Lindri's 7th Birthday

Dhanu's 9th, Officialy 37, etc.

A bit of updates. The last one isn't my drawing; it's a gift from my new friends in Yogyakarta when I visited last Thursday.

Syb's B'day

It was last Sunday, at Tony Roma's Bandung for lunch. And at home, later in the evening, for our second dessert: chocolate cake from Magic Oven.

The 9th

(click to enlarge)

Happy 70th Birthday, Eyang Bapak!

Dear Eyang Bapak,

I didn't go to school today, Eyang, because Bapak said it's better for me to stay home and rest, because he said I coughed the whole night although I don't remember that. Lindri went to school with Ibu this morning, then Ibu went to her working place: a school for big people. I stayed home with Bapak, where I did some writing and math exercise and drawing.

Here's one for you, it's a present for your 70th birthday. 70 is a lot, Eyang!

My drawing is about a big colourful jeep called "Rainbow Jeep", with chain wheels that is Asa's favourite. The yellow vehicles below and above are its aids. The big robot at the left side is a friend, whose fingers can be extended to form a drilling head. The colourless things are enemies. Look, there's one under the ground that's an insect and there's another one nearby the jeep, in the tree. See the flying harpoon, Eyang? Follow the rope and you can see its storage.

I hope you like it and I wish to come over soon to celebrate your birthday and eat birthday cake with everyone!

Kisses from Bandung,
Dhanu

It's No Secret

I'll let you know my birthday wish: to recover and be as healthy as before!

I left the training ground on the 24th already bringing a pain on my lower back, which made it difficult for me to sit. I spent the 25th and 26th in Jakarta, not feeling any better. On those Christmas celebration days I was mostly non-functional, only catching up some sleep and/or smirking in pain during the family gatherings. 
26 evening, on the way back to Bandung, the sore spot burst and not getting any less painful. 27 morning I went to have it checked at Boromeus Hospital, which ended me up in a One Day Surgery room. We were allowed to go home right after the surgery and all I had to do now is rest and consume all my medicines.

Oh, and about taking my medication, here's another revelation: I'm officially 35 and still can't swallow a whole pill. My, my..  

Right. See you on better days!

Photo: taken from a very common position these recent days, and perhaps even as you're reading this entry

Four

Lindri was born on October 19th, 2003, at about 22:00. Her birth went well; three pushes within 15 minutes and she's out. A couple of fragments from the day that I'll remember for the rest of my life are:
1) Dhanu, who almost turned three, tried to feed me apple pieces to ease my contraction pains during labor.
2) When I asked the midwife who handed me a bundle of baby right after its birth, "Is it a boy or a girl?", she replied, "Go ahead and see for yourself".
And here's 'the baby' now, all bold and grown, celebrating her birthday in Indonesia for the first time.

This morning we did the family birthday ritual: singing happy birthday, having four candles on a cake, blowing candles, and opening presents. Afterwards, she right away played with her new set of blocks and sticker books. Her adventure will continue this afternoon, when we go out for a treat. Thanks for all the birthday wishes we received through email and SMS and see you later, with more updates!
===================

So, we've just returned from Istana Plaza, a place we've never been to before but recommended by a friend as might be fun for kids (thanks for the tip!). We left at lunch time, so everybody was quite hungry by the time we got there and we went straight to the food court. Dhanu and Lindri both opted for hot dog and fries from Beef Eaters Burger, Syb had kangkung and beef from Mie Hot Plate Singapore and I Singaporean hotplate from the same place, plus some drinks from Mm Juice. After lunch, we explored all toy shops at all floors. They indeed have so many variations that we ended up going up and down the floors at least thrice. After purchasing toys on behalf of Lindri's oma, and a small one for Dhanu, we stopped by for ice cream at Baskins & Robbins before going home.

That was quite a full day; Lindri fell asleep in angkot but was lively again as soon as we got home, finding a birthday package from Jakarta. She occupied herself with all her presents: singing to the mic and playing the musical instruments (from Jakarta), arranging the interior of a mini wooden house (from oma) and composing colorful plastic pieces to match the available patterns (also from oma). Dhanu, of course, 'helped' once in a while, resulting in screaming, laughing and crying (they fight and collaborate, interchangeably).

