Gravity: When Life In Space Is Nearly Impossible!

I watched it two days ago and I was like losing my breath every five minutes. I mean, how could you strive to stay alive in space with a very limited oxygen and things were getting messed up at the same time?

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), a NASA mission specialist is on duty with Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in space craft, 600 miles above the Earth. In the first scene of the movie we will see Ah-mazing view of the Earth from above. INDEED, IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

The tension begins when there is a report from mission controller on Earth that Russian satellites have been demolished and the ruins will affect their work and maybe threaten their safety as they'll hit everything they pass by in thousand miles per hour speed. They're like in rush to stop the mission but it's too late as the ruins drench in like hell and the capsules and everything inside got wrecked. Dr. Ryan and Kowalsky are those who survive. The capsule is over, they are tossed around in space. The only way out to stay alive and get back down to Earth is to reach International Space Station. The scenario is they have to reach the ISS and take a capsule (Soyuz) there and launch to Tiangong, Chinese space station then they get down back to Earth.

It's like when you let a bad luck in, you'll have to let all bad lucks in. I mean, on the way they approach the ISS, something happen and have Kowalsky let himself get lost in space and leave Dr. Ryan Stone the only one survivor. Alright, now she's dealing with the fact that any kind of telecommunication doesn't work, the oxygen level is so limited that she has to push the time, the ISS is technically worsened and most importantly, she alone! She gets so stressed out by the situation she's up against. She never practically operates the capsule before so she has to look at the manual.

She has to chase after the time as the fuel is coming to its lowest level and the Tiangong is highly influenced by gravity if she wants stay alive and get back down. This is crucial and tense as she's into the Earth's atmosphere. Everything is possible to happen. And in space, there is no any other way to get out.

This movie is terrifically awesome! The story line and visualization works. But, there is something tickling, like how some scientists criticize the fact regarding the orbit line and the political issue. I mean, we can see how in the movie the Chinese space station plays significant role in the last scene of the movie. Overall, this movie is inspiring to everyone to know more about the space above us and explore what's beyond. Amazing.

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Dae Jang Geum: Korean Food in Batam

It's not about Korean Drama or anything like that. It's more about Korean food restaurant in Batam where you can satisfy your gastronomical desire! Well, I went to Dae Jang Geum again last Saturday night, and chilled out with my peers there. It was fun as you know, Korean food are somehow are unfamiliar to most of us. At least, some of the menu. Alright, let's go to the table for the dish.

We had Bibimbap, Ramen noodle (Mie Ramen), Korean Sushi and 3 bowls of rice on the table, that's it! Maybe you will say "What? That's it?" as we were 7 persons gathering and craving at the same time. Just so you know that Korean food is a big family portion. I ordered Bibimbap, Korean tea and rice. My friends ordered Korean Sushi, Mie Ramen, Bibimbap and another Bibimbap and another rice along with it. After 20 minutes of waiting, the condiment was served. There were kimchi and the other 5 things I don't even know what it is. It' okay anyway. Only 3 of us apparently like kimchi like very bad. The rest said it tasted different. When they asked me why I liked kimchi so much I just said as it tasted good even though it's rotten vegetable and they're just like "....okay....".

Some moment later was time for the pancake. I think, it was the most "making sense" dish for all of us as it tasted familiarly Indonesian, even for Korean food with NATIVE Korean Chef working on it. Now let's go to Bibimbap.

After searching in Wikipedia, it's said that Bibimbap is "mixed rice". It is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chilli pepper paste). A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating.

Yes, that's what laid right before my eyes on the table. There were mushrooms and the other kinds of "green", carrot (?), mushrooms, nori (seaweed), and they covered the rice (cold rice, not hot rice) underneath, with the fried egg on it's peak. Not to mention the paste that was served on a separated plate. All we have to do was just to stir and mix it all like crazy before eating. You can add the paste if you like but I don't recommend it (it's weird). Maybe the proverb saying that "When the people is craving they will even eat garbage" is right. I mean, it looks so much like garbage, but this one is a delicious garbage. Next!

Korean sushi is GOOD! I mean, the sticky rice with crab inside and the nori wrapping up. It's just gone less than 10 minutes. Like Godzilla found fish! You gotta try!

The Mie Ramen is more like any other ordinary instant noodle. But it's much much much bigger portion! All is just the same. I mean, like, you eat 5 Indomie at once. That's it!

Anyway, it was fun having some quality time with friends with good dishes.

Sure I'm gonna come back again for more delicious Korean food.

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Explore Batam's Princess Island: Indonesia's Frontier In The World's Busiest Waters

Have you ever heard Princess Island aka Pulau Putri? It's not Pulau Putri in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousands islands) in Northern Jakarta, instead, it's the frontier island in Singapore Straits, between Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia's Johor Bahru.

I went there yesterday afternoon, just right before sunset and it was amazing! It's only 5 minutes away from Batam's Nongsa. You can reach the island less than 10 minutes from Nongsa on boat. You do not need to worry as the wave is just good (not rough waters) so it'll be joyful. We started the trip from Nongsa and we took a boat for 6 persons. It's less than 5 minutes were on boat. However, we have to take a walk for about 50 meters to get the shore as the tide was at its lowest. Anyway, it was fun. Once you get there, you'll find yourself like stranded. I mean, okay, there is a lighthouse but that's the only thing on the island, plus, a wrecked dumped ship. Yes, a wreck!

Pulau Putri is in Indonesia's territory. The island is just 50 meters in length and 30 meters in width. It seemed like there's 3 different island in Pulau Putri. When the tide is low, you can reach the next island on foot and there is another tiny island in the northernmost. When the tide is high, the rest two islands will be flooded by waters and look like a floating green.

I really wanted to go up to the peak of the watch tower but it was not allowed. So sad. Anyway, you could see and enjoy the sunset and have Singapore view (silhouette of the Harbor Front and the Marina Bay Sands) and it was beautiful! Not only is it. You can see Nongsa Point Marina in the North-East (it looked like a heaven in disguise!), Batam Centre in the South-East, and of course, Malaysia's Johor. As The Straits is one of the busiest strait in the world so lots of cargo ships just pass by like all the time. It's such a busy strait indeed.

Nothing much we can find in the island. There is only a food stall that operates in the certain time. A wreckage of a ship, and local settlement. I mean, the guards placed in the island. You know, it's a frontier island so there is patrol by marine guards sometimes. Afterall, it was a beautiful moment when we can--at least--see the life in the frontier. Not really felt isolated or something, it's just...different...and exciting!

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