mer's travel notes

MERLYNATRAVEL MOVES!

2007-11-02T18:25:00.001+01:00

I finally got my own website, http://www.merlyna.org. So, I decided to move all travels' notes there. Thanks for being faithful and patient in reading my notes. Stay tune with me... from another blog :) m

Maastricht: dat gun je jezelf

2005-06-16T23:49:00.000+02:00

"Maastricht" sketched by mer in Enschede, 8 June 2005, based on the visit to Maastricht on 3-4 June 2005"The Bridge"sketched by mer in Enschede, June 2005, based on the visit to Maastricht on 3-4 June 2005

Dubai skyline

2005-06-16T23:46:00.000+02:00

"Dubai skyline"sketched by Mer in Enschede, 8 June '05, based on the visit to Dubai in Dec '04

Yes, I want to wake up in this city!

2005-03-18T20:39:00.000+01:00

(written on my flights from EWR to HNL on Feb 6th, 2005)New York, sketched by mer, 27 feb 2005New York is the concentrate of art and commerce and sport and religion and entertainment and finance, bringing to a single compact arena the gladiator, the evangelist, the promoter, the actor, the trader and the merchant. It carries on its lapel the unexpungeable odor of the long past, so that no matter

Indonesian travelling? Jalan-jalan di Indo?

2005-03-15T00:16:00.000+01:00

Dear all,This is not a travel story. This is just a note or a summary of some ramblings about the (dreamed) future travels of someone named Merlyna Lim.In these last 3++ years, I've been travelling a lot -- overwhelmingly a lot. Flying to more than 50 cities (59 so far, according to my not-so-accurate calculation) in not sure how many countries, 30++ conferences, 20++ lectures, and don't forget 1

Enschede "big" travel

2005-03-03T23:40:00.000+01:00

(c) mer, enschede, 3 march 2005, noon. I made a "big" travel today. On the giant white carpet of snowy Oost-Enschede. Trying to cycle my bike along an obscure path, under vague rays of sun. That's hard. I then decided "not to follow where the path might lead". I went "instead where there was no path and left a trail." [1]Hey, I just followed the philosophical message of Robert Frost!!! As a

It's always hard to leave this island...

2005-02-12T08:43:00.000+01:00

Sitting down in the Honolulu airport lounge on my way to Newark, I realize that six days stay in this island is definitely too short. I wish I could stay another day, another week, another month. Yes, there's something about Hawai'i, never enough of it. It's not my first trip to Hawaii, also not my second... nevertheless, this island still puts a spell on me.... Hawai'i has everything in one

Blogging from the past world

2005-02-05T22:45:00.000+01:00

I'm blogging online now from Manhattan, NYC while attending a two-days meeting/conference. This is such a great experience for some obvious reasons. First, the conference itself -- Civil Societies/Civil Technologies: The Role of Research in Driving More Strategic Use of IT by Civil Society -- is great. There are approximately 45 participants consisting of IT practicioners (from civil society

Should I stop writing?

2005-01-10T22:00:00.000+01:00

After Christmas, I stopped writing about my travel experience here. Not because of it's post-Christmas, but because the devastating tsunami in Asia--especially one in Aceh, Indonesia (my country)--drifted me to an unbearable sadsituation where my tongue became numb and my fingers were frozen. I was losing words. Words became just words, never enough. Words became empty, not enough. My feelings &

A note on the "taking off"

2005-01-10T19:55:00.000+01:00

Washington DC from aboveAfter being proceeded for taking off, the Boeing 767 that should have taken me flying to Amsterdam 1.5 hours ago still is stranded at Washington Dulles airport. There is a problem with the generator, the pilot said, so now they are trying to fix it and hope the flight will start to taxi in 45 minutes or so.Now I am sitting here in a nostalgia mode. It is hard to leave

2004 Tour de Noel in Washington DC (Part 5 - finished)

2004-12-25T23:59:00.000+01:00

National Christmas Tree, the Ellipse - DC, photo by Mer, 25 Dec '05 In the morning of Christmas day, I just lazily stayed home... calm and peaceful. I then went to the Ellipse to see the National Christmas Tree. I arrived there too long before the dusk, so I had to be freezing for more than an hour, had my toes and fingers numb, before finally got to see the lightened tree. The was a big crowd

Christmas Eve: 2004 Tour de Noel in Washington DC (Part 4)

