FISIP UI's Gelas Maba 2011

Hello guys! I'm going to rant and rants are never objective (it's a blog anyway, why should it ever be objective?) but first of all, what's up with Blogger's new entry? I feel awkward writing this :/

Anyway.

Last Wednesday was, as the title says, FISIP UI's Gelas Maba 2011. Gelas Maba stands for Gelar Apresiasi Seni Mahasiswa Baru (pls CMIIW) and that pretty much describe the event itself, is it not? No? Then I'll help you.

In Gelas Maba, freshmen from 8 majors in FISIP compete through performance arts that actually can be anything; but this year, every major has different theme of what to perform. The theme was countries. In which Communication was China; Administration was India; International Relation was Middle East; Criminology was Mexico; Politics was South Africa; Anthropology was South Korea; Social Welfare was Hawaii and Sociology was Italy.

Every single one of them are good and brilliant but I'm not going to tell how did it go for every single major except for the best 3 majors' performances. And those are Politics, Criminology and Communication. Oh, and sorry for the lack of photos, I think I'll post them out later, if I'm not too lazy to do so.

(Fyi, every single year since the event started, Comm had always got the 1st place. Not for this year, sorry to say. But nevertheless, let me review how did it go.)




Politics was awesome. It was good. Here's the list of whys (in my opinion):
Their theme was South Africa and they brought up a sort of out-of-the-box theme; The Lion King. And why is that sort of out-of-the-box? The only major that use fable as their main plot was Politics. I did not see that coming at all. The opening was a 'BOOM'. There was a classy so-african-ish music produced by used bottles and that sort of stuff. It was very creative and the music was nice to hear. The story was ordinary, but I have to admit, the narrator was a total win. I practically see the soul of Rafiki in his performance (not exaggerating). He was the main source of laughter and he deserved the Best Artist award. The ending was a climax; the censored kiss was well played and very entertaining, the following dancing flashmob was good. The background real leaf and tree trunks. They even brought SNAKES! A real, living and breathing snakes. I already thought of no chance of winning for Comm when I see those snakes. That snakes was, was, was... I don't have a word for it but I like those snakes. It was very, very Africa.

But every good performance must've had its bad right?

You bet it has. Even though it was true that the fable theme was no ordinary plot (there, at that moment) it was a adaptation of Lion King and it reminds me of Lion King musical so so much. Not that it was a bad thing; adaptation wasn't bad, almost every ballet performance was a classic used over and over again. But it just means that it's not original in plot-wise. And personally, I regret that it was a Lion King, not Lion King 2. (I think it would be much more dramatic if it was the story of Kiara and Kovu's forbidden love and all, y'know. IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE DRAMATIC.) The love story in this performance was half.. uh. Half-cooked? Simba and Nala's scene was not so.. uh, important for me to remember. IMAGINE IF IT WAS KOVU AND KIARA And here's more: the fact that the narrator was so good, in the end, what I remember was the narrator part only; probably because the other scene wasn't so clear (there are too many scenes for a short-timed performance) and that's bad too, because if I have to be honest, I was only captivated by the narrator, mostly. The stabbing-thing and the censored kiss were too, but that's probably all. Another thing I regret from this performance was that, the change of scene was taking too long. It's a waste of time, I'd say. The supposed duration was 10 minutes but it was dragged too long. (It was worth it, I guess.) And another thing. It was good, but I sort of didn't see the performance as a whole; the opening music and the flashmob was not really intact with the story. Like, mm. The performance ends (the music ends) and then you add another performance (the drama) and then after it ends you add another performance (dance). But nevertheless, as I said above, overall it was good and awesome and very entertaining, despite all those things I mentioned.



The next one was Criminology. Criminology was fresh and funny, but I personally don't have very much comment regarding its performance.
It was good! Really! I laughed at a lot of scenes, as the judge says it was like watching a live OVJ. The actors are funny and good at what they're doing. They're all out, I sensed no awkwardness at what they're doing and the audience was happy. It was entertaining in joke sense and... pretty much that. Their forte was gags and jokes. I don't even know if it was in the script or every single one of them are born from improvisations on the stage. Very.. natural. The live mexican music and guitar instrument was good. SO so good. So mexican-ish and I like how they use guitar instrumental to accompany the narrator. And the blackman gag! It was creative and I didn't see that coming, LOL remembering it makes me laugh.

But like Politics, of course it has its bad too. First of all, maybe because I was a fairly visual person, I don't get much of a something visually attractive here, except for the dancers' and Maria's clothes. The plot... what plot? I don't see much of an appeal besides its jokes and gags. And the end was anti-climatic. I'm sorry. The cockroach joke was funny the first time, but to end the performance with the exact joke? ...It's not funny anymore. (for me. Again, for me.) And if I have to be honest, most of them are lame for my taste (I don't get most of the things the crowd laughs about) and there you go. See. I told you I don't have much of a comment.

But as I said, it's not because they're bad; they're good and very very funny and entertaining; they got the 2nd place, remember? But their sort of play was just not my taste (MINE. Not yours, and certainly not the judges').




The last but not least (but it turned out to be least of the three, the judge said, but not for me, absolutely) was Comm.

Communication was epitome of creative. Very. Very. Creative. Very. And for me, it was captivating. Fascinating. The kind of stage that makes me go WAW because of its creativity and out-of-the-box-ness. Maybe I'm biased, but here this out. (Going t be long because I got a lot of things to say)
The decoration was the best. It got everything you could ask for for the background. You see it as a bar; the background was a bar and it has a brick wall and chinese windows which one of them was opened and you can see a gleam of china town outside the window. And not just that you see it as a bar, you feel it as a bar too. There's a bartender in the back, making drink to a costumer and there are people with their foreign wives drinking and asking waitress' out. But as the atmosphere goes, you know who the focus was. The singing girl. And it played out simultaneously with those scene in the back. Salute! Because making things simultaneously goes like that is not a theatre thing; it's a movie scene. It was very very real and I was captivated by the movement and lively-ness it brought in the stage.

Is it all? NO! The singing girl was talking in REAL Chinese and how'd we know what she meant? Through subtitle of course! The idea itself was good and the execution was better. And then it has this scene where the guy fights with the bad guy. Wait. It's not a bad GUY. It's a GIRL. They fight and it has this power measurer (I don't know what it's called), the kind of thing you'll see above the screen when you're playing a fighting game and both players were doing their best move and you're trying your best to press every single button in the joystick to keep your character from losing. HOW COOL IS THAT? and WHO WOULD THINK OF THAT? And what's more is that you'll see that the players was not there out of the blue, the hero was there all along, watching his girlfriend from afar while drinking in the bar, the mafia thing didn't start out of the blue either. The start until the end was a whole performance. Those people who performed the dance are those guys in the bar before the commotion started, and it was ended beautifully. Everything there was so chinese; culture-wise, the set, the PEOPLE, even. It has the whole package. For a 10 minutes (maybe less) performance, it was very creative, very well-thought, and entertaining. And again, the set was awesome. I see red even after it ends. I have mentioned that I thought that there's no chance of winning for Comm to win after seeing the snakes from Politics' performance, haven't I? After seeing this, that thoughts were eaten by my cannibalistic brain.

But of course, it's not perfect.

There's no life music. Every single music you heard was a tape and well. So much for something 'musical'. The story was original but the plot definitely wasn't. It was an ordinary corny romance plot. But to be fair, I don't think other performances have 'original plot' either. The end was.. not so climax too. It was the climax, but not the kind of climax we expected to see from something that good! If you know what I mean. The expectation from seeing the set and all was not fulfilled, I guess. The story wasn't very much there; but hey, what to expect from a 10 minutes performance?




But yeah, call me biased and all. But please. As much as I know what makes Politics and Criminology won their places, Comm deserves more than 3rd place. What is it that the judges looking for? If the creativity and the idea of culture the country it presents was an important element of the performance score, Comm would've won easily. But maybe it was much more than that. The nonexistent life music was probably a big let down. Or is it not entertaining enough, huh?

I'm no expert, it's not that I've watched thousands of performance arts to have the right to say which one's better than others. But I know what I think was good and better and best and I have the right to say what I thought.

Once again I'd say: for 10 minutes performance, it was awesome. Others didn't even fulfill that requirement. (Not bragging, but still) Time was a very crucial element. To make something so 'whole' in such a short time was something that has to be highly appreciated. Also, the atmosphere it has was not an easy task either. You see, it's easier too coordinate 3 people to act on stage, rather than 14 people to act; every single one has their own role to perform and STILL have the main focus as THE MAIN FOCUS.

AND BESIDES, all of the performers was, like, straight from China or something. Aren't they count for 'Originality' points? (I wish)





And HUFF. There. My rant ends there.


But hey, everything's said and done and that's the result. And every result is the best. Every cloud has silver linings, remember? Call me mean but I kinda.. feel sort-of glad for not winning. If winning this would cause a storm of arrogance inside the heart of Comm 2011 for preparing it by themselves (with a quote mark), then I guess I'm okay with not winning. Besides, Comm has proven that they're the best of what they do best; although we're not winning. (Did I mention 'not winning' too much? It's not a very fair term though, we ARE winning...... the 3rd place)

But even saying so, I still feel bitter (being a sore loser that I am). AGH. That performance deserves more than 3rd place, I tell you! BUT. But. Sigh. Oh well. We can't have everything.


Truth to be told, the happiness radiating from other majors when we were announced as the 3rd place was a form of flattery for me. They think so highly of us they're intimidated and feel so, undeniably happy for our place in 3rd. Hehehehe. Silly me.

Winning isn't special if the modesty's blown out of the window. And losing is noble if it's accompanied with sincerity. The journey counts, and both of them aren't important for those who are champions by nature.


Comm's performance was the best in my eyes, in my heart and in my mind. Out of everything I saw in Wednesday 14th, Comm's performance was what I remember the best. And I'm sure it's not because of my bias-ness. If others were THAT GOOD, of course one will remember despite their preference, right?

Right.



Oh, and just a little trivia! When one of the performers sang Forget You, Commusic was on my mind. When SJ's Mr. Simple and SNSD's The Boys was on tape, my thought flew over Komboys. And when one of dance group performed, I can't help to compare them with Komdance. And here's my conclusion:


Comm has the best performers, definitely.

Hahaha.



Comments and critics are highly appreciated!

Her Point of View

..for now. END for now.

__

Feel free to interpret it however you want, because I only do this to ease myself. Not a very wise move, but who cares? Probably something I’ll erase some time later.

I feel unheard and sad and unheard. Did I just mention unheard? And sad?

I just don’t know how to share it in any other way.

