Thinking Leif

Being unpretentious

2007-10-22T18:53:00.000+07:00

Sleeping, often, is a ritual - but I prefer it to be spontaneous and unpretentious. Which means, it is usually better to doze off without planning. Watching boring TV programs, or simply turning on music. Read. Probably eat something. Or just blank-dreaming.

Which makes life to the fullest is this, the state of being flowing, unpretentious. It is often the best way to pull every stress off yourself! Being in uncertainties and idleness means you have to be very aware of yourself, and gain control to your wild mind.

When your mind demands something, it is most of the time very subjective and egoistic. It does not refer to real life situations and logic. It is heavily influenced by the lust factor in yourself. Normal. You want comfort and security. You want things right. But there is still the sway from the slow, but sickening winds of uncertainties...

My trick is this. Try to get busy and be as organised as you can be, learn what you never knew before of yourself. Use your mind and creativity, so that next time you really have routines, you'll not get shocked.

Film Review: Get Married (Indonesia - 2007)

2007-10-18T19:00:00.000+07:00

Director: Hanung Brahmantyo

Nirina Zubir, Ringgo Agus Rahman, Aming and Desta 'Clubeighties' star in this family/teenage comedy depicting the melting pot of adolescence, life changes, metropolitan social economic paradox, and Indonesian urban culture and societies. Set in a very laid back but struggling lower strata society (read: kampung) living in crevices of Jakarta's slums, it's a story about the search for fulfilment, or rather, the fulfilment of a stonewritten tradition in a genuine but decent Betawi way. Nirina plays Mae (Maemunah), a rebellious, outgoing but loyal and sweet girl in her twenties who is expected by her parents (Jaja Miharja and Meriam Belina) to get married as soon as she graduated from a diploma school to leave home and relieve her parents' responsibility.

The reason is not mainly financial; as her father speaks about 'historical obligation' of continuing their family tree and tradition. This is the very point of this film: how tradition and family are so central to Indonesian life, as opposed to individual freedom proposed by the West and modern life. It is also interesting however, how the film juxtapose those two perspectives in place: the slums where the four characters reside is located next to a modern, western-minded real estate. They do exist in real life here.

She has three loyal male friends: Eman, Beni and Guntoro, also in their twenties, who have been together since childhood. In fact, the four of them have been born at the same time, day and place. So mainstream and stereotypical - both to late Indonesian motion pictures and to the director itself - each of them has specific dream of their own, unique to each, but one thing in common connects them: jobless and far too late to achieve their somehow childhood-time dreams...

The search for 'the one' is put together by Mae's parents who scour both inside and outside the community to find the perfect guy for her. These arrangements don't work, for Mae is very independent and has a point of view of her own. By waving a 'no' sign using a red cloth from her balcony to one of her three best guys everytime she thinks a candidate is an absolute no-no, her guys help give lesson to that candidate on his way home to not come again and seek her, for she is the 'queen of the neighborhood'. Until fate gives her way to one of the guys living in the estate next to her community. Unplanned and unforeseen, Mae got hooked by this guy Rendy (Richard Kevin) for her very western look - such a stereotype. In such a series of misunderstandings, Rendy feels rejected and the two side-by-side communities come in a full-fledged clash, literally a barbarian one... involving both members of communities!

Somehow this reflects the barbarian culture that has immersed in our society, both literally and philosophically; no matter what our background and level is. We are all barbars, it's just the way we do it.

Being published and produced by Starvision (one of the best Indonesian sinetron production houses) means it is very mainstream, popular and somehow shallow, but it's very entertaining, close to reality and easy to follow. A good film to not think anything of and to hit the couch with a popcorn in hands, and enjoy the familiar faces and acts of popular stars, although I'd rather not see Nirina in this film - it's just too frequent films use her. It is not the best film by Hanung either. The greatest applause for this film, in my opinion, is the social critic surfaced throughout the entire duration.

Stars: two out of five.
No IMDb link.

Film Review: No Reservations (2007)

2007-10-18T18:52:00.000+07:00

Director: Scott Hicks

With Ratatouille still fresh in my mind, this film acts like a 'sequel' to it, although in terms of everything except the central theme, they are very different. Catherine Zeta-Jones act as Kate, a single, perfectionist, struggler, professional chef in a renowned New York city gourmet restaurant. She loves her profession so much that it's an extension of herself, and that her pride often overcomes rules of the system where she lives and works in. This is depicted in one of the scenes where she is very loud and firm to one demanding customer that it causes the customer to go away. (Which reminds me of myself :)!)

This is a story about finding balance and love in life. It is about realising how much you love your passion but there are other things in life that require you to pay attention to them and how they actually benefit your life. I like the settings and theme, although I think the plot is very standard and can be more catchy, storytelling and direction is cliché (e.g. in what Holywood films can't you find someone entering their apartment and put on their answering machine and do something else while listening to it, and waking up from an alarm? Oh come on, those are even short film stereotypes. I expect something more inviting!). Probably they are very typical to western life, and a better angle and depiction would fix them.

In this story Kate has a sister named Paula (Patricia Clarkson), a single mother with a daughter aged about 8 to 10 years old named Zoe (Abigail Breslin). One day Kate's sister and Zoe had a car accident and Zoe's mother died. Zoe came under Kate's custody from now on and this changed their life. At the same time, a man named Nick (Aaron Eckhart), also a professional chef, came to their life. He worked in the same restaurant as hers - with a reason to work with her. Kate has been a very renowned chef in the city - this attracted Nick. Their relationships had become very special, although each of the character did not come from the same family. They each learned about themselves, sharing their lives and finding their destinies together, although it was not told if they really eventually get married.

The demise of Zoe's mother was visualised and told in a little bit excessive way. Kate's sorrow is so bad, the music is so gloomy that I was asking multiple questions in my mind: what is the significance of her in their lives? Of course she is Zoe's mother and Kate's sister, but why necessarily show the sorrow several times? Was there childhood memory, happenings in the past or something else that relates to Kate's endeavours and her determination lately? I just wished there could have been more told before the accident, not only one scene where Zoe and her mom in the car calling Kate asking for news. There is also not a significant progress in the film afterwards, about the relation of her death to their new relationship.

This romantic drama comedy is for the family to enjoy. It teaches significant lesson of life, in a theme so tasty (although the foods in Ratatouille were more tempting, believe it or not, but of course they don't compare well). A nice story about three different individuals from not such very different backgrounds but never really lived together before. Life, at the juncture of family, love and passion.

Stars: two out of five.
IMDb link: No Reservations (2007)

There might be weird posts

2007-10-15T18:36:00.000+07:00

I moved various posts today from my existing Textpattern blog. But I decided to move all of them to Blogger - for easy integration to existing archives that date back from June 2006.

From now on, you can access this blog through 2 (two) URLs: http://blog.serendipified.com and http://thinkingleif.blogspot.com. The first one will redirect to the second one.

Lately, and fantasy-ing

2007-10-15T18:30:00.000+07:00

I had my first ever medical check up on Thursday the previous week. And at the same time I had been sick of allergy for the last five days.

This time of year I am waiting for a job offer. I really wish to work in an environment where I could be very independent but at the same time people trust me, and that I'm allowed some space for expression; but without too little of responsibility. And working on a large scale project that is important for many. A project that I love doing and my capability is matched.

And the chance to travel, physically to somewhere over the seas.

That dream is perhaps is coming. I rolled the dice and it's their turn. I hope I get the lucky star this time.

"I was just about to text you!"

2007-10-15T18:29:00.000+07:00

I believe in serendipity, and it happened to me very surprisingly today! I can't say whether it's good or bad, but when I was texting someone, that someone told me that she had just that dream of someone else, and that reminds me of that someone else; I was thinking it's been more than a week since I last texted that someone else. So I decided to just say how are you and hope everything's well to that someone else, still through text message.

Surprisingly that someone else was just also about to text me, just to tell me that she saw someone who looked a lot like me.

