My Article

Yeay! Finally my first travel article is posted....
I spend so many times writing this article. But it is worth it.
The first travel article is the Lion City, Singapore...
I went to Singapore with my family. Have a lot of memories, laugh, funny stories, and a bit lost. My family decided to do our own itinerary in Singapore, so we do it backpacking style, from early morning until late at night. Our itinerary is FULL. No time for rest. So I want to share this experience by writing it. 
I got the chance when Mun Yin hired me to write for the website TripTripping.
She really help me a lot for a newbie writer like me.

Check out the link:

Things to do in Singapore
Things to do in Bali
Things to do in Bandung

Woody Glasspecker

A lovely black bird in the morning....

Nine years ago, I have a little black bird that accompanies me every morning. I called the bird "Woody", because it reminds me of the character Woody the Woodpecker.

I always come early every morning to work. So I'm the first person to come to my office at the fourth floor. One day, there is a little knocking sound on the glass window of my office. I turn around left and right, but nobody was there. So I walk around to find the culprit and finally find the little black bird. I was a little bit surprised. The bird keep pecking at the glass. So I touch the glass using my forefinger and peck back. The bird stopped for a while, but then it pecked back again. I smile at the bird.

I think the bird just want to say "Hi". Or maybe the bird is practicing how to peck.Ha ha. I'm not Dr. Doolittle who can speaks to animal. So I don't know what the bird's mind. But every day since then, the bird is always peck at my office window. 

Sometimes I peck back, sometimes I just watch it pecking the glass. I'm afraid to open the window because then the bird will fly away.

Day by day I'm getting used to hear the bird's pecking voice. It is like it accompanies me every morning before I do my daily job. There is no one notice the bird except me, because the bird will only be pecking at almost the same time and leaving not long after that.

But one day, the bird didn't come. I wait for the bird for a long time. I really miss the bird. Until now I don't know what happen to the bird. I just hope the bird found a better life beside glasspecking at my office window. I hope the bird have a family. 

Yurina Sydney

The French Fries

Yummy French Fries.... 

The first French Fries I'd like to describe is from A&W. It has a soft and tender fries. There isn't any salty feeling in it. The only one interested from A&W fries is the curly fries. It tastes yummy and fulfilling. If you don't like salty foods, then I recommend this fries. Try the curly fries. It tasted much better then the regular fries. But the disadvantage of this fries is the price. The price is higher than any french fries.

The second one is from KFC. It has a really really tender fries. Also not too salty. The fries wins on quantity. But the taste is so standard. But you don't have to chew it so many times to go down your throat. I know all fries has to be eaten while it's still hot. But this fries really taste awful when it's cold. Even if you cooked it again, it still doesn't taste good.

 The fries is solid and really salty. If you don't like salty food then I don't recommend this fries. But overall, because I like solid and salty fries, this french fries is one of my favorite. Although it still didn't taste good when it's cold. McDonalds has a promotion package in my country. So I can have this french fries for only $0.5 dollar. It is crunchy and dried. 

Wendy have a natural sea salt cut french fries. It taste really good. It is a combination between A&W and McDonalds. Not too salty, but also not too dried. The taste is also good. 

This is my favorite french fries. It has a unique flavor that make me want to eat it again and again and again. I can't explain it. But it has the perfect combination of saltiness, dryness, and tenderness.
It also have a low price of $0.5 promotion in my country. 




Actually, there are a lot more french fries I have tasted, but that is the most famous french fries in my country. My description is based on my own experience, so everybody could have a different opinion. It depends on your own preference.
So my rank for french fries....
1. Burger King
2. McDonalds
3. Wendys
4. A&W
5. KFC


Yurina Sydney

Funny Stories involving a bookstore

I have two funny stories involving a bookstore.

