5 books that changed your life?

By the spirit of Paulo Coelho's question about what 5 books that changed my life, I kinda need a few seconds to think of it. I looked at the list of 50 books that changed the world (another Paulo's post), and got to realized that in my entire life I've only read two of them (technically one and a half because I haven't read the whole bible). So this is my list of books that changed my life in order from the latest:

1. Veronika decides to die by Paulo Coelho
   
   This is actually the second book of Paulo that I read. It's a book about craziness. I mean it really opened my mind, where in this world where "normal" is devined by a group of people that have power after other people, it leads for the free-hearted people to be traped and left so empty. Some people even are more afraid of being out there in the "normal people world" and being in an institution house. The story gives the feeling that we are not alone in this world (for the free-hearted people) and normal is just an idea.
   
2. The Shack by by William P. Young
   
   The Shack actually was the book that came in the right time and place. I was at the point in my life where I felt like I don't have a life and I don't know what I will do with my life and soon on when one night, after work, me and my friend went to the bookstore where we rarely do because in the town where I work, only have to very small bookstore and it's better to go to a bookstore in the city, when I found this book. On the back cover, as I remembered says it's the book for people who needs direction in life, so I bought it for no reason. Out of the boredom, I read the book and I even cried in the end. It took only one night to read the whole thing. And that's when I started to discover things that I wanted to do in life, including starting my 30Before30 list.
   
3. The secret life of bees by Sue Monk Kidd
   
   This my my favorite book turned into a movie. I loved it so much and it is one of those books that can made me so emotional. The book is more as encouragement for young ladys to be strong going through this life. It really suits me through he hardship I went through in my twenties.
   
4. The great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
   
   My favorite book growing up! I think I read it mor than 20 times!!!!! I didn't even owned the book. I read it in the library all through my high school days. Yep, I rarely made friends that time. I enjoyed my days in the library, reading books I loved. This book is a alone life type book, but I just love the darkness of the story.
   
5. The Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
   
   I first read it in elementary and instantly felt in love with the story. I think I kinda felt related a bit because I'm the only child and some thing like that. I love the adventure in the book and how in the end the little girl made it a happy garden. I grow up dreaming of it. The big house, a big bed that have a window of the garden, and of course, having to nurture a secret garden of my own. And that's the basic thing that still lives in my fantasy.

Anyway, sometimes you just read for fun, but sometimes, the books can teach you life lesson in the meaning that it gives you a guide to think more about your life. Well, those are the 5 books that changed my life. What's yours? And why?

One Man And His Campervan

On lazy Sunday mornings, after making breakfast what I really enjoy is watching this fun adventure journey of a man named Martin Dorey and his campervan driving and camping around England. The series is called "One Man and His Campervan". His journey originality started years before when he decided to put all of his belongings in his 1970's campervan and move to a seaside small town in Devon. Now he lives there with his wife, Jo, and two children. One day, he decided to make that campervan journey through out England
showing his love of VW, food, and surfing. His not a chef, but he loves to cook delicious meals for friends he met along the way. I love to image I was one of those friend. It's really nice to eat a simply but fabulous meal, cooked fresh after fishing and looking at the beautiful sunset near the beach with a friend like Martin Dorey :)

Here is a short preview of the first part of his journey:

One Man and His Campervan

Why I love traveling

If somebody came to me and ask me why do I love traveling, maybe I'll need so much time to explain why because there are so many reasons why I love traveling. This includes:
the markets, the new people I met, the culture, taking photos, beaches, sunsets, sunrise, the bizarre food, famous tourist spot, hidden spots, festivals, hotels, hostels, airports, harbor, other people's life, souvenirs, trains, buses, plane, the air, the water, and sooooooo muuuuuch more! I can't explain why in words, but for me, waking up in the morning to another city is so exciting. I just love being in an unknown place, it makes me feel so alive. So sum that up into a 30 second video, I choose "HAPPINESS" for the reason, because it's the root to all of that loving of traveling. I don't know if I'm to late to ask this or not, but please please please kindly "like" or tweet r even just view my video. Thank you so much! I love you guys :)

I made this 30 seconds video to participate in a traveling contest by CNN and Hilton Hotels. 

Sawadika Phuket! Traveling with Mum!

Sawadika! Hello! It's been a long time since my last post... So so sorry for that! My blog got a bit dusty in August because I've been traveling around. This post is about my trip to Phuket - Thailand which I took with my Mum. The travel was on late May which is supposedly not ideal to go to Thailand because of the weather, but I bought the tickets last year with checking it first. But anyway, we got lucky because the weather was quite fine so we could go islands hoping.

We spend our first day by island hoping with the destination, Phang Nga, the one famous with the James Bond Island. It was such a unique experiences since I never saw small islands like that before.

