Jar of Stars

Tuesday Greetings...

Phew... Where to start. Ok, we're on fasting month now. Which I like. I've been run out of idea since I am not very creative person when it comes to doing something new. I've been learning about insurance, financial planning, stocks, money market and other finance stuff in order to add more value for my self. Which I enjoy until I got a great headache from learning without stopping.

I was browsing something to give for a friend. I wasn't very creative with craft so that idea is a NO. But since I love gift so much, I feel in need a gift that full of sincerity. A handmade one. *impossible*

I keep on browsing a lot of stuff and attracted by 1000 origami/paper stars put in a jar or some people called it Jar of Stars. or Lucky Star. You also maybe know about 1000 origami cranes but I thought making an origami/paper star is easier that a crane. 

1000 origami cranes comes from an ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane or some stories believe you are granted eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. (source)

In Chinese and some drama 1000 lucky stars in a jar/bottle brings the owner a good luck or makes all their wishes come true.   

These stars that are folded and hand-made, are used as gifts, mostly between couples, to signify how much you love or care about someone. The amount of stars that you give someone has significance as well. If you’re not giving the stars as a gift of love, then the stars can be used to make a wish. (source)

Well, actually the amount of the stars doesn't have to be exactly a thousand but certain number have certain meaning.

1 pc: The only one
2 pcs: Happy Couple
9 pcs: Love for a long time
55 pcs: Love you with no regrets
99 pcs: May the friendship/love lasts forever
101 pcs: You are the one
365/366pcs: Whole year blessing
520 pcs: I love you
548 pcs: Can't stop loving you
999 pcs: Endless love
1314 pcs: Eternity love

(source)

If you want to learn how to fold origami lucky star, you can visit here and start make it one by one until some certain amount. You can use unused paper or origami or any paper you like and make your own.

I tried to make one but it didn't work out the way I want it but I'll try again then I can tell you my lucky stars.

I leave you here with some beautiful and inspiring Jar of Stars.

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Update:

This is my lucky stars

Good luck and 

.Cheers.

:: Credit on the picture ::

A Short Escape: Bandung, Majalengka, Cirebon

How's your days? How's your weekend?

I hope you experienced a great days and wonderful weekend as I had. 

Last week I have a short visit to Bandung, Majalengka and Cirebon. I didn't plan to visit those 3 cities. I went to Bandung following my husband who had training there. While my husband do his work I do my own. Sightseeing.

Bandung.

I'm not typical Indonesian people who likes shopping. I usually do online searching for must-visit place in Bandung. This is not my first time in Bandung, I've been there couple of times in my younger age. Actually Bandung have a lot of attractions such us Mount Tangkuban Perahu, White Crater, Art Deco, Museum, Tea Plantation and on. Things that attract foreign tourist more. But among Indonesian people, Bandung is shopping and eating heaven. Well that's kinda boring for me. Since last week I only have limited time and space to go around Bandung, I decided to have a walk to some place and end up eating in Hummingbird Eatery&Guesthouse. I went there after drooling seeing the beautiful landscape in their website, beside I never went to Progo area. 

So I start my journey by using public transportation, it's not easy though but challenging. It takes around 30 min from Jl. Setiabudi to Jl. Progo but I get lost so I took around 1 hour and also because I walk quite a lot which I like. I depend on my GPS rather than asking people around. But I think that's very interesting. Finally, I arrived in Hummingbird Eatery but hardly find their sign because it's very full and crowded, that time already 3PM yet I still get on their waiting list. They divided into smoking and non-smoking area. I ended up in smoking area as they suggest me too, not to full. They have various kind of food from Indonesian to Western food. I ordered Lasagna and Pandan Tea. I was about to enjoy their place where there's a bunch of younger people who talk and laugh extremely loud. I hope they can maintain their atmosphere. As for their food is 7.5 out of 10.

on my way to Bandung

I get lost on my way to Jl. Progo

Gedung Sate

Arrived @ Hummingbird Eatery

Menu

My second lunch :p

If you someone who dislike shopping like I did, don't go to Bandung on weekend. It's traffic especially at night but you still can stop here for some beautiful scenery and never ending art deco. 

Majalengka.

Don't expect me to explain a lot about this city as this is the first time I went here. I spent a night in Majalengka, 3 hours away from Bandung via Jatinangor. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to explore more about Majalengka. Majalengka know for their tea plantation, mountain, water fall, lake, and on. In the morning I visit local people and enjoying some of their traditional food. SURABI!!! I love surabi, surabi I ate that time was't using any sauce (usually sweet coconut milk). A more traditional surabi, surabi or serabi or rice pancake itself is mixed of coconut milk and flour with a little bit of salt and sugar bake in clay pan and firewood. The taste is savory. For more recipe click here.

The lady who sell the surabi

A Human-Kiddie Ride

Cheap.. cheap.. Ice

Cirebon.

