Me vs High Heels

High heels? Wow...yang terlintas di benak langsung rasa pegal di betis dan kepala pusing hingga akhirnya bilang I really do hate high heels

Tapi sebenarnya suka lihat cewek yang pakai high heels, keliatan seksi dan feminim asal proporsional saja ma bentuk kaki. Masalahnya, sejak dulu i am not meant to be with high heels. Seperti kutukan kalau pakai sepatu yang pakai hak tinggian dikit, betis langsung pegel dan kepala pusing. Bukannya seksi dan keren malah pringisan menahan rasa pegal di kaki. Walhasil sekarang lebih demen pakai sepatu teplek atau sandal sekalian. Biarin dikatain cuek bebek or ndeso, yang penting kakiku merasa nyaman dan aman

Or maybe i haven't found the right shoes yet? Maybe if i wore the right high heel shoes, i would not feel miserable? Lol...in my dreams! Dah terlanjur merasa apati ma high heels jadi gak lagi-lagi dah mau pakai kecuali terpaksa...ehm, tapi sapa yang berani maksa

Pernah nih pakai sepatu berhak yang gak tinggi-tinggi amat waktu naik KRL Tnh Abang-Bekasi, eh ketiban sial. Dari Tanah Abang sampai Bekasi, gak dapat tempat duduk, maklum banyak penumpang dari Sta Kota yang ikutan nimbrung karena sinyal di sana lagi mati jadi gak bisa jalan. Benar-benar padat kereta...muka dah meringis-ringis karena gak tahan banget ma sepatu...gak bisa diajak kerja sama. Daripada pingsan, akhirnya kaki dikeluarkan saja deh dari sepatu...wow, it's like drinking water in the middle of the driest desert... lega banget...no more high heels deh!

Girls of Riyadh

Another story that shocked the world especially the Middle East. A story that resembles like ancient Scheherazade stories in which she narrated unfinished stories every single night for one thousand and one nights. Similarly, this modern Scheherazade, a girl in her early twenties narrated the story of her four female friends every weekend after the Friday Pray. Both have similar motivation that is to reveal the tyranny of life and the society against women in their region. The King in Scheherazade’s world chosen his bride to be killed in the wedding night simply because her former queen had cheated on him. For this, all women in the whole kingdom should bear the penalty…the death sentence. While in girls of Riyadh, the narrator unfolded the cruelty of the strongly patriarch society that sometimes and often misused religious beliefs to justify their action towards women regardless of their social status. Each chapter in the book begins with a piece of poetry, a verse from the Quran, or lyrics from a famous song that captured the idea of the chapter.

The narrator revealed the stories of her four female friends namely Qamrah, Sadeem, Lumais and Mashael (whom was often called Michelle because her mother was American) who were studying in the University of Riyadh. They often hanged out and sought for advice in Um Nouri’s house. A woman of her late 30s that was left by her husband after years of marriage with her only son. Three had suffered much from the strongly patriarch values; thus failed them in love and career. The only one succeeded in both career and love was Lumais because he learnt from events that befell her three friends. She determined she would not fall in the same pit; their mistakes became a great valuable lesson for her.

Qamrah had to quit her study because she had an arranged marriage with Rashid. They never had any exchange of ideas, thought and dating. As customary in the region, the two families allowed the prospective husband to see the girl only once to decide whether he liked her or not and then if he did, he would marry her. Rashid expressed his fondness for her and vice versa so they soon got married. The newlywed went to Chicago because Rashid must finish his postgraduate studies in electronic commerce. It was total disaster for Qamrah as she gradually found out her husband true nature of character. He despised her for her hijab and thought her ugly with it. When she decided to let it go, her husband thought she was uglier without none. Although, financially Rashid gave every sum she needed, but his ignorance was unbearable as she was in a strange country with very different culture and custom. Worse, her English was poor. Later she found out the source of his ignorance with she accidently knew he had an affair with a Japanese American. Rashid told her that she loved this woman and she indebted greatly to her family for when he sought permission from his parents to marry her, they turned him down. This woman’s family was the one who supported his life and study when his parents sent him no more cash. Broken hearted, Qamrah sought revenge in not taking the birth control pills. She tought if she were pregnant, her husband might act differently. She was completely wrong. Rashid sent her back to her family with divorce letter thus left her all alone with the infant. She was trapped as society regarded a divorced woman as source of problem. The only consolation she got was her friends company and Um Nouri.

