caramel macchiato: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Tick Tock Tick Tock Happy New Year..!! :D

It's almost the time.. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE..!! ^^v

Don't forget to

Celebrate it with the people you want

Make A Wish

Make Resolutions

Fireworks Time..!! :D

Since today is almost new year. and new year usually means fireworks, and resolutions too, I think I'm going to give you a short history of fireworks and inform you great places to see fireworks. :D

From the source I read, it said fireworks was invented by chinese people from around 2000-2500 years ago. Very ancient right..??

And for the great places to see fireworks, here's the lists

For fireworks with diameter above 2 inches you can see them here

1. Karnaval Beach Ancol

2. Merkur Beach Ancol

3. La Piazza, Kelapa Gading

4. Sumarecon Tangerang

5. Rooftop Mall Alam Sutra, Tangerang

Meanwhile for the fireworks with diameter below 2 inches, you can see them here

1. FX Life Style, Central Jakarta

2. East Parking, Senayan
3. Borobodur Hotel, Central Jakarta
4. Aston Marina Ancol
5. Rooftop Mal of Indonesia, North Jakarta
6. Keprajuritan Museum, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), East Jakarta
7. Christal Hotel, Jaksel
8. Setiabudi One Jaksel
9. Episentrum, Jaksel
10. Plaza Ring of Floor, Serpong
11. Teras, BSD City, Serpong

While outside Indonesia, here's the lists

New York NY USA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Brooklyn, Prospect Park
Atlantis Tower, Dubai U.A.E "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Beachfront
Flagler Museum, Palm Beach FL.
Niagara Falls NY USA "Festival of Lights" Fireworks. Queen Victoria Place
Chicago IL USA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks Monroe Harbor
Sydney AUSTRALIA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks
Chicago IL USA "New Year's Eve Bash" Fireworks Navy Pier
London ENGLAND "New Year's Eve" Fireworks London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Southbank
Rio De Janeiro BRAZIL "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Copacabana Beach
Funchal, Madeira PORTUGAL "New Year's Eve" Fireworks.
Newcastle ENGLAND "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Newcastle Civic Centre
Seattle WA USA "New Year's at the Needle" Fireworks.

Edinburg SCOTLAND "Seven Hills Fireworks" New Year's Eve Celebration.
Des Moines IA USA "GuideOne ImaginEve!" Fireworks. Hy-Vee Hall, Iowa Events Center
San Fransisco CA USA "New Year's Eve Fireworks". Fisherman's Wharf, The Waterfront
Natchitoches LA USA "Annual Christmas Festival of Lights" Fireworks. Cane River Lake
Las Vegas NV USA "America's Party" Fireworks. The Strip
Zurich SWITZERLAND "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Lake Zürich
South Bank Parklands, Brisbane AUSTRALIA "Streets New Year's Eve @ South Bank" Fireworks. South Bank Parklands, Grey Street. South Brisbane, Little Stanley Street
Pittsburg PA USA "First Night Pittsburgh" Fireworks.
Providence RI USA "Bright Night" Fireworks.
Berlin GERMANY "New Year's Eve Party at Brandenburg Gate" Fireworks. Brandenburg Gate
Cologne/Koln GERMANY "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Rhine-bridges
Prague CZECH REPUBLIC "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Prague Castle and the River Vltava
San Francisco CA USA "New Year's Eve Fireworks". Waterfront

Miami FL USA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Bayfront Park
Honolulu HI USA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Honolulu Harbor
Lovell WY USA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Constitution Park
Melbourne AUSTRALIA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Melbourne CBD and Docklands
Omaha NE USA "Holiday Lights Festival New Year's Eve" Fireworks. 10th and Harney Streets
Broadbeach, Queensland AUSTRALIA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Kurrawa Beach
Taipei TAIWAN "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Taipei 101 Tower
Ulladulla, South Coast NSW AUSTRALIA "New Year's Eve" Fireworks. Ulladulla Harbour
Powell WY USA "First Night Powell" Fireworks. Coulter Avenue and Bent Street

Goodbye 2011..!! Welcome 2012..!! :D

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Remember This When You're About To Take A Photo Of Sunrise And Sunser

1. You Need To Know West and East Direction

Remember One thing, The Sun Rises On East An Sets On West.

2. Look The Panorama Around You Without Using The Camera

3. Find Object That Can Help Us Get Better Picture

A Tree, A Person, Or Anything, Not Just Plain Sunrise Or Sunset

4. Timing

5. Being Creative

According to ePHOTOzine, if the camera has built-in flash, set the exposure to underexpose the background and allow the flash to provide the correct exposure for foreground detail. Try to get a scenic view and avoid obstructing objects such as artificial lights.

6. Check The Weather Forecast

7. Do Not Look Directly Into The Sun

Hoppin John

Hoppin John is a common dish to eat for New Year. It is the Southern United States version of Africa's rice and beans traditional dish. It consists of black-eyed peas (or field peas) and rice, plus chopped onion and sliced bacon, flavored with salt. One common in the southern part of USA is that each person at the meal should leave three peas on their plate to assure that the New Year will be filled with Luck, Fortune and Romance. Another tradition says that counting the number of peas in a serving predicts the amount of luck/wealth that the diner will have in the coming year. On the day after New Year's Day, leftover "Hoppin' John" is called "Skippin' Jenny" and further demonstrates one's frugality, bringing a hope for an even better chance of prosperity in the New Year.

The Ingredients:

1 pound dried black-eyed peas, or cowpeas

6 to 8 ounces salt pork, diced

1 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 pound cooked ham, cubed

1 ham bone or large ham hock

black pepper, to taste

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

dash Tabasco sauce

How To

Pick over peas then rinse them. Cover the peas with cold water, then boil for around 1 minute then remove, and cover the pan. Let peas stand for 1 hour. When we're waiting, we sauté salt pork until golden brown, add onion and garlic, and sauté until onion is tender. Next, add the salt pork and onion mixture to the peas, along with the ham, ham bone or hock, and seasonings, then add enough water to cover. Bring them to a simmer, cover, and simmer gently until peas are tender but not mushed about 1 to 2 hours. Remove ham from bone, chop it , and return to peas. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Cook rice separately. Mound rice on a platter and surround them with peas.