"lagu cinta melulu... kita memang benar benar melayu"

truth is, it's not compulsory or a must-do.
but it's just for fun thing.

A november lush wedding is coming up.

OK stop press!
it's a friend's lush wedding.

She requested a list of wedding songs slash romantic songs with upbeat music.
After she asked me that (among a number of her other friends too), I began to listen to the lyrics when shuffling iPod.
I then realized how few love songs I know that are not soft-tuned.

Here is what I come up with:
1. brian mcknight and Justin timberlake – my kinda girl
2. wyclef jean feat sharissa – take me as I am
3. Ingrid michaelson – the way I am
4. John Travolta / Olivia Newton - You're the One That I Want
5. Barry White - you're the first, the last, my everything
6. Barry white - Can't get enough of your love, babe
7. the beatles - got to get you into my life
8. Al green - lets stay together
9. Chicago - just you and me
10. Imagination - thank you my love
11. Joss stone - super duper love
12. Joss stone - some kind of wonderful
13. Kerispatih - janji kita
14. The cure - friday i'm in love
15. Wyclef jean feat eve - your love

My most fave among all is wyclef jean feat sharissa - take me as i am. Itu lagu handal berat! perhatiin liriknya deh. gak seperti lagu-lagu cinta lainnya.. lucu banget.

Feel free to jot down some more if you please :)

me: is picking her nose and thinking laterally?

hahahaha kombinasinya yang.. gogon pisan!

ampir jam 3 pagi.
seminggu yang udah di expected bakalan hectic berat dengan kegiatan2 baru dan menegangkan..
ternyata..
eng ing engg..
tetep relax seperti minggu-minggu lalu.

theres one part feeling anxious.
another is chillin'.

he said 'to think laterally and he's happy with that'.
by giving 3 days off while the first couple of days are filled with 2 hours reading and folding envelopes, is there need for anxiety?

he don't want to spoon-fed but to let the kid go and think outside the box.
some say, guidance is needed at first.
the big guy expecting the opposite.

at this time of day the brain starts to get chaotic.
not thinking laterally, but creating scenarios of the worst kinds.
the 'what ifs' are piling up.

sixteen hundred is some amount. can good reference come from short days and excessive day-offs? or thinking laterally???? hahaha the word again. what comes around goes around and around and around and around.......... running in circles, are we?

What do you want, exactly????????

and don't you dare say lateral thinking.

What say you?

read a friend's note on facebook.
on the complaint about a househoold item made from best quality german engineer.
intinya, it breaks immediately after purchase.

most of my products are of japan or chinese made. the two giants asian producers (implicators?). they make products that works (although sometimes have shorter longevity) but spare-parts and service are easy to find, everywhere, and prompt.

This reminds me of my sis' car back in Jkt. She owned a peugeot... slammed on to another car. needs service. needs parts.
It took us weeks/months for it to fix.
Mom said if japan-made cars wouldn't take this long to service.

What does that say you?

Does the two Asian giants have made better products than the grand ole europeans?
or does location affecting the quality of service? (japan, china are closer to jkt and aussie compared to europe).

answers?

allow me to be frank

detik-detik menuju ke tantangan yang baru dan berbeda makin dekat. tinggal menghitung jam saja!
setelah bertaun-taun hanya di selimutin sama sesama manusia-manusia akademis dan kerutinitasannya, lalu sedikit beralih ke dunia nyata yang mengenalkan berbagai ragam warna dan karakter yang biasanya gak mungkin ditemukan di tempat bermainku.

in mere hours, the playground will widen its scope and multiple species will appear. A time of another challenge and a time of another post-it on my forehead for reminder on not giving up.

I grew accustomed to current culture and just started to feel comfortable in it. But subconsciously I never allow myself to forever feel comfortable. I'm always attracted to leave my comfort zone whenever things have made me too cozy.
and it is that time.

The people have just gotten to know me.
If I leave, will things be awkward when I come back in weeks time? I want to stay. I want to snuggle in my cozy burrows.. where the people knows my name and hug me with open arms.

It's too much of a rhetorical for me.
Whilst the answer is clear in front of me.

I can't stay.
Things have to move forward.
and it is time to move forward.

Although it's difficult to leave behind of what I grew accustomed to.

Time to prepare for judgemental eyes and dreading remarks.

huhuhu I'll miss the team, the people, the routine.

