CHANGE

Jan 20, 2009 is going to be an important date in American history; another stepping stone in the quest of human equality, excellence, hope and change. Much hype has been written about the new US administration, about the message of hope and change that so many people like to hear in the midst of failing global economy and bleak future. Nothing less than greatness is expected from this one man, the 44th US President Barack Obama.

2009 is also the year where Indonesia is heading into the polls for a new government and a new president. While we are still high on the wind of change, I wonder on what cues we can take from our new symbol of change, in order to have some serious changes on our own. Indonesia is in dire need of changes.

One of the things that was heard constantly on the campaign trail and was mentioned in the Inaugural address, was the notion of acknowledging current challenges and failures of the past. To be honest about past mistakes is never going to be easy because of the possible finger pointing, dodging responsibilities and plenty of scapegoating. However, this is not about a person, or an organisation, but a collective willingness to admit mishaps of the past in order to move forward.

In the case of Indonesia, it is to put a stop in blaming current problems of corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement of the country on the Soeharto-era, and start realising the challenges facing the nation internally and externally. In the 30 years of Soeharto's rule, there was a vision of "developing Indonesia" that was made known to the people. Now, we hear random thoughts of certain people on how Indonesia should be, but all without coherence. The ways in which he did it might be objectable, from the 'brain-washing' style of moral education and history lesson in schools, to the eradication of creative expressions, to the formation of government driven grass-root farmers groups, but all of them signified a clear direction. It helped that he ruled with iron fists so that for 30 years, Indonesians were living under the guise of "Indonesian democracy". These mistakes are to be known, to be learned, to be forgiven but not to be forgotten.

The other interesting point that was made during Obama's address was about the need for new infrastructure that has old values, good old values of hard work, integrity, faith, opportunity. These old values represents America; they are the reasons why people see it as a land of hope, a new world.

Similarly, Indonesians can revisit the essence of Pancasila as a foundation of the nation. The 5 principles embody notions of religous belief and tolerance, humanity, unity, democracy and social justice. Maybe it is time to go back to the basics and ask these very questions when faced with the hard decisions. When it comes to the question of privatization of the state water company, "Will the result be just for all the people?" When it comes to the question of the destruction of F&B establishments during the fasting month, "Are these people prepresents religious tolerance?" When it comes to the question of electing a female government official, "Does her appointment reflect democratic process?"

We need to start asking real questions to contribute to the development of the nation. We also need to do it collectively. This election year is another learning process in the long road of Indonesian democracy, but just like a new history has been written on the form of America's first black president. Indonesia can do the same thing, too. A new history can be written where Indonesia is lead by a common purpose striving for a stronger nation.

Another Saturday in J-Town

Those who follow this blog would get a glimpse of my frustration and realisation that there simply just isn't enough things to do in this town. An urban concrete with layers of tiny streets filled with people and cars, Jakarta offers few options of entertainment. However, a few days ago I was reminded how Jakarta can be a small melting pot for people. At a friend's BBQ (whom I also just beginning to get to know...) I met a bunch of interesting people, Indonesians who spent a number of years overseas, some expatriates working in this town. Everybody had different backgrounds from counselling psychologist, bankers, marketing people, security specialist, doctors, the list goes on. The party started in the afternoon and continued until dark skies enveloped our BBQ pit. Names registered, faces remembered and until next time.

Blogging In My Head

So many things happened in the last few weeks that I have not had time to blog properly on this site. On my actual blog. I blog for a few seconds in my head whilst driving, whilst waiting for coffee to boil and of course I forgot all about them. I thought that I'd try to put down scraps of stuff that remains before I, really do not remember!

HEROES
For those who does not know of its existence, oh my god! click on the link above and find out and get yourself a copy of season 1. it's science fiction meets drama, without the geeky creatures, and soapy characters and oh, the pretty people is not that pretty which makes it, oh...so much more desirable.

One night, 3 girls were sitting down for a glass of good mojito in a bar and embarked on a deep meaningful conversation about the series. Here are some stuff we came up with on why we love the series. Okay, so some say it's cheesy what happens between Peter and Nathan; but that's brotherly love. Peter has never been strong and confident, he seeks validation all his life, but no matter what Nathan has always been there. That's love. Real love.

And yes, one doubts how a person with a multiple personality disorder can truly understand love and even love someone(s). Niki and Jessica does, for they're all and the same and everything they do, it's for the ones they love. The two personalities just love differently.

