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Showing posts from December, 2009

for a moment

Driving this late hour Only a few cars moving at the same direction The high speed feels liberating How easy it is to just let go Then the whispers come And the connection comes again ~Alia Adistya

Doing what you love

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A great article in The New York Times about Etsy! www.nytimes.com

"Inside all of us is HOPE...FEAR...ADVENTURE... Inside all of us is a WILD THING"

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Many generations grew up with the books by Maurice Sendak and his extraordinarily imaginative illustrations and stories. Spike Jonze has directed a live-action film version of Maurice Sendak's most famous book, "Where the Wild Things Are" that was written in 1963. I remember my childhood in Virginia, reading his books and being lost in his magical world. The movie was released in the US in October but I'm not sure when it's hitting the theaters in Asia. I really want to see this! Featurette with Maurice Sendak Great soundtrack as well! motion picture soundtrack: dgcrecords.com/promos/wherethewildthingsare official website: wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com Cast: Max Records, Forest Whitaker, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo Director: Spike Jonze Writer: Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers

My First Tandem Paragliding Landing

Puncak, West Java A bit rough, but exhilarating :D

Conscious Eating

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Throughout my life I've never really watched what I eat nor committed to a specific exercise routine. I would always get hyped up to the idea of a new activity or diet and slowly lose interest as my mind gets distracted to day-to-day events like looking at Robert Pattinson's wallpaper on my monitor :P But I believe now is the right time for me to break away from old habits, focusing in what nourishes my body and where it comes from. Our body is our vehicle to do good on this earth. From years and years of knowing this, only now do I really want to take the step in being more conscious about my body. Better late than never :) There is this scene in the movie 'City of Angels' when Seth asks Maggie to describe what a pear taste like: Seth : What's that like? What's it taste like? Describe it like Hemingway. Maggie Ric e : Well, it tastes like a pear. You don't know what a pear tastes like? Seth : I don't know what a pear tastes like to you. Maggie Rice : Sw

Soundtrack for a Revolution

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Just got back from watching the documentary film " Soundtrack for a Revolution " at Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest)...what can I say... powerful and inspirational. Makes me want to join a cause and commit to a greater purpose. Love those films that has that kind of an effect :) (Also wished I had a good voice so I could sing along LOL) SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music -the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young.

Alice in WaterLand

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Love this photograph by Elena Kalis, view the complete set at elenakalisphoto.com she has a lot more underwater projects. Can't wait to try out my underwater camera!

Before Sunset

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the warm golden afternoon sun peeks from the small gap of the front door straight to my eyes creating sparkling circles of rays, blinding me. Time to take it slow, say a prayer and be in stillness... bringing to mind all the things to be grateful for.

Entenmaaaaaann's

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Phew what a day! A load of work but happy to get a lot done today. Well I chatted with my best friend yesterday and she's coming from New York to visit here next week! So excited to be able to see her again, and she'll be bringing me my favorite snack which they don't sell here... entenmann's soft baked chocolate chip cookies... yummmm... will be drooling until she comes next week :) I've been friends with this unique individual since 1990, back in the day when her hair was curly, frizzy, and unruly and we wore plaid and polka-dots. Throughout the years she's evolved into this beautiful stylish woman who has a passion for what she does in life and in the office. I lived with her family for a few months when I was applying for colleges in New York, and then a few years later she eventually became my roommate. We've been through a lot together, experiencing love, loss, insanity, happiness, life altering changes and fun adventures. Even when we haven't bee

Staying home

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I've been hearing people lately telling me to go out, meet people, hang out, and I do! Buy the truth is... I actually really enjoy staying home and being a hermit especially in Jakarta. At home I create. And when I am creating, I feel peaceful even in those darker days. It's like therapy (I really wish one day to have my own crafting studio, crossing my fingers) I stayed home all day today and actually most of yesterday doing work, watching dvd's, chatting with an old friend and crafting. Watched the movie about Coco Chanel and also Julia Child (Julie & Julia) makes me want to create and cook! Their enthusiasm, creativity and obsession for their craft is so inspiring. Well this past few months I started a new venture with my best friend making hair accessories. So far we've been taking orders for wedding parties, and hopefully next month our website will be up and running... hopefully :) Love this line from Julie & Julia when Julie Powell explains her reasons t

