Maybe some of you still remember my story when I failed to see Roxette in Rotterdam. It seemed it ended in a very good way (I got a chance to meet Roxette backstage) in Cologne, Germany.

However, no one really know what happened after that.

Life seemed perfect. I will always remember Germany as the sacred place where I finally achieved my long time dream (for almost 20 years!) to finally meet Roxette. However, it seemed fate, destiny or whatever you wanna call it decided to add a little more into that unforgettable moment. Perhaps so I could always remember and appreciate on how WORTH that experience really was? I don’t know.

After my meeting with Roxette in Cologne, I still had one last concert to go the next day. I enjoyed the show very much, although my mind mostly thought about the meeting the day before. Nothing could beat that experience. Part of me was sad because the experience was almost over, while I also couldn’t wait to go home to US, so I could upload the pictures and sharing (or showing off) with friends and everyone else. However, it seemed Germany still wanted me to stay just a little bit longer… Two more days actually.

Then I saw the last concert in Dortmund. Pretty emotional to see Marie and Per waved to the audiences and said goodbye. After that, I took a train back to Düsseldorf. It was so cold and freezing. I felt more than exhausted. Two days earlier I REFUSED to feel it and somehow I managed to fight it. Those times I couldn’t afford to feel tired since I still had concert to go (meaning I still need my strength to walk around Cologne/ Dortmund on heavy snow for many hours), but this time I gave in and felt it was okay to be tired and sleepy.

I arrived in Düsseldorf maybe after midnight (I wasn’t sure). There were no more bus, and I still had to wait for a taxi to take me to my hotel while the heavy snow still falling. The taxi came and I arrived safely at my hotel. I realized that I gave TOO MUCH tip to taxi driver. However, I decided not to think about it because tomorrow I would be on a plane back to US. I planned to wake up around 5 am because my flight took off at 9:30 am

I woke up few hours later. While lying in bed, I looked outside the window then wondering why it was all bright outside, then I checked my cellphone. It was 9:15 am! I was shocked! I FORGOT to set up the alarm, I forgot to let the front desk know so they could wake me up. I suddenly realized that I woke up so late and now I could be trapped in Germany with NO money! I only had maybe $ 100 left at my bank account meaning I couldn’t afford to buy a new ticket and I got nowhere to go.

I grab my suitcase in panic. I didn’t even change clothes (I still wore my pajama), no time to put on some socks and I already lost one my gloves during my meeting with Marie and Per. I went to the front desk. I still hoped that I could make it to the airport in 15 minutes. I hoped somehow the plane got delayed.

Damn, there were people also checking out, finally it was my turn. I asked the hotel staff to call a cab for me. He said that there were people asked a cab also, but it didn’t show up yet. Now, I was more than panic. He said the family also needed to go to the airport and maybe they were willing to share the cab with me. I went outside and begging them to let me share the taxi. They didn’t mind. The husband actually tried to cheer me up. He said that everything will be okay and the plane might get delayed because of the horrible weather. I wished he was right. I hoped I didn’t use all my luck for my meeting with Roxette. The damn cab still didn’t arrive so I decided to take a bus instead. Of course by this time, if the plane on time, I already officially missed it

I arrived at the airport and went to Lufthansa desk. Yes, I was right. I missed the plane. I was so sad and confused. Didn’t know what to do, then some airport security advised me to try to get a flight to Frankfurt. She said I still have time to catch my connecting flight to US at 12 pm there (I supposed to take a flight from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt, then Frankfurt to New York), but I needed to buy new ticket from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt. I didn’t even know if I could afford that with my $ 100, but I went on a line anyway.

There was a very LONG line. I decided to ask if I could cut the line, but they all seemed mind. They all also missed their connecting flight. The different were, I FELL asleep while them just simply because of the bad weather which wasn’t their fault at all. So, here I was, being on the line in my pajama.

I checked the clock, now it’s 11:30 am, so I have missed another flight from Frankfurt to New York. It seemed I was gonna trap in Germany for I didn’t know how long.

I was on the line for economy class, then I saw only few people on business class line. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go to that lane because I just needed to talk with someone from Lufthansa about my situation. So, I moved to that line instead.

