I am indeed lucky to be living in this country with lots of amazing view of islands.

One thing for sure every time I went to this place always to hang out with some friends, find a new spot to take some pictures. Meeting old friends for some reunion over coffee with a view. Things we don't get to see while in Jakarta.

So, if one day you want to hang out and see Bali, let me know. Maybe when the time is right we can hang out together.

May your dreams come true,

Chances are just beginning of this month, I met this fellow trip of mine and encourage me to go with them. I didn't think twice and directly say YES to them. They helped me booked the promo ticket too. 

So, then here we go!

We were going from Bali to Lombok with a promo ticket. Since it's still Ramadan season, some of the tickets are being on a sale. The flight was only like 15 mins from Ngurah Rai International Airport - Bali.

This view was when the captain said we will be landed shortly. My excitement soars like a kid getting a new toy! I've been looking for this trip so bad. Stepping into this island will cross one more bucket list in my life.

"Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving." - Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Starting to love Lombok for the first look.

Feel free to check out Instagram @diklik_tour and @actortrio_lombok if you really want to excitement to be arranged professionally with them.

May your dream come true,

For the past weeks, I've been struggling with life issues. Therefore, I have been writing anything yet. Also, I feel my mood also going away. Been trying hard to sit in front of the computer and learn to write anything, didn't work.

So, as usual, I'm just going to watch my favorite TV serials online or anything on youtube, to get my mojo back. Still not working very much. But, today, I feel like I need to write something. Even though this one is a bit personal, but at least I write something in here. 

I've been reading a lot of positive article about the power of positive thinking and change the bad feeling into positive energy, try to learn 5 mins meditation daily too. Somehow this one works a bit with me. I feel calmer in facing the issues I mentioned. I learned to channel my grumpy energy to something more positive, or at least I try to realized when I feel sorry, I need to direct the bad thing into something else more positive. It's not easy, never been easy to try something new with yourself.  But hey, everything should start somewhere.

That's when I come to realize the word HOPE. The name exists at the last Pandora Box after everything evil were out if you know the story of it. So, I search thing that can give me more support for myself. Being myself and feel the love again. Some said, if you want someone to like you, one need to learn how to love themselves first. To me, this is the hardest part.

Argue with mom, slashing her with my rash comments or high pitched tone were one of the things happening. Again, every time it happens always leave me with a dent in my heart. I know I hurt someone I love deeply, but I can't seem to bring the words sorry to her because I didn't build that way.

Then hope also given by my dear friend Reza, he is my savior for the issues for the time being until I can repay him. I don't know how in the next future, but as for now I pray and hope for all his works and projects runs smoothly.

If you always think that you experience the worst day, NO. You need to stop thinking like that. You need to change it. Nothing good comes easy, they said. Therefore, this action also not easy to apply on yourself, because the hardest thing you can try to conquer is yourself.

Try to find your core when you're down, in any way you can. Some seek for God, some in the party, some in the solitude maybe you just haven't found your way yet. Never give up on yourself, that's what I want to tell you. Because once you give up, nothing will ever show.

Stand up and never give up no matter how hopeless you feel with your situation. Believe, there will always be a way up when you try to channel your energy to love yourself MORE than you usually do.

Stay positive,

The place is very comfortable and the interior very comfortable look. They have two areas for smokers at the verandah, and the other one is air conditioned. Being here with friends was like you're inviting them to your home, not a restaurant, because of the interior. 

The high ceilings give some rooms for the wind, and even though Jakarta is a little bit hot, they put an electric fan up above to cool us.  

At least that's what I feel since I'm not really a big fan of an air-conditioned room. But, for those who cannot stand being outside because of the humidity a little bit high, you're more than welcome to eat inside.

The inside interior is even cooler than the outside.

I arrived earlier than the rest of my friends, of course. So, I asked for the menu. Since it's a bit hot and a little bit lost when I get here, I need a drink. Something with ice and not too sweet. Then I suddenly I really want to drink 'cendol' a perfect drink for me as a welcome drink, I might say.

What is cendol? It's a dark-green pulpy dish of rice or sago flour worms with coconut milk and syrup of areca sugar, and this one they add cubic cutting of jackfruit. 

It's very refreshing to be able to drink this in the middle of the day and just pretend this is the appetizer before the big meal is served.

I also order this teapot of tea, because at this kind of restaurant they served the best tea in the house. It smells good, bitter and they use the 'stone sugar' not the regular one you use to have, using paper wraps or even melted sugar.

I also love all the menu, you cannot stop to try everything on the menu. Perfectly cooked! Especially the 'nasi kucing' it's a small size of rice with some spicy chicken or fish with some spices. It's sooo good! If you happen to be around the area, please stop by to come and try to eat here. They open until midnight daily. 

Meditasi Diri

"Karma is experience and experience creates a memory and memory creates imagination and desire and desire creates karma again. If I buy a cup of coffee, that's karma. I now have that memory that might give me the potential desire for having a cappuccino, and I walk into Starbucks, and there's karma all over again". - Deepak Chopra -

"Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious." - Ruth Reichl

Let me tell you a story about this place. For me, this was not just a hangout place. But it's more like a 'second home' for a long while. A place where you can meet strangers and become someone important. A place where you can just sit and laughed and cry with someone you just meet. Also, a place where you can bring along long lost friends even dates to have a great time. 

The place was small yet has a very rustic and old look, yet very warm and homey. 

These pictures bring back all the memories, don't you think? I asked specifically for these photos to be posted in here. Because seeing these really take me back to that 'love corner.' The corner that has so many games and books if you're actually waiting for your friends to come. If you're too late, the all the games has been taken by others.

After five years, in this IBEC building, they were told to moved. Because the land actually being bought by some developer. I was afraid if they are going to get a new faraway place. Not that I won't go, I will; but won't be as often as I wanted to.

Don't you miss hanging out again to Melly's? Have you been to the new place? You'll be glad and surprise how the area is changed since last you were there.

The new location is at Jalan Kebon Sirih Timur Dalam No. 37-39 nearby the MNC Tower or just click the link I just gave you for the exact location. Do not hesitate to go into the parking lot, when you start to wonder where I guess you're in the right place already.

All pictures from the old place are courtesy of Melly's Garden Facebook Page

WELCOME TO MELLY'S

So, this is actually the front entrance for the new location. If you're going inside the door there, you can find the coffee shop. Yeap, a coffee shop. They open a new range of Indonesian coffee now and start from early morning.

Want to know more about the coffee place? Stay tuned here!

 Stay awesome, darlings!