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Veiled Belly Dancer

Me, practicing before the show

Merhaba! Ah, finally, my belly dance instructor has uploaded the photos :)

I've done raqs sharqi performances with some friends. What an experience!

With my instructor, Jessica

And the belly kids

We performed belly dance at Hotel Mulia for a wedding and I believe we did great. I could see enthusiasm on the audience's eyes though I also found several eyes stared at me in a weird way. I dunno why but may I guess if it's because of my veil and closed outfits?

It's not my first time hearing people surprised with what my hobby is. It's not about the dance, actually. It's about me: a veiled girl belly dance?! So, let me clarify why I do this dance and change their narrow perception about it.

Maybe for most of people, belly dance only shows sensuality. Well, I disagree. For me, belly dance is an aesthetic and I LOVE IT. The moves, the middle-eastern music, the costumes... Those are things which could make my spirit alive, really. I can feel belly dance integrated with myself when I do it. It is my passion. It's a medium of expression too. Some friends told me I looked really enjoy the dance during performance. Some also said I changed into someone else while dancing so they think I've got an alter ego. While Beyonce have Sasha as hers, I think I'm going to have Marjani as mine :)

This is Marjani

Oh, and you should know the belly dance background such as the reasons Arabian women did it. In Middle-East, belly dance is actually for a celebration. The dance shows their happiness to celebrate occasions like birth of a baby and wedding.

Yeah, I can't deny lots of belly dancers wear sensual costumes. They show off their thighs, belly, and boops. I have my own idealism, tho. As you see, I really cover my skin and hide my belly. I also keep using veil to cover my hair, showing a gypsy look. Two friends ever criticized this. They said, "You belly dance but you don't show your belly." And I responded, "Well, for me, the most important thing is showing the techniques, not showing off your body."

My Weekend

I went to Erasmus Huis yesterday (8/11). Me, mom, and sisters came to watch a Turkish movie titled Dondurmam Gaymak or Ice Cream, I Scream. Actually, the movie was a part of Europe on Screen (Festival Film Eropa). The movie was good and funny. I don't regret watching it.

Dondurmam Gaymak is about a homemade ice cream seller's struggle. His motorbike was stolen by some troublemaking boys. At first, he thought it's stolen by his competitors....and blah blah. Hee-hee. I think I'm not going to write the synopsis. You should watch it yourself :) Oh, and come quick 'cuz the movie will be played today (November 9th) at CCF Jakarta and tomorrow (November 10th) at Istituto Italiano di Cultura.

I also heard there's another good movie named Telstar. It was played last Sunday at Goethe Haus and there's also Selector's Film Night Out, held by Trax FM. The interesting thing is visitors should dress like Brit-Pop stars in that event. Yup, kind of a cozplay.

I plan to go to Goethe Haus tomorrow to watch Telstar at 5 p.m. Would you join me? :)

Okay, back to the Sunday. Beside watching movie, we saw The Best Dutch Book Designs exhibition too at Erasmus Huis.

The Best Dutch Book Designs 2007 @ Stedelijk Museum poster

Dick Matena's graphic novel, cover by Willem Elsschot

Abba ... Zappa: 70's Rock Photography

Mom held Geert van Kestere's book, a report of Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq

What my 5-year-old sister wrote on the wall :)

There were 28 books designs exhibited. For you who are interested in designs or photography, so come! Who knows you could get some dazzling inspiration there. Oh, once again, be quick ‘cuz November 12^th is the last day.

Rasa Itu Hilang ketika Jumat Petang

Tepi atap KRL Ekonomi AC jurusan Depok

Kereta rel listrik ini memang tergolong angkutan umum yang nyaman. Dengan tiket seharga Rp 5.500, kita dapat menikmati perjalanan sambil ngadem di dalam gerbong kereta yang sejuk. Nyaman? Tentu saja! Aman? Bisa dibilang begitu karena tidak ada pengemis, pengamen, ataupun pencopet di KRL Ekonomi AC. Eits, tapi perasaan aman dan nyaman itu hanya bisa kita alami di jam-jam dan tujuan tertentu. Seperti, pukul 8.30 pagi tujuan Bogor. Suasana kereta masih senggang dan sejuknya pendingin ruangan pasti sangat terasa.

Mana garis pembatasnya? Garis batas aman tidak kelihatan karena dilangkahi para calon penumpang

Petugas keamanan ketika ‘senggang’

Petugas keamanan di kala 'sibuk'

Namun, beda halnya jika kita naik KRL AC dari Stasiun Tanah Abang tujuan Bogor, Serpong, atau Bekasi di hari Jumat sore. Rasa aman dan nyaman itu takkan memihak pada kita. Ia hilang tertelan lautan manusia serakah yang ingin duluan masuk ke dalam kereta, ingin cepat tiba di rumahnya masing-masing. Walaupun kereta berasal dari Jepang, etika dan budaya naik KRL-nya tetap khas orang Indonesia. Misal, dapatkah kita temukan penumpang yang mengemper di lantai kereta di Jepang? Juga, tata tertib penumpang kereta pun kerap kali terlupakan. Berbeda dengan orang Jepang yang selalu mengantre, orang Indonesia lebih suka berkerumun dan berdiri melewati batas aman ketika menunggu kedatangan kereta. Aksi saling dorong, didorong-dorongkan, dan terdorong ketika kereta tiba sepertinya sudah menjadi hal biasa di hari Jumat petang, khususnya menjelang dan sehabis Magrib. “Yang penting saya sudah di dalam kereta, urusan berdiri, duduk di bangku atau dilantai itu belakangan.” Mungkin itulah yang ada di benak penumpang pada umumnya. Maka, jangan berharap dapat ngadem di dalam kereta rel listrik AC di saat-saat seperti itu karena bagian dalam kereta sesak akan penumpang. Dengan situasi yang demikian, kita semestinya tetap waspada dengan barang bawaan masing-masing.

Budaya penumpang kereta api Indonesia: mengemper di depan pintu

Lautan manusia di Stasiun Tanah Abang

Seorang bule melamun di depan pintu kereta

Lalu, keruwetan itu salah siapa? PT KAI kah yang masih minim dalam menertibkan dan menyediakan fasilitas atau para penumpanglah yang membahayakan diri mereka sendiri dengan berbagai pelanggaran prosedur keamanan berkereta?

Hey, I'm still alive :)

Hey, Folks! Long time no write and I guess my blog is getting rusty. He heh. I've just finished my midterm test (yeay!) and I'm going to use the rest of my spare time writing on this blog. So, what am I going to write? :D

Hahah. I'm not sure. Sorry :P

But a couple of days ago, I found this photo on my computer at home. Guess who she is ;)


Yeah, I'm into raks sharqi (belly dance) these days and I'm having a performance this weekend with my belly dance classmates. Yippee!

Gotta go!
I will write anything really really soon.