Go wild!

"a sign at the Melbourne Cemetery:
Beware of Wildlife."



Quote taken from moving melbourne through art.

Aux Buttes Chaumont - Jules Cheret

"This beautiful vintage poster was designed by the father of French poster art, Jules Cheret, in 1885. It is one of aproximately 42 advertising posters that Cheret designed for a department store in Paris that was known as "Aux Buttes Chaumont," starting around 1878 and continuing to 1891.

Cheret, who had studied lithography in Great Britain, imported the machinery into France and established his own printing shop in Paris called Imprimerie Chaix. Aux Buttes Chaumont was one of a number of retail stores that had Cheret design outdoor advertising posters promoting their wares. The Jouets poster is specially advertising childrens toys (jouets means toys) and features a beautiful decorated rocking horse, one of the most desired - and expensive - gifts a child could receive in those days." (http://www.friendsposter.com/aboutposter.html)

I bought the poster today! on ebay, as usual. :)
Anyone recall where this poster made it's international debut on-screen?

Yes yes yes. those who are avid viewer of 'Friends' might remember the poster hanging on Monica's apartment. Well, this is it.
I decided to reform my apartment into something more lively by adding some quirks here and there. The jouets is one of the many to come.
The re-decor is going slowly but the apartment will be something more 'femme'-ish when it's done.

Had doubts before bidding this item, though. Look at the kid on the poster.
Baby looks kinda creepy. Imagine having it hang on the wall in your living room, and you have to walk pass it whenever you need to go to the kitchen, at night!
the horror.

tapi three people confirmed that it's not that creepy. biasa aja, cuma aneh.
hehehe well, I have to have it just because I want something out of the ordinary.
andddd... it's a memorabilia from friends. so what the heck, it's worthed.
memenuhi obsesi masa remaja.
bwahakakaka. yeah right.

Birds of prey.

siang yang menyebalkan.
kemarin liat dengan mata kepala sendiri kalo tram officers are racists!!
they're targeting foreigners (ie. with characteristics: orientals, darker skin, awkward speech) for valid ticket inspection.
majority target is students.

my lecturer (who is very local and australian) confirmed this when we had a discussion about culture.

ok, maybe some will say that locals are very aware of the consequences of not getting tickets when travelling by trams/trains, ergo they always buy tickets.

You, Suits! shut up.

I see it too many times how locals are taking the easy way out by talking. by words. by communicating.

Trouble with foreigners (highlight on awkward speech) made the officers wouldn't want to understand or give a chance for reasoning. If we ever do, they'll talk back and corner us 'til none left to say. Maybe the word is, Intimidation?

I witnessed myself, twice (!), these officers let go those who are locals but violate the same incident as we, foreigners, did.

Incident 1. on a train, dude made a stupid excuse that he just got in the train a stop before and intend to get the tix on the next station cos he's going to change train anyway.
You know what the officer did?
YES! He or she (can't remember) believed him and let him go with that ridiculous excuse! blah. try foreigners sayin the same explanation as that?! You kidding me might be the response.
The officers got off the train and so did that local dude. I watched him walked pass the ticket machine and hopped on to the opposite train! WITHOUT TICKET!
pfff.
nice going, officers! you just missed a prey.

Incident 2. on a crowded tram, officers came in without uniforms and started to ask for tickets.
Inside, there were alot of students (my tram route passes a university). Some of them were on alert and started to get the purses out of the bag and queueing for tickets. WHILE OFFICERS ON BOARD! you know what those officers did? Nothing. I observe, there were none foreigners on that queue. Some who had tickets in the bag started to validate them on board. This usually is not valid since tix have to be validated (and/or bought) once you've stepped into the tram. I know because I once saw someone still got fined because the officer saw them validate the ticket only when the officers are on board. This someone, is not local.

'Cause of yesterday's incident, I'm more certain on how connex and yarra trams are targeting their prey.
menyebalkan.
ih.

I once got fined cos I didn't want to buy tix just for few stops away. Gave an excuse that I was busy fixing my iPod. You know what he said?
"is your iPod much more important?"

oh my dear officer, OF COURSE IT IS!!!
I wish i said it out loud to him though.
lols

what your songs say about you?

