Small Talks vol.28

This weekend we are planning to go to Ancol Jakarta Bay City where is northen area of Jakarta, and there is a big amusement park including golf yard, pool and aquarium.

Because we found that my little kid love to play in the pool, we should go to the amusement park pool, also we will go to aquarium even we are not sure my kid does like it or not.

I've heard that there are few place where we can go with family and enjoy.  So I'm looking forward to go there.

Small Talks vol.27

I think there is an huge opportunity to grow our business in here Indonesia market.

Basically there are two reasons I think;

Primarily, the economics of this market is still increasing rapidly, GDP trend shows robust uptrend like 5.0% every year and the population distribution skews to youger generation.  Thus, this market has big opportunity.

And also for us an international advertising agency, there is a room to expand our business especially for Japanse client because there are so many Japanese big spenders in Top 100 advertisers ranking.

Small Talks vol.26

Currently I'm planning to go to Yogyakarta to go around and see the Borobudur monument which is a one of the 3 biggest Buddhism monument in the world.  The rest of two are Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Baggan in Myammer.

Yogyakarta is the old city where is located in the central place of Java island, Indonesia.  This city is famous for as the tourist city and also is active as academic city, there are many univercities and labos.

I have been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and was so impressed about the atmosphere of these huge and old monument.  So really looking foward to go around.

Small Talks vol.25

Today's topic is about the best place I ever been to.

I ever been to so many places such as Guam, Saipan, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Fiji, Cambodia, Vietnam, Turkey, China and etc...

The place where I was most impressive is Croatia, especially for the Dubrovnik where is the old city on the coast of Adriatic Sea.  This old town is called as "the Pearl of Adriatic Sea" and also famous as the city where people say a Ghibli film stage.

The orange-colored houses lined up along the sea about 2km, the Adriatic of sky blue and orange color contrast is exactly suitable for named Pearl.

Small Talks vol.24

Today I would like to talk about the Rain in Jakarta city.

On the rainy season, so many floods happens even in the central area of Jakarta city.

I go to the office by walk (Jalan Kaki) every morning, so once it rains, the way from my home to my office became very tough and difficult road...so many flood comes up all around the Jakarta city and I become all muddy when I arrive to the office.

Strongly I hope the infrastructure of water drain will be improved accordingly...

Small Talks vol.23

What's your favorite movie?

I would like to say "Phantom of the Opera" becuase I was so impressed when I saw this movie first time and also I got same shock wave throughout my body when I saw the musicals of this title in Tokyo.

While I love the story because it is the sort of mystery and also love story of Christine and Erik, but in the same time, I like very much about it's songs.  On the latest 2004 version, the film is based on the musical, so many actors/actress had sing a song actually.

Small Talks vol.22

I have a plan for the near future.

When my little kids become a certain age which they are able to do cultural lessons, I would like to make them to have a lessons of "Nihon Buyo" which is the Japanese traditional dance.

The reasons why I want to make them learn this are;

1. I want my little kids to learn more about Japanese nationality and deeply think about who we are.  Thas should help to establish their identiy as Japanese, and should help them when they communicate with foreign peoples.

2. Simply because my old sister is a teacher of Nihon Buyo.  She have been doing a NIhon Buyo for over 20 years and now she is an accredited master of Nihon Buyo.  There is no way we could miss this opportunity.

Small Talks vol.21

On the weekends, I went to the Mexican Restaurant "Amigos" in Bellagio Shopping mall which is next to my apartment in Mega Kuningan.

We have been in the apartment for over 3 months, but we never been to the restaurant.  For some reasons, we are wondering the quality of the restaurants in the shopping mall.  But we found that we are totally worng, that is just a perception.

The food is really great, and the restaurant atmosphere is also good.  And we've heard that there is a party on the Friday night and everybody at the party really get off.

So I wish we could join that pary at least once.  ;-D

Small Talks vol.20

At last I could achive to vol.20 of this small talk, but still 20th...

I should accomplish 100 small talks for improving practical english conversation skill as I previously posted on this Blog.  Anyway I will keep on going.

Topics of this post is about "Shinkansen".  My litlle kid really love the Train especially for the Shinkansen.  He has watched the DVD of Shinkansen again and again, so many times as we cannot belive why he never get tired of looking at.

When we go back to Japan in May because of preparation for our second baby, we are planning to take a ride on this Tohoku Shinkansen E5 to go to Tohoku area.  In the now, I and my wife are more interested in than my kid I guess ;-D

Small Talks vol.19

I love the sneakers!! ;-D

Altough I have bought a few from when I come to Jakarta, but I love the sneakers and there are some collections on my storehouse.

Basically I like the old school models such as Vans Old School, I have 7 or 8 color types variant of Vans.  Some is a collaboration product with Fashion Brand like Kenzo and other Japanese domestic brand, and others is the re-manufactured model which is basic, retro designed one.

I think I have around 30-40 shoes even I sorted out and throw by some of my collections when I moved to here. But I think the sneakers are something I cannot never live without, I thrilled to bits always with them.  ;-D

Small Talks vol.18

There are so many Ramen shop in Jakarta in these days.

Bankara, Menya-Sakura, Ippu-do, Santoka and etc., these are famous Ramen shop in Tokyo and they have opened their branch in Jakarta.

Personally I think Santoka is best in Jakarta, that is my recommendation.  But that shop is in Plaza Indonesia where is a bit far from my house.  So I often go to Bankara which is in the closest shopping mall, 10 minutes walk from my home.

Small Talks vol.17

I have some visitors from Japan this week, and had an opportunity to chat about what I'm doing in these days here.

One topic from the conversation with them is very memorable and I would like to keep a note about that.

We were chatting about "Attitude to work" of people in this market.  Sometimes these "Attitude to work" of Japanese workers are said that it is sort of crazy.  One of my firends from India said that "many people work untill midnight with happily in Japan, right?"...that is not 100% true, but yes some people work untill midnight everyday, every week.

"Attitude to work" in here is completely different from Japan's one.  Actually many people in here put much value on work-life balance.  So to me, sometimes I feel every person should work with responsibility and accoutability by themselves.  But there is no correct answer, every one has each opinion.  So I think we need to communicate with them as much as possible to avoid miscommunication about that.

Small Talks vo.16

I had my hair cut last week.

Asked to the stylist to make it very short because my hair had been so damaged.  I'm not quite sure the reason why, but I heard that the water is different from the one in Japan.  So some people say hairs of Japanese are damaged by the water when we take a shower.

Anyway, it has been a long time from when I cut my hair as very short last time. It would be 5 or 6 years ago when I married.

It's so fresh feeling with this new Jakarta version hair cut ;-D

Small Talks vol.15

My little kid just started to go to pre-school which is something like a kindergarden in Kasabranka area.

For the time being, every time I send him to the kindergarden, he is crying...cyring so powerful voice.  Just when he sees the apartment which the kindergarden is placed, he starts crying.

But today, he doesn't.  He supposed to be patient from crying.  I really love the boy who is carrying his cross, is holding back the tears.  Finally when he entered into the class room, he started crying.

Altough he cried at the end, I'm honored that he did not cry for a while untill when entering into classroom.  And I'm really happy that I could feel that he is growing up day by day.