Windshield View

Seems that the Iceland experience is really hard to move on from. So here's a little (more) story and some pictures to accompany you dreaming about the place ('cause I'm still hung up on it too).

We rent two cars, one under my name and the other one under my friend's, making us the registered driver. Sound's fancy, huh? The first two days, my back and my neck was hurting because of the tension of driving in a new place. In Indonesia we drive on the left side of the road while in Iceland we drive on the right side. Also we didn't want to get into any trouble so I always drove under the speed limit (with the limit technology on the dashboard it just made everything easier, thanks technology!).

The rest of the trip, driving came naturally again for me. Hours of driving everyday didn't tire me (only made me sleepy in the evening, but that's where co-driver came handy). What made it even more easier is the view. It's a total relaxation and totally eye-pleasing.

Most of it of course are mountains, some covered in greens and covered in snow. The one that is heavily covered in snow, is pure awesomeness, but when you're driving it's also a wonderful device blazing glare :'). But who would complain when you're blessed with such amazing view? I obviously didn't (I just put my sunnies on and problem solved). Another unforgettable views are the sunsets. There's a romantic sense when the sun peeked behind the mountains and its rays cut through the assembly of the clouds.

Since I have to keep my eyes on the road all the time, I only had like split of a second to glanced the view on the left or on the right. It also wouldn't make sense if I'd be taking the pictures. So, none of these memories are possible without the help of my wonderful co-driver, Einstein (he's social media shy so there's no link to all his brilliancies). All pictures are courtesy of his (though I should have credits for the camera :P and all the "command" for him to take the picture, I taught him well, I guess - me taking credit for everything). 

Bye for now, Iceland!

Hashtag: Squad Goals!

As a trained-extroverted introvert, it is still sometimes difficult for me to find comfort in myself in the middle of a large group (read:more than two or three). I might have doubted myself too much going on the Iceland trip though. As were mentioned in previous post, we were 9 people and we're going on a road trip. That's quite a lot together time for a group travel in my opinion. 

We were divided into two cars, multiple bedrooms and sofas, large food preparation, long bath queue, and small walking groups. But these people are just the best! So here's a tribute to endless Boomerangs (I can't stop re-watching), wefies, and group pictures!

Kudos to us and cheers to friendship!! #squadgoals

Land of Ice and Fire

During easter break, 9 of us went to Iceland for "vacation" and such an escape from school (and work). To be honest, I doubted that I could handle myself being with 9 people intensely for 10 days, nonetheless we survived without any scratch!! 

We walked, we drove through the sun, we drove through snow storm, we hiked, we bathed in the river, we bathe in thermal baths, we bath under the mountains, we walked on the beach, we walked on the glacier lagoon, we see northern lights, anything you could've dream of. There area thousands pictures of places that we went to and million of memories and stories to share. But even pictures and words cannot clearly describe the experience, and it wouldn't do justice to the place itself.

The best thing that I can share here is these videos of our journey, made by a talented friend of mine, Greatania J.

PS: Go spend your birthday in Iceland, cause it is LEGENDARY. True story.

Let It Snow!

My first snow in Trondheim! Winter has truly arrived and I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible (and hopefully not getting dreaded by it later). Well, since it's going to last for quite a while up here, might as well enjoy every part of it!

Verona

We took a short trip to Verona from Venice to get a break from the city. I was mesmerised by the city. It was really beautiful. We stopped by the bridge on the side of Castelvecchio and enjoyed a bit of the sunset. 

We went inside Castelvecchio, a restoration masterpiece by Carlo Scarpa. The simplicity of his delicate design and material selection is amazing. 

Last but not least, we went to Casa di Giuletta to meet Juliet and had a little experience on trying our luck ; )

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia

The campus orientation week started earlier this week. We had some meetings, games, barbeques, and today is another game called "Trondheim Games". We were given some challenges, questions, checkpoints, in which if we can answer the questions, challenges and find the check points we will get points for our team. It was really fun! But, the highlight of today was meeting with other Indonesian families here in Trondheim and celebrating our Independence Day. We went to Kristiansen Fort and then the famous Gamle Bybro and took family pictures!

Another extra highlight, congratulations for Indonesian Mixed Doubles Badminton in Rio Olympics for giving Indonesia first gold medal in the 2016 olympics just right at our Independence Day! Best gift!

Hello from Trondheim!

Checking in from Trondheim, Norway. I arrived a few days ago, and since then it has been cloudy and rainy and windy. But today (in a late summer) it's sunny all day. Me and my friends decided to stroll around campus and up to a nearby lake. On the walks, tt hits me on how lucky I am to be here. The sceneries are (well, so far) a feast to my eyes. It's really something that I thought I'd only see in books. Hoping for a great journey ahead!

