Day 3, 17 Feb: Shopping Day of Singapore

Today is the third day of our trip in Singapore, in this day, our itinerary pointing the shopping place as our destination.

We got up at around 8-9 AM, still with a sleepy sensation rounding in the head, but we have to prepare ourselves immediately, because we have a ‘beautiful’ timeline-traffic today.

After we are ready to start our trip today, we took the MRT to the City Square Mall, take a little step to the outside of mall, near Mustafa, and having our lunch at one of Indian style restaurant at there.

I choose the Mutton, made from Lamb and Curry. The price is 5 SGD, not so expensive eventhough not so cheap too. Taste of Mutton is savory and a little spicy in my mouth, and the portion is in good shape too, so it will fulfill my stomach a little longer for our tight-schedule today. And we ordered, Roti Prata served a lamb curry as our side-dish.

After we finished the lunch, we are heading directly to the 24 hours Mustafa, i think this is the biggest all-in-one supermarket I’ve visited ever. They are providing so many and complete goods and groceries, starts from daily groceries, such as toothpaste, soap, to the apparels and bags.

Many new and unique products that i’ve never seen before are available in this shopping center, so i decided to buy my hand-carry gift to my family and friend at Indonesia. I bought 3 bags of roasted peanut, 1 bucket of chocolate, and some chocolate bar for daily snacks. Spending for about 25 SGD here, damaging my wallet beautifully in here. Phew.

After the shopping at Mustafa, now we are heading to the Bugis Street, one of most famous shopping area in Singapore. The only thing i bought at Bugis Street is watch… or watches for exactly. So many models of watches came with very-very affordable price for my tiny pocket.  Well, honestly the only reason i want to come to the Bugis Street is to do some watch-shopping, so i wont miss the chance

Finished at Bugis Street, my recently-bought watch pointed the time, it’s now already 5.30 PM. We are already have been waited by my friend’s sister and her husband. We are brought to one of most-queue restaurant, Founder Bak Kut Teh , lucky for us, we dont have to do the queuing process, my friend’s brother-in-law already did the queue for us , so the only thing we have to do in enter the restaurant directly and waiting for the order that has been made.

We ordered the Bak Kut Teh, and some of side dish. Too bad, i dont know their english name, so i will give you the complete picture  of our meal and you can decide the name.

Got a treat from my friend’s sister, so our dinner today is totally free. No queue, no pay and got the luxurious chinese style dinner, have no guts to ask more than this .

The day still not end at this point. We are continuing our journey to the Clarke Quay, one of clubbing spot for the Singaporean. The place is good and great for photo session, beautiful night, nice building and mixed with complimentary from great view of the river. I will upload the photo later, after i copied from my friends’s memory card, i’m forget that the pics are taken using their cams.

We finished our tour the Clarke Quay at around 11-PM because we have to catch the latest bus that ends the route at 11.30 PM. The third day, maybe can be considered as the most tiring day of our Singapore Trip. But, we are so happy because of the cheap-happiness, good food and nice photo-documentary of our trip.

Day 2, 16 Feb: Strolling on Universal Studio

Today is the second day of  our trip in here, and our itinerary pointing our schedule for USS strolling.

So, after we get up and preparing ourselves for today’s schedule, we take the bus to the NEX Mall, Serangoon, to have a little breakfast.

Ordered a bowl of Lo-Mee for that 2.5 SGD, a very very reasonable price with enough-portion to fulfill my stomach. And the taste is good too, so this food can be considered as one of my recommendation

After we finished the breakfast, we continuing our trip to one of the most visited spot in Singapore, Universal Studio. Bought the ticket online, for 65 SGD. Expensive enough, but still reasonable for the amusement park and sensation i got here.

Watched and played so many games in here, Transformer, The Mummy,Waterworld, and many more. Excellent effect combined with magnificent artwork, and I’m absolutely agree that Universal Studio Singapore is one of world’s best amusement park.

I took so many photos in here, starts with the view and ends with the pretty guest-service of USS , one for example and please for your eyes only. :p

Well, my second day at Singapore only took me to Universal Studio. I spent maybe around 6-hours to enjoy almost-all the amusements available in the USS. Too bad, we missed maybe 2 or 3 amusements because we were too late and let them closed before we reached them.

