Yulius Halim’s blog

When I saw this email… I was really thrilled and really amused….I myself have traveled so many places in the US  and all over the world ..to the top of mountains with eternal snow down to the beautiful top  beaches with beautiful mountains to safari watching the top 5 animals in the African forests……but the exhilaration may not be the same with this trip my little sister did. So I asked her permission to share this on my blog….If I were her , I would ask some one to join me in the trip… just in case.

Here is the full story, hope you can enjoy it as I do:):

U.S. Road Trip

Dearest Family and Friends,

I would like to share with you my experience on the road trip, July 26-30, 2008:

Today I just finished unpacking at my new place, in Seattle.  This time I rented a room only (at $550 per month), in a house in a new neighborhood called New Holly, near Beacon Hill, south of downtown Seattle.  I think it’s better this way, it cut my expenses, as I am starting over after my teaching assignment in Chicago.  It’s nice and quiet here.  The owner is Thai-American, a 29-yo man.  He is very organized and clean.  My roommates are three guys (including him): a cargo pilot (Korean American), an English student (Japanese), and the owner (research in hospital, and evening grad student).  They are all busy so the house is very quiet.   We all communicate via email even though we are staying in the same house.

It’s not easy to fit my life, along with my personal belongings and junks, from a 2-bedroom townhouse in Illinois into this small bedroom.  I finally made it, everything packed nicely now, except for when I have to look for something!  Like this morning, I was looking for my birth certificate (for extending my passport), had to go through the pile again.  It takes time to adjust.  The house is new, and all white, and clean.  Wireless connection is included, so I can now sit comfortably and writing you this email.

As you know, I flew to Jakarta, to visit mum and all of you, after almost ten years absent from home, for two months, from mid-May to mid-July.  When I left Illinois in May, not knowing where to live or to work next, I put all my earthly belongings in my small car (Toyota Echo 2003), and park the car in a garage in Lake Forest, Illinois.  I think I deserve the long pending vacation, after finishing PhD dissertation in 2007 in New York, four-year teaching also in New York, two-year consultancies with the United Nations, plus the last one-year teaching in Illinois. 

 So when I arrive back in the West Coast in July, I started searching for a place to live.  I stayed in a Moore hotel for 5 days (at $60 per night, European style, which means bathroom outside the room), in a historic building that also houses the famous Moore theatre, located at the corner of 2^nd Avenue and Virginia, only one block away from Pike Place.   The hotel has a high ceiling, and very well-maintained, my room on the 7^th floor overseeing the seaport at Pike.  The common shared bathroom is always clean, the crew are friendly and helpful.

It was not easy searching for a new place in a new city, without knowing anybody, I relied on craigslist website (I also sold my bed, sofa, table, TV, etc. in Illinois, through craigslist; thanks Craig!).  I could only trust my instinct.  The first place was in Bellevue, not too far away from Microsoft HQ, which turns out to be a cat-house with the owner, the cat-lady.  The house smells of cats, and in a mess, I think she is half-crazy– or 20 percent crazy.  When people live alone, and so used to their surrounding, we tend to forget what’s acceptable or not acceptable, socially or sanitarily speaking, I guess. The second place is in Bothell, a nice home, owned by a young woman, far away from the city, it took me $100 for a cab back and forth.  By the way, even the cab-driver, named Muki (an Ethiopian; according to him, many Ethiopians live in Seattle and many take up the cab driving as profession, even own the taxi company) helped me look for an apartment.  He showed me a nice row of apartment with “vacancy” sign near Broadway and 11^th Avenue, but they are too costly for me, with my start-over price tag. 

The third place is in Beacon Hill, not so far away from downtown Seattle (only 10-minute drive), except the owner is a man, with two other men in place.  However, after I went to visit and met the owner, I know this is the right place.  I signed the lease agreement (for 6 months), starting August 1.  Ernie, the owner, is nice enough to let me move in a few days before August 1 without charge, in case I could be in Seattle earlier than August 1.  

