Ayat Ayat Cinta

I was browsing youtube for Indonesian songs and it came to my attention people's comments about a movie called Ayat Ayat Cinta when I watched a new Rossa's song. I wasn't really interested in it at first because it seems to be a religious movie. But people gave really really good comments so I decided to look for it on youtube.

BIG TWO THUMBS for this movie. Yes, it has religious flavor in it, but it is purely a love story movie. This is a story about a young poor guy named Fahril, who is a muslim protagonist. He never really closed to women besides his mom. Then one day, he gets a scholarship from Al-Azhar Uni in Egypt, and when he is in Egypt, there are 4 beautiful women who likes him. The first woman named Maria. She is a christian who lives just above his apartment. He likes her too to some extend, but they know religion difference is the reason why they can't be together. But she still has a big hope on him.
The second woman named Nurul. She is his colleague who has a big crush on him.
The third woman named Noura. A helpless woman who gets a domestic abuse from her family. One day, Fahril helps her when she gets abuse and from there, she has a big crush on him. He hurt her in some point and gave him a big trouble.
The fourth woman named Aisha. She is the one that he finally pickes her as his wife. But he doesn't know her at all when he made that decision. In that story, as he is a muslim protagonist, he doesn't believe in a relationship prior to marriage. He knows her from his teacher whom he looked at as his father. The marriage problem suddenly occurs because his wife is richer than him. Also he sometimes likes to compare her to Maria.

A complex love story with a twist at the end. I was crying half of the movie *blush*, but when I told my mom about it, she said "the president and the vice president were crying when they watched this movie." HAHA I am not the only one :P
I recommend you to watch this movie.

I just checked that it has been 2 months from my last blog, so here some updates what have been happened in my life:

1. I did my singing performance 2 weeks ago :D... I was very nervous and almost gave up on it. But thankgoodness I did it :D... I had a blast and would like to take that class again in the future. Thank you for Sheldon, Kristi, Kei and Margareth to come and support me :)

2. About a month ago, Sheldon and I went to Portland for a weekend gateaway. Man... Portland is sucks... We drove around downtown for about 20 minutes and nothing much ... We went to Multonomah Falls... I thought it will be a nice waterfall but then errrrrrrrr *thumb down*... And of course the highlight of the trip is *drumroll* ... SALT AND PEPPER SQUID by Thien Hong Restaurant :D

3. Sheldon and I will be on cruise to Alaska in May. We are very excited... We plan to do gold panning, kayak, have traditional salmon bake, and maybe have some Alaskan amber :)

4. A week ago Sheldon and I went to Columbia Winery and Red Hook Brewery (They are next to each other)for some tastings. Oh geez... I was crashed after trying 6 type of wines and 5 type of beers. I felt horrible... my face was so red... my head was very dizzy... and finally I threw up when we got home :(... I can't drink anymore :S

5. My husband gave me "Dance Dance Revolution" game for my birthday :D... Yeah... I will dance 'til drop this weekend :P

Old School Songs

I've been spending sometime browsing for my favorite old songs on youtube :D... so here some of my favorite old songs:

PJ & Duncan (Ant & Dec) - Eternal Love


Boyzone - Love me for a reason


Jordan Hill - Remember me this way - Ost from Casper


Rick Astley - Hopelessly


Bed and Breakfast - If you were mine


Duran Duran - Out of my Mind - Ost of the Saint


Reza - Pertama


Ahmad band - Bidadari di Kesunyian


GIGI - Angan


Dewa19 - Kirana


Kahitna - Sampai Nanti

Be Outside My Comfort Zone

HAPPY NEW YEAR for everyone! Have a resolution for 2008? I have! I want to lose all the weight that I gain after meeting Sheldon :D...

Btw, I started this year by taking a class that is absolutely outside of my comfort zone... BEGINNING JAZZ VOCAL Class!!!!! I actually signed up for this class two years ago, but it was cancelled because not enough people signed up. Then I signed up again the next quarter, but I dropped it after the first class because I felt I was going to embarrass myself and actually had a nerve break down as other people in class have had previous vocal experiences and they were good. I knew that there would be a public performance at the end of the class. I just could not see myself singing in the public with those people.

As time went by, I decided to give myself another try... I was thinking if I have the same breakdown, I can drop the class with a full refund. So I have nothing to lose. I went to the class, and again! all people have previous choir experiences or have taken vocal classes. And AGAIN! I am the suckest in the class. I was experience the same thing... The teacher gave us "everyday I have the blues" by BB king as a warm up song. I almost cried after I sang it as I could not sing the notes properly. Singing blues is just a nightmare.

