iPad Parody Video

February 1, 2010 at 1:37 am · Filed under Just write! ·Tagged , ,

On January 27th 2010, apple announced their new iPad release. It is a new gadget from apple that will be sold from $499. Some people say it will be a great tablet but some people say it is only an oversized iPod touch.

iPad

iTouch

Playing with those controversies, a creative person created a funny video about the IPad and published it on Youtube. The funny video was made from the Downfall movie scene (German: Der Untergang). You might have known about this movie; a movie about Hitler in at the moment of his defeat during the world war two.  Since the movie’s original dialogue is in German language, the creator of the funny video uses the scene where Hitler is angry and changes the subtitle with a parody about iPad release. You can see the video below and I also link video of the original scene from the movie.  Enjoy..!

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The parody scene :

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The original scene :

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The Shin Men Resto

January 27, 2010 at 1:30 pm · Filed under Travel ·Tagged , , ,

At about two weeks ago, I went to Shinmen, Japanese Restaurant at Paris Van java Mall. It was for a Voice of June graduation party for Jeff. He decided to stop being the member of VOJ and focused for his graduation works. Well, congratulation for you, Jeff. It is very nice to have you been our band member.

Anyway, in this post I want to write about the Shinmen Restaurant itself. It was my first experience eating at true Japanese restaurant since I leave Japan last year’s September.  My yearning of eating Japanese food was fulfilled.

The restaurant was totally look alike Japanese restaurants which I have visited in Japan. It has chair and Tatami dining set. It also has Shabu-shabu table located on the second floor (However, the floor was closed that time since it was in the afternoon when I visited the restaurant). I felt like I was being in Japan when I saw the interior except when I saw my friend and the waitresses (They sure have Indonesian face :p)

There were many sets of table right in front of the restaurant. It was a semi open air dining place that was still the part of the restaurant. On the face side of the restaurant, right on the left side of the door we could see “Shin Men” logo that was beautifully carved on a wood panel. Then, after we enter the main door, we could see traditional and semi traditional Japanese table sets. It was very beautiful; I just think it might be more beautiful if I visited it in the evening when the lamps are turned on.

Since we came in group of 10 peoples, we ordered a semi private room with a common Japan style table set. The room had wooden accent with a replica of Japan’s traditional painting on the side of the wall. It was very amazing to see those surroundings in Indonesia, about 5000 kM away from Japan.

Since I was the one who took the pictures, I didn’t take a photo of myself so let’s just see the pictures of restaurant and my friends. At that time, I ordered a Shin Men ramen. I was very curious about ramen because I never had a chance to eat ramen in Japan since it contains meat that is not Halal (not properly been cut under Islamic regulation). Therefore, I just knew what would I ordered that time, obviously the Ramen. Well, it was god and it was really a chicken flavored ramen. I think I will go to this restaurant again and try the other kinds of ramen next time.

It is just ironically right? In the place where the Ramen is originated from, I couldn’t not to eat ramen as well as other meat contained Japanese food at all. However, here in Indonesia where the flavor of Japanese food often is not same with the original one, I can eat those freely. The only limitation is how much money left in my pocket. The point is, just accept and try to live on in every situation that we can never avoid.

PS : I think my English language skill is deteriorating,,, I should practice and learn more. Comments about grammar are opened.








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My Opinion About Japan

January 21, 2010 at 4:06 pm · Filed under Just write! ·Tagged , , ,

Still, after 5 months I arrived in Indonesia, I still have lot of writings that haven’t been published yet. In this chance, I would like to publish the writing that was written for my Final Assignment of Topic Of Japan Class during my YSEP Study. It was my opinion about “ How do I See Japan and the Japanese Society” at that time. You can read the full text below. Enjoy.

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How do I See Japan and the Japanese Society

Time seems to goes so fact since I stepped my feet on Narita Airport on September 12th 2008. Since that moment I started doing my activities as a young scientist exchange program student in TokyoTech.  Since that time, plenty of unforgettable memories had I made in my 1 year stay in Japan. The memories of many things I did, the memories of many things I didn’t do, and the memories of interacting with peoples from many countries will be always remaining in my mind.

