Larry's wedding dinner @Meritus Mandarin Orchard

Truly I wasn't full at all last night. The food portion was very little. This is the 1st time I did attend wedding dinner then I went home with 1/2 full stomach. I reached my half full stomach cause I purposely ate 2 bowls of rice and few pieces of chicken at the last 2 dishes.

And more Niko was one of the brothers (again) for his wedding. That means during the dinner there was few times that Niko had to leave his seat and did something.



We sat at table no.46, the arrangement for the table was perfect with the bronze table cloth.
But after 1-2 dishes we just realize that there was something wrong with the turn table. It changed position when we turned it.

After the dinner, we went home with Donikon and Burger by Surin's car. I thought when she said her car is VW. I was thinking something like VW golf or VW beetle. But I was surprised cause the VINTAGE car is not many in Singapore. She drives her father's car...VW KodoK.

We squeezed 4 person at the back. Then I got back pain cause I didn't seat properly.

It's been a long time since we took pictures together..so I thought that that night was the other opportunity to take another one.

Xmas dinner @Benny's house

We planned a simple dinner in Benny's house, but Adeline was not around.

Morning we went to church at ToaPayoh, then continue with lunch at BK.

We reach AMK too early. So Benny got idea to play pool first while waiting the movie.



Niko bought the tickets for Ip Man at Ang Mo Kio Hub. After watching nice movie, we bought all the things those were necessary for the dinner at NTUC AMK hub. All the 3 guys were shopping and I just accompanied them.



This xmas dinner was very different to what I ever had. The chef for the steak was Ronald. And pasta one was Niko. I didn't know exactly what benny's role was because I wasn't at the kitchen. I think Benny's was the one that help to prepare all the ingredients. I spent my time watching TV while they were preparing the food. :) So sorry guys, I don't have and won't have any talent in kitchen and I think you are great!!!



After waiting for about 1 hour, the food was ready...and they were delicious. I think Niko should put more salt into the pasta.



They played wii after that. Played the silly rabbit and the ghost squat.

My Xmas gift 2008

It was raining at Xmas eve 2008. We had dinner at home for xmas eve cause Niko suddenly canceled to go to church. Niko tapao western food (our favorite) form Tiongbahru Market. Actually we were thinking to buy KFC, but I said to him not to go too far just for food. He also bought rojak.



After that, I go shitting, and a xmas gift from Niko was on the table behind my laptop. I also gave him a gift.


Inside is a complete package of jogging equipment. We also got a bottle of wine from Grace, our next door.

2 bottle of Liquor for $50

My colleague got the hamper at 2nd lucky draw, then inside it there are 2 bottle of liquor.

She is not a drinker. So she offered me the liquor.

She said want to sell it $60 for 2 bottles, then Niko only wanted to pay $50. She agreed.

Smoked Mackarel

Yen Fang, my colleague just came back from Maldives, she went diving.

Then she brought to office smoked mackarel and smoked tuna.

It didn't taste fishy, more like plastic.

Gift exchange day in office on 24th December

I bought bodyshop gift package for the gift exchange in office.

I got earphone for notebook from Danie in return. This is good cause my earphone for video call has broken.

Siaomun also gave me a small gift, I haven't open it yet till I am writting this.


Lisa gave everyone in the studio something like name card holder and got initial on it.


After gift exchange, we continued with lunch together with the interior departement.

Ipoh Horfun at Kopitiam Suntec City

Almost every time I go Suntec I always eat this...or got another style of gravy, they have ipoh and curry. It's just nice for me.

2nd Door Prize

The next day was 2nd door prize. Those who didn't get the top 20 prize can get it this day.

I got $50 Robinson's voucher and $80 cash.



Those who has been working more than 1 year, can get $450-850 plus other items, such as steamboat, telephone, printer,etc.

The DnD, Pan Pacific Hotel, 22nd December 2008

We arrived there on 5pm, cause the props guys told us there will be a final rehearsal on the stage. But nobody except us and the committee.

On 6pm, people started to be there also. Here's the pics before we went in for the dinner.

While waiting, we took pictures together...girls...



We also took our individual picture on Kingsmen's backdrop and with our team also.



The food served are
1. Suckling pork with jelly fish
2. Sharkfin crab soup
3. Roast duck
4. Prawn and scallop
5. Baby khai lan and abalone
6. Steam fish
7. Fried Noodles
8. Sweet Yam Dessert



The service was not good, cause before we finished eat, they already took out the plates. And some more, the baby khai lan, we hadn't touched it yet, and It was gone while we were performing.

