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 an ice cream seller whose 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.

A Good 'Sign' for Peace?

(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

President of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and the president of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas shake hands after their meeting with US president, Barrack Obama.

Netanyahu and Abbas met for the first time while Obama mediated the discussion about Israeli settlement in Gaza. But they faced deadlock.

Is that a kind of progress? Is that a good start for peace in Israel-Palestine region?

I'm quite pessimistic, but there's a little hope.

Snail Mail: An Old-Fashioned Hobby

Here are my collection! I tell you, those are not just ordinary letters. They are letters from various foreign pen pals :)

I've been exploring this hobby since 2007 when I knew Interpals for the first time. That social network site's made me know lots of people all over the world. Furthermore, I made friends with some foreigners and after a few chats, we agreed to exchange letters or postcards to each other. You probably wonder why I don't use e-mails to keep in touch in this modern era. Well, you're right, but I think snail-mailing (another word for sending letters) is much more interesting. It's like I can collect 'em? Those letters are unique so you can have a unique collection: letters from people all over the world! Why are they unique? The answer is it's because every letter has its own story. I'll show you my collection ;)

These are letters plus postcards from a Polish friend. I call her Ola (18).

She's my favorite pen pal. We've shared many things on our letters such as telling our dreams, supporting each other, and of course, introducing our own culture. FYI, she's the one who always encourage me to love and to do belly dance. Also, we often talk about our honeybees on letters. Psstt... His boyfriend is a Turkish! As you see, up above is her last letters and there were six pages! What a best friend :)

This is Nadja's from Brazil.

Actually, that is my only letter of Nadja (22). I've replied it, but unfortunately, I haven't received her feedback until now. I don't know where she is. Last time I knew, she lived in Santos, but her Interpals friend said that she had moved to somewhere. I've sent her a message via Interpals, still, she has confirmed nothing. She's gone since February this year. I wish I could talk to pretty Nadja again :(

This letter is from Philippines, sent by Gehan.

Gehan is the youngest pen pal. She's 13 years old. I don't mind talking to younger people, tho. She's such a sweet girl who wants to know more about culture and history of other countries and I'm pleased to introduce mine to her :)

It's from Benyam (23), an Ethiopian guy.

I think he's such an active person. I know it from how he keeps his relation with people like being involved in social activities. Last month, this bachelor of International Relations studies went to London to attend a UN conference and I never thought he'd spend his busy time to reply my letter.

Sent by Kyela from United States.

After my second letter had been sent, we stopped sending letters to each other. It's because she preferred talking via e-mails. But that's okay. I respect her decision. Anyway, I really like the Star Wars stamps :)

It's from a Korean Girl named An-Na (15)
Some special gifts from her: Korean coins and stickers :)

What can I say about An-Na? She's my truly pen pal! Her letters take part in most of my collection. Also, she is a creative young lady. She's got very nice hand-writings and funny drawings. Her papers are cute too! One thing I like most from her is she always replies my letters quickly.

Last but not least, letters and a card from my Iranian friend Zahra (18).
A Christmas card from Zahra.

Eh? For me? She explained that though she's a Muslim, she celebrated Christmas in Iran. She believed it's the birth of Prophet Isa so nothing's wrong with it.

Zahra is a smart lady and I like her. We've talked lots of things about Politics, from controversy of Communism and Libertarianism to Iranian political situation. Unfortunately again, we rarely talk to each other recently and I wish I could continue talking to her. She had deleted her account in Interpals for some reasons, she said. She's got a Facebook account but she's just opened it for several times. I think it's because Iranian government limits the internet use for its people, including Facebook. That's what I've heard so far. And... The letters stop on her. She hasn't replied mine yet. I hope someday she will :)

P. S. Well, I'm in postpone period in doing this hobby. I even haven't replied letters from my four pen pals! Kinda busy and lazy. But I'll try to make some feedback for them little by little.