The first one is on the way to the bookstore, and the other is inside the bookstore. I am a book addict. Every time I went to the shopping mall, the first thing I searched is the "bookstore". Don't care if the bookstore is on the east side of the shopping mall, and the car parked on the west side. I just have to get there. Once, I found myself in a shopping mall that I've never visited before. I saw the banner in front of the mall that there is indeed one giant bookstore in the mall. But then, I got lost. The mall is really big. And then I searched for a map. I know that the bookstore is on the highest level. So I went there, saw the map of that level. I confess that I don't have great skill on reading maps. All I see is a sign that "You are here", but then there is block number and description of every store. I search through the block number, find the bookstore block number, and then match it from where I am standing. My mind went boom. I have to go left, right, straight, etc. How hard can it be to find one bookstore on one level? Well, after almost fifteen minutes of tiring and frustrating attempt, I give up. I ask the security officer at that level. "Sir, can you pleaseee tell me where the bookstore is?" 
And then the most embarrassing thing happens to me. The security officer pointed about 20 meters to the left where the bookstore stand. Gosh, I really didn't realize that. I search that book store for a long time, and when the bookstore is in front of my eyes, I don't even realize it. 

The second story happens in the bookstore. On one occasion, I took my brother to the bookstore. Actually the one of the reason I took him is so I can buy as many books as I can and have him carry my books. Ha. OK. Here is a fact. Carrying five to ten books up and down the mall is exhausting. Give it about 0.5 kg per book. It is not exactly the same as shopping for clothes. Clothes are more lighter. You can carry it for hours without having a cramp on your hand. 
OK. I will continue my story. So there I was in the bookstore. The fiction section. I feel my brother behind me. I am so hooked on the books that I forgot about my brother for a while. Then about ten or fifteen minutes later, I am done. I instantly grab the hand behind me and said, "Let's go to another section". The hand I grabbed didn't move a muscle.

I turn around and shocked. The hand I grabbed is not my brother but someone else. I am so embarrassed that time. I said "sorry" with my little voice and continue on. My brother saw what I've done and he had a wide grin on his lips. 

Well that is the most two embarrassing thing involving a bookstore.

Yurina Sydney

movie

Actions.. Comedy .. Thriller ... Science Fictions ... Drama ... 

I have to confess. I am a movie addict. From a mind blowing action thriller to a sweet drama comedy, I watch them all. Well, except horror genre. I don't think paying $5 for two hours of terror is my style. Instead, I prefer watching comedy,  having a good laugh at the end of the movie. 
Every summer I waited in line in the cinema. Every other season, I watched television series on my computer. 


I am a startrek and a star wars fan. I watch starwars the original (episode 4,5,6) like a hundred of times. I don't really like episode 1,2,or 3. The lightsaber's fight, Yoda the wise, a whole twisted thing like "I am your father", love story between Han and Leia. It never bored me to watch it again and again and again. 

My favorite romantic comedy for all times is The Wedding Singer. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore really have a nice chemistry. And the song at the end of the movie, on the airplane, is really sweet and captivating.

In this page I will try to review some of the movies I have watched and give my own opinion.

A Pair of Wings To Fly

I'm not really a big fan on jewelry. But I do love to wear it sometimes. Anyone can wear it, whether you are an artist struggling for success, a painter who paints on the crowded streets or an ordinary woman who works from nine to five in the office.

I have a pair of butterfly earrings. They can make you feel beautiful, confidence, and smart. You will feel like there is a flutter wing of butterfly accompanies you everywhere you go. Just like a friend you need.

Music

Music is a universal language. 

Life without music is life without love and passion. My favorite type of music is Classical. I first classical piece is by Chopin called “Tristesse”. I was hooked. I think he is a romantic composer. His music is lovely, flawless and elegance. The second time, I fall in love with Bach “Suite from Anna Magdalena”. The third one is Pachebel “Canon In D”.  I don’t how to describe the song. It is fulfilled. It agitates my soul. I have made it my ring tones for almost 5 years. I want that song when I walk down the aisle. A beautiful song can grasp your heart and will never be forgotten.

I will review some of the songs I have listen in this page.

Food

Food....

It is the first basic need of human. No human can survive without it. Eating is a repetitive process three times a day.

I'm not a fan of spicy food. Maybe that will eliminate about 40% type of food. My body can't handle spicy food. In my country where almost everyone worships spicy food, I really don't have many options.