What's the point of this? It's that, in both sides, we were encountered with signs, with triggers to tell each others - which happened almost at the same time. If these signs didn't happen at all, we might not be telling each others today.

The messy homecoming

2007-10-15T18:28:00.001+07:00

I am quite frustrated every time I return to Jakarta airport after making a trip to overseas. Not really about coming back to "real life" outside there, but rather it's about the airport itself.

The management, the flow, the physical of the airport. Everything looks jaded. One might understand why the physical has stayed the same over decades, because we know the government have better priorities than renovating or aggressively building new airport.

But how about improvements of the management? The airport has so little dignity. What I mean is that, airports are the faces of the nation. More so the management of it, more so the main airport like Soekarno-Hatta.

From what I've seen, airports in more progressive nations have that 'grand' feeling about it and that is not only shown by the physical, but by the management - which includes how the staffs are organised and execute their jobs, facilities/infrastructure (e.g. how well-lit the environment, how well-maintained, condition of signages), clarity of information/direction, passenger-flow organisation, among others. I am no expert about this, but that's what came up to my mind immediately.

Things are a little bit different in Soekarno-Hatta. Yes, you might savor the long legend of the architecture and the special kretek smell of it, and how 'laid-back', tropical, zen-garden --- anything positive that has been said about it. But I do think it has lost its grandeur. It lacks dignity.

Why?

* The staffs look lazy and unfit
* Environments not well-lit, or aesthetically well-lit
* Not clean enough
* Not comfortable enough (air conditioning not maximum)
* Too many people standing idle, or just 'lingering' around. This is utterly visible, particularly in the immigration area, whereby too many officers are there, going back and forth to the stamping area. And then, passengers waiting for their relatives are given a relatively small space which makes everything looks messier.
* Immigration area very small and disorganised! This is very important because there is no division between national passport holders and foreigners. Indonesians don't feel welcomed!
* Immigration area being very small makes the process slow, which eats up a lot of time to get through
* Baggage retrieval area also relatively small
* Customs area very messy, no line!
* Advertising too much/very disorganised.

Let's just say it's overcrowded for its capacity. But probably by renovating, or relocating things a bit we can get a more spacious and comfortable airport? And by a more regulated condition, it could turn out well like Changi, an old airport but is rather up to date?

Those supermarket times

2007-10-15T18:24:00.001+07:00

I always do some quality time at a supermarket. Almost any supermarket. Not only to cool off my body for the heat outside, but also, I just love the whole world inside there. A lot of exciting things to learn about. Many products. And just walking inside through the alleys is itself a fun thing to do. Not buying anything, just looking at specific products you wish you could buy, but you just seem not to have enough necessity. Those exciting packages which attract me, or just looking at specific strange product that I've never seen before. Wishing I could try every single food, packaged or not. It's mesmerising! It's a galore.

But not every supermarket is nice though.

I particularly like a place that also sells imported products, which allows me to get to know strange brands never advertised locally. Also, hypermarkets who have a wide arrange of offerings, and a good branding.

Everytime I go somewhere else out of the country, I will be very interested to hit a supermarket of their own!

And in the future where I will live on my own, probably I will live next to one :) Not only to fulfill the dire needs, but the need to explore and find time to myself. Do you have that kind of fascination of something else?

Following the rules?

2007-10-13T17:15:00.000+07:00

Needless to say, it's Eid today, and people flocked down the mosque and open spaces to pray. And as usual, text messages flew down to everyone's cellphones giving all sorts of variety of Eid wishes, in their own ways and personalities. Some are very straightforward but dull, some other simple but effective, and some other add all those bells and whistles that could sometimes be effective, but more often, they're just that - decorations.

Some of my friends also write in English. Few are great but many are a bit pushy in their wordings, and just too much.

Sometimes I wonder - do they really understand the meaning of Eid? Even to this day I am still searching of all the greatest meaning. People keep saying the wishes every year, is that only to follow the flocks, or they do really care about Eid and Ramadhan? I do still search, that's why I am somehow reluctant to give people regular Ramadhan wishes...

I think it's way much better if people just be themselves and wish in a decent manner, to request apologies or gratitude or that sort of wishes in the fashion of being themselves rather than just to follow the 'rules'.

Like I can

2007-09-28T00:13:00.000+07:00

For those of you interested in reading my other blog, here it is: http://blog.serendipified.com. This blog remains, but it will contain more of my private thoughts, while the other one will be more 'intellectual' :) Like I can!

Checking reality

2007-08-28T18:58:00.000+07:00

Sometimes, if not always, you have to be strict with your client. I am not going for another pitch if they don't confirm their deal with my part. If they do ever really wish to have us present again, I would certainly ask for a pitching fee. Although it has such a high price tag, I wouldn't consider working with clients that don't appreciate my profession. I need money, but I need appreciation to my work first!

There I met my first reality check after graduation :)

The Song

2007-08-17T10:49:00.000+07:00

“True love takes a lot of trying”
That’s what one song once said,
About the nature of weeping
In every search the heart has laid

Doomed the day I was trying
To find the heart I truly belong
For there’s difference, in wanting
And the need to be strong

I held my body on my knees
Staring at the half-closed door
A door, that has lost its key
In its course, I don’t know what for?

I am half in, half out
With strings pulling me all ways
My heart has never been so loud
to say that gone has those days

Take me away, and wash my heart
With your perseverance to be with me
Renounce the long-gone days and part
And begin a new day, a new allegory

Another ThinkQuest venture

2007-08-14T23:13:00.001+07:00

Wow, more Indonesians to come for this yearly competition. I'm glad. For the past three years I have been, practically, the only Indonesian, who hailed from Indonesia, to ever come at the final stage in San Francisco. But this time, two young Indonesians are going next November for ThinkQuest Live.

Tell you what, it's quite addictive. And it's true. They wanted for more :) I was asked to be their Assistant Coach for a pan-Indonesian team. I sent an email to Budi Rahardjo, a famous lecturer from my almamater, who has spoken nationally and internationally, and actually has a blog.

The most fearful thing about starting teams for this competition is to maintain the cohesion later on. The lively spirit at the beginning doesn't last until the end. The competition is somewhat easy and not easy. It's easy because, you can say, you just build web sites. For most of today's youths, it's simple. It's not easy as it's teamwork and somehow it should be done internationally, cross-borders. Nobody can control what someone is doing in their own place.

But in anyway, I am quite 'confident.'

Self-revitalisation

2007-08-12T14:08:00.000+07:00

Suddenly everything's turning back at me. Everybody's back to their own place, and the ball is back with me. What I will get through this entire thirty days, which is only twenty-eight days left, would bring me to a conclusion at the end. A conclusion, that might seem not easy, is actually very simple - only between two choices. To be or not to be. And with 'not to be', I am not saying that I would then depend my fate on someone else. When I choose 'not to be', then there it is I would only depend on myself, not others. A bitter choice, but I will set myself ready when that's the best.

Do you know? It is not that I don't want to return to where I used to be. I still love it. It's just, the trauma is haunting me. I couldn't imagine returning with my heart still in misery, still in wantings for something else. It will hurt anyone. Maybe, it's best to stand back, look at life, think of many things about myself, and building up trust for my own self again. And most importantly, to build back the love inside that's been washed away by time. I hope that I can nurture it back to life, and, see whether I'm really in to it.

A good sacrifice for a good self-revitalisation.

Don't look back

2007-08-10T15:10:00.000+07:00

Don't blame anyone Sigit. Think clearly. Don't be like those emotional firecrackers. Be calm. Cool down. When it's time, go for it confidently, persistently and don't ever look back anymore.

The little private thing in myself recently

2007-08-03T16:18:00.000+07:00

There's nothing to compare, the glorious, colorful feeling that we have when we found out that secret lust and longing for someone - someone who we never uttered to others, unknown, by anyone, but to our own heart. In life that is so chaotic like today, anything is possible, and everything that is reasonable is no longer acceptable. We do everything based on our heart, instinct, not our minds. Including me. I have crossed boundaries too, in the past, no matter how idealistic I was during my innocent young age.

