svya says ~*

2011-12-24T14:14:00.000+07:00

My idea of Christmas is not a

My idea of Christmas is not

My idea of Christmas is not

My idea of Christmas is not

My idea of Christmas is not

Christmas has became a universal holiday season, no borderline. It's happy, it's jolly.. and for all that i know.. it's like a pre-party for New Year!

Fabulous Curves for Fabulous You!

2011-10-26T15:19:00.006+07:00

"CET ÉTÉ VEUX-TU ÊTRE SIRÈNE OU BALEINE?"

Anyone knows what that means?
It's a small sentence with big impact - happened in 2009.
Something that went down like this...

-----

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:

"THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?"

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans).

They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins, stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia.

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.

If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?

They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they do not have kids either.

Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl whose skin is all scaly and smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me... I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy a treat with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a have a latte with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good gosh, look how smart I am"!

-----

Personally, set aside this wonderful letter, I don't agree on being a mermaid OR being a whale.
It's just too... EXAGGERATING! and WHY on earth do we need to choose? Should we became a victim of whatever industry?

Mermaids are pretty and mesmerizing creatures, but they just don't exist. I don't want to spend my existence in this world just to be a myth!

Whale are beautiful in their own way too. But the size of a whale has been made as jokes for years..
Remember this one?
How do you turn a woman into a whale? ... You marry her!
HA! Not funny!

Unfortunately, women are stuck in a world where SIZE is a ongoing commodity.BIG in one country can be considered small in another country - all depends on where you live on the globe. From general aesthetic point of view that is shaped in our current culture, a woman should have just the right proportion and curves. Not too thin, and not too fat.

Let's be grateful that the fashion industry is banning those super-skinny models from international catwalk and appreciating more of healthy/fit up till plus-size models with real curves. Health departments (esp. from big countries) are also very concern about those who are obese - all thanks to the fast food industry and consumerism. Both brings such disturbing images - never a good example for our younger generations.

Nevertheless... how thin or fat you may be, be happy and healthy.
So.. Girls, are you happy with you CURVES? ;)

Do you Samba?

2011-10-24T15:00:00.011+07:00

Do you know Bebel Gilberto?
Maybe not.

But you probably know her songs, Samba da Benção and Tanto Tempo, both featured in the intriguingly intimate "Closer" and world's exploration of "Eat, Pray, and Love" (and some other movies and TV-series). Also one of her most popular song in English, So Nice.

Bebel Gilberto is a darling Brazilian singer, popular in the world of Bossa nova. She got that beautiful unique voice, lovely flowing hair, and combined with the sexy tongue of Portuguese language (yes, i do find it sexy) - you'll get the picture :) Check on her twitter @bebelgilberto and her FB page to know more..

Image taken from geeksbible.

I am lucky enough to see her in person during her Intimate, Ultimate concert at Social House Jakarta a while ago. I even got myself free tickets for i won a contest on Ismaya's web. Lovely present indeed for my birthday :)

Such a soothing sound of her... Every time I heard Samba da Benção I magically transferred into a white sandy beach, sea breeze caressing my skin - a moment of tranquility in the buzzing reality. My eyes will be closed and i shall fly for a second.
Her voice is a remedy...

Dare to try?

E melhor ser alegre que ser triste/Alegria e a melhor coisa que existe
E assim como a luz no coracao
Mas pra fazer um samba com beleza/E preciso um bocado de tristeza
Senao nao se faz um samba nao

Fazer samba nao e contar piada/E quem faz samba assim nao e de nada
O bom samba e uma forma de oracao
Porque o samba e a tristeza que balanca/ E a tristeza tem sempre uma esperanca
De um dia nao ser mais triste nao

Poe um pouco de amor numa cadencia/ E vai ver que ninguem no mundo vence
A beleza que tem um samba nao
Porque o samba nasceu la na Bahia/ E se hoje ele e branco na poesia
Ele e negro demais no coracao

Who speaks Portuguese and want to teach me for free? ;)

Tour de Rumah Biru :)

2011-10-10T19:55:00.005+07:00

Update: Rumah ini telah berhasil dikontrakkan. Terima kasih :)

---
Anda masih bujangan alias single? ... atau baru saja berkeluarga?

Butuh rumah tinggal? Nih, silahkan dilihat..
rumah dikontrakkan tanpa perantara :)

Lokasi rumah:
Jl. Haji Salihun No. 101
RT 03 RW 10
Kebon Jeruk
Jakarta Barat

Peta lokasi rumah.
Akses mudah ke Jalan Panjang dan Kemanggisan.
Dekat kampus Bina Nusantara.

- Bangunan baru direnovasi, jadi 100% siap ditinggali
- Luas bangunan sekitar 5x14 M2
- 2 lantai: 3 kamar tidur + 2 kamar mandi di bawah dan 1 kamar tidur di atas
- 1 ruang tamu
- 1 ruang keluarga
- 1 dapur
- Mesin air jetpump (air sumur)
- Listrik 1300 watt
- Halaman depan cukup untuk motor
- Akses jalan di depan rumah cukup untuk 1 unit mobil
- dan yang paling penting.. BEBAS BANJIR!

Biaya sewa: 17.000.000/tahun
(PAS - tanpa nego)
Minimal kontrak 1 tahun.

Silahkan hubungi
(021) 5300153 - 08158070527 - 085287908333
Untuk info lebih lanjut silahkan langsung telp/sms saja.

Supaya lebih yakin, silahkan lihat foto Tour de Rumah Biru kecil-kecilan berikut ini.
Foto-fotonya ala kadarnya, harap maklum kalau gambarnya terlihat agak gelap.

Tampak depan rumah mungil biru yang cantik :)

Pekarangan depan yang cukup luas..

Pintu masuk yang mentereng! Ngaca dulu juga boleh loh!

Silahkan masuk.. Tinggal dikasih sofa imut dan voila! jadilah ruang tamu yang manis.

Kamar tidur pertama..

Kamar tidur kedua..

... dan kamar tidur ketiga di lantai bawah!

ruang tengah alias ruang keluarga alias tempat ngumpul!
*eh ada penampakan si bapak tukang bangunan*

selasar menuju ke kamar mandi, dapur, dan kamar tidur lainnya...

dapur yang masih.. *ehem* agak berantakan hehe..

kamar mandi + toilet kecil di lantai bawah :)

...dan kamar mandi + toilet yang kedua. Yang ini tanpa bak mandi.

pas di sebelah dapur, ada tangga menuju ke lantai atas..

...mari naik bersama :)

penasaran dengan lantai atas?

bagian yang di semen itu bukan kotor. melainkan tempat khusus untuk mencuci + menjemur pakaian.
kalau bahasa kerennya "laundry area"

sedangkan benda orange besar itu adalah tempat penampungan air :)

ohya! masih ada 1 kamar tidur lagi di lantai atas..

ada ventilasi dan cahaya yang cukup untuk kawasan "laundry" :)

... dan kalau mau naik ke genteng... kira-kira beginilah pemandangannya.

Demikianlah Tour de Rumah Biru! Semoga berkenan untuk menyewa.
Cocok kan buat yang baru berkeluarga!? Buat yang masih bekerja juga mantaaabh!
Mohon bantuan teman-teman untuk share ke teman/keluarga/kerabat yang sedang mencari rumah tinggal.

Bagi para kaskusers, mohon bantuannya buat nyundul ya!
Di sini nih... Rumah Biru mejeng di Kaskus!

Thank you for visiting my own little property.. ;)

Mati untuk MERDEKA atau mati sia-sia?

2011-09-15T13:09:00.001+07:00

Kata MERDEKA itu mudah diucapkan. Apalagi bagi generasi muda sekarang yang notabene sudah tidak perlu memperjuangkan hak untuk hidup dari tangan penjajah. Tinggal busungkan dada, kepalkan tangan di udara atau melambai-lambaikan bendera.

Kata MERDEKA itu jauh lebih berarti bagi mereka, generasi pejuang yang hidup di tahun 40an. Merekalah yang angkat senjata, bungkam seribu bahasa, paling nyaring saat teriak MERDEKA, dan rela mengorbankan jiwa raga untuk negara.

Taken from: http://gsdewabroto.com/

Lalu apakah ada yang pernah merenung sejenak, bagaimana nasib istri dan anak-anak para pejuang? Mereka bukan debu yang bisa hilang tanpa jejak begitu saja. Mereka manusia yang butuh makan, minum, dan harus dapat terus hidup.

Saat ini, janda-janda Rawagede mungkin sudah bisa bernafas lega. Gugatan mereka di Pengadilan Belanda atas hilangnya nyawa 431 nyawa pejuang sudah dikabulkan, meski kasus ini sudah dianggap "kadaluwarsa". Namun, akankah ganti rugi dan permintaan maaf dari pemerintah Belanda bisa mengobati luka hati yang telah mendera selama berpuluh-puluh tahun?

Legowo.
Semoga mereka dapat merasa legowo...

Kisah patriotisme para pejuang Rawagede membuat saya ingat akan puisi rintihan hati oleh Chairil Anwar yang pernah saya baca dan bawakan beberapa kali..

KRAWANG-BEKASI

Kami yang kini terbaring antara Krawang-Bekasi
tidak bisa teriak "Merdeka" dan angkat senjata lagi.
Tapi siapakah yang tidak lagi mendengar deru kami,
terbayang kami maju dan mendegap hati ?

Kami bicara padamu dalam hening di malam sepi
Jika dada rasa hampa dan jam dinding yang berdetak
Kami mati muda. Yang tinggal tulang diliputi debu.
Kenang, kenanglah kami.

Kami sudah coba apa yang kami bisa
Tapi kerja belum selesai, belum bisa memperhitungkan arti 4-5 ribu nyawa

Kami cuma tulang-tulang berserakan
Tapi adalah kepunyaanmu
Kaulah lagi yang tentukan nilai tulang-tulang berserakan

Atau jiwa kami melayang untuk kemerdekaan kemenangan dan harapan
atau tidak untuk apa-apa,
Kami tidak tahu, kami tidak lagi bisa berkata
Kaulah sekarang yang berkata

Kami bicara padamu dalam hening di malam sepi
Jika ada rasa hampa dan jam dinding yang berdetak

Kenang, kenanglah kami
Teruskan, teruskan jiwa kami
Menjaga Bung Karno
menjaga Bung Hatta
menjaga Bung Sjahrir

Kami sekarang mayat
Berikan kami arti
Berjagalah terus di garis batas pernyataan dan impian

Kenang, kenanglah kami
yang tinggal tulang-tulang diliputi debu
Beribu kami terbaring antara Krawang-Bekasi

(1948) Brawidjaja, Jilid 7, No 16, 1957

Generasi saya yang lahir di tahun 80-an mungkin masih tahu sejarah ini, dan mengerti rasa perih yang pernah diderita bangsa Indonesia dari cerita-cerita dan puisi-puisi para pujangga. Heroisme, patriotisme, dan nasionalisme tidak boleh berhenti di sini karena bangsa ini masih amat sangat "terjajah" oleh PEMBODOHAN.

Taken from: http://matanews.com

Pertanyaan saya:

Apa jadinya generasi Indonesia selanjutnya?

The sensational "Burka Women" by Saad Haroon (?)

2011-02-02T13:44:00.000+07:00

Who is Saad Haroon?
and what is he doing with "Burka Women"?

Saad Haroon is a Pakistani comedian, actor, and writer. Saad is the creator of the first ever Pakistani improvisational comedy troupe "BlackFish". Saad created and hosts the first ever English Language Comedy TV show in Pakistan, "The Real News". The show pokes fun at current news events using political and social satire. - Wikipedia
His works as comedian can be seen on his website: www.saadharoon.com, and twitter @Saad_Haroon.

"Burka Women" itself is a parody video that kinda pokes the (Moslem) community and culture in Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan.. with its conservative religious leaders! Made based on the original cheeky song Pretty Women by Roy Orbinson, the video "Burka Women" has became a big buzz, an internet sensation.

For some people, the video is considered funny, creative, and as a means of social/cultural/political satire - well, that's on the bright side. But in the other hand, a lot of (religious) people are quite upset. But anyway, i guess he does not mean to mock a religion or be an anti-moslem.

Curious about the video? Have a look! - I hope that the video won't be banned.

"Burka woman, in your black sheet
Burka woman, with your sexy feet
Burka woman my love for you it grows,
every time I see your toes."

So, are you Pro or Cons?
imho, the video is not offensive in any way. It's actually kinda cute! :p

-----

On the news:
RNW: Bermain Mata dengan Wanita Bercadar (Bahasa)

Telegraph: Comedian under fire for Burka Woman version of Pretty Woman

The Huffington Post: 'Burka Woman,' Saad Haroon Music Video Send-Up Of 'Pretty Woman,' Slammed For Being Anti-Muslim

I ♥ N.E.R.D.

2011-01-15T16:17:00.000+07:00

No one Ever Really Dies.

Their music is one of my favourite musics EVER!
They are not just another rockstars with HipHop/RnB/Urban touch who constantly shout out loud about the jetset life, the bootylicious girls, and the fast and the furious sport cars.. Their music somehow tickles our awareness about WORLD, human LIFE, the real thing that actually happen around us.. and mostly done in such an attractive composes!

Listen carefully to the song "Lap Dance". But first of all, you need to stop dancing - Yes, I know.. it's hard not to dance to this song. The lyric goes:

I'm just straight ill, ridin' my motorcycle down the streets
While politicians is soundin' like strippers to me
They keep sayin' but I don't wanna hear it...
"Oooh baby you want me? Well you can get this lap dance here for free."

Now that's catchy ;)

Their latest album, "Nothing" shares the stories about the downfall of western economy (the song "Sooner or Later") and the oil spill (the song "Life as a Fish"). Chad Hugo, Shae Haley, and Pharrell Williams are such great musicians, imho.

That's why i was so thrilled to know that they're coming to have a concert in Jakarta! Yes, especially after the major disappointment of the late cancelled concert on 2009. The most exciting part was that i WON a ticket to N.E.R.D. from a twitter quiz from @OZRadioJakarta @D_Makaveli and @BLADE_ID.

And of course, my personal interest to the oh-My-Hot Mr. Pharrell Williams and his music (with N.E.R.D, the Neptunes, and as a producer) is way beyond imagination. So yeah, I scream hysterically as i knew that i could come see the performance for FREE!

I went to the concert alone, wondering how great it is if my soul sistas @r3t4 and @beatajachja could also come along (apparently, one resides in Holland, and the other one suffered from diarrhea LOL).. Guess the URBANGOD heard me, and sent Ms. Shaula, a long lost highschool n college friend of mine, a huge fan of Snoop Dogg, to keep me company. I gasped in excitement as she called my name from afar! YAY!

As i walked around the venue when the gate was still closed, I look around and wonder... So, this is the Urban scene of Jakarta. Quite a disappointment for my concern. Is it the youngster who got no interest? OR is it the industry which suppresses the development of Urban and chooses (lousy) indo pop/Melayu instead? Anyway, the crowd in this niche and segmented market is allrite. We didnt go around pushing other people during the queues or on the (dance) floor. Although I did not approve the "BOO-HOO" yells of some people during RAN's (opening act) performance just because N.E.R.D. was not on stage just yet. That was just plain rude.

N.E.R.D. performed well that nite, even though Chad Hugo was not there. Too bad T.T
Highlight of the nite - besides me successfully GRABBED Pharrell while yelling frantically as he stood there in front of me, and also that brief moment when he took off his white tee *drolls* - was when Pharrell took a girl on to the stage! Yes, miracle does exist.. esp. for that girl.

The fact that the girl Pharrell chose to get on the stage was not some superhot-extrabootylicious with over-the-top make-up mama.. just a casual cutie with glasses and ponytail but actually sang most of N.E.R.D. songs.. makes me fall in love with N.E.R.D. and Pharrell even more! Now that's how a rock star acts! They also took a guy with N.E.R.D. tattooed on his buffy left arm.

Another funny thing, Pharrell looked quite puzzled when he saw a BRA thrown to the stage!! Does this happen often in any given urban/rock concert in Jakarta? Should i pick it up? Should i take the girl who thrown this bra to the stage? ---- Apparently, he left the bra there.. (most probably) longing to be touched. I wonder, was he thinking something like "ah.. the size is too small. not my type."? :P The bra owner was trying to get herself noticed (i saw her), yet failed. Who knows.. maybe she got lucky at the after-party.

Encore! Encore! and Lap Dance ends the show with a BANG! ;) Everyone left with a happy face. Yes, esp. the lucky girl who got to stage, danced, hug, kissed Pharrell and Shae, and got herself the white tee with Pharrell's autograph which she wore directly after the show. Whatta lucky beyotch!

Wanna know more about N.E.R.D.'s music? Here's one of the non-dancing and more to self-awareness songs from N.E.R.D's album "Nothing". Unfortunately, the song was not sung at the show.

N.E.R.D. - Life As A Fish

Viva la N.E.R.D.! ♥ ♥ ♥

Here are some (mixed) pics from some concerts i have ever attend :)

Cheers! It's 2011!

2011-01-07T23:54:00.001+07:00

Let's celebrate the memories of 2010 as they have made our life more colourful.

Let's get excited for the wonderous things and wonderful people we're going to cross path with on 2011.

But once in a while, let's be still and breathe the air of the present :)

Public Transportation in Jakarta [3]

2010-12-22T13:48:00.002+07:00

For a while there, I've reviewed some of Jakarta's public transports on part [1] and [2]

Now, let's get deeper to the essence of Jakarta's transportation...
Here are the stubborn little things that will get you through any traffic condition!

BEMO

Bemo or BEcak MOtor (motorized tricycle) is one of the oldest means of transportation in Jakarta, dated back to the 1962.

Cost = 3000 IDR

The use of Bemo has been banned by the Jakarta's government since the vehicle is not so effective, lack of spare-parts, and also a cause of pollution. To ride on a Bemo is such a good-bad experience. You will be sweating from the heat, and your legs may crammed from such a low seat. Plus, your knee will "kiss" other knee-friends during the ride.

Even though Bemo has been banned, there are still some small routes that Bemo serves:
* Manggarai - RS Cipto Mangunkusumo
* Tanah Abang - Karet
* Salemba - Rawasari

IF you want to be driven right to your destination (for example: when looking for a specific address), aside from using a taxi, you can choose to use one of these vehicles...

BAJAJ

Bajaj here do not refer to a brand. Bajaj is one of the original vehicles of Jakarta that still operate widely on the city. You can instantly recognize a Bajaj by its bright orange colour, but even spot it from a far from its roaring sound!! The "vroom vroom" of a Bajaj is unmistakable.

To ride in a Bajaj is like nothing else!

First of all, set a fix price to the driver before you get into the Bajaj. Since Bajaj are mostly operates on short ride, thus the price are around 7000 - 20.000 IDR.
When you choose to ride on a Bajaj, please be prepare to have a very, very, very.. bumpy ride! even though the road is clear. You might want to tape how your body shiver all over the place because of it's "vibration"
Private conversations are not supposed to be done in a Bajaj, since you have to shout out loud to outdo the thundering sound of the machine.
Let your body flow with the Bajaj. There's a local saying: "No one really know where a Bajaj heading. It's only between the driver and his God." I suppose Bajaj driver has an ongoing thought that Bajaj is so small and stubborn and can get right through any traffic cracks. So, during the ride, you may experience some hardcore stirs hehe :) Because of this "attitude", the local people give another nickname for Bajaj - it's kecoa (or cockroach). Don't worry, it's not because of roaches dominate the Bajaj.
There also a more upgraded version of Bajaj, it's called Bajaj BBG and it uses a different kind of gas. The Bajaj BBG is less bumpy, and more eco-friendly.

Tourist usually compare Bajaj with similar vehicle, Tuk Tuk from Thailand.

KANCIL

Kancil (Kendaraan Niaga Cilik Irit Lincah) is usually refer as the modern version of Bajaj - modern as in it produces less sound, just like cars. It also has 3 wheels, slightly narrower in the front. Kancil do not operate in all part of Jakarta. You can see Kancil usually in West Jakarta.

OJEK

Ojek (pronounced like "o-jack") is sort of a motorbike-taxi. This ride is a favourite since it uses motorcycle that can cut through the traffic jam, especially if the driver is gifted to know all of the short-cut (local call it "jalan tikus") around Jakarta.

How to find Ojek? Easy. Just look around for a group of motorbikes with drivers around your area (just like the pic above). Usually, they also got a sign/cardboard with "Pangkalan Ojek" on it. Expats also love Ojeks because the ride is personal and fast. One can make a monthly deal with the driver. Usually the driver also serves Ojek by phone-call. Handy, right? ;)

Sources: Alfasentosa blog

Welcome to Jakarta, folks!

Read it all:
Public transportation in Jakarta [1]

Public transportation in Jakarta [2]

Public transportation in Jakarta [3]

This article was also featured in Suara Jakarta, a paper by @ndorokakung.

Workers without Privileges: a modern and sugar-coated slavery?

2010-12-16T13:57:00.091+07:00

"Workers without privileges". Sounds familiar to your ears?

A dear friend by the name of Lina, who is currently working in Australia wrote this interesting piece on her blog: (she's in my blog roll)

Salute to Workers without Privileges (Indonesian Workers)

---
As part of my annual PPR (Performance Planning and Review), I had to complete Workplace discrimination and Harassment-Legal Compliance course. I have obtained the certification after taking the test on the end of the course. As the name indicates, the course contains Australian Legal Compliance of Discrimination and Harassment.

The course contains
* worker’s right to have flexible working days
* what are the appropriate behaviors to your boss, college and sub-ordinate
* Everyone has equal right for a position
* What behaviors / company policies that are considered as discrimination and harassment.

This 90 minutes online course was very interesting to me, they sounds too good to be true. According to my friend’s stories, most of Indonesian company would be breaking ALL this regulations. Here are some examples:

* In Indonesia, it is normal to advertise a job ads, with specific race , religion, political views, physical performance requirement.

Wanted: an admin person who is loyal, honest and hard worker, minimal degree: Bachelor (S1) , Chinese. - “Dicari admin, syarat: jujur, setia, pekerja keras, minimal S1 dan chinese background”

In Australia, that’s the number one rule of discrimination, people have the right to any jobs. Even this job ad is considered “indirect discrimination”: Looking for a truck driver with excellent written and oral English. (Why would a truck driver need an excellent English skill, well this ad read: wanted Australian –native truck drivers)

* The common Corporate Executive behaviour “Your boss is your master, don’t like your job and how your boss treat you, then QUIT and find another job”

Australian workers are very privileged; they have the right to have flexible working days, so they have time to look after their personal need, kids and any other arrangements.

Most of my friend who works in Jakarta, they work more than 12 hours per day/ with no flexible working days, Some is lucky enough to get paid overtime.

* Another common Corporate Executive behavior “great employees works with the system, they don’t complain, they just do their jobs, but if they DARE to complain about me, They’re out… but if I still need them, I will face them out slowly“

Yes… an employee can’t lodge a complaint about his/her situation, they are meant to deal with it. Dealing with this unfair working condition is seen as strength, as one of the aspect that employers are looking for. Isn’t that TWISTED?

An Australian company must deal, documented, and respond to the complain seriously, and the employee who lodge the complain must not be treated differently, or they organization could be charged with “Victimization”

* Don’t get me started on disability workers - THEY DON’T EXIST IN INDONESIA, if you’re disabled, you’re screwed!!!!