I ended up eating almost the same type of food every day. I like pizza, french fries, peanut, chocolate, cheese, corn, coconut and steak. My favorite food in the world is anything that is cooked by my mother.

In this page I will review some of the food I have tasted.

The French Fries

Juice vs Beer

About six months ago, I went shopping at a mini market.
There is a guy next to me. We are on the beverage section.
I choose healthy drink, like apple juice, orange juice and strawberry milk. Meanwhile, the guy at my side choose about a dozen beer can.
I laugh at the irony. I never drink beer before. The only think I ever drink is soju (korean rice beer).
But it tastes so bad, I don't want to drink it ever again.
I also didn't like coffee. I know a lot of people like coffee, but I don't like the smell. 

If there's an amount of how much I drink coffee for my entire life. My answer will definitely NO MORE than a cup. Without coffee, I still can awake almost 48 hours straight. I'm a little bit insomniac. I am a light sleeper. I woke up at a smallest sound and hardly to get any sleep again.

I can't sleep in different environment. Sometimes, I fell jealous at someone who can easily sleep anywhere and anytime they want. Well I just have to live my life being a "light sleeper".

Yurina Sydney

Eau de toilette

A couple of months ago, my boss gave me an expensive perfume.
I rarely use perfume, almost never, except if there is a party invitation.
I don't like a fragrance smell on my body, even if it's sweet.
I remembered I spray perfume on my body for the first time and I cough.

So when there is a writing on the perfume "Eau de Toilette" I thought my boss gave me a perfume to use it on the bathroom/toilet room. But it looks very expensive, why should i wasted it on the bathroom?

Then I asked my friend who know more about perfume than I am, and she laughs and said it's not a toilet perfume but it's the name of the perfume concentration.
OMG... I laugh also..I feel like an idiot that time LOL...

According to wikipedia, "Eau de toilette" is a lightly scented perfume used as a skin freshener. It is also reffered to as "aromatic waters" and has a high alcohol content.

Now after I understand the meaning, every time I went to the bathroom and saw a perfumed spray at the ceiling, I remember the word "Eau de toilette"


Yurina Sydney

Under One Umbrella

This story happened on August 28, 2008.

Yesterday it's raining hard. There's a strong wind when I walked home from to the office. My light umbrella was getting upside down in my hand. And then I saw a girl with no umbrella, about 13 years old, a school girl, in front of me that went on the same way. So I asked her to go with me using my umbrella together. 

Even though only for a short time, it feels wonderful. The girl say thanks, and I say you're welcome. I don't believe that my simple act will change the world. But sometimes a big change comes from a simple or small act.

A Different Path

This story happened on August 27, 2008.

I choose a different way to my office today. And then I wonder what if I choose a different way about my life. A teacher told me that life is a matter of choice. I think he is right. You can't turn back time, and choose a different way. Once you choose one path, you have to go through it. The question is, what if you choose the wrong path?
Until now, I'm still not sure about the path I choose, but I just don't want to worry about the other path.
Because what's done is done. But as a human, I can't help myself of wondering "what if" scenario. If there is an angel giving me a second chance in life, will I choose a different path?
I still didn't know the answer yet :)
If I had a chance to reborn into someone else, will I take it? 

Here is what I know for sure. If I had a "Time Machine" and I can go back to the past. What would I do?

There is only one thing I'd have done. Meeting the people. People who had gone from this world. My grandparents. 

Would I choose to change the past? NO. 
Just let the past be the PAST. It's what made me who I am.


Yurina Sydney

True Story

Just want to share a simple event in my life but sometimes it can be very inspiring.

Don't you ever wonder how little things change your life? My high school english teacher once wrote on the blackboard the first time he came to the class. "Life is a matter of choice." It still make a great impact for me. I watched one reality show a couple of days before, and there, the "choice" came once again.

The show said that life is between alphabet "B" and "D", "BIRTH" and "DEATH", so what is between B and D? It is "C". "Choice"

I am sure everyone has to choice how they want to live their life. Sometimes it is a very difficult decision. I once had a dilemma of choosing one of the two options. It really kills me to think about it. What if I made the wrong choice? I was afraid for days. But then a movie told me a very important lesson. It is not the choice that matter, it is how you choice that matter. So just choice one, and  commit to that choice 100 percents. So the other choice will not matter anymore. 