Looking at myself today, I would accept if someone ridicules me for being inconsistent at most times. I have always wanted loyalty from others, but often I don't find it in myself. A true, bitter realisation, but fortunately, it's the truth. I will have to wait until I get betrayed myself, or have I had that in the past?

Another ethical failure

2007-07-26T15:19:00.000+07:00

My heart was pumping and my blood ran up to my head when I saw none of my final project work exhibited in the said national design exhibition sponsored by National Design Center. How come, they have asked my works, and that I have taken the effort to unwrap my projects back, and that they did not use any one of them?

Getting run over by time

2007-07-23T19:33:00.000+07:00

Taking a bike to work does seem like a great idea to me. Doesn't it for you too? Free and free and free. Only that I couldn't take it for a ride back home here. Unless, I am on a Tour.

Hurray!

2007-07-23T19:26:00.000+07:00

Getting drier and drier every time.

So I had my first job interview today. Huff huff huff. Ever known a blog with last post from over a year ago? I know one. And it still exists.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of someone. And that someone might not be expected by anyone. I am looking at a closed door... with eyes closed.

Wake up Sigit!

Resolution

2007-06-26T11:32:00.000+07:00

I had my final judicium yesterday. Right now, I'm in campus waiting for the result. A, B, C, D, or even not passing. And yes, there's still a lot more work to do after this. As common as other fresh graduates I'm considering the options to work or to continue my study...

So if it's a job this is what I wish:

* To work in a brand/graphic design firm, or
* To work in a field that allows me to travel a lot

If it's a study:

* Cultural studies
* Film
* Design studies

They'll still find loopholes

2007-06-26T11:27:00.000+07:00

I was thinking why they would block students from using Yahoo! Messenger or other IM services while in university. The reason, which is to prevent them from not paying attention to lectures, is somehow not having strong grounds. While they are prevented to chat, they are still allowed to use browsers. There's still a lot of free internet chats which if they choose to monitor and block, would be a lot harder. There's more than instant messaging. Let alone using the laptop computers itself - who knows if they were playing games in lectures? Or doing inter-laptop bluetooth chats?

Imperfection

2007-05-31T15:48:00.000+07:00

I am typing this from the crowded Comlabs hotspot area, the most frequented hotspot site in ITB. (But then, few of the students and more coming prefer to be online from another spot near the newest campus center building where when they're lucky, they could get a download speed nearly 120kbps!).

Anyway - that's not what I want to tell you about. Today I (wishfully thinking) had my last written exam ever in this campus, before graduation somewhere in July or October. I just realised that hours after the exam was done, and gee, it stroke into my mind how time flew.

Also, I watched the latest film in the show-off spree happening in Imagine Cup short film forum. It's a short film from Korea, titled "Imperfection". Running through about 10 minutes, it tells the story of two characters, both students in the same class in the same school who are competing in the same writing contest. When the announcement gives each of them first and second position respectively, the second winner somehow feels disillusioned for having worked so hard and staying up late night but couldn't get the best position. Yes, indeed he is disappointed by only achieving second. Both of them then are asked to submit a writing further to be submitted in the national contest, being only one chosen from the two, the second winner tries it with cheating and copying the first winner's work. The ending is quite symbolical, typically Asian. It's a clean, neat and almost quiet film with good video quality. Kind of reminds me of Japanese dorama or similar production from Korea.

About the message it tends to deliver, I am yet to discern, but my first perception is that, corresponding to the theme "technology for better education", it presents the idea of technology as only a tool while the truest sense of education is perseverance and dedication.

I can see similarity in both their and our films, and I hope whichever goes to the finals, I'd like to see some Asian visual language and deeper interpretation of the theme in one of the top six teams.

Missing

2007-05-29T09:45:00.000+07:00

Lately, I discovered a CSS template competition. Browsing through the rules and contest information, I discovered what's been missing in me. It's been long since I last coded CSS and HTML. Reading through the requirements make me dig my past archives in my brain, trying to relate what they mean. Practically, I have difficulty remembering how to do certain things!

In the past year I've been involving myself in more conceptualising rather than executing, providing less time for myself to explore how to do things. I've also somewhat shifted my attention to a new form of expression - short films - by doing the Imagine Cup short film competition (which is now in the second round judging phase, pray for us so that we can compete in Seoul, Korea, this August!). And by the invasion of final project for my final year in my studies, it adds up to the excuses of not getting into web design for a while.

I miss blogging and just doing web design for fun. Today, it's kind of a more reality than virtuality for me - which is rather good, in my opinion. I hope I can find time to do what I used to do again soon.

Can you?

2007-04-13T16:03:00.000+07:00

Most people don't walk the walk, in the worst case, they only talk. Not even trying. And then they try to influence you, convince you in a way that will change your everything. I was thinking how to get rid of these people. The ones who only have their imaginations rest in their mind. The ones who only know what they want but never really go out and do something. The ones who are so afraid to be criticised.

Why be cynical, my man? Why be critical, why be such a talking machine yet you have never done anything? Have you done anything worthy? Have you? Can you achieve what you dream of? Or do you continue dreaming? Why do you bother to make your head a cage for your mind?

Pondering boy

2007-03-24T12:06:00.000+07:00

The more I grow old, the more the day I go through, I've been realising so much that most of our lives are spent trying to impress people, by ways that in itself destroy our self-fulfilment. We're doing works other people want us to see, we act like if others watch us closely and there's hardly any compromise. We are bound by life's greatest fences and walls - expectations. Often they are expectations of others.

We live on by impressing people. And by that I mean a pressure. When I was younger, I did what I love and I had little to care about what others would think; in case they were happy with it, was just an extra.

With various pressures and questions revolving around me, I still like to imagine myself in a point of no return, a point of always going. I like to imagine myself in a transit place - an airport, train station, anywhere - waiting for the next vehicles which will transport me to somewhere else. Expecting some difference in other places. And never look back, what I've done and how I've been perceived in my last checkpoint. Life is a journey, a cliche that always works for me.

Me, being a terrorist?

2007-03-16T22:09:00.000+07:00

Sorry for the long pause. But truly I have been losing time to gain access to myself. Everything has been always about external rhythms and chores, each day absorbing ideas and sweats.

I am doing promotion for Garuda Indonesia, the nation's flag carrier for my final project. I've been pondering much about what to do with this, since there's no certainty yet as I'm yet to do a detailed survey and research at the company itself (I've been waiting for like ages... it has come to three weeks now still waiting for answers for schedules!).

If you would like to know how to get into the company for research or internship, be ready to get introduced to various steps and delays. Here's how I did it:

1. Monday first week. I called the headquarter. Ping-pong-ed for about two or three times. I was instructed to apply through its Training Center in Cengkareng. Agreed. Then I called the Training Center. I was again ping-pong-ed and delayed for about three hours before I could finally speak to somebody. Then they asked me to come over and bring: proposal, curriculum vitae and support letters. Conclusion for day 1: I had like 5 - 6 new friends in the company just in six hours! That would probably mean one guy every hour.

2. Tuesday first week. I came to the Center mentioned. My applications were studied in front of me. I felt like I was in a job interview. Or something. In about an hour, I was asked to go home and wait for further confirmation. Rumor has it, well, actually I heard about it myself, that the people I want to research/interview at their units said they were available for me. Or so.

3. Wednesday and Thursday I had to return to Bandung because I have lectures. I called the Center a few times but then there were no confirmations as yet. On Thursday, they called home, not to my mobile phone, confirming that my application was received. Thank Lord. I returned to Jakarta on Thursday for Friday's appointment to receive the name tag and so on.

