Banana Leaf as Plate for Food

Indonesian people use Banana Leaf as Plate for Food. Long ago not about 50 years ago not many people have plates in their house. So the using of Banana Leaf as plate is very common. And many Indonesian traditional foods are still use Banana Leaf as plate until now.

For example, this is "Pecel Bawel Goreng with Tahu" (Fried Pomfret Fish with Tahu). Other food that use Banana Leaf are Gado-gado, Pecel Lele, Nasi Padang, Nasi Uduk, etc. We eat the food with sambal (chilly sauce) and lalapan (fresh vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce, and basil leaves.

Playing in the Park with Your Children

Kids don't like to stay at home all day long. They want to go outside either in the morning or in the afternoon. The cheapest and the easiest way is to take them to the park nearby.

Well, this is Taman Simanjuntak park in the east of Jakarta. It's about 100 x 50 meter square. There are a lot of trees, grass, and also a volley ball field there. I used to take my children there.

There is also a rhinoceros statue there. Many kids like to sit on it. At the same time, up to 3 kids sit on it. All my 3 kids have sit on it.

The Most Important Things in Our Life

What is the most important things in our life? To get Happiness we should know about these things. Many people who are rich, famous, and have everythings are end up in suicide because of deppression. Because of sadness. Kurt Cobain, a singer of Nirvana, committed suicide though he was rich and popular. While Christina Onassis became drug addicts because of depression and died at the age of 38 on 1988. She had US$ 250 million at that time. That's a lot of money then and now.

The most important thing in our life is Faith. We believe that the almighty God always protects us. Always be with us. We believe He provides us everything though we have to try hard for that. This faith is important. If we have this faith, we won't feel alone. If our beloved die or leave us, we will not be sad because we always know that God always be with us.

Don't Change the World. Just Change Yourself!

When I was young I was so eager to change the world. I meet people with the same level and the same thought. And also meet some people higher such as congressmen and even a presidential candidate. But now I realized what I did is wrong.

Some wise men such as Jalaludin Rumi said: "“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

Be Good to Your Parent

When you born to the world, you have nothing. You were naked. You cannot walk, you cannot talk. You even cannot eat for yourself. It's your parent that take care of you. Giving you food, clothes, and home.

When you are a toddler, you yell at your parent and beat them. But your parent dealing with you patiently.

Don't Live Alone

I used to live alone. I do many activities that I can do them alone. Jogging in the morning, watching videos, listening musics, reading, etc. I live alone until the age of 33. But I can tell you, no matter happy when you are alone, it will be happier if you have your own family.

Then I get married. Don't be too picky in choosing your wife. Sometimes you have many excellent criteria such as she must be very beautiful, intelligent, rich, kind, etc. But when you met the girl with your criteria, she doesn't like you. You are not her type!

Giving up to Win

There is a proverb in Javanese, "Mengalah untuk Menang". It means "Giving up to win". Sometimes you don't have to win everything if in the end, it will make you a looser. To leap forward, you have to move backward so you could jump very far.

You don't have to win an argument with your wife if it means you will loose her. Though you "win", you are a looser. It's better you "loose", but you can be with her for the rest of your life.