Of Recap and Roundup

A dear friend asked me last week about the apparent lack of update in my blog. I jest and said that, apparently, my life is not ‘that’ interesting. We both laughed.

Come to think of it, my life is indeed so ordinary. There is not much going on, which is something that I’m always thankful for. Changes usually throw me out of balance and I’ve always been slow in adapting to any major transformation. If my life is a movie, it will be one without sub plot, action and twist. Mind you, I’d welcome any sub plot if it happens to be a rendezvous with Jessica Alba, or something of that sort.

Speaking of changes, several colleagues in the office will be leaving to pastures new, looking for different challenges. I applaud and am happy for them all. I may have been here for far too long. It’s been four years to be exact. The fact that the people are extra nice and there’s no malicious office politics is something that will be difficult to replicate anywhere else.

Feeling curious, I recap things that have been happening around in these past weeks.

First, the company announced that I’m one of two people in Jakarta branch with the 'best performance' for this quarter. I got an iPod for it with my name engraved in behind (that means I could not sell it). Twice already, they have been handing out iPods for the winner. However, I feel there are other people deserve this more for their hard work and dedication. I certainly hope that someday everybody will be getting one.

Maybe this was some sort of reward for my ‘loyalty’. Actually, I’m the second oldest person in this branch, which is an alarming fact in itself. There was a photo of my wide grinning mug circulating in Petrolink International email. It was mildly embarrassing because I look so much fatter than my boss who was handing out the prize.

Second, I was so happy to reclaim back the domain name Rishardana.com. I had it from 2000 to 2004, but due to being out of town, I was late to transfer the extension fee. Some domain trawler held it until recently. Now it’s back in my hand and I’m psyched! I will put some of my portfolios in there.

For some bonus, the hosting company also included a free domain name, and I chose Negeriku-Indonesia.com. This will be a website of all things Indonesia, from travel accounts, places to go, articles about art and culture of Nusantara, and some other touristy stuffs. Finger crossed it will be useful for people who wants to visit this country.

Third, last week, we went to Senen flea market to buy some second hand books. We ended up with four large plastics full of books, mostly architecture and visual art stuffs. The place evidently has been in huge decline, plenty of stalls are closing. There’s not many people enjoy reading second hand book these days. Admittedly, it is far more pleasurable to buy books from large luxurious shopping malls where there's no danger of pickpockets and harsh store keepers.

Fourth was food wise. We ate at Ta Wan Restaurant twice these two weeks. Once at MM Bekasi branch and the other week in Setiabudi Building one. The porridge was divine and at good price too. Eleven thousands rupiah for a large delicious extra yummy three-flavored porridge bowl is definitely a bargain.

Fifth was about the movie. Three weeks ago, we went to watch The Dark Knight with colleagues and their family from the office. My wife had just arrived from Malang by train when we rushed to the theater; with large suitcases and bags full of crispy crackers, we struggled to find our seat. We missed a good thirty minutes from the opening sequences, so we decided to watch it again the following week.

This time in Bekasi’s very own XXI. Alas it was choc'a'bloc full of children and families, which was surprising because TDK is a very dark, violent, and disturbing production. Perhaps people misinterpreted the image of comical Batman from previous sequels.

It was good fun, very much different compared to watching movies in Jakarta. They closed the XXI lobby so hundreds of people trapped in between the gate and the escalator. When they did open the door, people were kicking and screaming towards the ticket box. It reminds me much of my days in Bandung. Lot of babies crying midway through the movie, teenagers taking pictures and chatting about, and twice the studio stopped to change reels. Splendid!

Well, there it is folks, round up events for the last two weeks. Have a nice weekend to you all.

Ritz Carlton Buffet

Lamb Yum

We dine in Ritz Carlton last week. Ira crave the teppanyaki ice cream and I've been dying for some big delicious prawns.

It was rather empty when we arrived. Packed full not long after, with families and couples alike. Overall, twas an OK meal, I am too easily full nowadays for my liking.

There are quite a few dishes I haven't pillage. The pasta has gone downhill since the last time we visited. Couldn't quite point out what's missing. Maybe they have changed chef.

For around 19 dollar per person, it was definitely worth the price, if only I weren't so fed up. Pity, I used to be such a warrior on buffets.

However I must say the ratio between food quality, quantity and compared prices, Ritz Carlton trumps Four Season and Le Meridien. No surprise there's a lot of tourists and expatriates hobnobbing around us. There were several celebs also but we was too busy munching the lobsters to pay attention.

Ira enjoyed the dessert set, a collection of mouthwatering troufle, tasty tiramisu, and colorful mouse. Perhaps that's the reason she picked Ritz Carlton. It's her favorite place for cookies and sweets.

Here's some of the pictures of my loot. Forgive the quality, as they were taken with an old camera.

Starting with some baby lobsters.

Half eaten Tiramisu and assorted sweets

Ira looking rather happy.

By the time we went home, I was more or less five kilos heavier. Gone all of my hard work in the gym for this last two months.

Dilemma of The Five Legs

Chicken porridge is one of my favorite dish and for the past 11 years I have them for breakfast on a regular basis be it when I was in Bandung until now working in Jakarta. They are usually provided in some mobile food stalls ingeniously named kaki lima (five legs) patrolling across the streets from rural urban area to the shadow of skyscrapers in the central business districts, offering various kinds of food and drinks or even cigarettes and boozes.