*crossing fingers*

Playdate

Lately our new hangout includes bringing paper, pen, watercolor paints, brushes, and board games. Yesterday, we spent the afternoon drawing and me sort-of-teaching calligraphy. Haven't been a good teacher as I forgot the basic strokes and I really don't know how to teach. But well, it was a fruitful and fun hangout.

And today I manage to sketch out a couple things, that might follow up to something. C'mon strong-will and dedication, kinda need you. Ha!

Photos by Bambang Cahyoniarso (@obat_hipertensi)

The Remedies

It was quite not the ordinary day. Fluctuations. Mood swings. All because of fail plans. We, humans, should not make any plans at all, shouldn't we?

Then I remember this one song. Listening to it, I felt better. Then I remember another cure for my mood, calligraphy practice.

So to share a little bit of my happiness, and to know that you're not alone surviving in this world. I present you, this.

Pinch Me..

... Cause I might be dreaming. Pop Etc's soundcloud account just "loved" a cover of their song that I did probably a year ago. And why am I making such a big deal? Because, IT IS! 

Okay, getting back to a big grin for the day!

3 Things

Crazy (too) early Christmas wishlist (because it's even more earlier for a birthday wish list):

1. Fossil wallet

2. Birkenstock Florida

3. Black Tote by Harper & Smith

only best if this post ends with

...

kthxbye

Trip to Denmark

First thing first, this is a long overdue post. The trip itself was from May 19 to June 12. I just finally made myself to spend the time to select pictures to post here. And it was quite a challenge, picking which pictures that could represent from thousands of pictures I took over the 3 weeks. The city was beautifully breathtaking. The cityscape, the people, the weather. Everything's just right. With a country that speaks very well english and also with very helpful people, it's really an ease for a foreigner like me to get around the city so easily.

The opportunity/ I was sent by the office to join a 3 week training course on Green Energy and Low Carbon Development Plan. Sounds pretty fancy, huh? It was a new thing and an interesting thing. The course itself was funded and organised by Danida and UNEP Riso Center. There are 16 people on the course, 8 from Indonesia, and the other 8 diverse from Pakistan, Egypt, Colombia, Kenya, and Burkina Faso. I get to meet these people from across the world, countries I can only imagine on maps.

Denmark/ My three week down there, I experienced all sort of weather. Even when it's approaching summer, it's still not yet real summer yet. There are days that are warm, chilly, windy, sunny, cloudy, foggy, almost everything (except snow, of course). The city is basically packed in the central Copenhagen. Getting around is very easy, with the Metro, Bus Line, Train line, and even pedestrian walk is nicely planned.

Since this is going to be a long post, click through for more..

7 Days of Sunsets

These photos were taken the week of November 24 - November 29, 2013. Okay, it was only 6 days. But the 7th day is a rest day right?

This idea started when a friend of mine asked me to be in his team for a photography competition on instagram. There's a different theme for each day, and one of the theme is sunset. A co-worker once showed me pictures he took on his way home from the bridge near our office. The bridge is crossing a toll road going east-west so it was practically a pretty high and with a low surrounding skyline it became a viewing deck to watch the sun sets.

So one day, I went there and just decided to create a 7 days in a row pictures of sunsets. I really didn't expect to have a range of colors. I thought it was going to be, you know, the typical violet-purple-orange-red sun setting sky. But silly me, nothing happens exactly the same, right? And since I didn't go to the office for 7 days in a row (the main reason I didn't get the 7th day, I just couldn't make it by sunset to the spot), here's the six wonderful days, accompanied by songs from Explosions In The Sky, from "Day One" to "Day Six" (oooh how I love the coincidence) .

Day One,

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

La Vie En Rose

A tribute to a show that taught bits of life, friendship, work, love, dream...... and a lot more. The song is in one of my favourite scene of all seasons. I sound nothing close like the mother tho, but this is a tribute *please don't cue to Jack Black*. 

I've had the intentions to defend the "controversial" ending, a lot of raging fans online. But then, there's an alternate ending on DVD later, and there's a Thought Catalog post that already defended it (and more). I really do like the ending. The Mother is just the right one for Ted; she's dorky, well basically she's a female version of Ted but also the balance for Ted. But sometimes a romantic comedy is not all happy ending. Well, it's happy. Just not everybody's definition of happy. If I may say, the show has always been realist. Because, life's a pretty "what the damn hell?"

So anyway, before I really make that defence post, if you may, enjoy a version I did for La Vie en Rose. *smiley face here*

Mangrove Forest

Went to Mangrove Park (or was it actually forest) yesterday. It was a really nice place. It drains my fuel tho. Long walk and the humidity and the mosquitos. But it's nice to know something like this is still here.

(photo by @yonigram)

(photo by @yonigram)

(photo by @yonigram)

Before we went to the Mangrove forest, I fill up for a late lunch at Locale. Also a nice restaurant and pleasant service. Long day and long road taken, but worth it.

(photo by @desirecha)