Calculating times, I still had time for several days, so I went to Vancouver, BC visiting my friend, Lis Boyan, a former colleague from McKinsey & Company, who is now a CGA working for University of British Columbia.  Lis just had her first apartment, and she really celebrates it by providing a sleek dark brown leather sofa-bed for her visitor to sleep in!   Lis was able to get two days off work on Monday and Tuesday, so we roamed around Vancouver for four days (Sat, Sun, Mon, and Tue).  Also on skytrain in Vancouver, when we were heading to Lis’ home after food shopping for dinner, I lost my wallet.  It was rush hour around 5pm, my left hand was carrying plastic bags, my right hand holding a pole, I sling my handbag across my chest, and someone had managed to slip his/her expert hand inside my handbag!   I lost the wallet with one hundred dollar bill, and a couple fives and a ten dollar.  I hope it would be useful for the retainer somehow.  I just missed my nice smooth black leather wallet (I keep it that way by never putting too thick or heavy bills inside – like I have thick and heavy bills to put in!?), my photo and my mother’s photo when she was young, a card-size inspirational reading (titled “Footprints on the Sand” – about reflection of a man’s life, where the man asked Jesus why in times of hardship, he saw only a pair of footprints, and the rest there were always two pairs; and Jesus said:“ that was when I carry you on my shoulder”), and a small St. Mary’s tablet in peaceful green color.   Inside, there are stickers of my old address in Brooklyn, NY, I was hoping someone would send the wallet over – wishful thinking.

Back to Seattle, from Vancouver, I chose the morning departing schedule for the Greyhound trip, so I had to stay one night in Seattle.  This time I stayed at the Green Tortoise Hostel, just in front of the Pike Place, at 1^st Avenue and Pike St.  The bed is clean, and the shared bathroom seems newly renovated, mediteranian style, with limestone tiles, internet access, for $34 a night, it’s worth it. 

My brothers (all three of them, each on separate occasion) sounded their worries on my plan driving from Chicago to Seattle by myself.  I tried to call several people to drive my car from Illinois, but I did not have a good feeling about it.  As planned months before, I went to Chicago by Greyhound bus (to familiar myself with the driving route back to West Coast) for two days and two nights (48 hours on the bus).  On arrival in Chicago, I went right away to get my car in the garage, said hello to Nathan & Claire, my neighbor/colleague, freshen up at the school’s library restroom, had lunch nearby Lake Forest College, and …  in my haste, got myself locked out of the car (the car key was left inside the car).   Luckily, I remember that I gave a spare copy to Tim, my other neighbor/colleague, because I was using his unused garage space.  He was not there, but luckily his sister is in (who just moved in two weeks ago), and I ended up having a nice chat over lunch with Stephanie at King Maa restaurant near the Town Square of Lake Forest.  My fortune cookie message says: “Soon you will be on top of the world”.   Wow!  And indeed a few days later, I was on top of the Rockies!

After lunch I went to Jiffy Lube for changing oil, and other general checks on the car, before driving off the long trip ~ almost 2200 miles (1 mile = 1.6 km?) from Illinois, northbound towards Wisconsin, then westbound Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and finally Washington.  I took the westbound route of I-94 followed by I-90.

The roads on the first three states (WI, MN, ND) are more or less plain and straight driving - for the first 1,000 miles approximately, but when I get to Montana ….. the mountains were magnificent but I had cold sweat all over my body, my palms are sweaty, and my legs are shaking, and this mountainous drive lasted for two days - through the Rockies, the Cascade, Yellowstone River. 

Every time I passed a mountain, and arrived in a town, easy drive for a while, then I saw mountains in front of me, again and again.  I must had fallen asleep when the bus to Chicago was passing this route (probably night-time).  And it never occurred to me (how idiot) while I was staring at those maps months ago (since March when I planned the trip) that I would have to go through the mountains, and what mountain is that.  One was elevated 6393 (feet), and it’s called the “Continent Divide” — Ahem, that means what, hiawatha? - There is a ”Hiawatha trail” along the Yellowstone National Park.  Passed some Indian reservations with Indian names.   By the way, if you ever want to live in a house where you could see the mountains around you 360 degrees, look for Bozeman, MT.