Far looking to the time before I came to Japan, there were many reasons why I wanted to study in Japan. Mostly came from comparisons between Japan and Indonesia. Before I came to Japan, I only know Japan from mass media or friend who ever went to Japan. Through this YSEP, I am lucky be able to prove whether my reasons were right or not.

The first reason I wanted to study in Japan was because Japan has a good quality of education system. When comparing with Indonesia, that was true. After spending almost one year in TokyoTech, I see that Japan education system has good facilities and good human resources to run its system. Academic facilities such as library, laboratory equipment, and school infrastructures, all provides a good thrust to make Japan’s education better and better. It had been a very precious chance for me to be able to experience how good Japanese education system is in this one year of study.

The next reason was because Japan is one of the leading experts in civil engineering technology. Many advance research in civil engineering field are conducted here. On my one year study as an YSEP, I see how advance is Japanese research and technology in civil engineering field. In TokyoTech, I was able to conduct research by using methods and equipments that doesn’t available in my country. I gained a boarder access to civil engineering knowledge and research process through the easy access to good quality journals and books. Furthermore, my professor, and all people in my lab are supporting each other to pursue a great success in research activities.

In my opinion after spending almost one year in TokyoTech, the reason why Japan has a good achievement in civil engineering research and technology is because of the good education system that is supported by an eager beaver characteristic of its people. From my point of view, the systems had achieved a success in creating a condition where the majority of Japanese students are very dedicated or “forcefully” dedicated to their study. This condition is well preserved by Japanese government and industrial sector through their big support to sustain the good achievement in research and technology.

Back to the reasons, the other reason why I wanted to study in Japan was because Japan has a well organized society and cultural richness. On my stay in Japan, I felt that it was really convenient to live in a well organized environment. Most of the people are obedient to the country’s rule, discipline, and showed a good dedication to their community. Japanese peoples who I meet were peoples who are friendly, tolerant, and showed a mutual respect to each other. There was no discrimination about my belief and other people’s belief. Although the hierarchical system was very dominant inside the society, Japanese has developed its own characteristic in making a well organized country.

One of the same point of Japan and Indonesia is that they are considered to be rich in culture by international community. On my stay in Japan, I found that the cultural richness of Japan, which some of my Japanese companion did not realized it, causes curiosity for me and other foreign people to learn more and experience more about it. In my opinion, Japans is not only a convenient place do study but also interesting to be explored. In Japan, there is always a thing that makes me feel amazed when I explore Japan. Many places and activities in Japan are considered as world heritage. Not only gives benefit to Japan’s economy, this cultural richness attract peoples from different part of the world to know Japan, gain a better mutual understanding and gives benefit to both sides.

One year of living in Japan will not be enough to fully understand Japan and the Japanese. However, from this one year stay, I feel relieved that my reasons of studying in Japan were not wrong. Japan has a good education systems and infrastructures as I could experience in TokyoTech and as I could experience by exchanging information with students from other universities. Japan also has advance civil engineering technologies and researches which is supported by the government and industrial sectors.  Japanese people who I meet are very friendly, tolerant, and showed mutual respect to each other. The sceneries of modern, classic, or natural part of Japan were always amazed me. I could never stop my curiosity of exploring those places, experiencing many activities, and interacting with many Japanese people. This YSEP was one of the most memorable moments in my life. I hope I still have chance to visit Japan in the near future. Mata Aimashou.




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Tips Mengatasi Home Sick

January 17, 2010 at 4:29 pm · Filed under Travel ·Tagged , , ,

Home Sick adalah perasaan rindu akan suasana rumah dan kampung halaman. Perasaan ini timbul terutama ketika kita berada jauh dari rumah dengan segala suasanannya sehingga membuat perasaan serasa tak menentu. Tinggal selama setahun di Tokyo membuat saya mengalami pengalaman home sick terberat yang pernah saya alami. Selama berada di Jepang, saya sangat merindukan semua hal mengenai Indonesia. Oleh karena itu, dalam menghadapi home sick saya melakukan langkah-langkah dibawah ini.