You know what I just discovered today...
the songs you're familiar with can somewhat shows your actual age!

hehehe.. not that it matter.

there was this song airing on the radio..
very mellowed tune.

I know this song too well.

anyone knows the song Loving You by Minnie Riperton?
something that sounds like this



it's kind of an oldie, innit?
musiknya mellow banget and everytime i hear this song, i always get the image of 'when harry met sally'.
i don't recall the song being in the soundtrack at all, though.

anyway,
an acquaintance and I heard the song and our short conversation went along like this

dia: "this song is very mellowed, makes me sleepy".
saya: "i've always have the image of autumn when hearing this song. this kinda very old tune".
dia: "i've just heard of this song now."
saya: "eh, really?" --- diam seribu bahasaahahaha mikir "gile! gue setua itu kah!??!"

dari percakapan singkat ini saya jadi nyadar

lagu menentukan umur!!
:))

eh tapi minnie riperton's loving you lagu tahun 70an... and i wasn't even born then, thank you very much. but i do know the song.

This reminds me when going to a concert with a friend, and she didn't quite enjoy it because I chose the band.
she chose backstreet boys, while I nouvelle vague.
Votes were heavy on nouvelle so it's decided.
Mind you, the friend is few years younger than me.
so, yeah... we have really different taste of music.
termasuk si acquaintance ini tadi.

waaaaaaah susah susah susah.
sukanya lagu jadul jadinya gak ada yg nemenin deh.
ato emang kudu maennya sama anak seumuran kali ya?
refuse to grow older jadi mainnya sama anak muda mulu! wakakaka... *iya kali sih!*

i'm past that 'noise' music called hip-hop.
new age and trip-hop are welcome.
yang lainnya? yang normal2 aja.
I don't need much noise after all the real noise of life deh.

so.
if anyone knows minnie riperton.. then you're about the same age or older than mine. welcome to the club.
hahaha

udah ah.

atas nama emosi*

sok ganteng banget sih lo
kepdean banget.

it aint like you're the only boy living on earth!
i'll find me another -more- decent boy than you!

you. despicable you.
you're not worth the anger. but whenever tiny things remind me of you, they tick me off!
am i a spam to you?

you are definitely the most unworthy of all.
asshole.
jerk.


* refer to Seno Gumira Adjidarma's "atas nama malam"

Life takes Visa.©

You know what's different about the payment method between here and Indo?
is the use of cards. and I mean, many, many, cards.

Here my wallet is full of cards. Any cards.
from bank cards, public transport card, insurance card, even a bunch of loyalty cards from local retails.

One that is used most frequently is the bank cards.
I've seen people pay things for less than a buck with bank cards! Ergo no wonder the black encryption thing at the back (tech term, anyone?) is all smudged/worn-off. This leads to failed read on the machine.

The trick is to put the card inside a plastic and then swipe like usual.
Work like a charm.

then I thought, why no one out there ever create a bank card 'condom' to make things easier and a smudge-free card.
hey, even iPod have one.

It'll be cool to have your bank cards protected, you know, inside out.
inside, security.
out, the condom.
=D

anyone up for the idea? hehehe

Speaking of bank cards, who here have Visa/Mastercard/Diner Card or any other type of credit card?
In Australia, it's somewhat compulsory to own one. Especially now with the easy way to get them. To own a visa card is without a requirement of income limit and whatnot.
Some leading banks have released Visa Debit card and most recently, Visa Gift Card. Yeah, gift card!! Go figure.

OK. Intro.
Visa Debit "function exactly like any Visa card but provide direct access to funds in a cardholder’s deposit account rather than a line of credit. With Visa Debit, cardholders exercise the choice to “pay now,” compared with Visa credit products, which allow cardholders to “pay later.” (Visa-Asia.com)

Gift Cards function in similar way.
Visa Gift Card "operates just like any other Visa - you can use it to shop in person, on-line or over the phone. (Prepaid shop)

Both can be included in the prepaid visa card. the latter, you can even get it at selected convenience stores!

I've seen people use both cards quite frequently. Although, credit cards are still the most valuable possession of every Australian ( one can assume? ). The use of prepaid visa cards can be considered a trick in diminishing the long lines of credits.

On second thought, people use credits because money's just not there yet. If prepaid, what's the point when account's also empty?
So.
Prepaid visa cards purpose is only for safety of online shopping and easy gifts for someone?
It is not the main use of 'credit' as most people need, is it not?

