Dee with Sony NEX-5RD

Outdoor

Outdoor

Outdoor Building

Indoor

Indoor low light

Indoor Flash On

Dee, Pulang Kampung 2013

Ini adalah kisah seorang anak perantauan pulang ke peradabannya

Hp, Passport dan Powerbank adalah hal paling utama

Di Bandara SSQ-II memulai perjalanan panjang pulang kampung

Di setiap perhentian, menunggu perhentian selanjutnya

perhentian yang memberi harapan masih ada orang yang menuggu di sana

Terkadang, nasihat tak pernah kita hiraukan

Menyusuri jalan setapak demi mencapai tujuan

Lebatnya hutan tak membuat keinginan ini tertahan

Hingga tercapai laut yang memberi harapan

Hamparan laut yang memberi ketenangan

Kesederhanaan yang memberi harapan

Ku berlari kau terdiam

Aku pergi, kau menghilang

Kadang aku merasa penuh

Di sisi lain ku merasa hampa

Aku berlari menerjang arus

Melawan ombak yang menjadi aral

Ku ingin pergi, terbang menjauh

Terbang menggapai cita-citaku

Dee, Chinese New Year Eve 2013 Dinner

Shabu - Shabu

Big bowl of Meat Balls

Spring-roll

  

Sea cucumber, leeks, spleen fish, carrot, dan chicken

Shark fin soup

 

Brocolli, leeks, and chicken

Traditional fried chicken (red onieon & onion spice)

Pig flank, sea cucumber, shitake mushroom, onien with oyster sauce

home made sweet sour sauce for spring roll & chili sauce

vinegar and soy sauce with chili padi

Ready to CNY dinner

Start the party with Red Wine

All foods are cooked by my mom's. Chinese new year always remembering me that I still have a family who always wait for me at home. HOME SWEET HOME. Since I was young until now, we always have CNY dinner at home. Time to remember what had we donealong the year.

How to avoid broke in end of Month/Year

DO’S and DON’TS

-Pay yourself first. Include savings in your budget. Investing in National Bonds is a good start (it prevents you from buying things you don’t need, like more expensive cars or living in very expensive apartment).

-Think of it as rescuing the old man/woman (you in future) from the follies of the young man/woman, (you today).

-Saving between 10-20 per cent of your pay is a good guide.

-Have emergency funds – between two to three month’s salary — in a deposit account

-Diversify. Do not to put your ‘eggs in one basket’. Hierarchy of diversification:
a) Cash in the bank is secure and accessible;
b) owning a property, which generally increases in value;
c) combine other assets classes such as stocks and managed fund, as these offer good long-term growth  potential

-Take financial advice. This is important to get a wider view of the options available for you (insurance, mutual funds, stocks, or a mix of these)

-Live for today, but also plan for tomorrow. Life is about balance. Enjoy your time in workplace, but work on personal financial plan

-Balance your own interests against your family’s demands/needs. Due to cultural traditions among Asians, many send home a fair percentage of their salaries, which can sometimes be a drain and pressure on those people living here

-Don’t buy a new car on mortgage, especially if your existing one still works fine

WHY IS INSURANCE IMPORTANT?

• There many types of insurance, but basic protection should cover income (or loss of it), health, life and investments. Buy insurance that works for you

• Some insurance packages also offer investment-like features, allowing you to gain from market growth while protecting yourself and loved ones

WHAT IS CURRENCY HEDGING?

• Hedging is a way to guard against foreign exchange fluctuations. If you invest in a fund and the growth is good over a 12-month period but the currency moves against your base currency, then this growth could be wiped out.

• In Indonesia, where the majority of people are paid in rupiah(fixed against the US dollar), a practical approach is to use dollar as the currency to start your savings. Then you could switch to your base currency in the future when the currency exchange rate is to their advantage.

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SAVINGS

• Consider saving as a mandatory expense

• Open a savings account that’s harder to get to than your checking account

• Systematically (monthly) save to that isolated account on a regular basis

• Pair your raises with increase in savings

• Set milestones with rewards

• Write down expenses in three to six-month goals

• See where your money is going (A daily coffee may cost you only IDR 15K-40K, but if you add that up over a one-year period, this could set you off  IDR 2,000K)

Before buying electronics, jewellery or fashion items on impulse, wait 30 days (you might realize you don’t need those things at all. This could save you thousands by the end of the year)

WHAT IS SAVER’S REMORSE?

Saver’s remorse is non-existent. No one complains of having money in the bank. But if you buy a new phone/item during a promotion, you may regret it soon afterwards

Dee, Doha 40 derajat

Langkah kaki dengan yakin untuk memulai perjalananku kali ini. Demi kepentingan pekerjaan, suka tidak suka / mau tidak mau aku harus ke Doha *padahal sebenarnya pengen aja sih, dikirim lagi juga mau..

Pukul 5 pagi, setelah penerbangan kurang lebih 8 jam dari Jakarta, aku menginjakkan kaki di Doha. Masih pagi, cuaca masih bersahabat, dan tentu saja segera ke hotel, untuk beristirahat menghilangkan jetlag selama perjalanan.

Setelah beristirahat tiba saatnya untuk bergaul Sabtu ria di Doha. Siang dengan panas matahari menyengat 40 derajat dan silau memblesat tidak menyurutkan keinginanku untuk melihat Doha lebih dekat. Pilihanku jatuh ke downtown, City Center Mall, Al Corniche Area.

Setelah keliling mall dan berbelanja sedikit persediaan snack untuk di hotel, akhirnya memutuskan untuk menikmati Doha di sore hari, tapi niat itu diurungkan dengan kondisi cuaca yang 40 derajat, ambil taxi, pulang ke hotel, nyalain AC, dan ngroooooks,...

(to be continued)

How Much?

How much you should pay for this things? 

How much you paid for your lunch? 

How much you paid for your rent? 

This how much question, usually ask by someone to us, and usually we will answer without feeling guilty.

But, the next how much question, will make you feel uncomfortable to answer it.

"How much you get paid by your company per month?"

The most common question, if you meet your friends, your family, your relatives and who are usually asking this question, yes it is a habit for somebody who live in the earth, they will ask you after asking where are you working.

For me, it is very difficult to answer, instead of my parents don't know how much my company pay for me. They noticed that I never ask money for them, it means I have a good pay from my company. And they never asking to give some part of my salary to them ;)

The confidential things, become a habit from somebody who usually want to know. Yes, they like to know anything especially for salary you gain! I don't know what the advantage of them to know the answer. Dude, you will not get anything if you know my salary.. Please.. Don't need to ask...

In our company, everyone also want to know how their colleagues deal with the company. Oh man... Everybody like to be kaypooooh.. Especially, for the new join employee, with "special hire" tag, they will be the gossip artist of the month in the pantry :))

I am not interested with "how much" question, I am more interested with "how could" they get it. Some achievement should be rewarded. If they can get good deal, okay, I will get it also!

So dear readers, please stop asking me with "how much" question. As long as I don't debt you anything. Please please....