ハナザクラ

♪ Sayonara Memories - Supercell ♫

Yaay! It's cherry blossoms season again! The most comfortable season of the year, they say. Last month Saku-chan and I went on Hanami along with her boyfriend Arnaud and my roommate Adit. It was really relaxing and fun. Both houses brought food. Saku-chan made onigiri, dashimaki tamago, yakiniku-style veggies, salad and strawberries. I made fried rice and Adit baked some nastar. We also brought along Adit's homemade lemon tea. The atmosphere was rather nice. The weather was amazing and the cherry blossoms were spectacular. Their petals kept raining on us, it was like I was in a dream. It's really nice to have a Japanese experience without having to live in Japan at all. I could just lie there all day. We weren't the only ones admiring the beauty of the flowers. Other people followed our lead and gathered under the trees. Who can resist?! Afterwards, we went back to Saku-chan and Arnaud's to play with their brand new kittens. Oh, they're the cutest creatures! Mario is a curious troublemaker and Miyu is very loving. I got to babysit them the next weekend and they were the sweetest.

Thrifted shirt via lucedale vintage // Rose Gal floral skirt (giveaway win!) // Falke tights // swapped cardigan // Studio Nine loafers

I'm so glad the temperature's good enough to break out less boxy shoes now - yes, I'm talking about you, boots! It feels like it's been ages since the last time I wore these loafers. Perhaps an exaggeration, perhaps the truth. Feels like my feet can take a breather again. Also, I've been trying to wear this cardigan on the blog one way or the other all winter. It's acquired through this outfit swapping party. It used to belong to my friend Camilla. So cozy and warm! Probably still weather appropriate. And the skirt! My last win of the New Year's from a giveaway over at Into the Woods. It has a similar feel to this skirt but with a half-elastic waistband and much better quality. I love the way it feels so bouncy and doesn't crease. Such a shame that it only comes in one size and I could barely fit into it - always have to put it on over my head. I don't think it fits busty and bootylicious girls. It's also a bit on the short side for me but that's just me - and my buttocks. All those things aside, I still love this skirt ♥

Birthday Bits

Arithalia dress // vintage cape via lucedale vintage // thrifted tall boots via Kleider Kreisel // outfit photos by Galuh

Apparently, yesterday was my 21st birthday. Wow, twenty-first. That's huge. When I was little, I believed this is the age I was going to get married, mostly only because I thought twenty-one is the age people normally get married. But here I am, twenty-one and not even close to being ready to get married. I do feel much more mature than, say, when I was 17, though. That, finally, I've earned my years on this earth. In case you missed it, I posted a review of my birthday list last week and I'm working on my 21 before 22 list as we speak. On Saturday, we had a little get together at my place. By 'we', I mean Firu, Galuh, Saku-chan, Shasti, my good friend Rezy, my roommates and me. My old/new roommate Adit, Rezy and Firu cooked Nasi Kuning, Ayam Kuning, Perkedel and Tempe Orek - all of which was delicious! - while I baked a Pumpkin Cake with Maple Frosting - which cost me a lot of blood. The frosting failed but it still tasted pretty good and I got to make something with pumpkin. It was great, getting together with some friends, having a little something like a tumpeng. At the end of the night, I got three presents - Firu got me this really awesome sketch book with canvas covers. And one from Iva is still on the way! Eep! Can't wait!

Here are my presents: a canvas-cover sketchbook, a bookmark, a postcard and a Fondue set

Wearing something awesome on my birthday was in my autumn bucket list. Check! Ever since last autumn, I've wanted a cape but never found an affordable and adorable one...until I raided Clara's closet last month and it was practically filled with incredibly adorable items. I bought two items, this being the first one. It is so cute and cozy, though not really suitable for a windy or snowy day, I reckon. But it's definitely perfect for a sunny, autumn day - which on the day this outfit was snapped, it was. And I've decided to feel good on my birthday, wearing my absolute favourite dress, despite the fact that it isn't in an autumn colour. But the cut is very comfortable, it accentuates my figure in a subtle and classy way, leaving a feminine and casual impression for onlookers. Not to put a damper on things, but birthday is the biggest downer of the year. Every year I wonder how many people would remember my birthday and end up getting disappointed by the small amount. But it's still my favourite day of the year. I mean, I feel a little wiser every year. By the way, below is the way Clara styled it herself. Her blog just recently got a new domain so it's impossible to track the exact outfit post right now but go check out her blog for more adorable clothes.

