Greatest Lesson

A friend has recommended this book for some time now, and after awhile I finally got to purchase the novel and read it. At first, I thought the novel was another book of love story, and to be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of novels as they are long and many of them are written in complex structures; Not that I have anything against novels, but unless it tells a story that is very intriguing to me, I would rather read a book of collection of short poems or stories.

Tuesdays with Morrie has positive reviews with people claiming the book has changed their lives, so I got curious and decided to join the hype. And after a few days, I got to finish the book, and I can see where the hype came from. It was an enjoyable read of a real life story, written in simple words and heartwarming life lessons. It clearly has the ability to change the readers' perspectives on life and so many other things, it gives readers different point of views of what's important. I like how the stories are told and written as it is, it doesn't feel as the writer tried to impress the readers with big words or any complexity while building story elements.

It was a good read and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers, or simply buy it as a gift for someone, it would be a heartwarming one. Tuesdays with Morrie lives up to its reputation.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Graduated

I have finally graduated from college with bachelor degree of art! I have actually finished the study since a couple of months ago when I passed the thesis final presentation, but the graduation ceremony was just held last week. The ceremony was quite long and was a bore, but I was sitting close by my friends, so we had a pretty good time during the long ceremony, even though we were half asleep due to the early morning starting schedule. We had our photos taken afterwards with each other, and also other friends who came to congratulate and give us flowers, we went back to celebrate with each of our family and some of them actually made friends and got acquainted. I am deeply thankful and grateful for all the people who have been around since day one and stuck around until the end of college; I thank you for the support, laugh, advice, and many more. To my family, closest friends, classmates, lecturers, seniors, and every one who have had roles during my college years, you have been crucial every step of the way!

As good as it feels to be free from any responsibility, I will miss the hours of struggling to complete a project and skipping sleeps after sleeps just to catch up with deadlines. I will miss the Skype video chats and hours of silence during the calls just to keep each other company while working on the projects. I will miss the freezing classes and backseats filled with juicy gossips and complains about life and classes. I will miss saying hi to other friends in hallways and I will also miss the snack counter selling the nicest treats in campus. I will miss the ramen counter and also the expensive lunch one, and I will miss the sofas where we lay down for hours working on other projects, eating, and sleeping while waiting for the next classes. Thank you to all my friends for the good times, and thank you to all my family for the support!

On Monday, 2 days after the graduation ceremony, I was hired and started working as a graphic designer at a lifestyle and retail company. They are quite well known among the young people in Jakarta, and I actually enjoy being a part of the brand development team, even though the commute takes quite a portion of my time and paycheck. The bosses are very welcoming since day one, and so are the people working there; Even though they are much older than I am, they always try to reach out and make me feel like I'm part of their team. So far, working at this new place has been pleasing, I am excited to experience new days and meet new people along the way!

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Holy Grail

Lately, I have been slightly obsessed with skincare and makeup products. I look them up on the websites and search for their reviews, and I would have the urge to always try new interesting ones when they have positive feedback. I bought them because I want to try them and have the effect and result promised by the product, but other times, I bought them because they are packed in lovely packaging and they caught my eyes. Compared to each other, I am much more interested and obsessed with skincare products to makeups. I personally think using skincare products is more important, because they can actually help skin to be repaired and maintain its prime; But it also depends on each product's ingredients, composition, quality, and of course, the compatibility with each skin type. 

I have been using some products that I love, they are basically my holy grail of skincare products. I don't usually use the high-end product brands though, as their combined price numbers are above my paycheck, but I would definitely try the good ones when I can afford one. In the meantime, I'll just steal some of my mum's SKII and buy the ones that I can actually afford; Their quality and results have been impeccable, and I'm obsessed, I will not stop using them in a long time. These products work well with my combination skin type, but keep in mind that every result may vary for every one.

PHILOSOPHY – Purity Made Simple (One-step Facial Cleanser). The absolute necessity after a long day with make-up coverage, it is the perfect smooth cleanser with amazing cleansing ability. It washes off make-up products within 30 to 60 seconds of face massage, it literally melts all the products off of my face. It is made from organic ingredients, and it works not only to cleanse, but also to hydrate and balance my skin.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

SON & PARK – Beauty Water. After rinsing off the excess of the facial cleanser, I would complement the cleansing process using Son & Park's beauty water. It is a toner to balance the skin as well as a cleanser for any remaining dirt on the face. It smells really nice and I love how it feels cool on my face. Turns out it also works as a light exfoliation with bark and papaya extract to peel off any dead skin, it also contains lavender water, rose water, and orange fruit extract for hydration and moisturization.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

ORGANIC SUPPLY CO. – Castor Oil. This oil is the absolute work of magic, I use it with the intention of making my eyelashes longer, and after only a few days of using it, my lashes grow longer much faster than I expected. Before using this product, my lashes barely existed, they were so thin and short, but now I can apply mascara easily on my upper and lower lashes thanks to this oil. After a continued research, I found out that castor oil is also applicable as skincare product, it is made from the extract of Ricinus Communis. It contains vitamin A, B, D, and especially rich of vitamin E, castor oil stimulates the production of collagen and elastin which wonderfully hydrates and softens skin. Castor oil is also known for its ability to fade dark spots and delay wrinkles or fine lines, as well as an alternative choice for lip balms.

