Thank You 2023, Welcome 2024

In 2023. most of the year, I full it with journeys. I started with it traveling to Surabaya and Jakarta for suppliers visit and audit, which happen around Jan - Feb. Learning lesson; most of the supplier's personnel in years I just communicate with them by email, phonecall, and whatsapp however, since the relation build by trust and good willing, by the time you meet them, its like meet your friends. The target visit and audit in overall is good.

In march, got 2nd chance to visit Selayar, as the impact of covid, the flight from makassar to selayar is limited, so for the first time I used the ferry. How do you feel? tiring tho, because from makassar I need to go to bira by rent car for about 4 hours, then continue by ferry in 2 hours to pamatata (selayar's port). On the way back to Bali, it was already entering the fasting month, so I did fasting on the journey from selayar to makassar all they way, I made it I didnt break my fast eventho the journey isnt easy. What did you do in selayar? Its more to find out why the nutmeg supply taking so long time, the conclusion is the demand isnt much, forbid to build buffer, and by the time the nuts is available it taken by other collectors, and when nuts order come in, as no buffer of raw mat, then ofcourse needs time to collect it again from farmers which is taking time. Learning lesson: Strong willing will overcome the doubt, as well as you cannot please everyone, the are always reason to judge you and complaint on your effort. But is ok, challenges will enrich my soft skill, and never fail me to keep learn doing good.

Next was in end of May to early June total in 19 days of journey, be part of harvesting vanilla and went to Maumere to Adonara. It was very challenging, as the first time I involved in harvesting process, meet farmer and buy the vanilla in cash, this year the price for green vanilla was drop, and difficult to explain it to farmer, isnt my company that arranging or planning the price down, but the fact the market price for vanilla was down, because the Madagascar is doing well with stock and crop, which impact to Indonesian's price. Arguing with fews stubborn people, starting the journey in very early morning everyday, and end it mostly at night, having meal always late, the road that not always smooth, make sure no missing on the money calculation, it does tested my patient and body endurance, and thanks Allah, I wasnt get sick. Learning lesson: Dont forget to pray in every step you take, and Allah will just stay beside you, and keep you safe and sound!

Last but not least, was in August, I got an assignment to go to Manado, as the pic of clove wasnt around, so I went on her behalf, to buy and make sure the container loading as planned. I was like 11 days there, as a sudden additional container is ready and I requested to stay and make sure the final container is safe. The good thing is that, this is the 1st time I went there alone, beside doing the transaction (I am a purchaser tho) and planning the container, I was also taking the responsibility in quality, I mean taking sample to make sure that I am not buying water (moisture shall be meet the spec.), and make sure the method of taking the sample is also following the guideline so the sample taken is representative. Alhamdulillah all is running good. Eventho at this period of assignment I experience something that against my personal life rules, but again I cannot ask everyone to have the same life rules as mine right? Learning lesson: I learn to respect other people point of view of treating others.

I believe everyone has they own stories in life, as well as mine. All I want in this life Allah will always and always take care of me and parents mostly, and others. In His guideline I will keep the willing to learn being kind, and doing good. In His decision I will follow whatever that He plans to me. I hope that me and all of you will have the best things in the next year and in the future.

-Love yourself before you love others-

Thank you 2023. Welcome 2024

Clove, The Indonesia's Spices

Working in company that processing various spices have enrich my knowledge. I am graduated from Agriculture faculty, however, I must admit that having chance to be part of my current company made me realize Indonesia has few and well known spices in the world such as; vanilla, clove, and nutmeg

I will write more about clove this time. According to Scienagri.com Indonesia is one of the nine biggest countries that producing clove. In Indonesia itself the area which are the source of clove such as; Sulawesi, Maluku, Flores, and even Bali is also has produce clove. The peak season of clove during August to Sept, however it could be changed depend on the climate condition. Like in 2023 where rainy season happen longer cause shortage of clove stock in the market and kick the price up.

In the market in Indonesia for industrial clove, the standard quality called AB6 so with kind of calculation the total of moisture percentage (Kadar Air) and foreign material (Kadar Kotor) are max 6. I must be honest that I fully understand about this calculation a year ago after educated by one of suppliers.

Manufacturer could turns clove to become extract either in liquid or powder as well as make it into tea bag cut finish goods. Cigarette, pharmacy, food and beverage industries are also using clove.

Clove it self has several benefits and good for health. There are: anti bacteria, good for blood sugar level, maintain the lever health etc.

