Food Fiesta: Nasi Kapau Kramat!

Are you a fan of Padangnese food? Or you don't know what it is? Just spend your time in Kramat Road and test the food! I bet you will be a loyal fan. This is such an experience!

I always love to eat in a place with such vibrant atmosphere. Before i visited this place, i was going to 1001 malam seafood in Kelapa Gading, East Jakarta. They served not only the most delicious dishes, but the atmosphere is hectic yet hot but those were the thrill. And Nasi Kapau Kramat provides u with the similar escapade.

This is a hawker eatery, located in Kramat Road. From Kwitang you turn right in the Senen Intersection, and the place is right on the left. Park your car in the side of the street and start to eat. There are many kiosks that offer you the Nasi Kapau, but my personal favorite is the Sabana Asli.

The specialty of these places compare with other Padangnese Restaurant is that they serve the authentic Padangnese Menus like Itiak Cabai Hijau (It's the duck which cooked with the green chili) and Bubur Kampiun (a sweet porridge dessert). The taste are GOOD, and the price is just right. I spent Rp. 17.000 (2 USD) for a portion of Nasi Kapau which consist of rice, roasted chicken, vegetable and a glass of ice tea.

Well if you really want to know the real deal, i have the video just for you :D

Feel the BEAD!

I don't know how exactly how they make it, but i really wanna learn how! This season most exciting trend (at least for me) is the bead.

I've found Nylon magazine did this trend and i'm crazy with everything in it, but guess what, i looked up on my own treasure and i get these pieces. They are all made in Indonesia. hoho. The necklace is from Pontianak, West Borneo. The Earing is from Parta Porte, Bandung, West Java. And the cuff is from Yogyakarta.

My own Stuffs


Nylon's Pick

Read this: Blonde Jokes!

I never knew there is such thing called "blonde jokes" until i discover this. Some are really funny indeed. hahahaha.

I knew a blonde that was so stupid that.......

* she called me to get my phone number.

* she spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice box because it said "concentrate."

* she put lipstick on her forehead because she wanted to make up her mind.

*she tried to put M&M's in alphabetical order.

*she sent me a fax with a stamp on it.

*she tried to drown a fish.

*she thought a quarterback was a refund.

*she got locked in a grocery store and starved to death.

*she tripped over a cordless phone.

*she took a ruler to bed to see how long she slept.

*she asked for a price check at the Dollar Store.

*she studied for a blood test.

*she thought Meow Mix was a CD for cats.

*when she heard that 90% of all crimes occur around the home, she moved.

*when she missed the 44 bus, she took the 22 bus twice instead.

*when she took you to the airport and saw a sign that said "Airport Left" she turned around and went home

I Want This: Tom Binns Fall 08 Necklace

This time i prefer a bold black jewels to the crazy colorful one. One of my favorite come from the Irish born jewelery designer, Tom Binns. For the fall 2008 collection, he released this gorgeous edgy punk-y black dangling necklace. Well Topshop once had this look-a-like, but it was made from plastic. So it won't last. So salute to Binns. I'll always consign my appreciation to this designer, who once said:

"Jewelry is always a treasure, and though it may not be made of gold and diamonds, it should still have that sentiment,"

Bribe The Tribe

It's time to make a tribute to the tribe!!

When i see all of those pattern on the Spring/Summer 2008 runway, i feel excited yet upset at the same time. Excited because i personally love the trend, but upset because many of the patterns are originally from Indonesia, but they (read: the industry nor the designer) seemed to not appreciate it.

They use the term "ikat" and "batik" to describe the pattern, while those are the crafts that have been produced for a long time here in Indonesia.

Well apart from that, these are my personal favorite:



Left-Right:
Balmain-Just Cavalli-Ports 1961-Armand Basi -D&G-Pollini

Get Them Back To School with only Rp.30.000/month

Do you know that more than 6.000.000 kids in Indonesia*, can't continue their study? 36% of kids in the school age** can't continue their education because of the lack of money?
Even though school feels like hell, but we do have to admit it that we need those education to live, to reach the future and to be a better person. And just like us, those unfortunate kids, need those too. But too bad, they don't have the money to go back to school.

Do you know that you can help a kid to continue his/her study by donating only Rp.30.000/month? That amount of money is enough to help an elementary school (SD) kid to study, but you can also choose to help a middle school (SMP) kid by donating Rp.45.000/month, or high school kid with only Rp. 60.000/month. When you commit to donate your money every month, you'll get the thankful note straight from the kid you'd help.

See, with only saving Rp.1.000/day, you can raise back their future. I'm doing this too, so why don't you do it with me? Comparing to Rp. 30.000-ish for a cup of Starbucks Coffee that we might could afford every month, i guess saving the same amount to help them get back to school is not that hard, right?

So, click here and start helping them!!

Thank You for the support :D

Source:
*Ministry of Education Indonesia 2006-2007
**BPS 2006

MAYHEM Is On FREE MAGAZINE!!!

