Limitless in Limited Situation

It's been a while I haven't written here, and a while also I haven't watched a movie in the theater. Indonesia's cinema-goers are mourning since they cannot catch new Hollywood movies recently. Even a friend has ever asked me to go to Singapore to do a movie marathon.

Yeah probably you have heard about taxation issue which confronts the government and the biggest cinema network in the country. Am not going to explain the details about the issue, but in a nutshell, Hollywood major studio's movies haven't been released here, such as Thor and The Fast and Furious 5. As the story goes, the most anticipated 2011 movies, Harry Potter and Transformer saga, will not play as well. (But who knows?)

Yesterday I went to a cinema for a refreshing, and expected not a great film. The choice went to "Limitless" as I thought, at least I can enjoy Brad Cooper's charisma if the movie doesn't look good.

It turned out the movie teased me well for the cinematographic area. It made me excited to go on. The story starts when a writer Eddie (Bradley Cooper) faces a writing block, a condition when writer is stuck and over a barrel not even to finish a single word.

Eddie meets his ex-brother-in-law Vern who gives him a new super drug NZT. The pill allows Eddie to access 100% of his brain capacity to finish his book in only four days. It makes Eddie a super human, limitless.

Editing is the key of the movie's coolness

Vern was murdered and Eddie gets a voluminous supply of NZT. He uses them to enhance his life. Learning new things, getting a job in finance, getting his ex-girlfriend back, upgrading his lifestyle, until he meets Van Loon (De Niro) a Wall Street dragon. Since the encounter with Van Loon, Eddie continuously having problems which threaten his career, his girlfriend's safety, and eventually his life.

Although as a thriller it is not quite thrilling for me, the movie somehow worths my IDR 25 thousand (approximately USD 3). Although the story is not as brilliant as my favourite movie "The Illusionist", which is directed by the same person Neil Burger, once again the cinematography and editing does more, and they are too entertaining to be missed.

In the limited movie situation like now, Limitless was a wise option to go back to cinema.

An Education of the University of Life

Lately I had been losing my appetite watching TV cable movies. They play mostly Hollywood or some typical shallow flicks which make me bored. In order to satisfy the need of watching quality movies, I used to go to the computer. This morning I woke up with the hope of enjoying another Pedro Almodóvar's, and there I found my brother was playing some games with the desktop. I postponed the intention, then grabbed a remote control to check on the TV cables. Luckily it was not so bad with the movies today.

"An Education" is a movie which caught my attention. The BBC production was released in Sundance Festival 2009, but I cannot remember it has reached Indonesia's cinemas up to now. I deplore it happened as the British film might inspire us, not girls not yet women of Indonesia. I believe that traditional culture teaches us females to be good wives ignoring other field that we are good at. I mean no matter how skillful we are at something, the ultimate goal is to find the princes charming, affluent ones of course, pleasure them, be married, have a good life, then raise children. With this old-fashioned paradigm, most of my girlfriends, who attended university, hold the plan of getting married soon after the graduation. If that is what we meant to be, why do us women need high education?

This movie, which is written based on British writer Lynn Barber's early life, pictures the case perfectly. Sixteen-year-old bright high school student Jenny Mellor wants to be a writer and go to Oxford University. The dream blurs when she meets David, a man whose age is twice of hers, offering a life fairy tale ending. A high class classic music concert, expensive auctioned painting, glamorous outfits, and a trip to Paris are what Jenny could only dream of before. Then comes David arresting her heart with such fortune, including an engagement ring in the end. David impresses her parents too. He convinces that it is okay for Jenny leaving her Oxford dream behind to marry him. The only side who against it is school, thus she leaves it. When she finds out that David is a married man, she goes back to the lane she was before, the education.

The young Lynn Barber

Directed by Lone Scherfig and written by Nick Hornby, the story takes place in the early 60s in England. It is a pre-Beatles era after the World War II, when England was poor and did not do very well like US, as the writer says "Over there, it was all about Cadillacs. Here in Britain, we were still waiting for a bus.” The flick also reveals the cultural revolution with Jenny parents' (played by Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour) struggling and uptight 50s custom facing their daughter's young 'swinging 60s' invasion. I believe this is my favourite cultural scene too as I was entertained that much by the architecture and fashion.


The three Oscars nominated film, including the best motion picture of the year, rockets the young actress Carey Mulligan as Jenny and Peter Sarsgaard as David. Mulligan herself wins some film awards through her acting success, with the help from the more senior actress like Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, and Rosamund Pike.

