Lost in Soulful Journey

This is it, the day 2 challenge is finally here. It was a hard one, tho. I need to keep my promise to keep up with this Zero to Hero thingy.

Do you like my new title?
Do you get my new tagline?

I really need a feedback.. I’ve been lost for sometime, finding and building an identity for this blog. This is my escape route from my routine and my reality. I found my other self while blogging here.

This blog is indeed a journey of mine. A journey that feed my soul to keep me alive. The first title of this blog is “and the heart isn’t unheard” which I love the most, and still use it as my tagline many time offline.

The second title, which was written just a couple of months ago is “pick your own dose of bitterness”. I choose that because of my writing express the stormy mood, so it is surely has a rhythm of bitterness on it.

After reading the Day 2 assignments, I roll my mind and rethinking my title and tagline. Mirroring all that I’ve post here, my mind then come up with a soulful journey….

That was my journey to finally make a whole new identity for my alter ego home. Hope you all as excited as I am now…
*cheers*

Marching March #SuperLatePost

Last march I went to Magelang and Bali for my university admission test. Nope, I am the examiner, not the participant. πŸ˜€

In Magelang, we had >200 participants, so we have to work harder but still had so much fun, while in Denpasar we only tested 48 participants… it was a holiday under cover.. πŸ˜€

here are some pics from my journey.. enjoy it!

11th March 2013

landed in Adi Sutjipto airport of Yogyakarta.. it was weird, you know, arrived in Yogya but couldn't stay there.. :(
landed in Adi Sutjipto airport of Yogyakarta.. it was weird, you know, arrived in Yogya but couldn’t stay there.. 😦

In Magelang, we spend the night in Grand Artos Hotel, such a lovely hotel that is in one building with grand artos mall. πŸ˜€

a View from my room in Grand Artos Hotel, Magelang, Central Java
a View from my room in Grand Artos Hotel, Magelang, Central Java
another great view from my hotel room
another great view from my hotel room

Magelang, 13th March 2013

delicious on-sale cake at Grand Artos Hotel
delicious on-sale cake at Grand Artos Hotel

Magelang, 14th March 2013

Little garden on the rooftop of Grand Artos Hotel
Little garden on the rooftop of Grand Artos Hotel
Relaxing near the pool
Relaxing near the pool
wise words in Mirota Batik's Rest Room - Yogyakarta.. just awhile before we went to the airport
wise words in Mirota Batik’s Rest Room – Yogyakarta.. just awhile before we went to the airport

I arrived in Bali on 18th March 2013 and stayed at Mercure Hotel just across Kuta Beach. What a wonderful Hotel with a wonderful view from the pool and the restaurant at the top floor.

Kuta, 18th March 2013

welcome to the sunny Bali!
welcome to the sunny Bali!
A garden in the lobby of Mercure Hotel at Kuta Beach
A garden in the lobby of Mercure Hotel at Kuta Beach

I have a really nice stay in Mercure Hotel at Kuta Beach, Bali

I have a really nice stay in Mercure Hotel at Kuta Beach, Bali

Beachwalk, a nice mall in Kuta
Beachwalk, a nice mall in Kuta
a statue in "Simpang Siur"
a statue in “Simpang Siur”

Kuta, 20th March 2013

a pool at the roof top, with Kuta beach as the grand view
a pool at the roof top, with Kuta beach as the grand view
breakfast at Mercure Hotel
breakfast at Mercure Hotel

Kuta Beach in the morning

Kuta Beach in the morning

Ubud & Jimbaran, 21th March 2013

-Ubud-
-Ubud-
Bentar Temple -Ubud-
Bentar Temple -Ubud-
we had to wear this sarong if we wish to enter the temple. nice one btw..
we had to wear this sarong if we wish to enter the temple. nice one btw..