The same fate befell Sadeem. Her fiancé left her just months before the wedding party. Although, they were officially wed already, but customary tradition in the society forbad women to make husband and wife relationship before the wedding party took place. Sadeem, in uttering her love and affection, was willing to risk this by giving herself up to Walid before the party in hope that Walid would feel mutual love and affection towards her. She thought that her love was not complete before submitting all herself to him. She was wrong. With no clear reason, Walid deserted her after the night. Later on, his family canceled the wedding and sent her a divorced letter. Sadeem was broken hearted and regretted her foolish decision. She knew the reason of the cancelation because Walid thought she already had sexual engagement experience (in her region sex before wedding party was considered inappropriate although they were already officially wed). Her second love with Faraz ended up the same. Faraz’s elite social status plus the fact he had never married before prevented him to marry a divorced woman like Sadeem. Eventually, he married another woman without love. Being unhappy, he asked Sadeem to continue their lost relationship. In vengeance, instead of yielding to this request, Sadeem chose Tarik, her cousin that long had adored her.

Michelle story was not less tragic than the two. She was torn by two different culture and custom considering that she was half Arabian and half American. Unlike other Arabian girls, she was forthcoming, simple and straight forward in character. She adored the ways her mother had lived in and hated hypocrisy and lies. She lived in a much liberal way than her other three friends. Still she failed in her love affair. She met Faisal in one of the shopping mall when he asked her and her female friends to take him along as a brother (In Saudi, single young men are not allowed to enter certain famous shopping malls to avoid the harassment and flirting they initiate towards women). After this meeting, their relationship grew stronger but lasted only a year. Faisal backed off when she asked him to marry her simply because his family refused to allow him marrying a girl not of the family choosing and on top of that born to an American mother. She was denied simple because of her origin.

The three girls often sought advice in Lumais and Umu Nouri. Lumais often helped her friends to solve their problems and supported them in times of need. Learnt from their stories, Lumais eventually could seize her happiness. She married the man she’s in love with and succeeded in her career. The couple moved to Canada to continue their medical study.

There’re much critics in the patriarch society in the book especially how bad the men treated the women. Even, there’s a dialogue that indicated how harsh life for a women in such society. Women are considered like cattle that can be treated freely as the owner wishes to. Religion teachings are often twisted to support such treatment. While the true teaching is to glorify and protect women and not whatsoever lay a hand on them unless she behaves wrongly. Similar critic also could be noticed easily in the Princess’ Trilogy. This first book in this trilogy describes the life of Princess Sultana, a princess in the royal house of Saudi Arabia where she lives in a "gilded cage" with no freedom and no control over her own life. It will be no surprise that other similar books written by women in the region flourish rapidly. It’s a kind of women movement and empowering that channeled through words and some say ‘word is mightier than the sword’.

Girls of Riyadh

Another story that shocked the world especially the Middle East. A story that resembles like ancient Scheherazade stories in which she narrated unfinished stories every single night for one thousand and one nights. Similarly, this modern Scheherazade, a girl in her early twenties narrated the story of her four female friends every weekend after the Friday Pray. Both have similar motivation that is to reveal the tyranny of life and the society against women in their region. The King in Scheherazade’s world chosen his bride to be killed in the wedding night simply because her former queen had cheated on him. For this, all women in the whole kingdom should bear the penalty…the death sentence. While in girls of Riyadh, the narrator unfolded the cruelty of the strongly patriarch society that sometimes and often misused religious beliefs to justify their action towards women regardless of their social status. Each chapter in the book begins with a piece of poetry, a verse from the Quran, or lyrics from a famous song that captured the idea of the chapter.

The narrator revealed the stories of her four female friends namely Qamrah, Sadeem, Lumais and Mashael (whom was often called Michelle because her mother was American) who were studying in the University of Riyadh. They often hanged out and sought for advice in Um Nouri’s house. A woman of her late 30s that was left by her husband after years of marriage with her only son. Three had suffered much from the strongly patriarch values; thus failed them in love and career. The only one succeeded in both career and love was Lumais because he learnt from events that befell her three friends. She determined she would not fall in the same pit; their mistakes became a great valuable lesson for her.