The naive school girl Jenny

David (right) impresses the Mellors

David and Jenny in Paris

I know the story happens a lot in women's life. We are blinded by love and think that he is our only world. However, at some point we need to choose which way would take us to be a person we want to be. What I know now that I will not giving up my dream and I need education to support it and keep me independent. So, I don't recommend you young ladies to cut your dream out of your life. We are on our own in the university of life, where there are no books nor teachers to give us lesson.What I'm saying is that we need to keep doing something we love and are good at, while the princes charming are the blessings who will come to you in the right moment.

(maybe) Adiós Nando!

Today might be the last day that one of the best player in the world (according to me) is registered as a member of the best club in the world (again, according to me). Only a few hours before the transfer deadline, me and most of Liverpool fans out there are certainly nervous whether the Spanish striker Fernando Torres will or will not join the rival club at the English Premiere League (EPL) Chelsea. If the deal comes true, then this will be my last piece of love to Nando.

Watching him leaves is as hard as losing Xabi Alonso a couple years back. It is harder for me as Torres used to be my second favourite player after Steven Gerrard. At least Alonso had a better reason as the previous gaffer Rafael Benitez would sell him a year before his departure. The fans could not ask Alonso to stay, thus am quite pessimistic that Torres will stay this time. After all the things he did, and all the things I know about him, I still cannot believe Nando requested a transfer.

Joining the club in 2007, I did not know he would impress me only in a couple of months. I was not a big fan of Spanish football at that moment so I had not heard of his big name (as a young talented star) before. In his first season with Liverpool, Nando were able to collect an impressive achievement, including Highest scoring Liverpool player in the 21st Century (one season) with 33 goals in all competitions (24 Premier League, 6 Champions League, 3 Carling Cup), Best goals per game ratio in a debut season in the history of Liverpool FC (one goal every 1.36 games), and Premier League Silver Boot Winner (24 goals).

I was so sure that he can be a legend, The Liverpool Number Nine after Fowler. The faith was written in my previous blog. Watching him wearing Liverpool scarf when Spain won The South African World Cup 2010 looks like confirming his loyalty to the club, but it was wrong. Once I also read about his love to music, especially The Beatles, thus he would love to stay in the city of his idols, then again I was wrong. I started to learn Spanish so that one day I can talk to him in his mother tongue language as a Liverpool player, once again I was wrong.

Last but not least, Torres said on 9th January 2011 "More than ever, we need to stick together...My head is in Liverpool and on helping to save our season. I am a professional and I always fulfil my deals. I haven't considered leaving, although in football that always depends on the club", and this time was he wrong too?

Nando in World Cup 2010

Nando and his music

Imagining him wearing a blue shirt and playing against Liverpool in the future will be a torture. If the offers come from some Italian or German clubs, it is not going to be difficult to wish you the best of luck. But Chelsea? I might wish you the very best of bad luck then. However, as the words of gratitude for all the contributions you have made in Liverpool, "adiós" should be enough.

The 10 Years Journey Becoming a Red

In 1987, 19th March a baby girl named Florence Nathania was born in Jakarta.

In 1997, Florence was busy criticizing people who were madly in love to footie. She thought footie was silly yet she prefered basketball and badminton instead of football.

In 1998, She was proved that her last year perception was wrong and amazed by Argentina national team's performance in France World Cup. Ever since she is absolutely into football.

In 2000, Florence is in love with a player called "Steven Gerrard", although she has not been baptized to become a red. Along with Stevie G, Florence also had a little crush on Robbie Fowler and Gary McAllister.

Stevie G at his young age (Finally I put his face on my blog!!!)

Robbie Fowler the God

Gary McAllister the incredible free-kick scorer

In 2001, after watching many Liverpool's games, Florence finally decided to become a red (without realising that the club had massive histories)

In 2005, a couple months after Istanbul, Florence joined BIGREDS an official Liverpool FC Supporter Club in Indonesia. Since then Florence started to learn about the club more, and thanks to some wonderful friends in BIGREDS who has shared things esp. the Liverpool Way. Not only about the football club, Florence also searched for more information about the city of Liverpool.

In 2009, Florence wrote a thesis about BIGREDS' Viewing Party, and she had to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the thesis' defence.

In 2010, as Liverpool was getting Spanished under Rafa, Florence started to learn Spanish language.

and now in 2011...

