Siska's rants.. and some other things

An article I didn't get time to read yet...

2008-06-07T12:47:00.001+04:00

Ketika AKU menciptakan langit dan bumi, AKU berfirman dan jadilah.Ketika AKU menciptakan pria, AKU membentuknya dan meniupkan nafas ke lubang hidungnya.Tetapi engkau, wanita, AKU menghiasmu setelah aku meniupkan nafas kehidupan ke pria karena lubang hidungmu terlalu lembut. AKU membiarkan pria tertidur dengan nyenyak sehingga AKU dapat dengan sabar dan sempurna membentuk engkau.Pria AKU buat tertidur supaya dia tidak dapat mencampuri.Dari satu tulang, AKU menghiasmu. AKU memilih tulang yang melindungi pria. AKU memilih tulang rusuk, yang melindungi jantung dan paru-paru juga mendukungnya, sebagaimana yang harus kamu lakukan. Dari satu tulang ini, AKU membentukmu dengan sempurna dan cantik.Sifatmu adalah tulang rusuk, kuat tetapi lembut dan mudah patah. Engkau menyediakan perlindungan untuk organ paling lembut dari pria yaitu hati atau jantungnya. Jantungnya adalah pusat dari kehidupannya, paru-paru menggenggam nafas kehidupan. Tulang rusuk akan membiarkan dirinya patah sebelum ia mengijinkan kerusakan terjadi pada jantung. Dukunglah pria sebagaimana tulang rusuk melindungi tubuhnya.Engkau tidak diambil dari kakinya untuk menjadi alasnya, tidak juga diambil dari kepalanya untuk menjadi atasannya. Engkau diambil dari sisinya, untuk berdiri disebelahnya dan dipeluk dengan erat.Engkau adalah malaikat-KU yang sempurna. Engkau adalah gadis kecilku yang cantik. Engkau telah tumbuh menjadi wanita yang sempurna, dan mata-KU terpuaskan ketika aku melihat hatimu. Matamu...jangan mengubahnya. Bibirmu sangat cantik ketika mengucapkan doa. Hidungmu sangat sempurna dalam bentuk. Tanganmu sangat lembut untuk disentuh. AKU telah memberi perhatian pada wajahmu saat engkau tertidur. AKU menggengam hatimu dekat dengan hati-KU.Dari semua yang hidup dan bernafas, engkau adalah yang paling mirip dengan AKU. ADAM berjalan bersamaku dihari dingin dan dia kesepian. Dia tidak dapat melihat ataupun menyentuh-KU. Dia hanya dapat merasakan-KU. Jadi semua yang AKU ingin Adam berbagi denganku, AKU membentuknya didalam kamu. Kekuatan-KU, kemurnian-KU, cinta-KU, perlindungan-KU dan dukungan-KU. Engkau adalah istimewa, karena engkau adalah perpanjangan tangan-KU.Pria melambangkan citra-KU, sedangkan wanita melambangkan perasaan-KU. Bersama-sama kalian melambangkan TUHAN yang sejati. Jadi pria, perlakukanlah wanita dengan baik, cintailah ia, hormatilah ia karena ia lembut. Menyakitinya, berarti engkau menyakiti-KU. Apa yang engkau lakukan kepadanya, engkau melakukan-nya kepada-KU.Wanita, dukunglah pria. Dalam kesederhanaan, tunjukkan kepadanya kekuatan perasaan yang telah AKU berikan kepadamu. Dalam kesunyian, tunjukkan kekuatanmu. Dalam cinta, tunjukkan kepadanya bahwa engkau adalah tulang rusuknya yang melindungi tubuhnya.
-----Lampiran Inline Disertakan-----When two people love each other, nothing is more imperative and delightful than giving' ~ Guy de Maupassant ~MISKONSEPSICinta berpijak pada perasaan sekaligus akal sehat. Miskonsepsi pertama yang ditentang Bowman adalah manusia jatuh cinta dengan menggunakan perasaan belaka. Betul, kita jatuh cinta dengan hati. Tapi agar tidak menimbulkan kekacauan di kemudian hari, kita diharapkan untuk juga menggunakan akal sehat. Bohong besar kalau kita bisa jatuh cinta dengan begitu saja tanpa bisa mengelak. Yang sesungguhnya terjadi, proses jatuh cinta dipengaruhi tradisi, kebiasaan, standar, gagasan, dan deal kelompok dari mana kita berasal. Bohong besar pula kalau kita merasa boleh berbuat apa saja saat jatuh cinta, dan tidak bisa dimintai pertanggungan-jawab bila perbuatan-perbuatan impulsif itu berakibat buruk suatu ketika nanti. Kehilangan perspektif bukanlah pertanda kita jatuh cinta, melainkan sinyal kebodohan. Cinta membutuhkan proses, Bowman juga menolak anggapan cinta bisa berasal dari pandangan pertama. "Cinta itu tumbuh dan berkembang dan merupakan emosi yang kompleks," katanya.CINTA BUTUH WAKTUUntuk tumbuh dan berkembang, cinta membutuhkan waktu. Jadi memang tidak mungkin kita mencintai seseorang yang tidak ketahuan asal-usulnya dengan begitu saja. Cinta tidak pernah menyerang tiba-tiba, tidak juga jatuh dari langit. Cinta datang hanya ketika dua individu telah berhasil melakukan orientasi ulang terhadap hidup dan memutuskan untuk memilih orang lain sebagai titik fokus baru. Yang mungkin terjadi dalam fenomena "cinta pada pandangan pertama" adalah pasangan terserang perasaan saling tertarik yang sangat kuat-bahkan sampai tergila-gila. Kemudian perasaan kompulsif itu berkembang jadi cinta tanpa menempuh masa jeda. Dalam kasus "cinta pada pandangan pertama", banyak orang tidak benar-benar mencintai pasangannya, melainkan jatuh cinta pada konsep cinta itu sendiri. Sebaliknya dengan orang yang benar-benar mencinta, mereka mencintai pasangan sebagai personalitas yang utuh.CINTA BERBAGI, TIDAK MENGONTROLCinta tidak menguasai dan mengalah, tapi berbagi bukan cinta namanya bila kita berkehendak mengontrol pasangan. Juga bukan cinta bila kita bersedia mengalah demi kepuasan kekasih. Orang yang mencinta tidak menganggap kekasih sebagai atasan atau bawahan, tapi sebagai pasangan untuk berbagi, juga untuk mengidentifikasi diri. Bila kita berkeinginan menguasai kekasih (membatasi pergaulannya, melarangnya beraktivitas positif, mengatur seleranya berbusana) atau melulu mengalah (tidak protes bila kekasih berbuat buruk, tidak keberatan dinomorsekiankan), berarti kita belum siap memberi dan menerima cinta.BUATLAH CINTA ITU KONSTRUKTIFIndividu yang mencinta berbuat sebaik-baiknya demi kepentingan sendiri sekaligus demi (kebanggaan) pasangan. Dia berani berambisi, bermimpi konstruktif, dan merencanakan masa depan. Sebaliknya dengan yang jatuh cinta impulsif. Bukannya berpikir dan bertindak konstruktif, dia kehilangan ambisi, nafsu makan, dan minat terhadap masalah sehari-hari. Yang dipikirkan hanya kesengsaraan pribadi. Impiannya pun tak mungkin tercapai. Bahkan impian itu bisa menjadi subsitusi kenyataan.CINTA TIDAK MELENYAPKAN SEMUA MASALAHPenganut faham romantik percaya cinta bisa mengatasi masalah. Seakan-akan cinta itu obat bagi segala penyakit (panacea). Kemiskinan dan banyak problem lain diyakini bisa diatasi dengan berbekal cinta belaka. Faktanya, cinta tidaklah seajaib itu. Cinta hanya bisa membuat sepasang kekasih berani menghadapi masalah. Permasalahan seberat apapun mungkin didekati dengan jernih agar bisa dicarikan jalan keluar. Orang yang tengah mabuk kepayang (berarti tidak benar-benar mencinta) cenderung membutakan mata saat tercegat masalah. Alih-alih bertindak dengan akal sehat, dia mengenyampingkan problem.CINTA CENDERUNG KONSTANYa, cinta itu bergerak konstan. Maka kita patut curiga bila grafik perasaan kita pada kekasih turun naik sangat tajam. Kalau saat jauh kita merasa kekasih lebih hebat dibanding saat bersama, itu pertanda kita mengidealisasikannya, bukan melihatnya secara realistis. Lantas saat kembali bersama, kita memandang kekasih dengan lebih kritis dan hilanglah segala bayangan hebat itu. Sebaliknya berhati-hatilah bila kita merasa kekasih hebat saat kita berdekatan dengannya dan tidak lagi merasakan hal yang sama saat dia jauh. Hal sedemikian menandakan kita terkecoh oleh daya tarik fisik. Cinta terhitung sehat bila saat dekat dan jauh dari pasangan, kita menyukainya dalam kadar sebanding.CINTA TIDAK BERTUMPU PADA DAYA TARIK FISIKDalam hubungan cinta, daya tarik fisik penting. Tapi bahaya bila kita menyukai kekasih hanya sebatas fisik dan membencinya untuk banyak faktor lainnya. Saat jatuh cinta, kita menikmati dan memberi makna penting bagi setiap kontak fisik. Kontak fisik, ketahuilah, hanya terasa menyenangkan bila kita dan pasangan saling menyukai personalitas masing-masing. Maka bukan cinta namanya, melainkan nafsu, bila kita menganggap kontak fisik hanya memberi sensasi menyenangkan tanpa makna apa-apa. Dalam cinta, afeksi terwujud belakangan saat hubungan kian dalam. Sedang nafsu menuntut pemuasan fisik sedari permulaan.CINTA TIDAK BUTACinta itu buta? Tidak sama sekali. Orang yang mencinta melihat dan menyadari sisi buruk kekasih. Karena besarnya cinta, dia berusaha menerima dan mentolerir. Tentu ada keinginan agar sisi buruk itu membaik. Namun keinginan itu haruslah didasari perhatian dan maksud baik. Tidak boleh ada kritik kasar, penolakan, kegeraman, atau rasa jijik. Nafsulah yang buta. Meski pasangan sangat buruk, orang yang menjalin hubungan dengan penuh nafsu menerima tanpa keinginan memperbaiki. Juga meninggalkan pasangan saat keinginannya terpuaskan, hanya karena pasangan punya secuil keburukan yang sangat mungkin bisa diperbaiki.CINTA MEMPERHATIKAN KELANJUTAN HUBUNGANOrang yang benar-benar mencinta memperhatikan perkembangan hubungan dengan kekasih. Dia menghindari segala hal yang mungkin merusak hubungan. Sebisa mungkin dia melakukan tindakan yang bisa memperkuat, mempertahankan, dan memajukan hubungan. Orang yang sedang tergila-gila mungkin saja berusaha keras menyenangkan kekasih. Namun usaha itu semata-mata dilakukan agar kekasih menerimanya, sehingga tercapailah kepuasan yang diincar. Orang yang mencinta menyenangkan pasangan untuk memperkuat hubungan.CINTA BERANI MENYATAKAN HAL YANG TIDAK DISUKAISelain berusaha menyenangkan kekasih, orang yang sungguh-sungguh mencinta memiliki perhatian, keprihatinan, pengertian, dan keberanian untuk melakukan hal yang tidak disukai kekasih demi kebaikan. Seperti seorang ibu yang berkata "tidak" saat anaknya minta es krim, padahal sedang flu.
Bergabunglah dengan orang-orang yang berwawasan, di bidang Anda di Yahoo! Answers
Ketika AKU menciptakan langit dan bumi, AKU berfirman dan jadilah.Ketika AKU menciptakan pria, AKU membentuknya dan meniupkan nafas ke lubang hidungnya.Tetapi engkau, wanita, AKU menghiasmu setelah aku meniupkan nafas kehidupan ke pria karena lubang hidungmu terlalu lembut. AKU membiarkan pria tertidur dengan nyenyak sehingga AKU dapat dengan sabar dan sempurna membentuk engkau.Pria AKU buat tertidur supaya dia tidak dapat mencampuri.Dari satu tulang, AKU menghiasmu. AKU memilih tulang yang melindungi pria. AKU memilih tulang rusuk, yang melindungi jantung dan paru-paru juga mendukungnya, sebagaimana yang harus kamu lakukan. Dari satu tulang ini, AKU membentukmu dengan sempurna dan cantik.Sifatmu adalah tulang rusuk, kuat tetapi lembut dan mudah patah. Engkau menyediakan perlindungan untuk organ paling lembut dari pria yaitu hati atau jantungnya. Jantungnya adalah pusat dari kehidupannya, paru-paru menggenggam nafas kehidupan. Tulang rusuk akan membiarkan dirinya patah sebelum ia mengijinkan kerusakan terjadi pada jantung. Dukunglah pria sebagaimana tulang rusuk melindungi tubuhnya.Engkau tidak diambil dari kakinya untuk menjadi alasnya, tidak juga diambil dari kepalanya untuk menjadi atasannya. Engkau diambil dari sisinya, untuk berdiri disebelahnya dan dipeluk dengan erat.Engkau adalah malaikat-KU yang sempurna. Engkau adalah gadis kecilku yang cantik. Engkau telah tumbuh menjadi wanita yang sempurna, dan mata-KU terpuaskan ketika aku melihat hatimu. Matamu...jangan mengubahnya. Bibirmu sangat cantik ketika mengucapkan doa. Hidungmu sangat sempurna dalam bentuk. Tanganmu sangat lembut untuk disentuh. AKU telah memberi perhatian pada wajahmu saat engkau tertidur. AKU menggengam hatimu dekat dengan hati-KU.Dari semua yang hidup dan bernafas, engkau adalah yang paling mirip dengan AKU. ADAM berjalan bersamaku dihari dingin dan dia kesepian. Dia tidak dapat melihat ataupun menyentuh-KU. Dia hanya dapat merasakan-KU. Jadi semua yang AKU ingin Adam berbagi denganku, AKU membentuknya didalam kamu. Kekuatan-KU, kemurnian-KU, cinta-KU, perlindungan-KU dan dukungan-KU. Engkau adalah istimewa, karena engkau adalah perpanjangan tangan-KU.Pria melambangkan citra-KU, sedangkan wanita melambangkan perasaan-KU. Bersama-sama kalian melambangkan TUHAN yang sejati. Jadi pria, perlakukanlah wanita dengan baik, cintailah ia, hormatilah ia karena ia lembut. Menyakitinya, berarti engkau menyakiti-KU. Apa yang engkau lakukan kepadanya, engkau melakukan-nya kepada-KU.Wanita, dukunglah pria. Dalam kesederhanaan, tunjukkan kepadanya kekuatan perasaan yang telah AKU berikan kepadamu. Dalam kesunyian, tunjukkan kekuatanmu. Dalam cinta, tunjukkan kepadanya bahwa engkau adalah tulang rusuknya yang melindungi tubuhnya.
When two people love each other, nothing is more imperative and delightful than giving' ~ Guy de Maupassant ~MISKONSEPSICinta berpijak pada perasaan sekaligus akal sehat. Miskonsepsi pertama yang ditentang Bowman adalah manusia jatuh cinta dengan menggunakan perasaan belaka. Betul, kita jatuh cinta dengan hati. Tapi agar tidak menimbulkan kekacauan di kemudian hari, kita diharapkan untuk juga menggunakan akal sehat. Bohong besar kalau kita bisa jatuh cinta dengan begitu saja tanpa bisa mengelak. Yang sesungguhnya terjadi, proses jatuh cinta dipengaruhi tradisi, kebiasaan, standar, gagasan, dan deal kelompok dari mana kita berasal. Bohong besar pula kalau kita merasa boleh berbuat apa saja saat jatuh cinta, dan tidak bisa dimintai pertanggungan-jawab bila perbuatan-perbuatan impulsif itu berakibat buruk suatu ketika nanti. Kehilangan perspektif bukanlah pertanda kita jatuh cinta, melainkan sinyal kebodohan. Cinta membutuhkan proses, Bowman juga menolak anggapan cinta bisa berasal dari pandangan pertama. "Cinta itu tumbuh dan berkembang dan merupakan emosi yang kompleks," katanya.CINTA BUTUH WAKTUUntuk tumbuh dan berkembang, cinta membutuhkan waktu. Jadi memang tidak mungkin kita mencintai seseorang yang tidak ketahuan asal-usulnya dengan begitu saja. Cinta tidak pernah menyerang tiba-tiba, tidak juga jatuh dari langit. Cinta datang hanya ketika dua individu telah berhasil melakukan orientasi ulang terhadap hidup dan memutuskan untuk memilih orang lain sebagai titik fokus baru. Yang mungkin terjadi dalam fenomena "cinta pada pandangan pertama" adalah pasangan terserang perasaan saling tertarik yang sangat kuat-bahkan sampai tergila-gila. Kemudian perasaan kompulsif itu berkembang jadi cinta tanpa menempuh masa jeda. Dalam kasus "cinta pada pandangan pertama", banyak orang tidak benar-benar mencintai pasangannya, melainkan jatuh cinta pada konsep cinta itu sendiri. Sebaliknya dengan orang yang benar-benar mencinta, mereka mencintai pasangan sebagai personalitas yang utuh.CINTA BERBAGI, TIDAK MENGONTROLCinta tidak menguasai dan mengalah, tapi berbagi bukan cinta namanya bila kita berkehendak mengontrol pasangan. Juga bukan cinta bila kita bersedia mengalah demi kepuasan kekasih. Orang yang mencinta tidak menganggap kekasih sebagai atasan atau bawahan, tapi sebagai pasangan untuk berbagi, juga untuk mengidentifikasi diri. Bila kita berkeinginan menguasai kekasih (membatasi pergaulannya, melarangnya beraktivitas positif, mengatur seleranya berbusana) atau melulu mengalah (tidak protes bila kekasih berbuat buruk, tidak keberatan dinomorsekiankan), berarti kita belum siap memberi dan menerima cinta.BUATLAH CINTA ITU KONSTRUKTIFIndividu yang mencinta berbuat sebaik-baiknya demi kepentingan sendiri sekaligus demi (kebanggaan) pasangan. Dia berani berambisi, bermimpi konstruktif, dan merencanakan masa depan. Sebaliknya dengan yang jatuh cinta impulsif. Bukannya berpikir dan bertindak konstruktif, dia kehilangan ambisi, nafsu makan, dan minat terhadap masalah sehari-hari. Yang dipikirkan hanya kesengsaraan pribadi. Impiannya pun tak mungkin tercapai. Bahkan impian itu bisa menjadi subsitusi kenyataan.CINTA TIDAK MELENYAPKAN SEMUA MASALAHPenganut faham romantik percaya cinta bisa mengatasi masalah. Seakan-akan cinta itu obat bagi segala penyakit (panacea). Kemiskinan dan banyak problem lain diyakini bisa diatasi dengan berbekal cinta belaka. Faktanya, cinta tidaklah seajaib itu. Cinta hanya bisa membuat sepasang kekasih berani menghadapi masalah. Permasalahan seberat apapun mungkin didekati dengan jernih agar bisa dicarikan jalan keluar. Orang yang tengah mabuk kepayang (berarti tidak benar-benar mencinta) cenderung membutakan mata saat tercegat masalah. Alih-alih bertindak dengan akal sehat, dia mengenyampingkan problem.CINTA CENDERUNG KONSTANYa, cinta itu bergerak konstan. Maka kita patut curiga bila grafik perasaan kita pada kekasih turun naik sangat tajam. Kalau saat jauh kita merasa kekasih lebih hebat dibanding saat bersama, itu pertanda kita mengidealisasikannya, bukan melihatnya secara realistis. Lantas saat kembali bersama, kita memandang kekasih dengan lebih kritis dan hilanglah segala bayangan hebat itu. Sebaliknya berhati-hatilah bila kita merasa kekasih hebat saat kita berdekatan dengannya dan tidak lagi merasakan hal yang sama saat dia jauh. Hal sedemikian menandakan kita terkecoh oleh daya tarik fisik. Cinta terhitung sehat bila saat dekat dan jauh dari pasangan, kita menyukainya dalam kadar sebanding.CINTA TIDAK BERTUMPU PADA DAYA TARIK FISIKDalam hubungan cinta, daya tarik fisik penting. Tapi bahaya bila kita menyukai kekasih hanya sebatas fisik dan membencinya untuk banyak faktor lainnya. Saat jatuh cinta, kita menikmati dan memberi makna penting bagi setiap kontak fisik. Kontak fisik, ketahuilah, hanya terasa menyenangkan bila kita dan pasangan saling menyukai personalitas masing-masing. Maka bukan cinta namanya, melainkan nafsu, bila kita menganggap kontak fisik hanya memberi sensasi menyenangkan tanpa makna apa-apa. Dalam cinta, afeksi terwujud belakangan saat hubungan kian dalam. Sedang nafsu menuntut pemuasan fisik sedari permulaan.CINTA TIDAK BUTACinta itu buta? Tidak sama sekali. Orang yang mencinta melihat dan menyadari sisi buruk kekasih. Karena besarnya cinta, dia berusaha menerima dan mentolerir. Tentu ada keinginan agar sisi buruk itu membaik. Namun keinginan itu haruslah didasari perhatian dan maksud baik. Tidak boleh ada kritik kasar, penolakan, kegeraman, atau rasa jijik. Nafsulah yang buta. Meski pasangan sangat buruk, orang yang menjalin hubungan dengan penuh nafsu menerima tanpa keinginan memperbaiki. Juga meninggalkan pasangan saat keinginannya terpuaskan, hanya karena pasangan punya secuil keburukan yang sangat mungkin bisa diperbaiki.CINTA MEMPERHATIKAN KELANJUTAN HUBUNGANOrang yang benar-benar mencinta memperhatikan perkembangan hubungan dengan kekasih. Dia menghindari segala hal yang mungkin merusak hubungan. Sebisa mungkin dia melakukan tindakan yang bisa memperkuat, mempertahankan, dan memajukan hubungan. Orang yang sedang tergila-gila mungkin saja berusaha keras menyenangkan kekasih. Namun usaha itu semata-mata dilakukan agar kekasih menerimanya, sehingga tercapailah kepuasan yang diincar. Orang yang mencinta menyenangkan pasangan untuk memperkuat hubungan.CINTA BERANI MENYATAKAN HAL YANG TIDAK DISUKAISelain berusaha menyenangkan kekasih, orang yang sungguh-sungguh mencinta memiliki perhatian, keprihatinan, pengertian, dan keberanian untuk melakukan hal yang tidak disukai kekasih demi kebaikan. Seperti seorang ibu yang berkata "tidak" saat anaknya minta es krim, padahal sedang flu.

I don't get it!

