I Love pancakes

FOOD

Starting with savory, as dinner, pilling our plates full of thin crispy crepe style pancakes with everything and anything you could imagine before moving onto American style sweet ones for dessert - again with piles of chocolate, cream, fruit and of course maple syrup, lemon or sugar. I am planning on having pancake feast, but beforehand wanted to share my favorite…classic American pancakes with tons of chopped bananas inside - basically I made a huge pile of pancakes (I ate some already lol) and wanted to share them with you..so here goes. This is so unplanned pic / took it while I was eating (taken by instagram story).

Those of you who are comfortable making pancakes, you need to know why my pancakes always failed. I always loved baking cakes but for pancakes, I have been trying making it since last year and It took me some time of failing pancake making to finally succeed now. It always turned out to crepe or prata bread consistency that would certainly make you laugh! :p

You will need:

*The Pancakes*

- 1 1/2 cups flour

- 3 tablespoons sugar (I'm using palm sugar)

- 1 tablespoon baking power / baking soda (add more if needed)

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1 or 2 cups milk (I'm using low fat)

- 1 egg (whisk)

- a little bit of butter if needed (i don't use butter)

Let's get making:

Step one: add the flour, baking power, salt, sugar into one bowl. Mix them well.

Step two: add the egg (whisk), milk and mix them all together into a batter.

Step three: Whisk the batter until they form well.

Step five: Heat a non stick frying pan and add a little bit of butter / coconut oil into the pan. Pour the pancake batter into the pan, wait until the first side is lovely golden and bubbly on top, then flip to cook the other side.

Step six: Pile up your pancakes onto plates and add toppings of your choice. I stay with the clean choice without sweet toppings! YUM <3

Enjoy your pancakes with your loved ones!

YAS I DID GET CAST!

JANJI TOBA THE MUSICAL

The best moment in 2015

When you are called in for an audition, the people present including a handful of a complete strangers. Someone asked me to sing couple songs (National & Bataknese songs included). I knw nothing about Bataknese songs so I decided to sing a gospel song lol so embarrassed. A few days later Debby called me for a role! and here's my story :)

Rehearsal/fitting tiiiiime! at Viky Sianipar Music Center, Manggarai Tebet

Take Vocal

This production tells a tale of how lake Toba appeared. Originating from North Sumatra, this classic Indonesian Folktale is chosen in hopes to raise the Indonesian' love for their culture.

A man named Toba who lived in North Sumatra. One day, he saw gold coins appear in the banana leaf where he kept his fish. His life changed when his fish morphed into a beautiful long-haired lady named Tiosmasna. They made a promise that he will never tell anyone that she is a fish, or else their children will later be descendants of fish too.

Bad things happened to them, Toba yelled to Tiomasna and Samosir (their son), "you stupid child of fish!". Right then, lighting struck the coconut tree and loud thunder rolled. Toba froze as he realized that he had broken his promise to Tiomasna.

She left the house and ignoring Toba's apologetic cry. As she walked away, her foot prints gushed out water, creating a pool. The water grew larger and larger until it became a lake which was named after Toba.

The show takes place in Ciputra Artpreneur, Lotte Shopping Avenue.

Very proud and happy to be working with the legend, Indrodjojo Kusumonegoro aka Indro Warkop. Avery humble, talented, friendliest friend and father himself. oh and also with Cindy Carolina aka Cindy AFI, Rony Dozer, Gita Bhebhita etc..

oh this is my dad and mom (not pictured) and 2 of my friends, thanks for coming! <3

Meet my good friends! this was an after show picture, YES we were crying :)

*One of the best moments that made my 2015 better*

Food & Beaches

A REVIVING BREAK 2016

The other week I decided to carve out some relaxation time, I needed to escape from the city but I did

not really want to travel too far away. I was daydreaming sitting by the beach all day, which is where  BALI came in. After getting so much recommendations, so I decided to pack my bag for a short getaway. Actually my sis asked me to, together with some other friends.

My sister chose Swiss-Belhotel Petitenget, Seminyak as the first choice. We booked a room for the best deal ever and I now understand the attraction. The room we get was very spacious and it really felt like our own personal getaway.

Hop on to the Greek restaurant called NOSTIMO in Petititenget, Seminyak and that was awesomely good. Found out that this restaurant is just across my hotel and owned by a very good lovely person, Alex Filippides. He takes his greek cuisine very seriously. 

We talked a bit and had some drinks. Such a lovely treat! The lamb souvlaki was amazing..oh and the pork belly with pita wrap was also stupidly good as well. They brought a really authentic Greek taste I loved it so much. Probably the best service I had in awhile! Cannot wait to visit again at first chance, and you all need to try it out. Highly recommend!

Potentially the best vegan food I have ever eaten 

My inner snob retreated in surprise at how old this restaurant looked, but I was glad I changed my mind because I was blown away by the food. This restaurant called Warung Eny, in Seminyak.