It is very highly unlikely that some one will hire a person with disability; most of them end up in their relative care or work independently with low wages. (I see this first hand, one of my auntie is living with disability, for all her struggle, she is a brave woman, love her so much)

Again, Australian workers had it easy, there’s a lot of access of person with any kinds of disability. They could travel with public transport, and their employers are obliged by law to provide them with any of their disability needs.

Yes… I salute the Workers without Privileges (Indonesian Workers), shame on me for complaining about my job.

Although I can’t help but wonder, when will these condition change? When will these “Corporate Executive” even consider the idea of implementing workplace discrimination and harassment polices?

Most of these “Corporate Executive” are big with their seminars of self development (potential development), business development seminars. When are they going grasp the idea of happy employee might contribute productivity growth?

Hopefully SOON.

Again .. Salute to all hard-working people in Indonesia.

---

Despite of all the hard facts in front of our eyes... I believe that Indonesia is not the only country to deal with "workers without privileges". A lot of Asian countries, Middle Eastern countries, and most probably ex-Soviet countries are in this mud together.

Most people will think twice to out-rule their superiors or speak the truth (if there's any harassment, discrimination at work, etc) because they feel "I am lucky enough to still be able to work", so they suck it up, let the issues go.. and so it's like a circle all over again.

Ignorance may come as a bliss, sometimes. But IGNORANCE (alias "pembiaran") at something as basic as Human Right (in this case: at work) will only enhance and strengthen the wrong perceptions about Worker's Right.

Want a good example of someone fighting for Workers Right? Marsinah. and her unsolved case in 1993. Apparently, at that era, she was as good as dead. Read her case from VHR Media.

From: VHR Media.

So, is it too much if I say that "Workers without Privileges" equals to "a modern and sugar-coated slavery"?

From: VHR Media.

Culinary trip to Jogjakarta

2010-12-15T10:48:00.001+07:00

Jogjakarta is not only famous for its classic Javanese atmosphere, marvelous temples and "mystical" culture. It is also a place to indulge yourself with one of the ultimate pleasures of life: goooood fooods :) It's been a year since my last visit to Jogjakarta. Every time i go there, it will always be a culinary experience. So, here's some foods i enjoyed this time around.

Gudeg Yu Djum
Jl. Widjilan.

Jl. Widjilan in Yogyakarta is well-known as the place to find the iconic food of Yogyakarta, named Gudeg. Gudeg is made of young jackfruit, boiled with palm sugar and coconut milk - and of course, other traditional spices. Usually, a portion of Gudeg also comes with some side dishes: chicken, egg, tempe and tahu - you may choose whether you want them or not. The taste of Gudeg may differ from one area (in Java) to another area. My all time favourite is still Gudeg from Yogyakarta. The sweet taste of Gudeg is usually balanced with the spicy Krecek, a stew made of crispy cow skin.

So, here's what Gudeg Yogya looks like...

hmmm.. guess this one got Sambal Krecek all over covering the Gudeg :P

In my previous visit (link) to Jogja, I tried Gudeg Bu Wiwik. This time around, I tried Gudeg Yu Djum --> it even has a FB page! (here) I should say that the taste is quite similar. I kinda prefer Gudeg Bu Wiwik, tho. Everyone gotta have their own fave :)

Price: starting from 15.000 IDR

Bakmi Mbah Mo

Code, Bantul.

It is said that Bakmi Mbah Mo is the legend and the icon for traditional Javanese noodle. To find this specific eating place is quite tricky. It's far from what we can call "a restaurant" and moreover, it is not strategically located, it has no street address. You will need to ask the local people for direction. The Javanese call the location as "mblusuk" (means: in the middle of nowhere).

the cooking process is very traditional, using arang and clay stove..

See, it doesn't even look like a restaurant.
Source: Flickr

Despite of its location, the famous Bakmi Mbah Mo draws attention from many visitors - esp. those who are curious of its so-called legendary taste. People come there with their cars, lining up like hell. When you're not so lucky, you may need to wait around one hour (yes people, ONE HOUR) to enjoy your meal. This is because there is only one stove used to make all the incoming orders. a traditional stove, that is.
Price: starting from 10.000 IDR. Yes, that CHEAP!

the authentic and iconic Javanese noodle at Bami Mbah Mo!

JeJamuran

Jl Magelang.

YES! Sate Jamur!

Price: starting from 8.000 IDR.

Sate Jamur: RP. 8.000,00
Tongseng Jamur: Rp. 8.000,00
Rendang Jamur: Rp. 8.000,00
Pepes Jamur: Rp. 4.000,00
Jamur Goreng: Rp. 6.000,00

Bakso Ito

Jl.Mataram 59. Phone: 0274 566590
I have known Bakso Ito back from my high school years in Yogyakarta. After all these years, Bakso Ito still serves good varieties of bakso. The location is quite easy to find - it's on the back street of Malioboro Mall/Ibis Hotel. Make sure, if you go there, to try its popular bakso goreng (fried meatballs).

Source: Bakso Ito

Bebek Bakar Yu Sri

Jl. Tentara Pelajar (between Jogja and Magelang)
The restaurant preserve the traditional ambiance of Java, located within a Joglo (Javanese traditional house).

♥ House of Raminten

Jl. F.M. Noto no.7 (next to Mirota Bakery), Kotabaru. Phone: 0274 547315.

Now this is what we call quirky touch of Javanese culture!
When you enter the place, you will be welcomed by old traditional chariots.
here and there, you may find signboard with a saying "Kami semua ini SLB. Kalau agak lama dalam melayani harap maklum karena kami kenthir" which means "we apologize if we present a slow service, because we are crazy".

The waiters are all dressed in traditional clothing, offering tons of authentic food, and even more authentic drinks and herbal drinks (in Bahasa: jamu) - all worth trying! Take a look at House of Raminten's Facebook page.

House of Raminten, from the entrance.

Source: House of Raminten

Attention all travelers and Yogya-newbies, when you arrive in Yogyakarta's airport Adi Sucipto, don't forget to take FREE map of Yogyakarta at the tourist information point right outside the baggage claim area. But if you fail to take one, or perhaps to lazy to find it out hehehehe.. Here. Download and print this one instead.

Map of Greater Yogyakarta, with touristic spots.

This article was also featured in Tourism Indonesia, a paper by @babyfwenas :)

Perang tarif antar provider!

2010-12-10T10:09:00.002+07:00

Perang tarif antar provider? Itu hal biasa.

Kalau dilihat-lihat beberapa tahun lalu, provider2 berusaha tampil ekslusif dan keren. Sekarang, semuanya banting harga dan berani tampil "murah"!

Persaingan tidak berhenti di situ saja. Semakin terbuka dan berani. Provider A "mengolok" provider B-C-D yang adalah saingannya lewat TV-commercials. Mulai dari hanya bermain adu warna (tiap provider biasanya diasosiasikan dengan warna tertentu. Indosat kuning, Telkomsel merah, XL biru, Axis pink, Esia hijau, etc) sampai ke saling ejek "tagline". Yang terbaru adalah.. saling bajak icon!

Yupe! Kasus yang sedang hot saat ini adalah Sule. Bagi yang tidak tahu, Sule adalah seorang komedian terkemuka dan sedang laris di Indonesia saat ini. Beberapa bulan lalu, dia sign contract dan jadi bintang iklan untuk XL. Berikut iklannya yang saya ambil dari Youtube.

XL Nelpon Rp. 25/ Menit (Versi Sule-Baim-Putri Titian)

Selang beberapa waktu, saya cukup kaget ketika melihat Sule tiba-tiba muncul di sebuah iklan, dengan pakaian serba merah yang ternyata adalah iklan AS (Telkomsel), notabene saingannya XL. Di scene terakhir dia pun berkata "Kapok dibohongin sama anak kecil!". Anak kecil di sini maksudnya adalah Baim, si bintang iklan cilik di seri iklan XL.

Ini dia iklannya saya ambil dari Youtube.

Kartu AS Telkomsel Rp. 20/ Menit (Versi Sule)

Entah apa yang terjadi dibalik saling bajak ikon ini. Mungkin ya karena kontrak dan tawaran yang diberikan AS kepada Bung Sule lebih besar hahaha... Well, selama kita masih membutuhkan provider untuk telp-sms-internet, dll.. perang provider pun akan tetap berlangsung!

Sit back and enjoy the show :)

Parachute

2010-12-06T14:36:00.000+07:00

A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. The word "parachute" comes from the French para, meaning "to prepare for" or "to protect against," originally from the Latin parare, and chute, the French word for "fall," and it was originally coined, as a hybrid word which meant literally "that which protects against a fall". - Wikipedia

Now you all may also be familiar with the song Parachute, sang by a British pop singer Cheryl Cole from the group Girls Aloud. Sassy, upbeat, with all the dancing lalala..

"I don't need a parachute. Baby, if I've got you. Baby, if I've got you... I don't need a parachute. You're gonna catch me. You're gonna catch if I fall... down, down, down."

Well, if you never heard of it, then go on and watch the video here.

Cheryl Cole - Parachute

From Youtube

Her voice character is not that strong, so as her dancing skill. But yeah, she's a pretty girl and the song suits her well.

But do you know that the song is co-written by the talented Ingrid Michaelson? This New York based indie pop singer/songwriter is one of my favourite musicians! She got great albums with great songs and great lyrics. You might recognize her music since some of her songs are played as tracks on ABC Grey's Anatomy series, which happens to be one of my fave series too.

Actually, i know the song Parachute first from Ingrid Michaelson. Then come along the Cheryl Cole upbeat version.

“It didn’t feel like something I could put out because it was so poppy, [so] we shipped it off for people to take a gander and see who would pick it up,” Michaelson says of the song, which eventually made its way to Cole’s camp. It took producer Dan Romer, who worked with Michaelson on Everybody, to convince Michaelson to record “Parachute” herself. - EW.com

Ingrid Michaelson - Parachute

From Youtube

Undoubtedly, Inggrid's voice is better (this is her fan talking). and the video is... different. and she does look different in every videos. However, i miss that geeky glasses of her, coz it's like her trademark!

But then again, she looks nice, just like one the comments in her youtube video from whawkeye1881:
"As a particle physicist and musician, I have to say . . . Ingrid Michaelson has just breached the limit of intellectual hotness."

So, which one do you like?

The Power of "Indonesia Raya"

2010-12-03T14:16:00.001+07:00

One of my client/partner at the office was asking if we can share the song "Indonesia Raya".

I browse around, download the song... and it makes me wonder..

Suddenly i came up with my power- tweet of the day: (Dec 1, 2010)

"Apakah dari sekian banyak koleksi musikmu, ada lagu Indonesia Raya? http://goo.gl/RGC8S @greatindonesia @gnfi #random"

translation: Do you have Indonesia Raya (Indonesia's national anthem) on your music collection?

GNFI RT-ed my tweet and raised a lot of reactions. Here are some of the reactions: (in Bahasa)

There are more tweet replies and mentions that i did not capture in the image above. Seeing all of those reactions, i smile happily. Most of the replies mentioned that they do have the song, some put it in their iTunes, some even have it as their ringtone or ringbacktone!

WOW! Isn't it amazing?!

Now i know that Indonesian youth are proud of Indonesia Raya, our national anthem :)

The Formula of Effective TV-Commercials

2010-11-30T13:29:00.007+07:00

Effective ads are the ones who can initiate buying. Is that correct?

I do know that to make an effective advertising campaign, we (at least) have to 1) Go after the target audience, 2) Highlight our competitive advantages, and 3) Establish an image. - Top 10 Tips for an Effective Advertising Campaign

And since every parents wants to give the best to their children, makes them a vulnerable target audience and huge potential market, the TV-commercials nowadays are cramped with all different kinds of ads for (infant/kids) formula milk.. the ready ones, concentrate ones, or powder one.

A LOT of those TV-commercials use the "guilt" theme: What if your child does not get enough this and that? What if the milk composition is wrong? Too much this and that? What about the vitamin-mineral milk? The colostrum essence? The A-to-Z Omega? Prebiotics and all those terms you may not understand? Your kids should be protected from the inside! Trying their best to highlight and sharpen their own edge of competitive advantages - All of which gives me headache (and I'm not even married or have a kid!).

Among all those ad clutter (in my opinion), despite of all its own advantage and disadvantages, i have fallen in love over and over again with ads from Bebelac, which actually says nothing about formula, composition, protection, blablabla of the formula milk itself. It actually focuses on the wonderful kids themselves! Isn't that such a beautiful idea?

Brightened up by the cheeky song from Barry White "You're My First, My Last, My Everything", the series of ads seem to dance with all the big potential those kids can share: being a loving and caring person towards others (parents, friends, etc).

Here is one of them. It's the compilation i got from Youtube.

Bebelac - You Are My Everything

and this one is new. I watched it on tv few days ago.

At first, i thought that it's an ad for insurance or banking (because most of them are using image of "children as the future"). But it's not. It's Nutrilon Royal 3 It's another kids formula milk ad that set aside the mumble of the milk composition and use the wonderful kids as the center of the ad. YAY! Impressed, i looked it up on Youtube.

Nutrilon Royal 3 - Life is an Adventure

with a kid's voiceover:

"I want to live my life to the absolute fullest

To open my eyes to be all I can be

To travel roads not taken, to meet faces unknown

To feel the wind, to touch the stars

I promise to discover myself

To stand tall with greatness

To chase down and catch every dream

LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE."

The formula of TV-commercials above: be out of the box, cut the clutters, focus on the children.
Is it effective? At least it works well for me. If I ever gonna have children, I may just gonna buy Bebelac (and now) OR Nutrilon just because I'm inspired by their ads. Tell me you did not find the ads above lovely and awe-spiring :)

Cheers, mate!

The rumour about Harry Potter...

2010-11-25T14:52:00.003+07:00

The rumour is true. I love Harry Potter series.
There there i've said it!

But then again, who doesn't? Harry Potter fever has spread evenly from teens to twenty-somethings to parents who prefer wonderous MAGIC and a muggle by the name of J.K. Rowling's most celebrated imagination than the ongoing love/lust triangle between human-boyvamp-merewolf. at least, it's my preference. I've been reading the book since it's not even that BIG in Indonesia. For a start, I'm a firm believer of Hogwarts, Fawkes, and Severus Snape (yes, Snape.. from the very beginning).

The most anticipated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow epic finale (part 1) was already on cinema in Jakarta starting Nov 19. and i watched a.s.a.p. Bringing my imagination and expectation to life, the movie is dark and cold and much more intense than its predecessors - everything that makes it should not be categorized as children/teen movie, not anymore...

Well, at least that bloody screen-shoot above doesn't really seem like coming out of a teen movie.

I have learned several things about Harry Potter series...

Fawkes is awesome!
Voldemort might need plastic surgery since he can really grow his nose back (or maybe he's secretly a big MJ fan!)
the Weasley boys are getting even more cuter as they grow older
Harry is nothing without the ever so smart and talented muggle-born Hermione Granger.. he'll be a dead meat by HP#5 at least
and Snape (as i personally presume) is the core center of the story, and not Harry Potter ;)

Anyway, i stumble upon this Harry Potter "My Name is..." on tumblr.
Do read and laugh, fellas :)

* My name is Harry Potter and I’m a boy and I lived
* My name is Severus Snape and I suggest you turn to page 394 our new celebrity because expecto patronum after all this time always
* My name is Dumbledore and I’m gay
* My name is Hermione Granger and in fourth year I fixed my teeth
* My name is Draco Malfoy and I’m a ferret wait until my father hears about this
* My name is Neville Longbottom and my parents are crazy
* My name is the Giant Squid and it’s not like anyone has ever seen me
* My name is Lucius Malfoy and I have awesome hair << so true! his hair is perfect.
* My name is Barty Crouch Jr and I’m not my father
* My name is Barty Crouch but I’m just a bone
* My name is Percy Weasley and Ron what are you doing in the girls’ lavatory ?
* My name is Molly Weasley and not my daughter you bitch
* My name is Voldemort and I don’t have the decency to have a nose
* My name is Remus Lupin and I am a werewolf and yes I’m fucking sirius
* My name is Minerva McGonagall and back the fuck up I’m scottish
* My name is Gilderoy Lockhart and I didn’t get rid of the Banden Banshee by smiling at him
* My name is the Sorting Hat and I stand by what I said last year you would’ve done well in Slytherin
* My name is Bellatrix Lestrange and I just Crucio all over the place
* My name is Merope and lol i sucked
* My name is Nagini and I’m Voldy’s bff
* My name is Flitwick and I’m tiny
* My name is Seamus and I’m irish
* My name is Dean Thomas and I like football
* My name is Ginny Weasley and I lie about Harry Potter’s tattoos
* My name is the toad and I disguise myself as Dolores Umbridge << well said!
* My name is Hagrid and I like dragons
* My name is Fluffy but i’m a nasty beast
* My name is Oliver Wood and I like broomsticks
* My name is Ollivander and Harry doesn’t know what he feels about me
* My nom is Ron Weasley and we should have followed the butterflies
* My name is Lavender Brown and I’m stalker
* My name is Patil and we are twins
* My name is Charlie Weasley and I rock
* My name is Arthur Weasley and what exactly is the function of a rubber duck?
* My name is James Potter and I can go suck a fuck
* My name is Lily and I have green eyes that’s the only thing my son inherited from me
* My name is Dudley Dursley and Dementors once almost took my soul
* My name is Sirius Black and people confuse me with the grim
* My name is Cornelius Fudge and if you touch me i’ll fudging kill you
* My name is Mad Eye Moody and i have a mad eye
* My name is Kingsley Shacklebolt and even muggles worship me
* My name is whoever and even I know that Dumbledore has style
* My name is Fawkes and I live and live and live again
* My name is Cedric Diggory and I’m a spare (so i change my name to Edward Cullen and be a teen vamp)
* My name is Merlin and everyone in the wizarding world has a thing for my pants
* My name is Dobby and I’m a free elf
* My name is Fred Weasley and I’m not George
* My name is Bill Weasley and I won’t let my mummy cut my hair
* My name is Fleur and I’m part Veela
* My name is Colin Creevey and I take photos
* My name is Horace Slughorn and I want to be a slug
* My name is Pansy Parkinson and I’m a pansy
* My name is Cho Chang and I kissed Harry under the mistletoe… and i cried
* My name is Luna Lovegood and this is full of nargles
* My name is Narcissa Black and I look like there’s dirt under my nose because Draco is my son
* My name is Buckbeak and you have to take a bow
* My name is Hedwig and I have a theme
* My name is Wormtail and I fail
* My name is the Chamber of Secrets and enemies of the heir beware
* My name is Moaning Myrtle and I haunted Olive Hornby
* My name is Nick Nearly Headless and I’m nearly headless
* My name is Tom Marvolo Riddle AND LOOK WHAT I DID WITH THE LETTERS

Yes, Harry Potter series got beautiful talented actors :)
From: http://thebeautyofsolitude.tumblr.com/

Technorati

2010-08-13T16:44:00.002+07:00

For Technorati : E3ADQJB4STYR

Public transportation in Jakarta [2]

2010-08-13T10:12:00.011+07:00

OK. You have sufficient information about public transportation in general (in part 1) to cope up with the hustle and bustle of Jakarta's infamous traffic.

However....
IF you want to try the ultimate experience of daily life in Jakarta, then try to hop on one of the local buses! This morning on my way to the office, for the very first time, i saw an expat hopped on bus 213.

If you are lucky, then the bus will not be to packed, you may also get to enjoy the good "PENGAMEN" (street/bus amateur musicians) with great voices, good guitar, and sometimes, violin skills. But you may also encounter those horrible "pengamen" stinky clothes and bad sounds or other sort of beggars.

This is what you get when you're lucky. full-entertainment!

When you are riding on a bus in Jakarta, always be aware of your belongings! You should also prepare some small changes (500 IDR) in case you want to give appreciations to the good "pengamen" :)

Here are some of Jakarta's buses, also with their routes. I might have written some mistakes on some routes, and some routes are still empty. please inform/correct me :)

Mayasari Bhakti, PPD, Steady Safe

Those are the names of the big busses that run around Jakarta (greater area).

Cost = 2000 IDR (no AirCo); 5000 - 10.000 IDR (with AirCo)

Here are some of the routes:

P6 : Grogol - Kp Rambutan
P37 :
P55 : Grogol - Kp Melayu
P45 : Blok M - Kp Rambutan (usually it only goes to cililitan)
P46 : Grogol - Kp Rambutan (usually it only goes to cililitan)

57 : Blok M - Pulogadung
107 : Kp Melayu - Blok M
300 : Blok M - Rawamangun
213 : Grogol - Kp Melayu
916 :

Patas AC 10 : Dukuh Atas
Patas AC 11 : Pulo Gadung - Kalideres
Patas AC 81 : Depok - Kalideres
Patas AC 43 : Grogol - Cibinong
Patas AC 05 : Bekasi - Blok M
Patas AC 34: Blok M - Cimone
Patas AC 79 : Kp Rambutan - Kota
Patas AC 48 : Depok - Grogol
Patas AC 104 : Kp Melayu - Cimone

Deborah
Route Depok - Lb Bulus
Route Depok - Kalideres

Tunggal Daya
Route Lb Bulus - Bekasi

METROMINI

Metromini is a minibus by the colour of orange with blue stripe. Usually, these minibuses can stop almost everywhere (not only on the bus shelters). You can ask the "kondektur" where to hop off.

Cost = 2000 IDR

Here are the routes:

001 : Senen - RS Islam Cempaka Putih - Taman Solo
003 : Senen - Cempaka Putih - Rawamangun
005 : Senen - Johar Baru - Mardani
007 : Senen - Cempaka Mas - Semper
010 : Senen - Kemayoran - Sunter
011 : Senen - Kemayoran - Bendungan Jago
015 : Senen - Sabang - Setiabudi
017 : Senen - Cikini - Manggarai
023 : Tanjung Priok - Cilincing
024 : Tanjung Priok - Sunter - Senen
029 : Kota - Pademangan - Sunter
030 : Kota - Pluit - Muara Angke
041 : Pulo Gadung - Tugu - Tanjung Priok
042 : Pulo Gadung - Penggilingan - Perumnas Klender
043 : Pulo Gadung - Pondok Ungu - Seroja
044 : Pulo Gadung - Penggilingan - Pulo Gebang
045 : Pulo Gadung - Jatiwaringin - Pondok Gede
046 : Pulo Gadung - Utan Kayu - Kampung Melayu
047 : Senen - Cempaka Putih - Pondok Kopi
049 : Pulo Gadung - Utan Kayu - Manggarai
050 : Kampung Melayu - Duren Sawit - Perumnas Klender
052 : Kampung Melayu - Buaran - Stasiun Cakung
053 : Kampung Melayu - Condet - Kampung Rambutan
054 : Kampung Melayu - Kalimalang - Pondok Kelapa
058 : Cililitan - Pondok Bambu - Perumnas Klender
060 : Manggarai - Tebet - Kampung Melayu
061 : Manggarai - Bukit Duri - Kampung Melayu
062 : Manggarai - Pancoran - Pasar Minggu
064 : Pasar Minggu - Kalibata - Cililitan
069 : Blok M - Kyai Maja - Kreo - Ciledug
070 : Blok M - Pos Pengumben - Joglo
071 : Blok M - Tanah Kusir - Kodam Bintaro
072 : Blok M - Pondok Indah â€“ Lebak Bulus
074 : Blok M - Tanah Kusir - Rempoa
075 : Blok M - Mampang - Pasar Minggu
076 : Blok M - Cilandak - Kampung Rambutan
077 : Blok M - Kemang - Ragunan
078 : Blok M - Mayestik - Kebayoran Lama - Cidodol
079 : Blok M - Fatmawati - Lebak Bulus
082 : Kalideres - Kamal - Kapuk - Grogol
084 : Kalideres - Pluit - Kota
085 : Kalideres - Permata Hijau - Lebak Bulus
091 : Batusari - Tanjung Duren - Citraland - Grogol - Roxy Mas - Tanah Abang
092 : Joglo - Kedoya - Jalan Panjang - Daan Mogot - Grogol
506 : Kampung Melayu - Klender - Pondok Kopi
610 : Blok M - Cipete - RS Fatmawati - Pondok Labu
611 : Blok M - Pondok Pinang - Pasar Jum'at
619 : Blok M - Pangeran Antasari - Pondok Labu - Cinere
640 : Pasar Minggu - Pancoran - Tosari
719 : Lebak Bulus - Pondok Gede - Jatiasih
733 : Blok M - Bintara - Kranji
783 : Kampung Melayu - Kalimalang - Cibubur - Cileungsi
789 : Perumnas Klender - Pulo Gadung - Harapan Indah
792 : Perumnas Klender - Pondok Kelapa - Bekasi
811 : Blok M - Lebak Bulus - Rempoa - Bintaro

KOPAJA or Koperasi Angkutan Jakarta

KOPAJA is a mini bus by the colour of green with white stripe.

