Travel – SweetSourMoments

Fun with Batik

Published on July 10, 2012 by sweetsourmoments3 Comments

I bought my first Batik fabric during my trip back to Indonesia last year. It was because I didn’t want to spend nearly $28 for a batik pillow cover sold at Pendopo, a high end store for Indonesian art & craft. My mom, my sister, and I began the planning to make our own pillow covers. We went to Pusat Batik pasar tanah abang where you can find all kind of batik fabric in reasonable price.

I used to have thought that batik is dark, brown, old, and not fun but when I saw how much batik design and quality have progressed I was quite surprise, specially Cirebon stamped batik with its colorful design. This is my pick for batik pillow cover project. The next project is for kitchen: fridge cover, apron, and oven pad. I bought the fabric, dark blue, during my trip this year then combined with left over yellow from first project.

Though the pillow cover at Pendopo is very nice and also professionally made, I think mine is more fun 🙂

More information about batik at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batik

Sculptured Paddy Field

Published on April 30, 2012 by sweetsourmoments2 Comments

I have always been fascinated by the beauty of Indonesia land. Now more than ever I really appreciate the chance for being able to see such an amazing scenery. I took this picture during my visit to the village where my nanny lives.

Unexpected Sweet Shrimp in Seoul

Published on April 4, 2012April 6, 2012 by sweetsourmomentsLeave a comment

This was the most “lost in translation” experience I’ve ever had, completely lost. Last week I and my husband transited in Seoul during our trip back to Indonesia. We hadn’t had dinner and were so hungry that anything looked yummy for us. The reason we entered this small restaurant was because of its live seafood display. The owner gave us the menu .. no picture and all Korean, the only thing we understood was the price. After flipping all the pages with no idea, He wanted us to follow him to the seafood aquarium display and asked us to choose what we wanted to have. There were snails, funny fishes, skinny crabs, mussels in several types … we ended up pick the shrimps as it looked more familiar.

At that point we entrusted our dinner to him, not knowing what kind of food he would provide us with that shrimps.

5 minutes later, the waiters brought us the seaweed soup, baked sardine, snails, and oyster, ha!!!! What happened to the shrimp ? and who ordered these ? Finally the shrimp came out, in sashimi style …. not what we expected at all. The thing is we are not the fans of sashimi. The owner came and taught us how to eat it using dipping sauce ( sweet tomato chili sesame oil taste ) and also how to take off the head shell and eat the head which was separated and fried. Unexpectedly it was the most delicious shrimp I’ve ever eaten, honestly I will order it again next time, no doubt!!!

The side dishes were also delicious, love them. Later on we found out that the sides are gratis and no matter what menu you pick, it will always be served with seaweed soup, baked sardine, snails, and oyster to accompany, just like other Korean food that has many side dishes in general.. nice! I just very enjoyed the moment of lost in translation in Seoul that night 🙂

Amicalola Falls Finally

Published on March 19, 2012April 12, 2012 by sweetsourmoments2 Comments

After living 5 years in Georgia, last saturday was the first time for me and my husband to visit this well-known Amicalola Falls. It is the highest falls in the southeast area, 1 hour drive from home. When we got there the weather was tricky, drizzle and cloudy. Just about 100ft on trail, we rushed back to the car, half wet as the rain’s getting heavier. Judging from the weather, it wouldn’t be good day for hike so went to a shopping center nearby for lunch. Surprisingly the sky slowly cleared up and the sun came out just in time we finished the lunch … well, we headed back to the site and finally made the hike … Amicalola Falls Finally I’ve visited you.

L1010837 — the sky cleared up, we headed back to the site

L1010875 — at the base of the falls, after 175 steps ... another 425 steps to the peak

L1010897 — 425 steps from base of the falls to the peak

Precious Expression of a Tibetan Boy

Published on March 9, 2012 by sweetsourmoments2 Comments

This is not picture that I took. It just happened to steal my heart the moment I saw it posted on the Facebook so I asked permission from the photographer to put it in my post.

The photographer said this child stood still in front of the stone monument as if he wanted to obstruct people taking picture. How cute it is, look at his face, don’t you agree with me that his expression is precious ?

Some people might think he was such an annoying boy but who knows what he was thinking about …. “ get out of my land, you all annoying tourists! Bring your pop cultures, your funny fashions, and your ugly gadgets out from here, let my ancestor land be serene and peaceful as it was” … Ha!!!!

Just my random thought 🙂

I wish him a wonderful future, may God bless him.