Under the Sea

Always been my dream to explore under the sea... under the sea... Gosh, I am starting to sing Ariel's song in my head.
So, the 1st step: buying the brand new expensive manual --> as, you can see here. Done!

Now the next hard part is, reading it ...>.<~~~ maybe tomorrow, if I have the mood
and next, I need to conquer my laziness and get myself to go for the training ....
Sigh, kinda wish I can just have ability without much work. Hehehe...

10 years ago

A high school friend posted a status on her facebook last month:

"Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary, my Darling"

She posted that on the same week I posted my Japan trip photos

The irony is 10 years ago, I visited Tokyo Disneyland for the very first time; and I was actually visiting the playground again after 10 years!!! 

>.<~ this's bad. So bad.

!ncredible !ndia

Let me help with your slippers, Mom
Any footwear is to be removed before entering the palace - Taj Mahal, Agra

Sadhu and a Trident
I assume this photogenic sadhu is a follower of Shiva, as he's a carrying a trident - the weapon of Shiva;
 taken at Ganges Riverbanks

Illumination of Ganges
Lights from the afternoon Puja at Ganges Riverbanks were so mesmerising and captivating

Sadhu
with garlands of flowers - Ganges Riverbanks

Sadhu with a modified tricycle
He moves around quite fast, actually - Hiranyavanti River, Kushinagar

Brick Ladies
The Chinese Monastery at Bodhgaya was under renovation,
instead of using carts or other devices, the ladies - not the men - walked back and forth to carry bricks on their head

The Water Gatherer
A water source in the middle of the town, on a side of a busy road
Yet, the water was so clear that people collected it.
Not sure if it's a natural water source or just a leaking water pipe

The Pilgrims
Pilgrims from all around the world come to visit Gijjakuta Hill
Here is a Tibetan lady in front of Ven. Ananda's Cave

The Vulture's Guardian
Blackfaced monkey seems to have Gijjakuta Hill - The Vulture Hill as their territory
Do not feed them, unless you want to be chased by the whole clan 

Banners of Prayer
Strings of  Prayer Banners can be found everywhere at Gijjakuta Hills
May the wind blows all the prayers for the goods' of all beings

Nuns and Flowers
It was International Tipitaka Chanting event when I visited Bodhgaya
These 2 Tibetan nuns were so pretty. Don't you think?

Wheel of Prayers
It was International Tipitaka Chanting event when I visited Bodhgaya
Here, the monk was doing it in Tantric way

In Deep Prayers
Monks and Nuns from all over the world came to Bodhgaya to attend the International Tipitaka Chanting event
Here are Burmese monks, retreated themselves in prayers, away from the crowd

Nun in a Tent
Monks and Nuns from all over the world came to Bodhgaya to attend the International Tipitaka Chanting event
Not sure why she's in a tent, maybe to avoid insects' bite

A Meal to Share
Despite carrying a gun and serious look, the security guard were generous enough to share his meals to the hungry local kids

And this's me :) pretending to read a Burmese Tipitaka. Haha!

More! Important places in India

Apart from the Avijahitatthanani mentioned on the previous post, we also visited a few other Buddhist's important places.

JETAVANA MONASTERY

Jetavana was the place where the Buddha gave the majority of his teachings and discourses, having passed at Jetavana 19 (out of 45) rainy seasons (Pāli, vassas, a traditional time of monastic retreat), more than in any other monastery.

When the Buddha accepted Anāthapindika's invitation to visit Sāvatthi the latter, seeking a suitable place for the Buddha's residence, discovered this park belonging to Prince Jeta. When he asked to be allowed to buy it, Jeta's reply was: "Not even if you could cover the whole place with money" Anāthapindika said that he would buy it at that price, and when Jeta answered that he had had no intention of making a bargain, the matter was taken before the Lords of Justice, who decided that if the price mentioned were paid, Anāthapindika had the right of purchase. Anāthapindika had gold brought down in carts and covered Jetavana with pieces laid side by side. The money brought in the first journey was found insufficient to cover one small spot near the gateway. So Anāthapindika sent his servants back for more, but Jeta, inspired by Anāthapindika's earnestness, asked to be allowed to give this spot. Anāthapindika agreed and Jeta erected there a gateway, with a room over it. Anāthapindika built in the grounds dwelling rooms, retiring rooms, store rooms and service halls, halls with fireplaces, closets, cloisters, halls for exercise, wells, bathrooms, ponds, open and roofed sheds, etc.

