Here are a few photographs that I recently took. It’s not like they’re crazy beautiful or anything. I must admit I take bad photos, but most of the time I still like them, especially because they contain people or places that are near and dear to me.
Squeezing some work-out time into your tight schedule is not exactly an easy matter. As part of incorporating healthy lifestyle, there are sacrifices to be made. Be it having to rush through the traffic jam to arrive on time for that pound fit class or forcing yourself to do some cardio despite the rough day at work, you have to put in that extra effort. One may ask, “Does it pay off?”. We’d like to believe it does, and well, it really does. Working out releases endorphins that help you reduce stress. It makes you feel accomplished, and most importantly, it helps you maintain your wellbeing.
When it comes to types of work-outs, there are more than a few to choose from; the classic cardio training, zumba, pound fit, or muay thai, you name it. Many boutique fitness studios have been flourishing the bustling Jakarta, and a list of yoga sanctuaries are available within reach. For Rina Almanda, it wasn’t luck or coincidence that brought her into yoga. For more than 3 years, Rina, a mother slash yoga teacher, has been practicing a handful of asanas (Sanskrit for poses).
Rina never thought she would enjoy this form of exercise. She even used to think that the word ‘boring’ seemed to describe it best. The main reason why she got into yoga was because of the injury that she had from running. “I was recommended to try yoga or pilates. The injury required me to do a lot of stretching, and for some time I had to refrain from running,” explained Rina.
Her first encounter with yoga took place at Gudang Gudang Yoga. Back then, the place had just opened up, and they had a yogi from Guatemala to help conduct the basic yoga class. She was satisfied with the experience. She added, “I was drenched in sweat after the session, and I fell in love with it immediately.” When asked about her decision to teach yoga, Rina admitted that it didn’t take her long to sign up for a teacher training. Six to nine months after her first practice, Rina participated in Namaste Festival in which she came across a booth that offered teacher training. With initial plan to finish 1 module, Rina ended up unlocking all 4 modules. From kids to prenatal yoga, she had tried at all, but she eventually had her heart set on vinyasa; a type of yoga that requires coordination between breath and movement.
Meditation, which relies heavily on the state of mind, has a symbolic relationship to yoga. For Rina, she’s in the game to build and work on different poses. “I’m not really the type to meditate. I like to work on asanas. I love the engineering behind each pose. I like to learn how a pose should be done, how to go in, how to go out, or which muscles should be involved in one pose.”
As most things in life, practicing yoga has its own obstacles and challenges. Rina admits that she has been faced with them. “Humans have egos. We want to master asanas, but we don’t work hard. Sometimes people would overlook the fact that mastering advanced asanas requires daily practice.” Through ample time, Rina realized that balancing between ego and willpower is key to overcoming this kind of challenge. Rina also added that by doing yoga, she has learnt to be more mindful and finally grasped a better understanding on being grateful.
Most people would probably wonder what’s the most important thing to keep in mind when practicing yoga. When asked about this, Rina quickly answered, “It’s to be in the present moment. When you’re running, your mind goes all over the place. You may be thinking of the unpleasant situation that happened in the office, or figuring out what to eat for lunch and dinner. You simply can’t do that when you’re practicing yoga. You have to listen to what your teacher says, you need to focus on your breathing and movements.”
It’s easy to think that yoga is about doing each pose in the right way. In reality, breath is just as important. More than that, it’s crucial to coordinate between breath and movement. Of all the misconceptions about yoga, there’s one thing that is commonly misunderstood; the requirement of strength and flexibility. According to Rina, “That’s not quite true. You don’t have to be flexible and strong to join yoga. These are the qualities that we’re going to work on as the practice goes.” Some people also think that yoga equals to meditation while others perceive it as a Hindu-exclusive practice.
With her love for desserts, Rina confesses that it’s hard to maintain a healthy and balanced diet, although mindful eating is included as one of the Yamas. The Yamas, which act as guidelines of a practicing yogi, encompass Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (continence), and Aparigraha (non-coveting). For Rina, this is the wonderful thing about yoga. “Yoga is definitely more than just the asanas. I learn a lot from the Yamas. We should do no harm to other living things, including ourselves. There’s a practice of mindful eating too, but I find it quite hard as I love chewing,” laughed Rina.
