The great 2011 is almost over, so let's take a walk back to see what I've gone through this year.
1. Office trips
This includes Luwuk-Central Sulawesi, remote areas in Kalimantan, Palangkaraya, Makassar. Perks: seeing the rain from up in the air, getting to know Mr. Ignas Kleden.
2. Bali vacation with Nandia, Ovi, Dini, Yos
Sunrise with dolphins, swimming in underwears, beautiful beaches, the usual fun in the sun.
3. Quitting my job as researcher/consultant/slave for a writing job in HighEnd magazine. Yes, that's the name. Seriously.
4. High school reunion
5. PedNgun's wedding
Planning the hen night, looking for the gifts, sticking around through the festivity and happy tears. Best wedding of the year. True story.
6. Quick trip with Mr. Pirate
After I quit my job and just before I started the new job, I and Gem were off to Bandung for a night, and then continued to Ciwidey for another night. We went to see the Kawah Putih and... that's it. Not much to see, but still a great getaway.
7. Gigs (not in chronological order)
This year's list is interestingly varied. I watched the hipster's poster boys: Whitest Boy Alive and MGMT at Bengkel Night Park, and Tahiti 80 in Bandung. I watched classic stuff like Masataka Goto's piano recital and Twilite Youth Orchestra. I watched bands that I actually listen to like Incubus and Naif. I even watched the best of hasbeens from the 90s: Kenny G and Richard Marx.
Best gig? Naif, hands down.
8. My birthday
Which was on the best--but overshared--date of the year: 11.11.11. Two days prior, I flew to Thailand for work. Well, that is if you can call driving around Chiang Rai in all-new Ford Ranger work. Lucky me, I was in Thailand during the Loi Krathong week. The night before the 11th, I was at this outdoor dinner hosted by the Ford people. And I could see floating lanterns all over, it looked like moving stars. At one point, two other journalists and I sneaked out from the dinner party and tried to find the spot from which most lanterns came. We did. Downtown Chiang Rai, instant amusement park, stalls which sold everything from weird snacks to tacky clothing to fish to be released in the river, and people. People playing with sparklers, people lighting fireworks, people floating lanterns, people floating Loi Krathong flowery rafts, people! It was fun! For a moment, I was feeling a bit blue, because everyone I love was miles away. But hey, if you can't be with the one you love, then love the one you're with. So I told the two others that I was about to turn 27, and they--in a way--cheered and asked me to float a lantern with them. Took the infamous tuktuk back to the hotel. All's good.
During breakfast the next morning, I was chatting with few other journalists when the restaurant guys suddenly showed up bringing a slice of cake, singing happy birthday. People stood up and joined the fanfare. Birthday surprise from strangers. Aw fest!
Still on the 11th, we left Chiang Rai and Bangkok to head back to Jakarta. Gema picked me up at the airport, and we went home to my family who were planning a surprise party (but failed, but still funny), and had late dinner.
All in all it was good. What's even better is, for dear boyfriend, my birthday lasted all the way until Christmas. So I still received wishes, birthday kisses, and gifts even after the 11th. Tee-hee.
9. Bits and pieces
There were also random trivial 1st times, such as riding on the back of a Harley, going to Ayer island, trying out the banana boat, meeting Joe Jackson (as in the father of the late Michael Jackson), picnicking at Taman Mini, interviewing four ambassadors (and counting, I hope), aaaand... Did I leave anything out?
See you in 2012!