DnD preparation

On 22nd of Dec no body mood for work. Everybody did their own preparation for tonight.

Drew tattoo, put the nail polish, showed each other costumes.

what fruit is this?

I don't know what fruit is this. But this is something like SAWO or BUAH GENIT.
My friend got told me it's name once, but I forget.

I had eaten this for few times cause these were served in our office on "fruitday".

Niko's miso burger pasta

Today we ate Niko's Miso burger pasta for lunch. The pasta he used the angle's hair type. And the burger was made from carrots, garlic, and pork with miso paste.

Pasta tasted a bit sour. But it was delicious, not too creamy like usually he did.

We ate together with mushroom and cherry tomato.

Sakura Thai Restaurant @Far East Plaza

After found my powerful top, my mood has changed. We ate at Sakura Thai restaurant, we were so lucky that there was no one qeueing in front of the restaurant. We just waited for 2-3 minutes to get the table.

We ordered tom yam soup (small) and 1 fried beef kwetiau.



Total bill is about $15. And the foods were delicious.

My lucky draw number

This is my lucky draw number, but I can not get the top 10 prize cause those who are under 1 year working for Kingsmen, can not get the top 10.

Kingsmen's D&D 2008

This will be my 1st time DnD in Kingsmen. It will be held on 22nd of Dec 2008, at Pan Pacific Hotel.
And our team (Danie, me, Lisa, Yoon, Siao Mun, Joyce, Yen Fang, Listy) have to dress in Josie and Pussy Cat as I mentioned before.


Actually I bought the top already in China town few weeks ago for $28. Which is like below...



And after buying and went home, then I just reallize that I have a even better top, which is like this...


But when the last day practice, we decided to show each other costumes. Then my one is liked not powerful enough.

So Friday night I went to cityplaza at Payalebar with Listy. Could not find anything.

Today,Saturday, 20th Dec, we went to Chinatown, and Bugis to buy the glittery tops.
Finally I decided to buy clothes only and thought could sew...but infact, can not.
Then I went to Tiongbahru Market to ask the tailor help me to sew. And the shop was closed.

I was very2 stress facing this problem. I was thinking to just buy. Don't have time to sew. So we went to Far East Plaza in Orchard by Taxi because it was damned hot. $5.20 for the fare.

We managed to find something...expensive $49. When I was going to make the payment I saw few biddings are missing. The owner gave discount, it became $44.

This is the powerful top that I wouldn't know where I am going to wear this again.

It's a boy!

Last Friday,19 Dec 2008, We visited one of our colleagues, Sandy. She just gave birth for their first child. It's a boy, we knew. We went to Mount-A, that I thought is Mount-E.



After that, we went lunch to Upper Thompson road. The famous prata. One of my colleagues suggested my to have banana cheese prata. And It was very2 nice...two thumbs up. But I don't feel like the curry gravy.

A gift from Nana

Our secretary, Nana, just came back from Langkawi. So when I just reached office, she gave me this...

Ages of consent in Singapore

I just know that Singapore do not allow homosexual (male and male) but they allow lesbians. And the ages for sexual activity here is 16 years old...which is so young.

The most suprising is the youngest age of sexual consent in European is Vatican City...which is famous as the holy city. It's 12.

Singaporean or Indonesian?

Pernah berpikir ga apa sih untung nya jadi WNI and jadi Singaporean?

Sejauh ini sih...g analisa kehidupan sehari2 di sini:

Keunggulan di Indo:
1. Makanan enak2
2. Biaya hidup murah (barang and makanan relatif lebih murah)
3. Gampang memulai usaha
4. Kita uda gede disitu...jadi uda melekat di hati
5. gampang ngurus apa2...tinggal sogok
6. Mobil murah..bensin murah...parkir murah
bisa naek mobil kemana2 biarpun nyampenya lama.
7. Kita ga di remehin sebagai warga kelas 2 karena kita foreigner
8. Bisa tinggal di rumah mewah seharga HDB
9. Keluarga rata2 masi ada di indo