Many thanks again to you all for the wishes!

Photos of today can be viewed here http://dhanulindri.multiply.com/photos/album/44/October_2007_-_Lindris_Birthday

dMarie Time Capsule

Do you want to know what happened in the world on the day you were born? Try dMarie Time Capsule!
Here's my result:


Thursday, December 28, 1972

Top News Headlines This Week:
Dec 28 - Kim Il-song, becomes President of North Korea   Dec 28 - Martin Bormann's skeleton found in Berlin (Hitlers deputy)   Dec 28 - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalitinsk USSR   Dec 29 - T M Smirnova discovers asteroid #4006 Sandler   Dec 29 - Eastern Tristar Jumbo Jet crashes near Everglades killing 101   Dec 29 - Life magazine ceases publication

Top Songs for 1972
A Horse with No Name by America     Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan     I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash     Me and Mrs. Jones by BillyPaul     The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack     The Candy Man by Sammy Davis, Jr.     American Pie by Don McLean     Without You by Nilsson     Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me by Mac Davis     Lean On Me by Bill Withers

1972 Prices		US President
Bread:	$0.25/loaf	Richard M. Nixon
Milk:	$1.33/gal	US Vice President
Eggs:	$1.20/doz	Spiro T. Agnew
Car:	$3,879	Academy Award Winners
Gas:	$0.36/gal	Best Picture: The Godfather     Best Actor: Marlon Brando   in The Godfather Best Actress: Liza Minelli   in Cabaret
House:	$30,500
Stamp:	$0.08/ea
Avg Income:	$12,625/yr
Min Wage:	$1.60/hr
DOW Avg:	1,020

People born on December 28
1905 - Cliff Arquette Toledo OH, comedian (Charlie Weaver) 1911 - Sam Levenson New York NY, humorist (Sam Levenson Show, Masquerade Party) 1856 - [Thomas] Woodrow Wilson Staunton VA, (28 President-D-1913-21, Nobel 1919)

On TV in 1972
The Mary Tyler Moore Show    All in the Family    Emergency    The Bob Newhart Show    The Waltons    Columbo    The Brady Bunch    M*A*S*H    Hawaii Five-0    The Odd Couple

Hot New Toys in 1972
Seance    Action Jackson    Odyssey (Odyssey 100)    Evel Knievel Figures    Hacky Sack    Fashion Plates    Radio Flyer "Fireball 2000"    World's Greatest Super Heroes    Pong

Top Books in 1972
The Great Bridge by David McCullough     Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

copyright 1997-2006 dMarie Direct Inc

 

One, Two, Three Four.. Three Four..

Three Four, 34; my official age starting yesterday (28 Dec). In the morning, when I was still in bed, the kids came to me, each with a package in his and her hands. Dhanu said, "I know it's your birthday!", while Lindri just said, "Presents!". These are pre-presents, according to Syb, because more will come much later (he's still ordering them.. heehee).
Dhanu handed over the present from Syb: a live show DVD of Jonathan Richman. Yay! We went to his show in Amsterdam a couple of years ago and I enjoyed it very much; an honest, pleasant and funny performance. The rest are presents from my mother-in-law: complete DVDs of British comedy series: Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister and (the Best of) Dad's Army. All my favourites!

There was no cake and no candles to blow, for I am usually the one who go out and prepare them. Sybrand is already so busy packing (and a bit ill as well) so he couldn't prepare those for me, but he did a lot already. In the mid-day I took Lindri to the station to meet Anin; we're going to have a girls' day out! It was exactly lunch time so we walked rightaway to Zeedijk, dropping by New King for some sui kiau (shrimp dumpling) soup, shrimp-sesame toast, kangkung with beef and stuffed aubergine in black bean sauce.

