Are You the One or Am I Looking at the Wrong Man?

I have been diligently following two fan pages on Facebook; one that supports the government and one that constantly mocks it. The last mentioned has gone a few levels up from just criticising; they spread false information to turn people away from the new ruling President. 

I secretly admire the 'puppet' used by the government opposition to write super silly articles to fool people because he is so passionate about what he is doing, but every time he convinces people that he is not the kind of person he is (and even deceives himself about it too) I feel disgusted. It is better to be a villain and admit that you are a villain and do a villain job passionately than putting on a mask of an angel when you know you've got the devil's horns. What a shame. 

Whether you're an angel or a demon, you will still have followers anyway. This world is not flat and only two third of its population will want to follow the truth. The good news is: we who seek the light are far more in number than our adversary and at the end of the day the enemy will realise how lonely he is. Those surrounding him are only there because they fear him; they don't love. And when their own life is at stake, one by one they will leave him.

Our goal isn't how to slap the enemy back, how to get an eye for an eye.. Our goal is how to turn a foe into a friend. Although we can't win all of them, we can still aim for the key people. Who are the key people? The educated. The honest. The pure in heart. The ones with integrity. These people will build a nation. Forget the mockers. Because even if we make them happy, their voices don't really count.

They are the people that the Lord talked about in Luke 7 
31 “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 
32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not cry.’

They see the fruit of Jesus' ministry. They see the nation changed, they just won't be happy about it. They are so determined to be unhappy. No matter who their leader is. Because even when John the Baptist (who was the greatest among the religious leaders at that time) didn't eat bread nor drink wine, they called him demon possessed but when Jesus came and ate bread and drank wine he was bullied as a drunkard and sinner. They drag people down because they don't feel comfortable watching another person stand out way brighter than themselves.

John the Baptist had his moment of doubt too. He sent his messengers to ask Jesus (I think he knew exactly who Jesus was, he was only showing Jesus his disappointments) whether he was the true Messiah or should they wait for another man. Jesus didn't ask him to believe in him to answer that question. He simply asked John TO SEE THE FRUIT.

There will be many times in our lives when we fall into a pit of doubt. Asking God if he is really God will not do us any favors. God will not convince you as if he was afraid of losing that respect from you. Whether you believe or not, he is still going to rule anyway, forever and a day. But what he does is ask you: WHAT HAVE I DONE IN YOUR LIFE.. for you? You have a place to rest your head. You have food to eat. You have warm clothes to wrap your body. And the fact that you are still alive today.. If it wasn't for God's mercy..

Katandra Walk - NSW

John was disappointed, waiting for his life about to end at the hands of a wicked king. Jesus responded with a comforting truth:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Isn't that beautiful? These are the reasons why John was doing what he was doing. Both John and Jesus lived for the same cause and he should be grateful for the fruit, even if that cost them their lives. I believe that John eventually died in peace knowing his prayers HAD been answered.

You and I might not be questioning God's skill at being god at the moment, but we could do that to our leaders. We are being skeptical and disappointed because our expectations are not met. We doubt their anointing and authority upon our lives. But this is not a time of proving. This is time for us to look at our surrounding: have the lost been found? people's lives changed? your spiritual man grown? has the good news been proclaimed?

Check your self and check your situation. God is always at work. Whether you acknowledge him or not. A bit of gratitude will bring you forward, and not pin your feet to the ground. You will not be stuck. No one, no president, no boss, no leader is perfect. They have their own accountability before God, but our part is just to be grateful. We are kept under a shield of authority - the right place to be.

God bless you!

Udah Mandi Belum?

Sudah lama tidak menulis blog karena transisi dalam hidup (cieee..) dan hari ini kangennya tidak terbantahkan lagi. Menulis itu therapeutic. Bagi yang lebih leluasa menyampaikan uneg-unegnya lewat tulisan seperti saya, menulis itu bagaikan hujan yang meneduhkan sebuah hari yang terik #truestory. 