“Wake up and get up from bed. Don’t think too much, just come to the studio. Never look into your neighbor. If you can’t do a pose, use the props to modify. Oh, and of course, once you’re on the mat, focus on your breath,” concluded Rina on what a yoga beginner should do. Rina’s presence radiates positive energy that would undoubtedly uplift the atmosphere of her yoga class. It might take years to master yoga, but with self-mastery, anyone can do yoga.
A little thank you note to Rina Almanda: It was nice to spend my Saturday morning talking to you. Thank you so much for taking time to do the interview with me!
Hands down, these are my favorite travel diaries. “The Truth” by Weston James Palmer is definitely one of a kind. Also, Zoe Suen just updated her blog with a ton of breathtaking photographs from her recent trip to Italy. There’s not much going on in my life though. I’m currently munching on bolu meranti keju while dreaming of my next flight. I wonder when it’s going to happen.
Two weeks ago, I stopped by OLVEH building located just across Stasiun Jakarta Kota. I went to Semasa Cafe on the third floor and ordered a cup of hot masala chai latte. They served the latte with two bite-sized cookies on the side. I have always been a fan of chai ever since our first encounter back in 2014.
I had been to a few other spots in Kota Tua before making a stop at OLVEH. I was on a mission to take a couple of shots for something that I was working on. I had to alternate between my phone and my camera. Eventually, I reached a point where all I wanted to do was sit down and enjoy all the natural light coming through the tall windows.
If that particular day had a soundtrack, it would be This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads.
Say hi to Christine who goes with Chrissstttiiine as her handle for both Youtube and Instagram. For the last decade, she has been creating videos that cover quite a few topics; beauty reviews, outfits that she wears (take a peek at her ‘Uniform‘ series), and even home decor. As someone who loves looking at beautiful homes, I always look forward to watching her ‘Apartment + Home Tours’ videos. I think it’s pretty amazing how someone can put so much attention to the way they’re arranging a space. Her most recent ‘Home Tour’ video actually inspired me to picture and even jot down all the details of my future studio apartment. If you feel like getting to know someone new, you can always head over to ‘A Brief Conversation‘ videos in which Christine introduces us to her friends and dives into a talk about interests, growth, or making a transition.
Apart from her Youtube channel, I also frequent Christine’s blog that is filled with photographs of her friends and places that she’s been. It’s the exact same blog where I discovered ‘Loran’s Dance‘ by Idris Muhammad — it quickly became my go-to song whenever I need to unwind. Anyway, I reached out to her and asked if she wanted to do a mini interview for my blog. She said yes, and of course that answer got me all excited.
P.S. As you scroll through, expect to uncover a few great songs curated by Chrissstttiiine.
Hi, please tell us a bit about yourself, who are you?
Christine Mai Nguyen, I’m a Vietnamese American 29-year-old living in Los Angeles, CA.
What have you been working on lately?
I’m trying to hone in on my ecom photography skills. Very slow moving but I’m getting there.
Where did you grow up and how was it growing up there?
I grew up in Orange County just about 30 miles from where I am currently. I think Orange County is a great place to raise a family; safe, great food, hardly any traffic.
What do you love the most about living in Highland Park?
I love that my house is a bit more quiet than anywhere else in LA — very chill and relaxing. I can get a lot of work done but still go out and have fun when I want to because everything I love is close by.
What are your top 3 favorite spots in Highland Park and why?
Kitchen Mouse for breakfast because the food is light, delicious, and mostly vegan.
The Artform Studio for records because it’s very well curated; hard to come in without dropping some serious dough.
Collage Coffee because the service is sweet. I don’t know much about coffee so good service is important to me.
What was your main idea or vision when you first started ‘Apartment + Home Tours’ videos?
Well, in all honesty; I watched a lot of MTV Cribs growing up and a lot of my friends have beautiful apartments. Not much thought went into that.
What made you start ‘A Brief Conversation’ videos?
It was a project I had in film school that I just continued to shoot after I graduated. I should add that it was a failed project concept in college that I loved too much to stop shooting.
I noticed that most of the photographs that you post on your blog involve people. What draws your attention to them when it comes to photographs?