Cost = 2000 IDR

There are some codes: (but usually they don't put the code)
P for Jakarta Pusat
B for Jakarta Barat
S for Jakarta Selatan
T for Jakarta Timur
U for Jakarta Utara

Here are some of the routes:

P16 : Tanah Abang - Slipi Jaya - Kemanggisan - Kedoya - Ciledug
P19 : Tanah Abang - Sudirman - Blok M - Ragunan Depan
P20 : Senen - HOS Cokroaminoto - Rasuna Said - Warung Buncit - TB Simatupang - Lebak Bulus
U27 : Pasar Senen - Kelapa Gading
T57 : Terminal Kp. Rambutan - Raya Bogor - Cililitan (PGC) - Dewi Sartika - Kalibata - Duren Tiga - Warung Buncit - Tendean - Wolter Monginsidi - Terminal Blok M
63 : Blok M - Ampera - Depok
S66 : Blok M - Rasuna Said - Latuharhari - Sultan Agung (Pasar Rumput) - Manggarai
S68 : Kp.Melayu - Ragunan - Pasar Minggu - Pancoran
B86 : Lebak Bulus - Slipi - Grogol
B88 :
T502 : Kampung Melayu - Tanah Abang
S602 : Tanah Abang - Mampang - Kb.Ragunan
605 : Blok M - Kemang - Kp. Rambutan
Terminal Blok M - Iskandarsyah - Melawai - Panglima Polim - Darmawangsa - Darmawangsa 4 - Darmawangsa 13 - Fatmawati - Abdul Majid - Kemang Selatan 8 - Kemang - Kemang Selatan - Ampera - TB Simatupang - Masuk Tol AMPERA~1 - Keluar Tol~30 "Cililitan—Cijantung" - Terminal Kp. Rambutan
605A : Blok M - Kemang - Kb.Ragunan
Terminal Blok M - Prapanca - Kemang - Kemang Selatan - Ampera - TB Simatupang - Harsono - Terminal Ragunan (Ragunan Depan)
S608 : Blok M - Tanah Abang
S609 : Blok M - Kebayoran Lama - Cipulir - Meruya
S612 : Kp.Melayu - Kemang - Kb. Ragunan (back)
S613 : Blok M - Bintaro
Pasar Minggu - Warung Buncit - Pejaten Barat - Ampera - Kemang Selatan - Benda - Puri Sakti - Antasari - Taman Brawijaya - Darmawangsa 15 - Darmawangsa - Darmawangsa 6 - Wijaya 2 - Panglima Polim - Kramat Pela - Barito 2 - Barito 1 - Kyai Maja - Cipulir
S614 : Pasar Minggu - Blok M - Cipulir
615 : Tanah Abang - Blok M - Lebak Bulus
S616 : Blok M - Ps Minggu - Cipedak
S620 : Blok M - Mampang - Pasar Rumput
95 : Rawa Bokor - Taman Anggrek

KOANTAS BIMA

it's a mini bus, just like Metromini and Kopaja, but the colours are yellow with green stripe.

Cost = 2000 IDR

Here are the routes:

101 : Tanah Abang - Pondok Cabe
102 : Tanah Abang - Ciputat
507 : Kampung Melayu - Cimanggis
509 : Kampung Rambutan - Lebak Bulus
510 : Kampung Rambutan - Ciputat
621 : Blok M - Ciputat
104 : Perumnas Tangerang - Grogol
106 : Cimone - Senen
103 : Poris - Grogol

ANGKOT

Angkot is an abbreviation from ANGkutan KOTa - litterally means city transport. It is actually a modified van/SUV so that it could carry more passengers. The colour for these angkots are varied: red, white, etc.

cost = 2500 IDR

Here are the routes:

Angkot B01 : Grogol – Mr Angke
Angkot B03 : Joglo – Meruya - Kedoya - Tanjung Duren - Citraland
Angkot B14 : Puri Indah – Pasar Puri - Kedoya - Terusan Arjuna - Tanjung Duren - Citraland
Angkot C01 : Kebayoran Lama – Ciledug
Angkot C02 : Ciledug – Jombang
Angkot C05 : Kebayoran Lama – Ceger
Angkot C09 : Lebak Bulus – Bintaro – Ceger – Pd Aren
Angkot C14 : Lebak Bulus – Ciledug
Angkot C15 : Semanan – Ciledug
Angkot D01 : Kebayoran Lama – Tanah Kusir – Pondok Pinang – Lebak Bulus – Ciputat
Angkot D02 : Pondok Labu – Lebak Bulus – Ciputat
Angkot D07 : Ciputat – Pamulang – Muncul/Serpong
Angkot D08 : Ciputat – Jombang
Angkot D09 : Pd Jagung – Graha Bintaro – Parigi – Bintaro Plaza – Rempoa – Situ Gintung
Angkot D10 : Ciputat – Bintaro – Pondok Aren
Angkot D15 : Lebak Bulus – Pondok Cabe – Pamulang
Angkot D18 : Ciputat – Bintaro – Ciledug
Angkot D26 : Ciputat – Pamulang
Angkot S01 : Blok M – Pondok Labu
Angkot S03 : Kebayoran Lama – Tanah Kusir – Pondok Pinang – Lebak Bulus – Pondok Labu
Angkot S06 : Mayestik/Tmn. Puring – Kebayoran Lama – Ceger
Angkot S07 : Kebayoran Lama – Pondok Aren
Angkot S08 : Lebak Bulus – Ciputat – Rempoa – Bintaro
Angkot S10 : Kebayoran Lama – Velbak – Seskoal – Peninggaran – Tanah Kusir
Angkot S11 : Lebak Bulus – Fatmawati – Pasar Minggu
Angkot S12 : Lebak Bulus – Bona Indah – Ragunan
Angkot S14 : Lebak Bulus – Pondok Pinang – Deplu – Bintaro – Petukangan
Angkot 461 : UKI cawang – Pondok Gede
Angkot JP03A (APB) : Karet – Tanah Abang – Roxy
Angkot JS01 (APB) : Mayestik – Kostrad – Kemandoran

MIKROLET
Mikrolet is similar to Angkot. The size is like normal cars (similar size to CRVs) but modified so that it could carry more passengers. It has light blue colour. The driver usually modified the mikrolets as they wish, so each mikrolet has its own "personalities"... some are with religious stickers, some with fancy headbanging speakers (seriously), and some others are just plain boring mikrolets. If you are riding on the mikrolets with the soundsystem, be prepared to shake your body to the Dangdut or House music hehehe...

Cost = 2000-2500 IDR

Here are the routes:
M01 : Kampung Melayu - Matraman - Senen
M02 : Pulogadung - Velodrome - Kampung Melayu
M04 : Cililitan - Cipinang - Rawasari
M06(A) : Kampung Melayu - Cililitan - Gandaria
M08 : Tanah Abang - Kota
M09 : Tanah Abang – Kebayoran Lama
M10 : Tanah Abang – Jembatan Lima
M11 : Tanah Abang – Meruya
M12 : Senen - Gunung Sahari - Kota
M15A Tanjung Priok - Ancol - Kota
M16 : Kampung Melayu - Cawang - Pasar Minggu
M18 : Kampung Melayu – Kali Malang – Pondok Gede
M19 : Cililitan - Pondok Kelapa – Klender Bekasi
M20 : Pasar Minggu – Ragunan – Jati Padang - Ciganjur
M21 : Pulogadung - Rawamangun - Kampung Melayu
M23 : Karet - Setiabudi - Manggarai
M26 : Kampung Melayu - Kalimalang - Perumnas II Bekasi
M27 : Kampung Melayu – Cipinang - Pulo Gadung
M28 : Kampung Melayu – Cawang – Pondok Gede
M29 : Cililitan - Kalimalang – Kranji
M30A : Pulogadung - Kelapa Gading - Tanjung Priok
M31 : Kampung Melayu - Duren Sawit - Pondok Kelapa
M32 : Kampung Melayu - Duren Sawit Raya - Perumnas Klender
M36 : Pasar Minggu - Jembatan 4 - Jagakarsa
M37 : Pulogadung - Kelapa Gading - Senen
M38 : Grogol – Bendungan Hilir
M44 : Kampung Melayu - Casablanca (Ambassador Mall) - Karet Kuningan
M46 : Pulogadung - Pemuda - Senen
M53 : Pulogadung - Cempaka Putih - Kota
M54 : Kampung Melayu - Jend. Basuki Rachmat - Pondok Bambu

NEXT!
Jakarta's favourite vehicles in Public transportation in Jakarta [3]

Read it all ;)
Public transportation in Jakarta [1]

Public transportation in Jakarta [2]

Public transportation in Jakarta [3]

Public Transportation in Jakarta [1]

2010-08-10T16:29:00.009+07:00

The strong heat of Jakarta welcomes you at Soekarno-Hatta airport. Soon enough, you (specifically addressing Jakarta-first-timer) may experience the big fuzz every traveler mumbles about Jakarta all year long: traffic!

Yes, public transportation in Jakarta can be considered as a BIG headache!

As soon as you get off Soekarno-Hatta airport (assuming that you have no escort) you will be magically drawn into the mass of taxi drivers offering you to have their services.

Hmm.. what should you do?

The best thing is to order a taxi from inside the airport. You should check on the taxi desk nearby the baggage area. The cost will be around 200.000 IDR, and you will be driven straight to your destination. Rent a car is also an option, but the cost is higher, around 500.000 IDR.

DAMRI
The second best thing (backpackers, this one is for you) is to hop on the DAMRI (Djawatan Angkoetan Motor Repoeblik Indonesia). It's like airport-city shuttle bus. The buses are nice, clean, with AirCo (don't worry), and luggage dock. You can use the Damri to to get to the city center. From the city center you can continue by taxi (see below).

Cost: 20.000-30.000 IDR

You can ask the airport staff, where to sit and wait for the DAMRIs. The DAMRI starts very early, around 4 am. and the interval between the DAMRIs are 15-20 minutes.

Here are some DAMRI routes:

Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Blok M (bus terminal, south Jakarta). IF you are heading to west/south Jakarta (Slipi, Semanggi) you can ask the driver to drop you there.
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Lebak Bulus (bus terminal, south-east Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Rawa Mangun (bus terminal, east Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Kampung Rambutan (bus terminal, east Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Pasar Minggu (bus terminal, east Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Tanjung Priok (north of Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Kemayoran (north part of Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Bekasi (east part of Jakarta)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Cikarang
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Gambir (train station, central Jakarta). IF you accommodation is located on the central Jakarta (Kebon Sirih, KH. Wahid Hasyim) you can ask the driver to drop you there.
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Serang, Banten (West Java)
Soekarno-Hatta Airport - Bogor (West Java). The cost to get directly to Bogor is a little higher, around 30.000 IDR. But it's considered very cheap, if you compare it with taxis.

Click here to see DAMRI routes and hours.
Of course, you can also go to the airport using the DAMRIs.

.
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NEXT!
So, since you are now in town... How do you get yourself to places? Unfortunately, Jakarta has not yet equipped with fancy rapid transportation system such as the subways, or trams. But we do have several options :)

TAXI
If you are blessed with extra money on your pocket, then use taxi to run around Jakarta. Just go to you hotel lobby, usually the taxis are already lined up there, waiting to serve you. The standard taxis I recommend are from:

* Blue Bird (light blue with some kind of wing atop), to order by phone: +62 21 7917 1234

Blue Bird taxi

Taxi Pusaka Nuri, Pusaka Satria, Morante (also light blue, but different logo) are also part of the Blue Bird group. Please do beware that there are a lot of "Blue bird" imitation - as in the colour and the logo. Make sure that there are "Blue Bird Group" stated on the taxi before you take the ride. Besides blue bird, you can also ask for a more sleek and fancy taxi, Silver Bird (black ones). The cost is slightly higher that blue bird.

even the picture looks fancy!

Some taxis are considerably cheaper than blue bird. You can see the sign of "tarif lama" or
"tarif bawah" or basic fee usually written on its window. Here are some "tarif bawah" taxis that you can trust:

* Express (white), to order by phone: +62 21 2650 9000

* Express taxi also offer a big luxurious transport using Toyota Alphard. It's called Tiara Express. To order by phone: +62 21 2650 8000

* Putra (dark blue), to order by phone: +62 21 7817771

* Gamya (dark blue-green), to order by phone: +62 21 8779 5555 and 840 3838

* Trans Cab (bright yellow, like those in NY), to order by phone: +62 21 583 55 500. This one is nice because it has cable tv on it that you can watch during your trip :) takes your mind off the busy road.

Some TIPS ;)

If you are (unwillingly) stranded somewhere in Jakarta at night, you can always call the taxis. But if you forget to write down taxi phone number, and you can only find the "suspicious taxi", always make sure that the driver will use the argo (meter). Otherwise, you may find yourself giving away thousands IDRs for a short ride.
Even if you take a ride on the taxi, please make sure that you have the specific destination/address at hand (esp. when you are looking for an address - some friends/relatives' place) so that it will ease the driver too.
You can also talk with the driver to "bond" in some way that the taxi ride will be more enjoyable :)
Always write down the taxi's car number, just in case you forgot your belongings. Then you can just call the taxi's operator and report your lost.

There are also another public transportation that you can take. Let me start with the big and shiny one...

TRANS JAKARTA
Trans Jakarta, or the local often calls "BUSWAY" - which actually refers to the bus lane, currently have 9 routes called "koridor" that can take you to most places in Jakarta.

Cost:

05.00-07.00 = 2000 IDR

07.00-22.00 = 3500 IDR

Trans Jakarta is nice when it's not so crowded

Usually, we can differentiate the bus route through its different colours:
Koridor 1: red-yellow Mercedes-Benz & Hino
Koridor 2: blue-white and grey Daewoo
Koridor 3: red-yellow and grey Daewoo
Koridor 4: grey Daewoo & Hyundai (JTM), Hino (PP)
Koridor 5: grey double HuangHai (JMT), double Komodo (LRN)
Koridor 6: grey Daewoo & Hyundai (JTM), bus Hino (PP)
Koridor 7: grey Daewoo & Hyundai (JMT), bus Hino (LRN)
Koridor 8: grey Hino (LRN) bus Hino (PP)

Trans Jakarta - the red one

Here are some links (taken from www.suaratransjakarta.org) to download the Trans Jakarta routes:

* Download link (printable version) - 507 KB

* Download link (complete version) - 1536 KB

IF by any chances, you left your luggage or anything on the bus, you can call BLU Trans Jakarta +62 21 7228727

KORIDOR 1 (Blok M - Kota)

*Halte Kota: Stop here if you wish to continue you journey by train (Station Kota) or to Mangga Dua shopping district (with a short angkot ride).
*Halte Glodok
*Halte Olimo
*Halte Mangga Besar
*Halte Sawah Besar
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 2, 3, and 8 (holiday only)
*Halte Monas: Stop here if you wish to go to Monas (the national monument and iconic symbol of Jakarta) or to pay a visit to Museum Gajah (the national museum).
*Halte Bank Indonesia
*Halte Sarinah: Stop here if you want to go to Sarinah, Jl. Sabang, or Jl. Jaksa. This area is blessed with 24-hour food, late night snack, and cozy place to hang out (with beer, of course).
*Halte Bundaran HI: Stop here if you want to go to Plaza Indonesia and EX mall.
*Halte Tosari: Stop here if you want to go to Grand Indonesia.
*Halte Dukuh Atas: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 4 and 6.
*Halte Setia Budi
*Halte Karet
*Halte Benhill: Stop here if you want to go to Plaza Semanggi.
*Halte Polda Metro: Stop here if you want to go to Pasific Place (walk a little bit) and Istora Senayan.
*Halte Gelora Bung Karno: Stop here if you want to go to FX Mall (walk a little bit).
*Halte Bundara Senayan: Stop here if you want to go to Ratu Plaza. Get to the back of Ratu Plaza, and voila! you are already in Plaza Senayan. Another 5 minutes walk, and you get to Senayan City :)
*Halte Masjid Agung
*Halte Blok M: Stop here if you want to go to Blok M area.

KORIDOR 2 (Pulo Gadung - Harmoni)

*Halte Pulo Gadung
*Halte Bermis
*Halte Pulomas
*Halte Asmi: Stop here if you want to go to Kelapa Gading area.
*Halte Pedongkelan
*Halte Cempaka Timur
*Halte RS. Islam
*Halte Cempaka Tengah
*Halte Pasar Cempaka Putih
*Halte Rawa Selatan
*Halte Galur
*Halte Senen: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 5.
*Halte RSPAD
*Halte Deplu
*Halte Istiqlal
*Halte Juanda
*Halte Pecenongan
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 1, 3, and 8 (holiday only).

Trans Jakarta - the blue one

KORIDOR 3 (Kalideres - Pasar Baru)

*Halte Kalideres
*Halte Pesakih
*Halte Sumur Bor
*Halte Rawa Buaya
*Halte Jembatan Baru
*Halte Dispenda Samsat Barat
*Halte Jembatan Gantung
*Halte Taman Kota
*Halte Indosiar
*Halte Jelambar: Stop here if you want to go to Mall Ciputra/Citraland.
*Halte Grogol: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 8.
*Halte RS Sumber Waras
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 1 and 2.
*Halte Pecenongan
*Halte Juanda
*Halte Pasar Baru: Stop here if you want to go to Pasar Baru area.

KORIDOR 4 (Pulogadung - Dukuh Atas)

*Halte Pulogadung
*Halte Tugas
*Halte Pertamina
*Halte Telkom
*Halte Tarakanita
*Halte Sunan Giri
*Halte IKIP
*Halte Kehakiman
*Halte BPKP
*Halte Utan Kayu
*Halte Pasar Genjing
*Halte Pasar Pramuka
*Halte Matraman I: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 5.
*Halte Manggarai
*Halte Pasar Rumput
*Halte Halimun
*Halte Dukuh Atas 2: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 1 and 6.

KORIDOR 5 (Ancol - Kampung Melayu)

*Halte Ancol: Stop here if you want to go to Ancol or Dufan.
*Halte Pademangan
*Halte Gunung Sahari Mangga Dua: Stop here if you want to go to Mangga Dua area.
*Halte Jembatan Merah
*Halte Pasar Baru Timur
*Halte Budi Utomo
*Halte Senen: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 2.
*Halte Pal Putih
*Halte Kramat Sentiong (NU)
*Halte Salemba Universitas Indonesia
*Halte Salemba St. Carolus
*Halte Matraman 1: Stop here if you want to transfer to Koridor 4.
*Halte Tegalan: Stop here if you want to go to Gramedia bookstore. The one in Matraman is the biggest in Jakarta.
*Halte Slamet Riyadi
*Halte Urip Sumohardjo
*Halte Kebon Pala
*Halte Pasar Jatinegara
*Halte Kampung Melayu: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 7.

Trans Jakarta - the (double) grey one

KORIDOR 6 (Ragunan - Dukuh Atas)

*Halte Ragunan: Stop here if you want to go to Ragunan Zoo.
*Halte Departemen Pertanian
*Halte SMK 57
*Halte Jati Padang
*Halte Pejaten Phillips: Stop here if you want to go to Kemang area, continue with minibus or taxi.
*Halte Buncit Indah
*Halte Warung Jati
*Halte Imigrasi
*Halte Duren Tiga
*Halte Mampang Prapatan
*Halte Kuningan Timur
*Halte Patra Kuningan
*Halte Depkes
*Halte GOR Sumantri: Stop here if you want to go to Pasar Festival, and Mega Kuningan area.
*Halte Karet Kuningan
*Halte Kuningan Madya Aini
*Halte Setiabudi Utara
*Halte Latu Harhari
*Halte Halimun: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 4.
*Halte Dukuh Atas 2: Stop here if you want to transter to Koridor 1.

KORIDOR 7 (Kampung Rambutan – Kampung Melayu)

*Halte Kampung Rambutan
*Halte Tanah Merdeka
*Halte Flyover Raya Bogor
*Halte RS Harapan Bunda
*Halte Pasar Induk Kramat Jati
*Halte Cililitan PGC
*Halte BKN
*Halte Cawang UKI
*Halte BNN
*Halte Cawang Otista
*Halte Gelanggang Remaja
*Halte Bidaracina
*Halte Kampung Melayu: Stop here to transfer to Koridor 5.

KORIDOR 8 (Lebak Bulus – Harmoni)

*Halte Lebak Bulus
*Halte Pondok Pinang
*Halte Pondok Indah 1: Stop here if you want to go to Pondok Indah Mall.
*Halte Pondok Indah 2: Stop here if you want to go to Pondok Indah night area.
*Halte Tanah Kusir Kodim
*Halte Kebayoran Lama Bungur
*Halte Pasar Kebayoran Lama: Stop here if you want to go to Gandaria City Mall.
*Halte Simprug
*Halte Permata Hijau: Stop here if you want to go to ITC Permata Hijau and Belleza Mall.
*Halte Permata Hijau RS Medika
*Halte Pos Pengumben
*Halte Kelapa Dua Sasak
*Halte Kebon Jeruk
*Halte Duri Kepa
*Halte Kedoya Assiddiqiyah
*Halte Kedoya Green Garden
*Halte Grogol 2: Stop here to transfer to Koridor 3.
*Halte Tomang Taman Anggrek: Stop here if you want to go to Taman Anggrek Mall and Central Park Mall.
*Halte Tomang Mandala (only during holiday)
*Halte RS Tarakan (only during holiday)
*Halte Petojo (only during holiday)
*Halte Harmoni: Stop here to transfer to Koridor 1 and 2 (only during holiday)

Koridor 9 Pinang Ranti - Halte Pluit (coming soon, 2010)

Koridor 10 Cililitan - Tanjung Priok (coming soon, 2010)

Koridor 11-15 are still in development :)

Hopefully, the trans Jakarta transportation system can be fully operated by 2012.. I mean , before we all die because of the end of the world hehehe *jk. Then, it will be so much easier to transfer from one place to another. Easier, and hopefully, faster.

NEXT!