4. Friday first week I received my tag and got briefed by a security head there, about my responsibilities and obligations while I'm doing research at the company. Immediately after that I paid my first visit to the headquarter. Nice one. I met the HRD. They wanted me to bring along another copy of the proposal. Yes, no coordination - and so I was asked to return on Monday to bring it.

5. Monday second week - I left my home in Depok (suburb of Jakarta) at six am in the morning on a series of public buses. It was totally in chaos, the traffic. Jakarta on Monday is like lining up to hell. Very crowded. Came into the office by eight, and headed to the HRD, and handed over my research proposal. "Okay, thank you Sigit. Now, you wait for further confirmation." Really? Just that for my long and winding road from home? Thank God, however, I had to informally talk to one of the people in another unit there to gain some insight. He was the corporate communication staff before and is the alumnae of my almamater too, but now has been relocated to the General Affair unit.

After that it has been a series of 'terror' from me to the HRD person every single day. I call her every single day just to confirm the availability of the units I want to visit. At least they promised me on Thursday second week, but it was cancelled due to to the GA200 crash in Yogyakarta. Then I was instructed to wait. Another wait. I called every single day. No positive response until now. They are currently too occupied. And then one of them took a day off. And then busy again. And then still no news although they promised. I had to be the terrorist again. And then...

It gets tough

2007-01-17T20:30:00.000+07:00

I'm about to take my final semester. Final assignment!

Which game

2006-12-11T16:22:00.000+07:00

I like to observe the personality of my friends. Here are some:

He doesn't really bother about grades, about being competitive, about being passionate about things. Although he's not that far behind either. He's not even explicitly organised about his everyday life and things. But his appearance is always neat and tidy, his thought flowing gently through his mouth, have a strong faith in his religion and what he believes in life. He doesn't know where to go and what to do in the future, but although he has doubts, he doesn't panic out loud. He is the kind of philosopher that observes people but never want to plunge himself into the world. His inner thoughts amaze people.
She knows that to be successful in the future she needs to do everything to get the most out of herself. She is outrageously competitive and proactive. She seems to know what to do for herself for today and the future. Life is a battlefield for her. She needs to win, thus she tries everything. But she seems to be very self-centered sometimes which might arise from the environment/education she was raised in. She is the type of an arrow that comes off an arch who never comes and looks back.
Life is all about laugh and joy for him. There's nothing to worry about. It's always simple everyday. Nothing is better than a good, or somewhat blatantly rude joke. But people do like him much. He's the bond for every gathering. He's the type of someone who lives day by day, minute by minute and enjoy himself thoroughly.

Can you guess which one is which?

Who put the fire off?

2006-12-11T16:14:00.000+07:00

Finding a good team is hard. Getting a good team going is a different story. It seems that day by day it's getting out of control. It's not like old days. The cohesion is no stronger than before. One is like waiting to go out of any discussion rather than having the need to do this. One is getting more individual than having the T.E.A.M philosophy my coach told me before: Together Everyone Achieves More.

I know it's still going, it's going in the correct direction. But I need, we need, the passion. The enthusiasm. The fire.

On being busy

2006-12-11T15:51:00.000+07:00

I like to waste my time now. On the Internet. On my walk home. When I talk to friends. I was thinking of my obligations, but I feel a bit comfortable to prolong my time with distractions. Perhaps I'm just tired with things and everything seems jaded to me.

Like now. I know I have to do something for tomorrow. Or if not for tomorrow, I can do what can do today and not tomorrow or any other day. But no one, or nothing is pushing me off this seat although I am worrying about things and plans.

Glory may it be

2006-12-11T15:44:00.000+07:00

I've got a new team to coach for this year's ThinkQuest. Yeepee. The team is currently from the United States, Germany and Indonesia. Yeah I bring one Indonesian student to it. And again it's in the under 12 years old age division, which means I am coaching young kids again :)

Going backwards

2006-12-11T15:37:00.000+07:00

I feel that I was more vocal when I started blogging in high school. I tend to see my voice getting milder and duller this time around. I guess it's the byproduct of maturity? Or am I mature? It feels like it was freer those days. And my posts were more lively.

Today I think more before I write or say. Sometimes I feel, my ideas don't get somewhere new. Sometimes it even goes backward-thinking.

Public space

2006-12-05T12:47:00.000+07:00

There's hardly any place in Indonesia where you can stop by, sit, do whatever you like with your friends in a fairly comfortable place without having to fork out money. Yes, other than home, school, office and intermediate places of friends and families.

The general notion is that we, as citizens, don't have a place outside, to live. To live in the sense that we could also enjoy living outside of our own perimeter. Every 'public space' is of commercial nature. They are priviledges, not facilities. In developed countries they have regulation that says every place belongs to a standard of public space requirement. They have grades that judge if one space is maximally and best used for the use of the general public.

According to Public Space Project, there are eight areas that a public space could form: parks, plazas and squares, transportation, civic centers, public markets, downtowns, mixed-use development, and campuses. Together they serve to connect and gather people, provide a place for interaction and make a sense of community.

Can we judge what we can find locally with the criteria? Plazas here are not malls or shopping centers. Plaza is as well defined as a 'marketplace, a public space or similar open space in a built area'. I bet we find public spaces in Indonesia limited to a few squares and campuses. In Singapore, they have public spaces designed in between commercial buildings. In Malaysia they have better parks.

I believe it is more difficult in Indonesia as well as other 'poorer' areas of the world where populations are high, spaces limited and spending on public facilities very tight. Basically everyone of us needs this space, regardless of cultural considerations. But there is some shade of light if property owners dedicate a fraction of their land for public's sake.

One example I found is Plaza Dago. Although ofcourse Plaza Dago is very much a youth-, hip-centric place and it still occupies a limited space, and its main provision is to direct people to the real commercial place, it poses a good example for others to follow.

Any other places you know?

Join 'em!

2006-12-02T09:23:00.000+07:00

There's a saying that goes 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em', which means that you have to be friends for your rivals, but not in the pursuit of reconciliation but a way to leach whatever you can get from your rivals, then finally to surpass them. It's the politics as always.

Correct me if I am wrong but one of my very good friends, whom I long consider to be a very good friend, turned out to be my greatest, yet quietest, rival. Well, everybody's a rival today, right? It's all about competitions. It's all fine to me for everybody to excel in their own pace. But, there is some ethic involved.

I've long had endeavors of my own. I competed in competitions and I saw I could have some of my fellows to join me for one or another. I notified them for opportunities, and occassionally asked them to join me. Sometimes I was also asked if they can join what I'm doing. After a long while I realised that one of them has been leading some team on some competition, without even at least telling me that there's this opportunity. I've always had the willing to tell my friends about competitions that they could do, but this time, I was skipped. She formed a team, of five, which is large enough, and then only in the last time that she offered me to join it! I couldn't tell how pathetic I felt that time - somebody whom I had trusted to at least let each others know of opportunities, have disappointed me. Why is it that I have to be told last?

I know this is a pathetic rambling, but I consider it to be disheartening, after all my trust. There was no declaration whatsoever for the trust, ofcourse, but at least if somebody have ethics... now she's into every endeavors I've had in the past, and more, without at least telling me at the first place that there are the other ones.

I think she has succeeded in 'joining me', whatever she intended to.

November update

2006-11-28T08:47:00.000+07:00

I have this convenience of having a wi-fi spot within a 10-minute walking distance from where I stay in Bandung. Or is that really convenience? I wished that I could live just behind this shopping center. So that I can connect anytime I want and stay home most of the time!

So my last post was in September. Many things happened in October, mainly travels. And again they're all related to ThinkQuest. I had a chance to spend a week in Cairns, Australia for a technology-in-education conference, a national one, promoting ThinkQuest locally. Then another ThinkQuest Live was there two weeks after I arrived home. That was by far the warmest week I've ever had in San Francisco.

The biggest thing I've achieved in the last three months was that I have finally been able to travel far abroad by myself. It was not that difficult and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

School? Full of long-term projects and presentations.

