This is a postscript related to my post on PICTURE PERFECT : Curves that got me the cool badge here
On May 29 for the first time ever in my life I made my way to Jatinegara Market, my friend Ingrid and I signed up for Jakarta International Community Centre monthly Gemstone Tour over there.
In our head we're expecting to learn a lot of things about gemstone, precious and semi precious one but little did we know that we were in for a big surprise
First of all, it was super HOT day ... the market is quite big with tin roof and stuffy air (thanks to the chain smoker vendors in it). Our tour guide, Otto, ushered us to one shop and start pointing out on several 'rocks' and told us how beautiful and how original it is .. all of us bought some 'rocks' ( there were 6 ladies in our group). Then he took us to the polisher (bunch of smoking boys) and we have to wait for our rocks to be polished and shine so we can have our gemstone ready for some kind of jewelery later on. He didn't tell us that we have to wait over 3 hours for such a tiny little stone (mine was tear shape Lapis Ladsuli) and we were all starving the moment our 'gemstone' ready. No time to pick a pendant or earing to have it custom made, we're back to Kemang for Indian food (arranged by the organizer) and that was our Gemstone Market Tour day.
Will I go back there again ? Don't think so. Was it interesting ? Yes, I made 4 new friends that day Also during those hot and stuffy waiting period I saw my 'Umbrella' Yup, there were soooo many of them, colorful on a hot sunny day, protecting the vendors and the 'gemstone' from direct heat. I only have my pocket Olympus with me but Mr Golden Sun made all the photos come out perfect, some pictures for you all to enjoy (Valerie and April were haggling the vendor for some magnet on the first 2 photos *grin*)
I had never been to a Baking Course ever in my life (apart from my college time where one of my subject was Food Production back in 1996) and I had a BLAST today.
Thank you Mbak Rita, for squeezing me in to join you in Pak Sahak's class today, you are awesome !!!
For all the ladies that were in my class today (16 ladies & 1 gentleman actually), was very nice meeting you all and looking forward to the next class .. learning with you all was a great experience
PS. Incase any of you wondering what we learn today, the results are in the picture, it was Opera Cake, Tiramisu, Black Forest Cake and Japanese style Puff Pastry with Chocolate Filling (Sus Jepang, please correct me if I'm lost in translation *grin*).
PPS. Gotta go pack my bag now, yaaayyy long weekend !!!
I love Sunset, collected so many sunset pictures from our travelling and one of my favorite is this one, taken recently with my Olympus MU720SW during our holiday in Punta Del Este, Uruguay last November. The sky was so clear that I can see it changing colors slowly, such a beautiful moment, felt like its just between me, the sky and the waves of the ocean getting ready into the night.
How I wish I'm back there again at this very moment.
PS. Picture Perfect theme this week is Into the Night, click to participate.
Once a year the German Embassy together with the ladies association and many sponsors will throw a Christmas Bazaar at Hyatt Aryaduta Jakarta, its always on the first Saturday in the month of December and well awaited for some (me and my friends .. hehe). If you are in town (next year) its a good place to start your Christmas shopping :)
My shopping list consist of advent calendar, lebkuchen & marzipan but you can find almost everything in this bazaar... one thing that is for sure, come early if you want to shop. The bazaar started at 3 pm but by 3.30 all the good things (especially Xmas goodies that is in my list) is gone.... SOLD OUT. We're there early (last year too.. with Ariel in stroller still, this year she's at home with Papi), got everything that I wanted.. yaaayyy !
Another main attraction is the food area, there are plenty of yummy German food to choose from.. typically, I ate like crazy ... hehe...
Some pictures to tempt you below....
The cakes corner... feast to my eyes :)
Lebkuchen yummmm...yummmmm ... my once a year indulgence...
Gluwine stand.. no wonder the AC was suuuuper cold !
Its packed every year, do come early
Our raffle tickets results :)
My 'sugar-indulgence' for the whole month of December
With a surface of 202 sq.km, Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is the largest city of the country and one of the most important in South America. Its boundaries are the Rio de la Plata to the east, the Riachuelo to the south and the Avenida Circunvalacion General Paz ring road in the North and West. Its population is about 3 millions in the Metropolitan area and 10 millions if including the Greater Buenos Aires area, a figure that makes it one of the 10 most populated cities on the planet.
It is the most European city of Latin America, a combination of Italian buildings, French parks, Large Spanish houses and together with the magic of tango, turned it into one of the world's most sophisticated metropolis.
For me, our trip to this city is an overwhelming experience, the busy street, the car horns, the beautiful buildings, the large park filled with people, the width of the Avenida 9 de Julio (world's widest avenue), the busy eateries, everything contribute to a sense of chaos but in a nice way... its warm & welcoming, I love every minute when I was there.
Here is compilation of some moments captured in Buenos Aires that is not characterized by area or neighbourhoods, its just us having fun (at BA Zoo, hotel, restaurant, family home and others) that's all that matter.
Enjoy :)
PS. Some pictures contained further information about the shot, just a click away....
From the epic day May 1810 up to the present, every important event that brings together this society takes place in this famous square. It is surrounded by historical buildings, and the Government House, Casa Rosada (the pink house), where the Argentine President governs together with the members of his (now is her) closest team. Then its also bordered by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Municipal Palace & also the old Spanish colonial Cabildo town hall.
