Cold Weather

This holiday post has been long overdue--I know, not that I intended to--and it's even started to smell like spring somewhere (where?) But I owe you this in a way. I've been gone, and when I came back, I felt like writing a lot of sad and melancholic posts instead of sharing some bits of my holiday to you... Where were my manners?!

So, yes, I went to the US of A, as you've probably heard people whispered. It was more for the Christmas rather than New Year's Eve, as I didn't even get a proper new year celebration this year. It all started from the East Coast, which meant that I could play Taylor Swift's Welcome To New York a couple hundred times and felt her excitement about the city *cue T-Swift new album on the stereo*

What do I think about New York? Well, try what don't I think about New York! You know how I always have this life-long fascination towards London? Well, it hardly compared to how excited I am about New York City. Every street, every building, every monument, seem to mean something for me, the ever-crazy fangirl of rom-coms based in New York. Empire State Building will always be Sleepless in Seattle, and Bryant Park in winter will forever look like the witness of Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack's impossibly cute love story in Serendipity. It's so interesting. So wild. And I couldn't seem to catch my breath with every city's landmark passed before me.

I love East Coast for how it feels like the laid-back Europe that it is, but I strongly hate the climate. Like normal winters, it was constantly dark and bitter cold there--not to mention in danger of rain and possibly snow. I have terribly dry and flaky facial skin even at home in Indonesia, so could you imagine how wonderful it would be staying in the East Coast for me?! Well, luckily, I was smart enough to visit Sephora on my first day in New York, and the BA generously put me on a proper winter skincare regime that I learned to grasp quickly. She used (of course) very expensive stuffs, but I ran to CVS immediately and get my own version of the products that helped. As a result, when everyone in the tour complained about how flaky their lips and skin became, I didn't experience the same thing (even though I couldn't do anything about my frizzy hair, I'm just glad it's still kind of short) I did, however, complain about how I catch a cold and could not stop sneezing and coughing.

In that sense, I owe a huge gratitude to Josie Maran Argan Oil Light, Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer (A gel formula that my skin drinks like serum. This is basically magic to my dry skin!) Aveeno 24 Hour Moisturising Lotion for my body (because I'm an idiot for taking super-long hot showers as it dried my skin even more) and at night time, I practically slathered myself in Egyptian Magic Cream. Oh, and Cherry Chapstick all throughout the day. I bought it originally because of that Katy Perry song (I know, I'm so cliche) but then surprised at how awesome it is at $2!!!!! Sometimes I long for the day my local beauty brands back home could be so cheap and work so well at the same time.

Compared to the first leg of the trip where I spent my days and nights trying to bundle myself up in so much layers and inhaling faux fur from my angora shawl, my West Coast trip was so much better. I can't believe how bitter it is to swallow up the pride that I had several years ago when I told everyone that I'd never been interested to go to LA because it's so shallow and pop and plastic... Well, the younger-than-21-years-old me knows nothing, my friend. Because the 21-year-old me definitely thought that LA is really nice. A really nice place to be--if not live. I took this picture in front of the Tiffany & Co. Beverly Hills Golden Triangle as an aspiration, because, why not? Maybe 40-year-old me would've been able to wear one of his designs on my finger, who knows? (Amen to that, please)

Now, I may be 21 years old, and have been to all of the Disneyland theme parks in the world (well not really, never been to Orlando yet, but, in the American continent) and knows full well of the tricks to be able to enjoy the rides better (Single Rider lines, Fast Pass tickets before everything, early lunch, etc.) but I'm still so excited about it mainly because of the new characters added to their festivities. I spent the entire Christmas Day in Disneyland fighting the cold wind despite sunlight (thanks, Cali winter) yelling at Olaf balloons and whining about the long queues at photo sessions with Elsa and Anna. I got myself an Olaf plush doll (because I collect plush dolls, in case you didn't know) and a Maleficent headband. I think I scared off some kids while wearing it all day, because I saw some little girls look at me nervously as if I was an evil stepmother. Well guess what, little girls? The older you get, the more you'd understand how Maleficent is the closest thing to real-human experience Disney has ever made. And they call me an awful big sister because I tell the truth. *sigh*

The highlight of my LA trip, though, is the Universal City. THIS IS AS SHALLOW AS LA GETS, AMIRITE?

