Day 31 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful for having attended La Fete de la Musique held by Alliance Française."

Vincent was not going because there were only girls from his office going to this event. But I'm going anyway because I promised Audrey I would.

But apparently Antida was so far away from Kerobokan! Took me about an hour to get there. Anyway it was nice. It seemed like a reunion for me. I met my classmates, Vincent's workmates, the wives of Vincent's workmates and my funny teacher Monsieur Putu. The music, however, was not really for me. Most featured rock or heavy metal, which Balinese seemed to really, really love. I actually think the best performance was the contemporary style of Kecak Dance. It was super funny and entertaining, with most dancers clap on their bodies to make the sounds. There was hardly any instrument used but that body-clapping, though at the end there were some bamboos that were hit on the floor consistently that produced such beautiful sounds together with the body clapping and the tongue clapping. I wish I had the video camera with me. But here is the picture I took of them.
The coolest Kecak Dance I've ever seen
Later that night, children started to get tired from running everywhere. And this particular cute young lady was falling asleep on her brother's knee.
7:30 am
Day 30 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful for not going anywhere tonight."

It's been a busy week. A busy month, even. I go out more often than usual for lunches, dinners, alcoholic hangouts, girls gossiping moments, etc. So I decided to stay at home tonight.

I went to Gourmet Café in Seminyak Square and bought some veggies and meat for dinner tonight. I saw radishes and I remembered that Vincent said that he loved them, so I bought a pack. If your spouse tells you one specific vegetable that he likes when he doesn't normally like vegetables, remember it and buy it the soonest you've got the chance. :P

At home I prepared this Red Onion Confit with Grilled Pork Chops and Coriander and Radishes Salad. It was a hit! Vincent didn't leave any single thing on his plate. He disliked the coriander leaves, but he still had to eat them while I was there. :) I guess I'll have to post the recipe in my food blog that I haven't updated for a while. In the mean time, here's the photo of the dinner.
Grilled Pork Chop with Red Onion Confit and Coriander and Radish Salad
8:17 am
Day 29 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful for the nice dinner in Ubud."

Yes, that's rather far to have merely dinner. But it was still a good change from the usual dinner at home or dinner around Seminyak area.

Vincent and I left home at about 6 and we met with his other friends and got in the same car to Ubud. Of course they had to stop at Circle K and buy chips and beers; beers to be drunk along the way. :P I don't understand why people like drinking beer in a car. Vincent doesn't understand why people like drinking beer at all. But they can do what they want. :)

We arrived in Ubud about 1.5 hours later, at Marie's house. She prepared the most delicious guacamole (or perhaps she bought it) and I couldn't stop eating it! Well, that's also because it was already 8 o'clock and I didn't have lunch today and dinner won't happen until about 9 or 9.30. One thing I can never get used to when being with a group of Frenchs.

Then we went to Café des Artistes in downtown Ubud, which is said to be great on their grilled dishes. Eleonore wasn't happy since she was a vegetarian. Well, not a strict one, since she still ordered this meaty dish despite a small list of vegetarian foods. :P
Vegetarian Eleonore and her meaty dish
Sandrine with her baked cheese broccoli.
Nice ambience at Café des Artistes
Afterwards we went for drinks and dance around Ubud, which apparently was hard to find. First we went to this new Boom Boom place, which was not really happening, either perhaps because it was weekdays or it was just not that hip. And then we moved to a more crowded place near Boom Boom, whose name I can't remember. But it has this cozy and warm feeling inside the bar. So cozy and warm that I actually fell asleep despite the loud music!

However, it was a nice night. Yes, I wish I were smarter to wear warmer clothes instead of knee-length skirt. The weather has been very, very cool lately in Kerobokan; and even more in Ubud. But in a wrap, it was still a very good night.
7:48 am
Day 28 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful that the ad print project is finally finalized and that all of us are happy with the results."

We went out last night to celebrate it and I had such a great time!!! So great I came home totally drunk and for the first time in such a long time, I did what drunk people do. Erghhh...

Anyway, here are the ad print designs that will go on Bali guide book, French version in August 2011.

Full page design

Half page design
9:28 am
Day 27 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful for finally opening an account with Tumblr and getting one step closer to being a real socialista."

OK, that doesn't make sense. Tumblr doesn't make anyone a socialista, but then everyone has it and everyone in Twitter posts some Tumblr link. So it must be something? I suppose it's like a blog like this one, but shorter. I'm just going to put my quote pictures there. Or daily pictures as a matter of fact. Perhaps it'll encourage me to take more pictures than now?

Anyway, here's the link. http://socialindividualist.tumblr.com/
7:50 am
Day 26 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful for a Sweet Girls Sunday Time."

Pam almost begged me to come to IALF Open Day, where she would participate in the Acehnese dance. She said that it would be at 3ish in the afternoon. I SMSed my sister and asked if she would join, and she said yes because she was curious to see how Pam danced.

Well I came a bit late... at 3.15 or something, and we missed the show. But then Pam performed earlier, too, so even if we came on time at 3 we would have still missed it. When we confronted Pam about it, she was happy we didn't see her performance. She said it was a total mess. Now we really wished we had seen it!

So, since the reason why we came wasn't there anymore, we were looking for some food stalls at the bazaar. But there was really.... hardly any food! How come a bazaar doesn't have food but roasted corns??? Most of the stalls sold clothes - and not very interesting ones, I must say - and fertilizers. :P Weird for an English course bazaar. So we went back just before the stage (the music was great) and I met with my old workmates and socialized for half an hour.
Ita in front of a wall with green palm prints.

From left to right: Some girl, Pam and Ita

This kid loves dangdut!
And the way she dances with the pole reminds me of a pro dancer.
So no food, not even coffee, we are leaving. I took my sister to the nearest Dunkin Donut near Simpang Enam, and had a great coffee rendezvous there. Pam joined us an hour later and conversations got even funnier.
Hot cappuccino and chocolate filling donut for me

I bought half a dozen donuts for Vincent who is waiting at home. :)
3:14 pm
Day 25 of 365 grateful days project:

"I'm grateful for a busy Saturday like this."

I know that most people want relaxing Saturday after working 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday. But I like a busy weekend, on Saturday and Sunday. This Saturday, however, I am not busy working on projects. I'm busy with my personal life.

Vincent and I almost always have a badminton exercise every Saturday afternoon. Just before we go, I normally make some weekend snacks so that we have a little bit of energy before wasting it out at the court. Like the lumpia below.
But then, when we arrive home from badminton, I'm always too tired to prepare anything. So we would call Mc Donald's or Burger King for dinner, which actually nulls the whole running and jumping exercise during badminton with its super greasy food. :P Anyhoo, we still enjoy being pumped up from it.



Not long after I arrive from badminton, I get a message from Audrey inviting me to go out with her to see her friend's concert in Kuta tonight. When I told Vincent about it, he said, "It's funny because Jerome just invited me to play pool tonight." Cool! So I'll be having a girls night and him boys night.

I'm getting ready for Audrey to come pick me up at 8. Now you know why I love my busy weekends!
2:50 pm
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