There are more about transportation in Jakarta: buses, angkots, bemos, etc. on the second [2] part

Read it all:
Public transportation in Jakarta [1]

Public transportation in Jakarta [2]

Public transportation in Jakarta [3]

Soccer, through the eyes of a woman

2010-07-10T14:25:00.004+07:00

World cup. Wereldkampioenschap. Piala Dunia.
In whichever language, it'll always have the same meaning: a big festival in the world of soccer!

To be honest, I am not a big fan of sport, of soccer or anything. I appreciate it, and appreciate my friends who loves it to death, but I won't stay up till 4 am, poking my eyes out, just to watch 20 people running around that big green field for 90 minutes (or even more) chasing one ball.

But once every 4 years, soccer dress up and transform itself into one extravagant party. All hyped up with songs of celebration, dances of joy and waving colourful flags. World Cup is different as the world unite in sport. I'm not saying this because my fave team, Oranje, is in the Final. It's just the way it is :)

So, how's football/soccer perceived through the eyes of a woman? (me, in particular) What's in it for me?

1. Good-Looking Men
I mean, look at those muscular handsome men. At least you one men you can crave on (or fantasize about) per game. My dream boy: Wesley Sneijder! How can you say no to that? *drools*

How can you say no to that smile?

2. Dress to kill
Forget being beautiful for a sec. Unleash your true self: act like a fanatic (emphasize on the word "act"). Put that lipstick of yours in your cheek, draw the national flag of your fave team, dyed your hair orange, wear over-sized football t-shirt. Don't forget the boa. Dress accordingly just to make a fool of yourself. It's fun! and you can still look like a hottie... i suppose :P

3. Geography etc. lesson 2.0
"What? Where's South Korea anyway?"
"Ah.. I thought that Ivory Coast is located somewhere on the Pasific. Nearby.. Fiji?"

Sounds familiar to your ears? The fact is, soccer (if not forcing us) makes us aware of the existence of certain country other than our own. Yeah people, there are other countries, continents, and cultures in this world! It's like learning Geography all over again hahaha.. However, this knowledge is not for me, tho. I know em all already! *pretender* xD

A travel blog from Mark Wiens, Migrationology, even take it to the next level.. writing about World Cup of Cuisine: 32 Culinary Nations Battle in South Africa 2010 :) Yummy!

4. Emotional Outburst
This is my favourite part.
By watching soccer match, I can actually be (very) angry at something and yell about it without hurting someone else!!!!! *excuse the exclamation points*

After a week, or a month, or even a year of stress and or depression in your life (given or take: personal, work, love, etc.) with no one to blame but yourself, you need to channel your built-up emotions onto a good controllable outburst. sounds conflicted, eh? Well, at least... that's what i do. works like magic for me.

Things you can be mad at during a soccer match:
- that annoying vuvuzela sound,
- that commentator taking sides,
- that referee blowing the whistle too soon,
- that diving act of opponent's player,
- that annoying vuvuzela sound,
- that almost-goal,
- that penalty kick,
- that woman standing innocently in front of the TV blocking your sight,
- that man forget to turn up the volume as the game commence,
- that annoying vuvuzela sound,
- others..., etc.

5. The After-Party
uhm... self-explanatory, rite?

Come to think of it, soccer is not so bad after all :)
*dancing* tsamina mina ee ee.. waka waka ee ee

July oh my

2010-07-06T12:24:00.013+07:00

It's JULY!!!

Lalalala... Summer school holiday, super-crowded theme parks, people making love to the sun and getting tanned, girls with bikinis playing volleyball at beaches.. yeah boys, in your dreams! --> cause this is Indonesia! haha!

JULY also equals Wedding season!
summer wedding dresses, pretty white flower arrangement, candles in the warm night.. sounds perfect rite?
*ehem* sounds scary for some, sounds wonderful for others. in this case, i can only say that i'm happy for those who has finally found someone to love and to live their whole life with.

I went to a wedding last Saturday in Bogor. A wedding of my dear friends, Chikha and Ruben. After a year of heavy preparation, they finally celebrate their wedding with a funky theme: Jeans! :) although i'd say that the event space was rather glamourous.. the wedding party itself was laid-back. Get rid of the formal gown and tuxedo! let's be casual.

For a start, Chikha gave us her girlfriends jeans textile to work on our personal denim dresses. and these are the dresses (pls excuse for the lo-def picture, blackberry style), all pretty and fab after a long exhausting and emotional fight with the tailor. not for me tho, mine's is made by my mom. totally customized and fit to my voluptuous proportion.

pretty women, aight! ;)

i'll update the pic as soon as a better one come along - the one that goes down to our high heels!

The guests (esp. the men) were also very comfortable walking around in their jeans and still looking handsome in their shirt, mostly in white. The mothers of the bride and the groom also looked stunning with their dress-gown, and seemed to be a funky proud parents. The party was so swell that it got into the local media in Bogor: Jurnal Bogor :)

So, congrats again for you two. Best of luck for your marriage, dear.

July is my favourite month of the year.. because it's my birth month too ;) *hint*

The "Are You Late?" Campaign

2010-05-26T14:12:00.002+07:00

“Are You Late?”

Exactly.

The British are outraged and shaken by this new ad campaign from Marie Stops International. Surely because it “talks” about… ABORTION to women. Such a BIG word for humanity issue, right?

Although, initially, Marie Stops actually provides consultancy for “what do to if you find yourself unexpectedly pregnant and unsure what to do” (taken from its website).

Are we coming to the time when “abortion” can be sold and or persuaded to women just like diet cokes? Will this be written as an efficient example in the upcoming book “Marketing-for-Women-etc”? Have advertising cross the humanity line?

Most importantly, is this too controversial for you?

See the video here: http://www.mariestopes.org.uk/Womens_services/Abortion/Are_you_Late$.aspx

Snorkeling Getaway to Pulau Tidung

2010-05-07T18:42:00.021+07:00

A weekend getaway to Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) is one of the efficient (and considerably cheap) options when you're living/staying in the hectic Jakarta. Unlike its name, Kepulauan Seribu apparently only has 110 islands, not 1000.

Pulau Tidung is one of big islands, located in the area of Kepulauan Seribu Selatan, in the bay of Jakarta, approximately 60km from Jakarta.

HOW TO GET THERE ANYWAY?

Take a traditional boat from Muara Angke. Muara Angke is Jakarta's fresh fish market and fisherman's docks. Ask around, local people will direct you to the departure point. If you get to Muara Angke by car, you can put your car on an area nearby the post-office for 20,000 IDR per night.
*updated: 20,000 IDR as long as you like :)

Kapal Muara Angke

Time of departure: 07.00 am. Be sharp. (while the boat to get back to Jakarta departs at 07.00 am and 01.00 pm.)

Price: 33,000 IDR/person.

With 20km/hours speed, you will get to Tidung in 3 hours. Do not expect fancy stuff when you get on board. One thing for sure, your legs will be cramped for sitting on the crowded floor.
Tips: If you are sea-sick, do not forget to have Antimo prior to the journey. Being on the open air or catching the sea breeze once in a while can also help repressing the sickness.

If you have more money, or i may say less adventure, the head your way to Marina Ancol and catch a boat from there.

Once you get to the island, embrace the bright sun and the salty wind - something you can not find in Jakarta. Usually, the tourists have already booked for accommodation on the island in advance.

Here are the contacts (that i know):

Lima Saudara (Pak Hamid): +62 858 88742129
Pak Suwardi: +62 856 93565464

The package that's offered covers accommodation, meal (breakfast-lunch-dinner) and water, bike rental, and snorkeling gears rental. Call them in advance to have a deal on your package.

Photo by: Jose Widjaja.

Accommodation: +/- 300,000 IDR/night/house.

You can have up to 12 people or more in one house. Well, as long as you don't mind to sleep on the floor together with your friends :)

Meals: +/- 15,000 IDR/person.

When you are in Pulau Tidung, you should ask your guide for a specific meal called "Sate Odol". and NO, it's not sate made of toothpaste.

Bike rental: 15,000 IDR/bike/day.

You can choose your own bike. Make sure that your bike is in a good condition.

Snorkeling gears rental: 35,000 IDR/pax/day.

You'll get a vest, fins, and the snorkel. For those who got small feet, bring along your socks. it helps your feet to stay put on those fins.

Boat rental: 300,000 IDR/boat.

I recommend you to go rent a boat with your friends to get to snorkeling spots around the islands. I do hope that you get such friendly guides like my friends and I did. The guide snorkel together with us, telling us the good spots and the "dangerous" spots (some coral reefs are too close to the surface that when you passed them you can get scratched all over your body)

Pulau Tidung actually consist of 2 islands. Tidung Besar and Tidung Kecil. There's a bridge that connects the islands.

BUT, SERIOUSLY... WHAT TO DO IN PULAU TIDUNG?

Enjoy the silent treatment of being in a small island. Sunbathing with a good book at hand, lazy-mood iPod playlist on your ears, and appropriate sunblock sounds nice. Don't forget to have a portion of Kelapa muda!

Biking. Just ride your bike, rummaging through the island. One thing for sure, you need to know your "home". Who is the owner of the house, what colour is the house, the number, or nearby landmark - so that when you get lost, you can ask people for direction to get back. But don't worry, the island is quite small.

Just keep swimming. You have the sea, what are you waiting for? SWIM!

Jump from a bridge (that connects both islands) ! and swim ;) like the local kids do. like my crazy friends did.

Snorkeling! You can pick a spot somewhere in the beach of Tidung Kecil. OR you can rent a boat&guide to take you to some interesting snorkeling spots around the island. Morning time, around 8-10 am, is the best time to snorkel because the waves and the streams are not that big/heavy. Snorkel your way and find the beauty of the underwater world. It was my first snorkeling experience and i did see gorgeous fishes, including "Nemo" the clown fish ;)

Photo by: Alex Arso.

Photograph the marvelous landscape, the sunrise, the sunset, and the beauty of the island.

PLEASE.. Don't waste your time by watching TV or play with your mobile phone. Throw them away! Escape from modern technology for a change.

What to bring? Money, camera, sunblock, loose clothes, snorkeling/diving gears (if you have 'em), self-entertainments (playing cards, Uno, books, iPod).
Tips: If you really really need to make important phone calls at all time, etc. then you should bring phone with Indosat number. It has good signal there.

and remember... DO NOT LITTER! Buang sampah pada tempatnya.

Jakarta, lahan sauna gratis!

2010-04-28T13:15:00.005+07:00

Mau sauna gratis? Jakarta tempatnya!

Caranya gampang.. ikuti saja tips-tips berikut ini:

Cobalah berjalan kaki di trotoar Jakarta, usahakan trotoar tersebut tidak memiliki pohon atau tempat teduh. Cukup 5 menit sehari.

Kunjungi halte trans Jakarta, khususnya halte Harmoni. Usahakan sebisa mungkin untuk ikut berdesak-desakan di pintu masuk bis. Rasakan sensasi udara panas dan aroma tubuh yang menyeruak.

Naiklah ke bis-bis tanpa AC dengan trayek melalui jalan-jalan yang super macet. Contoh: bis jalur 213, bis jalur 64, dll. Uap-uap sauna akan merasuk ke dalam pori-pori Anda saat bis mulai nge-tem (berhenti untuk mengambil penumpang) atau bergabung dalam hiruk-piruk kemacetan.

Cobalah menunggu di terminal-terminal utama Jakarta, seperti Blok M, Grogol, dll. Anda pun akan disambut sensasi berjemur di pelataran terminal sambil merasakan masker asap hitam kendaraan menempel dengan cantiknya di wajah Anda.

Tips-tips untuk memaksimalkan sauna Anda:

Pakailah baju serapi mungkin.
Pakailah make-up alias dandanan Anda semaksimal dan setebal mungkin.

Hasilnya pun akan segera terlihat! Apabila kemeja/baju Anda telah basah berlumuran keringat, dan dandanan Anda luntur dengan sempurna, maka Anda telah mendapatkan manfaat maksimal dari sauna gratis di Jakarta.

Selamat mencoba dan merasakan manfaatnya!

Citizen of Faith

2010-04-05T14:50:00.001+07:00

This is my Post Easter Memoir:
"What is the driving force behind these hundreds of people?"

They come around to church during the big holiday events. Thundering like flocks of birds, roaming like ants. Filling the empty seats at this more than vast halls and parking lots, putting their hands together... Chanting graces.

Is it guilt? Mere obligation? Search of future companion?
Or is it possible that somehow, there is an absolute divine power flicks onto their small little frozen hearts?
What's your excuse?

Born and raised in a Catholic family, i have learned how to act accordingly. I am "obliged" to learn the big book of Bible, attend the weekly mass, and put my God-given talents at church's disposal - all of which to please my parents.

Nevertheless... i do think that Bible is a great (his)story book worth reading (sometimes).
i loved to go to the weekly mass to catch a glimpse of my teenage-crush. i love it more when i've come to realize that attending mass and pray is a need, not an obligatory task.
and i am happy to humbly serve, proudly praise my God with my big voice :)

I do believe in this.

As long as one still seek goodness in others, and sincerely try to do good for others (regardless of their religions-or no religion), then one has become a citizen of faith.

Dear Mom...

2010-03-01T12:16:00.000+07:00

Dear Mom,

i know that i haven't been the greatest daughter..
nor the smartest.
nor the kindest.
nor the cutest.

but i LOVE you with all my heart.
despite of all the differences and the fights and the sarcasm we say to each other throughout the years.
despite of all the things other people say or think or feel towards our little family.
despite of all the stormy weathers.

in my eyes,
you are the STRONGEST person i've ever known.
how you struggled in your past... to get the beat out of yourself, your education, your family, and your love.
how you sacrificed your feeling, your pride, and your religion to be united with your beloved.
how you married your husband and loved him with your soul, through the good and the bad, happy or sad, sickness and health, till death parted you... and even now, after his departure, you love him still.
how you cried your heart out when no one listen.
how you tried to break down all the barriers, be reckoned, and stayed low.
how you raise your daughters with your own touches and disciplines.
how you pray every night for your family.

i know that i could never be as strong as you. as loving as you.
and i may not be able to compose the most beautiful prayer, but i wish you these..
health, love, and happiness.

HEALTH.. i hope you'll be granted good health till many more years to come. do not let the drama carry you away. do not worry much about those people who always try to tear our family apart.
LOVE.. even if we, your daughters, do not seem to care much. you always be the queen of our heart. you may still love your past husband, but if someday you might want to open your heart and discover a new love in the face of another… i will be right there at your side.
HAPPINESS.. i hope that your life is filled with abundant little things that will keep you happy and content. i wish that i can be one of those little things that can make you happy and proud.

God bless you.

HAPPY 54th BIRTHDAY MOM :)

Jakarta, March 1, 2010,

your loving daughter ♥

No. 2

2010-01-27T16:18:00.000+07:00

a back-up plan.

weekend getaway.

the other one.

a maybe.

Do you know how it feels not to be the Priority?

.
.
.
.
.

i do. i know.
i sometimes treat people that way, too.

My Travel Wishlist

2010-01-22T14:20:00.000+07:00

Traveling is one of my passions.
I developed this certain passion since i was a little girl, used to travel with my nomad family across Indonesia. I said that i want to go abroad someday.. and got everybody laughed at me as a reply. Somehow, I managed to get a 'scholarship' and went to the Netherlands... where my world-wide adventure begun :)

So far, I have visited several countries (outside the Netherlands) - all using my own saving and salary :) Switzerland, Greece, a little bit of Germany, a little bit of Austria, a little bit of Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic, Singapore, and Australia.

This year, I have plan to go on a budget travel (kapan sih engga hahaha) to Vietnam and Thailand.

But don't see me as an Indonesia-hater. On the contrary, I love every culture carved in perfection in Indonesia. I would love to spend months of traveling across Indonesia, drink in all the stunning view, know every local languages, master every traditional songs and dances.. However, traveling inside Indonesia cost a fortune! The plane ticket is freaking expensive... and one can not really depend on transportation. The journey that was supposed to be one-month journey can extend to 3-or-4month journey. So far, I have been to 4 out of 5 main islands in Indonesia. The only places left untouched is Papua. I have to go there someday :)

If i do have the time, the money, the luck, and the strength...
I want to go to:
I shall skip the places i have visited, even though i do want to go there again. ..

*Japan!
Going to Japan is my living dream! I want to live there and breathe the air in the country of the rising sun! I can only wish I was born a Japanese >.<

*Russia: Moscow
Russia and Japan trip will be the most expensive trip offered in any travel agencies (at least in Indonesia), I don't know why. Personally, I am amazed on how big the country is, how marvelous the architectures are, and.. I love Anastasia.

*Argentina
Recently, i have a growing passion of visiting Argentina. In my imagination, Argentina appear to be a little different from the all-hectic all-summery all-bikinis Brazil. With the blue blue sky and beautiful mountains. If i am not mistaken, Argentinan speaks Portuguese instead of Spanish. I'm gonna love Argentina more because it is the birthplace of Tango!

*Italy: Rome, Venice, Cicily, Vatican
I missed out Italy when I was having a road trip back in Europe. The exotic handsome men... with brown eyes and brown hair... the scent of salty water... the beautiful architecture... the intertwined love and religion... all in one.

*Morocco
The Mediterranean-African breeze tingles my ears every time i think about Morocco.

*Turkey: Istanbul
The sound of the belly dancing music follows you every step of the way. The smoke of Shisha and the indulging smell of Turkish kebab and falafel will keep me there and drown me.

*Greece: Santorini (again), Crete, and other cities in the main island.
Greece is one of my favourite countries. It is not because of it's white and blue houses (because white and blue are not my colours), it is because of the myths within. Yes, I fancy astrology, I fancy Greek Gods & Goddesses. My superstitious soul comes from my Greek DNA hehe..

*Spain: Seville, Canary islands, Granada
I love Spain! I can see my self living in Madrid, walking around in the city, loving life. I have only been to Madrid and Barcelona during a road trip with my girlfriends back in 2006. Going back to Spain again, visit more places, drink more sangria, eat more paella, and maybe fall in love... aww, what a dream...

*Egypt
The cosmic of those giant pyramids makes me wonder if i can sit at the top of one of its sphinxes and eat my lunch - just like that scene on Jumper hahaha

*Norway & Finland
The Scandinavian islands! I imagine chilly wind blows every now and then, making me wish i never went the first place. But i guess it will cool to wear furry winter jacket most of the time. Also, i want to see the place where several of my classmates come from.

*Germany: Berlin
Next to Holland, but I never really got the time (or money) to travel to Berlin. Yes, I am lame :P

*UK: London
I mean, c'mon... Europe without the all hectic, weather-crazy, English men with strong British accent London? I want to hop on to the double-decker bus, ride on the cute taxi, and be preppy. Maybe, i will see Hogwarts too - sprinkle myself with a little bit of Harry Potter's magic dust, disappear under his cloak. Pfff... why is UK so expensive?

*Ireland: Dublin
The home of Irish pub for a change. I will be dizzy trying to figure out what the people are talking. Or yet, maybe i will be fluently talking English with Irish accent!

*Africa
The thrill of safari in Africa fills the head of every real traveler, that is my belief. The extreme heat, the wild life, and the drumbeat of local people dancing with their colourful dresses... Gosh! Why does travel to Africa can be so expensive?

*Fiji
It is like being in the middle of nowhere, literally! Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, disappear from the map of the world for a while. That will be a "WoW" experience.

*Thailand: Bangkok etc
Thailand will be the closest exotic destination in Asia. I imagine living around people talking in funny Thai accent :) like some of my Thai friends in Holland. Plus, i love love love Thai food!

*Vietnam & Laos
Next to Thailand, there are Vietnam and Laos. I don't really know what to expect in those to countries. Need to have more researches! Well.. I'll be going to Thailand & Vietnam this year! yay!

*USA: NYC & Hawaii
US is not listed in my travel preferences. Well, but i do want to see Hawaii. Me and my tanned skin will blend easily with local people of Hawaii. Another city i want to see is New York - and pretend to be one of SATC girls! :p

*Tibet
I think it's a wonderful place. Although i am not sure i will be able to climb. I'm no climber :P

*Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Sao Paulo
South America is a destination to go! I am mostly attracted to the infamous Iguazu Falls, located in the border of Brazil and Argentina. How to get there? When to get there? Pfff.. Have no idea!

*Israel: Bethlehem
This is more like a pilgrimage. I have been to Lourdes and Fatima. So i need to complete the journey and go to Israel, too.

...
But wait! Who says Indonesia is not on the list? It will take a year or more to travel and explore and unveal the ultimate beauty of Indonesia - both its marvelous plaves and exotic culture.

So, here's my "Travel Indonesia" wish list!

*Aceh: Danau Laut Tawar, Sabang
Never been to Aceh, dan ingin sekali.

*Sumatera Utara: Berastagi, Sipisopiso, Pulau Nias
North Sumatra is one of my heritage. My "kampung" is in Pematang Siantar, several hours away from the capital city, Medan.

*Bangka Belitung: Pulau Belitung
I have only been to Pulau Bangka and went to Parai Beach. Pulau Belitung is a smaller main island located in the west side of Pulau Bangka.

*Jakarta: Pulau Pramuka, Kep. Seribu
The nearest, most doable spot to go.

*Jawa Barat & Banten: Sawarna, Bayah, Karang Bolong, Ujung Kulon
I started to explore west java with my friends from 2008. At first, it was always be Ujung Genteng (gorgegous and advendturous place), then Bogor, then Sukabumi. There are many more places i still want to explore in west java :)

*Jawa Tengah: Dieng, Karimun Jawa islands
I always focussed my journey to Jogjakarta and never really to the highlands of central java. That should be lovely too.

*Jawa Timur: Mount Bromo, Malang, Pulau Madura
People said that East Java's landscape is the most beautiful in Java. I am curious indeed. Especially when my friends start talking about their journey in Bromo, about how the stars fill the dark sky like diamonds as your feet touch the warm sands.

*Bali: Lovina
There's so much about Bali than just Kuta. I mean, Kuta is for teenagers and Bali first-timers. Out of several towns in Bali, I love Ubud the most. But that's probably because I have never been to Lovina and indulge another side of Bali.

*Sulawesi Utara: Manado, Bunaken
The only place i've ever visited in Sulawesi is Makassar, the capital city of Sulawesi Selatan. I was only 15 and knew nothing about the art of traveling. My old friends from Ambon are also living in Manado. I should pay them a visit and enjoy the underwater scenery of Bunaken :) Hopefully that by the time i get there, I already know how to dive!

*NTB: Gili islands, Lombok
I've been wanting to go to Lombok for quite sometime now.

*Papua Barat: Raja Ampat islands
I have lived in Maluku for 6 years, yet I have never travel to Papua. Well, I was still a tween back then... I only travel to the big cities. However, I always envied my father for getting the chances to travel in Eastern part of Indonesia. Yes, i want to go to Papua and blend with the nature!

*Kalimantan, Borneo cross-over
Going through the thick tropical wood in Kalimantan is the ultimate experience! Then cruising with the local boat through its rivers. Challenging, huh? The woods and the mountains are not really my thing. But hey, who knows?

*Sulawesi Selatan: Toraja
Several of my high school friends come from Toraja. They are very proud of where they came from, and recommend people to go there... I only know that Toraja has an unique culture, and one of the must-go-see places in Indonesia.