Saya ingat waktu berumur 6 tahun, untuk meluruskan sebuah konflik dengan teman yang tinggal two houses away from mine, saya menulis sepucuk surat permohonan maaf. The thing is, I never sent that letter to her *tongue emoticon*

Well anyway, pagi ini indah sekali. Tinggal di daerah pedesaan adalah perpindahan yang cukup drastis dari habitat saya yang hingar bingar di kota Denpasar. Tidak banyak kendaraan, tidak banyak manusia, dan toko-toko tutup jam 7 malam. Mobilitas yang rendah serta pemukiman yang jarang menjadi sebuah jeda yang manis menuju musim kami yang baru. Cities are great but we all need a simple life every once in a while, amen? 

Setelah minum teh dan ngobrol bersama mertua dan kakak ipar yang mampir ke rumah dengan kedua balitanya, saya pergi ke laundry room untuk mencuci baju. Satu hal yang saya sukai di Australia adalah betapa banyaknya hal untuk dipelajari. Beeeeegitu banyak! Rasanya seperti menjadi anak ingusan yang baru duduk di bangku sekolah, agak memalukan tapi daripada tersesat, lebih baik bertanya di jalan!

Sambil menunggu pakaian tercuci bersih, saya menatap ke luar jendela karena sudut mata ini menangkap gerakan-gerakan kecil di sana. Seekor wonga pigeon sedang mandi di pemandian burung yang sengaja didirikan oleh papa mertua saya di pekarangan rumahnya. Menyadari kehadiran saya, burung itu diam sejenak lalu melanjutkan mandi setelah dirasanya cukup aman untuk kembali beraktivitas. Tiga atau empat kali celupan (badan) kemudian, ia terbang dan menghilang dari pandangan, yang tak lama kemudian diikuti oleh kehadiran seekor birdcat. Dinamakan birdcat karena burung ini mengeluarkan suara layaknya seekor kucing yang sedang berkelahi. Badannya lebih besar dari burung pertama dengan warna abu-abu dan pendaran hijau di sekitar punggungnya. Eksotik. 

Ia mandi dengan ceria, mengibaskan bulunya sesekali dan mencelupkan kepala dan badannya ke dalam air. Saya tersenyum memikirkan betapa seekor burungpun dianugerahi hikmat oleh Tuhan untuk membersihkan diri, sekalipun ia tak bertuan.

Kebersihan sudah menjadi bagian yang esensial bagi kelestarian seekor burung. Membersihkan dirinya dirasa penting jika ia mau bertahan hidup. Lalu bagaimana dengan kita? Tentu saja sebagian besar dari kita suka mandi setiap hari, tapi bagaimana dengan kebersihan jiwa? Akankah kita tergerak untuk spiritual-grooming ourselves.. everyday?

Setiap kali jalan terasa terjal dan ketakutan merasuki jiwa, saya tahu itu adalah waktu yang krusial untuk lebih banyak membaca Alkitab, lebih sering berdoa, lebih rendah hati untuk mengevauasi diri dan merubah kelakuan. Sayangnya acapkali saya baru ingat itu di kala sulit, lalu acuh ketika kenyamanan masih terasa. Kita tidak akan menunggu badan jasmani kita untuk berbau apek dulu baru mandi, bukan? Kita mandi karena itu adalah bagian dari norma hidup di mana kita dibesarkan. Kita mandi karena dengan demikian tubuh kita akan beroperasi dengan lebih baik dan kinerja kita akan lebih memuaskan. Jadi.. sudah mandi hari ini? :)

Love Nature Wild Rose Series Oriflame Review

Ternyata kulit yang bermasalah itu nggak hanya disebabkan oleh faktor hormon, makanan yang dikonsumsi, ketidakcocokan dengan kosmetik tertentu, kebersihan yang kurang dijaga, dan lain sebagainya.. tetapi juga oleh kekurangpahaman pemilik kulit dengan jenis kulitnya sendiri lho... Ya, cuma gara-gara satu orang berhasil ngebuktiin keampuhan sebuah produk setelah dia memakainya, belum tentu hasil yang sama juga terjadi pada kita. Alasannya sih sederhana: perbedaan jenis kulit.

