Mangsi Berkisah: December 2024

Wat Arun captured from Asiatique Cruise in Chaophraya River

Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (กรุงเทพมหานคร) or Bangkok, Thailand's capital, was my first abroad visit. I could never have imagined myself going to Thailand. 😅

In August, I attempted to submit an abstract that I had written earlier in the year but was unable to present at the Health System Research Conference in Nagasaki, Japan. Allah SWT knows best, hence a trip to Thailand to visit tourist destinations and meet fellow scholars in Public Health Nutrition was not included in the 2024 itinerary. Participants came from 15 different countries, i.e. Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam and Thailand. The 2nd Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition was held from 11 to 13 November 2024 in Arnoma Grand, Bangkok, organized by SEA-PHN Network and Nutrition Association of Thailand.

Public Health Nutrition - Universitas Gadjah Mada

💗Day 1 - 10 November 2024

The flight from Soekarno Hatta Airport (CGK) to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) lasts around 3.5 hours. Previously, in the afternoon, a train left Tugu Station (YK) for Pasar Senen Station (PSE). Upon landing in Bangkok, we reserved a van that was less expensive and could handle a large number of people and their bags. My buddies and I slept at the Tori Prestige Bangkok Hotel, near Pratunam Market. The hotel was clean and excellent, and it was also adjacent to the Padang Nusantara Restaurant, which serves traditional Indonesian appetizers for lunch. Seven Eleven is also very close to the hotel, it really helped us when we had trouble finding halal food, there are many variations of snacks and fast food.

💗Day 2 - 11 November 2024

The most memorable experience of the first day of the conference was meeting, chatting, and capturing the moment with Prof. Endang Achadi, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of Indonesia. I generally followed and listened to every webinar and seminar he hosted. I was overjoyed to finally be able to meet him. The event began with an open ceremony and celebration of the SEA-PHN Network's tenth anniversary, followed by a plenary lecture session with specialists (further information is available on the link).

💗Day 3 - 12 November 2024

The timetable for my oral presentations was presented on the second day of the conference. The seats in the room were nearly full with individuals from various countries listening. The moment that made me nervous was when Murakami Kentaro sensei from the University of Tokyo excitedly listened to the presentation slides and my study findings. During the Q&A, there were four questioners, and three of them approached me afterward to discuss my review study, "Factors Influencing Ultra-processed Food Consumption Within Vulnerable Population: A Scoping Review" (proceedings can be accessed via the link attached).

💗Day 4 - 13 November 2024

On the third day, I traveled separately from the group to attend a school visit to Piboon Prachasan School to observe the best practices of the school's nutrition program, particularly the Thai government-supported lunch program (more details are available in the following separate post). In the evening we went on a trip to Asiatique The Riverfront, the largest riverside destination in Thailand, with attractions, shows, restaurants, and shopping.

💗Day 5 - 14 November 2024

On the last day in Thailand, we visited Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan (วัดอรุณราชวราราม ราชวรมหาวิหาร) or Wat Arun, is the best known of Thailand's landmarks.

Thai Food and Stuff

If you're in Thailand, try ChatraMue Brand's Thai Tea and then relax with mango sticky rice and milk buns from After You Café. It can be found in Central World Mall. The 'all you can eat' cuisines served at Asiatique are also diverse, ranging from seafood delicacies like Tom Yum to Western-style dishes, among others. During the conference, the foods served were unique in that they exemplified Balanced Nutrition by including carbohydrates, protein, vegetables, and fruits on the menu. Thai cuisine is mostly to my liking because it is spicy and sour while yet being fresh. Christmas market is one of the food staller markets to serve halal food in Thailand. I tried to buy Pad Thai, made with rice noodles, which are stir-fried with eggs and chopped firm tofu, flavored with tamarind juice, fish sauce, dried shrimp, garlic, shallots, and sometimes red chili pepper and palm sugar, and served with lime wedges and often crushed roasted peanuts. If you wish to shop for souvenirs, you can visit Big C Mall and Thailand 100 Baht Shop, which have a range of snacks, drinks, cooking spices, herbal medicines, skincare, and other Thai-style knick-knacks.