Overall, i can say that the price for USS ticket is a little high in measurement, but can be considered as fair-enough for the experience that you will get. A little advice, if you have a plan to visit the USS, come earlier and dont miss anything.

Day 1, 15 Feb: Arrival and a little sight-seeing

My watch has pointed at 3.00 AM and i have to get up already, and take one-hour to get to the airport, fill some paperwork and waiting for our 6.15 AM boarding call. It’s better to be early than late when we are facing the tight-schedule trip.

Because, still in valentine moment, we are celebrating our own valentine in Soekarno-Hatta, while waiting for the boarding call. I think i will have my diabetary check after this valentine celebration.

Arrived at Changi Internasional Airport and do some paperwork, and after that we use taxy to go our residence, 984A Buangkok Link, or you can search it at foursquare entitled as “Buangkok Link, Netz Base” yes that is our boarding house at Singapore.

This is my first holiday trip to Singapore, eventhough in fact not so first trip, i visited this beautiful country around 1994, 12 years ago. But, you cant compare the medication trip and holiday trip. Not many changes, except for the MRT and EZ-Link, when i visited in 1994, they dont have MRT and EZ-Link card yet. Paid everything in cash.

The first thing we do after we check-in to our residence, is –of course– looking for a food, cant describe how im so hungry, a  cup of coffee and 2 slices of bread with a spread of durian jam i ate for my breakfast,  are not enough definitely. We looking for a lunch at Hougang, various menu available, Noodle, Hainan Chicken Rice, Shihlin, and many more.

Well, my appetite came to the Noddle, looks so tempting and delicious. So, i bought it for only 3.2 SGD, relatively cheap enough, eventhough the portion is so small but it’s okay for now. At least, it can fill some empty space of my stomach.

After we finished the lunch, now we are heading to the Sentosa Island. In Sentosa, we just spotting for a good view for photography reason. And luckily, many good spots available. . I will upload the photos and update this post later, after i got it sorted, converted and resized.

The sky is getting dark and darker, we decided to finish our trip to Sentosa, and we have to heading back home. But before we heading back to the Buangkok Link, we decided to visiting the People Spark Chinatown, looking for a dinner. Wow, im so surprised, so many oriental-based meals available, Noodle, Beehoon,  Peking Duck, Roasted Pork and still many more available, unluckily some are written in Mandarin, too bad i cant read nor even speak mandarin. I ordered Peking Duck mixed with Roasted Pork, that cost me for 6 SGD, my dinner today is a little overpriced, but still can be considered reasonable for the taste and portion i got.

After we finished the dinner, we are now heading back to the Buangkok Link. Im so tired, my foot has trembling, and feel sleepy and in urgent-need to take a bath. So after arrived at the base, I stretching and resting the foot for a while, taking a bath and sleep well, that ends my first day trip in here.

I love using MRT as a transportation to trolling around Singapore, fast, neat and clean. Cant compare the MRT to any transportation in Jakarta. In here, we do anything in fast, time accurate, and still law abiding in the first place.  I wish we will have that kind of transportation in Jakarta, of course only happened in my dream.

Singapore and Malaysia Trip, 15 Feb – 22 Feb 2012

Hello there, long time no see, and it’s been 4 months since my last post, 27 Oct 2011. Well, yeah nothing new in my life, and im currently spending my long-annual-leave overseas holiday, to Singapore and Malaysia, from 15 Feb to 22 Feb. Long enough to give my nerve a little relaxing time, taking a break from my daily chore, writing bunch of code, fixing many bugs, and sometimes taking argument in a meeting.

I wont write about the whole 8 days of my trip in this one single post, i will write it in separated day-per-day post. Well, i this post only an opening post, so i think i have to end this post right now. Stay tuned and give me some time to write those 8 days trip.

Yeah, Jobs is dead.. So what?

We all know Steve Jobs, i bet you know him. And we know that he is passed away already on October 5, 2011. And have to be admitted that his death has caused a shock in the world. In that day (and several days later), many news whether online or printed still talking about his death. Many famous names said they are shocked about the Steve’s death.

