Happy 24th Birthday For Me!

First of all, sorry for the very late writing to you. 

So, let’s greet me a Happy 24th Birthday!

Another year added in my life, another new page to go, another wish I pray, and another moment I spend.

How was my feeling? I just could call this birthday “perfect”. The second best birthday in my life. The first one was my sweet 17th which my parents gave me a celebration party and this year was the second which I spent with my beloved one, hopefully my future partner.

Birthday for me these recent years came as more special thing than my past years when I was in school because there’s always school holidays on my birthdays. So, for me, birthdays was just holidays. When I went to college, I got those simple celebrations from my friends and I just felt those things were enough. Then, came to this working life, the three birthdays in my working life, I got simple celebrations from my colleagues then some of bestfriends, I thought, these were more than enough.

How could be more perfect that I could celebrate this 24th birthday with my partner, the only birthday I ever spent with someone special, important, loves me and not my part of family. I was just so speechless. The things just felt perfectly for the whole day as it’s was just my day, the only day in a whole year that I received lots of messages, greetings, prayers, wishes, cares, and loves from the people and him beside me. So, I think you know how much he means for me now.

Actually for a long distance relationship, I don’t hope for any romantic birthday celebration with him because I know how busy he is and we just met two weeks ago and gonna meet again the next month after that, so I never think he gonna make it on my day. Beyond my thinking, he came to celebrate together, he came two nights on his busy schedule just for my birthday.

Don’t you think how sweet he was ops he is. :p Maybe other men are going to do the same thing and thats maybe ordinary things that a man will do for his girl. Why is it so special for me? It’s because he did something beyond my expectation. That’s the most important thing for me when a man can do something you daren’t expect because you’re afraid it gonna hurt you. It likes you just expect good but he gives you better even the best he can do for you without you even asking. That means you deserve the best of him, how much you mean to him, and how much he loves you.

Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money but you cant get more time. Time is free, but its priceless.

Two weeks before my birthday was his birthday, so were not on the same zodiac :p I went to his place and celebrated the special day with him and gave him 3 round surprises ;) It’s not I’m romantic girl but it’s just kind of my expression. Haha... But, he surprised me more, the speechless thing beyond my imagination that night. What is that thing? Ssttt.. I gonna keep it secret until the time comes. :p so be patient.

This year’s birthday started with a random number I got in a deposit counter, its 97 for 9th July :D Then, he came with icecream birthday cake, my bestie asked him to buy it for me, oohh how sweet she was, it was my last year’s wish. Thank you imut, you know who you are. My cutie pie niece to be also gave me some birthday gifs, a pair of hello kitty home sandals, cute kitty clock, and how surprise when I got the mickey frame, that frame I ever wanted but didn’t buy. We had lunch at Din Tai Fung for prawn dumplings spinach noodle, my favorite xia long bao, shrimp dumplings, and tofu mushroom. He treated me like child by asking me to order all the food I want for lunch.

For birthday dinner, we went to Enmaru The Altitude where located on 46th The Plaza Building. Dresscode for my birthday night was lady in black :p I loved my face at that night, rise and shine. I told him I had one wish for my birthday gift this year. He asked me what it was. I answered him, “My wish is so simple. No handphone for dinner. Just the two of us talking, you and me, and we enjoy the beautiful view from sunset to the dark night.”

For the long distance relationship, as my experience, talking face to face is the very most important thing to do. The feeling will be so different when we’re texting, calling, even videocalling. So, for my birthday gift I just want 2,5 hours from him to place me in his whole mind, no other thing beside me.

The Japanese cuisine at Enmaru was worth the price accompanied with wonderful ambience and we sure gonna be back. The last surprise from him was my dessert, I got matcha chocolate lava cake on a “Happy Birthday My Dear Chaipao” wording on the plate. Though his request, the kind chef gave the dessert free for my birthday. Arigatou, Enmaru Chef.

So, my birthday was just so perfect, too sweet, and precious moments to be remembered.

