Supercluster

Two days ago my GM called me to his office, he told me that we will have a meeting (my HOD, GM and me), I knew I should not have expected anything high but I feel something good will happen, I always believe my sixth sense (it works every time). My gut feeling was right, GM offered a position of a PA!! Executive Secretary for a GM! Later that day, I found that my own HOD who had recommended me to the GM. He told me the extra benefits and the salary increment that I will get, how my level will be AHOD, I never thought it is going to be this fast, I said yes right away, it was a no brainer, I did not need too much time to think about accepting his offer. One of my colleague told me that the salary of a PA is 10k, I got less than that and I should have asked more. I was like, seriously, getting this offer alone has made me super flattered, knowing that my career will grow further, and negotiating salary is the last thing I can think of, this is not a good time to discuss money. I am s...

Funny how I thought differently about marrying a chef. The look of a young man on a white jacket, apron and the chef's hat leaving my heart beating so fast. I have seen these handsome young chefs since high school, with the same feeling, the same admiration. I always dreamed of getting one as a boyfriend, who knows later in life I got one as a husband. First year of the relationship was so easy, his position was still a Commis, not much responsibilities, simple job. Second year and the years after along with his moves up to higher position was something else. I must say, I felt deceived by him, I did not know that marrying a chef means stay home alone till late night, no family day during weekend, full of broken promises, and husband gets home smells of fish, sometimes garlic, onion, whatever. These were never written on the deeds if there was one. One of my friends said how nice and lucky I am to have a chef husband, she said I don't have to cook for him and he will cook for m...

I hope this is not a deal with the devil, where I have to lose everything eventually let alone winning. I realize for the love I have to my husband, I would turn the world upside down if I had to. This time, I decided to help him all the way through in the hope that this will make both of us mature enough to face even tougher obstacle. We both made mistakes, but we both still hold on to each other and don't stop to look for a way out, although we often fall but we stand up as quick as we can. http://zonania.multiply.com/journal/item/158/about_me_and_him

You are on top of your career my dear husband, I am so happy for you. I was touched when I read the article on Gulf Gourmet . Congratulation chef Daniel, well deserved. I remember when you said that you have to win this competition so that you can give me my dream vacation to South Korea, you know how much I want to visit South Korea. You did it. Win or lose, on each and every competitions you join, I always support you, I always pray for you, I want nothing else but the best for you. You know this. I am flattered, at the same time it confuses me.. Does this mean that you really love me? because I love you, I will always do :'(

I have been running here and there, searching up and down, right to the left, left to the right, all over. I couldn't find it. It was there somewhere, I just cant see it. Maybe it was gone, maybe it vanished, maybe it gave up on me, maybe... I dont know. Shall I stop searching, for I know maybe it just moves somewhere else, and it will find me somehow, not the other way around...

Today's date: 17 September 2011. Weight: 86kg Height: 168cm Weight to lose: 4kg Dateline: 30 September 2011 Diet Program: South Beach Diet (Pre) Phase 1 Remark: Cutting carb intake to maximum of 100gr per day. Before trying the diet program thoroughly, I created this pre-phase program just to make my metabolism ready to get off of the carb completely based on the South Beach Diet Phase 1, as I found it difficult to stay away from rice for most of Indonesian, especially me. Therefore, I will take a tiny little step as first attempt to lose 21kg in less than 4 months. I can do this! Bismillah...

Lying can never save us from another lie. Therefore here I am trying to let myself go from the circle of lies by saying I apologize that I have lied to people that I respect. Nothing from my behavior is worth forgiveness but I ask for it anyway. I regret for having told the half truth and understand that it would still be a lie. I have my reason for not telling the truth, it is understandable that I should have not lied for what ever the reason is. I was intended not to hurt anybody's heart by keeping the truth for myself, I wasnt thinking that I am going to hurt them eventually and the impact could have been even worst I am ruining my own reputation as a good friend, honest friend. I wish I can still be seen as someone who has the integrity although I truly accept that this one single lie has destroyed a whole reputation of integrity. I lied so many times to those who gave me the opportunity to grow, I let them down despite for all the good things they have given me. I say, n...

