Peace and Love from Island of Gods, Bali.

Us, the happy girls!

Tirta Gangga

Cottage in Candidasa

Panoramic view of Candidasa beach behind our cottage

Seminyak beach

Potato Head

Peace and Love from Bali

October 2013.

It was another escape with my college friend, Muna chan. It was our first trip together and it was her first trip to go Bali. I enjoyed it very much. We spent few days in Ubud, Candidasa and our last few days in Kuta, the place I hate the most in Bali. The people there are rude. If you want to buy anything you have to start bargain from 80% off of the price they offered.

Ubud is a small town, famous for its art and craft. There are so many painters and crafters there. It is also a small town full of delicious food and expensive. We stayed at Jati Homestay, probably one of the best place in Ubud, it was quite and tranquil. It is not that expensive 25 USD for two or 20 USD for single.

Candidasa is the highlight of this trip, maybe because we stayed at a very nice cottage where it is quite and peaceful, we stroll around on bike and have fun!

Well Bali definitely is a surfer paradise, white sand beach and a lot of diversity in such a small island.We went to see few places like Tirta Gangga and Ujung - the water palace, and check out few beaches. The weather there is extremely hot.

I might coming back soon to Bali with the man :)

See ya

Thailand 2013

Dear strangers,

I am back from a month holiday with my babyen. I had a good time, I can say it was the most amazing holidays I had with him. It sounds crazy tho because we had a lot of arguments and I was being very difficult at times yet I learned a lot of things about him and the relationship I am having with him. I really cherish every moment I had with him. It's pretty tough since we always very far apart and somehow it is illogical, irrational and it is almost impossible to continue this relationship. Not everyone could understand about it, but the most important thing is for me is after this holiday I understand fully what is going on between us.

Sometimes, I feel so regret and sorry for things I have done or I have said. It is tough for both of us. I need to learn and up to the next level if I want to keep this relationship. It is not easy, but is it worth it?

We started our journey in Bangkok for couple days, pampering ourselves at Swisotel Nai Lert Park. I like this hotel very much, nice swimming pool and superb service. We flew to Krabi on the 3rd day. Krabi city is not that big, not that interesting, like another small stop over city. We spent a day there and continue to Koh Lanta.

Koh Lanta supposed to be a beautiful island, but when we was there the weather was bad and the beach was dirty, so it didnt leave much impression for me. We stayed at Time for Lime. Nice bungalows and good food but expensive. We took a cooking lesson there, it was fun. After we fed up with the weather we continue to Koh Phi Phi, which is my favourite destination in this holidays. The island is small and beautiful, crystal clear water, beautiful white sands beach and there are plenty of activities here. We spent about 4 days here. After Phi Phi we went to Phuket and continue to Koh Phangan - Koh Samui and Koh Tao.

I dont really like Koh Phangan, not my fave really. I think it is boring. Koh Samui was OK. Koh Tao is beautiful, plenty of spots for snorkeling and Koh Nang Yuan is superb! We stayed at Blue Wind, it is a nice bungalows with good price and good food.
Spent the last few days in Bangkok and I feel sad when I left the holidays :(

I hope to see babyen soon!

 babyen :D

The Lover's Dictionary

dumfounded (noun) 

and still, for all the jealousy, all the doubt, sometimes I will be struck with a kind of awe that we're together. That someone like me could find someone like you - it renders me wordless. Because surely words would conspire such luck, would protest the unlikelihood of such a turn of events.

I didn't tell any of my friends about our first date. I waited until after the second, because I wanted to make sure it was real. I would not believe it had happened until it had happened again. Then later on, I would be overwhelmed by evidence by the line connecting you to me and us to love. (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

dumfounded (noun)

I still amazed how how we started and we've gotten this far. It was not a good day for me, tiring trip with a bit argument with my traveling partner. I stepped on the boat and you were there smiling at me. A smile that I could not forget. I just stared at you blankly and I don't know what to say.

In the evening I was talking to your traveling partner and there where we started. Everything happened in split second. You told me your story how you ended up on the boat, I told you mine.

Every time I told someone or my friend about us they thought my story was from the book, or it was like from a movie.

