there are so much to say about this trip... it's one of the most wonderful times i've had. but the details are not exactly something i would share to public, sorry to say. but of course, i would share with you the rest of the bangkok pictures. i do love the city and its friendly citizens. it's quite a well-maintained city, where all the historical places and tourist attractions are taken care of in such a manner that it still stands for us to admire the beauty. shopping is heaven (if only i brought an extra bag.. hiks) and i just love the fact that there's always a fresh fruit in every corner sold by the street vendors. i also finally had a chance to meet enda, nita, and gaga, after several years of correspondent through chatting, email or blog. it was nice seeing you guys, and thanks for taking your time to meet me!
all i know, this could be one of my last trips i'm taking this year as i don't have anything else planned, at least till end of the year. although i know i still have my two-weeks mandatory compliance leave that i have to take before the year ends, i'm still not sure if i would use this two-weeks to travel.. but knowing me, most likely i'd figure an exciting & unique travel destination to go to.. :)
in the meantime, i'm preparing myself for an abundant of work for the next three months. maybe by the time it all ends, i'm sooo in need of travel and before i know it, i'd have my bags packed along with my camera somewhere in a different continent. who knows? ;)
so, just enjoy the pictures, will ya?
regards, :: sLesTa
>> posted on 7/24/2006 05:08:00 PM | [
]
:: Saturday, July 22 ::
>> WEEKEND TAG
she has tagged me in her blog. so since it is weekend, why don't i go ahead and try to post them...
4 of my all time favourite dishes: - asinan / rujak - pempek - anything in "belado" sauce - any kind of salad in balsamic vinegerette dressing
4 websites i visit daily (emails don’t count): - kompas online - detik online - my office website - my own website (and of course.. more.. other people's blog, that is.. )
4 places i’d rather be right now: - singapore (or anywhere as long as he's there with me :)) - new york - vacation resort - my own bed
as you may know, i'm back from another trip. but since i'm too lazy to upload the pictures, i probably wouldn't post it until a little later.
[ BOOKS ] in the meantime, like many of my trips, i always accompanied by great books. throughout my trips, it's either i'm involved reading book(s), stole every moment i get in between the travel, or i also come home bringing a bunch of them. from my recent week-trip to bangkok, i actually finished 2 books and am currently finishing another i've started at the end of the trip!! since the books are good reads, i might as well review them.
"the five people you meet in heaven" by mitch albom yes! following my recent read of the author's first book, i moved on to his second one. and of course, it's just great. i don't think i need to review it anymore as most of you have read them.. and if you don't.. well, just pick up a copy. it's a quick read for me, as the book is not a thick one, at least for my reading habit. so it took me only 1 day to finish it.
"empress orchid" by anchee min i read this author's other book, titled becoming madame mao a while ago and i was really impressed with the detailed information and historical values of the chinese culture and the tale of a chinese women who holds a high place as a wife of a chinese famous leader, mao tse tung. empress orchid, however, tells a tale of a girl whose extraordinary look and talent landed her in the kingdom as one of the emperor's concubine, and then became one of the most powerful empress. it was based on the real historical information and i just can't take the book down when i was reading it. i found myself stealing some moments to read it everytime i could in between my travel time.
"the devil wears prada" by lauren weisberger i know about this book since it first came out. i was still in new york then and this book was a big hit. it actually came out during my obsession with classic literary books period that i didn't think i would read this popular book yet. even when i flipped to every copy when i visited the book stores back in new york or in jakarta or even in singapore and kuala lumpur, i still didn't buy a copy. then i heard this book was now adapted to a movie. well, even then i thought i'd just watch the movie. but then i realized, the book must be good to be made to a movie. so i figured i should just read the book, cuz it must be much better than just watching it in the movie. so i finally bought a copy in bangkok. now i'm still reading it. i'm half way done through the book and although i know that this is an international best seller, i'm just getting annoyed on how the author portrays her boss. i knew when i was in new york, work CAN be as hard as described, but i just find it a bit too much. though i think it should be fun if i read it when i was still working there, cuz i'd probably relate more to the character in the book. but as figured, this is a popular chick-lit, so i don't really expect any enlightment comes out of it, especially i'm more into a historical-novel kind of a reader. so let's see how it goes when i finish it.
[ JAKARTA DAILY PHOTO BLOG ] since i'm back, jakarta has been shaken by 2 earthquakes, not to mention another earthquake & tsunami tragedy in pangandaran. my heart goes out to the victims and their family, deepest condolences to anyone who effected by this tragedy. the most recent earthquake happened yesterday evening in jakarta and its surrounding areas. i was able to capture the moment of panic in my office building and you can read it here.
since a month ago, i have joined jakarta daily photo as a "back-up" contributor and i'm honored to be given the invitation. i don't post my photo as regular as santy, the main contributor, who happens to be an old friend from high school. she has done a great job taking pictures and posted them on the site in a regular basis. i've put the link in my pikofdawik page for easy reference. so, please check it out, daily!
regards, :: sLesTa
>> posted on 7/20/2006 03:32:00 PM | [
]
:: Tuesday, July 18 ::
>> DEAR YOU..
dear you,
people say true love comes when you least expect it.
people say true love appears when you weren't looking.
people say true love hurts as it is fulfilling.
dear you, i agree.
but if you ask me, my answer is simple.. because it is with you..
luv, me
:: sLesTa
>> posted on 7/18/2006 07:08:00 PM | [
]
:: Wednesday, July 5 ::
>> COUPLES
[first couple] guy, 21 years old, barely out of college, still living off of his parents' money, get monthly allowance and tuition money though sometimes get a part-time job to prove that he can make money, live abroad
girl, 21 years old, just graduated from college, still looking for a job of her dream, still get monthly allowance from her parents till she can get on her two feet, live abroad
they started a relationship for a year before the two decided to get married, regardless their current condition, in the name of love (oh also because she got knocked-up, though according to both it justifies their love to each other, regardless).
