Handini Audita

I am one out of millions of Indonesian who really rarely watch television. Instead of watching the telly everyday, I spend my days watching Youtube videos instead. Anything from daily vlogs, make up tutorials, beauty tips, until cooking videos.

So as I was watching ItsJudyTime tutorial and vlogs, she was using heated hair rolls that makes her hair looks very stunning in an instant time. I really like curling my hair with a hot curling iron. But it takes a lots of time and effort of doing it. So as I stopped by a video tutorial on curling hair with a heated hair rolls, I instantly fall in love with it.

Yesterday as I was shopping in one of Jogjakarta shopping mall, I went by the magazine section and decided to buy the Marie Claire October 2012 edition. One of the articles in that magazine discusses the issue of women in a marriage relationship that by opportunities gained higher salary that the man (husband). This article is very interesting to me because with the enhancement of today's generation, woman are able to compete equally with man in any field of work. There is no more burden that makes women unable to compete with man in their work life.

In the Indonesia culture, there is a strong perception that man (husband) should be the head of a family that is responsible for the financing of the family, while woman (wife) is responsible for the management of the family. Because that culture has strongly embed in the Indonesian society, it becomes a taboo situation when the man (husband) receives lower salary than the women (wife).

In some situation, when the wife have higher salary and position, it creates a very stressful situation for the husband. This is because the husband felt that there are under a threat because their role as the head of the family becomes threatened. Sometimes, the personality of the husband tend to change in a negative degree (example from being loving to hurtful) because of the stress they burden. In fact, many people said that a family that positions the wife as the main "bread hunter" will create a potential of conflicts, especially on the financial issues.

So on the article written on Marie Claire, I learned several actions that will enable the minimization of conflicting situations when the wife has higher salary that the husband.

First, even though the wife salary is higher than the husband salary, make sure that the husband is still the main "bread winner". This means that the responsibility of the marriage expenses (example the children school tuition, daily expenses) is still being the husband responsibility. If in some situation, the husband cannot manage to be responsible for the expenses, then there should be a discussion first before the wife take a step to help. In this way, the husband will feel honored and respected. Then, they should also be able to manage an equal lifestyle. Its is also very important to discuss everything with the partner including the sensitive issue of "financing". Last but not least, is respect. If you want to be respected by your partner, you first have to respect your partner.

So for all the women out there in the world who have the ability to have higher income than their husband, be proud! But, never forget to respect your partner. Always remember that your relationship worth more than any money in the world. So do not let money destroy the joy of the relationship.

With love,

Good bye September..

Hello October...

Every year around, October has been the most exciting month of the year. October is always filled with excitements because of Halloween celebrated at the end of October. The festivals filled with great imagination and creativity. Last year October was my first experience celebrating Halloween. I don't know if this year I will have the chance to experience Halloween celebration or not. Another October excitement is the celebration of my Birthday...!

This year will be a special October filled with exciting challenges and exciting moments. This October, I will celebrate my 22nd Birthday. This year October, there will be the Idul Adha celebration which will enable me to meet up with many family members. Also, this October, a family of mine is having her wedding party.

Exciting challenges is also waiting for me this October. The challenge of finishing my first masterpiece, and the challenge to be accepted for my dream job.

So Hello October... Hope to become the best October ever..!

Kisses..

Ollie..

I heard that name a couple of years ago from my boyfriend. I even visited Ollie's parents house in Depok. But I never met Ollie in person.

From the story I heard from the stories of those that knew her in person, she is such an inspiring lady. As I Google her name one day and read a little about her from her blog posts, I was directly in love with her personality. She is very inspiring!

Ollie is a young Indonesian Muslim lady. She was able to write more than 20 books when her age is only 20 something years old. Not only that, she also managed to own several businesses in the field of book publishing, computer technology, and her newest business line is in business. All of that was achieved before she even reach the age 30. Amazing!!!!

Last week, I went to Gramedia book store, the biggest book store line in Indonesia. I stumbled upon the "New Arrival" books to search inspiration for my book writing (yes, I was dreaming to get a book published for so long). And there it was! A book titled "Yes, You Can!". The title of the book catches my eyes, to be honest, because it is similar to the tagline of President Obama campaign tagline during the presidential election a coupe of years ago.

So I carefully read the cover page of the book. The writer name is Ollie. I recall that name a couple of seconds to remember who she is. At that time, I was quite confused. I felt that I heard that name before, but can't remember who.

But then, just in a quick glance, I can remember perfectly who she is. She is Ollie, an inspiring young lady which I heard about a couple of years ago. I was excited!