__

I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy it. I'm sorry that you can't see what's there behind all the hard work and sacrifices we made. Tears are here and there because we DON'T reap what we sow. Just because of... of.. of.. what is it again?

We don't even know what it is.

I don't even know who's this 'we' I'm referring to.

But well.

Thank you. For everything. (not being sarcastic)

All of these are part of growing up after all. Every cloud has silver linings and I can't wait for what's there for us to see.

But for now, I'm sad. /sniffs

Thank you.

p.s. Do I have to mention some part of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights or something to assure that it is okay for me to post this?

p.p.s. Just asking.

Resurrection

Hello guys!

Today is... scratch that. A few weeks back was sort of my break down or something. I was so not me, so sad and tired and depressing (depressing, not depressed) and so on. I was me who wrote 'how did I manage to be happy every single time before and not right now'. And this week, everything starts to lighten. Especially today!

(Usually when I said something like that, things will go down again but who cares of how world proves me wrong?)

So. This week started really nicely. My un-nice assumptions and prejudices were blown away and I get a hug. The next day, I was getting a lot of little nice thing; like how I get an economic train just when I was in the station; and one of my favorite story was updated and etcetera; things like that. And I get another hug! Today was super. Even tho in the end I got rejected from monbu scholarship (which I have to elaborated how my feelings were in the next-next-next paragraph), I feel happy! And there's a lot of nice things (including a lot of hugs!) going on today also.

Nice things that I usually gets EVERY SINGLE DAY including days in a few weeks back, but I'm too busy grumbling and thinking I didn't notice.

(Except for the hugs, because I don't get to hug people everyday like I used to)

-

You see guys, I'm writing this for the sake of future me, 'cause this me in the present is really, really grateful of what I wrote in the past. I want the future me to thank me for what I write too.

So listen here.

I don't feel sad because I don't get through. Really. Maybe just like when I got rejected from SNMPTN Undangan and Tertulis, because I realize now that I don't feel sad at those time as well. Mixed feelings, yes, but now I think I know that none of them was sadness. Disappointed? Yes, maybe. Sad? Nah, not really. One thing I know I felt for it is that, I hate the feeling of rejection. That's it.

The feeling of rejection.

You know, the feeling of rejection doesn't necessarily make you sad, but they do make you feel slightly disturbed by sort of thoughts like 'I don't deserve it'. Like, you didn't get through because you're not better than others who got through. The thoughts of losing from other people because I'm not good enough.

I hate that thoughts.

Because I can't help to think that too, but why should I care? Everything that happens now is always for the best, and this is just the journey! This is like, a micro fragment of tremendously incredible and long story of my adventurous life. It's too early to think I'm not good enough.

I always thought of that; how I'm not good enough. Now that I mentioned it, I still do. I always think that I'm not good enough even when every single thing happen to prove me wrong but I'm too blinded by others to care and recognize it. I know that it happened to one of super special and talented person I know and I don't want that to happen to me too. I'm just scared to be proud of me.

Very narcissist.

Still, I don't know what I'm trying to say now because I lost cause in the middle of writing this, but yeah. I want to be proud of me too.

And I will. Just you wait.

OH.

And about how today's so nice; it's because I think I get a hold of me again. Life's so good. I'm alive and I'm very happy.

"Scuse me while I do my happy dance!"

—Oghren, Dragon Age: Origins

First Timer

Hi guys! Last night was my first time watching a theatrical performance. I've always wanted to, because I enjoy those sort of things, or I thought so. Because it turns out that theatre is not really my thing. Well, I've realized that I'm into things; like reading, and sharing stories, and watching performance arts, etc; but they always went to some extent where one is my forte while others aren't, despite it was in the same context. And this one's the same. The thought of it excites me, but watching them? (As it turns out) not so much.

But hey, before I digress, let's just continue to what I'm suppose to share here. My most humble and honest things I wanted to point out from watching Baju Baru Sang Raja. Oh, I suppose you shouldn't read this first if you haven't seen the play.

(Please note that it's my first time watching these kinds of things)

First. It's boring. Why? The conversations were dragged too long and most of the long conversations have no relation what so ever with the plot. And also, I can't help but notice a lot of little fragment in a scene have no relation with the plot.

I have a lot of reasons in mind of why did that happen: it was suppose to strengthen its characters. It was suppose to emphasize that there are more complex ideas (the immorality of the ministers, what most people have in mind about politics, or something) inside the play other than the actual plot. And it was suppose to (verbally) remind people of bad things that actually happening in real life, of how ironic it was to find it funny on stage. The last thing, it's probably what theatre is all about: A lot of words, and a lot of details. Well, highly likely; knowing Shakespeare's works.

I have a lot of subjective reasons why that bores me: I'm a visual person. I can't read too much words, and I don't hear too much either (Explained how bad of a person I am). If you use words, use it as little as possible. If you don't, use something else to make us understand, because I prefer speculating what I'm seeing from what you did rather than hearing something that I already know from what you're doing. Using words for something like that makes me feel like I've been lectured. I hate that feeling WHEN I'm watching. In my opinion, something good should make me learn something AFTER I've watched it. Something that lets me think and enjoy the show and makes me baffled after it ends with realizations. With a lot of words, that couldn't happen to me.

In conclusion: because I've never watched any play before this one (except for school play! And boy that was fast and simple) I can't tell whether it's boring because of the script or because theatre is boring for me in general.

Second. It has an inside joke where you won't understand unless you're a part of FIB UI's big family. And how did I get the joke? How did I know that it was an inside joke? I read the booklet of course. If you open the book every time another person enters the stage to know who is s/he suppose to be and who s/he actually is, like I did for fun, you will. I don't know whether it's a bad thing or not, but I think people who actually have no time to read the booklet because they're so into the play wouldn't get that, and... if a pointless conversation isn't there for a gag, then it stays as a pointless conversation. Right?

Third. I like the costumes. It was colorful and.. colorful. And the lighting. The background are nice too. But my favorite was the costumes.

Fourth. There's this part where it has an overly-long gag. A gag that goes repeatedly to the point of boredom until it's not funny anymore. Maybe the actual gag is the length of the gag itself, I don't know, but it's not just my taste of a gag. But that's what they say, comedy is subjective.

Fifth. Maybe it's just me too stupid to understand but I don't get it. You see, if you had watched it, the (sort-of) first act was a bunch of activist planning something and mentioning how they will get into the part of the contest. But until the end of the play, I don't get WHERE the hell it supposes to take part. Where is their involvement in the contest? I only saw them as an activist who asked some money to one of the minister, ignite a demo, etc. The one who make a fool out of the king was the designer. From America. Now, now; I know that this suppose to mean something about how vulnerable and stupid this kingdom is to be fooled by them, but well. Isn't it weird? Isn't that mean that the evil minister and the activist was lucky enough that the king making a fool of himself at the time? They only wanted to point out how much money the king spent for it right? But they get a full package; they embarrass the king and the money spent for nothing. Please enlighten me. Is there anything more in Safiudin besides how cunning the prime minister using one of his colleague to do things for their sake? Is there anything more in the designer other than he's from America or is he involved with the plan along with the activist/defence minister?

Sixth. There's a lot of things I suppose to get from watching this. But political matters are never in my line of interest so I don't really pay attention. I was there for a friend. And, to crush my curiosity of how would it feels like to watch a real play. Hahaha. Please pardon my ignorance.

All in all, I'm not reviewing this play. I'm just pointing out things I got (or didn't get) from the play. Because; I don't know how a play suppose to be like, what kind of things that suppose to be achieved, or what kind of things that was suppose to be there, or which one is a good acting and which one isn't. So this is pretty much about ME. Not about the play. So feel free to correct any ignorant and inappropriate thoughts I've written. Some explanations are very much loved and welcomed!

Cheers

Galau mayan

When I'm in 10th grade, I feel happy just being alive. I still do, I guess. But when I'm in 10th grade, I don't need to feel uneasy first to think of what kind of things that I have to be grateful for to ease myself. It crossed my mind constantly, how the sun's shining today; how nice my friends' smiles this morning; how I'm not sick on this lovely day; or how pretty my mom is; or how pleasant this day had become, or how nice it would be if I could get another round of a day to feel those things again. Sometimes it gets particular like how I'm lucky to have a friend like him or her, or how inspiring my teachers are, and so on.

There are skips in my steps. I jumped and waved and have these hand gestures which people remember me of. Smiles are easy. They still are, but. Well. Y'know. I share a lot of stories. I sing with my horrible voice and I dance a lot, even tho I have no clue whatsoever about dancing. I laugh at everything because, everything is funny when you have my sense of humor. Everything and everyone are nice and wonderful and funny and lovely.

I know it sounded cheesy and too rainbowish and sparklish and comical, but that's what I feel when I'm.. err uh. In high school. Wait. Even when I have graduated, I still do. When I got to college, I still do.

But not right now. Or a few weeks ago, when I was so bad my friend asked me if there's anything wrong and I don't even know what's wrong because I don't realize I was so.. quiet and easily upset. I don't know when that started, or whether it came out of the blue or periodically or if it happened all the time since it started (I'm that confused)

I thought it was because of PMS, and it was, but it happened again. I'm sure, for anything cute and fluffy, that it's not just because of hormons.

Have I... changed?

/wails

Not that it's a change... I thought of it as maybe.. a phase?

Or is it puberty that people were talking about? I doubt it. It's too late. I thought I got through puberty. Sort of.

It's just. I just want my bubbly (?) self back. How did I overcome things easily before, and why is it not as easy as before now? What change? Is it temporary or is it something that I have become? Because it's scary now that I realize I don't laugh as much as I did before. I want to dance again. I want to be silly and laugh at my silliness and whatever happened because it was funny and it should be still funny now. I think I'm sick.

END OF STORY!

By the way, I remembered one of a part of my favorite dream again! In fact, surprisingly, it's not me who remembers, it's my friend! I'm touched that she still remembers after I told her; I don't even remember it myself until she mentioned it. So here goes!

I was in a house. A wooden house, and I met the cutest thing ever. It's a pair of dolphins, sitting/sleeping in the wet part of a wooden floor. One was green, the other was pink! COOL RIGHT. Not just that. Because they were too cute to watch, I can't help to touch them (even tho I'm a bit afraid they'll run away if I did). And it turns out that they're FURRY and SOFT and FLUFFY. Did I mentioned cute? They're cute and furry and soft and fluffy and nice. I forgot the rest of the dream but that part was heavenly. I remember something about dogs sitting on their spot, but I'm not sure.

Tomorrow's a new day. I'll outshine the sun tomorrow. Bye!

