Some Left Behind from 2010

I know it's old, but it's my blog means I am free to put whatever I want, rite? :)

Danbo in Garden

My curiosity is finally pampered. I saw billions of super creative danbo photos and I could just be jealous. And now I have some pictures, which I can be a little proud of, though there's still so much I need to learn from other photographers.

Knock knock!!!

Knock knock!!!

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Who's that?
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It's Mr. Dragonfly :)
Another wonder that God made. Actually I was taking Danbo pictures, then I found this amazing creature-Mr. Dragonfly.

Happy Mom’s Day

Yeah, Indonesia has her own Mom’s Day which is on every December 22. I don’t have a special present for my mom. But as usual, I give my quality time and energy for my mom (Yeah, I know it's a lame excuse). My mom was invited by her friend to celebrate birthday party on the night and she still did not have “proper” clothes (so she thought) for the party. So, I offered myself as her chauffeur and fashion stylist.

We went to this famous shopping mall walking around going in and out boutiques many times for a couple of hours with empty handed. Suddenly my mom remembered that our neighbor recommends a boutique, which she thinks it has high fashion style. So we searched for it because we’ve never been there before. We searched for it from the direction board. Many people (can be seen from their faces) were quite puzzled, perhaps because we are one of the so little people who search stores from the board direction. Let me be clear why it is so weird of reading a direction board. First, it is a “not-that-big-mall-which-you-have-to-read-the-direction-so-you-can-find-your-boutique mall. People believe that you just need to wander around for few minutes to find the boutique. But we were fed up and ran out of time to wander around the mall. Second, it’s people’s favorite mall. People go to the mall basically every day (it is obvious that I’m not; my best record 5 times in a month). People know and can point where the store is with their eyes closed (again, not me). SO, it is WEIRD to read a direction board. Thanks God, I am tired of caring other people’s opinion about me.

Back to the point of the story, we finally found the store! And there is NO boutique’s name in front of it. The owner of the boutique is a very-metro-sexual-almost-sissy man recommended some “flashy party” tops. We (my gang members and I) have a nickname for those flashy clothes – “pedangdut”. Pedangdut basically is called for a musician for our proud genre of music–dangdut. Normally the musicians will wear flashy, shiny, tight clothes which reveal the silhouette of the singer’s body. And my mom bought one of those types with AMAZING prize! Ok, it is a Jessica Red’s top (BTW, who/ what is Jessica Red? After I googled it, it is one of the most famous clothing brands in HK) but with the style and material, for me, it is not worthy! It is HKD 1,999; He sold it to us Rp 2,200,000.00! Try to count the zeroes! Haiks… Even my mom confessed that it is her most expensive top she has ever bought in her life. And by reading her face, I know she meant it and decided that it was her last time to buy such expensive clothes.

Eventually, she pulls it off! Wow! Happy Mom’s Day! :)

Uneg-Uneg

Uneg-uneg is a slang word meaning sth (usu. issue/ problem) that bothers one. And here's mine.

My friends and I are planning to go to Nias this coming holiday. Nias is a small island located beside Sumatra island. She's becoming more infamous because of earthquake and tsunami effects. Nevertheless, She's also a gorgeous island! Amazingly and naturally beautiful!

But...

The tradition is still strong in Nias. Some of the tribes do not welcome outsiders yet. State laws is not as strong as the norms there. So, some people who are attracted by her beauty feel hesitant to visit her. In addition to that, with some recurrent disasters there, government is reluctant to rebuild or beautify or upgrade her. What a waste huh?

And, after all of the fact, Why do I still want to go there?

Good question. I am still thinking about that too. As far as I am an explorer (I wish), I think it's more about ego/ pride. When one says I should not go there, I feel more urge to go. Look how stubborn I am...

My brother is extremely concerned about me (I thank you bro for your concern. I really do. Sorry that I am too stubborn) persuading me NOT to go, when at almost the same time, he is going to Nias too. He stated that it's dangerous for FEMALES to go around, while it's ok for MALE. I'm not a feminist, but when you talk to me about what I can and cannot do, I am just fed up and disappointed and sad.

I really want to go to prove that it's safe for outsiders to visit Nias. And I do not want to go and make all my family members worry about me. But I will still go! People may say I am stubborn, I am too proud, I gamble with my life. But I pray every night for God's protection over us. Amen. I don't know to whom I should trust on this case, except Him.

Teacher's Day = Thanksgiving Day?

We don't have Thanksgiving day or even Thanksgiving dinner, as I can see many gorgeous pictures captured the moment almost in every blogs, here in Indonesia. However, we have Teacher's Day, which we (teachers) are very grateful of, on the same day. On this specific day, many presents are coming to us, it has many meanings though; such as a bribery so we get loose of their kids or an expression from the bottom of parents' heart because we educate their children or even an apology for their kids' misbehaves. For all of the good reasons, I, on behalf of every teachers who got presents :P, am thankful, especially for the person who had brilliant idea that teachers should have their day!

I have these amazing cards from my boy, which I use them as bookmarks. I love handmade! Thanks!

I love this particularly :)

Will somebody call me 'Gran'?

Looking at our earth condition now, we can tell that the nature is mad at us. Some floods here, some earthquakes there, some tsunamis down here, some eruptions up there. The heat burns us and the rains drown us. It's a revenge for what humans have done in the past.

I got this chain message informing us that the earth temperature is going to increase four degrees in 10 months. Can you imagine that?

Go green is not a strange word for us again. All of the campaigns has been done to awaken humans. Yet some of us are still ignorant. Take me as a subject. I still use plastic bags! I can't stop using it! The big excuse is, of course, to accommodate house's trashes. I like to take a shower for minutes! I prefer to read a book rather than read online! And many other ignorance.

Moving on, it's also very familiar for us with this "The end of the world is coming" line. Yeah, all of the natural disaster and the moral corruption are signs of the end of the world. It's written clearly on the bible. But, does it make one to be more religious? more caring? more ignorant?

For me, I become both optimistic and pessimistic at the same time. I become more optimistic knowing that the end is coming, so I need to be my best. And pessimistic too doubting that there will be future for me.

The picture is very much influenced by Gran in Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson.