First Train Trip

Last Saturday we tried something different to spend our family day. We went to the city by train! We went in the morning around 10, left the car in the train station and start the trip with the little boy to the city with the express train. Not surprisingly, he behaved. I think because it was the first time he went on public transport and walk along the outdoor mall and park. They were all so new and exciting.

We live around 45km from the city, so it took around 40 minutes to get into the city mall by express train. We strolled until a bit tired then had lunch in a chinese restaurant, then strolled again to the park near the bell tower, then relaxing on the bank of the swan river, than walked to the train station around 1.30pm.

It was a good fun. It was good to do something different and we were all enjoying it. The weather was perfect, the train was clean and convenience. Evan had fun in the train by looking at the traffic from the window, looking at people come and go, and get shy and blushed (indonesian term : Gede Rasa) when couple of ladies made funny faces and smile at him from the other end. He blushed, smiled, then burried his head to his dad or me. So funny! Here are some photos.

at Warnbro train station, waiting to go to the city


City icon: Bell tower, at the background

at the bank of Swan River

Wheel of Perth and the city view

Chrissie Time

Merry Christmas, everyone !!

May peace be on earth and our heart, always.

Hope you have a wonderful one. We had.

This year we celebrate it with Winda and family in our home. Andrew cooked his special christmas meal for lunch, roast pork and lamb.

Then everybody get nice christmas presents.

At the end of the day we are all tired, but happy to share happiness and christmas together with our friends and love ones. :)

Happily to show you the photos here

Land Of Venus

Been a long time since my last post,... the reason is that we were trying to find sun and fresh air. So off we went to Cyprus on 8-22 April, and it made us celebrating Evan's first birthday on 12 of April quitely there. With the handful littleboy, we only managed to explore North Cyprus. It's a pleasant, layback place. Lots to see, nice people, fresh air, and gorgeous ancient ruins and castles. We did find sun, but not as warm. The weather still considerably cold, made it impossible for us to swim (which I looked forward to).

Some photos can be viewed here.

Life is now back as hectic as usual. Will try to make time for some words soon. :)

A Year Has Gone

What did we do on new year eve? We got exhausted and fell asleep at 10! I was hoping to wake up from the sound of fireworks as we stayed in a hotel near the marina. But nope, we were all fast asleep and year 2008 gone just like that. It was of course year 2009 when I woke up to feed Evan at 3am. And apparently there were no fireworks or other event whatsoever. Everything's cancelled due to security reason, they said.

But at least we were out the house, and out of town this time. After all of the countries and places we planned to go we finally only manage to go down south of Jordan, Aqaba. It's a city at the seaside where the weather is good throughout the year, and where all the water activity is available. It's a small and touristic town about 4 hours drive from Amman.

The temperature around 17 degree, enough for us to wear coat while strolling outdoor. Still, warmer than Amman. The private beach at the hotel we stayed in was quite nice. But the water quite cold. Evan didn't like it, so we didn't play in the beach much. But it's nice to finally see real beach and sea. Other than that we enjoyed strolling along the town. Bit strange to see some couples walking hand in hand (as it wasn't allowed in the town we live in), or girls with short pants, or girls with bikinis.

Anyway, year 2008 was great. I have a baby boy, my sister got married - then pregnant, my little sister graduated and got a job, my mum visiting us in la la land, and we went to new and amazing places. What a busy year.

Year 2009 is here. This year will be another busy and exciting year with new things going on. Hope everything will goes as smooth as planned.

Happy New Year everyone.

Note: our holiday photos are available on the 'images'.

Something Left

from our Italy trip.

The real Italian Pizza. It's thin and not much in it, served without slices and always fresh from the oven. This is a normal size pizza for one person, and some people can have this for appetiser!

The real Italian pasta. Pasta is not considered as a main menu, and it's not rich. It's plain, and not too much in it. This one is Pasta with garlic, olive oil, and basil. The one I like the most after pasta with pesto sauce.

As promise to take picture of Indomie in all around the world, I found a shelve full of Indomie in one of the groceries store in Rome. ;p

My name is everywhere there! Apparently Novita means 'new' in Italian ;p

Check out some arty photos in my photoblog.

Back In Town

I'm back in dusty and cold Amman. Yes, it's cold, as we are officially in a winter season. We were back on Friday night (4 days ago) and been busy with household things and catch up with friends. Also tried to catch few photos to show from more than 1300 photos we have from the trip, and I only could upload 50 of them. See the "Picture Of My Life" on the left bar.

I had a lot of walk up and down the stony street around Italy. Whilst we have a few day with clear blue sky and sun, but mostly we have gloomy rainy days. The temperature fell down to 2 degrees at some nights, but mostly around 6-12 degree. As for walking, surely I can't walk too fast and carry heavy things around with my preggy condition. But I have Hubby to carry bag pack and shopping bags, (and suitcases) and he was very patient to wait and walk with me in my 'granny' walk. We had a relaxing trip and not in a rush. So I felt pretty relax and enjoyed it. Of course I usually got very tired at the end of the day, usually had sore back and waist and just have no energy. But Hubby was ready to give me gentle massage before sleep. :)

In 21 days we've done pretty good in travelling around middle, south and north Italy, managed to visit about at least 18 towns by plane, car (Hubby drove), train, bus, and ferry. Started from Rome, we drove to Positano via Capua, then spent a day in Sorrento. Then we went to Orvietto visa Pompeii, then a night in Asisi via Todi, Spoleto, Montefalco and Spolegno. Spent couples night in Sienna, then headed to Pisa via Monterigioni and San Gimignano, then drop the car off in Florence where we spent 3 days there. We took a train to Venice and spent another 3 nights, where we spent one day in a close town, Padua. And back to Rome from Venice by train, spent another night in Rome before going back to Amman the next day.