Conference Lunch (Halal Package)

December 31, 2024 No comments

Apel pagi tiap Senin saat internship di Dinas Kesehatan Provinsi DIY

Haloo semuaaaa...

Terasa sekali ya struggle-nya menghidupkan blog selama setahun ini, perpaduan antara kesibukan dan kemalasan hahaha, tapi mari kita coba tulis saja ya, target tahunan minimal 5 post untuk blog ini.

Memasuki tahun kedelapan, Mangsi Berkisah awal mulanya memang diwujudkan dalam suasana refleksi tahun baru. pada tanggal 1 Januari 2018, postingan pertama "Sambut Energi Positif" mengawali perjalanan blog ini. Tujuan utamanya adalah sebagai bahan untuk mengawetkan memori, self-reminder dan kontemplasi pribadi. Bonus jika ada pembaca diluaran sana yang tidak sengaja terhibur atau terinspirasi dari tulisan-tulisan di blog ini ya alhamdulillah.

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Menginjakkan kaki di Jogja pertama kali untuk tinggal pada 11 Agustus 2023, perjalanan dari stasiun Pekalongan dan turun di stasiun Tugu. Singkat cerita, perjalanan perkuliahan pasca sarjana dimulai pada hari itu. Kurang lebih setahun setengah tinggal di Jogja, tidak ada rasa tidak nyaman. Perasaan langsung betah dan menyenangkan. Kota yang istimewa katanya, dan benar, istimewa.

Tempat dimana-mana kesan pertamaku adalah aku akan ketemu banyak tempat yang ada "buku" nya, entah itu toko buku indie, book cafe, perpus jalanan, perpus keliling, gudang buku bahkan penerbit buku yang sebagian besarnya beralamat di Jogja. Hingga postingan ini terbit, tercatat aku sudah membuat daftar tempat-tempat "buku" yang ingin aku kunjungi lalu terhimpun sebanyak 27 destinasi, 10 diantaranya sudah ter-checklist.

Universitas Gadjah Mada, menjadi rumah kedua selain tentunya kamar kos. Menyediakan Wisdom Park yang asri sehingga tidak bosan-bosannya aku meluangkan waktu kesana setiap minggunya, seenggaknya 1-2 kali/minggu. Perpustakaan pusat yang mempunyai spot kantin yang tidak mewah tetapi nyaman dipakai untuk melamun dan mencari inspirasi. Lalu tentu saja, gedung IKM dan Tahir tempat menimba ilmu dan belajar banyak hal baru. Bunga anggrek yang beragam, lantai 2 Masjid Ibnu Sina, kantong parkir seperti labirin, bakso dan mie ayam kantin Farmasi, dan meja kursi perpustakaannya akan menjadi memori yang melekat selama di FK-KMK UGM.

Selain itu, Jogja dengan setiap sudut kotanya, desanya, jalanannya yang estetik selalu ketika aku potret (hmm kecuali penampakan sampahnya yaaa). Potret gambar yang kusebut-sebut diatas aku kumpulkan dalam highlight akun instagram pribadi (bisa cek aja yaa). Aku sampai belum banyak terpikirkan bagaimana rindunya, seusai urusan kuliah selesai nanti. Sepertinya, akan kembali untuk menjenguk Jogja lagi dan lagi hahaha. Belum lagi kuliner dan tempat-tempat bernuansa alami hijau-hijau yang mudah ditemukan dan beragam rupanya. Kalau bisa kubilang sih, Jogja itu kayak miniatur sebuah dimensi untuk tempat orang-orang melarikan diri, atau biasa disebut escapism.

Namun, point of view dari aku yang menjadikannya sebagai tempat tinggal dan tempat escapism sekaligus, Jogja tetap menyimpan sisi gelapnya. Tidak pernah bersinggungan langsung sih akan tetapi cukup meresahkan jika menyimak berita-beritanya. Misalnya saja fenomena klitih, kasus s word dimana-mana, konflik dan bentrok orang-orang timur, klub malam bertaburan, kos-kosan las vegas, tumpukan sampah dimana-mana dan lain sebagainya.

Entah mengapa, menurutku Jogja tetap patut menyandang sebutan Kota Istimewa. :))

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