Finally!  Spent my entire Sunday on it (tedious!) and finally moved my entire blog:

THEDIPLOMATICWIFE.COM

I will no longer be uploading posts on this one. All posts will be on my new site!

Please check it out and if you’re from the US or Canada join the freebie giveaway contest!

(image: 123rentahome)

(Image: wedding-planning-makes-perfect.com)

We all know that I have a new blog, THEDIPLOMATICWIFE.COM, and to celebrate it I am partnering with CSN stores again! CSN has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from gorgeous lights to fantastic fitness equipment to fabulous cookware!!

Click here to find out more.

My magnetic knife rack sort of looks like this (image: Kitchen Essentials)

I love my IKEA magnetic knife rack but I noticed it’s been nicking my lovely stainless steel knives! Oh no! So I found some useful information online which I hope you find helpful too! If you have any other ideas please do drop me a line! Thanks! 

(image: twiningsfs.co.uk)

I love Peach Tea! When I have guests over for afternoon tea, I usually offer this with my specialty: Banana Bread. Usually they will prefer the Peppermint tea but once they’ve tried the Peach they don’t go back to Peppermint. 

I love the lamps in the entrance! If I am not mistaken these are contraptions the locals used to use for catching fish!

Over the holidays we had dinner with our fab friend Ted and his visiting Mom and Sister at Seribu Rasa Restaurant.

Seribu Rasa means “One Thousand Flavors” and is owned by the same owners of Penang Bistro (which we love too!). It is no wonder everything we had was excellent. I hope I got the names right because didn’t really get to take notes this time since we were busy chatting with everyone. Here are pics of the yummy food and the gorgeous interiors! More pictures after the jump below.

Udang gulung tempo doeloe

Selat popia (Kue pie tie)

Click here to see THEDIPLOMATICWIFE.COM

 

Movin' my baby to a new home! (NOT that I would ever put a baby in a box - I just thought this was TOO cute!)

I am finally moving my baby, ze blog, to THEDIPLOMATICWIFE.COM!

Friends I am happy to announce that I’ve finally conquered what I’ve been putting off for so long and figured out how to move my site to a .COM! There is so much more to do! But I finally jumped right in and did it!

Been sick for the past few days so decided to take the time spent in bed and put it to good use! Yesterday I spend the entire night trying to install WordPress (it didn’t seem like a “one click installation” to me!) It was getting late so I gave up and was actually contemplating on getting my money back (Networksolutions.com offers 30-day money back guarantee minus a $25 fee). Thank God the NS Customer Service guy called me today (he had to be very persistent  to call me about 5 or 6 times because long-distance connection is always bad in Jakarta) and it was indeed easier than it looked! (I am sort of a techy idiot and am seriously freaked out by web jargon.)

Hope you can check out my new blog and change your bookmarks/links/subscriptions. I’ll be copying most of the posts here to the new blog too. (Anyone know a fast way to do this?) Looking forward to seeing you at the new site!

* Update: Still having trouble on the .com homefront (the site is currently down) because I tinkered with something I probably shouldn’t have. =P Will let you know when it is up and running again. In the meantime enjoy my continued posts on this one.

 

With a pin to boot. Thanks Richard and Josef for the awesome remembrance of Suzuki Cup 2010!!

I was telling Rob Gier during our lunch with Azkals here in Jakarta that I wanted to have them sign something but I was a bit embarrassed. And with some encouragement from him to send over something for the team to sign (he said he would pass it around) I sent them the pics I took of them for signing.

The best thing was Richard, one of their managers, asked me if I wanted a signed shirt to go with that! Of course I said yes! How exciting! I didn’t really wanna ask but since he offered…who am I to say no to that?!? =D  

Lunch with Ambeth Ocampo at Tita Noreens

We were invited to Sunday lunch by Tita Noreen together with Ambeth Ocampo as the guest of honor. He is in Jakarta for a few months doing some research – lucky for us! I am thrilled he’s here. He is not only a famous historian and writer, he was also my professor in college – much feared for his surprise long tests! =P What makes Ambeth Ocampo interesting and current as a teacher and writer is his quest for the truth. He questioned things that we numbly absorbed and memorized from history books… Why do they depict our Katipuneros as dressed in white and red (moving targets) during the revolt? Why is Rizal depicted in a winter overcoat in our monument when we are a tropical country? (Yes I am re-reading “RIZAL WITHOUT THE OVERCOAT” and remembering my college years). He encourages curiosity and questions which make history much more interesting!