Then it was my turn. I told the woman what happened. She checked on the computer and said there were no flight to US until two days later. I said I didn’t mind as long I COULD go home, then I remember I have ‘little’ problem. I got no money to pay for the ticket. She said, I didn’t have to pay. I WAS shocked, then she told me that she was gonna give me ticket for Business Class. Now, I was more than shocked. I couldn’t stop thanking her. I got my ticket and started to walk away. She called me back.

She said: “don’t go that fast”. She asked me where I would stay. I said I didn’t mind staying at the airport, I was already SO happy that I could go back home. She told me not to be silly, then she wrote something that turns out was a voucher to stay two nights at Maritim hotel. Again, I thanked her, then left. She called me again and now she started to laugh. She said that she wasn’t finished, then she gave me something. It was a food voucher for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Maritim Hotel for two days! I still couldn’t believe what happened. She just saved my life!

Now, I decided to call my husband and told them what happened. He was shocked that I’ve met Roxette, then even shocker for what happened to me after that. Of course, we both relieved that seemed I was gonna be just fine.

So, I went to my hotel. Hey, it even so much better than my previous one. It has flat screen TV, comfier bed and closer to the airport where you could just walk.

Hours later while relaxing at my much nicer room, I realized something. My visa expired TODAY while I still had to stay two more days in Germany. At first, I thought I’d just let the immigration know what really happened and I am sure they would let me entered the plane, still I was so worried. So, I went at the hotel lobby, then talked with some stewardess who happened to stay at the same hotel. They all said that I COULD be in BIG trouble with expired visa, I might have to pay LOTS of fine! They suggested me that I went back to the airport and talked with the airport police.

Arrgghhh…. another trouble again. So I went there and the police said that I DID need to go to immigration office in downtown Düsseldorf. Since it was already evening now and they were closed, he suggested me that I went there next morning. He wrote the address and gave me the direction and how to get there. I called my husband again. He said he would transfer me some money just in case I needed to pay a lot for having my visa extended.

The next morning, I went downtown. I met a guy at the office, who didn’t speak English at all. I told him (In English) that I needed to get my visa extended. He answered me in German, and I had no idea what he was saying, then he gave me a letter, in German. I went to airport so they could tell me if I got the right one. They said: that’s it. I’m relieved and finally I could finally relax at my hotel

This time I didn’t forget to alert the front desk to wake me up the next morning. I set the alarm on my cellphone, the phone at my room also had its own alarm, even the television. So, the next morning imagined how shocked I was when they all started to ring at the same time, but the good news was I woke up ON TIME.

I went to the airport, showed my visa and the letter to immigration and I entered the waiting room with feeling so extremely relieved, then it was time to board, when I showed my ticket, the Luthansa crew said,”Miss Bishop, we would like to invite you to fly on the first-class.” I CAN’T believe what I heard, FIRST- CLASS? I NEVER BEEN ON ONE!

Of course I said yes!

So, there I was at the first-class. I had my own seat that can turn into bed so I could stretch my legs. I had my own table with roses (I usually didn’t care with ‘little thing’ like this), better movie choices and better food! This was the first time ever in my life that I actually didn’t want to get off a plane. It was too comfortable, it was like you went to a spa. The stewardess kept offering me food! First she offered me fruits, caviar then cakes (she asked which kind I prefer the most, I couldn’t pick so she gave me them all). She asked what kind of wine I wanted to have, again I couldn’t decide, so she brought me MANY samples, then I finally chose something. She said it was an African wine.

Then the main course. I was so hungry because I didn’t really eat while I was in Germany. I chose something with duck. It came in a BIG plate that I felt really bad when I couldn’t finish it. Also, I was so full with all the snacks. Probably an hour before the plane landed, she came back with a HUGE bag of present! She said it’s a Chritsmas present. I checked in the bag and I got perfume, lip gloss, sandal, shirt, chocolate, sleep mask, etc.

This trip ended up with another happy ending (except the fact that I had to go back to work at 9 am the next day after arriving home at 3 am). So, yes now I am a BIG fan of Lufthansa.

Roxette and me.

I haven’t updated my site in a long time and also haven’t visited anyone’s blog/sites in a long time. This last few months has been very busy for me. It was also a very stressful time with me, although it ended VERY great.

It started with the most terrible times in my whole life but ended in most fantastic times that I myself has never dare to imagine. Now I am confident to say that 2009 maybe the best year of my life.

