featured in ABC's Rantang

check this out y'all, my dear friend Karina wrote a piece about my view of Indo & Aussy media in ABC's Indonesian students blog called Rantang.



without any intention of being such a media know-it-all, I'm just pouring my brain out. So, please read and comment :)

they said such event would never take place here

after spending years trying to get rid of 'the city of religious war' image, my beloved city of Ambon has finally got something to be proud of : an international jazz event

in spite of the very bad coordination of the committee members, the event was still something to be happy about, especially because there, the Moslems and Christians united as one to celebrate our musical roots together on October 9-11, 2009.

when it comes to music, Ambonese worship the african american. we dig from hip-hop, r&b, soul, blues, to jazz. It's only in Ambon where you can find public kiosk (warung) playing Akon's hits, public buses playing Saykoji's chart-toppers, and old folks playing jazzy trombone tunes on funerals.

and don't even get me started on the way they dance. they know how to work it on the floor, no matter what age, gender, or social class they're of.

I hope the artists who were affected by the committee's unprofessionalities would still want to come to Ambon next year.

in the mean time, here are some of the pics!


mc-ing with Eqy - one of the local radio dj's


one of my favourite performances : Sould ID - they started with Will Smith's "Party Starter", wicked!


jay-dee seriously danced in a leopard print halter-neck dress and boots during her 7-month pregnancy!


titi sjuman & aksan sjuman's band. I am officially a fan!


Can she get any cooler? gosh. a female drummer, a film scorer, an actress, a mother.


yes, she acted on Mereka Bilang Saya Monyet the movie. check out her songs, 'When You smile' and 'Kerongcong sampai Mati'


you've probably read it in my tweets, I really like Ignatius 'Igor Saykoji' Penyami as an artist.
he's one of the very few I-don't-even-feel-like-I'm-famous Indonesian celebrities. unlike Pasto *blah!


and of course, the beautiful beach yea

about the one with dunhill, latte, and brown wool jackets

he was one of those lecturers you would hate for the first time. but remember your whole life.
he would likely to challenge your thought, criticize it, question it, and push you to defend it.

he wouldn't care about your bad english
he'd know that you just need to be pushed
he wouldn't care about your asian background
he'd know that you have a lot to say, but you're just too scared to stand up for yourself

his rotten body didn't stop him from smoking
and having coffee at bella ciao in every break time.
we all used to think that he was on drugs
because of the peculiar gestures he used to make

i personally thought he looked like 'hunchback from Notre Dame' *no offense, sir*

his class was not the funnest class to be in.
it was Communication Skills.
yes, it forced us to get out of our comfort zone
come up with our own ideas, do research, and argue about it.

I personally think my encounter with him for 4 semesters was life-changing.

i remember coming to him on my final presentation day to tell him how confused I was
with my future, and of whether I should go to Melbourne to RMIT, stay in Sydney and got to UTS, or go back to Jakarta to continue my Bachelor's degree. or should I just work.

he calmly advised, 'as long as you love what you do. pursue it. it doesn't matter what uni you go to. if your parents want you to go back, then go back. communication studies in any uni would be the same. don't worry too much. you'll be alright', with his laidback australian accent.

the last time I saw him.

it was not the first time he told me that. he had always encouraged me to follow whatever works for me, and not to get pressurized by what others do.

you were a true mentor, sir. the one who stretched our way of thinking and our skills. the one who encouraged us to be ourselves.

Rest In Peace, Mike Whittle.

a start.

credits to the author of salvation. the one who believes in me. the one who enables me. my solid rock.

way before deadlines and previews

i was supposed to blog about Roberto Cavalli's A/W 2009 Preview this afternoon at Pacific Place but,
a). i didn't take any pics, so all you faithful readers won't have any idea of how it went
b). it was just a preview, so what more can i discuss here? you know Cavalli, each season has mostly been about colors, animal prints, maxi dresses.

I was overwhelmed by the whole vibe of the room, though. Photographers, models, fashion editors, and of course the socialites. I seriously didn't know what to do, cause I was invited just to attend it, not to cover the event. So, yeah, it was quite blurry. But I'm so glad that I got the chance to attend such event and be cool for an hour. hahahaha.