It is said that Anāthapindika paid eighteen crores for the purchase of the site, all of which Jeta spent in the construction of the gateway gifted by him. The gateway was evidently an imposing structure.
The vihāra is almost always referred to as Jetavane Anāthapindikassa ārāma (Pali, meaning: in Jeta Grove, Anathapindika's Monastery). The Commentaries say that this was deliberate at the Buddha's own suggestion in order that the names of both earlier and later owners might be recorded and that people might be reminded of two men, both very generous in the cause of the Religion, so that others might follow their example. The vihāra is sometimes referred to as Jetārāma

Lighting a Candle
at Jetavana Monastery where Buddha gave majority of his teachings and discourses
having passed 19 (out of 45) vassa at Jetavana

Paradaksina at Gandakuti
circling clockwise at the remains of Buddha's Hut at Jetavana Sravasti

Embracing the Nature
near Buddha's Hut at Jetavana Monastery, Sravasti

GIJJAKUTA HILL

Located at Rajgir, the kingdom ruled during Buddha’s period by King Bimbisara and Kind Ajasattu, is located around 80 kms away from Bodhgaya. Gijjakuta Hill means the hill of vultures, a place where Buddha spent a Vasa period,  Sariputta Thero spent time meditating, and Devadatta Thero  pushed a huge stone and injured Buddha. The Buddha’s Kuti is located at the top of the hill – a square structure less than a foot in height. On our way up the hill, we saw Venerable Sariputta’s Cave, Ven. Mogallana's Cave and Ven. Ananda’s Cave.

Tip of Vishwa Shanthi Stupa
a stupa build by Japanese on the peak of other hill

The Soaring Vulture
The great stone on top resembling a soaring vulture (just its head)
gave Gijjakuta its renowned name

Candle of Ananda's Cave
The Ananda Cave located before the peak, it has a steep passage to Gandakuti on top of the hill,
making Ven.Ananda always accessible to attend Buddha's needs 

NALANDA UNIVERSITY

Nālandā was an ancient center of higher learning in Bihar, India. The site is located about 88 kilometres south east of Patna, and was a religious center of learning from the fifth century AD to 1197 AD. Nalanda flourished between the reign of the Śakrāditya (whose identity is uncertain and who might have been either Kumara Gupta I or Kumara Gupta II) and 1197 AD, supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors like Harsha and later emperors from the Pala Empire.

The complex was built with red bricks and its ruins occupy an area of 14 hectares. (488 by 244 metres) Nalanda was ransacked and destroyed by a Turkish Muslim army under Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193. The great library of Nalanda University was so vast that it is reported to have burned for three months after the invaders set fire to it, ransacked and destroyed the monasteries, and drove the monks from the site.

Ruins of Nalanda University
At its peak, the university attracted scholars and students from as far away as Tibet, China, Greece, and Persia.

India - Pilgrimage

The idea of a pilgrimage came from the Buddha himself over 2500 years ago, in answer to Ven. Ananda’s concern that the monks would no longer be able to see the Buddha and pay their respects after his Parinibbana, Buddha advised pious disciples to visit Four Places, the sight of which will inspire faith (saddha) and religious urgency (samvega) after He was gone. These places are called Samvejaniya-thana in Pali or places that arouse awareness and apprehension of impermanence.

LUMBINI: “Here the Tathagata was born! This, Ananda, is a place that a pious disciple should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.”
BODHGAYA: “Here the Tathagata attained the unexcelled Supreme Enlightenment! This, Ananda, is a place that a pious disciple should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.”
SARNATH: “Here the Tathagata set rolling the Wheel of Dhamma! This, Ananda, is a place that a pious disciple should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.”
KUSINARA: “Here the Tathagata passed away into Parinibbana. This, Ananda, is a place that a pious disciple should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.”