2004-12-25T10:47:00.000+01:00

After attending a christmas eve's service at All-Souls Unity Church this evening, I decided to just spend sometime by myself. I cancelled my plan to go to see an African-American Christmas at AMEC late evening service since it was too late and cold... and especially I just wanted to be in my room on this rare day.The All-Souls service itself was great. I enjoyed singing some Christmas carols and

2004 Tour de Noel in Washington DC (Part 3)

2004-12-25T03:42:00.000+01:00

Today is the Christmas Eve day. I woke up very early, it was nearly 5 a.m. I opened my computer, turned it on but then decided to clean my apartment. I did it for nobody but myself. Wanted to be neat and clean this evening. I then read and replied some emails ... just couldn't wait to start my day. I mentioned earlier that I didn't plan any Christmas activities in advance.. well, that's not quite

2004 Tour de Noel in Washington DC (Part 2)

2004-12-23T07:15:00.000+01:00

It is 3 days before Christmas. This afternoon, I planned to go to the Old Post Office Pavillion to see a steel panist performance, but somehow I missed the performance. Too bad, but well, I don't mind to be in that building on Christmas season. The building itself is beautiful and nowadays is decorated with Christmas ornament. It has a big -- but not too much -- Christmas tree and some Christmas

2004 Tour de Noel in Washington DC (Part 1)

2004-12-20T08:21:00.000+01:00

I had been thinking about what I would be doing on Christmas days… I have no family, no church, and no close friends here in DC. I kept thinking but did not really plan anything until finally a Christmas season has just arrived. This morning, when I was browsing the Internet to find out about any service of the nearest church, I stumbled on some pages with Christmas activities… there are actually

A sweet small trip: My 17.7 hours transit in Dubai

2004-12-16T20:18:00.000+01:00

It was a busy early morning at Dubai airport. Many flights arrived at around the same time, from Singapore, Sidney, Bahrain, Mumbai and other cities in the world. Tiredness from flying for about 7.5 hours from Singapore (where I actually spent 50% of them watching movies) did not stop me from running to the Emirates desk where I would apply for transit 96-hours visa as planned. As I got there an

Exploring Colombo (Day 3 & 4 - finished)

2004-12-11T13:40:00.000+01:00

The later days in Colombo went by in a hotel conference room. A night before, though, was a nice one. Sitting down at the Galle Face Hotel's terrace, listening to sounds of nature... it was lovely. It was also a nice group I hang out with. They were Shyam a journalist-academic from NUS (who invited me), Ati from the Jakarta Post - Indonesia, Sammy a journalist from India and Felix a journalist

Exploring Colombo, Srilanka (Day 2)

2004-12-08T10:13:00.000+01:00

The organizer put all participants in a 4-stars (or 5?) hotel at the Galle Face road, facing the beach. Taj Samudra Hotel, that's the name. It is an Indian hotel, kinda spectacular from outside, however it's actually not a great hotel. The room is damped and old. But the location is great. I wish, though, to stay in the historical British Raffles hotel across the street, the Galle Face Hotel.

Exploring Colombo, Srilanka (Day 1)

2004-12-07T10:08:00.000+01:00

Three months ago when Shyam Tekwani from NTU asked me whether I would be interested in presentinga paper at the Media and Conflict conference in Colombo, Srilanka, directly answered, "Yes, surely I am!". One of some major reasons was that I'd never been in any South Asian cities. Other big reason was, of course, the theme itself has always been my interest. So, I went to Srilanka and spent

Wireless scholar

2004-12-05T22:37:00.000+01:00

Being the so called 'internet researcher' (whatever it means..:P), making the Internet connection such a necessity. Being connected to cyberspace has become such an important thing in my life. Internet is my world, my breath, my life, my existence.. auwww.. no, no, not that bad .. (well, almost that bad). With this need, travelling periods can have some painful moments. Yes, those moments when

Oscar Arias: Peace, Environmental Sustainability and Demilitarization

2004-09-09T03:36:00.001+02:00

After spending my first 1.5 day home, on my second day in Washington DC, I, at last, met some people. I walked to the other part of the city to meet Adam -- a very good friend of my best friend whom I was introduced online before coming to DC. Adam works in USAID at Reagan building. The building is beautiful and located in a very strategic place, near the White House. However, 9/11 security type

