Fishbone hair plait

Summer is here and the wheather has gotten very hot lately (with unexpected light shower too). Even I had had my hair cut into a short one...making my head lighter and cooler neck (not that my neck is cool but at least the windy breeze can cool my neck now). And for my girl which has a waist-long hair, I often plait her hair. Simple yet nice looking (>.<)

Ta...da....cute isn't it?

This time, I would like to give step by step in plaiting fishbone (or fishtail plait as some call it). It is very easy...but quite tiring if the hair is as long as my daughter one.
1. Separate the hair into 2 flocks (sorry if the pics are blur...i asked my daughter to take it)

2. Get a small flock of hair from the most outer part (from the right side) and move it to the left side. Tighten each flock of hair if you want a tidy and neat result or you could have a loose plait instead

Yeah...give her a gadget...she will stay still :-)

3. Get a small flock of left side hair (again - from the most outer part) then move it to the right part

4. Repeat the step 2 and 3 until finish

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3 to get this stunning plait, isn't it? Anyway...we are having our 2months summer holiday starting from today so stay tune every week and discover what we are doing during this holiday ^^. And for those who are still have school and exam...keep fighting and jia you...best of luck for you final exam (>.<)

Iron Man 3 - the movie

Image taken from www.imdb.com

Last Thursday was the premier day of Iron Man 3 and I had bought the ticket a week in advanced with no hassle at all (God...never regret being an Mtix member). I watched it with my dear hubby...left the girls sleeping at home (it was final exam weeks) and here I thought this movie wouldn't be suitable for girls (in term of the violence or skinshin). I expected gory bloodish fighting when I laughed out loud seeing how silly and full of flaws Tony was on action. I also expected lots of smooches but hey I was surprised by how decent this Iron Man is *grinning* Another surprise seeing how full the theather room considering it was a weekday nite, not to mention that the cinema is opening more than 3 theaters for this movie...I could imagine how fast it is gonna be the box office.

The movie started right at the millenium's eve when Tony Stark met a smart beautiful woman, named Maya and both of them stumbled upon Killian, another nerdy thinker. Both were trying to sell their ideas to Tony but were ruthlessly ignored, of course Tony - being a womanizer, he got that one night stand with Maya while Killian was left on the rooftop waiting forever. Geez...if you are considering peaceful future...please remember to dump ur man elsewhere...rooftop was definitely a bad place *winking* Turned out, desperation drove Maya and Killian (Pott's former sweetheart) on working and merging two brains. Their research in improving brain capability (which on the good side, enables to correct the DNA) results with living bomb used to terrorize the world. Even Iron Man was defeated and Tony unexpectedly suffers the anxiety attack.

Tony strikes me as the human ego, proud and boastful with own achievement yet easily destroyed. He was having his own identity crisis when he realized that he was just a man in can...like any other people (without super power). Especially after the launching of Iron Patriot (the Ironman suits made for the goverment) slammed Tony with a hard fact that anybody can be an Iron man as long as they wear the suits. But human is a wonderful living being, which can always find the true strength in desperation...power and friendship in unexpected place and time. At the end, Tony relies more on his brain and hands in destroying Mandarin than his suits.

I was totally captivated by this movie...as far as I wanna re-watch it again (soon...with my girls this Wednesday). I enjoyed it so much that I forgot to remember points for my blog writing ‎​Ħǎː̗(^▽^)ː̖Ħǎː̗(^▽^)ː̖Ħǎ . As I've told you before...I don't really like a super hero movie (which is such a bullsh*t when people rely on a single person with super power to save the world) but this movie was different than the normal super hero ones. This 130mins movie is full of surprise. Lots of scenes where Tony was caught in unexpected situation that bursted the laughter from the audience. He maybe a snob dude but you gotta admit that he has a great sense of humor. He is kinda cute...like him :-) The movie is full of action as well, made me barely catching my breath before another breath-holding scene shown. ‎​=.=! pheω...‎​⊙﹏⊙ If I were Tony, I would be grey in 5mins (a big NO NO 【ツ】ƗƗє²² ƗƗє²² ƗƗє²²【ツ】)