*GOING NUTS!*

Be prepare to make mistakes

2010-01-13T15:32:00.000+07:00

"Experience is simply the name we give for our mistakes."
Oscar Wilde

The result of the equation of our personal life is not always positive. YES. Green light. Available. Success.
Sometimes, if not most of the times, we bump ourselves into the negatives. NO. Red light. Unavailable. Failures.

As human, it is absolutely normal to make mistakes. Mistakes makes us human.
However, it is wrong to dwell on our puddle of mistakes and seek for comfort in it.

Turn the table around, put your mistake on positive spotlight, see it in an uplifting and clear point of view.

Give it a new name: experience.

Serenity. Courage. Wisdom.

2010-01-11T14:01:00.000+07:00

"God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things that I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference."

These words has been my source of self-encouragement throughout these last few years. As i whispered it to myself when I'm down, i somehow feel the urge to get back on my own two feet, and get back to life. However, one need to be willing to let go of all the burdening questions and willing to accept life as simple and as cruel as it is.

Originally written by Reinhold Niebuhr, the "prayer" is usually used as an encouragement statement for those people involved in group therapy: for narcotics, alcohol, etc. anonymous. It is embedded in the twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, dependency, compulsion, depression, or other emotional and behavioral problems.

This strong words have been used broadly from sermons, musical lyrics, movies, and other self-encouragement books.

Here's the full version of the original prayer:

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

Serenity. Courage. Wisdom.
I am bound to those words so deeply that I may (one day) have it inked on my skin :)

Serenity (seion) - Courage (yuuki) - Wisdom (chie)

Expect yourself to do great things!

2010-01-07T14:37:00.000+07:00

they say resolutions. i say expectations :)
Here i share some of mine.

be a Happier person!

... ♫ fall in love recklessly <3

do sport and be thinner!
(although i know that i always fail to do this, it has to be on the list)

*Shop less.. Girl, take a good look at ur full closet hahaha
(Ruud gave me this idea. I am no sure of this, not sure at all)

read more books, improve limited vocabs

write more (useful and informative) BLOG entries

explore Jakarta and be in love the city (eventually)

be able to drive around, independently

learn another La-La-Language for fun

get closer to the Divine

"Expect Great Things; Attempt Great Things" -- William Carey, 1792

2009 highlights... and many more

2010-01-02T21:36:00.000+07:00

January... burning me.

Skin was still very very dark from my trip from Bali and Uge. and I was still eager to burn myself even more. Ok, what happen in Uge stays in Uge haha..
Watching Diana Krall's concert with Goldie was lovely indeed.

February... What Valentine?

I met Zee for the very first time (in Burger King Thamrin - after waiting for around two hours!), and got myself a new best friend in a blink :)
Love life was so low, esp on Valentine's day. But Chikha gave me Starbucks' chocolate cupcake topped with colourful hearts. nyam! *Update: I suddenly remember that on last year's Valentine's day - i got myself a free dvd player hahaha
Putri and Dave came to town! wonderful dinner and hilarious talks and meaningful eye-glances were involved hahaha
Got myself an outrageous decision to visit Australia with my baby B. Too bad, i missed meeting Lina since she was in Indo (argh!!!!). Melbourne was just another Jakarta for me; loved Sydney for it's somehow-similarity with Madrid; Goldcoast theme parks and the stay-up-all-night-since-we-wanted-to-save-money-for-hostel night under the stars was extremely tiring yet remarkable.
However, i missed Zee's bday :( - and i missed meeting Alex :p

March. Crashing Aussie and every other places.

Still wondering around Australia for several days. Coldplay superb concert in Melbourne was also one of the reasons why i went to Aussie. Details! Missed my Mom's bday too :( but i managed to give her some nice souvenirs from Aussie :)
Involved myself in another spontaneous getaway plan. No, actually Chikha was the devil - in a good way (?) for not letting me be miserable and regretful in the future. Thank you girl!
Came to a weeding in Bogor with the girls, and spent a nice eve at Kedai Kita :) I did crash several weddings now and then hahaha
Skipped the Java Jazz Festival this year. no urge. no urge.

April. Long live the Queen!

Friend's wedding was coming up in 2 weeks. Chikha and I agreed to help and make ourselves Wedding Organizer duo :P - a very challenging project it was.
The shocking news about the killing attempt of the queen of Holland was almost ruining the big reception at Ritz-Carlton. almost. however, a reception without Mr. E was not as fun :(

i guess i still miss some points here....
when was our trip to Kebun Raya Bogor and Museum Gajah? Zee.. Ari... help :S

May. all my friends be merry and gay.

Sneaking around and got bitten by mosquitoes before surprising Ari on her bday at Kafe Pisa :) i got licked too... i think it was Ari. or Zee? hmm..... *Update: ARI licked me!
and on the same day, I got very busy with the wedding! it's was successful and almost everybody was happy. at least i was. i got to sing and to bring lots of good food home hahaha
It's a 3days 2nights with my girls (and boys) in Singapore :) while half of us team was crazed with shopping and pre-wedding-ing, Ari, Zee, and I was busy over-torturing ourselves by walking around to experience another side of Singapore.. temples and markets. So we have experienced metro-tour, walking-tour, and car-tour (with great thanks to Sham).
Sukabumi with Chikha and Ruben :) for the weekend - a culinary trip indeed!! I took pleasure of every flavour tingled in mouth, and gain weight in an instant. uhm 3kg in 2days? that's hilarious.
My old and dear friend from Ambon came and we spent some hours all together. Gosh, I haven't seen Natalia in 10 years!
Dominik and Lilith came to Indo for holiday. a week in Jakarta, another week in Bali. the whole group reunited in Jakarta for few days. Odd moments risen, as well as old flames. and of course, in the end, we all get burned.

June... i stay alone.

Another month alone at the office. Lame.....

July be my birthday :)

More wedding crashing! and off to the Public which was apparently going to be closed the day after.
My birthday was around the corner and i didn't really mind about not having surprise party. It is written that my bday is forgettable. Yet, my beloved friends caught me off guard. I was very very touched T.T with the cake and the kisses. I had a fun weekend - a home-cooked meal of tempe and sambal, and Harry Potter at Blitz.
However... my bday was not complete because Ari was not around T.T and B almost (arrrrgggggh!!!!) missed my bday.

and i miss some stuff happened in July. I mean was my July really that lame? xD
did i cut my long long hair and missed it instantly in July?

August comes too soon

Supposedly, i went to Java Rockin Land. but i went to...
Jogjakarta. This time it's to commemorate 1000 (Javanese) days of my father's pass. I also took the time to go around Jogjakarta with my dear friend Beni, went to Solo to Ardy-Nita's reception, and visited some tourist attractions with my mom and sister. That was fun :)
I saw Ardy&Nita again in Jakarta for our small gathering with dear friends from Amsterdam. The event that was suppose to be just us 10.. turned out to be just us 20 people hahaha..
Ujung Genteng (again) with my beloved girls (and boys). a trip without scandal, at last hahaha..
Shhh.. and a daring ride with Ari! Super thumbs up for her super bravery riding motorbike on super high-risk tracks with high-risk weather. Near-death-experiences to the max! totally advanced!

September to remember!!

People lined up to get Visa on September! with a great luck, i managed to get mine one day prior to my departure.
So, i boosted myself by buying iPod Nano (purple) and filled its 16GB space with songs, songs, and songs. At last, i fulfill one of my personal wishes.
and yes, I went to Holland! For office stuffs. I called it my Selligent trip. At first, i really couldn't believe that it's real. even after i stepped my feet on Holland's busy Schipol airport. It's like coming home after years of longing :) Another personal wish fulfilled.
Reminiscing the good old days, hanging out with my good old friends, eating falafel and lays chips and hero onbijtvrucht, doing nothing and be happy about it, loving the cold weather, and indulging myself in bra-shopping ;)
Fons has been very wonderful to me :) we had Spanish dinner at that little place in Zeedijk. He even gave me a gorgeous shirt + tank top as my farewell present.
Got away to Prague for a nice weekend getaway with baby C. Praag is Prachtig! If i do have the time and the money, i really wanna to go to Czech Republic again.. and spend some more days wandering in Prague's streets.. maybe even go to other fascinating Eastern European countries. and maybe i'll finally have the gut to try the excrutiatingly herb-sy taste of Becherovka.
Missed Ika's wedding - several days after i went back to Indo.
I learned what "cinta mati/cinta gila/cinta buta" means. To be loved so deeply can be beautiful and deadly at the same time...

October quite a battle

Even though the bachelorette party was canceled... (my condolences for Alex), my diet was a scam (there's no way i can be thinner in a week hahaha) but at least we did managed to gave Lala & Jose a kinky gift for their marriage!! and we managed to come in our silver "armour", doing all the crazy things at the reception. Uhm.. I suddenly wanna see the video.
Office work, updating database and preparing for the upcoming campaign!
Niels is here :D and he's my date to Soulnation! Musiq Soulchild's performance was *speechless* the thing that i look forward the most for the last couple of months. Too bad, Estelle was not performing.
caught myself in a very awkward situation, and survived ;)
I met Kaysan (Dory's big baby boy) for the very first time and got entertained the whole time. He's such an adorable kid. Poking his petite mommy all the time.

November black and blue

Bali was scheduled for the weekend ;) I finally met gorgeous Radha for the very first time and fell in love instantly! Also there for her mommy, my dear Sita - haven't met her for almost 5 years! and she is still a stunning woman.
uhm.. also got a glimpse of Indah's belly, the soon to be mom, and tried out almost every flavour of her up and rising business Gelato Secret's in Ubud. Next time, I want apple&cinammon as well as tomato&basil for my gelato! I mean, u can not say not to good stuff ;)
Again. I'm working alone for another month.
Crazed up with the IDR 0 (not joking!) seats from AirAsia. Successfully secured seats for my upcoming trip to Vietnam and Bangkok - will do a duo travelers with Ms. Ari.
Kalimantan trip was also on the agenda. I went back and forth to Sampit, Palangkaraya, and Banjarmasin. Got extremely exhausted from the trip, but happy. I got to meet new networks, radio partners, best friend, best friends' mothers, and my family/cousins too. Add some extra bling in Martapura.. i couldn't ask for more.
Alfons was in Indo for almost two weeks, but we passed each other's schedule every time :(
A Samirono reunion. at last! It was only 15 girls that came that day (including Chikha), but it was nice and cozy :)

December razzle and dazzle!

Extremely busy with the marketing campaign i've been involved with for the company. do this, initiate that, translate this, explain that. Hectic to the max, but enjoyable. I'll say i am a work addict hahaha
However, playing around was still on the list. A jolly picnic session (under the rain) with best friends was the perfect medicine to cure my tired mind.
Ika was in Jakarta for sev days to prep her reception next year. We stole a little of her most precious time to meet up and catch up with each other :)
Another session with Radha (she's thinner!), with Robert this time. Baby Radha remembers me!

So what did I have for Christmas?
I had a low and silent Christmas. Also a bit down since my B and my girls were not around.
It started with 3-4hours of heavy heart wake-up call (implicitly and explicitly). It got better after a fancy brunch with my American friends at Social House. and it ended with a small visit from my relatives. Nevertheless, I really believe that i received a wonderful Christmas present this year.

And how about New Year's Eve?
New Year's Eve (NYE) was a blast! My agenda started quite early in the afternoon, good coffee and good conversation with our network at Kedai Kopi Phoenam, a nice coffee place in Wahid Hasyim area. They served delicious roti kaya and coffee from Sulawesi. Later on, I had another fancy Italian dinner (i mean, u need to spoil urself from time to time hahaha) with enjoyable companions at PEPeNERO and mingled around till the count down!

Overall, i can only see my life in 2009 in HIGHLIGHTS.
because that is exactly what we human need to do.
to see everything in bright light.
to embrace every blessing.
to walk every path with good will and positive thoughts.
and everything that we human can't understand, let it be...
the answers will come to us eventually :)

This is us

2009-12-14T21:52:00.000+07:00

this is us.

we are the reason.
we don't make us happen.

we are the boy and the girl who sits on the sideways.
i sit here. you sit there.
facing each other, fronting, loving.

we sit on the sideways for the road is too dangerous.
nature does not allow me to crossover to your side, nor you to mine.
one may be hit by a car and die, leaving the other one in pain, in vain.

the road will never be kind to us,
so we sit on the sideways.

watching everyone goes by,
the moon the sun the stars the ticking clock
watching you, watching me.

waiting for the perfect moment
when everything stop
one split second when we can eventually be.

so we don't sleep, we won't blink.
we stay awake, we stay untouched.

we are our boundaries.
we don't make us happen.

Have yourself a 500 days of summer

2009-12-07T15:14:00.000+07:00

"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know upfront, this is not a love story."
- deep voice narrator

If i say that I'm in love with the movie 500 days of summer... i'm not exaggerating.

I am both Tom Hanson and Summer Finn.
I am the believer and the non-believer.

The movie is (so far) the essence and the sum up of my way of thinking towards what most people call love... (while Garden State is my perception of home - but we are not talking about that marvelous movie here). The flipping scenes of the happy moments and the not so happy moments lead my brain to re-open some old memories, re-live some present memories, and re-mind me of all of the things i want for my future: simply, someone who i can love and love me in return unconditionally for the rest of my life.

blah!
a slap in the face.

"Ah, it's is so cliche!!!" you might say.

But when one know how bitter i can be in person, one may think that i have gone loco.
I say - love is the most difficult thing that one can possess! It is an out-of-this-world kind of ability, a behaviour so advanced it takes you your whole life to master. and therefore, to be able to find the "significant other" that matches one's basic ability to love would be a blessing. hell of a luck!
To be honest - how many people who get married or get together just because "he can provide shelter and a good life for me and my big extended family" or "i tend to love young girl" or "love will grow between us, any time soon now" or any other reasons - just to find that their love is forced and one-sided?

I once read on the web: "There are 6 billions souls in the world. You just need one soul for the rest of your life"
-- and people actually think it's easy to find that one particular soul?
now that, we can call bullshit!

Be blessed my friends, if you are among the tiniest amount of people in this over-consumptive over-exaggerating prejudice world who get together for the reason of "just because..." and fell speechless there. For you might have been given the chance to experience life to its fullest!

Amen to that.

♫ And if a double-decker bus crashes into us
To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die
And if a ten ton truck kills the both of us
To die by your side... well the pleasure, the privilege is mine ♫
The Smiths — There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Let's go watch movies!

2009-10-15T23:29:00.000+07:00

Right now, i say there's no good movies available in Jakarta's theater.

Since Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows are still some time far in the future (at least in Indo)... Let's line up some really good stuff that's I am looking forward to see by the end of 2009 - the beginning of 2010!

*please notice that these movies may not be one of your taste. Weird, quirky, "heavy", and somewhat blooooody movies are what i have in mind :) also notice that most of the trailers can only be watched in youtube*

Inglourious Basterds imdb.com
1/3 English - 1/3 French - 1/3 German. Subtitle? Depends on where you live, dear. Well, I have watched this movie in Holland - with my inadequate Dutch, that was quite an experience. But I just can't say No to the great Quentin Tarantino. Like most of his movie, Inglorious Basterds carries his "signature" of sarcastic-comedy, philosophy of life, altered perspective, and blood. More blood. Even more blood. Plus, seeing Brad Pitt act with "ridiculous" mustache and southern-american accent really makes me smile.
Watch Inglourious Basterds trailer in HD
It's on! check out 21cineplex and blitzmegaplex!

Where the Wild Things are imdb.com
I believe that most people recognize the title very well. Indeed, the movie was made based on one of the most legendary books of all time, written by Maurice Sendak. I would really love to see how the movie takes our imagination through the eyes of a child. A time when we feel so small... and when everything is big, and scary, and exciting!
Watch Where the Wild Things are trailer in HD

My review:
i have been waiting for this movie for sev months! when i finally watched this gloomy-yet-lovely movie, i really tried to see thing from a child's point's of view: everything is big and scary, just want to play all day, grown-ups and parents never understand you, and most of the time.. you don't understand what u've done wrong that make people around you so upset. One thing for sure, imagination can take you anywhere in the universe :)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus imdb.com
Just by looking at the trailer, i believe that this movie will be big! Directed through the out-of-this-world fantasies of Terry Gilliam, well-known for his parts in Monthy Phyton (oh, i have three Monthy Phyton's Movies!), Time Bandits, Baron Munchausen, 12 Monkeys, etc. The casts includes my favourite actor of all time, Mr. Johnny Depp, as a complement for the original cast, Heath Ledger who died during the production. Also starring Christopher Plummer (Dumbledore), Collin Pharell, and Jude Law. I would love to see how it turns out.
Too bad that there's no sound publicity in Asia or in Indonesia. I am curious if the movie will ever going to get down here... *crossing my fingers*

Watch The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus trailer in HD

500 Days of Summer imdb.com
"You should know upfront, that this is not a love story" hehehehe what a catchy line. This is another lovely, original movie by Zoey Deschanel, acting as Summer :) accompanied by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom. Although somehow they look like Heath Ledger and Katy Perry hahaha... The movie was released on July 2009 - summertime, of course. But i still hope that even though it's already winter by November in US, Summer will come and play in Jakarta.

Watch 500 Days of Summer trailer in HD
My review:
"you should know upfront, this is not a love story" - the movie really give us an alternative perspective of how "cruel" life and love can be. and that all "love-theme" movie should not always ended with happily ever after. I don't know to which character i can relate to, tom or summer... the tracks are amazing too!

Gamer imdb.com
We all know how man loves games. Mankind is keep trying to make the game looks as real as possible. Well well, in this movie.. it's real. The game - the characters in the game that one's playing - are real people. Controlled in some kind of way, of course. And so like most stories, these "characters" are trying to break free. Same old story, but who knows that it's a OK to watch. I heard that Gamer will not make it to Indonesia, didn't get through with the censorship blablabla. So i think i need to find the movie somewhere else...
Watch Gamer trailer in HD

Sherlock Holmes imdb.com
Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes? Interesting choice. I am looking forward to see how the mysterious cases of Sherlock Holmes are brought to life! Although i am not so keen of the cast Jude Law (I think that he's not "strong" enough for the role) and Rachel McAdams (I guess the images of her being in chick-flick movies can not be removed that easily).
Watch Sherlock Holmes trailer in HD

My review:
Robert Downey is a little bit too strong (in appearance) to be a weakling Holmes. and it's quite weird to see Jude Law as Watson. However, the movie presented a nice "dark" twists. I love how they depicts Holmes' logic and way of thinking. The dog also consistently entertained me. Somehow, the movie reminds me of Chan & Wilson's adventures in Shanghai Knights/Noon.

Paper Heart imdb.com
A "documentary" of the big L word: LOVE. How sweet can that be? Especially played by the Juno-boy, Michael Cera :) and Charlyne Yi (she looks like Betty La Fea, asian version - no offense tho) complemented by Seth Rogen.
I hope Blitz will play this movie.
Watch Paper Heart trailer in HD

Taking Woodstock imdb.com
I don't know much about this movie. Directed by Ang Lee, spiced-up by (also) one of my favourite actor, Emille Hirsch (do you agree that he looks similar to DiCaprio?), and some hippie acts - i think that's enough element to make this movie interesting to watch! It's in the "coming soon" section on Blitz Megaplex' site.
Watch Taking Woodstock trailer in HD

How about Coraline? I've watched it! ~ and love it too.
That's for now, folks :)

12 days in Holland :) - Part 3

2009-10-01T00:49:00.002+07:00

... read part 2
... or start from part 1

Tuesday Sept 22
I woke up lazily on Tuesday. I sat with Pooh in living room, doing nothing, and i loved it! After a while, I packed a my bag, got myself into the shower, and headed to Amsterdam. Finally, I got to see Citra's office hehehe and the people working there since I temporarily put my bag in there.

The weather was quite ok for Amsterdam that day. It was already afternoon so i rushed myself to Nieuwendijk to grab some souvenir and also some stuffs for my self - the ever so tempting bras at Hunkemoller! hehehehe that was quite a shopping.

Dinner at Tokyo Cafe [in Spui 15] with friends was next on the agenda. There was Dominik and Lilith (yay, it's great to see them again!), Citra and Edwin, Ardy and Anita, Neysa and Komar (another newlywed hehe), and my dear Yuli :) Although the service was poor that night, we managed to stay happy by exchanging stories with each other.

Good will, unsteady hand hehe

I went to Den Haag to sleepover at Citra's place - i knew that she's gonna kill me if i don't. At Den Haag station, I got a chance to meet Fonzie, too. Yeah, Yuli and Fonzie are such a cool couple - gotta love them together. A bus ride, a late night tea, some CD burning attempts, and we're all crashed into our beds.

Wednesday Sept 23
Another lazy morning...
I pulled myself up since I wanted to go rummaging Dominik's place in Utrecht. Yes darling, I traveled from one city to another, from a friend's house to another :) No shopping, only crashing.
Got a little stumbled upon Citra's funny locking front door since I forgot to bring Rina's liquor from Prague - gonna see her in Utrecht for dinner. Fortunately, Citra's neighbour was at home. My wild guess was he was confused of this crazy girl in front of Citra's front door, grumbling. She might be a thief! But then again, the neighbour showed me the "trick" with the front door lock something with a little left (or right) and upward (or downward) push on the door xD Lol... No, I could not remember!

the dude and the big white couch! plus the new TV set :P

Seeing Dominik in his crib was also an good thing. Aha! So there's the big white couch he was talking about. The fancy TV-set... and the work/play station :P it's all good, man! Only one thing that i didn't like at all: the toilet! It's too small (even for me!) and it took 10-15 minutes to reload the water in the toilet. The people inventing this place was a maniac.

Anyway, we spent the afternoon watching "Horton hears a who" on the new fancy TV :P with me munching roombotter appletaart from AH supermarket *oh, my mouth's watering* Lilith was sick that day, so she was resting in bed most of the time.

Too bad that Dom and Lilith couldn't join for dinner by the canal. Utrecht has an area where most of the restaurants are located downright next to the canal, underneath the shopping area. I had a chilly, cozy, and lovely Italian dinner with Rina, Ruudie, Niels, and Citra. My pizza was so huge, I couldn't finish it T.T sorry dear pizza...

I spent the night at Citra's place again - my last vacation night. hux...

Thursday Sept 24
It just slap me in the face. Holiday's almost over.
With my last strength of happiness, I packed my stuff and went to Amsterdam. Had lunch of patat oorlog en kipkorn with Citra's - and David, too hehe.. a funny guy. I strolled around the neighbourhood to buy some authentic cheese (with pesto and Italian spices) and for some window shopping.

Kecap was going to pick me up in Sloterdijk station so that we can get my suitcase I left in Haarlem. He showed up with his work outfit - suit and tie and all, handsome indeed. I think all boys look good when they pull out their suit :)

Some packing and some shower, and I was ready to go. Haha.. not really tho.
Alfons, Ika, Vina, Citra, and Niels were also there in the airport to say good bye. Lucas also came up unexpectedly hehe..

My suitcase was overweight :P Yeah sure, with all those souvenirs and foods i brought along!
Another funny thing (!) was when I was almost (almost) didn't get a seat on the plane since the flight was overbooked! I was actually happy to know that so then i might had a chance to stay for another night and then able to watch Jose James concert with Cit and Niels. Lol :P

But they got me a seat after all *sigh*
So i said goodbye to my all of beloved, thanking them for their hospitality during my short stay.

Cherioo Amsterdam. Gonna see you again, soon!
*keeping my hope high* :)

More pics on facebook!!

