September the 30th

Fourty six years ago, a movement called G30S/PKI undertook a coup d'etat attempt and changed the lives of millions, including my mother's family.

Here's an article I found this morning, written by my uncle (mom's younger brother), that tells stories about the family's aka my family's brief history.

(Article taken from here)

Going Home

Couple of months ago, not long after I arrived in Papua, I browsed on Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air websites. I was expecting a good deal for my ‘holiday in Jakarta’ plan on December. 

However, I found no luck. One way Jayapura – Jakarta ticket was 2.4 mio. Return ticks were around 4.8 – 5 mio. 

Jayapura to Major Tom: Do You Copy That?

Hello. I was so glued to work I had no times to blog.

Well that’s probably a bit exaggerating, but really, I have so much things to prepare  for this National AIDS conference in Jogja –which I don't attend but got a whole bunch of works to focus on–.

Things have been kind of quiet. I spend my afternoons and weekends drinking coffee and reading books, I only go out to buy food. Here’s the thing: I’ve got piles of untouched books, that were brought from Jakarta all the way to Jayapura, because I thought I would have more spare times here.

Then  a month passed and still, they were  left untouched. One day my conscience decided to break in and speak the truth: read them or pack them back to Jakarta. I have no choice.

Couple of weeks ago, a small Susi Air plane crashed in the highlands of Papua (at Yakuhimo regency) and killed the pilot and co-pilot. People blamed it on the bad weather. The company’s owner, Ibu Susi  was shattered because this has never happened before. Susi Air has always good record, and they pay attention to safety. But god knows what happened up there. The accident has even made her reconsidered the business in Papua. She said that probably Susi Air will operate no more in Papua.

Sunday (Photos)

Total Hotness (Music Video)

Crazy lips. 

Reminiscing Egypt (Photos)

Hottest Fashion Item in Mulia (Photos)

After I while, I reckon that the hottest fashion item for mama-mama in Mulia is not the skirt made of fibres nor beaded necklaces.

It's pleated skirts.

Baliem Valley for a Day

Sometimes, getting yourself out of Mulia can be a difficult thing. I remember two weeks ago it was so hard to get a plane. My colleague was almost desperate, getting ‘Sorry, we don’t fly on that date’ response everytime she called aviation company. Our trusted Yajasi and Maf had their pilots -who are expatriates- taking summer holiday. Susi Air had its planes on maintenance check.

It took us two days of waiting impatiently before we had the news that within the week, there will be no direct flight available to Jayapura. The only way to get out is flying to Wamena (the main town of Baliem Valley)  with Merpati and, continue with Trigana to Jayapura.

Another Mighty Mama (Photos)

Mama-mama I met at Mulia airport. 

I tried to communicate with her but she only mumbled and nodded. It seems that she doesn't speak bahasa Indonesia. Anyway, if you notice, two joints of her finger got amputated, meaning that she has lost two close family members. People said that this practice is still ongoing, although not as frequent as it used to be. 

Kids at School (Photos)

One fine Saturday at SD Inpres Mulia.

Wandenggobak's Posyandu Day (Photos)

Posyandu, or Integrated Maternal & Child Health Post is a monthly activity helds to monitor growth of the babies, kids below 5 y.o, and pregnant mothers. During the session, health officials (usually midwife or doctor) will also give immunization service and consultation about food nutrition.

The Mighty Mama (Photos)

Mama-mama (mothers) carrying heavy noken loaded with vegetables, fruits, hipere (sweet potatoes) or sometimes, a baby.

Total respect. 

Faces of Mulia (Photos)

Mulia part 2

Mulia airport

 Whenever I mention Puncak Jaya, people would instantly think of the highest mountain peak. It’s a confusion that happens frequently. 
The peak, or sometimes called Mount Carstensz by the mountaineers, is the highest peak in Indonesia. Standing still 4,884 meter above sea level, the summit is known for the glaciers on its slopes and frozen temperature that will bite your fingers off.  
It lies in the Sudirman Range within Puncak Jaya regency, which consequently leads to bewilderment; that Puncak Jaya stands for a mountain yet also a regency.

Back in the early days, Puncak Jaya was a district that belongs to Nabire regency. Subsequently, it  detached, and became an independent regency with Mulia as its capital.

Les Plages v.3: Harlem Beach (Photos)

Harlem, or some say Harlen, is a pretty beach located at the De Papre district of Jayapura. 
From Jayapura kota, you have to drive to Sentani area, then goes further to reach De Papre pier and continue the journey by renting a boat.  

Beside Harlem, there are two other famous beaches located in the district; Tablanusu and Amai. Both can be reached by car, making people visited them more frequent. 
Tablanusu is known for its rocky sand, while Amai has brownish sand. A friend said that Harlem is the prettiest of three, and that was the reason why we went there.

Khan el-Khalili Market

A very late post about Khan el-Khalili market that I visited last  year. 

Bagi yang sedang berkunjung ke Kairo, rasanya kurang lengkap jika tidak menyempatkan ke pasar Khan el-Khalili. Dibangun tahun 1382 oleh Emir Djaharks el-Khalili, pasar ini dahulu dikenal dengan nama ‘Turkish Bazar'.

El-Khalili terletak di pusat kota Kairo, menjadikannya tujuan utama para turis untuk berbelanja oleh-oleh dan souvenir khas Mesir.