My hectic 5th of September

2004-09-08T22:24:00.000+02:00

Dear all, Sunday, the 5th of September 2004, has become one of the most hectic and tiring days in my life, also the nervous and crazy one. That day I had to fly from Paris, France to Schipol, Holland then to Washington D.C., USA. My flight from Charles de Gaule was at 6:55 in the morning. I had to take the earliest train (RER - a fast version of underground Metro) 5:15 am to reach the airport

Aroy mak khaaaaaaa

2004-08-19T21:44:00.000+02:00

This time I will tell you a story about gastronomic-tour! Well, I didn't go anywhere, still in Enschede, but my tongue just travelled to the other continent! Going tasty, going spicy, going Asia! Sawadee kha... Among many types of culinaire, Thais is one of my most favorite ones. I have been in Bangkok several times and enjoyed that place.... especially its food! Really nice... It's been a long

Leiden: Where oldest and oldest are standing together

2004-08-17T12:47:00.000+02:00

The Rapenburg canal, LeidenToday, on the Independence Day of Indonesia, 17th of August, I spent my whole late afternoon and evening in my favorite city with one of my most admirable (and overwhelmingly energetic.. hehe) friends, Upik, the ex-PJK (Panglima dJenderal Kantjil!) of 1001buku - the network of volunteers and owners of children libraries based in Indonesia. I have never been active in

Amsterdam's gracht

2004-08-09T08:49:00.000+02:00

Amsterdam is famous of its canal(s) or 'gracht' in Dutch. I am so impressed by the beauty of Amsterdam's canal and its canalhouses.. that's one of some reasons why I did this sketch of gracht.

Keukenhoff

2004-08-09T03:11:00.000+02:00

There is no place in the world like Keukenhoff. The heaven of bulbs, the paradise of tulips!Yet only foreigners come to Keukenhoff. I found out that most of my Dutch friends actually never come here! Tulip is one of some Dutch symbols... yet tulip wasn't originated from Holland. Do you know where it came from? Turkey... some people say so, but actually it came from

London's Civic Space

2004-08-09T02:07:00.000+02:00

When me and ST walked to the Big Ben we saw a crowd .. apparently there was a street demo. Protests against Iraq invasion.. protesting duo Bush and Blair. The sign said: Stop WAR! BLIAR -- catchy word, double meanings: Bush and Blair are liar, and a modification of Blair. If Joe Bosky saw this protest, he would probably just join them! <

Sunset in Dubai

2004-08-04T21:07:00.000+02:00

Going for the Dessert Safari in Dubai was an unforgettable experience. Bathing with sunlight and walking on the smooth carpet of sands... it was spectacular! Sunset in Dubai Originally uploaded by olohok.

Paris: Louvre, Mona Lisa, and the Enigmatic Smile

2004-07-23T01:38:00.000+02:00

Today is my a-social day. I told my friends yesterday that I would meet them and spent our day together before I left for Netherlands. However, this morning my handphone was running out of pulse and charge thus nobody could contact me and I couldn't contact anybody. I thus decided to spend my whole morning (and noon, too) to experience Le Musee Louvre. Louvre is a huge museum... it took me

Paris-Holland: Gold Elite Card

2004-07-22T16:47:00.000+02:00

I'm on the way back to Belanda..well, still at the Charles-de-Gaulle airport of Paris, though. Sitting at the business lounge is much nicer than at the boarding gate, right? I managed to enter the Air France lounge, yet at first I wasn't allowed. The staff, without really checking my WorldPerk (NW/KLM) card, rejected me by saying "No, that card cannot pass this room" and pointing out to list of

Paris: With Edoeners and PSM

2004-07-22T01:15:00.000+02:00

Nothing can be more fun than having fun with old friends! Apalagi kalau teman2nya pada gila seperti edoeners ini. One day in Paris--well, actually only a few hours--with this cool crazy group of people was soooo enjoyable. We took some silly pictures... were telling some crazy jokes, old ones..new ones...illogical ones... Ah... I miss them!