Dreams

I can not sleep. Yet. Hopefully.

It doesn't bother me when I couldn't sleep around this time before. But tonight I got a lot of things in mind, I guess. Or maybe because I was having sort of horror marathon or something tod--uh, yesterday. Not that.. it bothers me much. Or maybe because I fell asleep around 5 p.m. just now? I don't know, whatever the reason is, I can not sleep. Yet. Hopefully.

Speaking of sleep, I have a few series of my favorite dreams. The most recent is the part of a dream where I dreamed about seeing a penguin and fishes and pretty animals sort-of parading in a sea while I'm watching in the beach.. or rocks, or whatever, with a friend and take a lots of picture with my cellphone. I woke up and then told others about it and told them that I'm glad I took pictures because I know that I can continue dreaming about it now that I have reminders. But that dream happened in a dream (meta-dream?), and maybe what I said doesn't work if it happened like that.

And I was hoping to see it again too. Sigh.

The other one is.. the part of a dream when I was in a hospital and saw cute and colorful stuff-animals like creatures dancing and singing under the full moon. I took pictures too! But the pictures were somehow not good enough and I wanted to go closer to them, but then I realized that they'll pretend to be dead when others were around so I held myself back and keep watching from my room's balcony. I wish I could join them. Singing and dancing under the full moon.

And that's it I guess. I might had have another but forgot about it due to lack of memory. I think I had a lot of amusing dreams--odd, but amusing. There were also weird and scary dreams I'm not really fond of, and thanks to my twisted memory priority slot, I usually still remember about them the whole day after waking up. Sometimes it stays until the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, and it affects how my day goes too, unfortunately. Well, to be fair, it happened to every dreams I manage to remember, no matter what they are (scary or funny or both) and sometimes I wish I dont remember any.

Maybe, if I have enough motivation, I will make a good use of these.. dreams. Preferably make money.

Oh! And I remember another one of my favorite dreams! It's the part of a dream where I'm not included to the dream, and the dream was about a little girl and a banana (an anthropomorphic banana with goggles and gloves and shoes) and.. maybe a few odd friends, saving a planet. Or maybe universe. I'm not sure. They're really cute. In the end, the planet or universe was saved but the banana sacrifice himself so the girl can be saved or maybe so the girl can go back home, I forgot. But it was so sad and touching, to the point where after I wake up, I still remember his name. Not for long though. I managed to draw him in the back of my notebook when I was in school that day, even when I had already forgotten about his name when I drew him.

I should sleep and I really want to sleep. I want to have a long and fun dream where I don't have to be afraid.

Something stolen. Kinda.

Hi again everyone! After some awkward attempts of changing my writing style (with its lack of consistency and all that. As ever), I wanna write something where I don't have to think whether people get what I meant or not. In a way or another, I'm sure you couldn't careless of why I write this way, so I'll go on.

Have you ever feel that something is stolen from you, when it's not even yours in the first place? Well, sometimes it's not even something that can be owned. But it's just, like, stolen. from you.

Have you?

I certainly have. In fact, I experienced it quite a lot.

You know, like the time when a person suddenly brag about your favorite author/artist and how she/he loves them so much to other people's faces, when you know that author/artist since forever and never bring them up because, no one cares right? And then people suddenly intrigued and lalala they suddenly adore your favorite author a few days later? Or you know a really good book since the moment it was available in stores and then a few years later it booms like crazy and suddenly it's so popular everybody talks about it? Or when you keep a faith over something/some group/some people when others don't, and when that something/group/person finally succeed, others will start cheering when you had always felt like the only one who believes?

I did. Sigh. And I'm not very proud of it.

Sometimes, the feeling of something just have been stolen from me was accompanied with irritation, jealousy and, and.. annoyed. Like, I WAS FIRST. Or I KNOW IT LONG BEFORE YOU DID. Or THEY/SHE/HE'S MINE! Sometimes it came to the point where I feel like they have no right to like them/her/him or cheer for them/her/him or somesort because, because.. well. Just because.

I always feel bad afterwards. "What a bad fan I am." sort of thoughts. I mean, if they're popular, or their works are loved by a lot of people, or more people support their efforts, why wouldn't I be happy? I should, right? That's a good thing! If I loved them so much as I state in my mind, then, of course I'd be happy if it makes them/her/him happy or that thing I love becomes popular, yeah?

But I didn't, ladies and gentlemen. No matter what I thought. Maybe I don't love them as much as I thought I am, after all..

Well, I've grown used to it, and I don't really mind anymore, thinking that it's something mundane, and I've grown to be happy for their/his/her/its popularity, but I know that it was something that can't get off so easily. Maybe I just like to feel special; liking them or owning them myself, me and only me. And if people like them or own them too, it should be because of me or they should have reasons and feelings just like me, not some shallow 'go with the flow' something-something like that.

What a selfish and honest thought of mine.

But yeah. It's a thought from a past. Although I'm sure it's bound to cross my mind again, some time in the future or I don't know, some time in the present or something. Though I'm also sure it won't be as long and as intense it was before because things are less in every way when you know about it. Except love. You'll love something more when you know you do, but other than that, I don't think so. CMIIW tho.

I liked a lot of things, I discovered a lot of things and sometimes I didn't share them because of the fear that I'm not going to be special anymore. Maybe. Or maybe I would share them because I want people to know that I am first, I know them more, I love them a lot. Maybe. Well, I make up those ones just now, but maybe they're right and those're exactly my motives when I did that, I don't know. Sometimes we thought things we do are impulsive, when they're actually set by our minds and our evil subconsciousness all along. Which I thought was the most honest part of you; because even heart can be misleading.

But yeah, I'm not proud of that because it means that I didn't love them/she/he or appreciated an object as much as I thought and I prefer to be special rather than to be happy of their popularity; but I'm glad I felt all of that because I know how to let go and be happy for it now that I know my own feelings.

And it helps me grow up! Having ill feelings are also a way to be a good person, I guess. Not that I have become a good person. Or have I? Haha.

Sekelebat Info

Jadi belum lama ini ada eks-temen BTA yang jadi temen sejurusan saya sekarang, bertanya kenapa saya tidak menggunakan nama saya lagi sebagai kata ganti orang pertama saat ngobrol.

Pertama ya teman-teman, saya terharu dan kaget juga ada teman saya yang nanya begitu, berarti ada treat dari diri saya yang diinget orang hihihi (padahal di keluarga saya sih ngomong begitu biasa aja) tapi yaudah. Saya bilang kalau saya membiasakan diri untuk menggunakan kata ganti orang pertama (aku) karena di jurusan saya, saya tidak dikenal dengan nama saya yang sebelumnya dikenal orang-orang yang kenal saya (Rani) tapi dengan nama yang lain/nama orientasi (Harlin). Saya rasa sih ini supaya terhindar dari adanya nama panggilan yang sama, dan kalau saya masih menggunakan nama saya dan bukan kata ganti orang pertama dalam percakapan, nanti teman-teman saya yang harus mengenal saya dengan nama orientasi saya jadi bingung kaaan.

Kemudian ada juga yang bilang kalau mereka lebih suka nama orientasi saya dari pada nama panggilan yang yang beneran. Entah harus bersyukur atau tersinggung. Tapi yasudalah ya. Preference kan urusan orang.

Saya mau cerita banyak tapi yang diceritakan ini banyak yang saya mau ceritakan masih rahasia perusahaan (dan kayaknya bakal terus jadi rahasia perusahaan, mungkin) tapi ada yang menarik banget deh. Saya kan akhirnya punya temen pulang bareng lagi nih, jadi kami sering pergi dan pulang bersama. Beberapa kali ketika kami sedang bercerita tentang sesuatu yang seharusnya (semacam) rahasia perusahaan entah kenapa ada saja senior yang ternyata tak sengaja ada disana. Entah memang kami apes atau bagaimana entahlah. Dengan hari ini, sudah sekitar 4 kali kejadiannya. Menurut saya sih itu lumayan banyak juga, soalnya kejadiannya selain di kereta dan stasiun, adalah di toilet rektorat dan di tengah hutan. Kemungkinan untuk ketemu orang yang dikenal di toilet rektorat dan di tengah hutan yang ternyata adalah senior?

Ngomong-ngomong, minggu depan UTS lho.

Adaptasi, Goal, Ekspektasi.

Halo! Udah lama nih tak bercerita disini! Yah, memang nggak ada yang mau diomongin sih. Kalo ada yang penasaran sama kehidupan saya yang sekarang, saya belum terasa kok perubahan signifikan-signifikan amat dari yang sebelumnya. Kalo hectic ya hectic lumayan, boong deng nggak segitunya hectic kok! In fact, entah ini belum kerasa apa gimana, atau mungkin sebaliknya; karena udah lumayan terbiasa sekarang... rasanya agak luang dan menyenangkan. Tugas-tugas juga manajebel. Udah agak ketemu nih patternnya, cuma ya nggak tau deh kan baru mulai.

Setelah berbagai goal dan ekspektasi muncul sekelebat di kepala saya yang sempit ini, saya juga sempat mengalami perasaan malas dan capek dan ribet dan sesak. Tapi yah, dijalanin aja lah ya. Menjalani itu bukannya gampang tapi emang nggak ada pilihan lain kalo memang masih mau hidup di dunia. Cuma yang namanya menjalani itu ya susah kalo belum biasa; belum beradaptasi.

Terkadang adaptasi itu terasa sangat sulit dan lama, kalo menurut saya sih itu terjadi karena yang beradaptasi tidak sadar ia sedang dalam masa adaptasi. Yang penting sih tau dulu kalo banyak hal yang nggak sama dan menyiapkan diri gimana biar kenggaksamaan tersebut bisa diterima jiwa dan raga alias dijalani dengan hati yang ikhlas. Dibawa seneng aja. Kalo dari sisi optimis ya seneng aja, hari esok akan lebih baik dari hari ini! Kalo dari sisi pesimis ya seneng aja, hari esok bakal lebih capek, jadi mumpung masih hari ini senengnya sekarang aja, ya nggak.

Kalo soal goal dan ekspektasi, ya.. saya merasa saya masih punya banyak waktu dan kesempatan buat mengerti, mengejar nilai bagus banget dan berkegiatan yang banyak dan melakukannya itu nggak harus sekarang. Kalo saya pribadi sih, yang saya butuhkan sekarang itu kestabilan, dan kalau saya hanya bisa mendapatkan kestabilan itu dengan nilai bagus aja dan kegiatan yang nggak terlalu banyak, so be it.