The are so many reason why it’s the best. This year, I finally achieve not ONLY one but MANY things that I’ve always dreamed or thought before, the dream that seemed impossible and still to this day, I can’t believe that it’s actually happen. The dream is ‘Meeting Roxette’.

I didn’t realize how much this event meant to me, because I thought I’m no longer a a “Roxette fanatic”, I STILL like them but I thought the effects like I used to feel when I was teenager probably has faded away with time. I was like a newborn Roxette fan again. Then I realize that I am actually still a Roxette fanatic, but past event (like terrible thing that happen to Marie) made me want to focus on something else, thing that ‘less selfish’ than to see them on a stage.

If you curious, I am gonna share my story which I actually wrote and got published at RoxetteBlog.Com

WARNING: It’s quite long

BEING a Roxette fan was always a challenge for me. Everytime I always wanted to get something Roxette-related, I had to try extra harder (maybe harder than anyone else) to get what I wanted. Most of the time it would be so stressful, but for some reason it was always ended great and by the end of the day it became a good story to tell.

I remember on 1993, I was only 14 years old and still living in a very small town of Indonesia (now I’m living in US). At that time, my TV only had one channel, no cable at all.

I have a cousin who liked to buy a tabloid which included a TV guide/schedules for the whole week. I remember it was Tuesday night, and for fun I would pretend that my TV had all the chanells like in that TV guide, and I’d marked the shows that I pretend I was going to watch the next day.

Then I read about the show called “About Roxette”. I panicked and shocked because ever since I become a huge fan, never in my life I watched a whole hour show about them. Now some channel is gonna broadcast them but my TV didn’t even get that? What am I gonna do?
No one I knew had cable.

So, all night I prayed (I really did), that if I couldn’t watch the show, I hope that when I woke up tomorrow that the show will disappear magically from that tabloid (I know it sounded selfish).

I couldn’t really sleep of course, and around 5 am I woke up and checked the listing. It was still there, and now it was only few hours away.

To my surprise, I heard someone knocked on our door and my mom went to open it. I stayed in my room, but I could hear that it was my aunt. It was strange for her to visit my mom in that hour.

Then I overheard her saying the most magical word ever. She said: ”We just installed cable yesterday.”

I jumped off bed instantly and went outside to make sure I didn’t misheard. She was telling the truth, she had cable now and meaning I COULD see Roxette!

So, even though the show wouldn’t be on until 3 pm, I already sat in front of the TV at her house since 8 am. Hours later, I finally was able to see Marie and Per for the whole hour (well, 30 minutes actually, because there were commercial breaks) for the first time in my life.

No Indonesian subtitles, just English and at that time I only understood maybe 5 percent of what they were talking about, but I didn’t care. I just want to see them. Ah, those were the days…

That’s just the beginning…

Years later, I was still a Roxette fan and my dream was to see them live on stage. However, things changed when Marie got ill. All of a sudden, I put aside that dream and all I want was to see her healthy and happy agaon, even if it meant that I’d never see Roxette live ever again.

I actually manage to make myself not really thinking about them anymore. Thank god for my very busy job and school. For the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t Roxette number one fan anymore, I like to think that maybe now I was only Roxette number 37 or 38 fan.

Years ago, I wanted to be the first person who owned their latest album, but this time I even waited 3 years before I got Rox Box.

But then there she was ON STAGE again with Per in Amsterdam. Suddenly things changed again. Now I was probably Roxette number 10 fan. I felt like 15 again. I admit I cried when I saw them (through YouTube) on stage again and I remembered the dream I used to have of seeing them live again.

I realized that it never goes away, at that time I just wanted to be a good fan, especially for Marie. I stay away because I want the best for her, but now I think it’s no longer selfish to have a Roxette dream again.

Then I heard the news that they would be performing on Night of the Proms. I was trembling and feeling so nervous when I realized that I might be able to see them. I actually had enough money on my bank to see them.

I had been saving money for travelling to a place that I hadn’t decided and now I COULD use that money.

I decided to go to see them in the Netherlands. And since this was my first time travelling outside the US, and even though I am US permanent resident but still am an Indonesian citizen, I decided to call the Indonesian consulate and addressed my question to them.

I asked them if I needed a visa to go to Netherland, and they said no. That’s how I made my first mistake ever. I didn’t double check with the Dutch Consulate. I BELIEVED them right away. So, then I bought the round trip ticket to Amsterdam, bought one NOTP ticket for Rotterdam show, booked 4 nights room for a hostel, learnt how the train system works (printing the schedules, etc), even made a trip plan to see Roxette’s foot prints in Rotterdam.