Back home, I never even drive to Puncak (a resort mountain in Java island) by myself.  And this is way, way, way, beyond Puncak scale.  It’s the Rockies!  What was I thinking?  On top of this, my car is a 4-cylinder (less horsepower than a 6-cyl), and driving upwards was a pain, I keep pressing the gas, and it could only go to 30-40 mph.  Can you imagine?!  And I had a certain degree of fear of heights. The roads are hugging the mountain, so one side is always the cliff.  When the left side is the cliff, I would drive towards the right lane, and when the cliff is on the right side, I would drive on waaaay left side.   Although, US traffic states that left lane is for driving fast or passing, I was driving slooow.  My three brothers would do much, way much better on this, all of them are good drivers – I thought – why would I go through this?

I was so worried the car would stop dead on me, because it could not handle the terrain.  So many times I had to use the caution signal (the red triangle) so other cars/trucks would understand my situation.  My car was moving like a snail, while others were all passing by - zing zing zing!  They must think what on earth this crazy chinese woman driving with all the junks in that small car all the way from Illinois through the mountains, driving at 40 mph, while others probably ran at 70-80 mph.

Two incidents happened on the third day.  I was on the I-90 westbound just outside Billings (a small town in Montana) before noon, when suddenly the car just could not run anymore. It turned out a flat tire, probably overheating after I drove 80 mph during the long straight drives in the first two days combined with the winding mountainous road, and the heat temperature of July.  A woman officer, Joy, who worked for the Montana State Department was parking her truck behind my car, she was removing a dead deer on the side of the road.   Joy helped to call a respectable local towing company (Mountainside Towing, owned by Jim and Vicky Eichel, of Billings - otherwise, some companies might take advantage of stranger in distress, and could charge thousands of dollars).  I had it towed, and replaced the tires. 

The second event occurred also on the third day, around 8.30 to 9 pm, 33 miles towards Missoula (also in Montana), this time it’s in the mountain, and almost dark.  The car suddenly stopped.  I almost cried, I was alone in the mountain and no hotels or motels around, the sun already set, even cars or trucks passed by less frequent by that time.   I waived at several passersby.  Finally, a truck driver stopped and helped me.  He stopped because he saw my Illinois car plate, and that he was also driving from Chicago, Illinois.  A nice Russian young man.   God bless him.  It turned out the car is running out of the “anti-freeze” liquid.   He took the liquid from his truck and filled up my car’s, and off I went without trouble anymore. 

I stayed at an inn and motels for 3 nights, I stopped driving whenever the sun went down.   I always chose an inn/motel with names that I recognized, that are usually part of a well-known, nation-wide chain of a hotel/motel, such as Motel 6, Motel 8, EconoLodge, Comfort Inn.,  - but never an expensive one – for safety reason. 

The first night I stayed at Microtel Inn & Suites, at Tomah, WI.  EconoLodge and Comfort Inn are full that night.  It turned out it was the State Fair time of the year.  Even Microtel only has one room left, a smoking room.  The room smells of cigarette.  But I was too tired to complain, as long as it is clean.  I took a shower, the first full shower in the last four days!  Had a salad from Long John Silver, by the side of the Inn, and hit the pillow!

The next morning I started early, had breakfast, and off by 7am.  Driving through North Dakota, I passed by two interesting sign and billboard (between Bismarck and Fargo, I think):  a cast-iron work of art, sculpting:  “Enchanted Highway”, and the billboard says: “American Farmers provide the most, receives the least”.  Arriving Montana, I passed the beautiful “Painted Canyon” along the Theodore Roosevelt National Reserves, and Grassland, from the border of North Dakota on the way towards Billings, MT.  