2008-06-01T23:40:00.002+04:00

Why things are much more complicated than it should be?
Why didn't we prepare in advance?
Why people just like to see other suffers?
Why those jerk dare to say to me " the taxi stops here and you have waited there?"
Why didn't myself dare enough to stop him and take the taxi instead?
Why this day was so freaking hot and yet I have to wander around under the sun and waiting for the stupid taxis?
Why was my hair as usual, messy and bad looking?
Why was my foot sweating too much inside the boots (which was the only comfy shoes I have - so that I have to wear it, even during the summer?)
Why didn't people understand what misery has other gone through before ranting them shits?
Why the formalities seems so complicated that it can beat the top secret things?
Why people just don't have any sense to understand and help?

Why was I so cranky today?

What Oprah Said about Men

2008-05-25T20:47:00.002+04:00

HEAR WHAT OPRAH HAD TO SAY ABOUT MEN

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.

If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.

Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.

Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.

Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.

Slower is better.

Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends".

A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.

Don't settle.

If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.

Don't stay because you think "it will get better."

You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.

The only person you can control in a relationship is you.A

void men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.

He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?

Always have your own set of friends separate from his.

Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.

If something bothers you, speak up.

Never let a man know everything.

He will use it against you later.

You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.

Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are... even if he has more education or in a better job.

Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.

Never let a man define who you are.

Never borrow someone else's man.

If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.

A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.

All men are NOT dogs.

You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is two way street.

You need time to heal between relationships...there is nothing cute about baggage... deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.

You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you... a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals.

Look for someone complimentary, not supplementary.

Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.

Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him - he takes it for granted.

Never move into his mother's house.

Never co-sign for a man.

Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.

Keep him in your radar but get to know others.

Share this with other women and men (just so they know)...

You'll make someone smile, another rethink her choices, and another woman prepare.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them and an entire lifetime to forget them.

I found this article in one of the email chains - really struck my attention and I have to admit that I could not agree more to what it is about.

Highlight of the year!

2008-05-21T21:38:00.002+04:00

Watched Bon Jovi's concert in Emirates Palace... need I say more???:)

Marriage

2008-05-15T22:42:00.001+04:00

Wife: "What are you doing?"
Husband: "Nothing"
Wife: "Nothing...? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour".
Husband: "I was looking for the expiration date".
------------ --------- --------- --------- ----
Wife: "Do you want dinner?"
Husband: "Sure! What are my choices?"
Wife: "Yes and No".
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
Wife: "You always carry my photo in your wallet. Why?"
Husband: "When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and the problem disappears".
Wife: "You see how miraculous and powerful I am for you?"
Husband: "Yes! I see your picture and ask myself what other problem can there be greater than this one?"
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
Stress Reliever Girl: "When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten your burden."
Boy: "It's very kind of you, darling, but I don't have any worries or troubles."
Girl: "Well, that's because we aren't married yet."
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
Son: "Mom, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady."
Mom: "Well, you have done the right thing."
Son: "But Mom, I was sitting on daddy's lap."
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
A newly married man asked his wife," Would you have married me if my father hadn't left me a fortune?"
"Honey," the woman replied sweetly,"I'd have married you, NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE!"
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
Father to son after exam: "Let me see your report card."
Son: "My friend just borrowed it. He wants to scare his parents."
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
Girl to her boyfriend: "One kiss and I'll be yours forever."
The guy replies: "Thanks for the early warning."
------------ --------- --------- --------- ------
A wife asked her husband: "What do you like most in me, my pretty face or my sexy body?"
He looked at her from head to toe and replied: "I like your sense of humor."

Healthy Lifestyle

2008-05-15T22:40:00.000+04:00

1.Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually.Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

2.Q:Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

3.Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

4.Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

5.Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exerciseprogram?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

6.Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

7.Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely! not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

8.Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO. Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

9.Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

10.Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Shut Up, NOW!

2008-05-13T20:53:00.003+04:00

I wish I am able to shut my mouth up at the right time
I wish my brain thinks before my mouth speaks
I wish I can stop the time – halt it and let it tick again after I find good and proper thing to answer back
I wish my eloquence is much better than what I have now
I wish I still be able to answer properly even if I am very very distracted
I wish if I laugh it won’t make me less alert to find something proper to response back
I wish I don’t curse this much
I wish I can stay positive 100% 24/7
I wish the part inside my brain which controls my speech does its work much better
I wish people get the right thing what I want to say when I say wrong things which I don’t intend to and get the right thing what I want to say when I say right as well!

-clumsy girl-
who, unintentionally cursed in front of her new boss' boss

Glass ceiling in women's head

2008-05-11T08:28:00.005+04:00

The last good article I read
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/camilla_cavendish/article3889912.ece

Hummous

2008-05-03T21:33:00.004+04:00

.....also spelled hamos, houmous, hommos, hommus, hummos, hummous or humus

is a dip or spread made from cooked and mashed chickpea, blended with tahini (sesama seed paste), lemon juice, oilve oil, salt and garlic. This is one among the fabulous great food I've ever taste and I really enjoy it. This is one of my arabic food favorite and to my luck that in AD, I can find as much hummous as I want:).

This weekend I stayed at home and I ate hummous for breakfast and luch and dinner for 2 days in a row! And oopss.. even I have prepared my breakfast to bring to the office tommorow:).

I really tried to encourage myself to eat more veggies and this weekend, a good wind blowed me to buy some vegetables and pickles and hummous in the supermarket: which turned to be a good start. I bought carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes, then hummous, pickled lebanese black olives and pickled chilli.

After arrived home, I sliced 1 carrot, 1 tomato and 1 cucumber, springkled with lime juice, chilli and olives and poured hummous paste above and mixed. Well.. it looked like a baby pukey, but the taste was wonderful! Moreover I feel glad since this taste healthy:).

The next day I made similar thing again. In total this weekend I have made this so called pukey salad 3 times:).

Curious about this Hummous stuff, I browsed Wikipedia and found out that this food is one of the oldest prepared food of human civilization. Some source mentioned that early civilization of Egypt has known in food at 8th century. Even, chickpea, the main ingridient is one among the earliest crops grown in Mesopotamia. And the best thing is, some researchers says that the nutritional benefits from this food has contributed to the early civilization around middle east. What a powerful food is it?:).

This food has high nutritional value from chickpea: low fat (mostly polysaturated fat), protein, dietary fiber, iron, zinc and vitamin C, even some says that the calcium content of chickpea is not that much different than yoghurt. One hundred grams o mature boiled chickpeas contains 164 cal, 2.6 gr of fat (of which only 0.27 gr is saturated), 7.6 gr of dietary fiber and 8.9 gr of protein.

Hummous normally served with flat bread and can be part of Meze, a set of small dishes (hot or cold) to accompany main arabic dishes.

I can eat hummous in anyways, and the best thing I like about this stuff is that I can eat carrot and other vegetables and really enjoying the taste!

Living Room

2008-05-02T10:08:00.000+04:00

First appearance can be deceiving....

Guest Room

2008-05-02T10:06:00.003+04:00

Guest room - now it is my ironing room and scale-room (yes I put a weight scale here)

Love Life ain't Love Story

2008-04-27T22:43:00.004+04:00

A sad thing happened to a friend of mine, just showed me that real love life is not what is it described in the movies.

In the movies.. everything went so perfect, they're meant to be together.

But in real life.. hard work is needed to make the relationship works. That's why I strongly disagree the term that one person is meant for another. It is not true.. each party has to do some extend of work if they want to maintain the relationship. There will always be some gravels, stones, slopes down and turning around, and even going no-where. The relationship is there because the person involved in it want it to go.

So when I whined to my friend that I do want some cheesy romatic scenes..those which are sweet and hearts-melting.."like the ones in the movies", she simply replied back to me.."darling.. those romantic movies... you should watch till the end..after the credit title.. everything bad will be revealed".

So, yeap, having somebody for you is not how you change that person to be as you wish..but to adapt yourself and your other-half to be 1 full-better-person.

Switch off the movie and enjoy your real love life with all the shitty parts!

Blue bike with red lock

2008-04-27T22:39:00.002+04:00

Sepeda baruku

berwarna biru

dengan gembok merah

hasil paket murah meriah

kalau berjalan bunyi keriat keriut

kayak nenek kena sakit otot

satu hal bikin aku sebal bah

belum apa apa setang udah mencong sebelah!

Sick

2008-04-27T07:43:00.000+04:00

I don't want to work!

I am sick of it.. I am sick of everything!

Why can't I wake up late and do nothing the whole day? Why can I not talk to the people I don't want to talk? Why can I not do the things I hate on following up? Why can't I be together with my friends and love ones, not stuck here and feel so lonely?

(my symptoms of needing vacation)

Bed room

2008-04-25T12:18:00.000+04:00

Taxi Drivers in Abu Dhabi

2008-04-13T15:09:00.006+04:00

There are 3 main type of taxis in this town:

1. the cheapest taxi - usually in white cars with green and gold lining at the back of the cars. This taxis own by individuals and they hire drivers to operate the taxis. The meter start at 2.00 dhs and will increase ~ 1.5 every kms

2. Moderate - nicer taxi - several taxi companies, such: National Taxi, AD Transport, and some other. Variety in car colors, but normally in creme-whiteish cars with yellow lamp on top of cars. The meter starts at 2.5 or 3.5 dhs.

3. The limousine - this cars can be booked and the trip will be more costly compare to other 2 taxis. The meter will start at 10.00 dhs.

In particular, the cheapest taxis - since they are owned by individuals, there is no standard and no complaint can be made to. The drivers are mainly come from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh..Despite the particular origins they are from, the drivers are notorious of some funny, unbelievable acts. AD streets with no numbering system makes it even worse, since sometimes they hardly speak English:

- One time I took a taxi to client office, I mentioned "ZADCO".. then He dropped me at the back of the office, which means that i have either go through parking lots to reach the lobby or walk around the block to reach the front door. So I asked him to turn aroudn and get me to the front side of the building. But no, he persistently stop the car and wait for me to pay and go out. "It's far to go to front of the building, you stop here" (Of course he didn't say that.. but that's what he want to say if he can, bet me!)

- It was weekend, Friday, afternoon. It was a bit difficult to get taxi this time, since the whole town are still sleeping. I wait for 15-min and luckily one taxi pass by. So I jumped in and mentioned Marina Mall - One among 3 big malls in AD. He was confused, so I added: "corniche", still he mentioned some words and at teh end he said "I don't know" and stop the car again. Gosh!... He's a taxi driver in this not so big town and don't now one of the biggest mall in town???

- Do not ever say "near" - some famous place. They just don't get the concept that maybe the destination place is not actually the famous landmarks or places.. but somewhere nearby.

- The best story was when the driver bargained me (in my other blog). I just still feel this is funny, but dare not to happen for the 2nd time!

Week 28 Mar Highlight

2008-04-06T13:46:00.005+04:00

2 continuos days of walking and walking
- Friday: went to Mina Center, walked around 3.5 hours to snap some pictures of the boat dock
- Saturday: went to walk around the "White Fort" or Qasr Al Hosn and Cultural Foundation.

Quite a quiet weekend (and the hot one, literally!)

FOCUS!!!.. so difficult..

2008-04-06T13:42:00.002+04:00

My attention span is no longer than a 5 years old kid.

I can't ever do a single task until it finish and then do another task, undistracted, continously.
So, the freedom to browse internet (update my blog is one of the example), is a great relief for me. During teh task, I will need to frequently check the mail, check teh Travbud, update my blog, check facebook and friendster, read imdb, and oh ya.. one mail comes in, so I need to re-check my mail:).

I reallyw ant to try to be focused and not getting distracted... but hell.. it is just so difficult and seems impossible.

Nightmare

2008-04-01T08:37:00.003+04:00

I never knew before that I am actually so devoted to my work.

Worklife is sometimes busy as hell, as you need hour 25th, as you need 8th day in a week, as you are willing to kill somebody just to get a few minutes off the load, as you want to jump out of your desk every weekend night and run to the nearest bar to get drunk. But sometimes also, the work is really nothing to do, just go to office because your boss does also, just browsing the web and update our blogs.

Actually this is not something new for me, but I didn't realize when I was back in Indonesia, because there were so many other things to do and to think.

But after I moved to AD, being a small location, sometimes there is nothing going on at all (or maybe there is, but not my concerns:p), so I spent 2 days of this week doing almost nothing - took a long lunch with a girl from office, smoking break, again, long lunch and chat, walk around the block (and enter a clothes shop after that:p). Tried and tried to upload the pictures (most of the time didn't work), chat via messenger.

Well, I still thought that I was just fine, until last night I had a nightmare that my job are all screwed up and I got fired, I couldn't recollect the details.

Was that because doing nothing at work disturb my conscience? Or was it merely because the Philippines food I ate for dinner that evening? I am not sure which one:)

The Kite Runner

2008-03-29T15:37:00.001+04:00

This is the recent movie which made me cry after watching. So beautifully described. I must read the book!

The sketch

2008-03-29T15:31:00.003+04:00

As any other networking web.. facebook is also an extensive source for a self-exhibitionist and show-off things. It allows you to put a sketch of your profile picture. In no chance I would get a painter to sketch me.. so I was thinking that this is the only chance to see my picture.

Week-14 Mar-08 highlight

2008-03-19T16:23:00.002+04:00

1. Children Concert and Jazz concert in Cultural Foundation
Amazing moment to se ethe kids playing. I really regret that I don't have any musical talent at all. My favourite show were - 2 siblings, older sister and her younger brother. The brother played guitar, and the sister played piano and sing blues song " route 66".. Her voice... wow.. amazing!!

Then a tiny girl (probably not more than 4 years old - see picture how tiny she is) playing violin with a lady played piano.

2. Lunch Indonesian Food at Bram's - pecel, tempe n tahu goreng, lumpia
Why this is good?

- It's fun to see the boys cooking (good food by the way:p)

- It's nice to gather with fellow Indonesians - altough I get less than 50% of what they're talking about D&M:)

- It's free:)

3. Lazy weekend...no clubbing - still restrain myself not to go.. no accompany helped me achieving this

This week 20-Mar-08 's highlight

2008-03-19T16:22:00.005+04:00

1. London Philharmonic Ochestra - Sat 22 Mar 08

2. Al Ain Day tour - Sat 22 Mar 08

3. Thursday 20 Mar 08

- went to Lulu island.. a bit dull, only by myself and not prepared at all... but a good chance to explore. Lulu island is a man-made island, located on the coast of Abu Dhabi. Basically, nothing is in there, but the long white perfect beach, fresh water lake and swimming pool. Normally people come here in groups or family and do bbq at the beach or swimming. The water is crystal blue with lots of fish. I just spent some time there to walk on the beach and tried to catch the pick up bus back to jetty. The entrance fee (inlcuding the tour by bus, boat to and from the island is 15 dhs) add 5 dhs more if you want to take a train ride. too bad that the wheather (and sun) is alreday too hot to be outside within a long time these days)

4. Thursday 20 Mar 08

- Heritage Village. a tourist attraction nearby the jetty for Lulu island. They have a Museum and some copies of old times Bedouin race living - houses, cutlery, weapon, clothes.. as well as authentic camel, falcon, horse and donkey:)

5. One thing notoriously known from taxi driver a.k.a: Pakistani - they treat Asian / phillipines looking woman too general. They think that all can be "bargained". Those things I heard from my friend. But only today I experienced it myself. I hopped in a taxi from Herotage Village, and just after I sat inside, teh driiver asked me "How much?".. I was confused and replied "What?".. and he smirked and said " Dunno, you tell me...". I ignored him since then. It was irritated, but I thought that I don't eed to sweat too much on this.. let them do and think whatever they want too...

Another fine creation from the almighty

2008-03-09T10:06:00.003+04:00

Christian Bale... (*sigh*) .. why he has to be taken?

Guilty Pleasure: The Office

2008-03-09T09:55:00.003+04:00

the new guilty pleasure and a reason that I could stay at home and spent the whole days just being sloth and staring to the screen and after the discs all finiseh, getting so craving and deperately in need for the 3rd season.

My heart completely melted in a romantic-slash-sad scenes between Jim and Pam.

And I just laughed uncontrollably whenever Jim plays pranks to Dwight or just staring in astonishment and shock to see Michael rude words.

ahh.. just love this series:)

have my first apartment... hiyaaa! scary and exciting at te same time!

2008-03-09T09:20:00.011+04:00

My first apartment! ever!

Finally i found my apartment.. well actually, the word "find" will not be that suitable, since I didn't really looked for it. Lady in personnel get me a contact from real-estate and she showed me this apartemnt. It located just in the corner of the street, very near to teh office, in fcat from the porch I can see the entrance to the office. And maybe I am matched with number "7".. since there 2 units available were 704 and 602. For sure I chose the 704, not because of teh number, but because the side. The living room will have sun in the evening. This is a 2 bed rooms apartment, with 1 living room, 1 main bath room and kitchen.. with a tiny porch outside. The thing I like about this appartment is the decoration, all white colored walls with lots of built in cabinets in light yellow color. feels so bright and light, not like my current apartment which feels dark, heavy and gloomy with the yellow light lamps and heavy furnitures.

So.. now the adventure of choosing the furnitures and everything inside begin!

Sun-9 Mar 08

- went to the apartment and take a look again.

Sun-9 Mar 08

Went to Shadow and chose the curtain and the carpet.

- embroidery dark maroon for master bed room, with blackout shade (which i've just known that "blackout" is white color:p).

- embroidery beige color for the living room

- cotton, rugged pattern for the guest bed room (try to get a warm - village type of curtain:p)

- The carpet I plan only for the 2 bedrooms, which I chose the medium thickness and broken white color.

The people from the shop will need to go to the apartment and take some measurements.

I like this shop, since the people there are so soft-spoken and helpful.

The days after:

Explore Home Center for some furnitures and get some quotation as well as the electronic from Costless. This is the time to experiment.. who cares is the choices are bad.. I am the only one who will stare at them (an excuse from my-humble-self:p).

This is the bed and bed sheet that I've chosen for my bed room.

The dressing table.

Tiny dinner table: I will put it in the kitchen since there's no designated room for dining table and my living room is full already.

The low desk.. dunno, maybe for TV set.. or just simply the books and accesorries. I'll decide later.

Suddenly just fall in love with this sofa.. although maybe will not match with the room or else... but I will have to have this:)

I just have to have these 2 as well, shoes rack and the chair to wear the shoes in comfortable way

Chest drawer for my bed room

Who says churches can't make a joke?

2008-03-06T17:40:00.020+04:00

This is the strength of email forwards -quoted from Michael Scott - The Office:). Funny things about the churches signs.. really curious if these signs are real or not

This is my favourite:)

I just feel grateful with my life if...

2008-03-01T21:53:00.003+04:00

I complained a lot, I always feel exhausted, tired, not satisfied, demanding, need more, jealous, angry....

But it's like God want to remind me with each tiny and almost unseen things which I saw and made me feel grateful and blessed with all the unperfect things I have, when I see these things:

1. I passed a man on the street, we was standing beside a supermarket, in front of him there were several plastic bags which the content can't be seen. He was thin and look cold in the windy night like this. Everytime when somebody passed him, he said in between his cough.."*cough* cough* .. fish madam *cough * cough*"

2. In my location, Abu Dhabi, My company has a school for the trainee, where the trainess from every locations come and follow a technical course. Last week there was an accident, tire bursted and the car rolled over, and 1 trainee died in the car. Thsi girl, just joined Schlumberger for 3 months only and just so sad to see this kind of thing.

3. everytime I saw a tired looking man with worn out dress, carrying a grocery bags....

First hangover in Abu Dhabi

2008-03-01T20:36:00.013+04:00

It was this weekend when I went with Beng - a colleague from Pekanbaru who come here for a course. We spent the day in Marina Mall, trying to get something to satisfy his pickiness (well, he's Singaporean.. I can't expect too much for -not-being-too-picky from him, eh?:p).

When we're about to go back home, he said that 2 of his classmates headed to the mall as well, so we decided to wait for them.

So, we met them.. now we were: 1 Indonesian girl, 3 guys, Omani, American and Singaporean. Very normal if you are working for Schlumberger (and UNO as well, I guess:) ).

So, they finished eating and invited if I want to join them.."where to?" I asked.. and they, with their usual guy-ness replied " well, everywhere, we'll check each nice spots". What they meant is to do bars-hopping.

So, the Omani guy, Ahmed drives a car, and we stopped a moment back in my place to change and to their place to change as well.

So, because before, I heard this bar called "Rock Bottom", I told them as one of the idea and we headed there.

This bar located in Al Diar Capitol Hotel, in eastern Ring Road. The bar is crowded and quite big, although still full with people. It is combined with a restaurant as well. The choice of songs are good and nice for dancing, but the band was not really good with his shrieking voice and actually the the DJ session is better compare to the band session. Only the "girls" who were dancing on the floor, so it was not really enjoable for me, since I came with 3-veggie guys who didn't want to move and having "not drunk enough" as the reason and no girlfriend to dance together. Couple of time I tried to scoop in and dance in between the people, but I felt not so comfortable and moved back in to join the guys around the bar table. To get in, each of us need to pay 50 dhs, for 2 free drinks, quite a good deal (compare to another stuff price here - since I need to remind myself not to convert each price into rupiah, or else I will live like a monk:p). The crowd is more to arabs/indians and guys-who-I-can't-identify, not so many "bule" here. One guy tried to tease me, guess he's drunk, I just ignore and look the other direction. Here I really feel midget, since everybody else at least 1-half taller and bigger than me... so, not really nice to be swerved around and also can't be seen.

Good thing here is just the song, and oh yea, the Foster beer and Corona I took (after more than 4 months I didn't drink).Finished with the drinks, the guys decided to move to another bar, I was hesitated for a moment, but hell, I wanna see the other place as well.

So we went to Crowne Plaza Hotel, actually just beside my office, and nearby my apartment. It has "Heroes" pub, which the guys went the day before and they promised me that "everybody on the floor". So we went in, no-cover charge or entrance fee.. which is a bit surprise since this was weekend night, but it's good for us anyway. The place is a bit packed and smaller than the first one. The dance floor was small as well. The crowd is more all bule and almost no ayam around. The bad was good, with a lady bassis who played like crazy but very good. Only the choice of songs are very american-rock stuff which was not really comfortable to dance, unless you want to do head banging in every songs. The guys were standing in front of me and I sat in a bar table, when suddenly somebody grabbed me from the back, when I turned my head to see, it was the guy in red shirt, who I already noticed from before, noticed in a way since he was clearly drunk and passed out. I politely hold his arm to restrain him to go closer and asked if he was okay. He didn't answered only smirk and point out his tongue and saw my friends. Too bad actually that he's drunk, since he was kind of cute:).

Then we moved to the seat beside the stage, the band was singing all rock songs. I was watching the screen which was showing sport games, since it looks like this place is a sport bar. Ahmed got me another drink, Corona, actually I asked for water, but dunno why he came back with Corona. Or maybe because I was too tipsy and said corona instead of water?

The red-shirt guy danced in front of the stage and suddenly he (as what Kelli said in his own word) locked me in his sight, by making some move 2 fingers pointing his eyes and then pointing to me.