False Bomb Threat on Eiffel Tower

2004-07-21T11:50:00.000+02:00

Ever imagine yourself in one high building and suddenly there is a bomb threat.. and suddenly you and thousand other people in that building should leave that place? That happened to me and my friends when we climbed the Eiffel Tower! Here is what newspaper says about it: World in Brief: The Eiffel Tower was briefly evacuated on Wednesday after authorities

Paris: Notredame & St. Michel

2004-07-20T16:19:00.000+02:00

Comment ça va?.... S'il vous plaît... Merci Je suis désolé, je ne parle pas le français, mon Hollandais est pauvre, et mon anglais est chaotique.... hahaha! So, I finally "really" went to Paris. I was passing by only before.. never really stayed and looked around. I went there to meet my very old friends, first was Myrfa and then my 'old' ITB friends a.k.a. Edoeners who came from Indonesia --

From Enschede, the Netherlands: Roze SaterDag en VoetbalVanOranje Dag

2004-06-27T22:09:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I had a crazy fun day.... I actually only planned to go to the city center for maximum 2 hours for market and hang out with Maureen, Julian and friends as it was Maureen's birthday and Julian's last weekend in Holland and since also that Saturday was a Roze Saterdag -- The Pink Saturday where all homosexuals (homos and lesbos) in Holland would come to Enschede (around 15,000!); they

Getting out of Twilight Zone: Day 9

2004-06-18T14:26:00.000+02:00

Been waking up since 6 am this morning, however just feeling like to lay down on my bed and enjoying my last moment of being in a luxurious super-automatic bed! Got my breakfast right at 8 am and trying to enjoy it as much as possible. I almost finished 2 cups of vanillapap; well done, Mer! But I couldn't eat the hard-board gluten-free bread at all, my stomach was full already so I wrapped them

Twilight Zone: Day 8

2004-06-17T14:17:00.000+02:00

For same reason like yesterday I again did not get enough sleep. But anyway, I can catch up some sleep later, hopefully. Ritual in the morning, blood pressure and temperature check. My temperature was perfectly 36C! My bp was slightly abnormal, it was 62/90... abnormally normal, as always, hehehe. Doctor Pronk (I had 5 doctors, well actually 6 - dr. Pronk, dr. Metz, dr. Derikson, dr. Veldman, dr

Twilight Zone: Day 7

2004-06-16T11:36:00.000+02:00

As usual, the day began with breakfast and check-up of blood pressure and temperature. My temperature as always was normal, 36.5C and my blood pressure was 64/97, kind of low but well.. as expected. I couldn't sleep well, perhaps only 3.5-4 hours as the room was kind of noisy with 2 people who were snoring in harmony!. I of course didn't blame them.. I am just always the person who is too

Twilight Zone: Day 6

2004-06-15T11:18:00.000+02:00

Nothing was so extraordinary today, but surely this was another fine day. I got a good news from the doctor that I may be released on Friday. If I eat well and feel better each day, then I'll be released... so keep my fingers crossed! On afternoon visiting hours, Lina and Patrick came, also Gaby, a friend who is a medical doctor here at cardiology section. They had a chat with me then we decided

Twilight Zone: Day 5

2004-06-14T11:15:00.000+02:00

I thought today would be a dull one, but it was not. I increasingly believe that there will never something called as 'a dull day' as each day has its own color, its own meaning, its own story. So, that was today, the fifth day of my stay at room f-405 Medisch Spectrum Twente. I had an interesting day started with a painful endoscopy but closed with a great trip to the beautiful park of Enschede

Twilight Zone: Day 4

2004-06-13T11:13:00.000+02:00

Not much to tell about my Sunday, the fourth day of my stay here. I was sleeping a lot. For unknown (or known?) reason I have been feeling more tired today that yesterday. I got some headaches thus I got paracetamol. I also got some injection on my intervenous to replace some stuffs I lost by throwing up and some medicines were injected to my blood to reduce nauseous feeling. It seems working a

Twilight Zone: Day 3

2004-06-12T11:11:00.000+02:00

This is the third day of my stay in this luxurious apartment of Enschede...the Medisch Spectrum at Ariensplein, F-305! I was waken up by the nurse. My weekday nurses aren't here -- Sylvia and Sabrina -- as today is Saturday. Different nurses are in duty. Speaking of nurse, nurses here are so kind, nice, and very human. They don't treat you merely as a patient but as a human. I can call them by

Twilight Zone: Day 2

2004-06-11T11:10:00.000+02:00

Morning: Ugh, I couldn't really sleep last night. The woman in front of me was snoring like a wood-cutter.... cutting all trees in the Kalimantan forest! My goodness, WWF should come and arrest her! But, well, she is a nice lady, always smile and says, 'Goedemorgen' to me. This morning I feel soooo much better, really. My blood pressure is 70/111, hey that's sooo good... and my temperature is

Twilight Zone: Day 1

2004-06-10T11:07:00.000+02:00

Unexpectably I ended up to sleep at the very expensive super-automatic bed that can be rolled everywhere, in a big room shared with 3 others with a nice view by my window from 3rd floor. Does it sound nice? Unfortunately it's not that nice. With a label on my wrist and intervenous needle on my vein, this is not a nice B&B stay on my holiday. Yeah, this is a hospital. Strange for me to be here.