New King
Zeedijk 115-117
Tel: +31 (20) 6252180

open Mon-Sun 11.30 to 24.00

Fed, warmed and happy, we moved on to the direction of Nieuwmarkt. We entered Henk comics shop; I wanted to see if they have the 10th (and the final!) volume of Samurai Executioner series, but they didn't. The shop was full of boxes to be unpacked, the contents registered and displayed, so we couldn't spend too much time in there (which was not easy, because everytime I'm there I always want to linger and devour all the action figures over there with my eyes!).
Passing De Waag, we walked straight down the street of Kloveniersburgwal; the canal on our left handside. It wasn't raining and, although cloudy, the temperature was not too cold. Lindri walked along happily and even laughed out loud whenever I and Anin, who held her hands, lifted her to 'fly' at every intersection.

Next stop: the Book Exchange, shop specializing in used English books. This place has been my favourite second-hand bookshop since I first set my foot in, nearly 8 years ago. Anin was looking for some light reading materials to pass the New Year's Eve, so I showed her the novels section. I and Lindri browsed the children's book and comics section (where Lindri found a Noddy book and I Mad's Dave Berg Looks at Modern Thinking and a 1982 edition of Totto-Chan) and the cookbook section (where I found a Bourdain book: A Cook's Tour). I couldn't spend too much time in the basement (sections of sociology, fantasy, biography, gender studies, etc.) because Lindri was getting impatient. Anin found 2 books for herself, and we paid on our way out. Those books I and Lindri picked? Less than 15 Euros for the whole lot! Not bad at all..

the Book Exchange

Kloveniersburgwal 58
1012 CX Amsterdam

Tel: +31 (20) 6266266


open
Mon-Sat 10.00-18.00

Sun 11.30-16.00

In one of the facades of University of Amsterdam complex, a couple of book kiosks were also opened for business. "Cookbooks and Dutch-Indies", was written on a board, directing us to their spots. Interesting, old and new cookbooks were displayed on wooden tables. I can't help noticing a hardback Larousse Gastronomique, still in its plastic wrappers, priced at 70 Euro (so it's actually not much cheaper here compared to, for example, the New English Bookshop). Another big table displayed various books from the Dutch-Indies era: fictions, picture books, children's books, recipes, etc. Some were priced as antiques, reaching up to hundreds of Euros. I almost bought a picture book about plantations in the Dutch-Indies, with complete photos, priced at about 16 Euro, but I recalled my mother has one already (with incomplete photos, bought at De Slegte). This one was really a good copy, I was really tempted - but in the end I decided not to buy it. Well, it was a pleasant 'window-shopping'..

On to the direction of Muntplein, passing the De l'Europe hotel. We aimed to go to the American Book Center (ABC), which just moved to its new location at the Spui. Here Lindri started getting tired so I carried her along Kalverstraat. Before turning left to Spui, we stopped by the windows of Waterstones to feast our eyes on the new books that were sold on bargain prices. Too bad we were just from the 2nd-hand shop, so the prices are incomparable. On to the ABC!

The new shop of ABC used to be a showroom for piano (and maybe some other musical instruments); which never seemed to be inhabited. It is totally different now; the interior - dominated by wooden elements - gives a warm atmosphere, but not dull, because the design is quite dynamic. The ground floor (magazines, best sellers, etc.) was full of people, so we went to the first floor (travels, children's, comedy, comics, etc.) where we spent most of our time. I quickly looked for the Samurai Executioner #10 and I got it! *does Snoopy dance* I also looked for Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things, which was easy to find. There it was, a hardback with beautiful semi-transparant, thin cover, priced at about 26 Euro. Hmph.. I'd better wait for a paperback version. All sections were full of people and it wasn't pleasant anymore for Lindri who was already tired. I'll surely be back once more to explore the whole shop some other day, without any toddler. I took Lindri to the children's section, where we could browse many books. She liked that. After reading two books with Lindri, I paid my purchase and we left the shop. Lindri was 'alive' again upon hearing our next plan: get some ice-cream!