Kekurangan di Indo:
1. Pajak gila2an..PPH kalo di rata2 bisa sampe 12,5%, PPN 10%
sedangkan return-nya yang di kasi government ke kita???
2. macet gila2an
3. Jalanan parah ...bolong sana sini
4. Banyak Preman...ngeri
5. Banyak penipuan...kurang canggih untuk ngelacak
6. Internet lambat
7. Rumah kemewahan ga tenang...
mobil kekerenan ga tenang...
duit kebanyakan juga ga tenang...
8. Inflasi tinggi
9. Banyak negara musti apply visa...and biarpun akhirnya diapprove
tapikan tetep bayar
10. Kotor...sampah dimana2
11. Lampu ijo buat mobil orang nyeberang...
lampu merah buat mobil orang juga nyeberang...pusing d
12. WC public kotor
13. kecoa and tikus kaya di ternak karena rumah kotor..selokan kotor.
14. Income kecil dan harga barang hampir sama dengan singapore
15. Masa tua kl ga punya duit...mati aja d
16. Kalo ga menabung untuk rumah..
selamanya ngontrak atau bisa punya rumah tapi di ujung kulon.
17. Mentalitas orang Indo...tau sendiri
18. Fanatik keagamaan...salah ngomong...bisa2 di bakar...
19. Rumah sakit di indo..smua tuh mata duitan...

Keunggulan Singapore:
1. Aman...bagus buat kehidupan tenang dan masa depan keluarga.
2. Pendidikan lebih baik...
3. Apply apa2 bisa lewat internet
4. Bisa jogging dengan tenang aman di jalanan...
5. ada tax refund..biarpun cuma 1x
6. ada CPF..memaksa kita nabung..masa tua masi bisa idup
7. apa2 jelas...birokrasi jelas, dan smua bisa di liat di internet.
8. Penipuan...dengan gampang kelacak.
9. Internet cepat
10. Inflasi rendah
11. Banyak negara bebas visa
12. Singaporean terkenal punya image baik dalam berbisnis.
(subjective lah)
13. Bersih...akan jadi pola hidup sehari2 juga
14. Teratur..secara garis besar..biarpun ga 100%
15. WC public lumayan bersih..tissue tersedia selalu
16. ga gitu banyak kecoa, tikus, binatang2 yang berpenyakit
17. bebas banjir..karena tinggal di lantai lebih dari 2 (rata)
18. Income lebih besar
19. Hidup lebih tenang...nyaman...ga ketakutan
20. Ada CPF, pasti bisa punya rumah.
21. Negara multiras...jadi ga terlalu rasis.
22. Dapet $30K grant dari singapore gov untuk housing
23. Dapet baby bonus
24. Maternity leave 3 bulan, paid, dan cuti 12 bulan
25. Rumah sakit lebih baik..
kalo ga, di Mount E ga mungkin isinya orang indo kebanyakan.

Kekurangan di Singapore:
1. Makanan kurang enak buat lidah indo
2. Biaya hidup tinggi
3. Tinggal di HDB
kalo tajir baru bisa beli landed property atau apartemen/condo
4. bagi yang ga bisa mandarin atau inggris aja ga lancar...
agak2 di remehin...pastinya.
5. Agak susah buka company sendiri...
jadi kemungkinan besar jadi pegawai sampe umur 65 karena cicilan
rumah.
6. CPF baru bisa di ambil umur 65..
sedangkan kita ga tau d masi ada ga umur segitu.
7. Mobil and bensin lumayan mahal...
jadi terpaksa berpanas2 tunggu bus yang datengnya ga tau kapan
8. Banyak orang kiasu
9. Makan apa2 yang enak musti ngantri...kencing ngatri...sigh
10. Buang waktu 2 th ikut NS kalo anak kita nanti cowo

Nah, bagi yang uda lama tinggal di singapore and mau balik lagi ke indo. Apa masi ok setelah hidup dengan standar singapore trus tiba2 harus turun standar hidup di indo? yakin bisa? Pilihan lebih baik dari pada pulang adalah ke ausi.

Sebenernya sih masi banyak sisi laen yang mungkin g ga liat...dari untung rugi di atas. Tapi secara garis besar...lebih banyak ruginya jadi indonesian citizen dibanding singapore citizen...itu g nilai secara netral dengan ga ada maksud untuk menyarankan mengubah citizenship.

Malahan kebijakan pajak Indo lebih berkesan serakah dengan tujuan ga jelas di banding menunaikan kewajiban sebagai warga negara. Karena setelah kita bayar pajak, no return...keadaan tetep aja gitu2 aja. Malahan memberikan ide kepada kita2 profesional yang kerja di luar negri untuk menghindari negara kita sendiri. Bukankah kita juga pahlawan devisa biarpun bukan kategori TKI?

