"come down now", but we'll stay

Okay, here's my take on updates.

After trotting the East side of Indonesia, a couple weeks ago I got another chance to test myself in another barbarous area. Well, not barbarous. But any place that doesn't have a five stars hotel, or a mall, or a TV that has more than 4 channels available, is definitely barbarous in my dictionary.

Yea, so I had to go to the island of Borneo 2 weeks ago. First, I flew to Balikpapan. And I had always known that Balikpapan is nice. The place has Nav Karaoke Lounge, for god's sake! That's what I call a civilized city. I also got to stay at the Novotel, which was not too shabby at all.

A day after my arrival in Balikpapan, I had to go to this slightly remote area called Puruk Cahu. First, I had to fly by a chopper to a place called Muara Tuhup, and then ride a so-called speedboat to Puruk Cahu.

It was nice, actually. Because I can add "naik helikopter" to my 1st-time list this year. And to loll around on a small boat, zigzagging one of Kalimantan's rivers (I think it's called Barito. Maybe), overlooking the deep bushy forest, was actually soothing. But that's about it.

What was I doing flying (and boating) there? Well, I felt like I was in some kind of training to be "the new Emily" for my Miranda-Priestly-like boss. Yeah, that was exactly it. Except that in my office, an excellent fashion sense won't do anyone any good without a smart, robotic brain inside of your head.

Anyway.

So, after 4-5 days of the small town excitement and many delays on my flight, I finally got home to this crappy town I love so much. You think I could just throw my head back and relax?

Noooo. See, I had to go back and forth to a doctor, because I couldn't stop coughing. After 2 dreadful shots (!!!), the doctor concluded that no, I don't have malaria. But yes, I do have this lung-infecting disease. Fortunately, it can be cured. Unfortunately, I have to be on drugs for the next 9 months or so.

Anyhoo, the silver lining of it all is, when I told people at my office about me not being well, they showed some concern about my (or their?) health. Whichever, what mattered is, they sent me hoooome. I get to work from home for the next few weeks. Yeew-hooww!

More good news:

- This isn't that fresh from the oven, but Sind's in town! Wee-hoow. Please don't go back to SF, Sind, please.

- Penggambar Mimpi is out in stores. Though it might be a tad difficult to find it among other piling titles, but it's there. Haw. Another day is seized. Thank God.

- Speaking of which, book launching Sunday, August 31, 2008! Click here for infos.

...I feel like I have other things to say here, but I can't pinpoint about what. Darn. Owell, until another post! *don't hold your breath* xD