We even get the chance to go canoeing in and out of caves around the islands. I was so much fun!

On one of the island, there's a gypsy sea village, where the people lives on floating houses. Mostly the villagers are fisherman and they have lived there all their life.

At night time, we hit the road to try some street food! This one is like a pancake with chocolate and banana. We also tried the-everthing-grilled, then some soup that I forgot the name of it.

The second day, it was sunny! So lucky! So we when to the famous Maya Beach. It's the one famous for Leonardo deCaprio's movie, The Beach. Well, if you think that it would be quiet and relaxing like in the movie, it is so wrong! The beach was so crowded with boats and people. I think it was supposed to be beautiful if it wasn't so crowded.

And there's time for some scuba diving! The fishes was so colorful and beautiful, but once more, too crowded!

After that, we when to an island inhabited by monkeys. I think that the monkeys are already accustom with humans, so the are not afraid if we took pictures. Some people even give them food and cola which I think was not supposed to be done!

On our last night in Phuket, we went to a magical place called "Phuket Fantasea"! I was so wonderful! And what I meant by magical is really true! Me and my mum were like two 5 year old girls, excited to explore everything. The show was so spectacular! It was a combination of ancient and modern circus, dance, theater, and lots more! I was something hard to describe, so I suggest you see it for yourself.

And before the show started, there's a buffet that accommodates 4000 people all at once! 

This is my beloved Mum! She was so excited seeing exotic fruits that we don't have in our country. Just to make the story short, why I took my mum on a trip and make it in my 30B30 list, it's because all her life my mum worked so hard to get me in school and she rarely took time off for herself. Just by seeing her so happy, it's the one thing I ever wanted! And I'm so sure there will be more of trips like this =)

This is what my mum made for us! Duo bikinis! My mum actually made those T-Shirts! She knew my obsession to wear a bikini in the beach which I cannot do (YET!) hahaha... It was so nice of her :D 

I LOVE YOU MUM!

Jason Mraz spreading the L.O.V.E

If there is no limited of time, money, nor space, and you ask me which musician I would love to see live, I would not think twice to answered: JASON MRAZ! I love his works, I love his sound, and I desperately want to see him live in concert. So went my friend called me up to see his concert on June 22nd, I definitely said YES.

Maybe my limited English cannot describe the wonderful moment I had there, but what I can tell you that it was so amazing, the melody, the words, the atmosphere of the night, the companion, and everything else was just so beautiful! I enjoyed every second of it and hoped it last longer.

is a four letter word

There was so much favorite songs and I loved loved loved the live version. Much more better than the recording version, the live version gives me shivers and it's incredibly beautiful. The show was the night before Jason's 35th birthday, so we got to sing him "Happy birthday" -Hey, his Cancerian like I am! =) Mr. Toca didn't come, so he is replaced by this talented violin named Mirrett Lear. I really love how they can communicate through music. It's like the violin and guitars are the unspoken words but I was a whole conversation. Too bad I cannot play any instrument, but I surely want to have that kinda connection. My favorite of the night was "Mr. Curiosity", a song Jason made on his birthday. Not only I love the meaning and background of the song, but I love the way he sang the high notes! It was so magical! The whole night was =)

Here, I liked to share some not-so-bad photos from the other bad photos (we couldn't bring DSLR camera). I don't really mind because I saw the real live thing! =)

My place was far away from the stage

Jason Mraz singing Mr. Curiosity by playing the piano alone

Trying my best to get (a) picture, but failed

And it was a great night mostly because I had my dearest friend by my side =)

The Beach

There's just something about me and the beach. How I even always misses to go to the beach. I guess maybe it's because I have lived my childhood living near the beach of Maroubra. I love the misty wind, the sand, and the rush of the sea water. And it's just that pretty combination of water, sand, wind, sun, and sky that I love that makes me always want to go the beach.

A beautiful sight of a father playing kite with his daughter

All you need to build a castle!

Some beach creatures

What a perfect thing to have! Coconuts!

The beach...

And this me in 1989, near our flat, can't believe how small I am! hahaha...

I miss that beach =) Want to go back there someday!

Ta Prohm: get lost in ancient time

The gateway of Ta Prohm

The famous 'Tomb Rider' background

I'm not a fan of history, but when I'm in an very ancient site, I sometimes got carried away. Like what I felt when I was in Ta Prohm (Cambodia), I felt that I got lost in ancient time. I wondered what was like way way back then. I've learned that the place was originally called Rajavihara. Ta Promh is located east of Bayon Temple. It was a monastery and university, so I image what is like sitting there and learning about life. I was a very beautiful place to be. I love how the very big trees makes the place cool in a warm sunny day. The trees going out from the ruins really gives a mysterious atmosphere. I stayed there quite long than any other temple in the Angkor Wat area. I was so beautiful that I hope one day I can come back there.