I could not make it to Billings that night, so I stopped at Glendive, MT around 8.30pm and started looking for a place to stay.  I tried Motel 8, only smoking room available, not again.  Comfort Inn was full.  So I ended up at an inn just across the other two motels, a Yellowstone River Inn.  They have pictures of Miss Montana several years back on the wall at the lobby.  I could peek at the nice dining table with red and white checkers cover, at the restaurant by the lobby, and the receptionist is very warm and friendly.  Another salad for dinner, a cup of chamomile tea, and a conversation with the waitress, RaeDeen.  RaeDeen Heupel (raedeen.com) turned out to be a mid-school teacher, an author, and an aspiring USA Independent Presidential Candidate.  When I had breakfast the next morning, she showed me the signatures of people who supported her for her mission, her business card, and a printed page of her writing. 

I continued my trip on the third day with full confidence, that I might be able to arrive in Seattle around 10pm or 11pm, or so according to my NavGam F-15 GPS mileage calculation (which turn out to be misleading, somehow it calculates only up to Spokane).  When I arrived at Spokane it started again with 275 miles more to my destination at New Holly, Seattle.   As I wrote earlier, I had the flat tire in Billings, that day, around 11am.  The waiting for tow truck, the mechanic work, I started driving again some three hours later.  So I had to spend another night on the road.  I stayed at Motel 6, at Missoula, MT.   The room is very clean, the tub is so white that I soak myself in it for some 15 minutes, gave my nervy and shaky toes a break.  Missoula is a very nice, newly developed area in the mountain, a garden city.  I went to ask for a room in Best Western, but it was $149 for a regular (not weekend) night, and for a first-timer, $129, which was still too costly for my “starting-over budget”.    Maybe next time.

The fourth day, the last leg of the trip, I had breakfast at St. Regis (Big Sky, Montana), and then went off to Spokane.  On the way to Spokane, I passed the famous resort, Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, fantastic view from the road to the lake.  Some truck drivers actually parked their trucks by the lake and took a breather, and a view.  Another breath-taking view is the Columbia Basin, close to Spokane, it feels like I was out in Mars, out of this world!  Another place that makes me feel small and humble, with the powerful nature around me.  The sign says that the  thousands and thousands of acres of land are under “Federal Reclamation Project”.   I should remember to look it up on the internet soon.   I had lunch (Subway $5 foot-long) in Moses Lake, and called Ernie that I will be arriving in five hours or so.    

Entering Seattle, around 5pm, it was rush hour, I took the wrong lane to take exit 2B (somewhere on the I-5 westbound – I still don’t recognized the area), and the car driver just besides me was so nice to let me in.  It was a heavy rain too, just in time for my car after the long dusty trip!   Arriving at the door, my new room-mate, Shinta (the Japanese student) helped me to unload my junks. Thank you, Seattle!

———————-

It was an amazing experience.  It gave me strength in a way, that I could do it, whenever I looked at the US map, it would never be the same again, because I know the terrain, mile by mile.   Looking back, it was a very dangerous thing to do, my car is designed for city driving, only 4 cylinder, and it’s not a 4-wheel drive, and I could feel it when I had to drive upwards and downwards, winding roads in the mountain.  My ignorance about car and the route and the danger actually helped me through.   For a long time, I did not call for “God”.  But those 4 days driving made me call for help for many many times, especially during the mountainous riding, and when my car just suddenly stopped twice in the middle of nowhere.   There were times, when my car was the only one on the road, with not one other car in sight, way way to the front and way way back.  Those were times of reflection.  Alone, totally alone, only with the mountain.  Many dead deers or raccoons on the side of the roads, even cars (left by their owners).  The mountain is so powerful, it could claim anyone it wants – I thought to myself - seeing the steep cliffs, and all the pines and the rocks, with no homes around (national forest and national parks are not allowed for human habitation).