I went home and told Sheldon that I was going to drop this class again. But he kept encouraging me to go to the class. He did not want me to give up again. He was even willing to come to the second class to be my support!!!! I had my moments where I fight with myself to either drop it or not. But then somehow I was able to drag myself to go to the second class.

Surprisingly, everything was turned around after meeting a new guy in the second class. He said he have taken a vocal class and he is taking a music class too this quarter. And surprisingly his singing is as bad as mine :P. But he just enjoyed himself while he sang. He sang his heart out, and looked so confidence even he was not familiar with "everyday I have the blues". Then it was my turned to sang the song. Nervous kicked in, but felt not much pressure, this time I just wanted to sing and I did not care if I sang the right note or not. Everyone knows I don't have any vocal experience, so I should not hard on myself, I do not have to prove anything. I sang the song my best and of course still sang it out of tunes hahahahahaha! but the second time was better! I sang a couple more songs and I had a blast. I can't wait to come the class again next week.

I'm glad and proud of myself to throw myself out there to experience a new thing outside my comfort zone. I just hate the moment when I am the worst among the pack and don't know how to do things properly. But I am able to convince myself there is always a first time for everything and it has to start somewhere. I am going to perform in the next 8 weeks in one of the jazz pub. I told my girlfriends about it and they will there for me to give a full support! YEAH, u girls are rocks! And of course my lovely husband will be there with his full support and for sure he will get sick of me singing "everyday I have the blues, autumn leaves and L-O-V-E" everyday for the next 8 weeks hahahahahaha...

Weekend in Jakarta

That's right, last weekend I was in Jakarta. Five days trip include flying time was a short, tiring trip but very worthed. Thanks goodness, I could upgrade my ticket to business and first class on the way back to Seattle. I slept comfortably. I had a blast... I met my family and friends, attended a best friend's wedding, shopped 'til dropped, and went clubbing. I am looking for another trip to Indo.

Juan, the groom; Michael, the bestman; and the groomsmen

Diana, the bride and her father entered the church

Walked down the aisle

Melina, the bride and her father entered the church (second wedding that I attended)

Ayu and Primary School's Friends

Ayu, Hengki, Nikko and Nyong

Ayu, Diana and Vivi

Ayu and the bride

Mila, Ayu and Angela

I Love You

I have been watching Sex and the City marathon in the past 3 days, and did not much sleep last Sat nite coz I kept watching the DVD until 4 AM :S... I know this series have been aired for a while, but I did not watch it before because it was in HBO and I am a cheapo who doesn't want to pay extra for it :). I just got into it 2 weeks ago when Sheldon was away for business trip and I could watch tv until 12 AM and here you go, I let myself watch this series and this weekend I dedicated myself to watch the whole series:D... It was fun watching it as single womena are looking for their loves... remind myself on who I am 3-4 years ago :P. Towards the end, it was about settling down with life and realizing how important it is to have people that we can count on and love. So I am dedicating this blog to the people I love:


1. I love my husband, Sheldon. He is the best bless I ever got. Even he is a pain sometimes, but I know his love to me is sincere and he has become my other half.


2. I love my dad and mom. I can't thank enough for their efforts and supports for who I am now.


3. I love my sister... she is truly the best best friend I ever had.


4. I love my gals... Diana, Kristi and Yuli... They are my best friends and my sisters that always there to listen and to support me with their encouraging words.


5. Last but not least, I love my Creator who have given me a wonderful life. I am grateful to be alive...


So for people I love... THANK YOU... for being there for me... I LOVE YOU

This Weekend

Friday - October 26th... I had a dinner at Maggianos to celebrate Kristi's birthday. We ordered family style dinner and we got 2 appetizers, 2 salads, 4 main courses and 2 desserts. I was so full afterwards...The restaurant was nice, the food was great and the most important thing I had a great time hanging out with my friends :D

Saturday - October 27th... I and Yuli got another piercings on our earlobes. I did 2 piercings on my left ear. One is an old one that has been closed and the other one is new. I also did a costume shopping for office Halloween event. I decided to be a buttefly :)... I bought a butterfly wing and face glitter...

Sunday - October 28th... I, Yuli, Margareth and Spencer did pumpkin carving... Here's pictures of our pumpkins... Please vote for your favorite pumpkin...

Ayu and Margareth's - Boo Bat


Spencer's

Yuli's