[second couple] guy, 25 years old, graduated with good grades off a scholarship in a prestigious coLlege, got a good job in a foreign bank and has been working for more than a year, still pursue the career, has earn enough for a living, but not yet stabled. has been independent most of his life since his dad passed away when he was still in high school, has a young sister, live in a different city from his family
girl, 24 years old, graduated from a good school, had trouble looking for a job, but finally landed a good job in a local bank and has been working there for several months, live with her parents
they were together since college and had 4 years relationship. they decided to get married because they felt that they have settled and want to pursue life together.
[third couple] guy, 29 years old, had a master's degree and couple of years work experience during college, currently active looking for a job that support his career, still living off his parents, live in his parents' house
girl, 23 years old, still in the last year of college education, never work in her entire life, live with her parents, still get monthly allowance
they have been together for more than a year and been engaged for 6 months, more or less. though the guy is still struggling to settle for a job and earn his own living, they will be married soon because the girl's parents want her to be married, regardless if they would still be living off the parents' afterwards.
[fourth couple] guy, 32 years old, has a good promising career. already settled financially, and still pursue his ambition professionally and enjoy his life to the fullest. he has a demanding job which requires him to travel a lot, mostly abroad for certain period of time.
girl, 27 years old, a good professional. very ambitious of her career and have been independent most of her life. though still lives with her parents, she has settled financially. she has a good promising career and nothing would stop her to pursue it to the highest level. she enjoys her life and secure with herself.
after a long courtship, the two finally found themselves in a relationship. though both really love each other, they also love their career. they both know that of each other and they both support each other. they do want to settle down and start family together, but like what they do best, they take their time to analyze and prepare things... because they know this is a serious decision that would impact their life. they want to prepare things slowly but surely!
[fifth couple] guy, 33 years old, has a company of his own. he's quite successful with his business and have settled financially. though still lives with his parents, it is his choice. he wants to find a girl and settle down. he was so involved to build his company that the idea of 'marriage' was never a priority on his list until now.
girl, 29 years old, a senior in her firm and loves what she does. she's very family oriented and soo ready to settle down. though she really enjoys her life and her career, she knows that she wouldn't mind to give them all up, if the right person comes along.
the two met occassionally and became good friends. both find comforts with each other. the guy has feelings toward her but thought she was too independent for him. he wants someone who would settle down with him and not so career-minded. and deep down, the girl likes him too. she adores him and occassionally dreams to be his wife. but the guy never made a move. instead, he started going out with another girl, who's younger, fresh out of college, never work in her entire life and her only wish is to be a housewife. the girl is crushed when she found out because what he doesn't know is that she would give up everything just to be with him.
[all characters are fictional, the similarities that may appear to someone you know are definitely pure coincidence]
these are the pictures of couples i see around me. honestly, it still puzzles me. the idea of 'marriage' somehow means different things to people. i see people get married (and divorced) so often these days. married at a young age then divorced at a young age. i know people have different values in life and they made their decision based on different things. i don't say that any of them are wrong or correct, though i may disagree to some. i just criticized their view to the sacred of marriage and to some, their understanding to the importance of marriage. when different views are placed to the importance of marriage, they find divorce as an easy option to take when it has gone south. i wonder whatever happened to "till death do us part". maybe they should change the vow now.
ps: hey.. whaddaya know.. i'm going outta town again the whole next week to visit the town where thiscouple currently resides. so please pardon me on the lack of updates.
i know about this book since it first came out. i was still in new york then and this book was a big hit. it actually came out during my obsession with classic literary books period that i didn't think i would read this popular book yet. even when i flipped to every copy when i visited the book stores back in new york or in jakarta or even in singapore and kuala lumpur, i still didn't buy a copy. then i heard this book was now adapted to a movie. well, even then i thought i'd just watch the movie. but then i realized, the book must be good to be made to a movie. so i figured i should just read the book, cuz it must be much better than just watching it in the movie. so i finally bought a copy in bangkok. now i'm still reading it. i'm half way done through the book and although i know that this is an international best seller, i'm just getting annoyed on how the author portrays her boss. i knew when i was in new york, work CAN be as hard as described, but i just find it a bit too much. though i think it should be fun if i read it when i was still working there, cuz i'd probably relate more to the character in the book. but as figured, this is a popular chick-lit, so i don't really expect any enlightment comes out of it, especially i'm more into a historical-novel kind of a reader. so let's see how it goes when i finish it.
