8.11.09
09.11.07 - Indonesia Miniature Park
Yesterday I went for picnic with all employees/workers of our company in celebrating the company’s 18th birthday. Initially the plan was going to Carita Beach but because it would take 4 hours for one way while there’re many children, it was decided that we went to TMII instead. We departed from the factory around 08.00 in the morning and arrived there around 09.00 in Bengkulu traditional house where we held the celebration. I got a standing fan as a door prize. Well, I am lucky, indeed. It’s very useful. I used an aeromovel for looking around the traditional houses. Last year I used a skylift.
3.10.09
Souvenir from my Neighbour
Today a neighbour returned from Germany. She brought some souvenirs. A pink bag, a pink hat, a unique painted plate, and a pin. Danke sehr, Fraulein Zilstra.
7.8.09
New Bag
This afternoon I got good news. My neigbour called me telling that I got a package. And once I arrived at home, I unpacked it, and found a black bag. A gift from a friend :) hehehe
4.8.09
Hmmm....
It has been long time not to write anything in this blog. Not having good mood :( But today, I am happy. A good friend of mine gave several pcs of clothes :)
22.5.09
A bag gift from a friend :)
This week began well, and today, again, I got a gift from my boss' Japanese private teacher. She went to Jogja and Bali with her elder sister from Japan. She gave me a dark and light colored bag made of rattan. Kaban no katachi to iro ga suki desu. Doumo arigatou gozaimashita :)
18.5.09
Merchandises from CBN
Monday morning.....
This morning began well :) I got some merchandises from CBN internet provider as I won a quiz. A green ballpen, two organizers (very, very useful for me - I really love its blue color), a plastic mug, and a mousepad (it will accompany my new mouse which I received from a friend last week). Thanks God. Plenty of bless. I remember a quote from Jack Sparrow: treasure is not always gold and silver.
This morning began well :) I got some merchandises from CBN internet provider as I won a quiz. A green ballpen, two organizers (very, very useful for me - I really love its blue color), a plastic mug, and a mousepad (it will accompany my new mouse which I received from a friend last week). Thanks God. Plenty of bless. I remember a quote from Jack Sparrow: treasure is not always gold and silver.
10.5.09
Puring Bali
No special activities today, but I am happy because I can plant my Bali puring in a separate flower pots :)
5.5.09
Batik Shawl
This afternoon, I received a small gift from the owner of the house where my boss had lived for around 5 years. The gift was a batik shawl. I love it. Thank you. It becomes one of my unique collections :)
24.4.09
Green Dwellings in the Tropics
(Taken from The Weekender, The Jakarta Post, May 2009, by Marco Kusumawijaya)
What can we do to green our homes?
Size does matter.
The problem with apartment units is that they are difficult to modify once they are built. Moreover, your landlord or building manager might not allow you to change things. You might try to isolate your bedrooms so they are the only spaces that rely on AC. If your lifestyle permits, smaller rooms are better. Knocking down the walls that divide other spaces makes air flow more freely.
Hiding from the sun.
Tropical wisdom is to always have all outside walls protected from direct exposures to the sun and rain. Overhangs do just that, so the outside wall temperature will be more “flat” during the day.
Letting air flow.
A house that is correctly positioned in regard to the sun and prevailing winds, with appropriate windows, roof shape and materials, needs much less electricity (energy!) for AC and lighting – at least for a good part of the day – even in a crowded city like Jakarta. I live in a small landed house in Central Jakarta without ever using AC – I don’t even have it installed. The secret is the free flow of air, not only horizontally but also vertically. My roof simply consists of exposed clay tiles that fit together enough to be rainproof, while being sufficiently loose to let air escape through the gaps between the overlapping tiles. Between November and February, I usually sleep with a thin blanket, as it is comfortably cool during those months. The mosquito problem is solved with the use of a net, which can be fashionable with the current trends in interior design.
Living with less energy also means living organically.
A house freely connected to the outside organic world will also experience some “organic revitalization”, both outdoors and indoors. If you have a yard, free it from any dead material covering it. Let the space breathe. If you worry about dirt, you can cover the area with loose pebbles or punctuated blocks so rainwater can still seep into the soil. Grass in a option, but it needs direct sunlight and continuous watering, because grass roots are short.
Plants, fragrance and the garden.
Your dwelling breathes the outside air, which in crowded urban areas is not always clean. You might want to plant trees and bushes that filter the air passing through your house at different heights from the ground. Position the trees near doors and windows to efficiently filter the air entering your house. Correctly positioned, fragrant trees and bushes will carry their natural fragrance inside. These plants will also attract insects, and insects attract birds, which you will soon notice singing in the morning. An even more radical suggestion is to use your yard to grow your own food! Compost your organic waste, and use it to fertilize your vegetables and tomatoes.
Saving water.
Unless you already use renewable energy to heat water, think about showering with cold water, which is in fact generally healthier for your skin and more effective for overall freshness. If you can afford a solar heater, choose one without an electrical converter and which automatically uses electricity when the sun does not shine enough. Some brands (e.g. Thermomax) are really efficient even when there is little sunlight, and do not need any electricity backup at all.
