summer vacation 2009

I spent most of my summer vacation at home, but to be honest it was really bored, most of my friends they spent time to work on their thesis,since I haven’t started my thesis I try to find another activities. I will make a quick list about all things that I did during this vacation:

1. Became commitee on Indonesian Student International Simposium (SI-PPI 2009), I didn’t expect that I’ll be in charge of science and technology comittee,it was surely hard work I barely enjoyed my time her. To be honest I’m very sceptical about the result of this simposium. But, you know, to see all these students that devote them self into the future of our country, it really inspired me, nonetheless I got friend from all over the world, and just think about that it makes me feel grateful to be alive.

2. Had a central europe trip. With Mba Dian, I had 6 days of journey on Central Europe, we went to Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna. Except Vienna whom located on Austria, all those countries using different languange from Indo-Europe, and it’s totally different, everyday we had to twist our tongue to say the  name of the metro station or just name of tourist attraction. It really drives us crazy, especially when it comes to the quality of hostel (most of the time we lived on student dormitory), and during our meal we just pointing to something that we like and hopefully they eill give us right order LOL.

3. I went to London by myself, two weeks after I had central europe trip I went to London & Nottingham, most of the time I walk the cities all by my self (during my stay in Nottingham my friend accompany me for one day). It was my first time step on United Kingdom and for me it was very impressive, I never thought being on english speaking country would be able give the some kind of ease. By the time I went home to Netherland, part of me feel that I feel envy with all my friends whose studied there, part of me feel thankfull to live here, one fully organized country (London was such a mess!)

4. During the august I spent my time looking for a new house, because my friend didn’t allow me to extend my stayon my old house, after all those attemp to look on my new house I decided to stay on Himmel’s old place, it was 1 bedroom and 1 living room house located under the attic, as you can predict the roof is inclined so during the first 2 days I always bump my head into the roof. Since we lived (yeah I have to shared the room with mba endah so I could save more money) on the 3rd floor, everytime we head to our room we always panting because the stairs were really steep. But, oh well, home sweet home, when we have to live on the attic, then attic it will be!

Alkmaar – Haarlem

Everytime I had short period time of break I’m always think to spend my time to go around Netherland.

Alkmaar and Haarlem are two cities in Netherland I’ve ‘targeted’ for a long time. Alkmaar is famous for it’s cheese market, eventhough the cheese market is reproduction from early 20th centu’s ry, but many tourists enjoy the attraction. Mean while in Haarlem, I have to admit that the city square is very beautiful, it is the best from cities I have visited in Netherland.

How should I explain about Alkmaar cheese market? It is not really impressive, despite of it’s great name, all I can see is some guy (they pretend to be the seller) carrying the stack of 8 cheese weighing 10 kg each, the kaasmeisjes (literally cheese girl) went around to sell the brochure, and there’s guide explaining about the process of cheese market in english, Japan, Italian, and Germany. Actually, I was enjoying the museum more than the attraction, there’s Kaas Museum nearby the square and there I could understand the process of cheese making. But since the weather was really nice, I made colourful photography during the Market.

Haarlem indeed a nice city, I think it’s one of the oldest city in Netherland. A long time ago they used the city as tulip planting area,  it was one of the luxurious city. The city itself pretty interesting, the square it’s really huge and surround by the stadhuis, church, restaurant, fountain, statues, and everything that possibly use as decoration hahahhaha..

One think I like from Haarlem is the secret garden, some of the old housing complex has secret garden on it and the municipality turn the garden as public garden, so we can enter freely, take something to eat and chat as long as we didn’t disturb the house owner.

Both of the cities certainly show beautiful aspects of Netherland, I like those cities better that flat landscape, farm, red bricky house that I saw everyday.

Hoeve Ackerdijk

On a sunny day of June, amy friend asked me whether I ‘d like to join them on a summer excursion, at first I kind of skeptical about the trip. First, because it was held my christian community, so I’m affraid it would be like christian ‘joy and blessing’ trip. But since I was really bored on my room and I need sunshine plus my friend from Islam community also join the trip so I gave it a go.

The trip turns out to be fun trip, just let me explain it the way that a 3rd grade schooler explain. I woke up at 9 in the morning and rode on my bike, I make appointment with my friend on the corner of the street (this is so Indonesian, meet in the ‘pengkolan’ hahahhahaha), we spent 10 minutes to wait for my other friend (Ms.E) and then we were riding our bike again, after riding our bike for 15 minutes we were realize that we were lost, the appointed place should be 5 minutes distance from TU Delft. But yes, we spent like 10 minutes rode our bike and another 10 minutes to return back.