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encroach (verb)

The first three nights we spent together, I couldn't sleep. I wasn't used to your breathing, your feet on my legs, your weight in bed. In truth, I sleep better when I'm alone. But now I allow that sleep isn't always the most important thing. (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

encroach (verb)

It was our first few days traveling together, when I ordered my lunch or dinner, you always steal the food from my plate and later it becomes habits for you to eat from my plate. Your friend said that we look like an old marriage couple. but now I am okay with it, I think it is cute.

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exacerbate (verb)  

I believe your exact word were: 'you're getting too emotional'. (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

exacerbate

'you are talking non sense', that what you always says when I am having my negative thoughts and start to cried.


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fallible (adj)
I was hurt, of course I was hurt. but in preserve way. I was relieved that you were the one who made the mistake. It made me worry less about myself. (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

fallible

when we gotten into arguments and you said something that hurts me, you will repeatedly saying sorry. maybe it was both of us mistake.

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traverse (verb)
You started to cry, and I quickly said, "No -- I mean this part is over. We have to get to the next part."And you said, "I'm not sure we can."Without even having to think about it, I replied, "Of course we can.""How can you be so sure?" you asked.And I said, "I'm sure. Isn't that enough?”  (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan) 

traverse

I cried when you said we should be just friends. It hurts me a lot. I tried to move on but again you pull me back and said that it is too sad for you too. I don't know how many times we've done this but I think we just belong to each other.

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Posterity, n.I try not to think about us growing old together, mostly because I try not to think about growing old at all. Both things - the years passing, the years together - are too enormous to contemplate. But one morning, I gave in. You were asleep, and I imagined you older and older. Your hair graying, your skin folded and creased, your breath catching. And I found myself thinking: If this continues, if this goes on, then when I die, your memories of me will be my greatest accomplishment. Your memories will be my most lasting impression.”  (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

Posterity

I live in the present. We live in the present, every time you always told me that 'we will never know what is in the future', you don't plan, you live day by day. I am just hoping that day will come when I can really spend days and nights with you like a normal couple. I am just afraid that day will never come, and you will be gone.

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suffuse, v.
I dont like it when you use my shampoo, because then your hair smells like me, not you. (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

suffuse

your words is mine. my words is yours. I started to talk using yours and you started to talk like me.

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quintessence, n
it's the way you say like you're genuinely thankful. I have never met anyone else who does that on regular basis. (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

quintessence

every time we eat out, you always told me to look at the waiter eyes, smiled and say thank you. I have never met anyone else who does that on regular basis.

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recant,v
... I want to take back the time I said you were a genius, because I was being sarcastic and I should have just said you'd hurt my feelings.  (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

recant

If I could turn back time, I wished I didn't say all the stupid things to you. I don't hate you, I never and I am not capable of doing it.

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fraught, adj
does every ' I love you' deserve an 'I love  you too?' does every kiss deserve a kiss back? does every night deserve to be spent on a lover? if the answer to any of these is 'no', what do we do?  (from The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan)

fraught
every night before I sleep I wished you kiss me good night and say that you love me.

Taj Mahal

It was a last minute trip to Taj Mahal over the weekend. It was pretty tiring I wished I could spent more time to hear the story behind it. For those who wondering about where is Taj Mahal, it is located in Agra about 3 hours drive from New Delhi through the new Greater Noida express way. The best time to visit Taj Mahal is towards end of year when the weather is bit chilled and the mountain in the Taj complex operated.

Agra itself is a small town mostly surrounded by the buildings built by Shah Jahnan during the Mughal empire. The complex of Taj Mahal is not that big with all symmetrical buildings and forts around. The main building was built by white marble, crafted beautifully and decorated with painted tiles. The real tomb was located on the basement which was not accessible during the time of visit.

Like most of the tourists attraction, we have to purchase the entrance ticket to go to Taj. The fees for foreigner is 750 rupee and they will give you a bottle of water and a shoes cover. You are not allowed to walked with the shoes in certain area or you can walk bare f

eet. There are plenty of tour guide offered you their service, normal price is about 500-600 rupee but if you come very early in the morning you can bargain to 200-300 rupee for their service. Taj complex closes on Friday for the prayers.