Candi Bentar -Ubud-

Candi Bentar -Ubud-

still in Bentar Temple -Ubud-
still in Bentar Temple -Ubud-
-Ubud-
-Ubud-
Bentar Temple -Ubud-
Bentar Temple -Ubud-

after sunbathing in Bentar Temple, we went straight to bebek (Duck) Sawah Indah for lunch, unfortunately the service there took a long time and we were starving, but the view was magnificent!

The gate of Bebek Sawah Indah -Ubud-
The gate of Bebek Sawah Indah -Ubud-
having lunch in Bebek Sawah Indag, Ubud
having lunch in Bebek Sawah Indah, Ubud
charming view welcomes you in Bebek Sawah Indah -Ubud-
charming view welcomes you in Bebek Sawah Indah -Ubud-
Bebek Sawah Indah -Ubud-
Bebek Sawah Indah -Ubud-
le Me
le Me

-Bebek Sawah Indah-

-Bebek Sawah Indah-

reflection
reflection
ice tea for my hot body :p
ice tea for my hot body :p

Full tummy means happy body,, :p off to see the monkeys

a Monky in Ubud
a Monkey in Ubud
whadda naughty monkey! you know how to pick a girl, don't you?
whadda naughty monkey! you know how to pick a girl, don’t you?

Time for a farewell, we went to Jimbaran for Dinner but turns out that we have to wait longer for the sunset and it was very hot there before the sunset..

Jimbaran!
Jimbaran!
jimbaran at 5pm
jimbaran at 5pm

a bright sun. a shady beach

a bright sun. a shady beach

the life is starting at afternoon here
the life is starting at afternoon here
The sun is ready to set at Jimbaran
The sun is ready to set at Jimbaran
waiting for the sunset
waiting for the sunset
good bye, Sun! Good Bye Bali!
good bye, Sun! Good Bye Bali!

ps. all the pics are taken and edited in iPhone4s

See you in my next journey post..

can’t want to be in Makassar next May!

Love,
Tha Dark Jasmine

Happy Trip to Bandung

Last long holiday, I got invitation from Mr.J’s fam to spend my holiday in Bandung. Sayangkan jika undangan yang sangat bagus ini disia-siakan? Maka berangkatlah saya ke Bandung pada hari minggu pagi. Berangkatnya sih was-was, takut jalanan macet karena Bandung kan identik dengan macet, tetapi untungnya jalanan hanya ramai lancar. Kami hanya memerlukan waktu sekitar 2 jam untuk tiba di rumah keluarga di daerah Cijerah. Sampai di bandung bincang-bincang heboh dulu sebentar lalu lanjut ke Ciwangun Indah Camp.

Β – CIWANGUN INDAH CAMP

salah satu wahana
salah satu wahana

Disingkat dengan CIC, berlokasi di daerah Lembang, merupakan tempat outbond yang lumayan banyak di gemari di daerah Jawa Barat. Suasananya asyik, cocok untuk kegiatan outbond, tanahnya berbukit-bukit, pemandangannya bagus dan udaranya dingin. Fasilitas dan permainan yang ditawarkan juga cukup banyak.

three nature kids
three nature kids

Awalnya kami ke CIC hanya untuk survey, rencananya akan diadakan outbond pada hari senin, namun karena perjalanan ke sana yang cukup menaikkan adrenalin karena melewati jalanan sempit berbatasan jurang dan kejadian tanah longsor beberapa hari sebelumnya akhirnya kami memutuskan untuk bermain langsung saja di CIC. Ketika kami sampai di CIC sekitar pukul 14.30, kami disambut hujan yang cukup deras. Sempat kecewa memang, namun akhirnya kami memutuskan untuk tetap semangat dan mencoba flying fox hujan-hujanan. Untuk saya yang masih muda belia dan cantik jelita (dilarang protes) ini, flying fox memang sudah tidak menakutkan, sudah biasa malah, tapi hujan cukup membuat suasana hati ceria, tapi yang paling lucu adalah ketika meyakinkan para tetua untuk ikut main, yang akhirnya berhasil. Para tetua yang awalnya sangat takut mencoba tetapi ketika sudah sampai di tempat tujuan malah ketagihan dan ingin mencoba lagi, untungnya hari udah sore.. πŸ˜†

after flying fox
after flying fox bersama nenk Uti

di CIC kami memang cuma mencoba flying fox karena permainan yang lain sudah licin kena hujan, kami jadi malas dan memutuskan untuk melanjutkan perjalanan.