Our destination was Hoeve Ackerdijk, it was an ecological farm, I bet someone who read this blog wondering what’s the different between ecological farm and normal farm? I’ll tell you on the folloeing paragraph. By the time we got there, some of the international student from ISS-Den Haag already gather, the owner prepared us some drink and explain about the history of the place. He showed us the aerial picture of the area, and believe it or not it hasn’t change since 1970, we’re not even on outskirt of city but even the rural development not change since 1970.

Ecological farm treat their cattle differently from normal farm. Eventhough all cow came from the same breed, most of the cow are american-frisian cow and they were imported from French, confuse? welcome to globalization. Eventhough the size is enormous, they didn’t feed the cattle with trans genetic (TG)  food the cow was fed by natural grass or wheat, the farmrs only gave pellets if the cow was sick or during the milking period.

Unlike modern farming, these cow were treated more ‘humane’ they were able to walk on the prairie, able to milk their children, and the during the milk producing the treatment is not as cruel as modern farming. The sewage treatment also conducted naturally, the manure of the cow is thrown on the prairie around the farm so it could nourish the soil. They put priority on local content especially for the food.

Well too bad my journey on Hoeve Ackerdijk, must end during the noon, afterwards me and my friends (Mr.C and Mr.R) went to Oriental to look for our dairy needs, it made me realize we’re not ‘ecologically-aware’ and afterwards I spent time to chat with them in McDonalds, It was a happy day..

Pasar Malam Tong2

Last friday (finally a recent post) I went to Pasar Malam Tong Tong with my friends, well technically I walked all by myself because we were separated on Pasar Besar. this event has long history from 1959 and this year celebrating their 50 years and they didn’t seem to celebrate with invite some great artist, perhaps they already get a big name so whether it’s celebrated or not it doesn’t really matter.

This is the largest festival for European-Indonesian culture in Netherland. Inside the festival  they provide the information of indonesian culture, and like heir name “Pasar Malam besar” or literally Big Night Market they sell various thing, from craft, typical indonesian food, hobby paraphernalia, massage, tropical fruit *such as durian*, and many many other stuff that I don’t think it will be available like fortune teller.

I had a great time ther, eventhough I walk alone I never walk alone, everyone speak Indonesian and I met some friends who live in Den Haag and worked as a waiter (in Dutch:Ober) there, it was a nice night, it took gorgeous photo, and eventhough I had little regret I can’t get along with my friend, at least I get new experience ofnPasar Malam besar.

kuala lumpur 2

My journey continues, on my 5th or 6th day there I went to Putrajaya, Putrajaya is new federal administrative of Malaysia, de jure Malaysia capital city is Kuala Lumpur, but the facto their administrative already moved to Putrajaya . Putrajaya is like 30 min away from KL, I took KLIA express to get me there, the interior of the train reminds me of Veolia train that took me from Leeuwarden to Hindellopen.

My first impression of Putrajaya is this city is similar with  Dubai, they build all the building looks like Persian capital city, like city on 1001night stories considering the diverse background of Malaysia, they should put something that show the people of their country. Anyway it was a nice walk with my boy friend we went to the Putra Mosque, saw the prime minister office on the distance, even more we met Indonesian student who had their excursion to KL!

Our journey continues to china town, this was a sudden change because at the first place I’d like to visit my brother, but unfortunately he’s unavailable. KL’s chinatown just like the combination between Hindu, China, and Malay culture. I went in to Sridevi temple on Chinatown *I forgot the exact name* it is beautiful temple, they deaorated the temple with beautiful statues, furthermore this temple is dedicated for Sri Devi, the one ehich I think her popularity is equal to Virgin Maria in Christian. I know that Hindu people is paternal society, I’m really proud to come to the temple that dedicated for a girl.

Not so far away from this Hindu temple there’s chinese temple, it’s amaze me how building in KL could be so diverse.

I continue my walk to Pasar Seni to buy some souvenir and to walk through the Petaling Street, the place where fake stuff of any brand is available.

My last day there I went to see Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) on that day they are showing LAT’s window to the world, unfortunately no classical music today, just some music arrangement for Charlie Chaplin’s Movie Modern Times and music arrangement to honour LAT a Malaysian cartoonist, he’s famous for his character Kampung Boy.

Nothing last forever, including my holiday, so on 5th of May 2009 I went home to Netherland, and keep ask myself when I’m gonna graduate from my study here.

