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.

So this is our first annual tradition. We've done it exactly like what we did last year. Barbeque at home and then up to the hill peak right before new year to watch fireworks happening from 3 towns at once.

As sober as a professor. As great as expected. 2012 please be nice.