American Book Center

Spui 12

Tel: +31 (20) 6252180

open
Mon-Sat: 10.00 - 20.00 (Thu until 21.00)

Sun: 11.00 - 18.30

Too bad the Tokyo Cafe at the Spui is closed until January, so we couldn't get our green tea or kidney beans ice cream. We walked to Kalvertoren Shopping Center, our minds set to the small Häagen-Dazs cafe that is located at the Singel part of the shopping center. As expected, the seats inside were all occupied. Fortunately, after ordering, we could sit on one of the two small tables outside the cafe, where we felt like sitting in the middle of the streams of shoppers and passers-by. I had a portion of chocolate and vanilla caramel brownie ice cream with warm brownie pieces, chocolate sauce and almond slices; Anin a seasonal fig ice cream with chocolate sauce, shortbread and crushed mixed nuts. I was about to share my brownies ice cream with Lindri but she refused upon the dark, hideous sight of the portion, so I ordered one scoop of strawberry cheesecake ice cream for her. She's quite content with it.

Häagen-Dazs
Singel 457
1012WP Amsterdam

Once the ice cream was finished, we continued walking to the tram stop in front of V&D and took a number 16 to Heinekenplein. We reached home at about 15:45, where we could rest and chat, while Syb and Dhanu went to the doctor (their appointment was at 16:00). At about 17:00 Syb and Dhanu came back, bringing the doctor's recipes for their medications. I and Anin departed again, this time to our local pharmacy as the main direction.

It was already dark outside, but not colder. We walked through Albert Cuyp marketplace, which surprisingly was still open (perhaps because it's Thursday, koopavond, where stores are opened until around 20:00). We turned left at the intersection with Ferdinand Bolstraat, passing by a road that used to have tram rails (but not anymore since the construction of an extended subway tunnel) and now has become a pedestrian and cycling area. I was the last customer at the pharmacy; they were preparing to close down the shop when we were about to leave. We walked up the Ferdinand Bolstraat again to the direction of Heinekenplein, stopping by Sari Citra for some dinner (it's my birthday, I don't have to cook.. heehee). Just some chicken sate, fried Javanese noodles and some mixed veggies (broccoli, cauliflower and carrot) were enough for Syb and the kids, for I was still full from all the daytime eating. Anin chose an ote-ote for her trip back to Delft. We said bye near the tramstop of Heinekenplein (thanks for the fun day, Anin!), then I went home to feed my familiy. Later that night, when the kids were already in bed, we enjoyed one of my birthday presents: the Jonathan Richman liveshow! 19 songs, typical Richman, plus interviews. Very pleasant, and even funny.

I thank you all for the greetings I received through email, e-cards, Multiply and phone calls. Those really helped me get the 'birthday' feeling, which I was lack of due to the many celebrations that just happened (Sinterklaas, Dhanu's birthday and Christmas) and stuff that still should happen (packing and moving business, public defence preparations and such). It was one of my most modest but memorable birthdays! :D

Dhanu's 6th Birthday

Sunday, 17 December 2006: Dhanu had his 6th birthday. We celebrated first at home, as soon as he woke up. Then in the afternoon his friends came and they played until around five o'clock, when one by one was picked up by their parents.
The next day, Dhanu celebrated his birthday at school. I asked his teacher to take some photos. The last four photos are extras, capturing Lindri's switch from angry-stubborn to timid-sweet within only a couple of minutes. She just has to show her rebellious side sometimes.

Thirty Three Today

Getting up this morning, I brought Lindri (who was already up at around 06:30 as usual) downstairs, to the study. It's always chilly here at my mother in law's house, especially in winter mornings. The day before, snow fell softly and lightly covered the ground; today, only some spots looked white. I opened the internet connection on moeder's PowerBook and went to my mails, with Lindri eating a banana next to me (while fiddling with anything within her reach). Ooh there's a lot of birthday wishes and prayers, from family and friends! Thank you all!