The view was breath-taking though - magnificent - through the Yellowstone River and the Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin National Forest, the Rocky Mountains, the Cascades, the Columbia Basin.  Overall, I think it was a thrilling experience, despite the hardship of driving 12 hours each day (from 7am to 7pm) for 3 days, plus 5 hours the first day, plus the two day-two night trip by Greyhound bus, the flat tire, and the anti-freeze incidents.  Too bad, I could not have mimi with me on this trip, it was a dangerous trip, and also I had to look for a new place and need time to search for a new job when I arrived in Seattle.  If she was with me, she would be screaming probably; or probably not (she is a tough gal in a different way).  She was in my thought many times along the way.  And you, too!

 The total mileage is 2200 miles in 40 hours driving, more or less.  Not bad, eh!  I calculated that my 5-year old Toyota echo runs on 38 mpg (miles per gallon) average.  If not for the mountains, it could do even much better.  I spent $250 on gas, $200 for 3-nights hotel, $50 for food (for lunch, most of the time I ate “Subway” sandwich that offer a $5 foot-long sandwich, which I could choose the fillings – meat, veggies, and condiments of my choice, besides it’s all over the place, easy to find on the road – Thanks Subway!), salads for dinner, and $400 for new tires and towing cost (probably I could get partial reimbursement from Geico insurance). 

Rest for two days, organize and rearrange things.  And the next one week, a lot of things to do, I have to change my ID/Driving license and my car plate (from Illinois to Washington) to the DMV, Vehicle Registration Office, and Emission test.  I need to get myself familiarized with the area, where to shop for food, Safeway, Walgreens, Uwajimaya Asian market, the public library, the post office, Fedex or UPS.   My Indonesian passport will be expired in one month, I need to extend it.   It turns out that the closest Indonesian Consulate General is in San Francisco, luckily it can be done through mail, otherwise …. another 12-hour drive? I think I can handle it, he he… ). 

And then, next is looking for a job.  With the economic situation nowadays, I hope that I could manage. 

Liliana Halim

Seattle, August 1, 2008

I remember one of the questions from mon amie a Paris:) : what other trips have you done after the last time we communicated?

The answer is quite a number. it may be less compared to the travel that I did when I was with MS,but this time around it is quite many in the last few months like Phuket 2 times, KL and now BKK. Not to mention some local travels by plane.

Tonight, after a day long vey interactive marketing training, I decided to go to Brown Sugar a cosy simple Jazz Pub that I visited some years back when I was in MS.

After milling around in Suam Lum night market, I tried to go to Brown Sugar but really had hard time to find English speaking taxi driver. Finally after maybe the 11th taxi, I could get the one that could speak English a bit. And Finally could get to the right place.

The food I ordered was simple one : vegetable Spaghetti but quite nice that I added another portion:).

The musician tonight mostly were Thais with one Caucasian pianist player, playing mainstream jazz.. after some enchanting instrumental songs then a lady singer started some (again) mainstream songs.. which at that moment was really perfect..

At first I was sitting on the table having the dinner, but after some songs and I have finished the food, then I got a good chair facing exactly the players….I became one with the scene… so engaged with the sight, sound, vibration of the players’ expression, energy level in the room as if  those things permeate my soul…..

What a great day! Thanks to Adrian that introduced this place.

However I remember TTC:12 ( translated by Stephen Mitchell, my most fav translator):

Colors blind the eye.
Sounds deafen the ear.
Flavors numb the taste.
Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.

After the break I left the pub.

For those who are interested in coming to the club it is on Sarasin road just opposite Lumpini Park

Hopefully I can have a chance to visit Saxophone pub tomorrow a bit snobbish jazz pub.:) compared to Brown Sugar.

There is a good  reading on being an entrepreneur:

Here are the top 10 reasons according to the reading, why you should be an entrepreneur:

