Ketika Ketemu Manula di Jalan

Pernah ngga waktu kita berada di sebuah ruang publik, kita sering berpapasan dengan seorang manula (bisa perempuan bisa pria) yang tidak kita kenal. Out of politeness (yang katanya kita negara berbudaya sopan dan yang dari kecil dijejelin PMP), kita mencoba melemparkan senyum ke orang manula tersebut. Biasanya, manula itu jalan udah dengan muka ngambek & nge-bete-in. Yang ini bisa terjadi karena betapa susahnya dia berjalan. Nah, setelah tersenyum, maklum 'synapses' manula ini udah tidak 100% berfungsi, pertama dia masih dengan muka bingung kemudian ada yang maksa senyum, ada terus ngedumel ngga beraturan.

Yang gw pengen tau, kebanyakkan setelah papasan ini si manula ini pasti mencoba menengok ke arah kita, yang sudah menjalankan sikap terpuji seperti tertera di PMP dengan tersenyum. Kira-kira, kenapa hampir semua manula berusaha menengok kembali ke arah kita biarpun tadi dia cuma nge-dumel ketika disenyumin.

Kenapa yah kira-kira mereka harus nengok kembali ke arah kita?

Menarik Untuk Dikuping....

Ini ada sesuatu yang menarik buat menjadi referensi mahluk-mahluk Jakarta...

Semalem setelah ngoprek-ngoprek Jokes di iPhone, ada sohib sepeNgopian nganjurin untuk buka situs yang menarik: http://ngupingjakarta.blogspot.com

Kalau mau ngangguk-ngangguk, merasa banyak juga yang aneh maral melintang di kota 'benci tapi rindu' ini, yach buka aja yg di atas.

We Are Living in the Land of Hopeful.

When I say the land of hopeful, it could work either ways. Indeed, Indonesia gives a lot of hope, yet the people are still hopeful with it. The latter derives from the mindset that I experience. They are so hopeful that they tend to forget to do thing. Hoping is the opium of the masses.

Here's the example, we hope too much that most of us believe that there will be 'ratu adil' who will salvage this crumbling nation. We hope too much that the opponent will suffer badly so that we can outmaneuver the opponent. We hope too much that everything will come down our ways.

There is a strange phenomenon lately. The most watched Indonesian film is 'Ayat Ayat Cinta'. The film had 3.7million viewers and becoming the Indonesian Box Office of all time. But, the hero, Fakhri, played by Fedi Nuril, is the guy who sways throughout the film. The one who did the thing are the women in the film, the one who falls for the guy. There is no slight action given by Fakhri to propel him forward. He simply just accept the fact that he is in that predicament. What irk me so much is that the film like this kind brought million of viewers. (I refrained from watching it on the screen, but bought the DVD instead). Are we, as Indonesian, that pathetic, relating to something that deals most of the time by waiting, hoping, like Fakhri did. For me to turn around this phenomenon, the hero should be the two women, Maria and the other women I forgot the name. They fought...They did action!

Another element that comes to mind is also the decline of Indonesian sport in the international forum. Are they start to be like the rest, hoping that the opponent falter? Let's say before the big match, they hope the opponent will have a mental breakdown against the numerous supporter of Indonesia on the field, or hope that one of their star injure their knee or ankle. What about after 85 minutes that the opponent are still in their best form, or even 45 minutes they are still far superior than our team? Wouldn't the nervous breakdown will fall on us instead of them? When our team should fight 'til the end, they choose to hope. That's so pathetic. (With the exception of the last performance in Asian Cup for Indonesian Team, they were so brave).

If the things like this persist, what would become of us in the future, competing against the fighting spirit of Malaysia, Vietnam, or even Myanmar. We'll become a dust of hopeful individuals.

I'm not keen for any party at the moment, but I like PAN slogan that 'Hidup itu Perbuatan' (life is an action). I think the mindset for us in the future should be set for the action, an action to do something, not an action of hoping. I have never voted for PAN, I definitely will not for PAN let alone other parties in 2009. I choose not to vote again in 2009. That's my action for this land of hopeful, because I'm tired of hoping.

This is my blabbering after the Ramadhan. 'maapin yee kalau ade salah kate-kate'

Minal Aidin Wal Faidzin....

The Ditchin' on Friday (Jumat)

Another Jumat, another week is almost over. I sat in the regular cafe where I could enjoy browsing without have to order some foods or refreshments during Ramadhan. Today, I was about to announce to one of my main talents that our shooting schedule is going to be postponed until further notice. 

While, I was waiting for her, in front of me were sitting a couple, a mixed ones. The male species was the caucasian. He could be from Europe or Australia, but definitely not an American. The female species was the local ones. But she was not a regular 'ayam' as we may call them here in Jakarta. She could be anyone you see at the 21 cineplex, hanging out with your usual female buddies, or even your girlfriend's girlfriend. In other word, she was far from the typical 'ayam'.