We see lots of Filipino here in UAE, they are everywhere across the country, they are in supermarkets, shops, and even streets. Yes they are one of the major nationalities who reside in UAE. But they are not the only one. How about other Malay like Malaysian, Singaporean, Brunei, and the most same-looking nationality: Indonesian? They -together with the Filipino- reside in UAE too. My dear Filipino friends apparently do not have any idea about this fact. To greet fellow Filipino in Tagalog (Filipino Language) is a polite way to communicate among them, and to speak in English seems to be considered rude. In many occasions they greeted me in Tagalog, I explained (and even apologized) that I don't speak Tagalog. Instead of appreciating  my goodwill to avoid misunderstanding they frowned. It confuses me, why do they frown? Is it because the disappointment from unable to see their co-Filipino or is it a distrust? Why cant they accept the fact that this is a whole new era, where ...

Seriously, nice food doesn't have to be complicated. A simple presentation but taste super, that is just enough. Fazaris is one of the restaurant in town that offers that luxury to my tummy, thanks to the chefs who were so kind to cook for me. Located in The Address Downtown Dubai, Fazaris was an all day dining buffet restaurant until they change it into a'la carte for dinner. So there I was, enjoying my three course dinner with the company of my besty Shira. The hostess greeted us upon arrival and lead us to our table, the ambiance of the restaurant was little bit too dark yet so serene and cozy in a way. Behind our seat was Calabar, somewhat annoying with the sound of the music from inside the bar every time the door was opened, I could not care less. It was weekend the bar was full, people were coming and going, the seat was right next to the aisle toward the bar. A drunk man peek on our seat and laughed, what was so funny. The captain came and greeted us, offered the ...

Food is a real art... Some say, it is beautiful with its abstract. Some say it is plain nonsense.

Dinner plan tonight is off, I have no one to go with. I can't believe all of my friends are very busy just when I am about to give them complimentary dinner at Five Stars Hotel! So the problem was not money at all, they are really really busy.. Right, the winter is coming. KFC delivery for dinner, finger lickin' freakin' good! Enjoy weekend everyone.. :D

After some frowning going on, my husband decided to take a lieu day for spending more time with me. We baked a kilo of Kaastengels (Dutch Cheese Cookies), we spent our night walking along Dubai Marina Walk, and had Japanese "all you can eat" Sushi for only 89dhs with soft beverages and Miso soup. Not bad at all, I was not mad anymore. The birthday celebration isn't over yet. Tonight we plan for dinner at hubby's restaurant (Fazaris) at The Address Downtown Dubai, he said he will cook Wagyu for me and I can bring along some companies with me, ladies... anyone??

Twenty Eight, that is the age of this immature human being. It starts from today. I did not want to wish for anything special, but it would have been nice to at least being cared for especially by my own husband. I am embarrassed to myself that my own husband did not even remember that today is my birthday, no plan whatsoever for this day to be special for me. Maybe I asked for too much, but I guess I am just being realistic and making some senses here with my wishes. Not a gift nor a surprise party, I do not mind even if he forgot what date today. I am sure he remembers that 7 September is the day. What I expect was only some anticipation when the day comes, even that he did not have. He came home late from work and today he still needs to go to his kitchen. Ask him about some culinary competition, he knows very well when and what to do. Ladies... anyone has a husband like mine? I guess I am just the only one :(

After we all took a nap, and the day was still young we decided to go to Dubai Mall and had dinner there. What we saw was so amazing, traffic jam toward the Dubai Mall, lots of KSA cars in Dubai and we cant believe that they are actually going to the same place where are heading, yup: the biggest mall in the world near the tallest tower in the world, when you are in Dubai I guess these are the places you want to be especially in a long holiday like Eid. We came to wrong place, we should have given the tourist a chance of their life to actually enjoy Dubai the most. We had fun though, We never get enough of Dubai and we invite you all to visit us here!!

This is our 4th Eid Al Fitr in Dubai, but this is the first Eid Prayer we have ever been to at General Consulate of Indonesia in Dubai. Here are some pictures I can share: Ladies row Gents Row Girls next door Lovely Eid celebration, but I wish I was home..