Where I got mine: Organic Supply Co.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA – Murumuru Butter Bronzer. This one is actually a makeup product, but I absolutely adore it as it works wonder on my face. It is a light bronzer by Physicians Formula that gives me the perfect color to add definition to my face, I love the color and most definitely, the smell. It smells so good, I could sniff it all day to be honest, the bronzer is infused with the blend of Murumuru butter, Cupuacu butter, and Tucuma Butter, from the lush and nutrient-rich Amazon. It is perfectly soft and gives me the bright radiant Brazilian glow, as well as sealing moisture and lasting hydration.

Where I got mine: MIMO.

They are my absolute favorite and holy grail and work well with my combination skin type. But again, all these products may have different results on each person, so always check and look for more reviews and details on each product before purchasing one.

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Gloom

As much as I wanted to do more photography for personal project both digitally and manually, lately, I have found it very hard to find interesting objects and places to be explored. I don't usually find it hard to capture and gather photo collections for my blog or Instagram, but lately everything I see has been dull and unattractive. It's such a waste, since I got myself two toy-cameras some time ago, I have not finished any of my rolls even though I am very excited to have the films developed. 

I would really love to visit new places to hunt for some new photos, I really cannot wait to see the film rolls developed. I am also keen on starting to learn to cruise on a Penny board, and currently in the looking for a new 22" Penny. It's fun to imagine going on a cruise while hunting for photos, I might ask a friend to come along with me to do so. Apparently, I have lost interest in shooting minimalist, clean photos, instead, I have been editing photos in gloomy, grey-ish tone now; kind of how I've been feeling lately.

I have been feeling bored and dull with my current situation, and I have been wanting to learn new skills like learning German and to ride a Penny skateboard. Instead, all I have managed to learn is to apply basic makeup. I am surprised at myself for having an interest in makeup at all, my mother is very fond of this idea. It's fun and I enjoy layering myself with fine products, I love it best when I apply some natural-dewy look. Not only makeup, I have been growing fondness of skincare too, they feel good and improve skin quality, and they mostly come with beautiful packaging too. But let's get back to this topic some time later.

I haven't been to any new places and I barely left the house since a few months ago for some unknown reasons, but I have picked up a new hobby to train and try to gain weight. For about a month now, I have been training based on Nike+ Training Club exercises, it started as an effort to gain more weight since I have been said to be too skinny. But I have actually enjoyed myself training for about 3-4 times a week now, it feels good and I feel like some of my body parts have improved in definition.  

By the way, no, I have not got myself an employment, and I don't really feel bad about it somehow. I have more time to explore more (important/unimportant) interests, well at least up until the graduation day or the new year's. I have been called for a couple of interviews, but nothing have got me hooked so far; I have another one this Friday, I hope this one suits me well.

Photography by: Michelle Sal. / iPhone 5s

Friends of the Rain | Fall 16 Playlist

It's been raining a lot lately, the days have been chilly and the city has been gloomy. Sunny days have passed  now, but I love the current weather as much. I have not been able to snooze through the day though, portfolio revising has been keeping me away from being idle. I miss the days where I don't have anything to do and does not feel irresponsible for being lazy, with a laptop, favorite TV shows, and a sheet of blanket.

These day offs are not day offs. Now that I have finished my study, I feel the need to apply for vacancies soon; I feel a bit of guilt every time I'm not doing anything productive, my parents have been hoping for me to start working right away, that's why. I don't think I'm ready to give up the unemployed days just yet, but maybe it's just me being sluggish. In my imagination, being employed would mean giving up the fun days of being able to do anything and go anywhere, anytime. I have mixed feelings about being employed soon and actually growing up, but let's hope everything turns out well and I'm able to work things out, following my future plans regarding to career directions.

In the mean time, to complement the gloomy days ahead, I have made a playlist of songs that I have been in love with lately. It sounds a lot more arranged and better than the last playlist I had, but I'm still practicing and experimenting with various sounds and genres. These sounds are the company to rainy days and the splash of color in dark days. These songs are most definitely going to be on repeat months ahead.

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Photo Journal: Bali Pt. 3

Within less than a week spending time in Bali, I have admired every corner of the places I got to visit. I spent the entire visit exploring and visiting spots along the South-West part of the island. There were so many divine beaches and surf-spots, also comfy cafes and restaurants to hangout at. After spending much time by the sea, I occasionally visited those cafes which were recommended via social media. And they were absolutely recommended for reasons, as the cafes were all pieces of eye-candy and served fantastic tastes. I am absolutely certain that there are so many great places I have not yet to visit in Bali. And for the next trip, I have always been wanting to explore the East side of the island, as there are majestic waterfalls and hidden beaches. I sure hope a long holiday would come quicker.