1. Berkomunikasi dengan Keluarga di Indonesia

Komunikasi dengan keluarga di Indonesia merupakan obat home sick yang paling mujarab bagi saya. Dengan cara ini, saya bisa langsung mendengar kabar dari keluarga tercinta di Indonesia dan juga bisa langsung berbagi keluh kesah – susah senang dengan mereka.

Metode komunikasi adalah dengan menggunakan sambungan telefon langsung, sms, Skype, dan Yahoo Messenger. Metode telefon langsung adalah metode yang paling mahal karena saya harus membeli layanan kartu telepon khusus bernama SADIA card seharga 2000 yen untuk 2.5 jam masa bicara ke telefon selular di Bandung.  Metode SMS dapat dilakukan dengan berlangganan layanan SMS ke Indonesia melalui layanan SMS Pelangi. Kita dapat mengetik SMS langsung dari HP kita atau dari website mereka. Dengan membayar 2.000 yen, kita bisa mendapat 240 SMS ke nomor HP Indonesia. Metode selanjutnya adalah Skype dan Yahoo Messenger. Keduanya menyediakan layanan chatting dan video call dengan menggunakan media internet tanpa memungut biaya apapun kecuali biaya akses internet

2. Makan masakan Indonesia

Keterbatasan jenis makanan yang dapat dimakan membuat saya semakin rindu untuk memakan masakan khas Indonesia. Untuk mengatasinya, biasanya saya berkunjung ke restoran Cabe yang terletak di Meguro. Restoran Cabe menjadi favorit warga Indonesia di Tokyo karena sebagian besar masakannya halal dan letaknya yang dekat dengan pusat aktivitas warga Indonesia di Tokyo. Menikmati makanan Indonesia bersama teman sebangsa menjadikan home sick semakin terobati.

Selain pergi ke restoran, saya juga suka memasak sendiri masakan Indonesia kesukaan saya. Masakan Indonesia seperti opor ayam, nasi goreng, sup bisa dibuat dengan mudah dengan bantuan bumbu instan yang saya beli di Tokyo atau yang saya bawa langsung dari Indonesia. Terlebih, kamar saya memang dilengkapi dengan dapur yang sangat nyaman tuk digunakan.

3. Berekreasi Keliling Kota

Jepang merupakan negara yang sangat berbeda dengan Indonesia baik dalam hal budaya, penduduknya, orang-orangnya. Karena itu, selalu ada hal baru yang saya temukan setiap saya beranjak dari satu sisi ke sisi lain Jepang. Hal inilah yang membuat rekreasi keliling kota semakin menarik. Baik menggunakan kereta, bus, sepeda, atau jalan kaki, hal-hal baru dan menarik yang ditemui dapat mengobati kerinduan saya terhadap Indonesia.

4. Bertemu Rekan Sebangsa

Pertemuan dan perbincangan dengan rekan sebangsa dan senegara akan sangat membantu dalam mengatasi home sick. Aktivitas seperti makan bersama, berekreasi bersama, atau sekedar bermain futsal membuat perasaan rindu tanah air menjadi terobati. Dengan demikian, selain dapat mengatasi home sick, juga dapat meningkatkan semangat berjuang menempuh studi di Jepang.

