South by Southeast part 1

Village hopping. That's what I’ve been doing lately and what’s going to occupy me for the next couple of weeks.

Back in the July, my fellow Miss Endri came to my table during a workshop. She put out her idea of conducting village-level communication system research and asked me to co-work with her. I said yes straight away even though I was also a bit nervous, knowing that it’s going to be one tough task.

The research covers 12 villages; 6 in South Sulawesi and 6 in Southeast Sulawesi where my office’s project operates.

Long story short, everything was set, and the pre-test was completed in mid October.

Makassar part 2 (Photos)

Oh the sun, it's so beautiful

Short Break (Photos)

Thursday afternoon at Sultan Hasanuddin

Before leaving for field trips to Bantaeng, Bulukumba, and Palu, I managed to sneak out and flew to Bali to meet some peeps.

As always, Bali is fascinating, making saying goodbye so hard.

Palu (Photos)

Palu is the city where you sweat uncontrolably. Even if you just sit or stand still, you will still sweat. 

It is so hot, I really feel like taking shower every 2 hours.

Not much to see in the capital, and I also didn't have time to go around, so I only managed to go to the provincial museum and Donggala, a city nearby.

Really wish that I can visit it again sometime, to explore the Lore Lindu National Park. It is just tempting :D

Bantaeng and Bulukumba (Photos)

Bantaeng and Bulukumba are two districts located on the south of Makassar. I visited both places a couple of days ago for business trip. The two places can be reached by public transport (using angkot and bus), but I'd say the most comfortable ways are to rent a car or take travel service. 

If you're a solo traveller, travel service is the best option. There's a Makassar-based company called BMA that serves the route using  air-conned minibus. The trip takes around 4 hours to Bantaeng and another 1 hour from Bantaeng to reach Bulukumba. 

Makassar part 1 (Photos)

Got a pretty postcard and earings from miss Saras Juwono. Thank you thank you thank you

Makassar, Palu, and Things in Between

October commemorates my first month in Makassar.

As I once mentioned before, I currently work for a project that focuses on improving farmers' livelihood in Sulawesi. The main project areas are Bantaeng, Bulukumba (both is South Sulawesi, Konawe, Kolaka (in Southeast Sulawesi), and soon Gorontalo. In each province, there’s a project office that coordinates all activity. What’s more, there’s also a representative in Makassar (which is me), that serves as the hub for the areas.

Lately (Photos)

Staring at the sun

The Grand Duo (Photos)

Sofia Kamah & M.A. Kamah

Gramp in HK, circa 1964

Gramma wearing uniform during general mobilization, circa 1962

Last Week (Photos)

My last week in town is all about get-togethers with best friends.

We went places, crashing from one cafe to another just to chill and have some fun. And yes indeed I had so much fun and so much laugh. In fact, it was one of the best moment ever.

Thank you peeps for making my last days in town so precious.

I love you all to Pluto and back.

This and That (Photos)

Happy Birthday, Indonesia

Last year, I celebrated independece day in Mulia, Puncak Jaya regency, Papua. There were competitions, and it was a jolly moment where everybody seemed to have a good time. For me it was fascinating, because once and for all, no matter what skin color you have and no matter what ethnicity that runs through your veins, we're all Indonesian, and proud to be ones.

Happy birthday, Indonesia.

Snow part 2 (Photos)

Snow (Photos)

The first snow of the year comes in form of fluffs blown over the office's compound.

Sunday (Music Video)

Waiting by the mailbox, by the train 
Passin' by the hills 'til I hear the name
I'm looking for a saw to cut these chains in half and all I want is
Someone to rely on as
Thunder comes a rolling down
Someone to rely on as
Lightning comes a staring in again

I'll wait to be forgiven
Maybe I never will
My star has left me
To take the bitter pill
That shattered feeling
Well the cause of it's a lesson learned
Just don't know if I could roll into the sea again
"Just don't know if I could do it all again" she said, it's true

Waiting in my room and I lock the door
I watch the coloured animals across the floor
And I'm looking from a distance 
And I'm listening to the whispers
And oh it aint the same, when you're falling out of feeling and you're
Falling in and caught again

I'm caught again in the mystery
You're by my side, but are you still with me?
The answers somewhere deep in it, im sorry but you're feeling it
But I just have to tell that I love you so much these days
Have to tell you that I love you so much these days, its true

My heart is in economy
Due to this autonomy
Rolling in and caught again
Caught again

An Announcement (And Invitation Too!)