Qamrah had to quit her study because she had an arranged marriage with Rashid. They never had any exchange of ideas, thought and dating. As customary in the region, the two families allowed the prospective husband to see the girl only once to decide whether he liked her or not and then if he did, he would marry her. Rashid expressed his fondness for her and vice versa so they soon got married. The newlywed went to Chicago because Rashid must finish his postgraduate studies in electronic commerce. It was total disaster for Qamrah as she gradually found out her husband true nature of character. He despised her for her hijab and thought her ugly with it. When she decided to let it go, her husband thought she was uglier without none. Although, financially Rashid gave every sum she needed, but his ignorance was unbearable as she was in a strange country with very different culture and custom. Worse, her English was poor. Later she found out the source of his ignorance with she accidently knew he had an affair with a Japanese American. Rashid told her that she loved this woman and she indebted greatly to her family for when he sought permission from his parents to marry her, they turned him down. This woman’s family was the one who supported his life and study when his parents sent him no more cash. Broken hearted, Qamrah sought revenge in not taking the birth control pills. She tought if she were pregnant, her husband might act differently. She was completely wrong. Rashid sent her back to her family with divorce letter thus left her all alone with the infant. She was trapped as society regarded a divorced woman as source of problem. The only consolation she got was her friends company and Um Nouri.

The same fate befell Sadeem. Her fiancé left her just months before the wedding party. Although, they were officially wed already, but customary tradition in the society forbad women to make husband and wife relationship before the wedding party took place. Sadeem, in uttering her love and affection, was willing to risk this by giving herself up to Walid before the party in hope that Walid would feel mutual love and affection towards her. She thought that her love was not complete before submitting all herself to him. She was wrong. With no clear reason, Walid deserted her after the night. Later on, his family canceled the wedding and sent her a divorced letter. Sadeem was broken hearted and regretted her foolish decision. She knew the reason of the cancelation because Walid thought she already had sexual engagement experience (in her region sex before wedding party was considered inappropriate although they were already officially wed). Her second love with Faraz ended up the same. Faraz’s elite social status plus the fact he had never married before prevented him to marry a divorced woman like Sadeem. Eventually, he married another woman without love. Being unhappy, he asked Sadeem to continue their lost relationship. In vengeance, instead of yielding to this request, Sadeem chose Tarik, her cousin that long had adored her.

Michelle story was not less tragic than the two. She was torn by two different culture and custom considering that she was half Arabian and half American. Unlike other Arabian girls, she was forthcoming, simple and straight forward in character. She adored the ways her mother had lived in and hated hypocrisy and lies. She lived in a much liberal way than her other three friends. Still she failed in her love affair. She met Faisal in one of the shopping mall when he asked her and her female friends to take him along as a brother (In Saudi, single young men are not allowed to enter certain famous shopping malls to avoid the harassment and flirting they initiate towards women). After this meeting, their relationship grew stronger but lasted only a year. Faisal backed off when she asked him to marry her simply because his family refused to allow him marrying a girl not of the family choosing and on top of that born to an American mother. She was denied simple because of her origin.

The three girls often sought advice in Lumais and Umu Nouri. Lumais often helped her friends to solve their problems and supported them in times of need. Learnt from their stories, Lumais eventually could seize her happiness. She married the man she’s in love with and succeeded in her career. The couple moved to Canada to continue their medical study.

There’re much critics in the patriarch society in the book especially how bad the men treated the women. Even, there’s a dialogue that indicated how harsh life for a women in such society. Women are considered like cattle that can be treated freely as the owner wishes to. Religion teachings are often twisted to support such treatment. While the true teaching is to glorify and protect women and not whatsoever lay a hand on them unless she behaves wrongly. Similar critic also could be noticed easily in the Princess’ Trilogy. This first book in this trilogy describes the life of Princess Sultana, a princess in the royal house of Saudi Arabia where she lives in a "gilded cage" with no freedom and no control over her own life. It will be no surprise that other similar books written by women in the region flourish rapidly. It’s a kind of women movement and empowering that channeled through words and some say ‘word is mightier than the sword’.

Uplifting Laws for Dress of Code Restriction

It's great to watch the news on TV last Sunday that the house of representative in Egypt is planning to uplift the laws that ban women to wear 'jilbab' at Universities. If this plan can be enacted, it could bring a fresh air in the country after the secular government being built by Kemal Attaturk. I always think it ridiculous to ban moeslem women to wear jilbab as it is an obligatory conduct. The more ridiculous thing is the reason behind the law. It is said that if such dress code is allowed, it would lead Egypt away from secular principle that had been long adhered. There would be no separation between religius life and the government. Wow...it's really unbelievable.