Me at Istambul's jail

2004-06-02T01:51:00.000+02:00

As a proof of my story here, here is the picture I took with those Russian girls before I left the jail.From left to right: Natalia, Shenja, Inga (standing), Tonja, Lily, me, Natalia, Ann.I wonder where they are now... perhaps sneaking in to Holland from Turkey? Me with other prisoners...:)

One Night in the City of Three Empires

2004-05-31T15:56:00.001+02:00

End of May 2004... I was somewhere... in a never-never-land....it was a bizard one. Here is the story about it. Enjoy!:: It was one clear day when I flew from Eindhoven to Istanbul. With one backpack and one medium-size hand-carry bag I travelled to this dream city of mine. I always wanted to go to Istanbul as I thought this city is very special. The only city that has one arm reaching Asia and

Geneva and Reformation

2003-12-10T17:53:00.000+01:00

Among my colleagues in Geneva conference, I am the most fortunate one in regard to the location of my accommodation. No doubt, the place I stay is located in the best spot of the city! Yes, it's true. Since all hotels, hostels and guest houses I contacted were fully booked, I had no choice but taking this room, a room in the Home Saint Pierre - Petershofli. This home is located right next to the

First day in Geneva, 9 December 2003

2003-12-09T15:48:00.000+01:00

Palexpo plenary hall The welcoming reception of the World Summit of Information Society (WSIS) will be started very soon. Attended by thousands participants from all over the world and opened by the major of Geneva city, WSIS must be one of the most important event in Switzerland and tomorrow when Kofi Annan opens this event, then it will become among the most important events in the world.

When East meets West

2003-11-25T15:45:00.000+01:00

"oleh-oleh" from my visit to Dubai in October 16-23, 2003 Global meets Local Originally uploaded by olohok. (picture shows local IT entrepreneurs--in traditional Arabic clothes-- who were having a meeting at JITEX - a giant world's IT exhibition in Dubai) "Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet" This Rudyard Kipling's proverb in 1889 about west

A note on the train, from Freiburg to Enschede

2003-11-18T15:46:00.000+01:00

"So similar yet so different". That's perhaps an easiest phrase to explain how I feel about Dutch vs. German city. At glance everything just looks like the same, but when you pay attention a few seconds more, then many differences come out. This is my second trip to Germany. Well, actually the third one, but my first trip to Germany was only 2 hours in Gronau, the closest German city to Enschede

Hawai'ian Sunset

2003-11-04T22:00:00.000+01:00

Hawaiian sunset peeping from the sea Smiles and says Aloha to his sweetheart Hawaii The drowsy islands slumber one by one Close their sleepy eyelids say goodnight to the sun Then Hawaii like millions of times before Blossoms in her lover's arms once more Too soon the sunrise will wake her from her sleep So until tomorrow, sleep Hawaii sleep. <

Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

2003-11-04T11:34:00.000+01:00

Stabbing at me just like a dart It's a feeling heavenly I see memories out of the past Memories that always will last Of a place beside the sea Waikiki, at night when your shadows are falling I hear your rolling surf calling Calling and calling to me Waikiki, tis for you that my heart is yearning My thoughts are always returning Out there to you across the sea Your

The Contrast of Nature - from Dubai to Enschede

2003-10-25T15:43:00.000+02:00

What could be more thrilling than to see the contrast of nature? Sunset and sunrise, fall and spring, ocean and mountain... I must be among the luckiest person in the world for I got a chance to see the most contrast of earth's nature... two thrilling scenes of two different parts of the world... east and west.... It was one night in Dubai, a city in Middle East, when I was lying down on the

London: Les Miserables at Palace Theatre

2003-10-06T02:02:00.000+02:00

Hey, finally I had a real experience of listening (and watching, of course) a play in a real theatre of London! I saw Les Miserables in the Palace Theatre London yesterday. It was just a serendipity. I and my friend, we walked and saw this theatre... then we decided to buy a couple of cheap seats in the balcony. I did not regret it. The stage was so huge so a view

Stratford-upon-Avon: Walking Back Through Time with William Shakespeare and Warwick Castle: Experiencing the Mediaeval Time