I was laughing *sigh*..too bad that he's passed out already:)

It was around 2:15 in the morning and the bar will close in another 15 min, so the guys decided to go out and check this bar,in the hotel called Howard Johnson, Kelli said in US this is wellknown sleazy place. So we went out and walked to teh hotel, were stranded a bit before I finally can see the hotel name from afar. We went in, but too bad (or good?) that it was closed. This place is so indian from outside, so I asked the guys if they really wanted to go, but anyway we didn't make it.

So just walked back and they set me off in front of my apartment.

The story hasn't ended yet, the morning I woke up with a very very very bad headache and this nauseous feeling in my stomach. Herlina called to go together for lunch, so I was thinking that I should have something to eat, which turned out to be a bad decision, since:

- The morning when you have hangover, never see the sun.. you are a vampire. The light will kill you .. literally

- Never set a date, especially a date which involve eating or much movement

-Don't see anybody, since you don't want to hurt somebody's feeling in a way since you can't respond well to his/her friendliness and kindness. The hotel waiter was so friendly and generous, giving us free soup and dessert, yet I can't finish them altough it tasted very good, not only I can't finish them, but I can't touch them at all.

- This headache... this is the reason why there is a symptom called headache, it is meant to punish the hangovers:)

Fortunately after we went back home I can puke.. and after that the headache gone and now it feels like I have a beast inside my stomach with this big appetite:)

So, my second weekend here and my first time hangover.. and still has a lot of work to do:)

To ndutty: I wrote this during my hangover, guess that already is an apology:p

It needs a correction, yes, but......!

2008-02-28T08:13:00.010+04:00

First installation...
Ups.. there's some typo error, undeliberately.
Yes, we are aware of and willing to correct it.

Now, after being corrected.....

hahhhh... capeee deeehh!

Only happen in Indonesia

2008-02-27T13:06:00.005+04:00

This is something real ... a pulic sign for drugs campaign. In indonesian word, it means:" stay away from drugs"... but they made the wrong translation into: " Hide drugs":)

Pls check the dictionary first, will ya?

New Things in Abu Dhabi

2008-02-21T14:37:00.020+04:00

New things, new life, new places...some goods, some bads, some silly, some weirds.. but after all.. this is what I want.

1. Gosh, can't imagine how big their cotton buds size!.. even, for babies!

2. No numbering system in the streets..so, my apartment would be called: Abu Dhabi Plaza, between corner of Electra St and Nadja St.

3. All the town consist of perfectly squared and perpendiculars blocks and roads! Which is good for an amateur traveller (and woman) like myself.

4. The fries here is one of the best fries I've ever tasted (or maybe because the fries in Indonesia just sucks? dunno:p)

5. Very nice to walk around, the breeze and wind and cool, make you be able to wander around for hours without any sweat. (note: only during month dec - feb and after 17:00 pm - 09:00 am)

6. Everything loves to be called "full cream"... desperate to get anything in "low fat".. even some products are proud to put the label of "double cream"

7. Porn channel in the apartment??? no further commment about this..:)

8. I can sense the logic now, why in the developed and modern country... there's no traffic jam and no maids, no traffic means people come back from office quite early (not as Jakarta which at leats took 30 - unlimited mins to reach home, depends on the distance and the road situation of course), then more time at home to do all house chores!.. see the logic now?

9. Always see to the wrong side of the road? this is a big no-no.. very dangerous.. more than one I didn't see the car came fast to my because I was staring at the wrong direction when I was about to cross the street.

10. Free brochures, magazines (of course not the gossip mags), like to get the one from grocery stores and stares at the products:)

11. My addiction to tea is getting more and more serious.. since Dilmah tea is cheap here:). The tea which in Indonesia served in 5-star hotel (and will be damn expensive) here: with 6 dhs I got the 250 gr pack of their green tea. But still I miss Japanese ocha - bottomless:)

12. Thanks to the washing machine: all my underwear changed the color, bluish, reddish and now, unclassified color. I just still can't solve the mistery of which cloth smeared their color to the undies.

13. New kind of loneliness, which feels a bit weird since I've never felt that eventough I was alone in any places in indonesia

Abu Dhabi

2008-02-17T16:29:00.004+04:00

I am freezing in the desert..

Hard to believe, but it is true that the apartment in Abu Dhabis is very cold. I thought I have turn off the air con... but the temperature still low. I turned on the water heater to take a bath.. but the water kept cold.. so there I was.. freezing and trembling in the shower.

I've just arrived in Abu Dhabi.. my 5th locations:) (after Jakarta, Balikpapan, Pekanbaru and again - Jakarta). After a long flight, from Sat 23:00 to Sun 10:00, I flew via Singapore and Doha.

Exhausted, sleepy and sad, finally I am here.

Took almost 1 hour to reach the apartment from the airport. Got some problems with the credit card, unfriendly service, limited cash, washing machine which i don't have any idea how to operate..... but I will survive:)

Oh, I love myself being a Gemini:)

2008-02-14T07:07:00.003+04:00

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory. On the one hand it produces the virtue of versatility, and on the other the vices of two-facedness and flightiness. Geminis are expansive, adventurous and forward-looking. They laugh at life. To them life is a game which must always be full of fresh moves and continuous entertainment, free of labor and routine. Decision making does not form a part of the Gemini persona. Most Gemini have a keen, intuitive, sometimes brilliant intelligence. But their concentration, though intense for a while, does not last. Their mental agility and energy give them a voracious appetite for knowledge from youth onward, though they dislike the labor of learning. They are quick learners. When faced with difficulties, they have little determination to worry at a problem until they find a solution - they will pick the brains of others. Geminis seldom take themselves very seriously. They are often actors, in life as well as profession. they like to experiment with roles. Geminians can be successful in many walks of life though their general characteristics tend to make them unreliable.

Jokes on Love

2008-02-14T05:54:00.012+04:00

HAPPY VAL'S DAY!!!!!

The Rules by which females are governed :-)

1. The FEMALE always makes the rules.
2. The RULES are subject to change at any time without prior notification...by the FEMALE.
3. No MALE can possibly know all the RULES.
4. If the FEMALE suspects the MALE knows all the RULES, she must immediately change some or all of them.
5. The FEMALE is never wrong.
6. If the FEMALE is wrong, it is due to a misunderstanding which was a direct result of something the MALE did or said wrong.
7. The MALE must apologize immediately for causing the misunderstandings.
8. The FEMALE may change her mind at any time.
9. The MALE must never change his mind without the express written consent of the FEMALE.
10. The FEMALE has every right to be angry or upset at any time.
11. The MALE must remain calm at all times, unless the FEMALE wants him to be angry or upset.
12. The FEMALE must, under no circumstances, let the MALE know whether or not she wants him to be angry or upset.
13. The Male is expected to "mind read" at all times.
14. The MALE who doesn't abide by THE RULES; can't take the heat, lacks backbone, and is a wimp!
15. Any attempt to document THE RULES could result in bodily harm.
16. The FEMALE is ready when SHE is ready.
17. The MALE must be ready at ALL times

Stupid Jokes on Men:

1. What is the thinnest book in the world?"What Men Know About Women"
2. What's the difference between men and government bonds? Bonds mature
3. How do you save a man from drowning? Take your foot off his head
4. What do men and beer bottles have in common? They're both empty from the neck up
5. How can you tell if a man is happy? Who cares
6. How many men does it take to change a roll of toilet paper? We don't know... it has never happened
7. What's a man's idea of helping with the housework? Lifting his leg so you can vacuum
8. What's the difference between a man and E.T? E.T. phoned home
9. What does a man consider a seven course meal? A hot dog and a six pack of beer
10. What do you call a man with half a brain? Gifted !
11. What did God say after he created man? I can do better
12. What are two reasons men don't mind their own business? 1. No mind 2. No business
13. What do you call an intelligent man in America? A tourist
14. Did you hear about the man who won the gold medal? He bronzed it
15. How do men sort their laundry? "Filthy" and "Filthy and wearable"
16. Only a man could buy a $400 car and put a $4000 stereo in it
17. Why did God create man? He needed to practice
18. Why is it good that there are female astronauts? When the crew gets lost, at least she will ask for directions

Jokes on marriage:

Her husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months yet she stayed by his bedside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business fell, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side. When I think about it now. ....I think you bring me bad luck!"

Boring husband: Honey, why are you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?

Bored wife: Because I married the wrong man!

First Guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"

Second Guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least 100 grand.

Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.

When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.

A woman rushed home from work and exclaimed to her husband, "Pack your bags, I've won the lottery!" The husband excitedly asks, "Should I pack clothes for cold or warm weather?" She says, "Pack'em all, you're leaving!"

A couple came upon a wishing well. The wife leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny. The husband decided to make a wish, too But he leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned. The wife was stunned for a moment but then smiled, "It really works!"

Two women friends meet on the street, but they haven't seen each other for years. As they are talking one women notices that her friend has a 5 carat diamond ring, and says "My what a magnificent ring." Her friend relies, "Yes, it is, but unfortunately it comes with a curse. It comeswith my husband!"

Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you say. After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.

Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical, and a good cook. But the law allows only one wife.

One woman's hobby is another woman's hubby.

Many a man owes his success to his first wife and his second wife to his success.

I recently read that love is entirely a matter of chemistry. That must be why my wife treats me like toxic waste.

A man is incomplete until he is married. After that, he is finished. I'm an excellent housekeeper. Every time I get a divorce, I keep the house.

We in the industry know that behind every successful screenwriter stands a woman. And behind her stands his wife.

Marriage is when a man and woman become as one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one.

Marriages are made in heaven. But so again, are thunder and lightning.

If you want your wife to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep

Then, really, why there are still marriages?

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves.After marriage, the "y" becomes silent.

When a newly married couple smiles, everyone knows why.When a ten-year married couple smiles, everyone wonders why.

My wife told me I should be more affectionate.So I got two girlfriends.

A husband said to his wife, "No, I don't hate your relatives. In fact, I like your mother-in-law better than I like mine."

A man meets a genie. The genie tells him he can have whatever he wants provided that his mother-in-law gets double. The man thinks for a moment and then says, "OK, give me a million dollars and beat me half to death."

The honeymoon is over when the husband calls home to say he'll be late for dinner and the answering machine says it is in the microwave.

Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for marriage.They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.

How do most men define marriage? A very expensive way to get your laundry done.

A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" And the father replied, "I don't know, son, I'm still paying for it."

A couple was having a discussion about family finances. Finally the husband exploded, "If it weren't for my money, the house wouldn't be here!" The wife replied, "My dear, if it weren't for your money, I wouldn't be here."

A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.

Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener.

The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

Cosmetics: A woman's way of keeping a man from reading between the lines.

Words to live by: Do not argue with a spouse who is packing your parachute

Bachelors should pay more taxes, they enjoy a better quality of life.

Why Government does not allow a Man to Marry 2 Women. Because per Constitution, you can NOT PUNISH TWICE for the same Mistake

When do you congratulate someone for their mistake.On their marriage.

If you do NOT have a wife - You are missing Some thing in your life. If you have a wife - You are missing So Many things in your life.

Marriage is a three ring circus:engagement ring, wedding ring, suffering

superBAD

2008-02-14T05:02:00.004+04:00

This movie is sssoooooo bad, in the good and quirky way:).

Just don't have any comments about all the F words being cursed, whispered, shouted, mentioned, or just into every conversations:)

Fogell: Yo guys! Sup?

Seth: Fogell, where have you been, man? You almost gave me a goddamn heart attack. Let me see it. Did you pussy out or what?

Fogell: No noooo, man. I got it; it is flawless. Check it!

Evan: [examining the fake ID] Hawaii. All right, that's good. That's hard to trace, I guess. Wait... you changed your name to... McLovin?

Fogell: Yeah.

Evan: McLovin? What kind of a stupid name is that, Fogell? What, are you trying to be an Irish R&B singer? Fogell: Naw, they let you pick any name you want when you get down there.

Seth: And you landed on McLovin...

Fogell: Yeah. It was between that or Muhammed.

Seth: Why the FUCK would it be between THAT or Muhammed? Why don't you just pick a common name like a normal person?

Fogell: Muhammed is the most commonly used name on Earth. Read a fucking book for once.

Evan: Fogell, have you actually ever met anyone named Muhammed?

Fogell: Have YOU actually ever met anyone named McLovin?

Seth: No, that's why you picked a dumb fucking name!

Fogell: Fuck you.

Seth: Gimme that. All right, you look like a future pedophile in this picture, number 1. Number 2: it doesn't even have a first name, it just says "McLovin"!

Evan: What? One name? ONE NAME? Who are you? Seal?

Seth: Fogell, this ID says that you're 25 years old. Why wouldn't you just put 21, man?

Fogell: Seth, Seth, Seth. Listen up, ass-face: every day, hundreds of kids go into the liquor store with fake IDs, and every single one says they're 21. Pssh, how many 21 year olds do you think there are in this town? It's called fucking strategy, all right?

Evan: Stay calm, okay? Let's not lose our heads. It's... it's a fine ID; it'll... it's gonna work. It's passable, okay? This isn't terrible. I mean, it's up to you, Fogell. This guy is either gonna think 'Here's another kid with a fake ID' or 'Here's McLovin, a 25 year-old Hawaiian organ donor'. Okay? So what's it gonna be?

Fogell: [grinning] ... I am McLovin!

Seth: No you're not. No one's McLovin. McLovin's never existed because that's a made up dumb FUCKING FAIRY TALE NAME, YOU FUCK!

10 things why we can't be a Kat Strafford

2008-02-12T09:44:00.000+04:00

From the movie of 10-Things I hate About You.

This is a teenage movie, which as an adaptation from Shakespeare's "Taming The Shrew", not only I learnt some new words such as:

- shrew: aggressive woman
- pensive: thoughtful
- conceited: excessively proud of oneself
- tumultuous: very loud

But, out of my curiosity, this character of Kat Strafford and why she is just a character in the movie.
1. You can't just crash your dad's car intentionally everytime you hate a guy.
2. You can't just flash your boobs in front of your teacher!
3. don't blame if a guy you like, refuse to kiss you after you puked (although apparently he likes you back)
4. If you play to be a free, feminist chick, and think of other as shallow, consumer-driver creatures - there is no reason to go out in a party and get drunk and do pole dance on the table where everybody looked at you.
5. In no other life, even you can tell that your counseling teacher is in the progress of writing a porn story.
6. Oh, please cut your hair!
7. When a guy dare to embarass himself in front of the whole school by singing "I can't take my eyes off of you" mean that either he really likes you.. or he got paid to do so.
8. It's impossible to throw a ball from > 10-meters distance with bare handed and the ball nearly hit your target (unless you consumed enough spinach to allow you to be as strong as Popeye)
9. After you slept with a guy and found out later that he's merely a jerk, best option is to get much-much away from him and pretend he never existed, instead of making him to be no-1 seen enemy and neverendingly chase each other.
10. If everyday you just go home, never go out and (apprently) never do anything else but couching at home and barking your sister, no way you can have that saped ody (unless you're blessed with a perfect metabolism.. or never really eat something)

memory of Heath Ledger (1979 - 2008)

If you thought of the worst possible thing might happen, believe me, it will!

2008-02-12T09:27:00.001+04:00

Above title is not just a non-sense thing. I start to believe it (and I'd better have) after several times I recall that It actually had happened to me.

The last event was a bid submission, in which I am working for. For the last 1 week we were so busy and tied-up with this project, finding the equipment and cost, find the economical cost, find the estimation of project and operational expenditure. Be in the office and discussed about all of these until late at night. The momentum was tense and tiring. So the submission date should be the end of this.
I woke up in the morning of the sumission day. I didn't washed my hair and a-half-teasing myself of maybe this will bring a bad luck. Then I wore a black shirt, with 1 button missing (and again, teased my thought by saying: what bad luck it will bring). Just feeling to confident that everything ha sbeen prepared and planned in well manner and professional way.
Turned out that, we were disqualified, just because of the packaging of the tender documents, instead of sealed in a separate envelope, we put the documents together. Really that was a horrible moment, where all my body was powerless and felt boneless. Evetough this is not my own fault (tender department should have do that correctly as per standard)... but still, all spirit and momentum has gone.
Yes it's true that we can go around the way and get it re-tendered again... but the spirit just gone, away.

From now, as long as I remember this moment, I will try not to the the worst possible thing might happen, since it could, and it would!

Ratatouille Year

2008-02-11T05:43:00.000+04:00

Rescue Dawn

2008-02-11T05:42:00.001+04:00

Legends Of The Fall

2008-02-11T05:41:00.000+04:00

Ocean Twelve

2008-02-11T05:37:00.000+04:00

This is the last movie which I couldn't take my sight off from while I watched it.
With the story so wise-ass smart (as one of the critics mentioned), full of big shoots and witty dialogue.
Actually this is my second time watching this movie, and believe it or not, but at the first time watching it (which was > 2 years ago) I really didn't like and get it.
Then I watched teh 3rd one, couple of months ago and start alter my idea and decide to re-watch it again.
And I was right at this moment, as I watched it late at night, still I couldn't even blink during the film.
Some of the stars I recalled in this movie:
- George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta Jones, Casey Afleck, Albert Finney, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, etc.

If the first part telling a story about Danny Ocean (George Clooney) gathered 10 of his team to steal the money from Casino, owned by Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia) and also to get back Tess (Julia Roberts).

So, the second part is about Benedict's revenge, involved some new guys such as Lemaire (a thief-legend) and interpol detective-slash-Rusty's new lover, Isabel Lahiri (Catherine Zeta Jones) and the night fox (Vincent Cassel). Thus the name Ocean twelve might come from Tess, being involved in one of the robbery.

Nice part when Linus was being played by Rusty, Danny and one fellow thief-Matsui, who kept saying non-sensical comments and left Linus in the dark.

Other best part is when Tess (who looks like Julia Roberts) was involved as Julia, so that other member can steal the jewellery. And in the end-credit, also written: Introducing Tess as Julia Roberts.

Just-very nice!

Men: creatures with a brobdingnagian EGO!

2008-02-05T06:27:00.000+04:00

brobdingnagian (syn): huge, vast, immense, (in simple word) very BIG!

- now I know why God created Women with a neverending patience, because we have to deal in great amount with Men

- With the ego which is sometimes too big thus covering the actual tiny ability

- When we tried to make sense your wrong-silly idea (which if we want, we could just point to a big hole in it, big time, to see how bullshit it is), don't bark at us. Hey! we're trying to be too nice here!

- don't blame us if we stop talking to you, since we are up to our neck of dealing with mazy topics.

- So conceited in their small world of power.

For those who felt offended with this blog. My deepest apology.. probably I am just having some pms.

To identify an asshole

2008-02-04T07:26:00.000+04:00

Meeting somebody that I've ever encountered a long time ago really inspires me to write a blog of "How to identify assholes".

An asshole never know that he should see the person he's talking to in the eye. Well, boy.. yes.. she is quite eye-catching and pretty.. but that doesn't mean that you need to change your position and point your eye to that direction? That's not only rude... but also showed very well your inability to control your manner..

Are you a jungle man? (well.. can't really blame you since you've just come back from offshore.. but again.. should some manner still left)

And hello.. you still have this one person still care to show some respect by talking to you?

It wa sgood that i just went without even bothered to finish the conversation, instead of slapping you in the face!

Just remember, that even an ugliest duckling still need some respect back also.

Lessons for the day

2008-01-30T14:34:00.000+04:00

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.

Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $800 to drop that towel."

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob, after a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?" "It was Bob the next door neighbor," she replies.

"Great," the husband says, "did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?"

Moral of the story: If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:

A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg.

The priest nearly had an accident.

After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.

The nun said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"

The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.

The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"

The priest apologized "Sorry sister but the flesh is weak."

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.

On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said, "Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory."

Moral of the story: If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:

A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.

They rub it and a Genie comes out. The Genie says, "I'll give each of you just one wish."

"Me first! Me first!" says the admin clerk. "I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world." Puff! She's gone.

"Me next! Me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life." Puff! He's gone.

"OK, you're up," the Genie says to the manager.

The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."

Moral of the story:

Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4:

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing.

A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"

The eagle answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 5:

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree" sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."

"Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients."

The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch.

Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story: Bull Shit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there..

Lesson 6:

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was.

The dung was actually thawing him out!

He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:

(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.

(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.

(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

(Credit for Retno)

Feast Of Love: Love in many facets

2008-01-17T08:40:00.000+04:00

Tagline: A story for anyone with an appetite for love

Now, this is about love, again....I recently watched this movie. When I saw the dvd cover, I was thinking that it could be another version of "Love Actually" and it is right to some extent. But contentwise, this movie is much on the darker and heavy side (well, dark movie for christmast? big NO NO I guess - referring to Love Actually).

This is a story about a close community in Oregon, centered to a local professor: Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman) which then be around and analysing and involved in the neighbouring love matters. There are several sections of the story, which all of them are intertwined:

1. Harry Stevenson and wife, Esther lost their son Aaron due to overdose. He still thinks that he was not good enough as a father to his son.

2. Bradley Smith's stories involved 3 women. His wife, Kathryn left him for some other woman. The struggling, surprise and then acceptance of Kathryn that she actually is a homosexual was completely missed by her wife, just adding up to her decision to leave her husband. For her, it was a long thorough process and thinking.. but to her husband. He even didn't realized until the room was empty and she's completely gone. Second woman was a real-estate agent that he feel in love and hurriedly asked in marriage. Turns out that Diana, the woman just used him to make her lover jealous. At the end, her lover divorced his wife and they just together again. Led by desperation and pain, radley then foolishly tried to cut himself. Then, when the doctor banded his wound and asked him why he did that to himself, he replied: "There's so much pain in my heart and I want my body feel the pain I got in my heart". Then, he fell in love again with the doctor.

3.Young Romeo and his Juliet, Oscar and Chloe.. they felt in love instantly at first sight, have big dreams and have to face the problems, bad-ass father, money problem, fortuneteller, and death. Yet, they never be apart.

Below I took the comment IMDB user filled about this movie.

"I was down from Maine last week and was lucky enough to attend a screening of Feast of Love in New York City. I can't stop thinking about this film. It raises so many questions. What makes us fall in love with someone? If you love a person enough can you make them fall in love with you? With all the people who cross your path why do you fall in love with one but not the others? What is it that makes you fall in love with someone at first sight? How could you be married to someone and not have any idea that that person no longer loves you back? In the end the film gives hope to all of us who have loved and lost that we can find love again, and that that love can come in many different forms and configurations. The movie made me laugh and made me cry. The acting was wonderful and I felt the characters heartbreak as well as their blind optimism. The nude scenes, although explicit, were a natural as part of the relationships of the characters. If you're looking for a film to make you laugh, make you cry and make you think then this would be a good film for you. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. "

I have a slightly different comment regading the structure of the movie, since there are a lot of things uncleared: such as: what about Oscar drugs problem? What is the story for Kathryn after she left with Janie?.

But really this movie can fully describe the purpose, to show the viewer, what love can be, can form, can happen, can choose and can't choose, can't be explained, can mislead, can hurt...