Oh I wanted to tell you about how many students in my program now own a Mac laptop. Most of them are in the class below me which quite stunned me. I think that it all grew out of one or two persons who first owned a Mac laptop and others followed. Perhaps I was one of the followers, as I've just recently bought myself one. But then I could be wrong. Perhaps they've for years planned for it like me. My main reason for this is to try myself on a new system and stop listening to what other people say and let myself prove.

But afterall, it's only a tool. Or is that so? Slavoj Žižek said it's more than a tool; it's our partner in crime who asks us questions and responds to our deeds... just like a real friend; we regard it as living being. Well, whoever our 'friend' is, our life and work are being decided by ourselves. It's not what you have but how you do. True?

Guilty feeling

2006-09-16T13:26:00.000+07:00

Wow long time no see blog! Pardon me that I have to make this quick as I have someone to pick up shortly:

* University days have commenced for a month now and I found out 90% of all tasks are team-based.
* I had to do Comic in the first place because of a mistake in the form filling but I've dropped it and changed to an Ad-related subject.
* I am going to Cairns, Australia this September 29 for a conference and presentation by Oracle.
* Next Thursday, September 21st I'd be attending what's supposed to be a seminar by a New York Times graphic designer.
* Pasar Seni 2006, a five-yearly event by my faculty was a great success (at least from the point I viewed it). It's basically an arts festival. It was huge.
* Imagine Cup 2007 on the go for everyone of us in the Bentara Team. Another short film will be made in conjunction with that; and Korea is our aim.

Sutra

2006-08-27T18:13:00.000+07:00

Ramli Ibrahim is a renowned Malaysian dancer whose dance rooted from the traditional Indian dance - the Odissi. He is regarded as one of Malaysian's highly acclaimed artists. He was educated as an engineer in Australia and while he was there, he catered his dream for dance. He learned classical ballet and modern dance; occasionally flying to India to learn from the masters there. He later joined the Sydney Dance Theatre for six years. In 1982 he managed to return to Malaysia and made his debut performance in front of Malaysian audience, coreographed his own piece called "Gerhana". A year later, he founded the Sutra Dance Theatre, a dance learning center for Malaysians alike. It has grown very popular among arts enthusiasts and he's received a lot of patrons from Malaysian dignitaries.

I visited his place today, called The Sutra House, along with Mr. William to present my works to him. I am doing a logo for his new foundation - the Sutra Foundation. It is planned as an umbrella organisation to cater all of his entities below, and most importantly, to serve as a continuing vehicle for now and then.

Copycat?

2006-08-26T23:32:00.000+07:00

Why can't people be more original? Compare Digdaya and SimpleBits. The first is an Indonesian company, the latter American. Both have the same business - web design.

The final leg

2006-08-26T20:45:00.000+07:00

In life, I hope there's no such thing as "Sigit, you're the last one (team) to arrive. I'm sorry to say that you've been eliminated (from the race)." Or so to say that you've been left far behind from the world. I think I've been watching too much Amazing Race. Hahaha.

Less than fourty-eight hours to going back home. Yesterday I had a little farewell at the office with everybody (almost, minus Mr. William and Leng Huat). It was pretty nice of them - to give a farewell gift for me, a nice black leather wallet. And what made it more special was the small piece of paper with everyone's wishes for me.

I felt that I haven't done enough to please them in the past two and a half months, that's why I felt so honoured. Thank you everybody.

I treasure every moment there although they might hadn't notice it.
I respect each one of them although they might felt something else.
I learned much to give all I had although they might have expected something more.

See you, new friends. I hope we could meet again somewhere in the future, near or distant.

Looking back

2006-08-23T22:11:00.000+07:00

I couldn't wait to get back to Bandung and have my university days back. I must be honest though that for the time being I have learned to appreciate more of my learning days at the campus. It's just one final year left, and I couldn't think it's gone this fast. Three years ago I was so startled at what I was going to get through - but apparently I had more fun than harm, I enjoyed my time thoroughly studying design at ITB. Being awhile in the real world for almost three months really open your eyes of what you'll be facing soon; and I want to make full use of my final year - living day by day of it.

The last three months have been the most enriching experience in my life. It's good to have had the chance to intern overseas, although not very far like what my seniors had, over in the Netherlands. Not many of my fellow friends in campus have this kind of chance. Apparently, for my batch, I am the only one of two who had to intern overseas this year. But I guess it all comes down not where or how far you intern, domestic or overseas, but how you reap values from it. I am sure that here or there, it's the same; someone might have better experience than I do without having to go physically this far. Coming here, ofcourse, involve risks of not getting there into your expectation.

Did I get my expectation? A tough question. At some point, I am quite happy with what I have; the working experience is not so painful, the people here treat me with respect and understanding. They never scold at me. But they've slapped at me. In the most gentle way of doing it. I also learned how a design process works and how the teamwork happens. And to be able to talk to the man who runs this business, it's an honor. It set my aim, it set my bar.

The only downfall that I must confess it that I expect to have more international, experimental, cultural scope of work, I hoped to have joined projects that involve different countries. I only have one of this kind during the course, the rest were mostly commercial. I always view Mr. William as someone who has traversed the world and understood different perspectives from each culture he has visited. I wanted to get more of this as I am excited about multicultural work.

After all - things have their both sides. I am sure that I am not be the best intern in the world, probably they expect more of me, too. But thank you for having me at the company.

A report, that is

2006-08-23T21:55:00.000+07:00

What did happen last weekend:
- Took some footage with the video camera
- Bad food in KL Sentral
- Bought some goodies for my friends
- Went to The Curve, Ikano and IKEA (which was nice)

What did not happen:
- Visit cultural performance in Bukit Bintang
- Visit MPO Open Day 2006 in KLCC

Hot tea

2006-08-19T22:37:00.000+07:00

A dialogue, between an elderly man of his fifties with a waiter in a local mamak:

Waiter: "Can I order for you sir?"
Old man: "How long have you been working here?"
Waiter: (Confused) "Some years, sir"
Old man: "I've been sitting here for a long time and you came this late?"
Waiter: "..."
Old man: "Now give me a glass of hot tea!"

True

2006-08-19T22:31:00.000+07:00

What's more exciting in this life than being a narcissist.

Re-welcoming you

2006-08-19T00:06:00.000+07:00

Yep, been fiddling a little with the weblog. I am not used to Blogger so I've just discovered how to title my posts. The new face was a 2-day work, and the time-tested window photograph on the left is a remnant of probably once flourishing old store in Masjid Jamek area in Kuala Lumpur. Welcome, again.

Today I was supposed to go for an independent film premiere in HELP Institute, along with friends of Pasca from the company which he interned. But I was so late I couldn't catch up to join them in their car, I tried to come by myself through the LRT to Bangsar but I was in vain because the feeder bus took too long to arrive, and the screening has obviously passed for 30 minutes.

So the coming weekend would by my second-last weekend here, before I return to Jakarta and Bandung respectively on August 30th. Tomorrow I am planning to take the video camera for a ride around the city and document some highlights. I don't know when I'll go to Aquaria as yet. Probably next week. Tomorrow night I also plan to come to Bukit Bintang for a cultural performance (I think so, will update on this later). On Sunday, there's the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) Open Day 2006, where four free performances from 12 noon onwards are on my mind. I would only attend one of them though, and I'll have to come earlier than 10am at the ticket box so I can reserve one for myself before it runs out!

The Curve is another place I want to visit on Sunday. Or maybe tomorrow. Depends on how the schedule would go. It's another mall, which my company did in the past before I came. Located in Damansara, a part of the Klang Valley greater area (Klang Valley is, simply stated, the area which spans from Port Klang in the west to just before the highlands (Genting) in the northeast (do I get it right?) which includes the capital district of Kuala Lumpur and supporting cities/areas like Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam. Damansara is like a district near Petaling Jaya. I can't really predict what The Curve is all about, but I guess I'm quite attracted by the nearby IKEA. :)

No matter what comes out and what not this weekend, I'll surely report to you, people.

