My November Trip - Part 1: An Afternoon with Daniella

By Lu

Ri, Lu, and Daniella

Hello world! I found a way out from the land of the lazy and I am actually typing away. November was gone in a blink of an eye. I didn't know how that month just passed me by. However, that's what happened when you were having fun. I certainly had so much fun in November. Not only that I started the month with tons of fun with my friends here in Chicago, but I also got to go home to see my family and friends in Indonesia and Singapore.

It was one of the reasons why I have been slacking big time. I wanted to blame it on my sister, Ri, who since moving back to Indonesia, loses track of time and can't find it to write. We bickered back and forth about the importance of us keeping up with our writing to keep our blog alive. However, instead of leading by example, I succumbed and followed. Yet, I managed to bounce back. After regaining some new found energy from almost three week long vacation, overcoming a horrendous jet lag, here I am attempting my best to entice you one more time with a blog post.

There were so many highlights of my trip I could tell you about. Mind you, I go home every year. This trip has been done over and over again. I couldn't even think of what things to take picture of. I've seen the sceneries year after year. I know the people so well and I don't need more pictures of them. All were too familiar. When a friend of mine, Nigel, asked me to take lots of pictures, I was worried of what I could show him. I didn't take the usual vacation pictures. Instead, I took pictures of what I thought were cool. However, the pictures I took turned out to be mostly food pictures and stray cats. Well - what could be better?

I tried to be artsy in my picture taking; but whom am I kidding? I still suck at pictures. I had fun doing it and I couldn't wait for my friend, Peggy, to pick it apart. Yet, I don't mind the criticism. I still do it and can't wait for the next time she will give me shit about my pics. Lol. Love you, Peg. She makes me a better photo taker believe it or not. That's a hard job to do. Because of her, my Leica got some air time and not sitting on my top shelf collecting dust. Pun intended.

Going back to the highlights of my trip,  here's one of them: I got to spend an afternoon with an old old friend, Daniella Tjahjanto. Other than a friend, she's also an amazing photographer. Should I call myself lucky or unlucky being surrounded by great photographer friends? All of them are amazing except me. Almost all the girls in my food war army are accomplished photographers. Peggy Muliadi, the ballbreaker - amazing pictures always come out of her Nikon. My friend, Chika and her husband, Dominic, always take fabulous pictures. Liza Wibisono - she's getting wickedly awesome in her fashion photography. Amazing! Ineke - her recent Dubai pictures made me want to book a ticket there this second!

Daniella, however - there's something about her pictures that evoked something within me. Hell, I am sure it evokes something in everyone who's seen her pictures. They're just so beautiful, feminine, and whimsical. I featured her several times on this blog: What Lies Beneath a Photograph and my mother's day post. I just simply love love love her pictures. After I first featured her here, I made an appointment with her for a photo shoot in November when I would be home. I was more than ecstatic that we actually made it into a reality.

Even though Ri and I had been bickering about writing, I've planned to do the photographs of us for our blog. It was months in the making. I had all kinds of plans of what I wanted to do with the pictures. But, too bad it was like a self sabotage situation. When you wanted something to be so perfect, you unconsciously butchered it. I wasn't prepared at all. I had planned to go on diet so I could be super svelte on these pictures. Instead, I managed to gain all kinds of weight before the photo shoot. I envisioned having abundance of food, and props. When the day came - I had zilch. I was a little disappointed in myself. But then again, when  you're on vacation and not in your usual element, it's quite hard to be on your A game. Nevertheless, Daniella kept me on my toes and kept telling me that we would still do it though I kept attempting telling her if she was busy, we could axe it. She said - No..No..No...we have planned this for months, we're doing it! Yes, mam!

When we got to her house, it was simply amazing to see her again after maybe more than twenty years. She was my grade school friend, and I still wonder at times how we could manage to hit it off after all those years. There was a short awkward moment in the beginning since there were so many years in between our meets. We talked online but haven't been face to face in years. Last time I saw her, I was still wearing a training bra. Now, I need a boob lift!

She looked exactly like her pictures. - graceful, willowy, beautiful mother of four daughters. She was probably horrified when she saw me of how much I gained weight. But, no matter how things changed physically - inside everything is still  the same, and thus why we could carry on as friends.

Ri joined us, and she made a new friend in Daniella. Daniella served us lunch before taking pictures. We talked and reminisced about the good ol' days. Awkwardness went away and we were ready to take pictures. What a blast that was!

I'm posing...

She kept making fun of me and my amateurish ability to pose. I tried my best to be natural and that I was a model who's doing this for a living. I failed royally but laughed happily. There were moments of when I took pictures with my sister that I felt how great it was being able to do this with her. When I saw my sister being photographed on her own, I also realized how beautiful she is and how proud I am having her as my sis. I hope she felt the same way about me. I could imagine how great the pictures would be and how fantastic it would be on our blog.

Then, Ri and Daniella made fun of me on how I positioned my hair strategically to cover part of my chubby cheek. They said I had only one eye since the other eye was always covered by the hair. But it was really my signature look.

All Daniella's outdoor shots looked simply breathtaking. It was pouring rain that day and I didn't think we would have a chance to take pictures outside. I was quite happy with the pictures we took inside. Daniella was superb in using only natural lights and minimal set. The pictures looked so glamorous and chic. I couldn't believe it. However, God granted us a chance to do some outdoor shot. Lo and behold, I shouldn't be surprised that Daniella got all kinds of props. I always wanted to do a picnic shot. Thank God to Daniella that she had everything to make it happen. Everything!

Ri, looking graceful and serene

My sister and I

It turned out taking pictures outdoor wasn't so glamorous as the pictures themselves. Holy cow, we were outside in this beautiful grassy field, filled with big shady trees and various types of hays - beautiful spot for a picture. We were there five minutes and we were eaten alive by mosquitoes, ants, and grasshoppers. Daniella was prepared with mosquitoes reppellent, but we were still bitten everywhere. These pictures better turned out good I thought inside.

Ri was actually scratching my shoulder...itchy!

It was a very fun day with an old friend. I had such a good time taking pictures and it was a very memorable experience. It was a pleasure to be photographed by such talented photographer. Daniella is featured by so many publications within Indonesia and outside the country. I felt so honored that she was willing to photograph me and my sister. It was so much fun to see her four daughters in person. God knows I've seen so much of their pictures. They're even more cuter in person, and I was happy to make acquaintance with their hamsters, especially the big but "Butter". It was a great afternoon with my friend.

I was also glad that Ri and I got to do this. After all the bickering we've done about writing;  I hope that we both persevere as sisters as well as writers for this blog. I hope we can find it within our hearts to realize that this is not only about writing for a blog; however, it is about the very vehicle that brought us closer as sisters. I remember the days when we talked and collaborated about a post. I hope those days are coming in streams again.

I hope I hope.

Love love love our pictures, Daniella. If I could say it one word of how I feel about my afternoon with you, and the results - STELLAR!

Stay tune for the next highlight of my trip! We're going to Singapore next!