Well, sure. But as a Hollywood enthusiast, life cannot get any better than a visit to the Universal City and getting on that Studio Tour ride hosted by Jimmy Fallon. Yes, he is my ideal kind of husband, but that is not why I love Universal City. I love it because of the diversity of its characters--you can practically see Bart Simpsons walk around Megatron and Minions side-by-side and not feel weird about it. The day I came to Universal City was what the Brits call 'Boxing Day', which is the day after Christmas, and The Mindy Project was shooting that day. Of course I didn't get to see my long-lost Indian big sister Mindy Kaling, but I went passed Stage 27, where they were filming, and I was hysterical. Not really proud of the way I acted that day, but, that was my experience, and I thought I'd share it with you because I know you guys accept me just the way I am and I really love you for that *smooches*

Okay, so this post isn't complete without sharing my thoughts about Las Vegas. I admit that I'm not really a wild soul, and it wasn't like I get to do anything crazy because I was there with my family, but I think I wouldn't enjoy it too much anyway even though I wasn't. Maybe it's just me hating the sticky casino air thick with alcohol and cigarette smoke everywhere I go, but I'm just not into a place where it's constantly evolving in such materialistic way. I didn't really enjoy Dubai, didn't love Vegas, and I suspect I wouldn't enjoy Macau that much (but, what do I know? I was wrong about LA)

Another bucket list ticked off during my trip: GRAND CANYON! (The other one is Disneyland, because it's been an obsession of mine to visit every single Disneyland in all the continents in the world)

The Grand Canyon is a magnificent work of art that clearly wasn't man-made. It's not rocket science for me to believe in the Higher Power while I was here; in fact, it was rather very spiritual to be there. There's a lot of Native Americans working here, which I think is quiet nice of them to acknowledge their existence rather than shoving them off out of the picture. It's hot topic to be talking about racial discrimination these days, but I liked what I see here---and the fact that there was just so many Chinese tourists coming to the US was overwhelming. I mean, wasn't there extreme poverty in China just a few years ago?? Now they massively travel to the US wearing the latest Marc Jacobs coat?? What a great nation it is. 

Okay, so you probably wanna ask me, which city do I like the most? Well, I'm kind of sad to announce that it had to be the last city that I visited that was my favourite. Do you know how my heart beats for London? Well, it beats almost the same way while I was in San Francisco. Better weather, though. Even though it can be foggy and terribly windy, at least it's not constantly under the threat of wet rains everyday. It's really, really nice to be here. They charge you for every shopping bags you need, but at least they have lower tax than New York. I like how open to LGBT Frisco is, with rainbow flags proudly present in many houses and buildings around the city, and, oh, those steep roads... It can be quiet an exercise just strolling around the shops at Union Square. 

And that selfie above, taken right in the middle of the Union Square's infamous Christmas tree on my last day of the holiday, is how much I am willing to ridicule myself to take a bare-faced selfie. I never let myself go bare-faced in the winter because I will look homeless, so I swore by my Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red or my trustworthy pinky coral MAC LE Archie lipstick in Betty Bright (on a bad day, it makes me look like Nicki Minaj, though, so I'm not always so fond of it). Also, I learned to put some colour on my cheeks to look more alive because winter skin could look so dull (and mind you, I'm MAC NC30). So you see, it was a worthwhile experience to be in this winter holiday, beauty-wise, even though it left me longing to stay in that kind of weather, because it never let my face shiny so much.

Now, it's no longer time for me to keep talking about such an ancient holiday story (I've even used up that Josie Maran organ oil because I love it so much and I'm so galau where I could repurchase it). In case you skipped this post all the way to this end, I would like to sum it for you: if you only got a limited time, spend it in SF. I'll leave you with the view from the Peak Point, and I dare you not to swear you'd go there someday the second you have the chance. 

The Far East

When someone tells you that life is a book, and those who did not travel never learn anything, perhaps it's true. Because as it turns out, there really is extraordinary things out there, things they don't write in the book, or the newspaper, or even the internet. There are things that you have to find out for yourself. Of course as a normal person you can't go to every places they recommended you, just like you can't read all the best books, or ride the fancies cars, or maybe date all the beautiful boys. But one day when I'm awfully rich, I would use all of my savings to travel anywhere possible; anywhere without any exception, along with the people I love. I'm not really the kind of traveler that you'd think about whenever that word comes to your mind, but I know about a thing or two about traveling and it's this: never say no.

