From Indonesia with Love : Bromo, Malang, Indonesia

One of my bucket list is to travel around my beautiful country, Indonesia.

Alhamdulillah finally I have a chance earlier on this month.

I went to Bromo, Malang for my pre-wedding photo shoot with the photographer and the team, and of course with my fiance. We went to Bromo for 3 days, first and second day taking photos and last day to relaxing and going around for a while before back to Jakarta.

Before we flew to Surabaya, the photographer said that 4 days before the weather was not that good, rain came down everyday. He asked us to pray and hope for a good weather. And then with the magic also blessing from Allah SWT, the weather was soo nice, not raining at all from day to night, Alhamdulillah.

Well, enough story about my pre wedding, what I really want to share is a story about Bromo itself.

Last time I went to Bromo was when I was a little girl, probably about 15 years ago. That time I remember that I went riding horse in early morning to watch the sunrise. I'm also remember that I slept while riding horse (thanks God I didn't fell down at that time). The rest of it I couldn't remember. So this is the first time maybe that I will remember for a very long time.

The first time we arrived at Bromo, I'm already amaze with the view that I saw. We stayed in one of local people's house, really close enough from the gate to Mt. Bromo area. We can see the green field from the backyard, with fog and hills view at the background. At that time wasn't that cold, local people said that usually on July or August are the coldest months, the temperature could drop until 0 degree Celcius. The other months could be around 10 until 15 degree Celcius. Even they said it wasn't that cold, for people like me that live in Jakarta it felt like I went to inside of my refrigerator at home. =')

View of Mt. Bromo on the first day around 1 pm

"Teletubbies Hills" it is what local people said about this place, amazing green hills with pines on the top of it

Sunset view from the savannah on second day, look at the blue pink yellow sky at the same time, Subhanallah it was a breath-taking view to see

View around the village or 'kampung' in Indonesia language at 5 in the morning

One of local people house near from the place we stayed

The villagers/local people around have 3 main jobs: farmer, horse rider and teacher. 

 On third day we had some free time, me and my fiance went for horse riding to higher place that only could reach by riding a horse, walking, or motorcycling.

Mahameru, top of Mt. Semeru far away at the background. The road we take actually could take us to Mt. Semeru at the end of the road, but that's not our purpose at that time, saw it from far away is more than enough I guess =)

They are the local people, "suku Tengger", they asked us to telling our friends to visit their village. 

Well, I kept my promise and that's why I write it on my blog, so please if you do have a spare time, visit Mt. Bromo, it is not only an amazing place to see, but the local people also really nice, must try their 'bakso'; it was really good, delicious one. 

Finally, a picture of us to end this post, hopefully there will be next time together in different places around Indonesia in the future, aamiin ya Rabb =)

Sebuah Renungan

Perjalanan belakangan ini semakin membuatku semakin sadar akan kebesaran dan keagungan Tuhan Yang Maha Esa. Betapa indahnya ciptaan Nya di muka bumi ini. Tiada mungkin ada manusia yang sanggup menandingi. Dan ketika manusia dan alam hidup berdampingan, manusia menjaga baik alam sekitarnya, alam pun memberikan yang terbaik kepada manusia.

Dari Glenorchy di New Zealand hingga Bromo di Malang mempunyai kemiripan, dimana alamnya begitu indah, manusianya menjaga dan mengolah alam seperlunya, sisanya dibiarkan liar. Tapi justru itu yang menciptakan sebuah keseimbangan, di kedua tempat ini pula penduduknya sangat ramah, penuh senyum dan sapa. Tiada ketergesaan dan kemacetan yang membuat penat, hari-hari dilalui dengan tenang. Kalaupun ada musibah, tidak dirasa terlalu berat, mereka bangkit bersama-sama dan tidak menyalahkan alam. Karena memang, alam tidak pernah salah. Mereka bergerak sesuai dengan kodratnya, sesuai yang telah ditetapkan oleh Yang Maha Kuasa.

Seringkali yang salah manusia, ketika sudah semena-mena mengeksploitasi alam kemudian terjadi bencana atau musibah, yang disalahkan justru alam tanpa ada keinginan untuk berkaca pada perilakunya sendiri. Mungkin buat saya yang sedari kecil besar di Jakarta, saya justru ingin sekali seperti mereka. Hari-hari dilalui penuh dengan senyuman, bekerja sesuai keinginan dan kapasitas masing-masing tanpa ada yang berlebihan hingga lembur, terasa kedekatan antara satu sama lain, hidup damai berdampingan dengan binatang dan pepohonan.  Mungkin suatu hari nanti, jika Allah SWT berkenan memberi saya umur dan rejeki. 

Cinderella Trailer 2015

"Where there is kindness, there is goodness, and where there is goodness, there is magic."

This tagline says it all. As a Disney fans, I knew there will be Cinderella movie in 2015. And they recently have release their new trailer, here's the link:

cinderella

It give me chills every time I play the trailer. Amazing. I like the tagline and also what Ella 's mother said earlier in this video :

"I want to tell you a secret, that will save you through all trials that live can offer. Have courage and be kind. =)

The dresses also spectacular, really like all the details, ahh couldn't wait till March, 13th 2015!

And these are the posters :

Let's go watch it, shall we? ;)

A story behind my Engagement Dress

Alhamdulillah I'm officially engaged now. It was such a beautiful day on that day, our family comes together and the whole ceremony run smoothly. 

A little bit throwback to preparation days. One of the main thing on my list is my outfit. I don't want to wear kebaya because the design usually fitted with the whole body and it is not comfortable for me as I'm wearing hijab. So I thought about a very good long dress one. Because I couldn't find a great one that I really like, I decided to make one.

The problem is at that time I have an overload production situation. I couldn't make my own dress, and I ask one of my best friend, beautiful designer named Zarrah Panoet. We build our brands together, she with her fashion brand named House of Dunna and me with my Dena Apparel. Long story short, she agreed to make my engagement dress. Then we met having lunch together and then she took my measurement.

Around early September she gave me 5 different dress sketches, and magically what she drew is similar what's on my mind. After discussion with my husband-to-be, we picked one, here it is:

The sketches, no. 4 from 5 sketches

The day after we went to fabric store to find the requirement fabric as seen on the picture.
Finding the blue fabric one was quite easy, the silver one was really difficult. But finally we found it after very longg search, Alhamdulillah.

Silver embroidery fabric

One month later, Zarrah told me that the dress was ready and she sent me this photo:

Final result

And my heart was skipped a beat, it was realllyyy beautifull the first time I saw it. Exactly what I imagine what it would be look like. Alhamdulillahh and on my engagement day I wore it and I smiled all day long because I really like it and proud to wore it. Love you lots ka Zarrah =))

This is us after the ceremony =)