Dhanu came into the study not long after he heard us going downstairs. He gave me some drawings: one from Lindri, and another from himself, picturing a table with a present, wrapped with bows, on it. And a home made card, from my husband's sister and her family (who stayed here as well until yesterday). During breakfast, I got my other presents: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory DVD from Lindri (I haven't seen that one), Akira DVD from Dhanu (adding to our animation DVD collection), and two sets (Seasons 1 & Season 2) of Frasier DVD and a set of pasta plate (including olives, pesto and pasta) from moeder. A present from Sybrand is a couple of concert tickets: we're going to see Sparks in Paradiso Amsterdam, in February! Yaaay! A bit later after breakfast, we had our birthday cake: a chocolate cake, which Lindri likes so much she finished two servings in a go. Dhanu was a bit reluctant to eat it at first, saying that he'll eat his portion "next week", but then grabbed and ate it by hand a moment later.

My birthday has never been a big thing, because it comes between big celebrations: Christmas and New Year. I have never been at school (it's holiday season) so I've never felt the birthday fuss at school. And when we were much younger, this month was when we used to travel to Central Java, to stay at my grandparents' house in Salatiga. There was where I used to celebrate my birthday, usually altogether with a family Christmas event and such. I really do not mind this, since I prefer not to be the center of attention - therefore, especially in the later years, I'd rather use this day to reflect at my passing life and to think about the coming years.

My first thought usually went to my parents, who have delivered me into the world (my mother: "You practically jumped out of my womb - I haven't even properly laid myself down on the maternity bed!"), provided for me and brought me up. Their most valuable gift to me? Their trust and confidence in me, which have led me to where I am now. Then some childhood birthday parties (not necessarily mine) at home, inviting neighbourhood kids and preparing our own kiddie games and making goodie bags (out of manila cartons and colourful crepe papers), and a compulsory home entertainment: cartoons! (my father has an old projector movie player) Then there was my birthday celebration at an orphanage in Salatiga, some birthdays on which I was to wear pretty dresses (with pouting mouth, as shown in our family photo albums). I've noticed myself growing, including habbits that I stopped and attitudes that I keep.
I then thought about my achievements: having my own family, my endless school/research works, and my oh-so-fun, distracting hobby (comics! drawings!). What I would change, what I would improve, what I would leave behind (my extra weight, for instance).

"What do you want for your birthday?" is probably one of the most difficult questions in life, since I still don't know how to answer it, eventhough this predictable question comes every year. OK, when I was 9, going to 10, I asked my father to buy me a bike and I promised never to ask for any birthday present ever again in my life. He bought me that black 'sepeda mini', which I rode to school until my junior high years (until I turned 14 - then I had to ride a bus to go to my senior high school). That was really my last birthday wish, and perhaps up to today I'm still keeping my promise to not ask for anything ever again.
So, everytime that question pops out, I usually reply with, "Thank you, I've had everything", or "World peace", or "A magic wand that can help me finish my dissertation", or "A super power", or something within those lines..

After pondering for a while, I think I've been leading a pleasant life. Moreover, because I am blessed with loving family and friends. What have I done with my life, and what will I make of it? However it is, I am happy where I am. I might not have big ambitions, but I have plans and goals for me and my family in the near future, and I hope to achieve them in due time.


Comicstrip: by Flo. which more or less expressing what I'm about to do if the snow keeps falling..

Lindri Turns Two Today

It was two years ago today that Lindri arrived in this world. This morning, as in other mornings, she was the earliest among us to rise and then slowly woke us all up. It was already seven o'clock, but outside was still dark and we could feel the crisp, chilly air of October, eventhough the heater was still on.
I took out her cake from the fridge (which I bought the day before, with Lindri, at Holtkamp): champagne-raspberry cake. Square, with layers of white chocolate all over its surface and three fresh raspberry on top, softened in color by powder sugar. I put two small candles on top, Dhanu turned the light off and we started singing birthday songs. When it's time to blow the candles, Dhanu helped Lindri who basically only making "foeh" sound from her small mouth.

