Imported Books

Feel a little bit sad because I couldn't get any access to a world-class library such as at Curtin University anymore, I decided to start collecting high quality books on my own.

In the past, I used to borrow more than 20 books and DVDs from Curtin U library twice a month. Once I've borrowed over 100 items. I felt so rich to see those collection in my study benches for another few months. I borrowed everything, ranging from scientific to self-help books, even those Donna Hay's famous cookbooks! I really grateful to find the book, so I could finally bake my favorite 'Madeira Cake'.

Since I have got to buy my own imported books now, I think it is handy to get them from imported bookstore at the airport. To be honest, I prefer to read more imported books than translated books from local bookshops. It makes more sense, since it is delivered in its own native language. Instead of helping me to enrich my vocabs, brushing my sense, it is more enjoyable to read something in English. A book is more understandable when it was written in its original language. 

It is also a great pleasure to search for a book that is not easy to find of. For example, I've been wandering around some airports to get the English version of 'The Geography of Bliss' by Eric Weiner in the last few months. I never stop to ask the shopkeeper about the book. I guess it is a kind of challenge for me, because you'll never know when and where you gonna get your favorite book! This could makes the whole trip feels great.

I know it is not a cheap project, such as to collect all my favorite imported books through any bookstore in the airport. However, by buying things in increments for something you could enjoy in a longer time, shouldn't make any fuss, especially when I feel more energized, positive, and inspired after reading them. All I have to do is to buy 2-3 books and finish them before another trip to the airport!

Pekanbaru,

Simple Stuffed Tofu (Tahu Isi)

I remember vividly about this 'tahu isi' and always happy to eat it. 

I've found this cheap meal more than 20 years ago at bakso vendor in Pekanbaru. Since we didn't have time to eat bakso (meat ball) at our tutorial break, we opted for this snack. 

I considered it light and healthy. However, we need to be careful when we bite it, because we don't want to have a 'condiment smile', when the soy sauce is smothered all across our mouth. 

So, the simple meal consists of deep fried tofu, celery, onion paste (made from crushed onion, garlic and a bit of salt, then stir fried the mix), yellow noodle, and soya sauce. We could add chili sauce for hot taste.



This is how to arrange the stuffed tofu:

a) Cut tofu in the middle, but leave one side uncut

b) Spread the onion paste on the tofu (up and down side)

c) Put some celery (two celery leaves is tasty enough)

d) Squeeze some noodle to form it like a ball, put the noodle in the middle of tofu

e) Add some soya sauce (not too much) and chili, if you like

f) Grab the stuffed tofu with two hands and start to eat it.

Enjoy your stuffed tofu.

Pekanbaru,

A Secret Pond

Wood ducks

When I need a break from work nowadays, I'm dreaming of my secret sanctuary, a small pond in front of Curtin University campus, Bentley. I used to get walk around it after a hard and long writing session. That walk is just to clear my mind and to observe many beautiful creatures in the surrounding pond.

We did not know exactly when the pond exists. It was like a dream. There was no water during harsh summer days. Soil get crack and dirty water could be seen at the bottom of shallow pond. After a very wet winter came and poured lots of water from the sky almost everyday, suddenly we could see the water filled the pond. Suddenly, life has a new meaning to the small lake.

Few years ago, when I visited it for a first time, the trees were blooming with their yellow flowers. Wild spring flowers made a virtual flower fence at the edge of the pond. Groups of water lilies also filled the pond with their yellow flowers. Green water grass grew on one side of the pond. And the best thing was, the wetland birds, swamphen, and ducks came to live with their groups at the pond.

Spring flowers

Although it was only small pond, I always come to visit the pond every spring. However, it was hard to see the flowers and waterlilies again lately. The ducks were still came to live at the pond. Luckily, I spotted Wood ducks with its six small ducks swam to a safe place to avoid me. 

Swamphen

The purple swamphen was still single and looked stiff. It didn’t fly or run when I approached it to say hello. It was busy to find bugs in the shallow water. 

But those two cheeky white-faced divers (Australian Coot) scared me to death with their loud trumpeting calls. 

The campus was beautifully reflected on the pond's surface at the daylight.

What a beautiful small pond that gives a peace and serenity to my soul.

Curtin University Campus

Subhanallah.

Pekanbaru

Solo Traveller

Stage menjadi seorang solois dalam bertualang baru saja kumulai. Hubby dan keluarga tidak ada yang dapat menemani. Negeri bagian di Malaysia yang ramah kepada turis, yaitu Penang, menjadi destinasi pertamaku pada November 2012 lalu.

Bertualang sendiri bisa menimbulkan kegamangan. Khawatir tersesat tanpa teman, masalah keamanan saat jalan sendiri, atau tak dapat berbagi kebingungan menjadi alasan-alasan tipikal yang menghambat diri sendiri. Untuk mengatasinya, ada beberapa kiat yang ingin kubagi.

Pertama, pilih penerbangan yang tiba di tempat tujuan saat matahari masih terang atau di bawah pukul 7 malam saat musim panas. Aku sangat menghindari ketibaan saat gelap menjelang di sebuah tempat, kecuali ada jemputan khusus. Saat bepergian ke Penang lalu, aku memilih menginap di hotel dekat bandara dan melanjutkan perjalanan keesokan harinya, ketimbang naik taksi atau bus malam-malam ke hotel di tempat tujuan. Kurang aman bagi wanita yang berjalan sendirian.