I also bought a new suitcase, camera, winter clothes, some travelling kits and books to read at the airplane. I even announced that to everyone I knew in Facebook, Twitter, and whatever/whenever I could about this most exiting moment I am about to experience. I also took almost a week off work.

Then a week before my trip, I bought another NOTP ticket. I was so happy to know that I was going to be in TWO concerts. Life seemed GREAT.

Then on the 16th, I said goodbye to all my Facebook friends, hopefully to meet some of them at the concert. I went to the airport with happiness and joy. The only thing that worried me if I could straight my legs on the airplane.

However the day I arrived at the airport made turns me from the happiest gal at to the saddest and the most tragic person at San Diego Lindberg Airport.

They said I couldn’t go because I didn’t have the visa. I was so shocked. I thought everything was perfect, I thought in few days I’d finally be able to see Marie and Per. Never in my life I’d changed from the happiest person to the saddest THIS fast.

I felt sad before for not being able to see Roxette when they toured Indonesia (1995), but at that time I knew from the very beginning I wouldn’t be able to see them, so I was sad, but was more prepared. This was different, I was SO fuckin’ sure I was gonna see them.

I learned that to get the visa I’d need at least three weeks, meaning even when I get it, it was already too late. My dream was crashed.

I went home crying. I decided I wanted to take a break from anything, especially from Roxette. It was too painful. I took off the calendar because I didn’t want to see the dates to remind me that I was supposed to be in Rotterdam.

I asked my husband to message my Rox friends about what happened, because I thought it would be strange to just disappear like that.
He also contacted the airplane ticket and they said the ticket wasn’t refundable, but I could still use the credit for my next flight. However, they would still take $ 300 as penalty.

The hostel charge me one night out of four (that was fair). The NOTP ticket wasn’t refundable unfortunately. I wanted to give it away to other fans, but too little time.

However, it turns out I couldn’t really take a break. I kept wondering if I could make it to Germany instead? Should I try by using the credit of my airplane ticket? I was too scared to fail and even losing more money.

Then, with the last energy I had, I decided to try to get a visa to Germany. There were lots of requirements, and again almost made me give up, but some part of me kept me wondering how if I’d succeed. I was worried that in the future I’d always be wondering what would happen if I had never even tried.

So, yes, I decided to give it another try. Again, I bought (using the credit and paid even more money) another roundtrip airplane ticket from USA to Germany.

Just in case, I bought a ticket for the last show in Dortmund. The ticket was more expensive than the one I had before and it wasn’t in front of the stage, like my seat in Rotterdam, but I didn’t care. This time I planned everything quietly. Maybe because I was just too afraid that it might fail again.

Then, we went to the German Consulate in Los Angeles. At that time it was only two weeks before the concert, and the woman at the consulate reminded me that it might took three weeks for me to get the visa. At that time, I just didn’t care. “Whatever,” I thought.

Later, they still said that my letter of reference from work didn’t look legitimate enough and I needed a new one. My itinerary wasn’t what they wanted either.

Usually, they want people to bring those documents in person, but this time they said I could just mail them in. Thank goodness. We already spent lots of money for gas from San Diego to LA back and forward.

… And the waiting game began. Couldn’t really sleep and eat. Gosh, waiting was REALLY a very hard thing to do!

Then three days before the 16th, I got a call from the consulate and they said that my visa was ready! I WAS so relieved and happy! We drove to Los Angeles again to get it. I still decided not to let anyone know about it at least until the concert was over.

Just to be sure, a day before my trip, we went to the airport and showed the document I had, and they said that was all I needed. “Just don’t be late,” the Airport people told me.

The 16th arrived and finally I was on a plane to Dusseldorf, Germany. I just couldn’t believe that my dream was about to become true! I arrived on the 17th and went to my hotel right away.

The next day, the 18th, I woke up and I realized that in a few hours Roxette was going to sing in Cologne but I only had one ticket to Dortmund. I knew that the show for that day probably was sold out, but what about the one for tomorrow? Should I go? Then I talked with my husband on the phone, I asked him to check my account and he said that I still had a little money.

