The Souvenir Seller, Three Years Later

He took this photo (left) randomly while hanging in Coptic Cairo, during his residency in Egypt, couple of weeks ago. 

The old lady's face looks familiar to me, I think I've seen her before. 

I then decided to recheck stash of photos I captured on my visit to Cairo three years ago. 

And I found her, preserved perfectly with her eyes closed. 

The same lady, at the same location. 

While for most of us time flies at the speed of light, I can't help to think that for her, time seems to pass rather slowly that it stands still.

My Long Distance Love

Because Makassar-Bandung is not that far you know :D

The Come Back

I’ve been abandoning this blog for quite a while. Supposedly, the initial plan was to have this blog updated more frequently this year. That’s sort of my resolution, which has been forgotten, like all the previous ones I’ve made, which is sad. Turned out that keeping commitment on stuff like this isn’t my strength. It takes time, effort and passion which I should’ve known before I even created this blog. 

The Long-awaited One

For the last couples of year, April has always been special for me. It is somehow the month when many significant things in my life occurred. In 2011, after quitting my job in advertising, I had an interview and thrived in starting my journey to Papua. A year later after finished with the Papua mission, I was once again back on a job interview in April. Thankfully I managed to survive throughout the process, and by the end of the month was offered a position for a Sulawesi mission.

Ball in Motion

It’s amazing to see changes, of how things that used to be significant in your life, now just lost its charm completely. They stop occupying much space in your brain any longer, and appear less and less imporant as the distance in between makes the feeling fade away.

Is this called growing up? Or getting older?

Ps. I just sold my camera last week. Thought I would be sad, but turned out I was ok. It didn’t even involve much emotion though.

Halo Apa Kabarnya?

Tahun 2013 sudah masuk bulan ketiga sementara postingan baru satu. Padahal kepengen saya tuh jumlah postingan harus meningkat setiap tahunnya (yang mana sudah gagal total di tahun 2012). Lalu niatan berikutnya adalah mencoba menulis dengan bahasa Indonesia, karena merasa bahasa Inggris saya amburadul. Jadi ya daripada kebanyakan niatan, mending segera kita mulai posting ini.

Berhubung postingan terakhir saya adalah tentang survei keliling Sulsel dan Sultra, maka saya akan menceritakan setelah kelilingan itu saya ngapain aja.

South by Southeast part 2

Wonuahua, our second village on the list of Southeast sites, is part of Lambuya sub-district. From Unaaha, it takes about 30-40 minutes drive.

The village is divided into several sub-villages, spreading across the terrain.

We met Mr. Ibrahim, the leader of farmers’ group at his stilt house that is located amongst cacao trees.

Mr. Ibrahim lives at sub-village 3, which is miles away from the main road, that it takes another 15-20 minutes passing thru slopes and bunches of cacao farms.


Along the grubby soil path toward sub-village 3, plots of cacao trees with owner’s house usually sited at the back are the only thing that is apparent. In this sub-village, each residential is distant between one to another.

Sub-village 3 is also dominated by migrants from South Sulawesi. Most of local Tolaki people lives in the other side of the sub-village that is closer to the main road.

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)