I’m going to be in Makassar by the end of August, and will stay there until mid next year. 

I would love to have a company, so if you happen to visit the city, please drop me a message and perhaps we can hang out together! 



See you :)

Tuesday (Music Video)

Weekend With The Boys (Photos)

 
On Saturday, my best friend from college, Jefta suddenly called and asked me to join the trip to Bandung next day.

Andi, another best friend from college was joining also, hence it was a small reunion trip.

We went on Sunday morning around 8, and reached Bandung in nearly 2 hours.

It wasn’t a culinary nor shopping tour, and we didn’t have any specific plan, so it was more like hanging around the city, though yes, it involved lots of snacking.

I had so much fun with the boys, I think I hurt my jaw out of excessive laughing.

First Trip to Bantaeng, Kendari, and Konawe (Photos)

Once Around The Compound (Photos)

New Life

Finished with Papua, I went for a short holiday to clear my mind and decide what I wanted to do next. I got back home on April 7 and got a call for a job interview the week after.

Thankfully the process went well, and by mid of May, I started my new assignment at an NGO that focuses on agroforestry and land management. I handle a project in Sulawesi, which helps farmers in the South, Southeast and (soon) Gorontalo to improve their livelihoods. 

The office is in Bogor and I currently work in Bogor, but I will be relocated to field office in Makassar by the end of August. I am so grateful, because since long time ago, I’ve been wanting to go to Sulawesi. 

What makes it interesting even more is the fact that my mother is a Sulawesinese. Her parents are mixed of Gorontalo and Manado. She spent her childhood in Makassar and Gorontalo before migrated to Jakarta. So for me this is like getting the chance to dedicate myself to the place that by the person I love the most, was once called home.

To The East We Go part 2

As any other normal men in this world, Reo packed very lightly. I was amazed because he managed to pack all of those things needed for 2 weeks trip into a middle size rucksack.

I, on the contrary required a 45 litre pack to squeeze the whatever itsies bitsies.  Yet, additionally,  I still have a tote bag containing maps, directions, wallets, glasses, and another pack of tripod. Now you can imagine how hassleful I was.

Reo and I took taxi from the airport to Bangsal harbour. I once read that sometimes getting a taxi in there can be risky because of the brokers. Blue Bird taxi does operate in Mataram, but unfortunately just like in Ngurah Rai airport Bali, they’re not permitted to enter the airport area.  So we can only use other taxi services which can be booked at a counter near the exit gate. They have a range of taxis, and you just pick which you want to hire. 

Back to the 90s (Music Video)

This song has one of the best reff part ever. 

Have a nice weekend all!

#1

"If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? 
I hope they last for centuries." 

- Chungking Express-

Beige Chiffon, Silk and Roses (Music Video)

Fete In The Sky (Music Video)

To The East We Go part 1

I have to say that writing about my recent Nusa Tenggara trip has been one of the toughest thing to do. As soon as I arrived home, I was swamped with job-seeking activities, casual get-togethers, and swimming session. Those three packed my schedule tightly and dried me up during the month of April.

On early May, I received an email saying that my application was accepted, and I was expected to start working at the new office on the 15th. It was such a great news. I was so happy, I remember I couldn't stop smiling through out the day. 

It was after that, I found the time to write about the trip.

The journal I wrote might won't include details about itinerary and budget, so if you're interested on it, you could drop me an email.

So, without further ado, let's begin.

These Days part 3

When you're my age, your agenda is not only packed with weddings but also kids birthday party. 

Now this one is my bestfriend's daughter's birthday bash. The happy little girl is named Vinca, and this is her 1st birthday celebration :)

Pretty decoration

These Days part 2

Before I post the trip series, it would be nice if I post about things that occurred prior. 

