Hatred is having a snowballing effect nowadays....It depends on us whether to be inside the snow or watch it hitting the wall.
30 October 2009
11 October 2009
Journal PDJ - 11.10.09
It's a sunny Sunday, which makes Maroon 5's song its direct opponent, let alone the Gloomy Sunday. New Yorkers are starting to get up from their bed for their brunch, and 72nd street is one of the places to go. Inside one of the cafe, people in their casual sporty attire go in and line up for their order, mostly done with eggs. Some people stay outside to have their sunny day jog in the park nearby, preffering to have their late brunch.
Who lived around the area, the upper west side? Some bums I spotted at the 72st/Columbus Ave station. But more often, some chic ladies are visiting the cafe or as its written in their name, an espresso bar. There are some hip youngsters as well. I could have guessed that those youngsters are the highly paid nanny while those chic ladies are their employers...:) Ochi told me that people in the Upper West Side and Upper East Side really paid well their nanny and manny. So these nannies and mannies are able to continue their degree in the college, post baccalaureate.
Speaking of nannies and mannies, I've just received email from Agus, my historian for the project. I was asking the other day about some mixed indo women who went to the Netherlands to study in the early 20's century. He hasn't found any info about mixed indo women, but he gave the information about indigenous women who went to study in Europe (the Netherlands). In addition to that, he mentioned that these women were not the first to go to the Netherlands to study or work. Before them, many have gone to work as a house servant or attending seminary school. They became the nanny for some European counts and aristocrats. I just wonder, what would they do then, to congregate within each other when they're having a day off like those Indonesian female workers congregate in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on Sunday.
At first, I'm creating Yanneke's character with the mother who went to Europe to study in the beginning of the century. But, reading Agus' description, it would have given more impact if Yanneke's mother is a descendant of a Indonesian female house servant who married to the locales in Europe. And, for the novel, she could mention her trait to Reksodirdjo. It also stressed out the need of creating conflict by giving the realm of Reksodirdjo as he wanted become westernized, while Yanneke is striving to embrace something east.
Where should I find Captain Black tobaccos?
I want to talk about Hemmingway's The Old Man and The Sea...but maybe I leave it for tomorrow since I'm only halfway reading it. I found his character, Santiago, out of respect that we know the name of the old man from the boy, Manolin, is interesting. So does Reksodirdjo in his adulthood.
Damn...I love the Upper West side...:)
Who lived around the area, the upper west side? Some bums I spotted at the 72st/Columbus Ave station. But more often, some chic ladies are visiting the cafe or as its written in their name, an espresso bar. There are some hip youngsters as well. I could have guessed that those youngsters are the highly paid nanny while those chic ladies are their employers...:) Ochi told me that people in the Upper West Side and Upper East Side really paid well their nanny and manny. So these nannies and mannies are able to continue their degree in the college, post baccalaureate.
Speaking of nannies and mannies, I've just received email from Agus, my historian for the project. I was asking the other day about some mixed indo women who went to the Netherlands to study in the early 20's century. He hasn't found any info about mixed indo women, but he gave the information about indigenous women who went to study in Europe (the Netherlands). In addition to that, he mentioned that these women were not the first to go to the Netherlands to study or work. Before them, many have gone to work as a house servant or attending seminary school. They became the nanny for some European counts and aristocrats. I just wonder, what would they do then, to congregate within each other when they're having a day off like those Indonesian female workers congregate in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on Sunday.
At first, I'm creating Yanneke's character with the mother who went to Europe to study in the beginning of the century. But, reading Agus' description, it would have given more impact if Yanneke's mother is a descendant of a Indonesian female house servant who married to the locales in Europe. And, for the novel, she could mention her trait to Reksodirdjo. It also stressed out the need of creating conflict by giving the realm of Reksodirdjo as he wanted become westernized, while Yanneke is striving to embrace something east.
Where should I find Captain Black tobaccos?
I want to talk about Hemmingway's The Old Man and The Sea...but maybe I leave it for tomorrow since I'm only halfway reading it. I found his character, Santiago, out of respect that we know the name of the old man from the boy, Manolin, is interesting. So does Reksodirdjo in his adulthood.
Damn...I love the Upper West side...:)
10 October 2009
Journal PDJ - 10.10.09
As I sit on one of the stools at bay watching the heart of upper west side, 72nd st, in Aroma Espresso Bar, I realize this is going to be my last weekend for this New York trip. Originally, it would have only taken two weeks trip but I extended day by day until it is close a month stay (a total of 4 weeks). I've been to this cafe several times, the one on the 72nd street. It consists a free wi-fi and several communal tables. One drawback is that not many walls offer an electrical outlet. But for me, that doesn't defeat the best Chocolatte Croisant that they have and a walking distace to the historic Strawberry Field, across the late John Lennon's apartment. In fact, it has become my ritual, to take a stroll after a stop over in the cafe.