Next time I will share more about other Indonesia's spices or perhaps my journey working in spices company which give me chance to visit many cities in Indonesia.

Picture source: Tripper Nature

Retinol B3 Serum and Hyalucera Moisturizer by The Originote

To overcome the skin aging process which basically is a normal process in life, until several months ago, I still stick to use only moisturizer as skincare for my face and adding the compact powder for outdoor activities.

However, as I also often on field duty and expose by the sunlight, then I realize I need more booster to strengthen the skin barrier, especially for my face. 

My face skin isnt sensitive type, its dry to normal condition and I know as far its moist enough it doesnt give me problem so far, so I have wide chance to trial various face skin care. One of the good combinations to boost the skin barrier during the day is to apply serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, and lock them with compact powder. I will share one by one for each product in this blog, and I will start it with the serum.

Its Retinol B3 Serum by The Originote. Currently, I will buy my 3rd bottle, this retinol serum is fast absorbed into the skin, light, and giving cool sense in my skin. For the technical review of the product ingredients you can read here

Compare to the other brand of retinol serum which I also bought in the same time while having the originote, eventought it mentioned like consist of 6x retinol content, but personally the one from originote still the best for my face skin. 

In term of price, its bearable, for like 20ml the price range around IDR 40-50K, I think is good price for good quality product.

Beside the Retinol B3 Serum, other product that I recommend for from the originote is the Hyalucera Moisturizer. 

If the serum I use it for the day, the moisturizer I prefer to apply in my face the night before going to sleep. As its light and same, giving cool sensation in my face, and further for the night, I think no need like applying too heavy or to good skincare, as the skin only need to maintain its moist condition, and the Hyalucera Moisturizer is a good option for me by far. The ingredients you can also read here if you're curious and want to have more detail.
The price is also bearable around IDR 42K, here is the link for the pricing taken from The Originote Official Store

Picture sources:

Retinol B3 Serum

Hyalucera Moisturizer

Samsung S22 5G - I Hold it Perfectly

Mobile phone currently can be said one of the life complementaries, well in my point of view, because I am very rare to watching TV, or reading newspaper, or even books, because all of the news and entertainment, can be provided by so many online sources. Even books or novels, you can simply download an app, and there you go, you can read any genre that you like!.

I have been an android user ever since its existing. The size evolution, the android change series, and lots of hi tech improvements to deliver a mobile phone to user hand and make their life easier. Some user might like the size of the mobile phone big; I mean the display at 6 inch up, and it depends on their purpose on using the mobile phone, a professional photographer, or video creator, might love bigger display as they use it for making or editing their work.

Personally, I like mobile phone which fit in my "small" hand, not too big and not too small either, I have been waiting for long time to finally having the Samsung S22 5G

As usual before I buy new mobile phone, I always go to GSM ARENA to find out more information specification and recommendation. Samsung S22 5G has body dimension: 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in), which exactly the size that I really like the most. Comfort in my hand and easy to keep it in my pocket. 

The internal memory, I chose the 256GB 8GB RAM, which I believe good enough to cover my need for big storage as I like to watch korean drama and keep many pictures in my mobile phone. The camera capability is also awesome, very clear and there are various options that you can choose based on your capturing target.

Of course it has a weakness, which is the battery, it has only 3700 mAh. It makes you do the charging at least twice a day, but again, I think this weakness is not really a matter, if you only use the mobile phone for daily usage such as; whatsapp, scrolling through instragram, listen to spotify, and even watching netflix, a full 1x charging still good enough tho.

So far it runs well, still less than a year, and hope it will no problem. Not a paid review, not a promotion, and with lots of source of mobile reviewers I think the GSM ARENA still my favorite place to get update information or review about gadget especially a mobile phone before I decide to buy new one. Just to make sure that with the money I will spend, I will get the optimal product with all its strength and weakness

-life is good-

pic source: Samsung Newsroom Indonesia

Manado in Story

Recently I was on duty to Manado, the main city in North Sulawesi. This wasnt the first time I went to Manado, roughly it was the 6th time so far. Well yes, until the duty is done I havent visit Bunaken! 😅. But its ok i got chance to visit another " Bunaken" instead

Bunaken, it is famous among visitors, but there are another places that you could consider if you visit Manado, like Soekarno Bridge, Tomohon, Paal Beach, Pulisan Beach, and also Gunung Tumpa, and many more

Another good thing is that this time I have more chance to explore the manado culinary experiences, from Bubur Manado (Tinutuan), Goroho, Nasi Lemak, Gado-gado (with daun gedi), Nike, delicious pudding (itsnt too sweet) and yess found a good americano! damn....its so goood!