Selama jangka waktu yang cukup lama, saya percaya kalau jenis kulit saya itu berminyak. Produk perawatan yang saya pilih tentunya yang membantu mengurangi minyak berlebih, untuk mencegah tumbuhnya jerawat karena debu dan kotoran yang menempel dan tidak tuntas dibersihkan, di antaranya yang mengandung bahan-bahan seperti jeruk nipis, mentimun, lidah buaya, teatree, dan herbal apa saja yang katanya mengatasi jerawat dan komedo. 

Sejauh ini, brand kosmetik yang masih saya percayai karena berbahan dasar alam dan sangat ringan untuk ukuran kulit yang cukup sensitif seperti kulit saya adalah ORIFLAME :)

Yap, saya cinta kepada produk Swedia ini! Sekalipun saking naturalnya, urusan make up jadi tidak terlalu awet di wajah, minimal kulit saya terjaga dari bahan-bahan yang dapat menyebabkan kerusakan permanen. Iihhhh ngeri deh, apalagi hari-hari ini banyak banget kosmetik oplosan beredar dengan mendompleng brand-brand mahal dan terkenal. Duhhhh wajah kan investasi ya.. kalau bisa jangan dijadikan bahan percobaan deh. Mending beralih ke yang pasti-pasti aja dan sudah terjamin kualitasnya dan jauh dari pembajakan abal-abal.

Tapi ya, seperti yang saya tulis di atas, sekalipun pilihan merk sudah betul, nah kalau masih belum paham sama jenis kulit, ya tetep aja resiko salah pakai dan hasilnya jadi ga ngenakin. Pernah saya maksain diri pake krem penghapus noda jerawat karena banyak yang pakai dan merasakan keampuhannya, tapi lupa kalau mereka itu rata-rata memiliki jenis kulit normal dengan pori-pori kecil. Yaudah, di saya langsung kena jerawatan deh :(

Lalu suatu hari saya pergi ke spa dan mbak therapist-nya nyeletuk, "Wajahnya kering ya, Mbak, sering jemuran ke pantai yah?"

Dari situ saya ngeh kalau diagnosa saya selama ini salah. Bukannya kulit berminyak, tapi kering! Nauzubillah bin zali... *facepalm*

Dan suatu ketika saat sedang menginap di hotel, karena kelupaan bawa moisturiser, terpaksa deh saya pakai yang ada: lotion hotel. Kandungan lotion yang sebagian besar air (AQUA) sangat bagus untuk menghidrasi kulit kering. Karena hasilnya bagus, saya jadi ketagihan make, pagi dan malam hari.. xixixi.. Dan juga sekaligus membuktikan kalau jenis kulit saya memang benar kering.

Siipp, kulit sudah dikenali, tinggal cari senjata yang tepat. Kebetulan pas lagi dikirimi katalog terbaru dari Oriflame, dan mata saya langsung terpaku sama seri Love Nature berbahan Wild Rose yang fungsinya untuk nourishing dry skin atau menutrisi kulit kering. Aaahhhh... ngebayanginnya aja, berasa kayak padang pasir dikunjungi embun di pagi hari! Kebetulan paket ini lagi diskon, cuma 130rb dapet cleanser, day cream sama night cream-nya udah komplit! Eh gak hanya itu loh, Oriflame juga ngasih kejutan waktu paket ini nyampe, diiringi oleh si Tender Care imut dalam kemasan baru, satu tema dengan paket Love Nature, berbahan rose. Kotak mungilnya yang pink nge-jreeng bikin gemes deh :D Jadi ga sabar nyobain!

Yuk tengok satu-satu produknya....

1. Love Nature 2-in-1 Cleanser Wild Rose

Yang teristimewa dari rangkaian Love Nature Wild Rose ini adalah wanginya! Manis dan menyegarkan. Membersihkan wajah jadi menyenangkan dan mudah banget dengan 2-in-1 cleanser ini. 