12 days in Holland :) - Part 2

2009-09-29T16:38:00.001+07:00

... read Part 1

Saturday-Monday Sept 19-21

Weekend getaway to PRAGUE!

Prague is one of the place I have been dreaming to go! Since i got the chance, then I should go and pursue my dream :P

I went to Prague with Citra. She took care of the flights and the hotel. I guess this is my first time having an unplanned trip abroad. There's gotta be a first time in everything...

Our flight to Prague was a long one, because we got to transit at Charles de Gaulle, Paris. Pfff... I disliked that airport. Got us carrying our stuff from one terminal to another in the most confusing way! Plus, I was already sickened from the extremely awful flight/ride from Amsterdam. As if I'm in the bus instead of a plane! Seriously!

We arrived in Prague at 5 pm something (19/09). The airport was not so fancy, considering the facts that Prague is one of the greatest places in the world - I am now convinced that Schiphol Amsterdam is one of the top-notch airports in the world. After exchanging money to Czech currency (CZK) and buying ourselves bus tickets to get to the city, I figured that Czech do not really speak English. Time to put body-language into practice haha..

The hotel was nowhere to be found, at first. The local people were not helping too.. Yihaa, that's what happen if didn't do any research before my trip xD After running around for blocks with exhaustion, I finally figured out the street names and found ourselves standing in front of the hotel... which was only about 100 meters from the metro station Anděl. Dang!

We indulged ourselves in good (and very affordable) food by Zlatý Klas (Plzeňská 9 Anděl), a Czech restaurant located in the neighbourhood. Mushroom risotto with cream, broccoli and Parmesan cheese by the price of 99 CZK was my order. I indulged my eyes with all the handsome men all around me. What a lovely sight! A small club called Jet Set (Radlická 1C-1D, Anděl) nearby the restaurant was our next stop. It was only 11pm and we didn't think that we needed to end our first night in Prague just yet. So we dropped by and order Lolita - vodka, pisang ambon, orgeat syrop, lemon, and pineapple juice - for Citra, and Orgasmus - vodka, kahlua, baileys, amaretto, cream - for me. The taste? It's orgasmic!

We started the day (20/09) - not too early - walking by the riverside towards Karlův most (Charles Bridge). The weather was certainly nicer than in Holland. Too bad the Charles bridge was under construction :( so i didn't get the full "Prague-in video-clips" effect, especially with European tourists flooding the place for weekend getaway, too. The church next to Charles bridge was holding a weeding ceremony - I had a sneak peek and got to see the long weeding dress and white decorations. We continued our walk to the Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square) and witnessed the infamous beyond imagination Astronomical clock with its 24-hour scale, sun, moon, and zodiac ring. What a ingenious beauty!

*a week afterward, i watch Ne-Yo's most recent video-clip "Part of the List" and stupidly think "hey, i think i've seen this place before... it's familiar". A google search later... "Doh! it's Prague!"

Since I was totally confused of the street names (all over again) and also small passages we found every now and then, we just went wherever our feet took us. We did urge ourselves to go to the Pražský Hrad (Prague Castle) complex, located on a hill quite near the city center.

St. Vitus Cathedral was huge and awesome, as well as its surrounding area. As soon as we saw another bride-groom, we realized that we were in a good date: 20-09-2009 :) awwww.. makes me wanna go and just marry someone a.s.a.p (big LOL)

The warmth of the sun really got us in the lazy mood, especially since our feet was already heavy from walking up to the hill. However, we did manage to stroll around the castle, took pictures, and flirted with Czech's castle guard. Hahaha.. i loved the way his eyes followed me around without moving his head whatsoever. We walked down passing the Svatováclavská vinice (St. Wenceslas´ Vineyard) on east part of the castle.

The day slowly crawled into night. We were in Národní area when suddenly our stomach growled. So we walked to Citra's colleague recommendation: U Fleků (Křemencova 11, Praha) brewery and restaurant. It's one of the oldest beer house/restaurant in Prague - when i browsed through the website it is said that the place have been brewing beer for 500 years, dates back to 1499! We sat in Velký sál (The Big Lounge), accompanied with Czech music (which sounded like German's), and Czech big meal for the night. The waiter did offer bok beer and Becherovka as apperitiv, but i said no. Becherovka is Czech original traditional liquer made from herbs and spices; most people do not really enjoy the "medicine-like" taste.

Prague is also the center of jazz and classical music. Those who loves these kinds of music will not get bored in this city since there are always music performances and concerts every single day (Yes! every single day). One of the great place to watch such performance is in Reduta Jazz Club (Národní 20, Prague). Reduta is one of the oldest jazz club in Prague. The place is quite small for a famous jazz place. Oldskol taste, oldskol place. The walls were filled with black and white photographs of famous jazz/blues musician of the world. The tables and chairs were not arranged in an unusual shapes, the bar was somewhere down the hall - one have to get the drinks oneself. That night, from 21.00 till 22.00 something, we watched the performance of Bartas Band - a blues local band from Prague.

The next day (21/09), we went to Vyšehrad, a castle located on a hill over the Vltava river, by trem this time - too tired of walking! But somehow, we still need to walk up the steep hill. After some turns, I saw this huge "fortress" made of big old bricks. The yellow autumn leaves was already decorating the path on the castle complex. Situated within the castle is the Basilica of St Peter & St Paul, as well as the Vyšehrad cemetery. Local legend holds that Vyšehrad was the location of the first settlement which would later become Prague.

Praag is Prachtig!
Prague is beautiful ~*

more prague pics on facebook :)

Continue to Part 3...

12 days in Holland :) - Part 1

2009-09-20T17:50:00.002+07:00

Saturday Sept 12
It's 5.20 am GMT+1. The plane landed 30minutes earlier than scheduled. After 16-hours flight with KLM, with a short transit in Kuala Lumpur, i finally set my foot on Schiphol airport. It felt very nice to be in Holland again after almost 3 years away. Haha... i said it like i am originally living in Holland xD

Somehow, i felt sad to hear "mind your step" ~* audio warning placed on those fast tracks. My student days were gone, along with many great memories attached to it... as if i come "home" to "nothing". But when i saw Niels and Citra in the arrival hall to come pick me up, i was delighted all over again.

After putting my stuff in de Baronie bed & breakfast - and added a little rest to that - we went straight to Rotterdam ;) sitting on the car, looking at the A4 highway... was so soothing. A good way of refreshing my aching body from the journey. Walking around in Rotterdam was fun - since i was acting as a tourist ;) visiting the kubuswoningen and the market, taking all kinds of pictures. Outrageous eating habit occur when we bought cheese (combined with olives, dry tomatos, and garlic) and kipbeling (salty fried fish), knowing that we just ate Burger King just an hour ago. I'm sorry, I can't help it! hahaha We closed the deal drinking coffee in Hotel New York. I loooooove the place :)

Citra's house in Den Haag was our next stop! She cooked a HUGE portion of mie ayam and forced me to finish it all and then ate Edwin's apple pie as dessert. I was incredibly full, up to the neck!

Niels dropped Citra n I back in Amsterdam so that we could meet up with our high school friends. Yes, apparently i have several high school friends living in Amsterdam area. We went to ESCAPE and dancing our feet off until 4 am. On the way back, I realized that I hadn't been sleeping for almost 26 hours :p

not so girls night out hehe

Sunday Sept 13
The original plan was to go to Brussels for the day. But suddenly i felt a little lazy, seeing how the clumsy windy rainy weather outside. So we decided to go to Hermitage museum instead. It's a new Russian culture museum located in Nieuwe Herengracht (Waterlooplein) area. We spent about 3 hours there, awed by the gorgeous Tsarina/princess/duchess dresses displayed - alongside with other stuffs, too.

*TAPAS oh yeah!

Alfons was next on the agenda. We went to have dinner in this cute and cozy Spanish eat house in Zeedijk area (the red light district area). The paella was enormous and delicious, accompanied with assorted tapas (ham, black and green olives, sardines, and octopus - all covered in olive oil), and of course Sangria! Alfons was very kind to "trakteer" our dinner ;) For the dessert, we walked to the little Italian ice cream place in Nieuwmakt.

*the name of the eethuis is Centra. Located in Lange Niezel 29, Amsterdam.

Monday Sept 14
It fells funny to go through an old routine: take a train to Hilversum Noord station, and then walk for about 10-15 minutes towards the office. Got a little distracted by the new round about placed along the way. The building stays the same, they're renovating and repainting it i suppose - looking at those high constructed poles surrounding it. Very pleased to see my M&M colleagues. At last, i got to put the faces to the names! The hall to the cafeteria looks the same. Although they replaced the old coffee machines to a more fancy ones ;) My dear wiener melange coffee still have the same taste...

After one introduction day at the office, i went back to Amsterdam to grab Maoz Falafel and its open salad bar :D my stomach was filled with all different kinds of food that day hahahaha

FALAFEL - my favourite :D

Tuesday Sept 15
The weather was quite clumsy- with extra wind blower i guess. After spending another day at the office, i went to Hilversum to drink some coffee in Hilversum with Rina and Prita. Then I hurried back to Amsterdam to meet Ika and to watch Inglorious Bastards at Pathe Tuchinski :p gyahahahaha... *trying to make some people jealous here* Using my Pathe unlimited card [yes, i still have it!] we gain access to the theater.

Lol, got my self dizzy during the movie - with the front row seat [the zaal was packed!], a giant screen, a movie spoken in German-France-and-little-English and dutch subtitle >.<' ROFL and no Dominik by my side to translate into proper English. Gotta watch the movie again in Indo! Wednesday Sept 16
Late today! -.-'
Gotta go to ABN Diemen to manage my frozen account. Gosh! the procedure was so annoying, good thing that the guy was cute. An ease to my eyes :P hope everything's alright with my money.

I managed to take some reminiscing pictures too of my old student flat. De Kiezel, where we all met, became family and lovers and friends for life :) "Whatever happens in Kiezel, stays in Kiezel" Quite right, since the building will be destroyed and rebuild into some new fancy thing soon.

Our beloved Diemen and Diemerplein - full of memories

The train to Hilversum was vertraging (Eng: delayed) for 15 minutes already from Amsterdam. On the way to Hilversum, the train suddenly stop again for about 15-20 minutes at Naarden Bussum station. The train trip, which was supposedly only 30mins max, became a-60mins-trip! Ha, NS clearly stands for Nooit Stipt (Eng: never punctual). Imagine running trains in Indonesia hahaha...

After a training and "enlightenment" session of Selligent, my colleagues and I went to a Japanese restaurant at Hilversum. The name's Kimono - a teppanyaki, not a sushi place. We had a great time up till 10 pm when everybody seemed to be exhausted already. I discover Michele's great feet [compared to mine] and great appetite! Really want to have a second round of Japanese onbeperekt (Eng: unlimited) with Rina and Michele at Osaka :)

M&M colleagues

I went back to Utrecht that night, sleep-over at Rina's crib. On the bus from Utrecht Centraal to Rina's place, I accidentally met April Liping! I still recognize her short hair. It's so funny because we didn't get the chance to meet when she was in Jakarta the previous week. What a coincidence!

Rina's crib? Lovely! The red wall, filled with snapshots of her and Ruudie, the cozy super big Indonesian style sofa, the music instruments all over the place, the colourful posters and accessories. After a midnite chat session with Rina and Ruudie, I slept peacefully at Thijs' overflowing-with-toys room. Hope i can provide a room like that for my baby hehe

Thursday Sept 17

Bazar with my darlings

Had another great dinner today, with friends :) Ardy, Anita, Barry, Vina, Llyod, Ika, Shaula, Citra, Niels, and me. The place, BAZAR, is a Mediterranean restaurant located in Albert Cuypstraat 182. The Mediterranean atmosphere goes all through the 2-storey restaurant, with the enchanting scent from the Arabic/Moroccan/Greek/Mediterranean food presented in a huge and unraveling portion. The price was very reasonable too, around 10-15 Euro per dish ;)
*ok, writing this part makes me hungry... i need to stop*

see... this is how good the food presented. this one's Bizarre Bazar!

Friday Sept 18
It's the last day at the office. Had a free lunch with Indonesian afdeling and spent my last working hours practicing my new Selligent knowledge. Silly thing happened afterward!

Supposedly, I got to catch the train on 17.45 to Amsterdam - then meet Kecap at my B&B - then meet Citra - then go to Haarlem.

But when i was going to step out of the office, Michel and Niels told me not to. The train (esp. to Amsterdam) was out of service for an hour, maybe more... since "something" happened in Naarden Bussum station. We had a tip that it might be suicide! o_O So i called Kecap to postpone. But since he's a very kind person [and maybe out of activity :P], he picked me up at the office! Thanks a lot. Whoa, girls... don't you all agree that we need more gentleman like him in this world?

Since we're not able to catch Citra in Haarlem anyway, we had dinner at this Italian place called Vapiano, Oosterdokskade 145, nearby OBA-Openbaare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (Eng: public library). I enjoyed it very much! The place is a pasta-pizza bar, similar to Marche in Jakarta.

Each customer got a card, they can go around the place, decide which kind of Italian food they want - pasta, pizza, etc - which will be cooked before their eyes, swipe the card, eat and laugh and be happy, then pay in the cashier afterward. My cook was a tall, blond, white South-African lad, with a very strong British accent. He presented my Fussili Pesto met Garnalen en Spinazie beautifully. Gosh, it's yummy! Again, thank you :)

With extra full belly, we went to the B&B to take my suitcase. I have already said goodbye to Tuhami, the nice B&B owner in the morning, so i just dropped off my keys in the kitchen.

His apartment was very much of the boys' den. I was so happy to meet my darling friends - Bouvi, Pooh, Binsar, and Rhein. They're practicing some great music composed/arranged by Aras for their special show. After smoking pot session, i just sat back and enjoyed the friendly "student-like" atmosphere in the room. The big difference is that they're all working now :) yes, that is the thing i miss the most...

two of the boys :)

more pics on facebook *__*

Continue to Part 2 ...

Gadget Hunt: iPod

2009-09-08T13:43:00.000+07:00

Last week, when i was strolling at Ratu Plaza (what was I doing there again? *think* Ah! was going to meet B) i accidentally walk in eStore, looking at those fancy gadgets from Apple. They said that they're selling iPod for 1.8-something million IDR. Wow... tempting, i must say.

I was walking out of that store when a "force" drawn me to go upstairs and have a little detour to iBox store. It was quite shocking to see the ad there, written in a blank paper...

"Sale - iPod nano 16gb 1.5 million IDR"

I honestly thought it was a prank! So i boldly entered the store, asking about the promotion i saw outside. Oh yeah... iPod for 1.5 million IDR, only applied for cash or debit with bca card. Suddenly the thoughts of having a beautiful purple yet affordable iPod were dancing in my brain like crazy. hahahaha...

The decision to actually buy the gadget comes few days afterwards. It was on Sunday, the last day of the promotion - they said. I went again to Ratu Plaza, straight from Karawaci - after wishing a friend "Happy Birthday", with my sister. Gotta take her to know what she thinks about the iPod colours.

The store was quite packed. Some people were there to buy iPhone since they're also offering a bundel sale with Telkomsel during Ramadhan. I saw the iPod outside - yellow and orange. Where the hell is the purple one?!?!?! Terrified, i asked the staff there. Oops, no more purple iPod available... I didn't want to trade the money i had on my pocket with an orange iPod. Dang!

My skies turned to gray at that time. But since i am a genius (hehe..), i took one of iBox name card and called the iBox store in Grand Indonesia. Yippie! They hold the purple item for me. Since it was already 3 or 4 pm something and the store closed at 6 pm, we had to rush. With a little sweat here and there, my sister and I then took a bus to Grand Indonesia to get my new gadget ;) We closed our sweaty hunt licking chocolate sundae at Burger King (again).

Lovely, a beauty.
It's a gift from myself :)

One down! Many more to go! hahahaha
Should save more money for my next gadget, hopefully a Canon SLR camera.

reborn, anew

2009-08-28T17:32:00.000+07:00

i am over with promises
hope and dreams of beautiful things
ashes to my eyes

emptiness is here in my hand
emptiness is what i see ahead
for i can't name this feeling
surrounding me indefinitely

give me a poison
i can take for us both
i shall die and shall be reborn
made of summer song and morning dew

everything
all anew

Ramadhan. Loh kok loyo?

2009-08-27T20:13:00.000+07:00

Ramadhan, bulan puasa bagi yang menunaikannya.
Bulan penuh rahmat, bulan penuh berkah melimpah.

Sekarang, saya mau melihat makna "puasa" dari kacamata saya pribadi. Saya, yang adalah seorang awam, dan juga seorang non-muslim. Ini murni pendapat pribadi loh, kalau ada yang yang tidak setuju... mohon saya diberitahu.

* "Puasa" sebagai alasan untuk malas-malasan
Selama bulan puasa, bisa-bisa kinerja perusahaan berkurang karena banyak karyawannya yang malas-malasan. Puasa kok males? Lah apa gunanya puasa? Apalagi yang malas-malasan itu orang-orang yang bekerja di kantoran. Duh, bagaimana bangsa ini mau maju...

* "Puasa" sebagai alasan untuk pulang cepat
Baru jam 4 sore.. kok sudah kabur semua? Cek saja, beberapa instansi tertentu akan amat sangat dihubungi kalau sudah bulan puasa. Jam 3 atau jam 4 sore personilnya kebanyakan sudah menghilang. Gak produktif donk?

* Buka puasa kok makannya malah jadi rakus?
Ini mau buka puasa dalam artian bersyukur atau mau show off? Segala macam makanan kemudian dilahap. Mulai dari kolak, cendol, bubur biji salak, teh botol, jajanan pasar, belum lagi makanan hidangan utama macam rendang, opor, dll... lalu ditutup oleh sirup buah. Yeh... ini mah masih bulan puasa.. belom Lebaran cuy! Mending juga itu makanan dibagi-bagi ke orang yang susah makan. Buka puasa kan gak harus lebay juga makanannya. Ya toch? Ataukah ini bukti orang-orang Indonesia gampang termakan oleh iklan tv? Semua makanan harus dijajal.

* Buka puasa = mal-mal penuh sesak, termasuk mushollanya
Iya lah! Orang-orang sibuk pulang kantor, beribadah di musholla mall, lalu lanjut buka puasa di mall sambil cuci mata. Begitulah gaya orang-orang kota hahaha

* Buka puasa = ruas jalan tertentu ploooong!
Mantaaaf! Ini dia yang paling oke pada saat bulan puasa. Berhubung banyak orang yang berusaha pulang cepat (sebelum jam 5) untuk buka puasa di tempat-tempat tertentu, atau baru pulang setelah buka puasa (setelah jam 7) ~ tentu saja hal ini tidak berlaku klo terjadi Act of God macam gempa beberapa hari yang lalu...

Apapun motifnya, yang pasti puasa itu baik.
Menahan lapar, dahaga, nafsu, dan yang paling penting... amarah.

Selamat berpuasa teman2!

Apply Visa? gampang-gampang pusing!

2009-08-25T13:55:00.003+07:00

Mau ke luar kota? tinggal jalan!

Mau ke luar negeri? tinggal jalan!
Eits! Tunggu dulu... Sayangnya, sebagai warga negara Indonesia, kita masih terikat banyak aturan dan gak bisa seenak jidat mau lenggang kaki di negara lain.

Harus pakai VISA!
Eh...Buset apaan tuh?
Beginilah bentuknya kira-kira...

Contoh Visa Schengen - untuk Eropa

Kalau kamu pergi dengan tour-tour tertentu (misalkan: Paket Jelajah Eropa 20 hari-20 malam) sih tidak masalah. Cukup bayar sekali, berikan dokumen yang diperlukan ke travel agency... sisanya mereka yang akan urus.

tapi kalau harus urus sendiri... kira-kira beginilah caranya. step by step.

Contoh applikasi visa Schengen ke Eropa.
Entry point: The Netherlands (Belanda)
-- Info-info ini banyak diambil dari websitenya kedutaan.

1. Buat janji dengan kedutaan

Waktu buka loket: Senin - Jumat dari pkl. 09.00 - 12.00.
Sebelum mengajukan permohonan visa anda HARUS membuat janji terlebih dahulu lewat telpon atau e-mail. Tanpa janji, permohonan visa pada dasarnya tidak dapat ditangani.
Ajukan permohonan visa jauh hari sebelumnya! Permohonan visa dapat diajukan maksimal 3 bulan sebelum tanggal keberangkatan. Sehubungan dengan waktu memproses visa, pembuatan janji harus dilakukan PALING LAMBAT 2 minggu sebelum tanggal keberangkatan, kalau tidak maka visa Schengen tidak dapat diberikan tepat pada waktunya.

Sehubungan dengan banyaknya permohonan yang masuk kedatangan Anda hanya dapat diterima setelah ada janji melalui telepon 021-5271904 dengan menyebutkan nama, nomor telepon dan nomor paspor. Permohonan harus disampaikan oleh yang bersangkutan sendiri, permohonan yang disampaikan melalui pihak ketiga atau melalui jasa pos tidak akan ditangani.

Jika mencari informasi mengenai visa dapat menghubungi 021-5248200 pada hari Senin s/d Kamis pada pukul 13.00-15.00 dan pada hari Jumat pada pukul 12.00-13.30.

Instruksi Schengen menentukan bahwa semua permohonan visa dari pemegang paspor Indonesia harus dikonsultasikan dengan semua ibukota negara Schengen yang berjumlah 24. Karena itulah visa paling cepat dapat diberikan setelah 10 hari kerja, terhitung dari tanggal permohonan diajukan. Permohonan yang diajukan melalui Konsulat atau Petugas Konsuler tentu agak lebih lama karena harus dikirimkan ke Jakarta. Namun keuntungannya adalah bahwa Anda tidak perlu dua kali datang ke Jakarta.

Contoh kasus:
Saya baru menelpon kedutaan untuk visa application appointment pada tgl 19 Agustus dikarenakan ketidakpastian tanggal keberangkatan. Setelah saya mengetahui tanggal keberangkatan saya adalah 11 September, barulah saya membuat janji. Awalnya, kedutaan memberi saya slot untuk tanggal 31 Agustus (mepet sekali!)... namun akhirnya saya bisa dimasukkan ke slot tgl 27 Agustus. Apabila lancar dan visa disetujui, diharapkan visa akan dapat diambil tgl 10 September, which is very close to my departure date! A little crazy xD

Update: Untuk aplikasi visa ke Belanda, sekarang kita bisa membuat janji secara online.

2. Lengkapi dokumen

Dokumen-dokumen yang diperlukan:
* Pas foto ukuran 4x6, berwarna (1)
* Fotokopi akta kelahiran (1)
* Fotokopi kartu keluarga (1)
* Fotokopi KTP (1)
* Fotokopi kartu pelajar atau kartu mahasiswa (1) - apabila seorang student
* Surat keterangan bekerja dari perusahaan - apabila seorang pegawai
Dokumen-dokumen tersebut merupakan bukti bahwa kamu benar WNI yang sah.

* Paspor yang berlaku setidaknya 6 bulan + fotokopi (1)
Apabila memiliki paspor sebelumnya yang menyatakan bahwa kamu pernah mengunjungi negara yang akan memberikan visa, berikan saja. Plus fotokopinya.

* Print-out booking return tiket dari travel agency (perjalanan tidak lebih dari 3 bulan)
Ini sebagai tanda bahwa kamu sudah dijamin akan kembali ke Indonesia setelah masa visa berakhir.