Ten years and many years to come

Florence is celebrating her 10 years journey of becoming a Liverpool fan. She is committed for always becoming a red in years to come. Walking through the storm and the golden sky, since it is not only about the football she fancies in LFC, but also about the philosophy and of course the fraternity. 

Republising "Belitung: A Perfect Getaway"

*Republished from The Jakarta Post

The Old Light House in Lengkuas

Are you looking for the perfect, exotic getaway destination on a limited budget?
If Bali is out of reach, you may want to consider Belitung.

It takes 1 hour by plane to get to this Sumatran island, which has a population of 135,000, most of whom live in Belitung district according to provincial government website. The dominant ethnic groups on the island are Malays and Chinese, who speak Indonesian with Belitung accent.

Pristine beaches

Welcome to the island of pristine beaches! While my idea of a pristine beach is clear water and white sand, experiencing Belitung myself allowed me to see that such beauty really exists. Almost all of the beaches there are superb.

The first one I visited was Bilik in the Tanjung Tinggi region. The beach is almost surrounded by huge granites, thus there are no big waves. Visitors can play around the shore without fear of drowning and washed away to the sea. The granite rocks come with various sizes, and you can walk in between them. You may also want to climb them, but please be careful as some are slippery since damp mosses grow on it.

The beach is indeed safe and beautiful, but it has also become famous for another reason. Bilik was the location for the shooting of Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow Warriors), Indonesia's most viewed movie, inspired by local children who pursued their dreams. The Belitung community has enjoyed this film on DVD and at open-air cinemas, because there are no permanent cinemas on the island.

Another thing that attracts tourists to Bilik is its seafood. While waiting for your order to be served, which can take some time, you may feel tempted to go to the beach, taking pictures, dip your feet in the clear water, or even go for a swim and make yourself even hungrier in the process.

Lengkuas Beach, one of the pristine beaches

Lengkuas Island is another famous tourist attraction on Belitung. It takes around half and hour to reach this island (but somehow it felt like only 15 minutes) from Tanjung Kelayang Beach on the mainland, from where I rented a traditional wooden speed boat. The boat could carry five people and cost Rp 400,000 for a whole day.

En route to Lengkuas, there are several unique islands and colorful water. One of the islands is called Bird Island because it looks like a bird's beak made from rocks. There were also some granite islands which look like floating icebergs. As I looked down into the water, the surface changed colors from aqua, to blue and dark teal. The darker colors come from reefs below the surface.

Lengkuas beach was rocky. You should mind your step as the rocks may hurt your feet. Slippers might protect your feet, but you will not be able to walk quickly once the muddy sands start to stick to them. Here is also a granite area, similar to Bilik. While the rocks on Lengkuas are not as big as those at Bilik, it is still fascinating to trek around the area which has an abundance of fish, snails and other sea life.

Finally we reached my favorite beach, Tanjung Kelayang. This beach was not rocky; and I could feel the smooth sand between my toes. This is definitely the pristine beach I have been dreaming about with its white sand, clear water, and only a few other tourists around. I saw several traditional boats moored there, and there was also a small beach bar nearby, where tourists could get something to eat.

Tanjung Kelayang Beach, Belitung

Seafood attack

If you are a seafood lover, this island is heaven. Conversely, if you do not like seafood, you may suffer in Belitung. There were not too many other choices of food on Belitung besides fish, prawns, squid or crab. In fact, they have super-fresh seafood everywhere. One local favorite is Gangan, a fish head soup with tasty yellow tamarind sauce. You can try this at one of the beachside food stalls in Bilik.

Another famous local cuisine is Mie Belitong (Belitung noodles). The noodles are thick, and it is served with clear sweet and salty soup. They also put little shrimp and fish into the mix, and it is served with melinjo crackers on top.

Belitung Noodles

Locals like to wrap food in the leaves of the simpur, a local plant. These leaves are wide and smooth, and serve the same function as the banana leaves that are widely used in Java. I saw locals use these leaves to wrap Mie Belitong and grilled fish.

In Manggar, East Belitung, is a large restaurant with a beautiful creek view, called Figa. Figa owns a hut in the middle of the creek, which is also used for dining. My favourite dish there was prawn sate. This was the best grilled prawn I have had in my life. The prawns were big, fresh, and skinless. Manggar is also known for its coffee, so I also ordered one of these at Figa. I could smell the aroma from a long way off, and could not resist but to try it straight after my meal. The coffee was strong and bitter. Even though I added sugar to it, double the amount normally have in a Jakarta cappuccino, I could still taste the bitterness.