YES, i admit that Jobs it a good leader, maybe the best of this century and im not hyperbolic-ing this statement. Nobody will waste any time to hesitate about his work and his successful story with Pixar and Apple. 2 companies and their stories are enough to draw who’s Steve Jobs as a leader. But, still no story can makes Jobs is worth to be worshiped and out from my imagination, they are making Steve Jobs Day to give a little ceremony  for him. Oh come on, so from now on people named a day when a famous name die? so, why dont we start it with Marco Simoncelli Day ? or maybe Dennis Ritchie Day? Please wake up and open your own eyes. Jobs is great, thats correct, but still he’s not worth to be cried in overreacting way. If you want to cry, that’s easy just googled image with keyword “Hunger in Africa“. If you want to cry, cry for them, they are more worth to be cried than one-gadget-inventor.

It’s funny enough, one people death can cause millions people crying, people that havent met him in real person i bet. So, if i feel sad about his death? the answer is absolutely not. I never met him in person, just from television, internet and some billboards that show his face. So, i think it’s normal if im not sad about his death. And still, i dont undestand why so many people cried about his death, and more than that some are disclosing about their sadness with crying in hyperbolic statement, for the example this Tyra Bank, the image is taken from page http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045842/Steve-Jobs-dead-Apple-staff-plan-celebration-life-world-mourns-death-genius.html

I dont know whether she is such a delicate and sensitive or just seeking for a sensation with her tears. So she cried over and over when she typed on her iPhone. So i imagined, when she got herself at the party or the night club, and someone sent her a sms. And what happend next is she will reply to it while crying at the same time. Easy, to make her tears flowing out, just send her an sms. For me? she is dumbass and overreacting.

If you are feel amazed with Jobs’s works, so read his story, watch his life-journey, learn from his positive. Why Apple fired him, how he made Pixar as one of best animation studio and then back to Apple to save the company from crisis. That’s the right way and much better than crying, sad and overreacting  about his death.

Im not seeking for agreement or disagreement here, just flowing what should be and shouldnt be according to my healthy brain. So, i dont care if you give this post bad reputation or yelling at my blog. You can still continue your Jobs-Worshiping daily chore or do something more useful.

My Life Beside Technical Side

Many people thinking about me and the only picture and shadow they could imagine is only me as a techie guy. Living in a geeky world and doing techical as the hobby. That’s all.

I can’t say they are absolutely wrong. But i wont say they are 100% perfectly correct.  Yes, im earning my daily living as an IT technical guy, geeky for some “ordinary” people. And YES – a big and huge YES – if someone talked with me about IT related thing, i could spent many hours talking entirely about this world. From the basic matter to advanced complicated.

But, did you ever thing about me as non-geeky ? as non technical person? maybe the answer is relatively nope. The fact is, i love many things beside the IT. for the example, i love talking about business, life strategy, managerial thing, sport and still many other topics i love to talk about.

Why i rarely talking about those topics above, not because im not loving those but usually my talking-friend is always taking me back talking to IT related, im not blaming them because yes im enjoying talking about IT but still, that doesnt prove that i hate and hide the others.

In fact, i love sharing and talking how to run a business, strategy and people managerial with some friends. For the first they talk to me about “human-being” topic, usually they are surprised and didnt expect i know the topic and can be their talking partner .

Maybe the only thing i always forbid to talk about is only politic,  Not because i dont know about politic, the otherwise run here, i know about it but i prefer not to talk about this thing. Because it’s a dirty and nasty topic to be discussed about. And i hate politic and its politician too.

Well, thats all, maybe someday we could talk about many topics where none of them are technical related. Have a nice day.

Culinary Experience: Dinner at Happy Day

On last weekend, we – me and my friends – after took a long time with a discussion about our dinner place. And finally, we decided to have a dinner at Happy Day. First, we have to take a waiting list because no seats available for 9 people. But it’s ok, we signed for the list and waited for maybe 15-20 minutes with a little chit chat before the waitress called us to our table and gave us the menu.

You can see by yourself, this restaurant offered several kinds of Main Course; Indonesia, Western,Italian and Chinese. And the good part of it, the price is so reasonable. Range from Rp. 20.000 to Rp. 90.000 (Sirloin Steak Wagyu).

Finally after struggling with many kinds of meal that available to be chosen, i chose Chicken Grilled and Mineral Water. It took about 15 minutes until the food is served well at my table.