Claradevi of Lucedale

Rundgang 2013

At the Kunsthochschule Kassel (Kassel Art University), there is a tradition to hold an exhibition collective every summer which will be featuring the artworks of all the students of the school. This year is my first experience going to the event and I have never seen the campus look so alive as this. The university is divided into the fine arts classes, the product design classes and the communication design classes. The arts classes are then divided into plenty of branches, such as painting, sculpture, pottery, etc. The communication design classes are divided into illustrations, photography, animation, graphic design, etc. The products design classes into textile, movie-set, domestic goods, etc. Basically, the students of the arts are divided simply into the years and the design classes into the specialisation. In Rundgang - the name of this major event - all the students take part, though, no matter if you're a first-year or ready to graduate soon.

Typography exhibition

"Homemade: a selection of fruity cakes + Indian Masala Soup with lentil (vegetarian) Right here-->"

Graphic Design shop

Photography exhibition in the basement

Animation class's bar

This year the event was spread into 5 days, starting from Wednesday (17.07.) until Sunday (21.07.). On Wednesday was the opening which started at 7 PM up until 1 AM. The next three days the event went on from 12 to 9 PM. Then it closes today, starting from 12 to 6 PM. Not only did you get to see the ongoing 5-day exhibitions, there were also occasional performances or movies. Every class also opened a bar/café near their classes, parallel to the exhibition they are hosting. There were tasty drinks and yummy food, starting from good ol' cupcakes to vegetarian selections. They had classic alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and pretty cocktails. Too bad I was fasting. Haha.

花より団子，男子じゃないよ！

There is a high school friend of mine called Maya, who now lives in Japan. Every year she always posts pictures of cherry blossoms or summer festivals on Facebook. You better BELIEVE I am just dipped deep in a lake of envy. Haha. Earlier this month another friend flew to Japan on vacation and I also just found an Indonesian fashion blog, The Sweetest Escape. Wrong timing, though, because Stevia is currently in Japan right now. It feels like everyone in the whole world is going to Japan right now and I'm stuck here, not even in my own hometown. Thank God, there are also cherry blossoms in Germany, though. Last spring, I didn't find any in Halle so I was mega excited upon finding tons in Kassel. Saku-chan told me about the different sorts of cherry blossoms. I think these ones here are 八重桜 (Yaezakura) or double-flowered cherry trees. There's even a cherry tree just across the street - that one's a 染井吉野 (Someiyoshino). For more info for different types of cherry blossoms, check this out. Despite my issues with the colour pink, I still think these are so beautiful. I wish we could go on 花見 (Hanami) or flower-viewing. Well, at least, if I can't be in Japan, I can spend the day with a Japanese friend. Yesterday was Saku-chan's birthday and we got together at her place on Saturday. When I said we, I meant Saku, Arnoud, his brother, Renate and I. There was a lot of food, a little bit of piano and accordion and plenty of fun. It was the first time ever I went home after midnight in Kassel.

Unbranded blouse // New Yorker jumper // flea market skirt // Sox Galeri socks // Deichmann oxfords

For the whole of winter I didn't wear this skirt at all. It looks terrible with coats. Well, at least, to me. It has always been too big on my waist but I never did anything about it. It has elastic waistband so I thought it didn't matter. Until now. I finally took it in and it fit better, I feel better wearing it. I am so glad I can finally wear this skirt the way I want to again. Though I didn't plan to match my outfits with my surroundings, I got pretty close. While I was taking these pictures, I stumbled upon a wise old man. We talked a little, small talks. He told me that he just got back from New Zealand a couple days and he still got jet lag. He then gave me a wisdom: "When you're young, you should travel!" A word of advice: spare some time in your daily life to listen to what old people have to say. Old people, who has something to say to youngsters, are wise. That means they have wisdom to share. And young people, who listen, are wise to take their wisdom. It's always so nice to meet such grandparent figures. The first wisdom I received from an old lady was, "Let the guy pay for your meal on your first date!" That was before I even met Firu. She said, it was to gauge just how much he likes you. A decent guy - doesn't have to be great or perfect, just decent - will at least do this for you.