Saya setuju kok sama carpe diem! Seize the day, kalo bukan sekarang, mau kapan lagi? Tapi ibarat mancing, cuma orang yang bersabar yang bisa dapet ikan; semua ada waktunya masing-masing kok! Kalo memang belum mampu ya ngapain dipaksa. Kalo memang itu buat yang terbaik, nggak masalah kok kalo harus nunggu.

Pintu itu banyak. Dan jangan khawatir, kalo emang nggak bisa masuk atau keluar lewat pintu, masih ada jendela, lubang tikus dan cerobong asap kok.

Something happened

You know, the one that I have mentioned about the time when I saw one of my friend using a bag from NSO, and then I told one of my other my friend that I'm going to get one of those next year and I really did? That's one case. For one thing, I didn't mean anything when I said that, but it happened anyways.

Similar case happened a few days ago.

But I didn't say anything this time.

You see, now that I go to college, I usually go there by train since my house is nearby and I'm too lazy to find a kostan (or somesort). And I usually went to the last wagon (or first, depends) so I can get out of the station faster.

It was Monday (yes, this week's Monday) and I was on my way home inside the train when I saw a guy (look's like the one in charge) went to engine driver's cabin. And there's a thought.

"I wonder what's inside there."

And then there was Tuesday. I was late; when I bought the tickets, the train's already there and when I run for it, the door closed just in front of my face. I'm in despair!

But just for a second.

Because it seems that one of the guy in engine driver's cabin saw my failed attempt and felt kind of pity, so he opened the cabin's door; and let me in.

So I was inside an unused engine driver's cabin all the way to college.

I was inside the engine driver's cabin.

I was inside the--

--Holy kitty that was--

--I dunno. Beyond unexpected? Something like that.

I feel like, I'm the luckiest person in the world or something. Because it's just crazy! The moment I wonder about what's inside the engine driver's cabin on Monday, I know that would be sort-of-impossible! Because, it's not like I want to work there or some sort; the thought of I would be there is nonexistent in my mind. I just shrugged the thought off seconds after I thought about that.

And then the next day, I was there, all the way to college. True story.

...

HOW COULD SUCH THING HAPPENED????!!!

Sigh. I don't know.

But seriously.

If a mere thought like that could happen; even when you don't expect anything, even when you don't believe in it; why can't people believe in a great, strong and promised force such as,

a prayer?

Just saying.

Of Formality and Reality

Weird title. I know. Sorry. Please excuse my uncreative mind.

When I was in high school (it sounds like I'm old or something) in the tenth grade, if I'm not mistaken, my sociology teacher told the class about uh. I forgot what it's called, but long story short, it's about how there are two behaviors that people choose to.. use? do? whatever the verb is; and that depended on the relation of the person you interact with.

One I like to refer as 'formal' (since I forgot what it's called), it's the kind of behavior you usually offer to people for the sake of courtesy and such; usually to people older, to stranger, to your boss, to people you just met, and so on. But I think in a way, this behavior is one that you want 'people to know you as' kind of behavior. It can be anything; polite, warm, chirpy, or maybe cold, annoying and inconsiderate if you want to. So by formal.. I don't mean 'formal' literally.

And another one is.. one that like to refer as 'real' (since like I've mentioned, I forgot what it's called) and obviously, since this is the real one, this behavior reflects you as who you really are. The one you'll use/do/whatever to the person close to you, like family and friends or boyfriends or girlfriends or pets and etc. And it can be anything too.

You can say that "I'm not like that! I always stay true with myself; I treat people the same, their relation with me doesn't matter."

Well.

No, you can't. If you do, I don't think you'll survive in the society.

This act of.. treating people differently comes naturally I guess. It comes naturally when you're a part of society; it comes naturally when you have people who're close to you, and people who're not-that-close to you. A lot of things mattered as of why and it's late and I'm lazy of explaining them (maybe later) but yeah. It's just different!

It's not always differs a lot, of course. It's just, there are things that only people you trust a lot know about one or two qualities your soul has, and there are things that you only do to people mattered to you and people who actually don't mind receiving that behavior.

And there are things that you don't really like doing; like maybe smiling or greeting or bowing or standing straight, but you have to, because that's how society works. There are unwritten rules too, and you can't just pay no heed just because it's not 'you'. And not just society, in a very small scope like meeting people or helping a stranger; there are things that you suppose to do in order to make it work. And more often than not, you don't like doing that. And it works when it's subverted as well. One can act ferocious and cold and scary; sometimes they suppose to do that; maybe that's their job, or maybe they have their own motives (gaining respect, making a point, or something)

And for people who do that; who separate how they treat people based on their relationship or something like that; it's not that they're 'fake'.

It just comes naturally. A demand from society.

And personally, a demand from an insecure mind.

So no. I don't think 'formal' behaviors are fake. And no. I don't think that 'real' behaviors have to be shown to every single people and at any time you want to just because it's real.

And I don't make that theory up! I actually learnt that from high school. I don't know who the heck came up with this idea, but whoever they are, they nailed it.

Today, I met an interesting person.

Well, I meet interesting people everyday, but let's just say that this particular person is worth mentioning because this person reminds me of that particular info I received in class 3 years ago.

So yeah.

Not that I aced sociology; in fact, I sucked. That's why if anyone out there knows what the heck I'm talking about and doesn't think that I make any sense, feel free to point out the wrongs, thank you very much. Because not just I have this lesson three years ago and I sucked at sociology; I didn't do any research when writing this.

So there.

Lebaran

Halo! Selamat berlibur ya, dan selamat lebaran walaupun lain-lain harinya. Salut deh sama Indonesia, sankingkan multikulturalnya hari lebaran aja beda-beda hehehehe (ini serius) tapi biar beda-beda juga tetep sayang ya, jangan berantem. Mama sama papa saya juga seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya lebaran di hari yang berbeda lagi lho. Mama sama papa saya itu memang epitom bhinneka tunggal ika. Ikut lebaran yang mana saja tidak masalah, kan yang penting punya dasar yang jelas dan yakin; bukan ikut-ikutan.

Dan seperti tahun sebelumnya, tahun ini saya mudik lho. Mudik kali ini spesial soalnya kakak dan adek sepupu saya yang sempat saya sebut di post-post lama ikutan juga, setelah 5 tahun nggak lebaran bareng. Ngomong-ngomong mudik juga, saya jadi menyadari ternyata kebiasaan saya menggunakan nama dan bukan kata ganti orang ketiga itu memang tidak setidak-wajar yang saya pikir. Hampir semua sepupu saya menggunakan nama atau panggilan (baca: Kakak, Adek, Ayuk) untuk menyebut diri sendiri. Padahal semenjak saya masuk dunia kampus saya berusaha mengubah kebiasaan saya itu karena jarang yang menggunakan lho, yah, memang ada tuntutan lain juga sih. Tapi yah, begitulah. Mungkin itu kebiasaan daerah ato apalah.

Yuk Alin, Kak Sheila, Fauzan, Fajar, Andini, Kak Firli, Rani (Kami bertujuh ini lahir di 6 tahun yang berurutan; Yuk Alin '91, Kak Firli '92, Kak Sheila '93, rani '94, Fajar '95, Dini dan Fauzan '96.)

Fajar, Dini

Yuk Alin, rani

Fajar, Fauzan, Yuk Alin, rani

Dini, Kak Sheila, Kak Firli, Yuk Ani, Caca, Yuk Alin

Fajar, Kak Sheila, Rani, Dini, Kak Firli, Yuk Ani, Yuk Alin

Dini, Kak Sheila

Yuk Ani, Yuk Alin, Caca, Dini, Rani, Firman, Fajar, Kak Firli

Waktu bersama sepupu-sepupu saya merupakan waktu-waktu termenyenangkan di masa kecil saya (sekarang juga masih menyenangkan), karena sewaktu saya kecil memang tidak seru-seru amat, isinya dibully, kerjaannya salah orang, di adu-domba oleh tetangga, kehidupan SD penuh drama; dan selain keluarga saya dan kucing saya yang menghibur cuma sepupu-sepupu saya ini saya punya cerita-cerita menarik.

Sebenarnya saya juga dekat dengan sepupu dari keluarga papa saya, dan yang ini lebih eksklusif, karena yang ini 94liners. Tapi mungkin ceritanya ada untuk lain kali. :) Yang jelas liburan kali ini menyenangkan! Semoga liburan kalian juga!

Tidak menarik.

Halo! Akhir-akhir ini nggak nulis karena bingung mau tulis apa. Kayaknya belum ada yang menarik. Ngomong-ngomong nulis pake kata ganti orang ketiga nggak bisa lagi deh kayaknya semenjak sekarang, soalnya nama panggilan saya berubah karena tuntutan karir. Jadi saya nggak bisa lagi menyebut nama yang saya sukai sering-sering (kasihan). Kali ini juga menulis dengan bahasa Indonesia karena orang malas baca tulisan saya yang berbahasa Inggris. Tapi nggak penting juga dibaca karena saya cuma mau curhat kayak post-post sebelumnya. Hitung-hitung kalo aja ada yang penasaran sama hidup saya sekarang kayak apa ya mereka bisa liat post ini lah walaupun pendapat saya pribadi sih baca ini juga nggak akan membantu. (mungkin sedikit)

Akhir-akhir ini saya jadi aktif menggunakan email sebagai sarana komunikasi lho. Tumben soalnya dari zaman dulu email biasanya cuma saya gunakan untuk kirim-kiriman tugas, atau... yah. Cuma kirim-kiriman tugas. Sisanya antara lain email aktivasi dari web2 lain baru deh email orang. Tapi kali ini benar-benar ber-email2an lho. Agak hardcore juga deh sekali bales saya bisa tulis sampai 3 halaman word, padahal buat esai ospek aja mau satu halaman dengan tulisan besar-besar dan spasi super jauh juga masih menghabiskan setengah kehidupan.

Akhir-akhir ini juga saya kebanyakan asumsi-asumsi padahal saya paling pantang asumsi-asumsi sebelum ngerti masalah/orang/hal atau apapun lah yang saya asumsikan, tapi namanya manusia kali ya emang hidupnya penuh asumsi jadi yaudah deh. Saya paling suka kalo asumsi biasanya asumsi saya salah, jadi setiap kali asumsi saya selalu berusaha asumsi sehancur-hancurnya realita biar yang sesungguhnya terjadi nanti tidak sehancur-hancurnya realita. Sedihnya asumsi-asumsi saya suka bikin galau, walaupun konsentrasi galaunya kecil. Ngomong-ngomong saya jadi pangling deh nulis begini, emang selama ini kalo nulis begini ya bahasanya? Kok aneh. (takdir)

Oh ya, asal tau akhirnya saya menemukan darimana suara saya bisa begini. Setelah bertahun-tahun saya kenal sama tante saya, saya baru sadar pas liburan kemarin kalo suara saya dan suaranya setipe, jadi sebagai pembelaan saya bisa bilang kalo suara saya ini memang keturunan.