The lost statue

Manggar is not only known for being the hometown of former Indonesian state secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra, it also has some places worthy of note, and Burung Mandi Beach is one of these. Burung Mandi is a typical Belitung beach with an addition of traditional market that sells food and goods. However, I did not really enjoy this place because it was quite crowded - like Ancol with a cleaner beach. About five minutes drive from the beach, a Buddhist Temple stands tall on a hill. According to a local guide the temple has a magical story. Once upon a time, a cargo ship carrying statues ran aground at a Belitung beach. All cargos was found, except for one Guan Yin Statue. The lost statue was then found on the hill. Locals believe the goddess chosen this place, and so they built a temple at the site. Right behind the temple is a huge rock that looks like Buddha's palm. Locals say that visitors can have their wishes granted by knocking on this rock.

Fuel scarcity issue

Transportation costs a lot of money in Belitung (locally known as Belitong). Since it is not a big city like Jakarta, fuel supplies are limited and there are generally long queues at petrol stations. These petrol stations were usually closed in the afternoons because they had run out of fuel. Petrol was sold for Rp 4,500 per liter at the petrol stations, but then resold by roadside vendors at prices ranging from Rp 5,500 to Rp 7,000 per liter.

Mass transportation is hardly available in Belitung, so I rented a car to get around. Renting a Toyota Avanza costs about Rp 350,000 a day; not including petrol. This does include a driver-cum-tour guide who can show you nice spots around the island.

Getting there

The Indonesian government has declared this year as the year to visit Bangka-Belitung, with the "Visit Babel (Bangka-Belitung) Archipelago 2010" program, but there are only two airlines with direct flights to Belitung from Jakarta - namely Sriwijaya and Batavia. A ticket on Sriwijaya cost me about Rp 300,000 one way.

I stayed in Lor'in Resort in Tanjung Tinggi, which has cottages facing the beach. A deluxe cottage has a couple of twin beds, a TV and a small fridge. However, my favorite spot in the cottage was a semi-outdoor bathroom. I could see the sky and birds above while took a shower, and there was also a small garden inside which enhanced the showering-in-nature sensation. Staying at the Lor'in cost me around Rp 600,000 a night, breakfast for two included.

According to the hotel manager, the perfect period to visit Belitung is between April and October when the seas are calm. Three days after Christmas is a family vacation period, and we had no idea that December was not the best time to visit, with heavy rains and high tides during this time. Fortunately we had at least one perfect sunny day to enjoy Belitung. The island was wet and windy during rainy days, but dry and even hotter than Jakarta on sunny days. This was a perfect getaway for me. Could it be yours too?

Granites everywhere, even on the sea

Kua Etnika: Fusion Music is Possible!

You just can’t kill the “Mission Impossible” theme song, can you? From the classic grand orchestral version by the composer Lalo Schrifin himself, to the alternative or post-punk rock version by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. of an Irish band U2, to the nu-metal version with rapping and DJing by an American group Limp Bizkit. Now imagine. What if the song is wrapped up a little bit with Indonesian ethnical music? 

I tell you that the composition is possible. It is Kua Etnika, a music group from Yogyakarta Indonesia, who plays the new version with gamelan, a set of Indonesian traditional music instruments. Their mission is noble, to do a creative exploration between traditional and modern art, between idealistic and industrial. With the solid connection developed within the musicians whose background is Javanese and Balinese, Kua Etnika is able to exhibit an extraordinary recital of gamelan together with electrical guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum. In addition, the group leader Djaduk Ferianto also occupies traditional wooden gun toy and an instrument resembling can phone in the performance of Mission Impossible.

When traditional "Saron" percussions meet the modern drum

 

GROWING TOGETHER

Djaduk Ferianto (46 year-old) and his brother, monologue performer Butet Kartaredjasa (49 year-old), are two artists from Padepokan Seni (Art Centre) commemorate Kussudiardja located in Yogyakarta. The padepokan is commemorated under their late father who was also a big Indonesian artist and cultural observer. Together they manage some creative activities there, covering four performing arts group: Sinten Remen (a keroncong music group), Teater Gandrik (Gandrik theater group), DIKLAT tari kreasi baru (education and training centre of new creation dance), and Kua Etnika.

Djaduk Ferianto: The Captain

 

Kua Etnika was established by the two brothers and musician Purwanto in 1995. Consisting of more or less substitutable 15 musicians, some of them are also involved in Sinten Remen. Substitutable? Yes. According to the vocalist Silir Pujiwati, the personnel of Kua Etnika may be different from time to time depending on the performance need and the music colour. 