Hubby enjoyed driving in the country side, The autumn scenery was nice when we get to Tuscany. But the tuscany view must be much much better in summer.

I was looking forward to taste the real Italian food before we go. But then we both a bit shock with it. Real Italian pasta and pizza are not as rich as pasta and pizza we usually eat. They don't put too much in it. Pasta usually just plain and serve as first main menu (meaning it wont be too much portion - sort of like appetiser). As a main you can have grilled chicken, pork chop, or steak, also plain and small portion. We found that eating out in a normal restaurant quite expensive. But as the time go by, we got use to it and decided that the food is healthier than food we usually eat, and planned to change the way we cook. Hubby even have some idea for him to cook at home that he pick from the trip.

I was also surprise that people still enjoying a cup of ice cream in 2 degree weather. I know the Italian ice cream, gelato is very very nice, but I imagine it would be very cold for your throat and body. Anyhoo, I could not resist to eat it too one day, too many ice cream shop and people eating it. So tempting! It was nice, and it was truly cold. :)

As for the masterpiece from the Michael Angelo and friends,.... it was just AMAZING. Italy has so many churches, duomo, basilica, piazza, ruins and museums loaded with amazing and unique carvings, fresco, painting, statues, and arts. It was so brilliantly made and well maintained. We entered and saw so many churches and museum along the way, so that we felt tired to enter museums again once we reach Florence. A slight regret that I didn't go to Uffizi Museum where they have a lot of famous masterpiece... but I felt so tired at the time we got there and the queue was long. Then we don't have time to see it the next day.

It was again a new adventure for me. Overall, it was a tiring and expensive holiday, but certainly worth it, and we are glad we did it. Hubby was in a good mood the whole trip, done a lot of hard work during the trip (carry bag, drove and read the maps), and we had a wonderful quality time together, and we learnt new hopefully healthy habits during the trip that we will keep it in our daily life.

Btw, pregnancy is going ok. Baby is good. I think I could feel the baby movement very slightly since I was in the plane on the way back to Amman. It was just very slight jolt around my belly. We went to doctor the next day after we back, and doctor said everything looks fine. Doctor did a thorough ultrasound check and record it in a dvd. It was awesome! My tummy definitely growing as I entered the 5th month (20 weeks) last Saturday. I gained around 7 kg so far, and i think I look very chubby! and I need new big legging for winter!

Comin', Goin', Stayin'....

I'm now finally back in Darwin, safe and sound, and.... awake.

But frankly,... I'm confused. Too many things too write, don't know where to start. One thing for sure, it was the best 5 weeks holiday I've ever had. Even though my home duties changed into driver and porter (tukang angkat barang!) - mmm..... only when sister move to other room, though! My dad even said I'm stronger than before, in context when taking heavy things around. Gossh!... But at least I don't have to cook ;p and of course I had a lot of fun catch up with friends. Rebecca's visit, went to Java Jazz Festival, clubbing at X2 were the highlight of this trip.



Thank you to my parents, sisters and friends for having sharing and spending time with me. You are all precious to me. I'd love to extend my stay there, I really do. But it's time for me to come to other home of mine, a 'home' who I promised to spend my life with.

I'll be coming back to Jakarta, for sure! In the mean time, stay in touch, guys! :)

Check out more pictures in here.

Spoiled Girl

It's been a month. What did I do all this time in Jakarta?? Many!

As you well aware, of course I switched myself from strolling along the beach and market in Darwin to malls and malls and malls in Jakarta, with high heels sandals instead of running shoes.
Switched from eating Western food to Indonesian food, meaning : rice and any sort of chili for every meal, including for breakfast. Mum spoiled me by cooking and buying me all my fave food. That is not included with the food I bought from the side of the road (warung). Yuuum..... No stomach ache so far. But I feel soooo fat now. Gosh...

Switched from being passenger in the car to a driver. I did not think I will be able to drive in Jakarta again. But actually,... no problemo at all! Started to drive again on the first day I arrived Jakarta.

Catch up with friends, spent times with family, shopped, and ate, were basically what I did in whole 1 month. ;p

Be back to Darwin in three days. More stories and photos to come.

Pulang Kampung

Flying tomorrow morning, to the lovely home town, Jakarta. Yes, even though this town has been suffered from poverty, horrible pollution, the worst traffic jam in the world, flood, etc etc,... but still, nothing feels like home than my own home town. Look forward to catch up with family and friends, have full body massage, creambath, hair dye, eat indonesian favorite food, shopping,... and shopping :) Yay!