Oleskan di atas kapas secukupnya dan apply pada wajah yang kering. Karena tidak mengandung sabun, cleanser ini ga bikin wajah berkesan kesat. Hanya segar dan lembab :)

2. Love Nature Day Cream Wild Rose

Setelah wajah dibersihkan, perawatan dilanjutkan dengan pemakaian day cream. Ini wajib sebelum memakai alas bedak, soalnya wajah kita perlu dipasangi 'tameng' dari akibat buruk sinar matahari. Dan sekali lagi, begitu membukan tutup cream imut ini, langsung disapa dengan aromanya yang manis dan segar! Tekstur krim ini lembut banget, ngingetin sama yogurt hehehe.. Eh, pernah loh saking manisnya, krim yang jatoh di lantai langsung dikerubutin semut (bener ga bo'ong!)

Begitu diaplikasikan, langsung terserap ke dalam pori-pori kulit. Sekitar lima menitan, udah nempel gitu aja, ga ninggalin minyak atau kesan kesat di wajah. Pas banget buat yang kering-kering cenderung retak, hahaha..

Siipp.. Lanjut ya ke Night Cream-nya :)

3. Love Nature Night Cream Wild Rose

Setelah rutinitas pembersihan wajah di malam hari, dan kalau bisa rajin peeling wajah seminggu sekali (kalau tingkat stress wajah cukup tinggi) habis itu lanjut aplikasikan Love Nature Wild Rose Night Cream. Kandungan AQUA yang cukup tinggi dalam krim ini tidak akan mengundang komedo di wajah kamu yang kering. Begitu bangun di pagi hari, wajah jadi lebih segar dan tidak kusam! Salah satu kelebihan Oriflame yang melegenda adalah kemasannya yang mudah dibawa ke mana-mana. Walaupun mungil, pakai dua colek krim ini aja udah cukup buat seluruh area wajah dan leher kamu loh.. Awet kan!

Oh ya, jangan hanya kulit wajah yang diberi perhatian khusus, kulit di bibir juga donk. Apalagi buat kamu yang tidurnya ditemenin AC, penting untuk menjaga kelembaban bibir. Makanya, bonus kali ini besar manfaatnya :)

4. Tender Care Rose Protecting Balm

Tender care ini terkenal dengan kelebihan manfaatnya yang gak tanggung-tanggung. Kali ini saya khusus memakai keluaran terbaru ini untuk perawatan bibir (kalau yang versi sebelumnya kadang saya pakai di lipatan siku, lutut, dan bekas luka supaya kusamnya pudar). 

Oleskan tender care di malam hari sebelum tidur. Katanya sih, Tender Care juga efektif mengurangi hitam bibir supaya lebih merona. Asal disiplin dan rutin aja makeknya sih..

Tekstur Tender Care mirip produk petroleum jelly, cuman gak sama lengket dan kentalnya. Ga terlalu berminyak. Cukup ringan dipakai secara rutin.

Selain untuk perawatan, Tender Care juga berfungsi sebagai pengganti lip balm sebelum mengaplikasikan lipstik favoritmu. Warna lipstik jadi lebih tahan lama. Ada juga yang menggunakannya sebagai ganti eyeshadow base. Pokoknya si Tender Care ini kecil-kecil cabe rawit deh! Multiguna banget :D

Untuk yang ini saya pilih Oriflame Beauty Moroccan Pink :) Lipstiknya lembut dan kandungan moisturisernya tinggi. 

Nah, sekian dulu review dari saya untuk Love Nature Wild Rose Series. Keep your skin healthy and enjoy today, girls!

Love always,

Sudi

xox 

A Mangrove To Remember

A little truth: on the third day of our honeymoon I went on a solo adventure to visit mangrove forest which was five minutes walk from our bungalow on Nusa Lembongan while my husband took his long nap, exhausted from the wedding marathon and lots of trips. Yesterday I made it up to him by taking him to visit mangrove forest in Bali. 200 meters away to the east from Bali Mall Galleria on Bay Pass Ngurah Rai street.