This Chicken Grilled served so hot, you can see the gravy is still boiling on the Chicken and it presented with 2-3 pieces of Onion, Potato Chips, and salad with mayo dressing. The taste of the chicken is nice, tender and could be described as not plain but not so tasteful. The kind of taste that i love.

Not forget to take a picture from some of my friends meal. They ordered Chicken Gordon Bleu, Spaghetti Bolognaise, and Fettucine Carbonara. Maybe for the Gordon Blue, it served so plain with just a piece of lemon and small portion of salad. But for the Bolognaise and Carbonara they look so delicious and make my mouth drooling enough. Maybe, next chance i will order one of them.

Now is the payment time, for Chicken Grilled it costed me Rp. 26.900 and for Mineral Water it costed me Rp. 7.900. And with addition 15% for tax and service, so that night i have to pay about Rp. 40.000,-. Its a good price, relatively affordable and reasonable for a dinner with full satisfaction from taste and service.

This is my first time to have a dinner in this place, but after satisfying experience i have had, i can make it clearly i would love to come back at this restaurant. Maybe for another ordinary dinner or special occasion.

Happy Day
Ir. H. Juanda No. 19.
Jakarta Pusat
DKI Jakarta – Indonesia
PH 1: (021)380-9230
PH 2: (021)385-8245

When Tentative Goes In Wrong Direction

A few days ago, i have a little dispute – in better pleasant way, we called it discussion – about Tentative. Well we often said Tentative when we are unsure about something, giving temporary answer. In most cases we said it when we are facing “Attending or Not” Problem.

Well, its oke to say tentative, nothing wrong about it if we are using it in appropriate case. But, it goes wrong when we are saying it as our hideout or cowardliness to make a decision.

Maybe, you can say like this “Hey, this is my answer, the answer is all up to me. When i want to come i will come, and when i dont want to, i will prefer staying at home or maybe going somewhere else”.  Oke, for me, this answer is only drawing yourself in a bold if you’re only a coward that better to make a float decision than to be blamed. Nobody can blame you if you are attending, and nobody can blame you if you goes otherwise. Just tell them “Remember guys, I’m  the tentative man, its your fault to count me in or waiting for me”.

Just remember, when you are saying tentative, maybe you  are the owner of someone’s new problem. For the example, when you are planning a trip. Someone has to arrange so many thing, planning many cases, a case when you’re in and  a case when you aren’t. Meanwhile, you are sitting on the couch, watching some good movies, not even thinking about itinerary, accommodation and transportation and just following your mood to come or not to come. REMEMBER, you are not the only one on the plan.

I make this post not to blame somebody or implicitly saying a name or even making a new discussion. So if you are  ’touched’  with the post, maybe you are just too delicate . Just to remind you, blog readers, its oke to say tentative but it will go in wrong way if you using it as your hideout and a cowardliness of being blamed.

3 Years Of My Career

This day, 3 years ago, i was starting my career. It seems time is running fast and faster. Ive been running on this track for 3 years. Many bad and good situations came. Some solved, some unsolved and the rest remain better to be untouched in their shapes , not solved nor unsolved.

Back to 3 years ago, graduated and shifted status from trainee to professional. Like a new dough on the bowl. Unshaped and unflavoured. Still remember my first project, a tiny one but maybe some of you still use in in your daily, Well, like i said a tiny, nobody remembered about it, nevertheless, im proud enough. Knowing nothing at that time, just a humble code-monkey. Did the code as i told to, never asked the reason, never asked the neater solution. Just did it , not because it’s the best way but because it’s writen on the book.

Time flowing and so do my experience. Did many codes, some are best, some are useful and some just useless code. But still, every little thing that i made, have had their own value and price from it. Did the code not only because it’s needed but i did some just to kill the time and to warm up my nerve. Learn much, do more mistakes and take a lesson from it. My knowledge broaden wider in my every single day. Happy to learn a new thing, just a like a kid got a new toy. Dont know for how long this happiness will be last. But as long as i do my hobby as a job, so im proud to do it.

Was a trainer for 2 years, a nice memory, a wonderful one. Knowing so many apprentices, with their own strengthness, weakness and uniqueness. Some are talented with technical stuff and some have incredible soft skill. Sometimes, they asked amused and tickled question, unbelievable mind that came spontaneously so they asked for it. Knowing people are quite funny and interesting part, since my job itself have less interaction with people, so i should call be a trainer was the most wonderful one. And i miss the time when i was lecturing them, writing on the board, and teaching without opening a single page of slides – Not a rebel, just my style of teaching.