Some excerpts of the dialog:

Harry Stevenson: "There is a story about the Greek Gods; they were bored so they invented human beings, but they were still bored so they invented love, then they weren't bored any longer. So they decided to try love for themselves. And finally, they invented laughter, so they could stand it."

BRADLEY: "Chloe knew what was going to happen to Oscar. She did. She went to some weird psychic lady who predicted it."

HARRY: "She believed her?"

BRADLEY: "Oh, yeah."

Harry’s face turns solemn as he pieces something together.

BRADLEY (cont’d): "But she didn’t run away. Or crawl into a hole. No, she found them a house. Threw away her birth control. Married him."

(beat)

BRADLEY: "God doesn’t hate us, Harry. If he did, he wouldn’t have made our hearts so brave"

Bradley Thomas: "Do you think love is a trick or do you think it's the only reason there is to this crazy dream?"

Jenny: "Which do you believe?"

Bradley Thomas: "The second one. "

Harry Stevenson: "Sometimes you don't know you've crossed a line until you're already on the other side."

There's even a dedicated website for the fans of this movie and book (well, apparently there's a book to look for)

http://fan.tainted-ink.net/list/feastoflove/

Talking about LOVE: it is one of the most explained unexplained thing I guessed:). the result of yahoo search engine after i type the word "love" is 7,820,000,000 result in 0.16sec, not to forget that this is only the same word in english language only.

What I believe right now about love is: Love will depends on how we see it, so, in a way, it's true that there are many facets of love. Yes, it can hurt and kill or cure at the other side. Yes it is a win-or-loose or it is a take-and-give. Yes, it can be very deceptive and sincere at the same time. Yes, it is a very private thing and yet very shared. Yes, it is precisely unique and universal. Yes, it is black-and-white, and colored and also has no color at all. Yes, it is as light as the feather and heavy as rock. Yest, it can be very accurate and random. Yes, it is bitter and sweet and sour. Yes, it can be very forgiven and very unforgiven or somewhere in between.

Looked like today's my day is all about love, then I listened to a song by Andy Williams: Both Sides Now

The lyrics is so beautifully decsribing the different forms of love:

Both Sides Now

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere, i've looked at cloud that way.

But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.

So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,

From up and down, and still somehowIt's cloud illusions i recall.

I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel

As every fairy tale comes real; i've looked at love that way.

But now it's just another show. you leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions i recall.

I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "i love you" right out loud,

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, i've looked at life that way.

But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say

I've changed.Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,From win and lose, and still somehowIt's life's illusions i recall.

I really don't know life at all.

So, that's a Love 101 class.... and be prepared that this class will never end.. the test and quizzes and appraisal will still exist.. but there will be no final mark!

(a fool of love)

Most annoying cinema moment

2008-01-17T04:30:00.000+04:00

This blog is posted from my reply to a bulletion board: the title of the questions is: what is your most annoying cinema moment?

When I watched Superman Returns in KL, there's a man beside me who continously said "tsk..tsk..tsk.." and followed by moving the head as a sign of amazed and admiration, everytime Superman comes and rescues people.. so annoying..!

Well, what do you expect...? He's a Superman for heaven's sake!

Nomaden

2008-01-15T09:33:00.000+04:00

Well, being mobile is one thing that attract me to my current job and I've been doing the same over the last 5 years. I wouldn't considered myself as mobile enough as my expectation, since my airline's frequent flyer is never being upgraded from silver:p.

But, probably I was quite mobile, to- never appeared on family event's pictures, to - always missed in old friends reunion and weddings, lost track of this friends are married or having newborn babies or even change her haircolor:). only keep intouch with the rest of the world with a networking Friendster, 75% more of the daily conversation happened remotely, either emails, chatting, sms-es or phonecall. Unpacked and still full big suitcase at home (hmm.. this one is more because I am too sloth to do the unpacking right away..)

There are some good and bad things from this condition:

- Hey, being mobil is the one that I've kept asking my boss about!

- For those who don't know, Indonesia's big cities airport lounge is one of the best:), and cost nothing, welll we are talking about 1 Rp cost ( and that's mean.. 0.000106 USD), you can nib some snacks, read free mags, nice toilets and beer is available if you're lucky.

- talking about airport, dunno how I thank Periplus bookstore in Jakarta's airport for they don't cover and seal the maganize so I'll be updated with Hollywood newest gossips, such as Paris Hilton cut from the granddad wealth, or best and worst bikini bodies.. (gosh! those cellulites and wrinkles..eeewww, almost unreal to happen:D)

- there are always occasions such as "the last time doing this here", "the last time sleeping in this bed there", "my friends set me off to airport for the last time", including the last crazy party the night before the flight early morning the next day.

- People mistaken me to myself in other location, get it?, for example, I was introduced to one person, and she replied: "oh yeah, there is one other girl with your name in Balikpapan" then I have to replied.. "well, guess that girl is me as well":)

- I have lots of trouble with banking and credit cards information. Whenever I did phone banking, they will always request personnal detail, such as office address and phone numbers... and there where I always have trouble.. usually I asked back.. "give me more hints, such as the code area please"..:p

- Can't participate or even worse, throw an idea for weekend getaways or vacation together with friends/cousins.. since I'll be doomed if suddenly on that agreed date I am dissapearing.

- Loosing so many chance to plan the vacation wisely i.e. getting cheaper deal for the tickets and hotel by booking much in advance. Tell ya.. much in advance just doesn't work here!

- my back hurts, and probaly I must investigate if I should be much taller if I weren't carrying the heavy laptop bag here and there

- Always be the unknown girl who suddenly nest in one of the cubicle..:) and go to the pantry every 30 min to grab the tea and dissapear after a few days.

- Related to address, I happened to have trouble with my creadit card bill since I received the statement after it's due date.. my mails mixed up and I don't have anybody to take care and send it to my current address (hey, I don't have a premanent current address, remember!)

- Not only once or twice I arrived at the office bringing all war amunities (i.e: my gym equipment and all my stuffs in suitcase).

- Meet again old people who I never tought that I would meet again in the future - teach me that i must be good to everyody, no exception, who knows I'll meet them again and in the condition that i need them:) - (well, this one is a good point, don't mistaken it as bad point) - such as yesterday, I met the girl who I recruited 4 years ago.. now she's all mature with a big bump in her stomach that due in weeks:). Or the next manager is my classmates in the first technical course... some tweaked fate I must have:)

- Lots and lots of people to bring souvenirs or snacks.. well i do the same to other people too!

- Must befriend with the office boys, since the photocopy machines in the offices is user password protected - a good way to save some trees I suppose!

Which remind me, good with the IT, since everytime arrived in new offices, have to activate the entry card, otherwise I can't enter the room.

Whoa.. the list can be endless here.. but once again.. I enjoy it and want for more!

Shia of Disturbia

2008-01-14T12:51:00.001+04:00

I think I start to love this young actor: Shia LaBeouf. I've watched 2 of his movies and he can bring a very interesting character in the way he uttered the dialog. Actually both of his characters: as Sam Witwicky in Transformer and Kale Brecht in Disturbia looks similar, as a slightly outcast just average teenager who got a lifetime rock experience. Meeting and befriend with Alien robots n the first movie and be a voyeur and identify a serial killer and then got himself and his mother in a danger.

At this point, then his true potential hasn't been fully revealed yet. But reading all the critics, mentioned that he was one of the potential actors to be in the future, plus he got involved in lots of promosing big project such as Indiana Jones.

One funny interview with him: when he was asked what was the meaning of his name. He replied Shia is Hebrew for Praise the Lord and La Boeuf is French for the beef, so together, his name means: Praise Lord for the beef:).

Well, back to the movie: Disturbia is a story of a teenager, Kale Brecht, who lives with his single mother. After an incident of him attacking his spanish teacher, he was under police supervision to be home arrest with the alarm attached in the leg. His mother cuts the cable, then he got bored inside his room and started to play with the binocular and peeping his neighbours. Start from the 3 naughty little boys who secretly watching porn in their room, a nice looking new girl, to a weird guy lives alone.

Kale then suspected the man to be a serial killer, which we led to believing that he was right, then wrong then right and this threaten his monther who fell into the killer's hostage.

This movie could be a normal suspense/thriller movie.. things made it different is the story: a suspense started from a home arrested boy is quite new. and yet again, Shia as Kale can show an interesting point of attention of this movie.

One thing caught my attention (and also several other as I read imdb review) is the detail of picture and sound .. small things in Kale's room looks so lively and thorough.. to bad I just watched this is a dvd, I should be going to the cinema instead!

Tagline: Every killer lives next door to someone

How James Bond gets his tagline

2008-01-14T08:18:00.000+04:00

On a flight James bond was sitting next to a Telugu guy.

Telugu Guy: "Hello, May I know your name please?"

James Bond: "My name is Bond" Continuing in his inimitable style, " .....James Bond."

Then Bond asks: "And you?"

Telugu Guy: " My name is Rao...Siva Rao... Samba Siva Rao... Venkata Samba Siva Rao... Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao... Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao... Vijayawada Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao..."

Since then when anyone asks Bond his name he simply says "James Bond"

(credit to Chrys)

This is a pure joke, background check, that even in the newest movie "Casino Royale" he still introduce himself in the original 2 steps.

Pride and Prejudice..

2008-01-14T07:18:00.000+04:00

Tagline:Sometimes the last person on earth you want to be with is the one person you can't be without.

I don't know what's going on with this girl, Keira Knightley.. Not that I like her or the way she acts.. but seems that she's blessed with good choices of films and the opposite actors:).

This movie: Pride and Prejudice..is one movie that I would never thought that I'll be able to keep my eyes awake until the end, but in fact I did, and I like it so much:).

It's true that I always falls for a cute british accent and environments in the movies despite different era it took:) after Love actually, then comes this one. Based from Jane Austen's classis novel in England around 18th century (which I hurriedly downloaded the electronic version and was trying to print it in the office to get a better reading and knowledge about the literature, after I watched the movie). This is a story of 5 siblings, 5 Bennets girl. The tomboy, stubborn Elizabeth (Lizzie) as the center of the story, Jane - the fair and lovely one, Quiet Mary, Immature Kitty and the wild Lydia. Their mother, Mrs Bennets only has 1 purpose in her life, is to get the wealthy and prosperous men to marry all of her daughters.

In one balls, the famously wealthy Mr. Bingley, his sister Caroline and best friend, Mr. Darcy comes. at an instant, Jane was clicking to him and they become inseparale. While Lizzie hated the best friend, the proud and snobish Mr Darcy - with his "quizzical eyebrow", dark hair and tight lips.

Not long to find out that Lizzie and Mr Darcy were actually interested to each other, but both keep denying the feeling and act as hostile to each other as possible.

The conflict comes when a far cousing Mr Collins came, by law he will inherit Mr. Bennet's wealth, unless he married to one of Bennets sisters. So he proposed to Lizzie, which she rejected, that made her mother were mad. While for the lovebird Jane and Mr Bingley, they got separated due to his sister and some misunderstanding.

All misunderstandingness leads to Mr. Darcy as the cause, made Lizzie rejected when he said that he loves her in the middle of the rain. After several things happened, found out that Mr. Darcy has done good effort to help and solves several Bennet's family problem, made Lizzie realized that actually he is a good man and she loves him. After Darcy's aunt come and warn Lizzie about not to get too close to her nephew. Darcy come to lizzie and again propose in his own words:

Mr. Darcy: You must know... surely, you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I'd scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed, but one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

Which is one of my favourite parts in the movie, seeing him walking from afar and appear from the morning mist to come and find Lizzie and told her what he feels. Other nice part is when Lizzie explained to her father that she loves Mr Darcy.. her expression when she said that she loves him was so warm and cute.

Other nice parts:

1. When Mr Darcy hold Lizzie's palm to help her climbing the cart, after he let her go, he spread the fingers as it was electrocuted.

2. When the two of them finnaly dance (of course!)

3. When Mr Darcy helped Mr Bingley rehearsed to propose to Jane.

4. Everytime Lizzie said "Had I not" in her thick british accent.

5. all so english settings in the movie.. just realized that actually they got their dress dirty:)

6. When Lizzie tried to run and chased by Mr. Darcy.. they loss for words and so weirdly amusing!

7. The funny and lovable Mr. Bingley is just a matched counterpart for the calm and tight Mr. Darcy. Unfortunately the duration of the movie is too short for Matthew Macfayden to show all of his Darcy character.

8. The whole movie: altough this is a very romantic story: no kisses at all:)) (well, except the cut end that I haven't watched)

9. too bad that the pirated DVD I watched, cut off at the end, the film then ends when Mr. Bennet shouting " If there's some gentlemen who want to ask my daughters to marry, tell them I am at leisure" :))

*sigh*.. I just fall for this movie!

Golden Compass

2008-01-11T15:16:00.000+04:00

Setiabudi One

Fri - 04/Jan/08

By myself

Rumor said that this movie will beat LoTR, which i will have to reply, not yet:). Based on the novel "Dark Knight Material" (or something similar with that).

The tagline is: "It is the Alethiometer. It tells the truth. As for how to read it, you'll have to learn by yourself."

One girl, lyra Belacqua has to go in a journey to save her father (or whom she knows as uncle) Loard Asriel, while her mother is in the opposite side Mrs. Coultier. Lyra is the only one who can operate the alethiometer or golden compass, the things to tell you every truth you seek. Accompanied by Pan / pantalaemon, her daemon, the gypsy friends, Lorek Byrnison the bear and Lee Scoresby.

This is the first part of a trilogy.

This movie is definitifely has to be watched in a cinema, instead of 18" laptop screen. My favourite is the daemons. how the director describes them, started from Pan - the keep changing - mongoose, golden monkey of Mrs Coultier, steelmaria, the white leopard of Lord Asriel, the hawk of Ma Hawkins, the beagle of Roger, the beat dongs of the guards, the cricket of the cunning ministers.. so creative.

Leaving PKU

2008-01-07T13:42:00.000+04:00

Still remember when I posted a blog about this new town, this new assigment last feb.
And now, time really flew that I have to say good bye again.

Not that this is the best place that I've been.. but really I keep believing that anywhere you go, any situation that you've been.. if it's over.. make you stop for a while and just try to grasp anything that you can for the last time....

You're my papaya:)

2008-01-03T11:00:00.000+04:00

Related to my blog entry about the encounter with an old friend and that made my heart warm, Novi has expressed her jealousy and have her own guilty feeling of why her presence seems not that significant so that I never put it in the blog.

Novi (N): " I read your blog about your friend and I felt that maybe I am too boring that you never write something about me"

Me (M): (speechless.. and) "shit! now how do I respond to this?"

(Hey, being a girl, I should never be in the position of being the accussed, instead I should be in her position of being the prosecutor:D)

M: "well, let's put it this way"

M: "For example, you know I love papaya, I always have to eat that fruit everyday and everyday also I always think of, whether I still have some stock at home, if not, how can I run to the nearest supermarket and grab some"

M: "and someday I met a rare exotic fruit, so I put the review in the blog and put the picture also. But I never will search this fruit everyday and miss it if I don't get it for one day"

M: "Instead, the papaya that I never wrote about, will always needed everyday"

M: "and you know, you are my papaya.."

N: "Oh,... you're so sweet:)))"

(pffiuuuhh.. now I know how it feels to be a Daniele Vigo:p)

Hahahahaha.. peace Nov, finally you inspired me to write something in my blog eh?

Kaki Kodok

2008-01-03T10:31:00.000+04:00

I am crazy of this blog-like thing called TravelBuddy (for short: TB), this is like a net working stuff but more specifically for traveller and people interested in travelling.
We can, submit the review of some places, attractions, food, places, write travel blogs, write description of new places, submit travel pictures.

It has a uniques rewards points that, for example:

to get a photographer award: we must submit >= 500 pictures and >= 5 people smiles at our pictures.

I was aiming to get an award called Travelpedian: that we have to write the description about new places >= 10.

I got a chance to submit 2 new places when I came back home: Cirebon and Slawi, 2 small towns which I passed on the way to Jakarta.

I also wrote the review about the specialty dish from Cirebon, which is frog legs (swikee) - Kaki Kodok and put the picture.

So, beyond my internet's expertise (which is not vast at all, anyway), suddenly the description of Cirebon town attached with my frog leg's picture..

Gosh! Looked silly and not related.. but what can I say.. until now I still can't find how to change the picture back:)

http://www.travbuddy.com/Cirebon-travel-guide-1311568

Meaning of Name

2007-12-21T11:24:00.000+04:00

I am always very curious about names and the meaning of them. Whenever I chitchatting with a friend, one question that always popped up is about name, either his/her own or their kids.

Once when I was a kid I read Agatha Christie's novel which are so english and one thing I remember from one of the book was that certain names has a certain significant, such as a cheerful, light hearted young girl (pictured with fair skin and blond hair), should be named as Jenny, or a plump lady should have name as Doris, etc.

This has brought my interest to name.

Why our parents name us, if there is any reason to. Or if they just pick it out of nowhere, why.. because of the nice pronounciation, the interesting syllables? Or just want to be eccentric (such as several celebrities who named their son "anak pertama" (meaning: first son).

So, today, as I didn't have anything much to do (just fill the obligation to go to the office on a "pinched day" (piched-day: harpitnas - an Indonesia's thingy which i will tell you separately). I browsed about the meaning of names and looking for the meaning of my name

FRANCESCA

Origin: Latin

Meaning: Free

Hmm...This is beautiful and I do really like the meaning.

My parents, who were (I am 100% sure) that didn't know the meaning and gave my this name just because as it is, turned out that this name has a nice meaning.

http://www.name-meanings.com/search.php

Find yours and love it!

New Year 2008..!

2007-12-21T10:27:00.000+04:00

To All my friends who sent me best wishes for 2007... I did screw it all.

So for this 2008, please send me money, food or alcohol instead:)

Happy 2008 to come!

Cheers!

friends who fill spaces in your heart

2007-12-21T09:34:00.000+04:00

Of all the expressions and idioms about friends, what they are for, why can they be called friend.. all honey bunny sweety lollipop nice things..Honestly, never really stuck to my mind.
Just today I realized that, hey.. some of them it is true!
When encountering to an old friend and have a quick breakfast together, updating about each other, nothing hidden, no lies, no akward feeling to tell the stories...

It was refreshing!

I have been working in Jakarta these past few weeks and got a chance to actually buzz and see my old friends who usually appear online in the messenger, ut never really chat with.
There is a girl, nice, warm and friendly. After our last meet up, she has a lot of things in her life-- marriage, baby born, raising a kid and now, changing job... to many things if I were in her position.

So, cut teh story short, we plan to meet again, but due to this and that we finally met today for breakfast.
In Sentra Mulia, where I work, there is a small road beside the building and lots of hawkers on the muddy road. We ordered gado-gado and ketoprak and eat in the middle of dust and flies, and chat and chat and chat.
She told me the stories about her resignation and family and I told her my plans.

Just a short time, but it made my feeling warm after that, of no explainable reason, just maybe.. being refreshed because of an old friend.

Thank you.. and good luck.. for sure, this will not be our last time together!

Today's Quote

2007-12-06T05:42:00.000+04:00

Life is something that happens when you're busy planning another things

(O-Magazine)

Pick Up Lines

2007-11-07T09:38:00.000+04:00

To satisfy my cheesy sense of humor:

M: "Are you an Interior Decorator?"
W: "No. Why?"
M: "When I saw you enter, the room became beautiful"

M: "Are you religious?"
W: "Yes "
M: "Good, because I'm the answer to your prayers."

M: "Baby, did you fart, Cause you blow me away..."

M: "How is your fever?"
W: "What Fever?"
M: "Oh.. you just look so hot to me..."

M: "Wow! I didn't know that angels could fly so low!"

M: "Can I get a picture of you to prove to my friends that angels doreally exist."

M: "Wow! How did you do that???!!!"
W: "Do what?"
M: "Look so good..."

M: "Hey, I lost my phone number.. can I have yours?"

M: "Hey Laura!! (Big Hug), I haven't seen you FOREVER!!!! (Huge KISS)Wow, you've really have changed!!!
W: "Wait, I'm not Laura.."
M: "What? Oh my god, You even changed your name!!!

M: does it hurt?
W: what?
M: falling from heaven..

M: aren't you tired?
W: what?
M: running around in my mind..

W: Hey...I was wondering why you look different. Can i ask you something?
M: What?
W: What are you made of? Chocolate and cream?

(Just got this from a reality show on TV):
Man and Woman on a date doing some gold mining exercise:
W: Hey!! Found gold here!
M:(stand closer to the woman and hold the hand) Guess what? I found one too...

(hahah... puking..)

Today's Quote

2007-11-02T13:50:00.000+04:00

In wine

there is wisdom...

In beer

there is freedom

(Ben Franklin)

(Thanks to Novi:))

Trip to Sikuai Island

2007-11-02T07:55:00.000+04:00

As now I have new blogs to describe my travellings in a more focused way.

The story of my weekend gateway to Sikau Island, a small island near to Padang can be read in this link : http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/18908

Enjoy!

Am I yellow?

2007-11-02T07:46:00.000+04:00

Exactly a week ago when I have a weird day in the office.
It was started when a colleague was staring at me srangely and greet me " Siska, are you okay?" "Sure I am, just a bit over excersise, why?" "You look too yellow for normal person, pls consider to go to see the doctor".
I was a bit startled with his topic of comment and that was not lasted there, since my boss accidentally passed us and my colleague re-told the comment to my bos and to my surprise that he agreed with that in seconds and insisted me going to the doctor soon.

Well, I was thinking.. now 2 persons gave me similar comment.. so as naturally I was, I visit other colleagues for a cross checking.. and some of them either agreed or didn't notice the difference.

It was abit strange and my excuse was probably I ate too much papaya to cause my skin altered:).

During the weekend, I go for a weekend trip to the island and came back to the office with burnt skin.. so not that yellow any longer:)

My bad hair day

2007-10-17T09:09:00.001+04:00

Bad Hair Day
A bad hair day is one of those days when nothing seems to be going right. Originated in the 1992 movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This was the exact lines from the film:

Buffy (Kristy Swanson) to the one-armed vampire Amilyn (Paul Reubens):
"I'm fine but you're obviously having a bad hair day."

As Interesting to know the origin of the idiom, I find that this words really reflect my day, when everything seems to be turning and going wrong....

Trattoria

2007-09-01T13:48:00.007+04:00

This is the picture that I posted in the hub, not chosen, tough.
I took the picture on Jun 2007.
Trattoria is an italian restaurant in Bali, The meaning of the word itself is "eating house". We ordered an italian-red wine named "primitivo"(which was very good) and they served a basket of bread as a complimentary. The dim light made the picture better, altough I shot it using an "auto" set-camera.