Thank you to the people who send messages, greetings, wishes, prayers, cares and loves.

Thank you for the gifts and celebrations.

Last but not least, thank you for your attendance dear and thank you for making it perfect, it means priceless for me. 

I got myself this unique ring, summer in paris with my name inside,.

Ir's a wrap of my 24th Birthday

Lady in black

Simple birthday celebration from my colleagues

Some random thinking in raining moment

Jakarta, beberapa hari terakhir ini diguyur hujan deras. Aneh, bulan apa sekarang ini? Bukankah kebanyakan negara sudah memasuki musim panas, seharusnya Indonesia memasuki musim kemarau, namun beberapa hari ini hujan deras membasahi ibukota. Sekarang ini aku sedang duduk di coffee shop dan di luar sedang hujan deras.

Mari memulai random thinking :p

2 tahun 4 bulanan sudah kuhabiskan di kota ini, kota yang penuh dengan kemacetan, banjir tahunan, dan kesibukan yang tiada hentinya. Bisa dikatakan aku betah, bisa juga tidak. Ada hal-hal tertentu yang membuat betah dan tidak, bukankah demikianlah kehidupan. Berpisah dari orang-orang dekat adalah satu hal yang membuatku tidak betah. How could I say? It doesn't feel like sad but empty. That's the real feeling. Emptiness. When you are alone in this big city. Pagi berangkat kerja, sore pulang kerja. Kamu tetap sendiri. Apa-apa dilakukan sendiri. Pulang kembali ke kos juga sendiri, tidak ada orang yang bisa ditemui. Tidak ada keluarga yang bisa ditemui setiap harinya. Rasanya kosong. Senantiasa diliputi kesendirian dan kesibukan yang membuatku bertanya apa yang kukejar. Is this all I want?

Sekarang, aku tahu apa yang kuinginkan dalam hidupku dan mungkin menjadi keinginan banyak orang. Mungkin aku sudah terbiasa menjalankan kehidupanku sekarang, untuk beralih ke hal yang baru bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah untuk dilakukan, butuh proses dan terlebih lagi butuh kesiapan mental dan hati untuk memulainya. Aku berharap apa yang kuputuskan adalah jalanku dan yang terbaik untukku. Semua hal yang kutukarkan pantas untuk hal yang berharga itu. Meski untuk sekarang banyak yang mengatakan aku terlalu cepat mengambil keputusan itu, but I've decided it. Aku yang akan menjalaninya dan aku bersyukur memiliki orangtua yang memberikan kepercayaan penuh bagiku untuk membuat keputusan. Saat aku bertanya, mereka hanya menjawab, ini hidupku, aku yang akan menjalaninya, keputusan berada di tanganku, dan mereka hanya bisa mendoakan yang terbaik.

Bagaimana rasanya bertemu dengan seseorang yang benar-benar asing dalam hidupmu namun dalan seketika kamu merasa kamu sudah mengenalnya lama. Itu yang kurasakan saat ini. Maybe it's called fate or whatever. Yang terpenting bukan frekuensi tapi kualitas. Sosok orang yang kubutuhkan ada padanya. Dia memperlakukanku dengan baik dan membuatku merasa berharga, senantiasa berada saat mood ku sedang baik atau buruk dari ribuan mil di sana, dan melakukan hal yang tulus padaku. Apa lagi yang kutuntut lebih dari itu. Emosiku yang suka meledak, kata-kata tajam saat kesal, bahkan sisi rapuhku dia mampu menerima semuanya. He's not perfect but he's enough for me. Apa yang kubutuhkan dari seorang partner berada pada dirinya. Motivasi, semangat, penghiburan, dan kasih sayang kudapatkan dari dia. Sebenarnya hal-hal seperti itu sangat simple, hal biasa yang dibutuhkan oleh semua wanita. Namun, tidak semua hal biasa yang dilakukan itu tepat pada semua orang. That click and fate still matter I think. Saling menerima itu sangat penting bagiku. Aku bisa menerimanya, dia bisa menerimaku, dalam segala hal, baik buruk, itulah fungsi dari seorang partner kehidupan. Dear you, thank you so much and I miss you so bad.