5. Bersosialisasi dengan Teman Seperjuangan

Sosialisasi dengan sesama anggota lab atau sesama pelajar asing yang menempuh program yang sama merupakan salah satu cara yang cukup ampuh dalam mengatasi home sick. Sebagian dari beban home sick timbul karena masalah yang timbul selama menempuh studi, oleh karena itu berbagi beban dengan teman seperjuangan dirasa sangat membantu. Meskipun demikian, berbincang dengan sesama warga negara asing dirasa lebih nyaman dibanding dengan warga negara Jepang yang memang dikenal cenderung tertutup. Selama di Tokyo Tech, saya senantiasa berbincang dengan WNA di lab saya, atau lab lainnya untuk mendiskusikan riset, mencari penyelesaian masalah riset, atau saling membantu penggunaan alat eksperimen.

6. Berdoa

Hal terakhir yang sangat manjur dalam mengobati home sick dan bahkan mengatasi semua masalah selama masa studi adalah berdoa dan berserah diri kepada Allah SWT. Dengan berdoa dan berserah diri, saya berada pada titik kesadaran bahwa saya bukanlah apa-apa di dunia ini, tidak memiliki kekuatan apapun, tidak memiliki kelebihan apapun, semua yang ada pada diri saya hanyalah kehendak Allah SWT. Oleh karena itu, ketika menghadapi suatu masalah, semuanya adalah kehendak Allah SWT yang harus kita lalui dengan tetap berusaha, berdoa, dan akhirnya berserah diri. Sungguh kenikmatan yang sangat besar ketika akhirnya kita bisa dengan fokus berserah diri kepada Allah SWT ketika kita hampir putus asa ketika menghadapi masalah.

Selama di Jepang, saya sangat mudah mendapat akses ke kegiatan keagamaan. Ibadah Shalat di Tokyo Tech biasa dilakukan di refresh room tiap bangunan atau ruangan dekat tangga darurat di lantai teratas gedung Minami (South) 9. Selain shalat, Pengajian Midori (Midori : Hijai) , pengajian yang dibentuk oleh pelajar Indonesia di Tokyo Tech rutin diadakan setiap Jumat malam sehabis Isya. Pematerinya berasal dari pelajar Indonesia di Tokyo Tech sendiri dan sesekali mengundang narasumber yang kebetulan sedang berada di Tokyo.

Uraian diatas adalah beberapa langkah untuk mengatasi home sick, kalo mengatasi Japan Sick gimana  ya? ada ide? ^_^’

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Blogs of The YSEP Students

January 15, 2010 at 10:23 am · Filed under Academic ·Tagged , , ,

About one and half year before when I just received a great news that I were accepted as YSEP Student from ITB, I was really curious about Many things about YSEP. I was questioning myself about what preparation should I made, how was the YSEP Students before me filling their days in Japan, plenty of things that made me worried about YSEP life. Thankfully, I found a very informative blog of Reza Aditya, Indonesian YSEP student 2007/2008. Although this blog is already inactive since February 2009, this blog provides quiet comprehensive and usefull information about YSEP Life. I was very helped by reading this blog when I was doing my departure preparation. (Reza Aditya’s Blog : http://reditya.wordpress.com/)

In YSEP 2008/2009, we were motivated to create our own website that will be linked from official YSEP’s main site. Most of Indonesian YSEP students create the web site by using “Blog type website”. Me, risky, adeline, dian, and della made our own blog that contains small amount of information about ourselves. However, from 5 Indonesian YSEP who created blog at that time, only one who are still writing something for their blog, which is Me ^^’

Well, writing is not an easy activity, I think. Sometimes it is very hard to share our thinking in a shape of writing. For me, the one who still continuing write in my blog, my first objectives is to train my writing skill in especially English and Bahasa Indonesia. I want to be a good idea teller through a good writing. Through a blog, I can train myself to think systematically and write it in an interesting article. At first, it was very hard to motivate myself but eventually I am getting accustomed to write blog.

The second objective was to provide information for people who want to know and to study in Japan. My writing can be very useful since I was the person who ‘really’ stayed in Japan. I experienced many things in Japan, I met many Japanese, and I also read much information directly in Japan. I think people, especially YSEP Student candidate, should be very helped by that.