My sister and I ordered Ayam Betutu, Sate Babi, and Nasi Campur Bali. A place like this is still great for some gastronomic adventure but not for a romantic date. Plus you get a REAL Balinese barbecue where coconut husks are used instead of charcoal. This explains the great flavor in their barbecued food. Best of all, it is affordable! ;)

Best time in Bali <3

                                               

From Amsterdam to Amersfoort

Meet my family 

Summer 2014

The weather in Amsterdam was awesome! Took a walk down immersing myself in the gorgeous weather and I was astonished by the people as well. The Netherlands is also ranked as one of the top 10 "happiest" countries. So thankful that I get the chance to visit some of my Dutch friends in here. The thing I love the most about The Netherlands is people in here speak decent english AND I speak dutch as well so communication was not a problem here.

During my stay in Amsterdam, I chose a hostel instead of hotel just because It was way cheaper than a hotel room AND I get to meet new friends of course! Flying Pig was the best choice for me. It's in Nieuwendijk 100, Amsterdam, Netherlands. During the day it's a busy shopping street in Nieuwendijk, to become very quiet after the shopping hours. The Dam Square is also closeby. I never had breakfast in Flying Pig but pizza for dinner and it was freakin' good and the beer was also great! The Flying pig only accept people above 18 and under 40 years old.

They have enough space for you to crash one of the many comfy couches. For all of you coming over in the summer, they also have a little terrace attached to the smoking section so just put on your flip-flops and chill out in the sun. Since I do not smoke, it's very important for me, the smoker no longer allowed to smoke in areas where people are working. You can smoke in the smoking area connected to the bar, chill out on pillows and chatting to fellow guests and staff. Good times! Highly recommend!

I managed see one of my cousins, Crista when I was in Flying Pig. She was strolling Amsterdam with her friends and happened to see me before we left for Amersfoort. Oh It was her first time going to the bar/hostel because at that time she was still 17 so she had to act like an adult in front of the staff lol

I never get bored of dutch street food, especially FEBO!! It's just too good to resist and I came back here again the next days. When people ask does Amsterdam offer a fast, cheap, and yummy snack? YES, and it is FEBO. It's a fast-food franchise that serves up its snacks in "automat"-style vending machines. It's a simple process: you walk up to the window of the tastiest-looking treat, drop the correct amount in the slot, open the door, and take out your snack.

Febo is still best known for its croquettes. I really love Kalfsvleeskroket for those who love beef and for a non meat option, you can try the delicious Kaassouffle and it's a fried cheese nugget. And I also did enjoy my option of fancy dining or any kind of restaurant in Amsterdam. They knew how to serve good food with a good deal :)

I strolled down the Bloemenmarkt flower market which is the only floating market in the world. There are 15 stalls in this block-long flower market and you can shop for flower bulbs, seeds, accessories, souvenir, and everything else that is related to the flower trade. I just remembered I have missed seeing the annual festival  in Keukenhof. Aaaahh…what a waste! I hope I get to see it next year!

Many of Amsterdam's most famous attractions can get pretty busy at peak times but does not mean you cannot squeeze them into your travel itinerary. I cannot miss van Gogh museum when I was in Amsterdam just because he's one of my favorites artists and thank God I had the chance to visit. 

The museum has a large collection of works by van Gogh's contemporaries and works that influenced his own style, including his collection of Japanese prints. Must visit museum in Amsterdam!

Ended my trip from Paris to Amsterdam. It takes just 2 hours to get to Amersfoort from Amsterdam, which meant it was just a perfect destination for a weekend trip. Amsterdam is a vibrant city and definitely filled with lots of hustle and bustle, but I found myself feeling oddly relaxed more when I was in Amersfoort, a small looking pretty town which I spent most of my trip.

Biking through the tiny little alleyways was one of the most amazing parts of my stay. I felt like a kid again, full of adventure and awe! and let's not forget about the local food. My Kuku aka my aunty made the best meatballs, pizza and some other indo food as well.

"THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE TO SOMEONE IS YOUR TIME"

My sister, Vanessa and I had a generally lovely time visited our family back in  Amersfoort, the Netherlands. And I left feeling much more inspired.

Advice of the day-take the time and make the time to relax with your loved ones. 

People Don't Cross Our Paths By Accident

There is a reason for everything.

Things happen for a reason, whether we know the reason or not. Sometimes they come into your life and you know right away that he's meant to be there.  They were meant to serve some sort of purpose, to teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are and who you want to become.

People do not just randomly appear into our lives, there is a reason behind it. I believe that there is no such thing as coincidence, only reason and purpose. Often, I hear or read something from someone and feel that the person was led into my life for a reason. Sometimes, it is the message; in the words they write or in the words they speak. Sometimes, I am meant to connect with the person and open up to him in order to grow as a person. Sometimes, I am meant to meet someone to inspire him. Sometimes, I am meant to meet someone to become a better version of myself.

