Be Considerate

When my second IUI failed, I remember how down I was. I confided to my mom, someone who I always turned to for advice. I told her how these several years battling with infertility has been so damn hard and makes me feel lost. 

I told her how I felt like I have no purpose in life. At that time I have quit my six years job (which I love very much). I confided in her how it was not easy being from someone so productive with her life to being someone who stays home and hang on to uncertainty hope.

My mom is a hardworking woman since she was young, she and my dad have their own business so she always encourage me how important it is to have my own business or source of income. My parents also didn’t 100% agree when I decided to quit my job, so she could easily use that moment to lecture me. But that day she knows exactly what I need to hear instead of what she probably wanted to say. Instead of saying things that she thinks was best for me, she comforted me in the way that she knew I needed.

She replied me, "Don't you worry dear. By the time you have that child of yours, and I know you will, you will be as happy and as busy as you always dream of. That lost feeling you've been having will change to contentment". 

I have always love my mom for whoever she is, but that day, I love her even more. 

I think what I'm trying to emphasize is, when we talk, we often didn't put ourselves in other shoes and mostly say whatever we want to without thinking what the person might feel. It's hard enough to go through life without being criticized, so please always be kind and considerate. Or remember this; if you don't have anything nice to say, be quiet is always the safest option. 

Until next thoughts, 

Ivy

Burger King and Mcdonald’s

Hubs and I have different characters. 

I'm a pessimist, he's an optimist.

I'm introvert, he's ambivert. 

Occasional solitude is important for me, not to him. 

I like to try new places, while he is loyal to his favorites. 

I love books, he hates reading.

And these are just half of them... 

We are different, but we do our best to make it work.

We respect our differences, because we understand everyone is born different.

Don't force people to change into someone they're not. If one day they decided to change, let it be on their own terms, for their own benefit, not yours.  

I always believe that mutual understanding is the basic foundation in any kind of relationships. 

Shall we all learn to be more like Burger King and McDonald's? After all, they are our favorite junk food. ;)

Until next thoughts, 

Ivy 

Why I Think It's Important To Listen To Your Inner Voice

The reason why I am a believer in listening to our inner voice starts from this chapter of my life...

It was 2005. Couple months after I graduated from college, I was still jobless. I majored in Accounting, yet I suck at numbers. Well, probably not suck, but the idea of working in a field relating to numbers has never been my interest. So, why choose accounting, you were wondering? I’m not sure, I was 17 when I graduated from high school, not really know what my interest are, at that time, Accounting seems to be a safe choice. Something that I regretted now, because dear... Always find something you passionate in. 

TUCANO'S CHURRASCARIA JAKARTA

I wasn't plan to write a review on Tucano's at first, because I didn't take my camera during our dinner, but I've received quite many message on instagram asking me to blog this after I post them on my Insta-story. Hence, I decided to do it, but warning ahead, all the pictures taken with Iphone only and they weren't good ones, since I initially took them only for Insta-stories purposes. 

KAUM JAKARTA

A place worth to talk about always makes me excited to write a review. As you may all know, I'm not really that into food hunting anymore, but Kaum has been on my list since they opened its door. I think it's because their strong name in Hong Kong and Bali, and how they are under Potato Head management. 

MADAGASKAR PLAZA SENAYAN JAKARTA

Madagaskar is a newly opened restaurant in Plaza Senayan with a unique concept. Their customer target obviously are family with kids, seeing from the "kids friendly" design. The whole idea is turning an imitation of tropical jungle with replicas of animal creatures, trees and plants to look like a restaurant inside a forest. The moment you stepped inside, you would find their souvenir store with mostly stuffed animals for sale, and walk further inside is the restaurant with a very dark lighting. I never really like a restaurant with dimmed lighting, especially a family restaurant type, but I think the lighting has something to do with the whole jungle theme. 

PIPPO SENAYAN CITY

Pippo has been on my list since the day they opened for public, but just managed to go there couple days ago. They are a newly Italian restaurant located in Senayan City with a catchy name. Ambiance wise, Pippo is the sort of place you can easily getting comfortable in.

HAWKER CHAN PIK JAKARTA

Brought by the same group behind Tim Ho Wan Indonesia, Hawker Chan opens its first international branch in Jakarta. Two restaurants both are popular with "The world's cheapest Michelin starred restaurant" under the same roof. If you haven't know already, Hawker Chan is a hawker stall in Singapore specialized in soya chicken who in the past year becoming well known after gaining the Michelin star.   

CABE IJO PIK JAKARTA

Residents of PIK, be happy, now you can get your seafood craving fixed just nearby! Cabe Ijo is not a new name in the seafood department. The restaurant has been established for years and even going strong with their new outlets in Pluit and PIK. If you know Shirayuki desserts, they are located in the same location. Double happy news, as you can satisfy both your seafood and dessert cravings. *wink*

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part VIII - The end}

Previous post Summer in Japan Diary {Part VII}, click here.