Now, Indonesian YSEP 2009/2010 students are doing their YSEP life. I have a great-great-great news that they have their personal blog that are so updated and are written in either English or Bahasa Indonesia. I am sure their blog will are very useful for many people in this world.  I just hope they can keep their continuity in writing their blog and create very useful writing for many people who want to know and want to study in Japan.

Here are the list of Indonesian YSEP 2009/2010 students and their blog address :

  1. Akhmad Syaiful Hidayat : www.akhmadsyaiful.blogspot.com
  2. Chandra Jinata : chandra28288.wordpress.com
  3. Dita Augystiana : augystiana.wordpress.com
  4. Fakhria Itmainati : fakhria.wordpress.com
  5. Laras Ayutirta : ayupratikto.wordpress.com
  6. Risiana Limuria : risianalimuria.wordpress.com
  7. Risvan Dirza : rvdirza.wordpress.com

PS : Dear ASH, ayo, jangan kalah sama yang lain..! lebih update lagi blognya ya ^^





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L’arc en Ciel New Single – Bless

January 10, 2010 at 6:04 pm · Filed under Just write! ·Tagged , , , ,

I just received a great news from L’arc en ciel official site. They will be releasing their newest Single titled “Bless”.  It is the thirty-sixth single by L’Arc-en-Ciel, released on January 27, 2010, and will be used as the theme song to the NHK 2010 Vancover Olympics.

The single will contains totally 5 tracks which are :

1. Bless

2. Bless – Concerto-

3. Route 666 – 2010- (P’unk-en-Ciel)

4. Bless (Hydeless version)

5. ROUTE 666 -2010- （T.E.Z P’UNKless version）” (P’unk-en-Ciel)

You can also see the PV here as I linked it from Youtube.

I really like the song and PV especially Hyde’s haircut. It really reminds me of their glorious years during 1996-1998 period. I am really expecting their new album to be release soon.

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Family Gathering at Salam Sereh Resto

January 9, 2010 at 2:51 pm · Filed under Travel ·Tagged , ,

Family gathering at Salam Sereh Resto

Today’s evening I had a family gathering in Salam Sereh Restaurant. It was the gathering regarding the thank you party for all committee member of my sister’s wedding. Totally up to 30 peoples came and celebrate the party. They came both from my relatives and my sister’s (and his husband) friends. Some of them were children who really like to jump and run everywhere. Choosing the Salam Sereh restaurant as a venue was really suitable for the party.

To be able to hold such a big party, we decided chose bigger place to accommodate the guests. The place should also have good catering service with a reasonable price. Therefore we choose the Salam Sereh Sundanese restaurant. It is a modern Sundanese restaurant that provides Sundanese meals. The restaurant is located at Jalan Supratman no 25, just 5 minute ride from Gedung Sate, Bandung. The official website is : here.

Sunda is an ethnic group in the western part of Java, and a second biggest ethnic group in Indonesia after the Javanese. We can find many kinds of Sudanese meals in Salam Sereh Restaurant. The way the meals are served is just like other Sundanese modern restaurant where we chose our food from the display and then the waitress will cook the food. Some of the good points of this restaurant are that we can see how our foods are being cooked and then the foods are directly sent to you in hygienic glass dishes. Other restaurants place the cooked food in wooden dishes so sometimes the oils are still clinging in the dishes even after the dishes have been washed.

The foods are varies and the beverages also. Most of them are Sundanese specialties. It has more than hundreds seats with one specially designed meeting room for up to 20 peoples. The interior is a mix of traditional Sundanese architecture and contemporary architecture that gives pleasant environment in enjoying our meal. They are live music, both modern and traditional genre that will entertain us every weekend or holiday.

This restaurant also accommodates youngster who want to have Sundanese meals in a cozy atmosphere. It has special section in which the interior is designed colorfully and equipped with sofas that are very comfortable as a chatting spot. Provided with Wifi, the restaurant surely offers a pleasant places for youngster who want to have meals while chating with friend, surfing the internet, or even working their homework.