I am so through with the reservation job which I had since 2005, it even worse when after I was off work for 2 years, I had to continue my career with the same position. It somehow hurts me knowing that I was not moving anywhere career-wise, I knew I have so much potential to do more that just an agent, and I knew I deserve to move up and forward. Finally, September is here, I have to join my new hotel as soon as possible as Sales Coordinator! It is one step forward to be where I want to be. I am so excited with this new challenge, I cant wait what will happen to me and the new job. I hope it will take me somewhere I really wanted. To get there is not easy, I sent so many resumes with loads of turn down. They did not even call me for an interview, they just did not want me. I know I need to have more job experience to get it, but I just did not want to stop to try, I knew somehow I will, I just need to keep on trying, and I was right. So I guess "beginner's luck" re...

Seriously ladies, how hard is it to learn how to cook? Just a normal simple food for dinner or lunch rather than starving to death waiting your chef husband to come home and cook for you. Since I worked in a hospitality industry, I know lots of wives who marry chef. A friend of mine who married with chef, update the status saying that she was so happy that his husband had arrived from work so he can cook her dinner, I was like "what?". The poor chef has worked the whole day, probably more than 12 hours a day to cook meals for his costumers and came home knowing he has to cook for his wife too. Someone commented on her status saying "lazy!", and she answered " Haha I'm not..but I dont know how to cook :D".  No offense to her, really she is a good friend and sweet lady. Maybe it is the culture and religion thing that makes me concern so much about how wives should treat their husband. Wives back home were told to always respect our husband, to lov...

My "weekend" starts tonight, for that today I need maximum preparation such as: do laundry (washing & ironing), clean the house (dusting, vacuuming, moping & taking out trashes), prepare dinner (creating menu, groceries shopping & cooking the meals). So tomorrow hubby can enjoy his day off and get rest without necessarily thinking about the house chores...  Some of the housewife think that husband needs to contribute by helping with the house chores, which I totally agree with only IF there is too much work loads to handle alone. If the wife is only laze around the house watching TV or busy with the internet, there is no reason to ask the husband to help during his day off which supposed to be used for him to get rest. I experienced that before when my baby was still very small, I have to carry her around the house while doing all the chores or I have to play the whole day with her and only had time to do the work when she took a nap during the day. I really e...

After a month the situation is not ok anymore, a month back he got 2 days off and spent them with me, but now...!!? He is back to his normal behavior by spending most of his time at the kitchen. He supposed to have 2 days off a week but he choose to use only one of them. He loves making himself busy with all the competition and kitchen projects. I am so happy and glad actually that Chef Cameron likes him very much and gives him all the kitchen projects for him to handle, first was the opening of the Cigar Bar, and that was not even finished and now Chef Cameron gave him a Vita Bar project. My husband is so excited on doing the projects and I really want to support him, I really do, but... how about me? I really don't want to be selfish, but I guess I am selfish and I hate myself for it. I guess I still cant stop competing with his job even though I knew I would lose the battle anyway. Yesterday on the phone he said to me about how busy he was that time and he asked me not to ...

I got a job in E company few months back and because of that I need to cancel my residence visa which was under my husband's sponsorship. The E company is processing my employment visa now and I have been waiting for it to be finished for almost a month now, but for some reasons I actually feel relieved and wished it would never finish at all, although I might be an alien and be deported for staying without visa, which I don't want to. Have I told you that I am not happy with the job in E company, for the sake of getting a job and earning money that makes me accepted the offer, so for that I still tried to apply somewhere else and finally got the job I was hoping for in M company, the problem is they will only need me on August or September which is still another 3 months. With the feeling of not interested with the job from E company, I wish I did not cancel my residence visa and stayed at home waiting for the employment visa from M company. Last night I tried to bring up ...

When I see your eyes, it tells me so much about your love. You feel my existence and you want my love, you want it more. I see your smile, you are happy to be mine, you want me to hold you close and never let you go. You are scared most of the time but when you are next to me, you feel fine... If you see my eyes, it tells you more about my love, the only feeling I have for you that is endless and so true, I feel your existence too and never want to lose you. You see my smile, I am so blessed that you are mine, I want to hold you close and never ever let you go. I am scared too most of the time, same like you, but  when you are next to me, I feel secure , we comfort each other, and I am glad I can protect you and same way you protect me. This feeling will never end, it is in my blood and my soul, it stays there forever more. I miss your little fingers, I miss your little toes, I miss your big eyes, I miss your chubby cheeks,  I miss your smell, an...