Yeah, Mayhem is my accessories line. This is a line which i collaborate with my college pal, Dyah Chairunnisa Muntik. Mayhem is a craft work. An art. We make them as crazy as they can be!! That's why we call it Mayhem!

Since its debut last year, we've made 2 collection. The first one is the Canvas Edition, and second is the Feather Edition. We're currently doing in our 3rd collection that is gonna launched real soon.

This is a handmade production and we guarantee that there is only one piece for each design. We also doing a custom made product. So if you want to have our piece of necklace. Just contact me!!! The Price range of each product is between IDR 150.000-250.000.

And we send a huge Thanks for Khiva in Free Magazine (A local free magazine that specialized in fashion culture and lifestyle) who's already published our craft work in the magazine for the #10/Vii/ 4 Juni 2008 edition :D

Quote of The Moment: Putu Wijaya

"In the 'Zero' position, people could holding hands to live a better life and to avoid wars"
(Mr. Wijaya's explanation of his 'Zero' theatrical script which going to be played in Prague, Chech Rep June, 13 2008. Putu wijaya is one of Indonesian best artist who's already written 40 drama script)

I totally agree with this idea! War happens because there is someone who feels smarter than others, feels stronger than others and feels right when others seemed so wrong. In zero position there isn't anybody who played the role as a superior or inferior. As we stand side by side, appreciate and help each other to make Indonesia and the world a better place.

In my humble opinion, i guess these leaders who featured in Coldplay's other version video of Violet Hill, should reconsider their position and be in the "Zero".

This video (which was titled "The Dancing Politician) is banned to be released publicly due to the contents that implied critics to few politicians of the world.

Watch it, It's very briliant!

Quote of The Moment: Chloe Sevigny

"I would suggest having the theme for the holiday"
(Chloe's suggestion to avoid overpacking for the holiday)

Source: Elle UK, June 2008

I love to look good, and so does everyone else, including u. The quote above might be a solution for those of you who wants to look good on your holiday but definitely don't wanna carry all of the things on your closet.

My personal theme for this year holiday: Hippie.

I know it's not original, it might be everywhere as well, but for me it's not the originality that counts, but the simplicity, the perfection for the weather and yet easy to pull off.
You can create any hippie style with your favorite jeans, pants, shorts, minis.

My key items for the style are:
wide leg jeans, white cotton dress, loose t-shirts, tunic, fringe bag, beaded sandals, lots of accessories (bangles, beaded necklaces, headbands, scarfs, rings). Just pair them up, create lots of mixes!

I took these pictures above for the inspiration! You can find yours, or create your own theme for the holiday.

HAPPY HOLIDAY!!

Left-Right: Y&Kei (SS08), Derek Lam (SS08), both Etro (SS08)
Source: www.style.com

When Weezer Sing Japanese

If Indonesia have a person like Cinta Laura, the most talked and mocked, teenage artist because of her bad pronunciation of Bahasa, then maybe Weezer might get the same reaction from the Japanese.

Weezer has covered the BoA's ballad song called Meri-Kuri. The song can be found as a bonus track in Weezer latest album "The Red Album", the Japanese Version which is due released last wednesday. The Red Album is Weezer's sixth album.
I personally dislike this cover version because it's so not Weezer, and Rivers Cuomo sings Japanese so badly. It sounds very karaoke-ish, borrowing Simon Cowell's favorite line. The reason why Weezer picked the BoA's song its because it was suggested by Kyoko Ito, Rivers Cuomo's wife (They got married in 2006), who's Japanese. And by the first time he heard it, he was instantly taken by the song. Well the original song itself has been voted as the best winter song ever in Japan. So i guess Meri-Kuri is quite a popular song indeed.
But, as a wrap, considered that Japanese people also speak English badly, i guess, it's turns out ok.

Well these are the original version and the cover version of Meri-Kuri tell me what you think!

She & Him: the new sound of The Carpenters

As stated in their personal web, "She & Him made their debut record as a love letter to the musicians who inspired it. Volume One (Merge Records) introduces a boy and girl choir hell-bent on making music the old-fashioned way: by hand - and with as few machines as humanly possible"

Yes, the band's consist of a boy name M. Ward, a renowned one man band, and the quirky yet beautiful, Zooey Deschanel. They began their music adventure in 2006. and now, they are releasing their debut album. There are 13 songs which sounded very easy listening, native american style. What i mean with native american style is these songs reminisce the simple, folky american neighborhood kinda songs. You won't find any guitar distortion or multi tempo drum sound. Just a classic guitar accompanied by the sweet voice of deschanel's.
When i hear the playlist of the album, i directly associate the sounds with some American classic 70's or 90's movie. Yet i believe that the songs would be a great soundtrack for movies like Juno or 50's first date too.
My personal favourites are: This Is Not A Test, Sentimental Hearts, and I Thought I Saw Your Face Today.
For the fans of: Wilco, The Carpenters
For further details click www.she&him.com