I flipped on the very first page of the "already opened" book in the shelf. The book store was kind enough to provide book samples so that people can read several pages before buying the books. Reading just the first page of the book, I felt very excited. I was very sure that this must be a great book. So I decided to buy it.

The book is a motivational book. But it is uniquely written. Not like any other motivational books available in the market that is written very seriously so that I will feel like reading text book or the Bible. He he he..

The book describes about Ollie's life wisdom that takes her to her current achievements. It is very lightly written but it gives strong impacts to ones motivation. Why is that? It's simply because she describes her wisdom with a true life example.

Since it is very lightly written, I managed to read the book only in a couple of hours. The book is so fun to read. Once you start reading, you just can't stop!

"Yes, You Can!" is a highly recommended book. Especially for the youth who is ready to create a series of success during their young days.


Dream, Believe, and Make It Happen..


Lots of love,

I cannot believe that it has been a year since my first arrival to Glasgow, United Kingdom. It was a very long and unpredictable journey. I was very lucky to experience that, even though with a very sudden preparation. It was not an easy journey to step my feet on the Royal Land of United Kingdom. This is the short story about my very long journey in the Royal Land of United Kingdom.

Going for master degree after graduating my undergraduate study, had been the very long plan of mine. My parents was very kind to give full support until their very limit. Not only financial support that they are willing to give, but they also wonderfully give mental support in the form of motivation and advice. However, going to study in the UK was not the plan! We did not even consider having me studying in the UK. Not even a single thought.

Our plan until the very last minute was to prepare for taking master degree in Australia. The land that were deeply attached to my heart because I spend most of my childhood time in that beautiful land. So we prepared every single detail of it to go to Australia. Financial planning, IELTS tests, recommendation letter, and any other documents to support my application to universities in Australia. Months after the preparation I was blessed to be accepted in one of the best rating university in Australia. A university which the vice president of Indonesia (Mr. Budiono) graduated from. The class starts at February 2012. I was accepted approximately on June 2011. So I still have a lot of time before my departure. I was blessed.

God hands work in an unpredictable manner. One day, somewhere in the beginning of August 2011, I visited my friend house just to have a chat. Her name is Myra. A very good friend of mine during my undergrad study. That day, I cannot remember the beginning of the story, Myra suddenly told me a story about her big brother who had finish his master degree in the UK. She suddenly gives me an advice. I remember it so well because these sentences had changed my plan dramatically.

She said to me: "Dini, why didn't you go to the UK instead? I know that the Poundsterling rate is so damn high. But think about it, master degree in the UK will only take 1 year if you're on track. In Australia it takes 2.5 years if you're on track. So if you accumulate your spending until you finish your course, UK will be way much cheaper. The education system in the UK is also so good."

That sentences opened my eyes dramatically. It changed my mind in advance. At that moment I suddenly  think, "I have to study in the UK".

So as I went back home, I called my dad directly to talk about what Myra said to me. He agreed directly. From that second, our plan turns into a different direction. We will now focus on getting my master in the UK.

As I arrived home, I rushed into my laptop and starts Googling the universities which provides the major I am interested to study (Marketing). So I came by three Universities (University of Strathclyde, University of Birmingham, and University of Manchester). There is one problem that occurs. The class for the year 2011 admission starts in mid-September 2011. It was August already at that. Time seems to be impossible for me to enter the September 2011 admission period. So I act nothing to loose. I just continue to do what I have to do.

Right the next day, I contacted an Education Consulting Agent (IBEC) to help me with my application. I understand that with this very limited of time, I will need an education consultant. I was lucky enough to be advised by Mr.Hendra, the head of that education consulting agent. He gives me lists of documents that I have to send to him to complete my application. I also contacted my professors to ask for another letter of recommendation. They were surprised because I changed direction in a very short period of time. One of them even said: "Handini, it is impossible for you to be accepted this year. The time is very limited and you will still need to process many other things. It is impossible. It is impossible.." (he said the word "impossible" three times). But I replied: "Sir, you cannot say you can't before you try".

Seeing my dedication and motivation, they easily signed my recommendation letter. I prepared all the documents needed just in one day. The next day, I directly fly to Jakarta to meet Mr.Hendra and to complete the application documents.

Things does not always goes smooth. When the day I arrived in IBEC office, Mr.Hendra starts to call those three universities I've selected to ask if they still can provide just one more seat for one student. We have to wait until 16:00 Indonesian time because we have to wait for UK office hours. Unfortunately, University of Manchester and University of Birmingham is already full. They cannot accept more students.