Kedua, kita bisa memilih hotel yang menawarkan transportasi ulang-alik dari hotel ke bandara. Jika tidak ada atau terlalu mahal, airport shuttle sewaan (misalnya dari http://www.world-airport-transfer.com) dapat menjadi alternatif. Untuk pilihan yang lebih murah, sewaktu di Kuala Lumpur dan Melbourne, kami menggunakan Skybus  (www.skybus.com.au, www.skybus.com.my).

Ketiga, saat berkeliling, gunakan transportasi umum di tempat yang memiliki ‘public transport’ bagus, dan gunakan taksi di tempat dengan ‘public transport’ kurang meyakinkan. Sewaktu di Penang, aku memilih naik bus kemana-mana karena lebih nyaman dan selalu ramai penumpang. Tetapi, saat di Shanghai, hubby dan aku lebih sering menggunakan taksi karena murah dan tidak terlalu ramai di dalamnya.

Keempat, pilih hotel yang direkomendasikan oleh situs pemesanan kamar hotel seperti www.booking.com dan www.agoda.com. Untuk memilih hotel, aku selalu mulai dengan lokasi, harga, bintang, lalu diseleksi berdasarkan rating rekomendasi (kebersihan, keamanan dan kenyamanan). Pemesanan memang dilakukan dengan kartu kredit, tetapi aku memilih ‘cash’ untuk pembayaran langsung.

Kelima, sebelum memilih hotel, pastikan kita mengetahui lokasinya dengan tepat. Karena bepergian sendiri, aku memilih hotel yang dekat dengan halte bus atau tempat perhentian taksi, dan tempat makan. Gunakan google map untuk mengukur jarak (http://maps.google.com) antara hotel dengan tempat-tempat wisata menarik lainnya. Pilih yang mudah dicapai dengan moda transportasi publik.

Keenam, periksa tempat-tempat wisata menarik yang disukai. Aku selalu menyukai taman, kebun, museum dan kampus, sehingga wisata ke kota tua atau pantai tidak terlalu berkesan bagiku. Aku selalu menjadikan tempat tersebut prioritas utama. Kalau waktu memungkinkan, sebenarnya kita dapat mengunjungi tempat-tempat wisata sebanyak-banyaknya. Tetapi pikirkan ‘kualitas’ ketimbang ‘kuantitas’. Karena perjalanan yang berusaha menikmati suasana akan lebih ‘sustainable’ dan berkesan, dibandingkan perjalanan tergesa-gesa untuk mengunjungi semua tempat wisata tapi tak memiliki kesan apapun tentangnya.

Ketujuh, simpan semua informasi dalam bentuk pdf dalam tablet, ipod atau handphone. Informasi berupa lokasi hotel, tempat wisata, rute kendaraan umum, biaya-biaya, tempat makan berupa peta-peta google map sangat ‘handy’ dalam situasi tanpa internet. Sebagai tambahan, aku sering memasukkan informasi singkat dari Wikipedia untuk membantuku memahami sebuah tempat wisata.

Kedelapan, bawa barang secukupnya. Bepergian sendiri membuatku belajar untuk ‘traveling lightly’, karena tidak ada yang akan membantu mengangkat koper. Aku tega meninggalkan barang-barang gratis seperti tas konferensi yang kunilai menambah beban baru. Pakaian dapat dicuci sendiri di wastafel kamar hotel, lalu dibiarkan sebentar di kamar mandi sehingga tidak ada air menetes dari cucian. Sebelum tidur, letakkan pakaian di tempat yang terkena angin AC. Dijamin esoknya akan kering dan wangi, siap disetrika, dengan setrika travelku.

Kesembilan, enjoy tiap moment, jangan menggerutu dan jangan panik kalau ada hal-hal di luar dugaan yang terjadi. Tetap nikmati suasana dengan santai dan bertanya pada petugas keamanan, supir bus, penjaga toko, etc, yang kita temui di tempat tersebut untuk mendapatkan informasi. Bukankah kita sendiri yang ingin bepergian, jadi tak perlu menambah kerisauan dan kekesalan dalam diri dalam sisa perjalanan kita.

Pekanbaru,

Enjoy your travel!

Pasembur

On my last trip to Penang, I tried a very famous Moslem Indian's rojak called Pasembur. 

There were so many dishes that we could add to our plate, such as prawn fritters, sausages, cuttle fish, fish balls, tofu, fried lungs and fried prawn. I've been overwhelmed by so many choices. 

Besides, I couldn't figure how it taste when we mix them altogether. Also, what sort of sauce that would be fit for all dishes.  
 
When the plate has finally come to our table, I was excited. 

A thick orange nutty sauce was served over the ingredients. Chopped cucumber, turnips and bean sprouts were spread on the plate. It looks appealing. I can't wait to taste!

So, the sauce was quite sweet but surprisingly, it was well-blended with the crispy dishes. 

Along with crunchy bites from prawn fritters, fried prawn and vegetables, pasembur gave a different sensation to a traditional rojak. 

Few minutes later, two of us finished the pasembur. It was a light meal and considerably exotic.


Pekanbaru