The waiter and waitress are very friendly. You can feel the friendly identity of Sudanese culture in this restaurant. They seemed had been carefully trained to deliver their best hospitality to the guest. Honestly, the waitresses are very good looking. I think they are suitable for a job like cover girl or movie actress. Well, it is Bandung after all, the city that are famous for its beautiful girls.

Anyway, it was a great party with great peoples and great venue. Thank you for all committee members who have made my sister’s wedding successful.  I really appreciate you all. Also, thank you for Salam Sereh Restaurant for providing a great venue for the thank you party.

Ps: my camera was running out of battery.. sorry I couldn’t take many pictures ^_^

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Goris : Engineer Sipil Yang peduli Lingkungan

December 15, 2009 at 11:39 am · Filed under Academic ·Tagged , ,

Baru-baru ini saya kembali membuka milist alumni teknik sipil ITB setelah sekian lama milis ini dipenuhi dengan isu seputar pemilihan ketua Ikatan Alumni ITB. Ada hal tidak biasa yang dipost oleh salah satu anggota milist, sebuah artikel mengenai Goris Mustaqim yang merebut perhatian para pemerhati lingkungan atas karyanya mengembangkan industri Akar Wangi di Garut. Dia adalah alumni teknik sipil ITB angkatan 2001 dan anggota Himpunan Mahasiswa Sipil (HMS) ITB.

Tulisan lengkapnya dapat dilihat pada alamat berikut :

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/08/goris-mustaqim-making-business-green.html

Artikel dalam link itu dalam bahasa Inggris. Dalam post ini, saya ingin mencoba menceritakan lagi artikel diatas dengan gaya penulisan saya dalam bahasa Indonesia.

Di usianya yang ke 26 tahun ini, Goris dipilih oleh British Council sebagai salah satu dari British Council International Climate Champions atas idealismenya dalam mensinergikan semangat wirausaha dengan perlindungan lingkungan. Dia bergelut dengan 4000 petani akar wangi di garut untuk memperkenalkan sistem pemanfaatan akar wangi yang lebih ramah lingkungan.

Image origin : The Jakarta Post

Tanaman akar wangi memiliki nilai ekonomis dari minyak nya yang  digunakan sebagai bahan pembuat parfum dan kosmetik. Di dunia, hanya ada 3 tempat utama dimana tanaman akar wangi bisa tumbuh yaitu Haiti, Bourbon, dan Garut. Fungsi ekonomis dan kelangkaannya membuat akar wangi sebagai aset negara Indonesia yang patut dipertahankan kelangsungannya.

Permasalahan pada pemanfaatan tanaman Akar Wangi muncul ketika banyak petani Akar Wangi terpaksa gulung tikar akibat kenaikan harga bahan bakar minyak (BBM) beberapa tahun lalu. Sebelum krisis bahan bakar, 70 dari 200 ton Akar Wangi diproduksi di Indonesia. Pada tahun 2005, setelah krisis kenaikan harga BBM, produksi tanaman akar wangi Indonesia hanya tinggal 20 ton. Biaya BBM menyedot 50 % dari biaya produksi minyak Akar Wangi akibatnya peningkatan harga BBM berdampak besar pada biaya produksi minyak Akar Wangi.

original image from : http://wb9.itrademarket.com/pdimage/41/598541_vetiverrootdw.jpg

Karya besar Goris adalah memberikan alternatif energi panas bumi sebagai pengganti BBM dalam produksi minyak Akar Wangi. Garut memang memiliki sumber daya alam energi panas bumi yang melimpah dan mudah diakses yaitu Kawah Kamojang dimana Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Panas Bumi Kamojang.  Melalui riset di bidang ekonomi, lingkungan dan sosial, Goris menemukan bahwa penggunaan energi panas bumi bermanfaat sangat besar bagi faktor ekonomi dan lingkungan dalam produksi minyak akar wangi.