I just love pictures of people; it’s always been very interesting to me. Also, I like sending people pictures of themselves — I mean you can’t take a product shot and get a notable reaction from that product, you know?
Is there any specific skill set that you’d like to learn or dig deeper?
Photography; there are so many aspects of photography and so much to learn. I feel like as soon as I learn something new, the market changes so there’s always more to learn and so many rules that can be broken.
How has your perspective about life changed over the years?
When I was younger, I worked really hard and didn’t spend time with my family. It wasn’t until recently that I started hanging out with my parents more and I think that’s made such a huge difference in my life. Just making more time for people and not being so consumed with work and making money. I never really got to travel and now I’m finally seeing how much scenery changes your perspective. Things that seemed so consuming and so important suddenly aren’t as they were.
What are your words for people in their early 20s (myself included) who seem to be overwhelmed by everything — from career to relationships?
It’s important to have something to look forward to so reward yourself accordingly. Don’t be so hard on yourself, make time for your friends and family.
How would you describe your taste in music?
I do a lot of research — would “geeky” be a sufficient description? I’d like to say I have an eclectic taste but in all honesty, there is a lot of music I don’t like.
What would be the perfect song to listen to when you’re taking a cross-country trip?
Depends which route you’re taking. If you’re going through the north, ‘Fazon‘ by Sopwith Camel is mellow driving song. If you’re going through the south, I’d say ‘Abilene‘ by Waylon Jennings. These answers will change everyday though.
What is your favorite song to listen to while watering your plants?
I like listening to instrumentals when doing mundane tasks so at the moment I’d say ‘Forty Days‘ by Billy Brooks on a sunny day and ‘Shady Blues‘ by Pete Moore on a gloomy day.
I had a great baking session with Adelia Izza last Sunday. Adel thought it would be fun to make the gluten-free version of snickers, and I just nodded to that idea. What do you expect? I can never turn down an offer that involves chocolate. To put it simply, our gluten-free snickers are made of three main parts; the base, the topping, and the chocolate. Here’s the how-to of each part.
The base
The topping
The chocolate
Now that you’re done with the three main parts of the snickers, all you need to do is dip the rectangle bars in the chocolate. Make sure the chocolate covers each bar evenly. Finally, freeze the bars for at least 15 minutes. The gluten-free snickers are finally ready for serving!
I love looking at photographs simply because they portray moments that were found appealing by the person behind the lens. If you have a great interest in looking at photographs like I do, I strongly suggest you to check out Fia’s photoblog. She posts photographs from her hiking trips and her visit to the record store. She also likes to attach a few snapshots from her daily commute in the Metro. Apart from her fascinating photo blog, I have been intrigued by her story of living as a college student in Tokyo. My curiosity finally brought me to sending her an e-mail with a few questions about her current life and interest in photography. I wish we lived only a few blocks away so I could interview her in person instead.
What is it like living in Tokyo? What do you love about it?
One word: exciting. Personally, I’ve always loved busy cities so Tokyo is a perfect place for me. I love how the city has its own life, like its own heartbeat that never stops. There’s always something going on no matter the time. There’s always something to do, somewhere to explore. It’s definitely full of surprises and excitement.
What do you usually do on the weekends?
On the weekends, I try my best to visit somewhere new. I have a bucket list of places to visit in and around Tokyo that I’d like to tick off. But honestly, I go to Shibuya and Harajuku a lot. A LOT. For many Tokyoites these are very mainstream places to visit, but I can’t help it. There’s just so much life there and somehow I always end up stumbling upon new streets with their own unique shops or cafes that I’ve never discovered before.
What are your favorite places to eat in Tokyo? What kind of food do they offer?
I’m not really a big foodie, so I pretty much eat anything that I can find easily. I LOVE LOVE seafood, so again, Japan is perfect for me. My top favorites would be sushi, tempura, and udon. You can literally find them everywhere. They’re around my dorm, around my campus, EVERYWHERE. Sometimes when I’m feeling a little bit more fancy I love to check out the many cafe shops that Tokyo has to offer. They’re very “aesthetic”.
If your friends were to visit you, where would you take them and why?