My midnight snack...yum yum...guilty pleasure :-)

Quoting from Tony Stark, "human make their own demon"
*Indeed...thinking back bout my own demon - eating a portion of martabak (sort of traditional cake) for my midnight snack after the movie :-)

Ottenville Hotel - Bandung

The front facade

Our unplanned journey to bandung brought us to this small yet nice boutique hotel. It was 10pm when we reached bandung and we were tired and sleepy and we just couldn't face another 2hours drive to Jkt. So we decided to stay a night @Bdg. Soon, I started to call several hotels which we normally stay however (it was weekend) almost all the rooms were occupied. Only several overpriced suites were available and honestly speaking, I wouldn't want to pay ridiculous amount just for sleeping. Finally after one hour (around 11pm), we stumbled upon Ottenville around the corner near FO area. And luckily, they have several vacant rooms and quickly we took one and headed to the room.

The inner garden

Classy stair

The hotel isn't located on the main street, so it is a bit difficult to find. However, the surrounding were quieter and peaceful compared to the hotel on the main street. This 3storey building (I guessed) is painted in white and streak of black, with adequate parking lot in front of the hotel. The lobby was ok (actually I felt like in my own living room here)...so homey with small dining room next to it. Further, there was small inner garden with stair winding to the upper floors. Our room was on the 2nd floor. In term of size of the room, it was pretty small with king sized bed, small wardrobe and table. There were barely enough space to walk here and there but again, I really didn't mind the space when the time stroke 12am (and my eyes seemed having difficulty to open).

The dining room

Only in the late morning, I took notice of our room properly. Though small, the hotel provides complete ameneties, hair drier, flat screen tv, and mini bar. The breakfast was very simple, an Indonesian style with fried rice, fried noodle, congee, and sunny egg. Toast, tea or coffe were available as well. And all of it were self-service ‎​Ħǎː̗(^▽^)ː̖Ħǎː̗(^▽^)ː̖Ħǎ ...truly felt like home. We didn't explore the hotel since we rushed back to Jkt after our breakfast. But at least I had a nice stay here :-)

Taman Pelangi - Jogja

With Spidey >.<

One of the ride

Taman Pelangi (rainbow garden) is located at Monumen Jogja Kembali, Jalan Raya Ring Road Utara Jogja (0819 508 6070). Unlike the normal rainbow which comes up after rain, twilight would be the best time to visit this garden, since there are various lanterns around the garden. Open from 5pm onward until 11pm (though for Sunday, the amusement park opens from 10am), they charge IDR 10k per pax for entrance ticket from Monday - Thursday and IDR 15k per pax from Friday - Sunday (including public holiday) plus another IDR 5k for car. Quite cheap considering the vast area of the garden, however, if you would like to play the games/rides, you have to pay another IDR 10k - IDR 20k.

Since we arrived here after our dinner (around 6pm), we didn't play the games nor the rides...we just strolled around the garden. It was such a pretty sight, seeing the lanterns in various shape and colours, from Angry Birds, Disney characters, Sanrio, animals and many more. Beside lantern park, there are various games and rides such as haunted house, trampolin, waterballs, diorama, etc (some of the games/rides are closed when it rains or at night). Foodstall are scattered around the park as well, though imho, I would recommend you to have your meals before coming here

The only drawback here was the lighting. It was inadequate (probably brighter lighting would affect the ambiance of the shown lanterns), we had difficulty in searching the signage (especially for toilet which in the dimmed light appeared to be quite spooky and dirty). Taman Pelangi sure offers something different than any other sightseeing place at Jogja (especially at night), however, better maintenance would slightly improve the services and convinience of the visitor.