11th Month in 23rd

Hey, dear. pardon me for a week late...

Quite busy nowadays because I got lot things to do..

The first week I had my short getaway to Jogja for Vesak trip. This year was quite better than last year. I visited Gua Pindul, Merapi, Prambanan, and culinary trip for this visit. Lots of fun and precious moments. I had lot of photos on my facebook.

The second and third week lots of things to do but can't actually describe what exactly I was doing, such a little confused. 

The last week I had gathering with high school friends. 

Actually this month was half happy and half confused especially that thing. I decide not to take care anymore and let it flows, if there's nothing changes then I think I should let it go.

So, let's see then...

I'm so excited welcoming the second week of my last month :) see you ahead...

Back to Borobudur on Vesak Day 2558BE/2014

Hey, dear! Sorry for the late sharing...

Tahun ini aku kembali lagi ke Borobudur untuk merayakan Waisak. Yah, sepertinya Waisak tahun lalu belum cukup membuatku jera atau karena tujuan lain. Apapun itu, aku kembali bersama ribuan orang merayakan hari trisuci ini. Tahun ini, aku tidak mengikuti keseluruhan  acara karena aku baru tiba di Jogja sore hari sementara prosesi sudah dimulai dari siang. Pesawat ku menunda landing selama setengah jam karena Wapres ingin landing, berputar diantara awan-awan rasanya membuat kepalaku pusing. Setelah landing dan bertemu dengannya, kami sudah dijemput oleh karyawan hotel tempat kami menginap selama dua malam. Dia sungguh ramah dan membantu kami memperoleh undangan dan idcard peserta yang didapat dari Mendut untuk mengikuti prosesi di Borobudur. Prosesi tahun ini sama seperti tahun lain, dimulai dari Mendut pada pukul 14.00 kemudian dilanjutkan ke Borobudur pukul 19.00. Perjalanan ke Magelang ditempuh hampir 2 jam karena kondisi cuaca hujan deras. Tiba di Borobudur, hujan masih setia membasahi bumi Magelang. Kami memutuskan mengisi perut di warung seberang candi. Kami memesan nasi pecel dengan telur, dua tempe bacem, dan nasi soto ayam, dua teh manis panas, dan dua botok aqua dengan total harga 42 ribu rupiah, cukup murah.

Acara mundur sejam, baru dimulai pukul 20.00 dan dihadiri oleh Wapres dan gubernur. Tahun ini untuk mengikuti acara malam Waisak dibutuhkan undangan. Tenda nya pun berbeda dari tahun lalu. Panggung untuk perayaan berada di bawah candi disertai tenda mengingat cuaca yang senantiasa hujan. Selepas acara malam Waisak dilanjutkan dengan acara aliran di masing-masing tenda yang sudah disediakan. Tahun ini, aku kembali mengikuti acara di tenda Theravada. Setelah sekitar 1 jam lebih acara di tenda, aku kembali ke jalan utama untuk naik ke candi. Di pintu masuk sudah dipenuhi banyak orang, sebagian memegang undangan, sebagian tidak, sehingga cukup berdesakan. Untuk yang memiliki idcard peserta didahulukan, kemudian yang memiliki undangan, dan urutan selanjutnya yang tidak memiliki keduanya. 

Mungkin tahun depan sebelum pintu masuk sudah dibedakan jalurnya antara prioritas yang memiliki idcard peserta, undangan, dan yang tidak memiliki keduanya serta jalur untuk para bhikku sehingga tidak menyatu smuanya di depan pintu utama yang membuat kacau jalur dan acara terlambat dikarenakan akses jalan para bhikku untuk ke halaman candi sama dengan pengunjung. Meski tahun ini lebih teratur dibanding tahun lalu namun desak-desakan tetap terjadi dikarenakan ketidakjelasan prioritas utama yang masuk ke candi untuk prosesi menyambut detik waisak sehingga semua orang sudah berkumpul di depan pintu utama menuju candi.