In Soekarno Bridge, you can witness sunset in the City, well am a balinese who never get enough with sunset ✌it will always beautiful thing no matter where you see it. The proof of the existing of God and the proof that the earth is round and there is a beginning and the end of everything

In this YOLO life I know that I am blessed to have warm family, to have freedom to choose what I want, to have chance being educated, I am just blessed...thank you Allah, I thank You so much, please let me be the way I am, treat people as human no matter what, just being me that will always learn being kind and never stop to do the good things in life, as simple as that

-life is good-

Journey in Flores

As part of spices company as well as being ready to support the company agenda, therefore around early June I had a chance to join a division in Tripper called SAD to run their yearly agenda with farmers in Flores, NTT
I was part of team that based in Maumere, it is the city of Sikka regency. I took the direct flight from Denpasar - Maumere with a transit at Labuan Bajo. The total time took around 3.5 hours until I arrived at Frans Seda airport. 

The city was sunny, the road not really traffic, I stayed at a warm and clean place named St Camillus Service Center. Managed by a Catholic Father whom very friendly, you can stay here with rate Rp 150k/night per room for 2 person max, with air con, and attached bathroom. It was comfy place to stay, if you dont expect too much service ya

They trip with the SAD team was quite challenging which almost from Camillus to the villages that we need to visit, in average took around 2-3 hours, the villages mostly in highland with many turns so I am sure you can imagine how hard it was. The good things are; I had chance to meet farmers with all their characters, how to deal with them, to coordinate and manage with the team, and of course the beautiful sceneries that I pass by.

In Maumere, I spent around 11 days and continue the journey to Adonara.

To reach Adonara from Maumere it took around 3-4 hours by land to Larantuka, and then continue with speed boat for about 5-15 minutes, its depend on which port you leave from.

In Adonara, my company has facility here to process the spices, the facilities included office, production, warehousing, and room to stay for the staff. 

The location is close to the beach, so can enjoy sunset everyday! The days I spent in Adonara was around 8 days and all is good with valuable experiences and good friends.

Time to go back to Bali and I took the same route, Adonara - Larantuka - Maumere - Denpasar

What a journey

Never imagine before in this good life I have chance having journey to many places in Indonesia mostly to villages and meet farmers and visiting field, all of it drive me to always and always feel blessed with all I have. Because sometime when you feel you facing hard time, there are others that have hardest than you are

--life is good. liar is shit--

Selayar Island

Got chance to visit this island again on last march. Almost 3 weeks spent time there for understand more about nutmeg's supply

Selayar is an Island which located at the most southern end of South Sulawesi, the quiet and now isolated island of Selayar, with its swathes of pristine white sand beaches and crystal clear tropical waters, in fact, used to have an illustrious past (indonesia.travel)

My company has a facility here, in this island, the main purpose is to establish good relationship with farmers around and to manage good organic spices
The weather in Selayar when I was there mostly sunny and yes it was hot, and I think compare to Bali, its hotter.

I got chance to go to a hidden gem, and its a beach the name is Labuang Nippaya. It has white sand, its clean and so beautiful, well I think because not much people knowing the place yet, I hope it keeps like this when I have chance to revisit it again 😊😊

The food? of course I taste some of them, pallu basa, jalangkote, meatball, and ahh there is a cafe, the name is Simbiosa at Benteng city, it has well I like it the most a black citrus coffee named milarose, taste good and pure from arabica, to get to this cafe from my facility is about one hour by motorbike

In general, it was good to back to Selayar....

 

Day 1, 2023

Time flies fast..it's true, 2022 hours ago left behind with all the ups and downs, with all laughing and tears, with happiness and sad things...thats life!

What would you do in this year ahead Rina?

I think my spirit is the same, still want to do many good deeds in life, learning more and more about life and saying more Bismillah and Alhamdulillah in every things that happen in my life path

Learning to love myself and its ok sometime to ignore others

I do hoping that people arounds having and reaching the best things in their life

I dont have a bucket list which needs to be reached, but I have few things that hope will be happen...and yes, you need to keep having hopes because I think it will color your life more..

Happy New Year mina-san! Ganbatte!

--Jogja dan Kenangan by Langit Sore--