Little miss sunshine is Huge fun to watch

2007-09-01T13:37:00.002+04:00

Tagline: Where's Olive? / A family on the verge of a breakdown / Everyone just pretend to be normal / Welcome to Hell

This is the review of the movie from imdb.com:

"In Albuquerque, the housewife Sheryl Hoover brings her suicidal brother Frank to the breast of her dysfunctional and bankrupted family. Frank is homosexual and expert in Proust, and tried to commit suicide when he was rejected by his boyfriend and his great competitor became renowned and recognized as number one in the field of Proust. Sheryl's husband Richard is unsuccessfully trying to sell his self-help and self-improvement technique using nine steps to reach success, but he is actually a complete loser. Her son Dwayne has taken a vow of silence as a follower of Nietzsche and aims to be a jet pilot. Dwayne's grandfather Edwin was sent away from the institution for elders Sunset Manor and is addicted in heroin. When her seven years old daughter Olive has a chance to dispute the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in Redondo Beach, California, the whole family travels together in their old Volkswagen Type 2 (Kombi), in a funny journey of hope of winning the talent contest and make a dream come true."

One of the excerpt of the dialog:

Olive: Why were you unhappy?

Frank: I fell in love with someone... [interrupted by Grandpa blowing his nose]

Frank: ... who didn't love me back.

Olive: Who?

Frank: One of my grad students. I was very much in love with him.

Olive: *Him*? You fell in love with a boy?

Frank: Very much so.

Olive: That's silly.

Grandpa: [under his breath] That's another word for it...

I was speechles after finishing this movie.. not just because this move is really fit into my sense of humor, not only because this movie looks so ordinary yet so extraordinary.

Because this movie has a very deep value... not like what appears in the surface only.. with all uniqueness of each characters and the events happening... so my tears were bursting on the scene where all family members joined Olive on the stage....

Magnifique!

Love actually is everywhere...

2007-09-01T13:18:00.001+04:00

Tagline: Love actually is all around

I have a guilty pleasure, is that watching one film, over and over again, and indulge myself with mellow feeling and even, practically crying on a same an certain scenes. This film is Love Actually. That there are some times that I felt I have to re-watched it again and again, like a battery charger.
This is about several stories involves several people (which also linked to each other) and happen from 5 weeks before Christmas in London.
The overall story, the combination between the scenes, dialog, music and Christmas air in London describes this film very beautifully. And, not forget to mention, the thick English accent of the actors.
I have several favorites’ scenes:
1. During Joanna’s (Sam’s mother funeral), the goodbye song that she chosen by herself was a happy-fast beat song from The Beatles “Bye.. bye baby” following the slides of Joanna’s old pictures.
2. Peter and Juliet’s wedding, where the band players came out among the wedding guests in the church, singing “All you need is love”, again, Beatles song. The singer and choir then appeared from the upstairs.
3. The ironic, satirical, funny (in weird way) things in a lot of Hugh-Grant’s dialog as the Prime Minister.
4. The Prime Minister was dancing (as he thought that nobody watching) and at the end he was embarrassed to realize that one of his hose-staff was standing speechlessly watching him. This was hilarious.
5. The not-proper joke blurted out by the old pop-singer, Billy Mac has caused the hosts Ant and Dec awkwardly stop the show for an advertisement session.
6. All scenes about Jamie, the writer and the Portuguese maid in France’s house was great, especially when both of them jumped to the muddy pond, and also when they are conversing in weird way, one speaking English and the other speaking Portuguese, but somehow they’re connected (of course, this only happened in a film).
7. When Sam’s father was worried if Sam’s problem was about drug..”you never know if he injected heroin to his eye-balls”
8. When Mark was trying to get rid of Juliet from finding the wedding video tape and finally Juliet realized that Mark likes her, Mark then walked out from his apartment, confused what to do, with Dido’s song “white flag”.
9. Sarah’s relationship-to grow with Karl didn’t work out because her not-so-well brother. Their last scene was when Pete greeted Sarah, merry Christmas and Sarah answer blandly.
10. When Karen realized that the is other woman whom his husband has given to Christmas present to, she hides in their bed room, with Joni Mitchell’s song “other side of the story” playing and she tried to bear the bursting tear.
11. Finally Karen confronted his husband, saying” Would you wait around to find out if it's just a necklace, or if it's sex and a necklace, or if worst of all it's a necklace and love? Would you stay, knowing life would always be a little bit worse? Or would you cut and run?”
12. When Mark showed up in Juliet & Peter’s apartment, pretending to be a christmas carol, just to be honest that he likes her by showing some cards.

13. "All I want for Christmas is You" song performed by Olivia Olson in the christmas concert
14. Prime Minister and Natalie showed up accidentally in the Christmas concert, they were kissing when the stage revealed them. Prior to that, Karen met them and hug her brother so tight, trying to express her confusion of what she found about her husband’s affair.
15. The best scene was the last scene at the Heathrow Airport, when all of them re-united with their lover in various ways and continued with other real passenger’s expressions while meeting their loved one.

I heart Bali

2007-09-01T12:56:00.002+04:00

Finally I made it to Bali.. after a long time suffering and embarassment, since looks like that I was the only human being on earth (oh, maybe not even limited to only human being) who never went to Bali. We took an Air Asia flight and reached Ngurah Rai airport on Monday-18 June 2007 afternoon.

Day-1: Monday

A nice, sunny weather, finally: This is Bali!. I called the guy for the car rental (We have book the car rental in advance through internet). The guy met us in the parking lot, with the silver toyota avanza and, the most important thing is the map. After several minutes, talk and talk, signed the contract. We jumped inside the car and headed towards the town. The airport itself is not that big, but pretty modern and looks new. After several times stranded, finally we are used to with the map and within the count of minutes, we reached Kuta area. The streets are narrow and crowded with the people (which I am quite sure 99.9% of them are tourist, just like us). With a lot of small shops and (looks) nice eating houses or proper restaurants. Something in Bali that you will recognize the difference. Dunno, either it is a relaxing air, vacation-feeling, or people summer attires. But you just feel refreshed and free.A lot of temple shaped ornaments and building are decorating the streets, in several places in front of the shops they put a small box made of coconut leaves containing flowers, fragrant rice and sometimes some food for the prayer. We reached our hotel in All Season Legian, quite close by the beach. The hotel looks new, decorated with modern art and quite eye-catching. We checked in and went to the room. The room itself is not that luxurious type, and for me, the price is not that worthed.. but what the heck, This is Bali.. and things like this is easily forgiven in return for a lot of nice other stuffs. No no matter of time we went out to find something to eat, since it was already too late for lunch and therefore we were starving. Of course we have compile the list of niceplaces to eat, and firts choice went to a restaurant called Mama's. It is a western style restaurant and has some seat in the porch, with very fresh afternoon breeze. We looked up the menu and decided to order a baby back ribs and draught beer. They gave us a plate of peanuts as complimetary. The ribs was sssooooo great, and combined with the beer even made it better. After a deliciou slate meal, we decided to stroll along Legian street and watching the people and enter several shops for a seight seeing. This place is very much a holiday places with tourist walking by in their beach costume, braided hair, tanned skin, sandals and sun glasses. Some of them even ride a rented motorbike. We came back to the car and park the car in the place nearer to the beach. Within proximity to Hard Rock Hotel. This street is onesided street, which are filled with hotels and cafes, whereas other side of the street is the famous Kuta Beach. Took some pictures (as what normal tourist does) and notice that the public bus is quite funny with the colorful paint all over its cabin. The street is again full of people walk by, some domestics and noticed that even more foreigners. We approached the beach and found out that the water is started to be cold, since the sun is nearly set and the light grew dimmer. So, we took off and decided to see what Kudeta like, said that it is now is one of the hippest place in town, is enought to attract the first-timer like us. The place is wother what it was said about it. The posh yet cozy place, devided into 2 parts, the proper dining room, under the roof with dim light (just perfect for a romantic candle-light dinner) and severals beach sofa located in front of the beach, with the music is playing, big lamps pointing the beach and no restriction of time. This is the place where, the seat and music is worthed. Moreover until we see the bill, almost 20 USD for a glass of juice and 1 glass of beer and 1 plate of fried calamari (hello.. am I still somewhere in Indonesia? when the rupiah vs USD is still high?) Can't imagine the price we have to pay for a proper dinner (by proper it means completed with the fine wine). I checked the toilet (my own pleasure, everytime I visit some place nice). Because we're a bit tired, so after a while we decided to took off and went back to the hotel. And that was the end of the first day.

Day-2: Tuesday

Wake up on the 2nd day, our main plan for today is heading up to the nortest place of our travelling plan, which is Batur Mountain and Lake. We went out from the hotel and trying to finding somethin, which is not very stuffy to eat. And the choices went to Warung Made, near Kuta, with a western style combined by an antiques traditional art, this warung looks very nice and comfy. Not to mention that it has a wonderful taste of club sandwich (hmmm.... can't stop my saliva thinking about the taste of its crispy bread). At this hour, the warung is still empty. What I can notice, in Bali, there are a lot of small minimarkets selling a basic daily necessities for tourist as water, snacks, toilettries. No big supermarkets around the town center. After finishing the food, we took of and directed to Denpasar, which is the way to the lake. The journey to Denpasa didn't take too long, only around 1 hour and we already reached the capital of Bali. The direction was also quite easy and clear to follow. Denpasar is bigger and more crowded city and the tourist place is not that seen in this city. Though, the temples, statues and traditional stuffs are visible in several parts of the city. We stopped by and looked for a place to eat pork satay which was recommended by a friend. After lost and went to a wrong restaurant, we reached the place by coincidence, seeing a thick smoke out of a small warung, as a sign that somebody is roasting something, and when we were walking nearer, we saw that the small basket of prayer was containing a satay instead of a cake or rice as other that we have seen before. So we headed in and was still curious whether we were in the right place, since my friend convinced me that I could never found the place without any guidance from local. One of the hint he gave me was that the owner was a bit bitchy and frowny. And I directly texted me friend after I saw the owner, which very much matched his description:D. However, the satay is fabulous. the size was small but they served it with a fresh and hot chili sauce. We ordered a bown of beef meatball as well. The price was sooo cheap, compare to other western type of food that we have taken before. Soon, we went out and continue the journey, with me as the navigator with my face dipped in the map almost all the time of the journey. I didn't pass Ubud, and took another way. Along the way, the breeze was sooooo fresh. I even open the window and didn't turn the AC. Wave my hand out of the window and feel the air. Take a very deep breath, so refreshing. I never felt so fresh like that since a very long time. The streets was narrower as we went outside the town and passing small villages with plantation and traditional village temples along the way. We stopped in some place to buy big oranges by the street side (and turned that they taste was not that interesting as what it was seen). We could see the mountain from far away but seemed that we never reached it. Finally we came closer and took the village path, which turned out that nobody took this path before us and we got stranded in the sand-mining location, wrecked road and village area (wrong map interpretation). We passed sand-miners and was started to be afraid if we ended to nowhere. The road was well built, hilly with mountain rocks scattered everywhere and the vegetation looks like a sabana with tall thin grasses and short bushes. The sun shined very brightly but the air and wind was blowing so if felt very fresh. In the middle of the trip, we faced with a damaged-uphill road and there several village men helped us by pushing the car up. It was quite a terrifying situation, when I tought that the car wouldn't made it to top, finally it was over, altough they robbed us as a rewards for doing the favour. We reached the lake, and actually it was much better if we see it from upfar.. since the shore was not as good as it seemed with mud and people's houses. We went up and stopped in a restaurant at the hill, sat down in the porch overlooking the mountain and lake. Ordered a cold beer and hot chocolate.. yummy...

We decided to go to see Besakih Temple, what was called the Mother of Temple, since this is the biggest temple in Bali. The road to the temple was quite simple and the rain nearly stopped. We went out, had to buy a beach scarf to cover the legs and pestered by a guide who insist that he has to accompany and guide us around the temple. The temple itself was nice and interesting, located in a higher surface, consisting of a main complex surrounded by several smaller temples. Very nice spot to take pictures. Arrived back to the hotel, it was quite late in the afternoon..and we decide to have dinner first, the choice was eat out at "Porchetta" an pizza/italian restaurant, only to find out that they don't sell pizza... hmmm out dated information from the internet I guessed:). We ordered 2 dishes, a seafood-fried-covered with flour. Finished the dinner, we decided to take a walk around Legian - Kuta. Main Legian street was crowded with people, who started the night.. a lot of cloths, souvenirs and accesories shops along the street. We enter a lane to find out the famous "Poppies Bar" and found out that in those areas, a lot of house turned to backpakers inn with a very reasonable price of lodging and food, with a lot of tourist, just hanging around, walking, or lay-back with some reading and music. Took a peek to the bar and it looked nice, but we didn't have a chance to come back there. Went to the airport and pick up my sister, then we directly returned to the hotel as the eyes were very heavy to keep still.

On the right is a monument to remember the victims of Bali bombing

Day-3: Wednesday

This day was started with a heavy rain and didn't stop for hours. We picked a somewhat-alike-spanish restaurant and have an australian breakfast:). The interior was quite cozy but a bit filthy, with a short table and we sat on the pillow on the floor. The breakfast was actually a simple bacon-eggs-toast type. The plan today was to go to Tanah Lot temple and visit the big statue - Garuda Wisnu Kencana. The rain was so persisten and we were thankful that we have the car for our own. We dropped by and visit the big statue on the top of the hill describing Wisnu/Hindu's God, but we gave up due to the heavy rain and we went to Nusa Dua. Finally the rain stopped and we took sometime to swim in Nusa Dua beach. We parked the car just beside club med-beach. Nusa Dua is a coastal area, but more up scale compare to Legian + Kuta, with a lot of luxurious hotels along the beach. The water was blue and so cold. We swam for sometime and sit down, sipping hot chocolate (becoming the must drink beverage due to cold wheater and rain) and beer. We deciced to find the place who claimed that it sells the best pork knuckle, located in Sanur, so we drove there just to find out that the place was closed (until now, there is a affected party due to this closed restaurant-thus an unachieved pork knucle, who persistently reminding me about the unfulfilling promise..) So, we pick the restaurant sells a balinese style roasted pig, and turned out that this food is not included in our tastebud's favourite as the spice was too heavy and the pig smell was too strong. But obviously not many people thinks as what we thinks since the restaurant was full with people, even I notice that an old couple was very enthusiastic with the food, guessed that they were living in Indonesia before and now having some nostalgia.

We continue the trip back to Tanah Lot Temple (If you have been to Bali, you would admire how many kilometers that we have gone this day). There are a lot of monkeys in this area. We were walking around waiting for the Kecak-Dance show, which was started around 6:00 pm. The view was great, since this temple located at the edge of a cliff. There are some spots which are really at the tip and you actually can feel to the gorge down below. The ocean was superb, with dark blue water and high-strong white-tides hammering the cliffs. According to the guide, nobody can do water sport around temple area since this is a holy place. The show began and turned out that it was n interesting show. Kecak dance is a Bali's traditional dance, with around 100 of man, wearing a chokered sarong enchanting a repeating words that resembles the instrument from their mouth, so actually no instrumet was used at all. The main story was the epic of Rama and Shinta, with the evil-Rahwana. Soon the seat was full with tourist which more than 95% more were foreign tourist. The theatre was open air, with the circled seats located higher than the stage. The climax of the show was when Hanuman - the monkey god was angry and kick fire-balls (literally) with his foot.

The show finished sometime after the sunset and the stage was a bit chilly with the wind blowing so strong. We left the seat with a satisfied feeling with the show. Went back north to Kuta and stopped at Garuda Wisnu Kencana on the way. This is a huge statue resembles Wisnu up to his chin only. We were the only visior there, located on top of hill, it was quite dark at that time and nobody around, increase the spooky feeling that make the eyes looks alive and sparkling. We stopped at Dememedi restaurant, located just below the statue. This restaurant is very nice,e specially at night, where you can actually see the light from the city far away. The decoration is perferct, with dim light and natural interior. Even they have a good spot for wedding ceremonial, which is a gate at the edge of the cliff and up-grounded with the pool, full of lotus flower. (An in fact, when I search for this restaurant in the internet, I found a site for global wedding site containing this place). I post an excerpt from one site that better-describes this place:

"Located at the hilltops of Uluwatu is DeMemedi Restaurant, one of Bali 's premium dining outlets. It is situated within GWK Cultural Park , a man-made extraordinaire that resembles the ancient ruins. The landscape on the way into the park is a magnificent marvel. A large structure stands near the entrance. It might look like an industrial area at first sight, but upon closer inspection it all becomes clearer. What you get up close is a monumental building that replicates that of the ancient ruins of Indonesia ."

We sat at the porch and have (as it goes without saying) a cup of hot chocolate and a cold beer:), took some pictures and went back since it was a bit late at night and the hotel still far away. Reached the town, we went to a chain fast food restaurant called "Bubba Gump" inspired by Forrest Gump the movie.. it was told that Forrest opened a restaurant for his friend who died in the war. This place serves several type of seafood dishes and we took 2 kind of food. The taste and the concept is not bad, but it is abit overpriced for a fast food standard. The restaurant interior is full of Forrest Gump ornaments, and I got a shrimp doll which later on I called him Ngurah. (I will name each of the dolls I got based on the place where they are from. Now I have Winnie (-the pooh), Hershey (from chocolate) and Vijay - teddy bear from HRC Mumbai). We reached the hotel, exhausted and sleepy and directly went to bed.

Day-4: Thursday

Today's plan is Ubud. After yesterday's dissapointment with the wheather, fortunately we were a bit lucky today, that the rain was not that mean to us. We drove directly to Denpasar to catch the yummy pork satay. We continue to Ubud, the cloud start to come and made the wheather a bit chilly and rained exactly when we reached Ubud. We passed Ubud art market, crowded with tourists and many more people. We search a place to take a leak and have something hot to fill the stomach. The choice fell to a restaurant exactly at the end of Ubud bridge. We took a strategic seat, facing the bridge and deep down the sea with the greenish raven. The rain stopped and the sun started to come and gave a nice rays on the water. We order pepes ikan mas and fried banana topped with shredded coconut and cheese.. of course, hot chocolate and cold beer came without saying. Taking some pictures, then we wandered around the Ubud's market. The wheather was quite friendly, with some clouds after the rain. We parked the car and wlaked back to the market, along the road we took some nice pictures of the village's temple and a cultural garden. Near the market, we came to a street full of restaurant and bustling people. The famous roasted pork "Ibu Oka" is here. We didn't really interested to try, although the logic of many people =either good food or cheap stuffs. Moreover the balinese roasted pork smell is a bit too strong for our nostril. We walked around and roaming around the market and the streets nearby, very hard to bear not to shop here, since we planned to shop at Sukawati. Later on the urge for shopping just can't be stopped and we went to Sukawati... the biggest temptation while travelling is to buy for people back home.. a bunch of rubish in the form of souvenirs... but just can't help it. Finished with Sukawati we headed to the west to go to Tampak Siring Temple. We took a leak in Pizza Hut and bought some chicken wings and garlic bread to nibble along the way. A temple area loacted in the cliffs. This temple is more scenic than Uluwatu, but both have their own uniqueness and breath taking ness. This temple is wellknown as the big snake temple, with a sacred snake lives under the cliffs. It has 2 main temple, one big part and another small temple on top of the other cliffs. Best spot to take some sunset shots. We were quite lucky at that time, the sun appeared, although only for a while. The separated cliff is connected to the mainland since the tide was low. We spent some time there until teh sun set and it was nearly dark, then we travelled back to the town. Along the way it was still rural area with several villagers houses and rice fields. Caught some nice view of terasiring, a system of agriculture where it was created in steps in different levels of ground, so that the irigation can reach the whole field started from top to bottom. We reached back to the town and decided to eat in Rumors, a new-hip restaurant, from a friend's recommendation. Ordered tenderloin steak, and 2 dishes pasta, accompanied by an Australian red wine which is on promo - total dinner costed us less than 30USD for 3 person.. which is quite cheap for this kind of food with the wine. Went back to the hotel and sleep soundly:)

Day-5: Friday

This is the last day in Bali, we woke up early to set my sister off at teh airport, then we went back to the hotel, decided just to stroll along the beach, looking for anything interesting for breakfast. And there we were, stumble to a middle aged lady who sells nasi kuning - (literally yellow rice) - rice cooked in coconut milk and colored yellow with turmeric, accomppanied with delicious sambal (chili paste) and some fried tofu and soyabean cakes. We headed to the beach, and bought water plus wet tissue in along the way. Arriving to the beach we just sat on a bench and enjoy our breakfast, not difficult to tell shortly later on that this breakfast is the best breakfast that we've had in Bali!. We spent the day playing, sleeping and just laying lazy on the beach.. don't care although I felt that my skin burnt.. I can't help to sleep and being sleepy. Later on, we decided to rent a body board and jump to the cold water.. It was such a nice experiance, especially for a first timer like myself. The water tasted a bit too salty that I can't bear it any longer, since it entered my throat and stuck there no matter I tried to spit it out again. Around lunch, we decided to stop and refreshed back in the hotel and also checked out. We looked for a fresh seafood for lunch. It was a bit hard to find the seafood type that we want during day time... so we went to a restaurant on the beach (forgot the name, starting with "Z"), and order a seafood soup. It was the food for 2 person, containing fresh snappers, clamps, squids, prawns and hot broth. Not exactly the type of food that we'd like, but that was not bad either.

We spent the afternoon just walking around Kuta shops and bought some green tea frapucinno from Starbuck. The dusk came and we headed for another course of meal to Trattoria, a small but crowded Italian restaurant located in Seminyak. We ordered pizza and salad, accompanied by a good italian wine "Primitivo".

Then we must say good bye to Bali and all about it, headed to the Airport and waiting, sleepily, exhausted for the plane back to Jakarta.

For sure this will not be the last time I come to Bali!

Fine Creation from The Almighty*)

2007-09-01T09:27:00.028+04:00

*) The title of my posting here is refering to the creator of this TV series..
*) another meaning is referring to the beautiful God's creation below.. (Thanks God, you really bless our days)

The picture on the left. (that I spent some time on the precious-luxurios internet connection - guess people who ever worked in Minas Office-very well know what I am talking about the internet line).

The name is Jensen Ackles, I am falling in love with him after watching (the complete 2 seasons of) Supernatural. It is a TV series about 2 brothers doing a ghost hunting thing.

Something that cracked me was when my friend called me to ask my opinion about this series,"is it good?" and I answered it so anthusiasticly " yes, it is very very much cute".. that is, referring to the actor.

The main story is about the Winchester boys, Dean and Sam, who lost their mother in early age to a demon. Their father raised them and tought them how to fight "the darkside" and find the demon who killed their mother. At the end of season-1 they lost their father too.

I even practically browsed to find the synopsises of each episodes and enter their site in CW and IMDB.

Just when I tought that I don't have much fun here, eh? :D

Today's Quote

2007-09-01T09:22:00.000+04:00

Never explain yourself to any one.
Because the person who likes you doesn't need it, and the person who dislikes you won't believe it.