“And whosoever, Ananda, should die on such a pilgrimage, with his heart established in faith, he at the breaking up of the body, after death, will be reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness.”

Mahaparinibbana Sutta V, 16

LUMBINI: BIRTHPLACE OF THE BUDDHA
Lumbini is located in Nepal, about 20 km from the border town of Bhairawa, just across the Indian border crossing at Sonauli. The Buddha was born on the full-moon day of Vesak. His mother was Maha Maya, chief consort of King Suddhodana. Already 56 years old and in the final stage of pregnancy carrying the Bodhisatta for 10 full months, she was travelling to her parents’ home in Devadaha to deliver her first child following the tradition of her Koliyan clan.
Along the way, the entourage passed Lumbini Garden, a pleasure grove of Sala trees, which were then in full bloom. She decided to stop there to admire the flowering trees and plants. Soon she began to experience signs of impending birth. Quickly she summoned her female servants to cordon off the area with curtains. Then holding on to the branch of a Sala tree with her right hand for support, she gave birth to the Bodhisatta while standing up.

"Sun Shining Upon His Birthplace"

Maya Devi Temple - housing a shrine of Prince Siddharta's exact birthplace.

At front, a 3rd century Ashokan Pillar to mark the holy site.

"The Lion's Roar"

I am chief of the world,

Eldest am I in the world

Foremost am I in the world

This the last birth

There is now no more coming to be

In 249 BC, King Asoka visited Lumbini as part of his pilgrimage to the sacred Buddhist places and worshipped the sacred spot where the Buddha was born. To commemorate his visit, he built an Asokan Pillar with a horse capital and an edict written in Brahmi. Today only 6.7 metres of the pillar still stands but without its horse capital. According to ancient Buddhist literature, when Asoka visited Lumbini, he erected a brick shrine and placed a “Marker Stone” on top, to worship the exact site of the Buddha’s birth. In 1992, archaeologists started excavations at the old Maya Devi temple and discovered the marker stone pinpointing the exact spot where the Buddha was born.

Lumbini Pillar Edict Translation:

"20 years after his coronation King Piyadassi, Beloved of the Gods, visited this very spot in person and worshipped at this place because here Buddha Sakyamuni was born. He caused to make a stone (capital) representing a horse and he caused this stone to be erected.  Because the Buddha was born in here, he made the village of Lumbini free from taxes and subject to pay only one-eighth of the produce as land revenue instead of the usual rate"

Exact spot where the Buddha was born is not located at the Asokan pillar but inside this new temple built over the remains of old Maya Devi Temple, which was excavated in 1992. In the foreground is the Puskarni pond where Maya Devi washed herself before giving birth.

Inside the temple is a wooden walkway for pilgrims to circumambulate the spot where the Buddha was born.

The historical womb-shaped marker stone, which was place on top a brick shrine by King Asoka in 249 BC to worship the very spot where the Buddha was born, that pinpoints the exact spot where Maya Dewi gave birth to Prince Siddhatta. It is now inside a bullet proof glass case.

BODHGAYA, PLACE OF SUPREME ENLIGHTENMENT

Bodhgaya, where Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment on the full-moon day of V esak in 588 BC, is the most hallowed place on earth to Buddhists. According to the Commentary, the Seat of Enlightenment (Bodhi Pallanka) at Buddhagaya is one of the four places that do not vary for all Buddhas (Avijahitatthanani).

King Asoka was the first to build a shrine at this sacred spot. In the 1st century AD, two Sunga queens enlarged the Bodhi shrine and in the 2nd century AD, the Kushan king Huviska (111-138 AD) built a temple on the site to install a Buddha image, which was then in vogue. Cunningham suggested that the entire Mahabodhi Temple as seen today follows the Huviska structure. As it was built over the remains of the Asoka shrine, the position of the Diamond throne remains unchanged. Inside the temple, one comes face-to-face with a great gilded image of the Buddha from 10th century AD seated on a patterned cushion instead of a lotus. It is supported by a pedestal, decorated with figures of lions and elephants.