G tanya ama temen2 g yang singaporean...mereka asik2 aja dan berasa emang lebih untung jadi singaporean. Mereka juga berasa adanya keuntungan2 sebagai singaporean. NS malahan bukan menjadi masalah, tapi bisa dapet temen yang bener2 enak and asik. Dan pastinya mereka dapet pengalaman berharga di NS.

Jadi kalo emang mau menetap lama di singapore, ga ada salahnya jadi citizen, suatu waktu mau balik indo..ya tinggal sebagai WNA. bisa juga. Visa tinggal bisa di atur... tapi untuk jadi WNI lagi akan lebih sulit.

New menu for a better life

I went to NTUC tiongbahru plaza to buy the ingredients for salad. I decide to have it everyday for my lunch since I don't have any problem today.

After came back, my husband and I directly prepare the things for tomorrow.



So inside are :
- green, red, and yellow pepper
- celery
- tomato
- cherry tomato
- carrot
- cabbage
- lettuce
- red cabbage
- australian orange
- avocado
- chicken sausages

The dressing will be the Italian style and we add the black pepper powder also.

Gift from edl to my office

Today we got a gift from edl laminate supplier to our office, a pack of cupcakes and notebooks.



The cream is too sweet..and inside is chocolate cake.

My husband's gathering

I don't wanna go to his gathering with his uni friends. I bet I will feel lost in a strange situation. I will end up with bad mood spend my weekend time without having any good time.

Some more I got something to do at home...revise my kitchen and my wardrobe.

He went out from 4pm till 10pm something and reached home around 11+.
This was he carried back, the gift exchange...he got the strawberry bodyshop body shower, body butter and shower puff.

Waraku Japanese Restaurant @Central

Quite a disappointed lunch...the salmon sashimi was not fresh.
And for my part...I ordered salmon cream udon...the exciting thing was the bowl...very2 huge...but in it...is not the taste that i expected.

New menu for dinner

we decided to have a healthy dinner tonight. I think the dressing is perfect....

Xmas deco in Central ClarkQuay

I hate his hobbies

Somehow, I really hate what my husband has been doing recently. He likes to sit for few hours just to play Winning Eleven in PS2 or read Japanese comic online.

Those are my enemy cause they took his attention over me. Now my husband doesn't have time to have some so called "together time" with me. Recently we are really seldom to talk about each other. And I began to easily get angry with him about anything.

Fruits for a week

I went to Tiongbahru market to accompany my husband buying things for the lunch and dinner.

And I had planned that I would buy fruits. So when I saw cherries, I wanted to buy them. The price was $20/kg. Expensive.

So I decided to buy Japan oranges and plums. But at the end of those fruit stalls, I thought I would be more happier if there were cherries at home after meal. Then I bought $6, 300grams.



After lunch time, I had a friend visited me. Then we chatted till dinner time. These were what we had for the dinner with the chef and the guest picture.



We continued the dinner with wine time, Niko opened the white wine. These were the drinkers: the housemate, the guest, the ladyhouse, and the chef...so fun...

My vray lesson

Actually I didn't continue my Vray lesson cause of I was lazy to go to my friend's house and it's too expensive.

Unfortunately I got one uni friend who came to Singapore and she is using Vray for her works. So she taught me FOC, but not in an advance way.

These are the result of what I've been learning few days ago.



then after revision :

Lion Dance, dragon and other show @Tiongbahru

This Sunday was something different..on 12.30 afternoon we heard really loud and noisy drum.

So I decided to go out and see what is happening down there. And this is what I saw...



A truck full of youth, wearing light green clothes are the lion dancers. Followed by few trucks behind. Red clothes are the dragon dancers. White shirts are the carrier of the wooden chairs. Blue clothes are the music player for the possessed people those put the sharp things into their bodies.

My lovely dog

Above picture is my dogs in Jakarta, Vito (male pomeranian dog) and Carrie (brown fat dog).

I really miss my dogs...specially Carrie (the brown one)...she used to cheer me when I was sad. Now she is old woman already.

I still can not forget Pinkan also..she died in sickness (cancer). She is a half chowchow dog...cute...smart...and brave.

Another Niko's Carbonarra

Here come another carbonarra pasta by my beloved husband for our Sunday lunch time.

But in my version, I added small chili (rawit) and coriander leaves.

Niko's Spaghetti Carbonarra

He made this on weekdays after going back from office. And I really upset cause I didn't take dinner and It is smelled very nice.