Hiatus

I’m taking a break for a while, still working on various things before I start writing again. Hope to be back soon.

Salad everyday

It's not hard to eat fresh salad everyday, especially when your favorite fruits are in season. Mangoes are in cheap abundance at this time of year. My favorite is Mangga Gedong Gincu. Not only they taste great but they make a pretty colorful salad too. For my evening meals, most of my carbs come from fruits and veggies. Typically my salad consists of lettuce/celery/blanched brocoli, tomatoes, cucumber, and mango/avocado/strawberry. It is served with olive oil (EVOO) and lemon salad dressing. It is very easy to make. Just mix all ingredients (crushed garlic, EVOO, pepper and salt, lemon juice) into a container with secure-able lid, shake vigorously until olive oil and lemon juice blend into one. After about 1 or 2 minutes of shaking, spread over any salad greens or a combo of veggies and fruits like mine!

Football addiction can be hard on a relationship

All English Premiere League addicts pay attention! Watching live football could be ruining your relationship. Don’t believe me? Then believe the case of a guy who now finds himself single due purely to football addiction. Do you believe sport is as real an addiction as anything out there today? I'd rather have my significant other addicted to football/car racing rather than addicted to porn, drinking or smoking. And I am not the type of person who needs to be accompanied 24/7. There are times when I like to do things on my own to, its called having space. What would you do in this situation? Would you leave your boyfriend/husband for his football addiction?

'Are Villa more important than our marriage? It's over': Wife dumps football fan husband with banner above main road

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:41 PM on 15th August 2008

The new Premiership season is barely underway but it seems one relationship has already crumbled under the strain.

One angry wife, no doubt tired of being placed behind the game, unfurled a banner above a busy main road asking her husband if his team was more important than her.

Apart from their first names, it is not known who the couple are, but judging by the tone of the banner the relationship is clearly over.

The 3 ft by 3 ft banner had the unfortunate message 'Jack, are the Villa really more important than our marriage? It's over, Jess' daubed over it in black paint.

The banner, situated on a busy commuter route near West Bromwich was seen by thousands of motorists who traveled along the route at rush hour seeming to refer to Jack's alliance to Aston Villa, who play their first Premiership game on Sunday.

Paul Brennan, a passing Aston Villa fan, said:'I love the Villa, but I always try and keep the Mrs sweet as well.

'This is a cruel way to break the news to him though, I don't know who they are or who has done what, but this is a certainly a harsh way today it.

'I hope it's not still there on match day - because they'll be thousands of people on the way to the game that will see it and most of them will be Albion fans around here so I'm sure they'll get a great laugh from it.'

One van driver, a West Bromwich Albion fan, added "You shouldn't make a man pick between his woman and his football team.

'I don't care who she is but he is better off without her - that's for sure.

'Most people around here are Albion fans so I wonder if she's a disgruntled Baggies supporter.'

Do you smell that?

Davidoff Cool Water

I have been busy getting the stock inventory done these past few days hence the lack of updates. Thanks to Therry who have reminded me to update my blog :)

I don’t know if it is just me or what but I have an uber sensitive nose, so I get headaches if I'm exposed to overwhelming odors for too long. There are some smells that I love such as - freshly cut grass, clean bed sheets, freshly baked bread and cakes, cooking aromas, coffee, fried onions, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, lavender, lemon grass, vanilla, pandan leaves to name a few.

Now, the smells that I detest in random order are gasoline/diesel emissions, durian, cigarette smoke, newly painted wall, those air fresheners for cars, stinky feet and stinky socks. What about you??? Name as many or as few smells as you love and hate! Thanks!

Playing with my new lens

One of the benefits of using DSLR Camera is being able to create the blur effect. I especially enjoy the effects colors have on each other and how they interact with the light and the background. I will share with you the following pics and hope you enjoy them.
Aromatherapy Oils from Eka Bali HomeSpa
Telor cicak camilan jaman doeloe
Frangipani

Three Women, One Man, and a Camera

The above title just to describe another kopdar (meeting offline) moment today at the Four Season's hotel. I had the privilege of meeting Anita and Ecky for the second time. Anita looks flawless as usual with her color-coordinated outfit match perfectly with her shoes and accessories. Ecky, the sexy gal from the blogosphere looks so fresh in orange color sundress . Toni, the photographer, armed with his camera and clear sky is having fun taking many great close up pics of Anita, we're joking that soon she'll be modelling for Gap Indonesia!

We chatted by the pool about camera, food, and current events. One of them is Anita shocking experience with an arrogant motorist who was so furious when the taxi that Anita and Stuart took, cut into the lane of the idiot's car (it is common here in Indonesia). Soon when the taxi reached at certain point, the snob motorist pulled out the gun to scare the taxi driver off. But thanked God the taxi driver chose to ignore the provocation. This story reminded me with a similar incident that created a headline just a couple of weeks ago where a certain idiot from govt. institution threatened another motorist with a gun on a busy road. Now gun possession is not a status symbol for criminals only but a number of irresponsible people misuse and abuse them too.

About an hour later Ecky showed up and soon Toni was busy with his camera again. All-natural girl Ecky is a natural in front of the camera. And Toni is a wizard behind it.