3 years, relatively experienced for some. But for myself, it still green, still much to learn outside there, im just a little book that filled a huge attic. Im still nothing compared to my dream to be a world-class professional. Sounds too ambitious, naive and maybe cheesy? well, name it everything from your own dictionary. But as long as i love it, i will chase my dream as tough as i can.

Many people came and went away in my life both professionally and personally. I couldnt mention all of them on the post, just mentioned a few of them but they played the biggest role in my life. Wouldn’t say their name on here, just their well-known initial.

• Mr. HSI and Mr. AGD,working together with both of you was a superb experience that i ever had. Gained many many experiences. Technically, personally and some are tricky in good manner
• Mr. TJB, Thanks for all of the kindness and careness. Short span with you, but indeed you played big role in my life,
• and the most would be addressed to Mrs CCM. Many thanks for you, for anything, gained nothing technically from you, but it’s more than that. Learnt how to love, how to survive, and how to live a life. Still remember you saved my life from being a banker . Just hoping you are reading. Maybe, wont pass through to this day without you

Disappointing Experience at Rumah Air Bogor

My watch pointing nearly at 3 PM, and we havent had our lunch yet. So, after being tired enough playing around at The Jungle amusement area. We decided to end it, and continue the trip to nearest restaurant. And luckily there is one near, near enough so you can see the restaurant when you are looking to our parked car.

So, we entered the restaurant, the scenery looks good, superb, could say this one near to excellent. If you love village scenery: the view, fish pond, the scent and the wind that flew breezely. A real nice view and took zero second for us to think to have the late lunch here. This restaurant divided into 2 areas, hut and table. If you want to eat at the hut, you have to sign the waiting list but nothing to do if you are pleased enough with the table area. So, we choosed the hut area because of nice view and came to the reservation area to enlist our name on the waiting list. As we predicted, the waiting list is long enough, 6 names to be jumped at.

To kill the time, we started to take few pictures, as we used to. Taking pic at here, at there, with him, with here, alone, together, partial. And after we done taking pictures, we asked the man about the waiting list and because of we are hungry enough, so we canceled the waiting list and took the table area so we can start our lunch.

So we entered the table area, there are 3 tables that can fit our count. But all of those tables are still dirty because of the previous guest. Okay, nevermind, we’ll wait the waiter to clean up the table. We waited and asked 2-3 different waiters to ask for the service, but no one came with the cleaning kit, just said “Yes sir!”, heard that often enough and we choosed another more clean table, not clean but it’s better, only few plates and glasses to be cleaned up.

Another new disapointing story happened, it looks like we retake the scene, as it’s a failed movie. We asked the service, to the 2-3 different waiters, got the answer nicely, but nothing happened to the table. Noboby came to us to clean the table, i think they are learned hocus pocus way, so the table will clean itself without anybody touching it. My friend came to the cashier area and asked the cashier “mam, can we asked our table to be cleaned” got shocking enough answer “I’m sorry, you can ask the waiter yourself”. Damn, started from this, my face turn to frown. Cant smile but not enough heat to start the engine. And my friends start to muttering the bad service and my another friend ask the waiter with his glowering face and louder sound, and voila! the magic happened here, the waiter brought the cleaning kit and started to do his job.

After our table got neat with so much effort, now we asked for the menu. And i got not-shocking-again answer “Yes sir!”. But after many minutes had passed away, nobody came with the menu. We asked another waiter and the scene retaked, asked another and it retaked again. Enough, i came to the cashier area, scolded the cashier for the bad service, scolded the 2 waiters (1 of them answered: we are full guest here sir!) and asked the manager to come out thought i cancelled this one. And i got another better idea to do. Tell the story at the most famous forum in Indonesia, send the reader column at several famous newspapers, and send an email to its customer service — still i got no reply for the email.

So, we cancelled the lunch here, too much effort wasted here. Well, this is the worst service i ever got during my culinary trip. This is the first time i came to the restaurant but i could make it clearly this one is the last. The price isn’t cheap and the service is bad. Enough reason to have its name on my blacklisted restaurant, though the view is good but still it does’nt worth.