My husband and I have decided that I will be back on my career track after 2 years nursing my dear baby. Since last 2 months I got a job here, although until now I am still waiting for the employment visa to be made in order to start. This job I got is basically the same job I had for 4 years, and I am not looking forward to do it, it is because this is the first job I can get after 2 years off work, so I was kind of underestimate myself that I would not be able to get the job I really want with the gap on my career track. Since I am so not looking forward to take the other job that I got, I never stop to send out my resume for the position that I want. Luckily, yesterday I went for an interview for a coordinator job in a sales & marketing department for a pre-opening hotel, and I got it! I am so happy and excited to hear the news and I am so looking forward to join the team. I always love to be in a pre-opening team, so that I would be able to express myself and do everything ...

I dont understand why people have to cheat or betray their love one. Why the feeling of love have to be there and then go away, can they stay forever? I feel so scared thinking that I might lose my love one too, either because of he cheats or I cheat. Those possibilities are always there, especially if we have a very strong nature of a liar. Sometimes a true liar never feels guilty of what they have done, they think it is ok to lie.  My advise is Don't waste anymore of your time by saying you love someone when you dont and keep on telling lies and hurting their heart. Dont you want to be happy yourself and love someone truthfully? Just let them go so they too can move on...  I am just saying, you know... If you dont love her/him just leave, because same as you he/she also needs to get the right person to love her/him and be loved by her/him. 

It's been more than 2 years after my baby was born since I decided to lose weight and I have been struggling to do that ever since. FYI, my weight is 80 kg and my height is 167 cm, yeah.. overweight, I know. I don't dream to have skinny figure, I never like skinny girl. Even since I was a teenager I never did diet yet my body was fine, never gained drastic weight, I thought I had a perfect body shape (My weight was around 55 kg - 60 kg) and I was pretty happy with the way I look. I started to gain weight since I am married, but that was also still in an "ok zone", always around 60 kg to 65 kg, which I still looked fine with that. After 1 year of marriage, I got pregnant, my weight was 70 kg already. I knew I would gain weight, I planned to keep it around 75 kg maximum. From what I read, normally pregnant woman will gain around 7 - 15 kg during pregnancy and will lose it after delivery. But what happened to me was so devastating, I gained another 25 kg on the proce...

Seorang perempuan bernama Alika terlihat duduk termenung, matanya sesekali terpejam dan dalam satu kedipan air matanya menetes, dia menangis tanpa suara seolah begitu pedih luka yang ada di dalam hatinya. Alika mulai menuliskan sesuatu di blognya. Las Vegas, 19 Mei 2011, Apa yang terjadi bila aku bila aku membuat pilihan yang berbeda dari yang ku buat selama ini. Apakah hidup ku akan lebih bahagia dari yang sekarang? Atau mungkin akan lebih runyam? Memang manusia tidak bisa memutar kembali waktu, tapi seandainya bisa apa sajakah hal-hal di dalam hidup ku yang ingin aku rubah? Banyak hal yang ingin aku lihat "probabilitas"nya, hal-hal itu adalah: 1. Bila aku memilih sekolah jurnalisme dan bukan sekolah perbankan. Mungkin aku sudah jadi seorang jurnalis, bekerja untuk media cetak terkemuka di Indonesia atau luar negeri, mungkin juga di media elektronik. Bertugas meliput perang, berita manca-negara, atau liputan tentang wisata. 2. Bila aku memilih menjaga keperawanan samp...

It is not easy at all to have a good communication in our relationship. We are limited by our time and our energy to actually do little bit of proper conversation between us. Sometimes technology becomes a major cause of all this. We are stuck on Facebook, BBM, or television when we actually supposed to be talking to each other. We chose to drop each other emails or text messages when we actually can tell our messages directly. What is wrong with us? Where is the sense of socialism, where it is mentioned that the basic human needs is to interact with each other.

I don't know how those people who suffered from infidelity gain their trust back for their spouses. Did it ever go away? I mean the pain and the distrust? I can't imagine how hurt it may feel when we know someone who loves us so dearly turned out to be someone who hurts us the most, and sometimes they don't even know what they are doing and they feel that they still love us same way before. I am talking about infidelity, yes: betrayal. When our spouse loves someone else. This thing really does happen, and there is no guarantee after long marriages our relationship will remain the same. There is always obstacles, the love is put to the test in time like this. When finally the affair is over, the lover is gone and our spouse have chosen us over the lover, there is an important question: Could you take him/her back? Yes, you might be able to take your cheating spouse back, but then what? Will you be able to love him/her the same way you did before the affair? Will you be...

