happy in the fast lane

travel. technology. journal. design. ideas. and many many inspiring things.

[happyinthefastlane]

Remember Game of Thrones, anyone ? 

Here's to the real "King's Landing" . In a second I thought I saw Daenerys walking gracefully in that narrow alley. 

[happyinthefastlane]

because we don't need to be the same to be together. 

Sister and "common people" enjoying afternoon stroll on town square of ancient city of Dubrovnik 

[happyinthefastlane]

Croatian days. 

I always drawn in instant melancholic on any journey to countries with horrible scars of post civil war. Croatia in just recent past was a far cry from current image of trendy, hip, emerging and breathtakingly beautiful set for summer festival euphoria. 

Not long time ago , it was a bleeding zone of greed and lust of powers. 

In my recent road trip, I found it difficult to imagine Croatia as a war zone 10 years ago. The warm Balkan sun, blue and emerald greenish shimmer of Adriatic's sea water, and wild flowers in vivid screaming colour all along the coast, don't you think this place is some kind of paradise on earth  ? 

.....

4 hours driving from Split the Dalmatian's capital to the great pearl of Adriatic, Dubrovnik was probably a testimony of what's left from that period. Guard posts all across the border of Bosnia - Herzegovina and Croatia ..I found them quite ..intimidating. 

Men in uniforms, armed forces, and security posts. Those visualisation just a plain contrast with the beautiful surrounding. I passed around 4 post guards on the borders and I stopped , examined, and finally released after answering some questions. 

Nevertheless, looking back I can only remember the warmth of the Balkan sun and exquisite  hidden coves , sheltered from the green of pine forest. (Oh..and out-of-this-worldly delicious succulent grilled calamari I've ever had. It stucked on my mind. Forever. ) 

[happyinthefastlane]

Satu dua tiger

Me : Satu dua tiga . Repeat after me

Him : Satu dua tiger - I like how your numbers sound like a li'el animals. Tiger is my favorite number

[lisawiseman]

Life’s full of surprises and miracles. Open your eyes not just to possibilities, but impossibilities.

N. R. (via lisawiseman)

[happyinthefastlane]

pretty much sums up my life story 

[happyinthefastlane]

That day watching the sunsets on the ruins of Temple of Athene. 

The goddess of knowledge, wisdom, and once the can-do attitude and do-able approach. 

I will put my humble offering here. 

*bow*

[addictedtophoto]

Snow Capped Ceann Loch Uachdrach by mark_mullen on Flickr.

[happyinthefastlane]

See you soon Highland! 

[happyinthefastlane]

Kinda song that makes me clap and swing. 

Start today H A P P Y 

=) 

[happyinthefastlane]

once upon a time, we set our foot to the grand kingdom of knowledge. 

books and yellowed pages from any books, on any languages spoken on earth were there , waiting to tell us unheard stories, little secrets of wisdom, unsung heroes, and unknown journey from all corners of the world. 

for the love of books and all unspoken words. 

- Hay - on - Wye, town of books, Wales - 

[happyinthefastlane]

a journey passing a pretty winding gorge with rocky sand pitch on the windy coast. 

if only you could see what I see

[nouralogical]

[happyinthefastlane]

one day baby, we'll go star gazing in Patagonia. 

Dark blue sky above us. 

Millions , billion or probably gazzilion dots of sparkling stars for us. 

Looking up, feeling small. 

and feeling grateful we both found each other in this big big universe ..

[happyinthefastlane]

From gorgeous to AWWWW rating scale , how pretty these journal are . From the genius School of Life. Because , keeping a journal makes you know your self better ...be a self observer , embrace some self - knowledge. 

[happyinthefastlane]

Glory glory to the god of the sun! Vive le roi soleil ! 

[happyinthefastlane]

la primavera!

So finally the mornings are lighter, days are longer and sun spells are generous on the earth's surface. On the day like this, if you're lucky, the sky was blue and all kind of little wild flowers showed their graceful buds on the tip of naked brunches, giving a sign of life after a long winter death.

You know , on the day like this, you should just widely open the windows (that have been shot for months) and take a deep breath to fill your lung and scream in disbelieved : LA PRIMAVERA! SPRING HAS SPRUNG! 