"MahaBodhi Temple, Bodhgaya"

The temple was recently decorated with umbrellas of solid gold in early Dec,

adding a royal touch to the already-grandeurs temple

"Samadhi"

so still, so serene, so liberated

At the back of the Mahabodhi Temple is the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment. It is a Bodhi/Pipal tree (Ficus religiosa), also known in Pali as ‘assattha’. The Diamond Throne is located between the Bodhi tree and the rear wall of the temple. It marks the actual spot of the Seat of Enlightenment (Bodhi Pallanka). It is said that the Buddha sat facing east with his back to the trunk of the Bodhi tree. A red sandstone slab measuring 2.3 meters long by 1.3m wide by 0.9m high now marks this holy spot.

The Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya is the most hallowed place on earth to all Buddhists who came from all over the world to pay homage under its sacred Bodhi tree where Lord Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment. Shrine hall inside Mahabodhi temple showing 10th century Buddha image in earth-touching posture to signify the earth as witness to his Perfections when Mara challenged the Bodhisatta for the Diamond throne.

SARNATH, PREACHIN G OF FIRST SERMON

After spending seven weeks at the seven places in Buddhagaya, the Buddha was undecided about teaching the Dhamma that he had discovered to others. Brahma Sahampati, on reading his thoughts, implored him to teach otherwise the world would be lost without the Dhamma. Out of compassion, he decided to go to Sarnath to preach to his former companions, the Five Ascetics, who had abandoned him when he forsook the path of self mortification and adopted the Middle Path or the Noble Eightfold Path.

Travelling on foot, the Buddha arrived at Deer Park or Isipatana in Sarnath on the full-moon day of Asalha (Chinese 6th lunar month). When the Five Ascetics saw him, they were skeptical that he had realized enlightenment but the Buddha was able to convince them of his attainment. That night, the Buddha delivered the historic First Sermon, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta or Discourse on Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma, which led to Ven. Kondanna attaining first stage of Sainthood at the end of the discourse.

"The Turning Wheel"

The very site where Buddha himself gave his first Sermon - Dhammacakkapavatana Sutta

The remaining four, namely: Ven. Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji attained first-stage sainthood successively over the next four days. Next day the Buddha preached the Anattalakkhana Sutta or Discourse on on Self, hearing which all attained Arahantship. In Sarnath too, the Buddha converted the rich man Yasa and his 54 friends, who all became Arahants. These were the first sixty Arahant disciples of the Buddha who formed the original Bhikkhu Sangha.

"Paradaksina"

Sangha to lead paradaksina/circumambulating Dhamekh Stupa as a form of respect

These events occurred during the first rainy season or Vassa. After the rains had subsided, the Buddha instructed his sixty disciples to disseminate the Teaching, no two disciples going by the same road.

Thus Sarnath became famous because of the following events:

• First sermon, Discourse on Turning the Wheel of Dhamma.

• Founding of Bhikkhu Sangha & spreading of the Dhamma.

• First Rains Retreat took place in Sarnath.

According to Commentary, all Buddhas preach their first sermon in Deer Park, Isipatana in Sarnath. It is called Avijahitatthanani or one of the four places that do not vary for all Buddhas.

KUSINARA, PLACE OF MAHAPARINIBBANA

Three months before he reached the age of eighty, the Buddha renounced his will to live at the Capala Shrine in Vesali. Travelling in stages via Pava where he ate his last meal offered by the smith Cunda, he reached the final resting-place at the Sala grove of the Mallas by the bank of the Hirannavati River in Kusinara. There on the full-moon day of Wesak in 543 BC, the Buddha passed into Mahaparinbbana, the passing away into Nibbana wherein the elements of clinging do not arise. His last convert was the wandering ascetic Subhadda. His last words to the bhikkhus were: “Handa ‘dani bhikkhave amantayami vo: Vaya-dhamma sankhara. Appamadena sampadetha.”

Translation: “Indeed, bhikkhus, I declare this to you: It is the nature of all conditioned things to perish. Accomplish all your duties with mindfulness.”

"The Morning of Mahaparinibbana"

It was a fine quiet morning when we visited,

the sun gave a touch of gold to the humble white temple

The Mahaparinibbana Temple and Stupa is the most hallowed place in Kusinara and marks the site where the Buddha entered Mahaparinibbana in 543BC.