Oh and I do think that B5's version of Let's Groove Tonight is a great refreshment of the original one!

On queueing

2006-08-17T19:30:00.000+07:00

In several places around the world, when you queue up in a line, you'll get what you want. In Indonesia, when you queue up in a line, you won't get what you want. It's as simple as that. Perseverance unpaid.

Off

2006-08-17T11:45:00.000+07:00

Today I don't go to work, fortunately Mr. William allowed me one day free. At first I wanted to join the people over at the embassy for some festivities. But then, I woke up so late, and here I'm just playing around with the computer and enjoy my day-off.

Terrified

2006-08-14T19:35:00.000+07:00

Following the latest happening in world's affair, particularly on the terrorist threat aboard international flights heading and coming out from US and UK, I am become more and more cautious on my next trip to San Francisco this October. Mr. William's wife, Mrs. Lindsey is apparently cancelling her trip to New York this September and she suggested that it's advisable for me to reconsider, although the trip I'll be making will partly be decided by the event organiser there, ThinkQuest, if they want a reconsideration. "Carrying your things in a transparent plastic bag sounds like a prison to me," said Mrs. Lindsey.

On opportunities

2006-08-13T21:45:00.000+07:00

I believe I have helped a few of my friends to open their eyes to opportunities. I have let them know that there is a vast world out there and it's not only within reach of their imagination, it is actually possible to grasp them by their hands.

I was so indulged in participating various competitions in the past seven years and I can say that it has not been in vain. I always offer friends about any chance for any event that they could take part, either with me or alone. The little help came out to be likely a long way for them.

The only regret is that just sometimes the friends you have informed of opportunities forget you when it's their turn.

I think...

2006-08-10T22:58:00.000+07:00

I'd prefer to have a room solely for myself.

Gendong

2006-08-09T22:43:00.000+07:00

This, picture of the week that I should have posted last Saturday or Sunday. It's in Tasik (Danau) Titiwangsa (Titiwangsa Lake Garden). Enjoy.

LCCT

2006-08-09T22:33:00.000+07:00

Just so you know, here they provide a special terminal for low-budget airlines like Air Asia. So if you use low-budget airliners, you'd go to a different building set apart from the main airport. Unlike Indonesia. But apparently though, low-budget airliners attract more traffic and it has appeared that the main airport feels so empty right now.

If I hadn't been

2006-08-09T22:27:00.000+07:00

I couldn't have learned so much more if I hadn't been with Icha. She has opened my eyes on how to conform with differences, often I learned it the hard way. We argued so hard that in the end it would always be a great slap in my face. I never suspected that maintaining a relationship would be this challenging. I was so for myself before I was with her and now I have someone that I'm sharing my feeling, thought with. Please pray for us that there wouldn't be anything scary to hold us apart.

Surprise!

2006-08-09T22:26:00.000+07:00

I sent my beloved Icha a surprise mail for her birthday this Sunday. I hope she loves it!

The same old man

2006-08-09T22:14:00.000+07:00

Last weekend, Saturday to be exact, I had both of my lunch and dinner over at KLCC (yes, that's where I hang out often either by myself or with Pasca, practically it's the best, nearest funkiest place to be in the weekends). But I was alone that day. I had this one-day plan of scouring the city with the bus and LRT, like usual. I stopped for a lunch after taking a bus from Titiwangsa. I entered the foodcourt, and landed on a claypot counter. Then suddenly I found this old man two lines ahead of me. After me was a Malay girl teenager dressed casually - and she looked nice, too. Then the old man flirted the girl by greeting her "hi" and smiled too much, looking and gazing her in a manner that I found a bit disturbing. Then gone he was.

The dinner I came again but this one was not in the same foodcourt, and not in the same counter definitely. All of a sudden I saw this old man again in the counter that I was in, only now he's two lines before me. Before me were two young ladies whose face looked like a heriditary of Spanish/Mexican. They looked pretty and finely dressed. The old man flirted one of the women, saying that he lives in the US, followed by a reply "oh yes, I'm studying in the US" with a disgusted face.

How a good taste this old man had... how persistent he was looking for woman at his age... and how awful I had to see and hear his action twice in a day.

Design Alliance

2006-08-01T20:56:00.000+07:00

That is what I've been doing in the past few weeks. It's a booklet for The Design Alliance Asia (I should have put a 'TM' mark on that because it's registered, but I don't know how to do it). The Design Alliance Asia is a collaborative network of Asian design consultancies and studios, native to their own countries. My company is one of the initiator. So they asked me to redesign the formerly generic booklet into a new, refreshing one with the concept of "energy centers and landscape". It has to be done in a tone that is poetic, intuitive and subtle. I departed from the logo which looks like this:

It's basically three mandalas, mandala is a philosophy that originates from the Buddhism (correct if I am wrong) that everything comes from a source that is a point, it then radiates but never lose connection to its source. Why three mandalas - it represents the three regions of Asia, namely the northern, central and south/southeastern.

Below are the mockups for the booklet:

2006-08-01T20:16:00.000+07:00

What do you do if you were having a shower and your cellphone rang, twice, and when you have rushed your shower and ran outside, you picked up the phone and found out those were international calls with unidentifiable numbers? And they didn't call you back? And you have barely so low of a credit, and you are too lazy to buy an actually affordable phone card outside?

God's sake, please show up, you mysterious caller... hahaha.

2006-07-29T18:06:00.000+07:00

Photo of the week!

Yeah, I really love the photo so much that I plan to get it into the design of this weblog somehow.

So, a report on today's recce. My main mission was to survey the sign system of the STAR LRT, one of the transit systems here - I did it successfully, in addition I also captured some glance of the places I dropped along the way. Shown below are pictures from Masjid Jamek area (keyword: old, nostalgic, Braga-like) and the national stadium at Bukit Jalil which I found much deteriorated (lack of maintenace?) - everything is not the same like it was five to six years ago when the stadium was shiny, well-maintained and glorious.

Near the Masjid Jamek LRT station.

Apparently they have BreadStory - I am not sure if this is an Indonesian brand, anyone can tell me?

Braga? Kuala Lumpur?

Very nostalgic! I love this corner!

Old buildings rule out here.

The 8-year old national stadium. I can tell you that this stadium doesn't have that shiny aura like it used to be the last time I went there, back five years ago. Many parts of the walls, signages have peeled out, needy of paint. The stadium information center has been converted into a snooker's room, which is a very bad use in my opinion. It needs a refurbishment.

During my visit to the stadium today there was this bazaar called "Hari Pengguna Malaysia 2006" or "Malaysia Consumer Day 2006" where many consumer products and services took their part in the booths. Many great offers, too bad I didn't plan earlier to come!

2006-07-22T18:03:00.000+07:00

The equivalent of a warung in Indonesia is mamak. They share the same commonality: various foods and drinks, set in a laid-back, simple style and you can find them almost everywhere, on the side of the road. Some people might argue that warung might feel more traditional and mamak is more like a decent restaurant. By saying warung you might quickly imagine a small, road-side small settling, temporary-built "hut" with only one or two long table(s). That is true, and while mamak has a more modern setting, but the point is that, mamak shares the same philosophy: it's where people get into when they want a decent-priced and simple place to eat. It's by far the easiest alternative there could be, if not to say the only, for an affordable meal.

What kinds of foods can you find in mamak? Many, and this reflects the cultural influences Malaysia has: Malay, Chinese, Indian and the least that you could occassionally find, Thai. These are decently priced food ranging from RM3 - RM5 (Rp9,000 - Rp12.500). Some of the titles, you ask? Here those I can remember of: Chinese chicken rice, nasi goreng (fried rice - in fact, they have many variations: kerabu, USA, Pattaya, ayam berempah (spicy chicken), etc.; ayam/daging (chicken/meat) with variations among others like kecap (soysauce), padprik (Thai's), pedas (spicy), etc., sayur (vegetables): kailan, etc. noodles, especially the famous Penang char kwey tiau (pardon the spelling); and in some they also have nasi campur (mixed rice where you are given a plate of rice and pick your own dishes, very much like nasi rames in Indonesia).