Then I took out Lindri's present that we've been hiding in the laundry room. Dhanu followed me so he could, again, help bringing the present to Lindri. But then he didn't need to help Lindri in the unwrapping department, because Lindri is already good at it. The present looked like a big bucket, and it is a big paper bucket, filled with wooden forms (blocks in various shapes, colours and patterns). Dhanu also got a small present: a Toa-Nuju, which makes him very happy.
Time to cut the cake! It went all messy but it went down well with Lindri and Dhanu. They fed themselves until they got enough. All of a sudden it's time for us all to dress up and leave, Dhanu to school, Lindri to Doenja (her daycare center) and Syb to work.

As usual, I walked along Syb who had both kids seated on his bike. We first went to Dhanu's school to drop him off, with me accompanying him to his classroom, while Syb continued taking Lindri to Doenja. I caught up with them afterwards, to join Lindri's birthday party at Smurfen (that's the name of her toddler class at Doenja).
Syb stayed for a while until it's time for him to go and I stayed with Lindri, her leidsters Carmen and Yvonne, and her friends. There were about 8 boys and girls this morning. We started up by everyone sitting on the long bench and singing the "good morning" song. Then Lindri got her cheerful paper birthday hat, while we started singing all the birthday songs we know. Afterwards, Carmen brought over a big basket full of presents from which Lindri can choose. There were toys, dolls, coloring pencils, even shoe-strings, but I wasn't surprised that Lindri chose one of three hard cover books from the basket. She right away took it out of the basket and started reading, ignoring the whole basket.

Birthday treat time! I have prepared "goodie bags" to distribute among Lindri's classmates. One rule is that we're not supposed to give sweets, candies, or chocolates. This time I used ang pau envelopes I bought from a Chinese supermarket, bright red with cheerful prints of two children greeting each other. I filled them each with a box of Jip & Janneke yoghurt-covered raisins and a piece of Jip & Janneke magnet.
The kids were still having their glasses of juice and the raisins when I said my goodbye to Lindri. She looked upset and started getting angry, and was still being very angry last time I peeked through the door, leaving her classroom.

This afternoon Ayu came to visit us. I and Dhanu, who got out of school at 12:30, were home already but she waited for Lindri to come, to give her her present. Thanks for everyone who wishes happy birthday to Lindri!

Photo by Yohan, taken from Chica's album.

Another Year Over, And A New One Just Begun..

Hari ini Sybrand ulang taun. Dhanu yang hari sebelumnya ngumpetin kado bareng2 saya, begitu bangun tidur langsung melesat ke tempat penyimpanan kado dan ngeluarin semuanya. Terutama kartu buatannya. Ini ada gambar kartunya, ceritanya ada roda raksasa (seperti Bianglala di DuFan gitu lho) yang pernah dia lihat di Museumplein, terus di kanan bawah ada figur kecil berlari ke arah roda gede itu. "Ini Dhanu", katanya, "Berlari ke arah roda raksasa sebab dia suka naik itu. Dan di belakangnya ada bapak sedang bawa kado". Figur di atasnya itu saya dan Lindri, lalu di atas lagi ada tiga balon.
Kado2 lain utk Syb: graphic novel Will Eisner yang "A Contract with God" versi Belanda (lettering-nya garapan Peter Pontiac), plus versi Yiddish-nya (dikasih gratis sama orang di Lambiek, bonus, katanya), dan yang "City People Notebook" (bahasa Inggris). Lalu ada CD Gorillaz yg "Demon Days" dan Madness yg "Dangermen - Volume 1". Habis buka kado, berikutnya acara tiup lilin. Kemaren saya dan Dhanu sudah beli kue coklat dari Holtkamp (tentu saja pilihan Dhanu!) plus empat petit fours. Kuenya bentuknya balok memanjang, saya pasang 4 + 4 batang lilin (kalo masang 44 lilin, pasti nggak muat permukaan taart-nya). Habis nyanyi, Dhanu bantu tiup lilinnya. Lindri cuma seneng aja liat lilin nyala dan selalu pengen pegang2 apinya. Setelah itu ya kita sarapan taart coklat (ternyata nendang banget) plus masing2 satu petit four. Lalu Dhanu berangkat sekolah, dianter Sybrand.