* Bukti booking hotel di negara tujuan
Ini sebagai tanda bahwa kamu sudah memiliki akomodasi di negara tujuan.

* Fotokopi buku bank selama 3 bulan terakhir (1). Sebaiknya kamu setidaknya memiliki "cukup" uang di buku bank tersebut...
Ini sebagai bukti bahwa kamu bisa makan dan hidup, gak bakalan luntang-lantung dan menjadi imigran gelap di negara tujuan!

* Bukti asuransi perjalanan dan kecelakaan untuk wilayah Schengen. Polis asuransi harus kamu tunjukkan pada saat pengambilan visa.

Selain itu, ada juga dokumen yang harus diisi di kedutaan/konsuler:
* formulir permohonan visa, diisi dengan lengkap dan ditandatangani oleh pemohon.
* jadwal perjalanan (Lembar Perjalanan), diisi lengkap dan ditandatangani oleh pemohon.
* Surat pernyataan (telah menyetujui persyaratan) diisi dengan lengkap dan ditandatangani.

Dokumen-dokumen tambahan!!
untuk kunjungan pribadi:
* (jika menginap di rumah orang) undangan dimana tanda tangan pihak yang mengundang dilegalisasi oleh pemerintah kota madya (gemeente);
* (jika menginap di hotel) booking hotel yang telah dikonfirmasi dan/atau bukti lunas pembayaran hotel untuk seluruh periode;
* (jika menggunakan sponsor di Negeri Belanda) pernyataan jaminan dari sponsor (formulir dapat diperoleh di Balai Kota) dan bukti keuangan mencukupi dari sponsor (kopi slip gaji dan/atau statement bank yang mencantumkan gaji). Pernyataan jaminan hanya berlaku dalam 3 bulan sejak dikeluarkan dan harus dilegalisasi oleh pemerintah kota madya (gemeente) tempat tinggal pihak yang mengundang. N.B. Jika yang mengundang bukan warganegara Belanda kopi Surat Izin Tinggal juga harus dilampirkan.

untuk kunjungan bisnis:
* undangan dari perusahaan di Negeri Belanda;
* bukti adanya kontak bisnis;
* booking hotel yang telah dikonfirmasi dan/atau tanda lunas pembayaran hotel untuk seluruh periode kunjungan;
* profil perusahaan (perusahaan pihak pemohon);
* statement bank 3 bulan terakhir dari perusahaan pemohon.

untuk pengobatan:
* surat dari dokter yang menangani di Indonesia;
* surat dari dokter/rumah sakit yang menangani di Negeri Belanda;
* tanda bukti asuransi kesehatan atau tanda bukti pembayaran pengobatan.

Untuk anak di bawah umur...
Jika seorang anak di bawah umur mengadakan perjalanan sendiri atau dengan salah satu orang tuanya, maka perlu ada izin dari kedua orang tua c.q. salah satu orang tua (Bapak atau Ibu). Tanda tangan orang tua harus dilegalisir (legalisasi dapat dilakukan di kantor notaris. Tanda tangan di atas meterai Rp. 6.000 tidak diterima.)

3. Pembayaran
Harga visa: €60 atau 839,000 IDR
Mahal ya? Harga aplikasi visa memang berbeda-beda, tergantung kebijakan negara tersebut. Harga aplikasi di beberapa negara Eropa lebih mahal daripada yang lain. Dan harus diingat, jika permohonan visa ditolak uang yang telah dibayarkan TIDAK akan dikembalikan.

4. Wait and see... Let's hope for the best! ;)

- - -
Wilayah Schengen!

Semua orang wajib visa yang ingin mengunjungi Wilayah Schengen untuk urusan bisnis atau urusan pribadi dapat mengajukan permohonan mendapatkan visa kunjungan singkat 1-90 hari yang berlaku bagi ke-24 negara anggota Schengen. Visa Schengen berlaku untuk negara-negara yang disebut di bawah ini:
* Austria * Belanda * Belgia * Ceko * Denmark * Estonia * Finlandia * Hungaria * Islandia
* Italia * Jerman * Latvia * Lituania * Luksemburg * Malta * Norwegia * Perancis
* Polandia * Portugal * Slovakia * Slovenia * Spanyol * Swedia * Yunani * Swiss

Ujung Genteng: an Adventure!

2009-08-17T22:25:00.001+07:00

Ujung Genteng, again! (this time, with updated information)

Kali ini saya bertualang bersama sahabat-sahabat saya, para wanita-wanita gahar dan tentengannya masing-masing, dalam rangka liburan 17agustus-an. Teman-teman Bogor sayangnya gak bisa ikutan.

Seru ga? Ya SERU lah. Wong kita berletih-letih ria beriringan naik motor dari Jakarta/Karawaci - Bogor - Ujung Genteng. Ck & Rb, Z & Alx, saya & Ari. Maklum lah, cuma saya dan Ari yang masih single dan tidak berhasil membawa tentengan :P Modal NEKAT pokoknya! Saya gak bisa naek motor, jadilah Ari yang jadi sang pengendara. Acungi jempol buat Ari! TOP MARKOTOP! Lala & Jose menyusul kami sehari kemudian dengan mobil. Jose juga mantaf saat harus naik motor :D

ck - lala - val - ari - zee
with those silly headbands we girls look like
farmers going fishing LOL

Jakarta - Ujung Genteng is approximately 200km away (one-way trip), with a crazy landscape: the road goes up and down, lots of twist and turns, blind turning points, cliff on the side of the road, and the thick morning fog will limit your eyesight till only 1-2 meters before you.

Interesting, right?

I suggest you to go there (if you go from Jakarta/Bogor) by midnight - either by car, or by bikes. So then you will find the road less crowded, less buses and big trucks - they often slow down your journey a lot. Then you will get there around 6-7 am. Well, that arrival time depends on your speed, your breaks(you should rest - and eat/drink, and pee - sometimes), and your willingness to ride in the dark cold night! ;)

The sooner you get to UGe, the merrier will you become... since the shinning sun and the glimpse of the blue sea will drawn you to forget your rest and go straight to the beach!

Since UGe is getting more and more commercial for local tourists and also for photographers (believe me, the place has great landscapes), the local people start charging for entrance fees. We need to, at least, give 2 times entrance fee. Anyway, it's not that much. The lodging and the "ojek" fee are also higher than last year. Pfff... tourists also need to be aware that the shops (warungs) sometimes charge you even more.

* Entrance fee = 3000-5000 IDR per person/bike/car.
Depends on how big your group is.

* Transportation = 120,000 IDR per 1x "OJEK" (guide + bike) ride to Ombak Tujuh.
You NEED guide to go there. Even my friends who have been to UGe 20x still need to use that guide. They are nice people and they come in very handy.

* Accomodation = free (if you sleep on your tent/car), 450,000 IDR per night (local people's house, depend on how big the house) - 1,000,000 IDR or more (they have villas, too).
If you travel with a big group and want some new experience, try living in local people's houses. Usually, the place is clean, have several beds, and the owner does not bother how many people should fit in one house.
Example: your group consist 10 people. If all stay in one house, then it's only 45,000 IDR per person per night. Dude, that's cheap.

* Attractions = BEACHES! for FREE!
There are lots of nice beaches there. Start from Cibuaya, Pangumbahan, Panarikan, Cikepuh, and of course Ombak Tujuh ("Seven Waves" beach). Why does it being called Ombak Tujuh? I shall not spoil the details here. You should see it for yourself.
UGe is also a home for sea turtles. You can see them mostly on full moon period. To get into the sea turtle are, you will need to give a little entrance fee.
If you love fishing, then bring your fishing equipments along ;)

* Apparels = Swim suit and summery clothes!
Remember to bring your swim suit and goggle. Well, at least me and my friends always go around swimming, not only taking pictures. I also recommend to bring one-piece clothes that's thin and easy to dry, short pants and tank tops, hat or whatever to cover your head from the heat (heat can make you go dizzy the whole day, not good). Forget not to use sunblock. Have yourself a nice evenly applied tanned skin :)

but...

Why you SHOULDN'T GO to Ujung Genteng?

* Because you (I refer to girls with pretty hairs and pretty skins and pretty faces) will get soooo TANNED (FYI, being tan is not popular for Indonesian girls) . and sometimes, excruciating SUNBURNS! I mean, if you go to the beach, you should go home with beautiful tanned skin. If you use you big hat and long sleeves shirt all the time, you better be at home watching tv.

* Because you will get CUTS! Lots of CUTS! On your hands, your fingers, your feet, your thighs, your calves, your arms, and sometimes - when you get lucky - your face. The road to Ombak Tujuh is not only a bumpy ride, it shall also be a dry-branches-and-trees-and-reeds-sweeping-your-body-all-the-time ride :) i love it! The CUTS can also caused by corals. You know, when-you-swim-and-the-wave-sweeps-you-and-you-hit-the-coral kind of cuts :)
Hehe.. One should at least have 1 bleeding cut as a solid proof that he/she has been to UGe! Well, that's only my opinion.

* Because you will be super exhausted! Cmon, going there is exhausting enough (this only applies to those who rides by themselves). Then going to the beaches. Then not having enough sleep. If you sweat all the little things, you better be on your bed with your air co.

For me and my friends? We don't care. The sunburns, the cuts, the exhaustions - it's all worthy! Hopefully we can go to UGe at least once a year.

More pictures? Soon!!

Read my previous UGe trip:
UGe: The After-Effect

Jogjakarta: 1000 Days Later

2009-08-13T11:42:00.001+07:00

I arrived in Tugu Train Station at 5.30 am that Saturday morning after spending approximately 9 hours journey from Jakarta. An encouragement hug was given by B before my train left - i needed that.

The air was cool and crisp. I heard language and accent familiar to my ear, offering foods, snacks and transport. Once you're in Jogja, it's a must for you to ride on a Becak (tricycle traditional transport) and just feel the air touches your face.

Usually, Lusy has already stood by, ready to pick me up. But since she's back to her hometown, i prefer to stay a little longer at the station. An hour afterward, my aunt and uncle also arrived from Jakarta. The family from my father side gathered in Jogja for the 1000 days commemoration of my father's pass. After a cup of coffee with my aunt and uncle, which i think they didn't really enjoy that much, i decided to stay and wandered around the city by myself. I have no good reason to go straight to my father's old place anyway.

I met up with a good old friend from college, Beni, the very same morning. He took my red flowery backpack so that i can walk lightly around the city. It was too early to stroll in Malioboro, it was only 8.00 am. That was the time when i spotted that Trans Jogja bus shelter in front of Inna Garuda hotel. "Let's try on this!" i said to myself. Minutes later, I was nicely seated inside Trans Jogja bus, heading towards Ambarukmo Mall.

After some killing time at Ambarukmo Plaza - AmPlaz (i heard AmPlaz, i reckon Ambon Plaza), rummaging about shoes and reminiscing the joy of high school every time i saw group of girls wearing tartan blue skirt and over sized shirt (that's Stella Duce's uniform for Friday and Saturday) - I was picked up by Beni and Vina, his fiancee. Together, we went to Solo to Ardy-Nita's wedding reception.

Funny, I was the only one who showed up single. Funny for other people, i suppose. Unknowingly (or rather, dumbly) talking about how pity one was for one person in front of that person as if that person is not exist is not acceptable. What a strength, i only needed to endure such gazes for 3 hours.

I went straight to my father's old place (as for now, i'm gonna refer to it as grandpa's) later that night. I arrived at midnight, in a familiar house, a house i used to know. They (my uncle's family who lived there with my grandpa) have built some new extensions to the house. Blah, i guess they have money after all. I greeted my family there, then greeted my mom (she's been in Jogja for 2 days), then forget about everything else.

The House

I slept deep for 4-5 hours. The cracking sound of incoming family members woke me up, lazily. They really got what it took to bug other people peace! They shouted louder than those barking dogs.

That warm day, I saw my father's sanctuary. It's made from shinny black marmer with a small white/gold Italian-made cross on the headrest. I looked closer, I saw the mistake carvings on the information tablet. They wrote May 20 as my father birth date... when in fact, it's August 29. Want to hear some funny stuff? They blamed my Mom for their own mistake! They said my Mom was the one who gave such information, yelled at her in front of people - I was not there at the time.

The following day was SSDD. Same Shit Different Day. We served foods and snacks to people. We held a commemoration mass. I worked and helped people out like zombie. As soon as people left, i wiped my smile out of my face. I only got mellow and heartbroken when i saw my Mom's crying in the dark beside my father's tomb later that night. So much love, so much pain. At last, my job with all "commemoration" fuss... was done.

I took my mother and my little sister for a trip on Tuesday. We rarely have a holiday together, so i took the moment to get them to Prambanan Temple and Kraton Ratu Boko ruins (still, with Trans Jogja). We ate lunch at Kedai Cobek at AmPlaz, a must-try restaurant in my opinion. My mom's appetite was hilarious!! SHE ATE A LOT, like she has not been feed for a week (which was quite close to the truth). Then we had a near-fire experience while browsing for shoes! hahaha thin smokes coming out from nowhere... it was a "kortsluit".

J.co at Malioboro Mall was my next stop. I met Jenny and Inov, my former high school friends :) They looked just just the same; just add hair length and hair colour. Bitching around, talking in Javanese language for 4 hours were fun hehe though i have to admit i am more comfortable talking in Bahasa or in English. Javanese need some extra effort, you know. We jumped to a 50,000 IDR worth taxi ride as soon as the mall closed. My mom was so tired walking the whole day.

I took my mom and my sister the next day to eat Gudeg Bu Wiwik at Wijilan, before my flight. The price for a portion of Gudeg + chicken + egg - 25,000 IDR - was quite epensive compared to other (that's according to C) but the taste was "oh so original!" Gudeg, which is made from jackfruit added with spices etc., can be extremely sweet for first-timers :) but that's how food is usually made in Jogja, sweet. One should combine the "gudeg" with the "krecek", one of it's spicy side dish. Accompany your food with tea, then you are officially in Jogja!

I met Beni and Vina again before i left. They helped me to get to Trans Jogja, heading to airport. My backpack was filled with dirty clothes, my belly filled with gudeg, my other bag filled with Bakpia Bu Sri Putri (my favourite "bakpia" brand) for friends and collega. I dragged my exhausted body to the airplane. Will be home any minute now.

I kissed my grandpa and my father goodbye, hoping to see them soon.
For what it's worth... I love Jogja, I will always love Jogja.

Jogjakarta: Preparation

2009-08-07T12:08:00.000+07:00

HO.
I will go to Jogjakarta tonight, by train: Taksaka 20.45 pm.

A part of me is upset because i cannot go to Java Rockin' Land 2009 with Zee and Ari T.T
A part of me is a little excited, because i haven't been to Jogja for almost 2 years now!
However, in the midst of all the excitement, i am still upset because my best friend Lusy is currently not in Jogja. Meaning: I will be missing a companion, a free ride, and free lodging! :P *spoiled*

I only pack some clothes and will only carry a bag pack. The rest of my clothing is already brought by my mom and sister. Both my mom and my sister left for Jogja yesterday morning :)

Anyway, since Lusy will not be around, I decided to have a look at Trans Jogja. Trans Jogja is a bus network that covers Jogjakarta city and its surrounding area. The network itself is quite new, for about 1-1,5 year now. Last time i went to Jogja, it was still building bus shelters.

Please have a look below :)

>> Trans Jogja Route <<

For detail information per route, click here.

Trans Jogja also goes around to the airport (Adisucipto) and the railway statiun (Tugu) so it is easy for tourists or traveller to access. Cheap, too. Only IDR 3000 per ride, approximatelly 10 cents for foreigners hehehe (yeah, if you want to compare it to a single bus ride in other countries). I remember my high school bus ride in Jogja 7 years ago (Wow, 7 years ago!!!), the fee was only IDR 150... freakin cheap! and I was used to hang to the side pole of the bus with my skirt blown whenever the bus was too full.

Back to Trans Jogja. So i've printed the map! They say that we can also get the map there, but better be prepared right ;) Be ready for my next journal.

"Take care now"

2009-08-05T15:41:00.000+07:00

Grey Anatomy Season 5 Episode 21: Not Good at Saying Sorry

Hunt: ... I didn't do anything wrong today. I treated you like i would anyone else.

Yang: No. Not like anyone else! "Take care now"? what is that?
What are you - like, you know - happy now?
What are you? You know, just a "choke 'em and forget 'em" kinda guy?

Hunt exhaled and handed a paper to Yang

Yang: "Hey there now, take care now, nice work yang." What is this?

Hunt: It's my shrink. My shrink gave me these sentences - we came up with them together. They're all 3-word sentences so i'd have to say to you instead of the 3 words that are... that are killing me. The 3 words that you know i feel but i can't say them, because it will be cruel to say them because i am no good for you.

I don't wanna torture you.
I don't want to look at you longingly when i know i can't be with you.
So yeah, I'm smiling and i'm saying "take care now".
I'm letting you off the hook. I'm trying - trying so hard to let you off the hook. I'm trying to make it right - what i did to you. Can't you see that? I'm just trying to make it right.

Yang, crying and heartbroken, handed the paper back to Hunt.

Yang: Take care now..

and she left.

.
.
.

why do i see myself in the scene again?

Love = Bad Stain

2009-07-29T23:33:00.000+07:00

Love is like a bad stain that stays.

i mean... well, you know what i mean...

Bahasa SMS ABG masa kini

2009-07-24T11:00:00.002+07:00

W mw dUnkz jLn br9 u lg3eh. cuZ U co P1 yg pLin9 w caYnk. Ugh cN3nkh de9h kLo u dtG k hum W. Rsx w 9 mw dtgal u c.

Hayoo, ada yang bisa mengartikan kalimat di atas?

YuPz u cMua pStix biNun n pSynk!

Semakin lama dilihat semakin bikin brain damage ya?
HAHAHAHA... begitulah "kreativitas" ABG masa kini [baca: tahun 2008-2009]. Mengapa aku bilang "kreatif"? Karena mereka berhasil mengelabui dan membuat bingung orang-orang kebanyakan [baca: orang tua dll yang umurnya setidaknya, mungkin, 6 tahun di atas mereka] dengan "bahasa sandi" mereka.

Entah darimana asal muasal tulisan dan pengejaan tersebut. Diajarin di sekolah? Ya gak mungkin lah! Diajarin di rumah? Boro-boro bonyoknya ngerti barang beginian.

Yang jelas, virus ini menular dari satu anak ke anak yang lain. Motifnya apa? Status kreatif-asik-gaul kah? Tidak juga ah. Bahasa gaul itu macam lekong, curcol, meneketehe, CDMA masih cukup lumrah lah untuk kalangan AGJ [baca: anak GAOOOL Jakarta] dan penghuni-penghuni kebanyakan.

Tapi kalau bahasa SMS macam ini mah bukan bahasa gaul.
BAHASA PLANET!

Beberapa kali teman-temanku bingung apabila mendapat sms ala ABG. Disodorkanlah mobile mereka padaku... dengan tampang berkerut dan bibir sedikit menganga. "Coba baca deh, maksudnya apa sih?" Mulailah aku memasuki rimba sms, mencoba menerjemahkan.

Aku cNdiRi juga bingung dengan CaPitaL-aBusE dan num3r1c-4bu5e yang dipergunakan. Apa gak pegel yah itu jempolnya?

Namun apa boleh buat, kita-kita yang sudah lebih dewasa [sebagai kakak, atau pun sebagai orang tua] harus lebih jago alias gape alias pinter alias smart dUnKs untuk menganalisa dan menerjemahkan "bahasa sandi" tertera di atas. At least, we know what they're talking about, right? ;)

Lucky me, adik kecilku ga ketularan virus sms-maniac ini!

---
Update 18 November 2011:

People still use this kind of crazy SMS language, even now.. regardless of their age (which supposedly already 3 years older). We call this phenomenon as ALAY.

The long weekend of the birthday girl

2009-07-20T21:27:00.000+07:00

No. I am not going to show empathy for the blast victim of Kuningan that happened several days ago. Lots of people and media have done that for them. I have also put on Indonesian flag on my Twitter avatar >> how to? #indonesiaunite <<

Yay! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME! ~*

July 18 - The day before the D-day
Too bad i couldn't be at Rannu's weeding in Bali. It's a little too much to ask for such a short notice. I did not have the money :P Anyway, Happy Birthday and Happy Wedding, Rannu!

But i did go to someone's weeding. My friend, Ruben, was going to play with his band on someone's wed in Bogor. Unplanned, i joined him along with Chikha and Zee. Ari was not around because she's having a weekend trip to Jogja [argh%^&@&*!!]. With a little makeover on the clothing section... [to be honest, we - Zee and i - were not prepared at all] voila! we became a "part" of the band! Good music and good food. Extremely good Zup-a-soup! and a glass of Heineken to top it off!

After the wed, we found it too difficult to lay off the night. So we decided to have a sneak peek at Public. Little that we knew that that was the last opening night for Public!!! They have closed Embassy, Wonder bar, etc. Public was the last one to go. The lot will be replaced with apartment. Too bad :(

With a little confidence, we walked to the entrance. Oops! It was invitation only kinda party! I worked on my innocent face and talked it out with the bouncer.. and voila! we were in! :D
Well, we only stayed there for an hour or so. Just needed the loud music and the dance/night life ambiance that haven't been felt for quite some time. "Happy birthday" hugs and kisses were given when the clock passed 00.00. oh yeah!

July 19 - The ups and downs
Started a little early in the morning. Went to church with my mom, although it's not my ideal time to pray. With an extremely sleepy head (!!!), i crashed again as soon as i got home. On my mobile, some friends sent "happy birthday" texts... very kind of them.

Still with an extremely sleepy head and not really a fine mood [since i've been waiting for certain people's wishes...], Chikha Ruben and Zee crashed my room with a cake, shouting Happy Birthday out loud! Kyaaaaaaaaa... that was the sweetest thing! *terharu - blurry eyes* T.T I shed my growing tears and sincerely thanked them :)

>> hopefully i can upload the cake's pic soon! <<

We said a little pray, ate the birthday cake together, then ate (this eating thing went continuously) lalapan with sambal and chicken my mom made, then ate more cake while watching Penelope. When we went to Karawaci to (originally) accompany Chikha to go on air, we (with no purpose at all!) ended eating more cakes and bakso :P More eating in the midnite... sipping fresh advocado juice and eating Nasi Goreng Keju Korned alias Juned! I never thought that we would ate so much that day!

A dear friend whose call/text have been awaited the whole day finally called me around 22.00. Two more hours to go, then i will not forgive you, girl!!! But another loved one failed to remember my birthday, as always :'(

July 20 - The closing time
The initial plan was to go to Blitz and watched Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! There was no line up for the day. Well almost all of friends have watched HP 6 on the weekend. We watched in Auditorium1, the big one. The place reminds me of Pathe, the grote zaal, and my movie adventure back in Holland. Anyway, the movie ticket worth the price of IDR 50,000 - a price that's considered quite high for Indonesian. A little note about the movie: Hermione's hair is getting better, i guess she uses hair mousse now. And Ginny.. she's taller than Harry!

The plan was accomplished with no harm done :) and I am so happy! Just a movie, a plate of Hoka-Hoka Bento, and a little chit chat before we all went home. Too bad Ari, you weren't there.
It was a lovely way to spend a long weekend, indeed.

Age Difference in (sexual) Relationships

2009-07-16T13:23:00.002+07:00

What is standard age gap in relationship?