Yamaha Piano Competition - Music school level

Yay...2nd place   :-)

Last Saturday, unlike any other Saturday or any other long weekend that we normally have (meaning...driving off somewhere to have a 3-day-city-break)...we found ourselves woken up early and quite nervous. Yes...last Saturday was my oldest girl's first piano competition. Yamaha, annually conducts piano competition which started from the music school level, regional, up to international level. Early of this year, her new private piano teacher encouraged her to try herself. It was quite difficult to 'force' her to join the competition (my oldest has never had any initiative to participate in any event ‎​=.=! pheω...‎​⊙﹏⊙) . But after some encouragement...persuasion...threatening...bribing (with US$60 Lalaloopsy doll if she could pull it)...you name it...finally she agreed to join it. Her teacher didn't elevate our hope...no sugar coating here. She just merely pointed out that this competition would give her an experience and hopefully provide her a motivation to do more - since she had the capability for it (*crossing fingers*). She fell into Junior B category for 9-11years old children. The teacher also told us that her fingers' strength aren't enough to produce the required sound. For crying out loud...my girl is only bone and skin and yet I wondered...should I ask her to practice weight-lift on her finger? Anyway, that didn't prevent me to keep encourage her...to push herself (I remembered my yelling and hand gesturing so that she could press the key louder and harder...power girl! Give me your power! More! Man...other who didn't see me would have thought I was teaching weight-lift "̮˚°◦♡ώκωķ(∩_∩)◦°˚"̮ )...watch her practice...praise her when she did it perfectly and of course scold her when she played lousy.

The sole winner in Senior category

The winners in Junior C category

For 3 whole months, she had been dedicating her time (even for only 10mins) everyday to practice this song, regardless her-piling-homeworks or other-extra-classes or even her-demanding-monthly-exams. For 3 whole months, she didn't learn any new songs from her new level-up-book of Forte 8 (she even hasn't completed the last Forte 7) while her classmates have been playing the new pieces. Still I encouraged her...I said: it doesn't matter...since she has an ability to play new piece in nick of time (but not master it). She only took 3 days (in total not more than 90mins) to fully memorize the 3-page-composition for her competition...quite an accomplishment for me :-) But she took longer to master the song, to play it according to the required tempos, the dynamic markings and any musical signs and marks on the composition perfectly.

The winners in Junior B category

The song chosen by her teacher is Doll's Dreaming and Awakening of Theodore Oesten (1813 - 1870) or known as Doll's Dream. The composition has 3 different parts, which started with an andante and low sounds as the doll is starting to sleep. The music will be dimmed slightly at the end of the first part, indicating that the doll is fast asleep. Then the notes start to pick up its speed to moderato tempo while the doll is dreaming (apparently, a Ħªppy dream) The second part will end with louder and faster sounds until it hits the vermata when the doll is awaken from its dream. Then the third part is played lively in allegretto tempo, fast and hypnotic tunes while the doll is dancing...making its dream coming true. Hope...expectation...dream are all expressed within the most difficult part of the composition, rising higher and higher...going faster and faster...louder and louder. Until the end when the doll is stop, the fleeting tunes from high notes to the lower ones before it hits the final vermata.

Participation certificate

From my amateur eyes and ears, this is a hard song, especially the last part. My girl had difficulty in expressing herself with it...where she had to play fast but yet produced the loud and clear sounds...where she had to play faster and produced a light continuous twinkling sounds. Sometimes I was amazed seeing her finger danced on the keys not elegantly like the pros but it looked pretty awesome for me. She had tried her best (I knew it)...she gave the best and I knew perfectly that she had won. She won because she defeated herself (her shyness to perform in a solemn and intimidating atmosphere of a competition)...because she tackled this song...and because she kept trying and practicing (even when her parent didn't expect her to bring home a trophy)...and because she braced herself to play (regardless her cold feet). So for all these, she deserved my-standing-applause. Bravo girl!

The music score

Congratulation for winning the second place for Junior B category girl...уσυ rock!
Click here to watch her playing (on YouTube)