Colours are vary, too.
You don't need to get all classy and sophisticated for a black or platinum.
Why not PINK?
now, isn't that a dandy. =D

Ah udah deh..
ngaco gue malem2 gini..

cuddle party!

Yes people. it may become the new trend of the century.
It's a cuddle party.

What:
is "a structured, safe workshop on boundaries, communication, intimacy and affection. A drug and alcohol-free way to meet fascinating people in a relaxing environment. A laboratory where you can experiment with what makes you feel safe and feel good." (cuddleparty.com)

I'm thinking it all started from the 'free hug campaign'. Remember that?
the juan mann's first attempt to find sincere affection after arriving to his homeland, sydney, from years abroad?

A cuddle party is a mass collection of 'free hugs'.

It first spread in the United States (surprise, surprise)... then apparently, according to Richard Watson of the herald sun, it's starting to create massive rave here in Australia. Entah dimana, saya nggak tau. He said "they're also perhaps an early indication of the fact that an increasing number of people, many of whom now live alone, crave the sensation of being physically held and touched."

heh, aren't we the emotionally detached generations of the millenium.

Watson also relates this to social networking sites that have been causing huge attention to the cyber world for the past couple of years. He said "These are superficial friends and we are confusing familiarity with intimacy. Hence our growing need for physical contact."

Talking online may seem the great escape to all the trouble talking face-to-face. You don't like the other person on the other end of communication, heck block them! ignore. delete.
easy as.

Does it mean we, as individual, have a little control to the people we like or dislike? without having to care what that other person may or may not feel towards us, as a consequence. does loss of physical human contact also directly loosing the emotional attachment? alias, berdarah dingin?

dang. i watched too much crime series! =D

Ironic how technology have rule our civilizations almost entirely.
maybe have a cuddle party isn't such a bad idea after all.
Although the term they use for the party could somewhat mislead people who aren't quite familiar to the purpose of it. I mean c'mon, my first impression, it sorta a dating matchmaking group thing.... which then might lead to... sex party. hey, the word says itself. Don't blame the interpreter. --brain.

I look up the website. the party calendar only have 1 country listed, and yes, it's united states. Not all states are listed there as well. Meaning, this is all just started.

The headline on herald sun was not really true then? It may start already in Australia, but not entirely an official connection from the one at the states. Ergo, having it made to the media (ie. newspaper) means to widespread the 'event' and hence, trying to make it a 'trend'. What he's actually doing is marketing it to people in Australia so that it'll become the 'it' event of the year.

Heck It's the herald sun. I know people read the sun more than other newspapers. Some friends say, it's very Pos Kota. and I don't quite believe them, 'til just recently. Although not as extreme as Pos Kota (extreme in terms of sampahnya), but it's not highly informative either.

so.
It brings into two opposite results.
1. Many locals read the Sun everyday for their daily reads (exclude MX). Ergo, those who read about the article by Watson could take up on the idea and actually act on it. Meaning, spread cuddle party throughout the nation. Media publications succeed.
2. Though many people read the Sun, but knowingly it's much like Pos Kota so no one would actually bother to pursue whatever Ideas published on it. Think, gak penting. So, Cuddle party would then just be a glimpse of fad and not at all matter to brought up to discussion and case closed.

Well it's up to you to decide.
Whether it's a for or against.

Free hugs, I say ok.

Cuddle party.... hmm..
YOU!, I know i did say i need pelampiasan physical. tapii.. mikir dua kali kali yaa untuk iniii... hahaha (inside joke, sorry).

cuddle yuukk??? YUK! =D

o yeahh baby!!

MY WIFI IS BACK ON!!!!

Wahhoooooooooo....!!!
WarNet is the OK dah memang.





saya senang

Mum's Day!

The second sunday in May is Mum's day. and that's Today!!

Little did I know about the tradition of mother's day in Australia. Not until I work on the week of mum's day I realized how appreciative the locals are of this day. People would buy chocolates, flowers or at least greeting cards for their mom, or even their nanna!
Lucu ya tradisinya.

