liquefying the density of liquid hand-soap usually for saving reason by pouring water into its container. You must be thinking I'm weird now :-D!

Last but not least, I found this unique wind chimes hung below the verandah roof.

What else to be shared? I don't have anymore, but just experienced yourself. I think you will be agreed with me, that CAFE TERAS LEMPUNA is one of the business which is run by heart.

HAPPY EXPLORING!

TASTE IMPROVED!

Couple of friends having a same interest as I am. What is it? Culinary!
Yesterday, one of them popped up in my office. Brought me several photographs he took. What about.........guess! Food!
So we had a discussion about food.

Actually there are 4 of us. But only him and myself who are living in a same town, the two others are staying thousand miles away. But in several occasion we can get together.

I should admit, the three 'musketeers' are very expert in making ordinary meals becoming extra-ordinary meals (read: in a positive way!). HOW? They are the experts in telling stories, their gesture while do the story telling also improve the quality of the story they tell!

Let's review. One day, they went up to the high part of Bali and had dinner in my favorite restaurant. I must say the quality of the food served is just fine, but the atmosphere of the place and the way the owner running the business is a big deal for me. Cozy place, nice weather, what else? That time it was only me that left in town. I could not join them due to a bunch of tasks that I had to do still.

The next day, the three of them showed up in my office brought a video cam and asked me to transfer the content to my laptop. I was laughing in tears seeing they act like a culinary traveler!

The one who is a photographer, explained the vegetables soup he had.
"Please see the freshhhhnesssssss of this vegetables! Hmmmm..............., the smell of the broth..........., hmmmmmmmm!" Something like that! Believe me! Seeing them talking about food made you mouth watery!

They know many places to get best food! They even know perfectly what time they should be on a Balinese style suckling pig stall just to get the best part out of a whole suckling pig!

Ask them the culinary program on Discovery Travel and Living! They can tell you fluently whose who, what, how, when in each program!

And................... last but not least! Their favorite celebrity chef! Guess who!
NIGELLA LAWSON! Why her?? Why not Jaime Oliver or Anthony Bourdain or Ferran Adria - the Bio Chef like myself??

BECAUSE..........................................

THEY ARE ALL MALE!


That is all for today, Folks!

TRUE STORY - STOP.................Don't Drink It! (LOL)

This is a true story! I could not stop laughing that day.
I don't know who should be blamed on that case.

It was a bit gloomy late afternoon in Jogjakarta.
I went out with two other friends visiting a gudeg (traditional jogjanese food) stall.

I ordered a glass of hot tea. My other friend ordered his favorite softdrink, while the other one ordered Cendol (kind of pearl in bubble tea, but instead made of tapioca flour it is made of rice flour combined with dissolved palm sugar in coconut milk). While for the dishes it is already standard. Gudeg is consisted of rice, chicken cooked in thick coconut milk, eggs and young jackfruit which cooked for hours.

Having a chit-chat while waiting for our order, a waiter came bringing my hot tea and my other friend's softdrink. The waiter also brought 3 'glass' of water (I put 'glass' in bracket, as it was not looked like glass but it was not looked like bowl either).

In Indonesia, it is very common for people eating using their fingers instead of using spoon and fork. But using left hand for eating is a big NO! Left hand is preserved for 'dirty assignment' (GRIN). Restaurant that specialized in selling Indonesian food usually gave water that put in a slightly large bowl for their guests to wash their hands before start eating (See next picture). I knew the water served by the waiter at the Gudeg Stall was for that purpose too.

Somehow, I guess it was because the form of the water container which was not usual that made my friend thought it was an extra water to drink). He hold and took a close look to the glass and slurrrrrp..... drank the water. I was in the middle of sipping my hot tea, but my eyes immediately opened very wide try to stop him from drinking it. My other friend only starred at him without saying a thing.

I was about to squirt the hot tea, then we laughed out loud! My friend who drank the water for washing hand starred at us without knowing for what reason I and the other friend laughed wildly.

Then, we explained to him.............., and continued our laughs.

"I don't know if you are going to drink that water, I thought you are just looking at the container!" I said.

"Yes......, I thought so too!" my other friend said.

We were laughing on and on, my poor friend could say nothing but embraced.

So..........., next time please be careful!

The More You Know, The More You......................??

When I was on my high school second level, a senior English teacher taught us this proverb: the more you read the more you learn, the more you learn, the more you know, the more you know, the more you stupid become. But I would add another phrase to make it complete. Here it is: the more you know, the more you stupid become, the more you will feel uncomfortable, unhappy….., the more you will be too proud of yourself!

Correct me if I am wrong, when the 911 occurred, many people becoming paranoia, but for those who do not know that chaos, they won’t be afraid. Correct?

Saturday night, I went to Ubud with my love ones. We agreed to go to the place where we used to have dating many years ago. We visited a nice restaurant that located in the Tjampuhan riverbank, a very nice and romantic place.

The food is standard, nothing is special. I mean you can get that quality of foods anywhere and anyplace here in Bali. But the atmosphere of the restaurant you will only get it there.

They had many artworks displayed as the ornaments of the restaurant, giving an antique touch to the interior. The sound of water flowing in the river gave you a natural music. (They did not play any music!)

I ordered Lasagna, while my love ones having Beef Curry Mysore and Fish Burger. Surprisingly the waitress who serve the food, handed my Lasagna from across my location, just in front my love one’s nose ha..ha..ha….!

I looked at my love one, he kept his naughty smile, and there was no words exchanged between us, but our eyes said……., the waitress do not know the rule of how to serve! We were fine, but feel a bit uncomfortable (then, we were not fine LOL). And why? Because we know the rules!

See, I told you, if we do not know the rules of serving meals we won’t be disturbed of such incident, do we?

But that is not the point………., what I would like to raise from writing this is, all we feel in our lives is depended from what our reaction in responding the experience that we have. If we react negatively, it will be negative and vice versa………. Just that!