A Day In The Life

Today was supposed to be special. For quite a while, my sister and I had planned to go to a Matcha Festival in the heart of Jakarta, around SCBD and Jakarta Pusat. The idea of trying different kinds of matcha drinks and desserts sounded exciting to me — I had imagined myself walking through colorful stalls, holding an ice-cold green drink, and feeling the buzz of the city.

But plans don’t always go the way we expect.

That area, unfortunately, was filled with a demonstration today. I won’t go into details, but it was enough to make us change our minds. We had originally planned to go by public transportation, but it just didn’t feel safe to head into the middle of such a situation. We hesitated for a while — should we still go, or should we switch our plan? After some back and forth, we decided it was better to choose a simpler option: go to a mall closer to our area instead.

At first, I was a little disappointed. You know that feeling when you have been waiting for something — imagining it in your head — and then suddenly it doesn’t happen? That was me this morning. But I also reminded myself: sometimes the fun is not about the exact place, but about the people you spend time with and the small experiences you get along the way. So, we set out for the mall, with one mission still alive: find matcha.

When we arrived at the mall, our first stop wasn’t actually matcha — it was sushi. I guess we were all too hungry to wait any longer. The restaurant atmosphere was cozy, with warm lights reflecting off the polished wooden tables. The air smelled faintly of soy sauce and aburi. I picked up a piece of salmon, dipped it into soy sauce mixed with just a little wasabi, and felt the freshness melt in my mouth.

There’s something satisfying about sushi: the combination of soft rice, fresh fish, and just a touch of saltiness always feels like a perfect balance. Each plate we ordered came with its own little design — rolls decorated with sesame seeds. It wasn’t a luxurious meal, but it was a meal that made me slow down and enjoy every bite.

After finishing the sushi, we continued the real mission

I stood in front of the counter, staring at the menu. So many options: matcha latte, matcha with ice cream, matcha with sea salt. My eyes landed on one that looked tempting: matcha with banana ice cream on top. It sounded rich, creamy, and indulgent. So I ordered it, excited to finally taste what I had been imagining for days.

But when I took my first sip, something felt off. The drink was indeed creamy — maybe too creamy. The sweetness was heavy, almost overwhelming, and it masked the earthy bitterness that I usually enjoy in matcha. The ice cream on top melted into the drink, making it even thicker. For many people, I’m sure this would be heaven, but for me — someone who usually drinks black Americano with no sugar — it felt like too much.

I kept sipping, hoping the taste would grow on me, but it didn’t. Finally, I had to admit to myself: this matcha was not for me. I realized what I really love is the original, more authentic matcha — the kind that tastes earthy, slightly bitter, and calming, not the overly sweet or milky version.

It was a little disappointing, especially since the drink was quite expensive for me. Paying a lot for something I didn’t even enjoy felt wasteful. But at the same time, I tried to look at it differently: at least I learned something new about myself. Sometimes we need to try things we don’t like to understand more clearly what we do like.

By the time I got home, the day had already stretched into the evening. And now, as I write this blog, it’s really late — much later than I usually stay awake to write. For a few minutes, I considered skipping it today. My eyes were heavy, my body was tired, and part of me thought: “Maybe I’ll just continue tomorrow.” But then another voice inside me reminded me of why I started this daily blog in the first place. If I skip today, then what is the point of calling it a daily blog? So here I am, typing, even though my bed is calling my name.

In the end, today wasn’t extraordinary. We didn’t make it to the big event in the city, and the matcha didn’t meet my expectations. But that’s just how life works sometimes — not every day is perfect, not every plan succeeds. Yet, even in a simple day like this, there are small memories that make it worth writing about: the taste of sushi and the discovery that creamy matcha isn’t for me.

So, if I can leave you with one thought, it would be this: sometimes happiness is not about grand events or perfect plans. It can be found in something as simple as realizing that the matcha you thought you wanted isn’t actually your taste and…

see you here for a minute every day!