It is often mentioned that mamak is the Malaysian-style of al fresco dining.

2006-07-20T18:30:00.000+07:00

I came home to Jakarta last week on Tuesday 11th and returned this Monday 17th. I had to go back for several reasons, first to extend my stay for another 30 days (and meanwhile, stamping my passport with the just-issued training visa allowing me stay for up to 90 days), and taking care of something for my trip to USA this October.

So here I am, 16 days without entry here. Pardon me.

So what has happened during those days? In Indonesia, I had to attend a design seminar which was organised by a design company there (BD+A Design) sponsored by three government ministries which included the opening by Mari Pangestu, the Ministry for Industry and Trade. The seminar's purpose was to enlight its attendees on the importance of design (read: branding) for national products to have that added-value that makes them more profitable and competitive in today's already crowded, fierce market. Many things I learned from this, one of them is the reality that indeed Indonesian products are seldom acceptable overseas, even in our countries, compared to international better-designed products. One representative from the ministries, during her speak, mentioned how our booth in an international furniture exhibition held in Europe some months ago didn't sell well, added by the reality that somebody told them about how uninnovative our products were.

Mr. WHW, the principal of the company I'm interning now, also spoke at that event. About four to five designers/architect spoke, including him. The underlining point from all their presentations were that design is indeed a necessary thing today if we are to leverage the value of a product, because it's an era where people don't just get persuaded by how great the function is, but also the form, and lately, the fun. Differentiation is crucial in order to create a strong identity in consumer's minds.

Anyway, thanks to Atri, I got a tag to get in and listen to the discussions.

What else did I do during the 1-week break from internship... unfortunately I didn't join the workshop as well which accompanied the seminar in the following days, as I had to arrange things for my US trip. On the weekends I met my girlfriend and spent two days of good time, hey, yeah - it's been a long time *grin*.

All the while I was back to KL and back to work on Tuesday. I continued working with an internal project I have been assigned to all these weeks.

2006-07-06T18:47:00.000+07:00

Just three weeks of internship and I'm dreaming to build up my Avatara Studio to a new height. Ofcourse it needs a lot of patience and knowledge to bring in a good management and workflow. But at least I have something new to learn in running a business. Avatara Studio is the so-called name of my decent, informally set group of student designers doing graphic design for its clients. Our first client was the Indonesian Golf Association. We did a 40-something mini book educating younger and older audiences alike about golf rules, in an interesting illustration-rich format. We did learn many things throughout the process, especially about printing, time management and workflow structure. We have four people and each has their own strong role: one as an 'account executive' who deals most with client face-to-face, two illustrators who work together for this particular project and me as a designer/DTP working on the look and feel of the book itself.

The 'company' currently have four central members and one new member that we took because he brought us a project in. What I'm thinking now is to set up an essential business plan and a finalised brand. Then promotional materials like name cards and website. I am however not really interested in advertising the business as we would like to start small and flowing.

There's ofcourse more to do than starting up to burn the fire in order to get the food cooked.

2006-07-01T22:14:00.000+07:00

As soon as I arrived in the station I went to a map notifying the availability of a bus ride around Putrajaya. I headed down to the bus terminal downstairs and found out that I had to take one of the RapidKL buses (bus no. 427) in order to get to the Dataran Putra. These buses provide free service during weekends. Dataran Putra is the main boulevard where you can view the Prime Minister's office as well as the renowned Putra Mosque, and also to find the lakeside restaurants an shops. You can also cruise your way in the lake by using the Cruise Tasik service, using a Venice-like small canoes.

That is the logo for RapidKL.

View from inside the bus departing from Putrajaya Sentral station.

Welcome to Putrajaya!

Everything is quiet here...

Hey that's the Putra Mosque! Which means I am nearby to Dataran Putra already!

Finally, Dataran Putra!
Yup that's me.

Putrajaya is apparently connected by many wide streets with a number of boulevards everywhere. This is one of the main streets. At the furthest you can see the Putrajaya Convention Centre.

An interesting bridge structure which is right on the other side of the lake.

The sign for Cruise Tasik.

The small canoes. Very nostalgic form, isn't it?

A little bit of details on the Islamic ornaments on the building.

Learning about how signages are done... this one is quite interesting.

Walk down this lakefront terrace and you'll stroll along restaurants and cafetarias.

Doesn't that resemble joglo, the traditional architectural masterpiece of Yogyakarta? It's actually a small 'oasis' where people can mingle together and somehow it looks like people are allowed to dip their feet into the water.

It was very hot, hotter than I've ever had in Indonesia. So I wanted to go back. To get back to Putrajaya Sentral station I had to take the same bus that I took before. Hey, how come I was alone?

Once I arrived in Putrajaya Sentral (notice the red-roof buses, it's the one I took) I had to take another RapidKL bus (route E1) which goes directly to KL Sentral. Again, on weekends, they don't charge anything!

En route to KL Sentral, in the toll gate.

And that concluded a great adventure a whole day long...

For more information on Putrajaya itself, please visit this site.

2006-07-01T18:16:00.000+07:00

I went to Putrajaya today. Putrajaya is the administrative capital of Malaysia. It is where the Prime Minister's office is along with other ministries. In short, it's a planned city servicing governmental matters. This is a pictorial story (two parts) on how I got there by myself. The first part is the departure. Along the way, I also visited the big Midvalley Megamall (very similar to Bandung Supermal or Lippo Karawaci in Indonesia).

As normal I would take the Putra LRT line to Kuala Lumpur Sentral. If you haven't known what Putra LRT is, this and this would help you a bit. I depart from Damai station to KL Sentral station, for a fare of RM2. That's roughly Rp5,000.

A view inside the KL Sentral. KL Sentral is a central transportation station in Kuala Lumpur which connects many mode of public transport under one roof: trains, LRTs, buses and taxis.

After Putra LRT, I had to take the KTM Komuter (commuter, ground rail service) from KL Sentral to Midvalley station, to visit the Midvalley Megamall.

I had to take the Seremban line. Seremban is the capital of another state southern of Kuala Lumpur (see this map of peninsular Malaysia). I also caught a glimpse of commuters getting off another train in another platform.

Here is Midvalley Megamall! No photo-taking inside, however... I spent an hour or two inside, not that there's anything distinctive about this mall, just to reminisce the times when I was here. Back in 2000, it was still new. How it's like six years later? Much has improved. I love the atmosphere of thee food court at the 3rd floor.

Back into journey. Actually I had this spontaneous willing to travel to another way (originally I wanted to go back home). At first I planned to visit the national stadium, but let's move on first and see what happened to my crazy mind. Hehe.

I took the route to Bandar Tasik Selatan station. Here, you can find three train-based transportations in exchange, and the three stations are located side by side. To go to the stadium, you had to take the STAR LRT. Below is a picture of STAR LRT.

But I changed my mind because I saw the KLIA Transit/Ekspres station on the other side. Hey, why not go to Putrajaya this day?

That is the KLIA Transit/Ekspress station. This train serves the airport in under 30 minutes, which can take an hour by car. But using the Transit mode, you can stop between its five stations from KL Sentral to the airport.

When the train was about to arrive, this announcement came up, along with a voiceover.

Another view of the tracks, servicing three lines of rail transit.

To go to Putrajaya the fare is RM5.30. That is roughly Rp14,000.

The train ride lasted about five to eight minutes, before I finally arrived in Putrajaya station. Looked pretty empty, though, and I had no idea how to get around. I had no maps with me. But I've got one weapon: ask, ask, ask!

