Nature's Blessing

People are becoming more environmentally aware every day, and as they do that they are thinking more about how to ply their skills in a way that can make a difference. Corporations around the globe – as well - are going green and contributing to environmental causes. They do this both to bolster their marketing image, and simply to be good citizens and contribute positively to their communities.

These outdoor activities such as (morning trekking, painting, catching fish) were done during ‘Green Forest Programme’ held by a 3 stars hotel in Purwakarta. The Corporation was undertaking a wide variety of projects with regard to Eco Energy Sources and encouraged bookers and/or guests to adopt environmentally friendly (and often cost-effective) steps.

Prambanan Temple

Prambanan is located in Central Java, about 15 miles away to the west of Yogyakarta and just beside the main road between Yogyakarta and Solo. So it is easily accessible from both cities. It takes only about half hour to get there from Jogjakarta.

Prambanan is the masterpiece of Hindu culture of the tenth century. The slim building soaring up to 47 meters makes its beautiful architecture incomparable. Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex.

The damage caused by the disastrous earthquake in 2006 still can be seen though is being reconstructed by local authorities who are currently working hard to rehabilitate the temple. Further, it’s recommended to see the ballet playing at the temple (Sendratari Ramayana). Do not miss it; this will make your experience unforgettable.

Ice World

This is a long picture taken at Ice World!

Experiencing a cold snap for the first time must indeed be an intense experience.

During the holiday, Ice World, which features a 50-meter-long ice slide and dozens of ice carvings of children's movie characters, had about 2,500 visitors a day. In the first hall there are snow men and a huge ice slide for the children. For some people – including us - who never experienced winter weather before it must be fascinating! Some kids were trying their hand at snowball fights while others seemed to be starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. Many people laughed and joked and watched mesmerized as their breath condensed in the cold air.

To enjoy this recreational park, we have to wear long sleeves and trousers and bring hats and gloves (parkas available there). For Rp 50.000,- at that time) you too can experience that quintessential Bule (Westerner's) winter. That is Ice World!

Farewell Party of Walter

This morning I received (again) an email from Walter. He was one of my employer s who moved to South America to take another opportunity in different organization.

Time is flying. It has been more than 2 years he left us …!

I do remember that it was not easy to throw going away party for him. I wanted to remember the great times we’ve had together but there’s a note of sadness in the air. I know that Farewell doesn’t have to be forever coz for me it’s a time to share and enjoy and also celebrate a new beginning of life

Reunion Planning 3rd Meeting

The 3^rd of our meeting was held in Munik Restaurant since this place was considering as the place for the Reunion on Saturday, June 18^th, 2011. The main agenda was how we finance the reunion. Even its only one day affair, we must remember that apart from the usual expenses, there are also chances to have unforeseen expenses. Other discussions were on several issues such as: collecting money, sending invitations to all classmates and teachers, planning menu, etc. Moreover, we must take more efforts to search the whereabouts of our classmates as many of them may have relocated for work or other personal reasons.

Hence, arranging a high school reunion party is a great way of meeting our old friends, thus refreshing the old memories. However, organizing a high school reunion is not an easy task; rather it requires lot of planning and efforts to put together a great reunion. But, we do believe that with proper planning and organization, we can turn our elementary school reunion into an event which will be cherished by all our classmates forever.

Bukittinggi, West Sumatra

When a friend of mine said that she must go to Bukittinggi to visi her parents, my imagination flew to moments I spent in Bukittinggi years ago…

Without a doubt Bukittinggi is probably the most laid-back and friendliest places you could ever visit in Sumatra. The city is surrounded by three volcanoes named Tandikat, Singgalang and Merapi. Bukitinggi was formerly named Fort De Cock by the Dutch and the centrepiece of town is the town’s clock-tower, which is topped with a horn- shaped roof and referred to by the people as Jam Gadang. This is a good place to visit as it overlooks the market square and the city’s beautiful surroundings. Most of the places in the town are within walking distance with each other as Bukitinggi is relatively small. Here are a few of the places in and around Bukittinggi worth visiting:

Maninjau Lake

The splendid Lake Maninjau in West Sumatra, is one of the calmest places in Indonesia. To reach the lake, we must take the steeply descending road from Bukittinggi. This journey will have you on the edge of your seat as the road has sharp hairpin bends and unforgettable twists and turns. The 44 bends in this road give it its name, Kelok 44. The drive down to the lake will amaze you with its remarkable views over the shimmering blue lake and surrounding hills. With inspiring scenery and peaceful surrounds, a visit to Lake Maninjau will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated. If you’re looking for fantastic views, you may go to the top of a hill and get some of the best views of the lake.

Museum Bukittinggi. A traditional extended family house built in the 19th century (Rumah Gadang), it is a fine example of Minangkabau architecture. It house Minangkabau cultural and historical items. 

Anai

 Valley. The surroundings of the Anai Valley are magnificent. The dense tropical forest all around is most impressive and is a nature reserve. Below runs the river Anai with its crystal clear water. Just on the side of the road is a 40 m high waterfall.

Taman Panorama. This magnificent place located on the edge of town overlooks the amazing SianokCanyon. What’s great here is that there is a two-story observation tower that overlooks the whole canyon. Even better is what happens at Dusk. Megabats fly from the gorges into the forest to feed from the fruits on the trees.

Pasar Atas. An insane but delightful and colourful market that gets so big on Wednesdays and Saturdays that the stalls etc can be seen spread across the nearby hills. This is an interesting traditional market where the usual fare of fruit, vegetables and handicrafts can be bought.

Halloween at Lakeside Montessori Cibubur

Halloween is a favorite holiday for kids. They love being able to dress in costumes, carve pumpkins and attend a party. Halloween costumes are costume worn on or around Halloween, a festival which falls on October 31. Wearing costumes has long been associated with other holidays around the time of Halloween, even Christmas. Halloween costumes are often designed to imitate supernatural and scary beings. Costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vampires, ghosts skeletons, witches, and devils while young girls also often dress as entirely non-scary characters at Halloween, including princesses, fairies, angels, farm animals and flowers. Whether it's the costumes, the candies or the spooky good fun, who can say? Whichever one it is, though, a school Halloween party is always an event to remember!