2003-08-31T15:38:00.000+02:00

As a first weekend's social event, on 26th of July 2003, OII arranged a big trip for all students to Costwold. The tour to Costwold followed the scenic route to Shakespeare's hometown. The first stop was Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was baptized and married (and also buried). The church lays on beautiful meadow; it is a beautiful church indeed. The tour-guide - a very old guy who had a

Talking with Shakespeare in the Garden

2003-08-30T15:42:00.000+02:00

'Please you, draw near.....' (Act V, Scene i) '...the breathes upon us here most sweetly' (Act II, Scene i) A visit to Oxford would not be the same without 'experiencing' the play of Shakespeare. By way of the generosity of the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) I (all students) could witness the Shakespeare in the Garden at the evening of August 1st, 2003 [even a fee of student ticket is

Fun Punting (but not rowing) along the River

2003-08-17T15:29:00.000+02:00

Do you know what is 'punting'? I did not know how to do it or what it was about until I came to Oxford. Punting apparently is the most favorite recreation (and old traditional sport too) in Oxford. The noblemen in the past would have a punting race along the river; two or more clans went for punting together and competed against each other. OII was very kind to support all of us to try punting [

Walking along the City of Dreaming Spires

2003-08-06T15:28:00.000+02:00

One of some beautiful snaps of Oxford Where else in the world that you can find a homeless rambling and babbling about Plato? Purcell, Rutter and Britten are sung in many corners of the city? Shakespeare's is played in some gardens? And to enter the library you have to swear in front of a guy with funny clothes? Yes, only in Oxford. Oxford, the 'city of dreaming spires', is unique, beautiful

Keble: Experiencing the College Life in Oxford

2003-08-04T15:27:00.000+02:00

Dear all, During my Oxford summer program, I am staying at the Keble College. Keble is one of 39 colleges of Oxford University. For more than 800 years colleges have existed around the city of Oxford. They began as medieval halls of residence for students under the supervision of a Master. The oldest colleges, University, Balliol (this is where I study) and Merton, were founded in the late 13th

Four Fine Days in Norwich

2003-07-28T15:23:00.000+02:00

Dear all, I am writing this while I am trully 'on the move', on the train in the middle of my way to Cambridge from Norwich (Whymondham). From Cambridge I will take a bus to Oxford where I will be attending 3 weeks Doctoral Summer Programme. Having an intellectual gathering in Oxford is a kind of dream to me. I have been looking forward for it and am so excited to come there. However, in these

The Beauty of Multicultural City

2003-07-03T15:21:00.000+02:00

Totem: the symbol of Vancouver I believe that Vancouver is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world (perhaps along with Toronto?). It is really a home to rich mixture of communities and cultures from around the world. Just walking in the downtown of Vancouver, you can hear various languages are spoken. Language schools exist along the street and sign boards with non-English

Dancing with the Earth

2003-05-28T15:16:00.000+02:00

Honolulu, May 06 to 28, 2003 [yes, it takes so long to write this letter, because I stopped before I began to finish my academic paper first! now the paper is finished, but not yet edited.. help!] Beautiful beach of Hawaii Originally uploaded by olohok. ========= "this we know. the earth does not belong to us; we belong to the earth all things are connected

A Glimpse of Sophisticated Japan

2003-04-26T15:14:00.000+02:00

Hi again! Now I have a one-day break after submitted my paper; another paper is waiting to be written, though. Yes, another deadline, seems everyday in my life, lately, are always full of deadlines. One of my friends says this, "Hey, Mer, you are deadline junkies!" Cute….. As continuation from my last letter, this time I am writing you about another stopover. Flying by Northwest from Jakarta

2003-04-07T15:11:00.000+02:00

Hello, I am SARS-proof! Hi pals, It?s been a loooooong time since I sent my last travel story, right? Well, once you stopped, you may stop forever; that?s true. Now I am trying to go back on that old ?good? habit, hope this time it will last forever! In this early April, in a chaotic situation of Iraq-attack and SARS scarce, I decided to fly to US from Indonesia [I was in Indonesia for a

Philly

2002-11-18T00:02:00.000+01:00

Sorry, not yet posted... Please check again later..... Thanks.

