autograph session ..

Autograph session isn't a popular thing to do here in Indo .. any artist releasing an album or book doesn't always have a autograph session as part of their promotion, in fact I've never heard of local artist holding an autograph session as part of their promotion, which actually can be a good promotion. But I understand, considering the local situation and some crazy fans, I agree autograph session isn't an option here.

Unlike overseas, specially Asian countries like HK, Taiwan, China even Malaysia and Singapore (I'm sure other western countries too) .. autograph session is a must event for promoting their new album/book. Well, I've just learned that myself since I'm into Mandarin artists. The only set of autograph I had was Human Nature when they came to Wollongong in 2000.

So anyway .. this is my latest autograph I got when Mike He (賀軍翔) -- my new idol, had his autograph session for his latest book 惡魔王子賀軍翔：小美的12堂日語課 (Devil Prince Mike He : Xiao Mei's 12 Japanese Lessons) last weekend - 28 June 2008 in K-Mall Taipei (huge thanks to Mel). And me and few friends got to say Hello to him through the phone. It was very nice of him to say hello back and he even said "Terima Kasih" ... wow, didn't know that he knows any Indo/Malay words haha. Maybe next book he will have Bahasa Indonesia Lessons? *yeah dream on Net!" :D

- thanks Mel -

This adds to my other autograph collections -- so far I have 4 Lee Hom's (which I only got 1 myself, thanks for my special friends for the others), full set of F4's from different ocassion (Jerry, Vic, Ken and Vann) and Mayday (thanks to Ling).

International Food Fair

Since we are in the topic of food, I came across these 2 clips yesterday while browsing in youtube .. these clips was taken during International Food Fair in Campus East in 2005. I'm sure to those who studied overseas before have this kind of event. This is when all international students shared their country's food specialty with other fellow students. Basically even though you can't cook, you just can't get away from this. This event simply force you to cook but amazingly fun.

- part 1 -

- part 2 -

(thank you to whoever made this clip, it brought back lots
of beautiful memory)

Anyway, Campus East was my hall of residence when I studied in University of Wollongong. I stayed there for 2 years before moved to another hall closer to uni. Campus East is located in the suburb of Fairy Meadow, a very small village like suburb. It was a nice place ... Wollongong isn't a big city but it was the best 5 years of my life ...

- good place growing up -

So back to International Food Fair (IFF), I've experienced twice of IFF in Campus East (CE), in 1998 and 1999. Every year (since I don't know when) they requested the same from Indonesia - Chicken Satay with the famous saus kacang and kecap manis (peanut sauce and sweet soya sauce). The preparations were difficult and painful, crushing and grinding the peanuts, mix it with various ingredients and not to mention sticking those chicken in bamboo sticks. Lots of blood was sacrifice during this preparations :D and roasting the satay took forever and why did they have to hold IFF during winter? But everyone was happy at the end of it, though we would be very full and nauseated. Little that they know Indo team suffered a lot afterwards. Even after 3-4 showers, we still smelled like satay and don't forget the wounded fingers.

In 1999, we kinda refused to make satay and offered something easier, other than it was difficult, we didn't have enough Indo students to help out. But it was special request from the head of the hall, we made them at the end. Few Aussie friends helped out the preparations and we also added another recipe, we made es cendol -- it's a tough one too, 'cos one of our friends insisted on making from scratch. But again, we were praised for making good food and delicious beverage. Well done Indo!! :D

- cendol preparations -

- indo team in action -

I moved out from CE the next year. But during my final year in 2001 I was called up to help the Indo team to prepare -- again, the one and only "Chicken Satay". At the previous 2 IFFs, I didn't get the change to try lots of food, but that year since I was only needed during the preparations, I got to try lots of different and interesting food .. from crocodile meat (from USA team) to kangaroo meat (Aussie rules) .. if you think crocodile has tough meat, guess again, it was actually very tender. In fact kangaroo meat was tougher than crocodile meat. Interesting ... :)

- chicken satay preparations -

Surprisingly, 'till the year 2005 (learning from the clip), Indo is still making satay. What is it about western and satay? Is it really taste that good? I wonder is satay still THE special request 'till now? Anyone still in CE?

Aussie treats

It's been 6 years since I came back from Aussie and haven't been back since, so most of the time if a friend coming home for holiday, I just at least ask for little something from Aussie .. few of my fave treats during my crazy uni life. And these came last night -- a bag of BBQ Smiths potato chips, 2 packs of caramel timtam (which only available here during Aussie Food Fair but with very expensive price), a box of coated (half coated this time) tiny teddy and 3 bars of Buttermenthol (the original one is not available during the purchase). I can't wait to start dig in ...

- huge thanks to Tika -

Hmmmm I miss Aussie's treats .. if only I can get my fave caramel mudcake which only available a little bakery in Fairy Meadow *yummmy* I wonder, how could be I so thin back then when I had these yummy food everyday? Instead I get so ballooned-up here when I eat less but only sit at the office for long hours?

Do compare ... look how chubby I get!

Talking about change in life ... ^_^

nice commercial

Mike He (賀軍翔) latest 7-11 ad (notice how he pronounce 7-11 :D) before he decided to cut his hair short. It's a nice ad to get us to treat any disable people equally and to help them anyway we can ...

NKOTB fever

Who doesn't know the New Kids on the Block? They were like the first boyband ever in the music industry. I'm sure all the people, specially girls back in late 80s to early 90s era know these 5 boys hailed from Boston, Massachusetts -- Jonathan, Jordan, Joe, Donnie and Danny ... they were everywhere. They made the world nuts with their gorgeous looks, songs and dance, with their songs like Please Don't Go Girl, Step by Step, Hangin' Tough and I'll be Loving You Forever. I was one of them, of course ^o^. I think every young girls back in that era had a huge crush on one of the boys, I was with Jonathan. Though he didn't sing and talk much, but somehow I was head over heels with him :) Young girls dream ... I watched their concert in Jakarta when they were here on 12 February 1992, it was my first concert .. and they were my first ever idol ..

They were then disband after the released their last album - Face the Music around 1994, it was said that Jonathan had a nervous breakdown and didn't wanna go through with the group, so they fell apart. They all went separate ways. Jordan and Joe keep their singing career and released few albums, Donnie went to acting, Jonathan went to real estate and not sure about Danny ...

- the boys dressed up for the 1990 American Music Award -

So now .. 15 years later, they are reuniting ... YEY!! They are coming with brand new album, new set of concerts and they have just released their new single "Summertime". All of you, a New Kids fans ... get ready. They are back .. hope they are coming here :)

- new single "Summer Time" -

- I miss them, hope they come here -

5 years of my working life

Today, 23 June 2008 marked my 5 years at Rouse & Co International, so-called my 2nd home ... I spent more times at work rather than my home, sigh! My first real job after about 1 year finished uni and did pretty much useless things. It was far far from what I've studied back in uni, but back then media communication wasn't as big as today, specially fresh graduate like me wasn't even considered to enter any TV stations. They claimed that they didn't have any budget to train any fresh graduate like me .. oh well. Some lame excuse I suppose.

So 12 months later, I was offered to work at Rouse & Co International, an UK based legal consultant, started as translator, well I thought everything has to start somewhere. But look at me know, 5 years later .. I'm still here and drowning with it :D

Anyway, I've been meaning to start blogging again since like forever specially I've been having so much fun reading tabby's ark and bloodbubble's blog, but I just haven't got the time to actually do it. Then I thought today is just the right time to start it ...

So here you go people .. enjoy your stay