So, I decided to take a train to Cologne right away and arrived around 1 pm. I asked if they still had a ticket for tomorrow’s show, then they checked their computer and told me that they did! I was so happy, but then I decided to ask IF they still had ticket for TONIGHT show, and they said yes.

I bought the ticket right away. They asked me if I wanted to buy another one for the next day, but I said I’ll think about it.

The problem now, that the show wouldn’t start until 8 pm, and here I was already at the location seven hours earlier. I didn’t have any friends in Cologne so I didn’t know where to go.

First I went to Greek restaurant and ate, I even talked with a waiter who was shocked when he learned the reason why I was there. However, I felt uncomfortable to sit down there hours and hours, so I decided to leave and wandered in a cold weather until the show started.

It was pretty hard, especially for someone who came from Indonesia (tropical country), then living in southern California to suddenly walking around during freezing winter time in Germany.

Finally it was almost the show time. I was so excited and touched at the same time. I couldn’t believe I’d see Roxette for the first time in my life.

Then I heard the most familiar familiar music followed by the familiar faces. I felt so amazed, I decided to stop taking pictures, I just wanted to pay attention to Marie and Per while they performed “Wish I Could Fly”. I felt like I was dreaming, like it didn’t actually happen.

When the song was over, and they both disappeared, that was when I actually realized that I JUST saw Roxette. I felt like I was about to cry, but then I thought if I cried right now, people would think that I was a fan of whomever in the stage right now. So, I forced myself not to.

Then, of course later, I was amazed again by how great Marie’s performance was, especially during “Listen To Your Heart”. Honestly, when I went to see them, I didn’t have any expectation at all. I felt like my job was to support them no matter what. They have blessed me with great music all these years, it was my turn to thank them by just showing up. So, I was totally blown away when Marie proved that she still had one of the most beautiful voices I’ve heard in my life. That woman was just so amazing and powerful. That was probably my absolute favorite performance of hers.

When I went back to my hotel that night, I kept thinking on how great the show was. So, I decided to try to get another ticket for tomorrow’s show. I went there again very early so I could still get the ticket, which I did. Once again, I had to walk around for hours waiting for the show to begin.

This time was even harder because there was heavy snow all over the place. I kept thinking how on earth I was gonna survive on this weather, I felt numb all over, my hands and face were frozen, but then it help me to not feeling as cold.

Maybe two hours before the show, I cought some familiar faces in the crowd waiting for the door to be opened. However, I was still not sure. So, I just followed them and waited until someone mentioned “Roxette”, then maybe I’d say hi. Then I saw Kirsten (A Roxette friend that I only know from internet), but again I was still not sure and I kept standing near them. No one said Roxette or Kirsten, so then I decided to say hi anyway. I mean, what worst thing could happen?

It turned out it was really her, and she was quite surprised that I actually MADE it to the concert. Then, something more amazing than I could imagine actually happened. She asked me if I wanted to join them to meet and greet Roxette. I, of course, said yes right away.

However, I learned to stay calm and prepared myself for not being disappointed if it doesn’t happen.

Hours later, at the backstage, the dream that I had for a long time started to come true right before my eyes when I saw Per and Marie entered the room.

It was so strange to see faces that I had ever only seen on TV or magazines actually appeared, for real. This time I kept taking lots and lots of pictures.

Then it was my turn to have my picture taken with Per. I had never met him before so I didn’t know what to do. I actually decided to avoid physical contact, so I just stood near him without even shake his hand. Then, he suddenly put his arm around my shoulder. I thought, hey, maybe it was okay to lay my head on his shoulder, then I got my picture taken (of course later I saw in our picture that Per didn’t smiling, I hope it wasn’t because of what I did).

Overall, Per was very warm and nice. He liked to talk to the fans all at once, which was great. Then, it was my turn to meet Marie. I was SO shocked when she grab my hand then kept holding it maybe for few minutes.

She was smiling and looking me right in the eyes, like she wanted to give all her attention to me. I never expected that. So, then I told her I’ve been a fan for 19 years since I was living in Indonesia and this is the first time I saw her in person. She was quite shocked, but she kept looking right into my eyes, then said, “hope this is okay with you.”

She still had her eyes on me while holding my hand so tight, seemed like she waited for me to say something. My 15 years old heart wanted to scream hysterically in front of her face, but my 30 year old brain told me to stay calm. At the end, the only words that I manage to say was “You’re so pretty.”