the view at CIC
raining at CIC

Perjalanan dilanjutkan ke Rumah Kayu Resto di daerah Pusdikajen, Lembang. Di rumah kayu itu kami mencoba cincau hijau yang sesuai dengan promosinya ternyata memang sangat lezat. Rumah Kayu Resto ini sangat nyaman, sesuai dengan namanya, dekorasi restorannya memang dominan terbuat dari kayu, disini juga dijual sayuran organik yang teknologinya berasal dari Taiwan. Menurut pengamatan saya, restauran ini sangat apik, dan suasananya membuat betah. Cincau yang saya coba juga rasanya sangat tajam dan tidak seperti cincau yang biasa nya saya coba, sangat segar! #bukanLebay.

Cincai di Rumah Kayu
Cincau di Rumah Kayu

Selain cincau, kami juga mencoba telur asinnya, tidak terlalu asin tapi lezat juga. πŸ˜€ Kemudian saya mencoba Tutut untuk pertama kalinya, ternyata rasanya sama saja dengan rasa kerang dara, cuma bentuknya aja yang sedikit menggelikan sehingga saya belum pernah berniat mencobanya sampai ditawarkan disini, yang membuat tututnya terasa lezat sebenarnya adalah kuahnya, kuah kari yang menggoda.

Tutut kuah Kari
Tutut kuah Kari

Kami juga mencoba pisang goreng keju yang merupakan pisang tanduk digorang dengan tepung yang sepertinya dicampur gula merah sehingga sangat empuk sekali dan tentu saja menggoda selera.. Saya merekomendasikan resto ini untuk dicoba, karena saya juga pengen banged balik lagi kesana. Udara dingin, tempat romantis, tidak terlalu ramai, makanannya lezat pula.. PAS! πŸ™‚

senja di Rumah Kayu
senja di Rumah Kayu

Selesai mengisi perut di Rumah Kayu, kerjaan sang perut ternyata belum selesai karena kami menuju tempat jualan ketan yang konon adalah makanan khas Lembang. Ketannya dibakar dan disajikan dengan serundeng, oncom dan saus kacang pedas. Ketannya memang lembut cuma menurut saya kurang garam sehingga kurang gurih dan sebenarnya saya lebih suka makan ketan pake durian, bukan oncom… maafkanlah lidah melayu saya ini.. πŸ˜†

Ketan Bakar
Ketan Bakar

Perut kenyang, hati senang.. Kami menuruni bukit menuju Cihampelas, katanya sih mau belanja, tapi ternyata itu adalah pilihan yang salah. Cihampelas meuni macet pisan! *sok-sokan pake bahasa sunda, maap kalo salah yak, namanya juga belajar…

DAY 2KAMPUNG GAJAH

Kampung Gajah Wonderland
Kampung Gajah Wonderland

Rencananya hari kedua ini kami mau berangkat ke Kampung Gajah pagi-pagi, tetapi manusia memang cuma bisa berencana, Tuhanlah yang menentukan. Ada sepupu yang keponakan suaminya meninggal sehingga kami harus menggeser jadwal dan menunggu sepupu lain yang tahu jalan ke Kampung Gajah. Akhirnya kami tiba di Kampung Gajah sekitar pkl. 10.00 dengan jalanan yang untungnya belum terlalu ramai. Ada sedikit keributan mengenai tiket masuk, ada yang mau tiket terusan, ada yang tidak. Akhirnya di putuskan para tetua tidak ambil tiket terusan karena toh mereka juga gak bisa main semuanya..