Detik waisak tahun ini jatuh pada pukul 02.00 dini hari dimana saat itu diadakan meditasi kemudian dilanjutkan doa masing-masing aliran yang seharusnya dilangsungkan sebelum detik namun ditunda karena akses para bhikku terhambat menuju candi.

Prosesi Waisak ditutup dengan pelepasan lampion yang sudah kami beli sebelumnya dari panitia penyelenggara seharga seratus ribu rupiah yang dana nya akan disumbangkan. Prosesi Waisak berakhir sekitar pukul 4 lebih. 

Untuk pulang ke hotel dikarenakan tadi kami belum tahu lokasinya sehubungan dengan di-drop langsung di candi tadinya, kami memutuskan untuk menggunakan jasa ojek sebesar lima puluh ribu rupiah untuk dua orang, mungkin ini rate lebih mahal dari biasanya mengingat saat itu subuh sehingga kami tidak menawar harga. Sekitar 10 menit kurang kami tiba di hotel dan langsung tepar karena kecapean.

Overall, it's good being here, Borobudur, celebrating Vesak especially with you.

PS : You can see the other photos on my facebook :)

10th Month in 23rd

Konichiwaaaa dear :)

How do you do?

I'm feeling not so well, yeah my old sickness, the gastric's angry again...

I'm taking my full rest writing this to you because it's public holiday, labor day :)

My holiday in Japan was so fantastic and awesome, dear, I've shared to you from that post, but don't worry though i fell in love with sakura, you're always in my heart :p

So, my first week, I give one word to it "perfect". The second and third one, I  was assigned for the tasks again but this time is at Jakarta, so I'm not going anywhere until the end of May, maybe. :D

The third week, I was having the daily tasks then after work, I went to gym center, because I planned to take atthasila in the 4th week but unlucky me, my gastric annoyed me, so hmm I just taking vegetarian through 4th week for about 10 days then I am going to have two weekend escapes in a row.

I should prepare my body, keep healthy to spend duo weekend. What's my destination this time? Secret. I'll let you know if I've already written down. So, be patient and see you ahead :)

Sakura, I’m falling in love with you since we first met.

I was so excited for my spring trip to Japan with my friend, Fanseptiani. My departured flight was 11.30 pm via Garuda Indonesia. The flight was good after some hectic things happened during the flight, Fansep, you know what I mean :p After 7 hours flight, we arrived at Osaka around 8.30 a.m. local time. Felt so happy at that time. The cold wind welcome us and our tour guide Mr. Acong, Chinese Malaysian, greeted us warm good morning. The bus fetched us, then we started our first visit place. The Osaka Airport was at other island, that’s Japan dude, built airport on made-island. First place we visited was Osaka Castle Park, this place was stunning in the spring, beautiful sakura everywhere, just got an hour more to walk around here, took some photos. But unlucky thing happened, me and Fansep, got lost in this large park. We took around the park once again to find way back because no Japanese know English even we just asked for “parking bus”. We were late for half an hour and whole bus nagging. That was really unlucky thing for the first day with people you would spend time for a week ahead. Those aunties keep nagging and talking about our lost. Hello, auntie? We even didn’t mean to get lost, that’s because when we asked Japanese for the way, they told us wrong, we didn’t mean to be late. I just wanna scream that statement when they keep nagging, Thanks God, my mom isn’t talkative like those aunties haha. We really didn’t take care of those bla bla things. :p We had lunch at Chinese Restaurant which had so so taste, then we were dropped to hotel (Aka Namba Washington Hotel Plaza) for rest and free time. Across our hotel was Doutonburi Street and continued to Shinsaibashi which was hectic shopping street in Osaka. We ate till drop there, lots of street food at Doutonburi Street and we shopped lot of Japanese snack at the supermarket because it costed cheaper then tourist center :p First we tried octopus okonimiyaki 550 yen but the taste was damn good. Second, we ate the famous snow crab costed quite high couple bite of crabs for 700 yen. The next one, we tried the well known crispy shrimp burger at Lotteria for 290 yen, so cheap :p. Then we took around the street for sightseeing. Becuse of cold wind, we decided to have dinner at Yoshinoya. I ordered set of Salmon and beef teriyaki for 545 and Fansep ordered beef suki chili bowl for around the same price, cheaper than in Indo haha. Then, as said, there’s always room for dessert, we had dessert, chocolate ice cream parfrait for 640 yen at local coffee shop near Doutonburi Street. Then, we went to supermarket hunting for Japanese snack. When we were on our way back to hotel, we saw a local Osaka resto, can you guess, we continued to eat the unagi satays, duck satays, and several kinds of satays which was baked with olive oil. Osaka made us a little bit fat I think for the first day :p