The rear view of the Mahaparinibbana Temple showing the bell shaped Mahaparinibbana Stupa in the foreground is a low brick stupa which is believed to be the site where the Buddha entered Mahaparinibbana under the twin sala tee in 543BC

This 5th century image of the Buddha entering Mahaparinibbana is very special. It can arouse strong emotions depending on where one stands looking at it. Viewed from the middle, one can discern a mood of suffering in the face, but viewed from the head, one can discern calm and peace in the facial expression.

"Resting in Serenity"

The unique facial expression of this recumbent image captured the Bliss of Peace (Santisukha) as the Buddha enters Mahaparinibbana on his 80th birthday in Kusinara

The Buddha was accorded the funeral of a Universal Monarch. His body was wrapped in cotton and put in an iron coffin filled with oil and cremated at the Makutabandhana,the consecration ground of the Mallas.

Cremation Stupa shown here was erected by the Mallas and expanded by King Asoka during 3rd century BC later during the Gupta period.

"Sarira"

The cremation site of Buddha, where his relics were divided into 8 to the lord of each kingdoms

Legs Up

18 Sept 2013 - QR - Zagreb to Doha
Here's a pic of my fellow flying mate. She sat next to me. I secretly took her interesting flying pose.

I like her style...

She kept her legs up for hours, must be a good treatment for varicose veins

and I admire her non-stinking socks (or else, passenger at front would have commented something)

Guinness Book of Record: The Longest Centipede Procession (蜈蚣座）

To celebrate 福德堂/HokTekTong/Himpunan-Tjinta-Teman/HTT's 150 years anniversary, a series of events were held to celebrate it. One of the most anticipated one was The Centipede Procession or Sepasan or 蜈蚣座.

The achievement was awarded by Guinness Book of World Record and MURI (Indonesian Record) as the Longest Centipede Procession in the world, they broke the previously held world record by 金门 KinMen County, Taiwan, by having 223 kids on boards, total length of the construction is 250m, number of people participated in carrying the centipede was 1500 people, taking a route of 3.9km (basically circling Padang's Chinatown).

The procession was carried completely on human strength, without wheel and engines; all by 100% human strength. Of course, HTT has 5000++ members, they sure can carry a bit this. Noting that, HTT member carried coffins almost on regular basis.

Although there were a bit of light shower in the middle of the procession, it ran quite smooth and elegantly. It's a success! Very proud to see the young kids to behave very well, it's a big thing, since the kids were 2-5 years old and they were dressed in complicated costumes too. Even some foreign kids participated in this procession, ignoring the language and cultural barriers.

Apparently the procession has always been carried out years and years ago. The term Sepasan (Centipede in Minang language/Padang local dialect) was a translation of 蜈蚣. Looking at the similarity of the wooden construction with KinMen County, there's a big probability that both originated from the same source: somewhere in FuJian, Mainland China. 

FuJian Chinese Immigrants started to come to Padang-Indonesia sometime in Qing Dynasty (Canton Chinese came a bit later), a conclusion roughly taken by reading some of inscription left in HTT. In the same time, I guess, some of them went to somewhere closer to FuJian: Taiwan. It's amazing that this particular tradition is well preserved until today.
The only difference from KinMen version is the Head part. Padang's Centipede has evolved into a Dragon (always been as far as my memory goes); while KinMen's Centipede is still looks like a Centipede.
Used to wonder why this dragon called as Sepasan? Now the mystery is answered.

You can watch a report on our local TV station here (in Chinese)

Here are some pictures of the glorious procession

The original name of HTT-福德堂 was 建德堂. Looking from the name, you'd probably able to draw a family-line to some South East Asian areas. The early immigrants didn't aim for one particular places, they spread to a different places, carrying their unique cultures that deeply infused until the very day. The brother-organisations can be found in cities of Malaysia and Myanmar. Some more are yet to be discovered, the world is all connected after all.

Big Balloon - Failed

the giant balloon of the "Gateway of India" - Bombay

Look how cool this giant balloon is.
All I think about when I saw it that it'd be so cool for Nara's 1st Bday.
I imagined to tied up those giant balloons on his waist and it'd look like Disney Pixar's UP.