As you might know, I went back for good on early March, and soon after, my days were filled with get-togethers. 

I enjoy it so much since I really miss my friends, and you know how good it feels surrounded by people that cares about you :)

Lunch with Fahra. This was 'makan bunuh' for sure!

Home At Last

Apologize for leaving this blog without update for quite sometimes, but I just got back home last Saturday.

Oui, I just had a marvelous 18 days trip to Bali, Lombok, The Gilis, Mataram, the small islands in between Lombok-Sumbawa-Flores, Komodo island, Rinca island, Labuan Bajo, and Surabaya.

Many things happened during the voyage. Changes of plan, including the highlight that my travel partner Reo, had to go home earlier, leaving me all alone for third quarter of the trip. I was nervous at first, because it was my first time traveling solo, but thank thank God everything turned out okay.

The trip itself was magnificent. I experienced many things which are beyond my expectation, I met so many wonderful people, and the view....was breathtaking.

Eastern part of Indonesia is blessed with beautiful landscape and pristine beaches, making me promised myself, that someday I'll be back to explore more of East Nusa Tenggara.

The place is so gorgeous. I mean as a sky fetish, it is impossible for me to resist when every morning, I wake up with a sky that is so beautiful, I thought I'm looking at a painting.  And in the afternoon, I was all flabbergasted seeing this pretty pretty orange color in the sky.
It's heaven for me.

Anyway, trip details will come in few next entries.
Until then,

Kissu kissu

These Days

Last week was tough and great at the same time.

I found it hard because it was the first week for me being in town after spending 9 months in Jayapura.  It takes a while to adapt with the time difference. 

I know that Eastern Indonesian Time (or WIT/Waktu Indonesia Timur) and Western Indonesian Time (WIB/Waktu Indonesia Barat) only bear 2 hours of difference, but  seriously for several days, I went to bed at 07.30pm WIB and woke up at 03.00am WIB -which equals to 09.30pm WIT and 05.00am WIT, my normal sleep span according to WIT-.

It was upsetting, but I’ve been trying to cope it by doing things or go out around that time, so my body would learn to handle few more hours of activity.

Mulia part 4 (Photos)

I guess one thing that should be grateful about being back home is the internet connection. 

It's fast and stable. And it's relatively cheap.

I can stream youtube whenever I want; I can download podcast and music album without having to wait till the midnight comes (because in Jayapura the speed is only reliable during midnight & dawn); I can enjoy vimeo (previously, I'm not a big fan of it because it streams damn slow in there); I can skype using video-call function without having a 'still' picture of your skype partner appears on the screen for minutes; I can torrent films which before was impossible, and I can upload photos swiftly without having to wait THAT long. 

Thus, being blessed with the abundant connection, I would feel rather crappy if I didn't start to upload photos from the recent months.

So here I present you, the photos of Mulia taken at my last trip there on November 2011. 

Relatives of my office's house owner from another village came to work and fix the foot path around the house. The man would smack large stones using hammer, then the women and kids would help to fetch the pieces and dispose them to the uncovered soils.

Wednesday (Photos)

I spent my morning trying to keep up with jogging and swimming habit I have started in Papua. 

It wasn't that difficult (yet), considering that I'm still unemployed thus my time is quite flexible. 

Then I skyped with my bestfriend Ito, who happened to be in a business trip to.... *guess where guess where guess where*..... United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar aka Tanzania! 

He's soooo lucky, because you know that not everybody have the chance to visit the country. He perhaps the only person I know who've been to Tanzania.

Later in the afternoon, I had dinner and splendid tea with miss Dindiepop, where we both brought surprises for eachother :)

Schweet.

The Bridge (Video)

It was one cold November day when the colleagues and I took a walk around Mulia and passed this bridge.

For me, it was a challenging experience: to keep myself balance, while carefully watching my steps on those missing planks and gaps, and holding a camera trying to document it all.

All of us walked slowly yet painstakingly, while the local kids in front of me -who probably have known the bridge as the back of their hands- walked calmly eventhough he was carrying water jugs. 

Bravo kids!

