Counting down to Christmas!

*background music: Deck the Halls by Aly& AJ (and Kenny G's Christmas album)*

Okay, so most of my friends already know that I love Christmas. It's my most favorite time of the year. Plus, I am a sucker for Christmas things, decorations, songs, etc.
I will be spending my Christmas in Shanghai this year (or probably in Hongkong? if only I can find a cheap ticket to fly there). Anyway it's the end of November and Shanghai's already preparing for Christmas. The lights and decorations in Xintiandi, the beautiful decorations at Xujiahui, the amazing Christmas ambience at Plaza 66, the Christmas ornaments at Starbucks and Haagen Dazs, and the Christmas preparations here and there around the town. I love them all! :)
I'm starting to prepare things for Christmas as well... I know it's a bit early but I just cannot help it!

it's the most wonderful time of the year
with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you'll be of good cheer

it's the happiest season of all
with those holiday greetings and happy meetings when friends come to call
there be parties for hosting
marshmellows for tosting and caroling out in the snow
when hearts will be glowing,when loved ones are near
it's the most wonderful time of the year

I'm mad, but mostly ashamed, just because...

.. these are the reasons the MUI in Indonesia, MY HOME COUNTRY, wants to ban the movie 2012:

MUI: Ada Tiga Kontroversi dalam Film 2012
Selasa, 17 November 2009 - 12:07 wib
Syukri Rahmatullah - Okezone

JAKARTA - Film 2012 yang digembar-gemborkan menggambarkan mengenai kiamat, menjadi kontroversial. Dalam kacamata Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), setidaknya ada tiga poin kontroversi di dalam film tersebut.

Hal tersebut diungkapkan Ketua Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) KH Amidan saat berbincang dengan Okezone di Jakarta, Selasa (17/11/2009).

Pertama, para ulama tidak setuju jika hari kiamat divisualisasikan. Kedua, hari kiamat dalam versi Islam itu tidak ada yang selamat. "Tidak sama seperti yang digambarkan di dalam film tersebut," katanya.

Dia melanjutkan, dalam ajaran agama Islam tidak ada yang bisa memprediksi datangnya hari kiamat. Tidak seperti yang diramalkan akan datang tahun 2012. "Itu rahasia tuhan, hanya Dia yang tahu," katanya.

Yang ketiga, jangan sampai ada propaganda untuk mendeskreditkan agama tertentu melalui film ini. Karena, menurut Amidan di dalam film tersebut digambarkan masjid runtuh, akan tetapi ketika manusia masuk gereja selamat.

"Seharusnya LSF memotong yang bagian masjid itu, jangan ditampilkan. Karena kalau gereja selamat, itu kan wajar karena dibuatnya di Hollywood. Jika di Indonesia kan Masjid. Misalnya bencana tsunami di Aceh, masjid selamat itu kan real ," pungkasnya.

Karenanya, dia mengimbau kepada masyarakat bahwa bagaimana pun film 2012 hanyalah fiksi belaka dan bukan kenyataan, sebagaimana yang digembar-gemborkan. "Kiamat adalah rahasia Allah," pungkasnya.

Finally bought it :)

I finally bought this water globe. Been eye-ing it twice before and yesterday while waiting for the guys shopping at Nike near the People's Square, I decided to ask Liany's opinion about this and finally bought it. It has the 'Moon River' song in it (from one of my most favorite movie ever: Breakfast at Tiffany's) . It costed me RMB 320 but I really love it! =)

Shanghai Must- Do Checklist (according to 一个留学生 / an international student)

1. Circumnavigate the Bund
2. Dinner at exotic Tai Kang Lu


3. Enjoy the beauty of Xintiandi

4. Visit the Yu Garden

5. Eat dumpling from a semi- hygienic street vendor

6. Elbow your way onto the subway during the rush hour

7. Cross (or walk on) the road without being hit by a moped

8. Underground treasure hunt at Shanghai's subway malls

9. Dine at altitude


10. Visit a water town

11. Ride the Maglev

12. Dine on hairy crab

13. Trying out new bars and restaurants

14. Shopping!

The Closet #2

jacket, black shawl, cardigan (inside) and shorts: Zara
black plain t- shirt (inside): Guess
black legging: no brand
black leather boots: from a shoe store here in Shanghai, but I forget its name
watch: dkny
bag: charles & keith

Winter has come! :)

Are you being childish?

I was having a chat with my friend Jane and she was complaining about her new neighbor. She told me that the new guy is ridiculously childish and annoy her a lot. So I told her to minimize any social interaction with him, because, hey, life is too short to please someone else, right? She has other nice neighbors she and Mark can hang out with.

Talking about childish people today, I remember my own experience in 'childish-ness'. Actually I don't like to judge whether a person is childish or not and I always think that every people have their own reason to do anything. So how do you decide whether a person is being childish or not?
A person is being childish when they show no ability to stand in someone else's shoes and look at things with different perspective or imagine someone else's feeling in given situation, even when they already know all the facts behind it. They simply trample on everyone else's ideas, thoughts, and feelings, without regard. Their ignorance is usually apparent, so simple avoidance is often a useful tactic. Sometimes they even accuse us of being the childish one.

So are you being childish towards other people? Or simply doesn't care whether someone else thought of you as a childish person? During a complicated situation, I chose the second one, because I know I am more mature than a person who easily judge other human being with such awful accusation.

To a very dear friend..

I know you can do it! =)