Tita Noreen prepared for us wonderful Indonesian fare that we enjoyed with scintillating and humorous conversation that I’ve come to expect when Ambeth Ocampo is in the room. In fact we had so much fun that lunch ended at about 5:30 pm. Talk about a long Sunday lunch! It’s nice to have it here in Jakarta once in a while because it reminds me of my younger days when we always for long Sundays lunches at the grandparents.

We talked about everything from politics, to culture and being pinoy. There were so many funny insights and thoughts that I wish I could write them all down! Thanks so much Tita Noreen for being such a wonderful host and showing us your wonderful home. She’s collected so many interesting things from her stay in Jakarta and travels all over the world – and the stories behind these items are just as precious!

Tons of pictures after the jump! 

Will our Azkals finally have a home?

The national teams have been without a regular practice facility and trained in different venues like University of Makati, Nomads, Alabang Country Club, Ateneo and International School.

Rebloggged from Two Indonesian clubs woo Azkals’ skipper – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos. Go Aly!!! If you play in Indonesia we’ll take you out! =)

MANILA—Two Indonesian football clubs have expressed interest in tapping the services of Philippine team skipper Aly Borromeo.

The 27-year-old Borromeo, who plays central defense for the Azkals, told the Inquirer that Semarang United and the Medan Chiefs have contacted him for a possible deal to play in the Indonesian Premiere League. 

Our valentines

As a rule I don’t celebrate Valentines on the day itself. I am all for celebrating love but in the Philippines Valentines has become so commercialized that it’s crazy. I am in Marketing by profession and I know how much brands/companies try their damnedest to capitalized on Valentines so people spend their hard-earned cash. Having been one of those people who find ways to get people to spend on Valentines, I know that it isn’t just about celebrating love anymore but it has become about marketing and money. For me this is not what Valentines is about that (with all that traffic!) so I made a deal with my husband (then my boyfriend) that we wouldn’t celebrate Valentines on the day itself. I told him any day of the year is fine to celebrate our love. I also don’t allow him to give me flowers on Feb 14 after all those flowers are just as beautiful and precious on any other day so I don’t understand why the prices get crazy on V-day! Read on to see how we spent last Feb 14 instead… in our friend C’s beautiful home with tons of yummy food! 

 

The wide selection

Finally went to Cork & Screw with friends over the holidays. It’s a popular bar located in Plaza Indonesia Mall.

We sat by the bar

 

Irina Shayk is the new cover of Sports Illustrated (image: Lucire)

Yes Irina Shayk (Russian model and WAG) is the new covergirl of Sports Illustrated.

Strawberries and Orange with some sea salt for breakfast!

One of the BEST things about living in Jakarta (if not the best!) are the wonderful FRESH FRUITS! They not only have such a big variety of fruits (I was overwhelmed the very first time I saw the fruits section of Grand Lucky Supermarket) but it’s cheap too! So we get to eat them regularly and have fresh fruit juice daily too!! Isn’t that just awesome?!? 

YUUUUUMMMMMMM! (Social House Brunch Eggs Benedict)

Off the top of my head, these are our personal favorites in the short time that we’ve been living in Jakarta. Not that we are experts or any thing, there is so much yet we haven’t tried. And I would love any recommendations from you guys! Drop me a line =)

I will be adding to this list from time to time, if we discover other awesome restos.

BRUNCH

1. Social House Grand Indonesia for Brunch (Best Eggs Benedict for me! I reco the Turkey ham and the pork bacon)
2. Lobo for Sunday Martini Brunch (Who doesn’t love unlimited Martinis?)
3. Pearl Restaurant JW Marriot for super cheap chinese sunday buffet brunch! Love the roasted suckling pig, peking duck and fried prawn wanton!
4. Koi Kemang The eggs benedict for me is not as good as SoHo, but eating here is always a fab experience with the fab art and furni which are also for sale. Go up to the 2nd floor for some furni/decor shopping to work off the calories.