Cuaca kawasan Kampung Gajah
Cuaca kawasan Kampung Gajah

Tiket terusan yang seharga Rp 200.000 itu mengcover beberapa wahana, total dalam selebarannya adalah 19 wahana, sayang nya mereka tidak mencantumkan wahana apa yang tidak beroperasi pada hari itu sehingga kita berasumsi bahwa semua wahana bisa kita nikmati, ternyata ATV yang merupakan tujuan saya sehingga saya rela membeli tiket terusan tidak beroperasi. Menelan kekecewaan, kami akhirnya main mini buggy, tubby dan gokart. Mini buggy cuma boleh satu kali naik. Tubby ketika mau naik lagi udah antri parah. Gokart antriannya lebih parah lagi, kami harus antri 1.5 jam baru bisa main.

padatnya parkiran Kampung Gajah
padatnya parkiran Kampung Gajah

Wahana yang di cover dalam tiket ternyata banyak yang di batasi, seperti skyrider maksimal 60 kg, horse riding yang kalo nggak salah cuma buat yang dibawah berapa meter gitu.. Ada wahana yang bagus seperti 4D, tetapi kita harus bayar lagi Rp 50.000 terus ada Segway (mirip otoped tapi dengan roda gede gitu) kita bayar lagi Rp 150.000 untuk 15 menit. Overall sih saya sebenarnya kecewa karena sudah salah ambil langkah karena membeli tiket terusan, tetapi untungnya agak terobati dengan waterboomnya. Tornadonya mantab! wahana di waterboomnya sangat menarik, ada tornado (yang kita seperti masuk corong raksasa), ada octopus (luncuran panjang gitu deh),dan ada kolam ombak. Tornado dan Octopusnya bikin ketagihan, sayangnya kita harus naik tangga yang cukup melelahkan bagi saya yang udah jarang olah raga ini. Kolam Ombaknya juga lumayan seru, mungkin karena kita rame-rame jadi kita heboh sendiri bikin formasi melawan ombak, tarik-tarikan ban sampai waterboomnya hampir mau tutup. Seru! tapi akibat kehebohan di kolam ombak, tangan saya masih sakit sampe hari ini. 😦

Saran saya bagi yang mau berwisata ke Kampung Gajah, jangan beli tiket terusan dulu, liat-liat aja dulu wahananya apa saja, dan coba 4D dulu aja, tetapi kalo emang mau main di waterboom sih harus beli tiket terusan. Selamat bermain!

a view in Kampung Gajah
a view in Kampung Gajah

DAY 3 – Last Day

Akhirnya, seperti selalu saya tuliskan, tiada pesta yang tak usai. Pada hari Selasa 1 Januari 2013, tiba saatnya pulang dan menyambut rutinitas yang membosankan. Sebelum pulang, pasti ada waktu untuk mencari oleh-oleh. Kami di ajak Pasar Kosambi, pusat kerupuk-kerupuk sepertinya karena disana banyak jenis kerupuk yang dijual kiloan dengan harga yang murah, saya beli banyak saja cuma seharga Rp 44.000, kalo beli dimobil pinggir jalan atau pusat oleh-oleh yang sudah dikemas mungkin bisa ratusan itu saya belanjanya. Di sana ada yang jual cabe dijadikan manisan, saya lupa fotoin, tapi saya coba rasanya nggak jelas gitu deh.. aneh.. πŸ˜† selain beli kerupuk, saya juga beli peyeum dan talas rebus. Yummiyyy.