Save the world, save the cheerleader! A father who finally realises that what matters is his daughter. His love for her surpasses memory.

I can go on and on and on...

BIMBOESQUE

A term invented by the crazy, weird, beautiful Renu over dinner while we were talking about men. Everyone on the dinner table has lived in another country before, and when it comes to men we came to an agreement that intellectual men are hard to come by. That was not a feminist, burning bras, male bashing type of conversation but it was just a statement agreed by all.

We concluded that most men are intimidated by signs of intelligence in a woman, which is why on first encounters we have to "bimboesque" ourselves. We laughed hard because at some level, there's a lot of truth in that.

I take comments from the male population...

This post is longer than I expected. Apparently, I remember more once I start writing them. More posts to come. Don't get bored.

Under Paranoia

Like any other big cities, Jakarta is abundant in crimes; street vandalism, crime of desperation, crime of passion, white-collar crime... Anything. I don't know anyone who hasn't had a brushed with some kind of crime. As more and more people found out about what happened to me, stories began to flow. Somebody's co-worker was robbed under gunpoint, somebody's boss got stabbed even after she gave everything. Even more advice followed; never stop your car unsupervised (...always go into a secured office building with security guards, etc), have your car tinted to maximum, stand by a steel rod, etc.

Partly common sense, partly paranoia, I leave my house every morning after the incident with full guard. I worry when motorcycles ride too close to me. I don't place my purse next to me anymore, but instead under my seat, I hate traffic jams (not because of obvious reasons but because it gives a chance for motorbikes to "spy" on me. It's insane.

The newspapers metropolitan section are filled with stories of economic desperation. The increased living standard is not followed by salary adjustment. The government seems to be almost paralysed by numerous problems; one bigger than the other, that no matter how much effort being put into improving the situation, the effect never reaches the folks on the street. When citizens have to fend for their own well being and can no longer hope for government assistance, what becomes of this city? What role does a government play on the stage of our daily lives?

I try to put my incident in perspective and not let paranoia rule. It's bloody hard I tell you. Wish me luck...

THE END

It is finally over. As much as I longed for this moment to come, I couldn't help feeling a little lost. All of a sudden all my nights are free again. No more rehearsals, no more bitching about the traffic going to the rehearsal venue, no more worrying about audience. No more. The curtain has closed. What is left is a few pictures to remember it by. Oh, and the new friends I've made during the process.

A million thanks to ES and RR for putting up with weeks of slacking at work. You gals are the best!

Survival of the Fittest

About 2 weeks ago, The Minister of Information and Blabla (I don't even know the department's current title) released a new regulation about foreigners working within the commercial film industry. A new ruling will eventually phase out the numerous film crews working in this country and creating new opportunities for the locals.

There were pros and cons when the ruling came out; uncertainties and confusion filled the minds of many. Film directors, composers, editors, flame artists and many more. My friends who have fell in love with this country and the many benefits they have as foreigners. When this ruling is enforced many will have to flee Jakarta and go back to their country, or try their luck in other developing nations where the advertising industry is at its infancy and foreign talents are important to provide training and raise production standards. A mate of mine eloquently put it, "...Some of these people are in for a shock. Washing their own clothes, driving their own cars, having sex with women their own age.. it's gonna be ugly." It means a change of lifestyle. An abandonment of fully services environment provided by cheap labour and tons of domestic help; where everybody has at least one maid and maybe a driver.

Will the locals really benefit from this ruling though? Most people I've spoken to simply shake their heads. In the era of open market, why are we closing our doors and offer senseless protectionism? Is it a protection to ensure local growth or is it simply fear due to incompetence? I had been lucky to have worked with really great foreign crews; the standards I learned working in a foreign own production company is something I can easily apply in many parts of the world, because it is international standards. Foreign crews bring with them healthy working attitude and we can all learn from.

And I believe in survival of the fittest. Many local directors have risen up to the challenge and handle respectable brands with highly praised production standards. If you're good, you're good no matter what colour skin you are...

Morning Radio

It is a habit of mine to reach for my stereo remote as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, to tune in to my favourite radio show. The show has the usual elements of humour, Jakarta traffic news, birthday pranks, etc. This morning, a caller called in to report the traffic condition on a particular area of Jakarta that he just passed,

C: Hey guys,... Before I said anything about traffic...

R: Yes, whassup bro? What good important news do you have?

