☞ Jakarta’s Chinatown: Glodok in 16 Pictures
Pasar Glodok
Glodok is a bustling place. Walking through this maze of shops, Temples, vendors, and street kitchens, is a colorful and layered experience. Here history and modernity have fused and mutated. Glodok is a tangled and haphazard marketplace unlike any other Chinatown you might encounter. Visiting Chinatown in New York, San Francisco and/or Singapore, you feel like you have been transported to a tiny version of China. That is not the case here. In Jakarta’s Glodok, because its history has been written and rewritten, it seems circumstance has triumphed over tradition.
So, while you may not find dim sum, squeaky baby shoes, or kites, you will find very friendly people, fascinating things around every corner, and a great experience.
Inside the wetmarket
Pigeon Vendors
Yes, that is a bag of live eels he's carrying.
Thank you random kind lady for buying me this durian ice cream. It was quite tasty :)
The contrast between old and new is striking.
Inside the temple.
After rolling stones, and shaking sticks, this is the fortune I received in the temple.
**Google Translated {My Bahasa isn’t that good}: Do not obey the words even though many said. The wind and the clouds in a quiet place, the dragon has not run. In the darkness good news is received. You do not need ask many questions.
The color scheme of this Catholic church looks a lot like the temple...
These guys too wanted their picture taken.
The Pollution Problem.
A glimpse of a street market.
Close to a cobra.
☞ Sometimes It’s The Little Things
So, I picked up this ring at Dia.lo.gue Artspace the other day, and what can I say, I think I’m in love with it. It’s got a quirky sweetness that I love to look at. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite artists, Slinkachu {check out his work, his ability to articulate so much in such tiny installations is amazing. Truly amazing}.
The ring has a narrative quality you don't usually find in jewelry.
I always find unique things at Dia.lo.gue. This ring was less than $10, which also makes me happy. Cheers to infusing fun into the mundane & to appreciating art everyday!
☞ Dia.lo.gue Artspace JL. Kemang Selatan 99a WWW.dialogue-artspace.com☞ One Sun Day
Fun in the Sun
Everyone loves a good flea market. It’s the kind of modern-day treasure hunt that never gets old. I’ve found some of my favorite things in flea markets across the globe. Those who enjoy the super casual shopping atmosphere, the home-made goodies, & the funky music that flea markets typically proffer, will certainly fall in love with One Sun Day.
Eye Candy ;)
As the name suggests, this outdoor market happens one Sunday a month, when contemporary designers, artists, and food vendors come together to form the cool urban flea market that is One Sun Day.
Treeasure's Revi Marcelina and the layerable rings found in her shop.
Created by 4 like-minded women (Cecilia, Christyna, Selvi and Utari) who share a common passion for nurturing emerging talent and vision for creating a new shopping environment in Jakarta, this flea market is not to be missed. October 2nd marked the second One Sun Day event, and featured enticing candy-colored resin skull rings by GreedySassy, beautiful lacy leather bracelets by Bandung’s Treeasure, and lovely little mixed media artworks by Ika Vantiani, along with many other talented designers, entrepreneurs, and culinary connoisseurs. Each vendor offered up fresh goodies at extremely reasonable prices.
The Scene at One Sun Day Flea Market
Thanks to the ladies of One Sun Day hopefully blissfully {and simultaneously} eating and shopping in the shaded outdoors won’t be such a rare occasion in this city. Follow them on Twitter or simply drop them an email, as you won’t want to miss the next One Sun Day Flea Market.
☞ One Sun Day {Flea Market} Jl.Bangka Raya No 27-Kemang onesundayinfo@gmail.com☞ I ♥ Jogja
I just got back from a short trip to Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This time around I was following filmmaker Mustafa Davis as he screened a few of his films at special venues and Universities. Yogyakarta (or Jogja as it’s called) is a cool place. It’s a college town that moves at its own pace. It’s not frenetic or manic, like Jakarta. Instead Jogja is brimming with a pleasant enthusiasm and vibrant sense of humor. This was my third trip, and each time I’ve found the people to be really friendly and engaging. Traveling with Mustafa Davis, I was able to see students get inspired by his work. But, instead of waxing poetic about this city, I’ll leave you with snapshots of my favorite memories from this amazing trip….