I then asked my aunty about mother's day in Indo.
I know we have different date for mum's day there, and I usually don't remember it. hehehe
so I asked how do we celebrate mother's day in Indo. The answer is, we don't really.
I remembered it right. 'cause back then I don't quite remember ever celebrating it. Not even a greeting card for mom! =D

But, we do celebrate Hari Kartini. She was the mother of every mom's in Indo, wasn't she? hehe nggak ya? ok different context.

it got me thinking though.
why we don't treat mother's day as big celebration as Hari Kartini?

Although, yes, we do sms our moms on mother's day. could that be the same appreciation as sending greeting cards?

After all these years, gue baru nyadar bedanya tradisi disini dan di Indo. hehe telat yoo!

Well neways,

to all moms out there, Happy Mother's Day, moms!!!!!

Pada Sebuah Beranda

Category:Books
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Author:Bondan Winarno
Beli buku ini udah lama, sekitar 3-4 taun lalu mungkin. Dan naasnya baru dibaca sekarang! Pertamanya gak nyadar kalo the author (!!) is that one and only famous host of wisata kuliner di TV. I know him as, bapak maknyus. wakaka..
Cerpen-cerpen dia ditulis sekitar tahun 80an. Kebanyakan tulisan-tulisan yang memang udah di published di koran-koran beken di Indonesia. Bahasa yang ditulis ringan tapi berbobot. Karena itu kumpulan cerpen, jadi latar belakang dan ceritanya berbeda-beda. Tapi di setiap tulisannya, si pembaca seakan-akan di ajak ngeliat imajinasi ataupun setting background yang dia ceritain dengan detail.

Entah itu disaat 'dia' duduk di bangku sebuah taman di seattle, atau berjuang hidup di dinginnya new york city, atau bahkan dibawa 'melaut' ke maluku.

Bahasanya menarik, cerita-ceritanya bikin penasaran, dan baca buku ini bisa nambah kosa kata dan istilah-istilah baru...
read it. you won't regret.

kalo kata pak bondan, dijamin maknyuss... =))

do you look good, naked?

kenapa lately banyak acara tv yang nyuguhin tubuh2 perempuan on their bare skin.. alias, bugil.

trinny and susannah's undress the nation is where you would see women flashes their boobs on screen.
and there's also
Carson Kressley's how to look good naked.

The latter is where Carson 'help' women to feel good about their body and eventually dare to show their bod, naked. this means carson get to see all these ladies, naked! I bet the lads (who aren't gay) would scream 'lucky bastard!'.

I'm sure, to them, there is a whole different meaning behind the boobs flash and naked pose.
buat gue, ini sama gak pentingnya kyk orang2 nonton pay-per-view.

udah ah, gak penting.

a rush of blood to the head

My contemplation.



Almost three weeks passed.
The chaos that almost blow my brains out has slowly fades.

It took more than three hours to complete the transfer process, while in between did some labor work. Bruises and muscle-pain became the after effect.
A couple hundreds were lost during transit. Mainly due to cleanliness (or lack thereof) and speedy transit.

That one sweaty saturday was finally over.
The grudges has slowly dissapear... after a whole six months holding 'em in and helped excess wrinkles on my forehead.
All I can say, Alhamdulillahh... I've finally broke the chain of anger and flee to freedom.
What's done is done. Take it as a learning curve and don't get the same mistake twice!

Let's now welcome glenlyon.
The green door is wide open and the smell of old flat is still fresh.
a very different feeling rushed through my vein. The past seven years of luxuries and fresh white paint... are some things that very hard to just let go.
The little one felt at home, instantly.
I am too. slowly.

The green - white paints and yellow wallpaper become the new scenery. A bonus of browny garden is your front lawn. Chilli seeds, you reckon? =D
The wardrobe is most definitely love at first sight.

Flaws are around. cracks, smudges, scuff marks, ants patrol and limited hot water are just a few. But the old-fashionedness is what makes it homey.

There's only one kill-buzz, winter.
When wall-heater is out of the picture, other alternatives must be decided real soon.
Else, we'd be having winter inside out.

A lot has happened in the past three weeks.
The chaos of moving house, Arguments over arguments with estate agents, A stupid decision of unecessary expense, Dilemma occurs, Two big names have recently make the surprising call, and that add to another pros on going home...

The three weeks of not-so-busy life but got worked up in its own way..
So, whats happening in your neck of the woods?

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A Blank Canvas, Ready to be painted. Contemplation at its best. A personal Journey...

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