Saya juga masih dalam masa adaptasi, adaptasinya macam-macam, saya belum pernah sekalipun makan di kampus saya (namanya bulan puasa) kemudian saya juga masih tidak tahu banyak tempat walaupun sudah lumayan mendengar banyak cerita hantu. Saya juga datang ke kampus pada hari minggu untuk mengerjakan tugas. Singkatnya, saya pun rasanya kembali menjadi anak kelas sepuluh yang baru di kader. Tapi tidak seperti saat kelas sepuluh dulu yang bikin buku wawancara bentuk ipod kali ini bikin nametag bentuk ipad. (no pun intended) oh ya, untuk progres monbu, saya belum berangkat kesana kok, pengumumannya Januari kalo saya tidak salah informasi.

Dan sebentar lagi akan libur. Saya bahagia. InsyaAllah saya akan mudik. Saya suka mudik. Mudik itu seru sekali lho. Karena disana asyik. Biasanya sih.

Yasudah. Mungkin akan update lagi. Tataw. Siapa tau selanjutnya ceritanya akan lebih menarik.

Monbukagakusho Interview

Hi guys! My thoughts are in a jumble these days, but life's good as ever. Ospek aside, I want to share my story of how the interview for Monbukagakuso goes for undergraduate program in Indonesia. I kinda have sworn this in my mind for a past few days because of lack of it in this so-called internet. So yeah.

Here goes.

It was today at 8.30 am (or so it says) and you got to be there by 8.00 am because at 8 the security guard will start calling the interviewee's names. And then at 8.30 am, we (interviewee) were gathered at a place where some people wil start explaining that it would be the last time you compete with your friends from the same country and such. Kinda important but you'll get notes of it so I'll skip it.

Those who applied for social studies goes first because those who applied for science gotta do the Japanese test that they had skipped on the written test before. So, I and a few friends (all girls btw) went to waiting room where we wait (obviously) for our turn. It was in alphabetical order and I was the fourth out of five people. The woman that announce things when we gathered said that the interview was in Bahasa Indonesia, but it turned out that they interviewed us in English.

From what I've heard from my friend, it was in Bahasa Indonesia before (or usually, I don't know) so maybe they just changed it this year. Or maybe they want to see how it'll go if they use English for future reference or something. Anyway, most of us was shocked. I'm not really surprised, because, well, I have no preparation at all, in both languages, so I have nothing to lose. Unlike those who thought about what kind of things they should say if interviewers asked this or that and make notes about it (which one of my friends did, fyi)

So when it was my turn, I made sure to knock and greet them first and sit when they let me sit. And then they asked usual things like: Introduce yourself. | Why Japan? | What do you think about the big difference between our culture? | Did I apply for any scholarship beside this? | What would you do if you got this recommendation? | What would you do if you're done with you're studies? (Work in Japan? Indonesia, something like that) | and personal things like: | describe yourself | what do your parents think about this? | and so on.

Nothing weird.

I don't talk very much at that time, maybe because of the language barrier or maybe I'm just nervous, but in one note, my turn was fast. My friends before me took like, 15 minutes or something and I'm done by 10 minutes or so. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

Well, the interviewers aren't intimidating or scary, they're pretty nice so no need to be nervous I guess. Well, they know you're still a kid. They know you're nervous. So don't worry to much, they don't expect things that high from you (I think) so I maybe, if you answered it confidently and calmly it's pretty much okay. I mean, I don't think they want to find out whether your English's good or not, or whether you're smart or not, they just want to know what kind of person they will recommend to go as Indonesia's representative for this scholarship. Even if you answer it with words that will make Grammar Nazis cry a river. I think.

And the result? Who knows. If I don't get through then it's simply because they don't think I'm the right one, not because I'm not worth it. I think. And in a way, that's a good thing because people don't have too miss me too much (/puke) ahahaha just kidding.

There. That's pretty much it. If you're one of those people who are shock of how'd you get through and have no preparation at all for any interview that is due in a week from now and start searching it in the internet, at least you have some sort of reference. Kinda.

Things are pretty hectic these days (it seemed that way since I spend the last few months being lazy), but things that seem like tragedies are always funny to tell after given sometime. Fact.

I actually hate essays, but I think they'll be hilarious when I found out how wrong it is a few years later. Here I am, writing in this blog, when I got 2 more essays to be done. Yay me.

Oh, and Happy Ramadhan!

Holidays just a few blocks away!

So relax when you prepare to meet us, and when you fill out your essays. Preparing is not for now, you have been preparing for seventeen years. Suggesting that you "be yourself" is not a trick just to lower your guard, uncover your flaws, and deny you admission. But lowering your guard might be a good idea. I've talked to lots of candidates - and the ones who are just themselves, who can laugh at their mistakes and struggles, who seem comfortable in their own skin - inevitably show a bit more maturity, and inevitably make the best impression. Just my two cents.

- John DeTore, an EC. He does the interviews for MIT admissions.

p.s. Thank Romy, I'd be lost without his advices.

p.s.s. I got a call just now, turns out I made it. Somehow. And. Uh. I dunno. I'll end this post now.

Robbery

Hello! How's life, people? Mine's great so far. But today, unlike any other day of me ranting the usual life I've had, I want to share you a story of how my house was almost robbed today.

So here goes.

Hm.

For starters, you should know that.. I have a really big family. Well.. kinda. My father has nine siblings and my mother has four. And yeah, we're pretty close. I have 13 uncles and aunts and.. like, 25 cousins or so and I keep in touch with them and in short, I KNOW them. So do my mother and father. My mother and father have a lot of uncles and aunts, so they have a lot of cousins too, and they know them pretty well too. Therefore, I have a lot of people that in a way or another are family and they are a lot, so.. I might or might not have seen them in person.

One day, I'd say, mm.. a few weeks ago, a guy came to my house, saying that he's a son of some dude who had died, and that he has no family left, and he really need a job, and came to my house to see my father and mother to talk or ask for a job or something along those lines. My mother was working. My father has something to do in Palembang. My sister was at school. I'm home alone, with a maid that will leave at 5 or so and Mitton. Should I panic? I think I should have, but I didn't. I kinda ask my father and mother whether they know this guy, and then.. well.. He said a lot of names that I think I should've known, and he said that he got my address from a person whose name was familiar in my ears, and he ask for my mother's and father's number and I gave him and I actually need to go so I ask him to leave. Via my father.

It turned out that he IS a some-kind-of a family from my mother's side. He's... uh. He's a son of a dude who was a my grandma's cousin or sibling or something. I forgot, okay? It's complicated. So my father or mother (I dunno) texted him and asked him to come to my house again. To talk. Or do something about this guy. Because family doesn't neglect each other, yeah?

A few days later, when my father's home, he came again and actually talk with my father. He rant about how he's alone and he need a job and he would go to Makassar with my father if he needs to, and how he won't beg for lalala and lalala. In short, he ranted. In the end of conversation, he asked to borrow some money. A million or so. My father decline and says that he doesn't need to borrow a million, but in return my father gave him half a million so he can come back to his village; because life's easier there. He'll get a job and he'll live, because, well, I don't really understand of how but my mother seemed to agree about that so I guess that was a good idea too.

A few days later, I lost my wallet.

How? I don't know. It was in my bag the last time I saw it. My bag. In my house. I guessed it slipped or something. But no it wasn't. Because when my mother's home and tries to find her laptops, she couldn't find them. And, my garage key was nowhere to be found too.

So.

Somebody must have broke into my house when I was sleeping upstairs that day.

I'm glad I haven't died.

We kinda should've saw this coming, because.. we put our keys under the chair in our terrace every time one of us gone out. For YEARS. And nothing happened before, so we kind of.. mm.. didn't do anything about it until that day. So yeah. The next day we changed our locks and keys and each of us has keys so no need to put any under the chair.

That was.. a week ago.

Exactly a week ago.

Today, being an unemployed person that I am, I went to UI with my friends of Rohis for dauroh. I was out at 8 in the morning and I was fasting, and we walked a lot, and talked a lot, and it was hot, and I was back home at 4.30 or something.

I was dead tired after that.

DEAD. TIRED.

The kind of tired that the only thing you want to do when you get home is sleep like a log. Or dead.

So.

When I got home, greeted by Mitton like usual, got my keys in my bag like usual, I suspect nothing except bed.

But when I tried to open the door, it was unlocked.

I thought my mother or sister was home and they kind of forgot to lock so I shrugged it off.

And then I saw my parent's room door was open. And that guy came out from there, brought my laptop bag with him.

Should I panic? Yes.

Should I scream like a mad man? HELL YES I SHOULD.

But I didn't.

Instead, I was staring like an idiot and he said that he was asked by my mother to bring something and he went to the door with my laptop bag with him and he still saying things, and then I stopped him and said that I need that laptop but he insisted that he should brought it and I insisted that there's something I need there and he gave me the laptop bag, and then he said he should go and he has a key and opened the lock with the key that I know I put on the table inside my house that morning and then.. run.

What did I do?

I locked the door, I went to my parent's room and it was a mess. A mess.

I opened my laptop bag and there's my laptop that should've been in my room upstairs.

Did I just experienced robbery?? My mind said.

I called my mother and said everything that just happened. I call my father too.

I saw my parent's room and oh, my camera's there, handycam's there, my mother's expensive bags are there, my father's watches are there, even tho it was scattered, it was there. Whew.

I laughed a little and I think he want to brought it all along with him, but I caught him in the middle of trying to figure out how and when he want to bring my laptop bag (the only thing he brought along that moment) I stopped him just in time with.. a method that I'm not sure I could use again in the future.

After that, I panicked.

Too late, mind. Too late. If my mind was a person, I'll slap her in the face.

I realized that it was kind of scary and I could've knocked out and died for real and then I sobbed a bit but I'm glad at least I saved my laptop. And about me being DEAD TIRED? Not anymore. Too preoccupied to feel exhausted, I'd say.

And kinda paranoid, and yeah. My sister and mother was home after that, I explained it to them with a dry throat, from fasting and talking a lot and panicking. My father too. A lot later.

My mother lost some of her jewelry but other than that... I think nothing was stolen. And I'm not knocked out and fainted.

Or dead.

And Mitton's not kidnapped.

And there's the story folks! It turns out okay! Even tho my mother's jewel are pretty nice to wear. But you can't have everything, so there.

