1. Sometimes somehow I feel like I have settle most of the stuff for the BIG day. But sometimes when I trace things down, I find out that I actually have loads haven’t settle yet, especially those that needed to be done at boyfriend’s hometown. Duh.

2. Good thing is (finally) I managed to find the dancers for reception night in Medan at a good price. So, everything is in place for the reception here. I just need to arrange the whole program with the MC.

3. My parent, aunties and uncles keep asking me,”So you are going to bring your Dell comp along?” I wish to, but it is a PC not a laptop. I already scratching my head when I think about packing my clothes, shoes, and other stuffs. I know it’s still 4 months to go, but there is nothing wrong with early plan right? I think I might need to buy another Eagle Creek luggage to accommodate those stuffs. Argh, I hate packing and moving!

4. The local agent called me again regarding my cancellation of continuing degree in KL. Apparently study grant result was out already but they never informed me. Whatever, I received 20% discount only, while tuition fee for 1 semester is at RM9775 excluded medical insurance, resources fee and visa application fee. *sweat*

5. Fitting day is on next week while photo shooting will be on end of August. So close, so near, no time to gain weight and fattening myself la. Why do we have so many slimming center but I hardly see any gaining weight center? There is even a slimming center booth at the wedding expo in Sun Plaza (28 July – 2 August’09). Where is the booth for gaining weight? So unfair. -__-”

6. My hair hasn’t reach the shoulder-length yet. How to style it later? The hairstylist better not add any wig to my hair. I’m not going for hair extension too.

7. Been neglected the invitation card. Have to finish it by this weekend, discuss with boyfriend again so next week or next 2 weeks can bring it to the printing shop for quote request.

8. It’s been a month since the big-day’s plan is confirmed. And, I have never discussed the big-day’s stuffs with boyfriend face to face. Everything is discussed and shared via email (mostly) and voice call. I am amazed that I haven’t bang my head to the wall yet.

Each time I pass by the Kesawan road, I always have a glance at the Tjong A Fie mansion and wonder when will I have the chance to explore the beautiful old mansion. Now, the place is finally opened for public! Yippie! But.. it is for a limited period of time, from June 18th to August 18th 2009, 9am – 12am and 1pm-5pm. Entrance ticket is at IDR35.000 per person.

Tjong A Fie mansion. View from Kesawan road.

Who is Tjong A Fie?
All I know is, Tjong A Fie is a well-known Chinese businessman from Medan who held an important role in building this town. A legendary Chinese figure in Medan. For more of his history, please go to his wiki page, cause I don’t recall I ever learnt about his history back in school. Seriously, I remembered about Sisingamangaraja (a hero from North Sumatra), Pattimura (from Maluku), Pangeran Antasari, Gajahmada, and other Indonesian-famous-man but not Tjong A Fie?Something wrong with my little brain or the person who wrote the history book is a racist? Haihz, whatever la.

Tjong A Fie (1860-1921) was a poor Hakka who sailed to Sumatra from Guangdong – China. Started off with only a few pieces of silver sewn, he managed to have a successful business along with his brother – Tjong Yong Hian. Tjong A Fie was known as a respected businessman who has good social networks and has build good relation with the Sultan Deli, Makmoen Al Rasjid Perkasa Alamsjah and Tuanku Raja Moeda. Tjong A Fie also became the first Chinese to own a tobacco plantation. He also developed and expanded to tea plantation in Bandar Baroe and large coconut/palm oil plantations. Also said to have a blood-relation with Cheong Fatt Tze (Penang).

picture credit: medanku.com

The above photograph of Tjong A Fie was showcased in one of the rooms along along with other old photos. I was amazed and couldn’t believe that this kind of clothes also existed in Medan back then. I mean, I thought this clothes only existed in mainland China? Ternyata sempit juga pengetahuan sejarah gue.

Closer look of the front gate. Too bad the ornaments on the gate was faded already.

I went there with my parent and bro on yesterday afternoon. Brought along my Canon digicam which is always ready to accompany me wherever I go. After paid the entrance fee, the so-called-tour-guide (native Indonesian woman) brought us to explore the mansion and explained some history of Tjong A Fie and family to us.

The latest generation of Tjong A Fie still lives in the mansion hence some of the room is not opened for public. And, visitors are not allowed to take pictures of some area, i.e. room filled with photographs of Tjong A fie and family. (more…)

I had a dinner with the girls last night at Famous Cafe. Gel just came back from her vacation in Bali and brought souvenir (read: dress) for each of us. I tried it at home and as expected the dress is too loose for me. -___-”

After dinner, we headed off to other restaurant cause the two of them needed to attend their friends birthday. Twenty one years old celebration, still in college, laugh out loud like no tomorrow, young faces without wrinkles, all those things just made me felt so out of the place. I never realize that 2 years difference (in age) can create such a gap. *gasp* Pardon my sensitivity. All this because I am hitting 23 yo. Today.