(See next post to know the next part of my journey today!)

2006-06-27T19:23:00.000+07:00

Yet, more pictures than words. Words coming along after this post.

The district for the capital uses "W" as the initial car registration. It's then followed by two letters and a set of numbers. The car is Proton Waja, I think, the national car of Malaysia.

My room... messy enough to show off here. Those are clothes, mine and Pasca's.

The second night after I arrived in KL I had this mini-wok dinner at KLCC's Asian food corner. "Wok" is the Asian pan, and it's served in mini sized wok.

An interesting wall display at Ampang Park's underground subway station.

A view from the KL Monorail station.

That's me, in the studio, studying for a project.

2006-06-24T16:11:00.000+07:00

Picture of the week!

Interesting isn't it? Nice view from up the twin towers!

So here are more photos from today's recce. Basically I didn't go much, just going to the same places as last week. Only this time I went to the Skybridge, the bridge connecting the two twin towers.

Still wishing to go to Starhill, one said that it has extraordinary design with the Japanese designers.

That's my STAR LRT ticket. The transit systems are now apparently merged into single company called Rapid KL. You know what it stands for? Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Kuala Lumpur. Basically means 'rapid integrated transportation lines'. The picture below shows what it's like inside the train. Quite clean, not much has changed since 2001 except the name.

The first picture is the landmark of Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers. Next one is obvious. The last one is me standing on the Skybridge. Entries to Skybride are free, and people are organised in groups and go up every 15 minutes, in a group of 30 - 40 and stay above for ten minutes. The first shift goes up at 9am and the last one being 4pm. You have to claim your tickets first by lining up as early as possible. Tips for you who wants to go up to the Skybridge: get in line as early as possible. If you can afford it, wake up early at 6am and get the morning shift. Today I arrived at the line up at 9.30am and got the ticket for the 3.15pm shift!

At noon I went to my old school for a year-end festival:

Quite nice food there!

2006-06-20T22:31:00.000+07:00

A special message for Annisa Mahdia Pratiwi ;)

Don't worry, I am living well here, I eat three times a day and get a nice room and such an addictive Internet connection. Hehe. It's been a lot of missing, especially Bandung and our everyday life together. Going to classes, hanging out at Ciwalk, Setrasari or anywhere (especially those McD moments), wasting time in ITB, Bang Ed, all the canteens in ITB, to going and staying overnight at your house and talking long with your mum and Sat or going for a bicycle ride with Ken. Jeri, Chika, Dito. I love them all. Teteh, too. I wonder how she's doing.

But ofcourse, going to classes is much more fun in some matters rather than this internship, but we'll have to adapt for progress, right? We'll get used to it somehow. We can leave the great moments of high school, why not for this temporary off-campus activity?

I hope that with what we're going through we could value each others more highly and appreciate the conditions in which we're living in. And realise that happiness is about sharing things...

Have fun! I love you.

2006-06-20T22:21:00.000+07:00

My living cost is approximately RM800 - RM900. However, I project it to be a bit less because I allocate a maximum of RM20 a day for transport and meals. In certain cases I would have to top up my cellphone credit and buy stuff at the supermarket. And that's not including travelling on weekends and visiting attractions. Here's what I've done in the past five days:

- Went to Suria KLCC three times because the Asian food court is a nice and reasonably-priced place to eat
- Bought a book in Kinokuniya
- Visited my old school, and because it was on Saturday, few people were at the school. I would come to the Year-End bazaar though, next Saturday. Hopefully will meet more people.
- Tried the Monorail to Bukit Bintang. It costs a bit more than the LRTs, but nice small mode of rail transport.

And here's what I plan to do this weekend:

- Visit my old school again for a Year-End bazaar.
- Go to either Skybridge, KL Tower or the new Aquaria.

2006-06-20T21:59:00.000+07:00

Hey, never know that they would have sweet pizzas.

2006-06-20T21:53:00.000+07:00

The mouse on my desk at the office is a crap. The roller ball type one that would be a pain to use when it's jammed. Then, no other mouse is available and you're using it to typeset a 156-page of a coffee-table book using QuarkXPress.

When I get home in the room, right where I typed this from, the keyboard needs me to push deep which makes my fingers to have that extra work. It's tiring.

How I miss my own personal computer...

2006-06-19T23:40:00.000+07:00

So what is Malaysia like, Kuala Lumpur in particular? It's somewhere in between Jakarta and Singapore. It has the progressive and disciplined nature (if not to say trying to) of Singapore but somehow some things just give me impression of my home country, like crossing just anywhere on the street. The feeling is not that urban compared to cities like Singapore but also not as crowded and messy like Jakarta is. I've always been in favor of praising Malaysia's development, it has come a long way.

People say that in these years the traffic jam has gone worse, I have no idea yet. But what I've seen is that beggars are everywhere now. The tunnel in which you cross from LRT station to Suria KLCC (the Petronas Twin Towers' mall below) is now crowded with street musicians and beggars, although we can see a bit of difference between beggars here and in Indonesia. Here, they are apparently neater and cleaner (I'm serious), probably partly because they're doing it in a city location responsible for the city's overall image.

Pasca, my friend who stays and interns here with me (with different company) was actually a bit shocked to see the slightly different feel of the country; probably he thought it was all the same with Indonesia. As he says it, the air is cleaner and the whole city is nicer to pedestrians. It's a lot easier to navigate your way here and prices are not that high for an Indonesian travelling.

2006-06-19T23:26:00.000+07:00

Just some photographs to be enjoyed:

That literally means "Smoking causes damage to your lungs". "Tak nak!" means "I don't want!"

The Putra LRT station near where I stay, that night I was about to look out for dinner in KLCC.

That says "Please use the bridge to cross the road."

2006-06-18T18:08:00.000+07:00

Greetings from Malaysia!

Hey, that's our neighborhood! Pretty much the same stuff as in Indonesia, but only more peace...

So this is to say that I've finally settled down (but ofcourse, there is still this visa to be approved). I am staying at my former teacher's house when I studied in Indonesian School of Kuala Lumpur from '96 to '01. Here's a glimpse of what it looks like in our room:

We came with KLM (so to speak, it has become a trend nowadays because it's by far the most affordable airline for the KL - Jakarta route at the moment) and arrived at 9.30pm local time. Went through all the chore and got picked up at KL Sentral by our host, Mrs. Lien. For those of you who don't know what KL Sentral is, it's a central transportation complex which connects many lines of public transport systems, mainly by means of rail: the Putra LRT, STAR LRT, Monorail, and the KTM (a commuter).

The first day of my internship was filled with orientations, and it was nice to have finally met Mr. William himself. The office is located far from the city center. I am staying like in the outer perimeter of the city center, and have to go about 6 - 7km of a combined train ride (Putra LRT) and walks. Here's the front of the entrance to the office:

Every designer in the studio, like it has always been in the religion of design, uses an Apple computer, mostly are old G4s although there is one G5. I sit in one corner where the Art Director normally sits, he/she would come back late in August/September for a reason I was not clear of. Here's a view of my current desk:

WHW & Associates Sdn. Bhd. (Sdn. Bhd. means "Sendirian Berhad" or private limited, in Malay) is a design studio with specialisation in graphic and identity programs. Their clients range from the national bank to international cultural projects.

What I'm quite surprised is that the designers are young, fresh graduates who are one or two years older than I am. There are two older ones. But mostly, it feels like working with my peers back in Bandung in class assignments.

I am still adapting. It's a totally different situation with what I've been from '96 to '01. I was just a student, now I am both a student and a worker.

2006-06-08T23:37:00.000+07:00

OK - so I am finally closing down apuse.com and aiming for a new domain sometimes after my internship which lasts this August. I am now prioritising for my internship which will take place in Kuala Lumpur starting June 15. I'm departing tomorrow at 18.45 and I will log my experiences in this temporary blog.

Sorry for my blogging friends, I haven't told you my move. I will do, soon.