Besides, my sister's sarcasms are funny.

p.s. A friend said to me that I should practice panicking when he called a month ago. He thinks I'm not panicky enough and that's not good for me. It needs a month to make me think he had a good point.

Post of good news'

Halo!

Okay.

So. Mm first I want to tell you guys a really great news!

Did you remember about a post where I put up a pict of a chocolate? Yeah? You did? Karen, the one who gave me that, made it to HI UI through SIMAK. YEEEEY. That was her dream, and it came true, and I'm sooo happy. Because she deserved it! I prayed for her! She's a really wonderful person, I'll be really sad if she didn't make it. BUT SHE DID AND THAT'S ALL WHAT MATTERS.

Yeey.

So yeah. That's one good news.

Another good news is, tho I already posted it before (and after some thought I erased it because I'm to lazy to update but yeah) and it's kinda.. old, because, well, some of my friends got accepted to college since, err uh, a long time ago; but well! It's the progress that I want to point out and, see for yourself.

I'm not the kind of person who sees that.. much of necessity of getting into college, I mean, 'All roads lead to Rome', yes? But I'm still happy that a lot of my friends did.. And not just my high school friends! My friends from NSO also! And and and... my friends in general. Either way, I'm proud and I'm happy for them.

Another good news, I'm still alive!

Another good news, mmm, to think from anything that could be a good news (and that's a LOT, including how I go unmurdered by space like about now), I finally made it to college! Yey! I'm happy my parents are happy, and my sister's happy, and I don't need to bring Mitton to Bandung with me (TIS WAS A SERIOUS THOUGHT, srsly), and Viren's there, and and and yeah. I'm happy.

I'm happy before because there's nothing to be sad about; but I'm happy today because there's more to be happy about. Hehehe.

So.

Now for random picture:

Romy - rani, Abang - Tiara

OSN 2010 , OSN 2011

I hope they'll get more than what Romy and I got last year!

"Sampe ketemu di FISIP UI ya Ran!"

"Hehehe, sippo! Sampe ketemu di FISIP!"

- Karen dan rani, 29 Mei 2011

Thank Blog

Things I like about writing in my blog is that when I look back to see what I've written, I'm amazed of how I could think of that back then and not today; how the heck did I forget the truth that I have mentioned over and over and over; and how awful my grammar was (probably still is) and and and yeah, what struck me the most is that sometimes I knew the answer all along; I even have it written in my blog months ago or years ago, but I... forget about that because, I don't know. Busy making excuses? Hahaha.

Another thing is I can see how everything changed, not literally, but I see a development of my writing, of how I used to write about stuff I did rather than my opinion about stuff I did or things I came across (not that I stop writing on things I'm doing, but I did it less than before... kinda); of how cheesy my lines are (cheesy lines are cheesy); and such. I like that. Everything changes and to track how and when the heck did that happen (even if it's only one or two aspects of your life;) is kinda amusing. And funny. Life's amusing and funny like that.

Oh, and it makes me aware that I've grown up. I've grown up and as much as I'm glad that I'm not as idiotic as I was before, I still don't like the thought of growing up. It makes me.. feel old.

One note, these days I feel like everything's so bright and funny and awesome and everyone seems so kind and nice and wonderful more than before. I'm kinda afraid of what this brings, but well... I guess that's the more reason to enjoy it while it lasts.

"The end will justify the means."

—Sophocles, Greek philosopher

Akhirnya...

rani - Sashika - Devi - Viren - Margaret - Kiky - Ajeng - Omi - Romy - Ryan - Ian

Ajeng - Devi - 'Garet - Omi - rani - Viren - Romy - Sashi - Kiky - Ryan

Mereka temen-temen OSN Ekonomi rani. Nggak lengkap sih. Pokoknya mereka yang bikin OSN jadi seru, kalo nggak ada mereka kayaknya rani nggak ada cerita seru deh selama OSN. Soal ekonomi yang memuakkan jadi nggak terlalu memuakkan lagi hehe. Aslinya dua puluh dua, perempuannya empat belas terus yang laki-laki ada delapan. Tapi yang lain berhalangan. Mungkin lain kali. Mereka spesial soalnya nggak ada empat hari nginep dan tujuh hari struggle di tempat orang yang pernah se-seru dan se-asyik pas bareng-bareng sama mereka. Bentar banget ya? Tapi seru kok.

Seru ya. Bener deh, seru deh. Sayang kurang lengkap. Bingung mau cerita apa. Pokoknya kangen, terus ketemu, terus seru, terus jadi pengen ketemu lagi, terus gitu deh. Seru deh.

Bonus:

Ajeng - Sashi - Viren - Kiky - rani - 'Garet - Devi

Jika tua nanti kita telah hidup masing-masing, ingatlah hari ini. - Ingatlah Hari Ini, Project Pop

She nailed it.

I start to think of the other bright side of your previous failure: You find out how much you are loved by people around you :) - klaravirencia

Before I start anything; check her site out, she's awesome.

Okay. So. Hmm. I'm kinda confused how to start this post because I actually had a lot thing to say. But I think I'll be brief. Maybe.

What Viren said above probably covers a lot. S'not that I haven't feel loved before; I do. A lot of time, actually; I think I've never feel unloved before. But it feels different when those people still stick with you even through your failure (although, I don't exactly categorized this kind of condition as failure, but let's just say it is). At these kind of time, I just notice that.. wow. They actually care. They are always there. They trust me, even after these failures. And maybe this is the time where I noticed how I take things for granted like crazy since forever. Somehow I don't get how could I deserve all these love; this is miraculous. Can't explain. It's too much I should've cried a river for this.

As I said before, I'm mentally prepared for failures. I think of it all the time. All the time. I imagine bad things before I go to sleep, I imagine how should I give a comeback after losing a competition even before the competition starts, something like that. I'm kinda-maybe-sorta spiritually prepared for failures. Because I believe in God and fate and when you believe in God and fate you should expect the unexpected. But it turns out that I'm not physically prepared for that. Remember when I said that I lose my appetite and sleep in odd hours before the test result? It happened to me again. For approximately four days, from July 30th until July 3rd, I felt nauseous. I wanted to puke at random times, I wondered how pregnant women could stand this; it felt awful. My hands trembled and they won't stop until I was distracted. My palms sweated a lot I started to think if I got a bad heart or something. I can't stop those; how could you stop something that ain't coming from your consciousness? I don't know what to think or do because, truthfully, I'm over the fact that I didn't get through; this is too early to be discourage and feel like today's the end of the world, right? So what's the problem? I kept asking myself that. And I haven't found the reason, maybe this is kind of psychology thing or something I don't understand.

So. Yeah. But these didn't matter anymore after I read words of encouragement from friends, seniors and family. Maybe some of them did it out of courtesy of something, but even if they did, I still appreciate it and it makes me happy! Well, once or twice it felt kinda bittersweet; I feel bad they have to cheer me like that, but still, it's really heartwarming. They said that I'm losing what I didn't deserve, that everything's going to be fine, that universities will be sorry for not having me earlier, that I'm good and I'll get through and that they wish me the best of luck and they pray for me, etcetera I don't know what to say. I go aww and I don't think my replies are enough to show them my gratitude. I'm so happy and glad and I feel loved. My father and mother, they don't even... I dunno, they don't look like they're that sad or something. I know they probably are sad (maybe, I mean, what kind of parents don't?) but it makes me feel lighter, knowing that they support me no matter what. They don't ask me to get into UI or ITB or some sort. They say I still got a lifetime to go, that I'm not losing anything. When I got the result, I always asked my father and mother: "I didn't get through, hehe. Don't be sad, okay?" And then they'll laugh and they said that they aren't sad, that it's okay and they don't mind and that I should do better next time. After that I'll laugh too, and whatever burden I had in my shoulder went out of the window. And BANG, I feel loved. I feel kinda bad because they can't brag about their oldest daughter to their friends or something, but I hope they can brag about something better in the near future.

And so, even tho I physically go crazy (I probably looked really suspicious when I smiled to the overseer with my trembling hands yesterday) they makes me happy and I feel really really loved and voila I'm okay again! BAM, really cool. I've never guess that these kind of sentimentality can affect me this much. In the end, being loved is one of those things you need to survive I think. A person must be really lonely if they can make it without loving or being loved. I bet they're super tough like super human or something.

I don't know what to say..

I'm not sure if the news of me getting into the university could make me happier.

SAD BAWWW

Sebelum rani mulai, ini adalah pengumuman kalo rani nggak keterima SNMPTN tulis. Surprising? Kinda. Tapi nggak papa. Somehow I saw this one coming. I felt like I should cry or something, because this thing suppose to be sad. But I don't. I think I should and I think I could if I want to, but I dunno, somehow I don't and I don't even know whether it's a good thing or not. I don't mind losing, really. I don't mind that I don't get everything I want and see, the fact that I don't mind doesn't mean I'm not sad.

The thing is, I am sad. Maybe. I guess. Well. I suppose I am, I guess. But not because of the result. I think rather than sad, it's more like.. I'm tired. I'm too lazy to study more. I'm too tired to actually work for it. Again, I mean. The fact that I can't be lazy anytime soon makes me sad. Not because I don't get into the university I have chosen. Oh, and the fact that my father and mother have to say that they don't mind and encourage me. And the fact that my friends have to cheer me up... well, as close as 'cheering rani a.k.a that-friend-who-actually-not-sad-because-of-the-result up' counts. But for the result? Nah. Not sad. Maybe a little. But not really; as I mentioned above. I think my lazyness is my number one reason of why I am sad. Or somesort.

One of my friend mentioned me on twitter: Don't use smiley emot if you're sad... it's not good for you. I laughed. True story.

Because when I see the result (with my sister, while lurking at tumblr) I did laugh. And I'm not that surprised. And my sister doesn't feel bad for me. And when I replied all mentions saying thanks' and thankyous and congratulations', I did smile. So... yeah. That's it. This is too early for me to feel bad and sad because of one-or-two failure. This is too early for me to break down and cry like there's no tomorrow. This is too early for me to actually... I dunno, crash and burn? LOL that one sounds like a cheesy movie title.

The thing is, I'm used to people saying that I'll make it and when it turns out that I don't, I'm used to it too. I think deep down, I know this is what I'll get when almost everybody said that I'll get my first choice, and when BTA teacher said that I should've written International Relations for first choice because I did well, or so they say. And this makes me happy, for one or two reason, knowing they have their faith in me (even tho I let them down) and hey yo, it turns out my results are too awesome to be predicted. Like this one.