This Is Goodbye

How lucky I am to have things and experience moments that make goodbye so hard.

Thanks for having me, Tanah Papua.

Monday (Music Video)

Close your eyes and you'll be there

Where the mermaids sing as they comb their hair

Like a fountain of gold you can never grow old

Where dreams are made, your love parade

The Count Down

As always, I’ve been lazy lately that I haven’t got the mood to update this blog.

I’m so lazy to write the post, too lazy to pick the pictures and THAT lazy to resize them.

All I wanted to do was to spend the remaining time I have with my friends.

Oh. Didn’t I tell you that next Saturday, March the third, I’m going back for good to Jakarta?

Yap, in less than a week, I’m going home and when I woke up this morning, I realized that I haven’t done any preparation or so. I’ve got quite a lot of stuff in my room, and I haven’t started separating which to be handed down, packed in luggage and to be sent back by post.

I got panic, and my acute procrastination syndrome kicked in, that instead of running the errand , I decided to turn my laptop on and write a post about what’s happening lately.

Ok, so these past months have been the happiest moment in my life.

Papua New Guinea Anyone?

Since I first arrived in Jayapura, I’ve been wanting to visit the border of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The country somehow has always cast a mysterious charisma that allures me.

Not much people know about PNG, not much have been there too, so I promised my self that at least before I leave the island of  Papua, I must have set my feet upon PNG soil, eventhough only the border.

And last Sunday, I managed to go there. Thanks to my housemate, Pak Anton, who allowed his car to be brutally abused by the 9 of us.

Ahoy Dewaruci!

Two weeks ago, a friend told me that the famous Dewaruci ship has docked in Jayapura port. 

Dewaruci –named ofter the god of truth and courage in Indonesian mythology- was built in 1952 in Hamburg,Germany by HC Stulcken & Sohn Dockyard. It was first brought to Indonesia on January 24, 1953, and has become a training ship for young Indonesian naval cadets ever since.
Dewaruci has left its basecamp in Surabaya on January 18, 2012 to sail on its annual around-the-world mission. It stops at several ports, where in Jayapura, it was opened for public for 3 days.

Trying not to miss the chance, I went to see the vessel with my housemates. We went there on a sunny Saturday morning where we were completely blown off to see the size of the ship, which appeared not to be as big as we have imagined! Seriously man, we thought Dewaruci is a one giant ship that has a lot of rooms and a helipad, or at least as big as Gunung Dempo that serves Jayapura-Makassar route. But turned out it’s a mid-sized ship! Auww! Penonton tertampar oleh realita.

Saturday

By next month, I won’t be hearing ships honking their horns three times in the middle of the night

I won’t be seeing betel nut husks scattered on the pedestrian road any longer

I won’t be spending my afternoon swimming in the pool by Youtefa Bay

I won’t be breathing the fresh air and having summer breeze touches my skin.

By next month, I’ll be on the plane that takes me back home to Jakarta.

And God knows how hard it is to face the truth.

Friday (Music Video)

Tuesday (Music Video)

"I thought saints were born saints
I looked in the dirt
And found wisdom is learnt
Through a costly process
Of success and failure"

Friday Crush

Congratulations dudes. You guys made it into the list of the musicians/bands I must see before I die.

Greetings

Good day January the 16^th, and happy new year 2012.

It’s been almost a month since my last post in this blog. Not that I have lost appetite, but frankly speaking, life has pretty much occupied me.

I had Christmas in Jayapura, and gotta tell you, it was amazing. Celebration has even started on early of December. 

Roman candles gorgeously painted the sky almost every night. Christmas trees stood delightfully in supermarkets. Beautiful ornaments embellish the city of Jayapura. It was certainly the time when the city exposed its charms. 

The next day, one of my housemate held a Christmas celebration. He invited me and other housemates for lunch. Various delicious main course menus were served, and perfected with cold beers!! Yay! (Fyi, I haven’t had a beer since I arrived in Jayapura which was like 7 months ago. It was kinda difficult to get one in Jayapura, so imagine how happy I was). 

The day turned great.  I had free meals, free beers,  and an awesome talk with the housemates.