Baby sitting

I have to admit that I really adore a fulltime mother, I never be able to imagine myself dedicating my whole time to my family.

This month I got a chance to be a baby sitter, and these are the most frequet question that my friend asked m, and it’s most frequent story I tell to my friend.

1. does the mother working? I said no, she just busy with her activities, only his *the baby* father works as dentist.

2. then what does the mother do? Well, she’s Dutch socialite, she’s even has a schedule to visit all her friends, and she put it on the fridge, my friend will make long ‘oooh..’ and I think I knew what crossed on their mind, it is crossed on my mind too

3. Details of the baby please? Baby M, boy, 2.5 years old, speak dutch or I should say weird baby dutch *Sometimes I can’t catch what he’s saying*, I spoke to him in Indonesian eventhiugh he didn’t understand it I force him to do speak to him like that.

4. Details of the job please? I spent 2-6 hours per day with him, I didn’t work everyday only 2 days a week and it’s based on the call. They paid me 5 eur/hrs

5. How does it feel? It is kinda boring, especially when the baby doesn’t response to your word and didn’t obey what you’re saying

6. Why don’t you look for another job? Well, basicly I need the money of the job, to change the money due to my spring break vacation and I spent money on my broken camera, I have to look for a way to reimburse it.

7. Do you have any photo? Offcourse.. Presenting Baby M

Kuala Lumpur

Last spring break I went to Kuala Lumpur to visit my parent (they had a vacation there), my brother (whose studying there) and my boy friend (whose working there). I took wmirates flight with stop over in Dubai, I walked through the biggest airport terminal in the World, and I mean it it’s huge, and in the middle of the terminal they put super huge duty free mall *yes. it’s a mall, not a duty free shop*

Peoples asked my why did I go there? If you want to feel metropolitan just go to Jakarta and stay in Kuningan+Thamrin area, hell yeah back there in Jakarta didn’t have my precious boy friend or should I say my fiancee *blushed*

Kuala lumpur is basically the future of Jakarta, the city defenitely has same ‘aura’ for example those cities has same temperature *eventhough Kuala Lumpur is slightly higher*, same people, same type of food, same type of shopping mall, same type of house, same type of cars, same type of plants, same type of hawkers, same type of chinese products.

For your information KL has tons of shopping mall, and just like Jakarta’s malls they put like super expensive and luxurious brand on fascinating structure with beautiful interior (ex:KLCC) and they put less expensive brand on average sub urbanmall (ex:Ampang Point), although sometimes they combine average+luxurious brand (ex:Bukit Bintang)

KL definitely has better transportation system than Jakarta, they have LRT , metro  buses, all those transportation units has air conditioner *it makes sense considering the heat of the city* unfortunately they never show the schedule of the public transportation, furthermore they don’t have ‘unified’ ticket on transportation system so everytime we take a ride we have to pay for the ticket, that’s little bit turn off but it doesn’t stop me to use it *I still need it anyway*.

Everyday when I took a walk on KL I always bring my Lonely planet book as my guide, first day I went to Kolonial walk, it’s super hot walk that cover little India, Masjid Jamik, and Merddeka Square, it should take only 2 hrs for the walk, but due to the fact that I’m always lost on first day makes my walk turn into long walk for 4 hrs. but indeed it turn to be tiring walk. I walk by myself, I spotted few tourists taking the same walking path like me, and I feel that I’m not alone, especially along the way there are plenty people wearing hijab juat like me, I felt that I’m save there the good thing from KL because it has not musc different than Jakarta, every time I felt thirsty or hungry I just stopped by on a hawker and buy cold drinks or snaks.

This walk start from Asian heritage Row and ended in Merdeka Square, how do I return to Bukit Bintang *where my parents stayed* ? I walked all the way back to Masjid Jami LRT to take another train to their place, by the time I got there my parents were so angry and worries about me, basically because we should meet each other and then walk together, but eventually we were separated on Bukit Bintang LRT station right after we came out of the hotel. O my parent, I’m really sorry to leave you guys.

On my next walk I took a trip to Malaysia Islamic Art Museum, I really recommend this museum, this is like one of the best museum that I ever visited, I have to be honest and put it on below Uffizi museum *well ok, it’s not really historical* but from aspect of collection and the explanation of the item, it was really impressive. My walk start from the old train station and walk continue to Lembah Perdana, it’s like a huge park on the hill and they built a museum complex there, if I had another time I’d like to visit all museum, unfortunately I started as late as 12.00 and I spent 3 hours on the Islamic Art Museum, by the eime I got out of the museum the time shows 16.30 I took a short walk  with Planetarium but unfortunately I missed the last show, it’s really a pity. But that’s Ok coz that night I had a date with my boyfriend *joy*, ooops fiancee *blushed* to watch movies on KLCC.