Life sucks

2007-09-01T08:46:00.005+04:00

uActually what I really.. really want to write is " Life is wonderful" as what actually I contemplate and think deeper.. but at this moment if I take a snap shot, it is very easy to say the other side, which ..life sucks.

Life sucks, because I feel that I am very moody and feel like to kill somebody and bitching every person tried to be nice to me?
Life sucks because last night I drank (a bit) too much wine and feel uneasy in the next day?
Life suskc because I hate that my sister keep falling sick and thus, useless?
Life sucks because my pimples keep coming and go, never got a good complexion
Life sucks because I always feel that I am an outkast wherever I go and whoever I mingle with
Life sucks because I can't keep my tone friendly enough when I felt furious, even if it is just a joke.
Life sucks because I am the only one who has to call first?
Life sucks because I ate too much this morning?
Life sucks because I feel that i have to move more than what I do now?
Life sucks because there is no certainty about the change that I've been expecting since a very long time ago.

Well.. suddenly I feel that it is not that sucks...

The story so far..

2007-08-29T08:02:00.024+04:00

1. My 6th month in Pekanbaru
2. Start to accept the fate that I have to spend some of my life-time here.
3. Been trying to join hash run every Sunday, treadmill run, squash (with high schoolers), futsal (for independence day celebration), badminton (my 2nd prize from a sport competition, after a bright-yellow towel which I got from 5-km run during my high school time) and table tennis (altough I am still playing it as if the net is 2-km high)
4. My honey moon phase at work is over, so I start getting my real-ups and downs (which sucks, actually)
5. My addiction to dvds and TV-series,... supernatural, smallville, how I met your mother, heroes, desperate housewives (need to re-check my eyes)
6. My addiction (or better said as "special interest") to alcohol .. particularly wine and beer.
7. Quite proud to myself of knowing various places to eat out in this town.
8. Need to re-focus on my travelling plan (c-mon.. end-of-year is near!!)
9. More and more people start to notice that i have white hair :( (have to run to the salon to dye it red this weekend)
10. Been a bit dissapointed with my medical check up result. (For a perfect record of exercising, I should've got better health record)
11. Getting more and more... "don't need to know, don't care.." behaviour (deep down inside, still trying to deny this symptom and alter it as "ready to be a manager-attitude":p)

So.. still I can't really tell whether this year can be considered as an achievement for me.

Hari ini

2007-06-12T17:05:00.011+04:00

bangunnya untung tidak kesiangan.. kalau tidak, bisa gawat, sibuk cari-cari tumpangan ke kantor lagi.
Sepagian dikantor, sibuk dengan design dan update database.
After lunch time, ada pesta perpisahan client... ikut nonton dan cari makanan gratis (sengaja tidak makan siang).
Agak sore, ikut balik ke base, dan kerja lagi.
Bertengkar, berdebat, berargumentasi, update data, design, mengerjakan design.
Ambil air minum, kekamar kecil.
balik lagi, lanjut bertengkarnya.
Lari kesini dan situ mengerjakan hal-hal kecil yang kebetulan teringat.
Kembali ke meja, dan tanpa sengaja menumpahkan teh panas dari termos.
Habis waktu 10-menit untuk mengelap dan membersihkan meja.
Kembali ke pekerjaan dan buka website untuk mengecek kontrak.
Ke papan tulis dan pindah tempat untk berargumentasi
Kembali ke meja untuk mencorat-corect action plan
Ke dapur mengisi air minum yang tadi tumpah.....
Sore merambat malam.. jam 20:17 waktu di taskbar laptop

Why can't I stop feeling worried?

What can we do differently?

2007-06-05T06:51:00.000+04:00

Just wondering, if we're given one chance to turn back time...

what do we choose to do differently?

Is it the choice of our spouse?

The choice of our peers, with whom we want to hang around with.

The choice of what we are doing for living...

Or just the choice of what lunch we want to take yesterday, what kind of sport that we would like to do.

What task do we want to finish the first..

What will we do differently, if we're given that chance?

Panggilan, datang dari mana-mana

2007-06-05T05:59:00.000+04:00

Saya bukan orang yang religious, yang ke gereja hanya sekedar ke gereja. Yang sehabis misa, kalau ditanya: apa isi khotbah pasturnya, 99.9% persen pasti tidak ingat, karena sibuk melamun sana sini, merencanakan mau makan dimana setelah misa, sibuk sms-2an (pernah sampai ditegur ibu-ibu yang duduk dibelakang, karena mengeluarkan hp), sibuk menggerutu sambil kipas-kipas, karena didalam gereja yang panas seperti di sauna saja, mengamati orang-orang di depan, samping, sebelah (pokoknya semua arah yang bisa dilihat tanpa harus menoleh-nolehkan kepala), ada yang lumayan manis dilihat, atau lumayan aneh untuk diperhatikan, baju yang bagus, baju yang lucu, anak kecil yang menyebalkan, yang terlalu hiperaktif atau anak kecil yang balas melihat (sehingga bisa di pelototi balik).

Pun saya tidak bisa merasa bangga dengan pergi ke gereja, karena motivasi saya pun tidak pernah bisa dibanggakan, antara karena ada teman yang bisa jemput (sehingga tidak perlu susah payah naik angkutan), tidak ada kegiatan yang menarik pada waktu ke gereja, membeli makanan kecil sepulang misa di depan gereja, atau karena malu terhadap teman yang tidak pantang menyerah dan sangat religious.

Tapi memang benar, apa yang kata orang kalau Tuhan itu selalu punya cara untuk menegur atau sekedar membuat kita tersindir.

Sehubungan dengan tugas saya untuk standby pada long weekend kemarin, maka saya tidak mood untuk keluar-keluar, takut ada panggilang yang pada akhirnya akan merusak mood saya untuk melanjutkan aktivitas. Yang paling aman, memang, menyiapkan komputer, membuka semua file dan data, menyiapkan kertas dan pen siap diambil kalau-kalau perlu,dengan cellphone yang selalu within reach.

Dalam tugas saya ini, interaksi sebagian dengan client yang di sebut PE, singkatan dari Production Engineer, yaitu mereka yang mempunyai dan menyusun program dan sedang dalam tugas standby seperti saya.

Kamis dan Jumat dan Sabtu, komunikasi berjalan lancar, tapi minggu pagi, setiap saya telpon untuk update sesuatu, dia tidak menjawab telpon saya, sampai beberapa lama kemudian, dia menelpon dan minta maaf karena tadi tidak menjawab "karena sedang ke gereja".. dengan basa basi pun saya tanya kegerejanya dimana dsb dsb.

Sore hari nya, seusai mambahas tentang sebuah problem di field, mendadak PE itu berkata " ini diluar pekerjaan ya, saya besok akan mengirimkan ke Mbak, sebuah artikel yang bagus sekali, mengenai hidup baru"

dan berlanjut ke pembicaraan, bahwa hal ini sangat penting dan kita tidak boleh melupakannya.

Setelah telpon ditutup, antara geli dan malu, saya pun mulai berpikir, se ignorant-2nya saya, Tuhan selalu punya cara yang lebih kreatif untuk membuat saya kagum.

Dalam lingkungan pekerjaan, yang secara tidak tertulis, sangat tidak berhubungan dengan hal ini, kok bisa-bisanya pembicaraan dan topik seperti ini muncul, pada saat saya merasa bersalah karena tidak ke gereja, mengatas-namakan tugas dan standby.

Mungkin saya terlalu melebih-lebihkan mengganggap hal ini, cuma, sekarang dengan 104 halaman, artikel berjudul "Divine Revelation to Heaven", apakah yang saya akan perbuat selanjutnya? be ignorant as it used to be and definitively much easier one?

Agenda on last weekend

2007-06-05T05:41:00.032+04:00

Long weekend, starting from thursday night.
I was on stand by, so I turn on my computer, prepare all papers and pen. open required files and programs.
Thursday evening went quietly
First phone calls around mid night, my eyes was still closed and very hard to direct my mind and consciousness to the field problem.
Friday early morning, phone was ringing again, another update and another problems.
All day on friday, watching dvd on the computer, not that comfortable, but the best I could get here.
Surviving with chips and fruits.
Made myself busy with re-arranging the rubbish in my room, by re-arranging means that I move this rubbish from this place to another place.
Another calls and problems.
Taking a short nap.
Continuing Heroes, the TV series.
Start falling asleep and again the calls and problems coming up at night, early morning and morning time.
Discussing, debatting, requesting, updating, asking information over the phone.
Finish Heroes and continue with Lost, another series.
A quick breakfast near the house.
Another killing time while waiting for the call by cleaning the electric fan in my room and cleaning up the bathroom.
Another stock of fruits and chips.
Running up and down the stairs, hoping it will replace my gym session.
Other people passed my room, returning from weekend activities and fun, took a glance of me, the girl "who never come out of the room this long weekend and must be a freak one".
Another sleepness night with the phoen calls and work.

Finally, Gosh, I never been this glad to see the Monday is coming.

I love Monday!

Reuni kecil

2007-05-23T19:41:00.000+04:00

Setelah hampir 5 tahun tidak pernah berhubungan, hanya di update oleh Friendsters dan milist yang jarang dibalas.. akhirnya saya berjumpa lagi dengan beberapa teman lama.

Teman satu kuliah, satu jurusan, satu angkatan.

Bertempat di Burger King, didepan Borders book store, Orchard Road, Singapore.. tanggal 23-May-2007.

Ada Henny dan suaminya, Fredy: cerita tentang Henny.. dia setahun lalu menamatkan program master di Singapore, lalu kerja di Indonesia, dan sekarang baru di relokasi ke Singapore.

Ada Oyi, yang hari ini ultah (Happy tambah tua!!) dan the husband to be nya, Hendri. Mereka sudah tinggal dan bekerja di Singapore sekitar 9 bulanan.

Wisnu, yang datang dari Jakarta karena sedang ada pelatihan di perusahaannya.

Yusak: yang baru sebulan kerja di Singapore.

Kukuh yang sudah jadi kayak orang Singapore, saking lamanya disini (3-tahunan).

Andri, yang kuliah lagi di Singapore.

Saya yang kebetulan ada kursus singkat di Singapore juga.

Saling bertukar kabar, dengan pertanyaan paling seringnya "Nyampe kapan disini?", atau "Sudah berapa lama disini?" atau "tinggalnya dimana?"..

A memorable moment...

Susahnya!!!

2007-05-23T04:27:00.000+04:00

Hari kedua kursus..

Perut kenyang (karena pantang melewatkan sarapan gratis.. toast with butter n honey, croissant, keju berbagai jenis, buah potong.. yang bisa diambil tanpa batas:p).

Mata berat susah dibuka, karena tidur semalam kurang, lagi-lagi pantang kalau tidak menggunakan koneksi internet gratis di kamar, untuk browsing film-film terbaru dan juga nonton TV sepuasnya (maklum, anak kos yang tidak ada TV di kamar).

Batuk terus, gejala flu dibawa dari Pekanbaru.

Mau minum terus, untuk meredakan batuk - konsekuensinya, sering harus ke belakang.

Mau diam saja - konsekuensi, tidur dengan sukses.

Mau pura-pura tanya, biar di kira aktif, tapi lama-lama instrukturnya sadar kalau pertanyaanku ini pertanyaan khas orang ngantuk yang ga mau ketauan tidak mendengarkan.

Mau browsing-browsing sementara instrukturnya sibuk mengoceh - takut dikira kurang ajar (aku juga bakalan marah kalau aku sibuk ngomong sementara orang-orang malah maenan komputer).

Mau sering-sering jalan dan kebelakang - repot banget, harus naek turun tangga dan pake safety glasses, harus melewati sebuah pintu yang hanya bisa dibuka dari dalam.

Instruktur terus ngomong - mata semakin berat.

Bergerak-gerak di kursi agar jangan tidur - dipelototi sebelah, karena merusak konsentrasi dia...

Aduh, susah memang!

Singapore, is a fine city/country?

2007-05-20T20:23:00.000+04:00

Not a purpose to take a Miss Indonesia’s word by saying Indonesia is a beautiful city… but yes, that’s my impression about Singapore.
I live in Indonesia and never been to Singapore before. People were wondering when they found out that I’ve never been to Singapore yet. So far only Changi Airport that I’ve been, only for a couple of hours transit, even sometimes, just went out from the plane and queued back to the boarding lounge for a security purpose.
This time, I went for a short technical course to Singapore. The course only took 3 days, started from Monday to Wednesday. It was a good timing for me, as:
I have a place to stay in my college friends’ apartment.
I can go there on Saturday, spend the Sunday there before starting the course.
The direct flight between Singapore – Pekanbaru is just once a day, which is in the evening, so I have no other choice than to stay one more day and return on Thursday, instead of Wednesday.
So, that’s the start up. I went by 19:00 plane Pekanbaru – Singapore. The flight took only 35 min, even took longer time to go and wait in the Airport for boarding compared to the flight time itself.
Arrived around 21:00 with the time difference, as Singapore is 1 hour ahead of Indonesia’s time. The Changi Airport is very good airport in terms of the facility and the easiness for the passenger to follow the sign to collect the baggage, connect to another flight or to catch another mean of transportation to downtown.
Didn’t take too much time for me to find the conveyor belt and took my bag. I directly went out to take a shuttle train to terminal 2, where I can take an MRT to downtown.
Reaching terminal 2, I bought eazyline card, this is a deposit card for MRT, very helpful and easy. With 15 SGD, we will have 7SGD value and it can be used for 5 or 8 years, after that we can top up the value.
Oyi + Hendri’s apartment was located in the farthest point from Changi Airport. So I have to change the MRT. The route is Changi – Jurong East with green line. And change to red line to Marsiling station. The trip took quite some time (around 45min), but I enjoyed it so much, with a convenient train, safe and easy to follow the direction. Well, I can always ask direction if incase I am lost, since everybody speaks english anyway.
Couldn’t see much outside the MRT, only the lights of buildings, tidy and clean town and lots of apartments buildings.
Sometimes, the MRT was so full of people, but there is always a room to scoop in and grab a pole. No food and drink inside the train.

I reached Marsiling station and dropped off there. Oyi and Hendri were waiting right outside the station and they took me to the apartment. It is a 3rd floor apartment with 3 rooms, much bigger than I imagine of an apartment in Singapore, already furnished, completed with kitchen. Very convenient. We had supper in a food court near by. I ordered a noodle soup with salted fish and fried dumplings. Oyi and Hendri had roti pratha with cheese. The soup was kind of bland, helped with the salt fish to add some flavor in it, but it was what I expected with my blocked nose and cough. I tasted their roti pratha and it tasted nice.
We went back to the apartment. The area around is very nice and clean, with the feeling of being safe and tidy.
We chatted until 3 o’clock in the morning, since we haven’t met for 3 years, and the entire plan to wake up early and take a morning jogging was gone.
We woke up around 10 o’clock, chatted again accompanied with tea and milk. The outside seems too sunny and made me lazy to plan anything. It made me worried that my sense of traveling disappears.
Around midday, Oyi accompanied me to downtown and check in the hotel. We took the MRT red line and stopped in City Hall station. This is maybe the biggest interchange station, which connects the 3 MRT lines (red, green and purple). We went out and with no difficulty, reached the hotel. It is Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel, located in Coleman Street, near to the river and Esplanade.
Went out from the city hall, there is a Cathedral named St Andrew. We cross the street and pass Peninsula Mall and Funan Mall, then turn right to a small alley where the hotel is located. I checked in and went to the room, for me the price is not really worthy for the hotel and the room condition. We went out again, with the plan to look for a sport shoes for me in Queenstown mall. We took the MRT again and followed by a bus to the mall. This shopping center is mainly to sell sport appliances and the price is bargain able. But I couldn’t find the shoes that I want with reasonable price. Everything is more expensive compare to Indonesia. So I decided not to buy there, instead we went to IKEA to buy hotdog. Hotdog in IKEA seems quite famous, not because of the taste, but because it is very cheap. It costs 1 SGD or 1.75 SGD with a refilled soft drink. You just need to queue, the lady will give you the bun with the sausage in it, and you go to the mustard, chili and tomato ketchup counter and pour it by yourself. IKEA itself is very big and people told me it is quite interesting for home appliances, but since I don’t have any personal motive to look for furniture or kitchenwares, so we just took off.
We took the bus again to the MRT station and then dropped off in Plaza Singapore, just like other malls, as I am not really interested to window-shopping in malls, it will be a different story if it is a supermarket, instead of mall, which I would like to go strolling for hours inside.
We went to visit Carrefour, inside the mall, and I was tempted to buy an electric fan, similar like they have in the apartment. The fan is quite small and the wind is not too strong. But I cancelled, since it will be a bit troublesome to bring it back home.
We went to the food court to have a lunch, after going back and forth, difficult to decide what to take. I ordered another kind of noodle soup, with a minced meat and wonton. The only reason I ordered that is because they have a plaque over their counter as the winner of some sort of competition. But after I tasted it, I was wondering what is the standard for the competition that they won. The taste is somewhat strange and bland, but again, because of my coughing and a bit flu condition, it was a suitable meal for me. Oyi and Hendri ordered roasted calamari and fish in Indonesian, which they claimed, as the best among all, as “at least this one has a taste”.
A moment later, Yusak, another old friend came to join us. We’re talking and talking and decided to go to Esplanade, the famous theater. One surprise for me, when we went out from the food court, Hendri realized that his bag wasn’t with him any more. It was lost when they changed the seat before we ordered some food, after that we ate and chatted and that was more than 1 hour. We asked to the cleaning lady and guess what.. she handed the bag to the information, and Hendri can get his bag back, all safe!. Things that I wouldn’t hope to get in Indonesia.

We went out and took MRT to city hall, and went out to Esplanade. This is a spiked-durian-shaped building used for theater and one of Singapore’ symbol. The lounge of the building has some art exhibition, and this time the pieces of work come from the math and science student of NTU, they draw curves which will not intersect with other lines, is continuous and form a big drawings, interesting drawings.
It is that Singapore makes perfect to get the quality of life, sort of speak. Apart from the hectic paced work and maybe strong competition, but this place is perfect for people who appreciate having enough time and activities to do for leisure. Public transportation is very convenient, the city is safe and clean, a lot of places to go window-shopping, hang around, sit down and sip a cup of coffee, a lot of places to indulge the appetite, and not forget to mention the art exhibitions and performances. But all of those things have to be compromised with price, or maybe because I’m coming from Indonesia that I found everything’s expensive here.
We strolled along the path leads us to Merlion statue near to Fullerton Hotel. This statue of an imaginary animal is the symbol of Singapore and believed from where the name originated. The biggest statue is in Sentosa Island. In this cape, located the medium size and small one, as we jokingly called them, the mother and baby. Legend told that there was a king from ancient kingdom who saw a lion in this area, which rumor said actually it was a tiger. After taking some pictures with the merlion as it is a must to prove that I’ve been to Singapore, we went towards Fullerton Hotel, the most luxurious (and bet, the most expensive as well) hotel, actually I looked for the statue of kids jumping to the river, but unfortunately, it is on restoration, so I couldn’t take a picture of it. We went to walk along the river quay; it is a posh area along the riverside with lots and lost of nice restaurant, which have open air lounge near the river. People can sit down, have a nice meal and hang around for hours, enjoying the river view and the surrounding air.We went back to the hotel and I set them off in MRT station, it was not enough to be called a day, but I was not too enthusiastic to roam around since tomorrow I will have a full day agenda.

The 2nd day, I spent the whole day in the plant. It was a 30min travel by bus towards the west, to Jurong Area.

Came back to the hotel in the evening, the big boss had a plan to go out and have a chilli crab dinner, so who can say no to that offer?

So we went together to a restaurant in Marina Bay area called Long Beach, a chinese/seafood restaurant, with lots of occupied table and a reservation before come there. Freash and live seafood were inside the aquariums and tanks, whirling with oxygen supply from the hoses. And tell you that all the animals there are like a pre-historic animals, so huge. The crab if the two claws are spreaded up, will take near to 1-m length. In spite of the delicious taste, I don't think that I would like to be somewhere near them when they're alive and free.

The first course came, and since the one who was in charge of the ordering is a chinese guy, so I wouldn't worry about the choice of food.

It was started with the famous chilli crab, the sauce is so delicious and best match with the fried dumpling called mantau (FYI, that I requested the dumpling..:p). The next couse came, which were black pepper crab (I found it too strong) and white pepper alaskan crab.. the crab is a bit different, it has a softer shell compare to normal crab, the spices was mostly white pepper, which I found it a bit unique. Fried crayfish came, it was fried with thin flour on the shell, very tempting to swallow and chew the whole shell, but off course that's not possible. Like the crab, this crayfish is also huge. Steamed fish with delicious sauce and the fish was so fresh. Sauted long bean with minced meat seemed not everybody's favourite but the stir fried kailan was good.

So much course, made me forget the rice, only crab, crayfish and fish one after the other, with cold Tiger beer in between. The waitresses came by and passing us back and forth, with more courses and more plates, changing plates, adding more beer into the glass, so busy and hectic. Wondering how rich the owner of this restaurant must have been.Finish with the food with full stomach, came back to the hotel and took a quick stroll to the rows of shops in front of the hotel. Then came back to the room and (have to be) ready for the next day.

Tuesday, again breakfast, wasn't that good, but at least the bread was excellent as in other good hotel, Had some toast with honey, drink black tea and fruits.

I never forgot to steal apples from the receptionist desk when I went out from the hotel.

Today I was so exhausted and felt very sleepy during the class. I skipped lunch and used that time to take a nap inside the classroom. After class I spent no time to go towards Bugis Junction. The streets are nice, as other Singapore's streets. It was full of shops and stalls, not so extraordinary for an Indonesian like me. Didn't feel like to go and check it out more closely, so I just walked by and passed that crowd. I reached a street with an Indian Temple on my right, It was a bit dark and the sun started to dissapear. I walked straight, which the map tells me that it will lead me back to the hotel. All streets are nice and tidy, with nice buildings.

I arrived back to the hotel and went out towards River Quay and Clarke Quay and found a nice Thai Restaurant, which turned out that it has excellent food. We ordered beef salad, green chicken curry and barbeque calamary. All of them were great. The salad was so fresh and hot, the curry was thick with perfect saltyness and sweetness, blended together. The calamari was a bit usual, but the season is nice. Good food in a nice place. The area around the restaurant is nice, with lost of alley and nice lounge, even in the center they have a watching-together things, newly released movie, 'Pirates of Carribean".

After dinner, I went back to the hotel and passing a bungy ball, seeing the people paid to be scrared to death in a jumping ball. For me with the height-phobia. That was something out of sense, felt that my spine stiffened, just imagining if I were in their position.

The next day, again the same long day at the plant. and after the course's finished, since this was the last day. I took the MRT to Orchard Road, and turned out that Orchard is exactly what I magine it to be, with much more malls that I could imagine.

Here I have an appointment with my old college friends, to gather in Burger King.