*i know, call me lame, it's okay* coz more related postings are coming soon. stay with me ;)

while resting my tired heels at home
I began to reminisce about how it all used to be, a year back.

everlasting tobacco
tons of fellow rebels (a.k.a the ganjas)
uni stuff on the weekdays, getting wasted on the weekend
leather jackets, shorts, ripped tights, and oversized t-shirts

those days seem to be just so far away.
*somehow I seem to be more poised these days...at least until I start talking haha!*

and, i just miss them.

and everyone say 'aaw..'


japanese food was my life. look at those chubby cheeks.

central station. my daily route. *yes, leather jacket and jeans were my only outfit. aha*

the happy place. *you'll see why*

yes. we obeyed mr. marley.

unleashing the inner alay-ness.

the house of thousand memories.

i worked here as a waiter, for 3 days (it's eternity in my book)

easter show. yea, the ghost ride.

moments before the security came, sex pistols studio mock at MCA.

and of course. the last teary karaoke night before going home for good.

time flies huh? these pics always got me giggling.

everything's different now. and i have to move on to the next phase of life. i'm excited, i'm thrilled, i'm nervous, i'm clueless
but i'm positive that it's all gonna be great, and i'm gonna be just fine.

good night everyone. got some work to do tomorrow :)

barbaric.

ever felt like bashing skinny girls into pieces
shedding the blood of those with braces
tearing their ribs apart with one of the movie Saw's killing machines?

man, i thought of doing them thousand times in the past 3 weeks.
but...
it wouldn't change anything, would it?

in fact, my thousand words of curse and death spells would only show
how broken and fragile my heart is.

at the end of the day, i do realize that

it only takes breathing to get older.
but it takes sacrificing & denying yourself to be mature.
that includes forgiving and moving on.

so let it all be. argh.

cheated hearts gang bang

since may, each one of us, one by one, got our love stories down the drain.
is it us, or is love overrated?

invoudeg*

minty meets munt coat.
calvin klein dress.
linea schamp platforms.
pasar seni bali bangles.
captured by the markermotion for our portfolio.


*Dutch for simply stunning

cheesy, but i just feel like writing this down

i won't say bad things about you
curse you, or even convince everyone that everything was your fault.
i don't regret what we had
cause it was real and beautiful as it was.

you taught me what it was to love and be loved
what it was to be a woman
to love unconditionally
to be tender, understanding, and calm
and to stand by her man through all circumstances
even the most painful ones

you made me believe in serious relationships
and attaching myself to a guy
emotionally, physically, mentally

and finally, you taught me to think about what's best for me
and make one of the hardest and most impossible decisions in my life
when it was necessary.

i'm glad that i've at least had the chance to take care of you
at the last days of this thing we called 'commitment'
built since 17 months ago.

no resentment. no anger. no revenge.

i wish you all the best in fulfilling your dream
be the man you were born to become
and finding another girl, who's more patient, more gentle, and more suitable for you.

"flames to dust, lovers to friends
all good things come to an end"

;)

this feels good.

the poem. my internet was down, so I called henry to help me re-type it and sent it to my editor. haha..
it's all good.

grab an issue will ya!

urgent need of a booty

Over the past few months my family, lovers, and friends have been telling me to gain more weight. They said I look like an unhealthy, anorexic junkie without my old signature 'juicy booty' that they used to pat. *okay, that ain't sound right haha*
anyways, please compare these photos and leave comments. I sure love the size 2 dresses I fit in recently, but I think I kinda need my booty back.

47.5 kg me. i look somehow like a 25 year-old

58 kg me. i look absolutely 18 with those chubby cheeks.

hmm..2 more kilo's maybe?

'let's stop. i just don't want it anymore'

those 10 simple words suddenly turned roses into jasmines.
if only you could see it the way i do, mr.
i never want to feel it again.
it sucks and it stays. even days after.

and all you could say was 'oops. okay, i won't do it again. happy?'
'please try to understand. i'm too busy for this. talking about this bores me'

i don't know what to say , mr. just. do whatever you want.

i have one big problem :
i can hardly say no and always end up giving false hope
to opportunities & offers that come to me
as a result, i have too many things to juggle now, and i think i should make a cut.

may it be the right choice.

not this way though, haha

mm.. not quite. not that serious.


that's better.

fyuh. so long Bali.

two words for you

Mitra Adi Perkasa (M.A.P) - the company that owns starbucks, zara, top shop, debenhams, and just about every store you could think of in every mall in the country, has proved that they care about their customers today at least by having technicians to check out a few different cctv cameras and invited me to have a look, since i lost my phone 3 days ago in zara plaza senayan. 

i can't really tell who's the pickpocket, coz the images on the cctv are not strong enough to prove that anyone is to blame for this incident. 

but i think these two people (girl in black dress and guy in white T-shirt) might have something to do with it (i was the girl in the white T-shirt & blue skirt in front) . coz when they passed me, my bag moved, and a dress fell from the hanger. it all happened so fast. well anyways, whoever took my phone. i have two words for you...

bless you.

first day.