Easter with 桜子: Schwebebahn (feat. Iva)

When I heard that there is a town in Germany where, instead of trams, they use a monorail as public transportation, I was ecstatic! Meet Wuppertal, a small town so close to nature located in North Rhine Westphalia. Having heard of this place from Firu when he first visited the town's flea market, I knew I was going to visit this place eventually. But then I heard that my good friend, Iva, was going to go there to visit a friend with her sister and friend. It was definitely meant to be! You see, Iva lives in Nürtingen in Baden Württemberg, which is in the south. She has only gone out of that state a handful of times. And Wuppertal is located a little bit on the north side of Germany too. So her showing up on this nape of the woods was close to miraculous. We immediately made plans to meet up. And that's how this whole trip started.

This day was freezing cold! Firu, Saku-chan and I took off from Mülheim just in time for lunch. We went to lunch and to the flea market. It started to snow but the flea market was still going on. On Easter too! We all snatched up something for ourselves. I got myself a pretty long pleated green skirt, Saku-chan got herself a small retro '70s jar/chilli container while Firu gladly purchased a brand new water heater. Afterwards we headed to the main train station to meet up with Iva and her friends. We went there by the monorail. The kick is, the track runs over the train instead of under it, leaving the train hanging whenever it comes to a stop, thus the name - "schweben" means hang. It got me a little dizzy.

All the seven of us then boarded the train again to its terminal. It feels so nice being able to catch up with Iva again. Though we haven't seen each other only 2 months. We talked a lot I barely noticed we were there already. The terminal was like a show. The way the train swerves the track to turn back. Only in the terminals you can see the gears atop the train. There is a tale of the train among the folks. Once a long time ago, this train was used to transport an elephant from the local zoo. It was put to sleep but woke up somewhere along the way and thrashed around. It made the train unstable and fell down. But it was kind of incredible to know it can carry an elephant. There wasn't much else to see out here except for a three-wheeled clock which chimes at 4 o'clock. It is said to do a performance of Chronos and Death when it does but I missed it. There was also a population counter next to the clock, counting current world population. It's gone past 7 billions!

Easter with 桜子: Zeche Zollern

The trip continues in the morrow. While the previous day was devoted to Saku-chan, this day was more or less about me. At the very least, the whole reason we went out of the house at all on this day was thanks to me. When I was researching for my paper last month, I stumble upon some photographs of this place and was smitten to visit. So here we were in Zeche Zollern Industry Museum. Back in the days, this place was a mining factory. They deal mostly with coals. The museum shows us many things about life back then. Starting from the miners' daily life, cultural aspects, scandals - there were underage miners and many deaths during the mining process. There was even a whole exhibition about the danger of explosions inside the caves. The display was so realistic and highly believable, it gave me the chills. I adore the architecture of the buildings in this complex. They were all something from the early 20th century, which I love.

What attracted me to visit this place in the first place was the machine hall. It has this terribly huge gate in an art nouveau style. Too bad, at this moment, the hall was renovated and repainted that people could only go in at certain dates. I misread the information and came at the wrong time. Oh, but what the heck, so long as we were there, just enjoy the moment. The green lines around the door used to be cream coloured. Personally, I think it was better in cream. There were also all these train cars parked just outside on the train tracks. It was all very pretty and I wanted to hop on but it was prohibited. Too bad. Just next to the tracks, there was a huge contraption which played a role as a sort of elevator to transport the miners down to the mining site. It was mighty huge and I imagine down there would be so scary. There was a small art exhibition at the end of the tour, portrayals of miners and the mining industry. This opened my mind to what this whole industry was all about and all the downside to it. By the way, we saw a model of a transport system that played a huge role to our next trip. Stay tuned!