Frustrated? Not even. I still have an opportunity with Strathclyde. So I decided to still go with my application. Again, I act like I have nothing to loose.

Finally.. Couple of days after my application, I received an Unconditional Letter of Acceptance. This means that I am fully accepted to take master degree in University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. I was filled with joy. Right after I received the email from  the university conforming my status, I directly complete any payments needed to be payed (tuition fee). I also booked a student accommodation online.

After that process, I have to apply for my student Visa. I will need a CAS number (Confirmation of Acceptance for Study) to apply for my visa. The University said that it will take approximately 1 week for me to receive it. Unfortunately, things does not go as expected. I've waited until Mid September, the CAS number has not been sent. I called the University conforming this situation. They said that they cannot control this situation because CAS number is issued by the Ministry of Education in United Kingdom. It is not the University that issued this letter. So the only thing that the university can do is to issue a permission letter to arrive late for class. It is a kind of relieve hearing a slight solution for my situation at that moment. But deep inside my heart, I believe that I can arrive on time.

After days and days of waiting, on 20 September 2011, I received my CAS number. FYI, that is just 5 days before the first day of class. As soon as I received the letter, I rushed to the UKBA (UK Border Agency) to apply for my Visa. It was the most challenging moment of my life (in Indonesian, we called it "Sport Jantung").

I got my Visa approved on Friday, 23 September 2011 at 10:00. The flight that I booked will fly on Saturday, 24 September 2011 at 0:15. So I received my visa just 14 hours before my departure! I rushed to the UKBA to collect my Visa. Then go around Jakarta to search for Poundsterling. FYI, it is not an easy task to ask for a lot of Poundsterling in a very limited time. Fiuuuhh... Such a stressful day.

But again. Even though it was so stressful, but I felt so much blessed. This means that I can arrive in time for class. I don't need to skip any classes.

Short story short, I flew to Glasgow, United Kingdom and arrived safely. I did not have anyone to pick me up in the airport. This is because all the Indonesian students which I have got contacted to is busy with their student orientation activities. It's all right. I use taxi to take me from the airport to the student accommodation which I booked already. I was lucky enough to have such a pleasant place to live. Collegeland, is my home for the next 52 weeks.

My first day of school starts on Monday, 26 September 2011. I was very happy to meet lots of great people from many different countries. India, China, Pakistan, Italy, Greece, Thailand, and many other countries that I cannot mention one by one. I also have a friend from our closest country neighbor, Malaysia.

On the 2nd of October 2011, I met all the Indonesian students in the Glasgow area for the first time. It was the day where we go around Glasgow in Batik. We proudly promotes Batik in the nation of far away. We chat and exchange numbers so that we can keep in touch.

My first holiday in the UK is a trip to Loch Ness. I was invited to take a one day trip by an Indonesian friend of mine. As I remembered, I think it was the next weekend after the Batik day. I took that opportunity to get to know some Indonesian friends a bit more personal and closer. I am blessed until this moment (the day I write this article), we still remain best friends.

Among the Indonesian students, we had a very good relationship. To some, we act like family. I am very blessed to receive such a caring family in Glasgow. "Duke Street Citizens", "Roebank Citizens", and the "Blackfriars Court Citizens" is my most closest family of mine in Glasgow. Thank you for the wonderful love and joy you give to me. Especially for "Pakdhe Dito" who always cook for me every time I got "home sick". I will not forget the sate buntel, tongseng kambing, and the katetong..:D

During my study in the UK, I manage to travel to many different cities outside the Glasgow area. I'm very happy to meet more and more friends when visiting to different cities. I am happy to meet more and more great Indonesians such as Davina from Leeds, and Happy from Manchester. You guys are uniquely awesome!

The most unforgettable trip was when we celebrate new years eve in Edinburgh. It was unforgettable because we have to struggle in the freezing weather and the storm. Plus, we go from one club to other club just to find a "free place" to sit and warm up (mahasiswa gak modal). Having no sleep time because we have no place to sleep. We also experience being kicked out from a student accommodation building because we secretly sleep in their common room. The experience was Priceless!

London was also a memorable city during my stay in the UK. It is because I visited this city twice for two important events. Both were priceless! My first trip was a "business trip" to one of the world biggest consulting company. My second trip was a trip to hunt for BIRKINS...!!!!! That's why I called London as a priceless city, because I always conduct a priceless trip to London.

Another awesome events while living in the UK is the opportunity to experience London Olympics 2012. I was lucky enough to receive free tickets to see a female football match between USA and Colombia in the Hampden Football Field. Even though I have no idea about football, but I felt blessed having the opportunity to experience the "Olympic atmosphere". 