I went to buy some presents, in Hard Rock Cafe, then go to Takashimaya - Kinokuniya book store and Lucky Plaza.. start to feel bored and more bored with the malls.

So I didn't really take a good look to each malls I visited, all looks just the same to me.

I sat down, waiting for my friends, in front of Burger King, they have a wide screen with the movies, people doesn't care of one another, so I kind of enjoying thata time, altough I very rarely enjoying my waiting times.

A bunch of teenagers, I figured they are Japanese, came to ask me to take their picures, with a polariod camera, it was fun to see the picture came out and start to print immediately.

My small reunion with my friends was over and I went back to the hotel, passed by in Raffless Plaza to buy green tea frapucino.

The last day, I woke up a bit late, didn;t have a chance to go and enjoy the gym and pool. I went to have a long breakfast and went out to Mustafa Center, a lot of story about this place - where you can find anything, open 24-hours, quite cheap. So made me curious and decide to go there.

Went back to the hotel and went to Chinatown, not much to enjoy, with the hot weather in the middle of the day.

Around 16:00, the taxi was ready and took my and a friend to the Airport.

I hope this will not be the only time I visited Singapore, of course a lot of other nice things than malls and more malls are waiting to be done there....

Beware of these guys..!!

2007-05-20T17:18:00.000+04:00

Yang saya maksudkan dengan “guys” diatas adalah, jenis-jenis penumpang yang harus kita hindari didalam pesawat atau any means of public transportation. Jika kita kebagian sial untuk mendapat tempat duduk disekitar mereka, siap-siap saja makan hati dan ngomel-ngomel (didalam hati):

1. Manula, especially ibu-ibu: I don’t know how about you guys, but I hate to be touched by somebody I don’t know, dan nenek-nenek dikenal dengan kebiasaannya yang suka asal nggeramah-ngeramah ora jelas. Dalam penerbangan Jakarta – pekanbaru minggu ini, saya sangat lelah dan mengantuk, sehingga, saya minta window seat, duduk, dan langsung tertidur dengan pulas, tidak berminat makan. Ternyata nenek-nenek disamping saya sangat bersemangat untuk “memastikan semua orang makan”, dia pun dengan bersemangat menggoyang-goyang tangan saya sambil bertanya berulang kali, “ayo makan” (saya: membuka sebelah mata dengan malas sambil menggerakkan tangan menunjukan penolakan saya), “kenapa tidak makan” (saya: membuka mata yang satunya, sambil cemberut ke arahnya, berharap dia menangkap sinyal pertanda ketidaknyamanan saya terhadap intervensi nya). Sejenak kemudian, saya terlelap lagi dan mendadak terkaget-kaget karena gelas minuman di meja saya terlontar, ternyata si nenek yang mau berbaik hati menanyakan kenapa gelasnya tidak dikembalikan ke pramugari sambil menggeramah-geramah gelas itu dan akhirnya terjatuh. Saya cuma bisa cemberut lagi sambil mengambil gelas itu, dan kembali tidur. Kemudia, dia melancarkan aksi lain, yaitu menggoyang-goyang bahu saya sambil menunjukan boarding pass dia dan bertanya “ dimana ambil tasnya ya?” yang pertanyaan itu tidak saya tanggapi sama sekali. Diantara sadar dan tertidur, setiap beberapa menit saya merasakan rusuk saya disodok-sodok, yang secara jelas diakibatkan si nenek terlalu aktif membuka tas atau membenarkan bajunya. Akhirnya sampai juga di Sultan Syarif Kasim Airport dan karena saya duduk di window dengan si nenek menghalangi jalan keluar, saya dengan sopan menunggu dia keluar. Dia tersenyum kepada saya “ nanti saja turunnya ya? Kita terakhir saja” (saya; tersenyum basa basi). Beberapa lama kemudian, penumpang sudah turun semua, dan si nenek dengan sangat berbaik hati mempersilahkan saya untuk turun duluan “ayo turun saja dulu” (saya: tersenyum dengan lelah dan geram.. mana bisa turun kalau dia tidak pergi duluan?). Setelah memastikan tidak ada orang lalu lalang sama sekali, si nenek mulai mengangkat badannya dan berjalan keluar dengan lambat, and guess what?? Dia berhenti dan menyalami setiap pramugari dan petugas pesawat yang dia jumpai!!!.

2. Anak kecil yang hiperaktif.. well yang agak diam juga...yah, semua anak kecil lah!, bila duduk disamping atau didepan. Anak kecil akan sangat melelahkan dan bikin gondok di pesawat. Apalagi jika kita kenal dengan orang tua nya dan harus sepanjang perjalanan berbasa basi mengomentari anaknya. Saya pernah kebagian tempat duduk dengan seorang anak yang duduk di kursi depan saya. Sepanjang perjalanan dia sangat lincah, dan menghabiskan sebagian besar waktunya dengan berdiri di kursi, menghadap ke arah saya dan memandangi saya (yang tentunya saya balas dengan melotot ke arah dia diam-diam, agar ibunya tidak memperhatikan). Saat pesawat sudah mau mendarat, mendadak, dia sagat bersemangat, berteriak2 (masih dalam posisi sama) dan air liur yang yang berlimpah, menetes turun, perlahan-lahan, jatuh kebawah, dan… tess…. Jatuh ke bawaan saya (saya cuma bisa melihat dengan sedih ke souvenir kecil yang dia tinggalkan di barang saya).

3. Orang yang mempunya size agak lebih (mungkin pendapat ini agak-agak subjective yang bukan bermaksud menjadi diskriminatif), seperti yang kita tahu, tempat duduk di pesawat kelas ekonomi adalah “just right for small people” sehingga yang bertubuh agak bongsor atau berkaki panjang, akan mendapat sedikit kesusahan. Dalam hal ini lah, jika kita duduk di depan dia, kita akan merasakan sodokan-sodokan sepanjang perjalanan jika dia memutuskan mengganti posisi kakinya. Belum lagi kalau dia duduk tepat disamping kita. Bisa dibayangkan penderitaan apa yang kita juga alami.

4. Orang yang BB… kayaknya sudah self-explanatory yah?

5. Orang yang setengah mabok, dan meracau kesana kemari (bikin takut ga sih?).. mendingan juga kalau dia bener2 mabok dan langsung tidur.

6. Cowo guanteeeeennngggg setengah mati tapi sombong nya minta ampun... sehingga usaha kita yang sudah hampir mampus untuk tepe-tepe (tebar pesona) tidak berhasil sama sekali karena dia sama sekali tidak pernah melihat kearah kita... gondok ga sih??

But, moral of the story...saya yang telah bersikap tidak terlalu menyenangkan terhadap nenek tua baik hati (namun agak terlalu ramah) itu..mendapatkan ganjarannya.. dengan bagasi saya yang tiba di urutan terakhir.

Choices: take one or not at all

2007-05-07T14:48:00.000+04:00

Obrolan saya dengan seorang teman beberapa hari lalu: kami saling meng-update berita tentang orang-orang yang kami berdua kenal. Sampai pembicaraan mengenai salah seorang teman, yang dia sedang menghadapi dilema.. pilihan antara orang yang dicintainya dengan keyakinan yang berbeda.. yang dalam kata-katanya sendiri sebagai:

"Menyatukan antara iman dan cinta..."

Sejenak setelah percakapan itu selesai, saya jadi berpikir,

Pilihan...

dalam kamus yang saya punya itu berarti: mengambil yang terbaik diantara dua hal atau lebih.

Tapi kalau kedua hal atau lebihnya sama-sama terbaik, dan susah untuk dilepas salah satunya?

Cheers!

2007-04-18T04:31:00.000+04:00

I am not an alcoholic (at least that what I admit). The first time I tasted alcohol was in a farewell party in Phitsanulok, a small town in north Thailand. That was on my vacation trainee program. At that time it was a merely new thing to taste, and of course it didn’t feel yummy. Bitter and some spirituous taste followed by a flying feel. Drink it just to be seen as cool and adventurous.
The journey was re-started again in Balikpapan, with so many parties and hang out together which 99.9% will involved alcohol, I start to explore more and more. To my surprise that I do enjoy it, and come to the point where I drink because I taste it good and to the point when I want to drink, either I was with someone and on socializing time or alone. I just enjoy the taste. I like it. Being able to drink a cold beer in a hot day or after finish the running was great. Drink red-wine with a course of steak and salad is complete. Dancing and laughing was amazing with a tequila shot and draft beer (well, just forget about the pictures your friend took that night). Baileys on ice will be perfect combination for a session of karaoke and dancing crazily in the pajama. Margaritas and wine and some unknown drink were superb in a never-ending dancing party and finally end up being thrown in the pool. Fruity cider and wine was great after a frozen quiche finished.
I won’t call myself as an alcoholic (well, who wants to?), but I truly enjoy the taste (and also the enjoyment after it).
My favorite is beer and wine. Quite a strange combination though. My favorite is a south-african red wine I drank in a company dinner in Dubai. White wine from Bali is wonderful as well when I had it in a dinner in Balikpapan. A variety of fruity wine and cider which I bought and finish completely 1 whole bottle in a night in Paris. Bottles of tequila flavor beer in Pau. Margaritas in Hard Rock Café Mumbai, Cold Heineken in Balikpapan after a golf tournament (note: I wasn’t one of the golfer, but I volunteered for the drink after that). Stella Artois I had in a dirty hotel room in Amsterdam. Vodka with chocolate milk in Blue Gecko, a small bar in Saigon. A cold 333 beer, a Vietnamese brand before a delicious seafood dinners. Australian red wine accompanies Gunther’s cooking once a while on Sunday evenings. Draft beer in Lamaru bar in Balikpapan. Baileys on ice that tastes nothing more than cold-healthy chocolate milk. Corona in 24th floor lounge in Renaissance Hotel in KL (use company facility is not forbidden, no?). even a cold gin-tonic I had in my apartment in Balikpapan, laying in front of the TV. Kingfishers and king I had in Taj Aquada Goa, side of the swimming pool
The enjoyment of alcohol has caused me miss it a lot in here. Where the wheatear is hot and not so much functions involved alcohol. I am so longing for a good occasion for a good wine and beer. Until this evening, I did whatever I could do to open a bottle of wine without any cork opener. I use my leatherman pocketknife, my steak knife (which has cut my hand and made it bled so much), my tiny screw drive and scissor to open the cork. Until finally the cork pushed inside the bottle instead of opened out. I was so glad when finally I zipped the light brown color of liquid, which now contains also crumbles of damaged cork inside.

And, tell you, it tastes good.Lift the glass and say cheers!

Hargailah tidur

2007-04-13T09:26:00.000+04:00

Sudah sebulan terakhir, saya mulai menemukan ritme kehidupan di lokasi baru saya ini (baca: Pekanbaru).

Cut long story short, pekerjaan saya disini mewajibkan saya untuk bertanggung jawab atas dua area sumur minyak milik client.

Jadi, terkadang, kalo ada permintaan untuk sumur-sumur di area tersebut, saya harus men-design-kan pompa sesuai dengan kebutuhan sumur itu sendiri. Itu baru permintaan design sumur, belum lagi kalau ada masalah-masalah yang dihadapi crew di lapangan saat mereka memasang atau mencabut pompa, kembali saya mendjadi point of contact-nya.

Semua hal-hal diatas tidaklah terbatasi dengan jam kantor normal yang senin - jumat jam 07:00 - 17:00, melainkan 24/7.

Cell phone harus selalu on, kalau berbunyi saat sedang enak-enaknya tidur, harus bangun dan dengen tanggap berpikir untuk mengatasi masalah di lapangan atau mengerjakan design yang diminta.

Malam kemaren saya dibangunkan oleh miss call jam 00:40 am, untuk mendesign satu sumur, dan sebelumnya, saya harus mendesign untuk sumur yang laen di sepanjang perjalanan pulang. Jadilah saya duduk di bangku belakang, sementara teman saya (dimana saya menumpang mobilnya) bertindak sebagai sopir.. betapa kurang ajarnya saya, untunglah ini atas nama pekerjaan dimana hal banyak hal bisa dimaafkan atas nama "kepentingan pekerjaan". Membuka laptop di mobil yang melaju 60km perjam, menjalankan software dan sibuk mencari pompa yang pas dengan kebutuhan. Saya, yang menulis sms di mobil saja kadang-kadang pusing, ini terpaksa berkonsentrasi dengan laptop dan kertas-kertas.. sebuah pengalaman yang lumayan mendebarkan dan membuat saya ingin muntah, literally.

Belum lagi tadi malam, jam 01:00 am ,cell saya berdering, dan yang bikin tambah dongkol, ternyata si penelepon mencari teman saya, tapi gara-gara tidak bisa dihubungi, maka saya lah yang jadi korban. Terpaksalah saya ikut sibuk menelpon teman saya itu, dan tidak diangkat-angkat. Ibarat makan buah simalakama, kalo saya tidak menelepon dia, terpaksalah saya yang harus mengerjakan design, tanpa ada data-data sama sekali, karen ini bukan area tanggung jawab saya, kalau saya menelepon teman saya, entah sampai kapan dia akan mengangkat. Akhirnya saya terpaksa membangunkan teman lain, hanya untuk menanyakan apakah teman saya yang pertama itu mempunya nomor lain yang bisa dihubungi.

Untung saja setelah beberapa panggilan kemudian, dia menjawab dengan suara baru bangun tidur dan satu tugas telah usai.

Saya kembali tidur dan lagi, jam 4 pagi, lagu "Quando, Quando" dari Michael Buble yang saya set menjadi ring tone saya berbunyi nyaring. Kali ini masalah yang berkaitan dengan sumur saya sendiri, terpaksalah saya harus mengerahkan usaha lebih untuk berkonsentrasi memikirkan solusi nya, telepon telepon datang silih berganti, dan saya bisa terlelap mendekati jam 5:30.

Itu cerita sehari-hari yang biasa terjadi, bagian yang lebih mantap yang disebut "Oncall".

Karena nature pekerjaan ini adalah 24/7 itulah, maka, saya dan teman-teman bergantian untuk stand-by selama weekend (jumat malam - senin pagi) untuk meng-cover semua kebutuhan dan permasalahan di lapangan.

Saat ini lah, yang menjadi pembuktian akan stamina kita untuk tidak tidur dalam saat atau jumlah jam yang normal. Belum lagi, kesigapan kita untuk langsung "connect" setiap kali telepon berdering dengan segala permasalahan nya yang tampaknya selalu terjadi pada saat yang tidak tepat.

Ritme hidup seperti ini lah, yang membuat saya sekarang lebih menghargai tidur, menjadi suatu luxury bagi saya untuk dapat cepat terlelap kembali sehabis berteriak-teriak meminta crew dilapangan melakukan sesuatu, menjadi berkat bagi saya, kalo bisa terus tidur dengan cukup tanpa di ganggu suara Michael Buble.

Sehingga, lagu yang sebelumnya merupakan favorit bagi saya, sekarang mendengar nadanya saja, sudah membuat keringat dingin bermunculan, dan kata-kata makian terluncur dari mulut saya "Shit!!!"

The pursuit of "what" for me?

2007-04-11T13:30:00.000+04:00

After watching a movie, played by Will Smith. Pursuit Of Happyness (the “y” here is not a type error). It made us sad when we see this kind of movie, the kind of movie which tells us in details how people struggle with their lives, how to go through, to prove themselves before themselves and their loved ones. Even if the struggling looks small and unnoticeable and in fact in the real world, more bitter stories were a lot. But when it is put in a movie, with a touch here and there, it goes right to our heart and even can made us cried.
The story tells about a salesman, who is facing the difficulty to defend his son while at the same time prove that he can do something. This movie based on a true story. One scene which I still remember was when the actor passing broker office (this is what he will be later on in the movie) and he saw everybody smiling and laughing “ as that time was their happiest time” and at that time he narrated that happiness is not an end. It is the journey itself.
Once my sister send me an article about happiness. It said that we have to stop to wait for the happiness to come, wait until the other people will change their habit, wait until we loose 10-pounds, wait until we have a car, wait until we are getting married, get anew job. Wait until Friday evening, wait until Monday morning; wait until we passed this task, wait until spring, summer, fall, and winter. Wait until we can get an overseas assignment, wait until our eyes become prettier, wait until the freckles and pimples in our skin gone. Wait until we become less awkward. Wait until our sister is in her own feet and be a stronger person we expected her to be. Wait until the relationship with our boyfriend is a bit normal and we can’t forget how he looks because too long that we don’t see him. Wait until the world start spinning to our way. It will not and will never be, if we never realize it.

Now it depends to myself again, what pursuit do I want to run after? Whether it is a never-ending voyage? Where after all and everything, I found nothing but a-jar-of-golden-coins-under-the-rainbow story.Or another choice, that I want to stop at each step, turn around, notice everything and finally, always find something to say thank for the blessings?

It's good to be home

2007-04-11T13:26:00.000+04:00

Another summer day
Is come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm
Maybe surrounded by
A million people
I Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know
And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
Another aerorplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home
And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me
Another winter day has come
And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go homeI’ve had my run
Baby, I’m doneI gotta go home
Let me go homeIt will all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Home -- by Michael Buble

Home, song by Michael Buble, brings a very good essence about the feeling of home. Well, this song is specifically tells about being back to the loved one, but then again, it sound so right and sweet.
Since I was in college, I rarely went back home, partly because of my ignorance and mostly it is because just being myself, which is enjoying the current state and forget about anything else, so, even just a couple of days leaving what I normally do and live each day to went back home, will be such an effort.
That thing continues when I start working, being placed in Jakarta then Balikpapan and now in Pekanbaru, with this tense and hectic work, with this nice life and peers and the temptation to go to some place new whenever there is a chance. Then home for me is changing to a phone call once a week.
A comment from a friend made me realize that maybe I should try to spend some time with family. That and another things pushed me to plan a several days home last long weekend.
The trip to home took 1 full day, since I have to take a morning flight to Jakarta and took an evening train to my hometown.
Bringing nothing, but a local food from Pekanbaru and breadtalk for people home. The train arrives on Thursday early morning, just after midnight. The trip itself is quite comfortable and not as tiring as if I took a minicab.
My uncle picked me up in the station, a kind of queer feeling when I saw him and my aunt, the last time I saw them was ½ year ago. They look thinner than what I remembered. My thinking is never going far from worrying how much more time I can still see them again. I never realized that I do love them and actually care about them and afraid to loose them. Then keep wondering whether my choice of being apart from them, only can see them once a while is a right choice that I’ve made.
The street was empty and so cool the air was, it was so fresh, like I want to suck as much air as possible to my lung. Arrived home, I directly went to sleep.
The next day I woke up late, get a big breakfast, home cooking is always the best, well I must admit that words is true. Went to get my driving license done. Then after lunch, went to see my sister in my other auntie’s home. Didn’t stay long there, just drop some cookies, and get some other food in returnJ. Back home, finish the food and went to sleep again. I woke up a bit late in the evening, felt lazy to do anything and again eating. Around midnight I went to pick up my cousin with my uncle to the station. Again the fresh night air was so lovely and freshen me. The town as I notice is still the same as the last time I saw it. A bit more crowded, but everything is what I still recognize. The dark alleys, smell of the night air and wet grass, dim street lights, food stalls open late at night at several spots. Empty streets, shadow of trees, and wet pavements. How those are so familiar to me. As this very moment that I always see when I hear the word “home”. The quiet ride in the old car, conversation of some principle things, what something supposes to be something, to be done someway. The late chat in the veranda, talking about some trivial, joking about the things that are familiar to everybody. Little gossip about this and that, teasing each others. Forgetting a moment about the work, bury down inside personal problems. All is to laugh, all is to talk, all is to share. Forget the pain and the harsh time. Time to talk nonsense and laugh at each other comment. Even a no-comment and no words are already something, that the companion and being able to see face-to-face is something. Waiting for you to come back home from an old friend encounter. Open the door for you when you knock. Offer some food incase you haven’t eaten yet. Ask about how’s the time you had with the friends. This what I called home. With people who I know that everybody will be comfortable, even if there is no words to speak. People that don’t make you being pushed to find a word to start a conversation. People when “hello” and “how are you” is no longer necessary. People who you kept thinking “how if this is the last chance to meet them”. People who’s cooking, when you taste, you will feel something different and indescribable that you can’t even find in a 5-stars hotel food. People who make you feel guilty to yourself, when it is too long you’re being away. People, who never ever say that they love you, but how you love to see them smile and react to your words. People who will set you off and said take a good care. People who always tell you to be careful at work, even tough they don’t understand at all about how you work. People who make you feel empty in the chest when you sit in the airport or station. People who push you to bring with you a full card box of food, incase you miss your old-favorite food there. People who force you to bring the jacket or sweater if inside the car it will be cold. People who ask you to send a short message or call whenever you have arrived, to know that you are safe. Although, after a while, being stuck in the daily routine and work. Being a single, with only yourself and friends. A completely different routine far-far away. Then you start to forget the home-feeling. But it will come and go, never ever fade away. It will be disappear for a moment, but it will come back and remind you again.

The place where you don't struggle to find the place to put the toothbrush. The place where everything seems familiar for you, be a bit older than the last time you saw. The place where you have your favorite spots or chair. The place where you have the same old grumble, of why the old TV is still here or why the lamp is never working.

This is what I call home, that although not often that I remember about it, once a while it will call me back.

300

2007-03-30T10:11:00.000+04:00

Tagline: Prepare for glory!

This is the title of a movie that I saw couple of weeks ago. This movie is about the true story of the war between Sparta (old greek) and Persia (old Iran).

This is a beautiful movie, altough contains some disturbing scenes and also the story is so much cliche.

I planned to read more about the history facts between Sparta, Persia and the war itself (as what i normally do after seeing some interesting facts in a movie).

But, of course it hasn't happened yet until now (what a cliche fact as well).

So, still I don't know anything about them and still the only thing I can say about the movie is it has a lot of beautiful bodies,six-packs tummies, wide shoulders and strong jaws..

Lumayanlahhhh...hehehehe

(this is what happened if you already plan to submit one thing in blog and lost the interest to complete the story:))

Bagus dan bagus sekali

2007-03-29T10:06:00.001+04:00

Saya bukan seorang teman yang punya sikap perfect, banyak kekurangan-kekurangan saya dan lebih banyak lagi yang teman-teman saya komplain.

Tapi ada satu kekurangan saya yang baru-baru ini mendapat protes dari seorang kawan.

Kata dia, saya ini seleranya payah... apa-apa dibilang bagus.. apa-apa dibilang enak, kalo engga, enak sekali.

Sehingga pendapat saya jadi tidak valid lagi bagi dia, dan saya dianggap sebagai orang yang tidak punya taste.

Mie goreng kedai kopi menurut saya enak sekali

Ayam goreng KFC-KFC-an dipinggir jalan itu sedap.