An isle in Ta Prohm, made me imaged what was like to be a student at that time!

A France painter was taking his time to draw the amazing scene

The dancer relief

The most amazing tree that grew in the ruins, so complicated yet beautiful

The tree is humongous! So fascinating =D

Life in a day

Today is Monday. I got to bed too early, just at 6 P.M. after work. By 10.45 P.M, I woke up to a call of a friend of mine who just ended a very terrible relationship. I felt sorry for my friend, but I guess that's just how life is. So what would I do at 11.30 P.M if I'm not sleepy anymore?

I decide to watch "Life in a day". I recommended you to watch this movie:

This movie really amaze me... It's about life in a day on this planet earth. Really breath-taking. This movie really represent our generation, the generation of Internet and the power of people. Maybe it needs a great director to make a great movie, but what is more important is that great idea to make a movie of what is like living on this planet earth in a single 24 hours. This movie was taken on 24 July 2010. I love the genuiness of the video, it was shoot by lots and lots of people in the world. It really shows so much how we are so different as individuals but yet we still do the same stuff as human. It's a story of LOVE, FEAR, and HOPE.
I don't know how someone made up this idea, but I was so much great!

Stories that I love is the part when an old couple celebrate their 50th birthday by making a re-new vow, so funny! Then the man how loves his refrigerator so much (?!?) hahaha... About fear, I like how a little girl describe her fear of monster and all that stuff... every human has fear and it shows that children fear of those abstract things, while growing up those fear shift into something more real. In the end, we are all the same, what people really fear is "uncertainty". But it's funny when we talk about hope, "uncertainty" makes it alive. We still have hope because that uncertainty factor gives us the possibility to reach what we aimed. It's so funny how life is!

Youtube!

My first youtube video ever!!! Boy oh boy... such a scary video (and very bad imitation of Katy Perry) that is so perfect for this Friday the 13th! That's right, today is Friday the 13th, the first time I uploaded my youtube video. I've been busy preparing for this video and doing some photo shoots for this 2 weeks because I really really wanted to win a ticket for Katy Perry concert (see my link on how I didn't get the ticket) and specially I wanted to win the meet and greet with her. And don't you think that I'm TOO OLD for this stuff? Well, actually, I kinda thought about it, but I think that this is my time. Later on in my life I can buy other tickets of Katy Perry, but the matter is that I want it now, at this very moment, at my 20s, so what ever the price I have to pay, I think it's worth it. This is part of my resolution, just celebrate while it is time to celebrate and not think too much! Just have fun!

If you happened to knew me back in school, you'll probably find me so shy. I never liked singing nor talking in front of the class (don't ask about dancing!). So, making this, well, kinda crazy video is way way out of my comfort zone. Why I did this? Because it's a once in a life time craziness that young people just do hahaha... Why I wanted to broadcast myself in youtube for my 30BEFORE30? Youtube is a very cool invention in my generation! I have to have at least one video! =) That's all the reason there is to tell.

So, here it is as embarrassing as it can be, well, I just hoped that it gives so laughter =)
May I present you, the first of it's kind, my imitation of Katy Perry's E.T.!!!!

What do you think??

Jogja Java Carnival 2011

Jogjakarta, one of Indonesia's favorite tourist destination held a yearly festival called Jogja Java Carnival (JJC). This festival is usually being held in mid October, though this year, it was held at 22nd October. This year was the most spectacular one I've ever seen! People from all over Indonesia and even from other countries came to celebrate. The more the merrier! The show started at about 7.30 PM. The crowd was wild. Small people, big people, children, old people, cartoon characters, men, women, and even trans gender came to celebrate the night! Everything was so beautifully colorful! I stayed there until midnight, and one word to described it: AWESOME!

Started with this colorful guy...

Then came the Javaness Princess! She's so beautiful!

Suddenly, this old Wonder Wo"Man" came to cheer the night.

They also have this pretty rainbow car…

Even Spongebob showed up! Nice to meet him =)

The crowd started to get wild! They even climb the tower and roof tops.

People from other countries came too! This lovely couple is from India.

Then there's the famous Jugde Bao from China.

Even an Egyptian creature came!

The people from Arabia's 1001 Night!

And there's this funky golden girl came from nowhere! So amazing!

Not to forget this girl wannabe! Lots of kisses for the guys!

And the music is played by this accordion guy!

A scary Balinese monster started to dance!

And look at this adorable little girl!

They even brought the Trojan Horse in town!

And an AMAZING dragon came to end the night!

It was like a fantasy! What a wonderful experience! I can't wait for next year =)