Goris bahkan telah sukses dalam melobi pemerintah daerah garut dalam memasukan pemindahhan basis penanaman akar wangi ke daerah kawah kamojang dalam anggaran daerahnya untuk tahun 2010. Pemindahan ini tentu akan meningkatkan efisiensi dan efektivitas penggunaan panas bumi dalam produksi minyak akar wangi. Rencana ini tinggal menunggu persetujuan dari pertamina selaku pemilik Pembangkit Kamojang yang dekat dengan lokasi relokasi.

British Council menganggap Goris Mustaqim sebagai pemimpin masa depan yang ideal karena kesediaannya untuk kembali ke daerah asalnya dan mengembangkannya daripada memulai kariernya di kota-kota besar seperti Jakarta.  Bisa membukakan mata pemuda-pemuda Garut akan besarnya potensi yang Garut miliki.

Atas pencapaian-pencapaiannya, goris dikirim British Council ke Konfrensi Perubahan iklim PBB di Copenhagen, Denmark sebagai wakil pemuda Indonesia.

Salah satu quote yang sangat saya kagumi dari Goris adalah ketika dia ditanya mengenai kontroversi seputar kebenaran isu perubahan iklim sedang terjadi. Dia menjawab :

“That’s fine. But the thing is, if we save energy, this planet will be a much better place. That’s real, and cannot be argued with,”

Semoga akan semakin banyak lagi Goris-goris lain bermunculan. Sosok yang berani dan cerdik dalam berkontribusi bagi bangsa Indonesia. Dalam bidang lingkungan, ilmu, militer, apapun itu, selalu ada jalan untuk membuat bangsa Indonesia menjadi bangsa yang Jaya. Terimakasih Kang Goris, senang bisa mengenal anda walau hanya sesaat.

Original image are from :

Goris, from  The Jakarta Post

Akar Wangi,  from http://wb9.itrademarket.com/pdimage/41/598541_vetiverrootdw.jpg

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Reminiscent of the Winter Time

December 10, 2009 at 3:18 am · Filed under Just write! ·Tagged , ,

Snow..

Seeing snow falling from the sky is one of the most precious moments of my life.  What an unforgettable moment for me who for 21 years live in Bandung, a city that located very close to the equator line. I will never forget how the snow gentle felt onto my palm and suddenly molten by my body temperature. The reflection of city light that passed through the falling snow feels like thousands of beautiful lamps were sent by Allah SWT to beautify the cold night.

It was during my YSEP study, from December to March 2009. The first time I saw snow was when I join the Ski and Snowboard Vacation held by Indonesian Muslim Union in Japan. It was a 2 days snow vacation in Hakuba Go Ryu, a famous ski resort in Nagano, Japan. I played snowboard for whole two days in that moment. The trip from Tokyo was done by using bus. I was sleeping for almost the whole trip since the departure time was almost at midnight. When the first time I woke up during the trip, the Bus was stopped at a rest area near the ski resort. It was around 4 am. I was amazed when I looked up down the window. I saw, for the first time, snow was falling from the dark sky and the light from a street lamp was directly passing through those snowflakes. What a feeling.

I feel really humble, thinking how Allah SWT has created that beautiful moment for us, humankind. I never thought I would have a chance to see those snows before I came to Japan. At that time, I just stare at the snow through the bus window, thinking how far the struggle had I done to be able to get there and saw the snow. I enjoyed that dawn till we went to the ski resort and started my first snow vacation. (further reading : Nagano Snow Vacation – By Achmad )

In this winter season (for northern part of the world, off course), wordpress provides us a unique feature where snowflakes are falling inside our wordpress page. It is very beautiful feature, I think. Based on this reason, suddenly I am thinking to write about my first snow experience. I just hope, this writing can especially motivate me to pursue my goals so I will be able to see snow again in the near future. Then, when that time came, sure, I will share that moment through my wordpress again. See you then.