I knew it doesn’t sound smart at all and I wish I said something more meaningful. And guess what, she still looked at me right in the eyes. Maybe, I am crazy but it seemed like she could read inside my soul. That was too hard for me to handle so I turned away To this day, I kept thinking about that look. It’s still a mystery to me, but let me try to explain: In her eyes, there were kindness, child alike, innocent, mysterious, sweet, and curiosity or was it? Is that possible that some things that I felt like I saw on her was the reflection on my own feelings towards her? Like I actually witness my childhood past? There is something special with that woman. It turns out I wasn’t the only one who feel that, so I wasn’t crazy then.

At that time the whole meeting was still like a dream to me. I started to realize that it really did happen when I went back to my sit at the concert. Then that was when I started to become emotional and I felt like I really need to cry this time, in happiness, but Katona Twins were on a stage right now, and even though I enjoyed them alot, again I didn’t want people to think that I cried for them.

The third concert in Dortmund however was mixed emotions to me. I was sad because this was the last one but happy at the same time to see them on a stage. After the concert, I went back to my hotel very tired and only got few hours to sleep before leaving for USA. I kept thinking about my meeting with Roxette and couldn’t wait to share my experience with everyone.

Of course, nothing ever went easy for me. I actually overslept and missed my plane, and I wasn’t leave until two days later, but that’s another story.

For more of the pictures I took with Roxette, click here

For more just click here.

The architecture is amazing

The view are amazing… You can see this beautiful building from there

You can see Coronado Bridge from there

or The San Diego Harbour…

or maybe just some pretty flowers

You can even pack some lunch and eat here

or here

For more pictures just click here

I always wanted to visit the land of Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and all those Disney character as I was a HUGE fan since when I was little. And yes, I’ve been dreaming on going to Disneyland probably 20 years of my life. It started by reading the comics and seeing the parade on christmas day on TVRI (Indonesian television).

So, few days ago, we decided maybe it’s time to pay a visit. All seemed set.

Then the day before our trip, I was at outside my work place when suddenly something “strange” coming down from the sky. First I thought it was only rain because the weather was damn cold at the same time. No, it wasn’t rain. It’s actually ice in small pieces and there were lots of them. I could see people running to the store. Some of them opened their umbrella and I could heard the loud noise of those ice hitting the top of their umbrella. It also hit all the top of the cars on the parking lot.

It seemed I just experience my first hail!

So, I started to have second thought about our Disney trip. I knew that experience will be mostly outdoor, so was that wise to go during this weather? I didn’t want to be freeze or the worst part was getting another hail while taking their fun ride.

We finally decided that Disneyland trip maybe wasn’t a good thing to do right now. So, instead we decided to catch a snow!

I saw a snow before few months ago, but only few ice laying in the ground near Julian. That’s it. I was hoping we could see those even in bigger size.

Julian is our destination. Just like Disneyland, it also only take around 1-2 hours to go there. First, Adam called some business place there to ask if they have snow. They said they did.

So all set. We head off to Julian. The weather was actually getting warmer so we didn’t really have expectation that we were gonna see lots of snow.

When we entered the Highway 79, I started to see snow. It was more than I saw last time but not really in a big size. I didn’t mind though.

However, as we driving higher to the mountain, the more snow we saw. Then we finally saw this big field that, as you can see, covered with snow.

Then since it’s almost evening, we decided to continue the trip even higher in the mountain. This time the snow was getting more and more and deeper. However, the weather wasn’t as freeze as I thought it could be. I only wore one coat and no gloves at all.

I post more pictures of the trip here

My Oscar Prediction on Kompas

I thought they won’t publish it since someone already wrote it first. So, I didn’t even bother to check until I saw on my “traffic” website that someone visit this site from Kompas.

If you want to read it just click here. It’s in Indonesian, though.

Last weekend, we took another trip to Julian. This is probably the third or fourth time we’ve been there, although one of those times we’re just passing there on our way to Borrego Springs (we were headed actually to Salton Sea, but ended up there instead).

The trip this time wasn’t really planned. First we just went to had some breakfast at local coffee shop, Krakatoa. This is the first time we went there. The place is pretty small, but I like the atmosphere which reminds me of house in Tondano, although it’s much cleaner.