For me, it is women's right to wear jilbab. It is a symbol of our identity that could play as a guardian and protection. Wearing jilbab will not reduce one's productivity or activities. In fact it could raise our dignity and safety. I just dont understand why such act is banned in some countries, even in the islamic nations. It's basic human right just like the right of other religion followers in wearing a certain dress code.

My True Hero

It's sometimes amazing to think that everyday we search a hero as our role model. Someone whose deeds reflect the righteousness and moral ideal. There's so many heroes described in movies from Tarzan up to Superman. All had the characteristic of a great hero with nobel heart, unselfish and put others' rights above his/her. Often we look upon such ideal heroes in our life and think that those characters are too good to be true.

Only now i realize that my true hero has been long standing besides me. Her heart if full of affection and compassion. To my eyes she's the perfect role model of my life. Her patience is far beyond my comprehension. Her simple life is full of amazement. She's my true hero... She is my MOTHER.

She showed one og great characters during my recent visit. How she cared much for her sister in law that got stroke. While her children did not want to take care of her, SHE voluntereed herself to care for her. The stroke had sonsumed all her strenght that she could not do any activities, even the simpliest one such as take a bath, eat, drink etc, without help. My mother patiently had to help her in those activities. She never expected anything in return. She once told me that "I dont want any credit from human, let Alloh The Great, rewards me later on."

On other occassion, she had to care for an old lady that was casted away from her family. No one wanted to receive her at their home. Touched by this situation, my father and mother decided to take her into our home. Again, my mother as well as my father showed me what a meaningful life looked like.

I wonder whether her love and affection had no limit at all. She's really amazing...And it's a fool of me that i never could said the word "I love you" in front of her. Strenght and courage in life inspired me much. The norms and values taught too me in my childhood played a great role in my savior in this harsh life.

A simple mother with a simple home who has great heart...and yes, she is my true hero. I have no more to look for other heroes other than her. And i hope oneday i could tell her how much i love her and respect her...No words could represent her amazing modesty and love...

Ratatouille ...

Dulu pengin banget nonton nih film coz lihat trailernya di TV kayaknya lucu dan keren. Tapi gak pernah kesampaian sampai dah lewat masa putarnya di bioskop. Kebetulan suami aku tahu kesukaan aku nonton film jadi dibeliin deh kemarin DVD-nya.

Ehm...tak seperti bayanganku kalau film ini penuh adegan lucu dan menggelikan...ternyata setelah nonton, film ini banyak mengupas sisi kemanusian kita dan persahabatan yang indah... a mixture between serious and humor combined... Mengingatkan bahwa setiap orang mampu berprestasi dan meraih impian tak peduli latar belakang status sosial, kelas dan derajatnya. Even a rat that assosiated with dirtiness, pest, unhealthiness, disgust could achieve a truly masterpiece. Ini mengubah cara pandang kita dalam melihat seseorang. 'Kere' atau gembel sekalipun atau pun pesakitan sekalipun bisa melahirkan mahakarya atau prestasi...Anyone can cook.

Dalam kamus wikipedia ratatouille berasal dari touiller yang artinya adalah "melempar makanan". Ratatouille berasal dari daerah Nice dan sekitarnya. Makanan ini aslinya adalah makanan para petani miskin yang dimasak pada musim panas dengan sayuran musim panas. Dan makanan ini merupakan mahakarya dari Remy, Si Tikus yang bersahabat dengan

Film ini mengisahkan tentang seekor Tikus bernama Remy yang lain daripada yan lain.Keluarganya pun menanggap Remy tikus yang aneh...lho wong tikus kok gak mau makan makanan sampah, nyolong, atau berkotor-kotor ria. Doi mengutamakan cita rasa dalam setiap makanan yang dia makan serta mengutamakan cleanliness. Doi memiliki indera super tajam alias sensitive soal aroma dan rasa. Kebayang kan reaksi keluarganya melihat tingkahnya. Nah, nih anak saking kagumnya atas budaya cita rasa manusia dalam memasak akhirnya sering menyelinap ke rumah seorang nenek tua di mana dia sering menonton film tentang tata cara memasak oleh chef terkenal di seantero Paris, Auguste Gusteau. Di sinilah Remy belajar memasak dan mengembangkan cita rasa memasaknya... Kebayang gak lihat seekor tikus memasak dan membaca buku???