As a moslem I’m really proud to have my own art museum, it was fascinating just check this marvelous entrance.

I’m affraid this post will be very lenghty if I wrote all my experience on KL, I will write on next post or in dutch word volgende posting

Japanese cheesecake

Before I went for my spring break tour I was actively baking *I wonder if I used right words* The thing is I;ve been craving for japanese cheesecake since I saw it on one of the manga.

Japanese cheesecake is different with American cheesecake, it lookslike a chiffon cake but softer and more ‘heavy’.  This cake also not using pie dough as American cheesecake and the the cake use cheesecream as part of the dough.

Anyway I made this cake on before I broke my camera, so it’s kinda faewell cake with my camera.

Here is the ingredient and instruction how to make it (credits to dianadesserts)

Ingredient

140g  fine granulated sugar
6 egg whites
6 egg yolks
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
50g butter
250g cream cheese
100 ml fresh milk
1 tbsp. lemon juice
60g cake flour
20g cornflour (maizena)
1/4 tsp. salt

*Actually I’m only able to find 200g pack of creme cheese with so I reduce all ingredient*

Instructions:
1. Melt cream cheese, butter and milk over a double boiler (double boiler is like you boil the mixture on separate bowl). Cool the mixture. Fold in the flour, the cornflour, egg yolks, lemon juice and mix well.

2. Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Add in the sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.

3. Add the cheese mixture to the egg white mixture and mix well. Pour into a 8-inch round cake pan (Lightly grease and line the bottom and sides of the pan with greaseproof baking paper or parchment paper).

*I was running out of baking paper that day, so I just grease all the surface of the pan and dust the surface with fluor*
4. Bake cheesecake in a water bath for 1 hours 10 minutes or until set and golden brown at 160 degrees C (325 degrees F).
tips:

• to build the whites until soft peak form, you have to make sure that these whites don’t mix with water or any carbohydrate, so what I did is I whisk the egg until soft peak (with high speed mixer it’ll take about 15 minutes, remember to turn to mixer only on one direction). After  soft peak formed I add the cheese mixture

The results:

Voila…

Niet slecht  right?

PS: I took this pic using my old camera, I’m too lazy to transfer the picture that i took using my DSLR

Promise

Every time I cry I promise myself that it will be the last time that I cry, tragically it never happen, everytime I cry I will eventually smile again, laugh again, and cry again.

I totally ashamed to my self

Lowest Low

For all my 24-years of living

I never been in my lowest point on my life just like this time, let me tell you what happen during my past 2 weeks:

- I accidentally flushed water to my camera, the result? I have to bring the camera all the way to Schiphol to repair it and today I got the letter that indicate that my camera can’t be repaired (and then I think do the all sensor on the camera burnt? because it was burning when I try to dry the camera). The thing is I forgot to buy the guarantee when I bought the camera, dead end, I’m doomed. My Sony A200 camera that I just used for 4 days just became a nice memory to me. I’m thinking just to take the camera and bring it all the way to Indonesia, where (sometimes) some creative skillful guys could repair it (if I’m lucky enough to find one)

-I got an opportunity to do thesis on one company (yay! \(^o^)/) but when I made appointment with my lecturer they said they were busy and unable to have a meeting with me untill the 2nd week of May, so eventually it means that I have to postpone my thesis, and my graduation.

-I feel like my housemate avoid me to talk, I don’t know why, perhaps they are  the type that ‘I choose to speak outside the house than here’ i feel like my homey becomes cemetery at night and also at the day.

- I haven’t finished to work on my ANSYS assignment, eventhough it’s just 1 ects, it’s surely hell pain in the ass, especially when all I do is procrascinating

- I didn’t pass the Dynamic of Structure’s exam for the 3rd time, that’s it! I’m officially dumb,  I’m not good enough on this stuff, and for godsake now I feel regret for taking Floating Structure and Bottom Founded Structure as my specialization

- to add my miserable life now I’m having my period, it hurts so much, not only mentally but also phisically

- I feel like I’m away from my god…

I feel alone, but actually I never alone, I feel so dumb, I feel so silly, I feel I’m nothing, I feel like I don’t want to live any longer, and I really don’t know what to do with my future.

God, are you there?