C: It's important for those who is about to pass Cililitan toll gate. The girl behind gate No. 16 whose name is Nyoman Sari is very beautiful. Go check her out! She's worth the time queing to pay the toll fee.

R: That's not exactly traffic info, but hey... listeners just go check her out.

I don't know how many people who listen to this radio station pass through Gate No. 16 of the toll road. I'm not sure how many guys checked out this Nyoman Sari girl. I can't even begin to think about how she feels when people looked at her kinda differently as she does her job. She would probably think of them as sleazebags or weirdos. But who doesn't like to look at a pretty face?

This information put a smile on my face this morning. For those who are lucky enough to check out Nyoman Sari, they might get a more enhanced experience.

Water anyone?

the wealthy area of Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta drown in coffee coloured water

... not only the filth, but also the strong current
Kampung Melayu area, East Jakarta

These pictures appeared on today's KOMPAS - a national broadsheet newspaper. They reflect the dire state of this town and how change is desperately needed. A foreigner friend of mine asked, "What are you going to do about this? You guys should do something about your current governor. He's useless... Get rid of him and get a new one. Someone who actually cares about improving the lives of the people and not just do them for show!!"

I wish it was that simple. But then again, it should be THAT simple. Natural disasters are beyond anybody's control, but when floods become an annual event surely some kind of precaution can be planned. Town planning and special projects should be developed to make sure that things like this don't happen again. A simple comment that this kind of flood only happens once every 5 years is not a good enough excuse not to do anything.

However, the apathetic and apolitical person in me chose to do exactly that. I tried fighting these things after my return from overseas, and it only got me frustrated, angry and tired all the time. I shut one eye and go about my business and life goes on. Hell! If things are really THAT bad, one should just get out and not put up with the shit. Right??

Long WET Weekend

A few weeks ago, the Jakarta skyline took an unexpected face and one could not but stop to marvel at its beauty. Known to be one of the most polluted city in the world, blue skies and white fluffy clouds are not common occurence in Jakarta. I was driving on the highway from my parents' house when the photo was taken; it was a dangerous thing to do, but it was well worth it. Who would have thought that things could change drastically in a matter of days. The sky lured us with its beauty and seduce us into complacence; nearly forgetting that the rainy season is at our doorstep. No more white fluffy clouds; all what was left was angry grey skies, fat tropical rain, thunder and lightning.

Last Thursday night was the most frightening drive of my life ever. At 10.30 pm, my daily 7 minute drive from work to home scared the hell out of me. The rain took out electricity. The fat rain reduced visibility and I could not tell which part of the street was drowning in water and if it was too deep for my car. It was like driving blind. When I saw the gate of my townhouse complex, I felt a huge relief. I could breathe normally again. I was safe.

An hour later, my cousin called. She and her husband was trapped by floods in the area and they could not go home. Hotels were fully booked. They had nowhere to go and there was water in their car. We shared the bed and her husband occupied the couch. It was Thursday night when they came, and they haven't left since. All the roads leading up to their house in the western part of Jakarta was flooded. The only working mean of transportation on the flooded areas are human driven carriages called "gerobak". It transports people who are looking for safety and even motorcycle. The rate for is Rp 10,000 per person -- equals to $1 and Rp 25,000 for a motorcycle.

It is Sunday now, and the roads are beginning to dry up. I took a drive around Kemang all the way through Kuningan to see traces of the crazy wild wet world that was Jakarta. The roads were busy with people cleaning up the dirty mud. Hundreds of people became displaced and had to be refugee of their own city.

It is difficult to be positive when natural disasters like this happen. Somebody said Jakarta needed to be cleansed (... not literally) of all its ignorance and greed. Would we learn? Would we weigh natural conservation against economic development? Or would it be cheaper to invest on a few inflatable rubber boats?

MERRY NEW YEAR 2007

My Choice

Recently a well-known religious figure in this country decided to take on a second wife. This act caused such an uproar within the nation; even if the decision is personal, the person who made it belongs to the public, or at least seen to be and everybody feels that they had a right to say something. It brought up the polygamy issue; a word scorned by most women around the globe.

When is one is not good enough? Is it really about sharing your life and love? Is it about greed? Whatever happens to one true love? It is a betrayal?

As part of the personal, polygamy is what it is. A personal decision that shouldn't be interfered. If the other woman can not accept then she should make her own decisions, too. The same goes if she decides to accept the new woman in her husbands life, it should be celebrated as her ability to make a choice albeit an unpopular one. I'd probably be betrayed, angry and sad if it happens to me-- but rather than talking about how wrong or right polygamy is, it is more important to respect the woman's right to choose.