Last Sunday was a continuos of glorious sunny days in London. We decided to go out , drove about with our car's roof opened. Well, it's 17C - still though - with so much sun spells along the way, we can make it with thick jumpers and wooly scarves. LET'S GO TO WILDERNESS. 

Me, a Harley Davidson daddy's little gal and him being a Motto Guzzi affecionado at heart - we decided to go to a mecca of motobikers, just out of London. To beautiful iddylic Box Hill in Surrey.  To fill our lung with fresh air and to jump about in the rolling hills. 

Box Hill is the perfect place to discover a family walk and explore the beautiful Surrey Hills. Forming part of the North Downs, Box Hill has breathtaking views across the surrounding countryside. It's home to some fantastic wildlife and plants too, including the Adonis blue butterfly and bee orchid. Roads here are called "Zig zag road" and "Devil's Cauldron" for some reasons. All those up and downs with narrow and sharp bends are absolute paradise for racers. I don't mind the slow speed on the road that day, it's pretty hills and surrounding greenery that captured my sights along the way.

We climbed a very steep hills , run out of breath, and finally look back with such relief. What a pretty sight from up here! 

and finally , that's me with all my wooly accessories..basking happily in spring sun rays and all its glory! 

Spring how I love thee! 

ps. all pictures taken using iPhone 5 - not bad at all, eh.

ps 2. So at Ryka's the bikers' "good food" canteen, apparantly you ordered giant burger, given a number , wait and mingle with all tattooed pierced men (and women) and then you got called through microphone. LOL!  I looked like a lost Japanese tourist among these gigantic (but friendly) lots! Hey, my daddy had a big Harley Davidson too you know! =) 

[happyinthefastlane]

on writing to appreciate the journey

So, finally, voila - the first travel writing about my playground, the big smoke of LDN. 

Why I write ?

I write mostly because I think by writing you're actually living and being in the presence. I appreciate the opportunity to live, to work, and to play in one of the greatest city in the world, London. The contrast of old and new, the long standing history and remarkable literary work side by side with the restless creative energy and the new alien-shaped contemporary museum dedicated to human achievement in self expression in burst of colours and shapes. Through writing exercise, you see more of the place you live in. You stopped taking it for granted. You start to be curious. You start asking. You start paying attention - whether one building is Tudor style, or why that narrow street in Hatton Garden called "Bleeding Heart yard". Writing enables me to live in the moment. Focus. Live. Being here, being present. 

I write because by writing I contribute something real to the city I live in. I am a proud Londoner - and I hope trough writing about my journey in this Dickens' city I could share the joy and the dynamic of urban living experience.

I write because by writing I contemplating my own journey - a reminder that I should not forget to enjoy the journey - wherever I am (oh yes, this is the 6th city in the world I called home - and I still have a lot of plans to keep on ..ahem ..exploring the world) - while getting a bit closer to my further destination. Once in a while , in this very fast-trained journey of life, I should stop, sit back and look out of the windows - being there and be in amazement of "wow , this is a great place !". Writing giving me that feeling of appreciation about the place I live. Because they said  "WHEREVER YOU ARE - BE THERE - WITH ALL YOUR HEART " 

Below are some snapped windows - shorter version - of my article on Panorama magazine, premium travel magazine in Indonesian language. In this article I wrote about the journey of romancing historic pubs ( yeah, haunted bunkers, Dickens' little secret and Voltaire discussion - not too mention pirates and opium war) . Text and photos by yours truly =) 

If you think you're interested in British pub culture, historical sites, and lots of good bitter pale ale, you will enjoy reading this piece. Cheers, mate!! 

s. 

[happyinthefastlane]

The old saying " take the road less traveled " might has some truth in it. In choosing consciously to the "off beaten track", you might feel a bit lost , lonely and on your own.

Yet they're sometimes providing the most bucolic and raw prettiest route you will ever find. Last year's road trip on the northern tip of Africa reminded me a long smooth road surrounded by magical snow capped mountain  - all for ourselves and  a humble donkey teenage rider. The sun is shining , the air is breezing , and the cherry blossom just crazily growing on every orchard's branches. 

For a moment I thought it was some kind of surreal place. But then the boy's greeting and the donkey's clanging bell do felt so true. 

For once I can even sit on the hard asphalt and taking my break. No one yelled at me "ARE YOU CRAZY!" like in London town.