Traditional Foods from Palembang

     I do not know exactlty why recently I really miss my hometown. I miss its traditional foods, its tourism places, its cultures, and so on.  One thing that I really miss is actuallty its traditional foods, especially pempek, tekwan, and model. Actually, I know how to make those kind of foods so well, it's just I AM LAZY to do that. I also do not have enough time for cooking. In addition,  If I buy those kind of foods, the taste will be different. Hm, by the way have you ever eaten pempek, tekwan, and model? If you have not eaten it yet, I will introduce it to you first. Yeah, at least you know how it is looked. Hihi.

Ok, let me introduce you about pempek first:

Pempek, mpek-mpek or empek-empek is a savoury fishcake delicacy from Palembang, Indonesia, made of fish and tapioca. Pempek is served with yellow noodles and a dark, rich sweet and sour sauce called kuah cuka or kuah cuko. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT GUYS! The following is the picture:

Next, I will introduce you to another Palembang traditional food which is tekwan

Tekwan is a fish soup typical of Palembang, Indonesia. The fish cakes are made from the dough of fish and tapioca similar to pempek. The fish cake is cut in small sizes and presented in shrimp broth with a distinctive flavor, served with rice vermicelli, mushrooms, sliced jicama, and sprinkled with sliced fresh celery, scallion and fried shallot. This is the picture: 

And then the last food is Model. 

Model is almost similar with pempek and tekwan. It is made from tapioca flavour and fish. Model Palembang is simply fish dumplings stuffed with firm tofu and served in seafood broth with bits and pieces of little morsels. This is the picture of Model Palembang:

     Well, after I show you about some traditional foods from Palembang "Would you like to visit my home town and try to eat one or all of them?" Hehe. :D

Morning Exercise : Got Free Hijab From Ahad Berbagi Community

     Almost every Sunday morning my friend , Ms. Lina, and I usually go to Bundaran HI to exercise.We usually  exercise by jogging from Bundaran HI to Duku Atas. After exercising, sometimes we eat something at Pasar Kaget that is located beside Grand Indonesia building. On this Sunday morning we also did our routine. As usual, I wait for Ms. Lina in front of Informa at 6.00 am. We met there and went to Bundaran HI together. We rode our own motorcycle in order to reach that place faster. The distance from Informa to Bundaran HI is about 30 minutes. There is no parking are at Bundaran HI, so that we parked our motorcycle At Thamrin City.Once we parked my motorcycle, we started jogging from Bundaran HI. As usual we saw so many things there, food seller, someone who wore weird clothes, funny gymnastic movement, and so forth. We enjoyed it!

     Well, we have reached Duku Atas, so it meant that we have finished our exercise. Then, we back to Bundaran HI by walking leisurely. While we were walking, suddenly a woman who was wearing a long hijab came closer. She gave each of us a hijab and said, "This is from Ahad Berbagi Community, Hopefully it will be useful" then she left us with her sweetest smile (I don't know whether it is really sweet or not). After she left us, we silent for a moment and looked at each other. I was actually feeling confuse, "Why did she give me a hijab?", "is it because my hijab is too short or what?" I was wondering about it. While I was still confused by questions on my head, Ms. Lina patted me on my shoulder and said, "I do not  know what to do with this hijab, why don't we give this to someone who really need it? It will be more useful for them, won't it?".  I thought Ms. Lina was right, it would be better if I gave this hijab to others who really need it. So, we decided to give it to a woman who were selling "nasi pecel" on the roadside. Due to, we did not want to offend  her feeling, so I act as if I was a member from Ahad Berbagi Community. I also used the same words. The woman who sells "nasi pecel" thanked to me. I thought  she felt so happy. Hm, I was happy to see that. After giving the hijab, then we continue walking.

     Before going back home, we bought something for breakfast. I bought zuppa soup for my breakfast. Whoaa I love it! Ok, I was full , then Ms. Lina and I went to Thamrin City to take our motorcycle. We went home together. Today was special just like the previous Sunday morning, especially when we got a hijab from Ahad Berbagi Community. Haha!

     

     

Fun English - Funny Song Parody by Students

     Today was the time for students to perform "Fun English" project. The project's name was "English Song's Parody". I did not know whether students already understood or not about the term "Parody", but what I've seen that students already prepared it as best as they can. They perform the project in school's hall, at the 3rd floor. My students is 7 graders students which is 7 Lech Walesa.  I did know exactly what kind of parody that would be performed by them. They brought 2 wigs, dresses, eyes glasses, and do forth. Some of them also dresseed like the real employee. "They look very mature with that outfit" a teacher said, "Yes, they are" I respond it. I guessed they would perform about a song that related to employee, office or something like that. Well, we'll see.
   The teacher gave students 10 minutes to prepare all the thing that they need on the stage. Then, my students came closer and asked me whether they borrow my laptop or not because they needed it. After borrowing my laptop, some of them went to toilet for dressing. While my students were dressing, the teacher asked a volunteer that what to be the first. No one raised their hand. When the hall was silent, suddenly my student who just finished dressing entered the hall and said "Yes, Ms..What happens?". All the students were laughing at him and it made my students confused. The teacher also laughed and then asked him and his friend to be a volunteer which will be the first group. And taraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! My class became the first group! Ulaaalaaa...
    They performed "Harlem Shake dance", "Oppa Gang-nam Style Dance", "Seriosa Song" etc. This was not a parody I thought. They only meddle some song and then acted like they were singing. The other class also did so. Only one class that did the right one. Hm, I thought the students need more explanation about what "Parody" is.
     After perfoming Fun English project, students listened some additional information from the teacher. The teacher also explained about what parody is.Well, finally they realized that what they already perfomed was not a parody. Next time, if the teacher asked them to perform a parody, they would understand.. Hopefully. Hehe :D