('ayam' literally translated to chicken)

I plugged my earphone, opening my playlist and let it play. But I could not stay away from seeing her eyes. The caucasian male's back was against me, while over his shoulder I could see her sad expression. Once in a while, she threw her gaze toward the window outside. Her moist eyes seemed to tell her previous past and promises she received with this caucasian male. In between, she forced a smile and had herself open her mouth as giving a reply or engross in the male's conversation. My nosiness asked for their conversation throughout. So, I turned off my iTunes, hoping to catch the conversation. No avail. The ambience music of the cafe was too deafening, at least to their conversation I would like to eavesdrop.

I played along with my imagination of where their conversation is going to. Perhaps, it was promises. They dealt with promises being held up. Those broken promises could not keep up with her teary eyes. At least, she didn't create a scene by barging that caucasian dude, slapping him around, cursing in Indonesian with the reply of foul-mouthed English. If I were a referee, I would give a point to this Indonesian girl. This caucasian dude was still blabbering as my playlist was playing 70's song of "emotion" by Samantha Sang. So far, Indonesian 2 - caucasian 1. 2 for not creating a scene and the ability to hold up more tears streaming down her face. 1 was for giving promises but not keeping it. (at least that's what my imagination told me, and that is so male)

Finally, as in every game, everything has a time up. My nosiness was abruptly stopped when she got up, followed by the dude. He gave his hand which she responded with hers. No kiss or embrace. Only a gaze away by the girl as they both shook hand. She didn't even look at him, and in a beat, she walked away, leaving the caucasian dude alone on the playing field.

Damn, if there were a bank of promises, I think the world would fill up so quickly. If I wasn't too nosy with my imagination roam around people's problem, I would not even have a thought about the promise bank....What a Friday to end the entire week.

Iwan Fals & The Bowl of Life

My friend said that Virgoan is the equilibrium of life. I cannot agree with the statement. For me, as a fellow Virgoan, we are the bowl of life. We stretch, or we have an idealism to stretch by catering what's going to be in the bowl. Thus, that's what make us different and a bit melancholic in certain sense.

My friend objected to my statement, if the Virgoan is the bowl, who holds everything in this world, then who is going to hold us as the bowl. I replied that the earth itself is the Virgoan supporter. Therefore, we tend to be so earthly, and it shapes our idealism on being nosy who's going to be in the bowl according to our own suit. We care on how our bowl is going to look like or to be perceived by others.

You'll meet many Virgoan who are bitchy or opinionated. It was simply originated from their perplexed view on how they discern their own bowl. They are afraid that wrong people or element will contaminate the bowl. Iwan Fals is a pure Virgoan. In his hey-day during the 80's, he delivered a big punch to the establishment from his words and lyrics. Many of them shared his belief as he gathered numerous followers. He is one of the greatest bowl owner. 

On the other hand, D.H. Lawrence shaped the world of literature with his view of humanity with their animal instinct against the rigidness of the Victorian age. No matter what, these Virgoans believe in the bowl they are shaping.

When the world that they shape meet most of the resistance, other will see that the bowl they created is an empty bowl with no one buying their bullshit. Well, sometime it was bullshit that they're creating in their bowl. It is those Virgoans who eliminate others who are different in their point of views or beliefs, while keep maintaining to gather more follower to their cause. In the end, these Virgoans if they fail to disseminate their belief, they'll be crushed. Those melancholic and deppressed state of Virgoan are descended from this state. Ivan IV (known as Ivan the Terrible) of Russian Empire had several outbreaks of mental illness. It was the temper that comes from his impulsiveness and often uncontrollable rage. Despite, it was him who enlarged the Russian empire and established the Tsardom.

But as a bowl of life, thinking to make everything in equilibrium perhaps it's inclusive in the nature of shaping the bowl. It could be a part of Virgoan idealism, wanting to see everything in justice or in the right balance.

Well, this is my narcissistic point of view of being a Virgo. You don't have to buy my bullshit, let alone buy a bowl other than to be used for your noodle or soup. 

But one thing for sure, Viva Iwan Fals!!!

Stuck in the Hey-Day of Bureaucracy...

I've never thought I would have to wait for more than one hour at the immigration office. The last time I was there it was in 2003. Everything was 80% manual back then. The bribery was inclusive. I remembered I had to ask someone to pick up the number early in the morning, and by the time the number was up, he would notify me to be present there at once. But not today.

My passport will be expired in several days. Since I don't have to travel, I'm in no rush to get a replacement passport until today. (what is my rush then now?) I'd been told that I have to come by myself, preparing all the paperwork needed. There, they will review the applications, have myself a lineup number to be photographed and wait for several days for the passport to be done. It wasn't like this in 2003. Today, the cost of getting a new or replacement passport is less than US$30. You have to wait for 7 working days.