So, I bought a pack of ten (and WAS regretting not buying more of them. Not anymore now)

the length of the tile is 60cm

On Nara's Bday, I really brought up the balloon. And to my big disappointment, it never turn out to be what I expected. I wanted to be as big as the vendor's!!! 

I guess I've been fooled.

Should have asked the vendor "Are these balloons gonna turn out to be as big as what you have now???"

I also googled about this Bombay Balloon, see if anyone succeed... Not much luck. 

But I found a lady wrote something about Big Balloons of Bombay here.

Who buys them ?  ---  me?

How much do they pay? --- around 50 rupee if I'm not mistaken

What do they do with them? --- Blow it?

How long do they take to blow up? --- not long, see this youtube clip. I tried using my mouth too, it tooked 5 mins, I guess

Why? --- cos giant balloon is cool

Incredible India

not much use this time, but one day it will

I haven't blogged for quite sometime now. Many things happened.
This is one of them: I FINALLY VISITED INDIA end of last month
Not for pilgrimage, it's for work so we spent days for factories visits. But we managed to squeeze some fun time in it.
I dunno if the company has treated us very well, or India is really nice; I mean people said India is a very dirty and smelly country, I didn't see much evidences there. The country is so beautiful... and people are nice too.
I have to admit that they've put us into 5-star hotel, but there was 1 night where we stayed at not-so-starry hotel, and it was fine. Maybe I have a lousy standard, anyway.

Taj Mahal, Agra

barefooted in Jaipur. The top right pic: tat's before I was getting soaked

It was a crazy bloody hot day when we visited Jantar Mantar - an outdoor astrological museum of Jaipur, and all of the sudden it started to rain. None were prepared for the heavy pour, and just in minutes the street were flooded. Rather than sacrificing my sandals (which will be hell to dry), and the gushing water seems so clean!!!, I took my chance: walking barefoot on the street of Jaipur! How legendary was that.
Anyway, we actually revisited the site in the afternoon when the sun was back. And I finally realised the street wasn't that clean afterall (there were the holy cows, goats, and dogs' leftovers).
Oh, well... it's done, and I survived.

India, I'll be back!

Netherlands' gift for me: Amaryllis Bulbs

can't help it. need to show my pics. haha

One of the compulsory tourist stop in Netherlands is Keukenhof Flower Garden - a super huge flower garden, usually full of the country's trademark flower: Tulips.

I've tried planting Tulips in Indonesia several times, and none succeed. I give up!

So, this time I bought some amaryllis bulbs, the vendor guarantee that it'll grow well in tropics. I was sceptic, thus buying only 4 bulbs.

The bulbs I bought from Keukenhof

Blooming-size Bulb, ready to bloom in 6-8 weeks

 And guess what? Once I returned home, I was greeted with this huge red bloom. I realised that I always have Amaryllis growing in front of my room's window. OMG!

I bought it years ago in Berastagi, it bloomed once and never bloom again until now. Since the sellers in Berastagi don't know the proper name (they simply call it whatever they want, such Trumpet Flower, Red Flower...) I couldn't get information on how to grow it properly. 

Never know such jewel was always in my garden :) until she bloomed

But now that I know it called Amaryllis, I know that they are happy in tropics, although there are some tricks to force them to bloom.

Big big regret that I didn't get more bulbs from Keukenhof. I should have bought a dozen or more.
Officially bitten by Amaryllis-fever bug now. 

Mon Amour, Mon Chéri

I was first introduced to Mon Chéri chocolate by Dj last year, been looking for it, and I finally found it at Düsseldorf Airport. I quickly fell in love with this little darling, they are so yummy. I regret that I bought only a few of them that time. Ever since, on my trips to Europe, I try to look for it, it's so odd that a Ferrero chocolate is so hard to find. I hardly see it at any petrol stop in Italy or France.
On my recent trip, I found some at a petrol station from Paris to Lucerne. And I finally got some more at a supermarket at Lucerne. I carried them as much as my baggage allowance allow me :) Not a good thing, though. A bad bad craving.