Always, always have some kind of cruise in your itinerary

Say yes to anything. To go to the countries where people don't speak English (even when that's the only foreign language you can actually use) or to eat all the bizarre foods and feeling like you're the new Andrew Zimmern. Say yes to do the things you will never do when you're home, and say yes to wearing clothes that flatter or don't flatter your shape. Say yes to buy the things, whether you'll find useful or not, that you will not find back at home, but make sure that they would remind you of the beauty you'd seen while on the journey. Say yes to spend your money on overpriced tourist-y souvenirs, and say yes to having to sit on the plane between people who don't speak your language and go through hours of flying not talking at all. Say yes to... oh, everything, really.

But for now let me make some points of the story that I'm trying to tell you here. And here it goes.

A much too warm Osaka weather

1. In Korea and Japan, I learned something special about mankind: We may not speak the same language, but we can always try to understand each other, even by signal languages. There's not standards as to how you'd use it to people, because like in Japan, it's like there's a million people there who can't even speak a single word in English. It's so easy to be Scarlett Johansson there. It's so, very easy to be lost in translation in Japan, even when you think you're already in a much visited tourist attraction in Tokyo. It seems to me that the Koreans are still more willing to try to speak English to you than the Japanese. Basically if you don't speak Japanese, you're lost in Japan. Because the minute you landed, you'd start to think of yourself as somewhat illiterate. And by God I swear that even in the Narita airport, you can be lost in reading their signs. It's so hard understand their directions. We can be lost. Just... lost.

2. The thing with both countries is, when you're Asian, and you like Japanese food, or even Chinese food, you can live there. The culinary is awesome. And when you're Asian, you'll be fine with the sizes of the hotel bathtub and beds. It's even better if you get yourself used to eat fermented vegetables or any kinds of pickles, really. Just one single thing about you that's not really Asian, even as simple as shoe size, you're doomed. 

Nami Island!

3. Naminara Island should just be named Winter Sonata Island. No, seriously. It's easier for visitors to get a clue of what's ahead of them. So many young couples visit this island and do the sweet things I thought only exists in Korean dramas. But anyway, it's a beautiful island, and imagine it in winter..... Must be a winter wonderland.

4. Japan is so damn clean. Mungkin pertanyaannya, "Sebersih itukah, Rien?" Dan jawaban gue, "Iya, sebersih itu." It seems to me that the Japanese is a little obsessed with cleanliness, because even in the place where you'd expect it to be messy, there are various kinds of trash bins, so in a way, you would have to think before you throw something away. This is not a lie.

Too casual for dinner, eh?

5. If you're a Kpop fan in Seoul, you may lose your voice from screaming too much because people literally put pictures of them everywhere. But if you're not, you'll be just fine. If you're a Kpop fan, you can spend your money on so many Kpop stuffs, but if you're not, buy cosmetics instead. Actually, either you're a Kpop fan or not: When in Seoul, buy cosmetics. Full stop.

6. It's not a myth that Japan is an expensive country. But here's a little story about my relationship with Japan. I knew that I always wanted to go to Japan; in fact it's the only country in the whole of Asia besides India that I really wanted to visit in my life. But I wasn't sure what I want out of it because I don't speak Japanese (one of the things I regretted in life is that I didn't pay enough attention to my Japanese sensei in twelfth grade) and I'm not really into the music, or the fashion, or the manga, or the so-called mysterious culture... And then one of my best friends go to college there and it was hard for me at first to see what's so interesting about Japan. But then I came up there and I saw it for myself and now I understand what all the fuss is all about. I still don't have the way to explain it to you what it is, but now I understand. It's... really cool. So all that expensiveness we were talking about? They can do that. They're cool.

In Asakusa Temple, eating what seems to be Doraemon and Nobita's favorite Shanghai Ice

7. Every place, or things, you hear in Japan, would sound like it's a name written on the menu in your favorite sushi restaurant. When Karl Lagerfeld said that Italy and Japan have the best kitchen in the world, he wasn't kidding. The food is mostly great. On the other hand in Korea, you have to get yourself used to eating Kimchi. They literally serve kimchi in every meal they serve, everyday. And some food would make you lose your appetite, especially the ones with ginseng in it, so be prepared to just stuff your stomach with kimchi and rice. Mark my words, fellas.