The Rain and Rubber Time

This will not be the first time for me to speak about the Indonesian concept of rubber time. To be completely harsh, it's a total disregard of other people's time and such a selfish thing to do, but alas... Jakarta traffic can be a real bitch. Due to El Nino and other climate changes, the rainy season is starting quite late this year. The city has been bathed in heat and unbearable striking hot sun for longer than usual. Come Oct-Nov, the people of Jakarta has to deal with pouring rain that resulted in a bit of flooding and then heavy traffic jam.

I was meeting my family for lunch as today is my mother's birthday. My dad insisted on meeting at 12 and yet he rocked up 40 minutes late. My brother was close to an hour late. "Traffic" was the excuse they all used. Maybe it was not an excuse, maybe there was really traffic. And today it rains like cats and dogs. Rubber time!!! I hate rubber time!! ... but it's the rain... All of a sudden you have to understand.

My new job does not require me to be mobile. Today is an exception and I was really proud of myself for being able to schedule all my outside meetings in one day in perfect order. I did not factor in the rain though. As a result my second meeting was delayed by an hour (luckily, the other party was also late...) and now, I have to wait out 3 in 1. By the way, 3 in 1 is a car pooling system where you need to have 3 people in 1 car between 0700-1000 and 1630-1900 whilst traveling on certain main roads.

And once again I have to understand that once the rain pours in this city, it's act as an automatic switch to rubber time. How flexible time becomes would depend on how much rain pours. Sigh.

Shameless Self-Promotion

I BEG YOUR PRADA by Alexandra Dewi & Cynthia Agustina - at your nearest bookstores! Going on reprints...

Saturday Night

Dinner. A Movie. What a typical saturday night out for two people. Problem is, I haven't had that for a while. Strange.

Morning Drive

I am very fortunate to live very close to my workplace. Unlike most people, I don't have to spend hours commuting to and fro to make my living. It requires driving past the inner streets of Kemang, cut across the stupid traffic of Kemang Raya to be in the office within 5 minutes. Nearby my office there is a public elementary school and often I would see kids in red-white uniform walking on the same street I use. This morning, just before I turned left to another street leading to my office, 2 boys about the age of 7-8 yeas old were standing facing the bushes, whilst some girls were crowding in one corner. The 2 boys were about 2 metres apart and they were peeing into the bushes. They were even talking to each other whilst doing it!

It's great that this kind of innocence still exists in the superficial life of this big city called Jakarta. It is refreshing to be reminded that at some point in our lives, we know no fear, we worry not about what other thinks of us, we do things without thinking even if it means exposing one's private parts in public. :)...

Traffic

Jakarta is a city with a population of 9 million (this figure comes from an internet site somewhere and it's almost impossible to verify because the amount of people who work in this city and live more than an hour away is a figure on its own, not to mention the unlisted citizens who live in the dark alleys of Jakarta slums) and these people need to commute. As a city it has a humoungous traffic problem which can never be solved. Town planning doesn't really exist. Future developments goes as far as 2 years into the future. The word long term planning is obsolete. In a town where money speaks louder than rules and regulations, anything goes.

As a result, traffic becomes the most commonly used excuse if someone is late for a meeting, or any appointment. This excuse will be received with a shrug, a roll of the eye -- it's so normal. I don't think it's normal though... This excuse can only be given by someone who's new in this town and have no idea on how bad/good the traffic is. There's nothing wrong in arriving early, make sure you bring a book, an iPod while you wait? It's called respecting other people's time.

Aaaaaargh!!! I hate traffic and I hate people who uses traffic as an excuse. Lame.

ALVIN+VOLVO

I adore talented people, especially when they're young and fiery in spirit and passion of what they do. This one guy is one of those. A young Indonesian product designer who struggles in creating international quality work in the midst of his developing nation. He spoke of difficulties in finding craftsmen to deliver the kind of fiber finishing that he wanted, the constant tug of war in delivery time, etc. All of the above was the price he had to pay for cheaper production costs -- which allow him to produce more prototype in lesser amount of money. One can't win all the time. There is 5 more days to his exhibition. VOLVO Showroom in Jl. TB Simatupang, near Carrefour Lebak Bulus. Go visit and appreciate!