Laters

xo J

Hellas med babyen part 3 - Athens

You can't go Greece without visiting Athens, the capital city of the Old Greek Empire!!! I see Athens as a very vibrant city, street art are everywhere in the town, it makes the city colourful and lively but dirty at the same time. Well even the country is in the bad shape, lots of vacant shops lot around Ermou street, where the major shopping boutiques are located, but still you can see a lot of people hang out around Monastiraki square enjoying the sun with beers or ice coffee, you still see a lot of women with shopping bags, so where is the crisis?

The food in Athens are delicious, you can find plenty of restaurants around Thissio, most of the restaurants open till mid night. They serve pasta, fried seafood, burgers, moussaka - the Greek traditional layered eggplants with minced meat, it something like lasagna. I found a gelato shop at the corner of Monastiraki Square, Bonaffee flavour was my have! At the other corner of Monastiraki Square we can find plenty of shops, mostly souvenir shops selling all kind of fridge magnets, cloths, accessories, etc. There is a flea market at the other side of Monastiraki Square towards Thissio. When you go along Ermou street you will find all the major shops like Zara, HnM, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius, Korres, Body Shop, Mac, etc. If you like beauty product don't forget to get Korres here, it is pretty cheap and good. I bought the yogurt sunscreen it smells nice and delicious.

We went to Acropolis of Athens (a must visit place) where you feel overwhelmed by the ancient architecture of the temples. The new museum of Acropolis was amazing too, too bad I didn't have time to explore much the inside as I almost missed my flight home.

Here are some of the pics! Enjoy x!

Pantheon - Acropolis of Athens

City of Athens

Min babyen er så søt!

Hellas med babyen part 2 - Santorini

It probably one of the most beautiful islands on planet earth. I always dreamt to visit Santorini one day and voila, I was there and experience an amazing journey with babyen. There are many ways to reach Santorini by flights or ferries.  We took the Blue Star Ferries from Naxos to Santorini. Blue Star Ferries is a very nice ferry, they have a very comfortable seats (it is as comfortable as first class seat in plane). They have few cafe and restaurants inside. Traveling with the ferry is fun, time really flies. 

We were staying at Maria's place in Oia. We have the view of the Caldera sea, big balcony, nice bathroom, small kitchen with fridge where we can store our greek yogurt and very huge bed!!!

Oia is my favorite town among all. It is just a very unique and quirky town built with white marbles and blue domes. I like walking on the marble path way through out the city. For you who always wonder where all of those golden sunset of Santorini taken, it is in Oia! You have to do a little bit of walking and patiently waiting for the sunset to come. 

During my visit, it was quite, not much restaurant opens but I found a very nice restaurant with yummy food in Oia, it called Lotza. The service is kinda slow because the restaurant always full house and only 2 people are working but the food is worth waiting and it is not that expensive too!

There are plenty of jewelry shops sell mostly accessories made from black lava stone , antiques, Byzantine painting and a shop full of hand made puppet and dolls! This shop reminds me of a witch shop with all the magical thing inside. There is a very nice art gallery where the painter is from Poland and the gallery was managed by his wife. 

Fira is the main city in Santorini. There are few things to do here like walking through 600 steps to the Fira port which connecting Fira and the volcano. 600 steps sounds easy but actually it was not, you can pay about 5Euro for the donkey or take the cable car. We walked down to the port and walked up again back to city. It was so tiring. I didn't take donkey because I was afraid with it and their smell very bad. But it was okay, all the effort was well paid with the delicious food I had in town. Mama's is one of the best restaurant in Fira, every one knows it! I had chance to take pics with her, she is from San Francisco moved to Santorini for quite sometimes.

All the food from Mama's restaurant was nice. I tried the chicken soup, spaghetti, rice with some beef, the mousakka was excellent. The price isn't that expensive tho. 

We rent a car and drove around the island. There are other things to see like the red beach, the highest point of the island where you can see 360 degrees panoramic view of Santorini, now it is used as military camp.

Red beach :D

laters! xoJ

Fashion Illustrator

Dear strangers

I have been taking up short classes for fashion illustration the past 3 weeks because next term I have to teach fashion department. I never liked to draw fashion stuff theoretically but I like the artistic side of fashion illustration and mix media. So until now I still have no idea how to draw it but I've been practicing. Thanks to my guru! It is not the best yet but I need to practice more!!!!

Laters!

Jen