Anyway, after eating some bagels and drinking black Chinese tea (for me) and banana peanut butter smoothie for Adam, we get on our car and drive to Julian.

The weather was colder than usual. Now it felt more like a winter than summer. I’d like to say that summer has officially over that day because we also need to set our clock “one hour back” because of the Daily Saving Time kind of thing.

The trip was fun. The high way wasn’t that busy mainly because it’s weekend. We took a stop sometimes if we notice something interesting and wanted to take pictures. Well, there were so many beautiful view that needed to record with our camera, but unfortunately you can’t just stop whenever you want.

Here are some of the pictures :

Maj and Adam on Vista Point

I See A View From A Hill

Middle-Earth

On A Way To Julian

Saw the last episode of Criminal Intent with Chris Noth (Mike Logan) last night. I usually don’t mind to skip his episode (prefer the dynamic between Goren/Eames), but since this was gonna be his last before his second exit (his first when he was still part of the original Law and Order) so I decided to watch it.

I AM glad I did. It was amazing! I am not gonna try to review it or whatever because ONCE I did that then I will feel obligate to review TV show I watched then I’ll never catch up with other things.

I hope I am not betrayed Goren by saying that the episode with Logan was the best of this season even beats the ones with D’onofrio and Erbe. The script, the plot are perfect. Usually you can sort of guessing around or at least have prediction on who’s gonna be the suspect, this time they hide it VERY well you just have no clue at all.

The story about Wheeler (Logan’s partner) was amazing too and at first I just started to think how on earth they have a different story specially for her and worried that somehow it’ll connect in such a non realistic way. It DID connect but in making sense kind of way.

I’m glad they end Logan’s story that way. They don’t kill him off, they don’t really fired him or even put in jail. Basically not as dramatic as what they wrote for Jesse L Martin character in Law and Order.

Can’t wait to see Goren-Eames episode as well. From the teaser it seemed so dramatic. But that makes me worried that somehow the writer will try too hard and ended up ruining the episode. Let’s hope I am wrong.

Yesterday, while enjoying my day off, I heard the news about Festival of Sail right here on San Diego. What caught my attention was when they mentioned that they have the ship from Pirates of the Caribbean movies and Master of Commander. I thought that it’d probably great to write about it to Manado Post, so I took a bus right away and get some picture. I’ll post some maybe in a few days because very soon I need to take a bath and off to work (*)

Do you believe that spontaneous plan usually worked than the one you’ve been planning for very long time? I do sometimes.

It started by the email from Manado Post that said they’re gonna continue pay me as their correspondence. It should be a great news but to me it made me kind of feel guilty because sometimes I was too lazy to contribute but I knew that moment I better figure it out what kind of story that I should write very soon.

Well, why not go to West Covina and writing about the Indonesian food court? We’ve been planning to go there at least since last year, but something always comes up. Just in few second, Adam went to price line and start to bid the cheapest hotel we could find around there through Priceline.

We found that cost around $ 49 (after tax), it’s a two star hotel called Homestead Studio Suite Hotel at Monrovia.
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Adam then called the hotel and asked what time is check out time. A woman answered and said, “it’s 12 pm.”

The next day, after having delicious breakfast at Denny’s, we then were on our way. We arrived at the hotel probably around 12 pm. There was a woman in a lobby and we told her that we want to check in, but the woman said that it won’t be until 3 pm. Of course we’re not happy about this and we told her that the other woman last night told us it was 12 pm. She said that the other woman is probably just a “night laundry” person who didn’t know what she was talking about. So, now we would have to wait for hours!

I asked where the bathroom is and she said it’s located at the guest waiting room. I went there and was pretty shocked with how DIRTY it was. There were pieces cereal all over the dressing table, corn on the trash, seemed like someone tried to eat their breakfast in the toilet.

The TV screen in the guest room also looked so awful. Adam assumed that someone must put a magnet nearby that makes the people on the screen looked green just like aliens.

To our surprise, the woman called us and said there will be a room ready at 1 pm. When we finally went there, I was preparing for the worst but the room is actually nice although when we went inside I can still smell the cleaning product meaning they must had just done cleaning second ago.

The room has their own TV with cable, alarm clock radio, one table, one lazy chair (or whatever it calls), phone, closet, iron and it even had it’s own kitchen with a stove, microwave, fridge, coffee machine and some eating tools. But they don’t have pan, so how on earth you’ll use stove without it.

