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?

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

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 :)

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 :)

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.