“Each of our albums presents very different music, and we have different people involved in it.” said Mrs.Pujiwati. For example in their album “Orkes Sinten Remen”, they play new keroncong music which is merged with blues, jazz, rock ‘n roll, and country. Meanwhile in another music album “Orkes Melayu Banter Banget”, Kua Etnika modernize Malaysian music, including putting much dangdut (Indonesian folk music).

In the last 2010 production album “Nusaswara”, Kua Etnika speaks up their concern over the reality of nusantara (a term used to refer Indonesia) through a variety of suara (sound). Therefore, not only playing the standard band equipments and gamelan, the group made their own instruments to produce diverse sounds, like a bamboo which produces tinkling water and a set of small gamelan. 

Since 1998, Kua Etnika has Trie Utami as their main vocalist. She is one of Indonesian top diva who has gained recognitions from international music festivals, and was also trusted to be a judge in a national singing competition. “My life is music, and it is good to play music with my friends.” She uttered and smiling; expressing the feeling for her fellow musicians who she has recognized for years.

Trie Utami (middle): It's good to play with my fellow musicians

 

VERSATILE TROOP

Once I came to watch Kua Etnika’s performance of the newest album “Nusaswara”. I could not stop admiring the entertaining complete action-packed show, all of it without them reading at the score. Each of the numbers tells me different story which stimulates the hearing, sight, and brain.

Kua Etnika combines music, acting, joking, and dancing. These acts are sustained by properties and lighting (yes they have their own lighting man); so it comes alive along with the music they play. Djaduk Ferianto himself is not only a musician. He paints, acts, and dances as well. I believe the other personnel are also multitalented; or at least they can joke well. 

For the talent and professionalism, the group has been offered some interesting projects too, like filling in a play or dance performance. Besides scoring music for Teater Gandrik, Kua Etnika was also hired to enliven theatre performances of Teater Koma, the biggest theatre community in Indonesia. People in motion pictures industry are also magnetized working with the group, as some big names like Garin Nugroho and Slamet Rahardjo trusted their films’ music illustration to these musicians.

Beyond the low-profile attitude of the personnel, Kua Etnika has enlisted the row of Indonesia’s international artist. They worked with Malaysian musicians to present “Many Skin” concert. In 2003, it was German musicians Pata Master’s turn to do collaboration, generating concert and music album “Pata Java”.

In 2010, the group was offered to perform in some big events like the anniversary of Metro TV (Indonesia’s leading news TV station) and be the closing act of Indonesia Music Festival.

There are more to come for Kua Etnika introducing ethnic music to the pop culture. Indonesian traditional music is broad enough to explore, yet the existence is vanishing in the modern society. Kua Etnika will not stop playing ethnic to show that the music is wide open to contemporary challenges, and able to be brought to the world. Yes, Kua Etnika, they really make it possible.

Kua Etnika in Indonesia Music Festival 2010:

2010

Growing up in a family with Chinese values is not easy for me sometimes. I get this impression that the most important thing in life is money, money, money so I need to work, work, and work. Prosperity, insurance, and playing on the safe side, seem like the magic formula to get it right. My grandmother told me that after I am graduated, I need to earn money, find a good affluent husband, and have a happy life ever after. In addition my relatives said that the most important feature of a good life partner is the one who can work, and then surely he would be able to fulfil the family needs well. I also often have this stressful conversation with my parents about me arriving at the time to get a good job and of course making a considerable amount of money. Yes, I was graduated a month ago and I have not got an office to go to every day and a pay check to receive every month.

After all, I feel that I am one step behind of everyone else. Many friends of mine have been working even since they have not finished the study, my cousins who have got decent position in prestigious company, the children of my parents' friends who already have good monthly salary, and so on. What make things worse is that my parents sometimes say it to the world that they are proud of me, a master graduate, on the other hand underestimating me of not having proper job and earning my own money. It is not that I do not try to apply for a job, but yes I did not apply to many.

In my defence, I do not want to work with something I am not passionate about. Maybe there are persons who can work anything offered in front of their face as long as they could earn cash out of it. For example, my friends who were also graduated in mass communication end up with a job in bank, automotive business, airlines, and other things we did not learn at school. It is absolutely not a crime. I think that what makes things different between me and my “already-hired” friends, passion. I clearly know that I am passionate about movies, culture, sports, and music, things that in my country cannot guarantee you having prosperous life unless you do it for the industry, and they absolutely will not bring me big and fixed monthly income. Too bad am not passionate in business, trading, or investment, things that Chinese are well-known to be good at.