In this page, I want to share a simple thing I experience during the days. 

A Different Path

Under One Umbrella

Eau de toilette

Juice vs Beer

A Pair of Wings to Fly

Funny stories involving a bookstore

Woody Glass-Pecker

Gift-Wrapped Poems

A heart warming gift is when you hand wrap it yourself, and add a little poem of your own.

Here is some of the gift I gave my friends and add a little poem.

GIFT: A Beach Paperweight

Our friendship sticks just like a glue

I hope it will last forever too

When you are sad and feeling blue

Just look at the sea in front of you

GIFT: An alarm clock with a mirror

If there are tears in your eyes

And being happy seems to lie

Take your time and stop for a while

Just look at the mirror and smile smile smile

GIFT: A Photo Frame

There are many things that can't be bought

One of them is memories

I hope this photo frame can keep

your happy memory forever

This is what I wrote in a "thank you" card for my editor.

I don't know any words to said,

so I prepared a poem instead

You saw my script and then you read

To me, you are an amazing editor indeed

You edited my script without any doubt

And all you asked in return is naught

So..

Roses are red, Violets are blue

There's nothing left to be said, accept THANK YOU

Poem for mom

A THOUSAND STARS

When my mom had her 50th birthday, I gave her a book. It is a mother's book about how some influencing people said about their mother. At the end of the page, I wrote a poem about my mother. I didn't tell her, she just smile to me and promise me that she will read it on her spare time. So every day, she reads page by page until at the last page, about ten days later, she called me and said it was the most beautiful thing she ever read. I am happy to hear that. My mom said she is very touched by the poem. So here I presents the poem that I wrote to my mother.

I like smelling your hair
I like the way you talk
I like the way you hug me
I like the way you love me

    You were there when I have my first cry
    You were there when I have my first laugh
    You were there when I took my first step
    You were there when I went to school
    
    You were the first person who cried when I graduated
    You were there when I got my first job interview
    You were there all my life in every important event

You never miss every step which build my life
You never miss to love me, not even for a day
You never miss to call me when I missed you
You never miss to surprise me with every little thing you do
You never miss everything if that concerns my life

    When I am happy, you are happier
    When I am suffering, you are crumbling
    When I sick, you are sicker
    When I love you, you love me more

There's nothing in this world I can give you in return
There's nothing compare to what you've done
I don't even have a half of  your spirit
You continue to amaze me every time

   You give me a thousand stars for my life
   You give me one star to love me
   You give me the other 999 stars to love me more
   You give my life a meaning

You always support me
You always believe I'm the smartest daughter in the world
You always there when I needed you
You risk your life to save mine

   I can't thank you enough for everything
  I can literally say, you became the air that I breath
 Thank you for  being there in my life
 Thank you for being my mom

     I LOVE YOU MOM



 

Poems

A Good writing came from many research, personal experience, and lots of reading. But Great ones come from the HEART. 

I have a collection of poems. I give those poems to my friends over the years. I met many kind of people. Most of them are the opposite of me. But it is interesting how  I learn to adapt to their behavior or how they learn to adapt to mine. I guess that's what friendship means. To make you a better person without having to change your personality. 

I have all the poems hand written, some of them are a gift-wrapped poems. I just think that giving presents to your friend with a simple poem will make the gift more heart warming.

I don't mind having a poem as a gift instead of the real thing. It is the simple things that move my heart. Once, I cried during opening a gift from my mom. It is her hand written lyrics from the song I liked. 

So here in this page, I will enlist all the poems I have wrote for the past years.

A poem for mom

A Gift-Wrapped Poem

How to cure hiccups

Hiccups can be pretty annoying. 

It came when we least expect it. Usually happens on rainy days when the temperature drops. According to the scientific explanations,  the hiccups occurs because of the diaphragm spams. The diaphragm is a large muscle between your chest and abdomen. Normally, it moves down when we inhale and then up when we exhale. But when we have a hiccups, the inhaling and exhaling process is interrupted. I won't go any details about how this hiccups appear, but I have been experiencing many times, and I have some tips to stop this hiccups almost immediately.