So. I love you guys who cheer me up and pray for me and actually care and give me hugs and kisses through the internet, I really, really, really appreciate that. And for all my friends and everyone who made it through, I'm really, really, really happy for you guys. And I'm looking forward for more pleasant news as the clock ticks!

This is one of those things that'll make my biography worth reading. Thank you life. This is awesome. (not sarcasm)

"Tolong perhatian!"

Halo! Bingung deh mau cerita apa akhir-akhir ini agak nggak terlalu dinamis hari-hari raninya. Tapi nggak ada kok yang nggak bisa disenyumin. Jadi hari-hari rani pun terisi dengan banyak tawa (nggak penting abis). Terus ini deh, belum lama ini ngasih sesuatu ke orang tapi nggak bilang-bilang.. terus waktu orangnya seneng banget; orang-orang lain pada terkesan, rasanya pengen nge-klaim kalo rani yang ngasih deh. Pernah kayak gitu nggak? Bingung juga waktu itu rasanya bangga tapi kayak nyesel dikit kenapa nggak bilang-bilang tapi merasa bersalah dikit kenapa harus orang itu harus tau rani yang ngasih? Ya nggak? Kenapa coba?

Padahal ya, waktu ngasih tuh tulus banget, pure mau bikin orang seneng; syukur-syukur berguna gitu. Yah diakuilah, mungkin salah satu alasan nggak bilang-bilang soalnya takut juga kalo ternyata orangnya malah nggak suka (pengecut abis ye) jadi ya diem-diem aja deh moga-moga aja orangnya seneng. Eh orangnya seneng beneran. Dan akhirnya tinggal rani yang agak-agak nyesel dikit nggak bilang-bilang. Yah nggak papa sih. Disaat itu jadi agak termenung juga kenapa harus nyesel atau terasa nggak enak sih, toh what's done is done, dan orangnya juga suka, terus masalah rani apa?

Nggak diakui, that is. (pertanyaan bodoh)

Bahkan walaupun itu rani sengaja gara-gara ketakutan rani kalo-kalo orangnya nggak suka.

Yah namanya juga manusia, semua manusia emang hidupnya mau diisi sama perhatian jadi wajar kan?

Tapi ya, waktu rani ngasih tuh bener deh itu super tulus abis tapi rani yang itu kemana perginya sekarang. Sama mungkin ya kayak nulis blog. Biarpun rani nulis-nulis aja ya bodo amet dibaca apa dikomen orang apa nggak.............. ternyata nggak juga. Seneng banget rasanya kalo out of nowhere tiba-tiba ada orang yang bilang mereka suka baca tulisan rani biarpun ternyata boong juga rasanya seneng, kalo di komen biarpun random atau cuma sepatah dua patah rasanya kayak dapet harta karun. Mungkin awalnya nggak, tapi rasanya biar cuma sebiji semangka keinginan buat dikasih feedback itu ada. Nggak bisa dipungkiri kalo misalnya rani kayaknya emang pengen dan butuh feedback lebih dari yang rani kira.

Dan balik lagi ke tadi. Nah, apakah keinginan rani untuk mendapatkan feedback ini membuat rani nggak tulus? Nah nggak tau rani jadi bingung juga. Kalo dipikir-pikir ini mungkin mirip dengan postingan galau rani waktu rani takut sama pujian. Dimana rani jadi takut jangan-jangan selama ini rani beraksi dan bertindak gara-gara ekspektasi orang ke rani dan pujian orang yang didapatkan (mengerikan? emang iya) terus ini mirip. Ya nggak sih? Jangan boong, pasti pernah ngerasa kan? Mungkin pas temen kita jawab guru sesuatu dari apa yang kita baru mention ke dia, dan malah mungkin phrase "I told you so!" itu dateng dari keinginan buat diakui, ya nggak? Terus yaudah deh.

Gitu deh. Abis ceritanya. Terus sekarang sih belum ada konklusinya selain rasanya rani pengen jadi orang terkenal.

Makassar, Manado, Marvelous.

Halo pembaca! (berasa ada yang baca) Minggu ini rani jalan-jalan lho. Mayan jauh, ke Sulawesi. Ke Makassar abis itu ke Manado. Lumayan capeklah; rani pulang hari Jumat kemarin sampe hari ini kepala rani masih berasa naik kapal. Nah kayaknya emang nggak ada yang mau tau cerita rani ngapain disana jadi diceritain Makassar sama Manadonya aja ya walaupun keselip-selip raninya dikit. Makassar dan Manado itu Indonesia juga bagi yang lupa. Ini postingan panjang lho (peringatan) ceritanya rani mau promosi wisata dalam negeri tapi kayaknya ini agak-agak gagal tapi yasudah diharap membantu deh.

Ke Makassar naik pesawat, 2 jam sampai. Hari itu juga ke pantai Losari. Pantai Losari ini mayan okelah sebenernya katanya sih kalo malem-malem itu rame banget banyak orang apalagi sore-sore gitu kan romantis mayan liat sunset sambil makan dimsum dipinggir pantai. rani dan dini dan papa rani ke sananya siang-siang jadi nggak segitu ramenya deh; tapi keliatan kok emang biasa rame soalnya kursinya super banyak terus banyak booth dan stand gitulah. Kayak Ancol dikit, sampahnya juga mirip dikit tapi nggak sekomersil dan banyak gaya Ancol, ini mayan merakyat dikit dari pantai ini kami pergi ke pulau Samalona naik kapal. Perjalanannya sekitar satu jam apa. Itu karena ombaknya besar, belum sampe pantai sudah basah kuyup di jalan. Pulau Samalona kecil sih terus waktu itu (namanya juga hari Senin) sepi terus kosong terus pasirnya putih terus ya mayan main pasir aja rani kerjanya disitu. Disana ada penduduk lokal yang rani kenal namanya Lilian terus dia nunjukin cara nangkep ikan badut buat dijual terus yaudah deh.

Besoknya pergi ke Bantimurung. Bantimurung ini taman nasional terus banyak kupu-kupunya. Masuk aja udah ada kupu-kupu besar terus ada monyet besar juga sebesar mulut gua ada kali ya, besar banget kan, tapi bukan kupu-kupu sama monyet beneran cuma patung doang. Karena Bantimurung taman nasional, jadi masuknya bayar. Berapa ya.. seinget rani sih 10.000 satu orang. Tapi kalo kalian turis jadi 20.000 (ada tulisannya) makanya bersyukur jadi orang Indonesia ya dikasi murah. Di Bantimurung... banyak pohon, terus karena gunung kapur jadi bergunung-gunung (ini bingung sebenernya cerita gimana) banyak kupu-kupu juga tapi kupu-kupunya beneran terus juga banyak kupu-kupu yang dijadiin oleh-oleh juga soalnya bagus tapi kasian juga sebenernya dia dijadiin barang oleh-oleh. Terus lucu deh disitu ada mushola gitu tapi dari batu gitu bentuknya aduh lucu banget. Terus juga ada air terjun yang banyak orangnya mayan terus ada gua yang terkenal. Namanya Gua Batu kalo nggak salah. Dari air terjun ke Gua Batu jalan sekita 800 m dulu. Ya 1 km lah itung-itung. Tapi selama perjalanankan bisa liat banyak kupu-kupu. Gua Batu ini selain dalemnya yang unik dan ternyata banyak coretan tangan-tangan jahil dari antah-berantah, itu juga tempat semedinya Raja Bantimurung (nggak di foto soalnya takut Rajanya muncul ntar pas dilihat hasilnya #nggakdeng). Terus ada tempat air yang katanya nggak pernah kering, terus ada batu jodoh atau apa gitu yang mayan populer terus banyak orang ngiket tali disana. Terus ada batu yang mirip monyet, ada juga yang mirip kaki gajah, wah lucu deh pokoknya. Kalo mau masuk lebih baik pake senter karena gelap dan didalam gua nggak ada lampu. Disewakan 10.000 satu senter besar. Tapi kalo mau gaya terus pake lampu minyak biar kayak ekspedisi Indiana Jones juga disewakan lho tapi mahal 50.000, dan kalo mau di cerita-ceritain soal isi guanya si yang nyewain senter dan lampu minyak itu juga dengan senang hati mau jadi guide dan dengan senang hati menerima berapapun uang yang kita kasih atas jasa dia. Orang yang baik ya. Oh ya, Bantimurung ini sekitar.. berapa ya.. setengah jam atau sejaman mungkin dari kota Makassar? Sebenernya sekitar setengah jam atau sejam dari rumah papa rani, jadi mungkin nggak terlalu akurat. Naik tol jadi cepet deh.

Terus habis dari Bantimurung, kami ke Mall Trans Studio. Nggak terlalu tertarik tapi sayang juga abis kalo bilang "Dari mana ran?" "Dari Makassar." orang luar taunya kalo nggak Tana Toraja ya Trans Studio, berhubung Tana Toraja jauh terus bingung mau nginep dimana jadi yah yang dekat sajalah yang dikunjungi. Mall Trans Studio.. kalo sebagai mall sih perasaan rani biasa saja ya namanya Mall beda-beda tipis apalagi di Jakarta banyak juga jadi keliatan biasa mungkin ya. Tapi di sana ada Indoor Theme Park terbesar se-Asia (katanya). Terus mampir deh main. Tiket masuknya 150.000 rupiah, ohya btw semua nilai uang yang disebutin sebelumnya itu IDR ya (penting) dan kalo baru kesana, beli kartu dulu harganya 10.000. Kalo udah punya ya nggak usah beli. Kartu ini selain bisa buat masuk Trans Studio theme park bisa buat bayar tol juga di Makassar.

Besar. Banyak lampu terus lumayan suka deh mayan nggak nanggung juga dekornya (atau apalah, bahasa okenya) terus mainannya mayan banyak.. mayan. Waktu rani dan Dini kesana lagi ada Moscow Circus. Keren padahal tapi crowdnya kurang heboh jadi pas rani semangat tepuk tanganya jadi awkward gitu kan orang-orang dengernya suara rani doang. Terus main deh. Disana sebelum main selalu ada video intro gitu sesuai sama wahana yang mau dinaikin. Kalo lagi nunggu lumayan menghiburlah. Disana ada beberapa section gitu tapi yang paling bagus buat foto-foto (perasaan sih) Kids Section, soalnya terang terus warna-warni terus cewek sama daeng yang disana pake baju Mario sama Luigi lucu banget kan. Tapi sejujurnya kalo dari seru apa nggaknya wahana sih perasaan rani masih lebih berasa di Dufan ya. Tapi overall asik kok orangnya ramah-ramah banget. rani nggak beli tapi boleh foto sama barang jualan bahkan difotoin sama yang jualan.

