Today is Public Holiday for Chinese New Year. We are entering The Year of The Dragon.

Wake up in the morning, I saw a beautiful flower in the garden.

I’ve grown this  plant for more than ten years, and it is supposed to  stay small. But I let it to grow big. Now it  is almost 1.80 meter high.

First surprise is, this plant has fruit. And later on,  I knew it has flower too.

This is the first fruit and the first flower… as if the plant want to welcome the Year of The Dragon..

The flower …

The day before… (D-1)

The fruit, but it is not coming from the flower.., the fruit come first..

The flower at her habitat,, the tree is reaching the rooftop..

And this is the other tree  that remain small..

Other blossom flowers..

Happy Dragon Year. Wishing you happy, prosperous and good health in this Dragon Year…

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When I visited Vietnam two weeks ago, I got some  Vietnamese coffees. So I shared them with neighbours and sisters.

In return, one of my neighbour sent me her home made cookies..

Although this is a common practice in our culture, to exchange foods, but actually I do not expect from my neighbours anything when I gave them Vietnamese  coffee.

Anyway, I received it and …. I like it very much..

Peanut cookies with shape of Star..

Kasstengel or cheese cookies with shape of Stick..

Now I started to think, what shall I give her in the future in order to get her cookies again…

And the next day, we got another cookies. This time, it is coming from a bank , where my husband save his money. The bank sent a birthday cake and some cookies for my husband’s birthday..

Hmm…. not bad at all… now our home  has plenty of cookies..

The cookies..

Question of the day. What is the best cookies?

Answer : cookies from neighbour. Ok, and from a bank..

But,but,but…. another question: what is the best cookies in the world?

Answer : it is my mom home made cookies… See below ..

Demand for this cookies is rather high. Beside us who enjoy her home made cookies at all seasons,  this cookies also travel to USA  and NZ to find their fans overthere..

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Next week, Jan 23rd is Lunar New Year.  To welcome the occasion, all department store are wearing red color. Especially for the Year of the Dragon, they seem to have more decoration to celebrate it.

My shopping was done two weeks ago when I was in Singapore. So no more shopping now.

The purpose of my trip to Pondok Indah Mall is not for doing last minute shopping, but just to entertain my longing for Nasi Liwet Keprabon, at  food halls in third level.

The food consist of rice, shredded chicken, tempe bacem, tofu, and vegetables, we call it labu siem. This food is coming from Solo, Central Java.

The rice is cooked with coconut, so it is already tasty as it is . And they served it using banana leaf, so traditional..

This is the kind of food that I miss. When I haven’t have this one for a long period, say one month, then I will start to miss it.

Before I found Nasi Liwet Keprabon at PIM 2, I have to travel to Semarang to enjoy this kind of food. In Semarang, it is called Nasi Ayam Semarang. Similar but not all the same.

Nasi Liwet Keprabon is typical Solo, while Nasi Ayam Semarang is typical Semarang.

Nasi ayam semarang is one of its kind..taste like heaven..

Nasi Liwet Keprabon has similar taste to Nasi Ayam Semarang , so I take this as ” tombo kangen” means to make my longing fulfill..

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From Jan 10 -12 I was in Semarang for monthly meeting. As usual, the trip started at Jakarta airport, drink my caramel chocolate at Starbucks plus one meal  using ANZ card , all for free. Then fly with Garuda for 45 minutes to Semarang.  The hotel staff will pick us up at Semarang airport. Stay at Gumaya hotel. It is all so routine.

But but but…. one thing different come up.

The hotel has promo of new dishes…. Asem Asem Semarang.

This is what my mom used to cook. Now she doesn’t cook anymore. So I kinda missing it.

Knowing that the hotel has this, I order it for my dinner.

It consist of beef, cut in cubes, with red and green chilli and tomato, in soup. The spices of soup are tamarind, garlic, shallot, 2 bayleaf, a piece of galangal, a bit of brown sugar, and salt and pepper.

Taste is delicious..! However, mom’s home cooking is better.

The next day, we had meeting at Salatiga. So the routine was, pick up at 6.45, drive to Salatiga and reach office at 8.00

In between, we stopped by at gudeg merakmati – the best gudeg in the world- to have breakfast. Since we have no time,  we only take away the food and eat in the car…

I treasure this trip as it gave me a nice feeling. I had a chance to eat Asem-asem Semarang and Gudeg Merakmati. This is a mission accomplished.

Question of the day: What is the best car?

Answer : company car.

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Last week I was in Vietnam and Singapore. This was my first trip in 2012.

HCMC is still in christmas and new year season as many lamps are still in place along the streets, but they are also welcoming Lunar New Year or they call it Tet, which will be celebrated on Jan 23rd.

Red  is dominant color, especially in Chinatown. The first time for me to be there. Shops selling hampers. Their tradition is sending hampers to family, friends, relatives and business partners during Tet season ..

I stayed at Caravelle hotel, and this pictures was taken nearby the hotel..

The street’s lamps..