I was here! Osakaaaa

Kenrouken Garden

Kiyomizu Temple

Sakura

@ Osaka Castle Park

Osaka Castle Park

OSAKAAAA

After the good morning greeting from Osaka, we continued to another town, Kyoto, via Shinkansen the most speedy train. Distance between Osaka and Kyoto is around 75 km and it took only 15 minutes. First visit was Kiyomizu Temple, the big and well known temple in Kyoto. We prayed and bought the amulets at that red temple. Along was to Kiyomizu area, we found small shops selling souvernirs and snacks both side of our way. But we prefered to take photos with the temple and sakura, sightseeing made our time up for shopping. But lucky me, I bough matcha ice cream cone to try and that’s yummy. I always love ice cream. We had lunch at local buffet restaurant, then went to Lake Biwa which was the largest lake and had a love sign :D Then we spent the night at Kanazawa, Kanazawa New Grand Hotel Annex. The hotel was good and they served delicious western food for dinner. After dinner, Fansep and me walked around the city,the shopping centers was closed at 8.00 pm, so we just had sightseeing of the city. The small city that had lots of branded shops like fendi, lv, salvatore, and others. Wow, Japan :D Before we went back to hotel, we bought hot green tea at Starbucks, the green tea was much better than Indo :D

The Shinkansen

Selfie with Sakura @ Kiyomizu Temple

Kiyommizu Temple

Konichiwa from Kanazawa! The first for today was Omicho Market, one of the famous fish market in Japan. I bought several ingredients here like seaweed, miso soup, and etc. :D The second we visited one of the largest garden in Japan called Kenrouken Garden, lots of sakura here and the atmosphere was awesome :D I tried sakura ice cream here, never forget ice cream on my trip, and we tried egg filled with octopus at street stand near the garden. After that, we continued our trip to Shirakawago,ancient Japanese house, one of the world heritage, UNESCO, this place was awesome and so damn beautiful. The view made me so speechless and lucky us, we had lunch at one of local resto here. We got beef miso traditional Japanese set for our lunch and the taste was damn delicious. After lunch, we moved to Takayama, small city, saw the castle town Takayama. We prayed at a  Buddhist temple here, thank you for the chance :D The last stop was Ramen house, we saw the process of making ramen and tried their homemade ramen. Of course I bought several packs :D We spent the night at Hei An Hotel, Yamanashi, which has traditional Japanese home, no springbed, just tatami for sleep and we tried onsen, the hot water bathe for tonight, felt so good.