One Day Trip : 1000 Island (Kelor, Cipir, Onrust Island)

     For last two weeks in a row, I have to go to my office every Saturday because there was a training for junior high school's teachers that I have to follow (about curriculum and about special needs children's programs) and also because of the new students enrolment. It was tiring, but I tried to enjoy it. Yaah, at least I got something / new insight from that activity such as about the curriculum, about some special need children and so forth.
     Hm... Today was Friday, it mean that tomorrow was Saturday.Oh, I was so happy because tomorrow I was free (no training, no duty and yeah "I AM FREE"). On this Saturday this week, I was free so that I decided to spend my weekend to go to some places. My friend and I already planned to spend our weekend by visiting 1000 Island. We would like to  visit Kelor, Cipir and Onrust island. Honestly, this my first trip. That's why I was so excited and tacky. Haha! Due to the considerable distance so that tomorrow we have to wake up earlier than before. First route that we have to reach before heading to Kelor, Cipir, and Onrust island is Muara Kamal. It is a place where the fisherman's boats is anchored. On the other hand, we would use a fishing boat to go to those islands. Well, It would be fun I Thought. Hihi :D We have to arrive at Muara Kamal at 07.30 a.m. The distance from my rent house to Muara Kamal is about 2 hours Hopefully, I won't be late.
     Today was the day. "Beeeeeeeeeeeeep.... Beeeeeeeeeeep", my alarm rang several times and it was snoozed by me unconsciously. Oh God! I WAS LATE. I WAKE UP LATE. What should I DO?. Well, I did morning prayer, took a bath and, then prepared all the things that I have to bring. OK DONE, now it's time to go. I used Transjakarta and arrived at Muara Kamal at 8.00 a,m. Fortunately, the tour guide was very kind. He already wait for me and my friend for 30 minutes and he said "It's ok". I admitted that it was embarassing. Well, I won't repeat it next time. I Promise!


Now It's time to start our Trip : 1st Destination (Kelor Island)

     This island is actually a place that is used to control ships which is going in and out from Indonesia.That buiding is a control tower. It's beautiful, isn't it?

Next : 2nd Destination (Cipir Island)

     Cipir Island is a place for the passengers on the ship (that have been checked in Kelor Island) which have dangerous diseases. The most buiding which is founded in this island is hospital, the place where the patient will be quarantined. So, this island is usually called as "Pulau Rumah Sakit" (Hospital Island).

The Last : 3rd Destination (Onrust Island)

  Onrust Island is named after the Dutch Onrust, or "unrest". The island is also known as Kapal ("Ship"). Onrust was the site of a major shipyard and five-sided fort that had belonged to the by then defunct Dutch East India Company. The Dutch had to rebuild the naval base on Onrust several times due to British attacks, such as the one in 1800. The last restoration was in 1840. In 1883 the explosion of Krakatoa sent a huge tidal wave that destroyed the last Dutch naval base on the island. During the 19th Century Onrust held a sanitarium for people suffering from Tuberculoses Island a quarantine station for pilgrims returning from the Hajj to Mecca. The quarantine barracks took up some two-thirds of the island and could hold 3,500 pilgrims. Over the years erosion reduced Onrust from its original 12 hectares to 7.5 hectares (2002). The administration then built concrete retaining walls around the island but these are now in a dilapidated state. 

        So, from today's trip I got a lot of thing to learn besides happiness. Hopefully I can visit others island in 1000 island beside these three islands that I have ever visited. Thanks GOD, today is AWESOME.

Celebrating Teachers' Day : Surprises from Students

     On Monday, 25th of November 2013 there was something weird happening in our school. Normally students already lined up on the field at 7.30 a.m to conduct the morning ceremony which is held every Monday, but today they did not do it. When the bell rang, only few students left on the field. We, as the teacher felt confuse and wondered where actually the other students, why they did not here to conduct morning ceremony. Hm, I guessed unusual thing was happening today.
     While the situation was getting confusing, suddenly two students came closer to us. They pretended that they were also confuse by the situation which was happening. They said that they were also wondering why only few students left on the field. After a few minute, we suddenly listened student's voice. He read a poem about teacher for us. The poem recitation was accompanied by the strains of an acoustic guitar. Wow! it was suprising and very touching. While a student was reading a poem,  a group of students came closer and sang a song about teacher. Well, frankly I said that it was very awesome. They really presented it with heart.
     After reading a poem and singing a song, again they gave us the next suprise. They gave every teacher flower which is rose. Some teacher started to cry because they were amazed with what students have done today. In addition, students also gave an award for each teacher. They gave me teacher award as the most friendly teacher in Lazuardi. I was very happy and I appreciated it. Thanks for giving us some suprise. Love you all guys.