Gym Bunnies

My second day in a gym was very interesting. As a gym mainly catered for working people, the place was absolutely dead on a Sunday afternoon. There were 5 people altogether in the 2 hours that I was there, 4 of them are women. What was interesting was how 2 of the women were kinda "special".

Jakarta, like everywhere else, has many different types of women. Many classes of working girls, passport orientated girls, to your devout religious girls ready to jump off a bridge if their spouse tell them to. The general population of the working girls is called "ayam" -- which literally means "chicken". These girls are generally tan, with skinny bodies and an 'exotic' looking.

Back to my fellow gym ladies. I don't judge a book by its cover, so even if they fit the "chicken" stereotype I wasn't thinking about it. Until, one of them constantly demanded the attention of every trainer in the room by asking about this, asking about that, laughing flirtatiously. One girl in particular was getting on my nerves. How could I not? The trainer was talking to me; teaching me how to use a particular machine when she just called him over and over pretending I wasn't there!!

Hmmmm.... I wasn't going to take it lying down, but I wasn't going to go down her level, either! I opted for a wiser act. I moved as far away from her as possible so she could annoyed me less. I like my chicken to be dead, on my plate ready for consumption. The ones who are running around in female forms should all be terminated because of their threat to society in general.

Who's with me on this one??

When you're away from home in Jakarta

Jakarta is one big party town, especially for foreigners. Heading a team of expatriates working in this town, I know a few people who'd like to be part of the big shebang that is Jakarta. The wealth of booze, girls, drugs can be terminal is one is not careful. There is a reason why the phrase, "... do not bring me into temptation" is part of the Lord's Prayer, because seriously there is a truckload of temptation for every sin known to man. Unfortunately, foreigners are more prone to these.

My expat friend is currently sratching his head because his little escapade went a little out of hand. The girl is 6 weeks pregnant. She's never been pregnant before, and they're not even in a relationship. What they have is a "mutual understanding" because they both like each other, the guy has a long term girlfriend (who he claims to love and wants to marry) and the girl has a series of "daddys" who takes care of her expensive needs. The arrangement is ideal for the both of them until somewhere down the line, somebody got careless and now you hardly see a smile on my friend's face.

Previously another friend, who had been living in Jakarta for 8 months was pulled out of this town all of a sudden for a mysterious reason. Later down the line, on one drunken night he said that he impregnated this girl and just bolted out of the country. Hmmm... no wonder that people are still receiving phone calls from this girl continuously trying to find him.

When one can buy a condom in the nearest 7-Eleven and safe sex is out in the open, you can't help but wonder why we still hear stories like the above. Is it ignorance? Is it easy going-ness? I tend to see it as carelessness. When you are away from home, away from the things you hold dear in your life, it is very easy to give in to temptations. Your wife, family, girlfriend, friends are so remote, so out of touch with the things that are currently in front of you. As much as I'm a pro-"live for the moment" kinda gal, it's always good to remember the things that you love the most, and why certain things are simply not worth it...

Remember to remember...

Mutants

Some of you would have figured that I just watched X-MEN simply from the title of this post. The more serious film watchers would scorned at my choice of movie to discuss on this post, but that movie is cool, entertaining and has good special effects. That's not the only reasons why I liked it a lot though. The main reason why I liked it so much is because for a movie so heavily ridden with sfx and the latest technological advances, it had a very humane element to it.

Mutants VS Humans. It's a century old concept which revolves around "the other". We are often scared of what we don't know, of people we've never seen before, of places we've never been. In many ways, gender or racial discriminations are very similar to the struggle of the mutants. We often judge those who are different from us, simply because we fail to understand them; or even worse because we don't want to take the time to understand them. We go to wars often blinded by our own ignorance. We, too struggle individually against the uniformity around us. The pressure to constantly 'fit in' with the rest of the world; where the media portrays girls who are stick thin and guys who are buffed and good looking. It is hard to acknowledge the mutant within ourselves. Just like Rogue left Xavier School for 'the cure', we also attempt to find our own magic formula.

Prof. X's battle is still very current in today's real world. A world united, regardless of race or gender or nations, where it is acceptable to be different and advisable to enrich each other through difference. It is a world where difference matters and indifference goes out the window.

Maybe I read too much into this world of mutants and super powers action heroes, but to me I see the relevance of it no matter how shallow in my world. At least it reminded me, that I am a mutant too -- fighting everyday for my own identity, constantly searching for my better self which in turn, I hope, will contribute for a better world. Darn! That's high and mighty!