I understand that reading this post creates an image that all I did in the UK was just to travel and to have fun. Well, it's not true at all. I've experienced several ups and downs also in my study period. The best experience which adds values to my study is the opportunity for me and 5 of my other friends to work as a consulting team for one of Scotland biggest food and drinks distributor. I was blessed because I can experience a very rare opportunity to experience the "Scottish" working environment. It was one of the best learning process of my master degree period.

Now, a year had went passed by. It felt that everything happens so fast like a glimpse of light. It was priceless yet meaningful. I cannot regret any single thing from this very long journey.

Today, just one year after my arrival in Glasgow, I am now returned to Indonesia. I returned back home on August 2012 before the Ramadhan. Now, I cannot wait for my second journey to the UK. But this time, the journey is for GRADUATION.

Never be the first person who doubts your own ability.

Don't be afraid to change to different direction for a better cause.

Always remember to believe in yourself...

Dream.... Believe... and Make it Happen...

Written With Lots of Love,

This article was written because I was inspired by a powerful chapter in such a good book written by a great writer named Ollie..

I remember the time when I was only 3 years old. Yes. When I was still the little miss dini. I was a little girl living with a loving parent. I am very lucky to experience such a loving childhood.

It was not a common thing in my country at that time to send a child to pre-school in such an early age. So I spend my entire day just to play at home during the day. When evening come, at around 16:00, I will spend my time playing with other children in the neighborhood. During the day, I will see other children who is just a couple of years older than me, carries a big backpack and were neatly dressed in school uniform. Those "big kids" will return back home in the afternoon. Then they will take a nap. In the evening, they will start playing with me. As a 3 year old, it was a very big dream for me to go to school. Any kind of school. As long as I can wear backpacks and neat uniforms. So I asked my mother. "When will I be able to go to school?". Then she answered, "Be patient dear.. If you be good, eat a lot of food, and you are 4 years old, you will be able to go to school".

So I did what she said. I behave at my best manner every single day. I always finish my meal. I also always look at the calender. Waiting and waiting for the day when I turn 4.

Finally, after months and months of waiting, I turn 4 years old. I was very excited since I will go to school. As I just turn 4, my parents had been able to put me into kindergarten. I felt like such a big girl. I was waiting patiently day by day for my first day of school.

My first day of school turns out great. I met lots of new friends. I enjoy every single day of my kindergarten. Then, one by one, my friends starts to have a little sister or a little brother. So I asked my mom for a little sister. Then my mom said "Be patient dear. If you pray everyday to God, He will send you a little sister".

So I did. I prayed every single day. I've waited and waited for the little sister to arrive. Until one day, 28 June 1995, my little sister was born.

I was so excited to play with my little sister. But my mom said I have to wait till she is a bit bigger. So again, I waited.

At school, my friends who were just 1 year older than me were graduated from kindergarten. They move to another school with bigger kids. I asked my mom, "When will I graduate from kindergarten?". She answered "Soon.. If you behave good, you will graduate next year".

So I did. I behave good every single day. I've waited and waited for the day of my graduation. Until the days had come. I then went to elementary school with bigger kids.

It happens again and again. After spending a couple of years in elementary, I want to go to a higher degree, junior high school. So I have to wait. Waiting over and over again.

Today, near the end of the year 2012, I have accomplished several events which were my goals in the past. I've graduated from University. I've experienced living overseas without my family. But yet, it does not keep me stop waiting for other events to happen. I am still waiting for my life career to happen, waiting for the day of my marriage which I still don't know when, waiting for my PhD study, waiting and waiting for other big things to happen. When those big things has happened, I will still be waiting and waiting again for the very very next big thing.

Waiting...

Life might be the art of waiting..

Tomorrow is never a guarantee for anyone.

So start dreaming, and start to make it happen.

With Love...

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky - I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents' garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me - I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the world's first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin a new success, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

When I was still in the UK, I saw lots of posts about a unique specific cake. Rainbow cake!! This particular cake was posted by most of my friends in Indonesia via the social media. I was actually very curious at that time. I want to know how that cake taste like! Unfortunately, I was searching for it in bakeries around Glasgow city areas, but cannot find a single bakery that sells this unique cake. Oh well.. I guess I have to wait till I return to Indonesia (my thought when I was still in the UK).

I was so excited to try this cake. But I don't know where to go to purchase this cake. Luckily, I heard an advertisement in the radio about a new bakery in Jogjakarta  (the city I lived in Indonesia). The bakery is called "Paris Bakery". The advertisement says that this bakery provide enormous variation of French cakes. I was so excited.. I am so sure that this bakery sells rainbow cake. Plus, I am also sure that this bakery sells macaroons. One of the French desserts that I love the most.

