17 August

17 August
Originally uploaded by Spunkycynth.

17 August is Indonesia's Independence Day. The day is celebrated widely across the nation with many activities that encourage team spirit and togetherness. Most interestingly are the numerous races and competition done in the smallest government municipality. The smallest organ is called RT which comprises of a few houses in the same area, and the slightly bigger one is called RW which comprises of a few RT.

17 August Competition unfortunately, is slowly diminishing due to urban developments. Togetherness amongst neighbours is becoming a rarity; people know less and less of each other on the same street. However, some who is not willing to give it up keeps on trying to build the spirit. Our nation's independece came from a collective spirit that shines through the fight and finally lights up the freedom path.

It is the same spirit one must continue to foster through tiny events like cracker's eating competition, volleyball, soccer, cooking competition , even if it is only done once a year to celebrate Indonesia's Independence.

Missing

I haven't felt this for a really long time. An addiction for time spent with a person. It's all non physical. How can you miss someone who you only spoke to a couple of hours before??

On loving someone

At first, when we truly love someone, our greatest fear is that the loved one will stop loving us. What we should fear and dread, of course, is that we won't stop loving them, even after they're dead and gone. For I still love yuo with the whole of my heart, Prabaker. I still Love you. And sometimes, my friend, the love that I have, and can't give to you, crushes the breath from my chest. Sometimes, even now, my heart is drowning in a sorrow that has no stars without you, and no laughter, and no sleep.

Extract from "Shantaram"
Gregory David Roberts

Rough Guide to Being a Professional Bum

In my excitement of becoming a bum, my dear friend Danny managed to slip me a few tips on becoming a Pro-Bum. He's an expert on the topic as he managed to do nothing for 1 year after receiving a fat compensation from his employer, upon receiving his UK working Visa. Somehow he always came up with a legitimate excuse..

The extract below is exactly what he wrote on his email to me a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy!! And those who are interested to add to his tips, please do...

Professional bum? :) quite easy really, after a month or so laying about offering ur own critique of daytime soapies and newsbreak presenters and wondering what to do with the day … ur only issues are nothing to watch on TV and the video shops have run out of DVDs for you to rent… then u realise ur bored and have to do something… then it’s the usual moaning about this and that to ur friends. And then you have to get a job cus ur funds are slowly diminishing at an incredible rate. Then out of the blue crazy ideas start popping up in your head.. start a business (unique ones), travel, become a writer with pseudo name/pretend columnist, buy a house/car etc etc.

When u start getting really excited about meeting up with friends at their workplace for lunch (although u just saw them the previous night or had lunch with them the previous day) that’s when u know ur a professional bum. U can go and have a series of coffees with numerous ppl around the city area one after the other just to kill the boredom and time. (uh do this only once cus it is quite sad!) :)

But I think the true test is finding that the endless TO DO list that u promised urself u will complete when u finished work and have time for yourself is still the same length after 3 months.

Hope the above “Rough Guide to Being a Professional Bum” helps. :)

Laughing Matter

Freedom of expression is brilliant, but when you believe in expressing yourself too much it can be to your own demise. I recently expressed myself too openly to someone I've only known for 2 weeks. At the moment it felt great, because I don't have any inhibition about what I feel, but the more I think about it the more I realise that maybe I shouldn't have done that. I was being totally selfish!! What if I freaked out the receiving end?? Man....

Not that I care of what that person think of me now, but still it becomes pretty darn embarrasing! Imagine feeling like putting your foot in the mouth on purpose... Hehehe... I'll just have to laugh about it often enough, hoping that I won't feel as silly after.

One day older

Why do people celebrate birthdays? It is that one day long time ago when one appears in this world. I like my life. I love my past, my present and the unforeseenable future and I actually don't need to be reminded on the exact time when I popped my head into this world. However, I like the fact that on my birthday I get to stop for a minute and think about the year that had just passed. It is a moment to evaluate the quality of your life in the measure of 12 months. To be grateful for the people you love and to continue to be a blessing for others.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...