Petualangan Remy di rumah sang nenek berakhir saat nenek tua itu mengetahui keberadaan kawanan tikus di rumahnya. Walhasil, para tikus lara pontang panting menyelamtkan diri dari terjangan timah panas sang nenek...kayak film-film cowboy aja :-). Remy terpisah dari rombongan dan berakhir di restoran idolanya, Gusteau restoran. Dia terselamatkan secara tak sengaja oleh buku memasak Chef Gustau waktu hanyut terbawa arus. Sementara itu, Gustau mati gara-gara depresi setelah seorang kritikus makanan kenamaaan Paris, Anton Ego, memberikan ulasan yang sangat buruk tentang restaurannya.Nah, di restauran inilah Remy bersahabat dengan Linguini, garbage boy, yang gak sangat payah memasaknya. Mulailah petualangan memasak Remy dimulai dengan berkolaborasi dengan Linguini. Linguini tidak akan membuang Remy asalkan dia mau bersamanya memasak di restauran tersebut. Caranya, Remy, berdiam di dalam topi chef yang Linguini kenakan sambil mengendalikan setiap gerakan linguini dalam memasak. Seru banget...apalagi saat Linguini dan Remy berualng kali harus berjuang dalam persaingan memasak dengan juru masak lainnya dan bos kejam, Skinner, yang berusaha menyingkirkan Linguini.

Nah, singkat cerita ternyata ketahuan bahwa Linguini merupakan anak Chef Gustau sehingga berdasarkan surat wasiat dia berhak mengambil alih restauran tersebut. Si Bos kejam terdepak. Pada saat kritis, waktu Anton Ego kembali menyatroni restauran tersebut untuk memberikan ulasan, Linguini dengan berani mengaku bahwa sebenarnya Remy-lah otak di balik kesuksesan memasaknya. Tentu saja chef yang lain pada heboh dan satu persatu quit. Di sinilah terlihat persahabatan indah yang terjalin antara Linguini dan Remy serta seluruh keluarganya...bagaimana akhirnya mereka bersama-sama berjuang memasak dengan Remy sebagai the captain...lucu banget waktu lihat ratusan tikus bahu membahu memasak...padahal kan biasanya mereka bahu membahu mencuri makanan... Dan terciptalah masterpiece Remy dengan memasak Ratatouille...

Cita rasa dalam makanan ini menghancurkan keegoisan Anton Ego yang terpesona dengan rasanya. Anyone can cook...only now i understad what it really meant. Not anyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere... Begitulah komentar Anton Ego saat mengetahui bahwa the best chef in Paris is a rat.

Seperti kebanyakan Film animasi Walt Disney lainnya, film ini terbilang bagus karena gambar tiga dimensinya yang begitu hidup. Apalagi detil warna dalam setiap masakan yang tersaji (karena memang settingnya kebanyakan di restauran) begitu cermat tergambar sehingga bisa membangkitkan selera makan...jadi lapar nontonnya...

Pesan moral yang terselip dalam film ini juga bagus mengajarkan agar setiap orang tak peduli latar belakang sosial dan statusnya mengapai impiannya, positive thinking dan what a friendship trully meant...

My Cloudy Weekend

Again and again this repeated misunderstanding happened. No matter how hard i kept myself in control, the anger was always able to slip through me. I had no patience of waiting especially from one whom you thought should be understood all the moves you took. While on the other hand, the one you love had a trait of ignorance and unable of 'mindreading' either becoz his lack of affection or comprehension. Sometimes, it pushed me into my limit. It became worse when my impatience added to this situation.

Often in such occassion, i lost my temper and uttered words that were beyond my character. They were horrible to say. Yet, when you got angry this way, anything seemed wrong and those words were justified. I should have known this would happen. We both already knew this weakness, but both were too ignorant to change.

As i regained myself, composed myself to regular being, i was struck by the rash and hars words that i've written. They were beyond my wildest imagination...the same words that slipped through my tongue when i got pushed to the limit. Time would always heal...sometimes i got tired and wanted much to change... how to deal with such matter in a better disposition and wisdom.