Toni si Toekang Potret

For the second time in a month I had the great pleasure of meeting Toni, a bloggy friend from Toni Wahid's Blog. The plan was Toni and I would head to the camera store (again!). Right, I was looking to buy a Canon 50mm/f1.4 lens for my EOS 450D, and at the same time would like to return the lens that he lent me. Toni knows a great deal about photography and can recommend shops where the staffs are helpful and knowledgeable, able answering both basic and advanced questions.

I've known Toni for a good while from blog-hopping several months ago. His passion for design and photography, combined with his love for the outdoors allows him a unique capacity for visual adventure storytelling. I’ve read dozens of his blog entries talking about gender equality and human development, traveling tips, his passion for photography and sharing his experiences. Aside from photography his other passions include coffee, wine and cooking.

Toni works at the American clothing chains. He is currently manages and develops the company’s community affairs and corporate social responsibility strategy (CSR). He has traveled extensively throughout Asia and North America, with a special interest in Women and Children issues and to help communities deal with the crisis. I once read, success can change people, so can money. With all of the achievement he has had today, he would have every reason to think highly of himself, but he remains humble and grounded. He is the same in person as he is on his blog. The best example of humility,professionalism and integrity. Being success did not change anything in his personality and life style, and this is what makes him so special.

Right from the start we found each other talked easily like an old friends. I don’t know if it is the fact that we’re both talkers, or just that we had a lot to say, but the conversation was constant and really fun. We discussed a lot about women issues, Indonesian literatures, street foods and old buildings in Bandung, I just kept hoping that I wouldn’t make a complete fool of myself, or spill the coffee on my shirt, LOL! I also learned a lot of tips and tricks about photography, although am a bit on the slow side when it comes to practice it. But thanks to Toni, my camera really feels like a part of me now. Everything is becoming second nature and I couldn't be happier! It’s so nice to be acquainted with someone who is so humble and down to earth but it’s even better having him as a friend. If you want to talk and learn about photography, Toni is where you go. Thanks for your friendship, Toni.

**The building sketch was drawn by Toni's daughter as you can see on Toni's flickr.

What's your blood type

There is a popular belief in Japan that a person's ABO blood type or ketsueki-gata is predictive of their personality, temperament, and compatibility with others, similar to the Western world's astrology. Each blood type has a personality profile as described below :

Type A:
While outwardly calm, they have such high standards (perfectionists) that they tend to be balls of nerves on the inside. Type A’s are the most artistic of the blood groups. They can be shy, are conscientious, trustworthy, and sensitive.

Best Traits: Conservative, introverted, reserved, patient and punctual. Perfectionists.

Worst Traits: Obsessive, stubborn, self conscious and uptight.

Famous As: George H. W. Bush, O.J. Simpson,Adolf Hitler, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon.

Blood type A’s tend to have more sensitive constitutions. Too much stress weakens their immunity more quickly than other blood types. Low stomach acid is common among blood type A’s even from birth, so special care should be taken when eating animal proteins.

Type B:
Goal oriented and strong minded, type B’s will start a task and continue it until completed, and completed well. Type B’s are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life.

Best Traits: Creative, passionate, animal loving, optimistic, flexible and individualistic.

Worst Traits: Forgetful, irresponsible, and self-centered.

Famous Bs: Akira Kurosawa, Jack Nicholson, Luciano Pavarotti, Tom Selleck, Mia Farrow, Paul McCartney, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Blood type B individuals tend to be balanced: thoughtful like A’s and yet ambitious like O’s. They are empathetic, easily understanding others’ points of view, yet often hesitating to challenge or confront. Chameleon-like and flexible, they make good friends.

Type AB:
Type AB’s are the split personalities of the blood groups. They can be both outgoing and shy, confident and timid. While responsible, too much responsibility will cause a problem. They are trustworthy and like to help others.

Best Traits: Cool, controlled, rational, introverted and empathic.

Worst Traits: Aloof, critical, indecisive and unforgiving.

Famous ABs: John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, Thomas Edison.

Blood Type AB - Tend to be very charming and popular. They don’t sweat the small stuff and can be seen as spiritual and even at times a bit “flaky”. Only about 2 - 5% of the population are blood type AB. There is never a dull moment in a AB’s life, so if you find one for a friend, consider yourself lucky! Youll enjoy some exciting times together! But like blood type A’s, AB’s react to stress poorly. They are stronger and more active than type A’s, but need to pay attention to stress levels so that they don’t compromise their immunity.

Type O:
Type O’s are outgoing, and very social. They are initiators, although they don’t always finish what they start. Creative and popular, they love to be the center of attention and appear very self confident.

Best Traits: Ambitious, athletic, robust and self-confident. Natural leaders.

Worst Traits: Arrogant, vain, insensitive and ruthless.

Famous Os: Al Capone, Gerald Ford, Mikhail Gorbachev, John Gotti, Queen Elizabeth II, John Lennon, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, Ronald Reagan.

Blood Type O - Tend to be loners or leaders and are intuitive, focused, self-reliant and daring. They handle stress better than other blood types and have strong immune systems, a well developed physique and a physically active nature. Blood type O’s tend to have sluggish blood flow and feel better with vigorous exercise for about an hour each day.

What's your blood type? Do you believe that blood types can tell what a person's personality is?

Which one do you like?

Suneo taken with Canon Telephoto zoom lens EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS
Suneo taken with Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM