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.