Rumah kost kami yang kecil dan panas, dianggap saya sebagai rumah yang bagus

Hampir setiap mobil yang lalu lalang saya selalu bilang keren

Semua barang-barang yang saya lihat, bagi saya selalu bagus

Matahari terbit dipagi hari itu indah sekali

Langit mendung dan hujan rintik-rintik itu meneduhkan (unless saya sedang di tengah jalan, tanpa payung, dan saya memakai sepatu boot kesayangan saya)

Perkebunan sawit yang saya lewati tiap hari ke kantor itu bagus

Pasar tradisional itu selalu menarik

Pisang yang saya beli di pasar itu enak

(Hampir) semua filem yang saya tonton selalu bagus

Tiap kali saya ke shopping centre atau supermarket, selalu makan waktu lama, karena saya menikmati strolling around dan melihat-lihat semua barang-barang yang dijajakan.

Komentar nya itu membuat saya speechless, terlepas dari konteks bahwa entah dia sungguh-sungguh atau tidaknya, tetap saya membuat saya berpikir sebentar, kalo memang jauh sebelum ini, saya dan novi, teman saya sewaktu di balikpapan.. karena kemiripan-kemiripan kita berdua.. kita sama-sama beranggapan, bahwa semua makanan itu, kalo tidak enak ya, enak sekali. Lalu juga, masakan Tante Fang, dimana dia sering memasakkan untuk saya.. selalu saya komentari enak atau sedap.. dia sampai protes, karena komentar saya tidak pernah berubah, dan kemudian menuduh saya cuman berusaha menyenangkan hati nya.. saya sampai kesulitan menjelaskan, kalo memang yang saya rasakan ya itulah yang saya pikirkan dan yang saya sebutkan.

Kesimpulannya, sifat saya yang tasteless ini memang sudah melekat lama, bukan didasari dari keadaan fase hidup saya.

Apakah ini keburukan atau keuntungan saya tidak tahu, yang jelas.. memang susah membuat semua orang puas.

Is it too much?

2007-03-29T09:54:00.000+04:00

Is it too much just to write a short email to say hi to an old friend?

Is it too much to send a short message to say happy birthday?

Is it too much to pick up the phone and dial your loved one's number?

Today's quote

2007-03-23T13:07:00.000+04:00

Doing nothing is very hard to do... since you'll never know when it finish.

Losing thing is luckiest unlucky things might happen

2007-03-21T11:34:00.001+04:00

I hate to loose my things. But as Murphy Law, that everything which has possibility to go wrong, will have direct proportion of it really goes wrong. It happens in this case. Since the first time I arrived in this city, this morning is the second time that I lost my things. First time was my mobile phone, which has already served me and I might say has already served me Well, I have to change the subject now, if I continue talking about my cell phone, I will start to curse myself over and over again.
The second things I lost is a technical/manual book. That big folder, I brought it outside with me this morning while waiting for the car on the street. As usual, we sat on a bench.. and there I put it by my side, since my 2 bags already occupied my lap. Then, because of getting furious since the car was full, I forgot about those map. Yes, it will give me an unpleasant feeling when I have to say to the owner, but I (hope) still can find another copy for her and most probably I don’t have to worry if somebody who took the book will use it for bad intention since the only person wandering there in the early morning is the rubbish collector. But still, I wish it would not happen, just will not happen again.
There are two things that I got from my two carelessness.
1) Losing things is the luckiest unlucky things might happen to you, since you don’t have to feel any pain.
2) since I got bad mood and getting furious, so that I became careless and forgot my things.
Above things are said by my friends and do not know why I keep thinking of those words. Hope that this would be my last losing thing thingy.

Specially dedicated to: a silver Nokia 6600, with blurred and dirty plastic case

Depression

2007-03-21T10:56:00.000+04:00

More and more I am curious and fascinated of how people here life their days.

The air of depression is everywhere...

Hectic job, routine schedule, tiring activity, the people perceived that their works is not rewarding enough, while management sees that the people is not good enough as expected.

The people feels that the old way - altough not good also, but better than the new change, where the management always try to find a way to improve, from the bigger picture.

Like two sides of the coin, or 2 poles of the magnet.

each side thinks and feels totally on different view and totally relevant for their own position.

The short outcome is obvious, that nobody, even bother NOT to grumble and complain. One group will find something not nice to be talked about other people, other group or even about the overall condition.. and vice versa.

Feeling is hurted, dissatisfaction is growing, expectation is not met.

But everyone seems finding this condition is the safest way among other choice to continue with everything as usual..

Must say to myself... Bon Journee..!

p.s.: I wrote the draft 1 weeks ago, and last night I realized that myself has done exactly the same thing as I described, grumble, complain and talk bad about this place and condition.

I still can't believe that I've turned into one of the people that fast!

My bad..!

Jalan-jalan ke Siak

2007-03-19T11:57:00.000+04:00

Alkisah, ada seseorang yang terjebak di this place-so-called-hell pada sebuah long weekend. Being here for less than 50 days, her spirit to wander around is still high.

To cut the story short, akhirnya pergilah saya ke suatu tempat bernama Siak, yang ditempuh 2-jam perjalanan dengan kapal motor, satu-satunya tempat yang bisa di kunjungi kurang dari sehari (sehingga tidak usah menginap).

Jadi pagi-pagi buta (ga terlalu buta ding, soalnya jam 8 baru jalan keluar nunggu taksi dipinggir jalan), saya dan seorang teman pergi ke pelabuhan Pelita untuk mencari boat yang biasa pergi ke Siak.
Ternyata pelabuhannya hanyalah ruang tunggu yang terbuat dari kayu dan menjorok ke sungai.. disana kami membeli tiket boat ke Siak dan harus menunggu sekitar 30-min sebelum boatnya siap berangkat (tentunya masih di lengkapi dengan beberapa menit keterlambatan).

Datanglah sebuah boat kayu bermotor, dan kami semua masuk kedalamnya, pada saat perjalanan pergi, cuma sedikit orang yang menaikinya. Kursi kayunya seadanya yang dilapisi dengan bantalan busa.dan setiap kali boatnya menghantam air, maka bunyi kriut-kriut kayupun terdengar. angin lumayan kencang, untungnya awak boatnya menutup atap boat dengan plastik terpal, sehingga lumayan menolong untuk menahan angin.

Sekitar 2-jam perjalanan, menyusuri sungai Siak, ditepi-tepinya tampak pohon-pohon yang rimbun, di beberapa tempat beberapa tangga kayu tampak keluar dari daratan ke dalam sungai, dan terkadang tampak seseorang sedang melakukan kegiatan, yang berkisar antara mandi, mencuci baju ataupun sekedar berkumpul dan mengobrol.

Sepanjang perjalanan juga tampak perhentian-perhentian kapal yang ditadndai dengan banyaknya truk atau kendaraan berjejer, mungkin untuk akses ke pabrik-pabrik kayu yang juga banyak terdapat di pinggir sungai.

Akhirnya sampailah kita ke pelabuhan Siak, setelah terkantuk-kantuk terkena angin selama perjalanan.

Setelah sampai, kami naik becak.. yang bentuknya agak tidak biasa bagi saya. Tempat duduk penumpang yang lebih kecil dan pengemudinya yang di samping, instead of di belakang seperti pada umumnya becak-becak di Jawa. Sekilas terlintas dipikiran saya, kalau becak seperti ini akan membuat pengemudinya harus bekerja ekstra, karena kayuhan dari samping akan lebih berat.

Cuma dibutuhkan waktu 5-menit untuk perjalanan dari pelabuhan ke Istana. Istana Siak adalah tujuan perjalanan kami kali ini. Istana ini merupakan peninggalan kerajaan Siak, yang merupakan kerajaan yang cukup modern (Raja terakhirnya memerintah sekitar jaman perang kemerdekaan Indonesia, sebelum akhirnya mereka menyatakan masuk ke NKRI dan turut andil dalam kemerdekaan Indonesia).

Bangunan istananya tampak modern dengan banyak pengaruh dari Eropa, tamannya luas dan dihiasi bunga-bunga.

Untuk biaya masuk, tidak ada biaya tiket resmi, tapi pengunjung diharapkan mengisi kotak sumbangan sukarela dan alas kaki harus dilepas.

Isi dalam istana adalah benda-benda koleksi anggota kerajaan, hadiah-hadiah dari rekan mereka dan foto-foto. Salah satu yang agak luar biasa adalah adanya koleksi alat musik yang konon didunia cuma dibuat 2 buah, dan alat ini digunakan juga oleh para pemusik kelas dunia seperti Mozart. Alat ini bermerek komet, bagi saya yang buta apresiasinya terhadap seni,penampilan alat musik ini malah menyerupai jam duduk yang besar, yang didalamnya berisi lempengan besi bundar tipis yang mempunyai senar didalamnya.

Hal lain lagi yang menarik perhatian saya adalah tangga untuk naik ke lantai atas di dalam istana, yang berukir-ukir, berwarna merah dan emas yang rumit, dengan pengaruh cina.

Seusai puas memutari istana (yang emang tidak begitu besar), kami keluar dan memutuskan berjalan ke pasar, yang menurut dugaan kami tidaklah jauh. Dan ternyata benar juga, belum sampai 10-min kami berjalan, sampailah ke sebuah pasar yang tidak terlalu besar, tapi cukup rapi dan bersih, dengan banyak kedai kopi khas cina perantauan dipinggir-pinggir jalan, bersandingan dengan warung-warung kecil yang menjual masakan minang. Kedai kopi nya biasa menjual mie-nasi-bihun-goreng atau rebus, yang kemudian kami coba, dan rasanya tidak mengecewakan. Kalai masakan minangnya, tampak bahwa mereka menyajikan udang galah sungai yang besarnya bisa se lengan saya, cuma tidak sempat kami cicipi. Kami meneruskan perjalanan dan memutuskan untuk balik ke pelabuhan dan menunggu boat tercepat, karena kotanya sudah habis dijelajahi. Dan di tengah perjalanan, sempat melewati makam sultan terakhir kerajaan Siak. Dan pulanglah kami dengan boat yang serupa, hanya saja dalam perjalanan ini, boatnya sangat fully occupied, sehingga membuat yang sudah tidak terlalu nyaman, bertambah lagi ketidaknyamanannya.

(We) give woman a bad name?

2007-03-12T15:13:00.000+04:00

Sebelum memulai menulis topik ini, saya ingatkan saja untuk tidak salah sangka dan keburu berprasangka tentang judul diatas. Bukan maksudnya mendiskreditkan wanita atau menunjukan kelemahan-kelemahannya (well, nobody’s perfect sih emang, cuman do not need lah untuk ambil bagian point that out again). Well, bahasan untuk pria jelas akan lebih banyak dan jelas, yang demi ke konsistenan isi, tidak bias disatukan dalam topik ini (dan yang jelas isinya akan panjang sekali).
Saya cuman tiba-tiba agak memikirkan soal hal ini dari banyak contoh-contoh kejadian sehari-hari yang saya temui, apakah itu dari diri saya sendiri, teman-teman saya sesama wanita, cewe-cewe yang saya bahkan tidak kenal, hanya sekadar as a third party spectator saja, ataupun “oknum-oknum” wanita dengan segala contoh kasus mereka yang unik-unik.
Saya perhatikan kalo beberapa hal, predikat kita memang didasari of how we normally react (kita dalam hal ini adalah wanita in general), such as:

Skala prioritas kita yang suka tidak jelas dan sangat fleksibel.
Classic case ya barusan saja terjadi pada diri saya (well, one point to prove that I am really a woman), pergi ke supermarket dengan list barang yang diperlukan untuk kamar kost baru saya, dan finish the 2 hours shopping (walking around each rows in the supermarket) and went to the cashier with 10 things not listed in the list, dan barang yang saya tulis di list tak ada yang terbeli. Ini salah satu rahasia alam semesta yang bahkan saya yang mengaku-aku telah hidup sebagai seorang cewe selama hampir 26 tahun pun masih suka terkagum-kagum. Betapa gampangnya cewe berubah pikiran (salah satu faktor mungkin karena bintang saya gemini yang notabene terkenal dengan 2-side of the personalities). Tapi saya yakin bahwa cewe-cewe yang bukan berbintang Gemini pun tak jarang ada disituasi yang sama, entah berapa sering kita berubah 180 derajat untuk mengerjakan to-do list kita, achieve apa yang menurut kita paling penting, bisa berubah dalam hitungan hari, bahkan jam. Bahkan soal percowo-an, istilah mereka, cewe itu: asal dibaekin terus pasti luluhlah hatinya dan akan berbalik ke kamu.. (well, must admit that we contribute partially in this process). Tadi pagi, saya cari sarapan bersama seorang teman, ke bubur ayam. Setelah beberapa waktu, datang serombongan cewe-cewe duduk di meja yang sama dengan kita dan mereka mulai memesan. Ini dialog antara seorang cewe dengan abang-abang penjual bubur:
Cewe: bang, ada juice apa aja?
Abang: banyak mbak, macem-macem.
Cewe: ya apa aja macem-macemnya?
Abang: hmm.. ada tomat, ada jeruk, ada melon, ada.. apa ya itu yang berduri-duri?
Cewe: sirsak?
Abang: iya itu.. ada yang laen-laen juga
Cewe: alpukat ada ga?
Abang: ada juga
Cewe (diem bentar): ya udahlah, pesen es teh tawar aja…
Lhooo!!!

Kalo udah gini, gimana kita engga dapat vonis sebagai spesies yang susah ngambil keputusan dan plin-plan?

Mengatas-namakan kadar hormon untuk mood swing yang sangat menakjubkan
Kita kayaknya emang harus mengaku kalo setidaknya sekali dalam hidup, pernah meng-excuse diri sendiri dengan alasan PMS. Dengan penjelasan logisnya: kalo lagi mau dapat tamu, kadar hormone kita emang berubah-ubah, hal ini lah yang mengefek ke perubahan perasaan kita. Suka kadang jadi emosi-an, nangis, merasa blue dan putus asa, atau pengen sendiri, uring-uringan gak jelas,, dan seribu satu hal laen yang bikin pusing kepala orang laen.
Padahal, kalo mau dipikr masalah keadilan, apa dasar nya kita bias bikin excuse dengan alasan kadar hormone berubah? Oke lah, dia mengefek ke perasaan kita. But at the end we are a free-will human being, yang dikaruniai akal cerdas (menurut pelajaran PMP), yang bias menimbang mana hal yang logis dan pantas untuk diambil. Yang mau saya sampaikan itu adalah, nothing wrong emang kalo kita mau bersikap bitchy dan annoying, cuman ya ngapain harus pake alasan PMS? Emang kita nya aja yang deep down inside telah memutuskan, mau jadi uring-uringan, instead of be calm, mau bersikap whinny instead of strict, nangis instead of smiling. Sekali lagi, ga ada salahnya emang kalo suatu saat kita perlu ambil yang pilihan jelek… cuman ya, jangan salahin proses biologis yang emang udah dari sono nya dong.

Selalu punya dua set ukuran untuk hal yang sama pada hampir semua kesempatan
As one friend commented about me “ Siska, you always have two sets of parameters for almost everything, one for other person and one for yourself”. Artinya kira-kira: saya itu selalu engga fair, karena saat saya menetapkan kalo orang laen harus A, tapi kalo buat saya sendiri, B is okay. Another unexplainable thing yang artinya bagi third party adalah kita not being enough fair to the world around us. Tapi apakah alasan itu dapat diterima kita? Ataukah yang terjadi sebenarnya adalah, bukannya mau ga adil, cuman kita selalu pusing dengan bermacam-macam point of view kita untuk one little tiny thing, sehingga itulah yang mengaburkan kevalidan pendapat kita akan satu hal yang sama cuman terjadi pada circumstances atau orang yang berbeda walopun bedanya sedikit sekali, tapi bagi kita, beda setipis kertas itu udah cukup untuk me-modify dan alter pendapat kita.

Crying is a blackmail

Seorang teman pria saya mengirim email yang berisi presentasi lucu tentang pendapat-pendapat pria pada umum nya (pada umumnya dalam hal ini adalah: cynical dan dalam beberapa hal, sangat blurry dilihat dari sudut pandang mereka). Salah satu diantara komentar-komentar yang paling susah dilupakan adalah "crying is a blackmail".

Dalam hal ini kayaknya kita tidak bisa menyanggah komentar ini, soalnya boleh dibilang secara langsung ataupun tidak, secara disengaja maupun tidak, cewe dan airmata emang berkaitan.. dan betapa lihainya kita yang bisa memainkan airmata, secara tepat sesuai kebutuhan dan kondisi.. kita cuman bisa bilang.."salah siapa, cowo harus lemah terhadap airmata?"

Memang suka di gombalin

What can we say? we love lovely words, eventhough it is not true. We love to hear nice things, even if it is a lie. Berapa persen dari kita yang (sebenernya) sebel, kalau mendengar orang laen membenarkan bahwa kita kelebihan berat badan atau pilihan kostum kita salah?

Compulsive.. about anything

Saat stress, oh, nikmatnya menghabiskan keripik satu kantong besar (ups, cerminan dari personal statement), jalan-jalan ke mall atau shopping center, mendadak lupa bahwa sebenernya yang harus di punyai adalah sebuah lemari baru (karena koleksi baju sudah menumpuk dan tak tertampung lagi di lemari lama) eh, malah sibuk melihat-lihat keranjang sale, dengan alasan :"kan mumpung murah". Betapa senangnya punya persediaan akan sebuah jenis barang yang sama, entah itu "dalaman", kebutuhan bulanan, persediaan snack untuk meng-indulge ourself saat PMS (yahh.. PMS lageee) atau saat mood sedang tak bisa di katrol.

Case laen adalah, super compulsive-slash-paranoid kalo berhubungan dengan si kekasih, entah menelpon atau sms semenit sekali (mumpung sekarang udah ada teknologi komunikasi yang murah), sibuk menduga-duga yang tidak-tidak (atau dalam hal yang berhubungan dengan pria -menduga-duga yang iya-iya) saat si dia absen menelpon hari ini. Ada satu ilustrasi yang sangat menarik dari hal ini

BUKU HARIAN ISTERI
Minggu Malam -
Dia bertingkah aneh. Sebelumnya kami berjanji bertemu di Cafe.
Aku shopping seharian dg teman-teman, sehingga mungkin dia kesal karena aku agak telat sampai di Cafe, tapi dia tak berkomentar.
Ngobrolnya nggak nyambung, jadi aku usul kita pergi ketempat yang agak sepi supaya ngobrolnya lebih enak, dia setuju tapi tetap diam dan berjarak.
Aku tanyakan apa yang salah - dia jawab, "Tak ada". Aku tanyakan apakah kesalahan ku yang membuatnya kesal.
Dia bilang hal ini tak ada kaitannya dengan ku dan minta aku nggak usah khawatir.
Dalam perjalanan pulang, ku bilang aku mencintainya, dia cuma tersenyum tipis dan tetap menyetir.
Aku tak bisa menjelaskan perangainya sore itu.
Aku tak habis pikir kenapa dia tak menjawab, "aku cinta kamu juga".
Sesampainya dirumah, aku merasa kehilangan dia, dan seolah-olah dia tak menghendaki ku lagi.
Dia hanya duduk dan nonton depan TV; dia terlihat jauh dan menghilang.
Akhirnya aku putuskan untuk tidur. Sekitar 10 menit kemudian, dia menyusul ke kamar.
Aku nggak tahan lagi, kuputuskan untuk menghadapinya dan menanyakan soal sebenarnya! tapi dia langsung tertidur.
Aku mulai menangis sampai tertidur.
Aku tak tahu apa yang harus ku lakukan. Aku yakin pikirannya sama cewek lain.
Hidupku serasa kiamat...

BUKU HARIAN SUAMI
Hari ini Manchester United kalah. SIALAAAN....

hehehehe....

Suka (kadang-kadang) manipulative

Being manipulative is nice, siapa sih yang tidak senang kalo diantar jemput seorang pria, diimbuhi dengan predikat (atau obyek pembantu): -mobil yang decent, syukur-syukur mobil ber merk 3 huruf, keluaran terbaru. Seperti pada jaman kuliahan dulu, saat mayoritas anak kuliahan masih membawa sepeda motor (maklum, saya kuliah di UGM yang terkenal sebagai kampus ndeso), sebagai mahasiswi di kampus teknik yang hampir 90% nya terdiri dari cowo, kami kadang-kadang sibuk (ber-andai-andai) bisa menjawab tawaran menumpang dari para pria itu dengan respons seperti ini: " maaf ya, bukan ga mau ikut kamu, cuman sekali-kali pengen numpang di samping, bukan di belakang kamu". (Tak perlu ditambahkan on the record bahwa kalimat ini tidak pernah bisa sampai mendapatkan kesempatan yang nyata untuk digunakan)

Tapi benar terjadi, kalo banyak hal kita sebagai cewe (merasa) punya hak untuk memanfaatkan cowo (more specifically: cowo nya sendiri.. dan in general, cowo siapa aja juga tidak masalah, sepanjang tindakan dilakukan tanpa ada paksaan dari satu pihak ke pihak laen).

Kenapa kita bisa melakukan hal ini?.. karena kita punya banyak senjata untuk menjadikan hal ini achieveable dan juga tidak melupakan kelemahan cowo, yang sedikit kita memaklumkan perang dingin (pura-pura) tentunya.. mereka sudah akan luluh.

Tentunya kita terlepas dari kursi terdakwa kan? lha wong cowo nya saja tidak protes kok.

And then, we will go back to each points above and I am sure there are more other points since there are more than 3 millions of us all around the world, re-think and hmm.. well, since we have two set of parameters for almost anything, then we can say..."Wow.. I never realized that I've had so much power!"

I love being a woman!!!

Ungrateful me

2007-03-09T14:03:00.000+04:00

I think my big boss is perfect, so smart, well-spoken, friendly, damn cute, athletic, so successful at a relatively young age, so good and welldone in everything. So that the only bad thing about him is that he's happily married with 2 kids, and so faithful to his family.
I think my case is not rare at all, can say that it very often happens that we (we here is more to woman thing) tends to be attracted to somebody as role model who is close to our day to day things, be it the boss, the lecturer, the coach, etc. While in one thing we got the impression that that person can be reliable in what he does and what he seems, then appearance is also another thing.. that made up the "perfect" word.
I think I hate myself of still keeping his pictures and emails in my computer.. just don't dare enough to put one of his picture as the wallpaper.
I think I curse myself a lot when I jokingly said to my colleagues, that if he were divorced and suddenly propose me, won't take more than 10 seconds to accept and say yes.. since I am afraid that what I've just said is not a merely joke.
Gosh, how this thing is always happening?

Having a crush with somebody out of reach, from totally different space.. where I am sure that I already have somebody that trully care of me. Have somebody who always try to please me and to make me laugh. Somebody who misses my voice and my silly complaints. Somebody who did try to change to fit me. Who thinks that I am beautiful. Somebody whom I can speak about anything.. absolutely anything. Somebody to share my (most times) stupid thinking. Somebody who can stands my mood swing. Somabody who always think of me in every happy moments in his life.. and wish me to be there with him.

What an ungrateful and silly person I am..