Seharian, santai2 aja di rumah.. Sybrand keluar sebentar, terus njemput Dhanu, lalu pergi balapan sepeda. Sepulang balapan, dia nonton Tour de France sampai tamat. Saya? Di samping ngurusin Lindri, sempet juga kerja sedikit sambil chatting.. haha.. Untuk makan malam, kami pergi keluar. Ini jarang banget kejadian, sebab Sybrand paling nggak suka makan di luar (or going out for whatever reason other than cycling), dia orang rumahan banget. Kali ini kami nyoba restoran Vietnam-Thai di deket rumah (di ujung jalan Albert Cuyp) yang katanya seafood-nya enak.

Sampai sana, kami pilih duduk di dalam sementara orang2 lain milih duduk di luar, sebab cuaca memang sedang bagus sekali. Kami nggak mungkin lah pilih duduk di luar, sebab "di luar" itu berarti bener2 di side walk dan langsung berhadapan dengan jalan raya (plus jalur tram) - kasihan anak2 kalo dilarang2 jalan jauh2 terus. Jadi di dalam, anak2 bebas berkeliling dari meja ke meja.

Awalnya, karena lapar, mereka makan dulu.. beberapa sruput sup dari saya (yg mesen Wan Tan soup - Syb pesen Tom Yam jadi terlalu pedes buat anak2). Sup ini rasanya beda banget sama yg di restoran Cina, meskipun judulnya sama. Wan Tan-nya isinya mungkin banyakan kepiting dan telur dan selalu tercium aroma daun ketumbar. Anak2 juga doyan fish cake dan Wan Tan goreng, jadi mereka tertib duduk sendiri sambil makan dari piring masing2. Fish cake-nya enak, tapi agak terlalu greasy, sementara Wan Tan-nya ya seperti yg di sup, tapi digoreng. Ada sambel cocolannya juga, yang sama sekali nggak pedes, malah cenderung manis rasanya.

Jeda ke hidangan utama rupanya cukup lama. Anak2 sampe sempet lari2an di dalam ruangan. Lindri sibuk mungutin tempat garam dan merica dari meja2 lain (akibatnya, banyak ceceran garam dan merica di lantai), atau ngambilin apapun yg bisa dia samber dari meja (nomer meja, wadah tusuk gigi, tempat sambel..). Lalu dia main uber2an dengan Dhanu. Sebenernya nggak apa2 sih, asal jangan sampai ke arah pintu keluar aja. Pas makanan dateng, mereka tetep nggak bisa diem, dan nggak mau duduk makan lagi. Jadi saya makan sambil berdiri, atau duduk posisi stand-by untuk siap2 ngejar Lindri kalau2 dia tau2 nuang sambel ke lantai atau lari keluar. Oh tapi Dhanu makan sedikit, dia sempet duduk sebentar utk makan nasi plus ikan goreng, terus abis itu lari2 lagi.

Syb pesen ayam saus mint, yang ternyata agak pedes tapi tetap segar karena ada mint-nya - potongan daging ayam ditemani juga oleh sayur2an seperti wortel, jagung muda dan jamur. Saya pesen ikan goreng tepung saus asam-manis. Saus asam-manis nya juga beda sekali dengan restoran Cina. Daging ikannya (fillet) besar2, lapisan tepung gorengnya masih renyah, enak banget. Begitu semua habis, kami langsung siap2 utk bayar di depan sambil ngejar anak2 yg sedang keliaran di sekitar pintu masuk. 2 soup, 2 appetizers, 2 main dishes + rice, 2 apple juice + 1 pot tea = 44 Euro. Keseluruhan makanan, saya ponten 7+ deh.

Dari sana kita jalan kaki lagi ke arah rumah. Cuaca bener2 sedang enak. Sampai rumah anak2 langsung ganti piyama dan tidur *fiuh*. All in all, Sybrand bahagia katanya di hari ultahnya ini, dia melakukan semua yang dia suka hari ini. Terima kasih untuk semuanya, atas kiriman ucapan selamat dan doa2nya.

