Dian Purba

Bringing up baby has changed the priorities of restaurant owner Dian Purba. Her 2005 marriage ended her admitted party-hardy days as the owner of popular Cinnabar.  She sold the restaurant-bar last year (she also owned Magnolia restaurant) shortly before the birth of her daughter Cahaya, now nine months old. Dian, 33, remains a partner in Dapur Tempo Doeloe, a traditional Indonesian restaurant in South Jakarta, and is currently cooking up a new restaurant enterprise. It will not be a return to the bright lights of a nightlife venture, which she said was too demanding and not in keeping with her increasing spirituality. “I have always been a Christian but my faith has grown and my values have changed,” she said.

Painting
This is by my husband [Wicahyo Ratomo]. He’s not a painter, but there was an office activity in which they were asked to paint something on the spot. The dove represents the holy spirit, and the bright colors show what is inside of him, his aspirations and the light that shines from the Almighty being within him. The dove is flying high to show that the sky is the limit in achieving one’s aims. We keep it on the wall to remind us that God is within us. It is probably the most important possession to me.

Baby books
There are some new mothers who don’t read about how to care for their babies, but I don’t know how they do it. Caring for a baby is so difficult, there are so many things to learn. Sure, you can ask your mother, but it’s better to be able to take care of a situation on your own. I read books and go to seminars. So when she catches cold or bumps her head, I don’t panic. I’m not as worried when I know how to handle a situation.

Watch
This was a gift from my late grandfather. I graduated cum laude in 1996 [from Babson College in the U.S.], and he was very proud. I can’t wear it all the time because the baby moves a lot and my jewelry sometimes scratches her.

Sunscreen
A lot of people think you only need to use it when you go out or do sport, but I use it every day for protection. I think my skin is pretty good at my age from using it. I also use a moisturizer and eye pencil.

Perfume
I like Narciso Rodriguez because the smell is not too feminine or masculine. It’s modern and expresses my personality best: active, outspoken and outgoing.

Cell phone
I have always used a Nokia, and I have had this phone since 2003. I am not the kind of person who changes her cell phone all the time. I keep it until it completely falls apart; I have already lost one keypad on this phone. I just can’t be bothered to switch to another brand because I don’t want to learn new skills.

Bible
I have always had a Bible with me, on the table or by my bed, but I read it now because I am becoming stronger in my faith. This Bible was given to me by my father [eye specialist Darwis Purba]. My husband and I read it first thing in the morning together, and it’s like He is talking to us. It’s a bit tattered, though, because Cahaya has torn some of the pages and there are so many highlighted passages throughout.

Notebook
When I read the Bible, I like to write important things down. When you are struggling with something, God will give you a way out but we tend to forget about it later on and take things for granted. When I am going through something again, I will reread what I wrote at a difficult time in the past, and it gives me strength. I also jot down sermons from church.

Camcorder
I use it to capture the moments with Cahaya. I have them from when she was a small baby, so she will be able to look at them when she is older. I don’t have too many photos of myself when I was a child, partly because my parents divorced when I was young.

Earrings
These are from my maternal grandmother, who will be 91 in July. They were a heirloom and she intended to leave them to me when she died. But she gave them to me for my wedding; the good thing is that she got to see me wear them. That means so much to me.

+ Bruce Emond

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