Weekend usually means super unhealthy breakfast; filled with carbs, sodium, and almost everything your brain craves.
The word ‘Restoran’ is Indonesian/Malaysian’s adaptation from “restaurant”. The plaque ‘Food Trails’ from Kuala Lumpur Townhall hung proudly, as a proof the restaurant joined the local government’s effort of introducing the city’s historical and foodie side.
This restaurant provides Indonesian food, mostly from Sumatran side. So you are guaranteed to find rendang and tons of gulai (spicy stew, usually made from meat, chicken, gizzards, innards, and my favorite: tendons and tripes (I LIVE FOR THE DANGER)). Enjoy the dishes with warm jasmine steamed rice and have cold iced sweet tea to cool down the heat.
As for breakfast, we had lontong Medan. ‘Lontong’ is rice cakes, but this is different from Chinese and Japanese mochi (mochi is made from rice flour). ‘Lontong’ is made by putting rice into a hollowed container, usually from banana leaves, which gives its distinct greenish tinge. As a snack, folks sometimes put shredded chicken meat or savory veggies inside the lontong. As a whole meal, you can eat lontong with satay, or have it with Indonesian-style spicy veggie salad (gado-gado), or almost anything, really.
The beautiful monstrosity called Lontong Medan. Lontong with spicy gravy, filled with rendang sauce, crackers, jackfruit stew, hard-boiled egg, potato patties (we called it “perkedel”, from a Dutch word: “frikadel”), fried rice noodles (bee-hoon), and veggie stew.
And enjoy it together with kerupuk rambak/kulit, crackers made from cattle’s inner skin.
A once-a-week meal.
The outdoor display. Folks can take their own preferred dish and the restaurant staff will count itThe outdoor semi-kitchen for lontong medanThe outdoor kitchen for different dishes (fried rice and fried noodles)
Restaurant Rose
49a, Jalan Raja Alang, Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur 019-611 0457
In Automattic, we have creed — some kind of a promise, an oath, that we need to remember and love and live.
The one above is actually my favorite. When I applied for Automattic, there was this question, “what do you think about the first creed? ‘I will never stop learning’?”
I’m sure my answer at that time was 20% actually answering that question and proceeded spending the rest 80% with my favorite creed.
My second favorite is, “ask forgiveness, not permission” — which I believe I have abused so many times with, “huh, what does this button do? *CLICK*”
(Not exactly a creed, but it’s like some kind of company’s collective spirit)
And working as Support makes me appreciate that moment, the not-knowing-before-knowing. Sometimes folks told me, “this must be easy for you, you do this every day!” But before that “easy” part, there was me, almost cried my eyes out in front of my laptop with a mixture of frustrations, failure, and anger — and another round of, “lets try again” (it might sound quite masochist, but yeah…)
And in a weird sense, it feels like you are playing a puzzle. You tried once, twice, then you took a deep breath. A quick break. A glass of water.
And here I am, a ball of crying mess. Heart so full while watching Martin looked so very happy watching the covers and thanking folks who covering his song, and here I am, going, NO, MARTIN. NO. WE, THANK, YOU.
Last week, I scrolled my Instagram timeline when I saw Galeri Petronas’ (Petronas Gallery) post about their recent exhibition. The infamous Silk & Spice Road is one of the topics that I really really like; it’s really cool to see how trades and exploration gave birth to new cultures, culinary, religions, lifestyles, and technology advancements.
Last Friday was my day-off/flex day, so I decided to visit Galeri Petronas and see the exhibition.
The welcoming banner; the texts are in Malay language and English
A bit of disclaimer; I didn’t take tons of pictures. I feel like partly is because I suck in taking pictures ? Not too sure why, maybe because I’m too picky.
The exhibition displays the crafts and works from Malaysia, India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Myanmar. A bit of downside — which, really inavoidable — is the amount of display objects. Spice & Silk Road is a massive topic, and Galeri Petronas’ halls would need more area should they want to display more detailed exhibition.