It was very easy to find the location of this bakery. It is in a big road which I know called monjali. To be specific, it is near Mustokoweni hotel. If you wish to read further information about the bakery, check out their website http://www.parisbakeryindonesia.com

The bakery was actually like what I was expected in the first place. They sell FRENCH DESSERTS! I can find lots of French cuisine and many famous cakes. And what I love the most is that they sell rainbow cake!! Yayyyyy...!!!!! 

I ordered several desserts which I love eating. I ordered the rainbow cake which I crave so much, a caramel macaroon, a red velvet chocolate ball, and a caramel latte.. Gosh.. How many calories is that...??? Fat fat fat... Lol

The cakes I ordered

I love how the macaroon tastes. It actually taste similar to the macaroons I made while was in the UK. It is soon delicious. I can still taste the almond mixture in it and it is not too "eggy". The only thing about the macaroon that I dislike is the size. They are so small.

For the red velvet chocolate ball, to be honest, it is my least favorite. I am a big fan or red velvet. But unfortunately, the chocolate covering the red velvet is so dominating. So I cannot really taste the red velvet. I guess I'm just a big fan of traditional red velvet with cream cheese frosting...:(

There is nothing special about the caramel latte which I ordered. They are good but just fine...:)

Take a zip

The cake of the day of my order today is of course the RAINBOW CAKE!!!! Not only because it is the cake which I crave so much since I was still living in the UK, but I personally think it is the best one I ordered today. I love the moisture of the cake and the taste of the cream cheese. The size of the cake is also very big for me. It makes me sooooo full. The only thing about it is that because the cake was put in the fridge by the bakery, the texture of it was very hard when it was just taken out from the fridge. However, it is very forgivable since it becomes very moist once it spends a couple of minutes outside the fridge. It is worth a try.

Rainbow Cake: The Cake I've been craving for

Some of you might be wondering the price I spend for these cakes. I spend Rp.48.400 in total (Red Velvet Chocolate Ball Rp.3500, Macaroon Rp.8000, Rainbow Cake Rp.13.000/slice, and Caramel Latte Rp.19500). To be honest, I have to consider it as not so cheap. However, the price is worth the value. I think the cake is made with a very good quality raw materials. The cakes is also very fresh.

Most importantly, they generously give free gifts for visitors who posts BlacBerry Messenger status about the Bakery (I did it because I want the free gift). Anyway, I'm wondering what gift I will receive from them because of writing this post..??? LOL.. (Just kidding..:P)

FREE GIFT..!!!!! Yummeerrssss....:D

If you are visiting or living in Jogjakarta, this bakery is worth a visit.

Bon Appetite... ^^

P.S: I am writing this article from the bakery....:)

It has been a tough long year during my study in Glasgow, United Kingdom. I've had been overwhelmed with deadlines of works which seems to continuously came. That is why I was so happy when I submit my final dissertation project on the 10th of August 2012. Fiiuuuhhhhh... Finally it is over. The final task to complete my master degree has been accomplished.

I was lucky enough to find cheap flight tickets right after my submission to travel to Indonesia, my beloved home country. I arrived in Indonesia on the 16th of August 2012. I was so happy to be able to come back home at that time, because I am able to celebrate the Ramadhan day with my beloved family. I was very busy since the day I arrived. Not too busy of work related activities though... I was  very busy with the schedules of meeting up with family and friends. 

Right now, all of those meeting up activities is finished!!! 

And there is another problem coming up on me..

I cannot control my "laziness".....:p

Yes.. I have been so unproductive these days. Not because I have nothing to do, but because my brain does not want to work.. Lol

Have you ever feel that way? That feeling when you just want to do "nothing". Or as what I call "the art of doing nothing". Actually, it is the art of doing nothing "productive" just to be clear.:D

My daily "art of doing nothing" starts when I wake up every morning. I wake up at 10 everyday.. Woohhoooo... That is definitely not morning! Then, I brush my teeth, and wash my face. After that, I just hang out in my room. Checking my Facebook and emails. Then watch YouTube all day (I looovvveee make up tutorials and Vlog videos). Then, when I feel so, I will take a shower, eat, and sleep. Gosh.... Such an unproductive day.... 

It is just so annoying to have the feeling of unable to accomplish the targeted work which I have to accomplish because being so in love with the situation where no deadlines appears.

Gosh.. I sure need to be productive soon..!!!!

With Love,