Posts Tagged ‘friends’

Lazy London Brunches

I took this picture sometimes in mid 2008. I was assigned for training camp in London for a month, and in one of the Sunday me and my friends were going out strolling the London sidewalk. As time for lunch arrived, we got separated (after all its near impossible to find a restaurant who can host 16 people unplanned), me and several others went for Chinese restaurant and after quick meal, I get out to visit the others. It was then I spotted several of them sitting near this pub window, and instinctively, I took out my pocket and shoot this picture.

A year passed, and I almost forgot about this picture, till I browsed back my archive looking for a nice pic to decorate my new apartment, and I was struck.

This picture might not be greatly composed, but each time I look at it, it makes me smile I as my memory jogged down the lane. Now looking at it again and again, I realized it wasn’t such a bad picture, in fact I love it that its candidness captures the plight of joy that they were having.

Me and the rest of the band

Me and Andre, off the Padang Bei Coast

Me and my friends, off the Padang Bei Coast, East Bali. We were on the 4 days trip, with 1 day dive and 1 day snorkeling in the midst. It was a good day, the water was clear, and the weather, as you can witnessed, is absolutely a gem. Can’t wait to get back for another dive soon !!!

So here I am, alone sitting in the deli’s corner in Menteng Central, mining my own business, which is really, and essentially consist of my diet coke, and sandwich.

In a sense, it’s  a heaven, a run away time, where I can do my own things, thinking only my own being and care nothing of the world and the works around it. And quite frankly, I rarely found my self alone, at least lately.

Usually, when I ‘m not hanging out (or spending quality time) with my girl, I’m always in a company of my mates, and doing nothing useful in particular, like taking a swing in the driving range, chatted on the coffee shop or walking around the mall aimlessly.

But situation changed, and I with some of us caught or occupied in the busy world of trying to make a living, I found my self quite lonely in so many occasion, which suffice to say, its neither fun nor enjoyable.

So here I am, again, alone, typing this sort of grumble, while flashing off my new MacBook Air.

If there is any consolation, well at least my sandwich is crisps and my coke is ice cold.

If people said that Jakarta is a mixing pot of Indonesian’s diverse cultures, then there is one food that can represent the mix better than any other food.

Hail the esteemed noodle (bakmie). No Jakartans will ever argue that along with Nasi Padang, Bubur (Porridge) and Soto, noodle is one food that comes in abundantly great variety. There is almost one comes from each Indonesia’s provinces in additional of other that comes with a cutting edge look.

Historically a direct descendant of the Chinese Noodle Soup, the Indonesian variety version was much more diverse in terms of noodle type, topping and the seasoning, thanks the centuries of acculturation with the local taste. On top of your head, you can easily name Mie Aceh, Mie Ayam Medan, Mie Ayam Palembang, etc.

Let’s recalled the Jakarta’s great three noodle vendors, the Bakmi GM, Naga and Gang Kelinci, all started from the rather insecure spot at city centre slum, and grew larger in to million dollars business and franchises. Though the three vendors deploy pretty similar form of Bak Mie and soup, you can always bet that there are people who prefer one better against the other.

Today, Jakarta noodle library are as diverse and as exciting as the international wine list. Quick Sunday drive to area like Kelapa Gading, will expose you to several famous noodle vendor such as Bakmie Tan (with its fish fried cake), A Loy, A Sui,  or A Haw, all comes with their own interpretation of how a bowl (or in same case a plate) of noodle supposed to be, and served along a bowl of chicken soup, and various topping (from chicken only, to mixed chicken-pork).

Order a glass of cold Liang tea (Herbs tea) and some fried wonton, and you will have your self a perfect Sunday brunch.

Any discussion about which one is the best will usually incite a prolonged and heated argument, without any conclusion. The content of discussion will usually revolving around the texture and shape of the noodle (thick, thin, wide, rubbery, soggy, soft, curly), the taste of the noodle it self (flat, salty, salty sweet, fish, prawnishy or simply tasty), the soup (tasty or not tasty) and the topping (chicken, pork, wonton, beef balls or porky materials). Price and place is usually discussed at the very last, or never entered the discussion at all)

At the end, as for the variety it involved along the ingredients in between, and like any other cuisine, it is a very subjective judgment. Good things that no body every fallen victim from this sort of discussion.

As for me, I like the Bakmie Tan’s fried thin fish cake, and Aloy’s Palembang noodles. But for the beef balls ultimate experience, A Guan at Lao Tse is the best. What about you ?

That is the most common answer my friends gave me when I’m asking their opinion about a brown, usually in wingtip oxford or derby.

When they thing about classic shoes, they always think about wearing it to office, conference or wedding, and anytime they think about something slightly rendering toward and sign of formality, they think about black.

My say, black is overrated and brown is underrated. And then you will ask,”Care to explain why ?” I surely do.

My friends, we are living in Jakarta, on the beginning of the 21st century. Jakarta for one, is not the place for extreme tradition of sartorial perfection, in here you can go to most clubs wearing jeans, polo shirt and sneakers, and go to the office dresses in oversized shirts or ridiculously tight trousers. And if those perfunctory slack is acceptable than surely wearing a sharp, high quality brown leather shoes is acceptable too?

Let’s think about office function. Most of the Jakartans goes to the office with long sleeve shirts, dark colored trousers, few will have ties hanging , even fewer will go with French cuffs (mostly bankers or hustlers). Now check your wardrobe, and ask your self how many of your trousers are in grey, charcoal, and blue ? If the amount of is comparable with the black, congratulate your self, because you just found yourself a ticket to use your brown shoes to the office.

My good readers, the brown leather shoes, in any material (calf or suede) are excellent combination for any grey or dark blue trousers. It provides a harmonious combination, and a niche that is standing out from commonality. And truth to tell this is a perfectly acceptable combination for your office and business needs, and it works well with suit too. The brown semi brogue cap toe or wingtip oxford are several of the ideals.

If you are one of those posh who prefer to be draped in suit rather than batik for wedding invitation, try to opt for grey suit in any variation or navy blue, and then done your brown shoes, brown belt and if you have it a brown leather strapped watch. You’ll be surprise on how the color combination works, again any sign toward formality like monk-strap combinations, oxford and derby, will  provide a sound host.

What about batik ? Well in my humble opinion wearing a black trouser, black shoes with batik are dull. Next time try to opt of creamy colored batik instead of shining, silky like , dominant in black batik. And then try to use your grey-ish trousers instead of black, and then done any of your brown dress shoes (anything but moc style driving shoes), and then check yourself in the mirror. You’ll be amaze on how the color and pattern combination explode yet complementing each other, provide an elegant and exquisite look, and sublime level of confidence.

My bottom line remains, the black is overrated while the brown is underrated, as long as you have a brown leather belt, and neutral or brown wrist strapped, you have all the more reasons to wear brown.