Puas milih-milih kelithian, kami lanjut makan durian di dekat Prima Rasa (agak nggak enak sih, tapi namanya juga durian, tetap menggugah selera, akhirnya ketan yang saya makan kemarin ketemu durian juga di perut :p). Beli Karuhun dan cakes di Prima Rasa (ini rutinitas kalo ke Bandung sih, nothing special). Beli batagor Yunus (ini juga sudah tradisiii) and finally… time to say “see you” to Bandung Family.. *dadah dadah cantik*

IMG_2378 copy

Kami pulang sekitar jam 4 sore dan sampai di Depok sekitar jam 11 malam.. dan macetnya itu cuma karena antrian orang-orang yang mau singgah ke rest area KM 42! *keluh*

Nice short trip by the way.. πŸ™‚

wow.. such a long post!

love,

DarkJasm

I Survived!

Forget to bring your handphone is a nightmare. Better left your wallet instead, they said.

If it is so, then I was experiencing a real nightmare today. I forget to bring my cells to the office, which I realize when i’ve already arrived in my office and wondering why there was such a silent during my journey.

I tried to stay positive that it is a chance for me to have a peaceful time, no disturbance from anyone else. Then I finally remember that I had to return the “Malay Dress” to the “Sanggar Melayu”, asked by my brother, to one part of Jakarta that I’ve never been before, called Pondok Bambu. DISASTER!

Arrived in the office, I call my Father to inform him that i cannot be reach until i get home tonight, call Mr.J to tell him that he can email me in case he miss me #eaaa and then call my “Still-in-honeymoon-at-bali Brother” to email me address of the Sanggar Melayu.

I had a very peaceful day in the office, so peaceful that i became sooooo sleepy… or maybe it was because i’ve been out of the town for some moment that made being in the office became more boring than it usually did. haha

Back to my so-called-disaster plan, as soon as i received the email from my brother, i ask people in my room how to get to the address in a very easy way and jam-free way. Got the answer, although i haven’t understand it perfectly, i just hope for my best luck that afternoon.

And the luck did show it self, in a form of my friend name Miss Mcuy.

I accidentally bumped into her in my way to my car and an idea came in a sudden that her home is around the address, so i begged her to please explain me the detail about how to get there and she offered to lead me the way to somewhere very close to the address instead. What a kind girl.. Thank You Mcuy!

Thanks to Mcuy, she lead my way till Klender and it is so close from the address, I just need to follow my brother instruction. It’s quite easy tho, if my brother did give me the right instruction. I found the street that he indicated in the directions, i just need to find an “ind*mart” and turn to left afterward, but it turned out that no ind*mart in that street. I have to go back to the street again and I found “Alf*mart” instead, and with all my guts, i decide to turn left there and voila! that was the street and I found the Sanggar!

-Mission Accomplished-

for the moment…

until I realized that I still have to find my way back home. For some people, it could be an easy A, but for me, it was a hard thing! I’ve often lost in my journey to my home from the place that i’ve known pretty well, and since i just follow Mcuy on my way to that place, i haven’t paid any attention to my route that afternoon and it was already dark when I wanted to go home, so it was another DISASTER for me. hmm.. I guess I just rely on my feeling and became very aware of the direction boards. This is when I need to trust my self and the Self fulfilling prophecy* would come true.. long story short, i finally arrived safely at home. pfiuh, what a journey! πŸ˜€

Another disaster was waiting for me in the house..

I reunited with my cells and I wanted to inform Mr.J that I have the mission accomplished, but turned out that my cells run out of credit. I couldn’t believe it because i ‘m sure that i have around 30grands credit the night before, then I remembered something about calling Mr.J last night that I couldn’t recall a “good-bye”, yes, i was sleeping while calling him and from the “120 minutes and 30 seconds” call log, I knew that he fell in sleep too.. d’oh!

WHAT A DAY..

Lucky that I still had my “a taste from heaven” Durian Pancake from my best friend Ji for dinner.. yes, I am too lazy to cook and had no cash to order a delivery service. This time, Luck show in a form of Durian Pancake..

Luck does exist, in many forms.

…and for me, Luck is part of Blessings from Allah..
πŸ™‚
* i would like to write about it some time in the near future..