DAY 9 - AMEYA YOKOCHO - YANAKA GINZA - ISETAN SHINJUKU - SUKIYA - HANEDA AIRPORT 

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part VII}

Previous post Summer in Japan diary {Part VI}, click here.

DAY 8 - OMOTESANDO - DOMINIQUE ANSEL - HEIROKU SUSHI - KABUKICHO - IZAKAYA DINNER @SHINJUKU 

Spending our last full day before going back to Jakarta the next day at our favorite part of Tokyo, Omotesando. We love Omotesando so much that we practically had been going back to this area almost every day during our Tokyo trip. I can't really explain why the area is our favorite, mostly about feeling, of course aside from the so many good food, the shops, the modern chic street and my favorite laid back alley on the back of Gyre building where Tonkatsu Maisen, Luke Lobster, Gyoza Lou and many more are located.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part VI}

Previous posts on Summer in Japan Diary Part V, click here.

DAY 7 - ASAKUSA - DAIKOKUYA TEMPURA - TOKYO STATION - SHAKE SHACK - MUTEKIYA RAMEN

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part V}

Previous posts on Summer in Japan Diary Part IV can be read here. (click on link).

DAY 6 - TSUKIJI FISH MARKET - GINZA - GYUKAKU MOTOMURA - HARAJUKU GYOZA LOU - GOOD TOWN DOUGHNUTS - KABUKICHO SHINJUKU - MATSUYA

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part IV}

Previous posts on Summer in Japan Diary Part I, Part II, Part III can be read here. (click on link).

DAY 5 - FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE - SHINKANSEN KYOTO TO TOKYO - JR KYUSHU BLOSSOM SHINJUKU HOTEL - MAISEN TONKATSU - MAGNOLIA BAKERY - SHIBUYA

Since we don't have much time in Kyoto, we have to choose between either Arashiyama Bamboo Forest or Fushimi Inari. We ended going to Fushimi Inari with reasons that it is closer so we can spend more time exploring the place rather than rushing back and forth Arashiyama.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part III}

Summer in Japan Diary Part I can be read here.
Summer in Japan Diary Part II can be read here.
 

DAY 3 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN - KAITEN BELT SUSHI DOTONBURI - DARUMA KUSHIKATSU 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN 

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part II}

Previous post of Summer in Japan Diary {Part I} can be read here. 

DAY 2 - HOZENJI YOKOCHO - KUROMON MARKET - AQUARIUM KAIYUKAN - SHINSEKAI - TSUKENKAKU TOWER - TENJIMBASHISUJI SHOPPING STREET - YAYOIKEN - MIZUNO OKONOMIYAKI - EBIBASHISUJI

HOZENJI YOKOCHO

5 mins walk from Namba Station exit 14

Hozenji Yokocho is one of my personal favorite. The temple with quaint narrow alley located at the busy Minami area take you back to the olden days of Osaka. Can't believe this place located just few blocks away from the vibrant Dotonburi. You can really feel the strong Japanese culture in this place. Rows of small authentic Japanese restaurants are along the alley. We went here early morning before our trip to Kuromon market so the shops are all closed, they only open around late afternoon and sadly we didn't have time to come back later that day, even though our hotel just 10 minutes walk away. Seriously, we loved how Cross Hotel is so conveniently located. The famous Hozenji Sanpei Okonomiyaki and Daruma Kushikatsu can also be found here.

Ivy's Travel: Summer in Japan Diary {Part I}

 

Hello! Welcome to my Summer in Japan travel diary!

To most people, summer might not be the best season to visit Japan. We know that the peak times to visit are in spring and autumn, but we had our reasons. The very first one is that when it comes to traveling, Hubs doesn't have a flexible schedule. We own a humble business and though it can be managed without having him there everyday, He always there. He's a workaholic and I love that about him. My parents are both workaholic too, we have our small family business, so since my childhood, I am used to the idea of having long holiday only on Idul Fitri or new year where here in my hometown, most business will closed for a period of week or two.

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part II}

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part I} can be read here. 

Ivy's Travel: Christmas in Bangkok Diary {Part I}

Another Bangkok travel diary, this time on Christmas. Obviously, we didn't plan to go to Bangkok to celebrate Christmas since it isn't the best city for it. The majority religion in Bangkok is Buddhism, so you hardly see any big celebrations nor Christmas decorations here. 

To cut straight to the story, we spent 6 days in the city and again, we stayed at our favorite hotel in Bangkok, Amari Watergate Hotel. I'm not going to talk much on this as I've covered on why we love this hotel on my previous Bangkok trip. But to say it again, if you like street food and shopping, Pratunam is the best area to stay in Bangkok, and Amari Hotel is the best one to stay, good accommodation with great location. 

BO & BUN PIK JAKARTA

With Jakarta has been raining almost everyday lately, it is comforting to find another Vietnamese restaurant open at PIK. Bo & Bun is a franchise of the one in Bali, specializes in Vietnamese food located in a row with Chir Chir and Sushi Hiro.