1. The number one reason is also the reason why most of us are afraid to be an entrepreneur. To experience the uncertain journey on Entrepreneurship. You have one short life, and if you do not give a shot at it, you are missing out on a great experience. The journey of becoming an entrepreneur will itself teach you so much it is worth it only for that one reason. The zing, the high, the thrill - experience it and you will know what I am talking about.
2. To bring out the inner strength within yourself, that is rooted deep inside somewhere. That reserve of strength will bring out a new and confident you.
3. To make yourself proud by walking on a path that is less traveled. To stand out of majority of people and creating an unforgettable identity for yourself based on what you have done.
4. To show people around you that you are a man of strength and confidence. People will look upon you as a source of strength. They will seek your advice during their hardships.
5. To value your own skills and strengths, instead of giving off cheaply by working for someone else.
6. To be an inspiration and example for others.
7. To be creative. Yes, when you walk on the entrepreneurship path, the creative side of yours will surface in most unexpected ways.
8. To make a difference in lives of others. When you are an entrepreneur you will have the power of making a difference in the life of your employees, friends and customers.
9. To be happy. To love life and to love self.
10. And finally, to create wealth. Yes, this is important, but it is the last reason. All the above 9 reasons will give you much more satisfaction than this 10th reason.

In my opinion, there are some important points before, we really want to jump on that wagon:) :

1. Mental preparation, are you mentally strong enough to take a journey that is full of uncertanties and suprises?

2. Do you have enough hard skills: network, business skills, capital, resources to run the business?

3.   What is the best business model that you have to choose so that we will not get into another rat race?

4. What is the best business models that once it runs, it is on an auto pilot? or with very little resources to run?

Stay tune for another post on # 4:)

What a very interesting video. This reminds me of the great days at MS. Certainly the video is a very typical microsofties way of preparing things.

I remember one day in 1998 after the big riots in Jakarta, I was in a small room in a hotel in Singapore where Bill gave a usual very interesting speech on IT trends to Indonesian partners and customers. He was so simple with his dress, but they way he answered the questions really showed his great intelligence.
For me the lesson learned from this video is preparation for important happenings in life is a must if we really thing that our life is important. Secondly, despite being ” the richest man in the world” Bill is always humble and shows simplicity. I remember vividly once he was asked how he felt being the richest man , he answered that it was in the paper. If MSFT went down then his fortune will decrease as well. Money is not only the driving force but tasks or projects that ignite his passion to make a difference in many people’s lives is much more important.

Good luck with the new assignment in the social humanitarian world, Bill . Wish you the same success to help the needy people!

What a surprise! I have been trying the “silent mode” on the birthday and am doing the yearly plan with my team. However Kevin from Linksys came with a cake, all the way from Jakarta to this mountain top, that really gave a nice surprise. So that Everyone knew!!

Anyway, Thanks Kevin. You really made my day!

Certainly doing fun things on your birthday really depends on your personality, however the idea is to go out of your comfort zone as well doing extra ordinary things that you usually do not do. This will enrich your life experience.

These 5 items are just examples:

1. Buy a gift for other people especially the one you care

2. If you are an introvert, just throw a big party invite your friends. If you are an extrovert , outgoing person, just have one nice dinner alone where you can do self reflection on the important moments in your life, from the day you were born up to now.

3. Be a kid, remember when you were still small. Do exactly what you did.

4. Call as many OLD friends as possible. Just to say HI without telling that it is your birthday.

5. Do something you are afraid of doing for example: Bungy Jumping, surfing, glider, learn to drive a big bus, learn to fly a helicopter etc.

For me, this year I plan to do one SIMPLE thing. I plan to do Off site yearly planning on the top of mountain where I can get pure supply of oxygen.

This activity gives me the opportunity to experience my self and do a self reflection when I am not enggaged in the planning session.

So what do you do on your birthday?:)

For this new year’s resolution I’d like to take SIMPLICITY as the word of the year!

This is one of those defining moments for me. One of my main reasons to write a blog is to understand my self evolution, my thinking processes at a certain period of time, that I can come back and review the the thoughts on that period of time.

Last night, when I was browsing and had to get in to one of the websites that I  subscribe to, I really forgot the password. I just realized I have so many passwords for different websites:). Certainly I can write  those passwords on a file or on a piece of paper.But the incident really triggered me to think that I must simplify my life.:)

Some of the things that I remember I read that can simplify our lives:

1. Counting our blessings

He has created man:

He has taught him speech (and intelligence).