Pria suka wanita yang lebih muda. Wanita suka pria yang lebih tua. Itu pada umumnya.

Tapi kenyataan berkata, "tunggu dulu, jaman sudah berubah!".

Wong Demi Moore saja bisa mendapatkan Ashton Kutcher yang (OMG!) 16 tahun lebih muda, dan mereka hidup bahagia saja tuh. Yang paling sensasional memang tetap Anna Nicole Smith yang menikah dengan J. Howard Marshall, yang ehem.. 63 tahun lebih tua.
update: Yang lagi hot di tahun 2011 di Indonesia, Yuni Shara dan Raffi Ahmad.

Saya seringkali menonton film-film ataupun serial tv yang mengangkat issue "wanita dengan pasangan pria muda". Kisah-kisah seperti ini memang tidak biasa. Misalnya film The Graduate (Ben & Mrs. Robinson!), Something's Gotta Give (Erica & Julian), Prime (Rafi & David), I could never be Your Woman (Rosie & Adam), atau serial tv semacam Lipstick Jungle (Nico & Kirby) dan Sex and the City (Samantha & Smith). More...

Nico &a Kirby
Where can i find a 25-year-old like Kirby?

Ada satu persamaan dalam film-film tersebut: Sang wanita pastilah seorang yang strong, independent, dan sucess dalam karir! Sang pria? biasanya, mereka pria-pria yang masih merintis karir dan belum terlalu mandiri. Scenario pun tertebak.. sepertinya pria-pria ini menggunakan sang wanita untuk mendongkrak karir mereka! HA!

Eits, tapi.. tunggu dulu. Tidak semuanya kok begitu. Ada pula yang memang dengan tulus hati mencintai sang wanita :) Well, at least on those movies.. the men sincerely love the women.

Personally, saya tidak terlalu suka dengan pria yang lebih tua. They scare the hell out of me! Bahkan untuk berteman sekalipun. Saya memilih pria yang sebaya, malah mungkin lebih muda hehe :) Namun seiring dengan berjalannya waktu, saya sudah mulai (sedikit) terbuka mengenai hal ini.

Beberapa teman laki-laki saya pacaran dengan anak-anak abg. Sepupu yang seumur dengan saya menikah dengan pria yang 15-16 tahun lebih tua. Dan setelah ditelusuri lebih jauh, ternyata oom-oom saya menikah dengan wanita yang 10-15 tahun lebih muda. Wooo... mungkin sekarang saya bisa (sedikit) lebih longar akan age difference, tapi kalau dipikir-pikir sih tetap ngeri sendiri!

Setelah check di internet, ternyata ada loh rumusnya:

Half-your-age-plus-seven

Wikipedia says, The "half-your-age-plus-seven rule" is a rule of thumb used by some in Western cultures defining a mathematical formula to judge whether the age difference in an intimate relationship is socially acceptable. Mathematically speaking, the rule is:

Setidaknya sekarang kita bisa menge-check, apakah pasangan kita "ketuaan" atau "kemudaan".
Kalau ternyata tidak masuk ke dalam rumus tersebut, coba saja perhatikan fenomena ini:
* Chronophilia is a general term, applied to any age-related preference that is outside their own age group.
* Ephebophilia is the attraction of older individuals to adolescents.
* Hebephilia is the attraction of older individuals to pubescent youths.
* Pedophilia is the attraction of older individuals to pre-adolescents.
[Pedophilia mungkin term yang paling familiar di telinga kita]
* Infantophilia is the attraction of older individuals to small children (ages ranging from 0-5).
* Gerontophilia is the attraction of non-elderly individuals to the elderly.

Fakta lain lagi yang saya dapat malah mengisahkan template pernikahan yang dialami warga Sami (preindustrial Finland). Artikel dari Scientific American menulis, "Men should marry a woman almost 15 years their junior to maximize their chances of having the most offspring that survive."

Aneh?

Lebih lanjut lagi,
Yet, only 10 percent of these marriages were between men and women with that optimal age difference. The span ranged from men marrying women as much as 20 years older to women marrying men as much as 25 years older; the average age difference between husband and wife was three years.
Other research in modern day Sweden has shown that the ideal reproductive match is for a man to marry a woman six years his junior. But the cultural constraints on marriage may have changed. "Wealth was the most important factor in a [Sami] marriage," Helle notes. "Love played almost no role in it."

Very classic.

Allrite,
Now, can i date Daniel Radclife?

Music hook-up: Gotye

2009-07-13T13:50:00.000+07:00

Gotye is my recent music hook-up.

I first heard his music from Gossip Girl Season 2 Episode 23, the ending part.

Felt so curious about his electric extraordinaire vocal, i browsed and found "Gotye". The name's very unusual, very European; sounds like "Gaultier" in French with a false writing.

Again, i looked up for his music on youtube to connect to his enchanting song, Heart's a Mess; the music video was also very 'semiotic' - symbolic and such. Listen to it carefully, close your eyes... you mind will be drawn into some kind of alternate realm where everything is both odd and soothing, especially when you get to the short yet crisp harp playing. He combined the instruments beautifully, strengthen with his unique vocalization. A solid touch indeed.

Here's what i dig from Wikipedia about Gotye:
Wouter De Backer (born 21 May 1980). Born in Belgium and then raised in Australia, Walter (as he is more commonly called) has been making music since his teens, first in moody local rock band Downstares, a fixture at underage shows in the North-East suburbs of Melbourne for a few years. When that band dissolved Wally started focusing on his solo project, cut'n'paste tunes that eventually would come under the moniker of 'Gotye'. (Dutch pronunciation: [ɡoːtijeː]).

He's cool. and talented. multi-talented. and i instantly love him.
And since love and happiness are only real when shared, i shall share his musics here.

Gotye - Heart's a Mess

Gotye - Coming Back

Gotye - Out here in the Cold

Gotye - Thanks For Your Time

a sneak peek of Ingrid's new song

2009-07-02T13:31:00.000+07:00

Anybody know Ingrid Michaelson?
She's one of my favourite artists.

Anyway, here's a new demo song from her. I got the feed from her twitter update today ;)

Walk Away

I was there to comfort you
to tell you things that were not true
like love and how its always here and never goes
so don’t you fear

but i really know that forevers they come and go
so i hold on tight to letting go
because i don't know when this,
when this, love will walk away.

i am here to see us fall
to see us slide right down the wall
i give up and take on something new
take on someone who is just like you

Deep and beautiful lyric as always...
Wanna take a peek of the new song?
Just go to her blog http://ingridmichaelson.tumblr.com/

Cant wait for her new album to come out!

Makes me wanna say something romantic like:
I like the way your fingers run through my hairs...
hehehe :)

for the love of life

2009-06-26T13:52:00.000+07:00

sshhh...
hush hush...

take my solemn hand and run with me
shall the daunting wind and the wobbly road pass us by
as vivid as moving images we fly

my pounding heart
your heavy breath
my fingers twirl in your hair
softly, sinfully, gracefully

write me a letter, i'm your friend
burn me with your words of desires
fascinate me with you dazzling thoughts
make me cry, make me die

no one's ever ready for life.

Prenatal Gender Detection. What?

2009-06-18T11:12:00.000+07:00

I read an article in Kompas.com just now about baby's gender detector.

Alat Canggih Pun Keliru Tebak Jenis Kelamin Bayi

NEW YORK, KOMPAS.com — Enam ibu di New York, AS, menggugat perusahaan pembuat alat pendeteksi jenis kelamin bayi. Alat canggih itu ternyata keliru menebak jenis kelamin bayi yang masih di kandungan. Dalam gugatan di Pengadilan Tinggi Manhattan, para wanita itu mengeluh alat bernama Baby Gender Mentor itu ternyata tidak "sakti". Alat buatan Acu-Gen Biolab Inc itu dibeli seharga 275 dollar AS (sekitar Rp 2,7 juta). Seperti dilaporkan New York Post, Selasa (16/6), Acu-Gen sesumbar dalam situsnya bahwa alat itu mampu menentukan jenis kelamin bayi saat usia kandungan baru lima hingga delapan minggu. Pengacara Barry Gainey mengatakan, gugatan itu ditujukan kepada pembuat produk dan pemasarnya dengan tuduhan lalai dan penipuan.

First people guess baby's gender through how the mother look like during the pregnancy.
Then comes the machine. Through USG, the doctors can almost accurately predict the baby's gender. There are also amniocentesis and DNA test to diagnose any infections and abnormality of the fetus.

Now come along baby's gender detector. I looked it up on Google; the name's actually Baby Gender Mentor - Prenatal Gender Detection. This is what wikipedia has to say:

Baby Gender Mentor is the trade name of a controversial blood test designed to determine whether a pregnant woman is carrying a male or female child. The test is made by Acu-Gen Biolab, Inc., a biotech company in Lowell, Massachusetts, United States, and is marketed to detect the sex of a fetus as early as five weeks after conception. The test made a prominent media debut on 17 June 2005 on The Today Show and about 4,500 people had purchased the test by March 2006.

The company says that the accuracy of the test exceeds that of conventional methods, such as ultrasonography, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling techniques, and that their test offers "unsurpassed accuracy, unrivaled earliness, and uncompromised promptness". However, they have not made public any clinical evidence to support these claims. Customers and scientists have questioned the accuracy of the test, and legal action is being pursued against Acu-Gen as well as a major supplier of the test.

Oh yes, it is still not accurate!

I remember how my little sister could accurately predict an unborn baby's gender. It was like a gift, or something like that. was. Maybe she was all so pure she can see things. It is the same gift that my grandmother possessed, too. I don't know, we don't know if my sister can still predict babies.

It is fun to normally play around and guess what gender the baby will be. Confused of how the baby's room should be: baby blue or pink? Green or yellow or white or whatever will do just fine.

Pff... what ever happen to "You have a boy!" or "You have a girl!" excitements?

4-Minutes Love Song

2009-06-17T11:41:00.000+07:00

the air is cold and gray and lonely
my weeping heart beats differently
how can i be both sad and jolly?

my gaze screams my longing
my body shivers my deepest desires
my lips trembles my yearning
yet my stiffs arms clutch nothing but thin air

i wait and i ache and i blush

i fell too deep to your kiss and your ignorance
of all people, of all people...

you cause the fire in my burning dreams

your presence is my addiction
your smile is unbearable
your absence is my torture

for my words have been taken from me
this melodies can't keep me at ease

of all feelings, of all feelings...
i wonder what could this be?

Alone at the office

2009-06-11T15:30:00.000+07:00

So i am officially running the office all by myself for a month.

well, it's not that bad :)

Culinary Trip to Sukabumi

2009-06-01T10:39:00.001+07:00

I traveled to Sukabumi last weekend with Chika and Ruben. A culinary trip - that's how we call it hehehe :)

It was my first ever trip to Sukabumi (the city) and to actually stay there for the night. Usually i only passed through Sukabumi without ever really enjoying the food, etc there. Where is Sukabumi, anyway? Take a look at this pic below.

Sukabumi is a vast region within West Java province. According to Wikipedia,

"Sukabumi is a city located about 80 km (50 miles) south of the national capital, Jakarta. At an altitude of approximately 600 meters (2000 feet), the city is a minor hill station resort, with a cooler climate than the surrounding lowlands."

We went there by car from Jakarta on Friday night. We transited in Bogor, grabbed some stuffs and continued our midnight travel. We spent approximately 2-3 hours on the road.I can still recall the road as it is the same road that we took to go to Ujung Genteng (UGe). Aaaaw.. I miss Uge summer trip even more :'(

Back to Sukabumi!
I gained several pounds by just spending 2 days at Sukabumi! o_O'
Why? Because we ate 5-6 times a day! Noodles, batagor, yogurt, more noodles - all homemade.

kyahahahaha.. how can one resist all these food temptation???

Mie Cinco, with chopped grilled pork

Mie Yamien Pangsit Penganten :P~

Wedding Organizer Buzz

2009-05-07T15:46:00.000+07:00

I forgot to write this. Silly me.

Last week (May 2, 2009) my friend Yanto got married. Congratulation, btw!

No, I'm not gonna talk about how sacred the mass was.. nor how hype the wedding reception was. I'm gonna say something about the Wedding Organizer (WO). The WO was, in fact, Chika and I *this is me being proud*

Initially, we were only there to support Yanto's wedding... what he should and should not do; how to arrange this and that; fixing the D-day schedule and so on. But then it went on and on and on... Soon we realized that we were taking care of (almost) the whole aspect of the wedding! kyahahahaha

Even the bride and the groom were not as panic and as hectic as us (-.-)' ~nyeeeeh...
From schedule to seating arrangement to wedding singer to being just plain-pscyho-friend-having-fun-at-other-friend's-wedding girl.

and of course the wedding photo with friends -
always the silly one

That wedding was our debute to become a (possible) real wedding organizer hahahaha
Not bad... not bad at all ;)

European Election

2009-05-05T11:33:00.000+07:00

Saya baru saja mendapat SMS dari KPU - Sukseskan Pilpres 2009.
Jamannya Pemilu.
Jamannya anak muda ikut ambil bagian dalam Pemilu.
Begitu pula di Eropa.

Nah, bagaimana caranya mengajak anak muda untuk menjadi pemilih?
Kalau di Indonesia, partai politik yang malah berbondong-bondong memoles diri agar "tampil muda" dan memakai tameng artis-artis untuk menggaet pemilih muda.

Kalau di Eropa, European Union (EU) mengambil langkah yang, in my opinion, very attractive and innovative dengan meluncurkan serangkaian viral campaign

"CAN EU HEAR ME EUROPE?"

Campaign yang didanai oleh EU ini diproduksi oleh, tak lain dan tak bukan, MTV. Anak muda mana sih yang tak tahu MTV? Musik adalah salah satu bentuk komunikasi yang dapat mempengaruhi massa dalam skala besar. MTV juga diketahui sebagai salah satu icon anak muda jaman sekarang. Berbagai campaign tingkat dunia di diseminasi alias di-spread ke tingkat anak muda melalui MTV... misalnya mengenai HIV AIDS dan pergerakan melestarikan bumi (Go Green!). Akhirnya MTV ikut ambil bagian juga dalam mensukseskan Pemilu Eropa bulan Juni 2009 ini.

Keren juga ya idenya?

Here are the ads...

London viral clip

Rome viral clip

Paris viral clip

Nostalgia Masa SD

2009-05-04T13:07:00.003+07:00

Siapa sih yang tak suka mengenang masa lalu alias bernostalgia? Memori-memori baik yang menyenangkan mau pun tidak menyenangkan yang telah kita simpan dengan rapi di bilik-bilik otak kita memang selayaknya sesekali kita kunjungi. Sekedar untuk melepas rindu dan sebagai materi pembelajaran dalam hidup.

Saat ini, di situs paling hot di Indonesia saat ini, Facebook, network saya sedang berbondong-bondong meng-upload foto lama atau lebih afdol kalau disebut foto-foto jadul (= jaman dulu). Mulai dari foto-foto SMA (maklum, saya masih termasuk kalangan 20-something sehingga masa kuliah belum dianggap jadul), foto-foto SMP, dan foto-foto SD! Rasanya menarik sekali melihat begitu banyak perubahan yang terjadi di antara teman-teman sendiri.

Ada yang dulu gemuk, sekarang menjadi kurus. Ada pula kebalikannya. Ada yang dulu terlihat sangat cupu (= culun punya) sekarang menjadi seorang fashionista. Ada yang dulu masih sangat lugu ternyata sekarang sudah berkeluarga. Ada yang terlihat biasa-biasa saja, ternyata sekarang sudah melanglang buana. Ada yang dulu begitu popular di sekolah, sekarang menghilang entah kemana. Beragam cerita bisa kita sambung-sambungkan sendiri yang akhirnya berubah menjadi gosip kalangan tertentu.

Jangan salah, saya juga termasuk pencinta hal-hal yang berbau nostalgia. Pada fase saat ini, saya merindukan teman-teman saya dari SD/SMP saya di AMBON. Sepuluh tahun sudah berlalu, begitu banyak yang telah berubah. Begitu banyak pula yang tidak berubah.

Ayo tebak. Saya yang mana?

Entah mengapa, kami anak-anak Ambon ini cukup terikat satu dengan yang lain. Rasanya 10 tahun itu hanya sekejap mata. Lulusan SD Xaverius A2 dan SMP Katolik Ambon banyak yang telah berkarir dan berdomisili di Jakarta, Surabaya, dan Manado. Yang masih setia bolak-balik ke Ambon pun masih ada.

Untuk sedikit mengobati rasa rindu, kami meng-upload foto-foto masa kecil yang masih tersisa (banyak yang telah menjadi abu karena kerusuhan di Ambon tahun 1999). Terkadang, kami yang tinggal di Jakarta menyempatkan diri bertemu walau hanya beberapa jam. Makan, mengobrol dengan bahasa Ambon (tentunya), dan saling update berita-berita teman terbaru: siapa yang akan menikah, siapa yang menjadi apa, siapa yang tinggal dimana, dll. Sayang saya belum sempat menilik teman-teman yang di Surabaya.

Wah, sudah 10 tahun berlalu ya... *jumpalitan*
Mungkin sudah tepat saatnya untuk REUNI akbar!?

----
update 29 March 2010!

Yang mau kangen-kangenan (khususnya Angkatan 1996) bisa gabung di Facebook group :)

P.S. SD Xaverius now is even on Foursquare! ;)

Koninginnedag 30 April 2009

2009-05-01T00:59:00.000+07:00

Koninginnedag atau biasa di sebut Queen's day atau Hari Ratu merupakan hari libur nasional negara Belanda untuk merayakan hari ulang tahun sang ratu. Jalan-jalan seketika berubah menjadi lautan manusia berpakaian dan beraksesoris serba ORANYE (yang adalah warna nasional Belanda). Orang-orang berjubel menawarkan beragam dagangan mulai dari pernak-pernik cantik hingga barang-barang bekas dengan harga super duper miring. Pagelaran musik di lapangan terbuka pun memeriahkan suasana hiruk pikuk jutaan manusia yang terhampar sampai ke sudut-sudut kota. Aura yang meruak hanyalah pesta, pesta, dan pesta!!!

Saking lengketnya kata PESTA dengan event ini, promosi Queen's Day tahun ini malah menimbulkan kontroversi. Lihat saja bagaimana wajah-wajah tokoh-tokoh politik dunia di gambar ini bisa nimbrung ikut konvoi masyarakat di Amsterdam. Sangat kreatif, itu harus diakui.

Sayangnya, pesta akbar tahun ini tercoreng dengan insiden maut. Sebuah mobil sedan berwarna hitam tiba-tiba menerjang rombongan Ratu dan keluarga yang sedang melaksanakan tradisi, bercengkrama dengan masyarakat di atas bis beratap terbuka. Peristiwa maut ini terjadi di kota Apeldoorn, di mana mobil tersebut menewaskan setidaknya 4 orang dan melukai belasan warga sipil lainnya sebelum akhirnya semakin ringsek setelah menabrak sebuah monumen. Perkiraan semua orang sampai saat ini, kejadian tersebut disengaja. Sayangnya, kita harus menunggu sampai si pengemudi mobil siuman dari berbagai operasi yang harus dijalaninya.*

Sengaja atau tidak disengaja, tragedi tersebut telah berdampak besar akan perayaan hari Ratu di Belanda. Banyak acara harus dibatalkan.

Bagaimana dengan perayaan di Indonesia? The show must go on. Dikarenakan perbedaan waktu yang cukup jauh (5 jam), perayaan di Indonesia tidak dibatalkan. Lobby Hotel Shangrilla sudah mulai ramai terisi para tamu undangan resepsi Queen's Day ketika saya menginjakkan kaki di sana. Dubes Belanda pun menyampaikan dukanya bagi para korban insiden di Belanda. Setelah alunan lagu kebangsaan Indonesia dan Belanda berakhir, dimulailah pesta yang sesungguhnya.

Makanan-makanan khas Belanda disajikan dengan apik. Mulai dari si kecil poffertjes dan bitterballen, hutspot dan worst-nya, dan tentu saja... haring! Sajian ikan haring dan ikan paling mentah ini memang agak berbeda. Langsung saja saya menyempatkan diri untuk melahap beberapa potong. Agak amis memang, tapi patut untuk dicoba. Bukan pesta pula kalau tidak ada bir dan wine, kan? Bar kecil pun dibuka untuk memuaskan dahaga para tamu.

Pengetahuan saya akan masyarakat diplomat dan pebisnis Indonesia memang masih sangat minim. Namun setidaknya wajah familiar Bakrie dan Gultom tadi ikut ambil bagian dalam acara potong kue bersama bapak dubes. Orang-orang sekelas Pia Alisyahbana juga bertebaran. Sisanya ya, kroco-kroco macam saya ini, yang kebetulan mendapat kesempatan ikut mencicipi suasana pesta.

Meskipun demikian, saya kurang menikmati acara ini. Kurang enjoy karena tidak ada teman-teman seperjuangan saya. Lebih baik saya pulang ke rumah dan menuliskan pengalaman saya hari ini ke dalam blog ini. Ya, kan? :)

- - -
*update: Pengemudi meninggal; kajadian di hari ratu tetap tak terungkap.

Being Single and Happy (?)

2009-03-31T15:44:00.000+07:00

Di antara semaraknya lagu-lagu cinta dengan hasrat kerinduan mendalam akan datangnya sang pujaan hati dan gaung lagu-lagu kepedihan dan tekad bulat perselingkuhan yang saling jegal satu sama lain di Indonesia, bertiuplah angin segar yang menyeruak di tengah beban asmara yang selalu mewek dan berlebihan. Angin segar itu bersenandung dengan suara khas Oppie Andaresta, dengan lagu terbarunya "Single Happy".

Betapa bahagianya saya karena, untuk sesekali, orang-orang yang tidak memiliki pasangan bisa dengan bangga mengatakan, "i'm single and very happy", instead of "gue jomblo" yang menurut saya kesannya begitu depresif dan desperate.

Penasaran dengan lirik dan video klipnya? Saya punya.
Sayangnya, video klip Oppie kurang membumi, kurang menonjolkan public figure yang jelas-jelas memilih untuk menjadi single [ya teman, BEING SINGLE IS AN OPTION] dan bisa berbahagia dengan hidupnya. Cameo yang tampil di video clip tersebut hanya Okky Lukman dan Ivan Gunawan. Sisanya tetap dipenuhi oleh model-model cantik indonesia yang (maaf) tentu saja tidak mungkin memilih menjadi single. Kurang menohok, menurut saya.

Anyway, it's a nice and easy listening song. Layaknya lagu Natasha Bedingfield, salah satu penyanyi wanita favorit saya, yang menyerukan kata "Single" secara lantang!

Liriknya "Single Happy" :)

Mereka bilang aku pemilih dan kesepian
Terlalu keras menjalani hidup
Beribu nasehat dan petuah yang diberikan
Berharap hidupku bahagia

[*]Aku baik-baik saja
Menikmati hidup yang aku punya
Hidupku sangat sempurna
I’m single and very happy

[**] Mengejar mimpi-mimpi indah
Bebas lakukan yang aku suka
Berteman dengan siapa saja
I’m single and very happy

Mereka bilang sudah saatnya karena usia
Untuk mencari sang kekasih hati
Tapi ku yakin akan datang pasangan jiwaku
Pada waktu dan cara yang indah

Back to [*][**]

I’m single and very happy

Waktu terus berjalan
Tak bisa ku hentikan
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