Nah besoknya, atau hari Rabu, kami ke Manado. Naik pesawat juga, dari Makassar ke Manado sekitar 1,5 jam. Kalo liat dari jendela pesawat, keliatan deh dari atas banyak pohon kelapa. Jadi makin ngeh deh kenapa di penginderaan jauh bentuknya bintang (random). Terus kebetulan di majalah pesawat ada yang bahas Manado gitu, kayaknya sih orang asing karena artikelnya pake bahasa Inggris. Disana disebut kalo Manado itu terkenal sama 3B. Bubur, Babi dan Bibir. Tapi kalo udah ke Manadonya kayaknya 3B ini bakal berubah tergantung persepsi kemananya ya. Di Manado juga bergunung-gunung. Bagus. Sampe disana kami pergi makan ke dekat laut. Disana ada sewa sepeda yang lucu jadi yang ngayuh ada dua, yang nyetir satu, tapi ngangkut empat orang. Nggak rani foto dan nggak dicobain karena males. Maaf ya. Terus besoknya baru kami pergi ke Bunaken. Naik kapal. Kapalnya besar jadi biarpun ombaknya agak besar kami nggak basah. Sewa kapalnya 900.000 (katanya) tapi karena bagus dan papa rani yang ngurusin uangnya jadi nggak terlalu kepikiran. Di tengah laut, bagian tengah kapal itu bisa diturunin jadi sambil kapalnya jalan kita bisa liat laut yang dibawah. Bagus banget! Ikannya banyak terus warna-warni, karangnya juga warna-warni,terus ikannya banyak kayak bintang tapi ada di bawah kaki. Terkesan deh pokoknya. Sampe sana snorkling, peralatan bisa disewa disana. Nah kalo harga sewa peralatan agak-agak nggak tau nih rani. Tapi yasudah deh. Kalo pas di kapal itu udah terkesan sama karang sama ikannya pas snorkling udah terpana banget deh. Ikannya banyak terus warna-warni terus karangnya juga banyak dan warna-warni dan bentuknya juga aneh-aneh terus yang seru ya ikan disana suka makan biskuat jadi kalo kita kasih dia biskuat dia bakal makan dari tangan kita aw lucu banget kan kayak ikan mas papa di rumah yang udah almarhum. Oh ya, disana juga mereka nawarin mau difoto dalam air apa nggak, ntar dikasih dalam bentuk CD. Tapi rani nggak tau juga berapa, lupa nanya. Terus abis selesai, makan ikan. Ketemu bintang laut juga lho.

Trivia: Ini super penting buat yang mau ke Bunaken, mendingan kalo mau beli suvenir kalung gelang atau kaos mending beli aja di Bunaken, disana itu udah murah, kaos ngg tau berapa tapi paling dibawah 20.000 atau 15.000, gelang dan kalung bisa 10.000 tiga, kalo kalian ke pusat suvenir di Manado (namanya Merciful Building) itu harganya bisa 3 kali lipat, MAHAL BANGET dih dipikir orang beli suvenir sebiji dua biji apa ya orang beli lima lusin satu harganya 30.000 satu bangkrutlah perusahaan. Tapi di Merciful Building itu lengkap suvenirnya, kalo mau cari makanan dan atau mau beli suvenir yang gampang dan cepet kesana aja, soalnya makanannya bisa dicicip terus dia buka 24 jam. Dari pada beli suvenir di bandara.

Selesai curhatnya, abis ke Bunaken, kami ke tempat yang rani nggak tau namanya tapi itu jauh terus ke arah gunung gitu wuiiih terus kami ke tempat patung Yesus Memberkati. Abis itu naik lagi, lewat banyak kebun dan sawah dan jalan yang melingkar-lingkar terus banyak anjing terus yaudah deh. Liat-liat juga rumah adatnya. Bagus rasanya pengen bikin tapi entarlah mungkin 10 tahun lagi. Terus kami juga ke tempat ibadah.. kayaknya agama Budha deh. Maaf ya abis nggak merhatiin namanya apa disitu bersinar banget merah terus emas terus banyak patung terus ada naga juga rani terpana jadi nggak liat itu apa namanya karena terlalu keasikan dan terpesona. Disana ada juga kolam yang ditengahnya ada lonceng yang muter-muter terus kalo kita bisa bunyiin lonceng itu dari tempat sesuai tulisan (kaya, naik pangkat, bahagia, hoki, dst lupa) bisa terwujud katanya. Seru lho ternyata susah banget ngelempar koin kesana hahaha, tapi ternyata katanya rekan papa rani yang nemenin kesana dia pernah kelempar koin dari tempet 'naik jabatan' terus besoknya langsung naik jabatan. Cerita sebenarnya.

Trivia: Manado itu cantik juga lho kotanya, karena kalo di laut bisa keliatan kotanya dari bawah keatas dan kalo lagi di jalan bisa liat kota Manado ke bawah. Soalnya dia bergunung-gunung! Rasanya kayak di Puncak tapi lebih bagus pemandangannya. Terus nggak macet (seenggaknya pas rani lewat nggak) terus jalannya agak terjal jadi kalo rani naik sepeda lewat turunan disitu mungkin bisa mati. Liat danau juga sedikit, terus yaudah deh turun lagi. Di Manado itu banyak banget deh anjingnya. Kayak kucing kalo di Jakarta atau daerah Jawa. Di jalan banyak, di pinggir jalan, di rumah orang, di pantai dan macam-macam deh. Katanya (dengan nada bercanda) disini anjing nggak jagain tuannya tapi harus tuannya yang jaga anjingnya. Soalnya bisa-bisa anjingnya dimakan orang. Anjing dimakan. Kucing juga dimakan, kalo udah dipiring namanya jadi ikan Eveready (ini inside joke sih.. kalo dijelaskan nggak lucu). Disana nyaris nggak ada kucing karena katanya semua kucing di loteng hidupnya. Dari tiga hari disana rani cuma ketemu satu. Agak sedih juga kalo sepeninggalan rani lewat dia habis itu digoreng sama ikan Goropa dan ikan Tude.

Besoknya makan bubur Manado atau kalo disebutnya Tinutuan. Rasanya.. beda deh nggak kayak bubur. Tapi patut dicoba karena katanya kalo ke Manado terus nggak nyicip buburnya berarti jalannya nggak afdol. Terus dimakan sama bakwan ikan.

Trivia: Tinutuan itu cuma dijual pagi lho (katanya)! Kalo udah siangan atau malem-malem ngidam bubur udah nggak ada yang jual. Huaa terkesan rani dengernya, biarpun Manado udah jadi kota wisata dan kalo di usahain di lain waktu pasti ada yang mau beli, tetep nggak jualan. Kewl. Memegang tradisi.

Sebenernya hari itu adalah rani sekeluarga pulang, tapi agak telat gitu kan hp papa rani ketinggalan di hotel terus ternyata agak-agaknya ditilep dulu sama room boy nya sampe lama terus abis itu ketauan terus kayaknya sepeninggalan kami ada orang yang kehilangan pekerjaan deh. Pesawatnya ternyata delayed, jadi kami menyempat-nyempatkan diri ke Bitung. Itu lho, tempat yang ada Tarsiusnya. Tarsius itu monyet terkecil sedunia, dia itu kayak hybrid monyet, burung hantu sama tikus deh.

Sebenernya di perjalanan inilah rani ngeliat kucing yang cuma satu itu, sisanya adalah pohon kelapa. Terus disana juga ada burung Maleo yang kayaknya dia botak. Terus pas di perjalanan pulang juga sempet lewat salah satu Waruga; peti mati peninggalan jaman Megalitikum (dan yang keren adalah pas rani BTA pada hari esok setelah jalan ini, muncul soal ini terus rani rasanya kayak dapet wangsit gitu bisa jawab Waruga ada di Minahasa hahaha #random)

Curhat: Terus harus tau ya pas pulang kan rasa-rasanya bakal telat nih biarpun pesawatnya delayed, akhirnya yang nyupir jadi rekan papa rani yang di Manado (asli Palembang sebenernya), yang pernah ngelempar koin ke kolam terus besoknya langsung naik pangkat itu, terus motong jalan dan ngebut, dan dari ngebut itu namanya adalah nyebut banget ya rasanya om ini adalah mantan stuntman film aksi yang jadi supir pas ada adegan mobil jatuh dari jurang soalnya ngebut banget. Ternyata pesawatnya lebih telat lagi dari kami. Aslinya jam 2. Tapi akhirnya baru dateng jam 6 gitu. Padahal udah secepet mobil batman terus motong jalan yang lagi perbaikan (berbatu-batu dan sangat horor sebenernya) tapi ya baguslah daripada ketinggalan pesawat.

Terus pulang! Dari Manado ke Jakarta itu perjalanan sekitar tiga jam (katanya sih 2 jam 50 menit ya beda dikit) dan selesai deh. Nyampe rumah deh. Kalo di akumulasi.. sekitar 2 hari 2 malam di Makassar dan 3 hari 2 malam di Manado. Tapi itu juga di Manado nggak dapet semua tempet wisatanya haha yasudah mungkin kalian-kalian yang baca bisa lebih hoki.

Dan nggak sampe disitu lho! Di Sulawesi itu masih banyak kok yang bisa dijadikan tujuan wisata! Pulau Wakatobi juga bagus katanya, yah walau akomodasi belum terlalu wah, tapi kalo mau berpetualang kayaknya seru deh. Itu juga baru wisata alam, kalo mau wisata budaya di Indonesia ini juga masih banyak banget lho, nggak cuma di Bali atau Lombok atau Sulawesi kayak yang rani baru cerita. Kalo mau dicari sebenernya di Indonesia itu nyasar dikit bisa nemu tempet bagus buat bikin hati senang. Orang Indonesia itu emang baik-baik dan ramah-ramah banget lho. Bahasanya juga super banyak, tradisi dan budayanya juga dan aaaah rasanya terharu banget deh begitu ngeliat ternyata kita itu beda banget ya tapi bisa terikat sebagai sama-sama orang Indonesia tuh kayak, whoa keren. Rasanya baru sebentar banget hidup di Indonesia deh banyak banget nggak taunya padahal orang Indonesia tapi Indonesia sendiri masih nggak kenal macem-macem. Padahal cuma dari Selatan ke Utara, tapi bahkan orang-orangnya dan cara ngomongnya beda lho. Ayo budayakan wisata dalam negeri! Kenali Indonesia sendiri dong.

Btw foto kapan-kapan ya. Males uplod ahaha kebanyakan hehe