In Indonesia, mostly Mother's day is only celebrated by children. When they grow up the forgot the things that make mothers feel appreciated, let alone mother's day. Yes, I am talking about myself, I don't even remember that mother's day is really exist until I checked on Facebook where almost everyone greets happy mother's day to all moms. I am lucky enough to have 2 mothers in this world, one who gave birth to me and other one who adopted me. Both of them are the greatest women I have ever seen in my life. Both of them take a very good care of me and love me truly from I was still a baby until now, their duty is not over yet now that I am married and have a baby, they now still have to take care of my baby. Suddenly today I was thinking, what have I done for my moms during these years??  Have I made them happy? Nini and Mama Aning, thank you for your love to me, I could never repay you... Love you both..!!

My husband's birthday is in 4 days, I still don't have any idea what gift I should get for him, and the main problem is I do not have the money to buy him something. As a staying home housewife, I really do not have an income, the only money I have is the money for the household and daily meals. I do take care of the family financial and take control over the money but I don't feel fair if I used the money - which comes from his hard work - for his own birthday present, it just doesn't sound right. My dear husband told me not to buy him anything at least until I get my salary. Yes, I start my new job in a week. It means I need to wait for at least a month to get the money for the present. I really want to make it special for him on his birthday, how can I do that without money?? I am thinking of making him something special, like cook him dinner - but I do that everyday already, will not be special anymore and my cooking is just average, nothing fancy. Then if mak...

I am so relieved knowing that there are so many women who actually experience (read:suffer) the same feeling with mine by being a chef's wife. It is not that I am happy for their suffering, I am just happy that I am not suffering alone. Why I say suffer? Being a chef's wife is not as easy as everyone may think. Some people will say that I am so lucky to have a chef husband, my husband will cook for me all those fancy food he cooks in his kitchen and I will enjoy all the foods they everyone might need to pay for lots of money to have them, well, the bitter truth is NO! Oh, Alright yes, sometimes. He comes home everyday with an empty stomach and begs for a food. Yes, he expects me to cook him meals!! On his day off he will stay in bed holding a TV remote whole day, he tries to get as much rest as possible. With all the pressure at work, he wants to enjoy his days off at home and enjoy his wife's cooking meals. To cook for him is just a tinny little thing that I don'...

Begitu cepat waktu berlalu, putri tersayang bunda dan ayah sudah berusia 2 tahun bulan Maret kemarin. Usia yang paling bunda suka, saat Coco sudah mulai bisa diajak bicara, berlatih kosakata baru, tingkah baru, setiap hari serba baru dari Coco. Bunda tidak ingin melewati masa pertumbuhan Coco, dan ingin selalu berada di sisi Coco setiap saatnya. Sungguh hancur hati bunda karena harus menitipkan Coco selama beberapa bulan ke depan di rumah nenek, karena bunda harus mulai bekerja lagi dan melanjutkan karir yang sempat bunda tinggalkan dalam 2 tahun ini. Coco jangan marah, bunda akan bawa Coco untuk ke Dubai lagi setelah beberapa bulan, bunda janji tidak akan lama, bunda pun teramat sangat merindukan Coco. Setiap hari bunda memikirkan Coco, betapa bunda sayang Coco dan merasa sangat kehilangan. Hari-hari bunda tidak lengkap lagi, bunda berjalan dengan setengah jiwa, karena setengah lagi memilih untuk tinggal bersama kamu. Bunda tetap milik kamu sayang, selalu berada di hati kamu. Bu...

I am back in Dubai again after 5 months stayed in Indonesia. In 2 years I had 3 times going back and forth Indonesia-UAE in such a long gap of period of time, and never be able to decide where I am going to settle my life in. The process is just too much for me to handle, It was so damn hard just to settle down with the life I have currently. I hate moving, traveling across the globe to escape from the trouble I have at heart, but sometimes it is the only option I have. I had mixed feeling whenever it comes to packing my luggage, a very uncomfortable feeling. I wish I would never ever feel it again in my life. Anyway.... I am fine now, try to adjust myself again with Dubai which I am so easily fit in. Dubai to me is already my home, with all the busyness, the lifestyle, the facilities, I just wish I can stay forever here.. At least this time I know where I need to stay.. Well, I think I know.