15.2.12

Learn - Dragonfly



Straight-edged Red Parasol (Neurothemis terminata)

Dragonfly is probably the most insect i could bear. Well, beside the cute ladybugs. And butterflies.. and.. any other beautiful colorful insects i can't remember right now.

Most thing i like about dragonflies is the fact that they eat mosquitoes.

There are more than 5000 species of dragonfly worldwide. We human, homo species, has been having only 8 species, and we, the only still exist homo in this worldwide is just a/one/single left species called Homo sapiens sapiens.

The other fact i like about them is they actually can fly really like helicopter. like up and down, hover and they could mate mid-air! (i know.. i know..)

The eyes contain up to 30,000 lenses, and they are taking most of the part of its head, with ability to see nearly 360 degress around it all the times. Wicked!

And this is my favorite part: here, there's an old myth if you tickle your kid's belly button with a dragonfly's tail, your kid would actually stop wetting the bed at night.. hahaha.

14.2.12

Trip - Taking a break

Already broke my resolution for one day one post..
but here are some snaps while i was away for a weekend..

18.1.12

Learn - Ginger Flower




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.

17.1.12

The Instagram Thing


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 :)

16.1.12

Throwback - Tondano

April 2010 - Easter trip.

Went to North Sulawesi with my mother and her friends to meet her another friend and her friends. Beside of gathering new mom's friends, what i love from this trip were:
  1. Purple cross and hand-made Jesus' empty graves-replicas al over the streets. It was very Easter-y
  2. Beautiful, beautiful, sceneries.
  3. Gospel Minahasa cassettes playing all over the markets
  4. Six different kinds of chili sauce on every meal. And probably about 23 kinds of dishes per meal? Boy, do Minahasa people know how to eat well!
  5. Motorbike riders and passengers don't have to wear helmet to church. This is because police officers would understand that you dont want to mess your hairdo. They go to church too. Same rule when you're invited to wedding receptions, because police officers got invited too.
Tondano lake, people, and of course food. I would love so much to go back.

Talk the Talk Walk the Dog

I talk to my dogs and i tell them this often: "I'll walk you more."
My first boy Kay von Elingprigel, is an 11 year old massive, big-headed, giant-eared, round eyed, jumping-around-thinks-he's-a-small-puppy, super spoiled german shepherd. He can do whatever he wants freely in our front yard. When i go to work or when i got home that's what tell him. Last week i found out that he couldnt walk, barely could stand (but still enthusiastically eating fast and alot, halleluyah). We took him to the vet and after one week he is now able to stand and walk to me whenever he sees me.Took him for a morning walk and he loved it. Sad to see that he gets tired so fast now. But i will try my best to keep him being a happy puppy.

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

Life is Bitter but Bitter is GOOD!


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.

Spicy Papaya flowers

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.

  • Boil papaya flowers and leaves in salt water (around 1tbs), wait until is half-cooked, leave for about 15 minutes, then wash-drain. or drain-wash-drain.
  • Saute garlic, shallots, chilis with cooking oil until it makes you cry, then add ginger, bay leaves, and lemon grass
  • Add Papaya flowers, papaya leaves, basil leaves. Then add salt, pepper and sugar, stir until it's well cooked.
  • Eat best with rice

Stir-fried Bitter Gourd

Same recipe except the chilis are thicked-slice (i'm not sure why), and replace papaya flowers/leaves with sliced bitter gourd-200 gr
And for this you can add minced chicken or peeled shrimps.


These photos arent the nicest, i took it while i was busy chewing, and the folks were so hungrily impatient and ruin all the good aspects of good foodography. Or was i just too lazy to make a good presentation. Excuses.. excuses..

12.1.12

Herbs and Spices


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.






10.1.12

Grow - Queen of The Night


Rare and beautiful. Though i'm not sure what's the english/latin name or even its kind. I will do more research and update this post later. For now i will share the pics when it was beautifully blooming only for one night.
And next time i will take better pictures of it.

8.1.12

Childhood


This weekend i'm returning to my childhood time favorite anime, Born to Cook (Mister Ajikko) by Daisuke Terasawa. There was no better waking-up-early-on-sunday motivation ever than this series. I love watching all exaggerating dramatic descriptions about food and cooking.
I was so thrilled when i found all the episodes here. Enjoy!

7.1.12

Learn - Nudibranch

HELLO!

Do you believe that aliens are exist? From wildest imaginations humans have created about aliens in comics and tv, there are thousands of wicked shaped real creatures living underwater.
Top of my faves list would be nudibranch [nude-a-brank].

6.1.12

Skull me.


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 :

reminds me of THIS :


and THIS pic of me :

reminds me of THIS:


Safe riding and driving you all :)
Copyright © 2014 Natanoja