Photos of Hakuba were taken from their official site : http://www.hakubajapan.com/

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Secangkir Kopi dan Sandwich

November 30, 2009 at 4:29 am · Filed under Just write! ·Tagged ,

Waktu menunjukan pukul 8.50. Diiringi musik project pop yang tak terdengar karena tertutup gemuruh kendaraan bermotor yang lalu lalang di depan Bandung Indah Plaza (BIP), saya duduk menikmati kopi dan sandwich di sebuah gerai Dunkin Donuts yang langsung menghadap gedung Gramedia. Kopi yang masih pana itu terlihat masih mengeluarkan uap wangi kopinya. Sandwich yang tersaji dihiasi dengan salada dan telur dadar masih belum saya sentuh, menanti selesainya satu paragraph awal dari blog yang saya tulis ini.

Seketika setelah paragraf pertama diatas selesai saya ketik, saya langsung melahap bagian telur dadar dari sandwich yang terjadi. Menu makanan seharga sebelas ribu itu memang layak untuk dinikmati di suasana pagi di BIP ini.

Mungkin anda bertanya, what the hell am I doing here? Menikmati sarapan di counter dunkin donut BIP memang tidak masuk kedalam rencana saya hari ini. Pada mulanya saya berencana untuk menemui dosen wali saya di karang setra untuk meminta tanda-tangan dari surat rekomendasi beliau untuk lamaran beasiswa program s2 saya. Beliau menyuruh saya untuk datang pagi ke rumahnya.

Beliau memang tidak sering berada di bandung, hanya 2 minggu sekali saja dia berada di bandung. Itu pun hanya pada hari jumat sampai minggu pagi saja beliau berada di sini. Olehkarena itu, saya berencana datang ke rumahnya pada hari ini, sabtu pagi. Namun, saya kira, jam 9 adalah batasan pagi bagi beliau. Sayangnya, ketika saya mengunjungi rumahnya tepat pukul 8.20, beliau baru saja berangkat meninggalkan rumahnya. Menuju tempat yang tidak saya ketahui karena kabar keberangkatan beliau saya dapat dari pembantu beliau.

Well, apa boleh buat. Saya pergi meninggalkan rumahnya. Saya pun tidak tahu kapan saya harus berkunjung lagi ke rumah beliau. Karena rencana awal saya setelah ke rumah beliau adalah berangkat ke BEC untuk membeli tinta bagi printer saya dan langsung ke BIP untuk membeli tiket nonton untuk saya dan pacar saya, tanpa berpikir panjang saya langsung saja berangkat menuju BEC.

Setiba di BEC tepat pukul 8.40, salah satu Gedung pusat penjualan elektronik di Bandung itu ternyata masih tutup. Semua area parkiran pun masih terkunci. Saya pun melanjutkan ke rencana kedua untuk berangkat menuju BIP. Memang, setiba di BIP, area parkiran di lantai satu sudah terbuka. Sudah ada penjaga yang menyambut saya setiba di gerbang parkiran dan saya pun masuk untuk parkir. Selanjutnya, saya berjalan menuju gerbang utama dan ternyata gerbang itu masih tertutup.

Saya pun membaca petunjuk waktu buka BIP yang ternyata  adalah 9.30. Saat itu jam tangan saya menunjukan pukul 8.45, menanti 45 menit memang tidak sebentar, tapi entahlah,  saya merasa malas jika harus langsung kembali ke rumah. Saya pun melihat counter Dunkin Donut yang memasang pengumuman “Breakfast Package – Rp. 10.900 – 06.00 – 10.00 AM “. Well, saya menemukan satu alasan yang saya rasa cukup kuat untuk tinggal di BIP dan menanti BIP dan BEC buka.

Dan begitulah ceritanya, mengapa post ini tercipta. Memang paling enak untuk menulis di pagi hari terlebih di tempat yang tidak biasa bagi saya dan ditemani dengan secangkir kopi dan roti Sandwich.

 

– Ditulis hari Sabtu, 28 Nov 09 –

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