Ever since I started my journey, I have been more than grateful for the people who have come into my life. I struggled but I have been lucky enough to meet those people. These people have become some of the most meaningful people in my life. They are my best friends, my boyfriend and my family. They are the ones who call me at late hours of the night to make sure I am okay and will stay up just to chat. They are the ones who just know when I need a hug, and seeing them makes my days brighter. We often find ourselves bonding with someone and then feeling as if we have known them forever. The people who you meet and wonder how you have lived without are the ones to keep around.

Life throws many obstacles at us and at least for me it seems these influential people come into my life during the toughest times. Recently I have met a few people who have ultimately impacted my life in just a few short weeks. Between the amazing people I have gotten closer with from a few months ago or years and this one, I could not be more grateful. They are the people who do not run away from my struggles, but are rather the ones who stay and help me grow.

Whether you have stayed or left, I have been impacted by those who have touched my heart.

ALONE TIME

If you are at the point to a life change, then all you need is a little inspiration. I often find inspirations through blogs and what I love right now is discovering a new thing that makes me feel like I can do anything I want.

These past few weeks I have been thinking to find a simpler way of life and I have come to learn to be a simple person. Which is not only clearing all the negative thoughts away but also prioritizing important things first instead of wasting time doing unimportant things. I have also become a little bit geek and have been getting into writing and reading. I have learned how to live a happier life and to be a better person in the process.

I am always doing normal things that everyone supposed to do, going out for food with friends on the weekend or after class, singing at the karaoke bar, killing time with small talk over coffee. Never alone. Never.

Then I discovered I needed more time for myself, but this is not a reminder to you to “make time for yourself.” Instead, it is a reminder to learn more about your personality even deeper.

I have spent most of the time on my own. I do not know anyone who spends more time alone than me. At least seventy percent I have spent my time alone. Eating, writing, reading, studying, playing instruments or singing. I have learned to enjoy the sound of silence. To sit and hear what is going on not only just around me but inside of.

I used to think that my family or friends were thinking there was something wrong with me, I do not really care. In fact, I have gotten so much when I decided to immerse myself around other people. To learn about your personality, appreciate what you have by far and to love yourself even more brought the greatest benefit and these things I have learned from my alone time. Not only me who felt the benefit but also people around me. We all get the best version of me. I am able to get myself into social situations with positive energy that some people believe I am an extrovert, but I am not haha! 

But in here it can be right or wrong depending on your personality. Just like someone who loves partying occasionally needs a break from his lifestyle.

Whether you are young or old, introvert or extrovert, It is not a bad idea to learn more about yourself. Because for me personally once we know ourselves better, we will grow to become a better person :)

My story of unconditional love

Unconditional love is not about what a person does!

I still loved this man as much as i had before he broke the news. I still wanted him to be happy. I still cared about him. I realized at that moment that if you truly love someone, you want them to be happy, you want the best for them even if that means not being with you.

This thought did not make the pain or hurt go away. It was so intense that it took me months to finally get back to being me. Many of them told me that he was no good and would say unkind things about him. They thought that would make me feel better. They simply didn’t understand. The way i saw it, how can someone go from loving someone to not loving them overnight just because they did something you didn’t want. That would erase all good memories as if they never existed.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the human condition until we are thrown into the fire and discover how we respond in the moment. I wasn’t thinking about the meaning of unconditional love before this happened. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before, so i was not ready for it. Maybe we never are. How i responded to this situation came from deep within my heart and it was as real as it gets. My reaction surprised me and inspired me.

What Unconditional Love Really Means?

I came to learn what true love means. These questions came to mind: Would you still care about them and want the best for them? If your answer is YES, you love unconditionally. If your answer is NO, what you are feeling is not love. It may be a very strong emotion and feeling of attachment but IT IS NOT LOVE.

It is not about desire, attraction, enjoyment, similar interest, common values or emotions. It is something that simply happens outside of human control. Once that internal love alignment occurs, it will last forever. It can never be broken. Our spirit is forever connected to the other person’s spirit regardless of what happens with us on a human level.

True Unconditional Love Is Not a Choice

I honestly don’t know why some people have the capacity to love unconditionally and others do not. It is still a mystery to me why I was able to act and feel this way through such a nightmare. I have my doubts whether anyone could go through this true love story if they wanted to. From my experience, this was not a choice. It may be just fine for many people to exist in relationships based on strong emotional ties that they call love even though, in reality, it is not love at all. Unconditional love may sound like something wonderful but it appears we have no control over its occurrence though it would be something that I would hope all people would strive to find.

Relationships Are Conditional. True Love Is Not.

For me it's true that relationships are conditional. True love is not. We may decide we don’t want someone in our life anymore. Just like our parents who love us unconditionally, even we sometimes hurt them. If we truly love, love unconditionally, then regardless of what someone does, we will still love them whether we want them in our life or not or whether they want us in their life or not.