Polyamorous Crushes

I often visit the site SoulPancake which I first found out from Oprah's interview with Rainn Wilson, yes the lovable yet annoying guy from "The Office" who founded the website. The purpose of the website is to discuss Spirituality, Creativity, and Philosophy in a hip and cool way with interviews, blogs, contests, etc. One of the recent question asks who our 5 Polyamorous Crushes are. " A polyamorous crush goes beyond sexuality; it's about being enthralled with either a couple, a team, a cast, even a mob of people working towards a common goal. You're not quite sure, but something about them turns you on. " Here are my 5 Polyamorous Crushes: 1. Sigur Rós (their music had always moved me, and after watching the film Heima , their passion for their art inspired me even more) 2. Oprah and her crew (I could imagine a lot of great energy resides in the work place) 3. Jason Mraz, his crew and joyologist Tricia Huffman (a joyologist is a profession where you

Lupen Grainne

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Loving these photographs by Lupen Grainne

Past Memory

I am quite a forgetful person, someone said it's because I am lacking in oxygen :) (Note to self: start exercising!) I tend to forget a lot of things but why do I keep remembering the thing that I want to forget about the most. At times I feel as if I've gone past it and moved on, forgiving and coming to terms, but sometimes memories have a way of creeping back to you. Time for some positive affirmations I found! The past has no power over me, I allow the light to fill me with hope and positivity. I am grateful, for I am a perfect Spirit of the Universe and I share in its abundance in everyway, today and everyday. I am thankful for all that I have, for all that I don't have, and for all that I have been given here and now. Everything in my life, every thought, feeling, face, moment, and situation is a divine gift and I am wholeheartedly thankful. I am thankful for the creative thoughts that rise and allow me to perceive all that is here now. This day, I am content

Thích Nhất Hạnh

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Thích Nhất Hạnh (Tick-Naught-Han) called by his students Thay (meaning teacher) is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, zen master, peace and human rights activist to name a few. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967 for his efforts to generate peace and reconciliation. One day I hope to be able to visit Plum Village , his meditation practice center in southern France, where he teaches and writes when he's not travelling around the world. But for now, I'll just share some of his quotes that I enjoy: "You are what you want to become. Why search anymore? You are a wonderful manifestation. The whole universe has come together to make your existence possible. There is nothing that is not you. The kingdom of God, the Pure Land, nirvana, happiness, and liberation are all you." "Does the rose have to do something? No, the purpose of a rose is to be a rose. Your purpose is to be yourself. You don't have to run anywhere to become someon

Hugging Meditation

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I came across a blog by Patti Digh: 37days.typepad.com "What would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?". She had a post about Thich Naht Hanh hugging meditation: "Hugging meditation is a combination of East and West. According to the practice, you have to really hug the person you are hugging. You have to make him or her very real in your arms, not just for the sake of appearances, patting him on the back to pretend you are there, but breathing consciously and hugging with all your body, spirit, and heart. Hugging meditation is a practice of mindfulness. "Breathing in, I know my dear one is in my arms, alive. Breathing out, she is so precious to me." If you breathe deeply like that, holding the person you love, the energy of care, love, and mindfulness will penetrate into that person and she will be nourished and bloom like a flower. When we hug, our hearts connect and we know that we are not separate beings. Hugging with mindfulness and concen

Quotation

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Loving this tattoo from A cup of Jo

The piano

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I started playing the piano in second grade when I was living in virginia, taking lessons with an old woman in her 60s which name I can't seem to remember. But I do remember how she looked, pale wrinkled white skin, small brown eyes that glistened, and short brown curly hair, curly as Annie. She seemed to have this distinctive style, always wearing an a-line skirt just below the knee with a blouse tucked in, dark tinted stockings and a pair of 1 inch heeled prairie like shoes. She was strict with the lessons, but I remember her always being so sweet to me, and I especially loved the times when we would do our duets during the recitals. I had about three other piano teachers after that as we moved from place to place and by the time I started high school in New York, I wanted to explore other instruments and came to play the alto saxophone. I was pretty good at it, and after a year I enrolled in the school's jazz band. Yes, I was your typical geek, excellent in math and joined t