We learn that the room actually cost more than $ 110 and thanks to Priceline we can get it for SO much cheaper.

Then we went to West Covina so I could see the place that was gonna be in my story and of course so I could eat some Indonesian food.

There are four Indonesian restaurant there; Satay Fong, Simpang Asia, Raso Minong and Janti’s Noodle. I ordered some Nasi Kuning at Satay Fong while Adam ordered some Roti Bakar from Simpang Asia.

I noticed that most people there are talking Indonesian. Well, some talking in English but with a very thick Indonesian accent.

It was delicious as I expected. After that we took a look around Asian grocery store and by some snacks for later. Nothing really special there though it looked just like Ranch 99 store.

At the evening we went to Thai Classic for dinner. We order fried rice with pork satay. It was also delicious.

We were so impressed with the amazing view surrounded Arcadia and turned out that our hotel room isn’t that bad at all, so we decided to stay one more night.

Unfortunately, Priceline couldn’t get us the same room at the same hotel. The next morning, Adam tried again and we got another hotel called Extended Stay, that less than a mile from our previous hotel.

It’s been a long time I also have plan to write story about Indonesian church in California and turned out there was one at Monrovia called Gereja Kristen Indonesia.

We went there and I talked with their pastor. The people are pretty nice and even asked us to stay for lunch. I learned that they always have feast after service. I ate some yellow rice (yes, two days in the row). I exchange emails with the pastor and he said he’ll emailed me more information about the church. I was happy to know that now I have at least two stories to write for Manado Post.

We then went to a mall nearby to kill the time until it’s time to checking in at our new hotel.

When we arrived at the lobby, we noticed right away that this hotel is MUCH nicer than the other one. Even the employer seemed more professional.

Our room were definitely better. It was basically has everything the others had but they have TWO working desk, and two chair and their kitchen tools was more complete. They have frying pan and regular one.

For dinner we went to Chinese restaurant called Hop Li. I prefer to eat Thai food but it was so late and most of the restaurant already close, so Hop Li seemed my only hope.

I ordered some fried rice and drink some tea. The restaurant was nice and big, but the employer seemed always in a hurry (or was it because it’s around 12.30 am and they wanted to close right away and went home?). That’s why I decided not to ask some sugar for my tea, thankfully I got a chance to ask for spicy sauce, though.

While I was still eating, I notice one of the employer already prepared some container for my left over. I even surer that they DID just so cannot wait for me to stop eating.

Since my order seemed impossible to eat in just one visit, I decided to bring the rest home. On the moment we went outside, they closed the door right away. We were the last guests, by the way.

The next day is our time to went back to San Diego. I didn’t eat breakfast outside this time because I still have some leftover from the other night and microwave at our room to heat it up. Adam however went to Taco Bell.

On our way to San Diego, we decided to stop at the “rest place” where people like to take a break from long driving. I think the one we went it’s around Oceanside.

I was amazed with their rest room. We think that they have the most cleanest public rest room ever. It was not fancy or anything but it was just SO clean! We read the sign that most people who are working there are having disabilities.

Then we finally back at our apartment but can’t wait to take another trip very soon again (*)

On thanksgiving day, we went to Sweetwater Regional Park located at Bonita, California. It’s only 10 miles from downtown San Diego.

Unlike at Mission Trails Regional Park, we didn’t really do some hiking here since the part we went to isn’t really that big. So, it was only takes like 10 minutes and you’ve already seen all over the park.

The lake they have is beautiful. They put some chairs everywhere so anyone can just sit down and enjoy the beautiful view.

We plan to go back again very soon. In the meantime just enjoy the rest of the picture here(*)

Yes, I am still crazy with this show so it isn’t just temporary thing. I made new wallpaper which featuring Goren and Eames and you can download it here

We finally switch from Blockbuster to Netflix and so far I LOVE it very much. It allows us to watch free TV shows for few hours only and of course I chose to watch the very first season of Criminal Intent. The picture quality was amazing! Even though our computer isn’t that fancy, but I must say that I am very impressed because it’s like watching on HD!

I haven’t seen the new episode of Criminal Intent yet, hopefully soon I can. I just hope that both D’onofrio and Erbe will continue starred in this show, at least in few more years. I kinda regret for not really pay attention to this show before, but it’s better too late than never, right? (*)