What about when you're in a rush? One said, if it was in 2003, anything in rush was anything less than 6 hours. Anything over it, it was just a normal time.

What about when you're in a rush now? In 2003, you can say that you' re in a rush, and you have to pay a rushing fee. In other word, it's a 'pelicin' fee. Or, in other word, it's 'a blast for government for paying them a low salary' fee. There was no KPK back then.

Pssssst, who said you cannot have your passport in one day? Now! Yes, despite the vigilant eyes of KPK and all the bullshits the present government had created. Damn!

I came to the immigration office around 11 O'Clock. Everything is different than the last time I was there, 5 years ago. Now, computerized almost in every corner.

There is a touchscreen computer that ask your purpose of being there. There is an LCD screen that updates the passport that are ready to be picked up. Even, the photo session procedure is now being totally computerized.

Back to the totality of being computerized and shit, you don't have to go for a so called 'personal assistant' which was so pervasive in the past. The proper procedure is 7 working days. The photo session will be taken the next day if you are lucky. But, there is a but. There is a discreet bidding around that can get your passport ready within days or even 1 day. I had to go through this bidding. The bidding started at US$85 (I prefer not to quote in rupiah), but ended in US$50 after grueling fight that I will go for the proper 7 days instead of paying that high in the opening. Basically, I won.

The photo session. It took me 3 hours of waiting to be called inside the photo session room. I could say that the computerized photo session is not better than the one they had 5 years ago. In every table, there is a small pocket digital camera (could be a 6MP consumer camera) that linked to the computer. Why is not better? Because, those immigration officers are not photographers. They cannot distinguish the result taken from the camera wide angle or the telephoto. The result: my picture, and the picture of the guy next to me, and the lady across my table are somehow distorted because of their wide angle position placed in front of my face. Many have said that passport photo are never your best picture, but my new passport will have the worst picture of all the passport book I've ever had.

Damn! I have to live with it for the next five years, hoping that in 5 years there will be more improvement especially in the practicality of waiting in the non A/C immigration office.

Hmmmmm....There should be an online form and a confirmation date to take a picture.

I think that is a MUST to curb down the bureaucracy there.

Visit Jakarta...but where is it?

Early in the morning, my flight arrived from Bangkok. Pretty much exhausted, the flight couldn't be considered to be a 'red eye' flight since the flight took only 3 and a 1/2 hours. Walking toward the immigration checkpoint, I spotted an empty booth of "Ayo Tamasya ke Banten", a pricewar billboard of the local cellular provider and lastly a stack of brochures containing a brochure titled Jakarta City Map.

My first impression was wow! Finally, they come to senses in giving away such hefty information in one brochure. I always told everyone that Jakarta is a big city, bigger than Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur. It's so Huge. Then, I realize that this year is a Visit Indonesia Year 2008 with the slogan "celebrating a 100 years of awakening."

I flipped open the brochure as I was waiting for my bag in the conveyor belt. It contains the map of Jakarta with the color description of the busway route. On the insert at the left hand side, there is an information about busway route and its corridor with the match of color to the one on the map. I said to myself, not bad.

Flipping to the other side, there is a brief history of Jakarta and the section of the interesting sites in Jakarta. Wow, at least someone from abroad knows where to go in Jakarta. But to my surprise, the interesting sites section can only give the name of the site and its function before and at present time. Well, I asked myself as I put myself as a first time foreigner in Jakarta. "How can I get to the site?" or "Where is the location of the site?"

Nothing! Usually those kind of informations will have its address (let alone its coordinating location on the map), its open hours and lastly how to get there with the public transportation. Perhaps, we've been for so long without a proper public transportation. Busway is the current breathing space for our public transportation. But why, in the age of properness and dire need to sell the image of the city, this little tiny thing is being left out.

At the same day, I received an email about the posting in the Jakarta Post by Andre Vltchek. His grumbles is what some of us grumbling about our city. He is right, we didn't grumble because we simply have no reference. I guess the planning of the Jakarta as a megapolis is being left stranded right after our prominent governor, Ali Sadikin, stepped down in 1977.

After seeing Bangkok with several parks (despite the locals also complained about its lack of public park) more than what Jakarta has, sidewalk that cater the pedestrian, my sadness toward my city deepens. Added to that is the promotion vacuum of Visit Indonesian Year outside Indonesia. Where is the money spent? Making a TV ad? Well, Gudang Garam corporate TV ad is more memorable if it's to be the TV ad for the Visit Indonesian Year 2008.

The government simply don't prepare enough and learn enough. Visiting Jakarta, but where? Visiting Indonesia, how? The predicaments are so compounded that the slogan for Visit Indonesia Year should be "celebrating 100 years of awakening in dreaming and drooling."