"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? ;)

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.. ;)

"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.

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

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!

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!

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

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.

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?

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?

Jakarta.
Everyday is a same thing horrible experience.
Especially when one is using public transportation.

I am talking about the traffic jam itself which is already a pain in the ass. Nor the "unlicensed" motorbikes running around like mad men if not being forced to obey road rules. Nor the un-manner pedestrians crossing the street as they like, walking as if the road is theirs alone.

I am talking about what happened in between - in cars, in buses, in "angkot"s. Specifically referring to public transportation, a mass of people - unknown origins, motives, and destinations - jumped in. They ride together, side by side with strangers. Some strangers are just common people, while some others are there to make a living. Make a living? Yes, by singing [which is very much acceptable], by selling stuffs [also acceptable], and by being a malicious criminal. Pickpockets, as they say, spreads on dense buses. For example: 213 - the bus i take almost every single day to work.

GOD protects me, i know. I know it since i've experience some quite terrifying rides... and survived it :)

Some maybe-somewhat-useful TIPS, esp. for girls who travel alone with public transportation:

• Watch your bag at all time. Make sure that the zipperhead is located where you can see it.
• Use bag with side pockets placed close to your body. There shall you put your coins and spare money for your ride - put it there beforehand. Therefore you are not going to unzip your bag and reveal whatever it is that you bring [tempting jewels, delicious wallet, or super expensive mobile phone] to foreigners.
• Lose that cute innocent weak face and put on a "preman" face. As much as you can, do not show fear in your eyes when "odd" people approaches. Speak with clear and calm tone if needed. Being cute and innocent will not be very helpful in such situation.
• Do not wear fancy jewels that will attract them pickpockets. Just put them on your bag, wear them when you get to your destination. Doh!
• Have skills on martial arts will be a BIG advantage. hehe..

To be honest, if it is possible... I DO NOT RECOMMEND using public transports in Jakarta.
So girls... if you got the money, you should ride with your own vehicle, preferably car + driver [hmm... this is tricky, because drivers can be malicious too].
If you do not have the money, go find yourself a loyal boyfriend with a nice car!! Hahaha >:p