The term Kaki Lima were given because some say that they seems to have five legs (if you count the owner’s) observed from a distance. But another source argue that Kaki Lima was a phrase given to the five feet pavement between the building and streets in the city which were supposedly for people walking.

Now this is where the dilemma begins, as I ponder the fact that my favorite chicken porridge stall has moved his dolly near a garbage shoot. I was slightly reluctant eating my albeit delicious dishes amongst sea of flies and the invigorating smell of landfill site.

As the nature of kaki-limas to operate in a lane where it is theoretically reserved for other functions, they’re often deemed as an intrusion for the public facility and city regulation. Another point is that, most area in Jakarta still has no proper sewage system, while the habit of these kaki-limas is to chuck their waste to the gutter and is one of the contributors for the clog in sewers all around the city (though not necessarily the sole reason of flooding in Jakarta if rainy season comes).

Because of the aforementioned grounds, several times a week there are inspection and raid held by the city task force to the thousands of kaki-limas. Occasional corruption happens here, where as a opposed to being chased like animals, the kaki-limas just offered bribes for the officers so that they walk away with their notorious loudspeaker. This is very unfortunate for the kaki-limas because even though they have bribe one task force the other would follow suit, yet still there is no guarantee that they could operate everyday, especially when the big fishes, aka the really important officials (minister or president) pass their street.

Illusion that everything still clean and under control is still the best option for these boot licker officials.

Some of the raids was totally inhumane though, I even saw it with my own eyes how these people were hunted down and kicked, their cart and dolly was shredded apart, or taken custody as a ransom for larger sum of money. Beauty versus poverty, what a pity. I know it is important to have a beautiful city, yet it’s been widely known that majority of the Jakarta citizen is poor. And I really believe that kaki-limas could be one of the solution to increase independency and entrepreneurship amongst the people. Last year alone thousands of new unemployment flog the city and it’s better for them to become small entrepreneur than beggars or even thieves.

I realize that it is not been easy, for example if you have a five feet pavement along the street, all five feet will be filled with cart and dollies if a certain measure not taken. Plenty of traffic jam has been caused by the expansions of these informal sector, yet from my observation, this is the fruit of the government’s policy to only pay attention in building malls and plaza for bigger business yet ignoring city plan for smaller enterprises and ventures which proven to be of a much larger quantity and in correlation with larger scale of population.

Middle class citizens like me can only afford eating regularly in the streets. You try to look away when they wash their platters hastily in a suspect looking bucket near the gutter. Or pay no attention when the piece of cloth they use to clean the dish fall to the brownish paving below, but find it hygienic enough to still use it. I remember at early weeks I stayed in Jakarta having to endure plenty of food poisoning before I became immune to them nasty germs. Hopefully no long terms effect damaging my poor sensitive stomach.

Dang, I’m gonna have to find me a new chicken porridge.

Durian and Tiramisu

Having a lil smidgen of extra money from some moonlighting activities afford us a bit of durian party at home, during the weekend. That juicy and extra sweet fruit isn't one would call a delicacy, as the aftertaste seems rather too strong for some people especially westerner.

Knowing how to pick the right fruit always becomes a tricky part. Luckily the guy who assisted us yesterday really knows his stuff as it turns out the quality of the fruit we bought was top notch. Us Indonesians prefer the balance between the bitter and sweet flavors, which signifies the perfect state of ripeness for the King of Fruit.

The poor taxi driver on our way home probably still busy trying to wipe that strong aroma from his car even tho’ we’ve already double bag ‘em neatly. Hope that extra thousands we spared him could lighten up his mood a bit hehehe, well most likely not.

Some said that people with high blood pressure traditionally advised to avoid durian due to its rich content of cholesterol. That is possibly why today I’m feeling a tad high, drunken of the many curd-like flesh I’ve consumed yesterday. Silly me, I should have drink some water directly from the skin after that.

Speaking of high blood pressure, I was not any smarter several days ago. Ever since I was curious of what tiramisu means in Sleepless in Seattle (you know when Rob Reiner told Tom Hanks how chicks dig it, at first I thought it was some kind of secret Japanese delicacy), I always find myself craving about that famous Italian dessert.

One particular article in a magazine three years ago listed a few places that serve delicious tiramisu in Jakarta. My favorite would be Allessandro Nannini as they dish up a perfect (at least for me) balances of fullness that rich cream, ladyfinger pastry, and strong aroma of cocoa melts in your mouth.

It is hard to describe how tiramisu taste like. It’s sweet and creamy, yet it doesn't taste too sugary, and it doesn't stay in your mouth long enough and just make you crave for another bite. It tastes just absolutely delicious.

The best I ever had would definitely be when we we’re in Il Carminos Trattoria. Heaven in my mouth would be an overstatement, I guess. But it was pretty close, especially as it was free, with the regular fancy office dinner every Thursday night our boss treated us.

Well, in short I gotta work hard to earn that smidgen of extra money so we can afford more durians and tiramisus in the future without having to rob any bank.

Hyperbolic, hehehe I know, told ya I’m a little bit drunk.