Tamansari
Perhaps I should explain these pics. They were taken at Tamansari. As I was wondering around the lady on the right came up and told me if I wanted a good view I should follow her. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into, but I followed her around her house and to a wall that was indeed adjoining the Sultan’s pool. I climbed up and sure enough, there was a great view. Also a semi-scary view, if you, like me, are afraid of heights. I looked down and then immediately sat down as I didn’t want to become the dumb tourist that fell off a wall and into the Sultan’s pool. The guy on the left is probably wondering why there is a crazy lady on the wall looking like she might jump….good times.
Shadow Puppet Maker
Walking around Jogja
Sumur Gumuling--The Underground Mosque
Filled with young people taking pictures and just hanging out, The Underground Mosque was not at all what I expected it would be. It’s a casual place, with pretty architecture, nestled in a lively and easy to navigate (on foot) neighborhood.
The Candy Vendor
This Candy Vendor exemplifies the easy-going and playful nature of the city. He makes sugary treats all day. As I stood there a boy (with his family) came up and asked if he could put a penis one of the horse shaped confection. The family roared with laughter, and the man just put it right on. Just keepin’ the customer happy I suppose.
A store at night.
As night falls the city remains animated.
Jogja at Night
The best part of this trip was getting to sit-in and hear the students talk with Mustafa Davis about his work. Their passion was incredible & contagious.
Special Feature ☞ Nagicia Jewelry by Tricia Kim
Tricia Kim, like the jewelry she makes, is an unexpectedly charming find. The Korean born designer lives and works in Bali, and produces pieces for her line, Nagicia, that exhibit elegant craftsmanship and an utterly modern sensibility. Her necklaces and bracelets have such tactile allure, that once you set eyes on them you instantly want to touch and try on each one.
The Designer Herself
It’s hard to imagine that Tricia started out selling her work on the streets of San Francisco. Early in her career her talent landed her an apprenticeship with a high-end goldsmith and eventually she was discovered by John Hardy who brought her unique skill set and vision to Bali.
“Anyone who loves jewelry will love something from my collections” says the designer, who finds inspiration in all the intricacies, both sacred and mundane, that comprise the small island where she resides. Bali, with its profound beauty and mystical disposition, is an island that resonates in the soul. Tricia, after traveling and working abroad, now calls the tiny island home. It’s a place that allows her to manifest her creativity, and market its fruitage to a large audience eager to collect her work.
Tricia Kim wearing a Nagicia Necklace
Tricia Kim’s work has featured tiny deities strung on pearl or gemstone strands, bold organically shaped rings, and lately, swirly cursive letters, which the wearer can select to make a wildly personalized and special adornment. Her broad assortment of wearable treasures and meticulous, modern aesthetic keep her customers coming back for more. Her work is now available in four countries, and her online catalog allows us to shop from home. Although, any excuse to travel to Bali, is a good one.
This bracelet (with her son's name) is one of the designer's favorites.
**All photos courtesy of Tricia Kim**
Look for Nagicia Jewelry at:
In JAKARTA:
ALUN ALUN Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, West Mall Level 3 Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1, Jakarta 10310 t: 62.21.23580890 www.alunalunindonesia.com☞ Super Nifty Crafty Time! DIY Planter Edition
I know the interwebs are full of this kind of thing (or, even this exact thing), but, I fell in love with this idea and wanted to give it a go for myself. It’s pretty easy to make this cool little guy, so let’s roll….
1. Find something that’s hollow, and fun. I found this zebra at the grocery store, and was enamored by her sweet face.
2. Cut a hole in the top. Careful if it has a seem, as you’ll want to avoid it. I used my trusty Joyce Chen scissors as those things are small and will cut through almost anything. I then sanded down the edges with sand paper.
3. Make holes in the bottom, for drainage. I used my flex shaft with a drill bit, and it was a piece of cake…
4. Prime the beast. I coated my zebra with a layer of white primer and let it dry for a bit…
5. The fun part—>Painting. I painted my project with a couple of layers of orange fluorescent spray paint, letting it dry between coats.
6. Where it went wrong—->After I had sprayed it down, let it dry, and it was looking great, I applied a coat of clear sealer. I know the folks over at Ace Hardware (in Jakarta) don’t have a great reputation for being helpful or knowledgable, BUT, the guy recommended I use this, and I gave it a shot. It left a very uneven and whitish coat of “gloss” over my now beloved beast. I let that mess dry overnight and gave it a couple more go overs with the fluorescent paint in the morning and it was good to go again. There must be a better sealer out there, but I’m just going to skip it for now.