Singapore is the same.

Orchard road is still wearing christmas decoration, but in some places dragon is there to welcome the Year of The Dragon..

Changi arport also cute with some of the flower statues..

Merlion at the front gate to welcome everyone..

Eiffel Tower in Terminal 3..

Sydney Opera House at Terminal 2..

As usual, I stayed at Orchard Parade Hotel. And know what? There is a new restaurant to replace Grandma’s Kitchen. The name is Kam Boat TeoChew restaurant, opened two weeks ago..

I tried the assorted soup as I didn’t want to have heavy dinner..

Taste is good and quite fulfilling……

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This trip to Vietnam, our business partner asked me to bring for them bird nest from Indonesia. They will give it to their customers as a gift as Lunar New Year – or they call it Tet-  is coming.  In Asia, bird’s nests are popular luxury gifts  as they believe it will keep them young.

According to an old legend, an ailing king fled to a deserted island during turbulent times. There,  he happened to consume the nest of a type of swallow, which gave him new strength and vitality. The reinvigorated king regained his throne. Since then, birds’ nests were deemed as a magical tonic to boost the vitality of kings and improve the beauty of concubines..

Thanks to its ability to reduce fatique, birds’ nests were listed among the eight “supreme delicacies” that were exclusive to the ancient royal courts, namely pheasant sausages, phoenix terrine, rhino skin, bear’s paw, deer tendon, birds’ nests, orangutan lips and elephant feet. Of these, only birds’ nests are still appreciated today on account of their high nutritional value.

In yesteryears , birds’ nests were harvested from steep cliffs in the wilderness. Climbers sailed far and wide in search of the birds’ nests. Today, birds’ nest farms are big business, as many people believe that these nests have medicinal properties.

HOW IS IT EATEN?

You can add a bit of cane sugar to the bowl of soaked birds’ nest. It should be boiled at low temperature for 30 minutes. Birds’ nest can also be immersed in a broth of steamed chicken with shredded chicken meat. It can be cooked with red apple, longan or ginkgo.

Birds’ nest in cane sugar..

To eat with ginkgo

THE MAGIC OF NATURE

Researchers claim that birds’ nests contain eight key minerals and 18 amino acids that bolster body functions, reducing risks of cancer and lengthening seniors’ lives.  Birds’ nest are also said to slow down the visible signs of aging due to collagens created by proline and threoline.  Some studies suggest that these nests can aid the formation of new cells, especially in cartilage and blood cells, allowing people to recover from illness and injury.

Picture of birds’ nest..

Come back to my story. In Vietnam, the local birds’ nest is not highly appreciated. They like it from Indonesia and willing to pay much higher price.

One kilogram of birds’ nest can cost USD 3000 – 4000/kg depending on quality.

Actually not only Vietnam, in other countries, they also prefer birds’ nest from Indonesia.

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Today is the last day of 2011. A bit sad to know 2011 will end. A bit anxious to welcome the new year 2012.

They say : never easy to say good bye… however life goes on..

Below is the nice words from William Shakespeare:

A well spent day make a good night sleep

A well spent life make a peaceful death..

I want to add :

A well spent year make a graceful smile.

Tomorrow is the last day of the year 2011. We are welcoming the new year 2012.  I want to share this word from my collection… 

 ” The Secret Of Success is ….. Constancy to Purpose “

Stay focus with your target and eventually you will reach there. Say no to anything differ from your target… I know it is easier said than done, but one must have strong determination to achieve goal..

Hope the Year 2012 will be a successful year for everyone.

The picture above is  typical local dishes for celebration. It consist of yellow rice with a lot of side dishes like fried chicken, fried egg , perkedel potatoes, tempe, fried noodles, shrimp, cucumber, red chilli and many more.

Let’s welcome 2012..

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A friend wrote on his facebook, reflexion of the year are overweight, overworked and underpaid….. that made me smile as that reflex mine too.. partially.

My reflexion are overweight, overspent, under read – not reading book enough- , under watch – not watching movie enough-, under sport – not doing sport enough..

I have some excuse though… as suggested by another friend. Happiness is the most important. As long as you are happy, then those things above are less important..

I did medical check up two weeks ago and result was good and that was pleasing news.

Overall this year I am happy as I feel blessed with good health, good family, good friends, good travel, good job..

Happpy New Year 2012.

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Christmas is celebrated at all over the world..

Christmas at Greece..

They built christmas tree from canned milk, later on to distribute to the needy. Lovely idea..

Christmas at Russia..

People go out to celebrate christmas at St. Petersburg

Mexico Christmas…

Germany Christmas..

Hamburg house..

Taiwan Christmas..

Taipei trees full of lamps..

Singapore Christmas..

Giant chocolate christmas tree at orchard road..

Vietnam Christmas..

At Caravelle Hotel, HCMC..

Japan Christmas..

In front of Nagoya Central station, many ornament for christmas..

Westin Nagoya..

Hope your christmas is blessed with the warm and love from family..

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