This is quite weird. I'm so nervous yet excited at the same time. I was 15 minutes late. but, since 'the book' hasn't arrived, i'm pretty much on time. It's a most-girl office, third floor chita kirana, harper'z bazaar covers all around, and i'm like this little girl with this white chiffon shirt and black zara pants & peep-toe wedges, sitting in front of a computer, and my heart beats a bit faster. ayyy..i get a bit self- conscious now, thinking about my hair and my outfit. the other girls seem pretty relaxed. maybe i just have to get used to it. everyone's busy, phones ringing, people talking about top models & high-end fashion brands that would be featured in the next issue.

i also saw a familiar face of sydney's gaul people walking around. wow, didn't know she's back for good and works here as well. haha. anyways..

i remain silent. throw some smiles at the girls. and just sit politely. checking my blog.

i'm used to being in a new environment. in 12 academic years, i was in 9 schools! haha. i was almost an 'anak baru' every end of summer holiday. so it shouldn't be a problem for me to get to know new people. yet, still..this is different.

i'm just thankful. happy. and feeling like I have to depend on Him like i have never been before.

wish me luck ayt ;)

dare me.

i accepted the offer of being the 'editor in chief' of American Express Official Guide to Bali.
it's not really a good money, but it's a good experience to put on my CV.
i've never been an editor before, so it'll be quite challenging.

i have to do everything from scratch, and get the material printed in about 3 weeks from now.
mission impossible hey. but I've dared myself to do it.

i'll have to go to Bali for 5 days soon to report and interview people.

btw, Ms.M just called, I'm coming to 73 Lombok st on Monday to do some editing with them.
that means to have a look at "the Book" that is delivered to Miranda Priestly's place in Devil Wears Prada hahaha..

okay, no joke. i need to work freakin hard now.
oh, btw, have I mentioned that I'm turning 20 in 2 weeks? haha

MAJOR NEWS

I'm turning 20 in two weeks

so what? u might ask.
so you won't forget to wish me a happy birthday and buy me presents. hahahaha.
being vain on thursday afternoon. starbucks plaza senayan. by myself. trying to write an article. blah.

You've Got Mail

"I just need you to realise how important your job is and what a tremendous effect it will contribute if you're not careful. so, please be careful and meticulous so it won't happen again in the future, okay? =) "

-BS, assistant managing Editor of A

I just got home from my "side" project meeting (as the editor-in-chief -to be of the official American Express 'Guide to Bali' magazine). I was stuffed with a lot of confusion and doubts when I read this email from Ms. B, the assistant managing editor of A magazine. They happened to find a few 'inaccuracy' on my translations.
Ahh...darn it.. why do I have to make mistakes in my first week of working on my 'dream job'??!
Now I'm getting a little insecure and stressed.
We're talking about a high fashion magazine, I really need to be careful or they'd cut me off. Thousands of girls would want to replace me in 5 minutes.

Oh well, better work and pray harder. FOCUS NOW! WHOOZAH!

should we start from asl pls again ?

things change. like it or not, they always do.

it's heartbreaking to watch it happens sometimes.

they say patience and 9-5 job would cure this gap we have.

would they really? do you still even know me now?

cause i feel like i'm losing it. you.

the call.

D: hh..hh..morning *catching her breath after running on the treadmill*

M: good morning, may I speak to D?
D: yes, this is her.
M: hey, D, this is M calling from 73 Lombok st.
D: oh, hi Ms.M *omg, isn't she the editor?*
M: How are you? sorry for the late respond to your last job test
D: it's totally fine, Ma'am.
M: we actually like your writing, though we were hoping you could be more casual with some of the words. like instead of 'centre of the city' you could say 'down town', you know?
D: oh, got it Ma'am. yes, I think I could've been more casual, thank you.
M: anyways, are you busy with your contributing writing for the magazine in Sydney?
D: not at the moment, Ma'am.
M: awesome. I'll email you two articles for our June issue this afternoon. it would be great if you could get them done by tomorrow at this time.
D: ... *not really getting where the conversation was going*
M: oh, and this is not a job test. your fee would be based on how many pages you do
D: mm..okay Ma'am
M: we might sign you on a contract later on.
D: yes Ma'am

M: okay, that's all. thank you, D. have a good day.
D: you too, Ma'am.

all credits go to Jehovah Jirreh.
I can only say Thank You.