After Majalengka, I decided to go back to Jakarta using train via Cirebon. 45 minutes away from Majalengka. Been longing to this city a long time a go. This short visit filled me. There's a lot to do in Cirebon, well known for their palace and Mega Mendung batik but I missed to visit trusmi, Cirebon batik place. Since Cirebon is near beach no wonder it's extremely HOT!!! For more information about Cirebon. Even though I did spend a little time in Cirebon I feel very happy to come back to this city and eat Empal Gentong-their signature dish beside Tahu Gejrot and Nasi Jamblang. My journey come to end while waiting Cirebon Express that gonna take me back to Jakarta. Cost IDR 105.000 and take exactly 3 hours my ride full of beautiful paddy field scenery. Lovely.

Cirebon Station

Cirebon Express

Heading Jakarta

Paddy Field

Sunset

So how's your weekend? Do you want to have another short visit with me? Lemme know.


.Cheers.

My Eat-Pray-Love

Greetings.

This year is my year. Been planning to spend my entire year for traveling and it turned out good. Remember Eat Pray Love, a journey in finding passion for food, God and love. That's exactly what I am coincidentally doing. So far I did my Pray and Love journey and leave my Eat journey.

Eat~Italy? I always love Italy even before Eat Pray Love movie. Italy is a magical place that inviting me to come ever since. My husband love pasta and I love pizza so definitely Italy is a good choice but I don't know when will I visit Italy.

My Pray journey. In the movie it's India, but mine is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. I posted it before when I went home. My Pray journey more to convince my self through what I've learnt in Mecca and Medina. Satisfying my thirst of knowing about Islam and being a moslem. Alhamdulillah the journey give me a very enormous impact.

My Love journey. I found my love in my husband. Last week we visited Bali and I understand why so many people wants to go to Bali. Me too want to stay in Bali. I asked my husband to move to Bali *hoping* or any city with a lot of peacefulness which I am craving.

So how about you? Where have you been for traveling?


.Cheers.

What To Do?

Greetings.

Been stressed out on finding what to do in my spare time. Been browsing and searching about scuba diving, fitness, knitting, belly dance, krav maga and bla bla bla bla.....

First, am an active personal so I dislike being passive even on the weekend. I repel sleeping all day long at home. I get bored by watching tv all the time. So I decided to find things I'd like to do in my spare time. 

Scuba diving will be a great choice but I notice I suffered from asthma and on recovery now so can't be done in this mean time. Fitness, I hate sports. Knitting, too many woman in one class or society is a big no no for me. Belly dance, the place is quite far from home. Krav maga the one I am crazy about is not available in Bogor yet.

It seems to have many reasons. IT IS! But I guess it just me. I dislike big society. Any one could help?

.Cheers.

I Hate Sports. lol.

Yeayyy... Sorry, didn't mean to neglecting this blog. I guess being too happy with life and enjoying life makes me a little forget to post. 

I HATE SPORTS. I knew it just recently. I used to blabbering about how must my husband keep his pace on doing sports. He likes sport but lack of consistency. So here I go, I insist my self to do sport. With riding a bicycle. He said to do it slowly but DANG! I only last to less than ONE HOUR! Argggghhh... 1 round  near the housing complex and after that I went home. But I don't feel any complication with my calves and thighs. So then I have a rest. In the afternoon I AGAIN insist my husband to ride a bicycle a little far this time. I enjoy a lot. I don't feel tired and my heart already adjusting. Still it doesn't last long. That was the last time I ride a bicycle. 

I reach to a decision: I don't like sports. I don't feel like doing it. Sorry husband now I know being commit on doing sports is a big deal. I don't like the weariness.. lol

I thought he's going to be my new boyfriend

Now, I want to try belly dance. I hope I don't lazy enough. :p

.Cheers.

Went Home.

It's been a while since the last time I posted a post. Sorry, been enjoying marriage life.

I thank Allah SWT for giving me and my husband such a bless. I went home couple weeks a go. To a place where I set my heart on. To Medina. To Mecca. To where what I have in me since I was born and what I believe about life. To where my Prophet comes from.

It was a big journey. With a lot of breathtaking moment full of tears, smile and deep grateful.

I still haven't use my head-dress (read:veil) yet but surely the journey gave me an enormous impact in my daily life afterwards. I want to come back again next time. I will. and it will a little bit longer.

I'll leave you with some beautiful picture from a beautiful place.

From Jeddah to Medina

Nabawi Mosque

Quba Mosque

Bir Ali

Cheers,

Fina

Croquembouche

Yeay... I've been hypnotized with this pastry recently.

Actually compare to Indonesia we called it kue sus and I've been helping my mom since I was kid. But

croquembouche is a new exciting things for me. A croquembouche or croque-en-bouche is a French pastry, a pièce montée invented by Antonin Carême that is often served at weddings, baptisms, and first communions. It is a high cone assembled of choux filled with pastry cream that can be dipped in chocolate, which are bound with caramel, and usually decorated with threads of caramel, sugared almonds, chocolate, flowers, or ribbons (source)

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Have a look for delicious Croquembouche Recipe

or 

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these chocolate Croquembouche Recipe

This pastry will be on my baking cake top list. I hope I will make this soon.

.Cheers.