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.

STILL RELATED TO SUSHI

Still related to Sushi.........., I remembered a funny story by a friend of mine.
He told me in his office where people always in rush, they often have to have their breakfast in the office.
But he said, "Never leave any food un-watched on your desk, it will disappear as soon as you turn your head back!"

So his story began, his sandwich was missing that day. He was unlucky. When he was about to eat his sandwich, the boss called. When he back, the sandwich including the plastic wrap gone........., just gone, without leaving any trails.

He said during that month he lost his breakfast 4 times. That morning, he bought a sandwich in the canteen at the basement. He saw a 'local sandwich' - a spread of coconut jelly (in green color) on bread. A naughty think popped up on his mind, he bought it and planned to make a 'mouse trap'.

Silently, on his desk he spread wasabi on top of the coconut jelly and then put bread back. Pretending need to go to the toilet, he left the trap on the desk.

And................, big smile! The mouse ate the trap. He waited patiently and looked around, a friend of him came out from the toilet with a red nose! That is the 'mouse' he..he..he....

You know, wasabi is a green paste that has a hot taste. If you take it too much, it will directly hit your nerve in your nose!

A DATE IN A SUSHI RESTAURANT

Had a date with my love one last Saturday. Since early afternoon that day, I really wanted to eat sushi. Any kind of sushi has flied in front of my mind disturbing my day.........huh! Producing more saliva..........oh no!

After work, quickly I called my love one, ask him if he can go out for dinner together. Sometimes, he has already had arranged an agenda for us. Luckily, he did not!

Arriving there nearly 20.00, we ordered sushi & tempura. As an opening food we chose Gomae, kind of vegetables with sesame seed sauce. I had a hot ocha and my love one preferred to have a lemon tea.

Not long after we had our first bites of our sushi, a couple went in. Quiet young. They sat opposite of our table, a bit in a cross direction. I have a very clear view towards that young couple.

I noticed since entering the restaurant, the man kept on talking on his cell phone. After finish with one conversation, he continued with another new conversation.

He..he..he..., about half an hour, my love one started to pay attention, since the voice of the man of that young couple raised.

My love one turn his face back and for seconds observing the young couple. Then, he whispered........, "If I'm being the date.........., I will already leave him!"

I smiled at him, and explained if the girl seemed like dictating what to say to the man, so she is also involved indirectly in that looooooooooong conversation!

We hardly hold our laugh......since the man started to use idioms and wise words in his conversation, he had a dispute with the person he talked to, and tried to sort things out.

Oh man.........! If we really look our surroundings, we can find many things that actually can save us from bored.

TAMARILLO JAM

Yesterday, was the first time I tasted tamarillo. I like it, sour and a bit sweet taste.
Cultivated a lot in the mountain area of Bali like Bedugul and Kintamani.
Costs Rp. 7.500 / kg, I got the feeling that it is a bit expensive the price we paid yesterday!
I should check next time when I have a chance going up again.

I bought 2 kgs of tamarillos. Stealing one to taste for the first time, the rests I peeled, took out the seeds and scoped the fruit. Chopped it roughly - I used hand blender. I added 600 grm of sugar + one stick of cinnamon, and started to simmer it.

After nearly 40 minutes, I got a beautiful thick tamarillos jam. It has a very beautiful red color, and taste yummy!

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!