Sebagai penutup, ini ada gambar lagi dari Dhanu, "Zorro". Entah kenapa anak2 senang sekali nonton film seri Zorro keluaran Disney th 50an itu. Di sini Dhanu lengkap nggambar semuanya: huruf Z yg ditulis Zorro dengan pedangnya, Zorro sendiri di kanan bawah (pakai masker hitam), dan seorang penjahat (berjenggot) di tengah2. Wah sayang nih anaknya lagi tidur, kalau enggak saya kan bisa tanya2 detailnya, dia pasti masih ingat semuanya :)

ps. Foto2 lain akan menyusul

How I spent the first day of being thirty-two

Lots of things happenned today. The breakfast birthday cake, GGGD check-up (and vaccinations) for Lindri, Burger King with Dhanu, visits to Lambiek and Henk comic stores with Arnhem guys, late lunch at New King, then dinner from the Szechuan Kitchen and chat with our guests. I'll elaborate this entry much later - too tired to do anything else but sleep now. See you!
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That's what I wrote on the D-Day itself. Actually, I didn't feel like writing about it too much - I was still overwhelmed by what happenned in Aceh on Dec 26th. I still am. Therefore I'll just cut-n-paste whatever I wrote to my family about that day (and the next) - plus [additional texts], as follows:

On my birthday, in the morning we had breakfast with my birthday cake (with vanilla mousse filling). My present from Sybrand and the kids is a book "Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang" (or "Door Duisternis tot licht" - a compilation of letters written by R.A. Kartini, a Javanese woman who fought for the equal rights for education for women in Indonesia). This one book is a second edition, published in 1949 - a real antique. I like this a lot.
Another present was from my cousin Chica, a book called "A Child's Eye". This book contains a compilation of photograph taken by street children of Indonesia who were given a camera and were encouraged to make their own photographs. A very unique collection.

Later in the morning, I and Dhanu went out to meet my friends (Indonesian students in Arnhem) in Leidseplein. [My friends were late, so I and Dhanu had to get away from the rain and the cold weather, therefore we went to Burger King. I ordered Kid's Meal that gave Dhanu a LEGO Bionicle toy. He kept playing with his Bionicle until the guys showed up] Then we went to Lambiek (my usual comic store) - where they sang a "Lang zal ze leven" for me and then gave a 2005 Tintin (Kuifje) agenda as my present - and then to Henk (another comic store, in Nieuwmarkt) and then had a late lunch at New King (at Zeedijk). [We ordered tofu & mixed meat hot pot, beef & kangkung hotplate, crsipy-fried duck fillet and lamb fillet in mandarine sauce. Everything was delicious, and was finished in no time] Dhanu enjoyed his new friends very much (there were five friends of mine from Arnhem, all boys).
When we got home, our guests were also already home from Volendam. And Lindri smiling all the time, despite the vaccination effects that might come. We ordered food from The Szechuan Kitchen for my birthday dinner. I also got many birthday wishes and e-cards from my family and friends (including Birgit), some even called (my cousin Chica and Edith, later in the evening). That was a great day.


The next day, I, Dhanu, Lindri and my guests went to the Tropenmuseum and then to the Bloemenmarkt in the daytime (Sybrand had to work). Then in the afternoon I and Dhanu took my friends to the station (they left for Schiphol and then to UK). Then we went up to meet Ayu at Platform 2, to go to Beverwijk. Ayu was going to treat me a dinner as my birthday present.
In the train to Beverwijk Ayu gave a belated birthday present for Dhanu (a 100-pieces puzzle, with Mr. Incredible on it, trying to tighten his belt around his waist). The restaurant in Beverwijk is called "Sea Heaven" and it's a chinese-thai food restaurant. We had a hotplate of stuffed fish (gevulde forrel) and a seafood hotpot (the 'pot' was really flaming). Before dessert, we had a plateful of complimentary sweets and then we had our ice cream (sorbet-parfait and vanilla ice cake + fruits). Everything was delicious! Before we went home, the restaurant owner gave us a Chinese 2005 calendar and a new year present (a compact mirror). So many presents for a day!