There was no price list on the ticket booth and we were going to be charged $10 per person to enter (I'd be insane if I agreed on that). Edde is sick of getting ripped off in Bali because he is white (poor thing). So I bargained and paid $5 for both of us although as a local I think I should have paid maximum $1 or so but didn't want to waste time arguing and the sun was setting fast.

Mangrove is a magical place, especially when the light is dimming. The shape of the trees stimulate your imagination and in the quietness of the surrounding you can hear exotic sounds like.. with the sound effect of a cave. Funny bird chirps, crabs fighting and insects buzzing and there was this weird popping noise that we laughed at like something chews a gum and blows it and pops it over and over.

Couples like this place because they can talk here for hours and watch the light fade out slowly. Or simply just to take a walk and climb the stairs up the tower in the middle of the forest. Mangrove is also a famous spot for pre-wedding photo sessions in Bali.

We didn't finish walking the whole jetty because it became to dark to see but we felt refreshed and were ready to move on to dinner so we headed back, followed by a few young boys with a guitar who played us a serenade from behind. They were funny. Some men turned up into the dark to catch shrimp in the water afterwards.

Tips: Before entering, stop for a toilet break first. Bring your water supply and camera. Apply some mosquito repellant and don't rush - take your time and enjoy every step of the jetty.

Also, let's keep our Bali clean, friends. Please throw plastics or junk in its proper place:)

Love,

Sudi

xx

smile emotikon

Lazy and Quick Costumes for You and The Gang

I'm not going to go spiritual here and talk about why or why don't we celebrate Halloween but just like Christmas for the western world and Chinese New Year for asians, it's another reason to throw a party. And it's becoming more cultural and less ceremonial over time. The bottom line is that the 31st of October is believed to be the time when the line between the living and the dead is blurred and wearing a mask would protect us from the evil spirits roaming around town. 

Traditions are usually good for business so living in Bali, I get used to see banners and ads inviting people to Halloween parties displayed on public places closer to the date. If you happen to work in a company that supports the tradition, or be invited by some good friend over for his own little 'H' party, you won't be able to avoid the outfit dilemma. You don't want to look evil but you do want to show a certain respect for the host so you can't be uncaring. Well, then how about matching your fashion with a bunch of others? Turning up with your gang at a party is so much fun. I'm sure you won't find it too difficult to convince them to follow your idea. And if they think your chosen theme is a bit dodgy, here are some alternatives..

1. Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred and... 

your brown buddy

Get the clown of the group turn up topless with a collar and spot-painted body. And please say no if he asks if he can come naked. 

2. Go Go Power Rangers!!!!

If you have longer preparation time (and money!), you can order these jackets or custom-made them. 

Oh and don't forget the helmets!

3. Social Media Nerds

Let's be thankful for these social networks that have allowed you and your best buddies get in touch everyday in just one click away. Wear a white tee underneath a coloured cardboard with any of the social media icon and match the colour with a pair of leggings.

4. Emoji Squad

And just as important as the social media, these emojis are the icing on the cake. They make words easier to describe when you don't have a word. And I like how you can be stylish underneath the mask with just a simple LBD or something black and tight.

5. Hash Tag #Yourself

Show them where you stand with this simple diy statement

6. And show them The Awesomeness of 

A group of Seven!

7. Although Sometimes Being Monotonous can be a good 

Anti-Boredom Formula Too

8. The Mean Girls Era is done, 

Time for The Minion Girls!! 

Ba-ba-ba-ba-bananaaaa

Just as simple as a yellow tank top, suspender, denims and your hi-tech fake giant eyeballs.

9. Who Needs Shower???

Feeling brave and want to take it to a K-Pop level? Why don't get creative with these loofah dresses. Oh please be prepared with a proper second layer outfit in case people pull the string off your covering.