Kenrouken Garden

Shirakawago Village

Morning from Yamanashi, today we gonna visit Mt. Fuji, the giant mountain in Japan. There’s saying, if you’re lucky enough to see Mt. Fuji clearly, you’ll have another chance back to Japan. #fingercrossed. The Mt. Fuji was seen so clearly from Lake Kawaguchi but I only had the chance till first step because of the landslide. When the Fuji erupted, it produced five lakes with the biggest one Lake Ashi, we took sight seeing cruise to see the view around Fuji and the lake. I had udon set for the lunch near Gotenba, hurray. We continued to Hakone Peace Park, peace for the world, the park was so beautiful of sakura and so peaceful of Buddha statues. I felt I was so lucky having the chance prayed here though we should take express praying ya Fan :p The last place was Gotemba Factory Outlet, the luxurious shopping center, shop till drop here :p We spent the dinner at 48th level in a resto at Tokyo. Cheers for Tokyo! As usual, after we being dropped at hotel, we continued to walk around the city, shopped several souvernirs at local supermarket and ended at local standing sushi bar, Uogashi Nihon Ichi, near Shinjuku Area. The sushi was so cheap accompanied with sake and we really ate while standing because it was so small, that’s what they called standing sushi bar. Fyi, 10 pieces of sashimi costed 1200 yen and for two pieces of sushi around 160 yen. At Tokyo, the people understand English more or maybe because wer’re near office area too :p But, no need to worry, if the waiter at resto knows you’re not local, they will give you menu which has pictures of the food. How can’t I fall in love with this country, so polite, so care, and so awesome. We stayed at Sunshine Prince Hotel tonight.

Standing Sushi Bar @ Tokyo

Ohayo from Tokyo! Before we left Tokyo, we visited Asakusa Temple, the most famous temple in Tokyo for praying of course then last stop shopping at Nakamisme Avenue. Before lunch time, we already arrived at Disney Sea, the place where your dream comes true. We skipped lunch, only ate a shrimp bun packed with Donald Duck plastic, so cute, costed 480 yen. We tried several games here, Storm of Rider, Town of Terror, Temple of the Crystal Skull-Indiana Jones Adventure, and of course saw the fantastic parade like Easter in New York and the most fantastic parade the Legend of Mythica showed at the large lake, the center of Disneysea, so cool. Last dinner in Japan we had at Hanamasa and we tried Kobe Beef which was highly cost, 200 gr Kobe beef for 10.000 yen. Wow! But it tasted so good :D anyway couldn’t try it at other country, so it’s worth. We spent last night near Narita Airport, Marroad International Narita Hotel.

I only used wifi in hotels to connect and share my photos during traveling. And for some shopping centers and cafe, I payed with my creditcard (visa), but for some street shops like souvernir shops around temple, they couldn’t receive payment via creditcard. Let me tell you, you should visit Japan, it’s an awesome country and I hope I can get another chance to visit other cities of Japan. The culture, people, view, technology, cleanliness, politeness, uniqueness, Japanese snack, Japanese food, cute things, oh how i miss you Japan J and the last for the awesome Sakuraaaaa.

Thank you for my traveling partner, Fanseptiani Wijaya, thanks for our time together, our lost, our culinary experiences, our shopping time, our adventour time, and everything. Let’s pray we’ll get another chance to be back to this beautiful country.

Sayonara Japan! See you in another chance!

PS :

You can see my photos on my instagram (@liviasalim) or my facebook Livia Salim (https://www.facebook.com/liviasalim97).

Feel free to ask me about Japan, happy to share with you all.

9th Month in 23rd

Holla dear! How do you do? Hope everything going well... There's not so much special things this month.

1st week i went to Borneo again for my audit task and 2nd week I did my report. The 3rd week I had another task to do and preparing my business plan. I went to Bandung and felt the terrible traffic jam during the weekend and was so tired. I 'm feeling not delicious. The last week of this month i'm going to spend for my Japan trip, hope I'm getting well very soon for the spring trip. Can't waittttt. Finally fear, another dream comes true. Then, i gonna have some counting down ahead that make me so much excited. Two trips ahead in next month. 

Sure, i gonna share to you the cheery blossom trip and hope the sakura stil blooming because the full blossom was on last weekend. #fingercrossed. So, I guess you gotta wish me have a nice and wonderful trip. I'm excited to go and back because another counting is coming.

Hello April! Surprise me.