I went to this island about 4 months ago, between our works for Awareness of North Mollucan endemic birds and its parrots conservation. The island is like a diamond in the rough. Despite of unorganized infrastructure and developments, the history value of this island is valid. It has a big part in the Pacific War on World War II, where MacArthur selected this island for air bases to support the liberation of Mindanao.

The guy now is 30 years old.

I did my best to prepare surprises and it failed big time hahaha, 

but this guy kept smiling and being happy as i expected he'd be. 

So i did a little walk around where i live. I was surprised to see so many little beauties i found along the walk.

Recently i was being told that i have too much thoughts focused just on food and gastronomy. 

I guess from now on i have to share my love for other things, they might be as excited as well.

 And this wasn't planned to be a sad blog, actually, but i'm about to cry now. hahaha.

Two years ago we had a short trip to one of my favorite places.

Flying, riding, sailing, hopping, diving, from beach to beach. 

Just got back from another trip! Swimming with turtles, manta rays, and hundreds of jelly fish! 

I am lame in doing updated posts, but for now let me share a playlist i've made recently. 

You should be able to listen to it by clicking here. 

There are some moments when a place, weather, and people you are with, collide so perfectly. I usually adding the food element to make it even more unforgettable,but umm my point is to share one of those moments here.

This beautiful hidden bay at somewhere of east Indonesia, i get to visit on a Friday off while i was on a working trip. The beach was just so pretty, clear crystal water with a volcano background, covered with vegetation and no one else swimming beside us. I went there with very happy fun going colleagues from the site office, and they made the sunny day even much better and enjoyable. 

There are moments when everything goes so nice, you don't  think about anything even yourself, and what you do is just enjoying every second of it. 

I wish this place would stay the same forever and ever.

 Welcoming us

 Scenery along the walks

I just went back from a work trip to North Maluku. No words to describe that's why i'm gonna upload more pictures to do it. But for now let me introduce you to something called 'Papeda'

My first papeda experience at Ternate. Here the system is like a buffet package. Pay 20 thou rupiah *about 2 usd, and you can grab anything served at the table. 

The papeda i have to get used to it, because it has no taste and so sticky literally like glue, we should just swallow without chewing it. But the tumeric yellow fish soup and every other dish meant to add some decent varieties that makes this food so special. 

It is important to pour the soup first to your plate so the sago congee wont stick to the plate. To put papeda to your plate is another interesting story. Needed two sticks to roll it quick and make it a sticky ball straight to the plate. After we pass this step then we can be glad and put anything else to the plate. 

Another speciality to eat with papeda is gohu ikan. It is made from raw tuna mixed with plenty of herbs (chilis, shallot, basil leaves, garlic, lime, salt, coconut oil, fried peanuts, and more).

Me personally would prefer the steamed cassava than the papeda. Just because the steamed cassava is so good and do well with the tumeric soup. Yum :)

Despite of its unique and beautiful look, this flower could actually gives you security.

It is big and so hard you can actually use it as a bat to hit random bad guys..

('random bad guys' as like when you watch thriller movies and these random guys come and try to do bad things, if you get me. if you don't then that's understandable.)

We usually having it for big flower arrangement, it is pretty and lasts very long too.

Torch ginger flower - Etlingera elatior

and

Indonesia Wax ginger flower - Tapeinochilus ananassae

Who needs 911.

Looking back to last year i did Instagram quite a lot. Somehow i do it less and less now. I just checked their lastest updated app and it already has so many fun things to do with it, so i'm excited to bring my ipod again whenever i go now. And i'll do this as soon as i remember my username there.. But I'm pretty sure it's natanoja :)

"Shall we go now? Shall we? now?"

Every time we have big family gathering, there are two dishes that will always be there. Well actually there are many, but these two are special and healthy too, that's why i'm gonna share it. (but i will share unhealthy food as well, maybe more of that than the healthy ones.) I particulary loves these two because it taste good and i can eat them as many as i could. Because it's healthy. But i'd probably wouldnt eat it without rice.. which is not that healhty.

Anyway, here come the recipes.

Papaya flowers 300 gr

Papaya leaves 50 gr - sliced

Red Chilis 5 pcs - sliced

Basil leaves 50 gr

Bay leaves 2 pcs

Lemon grass 2 pcs

Salt, Pepper, Sugar

Ginger 1 pcs - sliced

Shallots 5-10 gr - sliced

Garlic 3 cloves -sliced

Cooking oil 1 tbs - sliced. haha.

I have realised that one of my interest in cooking (beside eating it) is to learn more about herbs and spices. Love the smells, shapes, and taste of all exotic ingridients . Every kind of traditional market always been a fascinating place to explore for me. These pictures were taken when i went to a market in Lombok, they grow the best crunchy and thick chinese watercrass/morning glory/whateveryoucallitinenglish you'll ever taste.

HELLO!

Have you ever done a head x-ray scan? I had a motor accident back in 2009 that made me had to do some scannings. The accident was quite bad, i never thought myself as a pretty face but i never felt so unpretty faced before. haha. Thank God there was nothing serious and i have my face back to normal after several weeks. Since then i am always very cautious about motorbike riding and helmet. Life is too precious to be at risk because of ignorance isn't it.

So THIS pic of me :

Safe riding and driving you all :)

This one is a treasure i'm sharing. West Indies' Star of Betlehem (Isotoma longiflora).

While wikipedia say its weed can cause blindness, but with a drop and wash-wipe recipe, i've heard some people use it as herbal eye drops, even to cure cataract! I like the fact its flower blooming all the time, we have a line of this and it looks pretty at our backyard.

Saying goodbye is never easy. But when you've gained amazing things there are more positive views from goodbyes. 2011, like every year passed has given so much meaning to my life. One of the hardest goodbyes was to my beloved canine companion Tossy. She came in and shared life with me for more than 11 years. She left so sudden last May and i miss her a lot almost all of the time. I miss our picnics, i miss our cuddles, and i miss how she communicate her curiousity only with me. Most of all she has taught me the meaning of love, loyalty, trust and forgiveness that i will continue to share to others for the rest of my life. You will always be in my heart until we meet again Mama Tossy.