It really depends which friends are visiting and what their interests are. That’s the beauty of Tokyo: there’s always something for everyone. Definitely I’d take them to the must-see places such as Shibuya, Harajuku, and Asakusa. The rest really depends on their interests. Those who are really into “hype” stores can visit Omotesando; those who are into “hipster” boutiques and cafes can visit Daikanyama or Shimokitazawa; those who are into anime can visit Akihabara or Ikebukuro; and there is still so much more.
Do you take random photographs or do you plan them?
I mostly take random photographs, but occasionally there’s a little bit of planning behind them (not often, though). I’m more interested in street photography and that involves capturing things that you cannot really plan for. You just have to take the shot when that wow moment is happening right in front of you.
Why are you interested in photography? Why do you love taking photographs?
I’m interested in photography because… I’m not quite sure really, I just love doing it. It’s fun to be able to capture what my eyes are seeing, or what I’m feeling, in a specific moment. The photograph kind of becomes a souvenir of that moment.
What kind of moments do you like to capture?
I like to capture moments that make me think, “Wow, I wish everyone could see what I’m seeing (or feeling) right now”.
What do you think are the most photogenic places in Tokyo? What makes those places different or interesting?
This is a really tough question because I think every place (including everywhere around the world) has their own unique qualities that make them photogenic. It really depends on how you perceive it. I do think a lot of people will agree that Tokyo itself is a very “aesthetic” city. I honestly can’t pick. Even the alley outside my dorm is photogenic.
Of all the photographs that you’ve taken, which one is your favorite and why?
Honestly, I don’t have a favorite photograph. It’d be very hard for me to choose one because I think every picture tells a different story, unique in their own ways.
And I couldn’t a pick favorite either as they’re all equally beautiful! If you really pushed me to come up with her photograph that I really love, it would probably be this one. A glimpse of the Tokyo Skytree really adds something to it, doesn’t it?
Thank you so much for taking time to do this mini interview, Fia! Little did she know that I was so ecstatic to find her reply in my inbox this morning.
The photographs featured in this post were taken by Anisa Shafiyya Harnantyari a.k.a Fia using Canon Autoboy Zoom (35-70mm 1:3.5-6.7) and Fuji X-T10 35mm f2.
I got your back, stranger.
The existence of Google Maps really is something to be appreciated. Thank you for giving me clear and concise directions every time I got lost during the trip, G. The photo above was taken during one of those times.
Parked bicycles, people snapping OOTDs and pedestrians.
I wouldn’t mind getting lost in the picturesque Omotesando Hills again, though.
A spot in Commune 246.
Later that night, I had a meet up with my friends at an outdoor food court named Commune 246. We snacked on some curly fries. They were pretty good but not quite fulfilling, so we headed to Tempura Tendon Tenya for the square meal afterwards.
Finished this in 10 minutes after a 1-hour queue.
I was walking from Omotesando to Harajuku when I saw a long queue on the side of the street. It turned out that those people were lining up to score some seats at a restaurant called Red Rock. I googled it up and decided to try it the next day. And I’m still glad I did. Their roasted beef bowl was bomb.
Traveling on foot.
People-watching has always been fun to do. Doing it in Shinjuku doubles the fun as you get to see people in quirky outfits.
Flipcoin.
On my last day in Tokyo, I got the chance to watch my cousin perform with her band at Club Tenjiku in Akasaka.
Until next time!
The other day, I went to Ramen 38 Sanpachi with my friend Jati. I decided to order a bowl of jigoku ramen while Jati decided to go with a set menu that included yakisoba, gyoza, miso soup and rice. I tried his yakisoba and was immediately hooked! I thought I had to recreate the recipe, so here goes.
Mind you, this was my first flat lay ever.
Of course my take on yakisoba involved some ingredients that I personally love, such as bean sprouts, mushrooms, tofu, egg and onion. I relied on Kikkoman soy sauce and sesame oil for the seasoning. I also added salt to taste, but it turned out a bit too salty for my liking. Unfortunately, I was out of sugar so I could not add a pinch of it to balance the saltiness.
Anyway, this is how I cooked my yakisoba:
Get in my tummy already.
Some of my favorites in one frying pan.
And that’s pretty much it! The above four steps result in a delightful portion of
yakisoba, perfect for you with hearty appetite.
Ta-da!
Before ending this post, I have some tips for when you are trying out this recipe:
Cheers,
Shabrina
Shaaufari 