What I have done:
1. I live in a landed house in outskirts – not yet able to afford big house. If I have a vast land, I don’t think I will build a big house with much electricity assumption. I’d rather have medium size one surrounded with trees and fishing pool in the backyard, fruit trees in the right side, vegetables in the left side, and of course, flower garden in the front yard.
2. I am growing several trees in front of the house. Luckily – well, I chose – my house faces eastward. The sun light enters through the window of my bedroom helps me awaken after slumber.
3. I don’t have windows in the side walls of my simple house, but I made special design for my kitchen so that the air can circulate freely and the sun light enters in the back part of my house in the afternoon. I really can't breath in a closed room without any ventilation. It makes me dizzy.
4. I don’t have an AC. Still cannot afford to buy one and pay the electricity hehehe But my floor is always cool….even the first step as I enter the house.
5. I grow grass in my small front yard and also many flowers. My neighbors don’t like grass because cats often “throw” their faeces on the grass. But they still like walking on the grass when it is clean hehehe.
6. I grow jasmine near the front door, and now I am adding several species of roses.
7. I don’t grown my own food, but strangely several plants like tomato, spinach and beans grow themselves along the small tunnel in front of my house.
8. I don’t use waterheater; the same reason as #4. Besides, indeed, I prefer showering with cold water. Warm water is only when I feel very sick.
What can we do to green our homes?
Size does matter.
The problem with apartment units is that they are difficult to modify once they are built. Moreover, your landlord or building manager might not allow you to change things. You might try to isolate your bedrooms so they are the only spaces that rely on AC. If your lifestyle permits, smaller rooms are better. Knocking down the walls that divide other spaces makes air flow more freely.
Hiding from the sun.
Tropical wisdom is to always have all outside walls protected from direct exposures to the sun and rain. Overhangs do just that, so the outside wall temperature will be more “flat” during the day.
Letting air flow.
A house that is correctly positioned in regard to the sun and prevailing winds, with appropriate windows, roof shape and materials, needs much less electricity (energy!) for AC and lighting – at least for a good part of the day – even in a crowded city like Jakarta. I live in a small landed house in Central Jakarta without ever using AC – I don’t even have it installed. The secret is the free flow of air, not only horizontally but also vertically. My roof simply consists of exposed clay tiles that fit together enough to be rainproof, while being sufficiently loose to let air escape through the gaps between the overlapping tiles. Between November and February, I usually sleep with a thin blanket, as it is comfortably cool during those months. The mosquito problem is solved with the use of a net, which can be fashionable with the current trends in interior design.
Living with less energy also means living organically.
A house freely connected to the outside organic world will also experience some “organic revitalization”, both outdoors and indoors. If you have a yard, free it from any dead material covering it. Let the space breathe. If you worry about dirt, you can cover the area with loose pebbles or punctuated blocks so rainwater can still seep into the soil. Grass in a option, but it needs direct sunlight and continuous watering, because grass roots are short.
Plants, fragrance and the garden.
Your dwelling breathes the outside air, which in crowded urban areas is not always clean. You might want to plant trees and bushes that filter the air passing through your house at different heights from the ground. Position the trees near doors and windows to efficiently filter the air entering your house. Correctly positioned, fragrant trees and bushes will carry their natural fragrance inside. These plants will also attract insects, and insects attract birds, which you will soon notice singing in the morning. An even more radical suggestion is to use your yard to grow your own food! Compost your organic waste, and use it to fertilize your vegetables and tomatoes.
Saving water.
Unless you already use renewable energy to heat water, think about showering with cold water, which is in fact generally healthier for your skin and more effective for overall freshness. If you can afford a solar heater, choose one without an electrical converter and which automatically uses electricity when the sun does not shine enough. Some brands (e.g. Thermomax) are really efficient even when there is little sunlight, and do not need any electricity backup at all.
What I have done:
1. I live in a landed house in outskirts – not yet able to afford big house. If I have a vast land, I don’t think I will build a big house with much electricity assumption. I’d rather have medium size one surrounded with trees and fishing pool in the backyard, fruit trees in the right side, vegetables in the left side, and of course, flower garden in the front yard.
2. I am growing several trees in front of the house. Luckily – well, I chose – my house faces eastward. The sun light enters through the window of my bedroom helps me awaken after slumber.
3. I don’t have windows in the side walls of my simple house, but I made special design for my kitchen so that the air can circulate freely and the sun light enters in the back part of my house in the afternoon. I really can't breath in a closed room without any ventilation. It makes me dizzy.
4. I don’t have an AC. Still cannot afford to buy one and pay the electricity hehehe But my floor is always cool….even the first step as I enter the house.
5. I grow grass in my small front yard and also many flowers. My neighbors don’t like grass because cats often “throw” their faeces on the grass. But they still like walking on the grass when it is clean hehehe.
6. I grow jasmine near the front door, and now I am adding several species of roses.
7. I don’t grown my own food, but strangely several plants like tomato, spinach and beans grow themselves along the small tunnel in front of my house.
8. I don’t use waterheater; the same reason as #4. Besides, indeed, I prefer showering with cold water. Warm water is only when I feel very sick.
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