...

By the way, today is the last day of 2010. I keep on thinking about this, whether my idealism in those passions keeps me away from my parents' expectation. I clearly understand they want their daughter having assured life, but this rebellious lady keeps longing for uncertain things. At one point this year I might feel that I have done nothing and fail fulfilling the expectation. However, if I look back for the entire year, I wow myself that I was not that jobless. In fact, I think I have achieved many things although it might not sound as big as job promotion or winning awards.

In 2010, I step my foot for the first time in a movie set. I had my first movie production experience in February and I learned a lot from it. Having the responsibility as a script supervisor, editor assistant, and translator of the movie are new things for me. Although I had to work more than twelve hours a day under the intense sun until my skin was two levels darker, I did love enjoy the job. Moreover, the experience also brought me new friends with great mind and attitude. They have showed me integrity, and reminded me to be true to myself. These connections make me keep my commitment until now in preparing the film road show.

"Cendol" Movie Set

 

This year I also am convinced that I can be a good writer. In the same month, I had my first feature story published in national media, The Jakarta Post. Although I have not put other stories yet again there, the travel feature about Belitung was quite a masterpiece, I think. Once I searched it in web, it has been quoted by some other traveller writers. 

Feature Story: a personal achievement

Last year I could not ask somebody's name in Spanish. Right now I can have a long and nice Spanish chat with Spaniards or Latinos. In fact, I have several Spanish, Mexican, and Argentinean friends in facebook at the moment. Thanks to my little brother who inspired me to learn other foreign language than English. He studied German first, and I caught up a couple months later studying Spanish. Yet my initial goal of studying was to have a nice Spanish conversation with Fernando Torres, and now by also knowing some Hispanic culture, it turns me to be a fan of Spain and some countries in Latin America. Studying Spanish also meets me with several new and fantastic amigos (friends) in the class. I met new people with various background, interests, and behaviours, yet somehow we can laugh together every Saturday for a whole day. Also in this new community, I made my first directing debut. Hahaha...

Spanish Community of Usakti Jakarta

Another good thing was the opportunity to join Mia Patria. I love singing, I might not good at it, but I am grateful I can involve myself in such full of musician group. Mia Patria is a Catholic cultural music group which works at God's service. We perform mostly religious songs with traditional Indonesian touch, like Balinese, Javanese, Batak, and so on. Therefore, besides the members themselves, gamelan set, angklung, and some other musical instruments along with Indonesian traditional costumes are precious assets of the group. Sometimes I do feel shame of myself for ignoring Indonesian music and dances before joining Mia Patria Choir.

Right now I maybe am not attached to every one of them much as I have just joined recently for the last three months in 2010, while they have been together for two years. However, I did get many lessons from my three months involvement. My brain was trained to memorise lyrics so that I can sing from the heart. I can recognize the name of gamelan's part and some Indonesian traditional costumes. Finally, I can put up make-up and hair bun myself now.

Post Graduate Journalism and Media Studies Class of 2010

The final great moment happened in 2010 was my master degree graduation on 9^th December. There are only seven graduated from my major. Thesis writing was not an easy process at all. I took four months constructing the concept, yet only four days only in writing. It was not recommended to follow, but I saw it as an achievement too. The whole process taught me that nothing or no one is more true than the others. In the end, what is counted is what you believe is true. Now I sound like a master, don't I? Hehehe... And thanks to the year 2010 too, now I know what discourse and framing mean, thus I can apply it in writing and editing stories for the Government's cultural magazine “Friends of Indonesia”. Yet again, I am doing it freelance with no big amount of money.

Parents and most people may not see I have done fast progress in 2010 in terms of getting a job and earning money. However, I am still amazed at things I have done this year. Maybe I cannot compete with the pace of others, but I am happy in working things I like. Quoting my friend here that maybe I am not really looking for coins, am looking for points.

Welcoming 2011, I am expecting other great and significant experiences come to my life. Hopefully I will learn many new things in a year ahead. Hopefully my idealism can be friend with family's expectation. Hopefully the points will lead me to coins.

Happy New Year!!!

Spanish Community of Usakti Jakarta's picture is taken from Efi Yanuar's facebook photo album
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=468777896630&set=a.468777786630.250684.664471630#!/photo.php?fbid=1561359311870&set=a.1561347711580.72716.1171933673