Prepare some warm water in a plastic bottle and do this step by step.

• Lift your head a little bit.
• Pinch your nose with your left fingers. I know you won't be able to breath. Just bear it for a couple of seconds.
• Drink the warm water from the bottle, and swallow slowly.  Don't take a big gulp, just take a little sip from the water. In about 20 seconds or more, you will be suffocated for air, bear with it for a while and continue swallowing the water slowly. Then, if you already feel suffocated enough, stop the drinking and release your nose. Take a deep breath and voila.... the hiccups is gone.
• If you don't have warm water, cold water works too. But I suggest drinking the warm water because it will calm down your stomach.
• Don't stop pinching your nose too soon, because the hiccups will reappearing again. So if you can hold your breath as long as you can, just do that.

The above method works for me every time I have a hiccup. So I hope it will work for you too.

Tips and Trick

I will share some tips and trick about all the thing I've experienced. I hope this page is resourceful. 

How to cure hiccups

Book Review Everyone ?

Do you love reading? Once I found myself in my tiny bedroom with two and half meters of books. Then suddenly I thought, “Oh my…when did I buy those books?”

Here is a little story about me. I love reading a lot. Usually, I make time to read one or two books every day. I love all kinds of books. It varies between mythology to psychology, mystery to comedy, also thriller to romance. But if I had to pick my favorite types, it would be romance.

I like almost all Johanna Lindsey's book for historical romance, Sophie Kinsella's book for chicklit romance, Lynne Graham's book for alpha male and domineering heroes, Meg Cabot's book for teen romance. They are my top four author.

I spend my time reading at least one or two romance eBooks before going to sleep everyday or when I take a break from work routine. As a book addict, once I found myself in a bookstore for more than 4 hours. The only thing that realizes me that I have wondering for hours in the bookstore is my grumbling stomach. 

Sometime, my family and friends have to stop me to go to the bookstore because of that. Instead of shopping like most female does, I prefer losing myself in the corner of the bookshop, smelling the book and let my imagination go wild. 

So this page will be dedicated to some books review I read in my spare times.

The first one is from Miss Kinsella, I've Got Your Number. She is my favorite author.

Sophie Kinsella - I've Got Your Number

HAPPY READING EVERYONE

 

Review Book : Sophie Kinsella - I've Got Your Number

Title : I've Got Your Number

Author : Sophie Kinsella 

Pages: 433 

Date: October 31st 2011

Publisher: The Dial Press

Poppy is just a simple and sweet girl. She has everything that she ever wanted. An ideal fiance named Magnus Tavis, a great job she loves, and a wedding day to plan. Unfortunately, lady luck has left her on the day she lost the "family heirlom" engagement ring in a hotel fire drill. To make matter worst, she also lost her phone. All she has now was an abandoned phone that found in a trash can. At least, she can asked the hotel to call her on that phone when they found her ring.

But as the days counting out for her wedding day, the visit from Marcus intimidating parents, and the owner from the previous phone, Sam Roxton, wants his phone back, can Poppy handle all of that?

It's strange how one moment can change your life forever. With one simple phone, Miss Kinsella can write four hundred pages of mishap, loveable character, and what modern technology can bring you an endless possibility.

It is interesting to read the interaction between Poppy and Sam, the complete opposite of her trait, and also the interaction between Poppy and her friends who have a physical therapy clinic together. The dialogue writing is witty and refreshing.

The footnotes are meant for an insult to Poppy who didn't come from an intelectual family background like his fiance did. But somehow it completes the book.

Every heroine Miss Kinsella writes is an easy going person, impulsive and cheerful. That's why this book is a light comedy to enjoy when you want to have a big laugh on the day after work. If you don't like reading a book with a lot of footnotes - don't read it. Footnotes are Miss Kinsella's trademark. Miss Kinsella has successfully makes a name of herself on chicklit literate with her previous work the Sophaholic Series. And also there is one coming this year on early May titled "Wedding Night".