Plaza de Mayo, as seen today, was redesigned by the French landscape artist Carlos Thays in 1900 but the May Pyramid, located in its center dates from 1856. The square is especially meaningful for the Argentinians since both the saddest and most glorious events of their national history took place here. Even now, demostrations in favor of or against different causes are either started or ended in Plaza de Mayo.
For any organizer, whether the President,a trade union or a social movement leader, 'filling the square' means success. One of the most remembered events in popular memory is Eva Peron's last speech from one of the balconies of the Government House.
* Text by deDios Editore ** Pictures by Miguel & Esti
A superb restaurant serving traditional Argentinian food, we went there couple of times and enjoy it very much. The staff are very attentive, the food is delicious, highly recommended.
On the first visit we tried their Asado for 2 persons, the portion was soooo big that we took the left over home with us. The second time Miguel told me about their speciality that on display which is Chivito (Kambing Guling). I truly enjoyed it, the meat was soooo tender it fell-off the bone the moment you touch it with your fork. It is a must try dish.
English menu available, good value for money.
Pictures below to tempt you....
My Chivito
This is how they make Chivito (kambing guling) Patagonian style.
A splendid restaurant located right by the river in Tigre, we had a superb Sunday brunch there. There's an option to sit inside & outside (this is where we sit), the weather was nice with slightly cool breeze. The service was very good, the food quality is excellent ... we had a great time.
For starter Miguel & I had Ensalada Verde (Green Salad) followed by Spaghetti al oglio with pepperoncini for me (highly recommended if you like spicy food, it was super yummy) and Beef Brochette for Miguel (deliciously big portion, you have to be hungry). We also had clericot (fruit salad with champagne) to drink .... no space for dessert, too full :)
Chivitos is Uruguayan for Yummy Sandwich, consists of lomo (very thin piece of meat), pancetta, boiled egg, lettuce, & sliced tomato... a quick fix for a hungry locals & tourists. Served with french fries, if you still have space in your tummy :)
This beautiful spot in Uruguay is amazingly beautiful in spring time, Miguel is soooo happy that we're here at this time of the year, the weather is perfect and based on his experience, almost nobody around compared to summer time. We get to places by car within minutes, walked on the street without rubbing shoulder to anyone and because of Ariel time curfew on meal time and sleeping time we end-up going to the restaurant quite early hence no line-up ever..... WE LOVE IT !!!!
The only problem is after the weekend, most of the nice restaurant are closed. We were lucky we tried everything that we want to eat the first couple of days we are there, when we went out on Monday the whole place felt deserted, most of the people we saw on the street or restaurants on the weekend already left. Hence no point for the restaurant owner to keep the place open. I want to go to couple of places that we tried since we had such a fab meal but they won't be open until the weekend.... arrrggggggghhhhhhh !!!
I thank God that I tasted some of the best food I've ever tried in my life, the memory will stay with me forever, looking forward for the next time I have the privilege to enjoy them again.
Situated at the heart of the port of Punta Del Este, it is a place where "who is who" dine-out. You have an option to sit facing to the ocean or facing to the sidewalk (this is where we sat). Their menu is huge but we do know what we want, Mejillones ala Provencal (clams cooked with butter,garlic & parsley)...DELICIOUS, we could eat lots of them !
For main course Miguel ordered a grilled fish with green salad, for me a bowl of fruity salad (consist of pineapple, green apple & heart of palm) and milanesa de carne (breaded beef) with fries for Ariel.
Our dessert was the famous pancake di manzana (apple pancake) served with vanilla ice cream... soooooo good, I hardly taste the dough... its pretty much sliced apple with caramelized sugar, crunchy and yummy :)
PS.English menu is available, good value for money.
My favourite spot in Punta Del Este for sinful afternoon snack, it is suuuuper delicious !!! You can have your churros plain or filled with chocolate or cream and of course ..... dulce de leche. I could eat 3 of them in one trip .... and still wanting to go back....(aaaaarrrrrggghhhhhhhh), to make it worse one of their shop is just around the corner (1 block away) from where we staying... soooo hard to resist and if I ate them I know they stay forever in my waist.
This particular stop is a must if you are meat lover like us. The restaurant inside decorated with hanging cured meat, their big grill (parilla) filled with different meat cuts & sausages.... guaranteed yumm, yummm !!!!
We were there on Sunday for lunch and the place is packed with families, there's line -up after 1 pm, lucky we came at the right time. For starter I had grilled Morsilla (blood sausage) and Miguel ordered Chinculin (Beef Tripe), followed by selection of cold cuts and then for main course Brochete Beef (skewered beef) for me and Baby Beef (Smallest Steak) for Miguel. We ate well for sure, even Ariel loves it. The quality of the meat was superb, I must admit, the best I ever taste in my life.
Highly recommended.
PS. English menu is available, good value for money.
Yes, we went to Cisarua Taman Safari... it was a great fun !
Ingrid and I spoke briefly after the Babies Gymbore class, they plan to go to Safari and we'll tag along. Since today is a first day of fasting it took us only 1 hour 15 minutes from Senayan, fantastic... no traffic at all :)
The pictures are self explanatory, we'll definitely go back there again soon.
Out of the blue, Mala & I took the girls to Monas today (National Monument). I never been inside,ever.... but glad I finally did today :) Its a huge complex with beautiful & (surprisingly) well kept garden, a comfortable shoes is a must since there's lots of walking involved, which we didn't realize until we're out from there, all sweaty and exhausted.
Will I go again ? Maybe for the sake of the exercise and open space (free sun-tan during day time),yes, otherwise once is enough.
This is a postscript related to my post on 