The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;

And the herbs and the trees - both (alike) bow in adoration.

And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice),

In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance.

So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.

It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures:

Therein is fruit and date-palms, producing spathes (enclosing dates);

Also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-smelling plants.

Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

2. Can we list top 3 things that matter in our lives and  stick to those first?

3. How many credit cards do we have, can we reduce the  numbers?:)

4. How many kinds of installments/mortgages do we have? can we live “installments free”?:). IF yes then, can we have “autopilot” worry free investments?

5. How many boy friends and girl friends do we have ?:)  can we reduce to one? ( my “Dracula” friend will be  laughing at me:) ). This will save time and energy to experience our selves.

6. How many projects are we working on, can we focus on the top 3 and let the others on the “parking zone” until we successfuly accomplish the top 3?

7. Can we lower our expectations to our selves and others? by doing this we will be able to reduce our stress.

8. Can we cut the commuting time and use the time for activities that heighten our awareness like Yoga, Meditation , and Tai Chi/ Chi Qong. Buy heightening our awareness then we will be able to see clearly our true goals in life. And not be distracted by trivial superficial goals.

9. How much time do we spend for our  time for our loved ones? Do we have any plan to spend more time with them?

10. Last but not least, do you have any plan to spend periodic time on reviewing your selves on the goals, projects or pet projects you are doing ? and do thing more productively? ( for example like January 1?:):) or Quarterly or Monthly ?:).

Happy New Year everyone! Wish you  find your true goals in life!.

Wowwww! What an experience!!… I have never seen this kind of fireworks this long with these varieties!!… From about 20:00 and the height is around mid night close to January 1, 2008.

These fire works came with different sizes, sound and forms…from different sides : north, south, west, from all direction. The sound was so intense just like in a real war.I really have never seen this before!!..Although my mother told me that she saw this kind  of scene when she was in NY visiting my sister on 4th July’s occasion! Still I must say I have never seen this crazy thing before.

What I experienced was  certainly EXTRAORDINARY as I was on a mountain top about 1200 meters above sea level, and the place really secluded! Luckily My HDSPA modem  got GPRS signal:). If the scenery happens in other megapolitans like NY, I never doubt that. But on this mountain top.. that is really a scene.

My rough estimate on the money that was burnt on the sky was about a couple of hundred millions Rupiah!…I admit I also took part in that silly activity.. at least about a quarter percent:(

The activity of burning the money ended about 00:20. Was it because of the heavy rain or because every one has run of out the fire works… not so sure!

For now, I pray for people  that have disaster in different parts of Java island be given strength to face the calamity! May all the help needed come on time.

This time, my trip is to Lembang ( near Bandung, West Java) around Sersan Bajuri area where I could get supply of PURE Oxygen!!:)

With 1200m+ from sea level, I stayed in a rented private villa for 2 days taking advantage of my leave this time.

Some activities that can be done:

1. Take morning leisure walk around the villa complex, where you can see Swiss view:) ( Been to Swiss about 15 years ago:))

2. As for myself - my most favorite exercise: Tai Chi , Chi Gong and Meditation on the smooth grass at the villa’s yard.

3. Horse Riding

4. Fine dining at The PEAK! where you can see Bandung view be it day or night. The view is always enchanting!

5. The last but not least is to visit Ciater hot spring water that benefits for skin health and other diseases, if you do not want to be together with a lot of people you can go to the private room by adding less thanUS$1 as seen on one of the pictures below.

This area is certainly a great place to experience your self and rethink about your direction in life.

I plan to come back again in the very near future personally and as well will bring my team for Yearly Planning atVilla Air also in the same complex, where I believe we can focus on the planning well.

Compare to the last visit to Phuket 7 years ago, there are at least 2 special things this time:

1. Dec 5 is at the same time with The King’s 80 years celebration. So there are many lamps and decoration along the way to the hotel. This really looks fantastic especially at night. The king called for national unity on this special occasion.

2. This time around, I am a participant and got rewarded representing the company and Indonesia.:) . In the past I was part of the Host.