Chicago - The Architectural Adventure

2002-11-10T06:12:00.000+01:00

It was summer 2002 when I got an invitation to attend an annual meeting of American Society of Information Science and Technology (ASIST) in November 2000 in Philadelphia. I was so lucky to be the only person who won both of the ASIST International Paper Contest and Eugene Garfield grant at the same time that enabled me to go there. I also did not get any difficulties in getting US visa... so

Kuala Lumpur & Penang

2002-07-08T00:28:00.000+02:00

Ohio: Columbus and Athens

2002-02-10T23:55:00.000+01:00

Sorry, not yet posted... Please check again later..... Thanks.

The City of Angel

2002-02-03T23:54:00.000+01:00

Sorry, not yet posted... Please check again later..... Thanks.

Galleria Uffizi, Firenze - Italy

2001-09-21T06:50:00.000+02:00

The view from one corner of Uffizi. I made this sketch in August 2001.Uffizi is one of my favorite places in Firenze. It is a 'civic space' where people freely express their voices, show their talents, or just sit down and enjoy their 'being in free space'.

Rammin’ and Ramblin’ in Rome: Italy oh…. Italy (II)

2001-09-20T15:04:00.000+02:00

It was 8 p.m., October 12, when I reached Roma Termini station. I then just walked to my hostel, Freedom Traveller, at via Gaeta. The reception guy is nice and speaks English very well. An Italian guy named Eduardo entered me to my room which was located in the building in other street which is still close to the Freedom Traveller office. My room was placed in the fourth floor of an old building,

Italy oh…. Italy (I)

2001-09-19T15:04:00.000+02:00

I had been dreaming about going to Italy since I was a very small girl. I always imagine that Italy is a place of thousands artists (and yes, it is not just an imagination!). Just imagining that Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo had been living there…. already made me wanting to go there.Two weeks ago I made this dream came true!!! I decided to go there since I got a very cheap return flight

Bangkok

2001-07-02T00:28:00.000+02:00

Sorry, not posted yet.Please check again later...

Hanoi and Saigon

2001-06-30T23:52:00.000+02:00

Sorry, not yet posted...Please check again later.....Thanks.

Cook, Food, and Oude- Markt

2001-05-28T15:03:00.000+02:00

Dear all, Still not bored of my story? Hope not, because I think I’ll keep writing until 100th part or…. (For Cigadungers[1], are you all still having lunch and dinner together? I miss eating and cooking with you. I bet you now are having another cook there, ya? Arrrrggghh…. am I fired?) I still continue cooking here, since self-cooking is much cheaper than eating outside. Things are expensive

Get Lost in Enschede (II)

2001-05-27T15:02:00.000+02:00

It seems that 'losing somewhere' has been my habit. Most of you may know that I usually just focus my mind on something and could hardly know what is happening around me. So, when I am driving, walking, and biking, I usually don't really think or pay attention on the streets or buildings or anything... but for the daily trip I could just drive/walk/bike without thinking. This is a rather old

Get Lost in Enschede (I)

2001-05-19T00:00:00.000+02:00

My first week in Enschede was unique, a bit sad though. Could you imagine that I had already spent my second night in my office at campus? Too workaholic? Well, I definitely spend around 12 hours a day in office recently, but surely I wouldn't want to spend a night there, because at night all heaters are set in low temperature since nobody would work inside, so the temperature could be soooo cold

Me in Enschede

2001-05-14T14:59:00.000+02:00

Hi again all, My fourth day was my first day in Enschede, the place where I should have been living for four months ahead. I went there with Nico Schulte Nordholt, my promotor whose home is in Hemstede/Harlem, which is about 1 hour from Maasland. The trip to Enschede from Hemstede was quite fascinating. You could see so many different features. The rows of oak trees looked so tender with their

Me and Maasland

2001-04-27T14:57:00.000+02:00

this is my sketch of Ton & Jannie's house in MaaslandMy second and my third days in Holland were spent in Maasland too. Enjoyed a quiet life with home cooking Dutch food.Maasland is a very beautiful village, where the old fashion Dutch people lives together. They are usually religious, either orthodox Catholic or orthodox Protestant. Just too many churches here. Imagine that in the Monday morning

Living in Refrigerator

2001-04-26T14:53:00.000+02:00

Dear all,Oh, sorry... it takes so long for you all to hear the story of my being here.. Things were going not too smooth, so.. I would need some times to adjust myself, and to get everything arranged for me. That's why I couldn't send you my story earlier.Guess what is the first word that represents my first impression about Holland? Yes.. that word "BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!..[COLD]".It was really cold