Archive for May, 2008
Where am I ?
The image says it all, doesn’t it. This past week, I have been in a hazed mood. I am moving to the Philippines next week (for a while, I think) and the panic attack is here. For the first time in weeks I actually started packing. It is hard to decide what to bring and what not to bring. So I lined up everything I think I need and just stare at them for the rest of the week, then decide.
What do you think? How do you decide what to bring when you are moving away?
Another lighter note, I logged into my admin site first time since Sunday, I noticed there were two searches on google for “andiesummerkiss” and one “andie macdowell” that arrived this week. Does it mean I am getting famous? On the first count, of course. Too bad for anyone who was looking for Miss Macdowell but ended up here. LOL.
I am also glad that David Cook won the American Idol. I love both Davids, but it would be much better for the young David to win.
I took an express photography lesson this week. Two month worth of sessions cramped into one week. That kinda explains the better shots I did on the Weekly Winner last week. Now I can safely say that I roughly know which button does what in my camera. LOL.
So I might not be able to update or drop into anybody’s site for a while, maybe till first week of June. Really sorry for that … I will try to catch up as soon as I can.
Color of Fruit - Weekly Winners
The most beautiful colors can be seen in simple things. Hop over to Sarcastic Mom’s for more shots of the week.
Lemon
Fuji Apple
Granny Smith
Lemon
Naval Orange
Pineapple
Vesak Day in Siantar
Vesak Day was on Tuesday, May 20. It celebrated the birth and the passing of Gautama Buddha, the ultimate leader of all Buddhists around the world. Followers are to be assemble in their temples for ceremonial singing of hymns and prayers. They brought offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks. All these items have their symbolic meanings very important.
This year, a very sad thing happened in Vihara Avalokitesvara, a temple at Pematang Siantar, three hour drive from Medan, one hour away from Lake Toba. It is a big complex with worship temples, school, and training center. The temple has the biggest Avalokitesvara Boddhisatv statue recorded in the Indonesian version of Book of Record as the biggest in the whole country, totalling 22,8 meter in height.
The main temple held a big ceremonial event to prepare for the big day on Sunday, 11th May. The followers and helpers from out of town decided to stay that night in the temple to avoid late night travel back to their cities. Everybody was tired so they slept through the night, not knowing fire was starting to creep through the second floor of the big temple. When they finally found out, it was too late. The fire killed seven people in total, most of them elderly, who couldn’t jump off the third floor where they slept. Other casualties were those who hurt themselves by jumping off the building to the yard and burnt injuries. Read more here.
We went to the funeral and visited the temple. The fire ruined the whole second and third floor. Amazingly, the rest of the building was left untouched. It was one of the saddest thing I have ever seen. It is the most beautiful worship place in the whole North Sumatra. The beautiful pond with hundreds of big koi fish is now empty.
I took some pictures to keep in mind that miracles happen all the time. No matter what our beliefs are, great things do happen even when devastating events preceded it. Just need to keep that faith going strong.
Weekly Winners - Market at Brastagi
Today we went to a small tourist town up the mountain at Karo Highland called Brastagi. It is about 90 minutes away from Medan. The area is the main producer of fruits, vegetables and flowers for the rest of the province. The weather is cool and the culture is very different. This city is where us, city dwellers, go when we go to the “country” for weekends.
Asisi Catholic Church for Karo Christians
Happy Mother’s Day
H A P P Y M O T H E R’S D A Y
T O
M O M M Y B L O G G E R S !
Story of a Dog
This is my dog. His name is Mushu. He is the worst dog in the world, according to my husband. But then, there is no bad dogs. Just bad dog owners.
He was so cute when he was young. I got him when he was 3 months old. Like a cuddly puppy soft toy. Now he is very big. Whenever he gets lose, we can hear people screaming and running, jumping out of street stalls and all from the end of the street. That is how scary he is now. Oh yeah, he is a gigantic golden retriever who eats as much as his body mass.
Bloggers’ Help Needed
I am having some major “blonde” moment now. I am trying to do some technical stuff to the blog. I had been up for a couple of days, trying to take in all the help sites, forums, etc. I just can’t let it go before I know how to do the things I want to do. It is a nightmare! (I am sorry if I have not been visiting and dropping comments on your blogs)
So, now the white flag has been raised. Help! Anybody who can give any input at all to these questions, please post something.
For Mac users :
- Do you use any desktop blog editors? If you do, which one do you recommend?
- How to change font sizes in post editor?
- Can anybody still resize their images in the post editor? I used to be able to, not anymore and I can’t quite figure out what happened there
- I need to do some tweaking with the CSS style sheet, but it doesn’t seem to let me do that. I did change the “change permission file” at wp-includes from cpanel to the code 666, but then I still can’t change anything at the theme editor. Does anybody know how to edit the theme editor? Or only super heroes are allowed to do that? ( I did try ftp, but somehow it wouldn’t want to show me the “hidden files”)
- While I am messing with the site, I would not want people to be able to access it until I am thoroughly done, is there a way to do that? Can I do a “scheduled-upload” like the way we do “scheduled-post”?
iHeart Monday
Weekly Winners - Urban Shots
It’s another Weekly Winners hosted by Lotus Caroll. I have taken shots of nature and flowers and everything beautiful .. well, mostly. This week, I am going to show the “real” side of the city where I live in right now. The market, the people, the rides …
Old Lady in Market
Becak Mesin - Motor Tricycle
Sun & Rainbow
I received this photo this morning from D, forwarded to him by his colleagues. They said that yesterday, the sun was spotted to be having a grey-ish ring around it and on the outer rim, appeared to be rainbow!
I think it is simply amazing. Another beautiful phenomena by the creator for us to ponder upon ..
They said it was spotted around the world. I must be quite self-involved yesterday that I missed it totally! 
I did try to google the sighting to find more information, but couldn’t find any. This is all I have on the phenomena. Just thought of sharing.
Have a great weekend to all!
Pangea Day
It is going to be the most happening day in the film industry. Pangea means “entire earth” from ancient Greek. On May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro will be connected for a live program of films, music and world-class speakers such as Queen Noor of Jordan, Christiane Amanpour of CNN, Bob Geldof and the likes. The program is going to be broad-casted all around the world through internet, television and mobile phones.
In the world of globalization, it is clear that citizens of the world have never been so divided but yet so connected. Borders, difference, conflicts - the Pangea Day aims to help us to see what we all have in common through the power of film.
The true goal will not be achieved through mega shows in one night. The tough part will be after the event. It is hoped that people who are touched by it will take in action through community building activities.
The whole idea of Pangea Day is very interesting, however, from a critic’s point of view, it’s just fancy parties with humanitarian agenda. But it’s a great idea, really. Imagine the money that can be raised from the mega events like this one. And then, imagine what the money can do and how many people’s live can be improved if it is put in good use.
Click on this link to read more on the event and how to participate
Labor Day
Labour day is celebrated today, all over the world. It celebrates the economic and social achievement of workers and labour union movement. The annual holiday is originated from the eight-hour-day movement which endorses eight hours of work, eight hours of recreation, and eight hours for rest. What a perfect allocation of 24-hour a day time. Unfortunately, from the day of the Stonemasons and building workers’ march in Melbourne at 1856 to fight for eight hour a day work, till today, still not many workers can enjoy the privilege.
Some other readings mentioned Haymarket affair, which took place at 4th May 1886 in Chicago, to be the inspiration on the May Day / International Labour Day.
Read the rest of this entry »