Faculty Kitchen and Bar | Kerobokan Kelod, North Kuta, Badung

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 Finn's Beach Club | Pantai Berawa Road, Tibubeneng, North Kuta, Badung

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Bo$$man Burgers | Kayu Cendana Road, Seminyak, Badung

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Motel Mexicola | Kayu Jati Road, Seminyak, North Kuta, Badung

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Jamie's Italian | Banjar Pande Mas, Kuta, Badung

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Photograph by: Michelle Sal. / Nikon 1 J1

Photo Journal: Bali Pt.2 | Summer 16 Playlist

While sitting by the waves and having sands wrapped around my skin, I found myself having the best moment of sanctuary in quiet beach and suitable playlist. Nothing beats the sensations of sounds collaborated by the ocean and your favorite songs. During my visit to Bali, I visited a couple of divine beaches in different areas. Every morning, I rushed to the beaches to have the seaside all to myself and a few others; the quietness had always amazed me. Without the buzz from any other human beings, I enjoyed my time remarkably.

To celebrate summer and my recent trip to the breathtaking beaches of Bali, I made a photo journal and a curated playlist which had been the soundtrack of my summer. I cannot wait to fly back to the island.

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Dreamland Beach (New Kuta) | Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung, Kuta

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Blue Point Beach | Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung, Kuta

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Finn's Beach Club | Pantai Berawa Road, Tibubeneng, North Kuta, Badung, Kuta

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Photograph by: Michelle Sal. / Nikon 1 J1

Photo Journal: Bali Pt. 1

After awhile, I finally had another chance to escape town and re-visit Bali. I was all excited days before the departure date, and could not wait to land on the island during the flight. I had planned all four days of my visit, mostly beach-walking and cafe-hopping. All plans worked out during the trip, and to be able to pay visits to all these beautiful places, I finally understood why the feelings and addictions of Bali craved so much. I was not ready to come back home, no matter how sweet home could be. I wanted to stay longer and go to hidden places on the other sides of the island, but I had only limited time to spend. On the last night, I had missed Bali and was saddened by the fact that I had to return home the next day. 

I am finally home, and I have bittersweet feelings since leaving the island of Bali, I miss everything already. I miss getting up in the morning and get excited to start exploring; rushing to the beaches before noon to have the beach all to myself and a few other people only; getting washed by the waves and covered by the sands; laying down by the sea, getting heat on my skin; long walking from places to places and having easing conversations; admiring every corner of the island and feeling comfortable among the people. I am pretty sure I won't get over Bali anytime soon, I can't wait to go back and visit more places.

"The mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of a paradise. It's more than a place; it's a mood, and aspiration, a tropical state of mind." ― Lonely Planet.

Photograph by: Michelle Sal. / Nikon 1 J1

Conversations

I have always been fond of people who are able to talk, especially the ones who can never leave the conversations in silence. From silly nonsense to deepest confessions, this type of person will always have my ears and full attention. Constant conversations with someone special give you excitements and warm feelings, I love to be asked out to a cozy coffee house and talk just about anything about the two of us for hours. Getting to know our favorites things, insecurities, passions, and the types of people we are. I admire the type of person who knows what to say to comfort uneasy feelings, and knows what to do to lift gloomy moods. Unfortunately, all things never last; sometimes the conversations turn to silence, words turn to strange hushes, and warm feelings turn to cold strangers. It happens, and turns out, there's no need to feel guilty for what I am feeling. Things happen and nothing lasts.

I recently read a collection of short stories by Naela Ali whom shares common stories of young love, complemented with adorable watercolor illustrations by the author herself. Stories for Rainy Days shares the stories of falling in love, enjoying little affections, and falling out of love. Things happen between two people, and sometimes there is nothing can be done to change them back. I relate so much with the story of Conversations, where the sudden change of feeling happens and moving on is not the wrong thing to do. I have come to realization that I don't have to feel bad for changing feelings. Things happen, feelings change, and forever is a myth.

Stories for Rainy Days by Naela Ali

Photograph by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D

Photo Journal: Kawah Putih

Last year, I skipped class to visit Kawah Putih (White Crater) for the first time. The crater lake is a well-known tourist spot, located in a volcanic crater, 50 km south of Bandung, Indonesia. To get to the lake area, I needed to step out of the bus and switch into a minivan. I was driven through long curvy road in-between tall trees of green forests, it was a breezy and calming drive. Arriving at the main area, I walked down sets of stairs to get to the lake area. And as I walked closer to the lake, the scent of sulfur had become stronger with every step. Visitors were suggested to wear masks as the scent could be quite strong at some time. The scent of sulfur may not be enjoyable, but the sight of the lake was beyond amazing. It was majestic, almost hypnotizing. The quiet lake was soothing and the white smoke floating above the lake level added mystical charm to the scene. Surrounded by dry trees and branches, the crater lake was worth every mile.

Photograph by: Michelle Sal. / Canon 60D