7. Ta Da! The planter is done and ready for a plant. I’m still working on finding something cute to put in there, but for now I just picked something from outside to show the general finished product. It looks great in a variety of places. Have a look….Now, to find a Hebra for my Shebra ;)
☞ If you aren’t into crafting but love the idea, you can purchase a neon planter for yourself online at:
Bloomin Happy 2009 or Crazy Couture Enjoy!
▷►▷ Bonus Ideas For the Crafty Soul ◁◄◁
Take this idea a step beyond the obvious, and give these ideas a spin….
The kitchen, a kid's room, the bathoom, or on your dresser...this guy can go anywhere :)
☞ For the Birds
I really love birds. I envy them too. I love that they can fly and sing. I find them captivating, inspirational, beautiful, and all around wonderful entities. So, when I got back to Jakarta after a long summer abroad and received the invitation to Inkubator’s exhibition titled Birds, I was delighted, and couldn’t wait to go.
The show is by artist PinkGirlGoWild, a.k.a. Eunice Nuh. It’s a beautiful mixed-media affair with a video, sculptures, and drawings all using the winged creatures to depict loss, longing, and love. Eunice’s Beautiful Victim series consists of three ink on paper doily illustrations each depicting a highly stylized little bird perched daintily in the center of a paper nest. While the drawings entertain a certain delicate whimsy, a dark underpinning is present too, as the birds are faceless, and as the title suggests, victims.
Hanging from clothespins on the wall were a bevy of ink on paper drawings featuring cartoon birds in comical situations. Lighthearted and capricious the drawings had an irreverent edge that made them a delectable treat to read.
In the background a CD of bird songs played that the artist had procured for roughly 1 usd. The lovely sound of birds chirping called to mind peaceful moments outdoors, and created a sort of sad juxtaposition with the realization that the magical sound of birds singing can be a manufactured product. It was a purposeful gesture on Eunice’s part, as she had reached that conclusion when she came upon the CD, and hoped to effectuate that same awareness at the opening.
Birds, is a beautiful, fun, and contemplative exhibition. Ornithology enthusiasts and art lovers alike will thoroughly enjoy what Birds has to offer.
☞ Birds by PinkGirlGoWild
August 20-September 11, 2011
Inkubator at forme building
Wijaya 1 no. 39
☞ Marfa’s Main Squeeze
In doing research for an upcoming magazine article on the wonderful city of Marfa, I had the pleasure of meeting Verena Zbinden-Vollenweider, owner of Squeeze Marfa. Squeeze is a charming swiss café in the middle of West Texas. Verena has created a menu that makes venturing out for breakfast entirely worth the trip. Fresh coffee, waffles topped with chocolate and whipped cream, and deliciously creative sandwiches are among the tasty offerings Verena whips up everyday.
Verena herself is a delight to talk to. Warm and engaging she opened Squeeze after finding retirement life to be a little boring for her liking. Her little café caters to local folks and tourists alike–anyone who comes through her door instantly finds a great meal and makes a new friend.
If you happen to find yourself in Marfa be sure to grab a meal at Squeeze. Tell Verena, Melany sent you ;)
☞ For More Information:
Squeeze
215 North Highland Avenue
Marfa, TX 79843
☞ Blue Star
The Blue Star Arts Complex in South Town San Antonio is a very special place. I spent a lot of time there as a student at UTSA and while it has evolved over the years, the essential nature of it–as a place that fosters and promotes local artists–remains unchanged. Little galleries have come and gone, some I really miss, but the Blue Star Art Space still offers up great shows and interesting events just as it did nearly ten years ago when I was there (I even participated in a show there, Texas Dialogues: Parallels, which was a great experience).
It was good to walk around this place, the sun blazing in the blue Texas sky. Moving from place to place, I forget what home feels like. Home: where your history lives, where some of your best memories were made and where you feel the most like yourself. I always think, home is where the art is. Thus, for me, this is it.
For More Information:
☞ Still Standing.
Mary Ann’s Pig Stand is an old school little diner, that offers up classic meals and treats in a setting that even Arthur H. Fonzarelli would surely find charming.
With Jukeboxes at virtually every table and an assortment of burgers and homemade pies to soothe the soul, the diner is a fun, highly affordable and delicious way to pass the time.
The original Pig Stand opened in Texas in 1921 and was the first to offer curb-side service. Mary Ann’s Pig Stand is the last one left. If you are in San Antonio, I highly recommend you stop in for a slice of pie and some old-fashioned fun.
☞ For More Information:
Mary Ann’s Pig Stand
1508 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78215
210-222-9923
wanderlust and wonder 