As for the progress of the novel concept, did I tell you that I'm thinking to have Yanneke and Reksodirdjo married to each other. One out of pity, one out of need to survive. But to stress more on the subjects in the novel, the background subjects, I will give more details regarding this. What people love to experience when reading the novel? It should be the feeling of being in Batavia. How was the wind in Weltevreden? How was the tram system that cut through the heart of Batavia? Tanjung Priok? Meester Cornelis? Lastly, the intricacies of the gossips spoken among the household in Nassau Boulevard and Gondangdia.
Here's are the list possible to be put in the novel:
In addition, there should be a secret rendezvous for Reksodirdjo and Yanneke somewhere near the seaside.
Hmmm, I will miss New York and its individualism....:)
As for the progress of the novel concept, did I tell you that I'm thinking to have Yanneke and Reksodirdjo married to each other. One out of pity, one out of need to survive. But to stress more on the subjects in the novel, the background subjects, I will give more details regarding this. What people love to experience when reading the novel? It should be the feeling of being in Batavia. How was the wind in Weltevreden? How was the tram system that cut through the heart of Batavia? Tanjung Priok? Meester Cornelis? Lastly, the intricacies of the gossips spoken among the household in Nassau Boulevard and Gondangdia.
Here's are the list possible to be put in the novel:
- The arrival of Yanneke and her family in Tanjung Priok port. How was the tide and current? Was there any blockade for the health inspection? How stiff was the Dutch East Indies policemen in regard to the immigration? What is the look and the structure of the port?
- Inside Hotel des Indes at Weltevreden. How was their ballroom (it will also help the look of the scene in the film) look like? How was the room being organized? Was there any specific suite?
- The social club like Harmonie or Concordia, their requirement, their snobbishness.
- To walk along the main boulevard in Batavia, how did the wind goes? What did they see when Batavian woke up in the morning and peering southward?
- How did you pay for the necessities in Batavia? Your Leisure?
- Decca Park, its detail and what was its activities during the Sunday after the mass from the Cathedral?
- The seaside: Pasar Ikan or Tanjung Priok?
In addition, there should be a secret rendezvous for Reksodirdjo and Yanneke somewhere near the seaside.
Hmmm, I will miss New York and its individualism....:)
07 October 2009
Journal PDJ - 07.10.09
Nothing much been done to building the grand design of 'Perempuan di Jagamonyet'. A few of scribbling here and there regarding Yanneke's character was tried, and yesterday I was thinking of making Reksodirdjo and Yanneke married to each other at the beginning of Japanese occupation of Java.
The fact that I haven't done much more to the walking of the memory lane when I visited the Bay Area, the region where I spent 11 years there. From my teen to my early 20's. I had a different point of view back then, and the tinkling bell of reminiscing put me in different realm. Yet, the background is almost identical to the experience I've had in the past, only the feeling. I should have elaborated more, but I guess I will write it some other time.
Dennis Lehane's "The Given Day" also gives me a lot of inputs and angles in positioning myself of building "Perempuan di Jagamonyet". In fact, I'm 150+ pages more toward the end of it. If "The Given Day" set in the upheaval after the great war (the first world war), I should set "Perempuan di Jagamonyet" in the turmoil of the time in the Dutch East Indies more. It could be the rise of nationalism, the right to self-govern, either from the mixed European races as well as the indigenous or I have to dig more into the rise of proletar or the farmers, in respect to condition of the country, in the land at that time.
When I planned the film "Hotel des Indes", I was thinking of releasing the book before the release of the film. I guess, the book has a life of its own. I am prone to release the book way after the film. As I said before, the main character could be other than Reksodirdjo, the main character in "Hotel des Indes".
This is my last week in New York, approaching four weeks I stayed in the land of the free, as some people have always said it. On Saturday, I will be attending Pedro Almodovar's session in New York Film Festival. Damn, festival is around but I haven't watched one of the films presented there...:)
The fact that I haven't done much more to the walking of the memory lane when I visited the Bay Area, the region where I spent 11 years there. From my teen to my early 20's. I had a different point of view back then, and the tinkling bell of reminiscing put me in different realm. Yet, the background is almost identical to the experience I've had in the past, only the feeling. I should have elaborated more, but I guess I will write it some other time.
Dennis Lehane's "The Given Day" also gives me a lot of inputs and angles in positioning myself of building "Perempuan di Jagamonyet". In fact, I'm 150+ pages more toward the end of it. If "The Given Day" set in the upheaval after the great war (the first world war), I should set "Perempuan di Jagamonyet" in the turmoil of the time in the Dutch East Indies more. It could be the rise of nationalism, the right to self-govern, either from the mixed European races as well as the indigenous or I have to dig more into the rise of proletar or the farmers, in respect to condition of the country, in the land at that time.
When I planned the film "Hotel des Indes", I was thinking of releasing the book before the release of the film. I guess, the book has a life of its own. I am prone to release the book way after the film. As I said before, the main character could be other than Reksodirdjo, the main character in "Hotel des Indes".
This is my last week in New York, approaching four weeks I stayed in the land of the free, as some people have always said it. On Saturday, I will be attending Pedro Almodovar's session in New York Film Festival. Damn, festival is around but I haven't watched one of the films presented there...:)
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