This is going to be my last birthday with the ‘status:single’. Yes, consider single now, cause in the formal form, there is only 3 status: single, married, and divorce. There is no such thing as: in a relationship, it’s complicated or engaged with – you think it is facebook meh? So, erm.. start from next year, I’ll be celebrating my birthday as someone’s wife.

When the girls and Yeha knew about this BIG news, they threw the same two-questions to me:
1. how was the W proposal?
Well, nothing biggie or romantic scene like in the movie. We discussed about this for days so there is no certain he-proposes kinda day. But boyfriend did fold a ring using RM10 note and.. the careless me lost it! >.<

2. why so fast and so sudden? (the BIG day is less than 5 months from now)
No, we are not expecting Wong Jr. This is just a matter of time. Sooner or later we’ll tie the knot. Besides, we have been dating for.. not just 5 weeks or 5 months.. but 5 years, which is long enough for us to know each other (and still continue to learn to know each other). We have gone through lots of upside down in life and sharing happy sad moment together.

And, we have gone through 2 years of LDR. Not a short time. LDR is not for forever and it is definitely not ‘healthy’. It has to have an ending. We might still standing strong after 2 years of LDR, but we are not sure if things will be the same after 3 years or 4 years. There is so many not-happy-ending story when it comes to LDR. We don’t want to make the list longer.

M stuff has come across our mind 2 years ago. We have been more than ready, mentally. But we always tell ourselves that we are not financially ready. We can’t separate M and W. And, W is not cheap. You have pre-wedding photos, wedding gown and suit, reception (MC, singers, dancers, souvenir, etc) yadayada. That’s why some people decided to just do ROM (Register Of Marriage) only, let alone the reception and photos.

So, we confronted our fear (of not financially ready), I convinced myself of not having a fairytale kind of W day, we set out the budget and fit our need with the budget. The preparation has been so far so good. My kepo neighbor knew the news from the MC and congrats my Mum already (Thank you, auntie). My parent, auntie, uncle, grandparents are so happy for me. Even my 9 years old cousin also happy for me, actually all she wants is to have chocolate ice-cream as the dessert on reception night.

That’s it. If you were to really look into our story, this BIG news doesn’t really pop up out of a sudden. And.. I actually didn’t feel like breaking this news to any of my friends (except my aunties, uncle, grandparents) until the BIG day is about to come.

First, I hate having to explain why and what and how yadayada over and over again. One person asks, I will be more than willing to share over a cup of hot chocolate. Five people asks the same thing at different time, it starts to annoy me. Ten people asks the same thing at different time, I will turn into a ‘tiger’. Once you see my ‘tiger’ side, you will regret for waking ‘her’ up. And, someone tend to ask in a confronting way as if I owe her an explanation, which I hate very much and has started to make distance since then.

Second, some people are very funny one, they will get angry or feel offended if they weren’t invited. Ruang di hati terlalu sempit bo. Since we are on budget, I can’t be possibly inviting all friends that I know from kindergarten to high school. So, well, I thought the best would be keeping it first from everyone? Put aside this issue, I just hope that the news will NOT circulate outside, other than the circle of my current close friends whom already knew the news. Now, why am I explaining all this thing? -__-”

In Cinderella story, W day marks the ending of the story. But for us, when W day ends, it marks the beginning of the M life that is full of hopes. Anyway, Happy Birthday to me!

It’s the time of the year again where I am going to be one year older, in less than 24 hours time. I can’t believe that I am going to hit mid twenty soon – Arghhh!!! Not this year, but soon.

Anyway, put aside the numbers, it is never too late to write down a wishlist.

Breadou Donut – a computer mouse wrist rest and squeezable stress reliever. Oh yes, after the cutie emoticon bread, Breadou did it again with donut’s shape this time. It is sold at $9.50 in the website. I am so gonna hunt for this ‘donut‘ on the next visit to KL.

Beanbag. I’ve seen this once (I think Rach brought it on Christmas celebration at 95% few years ago) and feel in love with the effectiveness and how comfy it was. It can be turn into whatever shape, can be used as outdoor pillows or as a sofa. I especially like the beanbag in red color.

Polaroid camera. Loves the effect and that one can actually hold the photos instead of saving it in the computer. It adds more meaning to the photos (for me).

I had a massage and body peeling for 2 hours along with Mum, where she has a good chat with the staff about best weight loss supplement in the market. And I came back home with this ugly red mark on my forehead which looks like somebody has beaten me. Blame me for not adjusting my head’s position nicely. -__-”

If the mark still there tomorrow morning, I guess I’ll have to change my side bang to another side so that it can hide the mark.