So what is Mon Chéri? It's a dark chocolate filled with cherry and brandy :) so yummmmyyyyy!!!

Indonesians, as usual, are clueless-followers; when I bought Mon Chéri at the petrol station, some saw me, and rushed to get the same thing too. I had to gave up a couple of boxes from them. While others also put a radar on any petrol-stops' shops. They didn't have any luck until we reached Lucerne, there, then they bought a few boxes for themselves. Since I bought plenty myself too, I opened up the box and shared it to others, so they could have a taste of it. 
And why it's not surprising that they didn't like it. They kinda "blame" me saying, "Well, you bought so many, we thought it's very nice!!!"
Heheheh... they didn't know it's dark chocolate, they didn't know it contains a bit of alcohol, they didn't even know it has any cherry in it. 
Gee!!! They dunno what they are missing, dude.

Life Lessons: For Me to Remember

1. DO NOT WEAR OLD SHOES

On my recent trip to Europe, I was aware that the weather was kinda cold, so I opted for a low leather boots.My usual travel shoes are: flats, sandals or a light running shoes. My only boots were wore once 3 years ago, and I never wore it ever since then. Not because they are not nice, but simply I have nowhere to wear them. So, this time, I did.
At the airport, before departure, I found out my heel cap has fell off. Lucky they sell power-glue at the airport. It saved my day (well, that day).
The next day, I found out the other heel cap fell off too. It was easily fixed using the left-over power glue.
But then, things got worse, the soles were opening up!!! Now, even the power glue didn't have enough power to save it.
I was quite calm :) hiding my nervousness about the shoes.

Luckily, at Brussel, I found a small shop selling SALE shoes for Euro20. Nice!!! It was soft, flat and comfortable. Though, it maybe not the best shoes to wear on snow at the Alps.
But I survived. Thank you.

2.DO BUY YOUR JEANS ONE-SIZE DOWN
I always love the jeans I bought with Y in Canada, they might be a little expensive, but I've been wearing them for years. Though, it has given up on me, by leaving me a big hole on the knees.
The hole wasn't there in first place, I kept on wearing and washing it until it just get thin and cracked.

On this recent trip, I bought a pair of jeans. Kinda a hectic impulse buying thing. So, once I tried and found it fits. I just grabbed and pay for it.
I should have remember that, years ago, the sales lady in Canada insisted me to get a smaller size. I remember she "forced" me to get size 26, instead of a tight-27, and  a comfy-28.
26 seriously seems impossible, I was stuffing my wobbly tummy in it.
But she was right, as time goes by, the jeans fits perfectly.

Stupid me, my recent buy was a comfy-size 28. After wearing it for 2 days, it just hanging loose on my butt, making my flat-butt  even flatter than a failed-pancake. I could even fit 2 fists on my waist.
I hope I can remember my own preachings for next shopping spree.

3. NEVER EVER SEND ANY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TRU ANY HOTEL'S BUSINESS CENTRE
I need to send my passport A.S.A.P once I reached Jkt. So, I thought the easiest way was to send it through my hotel's business centre. They were helpful etc, I paid a premium fee for a Jakarta-to-Jakarta document.
After 4 days, the recipient part was urging me for the passport since they really need it for my next trip's visa, which is in about 10 days time. I called up the hotel, and I got a very odd answer: "We have dropped the package into a mail-box, Mam. Just wait for it"

WTF, I don't even know a mail-box still exists at all. I was so desperate that I called up my back-up: the company that booked me in that hotel!!! It works, the hotel GM handling my case personally.
So what happened next was, they traced my document package from the "mail-box" to "branch-post-office" and to "main-post office". They found it there. I was so relieved. Then the hotel representative delivered my passport personally to the recipient.

I dunno who's to blame: my stupidity for trusting a hotel biz-centre, the lazy bell-boy that just simply dropped whatever into a ancient mail-box, or the biz-centre lady who is ignorant! I packed the passport in front of her, emphasising how important it is; I even get the envelope from her. And she assured me that it'll be delivered the next day. Gosh...
But thank you for finding it back. Now I can get on my next trip :)