On the first part of the exhibition, it was about betel nut and betel leaves culture. The culture of betel nut chewing in India spread through the maritime Silk & Spice Road to Southeast Asia. Even up to now in Indonesia, you can still see old folks — mostly women — chewing betel leaves. It is said that chewing betel leaves is beneficial for your teeth.
The habit of chewing betel nuts and leaves itself gave birth to craftsmanships on various woven bags, baskets, wooden containers, lacquered boxes, even brass and silver containers.
One thing that interests me is this one: A Dutch set of betel leaves container (Dutch tepak sirih (betel leaves container) set). “Sirih” (see-reeh) is betel leaves/leaf, and “tepak” is a container specifically for betel leaves and nuts, reserved for special ceremonies and weddings.
Dutch tepak sirih set
I couldn’t find better angle for the image above, I’m so sorry.
For me, the Dutch set is interesting because it’s using glasses and the design looks like heavily influenced from the Western world. Most tepak sirih in Asia countries are made from things provided abundantly around — fibres weave, brass, bronze, wood, and silver. Glass was super scarce at that time and maybe it entered Southeast Asia culture when the Europeans came ? Back then, it was super expensive, so I’m not so sure if glass tepak sirih was a common thing. I presumed it might be reserved for the ultra rich or royals.
This is quite fascinating, as I haven’t heard or read about Dutch folks chewing betel leaves during colonialization era in Indonesia. Maybe there were Dutch folks who did that, though. If anyone of you know about it, feel free to share!
After betel culture, the exhibition displayed lotus motifs — and this is equally beautiful. As it came from the Chinese culture, lotus motif became synonymous with purity, calmness, and spirituality from India to Southeast Asia.
Next is, personally, the highlight of the exhibition. THE must-watch must-see on this exhibition.
This is a really really impressive kalamkari. Kalamkari is a method of hand painting (“kalam” means pen or ink) using turmeric pen with natural dye. That kalamkari picture above depicted an ancient Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’. Ramayana is a story about good prevails over evil; a crown prince banished from the kingdom, a remorseful king, and about love’s loyalty.
There’s even a bronze jar with Ramayana character engraved on it.
Ramayana itself is acknowledged as part of Indonesia’s Hindu culture and you can watch Ramayana ballet (sendratari Ramayana) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I never watch one and I’m dying to watch it. I’m not super sure if the rules still apply or not, but it is said that the ballet only performed when it’s during the full moon. Last time I wanted to watch it, it wasn’t a full moon, so… ?
A beautiful batik with Javanese shadow puppet motifs in black and blue
I realized the batik is in Ramayana motifs as I noticed the deer character.
Aside from Ramayana epic, ancient Hindu also has Mahabharata (The Great War) epic — and I kind of lowkey wanted Mahabharata to be displayed too, but I guess it would take a venue five times bigger ?
Antique textile produced in Gujarat, India for the Indonesian market
I got pleasantly surprised when I see a display of Indonesian batik with Chinese and Japanese characters.
A bit of note about this exhibition, though; I really wish there are more information on the display object — there are some objects that I believe having certain stories or additional information on it, and we can actually dig more about it.
If you happen to be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in KLCC area, please do come to this exhibition in Galeri Petronas. The exhibition is held from October 31 to December 29. And have I told you the admission is free? ?
Galeri Petronas
341-43, Suria KLCC PETRONAS Twin Towers, Persiaran Petronas, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
03-2051 7770
I always thought that when people sending some kind of outer-space mission of sending messages to extraterrestrial life out there, it was a vain attempt to show “HERE I AM. LOOK AT ME.”
But this video changed my perspective, and I really really appreciate that. Voyager mission serves more than delivering messages to the space, it delivers messages to the humankind.
“We greet you, great ones.
Greetings, to our friends in the stars.
We step into the universe. With humility and hope.”