8. I think I know why some Kpop stars are so outrageously dressed up, some even dyed his hair blue and every other impossible shades for hair. Because to be fashionable is so common in big cities like Seoul. You have to see it for yourself, because the boys are so pretty with really smooth and silky white skin and they wear the coolest trends I only see in fashion blogs. Amazing. Meanwhile the street style in Japan is pretty much what you see in the media. Not a surprise there. One surprise is probably this: You know when American movies stereotyped Japanese office workers as wearing white collared shirts and black pants? It's true. Almost 90% of the employees in Tokyo that I had a chance to look at was wearing that.

9. Doraemon is still kind of big in Japan. Years and years since he was adorable, it seems like the robot cat is still an icon. And if you wanna learn things about Japan, the easiest way is probably to read comics like Detective Conan, because Doraemon isn't such a good references (Thanks to those who always remind me not to use Doraemon as a reference ^^)

Every tourists must do shameless self photographs, tourists' way :) 

10. After all is said and done, keep this in mind when you're visiting both countries: Generally, they are very friendly and hospitable people, and they have a good relationship with Indonesia too so basically when they know that you're from here, they'd smile. But they can't show it to you because they don't speak your language and not even English, so, always use smile. It's a universal language, everyone understands.

Chaises Volantes

One of these days you're gonna feel so empty.

Empty.

But don't worry you just have to free yourself.

So go ahead,

fly,

get high

we're young

save the serious stuffs for later.

Forget BMW Convertible. My Summer Ride is Jet Coaster!

Second on list of my favorite place after music festival is: amusement parks. What's the best amusement park in the world? Disneyland? I don't know, I've only been to one of them. Okay, blab to yourself about it but surely the best one is to where you go with people you love the most, people who share something with you. Can you be happy going to, let's say Disneyland Anaheim with your arch enemy???? NO!

I went to Dufan yesterday, if you care. I haven't been to this one since, let's say, 5 or 6 years ago. WHOAAAAA! and I'm amazed that it's still pretty much the same. Terutama mas-mas di tiap wahana (kecuali Istana Boneka) yang selalu bilang, "Mana suaranyaaaaa????" atau "Mana tangannyaaa???" dan selalu bilang, "Mau lagiiii???" padahal muka penumpangnya udah ungu. that's insane. I make some noise while on Thorpe Park's Stealth and the lady on duty was like, "Sssshhhh!" while here they want some noise! Now it's pretty clear which country loves fun even more.

And I am not afraid of heights! Not until a few days ago, gue lagi sendirian naik lift di Blok M Plaza (HAHA gaulnyaaa) dan gue merasa... uhuk. I'm dying. I lost my feet. I felt so old! I got this thing called karma from Ratih, who's suffering acrophobia. Now I hate merry-go-round. I HATE IT. It's always the highest rides on most of the amusement parks in the world but it works sooooo slowly, so not interesting and so much fear! Last year, I rode this famous thing called London Eye and it wasn't even a deal for me. It was grrrreattttt! Now, I don't know man.

Propose here, Prince Charming, hmm?

Right now, I am only best friends with roller coasters. The thrill is fine. This is extreme. This is soooo summer! Thorpe Park's Nemesis Inferno? Bring it on! I survived it on the front row! Reverse roller coaster? Surviving front row too! HAHAHAHA.  

SCREAAAAAMMMM!!!

I know you must've tried this horrendous thing called Power Surge in Dufan. I just tried it yesterday, heehee. It's scary but is it fun? No. Try this thing called Stealth (also available in Thorpe Park). It's both scary and fun. It's the fastest roller coaster in Europe! and it didn't take long loop, it's actually just ONE single loop but in very high speed for 90 degrees above the grounds in about 2 seconds or so. Vwery brweath-taking.

Up up and away!

Did I enjoy Thorpe Park? Yes, thank you very much. I know this is the thrill capital of England, but it would had been more wise if I could just skip these rides for Glasto, Amin! Oh and I'll make sure I'm gonna ride on these when I visit them someday!

World's Longest Roller Coaster track in Japan

Tallest Coaster in Europe, Germany