10. Indonesia Only

Only those whose teenage years were between the 1990's to 2000 and live in Indonesia will relate to this. Skin tight uniform skirt and a long pair of white socks with a t-shirt because you couldn't care less about changing your clothes after school. Ada Apa dengan Cinta was the Indonesian Grease back at the time. You can make it more impressive by practicing one short dance move and dancing to the movie's soundtracks.


xx

Girls' #1 Problem - The Right MakeUp (Guy)!

One phone call in the middle of the night made me feel excited because it had been a while since my best friend and I talked like we were still in uni. Chatted till one of us fell asleep. But that night was different. She bursted into tears and I just wished I could hug her at that moment. Same tragedy. Same struggle. She dated another Mr. Wrong and had been figthing to move one after the break up. Classic. 

I have been in the same situation and I know how much pain can get involved in the process. So here are some advice I want to share based on my own experience. It's not a formula to a happy ending love story but hopefully can help you make some good long-term decisions. It's as simple as choosing your make up! (no kidding)

Bad Products - Better Standard

Think of any make up kits or beauty tools you purchased. You try one and the other, to get the best fit for your skin. When you've found the right product, you stick to it. But in the process, you might find some of them irritate your skin or don't have the perfect tone for your lips - for example. You evaluate your pick and test it against what you really need. When you know the formula, you then change your standard: OH I ACTUALLY NEED A BEIGE FOUNDATION, NOT A PORCELAIN! OH THAT BRAND IS NOT FOR ME BECAUSE IT IS TOO OILY, I NEED A LIQUID-BASED ONE.

Changing your standard is a smart way to a more satisfying result, but the thing is, do you really know what you need? Of course every girl wants a good guy. But do you know what type of good guy you actually need to look for?

Consultation - Educating the Inner You

One way to find out what cosmetics fit you best is through consultation. First you choose a brand. As God's daughters, our choice is set: they must be His sons. Same faith. Same doctrine. Then after deciding on the brand, you come to another decision: type. What type of God's son do you need? This will involve knowing yourself first. And the kind of output you seek. If you want to look natural, try pastel colours but if you go for a glamorous look, you can pick the glittery ones. The most important thing is: know what type of skin you have. Is it normal/dry/oily or combination? Remember, just because it works for one girl, doesn't necessarily work for you too. Just because he goes to church and his name is on the roster every Sunday and he looks like Shia LaBeouf, doesn't mean he is your 'equally yoked'. Consult, and educate your self, get to know him more.

Provision - How Much Are You Willing to Pay?

So you have filled your shopping basket with your wish list. Now before checking out there is this last boundary you need to pass: cashier. Make sure you are not spending more than you can afford. I am talking about sacrifice. We all have heard that all the best things in life are free but how long will a free purchased stuff last unless you maintain and groom it? Knowing what you want isn't enough. You must ask yourself, "How hard am I willing to fight for it? How much time am I willing to spend in prayer to find out if God is happy with my choice? How long am I willing to wait being single until I meet the right one? How often am I willing to read my Bible to become a better person for that special guy? If you can't afford things in your shopping basket yet, maybe God is telling you to wait a little longer. But be careful. There is no need to pray and fast for 40 days and 40 night for the wrong product either, so keep your heart open. Be sensitive to know the difference between WAIT and NO.

And finally, let God accompany you do the shopping! ;)

Deaf

Gili Trawangan - Lombok

This quietness is deafening.

That kind that none of the animals in the jungle could break with their chirps or roars.

That kind of which the wind can't put to sleep

nor the ocean can mould in the ticking of clocks.

That kind, that the heat only burns to make it wildly blazing

and the rain sweeps to leave traces on wet muddy ground

That kind.......... only flesh and bones can redeem

A kiss

and lots of hugs

A smile

Perhaps, the night is not young 

Let us slip away in the sweetness of dreams and smother this silence to shatter early in the morning, 

on our side of the bed.

Love,

Sudi

xx